In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, we present lucky 7 little cuties in GREEN!
Enjoy!
7 Saint Patrick’s Day cuties (PHOTOS)
Posted on March 17, 2014
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Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt
How Scandal producers hid Kerry Washington’s baby bump
Posted on March 17, 2014
Kerry Washington is soon to be a mommy but to pull off her role as a non- pregnant Olivia Pope in Scandal season 3 producers used TV tricks, strategically-placed handbags and other creative maneuvers to keep the story line intact.
Hello Beautiful compiled a list of 15 scenes from “Scandal” season 3, episode 13 (which aired on ABC on Thursday, March 13) showing the unique ways producers covered Washington’s bump.
How smart!! Check out the list of scenes and descriptors HERE!
Spring Cleaning: The Must-Have Bible for Keeping House
Posted on March 17, 2014
Despite the fact that it may or may not be snowing still in your world, Spring starts this Thursday.
And whether you live in a single-family home, studio, apartment, loft or town home, NOW is an ideal time to start contemplating and planning your Spring Cleaning Checklist. Every one in the family: the kids, hubby or partner and even the littlest ones, can get involved and help get your home back in tip top shape after a dusty, musty and messy Winter.
Children can pick out which toys they will give away to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. If you or your spouse is handy around the home, itemize broken fixtures that need repair or replacement.
Before you start planning your Spring Cleaning tasks, it may be a good idea to make sure you understand the art of keeping house too.
When I got engaged back in 1999, a dear law school pal of mine threw me a bridal shower in her quaint Capitol Hill apartment. It was wonderfully organized and I got a chance to check out her very neatly organized home.
Her secret: The Bible of keeping house, “Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House” by Cheryl Mendelson, which she gave me as a gift.
It is a nearly 100-page hardback text and includes a comprehensive guide to every section of the home and is easily understood and great for beginners, like I was back then. Even intermediate or advanced home makers will find this resource text helpful.
My dog-eared version of the home-cleaning bible
I didn’t grow up with a mother who passed on homemaking skills and techniques to her children so I was clueless. The book was right on time.
In it, Mendelson explains materials and properties of common household items which is essential for knowing how to care for them and extend their life. She explains when to replace worn out items. Home Comforts has sections and subchapters like Electricity Safety, The Air in your Castle, Caring for jewelry, Ironing, How to launder Tricky Items and more.
Since I am pretty busy and have been since getting hitched years ago, I haven’t had time to comb carefully through the entire book, yet I use it as a reference guide and turn to it often…especially each Spring during Spring Cleaning time!
If you don’t already have a copy and are considering purchasing a new home or just want to start fresh and learn how to manage your own home, I highly recommend it. It’s available at Amazon.com in Kindle, Paperbook and Pdf now! And it makes a great wedding or bridal shower gift.
Kristin Cavallari reignites the Immunization Debate, the new version
Posted on March 17, 2014
In January this year, NPR created an interactive map showing nations that have large cases of childhood preventable diseases. The countries in Africa were high because parents didn’t have access to immunization but definitely would protect their children if they could. Meanwhile, the growing and new cases in so-called “developed” nations like the UK, France and now the US is out of fear from parents that their kids would develop autism if they got vaccines.
Currently preggers TV host of E!’s The Fabulist Kristin Cavallari is among those parents.
The former MTV reality star of The Hills and Laguna Beach shared recently during an appearance on the Fox Business “we don’t vaccinate [our kids]…I’ve read too many books about autism and the studies.”
Fox Business host, former MTV VJ Kennedy introduced the discussion as a joke when Cavallari said she could have her baby in New York City. Kennedy poked fun at Jenny McCarthy for not immunizing her kids and being among those who have contributed to the recent new outbreak of once eradicated diseases like measles in cities like New York City. When asked, Cavallari confessed that she too didn’t vaccinate her son.
“Well, there is a pediatric group called Homestead, Homestead or Homefirst, now I have pregnancy brain I got them confused — they’ve never vaccinated any of their children, and they haven’t had one case of autism,” she told Kennedy who replied “no links no links” before the shoe designer could add a point about how “one in 88 boys is autistic, which is a really scary statistic.”
Without a beat, Kennedy chimed in “well, my mom vaccinated us and she doesn’t have any cases of autism either.” To which Cavallari replied, “The vaccinations have changed over the years, there’s more mercury and other…”
Oh boy! These days, now that more is known about the studies and that the links have been debunked, there seemingly are more parents who will immunize their children than in years past.
First, the mercury Cavallari was referring to is the mercury-based preservative thimerosal which was removed in 2001 from all vaccines as a precaution. for kids under 6, except in the flu vaccine, the Chicago Tribune noted.
Meanwhile, the Homefirst practice she was referring to was under investigation in 2009 and the chief doctor’s reason for not immunizing his children was based on religious not scientific basis.
The medical study that McCarthy relied on was also debunked when the chief researcher admitted to fudging data. He was since jailed and sued and is being held responsible for the unneeded deaths of many children in the UK and now the US. This map NPR created shows the recent new cases of whooping cough, measles, polio and the like because of the irrational fear.
Cities in the UK experienced a recent fresh outbreak of measles, long since practically eradicated, because of mothers like McCarthy and Cavallari opting out of immunizing their children.
*big sigh*
My mother was one of those African mothers in the NPR story.
When I was about 3 years old, living in the very poor nation of Sierra Leone, West Africa, where I was born and lived for the first 4 years of my life, my best friend Junior died after we both contracted German Measles. At the time we got the rash, children in America easily and were readily immunized from it and thus didn’t die off like kids in nations like ours, considered “third world”.
Therefore, when I started having kids in my late 20s, based on my own personal loss, it was a no-brainer to immunize all my children because autism is way better than death.
To each its own, but I do believe that overeducation can breed arrogance and aloofness to life and reality. The comfort of growing and living in an “advanced” society and culture leaves room for people to let various untested or unconfirmed theories control their decisions without stopping and taking a step back at the real practical consequence of it all.
There are passionate parenting decisions I made based on things I read in books that I regret today. Were I able to be more forward-thinking at the time and truly consider the real life impact those decisions would have on my children, I definitely would’ve done things differently.
I highly recommend all new soon-to-be moms and dads exercise caution. It’s great to be educated but that needs to be balanced with being practical and realistic. Do not be so narrow-minded and accepting of various theories without thinking critically and embracing all aspects of a debate on the topic.
Free your mind and the rest will follow!
*off soap box*
Study: More Fetal Deaths linked to Home Births
Posted on March 17, 2014
Earlier this month, actress Thandie Newton announced that she gave birth to her third child at home. She is among the growingnumber of women opting for home births in the United States in the last decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
A recent study presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s annual meeting on February 7 stated that patients delivered at home by midwives had a roughly four times higher risk of neonatal deaths than babies delivered in the hospital by midwives. The increased neonatal mortality risk is associated with the location of a planned birth, rather than the credentials of the person delivering the baby, the report noted.
Using CDC data of 14 million linked infant birth and neonatal death, researchers at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center found the absolute risk of neonatal mortality was 3.2/10,000 births in midwife hospital births, and 12.6/10,000 births in midwife home births, and it further increased in first-time mothers to 21.9/10,000 births in midwife home deliveries. Neonatal mortality was defined as neonatal deaths up to 28 days after delivery.
“This risk further increased to about seven-fold if this was the mother’s first pregnancy, and to about ten-fold in pregnancies beyond 41 weeks,” said Amos Grunebaum, M.D.
Grunebaum and co-author Frank Chervenak, M.D. said that obstetric practitioners have an ethical obligation to disclose the increased absolute and relative risks associated with planned home birth to expectant parents who express an interest in this delivery setting, and to recommend strongly against it.
They suggest that hospitals make their policies more welcoming to mid-wives and create more comfortable birthing environments, to eliminate the need for “unnecessary obstetric interventions”, a release about the study stated.
Interesting. What are your thoughts on this study and the authors suggestion which seemingly implies hospitals should do more to obviate the need for midwives who will assist in a home birth?
unBump Watch: Scarlett Johaannson hits ‘Captain America’ premiere red carpet
Posted on March 15, 2014
For the first time since reports that she may be pregnant with her fiance Romain Dauriac‘s baby, Scarlett Johannson faced the public in super cute Aramani Prive Spring 2009 black and white lace ensemble with a bow strategically placed over the tummy area perhaps to distract from her bump?
She accented that top and skirt set Van Cleef & Arpels jewels and went with black Christian Louboutin Pigalace peep-toe pumps at the Captain America: The Winter Soldier premiere and screening at the El Captain Theater on March 13.
So far, no visible bump in the tummy but maybe you can see it in a slightly plumper face.
What to you think?
photos: zimbio, starcast
50 St. Patrick’s Day FREEBIES & DISCOUNTS
Posted on March 15, 2014
Tomorrow is Saint Patrick’s Day! Take advantage of some of the Freebies, Discounts and other specials various restaurants, brands and companies are offering to entice lovers of GREEN! We’ve curated a list from around the web for you!
Enjoy!
FREEBIES
- Arby‘s will have buy one get one free deals on corned beef beef Reuben sandwiches, if you bring a printable coupon.CLICK HERE for coupon or go to www.arbys.com.Arby’s will have buy one get one free deals on corned beef beef Reuben sandwiches, if you bring a printable coupon.CLICK HERE for coupon or go to www.arbys.com.
