After a steamy night, Elena and Damon pick up right where they left off last week — in the bedroom. The two are so intensely focused on each other and finally "happy," but the new couple have no idea that bad news is just around the bend. Enjoy your brief moment of bliss while it lasts, folks. Things are about to get a lot more complicated.

It makes sense that Stefan and Caroline want there to be a sire bond between Elena and Damon because neither one can handle the thought of Elena having real feelings for the evil Damon. For Damon, however, this is his worst nightmare. When Stefan brings him the news of the sire bond, he's pretty devastated.

But, this isn't his first carnival. He was in a similar boat 70 years ago on Bourbon Street. There was a woman who fell for him, he turned her into a vampire, and then she obeyed his every command to the extreme. A part of the sire bond is you want to make your master happy, and she stopped at nothing to do so. But when he got tired of her, he attempted to break the bond.

A witch who practiced the darkest and most dangerous form of magic, Expression, was his only hope of breaking the bond. She told him to kill 12 humans, but then bailed before the spell was complete. He had told his vampire lady friend to meet him at the corner of two cross streets. He never heard from her again.

Now, 70 years later, the Salvatore brothers venture to Bourbon Street and find Damon's vampire is still waiting at that street corner for him. She has been pining for him all of these years, confined to that one intersection because that was his last command.

Damon and Stefan meet the witch's daughter, who tells them there is no spell to break the bond. A sire bond is only formed in vampires when there were already romantic feelings before the human became a vampire. Kind of good news for Damon and bad news for Stefan. She tells him the only right thing to do is let the girl go and tell her to move on. I personally don't see the harm in letting things just go on as they are. Elena smiled for at least half an episode. Can't they just be happy for 5 minutes?

While on the hunt for answers, Damon and Stefan actually do some brotherly bonding. Despite their awkward love triangle, they seem ready to put the past behind them. They recall the last time they were on Bourbon Street in the 1940s, when Stefan was recovering from being the Ripper and asked Damon to leave with him to go to war. Damon wanted to because he needed to be around his little brother, but he knew his influence would weaken Stefan and he would turn into the Ripper again. He was capable of making a selfless choice then — can he do it again?

While Damon and Stefan are gone, Elena spends some much needed time with her girlfriends. But, things get a little out of hand when Caroline won't stop insulting Damon and accidentally breaks the news about the sire bond. She, as well, is devastated, but Tyler explains that a sire bond controls actions, not feelings.

When Damon returns home, Elena tries to tell him she knows her feelings for him are real and begs him not to end it with her. He gives a wonderful speech about never being the guy who does the right thing, but he can't be selfish with her. It seems like he's actually strong enough to follow through and be the "good guy" for a once, but then Elena puts his hand over her heart and says, "Does this feel wrong?" Was there supposed to be a heartbeat there? She's dead. Either way, the moment weakens him, and he can't go through with it. Will he ever be able to?

Another key revelation: Professor Shane practices that oh-so-evil dark magic, Expression, and has been teaching it to Bonnie. This isn't going to fair well for the citizens of Mystic Falls.

Photos Courtesy of CW

Families share how they approached the idea of including a personal note in their extra-special birth announcements after welcoming a child with special needs.

Beyond baby's
birth weight

Birth announcements. Those bundles of printed joy that trumpet, “Hey, world! Look what we created! Is this not the cutest, ever?!” A parent’s sense of pride and jubilation leap from the heavy card-stock alerts as recipients pull them eagerly from envelopes.

But, what if your child is born with an unexpected disability? If your beautiful child enters the world struggling to combat a health condition?

Providing an update

For some parents, birth announcements provide a way to update family, friends and anyone who would want to know about your greatest achievement and unexpected hurdles facing your newborn.

Linda says, “We sent out birth announcements when our daughter was about 5 months old. After she got out of the NICU and was allowed to leave the house for photos. We explained that she had Down syndrome and told a little about that. We also talked about our hopes and dreams for her. I still cry when I read that letter.”

After prenatal diagnosis

Then there’s another group, the one from which I hail. The one that has every opportunity thanks to a prenatal diagnosis to come to terms with Baby’s challenges and plan the perfect announcement months in advance, including a thoughtfully written, personal note.

Except, I didn’t. I had good intentions that folded into the shadows of the neonatal intensive care unit corridors when my son, Charlie arrived seven weeks early. During his month in the NICU, I cradled his head for hours on end and never gave one thought to birth announcements.

By the time Charlie was strong enough to come home with us, heart monitor and all, I was in the full throes of post-partum depression and barely able to engage in conversation without crying. Birth announcements that included a heartfelt testament to our love of Charlie regardless of any challenges meant nothing to me.

Looking back, I realize my regular emails to a lengthy list of family, friends and even some acquaintances was my way of casting a wide net into a dark and uncertain sea. I desperately hoped someone would grab the line and haul me to safety.

A source of healing

For other parents, sharing the news via the birth announcement provides a catharsis of sorts. Larina, whose daughter Camille has Down syndrome, describes their process: “The day after Camille was born, Brian and I wrote an email together , announcing her arrival and her diagnosis . It was very difficult to compose but we were trying to be brave.”

“I was in shock,” Larina confided, “So I didn't have many true feelings about anything at all, awful as that sounds.”

She continues, “Here's the neat part: A few weeks after we got home, I printed every response that we got to that email, and put them all in a binder, with the email message itself at the front of the binder. I have looked at it once in four years because it conjures up some tough emotions and memories... but I am so glad that we have it.”

Tackling topics head-on

Tim, who welcomed his first grandchild not long ago, grew up with a sibling who had Down syndrome. He says, “Because there are so many misunderstandings about kids with Down syndrome or other conditions, I think it is important to prepare people who don't understand and may innocently say something inappropriate or shy away because of their lack of knowledge. I like the idea of a frank birth announcement.”

Carrie shares on her blog, "Carrie with Children," that she included a short note with her daughter, Molly's birth announcement. The tone is best summarized by one line in particular: “Molly is a very healthy baby girl who eats, sleeps, cries, and dirties diapers just like every other baby, she’s just got an extra chromosome!”

Gabrielle shares her experience with flip-flopped emotions, from her single, non-parent perspective and later, as a married mom of twins who almost didn’t survive the pregnancy: “We got a birth announcement of a friend's baby who was a micro preemie. The announcement was for me, at the time, disturbing. A tiny little baby, very red, very small and so full of tubes. I could not see it as a celebration of life.

“That baby has since grown up to be a thriving teenager. Now, I cherish what is done to help babies get through that tough beginning to become that thriving teenager. I get it now, but I didn't before kids. I also think my experience while pregnant with the twins enlightened me to that.”

Not everyone sees the need for a birth announcement addendum. “I think I'd be surprised [to receive a birth announcement that includes an explanation of a disability],” says Michaela. “Not sure it's necessary because it doesn't define the child.”

“We never mentioned Sean having [Down syndrome] or a heart condition,” Jenn says. “Those that were close to us knew… We only wanted to celebrate what an adorable, precious baby he is.”

Paperless priorities

“We never sent birth announcements, but that was due to the fact that we were more focused on [our daughter] staying alive,” Dawn explains. “We didn't even get ‘newborn’ shots until she was almost 3 months old and home.”

Larissa gave birth to twins and learned her newborn son has Down syndrome. “We did not do newborn announcements or a newborn photo shoot,” she says. “It makes me sad now and I regret that we didn't do it, but at the time we were just so overwhelmed. Everything took a back seat to Cooper's health.”

As with most parenting decisions, the “right” decision typically depends on what feels right to you and your significant other.

Read more about special needs

The truth about my child with Down syndrome
Having a sibling with Down syndrome
How to talk to your child's peers about Down syndrome

More gift ideas

Holiday gifts for the beer drinker
Bonding gifts for guys
Light-hearted gifts for the business buff

After spending years singing about princesses and fairy tales, Taylor Swift will appear on the cover of Cosmo UK possibly the world's juiciest women's magazine.

Just look at the teaser blurbs that surround her. At her shoulder is one about what kind of sex "he wants." Down by her hand, we're told that inside, we can find tips to "eat your way to a better orgasm."

We're not buying Cosmo for ground-breaking music journalism. We're buying it because we want better times between the sheets.

Fox News already has its hands on the January 2013 issue of the magazine and has shared some of the best tidbits. The best part is when Swift admits something the rest of the world has known for years.

"I don't know how to make relationships last," she told the magazine. "I've never had a really long relationship, so I have no idea what that's like."

We figured that out a long time ago, and even pointed it out earlier this week, when we chronicled Taylor's 13 boyfriends in the past four years.

Next, she added, "Wish me luck for the future!"

Instead of luck, here's some advice:

First, go have a heart-to-heart with Oprah. Miss O is a fount of wisdom. She'll no doubt tell Taylor that she needs to learn to be happy with herself before she can be happy with someone else. While Taylor exudes confidence everywhere except on the awards show stage, her serial dating hints at a different internal state of affairs. Instead of hopping from one guy to another, maybe she should take some time to focus on herself.

Second, stop dating 18-year-olds. Swift was recently photographed galavanting around Manhattan holding hands with the 18-year-old One Direction member Harry Styles. Before him, Taylor dated Conor Kennedy, also 18. When you're 16 years old, age 18 can seem really mature. When you're 22, you realize it's not mature at all and dating a teen is probably not the key to finding a lasting relationship. After all, they've got other things on their minds... like finishing high school.

To a certain extent, everyone loves Taylor Swift. If she wants, she can be a great role model for not only little girls, but older girls, too. To do that, though, Swift needs to start acting her age.

Photo credit: WENN.com

National Cotton Candy Day

Look as sweet as cotton candy

Happy National Cotton Candy Day! Yeah, we didn't know the holiday existed either. Still, we love us some cotton candy. It's not state fair season, though — so instead we'll sample some cotton candy-esque makeup to sweeten our look.

We've gathered up a few of our favorite confection-inspired cosmetics that even cotton candy lover Katy Perry would love.

Merle Norman’s Moist Lip Color in Cotton Candy

We're glad we read the packaging before scooping up this lip color — otherwise, we might've eaten it. Yep, it's a cotton candy-colored formula designed to give sheer color and shine with a touch of moisture.

$15 at MerleNorman.com

jane iredale PurePressed Blush in Cotton Candy

We love a good subtle pink blush to give our cheeks that just-walked-in-the-wind bit of color. You can even brush it over your eyes for quick color on your lids.

$27 at shop.janeiredale.com

jane iredale Eye Gloss in Pink Silk

This sweet-and-subtle eye gloss is formulated to give a bit of shimmer without creasing or smearing. It's great for those days when you want color, but don’t have time — or just don't want to go all-out with your eye makeup.

$16 at shop.janeiredale.com

More on makeup

24-Hour shine: Holiday makeup touch-up tips
Anya says: What every woman needs in her beauty bag
What makeup products are the celebs using?

Photo credit: Lia Toby/WENN

Who said you can't eat your ornaments? These delicious, easy to make and absolutely adorable Rice Krispies ornaments are 100 percent edible . Plus, now you'll finally have ornaments on your tree that your kids, cats or clumsy husband can't break!

Rice Krispies ornaments

Recipe inspired by Mommy Savers

Yields about 12 ornaments

Ingredients:

• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 10 ounces marshmallows
• 1/4 cup butter or oil
• Blue and green sprinkles
• Gold ornament tops
• Toothpicks

Directions:

Melt butter in a medium-size saucepan over medium-high heat.

Add marshmallows and stir until mixture is completely melted together.

Place Rice Krispies into a large mixing bowl. Once marshmallow mixture is melted, pour over the Rice Krispies and quickly stir to coat the cereal.

While the mixture is warm, quickly roll into medium- and small-size balls.

Dump the colored sprinkles into bowls and then roll the balls into the sprinkles, being sure to completely cover them.

You may need to roll them a few times to get them fully covered.

Using toothpicks, fasten the gold ornament tops on the top of each Rice Krispies ornament.

Repeat until all of the ornaments have tops.

Then display, eat or hang on your tree!

More edible crafts

Edible crafts for kids
Homemade edible bouquet recipe
Edible Christmas crafts

More holiday gift ideas

Holiday gifts for tweens
6 Great toys for preschool boys
Classic toys that still make great Christmas gifts

Shop with cash or a debit card

Credit cards easily allow people to get in over their heads and wake up with a holiday hangover come Jan. 2. Plus, studies show that we spend less with cash than we do with credit. If you pull a set amount of cash out of the bank and head to the mall, once you run out, you run out.

Or, even better: Use gift cards. Some people have a drawer full of them, but most of us have at least one or two unused ones lying around. If you're not planning to use them for yourself — and if you've had them since last year, I'm putting you in this category — save some cash by using them to purchase gifts for others. It's like free money you can add to your budget.

More holiday budget tips

Dash out and donate for year-end tax deductions
Holiday money matters for work-at-home moms
Holiday decorating on a budget

How to reduce holiday waste

Did you know that if everyone wrapped just three gifts in reused paper, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields? It's true: You can save money and the environment by being more eco-conscious.

Holiday recycling
made pretty

These decorative holiday recycling ideas cost little to nothing and can make a big eco-friendly impact.

• If everyone wrapped just three gifts in reused paper, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
• If every household reused just two feet of ribbon each year, the resulting 38,000 miles of ribbon could tie a bow around the Earth.
• Each year 28 billon pounds of edible food is thrown away — serve smaller portions; diners can always ask for seconds.
• The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high or circle the planet 10 times.
• Annual trash from gift wrap and shopping bags totals 4 million tons — and all for a few days per year! Think about how you can reduce and help our environment.

Here are creative ways to both save the environment and cut down on holiday waste without losing any of the festive style:

6 Ways to recycle holiday cards

1. Decor— Show them off by building a house of cards.
2. Place cards— Transform them into place cards.
3. Post cards— Recycle old holiday cards and make them into post cards.
4. Gift tags — Creativity, a hole punch and scissors are all you need.
5. Old to new — Recycle into a new holiday card.
6. Decorations — Make tree ornaments and chain garlands.

3 Ways to recycle while still wrapping with style

1. Newspaper— Ironing newspapers will seal the ink so you can use it as wrapping paper.
2. Dishcloths or baby blankets— The gift that keeps on giving with a wrap.
3. Maps— Extra large maps are perfect for this project. Creative and inspiring for anyone that loves to travel.

Create a generation box

Some of the best boxes are made to last — and pass along for others to use year after year. Decorate a plain gift box — or choose a pattern you like — and then add a clear coat of packing tape for extra support and resistance to wear, and you're good to go for years of enjoyment.

On the inside of the lid write the date and occasion. Each time the box is used, the next person adds to the history by writing the same. Grandparents and children love this concept. Before you know it you have a lid to a box that has been used for just about any occasion and for generations to enjoy.

Dinner table decor

1. No-waste centerpiece— Forage in the garden, yard or park for ready-to-go centerpieces; you don't have to focus on flowers when branches, leaves, mosses, stones, and pinecones can be easily assembled.
2. Festive place cards— Use fresh leaves and wine corks to create a fresh look to your table.

Gift ideas

Reduce waste by offering special food items or personal services as gifts. Examples: Bake cookies, prepare a meal a week for someone who would appreciate the help, run errands, shovel snow, shop for elderly family members or neighbors.

Give lifestyle gifts that promote changes that are friendly to the environment. For example, cloth napkins and tablecloths, cloth or reusable shopping bags, a compost bin, recycling bins, reusable or biodegradable picnic plates/utensils or stationary made from recycled paper. Plant the idea and watch it grow!

More green holiday ideas

Eco-friendly gift wrapping at its finest
Great green stocking stuffers
Christmas decor inspired by nature

With her accounts frozen by the IRS due to nonpayment of taxes in 2009 and 2010, Lindsay Lohan is running out of cash and out of options. She's apparently resorted to selling off her old clothes and shoes for extra money.

Radar Online reported Friday that Lindsay Lohan sent sister Ali to Wasteland, a used clothing store in Los Angeles with a collection of designer clothing.

But despite the magnificence of Lindsay's castoffs, Ali wasn't able to realize much on the deal.

"Thirty dollars for these? They cost $700!" Radar Online quoted Ali Lohan as saying, according to "an eyewitness."

Ali, do you need a lesson in basic economics? The shoes cost $700 new. After someone else's dirty, sweaty feet have been in them, they're worth $60 tops. The $30 you were offered gives the store room for a generous 100 percent markup, typical of used clothing.

IRS seizes Lindsay Lohan's bank account>>

This is also why you can't sell your $2,000 couch for more than $100 on craigslist. But I digress.

Ali Lohan reportedly tried to negotiate the price on some items up, saying that Lindsay had worn such items as Chanel pumps and a Balenciaga purse on the red carpet.

"These have to be worth more, Lindsay was photographed wearing them, that has to add value," she begged.

But the management didn't budge, and Ali ultimately left the store not much richer than went she went in.

Anyone who's ever brought old clothes, books or shoes in to sell can relate to Ali Lohan's experience -- you never get as much as you thought you would, and you leave bitterly contemplating the difference between what you paid for the items and what you received for them.

Meanwhile, Lindsay's dad Michael Lohan wonders where all his daughter's money went. He told Radar that she made $150,000 endorsing an energy drink. Wouldn't that help with the $233,000 she owes to the feds?

Sure would! So where's that money?

Image courtesy WENN.com

Money for Mom, or money for Baby?

When you have some extra money, are you able to spend it on yourself?

With the holidays approaching, that question can be harder to answer than ever. We talk with moms about how they choose to part with their spending money.

When you’re expecting a baby, you may soon be over the moon about buying baby items — toys, clothes, baby gear. And many moms find that this doesn’t stop after your baby is born. Making your kids happy is a natural instinct of us parenting types; so often our wants go to the back burner as we put our children’s wants ahead of our wants, and sometimes even ahead of our needs. We caught up with real moms to see how they dealt with extra money — do you spend it on your kids, or use it for yourself?

Go without

Some of the moms we talked to would prefer to spend their extra funds on stuff for their kids instead of buying things they could really use, such as new clothes or shoes. “There are times I will buy the girls things because I know they'll like them, just to surprise them, when what I really need to do is buy a bra that fits,” shared Edy from Missouri.

Niki, mother of one, felt the same. “I always spend anything extra on Lucas, be it toys or clothes,” she said. “I haven't bought anything for myself in months!” And Heather, mom of three, mirrored Niki's comment. “I'm terrible about buying myself anything,” she shared. “I tend to overindulge them and never myself.”

Prefer buying for the kids

Angela, mom of one, prefers buying things for her son even though she doesn’t feel bad buying things for herself. “I find I much rather enjoy buying things for my son,” she explained. “If there is something I want or need and I have the extra money, I feel no guilt in treating myself, because, d**m it, being a mom is hard work. However, I get much more joy in seeing my son happy than the happiness buying material items gives me most of the time.”

Moms deserve it

Other moms felt no guilt buying things for themselves. “I got over it because I work hard and deserve the things I buy,” shared Kelly, mom of two. “I don't feel excessive, and we are still able to add to our retirement funds, other savings and pay our bills. I don't feel that I need to be deprived just because I have children.”

Heather from California has similar experiences. “I tend to go through phases where I completely forget about myself, and then one day snap out of it,” she told us. “I recently bought myself a whole new wardrobe and started ‘remembering’ to take my time putting on my makeup, and to wear jewelry and get my nails done. It feels so good to be a woman and a mom.”

So, while spending money on ourselves, as mothers, can be difficult , we should be able to splurge on ourselves, because we totally deserve it.

More on being Mom

Top 10 list: Why I love being a mom
Being a digital mom: 5 Ways to make money online
Mom's balancing act: How to take better care of yourself

On the first day of Christmas...

Yields 1 martini

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces pear vodka
• 1-1/2 ounces cranberry juice
• 1-1/2 ounces blackberry brandy
• Juice of half a lemon
• Few drops simple syrup
• 1 pear

Directions:

1. Put all of your ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass.
2. Garnish drink with a pear slice.

Up next: More Christmas cocktails >>

{pageBreak}

On the second day of Christmas...

Yields 2 shots

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce amaretto liqueur
• 1 ounce Irish cream
• 1 ounce vanilla vodka
• Fresh nutmeg

Directions:

1. Layer in two shot glasses each, half an ounce of amaretto liqueur, then top with half an ounce of Irish cream and end with half an ounce each of vanilla vodka.
2. Sprinkle with a few grates of fresh nutmeg.

Up next: More Christmas cocktails >>

{pageBreak}

On the third day of Christmas...

Yields 1 drink

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces dry gin
• 2 teaspoons superfine sugar
• 1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
• Champagne

Directions:

1. Combine the dry gin with the superfine sugar and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with crushed ice. Shake well and strain into a Champagne flute.
2. Top with Champagne and garnish with a twist of lemon.

Up next: More Christmas cocktails >>

{pageBreak}

On the fourth day of Christmas...

Yields 1 drink

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 3 ounces Wild Turkey bourbon
• Juice of half an orange
• Apple slices

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake cocktail well and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
2. Garnish with 4 thin apple slices.

Up next: More Christmas cocktails >>

{pageBreak}

On the fifth day of Christmas...

Yields 1 drink

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Goldschlager
• 1/4 cup butterscotch schnapps
• 1-1/5 ounces Irish cream

Directions:

1. Pour equal parts each of Goldschlager and butterscotch schnapps into a shaker with ice.
2. Shake mixture and strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
3. Pour Irish cream over the top.

Up next: More Christmas cocktails >>

{pageBreak}

On the sixth day of Christmas...

Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces Grey Goose La Poire
• 2 ounces elderflower liqueur
• Tonic water

Directions:

1. Combine Grey Goose with elderflower liqueur in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice, then top with a few splashes of tonic water.
3. Garnish with a pear slice.

Up next: More Christmas cocktails >>

{pageBreak}

On the seventh day of Christmas...

Yields 1 martini

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces Swans Neck vodka
• 1-1/2 ounces vanilla vodka
• 1-1/2 ounces white chocolate liqueur
• Whipped cream

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake well and pour into a martini glass.
3. Top with a dollop of whipped cream.

Up next: More Christmas cocktails >>

{pageBreak}

On the eighth day of Christmas...

Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1/2 ounce creme de menthe
• 1/2 ounce white creme de cacao
• 2 ounces heavy cream
• Mint sprig

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Gently shake and strain into a highball glass and top with a mint sprig.

Up next: More Christmas cocktails >>

{pageBreak}

On the ninth day of Christmas...

Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 ounces gin
• 1/2 ounce apple brandy
• 1/2 ounce grenadine
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1 egg white

Directions:

1. Combine gin, apple brandy, grenadine, the juice of 1/2 of a lemon and 1 egg white in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake well, especially if you use the egg white.
3. Strain drink into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with a cherry.

Up next: More Christmas cocktails >>

{pageBreak}

On the tenth day of Christmas...

Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces cognac
• 1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
• 2 ounces cranberry juice
• Splash of pineapple juice
• Orange slice

Directions:

1. Combine cognac, Grand Marnier and cranberry juice in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake cocktail well and strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
3. Top with a splash of pineapple juice and garnish with an orange slice.

Up next: More Christmas cocktails >>

{pageBreak}

On the eleventh day of Christmas...

Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup Champagne
• Fresh ginger

Directions:

1. Fill a champagne glass 1/4 of the way full with pomegranate juice.
2. Fill the remaining way with Champagne.
3. Garnish with freshly grated ginger.

Up next: More Christmas cocktails >>

{pageBreak}

On the twelfth day of Christmas...

Yields 6 to 8 cocktails

Ingredients:

• 6 cups white rum
• 3 cups dark rum
• 1-1/2 cups coconut rum
• 64 ounces pineapple juice
• 64 ounces orange juice
• Juice of 2 small limes
• 1/2 cup grenadine

Directions:

1. Combine white rum, dark rum, coconut rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, juice of 2 limes and 1/2 cup grenadine in a large punch bowl.
2. Add ice and stir well. Ladle punch into cups to serve.

More Christmas cocktails

12 Days of Christmas cocktails, part 1
Christmas appetizer and cocktail pairings
7 Best holiday cocktail recipes

A nurse who was the victim of a prank call intended to suss out personal the medical details of a pregnant Kate Middleton has been found dead just two days after the hoax was revealed.

The body of Jacintha Saldanha, who was working the switchboard when the call from an Australian radio duo pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles came in, was found in a flat just yards from King Edward VII Hospital.

Scotland Yard confirmed the death as "unexplained," but strongly suspect suicide.

"Police were called at approximately 9:25 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, to a report of a woman found unconscious [at] an address in Weymouth Street, W1. London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene," a police spokesperson told the Daily Mail. "Inquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances of the incident. The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage."

Kate Middleton leaves the hospital>>

Earlier this week, an Australian radio duo called the hospital, pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles, and tricked Saldanha into connecting them to Kate's ward, where another nurse divulged personal details about the Duchess of Cambridge, her pregnancy, and her medical condition. Saldanha is not believed to have been under any disciplinary measures by the hospital.

Will and Kate expressed their dismay at the news, saying in a statement to the press, "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jacintha Saldanha. Their Royal Highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha's family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time."

Brits taking bets on the royal baby>>

The hospital said of the married mother of two, "Jacintha has worked at the King Edward VII's Hospital for more than four years. She was an excellent nurse and well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues."

"We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital had been supporting her throughout this difficult time. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies at this time are with her family and friends. Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much loved and valued colleague."

Earlier today the radio hosts were still bragging about their trickery on Twitter; however both feeds have since been deleted.

Image courtesy WENN.com

We've all seen the Gossip Girl wedding pictures, right? You know the ones I mean: with Blair in that lacy sea foam green dress and Chuck Bass in his white tux with coordinated bow tie. We were all prepared for a wedding between Upper East Side royalty.

But now, this...

Is it possible Gossip Girl officials and The CW were just tricking us? Were they trying to throw us off our game so they could toss a Lost-sized plot twist our way? This promo is intense! One second Blair is begging Chuck not to get on a plane — the next, you're hearing reports of a plane crash.

Plus, look at this picture! Blair is definitely being consoled over something.

Earlier today, we saw a headline speculating that someone might die on Gossip Girl. With just that headline to go on, a conspiracy was cooked up: Maybe Chuck and Blair were getting married because they love each other, but also so that they can scheme together to murder Chuck's father without having to testify against each other. Maybe it was a little far-fetched. But, it's Gossip Girl, after all.

Now there's that insane sneak peek. Are you kidding, CW? This is not okay.

It would also explain the return of Eric. For a while there, Chuck and Serena's baby brother, Eric, were pretty close. If something were to happen to Chuck, that would certainly bring Eric home for a while, right?

While the promo seems convincing, we're going to hold on to hope for a little bit longer. After all, filming a scene to not even use is a costly production. Gossip Girl may have a decent budget, but we doubt it's that big.

This is still too much to take. Can someone please hit up Gilt to get some to-go martinis and an order of truffle potato fries for us to stress-eat?

Good luck, Chair fans. It looks like you're going to need it.

Images courtesy of The CW

Aww, has little Bret Easton Ellis not been getting enough attention? The writer shot off a random Twitter salvo on Wednesday that said director Kathryn Bigelow is "overrated" due to her looks, The New York Daily News reported.

The whole tweet reads "Kathryn Bigelow would be considered a mildly interesting filmmaker if she was a man but since she's a very hot woman she's really overrated."

Did Kathryn steal Bret's Wooby or something? It's unclear if Ellis is angrier at Bigelow for being female or being good looking: This is the fella, the older among us might recall, whose most famous novel, American Psycho, features a scene in which the titular psycho rigs up a gadget to trap a rat inside a woman's vagina.

Guy just might have a few problems with women, I'm saying. Or, possibly, sexy women. Or even more to the point, like many men, the problem might be hot women who won't pay attention to him.

Anyhoo, Bigelow hasn't responded yet to the snub. Maybe she appreciates the publicity, since the next film from the Academy Award-winning director is the buzzed-about Zero Dark Thirty, out Dec. 19.

Lindsay Lohan, James Deen get lost in Canyons trailer>>

Twitter responses to Ellis' tweet were pretty hilarious. @et tu Brote? wrote, "remember when Bret Easton Ellis wrote that good book? me neither." @VogtRoberts wrote, "In the future, parents will tell their kids to go to bed before midnight or a scary man will yell at them. That man is @BretEastonEllis."

Ellis responded to the mini-furor caused by his tweet by tweeting back "Concerned Empire woman offended by Bigelow tweet writes 'I love you, babe. But stop tweeting wasted.' When the hell else should I tweet?!?"

It's interesting to note that Ellis also has an exceptionally flattering profile image. Taken in 1988, was it? Thought so.

By the way, your name? It's the ultimate '80s name, right up there with Chad, Dirk and Biff. Pretty rich coming from a writer with a name that sounds like a cafeteria lady from the 1940s, but there you are.

Image courtesy Nikki Nelson/WENN.com

HG isn't just for princesses

Severe morning sickness for kate

As the world was buzzing about Kate Middleton's hospitalization for hyperemesis gravidarum — severe morning sickness —  in the very early stages of her royal pregnancy, Holly Madison announced she, too, was suffering from it in her seventh month.

Is "severe" morning sickness real, or is it the new "exhaustion" for the rich and famous? Let's face it, many moms-to-be have HG — it's just not headline news. You don't have to be a princess or a Playboy model to suffer from this all-too-real — and pretty miserable — pregnancy condition.

If news of Kate Middleton's hospitalization for severe morning sickness had you running to kiss the toilet — if you even made it that far — you're not alone. Many moms suffer from morning sickness — nausea and sometimes vomiting during pregnancy .

When is Kate Middleton due? >>

Morning sickness 101

No one knows for sure what causes morning sickness, but there may be triggers. Miriam Erick, a registered dietician and author of the book, Managing Morning Sickness, says, "In my experience there are some background triggers which seem to make NVP worse — smells, motion, noise, hot humid climates, cold damp climates — have to close windows so smells stay in — bright lights, constipation, fatigue/sleep deprivation, altered electrolytes and hunger."

Any kind of morning sickness can be a drag, but if you have hyperemesis gravidarum it's much worse, and can pose risks to you and your baby.

HG — yes, it's real

And it's really miserable — not just the disease itself, but how people may just brush off severe morning sickness as being all in their head while telling her to eat a couple of crackers, drink some ginger ale and get on with the day.

More about hyperemesis gravidarum>>

Kimber MacGibbon, RN, director of education for the Hyperemesis Education and Research Foundation, explains, "Women are not exaggerating when they say they vomit endlessly until dehydrated, despite their best attempts to drink and eat. When women are this sick, they do not need to be pushed to eat, continue working full- or even part-time, or to try and tough it out or will it away. You know that is simply not possible. Fighting HG only worsens it. They need those around them to rally support and ensure proper medical care so the mother can rest and have the best chance at surviving HG with a healthy baby."

What to do if you think it's HG

Don't be embarrassed. Don't shrug it off. Call your doctor and midwife — it's not all in your head. If you're unable to keep any food or drink down, the nausea and vomiting won't stop, and you've lost more than 5 percent of your pre-pregnancy body weight, it's likely HG. Just like Kate, you may need to go to the hospital to receive IV fluids, and possibly be admitted for a few days or more. "There is no substitute for fluids," Erick says.

When HG is no longer in the news

Now that the Princess is out of the hospital — and hopefully not experiencing severe morning sickness as much anymore — people shouldn't forget about hyperemesis gravidarum. "We hope she will be open about her experience and care so that when the beautiful baby is born healthy, women will feel more confident requesting needed treatment from their health professionals, and health professionals will take the initiative to learn more for the benefit of their patients," says MacGibbon.

Image courtesy WENN.com

More about morning sickness

Morning sickness all day
Exercise during pregnancy
Natural remedies for morning sickness

Those who rush around decorating, buying presents and attending holiday gatherings might have a tendency to not only go a little crazy but might also forget the true meaning of Christmas.

4 Simple ways to make Christmas extra special

Don’t forget to celebrate in ways that reflect the true meaning of the holiday and cultivate family memories that will last a lifetime.

For some, the holidays are all about baking, for others it's about finding that perfect gift, but no matter what the holidays mean to you, it's easy to get stressed out and that is why it is so important to remember to slow down and savor the magic, especially for the sake of your kids!

Here are four simple ways to make your family's holidays brighter and calmer:

At the end of a busy day, bundle up and take a walk around your neighborhood to ooh and ahh over holiday decorations. Seeing a child's face light up over twinkle lights is truly a sight to behold. If you're lucky, you live in a city like Tucson, Arizona where Winterhaven is located and can delight in an entire neighborhood of nearly 300 homes that for 63 years have participated in the Festival of Lights! Check with your local community center or Travel & Tourism organization to see if a place like this exists near you.

Take some time out to snuggle up on the couch in your jammies with some hot chocolate amidst the glow of your Christmas tree and watch a holiday movie together. Some of our favorites include: The Polar Express, Elf, A Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street and It's a Wonderful Life.

We are inundated with holiday madness from basically the day after Halloween through Christmas so it's nice to escape it all and do something completely non-holiday related like visit a zoo, museum or library, play a favorite board game, build a fort in your living room or plan your family Spring Break getaway.

We know the holidays should never be about receiving — giving is fun too! And, now that you've baked nine dozen cookies, four fruit cakes and two pans of salted caramel mocha cupcakes, put together fun festive tins full of your sweet treats and personally deliver them to family and friends. They are sure to appreciate your kind gesture.

More about capturing holiday magic

Holiday stress: Help your kids through the holiday season
How to survive the holidays with your family
4 Ways to truly enjoy the holidays

"Insipid, bleached-out" white girls like Katy Perry and Taylor Swift are killing feminism in America, says writer Camille Paglia in an essay for The Hollywood Reporter.

Paglia was apparently set off by Forbes' list of Hollywood's highest-paid women, which was published in October.

Oprah out-earned everyone else, of course . But Swift was in third place on the list, having earned $57 million with platinum singles like "We are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "Safe & Sound."

Perry showed up ninth on the list with $45 million in earnings, thanks to continued airplay of her 2010 album Teenage Dream.

Perhaps that's why, Paglia writes, Perry is "still stuck in wide-eyed teen-queen mode" even though she's 28 years old. "Especially after the wreck of her brief marriage to epicene roue Russell Brand, her dazzling smiles are starting to look as artificial as those of the aging, hard-bitten Joan Crawford."

Swift was also in for harsh words from the writer. She "affects a 'golly, gee whiz' persona of cultivated blandness and self-deprecation, which is completely at odds with her shrewd glam dress sense."

Dear Taylor Swift: Please get over your long-lost princess act>>

Paglia also wrote that Swift's vocal style is "monotonous" with a "characterless keening soprano" in "meandering, snippy songs" about her boyfriends.

The problem isn't with the singers themselves, says Paglia. It's what they represent: bland, non-controversial girlishness, not strong and powerful sisters who are doin' it for themselves.

Aging women have, Paglia writes, "become progressively invisible. If girls are helplessly stalled at the ingenue phase, it’s partly because women in their 40s and 50s are, via Botox, fillers and cosmetic surgery, still trying to look like they’re 20." The entertainment industry should be giving American women models of "mature womanliness," not "demure girly-girls."

Conversely, Paglia has words of praise for Rihanna, fourth on Forbes' list. She has "an elemental erotic intensity, a sensuality inspired by the beauty of the Caribbean sun and sea." Oh, so she's from the islands, so she's exotic and can't be bland. Got it.

Image courtesy David Lucas/ WENN.com

It looks like one person won't be at Monday's American Country Awardsin Las Vegas, but her absence is for a very good reason. Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles gave birth to her first child on Thursday.

The country singer and her husband, Justin Miller, welcomed a son, Magnus Hamilton Miller, to the world. The couple released a statement about their new bundle of joy: “We are so thankful for all the prayers and support and are excited to take some time together as a new family."

The duo just celebrated their first anniversary on Nov. 28. They were married last year in a sunset ceremony in Tennessee, so it's been a big year for their growing family.

The Grammy-winning singer also had a busy summer working on the ABC show Duets, and toured with her band. Luckily, the 38-year-old had a pretty easy pregnancy.

In her third trimester, she told People, “I’m happy to just have the opportunity to be at home. I’m throwing things away, organizing [and] putting up suitcases. But I’m feeling great!"

Nettles does plan on touring with Sugarland, and her new baby boy will be in tow. The group has been together since 2003, with 2004 being their big breakout year.

In 2011, the group made headlines after a storm collapsed the stage shortly before they performed at the Indiana State Fair. Sadly, the catastrophe injured 58 people and killed seven concertgoers.

2012 was a much better year for the group. Sugarland recorded the song, "Guide You Home" for the movie Act of Valor and they toured through the spring and summer. They finished up about two months before Nettles gave birth.

Image courtesy of Judy Eddy/WENN.com