What a crazy, horrible story. A young woman was just dismissed of all charges for causing a fatal car crash when she lost her bikini top while driving on a NYC thruway back in 2008. Brittany Lahm, who was 19 at the time, was driving back to Manhattan after a trip to the Jersey Shore when one of the passengers in the car, her friend Brandon Berman, jokingly untied the bikini top she was wearing, prompting her to take her hands off the wheel in order to cover herself.

The teen then lost control of the vehicle and it hit a guardrail and flipped, injuring several passengers in her car and killing Brandon. Her mistake cost someone his life, but the jury's decision wasn't the wrong one. 

The court ruled that Brittany "did not anticipate" that her friend would do something that caused her breasts to become exposed and that her decision to cover up was the result of a "sudden and unforeseen emergency not of her own making." 

You can argue that Brittany could have simply pulled over to the side of the road to fix her top. But then you are assuming that each and every time we are faced with a sudden surprise while driving we stop and think before reacting. More often than not, we make quick decisions on the road and this case shouldn't be viewed any differently than if Brittany had spotted a wild animal in the middle of the street and swerved in order to avoid hitting it.

Now 24, this young woman has to live out the rest of her days knowing she killed one of her friends and ruined several other lives. From what we know, she wasn't found to have been driving recklessly. Brandon did something playful and foolish that a lot of other teens might do and pulling a stupid prank certainly doesn't make him a monster. But it in no way makes it Brittany's fault. At the end of the day, this was an unfortunate and sad accident and Brittany will suffer enough without having to deal with charges she doesn't deserve. 

Do you think the jury made the right decision or should Brittany face charges for causing a fatal car accident?

Image via Maegan Tintari/Flickr 

A French manufacturer of Norlevo, which is a morning-after pill distributed in Europe that is similar to Plan B, has just issued a warning that the emergency contraception is ineffective for women who weigh more than 176 pounds. In fact, the pill is shown to begin losing its effectiveness in women who weigh more 165 pounds.

Given the fact that the average weight of an American woman is 166 pounds (at 5 feet 3 inches), this news is going to affect a whole lot of women on this side of the Atlantic. American contraception companies may want to take some notes from their European counterparts and provide warning labels pronto. 

In the U.S., popular brands like over-the-counter Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, and My Way have been found to have the same chemical and dosage makeup as Norlevo, which makes it a very real possibility that these pills will not work for overweight and obese women. No matter what your feelings may be on emergency contraception, stats often paint a truthful picture: the percentage of American women who have used the morning-after pill has jumped from just 1 percent in 1995 to 11 percent during 2006-2011. 

That's 5.8 million women, folks. I'm going to go out on a limb and say with assurance that these women vary in weight and body mass index and do not all weigh 120 pounds, either. And, given the fact that many women will choose to be private about taking a morning-after pill, I wonder how many would actually step forward and admit it didn't work for them. 

I'm not in favor of relying on emergency contraception to take the place of condoms for a few reasons, one of which is that I personally fear taking a drug that hasn't been tested for at least 150 years -- okay, I'm exaggerating, but not much. But that's just me. I completely understand the panic felt by women after a condom has broken or, God forbid, sex has taken place without a woman's consent. And in those instances, the morning-after pill serves as a low-stress option for women who fear they may be pregnant and are not ready to become mothers.

At the end of the day, I don't think it matters what I or anyone else thinks of emergency contraception. What matters is that women receive the most accurate and up-to-date information about these drugs so they can make informed decisions. Although American manufacturers have yet to comment about the efficacy of their contraception, an announcement may come sooner than we think.

Are you surprised to learn that the morning-after pill may not work for overweight and obese women? 

Image via Teva Pharmaceutical Industries

Another day, another report released about how television is sure to create little demons and criminals out of our kids. To be fair, the latest research isn't that damning, but an Ohio State University report has found that preschoolers who watch a lot of TV -- which includes being exposed to background television noise and having a set in their bedroom -- perform worse on assessments that test how well they can understand other people's "emotions, intentions, beliefs, and desires."

I'm not going to try and dispute the findings of scholars who have worked for months or years to make these discoveries. But I am going to offer a simple counterpoint: in addition to breaking their souls and spirits, TV can actually teach our kids some pretty great things.

I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. I work from home and don't really have a whole lot of help during the day. So I break up my morning like this:

*Wake up super early and work.

*Hang out with my child when she wakes up and have breakfast together and chat.

*Let her watch two hours of Sesame Street and either Super Why! or Barney so I can get some work done. 

*Try to turn off the TV exactly two hours in, but sometimes miss by 15 minutes because I am still getting work done. Feel like a failure and make up for it with extra time at the park.

I'm never going to shake the feeling that watching TV = sucking as a parent, but honestly, I wouldn't get anything done in the morning if not for those precious few hours when she is entertained. But this post isn't about me. It's about my toddler and what she has learned, thanks to her TV-viewing experiences. Here are some examples:

1. She understands what it means to have a sibling and she's way more excited about having a baby brother this spring thanks to TV. I'd been talking to her about it since the start of my pregnancy, but watching examples of brothers and sisters on her fave shows has made it more comprehensible for her, I think.

