Polenta is an Italian dish made from cornmeal, and it's a nice alternative to pasta or even potatoes. It's creamy, filling and warming and can be served a variety of ways. Keep it simple by adding just a few ingredients, like this recipe for polenta with sauteed spinach and tomato sauce. Not only is it colorful, but it's a great one-dish meal.

Polenta with sauteed spinach and tomato sauce recipe

Serves 4-6 people

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried polenta
• 4 cups water, plus 1/2 cup extra
• 2 cups fresh spinach, cleaned and stems removed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced and divided
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups prepared pasta sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon each, salt and ground black pepper
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Add four cups of water to a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add 1 clove of minced garlic to the water along with 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 1-1/2 teaspoons of salt. Bring to a boil.
3. Add the polenta to a mixing bowl and add the 1/2 cup of water to it, stirring it well to combine.
4. When the water boils, slowly add the polenta-water mixture and stir. Lower the heat slightly, and continue to stir often. The polenta is ready when it thickens .
5. Meanwhile, add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large saute pan. When hot, add the garlic, spinach, and season with the 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper. Mix together until the spinach wilts, just a few minutes. Set aside.
6. In a small saucepan, warm your tomato sauce over low heat.
7. Serve polenta in individual bowls. For each serving, first add the polenta to a bowl. Top with about 3 ounces each of spinach, and finally spoon 3-4 ounces of tomato sauce over the spinach.
8. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

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From ditching the guilt trip to putting unrealistic expectations in check, here are four resolutions from a recovering workaholic mom to balance career, family and sanity in the new year.

New year, new rules

Everyone loves the clean slate that comes with the start of a new year. While it's tempting to ring in yet another new year with promises of weight loss, getting more organized, or tackling some career milestone, this year it's all about my family!

If I had a dollar for every minute I wasted on guilt, I’d be a very rich woman. I feel guilty if I’m in my home office working too long, instead of cutting myself some slack for creating my business around virtual offices and flexible hours, so I can spend more time with my kids. Some days I feel guilty for being too tired for a trip to the park with my kids, when I should be reveling in the snuggling that’s happening on the couch instead. What I’ve learned is that guilt is an enormous emotional drain and typically a complete waste of precious time. This year, I’m resolving to spend less time beating myself up with guilt trips and more time giving myself a little credit for finding a way to fit everything in.

I have this pattern of overcommitting at work and spending way more time going above and beyond on projects than was probably ever expected. Of course, that's immediately followed by a guilt trip because I feel like I should have been spending those extra hours with my kids. What I wish I’d have realized sooner in my career is that my time has real value. It’s not just a never-ending to do list that has no boundaries — it’s an actual ticking clock of real time that belongs to me and I have a say in how I spend it. This year, I'm resolving to place more value on my time. All of that overcommitting used to just seem like an extra 30 minutes here, 40 minutes there… but I’ve realized now that those minutes add up to hours that I can never get back.

Before we had kids, I was very conscientious of my husband’s needs and all of the little things I did that made him adore me. I’d give him physical attention, make his lunch for work, have dinner ready when he got home… all while maintaining my career and even finding time for pedicures and hair appointments and all the little things that make a newlywed wife look so put-together. Then, I gave birth to two beautiful boys who, frankly, completely own me. Now, I shower my kids with loads of affection, I go out of my way to show them how much I adore them and I downright obsess over their happiness. By the time I've tackled a long day of work and spent whatever energy I had left on my kids, my husband is lucky to get leftovers for dinner, a quick kiss before bed and let’s just say I spend more time in yoga pants than I do keeping up appearances. This year, I’m resolving to bump my marriage up higher on the priority totem pole!

Moms have a crazy way of outdoing themselves, even one-upping each other on the super-mom scale. It's no longer just about balancing work and home... it's about balancing work, being domestic goddesses, baking from scratch, crafting something spectacular and whatever else we think we have to live up to because Pinterest and Etsy remind us that somehow other moms are doing it, so we should be super human, too. This year I'm resolving to be satisfied with good enough. Don't get me wrong, when it comes to focusing on my family, I want to be awesome. But if that means just being good enough at everything else so I have time to accomplish that — so be it!

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This week's Parenthood is titled "Keep on Rowing," and, boy, does that describe what the Bravermans must do to keep themselves together.

First up, Adam and his family continue to deal with his wife's fight against cancer. In one of three previews for this week, we see Kristina buzzing off her beautiful blond locks. It's a bit trite, yes, but it's also a very real part of cancer. With a new 'do, Kristina plans a romantic dinner for her and Adam. But will everything go according to plan? With the Bravermans involved, the answer is usually no.

We'll also spend some time at Crosby's house this week. After Jasmine lures him into a good mood with some homemade pancakes, she tells Crosby what she really wants. Crosby's mother-in-law, who's constantly butting heads with him, lost her job before Christmas and needs to borrow $5,000 to stay afloat. Ouch. Like Cros and Jas are rolling in dough themselves, right?

Speaking of not-quite-moms: It looks like Victor's success will only bring disappointment to Julia. Check out this clip:

Of course, Victor didn't mean anything by his comments. But that's still a huge downer for Julia. Since the first time they brought Victor "home," just about everyone has had at least a sneaking suspicion that things would end badly. Is this a sign of things to come? Will Victor turn out to not be as permanent as they'd hoped?

Last, we'll also spend some time with Sarah and Hank . While we don't know exactly what's in store, TVGuide promises "an eventful evening." That's both forboding and exciting. Let's hope it ends well or doesn't end at all!

Parenthood airs Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 9/8c on NBC.

Image courtesy of NBC

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ESPN anchor Hannah Storm is feeling grateful after suffering serious second-degree burns on her hands and chest, as well as first-degree burns on her face and neck, in a propane gas grill accident three weeks ago. The accident also resulted in the loss of her eyelashes, eyebrows and half the hair on her head.

Despite her injuries, the newscaster will return to the airwaves on New Year's Day to host ABC's 2013 Rose Parade telecast. When you see her, you might notice a bandage on her left hand. She also has had extensions added to the places where she lost her hair.

The accident happened at her home in Connecticut on Dec. 11. She was preparing dinner and was having trouble lighting the flame on the grill. When she turned the grill off and reignited the gas, she was engulfed by an explosion and flames.

As the anchor told the Associated Press, ''It was like you see in a movie, it happened in a split-second. 'A neighbor said he thought a tree had fallen through the roof, it was that loud. It blew the doors off the grill.''

With her shirt burning, she managed to take it off with her left hand. Her 15-year-old daughter called emergency services, and the sportscaster was taken to the Trauma and Burn Center at the Westchester Medical Center where she was treated overnight.

The trip to California for the Rose Parade will be her first venture outside other than for Christmas Eve Mass. While dressing and showering have posed a few problems, Storm realizes how lucky she is.

As she told the AP, ''I didn't see my face until the next day and you wonder how it's going to look. 'I was pretty shocked. But my overarching thought was I've covered events with military members who have been through a lot worse than me, and they've come through. I kept thinking, 'I can do this. I'm fortunate.'''

She's also ready to get back to anchoring SportsCenter on ESPN next Sunday, so it looks like her injuries won't slow her down. In fact, they've just made her more thankful.

Storm concludes, ''More than anything, I feel gratitude. Something like this really makes you appreciate everything you have, even the chance to wake up on New Year's Day and do your job.''

Image courtesy of Apega/WENN.com

Jenny McCarthy will again be co-hostingDick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve alongside Ryan Seacrest, but one mystery is yet to be revealed. Whom will she kiss at midnight?

The 40-year-old made a big splash at last year's show when she kissed a New York City cop at midnight in front of the TV cameras. This year, she's taking suggestions from her fans.

Followers on Twitter can actually tweet the Playboy model @JennyMcCarthy and decide whether she should kiss someone from the #military, #FDNY, or #AverageJoe.

As McCarthy told Yahoo!, "I don't know who I'm going to smooch with, but I'm going to smooch with somebody!"

This will be her third year co-hosting the show, but don't worry, gentlemen, you have another four years with McCarthy at the helm. She just recently extended her contract with the show.

One big thing that will be missing from this year's show is the man who created the ABC New Year's Eve tradition of watching the Times Square ball drop, Dick Clark. Clark passed away in April after suffering a massive heart attack at the age of 82.

While this is the 40th year of the telecast, the American Bandstand host didn't take over the show until 1975. From then on, it became an iconic part of the holiday and ushering in the new year.

This year's show will be five hours long, so there will be plenty of time not only to help McCarthy choose her New Year's kiss but also to honor the man who started America's rockin' new year.

Image courtesy of Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com

You most likely sing "Auld Lang Syne" just once a year. So why take the time to learn the song? Because, it has a great meaning... and it's actually beautiful when not sung by a few dozen of your closest, drunkest friends.

"Auld Lang Syne" started as a poem written by Scotsman Robert Burns in 1788 and literally translates to "old long since" or, more colloquially, "long ago" or "old times." That means when you're singing, "For auld lang syne," you're singing, "For old times." In essence, "Auld Lang Syne" is a musical toast where you say "so long" to the past year.

Another fun fact: While we sing "For auld lang syne, my dear," the original Scots poem said, "Ma jo." That means "my dear." Now you can sing "ma jo," explain why and sound cultural. Oo la la!

Finally, as you listen to the words, keep in mind that in other parts of the world, the song isn't just used for New Year's Eve. People also use it at funerals, commencement ceremonies and to end events.

Below you'll find five pretty awesome versions of the song. You don't need to study hard to learn the words. Just listen as you go back to working your afternoon away, and we're certain you'll have it down before the party.

Mairi Campbell's version

Start off with this one from the Sex and the City soundtrack. First, Campbell's voice is stunning and angelic. You'll also find the lyrics are in their more original form. They contain a few words and slang that may look a little weird. If you listen, though, you'll figure them out.

Sufjan Stevens' version

Here's why this version is awesome: With the banjo and the added voices, the song really comes alive and sounds a lot closer to how it does when you're in a room full of friends. Just because the song is meaningful and is saying good-bye to the last year is no reason for it to be depressing, right?

MxPx's version

Speaking of not being depressing, MxPx sings the least sullen version of "Auld Lang Syne" ever. Then again, what did you expect from a punk band? Upbeat and loud, MxPx knows how to toast old times. If you're hosting a New Year's Eve party, this is a great version to bust out if you want the fun to carry on until morning.

Lea Michele's version

While the movie New Year's Eve was beyond cheesy and overloaded with overacting, the soundtrack wasn't horrible. Namely because of Lea Michele. She definitely puts a little Broadway into the song, but it's still a beautiful rendition. While it's a slow version, if you picture Lea's signature sneaky smile as she sings, you'll have no problem hearing the hopefulness.

Paolo Nutini's version

Yes, that's the "New Shoes" guy. This version sounds like such a far cry from "New Shoes" that it's hard to imagine the same guy sings both. Try not to fall in love: His Scottish accent is in full force here, as are the original lyrics. The video is great, too, because it features some pretty traditional instrumentation.

There you have it! Five sweet versions of "Auld Lang Syne" to help you kick off the new year by saying a proper farewell to the old one. Feel free to use any of these songs on your party playlist and definitely make sure to roll out the "Auld Lang" trivia!

Images courtesy of WENN

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Here's one final Lindsay Lohan story of the year for you. Lohan swears she's staying in this New Year's Eve. Before you fall into a fit of laughter on the floor, it appears the Liz & Dick actress is trying to stay out of trouble in order to stay out of jail.

The troubled starlet flew to London on Friday to catch a glimpse of her on-again, off-again date, Max George of the boy band The Wanted.

According to E! News, a source revealed, "She likes him and he likes her, but nothing has come of it."

However, there has been no confirmation that Lohan was even able to catch up with George, since The Wanted is performing in New York for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. It's entirely possible that the couple passed each other in the air as one traveled to the U.K. and the other traveled to the U.S.

Now that she's without a man on the last day of the year, the Mean Girls actress is reportedly going to spend the night safely inside with her family and friends at the Dorchester Hotel. This certainly would be a great idea since 2012 was rife with run-ins with the law.

Not only did she end the latter half of the year with another arrest on Nov. 29, but her probation was revoked by a Los Angeles judge. This might force Lohan to serve another eight months in jail — plus any additional jail time for her car accident case in June.

At this point, staying in on New Year's Eve is a good idea, and hopefully it will prove to the judge that she's trying to turn over a new leaf for 2013.

We'll believe it when we see it.

Image courtesy of DGA/WENN.com

Once Upon a Time is beefing up its cast. The show is adding a new recurring character who will mix it up with the locals. The role will be played by actress Sonequa Martin-Green, who already stars on another hit drama.

According to EW, Martin-Green will play Tamara. She's "a charming and likable woman who's secretly highly ambitious and a fearless leader driven to get what she wants."

Does that sound like anyone from Disney's roster of characters?

A few years ago, the studio released The Princess and the Frog, which centered on a young African-American woman named Tiana. She too was strong willed and ambitious. Tamara and Tiana sound awfully similar. Could they be one and the same? ABC hasn't confirmed the character's real identity, but it's a solid guess.

Once Upon a Time gives major hint to Whale's identity?>>

Tamara's expected to debut during the second half of Season 2 and could stick around until Season 3. Martin-Green's a busy woman who already has a gig on AMC's The Walking Dead. During the zombie drama's midseason finale, she debuted as Sasha, a member of the new gang of survivors.

The Walking Dead: Another episode, another massacre>>

The Walking Dead's cast constantly changes, so we're not sure what this means for Sasha's future. The writers have no problem killing off main and supporting characters.

Once Upon a Time returns Sunday at 8/7c on ABC. Meanwhile, The Walking Dead won't return until Feb. 10 at 9/8c on AMC.

What do you think is Tamara's fairy-tale identity?

Photo credit: Jeffrey Clark Grossman/WENN

Don't ring in the New Year with a raging headache and a case of the dizzies. Sunglasses and Advil is one way to go, but here are a few other tricks and tips to get over that horrible hangover.

How to... cure a NEw Year's Eve hangover

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J.K. Rowling

Perhaps one of the most inspiring now-celebrities of our time is J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series. Her story from despair to unparalleled success is a contemporary favorite. In 1993 when J.K. Rowling separated from Jorge Arantes, she became a single mother on welfare, fell into a dark depression and contemplated suicide. With three chapters of Harry Potter already completed, Rowling finished her first novel. Legend has it that Rowling spent many hours writing in cafes because it made her daughter sleepy. Rowling is now a billionaire, remarried, and has had two more children. J.K. Rowling’s journey from a post-divorce abyss to one of the most famous authors of all time makes her an inspiration to women, writers, mothers and anyone who has considered going with Plan B and ending it all.

Oprah Winfrey

What would an alpha women list be without Oprah Winfrey? Raised in abject poverty in rural Mississippi, young Oprah endured a childhood of sexual abuse starting when she was 9 years old and gave birth to a baby boy when she was 14, who died as an infant. Oprah’s dark, horrifying beginning did not keep her from setting, reaching and, we’re guessing, far exceeding her goals. She went from a high-school radio broadcaster to hosting her own morning program in Chicago that ran up against and eventually beat Phil Donahue. Now the billionaire producer, actress, philanthropist and media mogul is one of the most influential and powerful people in the world. Her “if I can do it, anyone can do it” attitude has motivated and inspired people the world over to follow their vision and stop at nothing to realize their dreams.

Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Hamilton has become the poster child for overcoming adversity through mind over matter. Hamilton’s career as a professional surfer came to a violent halt when her arm was bitten off by a shark. As chronicled in the movie Soul Surfer, based on Bethany’s story, it took a little more than a hungry shark and a missing limb to keep this athlete down. Hamilton has since returned to professional surfing, eroding all excuses for the rest of us who just want to curl up in the fetal position and give up when things don’t go our way.

Demi Lovato

If you think ordinary folks aren’t inspired by the hardship of celebrities, you obviously didn't see Jillian Jensen on X FactorSeason 2. Jillian took the stage and told judge Demi Lovato that she too had been bullied. Lovato has spoken publicly about the bullying she experienced in junior high, and how she battled depression and an eating disorder because of it. But as Lovato says to Jillian, “All the bullies are at home, watching us on X Factor.” Lovato battled her demons to rise to fame in short order, which should serve as a valuable reminder to all of us. That kid you make fun of in the school hallway may grow up to be your boss, the next Demi Lovato or Bill Gates.

Images courtesy WENN.com, Bethany Hamilton image courtesy Judy Eddy/WENN.com

we play matchmaker

Funny dudes for our girl crush

Our January Girl Crush, Jenny McCarthy, has gone from '90s MTV Singled Out host to household name — and we dig her devil-may-care attitude and wicked sense of humor.

When Jenny told us she really wants a funny guy to date, we got a few bright ideas about the men we want to set her up with. That said, we wanted to play fair, so no married guys . So we're toeing the line and plucking five hilarious and single studs that we think Jenny would share a lifetime of chuckles with.

Jenny has been linked to a manager, a director, an NFL linebacker and even comedy superstar Jim Carrey himself, but it's these funny guys whom we think would be best for our girl Jenny.

OK, technically he's boyfriend/girlfriend with Olivia Wilde, but reports have recently surfaced that their relationship isn't exactly a barrel of laughs. This Saturday Night Live funny man isn't afraid to don a red track suit and do the running man to the skit "What's Up With That?," nor is he intimidated by taking on prominent parody roles like Mitt Romney and, our personal favorite, the male half of Two A-Holes. Plus, his long list of exes shows that he might prefer blondes: January Jones and Scarlett Johansson have both been linked to Mr. Saturday Night.

He's an up-and-comer in the comedy world, slaying audiences with his standup and in TV shows like Community— plus, we hear he'll play a character in HBO's Girls next year . But this baby-faced cutie doesn't stop with jokes: He's also a rapper , a writer and a music producer, so we're thinking if anyone can keep up with Jenny's schedule, it's the Don.

Hey, someone has to pick up where Katy Perry left off. If we may make the comparison, we think Katy and Jenny look ever so slightly alike: big, beautiful eyes; curvaceous bods; and great hair. And can you imagine the one-liners, faux insults and pranks these two would pull on each other, possibly via their super-popular Twitter accounts? The thought makes us want to grab some popcorn, open our laptop and watch the show unfold. Plus, we think Russell would fancy himself lucky to be in Jenny's little black booky-wook.

Talk about a king of comedy: Aziz is so good at what he does that he's been known to hang with the likes of music royalty Kanye West. And when we watch him as Tom Haverford on NBC's Parks and Recreation, we can't help but identify ever so slightly with tech-obsessed Tom, before giggling at the character's latest get-rich-quick scheme. Aziz also hosted the 2010 MTV Movie Awards and has appeared in films like Funny People, so we're guessing he's more than comfortable in the spotlight, which he'll have to share with Jenny, of course.

Blondes, unite! We've watched Zoolander 20 zillion times, and nothing can make us chuckle like seeing Owen Wilson school Ben Stiller in a walk-off. Owen has been known to be quite a ladies' man, so we think Jenny, a classic pinup , would be a gift straight from comedy heaven for him. Plus, Owen has a son, just like Jenny does, so he's got the dad thing down.

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Photo credits: Andres Otero/WENN.com, WENN.com, Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com, WENN.com, Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com, Nikki Nelson/WENN.com

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Katy Perry Brand

Bet you didn’t know that Katy Perry changed her last name when she married Russell Brand in 2010. Yeah, that was an interesting 10 minutes. The couple divorced two years later. If branding oneself is the reason many celebrity brides keep their last name, then perhaps Kate Perry Brand took this marketing advice a bit too literally. Katy Perry was unavailable for comment , but it would be our guess that she would suggest if you're famous, wait five years before changing your last name. At that point, everyone knows who you married and will make the connection. Plus, changing all your legal paperwork once every two years is just too big of a pain in the a**.

Image courtesy Andres Otero/WENN.com

Courteney Cox Arquette

Courteney Cox is the epitome of an alpha celebrity woman. She was on Friends. That alone qualifies her in the minds of millions. But instead of being a one-hit wonder Cox has gone on, in her late 40s, to enjoy wine-guzzling success on Cougar Town. So why did she change her last name to Arquette when she was married to Hollywood’s biggest clown? Good question. While many of us dig the word ‘Cox’ , maybe she didn’t like having it as a last name. It’s a funny word, but perhaps Courteney tired of all the male genital jokes. That’s highly speculative. Like most moms, Courteney probably just wanted the same last name as her little Coco. Since her divorce, she has given David and his last name the boot. With her ongoing success, a last name seems to have little bearing on her alpha status.

Image courtesy Judy Eddy/WENN.com

Pamela Anderson Lee

Once upon a time the most downloaded woman in the world married Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee. Then they did the no-pants-dance on their honeymoon, which was “leaked” on the internet. And by “leaked” we mean most likely released by the couple who would become trash royalty. Then they divorced. Then they got back together. Then we lost interest. And somewhere along the way, Pamela lost Lee, and interestingly did not change her name to Pamela Anderson Rock when she married Kid Rock or Pamela Anderson Slimeball when she married Rich Salomon. She must have quickly ascertained that if she changed her name every time she married, people might get confused. So did changing Pamela’s name change alter her alpha female status? No. A life of poor decisions did that.

Image courtesy Apega/WENN.com

Victoria Adams Beckham

We loathe giving Victoria Beckham the title of alpha female, but she is Hollywood royalty, so we have little choice. We would argue, however, that in this case changing her last name actually made Victoria more famous. Prior to that she was a Spice Girl to the people who cared, a group that was small to begin with and dwindling by the moment. Victoria is far more famous now for being the wife of super-hottie David Beckham. And for staying disgustingly thin after pumping out four of David’s kids. We can only speculate about the correlation between Victoria changing her name and being a Hollywood hitter, but there is one thing we know for certain: the luckiest woman on the California coast is allergic to smiling.

Image courtesy Lia Toby

Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey

This b****-fest got real when these two domineering divas engaged in a textbook power struggle for supremacy. Mariah Carey appears to have a solid marriage, be a good mother and we all know about her stellar career. Nicki doesn't have all of this, but she has notoriety. When this alpha and alpha-wanna-be were both hired as American Idol judges, the feathers started to fly. There was on-camera bickering and physical threats where Nicki told Mariah she’d cut a b****. Okay, she didn’t really say that, but she did threaten Mariah. The point is, both of these women need to step off. We’re over Mariah Carey’s inflated opinion of herself and Nicki is a diva, but she's got a long way to go before she qualifies as an alpha.

Madonna

Yeah, Madonna still has a presence on the scene many, many years later. But she’s also fought tooth and nail to stay there, and has abused her alpha status more than once in the process. On her MDNA tour, a sterilization team had to clean her dressing room after every performance. Is that because she can’t afford to get sick at her advanced age or because she’s an out-of-control diva? Who can forget her hydrangeas hissy fit, where a fan handed her a hydrangea bouquet and after he left she muttered, "I absolutely loathe hydrangeas." Oh yeah, Madonna? Well, we absolutely loathe your fake British accent and misplaced arrogance. We didn’t much care for her sarcastic "apology" on YouTube that ended with "F*** you, I like roses." To which we would respond, "F*** you, Madonna. We like celebrities who are superstars for having a legitimate talent, yet remain humble and gracious."

Beyonce

It is with a heavy heart that we must add Beyonce to a list of alphas who have gone too far. Remember the days when she was just an incredibly talented, beautiful young singer who wasn’t going to "compromise her Christianity?" She was a doll back then. But Beyonce is slowly slipping from a fan favorite to a celebrity whose popularity has gone to her head. Is she taking the lyrics to her Diva tune a bit too seriously? We all remember how put out the other mothers who were trying to have a baby at Lenox Hill were when Beyonce moved in. Ms. B reportedly renovated her room with dark windows and a bullet-proof door to protect her privacy. Neil Coulon, father to premature twins, was not impressed when Beyonce's entourage blocked him from seeing his babies. With rumors of Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles, being a diva by insisting folks call her "Miss Tina," maybe Beyonce is an apple that didn't fall too far from the tree.

Jennifer Lopez

There are alpha females, those who are firing on all cylinders, and then there are those who are just overexposed. Enter Jennifer Lopez. She has a perfume line. She has a clothing line. She was a judge on American Idol . She's a spokesperson for FIAT. She's forever making headlines in her skin-suits. It's okay to be over 40, look great, have a young boyfriend and be successful, but it may be time to employ a little more discretion. J-Lo's marketing strategy is making her a commercial success, but tarnishing her alpha status.

Images courtesy WENN.com, Mariah Carey image courtesy Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

Don't make unrealistic New Year's resolutions that you'll break before you know it. Instead, make some new commitments as a family to spend more time together, argue less and stay active.

Family New Year's resolutions

Sit down to dinner

Eating family dinners together has been linked to lower incidence of teen smoking, drinking and drug use. Additionally, research shows that kids who eat with their family also get better grades. And if you need more reasons to sit down to dinner, meals at home cost less than eating out, plus you'll be able to ensure your kids are consuming their veggies, trying new foods and eating more healthfully. This year, make a resolution to sit down and eat dinner together as a family at least four nights a week.

Stop overscheduling

Are your kids scheduled from breakfast to bedtime? Scheduling your kids for every extracurricular activity and event possible doesn't make you a good parent. You have to find the balance of letting your children participate in activities they enjoy, while also allowing time for free play, friends, family and sleep. Parents who overschedule their kids often overschedule themselves too. Make a promise to yourself and your family to ease back on all the structure and planning to allow everyone to have a little more free time.

With all of his activities, is your child overscheduled?>>

Unplug once a week

Technology is great and we certainly can't live without it. However, if your family is always on the computer, watching TV or playing video games, it's time to take a break and reconnect with each other. Dedicate one day a week as an "unplugged" day. On this day, turn off computers, televisions, smartphones and all other electronics. Use this day to get back to basics.

• Go hiking, biking or swimming.
• Create a special arts and crafts project.
• Cook a meal together as a family.
• Set aside a couple of hours for reading time.
• Visit the home of family or friends.
• Do some spring cleaning.
• Draw, paint or take pictures.
• Plant a vegetable garden.
• Play board games or cards.
• Spend time talking, relaxing and laughing.

Read about ways to maximize your family's time together>>

Plan family fitness days

Keep your family fit and healthy by holding family fitness days. Take a walk together every evening, plus use the weekends to try out new fun ways to exercise.

• Take a hike or bike ride at your local park.
• Create an obstacle course in your backyard.
• Play laser tag or paintball.
• Go rollerblading or ice skating.
• Join a family flag football or soccer league.
• Sign up with martial arts classes.

Laugh more, argue less

Probably the most important thing you can do for your family is to enjoy life and avoid arguments. Don't sweat the small stuff. Create a laid back atmosphere in your household with lots of laughs and love. Control your temper and be kind to others, and your children with follow suit. Reducing confrontations and stress leads to a healthy and happy environment for everyone.

More about New Year's resolutions

5 Socially responsible family New Year's resolutions
New Year's resolutions that work
New Year's resolutions for kids

We sat down with our January Girl Crush, Jenny McCarthy, over cocktails at Greenhouse nightclub in New York City.

Sip the favorite drink
of our Girl Crush

Her signature cocktail is the lemon drop martini, so we're offering up two of our favorite recipes in honor of her new late-night talk show, The Jenny McCarthy Show.

It's only natural that we'd toast our January Girl Crush with her favorite drink, the lemon drop martini. After all, she will be playing drinking games on her new talk show on VH1 and quips that she'll "probably have a hangover every day at work." The 40-year-old doting mom says she still likes to go out and have a good time clubbing with her girlfriends — we can cheers to that!

Jenny's classic lemon drop martini recipe

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• Granulated sugar to rim the glass
• 1 lemon wedge
• 1-1/2 ounces Grey Goose vodka
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• Lemon twist, for garnish
• Ice

Directions:

1. About 30 minutes before preparing, chill a martini glass in the freezer.
2. Place the sugar onto a plate. Rub the rim of the chilled glass with the lemon wedge and dip into the sugar to coat.
3. Pour the vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
4. Shake vigorously and strain into the prepared martini glass.
5. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve.

Lavender lemon drop martini recipe

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Kettle One vodka
• 1-1/2 ounces lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/2 ounce lavender syrup
• Granulated sugar to rim the glass
• Lemon wedge for garnish
• Ice

Directions:

1. Place sugar onto a plate. Rub the rim of a martini glass with the lemon wedge and dip into the sugar to coat.
2. Pour the vodka, lemon juice and lavender syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
3. Shake the mixture for 35 seconds and strain into the prepared martini glass. Serve immediately.

Lavender simple syrup recipe

Makes approximately 1 cup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup dried culinary lavender

Directions:

1. Put the sugar, water and dried lavender in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the sugar has completely dissolved. Simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

More on Jenny McCarthy

Jenny McCarthy's unusual parenting role model
Why Jenny McCarthy likes the bedroom
Jenny McCarthy and Bikram yoga

The first month of the year is a big one for celebrity birthdays! If you are expecting a baby in January, perhaps you can be inspired and find a baby name from the famous names of those your baby will share a birthday with. Click on the name to find out the meaning and origin of each name.

January 31

• Justin Timberlake
• Kerry Washington
• Minnie Driver

January horoscopes and holidays

If you are born between December 22 and January 19 you are a Capricorn. If you are born between January 20 and February 18 you are an Aquarius.

January 1 is New Year's Day, while January 21 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In case you needed an excuse, January 27 is Chocolate Cake Day.

More baby names

Famous December birthday baby names
Cool celebrity baby girl names
Cool celebrity baby boy names

The reality of resolutions for moms

New year, new you

It's New Year's and it's resolution time again. As moms, we're always working to improve ourselves so that we can also improve the lives of our kids, but being realistic is key when it comes to resolutions for moms.

We broke down some common mom resolutions to make them easy for all of us to conquer this year.

I will keep the house cleaner

Raise your hand if this is on your list of New Year's resolutions... every single year. Moms, it's time to get real — if you have kids at home, your house is never going to be perfectly clean. From the sports gear dumped in the entryway to the sticky fingerprints on the stainless steel refrigerator, making a resolution to keep the house cleaner is only going to send you in circles all year. Instead, pick a couple of things to resolve to keep clean at home — to fold laundry on Fridays or to clean out one closet once a month. Specific cleaning goals will help you have resolution success.

Great advice on how to revamp and declutter your closet>>

I will make a healthy, homemade dinner every night

Less boxed macaroni and cheese and more fresh vegetables? It's on every mom's New Year's resolution list — especially after the holidays, when healthy, balanced meals may have been few and far between. If better family meals are on your resolution list, keep the pressure low by trying some simple meal planning first. Try setting a general weekly menu plan with meals that are easy and quick to make for busy weekday evenings. Spending a small amount of planning time each week will make it easier to stick to your healthier meal plan.

I will spend less time plugged in

The amount of time we spend online is a concern for this generation of moms. It's so easy to get sucked into browsing Pinterest or checking Facebook that it's likely there are many moms who are resolving to spend less time plugged in. Cut yourself some slack by admitting that you enjoy spending time online and that it can be a great way to wind down or have some "me" time. Make this an easy resolution to succeed at by giving yourself times during the day where you can jump online — first thing in the morning while your kiddos catch a cartoon or during naptime instead of doing that extra load of laundry.

Find out how to monitor your child's online activity>>

I will take more pictures of my kids

When you're carrying a sippy cup, two coats, the scooter that your child decided he didn't want to ride anymore and a bag of groceries, it's nearly impossible to dig your camera out of your purse to catch a precious moment on film. Try making it a goal to take a picture each week and work your way up from there. If you don't already own one, get a phone with a great camera on it — you're sure to take more pictures with it always close by. Little ones grow so quickly, the picture you take today will become a treasure before you know it.

More on New Year's resolutions

Top New Year's resolutions for a healthy lifestyle
Parenting New Year's resolutions to make... and keep
Top New Year's resolutions for families

Surprisingly, it is possible to make home-cooked meals every night that don't take an eternity to prepare. With a few simple dinner shortcuts, we can make your life a little simpler. Spend more time helping your kids with their homework, playing games as a family and cuddling on the couch with your husband instead of cooking. Oh — and don't worry — quality and flavor will not be sacrificed.

Check out these crock pot chicken recipes>>

Delegate

Finally, don't carry the dinner burden all on your own. Instead, get the whole family involved and assign everyone tasks to make the process run smoother. Teens can make side dishes and help menu-plan, kids can set the table and help out with dishes, and your husband can man the grill. Even toddlers can help out by carrying napkins and placemats to the table. By delegating tasks, not only are you saving yourself time and energy, you're also spending time together as a family — which effectively kills two birds with one stone.

More on mealtime shortcuts

Simple shortcuts for successful family meals
Shortcuts in the kitchen: Quick ways to homemade flavor
Fast, nutritious meals for your family

Resolutions for the whole family

Little resolutions should be fun and inspiring. Without taking things too seriously, help your kids plot out some New Year’s resolutions. Use the holiday as a chance to encourage kids to evaluate their own behavior and set goals related to health, school and fun.

set goals for
the new year

Take the opportunity to teach your children to make healthy, attainable New Year’s resolutions. Use the holiday as a teaching tool, encouraging kids to get away from resolutions that focus too heavily on physical traits and unreasonable goals.

Make New Year’s resolutions a family tradition

Set aside a special afternoon or evening to talk about New Year’s resolutions with your kids. Make it a fun activity, with an emphasis on reflection and planning. Share your own personal resolutions with your children, explaining that adults may have different goals and plans for the year than children do. Talk about what you can accomplish as individuals and what you can accomplish together. Try giving kids a few days to reflect before you meet again to talk about their plans. Keep the atmosphere light. This activity should be fun and age-appropriate, without leading kids to feel pressure to improve or change.

Learn how to create a family bucket list>>

Use tools to guide your resolutions

Create a list, chart or art project to plot out the major accomplishments your family and your children have had during the year. They can be simple accomplishments, like a trip to the beach or milestones like losing a front tooth. As your kids reflect on the year your family has had, it can help them learn to look ahead and think about things they’d like to do. Children's resolutions don’t have to be centered around self-improvement. If your second grader’s main goal is to travel to a theme park or play little league baseball, have an accepting and positive attitude. Keep your family record of the previous year so you can compare from year to year.

Discover 7 ways to make your family a priority>>

Encourage your children to keep a journal throughout the year

As your kids make New Year’s resolutions, teach them to track their plans and the journey they begin this New Year's. Even very young children can use a journal. Give your children blank books or plain spiral-bound notebooks. Use age-appropriate methods of journaling, from drawings to basic sentences. If your child is old enough to want privacy, allow him to keep his journal to himself unless he wants to share it. The process of keeping a journal can be part of your child’s New Year’s resolutions. Explain to your child that a year from now, he’ll have a special way to look back at his accomplishments and feelings.

New Year’s resolutions for kids

Do your kids need guidance in making resolutions? Here are some examples:

• Make a new friend.
• Help someone in need.
• Try a new hobby.
• Eat three new foods.
• Play a board game as a family.
• Write a letter to a family member.
• Explore a new place.

More New Year's resolutions

Top New Year's resolutions for a healthy lifestyle
New Year's resolutions: Planning a family vacation
The frazzled mommy's top 10 New Year's resolutions