Nab These School Supplies that Also Give Back to US Schools In Need

Posted on August 30, 2016

I was doing some last minute back-to-school shopping with my children at Target and I bumped into the Yoobi social good company’s display of products. Yoobi is a company that sells colorful, vibrant home, office and school supplies that give back. For every Yoobi item purchased, Yoobi donates an item to a classroom in need right here in the U.S. Together with the Kids In Need Foundation, Yoobi has impacted more than 1.5 million kids nationwide.

The Yoobi x iamOTHER folders I purchased from Target

This Summer, the company announced a partnership with producer, businessman and recording artist Pharell Williams and his umbrella media company called i am OTHER, a creative collective specializing in music, film, television, fashion and technology.

The resulting initiative is called Yoobi x i am OTHER and according to a press release I received in July, it embodies a positive message about self-acceptance, individuality and motivation to meet one’s potential while giving back to those less fortunate.

Pharrell Williams described the purpose behind the collection, “Being OTHER is knowing that that which makes you different is what makes you special, and that when unique individuals come together, collectively there’s a lot of power in that. The goal of this Yoobi x i am OTHER collection is to inspire kids and give them the confidence to celebrate their uniqueness. We also want to inspire kids to take care of others and give back to their communities. When I think back to my time in school, I realize how important having the right tools were in my life which is why I relate to Yoobi’s mission. It is hard enough for a child in a compromised school and educational system to do well. We need to be able to provide them with the tools they need to succeed because education is everything.”

The items are available exclusively at Target, Yoobi.com and Yoobi’s flagship store. The collection features over 50 unique items including a wide range of i am OTHER designed notebooks and binders, backpacks, pens and pencils, folders, lunch bags, and more.

“This is a complicated time in the world. We wake up every day with a responsibility to make our kids feel safe and to answer their challenging questions. Now more than ever it is important for them to feel supported and empowered to embrace their differences and sameness, their faults and perfections. Knowledge isn’t just what is taught in books, but teaching tolerance, acceptance, love and most of all, compassion for others. Teachers today have a lot on their plate, and together with

Yoobi’s CEO and Co-Founder Ido Leffler chimed in: “Pharrell and i am OTHER, we want to help make a part of their job a little easier – by providing the right tools to ensure everyone starts on the same playing field and has the same opportunities to succeed, while sharing a message that we believe will resonate and inspire.”

The items were created with the input of children who participated in a focus group. Learn more about the partnership, Yoobi and iamOTHER here:

And at a recent launch this August 10 that I missed getting my invitation to, I noticed that our blog subject alums Christina Milian and Mayte Garcia attended the Los Angeles, California event.

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Singer, actress & Reality TV star Christina Milian attends Yoobi x iamOTHER LA launch event

Mayte Garcia and daughter at Yoobi x i AM OTHER launch event in LA.

Here are some of the items you can get:

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Review: VTech’s New 2 Camera monitor lets You keep an Eye on Two kids at a Time

Posted on August 17, 2016

Baby monitors have come a long way since I last had a baby. My interest was piqued at learning about one of VTech‘s new monitor that had a temperature sensor, split-screen viewing and the option to monitor more than one child or room at a time. My goodness! Parents can now have a virtual high tech security system just to watch their kids nowadays.

We wanted to get a closer look and took up VTech’s offer to give a review sample for a spin. One of our Bellyitch readers, Lauren, a third-time mom-to-be tested out the VTech Safe&Sound Bear 2 Camera Full-Color Video Monitor (VM341-216).

First off, she said she thought that the teddy bear-shaped camera was cute and would look great in the baby’s nursery. It’s white and matches the decor. There was a second camera that she placed in her 8-year old son Ethan’s room so she could keep an eye on him too after she’d send him to bed at the end of the night. Both cameras feature automatic night vision and full-color video that display on a large 4.3-inch LCD. Lauren found the size of the screen was ample and she didn’t have to squint or lean in closer to check in on the kids.

