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Woman gets blasted for putting eggs in 'dairy free' cake and it prompts an age-old debate

A misconception brought on by the 80s food pyramid is still wreaking havoc.

vegan vegetarian, dairy free, are eggs dairy, dairy free recipes, vegan recipes, vegan desserts, dairy free desserts

A diet misconception ignited a fight between friends.

Listen, there are a lot of diet groups and sub-groups out there, and it can be difficult to keep track of what they all mean. Especially when you get into any diet group that eliminates some, but not all, animal products.

After all, unless you’re a certified nutritionist, you’d likely not know all the various sub-groups between vegetarianism, which abstains from consuming all animal flesh products, and veganism, which abstains from all animal products entirely—including the lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet (no meat but allows eggs and dairy), the lacto-vegetarian diet (no meat or eggs but allows dairy), the ovo-vegetarian diet (no meat dairy products but allows eggs), and so on.

Because not everyone is aware of these subtle nuances, it can lead to inevitable misunderstandings at food gatherings. Which brings us to the age-old “are eggs dairy” issue.

As one woman shared online, she had been trying to be generous by bringing over a dessert to her friend’s dinner party. The friend in question asked that she make a dessert without dairy, since her daughter had recently stopped eating it.

Easy peasy, since the woman knew a “great cake recipe with no dairy.” She brought said cake. It was “a hit.” And everything seemed to go off without a hitch…until the woman was asked to share the recipe.

vegan vegetarian, dairy free, are eggs dairy, dairy free recipes, vegan recipes, vegan desserts, dairy free desserts No good deed goes unpunished.Photo credit: Canva

"My friend asked for the recipe and I told her. When I got to the eggs her daughter became upset and ran upstairs. My friend asked why I put eggs in the cake. I said the eggs were responsible for the spongy texture. She said the cake wasn't dairy free. I said it was. There is no milk or milk products in the cake, no cheese, no butter, etc…" the woman wrote.

When her friends insisted that eggs were dairy, the woman was understandably confused, and stated that, to her understanding, only milk and cheese products were considered dairy. The friend then argued that diary is “anything that comes from an animal.” Although, when the friend asked if, under that logic, honey was considered dairy, the friend said “no, because bees are insects.”

vegan vegetarian, dairy free, are eggs dairy, dairy free recipes, vegan recipes, vegan desserts, dairy free desserts As one person suggested, next time she could just bring wine. Photo credit: Canva

The woman ended up apologizing for upsetting her friend, and wondered if she had been in the wrong.

In case you’re not sure who is in the wrong here, we can say definitively, without an iota of doubt that no, eggs are not dairy. They are both animal products, and are often both sold in the dairy aisle in the grocery stores, leading some folks to group them together. But they are not one and the same.

Folks in the comments largely sided with the cake maker on this one, and suspected that the mother actually meant to request no animal products, rather than no dairy.

vegan vegetarian, dairy free, are eggs dairy, dairy free recipes, vegan recipes, vegan desserts, dairy free desserts Another case for why words matter. Photo credit: Canva

"I think that mom is confused about the terminology,” one person wrote.

Another plainly stated that “she needed to say vegan because that is not the same as dairy free,” while another surmised, “Yeah, it sounds like she didn’t want to say her daughter is going through a vegan ‘phase’ and instead said no dairy, like to sound like an allergy almost?”

Obviously ethics play a big part in someone’s alternative diet choices, as well as painful intolerances. So when wires get crossed, it can be emotionally jarring. However, as one person put it, “in the age of Google” it really behooves us all to make sure what words actually mean to avoid unnecessary tiffs and hurt feelings…or tummies.

Canva Photos

Flash Shelton has been nicknamed the "Squatter Hunter" and helps people take their homes back.

Squatters' rights laws are some of the most bizarrely misused legal realities we have, and something no one seems to have a good answer for. Most of us have heard stories of someone moving into a vacant home and just living there, without anyone's permission and without paying rent, and somehow this is a legal question mark until the courts sort it out.

According to The National Desk, squatters' rights are a carryover from British property law and were created to ensure that abandoned property could be used and to protect occupants from being kicked out without proper notice. The argument is that it's better to have someone openly living in a home and taking care of it, properly maintaining it, versus it laying abandoned and rotting away. Families and residents add value to a community, and those residents should have rights — or so the reasoning goes.

It should go without saying that squatter law isn't meant to allow someone to just take over someone else's property, but sometimes that's exactly what happens.

A squatter takeover is exactly what happened to Flash Shelton's mother when she put her house up for rent after her husband passed away.


A woman contacted her with interest in the property, only she wanted to do repairs and look after the home instead of paying rent. Before anyone knew it, she had furniture delivered (which she later said was accidental) and set up camp, despite Shelton's mom not agreeing to the arrangement.

But since the woman had expressed her intention and already moved in, the matter was out of police hands, as Shelton found out when he tried to contact the local sheriff. If that sounds like trespassing to you, well, join the club.

“They said, ‘I’m sorry but we can’t enter the house, and it looks like they’re living there, so you need to go through the courts',” he shared in a YouTube video.


Shelton rightfully didn't want the expense of a court battle, so he took matters into his own hands—not with violence, but with logic. He had his mom lease the home to him, and then told the squatter that she had to move everything out because he was moving things in.


squatters, homeowners, criminals, trespassing, law, property law, viral videos, youtube, squatter hunter How exactly is squatting not trespassing? It's complicated, for some reason. Giphy

“If they can take a house, I can take a house," he said.

He was calm and clear about her having to get everything out within the day or he would have people come and take it, and thankfully, she didn't put up a big fight.

That experience made him realize how squatter law can be abused, but that there's a faster system for removing a squatter than to go through the court system. If a squatter can move in and force a homeowner to take them to court to prove they are living there illegally, then he could simply move in alongside the squatter, putting the squatter in the position of having to take the homeowner to court instead.

"The legal process is so slow, and at some point when they're in there, you're going to feel like they have more rights than you do and that's how you're going to be treated. So even though you it's your house and you're paying the mortgage or whatever, at some point squatters feel like they have more rights than you, so they don't have an incentive to leave until a judge tells them to, until they're actually ordered to, and that could take months."

After successfully removing the squatters in his mother's house, Shelton has been tackling similar squatter situations for other homeowners in California, earning him the nickname "The Squatter Hunter."

"All I'm doing is becoming a squatter and flipping this process on them," Shelton told CBS News. "I figured if they could take a house, I could take a house."

According to CBS, he's successfully removed a dozen squatters in the past year. ""I'm not going in and I'm not hurting anyone," he said. "I'm not kicking them out, I'm not throwing them out." He's literally just moving in himself, setting up cameras, and then creating small annoyances until the squatters get fed up enough to move out; like making uncomfortable alterations to the home or making a ton of noise at inopportune hours.

Shelton parlayed his success into a reality show on A&E called, fittingly, Squatters. It premiered in July of 2025. To put it lightly, it looks intense! Clips posted on Shelton's social media show hostile standoffs with angry squatters and even he and his team causing damage to the home or creating nuisances to help drive the squatters out.

California isn't the only state that has seen issues with squatters. There are squatter stories from all over the U.S. of people moving into a property and refusing to leave without a court order, tying owners up in lengthy, expensive legal battles.

Though squatting is relatively rare overall, some areas of the country have more issues than others. California, Texas, Georgia, and Florida are areas, in particular, that struggle with squatters and abandoned properties.

Shelton even has a Change.org petition to try to get squatter laws changed to "make squatting in residential maintained homes criminal." Making squatting illegal "will shift the burden of proof onto the squatter and make the crime punishable with restitution an option for damages," the the petition states.

Not all homeowners will have access to someone like Shelton and his team to fight back against squatters. But until the laws change, he's doing as much as he can.

Watch Shelton share his personal story:

- YouTube www.youtube.com

This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated.


Maybe it's not a crisis at all.

We’re all familiar with the common midlife crisis trope of someone waking up one day and suddenly buying a flashy new car, dating someone half their age, or jumping into some other kind of spontaneous—not to mention questionable—endeavor, all to reclaim a bit of their glory days.

