I was initially caught off guard by the liberty at which acquaintances, and even strangers, openly passed along unsolicited advice that began during my first pregnancy and has continued with even more furry as I navigate the world of raising a child with life-threatening food allergies.

As a woman and mother strong in my convictions, I am quite embarrassed to say that I recently found myself in the very circumstance I promised not to engage in. I gave unsolicited parenting advice, and I’d like to say sorry.

While in attendance at a hospital registration event during my third pregnancy, I struck up a conversation about delivery with a young couple embarking on their journey as new parents. Past initial introductions and questions about whether or not this was a first pregnancy and if either of us were familiar with the hospital and it’s services, I was approached with a question about some of my previous experiences. Surely sharing a bit about my past two deliveries was a fair topic to expand upon when questioned, right?

What started out as a very matter-of-fact, detail-oriented exchange slowly evolved into the exact passing along of unsolicited advice that I swore never to do. I justified my actions by the fact that this couple explicitly opened the door for me to share my input as they lamented over specific arrangements they hoped to have available.

I simply wanted this couple to know that it was okay to trust their instincts because this was something I deeply regretted in my own situation after the birth of my second son. I wanted this woman to know that as she became a mother, there would be intuition and instincts beyond explanation and that she was not wrong for trusting herself. That she was going to know her child better than anyone else. However, in reality none of these reasons were truly enough to justify what I had done.

If it takes a village to raise a child, then why is the line for offering advice so blurry? On the receiving end, it can feel overwhelming and include moments that feel judgmental or out of bounds from what might seem appropriate coming from an individual that is not the direct parent or caregiver. On the other side of the coin, there is wisdom that comes from experience. In the spirit of support and fostering a larger parenting network, shouldn’t our knowledge be shared with others? In rethinking the giving and receiving of parenting advice, I have shaped a few guidelines.

Be mindful

There is no way to know the full circumstances of another’s situation, no matter how close you are to the individual. Speak with caution and share advice knowing that you never truly know another person’s place until you stand in their shoes. Try to receive advice with an open mind, especially when it may come at a time where you are feeling exhaustion or frustration.

Approach with caution

It is easy to overgeneralize when giving advice. One of the more powerful lessons we learn when expanding a family is that no two children are alike. The same applies to parents as well. We all have individual life experiences and beliefs that shape who we are as parents. Even the closest of friends and family members can make very different choices. When it comes to giving advice, consider speaking from your personal place of reference (for example, “It was helpful for me when…” or “... was beneficial for my particular situation.”); and when receiving advice, listen with the notion that even in different circumstances we can still learn from one another and find support.

There is a good chance they’ve heard it before

Apparently, we all find moments to share advice — in part because we know that sharing our story is healing for ourselves and helps us find support in others as well. Whether you are sharing a piece of your journey or listening to the adventure of another parent, take it all in stride and celebrate the connections we are able to make with one another along the way.

You could blow your chances if you do not play the game properly. Miss the mark in the following six key areas and you could lose a lot more than the internship.

Company knowledge is vital

If you did not take the time to do company research before you obtained the internship, be sure to get it done before your first day as an intern. Know the names of key managers in your department, as well as senior management. Study the company website to know the products, services, major clients, regions of operations and recent news.

Appearance matters

Your appearance matters more than you think. Observe how the staff dresses and review the company handbook for a dress code. To fit in, dress appropriately. No short shirts and low-cut or strappy tops. You don’t have to spend a fortune to look great. Demonstrating that you care about your appearance is more important than designer labels.

Present a professional demeanor

As they say, “You’re in the big leagues now.” Your manager does not want to hear about all-night parties or your boyfriend. Keep a professional attitude. If you share inappropriate details, your manager might have concerns about how you would interface with clients. You want to be friendly and form relationships, but go slow with the exchange of personal information. The same philosophy applies to your virtual life. Adhere to your company’s social media policy and always make smart choices about what you choose to share.

There are no “little things”

Some say it is the little things that matter. However, in a competitive intern program, there are no little things. Always be punctual or early. Offer to help your manager and colleagues. When you complete tasks, take the initiative to be organized for future tasks. Sometimes, it is a nuisance for a manager to find work to keep someone busy. To remedy that, in your next meeting with your manager ask for a list of ways you can provide support during your downtime. If you can’t keep busy, look busy.

Be a “can-do go-to” person

Even if your desk is full and you question the logic of the tasks, your sincere and enthusiastic answer should always be “yes” when assigned a new work task. (Of course, there are exceptions for illegal and immoral tasks.) Skip the sighs and poor attitude. There are probably a dozen candidates who would love to be in your shoes. Remember that when you feel overburdened!

Positive people are valued

No matter how tough your job is, keep your complaints to yourself. If you must vent, invite your best friend to your place on Friday night. Never bash your co-workers, managers or company in any forums where it could become public. At work, you will be drawn into bull sessions. It is best to excuse yourself from the negative talk. You could be the brightest one on the team, but if you are seen as sour, you could be overlooked for new assignments.

The bottom line

An internship can be a dead end, or it can be the beginning of a wonderful career. In some cases, the internship is an extended interview. After the internship, the top performers will be on the short list for future job openings. Follow the above tips and, at the end of your internship, you might find yourself with a full-time job!

This isn't just a sweet recipe, but it's a fun craft too. Serve these elegant melting spoons with your after-dinner coffee or hot cocoa. They are fun for kids, but beautiful and festive enough for adults.

Gobble latte coffee spoons

Ingredients:

• Red, yellow and orange sanding sugars
• Caramel squares
• White chocolate chips (melted)
• Chocolate chips
• Hershey's Kisses

Directions:

1. Soften caramels, 10 seconds each, in a microwave. Divide each caramel in half and spread into spoon heads.

2. Melt three to four ounces of white chocolate in a microwave-safe dish. Pour into a small plastic squeeze bottle or plastic zip-close bag (cutting off the very tip.) Pipe a line of white chocolate down the front of the Hershey's Kiss to form the turkey waddle.

3. Dip in red sanding sugar. Repeat this step with all remaining Hershey's Kisses.

4. Squeeze small dollops of white chocolate on the very tip of each Hershey's Kiss and attach the chocolate chips to form the heads.

5. Pipe radiating lines of white chocolate onto the caramel spoon heads.

6. Dip the spoon into the red sanding sugar, tapping off the excess. Pipe more lines of white chocolate next to the red lines.

7. Dip the spoon in yellow sanding sugar. Fill in between the red and yellow lines with more lines of white chocolate, then dip the spoon in orange sanding sugar. Tapping off the excess sugar each time.

8. Add a small dollop of white chocolate in front and attach the finished chocolate turkey bodies to each spoon.

And your gobble latte coffee spoon is complete.

More food crafts

Tequila lime pie shooters
Rum and Coke cookies
Edible teacup cookies

In one of the many books I read, it discussed how baby needed a bed — a safe place to sleep — and it stressed how co-sleeping was the equivalent of a death trap for my baby and needed to be avoided at all costs. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against co-sleeping or bed-sharing due to the increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation. They do, however, advise room-sharing, so I bought a bassinet and asked my husband to assemble it and place it in our bedroom. Problem solved.

Then we brought home our little angel

She didn’t like the bassinet. She’d only sleep when I held her or when I nursed her. So I spent my first week as a new mom strung out on stress and exhaustion, wrapped in postpartum hormones and completely anxious about everything, including how my perfect little angel (as well as my husband and I) would ever sleep again. Without sleep, life is hugely melodramatic.

Babies need sleep. Right? Isn’t that where the phrase ‘slept like a baby’ started? After yet another night of screaming every time I put her down, I nursed her, and then instead of putting her down in her bassinet, I kept holding her. To my surprise, she slept. I didn’t. I was a nervous wreck: afraid to close my eyes for fear I’d fall asleep and that something horrible would happen. Baby, however, slept peacefully for almost two hours at seven or eight days old. I even thought I saw her smile as she slept.

Being a parent is one experiment after the next

As I kept watch over my sleeping baby, I remembered a conversation I’d had with a lactation consultant before I left the hospital. Without knowing it, she gave me the single best parenting advice I never read in a single book. She said, "Parenting is just one big experiment." You never know what they need or want, even as they age. So you have to experiment. Try something new. If that doesn’t work, try something else until you figure out what baby needs.

Since I decided to nurse, I called the hospital’s lactation consultant office the next morning and asked for advice on co-sleeping — specifically whether I should try it. The consultant provided me with a great article about how to do it safely and she encouraged me to try it.

That next night, I tried my co-sleeping experiment. In my fuddled mind, it stood to reason that if baby was happy when she was close to me, she and I could both get sleep if she slept next to me. But I had to keep her safe.

How we made co-sleeping work

We took all of the proper precautions, and set our bed up for baby. I removed all pillows except the two pillows my husband and I used. I even untucked the blankets near baby to make sure she didn’t accidentally get covered.

Since our little one wasn’t even rolling yet and my husband is a deep sleeper, I slept in the middle. Baby slept to my right and my husband slept to my left. I was always conscious of baby, so it wasn’t the best sleep for me, but at that point, any sleep was better than no sleep.

That night, I got my first 2 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The bonus was that when baby woke up to nurse, I didn’t have to move to nurse her. She was already in the right position for breastfeeding, so, I got to say in bed for 12 consecutive hours.

Why co-sleeping worked for our family

I understand that co-sleeping isn’t for everyone. It worked for us because: 

1. We had the right environment. We have a non-smoking home, a king-size bed and a firm mattress with fitted sheets. I removed all pillows and made sure to keep the baby from under the sheets or blankets.
2. Our baby was nursing. She woke up regularly to eat; and because we were nursing, both my body and the baby were in sync. I only fell into a deep sleep once, and it scared me so badly I didn’t do it again.
3. Increased milk supply. Because we were so close together, baby could nurse whenever she wanted. The on-demand nursing in the first two weeks allowed her to establish a great milk supply for the first year of her life, and I didn’t feel like I spent my whole day nursing.
4. We all slept! It goes without saying that having a newborn is a recipe for sleep deprivation. By co-sleeping, neither my husband nor I was totally exhausted the next morning — even the baby seemed more rested.
5. Closeness created independence. The baby co-slept with us for about five weeks. By the 6th week, she was successfully sleeping on her own in her bassinet in our room. By her second month, we transitioned her to her crib in her own room, which is where she consistently sleeps.

One year later

We still occasionally co-sleep when she’s not feeling well or just having a difficult night, but at one year old, she sleeps by herself 95 percent of the time.

To be completely transparent, AAP still advises against co-sleeping because even when done as safely as possible, it’s still not 100 percent safe. Baby is safest on her back in a crib or bassinet where she can be closely monitored. Before deciding to try co-sleeping, familiarize yourself with AAP’s rationale, statistics and case studies and talk to a doctor, lactation professional or whatever authority you trust to support your childcare needs.

While I realize co-sleeping won’t work for all families, trying slightly unconventional solutions — as long as you take proper precautions to keep baby safe — is worth it. All recommendations don’t work for all babies or all families, and it’s worth doing a bit of trial and error to find what works for you and your family.

What slightly unconventional solution worked for you and your baby?

But is that enough? What can we really do?

Here are four ways to help the people of Paris right now: 

Donate

Here are just a few places taking monetary donations. Consider joining forces with those in your community and making a more sizable donation.

French Red Cross

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Doctors Without Borders

More: Horrifying attacks in Paris leave the world mourning

Help a stranded traveler

If you have extra room in your home, consider helping out a stranded French traveler by using the hashtag #strandedinUS.

If you’re in France and are open to giving someone who needs safety and shelter a place to hang out, use the hashtag #PorteOuverte.

Share

Get the word out. Even if you’re not in a position to take in a stranded traveler, you can help immensely by sharing the stranded traveler initiatives on social media. You may reach someone who is able to help. Take a minute and hop on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and get these hashtags out there: #StrandedinUS and #PorteOuverte. It’s a simple thing that could really make a difference. You just never know.

You can also share the contact information of the main Paris embassies on your social media feed. The more people blast this information out, the easier it will make things for the people who are looking for it.

Here are Paris embassy numbers for those from UK, Ireland, USA, Australia and Canada. Spread the word. #PorteOuverte pic.twitter.com/RnuvyhX7JZ

— George Aylett (@GeorgeAylett) November 13, 2015

More: #WhatDoITellMySon? I write novels on race and I still don't know

Talk

Talk to your kids, your family and the people in your community about what happened. Talk about ways to help and generate support for sharing of information and donations that will make a difference in the days and weeks to come. Reach out to those in your circle and try to find out if someone connected to them is affected by the Paris terrorist attacks. Ask what you can do to help, even if that’s just to offer a listening ear or a hand to hold.

These things might seem simple or even inconsequential. Paris is far away and although the media makes it easy for us to keep up with events as they happen, it’s also easy to feel helpless when this kind of tragedy strikes. Making a small donation or sending out a tweet doesn’t erase the horror of what happened, but if everyone makes some small effort to show support to the people of Paris, it does make a difference.

A good deed can go a long way to counter-balance the ugliness that happened yesterday. It doesn’t take it away, but just maybe our small acts of kindness can send the message that humanity is fighting back.

This is probably one of the easiest pies you'll ever make. Just dump your ingredients into a slow cooker, give em' a little stir and let the magic happen. The end result is a mix between traditional pie and custard with a perfect biscuit and crust-like topping. It's absolutely to die for. Plus you can eat it directly from the pot with a spoon, no plate required.

Slow cooker pumpkin pie

Recipe adapted from Food.com

Serves about 6

Ingredients:

• 15 ounces canned pumpkin puree
• 9 ounces evaporated milk
• 3 ounces spiced rum (we used Captain Morgan)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup Bisquick, divided
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• Whipped cream for garnish

Directions: 

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together pumpkin, milk, rum, brown sugar, one-third of the Bisquick, eggs and pumpkin pie spice. Pour mixture into the slow cooker. Place pats of butter over the mixture and sprinkle with remaining Bisquick.
2. Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or until mixture is thick and crust is golden brown. Serve warm with whipped cream and enjoy.

More easy pie recipes

Easy baked strawberry pie recipe
Easy crunchy apple pie recipe
Gluten-free Goodie of the Week: Lemon meringue pie

For us normal people (aka cheese lovers), fortunately there's a way to enjoy everything we love about a cheeseburger straight out of the slow cooker. It's kind of like a sloppy Joe and cheeseburger meet in one gloriously cheesy, ketchup-y concoction.

These easy slow cooker cheeseburger sandwiches require just a few minutes of prep to brown the meat, and then into the slow cooker they go for a couple of hours. This one is so easy and the cooking time so short that you could actually throw this together after work and still have it ready for a 7 p.m. dinner. Cheeseburger win!

Slow cooker cheeseburger sandwiches recipe

Serves 4

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 2-3 hours | Total time: 2-3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 4 ounces cubed yellow cheddar or American cheese
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 4 rolls
• Tomato slices and American cheese slices, for serving

Directions:

1. Into a large skillet over medium-high heat, pour the olive oil.
2. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes, until softened.
3. Add the beef, break it up into small pieces with a spatula, and cook until browned.
4. Transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker.
5. Add the cubed cheese, salt, pepper, milk and ketchup, and stir to combine.
6. Cook on low for 2 to 3 hours.
7. Spoon the mixture onto the rolls, and garnish with tomatoes, American cheese slices, lettuce and/or any other desired burger toppings.

More cheeseburger-inspired recipes

Cheeseburger pizza
Cheeseburger pie
Bacon cheeseburger pasta

So what better day than America Recycles Day, which is Nov. 15, is there to let her try to change your mind about recycling?

Name: Bridget Croke

Company: The Closed Loop Fund

Year Founded: 2014

Website: The Closed Loop Fund

Twitter: @LoopFund

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3960972

The night started off somber with a moment of silence for the people of Paris. From there it quickly segued into yet another snoozefest of a debate with far too much crazy for this conservative. While the entire debate gave me much to worry about, should any of these candidates become president, these are the topics that almost had me curled into a ball weeping for our possible future.

More: The first Democratic debate re-enacted by a Republican

They are still blaming Bush

It took all of nine minutes for one of the candidates (Sec. Hillary Clinton) to blame President G.W. Bush for the ISIS crisis. Look, I’m happy to admit the Gulf War situation could have been handled differently. We’ve been there for far too long, and we can’t seem to leave without instability sucking us right back in. But to blame the current situation with ISIS on the President from almost eight years ago while ignoring the current President’s unwillingness to even acknowledge the problem — just hours before the Paris ISIS attack, President Obama claimed ISIS was contained — is highly disingenuous. Sec. Clinton did allude to President Obama’s head-in-the-sand tactics when she said “ISIS cannot be contained, it must be defeated,” but with blood running in the streets of France, pardon me for needing a little more.

Global warming: America’s greatest enemy

Every so often Sen. Bernie Sanders says something I almost agree with, then follows it up with something like blaming terrorism on climate changed and I immediately turn into a white girl who literally can’t even. I get the theory: People are crabby when it’s hot. But to imply that this is the reason Western civilization is being attacked by radical Muslims (or “Mooslims” as Sen. Sanders says it) is just laughable. Or it isn’t, because this guy has a real shot at becoming the leader of the free world. Listen, there is an entire sect of people who hate us because of how we live, what we believe, and what their religion has taught them. I say this through the prism of a woman whose husband spent the better part of a year living among them in the military, not a Self-Appointed Internet Expert. We are infidels, and for the truly radical sect our defeat will hasten the coming of their lord. None of that has anything to do with the weather, and we cannot have a president who refuses to accepts this reality.

More: Opposite political views don't mean your relationship is doomed

Neither Hillary nor Bernie have a clue how to pay for all the free stuff they want to give away

Both Sec. Clinton and Sen. Sanders were directly asked how they would fund all of the programs they are advocating, such as free college and free healthcare. Their answers were wholly nonspecific: tax the wealthy, close the loopholes, end corporate subsidies. But when pressed on details, neither specified. Sen. Sanders got closest when he said he’d tax the top-earners somewhere between 50-90%, but even that was vague. If you want to expend government programs extensively you need to have a better grasp on how you will fund them. As the old adage goes, the problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people’s money, and these guys haven’t seemed to figure that out yet.

More: The 4th GOP debate — through the eyes of a conservative

So. Much. Irony.

While discussing the threat of ISIS and how to address global terrorists, Sen. Clinton began to mention a list of U.S. Embassies which were attacked in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Marinade on that for a second. The woman who refused to send additional security when Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens requested it, then called the Benghazi attack a response to an anti-Muslim video — not at all terrorism related — wanted to bring up terrorist attacks on embassies. Her moxie is astounding.

Later, Gov. Martin O’Malley (yes, he was at the debate too) was asked about how to improve race relations. The former governor of Maryland, home to Baltimore, was asked how to make things better among races. Again, I can’t even. At least Sen. Sanders was willing to call him out on it: “I think it’s safe to say Baltimore’s not one of the safest cities in America.” Feel the Bern?

Overall, if I had to peg a winner I would say Sen. Sanders. Once again he hit home a few zingers towards the other candidates, he was able to articulate well his (unrealistic) policy plans, and his “with all due respect” mantra towards the end screamed of a polite eff you to Sen. Clinton and Gov. O’Malley. Sen. Clinton did as she always does and again showed why she thinks she has this race in the bag. Gov. O’Malley desperately needed a strong showing and failed, so it’s likely he will fade away before the next debate on December 19. It will be interesting to see the two main candidates go head-to-head moving into 2016. Their policies aren’t all that different, so I’ll be looking forward to hearing them out-crazy each other for Democratic votes.

Here are 8 benefits of running:

1. Let’s get the obvious benefits out of the way first: improved health and fitness. Running is one of the best activities for conditioning the cardiovascular system. Studies have shown that runners’ hearts are more efficient than those of sedentary people, pumping a larger volume per beat. Runners typically have a lower resting heart rate, as well as increased lung capacity. Other health benefits of running include stronger joints and bones, stronger muscles and improved mental function, clarity and memory.
2. The other commonly cited benefit of running is weight loss or weight maintenance. Any exercise is good when one is trying to lose weight — however, running is extremely beneficial because it is one of the most efficient ways to burn calories. A rough estimate is that a person of average weight burns 100 calories per mile of running. That number increases if you weigh more or if you are a less efficient runner because you use more energy to cover the same distance. The calorie burn, however, continues even after you stop running because your resting energy expenditure remains elevated for up to several hours.
3. Research has shown that running, and other forms of aerobic exercise, also helps improve our quality of sleep. Those who exercise regularly have proven to fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer than sedentary people. They are also more alert during the day and have less daytime drowsiness than those who do not exercise.
4. Running is probably the cheapest and most accessible sport there is. While it is possible to spend a lot of money on expensive running clothes and gear, the only thing you actually need to invest in is a good pair of running shoes. You do not need a gym. Running outside is free and available anywhere, and you do not need any extra equipment. Invest $100-$150 in a good pair of running shoes and you instantly have three to six months of free exercise.
5. Running can be done with the whole family. A very common excuse for not exercising is that it takes away from family time. Running can be a great way for the family to be together and catch up on the day. If your kids are small enough, a jogging stroller is a great way to get them outside and introduce them to physical activity. If they are old enough to run with you or bike beside you, this can be a perfect time to talk to them about their life, school and friends. Your dog would also not only benefit from a run with you, but will be much happier for it, too.
6. While it can be a solo sport if you choose, running can be a very social sport and can lead to new friendships. Runners are typically very friendly and welcoming and want to share their love and knowledge of running with others. Joining a running group or finding a running partner in your area can often lead to new and long-lasting friendships. It typically starts with a bond over running and then blossoms so much deeper than that.
7. Related to No. 6, running provides people with a sense of community. Runners love to support one another, share stories and turn group runs into fun hangouts, often involving food and drinks. Even if you prefer to run on your own, finding other runners or running groups and teams on social media can provide an instant sense of community and belonging — no matter how long or short you have been running.
8. Running can be a great way to give back to the community. Local running races often contribute part or all of the money they make in registration fees to charities in the community. These can vary from anything from local dog shelters to cancer research to schools. You can find this information on the race websites. If you want to do even more, there are many organizations in which you raise money for them and they provide anything from training to travel expenses to your goal race. Some examples of these organizations are: Team in Training, benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; St. Jude Heroes, benefiting the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Solemates, benefiting Girls on the Run; Team Up, benefiting Autism Speaks; and many more.

At 5 feet 8 inches and 105 pounds, the British model is far from big. And that's why she told her agency in no uncertain words that she was done with a fashion industry that put insane pressure on women to fit absurd ideals.

More: Talking to kids about weight: 6 Dos and don'ts for moms

As she said in her viral — and eloquent — letter: "I refuse to feel ashamed and upset on a daily basis for not meeting your ridiculous, unobtainable beauty standards."

They're standards that every parent dreads their child trying to obtain. Right about the time your kids hit the age when they start expressing their own fashion choices, moms are hit with a conundrum: how to teach our kids that they're more than their clothing size.

After all, studies have shown us that the numbers sewn into the back of our clothes have a real effect on our emotions, kids included. In one study out of the University of North Texas, the researcher found fitting into smaller sizes — not surprisingly — makes women feel better. And in another study of teenage girls ages 12 to 17 whose bodies put them in the "plus-size" category, researchers found the kids often felt left out because major retailers don't carry clothes that fit them.

More: The simple secret weapon to battling low self-esteem in girls (VIDEO)

So how do you teach your kids that they're more than a number?

Howard thinks she can help.

She's spearheading a campaign to help folks — especially kids — look not at the number on a pair of jeans, but inside. To kick off #MoreThanaNumber, she sat down with one of SheKnows's Hatch kids to talk about Photoshopping, being yourself and of course, being more than a number: 

Inspired?

It's important to sit down with your kids and explain that what it is they see in magazines does not represent reality... not even for most of the models depicted. But a model knows what she looks like in real life. Our kids don't... unless we talk to them.

More: Why I won't teach my kids the word 'fat'

And while it's fun to play at make believe, the fact is, reality is so much better:

After all...

So what's YOUR number? Is it the number of miles you've run? The number of siblings you have? Or something entirely different?

Share it with #MoreThanaNumber!

Tonight’s episode was less about the competitions (because, let’s be honest, there really weren’t any) and more about the emotions that hit everyone as they raced.

The salt of my fears

In a rather odd detour, the teams had to choose whether to mine salt or play music and raise money. The Cheerleaders, playing to their entertainer personalities, figured that playing music would be a piece of cake. Little did they realize that pushing a piano through Krakow would rattle them to the core and not be able to perform. With tears of frustration (and the fact that they’re not used to rejection), they resorted to literally selling kisses to raise the money they needed to get their next clue. Who cares what they had to do? Just get the job done! Even their accompanist was impressed with their moves.

The Reporters had no problem with this task. Watching them chase after people and ask for money has to be pretty similar to their day job of asking people on the street for interviews for the news.

Schindler’s List

This piece of the leg left no dry eye amongst the teams. Justin from The Green Team was visibly moved as they exited the room where all the names of the people that Schindler saved were displayed. What many of us didn’t know is that it was seeing his grandmother’s name on the wall that made his emotion so high.

The tray of tears

This week’s Roadblock was a division of the haves and the have-nots. The haves had the common sense to ask and research before they started, and the have-nots wrung their hands while trying to distinguish different Jewish foods. The Cheerleaders, still rattled from the Detour, really struggled with this one, yet when Team Texas showed up (last), they took the time to suggest they look it up. The two teams literally showed up at the mat at the same time, and the boys from Texas showed their gentlemanly side, and it was ladies first. Class act, guys. Had this not been a non-elimination round, things could have turned out much differently for them, and they could have gone home for that one move alone. The Cheerleaders lost it over this fact, and all I can say is that I hope they get a good night’s sleep and get their act together before everyone heads to India because everyone’s looking at a U-turn and a definite elimination round.

Were you moved by tonight’s episode? Do you think that The Green Team has clinched first place?

Is there such a thing as not enough drama on an episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta? That is exactly what fans are wondering now that Kim Fields is officially a cast member. The newest Atlanta Housewife's mild-mannered, down-to-earth, family-first approach to the show just might be at odds with the drama that seems to be everyday life for the other Housewives.

More: Why Kim Fields joined RHOA after turning down other shows

Kenya Moore, certainly no stranger to conflict and controversy, agrees with the many fans who have made it clear they do not want to see a drama-free Housewife on Bravo. Miss Twirl approached Fields with an offer she would have been wise to refuse: to be a director for the television project Life Twirls On.

Fields has an illustrious background in entertainment, so there's really no reason for her to be involved in Moore's latest pet project. Thus, it's no surprise Fields did everything she could to express her disinterest. The only thing she failed to do was say no to Moore.

More: NeNe Leakes talks moving on from RHOA to become an LGBTQ advocate

Fans of The Real Housewives of Atlanta have come to expect drama from each member of the cast. It doesn't matter whether this drama involves petty fighting between cast members, relationship issues or a mix of the two. As long as there is some sort of drama, most fans are happy. Unfortunately, Fields delivered no drama at all. Vocal Fields supporters were outnumbered on social media by fans who felt as though Fields might not be entertaining enough to warrant a role on the show.

More: Cynthia Bailey calls foul on accusations against her husband

Only time will tell if Fields joins the rest of her Real Housewives stars and gets involved in some sort of dramatic, controversial moment. If Moore has her way, those moments just may come while working with Fields on Life Twirls On. After all, even the most composed individual can go nuts after just a few minutes of hanging out with the drama-prone Moore. Regardless of Moore's interference, Fields is bound and determined to avoid a standard RHOA meltdown. She has already let viewers know she is quite happy with her kids, her man and her career.

Do you think Kim Fields is too boring for The Real Housewives of Atlanta? Comment and share your opinion below.

More: Bikini pic of Kim Zolciak and her daughters bashed as trashy (PHOTO)

This is a question fans and critics alike have been asking after Zolciak shared a recent pic of herself in a bikini, one which, according to Us Weekly, looks very different from the picture snapped by the paparazzi on Friday, Nov. 13 — while she was enjoying a beach holiday in Cancun, Mexico.

The Instagram picture in question shows Zolciak flaunting her svelte figure in a black bikini. She captioned it with, "So many comments asking about My bathing suit it is from @themissap also about my diet, even on vacation I bring @310nutrition I'm not a breakfast eater so my shake is meal replacement! I drink a ton of water everyday Penta is the only water I tend to drink. I eat dessert every night after dinner, whether it's a few bites of cake, a cookie etc I love chocolate. You can definitely pinch an inch or 5 for that matter but I love to live and I love to eat."

More: Kim Zolciak gives everyone relationship goals with anniversary post (PHOTO)

But fans are calling foul and have blasted Zolciak for looking "fake" and "Photoshopping" her picture. Comments on the picture include, "Oh lawd bad photoshop job," "Fake! It's plastic surgery & photoshop," and "TMZ has pics of her at the beach...they look nothing like this picture, PHOTOSHOP BIG TIME!"

"You're not fooling anyone Kim. 99.9% photoshop, and it is not even well done. The belly button gives it away," kateschiavone shared.

And ali_simmons_37 wrote a lengthy message about how Zolciak should not be embarrassed by her "real" looks.

More: Kim Zolciak blasted for being a bad influence on her daughters (PHOTO)

She wrote, "She should fire whoever did this photoshop, looks fake. We've seen the paparazzi pic on the beach taken on the same day and she looks nothing like THIS. I don't understand Why are u so embarrassed to show the REAL you?! We should never be embarrassed of ourselves, besides this sends the wrong message to people who look up to you and sets wrong and unreal beauty standards. #HollywoodIsSoFake."

Do you think Kim Zolciak has Photoshopped her picture? Or does she just look different in this costume from the one she was snapped in? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

They need their sleep, but they also need time to settle in their morning routine which includes making their beds, putting in contacts (Delaney battles this one alone), getting dressed for school, helping to pack lunches and yes, eating that crucial, 'most important meal of the day', breakfast.

In our home, keeping meals nutritious despite being hurried, has always been a priority. Fruit and vegetables are our go-to snacks and are included in every meal I make (and those I send with them to school.) You won't find me sending them off with empty tummies - even if they tell me they aren't very hungry. I know they need the fuel to learn. Sometimes, it is fun to just do something different while keeping the focus on nutritious.

Here are a few tips for thinking outside the box when it comes to breakfast:

Think outside the box

Cereal is definitely an easy go-to, but in the interest of shaking things up a bit, the kiddos and I tried PediSure's Grow and Gain Shakes  - as part of their morning routine. Since they are always grabbing for any shakes or smoothies, I love the idea that these shakes include even more of the goodness their growing bodies need (and there is no prep work needed). Fun fact - these shakes are gluten free, kosher and come in vanilla, chocolate, banana, berry and strawberry.

Image: Danielle Smith/Extraordinary Mommy

Let them experiment

My small people love their drinks - their milk, their water, their smoothies - super cold - so, I decided, if they want to add ice, or extra fruit, I'm happy to let them. Pediasure Grow and Gain includes protein and vitamins, but if they want to include extra fruit (a few of their favorites include bananas, blueberries, raspberries and pineapple) I'm certainly going to smile and nod.

Image: Danielle Smith/Extraordinary Mommy

Get your kids involved

The older they get, the more responsibility I give them. Once they decided to experiment, I let them tackle the 'making' all on their own. This means choosing the fruit, manning the blender and pouring their drinks.

Image: Danielle Smith/Extraordinary Mommy

Image: Danielle Smith/Extraordinary Mommy

Image: Danielle Smith/Extraordinary Mommy

Enjoy your nutritious creations with a friend

Or in our case, with your sibling (or maybe your mom!). I can't promise they always get along (or that they will always make a meal together without battling over who gets to do what) but I do know they enjoy each other's company. And being able to laugh at the start of your day is a very good thing.

Image: Danielle Smith/Extraordinary Mommy

What do you do to prioritize nutritious eating on busy school mornings - or any morning, for that matter? I'd love to know.

Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored collaboration between PediaSure® and SheKnows

More: Sister Wives: 6 reasons Meri should leave

By now, most fans probably know that Brown was the victim of a catfishing scandal, and she had told the person she thought was a man named Samuel Cooper, that she loved him. Although, there are conflicting reports about whether she was actually catfished, and the person who Brown claims is the catfish has since claimed that he is, in fact, a man, and has taken to his blog to open up about what really happened between them.

This is a topic Brown will go into more detail about during the show's Season 6 finale, as well as during a two-hour special on Nov. 22, but for now, Kody Brown wants people to know that he still loves and supports Meri 100 percent (despite her emotional affair).

Kody might be publicly showing his support for Meri, but fans feel he has to do a lot more.

More: Sister Wives' Meri Brown's catfisher reveals his side of the story

A source revealed to Hollywood Life that the family is now ready to move forward with their lives and have forgiven Meri.

"The family forgives Meri completely, they're not blaming her for it at all. They understand why she got caught up in it — she was feeling lonely and neglected," a source told Hollywood Life exclusively. "They've all vowed to make sure she never feels that way again; since she came clean the whole family has rallied around her to show their love."

Do you think Meri's full confession and the support of her family will help them move on and foster a better relationship? Or should Meri leave the family and start again on her own? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

But first, the cute factor: In the videos that Jill posted without captions, we see two full minutes of an adorable little dude making his way over to the couch to grab a marker that his mama is holding. Jill seems to be doing everything right — she has Israel set up on a soft blanket with picture books and a few toys to keep him entertained. Israel even starts to climb up on the couch in the second video with help from his dad, Derick. Israel's new videos were filmed during the couples' long-term mission trip in Central America, where they have been serving since August.

After you take a moment to wipe that chubby little baby sparkle out of your eye, you can guess what the Dillards are in for next. This is the long-awaited moment every new parent yearns for and soon comes to regret. You can't wait for your first baby to hit that first big milestone of crawling and then walking — until you realize those first baby steps mean even more energy required from an already exhausted new parent.

More: Research on the Duggars' lifestyle and beliefs exposes shocking revelations

In translation, the moment your baby graduates to a toddler is the moment you're going to have to crank it up to 11. If you thought you were tired in those newborn days — well, let's check in with Jill in a few months and ask her how she's feeling by the time bedtime rolls around each night.

More: 12 Baby hacks every new parent needs to know

As Jill just showed us in her too-cute-for-words video clips, there's a stage of development between baby and toddler that almost no parent is prepared for, falling right at 7 to 9 months. Once you make it through those rigorous first six months of Parenting Boot Camp, you make the mistake of thinking you're in the clear. The sleepless nights have finally settled down, and you've figured out a feeding and playtime schedule that works for your family. But as soon as you relax, your baby pulls a fast one on you. Developmentally, 7 months is the time when babies are first "set in motion," making great strides in balance and coordination that quickly propel them from rolling to crawling.

It's in this time frame that most parents learn the hard way how difficult it is to truly babyproof a home for a toddler. It's no longer about what your baby might find to swallow on the floor, though that's still a concern too. Now you also have to worry about hard floors, sharp edges and dangling cords your curious toddler might pull on when your back is turned. For those lightning-fast babies in the crawling stage, not anchoring furniture to the wall, installing a pool fence, covering outlets or using a baby gate on the stairs rank among the most common childproofing mistakes.

More: 12 Things in your living room that can kill your toddler

Raising a toddler is undoubtedly one of the most exhausting and most rewarding things a parent will ever do. Anyone who has made it through the toddler years in one piece can send Jill their positive vibes as she prepares for the next stage — right about now, she needs all the help she can get.

During an interview with CBS News, the former governor of Alaska said it is her faith in God that has her excusing her daughter's hypocritical pregnancy.

More: Bristol Palin's first baby bump selfie doesn't fare well with fans (PHOTO)

"Well, the cool thing about putting your faith in God... is he certainly is a God of second chances and third and fourth and fifth chances," Sarah explained when asked how she responds to people who say Bristol's pregnancy goes against everything the family stands for.

Although, the soon-to-be grandma for a second time did concede that the pregnancy was not ideal.

When CBS correspondent Tracy Smith addressed the pregnancy by saying, "That can’t be how you saw this playing out, unmarried and pregnant again."

More: Bristol Palin says pregnancy was planned, not an 'abstinence spokesperson'

Palin responded, "Heck, no!"

"Being a single mom is . . . oh my goodness," she added. "My heart goes out to the single parents, but my enormous admiration for what they’re able to accomplish doing double duty. And I watch Bristol do double duty all the time with her little boy, Tripp."

Bristol announced her second pregnancy about a month after she ended her engagement to Dakota Meyer back in May. Her first son, Tripp, is from her previous relationship with her prior fiancé, Levi Johnson.

Bristol is expecting a baby girl this time around.

More: Bristol Palin apologizes to fans in open letter after canceling her wedding

At the time, Bristol admitted that the second pregnancy was not easy to accept.

"Honestly, I've been trying my hardest to keep my chin up on this one," she explained in her blog. "I know this has been, and will be, a huge disappointment to my family, to my close friends, and to many of you. But please respect Tripp's and my privacy during this time. I do not want any lectures and I do not want any sympathy."

Are you surprised Sarah Palin is so supportive of her daughter's second pregnancy?

1. Empathy for Khloé's body image struggles

Kim Kardashian has struggled greatly in the past with poor body image, so she should know exactly why her sister is reluctant to pose in next to nothing for a suggestive magazine cover. She was shockingly lacking in empathy last night on Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

More: Kim Kardashian urges her sister to take drastic measures for a baby

It was pretty obvious to even the most casual observer that Khloé wasn't super happy about her body. However, Kim was quite insistent that her younger sister should follow in her footsteps by displaying her assets to the world with a sexy photo shoot.

More: Khloé Kardashian suggests Rob Kardashian's weight loss journey will fail

Fans on Twitter were quite vocal in their support for Khloé while also criticizing Kim for pressuring her sister into doing something that made her so incredibly uncomfortable. However, a few fans maintained that Kim meant well.

2. It's not OK to live vicariously through Khloé

Khloé is her own person, and if Kim wants to have a cool experience, she should pursue it on her own terms. Instead, she decided that, since her pregnant body wasn't going to be a good fit for Complex, her sister should take the cover spot instead — regardless of whether she actually had any interest in posing in skimpy apparel.

 3. Khloé already has more than enough on her plate

This particular episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians may have been filmed long before Lamar Odom ended up in the hospital, but even then, Khloé had a whole lot on her mind. She was not only dealing with her body image issues, but also with her brother, who has struggled with depression for a long time. Kim's badgering surely didn't make things easier on stressed-out Khloé.

More: Kim Kardashian's recent pregnancy comments spark major backlash

4. Kim also has more important things to worry about

Khloé is by no means the only Kardashian gal with a lot on her plate. Kim's life is every bit as crazy, what with her numerous business ventures and the upcoming little addition to her family. Why, of all the things she could worry about, does she insist on agonizing over Khloé's Complex cover?

5. Khloé is the most likable KUWTK and thus, the one least deserving of Kim's harassment

Fans of KUWTK largely agree that Khloé is the easiest star to relate to. These fans think that bugging Kylie Jenner makes more sense as she is super annoying these days. But Khloé? Not cool!

Do you think Kim Kardashian needs to leave Khloé alone? Comment and share your opinion below.

More: 4 Amazing, easy Nutella hacks for your snacking pleasure (VIDEO)

Ashlie Dunn, from North Shields, Tyneside, posted the 4-ingredient recipe on her blog, Sugar Rushed, and has been swamped with messages from chocolate lovers across the world.

The mum-of-two says on her blog that Nutella is her "favourite thing in the world" (she eats it by the jar) and the chocolate hazelnut spread is an ingredient in her popular concoction, which also includes cocoa powder, milk and single cream.

What makes this recipe a little different to the usual hot chocolate offerings is that it's made in a slow cooker — or a "chocolate station," as Dunn calls it.

More: Nutella breakfast cereal is here to make your morning dreams come true

"My recipe went crazy, it just went viral," Dunn told the Daily Mail. "I put the recipe on my blog and added cream because my boys like it creamy. I describe it as a 'chocolate station', where I make it in a slow cooker and people can help themselves and add all the trimmings as they wish. Although it was for Bonfire Night, I made it a little Christmassy and everyone has gone crazy about it, saying they are going to make it for Christmas festivals and winter parties."

Dunn is amazed at the fuss her recipe has caused overseas. "I am getting requests from people in America asking what a slow cooker is and if a crock-pot will do, and they don't know what single cream is," she said.

What we're really interested in, though, is the rather more grown-up version of this drink. Dunn suggests adding Malibu, Baileys, Cointreau or Peppermint Schnapps for the ultimate boozy hot chocolate.

More: Add some pizzazz to your hot chocolate recipe with chilli, lavender or mint