Here is your guide to creating a fantastic, rustic tablescape while staying in your budget.
Rustic Tablescape
Total Cost: $60
Supplies:
Mason jars — You’ll want the mason jars that narrow at the top, so avoid getting the wide mouth canning jars. A pack of twelve costs about $15.
Tea lights — These don’t have to be fancy, but they should be white. You’ll be using these to accent the main part of your centerpiece so feel free to go for the deal. You can find packs of fifty candles for only $8!
Moss — For this particular table setting, the moss you’ll want to purchase is called reindeer moss. Believe us, this green, spongy plant is going to do wonders in bringing life to your tablescape, so don’t be afraid of it! You’ll only need four or five handfuls, so this shouldn’t cost you more than $9.
Driftwood — If you live by the beach, spend time combing the shores for driftwood. You’ll want large, thick pieces that have a lot of texture and curves. If you live closer to the forest, you can use branches instead. You can also find these natural accents in most home furnishings stores including Dot & Bo.
White flowers — Of course, these flowers can be any type you choose, but we personally like the look of white flowers with a rustic setting. The combination of large blossoms with small blooms helps to keep things interesting and unique. You can buy these from your local florist or even grocery store for around $20 or grow them in your garden for free!
Jute twine — Jute is going to give your designs that final, quaint, rustic touch. It’s an important feature that doesn’t cost much! You can often purchase 50 yards for just $3.
Burlap — This fabric is all you need when it comes to a table runner. Get a roll from your local fabric store for only $5.
Start with the burlap. Roll out a piece that either stops short an inch from either end of your table or goes over by about half a foot. There’s your table runner!
Next, you’ll want to arrange your driftwood pieces. Depending on their lengths, place two or three pieces, evenly spaced along the length of your table.
Take a couple of handfuls of your reindeer moss and place it on top of your driftwood and a couple on the sides.
Fill your mason jars about a quarter of the way with water. Then, take your jute and wrap it around the skinniest part of the jar.
Place your flowers inside the jars, alternating large blossoms with the smaller ones to create bouquets with variety.
Evenly space the flower-filled mason jars along your table.
Take your tea lights and line them up around the base of your mason jars. Place two or three along or on top of your driftwood (only if your wood is stable enough and won't tip!).
Voilá! You have a beautiful rustic tablescape for at-home entertaining — without spending too much cash.
Here's a look at some names for little girls that capture the rue meaning of the season. Whether you decide to give your daughter a spiritual name or bestow a name that captures the fun of this special holiday, Christmas baby girl names are as festive and beautiful as the season itself.
You can also find some wonderful classic names from some of our favorite classic Christmas movies.
Judy and Betty were the name of the sisters in the 1954 classic movie, White Christmas. Donna Reed played the title role of Mary Hatch in the classic It's a Wonderful Life. Miracle on 34th Street had Maureen O'Hara playing Doris Walker and the talented Natalie Wood playing Susan Walker.
O'Connor posted what read like a suicide note on her Facebook page Sunday, blaming her family for withholding her children from her.
"I have taken an overdose. There is no other way to get respect," she wrote, adding that she was in a hotel "somewhere in Ireland" where no one would find her until she was dead. "My children don't care if I live r [sic] die anyway. Neither do their dads. Everyone is better off. Never ever do this to a woman again. Let this be your lesson."
She was later found alive by authorities, but has posted another vitriol-filled rant targeting both her former partners and her children and blaming them for her breakdown.
"Jake, Roisin, Jr., frank, Donal, Eimear, I never wanna see you again," she wrote. "You stole my sons from me. Then you had hypocrisy to come to hospital and then not be here when I wake and not pick up phone? I'm shit to you. You're dead to me. You killed your mother. You stole my sons. You left me alone for twelve weeks! Why did I have to hear it was your hypocritical asses here while I was unconscious?? And now you're Gone and not picking up phone? You are child stealing murderers, I never want to see or hear from any of you again. Why were you here when you're the ones who put me here???? And where the f*** are you now??? Murderers. Liars. Hypocrites. All of you. You caused this."
The frightening posts followed a series of angry protestations about the custody of her sons and how her family has been stealing money from her for years.
O'Connor believed she suffered from bipolar disorder for eight years, but in 2014 decided she was instead suffering from PTSD as a result of her traumatic childhood and went off her medications.
Hair elastics and scrunchies may be an essential part of your hair's life, but that doesn't mean it needs to be on you at all times. While it's convenient to keep one on your wrist, especially if you work out daily, or just get warm often, it's not doing you any favors by sitting there, day in and day out.
Here are several reasons why you should pull that little elastic off your arm right this second.
1. It could give you a life-threatening infection
Kentucky native Audrey Copp wore hair ties on her wrist all the time, just like all of us. However, a couple of weeks ago, one of her glittery hair ties changed all that. She started to notice a large bump forming on her wrist where she kept the hair tie. She went to the doctor who gave her an antibiotic, but the bump just continued to grow. Finally she got so worried, she went to the hospital where they discovered she had three separate bacterial infections. From a hair tie.
