Well, there are more options than you might think, but most cardio variations are nothing more than simple tweaks of the tried-and-true go-to exercises. By adding a piece of equipment or adjusting your body's position during a jumping jack, you can engage more muscle groups, increase your heart rate and see results faster.

1. Step out jumping jacks

If you have a lower body injury or jumping aggravates your joints, the step out jumping jack is an excellent lower-impact option. As you swing your arms overhead, step one leg out laterally. Bring your arms and leg back to center, then repeat on the opposite side.

2. Chest press jacks

Work your upper and lower body with the chest press jack. Wrap a resistance band around your shoulders, gripping it in each hand with your palms facing forward. With your feet together, press your hips back, and bend your knees to lower into a mini squat. As you hop your legs out wide, press your palms forward, extending the resistance band in a chest press.

3. Quick jacks

The goal of quick jacks is to make your body small and compact, then to move as fast as you can while performing the jumping jack. Start with your feet together, hips back and knees bent in a mini squat. Keeping your torso straight, tip forward slightly, and bring your forearms together in front of your chest, elbows bent to 90 degrees. Keeping your body low, knees and elbows bent, hop your legs out laterally as you swing your arms out to the side. Bring them back to center as quickly as you can.

4. Shoulder press jacks

Hold a dumbbell or medicine ball at your chest, feet together, knees slightly bent. As you hop your legs out laterally, press the weight directly up over your head. As you hop your feet back together, bring the weight straight down to the starting position.

More: 16 cardio moves that aren't running

5. Frog squat jacks

Start with your legs wider than shoulder-width apart, toes angled outward. Squat down, pressing your hips back and bending your knees, touching your fingers to the floor between your feet. In an explosive movement, jump up into the air, bringing your feet together as you reach your arms out and up over your head, landing in a "pencil" position. Hop your legs back out as you lower into the next squat.

6. Cross jacks

Start by crossing your right arm over your left arm, extending them in front of your chest and crossing your right leg over your left leg. Uncross your arms and legs by hopping your legs out laterally as you swing your arms out wide from your shoulders. When you bring everything back to center again, cross your left arm over your right arm and your left leg over your right leg. Continue alternating which arm and leg crosses in front of the other every other jump.

7. Seal jacks

Start in a "star" formation with your arms extended wide from your shoulders and your legs positioned wider than shoulder-width apart. Hop your legs to center as you simultaneously swing your arms inward, clapping your hands together in front of your chest.

More: Twerkout, the latest dance cardio craze

8. Ski jacks

Imagine cross-country skiing as you perform the ski jacks, but this time, your arms and legs swing forward and backward rather than laterally. Start with your arms at your sides and your feet together. Jump in the air, and land with your left leg forward and your right leg backward as you simultaneously swing your right arm forward and your left arm backward. When you jump into the air again, switch the position of your arms and legs so your right leg lands forward as you swing your left arm forward and your left leg and right arm land in the backward position.

9. Oblique jacks

It takes some coordination to get oblique jacks correct. Start with your feet together and your arms extended out from your shoulders with your elbows bent at 90 degrees, almost like you're giving the touchdown signal. Draw one knee up, rotating it externally from your hip as you crunch your torso to the same side, as if trying to touch your elbow to your knee. As you return your foot to the ground, immediately switch sides, hopping your opposite leg up and out as you crunch to the opposite side.

10. Predator jacks

Start with your feet together and squat down, pressing your hips back and bending your knees. Keeping your back straight, tip forward from your torso, and reach your fingers toward the ground on either side of your feet. Keeping your torso in a steady position and your knees bent, hop your legs out wide laterally as you sweep your arms up and out laterally to the sides. Imagine squeezing your shoulder blades together as you sweep your arms out to work the back half of your body.

Melissa McCarthy's new film The Boss is another knee-slapping comedy, but this movie also makes an important statement about women supporting other women.

More: Gilmore Girls: 3 clues Melissa McCarthy is totally returning

McCarthy sat down for an interview with Bust magazine to talk about her new film, which she stars in and also wrote with husband Ben Falcone. The comedian said she had a specific idea for the film's message in mind while writing the script.

"Watching [women] become friends and then essentially become family, that's the kind of thing I root for when I watch a movie," Melissa said. "I want to see that. I love to show women and girls uniting. I love showing that because I think so often in movies, you see women just fighting and not liking each other. That's not real life. That's not the norm."

More: Why the Gilmore Girls revival can't happen without Sookie St. James

McCarthy also dropped some inspiring advice during the interview on why you don't need to stick to the status quo.

"There are just so many 'shoulds' in life," she said. "You should do this, you should wear this, you should drink this, you should only be eating this. We spend so much of our lives trying to follow the checklist, and there's an appeal to just throwing that list out."

More: Powerful reasons women should help each other (VIDEO)

Plus, McCarthy opened up about why she's drawn to playing quirky, awkward and complicated characters.

"I have a real fascination with people who have that wall up," McCarthy revealed. "Like, what put that up? I always wonder... 'what's on the other side of that?' I never quite buy that sort of bluster. It always kinda breaks my heart."

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

For a minute, standing there, staring at the bottles of hand cream with real-life horse fat in the ingredients, I waded deep into ethnocentric territory. I spent 60 full seconds frowning upon any company that would take the fat from an innocent, beautiful animal and dump it into a moisturizer.

Then, as I felt the comfortable caress of my leather high-heel shoes, and swapped my plastic shopping bag from one hand to the other so I could reach into my snake-skin purse, I had a moment of clarity.

It turns out I’m also an asshole who uses animal products for beauty and convenience. The truth is, many of us, whether we realize it or not, are using products daily that are derived from animals. Our plastic grocery bags, car tires, perfume and even colored crayons probably have animal byproducts in them.

More: Beauty bloggers are bringing the '80s back with neon makeup

In Asia, eating horse meat is as normal as eating beef in the U.S. In Asia, using the remaining fat is not much different than using rendered beef fat (tallow) or pork fat (lard), which we do here in the United States. When we get down to the matter, it’s easy to see that our love of horses and abject horror of eating them is more about what is normalized within our own culture. Horses are pets; they aren't dinner, and that's what makes it so strange for us.

