Kate Middleton reveals secret scar from her past. What really happened?

Close-up of Kate, duchess of Cambridge, and the scar that led the palace to reveal details about a childhood operation she underwent. (Getty Images)

Hair extensions: that was the first assumption gossips made when a recent photo of Kate Middleton revealed a three-inch long mark just above her hairline. 

If it were any other celebrity, they probably would have been right. But the low-maintenance duchess had a bigger secret that had nothing to do with beauty. The mark on her head is a scar from a "very serious operation" according to the Daily Mail. St. James Palace officials confirmed Kate's scar was from an operation she had as a child, but wouldn't go into further detail. 

Specialists have already weighed in on what kind of operation it might have been: “Anything, including a birthmark, trauma, neurosurgery or a benign growth of the skin,” Dr. Roy Geronemus, director of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, told ABC News.

As a low-drama princess, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Kate put her traumatic childhood experience far behind her.  Since she first became one of the most-watched women in the world, she's kept an impeccably bright smile at every turn. The only recall of childhood trauma were reports that she was bullied in school for being skinny. No health-related issues have ever been excavated by reporters (and you better believe they've tried). Nobody imagined Kate lived anything but a completely charmed life. But William's princess isn't one to complain.

(Photo by Paul Burns/Clarence House via Getty Images)

Never a hair out of place, a fashion misstep, or a T.M.I moment, Kate is known for her poise and resilience. The other night, representing the palace on her own for the first time as host of a Clarence House charity event, was no exception. In an Amanda Wakely silver gown and matching diamond tear-drop earrings she graciously welcomed guests who had expected to meet Kate's father-in-law. But when Prince Charles had a last minute trip to Saudi Arabia, Kate stepped in as palace pinch-hitter, welcoming a swarm of high-profile guests. She did it  "with absolute professionalism and charm,” according to palace officials.

She knew her appearance, like every one she's made since her wedding, would be in the spotlight, but she probably didn't realize her hairline would be sharing the attention. The fashion police jumped at the chance to find a flaw in her hairstyle—a seam in her natural beauty. But again Middleton proved she's all real, right down to her follicles. She also proved there's more to her than we'll ever know.

by Piper Weiss

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/kate-middleton-reveals-secret-scar-from-her-past-what-really-happened-2600641/

Latest Steve Jobs Mystery Revealed: How He Drove Without License Plates

Photo credit: Getty Images/ Lodev via Flickr

The multitude of mysteries revealed following the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' death now includes one that puzzled car enthusiasts for years: How did Jobs get away with driving without a license plate? It was common knowledge that Jobs would park his Mercedes SL55 AMG in a handicapped spot at Apple's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters, with nothing to identify his vehicle other than the tiny barcode that usually rests behind the rear license plate. According to Walter Isaacson's new biography, Jobs wanted to avoid having a plate for privacy reasons; and yet when having a license-less silver Mercedes became a kind of trademark, Jobs kept motoring without one"because I don't."For years, rumors swirled that Jobs had either won a special dispensation from California authorities or was just daring police to stop him. While the why remains somewhat cloudy, an interview by ITWire with a former Apple security executive reveals the real reason: a little-known loophole in California vehicle laws that gives owners up to six months to get plates for their vehicles.According to Jon Callas, now chief technical officer of Entrust, Jobs would arrange with his vehicle leasing company to switch out his silver Mercedes every six months with a new, identical model — just another of the complicated and expensive ways Jobs thought differently.

By Justin Hyde

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/latest-steve-jobs-mystery-revealed--how-he-drove-without-license-plates.html

Real-Life 'Slumdog Millionaire' First to Win Big

Sushil Kumar (L) joins his hands together past Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan after winning about $1 million …

Sushil Kumar, 26, grew up in one of the poorest states in India. His family was so impoverished that they couldn’t even afford a television set. But today he is a millionaire and television superstar, the first contestant to win $1 million on the Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”

With the roar of audience applause in the background, tears streamed down Kumar’s face as Indian superstar and host of “Kaun Banega Crorepati,” Amitabh Bachchan, handed him and his wife of five months a check Saturday for 50 million rupees, the equivalent of a little more than $1 million, after he answered all the show’s questions correctly. The moments after his win were captured by Indian news-station NDTV.

Kumar is a tutor and government clerk who lives in a home with his wife, mother and five brothers in the small town of Motihari, in the state of Bihar. Before appearing on the show, he made the equivalent of $120 a month. Growing up, he was a voracious reader and very precocious, tutoring other students to enhance his own mind. When current neighbors saw how he would answer question after question, they persuaded him to try out for the show.

He took the preliminary test in July and received a call Oct. 16 that he would be on the show. He flew to Mumbai three days later for the Saturday taping. It was his first time on a plane and his first visit to a big city.

“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I could do this,” Kumar told BBC News.

Host Bachchan said, “You have created history. Your grit and determination has made you come so far in this show.”

Perhaps because Kumar came from such modest beginnings, his plans for the money are simple as well. As the Associated Press reports, he will buy a bigger home for his family, give his brother some cash to start a small business and will use some of the money to pay for a course to prepare him to take India’s civil service exam, which could provide him a secure job.

And just as he was a child who dreamed of access to books to fuel his fervid desire for knowledge, he plans to build a library in Motihari so other children have access to the books and resources he never had.

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/real-life-slumdog-millionaire-first-win-big-133931964.html

If Disney princesses were real

princess jasmine

princess aurora

princess pocahontas

princess belle

princess esmeralda

princess ariel

ursula

megara

princess mulan

Most extreme celebrity baby nurseries

melB

j.lo

mariah carey

christina aguilera

dr. phil

tiffany thiessen

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/most-extreme-celebrity-baby-nurseries-2595539/#photoViewer=1

HPV vaccine now recommended for boys. Would you have your son get the shot?

It's official: Doctors with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommend that 11- and 12-year-old boys also get the controversial HPV vaccine Gardasil, which is supposed to protect against cervical cancer.

HPV, or Human Papilloma Virus, is a group of viruses spread by skin-to-skin and sexual contact. While there are more than 100 strains of HPV out there, only about 15 of them cause genital warts and cancers of the vagina, vulva, anus, penis, and throat as well as cervical cancer. Vaccinating boys before they become sexually active should prevent them from passing HPV along to their future sex partners.But parents have balked at the idea of vaccinating young kids against a sexually transmitted disease, and medically unconfirmed reports of adverse reactions to Gardasil haven't helped the cause. According to Anne Schuchat of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, only 44 percent of girls have received one HPV vaccine, and just 27 percent of girls have had all three of the doses needed to fully protect against cervical cancer. Though Gardasil was tested and approved for use in males, only 1.5 perecnt of boys are being vaccinated against HPV; the hope is that the CDC's new recommendation will boost those numbers, Schuchat told USA Today.Though HPV is most commonly linked to cervical cancer in women—4,000 women in the U.S. die from it each year—a study published earlier this year in the medical journal "The Lancet" shows that as many as 50 percent of men are probably infected with some form of the virus, Reuters reported in March.The vaccine has been controversial from almost the moment that the CDC first recommended the three-shot series to girls and women age 9 to 26, and encouraged parents to vaccinate their 11- and 12-year-old daughters. Their reasoning? If girls are vaccinated before they become sexually active, then by the time they're actually at risk for developing cervical cancer they'll already be protected by it. The vaccine does not protect people who have already been exposed to HPV.But not all medical professionals are on board with that idea. Almost all HPV infections are naturally cleared by the immune system, several experts have pointed out, and routine pap smears usually catch precancerous cells early enough for successful treatment. Cervical cancer develops so slowly that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommends that women be screened for it every three years instead of annually. And since the vaccine just came on the market five years ago, no one knows how well it really protects against infections contracted decades down the road. "The relationship between infection at a young age and development of cancer 20 to 40 years later is not known," wrote Dr. Charlotte Haug in a 2009 editorial in "The Journal of the American Medical Association." "The true effect of the vaccine can be determined only through clinical trials and long-term follow-up."Two years after Gardasil was recommended by the CDC, the lead developer of the vaccine warned that more research is needed. "The rate of serious adverse events [with Gardasil] is greater than the incidence rate of cervical cancer,"  Dr. Diane Harper, director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Research Group at the University of Missouri, said at a vaccine conference in 2009.  (For the record, the CDC disagrees. "We don't believe there is any evidence to suggest any severe, life-threatening outcomes with this vaccine," Schuchat says).

by Lylah M. Alphonse

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/hpv-vaccine-now-recommended-for-boys-would-you-have-your-son-get-the-shot-2596610/;_ylt=Al0QcQhqOImV4nIHgh6aa1BpbqU5

hot hot hot

This year's Walk of Style Awards was star-studded, but one celeb stole the spotlight. Hot "Modern Family" mama Sofia Vergara stood out at the soiree in a strapless Missoni stunner, diamond-and-coral cuff, and her signature smile.

 On Saturday evening, "Glee" cutie Lea Michele impressed in a daring Luca Luca ensemble -- which featured a revealing blouse and matching black shorts -- upon arriving at Mohegan Sun's 15th Anniversary fete. Her awesome accessories included Meus Designs earrings, an onyx cocktail ring, and Jimmy Choo booties.

Amanda Seyfried -- who co-stars alongside Justin Timberlake in "In Time" -- rocked the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of the thriller in a psychedelic dress courtesy of Prabal Gurung. The blond bombshell perfectly paired the frock with smoky eyeshadow, a metallic bracelet, a trendy harness belt, and basic black peep-toes. 

Also seen sporting a bold hue (or two!) was actress Amber Heard ("The Rum Diary"), who exuded glamour at the 15th Annual Hollywood Film Awards in a mint-and-aqua Roksandra Ilincic getup and sideswept 'do.

Keira Knightley is also a fan of Roksandra Ilincic's work and wore one of the designer's dresses to the London premiere of "A Dangerous Method."

Back at the Hollywood Film Awards, "My Week With Marilyn" star Michelle Williams dressed to impress in a midnight blue Nina Ricci gown, which featured cascading chiffon and a metal-adorned bustier. 

"Slumdog Millionaire" alum Freida Pinto turned heads in Salvatore Ferragamo at the Doha Film Fest in Qatar. The beauty's magenta, custom-made gown included a gold rope belt, which matched her Amrapali bracelets and clutch.

Milla Jovovich never disappoints, and she certainly didn't at the Japanese premiere of "The Three Musketeers." Her black bandage Herve Leger by Max Azria dress is undoubtedly one of the fiercest frocks of 2011. Her sparkly Jimmy Choo stilettos are also some of the sexiest shoes we've seen this year. 

Marion Cotillard is a fashion risk taker, and we love that she was willing to pair this graphic Christian Dior dress with loud, chain-link pumps to the Parisian premiere of "Contagion." 

"New Girl" star Zooey Deschanel delivered a flawless rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" -- before Game 4 of the World Series -- while wearing this patriotic Moschino mini. 

Madonna, who -- at 53 -- continues to put women half her age to shame. The Material Girl was all smiles upon hitting the red carpet for the premiere of her directorial debut, "W.E.," in a leaf-emblazoned L'Wren Scott LBD, fishnet stockings, and platform heels. 

http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/2-hot-2-handle-5314/madonna-bfi-london-film-festival-56255.html

Nursery trends and mommy must haves

You've come a long way baby! A nursery nowadays is artistic, eco-friendly, and personality driven. For starters, furniture designers are thinking outside the rectangle. In the hands of these innovators, the mainstay wooden crib is transformed into a statement piece.  Cribs are the focal point of a nursery, now thanks to designers like David Harris of The new traditionalists, cribs can be customized with modern color panels and wood treatments (think distressed wood, silver-painted).  This episode features beautiful examples of these contemporary styles.  We also show off some of our other favorite cribs, like the award winning Stokke’s round crib.  This flexible crib is great for tight spaces and it grows as your child grows.

Stokke Cribs

Sleigh Crib @ Bratt Decor

Dress a crib up in today's textiles that recast old school patterns, such as hounds tooth and damask, in a whimsical light and you have your room's centerpiece.  Baby bedding has come a long way.  Forget the frilly and formal and embrace today’s designs that marry elegance and whimsy.  Walmart and Serena and Lillyhave a wide assortment. 

Avalon Crib Set @ Walmart

And finally, what better way to make a statement than with a sensible, wall color? Rich and royal hues are upstaging the traditional Pepto Bismol pink and cotton-candy blues. Some of this year's favorite picks include: lime green, turquoise, coral, soft pewter, aubergine, and deep, peacock blue. With all the options out there, turning a staid room into a stylish baby haven becomes mere child's play.

Below are some wonderful mommy must haves featured in this episode of Make Home a Haven. 

Must Have #1

I find the portable changing table is priceless, once the baby is past the three month stage you’ll want one of these inexpensive tables. They go anywhere and make changing a snap.

Ubi Changing Table

Must Have #2

The new age of nursery flooring is stylish and hygienic.  Skip Hop foam tiles are the way to go. They can be wiped down or even thrown in the washing machine. They look great too.

Skip Hop Foam Tile

Must Have #3

Sleep sacks and Swaddle me's are ingenious, the covers help keep baby wrapped tightly as if they were still in the womb.

Sleep Sacks

SwaddleMe

(We caught up with a few celebrity moms at a Pampers event, and they shared their nursery must-haves with us too.)

Must Have #4

Ugly Betty’s Ana Ortiz swears by the Elfa closet systems.  She says it’s a great way to organize everything.

Elfa Closet System

  

Must Have #5

Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi loves those little book lights so she can read while here baby sleeps.

Must Have #6

Gossip Girls’ Kelly Rutherford says teething tablets will make your life much easier and your baby much happier.

Teething Tablets

by Carolina Buia

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/haven/nursery-trends-and-mommy-must-haves-1300243