We've seen it in movies and on television, but does this phenomenon actually exist? Many researchers would say the answer is no, and call it more of social construct, since a) not everyone experiences it, b) it doesn’t appear to exist in all parts of the world, and c) the "crisis" in question is triggered by life altering events like divorce, job loss, or unexpected health issues, rather than growing older itself. However, many people anecdotally note that it’s the midlife crisis itself that triggers these events. So, we’ve got a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg situation.

However, regardless of how scientifically sound the concept is, plenty of people note feeling a need to reevaluate their lives and confront their own mortality during this period. So, we might as well consider its legitimacy. Furthermore, unlike how it’s typically portrayed in the media, midlife crises can actually lead to some incredibly positive impacts.

That was certainly the case for these folks over 40 who were asked via Reddit what their midlife crisis looked like. Yes, maybe a few did end up buying a fancy car, but, by and large, it sounds like people used these existential chapters to really align their lives with their values, which is pretty darn inspiring and certainly a refreshing take against the whole “aging is terrible” narrative we’re regularly fed.

Many chose to travel (and move) abroad

midlife, midlife crisis, divorce, travel, life, inspiring, motivation, getting older, age, 40s, mental health Any excuse you can use to travel more, right? Photo credit: Canva

“Backpacked around Europe for 5 months after getting divorced at 39. Quite honestly, that trip saved my life. 40 is going great so far!”

“Traveled across China and fell in love with a woman on an overnight train to Beijing. Just met up with her again in Vietnam last month. Who knows how this ends, but she is the most interesting person I’ve ever met. Zero regrets so far.”

“Moved to Berlin, had a 3 year bender…and then I moved back home. best decision I’ve ever made (both moving there and moving back).”

“I moved half a planet away from the country of my birth and married a man 16 years younger than me. We’ve been married 17 years now, so it worked out for the best, but boy did I go scorched earth.”

Others decided to learn something new or finally take up a new hobby

midlife, midlife crisis, divorce, travel, life, inspiring, motivation, getting older, age, 40s, mental health Sometimes getting older is about letting yourself be young again. Photo credit: Canva

“I bought about $15,000 worth of guitars, amps, and accessories all at once in my late 40s. Still play the same notes and chords I was playing when I was 16. I thought something great was going to occur…it didn’t.”

“Bought a ukulele. Playing it a lot.”

“Taking improv and acting classes, clumsily working out, doing my best not to quit my work.”

“Went back to grad school, zero regrets.”

“I’m in my second year of learning French.”

“Legos…..ungodly amount of legos.”

Quite a few cut habits, people, and lifestyles that no longer served them

midlife, midlife crisis, divorce, travel, life, inspiring, motivation, getting older, age, 40s, mental health Goes to show that it's never too late to make healthy changes in life. Photo credit: Canva

“Got fired from my job because I am a drug addict. Wound up homeless for a few months last summer and now, after nearly a year of going through detox, rehab, halfway house, and now a 3/4 house, finally have some control over shit.”

“I’ve decided to quietly fade the woman I’ve called a best friend for over 20 years. We have very different ideas of what friendship should look like, and I’ve come to a dual conclusion: she likes me but doesn’t respect me, and I love her out of sheer loyalty.”

“It’s a doozy. Starting off with a divorce and basically rebuilding myself and my life from scratch.”

For the majority, a midlife crisis looked like scaling back on (or flat-out quitting) their job

midlife, midlife crisis, divorce, travel, life, inspiring, motivation, getting older, age, 40s, mental health Sometimes we just gotta get off that hamster wheel.Photo credit: Canva

“Quit my job, started my own company. The crisis was a catalyst for change, which is what most people need more of in their lives, lest we become over-comfortable and whiny.”

“I gave up sales and became a mental health counselor for kids. Just wanted to feel like I was helping.”

“I quit my job that took my 30s away. I had no plan at all. The place just felt toxic the whole time. Found a job 10 months later, which was part-time, and I couldn’t be happier. During those 10 months, I was likely recovering from 11 years of anguish stemming from that job. Time off will do your mind so much good and give you clarity for what’s ahead. Don’t discredit what you can do without making money.”

“A few family health crises made me realize that my career (which is typically regarded as “prestigious” and required many years of postgraduate education) is not as important as my family. I still like my job, but I refuse to give it more than 40 hours a week because each extra hour means less time with the people I love. I scaled back my ambitions and had to accept just being “good enough” at work, but I’m much happier now.”

“I stopped trying to climb the corporate ladder. Just learned to live with less, and in turn my days are much easier and more peaceful.”

Many became more focused on engaging in healthy activities (running, specifically)

midlife, midlife crisis, divorce, travel, life, inspiring, motivation, getting older, age, 40s, mental health Marathons are the new Corvettes. Photo credit: Canva

“Started doing marathons and triathlons…..beats buying a Corvette.”

“I’m at the marathon stage. My budget is hoping I don’t progress to the triathlon stage.”

A few ended up giving themselves a bit of a makeover…or at least switched up their shopping habits.

midlife, midlife crisis, divorce, travel, life, inspiring, motivation, getting older, age, 40s, mental health It amazing how much of a transformation a haircut can provide. Photo credit: Canva

“The summer I was 42, I got bangs and dyed my hair purple.”

“48. In the last few years, I’ve gotten the tattoo and helix earring I’ve been wanting forever. Stopped dying my hair dark brown and let it be. Started jogging and eating clean… I call it an awakening.”

“I had pink hair for a couple weeks during COVID, but that was it – I’m 51.”

“Started buying clothes from Costco. It’s wild man…”

Many started taking their happiness seriously and cut out all the noise

midlife, midlife crisis, divorce, travel, life, inspiring, motivation, getting older, age, 40s, mental health "Best investment I’ve ever made was in myself.”Photo credit: Canva

“45. Completely reinvented my life. Decided my only goal for the rest of it was to pursue joy. Anything that doesn’t bring me peace and joy? I don’t invest in it. Best investment I’ve ever made was in myself.”

And yes, some bought a car

midlife, midlife crisis, divorce, travel, life, inspiring, motivation, getting older, age, 40s, mental health Hey, if it makes your happy, and it doesn't hurt anyone…Photo credit: Canva

“I bought a Dodge Challenger.”

“Sports car and sports car accessories.”

“I guess mine was that I bought another old BMW. (’86 E30).”

“I’ve had serious anxiety issues surrounding cars and driving. So I bought a sports car and tracked it. Getting into motorsports is helping me be a better driver, but it was a total midlife crisis purchase.”

“Motorcycles . Maybe that was a combo of post divorce thing for myself and mid life crisis idk but I’m enjoying it.”

Point being, maybe a midlife “crisis” isn’t something we have to be afraid of at all. Maybe it’s another way we are able to actually sink our teeth a little deeper into our one precious life. And, hey, if it comes with travel…sign me up.

via Mattew Barra/Pexels
There's one word you can't say on a cruise ship.

There are some things you just don't say. You don't yell out "bomb!" on an airplane, make jokes about carrying weapons while going through security, or, as Michael Scott from The Office knows, loudly proclaim that a boat you're currently on is sinking.

Those are all pretty obvious examples, but sometimes etiquette and decorum are a little more subtle. If you're not experienced in the ways of the venue you're in, you might not know all the unspoken rules. And you might find out the hard way. Cruise ships, for example, have their own very specific set of rules and regulations that guests should abide by.

On December 10, 2023, Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas set sail on the Ultimate World Cruise—a 274-day global trek that visits 11 world wonders and over 60 countries.


cruise, 9-month cruise, Marc Sebastian, cruise life, vacation, titanic, unspoken rules, etiquette, cruise etiquette, royal caribbean 9 months is a very long time to be aboard a boat, even a giant cruise ship. Photo by Peter Hansen on Unsplash

This incredible trip covered the Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Mediterranean and Europe with a ticket price that ranges from $53,999 to $117,599 per passenger.

With such a unique and incredible offering, it's understandable that Royal Caribbean wanted to invite plenty of influencers to help them get the word out.

Aboard the Serenade to the Seas was popular TikToker Marc Sebastian, who documented his experience throughout the journey. In one video with over 4.3 million views, he revealed what he’s learned over his first few weeks aboard the ship; the biggest was the one word you’re not allowed to say.

"So here's [what] I've learned about cruising since I've spent 18 nights on this floating retirement home with a Cheesecake Factory attached. First, number one, you're not supposed to talk about the Titanic," he says in the clip.

Titanic! It's the ultimate taboo when you're on a giant ship traversing the ocean. Even after all these years, it's still too soon to make even lighthearted comparisons or jokes.

@marcsebastianf

someone get whoopi on the line girl i have some goss for her #ultimateworldcruise #worldcruise #serenadeoftheseas #cruisetok #cruise #9monthcruise #titanic

“Who knew that? I didn’t,” Sebastian said. “I brought it up to an entire room of people having lunch that our ship is only 100 feet longer than the Titanic — when I tell you that utensils dropped. Waiters gasped. It’s dead silent.”

Sebastian was flabbergasted. "It wasn't in the... handbook," he joked. "Not that I read the handbook, clearly."

After the unexpected reaction, his cruise friend told him, “You’re not allowed to talk about the Titanic.” It makes sense.

Who wants to be reminded of the tragedy that killed around 1,500 people while sinking one of the most impressive engineering feats of the era? More experienced cruisers chimed in that they were familiar with the unique piece of etiquette.

cruise, 9-month cruise, Marc Sebastian, cruise life, vacation, titanic, unspoken rules, etiquette, cruise etiquette, royal caribbean Pro tip: Don't ask the band on board to play "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion Giphy

"When I went on a cruise, my mom told me saying Titanic was equivalent to screaming ‘bomb’ at an airport," Mikayla wrote in the comments.

"It’s like saying Macbeth in a theatre, it’s an unspoken rule" another commenter added.

"I’m sorry you’re telling me you had a Harry Potter like experience saying Voldemort at Hogwarts but it was the titanic on a modern day cruise I’m cryingggg" joked another.

Later in the video covering little known cruise facts, Sebastian admits he was surprised to learn that cruise ships have godmothers and that the pools are filled with seawater.

In an update from June of 2024, Sebastian explains that he only stayed on the cruise for 18 nights. He was not booked to stay throughout the entire voyage, and for him, that was a relief.

He initially jokes that he was kicked off the boat for saving a penguin that had jumped aboard. But in the end, he admits he was more than happy to deboard early.

"I walked off that ship not a happy man," he said, saying the ship was overstimulating and stressful. In another video, he films as the ship navigates the Drake Passage, one of the most notoriously dangerous and choppy stretches of water in the world. It looks stressful indeed, to say the least.

Cruising isn't for everyone, let alone for 274 days straight! But now Sebastian knows the golden rule for his next cruise.

This story originally appeared last year. It has been updated.

Science

The real reason why you should always pet your dog before leaving the house

Research shows the dogs experience a "plateau of melancholy" when you walk out the door.

Who doesn't wanna pet their dog before they leave?

One of the most wonderful things about having a dog is how attached they become to their owners. I work from home and my Jack Russel terrier, Scout, lies next to me on his bed for most of the day. The only time he leaves my office is for a sip of water or to go outside and sun his belly on the porch.

That's why whenever I leave the house and can't take Scout with me, I wonder, "Does he miss me? Is he sad that he's alone?" I know I'm not alone in feeling this way, and turns out, the science says we have reason to ask ourselves these questions.

Do dogs miss us when we're gone?

A study published in Psychology Today shows that our dogs do, in fact, miss us the moment we leave the house, and that feeling slowly intensifies until we are gone for about four hours, and they have a "plateau of melancholy." That's why the longer you're away, the more excited your dog is when you return home.

dogs, pets, dog anxiety, dog studies, dog psychology, pet psychology We might be in a hurry. But it feels like a lifetime when we're gone. Photo credit: Canva

That certainly explains why the moment I pull up in my car, Scout begins to howl like a wolf trying to contact someone who's miles away. It's like, "Dude, I'm 30 feet away. Give me a second to grab the groceries out of the trunk."

However, another study made by researchers from the Universities of Pisa and Perugia, Italy, has found that if you give your dog some affection before you leave the house, they'll have less anxiety while you're away.

How to calm your dog before leaving the house

They conducted experiments with 10 dogs between the ages of one and 11 without attachment issues. The group was composed of seven mixed-breed dogs, one Labrador retriever, one Hovawart, and one Chihuahua.