For the baby, there is a built-in lullaby and soothing sounds setting so baby can be comforted without having her enter the room. It would be perfect when it is time for sleep training. Also, given that a big cause of concern over SIDS death is overheating, the monitor’s temperature sensor can help mom make sure the nursery isnt’ too hot.

Again, she too found it neat that you can choose from multiple viewing options, including single view (one camera only), split-screen viewing (all paired cameras at once) and patrol mode (single view that transitions to a different camera every seven seconds). Very convenient and inventive!

With the talk back intercom, Lauren can give her 8-year old instructions from downstairs. The sound and transmission worked two stories down, Lauren said.

The unit can be placed on a table or mounted to the wall to avoid tumbles. It has 9-level of sound indicator and if she is working in the backyward or folding clothes in the basement, she can clip on the receiver to her waist and keep it moving. Multi-tasking is where it’sat!

Feedback/Final Thoughts: Lauren’s favorite feature is the monitor and the fact that the screen is large enough and she can see the baby even in the dark. It was easy to assemble and set up straight from the box. The retail price is $199 which Lauren said she thought was actually reasonably priced for what you get. The sound came thru for her loud and clear for her and she said she would recommend this product so people can kp an eye on baby while in another room.

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Back to School Review: Best Printer for Your College Kid

Posted on August 14, 2016

After several years working at various companies, institutions and government bodies, I struck it on my own about 10 years ago. I ran my own boutique media and tech law firm (and later a boutique public relations firm briefly). Now I have a digital publishing company.

Between then and now, I had always worked from a home office. Sometimes, I worked out of that space solely and other times, part time, splitting hours working in a shared-office suite I leased in the city.

Naturally, to complete my office space, I had to get a mult-functioning printer that also had fax, copying and scanning capabilities.

My first one was a very heavy bulky laser desktop version by Brother. It did the trick and lasted a long time.

As my business grew and I started doing more public relations work for clients, I decided to get a supplemental printer. This second one was an even larger multi-function printer, made by Dell. It too was laser and could do print jobs super fast. It lasted several years and still works though it no longer faxes. Both came with printer cartridges that lasted pretty long before needing to be replaced.

Recently, I upgraded the home office and acquired a few more desktops so the kids could each have their own computer. My eldest had several computer-based projects and my three school-aged kids were fighting too much over the two desktops we owned. I decided to leave the Dell to the kids and get myself a small desktop.

So I set off one day specifically to search for a laser printing, assuming laser was mandatory for professional documents.

I headed to my local Staples store and saw an HP Office Jet Pro 8610 desktop printer there on sale for about $79.00 after a manufacturer discount. It was a good size to fit on my new desk or underneath it on the floor. It was color so I was geeked as I had never had a color printer before.

I didn’t even realize that it was not a laser printer, though I should have known given the great price.

It isn’t until I set it up that I realized. However, when I did my first few print jobs, I saw the quality was precise and distinctive.

You couldn’t even tell it wasn’t a laser print job. I decided against returning it.

I really dug being able to print in color as well. The color was sharp and true. It was great for flyers, and other graphic design projects. HP has a series of printables and templates you can access too that would supplement or complement your design needs. You could download a desktop app or use the ones offered through its Snapfish partner.

And the printables are not just for business documents, but also personal stuff like invitations, party printables, worksheets for the kids, greeting cards, family calendars, chore lists, grocery lists, meal planners, cupcake wrappers. The works!

Because I have been so busy, I never took the time to study the owner’s manual and learn of all the other functions.

Nonetheless, each month, I would discover a new one.

Like, one time, my son started printing from his computer and that is when I discovered he had connected to the printer too via a wireless network connection option meaning, it could connect wirelessly to all the computers in the home and be used by each to print!

Wow!

One day, I needed to scan a document and that is when I learned that I wasn’t limited to the scanned document being simply downloaded as an electronic document on the c: drive in the attached computer. I also had the option to email the doc, send it to any of the other computers in the network, and to send it to a thumb drive I could connect to the printer. That last option could come in handy during rush time when you need to just pick up a doc and go!

Very neat!

Then today, I finally had the need to send a fax and that is when I discovered that I didn’t need to connect the fax to the telephone jack in my wall via a telephone cord. It sent the fax via the IP network. (and it could send using the DSL, and other fiber optic non traditional landline telephone connections in the home).

That was a great discovery for several reasons: 1.The wall jack was remotely located behind a bookshelf in my office and is very hard to access; and 2. I don’t even own a telephone cord long enough to reach.

I feared having to haul the entire printer to the next room to connect to the jack there because it was more accessible physically there, not blocked by anything like a massive bookshelf.

Thus, I was pleasantly surprised to see the fax was sent off in no time and I was given a fax confirmation promptly after to alert me it was successful.

I got a call shortly after from the recipient to let me know the transmission was received. Perfect!

It was a God-send because the other alternative would have been to feed and scan in several pages of documents, then take a few extra steps to forward the document off. It would have been a slightly more time-consuming process.

I appreciated the quicker fax option. To think, so many young people these days don’t use and don’t really even remember the fax days.

I even learned that you can print to home from anywhere in the world and even when you are far away from the printer.

I imagine that this would be awesome if you had this printer at a remote location for an event, conference or convention you were running, for example. You could have some secretary, clerk or assistant back in the home office send in print jobs for event registration lists, guest updates, or Powerpoint presentations that someone forgot in the office.

Other neat functions I learned about include:

It prints photos if you feed photo paper and it has a borderless option so the photos print like photos you get from the drug store or print shop without the trim.
You can print and fax at the same time. I discovered this on accident when my son sent something to print while the fax was sending a file.
It can hold up to 240 pages in the printer tray and prints as fast as 13 seconds per page and up to 19 pages per minute.
It has 2-sided printing for graphic jobs like printing brochures, menus and programs.
It has an automatic document feeder so you can scan multiple documents without having to lift the flat bed and insert each one separately which could take a lot of time for large scan jobs.
You can print from your desktop, tablet or phone, any device that connects to the printer wirelessly.
It has the standard one-year limited hardware warranty.

Overall, this is an awesome, highly recommended printer!

You can order it from Staples and they will ship it to you for free. Or if you have Amazon Prime, get it there too and get it shipped for free!

If you pick one up, do let me know how it works out for you!

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This Desktop App Drives the Cost & Stress of Divorce Way Down

Posted on August 2, 2016

Divorce can be nasty, belabored and costly but what if the couple divorcing were cool with each other and didn’t have too many squabbles during their formal separation? Could the divorce process be easier?

Given there is an app and website for everything nowadays, why not the divorce process?

That is where Wevorce comes in. The site, which launched in 2013, is “a web-based service that’s empowering couples to reach a divorce agreement without a vicious courtroom battle.”

Wevorce removes pain, time and expense from divorce so families can begin again. It starts with the separating couple discovering their Divorce Archetype™ and includes the creation of Parenting and Financial plans.

And it is less costly.

The average divorce cost in the United States is $27,000 but the average Wevorce costs $5500. And the kicker…prices start at $749. Well, hello!

Wevorce is also less time-consuming and has a high settlement rate. On average, Wevorces take 88 days, and it has a 98 percent settlement rate… on track to do 3500 divorces in 2016.

Co-Founder Michelle Crosby, a product of divorce herself credits the platform’s success to the company’s approach to divorce.

Instead of pitting the spouses against each other – with the help of a lawyer – Wevorce is all about encouraging them to work together to outline financial plans, parenting plans and an overall foundation for a couple’s divorce process, she told PEOPLE.

There are two ways to get through the divorce using Wevorce.

A DIY method requires the two spouses to use a divorce log on the program after an initial consult. They go through the steps, which includes foundation building, financial planning and parenting planning, before obtaining their paperwork and preparing to officially file.

