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It's easier to eat like Gwyneth Paltrow than you'd think

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Like many people in the media, I have enjoyed making a joke or two at Gwyneth Paltrow's expense. And when I announced on Facebook that I was looking through her new cookbook, It's All Easy: Delicious Weekday Recipes for the Super-Busy Home Cook, one of my friends commented, "Your longstanding gripe with Gwyneth Paltrow is hilarious."

But not so fast, friends. I wanted to give the book a fair chance. After all, Gwyneth and I have so much in common now. We're both consciously uncoupled moms. We both have super hot boyfriends. We both have happening careers. And we're both way too busy to spend hours cooking dinner night after night (especially me). And we're both dark-haired daughters of Mexican immigrants raised in obscurity in middle America. Oh wait, that's just me.

More: How to make the tastiest, cheesiest, easiest pasta of your life

Anyway, I gathered my boyfriend and my son (who happens to be around Apple's age) and asked each of them to pick a couple recipes for us to try out. I picked two as well.

In total, I made six of the recipes and spent about $120. However, I didn't use up all of the ingredients, and I got leftovers on a few of the dishes. So we're not in $200 smoothie territory here. I found the recipes largely accessible in terms of cost.

So! First up was the avocado toast with spring vegetables: an open-face sandwich with avocado, radishes, lemon zest, olive oil and pea shoots "if available." I have none available, but that's OK. I made it right at the office in about five minutes. This sandwich was so transporting I didn't want another taste in my mouth for the rest of the afternoon. It's that lemon zest. I'm putting it in everything for the rest of spring.

avocado toast
Image: Adriana Velez/SheKnows

On a cold, rainy evening, I made one of my boyfriend's picks, the ginger carrot soup. Let me tell you something about this man. You've heard that there are no picky children in India because they all grow up eating spicy food as babies? It's a lie. There are picky eaters in India, and my boyfriend was one of them. His mother cooked him a separate dinner of potatoes night after night. He is 80 percent potato at this point.

He doesn't even like carrot soup. But he liked this soup. "Wow, this really elevates it!" He especially liked how gingery it is.

ginger carrot soup
Image: Adriana Velez/SheKnows

My son chose the carbonara, which in It's All Easy calls for bucatino. Go ahead and use spaghetti, though. We made this together, whisking the egg yolks with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and tossing with diced, crisp bacon.

carbonara
Image: Adriana Velez/SheKnows

My son and I hadn't cooked together since Christmas, so this was especially fun. And the recipe makes enough for a feast, so he was noshing on the stuff for days after.

More: 16 easy recipes for a perfect spring picnic

We also made his second pick, pan bagnat, together. This is tuna in olive oil, arugula, red onion slices, sun-dried tomatoes, basil leaves and eggs, layered on a baguette with mustard. (At his request, we held the anchovies, capers and olives.) Having experienced the exasperation and dismay of falling layers, we recommend using a baguette wide enough for all that stacking.

pan bagnat
Image: Adriana Velez/SheKnows

I wrapped up this baby and cut it into individual sandwiches to pack in my son's lunch through the week. He loved it. "How was your sandwich, son?" "Beautiful," he said. For context, he regularly discards half his lunch, so this is a big deal. Also, what 12-year-old boy describes a sandwich as beautiful? We are so doing this sandwich again, every week, until he's sick of it.

A note: The recipe calls for 16 ounces of that olive oil tuna, which can be expensive. But we found that a 6.7 ounce jar was plenty.

More: 25 drool-worthy dishes that will make you fall in love with Korean food

We make bibimbap almost every week because my boyfriend loves it -- surprisingly. He's addicted to the version from Lukas Volger's Bowl cookbook. The goop version is made with cauliflower rice -- or couscous, as she calls it -- and kimchee, but no gochujang sauce. It took longer than 30 minutes to cook because I was trying to get the cauliflower to brown like rice, which was a pretty delusional thing for me to attempt because: cauliflower. However, I am glad I used Trader Joe's cauliflower rice instead of making my own.

I didn't get paid for that TJ name-drop, but if they want to send me a crate of free cauliflower rice for no reason, I am 100 percent OK with that, just so they know.

bibimbap
Image: Adriana Velez/SheKnows

Is this really even bibimbap? I don't think so. But whatever this is, it's delicious and I'd make it again -- with an egg on it. My boyfriend gamely tried one bite. My son had already filled up on leftover carbonara. Fine. More for me.

And then there were the crispy potatoes with lemon and parsley. Insanely easy. You boil fingerling potatoes for about 15 minutes, drain, smash a bit and cook until crunchy in olive oil. Once again, fresh lemon zest turns something pretty good into fantastic.

smashed potatoes
Image: Adriana Velez/SheKnows

Alas, it was a little too easy for my boyfriend, who prefers his potatoes parboiled, then peeled, then thinly sliced, then cooked. That's the dish all of his family members ask if I've made him yet. And the answer is no, I love him but that's some high maintenance potato business there. Can't I just get him to start liking the peelings?

I liked the potatoes quite a bit, though, and quickly packed them up into little packets to freeze for future lunches. Once again, truly easy.

So there you go. I can't make fun of this book. Sorry, friends. I tried. But I like it so much I'm even keeping it for future use. Don't tell Gwyneth.

Keep reading for recipes from It's All Easy!

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it's all easy
Image: Ditte Isager/goop press/Grand Central Life & Style

All recipes excerpted from It's All Easy by Gwyneth Paltrow. Copyright © 2016 by Gwyneth Paltrow. Reprinted with permission from Grand Central Live & Style. All rights reserved.

avocado toast with spring vegetables
Image: Ditte Isager/goop press/Grand Central Life & Style

Spring veggie avocado toast recipe

Vegan, like spring on a plate. We even eat this for dinner sometimes.

Serves 1

Prep time: under 30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 slice of your favorite bread
  • 1/4 to 1/2 avocado, depending on size, sliced
  • 1 to 2 radishes, very thinly sliced
  • Meyer lemon or regular lemon zest
  • Olive oil
  • Coarse sea salt
  • Pea shoots, if available

Directions:

  1. Toast the bread.
  2. Top with the avocado, sliced radishes, lemon zest, a drizzle of olive oil, salt and fresh pea shoots, if you can find them.

carbonara
Image: Ditte Isager/goop press/Grand Central Life & Style

Carbonara recipe

Carbonara is the perfect lazy dinner — it’s cozy, comforting and shockingly easy to make — not to mention the fact that everyone almost always has the ingredients on hand. Keep some cubed bacon or pancetta in the freezer so you can make this anytime, in just minutes.

Serves 4

Prep time: under 30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • Salt
  • 4 ounces pancetta or bacon, cut into small dice
  • 2 egg yolks (or 3, to make it extra creamy)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1-1/2 cups finely grated Parmesan cheese, plus more as needed
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
  • 3/4 pound bucatini

Directions:

  1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat for the pasta.
  2. In an 8-inch sauté pan, cook the pancetta over medium heat until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Combine the egg yolks, egg, Parmesan and pepper in a large bowl.
  4. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the hot pasta cooking water (the temperature is important because you are going to use it to cook the egg) and set aside. Next, drain the pasta, and add it to the bowl with the cheese and eggs, tossing immediately to mix everything together.
  5. Add the pancetta and any rendered fat from the pan to the bowl, toss to coat, and add the pasta water 1 tablespoon at a time until the sauce reaches a creamy consistency (this usually takes about 1/4 cup).
  6. Adjust with extra cheese, pepper and salt to taste.

ginger carrot soup
Image: Ditte Isager/goop press/Grand Central Life & Style

Ginger carrot soup recipe

This ubiquitous combo has been around for ages, popping up at spas, restaurants and even the canned soup aisle at the supermarket. I’ve had a million iterations of this soup, but our (gluten-free) version, naturally sweet from slowly sautéed onion and bright with lots of fresh ginger, is particularly good (and easy!). Don’t bother peeling the carrots for this recipe — just give them a good scrub to remove any dirt.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 large onion, cut in half and thinly sliced
  • Salt
  • 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 pound carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 2-1/2 cups)
  • 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

  1. Heat the coconut oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt, cover the pot and sauté over low heat for about 20 minutes, until the onion is very soft and sweet.
  2. Add the garlic and ginger, sauté for 1 minute, then add the cumin, coriander and garam masala. Sauté for another minute, then add the carrots, stock and another big pinch of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer gently for about 20 minutes, or until the carrots are very tender.
  3. Carefully transfer the soup in batches to a high-speed blender, or blend the soup directly in the pot with an immersion blender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Anime fans are fuming over Scarlett Johansson's whitewashed new role

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Scarlett Johansson's latest role is bringing accusations of whitewashing and prejudice against Asian actresses, and the critics have a point.

Johansson was just announced to play the lead in Paramount Pictures' Ghost in the Shell, which is great news — except the role is Major Motoko Kusanagi, a special ops human-cyborg hybrid and a character originating in a popular Japanese anime series.

Ghost in the Shell promo

Ghost in the Shell promo

More: Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans slut-shame Scarlett Johansson's character

So why is a white actress playing an Asian character? That's what fans would like to know.

In fact, some are so incensed that a petition has been started in an attempt to get Dreamworks to recast the role.

"The original film is set in Japan, and the major cast members are Japanese. So why would the American remake star a white actress?" the petition overview reads. "The industry is already unfriendly to Asian actors without roles in major films being changed to exclude them. One recent survey found that in 2013, Asian characters made up only 4.4 percent of speaking roles in top-grossing Hollywood films."

So far, more than 67,000 people have signed the petition.

More: Teen Wolf's Arden Cho calls out another whitewashed movie casting

The casting news is making waves on Twitter, too.

Tweets about Scarlett Johansson whitewashing

Tweets about Scarlett Johansson whitewashing

The uproar mirrors that of the criticism Cameron Crowe faced for casting Emma Stone, a white actress, as a mixed-race Hawaiian and Chinese character in his film Aloha.

More: 8 times Hollywood whitewashed the Bible

I signed over guardianship of my kids so I could serve my country

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The first time I walked into a Navy recruiting station eight years ago, I didn't know what to expect, but I had one huge detail looming over my head: the guardianship of my two children.

At the time, I was a single parent to two boys, ages 4 and 8.

I was straight up about my situation with them, and in return they gave me a pre-test for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery exam to see if I was even worth talking to — especially considering my situation would give them more paperwork than the typical future sailor, or DEPers, as those in the Delayed Entry Program were often called. I scored just high enough for them to continue talking to me, and they told me that I would have to score about 10 points higher to get a decent job in the Navy, pointing me to a study guide. They figured that if I weren't serious about actually taking the ASVAB, they wouldn't have to get into the complicated mess of child custody for single parents coming into the military.

More: What raising kids and fighting terrorism have in common

But I was serious, and after a few months and a lot of study time, I was back and confident enough to take the real test. We made arrangements for me to go to Pittsburgh to take the ASVAB, and they told me that I would have to decide what I wanted to do with my children, and whether I should go active-duty Navy or reserve Navy, and that to go Active-Duty Navy I would have to sign over my parental rights long-term to my children.

They mentioned this because when a new sailor comes into the Navy, they have to pick orders at school, which are often based on class rankings. Typically, shore-duty billets, or assignments, aren't on this list; rather, it's filled with sea-duty billets. An active-duty sailor can expect to spend some time in their home port where they are stationed, but can also expect a lot of travel time.

I personally chose to go into the Navy Reserves. I didn't have a civilian job that I loved, but I knew I couldn't handle that initial long separation from my children and I knew that I had to protect that.

A Reservist parent goes to basic training, their A-school, and then checks in with the Reserve command of their choice. After that, most choose to go back home to be with their families. Reservists can expect to go to additional schools and even deploy, but they only drill once a month and can even go back to their pre-Navy job if they wish.

More: 12 celeb parents whose tattoos are like love letters to their kids

With the congressman in my district guiding me, I drew up papers that granted my parents guardianship of my children and a financial power of attorney for my uncle to help ensure my children were financially taken care of as well.

If I had signed physical custody over to my parents, I would have had to go through a judge and it would have been a more permanent decision, and I would likely have to go through a judge again to get back physical custody of my children. I had heard horror stories from other military members trying to regain physical custody of their children from their family members, so I chose guardianship instead. It was the most responsible way to outline care for my children while also protecting my rights as their mom.

Our guardianship papers detailed not only who would care for my children in my absence, but also specified that I would automatically regain custody of my children upon my return. I signed the papers with my parents the week that I left, and it was in that moment that I realized that it was real — I was really going to leave my babies and go be a part of something that was bigger than myself so that I could become a better person and mother.

I felt a call to duty, and I knew that I had to answer it. Despite having a college degree, there was nothing for me back home in terms of work, aside from jobs at gas stations or in bars, and I needed to find a way to have an advantage over others in the workforce so I could provide for my children. While I was away, my parents cared for the boys at their home and I did everything I could to talk to them. When we were issued our boots in basic training, our Recruit Division Commander told us that whoever had the shiniest boots would get a five-minute phone call. Of course, I rose to the challenge and beat out 80 people in my division by shining those boots for two hours so I could talk to my boys.

Once I got to A-school, I bought a cellphone for my parents so we could exchange photos more easily. They sent me drawings and school papers through the mail, and I kept everything in a red binder that I still have today. In turn, I sent them bi-weekly care packages in flat-rate boxes filled with trinkets, T-shirts, letters, photos and toys. My training lasted from April 2010 until November 2010, and during that time, I lived in the barracks.

While I was away, I missed all of our birthdays, but knew that I would likely be home the next year so I tried to keep my spirits high and make them as special as I could from afar. When I left training for home, I didn't tell my family that I was coming and surprised them out of the blue one morning, as one of my Navy buddies happened to be on leave, in the area, and willing to pick me up from the airport. Hearing my boys come running to the door yelling “Mom's home! Mom's home!” was the best feeling in the whole world.

More: An open letter to Beverly Cleary: Thanks for making me a better mom

Because I specified that I would regain guardianship upon my return, the moment I stepped onto my parent's property was the moment I regained custody. I am thankful that we had set it up that way because when I did come home, the details were already worked out and everyone was on the same page. I was able to step right back into my role as a mom, without the interference of the courts or additional paperwork.

I spent five years in the Reserves, and during that time, I was not able to deploy because I was unfortunately diagnosed with a severe health condition. Instead, I worked with the public affairs office doing photography work for my command, which is a skill I learned while in the Navy. If I had to do everything all over again, I absolutely would: Joining the Navy was honestly one of the best things I could do to quickly advance my life. I met amazing people, learned new skills and even showed my kids that no matter what, anything is possible.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

celebrity tattoos
Image: SheKnows

Mother's Day gift ideas that will make Mom feel oh-so-pretty

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Mother's Day is right around the corner, which means we're getting down to the gift-buying wire. What present could possibly show the woman who made you how much she means to you? The answer is quite simple. Our favorite beauty and style goodies will make Mom feel like her best self.

