Parenting

20 Frugal Summer activities for kids

Posted on June 6, 2015

School is out!

Week one of summer vacation has just closed. (For the lucky few of you whose kids are still in school, you’re in our prayers).

Now as you wait for summer camp to start or the grandparents to come and get the kids for their annual family bonding time with your brood, what is there to do?

As any frugal parent knows – LOTS!

Canada’s Slice Magazine has come up with the twenty activities, crafted from dollar store finds, that will make your home the kiddie hang out spot for the summer.

So let the glow-in-the-dark ring toss and noodle obstacle course games begin!

Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair Cover predicted to be as Transformative as Demi Moore’s

Posted on June 6, 2015

A sociology professor compares recent much-talked about Caitlyn Jenner Vanity Fair cover to the 1991 Demi Moore nude pregnancy cover in the same magazine, both shot by famed photographer Anne Leibovitz.

In the academic journal The Conversation, politics & sociology professor Renee Cramer says both covers are transformatative to cultural awareness and perception of once purposefully underexposed states of the human form.

They are cultural “tipping points,” Cramer proclaims.

In sum, she hypothesizes that Jenner’s cover will push the boundaries of public acceptance of transgender people the same way Moore’s cover led to societal welcoming of the pregnant body out of the shadow of shame it was tucked away in before.

It is an interesting theory. Read her piece republished in New Republic here.

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Hosting a Baby Shower this Spring? Check out these tips, recipes, links and more!

Posted on June 6, 2015

If you plan to host a baby shower this Spring or Summer, you are fortunate to have more options and flexibility than in the Fall or Winter. Backyards, rooftops and patios become options for a venue. You can save money too by hosting it at a park or making your own favors with outdoorsy themes versus buying them like the super cute tutu nail polishes and the “Ready to Pop” favors above.

Shower hosts can serve cool and refreshing mocktails too like the “Summer Is Coming Mocktail” created by Zico brand ambassador and celebrity nutritionist, Tanya Zuckerbrot, of the renowned F-Factor Diet.

It’s made with Zico‘s newest flavor: watermelon raspberry coconut water. I mixed up a batch using a sampling of complimentary stock Zico provided me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and because there is no alcohol in it, I shared some with the kids and they loved it too. The lime and mint garnishes give it the perfect kick at the end. Yummy. Here is the recipe for the Summer Is Coming Mocktail recipe:

Serves 8

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups ZICO watermelon raspberry coconut water

1 small seedless watermelon, flesh removed and diced (about 4 cups total)

2 limes

2 cans zero-calorie lemon-lime soda

mint, for garnish

In a blender, puree the coconut water, diced watermelon and juice from the limes.
Pour the mixture into a pitcher over ice.
Serve by pouring 2 oz. of the pureed mixture into a glass. Fill to the top with lemon-lime soda and mix lightly to combine.
Garnish with mint.

And before you start planning for a Spring or Summer shower, you must head over to Pinterest and there you will discover links to many websites and blogs choc full of fab ideas. Here is a select few to start you off:

how-to-throw-an-awesome-baby-shower-on-a-budget (1)

Celebrity

Married WNBA players Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson-Griner are expecting their First Child

Posted on June 5, 2015

Congratulations to WNBA player Glory Johnson-Griner who is expecting her first child with her new wife, fellow WNBA player Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury.

Johnson, a forward for the Tulsa Shock announced the pregnancy on her Instagram page — showing a picture of a bun in an oven … with the caption, “#WelcomeToTheJohnsonGrinerFamily.”

Johnson-Griner later released a formal statement through her team.

“It has always been a dream of mine to start a family with someone I love,” Johnson-Griner said in a statement provided the Shock. “Being a professional athlete that plays year round, there is never a perfect time to get pregnant without putting my career on hold. The entire process, from learning our fertility options, to making sacrifices necessary nine months before the child is born, is merely preparing me to become a great wife and an even better mother.”

The two got married a couple weeks ago following dual 7-game suspensions over their very public controversial domestic violence incident this past April. Each was jailed over a verbal altercation that turned violent.

Obviously, a rushed wedding and prompt pregnancy mean they’ve moved past that incident.

Johnson -Griner is appealing the suspension.

TMZ reports the sperm donor the couple used is anonymous.

Well it’s no one’s business, really, now is it? (Smirk)

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Parenting

Eco-Friday: Father’s Day grilling guide for vegetarians!

Posted on June 5, 2015

Most people are looking forward to grilling for the 4th of July holidays, but how about starting a bit early and turning the tables on the grill master and grilling for dad on Father’s Day?To be greener, ditch the wood and go for propane or natural gas for the grill which are more cleaner and efficient. Pick up some hot dogs and burgers and consider organic and grass-fed beef, which is not only better for the planet, but more nutrient-rich and lower in saturated fat

Grab some multi-grain buns which are healthier and better for you and dad.

Pick up some ketchup, chips, veggies and head outdoors.

Since meat production is tough on the environment, going meatless reduces your carbon footprint and is a more healthier option.

For dads and relatives that are vegans and vegetarians, our friends at Veggie Patch want you to pick up some of these goodies:

Good Grillin’ – Veggie Patch’s Ultimate Meatless Burger is the better-for-you burger that contains 2/3 less fat than ground beef burgers. Toss on the grill, top with Tribe’s Classic Hummus and serve on a whole wheat bun.

The Perfect Platter – Serve something simple such as fresh veggies and Tribe’s Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. This easy-to-prepare platter will have your guests asking for more.

Veggie Patch Veggie Dogs are a good source of protein and contain zero grams of trans fat. Serve them spicy with honey mustard, ketchup and a bit of heat from chopped jalapenos.

Kids’ Table Classics – Veggie Patch Broccoli Bites with Cheese are made with real vegetables, perfect for the little ones!

Celebrate Dad this Sunday, Have Fun and Enjoy!

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Celebrity

Eudoxie Agnan and Ludacris welcome daughter, Cadence Gaëlle

Posted on June 5, 2015

It’s a girl for rapper and Fast and Furious star Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and his wife Eudoxie Agnan (Mbouguiyengue)!

The couple welcomed their first child together, Cadence Gaëlle.

The former model and med student shared the news on her Instagram page with a photo of the couple’s dog with a balloon tied around its neck that read “baby girl”. She captioned the photo, “#blessed #grateful”.

She is here

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Celebrity

You Discover your Husband has a LOVE CHILD he didn’t know about, What Would you Do?

Posted on June 4, 2015

Sticking with a Beyonce-inspired theme today (and Dad-theme from yesterday).

Beyonce’s dad, Matthew Knowles, was infamously busted for having fathered a love child while still married to her mom, Tina Knowles. As you may know, Tina recovered from the betrayal and went on to wed actor Richard Lawson in an all-white wedding aboard a 140 feet yacht earlier this year.

Tina Knowles and new husband Richard Lawson.

The wedding reminded me of a very interesting and popular Yahoo!Answers question from a real-live woman entrenched in a similar type of quandary.

Here’s the question:

Suppose you are a married woman with kids. One day, a letter comes from a woman with pictures of her and her child. The woman is looking for the child’s father and says the father is ____ (your husband’s name). She says she has been looking for the child’s father for years. She does not know for sure that he lives at the address she sent the letter to. Your husband admits he is the father of the child and that he abandoned the woman in pregnancy and never saw the child. He didn’t cheat on you – this happened before you met. But not a long time before you met. Let’s say the child was born earlier in the same year that you met, and he was not very young when he fathered the child – he was in his 30s. It was not a one-night stand and He knew the woman for a couple of years.

Would you:

a – encourage your husband that it’s time to start paying child support and being a part of the child’s life

b – want to leave your husband because he’s not the man you thought he was.

c – do nothing, it’s up to your husband to decide what to do, and hope he says nothing and the woman will drop the whole thing.

d – call up the woman yourself and tell her the person she’s looking for does not live there and you don’t know him, and hope she is convinced and doesn’t investigate further.

e- call up the woman and pretend you are someone other than the wife – perhaps a sister or another relative – and say he does not live there, and say she must have the wrong person.

How would you answer?!

CHECK OUT THE INTERESTING ANSWERS SHE GOT at Yahoo!Answers

UPDATE: The post was updated by the woman posing the question who admitted that she was the “other woman” (not the wife) and the wife chose (e), and she was hoping the wife would acknowledge the child so that he could meet his half-siblings. She thought it odd the woman chose (e) and went to Yahoo! Answers to learn how others would react.

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Get Inspired by Beyonce’s Bold Statement Jewelry

Posted on June 4, 2015

I love statement jewelry and my muse is our Bellyitch Bumpwatch alum Beyonce Knowles Carter.

Each outfit she wears is accented perfectly with just the right ring, bracelet, earcuff, bracelet, necklace or body jewelry to complete her look. I was most impressed with the exquisite unique pieces Blue Ivy‘s mom wore in the videos to her 2013 self-titled album.

My fave was the Black Lynn Ban PVD Armor Ring that she wore as knuckle rings in the “Superpower” music video! They retail at $420 each so you’d be set back over $3,000 to replicate the precise look on your hands. She also wore 16 of the designer’s Pave Coil midi rings in the “Haunted” video. They are embedded with white diamonds and black diamonds which retail at about $3500 each I think that vid helped bolster the midi ring craze that following Spring.

You can get a similar style for under $20 from Free People or Ily Couture. And you can find the bold statement rings she wore in the “Telephone” jewelry at mid price range from other jewelers.

Another coveted set of jewelry are the Edie Borgo wrist cuffs and ear cuffs Bey rocked in the “Jealous” video.

That was one of my fave tunes from that visual album. Can you tell I recently discovered that the videos were released to the public last November? This past weekend, I relived my enjoyment watching them all again on a larger screen. I first purchased the album back when it first came out and had to view the videos on my iPhone.

The other great thing I discovered was that the Edie Borgo pieces from that video all are in a mid-range price point under $150 so they’re totally affordable!

And when Bey‘s not killing the game in her edgier looks, Mrs. Carter steals the spotlight in her bright and vibrant pieces, like these colorful Aztec art necklaces paired with that fab Mayan-inspired ring in that photo on the right.

I was totally crushing on those eye-catching accessories and adornments.

Revisiting that album last weekend also reminded me of how much I really dug the complete layered jewels look in the “XO” video too. I curated and assembed some inspiration pieces from our partners at ShopStyle for you to consider getting or using as a guide for the next time you’re out jewelry shopping.

If you want to nab some of these glam pieces of jewelry, you can be creative and check out arts and music festivals this Summer. Those events that have vendors who are at-home jewelry makers. They typically sell interesting and one-of-a-kind selections, and usually you can find big bold selections as well.

Happy shopping fellow jewelry lovers!

SWOON!

HERE ARE SOME LOWER PRICE PIECES

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Parenting

‘Cause Parenting isn’t easy, These 21 Hacks for Parents Rock

Posted on June 4, 2015

Parenting is really hard but it doesn’t always have to be. We got your back! Whenever we at Bellyitch bump into another blog or site offering handy dandy shortcuts, tips and tools to make the job easier, you know we’re gonna let you know.

For example, the Awesome Daily put together an awesome list of “21 Parenting Hacks” for the modern, busy, multitasking mom and dad. And these tips are great for baby sitters, grandma and other folks who may have to watch your kid.

These are our faves, including the strategically placed mirror that lets you spy on the rugrats causing ruckus below while you’re upstairs folding laundry. A couple others:

For that lazy parent who doesn’t want to stand in the sun, bored and pushing a kid on a swing, this set up saves the day!

No junior doesn’t have to jack up your walls when you have a handy dandy leftover box just for letting him let out his creative juices!

Head over to The Awesome Daily and peep the rest:

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Celebrity

‘Jurassic World’s Chris Pratt wins Cool Dad for the Day

Posted on June 4, 2015

June is Dad Appreciation Month!

Ok, so we made that up. But Father’s Day is coming up. And who is the coolest dad in Hollywood these days? Chris Pratt, that’s who! Yeah, your pudgy friend who became the buffed up superhero in Guardians of the Galaxy (excellent movie) and will be a dino whisper in Jurassic World is a cool dad.

Here is Bellyitch’s cheat sheet as to why Jack’s dad is so cool.

1. Chris was the voice of Emmet Brickowski in the Lego Movie. Having seen this 10+ times with my 3 year old – Everything is awesome, alright! And Emmet is our superhero of ordinary to extraordinary feats.

2. He’s a jock who loves rocks. He knows what a geode is. He collects them and gives them to wife Anna Faris as gifts.

3. He knows the lyrics to Taylor Swift songs. He’s that dad who would totally rock car karaoke.

4. He’s comedy squared. Did we mention that he’s married to funny woman Anna Faris?

5. Kids love him. Jack’s dad is basically a big kid who knows how to act like an adult. And we love it!

Read the entire article and find out more about Chris here:http://ow.ly/NP9zA

– Chelsea Social

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Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt