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Selena Gomez Flashes Justin Bieber’s Ring on Her ‘Special’ Finger

Post by Adriana Velez.

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Don't you love it when celebs send out not-so-subtle clues to the world? Like, Hey everybody! Try not to look at the ring on my finger, which I am conspicuously flashing at you via Instagram photo! Oops, did I just suggest I may be engaged? NO COMMENT. (Wink!) It's so obnoxious. Well surprise, here'sSelena Gomez flashing a ring with a diamond "J." She wore it last night at the Kids' Choice Awards Saturday night and she posted a photo featuring the ring via Instagram. Just in case your Monday hasn't yet given you a reason to roll your eyeballs, sit up straight, light up your pipe of disapproval, and prep your peepers for this sight.

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Say it with me now, everybody. Oh. Mah. Gah. Are Selena and Justin engaged to be married? That is just teh the worst.

The celebs' publicists are disingenuously saying, "Why NO, the kids are definitely NOT engaged!" Meanwhile, a few days ago, Justin "mysteriously" tweeted, "As long as u are with me I will never leave you." Which is about as meaningless as it gets. He could just be sending a secret message to his last few remaining fans (aww, kid was booed at Canada's Juno Awards). Or it could be a message to Selena. As long as we're together, we're together, or something like that. Remember! Wherever you find yourself, there you are. I am the walrus, koo koo ka-choo. What are we talking about again? Oh yes, Selena's definitely-not-engagement ring.

It's hard to muster the shock and disapproval over this unholy union, but I'm trying. I mean, it could just be some dumb publicity stunt, or they could be secretly engaged -- hence Selena's hushing. GET IT?!?

Whether they're engaged or not, Selena and Justin seem very much back together again, much to the world's dismay. A source tells People, "No one's happy about" Selena and Justin being back together. Kind of how no one's happy about Russia taking over Crimea -- in the same kind of shrugging, passive way. Selena's family "feels like they've done all they can and it's up to her. She has to figure it out on her own."

I agree. But I also think everyone's disapproval fuels this relationship. It's kind of a Romeo and Juliet kind of thing, another way for them to rebel. If we all just ignored them, they would eventually walk away from each other. I know I'm not helping by writing about this gossip (sorry, occupational hazard). But I really do believe the best response to this rumor is to say, "Oh yeah? You two engaged? Great. Go for it."

Do you think Selena and Justin really love each other or are they just in love with forbidden love?

 

Image via Selena Gomez/Instagram

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3 Obamacare Emails That Might Actually Get You to Sign Up

Post by Adriana Velez.

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America, today's the day! If you haven't yet signed up for health insurance, the deadline is TODAY. So head on over to HealthCare.gov and ... uh oh, whoops. Um, this is so embarrassing ... apparentlyHealthCare.gov went offline for six hours earlier this morning. Then it came back, stronger than ever! Except not so strong, because it crashed again around noon. Oh wait -- it's back up again now! Give it a try? At this point you have a 50-50 chance of being able to complete an application.

Those of you who started an application only to have the website crash on you in the middle of the process, you should have received an invitation to try again. I believe it looked something like this ...

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i'm sorry

Dear Frustrated American Who Just Tried to Sign Up for Health Insurance,

On behalf of President Obama and the entire United States Department of Health and Human Services, we would like to cordially extend an invitation for you to complete your application. And we're extending the deadline for you! So please come back.

Baby, we're sorry we keep letting you down. We didn't mean for that to happen. We just want you to give us one more chance. We'll make it up to you, promise. Just please sign up. Please? PLEASE?!???

Love,

Kathleen and Barry

Here's an invitation the White House is sending to people who have heard all about the website glitches and are too skeptical to even try signing up.

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Dear Non-Believer,

The Health Insurance Marketplace is a happy place where you can find an affordable health insurance option that meets your needs. It's kind of a cross between a farmers' market (so many healthy options) and a unicorn. Does it really exist? Maybe! You just have to believe. Go to HealthCare.gov to find out if this magical, mystical virtual world truly exists.

Follow the rainbow to the pot of gold! Or to your perfect health plan, as the case may be.

Namaste,

The White House

And here's the invitation going out to people who refuse to sign up on principle.

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Dear Refusnik,

We get it. You hate Obamacare because of socialism and whatnot. You're living off the grid, drinking the raw milk from your own dairy cows. You shoot and grow all your own food. You know how to splint your own leg when you break it. You don't need Obamacare! Also, you don't have Internet access because it's just the government's way of exercising mind control over Americans --

Wait, how are you reading this email, then?

Please sign up for a health plan. Just do it, you stubborn old kook.

Sincerely,

The Gov'mint

Do you think more people would have signed up if the HealthCare.gov website had been working better?

 

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Mom Gives Up Lifesaving Treatment So Her Baby Can Live (VIDEO)

Post by Adriana Velez.

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When most couples dream of having a baby, they imagine raising the child together. But imagine carrying a baby you know you may never raise yourself. One pregnant woman faced an unthinkable dilemma: Abort her unborn baby to save her life, or carry on with a pregnancy and face certain death. Elizabeth Joice chose to sacrifice her life to give her baby daughter a chance at life. She considered it a miracle at all that she'd gotten pregnant, and she was going to give this new life a fighting chance.

Four years ago Elizabeth had fought off cancer with four rounds of chemotherapy, followed by surgery, followed by more chemotherapy before her cancer finally went into remission. Her doctors told her she'd never get pregnant, but Elizabeth and her husband Max tried anyway -- and three years later she was expecting!

Their joy was cut short when Elizabeth learned only a month later that her tumor was back. Doctors removed the tumor, but because she was pregnant, they couldn't find out if it had spread and where. They delivered Elizabeth's baby Lily early via C-section in January. The cancer spread rapidly throughout Elizabeth's body, including her right lung and her heart.

Elizabeth spent just a few short weeks as a mother before her life was cruelly taken by cancer on March 9. She'd been able to spend only one day at home with Lily and Max. "We said our goodbyes. It was like something out of a movie. We sat there and cried. We tried to tell stories, talk about all the great things," Max says.

I try to imagine what I would feel if I'd been in Elizabeth's place -- if I'd had to choose between my pregnancy or fighting cancer again. She'd beaten it before, so would she have the confidence to know she could beat it again? Or would she dread going through chemotherapy all over again?

Maybe Elizabeth weighed her chances at beating cancer against her daughter's chances of living a full life and decided the odds were with her daughter. As a woman who grew up without a mother, she would know all too well what challenges Lily would face. She must have had tremendous faith and confidence in Max's potential as a father to leave her daughter entirely in his hands.

Max must have been heartbroken to say goodbye to Elizabeth. This story is so unbearably sad -- except for Max's amazing perspective. In a way, Elizabeth is still with him. Max says, "Liz’s magic rubbed off on Lily. She’s beautiful and remarkable. It provides me with the strength to get through this.”

Friends are raising funds to help Max and baby Lily.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Would you have made the same choice as Elizabeth did? What would your reasons be?

 

Image via Liz, Max & Lilybear/YouTube

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8 Crock-Pot Easter Recipes for a Tasty Dinner After Your Egg Hunt

Post by Adriana Velez.

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All right spring, you're finally here and I'm seeing Easter candy in shop windows. And to me that means one thing: Time to buy candy! Wait, two things: Time to buy candy AND plan my Easter dinner menu. Since the holiday is coming later in the month this year, I'm thinking optimistically. Maybe the weather will be sunny and warm enough to spend time outside. In that case, I don't want to spend the day indoors, cooking. I want the slow cooker to do the work for me. So here are 8 happy, springy Easter dishes you can make in the Crock-Pot.

1. Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip: How about a little something to nibble while you're getting together these other dishes? Make this the night before.

2. Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Ham: Let those sugars slowly seep into you ham all day with this tempting slow cooker recipe. Prep time is just 5 minutes, and the recipe uses just 6 ingredients.

3. Mint Glazed Lamb: If your family does lamb for Easter, here's a slow cooker version of a classic. It's made with mint jelly -- and if you're skeptical and have never tried it before, you may be surprised at how perfectly those flavors go together.

4. Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken: This recipe sounds like it would have just the right light, springy flavors you want for Easter.

5. Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes: As far as I'm concerned, Easter = scalloped potatoes. Maybe that's just me? This recipe is loaded with cheesy goodness.

6. Wild Rice Pilaf: If scalloped potatoes aren't your thing, how about this fluffy, flavorful rice pilaf recipe.

7. Honey Glazed Carrots: Every-bunny loves carrots for Easter! (Sorry, couldn't help it.) These sweet veggies are a snap in the slow cooker. Or -- here's a sneaky idea -- add chopped carrots about halfway through cooking your glazed lamb or ham.

8. Slow Cooker Baked Lemon Cake: For dessert, how about this super-moist lemon cake. 

What do you like to eat on Easter?

 

Image via Dwight Sipler/Flickr

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Baby Born With 1/2 a Heart Beats the Odds and Inspires Us All (VIDEO)

Post by Adriana Velez.

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Just 16 weeks into her pregnancy, expecting mom Candie Baber got disturbing news: Her unborn baby had a life-threatening heart condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Essentially, baby Gracie was born with half a heart. "It was really hard," Baber says, "because it's like someone telling you your baby is not going to be OK." And yet amazingly, Gracie if now 4 months old and thriving enough to go home with her family.

Gracie has endured two surgeries and five procedures in her short little life, and the struggle isn't over for her. She's on oxygen and has more surgeries in her future -- including open-heart surgery in a few months. Both of her parents had to stop working for a few months and focus on Gracie, so there's also mounting financial strain on this little family.

But it's still amazing to see what a fighter this baby has been. If she can make it this far, surely she can make it through whatever other procedures she has coming. She may have only half a heart, but what heart she has shows incredible strength and resilience.

In spite of all the stress and worry, witnessing a baby fight and survive this way must be awe-inspiring. It would be a privilege to be her parents, I think. And I can imagine the gratitude Grace's parents must be feeling. Hopefully, medical technology will keep up and help enable her to live the long, full life she deserves to live.

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What would keep you going if your baby was born with a life-threatening condition like this one?

 

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Bus Driver Makes 6-Year-Old Prove Her Age in Strangest Way

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As far as I'm concerned, the only time an adult should ask to see a child's teeth is if they're at a dentist's office. But a bus driver decided that was his right, too. In a town where children under the age of 7 can ride the bus for free, a bus driver demanded a 6-year-old girl show him her teeth before he would let her board the bus. And get this -- when she complied, he told her she had too many teeth for a 6-year-old and wouldn't let her ride for free. He also said she was too tall. Who made this man an expert in tooth-aging?

This story is so absurd. First of all, there's just something creepy about a strange adult demanding that a child show him their teeth. Okay? Let's just start there. And the poor girl was so taken aback, she obeyed him before her mother could stop her. Thanks goodness her mother was there with her, by the way.

The second preposterous thing about this story is that examining a child's teeth is an arbitrary and unreliable way to judge their age. Anyone who has ever had the experience of losing their baby teeth and having new teeth grow in (ALL OF US) knows that the whole process happens on different time lines for different kids. Not to mention, you could have a mouth full of baby teeth and not even have lost any at the age of 6.

Don't even get me started on the idea that a child is too tall for their age. How the hell would he know?

Anyway, why is this bus driver so persnickety over the idea of some kid who's over 6 getting a free ride? Like that's the worst thing in the world that could ever happen! Oh no, a 7-year-old rode the bus for free -- welcome, fourth horse of the Apocalypse! Say goodbye to civilization as we know it. There goes the city's budget. It's been blown to bits by free bus rides for children.

I tell ya, some adults need to get a grip on what's really important.

How much should a city care about enforcing age limits for free bus rides?

 

Image via Kelly Teague/Flickr

 

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10 Best April Fools' Jokes That Are Getting Everyone Today (VIDEOS)

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I got the most amazing email from my grocery delivery, FreshDirect. They're going to start carrying eagle-caught salmon! Seriously, trained eagles will catch the salmon off the coast of New York City, and the salmon will be biked in. It's amaz -- wait. Salmon do not swim around New York City. And biked in? How much is this going to cost me? Is this for real? OMG! Of course -- April Fools' Day! It was just a joke.

Oh friends, it's April 1: Time for practical jokes. What are the pranksters of 2014 up to this year? Here are some of our favorites so far from around the web.

1. Domino's Edibox: Now your pizza box is edible, too! It's made of pizza crust, everyone's favorite part of a pizza. (Um, right?) Domino's collaborated with Liverpool food blogger Scousescan in developing the box. According to the press release, "With every future Domino’s delivery, you’ll see the Edibox upgrade option: double the dough to enjoy alongside double the glorious garlic and herb dip. And the best bit? You won’t have to fight to fit that square box into a round bin -- this is a waste-free dining experience." Also it doesn't exist.

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2. Google Coffee-to-the-Home: As part of their overall plan for world domination, Google rolled out several April fools' jokes. This was one of my favorites -- their coffee delivery system. They'll mainline coffee directly into your home through their "hot beverage backbone" (HBB) alongside their fiber network. And the really funny part is how almost all the spokes-engineers in the video are men. Haha! That's so unrealistic! Except it's totally realistic. Womp womp.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

3. Pokémon Takes Over Google Maps: We had to include this one, too. Google is hiring! The new position is Pokémon master, and to apply, you must complete their Pokémon Challenge, "the most rigorous test known to man" via Google maps. You can play by downloading the new Google Maps app and clicking on the Pokémon ball. Find all 150 Pokémon! But don't expect a real job at Google if you do ...

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

4. Samsung Mobile Fli-Fy: Samsung introduces its new micro-router and pigeon-powered Wi-Fi. Finally, you can upload your selfies anywhere, at the expense of an innocent bird!

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

5. Virgin America's New Feature: Total Temperature Control by Nest! Thanks to this fab collab, you can control the temperature in your airline seat. No more suffering cabin chill or paying for a blanket. You can be as toasty or cool as you want. I wish this idea were real.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

6. Counsciously Coupling Album: Match.com is introducing a limited-edition vinyl album "to commemorate the long-standing relationship between the Queen of Quinoa, Gwyneth Paltrow, and King of Coldplay, Chris Martin." The album features songs like "Cruisin' for Kale" and "Magic Machta."

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7. Colgate University Opens Graduate Program in Denistry: This is funny because there's really a school called Colgate University, which doesn't have anything to do with the toothpaste company. So ... heh! Nerd joke.

8. LinkedIn Cats You May Know: It's the LinkedIn feature we all knew was missing. Do you know these cats? More importantly, would you endorse any of these cats?

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9. Amazon Kindle Paperscent: Love reading via your Kindle, but miss that real-paper book smell? Check out their new aromatherapy case.

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10. Open Letter From Kim Jong-un to One Direction: From the pranksters at the Daily Mirror, here's an open letter from North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un letting the members of One Direction know they may enter his country on the condition that they all cut their hair just like his. The part that's not a joke? Kim Jong-un really is forcing male students to cut their hair like his. I've searched the web for something saying that it's an April fools' joke, but so far, no.

What are some other pranks you've seen or heard today?

 

Images via Thierry Ehrmann/Flickr, One Direction

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Hot ‘Captain America’ Star Toys With Our Hearts With His Career Change

Post by Adriana Velez.

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A shocking announcement put the entire nation into a state of alert last week. No, it wasn't about HealthCare.gov crashing again. It was this: Captain America star Chris Evans announcing his retirement from acting. No! How could it be? He was so young -- and way too hot to quit now. Why would he do that to us? Why? WHY? Well, relax everyone, because it's not happening. Chris Evans set the record straight on Good Morning America today. Evans is NOT quitting acting after all.

Here's what got Evans into trouble. First he said he was taking a short break. Then he told Variety:

I've known for a while I wanted to direct. But [time] never really opens up. There's another movie to do, there's another acting job. It just got to a point where I was like, you know -- I have to do this.

If I’m acting at all, it’s going to be under Marvel contract, or I’m going to be directing. I can’t see myself pursuing acting strictly outside of what I’m contractually obligated to do.

Gossips hit the panic button when they read that, but apparently Evans wasn't announcing his retirement from acting after all. "I said that I directed last year and I really responded to it," he explained on GMA. "I really enjoyed it, and I'd love to focus a little more on that."

It's just a slight shift of focus, everyone. Nothing more than that. Chris Evans promises.

But geez, can you blame us for worrying? It's like when you first start dating a guy, and he says something off-hand, like "you know, I really enjoy my alone time." And you're all, OMG! It's over! This is his way of telling me he doesn't want to date me anymore. I'm about to get the Slow Fade. Mayday! Mayday! Abandon ship! Heeeellllllpppp!

And then you bring it up and he's like, "What? No, that's not what I meant at all! I just meant I liked spending that one afternoon alone the other weekend. I picked up my apartment and ran a bunch of errands. Calm down. Can we have sex now?"

So worry not, moviegoers. "By no means am I planning on retiring," Evans says. "It's kind of a silly statement." You hear that? Our hot, exciting relationship with Chris Evans will continue. 

Had you heard the rumor that Chris Evans was retiring? What did you think?

 

Image via Marvel Entertainment

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How to Make a Baby Shower Fruit Basket in 4 Simple Steps (VIDEO)

Post by Adriana Velez.

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If you're planning on hosting a baby shower, there is one adorable showstopper of a dish you have to make. No, it's not a freaky baby cake. It's a baby shower fruit salad: A feast of fruit inside a watermelon carved to look like a bassinet, with an orange or grapefruit rind made to look like the baby's face. You can see in the photo here it's an adorably funny idea. And like any fruit salad, you can definitely put your own spin on it. Here are the basics on how to make a baby shower fruit basket.

1. Start by carving out the watermelon. Here's a video tutorial. Even if you want a slightly different look for your basket, this has some essential tips that will save you a lot of grief if you follow them.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

2. Chop fruit. Now you've got a lot of watermelon! Chop that along with any other fruit you'd like into bite-sized pieces. Keep in mind, a salad will look better and be easier to eat if you can keep all the pieces around the same size. A few suggestions: Pineapple, mango, papaya, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, honeydew. In the photo above, you'll see gorgeous black and white dragon fruit, which looks fantastic.

3. Make the face. Cut a grapefruit or large orange in half and then peel. Cut the fruit to add to the salad if you want. Nestle the rind into one end of the basket and attach a berry for each eye and a strawberry or raspberry for the nose or mouth using toothpicks. I like the idea of adding a new, clean pacifier where the mouth should be.

4. Add the wheels. Totally optional, but I've seen cross-slices of oranges and kiwi fruit used as wheels.

And you're done! Enjoy your sweet fruit baby.

Have you ever seen a fruit baby basket at a shower?

 

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16 Ridiculously Cute Babies Welcome You to Spring

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Happy spring! Have you been seeing more babies lately? Maybe it's just me, but I feel like now that it's warm, they're cropping up everywhere like spring flowers ... literally, like spring flowers and peas and strawberries. Here's 16 of the most insanely cute photos of babies dressed up as spring flowers, fruit and veggies.

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Victoria Beckham Won't Let Her Son Become the Next Justin Bieber

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Look who's kid just landed a 20-page fashion spread. Victoria and David Beckham's oldest son Brooklyn made his modeling debut on the cover of Man About Town -- and does he ever look exactly like both of his parents. But the 15-year-old doesn't look too grown-up in this men's magazine. He's featured in an article on the teenage lifestyle, and is posed to look just like you're typical 15-year-old boy ... well, maybe a much more glamorous version, anyway. But here's how Brooklyn's parents are keeping their superstar son grounded.

An insider tells the Daily Mail:

David and Victoria are immensely proud of all their children, and they never push them into anything even though the boys get lots of offers. Brooklyn is focused on school and soccer, but of course he was so excited to get his first magazine cover shoot as he's interested in photography like his dad.

So the kids don't get to say "yes" to every offer. Their parents are pretty selective about what they do get to do. Man About Town is a small magazine published twice a year, not exactly Teen Vogue. It's still all about school (and athletics) for Brooklyn and the other Beckham kids.

In fact, it sounds like he didn't even get to skip out on any school to do the photo shoot. The insider adds that it took place over a weekend, and the whole family came along for support -- and also probably to keep an eye on the young model.

I can imagine it's mighty tempting for the Beckhams, especially the kids, to get so much attention and not run with it. But Victoria and David are wise to take it all slowly. I don't think they should say no to everything -- they wouldn't want to make it forbidden fruit. But they're setting clear boundaries to protect their kids' childhoods.

Would you let your kids do any kind of modeling if they had the opportunity? Why or why not?

 

Image via Man About Town

 

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How to Make a Baby Shower Fruit Basket in 4 Simple Steps (VIDEO)

Post by Adriana Velez.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
fruit baby salad
If you're planning on hosting a baby shower, there is one adorable showstopper of a dish you have to make. No, it's not a freaky baby cake. It's a baby shower fruit salad: A feast of fruit inside a watermelon carved to look like a bassinet, with an orange or grapefruit rind made to look like the baby's face. You can see in the photo here it's an adorably funny idea. And like any fruit salad, you can definitely put your own spin on it. Here are the basics on how to make a baby shower fruit basket.

1. Start by carving out the watermelon. Here's a video tutorial. Even if you want a slightly different look for your basket, this has some essential tips that will save you a lot of grief if you follow them.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

2. Chop fruit. Now you've got a lot of watermelon! Chop that along with any other fruit you'd like into bite-sized pieces. Keep in mind, a salad will look better and be easier to eat if you can keep all the pieces around the same size. A few suggestions: Pineapple, mango, papaya, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, honeydew. In the photo above, you'll see gorgeous black and white dragon fruit, which looks fantastic.

3. Make the face. Cut a grapefruit or large orange in half and then peel. Cut the fruit to add to the salad if you want. Nestle the rind into one end of the basket and attach a berry for each eye and a strawberry or raspberry for the nose or mouth using toothpicks. I like the idea of adding a new, clean pacifier where the mouth should be.

4. Add the wheels. Totally optional, but I've seen cross-slices of oranges and kiwi fruit used as wheels.

And you're done! Enjoy your sweet fruit baby.

Have you ever seen a fruit baby basket at a shower?

 

Image via samweby/Instagram

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Mom Arrested for Dangerous April Fools' Prank That Went Way Too Far

Post by Adriana Velez.

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There were some hilarious pranks pulled yesterday for April Fools' Day ... and there were a few not-so-funny pranks we wish had never been attempted. One particularly awful prank was pulled by a mom. Police say Angela Timmons texted her daughter to tell her a gunman was on the loose at Virginia College in South Carolina, where she works. It was supposed to be a prank. But to Timmons' daughter April, thousands of miles away in New York, it sounded alarming. She called 911 and police arrived at the scene soon after -- expecting this would be the next Sandy Hook or Virginia Tech tragedy.

Meanwhile, Angela finally admitted to her daughter that it was just a hoax. "Oh my goodness," April told the dispatcher. "She's saying she's playing an April Fools' joke. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Poor April, dispatcher, and everyone else involved. That was so. Not. Funny.

Timmons was arrested and has been charged with aggravated breach of peace, disturbing a school, and unlawful use of a telephone. She says if she'd known her prank would have taken up police time, she never would have tried it -- but don't you wish that possibility had occurred to her before?

I feel like I'm about to let loose a string of Dr. Obvious thoughts, but what the hell. I guess when common sense seems in such short supply, it's necessary. Here goes.

People, when you are plotting your next prank, consider the worst-case scenario. Could anyone get hurt?

Is there even the tiniest possibility that your joke could waste the time of emergency responders? Or other valuable resources?

Will your prank cause someone to become genuinely fearful for your life -- or their own life?

Does your joke in any way resemble a horrific, real-life tragedy, especially a recent one?

If so, MAYBE DON'T DO IT.

Right? Like I said, it's ridiculous that I would need to say this at all. But apparently, Ms. Timmons did not connect the dots before she pulled this awful prank. Geez Louise, I hope people are more sensible next year.

What's the worst, not-funny prank you've ever seen?

 

Image via Spartanburg County Detention Center

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21 Worst Things You Can Say to a Mom of a Child With Autism

Post by Adriana Velez.

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When it comes to being a mom of a child with autism, one big frustration is dealing with other people. You know who I mean -- people who just. Don't. Get it. Some mean well but are simply ignorant, while others are clearly suffering from Compassion Deficit Disorder. Either way, it's still appalling what comes out of their mouths sometimes. We wish everyone would just think before sharing their two cents. Here's a few of the worst things moms of kids with autism have ever heard.

1. You need to learn how to control that your kid.

2. Maybe all he really needs is a good spanking.

3. Autism is over-diagnosed, you know.

4. Your child has autism? There's an app for that.

5. She doesn't act/look like she's got autism to me.

6. Autism is just an excuse for bad behavior.

7. What's the big deal? All kids are like that.

8. Why don't you put him in a special home?

9. He couldn't have autism, he's too cuddly and sweet.

10. Back in my day, we didn't have this autism because we actually knew how to discipline our kids.

11. You had her vaccinated, didn't you. You know that's what causes autism, right?

12. You probably didn't breastfeed long enough.

13. What's his "special" thing that he's really good at?

14. There isn't anything wrong with your kid. You're just a crappy parent.

15. Oh my kid does that all the time, too. It's just a 3-year-old thing.

16. I'm sorry.

17. He'll grow out of it.

18. You just want that diagnosis for your kid so you can send her to a better school.

19. You just need to make your child listen to you.

20. Too bad you'll never be a grandmother.

21. I don't think your child will ever be a productive member of society.

What's the worst thing anyone's ever said to you about parenting a child with autism?

 

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12 Easy Snacks You Can Make With Crescent Roll Dough (PHOTOS)

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12 delicious uses for crescent rolls
Crescent roll dough. Is there anything you can't do with it? Well, you can't change a car tire with it. But you can definitely bake a whole lotta fun treats with the stuff. Here's a baker's dozen of fun crescent roll dough ideas. Maybe they'll inspire you to come up with your own amazing creations. 

 

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Moms Who Struggle With Girls and Pink: This Is for You! (VIDEO)

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Do you ever sit back and look at all our little girls in pink, and our little boys in blue, and wonder: How on Earth did we get here? Why will my daughter never, ever wear a color other than pink? (Oh no wait, she'll wear purple, too.) Who made these rules, anyway? Well, here's a video that gets you. Buzzfeed has lampooned our kids' gender color rules by flipping the scenario. Wouldn't it look CRAZY if we had the same gender rules for grown-ups? 

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Okay, it's easy for people to blame parents for never letting little boys wear pink. But listen, it's not just us! I know plenty of parents who are trying to buck these silly rules about colors and toys -- but we get resistance from grandparents, other parents, even our own dang kids.

A lot of us dress our baby boys in pink for as long as we can get away with it. And we push every color in the rainbow besides pink and purple on our girls. We get it -- don't call girls "bossy." I bought my son a doll. Everyone tries to get girls to play with Legos. We're trying!

But it's not always easy. So I love this video -- I imagine parents everywhere will be forwarding it to grandparents and friends, posting it on Facebook, all just to say: It's a good thing we outgrow these silly rules. Because we do ... right?!?

How do you feel about the color rules mocked in this video?

 

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Nigella Lawson's Drug Confession Gets Her Barred From Flight to U.S.

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Hasn't this woman been through enough already? TV food show host Nigella Lawson was barred from a flight to the US possibly because of a drug confession. Last December in court she confessed to snorting cocaine seven times and smoking cannabis in front of her children. Now that's being held against her, and it's put an entire TV show in a lurch. According to a photo Lawson posted on Twitter, she was headed to Los Angeles for a vacation. But she also needs to travel there for the cooking competition show, The Taste, where she is a judge. 

My first thought is, They can do that?!? It's not like Lawson was convicted of drug trafficking -- or even possession. She's not a felon. But apparently the U.S. can bar a foreigner from entry because of a drug offense even if charges were never pressed. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wouldn't comment specifically on Lawson's case, but says:

In general, an alien found inadmissible will need a waiver of inadmissibility. Depending on the basis of their refusal they may be eligible to apply in advance of travel for a temporary waiver of inadmissibility. The waiver application process can be lengthy.

So that's great -- it could take Lawson months. I wonder if someone is just trying to make an example of her? It seems so random. Of all people! It's not like Lawson flaunted her drug use or condoned it. She was humiliated. It just seems so petty.

And it's especially obnoxious considering how much she works here. The last season of The Taste aired in February, so wasn't she just here? I know doing drugs doesn't make you look like mother of the year. It was definitely unwise of her, and I'm sure she regrets it. But seriously, this is absurd. She should be allowed to fly here.

Do you think security was right to bar Nigella Lawson from coming to the U.S.?

 

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Suspected April Fools' Prank Turns Out to Be Something Much Worse (VIDEO)

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A small community of residents is wondering what could have led to a grim incident this week. When Petersborough Apartments desk clerk Ronald Benjamin saw a strange shape on the patio Wednesday morning, hethought it was just part of an April Fools' joke from the night before. The shape looked like a mannequin, so Benjamin and a visitor carried it out to a dumpster. But it was actually the body of a 96-year-old woman. How she ended up on that patio in the first place will break your heart.

Other workers at the complex discovered the body in the dumpster and realized it was a human body. Apparently the woman had jumped to her death from a window, 16 stories above. She left a suicide note, but her name has not been released. Residents describe her as a bright woman who read a lot. How could Benjamin have mistaken her for a mannequin?

That question haunts Benjamin -- and will probably haunt him for the rest of his life. He says her face looked like a mask. "I'm telling you, I swear to God, the face looked like a rubber mask," he says. "If I thought for one instant it was a real person, I would have called the police, my manager, everyone I could think of." Police say it's possible the woman's fall could have distorted her face.

I also think that encountering a dead body is such a surreal, unlikely event, it just didn't occur to Benjamin that that's what actually happened. The poor guy even saw some blood but assumed it was fake. Because WHY would there be a dead body and blood there?

Benjamin has been fired, and the residents who knew the elderly woman are now wondering why she committed suicide. The librarian says the last time she saw the woman, she appeared "upbeat." But I think this is a reminder of how difficult old age can be. We have no idea how this woman was really feeling or what physical issues she was dealing with.

Can you see how the employee could have made this mistake, or do you think he should have known?

Please call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in case you are worried about yourself or someone else.


 

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What Your Favorite Fast Food Says About You

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Have it your way! A lot of people love fast food, but we don't all love the same menu items. Your cheeseburger in paradise could be another person's chicken nuggets. But why do we all like such different foods? We could say it's just the fascinating variety of taste palates among humanity. Or we could be silly and reductive and say your taste in fast food is intricately linked to your psychology. I think we know which one is more fun: Here's what your favorite fast food says about you.

Cheeseburger with everything: You have a lust for life and want to enjoy everything it has to offer. Bring on the pickles! But you're still pretty traditional.

Plain hamburger: Really, you don't want any cheese? Okay. You're conflicted. You like indulging, but you always have to deny yourself something because you don't believe you deserve a real treat. That, or you're lactose intolerant.

French fries: You have a short attention span.

Taco: You're an armchair traveler. You like to experience new cultures but in a totally familiar way. You love watching travel shows, and looking at people's travel photos on Instagram. But you don't actually like traveling yourself becasue the food is always so weird, and the electrical sockets are different, and you can't understand what anyone's saying.

Shake: You seek comfort. You want to numb everything under an icy blanket of sweetness. To the world, you are an ice queen, but inside you're just a hurt little girl forced by her parents to never let her true feelings show. I feel a song coming on! Let it -- oh, never mind. My editor asked me not to sing in this post.

Fried chicken: You're totally laid back. You don't mind the messiness of life -- in fact, you love it! You enjoy getting your hands dirty, gardening, fixing motorcycles, and making mud pies with your toddler.

Salad: What the hell -- your favorite fast food is the salad? You are confused.

Chicken nuggets: Life is a little overwhelming for you, so you need to take it all in bite-sized pieces. You need schedules and reminders. You need to take a lot of breaks. You like reading short sentences. Like this one.

Donut: You're sweet and well balanced. You're generous with everyone, and you have a soft heart. You just roll with life.

What's your favorite fast food?

 

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Girls’ Leopard-Print Bikini Brings Out the Tiger Moms

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Former model and now children's clothing designer Elizabeth Hurley has always been so fashionable. But this time, she's way off trend. Hurley is getting major flack for her girls' swim collection. The line for girls under 8 features, of all things, a leopard-print stringed number called the "Wild Cat Bikini." Mrwor! It's a bit much for moms who have been asking clothing designers to stop churning out clothes that sexualize children. Why does Hurley think moms want to buy their little girls a swimsuit that's "great for girls who want to look grown up"?

When Liz Hurley's brand tweeted out her kids' swimwear collection there was an almost instant backlash from disgusted moms.

Our kids collection is divine too. Here it is in the gorgeous @Harrodspic.twitter.com/QjIovnHfxV

— Elizabeth Hurley (@ElizabethHurley) April 2, 2014

"Triangle and side tie bikinis on little girls is not a good look.. Sorry. Why sexualise them. Let them be children."

"Leopard print bikinis for children, how delightful..."

"Children have to be trendy too? What for sexual predators? Nope. This is silly!"

Hurley has a few defenders, but mostly disapproval. I guess the proof is in the sales -- if those racy bikinis fly off the shelves, Hurley will probably keep going. After all, this is the second time her chidlren's line has angered parents for sexualizing children. Who is buying this stuff and keeping it on the shelves?

Personally, I think leopard print is okay for little girls in accessories, or pants, or a t-shirt. And I think it's okay to put a little girl in a two-piece. (Except that parents have more to sunscreen and twice as many pieces to keep track of.) But there's two-piece, and then there's va-voom bikini. Know what I mean? It's when a bikini has all the elements of sexy -- the triangle top, the strings, the leopard print -- together that parents shake their heads no.

It's funny, I feel like parents are pushing and pushing for clothing to be more child-like, more protective of kids' innocence. And some clothing designers keep pushing the other way like there's demand for it. Maybe they just don't believe us?

What do you think of Elizabeth Hurley's girls' swimwear collection?

 

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