2. She's learned about dance. Sesame Street taught her about flamenco, salsa, tap, and ballet. I noticed her interest in dance right away and it spurred me to put her in a toddler ballet class. With my two left feet, she wasn't going to acquire a love of dance from me, believe it. 

3. She used "camouflage" in a sentence the other day. She also links her Curious George books to the word "curious" when she hears it used on Sesame Street. No matter how many conversations we have, it's likely I would have missed teaching her about "camouflage" and it's pretty cool she could learn this by watching TV.

4. She recognizes and is interested in logos. This is an oddball one, but she has become fixated with the Earth's Best and Crayola logos. She calls them the "names of companies" and lists products these companies make. I'm sure she'd make Marxists cringe, but I don't see anything wrong with this knowledge. 

5. She's memorized the words to two million songs. I'm sure she'd love music if we played it from an old-fashioned transistor, but the sight of other children on TV clapping their hands and moving to her favorite songs brings this love out in her even more.

In no way does TV replace life experiences and time spent with mom or dad, but we need to ease up on ourselves and realize a little television won't hurt them -- and may actually help.

How much TV do you let your children watch? Do you feel they learn from television?

Image via Clemens v. Vogel-Sang/Flickr

Let's say it together -- on your mark, get set, go: AWWW! These adorable and delicious cupcakes are going to make every single person at your Thanksgiving Day table, from your toddler to your great-grandmother, feel even more thankful that they're celebrating with such a masterful baker this year! Not only are these adorable treats sweet looking, they're inventive, pretty simple to make, and -- the best part -- they feature mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Can anything go wrong when you add peanut butter? 

Whether you decide to include these Pilgrim Hat Cupcakes alongside your traditional pumpkin pie or say "to hell with it!" and replace your usual desserts with these, you can be sure your guests will coo with delight when you present these after turkey time.

This awesome recipe comes to you from Kitchen Concoctions. Be aware that the measurements for both cupcakes and frosting are only enough to make 2 cupcakes. Obviously, you'll want to adjust this to suit your own needs.

One Bowl Vanilla Cupcakes for Two

Ingredients:

1 egg white
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup flour
1/4 heaping teaspoon of baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 tablespoons milk
Buttercream frosting, for decorating (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with 2 liners.

In a bowl, add egg white and sugar and whisk until combined. Add in vanilla, almond extract, and melted butter and stir until mixed. Add flour, baking powder, and salt and stir until smooth. Stir in milk. Divide batter equally between the 2 cupcake liners.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until cake is set. Let cool completely, then frost as desired.

Classic Buttercream Frosting for Two Cupcakes

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons milk

Cream the butter and vanilla extract. Slowly add the powdered sugar one cup at a time alternating with the milk, mixing until desired consistency is reached.

Pilgrim Hat Cupcakes

Ingredients:

Prepared white cupcakes (recipe above)
Buttercream frosting (recipe above)
Fudge Stripe Cookies
Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Yellow tubed decorator’s frosting

Put a dot of frosting on the top of the peanut butter cups. Adhere the cup to the bottom side of the fudge cookie.

Frost each of the cupcakes with buttercream frosting.

Using yellow tubed decorator’s frosting, pipe on the buckle and the base of the hat. Put one cookie on each cupcake.

Happy Thanksgiving, all! 

Image via Kitchen Concoctions

Just because we're all celebrating the same holiday for the same reason doesn't mean we're all celebrating it the same way. Thanks to the results of a new Thanksgiving survey, which includes a couple of pretty cool and interesting maps, we've discovered that, depending on which state you live in, you are either eating dinner super early or late. Even the number of beers or glasses of vino you choose to down has less to do with how unbearable your relatives are and more to do with where in the country you reside.

Check out the results and see if your personal Thanksgiving matches the one in your region.

According to the survey, if you live in the Southwest or Midwest, you are drinking the most alcohol of everyone in the country on Turkey Day. But if you live in Idaho, the Texas Panhandle, or Maine, you're more into water or soda because, for whatever reason, those states seem to keep away from liquor on the holiday. 

People living on the West Coast eat Thanksgiving supper the earliest -- which always seemed awful to me because you're just going to get hungry again at 7 p.m. and the only food in the house will be ... ugh, more turkey. Dinner for folks living from Montana to New Mexico starts at about 6 p.m., while East Coasters tend to start the festivities later in the evening.

Most surprising to me is that mostly everyone replied in the survey that, at some point in the day, they discussed with family the things for which they are thankful. The only exceptions to this one included a spot in Montana and the Texas Panhandle -- I'm guessing because it's hard to get mushy when you don't have a single drop of alcohol in your system. 

As a New Yorker, I can say none of these results are accurate for me. We eat dinner at around 3 p.m. because no member of my family wants to deal with the extreme parking issues in my Brooklyn neighborhood after a certain time. We drink alcohol but no one is exactly lushing it up at the table. And my family has never sat around listing things they're thankful for -- which makes me wonder if we are the worst people in America now. 

Are your Thanksgiving traditions similar to those in your region? 

Image via due.chiacchiere/Flickr

A new study reveals that breastfeeding has yet another benefit: it increases the likelihood that children will eat a more healthful diet filled with fruits and vegetables when they are in preschool. The study followed about 10,000 children in Britain, France, Portugal, and Greece over the course of four to five years and found that the longer moms breastfed their babies, the more good foods they consumed when they reached school-age. Comparing formula-fed babies to those who were breastfed at least three to six months, researchers found that those who were never nursed were 20 percent less likely to eat at least one veggie a day and 20 to 30 percent less likely to eat one fruit per day. 

Unless you think a mom is nothing more than a set of breasts, I sense something very important is missing from this report -- mom herself. 

I'm not dismissing the heavy research that went into this study. I find the results fascinating -- and definitely worth thinking about as I decide whether to breastfeed or formula feed my next baby. But I can't help being annoyed by this study. Breastfeeding is great. But so is a mom's ability to make her children eat healthfully -- regardless of how she chose (or was physically able) to provide nutrition for her child when he or she was an infant. 

The report suggests that babies exposed to breast milk get used to all of the many diverse flavors present in a mom's diet. It really, truly makes sense. I get it. 

But here's how my mom, who raised my brother and me in the late '70s and didn't even consider breastfeeding, got us to eat vegetables and fruits when we were kids: she made meals that contained vegetables and fruits and served them to us as our only option. Voila -- it worked! She valued healthy eating and was actually kind of nuts about providing meals that boasted foods from "every color of the rainbow." When we went to the zoo with friends, she didn't buy us hot dogs -- she packed cottage cheese and fruit with turkey slices for lunch. At mealtime, we were not allowed to leave the table until we finished our vegetables. 

Did we love eggplant? No. But we ate it. And because it became a normal thing for us to eat, we now make the same veggie- and fruit-laden meals for our kids. By the way, my daughter only breastfed for two months and she happily eats broccoli rabe. Again, because we introduced it and put forth the message that this is her dinner and this is what she's expected to eat. 

I know breastfeeding has benefits that far outweigh those present in formula. But a mom who isn't or can't breastfeed shouldn't be discouraged by this report. You are still the most important influence in your child's life and in his or her early dietary habits.

What do you think about the results of this study?

Image via Stan dalone/Flickr

There's one person who is not thankful this holiday season -- Marc Anthony's ex-wife Dayanara Torres. The former Miss Universe, who has two sons, ages 10 and 12, with the singer, says the man who left her for Jennifer Lopez needs to open up his wallet a little wider. The child support she's getting isn't enough and is certainly not cutting it compared to what JLo has been given in her divorce.

Ready to hear some numbers? Dayanara receives $13,000 per month in child custody in addition to $3,500 in spousal support payments. According to Dayanara, Marc is worth far more than any of us probably suspect, which means she may have a teeny, itty bitty point here. But it's a very small point. 

So, get this. Marc is apparently pulling in $1.25 million per year, which means he can afford to get divorced as many times as his heart desires because the dude can pay up. He reportedly gifted JLo with a ridiculous $4 million ring the week their divorce was finalized -- a parting gift, perhaps. Remember, he also has to cut child custody checks for his and Jennifer's twins (not sure how much she gets, but Dayanara claims it is more than what she receives).

So, naturally, his second wife (yep, Marc was married once before Dayanara) wants her support increased so that she no longer has to live in an apartment so "small" it can't even fit all the extravagant Christmas gifts dad buys the boys. She'll be happy, she says, with a cool $113,000 a month payment. 

My goodness. Maybe she deserves a bit more, considering what her ex is worth, but she and Marc were married for four years compared to his eight-year marriage to JLo. And they separated after two years. These facts don't make her children any less deserving of financial support, but from what it sounds like, he is taking care of them.

$13K a month is enough to put them in the best schools. I'm sure they're already receiving outrageously wonderful medical care and are clothed well and well fed. Considering how she receives monthly alimony and -- I'm assuming -- is paid something for the random acting gigs and appearances she makes, how is that not enough money to cover a monthly mortgage on a modest house somewhere in California? 

Girlfriend needs to count her blessings. Fight for a little more, if you think you were stiffed the first time around. And then find a steady source of income because, at age 39, she is waaay too young to rely on support from her ex for the rest of her days.

Do you think Dayanara deserves more money from Marc Anthony?

Image via JLo/Twitter

Hallelujah -- things are finally happening this season. Snooki and JWOWW visit a potential wedding venue that is totally perfect for Nicole and Jionni. It's actually on the Jersey Shore boardwalk, which means they could host an after-party at Club Karma -- just think about the possibilities! But wait, we're getting ahead of ourselves and the only person who is allowed to do that is JWOWW, who dove straight into the world of baby adoptions with Roger, yet balks at the idea of having sex with him later that evening. If she's confused, imagine how we feel.

But let's go back to Snooki for a moment. Is anyone else utterly shocked that girlfriend has no idea what in the hell is required of her when she makes wedding plans? I mean, how has she not even given the DJ versus band or color scheme a second thought? She becomes every wedding planner's worst nightmare when she -- first with JWOWW and later with Jionni -- can't answer a single question about what she wants, other than hinting that she wouldn't mind a monkey or lion to be ... where exactly? Weaving in and out of tables throughout cocktail hour?

I did love how she revealed to Jionni that she'd like for them to write their own wedding vows. Sure, he looked like someone had just asked for his kidney, but you know he's going to comply with her request and it will be adorable. Oh, and if we're going to start taking bets on where Snooki will actually have her wedding ceremony, my guess is Stone House at Stirling Ridge, which is the beautiful venue she and Jionni scoped out together. There won't be a wild animal within 10 miles, and their reception will actually be a whole lot more conservative than we want it to be. But I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Speaking of waiting, Jenni is so not waiting to work out her issues with Roger before they adopt a baby. The two attend an adoption picnic/information session in which they meet tons of families and their adopted children. Basically, everyone falls in love with Roger as he asks thoughtful questions ("Did you find difficulty with the bonding process?"), throws a football around with the kids, and hugs random guests like he's known them for centuries. Please get this man a fertilized egg or adoption papers because he is ready.

I'm still not convinced JWOWW isn't in over her head, but I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt. For now. She seems sincerely committed to adopting a child and, with hope, she and Roger can move forward with their own marital plans. I really want to see as many over-the-top weddings as possible on the show this season. 

Do you think JWOWW and Roger will adopt a child? What kind of wedding do you predict for Snooki and Jionni? 

Image via MTV.com

Parents and teachers can tell you that the best way to get an important message across to a child isn't to preach until you are blue in the face. Show, don't tell is a powerful tool and works wonders. One fifth-grade teacher proved this by stepping away from textbooks and instead using herself as a guinea pig to demonstrate to her students just how dangerous it can be to post a photo of yourself online. 

And the results of her campaign were both extraordinary and even a little frightening: within 24 hours her photo was "liked" by almost 7,000 people on Facebook and shared more than 400 times. And then it made its way onto Reddit. And that's when things started to get really interesting. 

Folks on Reddit decided it would be an awesome idea -- and they were right -- to pitch in and help this teacher by manipulating her photo. Their new photos show kids just how simple it is to take an image they innocently post online and change it completely. The original message on the poster the teacher held up in her photo read:

I'm talking to my 5th grade students about internet safety and how quickly a photo can be seen by lots of people. If you are reading this, please click "Like." Thanks!

Here's how one Reddit user altered her picture:

Yikes. Another user turned the educator into a pirate holding a treasure map:

Here's an example of a photo that serves as more of a warning for a teacher posting a picture online than it will for her students: 

And here's my personal favorite. Nothing like a little Morgan Freeman body swap:

So, what have the kiddies learned from Awesome Teacher's brave experiment? The most obvious lesson here is that photos posted online are not private property and that a picture can be shared by thousands of people within hours. I think it's difficult for children, who are often powerless in their lives, to imagine they can make such an impact with the click of a button.

But there is also a super-important point to be made here about how easy it is to mess with an image and defile a person's character in just a few seconds by using the cheapest of photo editing apps. Kids should learn that, if they are going to share photos online -- and they will -- they need to keep their social media accounts private. 

And finally, this teacher could easily use her project to teach impressionable young children about how images in media are often photoshopped so that female and male models look very different.

Kudos to her for putting herself out there to teach these important lessons to her kids!

What do you think about how this teacher used technology to get a point across to her students? 

Image via Facebook

Before you spend your holiday weekend doing a little late-fall cleaning in your little one's room, make sure you're aware of this super-important news concerning two popular toddler and children's clothing items that have recently been recalled. Little Willy's Hooded Sweatshirts and American Boy and Girl's "Susan" Sandal have been recalled because both pose choking hazards, according to manufacturers.

Recalls are always frightening, but here's everything you need to know.

Little Willy's Hooded Sweatshirts

The recall was put in place because a drawstring that runs through the hood or neck poses a strangulation hazard for young children.

The recall affects hoodies that were sold online at Zullily.com or Gilt.com from January 2012 to May 2012. These sweatshirts were sold in sizes XS (2 years), S (3 years), M (4-5 years), L (6-7 years), XL (8-9 years) and XXL (10 years) and in two color patterns: dark grey with light grey stripes and a red hood, and purple with navy blue stripes and a green hood. Each sold for $20.

Thankfully, no reports of injuries or incidents have been filed to date. If your child has one of these sweatshirts, immediately take it away from him. Either remove the drawstring or return the garments to Little Willy's to have the string removed. 

Consumers can contact Little Willy's collect at (212) 680-0107 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Tuesday through Saturday, or online at www.littlewillys.com. You can also email mr.wilcox@lordwillys.com for more information.

American Boy and Girl's "Susan" Sandal

The top strap of this sandal can be pulled loose and poses a strangulation hazard for children. 

This recall affects sandals sold under the Falls Creek Baby brand in Meijer Stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio from April 2013 to July 2013. This shoe came in infant sizes 3 to 6 months, 6 to 9 months and 9 to 12 months. It's a white leather sandal with three pink, purple, and yellow flowers on top and a top strap that attached to a hook and loop fastener on each side.

If you have these shoes, you should immediately take them away from your child and contact American Boy and Girl for a refund or replacement. American Boy and Girl can be reached at (800) 689-9237 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.abgnyc.com, and click on “Recall Information” for more information. To date, no one has been injured as a result of owning these sandals. 

Do you have either of these chlldren's clothing items? 

Image via Emma Craig/Flickr

Image via Little Willy's

Image via Consumer Product Safety Commission

Just hours after they probably sliced into turkeys, toasted the holiday, and gave thanks for everything wonderful in their lives, some eager shoppers said "to hell with graciousness" and elbowed their way into packed stores to -- literally -- battle it out over hot items. So, which piece of merchandise stood out as the one most worthy of slaying crowds to conquer? No, not iPads or a laptop (my guess) and not even that precious Elmo doll that promises your child a lifetime of hugs and affection.

It's still way too early on Black Friday to declare this the item of the season, but the one that has (so far) brought out the worst in people is...

...the television set. 

Yawn?

But, it's true! At one Wal-Mart in North Carolina, a shopper says he was kicked out of the store after videotaping 50 or so shoppers pushing and shoving each other while trying to get their hands on one of the many flat-screen TV's that Wal-Mart had marked down considerably. In the vid, one woman can be heard screaming "Oh my God!" and a shop worker seems to be trying to help another woman who had been trampled on in the middle of the TV-obsessed mob.

TV mania was also reported in New Jersey, where yet another Wal-Mart shopper was arrested on Thanksgiving night because he argued with a store manager over a television set.

What could there be to argue about? You're getting a huge TV for $98 -- you should be penning handwritten notes of thanks to these shop workers for sacrificing their holidays in order to deal with your consumer madness. According to police, the 23-year-old shopper was charged with aggravated assault on an police officer, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. He has to appear in court today, which is surely punishment enough for a person who would much rather be shopping again.

I get that the deals are amazing, but watching this video only proves to me that Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping are so not worth it:

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Did you shop on Thanksgiving or Black Friday? See anything wacky?

Image via YouTube

Oh, those down-to-earth Kardashians -- they're just like us! They serve their Thanksgiving dinner on fine gilted gold China, each guest receives an elegant menu printed on what looks like $2 million paper, and then mom and daughters share the whole affair on Instagram that evening.

Wait, that's totally different from your holiday? Well, at least our meals sort of resemble one another's. That's right, folks, there wasn't a crystal goblet of caviar or one single oyster to be found on the Jenner-Kardashian table this year. In fact, their menu was surprisingly...normal. 

So, here's everything the family consumed on the big day (just a side note: am a little surprised that, aside from the soup, they didn't offer more appetizers. Come on, step it up, Kardashians):

Entrees

Roasted turkey (Served with traditional brown gravy)

Honey Baked Ham

Brioche Baked Stuffing (with carrots, onions, celery, and musrooms)

Sausage Stuffing

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Mashed Potatoes 

Sweet Potato Souffle

Sweet Potato Rolls

Green Bean Casserole

Khloe's Famous Macaroni & Cheese

Roasted Brussel Sprouts (with olive oil, sea salt, pepper, and balsamic reduction on the side) 

Butternut Squash Soup

Desserts

Apple & Salted Caramel Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Pie

Coffee Crunch Cake

Salted Caramel Bread Pudding

Kris' famous Lemon Cake

Brownies with Whipped Cream and Haagen Dazs Ice Cream

Whoa. Hold the phone. Khloe and Kris can cook?? Who would have thought they both boasted "famous" dishes? I seriously assumed this menu, along with each dish, came straight from one of Beverly Hills' best catering services, but now I'm doubting my thoughts. If these two can, and choose to cook, there's (sadly) no excuse for the rest of us, is there? 

I was also touched by the sweet and gracious note Kim posted on her official website, which shows that even a girl with more money than most can give thanks for simple things:

Thanksgiving was the holiday that I always spent with my dad skiing every year in Vail, Colorado since I was 2 years old to 22. This time of year always brings back such amazing memories. I am thankful I had them. I am so thankful for my family being close and always so supportive. I am extra thankful this year for my baby girl and am so happy I get to spend this Thanksgiving as a family with my daughter and fiance.

Awww. On a personal note, I am thankful we can all quit ragging on the Kardashians for at least one day in order to appreciate how earthy (well, for them) they can be around the holiday season.

What do you think of the Kardashian-Jenner Thanksgiving menu and of Kim's thankful note?

Image via Kendall Jenner/Instagram

If you've ever been stuck in an airport on a holiday, you know people can get restless. They say things to others that they might ordinarily not say, or they let their tempers get the best of them and snap at an unsuspecting airline worker or a fellow traveler. OR, if they're anything like ABC's The Bachelor producer Elan Gale and a fellow passenger, they just start a classic grammar school note-passing war on the plane and document the entire episode on Twitter. 

While stuck on a delayed flight on Thanksgiving, Gale decided to vent his frustration by focusing on a very annoying woman who kept bugging flight attendants with her sob story about missing the holiday with her family. His first Twitter post about the woman is tame and amusing:

Our flight is delayed. A woman on here is very upset because she has Thanksgiving plans. She is the only one obviously. Praying for her

Okay. He proceeds to document how the lady kept insisting that no one understood how important she was to her family and how she was going to miss her connecting flight. Elan surmissed that this uptight passenger could benefit from a little alcohol, so he passed her a glass of red wine, along with this note:

Dear Lady in 7A,

It has come to my attention that today is your Thanksgiving. It must be hard to not be with your family! Please accept this glass of wine. It is a gift from me to you. Hopefully, if you drink it, you won't be able to use your mouth to talk! Love, Elan

Obviously, our trouble-making friend knew the lady would go beserk and say something. But who knew she would be so civilized that she, too, would respond via old-fashioned pen and paper? Shakespeare would have been proud. Here was the passenger's reply -- the second of several notes that were exchanged back and forth throughout the length of the trip. Anyone else smell the makings of a bad romantic comedy script somewhere in here? 

Whoa. While I agree that Elan's note was jerky, I'm not sure how Diane made such a leap. But what I understand less is why Elan got so twisted about this instead of just laughing it off. How do I know he got twisted? Well, because he tweeted:

Well I don't know what I'm going to so next but I've got two hours left on this flight and I'm going to retaliate

He then walked by her seat and said, "I'll be back shortly," which is creepy as hell, and THEN responded with yet another note that ended with "I hate you very much. Eat my d**k." 

At this point, I question the woman's thought process for writing back, but I guess who could resist (after all, flights can be so boring):

According to Elan, "Diane" didn't speak to authorities when they landed, but she did slap him in the face! 

He didn't press charges, which I'm guessing is either because he didn't take her too seriously OR because, after hours on a delayed flight, who wants to fill out a lengthy police report? 

Or maybe Elan just knew that his mom, who was waiting for him at the other end of this lunatic flight, could sum things up best for "Diane" with this photo: 

Pass the turkey and the love!

Who do you think was more to blame for this note-passing airplane feud?

Images via @theyearofelan/Twitter

Paula Patton, a.k.a. Mrs. Robin Thicke -- a.k.a. the woman who inspired "Blurred Lines" -- doesn't need to take beauty advice because she's naturally stunning. Her face and body are flawless and she just looks like one of those women who could step outside without a stitch of makeup and stop traffic.

There was always something exotic and unique about her slightly feral look and her long, luxuriously wavy dark hair only helped to intensify that. But Paula, like Jennifer Lawrence, Jennifer Anison, and Pamela Anderson, decided to hell with all that and has become the latest star to chop off her hair into a neat little bob. It's striking, it's Chicago-dramatic...but it just doesn't look like Paula anymore. 

I know the bob and it's longer cousin, the lob, are huge trends right now. I think many women look really beautiful with their hair out of their faces and worn short enough to display an elegant neck. And I'd be crazy to say Paula looks less than gorgeous with her new cut:

I mean, it's super cute and totally chic. All it takes now for her to look like a regal princess is a little white dress and a hairbrush. BUT it kind of changes her identity from Super-Hot-Devil-May-Care actress to just another cute actress. I loved how she was one of far too few women in Hollywood who continue to rock their very long hair (and natural color) after age 35 (Paula is 37). 

This sudden celebrity race to the salon has got me thinking about some of the actresses who I hope don't bow down to the bob anytime soon. 

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Amanda Seyfried, Megan Fox, Carrie Underwood -- I'm talking to you.

I almost added Angelina Jolie to this list because she's another celeb whose long hair is as much a part of her identity as her tattoos. But, honestly, I'm just a wee bit curious about how she would look with a shorter style. 

What do you think about Paula's new haircut?

Image via Paulapattonxo/Instagram

Image via Pacific Coast News 

Sarah Atwell is a 17-year-old Canadian who suffers from a rare condition called neurofibromatosis. She developed the incurable disease when she was eight months old and has since dealt with headaches, blurred vision, and changes in her appearance, which include the development of a large tumor on one side of her face. Despite having to endure six surgeries, her most painful experience has been coping with the constant bullying that has persisted throughout her childhood and adolescence because of her facial deformity. But this brave girl found a way to take back her life from the heartless bullies who have tormented her.

Instead of hiding from the world, Sarah put herself out there by creating a video that she posted to her Facebook -- it has since been removed from the site -- in which she holds up index cards that tell the story of how she may look happy on the outside, but isn't because she has been bullied since fifth grade. 

She writes: "I have a tumor, that's all..and people don't understand." She then describes how others have called her names like "fat face,"  "b***h," "slut," and "ugly" and how "it hurts." 

This beautiful girl admits that there are days when she "loves life" and that she is thankful for her friends and family. She says she is going to try and be strong until the bullying, she hopes, one day stops.

Sarah's video was shared hundreds of times and she received countless messages of support from both strangers, and even apologetic peers who had once bullied her. Her honesty also caught the attention of TV producers from Discovery Fit & Health, who are airing a special about her life on December 18 called The Girl With Half a Face. 

Sarah is truly an inspiration to other young people who struggle to be accepted by peers. The teen says suicide is not an option for her -- thank God -- because she values the support of her mother, father, and brother far too much. This should serve as a reminder to parents of how strong bonds with our children can ease their pain, no matter how powerless we may feel when someone hurts them. 

Here's a closer look into Sarah's life:

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Do you think it's okay for producers to share Sarah's story or do you feel she is being exploited?

Image via YouTube

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon gave us all something to be thankful for last night when the talk show host and guests Rashida Jones and Carrie Underwood replaced the lyrics from pop songs and turned them into instant Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas classics. Miley, Lorde, and Katy Perry never sounded so good!

When it comes to musical parodies, Fallon doesn't miss the mark too often. And while some of the lyrics here are good, cheesy fun, it really was nothing short of a brilliant idea to change Lorde's Royals into "Dreidels" and have Carrie Underwood recreate Miley Cyrus' ridiculous American Music Awards performance by sticking her in front of this cat screen. Wrecking Ball was altered so that the song became a tribute to butterball turkeys and the boyfriend who'd rather sit in front of a TV all day watching football. Oh, we can relate, Carrie.

And then the talented trio borrowed Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines and replaced the lyrics with "I hate these long lines" to include a tribute to Black Friday shopping. And there was nothing left to say. I mean, isn't it about time America got its very own Black Friday anthem? That was the moment that this officially became a truly amazing holiday song parody.

Check it out and see what you think:

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Do you like Jimmy Fallon's holiday medley? 

Image via YouTube

Whether you love or hate band reunion tours, you've got to admit they're proving to be a cash cow for '80s/'90s/early '00s boy bands. The New Kids on the Block proved they still work out AND can make boatloads of money when they recently toured. Boys II Men and 98 Degrees relived the dream this past summer. And even 'N Sync is talking about a reunion. So why shouldn't our favorite girl band cash in on the reunion trend? 

That's right, I'm talking about the Spice Girls. Sure, they were as light and airy as key lime pie, but they were FUN, and tons of women who were tweens and teens at the time would gobble up tix if they reunited. A 20th anniversary reunion tour is on the minds of many, but there's one former Spice Girl who doesn't "Wannabe" part of the action. 

No shocker here, but the gal holding up the reunion is Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice! According to reports, Mel B. (Scary Spice) is the driving force behind this project and is trying to sway the other women to climb on board. While Victoria is open to making a documentary about the girls' unexpected rise to fame, she's refusing to commit to tour dates.

Seriously, who could blame her? She hasn't recorded music in a long time and is now a major player in the fashion industry. I've never had to design an entire spring or fall collection, of course, but have you guys seen Unzipped? It takes lots of time and cigarettes and sweat to make runway magic. And her clothing line is coveted by other celebs. She clearly hit the jackpot with her post-singing profession.

AND she has four children. With David Beckham. Would you be excited to leave that home any time soon? Because I wouldn't.  

Aside from her other commitments, maybe Victoria just finds something a little sad about revisiting the past when she has such a prolific present career and home life. As much as I love to see how beautiful a man Donnie Wahlberg has become, they will never be the New Kids on the Block again because I am no longer 13. Their magic existed in my head. 

The Spice Girls were awesomely bad and beyond entertaining, but let's face it: if we were paying any attention at the time, we could have predicted from this early music video for "Wannabe" that Posh was going to give the other girls a bitch of a time about a reunion. I mean, look at her face in this vid. She's already so over it.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

What do you think of a Spice Girls reunion? Should Posh get on board?

Images via YouTube/VictoriaBeckham/Instagram

When you think of Christmas, what comes to mind? Slot machines? Laser lights? Kim Kardashian's boobs? If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions, you may want to check your birth certificate to make absolutely certain you weren't born into the Kardashian-Jenner clan. If their outrageous 2013 Christmas card is to be believed -- 'tis the season to head to Vegas, drape your body in Cleopatra garb, bare your legs, and pose with your stiletto heel digging fiercely into the many gossip mags spread across the glittery floor. 

And if you're having marital troubles (cough, cough, Kris), there's a solution for that: stick your husband in a glass-enclosed vessel and voila -- problem solved. Seriously, you have to see the photos to believe it, but this is the most bombastic Kardashian Christmas card yet. 

The Kardashians are making the world a more exciting place by refusing to put out that same-old, same-old Xmas card you get every year from relatives: the one where the family gathers around the tree dressed in identical red sweaters that cover their mammary glands. Instead, they took their act into a garish gold and neon-lit casino and hired photog genius David LaChapelle to make them look like members of some intergalactic race of gold statue people. 

But wait! There are major players missing from these photos. Where is baby Nori? Where is Kanye? Okay, we really didn't expect Kanye to make an appearance, did we? But where the hell is Scott? According to reports, all of the men in these ladies' lives except Bruce (who must have been dragged kicking and screaming) declined to be included in the shoot. And, while Kim left baby North out, Kourtney fought to include her children in ... what I thought was a "family photo," which should include children, no? 

Oh, stupid me. Look at these pictures. Of course a child has no place in any of them!

I saved the wackiest for last. Can you spot Bruce? He's the one frozen in a case of glass labeled "cashier." Can you feel the love?

Absolutely. Awesome.

What do you think of the 2013 Kardashian Christmas Card?

Images via KrisJenner/Instagram/E!/David LaChapelle/The Kardashians

When she was 19, Louise Woodward stole every news headline as the British nanny who was found guilty of killing an 8-month-old named Matthew Eappen at the family's home in Boston. She was painted in the media as a cold, heartless teen who deserved to rot in prison for a lifetime. 

Louise did her time and is now 35 and pregnant with a child of her own -- news that is causing many to wish her pain. But, despite her past, she is just as worthy of raising a child and deserves a second chance at happiness. 

The details that surrounded this murder case were always a little murky. At the center of it you had Louise, who came to the U.S. to work as an au pair and was responsible for caring for baby Matthew. When the baby was admitted to a hospital after falling into a coma, Louise was questioned and admitted she "popped" the baby onto the bed. In Britain, "popped" means "placed," but investigators concluded that the girl had been rough with the baby and had even dropped him at one point, which could have caused his fractured skull and retinol hemorrhages. 

Louise insisted -- and still claims -- she hadn't been violent with the child. But the case ignited a media frenzy at the time and Louise became the face behind a new parental fear called "shaken baby syndrome." After a jury found her guilty of second-degree murder, the judge reduced her conviction to manslaughter, stating that he didn't believe she acted out of malice, but out of immaturity, confusion, inexperience, and some anger.

It's difficult to make excuses for anyone who hurts a child -- whether intentionally or accidentally. But Louise served her time for the crime she committed. We have no idea of knowing how much she has grown and learned in the past 15 years, but she is a free woman who deserves all of the benefits of a free life, including motherhood. 

Becoming a parent may make Louise a more compassionate person. It may awaken in her a better understanding of what Matthew's parents went through (rumor has it she hasn't apologized to them because she doesn't think she did anything wrong). She deserves a second chance to turn her life around and find happiness after years of hell.

Do you think Louise Woodward deserves a second chance at happiness?

Image via Thomas/Flickr 

So you gave up your delicious daily cup of coffee when you found out you were pregnant. Good for you! You won't go within eight feet of unpasteurized cheese or shellfish and you're even trying to swear off canned foods. You're doing everything right -- or else you think you are. And then you find out that tea -- even green tea -- which you assumed was not only safe, but beneficial for you and your baby, could actually be far more dangerous than your cup of Joe. Here's what you need to know. 

The results of a new Canadian study have proven that many teas, and particularly those made in China, contain enough lead to be extremely harmful to pregnant and nursing women. Although any tea could be tainted with small amounts of metal that could contribute to neurological problems in fetuses, those found in China are thought to be more troublesome because the tea plants grown there likely absorb pollution given off from the country's many coal-powered plants.  

Aside from acting as a kind of "brain poison," even small quantities of lead have been shown to have a negative effect on children's academic performances. Researchers are saying that pregnant women or moms who are breastfeeding and consume three or four cups a day are ingesting way too much lead if they're drinking the wrong kind of tea.

This news is troubling for me because I am one of those pregnant women who thought she was doing a wonderful thing by swapping the coffee she loved so dearly with a cup or two of tea each morning. There have been times when I've actually enjoyed three or four cups of green tea a day -- which I know sounds like a lot -- but doesn't seem like a lot when you consider you're really just drinking flavored hot water. 

Honestly, since I got the go-ahead from my doctor -- and even for about a month before that -- I gave up tea and went back to one cup of coffee a day because I prefer the taste and it helps my tummy feel more settled in the morning. But I'm dreading the day when the pendulum swings against coffee again and it becomes a beverage you should again fear drinking while preggers.

As for tea, I'll probably stay away since hearing this scary news, but I can't help but think about the many cups I already consumed early on in my pregnancy.

Did you or do you drink tea while pregnant or nursing? Will this news make you give it up? 

Image via Selina/Flickr