A lack of sleep can affect your health and well-being in many ways. In fact, we may not even be aware of the signs of sleep deprivation that we're experiencing because they've, sadly, become just another part of our daily lives.

But, it's important to know that the mood swings, headaches and even changes in appetite you may be experiencing could be rooted in a lack of sleep.

"Sleep is a vital process to our biology. It’s important to realize that people over time develop sleep debt from a lack in quality and quantity," says Brandon Mentore, a strength and conditioning coach, functional medicine practitioner and sports nutritionist. "You can’t negate sleep debt by sleeping more which is a common perception, all you can do is pay it down a little."

More: The best and worst sleeping positions for chronic pain

Dr. Sherry Ross, OB-GYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, says the recommended amount of sleep adults are encouraged to get is 7-8 hours each night. Sleep is so critical that it doesn't take much to begin exhibiting signs of sleep deprivation. "If there are several nights where you are losing 1 to 2 hours per night this can cause signs of sleep deprivation," Ross says. "The hour’s loss during each night accumulates and is impossible to get back."

Know the signs of sleep deprivation

Here are six signs of sleep deprivation that Mentore says are common.

1. You suffer from gaps in energy during the day: If your energy levels spike at times when you would normally be asleep and lag during the day, you can count this as one example of what can happen when your body hasn't had a sufficient amount of quality rest.

2. Your ability to make decisions over two or more options is hampered: Ever wonder why you crave chocolate cake after getting just three hours of sleep? Not only does a lack of rest interrupt your appetite, it also reflects in your inability to make good choices throughout the day — often when it comes to food. "If the deliberation requires more effort than you mentally have to give, you will most likely pick the easier choice, which is usually correlated with a poor nutritional choice," Mentore says.

More: 21 Tips to finally get better sleep

3. Your ability to make consequential decisions is hampered as well: You're more likely to make a decision based on present needs and desires rather than future outcomes, Mentore says — which basically means do not make any big purchases unless you've had 7-9 hours of sleep.

4. You're easily distracted: It isn't just your imagination. When you haven't slept enough, you may find yourself unable to focus on one task long enough to complete it to satisfaction. A lack of sleep certainly makes for a less productive workday.

5. You're in a bad mood: The good news is: If you find yourself feeling more irritable, impulsive, moody or depressed than usual, it might not be you, but rather you on no sleep... which makes sense because you always suspected you were a much more wonderful person than you have been letting on lately, right?

More: How to look less tired when you're short on sleep

6. Physical and emotional changes: Drops in body temperature are also a sign of sleep deprivation, Mentore says, and people who aren't sleeping enough typically have unstable amounts of energy to dedicate to physical, mental and even emotional tasks.

Unfortunately, a lack of sleep is also associated with far more serious consequences than mood disruptions. "Car accidents, leading to dangerous injuries and death, are also associated with sleep deprivation," Ross says. "In the older population, there is an increased incidence of falls and broken bones. Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity and depression."

How to fix the problem

Now that we know how sleep deprivation can affect us, the next question is: How can we get enough sleep every night when we have anxiety about our jobs, relationships, kids or are taking care of a newborn who refuses to sleep? Sleep expert and motivational speaker Robin Palmer offers five easy tips on how we can all rest better.

1. Create a sleep-inducing environment: Keep your bedroom quiet, dark and cool to promote sleep. Limit your bedroom activities to sleep and sex only and keep computers, TVs and any and all work materials out of the room. Taking these simple steps will strengthen the mental association between your bedroom and sleep, Palmer says.

2. Turn off your electronic devices: There's nothing worse than trying to fall asleep with a blinking light in your face. Turn off your electronic devices and stop checking email before you go to sleep. "Instead, infuse these magical moments with inspiration, and envision fulfilling your goals and dreams," Palmer says. "If you don’t want your subconscious mind to have you tossing and turning all night, steer clear of the negative noise and electronic energy your electronic devices (sic) before bedtime."

3. Fall asleep to inspirational messages: If a quiet room just increases your anxiety, look into a program like My Good Night Messages, which contains sleep-inducing messages like relaxing meditations, sleep tips and tools from Palmer and psychoneurologist Dr. Sylva Dvorak.

4. End your day with deep breathing: Meditation is a powerful, totally free tool at your disposal. If you aren't sure how to start, Palmer offers this easy breathing exercise, which can be done in bed: Close your eyes and inhale through your nose slowly for seven counts. Hold the breath for seven counts. Then, exhale slowly through your nose for seven counts and hold again for seven counts. "Repeat this breathing pattern three or more times," she says. "You’ll notice that you feel more relaxed when you end your day with breathing deeply."

5. Watch what you ingest: If you want to rest better, Palmer advises against eating or drinking anything with caffeine, sugar, nicotine and other sleep-interfering chemicals in the evening.

When I was a new mom, trawling the Internet for the information that I was hungry for, I would often come across information that surprised me. Chief among those little tidbits? How easy C-sections are.

Debates would rage over how it compared to "real birth," and how by comparison, getting your abdomen opened on the operating table was basically a relaxing beach vacay.

As a mother who had an emergency slice-and-dice, it was easy to take offense to these comments. But after a while, I began to see their point. In lots of ways, this major surgery is just like an exotic vacation. Hold on. Hear me out: 

More: Are "gentle C-sections" the new trend when it comes to birth options?

1. It was super expensive

A C-section starts at around $10,000. If you have insurance the cost goes down, but it still hits your bank account hard. Definitely more expensive than an all-inclusive jaunt to the Caribbean by a long shot.

2. Reaching my destination was stressful and painful

Just like the weary traveler faces obstacles like jet lag, adrenaline-induced sprints through the terminal and layovers, I couldn't get to where I was going (the operating room) without first having 19 hours of excruciating labor, a heart-pounding brush with death and four different sets of hands up my junk.

3. The itinerary kept changing

Sure, everything always starts out on track, but then your baby starts going into fetal distress and suddenly your scuba-diving lessons are cancelled, and instead of doing dolphin tours you're getting a massive needle shoved into your back and your bladder shoved aside so they can pop your uterus up through your tummy hole.

More: The truth about the dolphin-assisted birth that made waves around the world

4. At some point, I was completely incoherent

When you're letting loose on vacation, it's easy to overindulge before you really know what you're doing. When you're vacationing on the maternity ward and someone pumps your IV full of heavy-duty systemic narcotics, you might also say some things you might regret later. Both situations increase the possibility that strangers will see your boobs.

5. I stayed up all night, and I couldn't walk in the morning

By the time my kid vacated the womb, I'd been awake for over 48 hours, and standing up was a chore. Of course, an everyday hangover just means that walking too fast might end up in puke. A C-section hangover means that walking too fast might end up in puke and also accidental disembowelment. Poe-tay-toe, Poe-tah-toe.

6. Strangers kept offering me drugs

Jeez, you guys. Can't a girl sob and vomit for two hours in peace before you start pushing the good stuff? At least wait until I can keep the opiates down so I don't waste them. This is amateur stuff.

More: 12 Breathtaking C-section scar tattoos

7. There was a nightmare involving poo

Why go on a poop cruise when all of your fecal worst-case scenarios can happen in the safety and comfort of an unbearably rock-hard hospital bed? First, there's too much poop. Then, too little. All in all, I'd say I spent the same amount of time crying on the toilet as any newlywed couple on a Carnival cruise.

8. I had to go home long before I was ready

Ah, the reluctant goodbye. Time just flew by, and before you can say "massive 6-inch wound precariously closed with surgical staples," I was on my way back to my boring old life.

9. I got a pretty cool souvenir at the end of it

It's true that no one got any flattering pictures of me during my carefree jaunt across the maternity ward, but I did get a pretty neat reminder of the journey. Every time I looked at my baby, it was like I was right back there, and in time, it even started to feel like I actually gave birth.

10. When I got back, the haters came out in full force

Now, I've never actually been on an exotic vacation, but I have friends who have, and every time they get back, there's always some salty jerk on their Facebook feed who has gorged themselves on bitter jelly and makes it their mission to make those friends feel bad. Underneath, those people are just insecure. Best to ignore them.

Higgins, whose season of roses on The Bachelor will premiere on Monday, Jan. 4, is looking ahead to the future — with whatever lucky lady that may include — and while he has some mundane everyday life stuff on his list, it turns out his TV days may not been done when the final rose is given.

During a promotional conference call with press, Higgins was asked if he would ever consider competing on Dancing with the Stars — and in a very roundabout way, he said yes.

More: The Bachelor: 7 Things to know about Ben Higgins

"I think I'm excited about what experiences are next in life," he said. "Just like I never expected to be on The Bachelorette, I never expected to be the Bachelor. I don't know what to expect next and I'm open to anything.

"I have a great life. I love my life here in Denver. I don't want to change my life, but if there's opportunity to enhance it, I'm all for it!"

More: The Bachelor's Ben gets flirty with twins in first sneak peek (VIDEO)

But he did not confirm he has actually received an offer, so until then, he is keeping himself busy with the same stuff the rest of us non-TV stars have to deal with.

"I'm going to start my job again... my house needs a little work. I'm going to do some yard work."

If he does wind up joining DWTS, he would be in good company. Tons of Bachelor franchise alums have competed for the mirror ball, including Chris Soules, Sean Lowe, Jake Pavelka, Trista Sutter and Melissa Rycroft. Kaitlyn Bristowe was rumored to be joining last season, but an insider told E! News, "The timing isn't right, but she loves the show and hopes to keep the door open for another season down the road."

ABC does not comment on casting rumors, so we'll be in the dark until the next Good Morning America cast reveal.

More: The Bachelor's Ben Higgins reportedly has some PDA guidelines

This means that shipping companies are working overtime, and many, like UPS, are hiring seasonal help to promptly deliver our purchases by their guaranteed arrival date (basically, before Christmas). UPS is so much busier, in fact, and they're hiring so many more drivers, that they don't have enough official company trucks for them to use.

More: How to control everything in your house from your smartphone

You know when the big brown truck stops in front of or near your home that you're probably going to get a delivery. Some of us can even recognize the sound of the truck as it approaches. And as Christmas Eve draws near, your street may turn into a veritable racing track between all the delivery drivers that are stopping in your neighborhood. But what if you peer out and see an unmarked white van, for example? Or even more bizarre, a U-Haul truck?

UPS is aware that people may be a little puzzled, or straight up freaked out, to see a non-company truck driver depositing a box on their doorstep. However, they say that these drivers are legit, and don't worry if you see a brown-clad delivery driver walking rapidly towards your house from a weird truck.

More: 8 Things you didn't know your alarm system could do

However, we really can't blame you if the concept doesn't creep you out a bit. Who's to say that the package he hands you or leaves on your welcome mat isn't something you don't want (like something dangerous), instead of the toy your kid wants more than anything this holiday season?

Never fear, dear shopper. UPS says there are several ways to verify that your driver is on the up-and-up. First, UPS drivers will carry an official identification badge, and they will also have a handheld computer as well as be clad in official uniforms. Although there have been many rumors about UPS uniforms being ordered (or stolen) by the thousands by terrorist groups, these are simply nothing more than rumors that have been circulating online since around 2003.

More: How to repot your plants in 6 simple steps

So whether you're worried that nefarious folks are out to steal your stuff, or someone is trying to bomb you, it's extremely unlikely that either of these things is going to happen. Yes, being alert and wary of those who come up to your front door and ring your bell is always a good idea, but since UPS has made it known that non-UPS trucks are being used this holiday season, it's probably less of a concern than you might think it is.

We all know a hearty breakfast is a good way to start the day, but this one's probably better off for the weekend since it takes some time to prep and cook all the ingredients. But I can assure you, you will wake up much earlier than usual when you think about what's in store for you in this breakfast. Or better yet, take your time, and have breakfast for dinner. Potato wedges browned to crisp perfection outside and soft inside, Spanish chorizo lending its wonderful flavor all around the skillet and croutons cooked with garlic and eggs. What's not to love?

Don't forget the herbes de Provence to give that final touch to the whole dish. Herbes de Provence is a mixture of dried herbs from the south of France that you can also replicate at home by mixing dried thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary, marjoram and other herbs. There's no need to gather all of them; just a couple of herbs together will work fine.

Skillet potatoes, chorizo and garlic croutons recipe

Serves 2

Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 35 minutes | Total time: 55 minutes

Ingredients:

• Olive oil
• 1 pound potatoes, skins on, sliced into wedges
• 4 ounces chorizo, sliced
• 2 – 4 slices sourdough bread, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• Salt and pepper
• 2 teaspoons herbes de Provence (or a mixture of dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano and sage)
• 4 eggs
• Fresh parsley, finely chopped

Directions:

1. In a medium to large saucepan with olive oil over medium heat, sauté the potatoes for about 30 minutes or until they are tender. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the herbes de Provence, salt and pepper. Note: If you slice the potatoes smaller, they will cook faster. Push them to 1 side of the saucepan.
2. Add the chorizo to the other side, the croutons mixed with the garlic on another side and the eggs in the middle of the saucepan. Cover, and wait until the eggs are cooked through. If some of the ingredients are starting to stick to the pan, move them a bit.
3. When the eggs are cooked through, sprinkle the remaining herbes de Provence, salt, pepper and fresh parsley into the skillet.
4. Serve immediately.

More skillet breakfast recipes

One-skillet breakfast with sausage, beans, roasted grapes and tomatoes
Breakfast skillet with egg, vegetables and Parmesan
Mexican breakfast hash

Narcos actor Holbrook has revealed that Olsen contributed heavily to the absolute worst day of his life, in a truly awful way. He said that the pair, who became engaged in March 2014, ended their betrothal on her terms — and that the timing was abysmal.

Holbrook explained in the most recent issue of Man of the World. "On the same day that my best friend died, I got a call from my girl to tell me it was over," he revealed.

Damn, that's cold.

Holbrook's best friend was portrait photographer David Armstrong, who died of liver cancer in October 2014.

More: Elizabeth Olsen: Why nudity is a risk worth taking

Neither Holbrook's nor Olsen's reps ever confirmed their engagement, and their breakup only came to light when she began stepping out sans engagement ring last fall. They dated for three years after meeting on the set of Very Good Girls in 2012.

While Holbrook clearly is not over it — and really, who would quickly get over such an awful day? — Olsen certainly seems to have moved on. She is rumored to already be dating I Saw the Light co-star Tom Hiddleston, despite her lukewarm denials.

"I mean, we definitely are friends and we've known each other for about four years. And we happened to be at a restaurant at a wrong time having dinner. We all go out to dinner," she told Refinery29 in September.

"Well, apparently, I'm dating Chris Evans, and apparently, I've dated Jeremy Renner, so I guess that... I don't react to it… No. I mean people can think what they want to think."

What remains unclear is whether or not Olsen knew that Armstrong had died before she dropped the breakup bomb on Holbrook. If not, it is just a terribly unfortunate coincidence. But if she did, then man, that is ice cold, girl.

Some parents choose a name they like and then consider possible nicknames later. But how about doing things the other way around? We've rounded up a pool of baby boy names you might overlook — until you see their super cute nicknames, that is.

More: Cool new trend: Boys' names for girls

Baby boy names with the best nicknames

Alfred: The full name sounds a bit stuffy, but Alfie is adorable.
Angus: You don't have to settle for August or Augustus if you have your heart set on the nickname Gus.
Asher or Ashton: Two great ways to get the handsome Ash.
Baxter: Everyone is looking for a long form of Max, but we love Bax as an alternative.
Beckett: Fans use Becks as a nickname for David Beckham, but it works just as well on Beckett.
Benjamin: You probably knew a lot of Bens in high school, but did you know anyone who went by Benji?
Calvin: This presidential throwback gives the suave diminutive Cal. Try Callum if you'd prefer a trendier first name.
Cyrus: This name works great as is, but Cy is short, sweet, and strong.
Dashiell: You won't find a better nickname than Dash for a rambunctious toddler.
David: Like Ben, Daves are everywhere. For your wee newborn boy, try out the winsome Davy.
Dexter: Maybe the TV show serial killer association will fade if you call him Dex?
Ezekiel: The amiable nickname Zeke sells both this and unusual biblical boy name Hezekiah.
Fitzgerald: It's a mouthful, but Fitz sounds equally fetching at every age.
Howard: We can't decide whether Howie or Ward is more charming.
Isaac: We like Ike. (Sorry.)
Jeremy: If you need a long form for Remy, we prefer this traditional baby boy name to Remington.
Julius: Though girls use it, too, we don't think Jules is too feminine for a little boy.
Montgomery: Monty? Come on. Perfection.
Oliver: He will want to use the full name as an adult, but Ollie suits the preschool years so well.
Phillip: Don't see dad name Phil and move on: try out the Dickensian Pip instead.
Thaddeus: We adore this Greek long form of Tad.
Truman: Whether you prefer the president or the author (or the Jim Carrey movie — we don't judge), you can call him Tru for short.
Vincent: Plenty of adult men still go by Vinnie, but we like Vin even more.
William: Surprise people with the enchanting nickname Wim, rather than the tired Will or Billy.

More: Old-fashioned baby names

Nicknames aren't for everyone. Do you like names with options, or do you prefer the control of choosing a baby name with no nicknames at all?

A mother of three, Peace altered the tattoo she had of her now 15-year-old son, Ace. The image shows her son wearing a pink dress and pigtails. Ace is transgender and doesn't identify as being female.

With three young boys in tow, Peace says she would frequently get asked about who the little girl in the tattoo was, and the family often joked that it was a neighbour. But a year since Ace came out as being a transgender boy, Peace said it was time to alter the tattoo in support of her son.

More: 9 Series bringing transgender struggles to the forefront

Initially it was Ace who asked Peace to remove it, but dad Steve Peace, a tattoo artist, changed the tattoo instead. The dress has gone and so have the pigtails. Instead Ace is seen wearing a blue T-shirt with a slingshot poking out of his top.

Parents of trans kids are doing so much to educate the rest of the world about what it means to be transgender and how much love and support they have behind them.

In Australia, the LGBTI community are three times more likely to experience depression than the rest of the community.

According to the National LGBTI Health Alliance, in 2005 at least 36.2 per cent of trans people suffered from a major depressive episode, compared to just 6.8 per cent of the general population — a startling statistic considering trans people make up a relatively small per cent of the community.

Other parents of transgender children are doing so much, not just to support their children's life-altering situations, but also to educate the rest of the world about their predicament.

Brisbane mother Renée Fabish also made a grand gesture to support her son Milla, by releasing a video that explained and showed support of his situation.

At the age of 6, Milla began to fall into depression, saying she wanted to be a boy.

In a video Fabish posted on her Facebook page, she asked for friends, family and the wider community to support her son as he transitioned. The video received millions of views and was a wonderful reminder that with support and love, anything is possible.

More: Mum captures moment transgender teen gets first hormones in amazing video

Melbourne mum and former teacher Jessica Walton even published a children's book about being transgender to help families with small children understand and accept the process, after her dad came out as a transgender woman, Tina.

Unable to find a children's book that related to her family and dealt with the issues she wanted to communicate to her son, she decided to write a book herself.

At the end of the day, Ace's father says that the most rewarding thing is to make sure his kids are happy.

"We weren't surprised," Peace said about Ace's coming out. "As parents, you say, 'Whatever makes you happy,' and we've seen him become happier and happier as time goes on, which makes us happy."

Here's hoping parents like these will result in more happy trans kids in the future, finding comfort in the fact that they are accepted, loved and appreciated by the wider community.

What do you think about Peace's altered tattoo? Let us know.

More: Transgender 13-year-old comes out in this amazingly heartfelt speech (VIDEO)

David is reportedly joining the ranks of certain The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast members who doubt Yolanda is actually suffering from Lyme disease. An insider said he actually thinks she has been playing it up for years because she loves the attention, and that she was probably cured long ago.

"David is telling friends he believes she was cured of it long ago, but she's been playing up ongoing symptoms because she enjoys the attention," the insider told Radar Online.

Yolanda was diagnosed with Lyme disease shortly after the couple's 2011 wedding, so he doesn't think she was faking the entire illness. But he does believe she played it up for attention long past the time she was actually OK.

"There was no doubt Yolanda was struggling and David was there to support her," the source said. "In the beginning, David went with her to all of her doctor's appointments, including the overseas trips for other treatment.

"Yolanda just seemed to really enjoy all of the attention she was getting. Her oldest daughter, Gigi, was becoming a very successful model, and it seemed hard for Yolanda, a former model herself, to watch her child get so much attention.

"Getting older seems to have been very hard for Yolanda," the source said. "Now, it looks like she isn't ready to give up the role of sick patient."

More: 9 Crazy rumors about Yolanda Foster and David Foster's divorce

"In fact, Yolanda's doctors in LA recently insisted she cut back on the trips abroad for medical care, believing it was making her symptoms worse, but she refused. And anyone that saw RHOBH this week knows that Yolanda's medical closet is stocked from top to bottom with prescriptions, injections and supplements. People close to her think that all of that stuff is just making her feel worse, but she won't give them up," the source continued.

"Yolanda recently admitted that she has been getting weekly colonics while battling the disease. David begged her to stop doing that because her doctors believed that was also hurting her, but she refused that too."

This is not the first time such an accusation has been leveled at Yolanda. Earlier this year, she was said to be livid with her RHOBH castmates Kyle Richards, Lisa Rinna and Taylor Armstrong for doubting the seriousness of her illness.

Of course, this all might just be sour grapes on David's part. The couple just announced their divorce, and some rumors have painted him as the bad guy, saying he cheated on Yolanda while traveling for work while she suffered sick and alone.

"Why deal with the hassle of breathing in and out all day long when the Breathomatic can do it for you?" And you think to yourself, "They're right! Man, am I a sucker. I'm gonna get one of those breathing machines for $19.95!"

In case you're one of those people who flips the channel when they come across an infomercial, here's a look at what you're missing: 

1. Eggstastic, because eggs are hard

I admit, I never thought that there might be an easier way to cook eggs. For most of my life, I've been scrambling them in a pan like a dummy. Well, forget all that. Thanks to Eggtastic, now I can microwave eggs in a cup, which sounds disgusting because it is. What's more, I can then wash my egg cup in the dishwasher, which means I'll have even more time to stand quietly in front of machines, wondering what I could be doing with these precious minutes I've saved. Thanks, Eggtastic, for giving me fewer reasons to avoid cleaning my bathroom.

More:

2. Card Lock, because Grandma needs something else to panic about

My 71-year-old mother tells me she's been hacked at least twice a year. She cancels credit cards with what I would call alarming regularity. Card Lock is the solution to a problem I've never heard of that's sure to freak out seniors everywhere. In copy that was apparently written by my mom, the Card Lock site says, "Thieves can steal your banking information just by walking by... It's called skimming and it can happen anywhere to anyone." Then they talk about "high-tech frequency-blocking polymers," which I'm pretty sure is thesaurus talk for "thick fabric." Well, you might get my mother, Card Lock, but I'm going to keep living life on the edge with my debit card in my wallet inside my purse.

3. Yoshi grill mat, because people put shredded cheese on their grills

If you haven't seen the ads for the Yoshi Grill Mat, then I implore you to stop what you're doing and look it up. Have you ever tried to grill shredded cheese? Or put a fried egg on the grill? You haven't? Well, I'm glad to hear it. But there are people out there who are tired of not being able to grill minced onions, and for those people there's the Yoshi Grill Mat.

4. The Ab Rocket Twister, because 5 minutes is all I'm willing to give

Following in the footsteps of all the ab machines that have come before it, the Ab Rocket Twister is a padded piece of machinery that looks like a great place to relax while watching Project Runway. I do appreciate that the product's spokesperson is Olympic athlete Lolo Jones. I mean, if it can give her nice abs, then... oh.

More: The only 7 ab exercises you'll ever need

5. Flex Seal, because closing holes with an aerosol spray sounds good to me

Hole in your roof? Spray it. Leaky window? Spray it. Fixing things costs money, folks. Why do that when you can spray things shut using liquid rubber, which I am positive will never give you cancer? Flex Seal seems a little too good to be true — a convenient way to put off inevitable disasters. If you're fixing a gaping hole in your boat using Flex Seal and calling it "good to go," then I will not be going in that boat with you.

6. The Mighty Blaster, because I'll put out my own house fire, thank you very much

Hoses: they're great for watering plants and lubing up Slip'N Slides. But have you ever wanted a hose with a stream of water so powerful and precise it could knock a full-grown man right off his feet? Heck yes, you have! The Mighty Blaster's claim to fame is that it's the kind of nozzle used by firefighters — you know, the one they use to put out house fires. So, not only can you take care of your own fires, but you can let out your frustrations by blasting your peonies all to hell. I call that a win-win.

7. Plaque Attack, because you can only pin a cat to the ground for so long

Listen to me: If your pet doesn't let you brush its teeth, it's not going to take being sprayed in the face with Plaque Attack well, either. Also, some Amazon reviewers claim that it killed their pets. But maybe you're one of those people who adheres to the saying "Always wear clean underwear in case you're in an accident," and you want your pet to have clean teeth in case they have to go to the vet because they're vomiting up blood. Because cleanliness is next to Godliness, especially when it (allegedly) kills your dog.

More: 7 Reasons to care about your dog's dental health

8. Balloon Bonanza, because sometimes you need 40 water balloons stat

Finally! Not only does the Balloon Bonanza fill up 40 balloons in seconds, but it ties them off for you, too. This, my friends, is a game changer. My husband and I are going to destroy our kids next summer.

A shrimp tree is a stunning centerpiece that’s fun to make, a delight to look at and delicious to demolish too! You can make it with just shrimp or add extra vegetable ornaments as you please. For a healthy bonus, you can whip up a kale salad, kale chips or a smoothie with the leftover tree "leaves."

More: Chocolate-peppermint cookies are exactly what Christmas tastes like

How to make an edible shrimp Christmas tree

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch red radishes
• 1 small daikon radish
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 2 heads curly kale
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, cooked and chilled
• 1 cup cocktail sauce

Supplies:

• 12-inch Styrofoam cone
• 6-inch Styrofoam base
• Toothpicks
• Star-shaped cookie cutter
• Round cookie cutters
• Mini cookie or canapé cutters, various shapes
• Strip of wrapping paper
• Tape
• Ramekin

Directions:

1. Carve the red radishes to make them look like ornaments. I did a simple design and carved all the radishes the same way, but feel free to let your imagination run as wild as your carving skills allow.

2. Cut your daikon radish into 1/4-inch slices, then cut them into perfect rounds with a round cookie cutter, and then cut out center shapes with a canapé cutter or a knife. You can also use jicama.

3. Prepare your star by cutting off the flat side of the yellow pepper and then cutting it out with the star-shaped cookie cutter. If you are putting your tree on a round table, you may want to cut out 2 stars and place them back-to-back.

4. Poke 4 toothpicks into the bottom of the Styrofoam cone so they stick out just enough to secure the cone to the Styrofoam base, and place the cone on the base.

5. Starting with the largest leaves first and working from the bottom up, attach the kale leaves to the cone — be sure to cover the base — using the wooden toothpicks in a circular pattern until you get to the top of the tree.

6. Wrap the ramekin in a strip of holiday wrapping paper secured with a piece of tape. Fill it carefully with cocktail sauce.

7. Drape the bottom of the tree with a cloth napkin or fabric to make a tree skirt.

8. Place the vegetable “ornaments” all around the tree with toothpicks. Add the shrimp last so you can keep them in the fridge as long as possible before serving. I like the toothpicks to be hidden. You can also use red and green frilly toothpicks to add some sparkle to your shrimp tree. Finish it off by placing the star on top of the tree.

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More: Pregnant Bristol Palin reveals that her unborn baby's already been named

The daughter of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin shared a new photo of her baby bump on Instagram, showing just how close she is to welcoming her baby girl into the world. The snap featured Palin, her dog and her 6-year-old son, Tripp, hamming it up in front of a full-length mirror for the selfie.

Palin captioned the sweet family photo, "2 1/2 weeks(ish) until we become a family of 3!!"

More: Pregnant Bristol Palin reveals gender of baby number two (PHOTO)

But like any photo the controversial celeb posts online, this one didn't take long to draw out the haters, who commented with remarks like, "More babies out of wedlock. Not cool," and, "How is she pregnant AGAIN after things didn't work with the 1st guy & now apparently not the 2nd either...?"

The hate isn't entirely surprising considering the strange circumstances surrounding Palin's second pregnancy: She announced she was expecting at the same time she revealed she was calling off her wedding, just weeks before it was set to take place, and she still hasn't confirmed whether her ex-fiancé is the baby's father, though she did say that the pregnancy was "planned." The little girl, named Sailor, will be Palin's second child out of wedlock after she made her career as a public speaker preaching abstinence before marriage.

But despite all that, Palin seems excited to be a mom of two, and she certainly doesn't deserve all the hate. Many of her followers came to her defense, leaving comments saying things like, "Congrats to you don't let any of these haters get to you. You are a great mom both kids will be well loved which is more than what some kids get these days. Keep your head up."

More: Sarah Palin finally speaks out about her daughter Bristol's pregnancy

Do you think Bristol Palin deserves the hate she gets on social media? Sound off down in the comments.

Natural deodorant is an increasingly popular concept, as many people worry about the risks related to the aluminum in standard deodorant products. Unfortunately, most natural deodorants just aren't effective. PiperWai, however, has an all-natural formula that actually seems to work. Sarah Ribner and Jess Edelstein (the clever women who sought the Sharks' help during tonight's episode of Shark Tank) used a very sweaty model to prove this, but this model decided that letting the Sharks smell her armpits wasn't enough. She told the Sharks all about the so-called "cancer market," which, in her opinion, is very promising.

More: The Purlettes +1 capture fans' hearts on Shark Tank

Although there is economic opportunity in every niche imaginable, the term "cancer market" seems a bit too capitalistic, especially for a woman who has confessed to being the daughter of someone with cancer. Given her mom's diagnosis, the deodorant model likely did not intend any harm, but her careless remark definitely struck a nerve with Shark Tank fans, many of whom did a double take upon hearing this unexpected commoditization.

More: Ashton Kutcher wins new fans by sticking up for an entrepreneur on Shark Tank

The comment sounded more like something Kevin O'Leary would say — not a model closely affiliated with the product. But while Mr. Wonderful is always quick to pounce on a promising market, he wanted none of the natural deodorant. Only Barbara Corcoran and Lori Greiner desired involvement, and each wanted a huge ownership stake. Ultimately, the gals were able to negotiate Corcoran down to 25 percent, but their ability to do so had absolutely nothing to do with the alleged growth of the "cancer market." Rather, Corcoran had a good feeling about the quality of the product, compared to other natural deodorants, which, in her opinion, don't work.

More: Shark Tank fans go wild for Robert Herjavec's dance moves

Although enthusiastic about the product, viewers were not happy about the "cancer market" comment. These Shark Tank fans thought that it was a needless and very tacky remark. They were quick to voice their disbelief and displeasure on Twitter.

Controversial comments on Shark Tank are nothing new, but this one was very unexpected. Fortunately for the ladies of PiperWai, their model's careless statement did not destroy their ability procure a benefactor. Next time, they might want to put a little more thought into who they select as a model, as the last thing they need is to offend their target market.

What did you think of the use of the phrase "cancer market" on Shark Tank? Comment and share your opinion below.

More: 5 Reasons why Mama June and Sugar Bear will bring drama to Marriage Boot Camp

A few exercises happen on every season of Marriage Boot Camp. Among them are the Horrible Accident/Talk to Your Loved One While They Lay in a Casket scenario, the Lie Detector and Divorce Court. On Friday's episode, the couples endured the casket, but were surprised by a visit by guest Judge Lynn Toler from Divorce Court (the TV show). The casket situation was, as you would imagine, emotional, but meeting with Judge Lynn Toler, was where the tables really turned, especially for Mama June, who walked into the session thinking that there was no way the judge wouldn't side with her, and could not have been more wrong.

More: Hank Baskett 'confronts' transgender model who assaulted him (VIDEOS)

In last week's season premiere, Mama June announced that the problems — including the sexy problems — between her and Sugar Bear were rooted in his supposed infidelity (although her own indiscretions have yet to be addressed). While Judge Toler listened to what Mama June had to say in regard to her concerns about Sugar Bear cheating, she doled out some hard truths about the impact of Mama June's celebrity status on her marriage. (This wasn't even the actual divorce court segment we usually see on Marriage Boot Camp, in which couples learn what would actually happen if they got divorced in terms of finances and children.) She needs to stop trying to be a starlet in her relationship and focus more on her husband. It definitely didn't seem like Mama June was listening intently — or at all, really, although it's possible that she was just shocked that she didn't get the sympathy she was expecting. But fans on Twitter nevertheless maintained their faith in the Here Comes Honey Boo Boo star and her relationship.

It's still not clear if Sugar Bear actually cheated, and we still haven't opened up the box of treasures that is Mama June's past, but since the cast of Marriage Boot Camp will be spending time with not only Elizabeth and Jim but also Judge Toler, it's basically impossible that more information won't come out and the couple will definitely be forced to deal with some more uncomfortable truths about themselves and their relationship on national television (which is the point of this show, after all). Mama June and Sugar Bear remain the least chaotic of the couples in the house — Benzino and Althea won't stop fighting, and Ink and Sarah are a walking disaster — but fans of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo are fiercely loyal to this couple and really want their relationship to work, even if it turns out that both parties have cheated on each other.

More: Mama June is declaring war against TLC and the Duggars

Do you think Mama June needs to change her attitude if she wants to stay married? Do you think Sugar Bear has been unfaithful? Tell us in the comments!

Just make pancakes that are large enough to fit a gingerbread man cookie cutter in the middle, cut out the gingerbread men, and decorate with whipped cream or Cool Whip topping. Then add a few buttons with either more whipped cream or candy sprinkles.

Gingerbread and whipped cream taste so good together that instead of adding syrup, you may just want to add more whipped cream and dig in.

Not that I would ever do such a thing. OK, I'll admit I may have taste tested a few of these yummies with extra whipped cream added to the top.

Gingerbread man pancakes recipe

Serves 2

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1-1/4 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 pinches cinnamon
• Nonstick cooking spray (may not be needed if using a nonstick pan)
• 1 cup whipped cream or Cool Whip topping
• Candy sprinkles
• Gingerbread man cookie cutter

Directions:

1. To a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, egg, milk, canola oil, molasses, ginger and cinnamon. Whisk together until smooth.
2. Spray a large griddle or skillet with nonstick cooking spray (skip this step if using a nonstick pan). Heat the pan on low to medium heat.
3. Ladle enough pancake batter onto the griddle to make pancakes large enough for a gingerbread man cookie cutter.
4. When the bottom side of the pancake is lightly browned, flip the pancake over, and cook the other side until it's lightly browned.
5. Using a gingerbread man cookie cutter, cut out a gingerbread man from each pancake.
6. Lightly spread whipped cream or Cool Whip on top of each gingerbread man, leaving about 1/8 of an inch of space from the outside edges of the pancakes.
7. Decorate with candy sprinkles, and serve while warm.

More pancake recipes

Gluten-free sweet potato pancakes
Pumpkin spice pancakes
Bacon-cheese pancakes

I am creating a list for the important man in your life, with attempts to find products that would make even the pickiest man very, very happy.

1. For the techie: the new iPad Pro

Apple just released its new iPad on Nov. 11. It is thin, sleek, lightweight and can be accompanied by the new Apple Pencil, which expands on the versatility of Multi-Touch, even down to a single pixel. Check out Apple for more information. (Apple, $1049)

2. For the coffee lover: Tom Dixon brew french press

For those who love their caffeine, there is nothing better than a good quality French press brew to get the day started right. This beautifully designed French press would look stunning in any kitchen. (East Dane, $255)

3. For the meat lover: DIY beef jerky

Beef jerky is certainly a staple in any meat-lovers diet. This über-fun kit allows for the making of their very own beef jerky at home. You can purchase it (along with other meat-related gift ideas) at Fleishers Craft Butchery. (Fleishers Craft Butchery, $29)

4. For the dapper man/James Bond lover: Danner black boots

Not only did Daniel Craig wear these boots in the latest James Bond film, but they are also beautiful crafted, gorgeous to look at and will actually protect you in bad winter weather. You can check them out at Mountain Light II. (Danner, $488)

5. For the avid cyclist: the Velo Sock

There is nothing worse than trekking dirt and mud into your home after an amazing bit of cycling through the trails. The Velo Sock is the answer to all your bicycle-dirt-related problems! Check out all the different patterns. (Velo, $62)

Next: More gifts for him

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6. For the music lover: the UE Roll speaker

Sleek, waterproof and Bluetooth: all things you want in a speaker! This affordable speaker offers amazing sound, and it's extremely portable. The perfect gift for music lovers and adventurers alike!. (Ultimate Ears, $132)

7. For the workaholic: the Power Pen

There’s nothing more frustrating than when you need a pen and cannot find one. There’s also nothing more frustrating than when you’re iPhone battery is in the danger zone and you are lacking a charger. Luckily, there is now a pen that is also a phone charger! Sleek and affordable, this pen is bound to be a lifesaver. (Firebox, $35)

8. For the beer lover: Brew. Share. Enjoy home-brew starter kit

Beer lovers rejoice: you can now brew beer in the comfort of your own home — and for very little money! This homebrewing starter kit was designed to provide the best first-time homebrew experience. And hurry, it also happens to be on sale. (Northern Brew, $132)

9. For the shutterbug: the new Polaroid instant print camera

Despite amazing advances in technology, specifically the ease and convenience of being able to take hundreds of great photos on our phones with a simple touch, there is something to be said for printed pictures. That’s why the new Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera is the ideal, and affordable, gift for your guy. (Polaroid, $129)

10. For the traveler: the Shirt Shuttle MK3

There is nothing more annoying than packing for a trip, only to unpack wrinkled, dirty clothes on the other end. The Shirt Shuttle by Patrona solves this problem; it facilitates the wrinkle-free travel of your man’s best dress shirts — in a compact way and for a really reasonable price. $66

We know how difficult shopping for the holidays can be. Hopefully, this list is helpful and can be used as a starting point for your holiday shopping needs!

A placenta accreta is a dangerous condition where the placenta embeds itself too deeply into the uterus and can ultimately cause a hysterectomy, hemorrhage and ultimately the most horrific result: fetal and maternal death.

My story started when I was 20 weeks pregnant. I was diagnosed with placenta previa — which means the placenta was laying on top of the cervix — which isn't necessarily something to panic about. With a 1-in-200 risk, placenta previa is not so uncommon. The only real issue was I needed to have a scheduled cesarean section at 37 weeks. What was uncommon was I had detailed premonitions that my placenta previa would turn into an accreta, and I would hemorrhage, need a hysterectomy and I would die.

I told everyone — doctors, friends, my husband and family — about those visions, but no one took me seriously. They were shrugging it off as pregnancy hormones. I had delivered a healthy baby before, without any complications. I'd gone back to work 10 days later. I explained this wasn’t the fear of the unknown — this was something very different.

More: Kim Kardashian opens up about her high-risk pregnancy fears

I was so scared at one point that I met with a gynecological oncologist when I was 28 weeks pregnant and told him I was concerned my previa would turn into an accreta. I was going to need him to perform a hysterectomy to prevent me from dying. He asked if I had been on the Internet (which I had), but told him, “I know I am going to need this, I feel it.” 

He decided to check with an MRI to see if I was positive for an accreta, then he would be there to perform the hysterectomy at the time of my C-section. He said everything would be under control. My MRI was negative for an accreta, but my stress and visions came back tenfold. Unfazed by the negative result and confident I was right, I asked if there was a chance that an accreta could form in the coming weeks.

I was told: “I have never seen that happen.”

My husband, a Ph.D. economist with statistics running through his veins, was satisfied with those odds. I was not. I have no idea how Kim K felt when she heard the news of her placental issues, but I was in panic mode the entire time. I kept feeling my organs inside of me combining, and I couldn’t shake this fear of foreboding.

I posted on Facebook if anyone had my blood type and I wrote goodbye letters. I was convinced I was not going to make it through delivery. Only one doctor, an anesthesiologist, gave my seemingly crazy pregnancy fears any credence. Based on nothing else but her own intuition, she flagged my file and incorporated extra blood and a crash cart at the time of delivery.

At 36 weeks pregnant, I went into the hospital for an emergency C-section. I delivered our healthy baby boy on May 30 at 12:05 p.m.

At 12:06 p.m., I was clinically dead — for 37 seconds.

I ended up having an amniotic fluid embolism. It is a 1-in-40,000 risk, where amniotic cells get into the mother’s bloodstream — and if you happen to be allergic to it, your body acts like it's in anaphylactic shock, and in most cases, women die. It is the second leading cause of maternal death in the U.S. One of the only reasons I am alive today is due to that anesthesiologist and a prepared hospital, but they will tell you: I prepared them.

Lifesaving efforts came into play. The crash cart started my heart. My lungs shut down and kidneys fell offline. I started to hemorrhage. Blood transfusions to the tune of three times my blood supply were given to me, and ultimately the doctor I met with months before was called in to perform the hysterectomy. The pathology on the uterus showed a placenta accreta had started to form after my MRI. When the placenta was delivered, it left a microscopic hole in the uterus allowing the amniotic cells to enter my bloodstream and the domino effect had started. There was no way to stop it.

More: Pregnancy headaches could signal a much more serious problem

I was put into a medically induced coma for 6 days. When I came out of it, I was in shock that everything I saw and felt came true, and so was everyone else.

Placenta accreta is not a joke and not something that should be downplayed because you see Kim coming out of it on the other side looking glamorous and incredible. It is dangerous and it is deadly. In fact, maternal mortality, according to The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, is as high as 7 percent.

I am here to tell you, Kim and I are two of the lucky ones. Our babies are healthy, and we are alive and doing well — in spite of the odds.

You can help yourself not be a statistic by being your own best advocate. If you sense something, say something. You know your body better than anyone else. If your doctor sees some abnormality in the placenta and you feel something is off, have it checked out. It could save your life. It saved mine.

You can read the entire story in my book, just released in September, called 37 Seconds, to understand the calamity of what happened during and after this entire ordeal.

From the beginning, it was the Green Team that was the team to beat. They played well and hard, and led from the beginning. They won the majority of the legs and prizes — enough prizes to cover their wedding, honeymoon and babymoon. But they weren't well-liked (at all!), and while they won a lot of people over throughout the race, one could only take a look at Twitter and realize that most people still couldn't stand Justin's cockiness.

More: 5 Reasons The Cheerleaders should be in the final three of The Amazing Race

Then you have The Reporters. They played a great game but never could show up on the mat first. They were the second-place team the entire time. It frustrated them, but they never let it bring them down or dampen their enthusiasm.

When I first watched The Reporters, I prayed that they wouldn't spend the whole race talking in that newsroom commentary voice. I'm not sure when they dropped it, but once they did it wasn't hard to fall in love with them. They have a relationship that is awesome — they supported each other, they lifted each other up, and they were so focused on being the best they could be — regardless of coming in second time after time after time.

More: Is this the worst season of The Amazing Race ever?

They were smart in their moves during the last leg of the race and made one move that put them ahead of the other two teams — they convinced their cabbie to stay put while they executed the firehouse task. Ultimately, the winner vs. loser of this season's race came down to who had the cabbie. The Green Team insanely decided to let their cabbie go, because they didn't want to pony up the cash to keep him here (who does this?!), and The Paparazzi's cabbie decided to go home.

What set The Reporters apart from the other two teams and ultimately led them to their ONE big win?

Respect.

They respected the game. They respected the process. They respected each other. It didn't matter how stressed they got or how many times they came in second, they never let the game get in front of them as a team. When they showed up on the mat — time after time in second — they were OK with it because they knew that only one check-in mattered.

The last one.

More: Did The Green Team find the secret to winning The Amazing Race

Congrats to The Reporters. I wasn't expecting you to win, but man am I glad you did because in the end, you really deserved it.

What do you think? Do you think The Reporters deserved to win the million dollars?

I thought, "This is a heart attack. I'm going to die."

I stumbled from the bathroom and into bed. I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth. Ten minutes later, the pounding stopped. Yet, it took me two more hours to fall asleep.

I didn't have a heart attack. I had my first panic attack.

My life changed this past summer. My coffee-drinking habits caught up with me, and I developed gastritis: No more coffee; no more alcohol, no more coping methods.

My son started attending preschool part-time so I could focus more on writing. I suddenly had a glorious six hours, three days a week to do nothing but write, which created lots of pressure to achieve my dream.

At home, my six-year-old daughter whined constantly about how she never got to play with her friends (after just having a playdate 30 minutes prior) or how I never serve her the food she likes. Humans need more than macaroni and cheese for sustenance. I told myself I was failing as a mom.

Then came the panic attack. While I had dealt with a moderate level of anxiety my whole life, that panic attack forced me to find help in managing it. First, I went to my doctor who prescribed me a low-dose anti-depressant, and then I went to a counselor — best decision I have ever made.

I learned that my anxiety came from what I told myself about my life — a never-ending slew of Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs). Here's how I fixed it:

Pay attention

I would be happy and carefree one moment and then anxious minutes later. I had no idea why this happened and thought it was the nature of anxiety. However, my counselor taught me to pay attention. She said that something sets me off, and the faster I figured out my triggers, the sooner I could get my anxiety under control.

I paid attention. Every time I felt anxious, I asked myself, "What just happened?" I could usually pinpoint my trigger in less than a minute: my son whining, a nasty email or my daughter complaining. As soon as I identified it, I needed to ask myself: 

What negative thoughts do I have?

Triggers and outside situations are beyond my control. However, I can control what I tell myself about them. When my daughter complained to me, I thought, "I'm a horrible mom," "She doesn't like me," or "If I had it together, she wouldn't be complaining."

Complete rubbish, yes? But after thinking these over and over again, I started to believe them.

Reframe the thoughts

"I'm a horrible mom" became "I'm teaching my daughter boundaries." "She doesn't like me" changed to "It's hard to learn a new behavior and she is pushing back." Once I twisted those negative thoughts into a positive idea, my anxiety over that situation disappeared.

While I was still mad, I now had the composure to deal with the trigger instead of letting worry and fear drag me down.

Write it down

I kept a journal and wrote every time a situation triggered me. Consistently going through this process helped me identify my trigger more quickly and reframe my negative thoughts almost automatically.

I stopped counseling in October and just weaned myself off my medication a few days ago. Alex Elle said, "I'm thankful for my struggle, because without it I wouldn't have stumbled across my strength." My panic attacks forced me to confront my anxiety head-on this year and I won.

I have been a single mother for the better part of 19 years. There were many times through that phase when I dreamt — nay, I sometimes wished — I lived alone. Sometimes when things got really tough, I even regretted the state in which I found myself — mothering solo.

To my surprise, I learned that being alone is the furthest thing from what I really want. During 2015, my two youngest sons began to chart their own path away from me, both physically and emotionally. My middle son, who was always at home, decided to join the National Guard. I dropped him off at his sergeant’s office one day — then silence. I didn’t hear from him for almost a month. I felt like I had lost a part of me. To help ease the pain, I watched basic training videos on YouTube and read everything I could about the National Guard. I joined their Facebook page and searched photos, desperate to see if I could get a glimpse of him. It was awful! All kinds of wild thoughts entered my head, until one day I heard from him. There were letters and phone calls. Then I saw his photo on Facebook. Only then was I able to relax.

My youngest son also turned 20 this year — around the same time my other son joined the National Guard. I finally relented and gave him my car and he decided to take a night job. Whenever he told me he was going to work — usually around 10:00 p.m. — my blood ran cold. I was torn between asking him to stay home and lying awake all night worrying, but I realized he was a grown up. I also realized that I had to control my fear. I decided to believe that God would preserve him, and He has.

Evenings are sometimes the worst. I will come home from work to an empty house. No more loud screaming from video games gone awry. No one to joke around with or tease. No more endless stream of friends coming and going. Just my laptop and me. It sounds sad, but it's not really. I have places I could go, but I just like to be home — just not alone.

Further, during the month of September both my cousin and my uncle died. I was very close to both of them. My grief was compounded because I could not attend either of the funerals. Those losses, coupled with the loss of a friend earlier in the year, created a very dark cloud over my life. I believe the reasons I was so devastated were because one week before my friend died, I saw her near the elevator at work. Prior to that we had canceled several plans to meet up and go on our usual walk. She was a little way off and I didn’t want to yell out her name. I told myself I would call her when I got upstairs, but I never did. About a week later, I heard that she had died. I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

About a month before my uncle died, I called him to say hello because I was thinking about him a lot. I got his voicemail and left him a message. Later that day, I received a voice message from him. It went on like that for about a week. I never got to speak to him before he died, just over a month later.

During the summer, my cousin called out of the blue and invited me to take a vacation with him in Jamaica. I refused, telling him there was no reason for me to go with him. He told me he had retired and wanted to visit the home where we had grown up. I told him I would think about it, but I really had no intention of going. Then, early one morning, his sister called to tell me he had passed the night before. I could not believe it.

It seems the year 2015 was the year of loss for me.

I was not only losing loved ones permanently through death, I was losing the closeness of my sons with whom I had developed a lasting bond over a long period of time. I found myself really lost at times and deeply depressed most of the time. It would seem logical that now is the time to spread my wings and do the things I had always dreamed of doing, like traveling and writing, but my life has changed dramatically. The reeling has left me spent of any desire to make any grand plans or to follow my hard-chased ambitions. I have withdrawn from friends and reduced church attendance — not that I wanted to, but I woke up one day and this is where I am.

So as a result of ongoing trauma — and I must admit my 2015 experience is not half as bad as what a lot of people have had to deal with — 2015 has left me feeling like I went through a meat grinder. I think what makes the year so devastating for me is that there were so many unexpected events, and my reaction to multiple shocks have turned my emotions upside down. I have experienced other losses, too, but I do not wish to go into them right now.

Thankfully, I’m getting help. I’m also beginning to dream again. I see great things ahead, if only through a glass, darkly. Next year, 2016 promises to be a year in which I envision myself regaining my health and vitality — a year in which I can start to travel again and discover a purpose to help less fortunate single moms worldwide. This year was full of the unexpected. I suspect 2016 won’t be any different, but I feel the lessons I’ve learned should help in dealing with what 2016 has to offer. I feel I’m stronger, even if I haven’t fully recovered yet.

Finally, there were some very good things that happened during this year. I published my first e-book. My oldest son launched his first single as well as graduated with his second master's degree. Also, as a result of my uncle’s death, 27 members of my family from across the globe have united/reunited via social media. We are now planning a family reunion, which will involve at least 100 family members worldwide. I can’t wait. I’m thankful that despite a rocky year, there were many blessings that did not go unnoticed.