We love corned beef and cabbage any time of the year, but especially on St. Patrick's Day. Want to crank the luck o' the Irish even higher? Check out this recipe for corned beef made with everybody's favorite Irish beer Guinness -- and even better, you can make it in your Crock-Pot! 

Homemade Irish Corned Beef With Guinness, adapted from Bon Appétit's Corned Beef recipe

Ingredients

10 baby red potatoes

1 medium onion cut into bite-sized pieces

1 cup sliced carrots

1 6- to 8-pound beef brisket, trimmed, with some fat remaining

1/2 cup (packed) brown sugar

1 package (or 1/4 cup) pickling spices

4 bay leaves

1 tablespoon coriander seeds

Salt to taste

1 12-ounce bottle Guinness stout or other stout or porter

1 2-pound head of cabbage, quartered

Horseradish

Mustard

More From The Stir: Crock-Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage Recipe Will MAKE Your St. Patrick's Day 

Directions

Place potatoes, onions, and carrots at the bottom of the pot. Place beef brisket on top of that. Sprinkle with spices, sugar and salt. Pour beer over all. Cook on low for 8 hours until fork tender.

Add cabbage to top and cook until soft, another 30 minutes or so.

Serve with horseradish and mustard.

Serves 6-8

Will you be making Corned Beef this St. Patrick's Day?

Image © Linda Parton/Shutterstock

The day I saw a friend posting about Coffee-Mate Abuelita® Mexican Chocolate-flavored creamer I knew: I am totally missing out on the coffee creamer game. All this time I've been using whole milk, when I could be enjoying all these FLAVORS! But then I learned the awful truth about making your coffee taste like toasted hazelnut mocha chocolate chip cookies ...

Holy coffee beans, creamer is LOADED with calories! And not helpful, nutritious calories, either. We looked at several different brands and flavors of nondairy coffee creamers, and most have the following counts per serving:

That's per one-tablespoon serving. But let's be real. Who pours in only one tablespoon? To be more true-to-life you'd have to at least double that amount (and that's being kind). So let's reconsider those numbers.

And then there's the scary, unnatural ingredients list. Most creamers contain of the following:

High oleic soybean and/or partially hydrogenated soybean and/or partially hydrogenated cottonseed, sodim caseinate, dipotassium phosphate, mono- and diglycerides, dipotassium phosphate, natural flavor, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, carrageenan.

Yum!

Okay, so that's regular full-sugar, full-fat creamers. What about the alternatives? For example, International Delight Fat-Free and Sugar Free Toasted Hazelnut creamer has the following counts:

But check out the ingredients list:

Water, corn syrup, palm oil, contains 2 percent or less of each of the following: Maltodextrin, carrageenan, sucralose, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, mono and diglycerides, sodium stearoyl lactylate, salt, dipotassium phosphate, sodium caseinate (a milk derivative), acesulfame potassium, natural and artificial flavors, artificial color.

We were alerted to the pitfalls of flavored coffee creamer by the Eat This! Not That. They recommend swapping your favorite coffee creamer with equal parts condensed milk and low-fat milk with flavored extracts (like vanilla or almond) and maybe a bit of natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

You do avoid all the artificial crap with that recipe. But guess what? Assuming you combine the condensed milk with two-percent milk and leave out the honey or syrup, you're still looking at similar counts:

Not much of an improvement! Maybe they meant to say evaporated milk, not condensed, which is almost always sweetened.

You may do better using coconut milk. Take So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer:

The main ingredient is organic coconut milk, with organic dried cane juice and just a couple other funky additives (titanium dioxide, dipotassium phosphate, and carrageenan) thrown into the mix. For that matter, you could just use straight coconut milk and maybe some honey.

Should I mention the Bulletproof coffee trend? One tablespoon each of coconut oil and grass-fed butter has a whopping 220 calories and 26 grams of fat -- but no sugar or funky ingredients.

And finally, there's my personal favorite: Plain ol' ordinary whole milk. Two tablespoons will get you about:

Plus some essential vitamins and minerals.