So — I found a way to compartmentalize my disdain and test this hand cream. I should actually say hand creams, because, for the sake of journalism, I purchased two different brands.

The first time I tried the hand creams, I was out of town and in the midst of a snowstorm. Locked away in a lodge next to a warm fire, I lathered one cream on my left hand and the other on my right.

Within 10 seconds, my right hand felt tingly and irritated. I told myself it was the dry air or the altitude and thought nothing more of it. I noticed that my left hand smelled like plain, regular unscented lotion, a smell I often associate with hospital-grade creams.

More: Why hyaluronic acid could be your ticket to better skin

The ingredients listed on the bottle of lotion I used on my left hand (read: the hand that wasn’t stinging) were: water, stearic acid (which, I just learned is often obtained from animal fat), a long list of things I can’t pronounce, horse fat (12th ingredient) and more ingredients I can’t pronounce. I also noticed that the cream was made in Japan.

My right hand (still stinging and now itching a bit) smelled a littler nicer — like white bar soap and day-old potpourri. I don’t know what the actual scent was, though, because the ingredients were written in a foreign language. There was, however, a warning in clear English that read: Be sure that there are no abnormal conditions on the skin when using this product. Stop using if the product is not suited to your skin.

Important note: I realized while examining the back of the bottle that this hand cream was made in Vietnam. This is remotely concerning because up until now, I have loved just about everything I’ve ever tried from Vietnam. Possibly that’s because it’s always been food related.

Later that night, I started playing Cards Against Humanity and drinking shots of Fireball (not my finest hour) and fell asleep forgetting that I had hands and horse fat hand cream on them.

The next night, back at home, I decided to try the creams again with my son’s girlfriend. I should note that she did not require any extra encouragement when I disclosed that the hand creams had horse fat. I should also mention that she is part Japanese and always eager to make me happy. I really enjoy this part of our relationship.

With clean, dry skin, we tried the Japanese hand cream on our left hands and the Vietnamese hand cream on our right ones.

Unfortunately, my prior experience with the Vietnamese horse fat lotion wasn’t a fluke. Within seconds both of our right hands (and forearms, I accidentally squeezed too much from the bottle) were red, itchy and burning. My son's girlfriend gave me an accusatory glance before I took the following picture of her mildly rashy arm.

Our left hands, while not burning, felt tight and unmoisturized. I am a chronic hand-cream applier and feel that I know a thing or two when it comes to soft hands. The cream honestly felt like it did nothing to moisten my just-washed skin. There were still visible lines where my skin was thirsting and begging for something to hydrate it.

More: Adele's iconic eye makeup look broken down, step by step

To top it all off, it came from horses. OK, I know I said I could compartmentalize, but I think I lied. Maybe had the products yielded super soft, supple skin, I would have been able to rationalize it the same way I do a juicy steak or hair products that were probably tested on adorable monkeys, and I love monkeys.

But the thing is, the creams didn’t work, and at the end of the day I had to look at my grossly under-moisturized hands and know that horse fat was on them.

Horse fat hand cream, therefore, does not get my vote. For now, I’ll continue my search for unique, awesome beauty products — and stay far away from ones that have pretty horses in them.

The beautiful Christina Wren has had some good luck, but she's also paid her dues as a performer. We're excited to see her return in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as Major Carrie Farris, but we wanted to find out more about her personal journey.

Wren isn't just an actress, she's also a poet who spends a lot of time writing and performing slam poetry.

More: Race: 17 things about the real Jesse Owens that are not in the movie

"Poetry is such a beautiful way to express emotions and reflect the world around us through metaphor and imagery," she said. "Since it is not an on-the-nose art form, it can discuss and arouse so many themes, images, feelings, with simply the words that are chosen and how they are organized. Slam is also its own beast. You have to use metaphors and imagery and be evocative but also nail the performance or you're dead in the water. It is frightening and also an amazing training ground for reading an audience and responding accordingly."

Not surprisingly, Wren also thinks slam poetry has helped her as a performer.

"The biggest skill I learned was to have a set of options of things prepared and then, depending on the kind of crowd, depending on the order of the poets and where I fit into it, depending on what was performed immediately before me, I'd adjust the pieces I chose and the way I'd perform them. Even in the very moments of performing, if you feel you're losing a crowd — and you can tell, they're expressive — you have to adjust."

Wren landed the role of Major Carrie Farris in kind of a roundabout way. She thinks it was fate. "It's so hard to pin down, but for me, it does feel like something special happened," she said.

More: Deadpool 101: 11 facts about the fun but edgy superhero flick

While working as an extra in movies and feeling glum about her prospects of having a successful acting career, Wren was cast in a hummus commercial that shot in Athens.

"A few months later the commercial played on TV and went viral. I got an email from a Warner Bros. casting associate saying a Hollywood director had seen the commercial and wanted me to audition for an 'Untitled Warner Bros. project,' would I please send a tape of myself performing the attached sides. I had no idea what it was but I sent in my tapes."

When she found out she booked a role in the new Superman movie, Wren cried. Especially strange was that the movie's director, Zack Snyder, also directed 300, which she had watched while she was in Greece where she shot the commercial that got her all the attention. "It was the thing from the heavens that I needed."

More: 9 ways Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is far better than the classic

Of course, we had to ask Wren what working with Ben Affleck was like.

"Ben was really focused and in character while I was onset, which I respect," she said. "He's serious about his work and about this franchise and it's paying off. He's an incredible Batman."

Wren also told us that Jesse Eisenberg, who plays Lex Luther in the movie, was super sweet.

"When I met him in the makeup trailer, I was actually leaving set for the day and I was surprised to see him so I got a little flustered! I've always really admired his work — the level of nuance he has and the confidence to work so honestly and in the moment are just lovely. I often feel surprised while watching his work and that's really special."

And we had to get the skinny on Superman himself, Henry Cavill.

"Henry I know the best because we worked closely together on Man of Steel, as well," she said. "I filmed at the very end of the process while everyone was more laid back, and since we were traveling locations and in these small towns, we all hung out a lot after work. He's similarly serious about his character — super disciplined, I mean the training he goes through is no joke — but really kind and aware of what it means to be representing this character that people have such a deep emotional attachment to, that when they meet him, they aren't engaging as if they're just meeting Henry, the man, they're engaging as if they are meeting Superman, and that is a huge banner to carry."

Wren also has a serious side that showed through when we asked her what she would you like to see for women in 2016.

"I'd like to see rape and violence never occur again. I'd like to see all girls in all nations be able to safely attend school and avoid bodily harm, mutilation and forced marriage."

Since the presidential election is heating up, we were curious if Wren would be open to having a female president. "Of course!" she said, adding, "I think women are fully capable and would offer great leadership and perspective as president. I think it has to be the right woman and hopefully, as our nation becomes more used to the idea of women running for president, capable women will continue to prepare for the role and run, giving us many diverse options."

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opens March 25.

Batman v superman

Batman v superman

There have been rumors that Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian want to take their relationship to the next level and start having children, and there may be some truth to those rumors after all.

More: Report claims Rob Kardashian would really love to get Blac Chyna pregnant

In a Snapchat video reposted by fanpage chynaalaurenlove, Chyna can be seen joking about having a baby — but how much of it is really a joke?

"Rob! I am not playin' with you, I want my eggs CRACKED!" she saif in the clip. "That mean I wanna have a BABY! I need my name DROPPED!"

More: Kris Jenner finally speaks on Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna's relationship

The pair has been together for about two months, but it's evident they are very serious about each other, and Chyna appears to be making Kardashian very happy. But jokes aside, are they really ready to start having children?

According to Radar Online, now that Kardashian has been spending so much time around Chyna's son King Cairo (who she shares with ex Tyga), he has realized how much he wants a kid.

"Rob spending time with King Cairo has convinced Rob that he is ready to be a father. He thinks that the sexiest thing about Blac Chyna is what a great mom she is to King," a source told the publication.

More: The Kardashians' family photo sparks rumors that there's a feud brewing

In fact, Kardashian's dedication to King Cairo is reportedly causing an issue with Tyga and Chyna.

"King wants to be with his mother and Rob nonstop right now, and Blac let Tyga know," the source revealed. "She told him that she thinks it's sad that Rob has been more of a dad to King in the last two months than he has been in the last three years!" Ouch.

Do you think Rob Kardashian would make a great dad? Do you think it would be a smart move for him to have a child with Blac Chyna? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

I admit it — I love artichokes, but cleaning them needs patience, effort and time. Because of that, sometimes I skip them in the market stalls. But when I do have the time to spare and it's artichoke season, I go for a simple sautéing with garlic and white wine. That's my favorite artichoke dish.

For this recipe, I combined the sautéed artichokes with shrimp and toasted pancetta. The result is so, so good. I promise you will not be disappointed and that this dish is completely worth the effort. Buon appetito!

Pasta with artichokes, shrimp and pancetta recipe

Serves 4

Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 45 minutes | Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 6 medium-size fresh artichokes
• 2 lemons
• 5 ounces pancetta or bacon, diced small
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 3/4 cup dry white wine
• Salt, to taste
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 14 ounces paccheri (or other kind of pasta, like penne, rigatoni, farfalle)
• Fresh parsley, coarsely chopped

Directions:

1. Prepare a bowl of about 4 cups of water with 1 lemon squeezed into it and the other lemon sliced, and leave them in the bowl. Set aside.
2. Clean the artichokes by cutting off most of the stem, leaving about 1/2 inch from the base. Slice off the top, and discard. Tear away the tough outer leaves by snapping them backward 1 at a time (you should feel the crispness when they are fresh). With a paring knife, trim the sides to make it even. With a spoon, dig inside the central part of the artichoke to remove the choke (hairy part). Put the cleaned artichoke in the bowl of lemon water, and repeat with the other artichokes.
3. Over medium-high heat, bring a big pot of water to a boil for the pasta.
4. While waiting for the water to boil, prepare the sauce. In a large, dry saucepan over low-medium heat, fry the pancetta. Transfer to a plate, and discard the grease from the pancetta.
5. While waiting for the pancetta to cook, prepare the artichokes by draining and then slicing them into smaller pieces.
6. In the same saucepan over medium heat, sauté the garlic in olive oil. When the garlic is fragrant, add the artichokes, and cook for about 8 minutes. Add the 1/3 cup of water, cover, and simmer until the water evaporates.
7. Add the shrimp, and toss with the artichokes. When the shrimp change color, pour in the wine. Let the wine evaporate. Season with salt and lots of pepper. Turn off the heat, and cover when the liquid is reduced.
8. In the meantime, if the water for the pasta is boiling, add some salt, and cook the pasta following the package directions. When the pasta is cooked, drain it, but leave about a cup of the water used during cooking just in case it is needed.
9. Warm up the sauce on low heat, and add the pasta, pancetta and parsley. Mix well. Add a little bit of the water you set aside if it is needed. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Serve while hot.

More recipes with artichokes

Spinach-artichoke lasagna
Hot artichoke crab dip
Sun-dried tomato- and feta-stuffed artichokes

Bristol Palin and her ex-fiancé, Dakota Meyer, were previously involved in a custody battle (Meyer filed documents asking for joint legal and physical custody of his daughter, Sailor Grace), but it looks as though the former couple is now focused on putting their differences aside.

More: Sarah Palin takes aim at Bristol's former fiancé over custody dispute (VIDEO)

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Palin shared an adorable photo of Meyer and Sailor Grace, which she captioned with a simple message: "Too cute not to share."

Fans have reacted to the post with great excitement, acknowledging that it's great that the former couple can set their differences aside for the sake of their daughter.

More: Bristol Palin gears up for another custody battle with baby daddy No. 2

"Good for you for posting this. Having a positive relationship with your baby's father will be the best thing for her. Always remember that!" jazmyneruby shared.

"I hope you all work it out," mrs.primitive wrote. "Would be awesome for Sailor to have you both all the time. Teaching her to love watching Mommy, Daddy together the [sic] best thing."

Alirosee also commented on the post, writing, "Love that you're posting this of him wishing you all the best."

More: Bristol Palin's ex makes bold move in custody battle over their daughter

It's pretty big of Palin to post the photo on Instagram; it shows she's really committed to trying to do what's best for her baby daughter, despite her personal feelings toward Meyer.

