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Clik here to view.When my husband and I were making wedding plans six years ago, we were blown away by how much everything cost. We live in New York City, where wedding venues charge anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000. Even having a wedding in a park -- which we ultimately vetoed because of all the work -- proved to be a pain in the butt after we considered the cost of food, invitations, tables, chairs, and everything else. So when it came time to thinking about our wedding rings, we didn't. My husband had gifted me with an unbelievably gorgeous diamond engagement ring, and I approached the wedding band like some do their bridal undergarments. It was the last thing on my mind. I had a very whatever attitude about the whole thing.

Big, huge mistake. The ring my husband placed on my finger, while saying the vows that meant a bazillion times more to me, now causes my finger to flare up and rash whenever I wear it. And this fact upsets me more than I ever imagined it would. 

As the holidays approach, I'd be lying if I didn't admit I've thought about telling my husband that I'd like to replace my contaminated wedding band with something else. Not something super expensive -- just something that won't cause my finger to fall off after prolonged exposure to it. I'm not asking him to buy it for me -- I'm happy to take whatever extra money I've made independent of him. But the thing is, when you're married, it doesn't feel right to spend that kind of money on yourself unless you both approve of it. And certainly not on something as sacred as your wedding band.

There's this voice in my head that sounds like this: What kind of woman buys a new wedding ring years after the wedding? Vows weren't whispered over the new ring. It didn't exist practically as part of my anatomy for six years. It will hold absolutely no significance. The only women who do things like this are ... yikes, Kardashian women. Not the actual Kardashians, mind you, who would have had the sense to shell out a little more money on the ring and a little less on the flowers and the DJ while planning their wedding.

But I don't want to live the rest of my married days, which I hope means the rest of my life, wearing my engagement ring on my finger and my wedding band on a chain around my neck. It feels odd, like I'm sending a message that I haven't made that marital commitment yet. 

I know, it's just a materialistic symbol. It's a shallow thought. 

But when I recently read that the average cost of an engagement ring is $5,431 in America, I couldn't help but want to shout out loud to any woman currently planning her wedding that she should also consider spending a good amount on a sturdy wedding band that will last a lifetime.

Replace your fancy paper invitations with plain white ones. Get daisies and carnations instead of peonies. Whatever it takes -- your ring will prove far more important to you in 10 years than your flower arrangement did the day after your wedding.

Did you spend a lot of money on your wedding band? 

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Clik here to view.There's nothing like a warm, hearty bread to fill your tummy on a cold winter day. And Nutella, that intoxicating hazelnut cocoa spread that seems to be infiltrating every dessert from cupcakes to s'mores bars, makes the perfect filling for a sweet and substantial bread dessert. It isn't just delicious -- it's really beautiful to look at, too. 

This Braided Nutella Bread would make the perfect Christmas morning breakfast -- but why wait that long to sample it? Let's get baking!

The wonderful thing about this unique dessert, which is featured on Goods Home Design, is that it requires so few ingredients -- most of which you'll already have in your pantry. The trick is, of course, shaping your dough so that it magically looks like a perfectly symmetrical star. This is so not something I can see myself doing with ease, which is why the video below, posted by someone who followed this recipe, is so helpful. 

Braided Nutella Bread

Ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon of yeast
1 cup of water
2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
Some Nutella
Cornmeal
1 egg

Start by dissolving yeast with a quarter of a cup filled with water, poured into a small bowl. Take another bowl, and while you let the yeast rest for 10 minutes, mix in -- with the use of a stand mixer -- flour, salt, and sugar. Add the yeast and mix at a low speed. Smoothly turn the speed to medium and keep turning for 7 minutes.

Get another bowl and lightly oil it and place the dough you recently made in there. Cover it with a plastic wrap, and in about an hour of sitting in a warm place, it will double in size.

Roll some of the dough in order to make a circle. Careful to leave enough dough because you’ll have to make another circle in a few minutes. Take the Nutella (be careful to take it out the fridge for a while so it will be easy to spread; you could also microwave it for 30 seconds to be sure) and pour an even layer on the surface, but leave half an inch of margin of dough all around.

The next step is to place another roll of dough (Nutella-free) on top. Afterward, place it on a parchment-lined or silicon-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the sheet beforehand with cornmeal. Use a knife to cut the dough down the middle, but keep one end intact. 

By turning the cut side toward the top, twist the ends of the dough over top each other. Do this for every cut you make. For the next 20 minutes, let your future bread sit in a dry place, but make sure you cover it with plastic wrap. In the meantime, prepare the oven. Set it to 350°F. Before placing the dough in, brush it with some egg wash. Then bake at this temperature for about 20 minutes. To get that lightly browned look, raise to 425°F and bake for another 5 to 7 minutes. Let it cool before serving.

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Scrumptious -- enjoy!

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Clik here to view.Some stories are so crazy, they're outrageously difficult to believe. Mayra Rosalesused to weigh 1,200 pounds. She took up an entire king-size bed, couldn't stand because her legs wouldn't support her body weight, and was considered one of the heaviest women in the world. She became the poster girl for unhealthy lifestyles when, in 2008, she admitted to killing her 2-year-old nephew by sitting on and crushing him. Facing the death penalty in Texas, her trial was a circus, with media filming every minute of it -- from men cutting a hole in Mayra's house so she could be transported to court in a van to the woman facing capital punishment charges while sitting on a bed that was brought into the courtroom for her.

As it turns out, everyone was wrong about Mayra. And the 33-year-old has since turned her life around in a most inspirational way.

The thing is: Mayra wasn't guilty. She was covering for her sister, Jamie, who had been abusing her own child and is now serving 15 years for his murder. I'm having a problem rallying behind a woman who tried to hide her nephew's death, I admit. I would feel better about this story if she had turned her sister in from the beginning, but the truth is Mayra felt like she was going to die anyway -- she wanted to die -- and thought she would be doing everyone a favor by protecting her sister.

More From The Stir:Mom Finally Reunited With Kidnapped Daughter After 44 Years Apart

I don't agree with her choices, but I can accept that Mayra has flaws and has since tried to learn from them and change her life. 

And you can't deny she has certainly gone the extra mile to make those changes happen. The woman who was once nicknamed the "half-ton killer" immediately began getting healthy after her name was cleared of charges. She had to drop 600 pounds before doctors would even consider her for gastric bypass surgery and did so by working with an obesity specialist and eating a strict high-protein diet. In order to reach her current weight of about 200 pounds, she also had to undergo numerous other surgeries in order to remove excess skin and tumors. 

Mayra is in the process of getting custody of Jamie's other children, who call her "mom" and who she says serve as inspiration for her to keep making healthy choices. She made a mistake covering for her sister five years ago, but has since admitted to her lie and proven she can take control of her life.

This video shows Mayra's incredible metamorphosis. Her story will also be shared in a documentary special called Half-Ton Killer: Transformed, which airs on TLC on December 4. 

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Do you think Mayra is an inspirational woman or do you find it difficult to forgive her past mistakes?

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Clik here to view.Katy Perry and John Mayer are often pictured together in candid shots looking like the two lovebirds that they are, but we have yet to see how they hold up in front of a professional photographer -- until now. A real photo shoot could show us whether these two possess the kind of old-timey couple magic that made the world fall in love with Bogey and Bacall, Lucy and Desi, and -- okay fine, I'll update my references so that they're not from 100 years ago -- Angelina and Brad.

Even if you follow Katy or John's Instagram pages like they're part of your religion, you'll find few -- make that zero -- photos that really show off the couple and not just their backsides clad in stars and stripes (case in point, the above photo). But with the release of their new single, "Who You Love," these two can no longer hide. And why would they want to? Their first-ever series of portraits prove that they have classic beautiful couple potential and need to get married. Now. 

Famed photographer Mario Sorrenti shot Katy and John entirely in black-and-white and the results are phenomenal. Here's a peek:

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Just stunning. John liked the photo so much, he posted it on his Instagram last night (FINALLY, a pic of the two) and wrote, "'Who You Love' is here. Proud of this song, proud of this artwork, proud of this girl." Awww.

Can you not picture these two hanging out on a lazy Sunday afternoon after brunch, strumming on a guitar and singing old country tunes just for the hell of it? More importantly, has anyone noticed how much Katy and John resemble gorgeous siblings? Okay, that sounds creepy. But what I mean is: they just look like they belong together -- like two pieces in the same puzzle.

Yep, you bet I'm totally crushing on them today. The rest of the portraits, which can be viewed exclusively on Vanity Fair's website, show Katy kicking one leg back in the air as John's kisses her neck (swoon), another even more intimate shot of the two in what appears to be mid-song, and my favorite -- one where Katy has one cozy-sweatered arm draped seductively around her man's chest. 

A picture is worth a thousand words, but if these could talk they'd just scream over and over again, "We love each other! We are getting married soon! We are going to have beautiful babies!"

If this is what they look like "hanging out at home," I can't even imagine the wedding photos. 

What do you think of these new portraits of Katy and John? Do you like them as a couple?

Images via katyperry/Instagram &iTunes

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Clik here to view.After a successful day spent at an adoption event on last week's episode, JWoww and Roger have babies are the brain. But Roger feels like a "big ogre" when he holds a baby and Jenni isn't convinced he has a clue what it takes to actually care for a needy little person. Thank goodness for Snooki who -- when she finds out her bestfriend is planning on coming over and making her fiance change all of baby Lorenzo's poopy diapers for the night -- is like um, hell yes, sign me up. Wait, Jionni and I don't get to actually leave you alone with him so we can go out to a restaurant like two civilized adults? Oh, whatever, I'll still take it!

JWoww is no fool and knows spending one night with what has to be the most well-behaved baby on planet Earth is not going to prepare either one of them for parenthood. I think she just wants to see if Roger will accidentally place Lorenzo in the refrigerator when he grabs a beer. When is everyone going to learn they can't underestimate this man -- he's a Superhero in disguise, people!

Granted, he looks scared to death when Snooki passes Lorenzo to him the second they enter their house. But while he and Jionni spend what seems like 18 hours failing to put together a huge swingset with nothing but 10 identical pieces of wood, Roger swiftly and flawlessly responds to each of Snooki and JWoww's calls for baby help. He changes diapers. He feeds Lorenzo dinner. He gives him a bubble bath. He's quickly learning a little-known female secret: cleaning up a little vomit is waaay better than having to put together an entire freaking swingset. 

And since they're spending the night at Nicole and Jionni's, Roger also gets a taste of just when you thought the baby was down for the night and you could drink in peace, he so isn't. Only this is how he responds: "I hear Lorenzo crying in the background and I'm not going to take this lightly." Swoon, JWoww, swoon!

Off topic a bit, but in one interesting chat that takes place between the girls that night, Snooki reveals that she is super curious about her ethnic background. Since she was adopted as a baby, she only knows about her Chilean heritage, but wants to find out more. I really like the way this story line will play out alongside the one where JWoww and Roger contemplate adoption.

When they're safely back at home, Roger says something to JWoww that many parents have thought at some point prior to having kids: our child will never be like theirs. Jenni doesn't agree and thinks that, as long as they can give a baby love and affection, he'll be just like Lorenzo.

JWoww, I love you, but that's total BS. That child is an angel from God. Children like that do not exist. I repeat: they do not exist. 

But that's no reason to be discouraged. I'm officially on board with JWoww and Roger making a baby, like now. Okay, maybe after their therapy ends. 

Here's a sneak peek at this week's episode:

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What did you think of Roger's daddy skills?

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Clik here to view.If you're the kind of mom who prefers classic girls' names to super-hip or trendy names-of-the-moment, royalty may just provide the inspiration you need. No, I'm not referring to the royal family that we all love and adore -- though Kate is a perfectly beautiful name. I'm talking about lesser known queens, princesses, and duchesses from the past and present whose names evoke the kind of polished elegance that you just know will stand the test of time. 

Here are 25 of the prettiest and most interesting royal baby girls' names.

Rosalind -- Rosalind Hamilton was a British Duchess by marriage and the great-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales. The meaning of this name is gentle horse or beautiful rose. 

Georgiana -- Georgiana Cavendish was a British Duchess who was known for her beauty and for being quite the socialite. She was married to William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire. Feminine form of "George," which means farmer in Greek. 

Ameera (also spelled Amira) -- Princess of Saudi Arabia who also graduated magna cum laude from New Haven University. She advocates for equal rights for women in Saudi Arabia. And this name actually means princess, as well as treetop and sheaf of corn (hmmm).

Berenice (sometimes spelled Bernice) -- Princess Berenice ruled the Roman province of Judea between 39 BC and 92 AD. This name means one who brings victory. 

Makeda -- Better known as the Queen of Sheba, Makeda ruled the ancient kingdom of Sheba. This name is of Hebrew origin and means bowl or cup. 

Amina -- Amina was a warrior Queen of Zazzau, which is now part of central Nigeria. This name means peaceful, trustworthy, and secure. 

Lucia -- Princess Lucia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was born a princess in 1908, but added Duchess to her list of noble titles when she married Prince Eugenio of Savoy, 5th Duke of Genoa. The name Lucia means light.

Alexandra -- Princess of Luxembourg who is the only daughter of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg. She is known as an athlete and supreme tennis player. Alexandra means helper and defender of mankind.

Charlene -- The former Olympic swimmer became princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Albert II. This name actually means woman.

Charlotte -- Charlotte Casiraghi is the granddaughter of Grace Kelly and, as princess of Monaco, is fourth in line to the throne. Charlotte means petite and feminine. 

Letizia -- Princess Letizia of Spain was a journalist covering the sinking of an oil tanker when she met and fell in love with Felipe, Prince of Asturias. This pretty name means glad. 

Ada -- This Queen ruled Caria in the 4th Century BC and became famous for surrendering an important fortress to Alexander the Great. This German name means noble and nobility. 

Theodora -- In the 1300s, Theodora Kantakouzene served as the Queen of Trebizond, which was an empire that broke away from the Byzantine Empire. Theodora means God's gift. 

Elena -- Queen of Sardinia from 1203 to 1218. This name means shining light or bright one. 

Benedetta -- Queen of Sardinia from 1214 to 1233. This Italian name means blessed. 

Wilhelmina -- Queen of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. This name means defender or protector. 

Beatrix -- Queen of the Netherlands from 1980 to 2013. This name means she who brings happiness. 

Augusta -- British princess who was the granddaughter of George II. She ruled from 1737 until 1813. Two more princesses named Augusta succeeded her. This name means great and magnificent. 

Helena -- British princess who was the daughter of Queen Victoria. This name, which was often used by Shakespeare, means bright, shining one. 

Adelaide -- Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen became a member of the British royal family after marrying Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St. Andrews. This name means noble and sweet. 

Amalia -- Princess of Sweden who was the daughter of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden and Frederica of Baden and ruled between 1805 and 1853. This name means defender and industrious. 

Astrid -- Astrid of Sweden became the Queen of the Belgians after marrying King Leopold III. She was the daughter of Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland, and Princess Ingeborg of Denmark. Astrid means fair, beautiful goddess. 

Désirée -- Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld is a princess in Sweden who was named after her ancestor Queen Desideria of Sweden. As you can guess, this name means much desired. 

Magdalena -- A Swedish princess who reigned in the 15th century and was the daughter of King Charles VIII of Sweden. This name is of Greek origin and means woman from Magdala, which was the birthplace of Mary Magdalene. 

Tatiana -- This Princess of Greece and Denmark is the wife of Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark. She was born in Venezuela and graduated from Georgetown University. There's some debate over the meaning of the name -- some say it is of Greek origin and means golden star. 

Would you consider giving your baby girl one of these regal names? 

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Clik here to view.I don't have anything against Paul Walker. I think he was a handsome man who made a few films that a lot of people really liked. He seemed like a fine gentleman and good dad, based on some of the accounts I've read from his friends and family members. But I'll admit to being very surprised that the story of his death has lasted this long and has spurred additional tales about friends of his who are having a difficult time coping and restaurants that are reportedly exploiting the young actor. 

And then I read something today about Paul that made me grateful that he is getting all of this attention. The Fast & Furious star didn't just support military families -- he went out of his way to make one military couple's nuptials even more memorable. 

According to a sales associate at a high-end jeweler in California, Paul was browsing in the store more than 10 years ago when he overheard a soldier and his fiance discussing a potential engagement ring that she really loved. The ring cost $10,000, which the couple could not afford. Paul spoke discreetly with a store manager and asked that the expensive ring be charged to him -- but that the store's employees promise not to reveal to anyone that he had paid for it. 

The soldier, who had completed his first tour of duty in Iraq and was scheduled to return after his brief trip back to the states, never found out that it was Paul who had so generously paid for the ring he gave his bride-to-be. The store's employees kept his secret, which has only been revealed since the actor's unexpected death.

What a sweet story. We seldom hear about celebrities who display such kindness and prefer that their actions not be broadcast to the entire world. If he was capable of doing something like this and remaining humble about it, I am almost certain his friends and family are privy to tons of other examples of how Paul touched the lives of others. I still don't know a whole lot about him, but it's inspiring to hear the stories that are slowly being revealed about the actor.

Are you surprised to hear that Paul Walker gave this military couple such an extraordinary gift?

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Clik here to view.After giving birth and looking back at pre-baby life, a lot of women say they were reborn after becoming moms -- that their lives changed for the better and they can't imagine a world without their children. But one mom can actually say that her baby may have -- literally -- saved her life. 

After noticing that she had developed inexplicable swelling under her ribs, Nicola Weller visited doctors and received the most dreadful news of all: she had a tumor in her uterus and they were unsure whether it was cancerous. The 29-year-old had to wait what must have been the worst 12 weeks of her life until her next medical scan. And that's when she received the most amazing news of her life. 

As it turned out, despite using the IUD contraception method, Nicola found out at her examination that she was 7 weeks pregnant. And while doctors were able to locate a wonderful early sign of life in her womb, one thing appeared to be missing: the woman's tumor.

Medical professionals claim the pregnancy hormone that had begun accumulating in her body at a rapid rate may have had something to do with shrinking her tumor until it actually disintegrated! Who knew that the hormone we curse over and over again for making us feel fatigued beyond belief and for causing her breasts to swell like two helium balloons could also be responsible for annihilating some foreign object in our bodies that could hurt or even kill us?

It's nothing short of amazing, isn't it?

Doctors were able to perform a biopsy on the tumor residue that remained in Nicola's body and, in a chilling twist, found it was in the early stages of cancer. I can't imagine how I would have felt if I were this young woman. Blessed? Definitely. Gracious and thankful for the baby and life I'd been given? Absolutely. And scared -- don't forget scared to death. 

The great news is that Nicola gave birth to her son three years ago and the tumor has yet to return. Talk about having an angel for a child. 

What do you think about this unusual and amazing story? 

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Clik here to view.Ah, the great penis size debate. Whether you think length matters or not, men are always going to have their own goods -- and, apparently, those belonging to every other man in the country -- on the brain. One condom company decided to take this issue more seriously by tracking the number of people in each state who purchased their small, large, and elephantine-sized condoms (I made that up, I have no clue what they call condoms made for absurdly well-endowed men). The results are...odd. And totally unpredictable. 

But just in case you're in the process of looking to relocate, you may want to keep this list in mind. Here are the top 10 states where men with the biggest penises reside.

Before you get all excited because your state made it to the top 10, keep in mind: men in the U.S. still rank way at the bottom when it comes to global penises sizes. The average penis length in our country is 5.1 inches -- 1.1 inches shorter than those found in Italy -- and those folks can spend just $5 on a bottle of wine that doesn't give them a wicked hangover headache. Not fair. Since this little experiment doesn't provide details about actual size, for all we know, the top state could be the one where men are fortunate enough to simply fit in a condom. 

Anyhoo --here are the top 10 states for penis size: 

1. North Dakota

2. Rhode Island

3. South Dakota

4. Washington, D.C.

5. Massachusetts

6. Ohio

7. Arizona

8. Alabama

9. New York 

10. South Carolina

Talk about being all over the map! There seems to be no rhyme or reason behind the results of this survey, aside from the fact that people in both Dakotas are obviously feeding their male children magic penis growth beans. Isn't it weird how five of the states are situated on the East Coast and how not one state on the West Coast is represented? 

Here's how the rest of the states ranked:

11. Colorado
12. Maryland
13: Wisconsin
14. New Jersey
15. California
16. Florida
17: Connecticut
18. Virginia
19. Oregon
20. Pennsylvania
21. Washington
22. Tennessee
23. New Mexico
24. Georgia
25. Iowa
26. Illinois
27. Louisiana
28. Vermont
29. Utah
30. Maine
31. Nebraska
32. Idaho
33. Kansas
34. Delaware
35. Michigan
36. Nevada
37. New Hampshire
38. Oklahoma
39. Montana
40. Minnesota
41. Kentucky
42. Texas
43. Indiana
44. West Virginia
45. Missouri
46. Alaska 
47. North Carolina
48. Wyoming
49. Arkansas
50. Hawaii
51. Mississippi

All kidding aside, most women would find it totally appalling if a list of places with the biggest breasts was compiled. Oh, nevermind, of course that already exists.

Honestly though, do women really care that much about penis size? I admit you need for it to be...present and ready for active duty. But come on, anything bigger than 7 inches is a liability. Right? Um..Right? 

What do you think about the results of this survey? 

Image via trec-lit/Flickr 

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Clik here to view.It seems like the second Israeli model Gal Gadot was cast as Wonder Woman in the upcoming Batman vs. Superman film, rumors began to fly about how she and a certain male co-star will absolutely, definitely hook up based on the fact that ... they're both pretty, I guess?

Yes, I'm talking about Ben Affleck, who will be playing Batman and working closely alongside Gal. According to reports, Ben's wife Jennifer Garner is NOT happy about this casting choice and doesn't trust Ben, who is the father of their three children and to whom she has been married since 2005.

Can we all take a deep breath and think for a moment? This is not the first time mags have speculated that Ben will cheat on his way too nice, way too low-key wife. Any time he comes within 10 feet of a starlet who has that Angelina Jolie-type ferocity in her (Blake Lively and Emily Ratajkowski are just two examples), everyone goes wild and assumes the man can't control himself.

But this is really about painting Jen as the next Jennifer Aniston, isn't it? Her sweetness just invites this kind of annoying speculation. No one can imagine why a man would be content to be married to a lovely woman and mom who sometimes leaves the house without makeup (like, really without makeup, and not Selena Gomez-without makeup). 

It's silly and immature. It's also naive to assume that Ben's only opportunities to cheat come from meeting women on movie sets. The man probably has women falling at his feet each time he visits a pharmacy to pick up diapers or fulfill a prescription. And don't forget, Jen is pretty gorgeous and has had many an opportunity herself, I'm sure.

And, although I know little about Gal, other than the fact that she starred in the Fast & Furious film series and is married with a child, why is the assumption that she is looking for love instead of just trying to further her career, like any other working actress? It's annoying enough that Wonder Woman can't star in a movie of her very own. Must we also assume that the actress who plays her needs a man with star power to elevate her to the next level in Hollywood?

Sigh. Ben, don't prove me wrong here. 

What do you think of the new Wonder Woman? Do you think Jen should be scared that Ben will cheat with her? 

Image via GalGadot/Twitter

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Clik here to view.If you've ever been the victim of a Peeping Tom, you know how violated and beyond disgusting it can make you feel. Now, imagine you're minding your own business, trying on bras in a dressing room, and you spot a smartphone poking out from under your door to film you mid-change. Would you be able to think straight and get all of your clothes on before trying to stop the criminal from violating your privacy?

Jeanne Ouelette only had her rights as a person on the brain when this happened to her as she was trying on bras at a Kohl's in Kansas City. Leaving her shirt and bra hanging in the dressing room, she chased the Peeping Tom around the store -- while totally topless. 

Jeanne admits to being so "enraged" by the experience of being spied on and recorded half-naked that she didn't think before attempting to chase the man down. The only thing on her mind was getting her hands on that smartphone so that she could ensure those photos were wiped out. 

This is totally understandable. In this day and and age, those pictures could end up anywhere. It's appalling and frightening to think that in one day this woman could have gone from being totally anonymous to having nude images of herself shared among thousands or millions of creeps online. 

Although Jeanne didn't catch the man, whose name is Jeremy Bradley, he was apprehended by cops three blocks away from the store. He was charged with breach of privacy, which is a misdemeanor that could result in the man getting up to one year in jail and having to pay a $2,500 fine if he is found guilty.

Jeanne is pretty peeved that he got what really amounts to a slap on the wrist, and I agree. For the sake of women everywhere, if he is convicted, have this guy evaluated. What kind of person gets off violating a woman's privacy in this way? How can we assume that he won't attempt to do this again or -- I shudder to think about it -- hasn't already done this a bunch of times without getting caught? 

Do you think this man deserves a stricter punishment for allegedly filming a woman naked in a dressing room?

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Clik here to view.The Mayo Clinic recently released the results of a 45-year study that basically found that women are fatter these days because we spend more time watching TV and browsing websites and less time cleaning our houses, cooking, folding laundry, and chasing after our kids.

Naturally, some women are totally annoyed by this conclusion and believe this kind of thinking belongs back in the '50s. It leaves out a host of other reasons why obesity is more prevalent these days. A rise in two-income families means less time spent cooking healthy meals simply because the time isn't always there is just one of many examples.  

But the study shouldn't be thrown out the window, either. As a former working mom who now works from home, I can assure you: house and mommy duties keep you active and in good shape.

I worked for several years outside of the home and I've never been more exhausted than I have in these past few months when I made the switch to caring for my toddler and working from home. A typical day as a working mom was no picnic, but I was able to sit still for most of the day, stare at a computer screen, and even (ssshh) shop online during my lunch break. At lunch, I could visit one of a million eateries and munch on ridiculously delicious food. And my husband and I didn't feel guilty about ordering dinner three nights a week because we were "stressed" from our duties as working parents.

My baby's caretakers changed most of her diapers and, by the time I arrived home at 5, she had already run out of steam. It left me with three hours before she was in bed and I could turn on the TV.

When you work from home or stay at home with the kids, things are very different. There is no downtime. I wake up an hour before everyone else so I can get a head start on work. Then I make breakfast, wash dishes, tidy up, throw a load of laundry in, attempt to work while continually fielding my child's questions and needs, make lunch, take her out somewhere so she can get some exercise, put her down for a nap and work some more, attempt to complete an exercise video while my toddler jumps all over my back, start dinner, clean up, give her a bath, read stories, put her to bed, work another hour. 

And this is my schedule on days when I'm not grocery shopping, picking up things we need at various stores, and trying to really clean my apartment -- you know, old-fashioned vacuuming, dusting, and mopping, the fun stuff. 

My husband could and does help. But he also works hard outside of the home so that I can stay at home and we do not have to spend an exorbitant amount of money on daycare. So yes, most of the household responsibilities fall on my shoulders, and it makes sense to me that they do right now. 

There are few things I can think of that will keep you moving more than raising small kids and keeping your house in order, which is why the results of this study make total sense to me. I can't even imagine having to use a washboard to clean our clothes or helping out on the farm, like my grandmother did. No wonder she could eat three bowls of pasta a day and still weigh 100 pounds.

Do you think there's a link between obesity in women and a reduced amount of housework?

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Clik here to view.I held out as long as I could, but this week I had to do it. I had to buy what I dread spending money on -- awful, terrible maternity clothing.

This is my second pregnancy. In my experience, morning sickness fades after the 12th week and, though annoying and painful, at the very least the Breast Gods have the decency to give you nice boobs to compensate for the constant tenderness you experience above the waist. But there are few good things to be said about maternity clothing.

First of all, it's expensive for what it is -- which is, at the end of the day, clothing you'll wear for only about six months. Sure, we've come a long way since the 1950s, when any photo will tell you moms-to-be had the option of wearing either a muumuu or their husband's clothing, but in my opinion we haven't come far enough. 

Friends tell me I'm nuts. Maternity clothing is super comfy, they say. But I'd trade all the comfort in the world if I never had to see any of the following items again:

Sash tie shirts and dresses -- As precious as I find pregnant women, I hate feeling like a gift-wrapped package. Why must 70 percent of shirts and dresses feature sashes and bows?

Ruffly tunics -- I refuse to spend money on what amounts to an oversized shirt, and I haven't worn ruffles since I was 10. Why start now? 

Florals and pink-everything -- Because I don't look feminine enough with a baby bump and, for the first time in my life, actual breasts? 

Glittery sweaters -- Oh, you didn't know the holidays are right around the corner? Hold on, let me remove my coat so I can blind you with Christmas cheer. 

"Funny" T-shirts that draw attention to my bump -- Everyone gets it, I'm pregnant. Can I dress like an adult woman now?

"Work pants" that are basically made out of papier mâché -- Why is it you can spend the same amount of money on non-maternity slacks and not feel like your tush is naked when you sit on a cold subway seat?

Check out the slideshow for examples of maternity clothing items that are either awful or maddeningly boring. 

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Clik here to view.I know what you're thinking: oh no, not another cheesy public marriage proposal. I thought the same thing. But this one is totally different, I swear! It will make you sigh and say, "Awwww." It will inspire you to take dance classes and try out for an NBA team's cheerleading squad. 

In one video we get to see what makes this proposal stand apart from countless others that have gone viral in recent months: the man who proposed to Chicago Bulls dancer Ariana Rosado smack in the middle of her routine did things her way and it's a totally refreshing take on the public proposal.

It doesn't hurt, of course, that Ariana looks genuinely shocked. I mean, there she is cutting some serious moves on the court when, suddenly, the dance music stops and Bruno Mars' "Marry You" begins playing out of nowhere. The seasoned dancer tries to roll with it and casually escape the scene, but is pulled back into a chair by a terribly un-bull-looking mascot. Scary mascot swirls her around and around while her fellow cheerleaders continue a choreographed number to the new song. 

Seriously, Ariana STILL looks perplexed. Amazing.

Next, two inflatable mascots appear on the court and one fumbles his way up to the young woman. He somehow deflates his costume and reveals himself -- of course, it's her adorable fiance! Ariana finally puts two and two together as her man drops to one knee to propose with a ring. 

The look on her face is priceless. She seems to be utterly in love and in awe of his proposal. It's truly a gorgeous, happy moment.

More importantly, her fiance had the wisdom to incorporate her interests and passion in the proposal, which is something so many of the others lack. He proposes on "her turf," which is also unique. And it doesn't hurt that he's willing to make a teeny bit of a fool of himself (oh man, those inflatable costumes are something else) or that he kept it short and simple. 

This is, hands down, one of my favorite proposals of the year. Check it out and see what you think. 

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

What did you think of this proposal? Are you a fan of public marriage proposals? 

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Clik here to view.Receiving a Christmas card is always an honor and a special treat. It shows that someone thinks enough of you to spread good cheer and love your way. And if that person goes all out and includes a photo or 10, all the better. Yes, I want to see your kids' pictures because your kids are cute and -- oh my, look how much they've grown in one year! If you take the time to send me a card, I am definitely going to hang it up somewhere. 

But the truth is, some Christmas cards are just better than others. A photo of your baby is great. But a photo of your baby submerged in a big soupless soup bowl? That one is going in a scrapbook, where it will stay for eternity. 

Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi know the value of sending cards with big personality and did a bang-up job of it when they revealed their Kanye West/Kim Kardashian "Bound 2" i-nspired Xmas card last week. The card is perfect because it pays tribute to something that happened this year AND both women look like they couldn't be having a better time re-creating the music video. 

But celebs aren't they only ones with great ideas (or, if we're talking about the Kardashian Xmas card, questionable ones). A lot of folks on Reddit are sharing some pretty hilarious cards that deserve attention, too. 

Here's a video of Ellen revealing her hilarious Christmas card, followed by a slideshow of some of the best cards we've seen.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

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Clik here to view.If it were up to my husband, my 2-year-old would never hear the name "Santa Claus." Look, I think it's as strange as you probably do, given the fact that the object of his anger is an old man who seems pretty nice and wants nothing more out of life than to give your child lots of cool things in exchange for good behavior.

Before we had our daughter, I never thought much about Santa, but assumed we'd use him to our advantage to get our child to behave like an angel for at least one month prior to the big day. And, of course, I looked forward to showing her all of the holiday movie classics that I loved growing up -- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Miracle on 34th Street, etc. -- none of which would exist if not for St. Nick.

Then I learned from my husband that Santa is a source of evil. And I had no choice but to find a compromise that works for both of us. 

So here's his side of the story. He feels that we work extremely hard for our money and that our daughter should grow up understanding the value of that work and appreciating that the things she gets -- especially at Christmas time -- are a result of our strong work ethic. I admire his attitude and definitely agree.

But. And this is a BIG "but." I don't want her to be the only child in her preschool or kindergarten class who doesn't believe in Santa. It strikes me as sad -- like we've already deflated the air from her young creative mind before she's had a chance to explore it fully. I remember that thrilling feeling on Christmas Eve when my mom tucked me into bed and I just knew magic was going to happen overnight. Santa wasn't just about presents. He represented something good in the world that existed for no other reason than because it existed.

Though he can put on a good, crotchety front, my husband loves holiday films and cheesy Christmas tunes as much as the next person and was able to see my point about Santa, as well. So here's how we've compromised: we will give a couple of presents to our daughter and tell her they are "from Santa," but will label the majority of them from mom and dad. If she ever asks questions that lead us to believe she is skeptical about his existence, we will drop the act and tell her the truth.

I can't promise I'll want to live up to that last part of the bargain when she's 4 and questioning how Santa brings us presents when we don't even have a chimney. But I'll try. 

Do your young children believe in Santa Claus? Do you ever have second thoughts about telling them about Santa? 

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Clik here to view.Kate Middleton and Prince William always seem to be trying to modernize the Royal Family and do things their way. They are hands-on parents who don't employ a full-time nanny. They bucked tradition when choosing baby George's godparents. And when they renovated Kensington Palace in anticipation of George's birth, some were up in arms about the amount of money they spent, but the results of the revamp received, for the most part, universal praise. Many words have been used over the years to describe the duo and their efforts: refreshing, beautiful, thoughtful, extravagant. 

But "vulgar"? Whoa, who would call the couple and their choices -- which always seem to be spot-on -- the ugly "V" word? Turns out, quite a few people, actually. And here's why.

Not long ago, the Queen gave Kate and Will her insanely swanky 1800s mansion called Anmer Hall, which is located in eastern England on her Sandringham Estate. It sounds like your typical country house (wink, wink), one with 10 bedrooms, a swimming pool, and a tennis court. Kate and Will decided to renovate the classic digs, which seems to be a hobby for Kate because, seriously, I can't imagine the place actually needed a new coat of paint or an even more amazing Persian rug.

Well, you can bet neighbors were casually taking many an unnecessary trip to get milk just so they could sneak a peek at the family's project. And -- surprise, surprise -- the fuddy-duddys didn't like what they saw.

It seems Kate and Will had the nerve to replace the mansion's roof with ... with ... red tiles. Oh, the horror! 

According to residents, the house isn't a complete disaster, but it looks totally different. And different isn't desirable in their neck of the woods. In fact, some neighbors are comparing their house to a "Barratt" home, which is the British equivalent of poking fun at someone for wanting a white picket fence. 

In a way, I can understand why older folks may be uncomfortable with Kate and Will's decision to update the historical facade of their mansion, but you have to give them -- and especially Kate -- credit where it's due.

While renovating Apartment 1A in Kensington Palace, the Duchess retained the home's crown moldings and the garden that Will and Harry grew up playing in. It sounds like she toned down the colors to give it a more earthy feel and added interesting, cool details like Corinthian lamps and faux-fur rugs. Not what you'd call Kardashian-ing up the place, you know? 

Kate and Will's neighbors need to calm down and give them a chance. These two are lightyears away from having "vulgar" taste and, so far, everything they've touched has turned to gold. I have no doubt Anmer Hall will be a beauty once renovations are complete.

Do you think Kate and Will went too far by renovating the Queen's mansion and changing the character of the village? 

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Clik here to view.It seems lots of us are finding ourselves in awkward Facebook situations lately. We log in, planning to mind our own business and just poke around the site for 10 minutes, and then we read a status update like, "Life is horrible at the moment. Need cheap divorce lawyer. Totally screwed up this time, but at least I know it." 

Okaaay. So maybe part of you feels like you should support your "friend" and at least show him or her that you approve of the ability to recognize one's own screw-ups. But you can't press the "like" button because, well, what exactly are you "liking"? The fact that he's getting a divorce? Facebook knows your friends are oversharing way, way too much. And it has a potential solution for that.

No, you will not be seeing a "dislike" button on the social networking site anytime soon -- too mean-spirited for them, I guess. But you might be able to click on a "sympathize" button, which would replace the thumbs-up "like" button, as long as the person who posts his or her sad message includes a negative emoticon next to the update. 

Listen, the best thing in the entire world would still be if people chose to log off Facebook and call a real friend when going through a divorce, nasty breakup, miscarriage, or any number of other terrible, horrible life experiences. At the same time, I understand that Facebook provides comfort for some who actually feel a lot better after receiving encouraging responses from others who have found themselves in similar awful situations. 

The bottom line is: people are only sharing more, not less. And if you feel like it's impolite to ignore a friend's update about her divorce or deceased beloved pet, but don't have anything truly meaningful to contribute by writing a response, the "sympathize" button is going to come in handy. 

How do you handle it when Facebook friends post sad, extremely personal status updates? Do you think the "sympathize" button will help?

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Clik here to view.For an advertisement meant to promote safe sex -- arguably one of the greatest ways a person can pass time on a random Monday night -- you've got to admit condom commercials are usually pretty stale. You can count on no hands the number of times you actually sort-of see folks doing the deed while we imagine they're wearing whatever condom is being promoted, and it sometimes seems like the company does everything it can to avoid even mentioning the S-word. 

Leave it to a bunch of sexy, easygoing Australians to make the absolute best condom commercial you'll see -- and then blame another group of Aussie partypoopers for banning it. Boooo!

This commercial has it all: good looking young people sporting matching beach blond hair, older folks who are totally cool with the fact that these two want to get it on and find the right condom for their needs, and even actual (though not real, obviously) sex. Sex in a condom commercial -- Eureka!

What I love about this one is that the couple is actually shopping for condoms together. It fully supports the idea that safe sex is a shared responsibility. It also totally normalizes the sometimes embarrassing act of buying condoms and makes it seem like just another errand these two must run on their way to pick up milk and bread at the grocer. I could see why TV stations wouldn't be keen on running this ad during the day, but after 9 or 10 p.m. -- I don't see the big deal. 

Even though there is no nudity in this commercial, be aware that it's probably not safe to view at work, since it does contain very suggestive sexual content. Check it out and decide what you think!

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Do you feel this condom commercial is too raunchy and deserved to be banned?

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Clik here to view.Does anyone remember a time when Jennifer Aniston seemed just like us? Okay, maybe not just like us -- I mean, that hair has always defied all rules of nature. Still, back in the Friends days, you could actually picture yourself hanging out with her and chatting over a big mug of coffee. 

Sigh, that was a long time ago. Nowadays, she hosts tree-trimming parties where Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. feast on three types of chili and talk about lord-knows-what -- Pilates, I'm guessing. And although she's turning 45 next year and has a really healthy attitude about her age, the years that she says were her most "awkward" make me question whether the woman has ever had a pimple, morning-after regret, or credit card debt in her entire life. 

Maybe you recall a time when Jen was in her 30s, as gorgeous as she is now, and positively glowed in every photo in which she stood beside her then-husband Brad Pitt? Yeah, that was her "awkward phase," folks. In an interview with Parade, Jen said her 20s were just fine but that she doesn't miss her 30s at all. 

While it's refreshing to hear of an actress who is embracing her age and not wishing to turn the clock back around, I can't help but wonder if she's ever had to bounce from apartment to apartment when she was younger, date a series of horribly embarrassing men who call themselves "artists," eat ramen noodles every night, or use her credit card to pay for everything. Has she never worn overalls with one strap down? That's awkward!

I get that Jen wouldn't count being dropped for Angelina Jolie as a high point in her life, but I wonder if she feels like she gained or learned anything essential from her time with Brad? We can usually look back and find at least one thing we valued about our years with an ex, even if the relationship ultimately proved a dismal failure. I hate to say it, but it sounds like Jen still has hard feelings about the whole Brad/Angelina ordeal, all these years later. 

What do you think of Jen's "awkward phase"? Do you think she's still angry at Brad? 

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