We asked Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University and author of What to Eat, what she thinks about creamer. "I think it tastes artificial, which is not surprising since it is. I much prefer milk." I agree with her. But if it's not sweet enough for you, heat your milk to about 150 to 160 degrees to caramelize its natural sugars into sweet deliciousness.

What do you usually put in your coffee?

Image via kazoka/Shutterstock

What would it take to motivate you to start running again? Maybe some FREE cute, colorful leggings -- designed by you! That's the carrot athletic wear company Helly Hansen is dangling for women through their app This Is My Style.

Here's how it works. The app tracks how you run, your distance, duration, and pace. Then, it uses that data to create a pattern. The more you run using the app, the more colors you unlock. And then you can further customize the color and pattern of your tights.

How do you get your free tights? You submit your design to a gallery to be voted on. You can win that and other prizes by participating. And you can submit as many designs as you want. BUT, the contest ends April 9, so don't sit on that New Year's resolution much longer.

More from The Stir: 99 Badass Running Songs

What a clever way to motivate those of us who love both fitness and fashion!

I downloaded the app to check it out. It looks pretty simple to use -- just click "Start Running" when you're ready and go.

After I finished running my results were logged and voilà, magically transformed into this lovely design.

Here's the edit page. As you can see, I'll need to run more before I can unlock more patterns and colors.

NOW, the big question for those of us still getting dumped on by Old Man Winter is, will this track your running on the treadmill? Since the app tracks your distance (along with the weather/time of day when you run), perhaps not. That makes using this app in March a bit challenging for those of us who are less intrepid about running in all weather.

I've been managing to fit in an outdoor run here and there, on clear days above 30 degrees. Otherwise I'm indoors on the treadmill. So here's hoping the weather cooperates for me and everyone else trying to get a jump on spring!

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Is this running/design app something you'd try out?

Image via Helly Hansen/YouTube

Think about everything you've ever read or heard about the impossible beauty standards women and girls are held to, and then check out this photo essay, "And Everything Nice," by 19-year-old photographer Hannah Altman. In her imagined world, tears and blood are replaced with colorful glitter. 

What those glitter tears are saying is, isn't it absurd that even girls are expected to look pretty even when their hearts are breaking, or when they've hit pavement and are bleeding? Altman is wise to notice this impossible pressure and to call it out on its ridiculousness. See her evocative images and her thoughts about the project.

Would you show these to your teen?

Image via Hannah Altman Photo

You're going to see this photo and think it's a hoax. But it's for real. Photographer Martin Le-May caught a weasel "riding" on the back of a woodpecker in flight. The photo has gone viral as "#weaselpecker." But this is no joy ride. 

Birder and wildlife photographer Jason Ward tweeted out Le-May's incredible shot.

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ABSOLUTLEY INCREDIBLE photo by Martin Le-May. Green Woodpecker and Weasel. Apparently the Woodpecker escaped. pic.twitter.com/PUt1b2Mbhs

— Jason Ward (@Jayward7) March 2, 2015

It looks like a whimsical moment straight out of a child's story book. But it's actually a life and death moment between a predator and it's potential prey. That weasel wasn't trying to get somewhere. It was trying to kill the woodpecker for a meal.

Le-May told Bird Guides how the weasel-woodpecker ride played out. He and his wife, Ann, had gone for a walk around Hornchurch Country Park in Essex, England hoping to catch sight of a green woodpecker.

As we walked we heard a distressed squawking and I saw that flash of green. So hurriedly I pointed out to Ann the bird and it settled into the grass behind a couple of small silver birch trees. Both of us trained our binoculars and it occurred that the woodpecker was unnaturally hopping about like it was treading on a hot surface. Lots of wing flapping showing that gloriously yellow/white colour interspersed with the flash of red head feathers. Just after I switched from my binoculars to my camera the bird flew across us and slightly in our direction; suddenly it was obvious it had a small mammal on its back and this was a struggle for life.

The woodpecker landed in front of us and I feared the worst. I guess our presence, maybe 25 metres away, momentarily distracted the weasel. The woodpecker seized the opportunity and flew up and away into some bushes away to our left. Quickly the bird gathered its self respect and flew up into the trees and away from our sight.

The woodpecker left with its life, the weasel just disappeared into the long grass, hungry.

