Back in the day, Halloween was a pagan festival called Samhain. There are so many different Gaelic ways to say Samhain, but I recently read that the correct way to pronounce it is SAV-ahn.

The Celts believe that on the eve of Halloween, dead spirits visit the living world. Bonfires were lit to keep evil spirits away and the Celts dressed in disguises, thus Halloween costumes.

Samhain was celebrated at the end of the summer, and it was also the start of another year. The day's most well-known concept was that spirits would walk the earth, thus the communities would get together and have bonfires to ward off evil spirits. When the fire was only embers, the ashes would be taken and spread on the farmers' fields as a good-luck charm.

A lesser known superstition involved cutting your hair and putting a bit of it on the fire. Supposedly, it would tell you who your husband would be.

Have you ever wondered how jack-o'-lanterns came to be?

It is from an old Irish folktale about a man called Stingy Jack. The story goes that Stingy Jack invited the devil to have a drink with him, neglected to pay and convinced the devil to turn into a coin so that he could pay for the drinks. The devil did as he asked but Jack, being stingy that way, decided to keep the coin for himself.

He put it in his pocket next to the cross he had in there, which prevented the devil from going back to his original form. Jack eventually did free the devil with the stipulation that the devil could not bother Jack for one year, and if Jack died, the devil could not take his soul. The story goes on with Jack tricking the devil to keep him from bothering him.

Jack eventually died, but God would not let him into heaven. The devil was not happy about the tricks Jack had played on him, and he did not allow Jack into hell. So Jack had to go into the night with only a coal to light his way. Jack, being the resourceful man he was, put the coal into a carved-out turnip, and he is still wandering the earth.

His ghostly figure was called Jack of the lantern, turned into jack-o'-lantern. The custom of a turnip being used was eventually changed to a pumpkin. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, which was the home of the pumpkin. We now carve pumpkins because it traditionally keeps the spirits away.

Where did trick-or-treating come from?

Well, that is another Irish custom where the poor went begging from door to door at rich people's homes to ask for money, food or kindling. They would then take their beggings back home to use in their Halloween celebrations.

Food played a major role in the Samhain season

Colcannon is a combination of cabbage, potatoes — and sometimes bacon. I love colcannon and usually make it on St. Patrick's Day, but it can be enjoyed anytime.

Barnbrack is a traditional Irish Halloween cake

It is like a sweet bread with fruit and other items in it. Those items can be a coin for a prosperous year or a ring that would mean continued happiness or a romance in the future. There could also be a thimble in it, and that meant that you would never marry. When barnbrack is served, each member gets a slice and a prize.

So now that you know a bit about where the Halloween tradition comes from, have a safe and happy Samhain!

More: Reese Witherspoon is over this Selma Blair, Sarah Michelle Gellar kiss (PHOTO)

1. It's about Annette and Sebastian's son

According to Deadline, the TV drama series Cruel Intentions will follow Bash Casey, Annette and Sebastian's son. Apparently, Annette was pregnant at the end of the movie. Surprise! Anyways, it will tell the tale of 16-year-old Bash and his rags-to-riches story. After finding Sebastian's journal, Bash learns about the family legacy he didn't know existed. He then goes looking for answers by leaving his hometown in Kansas to attend the prestigious Brighton Preparatory Academy in San Francisco.

2. It comes from a very talented group of people

The film's writer-director Roger Kumble and producer Neal H. Moritz, in addition to Lindsey Rosin and Jordan Ross of The Unauthorized Musical Parody of Cruel Intentions, are collaborating on the project.

More: 15 The O.C. GIFs that accurately express how excited we are for the musical

3. It will be just like the movie

In addition to being set in present day, the show will involve many of the same elements showcased in the film, including sex, money, power and corruption.

4. Here's hoping we see some familiar faces

Seeing as the series will follow Annette and Sebastian's son, this means Witherspoon will show up — or at least I hope so. She has to make at least one appearance before Bash sets off for San Francisco, right? Let's also keep our fingers crossed for Blair and Gellar to recur and/or guest star. What'd be even better? If they were all regulars.

5. A Pretty Little Liars star could appear

For those unaware, PLL's Janel Parrish (Mona Vanderwaal) was in the Cruel Intentions Los Angeles musical mentioned above, so maybe she'll get cast.

How excited are you about the Cruel Intentions TV show? This excited, maybe?

More: Sarah Michelle Gellar raps as Cinderella in dis-filled Disney battle (VIDEO)

After the pumpkins have been carved and the costumes have been put together, set aside an evening to enjoy hot cider, pumpkin muffins and a spine-tingling story. Set the mood with one of these spooky books; there's something for everyone in your family.

1. Dead Boy by Laurel Gale

Crow Darlingson seems like an ordinary 11-year-old: He lives with his mom, is home-schooled and looks forward to Halloween. But if you look closer, you just might notice that Crow never eats, doesn't breathe and has a strong odor. That's because Crow isn't fully alive. Don't worry, he's not a zombie — he's just cursed. When Melody and her dad move in next door, Crow makes his first friend in years, and together they think they've discovered a way to bring Crow back to life. Middle-grade readers will love getting to know Crow and Melody and trying to solve the puzzles that will reverse Crow's curse. Although Dead Boy has some spooky elements, this dark tale is full of adventure and humor, focuses on friendship and encourages us to be kind to one another.

2. A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

Grace Mae, of sound mind and body, is in a living nightmare. Her father, a famous politician, committed her to a Boston lunatic asylum to protect his reputation and guard his secrets. Just as Grace begins to truly go mad, she is visited by Dr. Thornhollow, who is experimenting with a surgery that will later be called a frontal lobotomy. Saving Grace through a series of deceptions, Thornhollow takes her to Ohio, where he has been collaborating with law enforcement to solve the most horrific murders. While helping the doctor track down a serial killer, Grace struggles with overcoming the darkness of her own past. This action-packed Gothic psychological thriller, set about a century ago and written for a young adult audience, will have you questioning the difference between sanity and madness and wondering who to trust.

3. Wonderland by Jennifer Hillier

Seaside, Washington, is a sleepy little town that's financially dependent on Wonderland, an amusement park that boasts the oldest Ferris wheel, scariest clown house and most fun midway in the Northwest. When offered the job of deputy police chief of the tourist town, Vanessa Castro was happy to escape her troubles in Seattle. But after she starts to investigate her first case, the apparent murder of a homeless man, she discovers something much more terrifying than the park's haunted dollhouse. This murder mystery-thriller will keep you guessing right up to the end, as Hillier carefully builds the tension and sets up the potential suspects. You'll never look at an amusement park in the same way again.

4. Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

In 1991, Julia, a college freshman, walked out of a bar and was never seen again. Twenty years later, her family still has hope, monitoring every missing person report and recovered body. Although the two remaining sisters have been estranged, they reunite after Claire is suddenly widowed and discovers that her husband, Paul, was under investigation for embezzling funds from his company. As the sisters sort through Paul's files and field questions from the police and FBI, they stumble across what looks like a deep, dark conspiracy that may have ties to Julia. Slaughter's masterful pacing draws us, step by step, into a terrifying world with few safety nets. Be warned: You might be sleeping with the lights on after you finish this thriller.

5. The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff

Nonfiction lovers will be fascinated by the true-life story of the year a small New England town executed 19 people who were convicted of being witches or wizards. The truth of the Salem witch hunt is both less dramatic and more disturbing than the picture painted in the novels and movies it has inspired. Reading almost like a novel, this well-researched account focuses on the personalities of the people involved and places the trials within the religious and social contexts of Colonial America. Besides presenting theories of what brought on the community-wide fear of witches, Schiff also includes some of the quirkier facts; for example, even animals were tried and executed for witchcraft. As you hand out candy to your neighborhood witches, you'll be thankful for living in modern times.

Christina Litle, a 28-year-old photographer from Napa with her third baby on the way, says she has been dancing since age 5 — which was why she was so surprised to receive a negative reaction to her cute pregnancy dancing video. Instead of celebrating a badass mom who can still shake it with an almost fully cooked baby in her belly, the pregnancy police came out in full force after seeing Litle's high-intensity, third-trimester dance.

More: How much exercise during pregnancy is too much?

Her crime, besides having rhythm anyone would kill for? Litle has been accused of endangering her unborn baby. From worry about the possibility of her falling to those who say she could cause shaken baby syndrome with her bootylicious moves, the accusations have flown.

We can only assume all the judgy fingers pointing at Litle are wagging in jealousy, because for an uncomplicated pregnancy, regular exercise isn't just allowed, it's encouraged, and Litle shouldn't have to defend herself. In this day and age, where almost anything you do can harm your precious unborn child, we forget that a woman's body is resilient.

Out of everything a pregnant woman is told to stay away from during those nine long months (and the list keeps getting longer every day), exercise isn't one of them. The basic rule of thumb that almost any doctor will tell you when it comes to exercise during pregnancy is this: If you did it comfortably before baby, then within reason, you can do it comfortably after baby. This means that while you may have to put high-impact sports like snowboarding on the shelf while growing a baby, you can and should dance like a maniac if you were a maniac on the dance floor before getting pregnant.

More: Exercise during pregnancy: What is safe? What is recommended?

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' official statement on exercise during pregnancy backs this logic: Pregnant women who are in good health and under the care of a doctor should continue to "participate in a wide range of recreational activities," as long as they're evaluated for safety first. Thirty minutes or more of moderate exercise on most or all days of the week is the recommendation for all pregnant women.

This confirms what most women with a good head on their shoulders have long suspected. All the active and extra-active pregnant women we see, like the many pregnant marathon runners, competitive pregnant swimmers and pregnant athletes, should be celebrated and not criticized. Litle is correct in saying that exercise during pregnancy can help to make labor more comfortable. The most recent research from the Netherlands sheds more light on staying active and maintaining a healthy weight during and after pregnancy — pregnancy weight gain has been tied to an increased risk of childhood obesity, and now a mother's postpartum weight gain is considered an influencing factor too.

More: You might not be able to get this pregnancy announcement out of your head

Telling pregnant women they're fragile isn't just antiquated and annoying — it's insulting, and it can also be dangerous to a mother's health. Contrary to what the Internet peanut gallery has to say, a fit pregnant woman who wants to shake it on camera is a positive role model for pregnant women everywhere.

It's no secret that there are many benefits to having a consistent yoga practice, but here's one more for you — the "yoga butt." Urban Dictionary defines it as: The ultimate external sign of a strong and powerful body.

OK, I admit, Urban Dictionary might not be the most legit source to prove my point, but have no fear, I also phoned in a yogi friend to back me up on this one (pun intended).

"The yoga asana practice can help with muscle definition and tone all over your body," says Jaclyn Hughes, registered yoga instructor, health and lifestyle coach and ICU nurse. While Hughes makes sure to point out that you can't "spot reduce" in any one area of the body, including the tush, she did say that there are certainly yoga poses that will help define your derriere.

Of course, achieving a toned tush shouldn't be your only objective in yoga class (although it's definitely an added perk) because the benefits of the practice go far beyond just that.

More: How to get a yogi butt

"Yoga as a daily practice is most beneficial for your overall health of mind and body," says Hughes. "A body in motion stays in motion. Plus the overwhelmingly good benefits it has to decrease your stress and quiet your mind has a systematic effect on your body. Even if it's only a few minutes each day instead of an hour-long practice, a few Sun Salutations gets your blood, muscles, and joints moving."

Here is Hughes' go-to "feel the burn in your booty" yoga poses below.

1. Chair Pose (Utkatasana)

"This asana is an isometric hold and increases strength in the hamstrings, glutes, and quads," says Hughes.

Begin standing straight up, feet hip-width apart. While keeping your weight centered on your heels, engage your abdomen as you hinge forward at the waist, lowering your bottom backwards and towards the ground as if you were about to sit down in a chair.

From here, extend your arms up towards the sky and hold for four to six breaths.

2. Crescent Lunge (Anjaneyasana)

"This pose strengthens the quadriceps and gluteus muscles," Hughes says.

Begin in Downward Facing Dog. From here, step your right foot forward in between your hands. Keep your front knee bent at a 90-degree angle (making sure it is directly aligned with your ankle) and your back knee pointing down towards the ground as you remain on the ball of your back foot, pressing strongly through the back leg to get it as straight as you can. Raise your arms up to the sky, reaching through the fingertips, and hold here for six to eight breaths and repeat on the other side.

You can also choose to lower your back knee to the ground, allowing your front knee to come beyond your ankle as you are supported by your back leg.

3. Horse Pose (Vātāyanāsana)

Begin by standing in Mountain Pose at the top of your mat. From here, bring your hands to a prayer position at your heart as you step your feet out a little more than mat-width distance apart. Turn your toes out slightly to either side, and then on an exhalation, bend your knees directly over your toes and lower your hips into a squat. Hold here for six to eight breaths.

Increase the difficulty by staying in this wide-legged stance squat pose, raising up onto your tippy toes and holding for a few breaths. Then, lower the feet back down to the ground. Repeat this exercise four to eight times.

4. Extended Side Angle (Utthita Parsvakonasana)

"Deep lunge that when held isometrically really targets your gluteus," says Hughes.

Starting from Warrior II pose, bring your front forearm to gently rest along the top of your front thigh, allowing it to press into your leg as you turn your chest to lift towards the sky, creating space between your supporting shoulder and head. Pushing through your back foot so that all five toes are pressing evenly into the ground, keep the back leg extended straight while the front knee stays bent.

To stretch a little further, reach your front hand down towards the ground, while you continue to reach your back arm up and overhead. In this variation, the front hand can either come to the inside of the front foot, allowing the shoulder to press firmly into the knee, or bring the arm to the outside of the front foot to make the stretch a little less intense.

5. Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)

Hughes says this pose will tone legs, gluteus, and abdominal muscles.

From Downward Facing Dog, step your right foot through and place it in between your hands at the top of your mat, aligning your front heel with the inside of your back foot (front toes should be facing the front of the room, while the back foot is parallel with your yoga mat, toes facing to the side). Keeping a deep bend in the front knee and making sure the knee is directly in line with your ankle, cartwheel your arms up as you raise your chest off your thigh, reaching your arms in opposite directions. Hips face the side of the room, while your gaze remains over your right shoulder, toward the front of the room. Repeat on the opposite leg.

6. Shiva Squats

Beginning in Mountain Pose, take a step forward with your right foot as you engage your core and slowly lift your left leg back and up behind you. As your leg lifts, extend your arms out in front of you and lower your torso down towards the ground, creating one straight line from hand to foot.

"[It] requires, leg, gluteus, and core strength combined with balance on one leg," says Hughes.

From here, take your lifted leg behind you and tuck it in behind the standing knee. Hold isometrically or repeat the movement of extension and flexion four to eight times.

I'm not a huge fan of 90-degree days, but at the very least, my combination skin has an easier time figuring out how to cope with the heat. The same can't be said for winter, a time when our poor skin is stripped of all moisture and has to be as tough as nails to withstand the peeling, flaking, chapped, blotchy effects of cold winds and bitter temperatures. If you remain loyal to the same skin care products year-round, it says a lot about your true-blue character, but your skin may suffer as a result. As the climate changes, so should the steps we take to protect our skin and keep it healthy and hydrated.

After speaking with experts, including Rachel Jo Silver, social media director at Birchbox, we discovered nine intensely moisturizing and effective cleansers, serums, moisturizers and exfoliants that you can use now to get your skin winter-ready — because it's never too early to prepare.

1. Youth To The People Cleanser

What could be better (or more gentle) than a cleanser that's yummy enough to eat (but, please, don't actually do this). This moisturizing foaming cleanser is loaded with superfoods like kale, green tea and spinach. "It's gentle and non-drying, but also super effective — it's cold pressed (like the juice!) and 100 percent vegan which I love," Silver says. (Birchbox, $36)

2. Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum

This highly concentrated formula is packed with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid to plump up skin and help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. "All of Tata Harper's products are completely natural and still smell divine," Silver says. "This serum is actually more like a face oil: It locks in moisture and sets a nice dewy foundation for skin so you can still have a glow even in the winter." (Birchbox, $95)

3. IPKN Pore Apple Sun Cream

Number one rule to keep in mind, even when there is frost on your windowpane? Do not neglect to apply sunscreen each day, even when it seems utterly ridiculous — the sun doesn't take a vacation from damaging your skin in the wintertime. Count this SPF 40+ formula as one of the many cool, hip skin care miracles to emerge from Korea — and this cream knows how to multitask. "This is a moisturizer, SPF, makeup base and amazing for acne-prone skin because it minimizes sebum production — plus it's color correcting," Silver says.  (Birchbox, $28)

4. dr brandt microdermabrasion skin exfoliant

Slough all those dead winter skin cells away to reveal fresher, healthier skin with the help of this gentle exfoliant, which uses jojoba oil, aloe vera and chamomile to prevent irritation. "This is my favorite facial scrub, but really you can't use it every day — it's too strong," Silver says. "It buffs away dead, dry skin and leaves my face super clean and super soft."  (Birchbox, $78)

5. Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum

Acne-prone skin doesn't take a rest just because there's a chill in the air. This organic, fruit acid-based serum can be used as soon as you feel a nasty pimple coming on or as a spot treatment for the nasty pimple you already have. It dries out your acne, but spares the rest of your face. (Birchbox, $29)

6. Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Creme

If the goal when temps drop is to find the most hydrating creams that won't leave your face a sticky mess, this one wins points for containing micro-drops of water that instantly absorb into the skin upon application. Other good-for-you ingredients include natural extracts of black bamboo, sunflower and barley. "This stuff feels like heaven," Silver says. "I put it between my hands and just smooth one heavy layer over my serum. It locks it in so my skin stays super hydrated while the serum treats breakouts overnight." (Birchbox, $50)

7. Captain Blankenship’s Anchor Hand & Lip Balm

Prevention is key when it comes to protecting our delicate hands and lips from the cold. This hand and lip balm, which contains nourishing organic shea butter and organic almond oil, is easily absorbed by the skin and leaves it feeling like silk. Organic lavender, rose geranium and tangerine essential oils create a fresh and floral scent that will promote feelings of peace and serenity... even while you're shoveling snow. (Captain Blankenship, $20)

8. Meow Meow Tweet’s Repair Balm

The killer secret ingredients in this balm are myrrh, vetiver and chamomile, which repair chapped dry skin anywhere on your body, from your hands to your feet. Organic shea butter, organic sesame oil and wild crafted candelilla wax create a creamy consistency that quickly absorbs into the skin, making this an ideal balm to use on dry knees or elbows.  (Meow Meow Tweet, $18)

9. FIG+YARROW’s Healing Salve

With shea butter, tamanu, borage, rosehips, sea buckthorn and jojoba oils, this is called a "healing" salve because it doesn't simply coat dry skin, it goes deep to repair, nourish, soothe and hydrate it. Keep one at work and one at home to immediately solve dry hand or lip problems before they have a chance to intensify. (Fig + Yarrow, $20)

And no, not just because she's playing a B-movie action actress turned hemophiliac, but because she is giving The Countess a run for her money as queen of Season 5.

More: AHS: Hotel blurs the lines between Lady Gaga and Stefani Germanotta

Let's first take a moment to let our jaws fall at the fact that Bassett is 57 years old. Someone give me those genes right now. Right. Now. She is absolutely timeless! Which not only makes her the perfect hemophiliac, it also means she needs to get herself a skincare endorsement STAT because I'll buy whatever she tells me to.

But aesthetics weren't the only thing that had me floored during Hotel. Bassett also gave a tremendous performance as she made her entrance on the show by kidnapping Donovan (Matt Bomer).

Turns out, her character Ramona wants to take down The Countess (Lady Gaga) and thinks Donovan is the perfect companion in her master plan. That is, until he reveals that The Countess broke up with him last week.

More: 5 Crazy theories on how American Horror Story is all connected

Of course, just because there are a few hitches in Ramona's plan doesn't mean she and Donovan aren't ultimately a pairing that needs to happen.

Bassett herself explained Ramona's relationship with Donovan in a recent interview with TV Guide.

"I think Donovan has been loved and discarded the same way Ramona has, so they have that in common with one another," Bassett explained. "Where it's going, I don't know, because he's still very fresh. It's been a moment for Ramona to process through. Although the pain is fresh, she's had some distance, the ability to wallow in it or process it. Rationally, he understands his position or lack of position in The Countess' life. But emotionally, he's still very, very much tethered."

If you'll remember, I was pretty set last week on The Countess realizing the error of her ways and going back to Donovan. But the more and more I see her interact with Tristan, the more I realize that she's just a problem. Oh, and a gold digger... who kidnaps people's children even though she clearly can't afford them. Gross.

More: AHS creator apologizes to Lady Gaga's parents for AHS: Hotel (VIDEO)

So it could be Ramona for the win this season.

Though, does anyone ever really win in the world of American Horror Story?

Just three episodes in, it's important to remember that a lot can and will change. Clearly the alliances are still forming. And as The Countess and Will Drake proved tonight, gay, straight or taken, no pairing is off the table moving forward.

Do you think Ramona and Donovan will be Hotel's ultimate power couple?

More: Blake Shelton furious over slanderous reports claiming he's an addict

Shelton met fellow The Voice coach Christina Aguilera's daughter, Summer Rain, this week, and the 14-month-old was less than enthused. Aguilera's fiancé Matt Rutler captured the hilarious moment and uploaded it to Instagram for everyone's viewing pleasure.

And boy, is this a goodie!

The image shows Summer Rain struggling to get away, clearly unhappy, as Shelton tries desperately to strike a pose with her. Rutler captioned the image, "Oh no, not Uncle Blake ahhhhh."

More: Blake Shelton hilariously addresses all those Gwen Stefani dating rumors

Fans have reacted in the best way, with comments on the picture including, "Dying lmao," "CUTEST PIC EVER!," "Thats [sic] because she saw that ugly weird tattoo on blake's arm hahahahaha," and "Haha!! Kids knows best."

But now that Aguilera has one costar posing for a photo with her baby girl, fans would love another shot, this time with Adam Levine.

"Aaw haha You should post a picture with adam too!" 10ariel wrote. And wtisally agreed, writing, "I WANT UNCLE ADAM."

More: Blake Shelton talks nasty tabloid rumors and weight loss (VIDEO)

Will Summer Rain be more taken with Levine? We hope we get the chance to find out. But for now, we're really enjoying this Internet gold.

Begin by making the fillings. Combine the apples, cranberries, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a saucepot, and simmer until softened.

Mix together the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and flour with a handheld mixer until smooth. Set both fillings aside, and prep the dough as follows.

Unroll the crescent dough from the can, and pinch together any perforated lines for individual rolls with your fingertips so the dough stays intact in a rectangular shape. Roll out the dough on a parchment paper-lined, rimless baking sheet with a rolling pin, then cut away any excess along the edges to form a straight rectangle on all sides.

Using the same knife, cut strips along each long side of the rectangle, about one-third of the way into the center of the dough.

Using a spatula, spread the cream cheese mixture down the middle.

Spoon the apple-cranberry mixture on top of the cream cheese.

Starting at one end, gently fold the strips over the filling, alternating from each side as you go down.

Once all the sides are folded up, bake for about 20 minutes at 375 degrees F until golden brown.

Remove from the oven, and let cool for about 25 minutes to let the cream cheese set and the top cool down before icing.

Combine the powdered sugar and heavy cream in a small bowl, and mix until icing consistency. Drizzle the icing all over the top of the Danish.

Slice it up, and serve.

Apple-cranberry cream cheese braided Danish recipe

Serves 8-10

Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Inactive time: 25 minutes | Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients:

For the dough

• 1 (8 ounce) can refrigerated crescent roll dough

For the cream cheese filling

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese filling ingredients, and using a handheld mixer, mix until well combined and smooth. Set aside.
3. In a small saucepot over medium heat, combine the apple-cranberry filling ingredients. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently, and cook until softened, about 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, and set aside.
4. On a parchment paper-lined, rimless baking sheet, roll out the crescent dough into a rectangular shape. Pinch together the perforated lines in the dough (usually precut to make individual rolls easy) so that the dough stays together in 1 piece.
5. Using a sharp knife, cut away any excess around the edges to make straight sides to the rectangle of dough.
6. Using the same knife, cut 1/2-inch-wide strips 1/3 of the way from the edge into the center of the dough, all along each long side of the dough.
7. Spread the cream cheese mixture down the middle of the dough.
8. Spoon the apple-cranberry filling on top of the cream cheese.
9. Starting at 1 end, gently fold the strips over the filling, alternating from each side all the way down to the other end.
10. Place the Danish in the oven, and bake for about 20 minutes, until golden brown.
11. Remove from the oven, and let cool for at least 25 minutes.
12. Meanwhile, make the icing by placing the powdered sugar in a small bowl. Slowly add heavy cream or milk, stirring as you go, until you have a consistency liquid enough to drizzle on top of the Danish but not too thin.
13. Drizzle the icing all over the Danish. Cut and serve.

More pastry recipes

Homemade pumpkin toaster pastries
Chocolaty Nutella and pistachio pastries
Guava and cream cheese pastries

More: Kim Zolciak's daughter posts witty video slamming boob job rumors (VIDEO)

According to E! News, Biermann and her boyfriend Slade Osborne have called it quits.

"We broke up two weeks ago. Even though you will see us as a couple for the rest of the season on Don't Be Tardy, we are no longer together," Biermann told E! News. "He's not the man I thought he was and, as a result, my entire family and myself are disappointed."

She continued, "However, I'm young and have my whole future ahead of me and look forward to everything I can accomplish on my own."

More: Kim Zolciak takes to Instagram to announce surprising new gig (PHOTO)

Fans of the show feel as though they've gotten to know Osborne, who made frequent appearances on TV and attended family events and vacations.

Four weeks ago was the last photo that Biermann posted with her beau, and fans have reacted to the news by commenting on the picture.

"Please let it be no!^^^ the cutest couple @briellebiermann," ally_jo98 wrote.

"Did you guys break up or..... Cause I'm so confused," sarah_celleste shared.

Alliedavisx97 expressed disappointment at the news, writing, "I'm freaking out, I was obsessed with you guys." And mermarty.here2party was also upset. She wrote, "Did you guys break up????please say no y'all are couple goals @briellebiermann @sladeosborne."

More: Kim Zolciak's former DWTS partner says she was to blame for her stroke

Are you shocked to learn that Biermann and Osborne have called it quits? Were they your favorite reality TV couple? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Online dating has a lot going for it: It's easy, fast, wide-ranging, and the electronic screen can lessen the blow of rejection. (Although it also seems to lessen some people's politeness filter, but that's another topic.) Still, there's one thing that hasn't changed online, and that's the need for a solid pickup line.

Saying "hey, I've been creeping on your profile for weeks" somehow doesn't do the trick. The perfect opener needs to convince the other person that a) you're not a serial killer, and b) you're not a lying liar who lies. Ideally it will also convey how smart, funny, charming, attractive and interesting you are. That's a lot for one sentence. So it's no wonder that people often get stuck at the meet part of meet-cute.

More: Everything you should and shouldn't put in your online dating profile

Technology is trying to help. OKCupid and Match give you things in common with which to start a conversation. And for the next generation, Tinder tries to take out the opening line altogether by just making it about pictures. But while it's plenty easy to swipe right on someone, you still have to find the right thing to say. Plus, what works in your neighborhood bar ("I like your shoes") often doesn't online ("Wait, how do you know what my shoes look like?").

This is why Hinge, a Tinder-style app that's geared toward relationships rather than hookups, decided to sift through its data and do a study to discover which pickup lines work best for online dating.

First, what doesn't work: Only use the line "hey, what's up" if you're talking to a horse. According to their study, this one almost never works. (And duh — boring.) Also unpopular were questions about jorts (that is, jean shorts; that is, why why why would you bring this up in the first place?), hiccups vs. sneezes and most awkward movie watched with one's parents.

There are a lot of quirky one-liners that do get great responses, though. The overall most-answered question, according to the app, turned out to be, "Two truths and a lie: Ready, set, go!" which is awesome both for getting to know people and for allowing us to relive our middle school years. The next most popular lines were, "Sunday priorities: exercise, sleep or aggressive mimosas?" and "Best discovery ever: Netlix or avocados?"

More: 7 Dating websites for people who usually hate online dating

Women and men differed in their preferred pickups lines, unsurprisingly. Women were 40 percent more likely to respond to questions about food, like, "Chocolate, red velvet or Funfetti?" while men were 98 percent more open to assertive messages, like, "Free this weekend?"

Age also played a part in preferred come-ons. The youngest crowd, those under 23 years old, showed their relative lack of life experience by preferring novelty questions, like, "What's your painkiller personality: Tylenol or Advil?" People aged 24 to 28, the stage where people establish their lives, enjoy lifestyle questions, like, "What's a better adventure: rock climbing or scuba diving?" Folks aged 29 to 34 want to skip the games and get straight to personal questions. And the oldest group, those 35 and older, like to pretend they're younger with questions about pop culture, like, "Taylor Swift of Katy Perry?"

So what are we to take from all this? Clearly the formula for a successful pickup line is anything involving colons (the punctuation, not your bowels) and multiple-choice answers. Although, my personal favorite lines followed none of these rules and weren't even a question: "Please confirm you are not one of those people who claps when the plane lands." Who wouldn't laugh out loud at that one (and then text back)?

1. No go for Joe

Joe Biden is not running for president, after all. In a speech yesterday, he said he's simply "out of time" to launch a campaign and spoke a little bit about grieving from the loss of his son. He also laid out his opinions about the coming election. The anticipation has now moved from when will he announce to when will he endorse. Biden is a lovable guy. His endorsement will mean a big boost for whichever campaign he chooses. — CNN

More: Barack Obama reveals his true feelings about Joe Biden

2. Testify

Today Hillary Clinton will testify in front of the House Benghazi committee. In 2012, militants attacked a diplomatic mission in Benghazi and Clinton, who was secretary of state at the time, took a lot of heat for how she handled it. Since then, House Republicans have turned it into a scandal, continually investigating and probing, trying to find dirt on Clinton. In recent weeks, more than a couple of members have admitted a major goal of the committee is simply to harm Clinton's campaign. How lovely. Hope Hills got enough sleep last night because it's probably going to be a long day. — ABC News

3. Uh-oh

CIA Director John Brennan's personal email account was hacked earlier this week by a couple of teens who convinced Verizon to give them enough information to change his password. Now, WikiLeaks has started releasing the emails. So far, they've released social security information for some of his contacts, including many high ranking officials, but it's unclear if any of the emails were classified. The teens say they hacked Brennan because they were frustrated with foreign policy and wanted to shame the government. Terrible mission accomplished, I guess? — The Verge

More: How to avoid getting hacked

4. The kids really are the future

The student senate at the University of Mississippi voted to remove the state flag from their campus. The flag — in case you're unaware — features the Confederate battle emblem. Only 16 of the 49 senate members voted to keep the flag. The resolution will now head to the student body president, who's already voiced his desire to see the flag removed. If the resolution passes the president, the University of Mississippi will become the fourth school in the state to refuse to fly the flag. You go, Ole Miss! — USA Today

5. This is not a drill

A study by NASA has found a 99 percent chance of a magnitude 5 or greater earthquake in the greater Los Angeles area within the next three years. An earthquake that size would cause millions of dollars of damage, while one of a larger scale would cause billions. Either way, it's not a forecast people in Los Angeles want to hear. Sweeping retrofitting rules passed by the Los Angeles City Council will update several older buildings. Still, the earthquake is a scary prospect and we hope the studies are wrong. — CBS News

More: How to stock your kitchen for an earthquake, according to hipsters

6. Say it isn't so

New research shows chemicals in sunscreen could be killing coral reefs. Turns out, the ultraviolet-absorbing chemicals in sunscreen actually accelerate coral bleaching and stall new growth. The study's co-author, Craig Downs, says at least 80 percent of the coral reefs in the Caribbean are gone. If we can reduce the pollution that's killing these reefs, they might have time to recover. Next time you take a vacation, look into "reef friendly" sunscreen. They actually make it, and it can help stop some of this destruction in major tourist areas. — NPR

More: Maci Bookout fans are questioning her boyfriend's commitment (PHOTO)

Bookout recently uploaded a picture of herself and her pet pooch, a boxer named Bonnie. She captioned the pic, "dirty nose selfie #bonniebaby #boxersofinstagram." But if you look closely at the snap you may notice something surprising; she appears to be wearing a ring (on that finger).

Fans are freaking out over the snap and are now convinced that Bookout is secretly engaged.

"Is that a ring on her finger.?!" cjcarr07 asked.

More: Maci Bookout's Vegas holiday pic sparks a very interesting debate (PHOTO)

Saraschneid wrote, "everyone's talking about how there's a ring on her finger here...... Is she engaged & hiding it?!"

Instagram user jennifermarriex expressed excitement with the comment, "DO YOU SEE THE RING ON HER FINGER!?! OMFG, SHUT UP!" And danaaleighh wrote, "She definitely has a ring on her finger :)."

But if Bookout was engaged, why would she keep it a secret? Apart from the obvious reason that some things in her life are allowed to be kept private. But some fans think they may have the answer to this question, too.

More: Farrah Abraham's haters put her on blast for being ugly on the inside (PHOTO)

"She may have to hide it due to a contract with MTV where the proposal is aired on the new season of TMOG," fireballginger shared.

Could Bookout be secretly engaged, and is the engagement going to play out on the new season of Teen Mom OG? Or is everyone freaking out for nothing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

More: Khloé Kardashian's love life may be changing after Lamar Odom's death scare

Unfortunately, Harden got the short end of the straw in this whole situation, and a new report about the way he found out his relationship was over will really make you feel for him.

"James found out about Khloé taking Lamar back from friends texting him and Twitter. After that, Khloé got to him and they talked. He is OK with it because he is focused specifically on [an] NBA championship, MVP of the league and how to spend his $200 million from Adidas. His life is all right. He is not going to let heartbreak ruin all the good he has in his life. He lives by the code — everything happens for a reason. So don’t feel bad for him," a source told Hollywood Life.

More: Khloé Kardashian, Lamar Odom call off their divorce to give love a second chance

While we're glad that Harden is not taking the breakup too badly, it's still sucks that he had to find out about it via social media. Despite this, Harden is bouncing back and recently uploaded a video on Instagram in which he sings along to Drake and Future's song "Jersey" — which many have interpreted as a dis at Kardashian.

Instagram user sillabo stated, "think this bout khloe lol." [sic] And other fans were quick to tell Harden he would be better off without her.

"F*** all that kardashian drama you good young'n" jp3theking wrote. brownskinnedafro agreed. They wrote, "Lol @jharden13 never get involved with the kardashians."

More: Vikki Ziegler dishes on Khloé Kardashian's response to Lamar Odom's crisis

"he better make sure he keeps his head on the court & not this in Kardashian foolishness," kayjtee23 shared.

If your child's on Instagram, it may be time to sit them down and ask them about their "Finstagram" account. No, it's not another social media site we old fogeys have to figure out: A kid's Finsta is their "secret" Instagram account, one where they limit followers (ahem, that may mean you, Mom and Dad) and post the sort of photos and captions they're uneasy about putting out on their regular "Instagram" accounts. The name comes from a mashup of "fake" and "Instagram."

The Hatch kids let us in on the divide between Insta and Finsta... and what parents need to know: 

Startling, huh?

First, to know that kids might have another account out there that you might not know about, and second, to know that our kids feel they can't actually share their authentic selves with the world:

More: Kids have a big problem with how the media treats women in politics (VIDEO)

We as parents certainly need to impress upon our kids that they shouldn't share everything about themselves on social media — for safety's sake. What they say now could follow them into their futures, with colleges and future employers Googling them (not to mention some 40 percent of adult Internet users admit they regret things they've posted in the past).

More: 1 Big step could save you a lot of headaches when your kid gets a cellphone

But the Finstagram phenomenon puts us parents in the precarious position of trying to impress upon our kids that while too much honesty is a bad thing, we still want them to be true to themselves. Social media seems to allow our kids to create alternate personae for themselves, and who they really are can get lost in the middle:

More: Why we need to teach our kids about the F-word

But knowledge, as they say, is power. Talk to your kids about social media, and ask them for all of their account information. If they have a second "Finsta" account, ask them why they feel the need to edit themselves.

For more help, download the Hatch discussion guide.

How many social media accounts do your kids have?

Yes, Brenda. Not the Brenda she became by senior year but the Brenda that started the series. A brunette who pined to be a blonde so she could fit in with the cool crowd. A girl who gets embarrassed in front of her secret guy crush (remember in the their first scene together when Dylan slides out from beneath Brandon’s car?), and yet connects with him because she is so real. A teen that is melodramatic (“Maybe I’m not your little girl anymore, Dad") but just can’t help it because she feels things that deeply.

My high school experience was nothing like Brenda’s (no Peach Pit or Beverly Hills Beach Club to hang out at), and yet it was everything like hers. I related to her inner battle between being real and being popular. I understood her wanting the guy, but then not wanting the guy and then wanting him again when someone else wanted him.

Teen magazines used to ask, “Are you a Brenda or a Kelly?” I was a Brenda all the way but it was hard because the character got so much negative backlash. Didn’t people understand she was misunderstood? She was insecure! She was a teenager! But other TV viewers saw her as a brat and began to hate her both on and off screen. The actress’s antics seemed to spill over into the way the character was written. Blonde bully Kelly from season one became the kinder, more sympathetic character. Eventually even I, a die-hard Brenda fan, could no longer support her antics — like almost marrying Stuart, or letting the animals out of the lab.

Twenty years later, if asked now if I am a Brenda or a Kelly, I would say: I am a Cindy. I am the mother of the teens, a supporting player in the angst. I am the one sitting on the couch at midnight pretending to read the same book over and over again, just waiting up to make sure that everyone returns home safely from the evening activities. I am not making sundaes in the kitchen with my friends discussing our love lives. I am washing the dishes those girls leave in my sink and going out to buy more ice cream when they put the cartons back in the freezer three-quarters empty.

During the run of the show, I never gave the character of Cindy Walsh much thought. She never had a lot of storylines, and the one where she and Jim almost swapped with another couple was pretty darn gross. But now that I am as old as the fictional Mrs. Walsh, I am embracing it. I no longer want the blonde hair — I want my original brunette color (and will continue trying to achieve that while covering up the grey). I no longer want to be in the popular group. I want to be with the people that want to be with me. And I no longer want to date the bad boy. I want to embrace the good one that sticks with me through life’s ups and downs.

He describes himself as an IACP-Award winning photographer, award-winning baker, award-winning graphic designer, storyteller, recipe developer, writer and average Joe bon vivant. Phew! But take a stroll through his blog, and you can see why he's winning awards.

As a successful blogger in the competitive food space, he's learned how to navigate the ins and outs of the business, and he's sharing some of that insight with us. From how to remain a sane and motivated blogger to tips for turning your blog into a business, Irvin offers us a sneak peek to what he'll be dishing on at #BlogHerFood15, where he's speaking on the panel Achieving Long-Term Blogger Happiness. Plus, we get to peek inside his fridge. How many dozen eggs does one food blogger need? Apparently quite a few.

More: Michael Procopio talks writing, eating and his stance on pumpkin spice lattes

How do you stay motivated when you’ve been blogging for many years? What inspires you?

I realize that blogging is just one part of my life. And once I stopped focusing on it as my main source of everything, life got easier. I take breaks. I sometimes don’t make my own “internal” deadline for a post. And sometimes I just decide I need to write a post because I want to write a post, not for any other reason. I also stopped looking at my traffic and analytics every day. That saved my sanity.

Best tip for turning your blog into a business?

Understand what you’re worth. Charge what you think your time is worth, and know that sometimes you’ll get a no. If you can afford it, be willing to walk away from a project. But also do it politely, and offer to help in any other way possible. For instance, if I’m out of a brand’s price range, I’ll send them names of other bloggers who might be a better fit. The brand always appreciates the lead, other bloggers always appreciate you passing their name on, and if/when the brand has more money in their budget, they’ll think of that person that was super helpful to them next time. If the blogger gets approached by a brand asking them for names of other bloggers, I can only hope they will think of me as well. The more we help each other, the more we all rise up together as successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople.

The three things you wish you’d known before you started a food blog?

• That I should have started blogging back in 2004, not 2010.
• That I should learn how to use my camera properly and not just shoot in automatic mode.
• That I really shouldn’t use so many exclamation marks.

The thing you will probably fail at at least once when starting a food blog?

There is tons of advice on how to be successful with a food blog. Be on social media constantly, pin all the time, take gorgeous photos, write beautiful blogs posts, promote yourself on all the channels, pay attention to SEO, etc. But in all that, people often forget that a food blog is about food. Inevitably, after writing and photographing and social media-ing the heck out of a post, you’ll find that you wrote “use 12 teaspoons of kosher salt” instead of “1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt.” Proofread, test, and make sure your recipes are solid. Everyone messes that up eventually. But understand the recipe should come first.

The biggest misconception about food blogging?

That all we do is eat fabulous and gorgeous food 24/7. Doesn’t really work that way. I wish it did!

Best piece of writing advice you've ever received?

I can’t remember where I read it or who it was, but a food editor of a major newspaper once said that food writers and bloggers need to get the reader out of their mouth. He was tired of always reading about how the food tastes. Instead he wanted to read about what the food made you feel. Did it transport you on a trip? Did it trigger a memory? Did you feel warm and cozy or cool and fabulous? Everyone always writes about how the food tastes, but what makes food writing interesting is how the food makes a person feel.

Biggest influences in writing, cooking, food photography?

• Writing: Nigel Slater, Molly O’Neill, Ruth Reichl, Dorie Greenspan, Anthony Bourdain, Bill Buford, Frank Bruni, David Tanis, Melissa Clark
• Cooking: Sherry Yard, Dorie Greenspan, Alice Medrich, Alice Waters, David Lebovitz, Julia Child and my mom, who always made sure we had a home-cooked meal on the table growing up.
• Food photography: Sang An, Gentl and Hyers, Penny De Los Santos, Eric Wolfinger, Andrew Scrivani, Maren Caruso, Sara Remington, Peden + Munk, Alan Benson

The piece of food writing you’re most proud of?

A couple of years ago, I wrote a chocolate cake blog post about being jealous of other bloggers' success. It took me a while to pull the trigger and publish it, but in the end I’m glad I did. It resonated with a number of other bloggers, and at the time I was a little freaked out that I wrote it. Strangely, a lot of the stuff I talked about being jealous of in the post has since happened to me. I’ve gotten a book deal. I’ve talked at conferences (including the honor of being on this BlogHer keynote panel!). But even all that doesn’t mean that the post doesn’t still resonate with me, because for every milestone I get to, I see my peers getting to three more down the road. “Success” is a fickle lover. Every time you get a taste of it, you want more.

That said, the one piece that got selected for the Best Food Writing 2014 book was my How to Boil Water April Fools' Day joke post. I loved how everyone wrote a comment and interacted with the piece exactly like I wanted them to.

More: Food bloggers, take note — this is the writing advice you want to hear

Now, some fun stuff...

The five most surprising things in your fridge?

• A jar of Day-Glo red maraschino cherries that I had to buy for a project and haven’t used since. I should really toss them, because I actually have another bottle of small-batch maraschino cherries that are so much better and don’t have the weird red food dye.
• A large container of sourdough starter that hasn’t been fed in ages. It looks pretty gross, and I probably can revive it, but it just lingers in the back of the fridge, neglected. Poor sourdough starter.
• Fermented salted shrimp for making kimchee. Is this surprising? I’m not sure what surprises people anymore.
• Leftovers from a roasted goose I made for a client. Christmas in October!
• Five dozen eggs and 12 pounds of butter. I don’t think this is very surprising, as I’m writing a baking cookbook. But apparently when I mention it to my friends, they are aghast.

Your stance on…

• Pumpkin spice lattes: I’ve had three in my life? They are OK. I can understand the appeal, but they don’t really do much for me. Too sweet.
• Sriracha: I adore it, but there are so many other types of hot sauces and spices out there. I want people to reach for something else sometimes.
• Truffle oil: I like truffle flavor, but I’m a little creeped out by most truffle oil because of the chemicals. But I can understand the convenience and appeal. I prefer to splurge a little and get real truffle salt or truffle oil (made from actual truffles) and not the chemical stuff.
• Ramen as a bun, pizza crust, etc.: I’m all for innovation, but my personal preference is for ramen in a bowl with soup.
• Kale: I love kale and am sad there’s a backlash. But it doesn’t need to be in everything. You can use other leafy green vegetables too. Chard is lovely! Beet greens are great! Let’s make kale a gateway leafy green…

Your current favorite… 

• Cocktail: I rarely drink, but when I do, I usually opt for bourbon on the rocks. I’m not a fan of super-fruity or sweet cocktails.
• Fast food: I used to work as an art director and graphic designer at a shop whose main client was fast-food and fast-casual chains. After eating pretty much every single fast-food item out there (for research), I pretty much have burned out on it, especially since it’s not what I normally eat anyway. That said, there’s a local chain here in San Francisco called Super Duper that does a great burger in that particular category. It’s more fast casual than fast food, though.
• Comfort food: Buttermilk-fried chicken or biscuits and gravy, depending on whether it’s the morning or the afternoon/evening meal.
• Dessert: A warm, fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie rarely disappoints, but I also have a weakness for fruit pies. Actually, pretty much any seasonal fruit in pie form is my favorite. With a scoop of ice cream on top, please.

The craziest cooking hack you’ve ever tried?

The “peel all the garlic cloves” by putting it in two giant bowls sandwiched together, banging the garlic around over your head. It did work but was a real mess afterwards, with garlic paper all over the bowls. I’d rather just smash the garlic with the side of a knife. Way easier and faster, with less cleanup.

The three biggest food-centric benefits to living in San Francisco?

• Seasonal, fresh, organic and local produce is around every single corner if you want it.
• I love making my own croissants and bread, but I live two blocks away from Tartine Bakery, so I don’t even bother making either anymore.
• No matter what your food restrictions are (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, paleo, etc.), you can pretty much go to any restaurant, and they’ll understand and accommodate you. And the food is good. Not just good for vegan or gluten-free. It’s good.

More: Food blogger Sabrina Modelle talks blogging, burnout and the best Sriracha

Head over to BlogHer to get all the information you need for #BlogHer15. Register here, see the agenda and speakers, and sign up for the newsletter for announcements and opportunities.

Officer Justin Gower pulled over a pickup truck in a routine traffic stop last weekend, ready to give the driver a ticket for his malfunctioning light and expired registration, but when he walked up to speak to the driver, he noticed that three children were riding in the back seat with no car seats.

More: Dangerous car seat mistakes parents regularly make

It turns out Officer Gower had heard of the man before, as his tough-luck story was well-known among fellow officers: The man had little money and had been living in his car and then a hotel to attempt to save some and do right by his family. So Gower called in a fellow officer, Cale Hawkins, who had also spoken to the man, and the two decided that something needed to be done to help this family.

Hawkins recalls the conversation, saying, "We just kind of stepped off to the side and said we need to kind of do the right thing and get these people some car seats."

More: Desperate mom could face charges for dropping 2 kids at fire station

That's exactly what they did, heading over to the local Walmart, pooling their own money and buying all three seats and even helping the man install them so that his kids, who are 1, 3 and 4 years old, could ride safely in his vehicle.

Officer Gower was right on the money when he said, "Giving him three tickets, it wasn't going to do any good. Those kids were still going to have to be driven somewhere, somehow with no car seats."

They're completely right, of course. A ticket would have been justified, but there is a difference between what is justified and what is right, and these two chose the latter. Parenting is a challenge by itself, but parenting when you're poor, down on your luck or financially unstable can feel downright impossible.

It's estimated that 76 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and it's a safe bet that a large number of those people are also parents — responsible not only for their own safety and quality of life, but their children's too. When you live like that, as most of us know firsthand, it also means living with some degree of fear that, if one thing goes wrong, one unexpected expense crops up, you're done for.

More: Police officer caught fixing kid's bike gets the viral treatment (VIDEO)

Who knows? It's possible that between the cost of the citations and the cost of the car seats, any meager savings the man had set aside would have been decimated. It's possible he wouldn't have been able to pay them at all, and then he'd be in real trouble. He might not have been able to afford the car seats, and his kids' safety would have been jeopardized every time they needed to go to the grocery store or the doctor's office.

This gesture, which was such a small thing to the officers, was a monumental thing for the father, who called it a "miracle" and a "blessing." This is what "it takes a village" really looks like. It's stepping in to help instead of shame someone. It's easing the burden for another parent when you can and hoping that someone will do the same for you when you need it most. It's forgoing whatever vindication you might feel for getting someone into trouble for being a "bad parent" to help them out instead, if not for them, then for their kids.

More: Mom visiting her sick baby finds out stranger paid her parking ticket

There's so much talk about how disconnected we all are that it can almost feel sometimes as though there's a huge shortage of empathy in the world. Then people do something like this, and you realize that's not really true.

Why did Officers Gower and Hawkins do what they did? Is it because they too are fathers and understand just wanting what's best for their children? Maybe it's because they know that any one of us could be humbled and in need of help at any time. Maybe it's just because it was the right thing to do.

The why doesn't matter. We're just glad they did.

After essentially gifting her dad her virginity on a silver platter, Brelyn Freeman and Timothy Bowman Jr. were married on Oct. 10. The fairy tale wedding quickly went viral after Freeman posted a picture of the "Certificate of Purity" to her Instagram account that she had cosigned with a doctor. The doctor's note verifying an intact hymen was presented to Freeman's father, Pastor Mike Freeman, at the wedding.

If you are as overwhelmed and outraged at this story as I am, you should be. But before we travel down Judgment Lane, it's important to understand the motivation behind this purity ritual. I have been there before, and so have thousands of young women living in the fundamental Christian culture across America.

More: Virgin diaries: Losing it later could be good for your love life

It's easy — too easy — to judge when a bride brags about her virgin status on social media and even does something as "creepy" (to you) as gifting her virginity to her father on her wedding day. But until you've lived it, until you've been told that your body is not your own and was given to you by God to please a man, you don't know what it's like to feel the pressure to represent the white dress.

My first brush with hymen hysteria was in youth group, way back in the '90s at the tender age of 13. I was still a virgin back then, and everyone else in my youth group claimed they were too. They felt so fervent about not swiping the V Card, in fact, that the entire youth group agreed to sign a purity pledge. I remember I got to keep my signed purity card in my wallet. I asked my dad to get me a purity ring for my 16th birthday.

More: Tamera Mowry: I lost my virginity at 29... no regrets!

Looking back, I shudder. But I understand. I didn't make it all the way to my wedding day a virgin, but I did wait to have sex until I started a relationship with my now-husband at age 24. It didn't make my sex life magically better and blessed by God, as I was promised. It didn't move me to the front of the line in heaven to give up my body autonomy and pledge my sex life to another person.

I can't speak for every pure bride (and Duggar) out there, but for me, this submissive and oppressive attitude toward sex ruined me. I never felt like I belonged to myself. I have spent more than two decades looking for someone else's approval — first my dad's, and then my husband's. It took two more years of therapy for me to start to stand up for myself, to realize I just might have value as a person and to begin to make autonomous decisions in all areas of my life, inside and outside of the bedroom.

More: Michelle Duggar has controversial marriage advice for newlyweds

Many are laughing at this bride who made the mistake of posting about her virginity on social media, but I won't.

While I can't speak for Freeman's motivation in signing a virginity pledge on her wedding day, I know from personal experience that most women in these Christian cultures don't know any better. We were raised that way. We were told from a young age that our value is in our purity and in what we can give to a man, and when you think of it that way, signing a purity certificate makes sense. How else can you guarantee that your father and your husband will love you?

I'm not discounting the fact that Freeman is a grown woman capable of making her own decisions. And that's the beauty of what I have learned about feminism so far. Being a feminist means supporting all women's choices, including those we don't agree with.

Freeman has every right to treat her virginity the way she wants to, even if it means giving it to another person instead of holding it in her own hands. I only hope that when she signed her pledge, she knew what it has taken me years to understand — her value has nothing to do with sex.

Tweet-able quote: “If snitches don’t kill themselves, someone else will.” — Cookie to Jamal

GIF you should use today:

More: Empire episode 4 play-by-play recap: Is Cookie crumbling?

Lucious Lyon

Lucious: “Cold-blooded..." (Hum that Rick James track as you slip back into your sofa).

Faced with Andre’s desire to get baptized, Lucious biscuit-whips Andre with this greasy two-piece: “The only commandments I want followed here are mine. Check your faith at the door.” Mind on his money, Lucious sends some basics to jack Lyon Dynasty’s tracks from the studio. Lucious gives zero effs about anyone. Zero. Effs.

Back in the studio, he plans on erecting “GutterLife” on the strength of Frida, daughter of slain Frank Gathers. Under his supple word-whip, Lucious fine-tunes her pain into pure, white-hot heat as she spits 16 bars like machine-gun fire. Never one to miss a stage, he pops into church as Andre gets baptized. Hold on now! Lucious has a flashback of his mother dunking him in a bathtub in a brutal home baptism that makes Rosemary’s Baby look like a lullaby. We learn a hard truth: hurt people hurt people. After all he’s been through, can we empathize with Lucious? Does holy water work miracles? Depends on what you believe to be true. But God…

Cookie Lyon

Cookie: Handling her business like a boss after Tiana was attacked in the foyer of Lyon Dynasty, she gots to make choices. Hard choices.

Vetting a promoter with a street nose, she pops politik with Laz, played by Adam (fiiiiiine) Rodriguez. Is Cookie feeling like she might like some adobo on her chicken? The pressure mounts as she wrestles to keep the streets far enough away to ascend to the top of the music industry throne. Raising her boys to be men has been a battle, and her shining star Hakeem is shining bright. Andre's getting right with the Lord and Jamal is teaming up with the likes of Ne-Yo to make the most of his sound. But who’s really in Cookie’s corner? Even a boss lady needs help. Sometimes. Who will be true to Cookie? Who, I ask ya, who?

Hakeem

The young G throws a lil' party for his girl group and gets taught a lesson or two about respect by new prospect Laura. Not all women go for his come-hither tactics, so Laura’s out. Promising to never push up on her again, he vows to respect her talent, not just her sexuality. Is redemption close?

Hakeem accepts Andre’s confessions of family betrayal and convinces Jamal to go to church for Andre’s baptism. But a jog in the park ends up with Hakeem’s brutal kidnapping as the episode closes. Noooo! (Imagine I said that in a Whoopi Goldberg, The Color Purple-type crying out). Thirsty, did you do this? Let me find out!

More: Man Crush Monday: Empire edition with Jussie Smollett

Jamal

Jamal sings his heart out while fighting to keep his relationship from freezing like a Botox smile. Under pressure from his father to leave Michael at home, he decides to trust his heart, take Ne-Yo’s advice and take his boo on tour. But I spy with my eye Michael getting more head than a turtleneck from the freaky Rolling Stones photog. I mean, really.

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Andre and Rhonda

Lying-ass Rhonda. Yes, I said it — wait for why, though! Mystery mama is about done being horny housewife as Andre puts their sex life on the shelf now that wifey’s "pregnant." Something's rotten in Denmark, y'all. Andre wants nothing more than to get his family together and be happy. His commitment to repentance is clear, and he’s taking his heart to the Lord. Yet, it seems that the only one being true to Andre is Andre. Let the choir sang.