Blog Posts by The_Stir

The HCG Diet has been getting quite a bit of buzz in the weight loss world as of late. While a lot of wacky-sounding diets have popped up over the years promising alternatives to the boring old eat-less-exercise-more mantra, this one sounds a little wackier than most. You see, the HCG part -- that comes from a pregnant woman's urine.

More from The Stir: The Cookie Diet is Real!

So yes, there's a bit of a gross-out factor for sure, but when it promises weight loss of up to a pound a day, I think I could get past that. And according to an article in The New York Times today, plenty of women across the country have, and they're racing to clinics and doctors' offices to get their own supply of pregnant pee.

While you can buy drops and pills containing HCG, the real deal comes via injections according to most proponents. Ouch, yes, but no pain, no gain, right? Or rather, no pain, no loss in this case, and at least you don't have to drink it to get results.

Proponents

We hear almost constantly in this country about how terrible our parental leave is. That is mostly because it is. There is no guarantee for any time paid and a measly three months unpaid guaranteed through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). These are not good numbers.

But if you think this is just a women's issue, think again. Maternity leave is bad enough, but the options for fathers? Are pretty much abysmal. Finally -- thank God! -- someone is fighting back. Ariel Ayanna, an attorney in Boston, says he was fired soon after he dared to do the unthinkable as a young associate in a law firm -- use the FMLA to help his mentally ill wife after giving birth to the family's second child.

More from The Stir: Gwyneth Paltrow is a Working Mom's Roll Model

He claims he was harassed for doing women's work and that other associates at his firm bragged about how little time they spent with their own families.

Joan C. Williams, founding director of the Center for WorkLife

Woman seeking tall, brown-haired, blue-eyed man with smaller than average nose and a strong jaw. According to a new dating website set to launch this month, FindYourFaceMate.com thinks that's what I should be looking for in a mate. They apparently discovered what we all want in a partner: someone who looks like we do. I'm not so sure I'd make a handsome man, but "scientific evidence" says facial resemblance in couples is a phenomenon that can lead to a lifetime of happiness.

More from The Stir: Prescription Pill That Prevents Divorce? Drug Me Up!

The website will be powered by facial recognition software and will compare faces in nine different points, then users can narrow down their matches based on values and personal style. At first I thought this was just some gimmick the new dating site was using to stand out, but now I'm wondering if this isn't a site determined to keep relationships within the same race.

The site makes no claims as such, and it's a certainty that

You know your relationship has reached "official" status when your special someone starts being tagged in your Facebook pictures. And there she is. My Diet Pepsi bottle. She's on the floor beside me, still in my pajamas, on Christmas morning. There, in my hand at a kid's birthday party. And there, a giant cup full of the wet devil in front of me at a restaurant outing with the fam.

More from The Stir: Charlie Sheen is Hiring. Would you Let Your Kid Work for Him?

This week, as I reached for my 2-liter bottle, nestled on the floor right beside my desk so my dog can't knock it over, it hit me. I'm the female Charlie Sheen. I'm 100 percent addicted to something, and I'm not in the least bit sorry about it. In fact, to borrow some phrasing from old Charlie: "I have banged back seven 20-ounce bottles and finished them because that's how I roll."

I wasn't one of those women raised on diet soda as a regular mom-to-daughter/woman-to-woman secret. Soda was forbidden in my

mclobsterIt's back! Get out your bibs and that tin of drawn butter you've been hoarding in the basement because the McLobster is rumored to be hitting the New England and Canadian McDonald's locations in the coming weeks. I thought this was an urban legend, I mean, lobster at McDonald's? But no, it's true!

More from The Stir: New Arby's Menu Makes Cheese & Bacon ' Wholesome'

The famous hamburger and fries joint tweeted that the McLobster is served from time to time in some northern East Coast spots, but there's no plan to roll out this menu item nationwide.

WTF? You don't think we want McLobster in the McSouth? Canada gets everything.

First of all, everyone wants McLobster. It is a grave mistake, and a costly one I'm sure, to only keep the McLobster in local markets. McDonald's beef probably comes from Thailand, so why can't we fast-food lovers south of Boston get a little lobster in the off-season? Pack up the lovely crustaceans and ship, ship, shiperoo down the Eastern

The countdown to the royal wedding has begun -- it's only a matter of weeks now until Prince William marries Kate Middleton on April 29th in Westminster Abbey.

Every detail will be scrutinized from her dress, to his hair, to the weather. It will be a huge party in London (and in my living room) so everything must be as perfect as possible.

The latest news about the wedding is about Kate and Will's vows -- will they or won't they write their own?

More from The Stir: Prince William & Kate Middleton's Wedding Plans Upset the Queen

Their wedding has been about sticking to and honoring tradition, and their vows will do just that. The pair will either use the vows from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, or the more updated set of vows from the Book of Common Worship, which is generally used today in the Protestant Church of England.

The latter is the one nearly all of us are familiar with, the former has the same meaning, but uses old-timey words like "thine" and "troth."

Helpless. Alone. Insignificant. These are words I would use to describe what I felt when Justin Bieber cut his hair. The bang-swoosh was there one second, gone the next, and there was nothing I could do about it. Nothing anyone could do about it ... at least that's what I thought until I visited the website Lesbians Who Look Like Justin Bieber.

The blog, started by lesbian Bieber-doppelganger Dannielle Owens-Reid, posts pictures submitted by, you guessed it, lesbians who look like Justin Bieber. But since his haircut, Owens-Ried says she hasn't received one submission from a woman with his new 'do. Not a one. They keep flowing in, but with the old haircut.

More from The Stir: Kate & William Get Engaged and Age 20 Years

Two things. One: are lesbians the new litmus test for hair trends? And two: I'm a little frustrated that we still think Bieber created this haircut, so I'd like to point out the actual trendsetters who sported the look back in 2007.

Let's start with

Cesare PaciottiNeutrals are back and bigger than ever this spring, along with pretty neutral sandals.

I love neutral sandals because they work both with your neutrals and with all your pretty spring dresses that you can't quite properly match with a shoe.

The theory about neutral shoes is that they make your legs look longer by blending in with the color of your skin.

I'M IN.

More from The Stir: Ugly Woman Turns Hot Before Your Eyes

These Cesare Paciotti sandals are gorgeous, but if you can't quite afford Paciotti prices, don't despair -- I've got some inexpensive neutral sandal options after the jump!

I absolutely love the look and the price of these bone wedge sandals (Aldo, $50). They look like they cost far more than their actual price-tag.

Feeling haute? Check out these incredibly stylish DKNY sandals (The Outnet, $117.25 on sale). Originally priced at $335, these are a great deal.

More from The Stir: Snake Bites Model's Boob (Video)

For comfort and style,