My husband and I have been on the fence about a fourth baby for years. Ever since our third was born almost three years ago (and even when I was still pregnant with her), we debated. There are lots of reasons to stop at three. Babies are expensive. Could we really see sending four kids to college? One baby is hard. Two is exponentially harder. Three? Over the top.

All of those seemed manageable. But then, just as we were about to start trying this past fall, a new concern came up: the Zika virus.

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The terrifying mosquito-borne illness has been in the news for causing birth defects, specifically microcephaly — babies born with abnormally small heads and brains — after their mothers were infected with the virus. It was in South America and is now spreading rapidly to the United States. Just in time for mosquito season and the Summer Olympics in Rio.

As I near 40 and my time wanting to be a new mom draws to a close (I'd promised myself no kids in diapers after 40), it feels like waiting until we know more about this virus might be a decision in and of itself. We had planned to start trying last January, but since I had a trip to Nicaragua planned in February, we decided to hold off. The travel warnings were dire, and though Nicaragua was not initially on the list, we didn't want to take any chances. Then Nicaragua went on the list, so when I got home, we waited a bit. Just to be safe. No one seems to really know how long Zika stays in the system or when it would be safe to try to have a baby after being infected. Zika has traditionally been very mild for adults who are not pregnant, but the unknown is part of what scares us.

Why would we tempt fate or take the chance when we already have three healthy kids?

Basically it is now or never for me agewise. I don't want to be pregnant and changing diapers into my 40s. And I don't feel comfortable getting pregnant now and taking that chance. So Zika might ultimately make this decision for us. Pregnancies happen, but we are careful, and in the coming months we will make our final decision and make it permanent either way.

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This gives me a couple of months to watch and see what happens with Zika. It's a heartbreaking reality, but we have already been so lucky to have three healthy children. Maybe in the fall as the weather cools and the mosquitoes die, I will feel differently, but for now, I am keeping my IUD and hoping this virus is eradicated and that women all over the world can soon get pregnant again if they want to.

Most of us have experience with a kid who's given themselves a nice five-finger discount. Maybe your toddler once grabbed a shiny marble in a Target and tucked it into her palm until you got home. Maybe you were that child once upon a time. The one who ate a grape in the produce aisle without paying for it or who grabbed a silk flower from art class without permission because it was calling to you. Those kids get found out, and there's usually a talking-to in order. Maybe you march them back to the store or to school and make them confess or pay for their stolen gummy bears or whatever.

Or maybe you arrest them for larceny and refuse to back down, even when you come to understand that the milk they stole wasn't really stolen at all. I know, it sounds like overkill so severe that only an absolute nutbag would do that to a kid, but that's exactly what happened to Ryan Turk, a Virginia middle schooler.

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The setting is, of course, the lunchroom. The heist involved a 65-cent carton of milk. Ryan, you see, receives free lunch and forgot his little box of milk, which we have to assume at this point wasn't milk at all but liquid gold with chunks of diamond mixed in.

A police officer saw him when he returned to take the milk and assumed he was stealing it, confronted Ryan and then escalated the situation when Ryan backed away from him. Ryan was then taken to the principal's office, where he was searched for drugs, because taking milk you're already entitled to is a gateway to skin-popping heroin, we guess. They didn't find any, but Ryan was arrested and charged with larceny — larceny — and must now appear in juvenile court.

Ryan's mother, Shamise, is obviously super pissed that her son now has criminal charges leveled against him, but what's most galling is how all the adults (at least we have to assume they're adults, behavior notwithstanding) handled this. Ryan has been accused of concealing the milk, of being fidgety, doing shady things like pulling on the strings of his pants and not talking to the task force that had been assembled to bring her milk-stealing son to justice.

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Let's revisit this, shall we? So a middle schooler attempts to conceal the milk that he gets for free on his school's reduced lunch plan? Wow, that does sound suspicious. I mean, preadolescents are 100 percent understanding all the time about things like that, and we live in a society where people who need additional help with things like money for food are completely free from stigma.

When confronted, Ryan was combative. Again, that really does seem strange for a middle school boy. They're usually so calm and feel no desire whatsoever to push back against authority figures, particularly when they're being wrongly accused of something.

As far as the fidgeting and pants string-pulling go, I mean, when's the last time you've ever heard of a kid doing that?

More: Burping, eating candy and 8 other ridiculous reasons kids got in trouble at school

What this comes down to, it seems, is another kid being arrested and having his life potentially upended for doing kid things. So far this school year we've seen kids arrested for breaking dress code, kids as young as 6 arrested for not breaking up fights they had nothing to do with and now, apparently, a kid arrested for stealing milk that, by definition, was actually impossible for him to steal.

Even if Ryan had pocketed a carton of moo juice, the appropriate reaction seems like calling his mom, a fine of 65 cents and maybe a detention. When they found out he wasn't doing what they were accusing him of doing, the appropriate reaction seems like apologizing for jumping to conclusions and talking to the police officer involved about learning how to use his words.

Neither of these outcomes necessitates potentially ruining this young man's life.

A new development in the Bill Cosby sexual assault case means he will finally be headed to trial.

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According to The New York Times, Judge Elizabeth A. McHugh ruled on Tuesday that the charges can go forward, ending five months of attempts by Cosby's legal team to have the charges dismissed before trial.

The decision came at the end of a 3 1/2-hour hearing in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where many crowded into the courthouse to hear the judge's verdict. After McHugh stated her decision that the case can move forward, Cosby thanked her and she wished him luck.

Though Cosby has been accused by at least 58 women of sexual assault and abuse, the case that will go to trial is the only one in which he has been charged: the case of Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee who claimed that Cosby, her close friend and mentor at the time, drugged and raped her in 2004 at his home near Philadelphia. Constand was not present at Tuesday's hearing, but the prosecution did read parts of statements she gave police when she reported the incident in 2005.

More: Camille Cosby is fighting back against Bill Cosby rape charges

Constand previously filed a civil suit against Cosby, which was settled confidentially in 2006. This is the first time criminal charges have been brought against him, despite sexual abuse allegations dating back to the late 1960s.

According to The New York Times, legal experts say convicting Cosby could be a challenge, due in part to the lack of forensic evidence. Since Constand waited nearly a year to report her alleged assault to police, no DNA or toxicology evidence was recovered. Other evidence, including a deposition given by Cosby during Constand's civil suit, is likely to be challenged by his lawyers since that settlement agreement included a confidentiality clause.

More: Janice Dickinson's defamation lawsuit against Bill Cosby dismissed

Nothing harkens back memories of the summers of your youth like a snow cone. If I'm being totally honest, the only reason I participated in Little League as long as I did was the free snow cones they gave the players. If that sounds like a lot of work for some shaved ice and syrup, keep in mind I was 6 and I played left field. I picked more flowers than runners.

More: How to make your own moonshine and feel like a badass in 4 easy steps

I still love snow cones, but that doesn't mean I have to eat them with those ultra-sweet syrups we all loved as kids. Enter chamoy. This traditional Mexican condiment made from fruits like apricot or mango spiced with chilies is a popular dip for fruits and provides the perfect grown-up flavors for this very adult spiked snow cone.

Boozy chamoy snow cone recipe

I feel this has the perfect amount of heat — a good spice up front that quickly subsides due to the sweet apricot preserves and ice. But if you're not a fan of the fiery stuff, feel free to back off. And if you can't find ancho chili powder at the grocery store, regular chili powder will work.

More: 12 simple syrup recipes for cocktails that will knock your socks off

Serves 3 – 4

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Inactive time: 1-1/2 hours | Total time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup apricot jam
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• 2 ounces mezcal, tequila or vodka
• Water
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ancho chili powder
• 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8 cups ice
• Lime zest or wedges, for garnish

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the apricot jam, lime juice, liquor, 2 ounces of water, crushed red pepper, ancho chili powder and salt to a high simmer, stirring frequently until the jam is dissolved. Allow it to simmer, uncovered, for 2 – 3 minutes or until it reaches the desired consistency.
2. Remove the chamoy syrup from the heat, allow it to cool for 15 – 20 minutes, and then pour it into a bowl, cover it, and let it chill in the refrigerator for 1 – 1-1/2 hours or until well chilled.
3. Just before you're ready to serve, fill a blender with the ice (in batches if necessary), and pour in about 2 cups of water. You want enough water that it's easy for your blender's blades to turn and the ice develops a snow-like consistency instead of just turning into crushed ice. If you use too much, don't worry — you can just drain it in a colander. If it has one, use your blender's ice crushing setting. If not, just use long pulses on high until the ice resembles snow.
4. Portion out the snow into 3 – 4  small martini or margarita glasses. Drizzle the syrup, divided equally, over the snow. Serve immediately, topped with lime zest or a lime wedge.

A few Southern Charm episodes back, we saw the wheels start to turn in Craig Conover's head. The wannabe bourbon mogul convinced himself that he pieced together why Whitney Sudler-Smith hates Kathryn Dennis so much: because he's in love with her.

When Craig first started filling girlfriend Naomie Olindo in on his theory, it sounded ridiculous. Whitney cwy over a wittle girl? Ha! He has a rad place in LA and plays guitar and wears jeans jackets! That is, until it started to make complete sense. While Craig told Naomie that he realized it was obvious that Whitney was just butt-hurt because Kathryn had hooked up with him — and then got together with his best friend, Thomas Ravenel, a week later — Bravo began cutting back to past episodes where it does seem like Whitney, who's always too cool for school, once had a real thing for Kathryn. Craig cracked the code! Everything made sense! It was perfectly obvious why Whitney hates — if that word is even strong enough — Kathryn with such passion. His feelings were hurt.

More: Enough with slut-shaming Kathryn Dennis, Southern Charm fans

Any respectable Southern Charm viewer knew that there was no way that Craig had the self-restraint to keep this information to the confines of his brain and his girlfriend. Craig is a lot of things — handsome, a man who can rock pink like no other, blissfully unaware at times — but he doesn't appear to be in possession of the world's greatest self-control. But who thought he was going to bring it up how and when he did? Worst. Timing. Ever. What were you thinking, Craig?

More: I regret my knee-jerk dislike of RHOBH's Kathryn Edwards

Despite the fact that everyone seemed to be having a good time at Shepard "Shep" Rose's parent's vacation home, there seemed to be a weird, tension-filled undercurrent between Whitney and Craig. You know you saw it. During last week's episode, Whitney, who, yes, was wasted, was being weirdly rude to Craig while he grilled steak for everyone. ("You put salt on mine? Great, I don't eat salt." "You're using the same tongs you used for the raw meat for the cooked meat?" Annoying!) But still, why did Craig have to go and bring up his Kathryn theory in front of everyone at dinner? There's no going back from that. More so than offending Whitney, he embarrassed the crap out of him. How could these two ever be friends again?

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Craig was fed up with Whitney's bitching about Kathryn (and probably with his bitching about him, too), but duuuude. There's a time and a place. Maybe Craig should have gone to Shep first so he could have gotten a pulse on the situation. If Shep's reaction was an over-the-top, "No way!" then he would have known it was one of those things best kept to himself. Or if he couldn't stand to keep it in any longer, then he should have talked to Whitney in private. Sure, Whitney would have vehemently denied everything (which, let's face it, only makes Craig's theory seem true), but their relationship would have been salvageable. Craig and Whitney are done, no doubt about it.

Even if Whitney secretly has an "I love Kathryn" tattoo on the small of his back, in no universe will he ever admit to having had feelings for her. And even though his disdain for Kathryn is so completely ridiculous and out of control, it's hard not to side with him a little bit because he was so blindsided by Craig — not to mention, a perfectly fun night was completely ruined thanks to Craig's poor judgement.

Craig, you may have gotten to the bottom of Whitney's hatred for Kathryn, but you kinda blew it when it came to execution. And just like that, you're theory has been usurped by a petty fight. Maybe next time, dude.

Who do you think is in the wrong?

Come on, Jordan Rodgers.

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During Monday night's premiere of the new season of The Bachelorette, Rodgers, who is pro football star Aaron Rodgers' younger brother, emerged as the obvious front-runner in the group of guys vying for JoJo Fletcher's affections.

During his one-on-one time with Fletcher, the chemistry was painfully obvious — neither could keep their hands to themselves, and just try to tell us that kiss between them didn't send shivers down your back. Rodgers was totally adorable about it, too — at first, he chickened out and skipped the kiss, but after a lot of angsty pacing, he went back to grab Fletcher and get that amazing first kiss. Unsurprisingly, the move netted him the first impression rose for the night.

More: If JoJo Fletcher has it her way, you won't see any blonds or bums on The Bachelorette

But after the episode aired, so did what could be some of Rodgers' dirty laundry.

During the episode, he explained that he was in a relationship while he was trying to make it as a pro football player, but he put football before his girlfriend.

"I was in love, but I was so focused on football that I didn't make time for anything else," he admitted.

But now, a trainer named Brittany Farrar who claims to be Rodgers' ex is saying that wasn't quite true.

"Riding the bench doesn't get in the way of a relationship, but cheating does," Farrar wrote on Instagram under a photo of Chris Pratt shaking his head in disbelief with the hashtags, "#yourpitchisntperfect," "#alwayswantedtobefamous," "#dreamscometrue" and "#tuneinnextweekformoreBS."

It's not confirmed yet whether Farrar is actually the ex-girlfriend Rodgers was referring to, but her Instagram does reveal that she's buds with actress Olivia Munn, who has been dating Aaron Rodgers for years, so it seems likely.

The preview for the upcoming The Bachelorette season also seemed to paint Rodgers as an unpopular member of the house, with other men saying he isn't on the show for love.

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Do you think Jordan Rodgers is as shady as he seems right now? Or are you rooting for him on The Bachelorette? Let us know down in the comments.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

I have three cats, which is kind of a lot of cats, and which I acquired over a period of three years while I desperately wanted to have a baby. I was in my mid-20s and single, relatively unstable, and I knew it wasn’t the right time for me to start popping out kids, so I didn’t.

But I did enjoy feeling needed and caring for others and the satisfaction of watching little ones grow. As each new kitten came into my life, they helped me to postpone my mothering days and to morph more and more into the ultimate lesbian stereotype: the cat mom. When I found the third kitten (orphaned in an alley) and named her Margot, I joked with my friends that I had officially become undatable.

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I’m the kind of person who takes pets really seriously, and I do mean really seriously. I firmly believe in the cause of animals rights, refuse to set foot in a zoo, work hard to reduce my dependence on animal products and try to see animals as individuals. All my cats have middle names, and I have worked very hard to meet all their distinct and individual needs over the years. Blanche needs plenty of socialization, but Jonah and Margot are introverts and need their quiet time, or their stress levels go through the roof. Margot needs to know that there’s always food available to her, or she’ll eat too fast and make herself throw up. Jonah needs to know his water is fresh. It sounds too intense to many people, but it’s just the way life has always been for me.

And so, when my wife (surprise! I wasn’t undatable after all!) and I found out I was pregnant, we joked that we were expecting our "fourth" child. I knew that having a (human) baby in the house would change my whole life, but I didn’t expect it to change my pet parenting nearly as much as it has. The fact is, babies have a nearly overwhelming amount of immediate needs, and when it comes down to who I’m going to fuss over — adult cats or baby human — the baby wins every time. Here are just a few of the ways my pet parenting has dramatically shifted after growing our family to include a baby.

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Feeding

Before baby: Dry food twice a day, in multiple locations so the cats can choose to eat together or alone. Water freshened at least twice daily, but many times much more. Expensive wet food given to the cat who needs it (for medical reasons) twice a day at exactly 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., with added water, and given to the other two cats more sporadically as a treat. Vitamins given most mornings.

After baby: Dry food and water given in the morning because the cats are screaming. Wet food when we remember to buy it. Has anyone seen those expensive cat vitamins around? Come to think of it, has anyone seen my vitamins?

Playtime

Before baby: We keep a wide variety of cat toys (that we’ve safety tested!) scattered about the house for independent play, and in addition we have a few toys that are only for supervised playtime. I try to make sure I spend at least a little bit of one-on-one time with each cat every day, and if I miss a day with one, I feel guilty and try to make it up later in the week.

