Tamera Mowry

Tamera Mowry-Housley is literally due any minute, however the 34-year-old Tamera & Tia star looks gorgeous and glowing as she sits in the sand with her husband Adam Housley.

The actress has looked chic throughout her pregnancy, and she continues to dress to impress in this Sleeveless Ruffle Front Maternity Maxi Dress in abstract print from A Pea in the Pod .

 “I can now say that I am down to the wire. I seriously feel like I have been pregnant forever. Almost 10 months to be exact! Thirty-nine weeks in and no baby yet. 'This has now become a waiting game,' my OB told me,” Mowry writes on her blog for People.

“Oh, what fun. If I have yet to learn patience, my son is in the process of teaching me now. I have learned that I am not in control and that he will decide when he comes,” she continues. “However, I have not been as receptive as I want to be to his timing. If I am completely honest… at this stage, I want this baby out!”

Hang in there, Tamera! We can’t wait to hear the baby name of your baby boy!

Next up: Teen Mom 2 Leah Messer

Photo credit: Celebrity Baby Scoop - Celebrity Mom and Baby News

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Leah Messer

Teen Mom 2 Leah Messer Calvert is pregnant with her third child with her new husband Jeremy Calvert. The mom, who was put in the spotlight after showcasing her life on the MTV reality show after getting pregnant with her now 2-year-old twins Ali and Aleeah, was excited to announce the baby news.

“Jeremy and I are excited to be adding a new addition to our family,“ Calvert told Us Weekly. “Being a teen mom was difficult, but I'm older and in a different place now — married to Jeremy and excited for our family to grow.“

Messer was recently spotted out showing off her small baby bump at a West Virginia playground, where she wore jeans and a T-shirt that revealed her growing midsection.

Next up: Ian Ziering and his pregnant wife at the pumpkin patch

Photo: Celebrity Baby Scoop - Celebrity Mom and Baby News

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Ian Ziering and Erin Ludwig

Ian Ziering and his pregnant wife Erin Ludwig were spotted with their 18-month-old daughter Mia at Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch in Los Angeles. The 90210 star and his wife are expecting their second child together.

“I feel blessed, having a family is something that I’ve always wanted,” the actor tells People. “Having a second child is the realization of a dream come true.”

Ludwig is reportedly in her second trimester, however not quite showing yet as she pairs a black tunic top with leggings and flats.

Next up: Camila Alves and Matthew McConaughey spotted out with their adorable kids

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Camila Alves

Camila Alves shows off her baby bump in a black dress with a sheer skirt as she enjoys the day with her husband, Matthew McConaughey, and their two kids Levi, 4, and Vida, 2.

Alves, 30, is expecting their third child together and recently said this pregnancy has been difficult.

“This [pregnancy] has been a little different. Anything you can feel in a pregnancy, I'm feeling in this one. So put it all in the pile, that's how I'm feeling,” she said.

She may not be feeling great, but she always looks chic and polished. She said that her hubby, however, likes her when she looks natural. "He likes as simple as possible. Less makeup, less everything,” she said.

Next up: The Mentalist star Amanda Righetti in an Isabella Oliver dress

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Amanda Righetti

The Mentalist star Amanda Righetti looked chic in a black bump-hugging gown at the CBS 100 Episode Celebration of The Mentalist.

Righetti, who has also appeared in The O.C. is expecting her first child sometime this winter with her husband Jordan Alan.

Love her look? Righetti is wearing the Isabella Oliver Ruched Midi Dress paired with black heels and a chic clutch.

The 29-year-old actress is one of eight siblings — so she is undoubtedly ready for a full house!

From Megan Fox to Shakira, check out more pregnancy celebrities here >>

Photos: WENN unless otherwise noted

Cameron Garriepy wanted to see her novel published. But with the odds against her and without a publisher, how could she make it happen?

A novel path to
being an author

Garriepy turned to crowd-sourcing, launching an Indiegogo fundraiser to raise money to self-publish her novel, Buck's Landing. Now, the book's out and she's ramped up for a great launch.

Many people dream of becoming authors. For Cameron Garriepy, a mother of one, that dream is becoming a reality. The Massachusetts mom's new novel, Buck's Landing, is now available on the Kindle and will be available in paperback soon.

The book is a romance set in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Sofia Buck returns home to temporarily run the family business after her father dies. Silas Wilde leaves behind Manhattan and an unhappy legal career to live more simply, running a shop in the beach town. They find each other — but can their love survive their different goals?

Loves romances

Garriepy's love of romance novels goes back to when she would read whatever books her mom brought home from the library — along with her own selections. She adores the strong characters and intriguing plots of authors like Nora Roberts and Susan Wiggs.

She jokes that she wrote her first romance novel in the eighth grade — but really, it's true. Using her school friends for inspiration, she crafted a story. That was followed by much writing in her teens and college years. But then she stopped. As a 20-something young professional, Garriepy moved away from her writing.

Then, about three years ago, she became immersed in the online writing world and discovered the Red Dress Club , a writing group online where writers discuss the craft. "It sort of became the time. I’ve always said I should try writing one of those [romance novels]," says Garriepy.

After many starts and stops, the story of Buck's Landing just came to her. She was on vacation at Hampton Beach with her husband's family — and that became the setting of her first published novel.

"The two main characters sort of walked off the boardwalk and sat down next to me," says Garriepy. "I literally started the book while I was on vacation."

Stealing moments off the beach and writing when she could, the story just poured out onto the page.

Crowd-sourcing the funding

Garriepy took a nontraditional road to publishing. Through the crowd-sourcing site Indiegogo, she funded the costs of a professional editor, some printing and marketing costs. "The whole thing still when I stop and think about it just amazes me," says Garriepy.

Her project was fully funded in about 26 hours, because some of her friends made it their mission to help make it happen and because Garriepy reached out to her network too. "I went out and begged for help. I reached out to the community of people I know through writing," says Garriepy.

For Garriepy, with the book just releasing, the adventure is just beginning.

Finding time to write

So, when does Garriepy find time to work on her fiction? She says that she writes in the evening and also in the afternoons while her son plays with Legos. She also takes notes on her iPhone while sitting in traffic — basically whenever she can fit it in.

"Someday I would like to have a door I can close. But kindergarten is coming and I will be sad [my son is] in school all day," says Garriepy.

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This is probably one of the easiest pies you'll ever make. Just dump your ingredients into a slow cooker, give em' a little stir and let the magic happen! The end result is a mix between traditional pie and custard with a perfect biscuit and crust-like topping. It's absolutely to die for. Plus you can eat it directly from the pot with a spoon, no plate required!

Slow cooker pumpkin pie

Recipe adapted from Food.com

Serves about 6

Ingredients:

• 15 ounces canned pumpkin puree
• 8 ounces evaporated milk
• 3 ounces spiced rum
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup Bisquick, divided
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• Whipped cream for garnish

Directions: 

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together pumpkin, milk, brown sugar, one-third of the Bisquick, eggs and pumpkin pie spice. Pour mixture into the slow cooker. Place pats of butter over the mixture and sprinkle with remaining Bisquick.
2. Cook on low for six to seven hours or until mixture is thick and crust is golden brown. Serve warm with whipped cream and enjoy!

More easy pie recipes

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You make Courtney Love look like the Tanning Mom

If your skin is so pale, you can make out most of your major organs, it’s not a foregone conclusion that you’re just one human neck away from living forever. The way to know for sure is if your sallow complexion is coupled with freakishly dark eyebrows and abnormally red lips. Also, if your skin sparkles like Tinkerbell’s fairy dust when you enter the sunlight, you are probably a vampire. Give yourself one point for having pale skin, two points for having pale skin with pronounced brows and lips, and 100 points if the aforementioned is combined with sparkling like the Fourth of July when you’re exposed to sunlight.

Kristen Stewart understands 'the whole love triangle thing' >>

You have super-human strength and speed

This can be a tough one for people who are trying to figure out if they are bloodsuckers or not. Some people are pale, can run really fast, and can lift heavy stuff. Here is how you can tell. If you can run around the globe three times in 30 seconds or less, especially with someone on your back, you are most likely a vampire. Also, if you can scale super-tall trees in a few seconds and don't die when you fall to the ground, you are for sure a vampire. Give yourself one point if you are pale, fast and strong, two points if you are pale, fast, strong, and can scale tall trees effortlessly, and give yourself 100 points if you are pale, fast, strong, can climb trees effortlessly, and don't die when you fall from great heights.

Kristen Stewart is a real see-you-next-Tuesday, she says >>

You’re incredibly good-looking

This might be the most difficult of vampire characteristics to interpret, but we are going to break this down for you so there is no question. You can only call yourself a vampire if you are incredibly good-looking and you’ve been the age you are right now for 300 years or more. The last distinction is an important one as it is, um, a dead giveaway. So, give yourself one point if you are super-good-looking, two points if you are pale and super good-looking, and 100 points or more if you are celebrating the 300th anniversary of your 17th birthday and/or you have a mural of graduation caps on your creepy mountain-house wall because you’ve graduated from high school so many times.

Robert Pattinson's Dior deal tops Brad Pitt's Chanel gig >>

You are super-skinny

People who are unnaturally skinny are mocked just as much as heavy people. It can be a real curse for some. But does being underweight necessarily make you a creature of the night? Of course not. Put those fears to rest, but only if your slim physique is not coupled with any of the following: Your diet consists of animal or human blood, which you extract with your fangs through the jugular veins of your prey and/or you can’t sleep. Ever. Give yourself one point if you are super-skinny , two points if you are super-skinny and like your meat rare, 100 points if you are super-skinny, you extract blood from human or animal necks and you haven’t slept in five years or more.

Under 100 points: You are delightfully freakish, but not a vampire.

Over 100 points: You’re a vampire. Enjoy that whole super-fast, wicked-thin, living-for-all-eternity thing.

Images courtesy of WENN.com

Frequent flier

Turks & Caicos travel guide

Ready for take-off? This week Frequent Flier is jetting off to sunny Turks and Caicos and showing you how to plan the perfect group getaway to this dazzling Caribbean destination. If you're craving a beach vacation and want to take the whole family or jet off with a group of your best pals, this is the spot for you.

Where to eat

Going anywhere with a group means dealing with various likes, dislikes and palates that might not always agree. Make a trip to the grocery store and stock up on snacks as well as breakfast and lunch items. That way you don't have to worry about eating out for every meal. When you do want to eat out, there are several spots to choose from.

What to do

Hit the beach. Grace Bay, which features the famous 12-mile Grace Bay beach, is the ultimate beach for walking. Grab a sun hat, slather on the sunscreen, bring a bottle of water and start walking. There's something totally relaxing about meandering along a stretch of sand that seems to go on forever.

Book a snorkel trip. If you love getting up close and personal with sea life, this is the place to do it. The Turks and Caicos Islands boast the third largest barrier reef in the world after Australia and Belize. The 6,500 acre Princess Alexandra National Park is a protected area and one of the Caribbean's best snorkeling spots . The marine park is also the playground of "Jo Jo" the resident bottlenose dolphin, who we had the pleasure of spotting on our snorkel trip.

We went on a half-day excursion that involved hunting for conch, snorkeling the awe-inspiring reef and a visit to a gorgeous and secluded beach spot to check out iguanas and soak up the sun sans other tourists.

Grab a bicycle and explore the island on two wheels. Just be careful after it rains — the roads can get near-flooded after a storm.

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The end of daylight saving time can set even the steadiest routines into a tailspin as nighttime comes sooner and bedtimes are tested. A few simple tips can help your family adjust to the time change and minimize clock confusion!

Fall back, stay on track

Remember when falling back an hour meant staying out later before curfew hit, or squeezing in one more round when you were out with friends?

Now it means figuring out how to set your kids’ internal clocks back an hour earlier than they’re used to, while maintaining a routine and dodging bedtime crankiness. Of course, falling back has one benefit that every parent appreciates: One more hour of precious sleep!

Slowly transition bedtimes

One trick to help your children adjust to their new sleep schedule is to gradually push bedtime back, by 10–15 minutes, each day for a week or so before the time switch. If you find your children are resisting sleeping earlier, consider stacking the deck in your favor by lining up activities during the day that tend to tire them out and allow them to soak in a little extra sun now that daytime will be shorter. Take a family walk after dinner, squeeze in extra playtime at the park, or pencil in some physical play like playing catch or practicing soccer goals, so they can expend more energy. Just make sure to take on the extra activity well before you start settling down and getting ready for bedtime.

Cold turkey… with a side of patience

Some families opt to tackle the end of daylight saving time cold turkey, just like they might handle bedtime or naps after traveling cross-country to a new time zone. If that’s your style, put your kids to bed whenever bedtime always was, regardless of the time change.

While your child might feel like they have an hour left to kill, if bedtime is eight o’clock, continue with your regular bedtime routine and have the kids in bed at eight o’clock, as usual. Of course, that doesn’t mean they’ll always fall straight to sleep, but at least the expectation is set and eventually, they’ll fall in line.

Dr. Mom, Melissa Arca, M.D., says, “The first week is often a challenge but everyone soon catches on, particularly because the sleep-wake cycle will ultimately catch up in a few days.”

Consistency is key

Whether you opt for cold turkey or try and sneak up on the daylight saving time transition, make sure you maintain your bedtime routines. If you always started your routine an hour early so you could fit in bath time and storytelling, keep those activities consistent to help signal to your child that bedtime is imminent, regardless of the time change.

“Whichever method you choose, just remember to stay consistent with your bedtime routines,” Arca says. “Sure, your children may initially balk at the new earlier bedtime, but in no time, it will be the new normal.”

More on child routines

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Q&A With Stacey Bendet

Known for her quirky sense of style and love of vintage, Alice + Olivia designer Stacey Bendet has made quite a name for herself in the fashion world. I mean, c’mon, when you’ve got A-list stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Taylor Swift wearing your stuff on the reg, you’re definitely doing big things.

That’s why we just couldn’t resist the opportunity to pick the playful trendsetter’s mind. So we decided, what the heck? We might as well ask her 10 random style questions. Here goes!

SheKnows: What's the most outrageous piece of fashion advice you've ever received?

Bendet: Hmm, I don’t know… I think I’m always such a crazy dresser on my own. One of the funniest things though was when I wore this green and black striped suit to a movie premiere a couple of months ago and someone made a comment. I thought it was like one of my more conservative outfits because it was a suit. It always stuck in my mind because I was like, really? I thought I was dressed so preppy.

OK, so we’re officially obsessed! Inspired by the MAGNUM Mini Almond and Classic Ice Cream Bars, Stacey debuted these two skirts at the Alice + Olivia Spring 2013 presentation during New York Fashion Week and guess what? They’re the only items from the show that you can snag NOW! Get your fix online at aliceandolivia.com or in any Alice + Olivia store.

SheKnows: We adored your recent collaboration with Magnum Ice Cream. If you had to pick one comfort food and design an entire collection around it, what would it be and why? What would the clothes look like?

Bendet: I think it would be an ice cream sundae! I think even just collaborating with ice cream in general is so fun because there’s always, you know… there’s sort of a flirtatiousness to it and a sexiness to it. It’s exciting. My dream collaboration would be to design dresses based around an ultimate ice cream sundae. You know, with like super cool sequins as sprinkles.

SheKnows: You're stranded on a desert island and can only bring five things from your closet — what do you grab?

Bendet: High heels, a beaded kimono, some sort of long, flowy, goddess-y, shipwrecked dress [with a beaded waist], another pair of high heels and I guess a bathing suit.

SheKnows: Name one style rule you think all women should break.

Bendet: Whenever people say that you can’t wear white after Labor Day. I think women look like angels in white all year-round. That’s one rule I’m always kind of like, “No way!”

SheKnows: We know you love vintage shopping, so can you tell us a little about your all-time favorite find?

Bendet: My all-time favorite find? Oh my God, I have so many. It’s extremely hard for me to answer that question, but my all-time favorite store — which closed — for vintage was Karen Elson’s in Nashville. She had the most insane, amazing vintage store, Venus & Mars. I went there with my friends one weekend and got the craziest, coolest stuff. She has impeccable taste. Everything in there was like a treasure. Over the weekend though, I bought an amazing vintage, avant-garde, burnout, kind of velvety dress.

SheKnows: Do you have any fashion pet peeves?

Bendet: Yes, flat shoes and sweatpants. I think they should both be banned!

SheKnows: You mentioned in a recent interview with Lucky mag that you’re such a pants girl. Pants are also how you got your start with Alice + Olivia. So tell us, how many pairs of pants do you think you actually own?

Bendet: Oh God, I don’t even know…100?

Lucille Ball in Mame

SheKnows: If you could have any TV or movie character’s wardrobe, whose would you chose and why?

Bendet: Probably Auntie Mame. Oh my gosh, she had amazing faded kimonos and robes and gowns. They’re killer.

SheKnows: Any idea what you’re going to be for Halloween this year? Or what your daughters will dress up as?

Bendet: Eloise is going to be a fairy, Scarlet is going to be Mickey Mouse and I usually let them tell me what I’m going to be.

SheKnows: Speaking of your girls, what have they taught you about fashion?

Bendet: There’s kind of like, this freedom of spirit that you don’t really have past age 5, but when you watch a child dress themselves… it’s just like they put things together that you would never think to do, and I think you learn from that. So that’s one thing. The other thing is that sometimes watching a child — especially a little girl — pick out her favorite of something, in this odd way, it’s always a best seller. Their eyes go to what’s pretty, not what’s cool or in style. It’s just what’s pretty. So I always want to see what they like.

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Photo credit: Jeff Grossman/WENN, Jason DeCrow/Invision for Magnum Ice Cream/AP Images, Stefan Jeremiah/WENN.com,  Stefan Jeremiah/WENN.com,Stefan Jeremiah/WENN.com, WENN.com

It's been an eventful week for Hollywood. George Lucas did the unthinkable by selling Lucasfilm to Disney, the X-Men: First Class sequel lost its director, and within a few days has quickly found another.

According to Deadline, 20th Century Fox has hired Bryan Singer to direct the 2014 follow-up Days of Future Past.

Disney acquires Lucasfilm >>

For fans of the X-Men franchise, this is a serious case of déjà vu. Not only did Singer previously produce X-Men: First Class, but he also directed the first two installments of the series: X-Men and X2 . He was supposed to return for X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006, but opted to do Superman Returns instead.

X-Men: First Class goes super human on Hangover 2 for box office win >>

Unfortunately, The Last Stand is widely considered the weakest entry in the X-Men trilogy. Singer's absence was felt, leaving some to believe he was the franchise's saving grace. Days of Future Past will give him a chance to test that theory. Matthew Vaughn was supposed to direct the sequel, but dropped out, leaving Fox scrambling for a replacement.

Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy: The X-Men speak >>

Singer was the perfect choice considering his history with the studio and the property. He's no stranger to the characters and was already on board to produce. He'll join returning stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence, who'll reprise their roles as Prof. Charles Xavier, Erik Lehnsherr aka Magneto, and Raven Darkholme aka Mystique.

X-Men: Days of Future Past hits theaters July 18, 2014.

What do you think of Singer returning to direct?

Photo credit: WENN.com

Most Hollywood kids are excited to dress up for Halloween, but Jessica Alba's oldest daughter is more interested in creating spooky treats for the holiday. The Sin City actress talked to SheKnows this week at launch of Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 in San Francisco and said her love for cooking has rubbed off on Honor, 4.

Celeb Hairstyle of the Week: Jessica Alba >>

"Honor had this cute idea for little Halloween treats," Alba beamed, recalling her daughter's Pinterest-worthy idea. "We dipped cookies in chocolate and added breadsticks for little spider legs. For the eyes we added little candies."

It sounds like the whole Warren family gets into Halloween. Alba, husband Cash Warren, Honor and youngest daughter, Haven, dressed up as Disney's The Incredibles for a weekend Halloween party.

Jessica Alba sports a sexy lace-up dress in Marie Claire >>

"The Incredible’s #HappyHolloween," she tweeted, along with a photo of the family in their costume garb.

It's nice to see Alba taking some time for fun. The actress is just a little busy, thanks to her acting career and her flourishing eco-friendly baby product business, The Honest Company. The nearly year-old company is growing and expanding — and they're about to launch a new app for the Windows Phone 8.

"The Honest Company app is designed to keep parents organized," she told us of the app, due out in early November. "It helps you keep track of everything from sleep schedules, doctor appointments and kids' playdates."

Maybe Honor can start scheduling her own play dates? Alba said that her growing daughter — like many kids these days — loves messing with her phone. She had to activate the KidsCorner feature on her Windows phone to keep Honor away from her camera — and Twitter.

"Otherwise, I'd look at my pics and see like 400 photos of her nose," Alba joked.

Image courtesy Microsoft and Jessica Alba/WENN.com

Crispy prosciutto

Swap your bacon out in favor of its leaner cousin, prosciutto. This dry-cured ham has much less fat than bacon, making it a healthier choice for your salad. Although prosciutto can be eaten right out of the package, a good way to mimic the classic bacon bits topping is to crisp it up. Tear the prosciutto into strips and cook it as you would bacon, adding a small drizzle of olive oil to the pan. When the prosciutto strips have crisped, drain on a paper towel to dry, then break into pieces and sprinkle over your salad. The prosciutto adds a slight saltiness and a huge flavor boost to any salad.

Quinoa

This healthy ingredient has been popping up everywhere, so why not use it on a salad? Although it is usually considered a grain, quinoa is actually a seed that can be prepared the same way you would whole grains. Keep your salad vegetarian by adding a scoop of cooked quinoa to it. Since quinoa is high in protein and fiber, there’s no need to add meat.

Try these protein-rich salads for lunch >> 

Cocoa nibs

If you’ve never tried cocoa nibs, you’ve been missing out. Cocoa nibs are roasted and husked cocoa beans that have been broken into bits and add an unexpected element to any salad. Instead of sprinkling your salad with nuts, try cocoa nibs for crunch. Not only do they provide great texture, they also add a hint of smoky chocolate to a savory dish. For a delicious pairing, try adding cocoa nibs to a green salad with berries or citrus flavors.

Edamame

Most of us have eaten edamame in their pods at our favorite sushi restaurant, but shelled edamame make a perfect salad topping too. Although you can steam or boil them in their pods and pop out each bean separately, you can also find already-shelled edamame, making it even more convenient to toss in a salad. Add this high-fiber, high-protein ingredient to any salad, especially one with Asian flavors.

Use edamame in this flavorful Asian salad >>

Salsa

Put those tortilla chips aside and use salsa on your salad instead. Replacing high-fat dressings with salsa is an easy way to cut calories but keep all the flavor. If the salsa is too chunky, whisk in a drizzle of canola oil to thin it out -- you won’t taste it but you’ll get better coverage for your greens. Choose a spicy salsa for kick or a fruit salsa for a little sweetness. Not only is salsa low in fat, you’re getting more vegetables on your salad by adding a spoonful.

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First things first: Get yourself together. ”Before trying any of these tips, the mom or dad must be in a calm frame of mind. If you are not, take some moments to get yourself there: Deep breaths, a little meditation, some self-talk, a hot cup of tea... ” says author and therapist Sharon Gilchrest O’Neill, Ed.S., LMFT.

”If you are stressed or your thoughts are elsewhere, you will have trouble soothing your fussy baby. It is important to be in the moment and to relax with your child,” O’Neill says.

Now that you’re calm and collected, try the following:

There is a reason that swaddling blankets are so popular and hospital nurses love doing it with a standard receiving blanket: Swaddling works. It makes a baby feel safe, warm and loved. And that can totally counteract a moment of fussiness.

Not sure how to swaddle on your own? Yes, it’s tricky, but these days there are so many simple options for easy swaddling like The Miracle Blanket .

Whether it’s in a rocking chair or walking nestled in your arms, swaying and rocking is a time-tested solution for soothing babies to sleep. The simple, easy motion is comforting to Baby who experienced something similar in the womb. Experts say that any kind of swaying works. ”All kinds of rocking [work]: Swing, rocking chair, cradle, etc.,” says O’Neill.

Sure, ”Call Me Maybe” might make your baby giggle during the daytime, but at night you want her to close those little eyes. Instead, put on something light, soft and soothing to help her fall asleep. Stock your iTunes player with a set of lullabies for these very moments.

When my younger brother was an infant, he would cry every night at 7 p.m. The one thing that soothed him was the bouncy walk — a method of carrying a baby that puts him in a melodic rhythm that makes him want to close his eyes.

Simply hold the baby close and walk with a bounce in your step until the baby calms down, or better yet, falls completely asleep.

Don’t want to walk? One mom said that when her legs got tired, she used another method. ”A slow bend in the knees worked well until my knees couldn’t take it anymore, so I had an exercise ball that I sat on and bounced up and down. It was the perfect solution,” she says.

It might seem a little cliche, but if you want to soothe your baby, dimming the light can help a ton. While a brightly lit room will stimulate their senses, a dimmed one will be less distracting, helping to lull your baby into a calm and peaceful sleep.

More soothing tips

What does your baby's cry mean?

Shay Pausa speaks with author Blythe Lipman on how to interpret your baby’s cry.

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Brave hits stores Nov. 13, and Disney tells us it's going to feature all sorts of added fun in addition to the exclusive clip above!

Kelly MacDonald makes a brilliant, headstrong adventurer and she looks like she had so much fun bringing Merida to life!

Brave is the captivating No.1 animated movie of the year and an epic tale of heroic journey, breaking tradition and colorful exploration of the mother-daughter, familial dynamic.

As if the contagious spirit of Merida wasn't compelling enough, the release will contain La Luna , a brand new short, The Legend of Mor’du, behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes, commentary, and production insight concerning the exploration of the Scotland environment that propelled Brave, a look into the magic and mystery of Scottish legend, art galleries, bloopers, and so much more!

Whether you choose the Ultimate Collector's Edition: 5-Disc Combo Pack, the Collector's Edition: 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack, or the DVD, it's sure to be an adventure fit for the whole family.

Be sure to grab your copy and keep an eye out for our SheKnows exclusive interview with some of Brave's real-life stars hitting the website in the next couple of days!

Daughters of the Witching Hill
Mary Sharratt

Although she lives in an England that is now officially Protestant, Bess Southerns still clings to the old Catholic folk magic with which she grew up. Thanks to her visions, she has gained a reputation as a cunning woman who heals the sick and predicts the future. Bess is training her granddaughter Alizon in her ways, but when a peddler has a stroke after an argument with Alizon the women find themselves in trouble, victims of a witch-hunt fueled by a local magistrate eager to make a name for himself. Sharratt describes the 1612 Pendle witch-hunt with great historical accuracy, and with a particular eye to the confluence of folk religion and perceived witchcraft.

Shadow of Night
Deborah Harkness

Although the first book in Deborah Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy, A Discovery of Witches, is set firmly in the present, in Shadow of Night Diana and Matthew travel back to Elizabethan England to find a sufficiently talented witch to teach Diana how to unleash her powers. The pair quickly fall in with the infamous School of Night, made up of prominent Elizabethan figures such as Sir Walter Raleigh and Christopher Marlowe. Harkness’ vivid description of setting grounds the reader firmly in the past, although Diana spends as much time attempting to hide her magic and the fact that she does not fit in the past than flaunting her craft. Shadow of Night is notable in that it shows that Harkness can write historical fantasy just as well as contemporary.

The Heretic's Daughter
Kathleen Kent

Martha Carrier is a strong-willed and often sharp-tongued woman, a fact that frequently puts her at odds with her neighbors, as well as her daughter Sarah. When some of Salem’s young women begin denouncing people for witchcraft, Martha’s acerbic nature and lack of popularity makes her a natural target — and with her, her daughter Sarah. Suddenly Martha goes from Sarah's greatest adversary to her only prospect of survival. As a 10th-generation descendant of Martha Carrier, Kathleen Kent tells a very personal story of the Salem Witch Trials and the way that witchcraft allegations often spread to those citizens who failed in one way or another to conform to social norms.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
Katherine Howe

Unlike The Heretic’s Daughter, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane asks the question: What if at least some of the women condemned in the Salem Witch Trials were actually guilty? Connie is a doctoral student in colonial history, struggling to come up with a thesis topic. While working on her grandmother’s dilapidated old house, Connie receives unexpected inspiration when she finds a piece of paper bearing the name “Deliverance Dane,” which sends her on a quest for Deliverance’s physick book. As Connie learns more about Deliverance and the women who link the two of them, she begins to wonder if perhaps there is actually real witchcraft in her family’s past. Told in a series of flashbacks, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane has a superb mix of reality and fantasy.

The Hangman's Daughter
Oliver Pötzsch

In 1659, a young boy pulled out of a Bavarian river had been severely beaten and left with a strange mark on his shoulder. When he dies, the townspeople immediately point to witchcraft and look quickly to Martha Stechlin. Martha is the town’s midwife, a job that often marks women for suspicion of witchcraft. In an interesting twist, it is the town’s hangman, Jakob Kuisl, who attempts to stop the townspeople from exacting the vigilante justice they desire. As the number of missing children mounts and rumors spread that the Devil himself walks the streets of their town, Kuisl must work with his daughter Magdalena and her suitor, the young physician Simon Fronwiser, to discover just what is going on.

Born Wicked
Jessica Spotswood

“Our mother was a witch, too, but she hid it better,” begins Jessica Spotswood’s Born Wicked. Cate lives in alternate history repressive New England society in 1880. Cate must try to protect her two younger sisters, while at the same time hiding her true nature and agreeing to marry someone she does not love. An attempt to create a different life has Cate searching through banned books, making rebellious new friends, and beginning a forbidden romance. The addition of witchcraft to this alternative history is, in short, pure magic.

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Joe Simpson is trying to avoid some added weight in his life — though unlike daughter Jessica Simpson, it's not physical weight. The former Baptist minister — now divorcing his longtime wife Tina Simpson — is rumored to have a taste for gay sex, namely affairs with younger men.

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The rumors emerged last week when the National Enquirer alleged the elder Simpson had a months-long relationship with 21-year-old model Bryce Chandler Hill.

"Joe got the family together about two months ago and came out of the closet," a source told the magazine. "He told them that he'd tried to continue in his marriage to Tina, but he couldn't go on any longer and deny the fact that he had these feelings for men."

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Hill denied the rumors, though now the Enquirer has a statement from another one of Simpson's alleged hookups. New York City escort Joey Anderson, 32, told the magazine that the music manager had an "insatiable appetite for sex.

"Over the course of two hours or so, we rolled around, kissed and gave each other oral [sex]," Anderson told the Enquirer of their tryst at the Mandarin Hotel in NYC, adding that he was paid $600 for his "time."

"Whatever the case, I'm probably not the only one. After being a family man, and a religious one to boot, for all these years, I'm sure he's out sowing his wild oats with a bunch of boys," Anderson added.

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"Joe has lived a lifetime of deceit regarding his sexuality. Before the dust settles, I wouldn't be surprised to hear about more guys coming forward."

That's not all, of course. Another source alleges Tina just found out about all the cash Joe lavished on his younger partners.

"Soon after Joe confessed that he was having an affair with Bryce, Tina wanted to retrace his steps," a source told RadarOnline.

"She asked David, who looks after their business ventures and their joint account, to look at what transactions Joe had made," the source continued.

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"Over a 12-month period, Tina saw that Joe was splashing thousands of dollars in designer stores in New York and Los Angeles, staying in luxury hotels and buying tickets for concerts. They were secret purchases he had made without telling Tina!"

"What was worse, the money that Joe had freely spent on Bryce was from a mutual account he shared with Tina. She was livid, so asked him what he spent it on and he admitted he was gifting Bryce."

Image courtesy Joseph Marzullo/Wenn.com

Do you believe any of these gay Joe Simpson rumors?

The Jersey Shore — specifically Seaside Heights, New Jersey — was one of the locations hit hard by Hurricane Sandy's wrath earlier this week. Many of the area's attractions and homes were destroyed or under water, though one notable location was spared: The MTV Jersey Shore house.

"Sandy destroyed Seaside — our second home," new mom Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi told MTV News on Tuesday. "It's devastating to see our boardwalk and favorite spots ruined. My prayers go out to everyone affected by the storm."

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Co-star Pauly D added a statement of his own.

"My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by Hurricane Sandy, especially our friends and family in Seaside Heights, N.J., and a huge thank you to all the men and women who have been working around the clock to protect and help everyone, true heroes," he added.

JWoww added a photo of the destruction via Twitter.

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"This is seaside... I'm lost for words right now," she wrote, along with a picture of the the damaged beach and various fires. "Bubbas and lucky arcade are no more but the shore store is standing but major damage."

Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola has been actively tweeting about the disaster and ways fans can get involved.

"Seeing seaside and what has happened to my hometown is beyond devastating. I have no words," she wrote on Tuesday. "If you'd like to contribute to American Red Cross' disaster relief efforts at the Jersey Shore and elsewhere please text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation! All the help the better!"

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As for The Situation? He took a considerably more lighthearted approach to the, uh, hurricane situation.

"I THINK WE GOT A SITUATION ! LMAO," he tweeted before the storm hit. You got that right, Sitch.

Image courtesy WENN.com

Would you serve a funeral pie?

WeIrd pie

Nothing quite hits the spot like a giant slice of apple, pumpkin or cherry pie. As good as these pies are, why not add some variety to your boring dessert spread with, say, a pie made with beef fat, bacon or potatoes? Or maybe a shoofly or funeral pie is more to your taste?

Even though a pie made with beans or bacon makes us a little uneasy, we're not ones to judge something before we taste it. However, we are drawing the line at the "funeral" pie. We don't care how good it tastes.

3

Apple bacon

This apple bacon pie was a favorite here at SheKnows during the summer, and it's not hard to see why. Bacon is good with anything, even apples! The use of bacon in place of the top crust of the pie gives each bite the perfect balance of salt and sweet. Plus, adding bacon is a surefire way to get your husband or boyfriend to eat your dessert, even if they hate pie!

4

Sweet potato

Sweet potato pie is a Southern favorite and, surprisingly, doesn't taste as weird as it sounds. By pairing the potatoes with butter, brown sugar, pecans, sweet milk and whipped cream, the end result is a sweet, creamy mousse that tastes a little like pumpkin. As good as it tastes, don't expect your kids to jump in excitement when you say "potato" and "pie" in the same sentence.

5

Shoofly

Nothing makes a pie sound more delicious than putting the word "fly" in the title. The name for this pie actually comes from the Amish. Apparently the pie is so sweet, when it cools it attracts flies so the bakers had to "shoo" them away. The pie itself is more of a sweet coffeecake made with a molasses crust and topped with whipped cream.

6

Finger

Before you scream, this pie is luckily not made with real fingers. In fact, it gets its very strange name from the preparation of the pie. Bakers in the old days would stir this pie with their fingers to keep the crust from breaking during baking. Nowadays you can use a whisk or fork to stir .

7

Mincemeat

Mincemeat pie has been around for ages and is an extremely popular dish during the holidays in the UK. It is typically made with a selection of fruits , sugar, sweets and beef suet, which is raw beef fat. As popular as these are, we think we'll leave the fatty meat pies for Sweeney Todd.

8

Grasshopper

Made from minty cream, green food coloring, dark chocolate cookies and sugar, this is one of the most universally loved pies out there, especially during the holidays. The reason for the strange name is rather simple, it was called grasshopper pie because its bright green color resembled the skin of the insect. There is also an earlier version of the pie from the Philippines that used real grasshoppers in the filling. To keep us from gagging, we're trying to forget that last one.

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What causes CCD?

While CCD can't be narrowed down to a single cause, there are common variables seen in medically diagnosed dogs. Oftentimes, CCD can be credited to unpleasant life experiences, including abuse, neglect or exposure to high-stress environments. Lack of mental stimulation can also lead to obsessive tendencies. Environment and lifestyle are typically common causes for erratic behaviors. However, more studies now also attribute certain behavioral patterns to ancestral causes that may be passed down from previous generations. For CCD cases shown at later stages in life, obsessive behaviors tend to be caused by to lack of sensory functions, such as impaired vision or decreased hearing capabilities that can result in heightened anxiety and stress.

Common CCD behaviors

By definition, CCD is recognized as a dangerous medical condition in which a dog engages in normal canine activities in an abnormally repetitive, frantic and self-destructive manner. This means any form of regular activity that is performed out of context and to an incessant degree. Some examples include:

On their own, these behaviors are no cause for concern. Steps should be taken if your dog begins to practice any behavior on a repetitive basis and especially if the activity causes physical harm to himself, others or personal property. Many rescue dogs who suffer from CCD due to previous history of abuse or neglect can also exhibit signs of aggression, shyness, separation anxiety and lack of socialization skills.

If your pet is of sound health, then work with a trainer or animal behavior specialist to break the habit. This will require a lot of patience, consistency and trial. Using methods like positive reinforcement and distraction, old habits can be broken.

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Juliette Barnes might be the biggest thing in Nashville, but that doesn't mean she's immune to scandal. The buxom blonde's career is damaged after a super scandalous video goes viral.

And, of course, what episode would be complete without a bunch of Deacon and Rayna dramz? That's this week's Nashville in a nutshell — let's break it down.

Juliette's 'come to Jesus' moment

Juliette ended last week's episode with a bit of a five-finger discount at the local grocery store. She probably would've gotten away with it if it hadn't been for those pesky kids down the aisle. The gaggle of teens videoed her with the pilfered nail polish and promptly uploaded it to YouTube.

That's when things got hairy. The video soon gained 4 million views, leading two of Nashville's finest to descend on her compound to give her a citation. Her manager and high-powered publicist soon swooped in to help deal with the fallout. It's all for nothing, though: She storms off during an interview on Good Morning America when Robin Roberts asks her about her drugged-out mother.

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The result? Her tour is off and basically no one wants to be around her. Even her manager wants to quit, though she tearfully persuades him to stay. His one condition? Tell him why she stole something so cheap in the first place.

"It made me feel like I could take care of myself when no one else would," she replied.

Wait, what? That makes no sense, but then again nothing she does really makes sense. He leaves by telling her to hang out with some friends and get her mind off the scandal.

The problem? She has no friends.

"I don't have friends, just people that wanna be seen with me," she replied.

She ends up calling Deacon and he at least wants to sleep with her. So, there's that.

Gunnar gets a girl

Think Gunnar is going to spend all his time pining over Scarlett? Well, he is — but that doesn't mean he won't have a little fun along the way. The duo's demo ends up earning them a deal with a Nashville music publisher. First day in the office he meets Hailey, a sexy assistant with a death grip on her office stash of yogurt.

The brunette Hailey ends up taking Gunnar, Scarlett, and her ridiculous boyfriend Avery out to dinner. Avery gets all pissy when Scarlett mentions his music and he storms off, telling her that he doesn't need her help.

"My music speaks for itself!" he tells his pouty girlfriend before stomping off.

Actually no, Avery — but nice try.

Gunnar's not too worried about the shenanigans between the bickering lovebirds, though — he's too busy hopping into bed with Hailey. God, he's adorable. Hailey asks Gunnar in their post-coital bliss if it'll be awkward at the office. Is it ever not awkward to hook up with someone at work?

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The love triangle becomes a love square

Don't think an episode of Nashville will go off without more drama in the Rayna/Deacon/Teddy triangle. At the beginning of the episode we catch Deacon and Rayna in bed together.

Could it be that they've finally decided to give into their burning loins? Not quite — it's just a dream. Rayna is clearly disappointed/half-disgusted that she only sees her husband's face when she wakes up, but she plays it off.

It turns out that Teddy's campaign isn't going so well — shocker, we know. Rayna's sister ends up asking her superstar sister to perform at a country club campaign event. She's not exactly thrilled to be around "those people," but agrees. Deacon also gets roped into the occasion, though the performance almost comes to blows when Daddy Warbucks insults Deacon for showing up late.

"I'm gonna do this thing, but I'm not gonna kiss your ass while I'm doing it, that's [Teddy's] job," Deacon yelled at Daddy Dearest.

"You think I want you to be here right now?" Teddy answered.

"I'm here to help you?! Hell, I'm not even votin' for you.… You're nothin' but a straw man," Deacon replied, finally saying what everyone was already thinking.

The biggest bombshell of the night wasn't Juliette's dalliances with larceny, though. Turns out a Nashville society girl named Peggy might have a little somethin'-somethin' with Teddy. The pair has a clandestine meeting on some roadside when Peggy implores him to come clean with the whole thing. He brushes it off, saying they should keep things a secret.

So, it turns out the buttoned-up Teddy might be the most scandalous Nashville resident of all.

Image courtesy ABC

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