It's amazing that Le-May and his wife happened to be there, right at that moment, just as all of this was playing out. But was it luck, or was it because they were paying attention? It's amazing what you'll see when you unplug, open your eyes, and observe the world around you.

But yes, it is lucky Le-May also had his camera with him.

You may be happy and relieved for that woodpecker. But I don't know ... I'm a little sad for the weasel. It has to eat, too! We humans have a choice, but some animals are carnivores that must eat other animals to survive. It's the sobering reality of the animal world.

I'm wishing the weasel better luck in the future, perhaps with some less photogenic prey.

Have you ever witnessed one animal hunting another? 

Image by Martin Le-May via Jason Ward/Twitter

Oh ... I ... I cannot find the words to say how I feel -- to quote the Dowager Countess. Sit down, everyone, I'm afraid I have some dreadful news: Dame Maggie Smith says she's leaving Downton Abbey. How will they ever carry on? How will WE?!?

"They say this is the last one, and I can't see how it could go on," the octogenarian actress told the UK's Sunday Times, implying this is the last season of Downton Abbey. "I mean, I certainly can't keep going. To my knowledge, I must be 110 by now. We're into the late 1920s."

Oh Countess, don't be so defeatist! It's so middle class. (Wait, where have I heard that before?)

But really, Dame Smith right. Even with her iron will and vinegary constitution it is asking an awful lot to expect Aunt Violet to outlive her peers by decades.

Which means the show cannot go on. I'm sorry, but that's all there is to it. The producers still refuse to confirm that they're ending the show. But without the Dowager Countess, what is even the point anymore? She is the magic ingredient. She added just the right amount of sourness and sharpness to this lush period soap opera. She had all the best lines. Besides, too many plot lines have jumped the shark in this show. I don't even know what's happening anymore.

Yes, I'm afraid it's the end of an era.

And like the characters in the show, I am resisting this change! But I must accept it (SIGH). All I ask is that we NOT have an episode where we see the Dowager Countess die. Please, spare us that at least. It is my fervent wish that the producers not bother with a seventh series at all. Let's just, everyone, simply walk away with our happy memories and let this most recent, sixth season be the last.

Farewell, Aunt Violet! I'll miss you terribly.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Do you think there's any point in Downton Abbey going on without the Dowager Countess?

Image via PBS.org

How did one 51-year-old manage to land 118 hookups* in a matter of months? Ask Dan Perino, the man who posted flyers with his photo reading "Looking for a Girlfriend" all over New York City. According to his claims, the creative approach has been wildly successful.

*Strangely, this is a claim no news outlet has wanted to fact check, so it may not be true.

Not only is he prolific in the sack, Perino only dates models. "I like models a whole lot better than a cute, short blonde," he tells Vice. And he wants to start a family, so only women between the ages of 25 and 32 need apply. Don't bother if you're Perino's age or merely a decade younger. "No old ladies!" says the charmer.

Perino works as an actor and a part-time website designer and wants to turn his dating life into a reality TV show. Here is how he likes to present himself to the world.

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This is what you get when you date me.looking for a girlfriend guy in nyc. pic.twitter.com/86Dzs4X6J4

— daniel perino (@danperinonyc) February 28, 2015

So that's one approach, for those of you looking for unique ways to meet people.

Or maybe not!

More from The Stir: This Dating Site Has Only 1 Man to Choose From

See, the thing I'm stuck on is Perino's number of hookups, and not just because it sounds wildly improbable. It's also because I can't imagine a woman publicizing the same claim and surviving. She would get slut-shamed into oblivion! Not to mention the rape threats.

For that matter, what would happen if a woman posted flyers with her photo and reading "Looking for a Boyfriend" all over town? Or set up her own personal man-finding website? She would have to hire an assistant to filter all the responses, stay offline herself, and then hire a bodyguard or two. Yeesh!

For contrast, check out this woman's creative approach to finding a man.She had lovely "street art" created while remaining anonymous and faceless -- no photos! Because. She wants to stay alive.

And don't even get me started on the age. What if a 51-year-old woman in the same physical shape as Perino told everyone she only wanted to date models in their 20s and 30s? What a feast! That would present enough bait to send every misogynist troll on the Internet into a diabetic coma.

Right? Aw, you get my point. This would be such a colossally bad idea if you are a woman because: Sexism. And no, I don't think it's healthy to have 118 hookups in a matter of months (unless they're all with the same person -- but I think that's probably called monogamy). I'm just saying, this whole bonkers story illustrates so much about the way we think about men, women, love, and sex. So, SO much.

What do you think would happen if a woman tried the same approach as this guy did?

Image via gualtiero boffi/Shutterstock

Looking for something to spice up your home? How about the perfect sexy rug! Now don't give me that bored look -- you have never, I mean NEVER seen rugs like these. I'm serious.

Feast your eyes on the Private Parts rug series by Cold Picnic: Three highly original rug designs you won't see anywhere else because OMG, they depict naked bodies. But in a charming, tasteful way. You have your choice between full-color breasts, black and white breasts, and a carefully-trimmed pudendum.

Don't worry, the minimalist designs are safe for work. We think?

Would any of these rugs work in your home?

Image via Cold Picnic

We talk a lot about how hard it is to get ourselves in the mood for sex. But what about the guys? The idea that men are always down to party, 24/7, is a total myth -- they're busy, stressed, and overwhelmed sometimes too. I think I see some of you nodding with me! So how do you get HIM in the mood for a special night of nookie?

We asked one of our favorite sex experts, Dana B. Myers, for some advice for setting the stage for a night of seduction.

1. Try to get AWAY. The best case scenario is leaving the kids with the grandparents while you enjoy a night at a hotel. But even if you can't afford that, schedule a few quiet, kid-free hours alone together. "It connects you, frees you from the busy schedule, and you’ll always return completely refreshed," Myers says.

2. Plan your night together. "Let your partner know that you’ve been making an effort to spice things up, and that it’s equally important for you to feel pampered and special in return," Myers suggests. Give him some suggestions, whether it's lighting candles or giving you a massage. "You’ll feel relaxed and pampered, he’ll feel romance in a new way, and you’ll both build your connection together."

3. Clean up your bedroom. All that unsexy clutter from your everyday lives can be a major distraction! "Fold the laundry and put it away. Stow kids toys their proper place. Hide your laptops and iPads, unless you plan on watching something sexy on them!" Myers says. Also? "Clear out family photos from anyone who shouldn’t be watching you have sex — send your mother-in-law to the den!" Yikes, good point.

4. Transform your bedroom into a boudoir. NOW you can set the mood by appealing to his sensual side. Create a mood of intimacy and warmth by softening the light. "Use light from candles, light-filtering lampshades, or an amber-tinted sconce cover," Myers suggests. Use those dimmers, or even string up some white Christmas tree lights.

Make your room smell seductive by burning oils or candles with sweet/spicy scents like vanilla, musk, sandalwood, or even cinnamon, Myers says. And put on some sultry music and your favorite soft linens.

5. Put on some fantasy lingerie. "It makes you feel a little silly and naughty at once," Myers says. Yes, silly -- keep your sense of humor and just have fun with it. "Not only will you look foxy," Myers adds, "but it'll be easy to lose yourself in a new role, taking you out of your daily life." And that can be a real turn on for your man. A few of Myers' suggestions: Naughty nurse, jail bird, fluffy bunny, sexy mobster. What are his favorite movies? Tap into that.

6. Try aphrodisiac foods. "Whether you believe there's truth in aphrodisiacs or not, it's worth giving them a try!" Myers says. Some of the most popular are chocolate, pomegranates, red wine -- or try oysters or salmon. "These foods have chemicals that relax, excite, and turn on your sexy mojo."

7. Turn that food into a sexy experience. Draw it all out into a sensual experience. Myers suggests dipping strawberries into chocolate and feeding them to each other. Or slow sipping champagne just to feel the bubbles tickling your tongue. "Start foreplay with dessert, savoring each moment as you explore the sex appeal of food."

All right, ladies. This is going to take some special planning, but it'll be fun! Good luck to you.

Who is harder to get in the mood, you or your husband?

Image via auremar/Shutterstock

How do you feel about Indian food? Love it -- or hate it? Whichever it is, you probably have a pretty strong preference, and there's a good reason for that. There's something unusual about Indian food that makes it unlike any other food in the world. And we bet you'll never guess what that is!

It's not about the way you digest it.

It's not about the spice -- or rather, it's not just about the spice.

It's about overlapping flavors in the ingredients. There's hardly any.

Let us explain. Most western dishes combine ingredients with similar, or overlapping flavors. But Asian dishes tend to combine ingredients with flavors that are very different from each other.

Food scientists analyzed thousands of recipes and discovered that Indian food in particular throws together the most varied flavor combinations; For example, the coriander, cumin, cardamom, cayenne, ginger, tomato, and yogurt used to make chicken tikka. Together they create a unique and exciting combination of flavors.

And that's why some of you will take a bite and say OMG, THAT WAS AMAZING! And others of you will take a bite and say OMG, THIS FOOD IS TRYING TO KILL ME! It all depends on how well you tolerate or appreciate unlike flavor combinations.

I just spent a week and a half in India, peering over my boyfriend's dad's shoulder while he cooked. I would try to guess what goes into a given dish only to be surprised at the actual ingredients. Who would ever think to combine tapioca beads, curry leaves, cumin, asafoetida, green chiles, and peanuts?!? (It's incredibly tasty, by the way.)

It must be the variety of ingredients available on the subcontinent that allows Indian food to have such diverse flavors. What lucky chefs and home cooks to have such a wide array of tastes to play with.

How do you feel about Indian food? Do you love it, or is it too much for you?

Image © Streeter, Clive/the food passionates/Corbis

It's the question every parent wonders from time to time: Did my kid get that from me -- or from their DAD? Well, science is here with an answer. It turns out children are genetically more similar to their fathers than their mothers.

This explains so much, right? Think of all the wonderful, delightful traits your husband can take credit for. Sure, you can never be certain what your kids pick up from which parent, but we're taking a stab at the ones most likely to come from dads. Such as ...

His sleeping patterns.

His communication style.

His organizational skills.

His ability to handle stressful situations.

His appreciation for new and different foods.

His sense of humor.

His rhythm and moves.

His ability to rock.

His sense of propriety.

His beautiful sense of wonder at the world.

What have your kids inherited from their dad?

Image via MCarper/Shutterstock

Hey everyone, science is here to answer all of our most pressing questions -- like how do we cure breast cancer once as for all?!? Oh wait, they'll get to that soon. But first, something "almost" as important: WHAT is a normal penis size? Men have waited too long, too hard, to find out. But now we know!

In a study called "Am I Normal?" published in a journal called BJU International (which probably does not stand for Blow Job University, but thanks for asking) doctors measured men's digits both flaccid and erect to find out what the average size is. Are you curious?

How much do you care about penis size?

Image via ollyy/Shutterstock

Kanye West is one of those celebrities who keeps on giving. I seriously cannot get enough of that guy, both the fashion and the quotes. So how thrilled am I that someone has compiled the best of both on this phenomenal Instagram account, "Kanye Is Fashion."

Yes, really! Okay, no. The truth is, the Instagram was created by an anonymous genius and the images are Photoshopped, not his actual designs or even anything Kanye has actually worn. But those out-of-context quotes are mostly his. So enjoy!

What's your favorite 'Kanye Is Fashion' look?

Image via KanyeIsFashion/Instagram

Remember when Kim Kardashian cut her hair and went blond? Well hold onto your hats because we're in for an even bigger shock: Jared Leto dyed his hair platinum, too. And now we're forced, FORCED! To ask the question: Who wears it best?

More from The Stir: Jared Leto Cut His Signature Long Hair

We were still reeling from the Great Haircut of 2015. Goodbye, man bun! But now this? Whoa -- take a look and see what you think.

And now, let's compare with Kim K because we have to.

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A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Mar 5, 2015 at 8:56am PST

I think they both look weird, to tell you the truth. But I'm voting for Leto just because this is such a huge departure for him. He had such a hippy-drippy look before with that long hair and beard. The short, slicked, platinum 'do is the complete opposite. And while we're at it, what is with the velvet crested blazer with athletic cuff stripes?!? I'm so confused.

All I can say is, what a joker -- by which I mean that's who he's playing in his next movie, the Joker. Maybe this is just another step in the process, and we'll see him in lime green hair next.

What do you think of Jared Leto's blond hair?

Images via © Axel Koester/Corbis, Gigi Iorio / Splash News

The latest news about antidepressants may make your heart drop. One psychologist is saying we've been wrong about what causes depression all along. And that could mean we've been treating depression the wrong way as well.

Psychologist Paul Andrews of McMaster University in Ontario is challenging the idea that low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin leads to depression. In a paper published in the journal Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews, he argues that there may be more of the feel-good chemical being released and used during depressive episodes, not less, and those higher levels are what leads to depression. Whoa. If he's right how did everyone else get it so wrong? So treating depression by trying to elevate serotonin levels is counterproductive.

About 55 to 70 percent of people who take antidepressants typically see a 50 percent reduction in their symptoms. And about 30 percent of patients will be relieved of all their symptoms. So if you've been disappointed with how well your meds have worked, you might be thinking this explains why.

But you may not want to run with that idea quite yet.

We asked Dr. Daniel Carlat, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University and author of Unhinged: The Trouble With Psychiatry, what he thinks about this new report.

More from The Stir: 10 Foods You Should Never Eat When You're Sad, Mad or Stressed

Carlat concedes that we don't fully understand how exactly antidepressant medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work. But they're still valuable for treating patients. "My experience has been that SSRIs are helpful for depression, anxiety disorders, and several other psychiatric disorders," he says.

He finds Andrews' study interesting. However, he adds, "it's one of literally thousands of scientific studies looking at serotonin and depression. It's certainly not groundbreaking." He believes we're still decades away from having a clear idea of the biochemistry of depression.

Bottom line is, while antidepressants aren't perfect, medication and therapy are still our best defense for now. It's all a matter of figuring out, with your doctor, what works best for you.

What has been your experience with depression and medication? Have you or someone you love struggled to find the right treatment?

Image via luxorphoto/Shutterstock

You know that quiet, mysterious girl who seems to come out of nowhere, and suddenly everyone's talking about her? Well my friends, the IUD is the birth control version of that girl. If you've been wondering what the big deal is with this highly-effective, long-lasting method we've got the full scoop right here.

The intrauterine device (IUD) is 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. It's not the most commonly-used form of birth control yet, but its use is growing by leaps and bounds. 

Women choose the IUD because it's an easy form of birth control. Once it's in, you're protected -- for years. And you don't have to do anything else. Here's everything you need to know about the IUD.

1. What it is. The IUD is a device that gets implanted inside your uterus. It's T-shaped and just over an inch tall, not counting the string attached to one end.

There are two different kinds of IUDs used in the U.S. The ParaGuard is made with a small amount of copper. And there's a hormonal version sold as the Mirena, Skyla, and the newly-approved Liletta. This second kind of IUD is made with a small amount of levonorgestrel, a progestin. The hormone level released is lower than that of the pill, and it stays mostly local instead of going through your blood system.

2. How it works. The IUD seems to work two different ways, we think. (Believe it or not, doctors are still not completely sure about this!) It prevents sperm from fertilizing any eggs you release. And it changes the lining in your uterus so even if an egg does get fertilized, it can't implant itself.

3. Possible side effects. With the ParaGuard, your periods may become heavier, cramps may intensify, and you may bleed between periods. With the Mirena, periods may become lighter and in some cases disappear altogether. (More of a benefit, for some women!)

4. Insertion. This is a two-step process. First, your doctor will insert a sterile instrument to measure you. Then they use a special tool to feed the IUD through your vagina and into your uterus. There is some pinching, so it's a good idea to take some pain reliever before your appointment. (I also had a glass of wine. Don't tell my doctor.)

You should be able to go on with your day as usual after that. Really -- you don't have to spend the rest of the day "recovering" in bed or anything like that.

5. How soon you can have sex. Once your IUD has been inserted it should be immediately effective. However, some doctors recommend you wait 24 hours just to be safe.

More from The Stir: Most Women Are Still Not Using the Best Method of Birth Control

6. How long it lasts. You can keep the copper ParaGuard in for up to 10 years. You can keep the hormonal Mirena for up to 5 years.

7. Breastfeeding. You can have an IUD inserted right after childbirth, and it shouldn't interfere with breastfeeding at all.

8. How soon you can conceive after removal. Once your IUD is out, your body should return to its previous fertility right away. 

Remember that scene in Don't Be Tardy where Kim Zolciak yanks out her own IUD because she wants to make a baby NOW? Don't do that. Let your doctor do it.

9. How it feels. You shouldn't be able to feel your IUD inside your body. However, your partner may be able to feel the string during sex. If this bothers either of you, ask your doctor to trim that string.

10. Who should get one. Most healthy, ovulating women should be able to get an IUD. It's recommended for women who aren't at risk for STDs. If you are in a monogamous relationship, and know your partner is monogamous, too, you are likely a good candidate.

11. Myths. You may have heard the IUD causes uterine infections which can lead to infertility. An earlier version of the IUD introduced in the 1970s was linked to infections, but it turns out the device wasn't causing infections after all. Nevertheless, that IUD was taken off the market. 

And some people believe the IUD is only for women over 35, or women who are done making babies. Not so! Teens, younger women, and women who expect to have more children can also get one.

12. Cost. The IUD is expensive! Up to $900, not including the doctor visits. That's one of the biggest reasons why more women don't use it. However, more and more insurance policies are covering it -- because it's way less expensive to cover than a baby.

What if your insurance still doesn't cover it? You may be relieved to know that the Liletta is being made available at public health clinics at below-market costs, making it more affordable to women of all income levels, with or without insurance.

Every woman who uses an IUD may tell you a different story. I tried both kinds, and the Mirena works much better for me.

Have you ever considered using an IUD -- or are you using one now?

Image via Image Point Fr/Shutterstock

Didn't you simply adore how beautiful actress Lily James looked in her Cinderella costume? Well, you'd better. James maintained a liquid diet to fit into that Cinderella corset. Gulp!

There was no fairy godmother helping the actress to slip into her tiny dress. No, it was a lot of tight cinching and only a wee bit of soup, as James tells E!

When [the corset] was on we would be on continuous days so we wouldn't stop for lunch or a lovely tea like this -- you'd be sort of eating on the move. In that case, I couldn't untie the corset. So if you ate food it didn't really digest properly and I'd be burping all afternoon in [Richard Madden]'s face, and it was just really sort of unpleasant. I'd have soup so that I could still eat but it wouldn't get stuck.

Ah yes, draw back the curtain on the fantasy and what do you get? Too-tight corsets, no solid food, and belching into your costar's face. Not exactly the fairy-tale dreams of my young girlhood.

More From The Stir: Cinderella Meets '50 Shades' In Hilarious Mashup (VIDEO)

James already has a naturally slim waist to begin with. So what's with the super-tight corset? How skinny does a Disney princess need to be, anyway?

James followed up the corset horror story with her own opinion about giving girls the wrong idea about what women should look like. "And I think it's so important to be healthy and confident and natural. And not put too much stress on trying to be thin -- I don't get the thin, thin thing at all."

Well shoot, girl, why didn't you speak up during the costume fittings, then?

I mean, I'm so glad she feels that way now. And it shouldn't be solely on her wee shoulders to make sure Cinderella isn't slipping into Thinspiration territory. But at some point someone needs to be the one to say "hey, this is kind of insane -- I can't eat food in this costume and maybe that sends the wrong message!"

Unless you're playing a character who is actually dying of hunger or you're doing a super-accurate period costume drama, there should be no squeezing into corsets and going on liquid diets. Am I right?

Ugh, this story makes me hungry.

Would you have noticed if Cinderella's waist had been closer to natural than how it looks in the movie?

Image via Disney

A glass of wine can do many things, including, apparently, make you look more beautiful. We'll drink to that! A small study proved that participants appeared more attractive after drinking a glass of wine -- and yes, the judges were sober.

