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See? Professional worrier. My son Hunter first “met” blue blankie just days after his birth. It was a gift lovingly made by my mother’s friend who gave it to me at my baby shower. She also knit one in pink for his twin sister. Blue blankie has been a constant in his crib or bed for nearly seven years. There are photos of him snuggled up with it while on my lap when he was just weeks old, even some where he’s chewing on the end to soothe some teething pain....

mom_of2angels13 asked who she should have with her in the delivery room over in Pregnancy — an interesting question that all moms-to-be face. For me, it was an open-and-shut case — just my partner and no one else (no offense, Mom!). But everybody has different emotional needs. mom_of2angels13 is considering having her 2-year-old there with her and her husband when she delivers, so she asked other moms who they had with them....

And waiting until you’re actually craving a swig of H20 before you unscrew your water bottle is a rookie mistake. “Some of us tend to ignore signs of dehydration because we don’t realize the amount of fluid we can lose during the day, in the heat or during exercise,” explains Olga Hays, ACE-certified personal trainer and health promotion specialist at Sharp HealthCare. Once you feel like you need to drink something, Hays says, “you’re already mildly dehydrated....

Three years ago, David Smith became the poster boy for the extreme slim-down. The star of TLC’s The 650-Pound Virgin, Smith dropped a jaw dropping 400 pounds, became a trainer, found his first ever girlfriend, and inspired millions to get fit. Yet three years later, he has regained nearly 300 pounds and is morbidly obese once again. The reason for the setback? On his path from dud to stud, Smith only tackled half his problem....

Then amidst all the hustle and bustle, we saw another Project Runway first — Anya Ayoung-Chee lost her money. Store employees and fellow contestants helped her search for it to no avail, and she was left broke. Her only option was to collect leftover change from the others — she got $11.50 in all — and use plain old muslin at Parsons (which she compared to corn flakes — bland)....

We continue to be bombarded with images of flawless celebs who have had plastic surgery, never seem to age, and whose images are photoshopped practically beyond recognition. But a former fashion editor and her daughter are determined to prove to the world that beautiful women come in all shapes, sizes, skin tones, and hair textures with an amazing new effort called “The What’s Underneath Project.” In each “body positive” video — one of which features Demi Moore and Bruce Willis’ daughter Tallulah Willis giving a candid and chilling interview about suffering from body dysmorphia — women remove their clothes and reveal their true selves....

Whether yearly photos or before/after shots, these 10 ideas for tracking the first few years of your kid’s life are genius and adorable, and they’ll help you come to terms with all the growing up your kid is doing. Image via nameisgrace.blogspot.com More from The Stir:16 Creative Photo Ideas for Tracking Your Baby’s First Year More from The Stir: 25 Photos Every Parent Should Capture of Their Kids Before Age 10 (PHOTOS) More from The Stir: 9 DIY Growth Charts to Stylishly Track Your Kid’s Height (PHOTOS)...

I know when my own divorce is finalized, I am definitely getting myself a tasty and well-earned dessert. But not just any old dessert. I’m talking about a divorce cake. It’s like a wedding cake but it’s for … the other thing. The end of a marriage. Sounds politically incorrect and offensive, you say? Okay, fine. But we have elaborate, beautifully crafted cakes for every other big life event … Why shouldn’t divorce have its day in the sun too?...

What other summertime water games do you love? Image ©iStock.com/Photolyric and Alexey Stiop/Shutterstock title: “10 Fun Water Games To Beat The Heat No Pool Necessary " ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-03” author: “David Kilgore” What other summertime water games do you love? Image ©iStock.com/Photolyric and Alexey Stiop/Shutterstock title: “10 Fun Water Games To Beat The Heat No Pool Necessary " ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-16” author: “Jamie Taylor” What other summertime water games do you love?...