To make it easy on you, we've broken down our Mother's Day gift guide into the products that best suit your Mom's "type." There's a little something for everyone:

The jet-setting mama

Jet Lag Legs Cures to Go

Jet lag legs
Image: Beauty Concepts

Make jet lag a thing of the past with this convenient kit. Mom will feel ready to beat any post-flight woes — and the dreaded post-flight swelling — with a cooling and invigorating lotion designed to increase circulation and flush excess fluid from the legs and feet. (Beauty Concepts, $40)

Oribe The Collection Travel Set

Travel set
Image: Oribe

Mom has enough to worry about leading up to a family vacation. Ease her packing load a bit by gifting her with luxurious pre-packed travel sized shampoo, conditioner and masks. This set from Oribe includes seven dual packets so Mom can mix and match her faves for her daily hair needs. (Oribe, $26)

More: How to pack a cosmetics carry-on bag

Go Go Golosh Shadow Belle Boots

Go Go Golosh
Image: Go Go Golosh

Traveling from one climate to the next means one thing: unexpected weather. Prep Mom for any surprise showers with an easy-to-pack pair of rain boots like this new line of galoshes designed to be worn over your precious ballet flats and heels. They're foldable, lightweight and come in an array of fun colors.(Go Go Golosh, $100)

The skin care junkie

Joanna Vargas Daily Hydrating Cream

Joanna Vargas Daily Hydrating Cream
Image: Joanna Vargas

What gal doesn't dream of glowing skin? We sure do. Give Mom deep hydration, a youthful radiance and serious anti-aging properties this Mother's Day with Joanna Vargas' daily hydrating cream. Trust us, this is one product you'll find yourself "borrowing" from Mom once you give it to her. (Joanna Vargas, $75)

Black Rock Mud Company Mudpot Natural Mud Mask

Black Rock Mud Company Mudpot Natural Mud Mask
Image: Black Rock Mud Company

The ultimate gift you can give to a skin care junkie for Mother's Day is a unique face mask. Lucky for you, we're taking the guesswork out of finding the perfect one. This gluten-free mud mask is 100 percent natural and features sleek packaging that can grow wildflowers once planted. Cool, right? (Black Rock Mud Company, $99)

More: 11 skin care mistakes you're probably making

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Cla
Image: First Aid Beauty

Skin care junkies will fall for this gel deep cleanser formulated with Red Clay. In just a few minutes, this little baby removes excess oils, unclogs pores and purifies skin, leaving it feeling soft, supple and clean. It's quickly become our new go-to, and we're sure it'll be Mom's new fave too. (First Aid Beauty, $24)

Next Up: The mom who's kinda fashion-obsessed

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The mom who's kinda fashion-obsessed

Yosi Samra Samara Leather Ballet Flats

Ballet flats
Image: Yosi Samra

Fashionable and practical? We're down with that, and we think Mom will be too. Yosi Samra's comfortable yet chic ballet flats are designed with an elastic band, cushioning and a thick rubber sole, so they're ideal for busy ladies. Even better? They come in a convenient travel bag. (Yosi Samra, $86)

Marshalls gift card

Marshalls gift card
Image: Marshalls

If you're shopping for a fashion-forward yet picky mom, you want to give her options. Odds are, you also want to stay within a budget. This Mother's Day, give Mom the gift of affordable style with a gift card to Marshalls. She'll be able to score her fave brands for way less than retail price, and you can show her you were listening when she told you to always look out for a great deal. (Marshalls stores, prices vary)

Crystal Tear Drop Earrings

Tear drop earrings
Image: Lavish by Tricia Milaneze

Show mom how much she means to you and how fashionable you think she is with a gorgeous piece of jewelry from Lavish by Tricia Milaneze. Mom always gave you pearls of wisdom, so a pretty set of crystal earrings seems like the next best thing. (Lavish Jewelry, $98)

The pro makeup artist in disguise

Sonia Kashuk Knock Out Beauty Brush Set

Makeup brush set
Image: Target

A beauty addict can never have enough makeup brushes. This Mother's Day, get the makeup fiend mom in your life this set of colorful and luxe brushes from Sonia Kashuk. Featuring 12 brushes decorated with inspirational sayings, the kit has everything she could possibly need to create a pretty face. (Target, $40)

bliss fabulips ‘pout’-o-matic lip-perfecting system

Lip-perfecting system
Image: Bliss

Shopping for a lipstick junkie this Mother's Day? She's likely already got enough lip products to envy even Sephora so do her a favor and help perfect that pout she loves to show off with this lip-perfecting device from bliss. Thanks to gentle rotation and a custom-designed head with massaging nubs, this baby exfoliates and stimulates lips, buffing away flakiness and dryness. (Bliss, $48)

More: Makeup artist shows that anyone can be transformed into Liz Taylor (WATCH)

Tabletop Spinning Cosmetic Organizer by Lori Greiner

Spinning cosmetic organizer
Image: QVC

What do you get the beauty junkie who has everything for Mother's Day? Some extra storage space. Mom can arrange all her fave makeup in this spinning organizer. It holds over 100 pieces and features specially designed compartments so mom can feel totally organized. (QVC, $30)

Next Up: The mom who needs a GD break

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The mom who needs a GD break

Pamella Roland Signature Candle

Pamella Roland candle
Image: Pamella Rowland

After a long day at work, moms need a bit of TLC to help them face the next day. Lighting a relaxing candle and taking a bubble bath is always a nice way to unwind, if you ask us. Set the tune for her evening with a soothing, earthy scent like this gem, Pamella Roland's first foray into the home space. (Pamella Roland, $55)

Aveda’s gift to melt away stress

Stress kit
Image: Aveda

Chase the stress away with Aveda's proven stress-relieving stress-fix™ aroma blends this season. This stress-busting set features a stress-fix™ soy wax candle, stress-fix™ creme cleansing oil and the brand's stress-fix™ body creme. Used together or alone, each item in the set is formulated with soothing, relaxing scents to help bring on the relaxation. (Aveda, $69)

Kat Burki Raw Sugar Body Scrub

Sugar body scrub
Image: Kat Burki

What's more relaxing than a nice, long bath? We can't imagine anything. Help Mom escape the daily grind with this nourishing and exfoliating body scrub from Kat Burki. Designed especially for skin desperately in need of some TLC, the scrub sloughs off the dead stuff and leaves skin soft and glowing from head-to-toe. (Kat Burki, $48)

The Earth Mother, aka Alicia Silverstone's BFF

Organic Doctor Moroccan Argan Oil Hair Gift Box

Organic Doctor Moroccan Argan Oil Hair Gift Box
Image: Vitamin World

Show Mom you appreciate her natural beauty with this organic hair gift set, made from the finest natural ingredients. For only $46, you can get her Moroccan Argan Oil Hair Treatment Serum, Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner. Pretty sweet deal, right? (Vitamin World, $46)

Moroccanoil Hydration Essentials Collection

Hair hydration kit
Image: Moroccanoil

If Mom hasn't jumped on the argan oil bandwagon yet, Mother's Day is the perfect time to do so. This season, Moroccanoil is offering this luxe hair gift set (it includes Moroccanoil Treatment, Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Intense Hydrating Mask) filled with antioxidant-rich argan oil goodies. The best part? It's housed in a beautiful Mediterranean blue travel pouch. (Moroccanoil, $49)

KORA Organics by Miranda Kerr Purse Pack

Miranda Kerr kit
Image: Amazon

Busy moms on the go are always in need of a few beauty essentials they can carry in their purse. The fact that this kit is made of safe, organic ingredients ups its appeal even more. KORA Organics' Purse Pack includes the brand's Daily Hand Cream, Vitamin Enhanced Lip Balm and Energising Citrus Mist so Mom will be ready for any beauty scenario she encounters. (Amazon, $85)

Updated by Bethany Ramos on 4/13/2016

10 signs you and your sibling have a huge age gap

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My younger brother and I have a nearly 8-year age gap, which means we didn't quite relate to most sibling relationships we saw with our peers. We weren't very close growing up, and sometimes it feels like we are too different to even be related. Having a huge age gap makes for a very unique sibling relationship, but one that I wouldn't trade for anything else.

Here are 10 weird things that anyone with a big sibling age gap knows to be true:

1. You grow up with totally different parents

I grew up with new parents in their early 20s trying to figure out how this whole parenting thing works, and my brother had established parents who had him when they were in their 30s. It's like we were raised by two completely different couples, who had very different parenting styles.

More: 10 signs you have an older sister in your life

2. When you're both adults, it's super exciting

You grow up in completely different stages, so when the younger one finally reaches adulthood it's like the door to friendship opens. You can finally hang out without feeling like one of you is the babysitter, and going out for drinks together becomes a momentous milestone.

3. You don't have any mutual friends

One of the best things about having a huge age gap with your sibling is that you have totally different circles of friends. When one of you is still in elementary school while the other is graduating high school, you definitely don't have to worry about friend jealousy.

4. You don't get each other's pop culture references

Even though we're both technically millennials, I am an '80s baby, and my brother was born in the mid-'90s. We had almost no overlap in pop culture. He knows not of the Beyoncé of Destiny's Child, and I don't really get the whole Spongebob Squarepants thing. It's cool though — that's just another thing we don't have to share.

More: Your cranky mom could get you fined for not visiting her enough

5. You're always in different life stages

Maybe our lives will start evening out when we're in our 70s, but until then, we will always be in totally different stages of life. He was in diapers while I was dealing with my first heartbreak. He was getting his driver's license while I was pregnant with my second child. We're always on different pages in life, which keeps the conversation interesting.

6. The older one ruins everything

OK, maybe not everything, but I did ruin a whole lot for my younger brother by putting my parents through the wringer. Our parents had plenty of time to come up with good plans to curb the bad behavior precedent I set. I got away with partying and sneaking out while he had to endure a 9:30 p.m. curfew until he was a senior in high school. The first one sets the expectation, and the younger one suffers.

7. You have different childhoods

My parents did a lot of the "special" childhood moments with me — like Disneyland and big birthday parties and holiday crafts — while my brother got the shaft. When you come up seven years behind your older sibling, your mom will likely be over breaking her back to make your childhood Pinterest-worthy and magical.

More: 24 photos of Sasha and Malia Obama growing up before our eyes

8. You both get to be the "only child"

I had nearly eight years of only child time before my brother entered the world, and he had a full eight years after I left the house to be an "only child" too. While it sometimes gets annoying being the center of your parents' attention, it also rocks to have everything be about you when you're a kid.

9. You have a built-in mentoring program

I always get to feel like the sage mentor, walking my young adult brother through new life experiences. I helped him get in with all my favorite college professors and set him up with an envy-worthy schedule. I knew how to help him deal with the teenage angst he felt towards our parents. I get to be his go-to person for life advice, which is a cool position to hold.

10. It takes a while to understand each other

When you're constantly in totally different stages in life, it's hard to relate to one another. We were never close growing up, but my brother said he finally understood "why I was so angry all the time" when he too became a teenager dealing with our parents. There are a lot of "aha" moments to be had when you have a large sibling age gap.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

sibling quotes
Image: redheadpictures/Getty Images

Girls: The Jessa-Adam hook-up stole a page from my relationship past

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“Are Jessa and Adam f***ing?” Hannah demanded of Marnie. It’s a rhetorical question because Hannah witnessed the alliance of her friend and ex-boyfriend with her own eyes, their sexual chemistry radiating across the courtyard, in the Girls episode entitled “Hello Kitty.”

Image: HBO

I wanted to put my arm around Hannah and say, yes, this is happening. And like me, you’re going to have to watch their love unfold because you’re part of the same crowd.

“What the f*** is wrong with people?” was Hannah’s follow-up.

Indeed.

More: Girls: 16 times Hannah made us feel less self-involved by comparison

Hannah's epiphany came when she and a few of her group went to watch Adam in an audience-participation play set in various apartments in a large prewar building. Hannah follows the show’s action by looking out the window, but she gets distracted by Jessa, standing on a fire escape like Romeo’s better half, staring lovingly at Adam. And so, the truth is revealed.

Image: HBO

My epiphany came at a less glamorous Baskin-Robbins. I was with my rather large Bronx neighborhood crowd, hanging in the park. My former boyfriend F. was there, and even though I had begun seeing someone else, in that same Hannah-Fran way, I wanted to be mature and able to chat with F. as friends. Like Hannah and Adam, F. and I began as an obsession, with me targeting him and chasing him until F., à la Hannah’s scruffy Brooklyn hipster, got so used to me being around that he started to like me back. Breaking up was my idea but not my choice. I would have preferred he’d treated me in the way I wanted from a boyfriend. Like Hannah, I had to walk away, still in love but not able to take the hurt anymore.

More: 20 amazing quotes from Girls we can totally relate to

The afternoon was social and fun, so when someone suggested adding B-R into the festivities, we moved as a herd, navigating the streets of our outer borough. As we all waited our turns to order, I heard a familiar voice rise above the din to ask my friend M., “Do you want yours in a cone or a cup?” I turned around and saw her cute-as-a-button face blushing and his eager-to-please look.

Apropos of Girls, where Elijah was with both Marnie and Hannah, Ray was with Shosh and Marnie, Hannah had been with Adam’s brother-in-law Laird, Jessa hooked up with the ex of Adam's then-girlfriend Mimi-Rose and Hannah enjoyed the company of Jessa's 19-year-old stepbrother, my crew knew from intergroup dating interchanges. Of course, it all seems pretty reasonable — until it happens to you.

Image: HBO

“They were doing it behind my back, right in front of my face,” Hannah ranted, echoing my own thoughts as I suddenly lost my taste for rocky road. I started to think of every time F. and I were together and decided he was really thinking of M.

I now viewed myself as a placeholder, someone he was biding his time with while he waited out her former relationship — yes, a guy from our crowd who was currently dating a different one of our friends.

Even harder, naturally, was the first time I saw them as a real couple, walking and holding hands. I showed a lot of Hannah-esque restraint, being awkwardly friendly. See, I’m good with this, I tried to project as I fought back tears because I feared that if I let the dam burst, I would never stop crying. The most painful thing was seeing what a great couple they made, looking so much more like they belonged together than F. and I ever did. I relived the feeling when I watched Hannah’s enviable gaze at “those two tree-huggers” as they walked off, both long and lean, very boho cool.

In the following episode, “Homeward Bound,” the bloom starts to come off Jessa’s rose during Adam’s babysitting debacle, evidenced by his comment, “Why do you need more help than a baby?”

I know how that goes, too.

Image: HBO

About a year later, I ran into F. and we stood on the corner and caught up. I found it in me to ask how M. was, and after the perfunctory “fine,” he began to talk — or, rather, complain — about their relationship. I went numb.

More: Lena Dunham: Girls gives people a realistic view of sex

I had moved on. It wasn’t easy, but it happened; fueled by the anger from feeling as though I’d been used and made a fool of. I was not going to allow myself to get my hopes up that he was telling me his sob story as an apology or a way to let me think there was still a chance for us. Feeling the beginnings of an anxiety attack, I said a hasty “Good to see you. Tell M. I said hi,” before I ran off.

Image: HBO

Tonight is the Girls two-episode Season 5 Finale. I don’t know how Hannah will resolve her feelings about her ex-boyfriend and estranged bestie being together. I just hope she handles it way better than I did.

Does The Vampire Diaries breakup mean a Steroline reunion is coming soon?

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The Vampire Diaries breakup between Valerie and Stefan (Paul Wesley) means the show is shifting pretty quickly towards a Steroline reunion. And I don't know how to feel about it.

More: 9 best The Vampire Diaries couples through the years

On the one hand, I had a feeling Stefan and Valerie weren't meant to be one another's endgame. And Alaric and Caroline have always seemed weird to me, given that her love for him seems like it's more for their kids than actually for him.

On the other hand, Valerie was Stefan's first love, and there was something kind of beautiful in that. Plus, she was totally there for him and supportive no matter what. What is it with women being there emotionally for Stefan when he can't be there for them? (I'm thinking back to the beginnings of Steroline here, too.)

I think Valerie summed it up perfectly in her emotional breakup speech when she told him, "You don’t love me the way I love you, and the guilt of that sacrifice would eat you alive. The truth is, I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you, but that’s not true for you."

More: 16 Vampire Diaries Klaroline moments that are swoon-worthy

Talk about pulling at our heartstrings!

But it's true: Stefan has had many great loves: Katherine, Elena, Caroline and, yes, Valerie in her own way. I mean, it makes sense, given that he's been alive for over a hundred years, but which lady is his endgame? His ultimate? Katherine and Elena are out for obvious reasons, and if Valerie's out, then that leaves Caroline. But that's a problem, since not only did Klaus call dibs on Caroline first but now Caroline also has Alaric in her life. And she's about to marry him.