After baby: If you don’t want the baby to pull your tail, don’t swing it right in front of the baby, for the love of everything that is holy!

More: How to make a DIY cat tent so adorable you'll wish you could fit in it

Grooming

Before baby: It’s important to at least brush them regularly, even though sometimes they don’t love it. Try to catch them when they are more relaxed — but not asleep — to make it go as smoothly as possible. Also, it is possible to give a cat a proper bath if needed; you just have to know how to do it safely and quickly.

After baby: It’ll have to wait until after the baby goes to bed. Otherwise it’s just going to be a lot of screaming all around.

It’s not that I’ve turned into a terrible pet parent — my cats are not neglected, and their basic needs are always met (though sometimes they wait a little longer than they used to for the food dish to be filled). But if I’m being perfectly honest, our relationship has shifted, and now they feel less like my doted-upon children and more like really terrible roommates who are always on my case. Hopefully it won’t be like this forever, but for the moment, this is the best I can do.

It's all fun and games when you're in high school and getting wasted is your main goal every weekend. You love your friends, then you hate them, and you can't wait for college — but then you get to college, and you realize just how easy life was.

Mom made dinner every night, and you didn't have to worry about when your laundry would be done, or how you were going to afford paying for simple groceries every week or what you were going to write the biggest essay of your life on.

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Being 20 is such an uncomfortable time in life, where you seemingly live in four different places within four years and are constantly missing people or places no matter what. College takes you away from home and your friends, puts you in a whole new world and gives you a few years to realize that getting wasted or living life so uncomfortably just isn't that fun anymore.

Adulthood is what comfort is all about. Being 20, I should be scared about the future of book clubs, marriage, parenting and having to pay bills. But the truth is, I'm looking forward to that.

I can't wait to be able to say I have a career, a family I have raised, a man to go home to and talk about my day with and sleep next to every night, a comfortable house and my own things that I myself have picked out and paid for. No more dorm room furniture and moving out every few months — just a place to call home and the monetary comfort of the working life.

More: I'm ready to stop lying about my age... sort of

Not to mention the freedom of not feeling the need to go out and get wasted with friends every weekend. Not that I don't love my friends to death and need to let loose here and there, but I just wish that, at 20, I didn't have to feel lame saying I just want to stay in on a Friday and watch Harry Potter with my boyfriend.

These are things most people in their 20s are afraid to do. We all love going out and letting loose here and there, but if we didn't feel so pressured to do so, I bet most people would take the night in.

One of my favorite articles made light of this whole idea and made me realize that I'm not crazy for feeling this way at 20. I love my youth, and I am by no means trying to rush out of my 20s, but I just want to be able to recognize that the future is going to be where I will be most comfortable and that this ratchet life of college is just temporary. Perhaps going to college in such an urban area has shaped me into this mindset of wanting to be an adult.

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About the author: Bridget Brindley is an aspiring writer living in New York City with a passion for fitness, fashion and all things happy. This piece originally appeared on BlogHer.

My husband and I consider our daughters not just blessings, but also miracles. After all, it if weren't for a fluke that sent me in for an early pregnancy test, my youngest daughter probably wouldn't be here.

After giving birth to my sons and before I got pregnant with the older of our two daughters, I had two miscarriages. After the second one, we went through genetic testing and learned that I have a genetic mutation referred to as MTHFR, which stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. In my case, I have two mutated genes, so neither of them functions correctly, and my body has trouble clearing itself of toxins. In addition, those with a double mutation like mine have another added worry during pregnancy: blood clots.

At the time, we went back and forth on whether or not to try for a third baby after my tests came back. Ultimately, I did become pregnant, but my health was so poor and the pregnancy so rocky that we decided we did not want to try again for a fourth child.

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But not trying isn't the same as preventing pregnancy. Still, I was still breastfeeding, and we figured that because it had been so hard for me to get pregnant with our third child, another pregnancy wouldn't be easy or "just happen."

The nausea started when I was preparing to undergo a procedure to alleviate pain in my lower back. My pain management doctor had just started me on a new medication, and I didn't have any other symptoms of pregnancy, so I didn't think anything of it. But my doctor suggested that I take a pregnancy test prior to the procedure because we could not proceed if I was.

With that, my husband was off to the drug store to pick up a pregnancy test, and he chose one that showed the earliest results possible. Of course, the test was positive, and I sat there in shock.

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Within 24 hours, I had put a call in to the high-risk OB-GYN office and made an appointment for later in the week. It was very important to find out exactly how far along I was in my pregnancy, especially because I did not have a cycle established due to breastfeeding. This gave us enough time to fill out our paperwork for our health insurance company, which gave us a ton of red tape to cut through just to see the OB doctor of my choice.

Unfortunately, before my appointment, I ended up in the emergency room after hours due to spotting, and as it turned out, I was already nearing eight weeks gestation, which meant that I needed to start Lovenox injections as soon as possible... because I should have already been using them for at least a week or two.

From six weeks gestation until eight weeks postpartum, many women with MTHFR mutations find themselves administering Lovenox or heparin injections, which are medications that thin the blood so that blood clots are less likely to form. Depending on your personal health and type of mutation, your doctor may not even recommend injectable blood thinners, if any at all, but we decided to go this route based on my personal history. The cause of one of my miscarriages was definitely a blood clot, and during my first pregnancy prior to the miscarriages, I had developed a blood clot in the placenta, which doctors told me could have stopped blood flow to the baby and caused a stillbirth (thankfully, he was born healthy).

Thankfully, my husband was able to expedite the needed paperwork so that I could see an OB and get the Lovenox medication the morning after our emergency room visit. My doctor immediately wanted me to rest until further notice and told me that because we weren't expecting me to be pregnant, had waited so long to take the test and had been spotting, there was still a higher chance I could miscarry our baby.

More: What babies really look like fresh out of the womb, in all their goopy glory

Fortunately, the shots worked. I was able to carry our daughter to 36 weeks, and she was born healthy — despite the near-miscarry in the first trimester — and is now almost 18 months old. But if it hadn't been for the genetic tests, who knows what would have happened?

There is a lot of information out there about MTHFR, but it is confusing and often conflicting. Some of the medical providers I have seen have been extremely knowledgeable about MTHFR mutations, but others have told me that MTHFR mutations do not matter at all.

Dr. Shannon Price of Affinity Physicians for Women, based in Tifton, Georgia, told me, “A pregnant patient with MTHFR should be seen by their OB/GYN immediately upon recognizing a pregnancy. Ideally, they should have preconceptual counseling and appropriate testing to help ensure a successful pregnancy. Early and frequent prenatal visits are encouraged with any thrombophilic disorder as MTHFR.”

For more information on MTHFR, visit the US National Library of Medicine or talk to your doctor. Only a medical expert can determine your risk and appropriate care.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

As the mother of a soon-to-be college freshman, I was fascinated by a recent article in The New York Times about the Instagram feed Freshmen15. The feed was started about a year and half ago by five best friends from high school. From mozzarella sticks to late-night pizza to delectable desserts, the site highlights the joys of enjoying food. The account's tagline is, "We gain weight for a reason," and the concept is simple: It's fun to eat fun food, especially as a young adult in college.

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The article brought me back to my own dorm days. I remembered the almost nightly Domino's deliveries, the appetizer platters at The Ground Round and the unlimited froyo in the dining hall that I made even more delicious by mixing in a few spoonfuls of Lucky Charms. So many things about the college experience have changed since I attended over two decades ago, but here was something that had not. Students are still partaking in carb fests, and the "Freshman 15" still exists.

I have mixed feelings about the feed. I do think it is great that these young women are trying to eliminate the guilt and shame associated with eating fattening foods and bring back eating for enjoyment. So many young adults are worried about their appearances that it's nice to hear about young women who are not focused on dieting or being thin. In fact, one of the young women behind the Freshmen15 feed said in the article that she had struggled with an eating disorder and that the Instagram feed has helped with her recovery.

At the same time, I don't know if focusing so much on eating and specifically on eating unhealthy, processed and caloric foods is such a good idea. The feed seems to glorify weight gain and binge eating, which seems like it could lead to health problems down the road.

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Our daughter has grown up in a family that enjoys eating. Our fridge is always full, and our pantry is legendary because of all the options I stock "just in case" we have company. Family meals are important to us and some type of dessert is usually a daily indulgence.

My daughter loves to eat, and as an athlete, she has a healthy appetite. Sometimes when she gets home from school, she eats a huge bowl of ice cream, but other days she chooses a huge bowl of mixed berries. She likes pasta, grilled cheese and fries, but she also enjoys salads, grilled chicken and veggie omelets.

I don't want her to worry about her weight or to count calories. I hope that she will not see fried foods and gooey late-night pizzas as her enemy, but food also shouldn't be her BFF. I want my own daughter to continue her healthy relationship with food as she becomes more independent. She will face many choices in college and what to eat is just one of the many things she will have to decide on her own.

I know that food photos and postings are quite popular. Once upon time, people would say grace before they ate, and now they say "cheese" as they snap a photo of their meal before digging in. While it's a fun fad, I don't think it is healthy to be so consumed with what you are consuming.

I want my daughter's lens to be focused on the friends and not on the food. I understand that eating is social and that sharing yummy foods with friends is fun. I want her to experience that, but I also hope that her lasting memories are of the friends she is making and the laughs they are sharing — not the food they're eating.

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Know what would be so fine for your Memorial Day weekend cookout? Ice cream sandwiches. But guess what would be even better! This patriotic icebox cake... made with ice cream sandwiches. Oh say can you see how easy this treat will be?

More: Your watermelon is a cocktail with these spiked slices

Grab some red, white and blue jimmies, and let's go make this ice cream cake.

More: 3 indulgent Memorial Day dessert recipes perfect for your cookout

Patriotic icebox cake recipe

Ingredients:

• 24 ice cream sandwiches
• 3 cups heavy whipping cream
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 8 drops red food coloring
• 5 drops blue food coloring
• 1 cup white, red and blue jimmy sprinkles (these are less likely to bleed color than other types)
• 1 (9 x 13-inch) pan
• 2 sheets parchment paper
• 1 sparkler

Directions:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar to create whipped cream, mixing till thick.
2. In one bowl, place 1/2 the whipped cream, and add the food coloring to create red whipped cream. In a second bowl, place the remaining whipped cream and add food coloring to create blue whipped cream.
3. Unwrap all the ice cream sandwiches.
4. Place the parchment paper in the pan to make removing the cake easier.
5. Press the sides of the ice cream sandwiches into the sprinkles, and place them in the pan to create the first layer. You may need to cut the ice cream sandwiches to get them to fill your pan.
6. Spread the red whipped cream on top of the ice cream sandwiches.
7. Repeat step 5 to create the second layer.
8. Spread the blue whipped cream across the tops of the ice cream sandwiches.
9. Place in freezer for at least 2 hours.
10. Serve.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Clearly, Teresa Giudice didn't learn how to deal with drama while in prison.

More: Joe Giudice's lack of visitors must mean he's getting super lonely in prison

Giudice is set to make her The Real Housewives of New Jersey return in Season 7, and the trailer promises that she'll be in rare form, with tears and harsh words spewing out left and right.

It's been nearly two years since Season 6 of the show aired because, clearly, it just isn't RHONJ without Giudice, but even the trailer is filled with so many streaming dramatics that I'm not sure how I'm possibly going to handle the entire season.

Not to mention, Giudice's children crying over their dad, Joe Giudice, heading to prison is a heartbreaker. He did the crime, now he has to do the time, but the show — even just in the trailer — does a great job of showing that it isn't just Joe who's suffering. The entire Giudice clan is paying for the sins of their parents, and it's anything but easy.

With that in mind, it's easy to excuse some of Teresa's volatile behavior. She is going through a lot.

More: We bet Joe Giudice wishes he could have got in on Teresa's birthday cake action

The Giudice family says in the trailer that they're just trying to move forward and get through all the prison time. Teresa then tells the camera that it is her goal to make sure this never happens again. Of course, she's still also putting most of the blame on Joe, which means that history is going to repeat itself if the family doesn't find a way to accept responsibility.

Meanwhile, Teresa isn't just dealing with her family drama — she's also dealing with the other ladies.

There's yelling, there's crying, there's finger-pointing. The works.

"It's been a while," housewife Melissa Gorga says. "Things are changing in Jersey."

But are they really?

More: Teresa Giudice trains for a new job that'll help her find inner peace

Because it still looks like the same catty (albeit addicting) drama to me.

Check out the trailer below for a sneak peek at all the beef that's going down in this season.

Does the trailer make you sympathize with the Giudice family, or do they deserve the family drama they brought on themselves?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

Since turning 18, Paris Jackson has been making some pretty permanent changes to her appearance with her collection of tattoos — and her latest is a beautiful tribute to her late father, Michael Jackson.

More: If you don't like Paris Jackson's piercings it's time to look away

Taking to Instagram on Monday, Jackson uploaded a photo of her new ink, inspired by Michael Jackson's 1989 smash-hit album Dangerous. The image features Michael's eyes framed by a detailed border, which includes several animals including an elephant, a rhino, a buffalo and a monkey.

Jackson captioned the tattoo with a very meaningful message. She wrote, "'The meaning of life is contained in every single expression of life. It is present in the infinity of forms and phenomena that exist in all of creation.' Never forget your roots, and always be proud of where you came from."

This tattoo is clearly something that means a lot to her, and she is proud to share it with the world (it's not the first time she's paid tribute to her father with a tattoo), but, unfortunately, not everyone is happy about her decision.

More: Paris & Prince Jackson up their tattoo game with new ink honoring their dad

While the majority of fans do think that Jackson's tattoo is "beautiful," "amazing" and "awesome," and feel that her dad would be "so proud of you," others are questioning whether Paris should be getting these tributes inked onto her body.

"One question is paris jackson going to have tattoos of her father all over her body I understand if it was some fan as u can see they all excited about the tattoo ok it her life and business..." one commenter questioned.

"Great! Now don't get anymore," captjackie68 wrote.

"Amazing art for sure!" savvyheir shared, before going on to question what Jackson intends to do with her life. "Are you going to school? Still want to become an actress? What are your ambition and goals, Hun? Where does your passion lie? You are such a beautiful soul, I hope your life path doesn't lie within the ink on your body."

More: Paris Jackson's tribute to Michael Jackson makes us tear up a little

And if you were wondering if Jackson's image of her brand-new ink is the end result, well, it's not. According to Timeless Tattoo artist Justin's Dermagraphink there's still one more session to go.

What do you think of Paris Jackson's tribute? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Brielle Biermann went off on the rumors she has had extensive plastic surgery last night, but her rant is just as off-putting as the accusations in the first place.

Facing comments that she has had everything from a nose job to a boob job to butt implants, Biermann finally snapped on Snapchat. However, her hotheaded denial is offensive in its own way to millions of women.

More: Kim Zolciak is getting attacked for decisions Brielle Biermann is making as an adult

"Y'all are so fucking disgusting to think that I've had any plastic surgery done to my face," she said on the now-deleted video, adding that her changing looks are “just genetics.

"Stop trying to tear me down and make [me] seem like I'm someone who's fake, because I'm not. I would be honest about all the plastic surgery I've had done and it's getting really ridiculous and hurtful."

While her frustration is understandable, her choice of words is not. Why would it be “disgusting” to think someone had plastic surgery? Why would talking about it be considered tearing someone down? Why would it be ridiculous and hurtful? All of these statements imply that plastic surgery is something to be ashamed of. It's not.

It is nothing to be ashamed of, because what someone chooses to do with the appearance of their own face and their own body is none of anyone else's business. If a woman chooses to make her nose smaller or bigger, that's her choice, and she needs neither to justify nor defend that choice.

More: I can't believe Kim Zolciak made a Snapchat of her daughter twerking

While Biermann's instinct to defend herself against untrue rumors is understandable, her choice of words is not. Perhaps a better tactic would be to thank those people for thinking she looks so great that they think she must have had plastic surgery.

But Biermann's only nod to acceptance was her admission that she has her lips filled, like Kylie Jenner — and in fact, the two see the same doctor for the procedure.

"She looks like a completely different person and she says all she's had done is her lips. And same with me. I was honest about my lips, which took a lot of courage for me to do, and I'm being honest now," she explained.

More: Everyone needs to calm down about Kim Zolciak's photo shoot with Brielle

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

There was a recent segment on LIVE with Kelly that is simultaneously confusing and enthralling us cat lovers. During the segment, Kelly introduced a new cat grooming product called the LICKI Brush. It was created by cat-lovin' couple Tara and Jason O'Mara, who were looking for a way to bond more with their cats. You know, because scratching them, playing with them and taking countless pictures of them for Instagram just isn't enough.

More: My cats were my kids, until I had a kid, and my pet parenting had to change

The product does exactly what the name suggests — it allows you to essentially groom your cats the way other cats do — by licking them. Now that you sort of have an image in your minds, here's a clip of Kelly demonstrating it.

I can never unsee that. Best part of this video hands down is the possessed toy cat that randomly moves, blinks and meows even though Kelly says it has no batteries in it. According to its Kickstarter page, the LICKI Brush is made of a soft silicone that's meant to resemble an actual cat tongue. As such, when you groom them in this way, you're having a more intimate experience with your cat because you're getting onto their level.

As a fervent cat lover, I have some questions for the creators of this... interesting new product.

More: My cats help me manage my anxiety, and I love them for it

1. Why in the world would my cat allow a tongue twice the size of her head to "lick" her?

2. Explain to me how silicone resembles an actual cat tongue.

3. What does the part I put into my mouth taste like? I mean, this should be beneficial to both parties, right?

4. Does there need to be mutual consent to engage in such an activity with my cat, and how do I know if I've received it? I can see this ending badly.

5. What if my other cat sees me using the LICKI tongue on his sister? Will he get jealous?

6. Cat tongues are wet. Are you supposed to wet this thing down first?

7. Will my cats hide from me if they see me approach them with this thing in my mouth?

8. Does it come with protective eye wear? I am envisioning several claw-to-the-face incidents.

9. Do you accept refunds?

10. Do you know where I can buy the robotic cat Kelly was using? I think my cats would enjoy that more.

As you can probably tell by now, I don't think much of this product. Cats have tiny, soft, flexible tongues that in no way resemble the LICKI Brush, so I doubt many will be receptive to it. But all the power to these obvious cat lovers for trying to find new and interesting ways to bond with their cats. Even if the idea they came up with is totally weird, it at least made for one of the funniest LIVE with Kelly clips I've ever seen.

More: 5 medical conditions you never knew a service dog could help manage

Blake Shelton is whipped! Seriously, he can't stop gushing about Gwen Stefani and it's pretty darn adorable — even if he does have a bit of verbal diarrhea.

More: Gwen Stefani has had a huge effect on Blake Shelton's life

During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Shelton wanted everyone to know how lucky he feels to be dating Stefani, and his feelings for her actually inspired his new track, "A Guy With a Girl" (featured on his newly released album, If I'm Honest).

"I just like being with her, but when she's all dolled up and we go places, it's always fun for me," Shelton told Entertainment Tonight on Monday, hot on the heels of their awesome Billboard Music Awards performance. "If she was here right now, not one person here would be looking at anybody else but her. It's just cool to know that's who I came here with. That's basically what ["A Guy With a Girl"] is about. They may come up and talk to me, but it's only because I'm one person over from her. Pretty cool."

More: Gwen Stefani totally upped Blake Shelton's selfie game with her photobomb

OK, but it's not just Stefani's killer looks that have Shelton hooked: The pair is very happy and they do appear to have a lot of fun together. But despite their happiness, the constant headlines about them can get a little tiresome.

"I read that we're having twins in the latest tabloid, and I think you can fit two humans in there," Shelton joked, referring to his stomach. "Maybe three in there!" That's the downside to two famous people dating each other — you're going to get spoken about. The good news is that although the tabloid headlines may be annoying, they don't really seem to be getting to Shelton. And while the couple doesn't have any plans to have kids of their own (at least not just yet), Shelton has been getting to know Stefani's three young sons (whom she shares with Gavin Rossdale).

"When they come out there, I don’t see them much because if they’re at my place in Oklahoma, they’re in the woods," Shelton joked. "I don't know how to keep control of them."

More: Yes, Blake Shelton knows he and Gwen Stefani are an odd-looking pair

Do you love hearing about Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani's relationship? Or do you think it's time they kept it to themselves? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Fred Savage was a huge hit on Live! this week — and not just with the audience.

The banter between Savage and Kelly Ripa revealed that the crew was extremely relieved to put the tension caused by Michael Strahan's departure behind them, so much so that they bent over backwards to make Savage feel at home. One even picked out the actor's socks for him!

More: Apparently, Fred Savage brings out Kelly Ripa's naughty side

Ripa revealed she knew something was going on when her usual squad wasn't chilling in her dressing room pre-show.

"Art Moore, the esteemed Art Moore picked out my socks today," Savage said. "We both love socks and he gave me four pairs of socks and I chose these. I had a couple outfits to wear and I did a this or that and Art helped get me dressed this morning."

"I was wondering because Art usually hangs out in my dressing room with me and then I see Gelman running by my room and I thought he had a spring in his step and I've got items to talk about — he was going to you," Ripa explained.

Savage was so well-received, in fact, that he is rumored to be on the short list of possible candidates for Ripa's cohost. Fans went nuts over his appearance, and that obviously plays a huge part in who they are going to choose. But he will have to compete with Ripa's bestie Anderson Cooper and other rumored hopefuls like Andy Cohen to nab the gig.

More: What drama? Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan were adorable on his last day

Little People, Big World stars Amy Roloff and Matt Roloff were together for 27 years before they decided it would be best if they divorced in June 2015 — and their relationship is understandably pretty strained.

More: 11 signs the Little People, Big World couple would divorce

In a sneak peek of the latest episode of the hit TLC show, Matt really gets on Amy's nerves and what follows makes their Thanksgiving meal uncomfortable for all those involved.

In the video, Amy can be seen preparing the holiday feast while Matt waits at the table — all alone while everyone else is socialising — for the food to be ready.

"OK, is he supposed to be sitting here waiting for everybody?" Amy asks. "Why is he just sitting here?"

Matt responds to her question with, "Yeah, I'm waiting here... because it's like 6:30 p.m. I was told that it was dinner."

More: Little People's Amy Roloff gives sad reason she won't date again after split

And then all hell breaks loose, because Amy simply responds with: "You know what? Shove it up your ass."

Everyone in the room looks super awkward after that comment, and the couple's children then tell the camera how their parents' bickering was not what they had in mind for the family dinner and they really don't want to be a part of it.

What's clear from the video is that Amy and Matt have very different expectations: Amy felt that there should be "no rules and no schedules" on Thanksgiving, because really, they were meant to be just enjoying their time together. Matt, on the other hand, felt that his ex-wife's tardiness was an issue.

More: Little People, Big World's Jeremy Roloff marries at family farm

"Amy's just notoriously late, and that's one of the struggles with Amy and I through our entire marriage," Matt told the camera, adding, "When it was time for dinner, I sat down to try to keep everybody on schedule. And I think she was kind of pissed."

Do you think Amy was right in this situation and Matt was wrong to rush her? Or do you completely agree with his reasoning? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Summertime is almost here! And if you’re from the South like I am (and maybe even if you aren’t), it means a whole heap of delicious foods, like barbecue, brown sugar baked beans and macaroni salad, are about to be in season. While I love cookout food, a lot of it is loaded with sugar, overly processed things like mayonnaise or other ingredients you may be looking to avoid for dietary, health or other reasons.

More: 14 burger toppings you won't find on any 'secret' menus

Enter my Jamaican jerk burgers topped with fresh pineapple salsa. I eat these with no bun, which makes them gluten free and Paleo. Even sans bread, I love these burgers. I’m excited to eat them all summer long.

More: 10 burger recipes without ground beef

Jamaican jerk burgers with fresh pineapple salsa recipe

Prep time: 10 – 15 minutes I Cook time: 15 – 20 minutes I Total time: 25 – 35 minutes

Ingredients:

For the burgers

• 1 pound ground sirloin (or ground turkey or whatever kind of burger you prefer)
• 1/2 cup fresh green onion, chopped

For the jerk seasoning

• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika (this will give a smoky sweetness without added sugar)
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Coconut oil, as needed (I used about a tablespoon total)

For the salsa (all seasonings to taste)

• 2 cups pineapple, diced
• 1 red onion, diced
• 1 jalapeño pepper, diced
• Juice from 1 lime
• Cilantro (I use dried because I prefer the taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Directions:

1. To a large mixing bowl, add the ground sirloin, all the seasonings and the green onion.
2. Using your hands, mix the ingredients together until well incorporated.
3. Shape into patties, and place on a baking sheet until time to cook.
4. When all the meat has been formed into patties, either pan-fry them in coconut oil in a skillet, or coat them in coconut oil, and cook them on the grill.
5. While the burgers cook, in a medium-size bowl, mix together the salsa ingredients. Set aside.
6. Once the burgers are cooked to desired level (I take my burgers medium), top with the salsa.

You can eat these burgers with or without a bun (I don’t eat mine with a bun, but my husband has his on a toasted Hawaiian bread bun). Serve with sliced avocado, mango and sweet potato fries.

More: Marinades that will transform your flank steak into a flavor phenom

We definitely saw this coming.

More: Patrick Dempsey's reconciliation with his wife gets steamy in public (PHOTOS)

According to TMZ, Jill and Patrick Dempsey's divorce case is about to be thrown out because of inactivity.

It's been obvious for months that the famous pair had called off their divorce. But they never canceled the actual divorce filing, and now a judge is telling them it's about to be thrown out.

TMZ claims that Judge Maren Nelson sent a legal document to Jill explaining that the case is stagnant because Jill hasn't made any movements since filing in January of last year. The document also warns that unless the couple takes action, their divorce case is likely to be dismissed.

More: Shonda Rhimes admits she kills characters for her own personal gain

As TMZ reports, the divorce was never really a thing. Jill was reportedly frustrated that Patrick was spending more time with his race cars than with his family, and made the filing to get his attention. And clearly, it worked, because Patrick seriously cut back on racing — that is, until he left Grey's Anatomy so he could start pursuing his auto racing career full time.

When Jill filed for divorce, Patrick didn't even bother to file an official response, and there's been no action in their case since then. He did, however, say that he wanted to stay married and would do what it took to win back his wife's affection. It looks like it worked, because they're still not divorced and appear to be going strong.

More: Patrick Dempsey insider reveals huge relationship update

Are you surprised that Patrick and Jill Dempsey seem to have called off their divorce, or did you see it coming? Let us know down in the comments.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below: