Blog Posts by The_Stir

nicole fabian-weberIt's pretty well-known that there are a litany of things no pregnant woman wants to hear. But did you know that there are some things no new mom wants to hear either? Sure, your heart is in the right place, but some statements and questions come off as annoying. Or rude. Or intrusive. Or all of the above.

When are you having another one? Seriously? Are you really asking that already? 'Cause I thought I'd enjoy my child -- who hasn't even been alive for a year! -- a bit. And what's the big rush anyway? When you're dating, it's "when are you going to get married?" When you get married, it's "when are you going to have kids?" And then when you have a kid, it's "when are you going to have another?" Sheesh. Slow your roll.

Cherish every moment. He/she will be grown up before you know it. Thanks. I didn't realize time was going by at lightning

Celiac disease, gluten allergy and gluten sensitivity are hard enough without missing out on the fun of trick-or-treating. The good news is, if you have people who avoid gluten in your house or on your party invite list, you can pass out the candy with a free hand. Some of the best Halloween treats out there are gluten-free!

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It's still important to read labels; some manufacturers have plants in different places, so one might be completely gluten-safe while another might process wheat or other grain products in the same plant, which means it could be contaminated with traces of gluten.

Here are some Halloween favorites that are gluten-free for your holiday soiree:

Baby Ruth

Bit-O-Honey (does anyone ever eat those except when they get them for Halloween?)

Charms Blow Pops

Dots

Dum-Dums

Laffy Taffy

M&M's (except for pretzel-flavored ones)

3 Musketeers (all)

shh"Sex Confessions" is a series featuring your naughtiest bedroom secrets and fantasies. Some will sound familiar, others may give you ideas, some will turn you on, and some are dark and twisted. You might want to sit down for this.

Today we're hearing it from Jessica* -- a 20-something wife and mom -- who has never had an orgasm during sex. But if you ask any of the guys she has done the deed with they will tell you otherwise. Yes, Jessica admits she's a faker and she insists she is happy that way. She says there's just a lot more involved in what it takes to get her to climax. And she's not interested in working out those finer details with her husband so she prefers you don't clue him in on it either. Let's delve more into Jessica's reasoning, shall we?

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My husband doesn't know I fake my orgasms. There, I said it. I love him. He doesn't need to know that I am not pleasured in that way by him.

ShoesWe all have a pair of shoes that are uncomfortable, right? And if you're like me and love stilettos, you probably also have a pair or two in the back of your closet that are absolutely crippling.

But trust me -- you've got nothing on these shoes!

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Created as a collaboration between artist Leanie van der Vyver and Dutch shoe designer René van den Berg, these shoes get my vote as the ugliest -- and most uncomfortable -- shoes of all time!

And wait till you see the video of a model trying to walk in them.

W.T.H.

As crazy as this video is, you can't NOT look, right?

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Yahoo! Shine actually contacted Leanie van der Vyver about her artistic creation, called "Scary Beautiful." Here's what she told them:

grandparentsIf you're like pretty much every other parent out there, then you probably rely on the help of your baby's grandparents for most, if not all of the times you need a sitter. Let's face it -- nine times out of ten, most of us feel much safer leaving our babies with our own parents or in-laws than with someone we don't know nearly as well. Not only are they a heck of a lot cheaper, they're also more qualified to give our kids the best care possible, right?

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WRONG. Believe it or not, a new survey shows that many grandparents aren't exactly up-to-date with today's baby safety standards. Yep -- when it comes to things like safe sleeping, proper car seat positioning, feeding, using walkers, and all the other stuff parents worry about doing correctly to keep their babies safe -- grandparents generally don't know what they're doing. When given quizzes on baby safety, they tend to fail miserably.

baby gearAs a new mom, you get a whole lot of advice, some of which is great and some of which is just plain ridiculous. A lot of it has to do with gear. I remember being so overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things and then the names? OMG! Those names! It was like people were speaking another language.

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Well, relax moms (and dads). You don't need all the things you think you do, and the few things you really DO need are all within reach and you only need one.

Don't believe me? Well, here is the definitive list of 10 must-haves all new moms need to have at their disposal. See below:

1. Breastfeeding pillow: There are a few different brands now, but I could never have made it through 10 minutes of new motherhood without mine. Even when I fed my baby a pumped bottle, I still needed this item. All moms have to have it.
2. Body carrier: My kids liked two different kinds of carriers, so really this is up to the baby.

Frenemy -- it's a silly word for a not-so-silly situation. Imagine if your friend, someone you loved and confided in, actually had it in for you. Sure, she'd put on a good face when you were around, but underneath, she was seething with hatred, bitterness, and resentment.

It's hard enough to be hated, but when you're hated by someone you trusted, it's a nightmare. The betrayal will cut you to the core.

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Which is why you need to protect yourself before you give too much to someone, only to be stabbed in the back later. Here are some telltale signs your friend is really a frenemy (cue the scary music) ...

1) When your "friend" needs you, she's all over you, but the moment you need something -- a shoulder, a meal, a confidant -- she's never there.

2) Your gut. Your gut tells you that you should not, under any circumstances, trust this person. But you can't pinpoint why.

3) Most comments your

You don't even know what you're in for.When you start seeing someone new, there's a whole slew of potentially awkward "firsts" that happen. You know, the first time you kiss, the first time they meet your friends, the first time you spend the night. Sure, all of these things are decently monumental -- but the most? The first time you do the dirty.

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Sex, making love, doing "it," smushing, shagging: However you wanna put it, getting it on for the first time opens up all sorts of new doors in a relationship. When you and your partner get intimate, a whole different side of their personality is revealed. Sometimes, that side is ... slightly alarming. Heck, sometimes -- it can be downright frightening.

Check out our list of 10 bedroom red flags that may make you wanna think things over a few times:

1. He keeps his condoms in a red velvet bag next to his bed. Just how many women has he reached in this