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Take a look at this vintage-style Urban Outfitters shirt. It's just a faded, pink sweatshirt, right? Or is it? Look closely and you'll notice it reads "Kent State University" and appears to have blood splatters, due to the uneven fading.

And if you know your history, you'll know why this one-of-a-kind sweatshirt Urban Outfitters was selling for $130 should make your stomach lurch -- and why the retailer had to apologize for it yesterday.

Wait, you do know why a seemingly blood-splattered Kent State University sweatshirt would be offensive, right?

Ooookay, quick history lesson: Back in 1970, the Army National Guard fired on a group of unarmed students protesting the Vietnam War on the campus of Kent State University in Ohio. Four students were killed and nine people were injured. It became known as the Kent State Massacre.

Here's one Twitter user's response.

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Urban Outfitters are selling a “vintage” Kent State jumper, blood splatters and all. Nothing says “hip” like murder. pic.twitter.com/tq63ONAniq

— cory zanoni (@cjzanoni) September 15, 2014

Yeah. So maybe selling a Kent State sweatshirt with what resembles freshly splattered blood and some holes is not such a brilliant idea. Was it supposed to be some sort of sick joke? If so, it was in horrifically bad taste. There's nothing funny about the senseless slaughter of innocent young people.

According to Urban Outfitters, the "Vintage Kent State" sweatshirt was not a reference to the massacre. The pink and red splatters were just an unfortunate coincidence. The retailer issued an apology via Twitter on Sunday.

Urban Outfitters sincerely apologizes for any offense our Vintage Kent State Sweatshirt may have caused. It was never our intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State in 1970 and we are extremely saddened that this item was perceived as such. The one-of-a-kind item was purchased as part of our sun-faded vintage collection. There is no blood on this shirt nor has this item been altered in any way. The red stains are discoloration from the original shade of the shirt and the holes are from natural wear and fray. Again, we deeply regret that this item was perceived negatively and we have removed it immediately from our website to avoid further upset.

Needless to say, the one-of-a-kind sweatshirt is no longer on the website. Supposedly it sold out and is now for sale on eBay. At least they made only one.

More from The Stir: American Apparel Hits New Low With Offensive T-Shirt

I'm glad Urban Outfitters apologized and clarified the concept behind the sweatshirt. But still -- WTF?!? Through the entire process, from design to production to marketing, no one raised their hand and said, "Um, ya think maybe this sweatshirt is kinda sorta in bad taste?" Are we really that clueless about our own history?

After Zara's "White Is the New Black" T-shirt controversy, it kind of makes me wonder if fast fashion has become too fast. It seems like too many clothes are being thrown into stores without enough thought and reflection.

I know faded and distressed clothing is a trend this fall. I know it's just a sweatshirt. But then people buy these clothes, and wear them, and they live on in our culture. Fashion, ignorance, and freedom of expression over empathy, respect for history, and compassion -- is that what we're about nowadays?

What kind of person do you think would buy and wear this sweatshirt?

Image via Urban Outfitters

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You've finally had enough. You've reached that point where you recognize you're being abused and you need to leave, SOON, before it's too late.

Or maybe you're not so sure. You're feeling defensive, like Janay Rice, who was videotaped being brutally beaten by her husband, NFL player Ray Rice. You're still wondering if it's bad enough to leave. But you want to make some plans just in case.

You definitely should make plans -- ASAP.

But be cautious and get help. "The decision to leave an abusive relationship is always one to make carefully," says Dr. Christine Murray, domestic violence researcher and associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. "It may take time, or you may have to leave immediately in the aftermath of abuse."

Here are 7 steps to take if you want to leave an abusive relationship.

More from The Stir: Expert Shares 12 Signs You're Still in an Abusive Relationship

1. Get help from a domestic abuse expert. "Talk with a professional who can help you develop a safety plan," advises Murray, who is also a member of the American Counseling Association. "Make sure they're a ... domestic violence advocate or mental health professional trained to work with clients affected by domestic violence. Not all therapists have that training."

2. Make the right safety plan for you. "The plan for leaving an abusive relationship is very unique to each person's situation," Murray says. "This is because the dynamics of the abuse and the type of perpetrator can vary. You could have a perpetrator who doesn't care when you leave. Or you could have someone who turns to stalking when you leave." There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so be careful and calculated in how you decide to handle your own situation.

3. Talk about all possible safety risks. "The most dangerous time for many women is right after they leave," Murray says. "Leaving can escalate the violence, so it's important to think through all the possible safety risks. Where are you vulnerable? At work, home, a shelter, a friend's house? What can you do to address those vulnerabilities?"

