I do not recall when I have seen more stunning maternity photos in recent history than Vanessa Bryant‘s!
The mom to three girls, 16-year old Natalia Diamante, 13-year old Gianna Maria-Onore and 2-year old Bianka Bella, is also the wife of Los Angeles Lakers NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
Sheposted a couple breathtaking photos from her shoot on her private Instagram this Father’s Day weekend.
One is a glorious silhouette which featured her wearing a unitard with her hair in an elaborate extension ponytail. Very artsy and beautiful.
The other is a dreamy image from the ground perspective looking up and with Kobe cradling her bump and a very ornate and pristine vintage wicker pram with decorated with white florals nearby.
She is wearing a white off-the-shoulder crop top and a full layered skirt with lots of organza. Her hair cascades down her back in soft black loose ringlets.
A single elegant chandelier hangs above. So dreamy!
Having a baby often comes with some time off from work, but the amount of time off and whether you will be paid vary from employer to employer. This can be an added stressor for many women; however, maternity leave is often is up for negotiation.
Step 1: Understand What Maternity Leave Is All About
Maternity leave is defined as the time a new mom takes off from work after having a baby. Most women take the time immediately following a birth to recover and tend to a new baby’s needs. Some companies will offer paid maternity leave for a period of six weeks or more, but others offer nothing.
Under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), certain parents of either gender can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work to care for a new child. To qualify, the new parent must have been with their company for at least a year and worked at least 1,250 hours during the past year. They must also work for a company with 50 or more employees.
The Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act (FAMLI) was introduced in Congress in February 2017. If the bill passes, it will provide paid family and medical leave, equal to roughly two-thirds of a person’s monthly pay, for up to 12 weeks a year.
Step 2: Determine How and Where You’ll Negotiate
Depending on the formality of your office, carefully choose the medium by which you announce your pregnancy. You may have to provide a maternity leave letter, but it’s best to have a face-to-face meeting in the office prior to handing in your letter, which may also need to be submitted to the company’s human resources department.
You want to talk with your boss about your maternity leave options before the office rumor mill begins working. For this reason, it’s wise to request a face-to-face meeting with your boss before announcing to your co-workers that you’re pregnant.
Discussing maternity leave should happen sooner rather than later in most offices. This extended time frame allows your employer to devise a plan for when you’re on maternity leave.
The R&B crooner, real name Tremaine Aldon Neverson, had long wanted to be a dad and just this May, the artist surprised fans with the news that he became one when he posted a photo of his baby on Instagram with the caption, “My son Noah. We are blessed and overjoyed. Peace.” He has so far kept the identify of Noah’s mother private.
Famous for his role on Entourageand POWER, actor Jerry Ferrara welcomed Jacob born in early May 2019 with his wife Breanne. The couple had previously experienced a pregnancy loss via miscarriage.
Congrats and Happy Father’ Day to all the new dads!
The big day to celebrate dad is here, and once again, restaurants have rolled out dozens of Father’s Day freebies and deals as a way to thank all kinds of dads and father figures for all they do.
Hooters, Fogo de Chao, Firehouse Subs, Wienerchnitzel, Medieval Times, TCBY, Ruth’s Chris, and Bruegger’s Bagels are among the restaurants where dads eat free today (Sunday, June 16, 2019) — or where they’ll get a special bonus of some sort. The Father’s Day 2019 restaurant deals include offers where dads get free meals, free wings, free donuts, free cigars, free sandwiches, free shakes — and even free beer. (FYI, we have also published a separate list of restaurants with Father’s Day brunch and dinner deals.)
Here are all the places where dads get free food or other great freebies for Father’s Day 2019:
Dads eat free at Beef ‘O’ Brady restaurants on Sunday for Father’s Day 2019. All dads get up to $10 in free food with the purchase of equal or higher value.
On Sunday, June 16, you can get a free sandwich at Bruegger’s Bagels with the purchase of any sandwich. This Father’s Day freebie is available only to members of Bruegger’s Inner Circle rewards club.
City Tap, which has eight locations around the U.S. in cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, and Boston, will give every dad a free pint of beer during Father’s Day brunch, served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 16. Some locations are giving dads a bonus freebie of a card good for another free drink on a future visit.
All dads can get a free beer (pint of Bud Light, Coors Light, or Miller Lite) when dining at Duffy’s Sports Grill on Sunday, plus a $10 MVP Bonus Card (good for use on a future visit) with the purchase of any meal.
Use this coupon at Firehouse Subs on Father’s Day 2019, and you’ll get a free medium sub with the purchase of chips, a drink, and a medium or large sub.
Enter the code DAD19 when making a reservation at Medieval Times, and dad’s admission is free with the purchase of any adult ticket. The Father’s Day deal is valid for a Medieval Times experience now through Sunday, June 16
When Drake surprised a small female rap duo from Miami, Fl by including a sample of one of their songs on the tail end of his Summer banger, “In My Feelings” without them knowing in advance, he helped shoot the group into the stratosphere and stardom!
Since, the young women, Yung Miami and JT, best friends since Middle school, have launched two Billboard hits, “Twerk” and “Act Up” from their Girl Code album and are bonafide international stars.
Unfortunately, half of the duo is experiencing the fame in prison for fraud and was serving her sentence when their instant meteoric rise started. She is soon to be released.
The other half just announced a pregnancy with her second child. The child’s father is reportedly a producer named Southside who is part of the production team 808 Mafia.
Here is a blurb about the recent announcement from BET:
On Tuesday (June 11), Yung Miami confirmed that she is pregnant with her second child. Amid the rap duo’s rapidly growing acclaim for meteoric hits like “Twerk” and “Act Up,” the news comes as a pleasant surprise to fans.
Yung Miami, born Caresha Brownlee, has been holding down the Miami-established rap duo and repping from the outside while her City Girls halver Jatavia “JT” Johnson serves out a jail sentence.
In an Instagram post previewing the upcoming City Girls documentary, their rise from the streets of Miami to the world stage is painted for the entire rap world to see.
“I’ve been going back and forth to share this moment with my fans,” she wrote in the caption of the IGTV clip. “But on MY TERMS! I wanted to share this with y’all. No one knows what is best for me but GOD, and this was just his timing for me.”
The clip opens with JT and Yung Miami in Los Angeles celebrating after just signing their contract with music label Quality Control.
A National Science Foundation (NSF) funded study is looking to pay diverse math teachers $35 per hour for about one hour of work towards its work on a new pilot program that will help teachers give more effective feedback on student assignments.
Together with Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Lesley University’s Center for Mathematics Achievement, a program called ASSISTments is looking for diverse 6th-8th grade math teachers to pilot a new ASSISTments feedback system
According to the study leaders, the “ideal teacher candidate is curious, eager to provide effective feedback to their students, and open to working with researchers to improve student feedback systems.”
The opportunity is open to teachers anywhere in the country.
The ASSISTments DRIVER-SEAT pilot project grant is focused on supporting middle school mathematics teachers in providing efficient, practical, and individualized feedback to students’ open-response questions.
Its research uses machine learning and computer science to make providing feedback to students on open-response questions easier.
Teacher participants will be asked to do some or all of the following:
Assign students open-response questions
Write feedback to your students’ open response questions
Write feedback to students outside your class
Select from automated responses generated by a computer
Provide feedback to researchers about computer-generated feedback
Teacher participation will help create a library of authentic teacher responses that will enable us to apply deep learning to discover how to help teachers provide feedback to their students more effectively.
In particular, the study seeks teachers that identify as Latinx/Latino/a, Black or African, African American, Asian, Indigenous, Native American, Pacific-Islander, and American Indian.
Teachers must meet the criteria below in order to be eligible for participation:
Teach middle school mathematics, grades 6-8
Be willing to use Engage NY (Eureka), Illustrative Mathematics (Open Up Resources), and/or Utah Mathematics on the ASSISTments platform at least 3 times/week in class or for homework assignments
Teacher and students must have access to a device (in or out of school)
Visit the websiteto apply. Applications are rolling.
“Can’t wait to meet our baby girl ? Love You Always & Forever,” Cassie captioned a slideshow of photos of herself and Fine sitting in a car together.
Fine also raved over the news and shared a heartfelt letter he wrote to the couple’s unborn child.
“I will be the first man in your life and will show you the greatest love and affection now and forever,” Fine wrote alongside a photo, which shows him kissing Cassie on the cheek.
“I never thought my heart could grow bigger after meeting your mother… then I found out we were having you and I instantly felt a love that is so indescribable,” Fine continued.
“I promise to be at every dance recital, concert, sporting event, school plays whatever you decide to do I will be there and support you. I am your number one fan.”
“I promise to be a man that you and your mother look up to and love. I will always listen and put the both of you first.”
Fine also promised to show his baby girl a “healthy relationship.”
“I promise to never approve of any boy you like because they will never be good enough for my baby girl. Sorry,” he continued.
“I can’t promise that I won’t embarrass you because I will give you so many kisses at every school drop off.”
“I will be the Dad that never forces my opinions on you. I will love whatever you do in life as long as you’re happy.”
“I promise to love you every single second unconditionally until my last breath.”
He concluded the note with, “You’re perfect to me and always will be.”
We are deep into Graduation season and if you are still on the hunt for the perfect gift for that high school, college or graduate school celebrant in your life, I’d like to suggest you check out my fave online site and partners, Etsy!
Logged on the other day and instantly spotted some sentimental and funny gifts like…
These T-shirts modeled after the “Friends” TV show logo but with a funny play on the word Seniors. It’s just $9.34 now on sale. Order it today before the sale expires.
I also absolutely loved these personalized chains and charms celebrating the graduate in Rose Gold, Gold and silver. They’re practically a steal at just $19.95. Want!
Speaking of clever, for that kid who could not wait to graduate, this hilarious shirt is for him or her! I have just the person in mind for this next year! ha! It starts at$13.99 which is a steal in my eyes.
Now for the design fan who cherishes graduation, this personalized frame grad art it superb! So sentimental and so perfect! I love it and surprisingly just $13.95. Wow! Get it!
Finally, something that a graduate can carry around that is both functional and commemorative: a silver keychain, personalized, and just the right touch at $17.99.
Get on these for a graduate this year, in the fall or next year!
Tiger Woods‘ ex wife Elin Nordegren was looking very pregnant last Friday while cheering on the couple’s 10-year old son Charlie at his flag football game in Florida.
The 39-year old, who also shares an 11-year old daughter Sam with the Golf star, apparently showed up unexpectedly at the game while Woods was out of town during a Golf tournament, RadarOnline exclusively reported.
The blonde ex nanny has kept a low profile after divorcing from Woods in 2010 following a cheating scandal.
The two married in 2004 before police were called to the couple’s home in 2009 after Nordgen discovered the infidelity, and Woods smashed his car into a tree not far from their property following a spat about it.
According to sources to the gossip site, Woods and his current girlfriend Erica Herman have been the ones attending his children’s soccer and flag football games in recent months.
The source also added that when the athlete is out of town for golf, Sam and Charlie have been with their nanny.
Nordegren briefly dated billionaire Chris Cline after her divorce from Woods but split in 2014, before reuniting during a ski trip a couple years later in 2016.
She wore no wedding ring, according to pics you can see HERE!
A family gathering can be a joyous occasion. Getting together with people you haven’t seen for years can exciting.
Perhaps a new generation has been born, and you’ve only seen the birth announcements. Reunions help maintain that intergenerational connection that helps shed light on certain commonalities.
For example, your daughter with a love for painting might find out that a great aunt is an established artist. Creating lasting bonds or renewing existing ones with your kin can also help you learn about your history. DNA kits are popular more than ever. Now you can find out where your family’s journey has led everyone.
To create a drama-free experience, you can find several ways to keep everyone happy. You’re focusing on the fun of it all. Here are some ways to plan (and survive) the next reunion and more to come in the future.
These are the people probably know you the best, and you can count on when you need them. Interrelationship isn’t always pretty, but families hold a special bond as no one else can.
Family on the sea
Sometimes you can’t escape a bit of drama during a family reunion. Before packing a place with relatives, you should make a list of who is and isn’t coming. Understanding all the variables may make the process easier.
You can ask another family member to help in organizing the invitations. You also want to take finances into account. Some may not be able to afford a pricey trip.
Finding the right venue for everyone can be tricky. One way to have everyone together but with enough space to spread out if needed is booking a sunset cruise in West Palm Beach. Family cruises give you numerous activities on board, from shows and sights, games for the children, and the end of the day together at dinner.
You can have a set time for everyone to meet to spend time together going over old photos and discussing memories. You can create a keepsake such as a scrapbook or a wall calendar with funny quotes and pictures. You and the family can be together for a many things on board.
Find out where and what activities everyone is interested in. There are cruise lines that even have go-karts for a different take on cruise life.
Family festivities
Having a themed soiree can be another interesting idea to bring the family together. You can enjoy a Great Gatsby party, where everyone is decked out in 1920s garb and enjoying specialty cocktails. You can ask your local liquor store what drinks would make for such a night.
During the warm summer months, you can throw a luau complete with pineapples and tiki lamps lining the backyard. Simple food with a hint of the tropics such as fresh fruits and umbrella decorated drinks are a fun addition.
Hiring someone to play the ukulele or popping in a Hawaiian CD adds some subtle background music. A potluck can be a great reason for everyone to dig up the old family recipes.
You may discover who created your favorite, or you could learn the origin of your grandma’s pot roast. You may want everyone to bring a copy of them to collect and create a keepsake of the family recipes.
This can open up where your family came from and how they got to where they are now. With mail-away DNA tests, you can find out exactly where you all traveled from, which can be revealed at the party.
For those relatives who live too far away, you can find an easy solution for them to enjoy the festivities. Thanks to modern technology, you can set up the laptop or tablet and livestream the gathering. Your long-distance relatives can see everyone with no one feeling left out, whether because of finances or physical and health issues.
