Summer camp is an exciting time for parents and kids alike! For kids, the chance to scuttle off to an overnight camp offers a taste of freedom and a wealth of new experiences out from under the watchful gaze of their parental units. For us parents, as much as we might adore our kids, a little vacation never hurt us either! I'm just saying. You know I speak truths. Plus, you know that finding stuff for the kids to do over the summer is not unlike pulling teeth at times. 

You might want to spend some of your rare and newly acquired free-time watching a movie. No shame in that game! What's better than a summertime movie, snacking on popcorn and sitting in an air-conditioned living room? Not a thing, that's what. But you'd better be careful. There are sure to be some movies floating around cable this time of year that will have you kicking yourself for sending the kids away! 

Oh, the shenanigans that Hollywood would have you believe your kids are up to when you ship them off for a mere week or two! Here are 10 movies you SHOULDN'T watch if you've sent your kids to summer camp. 

What are your favorite summer camp movies?

Image via Amazon

Oh, Heather Dubrow. Truly, does pride goeth before the fall. We always knew the only woman in Orange County to ace every vocab quiz in the sixth grade would not hold her place in the sun forever. The collective gaggle of wenches have decided that Heather has grown too big for her britches. It's funny that this decision was made in the wake of Heather building a literal castle on a hill. But let's pretend we don't think jealousy has anything to do with it, shall we?

Heather has gotten a gig co-hosting Good Day L.A.! How will it impact her family life and how she relates to her friends? This sounds like a movie Holly Hunter would maybe star in if the year were 1991. Sadly, it is not. Heather is eager to share her news with her best friend Tamra "Stop Using Large Words" Judge. But Tam Tam is not pleased. 

Tam Tam is mad! Whyfore does she begrudge her friend's local television fluff news success? Because Heather spurned the gym run by Tam and Eddie "He Was Definitely a Stripper You Guys" Judge. The nerve! Tamra should actually be angry at Heather for being condescending and impossible. Just sayin'. 

I am about to say a thing that I once thought I would only utter when the three death-heads of the Apocalypse rode past on their skeletal steeds: Vicki Gunvalson was right. The Queen of Insurance gamely pointed out to Tamra that her anger at Heather was misplaced. Heather had no say then, and now she does and she's recruiting her friend. But Tamra will not hear reason. She is all hurt feelings and horrifying white inner-eye liner. She will have vengeance!

No, actually, she will just have petty gossip about Heather behind the woman's back. It's newbie Lizzie Rovsek who goads the twosome into fighting. Don't think I didn't see you hit the red button Rovsek. I'm onto your game. Heather didn't make things any easier by turning into an angry, squeaky, defensive jerk. Nobody came out of this episode smelling like a rose. Except for maybe Terry Dubrow -- can we revisit the fact that his brother STARTED QUIET RIOT? TAKE US OUT BOYS!

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Do you think Tamra was overreacting?

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If you missed last week's first-ever episode of Bravo's new series Ladies of London, you missed a delicious treat. If you are me, you watched it, you loved it, and you came back for more tonight. Verily, not one of us came away disappointed. I think if Henry James were not a-molderin' in the grave, even he would proclaim this show to be the panacea to his reality craving.

To catch you up to speed -- the show is about London society. It follows some Brits who are very much in the scene and some American Ex-Pats who are desperately trying to crawl their way to the top, one bad hat at a time. Tonight they were all preparing to go to the Serpentine, an annual must-attend party for the city's who's who.

Noelle Reno was desperate to attend. So desperate she bought a dress, went and got her hair done, and dragged her boyfriend to a pre-party to shame him for not being able to get her tickets. Because that is what bitchy, gold-diggers do. #Beccaiskeepingitrealyo. 

Noelle is dating Scot Young -- who is a rogue and a half. He's embroiled in loads of scandal about his divorce, his criminal activities, and a world of financial woes. But Noelle got her hooks in him before that all happened, and now she's got to stand by her man or else be revealed for the material-minded hussy that she is.

I sound like I'm being exceptionally harsh. That's because I just had to watch a woman sneer at a luxury apartment rental that her sugar daddy was going to happily rent for her, and then watch her shake him off when the offer of a free ticket to this party came up. So yeah, I'm being harsh, but with good reason. Right now everyone seems to just sort of admire Noelle's hustle. How long before she pisses everyone else off?

Do you think Noelle really loves Scott?

