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100 Spring Cleaning Tasks Checklist

Posted on March 1, 2014

It’s weekend again and combined with the fact that spring is coming, that mean’s it’s time to start thinking of of doing a thorough and comprehensive cleaning and overhaul of the family home. Spring Cleaning is a time to start fresh and get rid of all the accumulated dust, grime and dirt from everyone being crammed indoors.

A little while ago the Imperfect Homemaking blog came up with a pretty thorough list of over 100 tasks including some of these below to guide your cleaning:

FOYER

1. Dust lighting fixtures.

2. Wash walls and trim

3. Wash doors, knobs and switch plates.

4. Wash bench or other furnishings. Launder bench cushion, if applicable.

5. Empty out coat closet. Wash walls and floor, if needed. Sort items as you return them to the closet. 6. 6. Store out of season items, donate unneeded items.

7. Clean or replace entry mat.

8. Sweep and scrub floors.

9. Reseal grout lines, if necessary.

BEDROOMS

11. Open windows

12. Dust furniture.

13. For each drawer: remove items, wash drawer, place items back neatly. Donate Items you no longer need.

14. Remove everything from closets. Sweep and wash closet floor. Put everything back neatly. Donate items you no longer need. Try not to store things on closet floor.

15. Move Bed. Sort and put away anything that was under bed. Sweep or vacuum under bed. Try not to store things under bed.

16. Put bed back. Freshen mattress by sprinkling with baking soda, letting sit briefly, and the vacuuming it up.

17. Launder bedding and curtains. Wash pillows and duvet in hot water. Air out mattress pad, if you have one.

18. Dust lights. Clean lamp shades.

19. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.

20. Wash switch plates. Wash walls and trim as needed.

21. Wash mirrors or dust art.

22. Wash doors and doorknobs.

23. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.

24. Sweep and wash floor or vacuum.

BATHROOMS

25. Open windows

26. Empty all cabinets and vanity. Wash inside, replace items neatly. Discard expired medications and cosmetics.

27. Wash outside of cabinets and vanities

28. Clean tub. Wax if necessary. Clean drain.

29. Clean toilet, inside and out. Remove seat and clean around seat bolts.

30. Clean sink and drain.

31. Shine faucets.

32. Clean mirror and frame .

33. Dust light fixtures.

34. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.

35. Wash switch plates. wash walls and trim. Wash doors and door knobs.

36. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.

37. Sweep and wash floors.

38. Reseal grout lines if necessary.

KITCHEN

39. Open windows.

40. Remove and clean window coverings. Click here for instructions on cleaning mini blinds.

41. For each cabinet or drawer: Remove items, wipe out drawer, place items back neatly. Donate unneeded items.

42. Wash and sanitize cutting boards

43. Sharpen knives

44. Wash cabinet doors and knobs

45. Clean and organize pantry. Check food expiry dates.

46. Clean oven.

47. Clean stove top. Remove elements and drip bowls, if applicable, wash and put back.

48. Clean and organize fridge and freezer. Defrost freezer, if necessary. Check food expiry dates.

49. Clean under fridge and stove.

50. Vacuum refrigerator coils.

Continue READING and get the rest of the list for other areas of the home at ImperfectHomeaking and download a PRINTABLE LIST HERE!

Happy Cleaning!

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Kerry Washington & celeb moms rock the 7th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon (PHOTOS)

Posted on March 1, 2014

Mom-to-be Kerry Washington and some of our past Bellyitch Bumpwatch moms and other mothers looked absolutely radiant gracing the red carpet and ballroom of the Beverly Hilton for the Essence magazine 7th Annual Black Women in Hollywood Awards luncheon.

The event honored Lupita Nyong’o, filmmaker and first African American woman to win the Sundance Best Director award Ava DuVernay and film marketing exec Cheryl Boone Isaacs.

This is my absolute FAVORITE look of all time on Washington this award-season and pregnancy. That cobalt blue Calvin Klein off the shoulder asymmetrical sheath dress matched perfectly with her complexion. The loose ringlets fell perfectly along her face with the matte look and soft nude lips. I loved the simple black Jimmy Choo pumps. And the Emm Kuo clutch set off the look perfectly. She accented the ensemble with an EF Collection ring and House of Lavande earrings. Lovely!

Other red carpet moms bringing the bright reds, roses and oranges included:

Brandy, Tamar Mowry-Housley, Salli Richardson and Garcelle Beauvais

Looking fab in White, Black, Grey and Neutrals was …

Holly Robinson-Peete, Laila Ali, Chaka Khan and Regina King

Essence had a photo booth on site where guests did cute and fun poses…

Garcelle Beauvais, Salli Richardson, Regina King and Vanessa Bell Calloway; Niecy Nash, Tichina Arnold does over the top diva; Laila Ali frames the picture and Holly Robinson-Pete gives pretty face time.

Behind the Scenes

Kim Whitfield, Angela Bassett and Holly Robinson-Peete take a selfie

It’s Uhuru! Well really actress Nichelle Nichols looking fab

Awww Oprah hugs TV host Tanika Ray‘s pregnant belly. Cute

Tischina Arnold instagrammed fun pics

photo: Instagram, Zimbio, Michael Rowe for Essence, Starcast, Essence.com

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It’s Spring Cleaning Time! Here are 10 iPhone Apps to help the process

Posted on February 28, 2014

It’s still Spring Cleaning in my house and I’m certain in other homes nationwide, people are cleaning our basements, washing comforters, putting away winter gear and getting their living quarters in tip top shape for the new season. If one has an iPhone, there are many apps out there that can help out in the spring cleaning process. Here are 10 from Housekeeping.org to keep in mind and consider downloading. Enjoy!

Useful Cleaning Tips – Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned house-cleaning pro, you could always use a few time-saving tips for how to clean your house faster and more effectively. That’s where this $0.99 app comes in handy, breaking down a variety of cleaning tips into dedicated categories and helping you learn new ways to complete your cleaning chore list in less time.
Cleaning Manual – Keep your carpets free of unsightly stains, learn how to manage your laundry in a manner that results in clean clothes that last longer, and eliminate some stress, all with the help of this free app that’s filled with advice and instructions for removing stains and caring for your clothing.
Rumgr – In order to maintain a clean and orderly home, you’ll need to clear out clutter and get rid of items you no longer need from time to time. This free app helps you do just that. Take a picture of something you want to sell, set the price, and then wait for buyers to contact you. You can even create a circle of preferred friends to buy, sell and trade with, eliminating some of the more anonymous aspects of working with local online classifieds sites.
Good Housekeeping @Home – Good Housekeeping has been a trusted source of home management tips for decades. Now, this venerable name is attached to an iPhone app that will help you learn the best ways to remove stains, manage household cleaning tasks, and even view inspiration photos for home decorating. The News and Tips feature brings Good Housekeeping articles and advice straight to your iPhone, keeping you informed about the best methods for managing your household.
HomeRoutines – Create your own housecleaning routine checklists and set the days of the week that you’d like to be reminded to complete them with this $3.99 app, which syncs between devices and can be edited online for optimal management. When you complete a task, you’ll even get a gold star!
Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule – Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule is a $0.99 app that manages all of your housekeeping chores with an innovative and effective “divide-and-conquer” approach that breaks even the most intimidating projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. Check off items as you complete them and manage all of your recurring chores by reviewing information about how long it’s been since a specific task has been completed.
Green Shine – If you want to keep your house sparkling, but are hesitant to use harsh chemicals that can be dangerous to your children and harmful to the earth, this $2.99 app may be just what you’re looking for. Green Shine helps you replace your household cleaning chemicals with safer, more environmentally-sound alternatives.
Chore Hero – Every now and then, keeping the house clean means enlisting the help of the entire family. That’s where this $2.99 app shines, allowing users to build chore lists and delegate specific tasks in a fun and entertaining way, taking a bit of the drudgery out of housework.
Custom Hypnosis: House Cleaning Edition – This $1.99 app claims to make household cleaning tasks more enjoyable by playing hypnosis audio that motivates you and provides you with suggestions for making housework more fun and less stressful. The three currently supported powers of suggestion include cleaning the bathroom, dusting the house and doing the laundry.
Cleaning Checklist – Sometimes, all you need to get the housecleaning accomplished is a comprehensive list of what needs to be done and when each chore should be completed. This $1.99 app does just that, allowing you to build 100% customizable lists for cleaning the house, which can be backed up in the cloud or shared with other members of the household for delegating tasks.

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Evelyn Lozada shares gorgeous professional maternity photos

Posted on February 28, 2014

Basketball Wives cast member Evelyn Lozada shared gorgeous photos of a recent maternity photo shoot with LA photographer Josh Madson.

In a caption to the image of the mom-to-be in a beautiful floral bump hugging sun dress looking down and cradling her unborn son, the boutique owner wrote, “Everything grows rounder and wider and weirder, and I sit here in the middle of it all and wonder who in the world you will turn out to be.”

She posted another image in an open knit shirt looking more pensive and captioned it with:

No doubt you’re a son of mine, You make me feel happy even when I’m sad, because the formation of another life makes me glad. Proud of you I am, I already know how you’ll be, a smart ‘lil’ man for mommy to see, no worries from me a mom to be, to a special baby boy I can’t wait to see. ❤️

Lozada and daughter Shaniece

Aww. Sweet! Lozada and fiance LA Dodgers player Carl Crawford are expecting their first child together. Lozada has a 20-year old daughter Shaniece Hairston from a previous relationship and Crawford has a 9-year old son and a 5-month old daughter from a previous relationship.

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Ethnic African Fabrics Fashion Trend: 5 Fair Trade Labels made by REAL African mothers

Posted on February 28, 2014

African and ethnic prints have cycled their way back into fashion again.

We saw some of it again on the runways of some of the Mercedes New York Fashion week shows this year. It is wonderful to see the continent celebrated and the colorful and geometric patterns, designs and textiles admired and adored by many globally.

But alas some who are conscientious may wonder whether the original fesigners and creators of these magnificent fabrics would also reap the benefits of their hard work. We know that the textile, fashion and clothing industry doesn’t always do best by the poorest and lowest members in the chain of command.

There is a high probability that by the time the designs go from the runway to main street, they would’ve been copied and mass produced in a Bangladesh plant, far from where the inspiration for them originated.

If you are so inclined to purchase an ethnic African printed or inspired piece today, here are some great resources and places for you to consider getting your African ethnic print fix from for the Spring and Summer season. You would be rest -assured in knowing that real African mothers will benefit from your purchase of their craftsmanship.

Here are a few sources of Fair-Trade products to consider:

JANEY APPLESEED

Janey Appleseed sells handmade, one of a kind dresses for little girls, produced in small quantities by skilled artisans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Each and every Janey Appleseed purchase directly provides employment, independence, education, and hope, for women and their children in the Congo

AMANI Y JUU

Amani ya Juu means “higher peace” in Swahili. Amani is a fair trade sewing and economic development program for marginalized women in Africa, in particular from Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, and Uganda, and two US cities (Washington, DC and Chattanooga, TN).

MAMA AFRICA DESIGNS

MamaAfrica Designs sells handmade limited quantity items created by female artisans in Democratic Republic of Congo. Each sale goes to help the women the organization works with “build hope in their community with the ultimate goal of empowering them to stand proud and independent.”

MAMA AFRICA APRON

Help send one child to school with the purchase of one Mama Africa apron.

Finally, for the heck of it, enjoy this wonderful display of a gorgeous maternity dress that Swedish designer Anna Ekre created for the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) campaign “Stand up for African Mothers”.

GORGEOUS!

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Celebrity Round Up: Evelyn Lozada, Jenna Fischer, Jimmy Kimmel and more

Posted on February 27, 2014

Here is the latest on the various celebrities we’re following. A few blog notes:

Evelyn Lozada reveals she has turned into a junk food addict, Black Celeb Kids reports.

The Office alum Jenna Fischer reveals she is expecting baby #2.

Soleil Moon Frye reveals her son’s name, Lyric Sonny Road Goldberg.

Celebrity Baby Scoop notes that talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and his wife are expecting their first child.

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8 ways to tell if your kid has allergies

Posted on February 27, 2014

Do you ever wonder how you can tell the difference between if your child is just dealing with a cold or if they’re suffering from allergies? If you do suspect that your child has allergies, then how do you determine if they are mild or serious?

No one likes to run around with a runny nose all the time, so it might be beneficial to determine how serious your child’s allergies are and then seek treatment if necessary. Allergies are commonly passed from parent to child so chances are if you are seriously allergic to something it’s important to watch your child for the same symptoms. Check out 8 ways to tell your child may have serious allergies.

Swelling of a different body part: Many people are allergic to bee stings, especially yellow jackets. A less severe allergic reaction would be if the area that was stung swells up shortly after the sting and then the swelling goes down over time. A more serious allergic reaction to a bee sting would be if another part of the body swells up instead of or in addition to the area that was stung. This typically includes, but certainly is not limited to, the throat. If this type of swelling occurs you should probably seek medical attention quickly.

