Is it strange that Americans keep up a tradition of letting a rodent decide when we're calling it on winter? Yes. And while Groundhog Day isn't exactly the most exciting holiday on the calendar, you can make it a heck of a lot more festive with these easy, adorable cookies.

More: Fruit Roll-Ups Fortune Cookie Valentines Are Actually Super-Easy to Make

Cross your fingers good ol' Punxsutawney Phil calls an end to this winter, but if not, at least you'll have these edible little guys to console you.

Pop-up groundhog cookie recipe

Yields 12 – 15 cookies, depending on size of cookie mounds

Ingredients & supplies:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups oatmeal (preferably quick-cooking oats)
• Tootsie Rolls
• Chocolate frosting or chocolate candy melts
• White decorator candy balls and sprinkles
• Black food color marker
• Dark Chocolate Fudge Stripe cookies (or a similar cookie with a hole in the center)
• 1-inch diameter plastic cake dowels (cut into 2-inch segments)
• Powdered sugar (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix the no-bake cookie mounds

Before mixing the cookies, arrange your plastic cake dowels on a sheet of parchment paper or waxed paper. In a large pan on the stove, mix and melt the sugar, cocoa powder, butter and milk over high heat. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Add the peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. Mix well.

2. Form the no-bake cookie mounds

With a teaspoon, scoop and drop your cookie mixture around the plastic dowels, forming small mounds about the same size as the Fudge Stripe cookies. Allow the cookie mounds to cool and harden completely before removing the plastic dowels. (Note: Don't attempt to cut out the center of the cookie after it has cooled, as the hardened cookies will crack.)

3. Make the groundhogs

Soften a Tootsie Roll with your hands or in a microwave for a few seconds. Mold the ears and head, and widen the body so that it has a base slightly larger than the hole of your Fudge Stripe cookies but will fit through the hole in the cookie mound. Secure the eyes and teeth with a tiny dab of chocolate frosting or chocolate candy melts. Make a nose with another dab of chocolate. Draw 2 black dots on the eyes with an edible food color marker.

4. Assemble the cookie

Pipe a circle of chocolate frosting or chocolate candy melts onto the Fudge Stripe cookie. Place 1 Tootsie Roll groundhog over the center hole. Place a cookie mound over both, securing it to the frosted bottom cookie. Allow the chocolate to harden.

More: Snowman Jell-O shots: The Winter Piña Colada Treat You Never Knew You Needed

5. Play with your food!

Insert your pinkie or index finger into the hole to make your groundhog move up and down.

Optional: If you want to make it look like your groundhogs are coming out of a snow-covered mound, just sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top.

More: Edible Teacup Cookies

You can also make a savory Groundhog Day dinner with these adorable groundhog hot dogs.

A version of this article was originally published in January 2013.

Believe it or not there are a lot of This Is Us fans who don't root for Kate and Toby, aka Katoby. At first glance, Toby may not seem great, but, really, there is a whole lot of greatness when it comes to Kate's fiancé.

More: This Is Us Is Helping Me Grieve My Deceased Brother

Is he without flaws? No, of course he isn't. No one is perfect, including Jack Pearson, and, yes, it pains me to even write that. Granted, Toby can be selfish and immature, which aren't the best qualities. However, if you dive deep into his character, Toby can be a wonderful person and significant other.

From the get-go, Toby has worshipped Kate and treated her like the queen she is. They've certainly had many ups and downs, but what couple hasn't? With those downs, Katoby has become even stronger a couple — and partially thanks to Toby.

With that, let's look at a few of the reasons Toby is actually a great character (sorry, not sorry).

1. He truly loves Kate for who she is

As soon as they met in a support group dealing with food and weight issues, Toby fell head over heels for Kate. He loves her for who she is as a person. He's always tried to lift her spirits when it comes to her weight struggles and thinks she's beautiful the way she is.

2. He pushed her to follow her dream of singing

Kate has always wanted to pursue a musical career, but she never had the strength or confidence to do it. Enter Toby. He helped make her dream come true. No, she isn't recording albums or singing sold-out gigs, but she is singing. She even auditioned for a role, which was so difficult for her. There's a good chance none of that would've happened without Toby, someone who believed in her passions and wanted to make them a reality for her.

3. He got her to put herself first over Kevin

For years, Kate has put Kevin before herself. Their sibling relationship is something I relate to because I have a similar bond with my sister. However, sometimes Kate has let Kevin get away with way too much and make life all about himself. When Toby came into the picture, he saw how much Kevin was sucking the life out of Kate and making her put himself and his aspirations ahead of her own. Toby wasn't having it and showed Kate it was time for her to focus on herself.

More: Beth Is the Most Important Character in This Is Us

4. He's always Team Kate

No matter what, Toby is always Team Kate. As he once told Rebecca in Season 2 after she fought with Kate, "Between you and me, I think that she is super-sensitive around you, and obviously, I don't know the whole history, but as much as I want you to like me, you need to know that I am Team Kate for life. Like, that's the deal here. So I can't have you putting me in a position where I bring you to a show she doesn't want you at and you can't ask me to side with you, OK? Because Team Kate foreva. That's how this works."

How can anyone find fault with that?

5. He's respected her boundaries with Jack

Toby has made the mistake of trying to pry about Jack, but he quickly learned that is one conversation you don't have with Kate or any of the Pearsons unless they bring it up or are willing to talk about him. As much as it bothers Toby and as much as he's tried to get Kate to open up, he's taken a backseat when it comes to Jack and his death. He's let Kate take the reins of the conversation and allowed her to open up about her beloved father in her own time.

6. He has conversations with Jack

Even though Jack is gone, Toby still feels comfortable "talking with Jack." Jack's ashes are in an urn in Kate and Toby's apartment. Well, when he needed advice when it came to Kate's decision about marrying at the courthouse, Toby had a full-blown conversation with the urn. That shows just how much not only Toby cares about Kate, but that he respects Jack even in spirit.

More: All the Ways Jack Could Die in This Is Us Season 2

7. He made sure she's getting the wedding of her dreams

Toby wants Kate to have the wedding she's always dreamed of. She may have thought she wanted to get married at the courthouse, but Toby wasn't having any of that. If that's what she really wanted, Toby totally would've respected it, but he knew Kate wanted a big wedding — and because she deserves it, especially after everything she's been through.

As Toby said to Kate in Season 2, “Our courtship has been unconventional. So if you want to get married at City Hall in front of a bunch of strangers, then that’s what we’ll do. But if there’s any part of you that wants the big wedding — even though it can be scary and emotional and cliché — I think you deserve that, kid. OK? You deserve to walk down the aisle between your two stupidly handsome brothers and feel them love the crap out of you. You deserve to spend an obscene amount of money on the perfect white dress... So if any of that sounds good to you, then I think that’s what we should do."

I mean, come on.

8. He went above & beyond to stop the baby bathtub delivery

After Kate lost the baby, it was an understandably hard time for both of them. Toby could see the pain in Kate's eyes, and to ensure she didn't have to deal with anymore heartache than she already was, he made sure their special Swedish baby bath wasn't delivered. He even went to the shipment place himself and searched high and low for the package to stop it from showing up at their apartment. Now that is true love.

9. His reaction to her pregnancy news was everything

He could've panicked. He could've gotten angry. He could've been disappointed. He could've been scared. Nope, not Toby. He screamed with joy and excitement and couldn't wait to tell everyone he knew and didn't know that he was going to be a dad. It was beautiful. Looking at his reaction now, well, it's truly upsetting, since the baby didn't make it. But, if or when they do decide to have another baby together, Toby will surely have the same reaction.

More: This Is Us' Sterling K. Brown & Justin Hartley Made a Chrissy Metz Sandwich, & We're Jelly

Again, I'm not saying Toby is perfect, but he embodies so much good. Can't fans start celebrating that rather than dissecting the bad? Toby deserves to be rooted for, not hated on, especially because he does make Kate so happy.

If you thought the Time's Up movement would slow down after the Golden Globes, you were wrong. The women of the Grammy Awards have their own plans to participate in the movement that's shedding light on systemic abuse and harassment that women have tolerated in the entertainment industry for far, far too long.

More: Pink & Kelly Clarkson Try to Heal Our Hurting Hearts at the 2017 AMAs

Music industry execs Meg Harkins and Karen Rait have taken the lead on the demonstration planned for this Sunday's Grammys. Instead of wearing black like the women of the Golden Globes did, this time, supporters will be wearing white roses. Stars like Kelly Clarkson, Halsey, Cyndi Lauper and Rita Ora already plan to participate.

"It is an important conversation politically in our country and it’s also a conversation we need to have internally with our artists and our companies," Harkins told Billboard magazine. "We need to say if anyone is feeling like they’re being discriminated against and they don’t feel safe in their workplace, they have people who will support them."

More: Kelly Clarkson on Talking to Her Kids About Weinstein & Sexual Harassment

Rait added, "Music artists have a lot of impact. So it’s only fitting that music’s biggest night show the support for equality and safety in the workplace and that people need to be cognizant of their fellow employees."

This promises to be another powerful act of solidarity of the heels of the Golden Globes and a massive fundraising effort. Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston, Sandra Bullock, Reese Witherspoon and Shonda Rhimes have all donated more than $500,000 each. Taylor Swift donated $100,000, and Ellen Pompeo donated $50,000. The Times Up GoFundMe page has raised more than $19 million.

More: Kelly Clarkson Has Strong Words About Her Weight & Mental Health

The Grammys will be broadcast this Sunday, Jan. 28, on CBS, and we can't wait to see how women use this platform to continue to spread the message.

Not everybody is a football superfan, but many of us get invited — or somehow end up hosting — Super Bowl festivities anyway. Rather than have nonfans spend the whole event at the snack table rolling their eyes, get them in on the fun with this printable bingo game. Plus, they keep the fanatics entertained during downtime.

The biggest hurdle? Figuring out what the prize will be.

The ground rules

Every player gets Bingo markers — think small candies or pretzels — and the first one to call out, "Bingo!" wins the respect of all their peers. May the odds be in your favor.

Click each bingo card to open and print.

More: 25 Over-the-Top Super Bowl Snacks Worth Every Calorie

More: 5 Beer Cocktails That Will Make Your Super Bowl Party a Winner

More: Cheesy Chili Dog Pizza — the Indecisive Snack Lover's Dream

More: Healthy Swaps for Your Favorite Game Day Indulgences

A version of this article was originally published in January 2010.

As if the State of the Union Address won't be enough quality TV entertainment for one night, we now know that Jimmy Kimmel will be celebrating Donald Trump's first time addressing the nation with a special guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Kimmel's guest that night, after the State of the Union broadcasts, will be Stormy Daniels, the porn star involved in a recent White House sex scandal.

More: Michelle Obama Shaded President Trump Without Even Saying His Name

Kimmel announced that Daniels will be joining him on Jan. 30 in a tweet, writing, "I am pleased to announce that the very gifted @StormyDaniels will be on #Kimmel Tuesday 1/30 after the #StateOfTheUnion. I have MANY QUESTIONS! #MAGA"

More: Internet Says: Donald Trump Jr. Is the Grinch Who Stole Halloween... From His Kid

We all have many questions. Daniels shot to fame earlier this month after a Wall Street Journal investigation found that Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid her $130,000 in hush money just weeks before the election. It has now been discovered that she and Trump had a sexual relationship in 2006, just after Trump's wife, Melania, gave birth to their son, Barron. Daniels has shared a lot of sordid details about her affair with Trump since then.

Trump has denied that the affair ever happened through his lawyer, but his legal team has not addressed the payment made to Daniels other than to provide an email signed "Stormy Daniels" that claims the settlement was not "hush money."

More: Alec Baldwin's Writing the Most Amazing Book About Donald Trump

Daniels' appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! the same night as the State of the Union is obviously not coincidental timing. We're sure Daniels will have plenty to say, but whether it'll be about her own story, the State of the Union or just politics in general remains to be seen.

Truly, there is nothing sexier than consent, which is why it's more important than ever before that you and your partner sit down to discuss and create a consent checklist. Figuring out which things you each say yes and no to while you're intimate with one another is of the utmost importance, not only because it shows you respect one another's boundaries, but also because it will create a more intimate understanding of your partner. And while a consent checklist sounds like homework, it's anything but. This is a chance for you and your partner to sit down and have fun while figuring out all the ways you can say yes together and perhaps even bring up the possibility of some of the items on your sexual bucket list that may not come up organically.

Consent has always, always been a crucial aspect of sexual education and growth. In light of recent cultural movements like #MeToo and Time's Up, a renewed effort is being made to understand that consent is key when you are about to have sex. It's about being safe, respecting your partner and showing your partner you care. Regardless of the nature of the relationship you have with the person you're going to have sex with, enthusiastic consent and further discussion about what you are and are not consenting to is important. In theory, you want to be on the same level with your partner, both physically and emotionally, right?

More: What the Aziz Ansari Allegations Teach Us About Our Limited Idea of Consent

And so, with that in mind, let's take a look at the benefits of creating a yes/no/maybe list with your partner to make sure you’re both safe and satisfied when you're engaging in any kind of sexual activity.

Have you had the talk with your partner?

No, this isn't about the birds and the bees. The talk we're talking about it is sitting down with your partner (preferably with your clothes on) before any kind of foreplay or touching has gotten into the mix and talking about what you two expect to do together. Now, you don't have to go through the exact play-by-play, but just establishing that you two are both down for having sex, just engaging in a little bit of foreplay or maybe mixing it up by adding in something new is something that should be talked about. This stage is also the time to put on the table what you like to do and what you don't like to do and what you absolutely do not want to do when you have sex. Establishing those limits and opening those doors to new, exciting adventures to have with your partner will make every enthusiastic yes even better. Plus, you don't want to negatively impact your partner or your relationship by surprising them with something unexpected when they are at their most vulnerable.

Do you & your partner know what to put on your consent checklist?

Luckily, you're not totally at sea when it comes to creating a checklist; there are already plenty of checklists out there in the world you and your partner can work off into order to create one tailor-made for you both.

The checklist should be as thorough as possible. Take one look through the one devised by Scarleteen and you'll see that different kinds of sexual acts are clearly described so as not to lead to confusion. Notable points to consider adding to your checklist might include: "A partner touching me affectionately without asking first," "Being looked at directly, overall, when I am naked" or "Touching a partner sexually without asking first." There's no confusion here about what each act requires, and the Scarleteen checklist also acts as a great suggestion for formulating the first phase of your consent checklist.

Bonus: Your checklist can be divvied up into phases or stages. If you and your partner want to use something like the Scarleteen checklist as your foreplay/clothes-on section, then why not consider adding in a section that describes specific sexual acts, toys and other items for when you two are intimate with one another.

There are two worth considering as models from which to build your checklist for this phase, and they come courtesy of Autostraddle and Bex Talks Sex. Autostraddle's checklist crucially notes various in-bed activities you and your partner might want to add to your consent checklist, including things like "Masturbating in front of each other," "Phone sex" or "Blindfolding" and includes a section on discussing what you want to say to one another when it comes to giving and revoking consent.

Meanwhile, the Bex Talks Sex checklist is a simple spreadsheet with columns divided into a hard/soft yes and hard/soft no, which touches on the crucial final element of your checklist: creating a key. Not everything on your checklist has to be an out-and-out yes or no. There are likely things you may want to leave room for consideration of in the future, but right now, you're just not into it. There may be boundaries you and your partner want to keep in place now that you both might be open to renegotiating in the future. Your consent checklist should account for all the variables, as Autostraddle and Bex Talks Sex's checklists do, so there's no cause for confusion going forward.

Are you checking in?

According to a 2016 article published on Teen Vogue's website, there's a strict emphasis on you and your partner not only giving each other enthusiastic consent before you have sex, but of continually checking in with your partner as you two engage sexually. This requires that you are focused because you'll need to make sure your partner is both saying yes (or some form of that) as you go and that you're asking, "Is this OK?" "Can I do this?" or "Could I try this?"

Regardless of how long or how frequently you've been with your sexual partner, checking in is a great way to keep the good, consenting times rolling. It doesn't have to be clinical, and you don't have to turn it into something you ask every five minutes. But just making sure your partner is still good to go by reading their body language, as Bustle reminds us in a 2015 article, or asking before you move on to a new activity is the way to go.

More: Our Narrow View of Sexual Assault Is Letting People Get Away With It

It's not over when it's over

OK, so you've both finished and you're basking in the post-coital endorphin rush. Now what? Well, you shouldn't just leave your partner to fend for themselves physically and emotionally — you should be present and engaged. Check in with them one final time and make sure they're OK. Asking how they feel and if they enjoyed what just happened and making sure they're in the (hopefully) same good headspace as you is a great way to perform a little bit of aftercare for your partner. Remember: You two have just done some pretty intimate things together, and you've both discussed it beforehand and during; you've been through a lot! Seeing that things have a happy ending (in more ways than one) is a great way to ensure you've had a good time together.

More: Why Terry Crews Talking About Being Sexually Assaulted Is a Game-Changer

At the end of the day, a consent checklist is another great way to keep the lines of communication open with your partner. It can act as an intimate bonding activity for you both as well as a way to establish and advocate for your own sexual boundaries. Embrace the idea of a consent checklist — it'll be well worth your while.

The biggest event of the year is still almost five months away. But that's not stopping Elton John from wondering where his invitation is. The legendary singer, who has been a longtime family friend of the British Royal Family, just opened up about Prince Harry's upcoming wedding to Meghan Markle, and it sounds like he's gonna be pretty salty if he doesn't land an invitation (though, TBH, same. At least John has a chance of getting invited, unlike the rest of us).

More: Elton John Remembers Princess Diana on the Anniversary of Her Death

During an interview on ITV's Lorraine Thursday, John talked about the last time he saw Harry, and how in love the prince clearly was.

"I spent some time with him at Google camp in Sicily last summer and I could tell that he was totally in love," he said, adding that Harry stayed pretty tight-lipped on the details about his budding relationship with Markle.

"And I thought, 'Good for you,'" John continued. "Both those boys seem to have be ecstatically happy and that's all you want people to be, no matter who they are. When people get married, you want it to last, you want them to be happy. I'm happy for him, I hope they have a wonderful day."

And no, his invitation to the wedding hasn't arrived yet, but he said it would be "nice" to attend.

"Both of those boys are very special to me because of their mother," he said. "He's a good boy, his heart's in the right place and all you want is for people to be happy."

More: Elton John Makes a Great Point About Why Gay Books Shouldn't Be Banned

Sounds like a really diplomatic way of saying his invitation better turn up soon. And honestly, who wouldn't want Elton John at their wedding?

If there is one universal truth that we can all acknowledge, it's that Adele knows how to put you in a good mood. Like, she knows how to make us feel something deep when it comes to sad songs, but then she has these hilarious or uplifting moments that make you think, "Gosh, this woman is just a gift to the world that we don't deserve."

More: Celine Dion Is Ready to Have Lady Gaga Join Her in Las Vegas

Well, it turns out that Adele remains the gift that keeps on giving. Recently, she managed to cheer up Canadian powerhouse Celine Dion after seeing her perform in Las Vegas. The timing was perfect because Dion had just gotten word that some health concerns were going to affect future performance dates during her Vegas residency. On doctor's orders, according to E! News, Dion had already been forced to cancel shows on Jan. 6, 9, 13, 16, 17, 19 and 20; she's expected to miss performances through all of February and most of March. It was a serious bite out of Dion's very busy schedule.

But thankfully, she didn't have to sit with that news for the rest of January, because one of her recent concert guests — the aforementioned delight, Adele — managed to cheer her up considerably when the two met after Dion's Jan. 12 show.

More: Adele Cancels Her Final World Tour Shows

Dion posted a photo of the pair looking very smiley on her Instagram, where she wrote a super sweet caption about what it was like to be visited by this ray of sunshine in human form (clad in a Titanic sweatshirt, no less, because a true fan of Dion's knows what to wear to see her live!).

"I had a pretty rough time during the last couple of weeks...a lot of people have been hit with cold and flu bugs... but I'm doing much better now. Wasn't able to do all my shows, but was thrilled that Adele came to one of them...I love her so much!!" Dion gushed. And honestly, who wouldn't be thrilled by a visit from Adele?

More: Adele Attended a Vigil for Victims of the Grenfell Tower Fire

So, now that we've seen just how much these two fangirl one another, can we please get an album full of duets? Just a suggestion, guys, but one I think you should seriously consider.

Before going vegan, I never gave much thought to the ingredients in my personal care products. I rarely considered whether the chemicals were harmful to my body or the planet or tested on animals. I kept just two things in mind: how well they worked and whether or not they made me look good.

But just one year after my conversion to a vegan lifestyle, the shiny rows of makeup, hair and body products at mainstream retailers were no longer appealing. I was spending more time at the local health food store because sometimes that was the only place I could get specialty food items, and the personal care items sold there were more aligned with the kind of person I was becoming.

Adopting a vegan diet for ethical reasons has opened my eyes to all the various ways in which animals are being exploited in our society, including animal testing in beauty products. But it also inspired a greater interest in both my health and the environment. I no longer want to put products on my skin that are chock-full of sketchy ingredients or contribute to the pollution of our environment.

Here’s how I cleaned up my act.

More: 16 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Vegan

Beeswax & lanolin

Many natural makeup products contain beeswax, which technically isn’t vegan. Having talked to my vegan friends about the subject of using products derived from bees — including honey, bee pollen and beeswax — it seems that some are willing to let it slide while others aren’t. In general, I try to avoid products made with beeswax, but I will cop to sometimes buying products that contain it, such as the RMS cult favorites “Un” Cover-Up and Living Luminizer.

Another non-vegan ingredient found in natural makeup products is lanolin, a byproduct of the wool industry taken from the sebaceous glands of sheep. I’m always extra-careful to read the list of ingredients in lip balm since that’s where it’s often found lurking. Anything that comes from animals (with the exception of insects) is a deal-breaker for me.

Animal testing

Because natural products don’t contain potentially hazardous chemicals, animal testing usually doesn’t enter the picture, but it’s always worth checking the product packaging for the Leaping Bunny logo or visiting the company’s website to double check. A helpful resource worth perusing is Cruelty Free International’s database of companies that don’t test on animals.

More: These Vibrant Vegan Lipsticks Were Made for Brown Skin

Soap

The first thing I switched out was soap. I had noticed the big bottles of Alaffia African Black Soap at my health food store and was intrigued, so I tried it and was happy to discover that it can double as shampoo. African black soap is a centuries-old West African formula consisting of shea butter and oil, saponified with ashes. Black soap usually contains palm oil, which has been under scrutiny in recent years for causing rainforest destruction, but Alaffia makes an effort to ensure that theirs is sustainably sourced.

Moisturizer

I soon became hip to the idea of using straight-up oils instead of lotions since they’re generally more potent and give you more bang for your buck. There are lots of natural oils out there, including argan, Moringa, tamanu, baobab, rose hip and sea buckthorn. All of them have interesting but subtle differences in texture and smell. Pure shea butter is another great moisturizer and is especially effective as a hand salve.

More: The Go-To Vegan Recipes These Celebrities Swear By

Hair

Oils were a total game-changer for my hair regimen since they add moisture and shine without any buildup. In addition to using argan oil as a hair gloss, I now try to look for shampoos and conditioners with oils, such as Giovanni’s Avocado and Olive Oil Hair Mask.

Skin

Hyaluronic acid serum helps skin to retain its moisture and elasticity. I now wear vegan hyaluronic acid followed by argan oil and MyChelle Dermaceuticals Sun Shield Liquid Tint SPF 50, which doubles as my foundation.

When my skin needs a good cleaning, I’ll use a clay mask, such as Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. When combined with apple cider vinegar, it synergistically works to extract impurities and shrink pores.

More: A Step-by-Step Guide to Veganizing Your Closet

Makeup

Whole Foods’ Whole Body section has an extensive inventory of natural makeup brands to experiment with, including brands such as Dr. Hauschka and Gabriel. Online, I discovered the vegan companies Ecco Bella, Modern Minerals, Ilia and Inika.

Conventional makeup brushes are derived from the hair of minks, sables or ponies. The environmentally friendly brand EcoTools sells a variety of inexpensive brushes made with recycled synthetic material and bamboo.

Dental care

At first, I was not particularly discerning about which natural toothpaste brand I used until I learned about the potential hazards of carrageenan — an additive that is sometimes included in food, personal products and most natural toothpaste brands. These days, I switch it up between Himalaya Botanique’s ayurvedic toothpaste and Weleda’s salt toothpaste, both of which are carrageenan-free.

More: 7 Weirdly Cool Vegan Beauty Products We’re Obsessed With

Deodorant

When it comes to natural products, deodorant is a notoriously shaky area. After a few hits and misses, I settled on the brand Herban Cowboy, which is mostly targeted toward men, but has a few feminine scents.

Fragrance

As I weaned myself off products containing synthetic fragrances, I became more appreciative of natural essential oils and the amazing scents they can provide. They are great when combined with a carrier oil such as jojoba, sesame, or coconut oil or when added to a diffuser.

One of my favorite places to get scented products is Aveda. They have a great collection of body sprays intended to correlate with different chakras as well as essential oils, perfumes and candles that evoke the rainforest.

Once I made the switch to natural, cruelty-free products, I knew that I’d never go back. Not only is it a relief to know that what I’m buying doesn’t contain any suspicious ingredients; it also feels good to support ethically minded businesses that care about the environment, animals and their workers.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

By Samantha Samel

A good friend recently vented to me an age-old complaint: In her household, she winds up bearing the brunt of errands, housework and "life work." One example she shared stuck with me. Her husband had recently come up with a creative gift idea for his childhood friend’s wedding. He presented his idea to my friend along with the nudge that she should be the one to make that gift happen.

My friend described her husband’s behavior not as aggressive or antagonistic, but merely a bit lazy or even helpless. He had quietly assumed that she’d be more competent in carrying out this (not difficult) task. She didn’t hesitate to call him out.

More: This Viral Post Shows the Horrifying Way the U.S. Treats Moms With Postpartum Depression

But what caused this dynamic in the first place?

I suggested that my friend and her husband read a Harper’s Bazaar article that addressed this phenomenon. In the piece, aptly titled “Women Aren’t Nags — We’re Just Fed Up,” Gemma Hartley illustrates the root of so many women’s frustrations. In addition to paid work and the unpaid labor women do at home, they also tend to take on more emotional labor than their male partners do. This kind of work often goes unrecognized because it’s not always tangible; it's remembering birthdays and dietary restrictions or researching services or finding a babysitter.

My friend found the article particularly helpful — as did, I imagine, many of its other 900,000-plus readers — in initiating a productive dialogue with her partner.

But for anyone doubting the anecdotal evidence of the “mental load,” new research from child care provider Bright Horizons shows just how real and significant it is. The findings, compiled in the fourth annual report in the Bright Horizons Modern Family Index series, home in on the mental load for working mothers in particular and reveal that, even as the percentage of female breadwinners increases (today, 40 percent of families have female breadwinners), women continue to take on the vast majority of household and family-centric duties.

Relative work obligations outside the home do not seem to account for how household tasks are assigned. Even when women are the primary earners, they are three times more likely to manage household and children’s schedules as compared to breadwinning fathers (76 percent vs. 22 percent); they’re three times more likely to volunteer at schools (63 percent vs. 19 percent); and they’re almost twice as likely to make sure all family responsibilities are handled (71 percent vs. 38 percent).

It should come as no surprise, then, that 69 percent of working moms say their responsibilities at home and at work create a mental load — and that 52 percent report burning out due to their household responsibilities.

More: 20 Parenting Quotes You'll Relate to a Little Too Well

Bright Horizons’ summary of the study suggests, “[T]hese unstated expectations may also explain why male breadwinners report being more than three times less likely to stay on top of the family’s schedules. Fathers continue to be judged negatively by colleagues at work for taking care of issues at home, leaving women to take on the bulk of family responsibilities.

“Yet men want to be partners in parenting,” the report adds. “In the 2015 Modern Family Index, working dads indicated they want more time at home, and 46 percent experienced burnout at work due to lack of family time.”

The study also reveals that working fathers are hoping for change and are perhaps even more likely than working mothers to express their desire for that change. Working fathers are 9 percent more likely than working mothers to say they wish their employer offered more family flexibility (although again, that's self-reported and could be based on stigma and social expectations), and they’re 32 percent more likely than mothers to give up a 10 percent raise for more family time.

This research indicates that the issues my friend was facing with the division of labor in her marriage are not just important to address on a micro level; thinking about how they play out on a macro level can help businesses and industries as well. “The fact is that for most employers, much of their most valuable talent in the workplace is playing double duty as manager of family life as well,” explains Bright Horizons CHRO Maribeth Bearfield. “Now is a more important time than ever to break out of traditional male/female stereotypes — both at home and at work.

“By providing supports to working women, [employers] can... contribute even more to the workplace,” Bearfield adds. “And by creating environments where men are encouraged and valued for taking advantage of work/life supports as well, workplaces can start to catch up with the culture this generation of working families demands.”

More: 4 Ways to Get Your Partner to Be a More Active Parent

Moreover, as companies across industries are more carefully scrutinizing gender inequality in the workplace in the wake of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, it’s critical that they understand the deeply ingrained societal biases women are up against. In order for women to successfully take on roles that have previously been dominated by men in the workplace, assumptions about their life at home have to be reconsidered.

Originally published on Fairygodboss.

Despite their decision to "consciously uncouple" in March 2014, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin have managed to remain close, even with their divorce recently finalized.

More: Gwyneth Paltrow Offers Moving Message to Daughter After Weinstein Allegations

In fact, in an interview with Stephen Colbert on Thursday's The Late Show, Paltrow described Martin as "like my brother." She added, "We're very familial. It's nice. It's great."

Maybe an interesting term for an ex-husband with whom you've had two kids. In fact, Colbert even called her out on it. But Paltrow took it in stride, jokingly responding, "Which would explain the divorce."

Paltrow explained it was her kids who were the driving force in keeping the family together as a unit despite the separation.

"Divorce is terrible. It was very painful. It was really hard," Paltrow said. "And I think we really genuinely wanted our kids to be as unscathed as possible, and we thought if we could really maintain the family even though we weren't a couple, that was kind of the goal."

More: Gwyneth Paltrow Admits to Messing Up Her Relationship With Brad Pitt

Mission accomplished. Not only do Martin and Paltrow remain close, but Martin has even gotten to know Paltrow's new fiancé, Brad Falchuk.

Falchuk and Paltrow went public with their relationship at the beginning of January, announcing their engagement via Paltrow's brand Goop.

"We feel incredibly lucky to have come together at this juncture in our lives when our collective successes and failures can serve as building blocks for a healthy and happy relationship," the two said in a statement to Good Morning America.

More: Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin Are Rocking Co-parenting

The two met in 2014, when Paltrow had a guest appearance on Falchuk's show at the time, Glee.

Check out the full Late Show interview below.

Three more women have now spoken out against actor Jeremy Piven, accusing him of sexual misconduct that spans decades.

In an article published Saturday, Buzzfeed explained that the women decided to go public with their stories after they were upset that Piven adamantly denied previous accusations made in November 2017.

More: Kevin Spacey Will Seek Treatment Following His Sexual Assault Allegations

The first woman, Susan McCain, said she encountered Piven while working as an extra on the 1986 film Lucas. According to Buzzfeed, at one point during filming, "Jeremy Piven followed her into the trailer, pinned her down on the sofa, climbed on top of her, and started to kiss her. She said he then tried to reach down her shorts and feel up her shirt."

McCain said she managed to push Piven off and leave the trailer but didn't report the incident because she didn't want to lose her job.

More: Bill O'Reilly Sat Down With Matt Lauer to Address Sexual Harassment Claims

The second woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she met Piven while he was filming Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde in Montreal in 1994. She offered to show him around town but said she made it clear she wasn't interested in anything romantic.

Still, when she showed up at Piven's hotel, he lured her to his room, she said. There, he pushed her against a wall and tried to kiss her until she managed to get away.

"I guess he thinks he’s this actor and he can do whatever the hell he wants to people," the woman said. "As a woman... you deal with this kind of thing all the time. But this was a little more violent than the other things that have happened to me. To have somebody force themselves on you like that — it made me feel very uncomfortable and grossed out."

According to Buzzfeed, Piven denies ever having met her.

More: Hilarie Burton Describes Her Scary Encounters With a One Tree Hill Showrunner

The third woman, Diane Gonzalez, said her relationship with Piven started as consensual but he became aggressive one night at his house after exposing himself to her.

"I really was surprised... I guess I was naive and I just didn’t have sex on the brain," Gonzalez said. "I kind of just laughed it off... and then quickly thought, 'What am I doing? This could go really wrong. So, just kind of play it cool.'"

But Gonzalez said Piven's behavior escalated: he carried her upstairs to his bedroom, put her on the bed, straddled her and held her arms above her head while he kissed her. Gonazlez said she told him repeatedly that she wanted to go home.

When she was finally able to get away from Piven, Gonzalez told him she really needed to go, she said. He reportedly responded by belittling her and then told her to go.

Piven has denied all of the new accusations. He said in a statement to Buzzfeed, "These allegations, which in one case goes back more than 30 years and the two others more than 20 years ago, are false. As evidenced by the lie detector test I took and passed, I have never forced myself on anyone, nor have I ever exposed myself or restrained anyone against their will. To the contrary, if any woman ever said no, I stopped."

In total, eight women have now come forward with stories of Piven's alleged sexual misconduct.

Where you live has everything to do with when you’ll have sex for the first time. According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, women in rural areas start having sexual intercourse at a younger age than those who reside in urban areas.

Researchers have dedicated years to looking at the education levels, income levels and other aspects of life between those who live in the two different areas.

The report found that women in rural areas have sex for the first time at 16.6 years old. The average is 17.4 years of age for women in urban settings. The data also indicates that women who have sex sooner are likely to get married at a younger age. Most of the data came from 10,096 women between the ages of 18 and 44 during 2011 and 2015.

More:  9 Ways Having ADHD Affects Relationships (for Better & for Worse!)

Sex starts younger in rural America

Of those surveyed, 51.2 percent in rural areas had sex by the time they were 16 compared to 41.7 percent in urban areas. By the age of 18, 79.6 percent of women living in rural areas had sexual intercourse, which is higher than the 68.6 percent of women living in urban regions.

More: Relationship Advice, Marriage Tips & Romantic Ideas

Not only does sex age differ based on what kind of area you live in, the kind of contraception used differs as well. For example, 25 percent of urban women use condoms or withdrawal as their main form of birth control; 23 percent use birth control pills, and 30 percent rely on intrauterine devices. Of rural women, 41 percent use intrauterine devices, 19 percent use condoms or withdrawal and 20 percent count on pills.

Despite rural women using more effective forms of birth control, their birth rates were higher; 69.7 percent of rural women had children compared to 58.4 percent in urban areas. And 41.6 percent of urbanites had no children compared to 30.3 percent of women in rural regions.

Regardless of where a person lives, it's great to hear that people are taking control of their sex and reproductive lives and taking advantage of the many types of contraception now available.

By Kristen Fischer

They may never make an official debut, but secretive "couple" Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx sure seemed cozy at music legend Clive Davis' annual Pre-Grammy Awards Gala. And Davis, for one, wasn't about to let the pair slip out of the party without being noticed.

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

Holmes and Foxx — whose rumored relationship now reportedly spans years — took all the precautions one might expect of a covert couple. They arrived separately, with Holmes heading into the soiree ahead of her alleged beau. Then, although they were seated at the same table, Holmes made herself scarce mere moments before Davis gave Foxx a shout-out.

But despite their best-laid plans, Holmes and Foxx couldn't escape the spotlight... which, in this case, came directly from Davis.

More: There's One Thing Katie Holmes Would Choose Over Jamie Foxx

"This lady left the room right when I was going to introduce her, she was sitting at that table right with Jamie Foxx and everyone else," the music mogul said, coyly adding, "If you're going to sit together, what better night than tonight?"

Foxx appeared to find the moment comical, laughing it off. Likewise, Holmes must not have been too upset to have been called out — later in the evening, she and Foxx were photographed at the same table, looking oh-so-happy and in love.

More: All the Must-See Fashion From the 2018 Grammy Awards

Could they be any cuter together?

According to E! News, the adorable duo were first romantically linked back in 2013, when they were spotted dancing at a charity event. Despite denying dating rumors over the years, Holmes and Foxx really piqued public interest in September 2017, when they were photographed holding hands during a twilight beach stroll.

"They are really happy," an insider told E!. "It's easy, and they are for sure very much in love."

Carrie Fisher's legacy lives on and, as it were, continues to grow. One year after her tragic passing, the iconic Star Wars actress won her very first Grammy. The honor — Best Spoken Word Album — stemmed from the audio version of Fisher's 2016 best-selling memoir, The Princess Diarist.

More: You'll Never Guess What Carrie Fisher Gave a Producer Who Assaulted Her Friend

The posthumous award was announced in conjunction with the 60th Annual Grammy Awards held on Sunday, Jan. 28 in New York City. Competing in the same category as Fisher were Bernie Sanders, Bruce Springsteen, Mark Ruffalo, Neil Degrasse Tyson and Shelly Peiken.

Inspired by the diaries Fisher kept in real life during her time working on the first Star Wars film, The Princess Diarist was a project Fisher collaborated on with her daughter, Billie Lourd.

More: Carrie Fisher's Daughter Wrote the Most Heartfelt Speech in Her Honor

Following the announcement of her mother's posthumous Grammy, Lourd took to Instagram to express her pride, saying, "Princess Diarist was the last profesh(ish) thing my momby and I got to do together. I wish she was here to carry my down the red carpet in some bizarre floral ensemble but instead we'll celebrate in true Carrie style: in bed in front of the TV over cold Coca Colas and warm e cigs. I'm beyond proud."

Mark Hamill — aka Fisher's long-running Star Wars co-star "Luke Skywalker" — also chimed in with celebratory sentiments. "CONGRATULATIONS to my #GRAMMY-winning #SpaceSis!!! #AlwaysWithUs #AlwaysAWinner #CarrieOnFOREVER," Hamill tweeted.

It proved to be Fisher's last book, having been released merely five weeks before her death on Dec. 27, 2016 at the age of 60. According to the L.A. County Medical Examiner's office, the esteemed actress died of sleep apnea and other undetermined factors. However, the office pointed to contributing factors including drug abuse and pre-existing heart disease.

More: The Results of Carrie Fisher's Autopsy Are In & This Is So Sad

Fisher had previously been nominated for one other Grammy in the same category for her 2009 recording of Wishful Drinking.

Although there were many performances throughout the night at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday evening, two in particular perfectly captured the current zeitgest of our country: that of Kendrick Lamar and, later, Kesha.

More:  Kesha Is Bravely Baring Her Soul to Us All Through Her New Music

Lamar, 30, opened the show — sending shock waves through the crowd, who eagerly answered the charged performance with a standing ovation.

The innovative rapper kicked off the show standing among dancers dressed in military fatigues. Before a backdrop of the American flag with the dancers marching in place, the prelude to "XXX" set the tone: "America, God bless you if it's good to you."

Lamar then rapped the stirring lyrics: 

Ain't no black power when your baby killed by a coward

I can't even keep the peace, don't you fuck with one of ours

It be murder in the street, it be bodies in the hour

Ghetto bird on the street, paramedics on the dial

Let somebody touch my momma

Touch my sister, touch my woman

Touch my daddy, touch my niece

Touch my nephew, touch my brother

As Lamar rapped those last three lines, dancers dressed in red hoodies mimicked being shot and falling down to the floor in rapid succession. Spoken word passages from comedian Dave Chappelle laced the performance, with Chappelle at one point stating, "The only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America is being an honest black man in America."

More: 16 Most Empowering Songs of 2017 for Women

Lamar went on to win five out of his seven nominations of the night. And while it seemed as though nothing could come close to his searing socio-political performance, another artist would take the stage during the Grammys and deliver a similarly pertinent message.

Unlike the Golden Globes earlier this month, during which Time's Up was front and center, little was said at the Grammys throughout the evening — albeit dozens of performers and attendees brought white roses to the ceremony to show their support.

Until, that is, Janelle Monae took the stage to introduce Kesha, saying, "We come in peace but we mean business. To those who would dare try to silence us, we offer you two words: Time's Up."

With that, Kesha stepped in front of the mic and poured out a truly cathartic and soul-searing rendition of "Praying."

Making the moment even more poignant was the company Kesha kept, as she was joined onstage by fellow artists like Bebe Rexha, Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Andra Day, Julia Michaels and a choir cloaked all in white. By the end of the heart-wrenching song, the women had all circled around Kesha in love and support.

More:  All the Must-See Fashion From the 2018 Grammy Awards

For years, the singer has suffered through a highly visible and emotional struggle with her former producer, Dr. Luke. Kesha asserts that he raped and drugged her, which her former mentor vehemently denies.

In light of Kesha's personal plight and the Time's Up movement, her Grammys performance bore added resonance and reinforced the movement's saliency.

We’ve all had those days (or weeks) when the smallest thing triggers a flood of tears, and you can’t stop crying for no reason at all. (No? Just me?) When this happens, I try to take into account factors like my menstrual cycle and whether I’ve gone through a period of especially bad anxiety or depression. Sometimes, all signs point in those directions, but other times, I’m at a total loss as to why I’m sobbing on the bus.

To try to figure out the cause of the unexplained tears, I asked a few medical and mental health experts about what could be behind this unusual display of emotion.

Sleep deprivation

This makes sense when you think about it given how prone toddlers who skip their naps are to total meltdowns. But it’s a factor as we age too according to Chris Brantner, certified sleep science coach at SleepZoo.

“Sleep deprivation can occur when lack of sleep, both quality and/or quantity, is bad enough to impair basic functions,” he tells SheKnows. “Now, it's important to note that some of us grow so used to being sleep-deprived that we fail to notice the signs and symptoms.” 

The good news is there’s a simple solution for this: getting more sleep. But as Brantner points out, it’s easier said than done. He suggests making a to-do list before bedtime, dimming the lights and creating a new bedtime relaxation ritual, which could include anything from a warm bath to yoga to a good book.

More: The Simple Thing You Can Do to Sleep Better Tonight

Chronic pain

While crying frequently without a trigger is typically associated with psychological issues, there may be physical causes as well — specifically, chronic pain. According to Dr. Mashfika N. Alam, a general practitioner, chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or physical weakness from a debilitating disease like cancer can mean chronic pain and tears.

More: My Children Might Contract My Chronic Illness

“In some people, the pain threshold is low in terms of endurance,” Alam tells SheKnows. “These people are more prone to suffer from chronic pain or discomfort, leading to frequent crying.”

Trapped emotions

Crying frequently with no real reason can be a sign a person is suffering from “trapped emotions” — unresolved feelings from past negative and traumatic events, according to holistic physician Dr. Bradley Nelson. This emotional baggage can cause us to make wrong assumptions and react emotionally and contributes to anxiety, depression and most forms of illness, he adds.

More: Your Emotions Can, Indeed, Affect Your Bowels

"Sometimes, for reasons that we do not yet understand, emotions do not process completely,” he says. “In these cases, instead of simply experiencing the emotion and then moving on, the energy of the emotion somehow becomes ‘trapped' within the physical body. So instead of moving beyond your angry moment or a temporary bout with grief or depression, this negative emotional energy can remain within your body, potentially causing significant physical and emotional stress.” 

A sign of something else

According to Dr. Fran Walfish — Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist, author of The Self-Aware Parent, regular expert child psychologist on The Doctors on CBS and costar on Sex Box on We TV — unexplained crying could be a marker for borderline personality disorder, which could involve sudden mood changes.

“Most people think this means going from calm to a sudden outburst of angry rage. That is not always the case,” Walfish explains. “There are some people who breakdown into tears suddenly. Most people think this comes out of compassion and empathy. But when you see a pattern of regular collapsing into tears and you come up dry not feeling understood or genuinely attuned to, you can bet the crier has a piece of their personality that is self-serving and self-absorbed.”

Walfish likens these tears to “emotional masturbation,” as they are crying for themselves and enjoy feelings that they are indeed caring people “when in fact it is not for the other person but rather for themselves.” She says that though they may appear to be taking therapy or guidance on board, people with this condition typically end up ignoring it.

There’s always a reason for crying

It turns out, I may have been going about this all wrong, because according to Carol Lourie, a naturopath, acupuncturist and functional medicine expert, there’s always a reason a person cries.

“You may not be able to see it, but that doesn't lessen the validity of the woman's internal experience,” she tells SheKnows, reminding me that crying is not a “bad thing,” so it’s not necessarily something that must be stopped.

Similarly, GinaMarie Guarino, a licensed mental health counselor, says that even when there doesn’t seem to be an apparent cause of the crying, there’s always a deeper reason behind the tears.

“Crying is not something that happens when we are sad,” she tells SheKnows. “The purpose of crying is to release energy of some kind. When a person cries and does not know why, it often has to do with anxiety of some kind.”

In such situations, Guarino recommends asking yourself what is weighing on you, what you're avoiding and what you are having trouble coming to terms with.

Lourie suggests acknowledging that you are upset, coming from a place of self-compassion and not judgment — something I’m going to keep in mind the next time the waterworks start on my evening commute.

You may go to Panera for a more natural approach to your breakfast sandwiches and lunch soups, but are you getting more than you bargained for?

More: Starbucks' beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte finally gets a healthier makeover

If you are a fan of cream cheese, maybe. Panera Bread has announced a national recall of products containing cream cheese sold at its bakery-cafés because of a risk of listeria contamination.

Panera issued the recall "out of an abundance of caution" after samples of one variety of 2-ounce cream cheese tested positive for presence of listeria.

More: Eatable News: Panera goes cage-free, calorie counts don't work and more

Panera said the recall applies to all varieties of the company's 2-ounce and 8-ounce cream cheese products with an expiration date on or before April 2, 2018. The 2-ounce and 8-ounce varieties that are being recalled include: Plain Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Plain Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Chive & Onion Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Honey Walnut Cream Cheese and Reduced-Fat Wild Blueberry Cream Cheese.

If you've already eaten any of the cream cheese products listed, don't panic. Though listeria was found in one sample on one production day, no one has gotten sick or reported any symptoms. But it's smarter to be safe and dispose of any uneaten product.

If you have these products, throw them out and contact the company's customer service department at 1-855-6-PANERA any day of the week between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. CST or visit the Panera Customer Care Center for a full refund.

"The safety of our guests and associates is paramount, therefore we are recalling all cream cheese products sold in the U.S. with an active shelf life," Blaine Hurst, Panera's president and CEO, said in a statement issued with the recall. "We have likewise ceased all manufacturing in the associated cream cheese facility."

Put the doilies away, because it's 2018, and you’re upgrading your Valentine’s Day crafting.

We spoke to artist Kelly Lynn Jones, owner of the San Francisco art shop Little Paper Planes, to get her tips for kid-friendly Valentine's Day DIYs. Jones teaches kids at her brand-new after-school art program; who better to guide us to the best heart art for kids?

There's truly something for everyone here: a toilet paper roll bee for the littlest all the way up to string-art hearts for older (i.e., more skilled) kids. Bonus: None of these options require a ton of prep time or a fortune spent at Michael’s. Nope — just quick, cheap, easy, customizable and adorable crafts for maximum creative fun.

Scroll through these heart-themed ideas with your little ones and then start working on some sweet projects together for Valentine's Day. And when you’re done crafting, voila — instant Valentine's Day decor.

More: Non-Mushy DIY Valentines for Kids to Give Their Teachers

Beginner string art

Blog Reality Daydream has a simple tutorial for this elegant heart-shaped project. “This piece is really sweet and good for older children, so they can learn hammering nails,” says Jones. Just make sure to supervise them.

Start with a piece of wood — 4 inches by 4 inches is perfect. Then draw a heart on paper, place it over the wood and hammer nails in to form the outline. (A mini hammer is perfect for this if you have one.) Then remove the paper, and kids can start wrapping any color of string they like around the nails, creating a heart. Perfect.

Heart-hand tree

Use an outline of your child’s hand to make a tree using this tutorial from the craft blog Krokotak. “I love this so much... for the younger kiddos,” says Jones. “Using their hands is always a great way to create a project, and this is a clever craft. Who doesn't love a heart tree?” Once they have the cardboard tree trunk shape, kids can fill out the tree with construction paper hearts and leaves and even "carve" (write) a message on the trunk.

More: The Best Kids Books for Baby Feminists

Construction paper critters

This Valentine’s-themed critter craft "is also a great moment [for kids] to learn about a variety of animals," Jones explains. Let kids choose their own creatures; check out instructions from blog Crafty Morning for specific shapes and parts to cut from construction paper. Glue them together, add some googly eyes and voila: adorable valentine.

Upcycled bee

Speaking of adorable valentine critters, this fun little bee craft from The Resourceful Mama is not only cute; it's eco-friendly too. Kiddos can turn a used toilet paper tube into this creative creature. “Perfect for all ages," says Jones.

Gather some paint, construction paper, pipe cleaners and a toilet paper roll. Paint the roll yellow, and while you’re waiting for it to dry, cut out various bee parts from the paper. Then glue or tape it all together to craft your colorful bee. Don’t forget to write, "Bee mine” — that's the whole point, right?

More: 7 Crazy Gender Reveals for Extreme Parents

Valentine carryall

This inventive Valentine’s craft is presented by The Resourceful Mama for Crafty Morning. Jones likes this project because there are so many ways to personalize it. “This heart purse... can be made in so many ways,” she says. “The child can paint the paper, add glitter, put their name on it, add more hearts in a variety of colors, braid the yarn — to name a few.”

Start with paper plates (cut the tops off straight across) and have your child punch holes along the plates' edges. Then have them thread yarn through the holes. Create a strap with a piece of yarn (Jones suggests braided sections). Then start decorating. Use stickers, cutouts or anything else your little one desires. In the end, kids will have the perfect place to stash their classroom valentines.

One of the most striking parts about eating in a restaurant outside the U.S. is how much smaller the portion size is. Despite that, we're constantly told to eat everything in moderation as a way of getting healthy or losing weight, but is portion size the be-all and end-all when it comes to eating well? According to a new study out of Penn State University, that may not be the case.

Researchers measured how much participants ate when given meals of different portion sizes. Even though approximately one-third of the people in the study had previously been trained in food management strategies, everyone involved ended up eating more as the portions got bigger. For example, when the portion size was increased 75 percent, the average amount of food eaten went up 27 percent.

More: 4 Totally Realistic Things You Can Do Today to Improve Your Health

But the people who had previous training ended up choosing healthier foods, and despite the increased portion size consumed fewer total calories during the meals.

“The results show that choosing healthy, lower-calorie-dense foods was more effective and more sustainable than just trying to resist large portions of higher calorie options,” Faris Zuraikat, a graduate student, one of the researchers involved in the study, said in a statement. “If you choose high-calorie-dense foods but restrict the amount that you're eating, portions will be too small, and you’re likely to get hungry.”

During the study, participants were fed foods with a variety of calorie densities, including calorically dense foods like garlic bread and foods on the other end of the spectrum like salad. Those with the food-management training did eat more when the portion size was increased, but tended to fill up their plates with the salad or other foods that are low in caloric density, allowing them to eat more, but without detriment to their health.

More: Ex-Smoker? Eating These 2 Foods Could Help Improve Your Lungs

“The study supports the idea that eating less of the higher-calorie-dense foods and more of the nutritious, lower-calorie-dense foods can help to manage hunger while consuming fewer calories,” Barbara Rolls, professor and the Helen A. Guthrie Chair of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State, said in a statement. “You still have a full plate, but you're changing the proportions of the different types of foods.”

So, the next time you're filling up your plate at a meal, there's no need to go hungry — just make sure most of your plate consists of foods with low calorie-density.