"Thank God I caught it in time, or I could have had sepsis," Kopp told WLKY. Dr. Amit Gupta initially thought Copp had been bitten by a spider. However, upon further examination, she believes there was bacteria on the hair tie that got under her skin through her pores and hair follicles. For extra fun, Copp documented her infection experience online with graphic photos. Get ready to be grossed out.
hair tie infection
hair tie infection
Yeeaah... that's put me off hair elastics forever. While Kopp and her doctor believe the glitter hair tie she was wearing was likely the culprit as opposed to all hair ties, it's still probably best to avoid them considering this scariness.
2. It's not good for your hair anyway
Frankly, you're hair doesn't like being confined by elastic, so why keep that constrictive thing on your wrist in the first place? Wearing hair elastics too often can result in hair breakage. Instead, why not try a nice clip, or loose braid?
3. They can cut off circulation
No, they don't just leave that unattractive red line on your wrist when you take them off. A 2-year-old girl almost lost her arm to one back in 2011. While she didn't quite have acute compartment syndrome, which is a limb-threatening condition that occurs when an area of your body undergoes long-standing pressure and isolation from the rest, it was still a dire situation.
4. They ruin your outfit
You know how you spend a good 30 minutes to an hour putting together a carefully curated outfit for work every morning? Well all that effort is shot to heck once you throw that neon green hair elastic on your wrist. No, it doesn't look like a fun bracelet, nor does it go with any of your other, real jewelry.
Sources say that the vitriol between the women on the show, caused by the belief that Vicki Gunvalson's ex, Brooks Ayers, is lying about having cancer, is getting to be too much and rather than drumming up great publicity, could actually be hurting the show — and producers want it stopped.
"Right now, the ladies are forbidden to talk about each other and the entire cast is on media lockdown," an insider told Radar Online.
"This was done as a means of damage control," the insider added. "They have all been talking so much shit about each other that Bravo had no other choice then [sic] to step in and put a lock on it."
Most of the cast has been directing their anger toward Gunvalson, even stating they will refuse to film with her and think she should be fired — but that doesn't look likely, and producers are trying desperately to salvage some of the relationships.
"There is a good chance that Vicki will be returning next season," the source told Radar. "The network simply cannot have any more of the other ladies badmouthing her when they are going to get ready to start shooting the new season."
The move comes just days after Shannon Beador posted a vitriol-filled rant against Gunvalson on her Facebook page after her co-star's appearance on Watch What Happens Live!
"I'm really, really angry about what happened tonight. There were so many lies," she said during her 10-minute rampage. "It was calculated, it was premeditated," Shannon exclaimed. "She wanted sympathy for her boyfriend because for two [or] three seasons… nobody liked him!"
Gunvalson maintains that she had no part in Ayers' alleged charade.
All I knew was that I was a poor college student without health insurance and my roommate told me they could help me get a routine exam on the cheap. And that's exactly what they did. A nurse practitioner did a pelvic exam, performed some routine tests and sent me on my way. It was just one of many checkups I've had over the years. No one tried to sell me an abortion. No one filled my backpack with condoms. There were no protesters outside. In fact, it was such a non-event that I'd completely forgotten about it until I heard the news about the most recent shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs.
While the alleged shooter is thought to have been angry about "baby parts," to me Planned Parenthood was just a place for my roommates and I to get the health care we needed. It was reliable. It was affordable. It was, dare I say, boring. And I would guess that it is the same for many women who have visited a Planned Parenthood in the past decade. Despite all the political rhetoric and sensational news headlines, drama is the exception to the rule. And the rule, ideally, is basic health care for all women.
Unfortunately this is not reality because health care is not a certainty for 1 in 8 American women, particularly those already in vulnerable situations. For instance, the rate of unintended pregnancies among poor women is 137 per 1,000 women, more than five times the rate among women at the highest income level, according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health. And having a child is the single biggest predictor of poverty for single women, creating a vicious cycle. In addition, the American Cancer Association reported that low-income women are not only far more likely to get cervical cancer — a type of cancer for which prevention and early detection are key to survival — but are also far more likely to die of it than richer women. Clearly there is a serious gap in services for poor, uninsured or under-insured women.
All of this leads me to think that the conversation needs to be less about what Planned Parenthood may be doing wrong and more about what they're doing right — and why no one else is stepping in to help fill that critical gap. I know that I was one of the lucky ones. I graduated from college, got married, got a good job and great health insurance; I've never needed to use Planned Parenthood again. But I'm grateful they were there when I needed them.
Not everyone is as lucky as I am. For many women right now, they're neither the best nor the worst option for basic health care — they're the only option. And basic health care shouldn't come fraught with the danger of being intimidated, shamed, shot at or worse.
"This was a crime against women receiving health care services," said Attorney General Loretta Lynch, speaking about the Colorado Springs tragedy, and she couldn't be more right. In an ideal world, every woman would be entitled to the same type of visit I had: comfortable, affordable and, most importantly, boring. Going to the gyno shouldn't mean taking your life in your hands.
Get scientific with it! Give the gift of personalized micronutrient testing to help friends and family replenish any deficiencies and feel their best. (Spectracell.com, $390)
If you want to keep things a bit more savory, just omit the vanilla, and skip the cinnamon honey butter. If you're looking for a tiny bit of sweetness, though, I'd suggest keeping things how they are in the recipe and guarantee you it won't disappoint.
Image: Gina Matsoukas/SheKnows
Gingerbread cornbread with cinnamon honey butter recipe
SheKnows: You are known to die-hard fans as a self-described Survivor know-it-all. What was it like to be the victim of such a perfectly executed blindside?
Stephen Fishbach: [Laughs] That's a great question. It was thrilling. You saw me when I went out. I was kind of delighted with the whole thing. Obviously, I would've loved to pull it off and gotten rid of Joe, but the way it worked out it was great. They got me. You have to give them credit for that.
Image: CBS
SK: What was going through your mind at that moment you were voted off? Was there any sense of relief that you were going to be out of the awful storms or were you angry?
SF: Honestly, there was a sense of relief. It wasn't even the elements so much. After the monsoon it sort of died down. Once we were in the new shelter it became very survivable, so I wasn't concerned with the elements or anything like that at that point. In the sense of relief, I played my hardest, did my best and it didn't work out. Now I can go eat. Obviously, there's stuff looking back that I did wrong, but I lasted a while. I could eat my cheeseburger without feeling guilty.
SK: At the prior tribal council, there was another big surprise moment when Jeremy played his hidden idol to save you. Thoughts on that?
SF: I had no clue that was coming. While we were going to tribal council, all these thoughts throughout the day were suddenly going through my head. A conversation with Wentworth. Something Ciera had said about targeting Keith. Just things people said, I was like, "Wait a second." It all clicked for me. "I'm getting voted out." I was freaking out that whole tribal council. I was freaking out because I knew I was going home. I had left the advantage [of an extra vote] back at camp, which was so stupid. I was looking over at Jeremy and he kept winking at me. I was like, "Dude, stop winking at me! I'm about to get voted out." Obviously, it all made sense afterward. Not to be too inside baseball, but I thought we were splitting the votes. The plan I had been told was the witches [Ciera Morett-Eastin, Abi-Maria Gomes and Kelley Wentworth] were going after Spencer, but we were gonna split the vote on Ciera and Wentworth. I was like, "It's a bad idea. Don't split the votes. We don't have the numbers. Let's just put it all on Ciera." In my head there's a whole plan coming around and I was like, "Oh no. The vote split is what's gonna cost us the game." Ironically, that ultimately is what cost me the game, but I was just a couple of days too early.
Image: CBS
SK: Joe, the guy you were gunning for, finally loses an immunity challenge. There's now an opportunity to take out one of the game's biggest threats and he's spared for your elimination. Was there anything happening behind the scenes that we didn't see?
SF: I had thought everybody was gonna be voting for Joe. When I say I was blindsided by Spencer, that's because I trusted Spencer the most. Jeremy is like, "Keith is with us, Wentworth is with us, Abi is gonna vote with us." We thought everyone was gonna be voting down the line with us. We were going to split the votes against Abi and Joe. I think that Joe is playing a really good social game. He's doing a great job of playing both sides. I also think there's an element to Joe where people think they can beat him. They think just because he's winning all these challenges doesn't mean he can win the game. They're willing to keep him around so they can say, "What did Joe do strategically?" I actually think Joe is a better strategist than people are giving him credit for. I think he does a really good job of playing both sides. Part of why I went out was Joe carried information from my alliance through Kimmi to his alliance. One moment that did not make air, which I thought was hilarious, Abi is like, "Kimmi keeps on saying you want me out." I was like, "No, Abi. I don't want you out. I want to work with you. I want you on my side." I go up to Kimmi and said, "Listen, you have to stop saying you want Abi out because she is hearing it from Joe. We're gonna lose her vote." Suddenly I look over my shoulder and here comes Abi walking up to us. I started giving Kimmi a gesture to stop talking, to cut it off. Then Kimmi shrieks in her Kimmi voice, "You're the one who told me to vote out Abi!" That was right as Abi walks up. I was like, "Uh. Hi, Abi!" Then she [Kimmi Kappenberg] turned to me and said the worst lie of all time: "I mean Wentworth." Meanwhile, Wentworth is right behind Abi [laughs].
SK: You had a pretty rough go the last couple of days between the torrential weather, your swollen feet and intestinal troubles. What made you so sick?
SF: I honestly don't know. At that point I hadn't eaten in three days. I hadn't slept in three days and we're getting pounded by this monsoon. I also hadn't had a lot of water. Because of the terrible monsoon, nobody really wanted to go and fill up the canteens, so we were all pretty dehydrated. I think the dehydration must have just gotten to me, too. It was such a terrible night. We're all having our worst moment. It was the height of the monsoon in its third day. Everyone there was miserable, chattering in the shelter. Suddenly, I can feel my stomach and I was like, "Oh no. This is not good." My whole body started breaking down. Obviously, my feet were soaked and got super swelled up. My intestines became a mess. It was a terrible time for that to happen right when I needed to be most proactive playing the game.
Image: CBS
SK: That being said, compare the experiences. Did you enjoy Survivor: Tocantins or Survivor: Second Chance more?
SF: [Laughs] The one where I made a best friend, got to the end and wasn't sick. That was the more enjoyable one [laughs].
Image: CBS
SK: When the rains kept battering you guys down, Jeff Probst offered to give you all a much better shelter. But it came at the price of half of the group sacrificing their shot at immunity. Were there any hard feelings thrown toward Joe and Keith for choosing to compete instead of sacrificing themselves for the better of the group?
SF: Not from me. If someone felt it, they're crazy. Obviously, Joe wasn't gonna step aside. I was glad Keith competed because he could give Joe a little run for his money. If anyone felt anger at them, they're nuts.
Image: CBS
SK: Looking back, what was your biggest mistake? Anything you would do differently?
SF: My biggest mistake was not immediately playing my advantage when I got it. Specifically, my biggest mistake was not taking the advantage with me to that tribal council that Ciera went home. The reason I didn't take it was because I had buried it far away from camp. I didn't want anyone to find it. My feet were so messed up that it would've taken me a long time to hobble over and get it and then come back. I thought, "If I go and get my advantage now, people are gonna freak out because they see me going to get it and they're gonna target me." Had I had that advantage at that tribal council, I would've played it. I probably wouldn't have gone home, but maybe I would have. I think I would not have been such a target because of the advantage.
Image: CBS
SK: Your character this season was portrayed as a klutzy, non-physical goofball. What was it like for you watching it on TV? Is it embarrassing at all?
SF: It's funny. I find it funny. I think part of it is, this is a season that was cast by the fans. The fans picked smart, strategic players. They didn't pick Shane. They didn't pick Troyzan. They didn't pick Culpepper. They had players who were playing the game hard, but it also meant from the season narrative there was no goofball to have being crazy. If Shane had been having some crazy cigarette withdrawal, I don't think I would've been shown struggling with a stick. They turned to me for those crazy, awkward moments. It's whatever. It was funny. It is what it is. I think that probably was part of it.
Image: CBS
SK: What was your ultimate end-game strategy? Who did you want to go to the end of the game with?
SF: I wanted to go to the end with Kimmi and Keith or Kimmi and Abi. I thought that against them, I would have the best shot of winning. I think there's a chance Kimmi could've beaten me because she has an amazing life story and kind of an old-school jury. At that point, we had Savage and Wiglesworth, you know, really old-school players who want to give someone who deserves [it] the million dollars. Then there's Ciera. She's a mom. Kass is a mom. So I think Kimmi could've beaten me. My best chance was to go with people who had not really played a strategic game or a story to tell. If I'm there against Jeremy, Joe or Wentworth, they all could make a story for their game. That was my thought. Even had I lost against Kimmi or Abi, I just wanted one vote. Just one vote was all I wanted [laughs].
Image: CBS
SK: Is that the only reason Abi is still in the game — because people know they will beat her?
SF: I think there's that. I also think it's kind of like people are so focused on taking out threats. She's not a threat in any way. I think people are aware of the danger of Abi. The closer Abi gets to the finals, the more likely someone is gonna drag her to the end and screw up somebody's plan. Spencer and I talked about this a lot. Why vote for Abi? Get her out before she ruins someone's plan.
Image: CBS
SK: Of the contestants left standing, who do you think is the least deserving to be there?
SF: I don't think about it that way. I think everyone deserves to be there. They were all voted in by the fans. Deserving isn't a metric that really makes sense in reality television, Survivor specifically. Every single person worked hard to be cast on the show, and every single person is working hard and every single person is enduring those elements. I think they all deserve to be there.
Image: CBS
SK: You waited a long time for you second chance to play the game. Did you ever think you would be asked to play again? When you were asked, did you have any hesitation?
SF: I didn't think it was gonna come, actually. I thought I was retired. I was happy with that. I was happy blogging and podcasting from the sidelines, having an esteemed position within the Survivor community. When I got the second chance, I was gonna say no. I talked to Rob [Cesternino] about it. I was like, "This is too big of a risk for me. There's a very good chance I will be first off. I'm probably not gonna win. The odds of making it to the end are very slim. Why do it again?" He was like, "Obviously, you have to take the shot. You probably won't win [laughs], but you've gotta at least try it." I really did have to think about it hard. I would switch by the day. Even going out there, I was thinking, "I'm not sure I should be doing this." I think that actually translated into my game. I think if I had been more 100 percent committed to this decision, I would've probably hit the ground running a little bit harder.
Image: CBS
SK: So if they called you to compete again, would you hesitate this time?
SF: I'm done. It's been an amazing experience for me. I'm so grateful for it. This one was harder, and there were more cons. Certainly, physically it was a big toll. Emotionally. Mentally. I don't love the fact that there's a scene of me struggling with a branch now on the Internet forever, but it is what is. There's good that comes with it, too. Certainly the growth experience. It's been a very different time with social media. When I was on last time, Twitter was just kind of getting popular. Now, everyone's on Twitter and everyone's on Facebook. There are so many great, great, great fan interactions, and also some really negative ones. So, it's interesting.
Image: CBS
What are your thoughts on Stephen's comments? Are you surprised he was originally going to turn down the offer to compete on Second Chance? What do you think of his remarks about never wanting to play again? Do you think he had a real shot at winning the game? Join the conversation by leaving a comment now.
Can anyone blame us for wondering if they were just rebounding? They're both fresh off their respective divorces. After the long marriages they both had — four years for Shelton and 13 for Stefani — they seem to have jumped into a pretty serious relationship with one another pretty quickly. But this news may change some minds about what's going on behind the scenes of Hollywood's hottest new couple.
Even though Shelton and Stefani went their separate ways for Thanksgiving — Shelton went to see family in Oklahoma and Stefani stayed behind in Los Angeles for a photo shoot before taking her sons to Disneyland on Black Friday — they reunited pretty much immediately after the holiday. They were seen driving together first on Sunday and then again Monday morning.
Despite being separated by miles during Thanksgiving, the first major holiday since both their divorces, reports say Shelton and Stefani stayed in close contact. When they're together, they've been packing on the PDA, and during a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Stefani accidentally blurted out, "I love you too, Blake!" indicating that they may have already exchanged those three little words.
None of it is concrete evidence, but the events of the last couple of weeks certainly suggest there's more to Shelton and Stefani as an item than getting over their respective exes.
What do you think? Are Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani in it for the long haul? Or do you think their relationship has an expiration date? Sound off down in the comments!
The Teen Mom and Teen Mom OG star just dropped her brand new clothing line, and we're betting she didn't anticipate all the backlash a seemingly innocent business venture like that would cause.
But followers on social media are slamming the line, saying that it's too expensive and that it's damaging to women's self-esteem.
Twenty-four-year-old Bookout, who has two kids, launched the line earlier this week alongside her second baby daddy, Taylor McKinney. Called TTM Lifestyle, Bookout's brand features simple but upscale T-shirts and tank tops for both men and women.
Maci Bookout launches fashion line
Maci Bookout launches fashion line
However, fans were quick to point out that the pieces were only available for women in sizes extra small, small and medium — no larges or extra larges were made available.
"Don’t know any clothing store that sells selective sizing like this?" one commenter said. "Makes zero sense."
"Was super excited but pretty bummed you only carry up to size medium. Definitely disappointed," wrote another.
A third chimed in, "Way to make girls feel self-conscious!"
A Black Friday sale currently has items from TTM Lifestyle on sale, but that didn't stop some other would-be buyers from complaining about the prices, which regularly range from $42 to $46 for a single, cotton-blend tank top.
"I love Maci, but I’m sorry $40 bucks for a tank top is outrageous," a commenter wrote.
Do you agree with the criticism Maci Bookout is facing for her fashion line? Or do you think it's time for Internet commenters to cut her a break? Sound off down in the comments below!
As she began to settle into her classes, more things were added to the list. As the matriarch survivor of a child's freshman year of college, I decided to write a gift guide to highlight a few items that your favorite student is sure to use.
That's one of those things I found out last minute, and I wish I would have know in advance. Twin XL mattresses are pretty much the dorm-room norm across the country; as an extra precaution, check with the applicable college regarding mattress sizes in their freshman dorms. Unfortunately Twin XL bedding is not always readily available in non-college towns and/or throughout all times of the year. When you find them available in stores — usually right before classes begin — there is a serious rush on them and selection is often very limited. With a little search I found a site that carries Twin XL bedding in lots of designs. Isn't that awesome? Ohhhhhh if I had only known! (TwinXL $120)
This is one of those things my daughter could not live without. She took it from class to class, library to dorm room, and any place she needed to work, so she could pull up her work anywhere. The flash drive above is from Walmart. (Walmart, $13)
There will be lots of late-night cram sessions during the freshman year, and there's nothing like a good cup of Joe to get them up and keep them going. The adorable one above is from Target and comes in various colors. (Target, $110)
This was another must-have for my daughter. It helped keep her dorm key, money, bank card, license and student ID all in one place. The clear slot makes it super-easy to show a student ID when checking into the dorm. The one above is available from Coach. (Coach, $50)
This is one of the things my daughter pooled her graduation money together to get — and uses it constantly. The one pictured is available at Best Buy. (Best Buy, starting at $250)
Most kids already have their own laptop by the time they reach college. However you need to consider the age of the computer they are currently using. Is it new enough to last through the year? Nothing is worse than having one that goes down in flames during exam time. It happened with my student. The above is an Inspiron 15 1500 Series Touch from Dell. (Dell, starting at $300)
Unfortunately there will always be drama in the dorm rooms and lots of stress when prepping for exams. Help your student drown out the drama and relax the stress away with commercial-free tunes. Available at Amazon. (Amazon, various amounts)
These are a must-have for tablets, laptops and music devices. Students will use them a lot, so buy a comfortable pair such as these, available at Walmart. (Walmart, $7)
This will help a student get from point A to point B on large campuses. It's also a must have for travel when colleges are located in urban areas. Pictured bicycle is from Target. (Target, $190)
This is one of the things we figured out the hard way that our student needed. We didn't think to get one, and her bicycle was stolen in the very first week of school. Pictured cable/lock combo available at REI. (REI, $14)
You would be surprised how many buttons pop off and rips are made once they are off to school. Help them patch up with this adorable DIY version from Hometalk. (DIY, costs vary)
Kids away love getting mail. Make it food and you are sure to be the hero. The spread above is from NatureBox.
Hopefully this list will help you to learn from our mistakes and have your student thanking you all year long! Also, if you enjoy DIY decorating and home projects be sure to check out my site, Borei Design, and thanks for stopping by!
The trouble seems to have started when Teigen called out Trump for gloating about a meeting with black pastors to which the press was not invited.
"Will be meeting on Monday at Trump Tower with a large group of African American Pastors. Many I know — wonderful people! Not a press event," wrote Trump on Sunday.
Teigen smartly recognized Trump's hypocrisy at announcing this so-called under-the-radar meeting to only his five million followers and replied, "So don't tweet about it you twat."
Trump's supporters quickly began attacking Teigen, who already had quite a week defending her stance on Planned Parenthood, and when Trump retweeted a fan's super-rude message to her, she had a hilarious — and accurate — response.
Despite abruptly canceling the meeting, Trump held it after all, and used his favorite adjective to describe it afterwards.
"I thought it was an amazing meeting," he told media gathered outside. "I met some fantastic people, some of whom I've known. You know, it lasted for more than two and a half hours. We came up with lots of good ideas and lots of future ideas. But I thought it was an amazing meeting."
Teigen and husband John Legend are currently expecting their first child, thought to be due in April or May, although they have yet to officially announce a due date.
A source revealed to Us Weekly that the actress is back home with her family now following a stint in rehab for postpartum depression.
"She’s doing great!" the insider told the site. "She’s doing really good now."
According to the source, Panettiere is home with her boxer fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, and their 11-month-old daughter, Kaya, about a month after reports surfaced saying Panettiere was seeking treatment for her postpartum depression. She's been out of rehab for at least a few days now, since she made a surprise appearance at Klitschko's match at the Heavyweight World Championship in Dusseldorf, Germany, last Saturday.
"She was excited to be at Wlad’s fight," Us Weekly's source revealed.
Panettiere, who stars as Juliette Barnes on the ABC drama series Nashville, reportedly took medical leave from filming while she recovered and is set to rejoin the cast in January. Coincidentally, Panettiere's character on the show also suffers from postpartum depression, but her story line was written before Panettiere announced her own struggle with the illness.
We expected multiple casualties; there was only one major loss. We thought we might meet the fabled Negan; we were only introduced to his presence in the sneak peek.
With so little to go on, AMC has a lot of ground to cover after the winter break. Here are 11 questions they should kick off the latter half of the season by answering.
I've grown rather fond of "Dr." Denise these last few weeks, and I'm especially curious to see how she and Tara's budding connection might pan out. So I wasn't crazy about the fact that she was snatched by the lone member of the Wolves who Morgan had been holding hostage in the basement. News flash, Morgan — Carol was right all along, and your naivete may have just gotten Denise killed.
2. Can Morgan and Carol make peace?
Image: Gene Page/AMC
This brings us to our next point: Can Morgan and Carol retain any semblance of civility after what went down in that basement? Morgan risked everyone's lives, and who knows what kind of bodily harm he did when he body slammed her. I kind of hope she tells him to look at the flowers come February.
3. Can we trust Spencer?
Oh, how I want to be able to like Spencer. Admittedly, it's partially because I wouldn't mind staring at Austin Nichols more in the near future — after all, he seems to be one of the only men in the zombie apocalypse who bathes with any regularity. But he keeps waffling back and forth between hero and zero. Plus, he probably has some major guilt over Deanna's death given their last convo. This may make him seek vengeance against Rick, whom he'll likely blame for his mother's death.
4. Are Rick and Jessie shipped now?
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Meanwhile, things are going weirdly OK for Rick in the romance department, despite the world crumbling down around him and all. The chemistry between him and Jessie has been palpable from the start; they've gotten passionate and the midseason finale hinted at their closeness. So, you know, are they are or aren't they? Inquiring minds need to know.
5. Will Ron get his revenge on Carl?
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Just because Ron didn't succeed in offing Carl this week, doesn't mean he's done trying. That kid must have a death wish, because he is forever doing dumb things that put him in unnecessary danger. Carl seems to have put Ron in his place for now — but I suspect that won't last long.
6. Will Daryl get his bike and bow back?
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Ugh, watching Daryl's motorcycle and bow-and-arrow get taken (by the very stragglers he'd just saved, no less) was nearly as bad as suffering the loss of a favorite character. When he was robbed, Daryl vowed to "D" and "Honey" that they will regret doing it. Will they? And is "D" short for Dwight, one of Negan's Saviors?
7. Are Abraham and Sasha going to ship up, too?
Image: Gene Page/AMC
They say opposites attract, and never has that sentiment seemed more true in TWD than in the moments it became clear Abraham and Sasha were starting to feel some kind of way about one another. Cue Rosita back in Alexandria at the time, crying on the wall over Abe's absence. Yeah, this could get tricky. Still, I'm very intrigued — particularly since everyone Sasha loves seems to die. Yikes.
8. Is there something sinister going on with Enid?
Image: Gene Page/AMC
I got the chance to chat with Enid's real-life alter ego, Katelyn Nacon, last week. She was sweet, charming... and coy. While she seemed to suggest there isn't anything malevolent about Enid's tendency to wander outside of Alexandria's walls, the jury is definitely still out.
9. When will Negan officially make his debut?
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Thanks to the post-finale sneak peek, we now know that Negan — the big bad of Robert Kirkman's comic book series — will be a reality for Rick and the gang soon. We've now seen several of his henchmen, or "Saviors," but when do we actually get to see TheGood Wife actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan fill Negan's nefarious shoes? It's a moment I simultaneously crave and dread.
10. What's next for the survivors?
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Now that Alexandria has been infiltrated by walkers, will our gang abandon the once-peaceful sanctuary? Will they seek shelter elsewhere, as they did when they lost control of the prison? Regardless of whether or not the survivors physically remain at Alexandria, I can't imagine they will abandon it completely — on her death bed, Deanna passed the torch of Alexandria's legacy to Rick. I think he'll take that responsibility seriously.
11. Why TF doesn't everyone wear meat curtains all the time?
Image: Gene Page/AMC
Bonus question! Last night on The Talking Dead, Kirkman addressed this very question, saying, "Well, look. One, it's not very practical. Coming in close contact with that material is also going to, you know, cause all kinds of illnesses aside from any kind of zombie-related nonsense. So you don't want to be doing that all the time. Two it's not going to last. You would have to be replenishing those zombie guts, because they will dry out and lose their nastiness. They won't smell. It's just not a practical way to go about things." No offense to Kirkman, but I think I'd happily sacrifice a bit of practicality if donning a meat curtain might ensure my survival. What say you?
A soft, comforting blanket is at the top of the list! A blanket or throw provides warmth and a feeling of security. Pottery Barn and Target have a nice selection of throws to accommodate a range of budgets. (Pottery Barn $90 – $139)
2. Local high school's theatre and concert programs
Consider purchasing tickets to a local high school's theatre and concert programs through out the school year. Recently, we took my mother-in-law to a high school musical production. She loved the music and the dance numbers. And, high school performances are inexpensive and offered throughout the community.
3. After-school rehearsals
Similarly, another gift suggestion is to contact the local school theatre director and ask about attending previews or even after-school rehearsals. It offers a convenient, safe, climate-controlled activity. For family members struggling with memory impairment, a routine is important. Attending rehearsals offers an inexpensive, easily accessible activity and social interaction.
A monthly or quarterly gift subscription is a nice gift to receive after the holidays. The popularity of gift subscriptions offers deliveries ranging from food to personal care items. Shari's Berries and Harry & David offer a variety of options and treats.(Shari's Berries $50)
5. Netflix movies
Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Netflix offers a large selection of DVDs of movies, musicals, documentaries and television shows. My in-laws love their annual gift subscription. They prefer DVDs and have learned how to create an online list of their favorite movies and televisions shows. Netflix movies are delivered to their home and includes a pre-paid envelope for easy returns.
Adults living with dementia often become withdrawn as their communication skills deteriorate. Engaging their sense of touch is a creative way to keep them connected. Lotions and hand creams offer family and caregivers a way to offer comfort and conversation. Here is one of my favorites at L'Occitane ( L'Occitane $28)
Photo books are a popular way to showcase memories of a grandparent's childhood! Get the grandchildren to help scan and upload photos. Companies like Shutterfly and Costco offer photo gifts like blankets, calendars and coffee mugs.
Shadowbox Press offers conversation cards with starter questions. The text is large and offers a large variety of topics. It's a way to keep a family member engaged and active in a conversation with family members, friends and caregivers:
9. Grocery delivery service
Image: Laura Nuss
Arrange to have groceries and personal care items delivered on a regular basis. It's a practical gift that offers help for the main care giver. Check your local or national grocery stores for convenient and inexpensive delivery options. Walmart offers delivery services. Check here to see if delivery is available for your family member. Our local Walmart Grocery to Go driver said his favorite route is to the long term care and assisted living centers.
A Keurig single cup coffee maker made a perfect gift for my mother-in-law! She was having trouble remembering how to operate her coffee pot. With the single serve cups, she just presses a button. Most big-box stores carry single cup coffee makers. We found a Keurig at Kohl's. (Kohl's $90)
Hope this list makes your holiday shopping a little easier!
In the article, Jenner revealed that she has anxiety over bad press.
"I wake up every morning with the worst anxiety. I don’t know why," she revealed. "I have, like, a problem. I wake up every morning at, like, seven or eight because I think that there’s a bad story about me, and I have to check. My worst fear is waking up and finding something bad about me on the Internet."
Probably because it seems that she's too busy trying to keep up with the demand for her makeup line. Her new lip kit sold out in all of 30 seconds, while she's hurriedly assuring fans that more will be available shortly.
Kylie Jenner lip kit update
Kylie Jenner lip kit update
Unfortunately, the fact that she's responsible for one of Christmas's "it" items doesn't mean the backlash over her insensitive wheelchair photo shoot is just going to disappear.
But Jenner said in the interview that eventually, she hopes to be gone from the spotlight completely.
"If I could do whatever I wanted, I would have a successful makeup line, and I would want to hopefully start more businesses, and just be, like, a businesswoman. And then, hopefully, I'll go off the map," Jenner explained. :When I'm, like, 30, I want to go off the map, have a family, and live in Malibu with a farm, and just raise my own chickens. My next goal for 2016 is to learn how to garden."
Do you think Jenner owes the disabled community an apology?
I had the pleasure to work with them when my company, Goodshop, asked the two of them to hit the streets of New York City last weekend — the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Their assignment? To convince people to get out of line and go home and be with their family. Instead, they encouraged people to shop online — and get great coupon codes at Goodshop.com, where a percentage of what you spend goes back to your favorite charity.
I love this video! Gaby and Allison are hilarious.
The surgery has Fox, who wears a corset all day, every day, roughly 16 inches around. She's hoping to reduce that to 14 inches, thus earning her the distinction of having the world's smallest waist. Prior to this, the record has been 15 inches.
"Getting my ribs removed has always been a dream of mine," says Fox, who is Swedish but now lives in North Carolina. See below:
small waist
small waist
It's a bit startling, to be sure. This woman has had numerous plastic surgeries to achieve her dream of "looking like a cartoon character," and she is almost there. But at what cost?
The reality is that plastic surgery, in moderation, can help people with self-esteem. A nose job or a boob job can help someone go from feeling bad about themselves to being OK with what they see in the mirror. So where is the problem with that?
It's not the person who has had one or two small things done who has a problem. It's the person who is doing one procedure after another. Before long, plastic surgery can become an addiction, like anything else. The more you change and augment, the more you see what needs to be changed. I am willing to venture a guess that any one of us would have believed Fox to have been beautiful from the start. But it doesn't matter what we think. Only what she thinks.
Beauty modifications are not for us to judge. But that doesn't mean we can't feel sad for her. She is spending a lot of money and time on something that probably isn't going to fix what is truly broken. Nothing any of us do on the outside can fix what we need inside. It's a silly, trite thing to say. But it's also true.
Williams shocked fans and viewers when she was photographed on a post-Thanksgiving beach vacation in Florida, rocking a 50-pounds-lighter bod in a black one-piece bathing suit.
Wendy Williams reveals 50-pound weight loss
Wendy Williams reveals 50-pound weight loss
The snaps, taken Saturday, have been picking up more and more attention on social media, though not all of it positive. Plenty of Williams' followers had nothing good to say about her slimmed-down look, because, you know, the Internet.
"She’s [sic] look like a hot mess!" on follower tweeted. Another added, "The way she talks about everybody else and this is how she looks, every time they catch her off the show she looks worse."
But no one can deny that Williams is noticeably thinner in the photos, which show her hanging out with her family on the beach in the ruched black suit.
In a Q&A video chat with fans last month, Williams opened up a little bit about her diet, especially about gaining the self-control needed to eat healthier foods.
"Because of all the crazy diets I've been on, none have ever been as effective as [saying to myself], 'Just push back, Fatso. Just stop eating so much,'" she shared. "I don’t love food as much as I used to. I’ve picked up on other great habits like juicing."
Williams, who has also admitted to using cosmetic surgery to shape her appearance, including lipo and breast implants, added, "Slow and steady is the name of the game. It's not going to happen overnight."