I have my own theory as to why this could be so: After a glass of wine you're a little more relaxed and therefore easier to seduce. But what do I know? I'm always on the other end of that glass of wine.

We decided to do our own study. Let us know what you think!

Do you think there's any truth to this study, or it is total nonsense?

Image via Eugene Partyzan/Shutterstock

In a fortunate twist to yesterday's news of Harrison Ford's terrifying plane crash we've just learned there happened to be a doctor playing golf on that same course. Dr. Sanjay Khurana spoke with both CBS Los Angeles and ABC News about rushing to Ford's rescue.

"He was stunned a bit," Khurana told ABC News. "He was moaning and in pain." The doctor says he could smell fuel coming from the plane and --

Hold on, hold on, HOLD ON. Can we please look at this doctor for a minute? 

What the hell! Why is this doctor so HOT? Who is this Dr. Sanjay Khurana, anyway?

Readers, I have Googled Dr. Khurana on your behalf. Here is what I know so far.

1. He is a board certified orthopedic spine surgeon practicing in Marina Del Ray and Los Angeles, California.

2. He graduated from the Stanford University School of Medicine in 1997.

3. He speaks Spanish, Farsi, Hindi, and Persian.

4. He has won multiple Patients' Choice awards.

5. I don't think he's single! He may be married with two kids, or not, I'm just going on what I could find on Facebook. But then I stopped, because that's totally creepy, stalking a doctor I saw on TV like this. 

Sorry, what were we talking about again? OH YES. Harrison Ford and his plane crash. Right, so it's a very good thing there just happened to be a doctor right there. We're so very relieved that Ford was not too badly injured and seems to be well on the road to recovery. 

Bla bla bla. Now let's watch Dr. Khurana again. I mean! Let's hear more about Harrison Ford's condition immediately following the crash.

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How would you feel if Dr. Khurana rescued you? That would be okay, right?

Images via © Oscar Gonzalez/NurPhoto/NurPhoto/Corbis, CBS Los Angeles, SpineUniverse.com

This has to be the saddest word I have ever heard in my entire life: "Choreplay." That's when men get women into the mood for sex by doing more chores around the house. You know what? Choreplay should not even exist. 

I came across choreplay as part of Sheryl Sandberg's well-intentioned Lean In Together campaign. Here is how they're encouraging men to be more of a 50/50 partner.

When men share household responsibilities, their wives are happier and their marriages are stronger. Not only does marital satisfaction go up, but couples have more sex — 'choreplay' is real!

Now, I am all for sharing housework as equitably as makes sense for your family. And I agree it's great for your relationship overall. But what the hell is sex even doing in this conversation?

First of all, that connection between sex and housework may not even be true. According to at least one study, when men take on more typically female tasks at home they actually have less sex.

More from The Stir: Men Who Do 'Female' Chores Have Less Sex

To be fair, one of the reasons women (especially moms) have a hard time getting in the mood for sex is because we're overwhelmed by childcare and housework. Not sharing chores fairly can be a barrier to having sex, I'll give them that.

But doing more housework and childcare shouldn't become a quid pro quo arrangement. Remember when Pat Robertson said that women owe their husbands sex when they do the dishes? That's total BS. You don't "earn" sex rewards by helping out around the house. 

It all comes down to some fundamental misconceptions we keep perpetuating about sex in a loving relationship. 

Sex as currency.

Sex as a reward you give someone else.

Sex as something you earn.

Sex as a service you perform.

Sex as a chore.

Here's how we should think of sex instead.

Sex is a way to connect emotionally with each other.

Sex is an experience you share.

Sex should be mutually pleasurable and fun.

The way to have more sex is by being better at sex -- by satisfying your partner.

Know what a total libido killer is? Talking about chores. I mean, talk about sharing housework because you have to, because it's important to your relationship. But for crying out loud, leave sex out of it completely. You're contaminating sex with such banality.

As for you, Sheryl Sandberg, you may have great ideas for helping women in the boardroom. But please -- stay the hell out of the bedroom. You are officially banned.

What do you think about "choreplay"? Do you ever use sex as a reward?

Image via gpointstudio/Shutterstock