Books for foodies

Cookbooks aren't the only food-related books out there. These books for foodies should be on your must-read list.

If you find yourself reading cookbooks like a novel, cover to cover, these nonfiction foodie books are for you. Whether you're getting insight into the minds and lives of famous chefs, learning the history of food and gastronomy or training yourself to appreciate what you're eating, you're sure to be entertained as you read through these pages.

Love foodie fiction? Don't miss these delicious reads >>

Published just in time for the celebration of her 100th birthday, Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child, gives us a wonderful biography of an incredible woman. There's always room for another Julia Child book on the bookshelf — who can get enough of the always entertaining, always endearing host of The French Chef? Bob Spitz details the life of Child, from wartime to the lifelong romance with her husband to the writing and great success of her tome, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. If you want to learn more about Julia Child, this is a great place to start.

Marcus Samuelsson is an award-winning and world-renowned chef, but that might be all you know about him. In his book, Yes, Chef: A Memoir, Samuelsson provides an intimate insight into how he became the man he did, starting with his Swedish grandmother who he credits with instilling in him his love of cooking. His journey from Ethiopia to Sweden to France and New York is fascinating, but Samuelsson says it wasn't always easy. This personal account is a must for foodies who can't get enough of the world's top chefs.

There's no denying that Joe Bastianich knows his way around a restaurant. His mother is Lidia Bastianch, which alones gives him plenty of cred, but he's also Mario Batali's business partner and a successful restaurateur in his own right. In his memoir, Restaurant Man, Bastianich details an insider's view of the New York dining scene, down to the nitty gritty and not so pretty. He pulls no punches in his candid discussion about the industry and the people in it. Although it has ruffled some feathers along the way, this book is full of food-related entertainment.

The culinary scene may not be what it is today if not for Craig Claiborne. But in 1957, as the new food editor for the New York Times, he began to make his mark on the food world. In the biography, The Man Who Changed the Way We Eat: Craig Claiborne and the American Food Renaissance, Thomas McNamee charts how Claiborne transformed the Times food section, paved the way as a restaurant critic, influenced food trends and more. This is a must-read for an intriguing look into the life of food pioneer.

Did you ever actually learn how to taste food properly? Barb Stuckey doesn't think so. In her book, Taste What You're Missing: The Passionate Eater's Guide to Why Good Food Tastes Good, she suggests that a lot of what we think we know about the way we taste food is incorrect. Stuckey says that much of the way individuals taste their food is determined by genetics and other factors, and that the actual flavor in our mouths is a very small portion of the overall tasting experience. This book takes you through experiments in tasting and teaches the reader to taste food for the best results. If you like mixing science with your food, this one's for you.

More for foodies

Famous Foodie Profile: Cat Cora
Best US cities for foodies
Checking In: Hotels for foodies

Judging by most reviews of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, Kevin Hart fell short as host. Are we harping on the comedian for his somewhat diminutive stature unfairly? We think not -- and don't forget, he's the one who started it!

As seen in the photo above, Kevin Hart kicked off Thursday night's ceremonies by entering the Staples Center in Los Angeles surrounded by an unlikely team of security guards.

Rihanna upset over Justin Beiber's VMAs shut-out? >>

"I don't know if MTV made a mistake," he told the audience, setting up what proved be a lame duck of a joke. "I told MTV that I was going to need a little security. I think they took it a little literally." Crickets. "But that's okay," he aded. "Those guys did a good job!"

Later on, Kevin Hart hoped another stab at height would equal comedic might, donning one of Dwight Howard's Los Angeles Lakers jerseys. Looking diminutive in the 6-foot-11-inch baller's shirt, Hart shot to the chuckling center, "That's funny to you? Let's see if it's funny when Kobe don't pass you the damn ball."

2012 MTV Video Music Awards: Worst-dressed >>

Panning the performance, the L.A. Times stated, "Hart played the role of back seat master of ceremonies during Thursday's densely packed show... Despite his frenetic energy, Hart's routine mostly fell flat."

The Twitter judge and jury at large, however, seems torn over Kevin Hart's hosting. "Kevin Hart is not funny, I worry about y'all sense of humor," wrote one person Thursday night. Another applauded the host, though, tweeting, "Let's pause for a moment and applaud Kevin Hart for being a damn hilarious host!"

What's your take on Kevin Hart's MTV Video Music Awards host performance?

Image via WENN

Kris Jenner fears her Kardashian family fame can't compete with Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Rumor has it the 56-year-old momager is having a fit over the popularity of 7-year-old Alana Thompson, best known as pageant regular 'Honey Boo Boo Child' to TLC fans.

A gossip source happily told RadarOnline all about Kris Jenner's Honey Boo Boo hate, adding that not only does the 56-year-old not get what the fuss is all about , but feels quite threatened the Kardashian family's time as reality television royalty may be ending.

Did TLC hit a new low with Here Comes Honey Boo Boo? >>

"To say Kris is not a fan of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is an understatement,” the source is quoted as saying. "She thinks the Thompsons are classless, unlike her family, and can’t understand why America is so fascinated by them."

Elaborating on the feud further, they continued, "Kris especially has a strong dislike for June [Honey Boo Boo Child's mother], claiming the beauty pageant world is vile and that June is a bad mom for 'exploiting' Alana in that way.

"Kris think it’s all a ploy to make money, and says she sees through it and thinks it is absolutely disgusting."

Ring, ring -- pot calling kettle!

Kris Jenner died? "Awkward," says Kim Kardashian >>

However, Kris Jenner herself has a thing or two to say about the Honey Boo Boo hating allegations. "Sorry dolls don't believe everything you read/hear!!" she tweeted Friday. "I'm sorry to say I've never heard of 'Honey Boo Boo' and haven't seen show!"

Do you believe Kris Jenner, or do the Honey Boo Boo hating allegations ring true?

Image via WENN

They know how to make an entrance

2 Chainz is on stage bleeping his little heart out when the cameras pan to neon shoes atop a skateboard cutting through the raucous crowd. The feet filling those fluorescent sneaks, of course, belong to none other than hip hop's infamous tatted-up auto-tuner, Lil' Wayne. Happily, Weezy made it to the stage without being clotheslined WWE-style by the overzealous arm of a fan — although that would have been rather amusing too — and everyone went wild. Taylor may not have rolled in on any X-Games-worthy sporting goods, but her sassy, solitary "sound booth" emergence made the audience just as giddy.

Lil Wayne pens prison memoir >>

They can rock some Wayfarers, y'all

Not everyone is blessed with a head which looks good wearing classic Wayfarer sunglasses. Many tempt fashion fate by donning the shades, and many end up looking like extras from The Blues Brothers. But whadya know? Both Tay-Tay and Weezy sport the signature shades during their performances for a brief moment — and they both make that brief moment look good. Granted, they only get a pass for taking part in the ever-annoying celebrity trend of wearing sunglasses inside because the sunglasses were more of a theatrical prop here. The only other acceptable excuse would be recent cataract surgery.

Friday Fashion Obsessions: Taylor Swift and Lea Michele >>

They put their ass-ets on display

Taylor's a pretty young thang, so it didn't really come as any surprise that she wore something to show off her cute little figure. More specifically, the booty-hugging short-shorts she was strutting around in onstage showed the world one potential reason so many hunky men are hot for Tay-Tay. No buts about it, though : we couldn't help but zone in on another derriere out there — Lil' Wayne's. The rapper thoughtfully paired his drooping pants with a snug pair of boxers, lest MTV producers be forced to run a censor bar over his a** all night. But, here's the thing... that a** was lookin' mighty nice. Just sayin'.

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

They make for some entertaining clips of famous fans feelin' it

Oh how we love those gratuitous and often awkward moments when the cameras pan in on a celebrity in the audience. The celeb, who often has some scandalous connection to the star on stage, typically smiles uncomfortably until the lingering lenses zoom out and on to someone else. Which is pretty much exactly how it went down when the cameras caught Taylor Swift's matching-monikered ex, Taylor Lautner, during her performance of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." On the flip side, Lil' Wayne's performance brought clips of Rihanna, Katy Perry, Drake and other celebs momentarily forgetting the cameras were rolling and shakin' what their mamas gave them.

"We Are Never ..." may be about Jake Gyllenhaal >>

They go belly up... in a good way

Did crowd surfing come back in style? In the past, this sort of risky business was relegated to circa '90s rock concert mosh pits teeming with tokers and headbangers. Well, leave it to Tay-Tay and Weezy to resuscitate this rowdy crowd-pleaser for their performances — both capped off their songs floating belly-up in a sea of what we can only assume were over-eager fans' hands. The two even showed off different stage diving styles... perhaps there is an etiquette book for genre-specific stage diving techniques? Taylor's slip into the crowd was quite subtle and ladylike , whereas Lil' Wayne full out threw his shirtless body into the screaming masses. If we were in the business of handing out scores for celebrity high dives, we'd be giving these two 10s across the board for straight-up flair.

VMA 2012 Recap: Hot Happenings >>

Images courtesy MTV/Pictures Group

Perfect for people looking to take a tour of Madrid, Spain

Will Shaw journeys to Spain for a sailing vacation with his family, but the reunion isn’t all hugs and kisses. There is a taut underlying tension with his emotionally distant father Martin , who Will believes works as a cultural attaché.

After a minor boating accident, Will swims to shore only to return to an empty boat. Will goes to the Spanish police for help searching for his family when the action begins.

Will soon discovers his father Martin is actually an operative for the CIA, and his family has been kidnapped by terrorists. If Will and his dad don’t return a ubiquitous black briefcase full of intel before Martin’s associate Jean Carrack sells it to another band of terrorists, Will’s mother, brother and his brother’s girlfriend will be killed.

Henry Cavill proves he’s in excellent cardio shape as he runs on foot through the exciting streets of Madrid. He exposes his glorious chest as he swims from the sailboat to the shore, and fortunately gets shot in the back, providing a second excuse for him to take his shirt off.

Original bad-a** Sigourney Weaver struts tough as Carrack, the female double agent who can drive her Land Rover with her right hand and shoot out the window with her left. If only the filmmakers had given this amazing actress more to do than shoot bullets.

Bottom line: Henry Cavill makes an excellent action hero, so if you like your action movies with a European flavor, you’ll love The Cold Light of Day.

Photo credit: Lionsgate Films

Inquiring women want to know

How often do you walk into your doctor's office with a list of pressing health questions, only to forget them as soon as you put on the gown? We can relate. So we connected with Harvard-trained integrative physician Sara Gottfried to get the answers to the most common women's health questions -- no office visit required.

Meet the expert

Dr. Sara Gottfried is a Harvard graduate, board-certified OB/GYN, an adjunct faculty member at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine and founder of the Gottfried Center for Organic Gynecology in Berkeley, California. She is author of the upcoming book The Hormone Cure and creator of Mission Ignition: Sex Drive, a wildly popular online course for women to re-ignite their sex drive using her 3-Step Gottfried Protocol for natural hormone balancing, using nutraceuticals, botanicals and when needed, bioidentical hormones, along with some other esoteric practices. Dr. Gottfried has been featured in Yoga Journal, Glamour, Diablo and Natural Health magazines. She is also the medical expert featured in the award-winning film on women and yoga, YogaWoman.

Dr. Sara Gottfried: Yes! Although genetics are not 100 percent of the story, they often determine whether you are eating the right foods, taking the best supplements and choosing the ideal strategy to optimize your mood. Your genes are inherited from your parents, and 50 to 80 percent of how the genes are expressed is determined by how you eat, move, supplement, sleep and think. In my integrative medicine practice, I find that people who struggle with their weight do better on a genotype-appropriate diet, and in fact, Stanford University proved that people who follow a genotype-appropriate diet , lose double the weight over one year compared with a control group that followed a one-size-fits-all diet.

Foods for good moods and energy >>

Dr. Sara Gottfried: Many women have issues with adrenal fatigue and don't realize it. I happen to believe that it's underdiagnosed in the conventional medical world and overdiagnosed in the alternative medicine world. I like to diagnose it accurately based on either blood or saliva tests for cortisol and DHEA, the main stress hormones. Adrenal fatigue is for real -- I've had it myself! Back in 1999, I was a working mom and burning the candle at both ends. I was a textbook example, with sky-high cortisol most of the day, a muffin top, sugar cravings, prediabetes and crankiness. Once I figured it out, it took me three months to fix my own adrenal fatigue and now I am committed to helping women heal this swiftly. As they say, my mess became my message!

Are you suffering from adrenal fatigue? >>

Dr. Sara Gottfried: I recommend three natural solutions. Try vitamin B6, especially if you're genetically susceptible to PMS, chasteberry and St. John's wort.

10 Tips to prevent PMS naturally >>

Dr. Sara Gottfried: After much research and immersion in the data of bones, I now believe bone loss is a problem of hormone imbalance and nutritional neglect. Certainly, osteoporosis is a problem of hormonal imbalance, plus a few immune issues thrown in for good measure. Put another way, bone loss is a message from the body that something needs to shift. Since the answer to whether or not a woman should take calcium supplements requires a lengthy conversation, I will share my short answer: Get your blood tested and make sure your vitamin D level is in the normal range, and get calcium from food sources.

Calcium may give you a heart attack? >>

Dr. Sara Gottfried: Cortisol is the main hormone that helps you deal with threats in your life and has three main jobs. Cortisol will make your blood sugar go up , raise your blood pressure and moderate your immune system. When cortisol is chronically high, it makes insulin rise, which is a fat-storage hormone that drives glucose into cells. High cortisol leads to fat deposits, mostly where it's easy to pick up the fat again and convert into energy, which is why cortisol leads to increased belly fat. In fact, fat at your belly has four times the number of cortisol receptors as fat elsewhere. As I just explained, when you're under stress, adrenaline rises along with cortisol, but when adrenaline begins to drop and cortisol stays high, you get the "cortisol switch." It's like having a cup of coffee -- you feel great for about 20 minutes, and then shaky and irritable and often angry. The anger and other negative symptoms are a result of high cortisol and low adrenaline.

How stress can make you fat >>

Dr. Sara Gottfried: I find that the Paleo diet helps to keep cortisol, estrogen, thyroid and testosterone balanced and where they need to be so that they can best support women. It doesn't work for everyone -- for instance, women who are programmed genetically to eat a low-fat diet don't do well on it. But for women who struggle with their weight or cannot afford genetic testing , start with a Paleo diet plan.

Try the Paleoista lifestyle >>

Dr. Sara Gottfried: Many women suffer through the symptoms of perimenopause, from night sweats and disrupted sleep to intrusive hot flashes and brain fog. Moods may dramatically worsen or anxiety may surface. PMS may become an order of magnitude more intense. Rather than presenting the view that hormones are bad -- the black/white or polarized thinking that dominates the media and traditional medicine -- I prefer to present women with options. I ask them if they want to try chaste tree Vitex, an herb for PMS proven in several randomized trials, or something else.

Risks and rewards of HRT >>

Dr. Sara Gottfried: Stress itself is not bad for sex drive -- unless you feel persistently overwhelmed and you rarely get out of the "alarm" mode. If you perceive that you're perpetually stressed , you'll make too many stress hormones such as cortisol. This zaps your libido and happy brain chemicals, and it makes your blood sugar rise. Result? The dreaded muffin top as well as sex being the last thing on your mind.

Good news! Reclaiming your libido is easier than it might seem when you're overwhelmed. Believe it or not, a lingering hug and kiss, and even better, a toe-curling orgasm, reverses the damage from stress hormones. Orgasm raises oxytocin, which lowers cortisol, the main stress hormone. Managing stress more skillfully also helps you get your sex drive back to normal, [using stress-reduction methods] such as yoga, meditation, whole foods that stabilize blood sugar, targeted exercise, even eating a square of dark chocolate very slowly and mindfully. I'm a huge fan of leveraging tumescence -- where you build and store sexual energy but don't release it quickly . Tumescence really fills the energy tank for women!

More expert health tips

How to get more out of your health care
Losing weight with the new dietary guidelines
7 Best ways to bust stress

Want to put some bounce into your workout? If you're bored with land workouts that require high-impact moves or you just want to have more fun while you sweat, trampoline workouts are the way to go.

Jump yourself fit

20-minute Springfree Trampoline cardio workout: Before you start the workout, warm up for 2 to 3 minutes by jumping up and down, going through fun basic moves to get your blood pumping and prepare your muscles and joints for more intense work. At the end, take 2 to 3 minutes to cool down, jumping lightly and letting your heart rate gradually come down.

Jump workouts are not only a quick way to tighten, tone and build core strength, they can also shred calories and boost cardio as effectively as going for a run -- without the stress on your joints. We connected with Springfree Trampoline to get the best trampoline moves to combine into a 20-minute muscle-toning cardio workout. Are you ready to jump?

Starting point: Standing tall with your feet on the trampoline and your arms extended straight above head.

Mid move: Jump up and hold your body in a straight position with your arms raised.

Landing: Land with your body straight, arms straight above head.

Starting point: Stand tall with your hands at your sides.

Mid move: Jump up in the air, moving your legs forward, then bounce on your bottom with your legs straight out in front and your palms down with your fingers pointed toward your toes.

Landing: Land standing tall, as in the starting position.

Starting point: Stand tall with your hands at your sides.

Mid move: Jump up, pull your knees to your chest and grasp your hands around your knees or ankles.

Landing: Land standing tall with your arms extended straight over your head.

Starting point: Stand tall with your feet on the trampoline and arms at your sides.

Mid move: Jump up and point your legs out, keeping them straight and parallel to ground while reaching your arms toward your feet, fingers pointing toward your toes.

Landing: Land standing with your legs straight, as at the starting point.

Starting point: Stand tall with your feet on the trampoline and arms at your sides.

Mid move: Jump up in air, moving your legs forward into a seated position.

Landing: After the bounce, perform a half-twist and land facing in the opposite direction.

Extra move: Instead of jumping up and landing on your feet, land on your bottom with your legs straight out in front of you and your palms down, with your fingers pointed toward toes. You'll bounce back up into the air and then land on your feet.

Starting point: Stand tall with your feet on the trampoline and your arms at your sides.

Mid move: Jump up and extend your legs sideways, approximately 90 degrees apart, keeping your legs straight while you reach with your arms toward your feet and point your fingers to your toes.

Landing: Land standing with your legs straight, returning to start position.

Starting point: Stand tall with your feet on the trampoline and your arms at your sides.

Movement: Jump up and point your legs out to either side, keeping them straight, while your arms reach above your head until you clasp your hands at the top.

Landing: Land standing with your legs straight and together, in starting position.

Starting point: Stand tall with your feet on the trampoline and your arms at your sides.

Movement: Jump up and turn in the air, facing the opposite direction for a half-twist, or complete 360-degree rotation for a full twist.

Landing: Land with your hands at your sides in a half-twist or a full twist.

More calorie-shredding workouts

Get the jump on fitness with plyometrics
The 500-calorie workout plan
Burn more calories with the cardio-acceleration workout

The CW's best-kept secret is back for a second season. Hart of Dixie doesn't return until next month, but we have a sneak peek at all the down-home drama. The network has released a new preview, titled "Zoegate."

Rachel Bilson goes gangsta: See the video >>

The love life of Zoe Hart  is more complicated than ever. She went from having no boyfriend to multiple love interests. The good doctor is stuck between the charismatic Wade and the endearing George .

The love triangle heats up in the second season of Hart of Dixie >>

In the new trailer, Zoe's more than a little embarrassed by her predicament. While she's stressed about their new "dynamic," Wade's cool as a cucumber and doesn't break a sweat when Zoe accidentally reveals their tryst to George. In fact, Wade revels in it.

Elena learns the awful truth in Vampire Diaries promo >>

Those three aren't the only ones bitten by the love bug. Lavon has his hands full when actress Golden Brooks shows up as a woman from his past. And we can't forget Lemon , who's clearly distraught and blames Zoe for ruining her life. She and George were supposed to get married, and that clearly didn't happen.

Hart of Dixie: Jaime King dishes Lemon! >>

Little Zoe has gotten lucky in love. Check out the preview below:

Hart of Dixie returns Tuesday, Oct. 2, on The CW.

Who should Zoe choose? Will you be watching?

Photo credit: FayesVision/WENN

It's been quite the summer for Paris Jackson. She landed her first feature film role in the upcoming Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys, was the center of a family firestorm over money and custody along with her two brothers Prince and Blanket, and now is opening up in a major magazine interview with Glamour. Guess what? Her life may not be perfect, but she loves it anyway.

The 14-year-old has been bitten by the acting bug, and although her mean old aunt Janet Jackson says she is much too young — probably because of her own experience as a child actress — Paris has at least one person in her corner.

"A lot of people don't want me to do it," Paris told Glamour. "Aunt La Toya believes in me. She heard me play a little guitar and sing, and she started clapping, 'Oh my God, oh my God.' She really does encourage me; it's just awesome of her."

Janet isn't Paris' only foe. The kids at her ritzy private school — the same one Kim Kardashian and Nicole Richie attended — are pretty much all haters too.

"The clique in my class, they don't like me or my friend because we're outside of the box. We're not copycats," she said. "Prince calls me goth, but I'm more rock 'n' roll. I listen to older music like AC/DC; Phil Collins is the ish."

"A ton of kids at school have made fun of me; if I had to give advice to other girls, I would say, 'Hang loose and ignore them,'" she said. "They shouldn't faze you, no matter how popular they think they are."

The teen takes her own advice to heart and plans to blaze her own path outside of her famous family.

"I love my dad, and I'm proud to be his daughter," Paris said. "I just don't think the title 'M.J.'s daughter' fits me. A lot of people think he's the only reason I'm making it, but I want to show that I do have talent and that I can make it if I try. I want to be my own person."

Read the complete interview with Paris Jackson in the October issue of Glamour.

Image courtesy WENN

No matter how old you are chronologically, you're still as young as you feel. Cut loose with some friends and have the time of your lives with these adult birthday party ideas.

Party themes for adults

Whether you're at your place or you rent a room, add your own creative touches to make the night a shining success.

Blast-from-the-past party

Bring back the styles and fashions of years gone by. Either ask the guests to dress in their favorite gear from the decade of the birthday-boy's birth or dress as they were at the age he is now. As a bonus gift, have each guest send you the name of their favorite song from the year he was born , download them all from iTunes and burn them to a CD to present as a special gift at the end of the evening.

Just for fun, buy a silly prize for the man of the evening to award to the person he thinks has the best costume. If you're his mom , you can even break out his baby album!

Cocktail party

A cocktail party is an elegant and laid-back way to celebrate someone's big day without all the stress of a full-blown party. Cook or purchase appetizers and invest in a few quality bottles of wine. You could also serve a special cocktail as the drink of the evening and let guests BYOB on the rest.

No matter what type of cocktail party you want to have , you should also stick to these tips.

• Choose a theme. Not all cocktail parties have to be formal affairs. Yours can be a little bit country or a little bit rock and roll. No matter what, make sure your decorations, apps and drinks go with your theme.
• Tell your guests what the dress code is on the invitation -- some people see "cocktail party" and automatically think of a cocktail dress, which may not be appropriate for your Calvin Klein-esque theme.
• Clear out a space for dancing and/or set up special seating arrangements to facilitate mingling.
• Have music! Whether you hire a DJ or use your mp3 or CD player, music should be going at the right level to keep guests from feeling uncomfortable during those lulls in conversation, especially if your guests don't all know one another.

No matter what, don't forget that the reason you're all there is to celebrate someone's birthday. Even though this is a casual event, plan for a toast or two and set aside a table for gifts.

Love Harry Potter? Try these cocktails for your Hogwarts-themed cocktail party >>

Casino night party

Create a big-spenders atmosphere with a few simple decorations and a few rented props. You'll just need a larger room and some of the following fun games and items.

• Poker chips
• Decks of cards
• Dice
• Poker tables, roulette wheels, slot machines, craps tables
• Fun music
• Appetizers and fun cocktails served on or in red and black paper or plasticware

Guests can even literally purchase more chips by putting money in a tip jar that will later go to your birthday girl or her charity of choice. If the party is for you, you can even ask guests to bring items for you to auction off on eBay to support your nonprofit of choice.

Check out some of the great charities SheKnows found >>

At the end of the night, you should have a prize for the guest who ends with the most chips . It can be something gambling-themed like a batch of lottery scratch-offs, a nice bottle of vino or having the entire charitable donation you've collected be made in their name.

Guest bartender night

Send out invitations asking each guest to bring a bottle of his or her fave new liquor and a mixer like soda, juice, tonic, etc. The night of your soiree, set up a bar with a host of tumblers, shot glasses, rocks glasses and other cocktail glassware .

Allow each guest to take a turn behind the bar, explaining their new liquor and showing everyone how to make their signature drink. Give a prize, like a special bottle of wine, to the winner as chosen by the guest of honor. Then allow the winner to give the official birthday toast.

More about throwing parties for adults

Throw a chocolate-themed party
Sports-themed parties for adults
Harry Potter cocktail party for fans over 21 

First lady fashion

Gray is the new way

During this year's Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama did much more than just spark a presidential campaign. Her gorgeous gray nail polish has caused a frenzy among trend-thirsty women across the country.

It's safe to say that Michelle Obama can do no wrong when it comes to first lady fashion. America watched as the first lady delivered her poignant speech in a stunning Tracy Reese dress.

Speaking with equal parts of grace and power, her expressive hand gestures brought attention to the unconventional slate gray color of her nails.

Check out the hottest trending nail designs here >>

Tuesday night's fashion display once again proves that Michelle Obama doesn't abide by the rules of typical first lady fashion, rather, she creates them. Wearing a color meant for the likes of trendy twenty-somethings and cosmopolitan business women, Michelle Obama not only breaks the mold, but she has inspired the women of America to do so as well.

Ever since Mrs. Obama first debuted the nail color, search hits for the nail polish skyrocketed. Salons and beauty stores were inundated with questions -- what was she wearing and where could they get it? Scouring racks of nail polish, people wondered, was it O.P.I? Essie? Chanel? Lo and behold it was never any of those, rather it was the Artistic Nail Design Soak Off Colour in "Vogue."

Get the look

TIP: Head to the salons for this polish! You won't be able to find it at your local CVS.

Unfortunately for us, the nail polish is only available in nail salons. The $16 nail polish is a gel formula that needs a UV light source to cure. A trip to the salon is well worth it, considering the formula is long wearing and chip resistant, lasting for a whopping 21 days.

The cool gray color has been on the fashion grid since 2011, joining other neutral colors such as taupe and nude to create a subtle and sophisticated look. Michelle Obama's exhibition of the color has propelled the color to the mainstream -- perfect timing for the fall season!

More on beauty trends

4 Celebrity manicure inspirations
Nail trends to try in 2012
Inspiration for cool nail designs

"Why did you throw away the diamond?" That's the number one question writer/director James Cameron said he's asked when people come up to him and talk about his 1997 film, Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

"My belief as the writer is that if you're really paying attention to the lessons of the film, it's a kind of an anti-materialist statement about finding things that are really important in life," he said.

Titanic cast remember filming epic >>

The story is about a rich girl and a poor boy who fall in love aboard the Titanic just before the supposedly unsinkable ship goes down, becoming one of the most historic shipwrecks of all time. The film grossed more than $2 billion at the box office and was recently re-released in 3-D. Now, with the new Blu-ray release of the film, SheKnows had the chance to sit down with the master himself.

Avatar tops Titanic! >>

So, what does the director of one of the most romantic movies of all time think after seeing the film again after all these years?

"I'm just happy it was all done 16 years ago," Cameron said.

No. 1 — The Five-Year Engagement

This adorable romantic comedy staring Jason Segel and Emily Blunt is about a couple who wants to tie the knot but can't seem to figure out exactly when to do it. After putting off the wedding one too many times, they are forced to face the inevitable question... Do they want to get married at all?

Rotten Tomatoes: 63% fresh

Movie review: The Five-Year Engagement is a long road to a happy ending >>

No. 2 — Safe

We heart tough guys! Jason Statham and Catherine Chan star in this action flick about the protection of a 12-year-old girl in the New York City underworld. The film is directed by Boaz Yakin of Remember the Titans and Uptown Girls fame. Action, martial arts and adrenaline make for a wild ride.

Rotten Tomatoes: 57% splat

No. 3 — Piranha 3DD

You know you're dying to see what could possibly happen in a third Piranha movie, no matter how cheesy it might be. The killer fish is back — this time with a vengeance for spring breakers. Arrggg!

Rotten Tomatoes: 14% splat

No. 4 — High School

What if the first time you inhale is the first time anyone ever asks if you've inhaled? The new kid tries drugs for the first time and now has to hatch a plan to foil the school drug test, or he won't get a scholarship to MIT. Wackiness ensues!

Rotten Tomatoes: No rating yet

No. 5 — My Sucky Teen Romance

This quirky indie comedy about two people who meet at a space convention was a recent selection at the SXSW Film Festival. When two people fall in love and one of them turns out to be a vampire, things get weird for a shy girl who just wants to find the right guy.

Rotten Tomatoes: No rating yet

Photo credit: Universal Pictures

It's true that opposites attract, and that is especially true with Katy Perry and Rihanna. Before Thursday night's MTV Video Music Awards, very few people knew the two singers were even friends. But the affection they showed for each other in the audience during the ceremony made it obvious that they are very close.

"Whether it was Katy Perry singing in Rihanna's ear while One Direction was performing or the two of them clutching hands before it was announced that Rihanna won Video of the Year, these two were hands-down the cutest couple at the VMAs," said MTV.

The truth is, the two women have been friends for a while. According to the U.K. Sun, Rihanna was the first person Perry called when she found out her then-husband Russell Brand had filed for divorce. "Katy was embarrassed about calling her parents as they'd been so against Russell in the first place," said the paper. "But Rihanna was a great support for her and she really helped to calm her down."

While it seems like the two couldn't be more different, they actually have a lot in common. Rihanna went through a very public breakup from boyfriend Chris Brown, a relationship it looks like she is still dealing with. Perry's fast-moving relationship, and eventual breakup, with Brand was also done in front of the world. They both came from humble backgrounds and built themselves into their one-woman music empires, and it could be argued that they are two of the most important women in pop music today.

Perry is almost four years older than Rihanna, but that doesn't seem to make a difference. Rihanna and Perry were absolutely adorable Thursday night, and we look forward to seeing much more of this blooming relationship.

Photo courtesy of STEPH / WENN.com

Rebel Wilson may be the ultimate comedic actress. She's willing to go out on a limb for her comedy. And Thursday night was no different. Wilson presented the award for Best Female Video at the MTV Video Music Awards with The Wanted and may have made each one of them blush.

"The actress sent jaws dropping at the Staples Center in Los Angeles when she stepped out in an airbrushed T-shirt with a silhouette of a shapely bikini girl," said the U.K. Daily Mail. "But perhaps most red-faced were British-Irish boy band The Wanted, after she propositioned the singers to let her take them home."

Wilson came out on stage holding a strategically placed bag of chips. Then she lifted that bag to reveal that her painted-on bikini was covering up a body that, well, desperately needed a shave. She told the band she wouldn't need to choose which one she would take home because she could choose them all. And then, "everybody wins."

The Bridesmaids actress signed on as the Australian face of Jenny Craig last year and has been losing weight ever since.

"She tipped the scales at 234 lbs but has now dropped 33 lbs. Showing off her slimmer figure on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last month, she said she wants to lose another 22 lbs to reach her target," said the Daily Mail.

She also has a new movie coming out soon. Bachelorette is the story of women growing up and seeing their friends get married.

"Writer-director Leslye Headland cast the comedienne as the straight woman in the dark comedy," said the Daily Mail. "Wilson plays Becky, a sweet, beaming bride — the first of her friends to marry. Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher and Lizzy Caplan are her troubled clique of friends whose hard-partying antics threaten to ruin Becky's big day."

She is also working on a TV pilot with Conan O'Brien, which she will star in. Bachelorette is in theaters now.

Photo courtesy of Brian To / WENN.com

Kristen Stewart's noticeable absence from Thursday's MTV Video Music Awards was due to her appearance at the Toronto Film Festival to promote her new film On The Road. Her presence was much anticipated because she has not made any public appearances since she and boyfriend Robert Pattinson broke up.

She was asked the question she probably most dreaded — about the appearances she'll have to make with Pattinson to promote the new Twilight film and the awkwardness that will probably be involved.

"We're going to be fine," she said and then, in what appeared to be an afterthought, followed with, "We're totally fine," according to the U.K. Daily Mail.

The comment was directed more at promoting the film than the status of their relationship, which is still in question. Pattinson is selling the home they shared together, and he isn't talking either.

Despite heartbreak, the Twilight show must go on >>

"Robert, 26, appeared at last night's Stand Up to Cancer fundraiser in Los Angeles, and has squirmed his way through various appearances to promote new film Cosmopolis, while avoiding questions on Kristen at all costs," said the Daily Mail.

The paper also said Stewart looked like she did not want to be at a photo shoot with her On The Road co-stars and appeared "tired and weary." But at the premiere for the movie, she was surrounded by supportive fans and reportedly stayed on the red carpet much longer than she had planned to take pictures and sign autographs.

Many thought she might skip the festival, since she hasn't been in public in so long, but the actress said it wasn't even a question.

"We have been waiting for this thing to be unleashed for so long," she said, according to the Daily Mail. "It was sort of one of those situations where you just have to put yourself in your body and go appreciate the moment."

On The Road is expected to hit theaters Dec. 21, just about a month after The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2 is released.

Photo courtesy of Ian Wilson / WENN.com

Larry Flynt has never been shy about sharing his opinions, and tomorrow, millions of Americans will learn exactly how he feels about presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The Hustler entrepreneur has taken out full-page ads in the Sunday edition of the Washington Post and the Sept. 11 edition of USA Today offering a bounty for Romney's tax returns.

"What is he hiding?" the ad reads, said Yahoo!. "Maybe, now, we'll find out." Flynt includes his phone number and email address for anyone willing to provide those returns. A press release released by Hustler magazine said Flynt is "offering up to a million dollars in cash for documented evidence concerning Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's unreleased tax returns and/or details of his offshore assets, bank accounts and business partnerships," according to CNN.

CNN also said the issue could be more an attempt by Flynt to promote his magazine than to actually keep Romney's finances in the headlines. Romney has released his 2010 returns and an "estimate" of his 2011 taxes but has said he won't release more years. His reason — it would only increase criticism.

Romney's tax returns were also in the news earlier this week after an online hacker claimed to have the tax documents and would offer them up for a $1 million ransom.

"Should the sum not be paid by later this month, the posting said a key to unlock the documents would be released publicly, while the financial firm from which the documents were allegedly stolen said there is 'no evidence of unauthorized access to our data,'" according to CNN.

Flynt is a registered Democrat but ran for president in 1984 as a Republican, said Yahoo!. In the past, he has offered similar rewards for different causes he cares about, including debunking the Warren Commission's investigation into the death of John F. Kennedy, finding evidence of infidelity on the part of Texas governor Rick Perry, and finding evidence of marital infidelity on the part of any Republican attempting to impeach President Clinton.

Photo courtesy of Johnny Louis / WENN.com

The stars have all come out at the Toronto Film Festival, and as usual we're learning so much about them. Bradley Cooper admitted this week that he is a fan of a series you may not have guessed. Cooper is at TIFF promoting his new film, The Silver Linings Playbook, which co-stars Jennifer Lawrence of The Hunger Games.

Cooper and Lawrence were being interviewed by MTV News when he shared a secret with Lawrence.

"I just saw it," Cooper told Lawrence in the interview, speaking about her other movie. "I didn't even tell you? I didn't text you?"

According to MTV, the actress looked surprised. Cooper continued by saying how excited he is about the new casting choices for the next film in the series.

"Philip Seymour Hoffman is in this," he said. "He's unbelievable."

Besides Hoffman's addition to the series, Sam Claflin was announced as playing Finnick in the story. Lawrence seemed very excited over the choice.

It's official: The Hunger Games has found Finnick >>

"He's wonderful," she told MTV. "He's really sweet, a great, wonderful actor. He's got a great American accent."

Cooper shared that he was upset about one event in the first film: "I'm bummed out that Wes Bentley got killed. He was awesome."

But he was corrected by MTV's Josh Horowitz, who said it’s possible he's still alive. And Lawrence explained, "It's kind of like a Tupac situation."

While there are still parts to cast, Cooper made no mention of wanting to actually be in the movies. But since he is such a big fan, it's always a possibility. Fans will have to wait a little longer for the next film. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is not set to be released until Nov. 22, 2013, followed by the next two films on Nov. 21, 2014, and Nov. 20, 2015.

The Silver Linings Playbook will hit theaters Nov. 21 of this year.

Photo courtesy of Ian Wilson / WENN.com

The list of musicians unhappy with politicians using their music is growing, and R.E.M. is the newest addition to that list. Only they are not complaining to a politician but to a whole network. Fox News has reportedly been using the band's song "Losing My Religion" on the show Fox & Friends.

"We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage," lead singer Michael Stipe said in a statement on R.E.M.'s website. "Our music does not belong there."

Rage Against Paul Ryan: No, you're the machine! >>

The band and Warner-Tamerlane Music, their music publisher, sent a cease and desist letter to the network, telling it to stop "its unlicensed and unauthorized use of the song."

However, Fox said it has a license to use the song. The network spoke with the New York Daily News about the issue.

"Fox News Channel's use of an R.E.M. song during Thursday's edition of 'Fox & Friends' was in full accordance with its license agreements with all appropriate parties," a spokesperson told the Daily News, according to Brent Johnson with the New Jersey Star-Ledger. "Nevertheless, we're always flattered to have this much attention for a song selection and we hope R.E.M. was able to satisfy their publicity fix."

Twisted Sister hates on Paul Ryan >>

The network reportedly used the song during the Democratic National Convention as a commentary on the party's religious views. Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister earlier told Paul Ryan to stop using that band's song "We Aren't Going to Take It" at his rallies, and the Silversun Pickups had to ask Mitt Romney to stop using their song “Panic Switch” during his rallies. "We don't like the Romney campaign," said Brian Aubert with the band.

R.E.M. has not responded to Fox's statement about their need for publicity, but Stipe posted this on the band's website today: "Fox News ha ha HAHAHA." There has been no mention of the song being used since the network was sent the cease and desist letter.

Photo courtesy of WENN.com

Wouldn't it be nice to serve one meal that everyone loves? Move make-your-own calzones to the top the list! It's easy to let everyone pick his or her favorite ingredients for this fun, satisfying Sunday dinner.

Aim to please!

Get in the 'zone

If you're wondering what a calzone is, think of a cross between a pizza and a hand pie. It's an Italian-style favorite made using pizza dough. You can load each with your favorite pizza toppings, cheeses and sauce, fold and crimp, then bake, serve and delight!

The best part of serving calzones for Sunday dinner is that your ingredient list can include just about anything you can think of, and you can let each person pick his or her favorite ingredients to personalize the calzones. Serving calzones is also a great way to use up the week's leftovers. Do your Friday leftovers include ground beef, sliced bell peppers and onions? Toss them in the calzone. You get the idea.

Check out this recipe for easy authentic empanadas >>

Good habits for healthy eating

The key to instilling healthy eating habits in your kids is to recognize that it isn't a one-time lesson. Start early and be consistent. One way to help your kids make good choices is to get them involved in meals and decision-making opportunities. Read on for great suggestions to help teach your children to be healthy eaters.

Make-your-own calzones

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of prepared pizza dough
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of your favorite tomato sauce , per calzone
• 2 ounces of your favorite pizza-type cheese, per calzone
• 2 to 4 ounces of your favorite pizza-type toppings, per calzone
• 2 tablespoons melted butter to brush on calzones
• Flour for dusting work surface
• Parchment paper

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven according to the directions on the dough package.
2. Precook any meats you're using, as appropriate.
3. Dust a flat work surface with flour and roll out your pizza dough into six, 6-inch disks.
4. Spread your sauce on the bottom one-third of the dough, just to about half-an-inch from the edge of the dough.
5. Next add your ingredients and cheese over the sauce.
6. Fold the top part of the dough over the ingredients, and pinch the edges of the dough to seal tightly.
7. Place the calzones on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, brush them with the melted butter, then cut three small vents in the calzones.
8. Bake for about 15 minutes, rotate, then bake for 8-10 minutes longer. You may want to bake them slightly less, depending on your oven. As they cook, check them to ensure they don't burn.
9. When they're lightly golden, remove from the oven, allow them to cool slightly and serve with a side of tomato sauce.

Calzones for Sunday dinner is likely to make it to your family's "favorites" list!

Try these Sunday dinners

Ballpark chili dogs
Enchiladas with spinach and mushrooms
Mediterranean tuna salad in radicchio bowls