More than 30 years after we were urged to "just say no" to drugs, pot is legal in 23 states, mostly for medical purposes. However, in states like Colorado, it's also legal for recreational purposes.

It's a confusing issue for most grown-ups, so what do we tell our kids, now that "this is your brain on drugs" no longer applies across the board? Heck, I'll hazard a guess that some parents aren't above smoking a blunt after the kids go to bed. What's a parent to do?

I asked Dr. Joan Munson, a school psychologist in Boulder, Colorado, to give me some tips on how to approach this subject with kids — without feeling like a hypocrite. Her advice is to remind children that, while they may be legal, substances like alcohol, narcotics, tobacco and yes, pot, still need to be used with caution. Remind your kids that no one knows for sure how any drug will affect their system and that it's necessary to understand any potential consequences before using them.

"For example, a child's brain development goes on for many years, even in the teens," says Munson. "Most experts believe that the frontal lobe of the brain... isn't fully developed until age 23. Using marijuana will for certain affect a young person's memory, coordination, ability to focus and their decision-making skills."

In other words, pot will still make you high, even if it's legal, and kids need to know what that means for their physical and emotional well-being. While it may seem "safer" than drinking, smoking marijuana can alter your inhibitions and put teens and tweens at risk for making perilous decisions.

One of the trickiest questions your kids may ask when you broach the subject of drugs is whether or not mom or dad has ever tried pot. How you answer it depends mainly on your parenting philosophy, says Munson, but she also told me that if you choose to answer it, keep things short and sweet.

"For instance, you can say, 'Yes, I used marijuana in high school or college but mainly because it was offered to me and I didn't know how to say no,'" she says. "Parents who choose this route should focus on what they learned from this experience."

Now that it's easier than ever for kids to get their hands on marijuana, the best thing to do is start talking about it early. Munson recommends opening the conversation in middle school, but be sure to continue talking about it as the kids get older. Give them concrete examples of how to refuse the offer of drugs, like, "Dude, my mom can smell that a mile away," or "Nah, I have an early band practice tomorrow."

And if your child confesses to having smoked pot? Take a deep breath and be calm. Take a walk if you need a moment to gather yourself and settle in for a thoughtful, non-accusatory conversation about what happens. While a consequence may be in order, remember to praise your child for coming to you and for being honest — that's the most important thing.

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5 Questions we have for the NFL regarding the Ray Rice case

A judge ruled on Rice's appeal of his indefinite suspension Friday, saying the former Baltimore Ravens running back can begin playing again. The suspension was given by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after a video surfaced online showing Rice hitting his then-fiancée, now wife, Janay Rice, in an elevator in February.

Rice was originally given a two-game suspension for the incident. It wasn't until after the video appeared online — and commissioner Goodell claimed he had never seen it — that a harsher punishment was given for what appeared to be an extremely brutal act of domestic violence. In the video, Ray Rice can be seen dragging Janay's unconscious body from the elevator after he punched her in the face.

It's been widely reported that Goodell's claim that he hadn't seen the video wasn't true.

15 #WhyIStayed tweets that'll give you goosebumps

That's why, while what Ray Rice did is appalling and absolutely worthy of our collective rage, we should be directing it in Goodell's direction now.

Today's ruling on Rice's appeal means the judge, having seen and heard all the evidence, decided Rice was telling the truth about his initial punishment. That means the NFL's top officials, including Goodell, knew the extent of Rice's abuse of his wife long before the video made the rounds online. And it means those same officials thought that sitting out two games was an appropriate punishment for punching a woman so hard it knocked her out.

The Ravens have dropped Rice from the team, so whether he returns to the NFL is still uncertain. But through all of this, Goodell has remained NFL commissioner, and that is something we shouldn't sit back and allow to happen.

The NFL has sidelined women's safety — again

Rice's crimes are terrible, but Goodell is guilty of a crime just as terrible: turning a blind eye and allowing domestic violence to happen with virtually no consequences. The media ousted him this time, but will he do it again? That's a chance none of us should be willing to take.

1. Totally piss off Harrison Ford and rip on a classic film franchise in the same breath.

2. Hide in Selena Gomez's dressing room and surprise the hell out of her. Others have tried, and they have failed. And by failed we definitely mean gotten slapped with a restraining order.

GIF credit: Giphy.com

3. Watch movies in a dimly lit West Hollywood apartment above a liquor store with a pink-kimono-clad Marilyn Manson.

4. Get in bar brawl outside of a Vancouver dive on Saturday, then enjoy a lovely, sunny bike ride through the city on Sunday.

5. Badmouth the very movies that made him famous for allowing "no room for being a visionary," yet continue to land roles in said movies.

6. See also: Call himself a visionary. Inferred or otherwise.

7. Partake of a little holiday Starbucks with someone after sharing explicit sex scenes with them. No, no, we're not blushing — the chai tea latte is just super hot.

GIF credit: GIFsoup.com

8. Or, you know, have legit sex on camera and call it art or a statement or anything other than porn or One Night in [insert name here].

9. Sit silently in a room in Los Angeles and call it art. In the immortal words of Carrie Bradshaw, "Oh please! There are depressed women all over New York doing the exact same thing as her and not calling it art. I mean, if you put a phone up on that platform, it's just a typical Friday night waiting for some guy to call." #IAMSORRY #IAMNOTSORRY

10. Convince Transformers' casting director he's hot enough to conceivably land Megan Fox.

GIF credit: Giphy.com

11. And, oh yeah, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, too. I mean, he's cute and all, but... c'mon.

GIF credit: Giphy.com

12. Get romantic on a dirty New York City sidewalk with gf Mia Goth. Should we "aww" or "eww"?

13. Admit to getting high on acid and filming it... three times. Guys, it was in the name of art. Three times. Three times in the name of art.

14. Take a role in a play, get in an infamously public feud with the hotheaded director, quit said play (or get fired, jury's still out) and follow all that up by booking a front-row seat for its premiere.

GIF credit: Giphy.com

15. Plagiarize a graphic novella for a short film and — wait for it — later plagiarizing the apology for plagiarizing in the first place.

16. Officially retire from public life... via Twitter.

17. Aaaand then head-butt some dude in a London bar brawl a week later.

18. Apologize for drunkenly head-butting a fellow bargoer by claiming to be "super normal." Because, naturally, all super normal people are gifted bar head-butters.

19. Rock the red carpet wearing a paper bag over his head. So, yeah.

GIF credit: GIFsoup.com

20. Get kicked out of a Broadway production of Cabaret. Like, seriously... what does one even do to get kicked out of Cabaret?

21. Call Brad Pitt "my husband." Oh, no, wait. We do do that. Every. Single. Day.

22. Pull out a tooth, which LaBeouf did to prepare for his role in Fury. Did we mention his "husband" Brad Pitt said afterwards that LaBeouf was one of the best actors he's ever worked with?

23. Reveal utterly shocking admissions in the most cavalier way possible — via email.

24. Strap a GoPro to his head, stare at a journalist for an hour and call it an interview.

GIF credit: GIFsoup.com

25. Do all the aforementioned s*** and somehow have us more-than-marginally convinced it's all part of his elaborate performance art, and he's secretly a frickin' genius.

I'm using one of my favorite bold red lipsticks of all time, L'Oreal Colour Riche in British Red. You can use any color you choose, but bold colors tend to have the most range from subtle to vivid. So, don't be frightened by the bright color you see in the store.

1. Make lipstick into a lighter lip stain

Apply even the brightest of lip colors like a soft, natural stain by swiping your finger across the surface, then tapping and pressing the color onto lips. Build slowly and make sure to apply sparingly. This look is "I woke up like this" sexy and also a great way to make a bright "what was I thinking?" color more wearable.

2. Make any lipstick into lip gloss

Apply a clear gloss or lip balm first. Next, swipe lipstick lightly on top. The two textures will mesh to create a glossy, juicy pout. When the winter winds are whipping your hair back and forth, this application is both hydrating and reminiscent of summer.

3. Give any lipstick a satin finish

This one is easy because lipstick is at its creamiest, most satiny texture applied straight from its tube. There is something retro and ritual about it.

4. Give any lipstick a matte finish

No need to buy a separate lipstick to rock the matte trend. Just transform the one you already own. Apply one coat from the tube, then blot lips with a tissue and dust a translucent powder over lips. Reapply and blot again. This technique is also great for creating budge-proof color that lasts longer.

5. Use lipstick as cream blush

Confused on what color blush to pair with your lipstick? Using your lipstick as a cream blush will definitely erase any matching concerns. I like to apply a bit of lipstick to my ring finger and then lightly tap onto the apples of the cheeks and sweep back.

More beauty tutorials

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Being away from the Philippines and seeing a vegetable stall in Italy exploding with familiar vegetables is such a novelty. Very hard to come by, these vegetables are imported from different parts of Asian countries, and like all imported items, they cost as much as gold too, so I always make the most of what I buy. I am guessing that if you are not familiar with any of these vegetables, then you're wondering how they are cooked and what they taste like. They are usually used in different kinds of vegetable dishes, but here, I've put them all together into three healthy salads.

You can expect intense flavors that are not usual in Western food:

• The bitter melon is, as the name suggests, bitter, but with the help of salt, rinsing and squeezing, the bitterness goes away.
• Taro is like potato but slightly on the sticky side and is used primarily in tamarind soup dishes.
• Green papaya is usually cooked with a sweet and sour sauce and then used as a side for different meat and fish dishes.
• Green mangoes are very sour and always accompanied with something salty, the most popular of which is shrimp paste but sometimes fish sauce.
• Banana heart, the most curious of all, is cooked with coconut milk and eaten as a vegetable dish. It has a light banana flavor that goes so well with the coconut flavor.

Now let me show you three simple salad recipes in which you can use these vegetables. Except for the green mango salad, they are not typical Asian vegetable recipes. Since the vegetables are blanched, it's a good way to taste each one alone and get to know their characteristics.

Asian vegetable salad recipe

This is one of the most interesting salads I have ever made, because it features most of the Asian vegetables I grew up with. They are simply blanched, so you can taste each vegetable well and then try them dressed with different dressings.

Serves 4

Prep time: 45 minutes | Cook time: 45 minutes | Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 plantain, peeled and sliced
• 1 teaspoon sunflower oil (or any other mild-tasting oil)
• Ice
• Rock salt
• 1 small bitter melon
• 1/2 banana heart
• 4 ounces winged beans, ends discarded, chopped
• 4 ounces yard-long beans, ends discarded, chopped
• 1 chayote, peeled and chopped
• 4 ounces Chinese cabbage
• 4 ounces water spinach
• 2 medium taro, peeled and diced
• 4 eggs, hard-boiled
• 1/2 small green papaya, peeled, seeded and grated
• Shrimp paste dressing (see recipe below)
• Asian dressing (see recipe below)
• Sweet soy-lime dressing (see recipe below)
• 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped

Directions:

1. In a saucepan with high sides over high heat, bring some water to a boil.
2. In another saucepan over medium heat with sunflower oil, toast the plantains, and then set them aside.
3. While waiting for the water to boil, prepare an ice bath (lots of ice and water) in a large bowl for blanching the vegetables. Set it aside.
4. Prepare the bitter melon by cutting away both ends and then slicing it in half vertically. Using a spoon, completely scrape away the white pith and the seeds. Next, thinly slice the bitter melon into half-moons. In a bowl, mix the bitter melon with 2 tablespoons of rock salt. Leave it for 10 minutes or more, as this should help to eliminate the melon's bitterness. Rinse away the salt under the faucet, and then squeeze the bitter melon between your hands. You will have to repeat this process if the bitterness isn't completely gone after the first rinsing.
5. Prepare the banana heart by peeling off the maroon bracts and the blossoms. In some Asian cuisines, the blossoms can be cooked in other dishes, so you can save them for other recipes. Peel until you reach the ivory-colored bracts, and then thinly chop the banana heart. It's normal that they turn brown.
6. When the water is boiling, add some salt, and then blanch the vegetables one type at a time. Blanch the winged beans for 3 minutes, and then immediately transfer them to the ice bath to stop the cooking. Strain them in a colander, and then place them onto a serving plate.
7. Follow the same process with the other vegetables with these times: Yard-long beans, 3 minutes; chayote, 5 minutes; Chinese cabbage, 1 minute; water spinach, 1 minute; taro, 8 minutes or until tender; and the banana heart, 6 minutes.
8. Arrange the vegetables by kind on the serving plate.
9. Serve the salad with the salad dressings.

Shrimp paste dressing recipe

Yields 1/4 cup

Total time: 3 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons bottled cooked shrimp paste
• 4 tablespoons fresh calamansi or lemon juice
• 1 chili, seeded and finely chopped

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients.
2. Serve in small dipping sauce bowls.

Asian dressing recipe

Yields 3/4 cup

Total time: 3 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons lime juice (from 1-1/2 limes)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 chili
• 3 tablespoons saffron oil (or other mild-tasting oil)
• 2 fresh mint leaves, finely chopped

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients. Adjust the amounts according to your taste.
2. Serve in small dipping sauce bowls.

Sweet soy-lime Asian dressing recipe

Yields: 1/2 cup

Total time: 3 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients. Adjust the amounts according to your taste.
2. Serve in small dipping sauce bowls.

Green mango salad recipe

This is a very popular classic Filipino salad that pairs well with grilled fish and meat. It also has the strangest flavors put together in one dish, because shrimp paste (fermented krill) is pungent and salty. Imagine salty and sour together, and get to know the unique flavors of this salad.

Yields 2 cups (quantity depends on size of the mangoes)

Total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 unripe small green mangoes
• 1/4 cup onions, minced
• 1/2 cup tomatoes, minced
• 2-1/2 tablespoons shrimp paste (adjust the quantity according to the amount and tartness of the mangoes)

Directions:

1. Peel the mangoes, slice them lengthwise along the seeds on both sides, and then mince.
2. Get as much pulp as you can from the mangoes, and then mince them.
3. In a medium bowl, mix together the mangoes, onions, tomatoes and shrimp paste.

Banana heart salad with coconut milk dressing recipe

From the classic Filipino dish — banana heart cooked in coconut milk — I put a little twist in this recipe by making it into a salad instead but still using exactly the same ingredients as you would in the classic dish.

Yields 2 cups (quantity depends on size of the banana heart)

Total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 teaspoon shrimp paste
• 1-1/2 teaspoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 chili, seeded and minced
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 banana heart, chopped and blanched for 6 minutes (see Asian vegetable salad recipe above)

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the coconut milk, shrimp paste, lime juice, brown sugar, chili, salt and pepper. Simmer until slightly thick.
2. Mix the coconut milk dressing with the blanched banana heart.

More Asian vegetable recipes

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Stir-fried bitter melon
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There is no better notorious cat to play a holiday hater than Grumpy Cat. In the movie Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever, coming soon on Lifetime, Grumpy Cat meets a lonely 12-year-old girl who realizes that she and the Grinchy feline can actually communicate with each other. It isn't always a pleasant experience to be able to hear the thoughts of an overly finicky feline (nor the thoughts of a 12-year-old girl for that matter!), but the movie is certain to be entertaining and watched by many.

Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever will debut on Nov. 29, 2014, on Lifetime at 8 p.m. EST. Check out the trailer and get a glimpse of the best "cat with machine gun" scene ever!

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She also knows that she may fall into a deep slumber only to be rescued by a Prince's kiss. Let's not forget the fairest of them all: She manages to be loved for cleaning after seven short men. Wow, the world we have created for our beautiful creatures.

I watched all these cartoons. I imagined my prince choosing me over all the others. I imagined dancing across the ballroom while everyone's eyes followed my graceful steps. I was the envy of every ball in every childhood fantasy.

These fantasies were quite a contrast to my reality at home. Now allow me to elaborate before you jump to conclusions, I had a fantastic childhood.

From as young as I can remember my mother kept my hair short. As a toddler this meant wild red curls. The majority of my pictures were of me in funny poses. One with my father's big glasses, another with ketchup all over my face and another swinging off a gate at our home. There are very few pictures where I am sitting like a pretty proper girl with perfect clips in my hair. In fact I remember always getting scraped and having yet another bruise on my knee.

As I got a little older, my classmates had perfect pigtails and long ponytails or fancy clips. I remember looking at the flowing locks of hair wishing I had the same. I had a boy cut. Yes, famously known as the "Diana Cut." Surprisingly, I looked nothing like Princess Diana. Instead I looked like a skinny boy with bruised knees and short black hair, wearing a dress. In fact I once went on a strike and refused to go to the salon so my mom was forced to grow out my hair. I think I lost the battle when I started looking like a 1800s philosopher with sideburns and thick hair on top.

According to my mom, it was so I could enjoy being a kid. So I could run, jump, swing from the monkey bars without having to worry about a ponytail or braids getting undone.

Finally, I started looking like a girl. Nonetheless, it was a long journey. I still was not able to do what other teenage girls did. For some reason, I was not allowed to wear lip gloss, blush or mascara. Instead I would get a Nivea face cream, some nice clothes and I was sent on my way.

This actually lasted all the way to high school. I finally put on eyeliner during senior year in high school and also experimented with lipstick. But by then, all the girls were way ahead of me. They had been putting on makeup for years. They knew what foundation, blush, concealer and primer was. I was just getting started, there was no way I could catch up. After all, I just realized I could straighten my hair.

So, I am assuming when you read the scenario I describe above you feel very sorry for me. I sound like a plain Jane feeling like an ugly duckling when all she needed was a pretty set of pigtails and lip gloss.

Well, here is the catch: I never felt ugly, and never even knew I was a plain Jane. I never felt I needed lip gloss and I certainly never felt I needed any concealer to conceal anything, ever. Other than wanting long locks of hair, I was simply perfect in my mind.

In fact now that I look at pictures of the plain Jane I am so surprised about how pretty I felt inside. I only know that because I was able to try so many new things, take risks and excel in so many different things in school that I must have honestly thought I was pretty amazing all the way around. I am not saying this to brag, I am simply analyzing how a plain Jane surrounded by beauty queens managed to be a well-rounded, extremely confident young girl. I did see not myself the way I see myself in those photos now. Now that I know the power of concealer, blush and eyeliner. I also did not see myself perhaps how others saw me.

I saw me how my mother saw me.

My mother never called me beautiful. In fact she never called anyone beautiful. My mother only talked about other girls as smart, funny, classy or confident. Thus, naturally I started to appreciate those qualities in other girls and wanted to emulate myself to be a girl with such attributes. Thus, in turn, others responded to me in kind. I thought I had it all and knowing that I knew that, they believed it too. What a lesson for life.

Beautiful was powerless to me. It was a word that had no value in my mother's eyes. It was a happy accident and perhaps why it was never impressed upon in my home.

When I look at my pictures as a teenager, I see the brilliance of it all. The calculated strategy my mother imposed on me to help me gain inner confidence without relying on my exterior. In fact it was not until I reached adulthood, mid-20s did I realize how others viewed me physically. It was through the eyes of strangers that I realized how much people really respond to and judge you on your looks. Luckily, I had blossomed from a plain Jane to someone who understood the power of MAC and Prescriptives makeup by then. It was actually a disheartening reality. Especially when I realized that older women analyze the beauty of younger girls. Women are unnecessarily tough on others. Perhaps it is because a lot of women have been victims of the cycle themselves, always feeling that they were not pretty enough.

Just last week, my mother was casually telling me why I had a boy cut when I was 4. It went beyond the fact that she wanted me to run and jump without hair in my face. She simply looked into the face of her granddaughter (my 2-year-old daughter) and elaborated, "You looked so cute, the short hair was part of your charm." How wonderful I feel even now to hear those words. My mother really thought that, even as a child, her daughter's charm was the most important.

I have a daughter with wild beautiful curls and I let them run wild. They jump as she jumps. I can only hope I make her feel beautiful in the same way my mother made my feel beautiful: by never telling her.

Begin by boiling the lasagna noodles in a large pot of water. You'll want to cook the noodles to al dente, meaning almost done but not quite. The reason for this is that they are getting baked later on, so you don't want the noodles to be overdone and lose their shape.

Once they have been boiled to al dente, drain the noodles, and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking. Then spread the noodles evenly onto a cutting board so they don't dry into tangled shapes.

While the noodles are cooking and cooling, you can prepare the vegetables. Remove the stems and seeds from some miniature (or regular-size) bell peppers. Finely chop the peppers.

Remove the stem and then finely chop the kale. The last vegetable-based ingredient in these roll-ups is chunky salsa. I like to use the salsa freshly made in the grocery store, but any kind will work.

Once the veggies are all chopped up, sauté them in a saucepan over medium heat with some olive oil. Start with the peppers and some garlic, then add in the kale and lastly the salsa. Once the vegetables are pretty tender, remove them from the heat.

It's time to get stuffing these noodles. Mix the ricotta cheese together with an egg and some dried parsley. Then spread that cheese mixture evenly among all the noodles. Next, top with the roasted vegetables.

Once all the lasagna noodles are evenly stuffed, it's time to roll them up. Just take one end, and roll the noodle tightly toward the other end.

Spread some marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish, and gently place the lasagna roll-ups on top of the marinara sauce. Then cover the lasagna rolls with some more marinara sauce and some mozzarella cheese.

Bake covered for 25 minutes, then remove the foil, and bake for another 10 minutes. By this time the flavors will be well melded and the cheese nice and melted.

Remove from the oven, and enjoy these delicious, hearty, healthy lasagna roll-ups.

Hearty roasted vegetable lasagna roll-ups recipe

These roasted vegetable lasagna roll-ups are stuffed with fresh vegetables and packed with nutrients. They are hearty, healthy and delicious.

Serves 4-6

Prep time: 30 minutes | Bake time: 35 minutes I Total time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 12 lasagna noodles
• 2 cups sweet bell peppers, diced
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 cups kale, stem removed, finely chopped
• 1-1/2 cups chunky vegetable salsa
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 2-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
• Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Boil the lasagna noodles according to the package directions to al dente. Remove from the heat, drain, and lay out to dry in a straight shape.
2. While the noodles boil, dice the sweet peppers, and chop the kale.
3. Into a large saucepan over medium heat, pour the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic and then the chopped sweet peppers. Sauté until tender, and then add in the kale for about 1 minute.
4. Stir in the chunky salsa, and remove from heat.
5. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg and dried parsley.
6. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly among the lasagna noodles.
7. Roll up the lasagna noodles.
8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
9. In a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish, spread 1 cup of marinara sauce. Place the lasagna roll-ups on top.
10. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the roll-ups, and then cover with shredded cheese.
11. Cover the pan with foil, and bake for 25 minutes.
12. Remove the foil, and bake for another 10 minutes.
13. Remove the roll-ups from the oven, top with parsley if desired, and serve immediately.

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As a Jew, my only memories of Christmas growing up were watching movies and eating Chinese food. For real.

When my husband and I started to get serious, he invited me to attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve with his family.

While awkward at first, as the years passed, I began to embrace Christmas. Not as a religious holiday but as another time for family, fun and, yes, presents. This Jewish girl had a stocking, and when I became a Jewish mother, so did my kids. I looked forward to each day after Thanksgiving when the huge tree would go up and we would help decorate. Ornaments from when my husband and his brothers were kids, one of the door to our first home together, and special Baby's First Christmas for my babies.

I loved celebrating Christmas with my husband's family. We taught our kids as soon as they could understand that we celebrated Christmas Eve traditions at their great-grandparents' house, Christmas Day with Nana and Grampy, and Hanukkah in our home. We didn't have a Christmas tree, but got to share in that special tradition at their house, while they got to share our special tradition of lighting the Menorah, frying latkes and spinning dreidels at ours. On the rare occasion that one of the eight nights of Hanukkah overlapped with Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, we lit a menorah and opened gifts under the tree.

How awesome is it that I married into a family that respects my holiday traditions, too? Celebrating the holidays in an interfaith home was never an issue.

Then my mother-in-law got sick. Cancer doesn't care about Christmas.

She died one April and when December was around the corner, I asked what we were doing for Christmas. No one had an answer. I think the feelings surrounding losing her and the fact this was her big holiday were still numb.

So I, the Jewish mother who learned to love Christmas, insisted we do something. We didn't need a huge celebration, with each gift perfectly wrapped or each story behind each ornament told verbatim. We simply needed to be together and still have a nice Christmas.

It's been nearly 12 years now that she's been gone. We still don't celebrate Christmas or have a tree in our home, but we love telling stories about Christmas at Nana and Grampy's house.

This Jewish mother wouldn't celebrate the holidays any other way.

More about holiday traditions:

Celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or both
5 Surprising ways to stay fit during the holidays
Teaching your kids about Hanukkah

Superstitions about black cats and Friday the 13th have never bothered me. But the old wives' tales about pregnancy and babies seriously freak me out. Maybe it's because my wonderful Polish grandmother (Baba) lived with us when I was growing up. She didn't have a formal education, but she had a ton of knowledge about birthing babies (having delivered seven of her own).

Unfortunately for me, Baba's outstanding, common-sense advice was usually peppered with superstition: Pregnant women shouldn't look at ugly pictures, eat strawberries or reach over their heads. Just. Don't. Do. It.

Despite the fabulous advances in health care and technology — 3-D ultrasounds and whatnot — I can't shake those childhood and adolescent murmurs of what not to do when you're expecting. Baba had already passed on when I became pregnant, but her advice lived on. And, of course, my mother (Baba's daughter) was always around to remind me lest I forget.

My dear ancestors and I are Catholic and believe that life begins at conception. Yet, the living being in the womb was rarely referred to as "a baby." There was that unsettling first trimester during which the pregnancy news was top secret (never mind the obvious morning sickness symptoms).

Then came the fun second trimester (no longer sick and not yet too big) that featured the "fluttering" of you-know-what. We had sonogram pictures (which my mom refused to look at) but didn't find out the sex of either of our babies before they were born — we wanted to be surprised. Besides, it just felt wrong to know… like we would jinx something.

Finally, the all-important third trimester was upon us. Little-by-little, we worked on the nursery, purchased gender-neutral onesies and prepared to meet the new addition to our family. The nesting urge hit me like a thunderbolt, and I interpreted it as logical. This is when Baba would have agreed that we could begin preparing for this little person.

We settled on a couple of names (both boy and girl), but never officially declared, "This is what we'll call our baby-to-be." He or she would not have a formal name until we got a glimpse of that precious face.

And while this is strictly our personal experience, it taints the way I respond to early baby name releases from friends and family. I feel the need to cover my ears and sing, "La-la-la-la, I can't hear you" when they announce the name of their "belly."

More pregnancy and baby stuff

Celeb moms use old wives' tales to predict baby's gender
When should you reveal your baby name?
How to not be a jerk when sharing your pregnancy news

Start early

Maybe you have young kiddos that just won't make it to midnight, no matter how hard they try. That doesn't mean they have to miss the big event. Ring in the new year with a country that's a few hours ahead of us — like Brazil or Morocco — so you can celebrate early. Use the internet to watch their ball drop, and then watch ours sans children.

Have a dance party

Photo credit: Life, among other things

Don't worry, mama, you can still wear that party dress! Break out your sparkliest garb, and encourage your kids to do the same. Make sure everyone has a hat and a horn, and dance away the last few hours of the year in style. The family from Life, among other things, likes to party in their pajamas, and there's nothing wrong with that either.

Let kids decorate

Photo credit: The Chocolate Muffin Tree

Half the fun of the party is getting ready, at least for the kids. Let them help (or take over completely) the decorating for your New Year's party. Give them some tape, streamers and balloons and let them go to town. If you really feel like going wild, let them make the decor, as well. You might end up with something fab, like the blogger from The Chocolate Muffin Tree did.

Make some noise

Photo credit: The Adventures of J-Man and Miller Bug

Dollar store horns and noisemakers are tons of fun, but save those dollars and make more memories by helping your kids construct their own noisemakers, like this blogger did. PS — this way, you can control exactly how much noise those noisemakers really make.

Have a sleepover

Photo credit: terren in Virginia/Flickr

The more, the merrier, right? Your kids will love the idea of having friends over for the big night, and all those other parents will owe you big time for giving them a kid-free evening on the most expensive babysitter night of the year.

Make a clock of cookies

Photo credit: Adventures in Homeschooling

Because... duh. Take turns eating the cookies as the hours pass.

Serve sparkly drinks

There's nothing wrong with having a glass of bubbly as midnight approaches. Grab a bottle of sparkling juice, too, and let your kids join in on the toast. If you feel like getting really fancy, try some of our favorite mocktails for kids. Cheers!

Make a time capsule

Photo credit: Meaningful Mama

Wrap up the current year by celebrating all of its best parts. Create a time capsule filled with photos, mementos and notes about everyone's favorite moments of the year. Agree on when you'll open it. Set it for next year, in five years, or even longer if you think you can wait that long. Blogger Jodi Durr makes sure the activity is double fun, by letting the kids not only fill up the inside of the capsule, but also make sure the outside looks great.

Have a balloon drop

Photo credit: Daydreaming and Sightseeing

All kids love balloons (don't lie — you do, too), and they'll love them even more when they're falling from the sky. Buy a kit, or make your own balloon drop by trapping balloons on your ceiling under a plastic tablecloth. Attach a string to one side to pull for a quick release, or connect two for a bigger effect, like they did over at Daydreaming and Sightseeing.

Fill a piñata

Photo credit: Stephanie Sicore/Flickr

Let your kids go crazy when it strikes midnight — by beating on a piñata, not your walls. Fill one with sweets or fun surprises, and make them wait until the new year to break it open.

Balloon countdown

Photo credit: Poofy Cheeks

Keep the excitement alive all evening by popping a balloon every hour as midnight approaches. The blogger at Poofy Cheeks makes it even more fun by filling each balloon with an activity to keep everyone busy while the next hour passes.

More for your New Year's celebration

Celebrating the New Year with your family
Cool New Year's Eve outings for kids
New Year's crafts for kids

Tables

1.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/39301/WINTER-HOLIDAY-PLUM-TABLESCAPE-miami'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/6c6192450b4909b5_8-1000/home-design.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='666' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos'>Spaces</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/phoenix'>Phoenix Interior Designers & Decorators</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/nyclq/focal-point-styling'>FOCAL POINT STYLING</a></small></div>

Fill a shallow bowl with ornaments and use as a centerpiece on a table. Throw in some greenery for a fuller look.

2.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/37236/Seattle-Tudor-Christmas-by-Timothy-De-Clue-Design-LLC-traditional-living-room-seattle'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/01d183010b2667e6_8-1000/traditional-living-room.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='666' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/living-room'>Traditional Living Room</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/c/Seattle--WA'>Seattle Interior Designers & Decorators</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/timothydecluedesign/timothy-de-clue-design-llc'>Timothy De Clue Design L.L.C</a></small></div>

Fill tall jars and vases with ornaments to make a big impression.

3.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/1639965/Tobi-Fairley-Holiday-little-rock'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/233126d50061d368_8-8400/home-design.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='392' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos'>Spaces</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/c/Little-Rock--AR'>Little Rock Interior Designers & Decorators</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/tobifairley/tobi-fairley-interior-design'>Tobi Fairley Interior Design</a></small></div>

Use one very detailed ornament as a place setting at a holiday table.

4.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/7548611/We-Love-Christmas-Parties-other-metro'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/dc01c5ad02acc5fd_8-4595/home-design.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='376' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos'>Spaces</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath/c/Southlake--TX'>Southlake Kitchen & Bath Designers</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/juliesrdfw/sterling-renovations'>Sterling Renovations</a></small></div>

Have a few extra ornaments you're not using? Set them on a table to add an extra touch of Christmas.

5.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/94781/Christmas-Decorations-eclectic-living-room-huntington'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/eda14b350d0c1a57_8-3123/eclectic-living-room.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='334' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic/living-room'>Eclectic Living Room</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/c/Charleston--WV'>Charleston Interior Designers & Decorators</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/providencehandmade/stephanie-woody'>Stephanie Woody</a></small></div>

Hang ornaments from branches to create a Christmas-y arrangement.

Mantels

6.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/1988663/Holiday-Decor-contemporary-living-room-toronto'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/eed11c0500a58eaf_8-7252/contemporary-living-room.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='358' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary/living-room'>Contemporary Living Room</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/c/Toronto--ON'>Toronto Interior Designers & Decorators</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/amdolcevita/am-dolce-vita'>AM Dolce Vita</a></small></div>

String some ornaments on a ribbon, knotting the ribbon to keep them from sliding, and hang this simple garland from your mantel, staircases or anything else that needs a splash of color.

7.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/1641294/Holiday-traditional-living-room-little-rock'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/c601d1a30061ef5e_8-0763/traditional-living-room.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='748' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/living-room'>Traditional Living Room</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/c/Little-Rock--AR'>Little Rock Interior Designers & Decorators</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/tobifairley/tobi-fairley-interior-design'>Tobi Fairley Interior Design</a></small></div>

If you're serious about an ornament garland (and if you have a serious mantel to hang it from), string as many ornaments as you can from a thick ribbon. Add some greenery if you want to break up the sparkle just a bit.

8.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/93773/Our-Living-Room-Mantel-Christmas-2010-traditional-living-room-seattle'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/2af16a040d08cda1_8-1000/traditional-living-room.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='778' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/living-room'>Traditional Living Room</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/c/Tacoma--WA'>Tacoma Interior Designers & Decorators</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/homerestyle/its-the-little-things'>It's The Little Things...</a></small></div>

Create the look of a garland by hanging ornaments individually from the mantel with fishing wire or clear thread.

9.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/2114627/Houzzers-Deck-the-Mantels-living-room'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/dbb1f6e700bcbf48_8-0913/living-room.jpg' border=0 width='428' height='640' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/living-room'>Living Room</a></small></div>

Add ornaments to a fir garland to add some color to a classic piece.

10.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/357512/Family-Room-Deco-Mesh-Christmas-Wreath-And-Mantle-traditional-family-room-seattle'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/9b3109720ebc24d6_8-6705/traditional-family-room.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='408' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/family-room'>Traditional Family Room</a></small></div>

Hang ornaments from beaded garland for a jeweled look.

Wreaths

11.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/7548447/We-Love-Christmas-Parties-other-metro'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/9661051502acc0bd_8-3251/home-design.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='362' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos'>Spaces</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath/c/Southlake--TX'>Southlake Kitchen & Bath Designers</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/juliesrdfw/sterling-renovations'>Sterling Renovations</a></small></div>

Glue some ornaments to a Styrofoam wreath to create an eye-catching holiday wreath.

12.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/7362453/Holiday-Styling-Christmas-modern-dining-room-los-angeles'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/8a911b7102a0c79a_8-8573/modern-dining-room.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='750' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/modern/dining-room'>Modern Dining Room</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/c/Los-Angeles--CA'>Los Angeles Interior Designers & Decorators</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/armoniadecors/emily-ruddo'>Emily Ruddo</a></small></div>

We've all seen ornaments arranged in a holiday wreath, but have you ever considered hanging them in a bunch from the center?

Walls and ceilings

13.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/474215/Preteen-Glam-Bedroom-modern-kids-charlotte'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/f50143ff0f171806_8-3255/modern-kids.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='666' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/modern/kids'>Modern Kids</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/c/Mooresville--NC'>Mooresville Interior Designers & Decorators</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/whirlygigdesigns/whirlygig-designs'>Whirlygig Designs</a></small></div>

Add some extra sparkle to your chandelier.

14.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/6375480/Kitchens-contemporary-kitchen-los-angeles'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/3b717ba00265d209_8-4619/contemporary-kitchen.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='214' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary/kitchen'>Contemporary Kitchen</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractor/c/Los-Angeles--CA'>Los Angeles General Contractors</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/socalcontractor/socal-contractor'>SoCal Contractor</a></small></div>

A few small nails in the wall and you've got a whole new place to hang your ornaments. Think about swapping out some artwork and pictures you have hanging now with ornaments, to avoid making new holes in the wall.

15.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/2201687/Elizabeth-Cole-Showroom-contemporary-houston'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/59b1df1000c7aa98_8-2625/contemporary.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='750' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary'>Contemporary Spaces</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/furniture-and-accessories/c/Houston--TX'>Houston Furniture & Accessories</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/elizabethcoledesign/elizabeth-cole-llc'>Elizabeth Cole, LLC</a></small></div>

Hang ornaments from the ceiling to give the impression that they're floating on air.

16.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/1565231/Contemporary-Family-Room-contemporary-family-room-charleston'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/3c31990b0050ba6a_8-9935/contemporary-family-room.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='334' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary/family-room'>Contemporary Family Room</a></small></div>

Hang oversized ornaments from exposed beams to make sure your room is decorated from floor to ceiling.

17.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/2240605/Laura-Zindel-burlington'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/49a1b2b500cde052_8-9593/home-design.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='750' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos'>Spaces</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/photographer/c/Salem--MA'>Salem Photographers</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/tessfine/tess-fine'>Tess Fine</a></small></div>

Hang ornaments from windows to help them catch the light coming through. You'll love the way they sparkle throughout the day.

Outside

18.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/404270/Rehabbed-1870s-Victorian-traditional-exterior-philadelphia'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/6f911c8c0ee8fa42_8-3987/traditional-exterior.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='334' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/exterior'>Traditional Exterior</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/media-and-blogs/c/Philadelphia--PA'>Philadelphia Media & Bloggers</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/colsteixner/colleen-brett'>Colleen Brett</a></small></div> 

Hang oversized ornaments from your awnings to give your home's exterior some holiday pizzazz.

19.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/1894454/Holiday-Container-Gardens-landscape-seattle'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/4601b68c0093fb95_8-5484/landscape.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='666' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/landscape'>Landscape</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architect/c/Duvall--WA'>Duvall Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/karenchapman/le-jardinet'>Le jardinet</a></small></div>

Place a sparkly ornament or two into a planter to add a surprise bit of shine between the greenery.

More Christmas decor

Shopping for trendy Christmas decor
15 Epic Christmas light displays to inspire you
10 Etsy stores for Christmas decor

Aside from the insanely high prices of owning a cell phone (and there being an infinitely cheaper option called a land line), I thought I'd share some reasons why it's time to drop your cell in the trash.

Puppies! In real life!

GIF Credit: Giphy

Puppy GIFs are cute (and a great way to avoid working on your actual to-do list), but when is the last time you ran your fingers through some fur? You can volunteer at a dog shelter or maybe go visit the friend who is blowing up your feed with puppy Instagrams.

Mountains

GIF credit: Giphy

GIF Credit: Giphy

Make any photo you take a #latergram and actually enjoy the feeling of being in nature.

The concert experience

GIF Credit: Giphy

Been to a concert lately? It's all cell phones and iPads in the air, trying to capture every moment. Maybe it's time to start living in that moment, instead.

Bonding with co-workers over lunch

You know, instead of huddling over that wilted salad at my desk while trolling Twitter. Again.

Antique store browsing

I may have accidentally replaced my need for looking at old, pretty things by scrolling through Pinterest instead of wandering through vintage boutiques.

Photo albums

Okay. Long-winded slide shows are boring. But, there's something nice about flipping through a photo album and asking a few questions about your friend's adventures. Facebook albums just don't cut it.

Dinner conversation

GIF Credit: Giphy

I want another good, old-fashioned dinner full of spit-takes and talking over top of each other. And, if there's a food fight, we'll let it go just this once.

The dark of a movie theater

Ever tried to make out in a movie theater these days? It's not dark and romantic. It's blue and disengaged by the flash of cell phones being checked during boring (but probably vital) parts.

The joy of ignoring emails

I actually warned this super cute guy that I'd probably need to check and answer emails a couple times during our first date. Not cool.

Real flashlights

GIF Credit: Giphy

True fact: You can't make scary faces with that flashlight on your cell. (It's also more expensive to replace if you lose it in the woods.)

Meeting (nice) strangers

There's a tradition in my family to buy my mamaw roses on her anniversary, since my papaw is no longer alive to do it. In grade school, I stood in line to buy her a couple dozen roses when a dad-aged man asked me who I was buying the flowers for. When I told him, he bought them for me to give to my mamaw. Who goes to the florist anymore?

Being pushed into pools and lakes

GIF Credit: Giphy

No one does that anymore. They're too afraid of the uninsured phone!

Going to the doctor

Going to the doctor is terrible... but not as bad as when the internet tells you that you have an incurable disease.

Visiting your buddy's house

Remember when we used to have to go to our friends' house in order to tell them gossip? We didn't want overheard in our own house. Then we'd stay for dinner with their family and swoon over their cute older brother. Now we just text or message them news from the solitude of our bedrooms.

Getting lost

GIF Credit: Giphy

Before Mapquest and GPS, people got lost. Sometimes getting lost is stressful. But, my nieces only know the joy and adventure of climbing and splashing around at Flat Rock Creek because of a wrong turn I took 10 years ago.

Screening calls

With cell phones, people will call you on your antisocial tendencies if you don't answer your phone because they know you always have it with you. Remember when you'd let the answering machine pick up and listen to who started to leave a message before deciding if you'd answer?

The cost

GIF credit: Giphy

Cell phones are ridiculously expensive, and I'm not just talking about the phone itself (which sometimes costs more than a month's rent). The nice thing about a landline is you'll always be connected at home no matter what state of disrepair your cell is in, but without the jittery wait-was-that-a-text anxiety. Brands like VTech have landlines for less than $20.

I'm convinced that while the internet may have connected us to more people, it severed a lot of true bonds and watered down some of the joys that come with actual human interaction. Even if you just have a no-computer night or swear to start leaving your cell in your car, I think a lot of good could come from scaling back on internet time. Wanna do it with me?

This post was sponsored by VTech.

More on cellphones

Is your cell phone preventing you from sleeping with him?
Peter Frampton throws away cell phone of rule-breaking fan
Mom develops Ignore No More app that punishes kids who don't call back

Supplies:

• Wood branches (which you can get for free if you're willing to go outside)
• Rubber cement
• Epsom salt
• Clear vase
• Filler beads
• Scissors

Directions:

First thing is the glue. Rubber cement comes with its own handy brush so application is simple. Make sure to get it on the branches nice and thick. It doesn't dry too quickly, so you can feel free to apply glue to the whole branch rather than having to work in small areas. Use newspaper or some craft paper to cover up your work surface because glue is bound to drip.

Sprinkle Epsom salt and/or the vase filler onto your branch. Once you have a bunch of it on your work surface, just scoop some up and sprinkle more on. You'll need to constantly move the branches in different directions to cover them all up. For smaller branches, just place them directly on your pile of salt and beads. Easy peasy!

Lay the branches down to dry flat. I used a few plastic shopping bags to rest them on because the glue will not stick to the plastic. Leave them to dry (at least) overnight. You will find that some beads fall off — don't worry! This happens to the store-bought stuff too and I assure you, it's normal.

Now you're ready to use the icy branches around your house. Displayed on their own in a vase, they make quite a statement. I love the height of the branches, the mixed colors and, of course, the sparkle.

If your branches break, or if you plan ahead, you can also make some smaller versions that make great vase fillers for small arrangements or, better yet, lovely decor for a holiday table place setting.

Note: If you intend to use these outdoors, do not use Epsom salt as it will dissolve when it comes in contact with water. Stick to the vase filler instead.

More great DIY ideas

Create the perfect centerpiece with DIY glitter lights
Want to add color to your kitchen table? Try this DIY tablecloth
DIY Rockstars: See how this old cutting board became a Pottery Barn knockoff

A frosted pathway

Photo Credit: Willow Decor

Begin your Frozen theme outside, when guests walk a path lined with homemade ice luminarias. Obviously, these luminarias will only work in cold weather, but they're simply stunning for a grand frozen entrance.

Invite with an icy wreath

Photo Credit: Life Outside the Box

Invite guests into warmth with this beautiful Frozen mesh wreath.

Snowfall garlands

Photo Credit: Krista Janos/Blue Eyed Yonder

Thread marshmallows on clear wire for a homemade garland that is snowy and sweet. Drape from the ceilings, or from evergreen garlands for a frosted look.

Sparkling candle centerpiece

Photo Credit: Homespun With Love

Coat blue and gray pillar candles with Mod Podge and Epsom salt — voila! Your centerpieces look like they've survived the first frost.

Glittery icicles for the tree

Photo Credit: Bella Dia

In addition to blue and crystal ornaments, make a few homemade frosted icicles for your tree this year. You'll need only aluminum foil, glue, glitter and ornament hooks to make the look complete.

Go bold with white

Photo Credit: Megan Morton/Desire to Inspire

Speaking of Christmas trees, there's no need to stick with basic green this year. Pick a white Christmas tree, like this one fashioned by Megan Morton at Desire to Inspire, for an icy vintage appeal that pops against the blues and silvers of your Frozen theme.

Snow-inspired tree skirt

Instead of wrapping the base of your tree in a red or gold tree skirt, give it special treatment by placing it atop this white faux sheepskin, for a look that is equally snowy and cozy. (Etsy, $88)

Send icy branches sky-high

Photo Credit: Carole Jones/MyKitchenEscapades

Would you ever guess that luxurious, ice-covered branches are as simple as a few twigs, spray adhesive and Epsom salt? Layer your finished product in glass vases with silver ornaments for spindly and icy branches that reach towards the ceiling.

Serve an ice castle cake

This cake is seriously wow-worthy and will really set the tone for a holiday party.

Glitz with falling snowflakes

Photo Credit: Cook Clean Craft

When in doubt, you can't go wrong with homemade snowflakes strewn about in excess. Once you create your design, hang from clear wire in front of your windows for a little something special.

Include small touches about your inspiration

Photo Credit: Two Sisters Crafting

If you need a little more Frozen literalism in your decor, you can include small shout-outs to your inspiration. For instance, you can serve a Melted Snowman beverage at your holiday party for a few laughs.

More holiday decor

PHOTOS: How celebrities decorate their homes for the holidays
How to make a holiday wreath
Renter's guide to holiday decorating from Jonathan Scott

From breastfeeding to public exposure

We all know that taking your kids to the grocery store is asking for trouble, but Reddit user Carlinha1289 apparently hadn't received the memo. She brought her 1-year-old and infant to the store, and everything was going fine until they hit the checkout. "My husband was at the cash registry and I took my son whom was getting pretty impatient and told him to hold my hand," she explained. At that point, her infant decided it was time to nurse, so Carlinha took her breast out of her bra to discreetly nurse the little one. "I let go of my son's hand and take [out] my breast. Meanwhile, my son decides to run out of the store and I swear that every single door just opened like magic for him to go and run lose [sic] into the parking lot."

Her solution? "So screw the breast, I left it out and start running after him... while [my] breast is exposed and flopping in every single direction." There were a lot of stares, but her son was OK.

If farts make you giggle...

Labor and delivery is just asking for mortification, but Reddit user Yummy_mummy tried to prevent embarrassment. "I was determined not to have a bowel movement and did an enema to prevent that from happening," she said. A creative solution, but it backfired. "It did clean me out, but it caused the worst gas I've ever had in my life."

She thought her gas was gone by the time it came to push, though, so she was ready to bear down hard for her baby's delivery. "My doctor timed the contractions and let me know when it was time for a good push. I pushed with all my might and ripped the biggest, longest fart right in his face. It literally blew his hair back."

Is breast milk considered a tip?

Anemone and her husband were enjoying a dinner at a nice, quiet Italian restaurant when her 6-month-old was ready to nurse. "I had tucked him under my sweater so that no one could see that he was breastfeeding," Anemone explained. However, when their waiter came to take their order, her son was startled and pulled quickly away from the latch, leaving her breast exposed and squirting with a mighty burst. "Breast milk shot across the table and onto the waiter. Embarrassment doesn't even come close to describing my feelings about this scene."

Pantsed by a fire hydrant

Reddit user Corialis shared that the fire alarm in her downtown apartment building went off on a busy weekday morning, so she ran downstairs in her pajamas to seek safety. Corialis was standing by the fire hydrant when a fire truck arrived. "Fireman pulls a hose to the hydrant to hook it up. He opens the cap and BAM I have no idea what was going on except that something has literally knocked me off my feet and is pushing me down the sidewalk until I collide with something hard and fall down."

When she stood up, she realized her pajama pants were around her ankles, that she was soaking wet and that she'd been marooned by a fire hose. "That's right folks, someone forgot to turn off the water to the hydrant, so as soon as the cap was removed water blasted out at full pressure, propelling me down the street until I hit a tree."

Tell us: What are the most embarrassing stories you've lived to tell?

This post was sponsored by Sanuk.

More embarrassing stories

10 Embarrassing things that happen to you in yoga
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Busy days call for a little help when it comes to dinner. Bring out the slow cooker for a Chinese-inspired meal that is super simple to prepare. Mu shu chicken is great to serve because it's filling, flavorful, and it makes use of bunches of veggies.

I like to add a little spicy flavor to this dish, so I include chili garlic sauce. You could use your favorite hot sauce instead if that's more convenient, and then wrap everything up in flour tortillas — it's that simple. Plum sauce served on the side brings this dish a sweet and savory finish.

Slow cooker mu shu chicken recipe

This classic restaurant-style meal couldn't be easier to make (and cleanup is a breeze too). Add or swap your favorite veggies, like bok choy or mushrooms, to make this dish suit your tastes.

Serves 4

Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 4-6 hours | Total time: 4 hours 5 minutes-6 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 red bell pepper, seeds and membrane removed, cut into thin strips
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 2/3 cup carrots, diced
• 4 green onions, ends trimmed, cut into small pieces, divided
• 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce or hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• 4 (6 inch) flour tortillas
• Sesame seeds, as garnish
• Plum sauce, to serve on the side (optional)

Directions:

1. To the bottom of a slow cooker, add the pepper, cabbage, carrots and 3 of the green onions. Add the chicken over the top, followed by the hoisin sauce, soy sauce and chili garlic sauce (or hot sauce).
2. Cover, and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours.
3. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with the water, and whisk until smooth. Pour into the slow cooker, and whisk until the mixture thickens. Cover, and cook for 5 to 8 minutes longer.
4. Serve the mu shu chicken in the flour tortillas with the remaining green onion and the sesame seeds as garnish. Roll the tortillas tightly, and serve warm with plum sauce, if desired.

More chicken recipes

Lemon chicken and spring veggie rice bowls
Gluten-free chicken soup with bacon, Brussels sprouts and beans
Grilled maple-chipotle chicken kebabs

1. Paper circles garland

Photo credit: Useful Beautiful Home

Craft-challenged ladies, this paper circle garland is for you. If you can use a hole punch and a stick of glue, you can make this happen.

2. Felt strip garland

Photo credit: My Blessed Life

This retro felt garland takes some time to complete, but it's pretty simple to do. If you can tie a knot, you can create this shaggy masterpiece. Change the colors and lengths of felt to make it your own.

3. Wrapping paper chain garland

Photo credit: Caught on a Whim

Finally, something to do with all those wrapping paper scraps! Plus, this wrapping paper chain garland is just about as simple as it gets, ladies. We're talking first grade art class skills here.

4. Felt garland

Photo credit: Jenna Thompson for Paper and Stitch

This garland from Paper and Stitch is very pretty, but not as simple to make as it looks. Simplify the process by using pre-made pom-poms.

5. Christmas light garland

Photo credit: The Proper Pinwheel

This easy Christmas light garland is a snap to make, and it won't make your electric bill skyrocket like a real lighted garland.

6. Merry Christmas garland

Photo credit: Vicky Barone

Display any holiday message you like with this versatile banner-style garland.

7. Lighted Christmas garland

Photo credit: Life After Laundry

Lights over the mantle are gorgeous, but a lone strand of lights just leaves something to be desired. Dress up the wire with simple scraps of fabric and end up with this pretty lighted garland.

8. Twisted felt garland

Photo credit: The Purl Bee

You're going to need some time and serious patience to make this garland happen, but we think it's totally worth it if your project turns out as gorgeous as this.

9. Paper snowflake garland

Photo credit: How About Orange

Remember those paper snowflakes you used to make back in elementary school? It's time to see if you've still got those skills — and we're guessing you do.

10. Snowball garland

Photo credit: White House Black Shutters

Do you have cotton balls, a needle and some thread? If so, you can create this easy winter wonderland-themed garland.

11. Orange peel garland

Photo credit: Sesame Seed Designs

Not only does this orange peel garland give you a new use for something you probably usually trash, but it's simple and it will leave your house smelling awesome.

12. Ornament garland

Photo credit: Creative Outlets of a Thrifty Minded Momma

You've seen these giant garlands at the store, but they're never even close to cheap. Make your own ornament garland for next to nothing, using your ornament castoffs from Christmases past.

13. Bowtie pasta garland

Photo credit: The Gold Jellybean

This is a great one to do with the kids. You dye the pasta, and then let them apply the glitter. When you're done, you'll have a sparkly holiday garland masterpiece that's perfect for the season.

14. Paper holly garland

Photo credit: Library of Thoughts

You can easily create this construction paper holly garland with items you have on hand.

More Christmas DIY

Printable holiday thank you cards
Printable holiday wall stencils
Printable Christmas coloring pages

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie won an Oscar for her portrayal of sociopath Lisa in Girl Interrupted. Jolie ditched the face paint to play a strung-out psycho and laughed all the way to the Oscar stage.

Details on Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's fight are really intense

GIF credit: Giphy.com

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron got all chubby and ugh-lee (to the point of being unrecognizable) for her role in Monster. When you're as stunning as Theron, it takes a lot of guts to step in front of the camera without any makeup on. The risk was worth it — Theron's courage helped her score an Oscar.

Charlize Theron and Sean Penn accused of mistreating her 2-year-old son

Photo credit: Supplied by WENN

Hilary Swank

Usually, Hilary Swank's facial features make the rest of the female population want to walk around with a bag over our heads. In Boys Don't Cry, not only did Swank go bare-faced, she cut off all her hair and altered her body to look like a man. Swank did cry a lot in the movie, but she smiled from ear to ear when she won her Oscar.

GIF credit: Giphy.com

Nicole Kidman

On the red carpet, Nicole Kidman is flawless. The opposite was true when she played Virginia Woolf in The Hours. Mrs. Urban looked downright dreadful, but she won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Don't believe anything Nicole Kidman says, she is not pregnant

GIF credit: Giphy.com

Jennifer Aniston

Rachel called and she wants her hair, makeup and impeccable wardrobe from the Gap back, please. This is not your older sister's Aniston. She is plain-faced and greasy-haired in her new movie Cake, and already she is creating a lot of Oscar buzz. We'll have to wait and see if Aniston gets to join this list for good.

Photo credit: MovieClips Trailers

Reese Witherspoon

Aniston's makeup-free Cake look is generating Oscar excitement, but Reese Witherspoon may give her a run for her money. Don't look now, but the impossibly cute and perky Witherspoon is rocking a naked face in her new movie Wild. So, Reese, are you ready to win another Oscar?

GIF credit: Giphy.com

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