Jennifer Aniston looks good. Period. She doesn't just look good for a 45-year-old; she looks good for a person of any age. Her skin glows; her hair is shiny; she's in fantastic shape; and most of all, she seems happy. So it's no wonder it's bothersome to Aniston when people say she "looks good for her age."

In a recent interview with Women's Wear Daily, the actress expressed her irritation with society's need to constantly emphasize a woman's age. "Your age always has to be mentioned and men don't really get that for some reason," she said. "It's not like you see Joe Schmo, 37."

The lady's got a point. Think about it: You may not have known Aniston's exact age by heart, but you likely had a ballpark figure. Now think about this: Do you have any idea how old her fiance, JustinTheroux, is? What about Hugh Jackman? Or Bradley Cooper? And when you refer to them as attractive, do you say: They're attractive for their age?

The sad truth is, since the beginning of time, women's ages, and whether they look them or not, have been carefully scrutinized. The "for her age" line seems to be a mainstay in our world, particularly the good ol' US of A. And to be honest, it's slightly confusing, because who determines what looks good for a specific age? I think we can all agree, if we're using this measuring system, that Jennifer Aniston looks good for a 45-year-old woman. But doesn't she look good for a 38-year-old woman as well? Isn't she a good-looking woman, regardless of her age? Isn't Diane von Furstenberg considered beautiful in most circles? (I'll save you the Googling -- she's 67.)

Wrinkle-free skin, a pert bottom, and lush hair -- do I even need to say this? -- are nice things to have. But, as cheesy and cliche as it sounds, the most attractive thing in a person of any age is confidence and the ability to be comfortable, truly comfortable, in one's skin.

And a superficial bonus of not succumbing to society's pressure to be eternally youthful-looking and just being happy with what you've got? You'll likely glow a little bit. And a little dew certainly never hurt.

What do you think of the "for her age" line?

Image via Jag Gundu/Getty

My beauty regime is pretty tame -- it includes soap, moisturizing lotion, and the occasional facial scrub. It does NOT include venom, blood, or skin-eating fish. But those are things that some on a quest for beauty will use when trying to get a silkier, smoother, more youthful complexion.

Here are 8 of the most bizarre beauty treatments you can get ... if you're brave enough!

Fish Pedicures
Would you want a school of small toothless carp to swim up to your feet and nibble off all the dead skin and calluses? Yeah, that just sounds creepy, uncomfortable, and also unsafe! Plus, there's the potential to catch a dangerous skin infection, but that didn't stop Kim Kardashian from getting a fish pedicure.

Vampire Facial
This obscure practice became news after Kim Kardashian had the procedure done in front of the cameras for her show Kourtney & Kim Take Miami. During the vampire facial (or vampire facelift, as it is also called), blood is drawn from the client's arm, and the platelets are separated into a platelet-rich plasm via a centrifuge. The plasm is then mixed with other goodies like Restylane or Juvederm and then injected back into the client's face. One look at Kim's face (above) says it all. Ick.

The Bird Poop Facial
At the Shizuka New York Day Spa in New York City, you can get yourself a $180 60-minute geisha facial. The secret ingredient of this skin care treatment? Powdered nightingale droppings -- yes, bird poop! The facial ingredients aim to "soften, brighten, and nourish the facial complexion," all through the magic of bird poop.

Sheep Placenta Facial
We've all heard about the different uses of placentas, but have you heard of using a sheep's placenta as part of your beauty regime? It's been rumored that Victoria Beckham and Simon Cowell have both tried it. Would you?

Bull Semen Conditioner
It may sound like a bullish version of that infamous scene in There's Something About Mary, but putting semen in your hair is actually a "thing." A salon in Santa Monica offers a shot of bull semen in their hair treatments for the low price of $7, but is that worth it? You be the judge.

Snail Slime Face Cream
In our garden, we have a whole bunch of snails leaving their slimy trail on the ground behind them, but you know what I have never thought of doing? Take the snails and put them on my face OR mash them up and rub snail guts into my pores. But apparently some daring beauty lovers DO take snail slime and innards and mix it into a skin lotion. Yuck.

Bee Venom Cream
Most of us do our best to avoid bee venom, but one skin care company called Heaven markets a mask made of shea butter, rose and lavender essential oils, and bee venom as an alternative to Botox. They claim the bee venom "works to control the facial muscles for immediate lifting, tightening, and firming, whilst getting to work on frown lines and wrinkles." Yeah, I'd still avoid it.

Toe Shortening
Are those pesky long toes of yours causing issues when you try to wear your favorite heels? Well, like so many things, there's a surgery for that. For years now, women have been going under the knife, paying $3,000 or more to have their toes shortened for the sake of fashion. Ouch -- just ouch! I'd rather have the blisters and bunions.

Would you ever dare to do one of these "extreme" beauty treatments on yourself?

Image via Kim Kardsahian/Instagram

Britney Spears has never been known for being, uh, a bastion of style and elegance. What she wore on her latest jaunt to LAX only serves to highlight her almost gifted ability to totally butcher the simple task of getting up in the morning and putting on clothes. She was snapped wearing an assortment of workout gear. Ostensibly, there is zero shame in that game.

But none of it matched or really even made sense. The striped skirt seems to have been purchased from planet weird. And what is up with her brown wedge, I don't know, hiking boots? She looks like an out of touch German tourist. What should be an easy task (you know, wearing clothes), especially for a woman of her wealth, is, it seems for her, a feat almost impossible.

Can she not hire someone to keep her looking great? I'm all for being comfortable, especially when you're doing something like traveling by plane, but you can be comfy-cozy and still look like a million bucks. There are entire clothing lines dedicated to this. Sure, for you and me, shopping for a wardrobe of lazy clothes at Lululemon might to not be an option. But Britney can afford it! If comfort is her excuse, I'm just not buying it. Namely because nothing about that look screams 'I am so relaxed and at ease right now.'

Heck, if she's trying to save a few pennies, jeans and an old simple t-shirt have to be part of her wardrobe. That humble standby would easily be an improvement over this ensemble. I am no style maven myself. I have been known to wear my clogs for weeks at a time. But even I am not above going to The Gap and purchasing things from their Body collection for stuff like traveling and lazing around at home days. Their stuff is comfortable and cute without looking totally bizarre.

What do you think of Brit's LAX look?

Images via Splash News

Pastel colors are going to be a big trend this spring, but many women tend to shy away from them because they fear looking like Easter eggs or little girls. There's no need to avoid the lightest and sweetest lavenders, pinks, blues, and yellows, which can soften your overall look and make you feel happier and lighter than you have all winter long -- if you can keep a few tricks in mind for how to wear them well.

Lucky for us, it's easier than ever to find great and sophisticated pastel clothing and accessories. Here are 9 essential pastel pieces that will make you super excited to add light hues to your spring wardrobe.

Image via asos.com

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen usually get it when it comes to fashion (though you could argue MK's boho styles have come across as a bit confusing at times). But even they got it wrong this week when they were spotted rocking Birkenstock-style leather sandals with white tube socks. I don't care how fashion savvy they usually are -- this will never not be a no-no. Never, ever!

But, at the end of the day, we can give a pass to the fashion designing duo because they more or less always look polished (Ashley) or at the very least hip and somewhat dirty -- in the best way possible (MK). Know who we can't forgive? The following celebrities, who have committed 9 of the biggest fashion disasters we've witnessed in some time. Tsk, tsk, celebs.

Image via Instagram

Jennifer Aniston recently was dishing about her supposed "beauty secrets." Clearly we all want to know what they are. I mean, the woman has flawless skin and her hair is without parallel. I kind of hate her for it. I know she probably works mad hard to attain that level of perfection. She's a well-documented doer ofyoga, and as a celebrity, she's got the dollars and the access to loads of treatments that most of us common, wrinkle-having folks will never be able to indulge in. 

But now she's talking about what she thinks makes for the best beauty products. And what she's selling, I ain't buying. I mean this both literally and figuratively. Jen's a spokesperson for Aveeno cosmetics, so it makes sense that she'd be schilling their stuff. I happen to like Aveeno for the same reasons Jen claims to: Simple ingredients and a reasonable price. 

They have this under-eye cooling stick that is boss while we're talking about them. THAT SAID. I find it to be totally suspect that Jen exclusively uses Aveeno products. She's into beauty and style and makeup and she works in an industry where she's photographed all the time.

If you want me to believe that the only lotions and potions she's got in her medicine cabinet are by Aveeno, then you are a crazy person who will have to put me under a spell. Because that's the only way I'd be willing to go with you on this one. I'm not saying that I think she's lying exactly. I'm saying that I think that in addition to the copious amounts of Aveeno products she surely owns, she's also got other more luxe brands kicking around her manse.

I'd be far more likely to buy some Aveeno stuff if Jen were all, "I rep Aveeno because they are all about all-natural beauty. They are a beauty staple of mine among all the other stuff I also clearly use." Admittedly, I know truth in advertising isn't exactly the norm. But when you're making the simple and the natural your business, maybe it should be!

Do you buy that Jen only uses Aveeno?

Image via al7n6awi/Flickr

For much of my life, I have been firmly against fanny packs. I remember the extreme disdain I felt for anyone sporting one back in the day ... And we all know that there is no one so disdainful as a pre-teen girl. That disdain is something I thought would last my whole life (see also: Birkenstocks), but, um, well, the truth is ... I think I may be changing my mind about fanny packs.

Horrifying, right? No! Wait! It's not what you think!

I'm not talking about the fanny packs of yesteryear, which, truly, are ridiculous looking. I'm talking about a sleeker, more chic version of the fanny pack. Yes, it does exist! And yes, they are making a comeback.

When I read that Rihanna wore a fanny pack to the Chanel runway show earlier this year, I laughed. But THEN my very hip and fun mom friend came to visit me from Boston recently sporting a quite cute leather item that can only be described as a fanny pack. It was sort of similar to the leather hip bag pictured above. It looked great on her AND left her hands-free, which is "handy" (GET IT?) when you have two little boys, like she does!

I was quite impressed. INTRIGUED, you might say. So I started keeping my eyes out and discovered that TONS of brands are marketing fanny packs -- though some call them "belt bags" or even "BUM BAGS," which is kind of awesome if you think about it. Here are just a few of the really cute options out there. (Note: for the sake of making a point, I included some ridiculously priced bags, which I'll keep in mind if I ever win the lottery!)

Pictured here, clockwise from the top left: ONE by Evan Fanny Pack ($210 at shopbop.com); Sonia Rykiel Metallic Belt Bag ($520 at intermixonline.com); Ecote Marlow Embellished Belt Bag ($49 at urbanoutfitters.com); Harveys Seatbelt Bag Hipster ($84 at zappos.com); Kipling Multiple Belt Bag ($41 at macys.com); MARNI embellished bum bag ($895 at farfetch.com)

Cute, right?!

I'm already a big fan of the cross-body bag; a "fanny/bum/belt" bag just takes it to the next level. Of course, neither a little cross-body nor a fanny pack is realistic for a mom of babies or toddlers who needs to carry around a ton of stuff, but for those days when you want to/can afford to be a little more carefree, I think I may be a fanny pack convert!

What do you think about these updated fanny packs?

Image via RuthKraus/Etsy

I'm sitting here as I type wearing stocking jeans. Some may call them leggings that look like denim, but they most definitely aren't. They also shouldn't be confused with Pajama Jeans, which I so bravely tested out and have since donated because they looked awful on me and hopefully someone somewhere had better luck with them than I did. These stocking jeans, as the cool kids are calling them these days, are actually more comfortable than Pajama Jeans. I'm sitting. Cross-legged. Computer on lap. I'm comfortable. But taking these for a walk outside is a whole other thing.

They aren't awful looking, but they have their own issues.

The first being the front. Everything seen here is fake. Fake pockets. Fake zipper section. There are just some seams to make it look like you have these things. Kind of like how NASCAR has stickers of headlights on their cars. Why?

The more I stare at this photo, the more weirded out I get at how odd this looks, so let's move on.

Let's look at a close up of the fabric. This is the stocking/legging jean's worst offense.

Dizzy? There's a part of me that feels like we all should forgo the fake jean look and just go with real jeans or real leggings or real stockings. Do we really need this indigo fake denim look? It's like when there's not real wood, but plastic made to look like wood. I guess it's not that bad when it really looks like real wood, but we're talking about clothes here. It's a whole other animal. There are real pockets in the back, but it's really hard to take a selfie of your backside and have it look good. Besides, the way these jeans-not-jeans are cut, I have total '70s butt. Not so cute. Not going to show the world.

I first heard of stocking jeans when Refinery29 introduced me to JBrand's stocking jeans, which looked amazing but cost $224. Anything for a comfortable skinny jean. Then I was in Rite Aid and saw No Nonsense's version for $15 and decided to give them a go. I'm not sorry I did. They really are super comfortable and make very fashionable house pants. (Say that with a British accent.) If I were desperate and at the end of my clean clothes, I'd wear with a long shirt. They seem to be holding their stretch, too. No saggy knees! I can get down with that.

What do you think of the stocking jean? Do you or would you wear them?

Images via Michele Zipp

We all know the foods and drinks that will stain our teeth (coffee, anyone?), but did you know that there are actually foods that can help naturally whiten your teeth? As in you can be making yourself more beautiful by ... eating. Sounds good to me! And don't worry, they're not all healthy foods. There are some fatty foods out there that you can now eat without feeling guilty, because they're for the benefit of your pearly whites! (Might not want to overdo it, though.)

Here are 5 weird (yummy!) foods that actually whiten your teeth.

Image via Rupert Taylor-Price/Flickr

Emma Watson is a style icon. First she hacked off her hair and looked only the more beautiful for doing so, and now she's rocking menswear like virtually no woman before her has done. She was photographed on her way to a taping of The Tonight Show in traditional, dude-like black and white. But there was nothing boyish about her looks.

Women in men's clothing have always been a fashion go-to. I immediately conjure up images of Diane Keaton in Annie Hall or Marlene Dietrich wearing her infamous top hat and tails. Emma's simple, streamlined look here is a breath of fresh air. It's just as iconic as anything those other infamous boy-clothes wearing ladies ever donned. Here's hoping other celebs jump on board.

Emma did the look right. She wore a black Saint Laurent suit with a cigarette-cut pant. She ditched the gimmicky aspects of girls going full-boy and left the tie at home. This served to soften the overall feel of the outfit. She also capped the ensemble with basic black Louboutins (blasphemy I know, there's nothing 'basic' about Loubs) and a fabulous black clutch.

It's hard to imagine Emma ever looking anything but awesome. Still, this pairing is pretty exceptional. It's old school and new all at the same time. It feels fresh rather than trendy. It skews a whole lot more Fred Astaire than it does Annie Hall, which I kind of adore. It's funny how a look that's considered masculine can, at times, only serve to highlight someone's utter femininity. That's definitely what this suit does for Emma. Brava!

What do you think of Emma's look?

Images via Splash News/Instagram

A cancer survivor who wore a tutu during a race was made fun of in the April issue of Self and was extremely offended, to say the least.

The magazine writer declared war on tutus worn during races in a column called "The BS Meter." Underneath a photo of two women wearing superhero T-shirts and tutus -- one of whom was Monika Allen, who was undergoing chemo for brain cancer -- the caption read: ”A racing tutu epidemic has struck NYC’s Central Park, and it’s all because people think these froufrou skirts make you run faster. Now, if you told us they made people run from you faster, maybe we would believe it.”

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, especially when it comes to fashion, but this Self writer was totally off-base and ill-informed.

Allen was not only in the midst of chemo treatments for brain cancer when the photo was taken, but she also owns a company called Glam Runners that makes tutus and donates the money to Girls on the Run -- a charity that funds exercise and confidence-building programs for young girls.

And, get this: Self actually contacted her for permission to use the photo but didn't inform her that it was going to be used for mocking the tutu trend.

Allen was, of course, very upset.

"I feel like we were misled in providing the picture," she said. "Had I known how the picture was going to be used, I wouldn't have wanted to send it."

The tutu has become a huge fashion statement for some runners, especially those running for a cause. Many wear similar tutus to show they are part of a team. Others wear them to send a message of whimsy in a time of struggle and sadness. These "froufrou skirts" are not worn, as Self claimed, to "run faster." They are worn as a sign of hope, joy, and unity.

After word got out about the magazine's tutu shaming, editor Lucy Danziger apologized, saying she was "personally mortified."

"I had no idea that Monika had been through cancer," she told USA Today. "It was an error. It was a stupid mistake. We shouldn't have run the item."

Self also issued a formal apology "for the association of her picture in any way other than to support her efforts to be healthy."

"Of course if tutus make you run with a smile on your face or with a sense of purpose or community, then they are indeed worth wearing, for any race," the statement said.

And really, anything that makes you smile is okay in my book!

What do you think about the controversy?

