Life insurance is, in most cases, intended to ensure that your family has the resources it needs to survive if something were to happen to you and/or your spouse. It’s not pleasant to think about but realistically, most of us don’t have a nest egg sufficiently large enough to provide ongoing financial support for our families if we were to pass away.

Life insurance can, for a modest investment, help families pay off bills and keep going after a parent dies. Buying a policy isn’t terribly complicated (in most cases). But figuring out your beneficiaries can be.

More: 20 Ingenious tricks to get your kids to open up about their school day

Here’s a quick rundown of common beneficiary designations that might not be so desirable:

1. Naming your minor child as the beneficiary

This tends to be the default on insurance policies because it feels simple but the result is anything but. Minors cannot, by law, control their own property — and that includes money. If your minor children are the direct beneficiary of a life insurance policy, it will be necessary, in most instances, to name a guardian to manage the proceeds even if the child’s other parent is still alive. This can be time-consuming and costly.

2. Naming your just-barely-not-a minor child as the beneficiary

Assuming that your child is no longer a minor, there are no legal impediments to naming your child as a beneficiary but there are some practical ones. Chief among them: Young adults may not be prepared for the responsibility of taking care of a lump sum of money. Even worse? There might be other folks in the child’s life who might not have their best interest at heart whispering in their ears.

3. Naming an adult as the beneficiary with direction to “take care” of your children

It might be tempting to name an adult as the beneficiary and have a side agreement for the adult to take care of the child with the life insurance proceeds. There are real dangers, however, with this kind of arrangement since the adult is under no legal obligation to use the proceeds for the benefit of the child.

More: 7 Things the Gilmore Girls taught us about motherhood (GIFs)

So what does tend to work?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It’s important to communicate your specific needs to your financial planner and/or estate and tax attorney in order to find the best fit.

When minor children are involved, a trust is often a good idea. A trust can easily be named as the beneficiary of life insurance proceeds. You can structure the terms of the trust to provide for your children in the manner and timeframe that you think best. Trusts, when drawn properly, can be used to offer creditor protection, asset management options and in some instances, a trust can also be used to move funds out of your estate for federal estate tax purposes.

While life insurance is not taxable to a beneficiary as income, that’s not to say that there won’t be any tax consequences. Any interest, dividends or other income attached to the death benefit will retain their character, for tax purposes, in the hands of a beneficiary — and that includes a trust. You’ll want to check with your tax advisor for the best advice on how to structure your trust for income tax purposes.

More: What every mom should know about getting a kid's ears pierced at the mall

Don't forget your spouse!

Of course, it’s important not to forget about your spouse. If your plan is to leave enough insurance to provide for your spouse during his or her lifetime, don’t skip the spouse altogether and leave the proceeds solely for the benefit of the children. If you want to include the spouse, consider naming him or her as the beneficiary (but see again #3 above) or create a “sprinkle” trust that allows for the benefit of your spouse and children.

Don’t get too carried away on the estate planning document side: Your will does not control your life insurance policy. To ensure that your wishes are carried out, work with your attorney and your life insurance agent directly to complete and submit change of beneficiary forms. Simply referencing your beneficiary inside of your will or trust will not direct the proceeds where you want without a specific beneficiary designation on the life insurance policy.

Finally, be sure and follow up. The funny thing about kids is that they won’t stay little forever. They grow up and become — we hope — responsible adults. As their needs change, your plans should change. Be sure to check in regularly with your financial advisors, including your attorney and your insurance agent, to make sure that your plan makes the most sense for your family.

Updated by Bethany Ramos on 2/5/2016

For now, we'll ignore the amount of calories that are contained in this complex lasagna and focus on what goes into making this work of art. As you can see, a large number of ingredients are involved. They're simple ingredients, but the real question is, how expensive is this to make? Taco Bell is well known to be one of the cheapest options for fast food, so the fact that this lasagna is alleged to cost $80 seems so far fetched. Does it really cost that much to make this fancified fast-food feast?

More: 19 Times nachos proved they're the ultimate cheesy snack

The recipe calls for about 20 sides of ground beef, 20 sides of refried beans, 20 Cheesy Roll-ups, eight different types of burritos, tortillas and lasagna noodles. If the Shredded Chicken Burrito, at $1.69 each, was used for all eight burritos, that would come to a total of $13.52. Now, if we calculate the Cheesy Roll-ups at $1 each, that comes out to $20, ending with a total of $33.52. We have to consider that not all Taco Bells may offer sides of beef and refried beans, so to create this lasagna at home, you may have to improvise.

If you were to replace the side of beef with soft tacos with beef and add refried beans in the taco for your order, each taco would be $1.44. Twenty of these tacos would reach about $28. If you add that to your combined total, it would be $61.52. Now, if you are to add the price of lasagna noodles from a local grocery store, it would be about $2. As for the tortillas, also from a local grocery store, it would be about $4 for a pack. So the cost for all the ingredients would come in at $67.32 before tax. It's not $80, but it's still pretty expensive for Taco Bell.

More: McDonald's new kale salad has more calories than the Big Mac

Everyone is so used to spending almost nothing to get almost everything at Taco Bell, so the price to make the "Taco Bell Lasagna" might be out of the average customer's price range. However, the authenticity of it might make people want to try it — at least once.

Do you think it's worth it? Leave your comments below.

More: 8 Things to say when a kid has cancer, from a mom who knows

In an effort to help other families who may be going through similar situations Simpson-Jacobs penned her book What We Did When Mummy Got Cancer, while she was under-going treatment, which she hoped would give parents the opportunity to discuss the disease with their children. According to her website she has the "aim of helping other families in her situation."

When Simpson-Jacobs was first diagnosed she decided to keep the news from her two young girls for fear that they would not understand what was happening.

"I didn't say 'cancer' to them for quite some time," she told Daily Mail. "What I didn't want was for someone in the playground to say, 'My granny has just died of cancer'."

More: Mum pays tribute to the school run stranger who 'inspired' her to change

Simpson-Jacobs asked her nurses and advisers for material to help her explain what was going on to her children. They recommend Mummy's Lump by Gillian Forrest, but Simpson-Jacobs felt the story may confuse her children, and that there needed to be another book out there.

"The story has been vetted and approved by the Oncology team at Ipswich Hospital, ensuring that all information is medically accurate and that the process is made as clear as possible to a young audience," her website states. "In normalising the process, it is hoped that many of the worries and questions raised by children in these circumstances will be allayed."

For more on her book — which costs £5.99 + £2.00 P&P or just £2.99 if you download it — you can visit her website here.

More: Chemotherapy and other treatments that are completely safe during pregnancy

Simpson-Jacobs isn't the only person who's realized a need for more material on this subject.

In 2012, a book called What Happened When Mommy Got Cancer was written by Mathuin Smith, a young boy whose mother was diagnosed with cancer, and the story offered an account from a child's point of view.

According to the book's description on Amazon, "He wrote the book to make himself feel better and to help other children who are facing a similar challenge in their lives. A practical yet positive true story of this family's experience as Mathuin's mother was treated for breast cancer."

For more information on how to speak to your children about cancer, you can visit the Macmillian cancer support group, who offer advice that includes being "honest, specific and using simple language," and also suggests that drawings and books could help younger children to understand.

More: Emma Watson has an epic name for her book club, thanks to fans

Except she's actually not photogenic at all in this image — because it's not a photograph.

Hard to believe, but it's actually an extremely realistic painting courtesy of Watson superfan student Nehaal Gonsalves.

Gonsalves posted the results of his hard work on his Facebook page, saying he "made an attempt to make this as real as possible, because after all she is perfection.

"First piece of the year, my mind is numb from what a challenge it was to detail this beautiful beast."

Gonsalves also shared a video revealing the secrets behind his unbelievably lifelike portrait of the actress — and to be honest, if it wasn’t for this, we’d have a hard time accepting it’s not a photograph, because it’s crazy realistic.

More: Emma Watson ignored request not to use the word 'feminism'

Gonsalves expressed his hope that his work of art reaches Watson, and we'd say it has a pretty good chance — partly due to the amount of attention it's received online, but mainly because it's just so incredible.

He also has amazing artwork of other celebrities on his Facebook page, including Coldplay's Chris Martin, Cara Delevingne, Benedict Cumberbatch and Anne Hathaway .

But it's clear Watson is his favourite. "[I'm] absolutely crazy about this beautiful person and everything she does," he wrote.

More: Emma Watson talks to designers about equality in fashion (WATCH)

More: Melbourne cottage featured in Beyoncé film clip is on the market

A pair of popular Twitter accounts known for breaking news about Queen Bey, @TheBeyHiveTeam and @Bey_Legion, have been speculating about what fans should expect when Beyoncé returns to the Super Bowl halftime show stage this Sunday. According to the rumors, she'll be debuting at least one new song.

Both accounts say that Beyoncé rehearsed two new songs, but ultimately decided on performing just one of them. Another rumor says there's going to be an epic dance battle during her set, possibly with Bruno Mars.

According to The BeyHive, one of those songs — the one she is likely to perform on Sunday — is entitled "Foundation," information that was learned when a storyboard for upcoming Beyoncé shows was photographed leaving a festival last summer, showing the new track set to be performed in between "Yonce" and a dance break.

More: Beyoncé wears huge green coat, sparks more pregnancy rumors (VIDEO)

Beyoncé gave one of the most memorable Super Bowl halftime show performances of all time in 2013, so we can only imagine what might be in store for her second round on that stage. There has also been news that she could pull a stunt similar to her 2013 surprise release of her self-titled video album and drop her long-awaited sixth studio album without warning sometime around the Super Bowl. If that happens, just imagine the fight between Beyoncé and Adele for album of the year. Bring it on, ladies.

More: Beyoncé's daughter Blue Ivy may have a sibling sooner than we all thought

Do you plan on checking out Beyoncé's Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday? Let us know down in the comments.

Enter kale.

It's a more nutritious way to get your Caesar on, for sure. Trying to think a bit outside the box, the idea struck me recently that replacing the croutons with roasted chickpeas would be one genius way to amp up the nutrition factor even more and add some extra satiety to our favorite salad. Making them my favorite chip flavor (salt and vinegar FTW always) was just a bonus.

Salt- and vinegar-roasted chickpea kale Caesar salad recipe

Serves 2 – 4

Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 18 minutes | Total time: 23 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 8 cups chopped kale, stems removed
• 1/4 cup Caesar dressing
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Place the rinsed chickpeas on a kitchen towel, and pat dry.
3. Add the chickpeas to a baking sheet, and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper to coat.
4. Roast for 10 minutes, then shake the pan, and roast for another 5 – 7 minutes, until the chickpeas start to turn golden brown and crisp up. Remove from the oven, toss with the vinegar, and return them to the oven for 1 more minute. Remove, and let cool.
5. While the chickpeas roast, toss the kale with the Caesar dressing until fully coated.
6. Transfer to a serving bowl, and top with chickpeas and grated Parmesan cheese.

More kale recipes

Mexican kale salad
Kale frittata
Garlicky kale and chicken pizza

The 19-year-old posted an image of herself holding her middle finger up in front of a young child's face with a captioning reading "swear i (sic) love kids." Guess who's back on the job market?! Ding, ding, ding!

Folks, awareness of what your name is attached to in Internet spheres becomes particularly important when you're job hunting, or employed at a social media-conscious business (aka every business).

These days, 93 percent of recruiters say they'll check the social media profile of a potential hire. But the unfortunate truth is most people aren't terribly protective of their social media personas, and thus don't realize how much their employer could turn up if they did a basic search.

More: Photo of mom and teen daughters has Internet losing its collective mind

How bad could it really be? Here are some real-life examples of social media mistakes that cost most of these poor, unsuspecting people their jobs. Hopefully, after you read them, you'll edit and update your social media profiles accordingly.

1. You're never anonymous

The worker at Kids Play in Mesa might have thought her Snapchat was no big deal because she didn't show her face in the image, but when a parent called the owner, it was pretty easy to figure out the culprit — especially because the daycare has video surveillance.

More: 17 Best freebies to take advantage of on your birthday

2. Tweeting while working

Here's one that I know most people have been guilty of at one time or another (many on a daily basis). Kim Lehmkuhl, a city clerk in California, was asked to resign because she was caught tweeting during council meetings when she was supposed to be taking notes. She said in her resignation notice, “This has been an atrocious, incredibly depressing and mind-numbingly inane experience I would not wish on anyone." While this may sound pretty unfair, it should be known that Lehmkuhl had been shirking her minute-recording duties for almost a year.

3. Wrong feed

Now this is just a case of pure carelessness, especially considering the guy was a social media strategist. Scott Bartosiewicz, who worked for Chrysler in Detroit, accidentally tweeted something insulting about local drivers on the company Twitter page rather than on his own feed. He said, “I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to f***ing drive.” Needless to say, he was kindly asked to clear out his office, and sign out of the corporate social media accounts.

More: Facebook reveals the strangest things we 'like'

4. Drinking and posting

Then there are bosses who are not so forgiving of employees posting pictures with alcohol in hand. The head of the school where Ashley Payne worked as a teacher found pictures of her holding alcoholic beverages on her Facebook page. She was called into his office and given the choice to be fired or resign. She claimed her privacy settings were as strict as possible, but somehow a "concerned parent" who found them ratted her out.

5. No business like show business

Nicole Crowther was an extra on the Fox show Glee before she tweeted spoilers of an upcoming episode. While Crowther claims her spoilers were only speculations, fans were furious. She received major backlash and even threats of violence in addition to losing her job.

6. Gross food YouTube

Hey, you know what's not a good idea? Doing weird things to customers' food, then posting video proof on a public platform like YouTube. Well that's exactly what these guys who worked at a Domino's did, then probably served said food to actual customers. Disgusting and wrong doesn't begin to cover this. Thankfully, sleuths over at Consumerist found out who the offending employees were, and alerted Domino's corporate so they could be fired — and hopefully forced to eat similarly perverted food.

7. Poor form off the field

Jon Schuetz, the former stadium PA announcer for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, was fired after only one day on the job for an inappropriate Facebook post, and get this — the post had been made that previous November, criticizing the university's chancellor for firing the former coach, Bo Pelini. Schuetz completely owned up to his immature behavior, and ultimately agreed with the school's decision to fire him.

8. Instagram hunger games

Note to anyone in power positions: If you have the ability to fire people, don't gloat about it on social media. Alejandro Rhett, former vice president of men's merchandising for J.Crew, decided to post pictures of him and a friend jumping for joy and flipping the bird right after he took part in a series of layoffs. He captioned the photos #hungergames and #maytheoddsbeeverinyourfavor, suggesting that he made the cut, and #sorrynotsorry to those who didn't. Needless to say, J.Crew quickly took "appropriate actions," meaning Rhett joined the ranks of his unfortunate, former employees.

9. Racism and Twitter don't mix

Vinita Hegwood, a Texas high school teacher, lost her job over a series of racist tweets she made about the Ferguson incidents. She said they were made "emotionally and impulsively," but their content was so extreme that the school board refused to accept her resignation, and fired her instead.

10. If you don't have anything nice to say...

Just a thought, it's probably not a great idea to make fun of the kids you work with at a day-care center. It's an even worse idea to take mocking pictures of them and post them all over Instagram. But that's exactly what these two day-care workers from Virginia did to a 2-year-old boy who is developmentally impaired. His mother happened to see the pictures online and immediately alerted the center's authorities, who promptly fired the two employees. I'm sure there are more immature ways for adults to behave, but currently, I can't think of any.

11. Never criticize where you work

Kimberley Swann had only been working at her marketing job for three weeks before she was fired over a Facebook status in which she called her job "dull." The 16-year-old didn't even mention the name of the company, but a coworker saw it and reported her to upper management. There goes the idea of worker solidarity.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

After Sheen revealed to Dr. Oz that he had gone off his HIV medication in favor of an unheard of treatment that promised to cure him of the disease, a blood test proved it was having the opposite effect. Dr. Samir Chachoua defended himself on Real Time with Bill Maher, explaining his method — and Sheen hit out at him on Twitter. But Sheen's stated concern seems to be pretty far off from what you'd think it would actually be.

More: Charlie Sheen's new HIV treatment plan sounds super sketchy

Chachoua explained his "treatment" to Maher, saying that he uses the milk of arthritic goats as medicine for his HIV patients, claiming his cure comes from the caprine arthritis encephalitis virus contained within.

"This virus destroys HIV and protects people who drink it for life," he claimed. "I've cured countries!"

He did not specify which countries in particular he has cured.

Chachoua's claims were specifically disproven in Sheen's case aftet tests by Dr. Oz proved his viral load — which had been undetectable using traditional antiviral therapy — went back up after dumping it in favor of arthritic goat milk, and he certainly was not cured.

More: Charlie Sheen reportedly threatened to kill Denise Richards and their kids

Now, after Chachoua's interview, Sheen is rebuking him — but instead of focusing on the fact that he treated him with arthritic goat milk, he's fixated on the fact that the doctor is only licensed to practice in Mexico, not the United States.

More: Charlie Sheen's ex alleges shocking deception in new HIV lawsuit

Chachoua responded with confusion and defended himself on his brand new Twitter account.

Sheen has assumably returned to his medical drug regimen.

More: The Charlie Sheen HIV news has reportedly affected the Kardashians, too

Nail design tutorial

Follow these easy steps to create this nail design at home. Here is what you'll need.

Step 1: Gather materials

• OPI Color So Hot It Berns
• OPI Black Onyx
• Essie Knockout Pout
• Scotch tape

Step 2: Choose your base color

Start with a base coat — we chose pink.

Step 3: Create your lines

Place a piece of tape diagonally across each nail, making sure to press down firmly.

Step 4: Paint your second coat

Paint a coat of red over the area not taped off and let dry.

Step 5: Paint nail tips black

Gently peel off tape. Paint a line of black on the tips. You can do this by hand or tape it off. Follow with a top coat.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

More: Old flames Katy Perry and John Mayer ring in the New Year together

Since being linked for the first time at a Golden Globes after-party, where onlookers said they were cozy and flirty, the pair has been seen out and about a number of times, including at a celebrity-packed dinner at the Sunset Tower Hotel this week.

According to Radar Online, the gathering was a birthday celebration for producer Aleen Keshishian, also attended by other A-listers like Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston.

But sources say Perry and Bloom were particularly friendly with one another throughout the evening.

"Orlando and Katy had that new-relationship glow about them," one person said. "They were cuddling and flirting with each other all night."

And the pair were also seen together last weekend, smiling backstage at a showing of The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, a play running in Los Angeles.

Still, before these two can be named Hollywood's new "it" couple, it's important to take into account how serious — or not — their relationship really is. According to sources close to Perry, she's in it just to have some short-term fun.

"She’s having fun with Orlando," an insider told Us Weekly. "I don’t think she’s seeing this as long-term yet. It’s a fun hookup thing right now."

Perry and Bloom were first linked when witnesses saw them looking intimate at a party following the Golden Globes.

"He would lean in to whisper into her ear and touch the small of her back as they chatted," an onlooker said at the time. And at Harvey Weinstein's bash following the awards, sources said Perry challenged Bloom to a dance-off.

"Katy literally dropped to the floor and was waving her booty around, beckoning Orlando," one insider said.

More: Russell Brand hurls cruel insults at Katy Perry in new documentary (VIDEO)

Do you think Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom will be Hollywood's new hottest couple?

More: Paris Jackson is almost unrecognizable in new selfie (PHOTOS)

Paris Jackson, the 17-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson, lashed out against online haters in a profanity-laced Instagram post, also revealing that she attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

"This is f***ing ridiculous. i am expected to literally sit on my ass all day replying to comments people leave me (positive and negative)?" she wrote in the lengthy post, which has since been deleted. "i have aa meetings to go to. family obligations. PERSONAL obligations. its so f***ing selfish that i am literally attacked on every f***ing thing i post just because people that i DONT EVEN KNOW aren’t getting what they want. I don’t know any of you. I appreciate the love and support, but the expectations are f***ing ridiculous. the expectations for my DAD were f***ing ridiculous. he didn’t owe you anything, yet he was ripped to shreds DAILY. i will not let that happen to me."

Jackson, who is the King of Pop's only daughter, was admitted to a residential psychiatric facility in Utah in 2013 after it was rumored that she had attempted suicide. Her mother Debbie Rowe tweeted at the time, "She is strong like her father."

More: Paris Jackson's finger may have just confirmed her marital status (PHOTOS)

Since rehab, Jackson has been seen in Los Angeles, rarely without her boyfriend Chester Castellaw, and has seemed happy. Earlier this week, another Instagram post revealed her meditation technique post-rehab.

"meditation doesn't always have to be the cliché incense-burning to hindu chanting while sitting cross legged, it's any way to quiet your mind," she wrote alongside a photo of herself snowboarding. "i know someone who will watch, say, 4 episodes of scooby doo while wrapped up in a quilt drinking hot chocolate, and be fine for the rest of the week. everyone has their own method. i'm happy to have found another new one."

More: Paris Jackson is doing "really well" one year after suicide attempt

Danica Dillion was seeking $500,000 in physical and emotional damages after accusing Duggar of being too rough with her during a consensual sex act, saying in court documents she "felt like she was being raped."

According to TMZ, the case was completely dropped. Dillon agreed never to refile the suit against Duggar, and most interesting, Duggar promised not to file documents with the court reported to prove Dillon lied about the incident in the lawsuit.

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

Earlier this week, Duggar's legal team had refused to allow Dillon to drop the case because she wished to retain the right to refile in the future. Duggar's lawyer refused the offer, saying she would have to agree to never refile as well as retract her claims on social media. It is unclear if the last part will come to pass; as of this writing, there is no mention of the case or her allegations in any recent Twitter posts.

(By the way, if you plan on visiting Dillon's Twitter page, be advised that it is extremely not safe for work!)

Duggar has always steadfastly denied Dillon's claims, stating that not only has he never had sex with Dillon, he has never been to the strip club or hotel she named in the suit and he was not in Pennsylvania on the date she claims the incident occurred.

More: Josh Duggar's new court papers reveal a very scandalous detail

Dillon stated in court documents that she met Duggar at a strip club where she worked in Pennsylvania. Claiming he became immediately obsessed with her, she said he paid her $600 for lap dances then offered $1,500 for sex in a nearby hotel room.

The news comes hot on the heels of a rumor that 19 Kids and Counting is getting a reboot on TLC. While it is unclear if the network is welcoming back the entire family after taking the show off the air amidst the molestation scandal or if it will be yet another spinoff featuring one or more of the siblings, Design & Trend claims that Duggar will be featured prominently.

Coinciding with his release from rehab, according to Design & Trend, Josh will appear on the show in an attempt to rehab his own image and discuss what he learned during his time away. Important lessons like "don't molest children" and "don't cheat on your wife," probably.

Duggar's rehab release date remains unconfirmed.

More: Duggar divorce leaves family shocked, and it's getting ugly

The new ice-cream flavors hit store shelves later this month, but Ben & Jerry's was kind enough to send samples for us to taste this week. We tore into them like animals immediately because ... free ice cream! Just kidding. Actually, before we started, we grabbed a couple pints of the original dairy versions of Chunky Monkey and Chocolate Fudge Brownie to compare.

We wrapped each pint in thick paper so no one could tell which was which, and then we invited the SheKnows New York City office to try them all.

More: Ben & Jerry's vegan ice-cream flavors are here: Time to freak out

Long story short: Of course everyone could tell which was vegan and which was dairy. But did they think the new incarnations were delicious? Some did, though almost everyone said they still prefer the dairy flavors to the vegan flavors.

Vegan Chunky Monkey

Responses ranged from tepid ("I mean ... it's tolerable") to mildly approving ("Actually not bad! The other is still better, though") to enthusiastic ("I love it!" drawn with a heart). One taster said they'd be all right with the vegan if they had no other choice.

Meanwhile, tasters just couldn't help expressing how much they love the original Chunky Monkey. "YASSS," wrote one. "You can tell before you eat it by the texture! Dairy."

Vegan Chocolate Fudge Brownie

Results diverged widely for this flavor. Two said it tasted "like ice" and "like freezer burn," but another taster was enamored: "The chocolate ones are VERY CLOSE." Another said of the vegan , "I like this one."

And, naturally, people felt compelled to gush about the original: "SOOO GOOOD!" "Yummm!" I mean, there's a reason why this ice-cream brand is so popular.

More: These vegan ice creams might convert you

Vegan P.B. & Cookie and Coffee Caramel Fudge

As for the other two flavors sent, P.B. & Cookies seemed to be the favorite. And we all agreed Ben & Jerry's made the right choice in doing their dairy-free ice creams with almond milk. It tastes much better — and has a more ice cream–like mouth feel — than the coconut-and-cashew–based vegan ice creams we've tried.

All said, I suspect that if we were served one of these vegan ice creams at a party without knowing it was vegan, we probably wouldn't even notice. At any rate, it's definitely the best vegan ice cream I've ever tasted. I think the boys from Vermont nailed it — for now, until someone finds an even better formula. This one will be hard to beat.

More: 20 Vegan cheesecakes every bit as creamy as the real thing

Brook Silva-Braga and Jill Andres were asking themselves that same question after four years of dating each other (and one year apart), but they didn't have a clear answer. Like so many people in their age demographic, they were trepidatious about taking the plunge because of the staggeringly high divorce rate in America (almost 50 percent). However, rather than backing away from it like so many do, they decided to challenge themselves with a test of their own creation.

More: What to write in a Valentine's Day card based on relationship stage

They wrote a book outlining the test, which is actually a set of 40 activities, or obstacle courses, as they like to call it. The idea was to simulate pressurized marriage scenarios they might face if they were to tie the knot to see how they would fare together. Some of the most interesting ones are going on a lunch date with exes, spending a month using each other's credit cards and borrowing a baby. The series reminds me of stress tests they give to astronauts who are going up into space — you have to be comfortable with the realty of what you'll face there before you get to zero gravity.

These tests really push the envelope so you can get a sense of just how you'll be together in really trying situations. For example, they took a month and spend half the amount of money they normally do to simulate what would happen if one of them lost their job. That one would probably hit a lot of buttons for most people (myself included). Combining finances is tricky business for a lot of couples and often leads to the most conflict.

Silva-Braga and Andres spent a year going through the 40 obstacles and had agreed that if they all went reasonably well, they'd get married, and if not, they'd split. One major point they came to after their yearlong experiment is that couples don't talk about the relationship stuff that really scares them on a day-to-day basis, because it's hard. However, to take that next, big step with your partner, you have to go there, otherwise you're not really giving your marriage a fighting chance.

More: Living together may be better than getting married after all

The test culminated with two of the scariest challenges — facing two major, personal fears together, and remaining handcuffed for 24 hours (yes, that includes bathroom breaks). Silva-Braga had to go scuba diving, and Andres went skydiving (ironically their personal fears were in such opposing places). While they didn't exactly pass with flying colors as they originally thought they would, the two decided they did well enough to get hitched at the end of their year of obstacles. As a result, their first year of marriage (which most argue is the hardest) was no big deal. "We basically dealt with all the stresses that newlyweds tend to face before we got married, so the first year was kind of a breeze by comparison," Andres told Glamour.

More: 4 Lessons I learned from ending my relationship this year

They sincerely believe their book The Marriage Test (which came out Feb. 2) will help couples realize if they're really and truly ready for marriage. The challenges are not easy, because marriage is hard, and it's better to be prepared than to go into it just hoping for the best. And if you can't make it through, you can walk away with relatively little baggage. Andres asked Glamour, "Isn't it better to know now it's not going to work than two kids and 10 years later?" I would say absolutely, but man, that handcuff test... that would be rough.

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Margolis was a primary school teacher in Brisbane for 30 years, but "after much thought" she decided to quit the profession, and she's since penned a passionate letter about why she "cannot continue to do a job that requires me to do what is fundamentally against my philosophy of how it should be done."

She continued her letter, raising much needed awareness for teachers and students who are reportedly being failed by the Australian government.

"Teachers have very little professional autonomy anymore. We are told what to do, how to do it and when it has to be done by," she wrote. "Never have I experienced a time in my profession where teachers are this stressed and in real fear for the mental health of not only themselves but the children that they teach. The pressures are enormous."

Margolis went on, explaining how much work teachers put in behind the scenes, yet despite the extra hours, "full-time teachers are paid 25 hours a week … In any other job that would be considered part time."

She then shifted the focus from the teachers to the children and how they, too, are suffering.

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"Classrooms are overcrowded, filled with individuals with all sorts of needs both educational and social. Teachers are told we must differentiate and cater to each individual. Good teachers try desperately to do that but it is near impossible, and we feel guilty that we are not doing enough to help the children in our care," she explained.

"The curriculum is so overcrowded. Prep teachers who used to run lovely play-based programs (which might I add work beautifully) are teaching children sight words and how to read and write alongside subjects like history and geography. As a teacher and a mother of 3 sons, this scares the proverbial out of me. We all know that boys this age need to be moving around doing things that interest them, not sitting at desks."

"And what about the notion of readiness?" she continued. "I fear those little ones who are not ready are going to be left behind. And here's the problem with our crowded curriculum. There is not enough time to consolidate the basics."

She also explained how she has witnessed firsthand how so many children are "suffering from stress and anxiety" and how it has left her deeply saddened. Concluding her lengthy post, she said she is writing this open letter because teachers need to speak up, and they don't for fear of retribution.

Margolis' hopes were to create a public discussion, and she has certainly done that, as her post has been shared over 29,000 times and has been flooded with comments of support.

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Fellow teacher Delappe Russell weighed in on the post ...

And many mums agree, too.

People are clearly feeling inspired by the post, with many hoping it will create change.

Do you agree with Kathy Margolis? Is the education system failing teachers and children? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Admittedly, as a fan of the show, I can't wait. Season 3 was my favorite yet, so I have every reason to believe that the show will only continue to improve and blow all of our minds. Still, a three-season renewal is very ambitious, and I'm not sure it's the best plan. Here are just a few concerns to weigh as we celebrate this big news.

1) Quantity isn't the same as quality

The Office ran for nine seasons. So did Seinfeld. And neither show was nearly as good by the end as it was during its prime. Even my beloved Parks and Recreation, which ran for seven seasons, lagged toward the end. It's always best to go out on a high note, while material is still fresh, and there's no way to assure that when a show is contractually obligated to continue. Sure, sometimes we get a brilliant seventh season, like on Mad Men, but those are few and far between. Just because a show can go on forever doesn't mean viewers actually want it to.

2) How long can Piper's story go on?

From a storytelling perspective, this move is terrible. If you'll recall, Piper's sentence is only 15 months long. The show has already slowed the timeline considerably, but how much longer can that last? And, sure, we're all a little tired of Piper anyway, so maybe she'll be released and we'll get to have the final seasons with the characters we love most. But since Piper has been the anchor since day one, it's hard to imagine Kohan writing her out completely. They could always extend her sentence, but even that would feel forced. Instead, they're most likely going to slow down the timeline even more, which could damage the flow of the narrative.

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3) The end of Season 3 changed everything — which may not be sustainable in the long term

The Season 3 finale was shocking. Caputo is now the czar of Litchfield, and the prison population is doubling in size (that bunk bed reveal was killer). That's great news for Season 4 — it means the show's dynamic is changing up in a huge way, and it will keep the stories fresh and exciting. But how long will that last? One season? Two? When will they have to shake things up all over again? Kohan hasn't let us down yet with her ability to surprise and impress, but if her team has to keep upping the ante, it might feel exhausting and forced.

4) The cast will dwindle as new opportunities arise

The first three seasons of OITNB brought so many fresh faces to the screen, and by now, many of them are blowing up in huge ways. Taylor Schilling is becoming an indie movie sensation with roles in films like The Overnight. Uzo Aduba is transitioning into film as well, with roles in the upcoming features Tallulah and American Pastoral. Laverne Cox is an icon of the trans movement, balancing her acting and modeling career with serious activist work. And Matt McGorry is already splitting his time between OITNB and How to Get Away with Murder. (As of last fall, McGorry hadn't confirmed whether he'd even be returning for Season 4, so he may already be gone for good.) And that's only the beginning. Sure, actors can balance multiple jobs, and just because their careers are taking off in major ways doesn't mean they'll jump ship. But as even more opportunities arise, it will be hard for OITNB to keep all of the performers the fans crave, and those losses will be terrible for the show.

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5) Remember Jenji Kohan's track record

I didn't watch Weeds, but I've never heard anyone say anything good about its final seasons. Kohan has a reputation for starting out very strong and then jumping the shark. Hopefully that won't happen with OITNB, but the fact that she's now tied to the show through Season 7 is a bit worrisome.

6) It's time for newer Netflix shows to shine

When OITNB premiered, Netflix's original programming was sparse. House of Cards was around, but not much else. Now? There's BoJack Horseman, Jessica Jones, Sense8, Daredevil, Narcos, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Grace and Frankie, Master of None — to name just a few. And that's not counting all of the new original shows slated to premiere this year. By 2019, Netflix's programming slate will be huge. OITNB has had its time in the spotlight. Now it's time for these newer shows to feel the love.

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7) The television landscape is going to change a lot in the next three years — can OITNB keep up?

Netflix pioneered the world of original streaming television. Now there are high-quality original shows on Amazon, Hulu and Vimeo, too. In the coming years, we're going to see so many more platforms take off, and the shows that shine will be the ones that are most adaptable to the ever-changing environment. That's not to say that there won't be a place for OITNB — or shows like it — in the coming years, but they're going to have to work extra hard to keep up with the pace.

None of this is to say that Seasons 4 through 7 will be bad. They might be fantastic, and I hope they are. I'm not ready to say goodbye to the ladies of Litchfield just yet! But if they spend the next few seasons resting on their laurels, we may be in for a disappointing conclusion.

Are you excited about OITNB's three-season renewal? Tell us why — or why not — in the comments.

Though we don't get to hear the advice resident relationship therapist Dr. Ish gives to the singles and their exes in this exclusive clip from the new reality dating show, we can be sure it won't be followed. How do we know? Raging hormones, a chilled bottle of white wine and the need to exact revenge on their exes are all powerful factors for these lonely contestants to contend with. After all, who wouldn't want to prove to your ex that you're better than them by hooking up with a new, more impressive person?

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One couple however, Sean and Brittane, seems to have its stars crossed from the very start. Each female contestant has a hand-painted sign at the date location, describing three aspects of her personality. Brittane's sign says, "Works two jobs/Traditional values/Professional Flirt." Though polite, Sean seems to want nothing to do with her.

Brittane asks how Sean came to choose her for his date. Sean tells her, "I kind of won your sign here by default. I wasn't actually going for it."

Britanne doesn't hold anything back in her reply of: "That sucks."

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It seems there's one thing on Brittane's sign Sean doesn't understand: the meaning of "professional flirt." So he does what any inquiring mind would do and asks her. Her answer is simple enough, "I flirt a lot," says Brittane.

But Sean still can't understand and asks if she flirts, "professionally." Does this mean he thinks she's some kind of lady of the night who gets paid for romance?

Luckily, Brittany spells it out for Sean, saying, "It's not a job," and that she doesn't get paid for flirting. He finally seems to understand.

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Good luck, Sean, on this date and any other that may come your way.

Ex-Isle, hosted by Carmen Electra, premieres tonight, Friday, Feb. 5, at 10/9c on WEtv.

Both Griffin and Lee have noticed the pain and suffering experienced all around the world, and both believe that handouts are not always the solution. During their respective tours in Afghanistan, they came up with a genius idea: give the creative, hardworking people they saw suffering on a daily basis opportunities that will allow them to rise out of poverty. To accomplish this end, they have launched Combat Flip Flops, a company that produces a product everybody loves (or loves to hate): flip flops! The individuals employed by Combat Flip Flops also manufacture scarves, belts, bracelets (constructed from disarmed landmines) and a variety of other products.

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It was evident from the very beginning of their pitch that Griffin and Lee were serious about their business. Their no-nonsense presentation and direct, blunt honesty were definitely appreciated by the Sharks. Mark Cuban in particular was visibly impressed by the duo's company motto of "Business, Not Bullets." Cuban couldn't help but smirk when Griffin suggested that the Sharks have no doubt been called crazy for attempting their various business ventures. As the entrepreneurs implied, Cuban and his cohorts probably have been thought of as crazy, but that's never stopped them from pursuing their dreams. This sentiment appeared to earn Griffin and Lee a good deal of respect from the Sharks, three of whom were eager to invest in Combat Flip Flops.

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As much as Cuban loved Combat Flip Flops, viewers loved the concept even more. Nearly all of the responses on Twitter were favorable. The following are just a few of the raving tweets that appeared during tonight's episode:

Hopefully, with the Sharks' support, Griffin and Lee will be able to spread opportunity across the globe. Maybe we'll someday see them on Beyond the Tank! Until that time arrives, Griffin, Lee and their new Shark Tank investors will be busy making the world a better place, one flip flop at a time.

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What do you think of Combat Flip Flops? Is it one of Shark Tank's most inspiring businesses? Comment and share your opinion below.

First and most shockingly, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) sets Elena's sleeping beauty body up in flames.

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Now, while I was watching, I was convinced that Tyler had a decoy coffin and that it was going to end up empty. He clearly had a plan in place to make sure Damon didn't actually get to Elena (Nina Dobrev) — what with the tranquilizer gun and all. But then the camera actually panned to Elena's face burning!

I. Just. Can't. Handle. It.

But we didn't see her ashes. And we didn't see the aftermath of what happened with Damon. There is no way he just left the scene and let Elena burn and Tyler bleed. He would have put out the flames whatever the cost. So did he save her in time? What happened with Tyler? Was he just hallucinating seeing her body?

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Plus, if Damon had actually killed Elena, wouldn't he have shut his humanity off, like, instantly? Damon would not have been able to deal. Especially coupled with his limbo PTSD.

I know I am still trying to process all of the craziness that was tonight's episode. And maybe I'm just having some serious trouble accepting the truth that she's gone. But I think it actually makes sense that he put out those flames in time.

Especially because, during my recent chat with Vampire Diaries' executive producer Caroline Dries, she said that there were no plans, as of now, to have Dobrev return to the series. But she did qualify this by saying that, if the producers suddenly found out the show was ending after Season 7, they would probably scramble to bring her back for at least the finale.

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Since this interview with Dries was only a little over a week ago, she already knew what was coming in tonight's episode. Meaning, if Elena really were gone for good, Dries wouldn't have said that there was the possibility — no matter how small — for Dobrev to return. Rather, she said that they didn't have plans now but they could try to throw them together if they had to. And I'm taking that to mean that Elena is still sleeping peacefully somewhere.

Of course, if The Vampire Diaries has taught us anything, it's that death is far from the end.

Do you think Damon actually killed Elena for good in tonight's episode?