The Stir By CafeMom: Blogger Catherine Donaldson-Evans

8 Easy Steps to Creating Soft Curls for Romantic 'Goddess' Hair

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:14:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Our favorite stars and the models in shampoo ads always seem to be flaunting long, gorgeous, softly curled hair in styles fit for princesses.

They make it look so effortless to get flowing, wavy locks, but when we try to copy the style at home, it never comes out looking as naturally beautiful as theirs does.

Well, fear not. We have the tips you need for those romantic "Greek goddess" curls right here!

Step 1 -- Separate damp hair into two sections.

Step 2 -- Fasten the upper layers of your hair to the crown of your head with clips and start working first on the under layers.

Step 3 -- Begin by misting hair with a thermal protection spray.

Step 4 -- Split hair into smaller sections and work on those one at a time.

Step 5 -- Use a 1-inch curling iron or larger to create loose, vertical, spiral curls.

Step 6 -- Set each curl with hairspray.

Step 7 -- When you're finished curling the under layers, get to work on the upper layers, using the thermal protection spray on each new section.

Step 8 -- Finger comb curls when finished.

See how it's done here:

See? Easy. And the results are simply stunning!

For more beauty & style tips, check out other how-to videos on CafeMom Solutions.

Would you ever use a curling iron to style your hair at home, or don't you have time?

8 New Mom Mistakes I'm Embarrassed to Admit I've Made

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:11:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

All new moms want to do everything "right." They all want to be the perfect mothers to their little bundles of joy. But none of us succeed. We all make mistakes.

I am no exception. I think things have gone fairly smoothly in the first 16 months of my daughter's life, but believe me, I've had my share of new mom blunders -- some classic, some all my own.

Lucky for you, I'm about to confess to many of them, right here and now. If I had to do things over, I could have avoided at least some of these. But then I would have made others. So best to just learn from them and move on. Here are 8 new mom mistakes I'm a little ashamed to admit I've made.

1) I slept in the baby's room for way too long. I did it because I was breastfeeding and it was easier to be there when she woke up. What I didn't realize was that it was distracting her from sleeping through the night.

2) I didn't insist from early on that my husband get up with her at night. At first it was just because I was nursing, so what was he going to do? But it continued even after she was on formula or woke up and wasn't hungry. So now I'm still the one who usually gets up with her overnight and in the morning too. Bad habit -- I wish we'd take turns more!

3) I didn't go away when she was still little. So she and I have never spent a night apart, which is tough since my husband and I are planning to go on a mini-vacation soon. I worry that my little girl will be traumatized by not having her mommy around and think I've left her or something.

4) We've been on the laptop or iPhone too much around her. Hard to avoid in this day and age, especially because I work some days from home and my husband does too. But now our daughter is obsessed with the computer and iPhone and wants to play with them and watch videos more often than she should at her age!

5) I've been too overprotective at times. I have tended to jump in too often and get involved with things like what she eats and her nap schedule, or just generally how to take care of her. I wish I could have let go a little bit more.

6) We kept her up too late at night as a newborn. We didn't realize she had trouble settling down because she was really overtired, so she'd be awake and acting kind of "wired" and then would cry for hours some nights before she went to sleep. Poor baby. Bad parents!

7) We let her have a blanket in her crib. Huge mistake! I'd read the warnings, but she seemed to love this pink blanket my mom knitted for her so much, so I'd put it under her legs, thinking she was safe that way. One night my husband had a loud fan on and all of a sudden I heard a blood-curdling scream. The baby had pulled the blanket over her face and couldn't get it off. Luckily I got to her in time, but it was one of the most frightening moments I've had as a mom. Never again!

8) We used to keep a light on in her room when she went to sleep. At first it was so I could see her (was she breathing? etc.). But then she grew scared of the dark, so every time I tried to turn the light off, she'd cry. Another way we delayed her sleeping through the night. The doctor told me babies sleep much better and more deeply in the dark because darkness produces melatonin. Now I wait until she's asleep and then dim the light and it works!

What new mom mistakes did you make?

Image via gajdabarna/Flickr

Steubenville Football Players' Guilty Verdict in Heartless Rape of Teen Girl Is Justified (VIDEO)

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 17:18:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Two players from Steubenville High School's legendary football team in Ohio were found guilty Sunday of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl while she was extremely drunk. And you know what? The evidence at the volatile and highly contentious rape trial for teen defendants Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond says that verdict is exactly what the pair deserved.

The girl, who hasn't been named, testified that she didn't remember the attack but awoke naked in an unfamiliar house. Multiple witnesses said they saw her so drunk she was throwing up repeatedly and barely able to stand or walk.

Video and photos of the night of the assault were leaked online, including some of 17-year-old Mays and 16-year-old Ma'lik carrying the victim. Obscene text messages, some written by Mays, also detailed what happened. The boys could be confined to a juvenile detention center until they turn 21.

Their lawyers even had the audacity to argue that since the victim didn't say no, the sex was consensual.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Ma'lik and Mays were both found guilty of penetrating the girl with their fingers in the backseat of a car and in the basement of a house after an August 11 party. Mays also was charged with photographing her while she was naked. Both will have to spend at least a year in detention for the first offense. Mays was sentenced to an additional year for taking lewd pictures of the victim.

The crime shocked the community and the nation, in large part because so many fellow students took photos of and joked about the assault online without notifying police or trying to help the girl. Many suspect a widespread cover-up on the part of other players, students, and even coaches, and Ohio's attorney general said more charges are likely to come.

The defense tried to show that the girl had a habit of drinking heavily and lying. But I'm sorry -- does that excuse what these two guys did to her? The answer is definitely no.

This case is, quite simply, horrifying -- not only because of the brutality and cruelty shown by the attackers themselves but because of their heartless friends who laughed at and mocked the victim instead of doing something to stop her from being raped. It just blows my mind that people -- even drunk teenagers -- can be so cold, unfeeling, and utterly without compassion. Do they have no souls? No matter what kind of girl the victim is and no matter how foolish she was for getting that drunk, she didn't deserve to be violated the way she was or derided as the attack was happening and afterwards. The whole thing is sickening.

I hope that while they're serving their sentence, Ma'lik and Mays have a lot of time for the guilt and the gravity of their vicious actions to sink in. And I hope the others who hid the truth in an effort to protect them and their beloved football team are arrested and face the consequences of their inhuman actions too. Shame on all of you for treating a young girl so terribly.

Do you think the guilty verdict was justified in this rape case?

Image via ABC News/YouTube

Miley Cyrus' Strange New Tattoo Doesn't Change Our Minds About Her Split

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 13:17:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Miley Cyrus may be in the middle of breakup heartache and canceling wedding plans, but that didn't stop her from getting a bizarre heart tattoo this weekend. Symbolism, anyone?

The 20-year-old pop singer, who is rumored to have split from fiancé Liam Hemsworth, apparently found time to visit the infamous tattoo artist Kat Von D Friday afternoon. She now sports a copy of Da Vinci's famous drawing of the anatomy of the heart -- two chambers and all! -- on her forearm. Yay! And huh?

Me smells a diversion tactic here ... Wasn't it just the other day that she had some lame excuse about why she wasn't wearing her engagement ring anymore?

"Just did the RADDEST tattoo on @MileyCyrus," Von D tweeted. "A miniature rendition of a da Vinci anatomical heart!"

M'kay. Sure. So what are we supposed to make of THIS, Miss Miley?

Well let's see. Her beau Liam is still reportedly half a world away in his native Australia visiting family. She is still engagement ring-less, which she implied on Twitter was because she was getting it fixed. And now she's gotten inked with a heart -- not a cute little romantic red one but the one you see in a biology textbook. Oh, but it's Leonardo's illustration, so that makes it acceptable and totally not weird at all.

Uh huh.

Look, I'm the first to admit that all of us who write entertainment gossip love jumping on the latest celebrity rumor. And if y'all are honest, you'd admit that you love reading about it. But this one does kind of sound like it has legs. Miley isn't even legal yet, for crying out loud. And she certainly acts her age. No one REALLY thought the girl was truly ready to walk down the aisle, did they? Liam's said to be fed up with all her "hard partying." Also he didn't seem too gung-ho about her increasingly punked-out look either, if you believe the buzz.

Meanwhile, her fiancé is a total hunky babe with a cool accent whose star is rising FAST since he was in The Hunger Games. And Hannah Montana was supposedly jealous of his "wandering eye." It could be totally made up, sure, or at the very least, exaggerated. OR it could be pretty darn close to the truth. My vote is for the latter.

Of course you could believe Miley when she sympathized with someone lamenting not being able to wear her diamond ring because it had to be fixed. "Ugh that's the worst!" Cyrus tweeted. "I just had a similar situation except when it happens to me then everyone says my wedding is off."

Either way, Miley knows that getting yet another tattoo -- from Jesse James' ex, no less! -- will grab her some headlines that have nothing to do with her love life. So why not, right? Sounds like a good plan to me.

Why do you think Miley got this tattoo now? Do you believe the breakup rumors?

Image via TheKatVonD/Twitter/Instagram

Pregnant Coach Dies in Horrifying Bus Crash and Every Mom's Heart Breaks

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 12:04:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

A 30-year-old lacrosse coach who was pregnant with her second child died in a bus crash as her college team was on its way to a game. It's a tragedy that makes every mom feel like weeping.

Kristina Quigley, a coach of Seton Hill University's lacrosse team, was the only passenger of 23 to die when the bus slid off the Pennsylvania Turnpike and slammed into a tree early Saturday morning. The 61-year-old driver was also killed.

The college girls' team was on its way to play a game at Millersville University. Quigley, who was six months pregnant and has a young son, was flown to the hospital but died later of her injuries. And honestly, just writing this story makes my eyes fill with tears and my heart break for this woman with so much ahead of her, for her family, and for her unborn baby -- who never had the chance to live.

Any woman who's been pregnant knows what an amazing, emotional time those nine months are. Even if it's your second baby, as it was in Quigley's case, you still feel some of the same excitement, joy, and nervousness you experienced when you were expecting your first child. Your body goes through tremendous changes, and so do you. You grow -- literally and figuratively -- in ways you could never quite have dreamed of before. Pregnancy really does make you appreciate the miracle of life.

To have that all taken away in an instant is just beyond devastating. I can't even imagine what Quigley's husband, little boy, and other family and friends are going through right now. And for what? A senseless car crash that should never have happened.

There's no word yet on the cause of the accident and whether driver error or weather or something else was to blame. The bus company, Mlaker Charter & Tours, had reportedly been up to date on all safety inspections, including checks on that specific vehicle and driver, but authorities are still investigating.

Does it really matter, though? Quigley and her unborn child are gone. Her family's lives will never be the same. I think one reason this has hit me so hard is that I, too, am pregnant with my second baby and have an older child, a little girl, at home. In that way, I was in her shoes. And a random tragedy like this could happen to any one of us. My heart feels so heavy for Quigley's husband and son and other loved ones right now. There truly are no words.

Do you have any comforting words for this pregnant coach's family? How does news like this affect you?

Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough Split, but Do You Believe Their Official Story?

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 15:25:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough have broken up after almost three years together, the couple have confirmed. But it's the "why" behind the Seacrest-Hough split that's still a bit of a mystery.

The official story is the familiar one when it comes to stars' relationship endings: their hectic lives got in the way and they drifted apart. New reports out today quote sources as saying that Julianne "couldn't handle" Ryan's workaholic tendencies and the whole thing just got to be "too much."

Seems legit, right? With the former Dancing With the Stars pro's blossoming movie career and the American Idol host's crazy life as TV and radio personality, how did those two ever see each other? Like, ever?

But the buzz on Twitter and pretty much everywhere else online gives a much different reason for the pair going their separate ways. A far more sinister reason, actually ...

"Ryan Seacrest is GAY and this girl has just been his beard for the past two years. Man up and admit it Ryan ..." one E! Online commenter claimed. "Somewhere Katie Holmes is smiling. She understands," another said. And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Twitter was exploding with tweets from people "shocked that he even had a girlfriend that was a girl" in the first place. Blah blah blah yada yada yada.

Okay, so honestly? I kind of buy it all. Seacrest does seem like a work-work-work kinda guy. And at 38 and no signs of slowing down, is marriage really something he wants? So I can believe that pal Us Weekly quoted who says 24-year-old Hough got tired of it and her priorities were different. That sounds like a typical guy-girl-relationship dilemma. A few years go by and girl wants to be married. Guy just wants to work.

Buuuuuut. While I think Hough and Seacrest are both successful, charismatic people who made an attractive couple and would have had adorable kids, well ... let's just say the idea Ryan might be gay has crossed my mind a time or two (or 20). I mean, come on. You're saying it NEVER occurred to you?

Now who really knows? Do I have anything concrete to base my gut feeling on? No, so before you start yelling at me, let me be clear that in no way am I "reporting" that gossip to be true. I'm just saying it's possible.

We know Hollywood has a long history of these sorts of couples where one is rumored to be "pretending" to be straight (cough ... Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes ... cough ... Cary Grant and Name That Wife ... cough ... George Clooney and Name That Girlfriend ... cough ... the list is endless. Just ask John Travolta and Kelly Preston).

And though we've come a long way in accepting same-sex couples, the fact is that being openly gay can still hurt your career in a big way if you're in show biz. You can lose fans, be typecast, be blacklisted ... in other words lots of bad stuff can happen, even today, sad as that is. Thankfully, it slowly seems to be changing, and a growing number of stars are admitting who they really are. But it's not easy.

Still, being famous is awfully hard on relationships all by itself. So maybe it was just the old standby story that did in Hough and Seacrest. Maybe he's happy with work as his first love. And maybe that wasn't enough for her. Maybe.

Then again, maybe it was the $100,000 in jewelry Seacrest gave Hough that was mysteriously, bizarrely stolen from her car right before their split was announced. I mean, what better reason to break up with someone than "you were careless with my bling!"?

Do you believe that Ryan & Julianne's busy schedules were the real reason behind their breakup?

Image via LA's Promise/Flickr

Heroic Teen Girl Who Died Saving Little Brother's Life Would Make Any Mom Proud

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:32:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Out of so many tragedies involving children come stories of unfathomable heroism and inspiration, and teen Madison Leigh Wallace's devastating drowning is no exception.

The 16-year-old's body was found Friday in an icy river in South Dakota's Falls Park, after she'd jumped in Thursday night to save her 6-year-old brother Garrett. Police think Garrett either slipped on rocks and fell in or was covered in the bubbling water's rising foam, which reached 10 feet high. The little boy lived because Madison -- and another man passing by who also leaped in to help -- saved him.

As wracked by grief and shock as Madison and Garrett's parents must be, they also are probably overcome with love -- and yes, pride -- that their daughter died doing something so noble for their son. Wouldn't you be?

What happened to Madison is one of every mom's (and dad's) darkest nightmares. The death of your own child is the worst loss any parent could ever experience. But losing one of your kids because she was saving her sibling's life? I can only imagine the array of emotions that mother must be feeling. Overwhelming sadness mixed with overwhelming gratitude. Love, emptiness, pride, shock, horror. Anger at the whole situation. And of course immeasurable pain over the death of her daughter tinged with joy over her son's survival.

Madison, the oldest of Jay and Lara Wallace's six kids, died when she was only a teenager with her whole life ahead of her. But Madison Wallace died a heroine, a brave sister who loved her baby brother so much that she gave her life for his. And the 28-year-old stranger, Lyle Eagletail, who jumped in to help both children and who was also swept away, died a hero too.

If Madison were my own daughter, my heart would be full of every emotion in the book right now. But through the terrible grief and loss, I would be so proud of my little girl for doing what she did for my son. I hope that one day, those poor parents will be able to focus on that pride and love, and feel inspired by and in awe of the selfless young woman their daughter Madison was growing into. Maybe that will carry them through this tragedy and the lonely times ahead to a place of peace. I can only pray that it does.

Do you have any words of comfort for Madison and Garrett's family?

Image via jacjac.dk/Flickr

Lil Wayne in 'Critical Condition' With More Seizures After 'Near Death' Reports Set Off Firestorm

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 11:51:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Lil Wayne is said to be critical but stable after another round of severe seizures. After a scary Friday night in a Los Angeles hospital, the 30-year-old rapper is recovering and his mom has apparently flown in to be by his side.

But his camp claims that reports he was near death and about to get his last rites were wildly exaggerated. His friends had some, how you say, choice words for TMZ, the website that broke the dire news late Friday.

But before we let you in on what was said (over Twitter -- where else?), here's what happa. The troubled singer was hospitalized Tuesday after having multiple seizures and then released on Wednesday. But only hours later, another bout of uncontrollable seizures had overcome him and he rushed to the ER again.

When TMZ's "last rites" story appeared Friday night, online hysteria over Lil Wayne's supposed imminent death ran amok. Enter his peeps. Warning: four-letter words ahead!

Friend and rapper Mack Maine tweeted several statements about what was going on last night:

Wayne is alive and well! We watching the Syracuse game...thanks for the prayers and concern..he will update you all soon. #love

We will be releasing an official statement shortly but dont believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe...that's false!!

@TMZ and definitely don't try to kill a man before his time....so from the bottom of my soul and on behalf of my fam......FUCK YOU

That last bit has since been hidden and now his feed says simply:

#FUCKTMZ

Ummmm, okay then. No mincing what's meant there! In the middle of the diatribe, Lil Wayne tweeted: "I'm good everybody. Thx for the prayers and love." And TMZ took down the "last rites" story and amended it to say that the rap star was in extremely critical condition in the ICU and was even in an induced coma for a while as doctors tried to stabilize him. The details being reported are pretty shocking -- about a whole lot of codeine being in his system, stomach pumpings, a steady stream of visitors to the hospital ... You get the picture.

Meanwhile, Lil Wayne's crew have continued to downplay the whole thing, over Twitter mostly, though his rep did tell Us Weekly that "Wayne is doing well. We appreciate your concern."

So what's the truth here? Probably somewhere in between, as it usually is, and by the time this story publishes, it will probably be something different. What I don't get is, if Wayne is in critical condition, why hide it? Why try to make like he's just fine and this is just a minor hiccup? I understand being ultra upset about a gossip site reporting someone you love is close to death when he isn't, but why report the exact opposite and act like nothing's wrong?

Also, let's remember that this is a rap star we're talking about, not a president. I understand why reps stay mum on the health of world leaders until they've got solid answers. Stuff like that can cause uprisings and stock market crashes and mass societal shifts. But Lil Wayne's health problems? Sure, they're terribly heartbreaking and sad and worrying -- but they mainly affect him, his family, his friends, and his fans. They're not likely to cause a major sea change.

So let's all calm down, shall we, and just say our prayers that the singer continues to get better and gets this thing, whatever it is, under control. Our hearts are with you, Lil Wayne.

Do think the outrage over the Lil Wayne report was justified? Do you care?

Image via Splash

7 Ways Going Out With My Baby Is Like Being With a Celebrity

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:23:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

You don't have to know the slightest thing about me to guess that I'm not a celebrity. (Wait, you HAVEN'T heard of Catherine Donaldson-Evans?? THE Catherine Donaldson-Evans?) I haven't even had my 15 minutes. I'M NOT BITTER, I SWEAR.

But having a baby changed all that. Suddenly, when I go out, heads turn as we walk down the street. People buzz around me like flies. Smiles from strangers are as plentiful as pennies. And there's just a lovely, happy aura all around. It's almost ... magical.

It has nothing to do with me, of course. It's all about my 1-year-old daughter. Here are 7 ways going out with my baby is like being with a celebrity:

1. Random strangers get giddy and googly-eyed around us. I seriously feel like I'm walking around with Robert Pattinson or Kim Kardashian when I'm with the baby. People make eyes at her, giggle like schoolgirls, and generally turn into sappy messes. It doesn't hurt that she has these big, beautiful blue eyes, makes cute faces, and says "hi" in a tiny little-girl voice to everyone. My husband and I once witnessed two skinhead types melting into twittering, cooing piles of goo when she smiled and babbled at them on the train.

2. Random strangers talk to us. I've always been a friendly sort. But now? It's like a steady stream of chitchat with people I don't know when I'm out with my daughter. "She has such big eyes!" "How old is she?" "What's her name?" "She looks like you!" Sometimes I'm ignored and they talk only to her. I now have an inkling of how Beyonce -- or her bodyguard -- must feel.

3. Random strangers shower us with compliments. All the raving makes me feel like I'm with Kate Middleton. "You're a beauty!" "What an angel!" "You're so smart!" Just once, though, it would be nice to get a compliment thrown my way. I mean, doesn't my hair look good today?

4. Random strangers bend over backwards to help us. This mainly happens when I have to get the stroller up the subway stairs. But even petite women cheerily offer to help, only to be huffing and puffing and visibly pained in the process. The other day, one such woman took on the task and, seeing us struggling, a third person -- a man -- stepped in. My daughter = the Pied Piper.

More from The Stir: 7 Places You Should Never Bring Your Baby

5. Random store owners give us things ... for free. Everyone talks about how much money babies cost, but they can save you a bundle too with all the stuff you get for nothing from charmed shop keepers. Extra drinks, comped desserts, pastries on the house, little toys, candy -- you name it. Babies = swag.

6. I've become the invisible, non-famous friend. You know when a star is with some nobody and the paparazzi ask that nobody to step aside while they snap photos because who wants a no-name in a perfectly good shot? That nobody is now me. I might as well not exist when I'm out with my baby girl.

7. Actual celebrities approach us and are reduced to mush. Okay, full disclosure: This only happened once, but it was memorable. While we were on a trip out West, actress Kristen Bell and her fiance Dax Shepard came up to our daughter in a hotel lobby and fawned over her like she was the movie star. Kristen squealed in high-pitched baby talk, "Oh my GOD, you are SOOO CUUUTE!" Shortly after that, she got pregnant. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Does your child get treated like a celebrity when you go out?

Justin Bieber Needs to Put His Shirt Back On -- NOW (VIDEO)

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

So as you probably heard, Justin Bieber hosted Saturday Night Live over the weekend and let's just say it was a bit of a yawnfest. No Selena Gomez questions and a half-assed apology about smoking weed? Come on! But by far the worst part was the Biebs running around half-naked without a shirt on. He looks 8, for crying out loud! My eyes!

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

For more on this story, click here:

Justin Bieber Uses 'SNL' Gig to Apologize for Smoking Weed

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Do you think Justin Bieber should have kept his shirt on too?

Image via CafeMom Studios

'Teen Mom' Maci Bookout Is in Love and Isn't Afraid to Show It (VIDEO)

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:40:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

For Teen Mom Maci Bookout, her ex Ryan Edwards is HIS-TOR-Y. Now Maci only has eyes for her new squeeze, Taylor McKinney. And they seem ridiculously happy, all googly-eyed over each other and doing romantic, couple-y things. Ah, young love. You have to see this:

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

For more on this story, click here:

Maci Bookout to Boyfriend Taylor McKinney: 'You've Turned My World Upside Down!'

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Do you think Maci & Taylor will last?

Image via CafeMom Studios

Jessica Simpson Is Finally Getting Married ... Again (VIDEO)

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:51:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Jessica Simpson will walk down the aisle a second time ... when she isn't busy being pregnant, that is. Word has it that she and fiance Eric Johnson are planning an intimate wedding in the backyard of the mansion they're buying from the Osbournes. But who knows WHEN they'll set the date? As Jess herself so eloquently puts it, "Eric keeps knocking me up!" Ew.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

For more info on this story, click here:

Jessica Simpson & Eric Johnson's Wedding Plans Finally Revealed

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When do you think Jess and Eric will finally tie the knot?

Image via CafeMom Studios

Beyonce Shows Us Her Most Revealing Photo Yet -- 'The Daily Stir' (VIDEO)

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:45:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

On today's Daily Stir, I dish out all the dirt on Britney Spears' big breakup and give you the scoop on Beyonce's new TMI documentary, where we get a little too up close and personal with the pop star. And I'm screaming in fear over Kate Middleton's super creepy "first official portrait." Check it out:

For more info on the stories you just heard, click on these links:

Britney Spears & Jason Trawick Had to Split With Problems Like These

Beyonce's Sonogram Is More Than Anyone Really Needs to See

Kate Middleton's 1st Official Portrait Unveiled & She Looks 53

Miss American 2013 Mallory Hagan Sounds Like a Genius Next to Her Competition

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Do you think Beyonce is sharing too much here?

Image via CafeMom Studios

Dramatic Russian Plane Crash Footage Shows the Moment the Jet Slams Into Highway (VIDEO)

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 16:58:24 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

A shocking video of a deadly Russian plane crash shows the jet skidding off a snowy, slippery runway in Moscow, slamming into a busy road, and breaking into pieces.

The accident killed five people, including both pilots and three other crew members. Luckily the flight wasn't carrying any passengers and had only eight crew aboard. The three survivors were said to be seriously injured.

As horribly sad as it is that those people were lost, this is one of those tragedies that could have been far, far more devastating. Not only was the Red Wings Airlines plane, a Tu-204, empty save for the eight -- normally the aircraft can hold more than 200 -- but it came to a stop before barreling into traffic on the highway. So many more people could have died in the crash.

But what makes this one even more unusual is that it was caught on tape by a passing car's dashboard camera. You won't believe what you're seeing here ...

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Incredible and so scary, right? If you look closely, you can see luggage, parts of the plane, and other debris smashing into the cars on the road.

So often we see photos of plane crash debris after the fact, but it's still rare, even in the age of smartphone cameras, to catch the moment of impact on film like this. Though the investigation is obviously only in the beginning stages, malfunctioning brakes in bad weather were likely a factor -- apparently not a first for this type of aircraft. Pilot error was also being looked into, at least initially, as a cause of Saturday's accident.

Our hearts are with the loved ones of those killed. And hopefully this video and the flight data will help determine what happened -- and the right steps can be taken to prevent another tragic crash like this.

Have you ever seen such dramatic video of a plane crash before?

Image via YouTube

Suri Cruise's First Christmas After Divorce Makes Us Sad but It Could Be Worse

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 15:54:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Darling 6-year-old Suri Cruise spent the first Christmas since her parents' divorce with both mom Katie Holmes and dad Tom Cruise.

No, no, it wasn't like that -- things don't seem to be exactly amicable between the celebrity couple formerly known as TomKat. Suri, who lives with her mom in New York City, stayed with Holmes and her family in Ohio on Christmas and has now joined Dad and her two older half-siblings.

Where they are exactly has been kept under wraps, but the magazine's website says there was a sighting of Tom's private jet in Telluride, Colorado, a popular ski resort and film festival town.

The whole thing sounds sweet enough, but all it does is make me want to cry.

It's been repeated so often it's become more than a cliche, but divorce is usually hardest on the children -- and there's no time where that's more pronounced than during the holidays. How do you think a child of 6 feels on a big day like Christmas with only one parent by her side when she was used to having both her whole, short life? And then having to travel across the country to be with the other parent?

It has to hurt, especially since Suri is too little to really grasp the concept of a marriage ending. When you're a child of divorce, all you wish for in the beginning is that your parents will make up and get back together (unless things were unbearably bad). It's a hope many kids hold onto for a long, long time after.

On the other hand, Suri's life is anything but "normal" -- did you hear about the playhouse she supposedly got for Christmas? She's the daughter of not one, but two richer-than-God movie stars, and is used to Mom, Dad, or both flying off to shoot a movie, act in a Broadway show, or be otherwise engaged with all things celebrity. Holmes' and Cruise's only child has also been traveling since she was a baby. So this holiday may not have been all that different from Christmases past, at least on the surface.

Plus if Tom and Katie's marriage was crumbling over Scientology and things before the split, Suri probably sensed it. Though divorce is immeasurably difficult for kids, living in a house full of tension -- particularly when that tension is between the two people you love most -- can be even worse.

We'll never really learn the truth about what went wrong with Katie and Tom, no matter how much we think we know. But it certainly sounds like the Holmes-Cruise divorce in June was the right move -- for them, and for their little girl. In time, dividing the holidays and living apart won't be a big deal. And in the long run, Suri will probably grow up happier than she would have if her parents had stayed together.

Have you ever had to shuffle the kids between parents over the holidays for any reason, and how did you handle it?

Image via Splash News

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart's New Year's Plans Sound Like the Perfect Proposal

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 13:04:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Ready for your daily dose of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart fun? Rightio, gotcha covered. Seems like they'll be spending New Year's together, despite the latest rumors of holiday family drama and ultimatums. Y'see, Kristen and Rob were seen looking nice and cozy on the London tube (British for subway) on Saturday, EntertainmentWise reported. Yeehaw! Take that, Rob's sisters!

But that's not even the best part. The best part is the pair's amazingly romantic New Year's plans, if you believe the whisperings. Supposedly, they'll see 2012 turn to '13 on an intimate getaway on the Isle of Wight (which sounds like a made-up place from the "Twilight" movies, but it's real -- swear).

We smell a marriage proposal in the air ...

Remember when we heard that Rob told Kristen she either gets serious by Valentine's Day or he's done with her? How about the story that he's secretly designing a beautiful engagement ring for her? So, really, what better time to make it official than on this romantic, private island in the English Channel? And how symbolic would it be to propose over New Year's -- a fresh start at the start of a fresh year? (There isn't a better time. Do it, you two! We're tired of waiting!)

More from The Stir: 8 Ways Rob Pattinson Could Propose to Kristen Stewart

The couple apparently celebrated a quiet Christmas together before the 25th, then were apart for the actual holiday -- reportedly because Kristen was too scared to face Rob's disapproving big sisters and the rest of the Pattinson clan. See, his family isn't so thrilled Rob took Kristen back after that whole cheating scandal thingie. His meddling -- we mean protective -- older sis Lizzy is said to have told Rob she's always hated how Kristen treats him and he shouldn't be with a cheat.

Anyway, the drama seems to have (temporarily) passed and the lovebirds were supposedly back together in the U.K. by Thursday. Hurrah! A fan tweeted that he saw Kristen on the plane, and another fan says he saw them riding the tube together.

Look, I get how Rob's sisters and family feel. I wouldn't want to see my little brother with a woman was unfaithful, either. But love is a powerful thing ... And sometimes forgiveness is the best solution.

Even though I mainly think the whole RPattz-KStew relationship, cheating scandal, breakup, and reconciliation are probably for show to promote "Twilight," let's assume that it's all real. People make mistakes -- especially when they're young and suddenly famous like Kristen and Rob (who hasn't necessarily been a total angel either, if you believe THOSE rumors).

So when one or both people screw up, it's often the right thing -- the strong thing -- to do to give each other a second chance, to try again to make it work. Next to impossible? For sure. Trust would be really hard to regain. But still, if the relationship is worth saving, I say go for it. And since Rob and Kristen know exactly who I am and typically listen to whatever I say, mark my words. We'll see him put a ring on it and her say yes before we can say "Breaking Dawn Part 5: The Epilogue."

Do you think Kristen and Rob will ever get engaged, or are they headed for another breakup? Do you care?

Image via accidentalpaparazzi/Flickr

Missing Toddler Found in the Cold Without Shoes or Mittens and the Mystery Is Just Beginning

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Brace yourself: this story will boggle your mind. A 17-month-old California girl who allegedly vanished two months ago was found alive in Kentucky. Wonderful news, right? Yes. Except there's more to this tangled case than meets the eye.

The toddler, Alouette Day-Moreno-Baltierra, is not, as you'd expect, back safely in her mother's arms. Instead, she's with Child Protective Services. Why? Because her mom -- who reported the baby missing in October -- may be involved in her daughter's "disappearance," according to police.

And apparently so is a woman claiming to be her maternal grandmother, Maria Baltierra-Dejesus. Cops found the 62-year-old "suspicious woman" pushing the little girl in her stroller Thursday in a University of Kentucky parking lot. The child was reportedly wearing only light clothing and no shoes, hat, or mittens despite below-freezing weather.

But that's not even the worst of it ...

Alouette was suffering from the first signs of frostbite -- not surprising considering the ridiculous way she was dressed -- but it looks like she's going to be okay. Baltierra-Dejesus, who officers said gave them a fake name at first but eventually told them she was the child's grandmother, acted dodgy about what she was doing with the baby and why she was there.

She had Alouette's birth certificate, but there still seems to be doubt as to whether she is who she claims to be (though the latest reports say cops confirmed that she is the toddler's grandma). Baltierra-Dejesus, who is from New York, has been charged with child endangerment and custodial interference.

You'd think this poor baby's mom Dominique Baltierra would want to protect her daughter -- and maybe, in some twisted way, she does -- but she, too, may be caught up in this bizarre thing somehow. After filing the missing child report in October and saying she didn't know where her daughter and mother were, she tried to retract it a day later. It's not clear why. Was she afraid of her mother (if it is, in fact, her mother) or trying to cover for her? Did she want the child taken away from her because she couldn't handle her? Were the two after ransom money or attention?

Even more strange are details that Baltierra-Dejesus was being supported financially by her family while she was on the run with the baby and tried to flee to France or Holland.

It's anybody's guess right now what the deal is here, but hopefully the investigation will yield some solid answers. And hopefully, authorities will either reunite beautiful little Alouette with one or both of her parents if they aren't involved in her disappearance -- or find a loving home for her, one where she's taken good care of by people who truly want what's best for her.

What do you think is the real story here?

Image via University of Kentucky Police

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves Welcome Baby Girl and Her Name Is ...

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 13:49:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Matthew McConaughey & wife Camila Alves got a late Christmas present when their third child, a girl, was born yesterday morning. A holiday baby -- sweet!

The couple, who just got married in June but have been together since 2006, have two other children, Levi, 4, and Vida, 2.

McConaughey, 43, and Alves, 30, didn't find out beforehand whether the baby was a boy or girl -- showing the same penchant for surprises they had with her big brother and sister. Talk about discipline! And so cute too, right? The Magic Mike star has called doing it that way a "wonderful surprise." Couldn't agree more, and it's so rare these days that both parents agree to waiting. (Can you tell I'm a little jealous? I lost that battle.)

Now about Baby No. 3's name ...

Unfortunately, we don't know her gosh darn name yet -- sorry to trick you like that. And the suspense is killing us! (Well, me. Well, sort of. I do have a life, you know.)

To be honest, we really don't know much about Baby Girl McConaughey-Alves at all, except that she's got to be beautiful with those two as her parents (and have you seen her siblings?). Her weight, height, and exact place of birth are still under wraps, as are any other details.

What we do know is that she was born the morning of Dec. 28 in Austin, Texas, where her parents live with their other children and where they tied the knot over the summer. And then only a couple of weeks later, Matthew was announcing that his lovely bride was pregnant yet again. On Twitter, on July 4, because actors do those sorts of things.

But back to what they named their new arrival. A lot of, shall we say, iiiinteresting celeb baby names have already been taken recently. There's Blue Ivy (Beyonce and Jay-Z), Vivien (Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen), Olive (Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman), Penelope (Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick), Maxwell (Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson), Marlowe (Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge), and of course Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence (Uma Thurman and Arpad Busson). Somehow I'm doubting that last one was in the running though.

Anyway, we are just tickled pink (get it? pink? because it's a girl? maybe I should go back to bed ...) over the adorable couple's news, and we hope that three's a charm for their family. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and congratulations, Matthew and Camila! We're thrilled for you. Now throw us a bone, will you? WHAT'S HER NAME?!

What do you think Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves should name their third baby?

Image via Splash News

Beyonce's Super Bowl Halftime Show Will Have Someone Unexpected Performing With Her

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 11:26:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Can Beyonce do anything wrong? Anything -- at all -- to make her seem just a little less perfect? (Answer: No. And it's getting annoying.)

Apparently Blue Ivy's mama is such a sweetheart that she's sharing the Super Bowl halftime show spotlight with none other than 100 of her fans. Call her a diva if you will, but that doesn't sound like diva behavior to us. (Take note, J.Lo.)

Of course we probably can't give the pop star all the credit for the stunt. The always-hyped halftime show is sponsored by Pepsi, and they're the ones who said yesterday that fans will be introducing Beyonce on Feb. 3 in New Orleans.

But guess what?? We all have a shot at being one of those lucky 100 who will appear with Queen Bey!

The contest opens today and asks fans to send photos of themselves puttin' on the moves -- the usual foot-tapping, hip-gyrating moves you'd expect to do when you're on stage in front of millions of people with a superstar. And no, we're not making this up. Anyway, those pictures will be featured in a TV commercial, and 50 fans (who each get to bring a friend) will be chosen to join Beyonce at the Super Bowl. Niiiice, right?

There's a lot of excitement surrounding the choice of Beyonce as the halftime performer this year. For one thing, she's a heck of a lot younger and more sparkly than most all the recent acts they've put up there for almost a decade (sorry, Madonna, Fergie, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and the rest of you, but it's true). That's because Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's "accidental" "wardrobe malfunction" in '04 turned the producers into skittish wimps who made the whole thing a giant snooze-fest (apologies again).

So this whole fan involvement thing just ups the buzz about our girl's performance even more. How touching that they're giving these nobodies their 15 minutes! And will it detract from Beyonce? And won't it look weird? Or will it just be super cool and feel-good and we'll all be dabbing our eyes and shaking our heads in admiration, again, over the goddess who is Jay Z's wife?

So bravo, Super Bowl halftime show people. You finally are doing something right. We can't wait to see how it plays out. The show, not the game. Duh!

Do you watch the Super Bowl for the game, the halftime show, or the commercials?

Image via Splash News

How 5 U.S. Presidents Welcomed My Baby Into the World

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Today's a big day, in case you're forgetting (silly you). Today is when Americans decide who will be president for the next four years. Amid all the budget balancing (or lack thereof), bill signing, taxing the pants off people, war mongering, and world peace fostering, one of the little-known things Presidents of the United States do is for babies. And I'm not talking about kissing them on the campaign trail (though they do that a lot too). I'm talking about sending them cards when they arrive in this crazy world.

Oh, you didn't know presidents did that sort of thing? Yes, yes they do. Not just current presidents, either. Former presidents will oblige too. But you have to ask them.

And so, shortly after our daughter was born last November, my husband and I wrote to all five living U.S. presidents announcing her birth in the hopes that they'd send us their blessings. And one by one, each of them did.

Our little Sophie now has cards and letters welcoming her into the world from Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter. And she's just tickled pink -- er, red, white, and blue about it.

Yeah, the last part isn't really true, since she's only 11 months old. She does like to rifle through them, though -- she just loves shuffling papers. What can I say? Chip off the old block.

Anyway. Even though a couple were form letters and they were all similar, there was something very touching about opening and reading each of these wishes to our little girl from five of the most powerful men in the world. Most look to have actually been signed by them, too. So I thought I'd share what they said to her -- and clue you in to this possibility for your own future babies, since I'm betting most of you didn't know you could do this!

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama: Welcome to the world! Your arrival is a cause for great celebration for your proud family. We wish you a long and happy life filled with chances to learn, ideas to explore, people to love, and dreams to fulfill. Sincerely, Barack Obama & Michelle Obama

President George W. Bush: Welcome to the world! Your arrival has brought great joy to your proud family and the many others who already care so much about you. Each day will offer you wonderful new adventures as you grow and learn. Mrs. Bush and I wish for you a life of love, happiness, and the opportunity to achieve your dreams. We send our warmest thoughts to you and your parents. George Bush

President Bill Clinton: Dear Sophie: Congratulations on the wonderful occasion of your birth. Your arrival on November 21, 2011, gives all those who love you cause for great celebration, and I'm delighted to welcome you to our world. As you grow, I wish for you a long and joyful life, with each of your days made bright by lessons to learn, people to love, and dreams to fulfill. Happy Birthday! Sincerely, Bill Clinton

President George H.W. Bush: Dear Sophie Belle, On November 21, 2011, you arrived in this big, exciting world and you became part of a happy, loving family. You are a very lucky little girl, for you have two wonderful parents who will take care of you, who will always love you, and who will always be there for you as you explore the wonders of this world. You also have an extended family and lots of friends. Family and friends are what really count in life. I hope your life will be as happy as mine has been, Sophie Belle, and I further hope that you live it in a world at peace. Sincerely, G. Bush

President Jimmy Carter: To Sophie Belle, Welcome to a wonderful family, a fine state, and a great nation! Sincerely, Jimmy Carter

Nice, aren't they? Bet you didn't know what softies those White House guys really are. Kind of restores your faith in Presidents of the United States for the jaded among you, doesn't it? (Cue the patriotic music.)

If you want to do this yourself, it's simple. Just Google "PRESIDENT'S NAME contact information," which will take you to the official website and mailing address. Or search "presidential greeting baby birth from living presidents." Then write a letter requesting one of these cards for your baby with the child's name and date of birth in bold capital letters. We tailored each one to the president in question and were very complimentary. Flattery will get you everywhere!

Now get out there and vote -- and by all means, take the kids to the polls with you!

Did you know you could ask Presidents of the United States to write cards to your new baby?

Image via Chris R McFarland/Flickr

Voting With Kids: The 411 on Taking Your Children to the Polls

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:23:00 EST

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Call me a naive new mom, but when a friend told me you're actually allowed to bring your children into the voting booth with you, I was mildly stunned. It hadn't even occurred to me to drag my baby with me to the polls when I vote for President on Election Day. I couldn't picture waiting in that long line with the poor girl, who at 11 months is very squirmy and itching to crawl everywhere, then pushing her stroller into the cramped booth, pulling the curtain closed (we cast votes behind dark curtains here in New York), and yanking the rickety old lever once I'd ticked off my picks. My guess is it would scare her, there would be tears (but enough about me), and we'd come away from the electoral experience a hot mother-daughter mess.

That said, plenty of moms -- and dads! -- don't have the choice of leaving their kids at home because they have no one to watch them. For many parents, it comes down to bringing the children to the polls or not voting at all.

I think most of us would agree that it's better for people in that situation to vote with their kids in tow than stay home for an important election (unless they're voting for the other guy, in which case they should definitely sit this one out -- kidding!). Other parents want their children to experience voting starting when they're young -- also a great reason to bring 'em along.

More from The Stir: Sandy's Impact on Elections & Voting Could Be Awful

No matter what the situation, a surprising number of us don't know the first thing about the rules on voting with kids. But to quote an ex-presidential candidate, help is on the way. Here are 6 basics you need to know about voting with your children:

1) You are allowed to bring children under 18 with you into the voting booth in every state in the country. So yes, teenagers who are 16 or 17 can come in with you, believe it or not. So can newborns and kids of every age in between.

2) Many states limit the number of children you can take in to vote with you. In Maryland, for example, it's two or fewer under 18 who can accompany a parent or caregiver into the booth. So what's a single mom of three to do when she can't get a babysitter? I guess she'd better make fast friends with the people in line behind her ...

3) While at the polls, your children may not interfere with or disrupt the voting process or they may be asked to leave. Meaning there goes your chance to vote, so bring distractions, sedatives (relax - I'm joking), whatever it takes to keep them quiet and well-behaved. No easy feat for parents of babies, toddlers, or otherwise rambunctious kids -- especially when the lines are long!

4) You can let your son or daughter cast your vote for you. Many parents do that as a way to get their kids even more involved in the process. And they love it!

5) If you're thinking about voting with your kids as a photo op, think again. Most states won't let you take cameras, video, or audio devices into the voting booth, and certainly won't let you photograph the ballot. So save the snapshots for before and after -- or you and the little ones will risk being kicked out.

6) For specific rules on voting with kids where you live, look up your state's voting guidelines online -- or call your local election commission. The League of Women Voters and other organizations also have some good information on the subject.

What's your take on voting with the kids -- yay or nay?

Image via mollypop/Flickr

A Ghost Played With My Ouija Board -- and She Was Only a Baby

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:45:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

What you are about to read is totally REAL and creepier than a Hollywood horror movie. Welcome to Scary Story Week on The Stir.

It was a dark and stormy night just before Halloween. Okay, so it might not have been dark and stormy, but it was nighttime and it was right before Halloween. I was a teenager in high school, over at my best friend Kate's house. And we were doing something we loved: playing with the Ouija board.

We sat quietly in the dim living room, legs crossed, knees touching, fingertips resting lightly on the iron-shaped marker. As we always did, we started out by asking in hushed voices, "Is there a spirit here?"

For those of you Ouija virgins, that's how you play. The thinking is that a ghost floating around nearby is what's making the thing move. What, you don't believe in ghosts?

Well, I was skeptical myself until that night. So there we were, in silence for at least a full minute. Nothing happened.

And then suddenly the Ouija came to life.

The marker swooped up to the word "yes."

"What's your name?" I asked.

"E-L-I-Z-A-B-E-T-H," the "spirit" spelled out. We held our breath.

"When were you born?" Kate whispered.

There was a pause. "1-9-8-5," she said.

"When did you die?" I said softly.

Another, longer pause. The Ouija marker slowly made its way down to the numbers again.

"1 .... 9 .... 8 ......................... 5."

Kate and I gasped and let go of the game in shock. We were frozen in fear. The ghost who was guiding us tonight was a baby. A baby who'd died before turning a year old.

We looked at each other, wide-eyed, not wanting to keep going but not wanting to stop either. I always thought the spirit part of the game was silly, a gimmick. I believed in ghosts -- sort of -- but never bought that they were making the Ouija marker move on the board. I explained it away more scientifically: that the players' own mental energy was subconsciously behind it, even though consciously they weren't making it go from letter to letter.

That all changed that night. I could feel this baby ghost in the room with us. I could feel her presence, as if she were sitting right next to me. And so could my friend Kate.

Finally, my voice quivering, I asked what we were both thinking.

"H-how did you die, Elizabeth?"

The marker moved quickly this time. It's as if she were excited and couldn't get the answer out fast enough.

"F ... I .... R .... E," she spelled.

A tear rolled down my cheek. I looked across the eerie board at Kate and saw her eyes glistening too.

"How ... how old were you?" Kate said hesitantly.

"8," our spirit replied.

"Eight months old?" we both asked in unison.

"Yes."

Poor baby. Her poor parents. We had a million questions for her. Was it a house fire? ("Yes.") Was she sleeping at the time? ("Yes.") Did her parents survive? ("Yes.") We eventually went on to asking her questions about our own lives and what we had waiting for us in our future, like you're supposed to when you play Ouija. For the life of me, I can't remember anything about what was said about us. Only what we learned about her.

Maybe our baby girl ghost was getting tired or fussy. Maybe she sensed we were sad and wanted to make us feel better. Whatever it was, after a while, she suddenly started spelling out a message on her own.

"H ... A ... P ... P ... Y .......... N ... O ... W," she told us.

"You're happy now?" I asked shakily. "You're okay?"

"Yes," she said. "H ... A ... P ... P ... Y ....... N ... O ...W."

Then the Ouija marker slowly made its way down to the bottom of the board until it landed on "GOOD BYE" and went still.

"Good-bye, Elizabeth," Kate and I whispered. And with that, she was gone.

Have you ever met a ghost?

Image via Zoe Favole/Flickr

'Real Housewife' Joanna Krupa Shows Naked Breasts in Shocking See-Through Top

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:30:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Real Housewives of Miami star and supermodel Joanna Krupa isn't one to act shy. Modesty just ain't her thang. She's a gorgeous, blond, Playboy-posing bombshell, and she knows it -- and really, what Housewife isn't over-the-top, me-me-me confident, at least on TV?

But I think a lot of us were still stunned when we saw the date night photos of Joanna with her fiance in a totally see-through top. A silver, glittery number that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. Yes, sheer is in. Nip slips are all the rage. But this shirt is different. You can't just kind of see her breasts. You can totally see them -- all of them.

Well, you can check them out for yourself after the jump. The photos, you pervert! I mean the photos!

Okay, so we're required to blur out some parts, but you get the idea, right? Here are Joanna Krupa's breasts in all their glory, no retouching, if you are REALLY interested.

All I have to say is, WTF? Is the former Dancing With the Stars babe that desperate for attention and headlines that she has to pull something like this? I mean, the answer is obvious and it worked like a charm. But still. What was her fiance Romain Zago thinking? He looks positively gleeful in some of the shots and kind of mortified in others. I would be if the woman I proposed to went out to dinner with me showing her bare boobs to everyone. Does no one have any shame anymore? We've got Christina Aguilera without underwear, the every-other-day wardrobe malfunction, and now this?

M'kay. Off my soap box now. Have a nice weekend. And you're welcome for the photos!

What do you think of a stunt like this? Am I just a prude? Do I need to get over it?

Images via Splash

'Modern Family' Mom Sofia Vergara Shares Her Bedroom Makeover Secrets

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Sofia Vergara has the whole "hot mom" thing down, doesn't she? Both in character as the very pregnant Gloria on Modern Family and off-screen with all those sexy va-va-va-voom clothes she wears, that wardrobe malfunction "slip" at the Emmys, the voluptuous, flirty way she talks and moves ... can you tell I have a mini girl crush?

So as a sex goddess foxy celebrity mamacita, it's only natural that she help us regular old moms out in the bedroom, now, isn't it?

Get your mind out of the gutter! I don't mean THAT way. Vergara, you may have heard, now has a home line at Kmart -- much of it inexpensive bedding in rich, bold, boudoir-style tones. She told me it was designed with moms in mind.

"Moms don't have a crazy budget," the 40-year-old actress said at the recent New York launch as she sat on a bed draped in a coppery-brown duvet. "It's not going to do anything to your budget. It's livable, comfortable ... it's not just, oh we're having a party, put the good bedcovers on."

The comforter sets are very affordable, currently selling online for $17.99 to $59.99. Aside from the "Marakesh Medallion" one on display, they come in deep violet, shimmery cream, and embroidered black and have lusty names like "Floral Fantasy," "Champagne Dream," and "Black Magic."

Vergara admitted she's a "pillow person."

"My son always, like, fights with me because he wants to take the pillows off at night," she said of her 20-year-old son Manolo, giggling. "I'm like, shut up! I put them back on."

The comforters, sheets, and matching sparkly, sequined throw pillows are a cheap and easy way for moms to add a touch of sex kitten spice, a little Sofia-slash-Gloria, a little fun, to the bedroom. If those dark, bright colors are your thing, of course. They're not for everyone. Including, it turns out, the TV star herself. Vergara's own bed looks pretty different.

"This is nothing compared to what I put in my bedroom," she said coyly, batting her eyes. "My bed is usually in a beige color. Sometimes when I get bored, I have a deeper color like this -- not exactly like this, but the same tone."

The "Sofia by Sofia Vergara" home line -- an add-on to her clothing line of the same name -- also includes towels, bathroom rugs, and luggage.

Check out the hilarious and super sexy ad for all things "Sofia" below:

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

"It's stuff to really use and enjoy," she told me. "You can have it all day -- and have your house looking great all the time."

Would you ever buy celebrity home decor like this and redecorate with it?

Image via Kmart

Jessica Simpson's Baby Weight Battle Is One All New Moms Fight

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:10:00 EDT

Post by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

I'm not one of those women who normally obsesses about her weight. Except for a few times when I've put on five or 10 pounds (hello, freshman year of college!), I've usually been lucky enough not to have to. Pregnancy changed all that. Mine and Jessica Simpson's.

Jess has somehow become the poster child for what moms should and shouldn't do when eating for two and losing the baby weight. She has been the subject of extraordinary scrutiny since she got pregnant. So much so that she was Katie Couric's first guest on her new show for the "big reveal" about how many pounds she's lost so far (she'd reportedly gained an estimated 50 or more). Good-NESS, do I sympathize. You already feel ridiculously out there for all the world to see when you're expecting a baby (no hiding that balloon in your stomach). But to have everyone on earth watching you, judging you every step of the way? Can't even imagine.

Simpson's handled it like a trooper. Sure, she's a celebrity, but in many ways that makes it worse than for regular moms like me. No one cares about us. It's nice.

But ... but. Nobodies also have fewer luxuries at our disposal when it comes to things like getting back in shape after carrying around another person inside us for nine months. My pregnancy with my first baby was thankfully pretty healthy and normal. I gained 27 pounds, which is on the lower end of the acceptable range. And in the two weeks after my daughter was born, they melted away magically, just like everyone said they would.

Until they didn't anymore, and I was stuck at 10 pounds above my pre-baby number. That might not seem like a lot, but it felt like it -- especially because my old clothes didn't fit right but my maternity clothes weren't working either. I did a lot of what you're supposed to do to help the process along. I breastfed. I walked every day with baby in the stroller. I drank even more water than usual -- nursing makes you so thirsty you feel like you're in the desert. I cut out sweets and ate less. Um, okay, confession: That last one is a lie. What I didn't expect was how starving I'd be while I was breastfeeding and how much I was going to crave cookies and candy even more. So yeah, you burn all those extra calories. But I don't think your raging hunger and all the hormones can really balance it out as much as you think. That "breastfeeding makes you lose weight" thing is a conspiracy, I tell you!

Anyway. You should still breastfeed if you can. It's good for everyone. Etc. Back to the baby weight. I started going to the gym again a time or two a week. I consciously cut my portions and watched what I ate, just a little. Nursing tapered off slightly. Eventually my weight dropped another five pounds. Now I was within reach! I could see the light!

And there it stayed, for months. I went from being someone who only occasionally steps on the scale to someone who steps on the scale almost every day. It felt crazy and it wasn't me. But my daughter was then 6 months old. Why hadn't I bounced back yet? And why, every time I ate even slightly more than usual, did my stomach stretch so easily and my weight jump a few pounds?

It was only less than a month ago, around her nine-month birthday, that I finally inched back to my pre-baby weight for longer than a day. I worked hard to limit my sugar fixes. I exercised a little more frequently (not easy for a new mom!). That's where the baby came in handy. I did baby crunches with her, baby lifts, baby lunges. Sometimes I even borrowed a neighbor's infant for overall toning.

But seriously. One of the best tips I can give moms is to be patient and good to yourselves. Watch portions, fat, and sugar, but don't beat yourself up if you have a bad day -- or seven. Exercise, even if it's just short walks with the stroller, whenever you have time. Drink water. Try to eat healthy foods that will fill you up, preferably three regular meals and a few snacks a day. And realize that so much of it is hormonal, especially if you nurse for a long time like I have. Your body will be out of whack. The pounds can and will come off if you want them to. But it's true what those books say. It took you nine months to gain it; it could take at least nine months to lose it all. So hang in there. You too, Jessica. You're all beautiful moms, just as you are.

This story first appeared on HLNTV.com.

Did you go back to your old weight after having a baby? What did you do to lose the pregnancy pounds?

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