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Kid goes into Target for a tie, what he got instead will stun you

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As the young man searched the North Carolina Target for the right clip-on tie, one of the men working there noticed him and asked him if he needed help. Instead of pointing the teen toward the section of ties and walking on, the Target employee, identified by the company as Dennis, stopped and saw a kid who could use a little advice from a dude who had been around the block a time or two.

So he took the kid over to the big-boy ties, not the clip-on ones, showed him how to tie it properly and reviewed a few standard interview questions with him.

Dennis' act of kindness was captured by someone at the store and is circulating online.

kid in target for tie

kid in target for tie

One Facebook commenter, John Lynch, summed up the scene beautifully: "This is what a man teaches his son! But a good man teaches anyone's son!"

Target says the picture was snapped at their Raleigh, North Carolina store and that the woman employee pictured with Dennis is named Cathy.

"Our team members love going above and beyond every day for our guests," Kristen from Target told SheKnows. "Dennis and Cathy from Raleigh, North Carolina are just two of the countless team members who help make Target uniquely Target. We’re rooting for him in his interviews, and by the way, we love his tie."

Now, we don't know if the kid has a father at home or not. Doesn't matter, really. This image is a nice reminder that it really does "take a village," in Hillary Clinton's so-often-quoted words. Kids need and deserve a whole community of support that extends beyond their home.

It's also likely not lost on anyone that the teenage boy is black and the Target employee is a middle-aged white dude. With so many instances of injustice and violence against our young black men in the headlines over the past months, it's a nice reminder that there are people like this man who are able to look beyond racist stereotypes and see instead in front of him a kid who needed someone to get him ready to face the world as a man.

Yesterday would have been Trayvon Martin's 20th birthday. And while the tragic loss of Trayvon's life will always be on the conscience of our country, let's hope more scenes like this will also be part of his legacy.

Let's all find a way to just look up and see the people all around us who might just need a minute of our time and a moment of kindness. You never know how far a small thing like that can go. Just a little something I learned from a guy at Target.

More stories of kindness and love

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Jennifer Lawrence leaves the red carpet to comfort crying fan


3 Cute valentine bookmark ideas for kids

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Felt heart bookmark

Supplies:

  • Red and pink sheets of felt
  • Embroidery floss
  • Sewing needle
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Cut out a heart shape along the corner of a piece of felt. Use the corner to create the point of the heart, so that it is a perfect 90-degree angle.
  2. Cut out embellishments from another sheet of felt. Thread the sewing needle with the embroidery floss and sew the embellishments onto the heart.
  3. Cut out a triangle from another corner of the felt.
  4. Sew the triangle to the back of the heart.
  5. Slide the heart bookmark onto the corner of your page to save your place in the book.

Paper clip bookmarks

Paperclip Valentine's Day bookmark

Supplies:

  • Paper clips
  • Heart-shaped buttons
  • Hot glue

Directions:

  1. Glue the heart-shaped buttons to the top of the paper clips and allow them to dry.
  2. Slide the paperclips over the page in your book to save your place.

Cupid's arrow bookmark

Cupid's arrow bookmark

Supplies:

  • Felt arrow embellishments
  • 1/4 inch piece of elastic
  • Glue
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Cut a piece of elastic that is approximately 10 inches long. Glue the 2 ends of the elastic together.
  2. Glue the felt arrow embellishment (I found mine at the craft store) over the elastic where the 2 ends meet.
  3. Once the glue is dry, wrap the elastic around the pages of the book to mark your place.

More Valentine's Day crafts

Valentine's Day crafts for kids and adults
Homemade Valentine's Day gifts for teachers
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Bobbi Kristina Brown's family turns against one another in bloody fight

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Police were called to an Atlanta-area hotel close to the hospital where Bobbi Kristina remains in a coma, where they found an ugly scene involving dad Bobby Brown's sister Tina and her son Shayne.

"Upon arrival, I spoke with Mr. Shayne Brown, who appeared to have a laceration to the left side of his forehead," reads the police report. "Mr. Brown stated that he was attending a party for Bobby Brown's birthday. Mr. Brown stated that he was in an altercation with his mother about a valet parking ticket. Mr. Brown stated that while arguing with his mother, she spit in his face and hit him on his head with a glass bottle."

More: Bobbi Kristina's "friend" could have been a factor in her near-drowning

"Mr. Brown [Shayne] further stated that his mother did leave the scene and that he did not want to file any charges on his mother," the police report continued. "A manager of the W Hotel was also present to witness the altercation."

But the fun didn't end there. After driving himself to the hospital, "Mr. Brown advised me that he noticed scratch marks to the 4 o'clock position of his vehicle that were not present before the altercation," reads the report.

The family is obviously under a great deal of stress right now, but that kind of behavior is never OK.

Putting another rumor to bed, sources deny that Bobbi Kristina was taken off life support — or that she was ever on it in the first place, according to Access Hollywood. She remains in a medically induced coma almost a week after being found facedown in her bathtub.

Her grandmother Cissy Houston has joined the prayer vigil, but her partner Nick Gordon has been MIA for days — and one insider thinks he has been prevented from seeing his love by the family.

"Nick hasn't been to visit Bobbi since she moved to this hospital," the source told Us Weekly. "I think he's banned from seeing her. Nick spent the entire first day with her, but hasn't been back to see her."

More: Bobbi Kristina's alleged last texts about her mom are heartbreaking

One family member is speaking out on her condition. Cousin Jerod Brown posted an update to his Facebook page Friday, and he said that while things really don't look good, they are not giving up hope.

Bobbi Kristina's cousin updates Facebook

Bobbi Kristina's cousin updates Facebook

Beauty and the Beast: Why I absolutely hate the message it sends to girls

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Let me be blunt: the Beast is a brutal jerk. He is constantly rude to Belle, refuses to feed her, freaks out when she goes into his favorite room, hurls so much verbal abuse at her that she flees into a wolf-infested forest where she is almost eaten alive, and only starts being nice to her when she literally saves his life.

More: 5 Times Emma Watson was just like Beauty and the Beast's Belle

Not that her alternative, Gaston, is any better. He is manipulative, egotistical, vain, rageful, plotting and even murderous. He tries to have her father committed to a mental institution so she will be forced to marry him, then tries to kill the Beast when things don't go his way.

How could Belle possibly choose between two such charming fellows (even if one reportedly will be played by Ryan Gosling in an upcoming live-action remake)? But choose she does, and as we all know, she chooses the Beast. After all, he does turn into a hot, rich prince at the end, all because Beauty falls in love with him for his "personality" despite the fact that he's a raging asshole.

More: Live-action Beauty and the Beast: Our dream cast

And therein lies the worst lesson of this fairy tale: Hang in there with that abusive dickhead long enough, and he will totally change if you love him sufficiently! It's gross and it's a dangerous message to send to our daughters.

How about girl meets boy who treats her with kindness, dignity and respect, and they live happily ever after? Guess that wouldn't make nearly as interesting a movie — but it makes for a far healthier relationship and happier life.

Julianne Moore: How my life drastically changed in 1993

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When she's not on the silver screen, it's clear that Moore is the type of girl we'd all die to be friends with — movie star or not. Just take a look at her Twitter if you need any convincing. She's constantly interacting with fans while sharing some great parenting tidbits about her 17-year-old son Cal and 12-year-old daughter Liv. More than that, Moore just seems like the type of person who's embracing life and loving it.

On her evil witch character in Seventh Son

Moore is busy raking in awards, including an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Still Alice last year, but she can next be seen in a very different type of role. For the fantasy feature Seventh Son, Moore plays Mother Malkin, a scorned witch who is looking for vengeance.

More: Julianne Moore is raising her kids to be charitable

"I think everybody wants to play a wicked witch once in their life," Moore admitted. "And it gave me the opportunity to use my tail. I've been hiding my tail all these years!"

Moore said there were so many accessories that went along with her costume that she could hardly move by the time she was all made up. Tail aside, we definitely think she looks a lot like a famous pop star in a certain music video. Find out which one by watching the video above.

Julianne Moore

Image: Legendary Pictures

And though Moore's character is evil, the actress had a more sympathetic take on the role. "She doesn't think she's evil. Everyone's the hero of their own life. They're not the villain in their story. So she feels she's been unjustly persecuted. And he [Jeff Bridges' character, Master Gregory] did put her in a hole for, like, a hundred years."

The movie also marks the first time Moore has reunited with Bridges since their performances in The Big Lebowski.

"I think what's interesting is that, as actors, you bring your history with you — not just your personal history but your cinematic history, so when people see a movie, they're like, 'Eh, I know them. I believe that they're together. I've seen them before.'"

More: Julianne Moore joins the Mommalogues

Moore continued, "It's always easy with Jeff. He makes everything easy because he's so fun and curious and imaginative and a real artist and joyful. He makes everything great."

On wanting to give up on acting

"I think I had a hard time mostly in my 20s," Moore shared. "I'd done a lot of work in television, I'd been on a soap, I'd done a lot of theater things. It was hard to make a living and I wasn't finding the kind of exciting, creative work that I wanted to find in film. And the interesting thing that happened was that it was, sort of, the birth of the independent film just after that. And everything changed for me. Everything changed in film, actually. Suddenly there were these really interesting stories and these great filmmakers and these great projects, so I got very lucky in terms of timing."

Julianne Moore at the SAG Awards

Image: Apega/WENN.com

But it was 1993 that really catapulted the actress to stardom.

"What happened, and it didn't seem like it happened overnight to me, but I had three movies come out at the same time. One was Robert Altman's Short Cuts, the other one was Louis Malle's Vanya on 42nd Street and the third was Todd Haynes' Safe. So I made them over the period of a couple of years but they all came out the same year. So suddenly, I had no film career, then there it was."

On sharing her insecurities with her children

We're human. We've all got insecurities, but Moore thinks what's most important is teaching her children that mistakes are just that — human — and we recover from them.

More: Julianne Moore dishes on her new app, the holidays and The Hunger Games

"I think that you try to let your kids know that you're fallible and that you think about things and you make mistakes," Moore said. "And that's one of the interesting things that I try to communicate is like, 'Well, I thought this would work but it didn't work, so I made a mistake and now I have to adjust my approach.'"

Moore added, "You want to give them a sense that what they're feeling is normal."

On keeping things interesting in her career

There's a lot of talk these days about diversifying roles for women. Emma Watson has talked about it in front of the United Nations, and Maggie Gyllenhaal even brought it up during her Golden Globes speech. But Moore sees role opportunities differently.

"I always say it's interesting to find dynamic roles for everybody to play, to remember that show business is not in the business of finding great roles for people. They're in the business of making movies that are going to sell as a product globally. So I think, because of that, we've ended up with a lot of big films that are being made, being products that can be sold all over, and they're not language-dependent. And when things are not language-dependent, they're not interesting parts because we are what we say and how we communicate. So I think that's one of the biggest issues. That being said, I do think that content won't ever go away and how we see it changes. Now we have this proliferation of interesting stuff on television and on cable and on, you know, our phones."

Julianne Moore at the Critics Choice Awards

Image: FayesVision/WENN.com

But even before Netflix and Hulu, Moore was able to keep her film portfolio diverse. And even she doesn't know how she managed it.

Moore did say, "I mean, I think I have different interests and it was always important to me that I skip around. I love genre. I like being in different kinds of genres. Jeff [Bridges] was saying earlier that it's always about trying to find the tone, you know, what's the tone of something. And it always slightly differed from project to project, and that's just part of what makes it interesting, you know, is changing it."

More: Julianne Moore honored on Hollywood Walk of Fame

But whether the landscape changes or not, we'll always have a need for film.

"It's important to remember that what we do is entertainment," Moore was sure to add. "And entertainment, when you talk about these stories, sometimes they're stories about how we live and who we love and what we desire. Then, other times, there are things where it's to make people laugh."

Microaggressions hurt young teens more than you realize (VIDEO)

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This Hatch workshop dealt with microaggressions and how harmful they can be to young teens. All too often we hear these things, these unintended discriminations, which are just as harmful as intended discriminations and are incredibly damaging to all people. Especially young people. Microaggressions can be even more damaging than overt examples of bigotry, because they tend to make the recipient feel a sense of self-doubt about what they've experienced rather than outright anger. This can lead to feelings of isolation and contribute to poor self-image and depression.

Hatch Microagressions

Hatch Microagressions

You can help your own children understand microaggressions and how to deal with them by downloading this activity PDF here.

Diversify the story

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What Sophie B. Hawkins' pregnancy at 50 proves to all women

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It's a "Sure, yeah, great, someday" kind of thing. I mean, I like kids.

More: Nicki Minaj opens up about the loss of her baby and more in new song

But a weird thing starts to happen when you get to be in your mid-20s. People start asking you if and when you're going to have children. Worse, even, they ask you if you already have children.

I mean, that's great for all those ladies my age who've got buns in the oven or have already popped out a few little ones. But for those of us who are so not there, the "Your clock is ticking" looks settle over some faces when I reply with something like, "Me? Oh, no. No. Nope. Not for a while still. Yup." I still get a feeling of panic thinking about pregnancy, along with a feeling that I'm just not old enough yet to have a baby.

But, hey, I get it. We all go through different phases in our lives at different times. Some women are ready for babies sooner. Some women, like me, really aren't. Unfortunately, now that I'm in my 20s, my body has apparently begun some kind of countdown until my ovaries just shrivel up.

More: Would Kim Kardashian mind if her daughter followed in her naked footsteps?

And I'm happy to report those looks are changing a lot from skepticism to understanding. Times are changing, people. Those looks are getting less judgmental and a lot more applauding. Because I want a career. (Thank God I'm not in my 20s in my grandmother's generation, because there would be very little hope for me.) I want to find success. I want to accomplish very specific dreams and follow my passions. And if those things don't happen, I'm not just going to have a baby because my ovaries might dry up by the time I'm in my 30s.

And I don't have to. Because they won't.

Oh, hey, technology. You are a sight for sore embryos. And so is the news that 50-year-old Sophie B. Hawkins is expecting, as reported by People. The singer decided, later in life, that she wanted a baby. So she's having one with the help of a frozen embryo (she had that done at age 31) and a sperm donor.

And while I'm sure Hawkins is more concerned with the fact that she's going to have a baby girl in her life very soon, I'm raising my hat to this woman who is so publicly sharing her story and giving women everywhere some much-needed hope.

This news also proves that not only can you have a baby later on in life these days if you so choose, you also don't need a man. Hawkins is newly single.

More: Little Women's Terra Jole on the heartbreaking truth about her pregnancy

"I interviewed a lot of divorced women and they said, 'It's so much easier to do it alone. You don't have the pressure or the criticism or judgment of someone else.' Of course, then you ask, 'Will I miss the emotional support?' Well, to tell you the truth, I'm getting that more from my friends than I ever got in a relationship," Hawkins says of her decision to have a baby without a partner or husband.

And though Hawkins said she had a rough first trimester of morning sickness, she's now in her second trimester and sometimes, she says, "I forget I'm pregnant."

Now, don't get me wrong. If I find the right guy and I have the right career and I decide I really, really want a child, I'm all in. But it's nice to know that the window of options is broadening significantly for those of us who aren't necessarily traveling down the "traditional" road.

Granted, getting your eggs frozen isn't all sunshine and butterflies. According to USC Fertility, it costs around $10,000 to undergo the procedure, including testing, monitoring, medications and the actual freezing. To have the eggs thawed, fertilized and transferred, it costs about another $5,000. Which is definitely doable. It's not something my 26-year-old self is ready to jump into just yet, but I love knowing that option is out there if and when I need it.


Who parents more, moms or dads?

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Having a family and a household is a lot of work, but how do you divide up the parenting duties? You know: changing diapers, shuffling kids to the doctor, cooking dinner, giving baths, putting to bed. And anything and everything between. If you're expecting to read that moms do all the work and dads loaf off, that generally isn't the case. Modern dads are more hands-on that dads were even a generation ago, and the moms I asked to weigh in reflect that.

Many parents find that the routine of caring for their babies and other children tends to naturally fall into place, typically after some trial and error. "Initially I did most of the work, but at this point I would say David and I are pretty much equal," shares Brittany, mom of two. "There are things he does more of and things I do more of. After all these years, we've finally gotten a balance we're both happy with."

Parenting responsibilities also depend on the schedules of the parents, like Megan has experienced since her 1-year-old was born. "I do most of the parenting," she explains. "Randy works full time and overtime almost every day." She also tells me that they decided before their girl was born that whoever was staying at home would have more of the parenting responsibilities, but he also cares for her once a week while she works. "I appreciate that he is more than willing to take her without any hesitation. I wouldn't change anything."

Both moms and dads know that parenting as a team really makes the most sense. "Jason is a really involved parent and is present for evenings, park dates, bedtime, etc.," says Jana, mom of one. "And he'll take Silas to the park for a few hours every evening when the weather is nicer so that I have some more time to myself. I still do all the behind the scenes stuff — making sure there are new clothes, doctor's appointments, keeping track of schedules and so on."

Other moms find that there is give and take, particularly where there are other household duties involved. "We do most of the parenting equally, but I handle night time almost exclusively," Jenn, mom of one, tells me. "I'd complain, but he handles most of the housework nowadays so I really can't argue."

Yes, some partners don't really pull their weight around the home, but many do. Jenna's husband works long hours and is gone for 60 to 70 hours a week, but during the time he's home, she reports that he's amazing. "He does everything he can to help with them when he's here and our kids adore him," she says. "My only gripe? He can snore through the baby crying. I do wish he got up with her once in a while!"

How does your parenting arrangement stack up?

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What Frozen's Anna and Elsa would look like if they were black (PHOTOS)

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More: If Disney princesses had jobs today, this is what they'd be doing

Because the artist, JuliaJM15, is taking a completely different approach to the beloved princesses by changing their ethnicities and the color of their skin.

Black Elsa and Anna

While she's done this with multiple Disney princesses, so far, including Tarzan's Jane and Brave's Merida, her depictions of Elsa and Anna are getting the most attention probably because that is the most popular animated film of the current generation. But also because it proves Elsa and Anna would have been just as gorgeous if they were black (and maybe Disney should make more of these things happen, huh?).

Comments have flooded in, praising the artist's depiction of the princesses, and some of them will definitely tug at your heartstrings.

More: Idina Menzel confirms Frozen sequel in the works

"My cynical old heart is warmed to its very core by the idea that a little girl out there is excited to see an Elsa that looks like her. I want more of that for that little girl," one particular fan wrote.

Black Elsa from Frozen

Another anonymous commenter wrote, "I just wanted to say that I'm black and I showed my baby cousin the Elsa that you posted, and she has been obsessed with black Elsa ever since and prefers her to the original because 'she's just like me.'" The commenter continues, "Thank you for standing up for minorities."

Black Elsa from Frozen

It looks like the Frozen train isn't slowing down anytime soon. But neither is the desire for characters that better represent all different facets of our world within Disney films.

Disney is slowly, but surely, making way for more diversity in its animated films. The studio just announced last month that it will be bringing the first animated Latina princess to television in 2016. Hopefully this is the first of many announcements. Of course, the studio could always pull a Marvel and integrate diversity into already existing character. There is a Frozen 2 coming, after all.

Do you think Disney should make Elsa and Anna black for Frozen 2?

Images: juliajm15.tumblr.com

David Oyelowo used his acceptance speech to recognize 'transcendent women'

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Oyelowo was up against Chadwick Boseman (Get On Up), Denzel Washington (The Equalizer), Idris Elba (No Good Deed) and Nate Parker (Beyond The Lights), all really great actors. And after taking the time to acknowledge the nominees, he proceeded to do something that we rarely see in Hollywood, thank the women who were instrumental to his success.

This is what he said:

"I want to take this opportunity to talk about some transcendent women in my life; my mother, who prayed for this opportunity for me more than anyone else on this planet. Thank you Mummy. My dear wife who ran those lines with me, every day, who helped me with that first audition in 2007, who gave me four beautiful children. I love you forever, forever and ever.

This film introduced me to some transcendent women in the civil rights movement: Annie Lee Cooper, Diane Nash, Amelia Boynton, Coretta Scott King. Thank you, thank you for what you have done for us. To some amazing, amazing women behind the camera: Ava DuVernay, my sister forever, I am so proud of you. God bless you. My American mother, Oprah Winfrey, for making sure I got to bed on time while we were shooting. Thank you Mum O. Dede Gardner, our amazing amazing producer out of Plan B, with Jeremy Kleiner as well, sat on this project for eight years.

I just want to talk about female directors as well: Gina Prince-Bythewood, Amma Asante, we have to celebrate these women. Our film is about embracing the vote, utilizing the vote. Support these women, vote for them at the box office.”

And he calls his mother “Mummy.” Perfection.

More awards show news

2015 SAG Awards: OITNB proved women are taking over Hollywood (VIDEO)
An open letter to the Oscars: SAG Awards could teach you a thing about diversity
#AskHerMore: 12 Times we were frustrated with the SAG red carpet questions

How to bring mindfulness to even your busiest days

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Meditation has been proven to reduce stress, improve feelings of contentment and happiness and boost creativity and productivity. While you may not have 30 minutes every day to sit in a quiet, dark space with your eyes closed (though if you can find a way, I guarantee life-changing results!), even the busiest of ladies has the chance to practice "awake awareness." Think of these little mini-meditations as easy access to that post-yoga glow, or meditating with eyes open while you're living your day-to-day life. With a little practice and diligence, these easy tactics of "checking in" will be the highlight of your day, and effortlessly help you control your emotions and thoughts in a positive, transformative way.

In the morning

If your novel-length to-do list for the day has you running all around town, build in mini-meditations to activities you'd already be doing.

Implement thoughtful insights and questions into your morning routine. Standing in front of the mirror while doing your makeup is a golden opportunity. After all, here you are face-to-face with yourself! For every stage of makeup, give yourself one compliment. For example, while you're applying the day's lipstick hue, mentally or out loud compliment what you love about your lips. It can be "I love the shape" or "I love how plump and kissable they are," or it can be something deeper; "I love my ability to say insightful compliments to others." If complimenting yourself is too hard (which it can be when confidence is low) then offer an intention. Things like "I will only speak positive thoughts today" or "I will not offer negative gossip today" are fantastic. Soon these compliments will be habit and will reprogram your mind to see the true beauty in you!

    Take a moment with your morning coffee for a bit of quiet. If your routine is to grab a mug on the go, add an extra five minutes to your morning alarm to give yourself time to savor the flavor. Sipping something hot can be very relaxing and restorative. This quietness before the storm of your hectic day is the perfect chance for a "check-in;" see how your mind and body are feeling and bring to the forefront of your mind something that you're excited about for the day.

    In the afternoon

    Halfway to happy hour! How's it going so far? Time for another check-in.

    Do you eat lunch at the desk? If so, break that habit stat! The act of eating is one that should be taken with compassion and care. Plus, eating mindlessly while you work is one of the quickest ways to add extra pounds to your waistline and establish unhealthy snacking habits. Instead, make it a ritual of celebration. Notice the colors and smells of the food. Before the first bite, ask yourself, "Why have I chosen this lunch? What will this food bring to my body and life?" Questions like this will help you identify whether your eating is for comfort or health. It will also start the conversation within yourself about eating to give yourself the energy and vibrancy for a happy healthy life.

    All too often, we cure mid-afternoon slump with yet more coffee. But natural sources of energy might be more fulfilling and influential on your workday. Step outside, take a walk around the block. Just a 10-minute walk basking in the sunlight can yield benefits. The nature walk is widely advocated by thinkers including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Eckhart Tolle. The key is to clear your mind of thought and worry, be present in the moment that you're in and let the heart and mind take a rest. Even if your nature walk is around the block of your bustling office building, you can still cultivate* a sense of peace by quieting your thoughts, giving your attention to your breath and manifesting* a sense of stillness in yourself. How does the air feel coming into your lungs? Thank the sun for coming up today. What looks like it's in bloom around you? What colors do you see? A clear, calm, collected mind will come back to the office ready to tackle assignments with a freshness and the ability to formulate new perspectives on problems.

    *Notice the words "cultivate" and "manifest;" that's because the calm isn't always going to be there waiting for you. Sometimes you have to create it yourself!

      In the evening

      It feels like everyone wants to tout the meditation-on-the-commute as the key to contentment. But realistically, jammed between strangers on the subway or squeezing the life out of your steering wheel in traffic is hardly the place to feel happy and calm. Instead, wait till you get home. Here are some check-in meditations that will offer a restorative energy to your evening plans.

      Make the moment before you start cooking dinner a place to decompress. Pour a glass of wine, keep the music off, and offer gratitude for the day. Take a moment to feel pride for something you got done today; it can be little, like an errand run, or big, like a project at work you feel proud of.

      A journal is a great outlet for stress, and a fantastic way to bring about more positive feelings. For many women, a gratitude journal offers the chance to visually account for all the blessings of your life. For others, the "Bridget Jones Diary" is more helpful. Let the pages be your safe place to let out your emotions in a constructive way. But beware: Get them out, and let them stay in the book. After you've written out your negative feelings, let the book hold them for you while you take a clear head away with you into the world.

      In the cool quiet of the night, in the moments before you fall asleep, take the Benjamin Franklin approach to planning your life. Every morning, he asked himself "what good will I do this day?" and finished out the evening with the reverse "what good have I done this day?" Before you fall asleep, reflect on the events of the day. What good did you create in the world? Did you compliment a friend, help a stranger or offer your seat on the bus? What good do you want to create tomorrow? Do you want to be more positive, more fun tomorrow? Is there an event you're looking forward to, like lunch with someone you love? Just the act of consciously thinking about, planning and anticipating how you use your energy and time is essential to living fully. A well-lived life takes consciousness, and these minutes when the house is still and solitude is all around is a great place to offer your intentions for the life you want.

      At the end of every check-in, take a deep breath! Bring new air in, let old, stale air out. The feeling of rounding out your check-ins with a big sigh is very relaxing. And remember, each day is a new day to be conscious, to be present and to offer your best self to the world. Your friends and family will thank you for the rejuvenated you when you bring mindfulness into your actions!

      Image: Tom Carmony/Flickr

      The surprising rise of moms who are giving birth after 50

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      When you start a family is a personal decision. It's a decision that can be motivated by many different factors such as financial comfort, career, location, age, relationship status and health — among many others. Usually childbearing is done by the time a woman reaches her mid-40s, but recent stats show that women in their 50s are having babies and those types of births are on the rise.

      AARP shares that around 13 babies are born each week to moms who are 50 and over. This doesn't sound like a huge number, but it represents a dramatic increase over pregnancy rates among women 50 to 54 just 13 years ago — a 165 percent increase, in fact.

      The Mayo Clinic places the average age of menopause for the American woman at around 51, but usually fertility starts to wane years before the possibility of natural conception is completely gone. While becoming pregnant at age 50 or beyond is not common, it can be achieved, generally with assistive reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) paired with donor eggs.

      There are many reasons why a woman would choose to seek pregnancy as she finishes up her fifth decade of life. Some women have delayed childbearing in favor of career advancement, and others have gotten married later in life and wanted to begin (or add to) a family with their new partner. Sometimes once the kids leave the nest, moms yearn to fill it back up again.

      Technology continues to march on since the first "test tube baby," Louise Brown, was born in England in 1978. Since then, there are more options than ever for women and couples who are experiencing infertility, and the known boundaries of what is possible continue to be pushed.

      There are risks for women going through pregnancy at an advanced age, such as a higher risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth and multiples. Also, the practice is not without controversy, with some who question whether it's ethical to seek fertility treatment once a woman has passed the age of 50. And the cost is a factor also — you can spend $25,000 to $30,000 on a single IVF attempt with donor eggs.

      However, the risks and the costs are worth the reward for these new moms. As science continues to advance, it's likely this trend will continue to climb and more women will become moms (or moms again) in their 50s.

      More parenting

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      Spice it up with rich and luscious chili-chocolate truffles

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      You'll get ancho chili, dark chocolate and a splash of heat with every bite. These truffles pack a sassy punch with the sweet and spicy taste of dark chocolate.

      2 Ancho chili truffles

      Then there's the cocoa powder coating made with hot cayenne chili pepper that will have you coming back for more. Very slow bites are required to taste all the goodness.

      3 Ancho chili truffles

      I especially liked this one, as you might have noticed. The soft and rich chocolate tastes so good with the taste of ancho chili. Something you'll have no problem sinking your teeth into.

      4 Ancho chili truffles

      Ancho chili-chocolate truffles with spicy cocoa powder recipe

      Decadent and rich chocolate truffles made with ancho chili powder and coated in spicy cocoa powder have just enough spice and plenty of chocolate in every bite.

      Yields 25

      Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 5 minutes | Inactive time: 2 hours | Total time: 2 hours 15 minutes

      Ingredients:

      • 1 (10 ounce) bag 60 percent cacao baking chips
      • 1 (10 ounce) bag semisweet baking chips
      • 2-1/2 teaspoons ancho chili powder, for the truffles
      • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons half-and-half
      • 1-1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder, for rolling the truffles
      • 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne red pepper
      • 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder, for garnish

      Directions:

      1. To a small bowl, add the cocoa powder and red pepper. Stir together, and set aside.
      2. To a medium-size glass bowl (that is microwave-safe), add the chocolate baking chips, ancho chili powder and half-and-half. Stir together.
      3. Heat the chocolate chip mixture in the microwave for 60 seconds, and then stir.
      4. Heat for another 40 seconds, and stir until the chocolate is completely smooth. If there is still unmelted chocolate in the bowl, put it back into the microwave for another 20 to 30 seconds, and stir.
      5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for about 2 hours or until the chocolate is firm enough to roll.
      6. Remove from the refrigerator, and use a spoon to scrape out the chocolate.
      7. One by one, roll the chocolate into balls with your hands, and then coat them with the cocoa powder mixture.
      8. Sprinkle the tops of the truffles with ancho chili powder for garnish.
      9. Store in the refrigerator, and serve at room temperature.

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

      More truffle recipes

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      Sweet and simple DIY heart pillow for your Valentine

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      DIY heart pillow: Supplies

      Supplies:

      • fabric
      • sewing scissors
      • pins
      • embroidery thread
      • needle
      • polyester thread
      • sewing machine
      • pillow batting
      • fabric erasable marker
      • iron (if needed)

      Instructions:

      Step 1:

      DIY Heart Pillow: Step 1

      Start by drawing and cutting out a heart shape from two pieces of fabric. You can do this at the same time with one piece of fabric right side up and the other right side down. Fold in half and draw a half heart and cut out with your scissors.

      Step 2:

      DIY Heart Pillow: Step 2

      (optional step) Iron your cut out heart if needed to get out the center crease or any wrinkles.

      Step 3:

      DIY Heart Pillow: Step 3

      Turn your fabric so that both pieces are right side together on top of one another

      Step 4:

      DIY Heart Pillow: Step 4

      Pin together the fabric

      Step 5:

      DIY Heart Pillow: Step 5

      Sew around the outside of the heart using a half inch seam allowance. Leave a 2 inch opening towards the bottom of the heart to turn right side out. Remove the pins as you sew. This will create your pillow case.

      Step 6:

      DIY Heart Pillow: Step 6

      Turn your pillow right side out through the small opening you left at the bottom of the case. Use a thin blunt object to help push out the seams if needed.

      Step 7:

      DIY Heart Pillow: Step 7

      Stuff the pillow with batting through the hole in the bottom.

      Step 8:

      DIY Heart Pillow: Step 8

      Using embroidery thread and a needle, sew a simple stitch (cross stitch or blanket stitch will add a bit of character!) over the open hole at the bottom of the pillow. Tie off the stitch and cut off any excess thread.

      DIY Heart Pillow: Finished 1

      This completes your pillow. Make a few more in different sizes and colors. Use them for your couch, on a side chair, or as a small extra toss pillow for the bed to add a bit of Valentine's Day cheer to your home decor!

      DIY Heart Pillow: Finished 2

      More Valentine's Day fun

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      Serve tonight's dinner family style with a huge plate of loaded nachos

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      Layers of crunchy tortilla chips are topped with seasoned ground beef, diced onions, tomatoes and fresh cilantro. To take these to a whole different level, rather than basic shredded cheese, a super-creamy beer-infused cheese sauce is drizzled over the top. It's perfect for a crowd.

      Loaded, beefy, beer cheese nachos recipe

      Layers upon layers of seasoned ground beef, crispy tortilla chips, fresh toppings and rich and creamy beer-cheese sauce are served up family style in this massive nacho dish.

      Serves 6-8

      Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes| Total time: 40 minutes

      Ingredients:

      • Nonstick cooking spray
      • 1 pound ground beef
      • 1 envelope taco seasoning
      • 1/2 cup prepared salsa
      • 1 (12 ounce) bag tortilla chips
      • 1 cup homemade beer cheese sauce
      • 2 large tomatoes, diced
      • 1 small red onion, diced
      • 2-3 green onions, thinly sliced
      • Handful fresh cilantro (optional)

      Directions:

      1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
      2. Heat a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat.
      3. Spray the skillet with the nonstick cooking spray, and add the ground beef. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until the juices run clear and the meat is no longer pink. Drain the juices and fat from the pan, and return it to the heat.
      4. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and add the taco seasoning and salsa to the ground beef. Stir well, and set aside.
      5. Arrange the tortilla chips in a single layer on the baking sheet.
      6. Spoon the cooked ground meat over the tops of the tortilla chips, followed by the beer cheese sauce.
      7. Place the nachos in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until the cheese is hot and the chips are nice and warm.
      8. Remove from the oven, and garnish with the diced tomatoes, red onions, green onions and lots of fresh cilantro.
      9. Best served warm.

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

      More delicous nacho recipes

      Pad thai nachos
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      Rosie O'Donnell announces she's leaving The View for a shocking reason

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      More: Rosie O'Donnell tears into Stephen Collins with a scathing poem

      The longtime TV host and her wife, Michelle Rounds, are splitting up, and amid the divorce, Rosie announced Friday that she will leave her position on The View in order to focus on her five kids' well-being.

      The announcement was sudden and unexpected, as is the timeline: Rosie will leave the show as soon as next week.

      Page Six reports that sources close to the family say Rosie and her wife have been living apart for months.

      Rosie's rep confirmed the split and Rosie's plans to leave her spot on the ABC morning talk show in a statement issued Friday night.

      "I can confirm that Rosie and her wife Michelle split in November," Cindi Berger, Rosie's rep, wrote. "Rosie has teens and an infant at home that need her attention. This has been a very stressful situation. She is putting her personal health and family first. ABC has been wonderfully understanding and supportive of her personal decision to leave The View. Next week will be her last."

      More: Rosie O'Donnell shows off her 53-pound weight loss

      Rosie married Michelle in 2012. She was Rosie's second wife. The couple has five kids, including a baby girl they adopted in 2013.

      This was Rosie's second run on The View — she first left the show in 2007 and returned last fall.

      ABC also issued a statement confirming Rosie's departure.

      "Rosie is an immensely talented star who comes in each and every morning brimming with ideas, excitement and passion for the show," the network wrote. "When she told us she wanted to exit The View, we respected and understood her desire to put her well-being and her family first. We’re delighted she’s still part of the ABC family with upcoming guest appearances on The Fosters, and we know she’ll return to The View often with her unique point of view and updates on her work and her family."

      More: Whoopi Goldberg loses her cool arguing that America isn't racist (VIDEO)

      We wish Rosie and her family nothing but the best during what is sure to be a very difficult time.

      Chrissy Teigen explains Kanye West's stink face (PHOTOS)

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      More: Kanye West is counting down something, so let's guess what it is

      Christy Teigen, who recently went on an insanely amazing double date to Waffle House with her hubby, John Legend, and Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, explained to Elle the randomness of some serious A-list celebs hanging out at Waffle House. Teigen also finally shed some light on the real mystery of the situation: Why the hell doesn't Kanye ever smile?

      Chrissy Teigen and Kanye West at Waffle House

      Chrissy Teigen and Kanye West at Waffle House

      "Kanye is so much fun. He's a wonderful person," Teigen explained. "What I love about Kim and Kanye is that I think they save their happy moments and their smiles for themselves, rather than sharing everything with the public."

      And apparently it has a lot to do with every random person on the street taking his picture all the time, too. Now that we think of it, that doesn't sound so fun.

      "And listen, when a camera is shoved in your face trying to take a selfie, you do not want to smile," Teigen continued. "And sometimes those photos get out. I don't want to smile in every photo I take. Can you imagine someone not asking you and grabbing you by the shoulder and pushing you in and forcing a photo? And not once, but a thousand times a day. I think people should understand that more."

      OK, that's a good point.

      More: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend top Kim and Kanye for sexiest photos (VIDEO)

      Now that we have the answer to that important question, what were all those stars doing at Waffle House?

      "It seemed very random, but if you know me it wasn't that random," Teigen said. "It was actually my first time ever at a Waffle House. I was at the DirecTV party that night and we'd seen Kanye just completely kill it onstage. I was like, 'Do you guys want to go to Waffle House?' It wasn't that crazy because the night before, I went to Taco Bell, and the night before that, Jack in the Box. No one thought anything of it and they all came with me."

      More: Kanye West has a surprising musical partner on his song "Only One" (VIDEO)

      Stars, you guys. They are just like us.

      18 Signs you're too obsessed with living in a post-apocalyptic world

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      1. You don't just watch The Walking Dead, you study it

      Arrow Image: Giphy.com

      2. You bought a banjo

      Zombieland Image: Giphy.com

      3. You go to Kroger and come home with 20 cans of tuna

      Bacon Image: Giphy.com

      (Or bacon!) Because you never know.

      4. You spend a lot of time window shopping at the mall

      Mall Rats Image: Giphy.com

      Someday you'll live there, so why buy now?

      5. You have a "go bag" for each family member

      PackingImage: Giphy.com

      6. You've studied up on EMPs

      explosion gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      7. Your house is regularly referred to as "the armory"

      boondock gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      8. Little Carl already knows how to fire a gun

      twd carl gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      9. Medicinal plants? You got that on lock

      weed gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      10. You have a dozen orange gas cans in your garage

      oil gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      Every time the price drops, you fill up.

      11. You moved from Florida to Ohio, but you brought your hurricane boards

      run gif

      Image: Tumblr.com

      In case of zombies: Board up windows with "I survived Charlie!" plywood.

      12. Boy Scouts isn't about honor and friendship

      duck gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      It's about their own survival.

      13. You hate dirt, but you've learned to garden

      garden gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      Bonus points if you've learned how to pull seeds from plants for the next year.

      14. You collect blankets

      kitty blanket gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      blanket gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      Like... a lot of blankets.

      15. You've practiced your zombie walk

      zombie gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      If you can't outnumber them, outwit them.

      16. You know where the best sanctuaries are

      zombie fence gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      Prisons, National Guard posts... anywhere with a high, strong fence. It's an added bonus if the place will have extra fuel, food and weapons.

      17. You've mapped out the route to the closest Twinkie factory

      twinkie gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      Those things last forever.

      18. You play a lot of Fallout

      fallout gif

      Image: Giphy.com

      "War never changes."

      Slow Cooker Sunday: Peanutty Thai chicken with white rice

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      Serve this Slow cooker Sunday special: Peanutty Thai chicken with white rice

      Thai flavors like lime, spicy chili, garlic, ginger and peanuts are all tossed around in this creamy, saucy combo and served over fluffy white rice. This Slow Cooker Sunday recipe for peanutty Thai chicken with white rice is colorful and ridiculously easy to make.

      Don't miss one forkful of Peanutty Thai chicken with white rice

      This could be one of my favorite recipes. If you didn't know better, you might mistake it for your favorite Thai restaurant takeout. It's that good.

      Slow cooker peanutty Thai chicken with white rice recipe

      The flavors in this dish blend together perfectly for a slightly sweet, slightly spicy meal. You'll love how easy this is to prepare, and the final results will definitely impress.

      Serves 4-6

      Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 3-1/2 to 9 hours | Total time: 3-1/2 hours 5 minutes to 9 hours 5 minutes

      Ingredients:

      • 1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3-inch pieces
      • 1 red bell pepper, seeds and membrane removed, diced
      • 1 large carrot, ends trimmed, diced
      • 1/4 cup onion, diced
      • 1 garlic clove
      • 1 teaspoon diced green chilies
      • 1 cup vegetable broth
      • 2-1/2 tablespoons peanut butter
      • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
      • Juice from 1/2 a lime
      • 1 teaspoon garlic chili sauce
      • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
      • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, plus extra for garnish
      • 4 cups cooked white rice
      • Lime wedges, for garnish
      • Carrot spirals, for garnish
      • Chopped peanuts, for garnish

      Directions:

      1. To the bottom of the slow cooker, add the chicken, and then add the bell pepper, carrot, onion, garlic and green chilies over the top.
      2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the broth, soy sauce, lime juice, garlic chili sauce and ginger until smooth.
      3. Pour the mixture over the chicken and vegetables. Add the 2 tablespoons of cilantro.
      4. Cover, and cook on high for 3-1/2 hours or on low for 8 to 9 hours.
      5. Serve hot over the white rice and garnished with the chopped peanuts, cilantro and lime wedges.

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

      More slow cooker recipes

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