I was catching up on the latest episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians on E! and noticing how baby sister of the trio of Dash sisters, Khloe Kardashian looks super thin and a lot like her Instagram photos that people keep accusing her of achieving by photoshopping.
I thought, yeah, it’s pretty hard to photo shop video! She really worked hard to shed pounds after giving birth to her daughter True last year. And after what happened with her ex Tristan Thompson‘s serial cheating, she is really living the Revenge Body mantra.
Then I remembered that a new season of her Revenge Body challenge show on the E! network starts soon.
A teaser released by the network summarizes all of the exciting activities we can expect for the next iteration of the popular spin off.
Per the new footage, Khloe Kardashian‘s transformation series will “redefine” revenge. Not only will contestants shed pounds with the help of Revenge Body‘s trusted trainers, but the participants will also bulk up on muscle as seen on a contestant who has been genetically thin his entire life.
“I only know how to do skinny,” one male participant admitted in a confessional. In the promo reel, fitness and lifestyle consultant Ashley Borden assured the client that he could put on about 30 pounds.
Toddlers are so fun to shop for! I’m a big fan of exploratory toys that incorporate learning into play and for this reason, I scoped out some pretty fun, creative, inventive and innovative offerings for your little one in this guide!
To purchase any item on this list click the links (affiliate links included) or use it as inspiration as you’re putting together your list.
100 First Words for Little Geeks – Since they’re way beyond “milk” and “ball,” teach them words they really need to know: dragon, android, cyborg, wormhole, and other vocab you need to get them into sci-fi and fantasy. ($10)
Baby Alive speaks to her mini mommy or daddy in either Spanish or English. Baby Alive‘s realistic, adorable phrases include childhood classics like “Time to go potty!” and “Yay, I did it!” ($36)
Kinetic Sand Beach Sand Kingdom Playset -This feels like wet sand and won’t dry out, even if you leave it out on the table overnight. (But yes, you might have to vacuum it out of the carpet, so invoke your home’s Play-Doh protocol and only allow it on the table.) ($20)
Bravo TV‘s Real Housewives of Potomac housewife Ashley Darby celebrated her 31st birthday and the impending arrival of her first child at a traditional ladies only “Shower” theme baby shower, this past Saturday, June 8th..
The festive event was held at La Vie restaurant in the recently renovated Wharf DC. Guests who entered a floral archway included castmates Gizelle Bryant, Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, Monique Samuels, Karen Huger and Robyn Dixon to her grandmom Joyce Bryant and mom Sheila Mattthews and friends.
“I am still coming down from the joy and excitement of Baby D’s shower of love this weekend,” Darby captioned an Instagram post of a video of the event. “Michael and I are blessed to be surrounded by you caring, loving, supportive people. Life is much more fulfilling with you in it.”
Vendors included Village and Coast Interior Design which brought the theme to life by draping 55 light blue, lime, white, lavender and periwinkle parasols in the center of the room, per a PEOPLE mag exclusive.
Baker’s Cake Theory provided treats and a giant cupcake as a birthday surprise. Guests dined on a brunch menu that included mimosas and La Vie’s signature Bellini.
Local DC DJ Live Drex spun tunes, while aerialist Shelly Flex (of Dollz Entertainment) performed a 5-minute number to Disclosure’s “You” using a lollipop ring for support.
Also, according to PEOPLE, “guests also played games, with prizes including Zen Gem shirts from Ashley’s soon-to-launch wellness brand and dinner gift cards to La Vie.”
Tierra Events provided all the flowers for the event, including those draped on the hedge wall which guests snapped photos in front of for the Gram.
Three tall arrangements and two low arrangements were set up for the table centerpieces, with blue hydrangeas sitting atop green bottom pompom and strings of white dendrobium orchids, according to an OK mag feature on the event.
Photographer Marcus Bennett captured the day for prosperity.
A new report characterizes Gen Z as tech and mobile savvy, better with their money and investments, more conscientious and multi-dimensional
Sorry Millenials!
A new report essentially says Generation Z, those born between 1995 and 2015, are better than you guys.
Describing them as “old souls”, the report by the National Retail Federation summarized Gen Z as better savers, more responsible, and multidimensional than the older Millenial, Gen Y, generation stating:
According to Jeff Fromm, consumer trends expert and author of Marketing to Gen Z, “our research suggests Gen Z not only influences other Gen Zers but also other generations.
“They are not a continuation of millennials,” the report states. “Gen Z is very grounded and financially savvy, with 72% currently saving money for future expenses or investments.”
The news gets rosier about them:
“It’s true that many receive financial support from their parents, but 33% pay for all of their own expenses when shopping for personal items,” says Kerri-Ann Santaguida, vice-president and general manager of global merchant and network services at American Express Canada
Fromm, a partner at ad agency Barkley, says that “Gen Zers value hard work and have strong leanings towards saving for their future. They are old souls in young bodies and we say this in our research.”
For Gen Z, the big topic is equality while for millennials it was the environment – both matter. “Highly digital and mobile, Gen Zers can gather more information from the palm of their hand from their phone than any generation before.”
I love it when I see Bellyitch Bumpwatch alums in partnership with one another.
More common, I see some of the women featured on this blog wearing the designs of other celeb moms previously showcased. Think Georgina Chapman, Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney and others but this weekend, alum Alexis Fields designed the wine tasting room for fellow Bumpwatch alum Tamera Mowry-Housley.
Fields, a former child star and sis to Kim Fields (Facts of Life, Living Single, Real Housewives of Atlanta), turned her friend and one time Sister, Sister co-star Mowry-Housley’s new venture into a dream by working on the interior of the venue, a labor of love for The Real panel talk show host and her family’s venture, Housley Napa Valley.
Fields shared the unveiling to her followers and fans on Instagram.
“During this project, we became family,” she captioned the post. “It was such a group effort and couldn’t have been accomplished without the love and dedication of each person involved. So many incredible talents pushed through to make @tameramowrytwo and @adamhousley’s vision a reality.”
She added: “I adore these two and it is always an absolute pleasure to work with them. Tamera, I couldn’t ask for a better design twin. I love how we get each other and support one another. Thank you for always trusting me with projects so personal to you. I cherish our connection. Adam, the brother I never wanted….but I’m so glad I got.”
Later, she shared photos of the before and after of her workspace:
The minute you deliver your baby, you’re going to have to create some plans for her or him if you unfortunately and unexpectedly meet an early demise.
It’s a hard topic but no one is promised tomorrow, as the cliched quote goes, and frankly, it is irresponsible of any parent to avoid setting up a will or some other directive for their children while on earth.
To see an example of the importance of jumping on this morning task early one only need to look at the highly publicized instances of family in fighting when a celebrity passes away without a will.
On my biz blog, Jenebaspeaks.com, I shared a blog post about a limited time free service and I’m sharing here for my parenting audience.
Generating a will is time-consuming and financially draining. The founder of Giving Docs,Brantley Boyett, knows this because he’s a lawyer. (And he approves this message.)
But with Giving Docs, you can create a will in just 10 minutes and avoid expensive lawyer fees!
How does Giving Docs help you create such an important document so quickly? With yes or no questions and short text entry.
There are five simple steps:
Add your loved ones and organizations important in your life
Define any specific gifts, such as cash amounts or possessions like family heirlooms
Assign your distributions to people and organizations (::cough:: educational organization ::cough::)
Choose your personal representative who will be responsible for carrying out your wishes for your estate
Print off your will, visit a notary, and sign your will with two witnesses present
When you’re done, your will will be Ed Hochuli official and legally-binding in all 50 states. (Giving Docs does recommend showing what you’ve created to your lawyer.)
International Sumo-ling hack: Use these documents as a template, bring them to an attorney, and save yourself a few billable hours!
Ok, but what if you want to make changes, like remove a school you just discovered serves pineapple pizza? Not a problem. You can alter your will at any time. Just remember to get it notarized again.
Listen, I know talking about death gives you the heebie-jeebies, but by being proactive, you can make sure the people and causes you care about are taken care of.
Usually, lifetime access to this estate planning tool is $295.
But, because Giving Docs practices what they preach about paying it forward, they are giving Sumo-lings lifetime access for free!
Look at that. You are saving hundreds of dollars that would normally be going to a lawyer.
So let’s start dividing up those assets and gifting your favorite educational institution today.
One of my all time fave actress, directors and producers Regina King changed the entire trajectory of her storied and award-winning acting career by choosing to put her child first.
It started after the former child star (who played “Brenda” on the 1980s NBC hit 227) had her son Ian in 1996 with her then husband Ian Alexander Sr.
“I took a break from making films,” she explained to W magazine in its 2019 Hollywood issue released in January around award season. “My son, Ian, was getting to the age, around sixth grade, when kids are starting to spread their wings, and everything that was being offered to me was outside of Los Angeles, except for TV. I didn’t want to travel to make films.”
Because of that move, the If Beale Street Could Talk Oscar nominee focused her career on the small screen.
“I like to say I was one of the first movie actors who made the leap into television,” she said to the interviewer who asked if her silver screen role in Beale, the first feature film after a 10 year break was a comeback film
“I like to use the LL Cool J song: ‘Don’t call it comeback. I been here for years.’
In a 2018 interview with SheKnows.com, the back-to-back Emmy Winner for the American Crime anthology series said, “I did not want to homeschool my son. I didn’t want to have to leave him at home and miss out on all those little milestones and triumphs that happen in a growing child’s life.”
Love it! And loved her while starring as a police officer in the NBC-turned- TBS cop drama Southland in a role written just for her in 2009.
From there, as E! Onlinesummarized earlier this year, the “career renaissance began, with roles in American Crime, The Leftovers, and Seven Seconds coming one after the other. ”
Then, the Boyz In the Hood alum started to clean up at the awards shows.
Her first Emmy win, for work in the first season of ABC‘s anthology series American Crime, came in 2015, with another following suit a year later. At the same time, she began developing a serious passion for directing. Since helming a 2013 episode of Southland, she’s gone on to direct episodes of Scandal, This Is Us, Shameless, The Good Doctor, and Insecure.
Keeping it all in the family, her sister, Reina, will be head of production, Huffpo reported.
King is proof positive that putting family first is not always a hazard to progress on a career!
Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock (10049423k) Regina King attends the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, Calif 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards – Audience, Beverly Hills, USA – 06 Jan 2019
Emirates Airlines conducted a U.S. Travel Survey on Family Travel, identifying key struggles of traveling with kids and what parents say are the most effective ways to make the experience better for them and the kids.
In the survey of 4400 adults with a passport, planning to take an international trip in the coming year or have taken an international trip in the past few years, and who travel at least once every two to three years and are between the ages of 18 and 64.
It’s no secret kids can get antsy during flights.
Emirates found that while kids get better at flying as they get older, many kids across all ages are already antsy within the first two hours of a long-haul flight:
Under 2 Years Old: 70% of travelers say kids under 2 get antsy in the first two hours of the flight
3-5 Years Old: 57% of travelers say kids 3-5 years old get antsy in the first 2 hours of a flight
6-10 Years Old: 32% say of travelers say kids 6-10 years old get antsy in the first 2 hours of a flight, with another 50% saying this older group gets antsy between 2-4 hours into a flight
The survey found that parents serve a child’s favorite snacks as one of the top needed distraction.
Additionally, while kids across the U.S. reportedly get restless in the early parts of their flights, kids from Boston tend to be the antsiest flyers in the U.S., with 38% of respondents reporting kids under 2 and 24% of kids 6-10 years old are antsy as soon as the plane takes off.
Keeping kids busy on the ground can be tricky, let alone on a plane.
The number one way to keep kids occupied during a long flight? People say devices are the best at keeping kids occupied across all age groups.
The most helpful methods across age groups include:
Under 5 Years Old: 57% of respondents say devices to watch movies, TV shows or videos are by far the most helpful, followed by devices to play games (17%) and activity books and toys (16%)
6-10 Years Old: 96% of respondents say devices to watch movies, TV shows or videos and devices for games tie for being the most helpful in keeping kids content, but are followed closely by having snacks kids enjoy on hand (88%)
However, parental worry about keeping kids entertained through a flight isn’t created equal – Emirates survey found that flyers in Orlando, Houston, Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles are the most concerned about this issue when flying.
Is this Seat Available?
It’s no secret that many people try to avoid sitting near kids to ensure peace and quiet during their flight.
Emirates found that the average traveler’s willingness to sit next to kids depends on how long the trip is.
It turns out that 61% of fliers would say no to sitting next to kids on a flight over 10 hours, and of that, men are actually more likely to agree to it (57%) than women are (64%).
While the West Coast is known for friendliness and the South for hospitality, residents in San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale are actually the least willing to sit next to kids on long-haul flights.
Here are Emirates’ Cabin Crew’s top tips for traveling children this vacation season:
For parents flying with babies, try to choose a flight that is as close as possible to their bedtime. This can help them sleep for a large part of the flight. Also, make sure you have sweets or a bottle of milk for babies/toddlers to suck on during take-off or descent, as they may have difficulty equalizing their ear pressure and feel uncomfortable.For small children, keep one new toy aside to give them mid-flight to ensure they don’t grow bored of the ones they already have. This will provide a fun, distracting surprise, and will keep them occupied longer than one of their old toys.
For kids of all ages, find ways to break up activities during the flight. Don’t depend solely on games or videos – pack a small puzzle, colouring book or interactive toy in addition to devices or in-flight entertainment systems, and use time between shows or movies to try something different.
When kids are awake, take brief strolls when they are already in good moods. This will help them stretch and break up the time between activities in their seats, and help prevent a restless-child meltdown.
When going through an airport, bookend your kids with one parent upfront and one taking the rear (if possible) to ensure you don’t lose any little stragglers along the way, and keep them moving quickly through checkpoints.
“It was the worst experience of my life,” is how Love and Hip Hop star Rashidah Ali describes losing her first child at just 5 months gestation, in a recent exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine.
The celebrity shoe consultant who owns a chain of boutique shoe stores told the magazine that she woke up the morning of May 26 experiencing excruciating pain that she just chalked up to normal pregnancy symptoms.
When the pain became too much to bear, Ali, also known as Rah Ali, explained, she got help.
“I called my husband and he rushed home,” the former Bad Boy and Def Jam records intern told PEOPLE. “The ambulance came and they took me to the hospital. That’s when they told me that my cervix was completely open and that my water had broken.”
At just 20 weeks along, she was forced to deliver but sadly, the doctors told her the baby was too young to survive outside the womb, and the newborn who she had decided to call Sanaa passed away.
“I held her … and she slept in the room with us until the morning when they took her away,” she shared solemnly. “I felt like I lost my soul.”
Ali said she has found solace from reflecting on the strong bond she developed with her baby when in utero and said she believes the strong connection was because God knew she would not have much time with her child.
“Every single day, I would get up and feel her kicking and I would talk to her…Not like a baby, but like a person,” she shared. “I would say, ‘What are we eating this morning?’ Or, ‘Okay, you’re getting agitated and feisty. I know you’re hungry and I’m going to eat something.’ “
Still, the unexpected delivery blindsided her, she explained.
“When you’re pregnant with your first child, it’s a whole mental thing just knowing that you’re going to deliver,” she told the mag. “Every day you count down and see [your due date] getting closer and closer. At five months, I hadn’t even come to the realization that it was going to happen. It was the worst experience of my life.”
Since this horrific event, the reality star said she found comfort from loads of messages she has gotten from other women who survived similar losses, while ignoring any mean-spirited comments about her former friend, Remy Ma who has previously suffered a miscarriage
There have been a few baby food recalls in recent weeks that have prompted some new moms to consider making their own baby food from scratch for their little ones.
The idea of blending, pureeing, storing, thawing and making batches of baby food or toddler pouches can seem daunting, and time-consuming, but fortunately, in recent years, technology in the form of baby food blenders and scores of new books have cropped up to demystify and simplify the process.
Blender
To start, you may want to go out and get a blender with a puree function on it. I like the Magic Bullet for making smoothies and milkshakes for my little ones because it is easiest to clean. The company that makes it also sells a special version just for baby food making called Magic Bullet Baby Bullet Baby Care System which retails for $59.99 on Amazon but is sold in retail stores like Target, Walmart and the like.
Storage
Next, you’ll have to invest in tiny containers to store the foods you make. The Baby Bullet comes with its own containers and lids but you can also order storage containers. Sage Spoonfuls Big Batch Storage Set includes twelve 4 Ounce containers for about $20, enough for vegetable, desserts and other purees. They are freezer, dishwasher and microwave safe and durable portable jars with leak proof and easy to use screw on lids.
Recipes
Then comes the hard part: whipping up yummy recipes. Here are some books with tips, recipes and other suggestions.
ONE
The Amazing Make-Ahead Baby Food Book: Make 3 Months of Homemade Purees in 3 Hours ($17.88) This popular hardback book will give you to tools and tips for making up to three months’ worth of healthy, homemade baby food in just three one-hour blocks of time. It has unique combos like Peachy Strawberry Salad, Coconutty Mango Lassi, Plum-Gingered Brocco-Quinoa, and Purple Papaya Flax Yogurt, blending in a rainbow of nutritious options while expanding your baby’s palate.
The toughest part really is making the time but this book helps new moms create a routine that is easy, fast and flexible. The author starts with the building blocks of solid foods, and shares how to recognize food allergies, and easy ways to cook in bulk. Recipes progress from single-ingredient purées to multi-flavor blends like Salmon, Kale, and Sweet Potato Smash; then move on to finger foods—Turkey Meatloaf Bites, Maple Graham Animals—and finally toddler meals and snacks. Most can be made ahead and frozen, many are easily adapted for grown-up tastes, and all include full nutritional information. Nice!
THREE
101 DIY Baby Food Pouches ($10.99) specializes in baby food pouches for older babies and toddlers. This book includes instructions for filling your own pouches for cheaper, healthier, and eco-friendly options for your little one.
This book targets the early stage new mom who “can’t keep up with the laundry” or “can’t fit into anything but yoga pants” and “can’t make your baby sleep through the night.” The book promised to help this mom “make the best food for your baby in 30 minutes or less.”
This book comes from a certified baby chef and blogger over at Baby FoodE, Michele Olivier. She offers over 100 food recipes, helpful FAQs and a comprehensive overview.
Baby food recipes include: Apple + Mint + Ricotta Purée / Fennel + Pea + Peach Purée / Pumpkin + Thyme Purée / Sesame Tofu Sticks + Peanut Sauce / Curried Egg Finger Sandwiches + Mango Chutney / Slow Cooker Chicken Tagine + Couscous / Sausage + Kale Over Creamy Polenta / DIY Toddler Sushi Bar, and more.
This book focuses on super simple recipes with just 5- ingredients each and includes over 150+ nutritious recipes that grow with your developing child. It has time saving sample menus for kids 4 to 18 months.
Packed with over 90 recipes and loads of nutritional information,The Baby & Toddler Cookbookmakes cooking healthy meals easy, even for busy parents. By setting aside only a few hours a week, you can make and store an array of nutritious foods to keep baby happy and fed. All along the way, this book will give you helpful hints, guidance, and plenty of recipes to ease your path to nutrition.
Like the other books, you’d learn to wean your baby who is transitioning to solid foods, discover food allergies and how to make 100 Baby Purees with information tricks on finding the hidden nutrition in everyday foods. Dr. Michel Cohen, New York pediatrician and author of The New Basics: A-to-Z Baby & Child Care for the Modern Parentopens the book with a forward.
This book is organized by age and has smart tips on prep and storage with added suggestions on transitioning as baby grows. From celebrated children’s-food author Lisa Barnes, Cooking for Baby is a fully illustrated, gorgeous, four-color book that takes parents through the basics of preparing nutritious, delicious (and easy!) meals for your child, from six to eighteen months.
A team of doctors came up with this comprehensive manual for feeding your babies and toddlers during their first crucial yeas of life. With The Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers, you have the expertise of a team of pediatric medical and nutritional experts—who also happen to be parents—in a comprehensive manual that takes the guesswork out of feeding. This first-of-its-kind guide provides practical, easy-to-follow advice to help you navigate the nutrition issues, medical conditions, and parenting concerns that accompany feeding. With recipes, parenting stories, and recommendations based on the latest pediatric guidelines, this book will allow you to approach mealtime with confidence so you can spend more time enjoying your new family.
When you can have 100 recipes, why not 201?! This book has even more healthy recipes that are organic and blends classic combinations such as turkey, sweet potato, and corn; Superfoods like avocado, blueberries, and spinach; and Puree-based transition recipes including soups, biscuits, frozen desserts.
This book comes from the organic family-focused food company Happy Family Organics and Cricket Azima, founder and CEO of The Creative Kitchen. Inside, find more than 70 easy-to-prepare recipes made with all-natural ingredients. It includes recipes with ingredient vegetable and fruit purees, including Happy Family’s best-selling spinach, mango & pear recipe, to recipes with quinoa, chia, and kale —Shazi’s and Cricket’s superfood recipes will nourish and please every kind of baby. Recipes for toddlers (1–3 years) include avocado & chicken whole wheat pizza; 3 bean farro risotto; and baked salmon with peas & rice balls; toddlers will love tasty snacks like strawberry-beet pudding with coconut milk and chia; avocado, melon & mint smoothies; banana, chocolate chip & quinoa muffins; and grilled nut-butter sandwiches with smashed berries.