Breathing difficulties: Asthma-like breathing trouble can result from having severe allergies. Usually if your child has been running around and is then having breathing difficulties signs point to it being related to asthma and not an allergic reaction, though you should definitely check this out with your doctor before self-diagnosing. If a person is exposed to an allergen such as nuts, eggs, milk or soy and then starts having trouble breathing this may be a sign of a serious allergy, and you should immediately take the child to the emergency room.
Rash or hives: Suffering from rashes or hives can be an indication of either a minor allergy or a more serious one. It is never a good idea to ignore hives or rashes. Usually these are the result of an allergy to a certain medication, and stopping use of the medicine will often stop the reaction. In the case of a quick reaction, or if the hives are accompanied by other symptoms, this could be signs of a serious allergy. A rash can also result from coming into contact with an allergen.
Throat swelling: A pretty obvious sign of a serious allergy is the throat swelling closed and the child having trouble breathing or swallowing. A shot from an Epi pen may be the child’s only hope if the swelling is happening very quickly. It’s very important to give the shot properly to avoid further complications from the epinephrine in the shot. Throat swelling can result from insect stings, food allergies and medication allergies just to name a few, so it’s important to have your child tested for any major allergies.
Sweating: Profuse sweating and breathing hard, experienced not as a result of exercise, could be a sign of a serious allergic reaction to something. This allergy could be environmental so try to identify if the child was exposed to something unusual that could have caused a severe allergic reaction.

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“The Middle” to be syndicated on The Hallmark channel

Posted on February 27, 2014

So… remember that time back in 2012 when I blogged about how much I love that ABC show The Middle and declared it Must. See. TV!?

The half hour comedy is about an average middle class family in a mid-sized town in middle America, Indiana, with three children: the eldest an under-motivated and cynical teenager, who does well in sports but not in academics Axl (Charlie McDermott), middle, an enthusiastic young teen, but chronically unsuccessful and socially awkward Sue (Eden Sher) and youngest, an intelligent but introverted compulsive reader with behavioral quirks and socialization problems Brick (Atticus Shaffer).

Not only does it pack non-stop humors knee slapping jokes in a short time, but I can always relate to the parenting challenges of the mom, Frances “Frankie” Heck (Patricia Heaton) and dad, Mike Heck (Neil Flynn).

And so, remember again recently earlier this month, when I couldn’t help myself but plug the show again and urge you all to go watch it?

Only this second time, I made the bold declaration that someone ought to syndicate the show so that future families will get to enjoy the episodes in perpetuity because it was that great a show?

Well guess what!?

Someone has! The Hallmark Channel announced recently that it will begin airing past seasons and episodes of the popular comedy about a working-class Indiana family of five that keeps it real and is so relatable because of the way the writers do not sugar coat reality.

Last week, I got the pleasure of joining some other bloggers and journalists and chatting with two of the stars of the Warner Brothers-distributed show: McDermott and Sher.

During the hour long press call, both actors made apparent their genuine love and appreciation for one another, personally and professionally, through playful banter and revelations of some behind the scenes nuggets of information like, for example, the roof of the family home is made of cloth and the walls are practically paper thin.

It wasn’t all cutesy jabs while providing insight into their careers and their feelings about the success of the show,. They each, Sher in particular, got serious at times, thereby showing that although they both play teenagers currently, they are very mature, introspective, conscientious and serious actors.

Good stuff.

I think I was the only reporter/blogger to ask a question that had them look at the downside of syndication. I wanted to know if there were any worries about being trapped in the character and being typecast for later roles.

In the past, child actors from successful shows like The Brady Bunch, Differn’t Strokes and other wildly successful hit syndicated shows have struggled to get casting directors who maybe have gotten used to seeing them all the time for decades in one role envision them playing a character that is totally different.

The impetus for the question was a special I had seen on the hit series Breaking Bad and how the show’s creator almost didn’t cast actor Brian Cranston in the role as the dark dying meth-cooking science teacher Walter White. The director and producer had to be convinced that Cranston could rise to the occasion despite the fact audiences had come to know and love him as the dad in another long-running Emmy-winning comedy about a wacky middle-America family, Malcolm in the Middle.

Both noted that their looks generally in real life are so substantially different than their characters that they felt they’d be able to be convincing when needed and wouldn’t be stymied by any potential typecasting.

McDermott said to be mindful of the fact we live in a different era with so many shows out now than in past decades when television viewing options were fewer and it was possible for audiences to associate one actor with one role in their minds in perpetuity. That is not the case now with the abundance of viewing options online and on TV.

Excellent point! I’m convinced.

The first 88 episodes will begin airing on the Hallmark channel beginning March 2014. I’m excited to rewatch them again.