- 7-Eleven: Text ”DIETCOKE1″ to 711711 to get a small free Diet Coke Slurpees.
- Olive Garden: A free dessert will come with the purchase of entree when patrons use this coupon through 3/30.
- Claire’s: St. Patrick’s Day 2014 items are buy one, get one free. Expires 3/17, no coupon code needed.
- Del Taco: Buy a bacon or sausage Egg & Cheese Muffin and get a second free with their on-site coupon. Good through 4/2.
- ThinkGeek: Get a free St. Patrick’s Day Shirt with an order of $40 or more through 3/17, with the code ELVISH. Or buy the t-shirt by itself for only $5. And in honor of Pi Day and Einstein’s birthday, the site is also offering a 20% discount on orders of $40 or more with the code PINSTEIN. All offers expire 3/17.
DEALS AND DISCOUNTS
- Sonic Drive-Ins will have half price cheeseburgers on March 17.
- 1-800-Baskets: Get 15% off select St. Patrick’s Day gifts with the promo code LUCKY15 through 3/17.
- 1-800-FLOWERS: Promo code LUCKYSVNTN will get shoppers 17% off St. Patrick’s Day flowers and gifts through 3/18.
- Bonefish Grill: This coupon is good for $10 off a purchase of two lunch entrees through 3/29.
- Carvel: Get $2 off any cake (excludes small squares) at participating locations with this coupon. Expires 3/31.
- Cheryl’s: This cookie gift seller offers a range of St. Paddy’s Day-themed sweets, and promo code SPRNGSHIP will get shoppers free shipping through 5/11.
- FTD.com: This gift site’s St. Patrick’s Day Sale has marked down gifts for the holiday, including chocolate-covered strawberries, Irish-themed jewelry, and flower bouquets. Markdown already applied, no coupon needed.
- Honey Dew Donuts: Get a green Pistachio Muffin for $.99 with coupon at participating locations through 3/31.
- Kay Jewelers: Select styles of St. Patrick’s Day-themed, gold and green jewelry is discounted up to 50% for the jeweler’s St. Patrick’s Day Sale, through 3/17.
- Mimis Cafe: Buy one lunch or dinner entree and two beverages, and get a second entree free with this printable coupon. Valid through 3/23.
- Papa John’s: Promo code SAVE25 will apply a 25% discount to all regular-priced menu items on an order placed on the pizza chain’s website.
- Quiznos: Get $1 off a large sub or salad purchase with coupon, through 3/21. Coupon available on Quiznos website.
- Red Lobster: Get a coupon for $10 off two Lobsterfest entrees by filling out a form on their website. Coupons expire 4/13.
- Regal Cinemas: Coupon is available on this link to claim a free small popcorn from the theater’s concession stand through 3/27.
- Scoutmob Shoppe: Promo code STPADDY10 will get shoppers 10% off a collection of beer- and whiskey-themed items to honor St. Paddy’s Day. Expires 3/17.
- Shari’s Berries: Get 15% off a $29+ order of St. Patrick’s Day chocolate-covered strawberries, pretzels and cake pops.
- Things Remembered: Get a set of four monogrammed Irish Coffee Mugs on sale for $25 through 4/6.
- American Apparel: 25% off St. Patrick’s Day styles when using promo code LUCKY at checkout. Offer ends 3/17.
- BCBGeneration: Select items are up to 40% through 3/17 for the store’s St. Patrick’s Day sale. Plus, use the coupon code WELCOME2013 at checkout to get 20% off the order.
- Champion: Use promo code OFFER75 to get 20% off orders of $75 or more.
- Expedia: For a last-minute St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Expedia is offering steep discounts on hotel rooms in Chicago for the holiday through 3/17.
- EXPRESS: Through 3/16, get 30% off online or in-store purchases with promo code 1258.
- HarryPotterShop.com: Harry Potter-themed apparel and collectibles are 17% off through 3/18.
- H&M: Get 20% off one item with coupon code 1616.
- PETCO: Get 17% off a $49+ order and free shipping through 3/17 when you use the promo code SHAMROCK.
- Roaman’s: Promo code RDSTPATRICK will get choppers 30% off any order through 3/17.
- Samsonite: Get 20% off select items with an order of $100+, along with free shipping, by using promo code STPATS20. Expires 3/17.
- SmartWool: A 17% discount is applied to an entire order with promo code O’WOOLIES. Expires 3/17.
- Sperry Top-Sider: Purchase of green items earn shoppers free shipping with promo code GREENFS through 3/17.
- Stride Rite: This children’s shoe retailer is offering 17% off one regular-priced item with the promo code GREEN17 on St. Patrick’s Day only.
- Target, Corp.: Save up to 30% on home items. Use the code SAVE10 to get $10 off a $50+ purchase through 3/22.
Several online resources have FREE Saint Patrick’s day print outs, games and colorables:
It might be too late for this, but if you were having a Saint Patrick’s Day party, HowDoesShe.com has FREE printables that you can use to put on water botlles, appetizer trays and other elements to your Green-themed party!
Also, check out SodaHead‘s slideshow of Saint Patrick’s Day e-Cards.
Rose and Cook has a recipe for this delish looking Spinach cupcake.
Or if you like to eat your drinks, Martha Stewart has a nice recipe for an Irish Coffee cupcake.
Family Fun has a few fun games the kids can play today.
And if you can’t be in Northern Ireland to partake in the various activities and events going on today, go to SaintPatrick.com which has assembled a list of parades and other events around the world. You can also check the online version of your local magazine for events ideas.
Going out tonight and want to look festive? We spotted this cute trio of outfit ideas on Pinterest.
Staying in? Here’s a nice drink recipe you can whip up! A CopyCat recipe of McDonald’s Shamrock shake!
Or check out Google for a listing of places giving away free glasses or pints of Guiness Stout, the official drink often associated with Ireland, today!
ENJOY! HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY, from BELLYITCH!
Saint Patrick’s Day: 8 Celebrities Rocking Green Hair
Posted on March 15, 2014
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| Nicki Minaj |
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! Here is a repost from Posh The Socialite featuring celebrities who have rocked green hair in the past including Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Pharell, Lady Gaga & More!
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| Pharell |
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| Amber Rose |
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| Angelina Jolie |
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| Katy Perry |
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| Willow Smith |
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| Avril Lavigne |
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| Lady Gaga |
Happy Pi Day: 14 Kid-Friendly Pie Recipes to try!
Posted on March 15, 2014
Happy Pi day!!
March 14 is generally recognized as a day worldwide, we geeks recognize and celebrate the mathematical phenomenon that is the unique irrational number: Pi!
Pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter and is approximately equal to 3.14159…… The numbers after the decimal never repeat and go on forever!
Pi has been represented by the Greek letter “π” since the mid-18th century,
Pi day is also a great day to celebrate, make, eat and be all about PIES! ![]()
And just in time, I’ve joined Foodie by Glam‘s campaign and have curated a collection of 14 kid-friendly pie recipes. Get ready, pore through this collection and pick one or two of these recipes that are super easy to make and are designed for the pallet of tiny tummys. It includes some mini versions of traditional pie recipes for teenie hands!
Baking is a wonderful family activity to do as an alternative to playing video games or watching TV. It also has educational aspects because children learn about units of measurements too!
Fun and instructional! You cannot beat it!
If you make a pie recipe with your children soon or anytime this month, please send us a photo and let us know! We’d love to showcase it on the blog later! Thanks!
EXCLUSIVE: Veronica Mars Movie opens today, WIN a copy of the movie Here! ($29.98)
Posted on March 14, 2014
Veronica Mars was a short-lived TV mystery how (2004-2007) with a huge cult following— one that loved the show so much that the devoted fans of the crime drama about a female student who moonlights as a private investigator helped fund its silver screen debut.
The movie, which stars our Bellyitch Bumpwatch alum Kristen Bell, opens today in select theaters.
It has had quite the unprecedented, unconventional and film industry-changing run to get here.
Last year, screenwriter Rob Thomas turned to the crowd fund sourcing Kickstarter platform, an online hub that enables underfunded creatives with little resources and contacts to raise money for their projects from members of the public. Creatives share their plea with friends and the online community and supporters can pitch in from $2 to $5,000 or more to help make their dream come true. In exchange, donors get advanced copies of the product, autographed copies of movie posters or other benefits. They usually do not get a share in the profits that would come about from the project, however.
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| Screen capture of the campaign mid-run |
In record time, last year, 4 hours and 24 minutes, the Veronica Mars Movie campaign raised $1 million. By the time the Kickstarter clock ended, 91,585 backers helped raise $5.5 million. It even got a million dollar donation from one source.
The movie shot last summer and will be available shortly after it leaves theaters in May. Bellyitch is giving away a copy of the movie of the Digital HD DVD to one lucky reader in the US or Canada!
ENTER BELOW!
But first, think you know all there is to know about Neptune, California? Test your Veronica Mars knowledge with all 3 levels of super-fan trivia and find out if you are the ultimate Marshmallow!
(For those who don’t know, that is the term for Veronica Mars’ die hard fans)
Click below to test your knowledge • Veronica Mars: Purity Test Marshmallow Super-fan Trivia –
Rob Thomas has put together the 10 must seen episodes from the series here:
Watch the Trailer HERE:
TWEET to WIN!
ENTER to WIN the Veronica Mars Movie HD-DVD when it is released this May. Each household is only eligible to win One (1) Veronica Mars DVD via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
Enter here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway