We are reaching a crisis.

Last month the president unveiled a plan to try to get at least six weeks of paid leave for federal employees, but unless there is a marked change in the way people approach the leave, we women in the U.S. are not holding our collective breath. Let's face it: Maternity leave in the United States is an incredibly depressing story. We all know the statistics. The United States shares a dubious distinction with Swaziland, Papua New Guinea and Lesotho as being one of the few nations in the world without a paid maternity leave, leaving American women often forced to choose between the ability to work and the ability to care for their children.

We have the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and it's something. That offers 12 weeks of unpaid leave and job protection while we take it. But for many women, three months without pay is not an option they can afford.

With no mandatory leave, mothers tell stories of leaving their 2-week-old infants with caregivers and most day care programs start children around 6 weeks of age — a far cry from the 1-year-old minimum in Scandinavian countries with more reasonable leave. Norway, for instance, has a system of paid maternity, paternity and parental leave that can total 56 weeks. Nine weeks are for Mom (three weeks before birth and six weeks directly after) and 10 weeks are for dad. Yes, seriously. They may divide the rest as they choose.

We Americans can only imagine. Our maternity leave policies hurt families in so many ways, says Dr. Jolene Brighten of Oakland, California. "The U.S. sets its maternity leave based on the estimated time it will take for the uterus to recover from childbirth," she says. "This narrow perspective overlooks the fact that childbirth and being a new mother is very demanding both physically and emotionally."

Indeed, having had three children myself, I can attest to the fact that a mother feels very differently both physically and emotionally at even six months compared to three. It's simply not enough time. And, of course, that is assuming a woman can even afford to take three months unpaid. "
I see many women in my practice who have their milk supply decrease after 
returning to work and some women who are unable to continue nursing their
 infants," Dr. Brighten says. "One of the major causes of this is the stress that working outside the home creates."


So we mothers are told to nurse because "breast is best," but all of our policies when it comes to family are working against this process. Meanwhile, in Scandinavia, things are different. 

Johanna Syrén, a mother of three from Sweden, says she stayed home with her twins for six months and then her husband had six more months alone after that. "Here we get like an amount of days that we can spread out over a year or even more," she says. "I still have days left to use in summertime instead of vacation so it's pretty good! Also, day care doesn't cost anything here so there are almost no stay at home moms after the maternity leave. Most women have a career."

Ouch.

In Hungary, there is an option for a three-year maternity leave. Reka Csemy is still home with her son who will be 1 in February. For the first two years, Csemy will be paid what she describes as "an acceptable amount." After that, the pay goes down, but the job is still protected (if the mother wants) and social security is still paid. "I am planning to stay at home for the entire three years," she says. "I left my job before the maternity leave because I moved to the town where my husband lives. So I don't know where I will start working after that."

Compare that to the U.S., where mothers cobble together their sick leave and vacation days to create some semblance of pay during their time away from work.

Emma Michel, a teacher from Colorado, took three months after her son was born last year and her husband was able to take one. Even so, sending her baby to day care, even at 4 months, was hard.

"I derive a lot of self-worth from working, so in that sense I am glad to be back," Michel says. "But I find myself desperately scrolling through photos of Nolan on my phone sometimes, missing him."

I know, for me, the idea of putting my child in day care at 3 months was terrifying. By 1 year? I probably could have done it. And saved my career to boot. Sadly, that's just not an option for American women.

A single mom in the U.S. can expect very little support from the government. For Danica Panza, a single mom in Austria, she was still able to take a full 20 months off to be with her second child. She was getting about $700 a month during her time off, which was enough to live on and to be with her children.

American moms just don't have the same options.

In fact, the choices are so abysmal, that about 43 percent of American moms choose to leave the workforce after having a baby. Forget leaning in, these moms are knocked off their feet entirely.

It's not only about maternity leave, of course. In many other countries, day care is high-quality and heavily subsidized or free. It makes going back to work a no-brainer. And there are other perks that support families as well. In France, for instance, a baby nurse is part of the birthing process. What that means is that a person, well-trained in child care, comes to your home after the birth and helps you. Can you even imagine?

In Finland, parents get a "baby box" of clothing and supplies and a box the baby can sleep in.

And in many countries, parents who choose to go back to work (and many do) are allowed flexibility almost every bottom-line driven company in the U.S. would balk at considering.

As a country, we tout our family values. We make a big game out of pretending to support motherhood, but then abandon the women who choose to pursue it. Our boot-strapping, every-woman-for-herself values leave many moms struggling for air at precisely the time we should be throwing them a lifeline.

Until things change, the U.S. will continue to lag behind. Hey, but at least we have something in common with Lesotho, a landlocked country in Africa where 40 percent of the country lives below the poverty line. A problematic friend, to be sure, but one of the few we have in this regard.

More on maternity leave

From SAHM to working mom
When it comes to maternity leave, always have a plan
What it’s really like working after 3 months or less of maternity leave

Breakfast

Breakfast in bed may be one of the most romantic meals you can be served. And the great thing is it doesn't need to be elaborate, just thoughtful. And for Valentine's Day, maybe heart-shaped.

1. Heart-shaped pancakes recipe

Image: saaleha/Flickr

Buy frozen pancakes, maple syrup, your man's favorite frozen berries, nuts and/or some whipped cream. Cook them as instructed on the box, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out little shapes, and top them with his favorite add-ons.

2. Doughnut sundae recipe

Image: roboppy/Flickr

Part breakfast, part decadent dessert, a doughnut sundae is a sinfully sweet way to start the day. Just top a chocolate or glazed doughnut with vanilla ice cream, add a sliced banana to the mix, drizzle on some caramel, strawberry or chocolate syrup, and top it with nuts. Then hop back into bed to share it.

3. Breakfast parfait recipe

Image: Cascadian Farm/Flickr

Sometimes showing you care is as simple as making sure they have a little something special on the run. If he's got to get O-U-T the door, make him a breakfast parfait to go by layering a healthy cereal, vanilla yogurt and berries.

