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Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt

Best Graduation Gift Ideas They Actually Want

Posted on May 28, 2022

It’s graduation season and many family members, aunts, uncles, friends. grandparents and the like are scrambling about to figure out the best gift to give to a graduate. If the parentt or graduate has established a 529 or college fund, you can contribute to that.

Also, trunk parties are back in trend. These events feature parents hosting a gathering for close friends who bring items that the graduate will need for college or their next stage in life for a dorm or apartment.

But if you plan to be at a graduation or a gradution party, you might want to take something with you or send a gift to celebrate the commencement.

Here are some ideas and suggestions to get you started.

Cash

The absolute best thing to give any graduate in 2022 and beyond is cash. Fortunately, we live in a world where things like CashApp, Venmo and Zelle exist. The best thing about cash is that, unlike gift cards, they are less likely to get misplaced, lost or forgotten about. A gift of cash deposited straight into the graduate’s bank account can be used immediately, during post graduation vacations and festivities, or saved for college or apartment shopping later.

Everyone loves cash and no one will begrudge you for not purchasing an actual gift that they may not even like or want.

Gift Card

The next best thing is a gift card to a shop, online marketplace or restaurant that you know the graduate frequents or loves. They are more likely to keep tabs on that card if it is from a fave of theirs. Alternatively, you can give an Amazon gift card because the online retailer sells everything. And with a digital card, you don’t even have to be at the graduation ceremony or send a physical card in the mail.

Get Amazon eGift Card

Get Amazon

Personalized Gift

A graduate is certain to appreciate the thoughtfulness of a personalized gift. A keychain, custom gift box, personalized necklace, monogram weekender bag or a coffee mug with their name on it. Such gifts reflect throughtfulness and forethought.

Get an Etsy gift
Get Uncommon Goods

Financial Literacy Book

After high school or college is the first time that a lot of young people are responsible for themselves and their own finances. Sadly, a lot of schools do not prepare adolescents and young adults for financial management and planning. A book or a set of books like “Why Didn’t They Teach Me This In School?” with 99 personal management principles can help.

Buy From Amazon

women's history month

Study Skills/Self Care/ Daily Devotions

Depending on how close you are to the graduate and how much of their personal story you are familiar with, you might consider picking up a book that will help them be better students in college, or will help them take better care of their mental health and take more breaks, or get them closer to their Faith.

Buy From Amazon

I hope these suggestions are good enough to get you a head start!

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Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Welcome First Child

Posted on May 19, 2022
photo of pregnant singer Rihanna in a pink fur coat and cutoffs with fiance ASAP roacky in fur green hat on a fire escape

Rihanna has got love on the brain after giving birth to her first baby.

She and A$AP Rocky officially welcomed their first child together on May 13, multiple outlets have confirmed. The singer has reportedly given birth to a baby boy in Los Angeles.

After keeping quiet about the news from the public for months, the “Love on the Brain” singer confirmed her pregnancy in January.

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photo of rihanna and rapper a$ap rocky holding hands
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Limited Quantity: Where to Order Your Stand Mixer Before Christmas

Posted on November 15, 2021
PHoto of a Kitchen featuring various appliances, glass jars, food processors, blenders and a stand mixer Graphic in a blog article about ordering stand mixers which are in limited quanity because of pandemic pipeline shortages and may not be available soonl

Stand mixers are among the list of coveted items that will be very difficult to get this year. If you have a baker, a foodie, aspiring chef, or other family members who has their eye set on a stand mixer, now is the time to order it for them.

If you do not want to risk a backorder of this item, consider the following sites that currently have stand mixers available.

Kitchenaid Classic Serices 4.5 Stand Mixer Graphic in a blog article about ordering stand mixers which are in limited quanity because of pandemic pipeline shortages and may not be available soonl

Kitchenaid Classic™ Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

Whether you need 8 dozen of your signature chocolate chip cookies or several pounds of shredded chicken for Taco Tuesday, the KitchenAid® Classic Plus™ Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer has the capacity for every occasion. This durable tilt-head stand mixer was built to last, and features 10 speeds to gently knead, thoroughlymix and whip ingredients for a wide variety of recipes and comes in a variety of colors to perfectly match your kitchen design or personality. Get creative and make more with your mixer with over 10 optional hub-powered attachments, from food grinders to pasta makers and more. 

$299.00

Get it from Kitchenaid
Cuisinart Precision Master 5.5 quart stand mixer in Graphic in a blog article about ordering stand mixers which are in limited quanity because of pandemic pipeline shortages and may not be available soonl

Cuisinart® Precision Master™ 5.5 qt. Stand Mixer in Brushed Chrome

Cuisinart is changing the way the world mixes! Make a cake or bake the extra batch of cookies for dessert with the Cuisinart Mixer. Meals to be prepared in large quantities are no match for the 5.5 qt. capacity stand mixer.

  • Large 5.5-quart, stainless steel bowl
  • Powerful 500-watt motor handles the heaviest mixing tasks
  • Die-cast metal construction
  • 12 speeds for precision mixing
  • Tilt-back head allows easy access to the mixing bowl
  • Includes
    • Chef’s whisk
    • Flat mixing paddle
    • Dough hook
    • Splash guard with pour spout
  • Power outlet for use with optional attachments
  • Instruction and Recipe Book included
  • Limited 3-year warranty
  • Additional Accessories (Not Included) – Pasta Extruder, Pasta Roller & Cutters, Ice Cream Maker, Meat Grinder

$249.00 (TAKE Additional 20%OFF)

Get it from Bed Bath & Beyond
Frigidaire stand mixer Graphic in a blog article about ordering stand mixers which are in limited quanity because of pandemic pipeline shortages and may not be available soonl

Frigidaire 4.5 Liter Capacity Retro Stand Mixer Pink

FRIGIDAIRE’S Retro Pink Electric Stand Mixer offers all-metal durability and planetary mixing action for complete bowl coverage – the mixing head spins as it rotates completely inside the bowl, allowing better mixing than traditional 2-beater stand mixers. There’s no need to stop and scrape ingredients from the side of the bowl. Eight settings give you maximum versatility and precise control at every speed. Adding ingredients while preparing a recipe is easy; the head tilts up out of the way for bowl access or you can use the pouring shield to add ingredients. Nonslip feet keep the mixer still while in use and the splatter shield guards against messy drips, drops and spills. Attachments include a non-stick flat beater, dough hook and whisk. All attachments, as well as the stainless steel 4.5L mixing bowl, are dishwasher safe for fast cleanup.

$79.77

Get it from Walmart
Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer in Graphic in a blog article about ordering stand mixers which are in limited quanity because of pandemic pipeline shortages and may not be available soonl

Hamilton Beach7-Speed Stand Mixer

Ideal for everyday mixing jobs, this Hamilton Beach stand mixer features a roomy 4-qt. stainless steel bowl plus 300 watts of power and your choice of 7 speeds. Three attachments offer mixing versatility to blend, beat, whip, mix and cream.

  • Includes mixer, 4-qt. stainless steel mixing bowl with removable splatter shield, dough hook, whisk and flat beater.
  • Powerful 300 watt motor maintains constant speed.
  • Seven speeds give you maximum flexibility and precise control.
  • Planetary mixing action provides complete bowl coverage
  • Tilt-up head lifts out of the way for easy bowl access.
  • Splatter shield guards against messy drips, drops and spills.
  • Nonslip feet keep the mixer still while in use.
  • Stainless steel; plastic.
  • Wipe clean mixer body; bowl and attachments are dishwasher safe.

$99.00

Get it from Macy’s
Kitchenaid professional 5 Plus series mixer in Graphic in a blog article about ordering stand mixers which are in limited quanity because of pandemic pipeline shortages and may not be available soonl

Kitchenaid Professional 5™ Plus Series 5 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer

Whether you need 9 dozen cookies for the school bake sale or shredded chicken for Taco Tuesday with friends and family, the KitchenAid® Professional 5™ Plus Series 5 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer has the capacity for every occasion. This durable bowl-lift stand mixer is built to last, and features 10 speeds to gently knead, thoroughly mix and briskly whip ingredients for a wide variety of recipes and comes in a variety of colors to perfectly match your kitchen design or personality. Expand your mealtime creativity with over 10 optional hub-powered attachments, from food grinders to pasta makers and more. Using the flat beater; 28g dough each sold separately.

$429.00

Get it from Kitchenaid
Frigidaire stand mixer Graphic in a blog article about ordering stand mixers which are in limited quanity because of pandemic pipeline shortages and may not be available soonl

Frigidaire 4.5 Liter Capacity Retro Stand Mixer Blue

FRIGIDAIRE’S Retro Electric 4.5L Stand Mixer offers all-metal durability and planetary mixing action for complete bowl coverage – the mixing head spins as it rotates completely inside the bowl, allowing better mixing than traditional 2-beater stand mixers. Theres no need to stop and scrape ingredients from the side of the bowl. Eight settings give you maximum versatility and precise control at every speed. Adding ingredients while preparing a recipe is easy; the head tilts up out of the way for bowl access or you can use the pouring shield to add ingredients. Nonslip feet keep the mixer still while in use and the splatter shield guards against messy drips, drops and spills. Attachments include a non-stick flat beater, dough hook and whisk. All attachments, as well as the stainless steel 4.5L mixing bowl, are dishwasher safe for fast cleanup.

$80.19

Get it from Walmart
Kitchenaid stand mixer Graphic in a blog article about ordering stand mixers which are in limited quanity because of pandemic pipeline shortages and may not be available soonl

Kitchenaid Artisan® Series 5 Quart Limited Edition Stand Mixer with Ceramic Bowl

Limited Edition Stand Mixer: Light and Shadow. Light & Shadow reflects time makers spend in the kitchen to make each moment feel special. Furthermore, each design element was crafted with intention, representing the idea that inspiration can strike at any moment, whether day or night – big or small. Through the contrast of light & dark, compelling textures, and unique styling, this mixer is a winning combination for the home.

$549.00

Get it from Kitchenaid
Kitchenaid mixer in Graphic in a blog article about ordering stand mixers which are in limited quanity because of pandemic pipeline shortages and may not be available soonl

Deluxe 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

Whether you need 8 dozen of your signature chocolate chip cookies or shredded chicken for Taco Tuesday with friends and family, the KitchenAid® Deluxe 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer has the capacity for every occasion. This durable tilt-head stand mixer was built to last, and features 10 speeds to gently knead, thoroughly mix andwhip ingredients for a wide variety of recipes and comes in a variety of colors to perfectly match your kitchen design or personality. Get creative and make more with your mixer with over 10 optional hub-powered attachments, from food grinders to pasta makers and more. Using the flat beater; 28g dough each sold separately.

$379.00

Get it from Kitchenaid
Graphic in a blog article about ordering stand mixers which are in limited quanity because of pandemic pipeline shortages and may not be available soonl
Graphic in a blog article about ordering stand mixers which are in limited quanity because of pandemic pipeline shortages and may not be available soonl
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Celebrity Roundup: Kylie Jenner, Cardi B, Drake & Lil Nas X

Posted on September 8, 2021

Celebrity Pregnancy round-up

PHoto collage of Cardi B and offset, Kylie Jenner, Rapper drake and lil Nas x in article about pregnancy related celebrity news

Rappers featured prominently in a roundup of pregnancy related news, including some unexpected and unusual references related to Drake and Lil Nas X’s respective album releases.

Kylie Jenner confirmed what’s been speculated for weeks: She’s pregnant with baby No. 2. 

The Kylie Cosmetics mogul documented her pregnancy journey thus far in a moving video she shared on social media on Tuesday. The clip starts off with Kylie holding a positive pregnancy test. She appears to film boyfriend Travis Scott’s reaction to the happy news as he can be seen hugging her in the bathroom. 

Kylie also reveals exactly how she told mom Kris Jenner — with Stormi handing the momager an envelope filled with sonogram photos. Read the Rest

Kylie Jenner with pregnant belly exposed in maternity share announcing her second pregnancy

And the hip hop community had a few odes to pregnancy recently.

Rapper Cardi B and her husband Offset from the rap group Migos welcomed their second child, a son.

The “Up” singer shared a tender Instagram photo of her and Offset sitting on a hospital bed cradling their newborn. She captioned the photo, “9/4/21” with a set of three emoticons including a blue heart, dinosaur and tiger.

The couple’s 3-year old daughter Kulture Kari was born on July 18th after they secretly married in September 2017.

Similar to her first, Cardi kept most of her second pregnancy secret, this time revealing it this past June during a performance at the BET Awards in June.

Drake in a side by side graphic from the album cover for his latest studio project "Certified Lover Boy" featuring multicultural pregnant women emojis

Rapper Drake released his much-anticipated latest album, “Certified Lover Boy” with a cover art that features a grid of 12 multiracial “pregnant woman” emojis wearing differently colored shirts.

British artist Damien Hirst designed the cover which Internet sleuths have stated looks to be a cross between the artist’s Spot Paintings with monochromatic canvases covered in rows of dots painted in complimentary colors and colourful dots and his work, sculptures of pregnant women is what seems to have inspired Drake’s CLB. 

Photo of rapper Lil Nas X in a faux maternity shoot with him wearing a fake prosthetic bayb bump, a crown of white roses holding a bouquet of white roses in an article about celebrity round up

Rapper Lil Nas X stirred up some noise when he decided to do a maternity style photo to announce the birth of his latest album project. In photos, featured in a PEOPLE magazine spread, the “Montero” performer wears a prosthetic bump.

There was a lot of buzz and chatter over the social media display, including among women advocates who said it make a mockery of pregnancy, child birth and fertility struggles.

Maybe to difuse some of the hate, the “Old Town Road” singer invited expecting women to share a photo of themselves and their bump along with their CashApp account

Instagram photos from rapper Lil Nas X's faux maternity shoot wearing a prosthetic baby bump
Instagram:
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How to Get College or Private High School Text Books Cheaper

Posted on September 2, 2021
stack of text books in an article about how to get collorge or private high school text books for cheaper

As students heading back to college and private high schools, parents are stuck with the quandry on how to pay for books.

Fortunately, there are a lot more options available to cash-strapped families these days.

One: RENTALS

My family has used Amazon Textbook Rentals and rented one book that cost close to $200 book for just $35.  What a huge saving, huh?!!

photo of journal and coffee cup on orange saucer in in an article about how to get collorge or private high school text books for cheaper

Two. Purchase the Looseleaf Version of the Textbook

Another option is loose leaf purchases.

One would think it would be a violation of US and international copyright laws to copy a book and sell the pages but not so.

Over the past few years, publishers realized they need to be flexible with their market and so have contracted with third party resellers to permit them to sell the loose leaf version of books. Hooray!

You simply purchase a binder and insert the pages and you can save over $100 dollars on a text book.

We got a Government and Politics textbook that cost $70 new for just $22 from Barnes & Noble!  

overhead flatlay photo of laptop, and books and eyeglasses in an article about how to get collorge or private high school text books for cheaper

Three. BUY USED BOOKS

A lot of the rental books platforms also sell used books have standards and require the books to meet a minimum quality.

They describe what it means for a book to be in Fair, Good, Very Good and Excellent condition. HOWEVER, be very careful to get the correct edition. Some sites are not explicit in disclosing that it’s an old edition, the teacher’s edition or the workbook versus the text. IF the price is too low, be aware and make sure there isn’t a reason for a too ridiculously discount price. We got burned this way.

Also, if you get used books from third party re-sellers, be aware that a lot of them ship ground and therefore it could take up to three weeks for your books to arrive depending on where they’re being shipped from. 

If you have the option to select among several re-sellers, pick one located closer to where you live to shorten the delivery time. 

Finally, some of these outlets have few copies so it is possible that there may be overlap and the book may not be available then canceled. I mention all of this to let you know to be mindful of these factors when you go this route. 

Here are a few of the sources we have used:

Barnes and Noble

Biblio.com,

ValoreBooks.com,

Alibris.com,

Abe Books.com.

BookScouter.com

ThriftBooks.com

andChegg.com

someone handing over a textbook to someone else

Four. Attend Book Swaps

Our sons’ school offers a book swap where students moving on to the next grade can sell their books at heavily discounted prices to underclassmen.

They then get to go around to the other cars parked in the lot and purchase books they may need from older students.

A lot of schools offer this cost-saving option. You can also haggle and bargain. One mom was selling two novels for $5 each but I convinced her to give them to me for $7.  It was the end of the swap so she was running out of options anyway.

Even if your school doesn’t offer one, check out nearby schools and attend theirs but make sure  you are getting the correct textbook and edition. This can be tricky.

Five.  Buy Digital TextBooks

Finally, a lot of teachers and professors allow students to consume the digital version of textbooks on a Nook or Kindle or another digital device.

Once a person owns a digital copy, he/he is usually licensed to download and print out pages needed for a class. Amazon’s Kindle has an entire website to e-textbooks. Enter the ISBN of the text, Title or Author and hit search!There are so many wonderful ways to save money on textbooks these days that you really have no excuse to pay full price…well unless you can afford it and your kid prefers a shiny brand new, unblemished text in the most ideal form, then go for it!

No judgment! If you got it, make it work.

Good luck, parents!

pile of textbooks
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25+ Casual Fall Outfits Inspo For School, Weekend

Posted on August 28, 2021

These Casual Inspo Outfits will keep you cool, comfy, chic and stylish for school and the weekend

As a blogger, I spend a lot of my time behind a computer.

When I’m not shuttling my brood back and forth to events, games, school, practice and such, I am plugging away trying to deliver the most relevant and up-to-date news, information, fashion style trends, pregnant or parent celebrity gossip, and tips for first time, new and veteran parents.

My style is comfy, casual, chic. I live in yoga pants, leggings, over sized sweaters, canvas shoes and ballet flats. I may jot to the gym or meet up with a friend for coffee but none of these excursions require me to dress up much.

That’s why I was drawn to the casual Korean school kid and BTS-inspired, styling of clothing on Polyvore when I spotted it on Pinterest

I realize that they are also excelent selection for female high school and college students!

I pulled together my five fave looks among the various looks the online clothier had put together and I tagged products from my partners at Shopstyle in case you are a blogger or other fan of comfy style and want to grab some of these pieces for yourself or get a closer look.

I have a lot of these pieces already in my closet and that’s how I knew they were made with me in mind! Ha!



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The Most Decorated Female Olympic Track Star Allyson Felix and All the Moms

Posted on August 6, 2021

This one is for the moms!

United States Olympic sprinter Allyson Felix just won her 10th Olympic medal becoming the most decorated female athlete in all time! And she did so after giving birth to her first child, Camryn, and fighting back naysayers who counted her out since she became a mom!

The 35-year-old California native ran blind, situated in the less favored lane 9, and accelerated fast enought to win the bronze medal in the women’s 400 meters on Friday. She ran a season-best at 49.46 seconds and did so wearing her own brand of shoes, Saysh.

Defending Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas was the gold medalist in a lifetime best 48.36 seconds, and Marileidy Paulino of Dominican Republic the silver medalist; her 49.20 clocking was also a lifetime best.

With today’s medal Felix broke a tie with Jamaica’s Merlene Ottey, who has nine medals. She has also tied the legend Carl Lewis for the most medals by an American track and field athlete.

Felix parted with her longtime sponsor Nike after pushing back publicly about the athletic company’s battles with atheletes who return to the field after having a baby. She eventually created her own line.

Per Vogue

Felix gave birth to her daughter, Camryn, in 2018, and she has since been candid about her recovery and struggles while returning to training. In 2019, she broke up with her then sponsor Nike due to the circumstances related to her childbirth, sharing in a powerful New York Times op-ed that she faced a 70% pay cut in her sponsorship because of it. “During my pregnancy, I faced a gender injustice that I couldn’t run from,” she tells Vogue. “My employer [Nike] did not support my maternity in a way that I could be proud of.” With no big shoe sponsor this year, Felix decided to take matters into her own hands. But instead of finding the right performance shoe, she decided to channel her frustrations into creating an athleisure sneaker under her new brand, Saysh.

Felix competed in the finals with teammate Quanera Hayes who skated into the last round of the 400M competition on her time but came in 7th. At the Olympic Trials this year, her son Demetrius and Camryn met and hugged.

She is part of a long line of moms who had to fight stereotypes about our ability to perform at the top level in sports, come back after giving birth and generally multitask!

US Marathoner Aliphine Tuliamuk appealed to the IOC which had intially banned her from bringing her nursing newborn along to Japan. Amidst outcry from the world, she won and was able to take her daughter Zoe!

Here are some headlines about other moms who competed and are competing in these 2021 Tokyo, Japan Olympic games

NPR –Olympic And Paralympic Moms Face Big Obstacles To Compete. They’re Demanding Change

People – Super Mamas! 10 Moms Competing in the Tokyo Olympics This Summer

CBS– Marathon mom pushes Olympics to allow nursing babies

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20+ Celebrity Baby Shower Themes to Inspire

Posted on July 21, 2021
ROOC Gretchen Rossi and Slade's Baby Shower
Gretchen Rossi’s Baby Shower

Watching our fave visual search platform, Pinterest, we noticed that baby shower themes were a trending topic, so we thought it would be fun to revisit some of our fave baby shower posts from years past.

  • Toya Wright’s Baby Shower
  • Enicko Hart’s Baby Shower
  • Khloe Kardashian’s Baby Shower
  • Vanessa Bryant’s Baby Shower
  • RHOP’s Kandi Burruss’ Baby Shower
  • Supermodel Chanel Iman’s Baby Shower
  • RHOP’s Porsha Williams’ Baby Shower
  • Eva Mendez’s Outdoor Garden Baby Shower
  • Eva Marcille’s Royal themed Baby Shower
  • Cardi B’s Baby Shower
  • Andy Cohen’s “A Star Is Born” Baby Shower
  • RHOP’s Ashley Darby’s Baby Shower
  • Malika Haaq’s “Bear Themed” Baby Shower
  • Khloe Kardashian’s Baby Shower
  • Gretchen Rossi’s Baby Shower
  • RHOA’s Shamea Morton’s Baby Shower
  • Singer Keyshia Cole’s Baby Shower
  • Kehlani’s Shower
  • Tia Mowry’s Bohemian Baby Shower
  • Serena William’s 50’s Theme Baby Shower
  • Country Singer Maren Morris’ Baby Shower

Here are the top most searched

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Halsey Welcomes 1st Child, Son, Ender Ridley

Posted on July 20, 2021
Halsey is a mom

Halsey is now a mom!

The “Without Me” singer reportedly gave birth to her first child, Ender Ridley Aydin, on July 14. Today, she posted heartwarming black-and-white photos of her holding Ender in her arms as her screenwriter boyfriend Alev Aydin looks on, along with a breastfeeding photo.

“Gratitude. For the most ‘rare’ and euphoric birth. Powered by love,” Halsey captioned.

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Cardi B Announces 2d Pregnancy During BET Awards

Posted on June 28, 2021

Cardi B is expecting her second child with Offset.

The rapper revealed her pregnancy at the 2021 BET Awards Sunday night (June 27) while onstage with Migos during their performance.

The announcement, broadcast from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, is the second time Cardi has used live television to confirm she’s pregnant. When the couple’s first child, Kulture, was on the way, Cardi debuted her baby bump on Saturday Night Live. Born on July 10, 2018, Kulture is now almost three years old.

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