A few years ago, I spotted the Celine 16 structured bag while flipping through a fashion magazine and decided THIS was the perfect “it” bag for me.
I love the simple clean lines, and the elegant curvature to the front and back and solid exquisite hardware. It’s made of satinated calfskin and as a part time vegan, believe me when I say I feel guilty about this. It has a removable shoulder strap and a twist lock closure and a padlockbon a leather key cover.
Lady Gaga made an appearance in Paris, France with it while wearing a classic pencil skirt length dress in a bold orange with the perfect pair of black leather pumps and accented with a sexy pair of Ray Ban aviator shades!
I immediately added it to my want list. Back then, it was on auction sites and running about $5,000 but as it is not a Birkin and has not appreciated. Instead the price has come down to a modest $3,200. Not bad if you want to look like the HBIC.
I am trying to navigate away from black and so I think I’m going to go with the 16 inch version in a burnt orange for $3,700….one of these days!
If you got it, GET IT! Tag me at @Bellyitch when you do!
You might have heard that having a dependent doesn’t do you much good anymore, at least from 2018 through 2025, thanks to tax legislation passed by congress in December 2017.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that became effective in 2018 does indeed eliminate the personal exemption that used to be available for each of your dependents.
And if you and your baby’s other parent aren’t married and living together, your dependent might help qualify you as head of household, an advantageous filing status.
Your baby will qualify as your dependent more or less by default under the remaining IRS rules for qualifying child dependents.
A dependent must be your son or daughter, brother or sister, or a descendant of one of these individuals. You’ve got this one covered if you’ve just given birth.
The child must be younger than age 19 on the last day of the tax year, or age 24 if a full-time student. Your baby obviously qualifies here, too.
Finally, the child cannot have provided more than half their own financial support for the year. This should not be an issue unless and until child labor laws radically change.
So, yes, having a dependent is still a good thing at tax time, and yes, your newborn will qualify you if you meet these rules…even if your baby is born at the 11th hour of the year.
Katy Perry is pregnant with her and actor fiance Orlando Bloom‘s first child together, which she revealed in the music video for her latest song that debuted Wednesday night.
The American Idol judge teased the news in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon while announcing the debut of the video for her latest project, the song “Never Worn White“, a song about fear of commitment.
“You are cordially invited to the premiere of #NeverWornWhite,” she captioned a short clip of the video where Perry can be seen in a dress made of flowers and one in a long peach ball gown with two of her hands cradling a sizeable baby bump! “Join me on the @YouTube watch page tonight at 8:30pm PT and chat with me (promise not a bot! ) before the video premieres at 9pm PT!”
You are cordially invited to the premiere of #NeverWornWhite ? Join me on the @YouTube watch page tonight at 8:30pm PT and chat with me (promise not a bot! ?) before the video premieres at 9pm PT! pic.twitter.com/igYGhBKqWH
By the time the full music video debuted at midnight, fans could ascertain clearly from the last frame that she is indeed expecting as she stood in the silhouette holding her bare bump.
Watch the full video here:
Fans immediately began speculating by asking if she was expecting.
Perry previously exchanged vows with now-ex-husband Russell Brand in a private but extravagant ceremony in India in 2010, less than 10 months after the pair got engaged. In 2017, Brand, 44, wed Laura Gallacher, with whom he shares two daughters: Peggy, 19 months, and Mabel, 3.
Meanwhile, Bloom wed Kerr, 36, in an intimate ceremony in July 2010 just one month after their engagement was confirmed. The model has since married Snapchat co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel, with whom she shares two sons: Myles, whom they welcomed in October 2019, and Hart, who was born in May 2018.
America Ferrera looked stunning on her way to accept an award for her work as a producer.
“All this Animal Mama energy is heading to the National Hispanic Media Coalition Gala to receive the Outstanding Producer Impact Award,” the Ugly Betty alum captioned a photo of herself in a long leopard print dress with a high kitty bow collar and billowy sleeves. “Beyond honored! @nhmc_org“
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants star wore her hair slicked back with a center part and lose ringlets and gold platform sandals.
If you are newly preggers but haven’t leaked the news to colleagues, acquaintances and friends yet because it’s still quite early, hiding it from pals at a Saint Patrick’s Day outing may be tough.
If you can’t come up with an excuse to skip it because up until now you’ve been known in your circles as the group lush, you’re going to have to be creative to hide from those sleuths in your social circle
Over the years, we’ve curated some ideas and suggestions from various women who’ve had to play off their lack of drinking during the critical early months of their pregnancy when they were not yet ready to start telling others.
Here are some things you can do to maybe head off curious looks and questions:
DRESS:
Stick with A-line tops or dresses or empire waist tops to conceal any bump that may have emerged. Whatever you do, just say no to the new crop top trend this round!
Order a coke or other dark drink at the bar away from everyone so no one knows you’re not consuming alcohol.
Your friends may assume there is liquor or alcohol in that glass. Then, the trick is to nurse that ONE drink all night so you get to pass when someone orders another round for the group. You won’t have to do the okie doke twice.
You may not want to waste good liquor but another option is to discreetly place your full glass on the bar away from the group, then find a random a nearby empty glass to pick up. It may sound a bit deceitful and grimy, but hey, you do what you have to do.
If everyone’s going out for beer, you cannot go wrong with carrying your own bottle of O’Doul’s or some other non-alcoholic beer in an oversized handbag and pouring that in an emptied glass when no one’s looking. It has the same look and consistency of real bear. You will be seen actually drinking a frothy drink.
Kombucha is a fermented black tea drink that can also look like alcoholic ale. You could also use that as a subsitute.
NAUSEA AND VOMITTING:
Fortunately, if you have to hurl in the bathroom, and you’re at a pub, you may have plenty of company among other too inebriated light weights in there doing the same. ha!
No one will suspect it’s you in the toilet hurling or they may think you had one too many! For once, being considered to be the too drunk girl in the room has its benefits.
Have Fun and Good Luck keeping your baby-baking secret concealed!!!
Shahs of Sunset star Gholnesa “GG” Gharachedaghi celebrated the upcoming arrival of her first child at a Moroccan -themed baby shower over the weekend.
She also announced during the event that she is expecting a baby boy. Her friend, event planner Anita Gohari, shared video and photos of the event which featured the name “Elijah” spelled out in gold decorative lettering before a backdrop above the dessert tableand the mom-to-be changed into a blue sweater with big blue eyelashes and announced the baby’s sex as well.
Earlier, she wore a neutral color bump-hugging dress with ruching and paid homage to her son sex and name with blue yarn weaved in her box braids and blue tips on her nails with the letter E on each finger.
She confirmed the gender news on a subsequent Instagram story.
“Hey y’all, we are at my baby shower and I just did a wardrobe change. As you guys can see, true blue — I’m having a boy,” the Shahs of Sunset star said on her Instagram Story, while showing off her blue and white manicure.
Gharachedaghi’s co-star, Reza Farahan, also shared the baby’s name in an Instagram post.
“Celebrating @gg_golnesa and sweet baby Elijah at her baby shower!” Farahan captioned a photo with the mom-to-be on Instagram. “Make sure to catch an all new episode of #shahs tonight 9pm @bravotv , it’s ?????? and you’re not going to want to miss a minute of it!”
In October, Gaharachedaghi (who finalized her divorce from Shalom Yeyoushalmi in late 2018) shared that she was expecting her first baby after undergoing IVF using a sperm donor.
Her guests, including current and past cast members like Lilly Ghalichi, vendors and family shared photos in social media
And in exclusive photos in PEOPLE magazine revealed that guests were served food “on two oversized boards, one housing cheeses, charcuterie, vegetables, breads, and other appetizers, while another was flowing with fruits (cantaloupe, strawberries, kiwi, passionfruit, raspberries, dragonfruit, etc.)
They also had salmon, hummus, shrimp, sliders, fries, chicken skewers and lamb chops and got to enjoy a Persian tea (chai) station in honor of Gharachedaghi’s Iranian ancestry.
Hookahs and cocktails like mojitos and micheladas and other alcoholic drinks were available, as well as a variety of flavored waters.
Among her Shahs family attending the event were Mike Shouhed and his girlfriend Paulina Ben-Cohen, Reza Farahan and husband Adam Neely, Destiney Rose, and Shah’s alum Lilly Ghalichi (who attended with her husband, Dara Mir).
PHOTO: STEPHANIE DAY
Per PEOPLE:
The reality star also used the party as a chance to give back, asking guests to bring unopened essentials for babies (diapers, baby wipes, formula, blankets, clothings, bottles, pacifiers, etc.) in lieu of gifts. All items were donated to Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles-based charity that provides children living in poverty, ages 0-12 years, with necessities that every child deserves. “Everyone’s like, ‘The whole point of having a baby shower is to get the free gifts.’ But I told everybody, ‘I do not want gifts,’ ” Gharachedaghi explained to PEOPLE. “I just feel like, I’m not someone who likes to splurge; I can afford the necessities, and don’t want to spoil my son with fancy, fancy things. So why not use this opportunity to help others for people lacking in life?”
It’s happened to me once during an overseas flight with baby: we ran out of diapers and the airline didn’t have any spare. Yikes!
We had to improvise and it worked until the flight landed.
This is a repost of a previous publication of this list but as I share again, I realize this advice can be used for moms who ran out of diapers and cannot afford to buy more. In which case, one of the suggestions below, dish cloths cost $12 for a pack of 10 12 inch by 12 inc
Here are 10 alternatives to a diaper that mom and dad or caregiver can resort to in the rare but common chance that they’d be without a diaper in public.
Listed below are ten alternatives to baby diapers in a pinch.
It’s happened to me once during an overseas flight with baby: we ran out of diapers and the airline didn’t have any spare. Yikes. We had to improvise and it worked until the flight landed.
Here are 10 alternatives to a diaper that mom and dad or caregiver can resort to in the rare but common chance that they’d be without a diaper in public.
Listed below are ten alternatives to baby diapers in a pinch.
I’ve used cloth diapers as burp rags, so why not the other way around? Usually they are thick and will do the trick for a short amount of time at least. If you usually use cloth diapers and have a liner, then it should work a little better.