Uh, cue Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" playing on repeat in my mind as I imagine Stefan standing up and objecting to Alaric and Caroline's wedding.

Taylor Swift speak now

Taylor Swift speak now

How many bad weddings and relationships can Alaric possibly have? The guy should just elope. Or maybe just stop trying to marry vampires, witches and the like.

More: The Vampire Diaries boss stuns fans with unexpected Klaroline remark

Because let's be real: Caroline is definitely not Alaric's version of a happily ever after.

Do you think Stefan will object during the wedding, or is he too much of a good guy for that?

Shark Tank entrepreneurs shouldn't mix business with romance

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It's always interesting to observe couples' dynamics when they appear on Shark Tank. Some make great teams, tackling business deals with the same strategic savvy they apply to everything from household chores to relationship drama. Others force one spouse to do all the talking while the other gazes on awkwardly. Tonight's featured couple seemed to work well together, but they made a remark that came across as a poor ploy for pity.

More: Shark Tank's NoPhone is an insult to real entrepreneurs

Nobody wants to leave the Tank empty-handed, but the stakes were especially high for entrepreneurs Angela Ferendo and Steve Watts. The two desperately want their brand — Slyde Handboards — to succeed, and not just because they have a lot of money at stake. Evidently, marital harmony is not possible without the Sharks' assistance: Ferendo claimed that her beau would not be putting a ring on it if their pleas for investor money went unheeded.

Shark Tank Slyde
Image: ABC

To be fair, the entrepreneurs put all of the money they had been saving for a wedding into their business. But it's a little excessive to claim that it's impossible to get married without a successful Shark Tank pitch. People get married every day for merely the cost of a wedding license. Ferendo and Watts' dream wedding may be in jeopardy, but their ability to get married in the first place certainly isn't. The Sharks can help take the couple's business to the next level but arguably should not be required to "jumpstart [their] life together."

More: Shark Tank's Sharks go overboard with health product critiques

The crazy thing is that we almost had a wedding on Shark Tank tonight! How cool would that have been? Kevin O'Leary is an officiant, and while he didn't seem particularly interested in investing, he'd have been happy to marry the couple right then and there. Not too many people can say they've been married in the Tank, but evidently, this idea didn't live up to Ferendo and Watts' idea of holy matrimony.

Mr. Wonderful
Image: ABC

Viewers love the idea of a Shark Tank wedding and were thus very disappointed to see the geniuses behind Slyde Handboards reject O'Leary's offer. Daymond John, however, was very understanding. Would O'Leary as officiant really make for a wonderful wedding?

Daymond John Mr. Wonderful

Daymond John Mr. Wonderful

Shark Tank marriage

Shark Tank marriage

Shark Tank wedding

Shark Tank wedding

It's great to see an ambitious young couple chasing their dreams, but their motivation may be a bit misguided. Shark Tank should not serve as funding for a dream wedding but rather as a means of getting businesses off the ground.

More: 5 most memorable quotes from Shark Tank guest Chris Sacca

Would you have liked to see a wedding on Shark Tank? Comment and share your opinion below.


Kim Richards clearly just wants attention on The Mother/Daughter Experiment

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More: Brandi Glanville slammed for wearing offensive shirt around Kim Richards

We're six episodes into The Mother/Daughter Experiment and Kim Richards has been in almost as many fights. If that's an exaggeration, it's not too much of one — the former RHOBH cast member has taken on housemates Heidi Montag and Natalie Nunn, and on Friday's episode, Nunn and Richards fought yet again. It's the second time Nunn has accused Richards' daughter, Kimberly Jackson, and the other young women in the house, of spreading "rumors" about her which they found online. (In the girls' defense, it's probably pretty boring in that house when people aren't crying or screaming at each other — what else are they going to do?) 

More: RHOBH's Kyle Richards gives an update on Kim Richards' health

There is just so much fighting on this show. I don't think it's more than on other reality shows, but it's certainly more concentrated, and it seems to regularly emanate from Richards and Nunn. Here's my theory about this: the main dramatic engine of this season is Courtney Stodden and her mom, Krista Keller. It's not even debatable, and it makes sense. Of course the relationship between a 21-year-old who married a 51-year-old man when she was 16, and her mother, who recently admitted to having some kind of affair with said 51-year-old, is going to take center stage. It's rather unfortunate for the rest of The Mother/Daughter Experiment cast, who were always going to be secondary to that storyline, especially the lesser-known folks.

If you're Kim Richards, though, and you've spent basically your entire life on the screen, there's no way you're going to leave one reality show for another only to not be the main focus.

Natalie Nunn is also a reality TV veteran in her own right (I may or may not have recognized her immediately from her Bridezillas episode — don't judge me), and she's obviously also not into being a minor player. So what I'm saying is, neither of these two is going to let Courtney Stodden's troubled relationship with her mother stop them from getting their own attention. And if that means Richards and Nunn have to fight with each other to stay relevant, then — well, bring it on.

It's only totally possible that I'm wrong, and the drama between Richards and Nunn has nothing to do with attention seeking and everything to do with Richards being super mad that Nunn keeps trying to start trouble with her daughter. But how likely is that, actually? I think we all know the answer.

More: Kim and Kyle Richards finally find their maturity on RHOBH

What do you think is behind the constant fighting on The Mother/Daughter Experiment? Is it about attention? Tell us in the comments!

Before you go, check out our slideshow below!

Brandi Glanville through the years

Nick Jonas calls Julia Louis-Dreyfus old and women everywhere die inside

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Goodness, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, you're 55. How do you find the strength to leave your house, never mind host Saturday Night Live? No worries; I am flush with sarcasm right now. The Veep star, who will host SNL with musical guest Nick Jonas this week, appeared in a promo ad that proved her age would probably be the butt of a few jokes. Exhibit A: Jonas implied Louis-Dreyfus was old after Girls actress and comedian Aidy Bryant warned her to keep her hands off of the hot singer.

The trio joined forces for the promo, in which Jonas serves as resident beefcake. "Julia, don't even try and talk to Nick because he already says he loves me and I'm his wife," Bryant joked. After Jonas rejects her advances and she storms off the stage, Louis-Dreyfus attempts to impress him by boasting about her veteran status on the show. Jonas interrupts her, saying, "So you're old enough to be my —" before the actress cuts in with, "Biggest fan!"

SNL vid promo 2

SNL vid promo 2

This is the first time since 2007 that Louis-Dreyfus will host SNL after getting her acting start on the show back in the early '80s. In those days, the actress admitted, things were very different. She recently told The New York Times that it didn't serve as quite the launchpad for her career as she had hoped: "I did not come out of SNL as any kind of name," Louis-Dreyfus said. "I didn't do anything particularly great when I was there. I didn't. It's fine. But I learned a tremendous amount. It was a very sexist environment."

More: Naked Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus pays no mind to sexism

She also revealed that times have changed for the better. "Since I've gone back, I can tell you that it's much more of an equal-opportunity environment," she said. When you can count superstars like Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig as former cast members who went on to do great things, you can understand why Louis-Dreyfus can appreciate the change.

Even if SNL didn't inspired casting agents everywhere to knock down her door, everything changed for Louis-Dreyfus after appearing on Seinfeld, and she is now one of the most respected comedic actresses in the biz. But that doesn't mean she is protected from the same boring age jokes that we've been hearing about women since they began refusing to lie down and die after turning 45.

More: 12 times Julia Louis-Dreyfus was everyone's favorite comedic genius

The promo is funny. Louis-Dreyfus is completely in control of the joke being made about her age and implied cougar status, and there's no need to get so heavy about it all. But I hope quips about her age are kept to a minimum on the show, because she has so much more to offer us than that cliché. Also, as hot as Jonas is (and that's pretty freaking hot), an Emmy-award winning actress with a badass sense of humor and the confidence to pose topless on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine at age 53 — totally hot.

Drew Barrymore already replaced her wedding ring with a meaningful piece

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Drew Barrymore may be going through a rough patch after announcing her divorce from Will Kopelman, her husband of four years and the father of their two young daughters, but you can always count on her to stay positive and keep looking toward the future. The actress was honored at the ASPCA's 19th annual Bergh Ball in New York City, and Barrymore showed up without her wedding ring. That fact alone isn't big news — why would she keep wearing a symbol of a relationship that has since dissolved? The most interesting thing she sported that evening, however, was a very different ring on that finger.

Barrymore wore a beautiful 14K blue and gold enamel ring from Alison Lou with a few choice words engraved on it in French: "Qu'Hier Que Demain," which translates to, "More than yesterday, less than tomorrow."

Here's the pretty ring, which is available on Broken English's website for $1,550.

ring
Image: Broken English

More: Drew Barrymore's divorce is so sad but makes sense

I don't think her choice of jewelry is random. In a May interview with Good Housekeeping magazine, Barrymore proved she had both happiness and freedom on the brain. When asked how she would rate her current level of happiness she said, "Yesterday I was a 10, tomorrow I might be an 8, this afternoon I might be a 3 and tonight I might be an 11. I just have a lot on my plate right now, and it's hard to figure out the puzzle pieces for the next year of my life." She understands the importance of taking things one day at a time and realizing, as her ring reminds her, that today is only a blip in time and that tomorrow brings another chance to love — yourself, the people around you, life — even more.

Barrymore also admitted in the interview that she feels achieving happiness requires effort. "Happiness is not this yellow, blithe, floating thing," she said. "It's something that takes a tremendous amount of work. There's a warrior aspect to being happy, You've got to fight for it. And only when you've got that kind of earned happiness is it really good."

More: If Drew Barrymore's free-spirited ways drove her ex away, then good riddance

It's very Drew of Drew to replace her wedding ring with a piece that looks to the future without dwelling in the past. She is more than yesterday and less than tomorrow — and is perfectly comfortable living her life with the knowledge that she is always growing, learning and evolving. It sounds like her divorce is a necessary step for her to take in order to grow as a person.

Kudos to Barrymore for finding the ideal post-divorce wedding ring replacement.

The Amazing Race's Dana Boriello shouldn't be shamed for her meltdown

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The Amazing Race is, obviously, a game designed to push people to their limits.

Tension always runs high, but when you put someone who already has a volatile temperament into a high-pressure situation like Episode 8's roadblock challenge and add pressure of thinking you're last in the race... a little meltdown might not be all that unheard of, right?

More: The Amazing Race's Blair Fowler got what she deserved after not pulling her weight

And that is exactly what happened in Dubai while teams were trying to complete a difficult roadblock challenge. Dana Borriello had just finished walking through the desert with a camel and then had to jump into a shark tank. By the time she was struggling with the puzzler portion of the roadblock, she was mentally done and physically exhausted.

More: The Amazing Race nearly gave fans a heart attack during Week 6

Team after team finished, leaving her behind and even more flustered, but it wasn't until she and her boyfriend and teammate Matt Steffanina were past it and in the car that all that pent-up anxiety of the last few hours finally got the best of her... and she completely wigged out on Matt.

More: The Amazing Race taps into everyone's biggest fears

While trying to navigate to their next destination, both team members were lost, Matt driving and Dana reading the given directions. But poor Matt wasn't understanding where Dana was telling him to go, which set off her meltdown that could have cost them the game.

Yelling at him to stop the car and ask for directions, she almost made the fatal decision, in the midst of her anxiety-fueled mental overload, to not get back in the car. This is not unheard of during The Amazing Race — but the things fans were saying about Dana after the fact were completely uncalled for.

Amazing Race ep 8 tweet 2

Amazing Race ep 8 tweet 2

Amazing Race ep 8 tweet 3

Amazing Race ep 8 tweet 3

Amazing Race ep 8 tweet 4

Amazing Race ep 8 tweet 4

Amazing Race ep 8 tweet 5

Amazing Race ep 8 tweet 5

When they finally reached the mat, Dana said she realized things had gotten a little out of control, and Matt said he knew she had just reached her breaking point and she would be fine once she got some distance from the situation. Even Phil Keogen could see the pair had a difficult time, and he played therapist for a second when they reached the mat.

Amazing Race ep 8 tweet 1

Amazing Race ep 8 tweet 1

No one knows how they are going to respond when they are pushed to the absolute limit, like Dana was this episode. Saying she is a bitch or PMSing is not cool, plain and simple.

I'm terrified a coworker will reveal my party-girl past

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Today I'm answering a question about what happens when a coworker knows secrets about your past when you've worked so hard to change.

More: Mixing your love life and your job can be risky– is it worth it?

Question:

Two years ago, I moved from a small town into a larger city and landed a good job. I'm now a married woman and have settled down.

I had a wild past. I used a lot of drugs, was involved with many men and did things I'm deeply ashamed of. My husband knows everything, but those I have worked with for the last year know only the person I am now: a hardworking, reliable coworker.

Recently, my boss hired a salesman for our company — a man I knew in my partying, drug-using days. He knows horrible stories about my past. Every time I see him in the hallway, I freak out. This man could sink me by telling my boss and coworkers about my past.

What do I do? Should I go to him and beg him to keep quiet? I've thought of quitting.

More: 6 Traps to avoid when dealing with a workplace bully

Answer:

If you quit, you run away, and running never works for long, as the past soon catches up. Tell yourself, "That was then, this is now."

You're a different person. You're reliable, hardworking and have much to be proud of. Forget you ever saw this man before. From what you've said, he has as much to worry about as do you. Further, you have a solid reputation in your company and he's a new hire.

Let him see by your actions that the past is past. Treat him as you would any other newly hired employee. Greet him politely and don't bring up his or your old stories. If you get any indication that he plans to share stories about your past, pull him aside and let him know that if he plans to sink your ship, you intend to torpedo his.

If your new coworker starts spreading rumors, pull your boss aside and let him know that you had a lot of growing up to do. My guess — he'll agree that you're not the only one who has a past and will weigh your positive track record as his employee against stale gossip.

Congratulations on turning your life around.

More: My family embarrassed me at work — how do I recover?

Have a question for Lynne? Email her at lynne@thegrowthcompany.com with subject “SheKnows” and she may answer your question (confidentially) in an upcoming piece on SheKnows.

© 2016, Lynne Curry. Lynne authored Solutions and Beating the Workplace Bully, AMACOM. You can also follow Lynne@lynnecurry10 on Twitter or access her other posts on SheKnows, www.workplacecoachblog.com or www.bullywhisperer.com.

I had a miscarriage, and now I'm part of a club I never wanted to join

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Weeks after learning that we were expecting, my husband and I were exuberantly dreaming about our life as a family of three, sharing the hopes we had for our child and joking about the chaos that was coming. Our eyes would light up when our conversations would naturally lead to comments like, "It will be fun to do this with the baby." We were thrilled with the idea of being parents. It was something we both truly wanted.

More: 11 Things a 2-year-old taught me about life

For five weeks I spent nearly every waking moment thinking about the future, our new future as a family of three. Every upcoming event was veiled with thoughts of how many weeks we would be or if our baby would be part of the event. Sometimes I would find myself gazing into our home office and dreaming of what it would look like as a nursery. I spent a lot of time dreaming.

In addition to learning we were pregnant, my husband and I were both navigating career transitions. Talk about a lot of life changes! While thinking through these transitions in the context of adding a child to our life added a layer of complexity, I felt peace. My friends and family know that I tend to be a perfectionist and sometimes high strung. Peace is not a sensation that I often find. But it found me in the process of discovering I was pregnant and starting an entirely new phase of my career.

I was able to step back and look at the big picture. While starting new jobs with all of the "newness" that comes with those, I realized that life would simply happen and we would navigate the changes, challenges and triumphs. All of a sudden, the minutiae that usually plagued my thoughts were insignificant. Our priorities were shifting in the best way possible.