Image via BravoTV

Oh boy. You'd think at this point, Teresa Giudice would know when to call it quits. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star has been in hot water for a long time now, thanks to the legal woes of which she and hubby Joe Giudice have been on the receiving end. By July their fate will be determined once and for all, and any jail-time will be doled out. But Teresa's already making plans for the future -- and they include her next book.

This one is going to contain a lot more than pasta recipes. Teresa's rumored to be penning an epic tell-all book about the family's troubles and everything that brought them to where they are today. I'm sure T's passing this off as just simply trying to provide for her family, but surely the cost such a book would have on her family outweighs any sort of fiduciary payback, am I right? 

Teresa's been keeping a relatively low-profile these days even though her show is set to kick off next month. Has she been hiding out until her future is secured or just furiously writing down pages of this book? I hope it's the first and not the latter. Seriously, though.

More from The Stir: An Entire 'Real Housewives' Cast May Be Fired Soon (VIDEO)

Teresa should be focusing on moving past this terrible chapter in the life of her family, not figuring out how best she can profit from it. If you truly want to put the past behind you, why on earth would you write an actual book about it? That book isn't going to go anywhere -- her kids could easily read things in it she and Joe and aren't prepared to tell them. While of course fans like you and me would be eager to hear her take on things, that doesn't make her plan a good one.

Do you think Teresa should speak up or stay silent?

Image via BravoTV

Somewhere, The Real Housewives of Atlanta's meanest mama (Kandi Burruss' Mama Joyce, but of course) is cackling up a storm. Now why, pray tell, might she be doing that? Because it sounds like the unhappy future she predicated for newlyweds Kandi and Todd Tucker is already unfolding, no matter what kind of positive spin Kandi may have tried to put on her fresh union when talking to Ebony magazine about the married life.

As we know, Mama Joyce is far from sweet on Todd. She did everything in her power (short of ordering a hitman) to try and keep Kandi from strutting up the aisle to bag her man. Sadly for her, love conquers all, and now Mama Joyce has to sit around and fret about Kandi giving her money (and her time) to someone other than the her. 

But that might not be the case for very long. Kandi talked about how married life hasn't been what she expected. She and Todd have really been struggling -- and it might not be for the reasons you or Mama Joyce suspect. 

Kandi and Todd have struggled since they tied the knot, and not one of the sex toys of which Kandi is so fond can help them. That's because they have barely spent any time together. That's right, the couple has basically been long distance while Todd works on a new T.V. project. Yeesh, that doesn't sound awesome.

Kandi tries to downplay the difficulty of living apart, but it's clearly had a strain. She admits to "fussing at him," and the duo have had to set pretty strict rules about when they talk to each other and when they see each other. Isn't the beginning of your marriage supposed to be the honeymoon period? This sounds like anything but. Here's hoping they work out the kinks soon and prove Mama Joyce wrong. 

Do you think Kandi and Todd will last?

Image via BravoTV

The new season of ABC Family's hit drama Pretty Little Liars is back, and I am freaking out. When we left them last season, there were soooo many questions we were desperate to have answered. Like, was Ezra more than he seemed? Was he good or bad? Was he going to survive being shot? Is Pretty Little Liars taking place in New York now? And also, what is Ashley Benson doing right? Is James Franco with her? He's probably not with her. 

All joking aside, as the show veers into its fifth season (with two more to come), we've got more questions than answers. Here are 7 big questions we want answered this season -- or else! 

1. Will Aria and Ezra Get Back Together?

Sure, he's been a shady liar with a penchant for younger ladies (LIKE ALI, BARF), but he literally took a bullet for the girls! My money is on a reunion between the two -- but how long will we have to pine for it? And how many more times must we be subjected to Aria's ugly-crying face? 

2. Who Is Spencer Going to Murder?

It's only a matter of time until Spencer snaps, right? Look, she spent a large portion of last season thinking she'd killed Ali in a pill-induced hazed -- what if that was foreshadowing?! Wouldn't it be kind of awesome to have a Spencer's-Life-Behind-Bars arc? You know it would. 

3. Was Shana Really 'A'?

Was it just me or did Tuesday's episode feel a little ... weak? Like, the big reveal after all this time is that it was Shana? BALONEY. I don't buy it -- do you? 

4. What's Behind the Cover-Up With Toby's Mom?

Remember the whole thing where Toby's mom was very clearly murdered? And how there was a big corporation involved? What's going on there? Where's Toby? I miss him. And his torso. 

5. What Is Melissa's Big Secret?

I AM DYING TO KNOW. Melissa is fulllllll of secrets! Does she know ... about Cece killing Wilden? Is that it? I feel like there has to be more. Melissa has a walk-in closet. There are no clothes in it, just uncomfortable truths. 

6. Does Ali Really Have Feelings for Emily?

I am tired of Ali and her games -- did she share with Emily and none of the other girls because she cares about her, or is it an elaborate ruse?

7. DOES ALI HAVE AN EVIL TWIN?

You know she does. YOU KNOW SHE DOES. 

What are you dying to find out this season?

Image via Instagram

There's scrimping and saving to shave down a wedding budget, and then there is REALLY scrimping and saving. We are all willing to compromise when it comes to "expensive" if it means having our true dream day. Hiring a friend as a photographer instead of a professional? Sure, we'll risk it. But making our wedding dress out of ... toilet paper? That's just insane.

Unless you are one of the women who put her toilet paper-based sartorial skills to the test at the Tenth Annual Cheap Chic Weddings “Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest” sponsored by Charmin. Now sure, we've all been to wedding showers where we've "made dresses" out of toilet paper -- but this really takes it to a whole other level. 

I don't know about you, but these are dresses I'd definitely consider wearing! The results of all the contestants, not just the winners, will take your breath away. I'd say "sign me up" and buy one now -- but what if it rains or I have an underwater wedding? That just seems a little too high risk for me. Check out some of the amazing offerings from this year's competition. 

What's the most creative sewing project you've ever tackled?

Image via Cheap Chic Weddings

Robyn Brown and Meri Brown rounded a corner this week, and it was pretty great. Though it took us some time to get there. If you turned on this week's installment of Sister Wives, no one would blame you for having to check the guide to make sure you had the right channel. I, for one, thought I had quietly gone mad. This madness manifested in a strange way where every T.V. show I watched turned, inexplicably, into Shark Tank. This wasn't the case, but the stakes were just as high tonight for the Brown family as any guest dipping their toes in the Shark Tank. (Friends, that's what we call a dead-sexy segue.)

The family -- minus the kids, who presumably lack all business acumen -- was setting out to pitch their family company, My Sisterwife's Closet, to a group of nattily dressed venture capitalists. Really, it was like something out of Dickens, only the women were even MORE passive (BURN, DICKENS, BURN -- dig that mad sting, you dead weirdo).  

Meri was trying to prove to Robyn that she has every intention of going to school AND helping out with the business. Robyn was pretty hard pressed to believe that her sister wife wasn't just trying to ditch her responsibilities. But she had a change of heart when at a meeting to plan their big pitch, Meri broke down at the prospect of having to speak in front of a large group of strangers. 

Once Robyn figured out that Meri was just frightened, she and the other wives (plus Kody Brown and his impressive and surely sentient red mop of hair) rallied around to support her. The only tears shed during the pitch were by Robyn, and they were totally passionate tears that just made the group seem more awesome. Sadly, while the Browns left feeling confident, the investors don't seem to think the presentation passed muster. Who knows what the future holds for the company? 

Do you think the investors will have a change of heart?

Image via TLC 

The heart wants what it wants. Mine wants a cheesesteak and to never wear pants again. Kris Jenner's heart? Why, it still seems to very much want her baby-daddy Bruce Jenner in her life. Kris may deny it, and the duo may live in separate abodes, and they may even bicker almost constantly. But tonight's episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians made it crystal clear that without Bruce to boss around, Kris just feels plain lost.

Oh sure, she tried to make it about the kids, but come on! Kylie and Kendall have always had a special relationship with their dad. It was natural that eventually they'd come back together, in spite of their petty squabbling over the usual things that cause storm clouds to cover parents and teens. The girls didn't need Kris horning in and making them all take awkward yoga classes and cooking lessons together. 

You know who should be taking yoga and cooking classes together? A couple who is trying to reconnect and save their marriage! That's right, I said it: Kris Jenner still has naughty pants feelings for her man Bruce. It cannot be denied. She probably took a bag of hair from Bruce's trim and sleeps with it under her pillow.

It was pretty sucky actually when Bruce had to pull her aside and give the "dude, stahp" lecture. He handled himself really well, letting Kris know that he appreciated her concern but he was a grownup and could take care of himself. This moment totally revealed that while everyone suspected Bruce would be the one falling apart during this split, maybe it turns out that Kris is the one who isn't doing as well as anyone thought she would. Like I said, the heart wants what it wants, and Kris Jenner's heart craves a crotchety gold-obsessed lion-man who refuses to ever take off his socks. Ain't love grand?