Lunch

Who said a romantic dinner or breakfast in bed is the only way to celebrate Valentine's Day? If you're a busy power couple or just in a newer relationship and want to keep it casual, a romantic picnic lunch may be in order.

Image: Bunches and Bits {Karina}/Flickr

We really love these adorable heart-themed boxes to tote your lunch in. Don't forget the blanket!

4. Heart-shaped sandwiches recipe

Image: sweet lil' bunny/Flickr

Buy some sandwiches at the local deli, and bring along a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make little sandwiches in romantic shapes. Pack them in your lunchbox with some crudités and a little something sweet (like the Fruit Roll-Ups fortune cookies below).

5. Heart-shaped antipasto plate recipe

Image: paige_eliz/Flickr

If you're not the sandwich type, make a festive antipasto plate by cutting out heart-shaped salami and cheese and adding your favorite pickles and olives.

6. Simple salad with heart-shaped boiled eggs recipe

Grab a bag of mixed salad greens and some raspberry or poppy seed vinaigrette, and toss them together. Throw in some sliced chicken or grilled shrimp if you want. The star of this show is the heart-shaped boiled eggs.

7. Fruit Roll-Ups fortune cookies recipe

You're not going to be able to pack a decadent dessert for lunch, so what about these Fruit Roll-Ups fortune cookie valentines? If you're feeling saucy, you might make his fortune a prediction about how his evening will go (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

Dinner

For dinner, you can let the grocery store do the heavy lifting. Just transfer it to your nice dishes for a more home-cooked presentation.

8. Spinach dip recipe

Image: mhaithaca/Flickr

Most of the appetizers you can buy in the freezer section are more appropriate for game day than a romantic evening. But spinach dip is perfectly appropriate (just make sure you check your teeth). Don't skimp in the freezer section, though. The more expensive brands are creamier and have more artichokes (if they're included). Cook it up according to the package directions. Serve it with bits of toast or pita chips.

To make homemade pita chips in minutes, cut pitas into eight wedges. Brush them with a mixture of olive oil, smashed garlic and a little salt and pepper, and bake them in a preheated 375 degree F oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

9. Whole-roasted chicken recipe

Image: I Believe I Can Fry/Flickr

Pick up a precooked rotisserie chicken. When you get home, put some balls of foil in the bottom of your slow cooker, and place the chicken on top, setting it to warm to keep your chicken toasty while you throw together some quick sides.

Dessert

You don't have to bake for hours to have a decadent dessert. Some tasty prepared ingredients combine for a perfect after-dinner treat.

10. Quick toasted strawberry shortcake

Image: jeffreyw/Flickr

Toast pound cake slices in the oven, and top them with defrosted frozen strawberries and whipped cream.

More Valentine's Day recipes

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More: 15 Times Cookie stole the show on Empire

According to E! Online, Ora and Hudson will each make a guest appearance in the hip-hop drama before the end of the show's first season. Fox hasn't released any further details about who they'll be playing or how they'll fit into the show's story lines but, like E!, we assume the two ladies will be playing themselves.

If you can't already tell, this casting news has us positively giddy. Empire is smashing records and pulling us in with the way it's tackling issues of race, sexuality, fame and wealth, not to mention the soapy touch it applies to its episodes, which the show isn't ashamed of and nor should it be — we love a few soapsuds on our primetime viewing when the time is right, and the time is always right on Empire.

We think the show is the perfect place for these two chart-toppers to make an appearance, and if you aren't as convinced as we are about this, allow us to articulate all the reasons why you should be.

1. Their singing, obviously

This goes without saying, but you can't see the looks on our faces that convey how obvious a plus this is, so we have to say it. It would seem pointless to feature two singing powerhouses on the show and not have them sing, so we think it's safe to assume they will belt out a tune or two and that it will be music to our ears, both literally and figuratively.

2. The collaboration possibilities

Speaking of singing, we are getting dizzy just thinking about all of the collaborations that could go down on the show when these two ladies are thrown into the mix. While we're stoked about the idea that they may do a solo or two between them, what we are really giddy about is the possibility that they will make sweet, sweet music with Jamal and Hakeem. And while we assume Hudson and Ora will make appearances on different episodes and, therefore, it's unlikely our ultimate dream of a collaboration between all four of them — Ora, Hudson, Jamal and Hakeem — will take place, our minds will actually explode if that happens.

More: All the things viewers had to say about Empire's premiere in tweets

3. An expansion of musical genres on the show

Empire's main jam is hip-hop, with some R&B thrown in for good measure, as well — and we love both. Both Ora and Hudson have established themselves in the R&B genre, but they're also incredibly versatile performers who haven't boxed themselves into just one type of music. So, while we know they will certainly be able to hold their own when it comes to the show's established musical genre focus, we know it's also possible they might add a little something different musically, and we can't wait to see what they do and how it fits into, and works with, what the show already has going on.

4. All of the fierceness

As far as fictional TV characters go, nobody even comes close to the fierceness of Cookie. But Ora and Hudson are fierce ladies in their own right and in the best way possible. If there is a God, he will most certainly deliver us some scenes where each of these ladies interacts with Cookie. We're practically having a meltdown just thinking about how amazing it's going to be.

5. The addition of some female artists

Don't get us wrong, we love Jamal and Hakeem. But aside from Tiana, who doesn't look set to appear in more than the four episodes she has already appeared in, Empire is running a little low where female artists are concerned. So, naturally, we are pretty intrigued as to how Ora and Hudson will shake things up purely from a gender makeup perspective. We know both ladies are strong and capable of holding their own, so they will certainly give the men on this show a run for their money.

More: 13 Things to know about Tina Fey's new Netflix show

6. We get to see more of their acting chops

Both of these ladies have some serious thespian abilities. For starters, Hudson has a freaking Oscar for her turn in the musical film, Dreamgirls, and she has also made an appearance on another musical show before, Smash, playing an established Broadway star, so she will well and truly crush her performance on Empire. Ora, meanwhile, has had a handful of appearances on TV shows, including playing herself on 90210 in 2013, and we all know she's set to appear in the movie adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey. So there's no doubt she also has the acting skills to pay the bills.

Channing Tatum, sexual innuendo and lots and lots of crazy hot dancing.

You couldn't ask for a more perfect morning. With a nice strong cup of coffee, a new official MMXXL poster and the official trailer for the movie — all in one morning — it's almost enough to make you want to jump back in bed. *wink*

We get Channing Tatum, shirtless with some strategically placed verbiage.

"Coming" placed right over his johnson.

Get it? Get it?!

Clever. (And h.o.t.)

But wait. It gets so much better. The official trailer dropped just this morning on the movie's official Facebook page.

So, without further ado, I think I'll just leave you with this right here:

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Case in point: These black women who are role models for any person who chooses to read their history and acknowledge the bravery contained within their stories. If you're at a loss about what to teach your daughters during Black History Month, start with these women from the modern era.

1. Ursula Burns

Burns began her business career as a summer intern at Xerox, and 29 years later, she was appointed as the CEO of the company. She is the first African-American woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. From the outside looking in, no one would imagine that she grew up in a New York City housing project.

2. Ertharin Cousin

Now the executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, Cousin grew up in a poor neighborhood in Chicago. In her time as the executive director of WFP, she has overseen the feeding of 177 million people.

3. Michelle Obama

Obama is married to the most powerful man in the world, but she is a force to be reckoned with herself. She graduated from Princeton and then Harvard Law, and as the First Lady of the United States, she has spearheaded movements to combat childhood obesity, increase support for troops and help Americans obtain higher education.

4. Rosalind Brewer

If you've recently enjoyed the wares of Sam's Club, you have Brewer to thank for your access to the goods. Brewer is the CEO of Sam's Club, and oversees the company's revenue of roughly $56 billion each year. She started her career as a chemist, and steadily rose in ranks after her graduation from college.

5. Rosa Parks

Our country lost a legend when Parks passed away in 2005. She famously refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus for a white patron. Her act of civil disobedience began the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which many historians view as a key movement in the fight for African-American civil rights.

6. Maya Angelou

Angelou wrote, "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them." During Angelou's life, she was the epitome of that statement. She overcame childhood poverty, sexual assault and domestic violence to become a civil rights leader, poet and famed storyteller before her passing in 2014.

7. Bethann Hardison

Hardison is more than just a pretty face — she is adamant about bringing diversity to the fashion industry she loves. She started her career in the garment industry in New York City, but was quickly discovered and became a fashion model. She then leveraged her career into the creation of a modeling agency, and currently uses her well-respected voice to bring attention to the need for models of all backgrounds on the catwalk.

8. Nina Simone

Simone was born to a poor family in North Carolina, and she was the sixth child out of eight. She began playing the piano at the age of 3, and her quick talent with music helped her earn the opportunity to study at Juilliard as a teenager. She used her considerable vocal and jazz talents to bring attention to the plight of African-Americans.

9. Oprah Winfrey

Winfrey is a household name and one of the most influential women in the world. She had humble beginnings, however, when she was born to a teen mother in rural Mississippi. Winfrey has stated that she was raped at 9 and pregnant at 14, but she still overcame these hardships and built a reputation as a powerful media voice shortly after landing her first television job as a teenager. Winfrey is now ranked as the richest African-American of the 21st century.

10. Robin Roberts

We know Roberts' smiling face as the co-anchor of Good Morning America, but she got her start in broadcasting as a sports anchor for a local television station in the 1980s, when Title IX was still relatively fresh in American history. She then built her career into sports-casting at ESPN, and her poise earned her increasingly challenging roles in media.

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More: 6 Reasons you absolutely must watch Girl Meets World

The Disney Channel announced today that former Boy Meets World cast members Trina McGee and Blake Clark would appear in upcoming episodes of the spin-off, Girl Meets World. Clark's return seems especially mind-boggling, with his character, Chet (Shawn's dad) being dead and all. But, it's McGee's return that has everyone in a tizzy. Upon hearing the news, the internet let out a collective swoon in hopes of a repairing of Shawn and Angela.

Here's the thing, though:
That's a terrible idea.

First, let's look at this from a purely logical standpoint. Yes, I recognize that sometimes high school and college sweethearts get married. One of the coolest couples I know has been together since they were practically infants (19. Same thing.). But we can't all marry our first real loves. It's impractical and statistically unlikely. Cory and Topanga are excellent role models for Riley and for GMW viewers, sure. But, do we really want the next generation to believe that marrying their first love is really that likely? Imagine all the crazy teenage overreactions a reunion is likely to inspire. One childhood romance success story is enough, OK?

Plus, most Boy Meets World fans are between ages 25 and 35, and I bet a lot of us are still single. Do we really want another example of people who have already met and ended up with their "person"? No, thanks. I could use a few more "late-in-life" couplings to make me feel normal, actually.

More: Mr. Squirrels returns!

Another important thing to consider is whether reuniting with Shawn would be true to Angela's person. While I haven't a doubt in my mind that Angela really did love Shawn and what they had was significant... it ended for a reason. Angela was also so tough and fierce. She never came across as the kind of girl who would change her mind about something like a goodbye. And while, on the one hand, I could see her being too independent to actually end up with anyone, I also see her as a real catch and can't imagine a world in which she hasn't already found her equal and settled down.

There's also the very important issue of what is currently happening in Shawn's story line. In one of the most recent episodes of Girl Meets World, "Uncle Shawn" returned. He quickly found himself the target of one of Cory and Riley's schemes. See: Riley's best friend, Maya, really doesn't have a very reliable parent. Her dad is AWOL, and her mom works a lot to pay the bills. The Matthews decided Riley needed a father figure and, by the end of the episode, Shawn had signed up for the position. There was even some chemistry between Shawn and Maya's mom. Shawn had a messed up life with people always leaving him. Let's not repeat the cycle for Maya.

We all want to return to the simpler, sweeter days of our youth. I get it. But, the reality is we can't. I face that struggle every day around 2 p.m., when all I want to do is take a nap, but the boss ladies keep emailing me with more work. Sure, Shawn and Angela were perfect together when they were younger. They're grown-ups now, and it's time to move on. You'll adjust. I promise. Just take a nap and regroup.

More: Get this stuff delivered via email when you sign up for our newsletter

More: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard spotted wearing wedding rings? (PHOTOS)

1. Johnny Depp cannot wait to be married

The Mortdecai actor's ideas on marriage have changed dramatically since meeting Heard. He was previously in a long-term relationship with French actress Vanessa Paradis, and even after 14 years together the pair never planned on walking down the aisle — but now Depp cannot wait.

"He's completely in love and can't wait," a source told E! News. Awww!

2. The wedding will take place on a private island

According to People magazine, Depp and Heard will be getting hitched on the grounds of his 45-acre private island in the Bahamas. The area is called Little Halls Pond Cay, and we're sure it will be the perfect place for a wedding because Depp thinks of it as "pure and beautiful.

"I don't think I'd ever seen any place so pure and beautiful," he previously told Vanity Fair. "You can feel your pulse rate drop about 20 beats. It's instant freedom."

More: Johnny Depp romance hasn't affected Amber Heard's career

3. Space is limited, so are guests

According to The New York Post's Page Six, the couple will be tying the knot in front of just 50 guests, including Heard's family members and Depp's two children Lily-Rose, aged 15, and Jack, aged 12.

And since the wedding destination is a tiny private island, the space is limited, and according to the publication, guests will be sleeping on a yacht — the actor reportedly has a 156-foot vessel called Vajoliroja.

4. The bride will wear Stella McCartney

According to Page Six, Heard will be walking down the aisle in a dress designed by Stella McCartney, but no word yet on what the groom will be wearing.

More: Johnny Depp says Amber Heard is "good for me"

5. Exes are invited to the wedding

Well, at least one is. According to Page Six, Depp's children will also be joined by their mother, Depp's former lover Vanessa Paradis.

6. The wedding date was chosen to coincide with their busy schedules

Sources revealed to Page Six that Depp and Heard chose their wedding date (the weekend of Feb. 7-8) because it did not conflict with their busy work schedule.

"She's filming a movie in London, and he's getting ready to film the next Pirates of the Caribbean in Australia," a source told the publication. "So this is the only time that everyone could get together."

7. The guests may include some very famous faces

The guest list for Depp and Heard's big day is not yet confirmed, but if their lavish engagement party was anything to go by, then the same guests may be attending their wedding. Guests at the engagement party held at Carondelet House in downtown Los Angeles, California, included Steven Tyler, Mandy Moore (who is now recently single), Jerry Bruckheimer and Marilyn Manson.

Jimmy Fallon does a pretty spot-on, pitch-perfect impression of Neil Young. Usually, he is picking away at his guitar, playing the harmonica and singing it out to some ridiculous song, like Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair," and is then joined halfway through with another celebrity, such as Bruce Springsteen, to finish out the hilarity.

This time, Fallon sat in the spotlight, with a hat on and Young's iconic long locks about him, and began plucking out the hit "Old Man" to cheers from the crowd. And then right on cue, out of the darkness steps Neil Young himself. He pulled up a stool and finished out the song with Fallon, amongst a roar of applause from the crowd.

This is the first time Fallon as "Neil Young" has ever performed with the real Neil Young. And it was as great as you could imagine.

The real Young said during his interview with Fallon several months ago that he has always been a fan of the impressions.

Check out "Neil Young" perform with the real Neil Young:

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This simple cake starts with a white cake mix and flavors it up with fresh grapefruit juice and rosemary. The combination of flavors is out of this world and packs a big, sweet punch. The glaze is easy to mix together, and when drizzled on top, it takes this cake from plain Jane to fancy Frannie.

Super-easy grapefruit-rosemary cake recipe

This simple cake is packed full of fresh grapefruit flavor and delicious rosemary. A breeze to make and perfect when drizzled with a fresh, sweet glaze.

Yields 2 (8-inch) cakes

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes | Total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

For the cake

• 1 box white cake mix (plus ingredients needed per package)
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon grapefruit zest

• 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3-6 teaspoons whole milk
• 2 teaspoons grapefruit zest
• 1 teaspoon finely minced fresh rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Directions:

For the cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and spray 2 (8-inch) pans with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Prepare the cake mix according to the box directions, and stir in the rosemary and grapefruit zest.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pans, and bake for about 30 minutes, until golden brown on top and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center.
4. Let the cake cool while you prepare the glaze.

For the glaze

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 3 teaspoons of whole milk, the grapefruit zest, minced rosemary and vanilla bean paste.
2. If the glaze is too thick to pour, then add more milk. If it's too thin, then add more powdered sugar.
3. Pour the glaze over the cake, and let sit.

For tons of great recipes, like our I <3 Comfort Food page on Facebook.

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Speaking to People about her character's transition in Season 6, Jones explained why she was hesitant about a transgender story line.

More: Glee star Dot-Marie Jones is engaged

"I just didn't want to let down the girls who are straight and tomboys that my character represented the last four seasons,'" she said about her character transitioning from female to male. However, her doubt about the story line did not last long. "But I got the script and I was, like, 'Oh my God. This is amazing.'"

Coach Beiste's new look will be revealed on the new season of Glee, which will air on Friday at 9/8c, and Jones is happy to have the chance to portray a character that people from the transgender community can identify with.

More: Glee star Dot-Marie Jones surprises guests with a wedding

"I had thousands of tweets from people. I was crying," Jones explained of the reaction to the announcement that Coach Beiste would begin his transition. "Members of the transgender community were saying, 'I never thought I'd see myself on TV. You have no idea what this means to me. Now, maybe people will get it.'"

And her transformation on the show is pretty incredible — something Jones thanks her makeup team for.

"People walk by me and I forget that I'm in [the hair and makeup to make me look like a man]," she told the publication. "I'll say, 'Hey.' And they'll say, 'Hi.' And then a few second later, they'll run back, 'Oh my God! Dot!' It's awesome."

Angela Ames sued her former employer, Nationwide Insurance, for failing to accommodate her milk-pumping needs when she returned from maternity leave. When Ames asked a supervisor for a space to pump and store her expressed milk, she reports that she was told to "go home and be with your babies" and was given a pen and paper and told what she should write in her letter of resignation. Thinking she was being told to quit, she submitted her resignation. And just in case you are confused because this sounds like something out of the 1950s, all of this occurred recently.

In a brief submitted to the courts on behalf of Ames, we learn about all the roadblocks and challenges she faced at Nationwide, starting during her maternity leave. While on leave, Ames was called by her supervisor and told they had miscalculated her available FMLA leave, that she would actually have to return back to work several weeks earlier than anticipated and that if Ames took any additional unpaid time, there would be "red flags and problems."

On her first day back from leave, Ames was given the runaround when she tried to find an appropriate place to pump milk. She was told she couldn't use the actual lactation room, as it required a three-day wait period. She was sent to the company nurse, who told her she could use the "wellness room," though at the time it was occupied by a sick employee. Ames finally returned to her supervisor, in pain from not having nursed or pumped in hours, which was when she was told she would be better off going home to be with her babies.

Unfortunately for Ames, all the lower courts decided that her firing was not a sexist act and used the remarkable excuse that men are able to lactate too as supportive reasoning. While yes, biologically it is very possible to induce lactation in men, it is most certainly not the norm, and is a very difficult process. I have yet to hear of a man requesting space and time to pump because he's breastfeeding an infant. To use this line of thinking is not only absurd but basically ignores the very real and ongoing issues many working mothers face on a daily basis.

The courts also found that the dismissive statement that Ames should "go home and be with her babies" was not sexist, as that could easily apply to men as well. But again, reality shows that very few male employees are ever spoken to in a way that assumes they are a parent first and an employee second. It is absolutely frustrating and unfortunate that the Supreme Court declined to review Ames' case, as it could have been a stepping-stone for better workplace policy when it comes to working mothers.

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"For as much attention as black cosplay has gotten in recent years, we're still on a constant quest to discover, follow and befriend each other, because we all remember how alienating it used to be, being the lone black nerd," says cosplayer Chaka Cumberbatch, who helped found #28DaysOfBlackCosplay. She will be sharing a photo a day at Princess Mentality Cosplay. "We get excited about meeting each other, and we all know what it's like to be picked apart and ridiculed on the internet."

Chaka recalls worrying that no one would be interested in participating — a fear that has now proven to be unfounded. The #28DaysOfBlackCosplay is alive with photos and stories of black cosplay.

Why is this celebration so important? "It is absolutely my experience that black cosplayers face an insane amount of criticism for cosplaying outside of our race," says Chaka. "So many of us have done a lot over the past few years to try to counteract it by encouraging and promoting diversity within our community, but it still happens to this day. My friends and I have been called every racial slur under the sun. It takes a lot to put yourself out there, when there's still such an undercurrent of racism in the cosplay community."

To Chaka, black cosplay is a revolutionary act, and highlighting black cosplayers is a beautiful way to celebrate Black History Month. "To me, the act of putting on a costume, putting your pictures on the internet and walking into a convention with the full knowledge that doing so will likely result in your getting made fun of is, in and of itself, contributing so much to our community," she says. "Because you're showing other people what it looks like. You're normalizing it. You're proving that it can be done."

Chaka gets messages every single day from "black nerds" who were previously afraid to cosplay. Seeing others do it gave them the strength to try. "I always wanted to cosplay when I was younger, and was so nervous about making my first non-black costume, because I didn't see many examples out there of what I might look like," she says. "My goal with this movement is to provide multiple examples for anyone who might be as nervous as I was. I want to empower, inspire and unite this community, one black cosplayer at a time."

Image: Chaka as "Queen Akasha" courtesy of Hell or High Water Photography

Image: Stephen Little/Flickr Creative Commons

Image: Keith Sowa

Follow #28DaysOfBlackCosplay on Twitter to keep up with the gorgeous photos and awesomely nerdy way to celebrate Black History Month.

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Last week, Olivia believed she was fighting her way to freedom on Scandal, only to play right into Ian's mysterious hands. With the truth of her captivity just beginning to unfold, it's clear she's going to be used as a tool to control the president. Fitz's allegiance will be tested, and Jake will go on the warpath because it's Olivia who needs saving, this time.

"Olivia was taken, right from under Jake," Scott Foley (Jake) teases of the Feb. 5 episode, aptly titled "Where's the Black Lady?" "He is going to work with the gladiators, with OPA, to try to get her back. Do everything he can. There might even be some communication with Fitz."

More: 13 Reasons Scandal's Jake Ballard is our freaking hero (in GIFs)

It's hard to imagine Fitz and Jake working together at this point. Fitz recently had his old war buddy locked up and tortured, and during their showdown, one might say Jake actually landed more punches. He took delicious pleasure in recounting his sexploits with Olivia to Fitz. During moments like that, it can feel like Fitz and Jake fighting over a prize, instead of a woman, but Foley believes in Jake's intentions.

"I think Jake has the right motives," Foley maintains. "He believes he and Olivia are meant to be together. He also believes himself to be the best candidate: Out of the two of them, he's the available one, not being the president of The United States and not being married. It's up to you to decide — or up to Olivia!"

Foley quips that his biggest obstacle isn't actually the president, but the man who plays him. "Try being in a love triangle with Tony Goldwyn (Fitz)," he sighs. "He's a unicorn. He is the most beautiful, handsomest, nicest, most talented person in the world. I have a big hill to climb."

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

Thus far, Olivia has refused to make her choice. Before being kidnapped, she wouldn't let go of her dream of being on the beach with Jake or sharing Vermont with Fitz. She just wanted to dance. In her rescue fantasy last week, she did end up with Fitz: But it was Jake who saved her. This love triangle is up in the air, still, yet Jake and his portrayer have faith.

"She sees the truth," Foley insists. "Jake believes that she'll figure it out, sooner rather than later, and I believe she'll come around."

As for why a hot, eligible man like Jake has been willing to play second fiddle to Fitz, Foley points to the nature of attraction. "She's Olivia Pope: There's something undeniable magnetic about her! She's powerful and sexy, and there's always something, I've learned as a man, when a woman says, 'No thanks.' You just can't stop yourself. He's willing to take a little bit of grief and uncertainty, believing she will ultimately come to the right decision."

More: Ready for Shondaland Thursdays? Not without our drinking game!

Foley admits there may also be something to Jake's relationship with the president. "Fitz was somewhat of a mentor to Jake and Jake thinks his time is now," he explains. "What a comeuppance it would be!"

As viewers have seen, time and again, Jake is not the proverbial White Hat that Olivia believed him to be when he first broke onto the scene. He's also not exactly a Black Hat. "Jake believes that everything he's doing is for the benefit of the Republic," Foley says. "His darkness is all for the greater good."

For the record, that description could also easily apply to Olivia's father. "Didn't you all marry your fathers?" Foley shrugs. "Because I married my mother. It just happens."

Quips aside, Foley maintains Scandal's shifting hats are central to the show's success with viewers. "That's the beauty of what Shonda [Rhimes] and the writers of Scandal do with these characters," he marvels. "You think you can put them in a category and know exactly where they are, and then in the next episode, you can't: They're completely different.

"That's the beauty in all of us, that we straddle those roles," he adds. "I'm a very nice guy, most of the time. But then I'm not, sometimes. You can ask my wife."

More: QUIZ: Which Shonda Rhimes Shondaland Thursday character are you?

With the rules of Scandal constantly changing, there may yet be a chance for the guys to get past their feud.

"That would be nice," Foley says with a chuckle. "It would be nice to see them rekindle the friendship they had to save the woman they love. Their relationship can only get better because it can't get worse!"

Scandal airs on Thursday at 9/8c on ABC.

These ideas will guarantee that you will have the coolest house on the block.

1. A slide

What kid wouldn't want a slide in their room? What a great way to wake up, hop down the slide and begin your day.

2. Secret room

What's better than a secret room in your child's room? It can be as simple as removing a closet door, or as elaborate as actually moving part of a wall and building a secret passage.

3. LEGO bedroom walls

In addition to your regular LEGO tables, bins and play areas, why not do the walls, too? Just install an entire wall's worth of LEGO baseplates (or cover all four walls!) to create the most amazing play surface ever.

4. Built-in study space

This amazing study space pairs nicely with a gorgeous, trendy loft bed.

5. Loft bed for their friends

Your child's friends won't have to worry about bringing a sleeping bag over when there's a built-in loft bed in their room.

7. Princess carriage

This adorable princess carriage doubles as a bed. Sweet dreams, Princess!

8. Tire swing

Don't worry about finding a tree in the yard to hang a tire swing from — just put one in his room.

More home decor ideas

9 Quirky design tips that break all the rules
15 Glamorous kitchens just oozing with inspiration
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With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it's time to think about what you'll do for your loved one on Feb. 14. Whatever your budget, we've got some great ideas for Valentine's gifts, activities and more to make sure you have a day to remember. We've investigated the Valentine's Day deals on offer and checked reviews from real customers and critics to save you time and money.

Food and drink

Adventure Bar, London

Photo credit: designmynight.com

Save 64 percent on cocktails at one of London’s coolest nightspots with three locations in Covent Garden, Battersea and Clapham. Your drink choices include Tommy’s Margarita, Surfer’s Paradise and the classic Woo Woo. At Adventure Bar you can also grab a bite from the food menu, featuring burgers, sharing platters and more. The bar has a 4.4 star rating on Google Reviews. Get the deal.

Formby Hall, Liverpool

Photo credit: offpeakluxury.com

Enjoy a romantic evening on Feb. 14 in the L37 restaurant at Liverpool's lovely Formby Hotel. The hotel is offering tickets to its Valentine's Gala Ball at £30 per person, which includes a drink and canapés in the Cocktail Lounge on arrival, followed by a three-course meal and a DJ and dancing till late. The chef has planned special Valentine’s dishes such as confit chicken and passion fruit mousse. Most people rate the restaurant “excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Hard Rock Café, Manchester

Photo credit: jamesrobertshaw.co.uk

Spending your Valentine’s Day in Manchester this year? Head to the local branch of the famous Hard Rock Café in Exchange Square. For £30 per person you can enjoy a romantic three-course meal and a glass of bubbly each. Advance booking is required so call soon to avoid disappointment. TripAdvisor users compliment the restaurant on its “great food” and “great atmosphere.” 

More: Valentine's treats for your dog

Travel

Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club, East Sussex

Photo credit: ashdownforest.com

You don't need to take a flight to enjoy a lovely weekend break. Why not spend your Valentine's Day at a spa in the U.K.? Chill out and relax with your partner at the Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club, located in the beautiful Ashdown Forest of East Sussex. The hotel offers a variety of beauty treatments and leisure facilities and Wahanda reviewers rate the spa 4.2 out of 5.

Rowley Manor Hotel, Yorkshire

Photo credit: em-l.co.uk

Looking for a place to stay up north this Valentine's Day? Head to the Yorkshire countryside for a weekend at the Rowley Manor Hotel for a bargain price of £49 for two people per night. If you want to make your visit even more special, you can add extras such as a three-course dinner, afternoon tea and a four-poster room. Staying in this 17th century manor house on a 34-acre estate, you’ll feel like you're visiting Downton Abbey. The hotel is described as “very beautiful” with “helpful and friendly” staff on Google Reviews. Get the deal.

Activities

Memphis the Musical, London

Photo credit: Phil Lewis/WENN.com

If you want to go out in London to celebrate Valentine's Day but are looking for something different to do, rather than the typical dinner and a movie, why not see one of the best new musicals of 2015? Memphis the Musical stars singing sensation Beverley Knight and tells the story of a girl who shoots to stardom in 1950s Memphis, as one of the first black artists promoted on mainstream radio. The production has been awarded 4 stars by The Telegraph and The Guardian and you can get cheap tickets on Mondays.

All Star Lanes, Manchester

Photo credit: thenewnortherner.wordpress.com

Not too good at deciding what to do on a night out? All Star Lanes in Manchester has the whole evening planned for you. It's offering a Valentine's special Eat Drink Bowl deal where you get a two-course dinner, including a Knickerbocker Glory for two dessert, plus a bowling game and a cocktail to share for £66 per couple. That’s food, drink and entertainment all sorted. The trendy venue has a rating of 4.4 stars on Google Reviews.

Auld Reekie Tour, Edinburgh

Photo credit: auldreekietours.com

Spending Valentine's Day in the Scottish capital this year? Here’s a brand new way to explore the city, learn fun facts about local history and see things you never even knew were there. The Auld Reekie tour takes you underneath the town centre to discover spooky vaults and you’ll also visit the famous Greyfriars graveyard. TripAdvisor users complimented the “great guide” and “very informative” tour. Groupon are offering a 50 percent off deal with tickets available for £5 per person. Get the deal.

More: Original gift ideas for him

Gifts

Fujifilm camera

Photo credit: bhphotovideo.com

What better way to make your memories of Valentine's Day last forever than with a brand new camera? Fujifilm is one of the most respected camera brands and the X-E2 is described by Amazon reviewers as an “outstanding camera” which is “so nice to use.” If you purchase the X-E2 on Amazon by March 31 not only will you save 34 percent on the full price of the product, but you can also get a fantastic £100 cashback.

Baz Luhrmann’s Epic Romances box set

Photo credit: drafthouse.com

For just £7 you can purchase three fantastic romantic movies from Play.com, compared to £11 for the same DVD set on Amazon. The box set includes three of director Baz Luhrmann’s most popular films, which are as exciting and dramatic as they are beautifully romantic. Romeo + Juliet was No. 1 at the U.S. Box Office, while Moulin Rouge! won two Academy Awards. Luhrmann’s more recent film, Australia, set the record for the highest grossing opening weekend for an Australian film.

Wii U bundle

Photo credit: http://wiiudaily.com/

Gamer couples must not miss this great value deal on the Wii U. Video game specialists GAME are offering a bundle including the White Wii U 8GB Basic Console with a free game, Super Mario 3D World and they’re throwing in a Silicon Skin and Screen Protection Kit. All this together will set you back just £180. Of reviewers on Amazon 53 out of 75 gave the console the maximum rating of 5 stars.

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The legal precedent of this case is interesting. Now, apparently, people are not allowed to discriminate using a religious excuse. Amen. Even better: The couple who was hurt now have plenty to spend on a better cake and a much better honeymoon (with money left over).

It's also not just about the legality, though. This is about right and wrong. It's about what truly makes discrimination and whether or not love truly conquers all (for the record: It does). I don't care what you think about gay marriage (actually, I do, if you are against it, you might want to rethink your values), Christianity is not about discrimination. And if you are running a business, you can't discriminate.

Love is love.

The fact that there are people in this world who will claim that these bakers are the ones being hunted is laughable. Try being gay. Try having it be OK that you aren't allowed to marry. Try having people tell you that your love is not worthy or that they will not bake your cake because the person you want to spend the rest of your life with disgusts them. If that's OK with you, then you are not an exemplary person. In fact, you are a rotten human.

And yes you should be fined. I have no problem saying that.

This couple has been through enough. They shouldn't be made to feel badly about their love. Period. As they say, it's not a "gay marriage" issue. It's a marriage one.

More on marriage

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23 Striking pictures from same-sex weddings
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More: Disney's first Latina princess couldn't come at a more crucial time

Velasquez overcame adversity in her life to become a runway model for the likes of Chanel and Gucci. Some have called her the world's first Latina supermodel, and she also gained fame as an actress with credits such as The Mummy and Ugly Betty. While her career is impressive, her outlook on life and adversity is what's really most powerful.

Growing up with holey clothes

When she was a little girl, Velasquez watched the struggle that her mother had raising six children in an underprivileged country. During that time, there were moments that made her realize she wanted to help her family. One such time occurred when Velasquez saw her mother changing clothes and realized that her mother's panties and pantyhose were riddled with holes.

Velasquez knew it had nothing to do with her mother being neglectful. "She always kept everything beautifully, even though we didn't have any water, the elevators didn't work and we had to carry the buckets of water upstairs. I knew it was because there was no money for her to buy herself panties," she said.

Another moment involved a rare treat in the simple household. "When we got to eat steak it was a big thing. I remember one time my mom got seven steaks because there were seven of us. It was a big treat."

But before her mother could make the special meal, one of the steaks was mistakenly cooked and eaten by Velasquez's sister, who had a habit of getting up in the middle of the night and cooking. "I remember the six of us eating steak the next day and my mom didn't have steak. So that was another instance where I thought, 'I just have to help.' Because this was every single day."

Running water was something else that was hard to come by in Velasquez's home. On those rare times when the water would be turned on in her building, the whole family had to work together to make the most of it. "We lived on the 15th floor, so we would be the last people to get the water and the first ones to stop having water. Because by the time it got up to us, it was almost gone. So in 10 minutes we would have to organize ourselves and clean the house."

Velasquez credits watching her mother's ordeal as part of her success today. "I think if I hadn't seen my mom struggle, it probably wouldn't have been such a big deal. But because I saw her struggle, I made the decision that I had to do something. Because there had to be something more."

More: An open letter to the Oscars — SAG Awards could teach you a thing about diversity

Letting nightmares inspire her dreams

Velasquez has other memories of those days that still haunt her. "I remember very vividly also going at night to the bathroom and there were lots of cockroaches. Because it was very humid and it didn't matter how clean my mom kept that place, there were cockroaches. Sometimes at night I still think of it when I go to the bathroom in the middle of the night."

It was a desire to help that drove Velasquez to try things she otherwise wouldn't have, such as striking out in a career that didn't have a lot of Latinas at the time.

"For me, in doing this whole process of living in other countries, [being] very young, not having money — [the] reason why I was able to do it is because at the seat of it I wanted to help," she said.

"We have a really hard time asking for things for ourselves," Velasquez added. "When you have to ask for something for yourself, it's really hard to do that. But if you know that by you asking, you're going to help somebody else, then you feel like you deserve it or like you're entitled to it."

Teaching women to be proud of who they are

After all of her hard work, Velasquez is now enjoying the fruits of her success. She doesn't measure success by fame or money, but by one very special incident that happened early on in her modeling career.

"One time I was walking on the street in New York and out of the blue this Latin woman ran over to me and hugged me. Then she started crying and she said, 'Patricia, you changed my life because I've never seen people that look like me on the cover of a magazine until you came along. You've taught me that I can be proud of who I am.'"

The moment was a revelation to Velasquez. "I never thought that I would be affecting people in such a way," she said. "When I walked away, it was in that moment that I thought, 'Wait a minute, this is a whole different thing. This is not just about helping my family and being successful, it's about how I am [helping] women be proud of who they are and like who they are.'"

It only takes one

When asked what she would say to young people about how to overcome adversity, Velasquez was thoughtful. "The most important thing for me is to never lose hope," she said. "All it takes in life for one person to have success is for one person to believe in them, that's all."

She also had another vital message for young people. "Do not hide who you are. Don't hide who you are because sometimes we hide our secrets or we hide things thinking that we're going to [protect] other people, and that is damaging to yourself and damaging to other people."

More: #OscarsSoWhite — how this year's nominee diversity compares to previous years

"One thing that I would like people to walk [away] with is that everybody deserves a chance — everybody," Velasquez added. "If you work hard, if you are honest, if you're truthful to yourself and you fight in the name of others, there's no reason for you to not have an opportunity, therefore not to have success."

To learn more about her story, check out Velasquez's first book, Straight Walk: A Supermodel's Journey to Finding her Truth, when it comes out on Feb. 10, 2015.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we had the chance to sit down with Love, Rosie stars, Sam Claflin and Lily Collins, to chat about love. We were hoping they'd reveal how to know when you've found "the one."

"I cannot answer that question," said Collins with a surprising bit of self-deprication, but Claflin seemed to be the expert.

"You know when you know. It's sort of a simple answer. Sounds like the cheesiest and most broad answer, you know, I didn't get..."

He stops himself and laughs. "I was about to get pretty crude there." OK, we're guessing he means if his little Sam doesn't stand up at attention, he's not in love. Fair enough; we understand men are more visual when it comes to falling for a girl. He changed metaphors, "You get the butterflies. It was obviously love at first sight initially, but then love also has to grow. I have to get to know her as a person, as well as just finding her attractive. Everything clicked."

More: Patricia Arquette "explodes" Hollywood stereotype, resists pressure to stay young

When we asked Collins what character trait endeared her to Rosie, she said it was her clumsiness. "I'm quite clumsy... only I used to fall going up the stairs, not down. And I always thought clumsy can be so endearing, not that I was endearing falling up the stairs. I think Rosie's clumsiness and awkwardness makes her real. Most of the humor in this movie comes from awkward moments. She can be this delicate, clumsy girl, but at the same time, she's so strong and resilient and I liked that counter-balance to her personality."

More: Lily Collins made a crop top look classy, and we're obsessed

Claflin told us, "I really enjoyed Alex's awkwardness in life. I find that I'm a quite awkward human being." We had to protest, but Collins confirmed his less-than-cool behavior. "I'm so clumsy because I overthink things. It's the stuttering and that kind of goofy side of him that's very similar to me, I wanted the opportunity to play someone close to home."

When we asked about dealing with stereotypes in Hollywood, Claflin said that being British can pigeonhole him for certain roles, but his biggest challenge is to be taken seriously as an actor, given his good looks. "For me — I hate saying this — I've played heartthrobs and people assume I can't act. They don't give me the opportunities I think I'm worthy of," he said. We have a feeling that's going to change.

More: 13 Indie films from 2014 that you have to watch

To find out the stars' most embarrassing moments of their lives, you'll need to watch the video. Hint: Collins was naked in a porta-potty!

Fallon has finally delivered on his promise of getting the cast of Saved by the Bell together on The Tonight Show in what I think is one of the most epic Fallon videos of all time.

The best zingers, the most awesome one-liners, and for the love of all things holy, the same '90s clothes. Yes, Jessie's awesome '90s hair and Slater's black stone-washed jeans and tight-rolled shirt sleeves.

We get the cast members appearing as their original characters: Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen), A. C. Slater (Mario Lopez), Jessie Spano (Elizabeth Berkley) and Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins).

We are missing Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies) and, of course, Screech (Dustin Diamond). The latter, of course, has been in some trouble with the law as of late so it's no surprise he was absent from school that day.

Fallon enters the story line playing a younger version of himself. He tells the "teenagers" he wants to leave high school to… basically do all the things he did do in his life: join SNL, host a TV show and… well, one thing he missed the boat on — date Nicole Kidman.

Zack Morris chimes in that, "Jimmy going on a date with Nicole Kidman is like Jessie becoming a stripper."

You're not likely to forget the 1995 film Showgirls in which Berkley is… you guessed it, a stripper.

Check out the entire hilarious skit.

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Heart smart

Focus on fitness and fun by creating indoor or outdoor stations each with their own heart-pumping exercises. Pair with healthy snack options like fruit kabobs and a create-your-own trail mix station.

Lovin' from the oven

Sweeten the kids' party with cookie and cupcake decorating and other delicious baked goods. Have parents bring their favorite baked treats to share with the class.

Art from the heart

For the clever and crafty moms, create three or four celebration stations in the classroom and have the kids rotate to create multiple masterpieces. Be sure to have kids wear clothes that can get a little grubby if you are using paint.

Love you a bunch brunch

Create a love-ly and simple brunch theme including heart-shaped waffles and cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit and strawberry milk.

Secret admirer

Have each student select a name from a hat that will become the friend they secretly shower with compliments, notes and small gifts throughout the week.

Sweet charity

Select a local charity and create a classroom fundraiser or project to give back to your community.

For recipe ideas and other themes, visit SuperMoms360.com

Images: SuperMoms360