Throughout the program, there’s a link to connect with a professional to help a couple through a particularly difficult decision or conversation

For those who need more hand-holding, the site assigns one attorney to walk thru the process, amicably.

And the company is holistic and empowering.

Throughout it all, the focus is on minimizing stress and keeping the couple from going at each other’s throats. During parenting planning, spouses are able view pictures of their children onscreen to remind them of what’s important, and motivational quotes are also provided to keep the couple grounded and focused on the future.

“We don’t treat it like a problem and a fight,” Crosby says. “It’s decision making.”

Good stuff! If you are going through a divorce that isn’t too messy, give Wevorce a look.

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Reviews

REVIEW: Bands of Moms Organized “Bad Moms” Movie Nights this Weekend

Posted on July 31, 2016

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This weekend, groups of mom friends across the nation gathered en masse to see the new Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell movie Bad Moms which also stars two other of our Bellyitch Bumpwatch alums, Jada Pinkett Smith and Christina Applegate.

(Moms’ Night Outings included this one and here and even here where someone rented out the entire theater)

The film is about Amy (Kunis), a suburban mom who is married to her college sweetheart, and has two great kids including entitled son Dylan (Emjay Anthony) and an overachieving soccer star daughter, Jane (Oona Laurence) who dreams of getting into an Ivy League school even while still in Middle School. Amy is also married to an immature real estate mortgager who is a parenting slacker and leaves Amy to do all the work at home even though she also works part time at a trendy coffee company owned and managed by millennials. At age 32, she is the oldest worker. Oy vey!

SEE TRAILER

As the film begins, Amy relays how she is overwhelmed, underappreciated and constantly late. (We can all relate, well I know I can) Amy has to also battle against meeting up to the high expectations and standards of a trio of perfect moms, led by the PTA President Gwendolyn(Applegate), the Queen B who runs the school, and her sidekick moms Stacy (Pinkett-Smith) and Vicky (Annie Mumolo).

Eventually, she just gives up on trying and befriends frazzled mousey stay-at-home mom KiKi (Bell) and single mom Carla (Kathryn Hahn), the break out star in the film and they cut up.

For a few days, they sleep in, stop making the kids’ breakfast, skip work, go out to pubs and dance clubs and act out in a supermarket in the most hilarious scene of the film.

Michele K. Short / STX Productions

That scene is second only to (SPOILER ALERT) the one in a bathroom when Carla and KiKi preps Amy to start dating again after she and her husband take a break from her marriage and Carla uses Kiki to show Amy how to manage an uncircumcised man’s member. It is utter hilarity!

I too attended a Bad Moms outing my law school girlfriend Marcie organized. It included happy hour drinks before (which I missed but borrowed a photo from) and night of dancing at a local concert hall to an 80s cover band after. I’d dare say 98% of our theater was filled with women. There were probably several groups of mom groups out. There was lots of talking, popcorn throwing and cutting up in the theater before and the antics were aplenty.

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We all agreed afterwards that we have to go see the movie again because we missed so many lines because we were laughing so hard throughout the film.

And what can you expect when the writer/director of The Hangover, Jon Lucas, was behind the film? There is plenty of raunchy and hypersexualized over-the-top slapstick humor that works and a very generous use of the F-bomb. It is rated R for a reason and you should definitely not think of taking your kids with you to see this.

Again, as I stated above, Hahn is the most memorable. Every line that comes out of her mouth elicited belly laughs. It’s because she doesn’t give a kitty about what others think, is sexually free and liberated and is that ride-or-die pal that has your back. She’s that friend from college who would hold back your pony tail while you hurl in the throne after a wild night out, but who has grown up and is now solo-parenting a 6 feet tall middle school jock kid.

Hahn steals ever scene she is in.

My girl Bell does a phenomenal job as a docile mom with a controlling husband who eventually grows some cohones and stands up to him by the end of the movie. She delivers some zingers that are effective because they are unexpected but delivered with perfect comedic timing.

The movie climaxes as Amy decides to compete with Gwendolyn for PTA President after Gwendolyn does something that negatively impacts Jane.

The movie is The Hangover meets Mean Girls. It has the usual comedy movie tropes but it is successful.

I recommend you get your mom pals together and organize your own Bad Moms movie outing. The last time I attended a movie that got so many groups of women out was when Sex and The City movie came out. I wasn’t a fan of Fifty Shades so I missed all the Fifty Shades movie night outings.

But Bad Moms is definitely a must-see! Fun times!

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Reviews

Unboxing: One Year of My Life on Facebook In this Hardback Book

Posted on July 20, 2016

Today, a lot of people use Facebook to connect with family, friends and colleagues across the world. The popular social media site is also used to chronicle different part of our lives, including milestones like births, weddings, birthdays and other special events. The problem, however, is that those moments and memories stay on that website.

Instead of real photo albums, many use Facebook’s digital albums as a permanent home for their family archival photos. Folks simply do not order prints of their pictures and place them in photo albums that they put on the coffee table.

My Social Book has stepped in to solve that problem. Using the desktop application, users can identify a time frame of their Facebook life and produce a hardback or softback book from it! It is very cool.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to create my very own Social Book and it came yesterday! Here is my unboxing and immediate response to my book. Check it out. And if you would like to order your own, you can get 25% off the cost (that’s a lot!) ! Prices start at just $14! There is a special going on now where you can get 25 pages of your 2015 year for just $10.00, compared to $30 that it usually costs. Sweet! Hop on that now!Q

And if you are not satisfied with the outcome, each book comes with a 30 day money back guarantee. Perfect! Here is my unboxing and reaction to my book.

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WINNER of $149 Pre-Packed Maternity Hospital Bag ANNOUNCED

Posted on July 7, 2016

CONGRATULATIONS TO

SUSAN MOAKS

from Tallahassee, Florida

FOR WINNING THE

Kiwi Maternity Pre-Packed Hospital Bag ($149)

COMPLIMENTS OF

KIWI MATERNITY

She has 48 hours to claim her prize or we will pick another winner from among the 22,000 eligible entrants.

Thanks to all who entered!

Stay tuned for some more amazing giveaways coming up! We’re getting some amazing offers from various products!

To get daily postings delivered to your Facebook stream and qualify for EXCLUSIVE FACEBOOK FAN CONTESTSLIKE

THE BELLYITCH FANPAGE

on Facebook!Follow us on INSTAGRAM.

For insider tips on the places that celebs go and love, follow Bellyitch on Foursquare

and to keep track on the stylings and comings and goings of your favorite Bellyitch Bumpwatch Babe, follow our Pinterest Board dedicated to the babes!

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Save Time/Money with This $149 Pre-Filled Maternity Hospital Bag You Can Win Here

Posted on June 15, 2016

One of the last things you will have to do as you approach your due date is pack your hospital bag. This task will entail going to the store to pick up supplies, going around the house gathering items or digging in drawers and on top of shelves pulling out items to go in the bag. You will also have to do some internet surfing to find hospital bag checklists and narrow down the perfect items for you and your needs. Then, you will have to find the time and energy and get motivated enough to actually pack the bag. Phew!

Now, if you are working up until your due date, you will need to find moments in between work and other things on your to do list to put this bag together. It can be daunting.

Fortunately for the busy expecting working mom, the mom who has another child or children to care for or who just doesnt’ have the time, energy or interest to undertake this task, there is an option in the Kiwi Maternity Pre-Packed Hospital Bag. The bag is the mastermind of mom to two Anita Koppuzhayil, who co-founded a maternity brand with her husband after her first pregnancy.

Anita Koppuzhayil, daughters Aria and Ava, and husband Roshan

Actually, two inventions came from her experiences. She struggled to put on and off her pantie during her third trimester.Out of necessity, Anita designed a panty that could be put on and taken off without having to bend over and step into them.

She created a prototype of the panty she calls the Aria Maternity Pant and tested them out on herself during her second pregnancy. The panty sells for just $19.99 on her website. The bag is more but still worth the price.

The bag alleviates the stress and pressure of assembling a Hospital Bag. All the must-have items are hand-selected and curated for moms-to-be and delivered in a kiwi/light olive green colored high quality nylon bag that comes with a detachable shoulder strap, an interior zippered pocket and to interior slip pockets. The duffel measures 17.75″ x 8.25″ x 12.5″.

Inside, you’ll get:

✿ Contact Lens Case

✿ Colgate Toothbrush X 2

✿ Colgate Toothpaste

✿ Scope Mouthwash

✿ Hair Brush

✿ Hair Ties X 2

✿ Cosmetics Bag (To Pack Your Own Makeup If You Wish)

✿ Kleenex Tissues

✿ Bic Silky Disposable Razor

✿ Socks With Grip (1 Pair)

✿ Stress Ball

✿ Eye Mask

✿ Mead Notepad

✿ Bic Pens X 2

✿ Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Therapy

✿ Lansinoh Nursing Pads X 6

✿ Depend Silhouette Underwear X 2

✿ Preparation-H Wipes X 5

✿ Purell Hand Sanitizer

✿ Lubriderm Lotion

✿ Degree Deodorant

✿ Carmex Lip Balm

✿ Thank You Cards X 2

✿ Nalgene Water Bottle 24 oz (BPA Free)

✿ CLIF Bar X 1

✿ KIND Bar X 1

✿ Pringles

✿ Altoids Mints

✿ Q-tips

✿ Trial Size Empty Bottles X 3 (For Shampoo, Soap Etc.)

There is also a sheet where you can fill in contact information and other details for your various healthcare providers. The bag could also make an excellent baby shower gift and it costs just $149.00 which is below the cost of the purchasing all the items and the bag individually.

The bag saves the time, money and frustration of putting your hospital bag together with our ready-to-go tote, stocked with 31 essential items in brands that you know and trust. The bag is as chic as it is spacious, and you will love using it long after your hospital stay. It also can be used as a diaper bag or travel bag after you check out!

Bellyitch readers can pick up their own bag and get it for 10% off by entering the word BELLYITCH at check out! Alternatively, you can also try to win your own bag. For now until June 30 at 11:59, you can enter to win. Limit to US and Canada. There are more ways than one to enter and you can enter multiple times.

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Reviews

Review: This Contraption Could Eliminate Your Low Back Pain and Alleviate Snoring Too

Posted on June 9, 2016

Pregnancy comes with all sorts of pains and discomforts. Lower back pain is common. As the baby grows and displaces the weight on the body, mom has to deal with the new and awkward distribution of her weight. As her belly grows, she can no longer sleep comfortably and sleeping on the back could cause more discomfort and pain. The best sleep position is to the side.

I am not preggers but I’ve started to have regular back pain as well from sleeping on my back. I went to a chiropractor and a physical therapist and discovered the problem came from all the pressure on my lower back while asleep. We discovered that sleeping to the side eased the pain and eliminated it altogether.

That is why when I was offered to test out the Rest-Rite sleep positioner, I jumped at the opportunity. I decided to test it out myself. It is a physical object that you affix with a sticky backing to your lower back and it acts as a physical barrier to stop you from rolling on your back.

Affix the disk of the Rest-Rite Sleep Positioner to the lower back before bed

After one day of sleeping with this contraption on my lower back, using adhesives that you use to stick it on the ring, I woke up with no pain at all. Seriously! Just one day did the trick. I literally jumped out of bed! It was so cool. You know? To be able to rise out of bed immediately without having to take a few moments to brace yourself for the pain.

People who suffer with chronic back pain will understand most what I am talking about. And so will moms-to-be dealing with the effects of sciatica and other pregnancy related ailments.

The creators claim that the positioner also helps optimize blood circulation, provides the peace of mind only side sleeping can give you during your pregnancy, better organ health from not having pressure placed upon the kidneys, stomach and large intestines and increased circulation and blood blow which will boost the delivery of nutrients to baby.

And the best thing about it being a physical body and not a pill or topical solution is that it is drug free and has no side effects. Other advantages of side sleeping include open airways, relief of heartburn symptoms, reduced acid reflux and less neck pain.

Apparently, the rings also help with snorers! I snore as well so that’s double great for me. It may work on husbands too. (smile)

Rest-Rite was created by former attorney Jennifer Sparr who needed a solution to back pain during her pregnancies. She had a high risk pregnancy and found pillows didn’t work because they shifted while sleeping, had a rough texture and moved throughout the night.

Necessity is the mother of invention. A box of seven cost $16.00 and a month supply is $59. The only concern is that you can only use one and the plastic may contribute to waste and it could get costly over the course of 40 weeks of a pregnancy. If there was a way to place the ring on clothing and have reusable strip so the rings can be used more than once, it would be more eco-friendly and less costly.

Other than that, it’s the perfect solution to low back pain in my book! I even shared it with my physical therapist so she can consider recommending it to her patients.

Get it at the Rest-Rite website.

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7 Things We are Digging This Spring

Posted on April 14, 2016

Regularly, friends and potential partners and others send us lots of fun items, services and other products to check out. We do an informal review and periodically share our impressions of them with you guys. Our swag closet of stuff has been brimming and we’ve been checking out some of the inventive, innovative and yummy goodies that make life easier for moms, family and others.

Here are 7 things we’re digging this Spring!

1. RawSpiceBar is a subscription box that delivers 3 freshly ground, exotic and global flavors from around the world for $6/month. Each box includes three kitchen-tested recipes and an origin & history of spices from that region. The creators collaborate with chefs who have an expertise in one specific region or geography, ensuring authenticity of each of our flavors and dishes. Past spice boxes have included Istanbul, Navajo, Japanese, among many others.

Over 3,000 customers and more are enjoying the boxes and the company was recently featured in The Kitchn, Tasting Table & Lifehacker. Nice! Per the company, here are a few highlights about Raw Spice Bar”

Freshly ground: Our spices are whole toasted, ground and blended just a few days before we ship directly to your door so you can have your spices the way you have your coffee (fresh!).
Perfectly sized: Each of our spice blends are perfectly portioned to create a dish serving 8-12. Our recipes are kitchen tested and loved- and almost always will include an option for vegans, carnivores and vegetarians.
Spice discovery: Our blends are from old family recipes or our curated chefs- so you can explore new spice blends from experts all year long.

We got the Ethiopian kit and made some Shiro, and Mesir Wot with Injera using the spices. It was really good and almost authentic. At least it looked authentic. (smile)

2. Spring Cleaning also means redocorating and hooking up the backyard and other areas for entertainment given that the warmer months of the year are prime time for having guests over the house. Re-invigorate a room with new easy-to-install recessed lighting.

You can update the look of your kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom lighting fixtures using EzClipse which require absolutely no tools to install. They are idiot proof. In fact, I easily attached them to our recessed lighting and the effect is a new look in no time. It’s a relatively super cheap way to bring a room to life as the clips run between $20 to $50 each! Sweet!

EzClipse magnetically attaches directly to the metal trim of recessed light fixtures, changing the décor in just seconds. EzClipse offers three lines o flight conversion to revamp drab lighting fixtures: Choose from Low Profile, Stylish or Shade options that offer something for any room in your home.

3. If you are having a Spring or Summer Baby and are entering into your final trimester in pregnancy, it may be time get your hands on a Belli Ultimate Stretch Mark Protection Kit.

The kit includes:

WASH with Pure & Pampered Body Wash to gently cleanse without stripping skin of its natural oils. It is lavender scented. Hmmm. My favorite relaxing scent;

PREP with Fresh Start Pre-Treatment Scrub to wash away dead skin cells and reveal new, healthy. This is great because when you are pregnant, your skin can get very oily and so periodic facial scrubs are essential for keeping the skin fresh. Belli’s PREP does the trick and is infused with essential peppermint oil which is wonderful for calming nausea;

PROTECT with Elasticity Belly Oil by massaging into skin morning and night anywhere skin needs to stretch. You really cannot avoid stretch marks if your body and skin is predisposed to get them, but it doesn’t hurt to keep amply moisturized your thighs, shoulders, arms and other areas where stretching happens during pregnancy. This product has Gotu Kola extract and Vitamin E, both which are known for combating scarring. It also has a nice fragrant lavendar oil scent to it; and finally,

MOISTURIZE with All Day Moisture Body Lotion, a luxurious cream that deeply moisturizes and comforts dry skin. This product containts essential lemon oil and Elasticity Belly Oil’s lavender which offer a spa-like experience. Belli Skincare products are allergy tested, free of paraben preservatives, phthalates, and artificial dyes or fragrances, and made in the USA. And, for expecting and new moms the products are teratology screened to avoid ingredients with even remote links to birth defects or miscarriage in published medical studies, snd Lactmed screened to avoid any ingredients that could be harmful if passed through breast milk.

The Belli Ultimate Stretch Mark Protection Kit is $75 available at belliskincare.com.

4. If baby has arrived and you are looking for a video monitor, consider Motorola’s MBP853CONNECT and MBP853CONNECT-2 wi-fi baby monitors that help you keep up with your day-to-day tasks, while keeping a watchful eye on your baby!

Product highlights include: Wi-fi capable; a high sensitivity microphone to pick up every tiny whimper or cry from baby; an out-of-range alert that tells you when you’ve ventured too deep in the yard or basement so that you won’t be able to get the benefit of the monitor; a room temperature display so you are reminded if the nursery is overheated or too cold; a two-way communication function so you can call down to a family member to bring up a bottle, toy, blanket while you are feeding, rocking the baby to sleep or entertaining baby and don’t want to leave the room; infrared night vision so you can check out baby even if the lights are all off in the nursery and 5 lullabies that play to shussh baby back to sleep or keep them sleeping through a nap.

It’s about $200 and worth the security.

Mess No More Liquid Nail Tape DIY Manicure Nail Art – Kiesque Inc.

5. It’s time to show off the nails and toes again. We are fans of DIY nail design on the blog and we know now that Kiseque makes Liquid Palisade which is a unique painter tape for at-home manicures. They’re a must-have and we’re loving creating different designs.

6. For baby showers and baby’s First Birthday, consider gifting your little one or a new baby in the family a personalized books. I have several of these for each of my children. I See Me creates them and the quality is exquisite! They are also wonderful baptism and Godparent gifts for first personalized books and gifts. I got the My Snuggle Bunny book for my new Goddaughter and niece and it was a hit at the baby shower!

It drew in lots of ooohs and aaaahs! Definitively a gift that helps you shine at the shower.

Spice Cake with Pecans and Dates – Matthews 1812 House

7. If you want to send a gift to someone who is getting better in the hospital, just had a baby, or are thinking of something yummy to give to mom for Mother’s Day, consider checking out Matthews 1812 House which has a variety of decadent desserts for Mom. From tasty cookies like the Triple Chocolate Cookies, to succulent brownies like the Chocolate Chip Brownie Bar, to salty sweets like the Parmesan Cheese Bites, Mom will love these mouthwatering gifts. Plus, a variety of gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegan items are available, making them a perfect fit for every mom!

We got a sample in our office the other day and it lasted less than a day they were that good! The packaging is attractive and mom (or grandmom or a Godmom to your kids) will love it!

There you have it, 7 super cool products to check out this Spring and for Mom’s Day, Baby Showers, Baptisms and other events in your life. Enjoy!

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