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Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt

Amazon Prime Day: Free Subscriptions and 50% OFF Merch You Actually Want

Posted on June 20, 2021

Amazon Prime Day is coming up. During this two-day event, Amazon offers some of its premium services and most popular products at a deep discount.

This year is no different. What is new is that some of the discounts are even more significant and thus we are sharing the options that are free or over 50 percent off because after the past year we’ve had we deserve a break.

Also, we focused on the products that people really want and or have been coveted for a while and maybe have been holding off waiting for a deep discount or sale! Now is the time!

First, if you are not already a PRIME member, sign up now free for a month

SIGN UPFOR PRIME FREE

Now for more free subscription services trials that are extended if you sign up on Monday or Tuesday!!!

4 Months of Amazon Music FREE!

You can try Amazon’s music streaming service, which just so happens to be one of our favorites, completely free of charge, giving you access to unlimited listening of upwards of 70 million songs. Note that your subscription will automatically renew at the regular price of $7.99 for Prime Members ($9.99 for non-Prime members), unless you cancel after the trial ends.

GET AMAZON MUSIC

2 Months of Amazon PRIME VIDEO FREE!

YTons of streaming channels, including Starz, Showtime, Epix and more are currently priced at just .99 per month for two months saving you up to 91%. 

GET PRIME VIDEO

4 Months of AUDIBLE FREE!

Typically priced around $14 a month, Prime members can now save over 50% on the first four months of Audible Premium Plus. Membership includes access to a wide selection of new releases and best sellers, plus unlimited listening to thousands of select Originals, audiobooks, podcasts, and more. After the initial four months are up, the price will automatically renew for the standard price unless cancelled.

GET AUDIBLE

GET $15 OFF $100 PRIME WARDROBE

If you have ever thought about getting Prime Wardrobe, now is the perfect time because on the two Prime Days, Amazon is gifting you $15 off of purchases of a least $100. Enter this coupon code PRIMEW15OFF at checkout. 

TRY PRIME WARDROBE

CREATE A BABY REGISTRY FREE!

Not officially apart of PRIME DAY, but as a service to expecting moms and dads, Amazon offers a baby regsitry which we’ve blogged about on the blog before! Check out that post to see what to add to your first registry!

TRY PRIME WARDROBE

AND NOW FOR THE DEALS

24′ INSIGNIA FIRE TV ($700FF/SAVE 41%)

Insignia full HD Smart TV is a new generation of television featuring the Fire TV experience built-in and including a Voice Remote with Insignia delivers a superior TV experience that gets smarter everyday. The Voice Remote with Alexa lets you do everything you’d expect from a remote—plus, easily launch apps, search for titles, play music, switch inputs, control smart home devices, and more, using just your voice.

$99.99

GET THIS TV

Echo Auto- Hands-free Alexa in your car with your phone (70% off)

  • Add Alexa to your car – Connects to the Alexa app on your phone and plays through your car’s speakers via auxiliary input or your smartphone’s Bluetooth connection. Includes Vent Mount.
  • Designed for the road – With 8 microphones and far-field technology, Echo Auto can hear you over music, A/C, and road noise.
  • Go beyond radio – Voice control Echo Auto through the Alexa app to stream from Audible, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM, and radio stations with TuneIn and iHeartRadio.
  • Just ask – Use your voice to play music, check the news, make calls, add to your to do-list, set reminders, pay for gas, and more.

$14.99

BUY ECHO

4 pack of IDiSON iPhone Braided Nylong Lightning Cables in 4 different colors

$14.99

BUY ECHO

20 PIECE HAIR CLIP (60% OFF)

Get 8 Pcs Macaron hair clips & 4 pcs Pearl hairpins & 3 pcs acrylic hair clips & 5 pcs simple metal hair barrettes that normally sell for $30.

$17.99

BUY THE CLIPS

2-4 Piece Handbag Sets (80% off)

  • Tote bag Pockets:One main zipper compartment with one inner zipper pocket,one back pocket and two slot pockets. 4pcs: One large handbag+one messenger Bag:+wallet clutch+card holder. Perfect for dating, shopping, working, traveling, outtings party and other occasions and keep your daily items well organized.

Starting at $62.99

BUY THE BAGS

14-in 1 Camping Surviver Essentials

  • If you are looking for a unique gift for dad, boyfriend, husband, friends, men, women who like camping, hunting, hiking, fishing, DIY or backpacking, then our camping multitool hatchet is a perfect choice.
  • Camping Multitool Toolkit – 14 in 1 multitool includes: Hammer, Axe, Pliers, Knife, Saw, Assorted Hex Wrench, Phillips Screwdriver, Bottle Opener, File, Fish Descaler and more with a Safety Lock.
  • Heavy Duty and Well-built, made of durable and heavy-duty stainless steel. It is corrosion-resistant and not easy to rust. Strong enough to cut, pry, hammer a nail, twist the screw, open fire hydrant, saw wood, shatter the glass wall.

Starting at $14.99

BUY THE KIT

50ft LED Strip Lights with 44 Keys Remote Controller, Color Changing

These lights are super easy to install and will help you create an elegant aesthetic to any bedroom, entertainment center or gameroom or even a business location with the remote control.

Starting at $22.99

BUY THE LIGHTS

iRobot Roomba 675 Wi-Fi enabled Robot Vacuum (20% off)

Great for carpet and hardwood floors, pet-friendly and Alexa compatible, the smart way to clean floors!  The 600 series is a great way to begin cleaning your home smarter. Just schedule it to clean up daily dirt, dust, and debris with the iRobot HOME app or your voice assistant. – for effortlessly clean floors.

$224.00

BUY THEROBOT

Haakaa Crown Soft Silicong Teether – Teething Toy (30% off)

Haakaa is an award-winning New Zealand-based brand that specialises in safe, natural, non-toxic and eco-friendly baby products.  Its popular crown-shaped food-grade silicone teething toy is perfect for teething babies ages 6 to 12 months old and toddlers. It is easy to hold, captures baby’s atention and the bumps and ridges help to develop your baby’s motor and play skills. Parents can also chuck the Crown Baby Teethers in the freezer to provide soothing and cooling relief.

$12.39

BUY THE TEETHER

Garden Hose

This sturdy garden hose nozzle is made of metal and ABS plastic wrapped by TRP rubber coating making garden hose nozzle body strong and drop-resistant, equipped with high quality anodized process to prevent rust and corrosion, metal and rubber materials providing double protection, no need to worry about cracking that is much better than plastic hose sprayer..

$22.99

BUY THE HOSE

7-Port USB 2.0 Hub, USB Hub Splitter with Individual On/Off Switches and LEDs for Laptop, Computer, PC, Keyboard and Mouse, Flash Drive and More

This high speed USP port easily transfers one port to 7!

$24.99

BUY THE PORT

DOOPER Electric Bikini Trimmer for Women also for Ear, Face,Nose,Bikini Line and leg

This groomer kit trims and shapes anywhere on your body for face, armpits, bikini regions, legs, nose ear etc. with premium attachments for quick touch-ups or comfortably close shaving

$27.99

BUY THE RAZOR

Tend Skin The Skin Care Solution For Unsightly Razor Bumps, Ingrown Hair And Razor Burns

  • Made in USA, Ingrown Hair Solution: Applying a thin coat of Tend Skin Solution post shaving and waxing reduces the appearance of ingrown hair, razor bump also known as pfb
  • Post Shaving or Waxing, Women and Men: Use Tend Skin Solution as an aftershave or wax to reduce bumps on legs, underarms, bikini lines, chin, neck or face.

$24.99

BUY THIS SOLUTION

Hypoallergenic Sterling Silver Unicorn Stud Earrings

$16.98

BUY THESE EARRINGS

GET UP TO 20% OFF FAMILY NEEDS

Also, even though Amazon Family is not technically part of PRIME Day, it is still a good opportunity to consider signing up for Amazon Family for FREE. When you sign up, you’ll get email newsletter with paenting tips, product recommendations and exclusive deals off up to 20% off diapers, baby foord and more

JOIN AMAZON FAMILY FREE

UP TO 30% OFF FASHION BRANDS

Insignia full HD Smart TV is a new generation of television featuring the Fire TV experience built-in and including a Voice Remote with Insignia delivers a superior TV experience that gets smarter everyday. The Voice Remote with Alexa lets you do everything you’d expect from a remote—plus, easily launch apps, search for titles, play music, switch inputs, control smart home devices, and more, using just your voice.

SHOP BRANDS

AMAZON PRIME STUDENT

As College Students and their parents start packing and accumulating needed items to start off the next school year, having 6 months of free Amazon Prime will come in handy!

If you’re not already a Prime subscriber in the US or UK, you can sign up for a generous trial period then a deep discount off the normal monthly price so you and your student don’t have to fret as much given all the other things they will be rackign up!

TRY PRIME FOR STUDENTS FREE

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13 Hot Summer Acrylic Nails to Rock

Posted on June 15, 2021

Summer is a time to experiment with nail colors! After all, you are likely going to be out and about and have more occasions to show them off

Similarly, acrylic nails are also trending among nail fans. They however have always been a thing, especially among some cultures around the world.

Here are my fave summer nail looks found on Pinterest with credit linked to the fashion forward women who rocked them

BUY THIS POLISH
BUY THIS POLISH
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Welcome Daughter, Lili Diana

Posted on June 6, 2021
Black and White photo of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry under a tree whillst she was pregnant with her daughter she has since given birth to

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lilibet Diana.

The couple released a statement Sunday announcing their daughter’s arrival, who was born Friday at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California.

Both she and Meghan are healthy and settling in at home.

“Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet,” the statement said. “Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales.”

Harry and Meghan already have a son, Archie, who just turned two last month.

They announced Meghan was pregnant with Lili in February, months after the duchess opened up about had suffered a miscarriage in July in a New York Times op-ed.

Meghan explained in the November essay that, “Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few.”

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10 END OF YEAR TEACHER GIFT CARDS {IN A DISTANCE LEARNING YEAR}

Posted on June 5, 2021

It has been a challenging school year for students, teachers, schools and administrators and teachers deserve a reward for the adjustments

It’s that time of year again. Schools systems are closing and families may be looking for options for gifting their child(ren)’s teacher(s) for a job well done navigating an unprecedented situation.

A lot of parents decided to opt for the 100% virtual option all year and some didn’t have the option of choosing and they may not have a chance to go into school to hand the teacher a nice gift

That’s where gift cards com in handy!

Fortunately, we live in the era when e-gift cards and virtual gifting is now a very regular thing!

I’ve curated a list of nine stores that offer amazing virtual gifts you can simply email your child’s teacher:

starbucks gift card

Starbucks e-Gift Card

With the digital Starbucks card, your child’s teacher will get a code that she or he can add to her/his mobile device and order enough hot cocoa to sip and chill all Winter break long, depending on how much of a cocoa fan s/he is.

Get it a Amazon

sugarwish gift card

Sugarwish

Send your fave teacher the gift of a sugar rush this Holiday season with the popular Sugarwish treats delivery service. Send him or her an invite to choose their favorite flavors of candy, cookies or popcorn and it will get delivered to them. Prices start at $19.98.

Gift Sugarwish

sephonra gift card

Sephora

Who doesn’t love the gift of self care and pampering? With an e-Gift card from the beauty store, Sephora, you can send a present in any denomination.

Shop Sephora

audible gift card

Audible

When keeping up with lessons plan doesn’t allow time to dig into that new book she or he wants to read, Audible books are the next best thing. A month free listens provides access to thousands of books, podcasts and Audible original content. Prices start at $15.00 for one month.

Gift Audible

uncommon goods egift

Uncommon Goods eGift

An uncommonly good gift for any occasion, a gift certificate lets them pick from hundreds of unique gifts.

Gift Uncommon Goods

netflix gift car

Netflix

Since we all will be home anyway this Winter, your child’s teacher can catch up and binge watch all those TV shows trachers missed during the semester! A Netflix membership for a month or two will do it!

Gift Netflix

amazon gift card

Amazon

They have it all so you cannot go wrong with an Amazon.com e gift card.

Gift Amazon.com

Ban.do

Ban.do is that place where you can find the quirkiest of gifts and its $20 Gift Shop is filled with a fun ecclectic mix of little gifts that will put a smile on your teacher’s face!

Gift Ban.do

Etsy

Etsy is a marketplace for personalized gifts, and everything in between and is a beloved place your teacher can get lost at while looking for something for her or himself! There’s so much fun on Etsy!

