Dirty talk — so many of us don't do it because it can be hella awkward trying to figure out what should be coming out of your mouth. There's nothing worse than sounding like a noob when saying naughty words in the bedroom, which is why we've decided to make the process easy on you.
Try one of these no-fail dirty talk shortcuts the next time you knock boots to maximize your pleasure and minimize your embarrassment:
1. His/Her name
They want to know that you're not visualizing someone else when you're with them or just phoning it in, so although it may seem basic, saying (or screaming out) his/her name in bed is a good way to ease into dirty talk. Punctuate it with a few "ooohs" and moans and it will be more than enough to heat things up.
If you're being a tad quiet, many will take the initiative and let you know what they'd like to hear by peppering you with questions, such as "What am I doing to you?" and "How does that feel?" In this case, simply describing the mise en scène and how you feel will suffice. However, don't feel like obligated to use cuss words if it's not your style. Instead, take a cue from romance novels and utilize under-used verbs like "pulse," "swell," and "throb."
Nothing counts when it's said in between the sheets, so if you're feeling confident, seize the opportunity and tell him/her all of your craziest fantasies. If the thought leaves you tongue-tied, try practicing in front of a mirror — especially the particularly naughty parts — until you are able to say them without feeling embarrassed or laughing.
4. Sexy phrases
Sometimes just having sex is intimate enough, and the idea of pouring out all of your deepest desires, especially in a new relationship, is too much. However, you don't want to be mute. For those times, any of the following stock sexy phrases will work:
Sometimes a little vocal encouragement is all that's needed to let your partner know that you are enjoying what they're doing. Sometimes a few soft purrs can be just as effective as a well-rehearsed speech, so don't be afraid to get creative. Whatever you do to cheer them on will make your bedroom romp all the more exciting.
Originally published Dec. 2015. Updated June 2016.
Lohan, who turns 30 this Saturday, sat down with Vanity Fair to talk about her past struggles — addiction, arrests, wild partying — and what she's looking forward to now. During her interview, Lohan revealed something kind of surprising: even though her partying years were widely publicized and fraught with scandal, she has no regrets about her past.
"I wouldn't call things regrets, per se. I can’t turn back time," she explained. "But if I could, I would have listened more to my mother and gone back home to NYC earlier in life and chosen my friends more wisely."
Lohan left Los Angeles to head home to her native New York in 2013, where she set to work filming her docuseries, Lindsay. On the show, she returned to her roots to try to revive her career after a series of very public arrests, relationship breakdowns, substance abuse issues and stints in rehab.
Vanity Fair also asked Lohan what advice she would give her younger self now, and her response was to "pay attention to the people you surround yourself with, and make sure they have honest intentions," as she alluded to struggles with her former group of hard-partying friends, including Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.
Lohan, who is now sober, has much to look forward to. In April, she got engaged to business heir Egor Tarabasov, and the two already have plans to start their own family. According to Lohan, the future also includes "making more films, writing my book, starting my charity" and "working with children a lot."
This July 4, we're celebrating our independence from dishes with these individual, handheld apple and cherry pies — baked right inside the apple. Just core out an apple, fill with cherry pie filling, cover with pie crust, and bake. Aren't you a Yankee Doodle now?
So, we know that Tess Holliday’s breastfeeding selfie from last week was a false alarm. But there’s no doubt that she’s now popped her BF selfie cherry, posting a black-and-white shot of 3-week-old Bowie Juniper breastfeeding.
The 30-year-old model, who also has a 10-year-old son, Rylee, from a previous relationship, reposted the pic from Bowie’s dad, fiancé Nick Holliday, and captioned it, "I had to capture this moment because today was the first time I was successful at feeding lil Bowie [lying] down."
Holliday's photo is gorgeous, but it also makes an important point about breastfeeding. It's no secret that it's hard. A small number of moms are lucky enough in that everything just falls into place from the get-go, but for the vast majority of us, the breastfeeding process isn't straightforward.
Aside from problems getting baby to latch on and the risk of discomfort and pain, sometimes breastfeeding is a lot of, well, boob juggling.
Look at stock photos of breastfeeding women, and you’d think the only position is sitting up, cradling baby in your arms (nursing cushion optional). But sometimes you have to experiment a little. Some women find it comfortable to nurse in a lying down position, on whatever side baby is feeding from. Others make it work by lying on their back, with their tot lying on top.
The new dad’s words on the original post are super encouraging for new moms who may be struggling to breastfeed, worrying what they look like while breastfeeding or not breastfeeding at all.
"She actually looks really sexy here — but it isn’t always like that," he wrote. "Sometimes it’s stressful and messy and nothing goes how you want it to. But sometimes it’s bliss. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about feeding your child, wherever that may be. And for the women out there who can’t breastfeed, don’t let anyone make you feel bad about that either."
This is why we'll never get sick of celebrity breastfeeding selfies. If even just one mom benefits from seeing Holliday's image, it's worth putting it out there.
We've all been warned about the raw eggs in cookie dough, but guess what! We've been eating it anyway. Well, how dangerously are we willing to live for the sweet, sweet taste of butter-creamed sugar mixed with chocolate chips? Because now the FDA says raw cookie dough is too dangerous to eat because of the flour.
You remember the massive flour recall thanks to our friend E. coli? That is probably what's behind the advisory the FDA just issued about eating raw cookie dough. "Flour," they say, "regardless of the brand, can contain bacteria that cause disease."
"But I thought they'd cleaned up after that flour recall, and now it's all OK!" you protest. Oh, but it could happen again. This is the new danger, my friends. The Great Flour Threat. So severe is it, the FDA doesn't even want you making your own play dough for fear that your little ones will lick their dough-covered hands.
So that's fun, right? Goodbye, youthful innocence filled with homemade play dough and licking the spoon out of the mixing bowl. Guess it's back to hitting the cookie butter. They can't take that away from us. Yet.
But no. The scene of the crime was an end-of-year class party, and the perpetrator was a third-grader who made a comment about the brownies being served to the students.
After the boy made the comment, another student accused him of being racist, and his mom, Stacy dos Santos, claims the school then called the police. A police officer spoke to the 9-year-old boy and contacted his father later the same day. According to police, the matter has been referred to the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency.
The boy’s parents insist the comment he made was simply about snacks and had nothing to do with skin color. Whether that’s true or not isn’t really the issue here.
The action taken by the school came about as a result of a change to the previous procedure, whereby it would only report incidents it deemed serious, such as those involving weapons, drugs or sexual misconduct, to the police. After a May 25 meeting among the Collingswood Police Department, school officials and representatives from the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, schools were told to report all incidents that could be considered criminal, even those "as minor as a simple name-calling incident that the school would typically handle internally."
If this kid made a racist comment, it goes without saying that it has to be dealt with. But really, is the right way of doing that calling the police? Who in their right mind would call the cops on a kid unless they are behaving in such a criminal, violent or threatening way that the only solution is law enforcement?
Apparently the boy in question has been left "traumatized" from being questioned by a gun-carrying police officer, and his mom isn’t the only one who’s angry. Several other parents of kids at the school are up in arms about law enforcement being called to deal with what is simply typical young-kid behavior.
Unnecessary police involvement at a school isn't just ridiculous; it's potentially harmful to the kids. Far more harmful than a 9-year-old making a joke about snacks.
After a 12-year run on HLN, Nancy Grace has decided that she will not renew her contract when it expires in October. Grace is a former prosecuting attorney who is known for delivering her strong opinions in her famous Southern drawl. She isn’t totally clear right now about what might come next for her, but she said that she will always be wedded to television and hopes to continue working in the space.
In honor of Grace’s long and sometimes controversial career on HLN, we took a look back at her most iconic arguments.
"I advise you, sir, do not tango with me on the law"
During the George Zimmerman trial for the tragic murder of Trayvon Martin, Grace brought on Daryl Parks, the attorney for Martin’s family, and one of Zimmerman’s friends, Frank Taaffe, to debate the validity of his defense. At one point, Taaffe tried to debate nuances of the law with Grace, which turned out to be his biggest mistake.
Nancy Grace tango video
Nancy Grace tango video
"Oh, honey, when you get in that chair, it’s on"
Making a Murderer, the Netflix documentary that took over the whole country last year, spurred quite a few emotional reactions. One such reaction came from actor Donnie Wahlberg. He wrote an article giving his thoughts about the case, which led Grace to bring him on her show. During a heated moment, Wahlberg interrupted Grace to say that he wasn’t there to debate the point, to which, Grace told him, of course he was.
Nancy Grace and Donnie Wahlberg
Nancy Grace and Donnie Wahlberg
Grace vs. 2 Chainz
If you’re on any social media site, it’s likely that you’ve seen the highlight reel of these two debating the positive and negative effects of smoking weed. Grace is obviously on the side of keeping weed illegal and 2 Chainz thought he should be a guest on her show to talk about the benefits. What happened next will live on in internet infamy.
"When I’m asked a direct question, I give a direct and truthful answer"
Immediately after Whitney Houston was found dead in her hotel room bathtub, friends, family and fans all over the world were shocked. Grace, who is trained in searching for the truth in suspicious situations, started asking questions about what happened that night that many thought were in poor taste. Ever in search of controversy, The View brought Grace on to talk about her questions and defend her position, which she did in the way only she can.
"When you don’t know a horse, look at his track record"
Grace also took on Dr. Drew in the great pot debate. Dr. Drew was asking the question that if weed was made legal, could the government then spend the money on rehabilitation and care of those who are addicted to drugs. Grace said, unequivocally, no way.
Nancy Grace and Dr. Drew
Nancy Grace and Dr. Drew
There’s no doubt that without Grace hosting her show, all of TV will be a little less entertaining and a little softer.
I love a good girl group. From Destiny’s Child to Charlie’s Angels, if there is a group of individual women making sure to support and champion other women, I’m their biggest fan. So when I saw that some of the Big Brother women were forming the Fatal Five alliance between five of the strongest women in the house, I was ecstatic.
The alliance is formed between Da'Vonne Rogers, Nicole Franzel, Tiffany Rousso, Zakiyah Everette and Michelle Meyer. It’s a solid mix of veterans and newbies who are all inside the dominant 8-Pack alliance, so they’re definitely playing it smart by reinforcing their allegiance to each other.
They are all focused solely on the game. Each of them expressed that they are not interested in any of the guys. They collectively decided that they may flirt, but that it doesn’t mean anything; winning the game is their priority.
More than that, though, is their dedication to not being catty throughout the season.
Obviously, avoiding cattiness is something much easier said than done, but for now I choose to believe in these five women. I think it’s finally time that women band together and show loyalty to each other the entire way through. There will be a time where they’ll have to start looking out for themselves, but why can’t that wait until everyone else is gone?
Over and over in reality TV we see women who are constantly talking about other people behind their back, or women who use their sexuality to advance in the game. And I get it. If a million dollars were on the line, there’s no telling what any of us would do. But I want these women to show that forming an alliance together and playing smart and nice is the most useful strategy.
Any woman who goes through a miscarriage deserves compassion, support and understanding. It's a heartbreaking experience that you simply can't understand unless you've been through it yourself. But you don't need to be able to relate to respond in the right way — and that doesn't include criticism or disgust.
Sadly that's exactly what reality TV star Gemma Collins received following her revelation that she had a miscarriage four years ago. The Only Way is Essex star appeared on Channel 5's In Therapy this week and shared her experience with therapist Mandy Saligari.
The miscarriage happened four and a half months into Collins' pregnancy, although she was unaware she was pregnant as she was on the contraceptive pill. She told Saligari that she "woke up with excruciating pains" and knew straight away "something's not right here." Before the ambulance arrived Collins said she "ended up giving birth on the landing."
Anyone who's watched Collins on TOWIE will know that she's not scared of voicing her opinions and telling it like it is and she certainly didn't hold back when describing what happened when she miscarried. She said her initial reaction to the miscarriage was, “Mum, Mum, Mum, pick it up. What is it? What is it? Pick it up,” while her mum said, “Leave it.”
Tragically Collins also said that she feels the miscarriage must have been "God's punishment" for an abortion she’d had just months before when a long-term relationship ended.
What a horrific ordeal for any woman to go through. Why has Collins received such a shocking backlash? For starters, some viewers felt that it's something that should be dealt with in private and not talked about on TV. Some even questioned her decision to share the story now, years after the event, suggesting that Collins did it to somehow further her career. She's been accused of making light of both her own and other women's experiences and criticised for attending the National Television Awards only hours after it happened.
Of this decision, Collins said, "I look at that picture of me at the awards and I can recall having loads of padding on underneath my dress because I was bleeding heavily. Only I know how I was truly feeling, but to the outside world I was perfectly happy… I had to disassociate myself [from the miscarriage]. It's only when I hear [the therapist] saying it that I think, 'Bloody hell, did that happen to me.' But the show had to go on."
Can't so many women relate to this? The show has to go on. Jobs have to be done, other children have to be cared for, life has to be lived. We put on a brave face and pretend we're OK even though we feel like we're dying inside.
Then there are the people — clearly highly sensitive and easily offended types — who regard her story as too crass. But here's the thing. Miscarriage is messy. It's bloody and it's painful and it's completely devastating and it's happening every day, all over the world. Every woman's experience is different — both in how, when and where it happens and how she deals with the aftermath. Why shouldn't Collins talk about hers?
Nobody deserves to have a miscarriage, regardless of what they have done in the past. Collins should be applauded for speaking so bravely and frankly about her experience. It's only by doing so that women will stop feeling ashamed and alone and get the support they need to work through their miscarriage stories in a way that is right for them.
Of course, right now in the series Teresa is definitely the heroine to root for. Every decision she has made has been about survival. She picked the lesser of two evils tonight when she decided to swallow some serious balloons full of drugs rather than face certain death. It's easy to want her to succeed given what we've seen of her character so far.
Unfortunately I have a feeling that in order for Teresa to continue surviving, some of her decisions will be character compromising. You don't get to those gold heels and immaculate white dresses without leaving a dirty trail in the drug world.
The show is so fast-paced though so far that there's hardly time for you to assess Teresa's choices as good or bad. Like her, the audience is left to roll with them as she simply reacts to her current conditions.
I thought maybe the premiere was just an action-packed taste at what's in store while the rest of the season levels out but, thanks to the second episode, we know it's all going to be a wild ride. I would even say it will be more fast-paced than Breaking Bad, the show it is drawing the most comparisons to. Teresa doesn't have time to analyze her entrance into the drug world. She doesn't have a family to consider as she swallows those balloons. This is about her getting through each situation as best and as quickly as she can and her alone.
It will be interesting to see the world she builds around herself especially considering that right now she's been left without any allies. It seems clear, even this early on, that Camille will groom Teresa for bigger things, but that doesn't make Camille a confidant. Far from it. In fact, I'm pretty sure one of Teresa's big acts in her rise to power will be disposing of Camille in some not-so-pleasant way.
Teresa's hard decisions are clearly just beginning and yet I can't imagine the twists and turns this season is going to take.
Award-winning journalist Sarah Koenig brought Adnan Syed to our attention when she explored his case — he was convicted of murder by manual strangulation of an 18-year-old high school student, Hae Min Lee in 1999 — in her hugely popular podcast, Serial; and there has now been a massive new development in the case.
On Thursday, a Baltimore judge ordered a new trial for Syed, who has been serving a life sentence since 2000, The Baltimore Sun reports. According to the publication, retired Judge Martin Welch vacated Syed's conviction on Thursday, saying that there were questions about cellphone tower evidence that should have been raised by his trial team.
The ruling comes just four months after a hearing that included testimony from an alibi witness who had also been featured on Serial.
Many believe that Syed should not be behind bars — although he was found guilty by a jury, there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime, instead, the prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of Jay Wilds, an acquaintance (who avoided prison time by working with investigators) who claims he helped bury Lee's body in Leakin Park.
Syed remains in prison in Western Maryland, but the work of Serial blogger and attorney Susan Simpson is credited with helping to produce the evidence that judge Welch cited in granting a new trial.
"We have been fighting for this day for, I think it's been about eight years now, and it's been a grueling fight, and there have been a lot of disappointments along the way, and there were times when it looked like we had lost," attorney C. Justin Brown said, The Baltimore Sun reports. "But we made it. We got a new trial."
Adnan Syed's granted new trial
Adnan Syed's granted new trial
Serial's coverage of Syed's case attracted worldwide attention, and led many interested listeners to scrutinize the case in detail, but what does co-producer and host Koenig think about Welch's ruling?
According to the publication she said she was still processing the ruling and the magnitude of the news and declined to comment further. However, the official Twitter page for Serial did share information on the ruling for a new trial.
Serial Twitter
Serial Twitter
Are you surprised by this new ruling? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
As Renée Zellweger is getting ready to release her new movie Bridget Jones's Baby, she's facing critics of her appearance again, with some questioning if she still looks like the Zellweger we fell in love with in Bridget Jones's Diary.
However, Zellweger doesn't have time for haters right now. After four years of dating Doyle Bramhall II, Zellweger is engaged to the musician and it seems like she's never been happier.
"Doyle proposed two weeks ago. Renée didn't even hesitate to say yes," an inside source told Star Magazine. "It was incredibly romantic and touching. She actually started crying when he asked her, and he got very emotional, too."
The couple have reportedly had their ups and downs though. According to the insider, "It was a bit touch-and-go. They had a serious conversation about where their relationship was going, and they realized that they both wanted to get married, start a family and spend the rest of their lives together."
The actress has had some failed high-profile relationships in the past. She was engaged to Jim Carrey from 1999 to 2000 before the pair split. She then married country singer Kenny Chesney in 2005, but the couple obtained an annulment only four months later.
However, things seem like they're different with Bramhall. He's not an A-list celebrity like many of Zellweger's exes. Plus, the pair have know each other since college.
"There is a familiarity between us, that sense you have when you're with someone and you know you are home," Zellweger told Vogue UK in their July 2016 issue.
It sounds like Zellweger and Bramhall are meant to be!
You guys, it's been a pretty serious week. Between the Brexit drama, the attack on Istanbul and the fact that Donald Trump still seems to be a viable presidential candidate, we've certainly got a lot on our minds.
Cue all the knee-slapping famous people of the world and their hilarious tweets! We knew there was a good reason for social media and celebrities existing.
A big thank you to all these celeb tweeters who had us forgetting all our worries.
For the love of all that's holy, if you aren't following the Grobs on Twitter and/or Instagram, go do it now. His feed is rife with humorous musings about life. We seriously had a hard time picking just one from his feed to feature.
2. Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds tweet
Ryan Reynolds tweet
Is most of Reynolds' Twitter humor dark? You betcha. But we really think he should write a children's book in the style of Adam Mansbach's Go the F*** to Sleep.
3. Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane tweet
Seth MacFarlane tweet
This one really needs to be accompanied by a GIF to get the full effect, and we're happy to oblige.
So random, so obscure, yet so true. And damn it if we aren't in a good mood now that the Green Acres theme song is playing on a constant loop in our heads.
4. Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy Teigen tweet
Chrissy Teigen tweet
The struggle is real.
5. Jim Gaffigan
Jim Gaffigan tweet
Jim Gaffigan tweet
Gaffigan's feed is basically one amazing one-liner after another. This week's live tweeting of his wife refusing to hand him his charger as his laptop loses power is pretty epic. Sounds boring, but it's gold. I highly suggest you check it out.
O'Brien is only 53 years old, yet he's already hitting the dirty old grandpa joke pretty hard. Don't linger on this one too long or your stomach will start hurting.
8. Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Degeneres tweet
Ellen Degeneres tweet
May all of your birthdays be as golden as Ricky Gervais' underpants and Ellen DeGeneres' sense of humor.
9. Billy Eichner
Billy Eichner tweet
Billy Eichner tweet
The resemblance is uncanny.
Image: Gold Circle Films
Did you see any hilarious celeb tweets this week? Share the wealth in the comments!
Jesse Williams' passionate speech at the BET Awards this year was one that many people won't forget in a hurry. Last weekend he took home the Humanitarian award for his work on raising awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement, and his comments on the need for social change left many inspired — but not Stacey Dash.
Dash reacted to Williams' speech in a blog post, referring to him as a "Hollywood plantation slave" and criticised him for his speech, which she found "racist."
"I've said it before and I'll say it again: BET is keeping racism and segregation alive and this past Sunday's awards show proves it," Dash began, before focusing on Williams' speech, which she believes was "nothing short of an attack on white people."
Dash dissected Williams' speech, writing about how he "saved his worst criticisms for whites who have committed so-called cultural appropriation of black culture and entertainment" — Justin Timberlake said he felt inspired by the speech, only to be quickly shot down by Twitter users, leading him to apologize and tell followers that "we are all one."
"Justin, my dear, there is no 'oneness' when it comes to Black Lives Matter," Dash wrote. "They've planted the seed of segregation and no longer want to live in 'perfect harmony,' like the old song wished. And if Michael Jackson once sang, 'It don't matter if you're black or white,' well, it does now, at least from their perspective."
Dash then accused Williams of being "the perfect example of a HOLLYWOOD plantation slave!" saying that the fact that he was at the BET Awards at all "tells people you really don't know what your [sic] talking about. Just spewing hate and anger."
She also said he was just like everyone else in his attempts to "get money." The difference being that "your cognitive dissidents has you getting it from THAT BYSTANDER whom YOU DONT NEED. Yes. BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION is WHITE OWNED. GET over yourself and get on with it!" (sic)
Dash is an opinionated woman who does not back down on topics she feels strongly about, and, although what she has to say is often extremely controversial, we have to respect that she's staying true to what she believes. However, we think she took her name-calling of Williams way too far this time.
What do you think? Did Dash takes things too far with her criticism of Williams and the Black Lives Matter movement? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
When you think of camp cooking, do you picture fragrant homemade chili bubbling over a cast-iron Dutch oven, or sad, half-burned, half-cold hot dogs? Fancy camp cooking isn't for everyone. Lord knows it's a pain to drag loads of extra equipment and ingredients to a campground, so you want to keep it simple. But you also don't have to limit yourself to the predictable things-you-can-put-on-a-stick. And there are some tricks to making it a whole lot easier.
That's why we tapped into Sunset Magazine's new Camp Sunset: A Modern Camper's Guide to the Great Outdoors (which includes some fantastic-looking recipes) for some camp cooking tips that could mean the difference between eating a warm, satisfying meal versus eating raw marshmallows while you all sulk in your sleeping bags.
Image: Sunset Magazine
Cooking on a camp stove
After you've connected the stove to a fuel source, check that the stove is level. Don't forget to use the attached windscreens.
Using a campfire grill
Use enough fuel: Four logs works for a quick grill, but start with six if you're cooking over an extended period. Keep an extra log burning at the back of the fire ring.
Plan ahead — it takes 1 to 1-1/2 hours for a fire to burn to low flames plus embers, the ideal stage for cooking.
Adjust the fire: Spread the fire under the cooking grate, using grilling tongs. As you cook, move logs or add fuel as needed.
High altitude baking tips (above 3,000 feet above sea level)
For quick breads such as biscuits, cornbread, cakes and pancakes, try decreasing baking powder or soda by 1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon per teaspoon called for. If that's not working, cut back on flour by about 2 tablespoons per cup called for.
For yeast breads, you may need less flour, so mix in about two-thirds of what's called for in the recipe, then check the dough to see whether it looks and feels the way it does at sea level before adding more. Keep an eye on the dough's rise; yeast doughs rise more quickly — sometimes twice as fast — in the reduced pressure of higher altitudes. Instead of letting dough rise until doubled in volume, let it rise only about a third. That will compensate for its tendency to overexpand as it bakes in the Dutch oven.
Pack bailout foods
Just in case, be ready with a few instant meals (which, fortunately, keep getting better in quality). Before you leave town, hit the grocery store for items to which you simply add boiling water: packs of miso or ramen soup and cups of quinoa and other grain bowls and the like. And swing by an outdoor store for a couple of packaged camp meals. If the camping gods unleash a true downpour, head to the tent for a cold picnic dinner of fancy cheese, salami, crackers and dried fruit. And don't forget the wine.
How to clean a fresh-caught fish
Make a shallow slit down the length of the belly. Pull out the guts with your fingers, then rinse the fish well. Scale it by scraping from tail to head with a table knife. Rinse again. If the fish is too big for your pan, cut off the head and tail.
If you're going to the trouble of making dessert, you might as well go all the way and add a big dollop of whipped cream. In a bowl, whisk 1 cup of heavy whipping cream with 1 to 1-1/2 tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract until thick. For fun or in case you don't have a whisk, pour all the ingredients into a pint-size or quart-size canning jar or into a cocktail shaker. Attach the lid, and shake-shake-shake until thick.
All tips excerpted from Camp Sunset: A Modern Camper's Guide to the Great Outdoors (Oxmoor House, 2016).
Pregnant ladies, the struggle is real. Sure, preggo food cravings scream "pregnancy stereotype," but none of us are laughing when we're rummaging through the fridge with a hankering for something salty or sweet at 2 in the morning. While pregnancy cravings can range from the weird to the delicious (chalk, anyone?), it may comfort you to know that you're not at all alone.
Here's the thing — a pregnancy craving differs from a regular craving in the sense that it's about a million times stronger. You wake up with a burning desire for a Chipotle burrito or an ice-cold root beer, and will go out of your way to satisfy it. You'll drive miles upon miles to meet the craving, and have no shame in waking up your husband in the middle of the night to go buy and cook you bacon. Hey, what baby wants, baby gets, right? Let's take a look at the top foods craved most by pregnant women and why.
1. Ice
Pregnant women love to chew on ice. Seems strange, since it's not really a food and doesn't seem in any way satisfying to those of us not with child, but for some reason pregnant women just can't get enough. Those with anemia are more likely to be seen chewing on ice, since it can relieve inflammation of the mouth and tongue (a common symptom of anemia).
2. Chocolate
Chocolate — or any sweet, for that matter — is something pregnant women can't get enough of. This could be because chocolate makes you happy, and since there's no drinking for pregnant women, chocolate is literally the next best thing. An old wives' tale states that if you crave sweets, it means you're carrying a girl.
Tip: If you're worried about indulging too much, satisfy your chocolate craving by drizzling low-fat chocolate syrup onto fresh fruit.
3. Spicy foods
Spicy foods, such as curry or hot red peppers, are yet another common craving among pregnant women. Interestingly enough, it's because hot foods make the body sweat, which cools off the body. If you're currently expecting, then you know it's almost impossible to stay cool. Try adding some spice to your next meal to see if it helps cool you down.
Women who crave pickles could be low in sodium, but there's no real proof of this. Some like the crunch, some like the vinegar, and some like the refreshing taste. Whatever it is, pickle cravings are nothing to be too concerned about. They're low in calories, easy to get and inexpensive.
5. Potato chips
Potato chips, like pickles, are loaded with salt. Again, you could be low in sodium, but more than likely you're just desiring something salty and crunchy, and potato chips are what comes to mind. Since they're high in fat and calories, try reaching for these alternatives instead.
6. Fruit
Pregnant women don't crave just junk food (surprisingly!) — they crave fruit as well. You (and your body) want a healthy baby, so sometimes it needs extra-healthy foods to make sure that happens. Fruits, such as watermelons and grapes, are cool and refreshing, all while providing your body and baby with a boost of vitamin C.
It's not unheard of to see a pregnant woman eating a straight lemon or adding a ton of it to their water. Pregnant women crave sour foods. The reason? Your taste buds change, and typically you like to "shock" them with super-sour or super-spicy foods.
8. Ice cream
Ice cream is sweet, it cools you off, and it's rich and creamy. With so many flavors to choose from, a pregnant woman could literally spend hours in the ice cream aisle. For a healthier version, buy low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt, and top with fresh fruit. You might kill two cravings in one sitting.
9. Soda
If you've experienced or are experiencing morning sickness, then a fizzy, carbonated soda might be just what you need. Carbonation settles the stomach and may take away that queasy feeling you've had all day. Try ginger ale or Sprite, as caffeinated beverages should be avoided during pregnancy.
10. Coffee
Even though some doctors say it's a no-no, coffee is commonly craved by pregnant women, especially those who drank it before conceiving. Coffee makes you more alert and decreases headaches and depression. Check with your doctor before deciding to partake in a cup o' joe, though.
A craving for sweets and candy is one of the most commonly reported among pregnant women. This can sometimes be a sign of gestational diabetes, but most of the time it can be chalked up to hormonal changes that affect your scent and taste perception. Try eating fruit or having a glass of freshly squeezed juice to satisfy your craving — or just stick to one small piece of candy a day.
12. Beans and greens
Some women crave healthier foods, like leafy green veggies, legumes and whole grains, that provide the body with tons of essential nutrients, including magnesium and fiber. Feel free to indulge in these foods as often as you like.
13. Red meat
Red meat is full of protein and iron, which many pregnant women crave. The key here is to skip the fattier cuts like rib-eye and go for round or sirloin cuts. Or choose your favorite lean ground beef to make burgers.
14. Juice
Most fruit juices are full of vitamins, and growing a baby inside you can be thirsty work! That's why many women report craving juice when they are pregnant even if they used to drink only water before. As long as you stick to no-added-sugar juices, feel free to guzzle an 8-ounce serving when the craving kicks in.
15. Salt
It's not uncommon for women to crave salty foods as their pregnancy goes on. The reason? An increase in blood volume can change your dietary need for sodium. If salt is what you crave, then stick to the shaker — the sodium in processed foods can far exceed the needs of even a pregnant woman and often contain extra unsavory ingredients.
16. Vinegar
Sometimes a pickle craving escalates, and it turns out that vinegar is what a pregnant woman really wants. Some women lust after sauerkraut or salt 'n' vinegar chips, while some even admit to drinking the stuff straight up! Try unfiltered apple cider vinegar, which you can mix with seltzer for a refreshing drink — just watch out for heartburn.
17. Dairy
Milk, yogurt and cheese, oh my! Lots of pregnant women get the urge to eat dairy after their first trimester (when dairy can cause some tummy trouble). Calcium- and protein-rich, low-fat dairy foods, like string or cottage cheese, skim milk and Greek yogurt, are great choices to satisfy these cravings.
Ever heard of moms-to-be dunking pickles into peanut butter or putting olives in their ice cream? No one knows exactly why some women crave unusual combinations of food when they're pregnant, but some theorize that it's the body's way of making sure the growing baby receives a broad range of nutrients. So feel free to ignore the strange looks from your family and friends, and mix it up however you like in the kitchen.
19. Comfort food
If you find yourself craving your mom's mac & cheese or a dish you have at Christmas every year, it might not have any relation to your body's physical needs. Pregnancy can be tough, and it's totally normal to crave foods that make you think of cozy, calmer times. So don't stress — let yourself indulge in an old favorite if it makes you feel better.
20. Nonedible food
If you're craving chalk, dirt or any other nonfood item, then go see your doctor. Pica — a condition in which one craves and eats nonfood items — can be very dangerous, especially if you give in to the craving. It's thought that pica can indicate an iron deficiency, but even if that's not the case, you should consult your physician to figure out what your body is trying to tell you.
Image: SheKnows
Originally published December 2015. Updated June 2016.
There are plenty of us who fall into that "other" career category. You know the one. We may not have the time or flexibility to put in a full 40 hours a week, but we'd still like to work at a job we love (that pays well) to nudge us forward on our career path.
It’s hard to get by on minimum wage, especially if you’re only able to work part time. It's important to maximize your time and get paid as much as you can in as little amount of time as possible. Here, we’re sharing 25 part-time jobs that often pay more than minimum wage. Some require degrees but not all!
1. Tutor
Tutors can work in person or even online. Online tutors typically make less, but the job is more flexible since you can work from home. In-person tutors can charge $30 per hour or more.
2. School bus driver
School bus drivers typically work less than 20 hours per week and average more than $15 an hour.
3. Travel agent
Love booking vacations and helping others make their travel dreams come true? If so, consider working as a part-time travel agent. Most are paid on commission, but top earners can make well over $50,000 per year.
At a busy breakfast restaurant, you’ll average $20 an hour in tips, plus your hourly wage of $4 an hour (or more depending on where you live). Breakfast restaurants close mid-afternoon, allowing you plenty of time to spend with family.
5. Hair stylist
Set your own hours, work in a salon or in the comfort of your own home, all while making an hourly rate of more than minimum wage (average is $10 nationwide) plus tips.
6. Secretary
Secretaries don’t just work full time in an office setting anymore. They can work from home, work part time or work as an assistant to a CEO. Pay can vary from $10 an hour to $25 an hour.
7. Mail carrier
Mail carriers work 20 hours per week, on average, and make $19 an hour or more.
8. Dental hygienist
Though you’ll need an associate’s degree, you’ll make an average of $32 an hour for this low-stress, in-demand part-time job.
9. Makeup artist
Similar to a hair stylist, you can set your own hours, work at a makeup counter or specialize in events, such as weddings or anniversary parties.
You can get your Pilates or yoga license and start teaching private lessons from the comfort of your own home. You can charge $20 per hour or more, depending on your experience and what your clients are willing to pay.
Next up: Up for owning your own business?
{pageBreak}
11. Small-business owner
If you’re the crafty type, sell your artwork on websites such as Etsy. Salary varies depending on how many sales you make, but the more you put into your small business, the more you’ll get out of it.
12. Bank teller
Bank tellers start out around $12 an hour, on average. Other perks of the job include benefits, the option to work part time and the option to contribute to a retirement account.
Phlebotomists work in labs collecting blood samples from patients. A state license or certification is required, in addition to a high school diploma or GED. Average wage is $15 an hour.
14. Nanny
A nanny is a great side job for a stay-at-home mom. You can work as little as one day per week or as much as five days per week, it’s up to you. Hourly rates depend on how many kids you’re watching and their ages, but it’s always more than minimum wage.
15. Barista
Start getting your morning coffee for free by becoming a barista at your local coffee shop or Starbucks. Baristas make slightly more than minimum wage, plus tips.
16. Bartender
Bartenders work evenings, nights and weekends. Hourly wage is low but tips are high, and you’ll walk away with cash in hand after each shift, sometimes as much as $400.
17. Psychologist
Yes, you need a master’s degree or higher, but being a clinical psychologist brings in $100 per hour or more, making it one of the highest-paying part-time jobs in the U.S.
18. Freelance writer
Depending on the types of articles you write (length, subject matter, etc.) and the company you work for, you can charge up to $100 per hour. Keep in mind you must work up to this. Most freelancer writers start out making much less.
Maybe writing is not your thing but graphic design is. Freelance your work and make up to $50 an hour.
20. Interior designer
Get your creative juices flowing and work as an interior designer. Depending on your experience and types of clients, you may be able to make upward of $100 an hour.
Next up: This job lets you tell someone else what to do
{pageBreak}
21. Life coach
A life coach helps others out with decisions involving careers or personal life. Like psychologists, they are one of the top part-time earners with most making more than $50,000 per year.
22. Accountant
Sure, some accountants work long hours in an office, but others easily work from home and only work part time, or only work during tax season. Accounting makes for an incredibly stable job, pays well and is expected to grow faster than average.
23. Massage therapist
Massage therapists make anywhere between $8 and $30 or more an hour depending on experience and whether or not they work for themselves or in a massage parlor.
24. Speech pathologist
Speech pathologists charge $60 per hour, but even the ones who work in schools can make $40 per hour or more.
25. Physical therapist
You'll need a degree, but therapists can specialize in injuries, sports medicine or children’s development. On average, physical therapists make $60 an hour and work part time.
Originally published Feb. 2014. Updated June 2016.
When Daizha Rosser's 1-year-old son, Demarco, came home from his Washington, D.C., day care with a chunk of hair missing from his little head, it was bad enough. When they found out how the hair had actually gone missing, it was much worse.
The first explanation Kids Are Us Learning Center gave was that another child had pulled it out. That would have been concerning on its own, as it raises questions as to whether the children are being supervised adequately if something like that happens. However, when Rosser asked to see the surveillance tape to review the incident, it was not a child who was to blame — it was an employee of the day care who was seen ripping the hair for Demarco's head.
When police questioned the employee, her excuse was reportedly that she was irritated. Irritated? What's irritating — infuriating, actually — is that people like this take jobs in which they're supposed to be protecting and nurturing children. Yes, children are irritating; they're children. They cry, whine, make insane messes and make little to no sense half the time, but that's what children do. No one who can't handle that should be in such a position. Pulling a child's hair is not an acceptable form of discipline. It's not an acceptable way to take out your irritation. It's not acceptable ever.
It's hard enough to leave our children in the care of others, and people like this just fuel our worst fears. It reinforces all the reasons parents need to not only do their research before they select a child care provider but also why it's so important to continually monitor the provider by doing drop-ins, asking questions and keeping in touch with other parents. That's not to say that this particular incident could have been prevented by such actions, but they can help. Hopefully the employee will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and never be in a position caring for children again.
Modern dads are some of the most involved dads ever. They're hands-on, head-in-the-game parents for the most part. That's why it's surprising and frustrating that we still treat them like morons — adorable morons, sure, but morons — when they commit parent fails.
The latest in dads who are cute because they think they are people is this dude, who accidentally sent his kid to day care without a shirt on.
Dad fail
Dad fail
It's a cute and funny story that will probably immediately remind you of something you or your partner did in those early days. The time you dressed your kid in the dark, and they rocked sheer tights over their diaper until you picked them up after work. Or the slip your toddler wore to a birthday party because your partner thought it was a legit dress. We all do it: jacked-up, inside-out, head-through-the-armhole/arm-through-the-head-hole dressing mishaps.
So why, oh why, is the immediate reaction when it's Dad's turn to bunk up the wardrobe almost always in the vein of, "Aren't men adorable dumbasses? Aren't they lucky they have us to fix their mistakes?"
Har, har. Except there are two things wrong with that. By and large, dads really aren't idiots. It's a rare dude who doesn't bristle a little at the commercials that feature a bumbling buffoon putting his all into deciphering how a mop works.
There is, of course, a subset of guys who play along. See, honey? I want to help with the kids, but I'm just so terrible and inept at it! Guess you'll have to do it. Sorry 'bout my penis.
Excuse us, but no. We all have met this man, and he is a walking sitcom joke. It's lazy and disingenuous to pretend that moms are just better at things like scheduling pediatrician appointments and making ponytails, two tasks that don't require the assistance of one's genitals.
That's the second gross thing about this reaction. Pretending basic parenting tasks are mom-specific is a fantastic way to make sure we keep having to do double duty at parenting.
Factor in the near certainty that a mom who acts like she doesn't know what a shirt is wouldn't be met with hair-tousling and a chorus of "aww"s so much as she would a consensus that she's just a shitty mom, and really, no one wins here.
I mean, being the buffoon dad is a surefire way to make sure you benefit from never having to be an equal partner, so that's sort of a win. But most dads we know don't do that, and they don't love that every time they try to get their hands dirty, they're met with chuckles and condescension. Refusing to give dads who are giving it their all the credit they deserve just means you've got a lifetime of mothering everyone in your house, including the dude you married.
Jasmine Arteaga Sorge of Little Women: LA fame had some exciting news to share on Wednesday. The reality star announced that, as the next glowing mama on the show, she's expecting a little sibling for her 2-year-old, Mason. She shared the news in a post that linked to her announcement, and she called herself blessed, adding that little Mason is over the moon about being a big brother.
The soon-to-be mother of two told People that she and her husband, Chris, will wait to learn the baby's sex, and then she dropped a little bit of a bombshell. Because she has a low immune system, she'll be monitored closely during the pregnancy — apparently she's at risk for leukemia.
This particular health concern stems from the specific type of dwarfism Sorge has — cartilage-hair hypoplasia, which, among other things, affects her white blood cell count and limits her body's immune system, putting her at an elevated risk for leukemia and lymphoma.
As with average-height women, little people can experience a range of complications in pregnancy, like preterm labor or respiratory problems. There's no denying, though, that leukemia and pregnancy make for one scary combo.
Jasmine Arteaga Sorge pregnant
Jasmine Arteaga Sorge pregnant
That's because once a patient receives a diagnosis, doctors don't want them to wait to begin treatment and will encourage pregnant patients to treat their leukemia as they normally would. The problem, of course, is that the chemotherapy required to treat the disease is heavy-duty stuff. Women who experience pregnancy and leukemia at the same time have dual fears to work through — what their own prognosis is, and how it will affect their growing baby.
The first trimester carries the most risk, and 10 to 20 percent of maternal leukemia cases will result in fetal malformation or miscarriage at that time. Once the patient is into the second trimester, though, things look significantly more positive. The bigger the baby gets, the more likely they will pull through complication free.
The important thing for expectant moms who are diagnosed with leukemia, though, is that they get treatment no matter what. There is a risk to the baby, for sure, but as any OB-GYN worth their salt will tell you, a healthy mom is the key to a healthy, happy baby too.
Fortunately for Sorge, that's jumping the gun a little. While her dwarfism may put her at risk for the disease down the road, she hasn't received a diagnosis as far as we know, which means she'll likely get through this pregnancy the same way she did with average-height Mason — like the boss she is.
She's got other factors on her side too. At 31, Sorge is still young enough to not have to be overly concerned about maternal age factoring into the possibility of a leukemia diagnosis but is older than the age that many types of blood cancers develop.
Still, no one can blame her for fretting a little — after all, that's what moms do! As her pregnancy advances, her fears will likely lessen some, and she'll be able to focus completely on her exciting new addition. We wish Sorge nothing but happiness and health as she navigates her second pregnancy!
