Julie Bowden's blown over by Sofia Vergara's hotness

In fact, the Modern Family star's sweet craving is getting so bad that she's considering taking rather extreme methods to get it under control.

"I heard about someone in LA who got hypnotized so they wouldn't eat candy. I'm seriously looking into that because I'm obsessed," Vergara told Shape magazine for its November issue.

And since her move to Los Angeles, California, a few years ago, Vergara's food mentally has been challenged, because there are so many great things to eat.

"If you live here, you can't always order the high-fat dishes like pasta with truffles. You have a little sushi, and when you're out with your girlfriends you order a nice salad," she explains.

Threepeat! Sofia Vergara is TV's highest-paid actress again

The Colombian-born beauty has just celebrated a milestone birthday and since turning the big 4-0, she's realized it's harder to keep in shape than when she was blessed with youth.

"Everyone knows that I've never been into working out. I was always very happy with what I have. I hit 40 and I started seeing a softness everywhere on my body," Vergara confesses. "I knew it was time to do something, so I did."

So, what did she do? She got the help of a trainer, of course. Vergara now trains to build up her strength through the Pilates-inspired Lagree Method workouts using a Megaformer (a Pilates machine).

Sofia Vergara and Jimmy Fallon swap lips (VIDEO)

"When I do indulge, I exercise a bit harder the next day," she adds. "My workout motto is really simple: No pain, no cake!" No wonder she's considering hypnosis — that's gotta take some serious willpower.

Yeah, I thought so too, which is why this is probably going to be my go-to holiday brunch drink until the end of time. That, and it gives me an excuse to keep buying Champagne and red wine.

Red wine-poached pear Bellini recipe

Serves 8

Ingredients:

For the Bellinis

• 2 bottles chilled Champagne (we love Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut)
• 4 cups pear nectar
• 1 pear, chopped
• Sugar for rim

For the poached pear garnish

• 1-1/2 cups dry red wine
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 orange, juiced and zested
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 firm ripe pears, peeled, stems left on

Directions: 

1. To make the pears, in a saucepan over medium-high heat, add the red wine, honey, orange juice and zest and the cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 5 minutes.
2. Slice 1/2 inch off the bottoms of the pears, creating flat bottoms. Add the pears to the wine in the saucepan, and turn them every 3 to 5 minutes to get an even color around. Do this for about 20 minutes or until the pears are bright in color.
3. Once the pears are colored, remove the saucepan from the heat, and place the pears (and sauce) in the fridge to chill for about 3 to 4 hours.
4. Once the pears and sauce are chilled, prepare the Bellinis. Pour the nectar and pear pieces into 8 Champagne flutes, filling them about 3/4 of the way. Top each off with Champagne.
5. Slice the pears into thin slices, and garnish the edges of the glasses with the red wine-poached pear slices. Add a teaspoon or so of the red wine liquid into the glasses to create a beautiful gradient look.

More mimosa recipes

How to make a mimosa bar
Classic mimosa recipe
Fresh-squeezed mimosa

Don't frighten Fido this year, and keep these scare-proof tips in mind.

1. Keep control of the leash

If you're planning on trick or treating with your dog, don't let your kids take the lead. Your pooch could become spooked and quickly bolt, making it difficult for a young one to properly keep control.

2. Be safe in the dark

I can't stress this enough; it's always important to stay safe during evening walks with your dog, but especially on Halloween. Not to mention, it's good to add light and protection for your little ones as well. One of my favorite new products for fall is the NEON by flexi. Offering complete reflective components, and handmade in Germany by the inventors of the retractable leash, this product's quality cannot be matched. It will last you a lifetime of safe evening walks with your dog and is perfect for trick or treating this Halloween. The flexi NEON can be purchased at PetSmart and pet specialty shops nationwide.

3. Keep Halloween candy out of reach

Keep Halloween candy out of your pet's reach. Candy and chocolate consumption can be harmful to pets when ingested. But, by all means, they deserve a festive treat too. Here's a fun recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network for peanut butter dog bone treats. I'm sure they'll be a hit.

4. Be wary of costumes

Be wary of costumes. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but uncomfortable fabrics or constrictive outfits can cause pets unnecessary anxiety and stress or make it hard for them to move, breathe, bark or meow. PetPaint is a colored hairspray that's completely safe, easy to apply and will wash right out when Halloween's over. It's available in a variety of colors, and stencils are offered to help in the design process. Paint on.

5. Check your cords

Make sure all cords and wires from lights and decorations are safely away from your pets. If chewed, pets can suffer cuts, burns or shocks.

6. Keep an eye on the door

When opening the door for trick or treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

7. Create a stress-free spot

To keep a scaredy pet calm and comfortable at home, consider creating a safe spot in a quiet room of your house. Leave a favorite toy or blanket, play mellow music (the lull of a washing machine/dryer has been said to help create a calming environment for pets) and consider a ThunderShirt. Similar to the idea of swaddling an infant, the ThunderShirt applies a gentle, constant pressure that offers proven calming benefits.

Photo credit: crisserbug/Getty Images

UniCare debuted the <del>creepy</del> innovative chair at the International Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition in Tokyo, where a spokesperson explained, "It makes you feel safe."

To mimic the psychological benefits of a real hug, the back of the chair consists of a doll shaped like a giant human with long, pillowy arms that can wrap you in a warm embrace.

While his oversized oven mitt hands totally skeeve us out, we may not be the tranquility chair's target demographic anyway.

"Anyone can use it," a UniCare spokesperson said, "but it is designed for older people."

If you take into consideration that 25 percent of Japan's population is over 65 and that this percentage is expected to double in the next few decades, the chair's geriatric-focused marketing makes sense.

According to Oddity Central, the chair — which retails for $419 — is inspired by the studies of Professor Hidetata Sasaki and is intended to also improve quality of life for people suffering from dementia, anxiety, fear or anger by encouraging relaxation.

We're not quite sure how anyone could relax while cuddling with the clown from Poltergeist, which is what this guy reminds us of. Can you imagine getting up at night to grab a glass of water and seeing the tranquility chair in a dark corner?

Eesh.

UniCare may actually be trying to corner the market on comforting-slash-creepy home products for the elderly. Its other creations include Life Rhythm Dolls, which play old Japanese music and remind owners to complete tasks like taking their medicine or going to bed.

Said a spokesperson for the company's lifelike products, "They are comforting for people who live alone — they can talk to them and hug them."

More unique inventions

iPotty: The best or worst new parenting invention
Invisibility cloaks aren't just for Harry Potter, they're a real thing now (VIDEO)
This new gadget proves our obsession with selfies borders on madness

7th Heaven dad in deep trouble after shocking confession

Stephen Collins landed in hot water after tapes from his marriage therapy session between himself and his wife saw him admit to exposing himself to at least three young girls between the ages of 10 and 13.

The world was left shocked and disgusted by the confessions, but the most recent email claims that Grant has allegedly made about her husband are utterly shocking.

According to TMZ, in an email allegedly sent by Grant to Collins last year, she accused him of having incestuous thoughts while she was pregnant with their daughter, Kate.

How could we forget these 9 life lessons 7th Heaven taught us?

"The comment you made just before I gave birth to our daughter when you said you hoped we didn't have a little boy, because 'you just didn't know if you could keep his little penis out of your mouth' was indication enough that you were sick," the email reads.

"I should have followed my gut then, and then again 14 years ago, and kicked your ass to the curb," she added.

The former couple is now involved in a very bitter divorce and an insider explained to TMZ that the email allegations are "absolutely untrue." The insider allegedly told the publication that the actor never received this email from his estranged wife and that she never said a word about these allegations "during the entire divorce proceedings."

How not to react to Stephen Collins' child molestation confession

Collins is under investigation by the NYPD in response to the tapes in which he admits to exposing himself and even touching at least three girls.

More great Halloween-related stories

I usually make peppermint bark for Christmas, but bark really is great for any holiday. Our Halloween bark is no doubt one of the most delicious bark recipes I have ever tried.

Halloween-inspired candy bark recipe

Ingredients:

• 12-14 black and orange sandwich cookies
• 1 cup broken pretzels
• 24 ounces white chocolate melts
• 1-1/2 cups candy corn
• Candy eyeballs
• 1-2 tablespoons Halloween sprinkles

More Halloween fun

Usher in Halloween fun with colorful candy corn-inspired cupcakes
17 Halloween recipes that will impress your kids
How to host a spooktacular Halloween party

Football season rice nachos recipe

Ingredients:

For the rice:

• 1 cup Rice Select Arborio Rice
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lime, juiced

For the nachos:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 cup refried beans
• 1/4 teaspoon each sea salt, black pepper and garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup nacho cheese
• 1 cup salsa
• 1/2 cup sliced romaine lettuce
• 4 tablespoons sour cream
• 4 black olives

Directions:

For the rice:

1. Melt the butter and olive oil together with the chopped onion. Allow them to saute for about 2 minutes.
2. Add the rice and allow it to soak up the butter mixture for another 2 minutes.
3. Pour in 1 cup of chicken stock and stir until the rice absorbs the liquid. Add another cup of chicken stock and repeat until absorbed by rice. Add the final cup of chicken stock and stir until absorbed. Add the juice of 1 lime and stir.

For the nachos:

1. Add the olive oil to a frying pan and allow it to warm over medium heat.
2. Add the ground beef to the oil and toss until well-coated. Mix all of the spices together in a small cup then pour into the meat. Stir until the meat browns.
3. Add the refried beans to the warm meat and pan. Stir until the beans melt into the meat and are smooth.
4. Begin to assemble the rice nachos. Layer the rice at the bottom of a large baking dish. Spread the meat and bean mixture over the top of the rice. Spread the nacho cheese over the center of the dish. Add a layer of salsa over the top of the nacho cheese. Sprinkle a row of chopped lettuce across the middle of the dish. Top with 4 tablespoons of sour cream in dollops along the middle. Garnish with a black olive on top of each sour cream dollop.

No additional baking is required. Just spoon up in a bowl and enjoy!

Directions: This post is part of a collaboration with Rice Select and SheKnows.

The gossip site reported that Bynes tried to exit the store without paying for the merchandise. She was nabbed by security walking out with a $200 hat on her head. Four NYPD officers showed up to interrogate the former child star, but Barneys' security had let her go.

If you see Amanda Bynes in public, steer clear

Here's where the story takes an interesting spin. The store claimed that Bynes told the guards she was being chased by fans. In order to protect herself, she put a cap on to cover her identity. She was not stealing, just worrying about her safety. Bynes was required to sign a no-trespass agreement and is officially banned from the store.

However, a source close to the All That star told TMZ that Bynes left her purse in the car. She accidentally grabbed the cap while summoning her driver to get her wallet so she could pay for the item. The security tag triggered the alarm and security was notified.

If this story sounds familiar, think back to Winona Ryder in 2001, when she was arrested for shoplifting $5,500 worth of designer goods from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. During the trial, it was revealed that the Beetlejuice star was suffering from a prescription drug addiction.

Split personalities? Amanda Bynes' original Twitter is back

In the end, Ryder was sentenced to probation and 480 hours of community service, as well as being ordered to pay $3,700 in fines and $6,355 in restitution fees to Saks Fifth Avenue. She also had to attend drug counseling and therapy.

Is this the next step for Bynes? While she wasn't arrested in this incident, she seems to be following a very similar path to Ryder. The good news is that Ryder's story had a happy ending. Let's hope for a similar ending for Bynes.

A Spanish nursing assistant who contracted Ebola while caring for a sick patient has received an order from her hometown Madrid government that her dog, a 10-year-old mix-breed named Excalibur, will be put to death and incinerated as a means of controlling the spread of the deadly virus.

Here's an image of the court order the family received and was posted on the Asociacion Protectora Villa Pepa Facebook page.

Javier Limón via Asociacion Protectora Villa Pepa

Despite protests from her family, the court order has been issued to euthanize the dog because, they say, there is scientific evidence that dogs can contract Ebola and spread the disease to humans. The CDC agrees that dogs can contract Ebola. The virus, according to the World Health Organization has spread from animals to humans across West Africa.

The nursing assistant’s husband, Javier Limón, who is currently quarantined because of his own exposure to Ebola, has taken to the Asociacion Protectora Villa Pepa Facebook page to call on the Madrid government to spare the dog.

Javier Limón via Asociacion Protectora Villa Pepa

"I think it's unfair that for a mistake they made they now want to solve it this way," Limón wrote. "If they are so worried with this issue I think we can find another type of alternative solution, such as quarantining the dog and put him under observation like they did with me. Or should they sacrifice me as well just in case?"

A fair point, but while completely heartbreaking for this family, the authorities have a responsibility to do everything they can to control the Ebola outbreak.

The nursing assistant, according to reports, contracted Ebola in a Madrid hospital while treating a priest returning from West Africa infected with Ebola. He later died from the disease. Officials say the woman only came in contact with the patient on two occasions.

Although tragic, you can understand why government officials are ready to go to just about any lengths to stop the spread of Ebola before it begins to spread across Europe.

You can sign an online petition to save Excalibur’s life or join in social media protests using the hashtag #SalvemosaExcalibur.

They're all in Spanish, but it's not hard to understand why everyone is so sad about poor little Excalibur.

More dog stories for a good cry

How this dog survived euthanasia is a mystery, or a miracle

World's tallest dog, Zeus, has passed away at the age of 5

Baby cuddles pit bull to give you the warm fuzzies (VIDEO)

Wrong. It's commonly believed that women can climax through penetration and that G-spot, vaginal and clitoral orgasms were different types of orgasms. The researchers say that's not true — there's just one type of orgasm for women. And there's that "female orgasm" term again.

The study in Clinical Anatomy says that most women on the globe don't have orgasms during penetration. As a result, many of them have been thought to have sexual problems. However, another study out of the U.S. found that women with problems reaching orgasm have a smaller clitoris that's located farther from the vagina. So it's all starting to make sense. G-spot out. Clitoris in.

"We shouldn't have a hierarchy about orgasms [anyway]," said SheKnows Expert Logan Levkoff, Ph.D., and sexologist from New York City. " Not to be callous, but who cares where you have one?"

"Labeling different types of orgasms just makes women (and men) feel pressured to experience all of them," Levkoff said. "The lesson is: if you feel satisfaction and pleasure...fantastic!"

If you thought you were incapable of orgasms, get ready to thank science because this new research confirms that all women can achieve orgasm if female erectile organs are stimulated effectively. Whatever you call your orgasm, or however you classify it, the researchers say the clitoris is the key to all female orgasms.

Now that orgasms have gone all clinical, let's take a look at the politically correct "female erectile organs." (Grab a hand mirror... but not if you're at the office.)

The authors say the female erectile organs include:

• First and foremost, the clitoris
• The vestibular bulbs (or clitoral bulbs, which are located on either side of the opening of the vagina)
• The pars intermedia, a thin band that joins the two vestibular bulbs
• Also included in your female fun package are the labia minora, or inner lips of the vagina
• The corpus spongiosum of the female urethra (the spongy tissue surrounding the urethra, which is the tube that connects the bladder to an external opening just above the vagina)..

It's all very scientific, right? Hopefully, though, that doesn't stop you from getting off because I don't know about you guys but this all just sounds like further proof that sex doesn't end just because he reached his climax. He has other body parts that can get you where you need to go.

More sexual health and news

What Fifty Shades of Grey readers don't want to know
Thanks to Buzzfeed, I finally looked at my vagina
Creepy vaginal creams promise tighter vagina, better sex

I am crazy about macaroni and cheese, and I am always trying to find new ways to prepare it. This recipe features macaroni and cheese in a completely unique way: First, it's healthy, and second, it's in a muffin form. Who knew macaroni and cheese could be so fun?

My little 1-year-old absolutely loved these cups, and they were easier for him to eat than regular macaroni and cheese is. I made these in a miniature muffin tin so they would be smaller for him to eat, and I think they look cuter that way. I love miniature foods, and my whole family went nuts over these.

To start out, boil some macaroni for 5 minutes. To make these healthier, I used macaroni made from durum wheat. Next, finely chop some kale and miniature sweet bell peppers.

Next, combine some coconut oil, all the chopped veggies and some corn in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté them all together for about 3 minutes. Since the veggies are so finely chopped, it doesn't take long to get them tender enough to go with the pasta.

Once everything is tender, the pasta gets stirred in. Remove the saucepan from the heat, and set it aside while the healthy cheese and sweet potato sauce is made.

This sauce uses only 1/3 cup of cheese. The rest is almond milk and a sweet potato. Both are so healthy and a great alternative to using a few cups of cheese.

Pierce a small sweet potato in several places with a fork, and microwave the potato for 3 to 4 minutes or until tender. Remove the skin, and slice the potato in half. In a blender, combine the almond milk and the cooked sweet potato.

Blend the mixture until completely smooth, and then transfer it into a saucepan. Season with salt and pepper. Briskly whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour, and then whisk in the cheese until smooth and melted.

Then stir in all the pasta with the vegetables. It will be a little bit tough to stir, but keep mixing until everything is well combined. The sweet potato-cheese mixture is thick, but it's important to not try to thin it out, or the cups won't stick together.

Once the pasta and sweet potato-cheese mixture are well integrated, use a cookie scoop to scoop the mixture into a well-greased miniature muffin tin.

Press the mixture really hard into the tin's cavities to make sure the macaroni and the cheese are packed in together well.

Once all the cavities are filled and everything is packed in there really well, these guys are ready to be baked.

Bake them at 400 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes, and then remove them from the oven. Let them cool for at least 10 minutes before removing them from the muffin tin.

These macaroni and cheese cups are a perfect on-the-go lunch and a great meal for your children. Plus, they are much healthier than regular mac and cheese.

Miniature macaroni and cheese cups recipe

These miniature macaroni and cheese cups are ultra healthy and packed with vitamins and minerals thanks to the addition of all the vegetables. Plus the "secret" sauce has a very small amount of cheese, and the rest is sweet potato and almond milk.

Yields 12

Prep time: 25 minutes | Bake time: 10-12 minutes | Total time: 35-37 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked durum wheat macaroni
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 stem kale, stem removed, chopped
• 2 miniature red bell peppers, chopped
• 1 miniature yellow bell pepper, chopped
• 1/3 cup corn
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 small sweet potato (about 1/2 cup)
• 1/3 cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Grease a mini muffin pan very well with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a small pot of boiling water, cook the pasta for 5 minutes. Drain the pasta, and set it aside.
3. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the coconut oil. Add in the chopped kale, chopped peppers and corn. Stir around for about 3 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add in the pasta, and remove from the heat.
4. Pierce a small sweet potato in several places with a fork, and microwave the potato for 3 to 4 minutes or until tender. Remove the skin, and slice the potato in half.
5. In a blender, combine the almond milk and the cooked sweet potato. Blend until smooth, and transfer the mixture into a small saucepan over low heat. Whisk in the paprika and pepper. Briskly whisk in the flour.
6. Whisking constantly, slowly stir in the cheese.
7. The mixture will be very thick, but that's what will keep these cups together. Just make sure you have stirred out any lumps.
8. Remove the pot from the heat, and add the pasta and vegetable mixture.
9. Using a cookie scoop, scoop the mixture into the prepared muffin tin. Press the mac and cheese down really well so the cups will hold together.
10. Bake the mac and cheese cups for 10 to 12 minutes.
11. Remove from the oven, and place onto a wire rack to cool for at least 10 minutes. Once cooled, carefully run a plastic spoon around the edges to loosen, and then carefully remove the mac and cheese cups from the muffin tin.

More macaroni and cheese recipes

Gnocchi mac and cheese
One-skillet beef macaroni and cheese
Spicy Swiss chard macaroni and cheese

Faye Grant is feeling increasing public scrutiny for her role in the horrifying accusations against the former 7th Heaven actor, with some criticizing her for taping a private therapy session and others outright accusing her of blackmail. Now, Grant wants to set the record straight: She is not the bad guy here, Collins is.

In a statement to Extra, Grant and her lawyer deny using the allegations that Collins molested multiple girls to gain more money in their divorce settlement and says she has never asked for anything more than she is due according to marital law.

"This is a deeply sad situation for everyone involved," Grant said. "With regard to the divorce proceedings, I am seeking no more than that to which I am legally entitled under the laws of the State of California. The recording of Mr. Collins' statements has not been part of family court proceedings or any negotiations related to that action at any time."

Her lawyer, Larry A. Ginsberg, added, "The statement that my client attempted to extort Mr. Stephen Collins with an audiotape is fabricated and defamatory, and could not be farther from the truth. In fact, Faye turned over the recording to the LAPD and NYPD two years ago after Mr. Collins refused to address and get help with regard to his reprehensible conduct. It is offensive and outrageous that Mr. Collins' lawyer is now attempting to deflect focus away from the disturbing content of the recording and away from Mr. Collins' admissions by attacking the victims, including Faye, who Mr. Collins' lawyer is attempting to portray as the 'villain' in this tragic situation.

"Faye never asked to receive more than the 50 percent of the community property to which she is entitled under California law. Faye never asked for more than the 'guideline' amount of spousal support based on Mr. Collins' income. From the very beginning of the dissolution of marriage matter, Faye has worked diligently to get this matter settled and to put it behind her while coping with the distress and trauma suffered as a result of the revelations about Mr. Collins' life. Faye requested that Mr. Collins create a trust fund for their daughter, and further requested that he make a contribution to a charitable organization benefiting sexually abused children. To falsely characterize these requests as extortion threats is reckless and constitutes yet further abuse. Contrary to the efforts by Mr. Collins' lawyer to infer that my client tried to extort a settlement from Mr. Collins with the recording, neither my client nor any of her representatives ever made the recording part of the family law proceedings. As stated previously, neither Faye nor any of her representatives had any part in providing the audio tape or any part thereof to the media."

Faye Grant's email to Stephen Collins is so vulgar it can't be real, right?

For the record, according to California law, it was perfectly right and legal for Grant to record the therapy session in question, because her purpose was to gather evidence of a violent felony — and sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 falls into that category.

The couple filed for divorce in 2012 after 20 years of marriage.

Yes, her father and I have given her some of these reflective gifts over the years without giving it a single thought. She loves nail polish and lipstick, too, and sometimes asks if she can wear mine. While I love painting her tiny fingernails and toenails, I'm starting to rethink how much emphasis on vanity has already occurred in her short life. I don't want her to live her life thinking that she's somehow better (or less than) others for what she sees in the mirror every day.

For boys, this doesn't seem to be an issue. Beyond a crib mirror or the one affixed to the backseat of my car so that I could see him when he was buckled into his infant seat as a baby, my son owns zero mirrors. He barely combs his hair or wipes the toothpaste from around his mouth in the morning before jetting off to school, happy as a clam. Somehow toy mirrors for girls are synonymous with toy guns for boys.

Because I know that vanity starts so early for girls and that women's looks are a constant factor in so many areas of life as an adult, a career person or someone in the spotlight, I want to ensure my daughter understands where self-worth comes from at an early age. While I love putting pink sponge rollers in her hair at night and I practically have to hold myself back from buying every adorable dress I see in her size, I am making a pact to myself to refocus my attention on not just how cute she is (I'll continue to tell her that, too), but also how smart, brave, silly, independent and funny she is. Those are the qualities that make her amazing to me at this stage in her life and those are the qualities that make her beautiful on the inside, where it really counts.

My daughter is going to grow up loving pink princess dresses, pretty hair bows and glitter lipstick all the world over. I'm sure there will come a day when she wants to shave or wax far before I'm ready. And that's OK. But I want her to feel just as good about herself when she finishes a book all by herself, kicks a goal in soccer, makes a bummed-out friend feel better or helps out at dinnertime as when she looks in the mirror.

There are so many things we can encourage our kids to be proud of. I won't let beauty be the only thing my daughter (or my son, for that matter) relies on when it comes to self-esteem.

More on parenting

Here's why you need to call out your kid if he's "looking at" nude celebrities
Things you have in your purse if you're a mom
Is there something you wish someone had warned you about motherhood that you ended up having to learn on your own?

The sharp-witted comedienne introduces herself in this video by saying, "Hello, I'm Sarah Silverman — writer, comedian and vagina owner." She then explains that by merely being in possession of her lady parts, she's at a financial disadvantage.

Gender bias: Why men are surprising allies

Despite the fact that women make up almost half the working population, we are paid an average of 78 cents per every dollar earned by a man. Sarah Silverman has decided she wants to close that gap by taking what could be seen as an extreme measure — she wants to become a dude.

OK, so she's not actually getting a sex-change operation, but the idea does demonstrate a valid point: By having a vagina, she's losing money.

Sarah goes on to say that women are basically shorted $11,000 per year, or around $500,000 over their lifetime. It is this sum she refers to as a "vagina tax."

A Million Ways to Die in the West: Check your feminist viewpoints at the door

So, we have to admit, we've never thought about it this way before, but it does make sense. If you're born with an XX chromosome, you can expect to make significantly less money. It's 2014, people! Can't we get this fixed?

One of the racier parts of the video is when Silverman peruses her possible new male "equipment," which comes in all shapes, colors and smells. A particularly large piece of plumbing is labeled "The Seinfeld". She then asks the surgeon for a "European version." Ooh la la!

Then, the laugh-out-loud moment comes when she decides she needs a moment alone to say goodbye to her breasts, which are named after a popular pair of TV characters.

Rizzoli & Isles trivia: Think you know the show?

In a very bold move, Silverman advocates raising funds to pay back women for all the wages they've lost; however, that's a pretty unlikely scenario. She suggests donating whatever money she does raise to the National Women's Law Center. Sounds good to us.

Why I, as a woman, hate the idea of a female-centric Ghostbusters

There's only one thing worse than a bad sequel and that's a reboot. Up until recent history, remakes of movies were fairly uncommon and, when they did happen, there was usually a fair amount of time in between the release dates of the films. For example, Angels in the Outfield was originally released in 1951 and was remade as a perfectly entertaining family movie in 1994.

But now, it's like Hollywood is hell-bent on gathering all of my cherished childhood dreams and memories, gathering them in the palm of its hand and then crumbling them into a pile of dust, blowing it into my eyes and leaving nothing but tears to run down my cheeks.

Flight of the Navigator. Gremlins. The Crow. Point Break. Dirty Dancing. Short Circuit. Footloose. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Beloved sitcom Full House. Annie. God, the announcement of the Annie reboot really hurt. I didn't sleep for a week after watching the trailer. These are all movies that I loved to watch on repeat as a small child and adolescent. This is just a sampling of reboots that have either already been remade or have been given the go-ahead from studios. According IMDb, there are up to 100 remakes currently in development.

The recent announcement that Say Anything will be rebooted as a new TV series comes as the latest sting and it seems that those involved with the original classic are just as disgruntled as I am. Cameron Crowe, who wrote and directed the 1989 version, and John Cusack, who starred in the film and has previously gone so far as to compare Hollywood to a whorehouse, both took to Twitter earlier this week to express their dismay.

Cusack and Crowe pretty much hit the nail on the head. The influx of reboots is insulting to both the cast and crew who originated the movies and also to the audience. Does Hollywood think that we, as viewers, are stupid enough to not realize they are regurgitating previously successful material so that they can make a quick buck?

It's not that there is any shortage of talent left in Tinseltown. I live in Los Angeles; there are still tons of brilliant actors, writers and filmmakers. It just seems like studios are playing off the sentimentality of the audience to pump out some rip-off moneymakers.

Let's be honest: Everyone feels a bit nostalgic when they hear that a movie they loved as a kid is going to be redone. But with every movie reboot that comes out, it's reinforced that the new version is a complete desecration of the first.

And will the next generation of movie-goers even feel the need to watch the awesome original movies if they can see their favorite actors in the new ones? How will we gain a new generation of cinephiles if every film post-1985 has already been remade at least once.

21 Jump Street, the 1987 undercover cop TV show starring Johnny Depp, was remade into a movie starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum in 2012. As far as reboots go, it was actually pretty good and there may be one large reason why: They recognized the fact that they were ripping off the original and were up front about it. "We're reviving an undercover police program from the '80s and revamping it for modern times," the police chief says to Hill and Tatum's characters in the movie. "You see, the guys in charge of this stuff lack creativity and are completely out of ideas. So all they do now is recycle s*** from the past and expect us all not to notice."

Hey, Hollywood, we're on to you. Knock it off with the reboots already, before you completely alienate your audience. And if anyone tries to remake The Sandlot, heads are gonna roll.

Food and football? Yes. Food and American Idol? OK, sure. Food and The Biggest Loser? Oh heck yes! Food and The Walking Dead. Well… maybe. Sitting down to a big plate of food right before checking out AMC's amazing post-apocalyptic zombie series isn't for everyone, especially with the gut-wrenching drama and, quite frankly, the zombies eating people.

Still, if you can love your food and your zombie TV at the same time, then grab a big glass of red wine or tomato juice, and enjoy any of these The Walking Dead-inspired foods, ranging from the cute to survivor gourmet.

1. Match-made-in-hell zombie cupcake recipe

Photo credit: Zombie Cupcakes: From the Grave to the Table with 16 Cupcake Corpses — Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2010

Such a dramatic title for such cute cupcakes. Don't be fooled — the match may be made in hell, but these zombie wedding-themed cupcakes are just the thing to fool people into a nice lull right before being confronted with the psychological terror of a Walking Dead season premiere.

2. A whole zombie-inspired party menu

One thing AMC's end of the world is missing is amazing finger foods that aren't real fingers. Fortunately you can make brain cupcakes, bloody eyes and jars of blood for your zombie party.

3. Even more zombie cupcake recipes

Photo credit: Zombie Cupcakes: From the Grave to the Table with 16 Cupcake Corpses — Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2010

You can never have too many zombie-themed desserts, right? Especially when the walking dead attack and you can strike back with these creepy zombie cupcakes, complete with an arsenal of bats, crowbars and other weapons.

4. Zombie gingerbread men recipe

All your friends will be dying to eat these grotesque reassembled ginger zombies. Make them as cute or as scary as you want, and then feast on them while you watch The Walking Dead.

5. Cake ball brains with oozing cherry blood recipe

If you can't beat them, join them! Forget all the foods you've loved before as you give in to your cravings for brrraaaaaaaaiiinnnns…

6. The perfect steak recipe

Why steak? Because of stakes! Get it?

True, stakes are commonly the demise of vampires, not zombies, but a good, sharp stick can take out a zombie just as well as a knife can.

Besides, the perfect steak is delicious.

7. Homemade saganaki recipe

Photo credit: ac_bnphotos/iStock/360/Getty Images

Fire doesn't play as much of a part in The Walking Dead as it does in some zombie films, in which the shambling undead are quite flammable. Still, it never hurts to have some boozy, melty cheese at your meal, and should a zombie attack, you may find flame to be quite a deterrent.

8. Beef tenderloin kebabs recipe

Continuing with the food-as-weapons theme, we'll remember a time when kebabs were actually made from metal blades and serve beef kebabs. They're delicious, and the skewers left over will give you a chance — albeit a small one — at staving off an attack.

9. Grilled fruit kebabs with a honey-mint citrus sauce recipe

Here's a second way to arm eaters with small, pointy, anti-zombie sticks and deliciousness. However, this particular defense is extra fruity and can be served for dessert.

10. Spicy kimchee burger recipe

So, in The Walking Dead and several other zombie movies, the undead hunt by scent. All the spice in these burgers will hopefully make you smell so strong that the zombies will have no choice but to run away. If that doesn't work, though, then you might smell so strong that the zombies can't help but find you…

11. Honey barbecue baked beans recipe

Canned foods play a huge part in The Walking Dead because nonperishable foods are pretty much the only thing left. Pay homage to this trend in the show by serving some very posh baked beans that will taste so good you won't mind being stuck in the apocalypse.

12. Homemade chocolate pudding recipe

In Season 4, Carl finds a huge can of chocolate pudding and sits on a rooftop like the king of the world, eating his newfound dessert. Make your guests feel as rich and free as Carl with this amazing lightened-up chocolate pudding.

13. Processed cheese

Photo credit: Vasilis Nikolos/E+/Getty Images

Normally we'd ask what this world is coming to that processed cheese becomes as sought after as it is on the show. Of course, we don't have to ask, since we know what the world's coming to: Civilization is over, and the strong prey on the weak. Anyway, they eat a lot of Cheez Whiz on the show, so you can too.

14. Gourmet Spam breakfast sandwich recipe

Definitely a dish you could call survivor chic, this dish takes the classic canned/camping/survive-a-nuclear-winter food, Spam, and makes it delicious. That way your guests can eat the same foods like it's a zombie apocalypse without it actually tasting like it.

15. Spicy beer-marinated chicken drumsticks recipe

Spoiler alert! At the end of Season 4, Rick was handed a plate of grilled food that looked like chicken. We're pretty sure it wasn't chicken.

Now, if you're particularly twisted (and we hope you are), then serve this actual chicken, and watch the looks on your guests' faces when they figure out what's really happening at Terminus.

More on zombies

Gifts and gear to get you through a zombie apocalypse
World War Z quiz: Do you live or work with a zombie?
In case of zombie apocalypse: Don't do these things

Alexandra Shipp, who will play the singer, sat down with Entertainment Tonight to chat about all the controversy surrounding the project, but it's still not enough to convince SheKnows that this is the proper way to honor Baby Girl. Take a look at a few reasons why Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B has us concerned.

Remembering Aaliyah: 10 years after her death

1. Aaliyah's music won't be used in the film

2. We can't seem to shake off Zendaya

We were a little hesitant about how Lifetime was going to handle the film back when Zendaya was originally cast as Aaliyah, but at least she exudes everything that fans loved about Baby Girl. Just take a look at the video for the singer's hit "Replay." It screams Aaliyah and was released almost a year before talks of this project.

3. Fact vs. fiction

The actual plot of Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B is concerning because the film is based on the Christopher Farley book, Aaliyah: More Than a Woman, which doesn't include memories or anecdotes from the singer's circle of family and friends. Shipp told ET that the film will include the singer's hush-hush marriage to R. Kelly. "She had to have loved him because Aaliyah don't play. She never does, so she went hard for that love," she explained.

4. Aaliyah's story deserves to be told on the big screen

Much like other biopics, Aaliyah's holds a very special place in the music industry, especially for those fans of the late '90s R&B boom. One of the biggest complaints among them is that this story needs to be told on the big screen as opposed to a watered-down Lifetime film. Wendy Williams responded to the criticism, saying, "Lifetime will play the movie over and over. TV is the way to get your story told."

While Shipp has her share of credentials, including various TV shows like Victorious and Switched at Birth, there really is only one way to find out whether Aaliyah's legacy will be honored properly when the film airs on Nov. 15 at 8/7c.

What do you think of all the buzz surrounding the upcoming Aaliyah biopic? Sound off below.

Thus furthering my belief that everyone in Australia is constantly throwing shrimp on the barbie, playing with boomerangs and watching Crocodile Dundee at every opportunity, some residents from Down Under caught two kangaroos engaged in an epic battle in the middle of a suburban street. Why do I not live in Australia?

If I hadn't watched the video easily eight times to be sure that these were not, in fact, men in costume, I would be hard-pressed to believe that this video was the real McCoy. But I know one person named McCoy, consulted with her and she was all "Becca, my last name has nothing to do with verifying whether or not anything is authentic."

The video makes you realize why people boxing kangaroos in the ring was a thing. I mean, I'm not condoning fighting kangaroos for sport, that seems silly and needlessly reckless. But if you wanted to like, set Rocky-esque fight music to this video, I feel like everyone watching would at least laugh on the inside.

More like this

Ebola victim's dog to be euthanized out of fear it will spread disease
Surefire tips to keep your pets safe this Halloween
Make your own pet bed, no sewing required (VIDEO)

Recently eliminated pro Tony Dovolani was on hand to share the results with viewers on the morning talk show. If fans were expecting major surprises, the switches definitely fell within party lines.

Every hypnotizing GIF of the Carlton dance you'll ever need (VIDEO)

It's an open secret that DWTS has two major factions — the Derek Hough crew and the Dance With Me crew. Dance With Me is a ballroom studio franchise owned by three DWTS pros: Dovolani, Maks Chmerkovskiy and Val Chmerkovskiy. The switches resulted in celebs staying all in the family.

Hough wound up getting Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson, whose original partner was Mark Ballas, his best friend outside of the show. Ballas will be paired with YouTube personality Bethany Mota, who is Hough's original celebrity.

On the DWM side, Chmerkovskiy and Artem Chigvintsev swapped partners. Chmerkovskiy has Lea Thompson and Chigvintsev is paired with Pretty Little Liars actress Janel Parrish.

INTERVIEW: Lea Thompson's really nervous about getting voted off DWTS — but why?

These pairings shouldn't surprise viewers since most fans support one camp or the other. They rarely cross party lines when it comes to the longtime dance pros. While the big switch is for one week only, it's clear that no one wants to give a leg up to anyone of the opposite team.

What DWTS fans should be excited about is the fact that there will be some great dancing next week. The dance competition show revealed that there would be some fresh and exciting dances in the mix, including the jitterbug, Bollywood, burlesque and disco.

The celebrity guest judge will be "Bang Bang" singer Jessie J.

Here are the new partnerships:

• Lea Thompson is now with Valentin Chmerkovskiy
• Sadie Robertson is now with Derek Hough
• Janel Parrish is now with Artem Chigvintsev
• Bethany Mota is now with Mark Ballas
• Tommy Chong is now with Emma Slater
• Michael Waltrip is now with Witney Carson
• Alfonso Ribeiro is now with Cheryl Burke
• Antonio Sabato Jr. is now with Allison Holker
• Jonathan Bennett is now with Peta Murgatroyd

Sam Smith's hit album inspired by lost love with a straight guy

Don't you hate it when you have an, um, unwanted houseguest who won't go home? Ugh. OK, let's be real. You had a one-night stand and your flavor of the evening refuses to GTFO. He's posting selfies to Instagram from your bed and tagging you, and you're going to get an epically awkward phone call from your mom any minute when she sees it because obviously she would pick today to stalk you on social media.

When that happens, pop open your laptop and play this video. Loudly. And say "Bye, Felicia!"

Mean Girls star Daniel Franzese comes out to his own character

Yes, that is Damian from Mean Girls. Daniel Franzese, Adrian Anchondo, and members of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus teamed up for this guffaw-inducing parody of Sam Smith's hit song "Stay With Me" and we literally cannot stop watching it.

Fave lyrics: "Why are you so emotional?/ What did you expect? I just met you dancing on the pole/ I'm just trying to give you a little hint/ Boy you need to go and you need a mint/ Won't you please go home/ I wanna be alone/ I'll call a cab, where is my phone?/ Oh won't you please go home."

Spoiler alert: Franzese does eventually get his way. No word on if he ever got his pink shirt back.