More from The Stir: 15 Signs You're in an Emotionally Abusive Relationship

4. Get professional help in applying for a restraining order. "Have a professional walk you through the process of getting a protection order," warns Murray. "Rules can be different depending on what state or county you live in." Applications can get denied if they're not filled in correctly, and Murray has seen too many rejected for simple mistakes that could have been avoided. She also recommends making sure your order sets clear consequences for various circumstances that might come up, like when your abuser tries to contact you.

5. Do as much advance planning as possible. If you know you're in danger, even if you're not sure you want to leave, Murray suggests you "take proactive precautions ahead of time. This could include setting up a code word with your neighbor or asking them to always call the police if they hear screaming coming from your home." That way, when you're in a crisis situation, you have a plan in place to make decisions quickly and safely.

6. Put together an emergency bag so you'll have the necessary supplies if you need to make a quick escape. "This bag could have clothing, cash, copies of important documents, and prescriptions," Murray says. "Store the bag somewhere safe, such as at a friend's house or in the trunk of your car, if you think it's safe from your abuser."

7. Above all else, think about safety. "What's the safest way you can get out?" Murray says women should ask themselves. "What is the best thing I can do for my safety and for my kids' safety? View everything through that lens -- there's nothing more important than your and your kids' safety."

Deciding to leave is a big leap. You may not even be there yet ... you might just thinking about it. Even if you haven't decided to walk away, you can help yourself now by planning your escape just in case. You never know if things will escalate and you really will need that plan.

For help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224. You can also consult these resources for victims of domestic violence. Learn more and hear real women's stories at SeeTheTriumph.com.

Have you ever been in an abusive relationship and left -- or helped a loved one in that situation? What did you do?

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You want to lose weight and eat healthier. You're excited to make the changes you know you need to make. There is just one thing standing in your way. Actually, he may be standing in front of the fridge right now, grumbling about what he sees in there. It's your husband. Many of us have picky eater kids on our hands -- but some are lucky enough to have picky eater husbands too.

I hear it all the time: Women try to cook a wide variety of healthy meals for their family. But when dads resist new foods too, it makes it a lot harder to convince the kids to stop being so picky. How do you get Mr. Meat-and-Potatoes to be a more adventurous eater?

"Men really are actively interested in improving their health through nutrition," says clinical nutrition educator Clea Shannon. "They just need to know it's going to taste good." Okay ... easier said than done? Here are some expert tips on how you can seduce the finicky man in your life to try new foods.

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1. No food-shaming allowed. This is one of the first rules when you're trying to help someone change their eating habits. "Don't make your husband or boyfriend feel bad about what they DO want to eat," says health coach Melissa Danielle. "They will shut down even more."

2. Don't say "no" to his favorites. That won't work and isn't what this is all about -- it's about saying "yes" to new foods or foods he doesn't normally go for. "I never tell people to stop eating certain foods," Danielle says. "I just tell them to add to their favorite foods. So have that steak, but have some peas on the side too."

3. Mix vegetables into foods he already loves. Both Danielle and Shannon recommend doing this: Put spinach in a colander and pour your hot pasta and water over it. Toss together with sauce and the spinach is perfectly cooked. Shred zucchini or other veggies with potatoes or into batter to make fritters or pancakes. Mix sweet potato or cauliflower into mashed potatoes. Make green smoothies with frozen pineapple -- so sweet.

"I've never seen anyone complain about spinach or kale in mac and cheese -- I've never seen anyone say no to it!" says Danielle. Shannon has enticed big meat eaters with her vegan Squash Street Tacos. "They have their doubts at first. But then they try it, and they tell me they love those tacos."

4. Get away from the foods he knew as a child. "Some people have negative memories about certain foods," Danielle says. "They remember canned and overcooked vegetables from their childhood. If it's about that, say, 'Let's imagine vegetables a different way.'"

5. OR: Get back to the foods he knew as a child. On the other hand, maybe he has positive memories? "Ask about flavors and foods from his childhood that he really liked," Shannon suggests. "What did your grandparents cook for you? Sometimes it's when you go back two generations that you find there was more home cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients."

6. Go for the sweeter vegetables. "Start with root vegetables," Shannon recommends. That means carrots, beets, parsnips, sweet potatoes. "Roast them to bring out the natural sugars and caramelize them." This is a great way to introduce some less-familiar foods to your family. 

7. Grow some herbs or vegetables of your own. "If you have the space, grow some herbs and vegetables," Shannon says. "It's a great way to change up flavors and get people to expand beyond their normal palates."

More from The Stir: 6 of the Best Vegetables to Grown in Your Kitchen

8. Get him involved in the grocery shopping. "When families shop together, it puts people on the front lines and exposes them to so many other tastes," Shannon says. "It's easy to get into a rut if you have one person doing all the shopping." Shannon loves the home management app Cozi, which includes a grocery list everyone in the family can add items to.

9. Remember, sometimes picky eating is about control. "Our relationship with food goes way beyond needing to eat for health and energy. It has emotional ties," says Danielle. "For a lot of people, food is the last thing in their lives that they have control over." She suggests talking with your partner about his feelings about food, if he's willing to open up.

"It may be hard to admit that they feel powerless in their life in a certain way, and that food is the one place where they have control," she says. This is why getting men to collaborate on shopping lists, as well as meal planning and cooking, helps. Who knows, your husband may end up taking over in the kitchen altogether. Wouldn't you love that!

How does your husband or partner feel about trying new dishes?

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I love tattoos -- just not permanent ones. It's fun wearing temporary tattoos knowing I don't have to live with them forever (not to mention, they're painless). This summer, temporary tattoos got even better with the introduction of metallic jewelry tattoos.

Have you seen these? You apply them the same way you do regular temp tattoos, but they have a gorgeous metallic shine in gold or silver. Here are 9 fun ways to wear gold and silver jewelry tattoos.

Do you or your kids ever wear temporary tattoos? Have you tried these jewelry ones -- or would you?

Image via Flash Tattoos

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The domestic abuse scandals plaguing the NFL have just gotten a lot uglier, and they're dragging many moms' favorite cosmetics into the mud. Makeup brand CoverGirl signed up as the NFL's beauty sponsor long before the Ray Rice abuse video surfaced. Their original concept was fun: Match your makeup colors to your favorite team's colors.

But over the weekend, a photoshopped version of CoverGirl's NFL ad went viral. It shows the model with a violently bruised eye and calls for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's resignation with the hashtag #GoodellMustGo. Have you seen this picture?

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#GoodellMustGo: NFL sponsor CoverGirl caught up in bad press tsunami (image Photoshopped) http://t.co/jIc9FtRwkdpic.twitter.com/QphmxQFN89

— PRNewser (@PRNewser) September 15, 2014

Wow. It's definitely a powerful image. And the person or people who created it have remained anonymous so far.

The photoshopped mock ad is also being used to demand the cosmetics company drop their partnership with the NFL.

So -- is it working to raise awareness about the issue? Is it driving people to take action in calling for Goodell's resignation? Or will it backfire? We'll have to wait and see. But so far the provocative fake ad has definitely got everyone talking. Since the Ray Rice scandal, another NFL player has been exposed for domestic violence: Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been accused of child abuse.

Meanwhile, CoverGirl responded to the NFL scandal via a Facebook post, saying:

As a brand that has always supported women and stood for female empowerment, COVERGIRL believes domestic violence is completely unacceptable. We developed our NFL program to celebrate the more than 80 million female football fans. In light of recent events, we have encouraged the NFL to take swift action on their path forward to address the issue of domestic violence.

It's surely in bad taste to make jokes about the NFL "covering up" its record of allowing abusive players to continue being on their teams. Women have been using makeup to cover up bruises left by their attackers since the invention of cosmetics. This mock ad is a painful reminder of that practice, and I'm sure it's raised terrible memories for many victims of domestic abuse.

One thing we do know: Unfortunately, domestic abuse will still be around long after the controversy surrounding the NFL has blown over.

What do you think of the mock ad -- does it go too far, or is it smart and effective?

Image via CoverGirl

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Hey everybody, yesterday was Eric Johnson's birthday -- and wife Jessica Simpson was the first to wish him a happy one. She posted a photo of the two of them last night on Instagram captioned "Happy Birthday Husband of Mine." He looks relaxed in a T-shirt and baseball cap. But Simpson is all turned out in a little black halter and big, leaf-shaped earrings. And wow -- check out that bold, red lipstick!

It looks like all those hard pre-wedding workouts are still paying off for Jessica. She looks sensational, doesn't she? I bet she's keeping them up. And is it me, or does someone really love black? That seems to be Simpson's favorite color to wear these days -- and we can see why. It's incredibly flattering on her.

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Her lips look a little odd, though. Is it because she doesn't wear red lipstick that often, or did she get them plumped a wee bit? Um ... never mind, we'll just pretend we didn't notice that.

Jess's hair looks different, too. It's kind of pulled back into a half-updo, and there seems to be a whole lot less of it! Hope she didn't cut it all off??? Nah, she wouldn't do that. I'm sure it's all still there, somewhere.

Anyway, it's a sweet way to wish her new husband a happy birthday. I'm sure her health, energy, beauty, and love are all excellent gifts Johnson truly appreciates.

And did you see the other photos Simpson posted for Johnson's birthday? There's a picture of Johnson as a boy playing the sax captioned, "Let's all celebrate the saxiest MAN I know!!!" -- har har, adorable. And OMG, a super-cute picture of Johnson as a toddler: "I see our daughter Maxi in this pic!! Wow," Simpson captioned. Could you just die? That's freakin' adorable.

Jessica, it seems, just keeps getting better and better post-Baby #2. She's been a poster child for the ups and downs of pregnancy weight gain and for getting back into shape after not one, but two babies in rapid succession. With Weight Watchers' help, of course. But seriously. She looks absolutely amazing, and she should be proudly flaunting all her hard work. And Eric? Well, he's a lucky guy. Happy birthday!

What do you think of Simpson's birthday look?

Image via Jessica Simpson/Instagram

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Remember your body before the baby? Miss it? Even if you lose the pregnancy weight quickly after the delivery, pregnancy has a way of rearranging your parts. Know what I mean? You've been stretched. You're puckered. Your belly button is not where you left it nine months ago.

And when people talk about getting back into shape? SIGH. You just feel tired.

Well help is on the way: Celeb trainer and pregnancy fitness expert Andrea Orbeck created 7 postpartum workouts perfect for getting YOU back into shape -- starting with your belly! Check out these simple but effective exercises in this slideshow.

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What are you doing to get back into shape after the baby?

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Ladies, we've got the perfect 'do for your busy self! It's a cool, simple knotted bun we spotted backstage at an Erin Fetherston fashion show. But here's the thing: The style was created by a mom and dad. Beauty team, married couple, and parents of two Woody and Amy Michleb of Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Spa know exactly how much time moms have to get ready in the morning -- and exactly how easy it is for your hair to fall apart while chasing little kids.

"I'm not a ponytail kind of girl," Amy Michleb told us. "I like something more polished, but still easy." Did someone say easy? We'll show you exactly how easy in this super simple hair tutorial. Take a look ...

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Follow along with this great how-to in the photos below, then tell us: What's your favorite hairstyle for when you're on the run?

Images via Adriana Velez

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I want to start by saying NO ONE is actually serious about this "jewelry" -- it's just a silly fashion stunt. Silly? Gross is more like it. At a fashion show in London, designerMeadham Kirchhoff put a "bloody" tampon earring on a model and sent her down the runway. Ew, right? WHY???

The blood on the earring wasn't real. So at least there's that.

Kirchhoff's does "punk-style" designs that are meant to be provocative, so the earring fit right in. The invites to the fashion show read, "Reject Everything!" "Okay!" said everyone. "We're definitely rejecting that earring."

That said, you obviously want to see what we're talking about.

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Yes, thank you, I'll take a dozen of these. Messenger them at once to my hotel room at the Ritz.

Kidding! I doubt the "jewelry" is even for sale. I think it's just something they threw in to make headlines. (They sure got our attention!) But can you imagine seeing them in a store? There you are, browsing through Target (haha, like that's where they'd be). All of a sudden, you see a row of them, and you're wondering if someone gross just left them there or if this is a new thing the kids are doing.

Anyway, I should probably mention that Kirchhoff is not the first to think of using tampons as earrings. MSNBC'sMelissa Harris Perry wore tampon earringsto protest the Texas abortion bill last summer. But because she is a woman of discerning taste, her tampon earrings were unused. Note bene, punk rockers.

It just goes to show, there is nothing, NOTHING new in fashion. Ever. Not even a tampon earring. Now as they say in the UK, Keep Calm and Use Ultras.

What do you think of the "bloody" tampon earring -- bloody terrible idea?

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Ever have those days when you wanted to tell your kids, "Get your own darn dinner!" I think we all know how that would end up: They'd grab themselves a nice, big bowl of ice cream and be done with it. But the next best thing is a slow-cooker meal all ready to go by the time the kids want to eat -- one they can literally serve themselves. Magic!

These self-serve Crock-Pot recipes are also handy if you have children coming and going at different times, which is a reality for a lot of families -- especially during the school year.

Check out these 14 great kid-friendly Crock-Pot dinners you can have ready and waiting for your brood when they're hungry, below.

And then tell us one of your easy dinner secrets. Let's share some recipes!

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Clik here to view.When was the last time a photo of skeletons gave you the warm-fuzzies? Never? Ordinarily finding someone's bony remains would give you the chills. But when a team of archaeologists from the University of Leicester dug out a lost chapel in the English countryside, they unearthed a 700-year-old skeleton couple still holding hands, and it's the most adorable thing ever.

You guys.

There's just something so sweet about that. Don't you agree? If you're in love right now, you have to admit: Spending eternity with your fingers entwined with your beloved's sounds terribly romantic. Er ... in a morbid kind of way.

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Skeletons found holding hands after 700 years at the 'lost' Chapel of St Morrell http://t.co/9ZmIuPpmZVpic.twitter.com/miVEtB78Fe

— Uni of Leicester (@uniofleicester) September 18, 2014

We don't know much else about the skeleton lovers. They were found outside the English village Hallaton. And it does look like they were buried together deliberately, as archaeologists say there was plenty of room for them to be buried separately. Their remains were found with 11 other skeletons at the same site.

I'm dying to -- wait, let me rephrase that. I'm so very eager to learn this couple's story. They must have died around the same time, but why? From what causes? Some especially close couples actually do end up dying within days or even hours of each other, as if there's some mysterious, invisible, and vital connection between them.

More from The Stir: Married Couple in Their 90s Dies Holding Hands

After all, isn't that how you'd want to go, if you're half of a happy couple? Do you ever have those conversations about old age, and who would be more lost if the other died first? I mean, no one likes contemplating death. But it comes up, sometimes.

Given the choice, I think most couples would choose to die at the same time, together.

I don't know if that's what happened here, but I hope so. And that makes this couple the most romantic skeletons you'll see this Halloween.

Do you ever talk about old age and death with your significant other?

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Clik here to view.I never thought falling in love would affect my parenting.

A little over two years ago, when I first split from my then-husband, I had a vision for my life. I would spend the next several years doting on my darling son, puttering around my garden, and enjoying the peace of solitary life. I would remain as chaste as the Virgin Mary. And he would have all of my attention.

How was I supposed to know love would find me again quickly, toss me upside-down, and turn me into the most distracted, half-assed mother ever?

Oh, I'm exaggerating. Sort of. But no one ever warns you about how falling in love is going to affect your parenting. For the first time in my 10-year-old's life, another male who isn't his dad has my rapt attention. And it's really weird.

After waiting a full year after my separation to start dating, I met someone WAY faster that I was supposed to. Suddenly, I was half of one of those couples. You know the kind I'm talking about: The so-in-love, do-everything-together, best-sex-ever, goopy, mushy, totally-absorbed-with-each-other couples. That's us.

I did NOT see this coming. I was unprepared.

As a single mom who works full-time in the city, I don't have a lot of spare time. So a date night with my beau means an evening spent away from my son, and I feel guilty, sometimes. But not guilty enough to cancel date night -- EVER.

I spend Saturday nights through Monday mornings with my boyfriend. Some weekends I practically dance out the door. Other weeks I burst into tears the moment I'm out of range. I confess, I don't mind missing the school rush on most Monday mornings. But when I realized I wouldn't be there to see my son off for his first day of the new school year, we both bawled together. Is it supposed to be like this?

And then, during my first year of Being In Love, I was a distracted mess even when I was at home with my son.

I was late for everything. I packed shitty lunches. I was always daydreaming. About sex. You're not supposed to be thinking about sex when you're trying to help your kid with his homework, are you? But I was.

By now, a full year in, that new relationship glow should have worn off a bit. Well, it hasn't. But at least I'm starting to get a grip.

We're spending time all together now, the three of us. And it's great! My son gets to disappear behind his laptop while my boyfriend and I make googly eyes at each other. No one feels neglected! Haha! Not at all!

SIGH. Actually, I'm still totally flunking motherhood at this point.

No, you know what? I've gotten better -- I swear I have. I'm packing decent lunches now. And I'm not as late as I used to be. And I'm remembering to engage with my son more when I'm at home. I'm not flunking motherhood. I'm getting a C, maybe even a B- on my best days.

My son is at the age where kids start pulling away in order to establish their independence. But they still need to feel they have a nest to return to. I can sense this in my son. He drifts away, and then he comes back, claiming my time and attention as exclusively his. I go with the flow, telling him I love him over and over again.

And miracle of miracles, my son and my boyfriend actually like each other. Oddly enough, they seem to share a similar sense of humor. And that is a huge help because as we slowly, ever-so-carefully merge lives, what relieves the mommy guilt and makes this whole deal work is seeing my son and my boyfriend forge a friendship. We may all turn out okay after all.

Have you ever been in a similar situation? How do you deal with balancing motherhood with a new relationship?

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You know that song by The Who that goes, "Hope I die before I get old ..."? No? That's probably because you're not old. But you probably get the sentiment, anyway. Most of us don't want to die young. But we're not too excited about growing old, either. In fact, one man just wrote about why he hopes he'll die at a younger age -- seriously.

The writer, Ezekiel Emanuel, is an expert in medical ethics, so you'd better believe he's given this a lot of thought. He's also the father of three daughters. Going by his photo, he looks like a happy, well-adjusted guy. Heck, he just climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with his nephews. So what's his hurry?

Emanuel admits his target death age drives his daughters crazy. He acknowledges that death robs your loved ones of time with you. But here's his rationalization:

But here is a simple truth that many of us seem to resist: living too long is also a loss. It renders many of us, if not disabled, then faltering and declining, a state that may not be worse than death but is nonetheless deprived. It robs us of our creativity and ability to contribute to work, society, the world. It transforms how people experience us, relate to us, and, most important, remember us. We are no longer remembered as vibrant and engaged but as feeble, ineffectual, even pathetic.

Emanuel's magic death age? It's 75.

Okay, that's not SO young. But it's one of those uncomfortable truths we all hate talking about. We want our loved ones to stay with us as long as possible. But aging can be so ... awful! Sure, doctors can extend our lives longer than ever. But should we really keep trying if that means more time spent in pain, dealing with health problems, and losing your memory?

"It is true that compared with their counterparts 50 years ago, seniors today are less disabled and more mobile," Emanuel says. "But over recent decades, increases in longevity seem to have been accompanied by increases in disability—not decreases." He mentions his own father as an example. But then he casually mentions that his father says he's happy. So ... what do we make of THAT?

Like many of you, I'm watching the prolonged process of dying in my own family. My maternal grandmother is 96 years old. Grandma is one tough broad. She's been living independently in her own house up until a few months ago, when she started staying at a neighbor's place on weeknights.

I'm amazed at her strength and vitality. When I visited her last year for her 95th birthday party, she was feisty as ever, arguing politics with her best friend. She has a life force that just won't quit.

But she's also in pain. She's been suffering a long list of health problems for years, and the list gets longer as time goes on. And for the first time, ever, she's started showing signs of mental decline. When I spoke with her on the phone recently, she seemed fuzzy and had trouble remembering my son's name. My sister noticed the same thing when they last talked. It scared us.

Physical pain is one thing. But losing your mental capacities as well? Your ability to connect meaningfully with your loved ones? Truly terrifying.

As far as I'm concerned, my grandma is not allowed to die. EVER. But does she want to still be alive, I wonder? Does she have days when she thinks, Enough already!

I hate the idea of living for decades in ill health and discomfort. And don't even get me started on the financial quandary of old age. My grandmother is fortunate to have a pension from her former employer. What can I expect from retirement savings? From Social Security? How do you plan for a retirement that could last 30 years?

But then I think about what elderly people live for -- their family. If you live well, people will become attached to you. There will be people who love you, who don't want you to leave early. Is it then selfish to wish for death at 75? Or are we the selfish ones, wanting our loved ones to live forever, no matter how well they feel?

Emanuel stands by his wish -- for now. But he ends by adding he has the right to change his mind and offer a defense of living as long as possible. "That, after all," he concludes, "would mean still being creative after 75."

If you had the choice, how old would you be when you die?

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Clik here to view.Ladies, it's the first day of autumn; Do you know where your fall boyfriend is?

Yes, it's the most important accessory a woman can have this season: A boyfriend you acquire in the fall. Just last week two women actually posted a Craigslist ad for that very purpose: "Needed: 2 Males interested in something steady/serious-ish as the weather fades from hot, humid, and carefree to crisp, Patagonia vest season." They later said they were joking, but I think they were serious. Why? Because locking down that fall boyfriend is super important, that's why!

It's not merely so you'll be ready for holiday parties and that New Year's Eve kiss. Just look at all the romantic activities you could be enjoying if you only had a fall boyfriend. Now get on it, girl!

More from The Stir: How to Make an Imaginary Boyfriend in 3 Easy Steps

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Clik here to view.You know what is so much fun for couples to do together? Fight over housework! Oh yeah, baby. Nothing turns me on like arguing over whose turn it is to unload the dishwasher. And don't even get me started on how exhilarating the laundry squabble is. 

Kidding, obviously. Dividing up what to do around the house is one of those problems that can divide a husband and wife.

"I definitely see household chores and division of labor as something a lot of couples argue about," says family counselor Rachel Sussman. As of 2013, men spent about 10 hours more a week on paid work, while moms were spending six more hours a week on household chores and three more hours on childcare. But does it feel equal?  

If you find yourself struggling to strike the right balance, here are a few tips for sorting it all out peacefully with your spouse -- without breaking dishes or throwing socks at each other.

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1. Don't obsess over equality. "It's not always going to be a 50-50 situation," says Sussman. She points out that in many families, one spouse does more paid work than the other. "It should be a matter of who has the time."

2. Don't keep score. This can be toxic for a marriage. As hard as it sometimes feels, just don't.

3. Have a conversation and make an agreement. "Try to come up with a chore list that doesn't look like an Excel spreadsheet," Sussman says. "Give it a month, see if it gets done, and if it's not working, you have to figure out a system that does, realizing it might never be perfect."

4. Do what you do best. "I like to cook and my husband doesn't mind doing dishes," Sussman says. So rather than taking turns with each, she does all the cooking and he does all the clean-up. Divide your chores according to what you like doing ... or at least what you don't hate doing.

5. Call in reinforcements. "Whatever you can hire [out], great," Sussman says. Of course, not everyone can afford paid help. But heck, if you can? Do it. Don't feel guilty.

6. Keep it positive. "I love when couples make jokes about chores instead of arguing," Sussman says. Don't nag. If each of you has agreed to pick up your own clothes and your husband doesn't, just leave them on the floor. "Eventually he'll run out of socks and underwear and pretty quickly realize what he needs to do," Sussman says. No need to even comment on what's happening.

7. Be a grown-up about it. "Being in a marriage means you do have to change and evolve," Sussman says. "It's not the same as having roommates or living in a dorm." She recommends speaking in "I" statements: "When I have to tell you this is important to me and you don't listen, it makes me feel like you don't care about our relationship."

8. Check the overall health of your relationship. "Make sure you're enjoying each other and having fun with each other," Sussman says, not just arguing over chores all the time. "If you're getting along really well, and you find your husband just doesn't have as much time as you do, just do more of the housework. Sometimes it feels good to do something nice for someone!"

For some couples, all this may be a non-issue (but who are they? We want to know!). If you and your spouse are among the many who find themselves frequently bickering over the division of labor around the house, though, take a time-out and see if any of these tips work. And there's always this option: Get your kids to do more chores, too!

How do you and your spouse typically divide up the housework?

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Clik here to view.This will probably come as a complete shock to you, but moms LOVE their Crock-Pots. In fact, I could be wrong, but some of you may love your slow cookers even more than your husbands. And I get it. This wondrous modern invention helps you feed your whole family day after day. It's a major work and time-saver.

But I have a confession -- a terrible, dark, dirty secret I've been hiding all this time. I never use my Crock-Pot.

Well, hardly ever use it, anyway. I pull out my slow cooker maybe a couple times a year. I know if I could just work it into my daily life it would totally save me, but I just ... CAN'T. Here's why.

1. The Crock-Pot requires advance planning. And that stresses me out. I would have to plan dinners days in advance and buy all the necessary ingredients on the weekend to pull it off. I'm kinda more of a shoot-from-the-hip kind of gal when it comes to dinner. Besides, how do I know what I'll feel like eating eight hours from now? I don't!

2. You have to prep everything in the morning. I cannot! This is a thing that is not happening. EVER. And it's not like you can just leave stuff cooking overnight and during the work/school day. That's how bricks are made.

3. I hate cleaning my Crock-Pot. Even though I've actually written a post on how to clean your freakin' Crock-Pot. I have the information, and yet I still loathe the task.

4. I hate how much room the slow cooker takes up on my counter. I have a dinky little kitchen. And that Crock-Pot is a total space hog. Where am I supposed to keep my iPod speakers and my Crate & Barrel catalogs if the Crock-Pot is sitting there?

5. Crock-Pot food is not my favorite. I'm not into stews, macaroni and cheese, casseroles, etc. I am never, not ever, in the mood for soup. I don't know why this is. Don't get me wrong; I can understand why other people like these foods. I really do. It's me, not you. I'm the weirdo.

More from The Stir: 8 Yummy Overnight Slow Cooker Breakfasts Kids Can Serve Themselves

6. Crock-Pot foods don't smell as yummy as oven-roasted foods. I'm sorry, they just don't. You can't brown or roast in a slow cooker like you can in the oven.

7. Crock-Pots make too much food. I've got just one little mouth to feed besides my own, and we don't want to eat the same slow-cooked meal for an entire week. If I had a larger family, I would probably love the slow cooker, but for small families like mine it just doesn't make sense.

8. I keep forgetting I even have a Crock-Pot. I keep mine tucked away in a cabinet, while the shiny pans are all hanging out in the open where I can see them. Out of sight, out of mind!

My ONE Crock-Pot exception, though, is breakfast. I made overnight bread pudding the other day, and we adored it. This winter I'm going to experiment with steel-cut oatmeal. Breakfast! I think that's the one meal that could actually convince me to use that slow cooker more often.

Just to be clear: I am not and will never judge the many wonderful moms out there who are all about their Crock-Pots. What's not to like? (Other than the eight things I just listed, I mean.) All I'm asking is this: I don't hate you because you love your slow cooker. So please don't hate me because I don't love mine.

How often do you use your Crock-Pot?

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Once again we have to ask: What were they thinking?!? The "they" in this case starts with the designer of this T-shirt, then that person's boss, the store buyers, and definitely anyone who actually purchased this piece of clothing. What am I talking about? A T-shirt reading, "It's not rape, it's a snuggle with a struggle" with an illustration of hands making the heart symbol.

Yes, really. That's what it says.

BuzzFeed reported on the rape T-shirt early this morning when writer and mom Karen Kunawicz spotted it in the boys' section of SM Supermall, a chain in the Philippines and China. She shared it on her Facebook page because ZOMG!!! Wouldn't you?

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Thousands of shares later SM Supermall posted an apology on their Facebook page. They said that they would be pulling all the T-shirts from stores and would investigate how they ended up with them in the first place. More importantly, they said they'd take "appropriate action" to make sure something like this doesn't happen again.

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We're glad SM Supermall responded so quickly. Hopefully they really will put in new practices to keep something like this happen again. You have to wonder what kind of sick mind would come up with a T-shirt like this. It's baffling! But the designer was just one person. It takes a whole fleet of people to get a product on store shelves, and SM Supermall is right to look at this as a company-wide problem to solve.

If it hadn't been that one mom, Karen Kunawicz, who posted a photo of that T-shirt, I wonder if another concerned mom would have done the same. I'd like to think so.

How would you react if you came across a T-shirt like this one? What would you have done?

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Clik here to view.Like many of you, I started the new school year with some resolutions. Number one on my list is to FIX my morning routine. No more rushing out the door like a madwoman, forgetting half the stuff I need. No more tantrum-throwing (by me or my son) becase we can't find something. No more tearing our hair out, no more tears. This year we will GET IT TOGETHER!

As a naturally disorganized and easily distracted mom who may or may not have ADD, I live and die by my systems. This fall I implemented a few that have been helping me kick some serious school morning butt. Here are 10 morning routine tricks and hacks that can make life just a little less crazy. Try them yourself and see!

How do you cut down on chaos in the morning at your house -- have you ever been able to fit in #4 or do #10?

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Ah, the million-dollar home. Wouldn't we all love to live in one? The median cost for a home in the U.S. is $188,900, so the majority of us can only dream of spending seven figures on a house. But how accurate are our dreams? How much house does a million dollars actually buy, anyway?

It depends on where you're looking! You know what they say about real estate: It's all about location, location, location.

You'd be surprised how grand -- and how dinky -- a million-dollar home can be. Come with us on the ultimate house-hunting trip around the country and get ready to drool over some luxurious properties.

More from The Stir: 5 Greatest Real Estate Tips from Vanilla Ice

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Clik here to view.Just in time for Halloween, British chef James Thomlinson has created the diabolical treat we've all been waiting for: Hamburgers that taste like human flesh. To which we all say: HOW WOULD YOU KNOW, MR. THOMLINSON? He says he concocted his recipe based on other people's accounts of cannibalism. Sure ...

Thomlinson will reveal his cannibal burgers at a pop-up restaurant in a secret location next week, to coincide with The Walking Dead's fifth season in the UK.

Wanna know what's really in those burgers? Keep reading to find out -- and see more of the scariest restaurant meals out there. Warning: They're not for the faint of heart and will at the very least give you some serious chills. So prepare to be spooked! (Bwa-ha-ha-ha!)

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