Image via Sangugo/Flickr

Jessica Simpson was reborn recently. The lovely star posted a #nomakeup selfie on Thursday, and not only was it an honest-to-goodness real no makeup photo of herself, as opposed to one of those dimly-lit, light mascara and lip gloss ones -- she looks about 12! Christ, what is this woman eating?!

Is it the Weight Watchers portobello mushroom fajitas? Say it's the Weight Watchers portobello mushroom fajitas, and I'll go buy them, I'm not joking.

Jessica shared the snap when she was working out and, shockingly, didn't even make mention of the fact that she was bare-faced. She's simply smiling on a treadmill with a friend and she looks adorable. And shockingly well-rested for a woman with two young kids!

You know what I figured out the key is? The photo is taken from afar. Now, don't get me wrong, Jess is clearly an incredibly beautiful woman, but yowzers! This is one of the prettiest (honest) mid-workout, makeup-free photos I've ever seen. I don't doubt that Simpson would look almost equally stunning up-close, but, uh, I wouldn't. The next time someone wants to take a no makeup, hair unbrushed pic of me (which, you know, happens all the time when I'm walking down the street), I'm going to tell them to back up. And then take the photo.

Looking great, Jess! Motherhood -- and no makeup! -- certainly suits you!

How great does Jessica look in this photo? What are your tips for looking good in photos?

Images via Jessica Simpson/Instagram

Guess who knocked it out of the park fashion-wise when taking to the beach with her family, you guys? None other than Miss Britney Jean Spears. I know. What planet are we even on?! Wasn't it just earlier this week where I bemoaned Britney's fashion? It was. But that might as well be ancient history in the light of Britney's newest look.

Britney donned a series of bikinis when hanging out at the beach with her boyfriend and her family. In my favorite shot, she's wearing a teeny-tiny blue two-piece and pairing it with a ridiculously happy smile. Clearly things with her lovah David Lucado are going well. I feel like we haven't see Brit Brit look this good in ages. She's pretty much glowing and working that bikini like she's gettin' paid to! 

Britney shared photos of herself wearing two different bikinis. There's the bright blue one that I've mentioned, and then a hot pinkish orange one. In the latter, we see her pictured with her kids and her boyfriend, having a blast on the beaches of Hawaii. Learning to get some well deserved rest and relaxation must be paying off, because Britney looks, lean, healthy, and absolutely gorgeous. 

It is still pretty ridiculous to me that she can absolutely knock swimwear out of the park (she does it so well, she even knows how best to stand to accentuate her curves) but still be so hit or miss with the rest of her clothes. I feel like so often celebs miss the boat with bikinis and wind up wearing trashy suits. For Britney this is clearly not a problem. Hopefully one day she'll learn how to apply her style prowess here on the beach into successful red carpet looks. End note: I am not suggesting she wear a bikini on the red carpet, let the record show.

Which suit pictured do you like the best?

Images via Instagram

Anyone with eczema will tell you that flare-ups are the worst. When it happens, it can take over your entire world -- all you want is a little relief. But once that itchy, irritating feeling subsides, the problem isn't totally resolved. The reason? If you've vigorously scratched, you may have caused some unsightly scars. It's a common issue for eczema sufferers. Don't fret. Here are 7 simple solutions for making your eczema-prone skin beautiful again. 

Another helpful tip: use sunscreen if you plan to soak up some rays. Otherwise, the scars will darken.

What home remedies have you used to treat scars?

Image via Daniela Vladimirova/Flickr

OMG, you guys -- Kaley Cuoco cut her hair, and the end result is nothing short of fabulous!

I know, I know -- celebs opting for shorter 'dos are pretty much a dime a dozen these days, so you're wondering why in the heck I'm getting all excited about this.

Well, it's probably because Kaley's shorter hair has had the opposite effect on her appearance than what usually happens when women lop off a few inches.

Check out these photos to see what I mean.

Here's a shot just before her stylist got all scissor happy.

And here is the finished product.

Am I nuts or does Kaley look at least five years younger or so? Take a look at the shot of her at the top and then come back to this one.

See? It's like getting rid of all that excess hair turned back the hands of time or something. I don't know if it's the shape of her face or what -- but this new look is about 1,000 times better than her old one (and the old one wasn't even remotely unattractive!).

Gah. Why can't the rest of us be so lucky? Every time I take so much as an inch or two off my hair, I feel like I get another year older. At the rate Kaley is going, she could probably even pull off a chin-length 'do or possibly rock a pixie cut without aging a bit.

But then again -- her hair looks pretty amazeballs the way it is, so maybe it's best for her to wait a couple months before hitting the salon again. Why mess with a good thing?

Do you like Kaley's shorter hair?

Images via Instagram

Due to a variety of factors including the insanely cold winter we're finally coming out of -- I found myself in a major, MAJOR funk over the past few months. Actually, forget calling it a funk. Ever since last summer ended, I've been in a depression of sorts -- to the point where I kind of let myself go a little bit in regards to my appearance.

(See how I was using my kid as a shield? Pathetic.)

I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I found myself in yoga pants on days when I had no intention of working out. I stopped putting on makeup every day. I gained weight. And I even started telling myself that because I'm in my late 30s -- it really didn't matter that my looks had gone in the gutter a little bit.

But then a couple weeks ago, I made one teeny-tiny change to my appearance -- and suddenly I look and feel like a brand new person.

To put it simply, I decided to switch things up at the salon and had my stylist spice up my color, take a couple inches off my locks, and give me a side bang.

Better, right? (I think it's cute.)

And I'm not kidding, people -- the minute I underwent this subtle hair transformation, it's like it gave me this breath of fresh air I needed to start caring about how I look again.

I'm getting dressed every morning. Like legitimately dressed in real clothes. (Ok, sometimes I still wear leggings. But with a nice top.) At the very least, I put on concealer and tinted moisturizer, but most days, I aim for full-on makeup. I've even cleaned up my diet and adopted a healthy eating plan again -- which resulted in eight pounds of winter weight being kicked to the curb. (Winning.)

It's like I finally have the motivation to get back on track again -- all because I want the face, figure, and style to go along with the new hair.

Who knew that something so small could be just the trick to revamping my entire look? Now instead of dreading the season of dresses and skirts that's coming our way, I'm actually looking forward to it -- which was not the case before my fated salon trip.

Bring it, spring and summer. I'm finally ready for ya. (Well, except for bathing suits.)

Do you feel renewed after a haircut?

Images via Mary Fischer

You don't have to be a big fan of Lorde's music to appreciate her latest move. It proves that in the world of celebrities, she quite possibly is one of a kind. The singer was so miffed about an airbrushed picture that was posted of herself during a stage performance, she posted another pic from the same event -- sans that perfect, retouched glow. The difference is startling. Take a look.

i find this curious - two photos from today, one edited so my skin is perfect and one real. remember flaws are ok :-) pic.twitter.com/PuRhxt2u2O

The 17-year-old's skin is far from perfect and that's a dose of reality we all should appreciate. Stars always look flawless for one reason -- airbrushing. No one is perfect, despite what the images in magazines and on websites constantly depict. It's just not possible for these women (and men) to walk around without one wrinkle, blemish, scar, or other so-called "unsightly" marks that you routinely find on regular human beings.

We love that Lorde boldly and openly called this out. She doesn't want her fans to have a fantasy land perception of who she is and what she looks like. I wish more stars were as comfortable with themselves and spoke out against the excessive retouching. And it's not just about clear complexions. Silhouettes are commonly slimmed, bat wings amazingly disappear, and skin tones are lightened. And those computer-generated images have become our ideal -- never mind the fact that not even the stars look that way.

Lorde has done a tremendous favor to her 1.3 million Twitter fans. And this isn't the first time. She posted photos of her face dotted with zit cream. She's got "flaws" and she's not afraid to show them. Why? Because she's a real person, not some edited product. She's not embarrassed of the way she looks -- even if she's not "perfect." That's an attitude we all should embrace.

Do you think more stars should rebel against the over-airbrushing or do you like seeing them flawless?

Image via Twitter

A mother of five who decided to have a buttocks lift is dead after she developed a blood clot. We tend to forget about how risky surgery can be. Of course, everything carries a risk -- and surgery is still incredibly safe overall. But we're so bombarded with images of celebrities who have willy-nilly had their whole face and entire body restructured that we tend to forget there are any risks at all. The real tragic part here is that this mom of five had changed her mind about the surgery, but then went through with it at the last minute because of something totally avoidable.

Maribel Cardona of Naples, Florida had arranged for a butt lift surgery through a clinic in Miami. She apparently had decided on this particular clinic because it was cheaper than the others. Right there is a red flag.

But it seems her son talked her out of the surgery, worried about the risks. Brazilian buttocks lift surgery requires a transfer of fat from one part of the body to another and there is a risk of clotting. Cardona reportedly tried to cancel the surgery -- but she couldn't get her $4,000 deposit back, so she decided to go through with it. That was the last decision she would ever make.

An autopsy concluded she had died from a lung embolism, or clot, caused by fatty tissue that had reached her bloodstream.

The surgeon who performed the lift, Dr. Anthony Hasan, was reportedly already on probation when he performed the surgery and had to be under the supervision of a doctor. In fact, Dr. Hasan, although he had performed many plastic surgeries, was not a licensed plastic surgeon but a dermatologist. However, in Florida, dermatologists can perform plastic surgery.

There's no way to not have any risk during a surgery, but if you are considering plastic surgery, make sure you get a doctor certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. You can check this on the American Board of Medical Specialties' website.

More From The Stir: 5 Celebs Who Regret Getting Plastic Surgery -- and Should (PHOTOS)

You should check to see if there are any malpractice judgments against the doctor. You can find this through your state's medical board. Hasan was sued for malpractice in 2007 but settled with the patient.

While it's tempting to want to shop around for the best price -- or even fly out of the country for it -- remember that you might get what you pay for. If someone suggests surgery in a hotel or anywhere other than a hospital or doctor's office -- run!

And never be afraid to ask tough questions. Go back several times to the surgeon if you must. Also, ask for references. And simply doing a Google search can get you a lot of information.

It's totally worth it to do your research, and if you have any doubts, then listen to them.

Have you ever had or considered plastic surgery?

Image via StarAlex1/Flickr

Whoa. You seriously aren't going to believe how smokin' hot Nicole Kidman's new Jimmy Choo ad is -- especially since she apparently forgot to get fully dressed for the photo shoot.

I know we're probably supposed to focus on her shoes, but it's damn near impossible to look away from her long, lean legs -- which look to be about a mile high.

Did I mention she's 46 years old yet could probably pass for a 20-something with this particular ad?

Have a look and see for yourself what I'm getting all envious about.

I know. She looks so good she almost doesn't appear to be a human being. (Meaning she looks like a mannequin.)

And let's not forget to mention that she isn't wearing a bra underneath that blazer -- and nothing appears to be sagging in that area either.

Ok, so it's probably all sorts of airbrushed. But still. She looks amazing. (And way sexier than any of us could ever hope to look sans pants.)

What do you think of Nicole's ad?

Image via Jimmy Choo

It's a sight you don't see every day: A 260-pound, bikini-clad woman proudly strutting down Hollywood Boulevard. It's an image that has earned Amani Terrell plenty of double-takes -- which is exactly what she wants. But she's not simply an attention-loving exhibitionist. There is a greater goal to her half-naked outings.

Just one look at Terrell and it's clear she has an extraordinary amount of body confidence. She is doing something that women half her size would never DREAM of -- myself included.

I am just mesmerized at how self-assured she is. I didn’t wear shorts for nearly seven years because of cellulite. And I am nowhere near as big as she is. It's ridiculous, I know. But it took me awhile to get over the fact that I was bigger. It really can chip away at a woman's self-confidence. So when I see Amani, I am amazed ... and more than a bit jealous. How can she feel so great about herself? Especially since everything in our world is telling her she is far from hot. But that's Amani's point with all of this -- to combat this ridiculous and unfair beauty ideal that we are consumed with.

She is pleading with other women to stop seeking validation from other people. The world is just too cruel for that. She should know. Being "fat" in Los Angeles can be an emotionally crippling experience if you let it. She came up with this idea -- to walk around in public in a bikini -- because of what she calls the "mass hysteria" of perfection in that town. She wants to crush the perception that overweight women are not confident. She is beyond proud of her shape and her looks. So her goal is to show all of us that big is most certainly beautiful.

Of course the response has been mixed: some admire her and some heckle. One guy took one look and said he lost his appetite and another called her, "Precious." Terrell, however, is undaunted. She quipped: "That was very unkind but that's cool because I love myself." I wish we all were so confident, don't you?

Los Angeles Local News | FOX 11 LA KTTV

Do you think what Amani is doing is a good thing?

Image via FOX 11