The reality star, who gained a reported 50 pounds while pregnant with North West, said she's pretty sure there is a God because why else would she have packed on so many pounds if not to take her ego down a notch or 20?

"I'd think God was doing this for a reason," she told Elle U.K. "He was saying, 'Kim, you think you're so hot, but look what I can do to you.'

"My body just went crazy. After five months, I swore I'd never get pregnant again. I got so huge and it felt like someone had taken over my body."

More: Pippa Middleton is disgusted by our butt obsession — Kim's included

Kardashian also shared a touching moment from her teen years, when her body had just started to blossom and she had no idea what to do with all that ass and that chest.

"When I was 13 my father wrote me a letter," she explained. "I was unhappy with my body — I developed really early. Every night I would sit in the bath and cry. I prayed my boobs would stop growing. He told me I had a body not many girls have, that later it would lead to attention from men, but that the most important thing was that I was a wonderful girl and I had to understand my self-worth."

More: Watch Kim Kardashian poop in a cup (VIDEO)

Now she totally loves her curves (God thinks a little too much, apparently), but that attitude didn't come to her easily.

"It's taken me a long time to be happy with my body and for my confidence to grow to what it is today. I grew up when the body to have was the tall, slim, supermodel one, like Cindy Crawford's. No one looked like me," she explained.

"It's good to break the mold and recreate one. I'm an Armenian girl, I have shape and it turned out people liked that. That makes me feel good about myself and about other women for being so supportive. I am a confident woman, but I didn't just arrive confident — it has built over the years and that is a big part of who I am now."

She obviously got way, way over her body hang-ups, judging from her attempt to #breaktheinternet.

Each tree is at least one complete child-size serving of fruits or vegetables. You can make just one tree for your little snacker or make a platter with all four trees to provide a healthy variety for multiple kids.

Green grape Christmas tree snack recipe

If you're short on grapes, then you can just use both halves of 12 grapes. I prefer to eat the stem ends myself and use the pretty ends to make the tree.

Serves 1

Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 24 green grapes
• 1 raspberry

Directions:

1. Slice the grapes in half.
2. Arrange the non-stem ends into a Christmas tree shape. You can either eat the stem ends or save them for a fruit salad.
3. Place a raspberry at the top of the tree.

Broccoli Christmas tree snack recipe

Feel free to serve this broccoli tree with a side of ranch dressing for dipping.

Serves 1

Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 small head broccoli
• 8-10 small cherub tomatoes

Directions:

1. Cut the broccoli into pieces, close to the base of the florets.
2. Arrange the florets into a triangle shape.
3. Use a piece of stem for the tree trunk.
4. Decorate the tree with cherub tomatoes, using them to fill any gaps.
5. Slice 1 end off a cherub tomato, and place it at the point of the triangle.

Sugar snap pea Christmas tree snack recipe

If you don't have a yellow bell pepper on hand and don't want to buy one, then feel free to cut a carrot, piece of cheese or even a slice of bread into a star shape.

Serves 1

Total time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

• 9 sugar snap peas
• 1 yellow bell pepper

Directions:

1. Arrange the peas into a tree shape, with 1 pea as the trunk and the rest of the peas angled in 2 columns above it.
2. Use a small star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out a piece of bell pepper, and place it at the top of the tree.

Kiwi Christmas tree snack recipe

We leave the skin on our kiwis because it's extremely nutritious, with loads of fiber and vitamin C. My son loves it, but if your kids are resistant, then feel free to peel the kiwi before slicing.

Serves 1

Total time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 kiwi
• 1 raspberry

Directions:

1. Slice the kiwi into rounds.
2. Cut 4 of the rounds in half, and arrange them in 2 angled columns to form a tree shape.
3. Cut 1 of the kiwi ends into a rectangle for a tree trunk.

See all our holiday articles

More healthy snacks for kids

Chicken salad Pilgrim hats
Mini turkey-shaped cheese balls
Candy corn-inspired fruit skewers

Hercules

We just want a guy who will take out the trash, mow the lawn and not make us cry several times a week. One would have to assume that a guy who can slay huge creatures with large tusks, using only a club, could probably do most of our heavy lifting.

More: Dwayne Johnson GIFs for your Hercules pleasure

Image: Giphy.com

Luke Hobbs

It seems a CIA agent who can drive cars super-fast and survive phenomenal crashes would be a handy guy to have around.

More: Dwayne Johnson's workouts are so erotic, it's uncomfortable to watch

Image: Giphy.com

The Rock

Having a guy who looks good in his underwear never hurts, and if that same guy can throw large objects out of your way, that's even better. You never know when you might be hiking and need a bear removed from the trail.

More: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson isn't as tough as you think

Image: Giphy.com

The Tooth Fairy

A secure man is hard to find. A man who's secure enough in his masculinity to play the tooth fairy comes around about as often as Halley's Comet.

Image: Movie Trailers

Sean Porter

If you want to melt a girl's heart, introduce her to a guy who works with and cares about troubled kids. Gulp. That's what Johnson's character, Sean Porter, does in Gridiron Gang. Be still our hearts.

Image: GridironGang's channel

Hank

In Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Johnson's character Hank showcases two of the things we love most about The Rock: his sense of humor and his killer smile. Women love a man who can show them the funny.

Image: fastcougar3200

Ray

In San Andreas, Johnson plays rescue pilot Ray. Now that's the kind of skill a gal could really use in her hip pocket if shit goes down.

In summary, Johnson's characters can throw heavy things, look great while doing it and work with troubled youth. His characters are also secure, funny and skilled. All of Johnson's characters culminate in the perfect man. Santa, we know what we want for Christmas.

The panel was in the midst of discussing the flu shot with guest Ashanti in a segment entitled "Hot Topics" when Goldberg hot-boxed her cohosts, and knowing the cardinal rule "whoever denied it supplied it," immediately took responsibility for her butt blowing a gasket.

More: Whoopi Goldberg sympathizes with alleged rapist Bill Cosby

Watch Whoopi Goldberg fart on The View

Blame it on the flu shot!

More: Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal remember Robin Williams

Goldberg had an unlikely ally when frenemy Rosie O'Donnell began to fan the stench out of the way, blaming the fart on breakfast burritos and letting the panel know when the coast was clear.

Shockingly (or maybe not so shockingly), this is not the first time Goldberg has farted on The View. Behold, three weeks ago while ranting about racism:

More: Whoopi Goldberg schools Donald Trump on the Ebola virus (VIDEO)

…And three years ago while chatting with a poor, unsuspecting Claire Danes about Homeland:

At least The View doesn't have to budget for "Whoopi" cushions to get a gag.

Unless you're a Scrooge, this will bring a smile to your face. Come on, cute animals playing together, and some of them even have adorable holiday sweaters on. So much cuteness!

All these furry friends are from The Humane Society of New York, but check out the adoptable pets in your area.

Want more great SheKnows videos? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

More pet articles to make your day

Adorable alert: Kids and puppies
18 Photos that capture cats in the most amazing ways
12 Puppy eyes to swoon over

McDonald's is getting flak again in the thick of the holiday season, this time over a company video on how Chicken McNuggets are made.

Come on, admit it. As enticing as those little deep-fried nuggets of ground chicken are to so many of us (mmm, honey mustard and sweet-and-sour sauce, I'm hungry just thinking about you), you've heard the same rumors we have about what's really in them.

Amid reports earlier this week of its worst U.S. sales in 10 years, McDonald's released a short clip with ex-MythBusters host Grant Imahara, taking customers inside the plant where the McNuggets magic happens.

Don't fear: This could put your mind at ease about gobbling them down on a cheap after-work date night, a quick rest stop on a road trip or a dinner out with the kids in tow. I said "could." See for yourself...

Well? Guess there really is actual chicken in those from the looks of it — albeit gray-tinted and mashed up — not the other horrifying things we've heard about over the years, like beaks and legs and the evil "Pink Slime" and such. Sweet?

Poor McDonald's, though (though "poor" is probably a poor choice of words considering who we're talking about here). They just can't win. Because now they're being mocked again for this latest PR attempt to bolster sales and lure customers back in. Twitter, Facebook and the rest of the peanut gallery have been afire with jabs and jeers and... you know how it goes.

Question is, what do you think? Would you still eat McDonald's Chicken McNuggets after seeing that it truly is "just chicken" inside, or did the whole thing amount to TMI?

I'm one of those people who would rather not have all the information on this stuff in my personal life, even though I'm an animal lover and, oh yes, a journalist. Call me a hypocrite; you're probably right. But is anyone else really hungry for a six-piece with honey mustard and fries right about now?

More on McDonald's

Moms, rejoice: McDonald's is adding more fruit to Happy Meals
McDonald's owns McRib Twitter hater by showing him how it's made (VIDEO)
10 Things you never knew about McDonald’s that might really surprise you

For such a cute little person, she's certainly very calculated and resourceful in her approach. She has a real arsenal of techniques at her disposal. We're currently trying to decide which of the baby's moves we like best. We're quite partial to when she just lies across her mother's face and neck — that's textbook right there. We also enjoyed the hair-pulling, the eye-poking and the nose-picking. Are we sure this kid isn't in the WWE?

One thing is for sure: We respect this baby as a formidable foe. We also respect her mom — for documenting the plight of sleep-deprived parents everywhere and also because we can already tell her daughter is going to be one hell of a teenager.

More really adorable babies

Oops! Toddler can't say 'cotton balls' (VIDEO)
Baby tries to say 'food,' curses like a sailor instead (VIDEO)
Kitten and baby chase a laser pointer in epic cute-off (VIDEO)

While you may think that codependency is only hurting yourself, the fact is that once you become a parent your choices affect your kids, too. Being codependent upon another adult can be harmful to your children, especially since kids use you as an example of how an emotional relationship should be. Before I was married and had kids I was involved in a codependent relationship, which may make me a little extra sensitive on the subject. But, it does make me look long and hard at my own relationship with my husband, and my parenting style with my children.

We all know emotionally neglecting your kids is bad, but relying on them too much isn't good either. I am far from considering myself a helicopter mom, but the way I interact with my kids could use a little tweaking. I came across this fantastic article in Psychology Today about the relationship you have with your child and how it can ensure your kids can grow up to be codependent adults, all based on how you raise them now. And, Dr. Jennifer Wider explains that children who are controlled or overly pampered can become dependent and unable to make their own decisions, while other children in codependent relationships take on too much responsibility and are robbed of a childhood.

So, now I find myself over-analyzing my kids in hopes that I can still salvage my parenting style just in case I've led my kids down the road to codependency, especially since Dr. Wider explains that a parent may not even realize all the subtle ways they may be raising a codependent child. Watch for patterns of behaviors such as giving your kids the silent treatment, subjecting kids to passive-aggressive comments, not respecting your child's boundaries or relying on your child for emotional support, warns Dr. Wider.

But, the good news is that even if you're raising your child to be codependent, it's not too late to change. Along with seeking the help of a professional, you can allow your child some freedom to make decisions for him or herself. Teach that value doesn't have to come through pleasing you. Encourage self-praise. Listen and don't offer advice until you've given your child a chance to figure out how to solve the problem. Codependency is a cycle that you can stop, despite your helicopter mom ways. And both you and your kids will be better off for it.

Read more about children's emotional health

Should you cry in front of your kids?
Raising a sensitive child
Why you shouldn't spoil your kids

And now, the actor is coming clean and is on the road to recovery. For the first time, he spoke openly with Access Hollywood Live about his drug and alcohol addiction, which he says ultimately led to his exit on Scandal.

More: The first episode of How to Get Away with Murder kills it

"I'll be candid: I was struggling with drugs," Short explained. "I had a lot on my plate, and you know, I was using unhealthy ways to kind of self-medicate and deal with a lot of heavy-duty stuff in my life... I was doing cocaine and drinking a lot, and trying to balance a 16-hour work schedule a day and a family, and I just lost myself back then."

News of Short's struggles broke at the beginning of this year. On Valentine's Day, Short was charged with misdemeanor spousal battery. His wife, Tanee McCall-Short, filed for divorce shortly following the charges. Then, in March, Short was arrested for getting into a fight with a patron at a restaurant.

He announced he was leaving Scandal about one month later.

Short played the beloved Harrison Wright on the show. One of Olivia Pope's (Kerry Washington) dedicated "gladiators," who helped her fix her client's problems, no matter how salacious. News of Wright's demise in the story line definitely sent a shocking blow to fans of the show.

More: Who's your Scandal soul mate: Jake or Fitz? (QUIZ)

But Short respects the show's decision to cut him loose. "They just wanted me to get my stuff together," Short admitted.

He also said that creator, Shonda Rhimes, and his cast mates on the show were well aware of his problems. "Sometimes the bottom has to be dropped out for you to really get it. So I moved to Atlanta. I've been living there for the last five months, five-and-a-half months, and it's just been great. It's been life-changing."

Short has been writing music, which he attributes to helping him heal from a slew of low points in his life which he says led to the drug abuse.

"I think when anybody's dealing with drugs or alcohol, you need to change your environment, period," Short said. "Persons, places, things, you need to get out of whatever the comfort — it was accessible to me. Come on — I'm on the number one show on television, anything I wanted I could get it, but that's deadly, you know what I mean? So it was about how do I change my life?"

More: Kerry Washington stays humble amidst Scandalmania

Now that Short has made that change for himself, he's anxious to get back to work.

"I'm really ready to get back to work. As far as Shonda's shows, I would love nothing more to go back to Scandal. It's my family."

Do you think Columbus Short's character should be written back into Scandal?

With a whole lot of good, bad and ugly stemming from his timeline, SheKnows decided to take a look back at some of the Biebster's most controversial tweets of the year.

1. Anniversary of My World

Bieber knows that he must pay respects to his beginnings and, in November, the singer sent some good words into the blogosphere about the five-year anniversary of his debut EP, My World.

2. Fessing up

When old footage of JB using the N-word surfaced online, people were outraged. Sure, the already-questionable Bieber was really young, but it was still unacceptable. However, Bieber used his Twitter account to address the footage with a heartfelt apology.

3. Bieber + Ariana

Bieber committed a huge no-no in 2014 when he posted a photo of himself standing in front of the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which symbolizes Japanese militarism.

6. Believing Beliebers

Despite all the murky mud that Justin walked through this year, his Beliebers have stood by him. In one tweet, which was posted in August, the singer spoke about his appreciation for one of his fans and how much her words really meant to him.

7. Loser keeps Bieber

JB wasn't happy to be the butt of jokes when a Chicago-area company erected a major expressway sign that read, "Loser Keeps Bieber." It was a jibe that was initially started by the Olympic hockey battles between the United States and Canada.

8. Papa-paparazzi

Bieber's frustrations with the paparazzi hit a new high this year when he was rear-ended by a paparazzo during a drive in West Hollywood. According to reports, the singer was irritated with the tailing photographer and slammed his breaks. He took to Twitter shortly afterwards and compared himself to Princess Diana.

What's your favorite Justin Bieber moment of the year? Tell us in the comments section below.

Monday, June 23: North Korea blasts The Interview

North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un, denounces the Seth Rogen-written and directed The Interview. The film, which sees James Franco star alongside Rogen as a talk show duo roped into a plot to assassinate Jong-un, is set for a Dec. 25 release.

More: The Interview's release date pushed: Is it because of Kim Jong-Un?

Kim Myong-choi, Jong-un's unofficial spokesperson, refers to the film's story line in a statement as having "special irony" and warns, "President Obama should be careful in case the U.S. military wants to kill him as well."

Wednesday, June 25: North Korea issues a warning

North Korea goes on the record once more to caution Sony against releasing The Interview. "The act of making and screening such a movie that portrays an attack on our top leadership... is the most wanton act of terror and act of war, and is absolutely intolerable," a foreign ministry spokesperson derided in a statement, adding, "If the U.S. administration allows and defends the showing of the film, a merciless counter-measure will be taken."

Monday, Nov. 24: Sony computers get hijacked

Communication comes to a halt at Sony when a skull appears on computer screens company-wide with the following eerie message, along with a string of file names: "Hacked by #GOP. Warning: We've already warned you, and this is just a beginning. We continue till our request be met. We've obtained all your internal data including your secrets and top secrets. If you don't obey us, we'll release data shown below to the world."

GOP, or Guardians of Peace, also took control of the company's promotional Twitter accounts, posting the same image, as well as an image of Sony CEO, Michael Lynton, in hell. Jean Guerin, Sony Pictures spokesperson, said, "We are investigating an IT matter."

Tuesday, Nov. 25: Sony addresses "system disruption"

Sony's computers, which were shut down as a precaution, remain down in the Culver City location, as well as in New York and overseas. Still remaining relatively mum on the subject, the company does release another statement reiterating an IT problem, saying, "Sony Pictures Entertainment experienced a system disruption, which we are working diligently to resolve."

Saturday, Nov. 27: Fury and four other films get leaked

Image: WENN.com

Five as-yet unreleased, watermarked Sony films and DVD screeners — Annie, Fury, Mr. Turner, Still Alice and To Write Love on Her Arms — hit the web via various file-sharing hubs. The most popular leak proves to be Fury, the WWII action movie starring Brad Pitt, which has been illegally downloaded more than 2 million times to date (the movie's theatrical release was in October). Also growing in popularity is the Jamie Foxx modern adaptation of Annie, which is slated for release Dec. 19.

Sony reveals the FBI's involvement, citing an official investigation, "The theft of Sony Pictures Entertainment content is a criminal matter, and we are working closely with law enforcement to address it," said a Sony spokesperson.

Monday, Dec. 1: Salaries of Sony's top execs revealed

Fusion's Kevin Roose publishes a spreadsheet detailing the salaries of 17 top execs at Sony Pictures Entertainment, noting that the link he was sent actually contains the salaries of more than 6,000 Sony Pictures employees. The world is now privy to the knowledge that Sony chiefs, Michael Lynton and Amy Pascal, pull in a cool $3 million and that, in fact, Pascal is the only woman in the company who earns more than $1 million annually.

On the plus side, if there is one, social media company, RelishMix, releases their findings that the hack has led to a serious spike in Sony's social media followers — the company's Facebook page alone jumped a remarkable 1.6 million likes on Thanksgiving Day.

Tuesday, Dec. 2: Personal data of 4,000 Sony employees comprised

In response to the salary leak, Lynton and Pascal go on the offensive, sending out a company-wide call to arms about the "brazen attack," imploring employees to stay calm in the crisis and be on guard. "While we are not yet sure of the full scope of the information that the attackers have or might release, we unfortunately have to ask you to assume that information about you in the possession of the company might be in their possession," the chiefs said of the breach that put the personal data of nearly 4,000 employees at risk. "While we hope that common decency might prevent disclosure, we of course cannot assume that."

Thursday, Dec. 4: Laundry list of employee gripes surfaces

The downward spiral continues, with Tuesday, Dec. 4 exposing a 25-page-long list of embarrassing internal communications with the release of a file simply titled "Sony_2012_Comments." A harsh compilation of negative feedback from employees, the file brings to light the unrest over the quality of Sony's film content as of late. Says one disgruntled employee, "Stop making the same, safe, soul-less movies and TV shows," while another points out, "There is a general 'blah-ness' to the films we produce... we continue to be saddled with the mundane, formulaic Adam Sandler films."

Also on this day, Seth Rogen and James Franco's salaries for The Interview go public. As reported by Bloomberg, Rogen received $8.4 million and Franco $6.5 million for the controversial comedy.

Friday, Dec. 5: Hackers threaten safety of staff's family

The hack gets personal — and alarmingly creepy — when Sony employees receive a threatening email alleging, among other things, "removing Sony Pictures on earth is a very tiny work for our group which is a worldwide organisation. And what we have done so far is only a small part of our further plan." The email ominously goes on to state, "Please sign your name to object the false of the company at the email address below if you don't want to suffer damage. If you don't, not only you but your family will be in danger."

Saturday, Dec. 6: Seth Rogen and James Franco take hack to SNL

Seth Rogen and James Franco stir the pot with an appearance on Saturday Night Live.

Sunday, Dec. 7: North Korea calls hack "a righteous deed"

In the wake of Franco and Rogen's SNL cameo, North Korea goes on record to deny any involvement in the Sony leak, despite rumors to the contrary. "We do not know where in America the Sony Pictures is situated and for what wrongdoings it became the target of the attack nor [do] we feel the need to know about it," read a statement issued by the Korean Central News Agency. Still, the state referred to the hack as a "righteous deed" possibly perpetrated by North Korean "supporters and sympathizers."

Monday, Dec. 8: Celeb aliases uncovered

Hot on the trail of the North Korean drama over The Interview, hackers post a new message on GitHub demanding the movie be pulled immediately. For his part, Sony chief, Lynton, sends out another company-wide email, this time reassuring staff members that the FBI "have dedicated their senior staff to this global investigation." He also calls for an "All-Hands" meeting on the Culver City lot to brief everyone on the implications of the hack.

Hackers also unveil a list of aliases used by celebrities including Tom Hanks ("Johnny Madrid"), Sarah Michelle Gellar ("Neely O'Hara"), Tobey Maguire ("Neil Deep"), Rob Schneider ("Nazzo Good") and Jessica Alba ("Cash Money").

Tuesday, Dec. 9: E-mail inboxes of Sony chiefs made public

In perhaps the most explosive development so far, hackers release the full mailboxes of Pascal, cochairman of Sony Pictures, and of Steve Mosko, president of Sony Pictures Television. Attributed once again to Guardians of Peace, the release divulged sensitive — and sometimes incendiary — personal and professional emails to the tune of thousands of exchanges.

Wednesday, Dec. 10: Angelina Jolie called "spoiled"

Image: WENN.com

Both the Wall Street Journal and Gawker publish their findings from Pascal's hacked email account. Among the damaging exchanges? Heated words between Pascal and Jobs producer, Scott Rudin, over the film — most pointedly, repeated mention of Angelina Jolie as a "minimally talented spoiled brat" and worse, along with aspersions about other celebs like Tom Cruise.

More: Sony hack exposes how execs really feel about Angelina Jolie

In a separate exchange between Pascal, Lynton and studio exec, Clint Culpepper, Kevin Hart is put on blast for refusing to tweet about his new movie without being paid an additional sum on top of his $3 million paycheck for the film. Says Culpepper, "I'm not saying he's a whore, but he's a whore."

Several A-list directors take to Twitter to express their disgust over the breach, including 22 Jump Street's Phil Lord, the upcoming Star Wars' Rian Johnson and prominent producer-director of funny films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Judd Apatow.

Stay tuned for further updates as they develop!

The best thing about these cocktails is they do not require any crazy-expensive liquors or liqueurs. If you keep a well-stocked bar, then you might even have everything on hand. How's that for simple?

Chocolate-peppermint cookie cocktail recipe

This simple chocolate-peppermint cookie cocktail is the perfect libation for your holiday party. It's packed full of chocolate and mint flavoring.

Yields 1

Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces half-and-half
• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce peppermint schnapps
• 1 ounce chocolate liqueur
• Whipped cream, for topping
• Crushed candy canes, for topping

Directions:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, and add in all the ingredients.
2. Shake until well combined, and pour into a cocktail glass.
3. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes, if desired.

Sugar cookie cocktail recipe

This sugar cookie cocktail gives you the flavor of your favorite cookie but with a boozy twist. Totally delicious and a breeze to make.

Yields 1

Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces chocolate whipped cream vodka
• 2 ounces Irish cream
• 2 ounces half-and-half
• 1 ounce butterscotch schnapps
• Whipped cream, for topping
• Sprinkles, for topping

Directions:

Coconut-macaroon cookie cocktail recipe

Don't feel like baking but want cookies? Why not get that cookie flavor in cocktail form. You won't know what you love more after making this cocktail — cookies or martinis.

Yields 1

Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce coconut rum
• 1 ounce crème de cacao
• 1 ounce half-and-half
• 1 tablespoon cream of coconut
• Toasted coconut, for topping

Directions:

Snickerdoodle cookie cocktail recipe

Cinnamon and sugar are what Christmas is about — sweet, spicy and delicious, whether in cookie or drink form. You're going to love this snickerdoodle cookie cocktail, perhaps even more than the cookie itself.

Yields 1

Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup cinnamon sugar
• 2 ounces half-and-half
• 1 ounce cinnamon schnapps
• 1 ounce vanilla vodka

Directions:

1. Dip the rim of a cocktail glass into water and then into cinnamon sugar.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, and add in all the ingredients.
3. Shake until well combined, and pour into the cocktail glass.

See all our holiday articles

More cocktail recipes

Spiced apple cider and tea cocktail
10 After-dinner cocktails
3 Lemonade cocktails

Johnson — who made history as the first black woman to ever appear on the cover of American Vogue — has penned a revealing essay in Vanity Fair about the alleged attack that she suffered at the hands of Cosby, who she claims drugged her and then tried to take advantage of her.

More: LAPD may head to Hugh Hefner's mansion for evidence in Bill Cosby case

Johnson revealed that the attack took place in the mid-'80s at the actor's Brownstone, New York, home, where she had visited to read lines for a small part in his popular series The Cosby Show.

Cosby invited Johnson to his home for brunch and asked her to bring her daughter with her, which she gladly did. She reveals that looking back, "that first invite from Cosby to his home seems like part of a perfectly laid out plan, a way to make me feel secure with him at all times."

And it worked, because a few days later Johnson returned to the house to read lines with the actor. They had a light dinner and spoke about her career, after which Cosby offered her a cappuccino from his espresso machine, and refused to take no for an answer.

More: Beverly Johnson on overcoming racism in Hollywood

"I told him I didn't drink coffee that late in the afternoon because it made getting to sleep at night more difficult. He wouldn't let it go. He insisted that his espresso machine was the best model on the market and promised I'd never tasted a cappuccino quite like this one," she wrote.

Instead of arguing with the man who was supposedly going to help her with her career, Johnson took "a few sips of the coffee just to appease him." After only two sips, Johnson realized that she had been drugged.

"I knew by the second sip of the drink Cosby had given me that I'd been drugged — and drugged good," she revealed.

"My head became woozy, my speech became slurred, and the room began to spin nonstop. Cosby motioned for me to come over to him as though we were really about to act out the scene. He put his hands around my waist, and I managed to put my hand on his shoulder in order to steady myself."

More: Watch Janice Dickinson break down while describing alleged Bill Cosby rape (VIDEO)

"As I felt my body go completely limp, my brain switched into automatic survival mode. That meant making sure Cosby understood that I knew exactly what was happening at that very moment."

Johnson yelled, "You are a motherf***er, aren't you?" at Cosby. And after insulting the comedian several more times, she could sense that she had really angered him. He then dragged her by her left arm down a flight of stairs and hailed a cab for her. Johnson recalls that she was just able to remember her address before she completely passed out.

"The next day I woke up in my own bed after falling into a deep sleep that lasted most of the day. I had no memory of how I got into my apartment or into my bed, though most likely my doorman helped me out. I sat in there still stunned by what happened the night before, confused and devastated by the idea that someone I admired so much had tried to take advantage of me, and used drugs to do so. Had I done something to encourage his actions?"

Over the years, Johnson has been reluctant to speak about the ordeal with Cosby, but since women are now coming forward, she decided that it was the right time to speak up.

"Now that other women have come forward with their nightmare stories, I join them."

The full story is long, but it is on Vanity Fair and is well worth a read.

Speaking at The Hollywood Reporter's 2014 Women in Entertainment breakfast, Melissa kept the spirit of Joan alive by talking in a humorous tone about her mom and her life tribulations. But, although she chose to keep the mood light, the void Joan left behind for her and the rest of the world was also quite evident.

More: Joan Rivers outtakes that'll make you chortle (VIDEO)

At one point, Melissa pointed out that she recently realized how fearless her mom really was when Amy Schumer made a speech about the iconic funny woman a few weeks ago, calling her "brave." "But when I look back at her life [now], I think that might actually be the best word that applies to her."

Known for her relentless truth-telling about other celebrities' fashion choices, Joan really did have to be brave in a place like Hollywood, where one can be ostracized a minute after making "the wrong comment." But, Melissa also revealed that Joan always wanted to be part of Tinseltown, even as a little girl.

More: This is a book we can't wait to read: Joan Rivers' diary

"At 8, she went into her parents' living room and took a picture off of the piano and sent it to MGM," Melissa said in her speech. "In her mind, this little girl was clearly a star so she sent the photo, frame and all." And while the movie giant never responded, and she riled her "formidable" grandmother for sending off a $50 frame, Joan did eventually reach her goal of becoming famous.

Despite the hardships and obstacles that come with a show business career, Joan fiercely conquered them and was successfully able to shine. "My mother was fearless, and I don't mean she didn't have any fears. I mean that although she was only 5'2", she stood tall and walked through them. That is what made her such a brilliant performer."

More: Melissa Rivers thinks Joan Rivers' death may have been a criminal act

Melissa finished her speech by adding that Joan would have loved to be at Wednesday's event and would probably be the one "discreetly shoving croissants and silverware into her purse." But, she said that her dearly missed mother would also "not only be grateful and proud, she'd be beyond herself."

You can watch the video below to see Melissa Rivers' full speech.

I mean, you've got your smoked salmon, you've got your luscious dill-infused crème fraîche, and best of all, you've got those amazing little deep-fried patties. What's not to love? Whether for a Hanukkah celebration or a cocktail party in June, these little bites are something you should definitely have in your recipe box.

Potato latkes with smoked salmon and dill recipe

Ingredients:

For the latkes

• 2 pounds potatoes
• 2 onions
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup flour
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil

• 6 thin slices smoked salmon
• A few sprigs dill
• 1 cup crème fraîche

Check out the video to learn how simple these latkes are to make.

More on Hanukkah

15 Drool-worthy Hanukkah recipes for the tastiest celebration yet
Elf on the Shelf's new friend is perfect for Jewish kids (PHOTOS)
15 Latke recipes to make your Hanukkah celebration delicious

And for that, I say it's time that the parents get some recognition with some perfect holiday gifts. They may not be gold, frankincense or myrrh, but me thinks they may be even better than that.

1. Convertible car seat

You may be thinking: Oh, sure, every parent will already have a car seat for the baby, puhlease! But let me tell you what — there is no greater gift than an extra car seat for those times that grandma, grandpa, a friend or a spouse needs to take the baby in a hurry. It's invaluable and saves time and precious back muscles to not have to switch car seats. Picking one up specifically for transfers is the perfect thoughtful present. (Diono.com, $98+)

2. Bump Water

I love the idea of creating a "bump basket" for expecting parents and a bottle of Bump Water would be perfect to tuck in — maybe next to some good reads and a few healthy snacks? This refreshing bottled beverage can help curb nausea, promote folic acid intake and help moms-to-be who have trouble swallowing those prenatal pills still get the vitamins they need. (Bumpwater.com, $29 for 12 bottles)

3. Happy Mama survival kit

Described as the "ultimate go-to solution to help women feel healthy and happy during pregnancy, nursing and beyond," this Make Mama Happy Survival Kit includes solutions for sleepless nights, aches, pains and heartburn, along with a bedazzled case for her to tote her medications or prenatal vitamins. A healthy mama = a happy mama (Healthymamabrand.com, $40). Always be sure to check with your health care provider before taking any medications while pregnant or nursing.

4. Hair loss supplements

As most moms know, postpartum time also can mean hair loss time. Gone are the shiny, full locks of pregnancy and in are the clumps of hair lost in the shower. Hair growth vitamins and supplements can help prevent that loss and support new growth, especially for nursing moms. "Adding a supplement to a well-balanced diet like Aviva Advanced Hair Nutrition, which contains biotin, zinc, iron, selenium and chromium can get your hair growing and glowing, supporting healthy hair growth," notes Marnie Nussbaum, M.D., F.A.A.D. and cosmetic dermatologist with Aviva (Avivahair.com, $60 for a one-month supply). Always be sure to check with your health care provider before taking any medications while pregnant or nursing.

5. Baby care gift basket

You may think that babies are sweet and innocent, but odds are that precious newborn baby will get dirtier than a mud wrestler on a rainy day. We go through baby wash like crazy in my house, which is why I think any parent would appreciate some free baby care goodies, like a care package of baby wash, lotion or diaper cream, especially a brand that is paraben- and sulfate-free. (Walmart.com, $10)

6. The coolest bath towel ever

OK, I have to be honest — when I first saw this bath towel, my first thought was how ridiculous it looked. And then, in the next second, my thought was, Holy cow, that thing is pure genius. Because it really is. I hate trying to hold a towel across my shoulder while simultaneously bending over to pick up a wet, wiggly baby. I usually end up dropping half of the towel in the water and that's no fun for anyone. This towel lets you fasten straps around you to prevent that and, yes, I'm overly excited about it. (Amazon.com, $22)

7. A 10-in-one nursing pillow

A good nursing pillow is my No. 1 go-to suggestion for new parents, but this pillow by ClevaMama takes it one step further. Made with ClevaFoam, which is designed to reduce flat head syndrome, this nursing pillow pulls double duty as a baby seat and has an insert with padded straps to be used in a car seat, stroller, high chair or bouncer. Not too shabby. (Amazon.com, $62)

8. One of these adorable sports blankets

Seriously, how cute is that? If you have any sport-fanatic parents in your midst, any of these sports blanket or burp cloths — also available in their favorite team colors — would make the perfect gift. All products are also handmade in the U.S., which is a nice touch. (Teames.com, $23+)

9. Zen swaddle blanket

Give the new parents in your life the gift they want most: sleep. We had cousins gift us with a swaddle blanket with our third child and it was my most favorite present ever because it worked like a dream. This line of Zen swaddle blankets are designed to mimic a mother's touch to help your baby stay calm. (Zen Swaddle in Stardust Gray, $30)

10. Monogrammed family pillow

OK, I totally got lost browsing in this website because there are so many awesome family pillows to choose from. They are so original and I really couldn't pick just one to recommend. My favorites are the "family tree," "state love" and "dates to remember" pillows. (Averyandethan.com, $45)

11. Personalized platter

I actually think the idea of gifting new parents with a personalized platter is really cute — it will be the perfect place to gather around together one day at the table and enjoy some fresh-baked cookies. Or to plop the store-bought ones on. (Averyandethan, $39)

12. The softest blanket of all time

Obvs this present is meant to induce some serious snuggle time. I'm swooning just looking at the softness of these blankets — they are luxury blankets available in full and "snuggle" sizes. With each purchase, the company also donates a blanket to a baby in need, so this is a gift that keeps on giving. (Goosewaddle gift set, $90)

13. The smartest thermometer on the market

There is nothing harder than trying to get an accurate temperature on a baby — something I don't say lightly as both a nurse and a mom of four uncooperative children. So I'm a bit blown away by this product, which is a wearable patch that connects wirelessly to your smartphone to deliver real-time temperature readings and alerts when your child's temperature rises. I guess you could consider this the gift of peace of mind? (Feversmart.com, $129 to preorder)

14. All-natural laundry supplies

Short of actually invading their home and doing laundry for them, I'd say this is the next best thing to helping new parents tackle those ever-growing piles of laundry. This convenient gift bundle includes organic goat milk laundry detergent, dryer balls and a stain-removing stick in your choice of lemon, eucalyptus or lavender scents. (Bandnlaundry.com, $50)

15. A classy family ornament

You really can't go wrong with a family ornament, can you? It's small, simple and this version could also sit on a shelf with a photo to enjoy year-round. (Bethquinndesigns.com, $22)

16. Swaddle Love book

Think of it as the opposite of the Go the F*** to Sleep book (also an excellent choice). Instead, Swaddle Love is "full of candid storytelling and heartwarming humor that explores the history, science, and techniques of swaddling with a joyful celebration of babies, parenthood and sleeping eight hours a night." (Adenandanais.com, $20)

17. Unisex pajamas

I double-dog-dare you not to sing "In Our Christmas Jammies" when you gift the new parents in your life with these festive unisex pajama pants. (Polarn O. Pyret, $42)

18. That rug everyone has on Instagram

Hey, look guys — I found that rug that every cool person has on Instagram. Let those new parents snap "all the pictures" with "all the feels," "all the baby cutes" and whatever other "alls" there are. (Elksandangels,com, $85)

19. An excellent ExerSaucer

Help the new parents in your life go hands-free this holiday season with an ExerSaucer to keep Baby entertained — maybe even long enough for them to sample the eggnog. This thing converts from a tummy-time play mat to a secure bouncy seat to an activity table for toddlers. Talk about multitasking, no? (Toysrus.com, $129)

20. A super-safe baby monitor

I have to admit that sometimes, I wonder what kind of effect all of this Wi-Fi and connectivity flying through the air is having on our bodies and our babies. Which is why I found the Smart Nova Baby Monitor an intriguing idea — it allows new parents to keep a virtual ear out for Baby with 97 percent less radiation than a traditional baby monitor. (Bellyarmor.com, $129)

More on holiday gifts

Holiday gift ideas for tweens
Christmas gifts your kids really want
Holiday gift ideas from kids to grandma and grandpa

You may be tempted to take the prescription medication of your friends or family members, especially if it saves you a trip (and the cost) of a doctor's appointment. But you never, ever should, and an unfortunate young woman learned this the hard way.

A 19-year-old new mom named Yassmeen Castanada was feeling unwell on Thanksgiving, and a friend offered her one of her antibiotics that she had left over from a prior illness. Castanada took the medication, probably grateful that she was spared a doctor's visit, but soon she started to feel a burning sensation in her eyes, mouth and throat.

And it was not a mild reaction. Soon, the young woman was erupting in severe, painful blisters and was rushed to the emergency room, where she was sedated and placed on a ventilator. Her skin started falling off from massive blistering, and she was moved to the burn unit after being diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which is quite rare but very serious. According to the Mayo Clinic, Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a reaction to medication or an infection. In Castanada's case, it was the antibiotic her friend "helpfully" provided. In some cases, the syndrome is fatal.

While she should not have taken medication that was prescribed for another person, what is really scary is that Stevens-Johnson syndrome can happen to anyone, even if you're taking medication prescribed for you. It's something that doctors unfortunately cannot predict unless you've had this type of reaction before (although some folks of Asian descent may carry a gene that makes them more likely to suffer from this syndrome). However, taking meds meant for another is never a good idea — for starters, a single dose will do nothing to treat an infection, and it can lead to antibiotic resistance, which means that it will be more difficult to treat.

Castanada faces a difficult battle as she remains sedated in intensive care. Treatment for Stevens-Johnson syndrome is mostly supportive, with fluids and nutrition being top priority. Care providers also need to take extremely good care of the wounds, which can get infected and lead to more complications. Recovery can take weeks, or even months.

Castanada's family says that while she'll miss her baby's first Christmas, they're hopeful that she will recover.

More health in the news

The FDA has a bone to pick with reusable menstrual pads
Please don't take glitter pills to help you poop rainbows
Everyone farts, but now you can make yours smell like chocolate

Johnny Trinh, who was punched in the face by a then-16-year-old Wahlberg while trying to escape a failed robbery, spoke with The Daily Mail about the assault and said despite the rumors (and what Wahlberg himself actually thought), the now-successful actor/director/producer did not blind him — that happened while fighting Communists in the Vietnam War.

"I was not blinded by Mark Wahlberg," Trinh explained. "He did hurt me, but my left eye was already gone. He was not responsible for that."

When told Wahlberg is seeking a legal pardon for his crime, Trinh agreed he should get one.

"He was young and reckless but I forgive him now. Everyone deserves another chance," he said. "I would like to see him get a pardon. He should not have the crime hanging over him any longer.

"He paid for his crime when he went to prison. I am not saying that it did not hurt when he punched me in the face, but it was a long time ago. He has grown up now. I am sure he has his own family and is a responsible man… It is only right that he get the pardon. It was over 25 years ago and that is a lot of time."

More: You won't recognize Mark Wahlberg after scary 60-pound weight loss (PHOTOS)

Trinh, who works in a clothing store printing logos on T-shirts for $9 an hour, said he had no idea his assailant became a celebrity, has never heard of Wahlberg and has never listened to his music or seen any of his movies.

Wahlberg asserts that he has no motivation in seeking the pardon other than to prove he has turned his life around.

More: 10 Things you didn't know about Mark Wahlberg

"Everyone has an opinion and has a reason why they think I'm doing it," he told press at the New York premiere of his movie The Gambler. "I've been working very hard to correct a lot of mistakes that I made since the day that I woke up and realized, 'You know what? I need to be a leader instead of a follower.'"

Wahlberg has filed a formal request for pardon and is awaiting a decision by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

Does the whole process of homemade soap-making scare you? No worries. Melt-and-pour glycerin soap bases are readily available and easy to use. Create decorative glycerin soap in your spare time to use at home or give as gifts.

Soap bases

Many craft stores sell glycerin soap bases. They are inexpensive and easily customized. You can add any combination of herbs or essential oils to your liking. Glycerin is sold in solid, meltable blocks. You can get clear, olive oil or shea butter bases. They even come in different colors.

Types of herbs

You can use whatever herb combination you like. I love the smell of lavender and basil together. Other popular herbs for soap use include peppermint, sweet mint and rosemary. Mix in some citrus rind along with the herbs for an extra burst of freshness. If you do not have access to fresh herbs, then dried ones work well too!

Lavender health benefits

The fragrance is very relaxing and calming to the body and mind. The health benefits of lavender include its ability to eliminate nervous tension, relieve pain, disinfect the scalp and skin, enhance blood circulation and treat respiratory problems.

Basil's benefits

This herb prevents acne outbreaks and also speeds up the healing process of acne lesions. The oil in fresh basil leaves helps clear bacteria from the skin that contribute to clogged pores.

Additional supplies:

• Soap mold
• A glass bowl
• Microwave
• A bamboo skewer for stirring
• A spray bottle with rubbing alcohol (optional)

1. Lay the soap mold onto a level surface.
2. Chop the herbs, and set them aside until ready to use.

3. Cut off as much glycerin as you need to fill the soap molds. Slice it into small pieces that will be easier to melt. Place the glycerin pieces into the glass microwave-safe bowl.
4. Melt the glycerin in 30-second increments until the soap has completely melted.
5. Once the soap has melted, add in the herbs.

6. Spritz some rubbing alcohol into the soap mold. This will prevent bubbles from forming in the soap as it cools and dries. I did not do this step. My soap did have some bubbles, but I am OK with it.
7. Pour the soap into the molds. Spritz some more rubbing alcohol, if using, on the surface.

8. Let the soap cool.
9. Once cooled, pop the soap out of the molds, and they are ready to use.

Wrap the soap in pretty paper or tissue wrap. Tie with some twine, and you have homemade soap ready for gifting.

More homemade soaps

DIY pink peppermint glycerin soap
Natural antibacterial soaps for the germaphobe
Handmade soaps for healthy skin