cookbook roundup

Recipes for less

Of all the Thanksgiving traditions, the most fun is definitely chowing down on a feast fit for royalty. Thanksgiving dinner has everything you could possibly want to eat, and plenty of it. But multiple courses for everyone in your family can add up quickly. Luckily, we’ve found four cookbooks with delicious recipes that won’t break the bank.

More money-saving meals

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Ways to save money in the kitchen
Budget-friendly party menus

I'm not totally opposed to the chemical and the clinical when it comes to skin care, but there is definitely something to be said for products that rock an all-natural ingredient list.

Eco-freak

Since I am a bit of a hippie when it comes to my skin, here are two lines worth a try for all my fellow granola girls out there.

Sprout Skincare

With all the buzz around this Brooklyn-based line , I was thrilled when their products came across my desk. They take pride in their slogan "less isn't more, less is everything." That's right: five ingredients or less in each product! The founder started making these products for her own sensitive skin, so her business comes packed with passion for what they do.

Exfoliant

It's made simply of organic oats, organic almonds and mineral rich sea salt. Seriously, that's it. Though I will warn you, it smells like oatmeal. There's no hiding that, but after you scrub it on your face, rinse and repeat two to three times per week, you won't regret it. Fresh and fabulous are two words that come to mind. Buy it here.

Makeup remover

I'll never forget what my grandmother said, "Catherine, be nice to your eyes." Meaning, the skin around your eyes tends to be the most sensitive and it's one of the areas where wrinkles crash the party first. Sprout's simple recipe for removing leftover mascara will help you keep those skin patches moisturized and residue free. Thank goodness for simplicity! Buy it here.

Vegan lip balm

Sure, gloss is important. But I never leave the house without lip balm. It helps smooth the surface for your lip color of choice. If you're open to letting vegan goodies into your life, opt for the peppermint or the citrus scents. The cocoa butter in these is organic and fair trade, along with a few other organic goodies. Buy it here.

The Seaweed Bath Co.

These guys have one main goal: to fight dry, flaky skin whether it's on your legs or your scalp. They are a head-to-toe kind of company. The main ingredient for their line is, you guessed it, seaweed. They hand-harvest wild bladdewrack seaweed and combine it with a series of natural ingredients to formulate their products. The founder himself suffered from psoriasis and aims to make a cure for problem skin — one that doesn't involve harsh chemicals and prescriptions.

Argan hair care

My best friend and hair stylist recently accused me of a flaky scalp , so The Seaweed Bath Co. and team couldn't have come into my life at a better moment. Eucalyptus and peppermint were my scents of choice and the best part is that you're also getting a little aromatherapy action. Since Eucalyptus is anti-stress, this shampoo and conditioner duo was great for those nighttime showers after post work-day workouts. Buy it here.

Powder bath

Baths tend to be controversial these days. Haven't you heard someone say, "I don't want to soak in my own dirt!" We all know that even those people secretly take baths every now and again. However, I kind of get their point. That's why I do a quick shower and shampoo session, and then fill up the tub. Seaweed Bath Co.'s powder bath was a nice addition to that ritual. Though I tried the Eucalyptus, I'm a sucker for anything lavender. Buy it here.

Body wash

The citrus scent was like a cup of coffee in the morning — it perked up my senses and made me feel a little more alive in the early morning. Don't get me wrong. I still needed my cup of coffee and I'm not suggesting you skip yours, but this was a nice way to get the motion going. All the while, you're absorbing those good, natural ingredients to ward off dry skin. Buy it here.

More beauty and style

"Flasses" for your face shape
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Know when to fly

If you haven't booked your tickets yet for the holidays — or if you've been trying to decide if you should make that last-minute trip — you might get lucky. Sometimes flights can decrease in price the closer you get to your travel date. If you fly on a holiday, you will face shorter lines and less-crowded airports as well.

Thanksgiving morning is a prime example. Traveling on Thanksgiving day might not work for longer trips; however, if the flight is only a couple hours, you could leave in the morning and arrive in time for turkey dinner. Sure, this will make for a long day but avoiding the crowds sure seems worth it! Plus, the flight most likely will be less expensive.

Pack light and don't check a bag

I never check baggage — I'd gladly tote my rolling suitcase through the concourses and have to find a spot in the overhead bin than wait to check it, wait to pick it up and all the while worrying it might have gotten lost. This is a great option, especially if you're taking a short trip such as over Thanksgiving weekend. It will drastically cut down on the time you spend in airport lines. But if that's just not possible, make sure you're under the weight limit of your airline's requirements and consider checking curbside. You'll usually have to tip a few bucks out of courtesy, but time is money .

Book and pay for everything online

Never stand in line at the airport . If you check in online, pick your seat assignment and don't check baggage, you can go right through security and to your gate. It's a breeze! Even if you are checking luggage, checking it online makes it easier because there are typically separate check-in counters for e-tickets and those who have already checked in online, enabling you to bypass lengthy lines.

Even when holiday travel situations become stressful, try to keep in mind that spending time with family is more important than an airline snafu here and there.

More travel tips

Holiday travel survival guide
3 Resorts for a winter getaway
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Repeat after me: Babies need middle names, too

So, Bella’s Mom is named Renee and Edward’s adopted Madre is Esme. In tribute to their beloved matriarchs — and likely in an attempt to avoid family politics — the newly minted Mr. and Mrs. Cullen smooshed the two names together to form Renesmee. Not only will most people not make the family name connection , but they’ve also basically set their daughter up for a lifetime of mispronunciations and awkward nicknames. Uh, hello Nessie! The moral of this story? If you are stuck on the idea of saddling your kid with a strange hybrid name, do them a solid and stick it between their first and last.

Give Mom some parenting props

Between the weird noises, projectile vomiting and mood swings, your little bundle of joy will at times seem like something from The Exorcist. Instead of naming your sweet monster after your mother , do something that will simultaneously shock and genuinely touch your mother: ssk for her advice. As much as you never thought you’d admit it during your wild teenage years, she was right about a lot. We’re sure she’d much rather hear you admit that than hear people constantly tripping all over her grandbaby’s name… and knowing she somehow played a part in that linguistic roadblock.

Think big… after all, the woman gave birth to you

They don’t call it labor for nothing. The process of childbirth isn’t easy, and raising that baby sure isn’t any easier. Mom deserves credit where credit is due — I mean, hey, look how well you turned out! It makes sense Bella and Edward wanted to make a grand gesture. But think outside the box! If you already have a name in mind, slap that sucker on a star. Thanks to sites like StarNamer.net, you can choose from thousands of stars in the universe to name after your loved one. The name you choose will be registered in a database designated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Institute and will be copyrighted with coordinates so you and Mama can spot her star using a telescope. Hmm... Renesmee has a celestial ring to it, don’t you think?

More on The Twilight Saga

Team Edward or Team Jacob? What your Twi-crush reveals
Tinseltown Twi-hards: Celebs bitten by the Twilight craze
Getting hitched? Throw a wedding worthy of Edward & Bella

Image courtesy of WENN.com

Whether this is your first rodeo, or you’ve roped a few cattle, decking out the nursery is something all moms can get on board with. Of course, there are the essentials every baby’s room needs, but there are also a few special items worth the splurge.

Air purifier

Whether you live in the country, the city or somewhere in between, clean air can be an issue. All homes have airborne pollutants, even if you don’t want to think they do. Like what? Well, mold, pollen, dust mites, allergens, pet dander… need I say more? But you don’t have to live with them. We love this air purifier by Fellowes . It uses PlasmaTrue™ Technology to remove pollutants in the air, defusing viruses and germs, eliminating miniscule impurities like odors, and has a carbon filter to trap larger particles.

Besides its superior ability to clean the air, what really makes this air purifier rise above the rest is how user-friendly it is. The first time you plug it in, it tells you what your current air quality is. It continues to monitor your air quality, and automatically adjusts to keep your air up to par.

When it comes to your baby’s safety, nothing else matters. It’s especially important if your infant has allergies. And did we mention it’s ultra quiet? So your baby can... well, sleep like a baby.

More baby gear splurges

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Best baby products just for Dad
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These cheesecake bites look just like mini mounds of mashed potatoes, topped with caramel gravy and chocolate pepper flakes. Make plenty, because everyone will want seconds.

Ingredients:

• 10-inch vanilla cheesecake
• 8-10 shortbread or vanilla wafer cookies
• Caramel topping
• Small chocolate bar or chocolate chips
• Sea salt

Directions:

Buy or bake a 10-inch vanilla cheesecake. Using an ice cream scoop, scrape a ball of cheesecake out of your cheesecake.

Scoop the cheesecake onto your cookie, lunch-lady style.With a teaspoon, create a hole in the cheesecake mound for the caramel gravy.

Pour caramel topping into the hole and drizzle as desired.

Using a handheld cheese grater, grate a small chocolate bar over the cheesecake bites to look like black pepper flakes.

Add a pinch of sea salt too, if you wish.

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Throw a Twilight night

If you hate saying goodbye to Bella and the gang as much as we do, channel your inner crazy ex-girlfriend and pretend like goodbye is simply code for see you later. Once a year , throw a Twilight-themed bash for you and all your Twi-hard friends. You can dress up like the gang, sample Twilight-inspired fare, and of course, hunker down for a Twilight movie marathon. Bonus? It will be the one night of the year you can show up in public with a hicky and people will actually think it's cool — OK, maybe not cool, but at least they'll figure it's part of your party apparel.

Twilight Saga food and drink recipes>>

Plan a pilgrimage

Thanks to a shiny, new theme park, fans of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series flock to Florida every day to wander the halls of Hogwarts at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. But until someone figures out how to pull off a Twilight-styled theme park, Twi-hards can pay homage to their favorite franchise by planning an annual pilgrimage to the tiny town in which the series is set: Forks, Washington. Prior to becoming the setting for Stephenie Meyer's books, Forks was most famous for sport fishing and abundant precipitation . So, when you're feeling Twi-stalgic, pack up your fishing lures, galoshes and The Twilight Saga book set and hit the highway.

Getting hitched? Throw a wedding worthy of Edward & Bella>>

Dub Fido something Twi-hard-tastic

If annual odes are too few and far between for you, consider paying homage to Twilight with a daily reminder. Our suggestion? Saddle your furry friend with names from the series. Obviously, you could go simple and straightforward with this by naming them after the characters. You could also get a little creative with it, depending on what type of pet you have. Got lovebirds? Name them after Twilight's most lovey-dovey couple — Edward and Bella, of course. Proud parent of an ebony pooch? Call him Jacob Black Lab. Have a Yorkshire terrier as opposed to a Labrador? Then Eric Yorkie is the obvious moniker for your doggy dearest.

Team Edward or Team Jacob? What your Twi-crush reveals>>

Put a bow on it

Obsessions are kind of like big secrets — it's almost impossible to keep them to yourself. As soon as you have one of either, you feel the overwhelming urge to share it with a friend, family member, colleague or even some random dude on the subway, if it means you don't have to bear the burden of carrying it solo. A fun solution for passing on your own single-minded Twilight focus is to wrap it up. You can gift the books, the movies or even both for the friends you'd totally turn into vampires if it meant saving them from the Spanish influenza.

Edward & Bella's baby: Pregnancy no cure for couple's issues>>

Image courtesy of Summit Entertainment

by Anuja Rajendra
as told to Julie Weingarden Dubin

I have an engineering degree and an MBA. I worked in the corporate, entrepreneurial, nonprofit and technology start-up sectors. So, naturally, I started a fitness company combining Indian dance styles and meditation.

A career turning point

I could not have guessed my path, but when I was pregnant with our first son after finishing my MBA, I felt the need to forego the corporate rat race to be home with my kids. I had the luxury of being able to make this choice which I was quite grateful for, knowing that all mothers do not have the option. Even though I was driven internally, I decided to put that on the back burner while I enjoyed my children.

I started teaching one Indian-style dance fitness class on Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m. because that was the time I could get out of the house guilt-free to get my dance fix. Soon I had grown a bountiful, beautiful business, BollyFit. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and I’ve always loved to dance. But I never thought I’d merge the two!

Bolly-style

BollyFit merges artistic elements of Bollywood film dances with classical and Bhangra styles in a dynamic dance experience. It’s high-energy cardiovascular exercise that anyone can do in an inclusive, welcoming community space bridging cultural gaps. BollyFit also brings mindfulness — with yoga and meditation — into many of the classes.

People kept telling me that BollyFit was something special — not just exercise or another Bollywood dance class. So we added more “Guides” and it started to grow.

BollyFit Guides are authorized by BollyFit to teach in areas from Colorado to New Jersey and soon we’ll be in the United Kingdom. Students come to take classes at BollyFit's base in Ann Arbor, Michigan, from all over the U.S. We’re filming the first BollyFit DVD and it will be released in the next few months. I’m super energized about being able to share the magic of BollyFit with people in their homes.

Kids and business

I’m able to juggle best when I segment my time as much as possible. I literally close the laptop before my kids come home and move it out of the kitchen area back to my home office so it is out of sight. I’ve found that segmenting my time makes me more present with my work, my children and with every aspect of my life. I feel more efficient if I know I have [a] certain amount of time to do projects so I am less distracted.

Mothering without pressure

I hope I can guide my sons to live to their full potential without pressuring them and to also let them enjoy the innocence of childhood in a fast-moving world. I want them to gain confidence and continue to value and appreciate life.

My kids have taught me about acceptance. Even if a particular behavior is not acceptable to me, I realize this is not the essence of who they are. I also learn from their positive energy and unjaded attitudes.

Read more stories about real moms

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outfit ideas

Meet-the-mom looks

One of the most intimidating things about dating someone new is the inevitable trip to meet his mom. Will she like you? Will you like her? Well, at least you can look good while you wait for her stamp of approval and we have three ways to do it.

Pretty & preppy

Not sure what to wear when you meet his mom? We can suggest a perfectly preppy ensemble that’s sure to impress. Start with knit tights and a pleated skirt, which is youthful yet sophisticated. Add a black turtleneck for a streamlined look, step into some wedge booties and top everything off with an eye-catching statement necklace.

Get the look: Topshop Tweed Inverted Pleated Skirt , Mango Turtleneck T-shirt , Armani Exchange Opaque Tights , Anthropologie Sea Shingle Necklace , Kera Wedge Booties

Comfy-chic

While jeans and a T-shirt are far too casual for a first-time mom meeting, you can still create a comfortable yet pulled together look with denim as your base. Start with colored denim in something vibrant, add a cozy sweater in a rich fall-ready hue, some stylishly structured boots and a blazer to add a more formal twist. A beaded cuff helps bring everything together for a no-fail meet-the-mom outfit.

Get the look: J. Crew Toothpick Low Rise Skinny Jeans , H&M Wool Blend Sweater , Mango Leather Knee Boots , Zara Blazer with Shoulder Detailing , Topshop Mix Beaded Cuff

Fresh and fabulous

Shorts with tights can make for a fun and fresh fall outfit and something ideal for meeting his mom for the first time. Go for tweed or herringbone shorts, which are perfect for cooler weather. Add tights and slouchy boots and a sweater in a bright color. Pull the look together with a simple clutch and you’re ready to make a great first impression.

Get the look: French Connection Isar Herringbone Mini Shorts , Anthropologie Opaque Tights , Women’s Mossimo Kailey Flat Slouchy Boot , All Saints Elgar Cowl Neck Pullover , American Apparel Small Suede Envelope Clutch

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If I am ever a bank robber and I say, "Just one more heist and we'll be set for life," I want someone to kidnap me and force me into an early retirement because that line always indicates trouble. But, apparently the bank robbing family in Arrow hasn't seen Heat, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid or any other heist movie.

After low-rate criminals pull off a robbery and a cop gets shot, Dig tries to persuade Oliver to go after the thieves. Oliver takes some convincing because he's really focused on sticking to his dad's list. But, Dig really is more than a sidekick and kind of manipulates Oliver to hunt down the robbers by introducing him to the cop's wife.

Once Oli is convinced that Arrow should seek justice for everyone, he and Dig track down the robbers, who happen to be a family; even the mother is involved. No one ever expects the mother. In the middle of another bank robbery, Arrow actually traps the cash from the thieves and they leave empty-handed, which leads to a family discussion about whether they should give up on their career choice or not. But, the cop-shooting son Kyle manages to convince the family that just one more big heist and they'll "be set for life." That's never a good sign.

He recruits the pretty and nerdy IT girl from Queen Corp to research the dad, Derrick . Together they discover Derrick used to work for Queen Industrial's steel factory and was let go without a severance package when the factory shutdown and it ruined his life. And who shut it down? Oli's father. So, now, he's feeling a little guilty and responsible. He tries to give Derrick a way out, but instead the whole family supports Kyle's "one last heist" idea.

Before their last hurrah, Oliver has to attend Laurel's benefit. Laurel and Tommy are on weird terms. She's really cold to him for no reason and he's trying to do anything to make her happy, even asking Oli's messed-up little sis for girl advice. At the benefit, Thea realizes Tommy was actually asking advice about another girl and not her and starts getting smashed at the party .

Thea gets into it with Tommy and then vomits and Laurel, yet again, pushes Tommy away, but leaves him with a kiss on the cheek because he's "earned it." It's no surprise when Oliver quickly jets out of the party to catch the robbers. I would have wanted to as well with all that drama.

In the middle of the heist gone wrong, a security guard attempts to shoot Kyle, but Derrick winds up taking the bullet. Very reminiscent to Oliver's story.

Later, Dig tries to explain to Oli that he's not responsible for what happened to Derrick and that his dad would even be proud. He's a good guy and exactly what Oliver needs to stay focused, but still be a human being instead of just a green hood wearing-gangster.

Photos courtesy of CW

When Jessica Alba decided to create The Honest Company, she had a big goal. She wanted parents to be able to get all their essentials from one company delivered to their doorstep. But it was much more than that. She also wanted the products to be affordable, eco-friendly, effective and safe too.

The Honest Company team

Everyone knows Alba's work as an actress, but she's also an activist, entrepreneur and most importantly, a wife and mom. Jessica is known for extensive charity work and she's lobbied in Washington, DC for increased protections against toxic chemicals as the spokesperson for the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition, and sits on the board of directors of Baby2Baby, which supplies essential baby gear and clothing to families in need. Alba teamed up with three other business minds to create The Honest Company, which launched in January 2012.

The other co-founders of The Honest Company include Christopher Gavigan. Gavigan is a nationally recognized environmental health leader, author and speaker, as well as the former CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World. He serves as The Honest Company's chief products officer.

Brian Lee, who founded ShoeDazzle in 2008, is also a co-founder of The Honest Company and the company's chairman. Lee, a former lawyer, co-founded LegalZoom — an online consumer legal services company that has grown into a $150 MM+/year business. Sean Kane is a co-founder and the general manager of The Honest Company. Previously, Kane oversaw business development, sales and operations at PriceGrabber.com.

How it works

The Honest Company is a monthly service that delivers customized bundles of non-toxic, eco-friendly, beautifully designed products directly to your front door. The products include diapers, wipes, bath and skin care products and home cleaning items.

You can choose either the Honest Diapers Bundle or the Family Essentials Bundle , which features things like shampoo, body lotion and even laundry detergent. For the Essentials bundle, you can pick five items from their entire line, which includes over 20 products. You answer a few questions about yourself and your family to help customize your shopping experience and then just wait for the amazing products to arrive.

The Honest Company gives back

It's great when you can find a wonderful company that doesn't just produce good products, but also gives back to those in need. The mission of The Honest Company is to provide ”exceptional products and family support that promotes health, happiness and community.” The company is committed to creating a healthy, sustainable future for all our children. When you shop from The Honest Company, a portion of every dollar the company earns goes to Baby2Baby — a non-profit that supplies local families in need with essential baby gear and clothing for children up to age 12.

Reinventing the disposable diaper

The Honest Company delivers diapers in fun prints and fresh colors that are totally cute. They are also 80 percent plant-based, and contain totally chlorine-free fluff and peroxide-bleached paper material from controlled/sustainable forestry sources. So they are good for the environment and for your baby. And it's not just the diapers that were created for eco-minded parents — it's every product that the company delivers. To learn more about The Honest Company or to place an order for your first bundle, visit Honest.com.

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Vanessa Lachey talks baby Camden and her new mom essentials

If you're worried about this boozy bird and the kids in your family, don't be! All of the alcohol cooks out of the glaze while you're roasting it, and all you're left with is the smoky, slightly spicy flavor of the bourbon. Plus, the addition of the honey really sweetens it up so you get the perfect balance of flavors.

Bourbon and honey glazed turkey

Recipe inspired by Jim Beam

Serves about 14

Ingredients: 

• 10 pound turkey
• 3-1/2 tablespoons bourbon
• 2 tablespoons soft butter
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup low-sugar orange jam
• Dash of salt
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 orange, cut into slices

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Drizzle the 3-1/2 tablespoons of bourbon into the turkey cavity. Mix butter, salt, pepper and pumpkin pie spice together. Using a spatula or spoon, spread the butter mixture all over the skin of the turkey. Stuff the inside of the turkey with the cut-up oranges.
2. To prepare the glaze, combine the remaining bourbon, honey, orange jam and additional salt in a saucepan. Cook the glaze over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture boils. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the glaze is thickened. Add additional salt or honey to the mixture for favor.
3. Generously brush the turkey with about one-half of the glaze. Bake the turkey for about 30 to 40 minutes per pound, or until the inside of the turkey registers at 180 degrees F. In the last hour of roasting, brush the remaining glaze onto the bird.

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Pretty much everyone in Hollywood thinks Lindsay Lohan is a losing bet, but that didn't stop the Liz & Dick peeps from casting her. And while working with her was a bit of a nightmare, the producer says, the struggle was worth it in the end.

"Producing a movie with Lindsay is not for the faint of heart," executive producer Larry Thompson told reporters while promoting the TV movie. "I turned 50 shades of white actually during the production."

Lindsay Lohan wanted for lying to cops>>

"We had serious challenges to deal with due to her probation and her history," Thompson explained. "Therefore we had to make a deal where there were pages and pages of 'what if' clauses. There never was a ‘what if she can act' clause. It was about, 'What if there is a car accident? What if there is a violation of her probation [and she's] incarcerated?' Those 'what ifs' were plenty. She might be the most insured actress who ever walked on a soundstage. We tried to insure ourselves against things that could and, in fact, did happen."

"I was financially at risk myself," said the producer, who said Lohan was apologetic when they had to take an insurance day after her June car accident. "It was a challenge."

Lindsay Lohan cancels on Barbara Walters>>

At the end of the day though, he says Lohan came through with the stellar performance they were counting on.

"Overall, my gosh, relative to the performance we got and the movie we were able to make because of her, the pain was worth the pleasure," he said. "And the audience is going to benefit from the risk we took and the reward that was gained."

"I know there are a lot of people out there who are naysayers, and I think they're gonna be shocked — and people who have believed in her, their belief is gonna be vindicated."

"People will see that Grant Bowler as Richard Burton just steals your heart and Lindsay Lohan breaks it," Thompson added. "I'm guardedly optimistic that the public will like the movie very much. I believe if everybody takes a deep breath and focuses on her artistry instead of her antics, they will enjoy a pretty riveting movie."

Judge for yourself when Liz & Dick premieres Sunday, Nov. 25, at 9/8c on Lifetime.

Image courtesy Nikki Nelson / WENN.com

If you’re expecting a baby and plan to breastfeed, chances are you’ve heard one or more statements about nursing that simply aren’t true.

Expert reassures
new moms

We chatted with a breastfeeding expert to help allay any concerns you have about breastfeeding your baby and help you get off on the right start.

Breastfeeding may be natural, but if you hear a lot of misinformation, it can lead to problems that don’t need to happen. We were able to sit down with Amy Spangler, a certified lactation consultant and child feeding expert, to find out what the most common breastfeeding myths were and whether they had any truth behind them.

Pain and engorgement myths

Have you heard that pain and engorgement while breastfeeding is normal? A little bit of both is, but Amy warns that regular or excessive occurrences of either needs to be explored further. “If feedings are infrequent, delayed or missed, your breasts can overfill and engorgement can occur,” she explained. “And any discomfort should occur only at the start of a feeding and last only a few seconds. If the pain persists throughout the feeding, it can signal a poor latch.”

Getting help

If you have questions or concerns, contact a local lactation consultant. She can help you with positioning and latch. Some areas even have breastfeeding support groups where you meet with other moms and lactation consultants and get your baby weighed each week. If you’re feeling down, don’t give up without a fight.

More on breastfeeding

Why you should breastfeed your toddler
Breastfeeding: Why pumping or covering may not be an option
What are breastfeeding nurse-ins all about?

During the summer months, your outdoor patio furniture gets a lot of use. If you live in a place that has a cold or wet climate in the winter, you will need to make sure that your patio furniture is properly protected from damage.

Protect your furniture from the elements

The days are getting shorter, and there's a chill in the air. Now that you aren't spending as much time outdoors, it's time to prepare your furniture for the winter months ahead. With outdoor living spaces becoming more popular than ever, most people have at least a few pieces that need to be stored. Even furniture that is treated to be weather-resistant or is under a patio cover needs to be cared for and maintained. Spend a bit of time now, and you will be able to enjoy your outdoor living area when spring rolls around — and your furniture will be in top shape.

Clean it up

The most important step in preparing furniture for storage is to get it clean. Moisture and dirt left on outdoor items can cause mold or mildew to grow in the winter months. Mold can grow and spread quickly, leaving your furniture in bad shape by the time you are ready to use it again. Pieces made from wicker, wrought iron, mesh or plastic can be cleaned with a simple dish soap and water solution.

For wood furniture you can use Murphy Oil Soap and water, then rinse and let dry. If there are stains that are difficult to remove, make a mixture of 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 gallon water. Use a soft brush to work on the stains, then rinse and let dry completely. Take time to work on stains now, to prevent problems in the spring.

Cushions also need to be clean and dry before you put them away for the winter. If you have cushions covered in fabric or canvas, prepare a solution of 1/2 cup Lysol and 1 gallon hot water and use a soft brush to scrub them clean. Rinse cushions thoroughly and let dry. More serious stains may respond well to a solution of 1/2 cup bleach and 1 gallon water, but test first on a small area.

Creating outdoor entertaining space>>

Give it a coat

After your furniture is clean, a protective coating will help keep it looking good for next spring. Aluminum or plastic pieces can be covered with a thin coat of car wax to protect them and use a coat of paste wax for wicker furniture. Check metal furniture for any signs of rust and remove with a wire brush, then spray metal furniture with a silicone sealant.

Check out the latest outdoor furniture trends>>

Under cover

Furniture covers are great for additional protection from the elements, even if you are storing your pieces in a shed or garage. Covers come in a wide range of sizes and weights, depending on whether you will be storing items outside or under cover. We found several options to suit most needs.

This stackable chair outdoor cover covers several chairs stacked together for extra easy storage. Made from polyester with reinforced, piped edges, this cover is UV resistant and waterproof.

This outdoor sofa cover is water resistant, and has a draw cord and buckle straps for properly securing the cover over your sofa. These covers are available in sage green, gray or tan.

The Terrazzo patio table and chair set cover is an efficient way to cover your whole table set. Available in two different sizes, it features elastic loops to secure it over the legs and an elastic cord in the bottom hem.

Take great care of your outdoor living area furniture, and you will be able to enjoy it for years to come.

More outdoor winter living

Preparing your garden for winter
How to create a winter garden with kids
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Hayden Panettiere claims she's not channeling Taylor Swift with her portrayal of country princess Juliette Barnes on Nashville. This week's episode makes us seriously question that, though — especially since Juliette goes on a sham date with squeaky clean NFL star Sean Butler to help rehab her image after that whole nail polish incident.

"You know this is a setup, right? It's just our publicists playing up being good at their jobs. It's not an actual date," Juliette tells the smitten Sean.

"Yeah, I just figured we could enjoy it anyway, you know?" Sean replied. "Get to know each other a little."

So, we'll give you 2 seconds to figure out what real-life situation this mirrors. Time's up. If you guessed T-Swizzle's date with virginal New York Giants quarterback Tim Tebow, you're right.

Live in the Nashville house for a cool $19.5M >>

The biggest difference between the two is that Swift and Tebow didn't go anywhere, but Sean and Juliette just might. She eventually swindles him into an impromptu trip to South Beach.

"We're young. We're hot. And I've got a jet," she tells the jock, "Let's go, Choirboy!"

However, things go bad when a jerky paparazzo taunts Juliette outside a South Beach club for her past problems, leading the stand-up Sean to fight for her honor. She pays the photog $25K to keep the pictures out of the media, keeping his sparkling image intact.

Will this guy be enough to change Juliette?

Rayna abandons her SUV sound

It's no secret that Rayna James needs to do something to save her sinking career, stat. She showed last week that she has prowess as a songwriter, but the next step in her career revamp is a completely new sound.

Enter Irish rocker Liam McGuiness, otherwise known as "one of the top 10 most downloaded artists on iTunes."

The problem? He wants nothing to do with Rayna.

"You're moms and SUVs. That's a language I just don't speak," he tells the country queen before shutting the door in her face.

Hayden Panettiere: Beauty is an opinion >>

He caves after she strokes his ego . They record a song and she gets blackout drunk.

"It's electric... It's you," Liam declares in the recording booth.

We still can't picture her as a country rocker, but whatever.

Teddy continues to be Lamar's puppet

Anyone else completely over the political angle of the show? We definitely are, especially since the promising angle of Teddy's possible embezzlement prosecution fizzled out without a scandal.

This week, we found out that Teddy has no backbone and will do whatever it takes to win an election he never really wanted in the first place. He told Lamar he wouldn't do anything to shame opponent Coleman, but that quickly goes by the wayside in favor of a politics-as-usual campaign.

"You said you want to be the mayor of Nashville. You said you'd do whatever it took," Lamar reminded Teddy.

The result? Cops finds the prescription drugs that Deacon gave Coleman last week. He handles it well, given the possible political implications. Teddy doesn't know that Coleman has an arsenal of questionable photos of him with Peggy. This is not looking good for you, Teddy.

Scarlett grows a backbone

Teddy might be spineless, but Scarlett is finally done with Avery and his double standard, especially after she finds out he might have done the dirty with Marilyn Rhodes to benefit his nonexistent career.

Surprisingly, Avery didn't seal the deal with Marilyn, but Scarlett still left him in favor of a new home at Uncle Deacon's. Anyone else hoping this paves the way for a Gunnar and Scarlett hookup? Let's hope so, but something tells us Scarlett's backbone is soft and she'll head back to her slick BF… probably next week.

Images courtesy ABC

Read on for more Nashville recaps

Nashville recap: Put it in the rearview mirror
Nashville recap: Any publicity is good publicity
Nashville recap: Let's get human

Tired of the same old Teresa Giudice versus The World drama on the Real Housewives of New Jersey? You're in luck: Former troublemaker Danielle Staub is reportedly on her way back to the show that made her famous.

Jacqueline Laurita's son has autism>>

"Bravo has offered Danielle a contract," an insider told In Touch. "Danielle is contemplating whether this will be full-time or part-time."

Another unnamed insider confirmed the news.

"The producers squeezed all the juice they could from the Giudices-versus-Gorgas story line and had to think of a fresh outlet for drama," the source said, referring to all of Teresa's drama with her sister-in-law, Melissa Gorga. "Having her back on will ruffle a lot of feathers!"

Teresa Giudice grovels for forgiveness from cast mates >>

You can say that again.

We're totally over this show — exactly how many shows can we watch with people just fighting over stupid drama over and and over again? But, the ratings are still high and some people still seem invested in it.

Staub confirmed to TMZ in October that yes, she met with Andy Cohen— but she wouldn't say why. The news was out of left field, especially since Staub told RealityTea that her children begged her to leave the show.

Caroline Manzo "beyond insulted" by Hilary Rosen >>

"It got really scary for me and for my children," she said of the constant fighting. "They begged me not to go back [to Bravo] after the reunion."

It's still all up in the air, though: Bravo instigator-in-chief Cohen wouldn't confirm any news on Wednesday.

"So many Housewives rumors today and only 140 characters to say: Watch What Happens," he tweeted. We're going to go out on a limb and assume that means yes, we'll be seeing that "prostitution wh**e" back on the small screen soon.

Image courtesy DJDM / WENN.com

Courtney Stodden — the wife/daughter of creepy Lost actor Doug Hutchison— is a lot of things, but she only wants to be called one thing: A singer. The 18-year-old blonde was set to perform her song "Reality" and do a pole dance at a West Hollywood gay bar on Nov. 21.

Courtney Stodden's high heel drama invades YouTube >> 

"I'm super excited, it's going to be such a fun night,"Stodden told E! News on Wednesday. "You can expect to see a whole lot of sexy — me singing live and super-hot backup dancers!"

Don't buy your tickets just yet: The bar has abruptly canceled her performance without comment, according to TMZ. The bar was apparently "fearful" of what the singer would bring into the club.

Read: Sketchy guys who get off on young girls writhing around on stage. Not exactly the target market of a West Hollywood gay club.

Oh, great: Get ready for the Courtney Stodden and Doug Hutchison reality show >> 

Don't be too sad, though: You can still hear Stodden's attempt to sing via her video for her 2010 song "Don't Put It On Me." The video for that ditty included a really sad pink poodle and lyrics like, "I've been shopping, I've been popping."

Yes, seriously.

Stodden wasn't planning on showing her girls during the club appearance, either. The porn-star-in-the-making say she's holding out for a Playboy cover to do that.

Courtney Stodden: All grown up and ready for divorce >>

"Playboy, we have a lot of respect for," mom Krista said after her daughter turned 18. "There have been a lot of wonderful women who posed for Playboy that have gone on to do really great things. [Courtney's] not ruling that one out at all."

Playboy's reaction? "LOL, no thanks."

Watch Courtney Stodden "sing"

Image courtesy Josiah True/ WENN.com

Thanksgiving means a huge feast, lots of football and — most importantly — a four-day break from work and school!

Make a break for it
this Thanksgiving

Opt for a non-traditional Thanksgiving celebration this year by packing up and getting out of town.

Visit distant relatives and friends

Thanksgiving is all about being with loved ones. So why not visit a friend or family member that you don’t often get a chance to see? Perhaps you have a cousin in New York or a great aunt in Australia who hasn’t yet met your kids. Make arrangements for a trip to visit a new city as well as rekindle a connection with loved ones over your Thanksgiving vacation.

Travel with kids: Planning a family vacation >>

Head for the hills… or mountains

Ban technology over Turkey Day by renting a cozy cabin void of television and free Wi-Fi . Use the four-day break without modern technology to bond with your kids — especially those tweens and teens who have their faces in their iPods and ears to their iPhones from the moment they get home from school to the time they turn in for the night.

Enjoy local skiing, hiking or biking or anything else the quaint mountain town has to offer.

Keep this is mind

Thanksgiving Day is one of the busiest travel days of the year at airports worldwide. If your travel plans include flying, try to make arrangements for less popular days and times to save money on tickets and time in the airport security lines.

Even if your travel doesn't include an airplane, roads and highways are likely to be more populated during these holiday vacation days. Be prepared for delays and allow plenty of time on the road or at the airport.

Make your getaway a new Thanksgiving tradition

Big holidays can cause a lot of stress for your whole family. Instead of getting sucked into the pressure of the perfect Thanksgiving meal, make the Thanksgiving getaway your new family tradition.

More on Thanksgiving

Non-traditional Thanksgiving traditions
5 Fun family traditions to start for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving traditions: 9 Ideas for families

Photo credit: Bianca of Vegan Crunk

Make your Thanksgiving meal this year stand out with a nontraditional entree option, like a tofurky roast, chicken, pot roast or even lasagna! In reality, this holiday is all about giving thanks for all of the blessings in your life and spending time with the ones you love. If the food is good, who cares if it isn't a turkey?

More unique Thanksgiving recipes

Rum raisin pie
Out of the ordinary side dishes for Thanksgiving
3 Non-pie Thanksgiving pumpkin desserts