Gift Etsy

graphic for teacher gift cards
graphic for teacher gift cards
graphic for teacher gift cards

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Mother’s Day Free Meals and Deals {35+ Freebies}

Posted on May 9, 2021
Photo of a plate of pasta

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms

BY JAY JAY GHATT

A lot of restaurants use the occassion of Mother’s Day in the United States to offer free meals and deals. Despite the challenges to the food and beverage industry during the pandemic, they are still rolling out the red carpet to feed the moms.

We curted a list of over 35 meals, snacks, drink and other offers for your last minute Mom’s Day planners.

Bahama Breeze

Get a Mother’s Day meal bundle for four for as little as $45.

Baskin-Robbins

Order a special Floral Cone Bouquet Cake for Mother’s Day. Sign up for emails or download the mobile app for discount codes that could help you save up to $5 on your order.

Blaze Pizza

Get a free 11-inch pizza when you order Mom a $25 Gift Card.

Boston Market

Get $5 off a Family Meal on Mother’s Day.

California Pizza Kitchen

Get a a Heart-Shaped Pizzas For Mother’s Day On May 9, 2021

photo of a plate of food

Carabbas

Buy mom a $50 gift card or buy one to use to treat her to lunch on Mother’s Day, and then get a bonus $10 card to use later at Carrabbas

Casey’s

Get an eight-piece order of Casey’s new cheesy breadsticks for $3.99 through May 31

Cheesecake Factory

Buy mom a $50 gift card or buy one to use to treat her to lunch on Mother’s Day, and then get a bonus $10 card to use later at The Cheesecake Factory

Chili’s

For Mother’s Day, Chili’s is offering a 3-for-$10 to-go special featuring either a 6-oz. sirloin or chicken fajitas, a drink, and a starter.

Cracker Barrel

Order a Family Meal Basket to-go, and get a $10 bonus card.

When you order Cracker Barrel’s Pancake Breakfast or their Sunday Homestyle Chicken Family Meal Bundles for pick up or delivery, you’ll get a $10 bonus card to use in the Cracker Barrel store. Both breakfasts feed a family of five for $31.99.

Einstein Bagel

Get a Mom’s Brunch Box, which comes with a free mimosa starter kit (aka 16-oz orange juice). For $29.99, it includes a variety of fresh baked favorites: one Farmhouse Egg Sandwich, two Bacon & Cheddar Egg Sandwiches, six fresh-baked bagels, one tub of plain shmear, four Twice-Baked Hash Browns and four blueberry muffins. Available at participating locations, from May 7 to May 17, 2021.

Fogo De Chao

Dine-in on May 9 or May 10 and get a free gift worth $25 to help cover the cost of two Full Churrascos for your next visit.

Greene Turtle

Moms get a free dessert with the purchase of an entrée at participating locations on Mother’s Day May 9.

Photo of someone taking a photo of their breakfast

Hard Rock Cafe

  • The restaraunt is celebrating all the hardworking moms with limited-time menu offerings and custom cocktails, available at participating locations throughout North America through Sunday, May 9, 2021.  Additionally, participating Hard Rock Cafe locations are offering a “Momosa Bar,” which allows diners to create their own “Momosa” using a flight of juices and a bottle of Riondo Prosecco

Hooters

Buy 10 wings, get 10 boneless wings free on Mother’s Day.

Ike’s Love & Sandwiches

For Mother’s Day, you can take advantage of buy-one-get-one-free sandwiches through May 9.

Jamba

Get free delivery on an order placed on the Jamba site or app. Plus, you can get a free breakfast item if you hit the $18 minimum thru Mother’s Day May 9

Jimmy John’s

If mom is craving a giant sandwich, Jimmy Johns is offering $5 off orders of $20 or more with promo code 5OFF20 through June 13. Order must be placed online or via the Jimmy John’s app.

Kolache Factory

Buy a muffin, get one for free on Mother’s Day. (Unless you’re at the St. Louis location. No free muffins will be found there.) Grab a coupon for this deal on Kolache’s social media.

Krispy Kreme

Buy a dozen glazed donuts, you’ll get a second dozen for a dollar on Saturdays and Sunday through May 23. If you got your COVID-19 vaccine, Krispy Kreme will give you a free donut every day for the rest of the year through December 31

Long John Silver’s

Get a  Free Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake With Purchase Of Any 10-Piece Family Meal Or Larger

Lucille’s Smokehouse BBB

Dine-in or pick up a to-go on Mother’s Day, get a $10 bonus card to use on their next visit.

Miller’s Ale House

Dine-in on Mother’s Day and get a coupon for $10 off a $30 purchase to use on their next visit.

photo of avocado toast

Mrs. Fields

Use code MDAY2021 to get 20 percent off on Mother’s Day Collection Gifts.

Outback Steakhouse

Get their “Meal for a Queen” promotion through Sunday, May 9, 2021. Also offering buy a $50 gift card, get a bonus $10 e-card deal.

PDQ

Get a free small classic shake with any purchase for mom at participating locations on Mother’s Day, May 9.

P.F. Chang’s

The restaruant haslLaunched a New Menu For Mother’s Day, Graduation And Father’s Day Celebrations

Pluckers

Moms eat free at all Pluckers locations Sunday if mom or anyone else with her is a Pluckers Club member.

Pollo Campero

Take $10 off a $50 order when you use the code “MAMA.” until May 10.

another photo of avocado toast

Red Lobster

Buy mom a $50 gift card or buy one to use to treat her to lunch on Mother’s Day, and then get a bonus $10 card to use later at Red Lobster

Romano’s Grill

Use the code “TREATMOM” will get you 25% off any e-gift card through May 9

Shoney’s Restaurant

Dine-in and order the All You Care to Eat Mother’s Day Fresh Food Bar and mothers get a free piece of strawberry pie.

TCBY

Grab a Free 6-oz. free for moms on Mother’s Day.

TGI Fridays

The restaurant is offering new Carlo’s Cookies & Cream Tsunami Cake created by Cake Boss Buddy Valastro and half-priced bottles of wine and a lineup of cocktails.

Tim Hortons

Get a Free Chili Dog Meal For All Moms On May 9, 2021

Yogurtland

For every $25 eGift card purchased through May 9, you’ll receive a $5 bonus card via email to use on a future visit between May 10-31.Bonus cards are valid only on food or beverage purchases in-store (not valid for online orders, third-party delivery, or other gift card purchases).

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10 Spring and Easter Nail Design Ideas To Try

Posted on March 20, 2021
easter nails

Easter is around the corner and so is Spring. This is a time for those who dare to go bold and experiment with seasonal trends to take out their softer and pastel nail polish colors and try to match their mood to their nails.

Personally, I love experimenting with colors and adorning my fingernails and toe nails with lively hues. They do indeed lift my spirits while showing off a fun side of my personality.

hands showing off nail polish neon colors in ombre

My fave trend is the vertical ombre with a mix of rainbow colors as you can see in the image above.

Here are some great Easter nail trends that I spotted over on Pinterest and added them to my DIY Nail Boards which you can head on over to if you want to see them up close or check out any associated tutorials for recreating these ecclectic, on trend and beautiful polishes!

hands showing off nail polish robin eggs design

hands showing off nail polish pink and blue long
hands showing off nail polish pastel Easter colors and patterns
hands showing off nail polish swirly
hands showing off nail polish neon yellow

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STUDY: Marijuana Use Reduces Chances of Getting Pregnant

Posted on March 6, 2021
woman rolling joint
person rolling marijuana cigarette
For women, using marijuana while trying to conceive was linked with a 40% reduced chance of getting pregnant during the study.

Women who use marijuana while they are trying to conceive may be less likely to get pregnant compared with those who don’t get high, a new study suggests.

The study researchers found that, among women trying to conceive, those who reported using marijuana or who had a positive urine test for the drug were 40% less likely to get pregnant during each monthly cycle, compared with those who didn’t use marijuana.

In addition, marijuana users had differences in levels of certain reproductive hormones, which could potentially affect their pregnancy chances.

“These results highlight potentially harmful associations between cannabis use and reproductive health outcomes,” the researchers, from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), wrote in their study, published Monday (Jan. 11) in the journal Human Reproduction.

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National Reading Month: 10 Ways Encourage Your Child to Read More

Posted on March 3, 2021
two children reading a book together on a bed

Today is National Read Across America Day and March is National Reading Month!

Normall, each year, National Read Across America Day  which is celebrated on March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss, focuses on the author.

This year, however, the organization is expanding their reach. The theme for 2021 is to create and celebrate a nation of diverse readers.

Bellyitch strives to focus on inclusvity in its coverage and in all areas and likewise, this year’s initiative fills me with glee.

I reached back in the archives to share thes 10 reading tips for getting your child to read more, even during difficult times such as the pandemic which is still ongoing this year.

LIbrarian holding a "we're open" sign

1. Visit the library

The library is a magical place for children! Help your child register for her own library card so that she can check out books independently. This independence will allow her to choose the books she’d like to read and help her become responsible for taking care of those treasures. Encourage her to look for books she is interested in, show her where to ask for help if she can’t find something and allow her to make her own choices.

Since the pandemic started, some libraries have reopened with mofified schedules with the requirement for patrons to wear mask and sit farther apart. Many provide masks and hand sanitizers at the entrance and various stations around the library. In lieu of shared headphones in the audio visual areas, there are single use ear buds. Many limit food and beverage and have altered their opening hours, curbside book pick ups and other accommodations for a safer experience.

father reading to child
Photo by Gabby K from Pexels

2. Read to and with your child daily

About 30 minutes of reading per day is what is recommended to encourage healthy reading habits in your child. Start at a young age by reading to your child and then gradually transition to him reading out loud to you.

The reading doesn’t have to be done all at once, but can be broken up into smaller, more manageable slices of time.

3. Role model at home

Children who see the adults around them engaging in reading are more likely to follow your example.

4. Write short notes to your child

Put them in lunch boxes, backpacks or leave them on the counter for your child to read.

You can write about anything; tell her that you love her, leave her a small fact to read or even write down her chores for her!

5. Ask open-ended questions about the story that you are reading

Asking your child open-ended questions will encourage him to think about what is going to happen next in the story and to put together what has already happened. Ask him how he’d have the story end or to predict what he thinks will happen next in the story.

Once you read more of the story, look back on your discussion and compare his thoughts to the actual story line.

6.  Add Context to check vocabulary words

Throughout your life you use context to check the meaning of words you don’t know, so encourage your child to do the same.

It’s an essential life skill.

7. Practice writing skills

Reading and writing go hand in hand because you learn one while you are learning the other!

Have your child practice sounding out words while she is writing, encourage her to create her own story with illustrations and have her write letters to people in your family (and have others write back to her!).

8. Let them pick the books that they read

Giving your child ownership of the books he chooses will mean that he is more involved in the reading process from the beginning.

Encourage him to read the classics as well, but let him pick out what he is interested in reading.

9. Make reading fun

While you are reading together have her act out stories, recreate them or illustrate them how she thinks it should be done!

family game night
READ THIS POST

10. Play reading related games

Choose games that require reading to play together. Games that involve word play (Scrabble or Boggle), games with cards that you read (Fluxx or Pictionary) or games that require you to read spaces (Life or Monopoly) all encourage children to read independently while playing.

It’s important to remain patient and calm during the learning to read process with a young child, help him when he needs help, but stand back and allow him to navigate the words on his own as much as possible.

Eventually the day will come that you are sitting side by side on the sofa, each reading your own books, and all that effort and hard work will pay off.

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5 Tips For Coping With Anxiety While Pregnant

Posted on February 26, 2021
pregnant woman cradling her belly and holding her mobile phone

Recent research shows that many women undergo mental stress during pregnancy, likely triggered by the hormonal and other changes in their body during that delicate time they are carrying life.

If you are one of the millions of women who suffer from clinical anxiety, you may be wondering how best to navigate this diagnosis during your pregnancy journey in the most healthy way without jeopardizing the health of your unborn baby.

Dr. Alan Lindemann, an obstetrician and maternal mortality expert collected some of the most common questions asked by his patients over anxiety experienced during pregnancy:

Lindemann, who teaches women and their families how to create the outcomes they want for their own personal health and pregnancy, offered a disclaimer before dispensing the following five Q & A tips: “As with any pregnancy advice you read, I recommend you connect with your personal care providers to help support you through your unique pregnancy experience.”

1. Are many pregnant women bothered by anxiety? 

Anxiety is the most common psychiatric disorder, and women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with it. If you historically suffer from anxiety, you are likely to need strategies to deal with it and keep you and your baby happy and healthy during your pregnancy. Onset of new pathologic anxiety during pregnancy is not common, but communicate with your care provider if this is your experience so you can get additional support as needed. (Normal pregnancy related anxiety is common, and doesn’t need any treatment.)

2. Does anxiety carry risks to my pregnancy? 

Anxiety and other stresses in pregnancy are associated with miscarriage, preterm delivery, and delivery complications. If you are suffering from anxiety and become pregnant, it’s important to work with your care provider to create an action plan so you can optimize your pregnancy outcomes.

3. What are some natural (drug-free) ways to deal with anxiety during pregnancy? 

Enlist the help of your partner in creating and maintaining a calm pregnancy environment. You can also tryyoga, meditation, and walking. Be sure to talk to your obstetrician, as well. If s/he doesn’t feel comfortable helping you with your anxiety, ask for a referral to a counselor

4. Is it safe to take anxiety medications while pregnant? 

Taking anxiety medications during pregnancy does carry some risks to your baby (depending on the medication), including cleft lip and “floppy baby syndrome” (i.e., hypothermia, lethargy, poor respiratory effort, and feeding problems). Your infant may also suffer from withdrawal from certain medications. Be sure to consult with your prescribing physician and understand all the risks before making your decision.

5. What if I’m on anxiety medication when I get pregnant? 

Work with your prescribing physician to slowly decrease dosage over a period of about three weeks until you can wean yourself off. While some anxiety medications can be taken during pregnancy, they all cause some risk to your baby, and it is best to go off the medications if possible.

In the end, the decision needs to be weighed from the perspective of where the greatest benefit will be compared to the greatest harm. If not taking your medication could result in self-harm, for example, your physician may recommend you continue taking it in spite of the potential risks to your pregnancy.

Graphic featuring a woman looking down, holding her pregnant belly
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Build a Minimialist Feng Shui Nursery with These Tips

Posted on February 23, 2021
woman in nursery holding her baby, sitting on her ottoman with a white crib near by with carpet

I hate clutter.

I am also a minimalist.

My motto is to keep everything in its place.

I’ve followed some Feng Shui techniques in the past, but to keep it simple, I used to just try my hardest to keep the children’s toys in their rooms or their basement playroom.

I keep all books, papers and office materials in my home office; all clothes in closets, hampers or laundry room etc.  And if an item finds its way out of place, I put it back where it belongs, promptly. I am a firm believer that clutter creates disorder and chaos and an settled mind.

Ohdeedoh did a great post years about Feng shuing your baby’s nursery that seemed helpful to me. Essentially, it took all the most sensible, practical advice

and enumerated into a simple checklist I loved!

Check out these awesome tips which I know to non-believers in the ancient Chinese principles and techniques may seem a bit odd or different, but those who have some some basic rudimentary studying of it will get it.

WATER PURIFIER COLLEGE DORM ESSENTIALS PACKING LIST

I recommend starting with Feng Shui: Reference to Go: 50 Ways to Create a Healthy and Harmonious Home and go from there.

Common-sense things you’re probably already doing:

:: Use natural materials whenever possible for bedding, curtains, flooring, rugs, furniture, and toys.

:: Keep drawers and closets organized and pruned of too-small and out-of-season clothing.

:: Have different sources of light in the nursery, some for daytime and others for evening and nighttime.

:: Limit the electrical appliances near the crib. This includes various monitors, air filters, vaporizers, fans, etc.

:: Open windows daily for good ventilation.

:: Influse scents from essential oils like chamomile, rose, vanilla or lavender.

Some more interesting tips you might also want to try:

:: Invest in a mattress made of natural organic materials.

Photo of a natural crib in a room with natural light

:: Choose a soft shade of green, blue, pink, orange or beige for the walls.

:: No reds, yellows, grays, or blacks.

:: Bed sheets should be soothing colors.

:: Bright red is a no-no.

:: Soft blue is recommended.

Hope these tips are helpful.

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