Additional seasons will join the rotation as they become available. The first-run, off-network comedy is a perfect fit in Hallmark Channel’s line-up of family-friendly programming. The Middle joins ranks with such modern-day classics as The Golden Girls and Frasier which are already tremendous ratings successes for Hallmark Channel.

Get ready to tune in, folks! That is all.

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Pregnancy Haiku

Posted on February 27, 2014

While combing through the Blog’s 6 year archives, I discovered some pretty creative short posts and thought I would share the best 5 here, my Bellyitch Blog Haiku.

poor soon-to-be-middle child.

He insists on sitting on my rapidly vanishing lap. That is his favorite spot for reading a book or coloring while I’m on the computer.

UNFORTUNATELY, LITTLE MUNCHKIN, there is little room on there as Baby#3 grows and grows.

He slips off. He wiggles his little bum BACK BACK to try to squeeze back on…

He slides…He slips.

I have to put him on his own chair to sit on his own bottom.

Mommy’s lap is “Out of Order” for 3 months, I tell him. Come Back in February.

POOR POOR SOON-TO-BE-MIDDLE CHILD!

ode to Garlic

Garlic. Oh Garlic. How do I hate your scent? Let me count the ways.

Pungent. Offensive. You make me want to barf. You waif through the air

Attach to my clothes, my skin. No amount of spearmint, peppermint or vanilla mint toothpaste of mouthwash can banish your aroma…

you stank.

Ummmm DID I DO THAAAAAT??

so it’s bad enough I’m already clumsy and a bit on the less than graceful side…throw in a bout of pregnancy-induced klutziness and look out world!

sometimes I feel there is a practical joke- busting ghost or spirit walking around just knocking stuff out of my hands for fun.

why else would I drop the entire bowl of cookie dough my son and I were going to bake on Monday or spill a half a cup of coffee on my lap while dropping off my other son yesterday for no apparent reason…really, I keep dropping stuff left and right. Is my equilibrium off or something? Do I need glasses?

geez! I’m feeling quite Steve Urkel these days that’s for sure.

sleep v. the bladder

this time around, i’m not letting my bladder win

even with a gallon of pee resting on my groins, I refuse to get up and interrupt those lovely and vivid dreams pregnant women get

so i get up once a night and not 3 x as with the boys’ pregnancy…i’m gonna ask my doc if I am destroying my bladder doing this and setting myself up for incontinence in the future!

i suppose the first time i wake up in small puddle that would put an end to my stubborn battle…

tee hee….

someone needs a facial

i think of the intro to hip hop star Kelis’ song “Bossy” which starts with “diamonds on my neck, diamonds on my grill…” I LOVE KELIS! (video HERE )

but in my version it goes, “I got pimples on my neck…pimples cause this girl…pimples on my neck…”

HAHAHA! i’ve counted 5 pimples on my neck and 4 on my chin in the LAST TWO DAYS! wHAT DA??? I am blessed with pretty good skin so these things set a sister back a bit…I’ve been mudmasking it for two days, but I think i need professional intervention….

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Drew Barrymore celebrated 39th birthday, New book made New York Times Bestsellers List

Posted on February 26, 2014

So mom-to-be Drew Barrymore celebrated her birthday this weekend with friends and Tonight Show show host & SNL alum Jimmy Fallon.

Nice! Happy Belated Birthday!

But the bigger news is that her book called “Find It In Everything” a collection of heart shapes she captured in various scenery and objects reached the New York Times best seller’s list for Advice, How To and Miscellaneous.

Wow! Congrats!

“I can’t believe it ! #finditineverything is a New York Times best seller !” she wrote in an Instagram post last week when the news came out about the month-old book. “I never would have thought ! I am so humbled and thrilled. Thank you @LittleBrown for publishing this book.”

Her gal pal and Charlie’s Angels co-star Cameron Diaz made the list for her new book “The Body Book.”

We know this because Barrymore, who is expecting her second child with husband Will Kopelman, shouted her out as well, writing, “Ps ! Look who is also a best seller #thebodybook #lovemycameron.”

Nice! Olive’s mom joins our other Bellyitch Bumpwatch alum to hit the NYT Bestseller’s list: Snooki.

Nicole Polizzi‘s novels “A Shore Thing” made the list too back in 2010 when it hit the shelves as well.

Note to Self: Get into the ghost writing for celebrities business.

If you aren’t already you can a ~~stalk~~ follow Drew Barrymore on Instagram to keep up with her fabulous life!

I love that our Bellyitch moms stay on their grind while pregnant. Yass, moms! Yass!

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Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt