Are you planning a fall or winter wedding while still expecting your bundle of joy because you want to be married before baby arrives?
If so, chances are, you may be fretting how you’ll look with a bulbous belly on your big day. Fortunately for you, a lot of wedding designers now cater to pregnant brides. Several styles you’ll find sold from mass producers can be retrofitted to accommodate a baby bump.
In fact, when you conduct a search for wedding gowns online store, you’ll actually be surprised by the number of options out there. Compare the current situation to not long ago when brides-to-be who were simultaneously “moms-to-be” had very slim options.
The limits of styles, cuts, shapes and dimensions of dresses actually could cause a frustrated bride to give up.
As with bridesmaids dresses, a bride with a bump has to consider cut and shape and look for a gown or dress that flatters her body and her pregnant body. Avoid going with large tent dresses that can actually dwarf you.
Instead, aim for an A-line but or a dress with an empire waistline. That cut actually is the most common. It looks and feels good and less constraining on a growing midsection. Seriously consider opting for a bohemian wedding dress which would work perfectly for a more casual wedding, one on the beach or in a less formal venue.
Here are other things to consider
A. Comfort and Fit: Ultimately, you want a dress that flatters your figure and that you’ll feel great wearing. Look for a flowing empire-waisted gown, or a dress that can be ‘enhanced’ with an extra panel to accommodate that lovely baby bump of yours!
B. Alterations: Make sure you’ve got a good tailor who will be able to make last minute alterations a little bit in advance of the wedding date. As you know, all of those measurements are going to change. And then change some more.
C. Support: Speaking of those changing measurements, the right maternity bra can do wonders for a girl’s mood at a wedding, not to mention her back! Once you reach your third trimester, you will likely need to trade in those lacy bras and reach for something more substantial. Just don’t forget to make sure that your maternity bra works with your dress as the date nears.
Be mindful of your due date so if you’ve scheduled your wedding close to your delivery date, make sure all vendors have an option that preserves a portion of the deposit to be used after baby arrives.
Of course, consult with your doctor and ensure that the wedding venue is within a reasonable distance of your hospital or birthing center.
There is no hard fast rule you need to adhere to. Your comfort level and adherence to any style or fashion aesthetic or silhouette are the most important things to consider when shopping for your big day before your other big big day arrives!
If this is the year you plan to start a family, I invite you to download our Fertility 100 ebook with 100 tips and suggestions of things you and your partner can do to prepare yourselves for making a baby.
Most of the tips are related to dietary and other external changes, modifications, alterations or shifts you should consider to ensure you’re in optimal mode to procreate.
Now, it is possible that there may be medical, physiological, mental and other blocks or situational factors like age and such that may slow or hamper the process.
Students in the United States today face numerous challenges on campus among their peers. One of these challenges, unfortunately, is bullying.
These studies indicate that 28% of U.S. students from grades 6 to 12 experience bullying.
They also indicate that 20% of U.S. high school students (from grades 9 to 12) experience bullying. On the other end of the spectrum, one in three young people admit in surveys that they have bullied others. These actions don’t necessarily happen in private either. According to various studies that 70.6% of young people state that they’ve seen bullying at school.
Some of this visibility has led to active intervention, which has positive results. Studies show that when bystanders intervene, bullying stops within 10 seconds 57% of the time.
Cyberbullying is also a problem for U.S. students. Studies indicate 9% of students from grades 6 to 12 have experienced cyberbullying. This number jumps up to 15% amongst U.S. high school students (from grades 9 to 12).
When studies focus on LGBTQ students, the percentage of students cyberbullied dramatically increases to 55.2%.
Types of Bullying and the Percentage of Middle School Students Experiencing Them
Physical
Acts associated with physical bullying include hitting, kicking, spitting, tripping, punching, and pushing. Studies indicate 32.4% of middle school students have experienced bullying via pushing or shoving. The studies also show 29.2% of middle school students have experienced hitting, slapping, or kicking.
Verbal
Acts associated with verbal bullying include name-calling, taunting, threatening or offensive notes, and inappropriate sexual comments. According to studies, 44.2% of middle school children have experienced name-calling. Studies also indicate that 43.3% of middle school kids have experienced teasing, and 23.7% of middle school children have experienced inappropriate sexual comments of gestures.
Relational
Acts associated with relational bullying include spreading false and/or harmful rumors, efforts to isolate the targeted student from peers, publicly writing derogatory comments, or posting embarrassing images in a physical or electronic space without the targeted student’s knowledge or permission. Studies indicate that 36.3% of middle school students have experienced the spreading of rumors or lies at their expense. Studies also show that 28.5% of middle school students have experienced being left out.
Damage to Property
Acts associated with property damage bullying include theft, altering or damaging the targeted student’s property, destroying a student’s property in their presence, or deleting personal electronic information.
The Effects
Kids that experience bullying may exhibit various physical signs that correlate to negative effects, either personally or peripherally. These can include unexplainable injuries, frequent headaches or stomachaches, and lost or destroyed personal property.
Kids may also demonstrate various negative behavioral signs, such as feigning illness or sickness, difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares, changes in eating habits, poor or declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork or not wanting to go to school, feeling helpless or having a low sense of self-esteem. In some cases, the behavioral effects can manifest into self-destructive behaviors, such as self-harm, talking about suicide, or running away from home
Read more and check out this infographic that diagrams the epidemic and offers a few solutions and preventative tips:
Things sure have changed since I was younger and in college.
These days, luxe, glammed up dorm rooms are en vogue. Roommates are getting together to coordinate their dorm rooms so they have a more comfy homey feel to them.
And while girls are on this trend more so than boys, the fellas are getting in on it too, decorating their rooms to fit their personalities by adding personal touches beyond just photo collages and posters.
To accomplish a posh dorm room, it’s probably smart to start with the school residential housing policy for what can be in the room and what not. Most schools forbid nailing items to walls, using certain electrical appliances and adding in furniture that the room doesn’t already come with. A quick check will give you a guide.
Next, start with the essentials and get those from basic box stores like Walmart, Target and Best Buy. Then, determine with the roommate what color palette to go with, Pewter, black, white, pink etc and purchase accessories in the three basic tones or shades of that selected color grouping.
If your kid moves in before getting to talk to the roommate, small accent pillows, frames and lamps can be purchased later during a weekend trip home to bring a color theme together.
Finally, add the fluff. Go to Discount stores like Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s or Ross and the like which sell a lot of cute, quaint and adorable home items with a lot of personality at a heavily discounted price.
If money is not an object, a lot of the upscale and higher end retailers like Pottery Barn, Elle Decor or Ethan Allen Galleries.
Also, if you do not live near any of these places, check out the website Dormify. It has checklists, you can online chat with one of its home stylistsand it has decent competitive prices and they ship your order to your room. There is FREE shipping on orders over $75!
With the economy on the downturn slightly, some families may be feeling the pinch and purchasing school supplies, getting immunizations and paying for haircuts and style could be a bit much for the budget.
Luckily, a lot of barber shops, religious, community and civic groups have organized events where they help parents out.
We’re already deep into back-to-school season and several of these have passed but I managed to dig up a few more in my area, DC, Maryland and Virginia and a few others. Do a Facebook, Google Events or Eventbrite search for one near you.
Here are the ones I found. Good luck!
District of Columbia
Washington, DC
What: Back to school physical exam, Birth Control options for college students, STI discussion and primary care needs for medicaid /private pay
What: Back to School – Free Backpacks; Come to a free back-to-school event, get free school supplies and sign up for tutoring and other academic support.
Date: Sat, August 31 10 AM – 2 PM
Where: Bowie Church of Christ, 2518 Kenhill Dr, Bowie, MD
What: The Queen Anne’s County Department of Health will be hosting Back to School (BTS) Immunization clinics beginning in late August. If your child cannot get the vaccines from their healthcare
Where: The Charles County Department of Health provides immunizations through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program to eligible children living in Charles County. Our goal is to educate and assist caregivers with making decisions that will protect them, their children, and the community. We offer back-to-school, childhood, and preteen and adolescent vaccines.
Eligibility Requirements
A child is eligible for the VFC Program if he or she is younger than 19 years of age and is one of the following:
Uninsured
Covered by Medical Assistance
Underinsured (has health insurance that doesn’t cover vaccines)
What: Committed to creating a community of healthy children, Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Programwill administer the vaccinations to children,6 weeks to 18 years of age, who need immunizations.
Children must qualify for the Vaccines for Children program (no insurance, have insurance that does not cover vaccines, or have Medicaid)
No pre-registration is required but space is limited.
Parents and guardians must bring child’s immunization records and must accompany child.
When: every Thursday in August 2019., From 5 to 7 p.m.
Where: Doris Miller Community Center, 2400 Washington Ave., Newport News, VA 23607
Deets: call 757-247-8603 for hair appointments.
Norflok
What: Better Barbers Back To School Bash! GRADES K-12 Come out and join us at our first annual Back To School Bash! We will be providing *free haircuts, LOTS of school supplies, food, drinks, snacks, games and prizes for the children! Come out and celebrate the beginning of new and successful school year. School supplies will be distributed on a first come first-served basis. We currently have 121 bags to give away and the child must be present to receive a bag. If you’re vegan don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We are looking forward to seeing everyone
When: Friday, August 30, 2019 from 2-5pm
Where: Better Barbers Tidewater Dr 7468 Tidewater Dr unit B, Norfolk, Virginia 23505
What:Village Family and Partners Back2School Expo, This is an annual community effort to help youth and families prepare for the school year that is right around the corner. Come and join us in this fun event for children of all ages.FREE backpacks & school supplies. MUSIC BY DJ NAKYLLA
When: Saturday, September 7, 2019 from 1-5pm
Where: Military Circle Mall, 880 N. Military Circle Mall, Norfolk Virginia 23502
What: Mobi Wash Cares: Back2School Bookbag Giveaway, Come and enjoy food, fun, games, prizes, and FREE BOOKBAGS. Your kids will leave happy, tired, and, most importantly, PREPARED for school!
When: Saturday, August 31, 2019 from 10am-2pm
Where: Gray’s Missionary Baptist 380 Union St, Hampton, Virginia 23669
Summer is flying by and pretty soon school will be back in session. Is your child ready to get back into the daily scholastic routine? Mine are…kinda…barely…not really! ha!
The folks at Brainly — the world’s largest peer-to-peer learning community of students, parents, and teachers— asked 600 American parents whether they feel their children are ready to jump back into the daily grind of school. Nationwide 56% of parents say they think they’re children are prepared to go back to school.
Missouri parents led the pack with 85% saying that they thought their kids were ready to head back to school. Virginia followed with 80% saying the same and the top three was rounded out by Arizona at 69%.
Brainly has put together a list of 5 tips for parents to help their children prepare to head back to school.
1. DEVELOP A SLEEP ROUTINE NOW Getting up early for school can be jarring for middle and high school students who have been used to sleeping in all summer. 62% of parents said they are worried their kids will have a hard time adjusting their snooze schedules during their first week back to school.
Brainly’s tip? Start a routine a few weeks before term begins so that your kids can get used to their new schedule.
2. ESTABLISH SCHOOL ROUTINES In a similar vein, students should get used to the hours of work (and homework) they will be expected to do during the school year. 92% of parents said homework is the biggest school-related stressor for their families.
Brainly recommends developing a routine to help them manage their time and setting up a dedicated homework space so they aren’t caught flat footed in September.
3. AVOID THE SUMMER SLUMP School-aged kids can revert by nearly a month’s worth of instruction over the summer. In fact, 82% of American parents believe their kiddos experienced at least a mild to moderate amount of summer learning loss.
The best way to circumvent this issue is to keep their skillsets fresh and mind’s sharp over the summer. Consider doing this through platforms like Brainly where a community of students can help other students and users earn points for answering questions.
4. GET YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES This may seem obvious but students gonna need pens, pencils, and a handy dandy new Trapper Keeper (kids still use those right?) if they’re going to succeed this semester.
Pro tip: get those things early while they are on sale.
5. GET YOUR KIDS (AND YOURSELF) ORGANIZED Nothing adds heaps of unneeded stress to and an already stressful time than not being organized. Only 22% of U.S. parents said they currently feel organized for the start of the new school year, and a mere 10% of parents said they remain organized throughout the entire school year.
Brainly advises creating a plan for before and after school for your kids and yourself and sticking to it. Routines are important for everyone.
Whether you are a physically active college student, a busy parent, or a corporate businessperson who rarely leaves the office, you can reduce your risk of heart disease today. Time to make some healthy lifestyle choices, pick up a pair of ASICS runners on sale, and get ready to live a healthier stronger life.
Heart disease claims thousands of lives each year. Living a heart healthy lifestyle is key to reducing cardiovascular disease and living a productive life.
You might think that it is too late to begin taking care of your heart. Or maybe you have been a runner for most of your life and feel like you are ahead of the game.
Either way there are some key ways to truly change your life!
You must be physically active each and every day.
Even if you had an active lifestyle in your earlier years, maintaining a regular active lifestyle is necessary to increase heart health. Research indicates that at least several hours a week of activity has numerous benefits:• Reduce blood pressure• Lower cholesterol• Maintain a healthy weight• Reduce chances of cardiovascular disease• Significantly reduce rate of death
Even if you are not used to heavy exercise, starting slow can have benefits. Pick up the latest sneaker releases and try walking for a short time each day. Find a partner to join you. The social benefits and accountability will help make exercise more enjoyable.
Maintain a healthy weight with a healthy diet.
Exercise is only one component of a healthy lifestyle. Maintain your weight by eating a healthy diet rich in nutrients, fruits, vegetables, and fish. Keep lean proteins. Avoid fried and fatty foods. This includes avoiding fast food and sugary desserts.
If you have a sweet tooth or love fried foods, find alternatives that satiate your appetite. You can learn how to cook a healthier version of most of your favorite dishes. For example, instead of getting a fast food breakfast sandwich in the morning, prepare your own breakfast ahead of time with a low cholesterol egg substitute on whole wheat bread and low-fat cheese. Substitute cauliflower crust for pizza night or use sugar substitutes for your baking.
Half of your plate at every meal should be full of delicious fruits and vegetables. Buy your produce locally for fresher options. There are hundreds of easy healthy soups and stews that you can prepare in bulk in your crockpot or just opt for at least one salad per day.
Coupling exercise with a high nutrient, low cholesterol, low fat diet will help you minimize your risk of heart disease. Meet with your nutritionist or dietician about ways that you can balance your exercise and health with a good diet.
What else can I do to reduce heart disease?
If you smoke or drink large amounts of alcohol you are risking your overall heart health. Eliminate any type of smoking and keep drinking alcohol to a minimum. Even if you are relatively healthy or young, smoking and excessive drinking are doing irreversible long-term damage.
Reduce stress in your life.
That might be easier said than done. Reducing stress will greatly minimize your chances of cardiovascular disease. Some ways to reduce stress include attending a yoga class, meditating, engaging in fun social activities with friends, and avoiding caffeine.
Follow these simple guidelines to live a healthy and more productive lifestyle.
Burnout is increasing. Some say it is even a global epidemic. Feelings of futility, lack of interest in the people we work with, lack of energy at work and at home and physical symptoms like headaches, stomaches and more are all signals that something is very wrong.
When we try to put a positive spin on our increasing dissatisfaction, we are denying our true feelings. When that happens, our bodies take over, trying desperately to signal us with a red flag to pay attention.
If this sounds like you, it’s time to make a change. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Take small steps toward a better, more fulfilling life for the sake of yourself and your loved ones. Don’t let excuses derail you, like, “What about my insurance?” There are medicare-for-all options with gaps in coverage until you land the next job or decide to get private insurance.
Decide What Makes You Feel Happy
We all have something that, no matter how bad our day is, puts a smile on our face. It could be a child’s laughter or a pet’s excited dance when you come home. It could be the satisfaction and serenity you feel when you look around your freshly cleaned home. It may be the smell of spices from cooking a meal. Maybe your zencomes from tending to plants. Whatever it is, think of that and how you can get more of it in your life.
Pick Something You Would Do if You Could Do Anything
What was it that you secretly always wanted to do? Did you want to be a photographer or an interior decorator? When trying to remember back to your younger self and your desires at the time, don’t focus on practicality. Just remember what used to get you excited when you thought about doing that for a living. Now ask yourself if there is a job for what you identified that makes you happy. If your bliss is cooking, can you turn that into a business opportunity?
Make a Plan
Here is where the fun begins: ask yourself, “What Would It Take?” This could as simple as taking some classes or applying for a job in your dream industry. If your plan is to quit your job, don’t forget to take a look at your finances to see what you need to do in order to pay the basic living expenses in the interim. Want to travel the world? Consider putting your place on a short term rental site while you are gone in order to help finance your dream.
Put It Into Motion
Now that you know what to do, go do it. Live your best life.
When one of your close friends is pregnant, it’s an exciting time — but there’s so much to do!
She has to figure
out how to put in a car seat, decorate the nursery, and read through countless
confusing parenting books.
You want to throw her a
baby shower to help take her mind off the stress and onto celebration.
Need a little help?
Read our ultimate guide
to throwing a baby shower the right way below.
1. Send out Invites Early
The first step of baby
shower planning is getting those invites out early!
You want everyone the
guest of honor cares about to be able to make it, after all. This also gives
her plenty of time to set up and decide on the things she wants to list on her
registry.
Remember, you’re
throwing a baby shower for your friend, not for yourself.
Always let her have the last word on any games, food, guest lists, and entertainment. You want her to be happy, not to resent you for insisting on doing things “your way.”
Number one on the list
of things you need for a baby shower?
A comfortable and cozy
spot! The guest of honor will want to relax, spread out, and likely be in an
environment she’s familiar with.
If possible, try to host
it in a friend’s home (not the mom-to-be’s own, as she shouldn’t have to handle
the cleanup.)
4. Avoid Stereotypical Games
Games are a huge part of
throwing a baby shower, but things like racing to see who can change a diaper
the fastest or forcing everyone to do a taste test of baby food aren’t fun for
anyone.
Instead, have everyone
bring in an old baby picture of themselves and try to get guests to figure out
who is who. You could also hire a singer, organize a betting pool about the
time of the baby’s birth, and more.
Any of these games are also a welcome alternative to the
standard stuff.
5. It’s OK to Serve Cocktails
Remember that just
because the mom-to-be isn’t drinking doesn’t mean she doesn’t want her friends
to have to do the same.
Having a bottle of
prosecco (or several more) around can make the experience of watching one
person open gifts for hours much more fun.
We also love the idea of
creating a unique mocktail for the mom that’s named after her and
includes her favorite alcohol-free ingredients. She shouldn’t have to stick to
just sparkling water.
Make Throwing a Baby Shower Easy with These Tips
Above all, remember that
throwing a baby shower is something you do for a friend because you want to
share her excitement and give her the chance to show off.
You don’t have to spend
weeks on end and thousands of dollars to make it memorable.
Instead, focus on
creating an event you know she’ll love.
Need more tips on how to
raise and celebrate a baby?
Our blog has the advice
you need. Bookmark us to stay in the know.
A World Health Study just found that half of baby foods analyzed obtained more than 30% of calories from sugar, concentrated fruit juice or other sweetener. This habit of feeding baby sugar essentially trains kids to crave sweet foods, leading to childhood obesity, adult diabetes and heart disease.
But the problem is much deeper: those food pouches our kids love have been linked to childhood obesity, speech delays and problems with motor skills development.
Here’s why you should avoid giving your kid any food squeezed from a pouch, compliments of the folks at baby and child food company Fresh Bellies,
#1 THEY DON’T LEARN FOOD TEXTURES
According to expert Amy Shapiro of Real Nutrition NYC, pouches don’t include spoons, tools which actually help introduce your baby to see and try new textures without scaring them (for example, potatoes). Without a spoon, your little one is just drinking food.
#2 PROMOTES DELAYS IN MOTOR SKILLS
Pouches have been linked to speech delays and issues with motor skills, because kids are squeezing food in their mouth instead of practicing hand/eye coordination to put food in their mouth, which is an important developmental milestones. The prolonged sucking motion of a pouch, beyond the bottle phase, also impacts speech development.
#3 UNDERMINES SOCIAL EATING
When a child is munching on a pouch in the car for lunch or on the couch, they’re not learning to appreciate food as nourishment, understanding their body cues, or really experiencing a meal as “social time” around a table with the entire family.
#4 KIDS DON’T LEARN TUMMY CUES
Kids are squeezing food in their mouths in large gulps instead of savoring each spoonful. The “one spoonful at a time” approach gives babies the space to learn to eat when they’re hungry and to stop eating when they’re full.
With Fresh Bellies baby food (), kids learn to eat how they should – from a cup with a spoon – and without masking vegetables with things like sweet fruit. When ever possible, go with fresh.