If you have the kind of wipes that need to be wetted prior to use or if you have any wipes that have dried out, they can be used in a pinch while you pick up some more. I would not advise using wipes that are wet, as this could cause a rash.
I wouldn’t suggest using your favorite one, just in case, but if you are out and about and have no other options then this will work. Most people have a receiving blanket in their diaper bag for infants, and it is large enough that you can fold it a few times for added layers or tie it around them.
This may be a little embarrassing if others see you use one; however, it is also very effective. Maxi pads are made to be absorbent and can hold enough to give you the time needed to get some real diapers. Make sure you have it secured into a diaper bottom or onesie, so it doesn’t slip.
I would recommend folding this one as many times as you can and place it in a diaper bottom or onesie, the same as you would for a maxi pad. Since cheese cloth is made to have liquid wrung through it, you want to make sure you have as many layers as possible, and don’t rely on it lasting a long time.
I would suggest cloth, and not paper, but again stay away from your favorites. You can couple a few together for added protection and pin up the same as a cloth diaper.
A few folks on the Internets were going after Malika Haqq for a post with a plastic surgeon before she gave birth.
In it, the Keeping Up With The Kardashiansfrequent guest, posed with famed celebrity doc to the stars Dr. Jason Diamond.
“Stopped by just to see my fav @drjasondiamond and I’m fully book(ed) for my post pregnancy makeover. I can’t wait!” Haqq, who is due to give birth next month, captioned the photo of the two of them smiling ear to ear.
The angry response from fans was swift encouraging her to “not do it”.
A few backed her decision but the next day after posting a series of underwater maternity photos, she clapped back.
“Who said I was getting surgery?!” Haqq commented back. “I don’t need it. Never have boo boo.”
1) it was probably a sponsored promotion with a partner that unfortunately, perhaps, failed to include the proper FTC disclosures.
In which case, there is no guarantee that she will actually have get work done right after having a baby and will skip attempting to snap back naturally.
2) If she didn’t intend to get surgery done to expedite the return to her pre-pregnancy shape, she would not be the first. As actress and tv personality Tia Mowry told me years ago at an expo for expecting moms, people were throwing money at her encouraging her to get surgery right after baby
A lot of them do it, I suspect but do not let anyone know about it and lie about dropping the weight by breastfeeding and doing yoga.
your thoughts? Hit me up on Bellyitch in social media on IG, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!
In the meantime, she was busy promoting Pretty Little Things in a cute underwater maternity shoot:
What better way to celebrate it by digesting a title from a woman author. In coordination with my partner at Audible, I’ve assembled a list of 6 titles to get today and digest this month for FREE when you sign up.
1. “Emma” by Jane Austen (a classic)
” What a delightful way to enjoy a Jane Austen story! This dramatized version alternates between dialogue and Emma Thompson’s narration over music. I thought the narrators were all excellent, and the sound effects and music really pulled me into the world of Emma. If you are an Austen fan, be aware that this is not a word for word reading. Rather, it is a new way to enjoy a familiar story. ” – Reader Reviewer
“Narrator Cassandra Campbell serves up a bushel of Carolina accents in this debut novel by nature writer Delia Owens. Campbell’s accents give the mix of classes and regions in the story the same realistic detail Owens provides for the marsh…. Prepare to be enchanted and haunted.” (AudioFile)
“While the magical element is new in Ward’s fiction, her allusiveness, anchored in her interest in the politics of race, has been pointing in this direction all along. It takes a touch of the spiritual to speak across chasms of age, class, and color. … The signal characteristic of Ward’s prose is its lyricism. ‘I’m a failed poet,’ she has said. The length and music of Ward’s sentences owe much to her love of catalogues, extended similes, imagistic fragments, and emphasis by way of repetition. … The effect, intensified by use of the present tense, can be hypnotic.” — The New Yorker
From the number-one New York Times best-selling author of Eat, Pray, Love and The Signature of All Things, a delicious novel of glamour, sex, and adventure, about a young woman discovering that you don’t have to be a good girl to be a good person.
Named a most anticipated book of 2019 by Oprah.com, Real Simple, Buzzfeed, Cosmopolitan, GoodReads, PureWow, Vulture, The Millions, and more.
“Obama writes with a refreshing candor, as though her keen awareness of her celebrity is matched only by her eagerness to shed the exhausting veneer that helped enable her husband’s political rise. ‘My husband is making his own adjustments to life after the White House, catching his own breath,’ she writes at the end of the preface. ‘And here I am, in this new place, with a lot I want to say.’” — The Atlantic
“Though Thomas’s story is heartbreakingly topical, its greatest strength is in its authentic depiction of a teenage girl, her loving family, and her attempts to reconcile what she knows to be true about their lives with the way those lives are depicted — and completely undervalued — by society at large.” — Publishers Weekly
Solo had previously shared publicly that she and Stevens suffered a miscarriage of twins in 2018 — an episode she told Elle magazine in June almost became fatal to her and left her “hours from dying.”
Solo had one of her fallopian tubes removed due to an ectopic pregnancy.
