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8 times Samantha Bee has positively owned late-night (VIDEO)

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Full Frontal with Samantha Bee has only been on the air for six weeks, but it's already become an indispensable addition to late-night, as evidenced by these seven hard-hitting clips.

More: Samantha Bee's tirade about unused rape kits just motivated me to take action

You probably remember Samantha Bee as the longest-serving correspondent on The Daily Show, where she served up an extra-healthy dose of snark in hilarious interviews, field segments and various other The Daily Show bits. Well, her new show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee has proved that Bee is much more than just a supporting player and that she's totally deserving of the kind of applause previously reserved for the boys-only club of late-night.

More: Samantha Bee wants us to name our lady parts after Harry Potter (VIDEO)

Now that Bee is calling her own shots, she can direct her bite at more in-depth and pointed field segments, and she's been positively fearless in doing so. She doesn't do celebrity interviews on the show, choosing instead to focus solely on current events and news (similar to another successful The Daily Show ex-pat, John Oliver). Here are seven clips showing Bee eagerly tackling tricky subjects and kicking butt all over late-night.

1. Women-owned businesses

Samantha Bee - women businesses

Samantha Bee - women businesses

Bee may be tackling the subject of the incredibly low number of female-owned business with a flair of hilarity, but her deadpan humor makes this segment all the more sobering. There's also something more poignant about watching a woman skewer the issue as opposed to someone like Jimmy Fallon or Stephen Colbert.

2. Syrian refugees

Samantha Bee - Syrians

Samantha Bee - Syrians

In classic The Daily Show style, Bee travels all the way to Jordan for this heartbreakingly satirical examination of the Syrian refugee crisis and the recent U.S. backlash against them.

More: Samantha Bee's Smile for Joe campaign has women doing anything but

3. Abortion, Texas-style

Samantha Bee - Abortion

Samantha Bee - Abortion

Bee's take on news about women's issues is particularly effective, because she's bringing a feminist perspective to subjects that affect other women big-time. And talk about important feminist issues! Bee's take on Texas HB2 provides a fresh perspective on Texas' newest abortion crackdown. When she calls Rep. Dan Flynn, one of the bill's joint authors, a "uterus expert," it's as hilarious as his ignorance is infuriating.

4. Welcome Trump supporters

Samantha Bee - Trump Supporters

Samantha Bee - Trump Supporters

In a truly sick twist of humor (or masochism), Bee sacrifices her sanity to report on Trump supporters. But rather than just report on them, she invites a group of Trump's faithful to a party and interviews them over appetizers — with a fact-checker at her side.

More: John Oliver obliterates Donald Trump in hilarious 22-minute monologue (VIDEO)

5. Justice Scalia death

Samantha Bee - Scalia

Samantha Bee - Scalia

The fact that Justice Antonin Scalia's death sent politicos into a panic may be old news, but Bee's take on the GOP's resulting stance is still totally on point.

6. Ted Cruz 101

Samantha Bee - Ted Cruz

Samantha Bee - Ted Cruz

I don't know who sent Bee the video of a young Ted Cruz performing in The Crucible, but I am glad they did. What Bee does with the video clip had me laughing well into the night. Whether you support Cruz or not, he continues to be divisive — but Bee winds up making him hilarious.

More: 7 facts about Samantha Bee and her unapologetic late-night show

7. Job fair for future women

Samantha Bee - Future Women job fair

Samantha Bee - Future Women job fair

Bee trolls the U.S. job market with this tragicomic take on just how often women face harassment in their careers. Spoiler: It happens all the time.

8. Black History Month

Samantha Bee - Black History Month

Samantha Bee - Black History Month

Bee completely skewers the media and its prevalence of white privilege in this segment on Black History Month.

When you consider that this is just a handful of the hilarious, poignant and powerful clips Bee has managed to create in under two months, odds on Full Frontal continuing to hold its own against other late-night shows looks pretty good. Which is great for Bee, and great for women.

See what the fuss is all about and watch Full Frontal with Samantha Bee at 10:30/9:30c every Monday night on TBS.


How to plan an affordable luxury skiing holiday in the Alps

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Despite the elitist associations, holidaying in the Alps can fit into budget travelling. This incredible experience and winter escape isn't reserved for the Beckhams, Cambridges or billionaires. Skip St. Moritz and explore endless affordable alpine experiences just waiting for you.

More: Top 12 ski destinations in the world

Here is how to plan a budget winter holiday in the Alps without the royal price tag.

1. Skip Switzerland and France

The Alps is one of the largest mountain chains in the world and here is a secret: the Austrian Alps are just as beautiful as the Swiss or French alps. Alpine beauty has no borders.

Picking a destination which isn't a hotspot for luxury travellers will also give a cosy hometown feel to your experience. One of my favourite destinations for skiing is Schoppernau, Austria. It's the type of place where families return annually. The locals all know each other by name. Hotel staff, ski instructors and restaurant owners will remember you from your last visit, even if it was years ago. It's by far the most hospitable traveling experience I've had and no resort could ever equate to the warm welcome received from Austrian locals.

A few great budget-friendly towns in Austria to consider:

  • Damuels
  • Tirol
  • Soelden (Sölden)
  • Ischgl
  • Schoppernau

2. Start planning the winter before you want to travel

If a winter holiday in the Alps is on your bucket list, waiting until the last minute is not an option. The towns fill up fast.

It's best to start the planning process several months to a year beforehand; this is when you'll find the greatest availability and options for lodging and transport.

Also make sure you set aside an activity budget in advance. This will eliminate any surprise costs when it comes to equipment rentals, lift passes and any après ski activities — all of which are easily affordable in Austria compared to bigger resort towns in Switzerland or France.

3. Don't pay resort fees

The natural splendour and sporting opportunities will keep you outdoors for most of your stay. Time spent indoors will involve warming up by the fireside, drinking hot chocolate or eating countless bowls of goulash at local eateries. There is no need to pay high fees for resort amenities you won't use; rent a chalet or spacious apartment instead. Nightly rates usually fall below or around €100. Plus having your own cooking space will eliminate half of the dining-out costs.

These are a few Austrian winter lodging options available via Airbnb: 

4. Take along company

Another way to cut down on already low costs is to invite friends or family on your winter holiday — it's truly "the more the merrier" in the Alps. Since you're planning well in advance, see if a trip to a magical winter wonderland fits into the plans of your nearest and dearest.

Most of the lodging options can accommodate several people so it's best to make use of that space. Splitting the nightly rate and cost of groceries will slash the costs of your alpine retreat to a ridiculous low.

More: How to travel on a tight budget

5. Take advantage of low-key activities

Skiing and snowboarding aren't the only activities you need on your itinerary.

Long snowy walks are one of the best and most magical parts of a winter holiday and they're free. Take advantage of other fun activities with little or no price tag — sledding, visiting local bakeries, relaxing in a sauna or exploring a neighbouring town.

If that isn't enough, drop into one of the local hotels to see what activities they offer for guests; friendly staff are more than happy to accommodate all tourists for an affordable price.

More: Skiing and snowboarding safety tips

Woman hopes ovary frozen before puberty will help her conceive

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More: IVF breakthrough gives women with fertility issues new hope

If the transplant is a success and Alnatrooshi becomes pregnant she will be the first woman in the world to conceive using an ovary frozen before puberty and then transplanted back into the body.

Alnatrooshi, 23, who is from Dubai and lives in London, was diagnosed with a blood disorder called beta thalassaemia when she was a child. Because the chemotherapy she was having to treat the illness can cause damage to the ovaries her doctors decided — when she was only eight years old — to remove and freeze one of her ovaries.

She told The Sunday Times that she "cannot wait" to be pregnant.

Last year Alnatrooshi’s frozen ovary was sent from London to Denmark, where it was transplanted back into her body. Since then Alnatrooshi and her husband have had IVF treatment. Eight eggs were collected and three embryos have been produced. One of the embryos is expected to be implanted in April, with doctors confident Alnatrooshi will become pregnant because of her age.

More: "Designer babies" may be coming to the U.K.

Her gynaecologist, Dr. Sara Matthews from London's Portland Hospital for Women and Children, said the treatment was an enormous step forward for young girls who develop cancer or other conditions that require chemotherapy, by giving them the chance to one day have their own children.

In November 2014 a 27-year-old woman gave birth to a healthy baby boy in Belgium after undergoing an ovarian tissue transplant. Her ovary had originally been removed and frozen during puberty. She was said to be "overjoyed" after suffering years of anxiety about her fertility since undergoing chemotherapy at the age of 13.

Professor Geeta Nargund, medical director of Create Fertility, told The Huffington Post UK: “If this is successful, it would be a breakthrough to help pre-pubertal girls diagnosed with cancer to preserve their fertility. Ovarian freezing and transplantation is still an experimental technique and we need further large studies.

"Women in reproductive years diagnosed with cancer can freeze their eggs or embryos prior to cancer treatment to preserve their fertility," she continued. "This is available on [the] NHS and has proven successful. However, for pre-pubertal girls who are unable to freeze eggs, ovarian tissue freezing can be the only option to preserve their future fertility."

More: U.K. couples with fertility issues are seeking surrogacy overseas

Charity gives free sanitary products to women who can't afford them

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More: Women are resorting to homemade sanitary products due to hefty tampon tax

One social enterprise is making it their mission to provide proper sanitary products for the growing numbers of women sleeping rough in the U.K.

Binti, which was founded by Manjit Gill, aims to "promote menstrual dignity" for those women, many of whom have resorted to using newspapers, old socks and handkerchiefs in place of proper sanitary products.

"We can't imagine ourselves being without protection, life is difficult enough," Gill told Metro.co.uk. "If you're homeless if you're on your period on top of that… It's unfathomable to be in that state. When you start to think about it you wonder how the homeless or the refugees get by? We know that they use rags and paper when there is no access."

Gill and her team are working with homeless women, as well as those taking refuge in domestic violence shelters, handing out free or affordable tampons and sanitary towels, as well as other donated hygiene products.

The project began in London and is due to be rolled out in Leeds, Slough, Birmingham, Nottingham, Cardiff and Brighton in the coming weeks.

More: Menstruation shaming has to end. Period.

As a British Indian, Gill's primary focus is to provide basic hygiene for women in developing countries. Over 70 percent of women in India don't have access to sanitary products or even toilets at home.

"The debate around menstruation shame — particularly at home in the U.K. — is interesting," she said. "We hear all sorts, from 'No, periods are not an issue', to complete denial that they cause any embarrassment. It's almost like they don't exist and we really don't want to come across as the weaker sex — especially with the period policy topic that hit the news last week. We think it's wonderful to get it into the mainstream. If we talk about it here it makes our work a lot easier in the developing nations as they follow trends."

The long-term plan for Binti is to hold collections nationwide and encourage people to donate a small amount every month to help empower girls and women across the world. In India and Eastern Africa £5 pays for an annual supply of sanitary towels for one girl, £10 provides tools for a Binti educational programme for a class of 15 and £50 pays one woman's salary for an entire year.

You can donate and find out more about Binti here.

More: Girl ignores homeless man to pose for a photo, causes a worldwide stir

Threesomes aren't always a toxic imposition on relationships

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I admit I've spent time thinking about a threesome, but who hasn't? Sexual curiosity is built into our DNA, which is why in my marriage, exploration is always an open topic. Have my husband and I mulled over the threesome quandary? Of course. Have we made a final decision? No.

I recently published a novella called Wolf Among Sheep (Hot Ink Press) in which a fancy married couple invites a gorgeous young man to their marriage bed with disastrous consequences. I suppose the theme of this particular work goes something like, "Have a threesome; end up murdered." So yeah, not the most positive outlook, right?

No matter how much I talk about my sexual openness and bi-curiosity, there is apparently some dark corner of my subconscious that believes threesomes ruin relationships. No matter how much I support my friends who've had threesomes or are currently in polyamorous relationships, I feel as though there's something about me that just waits for bad news.

More: Wives need to let their husbands have relationships with other women

To clarify things in my own brain, and yours, I decided to interview both sides of the coin, from guest stars to established relationship folk, to get a clearer idea of what threesomes really are physically, emotionally and psychologically... and whether the implied pleasure outweighs possible catastrophe.

The guest stars

Andrea ended up sleeping with a married couple because she thought the wife was hot. She said, from the beginning, "None of us were unclear about our intentions. The entire experience revolved around me, and to have two very skilled people focus all their attention my way... Wow. Just wow."

So, indeed, the physical experience was hot, as one might hope, because threesomes should at least be a lot of fun, right? They are a thing of fantasy, written about in men's magazines ad infinitum. However, things went downhill for Andrea and her curious married couple.

"That night was pretty wonderful emotionally, even right afterward. But things changed," she said. "After that, we decided on a repeat performance, then a few more, and they eventually asked me to babysit their kids during the day when I wasn't working, and I'd end up staying the night. From there, it spiraled out of control. I slept in the living room, but the wife became convinced that her husband and I were sneaking around behind her back. This, of course, was not happening, because the only reason I'd decided to join this little love triangle was because I wanted to sleep with her! It was tough for me, emotionally, because what had started out as a fun and positive thing, an honest thing, turned into something weird and distorted and began to feel illicit in the worst way."

More: My husband sleeps with other women — and I'm OK with it

Needless to say, Andrea was soon no longer welcome, but she did come to realize something. She said threesomes are "only for the strongest of relationships. It's just so hard for most people to disconnect sex from emotion, and that's when things go wrong. As a guest star, I think the key is that, if you're going to do it, do it once and get out. Otherwise, things get messy."

Donna, unfortunately, had a very different physical experience as the guest star for a married couple. "Honestly, it was just OK for me," she said. "They were ecstatic and oh so happy and both climaxed. I, annoyingly, did not! Rather disappointing as I was thinking, why bother if I don't even come?"

Despite her own lackluster outcome, she says the couple (who remain her friends) apparently still talk about their threesome and how good it was for them, so at least their fantasy was fulfilled.

Donna contends that being the guest star is really the only way to do a threesome. She said, "If folks want to experiment, I suggest being single, or only being the guest star, and don't expect a happy outcome all the time. I know that if I were in a committed relationship, I wouldn't share with anyone."

More: I'm marrying the man who cheated on me

Most importantly, she said, "No one should feel pressured by their partner to do a threesome. It needs to be an honest decision by everyone."

The established relationship

Mark and his wife are polyamorous. They're even moving their guest star into their home this summer. How did it start? "A relationship with a mutual friend organically grew until the three of us decided that we wanted to be in a committed relationship together," Mark said. It's been an unquestionably positive experience within the bounds of his marriage, despite what other people might think.

"Some of our friends and loved ones have found the concept of consensual non-monogamy to be challenging," he said, "and we've had to work to explain what we're doing to some folks. But almost everyone has been supportive, and the good that's come from the relationship far outweighs the bad."

Does he think everyone should try a threesome? Well ... "I think people should do what feels right to them," Mark said. "A polyamorous or open relationship isn't for everyone, but for some people, it is as necessary as air."

Carol Queen, a Good Vibrations staff sexologist, has over 40 years of personal experience in the threesome department, and she's had good times and bad. In my opinion, her bad experience is up there on the "things I fear most about threesomes" list.

"This was a case in which my partner wanted to play with the third person much more than I did," Carol said. "I was down, just not as enthusiastic. But it turned out he was so enthusiastic that he basically left me out. I wound up leaving the scenario in the middle and hung out in the living room until they noticed I was gone, and we definitely Had Words. And this is, I might add, a really big rookie mistake and quite common. It’s pretty easy for a person to get into the new third party to the expense of their existing partner."

More: Mom and corporate employee by day, swinger by night

This relationship eventually ended, and although there were other factors that came into play, the botched threesome was definitely one of them. However, don't cue the sad violins yet. Later, Carol found exactly what she was looking for in a new partner... and their guest star.

"My partner and I both had a crush on a lovely woman friend, and we were quite glad to find out it was mutual. We had a delightful connection with her and had so much fun that we wound up being 'à trois' for a while before she broke up with us because she had a therapist who firmly believed monogamy was the only mentally healthy relationship choice," Carol said. "But this experience really opened my partner and me up to the fact that we liked having another person in the mix. And we finally found the right other person, years later. Without that first threesome date, we might not have ever figured out how much we were tuned in to a triadic relationship structure. That triad has been going on for almost 10 years now. We just bought a house!"

In the end

I honestly can't say I've made up my mind. Obviously, in my own fiction, I see threesomes as, well, deadly, but that's just fiction. I think what it boils down to is feeling secure, as a person and in a relationship.

As the guest star, Andrea had a point: Do it once and get the heck out. Consider it a check on your bucket list and move on. Donna made a good point, too, in saying a threesome has to be a passion for both partners, not just one. It can't be something you do for your husband's benefit; it has to be for your own benefit, as well.

As far as established relationships go, a couple needs to be really strong and good at communication to undertake welcoming a third party to their bed. Mark told me, "It comes down to being in tune with what's in your heart. No matter whether you're poly or asexual or something else, relationships always involve give and take. You have to think of others and the impact your actions have on them; otherwise, you won't be successful in whatever relationship you want to have."

DWTS Season 22: A complete review of every duo's dancing debut (VIDEO)

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Season 22 of Dancing With the Stars has begun with a lot of athletes decorating the ballroom floor this spring. From three NFL players to a female UFC fighter, the producers made sure that athletic prowess was a selling point with this season's crop.

The first week is usually fraught with nerves and missteps because, for most celebrities, dancing is a foreign language to their bodies. However, these contestants are showing up and ready to win.

More: Peta Murgatroyd hurts her DWTS partner, sending him to the hospital (VIDEO)

The first dance of the night was The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Fields joining pro Sasha Farber in a cha-cha. You know it's going to be good when a star is placed in the lead-off position during the premiere week, and Fields didn't disappoint. Her legs look great, and I was impressed with her energy level.

Paige VanZant DWTS

Paige VanZant DWTS

Mark Ballas always delivers a creative bent to his choreography, and it looks like UFC fighter Paige VanZant is going to be able to keep up with him. She had an unexpected elegance that served the couple well during their fox-trot. Ballas usually gets his contestants to the latter half of the season, so they should be a couple to watch once she smooths out her footwork.

As a Boston native, it's hard not to root for the 1984 Boston College Heisman Trophy winner, Doug Flutie. The athlete is one of three NFL players on the show this season, and he has veteran Karina Smirnoff to guide him. Smirnoff kept the fox-trot classic and simple, but the likable Flutie is going to have to loosen up out there on the dance floor if he wants to stick around the competition.

Jodie Sweetin was the worst-kept secret of this season's cast, but it was interesting to see her partnered with the usually-out-early Keo Motsepe. I don't think that's going to happen with his Season 22 contender. The Fuller House star is going to have to fight against her perfectionism, but her tango was strong, and she looks beautiful out on the dance floor.

More: Jodie Sweetin gets an adorable surprise visit on DWTS (VIDEO)

Edyta Sliwinska is back after 12 seasons away from the show, and she gets paired with Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera. He's the oldest contestant this season at 72 years old. There was a lot of filler at the beginning of the dance before he started his cha-cha, but even with a few missteps, his enthusiasm is appreciated.

Marla Maples quickstep

Marla Maples quickstep

Marla Maples is someone who is going to get headlines just because her ex-husband, Donald Trump, is running for president. While the timing is convenient, Maples is an experienced Broadway performer. She and pro Tony Dovolani performed a spirited Quickstep. The fit 52-year-old has gorgeous lines that will make her well-suited to the ballroom dances. She will have to work on her frame in future weeks, but this was a strong outing.

Wanya Morris from Boyz II Men and pro Lindsay Arnold might just be this season's most unexpected couple. The singer's larger-than-life personality, paired with a lightness in his footwork, made for an energetic and contemporary cha-cha. After her success with military hero Alek Skarlatos, Arnold has what it takes to give Morris a Top 4 finish.

Good Morning America's Ginger Zee is going to be a lot of fun with Val Chmerkovskiy, and the Jive proved that. I would have liked for the couple to start dancing a bit sooner, but her kicks and flicks looked good for a Week 1 dance. Chmerkovskiy will get to showcase his playful side, and it will be interesting to see Zee do some of the slower ballroom pieces.

More: DWTS Season 22 contestants: Where you've seen them before

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has been on my radar because his social media accounts are filled with DWTS news. He's a lot of flash, which I had hoped would translate to the dance floor with pro Sharna Burgess in the Quickstep. "Business is booming," with Brown, but he needs to rein in his adrenaline to keep his footwork from getting too sloppy.

Nyle DiMarco Cha-Cha

Nyle DiMarco Cha-Cha

Nyle DiMarco is the winner of America's Next Top Model Cycle 22, but most notably, he's deaf. While that may change the way his partner Peta Murgatroyd teaches, it certainly didn't stop them from doing the hottest cha-cha of the night. DiMarco will have to get his arms under control, but these two make me sweat.

Mischa Barton's rough start

Mischa Barton's rough start

Poor Mischa Barton… every photo I have seen of her in the past week shows me how scared she is to do DWTS. This show is such a hard journey, so I hope former The O.C. star pats herself on the back for getting out there and dancing live on TV. Artem Chigvintsev always takes good care of his partners, and he proved that with a simple tango. Barton needs to find some confidence in herself because she can do this.

The last spot of the night went to the Super Bowl's MVP from the Denver Broncos, Von Miller. Since this is usually a sign that the dance is hot, I expected this fox-trot with Witney Carson to be the number of the evening. It was a solid "hip-hop trot," but Miller needs a bit more oomph out there on the dance floor. I suspect the judges weren't sure what to do with him either since the scores were all over the place, too.

It was good to see grumpy Len Goodman back at the judges' table, and he didn't hold back with his comments after a season away. Next week brings a hot and smoking Latin night as the contestants hope to move their way up the leaderboard and closer to that MBT.

Alas, someone will also be going home in the first week of elimination. Geraldo Rivera probably won't be getting too comfortable in that skybox; Week 2 might be his last spin on the dance floor.

Who do you think will be eliminated next week?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

DWTS Paula Deen slideshow
Image: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Microneedling promises youthful skin but should not be attempted at home

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The ancient practice of microneedling — using a phalanx of thin, short needles to pierce the skin — is seeing a major resurgence right now. But while it may seem seriously scary at first, it may have real benefits, says Delphine Lee, M.D., Ph.D., a dermatologist at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

"I call it the 'poor man's laser treatment' as it's really just an alternate method of skin rejuvenation," Lee says. All it is, she explains, is using teeny-tiny needles to deliver different types of medicine under the skin. "When you poke holes in skin, you've created a place for topicals to penetrate more deeply," she says.

microneedling2

microneedling2

This method increases the effectiveness of anti-aging topical solutions including bleach creams, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid (a plumping agent) and acne medications. But perhaps the most extreme example is the "vampire facial", where the person's own platelet-rich plasma is extracted from their blood then micro-injected back into their skin. Doing it this way allows for growth factors in the blood plasma to stimulate collagen production under the skin, where they're most powerful, to produce younger-looking skin, according to Lee.

microneedling

microneedling

But... dozens of needle pricks? You're probably wondering two things right about now: Does it hurt and does it really work?

No and yes, Lee says. "You're not piercing very deeply so it isn't painful," she explains. "And recent research shows that microneedling compares favorably with other methods of skin rejuvenation." She points to two new studies showing its effectiveness in treating acne scarring and skin pigmentation problems. Using microneedling, according to the studies, gets results similar to those you'd get from a laser but with lower costs, a quicker healing time and lower risks of additional scarring. It also appears to help reduce fine lines, sun damage and dark spots, she says, but to expect relatively subtle results for these.

More: 7 steps to the ultimate facial for glowing skin

If you want to try it, stick with a board-certified dermatologist, Lee cautions. There has been an explosion in at-home microneedling kits recently — you either use a strip of plastic that looks like a cross between Velcro and a spiky Band-Aid or a spiked roller to press serums into your skin, which she sees as dangerous.

microneedling3

microneedling3

"I'm not fond of people puncturing their skin at home as it could easily introduce infectious agents, a complication that can be especially devastating on the face," she explains. "You could get viruses, bacteria and slow-growing microbes stuck under your skin and you might not even know the extent of the problem until years later."

More: Easy DIY beauty and skin tips

She adds that metal needles are more effective than plastic and that needling strips should not be reused without being thoroughly sterilized. In addition, microneedling should only be used with certain topical solutions. For instance, you don't want to inject moisturizers under your skin (a popular suggestion on blogs) as they could be irritating and only the top layer of your skin really needs to be moisturized as it's the only part exposed to the elements. It also wouldn't work for things like wrinkle fillers or Botox as they need targeted localized injections.

Bottom line: There's a reason microneedling has been around for centuries. If you have the money and don't have a phobia of needles, it can help achieve small anti-aging benefits for your skin and may be quite helpful in reducing scarring and discoloration. But always seek the advice of a dermatologist and don't try to DIY this.

Sexual assault victim wins award for fighting back

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More: Female runners reclaim park after jogger was assaulted

The unnamed 21-year-old was stalked for a mile through Sheffield by Jonathon Holmes before he pushed her into bushes and tried to rape her, reported Metro.co.uk.

The woman said Holmes told her, "you are going to enjoy this" before she used her house keys to cut his face and bit down on his tongue as he forced it into her mouth. "You won't do that to a woman again," she told him.

"You displayed an astonishing level of bravery during this investigation, your actions undoubtedly deterred the offender from continuing his assault and your detailed recollection of such a traumatic event, led to the arrest, conviction and imprisonment of a very dangerous criminal," South Yorkshire Police Superintendent Scott Green told the woman. "As a husband, as the father of a daughter and on behalf of every woman in this city, I commend you.

"On behalf of South Yorkshire Police we recognise your bravery, selflessness and truly outstanding courage in helping make this city a safer place for every woman in it."

More: Domestic violence victim sent to jail for not speaking up against abuser

CCTV showed 35-year-old Holmes lurking behind walls and watching lone women after a night out drinking in Sheffield in November. When the victim realised she was being followed after she finished work, she crossed the road repeatedly, tried to contact her partner and held her house keys in her hand to protect herself.

She told Sheffield Crown Court, "I believed without a doubt this man was going to rape me."

Holmes has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for the horrific attack.

In August 2014 a female kickboxer knocked out a man when he attacked her as she walked home through Cheltenham. Mark Willis repeatedly punched his victim before pushing her over a wall into a garden and jumping on top of her. But the woman turned the tables on him; using her martial arts training, she managed to throttle him with a scissor-grip using her legs so forcibly that he passed out.

She was praised by Judge Hart at Gloucester Crown Court, who gave her a £500 reward for her bravery.

"[Willis] bit off slightly more than he could chew with this young lady," the judge said. "Not everyone could do what she did and not everyone could even sensibly try to do what she did. But I have no doubt whatever that if she had not done what she did she would have suffered a considerably graver ordeal than she did — and the defendant would be facing a more serious charge than the one you have convicted him of.

"She deserves everyone's commendation for the way she has dealt with this and she certainly gets the highest commendation from me."

Not all women are experts in martial arts unfortunately. But clearly there's something to be said for taking self-defence classes — or simply having the courage to fight back.

More: Women share unsolicited pic reactions to raise online harassment awareness


Stitchers' stars tease Kirsten and Cameron's Season 2 love story

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Stitchers Season 2 premieres tonight on Freeform, and we chatted with the stars of the show, Emma Ishta and Kyle Harris, to get the scoop on what's to come, including Kirsten and Cameron's love story.

More: The Fosters: 17 Teasers from Season 3's winter premiere

"We get closer, but it's in different ways," Kyle Harris, who plays Cameron in the show, teased about the romance.

"I think they have such a mutual respect for one another, especially now that she knows what he did for her and the team, and she knows how he feels about her. I think we see them struggle with all those emotions being on the table now and how they go about everyday life and how they go about their work lives and what that does to Kirsten.

"Meanwhile, Cameron's like 'Look, I'm letting you know this is how I feel and this is what it is, and this is what you saw in there, so take it or leave it. If you don't, I'm going to move on.' And that's where the audience is left in this kind of, 'Ohhh, make up your mind.' It's a fun, frustrating situation between the two as always," Harris said.

Emma Ishta, who stars as Kirsten, echoed Harris' statements and added that the fact that she no longer has temporal dysplasia is also going to play a role in every aspect of Kirsten's life moving forward.

"This season, the challenge is how does she deal with all of the feelings she has now. That's going to kind of seep into every part of her life really," Ishta explained.

But Kirsten isn't the only one going through some serious changes in Season 2. Cameron's near-death experience will lead to a new outlook for him.

More: 14 things Pretty Little Liars gets wrong about your early 20s

"He basically now lives his life with no fear because he left everything on the line and he died and returned and was like look, 'I had nothing to be afraid of.' So he kind of jumps right into things."

Harris added, "Sometimes it gets him into trouble, and sometimes he runs his mouth a little bit too much now, but I think, at the end of the day, it's a strong maturity that has come from that decision."

The show itself is also growing in the new season as Kirsten's hunt for answers about her family will heat up.

"That's going to be a pretty singular focus of Kirsten's this season is finding out more about her dad," Ishta said. "That's going to be a real thread throughout the entire season."

"We're going to get some answers," she promised.

"I think, every episode of this season trumps every episode of last season like tenfold," Harris said. "It's easy to pick a favorite last season, but this season it's really kind of floating, so every script just really tops the one before it. I think it was really a privilege that we got to be involved in all of it. So I think it's safe to say that this finale was one of my favorites because we ended on a strong note. We grew the show that much more."

More: Why Shadowhunters' Alec needs to explore a relationship with Magnus, stat

"I think, I think if you turn it on, you're just going to be like 'Wow, this is not the same show that I watched last season.' It gets even better," Harris continued. "You're going to feel a lot cooler watching the show."

He added, "First season is ABC Family. Second season is Freeform. That's the best way I can put it."

What are you most excited to see in Stitchers Season 2?

See engagement ring trends change drastically over the decades (VIDEO)

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An amazing new video from Mode explores all the engagement ring trends of the past 100 years. To say it is eye-opening (and sparkly) is quite the understatement. See below:

Engagement Ring

Engagement Ring

I love this so much not only because the rings are lovely (and they are) but also because it shows how dramatically the style of such a simple thing can change. How many ways are there to dress up a diamond? This video can show you. From cuts of the diamonds to the metal of the settings to the designs of the boxes, so much can really alter and shift through the generations.

More: 4 unrealistic expectations that can torpedo your marriage

When I was getting my engagement ring, my biggest concern was that it would be exactly what I wanted. At the time it seemed like all of my friends had the classic Tiffany solitaire set in platinum. My three emerald cut look was different and even now, 14 years later, I watch it sparkle all the time. I love it.

Even as trends come and go, the most important thing is that the family loves the ring together. So that means whatever style appeals to you is the right one to get. After all, the hope is that this is a ring your great-great-grandchildren will pass to their great-great-grandchildren. It needs to reflect the woman wearing it as much as possible.

More: 4 things you can do to prevent divorce, according to couples' therapist

What was your favorite look?

Jenelle Evans makes claims about Nathan Griffith's disinterest in their son

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Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans' life is complicated, to say the least, and during a recent interview, she addressed some of the issues in her life, including the bitter custody battles for both of her sons and her explanation for her ex, Nathan Griffith's behavior.

More: Jenelle Evans feels her relationship may affect her custody battle for Jace

Evans first told People magazine of how much her son, Jace, would like to live with her (her mother Barbara currently has full custody of him).

"Jace recently asked me: 'When can I live with you again?'," she told the publication. "I said: 'Well, hopefully by the summer you'll be living here.' But that's all I told him – I don't want him to know too much right now 'cause it's really detrimental."

Evans and her mother will appear in court in May to hash out Jace's custody, and at the moment, there is a lot of tension between the two women.

"We really don't talk other than if it's about Jace, because if we are around each other too much, we start arguing," Evans said.

More: Teen Mom 2's Jenelle Evans is headed back to court

But her mother is not the only person who Evans is not getting along with right now. She also opened up about her legal battle with ex-fiancé Nathan Griffith and how they are butting heads over custody of their toddler son, Kaiser.

Evans claims that Griffith is not making the case about Kaiser, and what it may really be about is her new boyfriend, David Eason.

"I think he's really jealous of David," Evans said. "He's claiming I'm letting Kaiser called David 'Dada,' but Kaiser knows David by 'David' — I would never do that to Kaiser, and I would never do that to Nathan because that's unfair."

More: Jenelle Evans' mysterious illness caused by birth control & marijuana

But that's not the only claim Evans made about Griffith. She also feels he is disinterested in their son and possibly not over her.

"Every time we talk, he doesn't even really ask about Kaiser," Evans said of Griffith. "He just asks how I'm doing and what I'm up to lately... I don't think he is sure of his current relationship, or he hasn't let go [of me] yet."

That's quite the claim.

But the entire custody disagreement has become even more complicated by the fact that Evans and Griffith's new girlfriend, Jessica Henry, are at war with each other — you may remember an earlier assault incident.

Evans spoke about the incident, which she claims allegedly came about because she attempted to throw water at Henry, but the glass slipped from her hand, hitting her on the head. She claims Henry then picked it up and hurled it back at her, but Henry denies the latter. However, Evans believes the truth will finally come out when they take the stand to testify.

It's evident that this custody battle is, unfortunately, not going to go away quietly or quickly.

Do you think Jenelle Evans is unfair to say her ex Nathan Griffith is not interested in their son and that it's more about her? Or is she just calling it like it is? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Farrah Abraham and 7 other Teen Mom stars then and now
Image: MTV

A full-body workout using your kid's skateboard

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It's not that I don't want to work out, and it's not that I loathe the gym. It's just that, OMG, I can't take another minute of my stagnant, predictable, nothing-ever-changes workout routine.

If you know what I'm talking about, then it's time to make a change and breathe new life into your exercise program. Grab your kid's skateboard (or your own), and skate your way through a tough full-body routine. The instability of the board's wheels will engage your core and activate the stabilizing muscles of your shoulders, hips and ankles. You may be surprised how hard you'll end up working, so move slowly, and adjust your range of motion to maintain control throughout each exercise.

The skateboard workout

Perform this routine as a circuit, completing each exercise for the suggested number of repetitions. Rest for 10 seconds between exercises as you move into the next position. At the end of the circuit, rest for two minutes, then repeat the circuit a second time through.

This workout can be performed on almost any surface, but keep in mind, the board will roll more easily on hard surfaces such as concrete and wood. To increase friction and slow the roll down, place the skateboard on a low-pile rug or yoga mat. Thick carpet will make it easier to control the skateboard's rolling action, but the movements might be less smooth.

1. Unstable split squat

Unstable split squat
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

Place one foot on the skateboard, feet slightly wider than hip-distance apart. With your weight in your heels, press your hips backward, and bend your knees, lowering your glutes toward the floor behind you as you keep your knees aligned with your toes. You may want to swing your arms forward to help with balance as you squat down. From the bottom of the squat, press through your heels, and return to standing. The goal is to keep the skateboard as steady and stable as possible. You don't want it rolling around.

Perform 15 repetitions.

2. Unstable push-up

Unstable pushup
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

Place your palms slightly wider than shoulder-width apart on the skateboard, and step your feet behind you so your body forms a straight line from heels to head. Make sure your shoulders are over your palms. Keeping the board as steady as possible, bend your elbows, and lower your chest toward the board with your elbows angled out from your body at about 45 degrees. When you've lowered yourself as close to the board as you can, reverse the movement, press through your palms and return to the high plank position.

Perform 12 repetitions. If toe push-ups are too difficult, place your knees on the ground for a modified push-up.

3. Ab roll out

Ab roll out
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

Kneel on the ground on your hands and knees, placing the skateboard between your palms, perpendicular to your body. Carefully move into a modified push-up position, grasping the outer edges of the board with both hands. Your hands should be under your shoulders so your body forms a straight line from head to knees. Tighten up your core, and very carefully begin rolling the board forward, extending your arms in front of you as far as you can. When you can't go any farther, reverse the movement, and use your abs to help pull the board back to your body.

Perform as many repetitions as you can while maintaining good form. Don't let your low back sag, and always maintain control of the forward and backward roll.

4. Reverse lunge

Reverse lunge
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

Stand tall with the board to the outside of one leg. Place the ball of the same side foot on the center of the board, your feet roughly hip-distance apart. Bend both knees, and use your foot to carefully roll the board behind you as you lower yourself into a lunge, making sure to keep your torso upright and centered between your legs. When both knees are bent at a 90-degree angle, reverse the movement, push through your front heel and draw the board back toward you as you press to standing.

Perform 12 repetitions per leg.

5. Unstable renegade row

Unstable renegade row
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

Set up in a high push-up position with the skateboard under and parallel to your body. Place one hand firmly in the center of the board, and grasp a dumbbell (if you have one) in your opposite hand. Tighten your core, and shift your weight slightly to the hand resting on top of the board. Lift the dumbbell from the floor, and bend your elbow back, squeezing your shoulder blades together as you draw the dumbbell up to your chest. Reverse the movement, and lower it again, stopping just before it touches the ground.

Perform 10 repetitions per side. If you don't have a dumbbell, use a water bottle in its place. This exercise is surprisingly difficult because keeping the skateboard steady is a challenge. You may want to place the board on a mat or rug to reduce its motion. Feel free to lower your knees to the ground to make the exercise easier.

Next: More full-body workout using your kid’s skateboard

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More: 10 weightlifting moves for beginners

6. Reverse roll out

Reverse roll out
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

Start in a high push-up position with your palms under your shoulders and your legs extended behind you, but this time, place the balls of your feet on the center of the skateboard. Tighten your core, and use your abs to press through your feet and pull the board toward you as you bend your knees to your chest. Reverse the movement, and return to the starting position.

Perform 12 repetitions. Add more if this seems easy.

7. Side lunge

Side lunge
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

Stand tall with the skateboard perpendicular to and just to the outside of one of your feet. Place the same-side foot onto the board, toes angled outward. Very carefully tilt your hips back slightly and begin rolling the skateboard sideways away from your body as you bend the same-side knee and shift your weight toward the board, just as in a side lunge. Keep your opposite leg (the one on the ground) straight. Lunge as far as you can (keep in mind this is challenging) before reversing the movement and using your adductors (your inner thigh muscles) to help draw the board back to the starting position.

Perform six to eight repetitions per side. You may want to perform this exercise on a mat or rug to slow the board's roll.

8. Single leg hamstring curl

Single leg hamstring curl
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

Lie on your back, knees bent, one foot on the ground and one foot on top of the skateboard, roughly hip-distance apart. Tighten your core, and lift your glutes from the ground until your body forms a straight line from knees to shoulders. Hold this position, and carefully roll the board away from you, extending your leg fully. Reverse the movement, and use your glutes and hamstrings to help draw the board back to start.

Perform 15 repetitions per side.

More: The seven-minute equipment-free workout

9. Core twist

Core twist
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

This might be my favorite move. Start in a high push-up position, shoulders over palms and feet on the skateboard. This time, make sure the skateboard is angled away from you at a 30- to 45-degree angle, pointing in the direction of your shoulders so your feet are positioned toward the back of the board.

Tighten your core, and twist your abs as you draw your knees up and to the outside of body, following the trajectory of the skateboard as it rolls forward. When you've gone as far as you can, reverse the movement, and use your core to return to the starting position.

Perform 10 repetitions per side.

Full-body workout using a skateboard
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

Drake and Rihanna team up to bring joy to a young cancer patient (PHOTOS)

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Drake made an unexpected performance during Rihanna's Anti World Tour in Miami last week. But the duo recently teamed up for something much more important than a duet: They headed to a hospital to meet a cancer patient, Megan, who is a very big fan of Drake.

More: Drake and old flame RiRi may not be enemies after all

A photo reposted by a Drake fan page shows Drake and Rihanna smiling into the camera as they sit either side of Megan.

Drake and Rihanna

Drake and Rihanna

Drake also gave his super fan a sweet peck on the cheek, and it's clear from her reaction that the moment meant to much to her. The sweet moment was captured via Snapchat and reposted to a Drake fan page, with the fan describing the day as the "best day of my life."

More: Rihanna and Chris Brown's leaked single's lyrics are super inappropriate

Megan gushed about Drake in the caption of the Snapchat, writing, "BEST DAY OF MY LIFE! I MET THE LOML [love of my life] He was so sweet & down to earth. Gave me and my family some OVO clothing. BEST DAY EVER. NO LIE. @champagnepapi LOVE YOU!"

Drake meets cancer patient 2

Drake meets cancer patient 2

Drake and Rihanna have been spending a lot of time together recently and have reportedly been getting pretty close. A source told People magazine that after their steamy onstage performance during Rihanna's Miami show, they spent the night together at a private after party inside of Ian Schrager's The Miami Beach Edition hotel.

According to the source, the pair ice-skated, bowled and were "definitely flirty." They were also seen taking multiple selfies and "dancing together all night."

More: Rihanna's alleged stalker's behavior has taken a very disturbing turn

Could Rihanna and Drake be an item once again? If so, do you think they make a great pair? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

10 facts about puppies even dog people don't know

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Thinking of adding a pup-sized bundle of joy to your family? To help you better appreciate your new furry friend, we've pulled together 10 little-known-but-totally-true facts about the irresistible puppy:

1. "A puppy is born!"

A puppy is born
Image: terryleehicksthethird/Instagram

There are 6.2 million puppies born in the U.S. every year! In comparison to only 4 million babies born in the U.S. per year, you can give each newborn baby at least one puppy as a birthday gift! Perhaps give the other 2.2 million to friends who don't plan on having any human babies of their own.

Next Up: Sensory

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2. Sensory

puppies without sense
Image: kevinbaldwin20034/Instagram

Like humans, puppies are born without teeth. However, they can't hear, see or smell! Puppies don't open their eyes or begin to hear until they're 9 to 12 days old. They can't smell until three weeks post birth. Until then, it's very important for the mini-puppies to stay close to mom and their siblings to eat and grow properly.

More: 18 Super-adorable puppy photos that will make your heart happy

Next Up: Sleeping

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3. Sleeping

puppies Sleeping
Image: _decali/Instagram

Not much is different between human newborns and puppies when it comes to sleeping habits. The average human newborn sleeps 16 hours in a 24 hour time period, whereas puppies get around 14 hours of shut-eye. Take advantage of his snooze time and cuddle up to your cute new fur-ball when you can!

Next Up: Lifestyle

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4. Lifestyle

puppies life
Image: alwaysana_/Instagram

When a puppy is first born, 90 percent of their life is spent sleeping while the other 10 percent is spent eating. Sounds like the life of a puppy is pretty awesome and relaxing! Since a lot of important development and growth happens for the pup during this time, it is important that they get their rest.

Next Up: Sniffing

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5. Sniffing

puppies sniff, sniff
Image: sheen_beans/Instagram

Let your pup sniff things before you! At 3 weeks old, puppies not only develop a keen sense of smell, but they're also pretty amazing sniffers. The percentage devoted to sniffing smells in a puppy's brain is actually 40 percent larger than humans — and they can smell things over a 1,000 times better than the average human!

More: 17 Great Dane puppies that are so, so cute (PHOTOS)

Next Up: Feeding

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6. Feeding

Feeding
Image: cecemve13/Instagram

When a puppy is small, he needs to eat five small portions of food a day. Since he was born to nurse (and grazed as he felt necessary), you will need to teach him the proper portion control to avoid gorging his little tummy. As he gets older, he can survive on one to two larger feedings per day.

Next Up: Walking

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7. Walking

Clumsy Charlie
Image: endlesspurpose/Instagram

Puppies grow pretty fast and it takes them a bit of time to get used to their body. Just like when a human is trying to walk, puppies can be a bit clumsy. A bit more common in larger breeds due to their long legs and big paws, puppies are quite the clumsy creatures when they trot alongside you.

Next Up: Social skills

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8. Social skills

Social lovers
Image: xx_star_500/Instagram

Puppies are in the womb (and born) with a litter. They love to be surrounded by other animals and humans. When they are left alone, they get lonely! Some chase their tails and some look for trouble. When your pup is young, make sure to spend a lot of time with the little guy and put him in sociable situations to ease his transition into being a pet.

More: 20 Sleepy puppies that have a serious case of the Mondays

Next Up: Chewing

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9. Chewing

Chewing
Image: alishajozwiak/Instagram

Just like babies, puppies teeth grow when they are chewing. Needing to exercise their new chompers, a lot of puppies will chew anything in site. Don't discipline for chewing, just train them on what's OK to chew (such as their own chew toys and ropes) and what's not (like your favorite Jimmy Choo pumps).

Next Up: "I'm a big boy!"

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10. "I'm a big boy!"

I'm a big boy!
Image: loransmiley/Instagram

Even though he may not act like it, a 1-year-old puppy is considered an adult! This is the equivalent to a human at 15 years of age. Not even old enough to vote, your pup is all grown up and ready for the world of adulthood!

Updated by Bethany Ramos on 3/21/2016

Goat cheese gnocchi with asparagus in lemon sauce is spring on a plate

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If you are intimidated by the thought of making gnocchi from scratch, don’t be. I’ll show you how super simple it is to whip up a batch of homemade gnocchi in no time at all.

This version uses creamy softened goat cheese blended with flour, eggs and salty Parmesan cheese. The gnocchi boil up really quickly, and you can even make them ahead of time and prepare them later.

Served in a light and flavorful lemon-white wine sauce, sautéed asparagus really adds a nice touch of color and makes this the perfect dish for a spring or summertime dinner.

Before you start the process, prepare all your ingredients, such as washing, cutting, chopping, etc.

goat cheese gnocchi
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

Begin to prepare your gnocchi dough by mixing the ingredients together.

goat cheese gnocchi
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

Mix the ingredients until you have a nice, soft dough ball. If the dough is super sticky, dust your hands and the surface you are using with flour.

goat cheese gnocchi
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

Cut your dough into four to five pieces. If your dough pieces aren't exactly the same size, don't worry.

goat cheese gnocchi
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

Roll your dough pieces into long ropes, trying to keep them close in size as far as thickness goes.

goat cheese gnocchi
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

Cut the ropes into the desired sized of gnocchi.

goat cheese gnocchi
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

Once you have your gnocchi cut, you can do one of two things. You can leave them as they are (resembling pillows), or you can give them that popular gnocchi look by simply using a fork or a gnocchi board if you have one. Take a gnocchi, and just roll it down the back of a fork. Super simple!

goat cheese gnocchi
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

Do this until you have all your gnocchi prepared.

goat cheese gnocchi
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

Now you can keep the gnocchi chilled for up to two days or cook them right away. To cook them, bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add your gnocchi.

goat cheese gnocchi
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

It's very easy to tell when your gnocchi are done. Once they float to the top of the water, they are ready to enjoy however you desire.

goat cheese gnocchi
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

Toss them in a pan with butter, olive oil and Parmesan cheese, or prepare them as I have in the recipe below, with sautéed asparagus in lemon sauce.

Next: How to make homemade gnocchi

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goat cheese gnocchi
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

Goat cheese gnocchi with asparagus in lemon sauce recipe

Serves 4 – 6

Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Total time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

For the lemon sauce

  • 2 fresh lemons, juiced
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

For the gnocchi

  • 8 ounces softened goat cheese
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped asparagus
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • Parsley and extra Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Directions:

  1. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients for the sauce, mix well, and then set aside.
  2. In another bowl, stir together the goat cheese, flour, Parmesan, eggs and seasonings, mixing well.
  3. Mix until a soft dough forms, then turn the dough out onto a floured surface.
  4. Divide the dough into 3 or 4 large pieces, and roll them into ropes about 1/2 inch thick.
  5. Cut each rope into the desired sized of gnocchi, and either roll them to give them their gnocchi shape by using the back of a fork, or keep them as they are.
  6. Place the cut gnocchi on a floured baking sheet in the refrigerator until ready to cook them.
  7. To cook the gnocchi, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi to the boiling water, and let them cook until they float to the top, about 3 – 5 minutes.
  8. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and add the olive oil, asparagus and the garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the asparagus is tender.
  9. Add in the boiled gnocchi and the prepared lemon sauce. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the sauce begins to thicken slightly.
  10. Plate, and serve warm with extra grated Parmesan cheese and parsley for garnish.

More gnocchi recipes

Homemade sweet potato gnocchi
Sweet jam-filled gnocchi
Fried gnocchi with tomato sauce


Mum who lost five family members in tragedy says baby girl is reason to go on

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More: How a puppy is helping heal my son's broken heart

The family members were in a car on a pier in Buncrana, County Donegal at around 7 p.m. on Sunday night when it plunged into the water after skidding on algae, reported the Irish Mirror. It is believed that Sean McGrotty, who was driving the car, tried to do a three-point turn on the pier to leave and return home.

Only half an hour before the tragedy Louise McGrotty, 35, had spoken to them on the phone. She is now trying to come to terms with the loss of husband Sean, 49, mother Ruth Daniels, 59, sister Jodi Lee Daniels, 15, and sons Mark, 12, and Evan, 8.

Father Paddy O'Kane from Holy Family Church in Derry described the tragedy as the worst he had seen in 43 years and said the entire community was struggling to comprehend its magnitude.

More: Bride's wedding photos include son who died just months earlier (PHOTOS)

And he revealed that devastated McGrotty will carry on for her baby girl Rionaghac-Ann, the only survivor of the accident.

"Louise said to me, 'I have lost everyone, except little Rionaghac-Ann.' She said, 'Rionaghac-Ann is my reason to go on'," said Father O'Kane.

Four-month-old Rionaghac-Ann was rescued from the sinking car by Davitt Walsh, who stripped down to his underwear, jumped off the pier and swam to help the family.

The 29-year-old trainee barber spoke to RTE about the accident and the moment he raced in to save the child.

"The water started to seep in and [Sean] handed me the baby infant and said 'take my baby'," he said. "The water started coming in and he just looked at me and said 'save my baby'. I took the baby and held it above my head and I swam back to shore."

It's impossible to even begin to understand how a tragedy of this magnitude affects somebody. The funeral, which will take place on Thursday, is going to be one of the most difficult Father O'Kane has conducted.

"I am 43 years a priest and nothing compares to this," he said. "This is way beyond anything in my wildest imagination. This is the worst thing I have ever had."

More: How I learned to face my grief and love more openly

Brussels attacks: What we know (UPDATING)

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At least 26 people are dead and 130 people have been wounded in a horrifying and deadly terror attack on a metro station and airport in Brussels, Belgium this morning.

At 8:00 a.m. GMT, three blasts rocked the city, with two bomb blasts going off at the airport first. One, according to reports, was detonated outside the security checkpoint for passengers who had already obtained tickets and another near the ticketing and check-in counter. At least one of those blasts is believed to have been a suicide bomber.

More: The hardest political decision I ever had to make

Not long after, at a metro station in Maalbeek district, another blast went off; its epicenter has been determined to have been the middle carriage of a three-carriage subway car as it pulled away from the platform. Maalbeek is where a majority of European Union operations are located, including EU headquarters.

While Belgian federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw says it is too early to know for sure how large the human cost of these attacks is, so far 11 people are confirmed dead from the airport attack, and a further 15 people lost their lives in the airport attack. At least 126 more people are believed to be wounded.

More: Samantha Bee's 'Smile for Joe' campaign has women doing anything but

In response, both the subway and airport have been closed down. All around Europe, more security measures are being enacted at other airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick.

These attacks come after the arrest of the final terror suspect in Paris' tragic bombing in November of last year, Salah Abdeslam. Belgian interior minister Jan Jambon announced that Belgium's terror threat level would be raised yesterday in accordance with his capture, but Prime Minister Charles Michel said it was too early to know if the arrest and the attack are directly related to each other.

Michel urged Belgians to stay both calm and unified in a statement following the attacks, saying, "We are facing a difficult, challenging time. And we should face up to this challenge by being united."

More: We don't have to praise nude selfies to make women feel better

President Obama, who is in Cuba, was briefed on the attacks this morning as well. The State Department has said in a statement that "the United States stands with the people of Belgium."

Around the world and online, people are expressing their anguish and solidarity with the nation of Belgium with tweets and other posts tagged with #Brussels and #PrayForPeace.

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Joe Giudice reveals what the toughest thing about going to prison will be

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The Giudice family has been through a lot, and as Joe Giudice prepares for his 41-month prison sentence on Wednesday, he reveals just how difficult it's going to be to say goodbye to his four daughters.

More: Insider spills on Joe Giudice's last date night with Teresa Giudice

"My kids are very smart, and they know what the deal is," Giudice told People magazine. "The younger ones don't understand why you have to go, what you did — I don't think either one of them know exactly why you are going in, but you we just told them that we did some things wrong, and we gotta go in."

His daughters have obviously been through this before, as their mother Teresa Giudice recently served 11 months of her 15-month prison sentence behind bars for fraud charges before being released just in time for Christmas 2015. But for Joe, the thought of saying goodbye has left him extremely emotional, and he admits to suffering from a breakdown.

"I had a little meltdown the other night with my daughter Gabriella talking to her," Giudice admitted, adding, "but we will be all right, we will get through it."

Joe's second-youngest daughter, Milania, also proved that his last few days (before he heads to prison) were filled with family and love, as she recently paid tribute to him in the sweetest way on Instagram.

But aside from struggling to be apart from his family while he serves his sentence for fraud charges at the Federal Correctional Institute, Fort Dix, in New Jersey, Giudice does not seem to be too concerned with being behind bars, and he did previously tell People that the low-security prison would be "no big deal."

More: Teresa Giudice talks post-prison body and admits her husband is a 'booty guy'

Of course, prison is not something you can prepare for beforehand, as his wife Teresa previously revealed, so we can never really know how Joe will cope.

Do you feel bad for Joe Giudice's daughters during this time? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

How to spot a family-friendly Airbnb

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What are you looking for?

It helps to be specific with the search facilities of the Airbnb site. For starters you probably want to search by 'entire place' — otherwise you might find you end up sharing a room/rooms in a larger property. Put in the number of rooms you require and the number of people who will be travelling to match these up with available dates. Look for a family-owned apartment i.e. a place owned by people like you.

Tips for booking a family-friendly Airbnb - SheKnows UK
Image: skas0203/Flickr

Where do you want to go?

If you have a country or city in mind, it's worthwhile doing some research beforehand to find out what the neighbourhoods are like. You're unlikely to get a prime, central touristy spot and you don't want to end up in some dodgy area where you feel you can't leave your apartment. Google Street View will also give you an idea of what the surrounding area looks like.

More: 11 reasons you should travel more this year

What do you want to pay?

Renting an Airbnb property might seem like a cheaper option than a hotel room but pay special attention to the prices. Some property hosts advertise a price for up to two people and you may find, when you add on the children, the price hikes up. Other charges to look out for are cleaning fees, an extra charge that ensures the property is cleaned both before and after your stay. Compare prices with similar properties in the same area to make sure you're getting a fair deal.

Read the descriptions carefully

As well as getting a property all to yourself, rather than sharing with others, check the specifics of each room to make sure it suits your needs. Study the photos carefully, paying particular attention to safety issues. If you have young children, for example, watch out for steep staircases or copious amounts of glass. Check out all the reviews and you could even contact some people who have stayed there (connections on Airbnb are via Facebook).

More: How to take a family-friendly vacation

Study the host

Look at the host's rental history on the site as well as their profile. A good, reliable host will expect you to contact them prior to booking. It's in their interest to ensure that the people they rent their property to are reliable and legitimate. They shouldn't mind you asking questions so don't be afraid to and it's always advisable to make contact with the owners rather than jumping straight into a booking. Can they provide information about the local area, places to go? Will they be providing towels; if so how many? Is the apartment child-friendly?

Tips for booking a family-friendly Airbnb - SheKnows UK
Image: Abby Crisosomo/Flickr

Check out the house rules

Remember this is someone else's home you are considering staying in. House rules are specified on the site. Depending on the age of your children, you may want to take these into consideration before booking.

Do you need assurances?

Airbnb has three types of cancellation policy: flexible, moderate and strict. Read them carefully before you make your choice. The properties are not individually verified by Airbnb nor will they be protected by ABTA so make sure you have up-to-date travel insurance.

More: 8 budget-friendly family vacations

Before you arrive

Remember the Airbnb properties are homes and therefore will not be signposted so get clear directions. Make sure you agree with the host where you will meet them or how you will obtain the key. Give the host your flight time and arrival details prior to travel.

Airbnb properties offer an affordable alternative to hotels, allowing travellers to live as the locals do. With careful research and consideration, many families make full use of this service and find it a positive experience.

One-Pot Wonder: Stick-to-your-ribs sloppy Joe mac and cheese

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Creamy, dreamy mac and cheese combined with meaty sloppy Joes is comfort food heaven on earth. What's even better — it's a 30-minute, one-pot meal.

one pot sloppy joe mac and cheese
Image: Nancy Foster/SheKnows

Hot and right off the stove, this mashup tastes so good and is for sure second helping worthy.

sloppy joe mac n cheese
Image: Nancy Foster/SheKnows

For the best of both worlds, this yummy combo is comfort food to the max.

bite of sloppy joe mac n cheese
Image: Nancy Foster/SheKnows

One-pot sloppy Joe macaroni and cheese recipe

Serves 4

Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 25 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (or ground turkey)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 1/3 cup chopped onion
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 3 teaspoons hot sauce (or to taste)
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 cups cooked (al dente) elbow macaroni
  • 1/2 cup cream
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or Velveeta cheese, cubed)
  • Salt, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives, for garnish

Directions:

  1. Heat a medium-size skillet on medium heat, and add the olive oil, onions and bell pepper.
  2. Stir and sauté for about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the ground beef, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Continue to stir as the ingredients are cooking, until the ground beef is thoroughly cooked.
  4. Add the ketchup and water.
  5. Stir together. Cover with a lid, and simmer on low heat until the mixture thickens (about 8 minutes).
  6. Transfer the sloppy Joe mixture to a medium-size bowl, and set aside for a moment.
  7. Heat the pan on medium heat, and add the cream, milk, cheddar cheese and mozzarella (or Velveeta cheese). Stir until the cheese is melted.
  8. Add the macaroni, and stir until the mixture thickens.
  9. Fold in the sloppy Joe mixture. Salt to taste.
  10. Serve while warm. Garnish with chives.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

one-pot meals
Image: Brandi Bidot/SheKnows

one-pot wonder
Image: SheKnows

More sloppy Joe recipes

Sloppy Joe corn muffins
Sloppy Joe tacos
Sloppy Joe grilled cheese

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