According to E! News, the photo also marks the first time that Meyer has been featured on Palin's Instagram, suggesting that his visitation rights have started — the pair reached a custody agreement earlier this year.

Are you happy to see that Bristol Palin and Dakota Meyer are putting their differences aside? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

I just turned 47 years old and my husband is 53, and we have been trying to have another baby. It hasn't happened yet, but we are hoping that it will soon. Why would we want to have another child so late in life?

More: Our whole family sleeps in the same bed — and we love it

1. We consider ourselves lucky to have our daughter

When we had our daughter almost six years ago, we weren't planning on having another child. When we were asked back then when we were having another child, the answer was always that we were not. Our daughter was enough for us — she was all we needed. If Madisen hadn't asked, we wouldn't have given it a second thought. I didn't think I would be able to have children to begin with. I've had numerous miscarriages over the years, the first at five months when I was 25. It continued a few times over the years, and when I finally became pregnant and had my daughter at the age of 41, it was the happiest day of my life.

2. We understand the risks of getting pregnant at our age

My husband and I didn't come to this decision lightly. We pondered the idea over and over again, playing the pros against the cons. The biggest pro was that our daughter wanted a baby brother or sister, and the biggest cons were our age and the risks involved: gestational diabetes, Down syndrome and Cesarean section. We can handle what is given to us. There are higher risks at this age, but there are risks with any pregnancy. If a women at my age is still able to have children and she wants to, then she should.

3. We want to give our daughter a sibling

My daughter, Madisen, is 5 years old. She has been going to school and meeting friends, who have brothers or sisters, and some of the shows she watches have brothers and sisters. Madisen wants the same as all the other kids. Many times she has uttered those words: "Can I have a brother or sister?" Those words kind of stopped us in our tracks. We would look at each other, both thinking, How do we respond? Well, I took the initiative and told her we weren't really sure about that at the moment. We would have to talk about it.

More: Stop assuming my husband secretly wishes he had sons

4. We are helping her understand this might not be a sure thing

When we finally came to a decision, we kept the answer between us until our daughter asked the question again. When she finally did ask, we told her the exact truth: We want you to have a brother or sister to grow up with and share life with. We told her we would try, but it might not happen. We would try because that is what we wanted for her, too. We knew it wouldn't be easy, but we wanted to give the idea a try and share the joys and happiness of a baby with Madisen.

The questions of an inquiring 5-year-old began. Were we prepared to answer them? Yes! We are honest and as straightforward as we can be with her. She already knew that babies grow in the mama's belly but she wasn't quite sure on the hows. We try to make our answers as simple as possible for a child to understand.

5. We are open to hearing others' concerns

The questions we were asked by our daughter were easy to answer, it was the ones we got from other people that we would probably have to answer in a nice polite way. I can hear the questions now...

• Why would you want another baby now?
• Why did you wait five years to have another?
• Why didn't you think of this sooner?

6. We are secure in our decision

The answer to anything we may have to answer is, "This is our decision and our life, and we want our child to have a brother or sister in her life. We are not going to be first-time parents, we have been through it all before. We are prepared for being up all night, the multiple feedings and diaper changes. We don't sleep much now, so having a baby will no make a difference to us.

Will the judgment and comments of others bother me? No! Share your opinion with us, but it doesn't really matter, as the choice in the end is ours and ours alone. Be prepared for us to reply to your comments. Age shouldn't make a difference if that is what we want and it is still possible.

Talk about our choice, tell us your thoughts, and then be happy for us or not. We are a strong family and will get through it — with or without your support. I don't judge your choices, so don't judge mine. It works both ways.

I am not a grandma, even though you may think I am because I am old with a young child. I have already been called Gramma and will again, but it's always nice to ask before making an assumption.

More: 5 facts to know if you're delaying having kids

Some parents grin and bear it; others vent in a hilarious way on Twitter. From being a meanie who asks her kids to brush their teeth to realizing just how similar spring is now to spring break in college, here are 10 LOL-worthy tweets from parents this week. Thank you, Internet.

1. Yay... wait...

2. Way to go, Mom

3. Nothing gross here

More: Parents flip over word elementary school taught kids

4. Thanks, kiddo!

5. Come on, Mom. Get it right!

6. Supressing the urge

More: How to tell if you're too involved in your kids' lives

7. Real slick, Dad

8. Painful parenting

9. Drunk parenting

More: People reveal the worst baby names they've ever heard

10. Spring break in a nutshell

OK, so the Plunketts aren't exactly the humble, responsible Gilmore girls from small town Stars Hollow..., but that's what makes things interesting. Bonnie was an addict when Christy was young, and the apple doesn't fall from the tree in this sitcom. Both are recovering alcoholics who never lets the other forget it.

They take the hip, edgy mother-daughter relationship to new levels. For example:

More: Why Gilmore Girl fans shouldn't be upset about Sookie's absence

1. They can't keep secrets, even when they try

... and yes, they do play by the scrunchy-on-the-door-means-do-not-enter rule.

2. They find humor in the stickiest of situations

Like that one time Christy gambled away their rent money.

3. The mother-daughter eye roll is on point

Ready.. set...

4. There's definitely an anti-establishment mom theme

Lorelai tried to escape Emily in Gilmore Girls, and Bonnie has a similar (but more extreme) coping method when her estranged mother wants to meet her.

5. They don't have that whole "picture perfect family" thing going for them, and it's refreshing

Let's be honest, most families don't live behind a white picket fence or dine with fine china.

6. They talk about their love lives more like friends — sort of

The Gilmores may have done it with a little more class (and much more PG), but the Plunketts leave all the cards on the table. If you're looking for boundaries, you won't find them here.

7. Remember when I said they never let each other forget?

The jokes between them are endless.

8. They never take themselves too seriously, a Gilmore girl staple

The Plunketts just have a much darker history to joke about than the Gilmores did.

9. They encourage each other to follow their dreams

The dreams don't involve Harvard or Yale, but when Christy wants to go back to school, Bonnie's there to troubleshoot.

10. They have each other's back

Well, they try.

11. They learn from their mistakes

There's always a lesson, right?

12. But underneath the jokes, they're always there for each other

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

There’s a whole slew of things we’re told we’re not supposed to consume while pregnant, and now we can potentially add one more thing to the list. A recent study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that men and women who drank more than two cups of coffee when they were trying to conceive were more likely to miscarry.

Say what? The study, which looked at couples in Texas and Michigan who were trying to conceive, had 347 couples who were successful. Of those couples who conceived, 98 miscarried. When researchers looked at the lifestyle habits of these couples, they found that the women and men who had consumed the most caffeine around the time they conceived were most likely to miscarry.

More: Facebook doesn't want people to see this photo of a mom giving birth

These results could potentially put a major dent in the morning routine of millions of people, because who doesn’t drink coffee in the morning? It’s a part of nearly everyone’s morning, and many of us can’t function without it. But it turns out that cutting the liquid energy in the morning may reduce your chances of miscarrying. And for folks who may have experienced a miscarriage or two, giving up coffee is a small action that could have a major impact.

On the other hand, it’s refreshing to see that it’s not just women who are being told that their actions may affect the well-being of a pregnancy. Being a person who is carrying or is planning to carry a baby comes with so many dos and don’ts that it can be impossible to keep straight. In fact, sometimes it seems like there’s nothing we can do right when we’re incubating another human.

We’re told we should exercise but avoid anything too strenuous because we shouldn’t lift anything heavy. Soft cheeses, deli meats and raw sushi are off the table, as is alcohol (though while some studies show that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy — which the CDC so thoughtfully let us know when it shamed women who are of childbearing age and not on birth control who might consume alcohol — others show that a glass of wine occasionally can be a good thing). Hot baths may be dangerous, which means hot tubs and saunas are definitely out of the question. The list goes on and on.

More: How breastfeeding in public can turn dangerous

The result of all this fearmongering is often severe stress and anxiety that we may do something wrong and harm our baby. It can result in perinatal anxiety and depression. It can also create an immense amount of guilt if something does go wrong with the pregnancy, making it easy for us to blame ourselves for whatever happened. If only I hadn’t used my seat warmers, I wouldn’t have lost the pregnancy.

So while it’s important to listen to your doctor and read the new science, it’s also OK to take it with a grain of salt. You can make yourself sick trying to make sure you do nothing wrong when you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant, and at the end of the day, there’s only so much you can control. Even if you do everything right, things might still go wrong, and it’s impossible to account for every single variable.

More: 35 things all kids need

As women, we’re already held to such impossible standards in almost every area of our lives. Pregnancy, conception and infertility are already stressful enough without feeling the need to live up to unrealistic standards of behavior, particularly when men’s behaviors aren’t policed in the same way. However, at least in regard to caffeine consumption, you can tell a male partner that he’s just as responsible as you may be.

Ariel Winter is all about women supporting women, and she made her views very clear during an interview with Australian radio show Kyle and Jackie O, where she applauded Kim Kardashian for encouraging body positivity.

More: Ariel Winter proves she's proud of her body with new bikini pic (PHOTO)

"I think she's promoting body positivity. You know, young girls being able to express that they don't have a stick-thin body — they're curvy," Winter said.

This is not the first time Winter has defended Kardashian's decision to flaunt her curves, and when she recently decided to post a nude bathroom mirror selfie, Winter praised her, and publicly commented on how women and men should be able to choose what they do with their bodies. A sentiment that Winter touched on again during her interview.

"Stick-thin bodies are amazing, you know, those girls are amazing, too, but I think that everybody's body would be celebrated no matter what it is, and I think that it's great that she's so comfortable with herself and that she's able to post out there what she wants to and post and if she wants to post a nude selfie, she can," she said.

More: Kim Kardashian has the perfect (naked) response to slut-shamers (PHOTO)

Winter also highlighted the gross double standard that exists between men and women, and how the former can flaunt their bodies without criticism, but women are not afforded the same respect.

"When women do it, we're really crucified, and we're not able to do the exact same thing, and I think it's really upsetting to be in an industry where that's happening, so I really decided to stand up for her because I thought it was so ridiculous," Winter explained. "You know, it's not hurting anybody at all, if somebody doesn't like the post, they can unfollow them. There's no reason to go on and publicly bash them, and I think, you know, she's promoting positivity instead of being a bad role model."

More: Ariel Winter gets emotional while talking about her estranged mom (VIDEO)

She makes an important point. While no one is asking you to praise women for their nude selfies, there is also no reason to bash someone for what is essentially their decision. Do you agree?

Share your thoughts on Ariel Winter's comments with us in the comments below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

The messy bedroom. For some moms, this fight seems like the eternal thorn in their side. It wasn’t that long ago that many of us were the teenager with the messy room, and now we’re daily going toe to toe with a kid who simply won’t put their stuff back where it belongs.

More: Mom's birth photo was just a bit too natural for Facebook

Indiana mom Alice Velásquez decided to take things to the next level when she got tired of reminding her teenage girls to keep their room clean. She gathered their stuff off of the floor, stuffed it into trash bags and held it for ransom.

Earning back their stuff was simple. She put each bag for sale for $25 dollars and required her daughters to do chores to earn money to buy back their stuff. The real trick? Everything was stuffed into bags at random.

More: Strangers call cops on dad who doesn't look like his kid

“The bags were collected as they were found in the room-random!” she explained in her viral Facebook post. “So their $25 could buy a bag of dirty clothes, it could buy a bag of trash or it could buy their soccer gear. #MayTheOddsBeEverInYourFavor”

We’ve got to hand it to this mom. Because sometimes the same old punishment of grounding or taking away privileges is ineffective, she really thought outside the box to accomplish a behavior change in her children. Teenagers have a lot on their mind, and keeping their room clean might not be a priority for them, but it is an important life skill they need to be taught. With a creative discipline approach like this one, we are sure these girls are learning to appreciate their belongings as they work hard to earn back their stuff.

More: I refuse to ruin my kids' Easter this year just because it's trendy

Since posting her strategy online — pictures of the trash bags included — her post has been shared more than 8,000 times. Her approach to demanding a clean room from her teens is receiving a lot of praise from parents online, and we expect that parents all over the country will be giving her discipline method a try. We think that’s great — parents can definitely benefit from some creative parenting practices, but you’d be wise to give it a try without posting it online, as that might embarrass your teen.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below: 

Beloved comedian Garry Shandling died unexpectedly on Thursday, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

According to the publication, The Los Angeles Fire Department was sent to Shandling's address in response to "a medical emergency." He was transported to Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, where he later died.

More: How Alan Rickman's film roles & acting genius affected my life

There is little detail surrounding the cause of Shandling's death, but according to TMZ, sources familiar with the situation revealed that he died of a massive heart attack, with no prior warning.

Tributes have poured in for Shandling, showing just how he affected the lives and careers of other leading comedians. Among the celebs inspired by Shandling's career are Steve Martin, Neil Patrick Harris, Paul Feig, Miranda Hart and Olivia Munn.

More: Céline Dion pays tribute to her late husband, René, with emotional video

Rob Lowe expressed his sadness over losing his "comedic hero," and Billy Crystal praised Shandling for being "one of the most brilliant people I've ever known."

Kathy Griffin also took to Twitter to share a heartfelt tribute to her dear friend.

Jerry Seinfeld and his wife, Jessica, celebrated Shandling with an Instagram post, in which they discussed the "beautiful, gentle, BRILLIANT sweet angel" that he was.

Jimmy Kimmel paid his respects to a man who was both kind and generous, as well as incredibly funny.

More: Tribute tweets pour in following the announcement of David Bowie's death

While Lena Dunham thanked Shandling for "redefining sitcom."

But it's not just Shandling's career that is being celebrated, but also his character. Conan O'Brien used his self-titled show's opening monologue to make a tribute to his friend, a man who he described as having a "ton of empathy for other people."

"He was extremely sensitive, he was complicated, and he had a ton of empathy for other people," O'Brien said. "That is something that in this business, in comedy, that is very rare. He really did care about other people."

It is 4:30 p.m. and the kids are running wildly through the house. There is a 5-year-old exhausted from a full day of kindergarten, a 3-and-a-half year-old who has recently decided to give up napping and a 3-month-old who is learning how to navigate the day-to-day as the third child. I assess the situation and think to myself, “Only one more hour until dinner and then we can start the bedtime routine.” No, that is not a typo and, yes, I am saying that our bedtime routine starts somewhere around 6:00 p.m. If you haven’t figured it out already, my children go to bed early.

More: 11 picture books every preschooler will love

Sleep truly is the key to maintaining your sanity as a parent, especially when you are the parent of three boys under the age of six. We learned early on just how crucial sleep is to overall healthy development, and we have not looked back on our parenting lifestyle since. Sure, it is hard to miss evening functions, leave celebrations early and have limitations on our social life but the rewards of having healthy, well-behaved and well-rested children make this crazy time of parenting young children easier to navigate. We are all happier as a result of the decision to have an earlier end to our day.

An early bedtime for the kids means that there are plenty of occasions where my husband does not see them during the week, and as hard as that may be on all individuals involved, the time they do have is just as special. None of this is to say that parents who keep their children up in order to attend events are bad parents, it is more about the reasons we’ve prioritized our children’s sleep over our desire to make it to the next party.

More: How to give parenting advice without overstepping boundaries

1. Sleep equals more sleep

After reading just about every sleep book on the market, I found that Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth resonated with our parenting style. One of his contentions is the notion that a well-rested child will sleep better and longer. In other words, more sleep equals more sleep. We have found this to be true with each of our children from infancy, and maintaining an early bedtime has undoubtably proven to be a key component to having good sleepers who sleep through the night.

2. Research supports the benefits of being well-rested

More and more studies are showing the importance of sleep for individuals of all ages, but for children in particular we know that sleep promotes growth, affects weight, beats germs, reduces risk of injury, increases attention span and boosts learning. We notice a significant difference in behavior when the boys are tired (yes, we do allow them to stay up on occasion) and encounter fewer struggles when they are rested. The older two boys are thriving in school and are typically healthy. In fact, it is when they are less rested because of a break in the routine that they catch a cold.

3. An early bedtime for the kids helps us maintain a healthy marriage

When the kids go to be at 7:00 or 7:30 p.m., my husband and I actually have a few hours to ourselves to talk, connect and enjoy time without the kids. We are able to support our marriage through the time we have alone, which is an essential component to maintaining a healthy home life and parenting young children.

So, please do not be offended if we turn down the invite for an evening out with the kids. It has little to do with our desire to be out at a social gathering and everything to do with looking out for the well-being of our children and keeping our sanity.

More: When your kid has life-threatening allergies, labels control your life

We already know that the The Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion had the wives siding against each other. In an interview with Life & Style about the special, Kandi Burruss elaborates on just how "explosive" the drama gets on the three-part reunion. According to Burruss, the ladies show new, even more dramatic sides of themselves on the reunion couch.

More: RHOA's Phaedra Parks and Kandi Burruss reopen old wounds (VIDEO)

"I thought it was going to be wack because typically Phaedra Parks doesn't like to address anything that can make her look bad on TV," Burruss said.

Parks must have thrown caution to the wind because "it ended up to where we had to address the issues as far as Phaedra and I, so that turned into a big debate between us as well as Kim. She started telling Kenya off. It was crazy!"

Burruss continued, "The other big drama was with Kim [Fields] and Kenya [Moore]. And I thought, Kim is not going to say anything; it's going to be boring. But the exact opposite happened!"

More: Kim Fields' husband fires back at Kenya Moore over gay allegations

"I wasn’t expecting that, but she came to really check some people that day. It was not the Kim we saw during the season," she said.

Either Burruss is the world's best television promoter, or we have a great reason to watch this special. Tune in to the next installment of the RHOA reunion on Bravo on Sunday, March 27.

More: Kenya Moore might be planning a big baby surprise for RHOA

Someday we'll look back and say, "It all started with Vermont." The GMO food labeling movement has been going strong for several years, but the turning point was when the state of Vermont finally passed a law making GMO labeling mandatory. General Mills was the first to say it would label everything, everywhere (it's too hard to create boxes for just one state), followed by Kellogg, ConAgra, Campbell Soup and Mars. We are finally getting the transparency we've been asking for — at least as far as GMOs go.

The question now is, will this change the way we shop?

More: General Mills will start labeling for genetically modified organisms

How much do we actually, well... GAF. I mean, when you're there in the grocery store, checking off your long shopping list, keeping your tight budget in line, keeping your kids from tearing up the place, with not a lot of time to peer at labels, not a lot of dough, are you going to read those labels and make decisions based on the information there?

Yesterday NPR Food held a Twitter conversation about GMO labeling to see what people really think. They started by asking, "Do you look for GMO labels now?"

I wonder if a lot of us want access to that information so we can decide whether or not we actually want to use it. So it's not even so much about strong feelings for GMOs. It's about feeling galled that we're denied that information. What are they hiding from us?

More: This is your chance to win a kitchen makeover worth more than $4,000

Or maybe it really is about the GMOs. In a Facebook conversation I had yesterday, my food activist friend Susan said, "As someone who has been deeply involved in the food fight for longer than most, I'd like to remind everyone that the original campaign was to ELIMINATE GMO in the food supply. Labeling it was what we settled for once it was obvious how much money we were up against."

And when you settle for just labeling, the GMOs are likely to stick around — at least that's what happened in Brazil.

Still, for a lot of people, it really is more about transparency than getting rid of GMOs altogether. We Americans practically make a religion out of choice, after all. Here are a few more thoughts on labeling:

"I already look for the "Non-GMO Verified" seal, so I'm already steering clear of a lot of these foods that are likely going to own up to including GMOs... But more knowledge is always more power." — Maressa, New Jersey

"It will change how we shop but also where we shop. For instance I would be tempted to shop for more stuff at a store that has more GMO-free products at a reasonable price versus buying only 2 premium priced items at a store that is more convenient in terms of my shopping habits. Everyone is looking to stretch the dollar. Why shouldn't health conscious consumers also be smart consumers?" — Nandita Godbole, Curry Cravings

"Sigh. I don't know ... I think stuff has all sorts of labels on it already. Companies make up labels for their own food and the government has their own set of labels, whether it means anything or not... If something had a label that said it was genetically modified, I wouldn't buy it. That is, if I read and understood said label." — Kate, Oregon

"Not a lot - I'm cognizant. But, the labels will hopefully really alter my kids' eating habits when they are away from me!" — Davida, Brooklyn

More: How to clean a burnt pot in 4 easy steps

So how about you? Will you read that GMO label, and will that change what you buy?

You know there's a bunch of crazy ingredients in your favorite cheese puffs. So what if you could make them at home?

Chef Josh Elkin figured out how to do just that, for people who are concerned about what goes into their junk food. The recipe is, well, kind of elaborate - you have to make a pâte à choux, add cheese, and then bake at a few different temps before the snack is ready. Which honestly makes the cheese balls that come in a plastic container shaped like a barrel seem like a pretty good idea right about now, and there's nothing to stop you from enjoying your store bought cheese puffs while watching a video about how their more sophisticated counterparts get made, now is there?

More: 25 Recipes for people who are obsessed with cheese

So pass the box of wine, grab a handful of cheese puffs, and get ready to "let's not and say we did" this glorious video of fancy cheese puffs getting made. At least you know that when you are feeling particularly virtuous, there's an alternative to the big orange bucket in the cupboard.

More: 21 Drool-worthy ways to reimagine mac and cheese

I’ve never been squeamish about having sex during my period thanks to my first boyfriend/the man I lost my virginity to. In the throes of young love and passion, it was a given that nothing would get in the way of our nakedness, so I don’t recall that we even discussed whether we’d stop while I was bleeding. There was no pause or ick factor — I just grabbed the towel, and we went to town — and never stopped the entire time we were together.

More: 6 reasons to love your period (yes, seriously)

Years later (when you’d think I’d have been wiser), I dated a man who thought periods were disgusting. I was all, “Hey, NBD — it’s just normal bodily fluids,” and he was all, “No way — that's gross.” He was also the boyfriend who liked to pretend I didn’t use the bathroom like a human person, not unlike Donald Trump. He literally made me turn on the tap while urinating so he didn’t have to listen to something so appalling. Yes, I kicked him to the curb, and I suggest that if you are dating/schtupping/sexting with a man who is nauseated by your bodily fluids, you also dump that guy. Just a bit of friendly advice.

Between those two, there was also the guy I met at a bar one night, whom I warned that I had my period after it was clear we were going home together. He was not flummoxed and somehow made tearing the tampon out of me into an act of tremendously hot foreplay. (I’m still very close friends with this one, because clearly he’s a keeper.)

So clearly I’m totally down with period sex, but from all the accounts I’ve heard, I’m in the minority — even among women. I wish I weren’t, because you, dear reader, are really missing out. This is in part because many of you have succumbed to the myth that getting down during your Moon Time is somehow dangerous, gross or just plain wrong. It’s really easy to internalize myths about our bodies, so let’s bust this one, shall we?

There is a long-standing (we’re going back to biblical times here) misogynist notion that menstruating women are dangerous and “ritually impure.” You can thank my ancestors, the ancient Hebrews, for that bunch of mishegoss (that’s Yiddish for crazy-town). Let’s throw this sexist baby out with the bathwater, shall we? It belongs in the same category as the notion that women were created from men’s ribs. It’s also how “obey your husband” got to be in traditional wedding vows.

More: 7 tools that make tracking your period way too fun

To this day, some Orthodox Jewish women are not allowed to have sex with or even touch their husbands while menstruating. They must visit the mikvah (ritual cleansing bath) at the end of their period before they can resume sexual relations. Some tribal cultures force women to go to menstrual huts, which appears to be the same principle.

If you want a spiritual argument for boinking during your period, consider reversing the misogyny here — maybe we are actually sacred as we shed our uterine lining, and touching us can infuse our partners with some kind of magical period pixie dust. I mean, if Hell's Angels understand that going down on a woman with her period is cause for celebration, why can't the rest of us get with the program?

It’s a nice day for a red wedding

So why have sex — or just fool around — while you’re bleeding? There’s a long list of great reasons to just go for it.

• Some women are naturally more aroused during their periods. The clitoris can be more engorged during this phase of your cycle, putting you in the mood.
• Orgasms are amazing cramp busters thanks to dopamine and oxytocin.
• Sexual activity may help with menstrual migraines.
• Orgasms can help you expel more of your period blood thanks to uterine contractions, which can help with premenstrual spotting next time around. It can also potentially shorten your period.
• It’s deeply intimate and can bring you super close to your lover. If he or she is willing to get all up in your beautiful, bloody bits, then you can really do anything — and say anything — to each other.

Quick and dirty tips for amazing period sex

• Remember that your menstrual blood is not the same consistency as lube even though it’s also liquid. And if you’re at the beginning or end of your visit from Aunt Flo, you might feel even drier than at other times of the month, so always have lube on hand.

• Remember those old towels you refused to throw away even the last time you Kondoed your house? Grab them (the darker, the better), and double them up on your bed. You can even get leak-proof sheets from Bed Bath & Beyond if you’re going to make this a habit.

• A post-coital shower with your lover is always nice.

• If you’re still worried about staining your mattress, you can just start in the shower and stay there.

• Most important: You can still get pregnant during your period. If your cycle is on the short side, then this is especially the case, so this is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Use your preferred method of birth control like you would at any other time of the month.

So the next time your little red friend shows up for her monthly dance, show her a few new steps. You might end up with fewer cramps, a shorter period and a whole lot more pleasure than you were expecting.

I’m a pro-choice woman and mother of a child with Down syndrome, a diagnosis we received prenatally. Yep. That's right. Being pro-choice does not mean someone is pro-abortion. We chose Charlie, and while I would love for all families to make the same choice, the current legislative debacle in Indiana turns my stomach.

This week, Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed a law banning abortion on the basis of race, sex or disability, telling women statewide, “Go ahead and abort a pregnancy, but don’t you dare be honest with your doctor about why; if you are, and you still have an abortion, we’ll prosecute your doctor for performing an illegal abortion."

I am appalled at how Indiana is using my child’s extra chromosome as one way to manipulate voters and restrict a woman’s right to choose how her body is used. This law will have a chilling effect on how patients and physicians interact, and it seeks to intimidate both into shunning existing rights.

More: John Legend and Chrissy Teigen got to choose their baby's sex during IVF

Some in the Down syndrome community may think this law is a win in the movement to educate the world on the contributions all people with Down syndrome offer. Unfortunately, few if any supporters of this law — and least of all Gov. Pence — are motivated to ban abortion as a means of advocating for people with Down syndrome. Pence and anti-abortion activists are clinging to my son’s extra chromosome as a technicality, a glitch in the system, enabling them to force their beliefs on women under the guise of advocating for those with disabilities.

Some may say this law sets the stage to ban prenatal testing. After all, why would anyone want to know genetic details about a baby if she’s not allowed to terminate on that basis? On the contrary, I was “of advanced maternal age,” and we learned prenatally our son Charlie has Down syndrome. That knowledge meant our physicians monitored him closely to ensure his safety. For example, more than 50 percent of babies with Down syndrome are born with heart defects, and Charlie was no exception (thankfully, his was minimal). He also developed a life-threatening condition in utero requiring fluid removal from his lungs — twice.

Yes, we struggled with the diagnosis initially, because all expectant parents have unrealistic notions of what their unborn child will become. For example, my mother imagined I would write best-sellers, and my father imagined I would be a Republican. One aspiration may happen one day; the other, much more unlikely.

More: Don't ask what's 'wrong' with my son with Down syndrome

The bottom line is, let’s call a conservative effort to ban abortion exactly what it is: a conservative effort to ban abortion. This kitchen-sink law also bans abortion on the basis of race, sex or ancestry. Numerous reasons exist why a woman may not want to continue with her pregnancy, but the government should never be able to mandate her emotions or emotional capacity to give birth. You cannot force a mother to love her child.

You cannot force a mother who feels no love for her child to allow another woman to adopt the child. The repercussions of this law are far reaching, while the governor’s focus is short-sighted: Find new ways to ban abortion.

More: 35 things all kids need

Let’s humor the legislators for a moment. Every woman in Indiana now understands they cannot have a candid conversation with her obstetrician. The relationship, based on this nonsensical law, now becomes a carefully crafted dance of semantics: “Doc, blink once if you think my child has Down syndrome.” “Patient, blink twice if you want to terminate the pregnancy because of the information I just gave you in response to your question.”

I promise, Indiana’s law will not decrease the number of Indiana women who seek abortions but rather will have a chilling effect on relationships between Indiana women and their Indiana doctors.

Pence said he signed the bill because he thinks “that a society can be judged by how it deals with its most vulnerable — the aged, the infirm, the disabled and the unborn.”

I'm thrilled Spence has spent time with families like mine, but this really isn't about Down syndrome. The broader issue is advocating for a child as much after his birth as before. How will supporters of this law also support legislation to assist families now forced to give birth to and raise an unwanted child? Will social services be bolstered to support these families, single mothers and single fathers? Will families receive a stipend (reward, if you will) to offset the costs of having an unwanted child? Will Pence contribute to those children’s college funds?

More: How breastfeeding in public can turn dangerous

How I wish such anti-abortion voters could recognize the long-term implications of forcing a woman to give birth — physically, economically and emotionally. I also wish they could show me the roster of legislation proposed and supported by conservatives to support these unwanted children as they mature and become adults.

To those who support this and other similar laws, please do not pretend you’re advocating for my child. As a country, we sorely lack appropriate funding and services for children and adults with disabilities. Anti-abortion supporters want to insist all babies are born, but where is your support for funding to ensure effective inclusion in education? You insist all children should be born but put constraints on the assistance families can access affordably or at all. You insist that all babies should be born but offer minimal solutions for ensuring quality of life and as much support for the life they are about to live as from the moment they emerge from their mother’s wombs.

More: Is Down syndrome community pro-choice or anti-abortion?

Gov. Pence, as a symbol of your support of children with Down syndrome, please fund the distribution of Lettercase materials to every single OB in your state. In lieu of college funds for these children you insist are born, at least consider providing accurate, unbiased information to every expectant parent who suspects or knows his or her child will be born with Down syndrome.

But don’t forget to add a “P.S.” on each information pamphlet: “I’ll educate you, but I’ll still condemn you for making a decision I don’t support.”