When I learned my unborn son, Charlie, had Down syndrome, I was working full time doing PR for a Fortune 50 company and just days from marrying my soulmate. I huddled alone in an empty office, listening to our genetic counselor share the news.

In those first few moments, I felt blindsided. A friend at work hugged me while I cried and whispered my overwhelming fear: “But I have no patience. How can I do this?”

Two years later, I realize I should have been praying for organization skills instead of patience.

Constant chaos, constant guilt

Things are much easier now, but the first year of Charlie’s life was constant chaos. I was a first-time mom who returned from maternity leave to dive into brand-new responsibilities.

The resulting zip-line through each work week was exhausting.

Three days a week, I had Charlie’s therapy scheduled first thing in the morning, so I could participate and then dash into the office. I was determined not to be one of those parents who shoves a child into the hands of a therapist and takes an hour off from parenting.

We had play therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy. My child may have Down syndrome, I thought, but by God he is also going to have every helping hand along the way!

Five days a week, I made deals with whatever devil was causing 5 p.m. requests from colleagues and 6 p.m. traffic — both keeping me from getting home by 5:30 so our nanny could have dinner with her family.

Most nights, I logged onto my laptop and tried to stay ahead of a growing to-do list. Some nights, I actually made progress.

I was a mess. I knew it, and everyone around me saw it but pretended it would get better. They wanted me to succeed and I wanted so badly to be able to do it all. To have it all.

Cheating my children

Then I learned I was expecting my daughter. As gestational diabetes kicked in and my legs and ankles swelled to beach ball proportions, I recognized I had chosen my priorities poorly. I had been cheating Charlie, my unborn daughter and my career by trying to juggle each equally.

Today, thanks to company leadership that is willing to think outside the standard-issue 9-to-5 career model, I have regained confidence in both my mommy skills and my work skills. A part-time job share allows me to dedicate a full weekday to Charlie’s therapies, keep up with laundry and actually put dinner on the table without using a takeout menu.

I spend half my week in yoga pants and a pony tail, and the other half in business casual that, by comparison, feels like prom wear. It is the perfect balance — for me.

Every woman in America has heard the rally cry to “have it all,” but what’s life like for those women who have a child with special needs? Is it harder to have it all? Or just different?

Next: Another mom's decision

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Passion for career and family

Corey Coggins has three children under age 6, and her oldest has Down syndrome. Corey works full time because for her, being successful shows her parents that all the hard work they poured into giving her a debt-free college education was worth it. “They gave me more than they had at my age,” she says. ”A gift I want to pass on to my children. So I work.”

But balancing passion for a full-time career as compliance director at an investment bank and passion for her three beautiful children takes organization — across time zones, sometimes.

“From the beginning, I managed my daughter’s therapy, feeding schedule and nurse visits like a business. Scheduled, created spreadsheets for feedings prior to heart surgery, kept notes on her many visits and looked for the improvements we needed.”

Corey concedes she’s not just a type-A personality, “I'm the ‘A+’ personality. Those crazy driven people who like to have control, who need to be uber organized, who can drive themselves crazy trying to get more done in less hours, who create endless lists, who strive to ‘have it all.’”

“I love my job,” Corey says. “[But] 12-hour time zone differences are a constant issue. Throw a child with special needs in this mix and presto the A+ type kicks it into A++ gear.“

A supportive job is everything

Every day brings an unexpected challenge. Right now, Corey has a to-do list for her daughter’s new kindergarten teacher, who has little experience teaching children with Down syndrome.

“That means this working mom has to pull together educational materials for the teacher, websites she can reference and learn how to teach my daughter how to read. All after the markets are closed, conversations with the other side of the world are complete, and my kids have had my undivided attention for the early evening.”

Corey credits a flexible work environment that supports sometimes unpredictable scheduling dilemmas, from weekly therapies to out-of-town specialists and an emergency hospital stay when her daughter developed pneumonia last year.

“’Mom guilt is alive and well,” she says. “I work extra hard out of fear that without being a top performer my flexibility will be the first to be removed. Working isn't for everyone. Working moms of a child with special needs have a difficult juggling act.”

Next: Staying home

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Trading career for motherhood

Joanna von Staden has a son with Down syndrome. She has worked full time in the past, and today she stays home with her two children.

“Both [arrangements] are equally draining,” she says. “At times I do miss the adult conversations and lunch hour with co-workers. [My son] has many medical issues, one including a [feeding tube], and we have been denied multiple times for any assistance. So until some of his medical issues get better with time, I count my blessings every day that I'm the one who is able to take care of him and my daughter.”

For parents who stay at home full time, it can be difficult not to resent the parent who heads to the office each day.

Jenn Scott had a full-time career she traded for full-time motherhood. She also has a son with Down syndrome.

“I tell [my husband] all the time that his job is just as hard, but his day is broken up,” Jenn says. “He sees different people. [He] has alone time. [He] is guaranteed a shower every day. He has an hour of alone time for the commute and then gets to eat at least one meal — lunch — alone and while it's hot.”

Joanna adds, “Sometimes [my husband] complains about his commute from work and there are days I would welcome an hour of alone time even if it was stuck in traffic!”

Finding part-time balance

For parents who continue to crave the fast pace of a career but also want time with their children, part-time work can be the solution.

“I have worked part-time since having kids,” says Ashley Walling, a nurse whose son has Down syndrome. “I took a leave of absence for nine months after I had Connor, and then gradually returned back to part-time.” She credits “an amazing neurosurgery group that has been so flexible and wonderful with me since having kids” for helping her “feel like I have the best of both worlds.”

When family and friends don’t understand the scheduling demands that come with parenting a child with special needs, frustration levels can rise.

Special needs schedules

Many points raised by these moms of children with special needs likely resonate with many stay-at-home moms of children with no disability. So, what’s different about having a child with special needs?

“Adding special needs to the mix adds a level of frustration I never thought I'd ever have to deal with,” Jenn says.

“The biggest misconception is that my day revolves around this sickly kid who has the awful disease and his therapies. I explain it to everyone like this, ‘You take your kids to sports and activities. So do I. I just have extra visitors and extra activities.’“

 “I just think others have no clue what is involved in caring for a child with special needs, whether you work or stay at home,” Ashley says. “Most do not realize all the therapy that is involved daily/weekly, the meetings, evaluations, doctors’ appointments, juggling work/school schedules, dealing with your other children and their schedules, your husband’s schedule, finding support and trying to still function in society as you did before, but truly will never be the same again!“

“I have learned situations I can and cannot function in, and have started being more honest about things I can and cannot do without the guilt or perfection I use to try to carry. Unfortunately this may include losing or gaining a few people in your life.”

Stay-at-home parents of children with special needs have quite a bit in common with stay-at-home parents of typical children. As Jenn points out, “My life also doesn't revolve [around my son] and his specialness. It revolves around trying to find balance between being a mom, wife and woman.”

All these demands come with great rewards and tradeoffs for the working spouse. “[My husband] doesn't get to see the daily triumphs that either kid makes,” Jenn says. “Like at gymnastics or at physical therapy. He's not as involved as I am with the daily decisions regarding our lives.”

As for me, I’m thankful my husband supports this new work/family arrangement. It may not be the ideal situation in 10 years, but for now, everyone is happy, healthy and as stress-free as any family can be.

And that feels pretty special.

Read more about special needs

Best apps for kids with special needs
10 Things you should know about autism
Having a sibling with Down syndrome

Fantastic Thanksgiving dinners don't happen overnight without a whole lot of stress, running around, and the special delirium that comes with having guests over when you haven't slept in a 48 hours. Why do that to yourself? Thanksgiving dinner doesn't have to be a mad dash to get everything done. It can be calm, peaceful even. However, to make that happen, you're going to need a plan. Like this one.

4 days out: Sunday before Thanksgiving

Grocery day. By the end of today, you should have bought everything you need for the holiday meal. In particular, make sure you have a still-frozen turkey when you leave the store since after today, the grocery stores are going to be crazy. Also, in addition to whatever is on your shopping list, pick up the following items :

• Butter
• Chicken broth or stock
• Cornstarch
• Paper towels
• Pie crust
• Apples

3 days out: Monday before Thanksgiving

Depending on your individual menu, this can be a free day. However, it can also be a day where you get a lot of work done. It's a great day to make stock, make pies up to the point where they are baked, etc.

2 days out: Tuesday before Thanksgiving

Now is the time to start thawing the turkey. While there are many methods to do so, you have enough time to simply put the bird in the refrigerator and let it slowly thaw. Also, review your Thanksgiving shopping list. Do you have everything you need? Did you buy extra broth? Have extra broth. Things are going to dry out, and you're going to need broth.

Also, at this point, try to not step foot in a grocery store until the day after Thanksgiving since your local food mart is going to start looking like a war zone. Also, have the number of your local pizza place handy. Seriously, the day before Thanksgiving is one of the most popular days in America to order pizza. Why buck the trend?

1 day out: Wednesday before Thanksgiving

In the morning, prepare the brine. Either use your favorite brine recipe or bring four cups of broth to boil with one cup of salt and black pepper, garlic powder, thyme, and rosemary to taste. When the brine is cool, move the turkey to a large plastic bag or roasting vessel that can hold it and fit back in the fridge. Cover the turkey in the brine.

That evening, flip the turkey so that the other half can brine and get to prep cooking! By the end of tonight, you want to have everything as close to done as possible. How you do this is up to your menu, but generally most food can sit overnight especially if they need to be baked before serving   In particular, here is advice for some of the more popular Thanksgiving dishes.

• If you are making mashed potatoes, the potatoes can be cut and put in an airtight container.
• For dressing, do everything but bake it. You'll find that letting the dressing sit improves its flavor.
• For sweet potato casserole, you can pretty much just bake it and serve at room temperature or reheat it.
• Cranberry sauce can be cooked and reheated in the morning.
• Potatoes au gratin can be cooked until the point where the recipe says to bake and will also improve if let to sit overnight.

Of the more traditional Thanksgiving items, gravy and store-bought rolls are the only thing you can't really work on until tomorrow.

Put everything into the oven, sit back and relax. If something looks dry, hit it with a little broth, but other than that, you should be all ready to go until it's time to make the potatoes.

About a half-hour before the turkey is done, boil the potatoes that you've already cut and heat the rolls. When the turkey comes out, make a roux by melting two tablespoons of butter and flour together, then adding two cups of broth and a few spoonfuls of drippings from the turkey. Once the gravy is thick, sit down and eat.

More Thanksgiving meal planning

Celebrity chefs share their best Thanksgiving menus
Scrumptious Thanksgiving tablescapes
3 Non-pie Thanksgiving pumpkin desserts

These classic cookies that you might fondly remember snapping up as a kid are sure to please . The ginger and cinnamon make them perfect for serving during the winter holidays — these crunchy cookies don't disappoint. Iced gingersnap cookies are a crowd-pleasing favorite!

Iced gingersnap cookies

Yields 4 dozen

Ingredients:

For the cookies

• 2-1/3 cups gluten-free, all-purpose flour
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1/8 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

For the icing

• 1 cup gluten-free confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions:

For the cookies

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Either lightly grease baking sheets, or line them with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the brown sugar and shortening. Add the water and molasses. Don't worry if the water and molasses don't thoroughly combine.
3. In a separate bowl, add the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger, and whisk together.
4. Slowly add the flour mixture to the brown sugar mixture and blend until a dough forms.
5. Form one-inch balls with the dough and place them on the baking sheets. About one dozen should fit on a standard cookie sheet. Flatten the balls with a spatula.
6. Bake for 8-12 minutes. If your oven runs hot, bake for about 8 minutes. Otherwise, you can go up in baking time.
7. Remove from the oven and let them sit for about a minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the icing

1. Mix the confectioners' sugar with the lemon juice and stir with a spoon until a thick icing forms.
2. Apply to completely cooled cookies with your finger and spread it around the top of the cookie.
3. You may need to add either a bit more confectioners' sugar and/or lemon juice to the mixture, depending on how thick you ice your cookies.

These cookies store well in airtight containers.

More Gluten-free Goodies

Individual mixed berry pecan crisps
Raspberry scones with lemon drizzle icing
Brownies with caramel, almond and sea salt frosting

If you pine for a work schedule that enables you to bypass that commute to work in traffic, that saves you money by transforming lounge pants into a work wardrobe, or that compresses your work week into four days, then it's time to sharpen your negotiation skills and approach your boss.

Get background information

Be sure to check with your HR representative if flexible scheduling benefits are already in place. If not, ask around to determine if any other employees have flexible arrangements. Find out what they did to negotiate the schedule and use their tips for making your schedule work.

It's all about them

Plan to negotiate your flexible work schedule with your employer -- not you -- in mind. It's not about you this time and what works best for your family, but rather how this arrangement can benefit them. Most companies that offer family friendly benefits do so because it makes sense, not because they are being kind and charitable.

Note the advantages

The advantages of a flexible work schedule for both employees and employers alike are well documented. Those employers who implement these schedule benefits understand that it is an incentive to recruit and retain the best talent, of which many are working mothers. Additionally, employers realize that it helps improve productivity because, according to studies, people are happier at their workplace when they receive accommodations, emphasizing their importance on the job and boosting morale.

Pros and cons

Take a hard look at your life and situation before you begin the negotiation process to work from home. There are definitely those people who cannot work from home because they are too distracted by, well life! Laundry, bills, and the phone doesn't stop, so you have to be ready to disconnect during the time you are dedicating to your job.

Here are few drawbacks of working from home:

• The line between home and work gets blurred
• You don't have visibility from management
• You give up the social interaction with coworkers

All of these items, plus any other personal distractions should be considered if you are contemplating whether or not to work from home.

Create a blueprint

You should present your proposal for a modified schedule in writing. The key points to address in your proposal are:

1. How your flexible schedule will benefit your employer
2. Provide an outline of the work arrangement you want
3. If asking to telecommute, describe your home work station capacity
4. Describe how you plan to maintain communication with the office
5. Detail how you and your manager can regularly review the effectiveness of your work schedule
6. List any needs you have specific to your position and job responsibilities
7. Ask for their support

Be flexible yourself

If your workplace does not have a formal scheduling policy, you'll need to approach the discussion with flexibility in mind. Be open to suggestions from your boss on how they envision the schedule working. This will help ensure you consider all possible scheduling options, even if it's a small change to start. If your boss seems only lukewarm about your proposal, suggest a trial period of three months. This trial period is good for both of you.

It will take some work but, in most cases, a flexible work arrangement will be given the consideration it deserves.

More ideas for working moms

How to be happily employed in a tough economy
Getting along at the office: Adapting to change
Four stress-less tips for working moms

Video inspires crowdfunding

Debbie Sterling Lewis is a female engineer — one of the few. Eighty-nine percent of engineers are male and she wanted to do something to change that. So, she invented GoldieBlox.

She's more than
just a princess

Stanford Engineer Debbie Sterling Lewis' goal was to develop a fun construction toy just for girls in order to get them interested in engineering. She believes that engineers can't build our world's future without the female perspective. Therefore, she decided to create a toy company with little girls in mind called GoldieBlox.

Construction and structural toys develop spatial skills and help kids get interested in building and engineering. GoldieBlox is a book and a construction toy combined. Since girls love reading, Lewis thought adding the reading element was key to the appeal of her product. As Lewis explains, it's spatial plus verbal combined — the building sets plus books.

Getting GoldieBlox off the ground

After testing it with hundreds of kids, Sterling Lewis was ready to launch GoldieBlox, but had used all her life savings and called in every favor she had. The minimum order to produce GoldieBlox was 5000 and she needed funding, so Sterling Lewis turned to Kickstarter.

Watch her video plea below — it's simply beautiful.

And Kickstarter came through for GoldieBlox, just like it has for many other start-up companies. Not only did GoldieBlox get backing, it got funded in five days, along with the next two books in the series.

GoldieBlox set

With a target age of girls from 5-9, the initial GoldieBlox set includes:

• Storybook - GoldieBlox and the Spinning Machine: This is the intro to Goldie, where she builds a belt drive to spin all her friends.
• Character figurines - Nacho , Benjamin Cranklin , Katinka , Phil , and Flavio .
• Construction set - 1 pegboard, 5 wheels, 10 axles, 5 blocks, 1 crank, 1 ribbon and 5 washers.

You can pre-order GoldieBlox and the Spinning Machine now. GoldieBlox is currently in production and you can track her progress at GoldieBlox.com.

Joining the boys club

Sterling Lewis aims to inspire girls to challenge the stereotype, get into science and construction, and take the world of engineering by storm. The first delivery of GoldieBlox is expected to reach consumers in February 2013.

More about math and science for kids

The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik teams up with Texas Instruments
Teach your child to love math, even if you don't
How to make clouds: Science experiment for kids

Stop the presses, Kris and Bruce Jenner are not getting a divorce. In fact, the reality show momager officially cleared up the story with E! News on Thursday.

The whole rumor began on Wednesday when the National Enquirer said the couple was heading for a split. This isn't the first time the family has weathered divorce rumors — every other week the tabloids are predicting the demise of daughter Khloe Kardashian's marriage to LA Clippers player Lamar Odom.

Like the Odoms, this rumor is definitely false. Kris told E! News,"These kinds of stories have been circulating for the last couple of years. We're absolutely not filing for divorce. Everything is great. We feel very blessed as a family."

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star also added, "If we had to chase down and comment on every rumor, we'd be working overtime."

It seems like the family has a pretty good sense of humor about it given that Kris called her hubby, Bruce, to tell him about the tabloid reports and he laughed and responded with, "Would you leave me alone, I am at the helicopter hobby shop."

It's clear Bruce has his priorities straight with his 21-year marriage to Kris… lots of hobbies.

If you're looking for more Kardashians, don't worry, E! has you covered with the return of Kourtney & Kim Take Miami in January. In the meantime, you can watch Khloe on The X Factor every Wednesday and Thursday night on FOX.

Image courtesy of Joseph Marzullo/WENN.com

Breaking Dawn fans in Missouri owe a special thank-you to police and the mother of a man named Blaec Lammers. Together, it appears they have prevented a shooting massacre in the same style of the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, during a showing of The Dark Knight Rises.

KSDK news out of St. Louis reports Blaec Lammers was charged Friday morning with first-degree assault, making a terroristic threat and armed criminal action. He is currently being held on $500,000 bail.

One day earlier, Lammers' mother had contacted authorities to inform them of her 20-year-old son's plans. She revealed he had purchased weapons similar to the ones used in the Aurora theater killing spree.

Insanity: 1,500 fans camp out for Breaking Dawn Part 2>>

A police officer picked up the troubled man at a Sonic restaurant in Missouri, and he agreed to be taken to the station. There, he stated he had purchased two assault rifles for hunting along with 400 rounds of ammunition.

A statement from the police reports, "Blaec Lammers stated that he had a lot in common with the people that have been involved in those shootings. Blaec Lammers stated that he was quiet, kind of a loner, had recently purchased firearms and didn't tell anybody about it, and had homicidal thoughts."

Did The Dark Knight Rises inspire new threats?>>

Along with possessing a ticket to a Sunday showing of Breaking Dawn Part 2, Lammers also had plans to kill inside of a Walmart store.

"Blaec Lammers stated that he would walk into the store and just start shooting people at random," court documents reveal. "[I]f he ran out of ammunition... he would just break the glass where the ammunition is stored and get some more and keep on shooting until police arrived."

Does news of a Breaking Dawn massacre plot influence your likelihood to go see Twilight's final flick?

Image via WENN

Hunger is a worldwide epidemic. Whether you choose to help stock someone's pantry, serve a hot meal to a person in need or help support an international farmer, you're doing your part. This holiday season, join the fight to end hunger by donating to one of these very worthwhile causes.

Provide food and meals

Some of the better-known food charities provide meals to the homeless, ill and elderly, or distribute groceries to the needy and disadvantaged. Just because these programs are well-known doesn't mean they don't need your help.

Through a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, Feeding America is on a mission to end hunger by supplying food to more than 37 million people each year. Mobile pantries, community outreach, national produce procurement and disaster relief are all aspects of this important program. There are many ways to help Feeding America, from running food drives to donating food supplies, time or money. Be sure to check with your local food bank about which items they will accept or refuse before organizing a food drive as a poorly organized food drive can actually put more burden on the food bank you're trying to assist.

In an effort to assist seniors against the threat of hunger, Meals on Wheels Association of America consists of approximately 5,000 local senior nutrition programs in the U.S., providing more than 1 million meals a day to senior centers and directly to homes. Join the Meals on Wheels huge volunteer network and the fight against senior hunger by volunteering to prepare or deliver meals. Or, for just $35, you can help provide meals to five seniors.

Looking for an easy way to give back? Drink these charitable wines for a cause >>

Help farmers and crops

Lesser-known food charities need assistance, too. One way to help solve the hunger problem is to help protect the crops and farmers themselves. Charities in our own backyards, as well as around the world, have been established with this goal in mind.

In the U.S., Farm Aid has been helping American farmers stay on their land for more than 25 years. Musicians Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp organized the first benefit concert in 1985 as a way to raise awareness about farm families losing their land and to raise money to help them keep it. The organization promotes buying local and gaining better access to family farm food for consumers, and also works to strengthen the connection between farmers and consumers. The nonprofit aids in the transition to sustainable practices and promotes fair farm polices. Just by buying local and supporting farmers, you're helping this charity. If you'd like to do more, check out their donation page.

In Central America, Sustainable Harvest International helps support rural farming families by providing tools and training to preserve their tropical forests by teaching alternatives to deforestation. The program educates families on nutrition, crop diversification, sustainable farming techniques and commercialization, and also plants trees and organic gardens to ensure increased crop yields and a healthier ecosystem for the future. Consider a donation to this program that has a long waiting list of families in need.

Work is also being done internationally to help conserve the world's food supply. Global Crop Diversity Trust, a foundation for food security, focuses their efforts on crop diversity and adapting crops to meet future challenges such as drought or extreme heat. By guaranteeing that these crops are conserved and available, they can better protect the future worldwide food supply. Go to their donation page to help this important agricultural cause.

Check out 8 more ways to help fight hunger >> 

More ways to give

Hunger in America: How you can help
Feed the hungry with a simple mouse click
Ways to volunteer as a family

1) Brave

Join Princess Merida on an epic adventure through the animated world of Scotland. Merida is set on deciding her own fate and must learn the true courage and sacrifice that comes with breaking tradition. This is one of Disney's most brilliant animated excursions yet, and with Emma Thompson and Kelly Macdonald commanding the voices, this is a must-have for the whole family!

Rotten Tomatoes: 78% Fresh

2) Savages

Drug cartels and love are never a good mix,  although they do make for a suspenseful movie plot. Savages is a complex tale of narcotics competition, kidnapping and revenge. The film stars Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, John Travolta and the stunning Blake Lively.

Rotten Tomatoes: 51% Splat

3) The Watch

Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill are the Neighborhood Watch. Need we say more? Just check out that van decal in the trailer. You already know these guys are going to take their trivial job way too seriously, and that the minimal jurisdiction they possess will surely be breached. And, they're not just patrolling soccer moms and snowbirds — the city has been infiltrated by aliens. Is the neighborhood really sleeping that much better at night with these fools in charge?

Rotten Tomatoes: 17% Splat

4) The Queen of Versailles

Jackie and David Siegel loved their lives in the bubble of billionaire luxury, but watch as it all falls apart and they have to return to the middle class when the stocks crash. From mansions to McDonalds, this documentary chronicles a return to normality and balance from the world of those who had neither.

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% Fresh

5) Nitro Circus: The Movie 3D

If you're looking for plot and substance then just move along. Now, if you want pure entertainment and adrenaline-fueled stunts, look no further. Join Motocross superstar Travis Pastrana and his band of assorted daredevils as they take on everything from skyscraper BASE jumping to crashes and everything else these crazy kids can think up. This isn't your average circus.

Rotten Tomatoes:  6% splat

There is another celebrity baby in Hollywood as Chad Lowe and his wife, Kim, welcome their second daughter into the world. Radar is exclusively reporting the news that the baby girl was born in Los Angeles on Thursday night.

As of press time, her name and weight were not announced, but this is the second bundle of joy for the Pretty Little Liars star. His first child, Mabel, was born in May 2009, a little over a year before he walked down the aisle in August 2010. Lowe was previously married to two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank for ten years before they divorced in 2007.

Lowe and his family were seen on Saturday at the premiere of Disney's Sofia the First. He told People that his wife was due any day now and the nesting phase was in full gear.

He said, "I have been out buying a lot of stuff to organize [everything] we have. It is amazing how much stuff babies need. It is incredible."

It seems that Lowe was quite prepared otherwise when it came to taking care of his growing family.

He explained, "The most important thing is being present when you are with your family and not being distracted by work or outside influences."

The parents were also busy preparing big sister Mabel for the new addition and trying to tell her how important her new role was going to be.

Rob Lowe's little brother revealed, "We've been introducing her to the concept and she seems to be very excited. She knows she's got a big job and a lot of things to teach her sibling."

Image courtesy of Nikki Nelson / WENN.com

Jeremy Renner hosts this week's SNL with musical guest Maroon 5. It should be a decent episode... at least better than last week with Anne Hathaway and Rihanna.

Maroon 5's Adam Levine is a known funny guy. He's a pro at laughing it up on talk shows and he always keeps his fellow coaches laughing with his hysterical sarcasm on The Voice. If the producers let Levine loose, Saturday Night Live is sure to bring the laughs once again. However, if they try to reign him in with the same stale sketches they've been doing for years , they could have another flop on their hands.

Jeremy Renner is the wild card for this episode. Renner's three most memorable roles are probably as Hawkeye in The Avengers, Aaron Cross in The Bourne Legacy or as Sergeant First Class William James in The Hurt Locker. In all, Renner has played a sort of stoic tough guy. While Avengers has its chuckle-worthy moments, none of the films are comedies. He is, however, pretty funny in interviews or with other funny people to bring him out of his shell. Renner also recently told Entertainment Weekly that the always-funny Jon Hamm told him he'd be great at hosting SNL. That's a pretty decent endorsement. Here's SNL's promo for this week's show:

For an even funnier video of Jeremy Renner and Keenan Thompson, visit NBC.com for an exclusive clip.

Also on the bill for this week's Saturday Night Live is alumni Fred Armisen. Armisen's show, Portlandia, will soon air its holiday/Christmas special and will return for a third season in January 2013.

While there's still no word on if any of Renner's Avenger friends may drop by the SNL set, it's looking like a good show.

Images courtesy of NBC and WENN.com

More on SNL and Jeremy Renner

Hard times on a plane: Jeremy Renner's blue pill mix-up
Man Candy Monday: Jeremy Renner
Will anyone actually watch SNL this week?

Howard Stern knows a thing or two about rejection. The man whose long road to fame was chronicled in his 1993 autobiography Private Parts recently reflected on his journey.

"I never worried in my career about what people thought or my reputation," the furiously-loathed and ferociously-loved radio host recently told E! News.

"I always did what I thought was funny. Some people liked it, some didn't. That's how you become a top performer."

Howard Stern inquires about Valerie Bertinelli's hair-down-there>>

Despite finding fame and fortune, the bumpy road continues on. The 58-year-old, who joined Amercia's Got Talent's judging panel amid much controversy, has since faced low ratings and less-than-flattering reviews.

"You've got to be original," Howard Stern continued about how he keeps going amid criticism. "You can't sit and look at focus groups. You can't read your comments on Twitter."

"You've got to go ahead and do what's true to your heart, and that's what I tell people on America's Got Talent. It's really the basic truth: You just have to go ahead and do what you think is right."

America's Got Talent: That's what Howard Stern said>>

Does Howard Stern believe returning to AGT for another season is what's right for him, then? The answer isn't quite clear yet. Ask again later.

"I'm still working on the decision about America's Got Talent," the man seen here with beauty Beth Ostrosky said. "You know like the Magic 8 Ball, the answer is still fuzzy. I'm thinking about it, though, I'm thinking about it seriously."

Would you like to see Howard Stern return to America's Got Talent or go back to radio?

Image via WENN

It's been eight months since Peter Facinelli split from wife Jennie Garth, but it seems like he's finally ready to move on to a new relationship. The man known as Carlisle Cullen arrived at a Thursday night screening of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2 in New York City with 28-year-old Jaimie Alexander, his sometimes co-star on Nurse Jackie.

"They have been very discreet of their relationship," a source told Us Weekly of their relationship.

It's hard not to be happy for the handsome actor, especially since Garth has been talking about dating at every turn.

Jennie Garth dropped the "dead weight" in her life >>

"I just don't know how to date," she told Jeff Probst on his talk show earlier this month. "It’s not like I want someone to treat me badly. I want somebody who looks like they could treat me badly, but then really treats me good."

Facinelli has mostly kept quiet about his personal life since the split, only saying that he didn't cheat on his wife of over a decade.

Jennie Garth and Luke Perry — together at last? >>

"There are rumors out there which are completely untrue and hurtful to our family,"the pair told People in March. "We just want to make it very clear — there are no third parties involved."

These days, they're more worried about where their three daughters are going to spend the holidays.

Jennie Garth is trying to help, not promoting new show >>

"Their dad and I are hammering out the details of that, which is weird," Garth told Us Weekly earlier this week. "They're actually gonna be with him for Thanksgiving and I'm gonna be with some friends, and then I get to have them for Christmas."

Image courtesy Ian Wilson/WENN.com

While Kris and Bruce Jenner fight off divorce rumors in the tabloids, it looks like another family member is making the news today for all of the right reasons.

Kim Kardashian may be in love with boyfriend Kanye West, but she stepped out with another man on Thursday night. Her hot date turned out to be Sgt. Martin Gardner for the HQ Battery Marine Birthday Ball in Greenville, North Carolina.

A celebrity attending an armed forces ball has become quite the rage the last few years with stars like Mila Kunis, Kristin Cavallari and Justin Timberlake. Most of the star attendees were asked out publicly via YouTube, but this date proposal with Kardashian was shockingly under the radar.

The reality star knew about the event months ago according to E! News, and she cleared her schedule to attend the festivities. Kardashian is currently in Miami shooting the next season of E!'s Kourtney & Kim Take Miami.

Kardashian upheld her promise and didn't disappoint her date as she came dressed in a tight-fitting red gown designed by Roland Mouret. The young Marine was decked out in his formal uniform, so they made quite a striking couple.

After the event, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star tweeted to her followers, “Just left the Marine Corps Ball. Thanks to all of the Marines I had the opportunity to meet tonight! Thank you for all that you do!"

There's no word on how Sgt. Gardner asked the 32-year-old to the ball, but he certainly looked like a happy man all evening.

Image courtesy of Lia Toby/WENN.com

It's Thanksgiving! It's time to devour almost anything and feel guilt free! However, just because it's the time of the year where we eat extra slices of pie topped with ice cream, doesn't mean we should forget our vegetables. These three recipes are extra special yet easy to throw together. They're perfect for Thanksgiving or any holiday gathering.

Spicy glazed baby carrots recipe

Naturally sweet and lightly glazed carrots are paired with a just a touch of red pepper flakes. It's the sweet and spicy combination your holiday table has been craving!

Yields 1 pound

Ingredients:

• 1 pound baby carrots
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. In a high-sided saute pan, add all ingredients.
2. Cook on medium heat until carrots start to soften and the liquid is cooked down and creates a nice thick glaze.

Roasted green beans

Beans don't just have to be steamed to be enjoyed. These gems are roasted, which gives them a slight carmelized taste and then topped with a handful of shredded Parmesan cheese. You will love these!

Yields 2 pounds

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds green beans
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
• 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. On a large rimmed sheet pan add green beans, olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss with your hands to make sure everything is evenly covered.
3. Bake for 25 minutes until you notice the beans are a bit shriveled and lightly brown.
4. Immediately after pulling beans out of the oven, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve warm.

Brussels sprouts with pancetta

Shallot and crispy pancetta team up and play perfectly with the slight cabbage taste of the Brussels sprouts. It's the perfect addition to your holiday spread!

Yields 1 pound

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Brussels sprouts
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 ounced pancetta
• 1 small shallot
• Kosher salt
• Fresh cracked pepper

Directions:

1. Blanch the Brussels sprouts in a pot of boiling water for four to five minutes and then drain.
2. In a large skillet melt butter and add pancetta and shallot. Cook until the shallot is soft and the pancetta is crispy but not too brown.
3. Add in blanched Brussels sprouts, sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper and cook until the sprouts just start to brown.

More delcious vegetable recipes

Oven-roasted root vegetable recipe
Mashed butternut squash with crispy bacon and shallot recipe
Artichokes stuffed with garlic and capers recipe

Sorry, everyone: Christmas is canceled. The Octomom ruined it.

OK, that might be a little harsh, but Nadya Suleman is doing her best to cash in on the holidays with a Christmas song performed by her poor children. The kids — dubbed The Rocktuplets — perform the song "I'm Ready for Christmas" in the video posted on her official website. The song will also be for sale on iTunes, according to The Huffington Post.

Octomom strips in dominatrix gear, gets slapped by lawsuit >> 

Yes, seriously. We have to wonder when the troubled mom will stop using her children as an ATM, though she insists they're all about it.

"My children wanted to do a song of their own when I was recording mine, and we thought, what a great idea and how fun for the kids," Suleman told the HuffPo.

The video looks like it was filmed on a cell phone, complete with cheesy graphics and dead-eyed children. Something tells us they weren't that thrilled about the song. Also, Suleman is still in rehab for her Xanax addiction, so she wasn't there to see the "magic" happen.

Octomom Nadya Suleman shares parenting tips >>

"I wasn't able to be there for the recording or filming of the video, but I was able to see the end result and I am so proud of all of them," Suleman added. "I cried because I miss them so much."

The video caps off a year of ridiculousness for the mom of 14, including her very first porn video, foreclosure and accusations of child abuse. These poor kids. Let's hope she's putting away lots of money for their therapy.

Watch The Rocktuplets' video

Image courtesy WENN.com

You've seen the picture. Mama hands papa a big, golden brown bird while a family sits around a table filled with stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls and all the other trimmings.

A holiday meal
on the cheap

The problem is you're on a budget. After you buy the Thanksgiving bottle of wine you're going to need to put up with your in-laws, you just don't have the budget for a big meal. No big deal! Here's a menu you can put together for the price of a turkey and a dollar or two per person. You'll have all the flavor you'd want for a Turkey Day meal without the cost.

Picture the iconic Thanksgiving feast: a table full of dishes ranging from perfect roast turkey to cranberry sauce to mashed potatoes to so many different types of pies. Now, imagine how many gajillion dollars you'd have to spend putting that meal together. However, fear not, an inexpensive Thanksgiving dinner can be yours for about a little more than $30, not including the price of the turkey and a few items you should have around the house , without sacrificing quality or variety.

Here's how:

Thanksgiving turkey

This is the one item that is going to cost, no matter what. However, because price is an issue, you don't need a huge bird. In fact, smaller birds cook more evenly and tend to stay moister. Still, whatever you do, make sure your turkey comes with giblets and the neck. That will be important.

Mashed potatoes and gravy

Get a five-pound bag of potatoes, which will run you about $5. In addition, buy two cans of chicken broth, which will cost about $1.50. You'll also need a little cream from the peas and a pat of butter from the pie, but we won't add their cost here! To make the mashed potatoes, just boil them and mash them with salt, a little cream and three tablespoons of butter.

However, then we have to think about gravy. To make the gravy, toss the giblets and neck in about three tablespoons of flour, then brown them in three tablespoons of butter. Pour in the broth and let it get thick.

Corn mache choux

This dish will give your guests a little wow that they weren't expecting from a budget meal. Buy a bag of frozen corn , a few stalks of celery for about $1 and some bacon, which you can hopefully find for about $5.

Budget corn mache choux

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 strips bacon
• 1 stalk celery, sliced
• 2 cups frozen corn
• Splash of cream
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. In a skillet over medium heat, slowly cook the fat out of the bacon.
2. Remove the bacon and finely chop, reserve for later.
3. Cook the celery in the bacon grease for eight minutes, then add the corn and two tablespoons of water. Cook until the corn is soft .
4. Add the chopped bacon back to the skillet and cook until the water is mostly evaporated. Add the cream and black pepper and serve.

Budget-friendly apple pie

Yields 1 pie

Ingredients:

For the crust

• 1 stick butter
• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• Ice cold water

For the filling

• 1 stick butter
• 2 large apples, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 tablespoons cinnamon

Directions:

For the crust

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Take the butter from the refrigerator and immediately cut it into eight pieces.
3. Put the pieces in a bowl with the flour, sugar and salt and begin working the ingredients together.
4. To do this, pinch the butter so that little pieces are pulled off and coated in flour. Do this until you have something that looks like little pebbles.
5. Once finished, add the ice cold water a tablespoon at a time until you have something that looks like pie dough.
6. Wrap in plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator for an hour to set.
7. After an hour, remove the crust, dust your counter with a little flour and quickly roll the pie crust out and place into a greased pie plate .
8. Bake the crust for ten minutes empty .

For the filling

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Let the butter come to room temperature.
3. Remove it from the wrapper and cut into eight pieces, then melt those eight pieces over medium heat.
4. Once melted, add the apples and cook until they are soft, about ten minutes.
5. Add the sugar and cinnamon and stir to coat.
6. Pour the filling into the crust and bake the pie for ten minutes or until the filling becomes set.

More budget friendly tips

A budget bash!
Entertain for $10 per person
More fun, less stress this season

The 2012 American Music Awards are set to broadcast live on ABC on Nov. 18 with performances from everyone from Justin Bieber to Kelly Clarkson and The Wanted. However, one thing is notably missing from the lineup: A host!

You read that right: The AMAs haven't announced a specific host for the show, so either it'll be a surprise or the show will just transition from one presenter to the next. It's not the first time an awards show has tried this: The 2007 MTV VMAs in Las Vegas opted for no host and it ended up feeling really weird and chaotic.

Will the AMAs make it work? We hope so, but that's not stopping us from coming up with a few ideas for co-hosts. We figure the show's already going to be awkward, so why not make it even more so with these weird pairs?

Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey

Have you heard? Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey don't exactly get along. The new American Idol judges were at each other's throats earlier this fall when Minaj had a meltdown over Carey's continued disses.

Sure, there are questions whether or not the feud is real or for ratings, but we'd love to see just how unpredictable the two are while competing for camera time. We'll just call it prep for the new season of Idol coming in January.

Kristen Stewart and Rupert Sanders

By all accounts, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have put her affair with her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders behind them. Conveniently, right in time for the release of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2.

We're not quite ready to put all of the drama behind us, though. We'd love to see KStew and Sanders reunite as hosts — or, better yet: Stewart and Sanders' wife, Liberty Ross. Now, Stewart and Sanders have nothing to do with music, but wouldn't it be fun to watch all the awkwardness for three hours?

On second thought, scratch that: It's just way too much hair-touching and blank facial expressions for us to handle.

Jay-Z and Robert De Niro

Jay-Z continues to be one of the biggest things in music — he even counts President Barack Obama as a fan. However, De Niro is not among those admirers anymore.

According to the New York Post, De Niro now thinks Hov is rude because he ignored a bunch of his phone calls earlier this year.

"Bob was sitting at a table, and when Jay-Z went over to say hello, De Niro told Jay that he never called him back," the spy said. "Bob wasn’t in the mood to make polite conversation. He told Jay that if somebody calls you six times, you call them back. It doesn’t matter who you are, that is just rude."

Again, we'd love to see these two because we just love awkward encounters that don't involve us.

Chris Brown and Rihanna

Chris Brown and Rihanna are back together again, whether we like it or not. The pair continues to flip off fans by saying their relationship is "Nobody's Business," but we think they'd be better served to embrace the interest in their reunion with a public job as AMA co-hosts. After all, Breezy needs all the good publicity he can get since he can't seem to figure out how to do it on his own.

The 2012 AMAs will be broadcasting live on Nov. 18 on ABC, and SheKnows Goes to the Shows will be there, live on the red carpet!

Images courtesy WENN.com

Who would you pick as hosts for the American Music Awards?

Best: Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez and her curvy body could make a paper bag look good, but even she isn't prone to a few fashion missteps. Luckily, the 2011 AMAs wasn't one of those times: The mom of Max and Emme looked ahhhh-mazing in her asymetrical gown by Zuhair Murad.

Worst: LMFAO

The two dudes in LMFAO are pretty much going to be the worst-dressed people at any event they go to — and the 2011 American Music Awards were no exception. Pro tip: Never dress like this, unless it's Halloween.

Best: Taylor Swift

We're used to seeing Taylor Swift with straight hair now, but it was all so new to us when she opted for a stick-straight blonde look for the 2010 AMAs. The hair — along with her embellished Collette Dinnigan dress — introduced us to Taylor Swift the grown-up.

Worst: Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj was all smiles at the 2010 AMAs with her monstrosity of a dress. It looked like a craft store exploded on her — and apparently that's the look she was going for.

"It's just a weird thing. It looks like it could be a piece on the middle of your table and you picked it up, put some clothing on it, and now you can wear it," she told MTV News at the time. "It's all about feeling like, 'Grrr.' This dress it the epitome of Pink Friday. This is the dress version of my album."

So, she's saying her album was crap?

Best: Carrie Underwood

Does Carrie Underwood ever look bad in anything? We're going to go ahead and say no. Case in point? Her one-shouldered metallic Theia dress from the 2009 AMAs. We can totally see why Mike Fisher loves her.

Worst: Shakira

We usually love Shakira's sense of style, but her yellow Versace minidress from the 2009 AMAs is cut way too short for even her tiny frame. Also, WTF is up with those shoes? Do not want.

The 2012 AMAs will be broadcasting live on Nov. 18 on ABC, and SheKnows Goes to the Shows will be there, live on the red carpet!

Images courtesy WENN.com

Who do you think will be the best-dressed and worst-dressed at the 2012 American Music Awards?

Christina Aguilera

Xtina is a pop favorite because she actually has the pipes to step out of a studio and still sound incredible. Her talent in undeniable. But her live performances? They can take awesome in either direction. So if her “people” are reading this — we beg you. Please get someone new to do Christina’s hair extensions, please no catsuits and for the love of all that is good and holy, please make sure Christina knows the words to the song before she hits the stage. We want everyone talking about Christina’s performance the next morning for all the right reasons!

Justin Bieber and P!nk

These powerhouse performers are two more reasons the 2012 AMAs are going to give us much to talk about on Monday morning. Will Justin start crying on stage over his most recent break-up with Selena? Will he hurl during the middle of a song? Oh, we can hardly wait! P!nk “blew us one last kiss” during her live performance at the 2012 VMAs, which for all its flair, fell a bit flat. Maybe that particular performance was just Missunderstood. Our faith in P!nk has recently been restored with her kick-a** video Try. The b**** is back and we eagerly anticipate whatever in-your-face tricks P!nk has got up her sleeve.

Drama!

It wouldn’t be a night at a music awards show without some drama. Will Chris Brown slug someone backstage ? Will someone take a cheap shot at Taylor Swift’s love life — reducing her to tears? Will Ms. Swift, who was nominated for three CMAs, but went home empty-handed win favorite female artist? Will a presenter misappropriate time behind the mic to share their postelection views? Will Katy Perry and Rihanna rekindle their front-row VMAs lovefest or will they be seated separately now that there is a rumored rift in their friendship over the alleged reunion of RiRi and Chris Brown? Will Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey get into a cat fight on the red carpet? There is no doubt the Awards Show Drama Gods will cook up something memorable for us!

Pregame it

The red carpet will be on fie-yah with hot music celebs. The red carpet is unrehearsed, which can make it the most entertaining part of the festivities. Host a party and you and your friends can count how many times celebrities say, “I’m so excited to be here,” or “I’m just happy to be nominated,” or how many times red carpet hosts and reporters say, “Who are you wearing?” The candid carpet questions make celebs think on their feet — where some celebrities shine, and some fail — miserably. You and your friends can also pretend to be Joan Rivers and analyze red carpet fashions and see if the headlines agree with your snark-fest the next morning.

Tune into the 2012 American Music Awards on ABC on Sunday, Nov. 18, at 8/7c, for a musical celebration we’ll probably be talking about for the next 40 years. SheKnows Goes to the Shows will be there, live on the red carpet!

Images courtesy WENN.com