Participants in the study walked their leashed dogs into a fenced area where they were greeted by a researcher who took their dog's heart rate. In the first test, after the owners walked their dogs into the area, they talked with a researcher for one minute then left without giving the dog any special attention.

dogs, pets, dog anxiety, dog studies, dog psychology, pet psychology Dogs that were petted showed "behaviors indicative of calmness for a longer period while waiting for the owner's return."Photo credit: Canva

In the second test, the dog owners petted the dog during their interaction with the researcher. In both tests, the owners left the fenced area and hid far enough away so that the dog couldn't smell them.

After the owners left, the dogs looked for them for about three minutes on average. After the owners returned, the researchers measured the dogs' levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well as their heart rates.

The researchers found that whether the dogs were petted or not, their cortisol levels were unchanged. But their heart rate showed a marked decrease if the owners petted them before leaving. Researchers later watched videos of the dogs and found that the ones that were petted showed "behaviors indicative of calmness for a longer period while waiting for the owner's return."

dogs, pets, dog anxiety, dog studies, dog psychology, pet psychology A simple gesture that speaks volumes to your doggo. Photo credit: Canva

Next time I'm ready to leave the house and Scout follows me to the front door after saying, "Sorry bud, you can't go with me on this trip," I'll kneel down and give him a little extra love and attention. Maybe that way he won't howl like the house is on fire when I pull up in my car after a trip to the grocery store.

This article originally appeared four years ago.

Images via Reddit/Classic-Carpet7609

Actor Robin Williams is being hailed as a fashion icon by fans.

Robin Williams was not just an amazing actor and comedian—he was also a fashion icon. Williams, who passed away on August 11, 2014, has recently been recognized by fans from all generations for his unique personal style that often went unrecognized.

On Reddit on several fashion subforums, Williams is being celebrated for his sartorial style during his long career. "Had no idea Robin Williams had so much drip," member Classic-Carpet7609 shared in one forum, expressing their admiration for his style that ranged from streetwear to couture.

"Robin Williams was a huge weeb when it came to fashion, like several years ahead of other western celebrities like rappers, etc when it came to wearing a lot of Japanese labels," one member commented. Another added, "It was news to me too until a couple years ago when I saw that photo of him in the Issey Miyake bomber jacket. I was like daaaaamn he’s like cool cool."

Fans also are pointing out that Williams was well-versed in fashion brands. He also wore Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen, BAPE, Visvim, Acronym, and Mishka, per British GQ.

His taste in fashion wasn't only elevated, but also functional, and Williams could pull it all off. "I love how versatile, comfortable and confident his looks are. You couldn’t box the man in and I really appreciate that now as an adult," another commented. "A style icon ahead of his time," another wrote. Another quipped, "Wtf multiple of these fits you could see someone walking down the street today."

However, at the time Williams' style was not making best-dressed lists. "He was RIDICULED at the time for his dress sense. Seriously. On every ‘worst dressed ‘ list constantly," one commented. Regardless, it was his confidence that continues to stand out with his fashion choices. "I think it must be the confidence. For a dude who was known to be plagued with self-doubt, you would never know it looking at him. He always looks supremely confident in himself and so when he wears, for example, a matador jacket, he pulls it off instead of looking just silly," another added.

Many fans pointed out that his sometimes outlandish fashion choices had a deeper meaning. "He was more into making statements with his fashion than he was into 'looking good'." Another wrote, "I really like his more flamboyant looks." While another fan noted, "Na honestly that's wild. He's wavy."

@therealprofessorx

Robin was so ahead of the curve #greenscreen #fyp #fypシ #robinwilliams #stylebreakdown #fitspo #inspo #mensfashion #fashion #style

Although Williams' personal style may not have been understood by others, today his boldness is being recognized. "But seriously, I somehow was not aware that he gave so much thought to his looks, and they very much reflect who he is," one fan commented. Another agreed, saying, "I did not realize until now how good of a dresser he was, wow!" One more confirmed, "So ahead of the curve!"

Most of all, Williams' fans are most in awe of his style's authenticity. "There’s a purity and realness about him that is primal. I love his self expression through these outfits," said one. Another summed it all up wonderfully, writing, "His personality was brighter than any shirt."