Nowadays it no longer seems to be enough to just dump a can of green beans into a casserole dish, mix it with a can of condensed soup and sprinkle that with a can of fried onions. Oh no. Now it doesn't even count if there isn't at least one whimsical chalkboard nameplate wrapped in burlap shot through with gold in front of a dish that's braised.

Well, I'm done. Please, join me in declaring independence from making Thanksgiving a Pinterest-perfect affair.

More: 8 Practical reasons to never make Thanksgiving dinner again

More: 5 Thanksgiving crafts for people who hate crafting

In the video, a tearful Anna explains, "It was heartbreaking to hear what had happened."

More: 15 Times the Duggars enraged everyone on Instagram

But even more moving is her silence, as she seems to reflect over what had happened to her family, before adding a somber, "Ya."

Jill revealed that when she heard the news of Josh's affairs and his addiction to pornography, her first thoughts were just for her sister-in-law Anna.

"I cried a lot of tears," Jessa said. "Somebody who you love, how could this happen?"

But despite the turmoil the family has endured, they make it clear in the sneak peek that the three-part special will be focused on their family moving on.

Josh remains in rehab while Jessa and Jill are focusing on their new little families with their husbands Ben Seewald and Derick Dillard, respectively.

More: Anna Duggar sparks controversy over her baby girl's latest wardrobe (PHOTO)

"We're gettin' through," Jessa says, before we get a glimpse at the sisters preparing for the arrival of Jessa's first baby. The little guy, named Spurgeon, was born just two weeks ago.

And Jill agreed, "We will come out of this fire."

More: Jessa Duggar's first baby photo looks awfully familiar

Check out the full sneak peek of the TLC special below.

Of course, Jill & Jessa: Counting On has already brought its fair share of controversy all on its own. There are reports that hundreds of advertisers have refused to have their products marketed during the series as a boycott against what the Duggars stand for. And social media campaigns against the show have gained a lot of successful traction.

Jill & Jessa: Counting On premieres Dec. 13 at 8/7c on TLC. Will you be watching?

1. She grew up on a farm

Ballerini grew up near Knoxville, Tennessee, on a small farm with three cows and a goat — none of which she is fond of now. "I always thought it was a goat that kicked me over the fence," she told USA Today. "My mama told me the other day it was a cow. Now I'm sort of scared of both."

More: Kelsea Ballerini's surprise date steals the CMAs spotlight

2. She's been performing since she was a kid

Ballerini grew up singing in church and at school. "I grew up performing in glee club at my school; I was the ostrich in Peter Pan, and then I was super involved in church choir and worship leading at my church," she told J-14. "So I always loved music and was involved with it, but never really thought it was what I wanted to do until I started writing."

3. Her family is in country music too

Ballerini's father is actually a country radio programmer, although she says she didn't realize her own songs fit into the genre until she heard Keith Urban's "Stupid Boy" on the radio one day.

4. She wrote her first song at age 12

Ballerini wrote her first song for her mother as a last-minute Mother's Day present. "I called it Oh Mama, and she loved it — she cried," Ballerini told USA Today. "For a while, I would write her another verse every Mother's Day."

More: 10 Fabulous female country tunes to get you over a breakup

5. She started her career when she was only 15

Ballerini started seriously thinking about music as a profession at 13 and moved to Nashville at 15. At 14, she had one of her first meetings with a record label exec, who said she sounded too much like Taylor Swift. "It broke my heart," she said of the experience. "But it ended up being a fire for me and a lesson I was glad I learned early on. You really do have to be different. You really do have to set yourself apart."

6. She's already matched a Carrie Underwood record

With "Love Me Like You Mean It," Ballerini became the first female to have her debut single reach No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart in nine years, and only the 11th female to ever accomplish that feat. Underwood was the last to do so in 2006 with "Jesus, Take the Wheel."

7. Her songs are based on personal experience

Ballerini is the writer or co-writer of every song on her debut album, The First Time, and many of her songs were inspired by real-life relationships, romantic or otherwise. Her most personal song is "Secondhand Smoke," which was inspired by her parents' divorce. "It's so many people's story, and a story that needs to be told because I know when I was 12 and 13 when [the divorce] was happening, I felt super alone," she told Rolling Stone of the song. "I want to be a voice of comfort for people going through that."

8. She's friends with Taylor Swift

In March, Swift tweeted some love for Ballerini's self-titled EP and the two later become friends. Swift later invited her to a party at her NYC apartment, which they captured in a series of Instagram photos. Ballerini has also jammed with Swift backstage, as seen above.

More: 7 Female empowering moments from the CMT Awards

10. Her biggest starstruck experience was over Kelly Clarkson

Ballerini is a huge fan of Clarkson's and she couldn't help but get a little too excited at the thought of meeting her. "Kelly Clarkson is my favorite artist of all time," Ballerini told People. "I actually stalked her after a show and knocked on the door of her tour bus. She came out and was very kind. In hindsight, I should not have done that. Hopefully, I get to meet her again tonight and make a better second impression."

11. She has the support of many big country music names

When Ballerini's debut single hit No. 1, tons of major country artists from Underwood to Lady Antebellum to Dierks Bentley took to social media to congratulate her. Clearly, she has no trouble making friends.

In 1997, Tasmania became the last state in Australia to decriminalise sodomy, commonly defined as a perverted sexual act that involves anal intercourse.

As a result, our most southern state has developed a reputation for harbouring views on homosexuality that were not particularly open, progressive or forward-thinking — until now.

In a surprising turn of events, Tasmania's premier and deputy premier have come out in support of same-sex marriage, with Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirming for the first time on the public record: "I'm absolutely unequivocally in favour of same-sex marriage equality."

More: Celebrate love with this moving compilation of coming-out stories

After an extended debate on Nov. 18, the state's Lower House voted 15 to 9 in favour of supporting marriage equality, making Tasmania the third state parliament in Australia to officially support marriage equality.

“I really welcome the opportunity to express my views for the first time publicly, and I'm absolutely unequivocally in favour of same-sex marriage equality. I have been for some years now," Rockliff said.

"I believe very firmly that those who are committed and in a loving relationship should have the ability by law and the eyes of the law in society that, if they have chosen a significant other to spend the rest of their lives with, then they should be able to get married.”

He added, "In years to come, we will actually really wonder why it took so long to get to this point."

More: Amazing couple cancels their wedding to help Syrian refugees

Obviously not all of Tasmania’s MPs shared his view, with six in the mix who voted against the bill based on religious grounds.

One of the most vocal opponents to marriage equality present, Liberal MP Guy Barnett, said he strongly opposed same-sex marriage, as “children deserve to grow up with at least the chance of a mum and a dad."

"Same-sex marriage would deny them that right. If same-sex marriage is passed, we will enter, in my view, a whole new era, an era where gender will not matter anymore. A whole new era where we have an environment which undermines marriage itself and violates the rights of the child," he said.

Meanwhile, Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said he did not believe that supporting marriage equality “will affect the sanctity of the institution of marriage.”

More: Jilted bride-to-be ruins her wedding dress in the best way

"We live in a world that contains non-traditional relationships, de facto, single-parent, significant relationships, same-sex relationships," he said.

"I intend to vote in support at the national plebiscite in support of same-sex marriage.”

If Tasmania is on board, is our country really that far away from legalising this basic human right?

A national plebiscite on same-sex marriage, which has the potential to legally change the Marriage Act in Australia to become inclusive of homosexual unions, is due to be held in 2016.

Yes, that Kerry Washington. The actress known best for her role as an ass-kicking fixer on ABC's Scandal rescued her fictional best friend, Abby, from an abusive relationship on-screen, and now she has turned her sights on helping real women in similar situations. Her goal? To shine a light on an oft-ignored side to domestic violence: financial abuse.

More: Hey ladies, if you earn less than a man, it could be your fault

The busy mom and actress has stepped up to be spokeswoman for the Allstate Foundation Purple Purse, a fundraising campaign aimed at both increasing awareness of the financial factor of domestic abuse and providing victims with resources to escape. She sat down with SheKnows to explain what financial abuse really is, why she got involved and, of course, a little bit of Scandal:

SheKnows: Tell us how you got involved in the Purple Purse initiative.

Kerry Washington: They'd been doing this for a couple of years, and they were looking for somebody who could be an ambassador, who had some experience and passion around ending violence against women and girls, which I have been doing for years with an organization called VDay. They also wanted somebody who has somewhat of a fashion profile — you know, a real love of fashion — so they approached me.

Before that, I'd never really heard of financial abuse, although it makes so much sense when you hear it defined. I was really kind of blown away.

SK: Can you explain what the concern is with financial abuse?

KW: It's the No. 1 reason women stay in abusive relationships — because they're not able to take care of themselves financially. It's also the No. 1 reason why women go back. Although I've been doing this work for a long time, and there are so many ways that we have to work to eradicate domestic violence and violence against women, this felt like such a tangible way to make a difference. It really is about unlocking the No. 1 thing that enables women to get away and stay away.

You're able to make a real difference. If a woman's able to step away financially, she's able to begin to do all the other work.

When somebody shows up at your job and jeopardizes your job, yelling and screaming, that's financial abuse. It threatens your ability to take care of yourself. Destroying someone's credit. Limiting someone's access to credit cards or cash, limiting access to transportationn. All of these are forms of control.

More: 5 Myths about women being primary breadwinners that need to go away

SK: Since you started working with domestic violence victims, what's been that moment that's moved you most?

KW: I really think seeing how someone can transform their [life]. From what I've been told, the scariest part of being part of a domestic abuse relationship is the idea that you cannot escape and you cannot get help, that feeling of being stuck.

Whenever I talk to survivors who have lived through that and are on the other side and their whole perspective on life is a complete 180, I'm just so inspired. I think all of us in our lives feel like we can't make a difference or we can't make a change or it's too late or we're too tired or we're too scared. To meet somebody who's able to harness the level of courage it takes to walk away and to choose your own life and your own health, the well-being of your family, is really inspiring.

SK: Our motto here at SheKnows is "women inspiring women." What does that mean to you?

KW: It's one of the reasons I love that we're doing this work through the symbol of the purple purse. You know, it's hard to talk about a black eye. It's hard to talk about a stolen bank account. These are not easy to address, but women love to talk to other women about fashion. A lot of women; I don't want to stereotype! A lot of women really enjoy that. It's an easier entry to talk about the issue and not have to make it about the hard stuff at first, and really make it about the awareness through this really powerful symbol.

SK: Speaking of fashion, we have to ask. What's been your favorite Scandal outfit?

KW: I have a few! I always go back to that very first white gown that I wore in Season 1, at the very first state dinner that we ever shot on the show. It was a Calvin Klein, right off the runway — we asked if we could borrow it for the show. It was our very first black-tie event that we shot, and it holds a special place in my heart.

SK: We take it you didn't get to keep it?

KW: I didn't! I did not get to keep it!

SK: Do you keep any of them?

KW: You know, I don't. Her aesthetic is very different from mine, and it really helps differentiate myself from her — which is important that I don't bring home every day! I try to keep our closets pretty separate.

And you know, we never want to do fashion for fashion's sake on the show. We really have a very [big] closet for Olivia — a much bigger closet than I've ever had — but in each episode, we reuse at least one item that we've worn before, because we don't want to give the idea that this woman is just wall-to-wall fashion. She rewears them like any of us do.

SK: Love the recent episode where Leo comes in and tells her she has to go to the galleria and get real clothes.

KW: That was one of my favorite lines so far this season! Get thee to the galleria!

More: Pictures of my kids were turned into memes by overzealous Scandal fans

A purple purse can't be bought at the galleria, but it can be purchased at Saks Fifth Avenue for $350, with 25 percent of the proceeds going to the Purple Purse Foundation. Purple Purse charms are also available for $10. Donations to the Purple Purse Foundation are tax deductible.

If you need help due to domestic violence or need help because of financial abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

A source told Radar Online, "Cynthia was humiliated on national television after footage of Peter canoodling with some random woman at the bar played out on RHOA."

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

In the video, it appears that Thomas tenderly kisses a young woman at the nightclub, while also running his hand down the front of her blouse.

The tension seems to have grown between the two since the incident.

"Peter spends nearly all of his time at his bar in North Carolina these days," the source added. "The marriage has basically run its course."

But after the video was released on the show, Thomas took to Instagram and Twitter to responding to the cheating allegation.

More: The way RHOA's Kenya Moore handled the news about her ex is admirable

"There’s stuff all over the Instagram that made me look like a big a** cheater,” he said at the time. “Ok, that’s not what it is. That’s a friend of mine in the club that I was talking to. It looks crazy, I know it does, so I’m apologizing to my wife, I’m apologizing to my two beautiful daughters, ok. Your daddy’s not a cheater.”

Thomas later deleted the rant, according to Radar Online, but the outlet managed to capture his words.

"How much more should Cynthia put up with?" the source continued. "She needs to kick this loser to the curb."

More: RHOA's Cynthia Bailey calls foul on accusations against her husband

And apparently, Bailey's friends and family agree, because they are also reportedly encouraging her to go through with a divorce. The two are apparently at the point where they are living separate lives anyways, so it seems like the split is inevitable.

Do you think Bailey should kick Thomas to the curb once and for all?

Jenni “JWoww” Farley

Jersey Shore alum Jenni “JWoww” Farley shared a cute photo of her “perfect family” while vacationing in Nashville. The reality star is pictured with her husband, Roger, and holding her 1-year-old daughter Meilani — and she recently shared big pregnancy news at her wedding.

More: JWoww drops baby bombshell in the middle of her wedding

JWoww also shared this hilarious photo with marker on her face, courtesy of Meilani.

The 29-year-old recently told Fit Pregnancy that this would probably be her last pregnancy, and that she may even adopt in the future, as her best friend Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi was also adopted.

"I am so done with pregnancy, but maybe in the near future we can adopt. Nicole was adopted and my mom was adopted," she said. "I've always felt a special connection to that. I would love to give a baby who needs it a nice home to come home to and be loved."

Jessa Duggar

Jessa Duggar is over-the-moon in love with her 2-week-old baby boy, Spurgeon Elliot. She posted this new snapshot of her kissing his “chubby cheeks.” She and her husband named their firstborn son Spurgeon after a 19th-century preacher named Charles Spurgeon.

It is interesting to note that she included the hashtag “baby Quincy,” which was the nickname the couple used for the baby while she was pregnant — and the name that many fans think she should have gone with over the... ahem, unique name of Spurgeon.

Chris Pratt and Anna Faris

Just when we thought Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt couldn’t get any cuter, he posted this video of his 3-year-old son Jack in honor of World Prematurity Day.

Pratt and his wife, actress Anna Faris, have shared that Jack was born prematurely and weighed just a little over 3 pounds, and is now thriving and has become a "strong, smart, happy, funny, beautiful boy."

More: Anna Faris on birthing "the child of Star-Lord"

Kendra Wilkinson

It’s Christmas card season! In case Kendra Wilkinson lost your address, the reality star shared a photo of her holiday cards which feature her husband, Hank Baskett, along with the couple’s two children, Hank Jr. and Alijah.

Brooklyn Decker

Although Brooklyn Decker has yet to show a picture of her son Hank, she did share a peek of his car seat as she attempted to travel with her sleeping baby and two dogs.

Hank is the first baby for Decker and her husband, tennis pro Andy Roddick — and she posted this hilarious text exchange as he was at Target and totally nailed it in the dad department.

Love it.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba shared this heartwarming photo as she and her husband, Cash Warren, hugged daughters Honor and Haven before attending the Baby2Baby Gala.

Maci Bookout

Teen Mom's Maci Bookout shared this hospital photo as her son, Bentley, gets ready to have a tonsillectomy. “Bye bye strep,” Bookout captions the photo, which shows her son snuggled up to his mom.

Britney Spears

Proud mom Britney Spears shared this photo of her son, 9-year-old Sean, writing that her kids “are the most beautiful kids in the world.” In addition to Sean, Spears is also mom to 8-year-old Jayden with her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

More: Pregnant celebrity photos of Chrissy Teigen, Kristin Cavallari, Candice Accola and more

6. Maybe explore your Bieberfluidity by listening to Selena Gomez.

7. Try to wash your brain out by flipping over to Adele.

I had my first seizure at 19 years old — and then my second.

I was then diagnosed with epilepsy. A brain tumor was causing those pesky little seizures, and it was hopeful that by removing it the seizures would stop.

Sixteen years later, I still have seizures.

It is my anniversary month: Nov. 30 will mark two years without a seizure. I still have seizures, but certainly not with any amount of frequency that others who live with epilepsy do. I know that.

I am lucky.

There is so much in the world of epilepsy that it would be almost impossible for me to be an expert, unless I went to medical school and specialized in neurology. There is just so much to know. I have complex partial seizures that are secondary to generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Basically, my seizures start small and finish big — and by big, I mean me unconscious on the floor, typically with some sort of injury.

The seizures never stopped. They didn't stop even though I now have a hole in my head from where the tumor was. Naturally, the brain has trouble communicating with itself and may misfire — thus, seizures.

I am an expert in knowing I want the seizures to stop. To make them stop, I am on the best drug therapy regime I can be on. I manage my triggers as safely as humanly possible, without making myself crazy. Most importantly, I live my life.

There was a time I lived in fear of what might happen because of a seizure, but no more. My life is too short to worry about that.

I hope to share many more posts with you about my journey through life with epilepsy. Together we can create awareness and acceptance and promote epilepsy education.

SheKnows talked with a handful of trans individuals to find out what they would prefer to hear or be asked, rather than the stereotypical (and completely rude and disrespectful) questions they often come up against.

"'What are your preferred pronouns' is definitely top of the list, or 'How can I help raise visibility for trans issues as a cis person?' But, I guess I wish cis people would ask me regular things, about how my day is going or about my favorite food or movies, or about any number of things unrelated to my gender identity!" — AJ

"I'm OK with whatever they want to tell or ask me, as long as they can keep it as respectful as possible. I don't expect people to know about things they are asking me, because that's the point of asking. I do expect people to take me at my word about my own experience, and honor that. So when I say, 'That word is a slur, it's probably a bad idea to use that,' the ideal response is something along the lines of 'Oh, I'm sorry,' followed by visible effort to stop its use. Maybe with a follow-up question, like, 'What kinds of words are more okay to use?'" — Seranine

"I'd like cis people to genuinely listen to me when I talk about transphobia. Don't identify with the cis people in the story. Don't start explaining about how I could have been mistaken. Listen to me. I am the authority on my experience, and I know more about transphobia than you ever will." — Ella Lin

More: Gender Identity 101: A guide to understanding transgender issues

Maeve Baruk, blogger for the site, A Beautiful Transition, offers a helpful guide that relates to trans women in particular when it comes to the do's and don'ts of what to say:

1. I dislike it when people say, "On the upside, you don't have to deal with periods and cramps!"

Instead ask, "How is your day going?"

I wish people would remember that menstruating generally means you can carry a child. For the most part, reminding a trans woman that she doesn't menstruate is the emotional equivalent of pouring salt in a wound. I completely understand that your intent is 'Isn't it awesome that you don't have to deal with this thing that I think sucks?' but please don't ever say this.

2. Please never ask anything to do with how we use a restroom such as, "Do you pee standing up or sitting down?"

Instead ask, "How is your day going?"

A lot of transgender people experience great dysphoria and emotional distress because of their genitals. Please be courteous and don't ask such invasive and rude questions.

3. Please never ask: "What was your name before?"

Instead ask, "How is your day going?"

For many transgender people, their birth name carries emotional associations that typically aren't good. Personally, it carries 20 years of depression and 13 suicide attempts. Instead, compliment us on our chosen name. If we have a non-run-of-the-mill name, it's usually okay to ask about where the name originates from. But remember to be courteous and ask if we don't mind explaining our name's origin.

4. I vehemently dislike hearing the question, "When did you decide this?"

I personally don't mind hearing, "When did you figure it out?" but this is because I'm fairly open about transitioning. A safe statement to make would be "I'm glad you're doing what you need to, to be happy." Or "You look much happier now."

More: Mom brilliantly revises transgender son's birth announcement

5. I dislike being asked, "Have you had surgery yet?"

Don't even mention, let alone ask about surgery unless you are going to donate a few grand to help pay for what many, many, many insurance plans refuse to cover. Also remember that not all trans people are uncomfortable with the bits they were born with. Myself, I will usually answer this question, then talk about how I spend 2/3rds of waking hours in a state of nausea because most insurance companies think bottom surgery is just a cosmetic procedure.

6. I really don't like being asked, "What bathroom do you use?" or ANY variation thereof, including the wretchedly offensive, "Do you think it's okay for you to use this restroom?"

Don't ask a transgender person this, ever. If you ask me, you will get scathing sarcasm, highlighting that you just asked a very dumb question. Yes, you're curious, but that does not negate that it's an offensive inquiry.

7. I don't like being asked, "Are your breasts real or did you have a boob job?"

Please be respectful, and never ask this. Instead compliment me on my outfit or talk about something other than my body.

8. I dislike being asked, "So, you like guys now?"

I would prefer people to simply say, "I hope your day is going well." I do answer this question and lecture on gender versus sexuality. I will also point out that it's offensive to make inquiries into people's sexual preferences.

My most general bit of advice for people is that if it's not something you would ask your parents or grandparents about on national TV, don't ask a transgender person unless they explicitly say it's okay to ask questions.

More: Girl Scouts allows transgender girls, doesn't care if you're mad

For more on what not to ask, Dani Heffernan from GLAAD reminds that it's never okay to ask about a person's surgical status, or other personal details you wouldn't feel comfortable asking anyone else. Check out GLAAD's transgender resource center for more tips on how to be a better ally.

This film is also full of potential conversation starters about the role of media during conflict, the role of revolutionaries as symbols (rather than actual people), and how extremes on either side of a political spectrum can be equally dangerous. Learn more about Mockingjay, Part 2 in the video below and at Common Sense Media.

But when we got the chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at The National Dog Show presented by Purina last week, we couldn't help but notice that these pampered pups could teach us humans a thing or two about beauty. Here are a few things we learned:

1. Embrace your natural texture

I was blown away when I saw that the dreadlocked Puli actually used some of the same hair products I've used in the past. But the owners use them to enhance the dog's natural texture instead of trying to tame it into submission.

2. Strut your stuff with no apologies

All too often, we worry about being too much, too overdone. Girl, stop. Whether you want to be big and bold or soft and sleek, do you. Work your magic, because what's really hot is confidence.

3. You're beautiful, no matter your size

The St. Bernard can weigh more than 250 pounds. But that didn't stop this giant breed from strutting around the show ring like nobody's business. You better werk!

4. Being strong and athletic is beautiful

Remember when being beautiful was all about being a certain size? Thank goodness that we've now realized that being strong and being athletic is beautiful. Thank you, Misty Copeland and Ronda Rousey!

5. Don't be afraid of aging (i.e., embrace your flops and droops)

The champion bloodhound hasn't let his floppy ears and droopy snout stop him in any way. Why should we?

6. Play up your best features

What would the Shar Pei be without its wrinkles? A totally different dog. What's your feature that makes you, you? Your eyes? Your hair? Embrace it.

7. Long hair, don't care

"Straight hair is out, curly hair is in." "You're too old to have long hair." We've heard these misnomers and have ignored them. We hope you do too. Whether you're 16 or 65 or your hair is long, short or in between, let it swaaaannng...

8. Don't take yourself too seriously

Do you think this Frisbee catcher is thinking about what's going on with his hair? No, because he's having fun. And really, if there's nothing fun about looking the way you look, what's the point?

1. Paris attacks have roots in decades-old Islamic terrorism

Manal al-Sharif made the history of Islamic terrorism clear in a rare speech when she accepted the Oslo Freedom Forum award.

Al-Sharif- received the award because in 2011 she drove her car to a medical appointment. Saudi religious leaders had declared that women driving cars was a taboo. She did it anyway. With a small group of supporters, a video of her at the wheel was shot, posted on YouTube and went viral. She was arrest by religious police. Later, she received the Oslo Prize for activism, lost her job for the speech she gave at the ceremony and was forced to go into hiding to avoid death threats that she knew could become reality.

In her speech, al-Sharif gives a vivid description of the 1979 takeover of her homeland by Islamic extremists (known as the Wahhabi or the Salafi) that spawned the armed spin-off led by Osama bin Laden. Chased out of Saudi Arabia for his terrorism, bin Laden traveled to Afghanistan and helped create a similar band of murderous zealots called the Taliban. Both preached global jihad and both made the extreme restriction of women a centerpiece of their domestic policies. Bin Laden is now dead, but his mission and the related violence is far from over.

Her Twitter handle is @manal_alsharif (she posts in Arabic).

2. A domestic violence law in Papau New Guinea remains in limbo

A two-year-old law that sets tough penalties for perpetrating domestic violence and provisions that could make it easier for victims to get protection orders and services has yet to be used by the nation’s police or judges. The government claims it needs to draft regulations first before the law is enforced.

In the meantime, survivors have no recourse as the government continues to ignore them. The United States is the fourth-largest bilateral donor to Papua New Guinea, and should be doing more to urge its government to move ahead on curbing domestic violence, Human Rights Watch argues.

"I went to the police 17 times. I went every week for the last month. They said this is a domestic problem," one survivor told Human Rights Watch investigators. "They just told my husband not to do it again."

3. More of us are living through child birth

Several major international agencies, including UNICEF and the World Bank, reported last week in a joint press release that maternal deaths worldwide have dropped 44 percent since 1990. Maternal death is defined as the death of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth or within six weeks after birth.

Maternal deaths around the world dropped from about 532,000 in 1990 to 303,000 this year, lowering the maternal mortality ratio to 216 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Six nations have reduced their maternal death rate by 75 percent: Bhutan, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Maldives, Mongolia, Rwanda and Timor-Leste.

In the United States, however, the maternal mortality rate is actually going up. One factor is the high percentage of caesarean births and the high mortality rate among African-American women. New York City reported that the maternal death rate for white women dropped significantly but remained high for African-American women. NYC's death rate due to pregnancy is 12 times as high for African-American women as that of the city’s white women. In Georgia, African-American women die four times as often as white women from pregnancy-related causes. The United States is the only developed nation with a rising maternal death rate.

4. Colombia Attorney General says he plans new abortion law

Colombia's attorney general, Eduardo Montealegre, said he would put a draft law before Congress this week that would ease restrictions on abortion. In Colombia, abortion is permitted only in cases of rape, incest, fetal malformation or if the life of the mother or fetus is in danger. The bill he is proposing would allow women to have a termination in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy without any restrictions. Latin American nations have some of the most punitive laws regarding abortion including criminal prosecutions of women.

Tongues started wagging when Beckinsale's husband, Live Free or Die Hard director Len Wiseman, was seen on three separate occasions with CJ Franco (who looks oddly like Beckinsale, by the way), and he was not wearing his wedding ring. Several media outlets ran photos of the pair leaving a nightclub together in the wee hours of the morning.

A source finally confirmed to People that Beckinsale and Wiseman have been separated for several months.

"They are still friendly and spend time together in LA when Kate is there," says the source, adding that "there has been no drama.

"It's just not Kate's style," says the source. "They have both had complicated schedules and have grown apart."

More: Kate Beckinsale reflects on nervous breakdown and how it actually helped her career

But despite Wiseman's flagrant flaunting of his new girlfriend — who by all accounts is not a nanny, surprisingly enough — Beckinsale, who is currently in Prague filming Underworld 5, has no interest in doing the same.

"Kate is not dating and only focused on her daughter and work."

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The couple, who wed in 2004, does not have any children together, but Beckinsale has a daughter, Lily, with former partner Michael Sheen. And just because Wiseman will no longer be her legal stepfather doesn't mean he doesn't still care.

"[Wiseman's] primary concern in all of this is Lily. He loves his stepdaughter and is there for her," another insider said.

Beckinsale's nine-year relationship with Sheen ended amid rumors of infidelity on her part, which she steadfastly denied.

Her last formal public appearance with Wiseman was at the Golden Globes in January 2015. The pair has not been spotted around town together since June and have not been photographed together since May.

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Chicken breasts, diced sweet potatoes and spicy red onions are oven-roasted together in a baking dish and flavored with a light apple cider-mustard sauce with fresh lemon and garlic. On the side I made a simple batch of light breaded, baked, yellow squash chips that pair perfectly with the chicken and vegetables.

Apple cider-baked chicken and vegetables recipe

Serves 4

Prep time: 15 minutes | Bake time: 45 minutes | Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 2 large sweet potatoes, diced
• 1 large red onion, diced
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup apple cider
• 1/4 cup chicken stock
• 1 small shallot, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F, and spray a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Layer the potatoes, onions and chicken in the bottom of the baking dish.
3. In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, mixing well. Pour the mixture on top of the chicken and vegetables.
4. Roast the chicken for 45 minutes or until it is cooked completely and the sweet potatoes are tender.
5. Remove from the oven, and serve alongside yellow squash chips.

Baked yellow squash chips recipe

Serves 4-6

Prep time: 15 minutes | Bake time: 15 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1. 4 medium yellow squash, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
2. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3. Salt and pepper, to taste
4. 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
5. 1/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs
6. 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
7. 1 teaspoon garlic powder
8. 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. To a large bowl, add the squash rounds. Drizzle the olive oil on top of the squash, and season with salt and pepper.
3. Using your hands, toss the squash well to evenly coat it in the olive oil and seasonings.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, and mix well.
5. Lightly bread the squash rounds in the breadcrumb mixture, and then place them in a single layer on the baking sheet.
6. Bake uncovered for 12 to15 minutes or until the squash chips begin to crisp and turn golden brown.
7. Remove from the oven, and serve warm.

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Growing up in a space where promises were nothing special was difficult for me. I inherently felt it important to keep my word, but I didn’t understand that it was a part of my DNA until I was much older.

When you grow up in a family where promises are not honored, you learn not to expect much. That way when promises are not kept or someone’s word is broken, you aren’t disappointed. You learn to simply go with the flow — no matter which way it’s flowing. You learn not to believe or believe in the people you should count on most. You learn your role models may say this today but do that tomorrow. You actually learn to depend on yourself. Because in a world of broken promises self is really all you have.

When you grow up in a silo for much of your life, you make plans for the perfect life to come. You plan to be the perfect employee, the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect friend. And then you realize, with time, that there is no such thing as a perfect person. But, what you can do is be better. What you can do is step up and be better to yourself than others were to you.

With that, I set out to be a loyal friend and that has worked out fine. I set out to be a dedicated employee, which has been a positive life experience as well. I set out to be a Psalms-31 wife — ha ha, if you ask my ex, I am certain you will get an earful of how I totally missed the mark on that one.

Most importantly, I set out to be an engaged and “present” mama. I think I succeeded. I was only blessed with one daughter, and the mother-daughter dynamic can be a challenge at times, but I promised myself, and even my God, that I would always keep my promises to her. At least that I could do.

From the time she was old enough to understand the concept of a promise, I began teaching her that if Mommy says, “I promise,” you can count it done. However, if Mommy says "maybe" or "we’ll see," well you had better check back with me later. She learned well, and she has always held me to it. I still hear her little voice saying to me, “But, Mommy, you promised.” Those words would always get me into gear. No matter what else happened, I vowed never to break a promise to my daughter. I didn’t when she was a child and I still do not to this day when she is an adult with children of her own.

Why was that so important to me? I’ll tell you why: because I remember how dejected I felt every time a promise made to me was broken. I can sometimes still feel that childhood fear of having no one to truly count on. I remember the loneliness of knowing that my whole world could change and be shattered tomorrow on someone else’s whim because word was not bond in my world. One of the phrases I hate the most is, "Something came up." A lot of things came up during my childhood.

Children have so much to worry about and contend with without worrying if their parent(s) or other adult role models are honorable, so I forged a bond with my child by letting her know that my word to her is my bond. She mattered. She was important enough in my life for me to honor my word to her and to be reliable. I never wanted her to feel less than or unimportant to her mother. I wanted to be reliable in her eyes. I wanted her to take it for granted that if Mama said, "I promise," the case was closed and it was a done deal.

Now I have two grandchildren — and the “word is bond” sentiment has carried over. I have never been prouder than I was the first time I heard my daughter say in conversation with someone else, “If I promise my children something, I have to do it.” I could have melted right then and there. She got it. She remembered it, and she thought enough of my effort to emulate it.

My daughter is a schoolteacher and she carries this mantra into her classroom as well. She is a woman of her word to her students and they appreciate her for that. I’ve done something right. My grandchildren will plead with me to say, “I promise,” if they want something because they know if MiMi says I promise, they can count on it. I love that. I take pride in the fact that even they see me as a reliable person and role model in their lives. They have faith in my word and I am honorable in their eyes.

I am not a perfect parent and I have made many mistakes, but I have broken a cycle. Perhaps a small one to some, but one that truly mattered to me. And now it matters to my child and my grandchildren, and my daughter is teaching it to her students. I have learned that one good deed can be far reaching. I have also learned that having “things” did not matter as much to my daughter as the fact that she could count on her mama's promises.

If that is my legacy, I am a happy woman. If once I’ve moved on from labor to reward someone can say that I was honorable and my word was bond, then I feel I have lived up to my dreams of becoming a good mama, a good MiMi and a good person.

I have never broken a promise to my child or grandchildren — and I never will.

Premenstrual syndrome is the bane of many a woman's existence. Between the bloating, food cravings, bloating, headaches, bloating, exhaustion and cramps (did I mention bloating?), it can be worse than the actual menstruating part. But apparently this isn't just a female problem like we've all thought — according to a new study, 26 percent of men say they get a "man period" every month.

Don't worry — they're not spontaneously bleeding out of their nethers. Rather, these gents say that they experience hormonal fluctuations over the course of the month that lead to classic PMS symptoms. The most commonly reported man-period symptoms were irritability, exhaustion, increased cravings, ravenous hunger and emotional sensitivity. In fact, it's such a common issue that it's even earned its own, more manly, acronym: IMS, or Irritable Male Syndrome.

On one hand, yeah, OK, I can buy that. We live in a world chock-full of pollution, pesticides and other endocrine disruptors. It makes sense that lady hormones wouldn't be the only ones affected by this toxic stew. There is some scientific evidence that certain outside stressors, both physical and mental, can cause a man's testosterone to drop, leading him to experience symptoms similar to PMS. And there are real-life consequences: The study reported that men with "man periods" spend an extra $124 a month on things to help fix the pain and cravings.

But.

Has a man ever bled through his favorite pair of jeans? In public? And then had to ask a stranger to borrow a tampon? That he then shoved up an orifice, hoping it would last long enough to get him home to the safety of his own bathroom?

Has a man ever had his "man period" used against him, as a way to insult his intellect, beliefs and composure — the way Donald Trump accused Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly of being a bad Republican debate moderator because of "blood coming out of her wherever?"

Has a man ever been banned from coming to school or church or even into his family home because he might be on his man-moon-time?

Until that happens, they are not allowed to call it a "man period."

It's not that I'm unsympathetic. It sucks to have a time every month where you already know you're going to be overly sensitive, craving every type of junk food and possibly in physical pain. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, man or woman. Indeed, in the study 43 percent of the suffering men said their partners supported them during their monthly trouble. (And only 33 percent of the supportive women said they told him to "man up" already.) And hey, if it means we can swap out the Avengers movies for Nicholas Sparks one weekend a month, it might actually be a positive.

So I say we let the dudes have their IMS. I'll even share the pint of Ben & Jerry's. But until they show us the blood, it is not a "man period." Period.

Schroeder revealed the surgery to fans in an Instagram post thanking her bestie, Sheena Mannina, for being her private nurse while she recovers.

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"Thank you for coming to L.A to nurse me back to health after my boobs were butchered. I love you my little health guru guardian angel best friend #thebreastliftstruggleisreal," Schroeder wrote.

On Thursday, just a day after the operation, she told fans about it on her podcast Straight Up With Stassi. "I got my boob reduction/lift and I'm on medication. I've also had some wine/margaritas," she said.

Earlier this month on her podcast she explained what she was about to do and why.

"I have exciting news... I'm getting a breast reduction in two weeks. Breast reduction/lift. It's done, I paid for it and everything. No turning back," she said.

"‘Cause they're too big. It's back pain, and I started bleeding the other day when I was working out because of my sports bra, so I have scabs," she explained. "It's too uncomfortable and they are so saggy, they look like two tube socks with change in them."

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But she didn't lop off too much, preferring to go down to a D cup. "I still want boobs. I don't want to have an identity crisis. I feel like if I took too much out I might not feel like myself. I want to continue to have boobs," she said.

"I thought about waiting, but then I thought what if I don't have kids for ten years," she added. "I'm going to spend the hottest years of my life with saggy tits. I'm already past my prime."

This is not the first time Schroder has gone under the knife. She admitted to getting a chin implant and lip injections, but stopped getting Botox for a hilarious reason.

"I've done it before but I like when people know when I'm mad at them without me having to say something," she told Entertainment Tonight.

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The film may not be getting its theatrical release until February of next year, but the recently released trailer featuring Benedict Cumberbatch is already creating controversy.

In news that will undoubtedly displease Cumberbatch's devoted fan base, the popular star's androgynous supermodel persona in Zoolander 2 is being lampooned as highly offensive. So much so, in fact, that an online petition is urging fans to skip seeing the sartorial farce made famous by Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.

More: Zoolander 2's Derek and Hansel are ridiculously good looking in new photos

The petition states: "In the Zoolander 2 trailer, an androgynous character played by Benedict Cumberbatch is asked by Zoolander and Hansel if he is a 'male or female model,' and if they 'have a hot dog or a bun.' Additionally, Cumberbatch's character is clearly portrayed as an over-the-top, cartoonish mockery of androgyne/trans/non-binary individuals. This is the modern equivalent of using blackface to represent a minority."

It's getting traction, too. To date, the petition has garnered 6,200 of the 7,000 signatures it is seeking.

The fan fervor over Zoolander 2 has been building since Paris Fashion Week, when Stiller and Wilson crashed the runway as their fashion-forward alter egos, Derek and Hansel. Interest in the follow-up film seemed to pique with the release of the latest trailer, largely due to cameos by Cumberbatch and Blue Steel facial expression guru, Justin Bieber.

Still, judging by Twitter and the steam the online petition is picking up, it's clear not everyone is happy with the direction the Zoolander franchise is headed.

Obviously, transphobia is no laughing matter. The representation of the trans people in TV and film often comes across as a caricature, which marginalizes trans people and perpetuates unrealistic and oftentimes dangerous stereotypes of the LGBTQ community at large.

As Rose points out in the petition, "If the producers and screenwriters of Zoolander wanted to provide social commentary on the presence of trans/androgyne individuals in the fashion industry, they could have approached models like Andreja Pejic to be in the film."

On the other hand, one could argue that Zoolander deals in hyperbole and that every character is an exaggerated representation of fashion tropes.

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Also, Cumberbatch is an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ community — late last year, he told Out magazine in an interview, "People are being beheaded in countries right now because of their beliefs or sexual orientations. It's terrifying. It's medieval — a beheading! I'd take up arms against someone who was telling me I had to believe in what they believed or they would kill me. I would fight them. I would fight them to the death."

Of course, he wouldn't be the first actor to make an unfortunate misstep. Check out the Zoolander 2 trailer below. Do you think Cumberbatch's character is offensive?

Photos of empty streets, screaming faces and crying family members flashed across the television and computer screens.

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Amid the blue, white and red Facebook profile pictures and the shared stories that Paris wasn't the only city suffering, there were questions about how to talk about such issues with children.

How were they interpreting these events? How should the topic be introduced to them? And what are the best ways we should talk to them about such things, if at all?

It's a tough topic for parents and guardians to consider — whether to protect children from the atrocities around the world or to be honest and explain it to them instead.

Psychologist Sandy Rea appeared on Channel Nine's weekend edition of Today and explained that there are a range things to keep in mind when talking about terrorism with children. We spoke to two mums about how they approach the issue in their household.

1. Minimise exposure

While Rea says that children over the age of 10 can usually handle images and graphic news coverage, younger children can become traumatised if they have too much exposure to this type of news. Minimise the exposure to graphic content, no matter how outgoing, smart or mature your child is.

At home: Mother of three Jacqueline says that she and her husband Aaron minimise their children's exposure to watching the news about such events. "It's a very complex issue, and one that I guess even as adults we don't have a full understanding of what is going on, so we don't talk about these things at home, and we don't allow them to watch it on the news," she says, adding that the kids are only told about news that directly affects them in their day-to-day lives.

2. Use real language

When you are talking about something like what happened in Paris or Beirut, be sure to use real language. Avoid using phrases like someone "went to heaven." Rea says it's important that they have a real understanding of what is going on.

At home: After asking her 8-year-old son what he thought terrorism was, Jacqueline was surprised to find out that he did have some idea. "I just asked Luke if he knows what terrorism is, and he said, 'It's when baddies come and attack,'" she said.

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3. Set up activities that deal with the issue

Instead of pretending that nothing has happened or attempting to make children feel better by using avoidant language or actions, Rea says to think about taking part in activities that deal with the situation and help them — and you — move forward. Perhaps organise to send some flowers to a memorial, or have them draw a picture that would spread love and hope to people who have been affected.

At home: Kimberley, a mother of two boys, says she would rather introduce love than fear to her growing family. "I accept that terrorism exists in the world, but I choose not to allow it to exist in my family's world, my kids' in particular. I hope that doesn't come across as selfish. I like to choose love, not fear."

4. Remind your child that they are safe

Rea suggests saying things like "you are safe here with us" to children to reinforce that they are okay and secure. Kids, like all of us, need to feel safe and that they are being cared for, so remind your children of that so they don't dwell on what is being portrayed by the media and worry about their own safety as a result.

At home: "I don't want to even begin to introduce him to fear," says Kimberley about her 4-year-old son. "I just don't feel like it's necessary. I am appreciative every single day for the feelings of safety and security that we get to live."

5. Talk about your feelings

Especially with older children, it is important to discuss feelings about certain events rather than leave them to pent up, Dr. Daniel Hilliker, a pediatric psychologist with the Mayo Clinic Children's Center, told CBS News. Rather than telling a child how they should or shouldn't feel, ask them how it makes them feel and why. "Keep on asking for clarification or even reflecting back and saying, 'This is what I'm hearing you say about it,'" he says.

At home: "You can't avoid Mr. 4-year-old from overhearing and asking something like, 'Is that the bad guys killing people?' I'm really general about answering at this stage," Kimberley says.

How have you approached the subject with your children? Let us know below.

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