I knew miscarriage was a possibility. The risks are well-known and, generally speaking, well-understood by most women. Each day I prayed that we would beat the odds, that we would make it to week 12 or 13 with a healthy pregnancy intact. Sadly, we did not. At nine weeks, we said goodbye to the baby that was to be ours.

A visit to the ER confirmed my worst fears: The pregnancy was over. My hormone levels had dropped and there was no heartbeat. I felt as though I would melt into a puddle when we got that news. The nurse standing next to my bed wept and shared her own story of loss. She quietly reminded us that we would get through this and someday, it would be our time to have a child.

In an instant I had joined a sad club, the group of women who lose a pregnancy. Actually, this isn't just a group of women. While I deal with the physical aspects of losing our child, my husband is also grieving our loss. He, and the other husbands and partners who experience this loss, are part of the club, too.

More: What I wish someone had said to me when I struggled to conceive

At times, the loss has been overwhelming and debilitating. I have felt anger and deep sorrow. I have felt lost. I have felt broken, both physically and emotionally.

Despite those feelings, I have found comfort in the unbelievable support of family and friends from around the globe. I have found comfort in hearing others say, "It happened to me too." I have found comfort in knowing I'm not alone, that one in five pregnancies end in early miscarriage. I have found comfort in my husband's warm embrace. Being surrounded by love makes this pain more bearable.

The baby was a gift. It was a gift of dreams and perspective. I was reminded that my husband is my rock and an incredible supporter of me. He believes in me and our dreams. And while we never got to meet our first baby, I treasure the time we shared, the perspective I gained and the deep, meaningful love I felt.

More: How I knew I needed to quit my corporate job

I let someone else's child call me 'Mommy' and I secretly loved it

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From the minute my son was born, I couldn't wait to be called Mommy, but in a surprising turn of events, he wasn't the first person to call me Mommy. It was a 5-year-old girl.

After my son was born, I knew that I was going to have to go back to work. It was important for me to be as present for him as possible. That's when I turned to the idea of childcare. I knew that I could find a job where I could bring him along. I found a family with a young daughter that was completely understanding of my need to bring my kid. Their daughter was in kindergarten and had never had a caregiver outside of the family.

Their daughter and my son (who was 16 months old at the time) got along like they had been friends forever. I was so relieved. As we were leaving, I told her that we would all see each other in two sleeps, and I could tell she was counting the seconds until we returned.

More: I want alone time so badly, I'd rather sit in traffic than be with my kids

When I picked her up from school two days later, she was so happy to see us. We both smiled and I waved as she came bounding over. “Mommy!” she said happily. I froze, even if it was only for a nanosecond.

What was I supposed to say in response? Should I correct her? Do I just let it slide? I decided that maybe it was just a fluke. She was 5; surely she was just overly excited. Plus, was that really the worst thing to be called?

Over that first week, I came to realize that she had created an alternate family with me and my son. She was still calling me Mommy. I was surprised at the ease with which it slipped out of her mouth. There was never a hesitation; it was like she had been calling me Mommy her whole life. So, I was her mommy and my son was her “little sister.” She was aware that he was a boy; she always used the appropriate pronouns when referring to him. But she obviously wanted a little sister and if she couldn't get one then he would make a good enough substitute. He was so little that he had no idea what was happening. And if he did he never let on.

As a babysitter, I knew that her mom had nothing to worry about. As a mom, my heart was a little sad for her. But I think because of her age I knew that she wasn't replacing her actual mom with me. I know that it would be hard for me to hear my son call another woman Mommy. At his age, he wasn't as aware that mommy wasn't just a word, but my identity in our relationship.

Once I figured this out, I decided not to say anything to anyone about it. I wasn't worried about her mom's reaction; she didn't have anything to worry about.

More: Owning guns doesn't make me a bad mom

Every day her mom walked through the door at 6 p.m. and was always greeted enthusiastically. I knew that if anything she would probably be amused.

I have to admit that I secretly liked it. My son still hadn't really begun to talk yet, and I enjoyed having someone call me Mommy. I did all of the same things for her that her mom would do. I got her snacks, poured her juice, brushed the tangles out of her hair and rubbed her belly when it hurt. We sang along to Disney movies, played Candyland and cuddled together in the cold.

Eventually her mom did find out; she would refer to each of us as “my other mommy,” depending on whom she was talking to. We'd just shrug and laugh it off. I don't know how she referred to me when I wasn't there, and I never thought to ask. She never once asked me about it, so my assumption that it wasn't a big deal was correct. It became common knowledge that she considered me to be her afternoon Mommy. When we were out in public, she would introduce me to strangers as her mother and no one ever questioned her. I always felt maternal towards her, the same way I did with my actual kid. The only person who ever corrected her was her maternal grandmother. She was quick to correct her and looked at me for backup. I just smiled and shrugged.

At that stage, as a mother, I couldn't really relate. My son had never really been away from me for more than maybe an hour. The only people who have cared for him are his grandparents. If the roles had been reversed, I have to admit I would have been a little sad. Part of the reason I was working that particular job was so I could be there for him. If I couldn't, and then heard him call his caregiver "Mommy," I would have felt terrible.

One day, as the weather warmed and the trees bloomed, I picked her up from school as I always did. She waved excitedly like she did every day. “Sa’iyda!” I smiled and felt my heart sink a little. I was no longer Mommy. I was simply Sa’iyda. Our fantasy life was over. I'll admit it; I was sad. I worried that our special bond was broken. It wasn't; it had just evolved into something new. She no longer needed a Mommy; she needed a friend. That didn't change the way I treated her, of course. I still kissed her boo-boos and played Candyland. Even her relationship with my son evolved; he worships her as much as she loves him.

More: This newborn baby does acro-yoga, and it's every bit as cool as it sounds

Now that he's a little bit older, I have thought about what I would do if I heard him call someone else Mommy — and I'd embrace it.

Sure, it would be weird, but I would be happy that he found someone who makes him feel as safe and secure as I do. That's not easy to find, and if you do find it, you have to be grateful.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

Minecraft YouTubers
Image: Minecraft

Brian Austin Green speaks out about Megan Fox's third pregnancy

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Not that either one of them owe us an explanation or anything, but... Brian Austin Green just spilled the beans about his third baby with estranged wife Megan Fox. Whew! What a relief. Now everyone can finally stop wondering whether Fox got up close and personal with Shia LaBeouf, Jake Johnson or Will Arnett (best celebrity Instagram post of the week, by the way).

So, here's what happened. A few days after Fox's pregnancy news broke, People magazine caught up with Green at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Celebrity Race. The former Beverly Hills 90210 actor confirmed that he is, indeed, the dad. "None of them are ever planned," he said about pregnancies. "You kind of just go with it." Then Green, who is dad to sons Noah, 3, and Bodhi, 2, with Fox and to a 14-year-old son with ex Vanessa Marcil, revealed his insecurity about baby No. 3: "At my age, to be having three babies is crazy. I'll be 43 this year."

More: Thank you, Megan Fox, for confirming the baby daddy is not Shia LaBeouf

Fox and Green filed for divorce in August after a five-year marriage and 11 years together. They are currently still living under the same roof in her Los Angeles home. The two seem to have found a way to stay amicable, despite whatever differences led to their decision to split, and a source told People, "They never stopped loving each other and they will never stop being devoted parents to their boys."

More: Surprise! Megan Fox is pregnant again

Now, here's the interesting part: Fox is pregnant. The couple, or former couple, are mature enough to put aside any anger or hurt feelings they may have so that they can continue to be there for one another and their children. And yet they're still moving forward with their divorce — at least, as of right now.

Of course, that doesn't mean they won't decide to give things another shot moving forward. Their pregnancy is still very new, and it would be hasty of them to simply tear up the divorce papers on the spot and think a baby can save their relationship. Wishing them all the best — but it looks like they both have each other's backs, no matter what, and will make the right decision for their family.

Beauty vlogger makes strong case for shaving your face

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I'm not a hairy person and have a very thin layer of invisible peach fuzz on my face, but for the past few years, I've made shaving the lower half of my mug a semi-regular thing.

More: MAC will launch a Selena Quintanilla-inspired makeup collection this fall

Why? I love, love, love how my skin feels afterward. And I don't know if this is a real thing, but it makes my moisturizer feel like it's working better.

Apparently I'm not the only one, because one beauty vlogger just posted a video boasting about the benefits of face shaving.

Huda Kattan face shaving

Huda Kattan face shaving

"It really helps and boosts confidence," Dubai-based beauty pro Huda Kattan says in the new YouTube video. "I was so insecure, but I started shaving a few months ago and don't even think about facial hair anymore."

She adds that it's been "going on for decades in Asia" because it helps with skin exfoliation and makeup application.

More: The 10 easiest beauty hacks for damaged, dry-as-heck nails

"It's not applying shaving cream all over your face, taking a razor, and actually shaving your face," she adds. Instead, buy a straight safety razor — easily found in beauty supply stories — and use it to basically scrape the fuzz off your face.

"I started doing it and I love it, I cannot stop doing it and I actually do it to my clients before putting makeup on their face because it just looks so much better," she adds.

Face shaving only takes a couple of minutes, and it doesn't produce the same ingrown hairs that regular shaving can — just make sure you shave in the direction of hair growth (down) instead of against the grain.

"I have lasered areas that have slightly thicker hair and def recommend that for areas around the mouth and chin and sideburns, but if you have areas where the hair is super thin and more like peach fuzz, you may find this is your best bet," she added.

More: The best makeup tips to bring your blue-eyed-beauty 'A' game

The only thing she gets wrong in the video? She recommends dry shaving — which, yes, is best because it's easier — because she claims shaving wet will make hair grow back faster. That's not true.

But as for the rest? Follow her tips for a fuzz-free face (if that's what you want), and I guarantee you won't be able to stop touching it.

Katy Perry adds beauty mogul to her résumé with new CoverGirl line

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She's been out of the beauty game since then, but now the "Dark Horse" singer is releasing her own eponymous makeup line in collaboration with CoverGirl.

More: Beauty vlogger makes strong case for shaving your face

"After several wonderful years of BEING the face, I now get to CREATE the face!" Perry tweeted on April 15.

Katy Kat Collection

Katy Kat Collection

The Katy Kat Collection will include 13 demi-matte lipsticks and two mascaras, one in black and one in blue. The collection seems a little sparse; maybe they're planning more products in the future. At least the lipsticks are multipurpose.

More: MAC will launch a Selena Quintanilla-inspired makeup collection this fall

"I feel like you can take any lipstick and make it a blush," Perry told Elle of how she hacks her makeup. "I use it like finger paint, and you can put it on your eyes, too. When you're using less of a matte and more of a cream lipstick, it moves better and gives you a gloss."

And unlike other celebrity makeup lines (ahem, Kylie Jenner), the Katy Kat Collection is super affordable, too — the lipsticks are available for preorder now at Walmart.com for a budget-friendly $7.

More: The 10 easiest beauty hacks for damaged, dry-as-heck nails

Instagrammers are trying to make butt contouring a thing

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So, imagine my frustration when I found out that facial contouring is so out. These days, it's apparently all about the butt contour.

More: How to choose the perfect (and most flattering) dress for your body type

LiveGlam.co recently posted an Instagram video that shows a woman painting her (perfectly good) rump with bronzer and highlighter.

butt contouring

butt contouring

And the result? Well, it kinda looks like her butt is shinier — and ready for a few poolside belfies — but that's about it.

It does, however, spark a few questions.

First, why? I get it — it's still all about the butt; the rounder, the perkier, the more peach-like, the better. But those butts are built by genetics, weights and surgery (hey, do you), not makeup. No one will see it unless you're in your bathing suit or birthday suit, and I'm pretty sure no one is paying attention to the shade of your behind at that point.

More: Busty women can all relate to Australian woman's bra rant

Plus, it won't stay long. You sit on your butt, meaning even the most painstakingly perfect contour will smudge in minutes. Not to mention, if you're in the pool — or the bedroom — the water and sweat will wipe it away.

And don't even get me started on the butt acne you'll get. It's hard enough keeping a blemish-free behind without the added pore cloggieness of makeup. Add some bronzer, and you're in for some painful bumps that contour won't cover.

Just save the contour for your face and let your butt breathe. It's perfect just the way it is.

More: How to style your pear-shaped body and do those curves justice

What Mother's Day means to me, according to real moms

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Each year, a day is set aside to celebrate the women who raise us and, in the case of mothers, the fact that we're now raising babies of our own. It's a special day, ideally beginning with breakfast in bed and ending with lots of little hugs and kisses.

Of course, what's that they say about the best-laid plans? Mamas know more than most that life rarely plays out according to plan. Motherhood, as it were, is a beautiful mess.

More: J.K. Rowling's kind words made Mother's Day easier for some of her fans

So we asked real moms to weigh in on what Mother's Day really means to them — not the Hallmark version of the day or how they hope it pans out this year (fingers crossed), but the very real things they've come to correlate with this matriarchal holiday.

Here's what they had to say.

"Mother's Day to me is going somewhere fun, like the water park. Of course, once we're there, I wind up carrying everyone else's stuff around and chasing my toddler while the bigger kids and their dad get to go on all the awesome slides and frolic in the wave pool. That's how we spent last Mother's Day, and I had a hurt arm to boot! But you know what? It's still fun, because I'm with my favorite people." — Kerri M.

"It's my first Mother's Day so I'm a little mushy but, honestly, it's just another day. My husband has to work and my kid doesn't sleep. Like, ever. Just another sleep-deprived day spent with my favorite little girl and with the mother I did the same thing to!" — Whitney S.

"It used to be a given that I'd get flowers, which I personally dislike getting very much. So after 10 years of protesting, I now get chocolate-covered strawberries. I may actually eat two of them, because the kids devour the rest. I usually cook breakfast on my special day and clean the mess after all six of us eat. Then it's a rat race to get everyone together for church and off to my mom's to celebrate her special day as well. Every day is a snot-slinging, butt-wiping, tantrum-throwing kind of a day... even on Mother's Day, haha!" — Shannon J.

More: How to make the most of Mother's Day when you're trying to conceive

"Ah, yes. Mother's Day — where the greeting cards are bought with my money and so generously given to me and somehow meal prep still ends up on the agenda. But, hey, I usually get chocolate! I don't care if I did technically pay for it; that's a win in my book." Susan P.

"To me, Mother's Day means having a big day of exciting things planned to do, like hiking a new trail and trying a new restaurant... and then remembering I have a toddler and he is going to spend the entire hike running away into the woods, not to mention screaming like he's being murdered at the restaurant. Yet, when all is said and done, still having a great time." — Katie P.

"Due to my husband's hectic work schedule (boooo for swing shifts!), I have spent every Mother's Day by myself since my first child was born four and half years ago. So I spend it like every other day of my life... a little crazy, filled with lots of toys, poopy diapers, food on the walls, crying kids, hearing 'Mommy' yelled at the top of little lungs and also lots of love, hugs and kisses. It's not always easy, but it is always what I want." — Nikki H.

"Getting to drink a cup of coffee without reheating it four times and sitting on the toilet without an audience... that is a true Mother's Day gift!" — Natalie B.

"Mother's Day, to me, is 'sleeping in' until the kids mutiny and my husband can no longer keep them at bay. It's wrestling with my littles to get them dressed in their Sunday best and out the door on time. It's listening to them ask 'Are we there yet?' roughly every 35 seconds for the hour-long drive to my mom's house, where I wonder if I'll ever be half the mother she has been to me. It's forgetting to eat because I'm too busy picking egg salad out of one kid's hair while trying to get the other to eat their veggies. And it's hoping for a million more perfectly imperfect days just like it." — Julie S.

More: 10 Mother's Day gift ideas for every kind of mom

As you can tell, whether Mother's Day is a hot mess or a well-oiled machine, one thing seems to be a universal constant: love. Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there, whatever Mother's Day may mean to you.

This post was sponsored by JCPenney.

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