Do you think Bruce and Kris will ever get back together?

Image via E!

Oh man. Things are not going well for Lisa Vanderpump. I mean, does she still live in the most palatial and attractive home ever to be featured on The Real Housewives? Yes. Totally. She still very much has the real estate portion of her life on lock. But is she still a T.V. star and restaurant mogul? Yes ... but maybe not for very much longer! 

Lisa's been dealt a few heavy blows over the last few months. First, producers fired Joyce Giraud and Carlton Gebbia -- Lisa's only remaining allies on the show. If I were Lisa, I'd want to leave the show too -- which is what she's rumored to be planning. But the hits don't stop there, no sir, they just keep on coming. Now they are impacting her restaurant career as well! A former server at Lisa's Villa Blanca eatery named Karina Bustillos just won a $6,000 lawsuit against the restaurant on charges of sexual harassment she endured while working there! No, say it ain't so! 

Karina brought the restaurant to court over the behavior of the place's assistant manager. What made this case doubly awful was that the court found that the restaurant acted with malice! That meant they were able to determine that the restaurant knew the assistant manager was in violation of their own sexual harassment policies ... and did nothing to stop him. No, Lisa! You're supposed to take care of your own, not feed them to grabby wolves! 

If Lisa leaves Real Housewives, and crowds stop thronging to her restaurants, what will she have left? I mean, aside from a rockin' bod, Giggy, and Ken Todd teetering around after her festooning her person with pink roses. Lisa hasn't confirmed that she's leaving the show, but with no allies to speak of, and the feud with Brandi Glanville still relatively fresh on her mind, I can't imagine she'd want to make her life more difficult by staying in the limelight.

Do you think Lisa will quit the show?

Image via Instagram

Miley Cyrus showing everything her mama (and presumably papa) gave her in the body and also skin department happens every day. I swear, open a paper or a website, and you're like, "Oh look, Miley's labia seem to be doing well." She wears one shocking outfit after another, baring body part after body part, until it's more shocking when she's all covered up in slacks and a turtleneck than it is when she's experiencing a wardrobe malfunction.

That's what makes her vacation swimwear so captivating. While she's not in a one-piece or a swimsuit with a ruffled skirt, Miley's simple bikinis are so demure compared to what she usually wears that it's almost alarming. On stage she favors the high-cut bottoms that leave nothing to the imagination. But her black and white poolside suit, while definitely showing off some skin, was also totally age appropriate and pretty darn cute.  

She looks just like your average 20-something hanging out with her cool friends, taking a break during the summer months. Although, granted, she probably has a few more tattoos than the average 20-something hanging out near a body of water with her pals. 

Miley's suit is edgy and high-fashion without being trashy or too tacky. We know she kind of prefers the glamtrashulous (totally just coined a new term) look regularly, but it's nice to see that she isn't above trying something more basic and less ripe for disaster. Even Miley's got to take a break from being Miley every once in a while. 

Do you like or loathe Miley's bikini?

Image via Bruno Marzi/Splash News 

Man, did anyone else want to give Shannon Beador a massive hug tonight, or was it just me? The fact that I felt like consoling her is telling, since I'm usually a staunch anti-hugger. Especially of strangers. As if facing some serious problems in her marriage weren't bad enough, Shannon made the rookie mistake of confiding in an Orange Country veteran, Tamra Judge.

I don't think Tamra is a bad person. I do, however, think she likes being on T.V. maybe even more than Vicki Gunvalson does. That Shannon would open up to Tamra only for Tamra to turn around, reveal her secrets, and belittle her just to get back in good with Heather Dubrow was pretty appalling. It was also pretty riveting to watch. Somewhere (probably in heaven) Niccolo Machiavelli witnessed this all and slow-clapped. You know that dead historical bitch lurved him some drama. 

Shannon found out -- VIA EMAIL -- that her husband thinks they need to spend some time apart. Dude. If your husband is emailing you? That's maybe red flag number one. No wait, I'll back up -- if your husband goes to bed at 8:30 so he doesn't have to engage with you: THAT is red flag number one.

This is making me sound much more callous about Shannon's situation than I actually feel. I don't doubt that she and David Beador love each other very much, but clearly things aren't right. Clearly it's hurting them both. I basically started weeping when Shannon had to go to the doctor because her relationship problems were LITERALLY MESSING WITH HER HEART. It's been a while since this show had a character who was so fascinating to watch. I just hope she can survive the poop-storm that is about to land on her head when she finds out that Tamra has been airing her dirty laundry for the whole world to see.

Do you think Shannon and David will make it through?

Image via BravoTV

This probably says way more about me than it should, but when it comes to Ladies of London, I am staunchly team Annabelle Neilson. I mean, she's a well-respected muse and model and the most punk-rock member of the British aristocracy (not that, like, you know, that is saying much really in terms of punk-rock street cred). Still, she seems like someone who'd give you a cigarette if you were short one at a party and like she has a killer sense of humor.

You know who does not? Juliet Angus. Maybe I'm going to catch hell for this, maybe not -- but Juliet is THE WORST. She's the reason Americans have a bad rep in places like the U.K. Which is particularly egregious because her faults (rudeness, volume, self-centeredness) are her own, not those of every American. When Juliet's behavior went from rude to just awkward at the Fourth of July Party, Annabelle walked. But Juliet wasn't content to let bygones, you know, be gone. 

If you're being so loud and me-me-me that someone gets up and leaves your party, here is a pro-tip: Do not chase them down and yell at them in the street! Don't get me wrong here. I am American and proud of where I come from. But this doesn't mean I'm going to let my ass-cheeks hang out of my cut-offs and make my new friends feel like I'm the coolest person ever, and they shouldn't even bother.

I have to say, Annabelle's reaction to Juliet chasing her down in the street? Best thing I've seen on reality T.V. for a while. Juliet went quietly nuts freaking out about Annabelle's "rudeness." Annabelle went for the soft-spoken death-stare AND I LOVED IT. The truth of the matter is Annabelle didn't leave the party because the Americans were being gauche. She left the party because IT WAS LAME. Juliet whipping around knickers was just as good a marker that it was time for her to leave as any. In closing: Juliet is the worst. I know, I already said that -- but you guys, she talks about hanging out with Lindsay Lohan like that is something desirable or cool. She named her son Truman. I rest my case.

Are you team Annabelle or team Juliet?

Image via Instagram

Trigger warning: If you hate rodents and love guys who have beards, you should brace yourself. Have you seen Schick New Zealand's new advertising campaign?! It's gnarly. Each image shows a hunky, hipster dude with a luscious beard. But then you look closer and realize that something is off. Those aren't your average beards. THOSE ARE BEARDS MADE OF RODENTS.

The copy on each ad read, "The Beard Has Gone Feral." I can't even with this. Razor company! Why must you destroy something I love! I ask for so little in this life. I'm a hipster girl, and I love me some hipster boys with big ol' beards. But Schick New Zealand doesn't really want me expressing my passion for facial hair with such ardor. In fact, if they had their way? I'd only be all about the smooth and freshly shaven face on my man: Preferably courtesy of a Schick razor, of course.

It's kind of silly to make an entire ad campaign that targets hipsters. After all, if you've read even one New Yorker cartoon about our ilk, you know we are not likely to fall victim to your commercial ploys. Also, if a hipster is buying a razor, you can rest assured that it is going to be a handcrafted bespoke one, most likely forged in a local steel shop. 

Maybe I'm wrong. There is, after all, a huge contingent of hipster culture that prides itself on spending as little money as possible on their appearance. But, you know, THIS IS WHY THEY GROW BEARDS.

I think the razor company is going about this all wrong. If they want to target a facial hair epidemic among the younger set, they should have a campaign dedicated to wiping out neck beards. True story: I have never once seen a neard that wasn't totally gross and terrifying.

Do you think these ads will work?

Images via Schick New Zealand

Good thing Sonja Morgan has her army of young men to console her when the going gets rough. And, you know, good thing she has them in general. That said, she'll probably be taking major advantage of their crying-shoulders in the coming days as her bankruptcy case takes another weird and wild turn -- this time, Sonja's problems? They involve pigs. Wild. Pigs. Yeah. You heard me.

Sonja's financial troubles have been plaguing her for quite some time now. You'd think things couldn't get any weirder. You'd think wrong. Sonja announced that as part of her bankruptcy case, she was selling off her villa in St. Tropez (WOULD THAT I HAD THESE PROBLEMS). Sonja wanted to make sure she got as much dough as was possible in listing the property -- which makes sense. She was selling it for $8 million. Now, I don't know anything about how rich people operate, but I shall say that this seems like a "reasonable price." Only Sonja didn't get anywhere NEAR her asking amount.

And why not? Because the villa was falling to pieces! Still, you'd think someone would be willing to shell out major bucks for the land alone -- I mean, St. Tropez? Hello? If it was just a little property damage, this might have been the case. But sadly, there was more to Sonja's latest mess. And that more? It was a whole mess of wild pigs parading around the property.

I can't even with this news, you guys. I feel like Sonja should just pull a Grey Gardens, enlist Ramona Singer to be the Big Edie to her Little Edie, move to St. Tropez, and just commune with the wild pigs in her dilapidated mansion. If the whole "communing with wild pigs" thing doesn't work out, they can always slaughter the animals and make scads of money selling Ramona and Sonja-brand bacon. I know I would buy at least one package. I mean, depending on how much the shipping costs. I'm not made of money, you guys.

What do you think the future holds for Sonja?

Image via BravoTV

Demi Lovato's latest series of selfies shared to Instagram deserves a standing ovation. The pretty-as-a-picture singer and actress has been open about her struggles with her body, image, and self-acceptance. When Demi shares photos of herself on Instagram, it isn't out of vanity at all. Demi's selfies -- especially ones of herself without makeup or relaxing in a bathing suit -- are proof of just how far she's come in the battle to learn to love herself. 

Looking at Demi in these photos, it's hard to imagine how she could ever be so down on her appearance. She is absolutely radiant. Her perfect skin positively glows with freckles, making her look quite a bit younger than she usually does with a full face of makeup on. She is beautiful either way, but without makeup, it's her confidence and sense of self that really shine the brightest. 

In addition to sharing this amazing, in-the-pool, makeup-free shot, Demi shared another picture that was, in a way, even more gutsy. She shared a photograph of herself in a bikini. Demi's struggles with her body have been chronicled in depth. They've been chronicled to the point where I gasped when I saw that she was showcasing her body. It's tempting to say this is proof she is still fixated on how she looks, but I think that's backwards.

Rather than trying to hide her body and feel shame about it, she is sharing it and being proud of it -- and that's a big deal. While she might have received flack for being so open about her problems in the past, I think Demi was a role model for doing so. She continues to be one by sharing images like these with her fans.

Do you think Demi is getting better or getting worse?

Images via Instagram

"Honey, I'll be right back. We're fresh out of bull penis and I've got to go to the local grocery store to buy us some," SAID NO ONE EVER. But don't tell that to one grocery store in Austin, Texas. They stand accused of repackaging "pizzle" (that's bull dong to you and me) and selling it as being totally fit for human consumption. The attorney general's office had some beef (AMAZING PUN) with this -- as one would imagine. They are fining the store and the employees responsible for the sale of the wiener $5,000.

In America we naturally turn our noses up at the idea of eating the penis of any animal. Unless you're a dog -- in which case, pizzle sticks are among one of the more popular dried, chewy treats sold at pet stores. In other countries, like China, this part of the bull is thought to be an aphrodisiac. Just, you know, not here. 

But does that make it such a crime? It's not as though the grocery store was serving something that would do anyone any real harm. I understand that it's not exactly honest to be serving up bull privates and just shadily labeling it as "generic nothing to see here" beef. It might be too funky for some of us, but let's be real -- bull penis isn't going to make someone sick. 

Plus, you could make the argument that what the grocery store is doing is actually pretty responsible. Wait, wait, don't roll your eyes just yet! Isn't it a good thing to use all of an animal instead of just taking the more accepted pieces for eating? I think the restaurant should be lauded, not fined, for treating the meat they buy ethically. 

What do you think?

Image via just a prarie boy/Flickr

Oh mama. Kate Gosselin and her brood returned to T.V. tonight -- and, not surprisingly, the much maligned Jon Gosselin was nowhere to be seen. Time has passed, there have even been two seasons of Kate and the 8 minus Jon. But all the same, Kate and Jon's divorce is still relatively fresh in our minds. Equally fresh? Her attempts to stay in the public eye with forays into Dancing With The Stars -- she's even set to star on The Celebrity Apprentice in the upcoming season.

The return to the spotlight wasn't, ostensibly, for Kate this time. This reunion special was to celebrate the sextuplets turning ten! That makes me feel ancient. Let's not even discuss the fact that the twins are already teenagers. Just roll in my wheelchair and leave me to my misery. Time may have passed since we last saw the gang, but not a lot has changed. 

The difficulties of raising baby multiples has simply been replaced with the difficulties of raising teenager multiples. Sure, Kate says, some mornings she lets them get up and do breakfast and the like for themselves. But they are still slaves to their chore chart, and getting any one particular activity done is almost impossible thanks to mini-meltdown of any number of their posse.

The thing that struck me the most was how tired Kate seems. She can be pretty easy to vilify, but this special definitely had me empathizing with her. She speaks candidly about her fears regarding how growing up without an active father figure will negatively affect her kids, especially the boys. Kate, known as much for her temperament as her many children, seems to be on the knife's edge of falling into a bad mood or tears when one of her kids threatens to make any task anything other than easy. For the first time, I wasn't rolling my eyes at her. I was feeling badly for her. 

What did you think of part one of the special?

Image via TLC

A colorful rainbow cake seems innocent enough, right? It's just some flour, sugar, an egg or two, correct? It turns out, that is not the case. This past week, a certain rainbow cake that is tie dyed on the outside and filled in the middle with the number five set off an epic comment war that has to be seen be believed.

It looks like some of the chefs -- pros and amateurs alike -- have been watching too many reality TV shows! What began as just some borderline rude sniping over a question regarding how long to freeze an ingredient quickly degenerated into name-calling of a ludicrous (and, let's be real) totally hilarious fashion. Things that should not ever inspire such ire: CAKES. 

Once the mud-slinging started, it wouldn't stop! Here is just a small sampling of the completely insane (and very long thread) that degenerated beyond our wildest imaginings.

We are talking communist name calling:

Ummm... You mean fascist. Communists are extremely liberal, you big blue ball.

Political jabs:

Worldwide, yes it does. In the US it has a different meaning however. Being "liberal" in most rest of the world is being committed to limited government and a " laissez-faire" economic policy. If you notice, that is the opposite of the "liberals" in the US. Liberals here typically are pro large government and prefer a Keynesian economic approach.

Obscene rudeness:

@&@& off already and die you stooopid @&@&! You have to be a @(&@ because only #&(#& are stoooopid. @#!@!

And more!

It's actually a really funny read that I can't do justice here. Suffice it to say:

Now it's turned to politics. IT WAS A CAKE RECIPE!!!!!!

and:

This is helpful. This thread confirms that society is f*cked. No doubt about that, the end is near. But at least now there'll be cake! :D

Amen. Did we mention this was about CAKE?! Whew.

I understand that negative commenters dwell everywhere (hi, I write on the internet for a living, this is hardly a revelation), but on a site dedicated to sharing cake recipes? Really?

It's like both the internet and the culinary world have reached a new low. Ultimately, I feel most badly for the poor innocent cake! Can't you picture it? Just sitting there are beautiful and delicious being like, "can't we all just get along?!" Poor cake! 

Why do you think these commenters went so loco?

Image via Annie A/Flickr 

It was a double-header of new episodes of Sister Wives on TLC tonight! Usually twice the Browns means twice the well-meaning shenanigans and tonight was no exception. If anything, tonight's installments were almost TOO sweet. My favorite moments overall? Why that would include Christine Brown revealing the truth of Kody's feelings about the move to Las Vegas AND seeing all of Robyn's hard work paying off in a loan for the family business! CELEBRATE.

First up, the business-y type stuff. At the end of the last week's episode, I don't know about you, but I was 90% sure that the family was in NO WAY going to get the loan they needed to help Robyn Brown's brainchild soar. I did a veritable Scooby-Doo double take when the investors came back and offered them dollars -- albeit, a little bit less than they had originally planned on receiving. I maybe did a fist-pump. The business lives on!  

In keeping with this upbeat theme, we get my second favorite moment. It's rare we get a glimpse of Kody Brown being anything other than totally confident. That changed this episode. The wives and the various and sundry kids decided to throw a party celebrating Kody and their move to Las Vegas. It was a sweet deck-of-cards theme party, which was nice in and of itself.

But the real magic came when the wives took turns talking about their highs and lows moving to Vegas. It was really surprising when Christine spoke about finally realizing that Kody hadn't been as excited about the move as he had pretended to be. He had only pretended that way to feel that way to convince his family it was the right move. It was so touching to see that the usually unflappable Kody had his doubts.

What was your favorite part of the episode?

Image via TLC