BumpNews

Update on Shakira: Drops new album, Covers “Latina” magazine

Posted on April 1, 2014

One of our latest Bellyitch Bumpwatch alums Shakira dropped her latest, a self-titled album, last week, March 25th.

The new mom has been busy ever since giving birth to her son Milan Pique Mebarak last January 2013. Shortly after welcoming her first child, Shakira did her first stint as a coach-mentor on The Voice replacing a touring Christina Alguilera.

And earlier this month, the Hips Don’t Lie singer debuted on the cover of Latina magazine. Inside it, the Can’t Remember to Forget You singer talks about how motherhood has changed her life.

She tells the magazine that her son helps her with her time management.

“I used to go in circles around an idea, but since he arrived I don’t have much time—I have to rush back home – so he has helped me learn how to focus,” she told the mag.

The sultry and sexy singer is currently engaged to Spanish Football player Gerard Pique, who shares the same birthday though ten years apart. She’s a baby cougar who has said work gets in the way of her birthing a bunch of more babies.

“If it weren’t because of my music projects I would be pregnant already,” the Hips Don’t Lie singer said. “I would love to have eight or nine kids with Gerard – my own futbol team.”

Funny!

Check out the behind-the-scenes video of the photo shoot below:

0 comments

BumpNews

Passover: Ways to get your children involved in The Seder

Posted on April 1, 2014

This is no April Fool’s Joke! Passover is just around the corner, April 14th, and it’s time to start planning The Seder, the traditional meal commemorating the Jewish holiday.

For kids, The Seder can be extremely long dinner service and often times, children have no clue what is going on. But there are ways to incorporate your children into the holiday so they too can at least know about the traditions and have a deeper understanding.

Consider creating a Haggada and have your child draw pictures of the different aspects of Passover before hand.

They can use crayons and draw themselves reading the 4 Questions, create a picture of the Seder plate that has them looking for the Afikomen.

The afikomen (or half of a piece of matzah) is hidden by the head of the household, and when it’s time for dessert it’s tradition that the children hunt for the afikomen and return it in exchange for money or a small prize. The afikomen helps children stay involved (and awake!) during the meal, knowing that their part in finding the afikomen is coming soon and that there is a reward for it once found – a prize and dessert!

The kids can then put the pictures of their visual interpretation of 4 questions in order together and bind with rings or string. During the actual dinner, kids can use their own Haggadah at the Seder to help them be involved on a level that they understand.

Finally, another way to get your children involved is to have them help create some aspects of the Seder meal. From our friends at Carrington Farms, an organic and healthy foods company, enjoy this is a Fried Matzoh recipe which is a twist on a traditional omelet.

INGREDIENTS:

2 sheets of Matzoh, broken into pieces soaked in milk

2 eggs, beaten

Salt to taste

1 tablespoon Carrington Farms coconut oil

DIRECTIONS:

Soak matzoh in milk, drain milk and add eggs and mix well.

Melt Carrington Farms coconut oil in pan

Add matzoh and egg mixture and fry like an omelet, turn and fry each side 5 minutes

Garnish with Carrington Farms flax, jelly, cinnamon, etc

YUM!

0 comments

BumpNews

EXCLUSIVE: Rihanna and Drake reportedly expecting first child

Posted on April 1, 2014

It’s been less than one month since sources confirmed that pop diva Rihanna and rapper Drake are officially seeing each other and now we have learned exclusively that Drizzy didn’t wait to long to make sure Ri Ri could never return to his arch nemesis Chris Brown.

Sources close to the couple revealed to us that the couple were dating way before they let it be known publicly and are expecting their first child together already.

Rihanna recently performed on stage during Drake’s tour singing her part in the two duets they’ve done together. “What’s My Name” and “Take Care”

Now this would be shocking piece of news if today wasn’t the day it was and this wasn’t an

APRIL FOOL’S

JOKE!

Did we fool you?

0 comments

BumpNews

April Fool’s Day: 9 Most Common Office Pranks (INFOGRAPHIC)

Posted on April 1, 2014

If you work in an office environment with some people who have a sense of humor, you may be thinking of a good harmless April Fool’s Joke to play on someone you work with today. If so, you’re in luck! The national pen site Pens.com has put together an Infographic of the top 9 most common office pranks people pull on their co-workers. Check them out and see if you can come up with some ideas to do one or a remixed version.

Have fun and be safe!

0 comments

BumpNews

Gwyneth Paltrow says she has it harder than 9-5 moms

Posted on April 1, 2014

“Empathy trumps narcissism when it comes to communication,” Bloomberg Business columnist Sheelah Kolhatkar wrote about actress Gwyneth Paltrow‘s unfortunate statements comparing herself to average working moms this week. “And if you’re in the 1 Percent crowd, definitely don’t whine.”

During an interview with E! where she talked about taking a break from doing movies to focus on her kids, the Shakespeare in Love star essentially said her job as a working actress (despite having a team that includes personal assistants, nannies, personal chefs, personal trainers, privilege, access, wealth and support) is somehow harder than the 9-5 working mom.

It’s much harder for me. I feel like I set it up in a way that makes it difficult because… for me, like if I miss a school run, they are like, ‘Where were you?’ I don’t like to be the lead so I don’t [have] to work every day, you know, I have little things that I like and obviously I want it to be good and challenging and interesting, and be with good people and that kind of thing.

I think it’s different when you have an office job, because it’s routine and, you know, you can do all the stuff in the morning and then you come home in the evening. When you’re shooting a movie, they’re like, ‘We need you to go to Wisconsin for two weeks,’ and then you work 14 hours a day and that part of it is very difficult. I think to have a regular job and be a mom is not as—of course there are challenges—but it’s not like being on set.

Oh boy!

And ever since then, it has been a full blown backlash of commentary, vlog responses and constructive and not-so-nice reaction, mostly angry.

I get where she was coming from, honestly, with her perspective about having a very challenging and stressful time having to balance so much. However, her woes just cannot compare when taken into perspectives considering the real-life, day-to-day struggles of women who have to work to support their families on a minuscule fraction of Paltrow’s salary.

The Iron Man franchise actress already has a reputation of being aloof and disconnected. With these last statements, she may likely have dug herself deeper into that “she just rubs me the wrong way” grave that so many people have buried in deep in the recesses of their mind.

Oy vey! What are your thoughts?

0 comments

BumpNews

Prince George & Parents family portrait released

Posted on March 31, 2014

Saturday, the Royal Family released a photo of an 8-month old Prince George with his parents Prince William and Duchess Catherine (née Kate Middleton) taken by the photographer Jason Bell.

In the pic, Georgie, dressed in a personalized sweater from Johnstons of Elgin, Scotland, is distracted by the family dog, a black spaniel named Lupo.

The family is framed in a window in

an apartment in Kensington Palace, where Will’s mom Princess Diana once lived.

The trio are getting ready to travel to Australia soon. Yup, George is set to start getting his little passport stamped up from early.

Good for them. Super Cute photo. He is such a handsome baby boy.

0 comments

BumpNews

Study: Antidepressants taken during pregnancy increases preterm birth risk

Posted on March 31, 2014

Antidepressant medications taken by pregnant women are associated with increased rates of preterm birth, according to a new research.

The finding reinforces the notion that antidepressants should not be used by pregnant women in the absence of a clear need that cannot be met through alternative approaches, said researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Vanderbilt University, MetroWest Medical Center and Tufts Medical Center.

“Preterm birth is a major clinical problem throughout the world and rates have been increasing over the past two decades,” said lead author Krista Huybrechts, from the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

“At the same time, rates of antidepressant use during pregnancy have increased approximately four-fold. Therefore it is essential to determine what effects these medications have on pregnancy,” Huybrechts said.

Huybrechts and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies that evaluated women who took antidepressants during pregnancy and had information on gestational age at birth.

“We studied 41 papers on this topic and found that the available scientific evidence is becoming clearer that antidepressant use in pregnancy is associated with preterm birth,” said senior author Adam Urato, a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist at Tufts Medical Center and MetroWest Medical Center.

“The complication of preterm birth did not appear to be due to the maternal depression but rather it appears likely to be a medication effect,” Urato said.

Of the 41 studies which the authors reviewed, the majority showed increased rates of preterm birth in patients taking antidepressants.

0 comments

BumpNews

Jennifer Hudson joins the Bellyitch Posh Mom Style Icon List

Posted on March 30, 2014

It has been over a year since we acknowledged a fashion-forward celebrity mom worthy to receive our elusive Posh Mom Style Icon designation. The last mominista recognized with the honor, which identifies the few who are effortlessly stylish with or without the help of a celebrity stylist, was pop songstress P!nk in 2012. Before her, First Lady Michelle Obama was dubbed an icon in 2011. Other designees include, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Ripa, Victoria Beckham, Tichina Arnold and Christina Milian.

Our newest inductee on the list is an alum finalist of the American Idol TV singing competition and recently severed ties with Weight Watchers, a company for which she served as a spokesperson over the course of her 80+ pound weight loss after giving birth to her son David Otunga, Jr. in August 2009. Since then, Hudson has become a fashion muse for many a designers and has been seen in couture and custom pieces by Roberto Cavalli, Versace, Balmain, Michael Kors, Christian Dior and others as well as some imprints and up and coming design houses.

The singer and Academy Award winner has one of the best stylist team around because they do a wonderful job of outfitting Hudson in clothes to flatter her curvy shape and her relatively tall stature makes it so that she always has clean lines and looks very polished. She experiments with color often and also does patterns and geometric shapes along with various textures. She has a versatile style aesthetic and can wear almost anything.

The Think Like a Man singer has also become a regular fixture on magazine covers and has been one of the few to land a coveted Vogue cover.

Recently, the Dream Girls and Winnie biopic actress trimmed her locs and forewent wearing wigs and extensions and has been able to carry off the chic look well and show off her elongated neck line well. It was an A+ move. As we all know, not everyone can get away with short hair.

The multi-award nominated and winning artist balances a music and acting career, several charities, spokesperson duties and touring all while caring for her son and being a partner to long-time fiance David Otunga, and supporting her family still recuperating from a devastating loss of Hudson’s mom, nephew and brother a few years back.

The Spotlight singer is currently working on her third studio album “It’s Your World” to be released in the coming year.

But she handles it all with style and grace and for this reason, we have selected her to join our other elite and limited listing of celebrity posh mom style icons.

Congrats, Jennifer!

Jennifer takes fashion risks with geometric patterns and prints

Jennifer isn’t afraid of going bold with color.

But Jennifer can rock exquisitely when she wants to as well.

Jennifer is Queen of the pencil skirt or dress which is one of the most flattering for her curvaceous yet still svelte figure.

Polka dots, plaid, leopard prints? Jennifer is fearless in donning it all and mixing it up with a splash of color or bangs.

Jennifer also looks elegant in floor-length and full ball gowns.

Not everyone will show off their legs, but Jennifer goes bold in a mini skirt or dress often.

And her performance gear is on point as well!

Werk, mama!

0 comments

BumpNews

10 Spring Gardening Safety Tips for the Family

Posted on March 30, 2014

It’s lawn and gardening season nce again. Every year 600,000 Americans are injured riding lawn mowers while doing yard work. Often times, your children also want to join in and “help” doing yard work. They can but while exercising proper supervision and following some safety tips.

SummerNannyJobs lists 10 tips for keeping the children safe.

As the temperature rises and the days get longer, the amount of attention that your lawn requires also increases. For parents who are considering outdoor chores for their brood, there are some safety rules that should be taken into account before sending them outside. Here are 10 of the most important guidelines that should be instituted when kids help out with yard work.

Teach Proper Tool Use – It’s easy to assume that older kids have a handle on the use of basic lawn tools, but those without hands-on experience may be a bit confused. This can lead to serious injury if tools are mishandled, so it’s a good idea to outline the basics.
Supervision is Key – For younger children, it’s absolutely essential that they be supervised at all times. Work alongside them or even on another task nearby, but never let them work while you’re inside or on the other side of your property.
Keep Little Ones Inside During Mowing – Kids are fascinated with riding lawnmowers, so it might be difficult to keep them indoors while an adult cuts the grass. Still, the potential for flying debris and injury from the blades is too great to allow for close observation.
More On Mowers – In addition to keeping smaller kids indoors while an adult is mowing the lawn, it’s a good rule of thumb that those under the age of 13 be deemed too young to operate a mower. This rule can be flexible; you know your child’s abilities and level of responsibility best. However, be sure that they are well-informed about safety measures and instructed on proper operation.
Insist On Proper Footwear – Summertime might be flip-flop weather, but kids and adults alike should wear shoes that cover the entire foot and lace securely during lawn work. In addition to the chance of injury due to mishandled equipment, there are also a myriad of other things that can cause injury if stepped on.
Keep Kids Away From Chemicals – Though more and more parents are opting for organic or “green” lawn and garden solutions, it’s still important to treat all additives as if they’re potentially harmful and to keep kids entirely clear of traditional, chemical-based solutions.
Store Everything Properly – At the end of a yard work session, kids should be instructed to return everything to its proper storage space. Rakes, hoes and shovels left lying in the lawn can be obscured and cause injury if stepped on.
Wear Proper Protective Clothing – Kids should wear protective gear to shield their eyes, close-fitting clothing that is less likely to be caught in any mechanical equipment, and plenty of sunscreen.
Stay Hydrated – Summer heat can be downright brutal in some places, so it’s important that kids know to stay well hydrated and to come inside if they feel overheated. These rules can also be applied to outdoor play.
No Horseplay Allowed – Kids are, by nature, prone to rough-housing and horseplay. They need to understand, however, that it isn’t allowed during lawn work. There are too many potentially-dangerous situations that arise from this sort of behavior when tools are involved.

0 comments

BumpNews

Trend Alert: Pretty Pastels for under $40!

Posted on March 30, 2014

Spring is here and although the weather isn’t necessarily cooperating in all parts of the country, it’s still peak time to start pulling together your looks for the new season. We’re here to inspire your warmer weather wardrobe. Whether you are trying to conceive, in your early months of pregnancy, third trimester or a new mom, there are various ways you can mix it up and freshen up your wardrobe with the hottest new trends for the season: Pastels!

Go with soft belts above the waistline, empire style or light scarves made of lightweight materials. Update your dark colored nail polish you wore all winter with a pastel blue or yellow. Slip on some baby blue ballet slippers. Don a light orange cuff on your wrist. Grab your pastel purple twin set to wear to the office. Get in the spirit of the new season by switching up the old with the new. Here are some more finds and ideas all for under $40! Good luck shopping and remixing your wardrobe!

More Dorothy Perkins…

More Topshop…

More Gap…

Lulu Townsend Romeo Platform Sandal

Marlow Bifold

0 comments

Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt