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Fast-forward six years later, and though I am still a SAHM, my house is now in a perpetual state of clean — even with a toddler at home full time. I also work from home part time, and I am able to create a nice little income that will enable me to continue to stay home, even after my youngest child is in school full time next year.

So what has changed? Obviously, after three kids and six years of staying home full time, I have had a lot of practice. The real change came when I finally took the time to get my home organized.

Before organization, I was in a perpetual state of hunting for things. Keys, umbrellas, kids' shoes and just about everything else was constantly going missing. I remember that quiet rage I often felt — that horrible feeling when you can't find something you need and the stress that it causes the entire family.

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I would literally pull everything out of closets, searching for that missing thing — sometimes swearing someone must have taken it. I seriously thought that maybe, just maybe, someone had broken into my home and stolen the diaper bag — just the diaper bag — after I had looked for it for hours in vain. How could it just have disappeared? The only logical explanation is that it was stolen.

I always eventually found the stuff I lost, always shoved under a bed or in a bin in the back of a closet. I was a hider and nothing had a proper "home," which meant it always ended up in different places — and I rarely remembered where those were. It wasn't until I took the time to start creating "homes" for everything — homes that were really easy to access — that I saw the most amazing transformation take place.

I never lose anything anymore, because everything has a designated spot where it belongs. I still shove and hide stuff, but now I shove it into the bin that it belongs in, usually one that is clearly labeled. My whole family is able to keep up with the system too, meaning I never need to pick up toys myself anymore. It is easy for my three kids to do it themselves.

The extra time I save from not cleaning all the time and looking for things enabled me to start a home-based business! Want to guess what I do now? I am a professional organizer! Am I still a slob at heart? For sure! The difference is that now I have systems in place that allow me to be lazy and still have a clean and clutter-free home.

Organizing can seem daunting and you may be thinking, "I don't have time for that." The truth is, organization is an investment in your time. Yes, it will take some effort to get organized in the first place — but you are going to save so much time in the long run. That is more than worth it. Trust me, I have less stress, more time and more money than ever before — and I owe it all to some labeled bins and baskets.

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In "A Cosmetic Procedure for Taylor Swift’s Thigh Gap Is Being Promoted on E! News," Lauren Tuck quotes Claire Mysko, the interim CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association, stating that it is irresponsible of the media to report on a "thigh gap," which implies something is wrong with your body if your thighs touch. The damage is done when this type of story is reported in the media and seen by the public. It normalizes an unhealthy body image and makes a ridiculous statement promoting an unrealistic image for women.

The problem with media promotion of the thigh gap is that it delivers a nonsensical idea that having a perfect body is what all women should strive for. Even if E! News meant for the story to be a light-hearted bit about trends in beauty treatments, it is not appropriate to inform the public of this without addressing the issue of body image.

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E! News might not feel that they're a role model for their viewers; it is entertainment news and gossip about celebrities. Our society should demand more of its media and the beauty standards promoted to our public. These messages of obsessive beauty ideals like thin body weight can affect those struggling with or developing eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia or body dysmorphic disorder, per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

We know that images affect us, as I wrote about earlier. The beauty standards that the media puts out into the public are difficult for even celebrities and models to obtain, as we clearly know that Photoshop and plastic surgery can be used. I wrote about a similar issue when Seventeen promoted plastic surgery, with Iggy Azalea on the cover sharing her use of plastic surgery as a way to accept your flaws — the same ideas the E! News story uses to idealize beauty and thin bodies. The magazine really shocked me since its readers are teenagers.

As a society, we need to ask for less focus on looks and beauty. It's not what you look like that counts. We need to promote this standard, not the others that we are flooded with.

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That's the signal it’s time to "face" up, reach for an egg and begin your reboot! Why an egg? Because the old yolk is rich in seven vitamins including A (a strong anti-wrinkle agent), D, E, B-12 and K — all good for the body and skin — and minerals like potassium and calcium. The egg’s gooey white has natural astringents that help tighten, tone and firm, making the egg a self-packaged, all-in-one facial elixir!

Reach for that wondrous beauty aid and get crackin’!

Tips: Tie your hair back, since these treatments can be a little messy. Once you apply, sit back and chill. They may drip a bit as they dry!

Use the whole egg to tighten, tone and moisturize

This simple recipe gives a beautiful new meaning to ‘egg on your face’!

• Wash face and neck thoroughly with warm water to open pores
• Beat one egg until frothy
• Apply to your face and neck avoiding your eyes and mouth
• Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes
• Remove with a warm damp washcloth

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Egg whites can firm skin and treat acne

Whites on their own have tons of astringent qualities. Lemon juice intensifies their effectiveness and kills bacteria that causes pimples and blackheads. Honey is a natural antiseptic, anti-bacterial and moisturizer. The result: firmer, smoother skin and less zits!

• Wash your face thoroughly to open pores and then pat it dry
• Beat one egg white and two teaspoons of lemon juice with a fork until frothy
• Mix in 1/2 tablespoon of honey
• Apply the mix to your face avoiding your eyes and mouth
• Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes
• Rinse your face with warm water

Lift eyelids with egg whites

Say goodnight to tired looking lids!

• Clean your lids thoroughly and pat dry
• Beat one egg white until it becomes frothy with a fork
• Close your eyes and apply a coat along the crease of your eye with a Q-tip
• Keep your eye closed until the egg white dries (you will feel some gentle pulling)
• Remove the leftover egg with a warm damp cloth
• Repeat if needed

Egg membranes can de-puff under your eyes and reduce wrinkles

The membrane, an overlooked part of this incredible beauty elixir, is chock full of skin-nourishing stuff like collagen and hyaluronic acid — which help to rejuvenate and replenish — reduce puffy eyes from too much crying, drinking and lack of sleep! Best yet, it costs much less then anything you’d buy in your favorite department or drug store!

• Clean your under-eye thoroughly and pat dry
• Remove the yolk and white
• Carefully peel the membrane*
• Apply immediately to the under-eye area
• Avoid your eyes!!
• Leave it on until your under-eye area feels like it’s being pulled (you don’t want to leave it on too long since your under-eye skin is very delicate, so err on the side of less time until you know how your eyes react)
• Wash it off gently with warm water

*Since we are not egg surgeons, the membrane may be challenging to remove, so find a piece of the membrane you can get a grip on!

Yolks can moisturize, add shine and fight dandruff

Yolks are a terrific moisturizer and they contain sulfer which makes them an effective dandruff fighter! (BTW you can also use this treatment as a facial mask!)

• Blend 1-2 yolks (depends on length and thickness of your hair) and ½ an avocado in a blender
• Apply and leave on for 30 minutes
• Rinse with cool water so egg doesn’t cook
• Shampoo

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Julie Edelman aka The Accidental Housewife helps us ‘clean up life’s meses’ in our home and now our heart  — a la “Boyfriend Cleanz’ — her personally inspired, life-changing community that brings humor, pathos and real life tips to help get us through and beyond a break-up with a boyfriend, spouse or partner and regain our sense of self 'n sass via a Break-over. Not to mention sing your heart back 'n smile again!

The actress walked the red carpet at the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards in a flowing burgundy Prabal Gurung dress with Stuart Weitzman shoes and a Nathalie Trad clutch, looking every bit the glamorous star while doing it.

She knows how to work every angle with just the perfect pose that makes everyone take notice.

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Cox has such a commanding presence that we're trying to learn how to emulate, but her best feature isn't her long legs or flowing hair... it's her humble attitude. She took advantage of her time on the red carpet not to talk fashion, but to talk about the water crisis happening in Flint, Michigan.

"The people in Flint, Michigan, we donated water to the water fund," she told E!'s Giuliana Rancic. "You can make a cash donation to the Flint Water Fund. You go to my Twitter page, @LaverneCox, you can see a link to make a donation and really I think the governor should resign, but that's a whole other issue."

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"Sending love to the people at Flint, and let's do what we can. United States people should have good drinking water," she continued.

The transgender actress, who transitioned as a teen, often uses her public platform to try and make a difference.

"I wish I could do more, there is so much going on in the world, that I try to do what I can. But acting is my day job, so I kind of have to take care of that first," Cox added. "But yes, I feel blessed and it feels like a responsibility and for all of us who do have a platform to raise awareness around issues that are important."

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Everyone knows that women tend to put themselves down for any number of asinine reasons that would take too long to list here. We all have insecurities, and sometimes they get the best of us. But hearing Giuliana Rancic, who's been viciously attacked for her personal appearance in the past, talk negatively about herself was saddening.

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Near the beginning of her red carpet coverage, Rancic caught a glimpse of herself in a close-up while she was talking about her earrings and instead of seeing the beautiful jewelry, she noticed a wrinkle near her eye.

She said, "As I'm looking at this close up... [pointing to her eye] no Botox there... no Botox there people, au naturel." Rancic was clearly mocking the fact that she thought she looked old or bad or not beautiful. You would have never noticed the small little line had she not pointed it out. Was she thinking in the back of her mind that people were going to point it out, so she might as well mention it? Maybe she subliminally thought, "Every little flaw will be picked apart online so... might as well not be happy with the way I look?"

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It wasn't until she was chatting with Idris Elba that I noticed this self-loathing theme when it came to the way she was treating herself on the carpet. While they were talking about how Elba has been nominated for three major awards (Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Beasts of No Nation, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role), he mentioned how it made him feel "sexy."

He said, "I mean, it's nice to be described as sexy, isn't it?"

Rancic offhandedly replied, "I wouldn't know." Ouch.

Elba politely disagreed, saying, "Give me a break, come on," but you can't help but then start to feel sorry for Rancic as you realize that she might be trying to downplay the Internet negativity by heading it off at the pass and just bashing herself on camera.

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Maybe I'm reading too much into a few comments, but when the Internet has been such an ugly place towards one person, such as Rancic, it's hard not to let your thoughts go there. Rancic even skipped out on the SAG Awards last year, and many speculated it was due to the cruel skinny-shaming she endured at the Golden Globes.

Do you think Rancic's self-deprecating talk shows she's taking the Internet hate to heart?

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The show kicked off with Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent) explaining how happy he is to be an actor.

"If you had told me 69 years ago that I was going to grow up to be an actor," started Tambor, "and that I was going to be in this august room, and be nominated for a SAG award in two categories for the role of Maura Pfefferman I would have said... Well, I wouldn't have said anything because I was only one."

After the requisite audience laughter, he finished with: "My name is Jeffrey Tambor, and I am so proud to be an actor."

Which is an interesting way to start an awards show — but it's one of the things that sets the SAG awards apart from other awards shows. The Screen Actors Guild Awards are, after all, a venue for actors to celebrate one another above all, and as a result, they're allowed to get a bit cheesy.

But Queen Latifah's truth and power rang through the otherwise awkward set-up — especially in an awards season wracked with controversy over the lack of diversity in this year's Oscar nominations.

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"I've often been told I'm not thin enough, I'm not white enough, I'm not short enough, I'm not man enough... damn it, I am enough! I'm Queen Latifah, and I'm an actor."

Reactions were immediately positive!

The rest of the award show's introductory "confessions" included a story from Veep's Anna Chlumsky about the best note she ever got from a casting director. According to Chlumsky, the casting director told her: "That's great! Now just take the energy down 90 percent." She then continued with, "I didn't get that job. My name is Anna Chlumsky and I'm an actor."

Kunal Nayyar (Big Bang Theory) took the opportunity to tell a funny story about his first acting gig.

"My first acting job was playing a terrorist on a very popular TV show. I couldn't grow a mustache so they had to glue one on me. It was crooked. Then Mark Harmon punched me in the face." Nayyar finished with: "It was the greatest moment of my life. My name is Kunal Nayyar and I'm so proud to be an actor."

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And just when things were starting to get a little long, Mr. Robot's Rami Malek delivered the shortest declaration of the night.

"When I was a kid, I used to lock myself in the bathroom and create a collection of characters. I thought I was insane. My name is Rami Malek. I'm not insane, I'm an actor."

In an industry where the line between "acting" and "insanity" is sometimes hard to discern, it's nice to hear an actor make fun of the connection.

You can watch Queen Latifah's moving speech below.

#OscarsSoWhite began trending for a second year in a row as soon as the Academy released its list of nominees, and countless conversations regarding the diversity problem in Hollywood were held. Some publicly shamed and criticized Hollywood for its lack of racial equality in regards to award nominees, while others blamed the real issue on the entire system, not just the awards shows.

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Yet the SAG Awards finally seemed to take a step in the right direction. On Saturday, Jan. 30, the nominees were listed and the winners were called. Low and behold, black actors were winning a lot of awards and deservedly so.

Some of the night's winners included Uzo Adubo for her role in Orange is the New Black, Idris Elba (who took home two trophies), Viola Davis for her badass performance in How to Get Away with Murder, and Queen Latifah for her TV movie, Bessie. Additionally, LGBTQ characters and storylines were awarded, including Jeffrey Tambor for his portrayal of the transgender character Maura Pfefferman in Transparent. All in all, diversity reigned at the SAG Awards — and the Internet recognized it, too.

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While great strides were made to promote and applaud the incredible work done by minority actors, it did little to address other minorities and showed a larger lack of diversity outside of those two groups.

There were very few Latinos represented in the nominees; the only ones were basically in the cast of Orange is the New Black. As a matter of fact, from what we could tell from the red carpet and camera pans throughout the show, there were very few other ethnic groups at the show at all!

Notably present were Eva Longoria, Sofia Vergara, Rami Malek, Priyanka Chopra and Kunal Nayyar. But where was Gina Rodriguez? America Ferrera? Randall Park? Ken Jeong? Aziz Ansari? Mindy Kaling? Guillermo Díaz? And there are so many more!

Of course, the root of the problem boils down to access and opportunity, but the SAG Awards – which were highly-praised and celebrated for its diversity – were largely comprised of only black and white actors, which shows improvement but not enough.

According to a study conducted by doctors at the University of Southern California, Latinos buy 25 percent of all movie tickets, but there was only one movie released in 2015 that was Latino-centric (McFarland, USA). What's worse? This same report found that of the top 100 grossing films, only 4.9 percent of speaking parts went to Hispanics. And these are only statistics from one minority group missing representation. Asians make up slightly less of the casting than Hispanics, coming in at 4.4 percent of the speaking roles. And it's not that there aren't enough people to fill roles: Latinos make up 17 percent of the U.S. population (that's 54 million people) and Asians make up a little more than 4 percent of the population (14.7 million people), and these are just a few minority groups that are underrepresented.

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So, it is truly commendable that the SAG Awards highlighted the fantastic performances of actors of color, but with that applause we must recognize that there is still a lot of work to be done to level the playing field for people of all backgrounds. We must take into account not just ethnicity, but gender and sexual orientation as well. We can't allow OITNB to be the sole beacon of diversity in race, creed and sexual orientation wrapped up in one TV show.

Let's take tonight as a victory for diversity, because Hollywood did make great strides. But diversity means equality and opportunity for everyone, so let's also learn from the still-obvious lack of diversity and continue to move towards a truly multi-faceted Hollywood.

Which Hispanic and Asian-American actors were you hoping to see honored at this year's SAG award show? Let us know in the comments below!

For those who haven't yet seen the Oscar-nominated film, Spotlight tells the true story about The Boston Globe reporters who uncovered the truth behind the Roman Catholic Church sex abuse cover-up. In the film, Michael Keaton plays the editor who assigns the story and Mark Ruffalo plays the lead reporter.

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The film is gripping, and has been nominated for several awards this season — and with a cast that also includes Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, and Stanley Tucci, it's no wonder they took home the "Best Cast" award.

But when the cast took the stage to collect their award, both Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton dedicated the award to the disenfranchised, begging the question: Do films about real-life tragedies teach us anything?

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Ruffalo kicked off the gratitude shout-outs by thanking co-writers Tom McCarthy (who also directed) and Josh Singer for taking "every single opportunity to tell the truth." He continued by explaining that the team "didn’t take any cheap way. It was always the truth. It honored these people, these victims who are dead, and the survivors who are still alive, of one of the most horrific things that our culture has allowed to happen."

Ruffalo then went on to explain that "this movie allows them to be seen in the world, in a world that has been blind to them, and so it is such an honor to be standing in front of you on behalf of them and this amazing cast."

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But when Keaton stepped up to the mic, he reminded us that these types of tragedies are still happening!

"This is not only for the survivors of this horrific situation but — for me personally, and I'm only speaking for me — this is for the disenfranchised everywhere," stated Keaton. "This is for every Flint, Michigan in the world, this is for the powerless, this is for the powerful who take advantage of the powerless, and you can hang me for that, I don’t really care. That's why I’m proud to be part of this… it comes down to two things: There's fair and there's unfair, and I'm always going to vote for the fair. I'm always going to vote for the good guys."

It was both a motivating and sobering way to end the SAG Awards, but has us wondering if anyone is actually learning from the lessons films like Spotlight aim to teach.

You can watch the moving speeches in the video below.

Orange-Sriracha slow cooker wings recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 garlic cloves
• 18 ounces orange marmalade
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup Sriracha sauce
• 4 pounds chicken wings

Watch the video to see how easy it is to make these finger-lickin' good wings.

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Updated on 1/29/16

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An ABC News report tells us what Sarah Palin’s son was charged with: “Track Palin, 26, was arrested Monday night in Wasilla, Alaska. An Iraq veteran who enlisted in the Army Sept. 11, 2007, Track Palin was charged with three misdemeanors, including assault, interference with the reporting of a domestic violence crime and weapons possession while intoxicated, according to Alaska court records.”

The news report talks about how Palin claims President Obama deserves some of the blame for the psychological condition of veterans: "They come back hardened. They come back wondering if there is that respect for what it is that their fellow soldiers and airmen and every other member of the military, so sacrificially have given to this country, and that starts from the top." Palin said, adding, "it is now or never for the sake of America’s finest that we have that commander in chief who will respect them and honor them.”

Sarah Palin did not mention once, as she was endorsing Donald Trump for president, that the key to helping war veterans is through mental health care, community resources and support systems.

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If Sarah Palin had concerns about her son being affected by his time in Iraq, why does she not suggest mental health services to help him work through PTSD and domestic violence issues? She had an opportunity to educate the public on some serious issues and could have used that time to suggest some appropriate resources.

PTSD as defined by the DSM-5 as Diagnostic criteria for PTSD includes a history of exposure to a traumatic event that meets specific stipulations and symptoms from each of four symptom clusters: intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood and alterations in arousal and reactivity. The sixth criterion concerns duration of symptoms; the seventh assesses functioning; and the eighth criterion clarifies symptoms as not attributable to a substance or co-occurring medical condition.

Political public figures should be held accountable for the things they say in public. Just recently, I wrote about the poor parenting advice Senator Ted Cruz gave to the public, and here is yet another example of a public figure not being responsible with their words.

All veterans should be honored for their duty, but it is shameful that a public figure facing a domestic violence situation in her family would not mention mental health care for veterans, domestic violence resources or give the public any kind of community resources for those suffering from mental illness. Instead, upon telling the public about her son’s domestic violence arrest, Palin according to The Daily Beast is "pinning it on lack of respect for military veterans.” 

She does not appear to put the blame on her son who committed the act of violence, nor does she educate the public on what to do if you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation. She does not recommend utilizing mental health resources or give out any local or national resources for any of these issues.

Resources for veterans

• Veterans Crisis Line available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 (Spanish/Español 1-888-628-9454). Veterans press “1” after you call. You can also chat live online with a crisis counselor 24/7 by visiting the Veterans Crisis Line website.

• National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, you can contact the National VA Call Center 24/7 at 1-877-424-3838 (also intended for Veterans families, VA Medical Centers, federal, state and local partners, community agencies, service providers and others in the community). You can also chat live online 24/7 through the Homeless Veterans Chat service.

• DoD/VA Suicide Outreach: Resources for Suicide Prevention: You will find ready access to hotlines, treatments, professional resources, forums and multiple media designed to link you to others.

• DCoE Outreach Center: The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) runs a resource center that provides information and resources about psychological health (PH), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The center can be contacted 24/7 by phone at 866-966-1020, by e-mail at resources@dcoeoutreach.org, or you can also go to DCoE Outreach Center Live Chat.

• Military OneSource: Military OneSource is a free service provided by the Department of Defense to Service Members and their families to help with a broad range of concerns. Call and talk anytime, 24/7 at 1-800-342-9647.

• National Resource Directory (NRD): The NRD is a website for connecting wounded warriors, Service Members, Veterans, and their families with those who support them.

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When I migrated from Greece to the United States, I got a notebook with my parents' recipes, which I still have. One of those is the following recipe — with a few of my own additions. As a Greek, I learned to love spices on foods as well as on desserts!

Fluffy and airy, like a cloud in your mouth, this cake is absolutely scrumptious! The cardamon is profound and the pears along with the red-wine chocolate syrup blends together beautifully. Not overly sweet, the spices are just right and crunchy on top. You can't deny a piece of cake like this

Cardamon cake with wine poached pears recipe

Ingredients:

For the pears:

• 3 medium-sized crisp, Bosc pears, peeled but whole, with the stem left on (Bosc pears hold their shape with the poaching and baking time, I could only find large ones)

• 1 (750-ml) bottle red wine

• 1-1/4 cups sugar

• 4 cloves

• 3 star anise pods

• 8 cardamom pods

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1 orange peel
• 1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

For the cake:

• 1-1/2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup gluten-free all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup almond meal
• 1 generous tablespoon ground cardamom
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

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Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine the pears, orange peel, wine, sugar, cloves, star anise, cardamom and cinnamon and poach for 30 minutes over low heat.
2. Take the pears out of the liquid and set aside to cool.
3. Add 2-1/2 cups (500 ml) of water to the poaching liquid and the semi sweet chocolate and boil to reduce the liquid by half.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
5. Butter a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
6. Butter the parchment paper.
7. Using a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy.
8. Beat in the eggs one at the time. Don’t add a new egg until the previous one is incorporated.
9. Add flour, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda and salt over the batter and fold it in.
10. Spoon the batter into the pan.
11. Press the pears in the batter, stem end up.
12. Cut off the bottoms off the cooled pears before adding them to the batter so that they are flat and don’t tilt while baking.
13. Bake for 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the cake part comes out clean.
14. Allow to cool in the pan, then gently remove the cake from the pan to a rack to cool completely.
15. Serve with the reduced chocolate-red wine syrup.

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Now, I am not a party girl, per se, but for some reason lately, I have been on the party wagon and have had more late nights than usual. I have also found myself making more carefree — also known as irresponsible — choices. Don’t get too excited; I haven't done anything that could cause me any trouble, just an extra cocktail here and there, which is not like me. I am the girl who is up at 5:30 a.m., hitting the gym and who has done more than 100 emails by the time most people wake up.

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Let’s face it, if we are honest, we all binge — binge watch, that is.

It is a massive addiction that has been sweeping the nation — and the world —over the last few years. I am not ashamed to admit it. In fact, I justify it as “doing research” as I happen to work in media as a talk show host.

My current drug of choice is Showtime's Shameless. The first few episodes literally turned my stomach, with the catastrophic dysfunction that plagues the Gallagher family. As the show went on, I could not peel myself away from disaster after disaster and drug and alcohol fueled trauma.

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So, back to my hungover Monday, where I had been ‘over served,’ the night before, I started to think about it and I realized that I had been feeling a bit footloose and fancy free since binge watching the first four seasons of Shameless, and was making choices that — although better than the Gallaghers' — were not supportive of my massive goals.

I got to thinking, and I started to analyze what has gone on in my life since I took up the sport of “binge watching” a few years back. Sure enough, when I was into Damages and The Good Wife, I found myself weighing in on legal conversations that I would encounter with friends and in business. I would throw out a few statutes and words, like litigious and circumvent. During my Grey’s Anatomy phase, I was certain I could perform a basic appendectomy. I knew all 206 bones in the body, and anytime someone was ill, I would weigh in on the best protocol. During Blue Bloods and The Kill, I found myself mysteriously suspicious of pretty much everyone and everything. I would piece together social media posts and casual conversations to uncover discrepancies and question intent. (My boyfriend at the time loved this phase.)

OK, so this may sound crazy, but if you are honest with yourself and you partake in watching any shows, I think you will agree — they rub off on you.

We have all felt the empty hole and sadness when a series ends. Who doesn’t miss Walter White from Breaking Bad? I cried so hard when McDreamy died on Grey's Anatomy, my poor dog was howling. My best friend and I have literally had phone conversations, where if you were listening in, would swear that Olivia Pope from Scandal was a college buddy of ours as we critique her wardrobe and criticize her choices in men.

Crazy as it may sound, I think you will agree that it is true. We are all familiar with the old adage, "You are what you eat." Maybe the same holds true: "You are what you watch."

I would love to hear your comments on this phenomenon.

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This year, one of the most interesting trends was reflected in the significant growth of family- and child-oriented products: MommyTech TV, The Bump Best of Baby Tech Awards Show, Kids at Play Interactive Awards, Family and Tech, Kids and Tech, Education and Tech Marketplace and Eureka Hall showcased hundreds of new devices for modern parents. Here are some of the new gadgets which will be available in 2016.

Tech products to help sick kids

Thermo is a digital thermostat which can produce a color-coded temperature reading in less than two seconds when held next to your child’s head. It employs an array of 16 independent infrared sensors to measure heat. Thermo uses an app to connect with your smartphone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so you can create a temperature diary and add relevant comments regarding medication and symptoms. Sharing the information with your doctor takes just one click. (Withings, $100)

More: 5 Ways parents can set digital ground rules

Parents with sick children can benefit from Fever Scout, a soft wearable thermometer patch that continuously monitors temperature and wirelessly sends that information to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Temperature readings and their colors are plotted along the clock to give you a quick overview of your child’s condition. You can see the trends or temperatures at a specific time, add notes and share data with your pediatrician. The app will also send alerts to your phone in the case of sudden temperature changes. (Vivalink, $59)

Products to help improve nutrition

Our grocery stores carry countless imported foods, and many drugs are manufactured in unregulated plants overseas, entering the U.S. with no inspection. Parents who want to make sure their loved ones don’t get sick from eating mislabeled foods or taking bogus drugs would be relieved to learn about LinkSquare, a portable spectrometer (infrared scanner) that analyzes products at the molecular level and provides instant information about their authenticity to your smartphone. Planning a vacation in Mexico or a Caribbean cruise? LinkSquare can save you lots of trouble. The device will be available for presale at $199 in June.

More: How to encourage your kids to be tech savvy and safe

Those who enjoy spending their time in the kitchen can look forward to many new smart appliances that claim to make your life easier. Perfect Company has already introduced two products: Perfect Bake and Perfect Drink. Their latest addition is Perfect Blend, which combines an interactive recipe app and a wireless smart scale. The app suggests a nutrition program based on goals, offers a weekly meal plan and automatically builds a shopping list. It features more than 200 recipes for smoothies, soups, dips, sauces, milkshakes, doughs and baby food. The database includes sugar-free, gluten-free and vegan recipes — and allows you to add your own meals.

Robotics that help kids learn

The robotics industry is another exciting area of technological innovation. Some experts suggest using drones to watch your child on a playground. Others dream about a robotic personal servant. This year, you are going to see an increasing number of toys that teach children the elements of programming, architecture and math or language skills. Additionally, be on the lookout for new smart robot companions that play with kids, read books to them and even give out hugs when a child feels sad or lonely. Some parents have found robots to be useful in creating a peaceful, creative environment for siblings.

Take a look at Chip, the "world’s first lovable robot dog,” available this summer for $179. While I still prefer my hairy, nosy best friend, there are many families who cannot own dogs because of allergy problems, their housing situation or other factors. Chip is an interactive robotic pet that recognizes its owner, can follow commands and learn new skills. You can even change its behavior and personality. It comes with a smart ball and a smartphone “translation” app, so your child and pet can communicate. No need to feed, walk outside in cold weather or clean up after your new family member! Plus, Chip knows when it’s time for bed to recharge for a new day of play!

If you are like me and have a child who commutes to school on their bike, you are probably constantly worried about them getting hit by a car. New Orfeo Bluetooth earphones will be a great gift for both you and your kid. Their SoundThru technology, which can be turned on and off through the smartphone app, supports awareness of your surroundings while listening to music. At the same time, Orfeo has an in-ear microphone for easy communications in noisy environments, such as public transportation or a sporting event. The headphones also feature Accudio technology to reproduce hi-fi stereo sound and simulate various audio devices whether you are enjoying music or playing games in virtual reality.

Our kids are growing up in a new world filled with smarthome gadgets, mobile devices and connectivity. These new products arriving in 2016 should make your life as a parent a little more convenient and a lot more fun.

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1. Decide you’ll start projects when you need to start them — even if you don’t “feel ready”

Procrastinators hesitate to begin projects until they “feel ready.” Unfortunately, you may not feel ready until long after you should have started. The antidote? When you commit to a project, assign a “D” (no more delay) date. When that date arrives, start the project, even if your only action is to develop a project outline. Once you start, take it from there.

More: 4 Strategies to boost your career momentum every day

2. Chunk down large projects

What if you just can’t start? We often delay starting large projects because they seem overwhelming. Once begun, most projects transform from daunting into doable. Tackle a back-burnered project by chunking it into pieces, and complete any one of them.

More: 5 Ways to succeed in your new job

3. Challenge yourself

If you still can’t bring yourself to start a project, organize the resources you’ll need. Once you have all the materials stacked on your desk, challenge yourself: What’s holding you back? If you answer, “I can’t get started,” ask, “how come?” 

If you answer, “what if I don’t do a good job?” decide you’ll evaluate what you’ve done once you have something to look at.

4. Create an advance deadline

Sometimes, all you need to get started is one good push. If you find this true, create an advance deadline for making a commitment. As an example, let your boss or a client know you’ll email the finished project within the hour — and then go!

5. Be honest with yourself

If you’re one of those individuals who claim you “work better under pressure,” ask yourself if you’re telling the truth. I recently reviewed a project turned in by a man who “did his best work under deadline.” I liked his ideas, but found his writing poorly organized and filled with misspellings and grammar goofs.

Reading his report reminded me of the poetry that college friends showed me in the early '70s — the kind they wrote when they’d taken LSD or smoked grass — poetry they’d thought wonderful at the time but that looked disjointed the next day. Do you do your best work under deadline, or is your deadline work a mixture of could-have-been-brilliant mired in sloppiness?

You can break the “put it off until nearly too late” habit — if you start now.

More: 6 Ways to manage bringing your kids to work with you

© 2016, adapted from Solutions by Lynne Curry, author of Solutions and Beating the Workplace Bully and founder of www.workplacecoachblog.com and www.thegrowthcompany.com.

They're not even a fan club, which they will all tell you is extremely important to understand; they're simply a group of friends with one common bond. I'm not sure friends accurately describes it; no, they're family, with a deep connection that goes far beyond the confines of HGTV and its charismatic twin hosts.

Back in November, I'd noticed that several of them had gone on the Scott Brothers' cruise and were talking animatedly on Twitter about the experience. As an inquisitive person who craves information, I wanted to know what the deal was. I got a rather quick response from one of them that, simply put, said they weren't accepting any new members.

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I went on my way and didn't really think twice about it — until I wrote an article about managing expectations, which involved the Scott boys. I promised myself that I would follow everyone who liked or commented on my piece, and I did. I noticed that most of them were the Queens.

A few weeks later, I started thinking about my next piece and got an alert on my phone that one of the girls was live on Periscope. Hesitantly, because I knew that they were not interested in adding to their group, I decided to hop on and say hello. I was surprised at how amazingly sweet and welcoming they all were. I quickly decided these women needed to be my next story. I felt like there was definitely something to learn from these girls. I did my due diligence and made sure that I talked with as many of the 16 members as I could.

More: What a celebrity cruise with my favorite star taught me about disappointment

What I learned was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Every single one of these women consider themselves part of a family, and many even stated that they feel as though they "found each other at the exact right time in their lives." One told me, "What this became is sort of a sisterhood where we share personal failures and victories. Just like a family!"

These women have supported each other through sickness and in health, "We have shared so many personal feelings and problems…" They have, as any group of people would, dealt with a significant amount of problems, but have always come out on the other side with a new found admiration for one another. "Despite our diversity, we have much more in common than we realized at first — we are sisters from another mother."

In the often chaotic world we live in, it's refreshing to hear about such wonderful people. During one conversation, I learned that the women are, as a group, considering volunteering to do charitable work. One also approached Property Brother, Jonathan Scott, to express the groups' whole-hearted admiration and thanks for "bringing them together."

The Queens have even experienced their own small sense of fame and taken it in stride. While on the cruise, several fans of the Scott boys asked to have a selfie taken with one — or more — of the ladies; some even asked for their autographs. Something tells me that for these women, there is much more to come.

So, in closing, thank you so much Queens of Scott for teaching me such an important lesson. No, we might not all have this type of relationship, but thinking about it sure gives me hope. I'm sure it will do the same for many others out there. There is someone out there for all of us to love, and, regardless of the type of love, all it takes is one common denominator.

More: 25 Ways we want to be better friends in the New Year

I never suffered from postpartum depression like I feared, and I loved my life as a mom. I really thought I was in the clear.

Then, in April of 2009, my 5-year-old son was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Even then I thought I could handle what was happening, if handling it meant locking myself in bathrooms and constantly leaving rooms to cry. But at the urging of a sister-in-law who was a nurse, I began taking an antidepressant. In addition to helping me function for my family and my ill child, it cleared my head of so many other feelings I didn’t even know I was still fighting. Once the dose was adjusted to suit me, I felt as if a wet blanket had finally been lifted off me.

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My son died at the age of 6, one year after his diagnosis. I was devastated and not taking care of myself at all. I began skipping doses of my medication — not just the antidepressant, but my birth control pill as well.

Just three months after losing my son, I learned I was pregnant again. I was 40 — my baby cutoff age — and completely scared of losing another child.

Despite my insistence to my doctor that something had to be wrong with this baby and pregnancy, every test and ultrasound was perfect. Yet at every appointment I expressed a new fear and asked about improbable outcomes.

As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I stopped taking the antidepressant completely, which didn’t help my fears about my pregnancy.

My doctor knew about my son's death. I had talked to her about my grief and how it had affected my health prior to my pregnancy.

She suggested that I continue taking the medication during my pregnancy. That suggestion from anyone else would have warranted a snort of absurd laughter, but my doctor was brilliant, quoting the latest research and knowing exact percentages on every prenatal condition.

More: The letter my pre-mom self really could have used

However, she said something very simple, nonscientific and basic that made me resume popping that little white pill. She reminded me that I felt better while taking them. And when I felt better, I could care for myself better. If I was caring for myself, my unborn baby would thrive. If I was not taking care of myself, I was not taking care of my baby.

It made sense to me in the simplest way. I just needed someone else to say it. In fact, I was relieved to hear it. I was relieved to have a reason to resume taking them.

My doctor cited the most current research about antidepressant use during pregnancy — basically that while they could potentially cause lung and breathing issues in newborns, the risk of birth defects and other problems for babies of mothers who take antidepressants during pregnancy is very low. So I took my little white pill each day for the remainder of my pregnancy.

And yes, I worried. I worried about how, if at all, it would affect my child. I continued to have ultrasounds throughout my pregnancy, and each showed a perfectly developing baby. It wasn’t until I saw him and held him that I breathed a little sigh of relief.

More: Mom issues warning about toy that put her toddler in the hospital

For the past four years, I have watched him closely for any signs of delay, poor growth and development or autism. On the contrary, he is a bright, happy, highly verbal 4-year-old who moves at lightning speed to keep up with his three older brothers.

In December, a study was published in JAMA, an international peer-reviewed general medical journal, citing a possible link between antidepressant use in the second and third trimesters and autism. Of course, further study is needed.

It makes me sad and scared for women who are struggling with depression. It is one more thing for them to feel guilty about. One more thing to blame themselves for. One more reason to put their own health on a back burner.

I don’t know if my experience with antidepressants during pregnancy was unique or not. It was unique for me in terms of my previous three pregnancies. I’m glad I made the decision to follow my doctor’s advice and take care of myself during my pregnancy. In the end, I really believe it resulted in the healthiest outcome for both my child and myself.

More: Mac and cheese crust, plus 14 other pizza mashups you need to try now

The good news — for Londoners, at least — is you don’t have to go through this mental turmoil any longer. You can now combine your love of those two fast-food favourites on one plate.

Burger joint The Blues Kitchen has teamed with Pizza Pilgrims to create the stupendous Pilgrim Burger as February’s Burger of the Month.

Dry-aged angus and shorthorn steak patty on a parmesan bun with smoked buffalo mozzarella, ’nduja melt, fresh basil and ketchup from San Marzano tomatoes — topped with truffle mac ‘n’ cheese arancini for good measure.

And just take a look at this beautiful pizza-burger mashup.

More: You won't believe what's inside this insanely huge burger

It was apparently inspired by this "drunken scribble".

As if all that pizza/burger awesomeness isn’t enough, the creation is topped off with a hot truffle mac n’ cheese arancini ball, guaranteed to make all other burgers look a little, well… naked.

Order your Pilgrim Burger from The Blues Kitchen in Camden, Shoreditch or Brixton, London for £15 and then take a long, long nap.

More: The Doritos-crust pizza is the junk food mashup of our dreams (VIDEO)

Here's a new indulgent dish to add to your Super Bowl spread: a bacon-crusted mac and cheese football. Yes, really.

You'll need football cake pans to get the perfect shape — grab them at Target.

More: 

Kramer gave birth in Nashville on Sunday to a little girl weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce. The couple has named their sweetheart Jolie Rae Caussin, a name that's sure to be popular with moms looking for something that describes just how beautiful their newborn is to them.

After all, Jolie means "pretty" in French.

The name isn't typically given in France, where it's just a word (think Gwyneth naming her child Apple), but it's gained popularity here in the States. The moniker may be best known as the middle name of actress Angelina Jolie (whose birth name is Angelina Jolie Voight). Angie's mom, Marcheline Bertrand, was of French-Canadian descent, hence the Francophile name for her baby girl.

More: Dad passes out cold after learning sex of fifth child (VIDEO)

As for Rae, it's often used as a middle name and is popular with parents looking for a virtue name for their wee one. After all, the Scottish-derived name means "grace."

As for Jolie Rae's special significance to the couple, here's something you don't hear every day: The couple chose the name before they even knew they were having a baby, not to mention a girl.

More: These baby-girl names mean love ... literally

The "I Got the Boy" singer told Celebrity Baby Scoop last year that they decided on it the first month they met, and they even embroidered things with the name Jolie Rae. Seems like it was meant to be!

What do you think of the name? What's your favorite French name?

Although getting your child's ears pierced at the mall is popular and convenient, there are several reasons you may want to investigate other avenues for having your child's ears pierced, specifically a medical office or even a body art studio. And yes, getting them even is one of them.

Carolyn Presby, a physician assistant at Miami Plastic Surgery, has corrected her fair share of those uneven ear piercings in the year since she began piercing children’s ears. Presby was trained by another PA from a pediatrician’s office on how to pierce ears. In comparison, she says piercings done at the mall are typically done by non-medical personnel whose training might be as basic as watching a video.

More: 18 Kids' toys that prove girls start paying the "pink tax" early

Presby says she spends time marking each earlobe and involves the parent in the marking. “In the office, we have the luxury and relationship to have the time and familiarity to get it right," she says. "We want the parent and child to feel we did everything we can to get it right.”

But getting "even" earrings is just the beginning when it comes to reasons the experts direct moms away from the mall.

According to Presby, it's a matter of safety.

Ear piercings done at a mall also are typically done with a reusable piercing gun that cannot be sterilized in an autoclave because it is made of plastic. The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) does not support the use of piercing guns because the reusable versions can’t be sterilized and, without proper sterilization, the risk of spreading diseases such as hepatitis and staph infections increase.

More: You could be a toxic parent & not even realize it

What's more, according to the APP, piercing guns occasionally cause serious issues when the intense pressure and speed of the gun’s spring-loaded mechanism is not sufficient to force the blunt jewelry through the flesh. In these cases, the earring stud may become lodged partway through the client’s ear. The gun operator, who may not be trained to deal with this possibility, has two options — to either remove the jewelry and re-pierce the ear, risking contamination of the gun and surrounding environment with blood flow from the original wound, or attempt to manually force the stud through the client’s flesh. It is unclear how often gun malfunctions occur but, according to APP, some gun operators report that it is frequent.

Another issue that should be on parents' radar? A medical office or licensed body art studio uses surgical steel products, which limits the risk of an allergic reaction, and the instrument used to pierce ears is one-time use and disposable, with surgical steel earrings pre-loaded into it. According to Presby, you don’t know what material the earrings are made from or whether they are sterile if you opt for the mall route.

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Regardless of where you go, parents should watch to ensure the person doing the piercing washes their hands, uses hand sanitizer or dons gloves before starting the process. They also should clean your child's ears with an antiseptic before doing the piercing.

If there is a problem or your child develops an infection afterward, you should call your pediatrician — an advantage to opting for a medical office piercing in the first place. As Presby says, there is continuity of care with a medical office piercing.

Not sure where to go? Call your pediatrician or local plastic surgeon. If they don't offer piercing, they can direct you to a safe place that does.