Lisa Vanderpump is no stranger to long days. As star of two hit reality TV shows — The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules — owner of two trendy L.A. restaurants, and author of Simply Divine, the brunette beauty routinely logs 16-plus hour days.

Her demanding daily agenda couldn’t prepare her for her current turn on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, though. “It’s the most challenging thing you could ever do,” Lisa told SheKnows. “Also, just physically, five hours a day — I’m covered in bruises… I can hardly move!”

Joking she has “three left feet,” Lisa admits the only dancing she did before being cast on the show was on the occasional night out with her husband of 30 years, Ken.

“We might do something casual,” she tells us, “but these are orchestrated, choreographed steps that you have to remember, and positions and camera positions, and you’ve got 20 million people [watching].”

But despite the intense physicality and rigors of the show, Lisa asserts it is an experience she wouldn’t trade. “It’s probably one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life.”

For the busy reality TV star, the camaraderie between cast mates was a welcome departure from the infamous drama between she and her fellow Housewives.

And while her fans would love to see reconciliation between Lisa and Housewives frenemy Kyle Richards, they shouldn’t hold their breath. Noting the negative things she’s heard Kyle say in the press, Lisa tells us, “When the parameters change, and somebody kind of attacks you or trashes you, it makes you feel differently about that person. And that takes a while to recover from.”

She may have landed in the bottom three last week, but Lisa feels the timing was just off, pointing out that The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills finale and reunion special aired during the same two hours as DWTS.

Watch the full interview

As for the dancing, Lisa feels as though she’s improved markedly. “When Len said it’s [their jive] acceptable, not exceptional,” she says, “you know, acceptable is great for me because, 10 days ago, I was abominable!”

And dancing isn’t the only newest endeavor for the busy star. She’s partnering with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! to bring audiences the webisode series, Life After Work, on which she prepares tasty meals with some of her favorite men.

“We came up with a few recipes and just created some real kind of tongue-in-cheek vignettes and they’re a lot of fun,” she tells SheKnows. “So go to www.ICan’tBelieveIt’sNotButter.com and you’ll see!”

Image courtesy of FayesVision/WENN.com

Figs are often overlooked and underutilized, primarily because of their short season and strange appearance. But didn't your mother ever tell you not to judge a book by its cover? This sweet, slightly squishy fruit is the perfect way to add some spring and summer to your plate, even if it's still frigid outside.

Homemade fig jam recipe

Yields about 8-10 ounces

Ingredients:

• 1 pound fresh white figs
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• Juice from 1 lemon

Directions: 

1. Chop the figs into pieces and remove all stems. Place in a medium-size saucepan with the sugars, pumpkin pie spice and lemon juice.
2. Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce to low. Let jam simmer for about 30 minutes or until thick and all of the sugar has dissolved.
3. Immediately pour into a sterile jar. Cover and chill until ready to use.

Fig, carrot and walnut muffins recipe

Yields about 8 giant bakery-style muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Dash of salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 stick softened butter
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/2 cups sour cream
• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 3/4 cup chopped dried figs
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two giant muffin tins with large wrappers .
2. In a large bowl, whisk the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In another bowl, beat the butter, sugars, applesauce, eggs and vanilla together with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing well. Stir in the sour cream, figs, carrots and walnuts. Batter will be thick.
3. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop batter into tins, filling about 3/4 full.
4. Bake muffins for about 20-25 minutes, or until golden.

Fig and grape summer salad recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup green grapes
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 cups mixed salad greens
• 4 figs, sliced
• 1-1/2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 medium sweet onion, sliced
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• Dash of salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon honey

Click here for the instructions on how to make this fresh fig salad >>

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Finding normal after the unspeakable

Getting back to normal

When the unthinkable happens to your family, parenting becomes a careful dance where you tread gently. But as time wears on, it's necessary to get back to your version of normal — including ordering the kids to clean their rooms.

But how do you get there? And how do you allow yourself to fall back into your norms?

One morning, days — maybe a week — after December 14, 2012, my two children and I were getting ready to head out of our house to meet friends and family. Suddenly, it was like I could see my house clearly for the first time since that awful day. And in that moment, something snapped mentally back into place.

"Will, Paige, your rooms! Oh my goodness, you cannot leave them like this. They're pigsties. Make your beds! Pick up your floors! Now!" The words tumbled out of my mouth, complete with a raised voice. It was the first time I had raised my voice at all since December 14, and it felt odd. Awkward. Scary. And in my heart, I hurt. It felt like I was doing something awful.

But then I saw my kids pop to action. It was as if hearing me raise my voice was a relief to them. Heck, my son was downright chipper about it — practically breathing a sigh of relief as he cleaned his room so quickly.

Then I realized that raising my voice wasn't doing something awful, but actually taking a step back to our normal. It was time to find our way back to our regular family dynamics.

That awful day

On December 14, 2012, my son was among the survivors at Sandy Hook School. A second grader, he and his classmates huddled with their teacher in their classroom — mere feet from where so many of our school community perished.

After my daughter and I found him safe and sound, I felt so blessed. I couldn't stop hugging my children, and thanking God that they were both there with me . Everything — our lives, our selves — felt so fragile.

We were thrust into an unthinkable situation where there were no rules, no guidelines, no advice ready to lead us forward. Suddenly, all the rules and discipline of our lives evaporated. As a parent, I unconsciously stopped parenting really. All I wanted to do was hug my kids and remind them how much I love them.

The aftermath

In the days that followed that awful day, our schedule — normally dictated by work and school — was tossed out the window. There was no game plan for the day. When we'd leave the house, it would be for most of the day and without a plan. Often, we ended up at my nearby cousin's house where the kids would play and play and play and the adults would huddle, trying to make sense of what happened. I just let the kids be, encouraging them to have fun — I just wanted to see them smile.

Meals happened on the fly. Bedtimes were ignored. Routines disappeared. We literally lived minute to minute. It was all we could do. I couldn't seem to get back to the place where I was the mom in charge — instead, it just felt like a "we're in this together" mentality.

Getting back to parenting

That morning that I ordered my kids to clean their rooms was the start of our road back to normalcy. We needed that order back in our lives, and slowly it returned. Of course, parenting after tragedy wasn't all sighs of relief and steps ahead. It took months to get back to routine meal times. And there was a lot of pushback on our bedtime routines.

Moreover, everything couldn't return to normal. Frankly, there were parts of my parenting that will likely never return because looking back they just seem petty. In the before-time, one of our big rules was that the kids weren't allowed to go to bed with their rooms messy — and if they tried, they would have to get up and clean. That rule has disappeared. Frankly, when they go to bed, I just want to hug them tight and remind them how much I love them — because you never know when life may completely change in an instant.

Advice for parents

Now, nearly three months later, I look back and wonder if I could have found that normalcy sooner. While I don't think so, I do wish I'd known what to do. So I asked an expert about parenting post tragedy.

"The most important thing for children is to get them back to normal life. Young children view everything through their own egocentric lens, so their point of view is always 'what does this mean for me,'" says Bonnie Harris, MS Ed, a children/parenting specialist in New Hampshire and director of Connective Parenting. She's also the author of Confident Parents, Remarkable Kids: 8 Principles for Raising Kids You’ll Love to Live With.

Harris says that when tragedy strikes, you need to deal with kids on an age-appropriate level and based on their proximity to the tragedy.

"The younger the child and the more distant the tragedy, allow them to simply live their life without going through the details with them," says Harris. In our case, this wasn't possible.

When you are close to the tragedy like we were, Harris says to be honest with kids and share facts, letting them ask questions. "Make sure there are opportunities for them to talk about whatever is going on for them. Allow any emotions, provide outlets for anger and frustration," says Harris. "If someone close has died, the child might fear someone else close will die. Assurance is needed but only after fears have been taken seriously, and are not dismissed or denied."

Perhaps the biggest thing though is dealing with the unexpected changes that come — like heightened emotions and clinginess. Harris says that these can mean that emotions need to be expressed. "Accommodate unusual or new security-seeking behavior... Play therapy, talking or physical outlets are needed," says Harris.

Image credit: Sarah Caron

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Mom vs. Dad: Technology and your kids
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ShoeDazzle’s new chief stylist, Rachel Zoe, is a knowledgeable fashionista and go-to expert for advice about how to stay fabulous this spring. She's sharing three of her favorite shoe trends and spring style must-haves.

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Hunter Hayes is only 21 years old, but he has already climbed to the top of the country music world. For all he has, the singer thanks his hard work more than his natural talent.

Eric Church & Hunter Hayes lead the 2013 ACM nominations >>

“With me, it’s always going to be music,” he said in his website bio. “That’s the one thing I know. That is my thing. That is my place. I make music because it’s the only way I can breathe. This is how I want to spend the rest of my life.”

So just how did Hayes get to the place he is at?

Below is a time line of his life and successes.

September 1991: Hunter Hayes was born. While, for many artists, there would be many steps between birth and success, Hayes was not too far away from making it big.

“Despite his youth, he already has a lifetime of musical experience. The Louisiana native began picking up various instruments when he was only two years old,” according to Hayes’ website. “At age four, he joined his first band. He took his accordion on stage and sang 'Jambalaya' with Hank Williams Jr. that year, too. At age six, he was cast in the Robert Duvall film The Apostle. The actor gave Hayes his first guitar. Hunter recorded his first album when he was nine and his second at the age of 10.”

Academy of Country Music Awards >>

2008: Hayes’ family moved to Nashville to help him live his dream. He took distance education courses to finish high school.

2011: Hayes was invited to join Taylor Swift on her Speak Now tour. He opened for the singer on 10 dates before embarking on his own radio tour. He later joined the Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood on tour.

May 2011:“Storm Warning” is released as a single, which would be the first from his debut album. The song ended up reaching gold status.

October 2011: Hunter Hayes released his self-titled album. The musician wrote all the songs on the album. He also co-produced the album as well as playing more than 30 instruments to get to the final product.

2012: Hayes is nominated for Best New Artist at the ACM Awards. He receives eight other awards nominations that year, including at the CMT Awards, Teen Choice Awards, and the CMA Awards.

“Since the release of Hunter Hayes, the singer-songwriter has embarked on a blitzkrieg of television appearances,” according to his website. “He has sung on The Late Show with David Letterman, Good Morning America, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Talk, E! News and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

Hayes also performed on the CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock that year. He played his song “Wanted” to 50,000 of his biggest fans.

August 2012:“Wanted” becomes Hayes’ first No. 1 single. It eventually reaches double-platinum status.

September 2012: Hunter Hayes becomes the youngest musician to be inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame.

February 2013: Hayes is nominated for three Grammy Awards, including the much-coveted award for Best New Artist.

Hunter Hayes is 'Wanted' >>

April 2013: The singer is nominated for four awards at the 2013 Academy of Country Music Awards, including Song of the Year and Video of the Year.

Photo courtesy Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

reality TV hasn't changed this new mom

Being on television has been an opportunity for new mom Dr. Jennifer Arnold to spread awareness about life with disabilities. She and her husband, Bill, recently adopted a little boy.

Her show, The Little Couple on TLC, returns April 30.

Dr. Jennifer Arnold, co-star of TLC's The Little Couple, is a new mommy. She and her husband recently adopted a little boy. "We are thrilled to announce that we have adopted a beautiful young boy from China,"the couple told People magazine in a statement. "We are so proud to welcome William to our family and look forward to bringing him home."

Celebrities who became parents through adoption>>

Arnold recently spoke with SheKnows about her path to motherhood and her passion for children's health.

The road to motherhood

Arnold's road to motherhood hasn't been an easy one. After becoming pregnant, she suffered a miscarriage, which was documented on her show. "I think at the time, I was very nervous about sharing our experience with others on the show. For the most part what Bill made me realize was that this was an opportunity to share something we didn’t really plan on," says Arnold.

Since then, she's heard from other women who had been through miscarriages as well. "There are so many others out there who are dealing with fertility struggles. The opportunity to raise awareness has been a tremendous value," Arnold says.

Arnold and her husband explored all possible routes toward motherhood. "We were pretty open from the beginning for all options," she explains. "From the beginning we wanted to adopt a little person."

Their 3-year-old son has a form of dwarfism, reports People.

She advises other women who want to be moms not to give up. "I think the best piece of advice is to not give up and also be open to ways of having a family that you don’t expect," says Arnold. "I think in the end what I keep learning from other people is that you look back and it doesn’t matter how you got there but that you got there."

Life on TV

Arnold says that while she and her husband have become a little recognizable, being on reality television hasn't changed their lives much. "We still work full time," Arnold laughs. "Sometimes they film me at work which I love."

The couple signed on for the show, wanting to raise awareness about life with disabilities, something that remains their focus.

At work, Arnold says that sometimes patients feel like they already know her, "which is actually a great benefit."

On cord blood banking

Arnold, a neonatologist, is also an advocate for Cord Blood Registry. "I think many families and even myself as a neonatologist really don’t know a lot of information," says Arnold, who is passionate about raising awareness about why cord blood banking matters.

She says that cord blood isn't just for stem cell therapies, but can also be used in the treatment of other things including autism, cerebral palsy and hearing loss, which is still in the trial phase. "That’s what’s kind of exciting. My biggest thing is that we need to raise awareness so more research can be done," Arnold says.

Cord blood can be donated, and for kids with certain risk factors, may be eligible for free private storage as well.

More on celebrity moms

Jada Pinkett Smith defends her parenting style
Julianne Moore dishes on motherhood and Freckleface Strawberry
Celebrity mom Holly Robinson Peete talks travel and more

Kenny Chesney is the most frequently shirtless country singer. That tan and those muscles have earned him the right to always bear arms.

Despite stereotypes that might say otherwise, it's not exactly easy to come across country boys with their shirts off. They're not flashy rock stars. They live for jeans and t-shirts and they're just not cool with frolicking in front of a camera, showing off their chesticles. There are a few country boys that are exceptions though! We've collected the goods for your viewing pleasure.

Easily the Matthew McConaughey of country music, Chesney loves being shirtless. The only thing Kenny enjoys more than being shirtless is... being shirtless on the beach. Even on stage, Chesney does everything possible to avoid the strict confines of a shirt. Sleeves are blasphemous to Kenny: It's all about takin' the ladies to the gun show. And, if we're going with Kenny, we're always ready to be his date.

Yes, Billy boy, you are doing something right. You're not wearing a shirt, again, and we approve. We approve real hard. Currington, country's studly, kinky-haired crooner is probably the biggest show boat of them all. We should probably be turned off by the way he loves himself all over the beach, rolling around in the sand. But, you know, we don't mind at all. We think we'll watch this one twice.

There was a time in his life when Keith spent some serious time in front of the camera. When he wasn't shirtless for Playgirl, he was decked out in metallic leather. Even during his days of over-bleached hair, Keith was still fun to look at and listen to, though. Now it's a lot harder to come by a picture of Keith shirtless. Luckily, when he filmed the video for his love song to Nicole, he thought spending time seemingly naked and in bed seemed like a brilliant idea. We agree.

This needed to happen. It almost didn't because Dierks doesn't like to prance around half-naked for his music videos. However, he does enjoy splashing around in the water. Each new year, he and some friends and family do a quick plunge into a lake to celebrate the new beginning and Dierks likes to document the moment when he "slow marches" into the frigid water. He also likes to redneck-out with a banjo in random creeks, too, and he caught that on film as well. Deirks Bentley: More please?

Finding a topless Luke Bryan is like finding a needle in a hay stack... or a farm boy at a Luke Bryan concert. They all look so similar, but which one is the one you really want? While he keeps himself covered in jeans and tees for music videos, Luke doesn't mind letting loose for some pre-concert tailgating. Thank goodness for that! Watch this long enough and you'll earn your time back. Promise.

Image courtesy of WENN

A surprising name has been added to the list of actors who have signed on for Michael Bay’s new version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

According to MovieFone, Will Arnett has signed on for the newest version of the story of four turtles-turned-superheroes. But no one seems to know exactly who he will be playing.

Michael Bay giving Transformers a major makeover>>

Michael Bay favorite, Megan Fox, has already been cast as April O’Neil, the journalist who is also friends with the four turtles. The actors playing the turtles have also been selected.

“Inhabiting the mo-cap shells are up-and-comers Alan Ritchson, Pete Ploszek, Jeremy Howard and Noel Fisher,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.

But not only is Arnett’s role a secret, it is unclear is even left for him to play.

“Still uncast from the Ninja Turtles mythology are Splinter, the turtles' sensei rat, and the villainous and masked Shredder,” THR explained. “Arnett is not playing the turtles' human friend Casey, another role that has yet to be cast.”

But according to MovieFone, the actor playing Shredder will likely be someone older than Arnett, and Splinter will likely be animated .

“It’s pretty safe to say that Arnett’s strengths lie in comedy and voice acting, which would make him a good fit for Splinter,” the website explains. “The comic actor is no stranger to voice acting, with credits ranging from the English-language dub of The Secret World of Arrietty to Despicable Me, Monsters vs. Aliens, and Ratatouille.

Up All Night reboot: Possible, but unlikely>>

No matter who he ends up playing, Arnett is not quitting his day job. He is returning as Gob in the return of Arrested Development, and is also working on a new pilot for CBS.

“On the animated front, Arnett is voicing Batman in Warner Bros.’ upcoming The Lego Movie and the lead character of Surly in The Nut Job from Gulfstream Pictures,” said THR.

Ninja Turtles is set to come out June 6, 2014.

Photo courtesy FayesVision/WENN.com

If you need a quick idea for a sandwich, give this exquisite combination of smoked salmon, Brie and pear a try. It doesn't take that long to come up with a delicious meal plus it doesn't deprive you of the healthy side of eating.

Salmon, pear and Brie panino recipe

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 1 bread roll
• 2 slices smoked salmon
• 1/2 pear, thinly sliced
• 3 slices Brie
• Lettuce leaves

Directions:

1. Slice the bread in the middle.
2. Layer the following:  lettuce, smoked salmon, Brie and pear.

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What would you do if your tires hit water and you lost all control of steering and braking? Take precautions and make sure you never find yourself in this dangerous situation.

Avoid hydroplaning

Stay calm

If you find yourself in a hydroplane, don't panic. You should regain control once your tires come back into contact with the road. "The only thing a driver can do when hydroplaning is straighten the wheels so that when they regain grip on less-wet ground the car will not slew hard to one side," says Wren. "It is wise not to hit the brakes, either, until road grip is regained."

More safe driving tips

10 Ways to avoid an accident
The how and why of rollovers
How to recover from a skid

Most people don't leave the house with the intention of jumping on the hood of a BMW or exchanging blows with another motorist, but it happens more often than you'd think. Multiple studies show incidences of road rage are on the rise . So what can you do? Take responsibility for your actions and don't let unchecked anger lead to an unsafe situation.

Meditation

"The best way to deal with road rage is to avert the danger that has not yet come," says Transcendental Meditation instructor Jeanne Ball. This is done, she says, by dissolving stress that has built up in the nervous system before it gets triggered while driving. "Accumulated tension, stress and anxiety can be a time bomb waiting to explode. Get to the root of the problem and eliminate the stress through any approach proven to effectively dissolve stress, such as the Transcendental Meditation technique." Clinical studies have shown that the TM technique decreases stress hormones and reduces anxiety and hypertension. "Nowadays, even soldiers are using it to remain levelheaded under the pressures of combat. When you leave your house cool, calm and collected, you can more gracefully handle the frustration of traffic jams and careless drivers."

Aromatherapy

If your emotions lead to a hot head while driving, aromatherapy may help you cool off. Ball recommends placing essential oils in a car diffuser as an effective way to keep road rage at bay. "Oils such as lavender, rose and ylang-ylang are known to pass through the blood–brain barrier quickly and can calm the emotions."

Change your mindset

The AAA Foundation brochure "Road Rage: How to Handle Aggressive Driving" recommends three specific mental adjustments to avoid aggressive driving:

• Forget winning
• Put yourself in the other driver's shoes
• Ask for help, if needed

You'll be a safer, less angry driver when you stop trying to beat the clock and don't let yourself get aggravated by every red light or driver who slows you down. When another driver pushes your buttons with aggressive behavior, don't take it personally. Not seeing results from self-soothing techniques? Make your health and safety a priority by taking a meditation or anger-management course to learn how to better cope with emotional triggers.

More safe driving tips

10 Ways to avoid an accident
The how and why of rollovers
How to recover from a skid

Would you know what to do if your vehicle went into skid? We asked driving pro Eddie Wren for his lifesaving tips. His advice? Learn how to prevent a skid before it happens.

How to stop a skid

Don't be a know-it-all

When we asked Eddie Wren, president and chief instructor at Advanced Drivers of America, about skid recovery, we thought he'd recommend a driving class. We were surprised when he said skid-recovery classes are a terrible idea. "Even though it seems obvious that drivers should be taught 'how to get out of a skid,' 40 years of research from the top road safety research centers around the world has repeatedly and unequivocally shown that teaching people how to get out of a skid not only is ineffective,  but much worse."

In fact, people who get skid-recovery training are more likely to crash after getting such training than those who don't get the training. While this sounded crazy at first, Wren says he now understands the primary reason for this phenomenon is that people who get skid-recovery training develop overconfidence — a subconscious belief that "even if I skid, I can get out of it." The result is reckless driving and more crashes at higher speeds.

Prevent a skid before it happens

Preventing a skid is far, far more important than any attempt to recover from one, says Wren. "Needing to attempt a 'cure' is the result of bad driving, and such attempts are by no means a guarantee that nobody will be hurt or killed — you or somebody else." Wren says the top causes of skidding are:

• Driving too fast for the conditions
• Braking too hard for the conditions
• Accelerating too hard for the conditions
• Steering too harshly for the conditions
• Taking a curve or a turn too fast for the conditions
• Falsely believing that SUVs and pickup trucks somehow have better grip which allows them to be driven faster in snow and ice conditions

In short, the best way to avoid a skid is to drive at sensible speeds, be prepared to slow down significantly if you are concerned about the conditions, and use the vehicle controls gently and in a timely manner.

How to recover from a skid

If you do find your vehicle in a skid, Wren tells drivers to remember the following:

• Keep both hands on the wheel. If anyone — including a state driver's manual — ever tells you that if you skid you should select neutral, that advice is potentially very dangerous. Keep both hands on the wheel!
• If you can, remove the cause of the skid.
• Look where you want your car to go and keep looking there, even if your car starts to spin. Eye-hand coordination is incredibly important and incredibly powerful.
• For a rear-wheel or all-wheel skid in which your car starts to spin out of line, "Steer into the skid," which means steer to the same side the back end of the car is sliding towards. During a front-wheel skid, straighten the steering wheel.
• If you do have ABS fitted to your vehicle, it is perfectly correct to follow the advice "Stomp and steer!" Remember that ABS is not there to help you stop sooner, it is a device that allows you to keep on steering while braking, and for that reason it is tremendously useful. "If you feel the brake pedal pulsing or fluttering under your foot, or you hear a sort of 'tattattattatta' noise while you are braking, that is just the ABS doing its job. Do not release the brake pedal unless there is some other unrelated and crucial reason to do so, which is immensely unlikely."

  Expert tip:

  To gauge your following distance, Wren says you should watch the vehicle ahead of you as it passes something, then leave three seconds' gap on a dry road, six seconds on a very wet road, and 12 seconds on an icy or very slippery road.

More safe driving tips

10 Ways to avoid an accident
The how and why of rollovers
How to stop a hydroplane

Tire maintenance

Worn tires and tires that aren't inflated properly can cause a loss of vehicle control, an unintentional off-road experience and possibly a rollover. Check your tire pressure at least once a month and make sure it matches the psi listed in your owner's manual. Also check your tire for wear monthly, making sure there are no foreign objects like nails in your tire and making sure your tire has a tread depth of at least 1/16 of an inch. Rotate your tires according to your owner's manual recommendation to ensure even tire wear and optimize vehicle handling.

More safe driving tips

10 Ways to avoid an accident
How to recover from a skid
How to stop a hydroplane

Bon Jovi fans hoping to see the band's original lineup will be sorely disappointed this spring. Guitarist Richie Sambora is stepping away from the tour to deal with his "issues."

The band made the announcement in a statement on their official website. "Due to personal issues, Richie Sambora will not be performing on this upcoming leg," they said. "All shows will go on as scheduled."

Jon Bon Jovi talks drugs, daughter>>

Sambora was noticeably absent from the band's Calgary show last night, leaving frontman Jon Bon Jovi feeling vulnerable.

"I had two choices" pack up and go home or give you everything I got," he told the crowd. "Richie Sambora won't be performing for a while. If there's ever a night I need you, it's tonight, Calgary!"

To make up for the crowd's disappointment, the band pledged a $100,000 donation to a local shelter.

While no details have been released about what exactly Sambora's issues currently are, the guitarist has struggled with substance abuse in the past and was forced to miss a 2011 tour to attend rehab. He later admitted that Jon Bon Jovi didn't come visit him while he was away.

"But everybody was very supportive — my band, my family, my kid. It was like, 'Hey, go get better, man. Do what you gotta do,'" he told Classic Rock Magazine in September 2012.

His drinking is rumored to have caused the demise of his marriage to Heather Locklear and wrecked his relationship with Denise Richards.

Image courtesy WENN.com

Read on for more Bon Jovi

Music review: Bon Jovi "Because We Can"
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With a short message on Facebook on Wednesday, April 3, Jimmy Eat World announced the release of their next album.

“New Full Length Album. Damage // June 11, 2013,” the message read.

Producer Butch Vig talks about making Nirvana's Nevermind>>

The Tempe, Arizona band has had their ups and downs, from indie records to worldwide hits, but have always stayed true to their music. Their fans have stuck around that whole time, because they've grown up with the band. Since the release of Jimmy Eat World's first album in 1996, they've written albums for where they are in their lives at the time.

They recorded their newest album at the home of producer Alain Johannes, and they created a new sound by going backwards in time.

"We used tape for the first time in a long time, as well as computer," lead singer Jim Adkins told Rolling Stone. "I hate saying more raw, but it's more raw and warm. We just set up all around Alain's house. There were instruments in his bedroom and drums in his living room. Just noise all day long. There was less an emphasis on it being clean and perfect. There's a lot of stuff that's more about the performance than it sounding pristine. And I think it feels better for what the songs are."

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Their last album, Invented, was based around one subject. Adkins said there was an outline for that album, and it was something the band ended up really liking.

"I think with Invented [there was] an outline that it would be themed around," Adkins said. "Not necessarily a subject, but we had a direction before we wrote it. As you get older it's more interesting to have a theme that everything tries to support — I would say this album has a theme.”

That “theme” shows where the band is these days. Their first album Static Prevails came out almost 20 years ago, and the four band members are no longer the kids they once were.

“I would describe it as an attempt at making an adult breakup record,” Adkins continued. “The consequences to what the characters are going through are more significant. There's just more to it. I'm 37 and the world around me is a lot different than when I was writing breakup songs in my 20s. I tried to reflect that in what the lyrics are."

The first single for Damage has yet to be determined, but the band will be participating in Record Store Day on April 20 by releasing the title track as a 7-inch. Jimmy Eat World has done major tours with bands like Foo Fighters and Green Day in the past, but this time they'll probably keep it small, starting with a tour around Arizona.

As for the band, they're happy with the direction they've gone in. Adkins told Rolling Stone that each album is something new for the band. But in the end, each album adds to the sound that is Jimmy Eat World.

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"I think we're really proud of the record," he adds. "It's something we put a lot of work into and we really wanted to get right, whatever that meant for the song. I don't think it's that dissimilar to things we've done in the past."

Photo courtesy WENN.com

Vicki’s first birth ended in a C-section, which was not in her plans, at all. How she turned her second birth into a successful home birth is extraordinarily inspiring.

From disappointment
to triumph

Vicki, a mother of two who lives in Canada, planned on a natural hospital birth with her first baby, but she wound up with a C-section instead. In between her first birth and her second, she set out to have the home birth she’d always wanted — and was successful.

Lyra’s birth

Vicki’s first daughter, born in 2009, arrived in the hospital via an emergency C-section. This was not the birth Vicki had expected and hoped for. “My plan was to have a natural birth in the hospital, as I was not able to get a midwife due to very low availability,” she explained. “I wanted little interventions, and to basically be left alone as much as possible.”

However, when her water broke prior to labor’s start, she was advised to go to the hospital to get checked out, and wound up being admitted with weak contractions and only dilated 1 1/2 centimeters and effaced 25 percent — in other words, she had a long way to go. With the time ticking away, she found herself on day two in labor and delivery with a Pitocin drip. Unfortunately, things didn’t pick up. “I labored for 24 hours while they ramped up my drip, and at 30 or so hours of labor, I was 3 centimeters, my baby was tachycardic , and I had spiked a fever of 105 degrees,” she said.

She was prepped for surgery and Lyra was delivered healthy, but still had to spend some time in the NICU because her oxygen saturation was low. The birth, however, left her with feelings that she didn’t expect. “I was so disappointed. Obviously I was elated to meet my baby, but I had envisioned this awesome, empowering birth, and instead I feel like I was railroaded into making choices I didn’t want to make,” she remembered.

Planning ahead

Vicki knew that for her next birth, she wanted it to take place at home. She began educating herself on how best to succeed. “I trained as a birth doula between the births of my children,” she told us. “I learned so much about the birth process during that training, that when I discovered I was pregnant with Olive, I knew how to manage some of the stumbling blocks that can occur during the birth process.”

There are only so many midwives in her area Alberta — in fact, only 14 to serve a metropolitan area with a population of one million people. “I knew I had to think about other options,” she shared. “I was not comfortable with the idea of having an unassisted birth after a prior cesarean, so I did look around to find general practitioners and obstetricians that were more holistically minded.”

To prepare, she read tons of books and attended support meetings. “I also went to ICAN support meetings, which I found invaluable — hearing other women’s VBAC success stories was inspiring,” she said.

Her midwife, like all others in the area, had admitting privileges at her local hospital. “Because I was postdates , there was an obstetrician on call in case I needed to be transferred to the hospital,” she explained. “The care is collaborative between midwives and the physicians. The continuity of care is a feature of our maternity system that I do appreciate.”

Olive’s healing birth

Vicki’s labor, like her pregnancy, was very long — 46 hours long, in fact. A midwife visit at 41 weeks and 6 days found her to be 2 to 3 centimeters on the outside, but she couldn’t reach the amniotic sac to do a membrane sweep. The next day, she was eating dinner at her mother’s house, which is where her contractions started. “They weren’t regular yet, but they were a good 45 seconds to a minute long and anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes apart,” she recalled. “By 8 o’clock, I was having to breathe through them, so I packed up Lyra and took her home. Driving through contractions in the dark is a bit on the scary side.”

She put Lyra to bed and spent the night draped over her yoga ball. By the next morning, at 7 a.m., it felt like things were picking up. She spent time with her doula and running a couple of errands, and had her midwife check her at around 2 p.m., when she was devastated to find out she was only 3 centimeters dilated. Unfortunately, the same result was obtained the following morning at 3 a.m.. “I lost it,” she said. “I had been laboring for 30-odd hours with absolutely no progress. All I had to show for all my hard work was that my knees and elbows were rubbed raw from rocking back and forth on the floor on my knees. I was exhausted. I was beginning to feel defeated. I just wanted to rest.”

The next day, however, when she called her midwife in for a final check, she was ecstatic to find that she was 6 to 7 centimeters dilated. The birth pool was filled and she hopped in. She was checked at 2 p.m. and was 8 centimeters dilated, and thus began the most difficult phase of her labor. “My contractions were coming two at a time, I’d get about 30 seconds of rest between them, and they’d start all over again,” she remembered. “I was starting to get irritable. I could no longer control the sounds I was making, and I was getting a little panicked.”

Soon, she was completely dilated and felt the overwhelming urge to push. Around this time, her mother stopped by. “I heard her sobbing as she came into the house and she sat next to the pool telling me how proud of me she was,” she happily shared. "It was the little push I needed to get serious about... well... pushing.”

Soon, the baby’s head was visible, and the ring of fire sensation began to overwhelm her. Her midwife asked her to give one big giant push, and she did. “I pushed as hard as I could and felt outrageous pressure and stinging as the baby’s head popped out,” she said. “Noreen helped to deliver the shoulders with the next push, and with the very last, Chris held out his hands to catch our daughter as the rest of her body slid out at 9 minutes after 5. Our Olive Isis Staples.”

The rush of emotions

Vicki was understandably elated. “I can’t even begin to describe the emotions I felt,” she explained. “I was so elated. I had just ended 42 weeks of pregnancy and 46 hours of labor by birthing my baby in a pool on my living room floor. I just had my successful VBAC baby!”

She says that her home birth was absolutely worth it. “I knew it was the right thing for me to do,” she said. “I needed to take back my body. I needed to prove to myself that I could do it and that I wasn’t broken.”

She also encourages moms who have had a prior C-section to go for a home birth if they really desire one. “In the absence of risk factors that might pose a danger to yourself or your baby, I highly recommend it,” she said. “It was the single most empowering moment of my life. To reach down and pull my own baby out of the pool was an incredible moment. I can’t even think about it without beaming and tearing up.”

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Brittany from Glee is a new mom-to-be, reports Us Weekly, and she couldn't be happier.

The 26-year-old actress and dancer's longtime boyfriend Taylor Hubbell, who Heather Morris has known since high school, is reportedly the father of her new oven-bun.

“She’s a little more than three months along and starting to show,” a source told Us Weekly.

The baby was a bit of a surprise — but a pleasant one.

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"It was totally unexpected, but they are incredibly happy and excited," the source added.

Morris, who used to be a backup dancer for Beyoncé, but got her breakout role on FOX's smash show Glee, has talked before about wanting to have babies with Hubbell.

"I want to marry Taylor and have kids with him,” the star told Fitness magazine in 2011. "I love acting, but if it affects my relationship, then I won't continue."

Well! Does that mean Heather Morris will continue on Glee, or take the stay-at-home mom route? Only time will tell.

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Since most of the show's original cast members graduated last season, Morris has been a bit of an anachronism this season, anyway. She was supposed to graduate along with the others, but it was discovered that she had a 0.0 GPA. Yet she could still participate in the Cheerios? Oh, I'm looking for reality on Glee, somebody slap me.

Anyhoo, the Us Weekly source told the magazine that the couple was not planning to get married. But "I see it in their future," said the source.

Image courtesy Brian To/WENN.com

The day has finally arrived. After months of planning, your wedding day is here! As vital as healthy eating has been leading up to it, it’s crucial you eat right on the big day, too.

What to eat on
your big day

Almost all women want to lose weight before their wedding, so they eat right and exercise for months to ensure they look their best for their soon-to-be hubby and fit into their dream dress. Most brides, though, aren't aware that what they choose to eat on their wedding day is just as important as what they choose to eat for the months leading up to it. Certain foods leave you feeling bloated, energy-less and fatigued, all feelings you dread having on your wedding day. Learn what foods you should be eating — and which ones you should be avoiding — on the day you've been dreaming of your whole life.

What to eat…

First, do not make the mistake of not eating. We understand you'll be nervous and food will probably be the last thing on your mind, but eating right on your wedding day is a must. If you skip breakfast and lunch and head straight for the Champagne, you'll wind up more buzzed than normal. You also may feel dizzy and light-headed due to skipped meals. Foods that will fill you up without leaving you feeling bloated include:

• Oatmeal. Oatmeal is the power food — it will give you energy that lasts all day plus help keep you full. We recommend waking up to a hearty bowl loaded with blueberries for antioxidants.
• Asparagus. If you can, have some fresh asparagus stalks in your room for munching on while you're getting ready. Asparagus greatly reduces bloating and is filling — a win-win!
• Fresh fruit. Fruit keeps you hydrated and is refreshing, plus it's loaded with vitamins and minerals. Skip the berries and fruits with seeds, though, as they can get stuck in your teeth. Stick with apples, bananas, mangos and melons.
• Chia seeds. Finally, to get that sun-kissed bridal glow, add chia seeds to your morning oatmeal on the big day. Chia seeds contain omega-3s, which are responsible for giving your skin that natural, healthy glow.

What not to eat…

On your wedding day, you want to avoid feeling sluggish, having bad breath or feeling bloated. To make sure this doesn't happen to you, you'll want to avoid the following foods like the plague:

• Lattes. Unfortunately, you'll want to skip your morning vanilla latte from Starbucks. Caffeine dehydrates you, which in turn can make your breath less than pleasant. The milk and sugar doesn't help, either. If you have to have caffeine, we suggest plain, black coffee. Drink plenty of water afterward and make sure to brush your teeth!
• Diet soda. Diet Coke is what gets most women through the day, right? Well, on your wedding day, you'll want to think twice about sipping on this carbonated beverage. Both the carbonation and the artificial sweeteners will leave you feeling bloated. Instead, reach for herbal tea.
• Chips. Chips — or anything salty — make your body retain water, or in other words, cause bloating. Reach for fresh veggies if you're looking for something crunchy instead of the Lay's.
• Gum. Due to the sugar alcohols, gum causes bloating. If your breath seems less than minty fresh, either brush your teeth or reach for a mint.

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NBC has finally announced the worst-kept secret in TV of 2013: Jimmy Fallon will take over The Tonight Show when Jay Leno retires after 22 years.

While the move won't happen until spring of 2014, NBC confirmed the move after months of rising chatter — and Fallon is psyched.

"I'm really excited to host a show that starts today instead of tomorrow," he said in a media statement.

Steve Burke, Chief Executive Officer of NBCUniversal, explained the move.

"Jay Leno is an entertainment icon, making millions of people laugh every weeknight for more than 20 years," he said. "His long reign as the highest-rated late-night host is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to his viewers and to NBC."

"We are purposefully making this change when Jay is #1, just as Jay replaced Johnny Carson when he was #1. Jimmy Fallon is a unique talent and this is his time. I'm thrilled he will become the sixth host of The Tonight Show at exactly the right moment, in conjunction with our coverage of next year's Winter Olympic Games from Sochi, Russia."

"I also want to congratulate and thank Debbie Vickers and her Tonight Show team for producing an entertaining, first-class show every night for the past two decades," Burke finished. "Debbie's role in the creative and popular success of this franchise cannot be overstated."

Leno's comments were a bit briefer. "Congratulations Jimmy," he said. "I hope you're as lucky as me and hold on to the job until you're the old guy. If you need me, I'll be at the garage."

Jay Leno has hosted The Tonight Show since taking over for Johnny Carson in 1992. Fallon, a Saturday Night Live alum, has helmed Late Night with Jimmy Fallon since 2009, a gig that Seth Myers is rumored to be taking over.

Image courtesy Kyle Blair/WENN.com