More from CafeMom: Pilgrim Hat Cookies for Thanksgiving Hosting the holiday dinner this year and maybe feeling a little stressed out? Sure, Home Economics and old reruns of the Barefoot Contessa might have taught us something, but in reality many of us who are hosting for the first time have no idea how to cook an impressive meal for a crowd. And not to pile on, but the holidays are when the expert home chefs really bring it....

That’s a staggering number, isn’t it? Twenty-five percent of women. Shocking. And so sad. But some are able to get out of violent relationships. What happens once the abuse stops and real life begins? How do you heal after an abusive relationship ends? Step out of the shell of abuse and see the situation as it was. You were being abused. If you’ve been defending your partner and trying to tell yourself “it’s not so bad,” it’s time to take off the blinders and assess the situation....

More from CafeMom: 25 Healing Uses for Breast Milk for Moms & Kids The first few months between mom and baby are truly special. In the months, or years, when mom is breastfeeding and taking care of her little one, there is a deep bond that she will want to remember for the rest of her child’s life. We found keepsakes that any new mom would think are simply spectacular....

Well, today is your lucky day, because we have 11 weird, wacky ideas for chilling when it’s hot outside. More from The Stir: 5 Frosty, Delicious Drinks to Help You Beat the Summer Heat (PHOTOS) What creative ways do you know to cool off in the summer heat? Image Victori∀/Flickr title: “11 Wacky Ways To Stay Cool In The Heat Of Summer Photos " ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-08” author: “John Omalley” Well, today is your lucky day, because we have 11 weird, wacky ideas for chilling when it’s hot outside....

Original: Can’t go wrong with an original. Combine 1/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, 3/4 cup of white sugar, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in 1/3 cup of boiling water. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes, then stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but keeping it just below a boil. Remove from heat and add in 3/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract....

More from CafeMom: A Bride Banned Guests From Breastfeeding at Her Wedding & People Are Livid title: “12 Hilarious Wedding Photobombs” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-20” author: “Debra Case” More from CafeMom: A Bride Banned Guests From Breastfeeding at Her Wedding & People Are Livid

No matter how modern a man — or father — he is, Dad might be a little overprotective and not ready to meet “the date.” So, naturally, he’s channeling his not-so-inner Walter Stratford and preparing for the moment. Think it’s just a myth propagated by TV sitcoms and teen rom-coms? Nope. Here are 12 real dads who were not so happy to see their little girls growing up … or at least willing to ham it up for some funny prom night photos....

Finding the perfect pair that matches your outfit is supremely satisfying, and if they happen to be from a great brand, it’s like the ultimate win. But when you’re a lady with larger feet, shoe shopping (and walking in general) is less orgasmic and more pity date-ish. Unless you’re part of the big-footed babe brigade, you’ll never fully understand, but allow me to try and break it down for you… Glances at my feet...

From an amazing Cap’n Crunch Milkshake to Fruity Pebbles Greek Yogurt Popsicles and Snickers Special K bars, we’ve found recipes that are quick and simple. Make a few of these goodies, and we think you’ll be quite popular around your house. Image via apumpkinandaprincess.com More from The Stir: 11 Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches for a Delicious Treat (PHOTOS) More from The Stir: 11 DIY Ice Popsicle Recipes That’ll Make You the Coolest Mom on the Block (PHOTOS) More from The Stir: 14 Crock-Pot Dinners Kids Can Serve Themselves (PHOTOS)...

You want to say your daughter won’t be the next Jasmine Crawley, the 13-year-old kid beaten senseless in a school bathroom because she and her girlfriends were playing the 30-second game. But you can’t, can you? Because you remember some of the lame-brained things you did with your friends, and you live in constant fear that your kid is next. But if you’re depending on your memory of those idiot schemes to keep your kid safe, you’re out of luck....

But while we might usually think of men as the ones to be most likely to cheat, the truth is that women stray too. We spoke with some of them to find out why they cheated and what they wish other people knew about that experience. Their names have been withheld by their request, but you might find some of their stories to be more familiar than you might expect....