The retailer has signed a court brief in support of marriage equality with regard to a case currently pending. It joins other companies such as Apple, Starbucks and Intel in declaring its support of gay marriage.

"It is our belief that everyone should be treated equally under the law, and that includes rights we believe individuals should have related to marriage," said the company's Executive Vice President of Human Resources, Jodee Kozlak, on the company's blog.

In the past, gay rights activists blasted the company and threatened to boycott it because it supported Republican Tom Emmer, a candidate in the 2010 Minnesota govenor's race who vocally opposed same-sex marriage. The company has reached out to the LGBT community by offering benefits to its employees' same-sex partners.

Phil Duran, legal director of OutFront Minnesota, which worked to defeat the state's referendum to ban gay marriage, called Target "a powerful voice."

Autumn Leva, a Minnesota Family Council spokeswoman, said the move will backfire on the retail giant, because families commonly shop at the store. (Perhaps none that are led by same-sex parents?)

The case they filed a brief in combines legal actions in Wisconsin and Indiana, where gay marriage bans have been overturned. A hearing is set to take place in the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Aug. 26.

According to Joe Loveland, who posted a lively blog post on the topic at Wry Wing Politics, it would be better if Target "never again put its valuable retail brand in the middle of divisive politics."

"I don’t need Target to be a policymaker or kingmaker. Leave that to the voters," he wrote. "I need Target to supply me with a steady stream of cheap, stylish crap that I don’t need. They’re better at that than they will ever will be at politics, so they should stick to their 'core competency,' as the C-Suiters say. That would be infinitely better for their brand, and our country."

Will you still shop at Target — or does their announcement fail to sway you from the store?

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"Oh, I am so ready!" Kardashian says about finally leaving her mom's place for her own. "I am so ready to be out of my mom's house, you have no idea. But it will be nice to still be close."

Khloé Kardashian talks Kim's "miracle baby" >>

The Wests were reportedly remodeling the $11 million home they bought in Bel Air last year. Kardashian says the new baby made them rethink that location.

"When we bought our Bel Air house, we didn't have a baby, we weren't even pregnant," she says. "After you have a baby, you realize that you need so many other things and a different kind of space. So being in the city is a different life. We wanted to be away and have more privacy."

Their new estate boasts two onsite vineyards, a 1,050 square foot pavilion for entertaining and two swimming pools, one with a water slide, all on 3.5 acres — plenty of room for the power couple and the baby.

TMZ reports that area real estate types call the property, previously owned by Lisa Marie Presley, "the jewel of Hidden Hills." The claimed paperwork on the home is set to be processed by the end of August, which is a good thing, since Kardashian says she's ready to move in and start decorating.

Kim Kardashian's advice on how to balance work and family >>

Whether the Wests intend to put those vineyards to use and join the ranks of celebrity winemakers, like Fergie, Francis Ford Coppola, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, remains to be seen.

People reports a notice has been posted publicly outside Chelsea Old Town Hall — a legal requirement in London, where Alamuddin is based and where the duo got their license — announcing the couple's plans to tie the knot. According to the notice, they'll exchange their vows in Italy, maybe with Brad Pitt serving as best man.

Clooney and his bride-to-be have been spending a lot of time in Lake Como, Italy, where the 53-year-old Oscar-winning actor has a villa. In July, People reports, the couple was spotted there having dinner with Clooney's parents.

The couple's respective moms appear to be getting friendly, too — they were also seen in Italy, smiling and hanging out together on a shopping trip.

Clooney, who recently told Variety that he'll be "marrying up," popped the question to Alamuddin in April, less than a year after calling it quits with his girlfriend of two years, Stacy Keibler.

And it looks like Clooney's ready to stick by his future wife's side for better or for worse. The two-time Sexiest Man Alive is obviously smitten — he came to the defense of Alamuddin's family in June after the Daily Mail claimed her family opposed the marriage on religious grounds.

"Every day they write things that aren't true, but every once in a while they write something that is actually dangerous to your family, and it's probably not true," he said about choosing his battles with tabloids. "And that's the one you pick."

No word yet on exactly when the wedding will take place, but it looks like Clooney and Alamuddin are well on their way to marital bliss.

"That little b**** just gets on my nerves," the 81-year-old jokester shared during a recent episode of Fashion Police while critiquing one of the pop star's style choices.

Looking directly into the camera to convey she meant to directly address the Orlando Bloom brawler, she continued, "You are not a big black thug, you are just like your shoes — ordinary and completely white."

Joan Rivers officiates surprise gay wedding at book signing >>

Although the studio audience and Rivers' critic co-hosts seemed to enjoy the jab, a blast from the past took offense.

Victor Willis, remembered by many as the traffic cop from the Village People's "Y.M.C.A." hit, took to his Twitter account to let Melissa Rivers' momma know she was out of line.

The 63-year-old singer and actor vented on his account Aug. 3, "@eonline How long U think U can remain silent on Joan Rivers referring to African Americans as 'Big Black Thugs.' #BoycotteEntertainment."

"What @Joan_Rivers said is no laughing matter," Willis added the following day. "It's Racist and she has a history of this. #boycott @Eentertainment4."

Wednesday, three days after his initial tweet on the Rivers-Bieber matter, the Village People star went on to tweet, "@Joan_Rivers From one Police 2 another: APOLOGIZE! #BoycottEEntertainment."

VIDEO: Joan Rivers reportedly roasts everyone in Hollywood in new book >>

Additionally, the passionate singer took to his Facebook account and shared this message with his over 26,000 followers:

Take a look at the Fashion Police clip that set off this particular Justin Bieber controversy:

Thus far, it does not appear the dare-to-go-there comedienne has bothered to acknowledge or respond to Willis' critique in any public way.

Tell us: Do you think Joan Rivers' Justin Bieber commentary was out of line?

At 8 years old, it was also a whopping fortune — a whole 88 cents a bottle — but buy it I did, because they always had some color the budding beauty geek in me was lusting after. And at the end of the day, it only set me back a Snickers bar for the week.

When I graduated to adult beauty buys, which I had to budget for, I made sure I saved dough for a few bottles of my all-time favorite nail lacquers: OPI. At $8 a pop, it was a splurge... but *swoon.* The hues were vivid and varied, and so virtually chip-proof that it was more like a nail shield. To this day, these are the nail colors I compare all other nail colors to — even when I decide to break the bank on a NARS or Deborah Lippmann shade.

And by "break the bank," I mean somewhere in the neighborhood of $20, which when you think about it is still kind of crazy for a bottle of nail color. But sometimes there's that one ultra-specific shade only that one company makes, and I just flat-out gotta have it.

That said, I absolutely draw the line at the $50 price tag you'll find on a bottle of Christian Louboutin's new "Rouge Louboutin" nail colour. I draw the line well before that, actually. Because for $50, I could buy concert tickets. Or a new handbag. Or six shades of OPI and a candy bar. It is just that outrageous.

I get that Louboutin red is a legendary color in the world of style. I do. But $50? If Louboutin nails will cost me that much cash, I'm going to slap on a coat of OPI's "Cajun Shrimp" instead. I can guarantee no one will be able to tell the difference. Unless you have the eye of an eagle, in which case, I lose. But I think I'll take my chances.

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All nine musicians showed up for the appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Even RZA and Raekwon ended their feud (which was caused by their creative differences on the direction of their new album, and lack of communication) and joined the other members GZA, Ghostface, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna.

Jon Stewart needs your $10 billion to help him buy CNN >>

There was no sign of beef during the show, and when Stewart asked how the group managed to keep the whole band together, RZA said, "I think we're all striving for a better tomorrow. Wu-Tang, we all have something in common with each other as a brotherhood.

"When we say 'a better tomorrow,' we're striving to make a better tomorrow for ourselves, but also to inspire a better tomorrow for the world," he added.

Jon Stewart takes a summer vacation from The Daily Show >>

It may have been a tumultuous year for the hip-hop group, but they impressed with their new single "Ron O'Neal" and the classic 1997 track "Triumph." Oh, but there's even more good news for fans of the group, because they revealed that they will be releasing their much-anticipated new album just in time for Christmas.

Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated rapper grateful for drug meltdown >>

The upcoming album A Better Tomorrow will be released in November and will be the group's first since their 2007 album 8 Diagrams.

Yet one of the most impressive parts of the Wu-Tang Clan's appearance on the late-night slot was the fact that they could all actually fit around show host Stewart's desk for the interview.

Check out the videos from the show, below:

You can't see it, but inside these quesadillas is a bonus ingredient that will surprise your taste buds with every bite. It's roasted garlic that's spread over the entire inside of the bottom tortilla. And since the taste of garlic is relatively mild when it's roasted, an entire bulb of garlic is used for each quesadilla. I especially like the textures going on in these quesadillas, with the hamburger, cheese and crunch of the pickled jalapeños. Make it a meal, and add a salad alongside these yummies. I bet you'll dig into the quesadillas first. I say that from experience.

Roasted garlic and pickled jalapeño burger quesadillas recipe

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 2 garlic bulbs
• 3 teaspoons olive oil
• 6 ounces ground beef
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 dashes salt
• 4 small flour tortillas
• 1-1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/2 cup sliced nacho jalapeños (or 1/4 cup if less heat is preferred)
• 3 tablespoons adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large piece of foil, add the bulbs of garlic.
3. Drizzle the olive oil on top of the garlic.
4. Form a tent with the foil over the garlic, and bake until the cloves are soft (about 30 minutes). Set them aside, and let them cool.
5. Heat a medium-size pan on medium heat, and add the ground beef, onion powder, pepper and salt. Stir together.
6. Brown the hamburger meat until it's thoroughly cooked (about 15 minutes).
7. Remove the hamburger meat from the pan, and set it onto a plate lined with a paper towel. Set aside.
8. Into a small bowl, squeeze the garlic cloves out of each bulb. Using a spoon, smash the garlic into a slightly chunky paste.
9. Spread the garlic on top of 2 tortillas.
10. Layer on the ground beef, cheese and nacho jalapeños.
11. Drizzle the adobo sauce on top.
12. Top each quesadilla with the remaining tortillas.
13. Heat a large skillet on low heat.
14. Using a large spatula, carefully transfer the quesadillas 1 at a time to the skillet. Let them warm just long enough to melt the cheese.
15. Serve while hot.

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The biggest news is that Beyoncé will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and perform some of her greatest hits.

Miley Cyrus crowned artist of the year by MTV >>

A source told the New York Daily News, "Bey is going to be all over the show. MTV is still working everything out, but they want her to open the show with a big production."

Beyoncé will probably go home with some additional hardware that night since she's nominated in eight categories. Besides Queen Bey, MTV has added a strong list of performers for the show.

Maroon 5 will be making their debut VMA performance and premiere a single off of their yet-to-be-released fifth studio album. The album, V, drops on Sept. 2, so fans will get a sneak peek at their new sound.

Cher takes back what she said about Miley Cyrus' twerking >>

The addition of Maroon 5 marks the stratospheric rise of the group that captured the 2005 Grammy Award for Best New Artist. They've sold more than 17 million records worldwide and their releases have gone gold or platinum in 35 countries. Their 2013 tour grossed over $50 million in ticket sales for the group.

Previously announced performers include Usher, Ariana Grande and 5 Seconds of Summer. Presenters for the show will be revealed at a later date.

The voting for the MTV VMAs is fan-driven, so viewers can go to the MTV site to cast a ballot for their musical favorites. The Best Lyric Video nominees, which is a new socially voted category, will be announced at a later date.

The MTV Video Music Awards will air on Sunday, Aug. 24 at 9/8c.

During an interview with Esquire magazine for their September issue, John Legend's wife revealed that, for years, she didn't even know that butts were a thing.

Chrissy Teigen throws "pretty drunk" Dodgers game first pitch >>

"I didn't know butts were a thing until I was 23," she said. "Then came Jennifer Lopez and people were like, 'That butt is great.' Now you have to have a butt. It sucks for me.

"I have a little half-Asian butt, and the more I work out, the more I try to get it bigger, it's just going to get flatter and harder," she added.

But bottoms weren't the only thing on the star's mind during her candid interview; she also revealed that, although she makes her money looking hot in a swimsuit, she can't stand the beach!

"Sand is disgusting. I get all Larry David at the beach and want every piece of sand off me," she confessed.

Chrissy Teigen dishes on having kids with John Legend >>

Luckily, she's good at her job, because we'd never have guessed that she hated sand from her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue photos. However, one thing that we can guess from her photos is her love for food, which she regularly shares with fans via pictures on social media.

Discussing her love of food, Teigen confessed, "I looked at a Wheat Thin one day and got teary-eyed. You know those cartoons where the head of somebody becomes a turkey? That Wheat Thin looked like a f***ing turkey. My mouth was watering," she confessed.

Forever 21 fired Chrissy Teigen for being too fat >>

You can read more about the 28-year-old model and see her amazing photo shoot when the issue hits newsstands on Aug. 12.

According to CBS Houston, the woman was a brand new hire, and just sort of showed up to the school and claimed a classroom as her own.

Since she was new, no one really knew who she was, and it probably didn't help that she appeared intoxicated and had no bottoms on.

To add to the (significant) embarrassment, police in Wagoner, Okla. said they found her holed up in the principal's office where several staff members had detained her. Luckily, they had located a pair of shorts for her to wear.

The teacher admitted to drinking some vodka, and in her car, police found a cup stinking of the sweet nectar. Still, they didn't have enough evidence to prove she had driven drunk -- after all, who knows? She may have just needed some liquid courage before class.

The Wagoner School Disctrict hasn't said anything about her future with the school, but after that sort of show, there's really no place to go but up.

Cher takes back what she said about Miley Cyrus' twerking >>

"Every once in a while I think, 'Jesus, you're so old! How did this happen?' I haven't looked in the mirror in years," she said. "The only time I was happy with the way I looked was when I was, like, 40 to 45."

But despite her age, the singer said she is still more than happy to play cougar. She joked that, "Older men rarely liked me. If it wasn't for younger men, I would never have a date!"

Cher used to be better known as half of Sonny and Cher. When Sonny Bono died, Cher's world changed. Even though they were divorced at the time, he was an important part of her life, and she feels that he is still with her. She said, "I have this fabulous chandelier in my sitting room, and it goes off and on all the time for no reason. I always think it's him messing with me, because that is what he would do."

Sonny and Cher's child recently revealed he is transgender and Cher said she had to come to terms with that — but said she loves him just as much as she ever did.

"He'd forgotten to erase his old outgoing message, I thought, 'I'm never going to hear my daughter's voice [in person] again,'" she said, adding some advice for other parents of transgender children. "Have faith and hold on. It's scary because you don’t know how you're going to feel."

Does Cher want nothing to do with her son Elijah Blue? >>

Cher is happy with her life now, and she is still dedicated to her art and continues to tour and make new music. But she reveals that, even though she does all she can for her fans, she isn't who they might think she is.

"I'm not a confident person, and I'm really not a Cher fan," she admitted. "But I want to make sure I'll do a great job, so I go balls to the wall and try to do every single thing I can."

As audience members entered the club, they were told by management that they were barred from taking video or flash photography. While most people adhered to the rules, one front-row couple decided to video and photograph the "Baby I Love Your Way" singer's concert.

VIDEO: Steve Perry welcomed back to stage with open arms >>

Frampton had repeatedly asked them to put their phones away, but they refused. That's when the musician took enforcing the no-camera policy into his own hands.

OnStage magazine had attendee, Melissa Schickel, write a firsthand account of how the event went down.

She wrote, "At first, Peter kept gesturing to them, saying, 'No, don't do that. Stop!' But they just did not get the hint. He was frantically looking for security, but they were nowhere nearby… Peter quickly turned around and turned his back to the audience and played that way for several moments."

Security intervened and the couple momentarily stopped. When they started recording the concert again, Frampton got angry.

Richie Sambora's issues drive him out of Bon Jovi >>

Schickel continued, "Peter ends the song, walks over and with a huge smile on his face bends down and says, 'Hey can I see that? Can I see the photos you've been taking?' The guy hands him his phone and Peter stands up, spins, and flings for the rafters! Yes! The phone went flying to the back of the stage and we all erupted in cheers! With years of experience playing guitar, we just knew he had a great arm!"

Of course, that didn't stop the woman, who still had her phone, from trying to get more footage. Schickel gave the shocking conclusion to the story.

Rockin' news: Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl nabs his own show >>

She said, "The woman actually tried to take a flash picture of the band as they were taking their bows. Incredibly, she even had the nerve to try to wait for him to get an autograph and photo."

All in a day's work for Frampton.

INTERVIEW: Sophia Bush has an important message for girls >>

According to a source with Us magazine, Bush split amicably with her boyfriend, Dan Fredinburg, who works as a program manager for Google, some time ago. "They broke up in February," the source told Us. "They still really care a lot about each other but it was impossible to remain a romantic relationship with the careers that they have."

Bush and Fredinburg even managed to keep their separation on the down low, despite Fredinburg's connection to the high-profile Mount Everest avalanche that killed 12 people in April. The Chicago PD actress tweeted confirmation that Fredinburg, who had been documenting his travels on the mountain, had remained safe during the disaster. "For all concerned, @danfredinburg  & team are safe at Camp 1 on #Everest after the avalanche," she said. "Please keep the sherpas in your prayers."

Though Bush was undoubtedly upset by the split from Fredinburg, the actress most likely hasn't had much time to wallow, as she has admitted to her total commitment to keeping her health and strength a priority as she shoots her new show. "#TheTrainingTrifecta is back in action baby," she wrote in an Instagram caption last week. "Hit the gym hard with these two #mcm babes. Worked from 6am-8:30pm. Trained from 9pm-10:15pm. Long day? Hell yeah. But we're making sure to prioritize our health and work on our strength 3x a week.  #MakeItCount #CopFit #ChicagoPD #Season2."

DJ Calvin Harris and his now-ex-girlfriend, songstress Rita Ora, pulled off a secret breakup stunt similar to Bush's this year, as well. Though they weren't quite as stealth as Bush, as there was some speculation that the two had split, Harris did not confirm until June that he and Ora had actually ended their romance "some time ago."

However, it's not just the amazing photo shoot that caught our attention; we were also captivated by what the Snow White and the Huntsman actress had to say about her career and how she intends to keep it spontaneous.

Zayn Malik and 14 other celebs' shockingly insightful quotes >>

"Never at any point have I sat down and plotted how I should proceed from here on. As soon as you start thinking about your career as a trajectory — like, as if you're going to miss out on some wave or momentum — then you're never doing anything for yourself anyway," she told Elle. "Then you're truly, actually, specifically working for the public. You're turning yourself into a bag of chips."

Photo credit: Michael Thompson for ELLE

We seldom see the 24-year-old star flash a smile and she may have shed some light during her recent interview as to why that is.

No Kristen Stewart in testosterone-fueled Snow White sequel >>

"Now I feel like if I smiled for a paparazzi photo — not that I ever would — that's exactly what people would be desecrating me for," Stewart revealed of why she never plays up for the cameras. "They'd be like, 'Now you're going to give it up, now you're a sellout.' Like, okay. What do you want? What would you like?"

While grateful to the Twilight franchise for launching her career, there have been some downfalls to playing the character of Bella Swan, and Stewart still battles to shake off the role.

Kristen Stewart poses topless in new Balenciaga fragrance ad >>

"The day the movie came out there was a picture of me… I was sitting on the front porch, smoking a pipe with my ex-boyfriend and dog," she recalled of the moment she realized how big the role was going to be. "And I was like, 'Oh s***, well, I have to be aware of that.'"

Kristen Stewart's Elle September issue will be available on newsstands on Aug. 19.

During an interview with HuffPost Live to promote his TNT series, Franklin & Bash, with co-star, Breckin Meyer, Gosselaar revealed he doesn't have a lot of warm fuzzy feelings for Dustin Diamond, who played Screech. Diamond wrote a tell-all book, called Behind the Bell, about his experiences on the Saturday morning show.

Saved By the Bell movie: Does the new cast stack up to the original? >>

Gosselaar takes issue with what his former friend wrote. He said, "It is negative. That I must say. Everything I've heard about his book is that it is negative, and I don't remember those things, because my experience on the show was very positive."

Even Meyer had a word or two to say about Diamond, including sharing that he's "such a dick." Meyer said, "I know Elizabeth [Berkley], Tiffani [Thiessen], Mario [Lopez], and everyone has nothing but awesome times to say about that, except for Dustin, and I'm like, 'That might be you, bro.'"

The Clueless star even hit below the belt regarding Diamond's sex tape and the size of his manhood.

Meyer continued, "Come on, Screech is not packing that. Get the hell out of here. He doesn't have six Beldings beneath him. There's no f***ing way. You're full of s***, Dustin."

WTF happened to Lisa Turtle from Saved By the Bell? >>

Diamond did disown his book in a 2013 interview with OWN. He claimed the ghost writer misconstrued his statements, including the topics of drugs and sex on set.

He said in the interview, "That came about from throwaway statements of [the ghostwriter asking], 'Was anybody doing drugs or sleeping together on the set?' 'Well, what do you think — there was a bunch of kids with hormones, 15, 16 years old.' That turned into factual trash-talking about everybody. I have nothing but good thoughts and memories towards everybody."

Because if I see one more zucchini bread recipe... What? No zucchini bread here? Phew!

1. Zucchini-marinara dogs recipe

Photo credit: Noble Pig

A great option for your vegetarian guests, these zucchini-marinara dogs are the perfect way to start using up all that summer bounty.

2. Sweet zucchini waffles with mango recipe

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We're loving these sweet zucchini waffles with mango, a great idea on how to bring zucchini into breakfast or even dessert.

3. Chocolate-zucchini scones recipe

Photo credit: Wine and Glue

Need to hide vegetables in your kids' treats? Make them a batch of these chocolate-zucchini scones, and they'll have no clue they're eating healthy.

4. Spinach-and-ricotta-stuffed zucchini ravioli recipe

Photo credit: The Healthy Maven

These spinach-and-ricotta-stuffed zucchini ravioli would make the perfect appetizer to a summer meal.

5. Zucchini noodle shakshuka recipe

Photo credit: Tasty Yummies

A twist on the classic Israeli dish, this zucchini noodle shakshuka adds zucchini as a base to the eggs and sauce — a perfect breakfast or brunch item.

6. Zucchini-chocolate chip cookie recipe

Photo credit: Tasty Yummies

These grain-free, gluten-free and dairy-free zucchini-chocolate chip cookies can even be made vegan, so these are the perfect treat for your health-conscious friends.

7. Chocolate fudge-zucchini cookie recipe

Photo credit: Two Peas & Their Pod

These chocolate fudge-zucchini cookies are decadent and rich but healthy all at the same time, since they are packed with zucchini.

8. Zucchini-chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting recipe

Photo credit: Tried and Tasty

A cake that's good for you? That's what this zucchini-chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting is — a decadent but healthy option for summer cakes.

9. Zucchini pasta aka summer vegetable medley recipe

Photo credit: Eat the Love

Grab all your summer produce, and make this zucchini pasta aka summer vegetable medley. It's sure to impress your family and friends.

10. Zucchini noodles with caper-olive sauce and fresh tomatoes recipe

Photo credit: Gourmande in the Kitchen

This light meal of zucchini noodles with caper-olive sauce and fresh tomatoes looks refreshing and incredibly flavorful, perfect for when you need a quick and light meal during the height of summer.

11. Zucchini angel hair pancake recipe

Photo credit: Eats Well with Others

Whether you're carb-loading or need an extra boast, this zucchini angel hair pancake is the perfect thing to munch on.

12. Zucchini pasta with avocado cream sauce recipe

Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen

A gorgeous dish, this zucchini pasta with avocado cream sauce is sure to entice any of the usual carb lovers in your family.

13. Grilled zucchini nachos recipe

Photo credit: Two Peas & Their Pod

A healthy twist on classic nachos, these grilled zucchini nachos are loaded with all your favorite Mexican ingredients.

14. Zucchini-ricotta bake recipe

Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen

Layers of ricotta, tomato sauce and fresh basil make this zucchini-ricotta bake a perfectly healthy substitute for traditional Italian lasagna.

15. Chocolate chip-zucchini muffins recipe

Photo credit: Lexi's Clean Kitchen

Sneak a couple of these chocolate chip-zucchini muffins into your back-to-school lunches for the kids, and you'll rest easy that they are eating their vegetables.

16. Skillet chicken and zucchini Parmesan recipe

Photo credit: Simple Bites

During those rainy summer days when you need a heartier meal, this skillet chicken and zucchini Parmesan hits the spot.

17. Zucchini-coconut-chocolate chip cookie recipe

Photo credit: Two Peas & Their Pod

We suggest making a double batch of these zucchini-coconut-chocolate chip cookies and freezing one of the batches. You'll thank us later.

18. Zucchini waffles recipe

Photo credit: The Law Student's Wife

These zucchini waffles are perfect for breakfast. They taste like warm zucchini bread and nothing else.

19. Spicy Mexican chorizo-zucchini frittata recipe

Photo credit: Muy Bueno Cooking

Mix it up with this spicy Mexican chorizo-zucchini frittata, a great way to use up summer squash and farm eggs from your community-supported agriculture (CSA).

20. White pizza-stuffed zucchini boats recipe

Photo credit: Kitchen Treaty

Cheesy white pizza-stuffed zucchini boats are the perfect summer side dish.

More summer recipes

Shredded veggie summer slaw
Watermelon shrimp ceviche
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Nick Carter & Jordan Knight are joining forces >>

It was the year of "The Thong Song" by Sisqó, *NSync's "Bye, Bye, Bye" and "Oops!... I Did It Again," sung by the one and only Britney Spears. MTV's Jackass was all the rage on the tube and we never missed an episode of Gilmore Girls. We wanted to be like Penny Lane in Almost Famous and we yearned for the day we would turn 21 so we could dance on top of a bar like the girls on Coyote Ugly. Seriously, what wasn't awesome about the year 2000?

Earlier this week, Ricky Martin set this nostalgia train in motion when he uploaded a vintage music video featuring himself and a baby-faced, albeit heavily made-up, Christina Aguilera. It's obvious we're not the only ones pining for the era, because the "Nobody Wants to be Lonely" video has roughly 78,000 hits on YouTube.

We have to admit, we'd all but forgotten about this classic song and, as the first opening beats play, the doves fly through the air and our eyes are hit with crisp, bright colors; it's very easy to mistake the video for something put out by the Backstreet Boys or Jessica Simpson. But wasn't that what was great about this time period? The beauty is in the simplicity. Simplicity and cheesiness.

As Aguilera struts her stuff in a barely-there midriff, accompanied by jeans so low they require a bikini wax immediately before they are worn, and Martin gives us his sexy pout in a crisp denim shirt, complemented by well-fitted brown corduroys, it's funny to think about how much things have changed for them since singing this duet. Aguilera got "Dirrty," won some Grammys, got clean again and went retro, got married, became a mom, got divorced, won some more awards, got engaged again, and is currently expecting her second child. Martin became a father to twins, famously came out of the closet and was honored by GLAAD, took a three-year break from the entertainment industry and took part in the cultural phenomenon that was Glee, as well as The Voice Australia.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Ricky!

Video credit: Ricky Martin

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According to NME, in a little over a month, voters will be asked to vote on an independence referendum that will determine if the country will be breaking away from the U.K.

"We believe that the key missing message is a positive, emotional one: not telling the Scottish electorate what to do or what not to do, but telling them how we feel about Scotland, about being part of the U.K. and about our collective place in the world," Dan Snow and Tom Holland wrote on their website, letsstaytogether.org.uk.

Snow and Holland are historians who organized the Let's Stay Together campaign, and they said that their message is for those who "value the bond of citizenship" with the Scottish.

Scotland was actually its own country until 1707, when it was united with England. In 1927, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was established and Scotland has been a part of the U.K. since then (along with England, Wales and Northern Ireland).

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The campaign's goal is to give a voice to those who are not allowed to vote — including many English citizens. Judi Dench, Helena Bonham Carter, Patrick Stewart, Stephen Hawking, Simon Cowell, Tom Daley, Eddie Izzard, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Dominic West are among the other celebs who have signed the letter. Michael Douglas is reportedly the only non-Brit to have signed the letter.

Although the main members of the British royal family are usually pretty vocal about their causes — especially where it relates to their history — they have not yet signed the petition.

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Malala Yousafzai is the teenage Pakistani girl who was shot in the head in 2012 by the Taliban after she began fighting for the education of women. Malala, who is now 17, has become an unlikely hero and has begun her campaign to inspire women and teens across the world.

According to E! News, Bieber and Malala recently took to FaceTime to chat with each other, and the Biebs posted a photo on Instagram to share the news of their conversation.

"Just got to FaceTime with Malala Yousafzai," Bieber wrote with the photo. "She has such an incredible story. I can't wait to meet her in person and talk about how I can support her and the @malalafund. #love."

Despite Justin Bieber's bad boy image, he does support quite a few charities and causes, including Make-A-Wish. He recently passed the most wishes granted by a recording artist ever, granting his 226th wish back in July.

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It's not clear when Bieber and Malala will meet or what they talked about, but thousands of Beliebers are likely googling Malala and learning about her story and her cause. The Malala Fund is a charity helping girls go to school and raise awareness of the possibilities of education. Malala was nominated for the Nobel Peace Price in 2013 and also won Pakistan's National Youth Peace Prize.

The Seth Rogen and James Franco action comedy about a couple of unassuming journalists carrying out an unlikely plot to assassinate North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, will open in theaters on Christmas Day, instead of its original Oct. 10 release date.

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The push marks a big sign of confidence on Sony's part, since Christmas releases are usually huge paydays for studios. The Interview will now be opening against Paddington, Into the Woods, Big Eyes, Unbroken and Hot Tub Time Machine 2, but with plenty of college students out on holiday break (and eager for a break from Mom and Dad), chances are, the film will have a very strong opening box office.

As long as Kim Jong-un doesn't blow up Hollywood first. The truculent North Korean leader has made his displeasure at the film's story line abundantly clear, claiming The Interview is the result of "gangster moviemakers." A spokesperson for Kim Jong-un even declared the movie a "wanton act of terror" and said that there would be a "resolute and merciless response" if the U.S. doesn't ban the film.

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Jong-un's unexpected response did very little to curb the film's release, and instead, stirred up even more media interest in the film, which has no doubt contributed to Sony's decision to seek out the more prominent release date.

Protestations aside, Jong-un's spokesperson did admit that the leader would probably watch the film anyway, which means there's a very real chance millions of Americans could be watching and laughing at Rogen and Franco attempting to assassinate Jong-un at the same time as he is this Christmas.

Let's hope that Jong-un is as charmed by the comedy duo's bromance as we are.

The Interview comes out Dec. 25. Watch the trailer here: