Browsing Category

Tips

Tips

Our Pick of the Best Black Friday Deals Around

Posted on November 24, 2017

BELLYITCH REWIND

In case you missed it, we’re reposting….

Personal finance website Wallet Hub released its survey of the stores with the Best Black Friday Deals in terms of the amount of savings offered to customers. JC Penney and Kohl’s tied for first with 66.3% discounts on goods sold that day after Thanksgiving.

We reviewed the other top stores on their list and identified the items on the Bellyitch Staff’s List that constitute the BEST Black Fridaybdoorbuster Deals around!

Element 40 inch TV- Target for $179

Free Samsung Galaxy Note8, Galaxy S8 or Galaxy 8+ – FREE

Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro no-contract phone – $39

Amazon Fire 7 tablet 7″ 8GB $39

Sony PlayStation 4 1TB console – $199 ($100 off!)

HexBug R/C Robot BattleBots Arena – $49 (Save $30)

Jetson Beam electric scooter – $199 (Save $100)

Skyline 5-pc. luggage set – $49 (Save $50)

Graco Pack ’n Play Simple Solutions playard – $49.99 (save $30)

Dyson V6 Animal – $249 (save $250)

Crock-Pot 4.5-qt. manual slow cooker – $10

George Foreman 2-serving classic grill – $10

Bodum French press coffee for two – $10

Hamilton Beach 6-speed 275-watt hand mixer with case – $10

Ninja Coffee Bar coffee maker with thermal carafe – $199 (save $100)

T-fal 20-pc. nonstick cookware set – $49 (save $50)

Rubbermaid 34-pc. food storage container set – $7

Threshold™ chenille or Sherpa throw – $10

Queen-size bedding sets – $35 (save$44)

20% off one shopping trip between Nov. 28 – Dec. 10*

Kohl

Keurig® K-Select™ Single-Serve K-Cup Pod® Coffee Maker –$99 (save $50)

The Sharper Image 14.4-in. Lunar Drone with HD Camera & Virtual Reality Smartphone Viewer $79 – (Save $89)

X-Rocker Bluetooth 2.1 Gaming Chair – $99 (save $100)

Free Shipping when you shop online for orders over $50

Sears

Reebok Women’s Dash Athletic Shoe – $29 (save $30)

NordicTrack 10.9 Elliptical with Free Delivery – $599 (save $1000)

Sterling Silver 1/10 ct. tw. Diamond Studs fwith any Online Purchase of $19.99 or more – $19

Gold Over Silver 1/10 cttw Diamond Heart Pendant – $17.99 (save $82)

JC Penny

JCPenney Home™ 6-pc. Bath Towel Set – $19 (save $40)

Disney Princess 9-pc. Doll Set – $49.99 (save $50)

Carter’s 2-pc. Stripe Pant Set Baby Unisex – $7.99 (save $12)

Free Shipping on any order over $49.

0 comments

Tips

12 Last Minute Turkey Prep Tips

Posted on November 23, 2017

If you are like me and are preparing the Thanksgiving bird this year, you may be on the hunt for Thanksgiving Turkey cooking tips! I found some and curated the best from around the web including from Food Network, IB Business, Martha Stewart and Fine Cooking and I’m sharing them here with you! Good luck!

When calculating your roasting time, plan on about 15 minutes per pound.

1. By now you should have completely thawed your bird, but if you were last minute and didn’t you can cook a frozen turkey by following the tips at Epicurious here.

2. A turkey will cook more evenly if it is not densely stuffed. Consider adding flavor by loosely filling the cavity with aromatic vegetables — carrots, celery, onion or garlic work nicely — or by carefully tucking fresh herbs underneath the breast skin. For the stuffing lovers, cook the dressing in a casserole dish on the side.

3. Before roasting, coat the outside of the turkey with vegetable or olive oil, season with salt and pepper and tightly cover the breast with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning (it will be removed in step 7).

4. If stuffing the turkey, do so just before roasting to prevent unwanted bacterial growth. Because the stuffing will expand as it bakes, fill the turkey’s cavity loosely; this also allows the stuffing to cook more evenly and keeps it from becoming too dense. A 12- to 15-pound turkey needs about 10 cups of stuffing; a 15- to 20-pound bird can hold up to 12 cups.

5. To keep it moist, pour about a half cup of water into the bottom of the roasting pan and place the turkey breast side up into the pan.

6. Once your oven pre-heats to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (the minimum temperature is 325 degrees Fahrenheit), you can put it into the oven. Halfway through cooking, take your turkey out of the oven and cover the most exposed areas, such as the legs, in tin foil to keep them from drying out.

7. Once you get the turkey in the oven, resist the temptation to open the oven door and admire your handiwork. When the oven temperature fluctuates, you’re only increasing the likelihood of a dry bird.

8. If the bird is browning quickly but not near its target doneness temperature of 170°F, tent it loosely with foil and continue roasting. If the drippings seem to be getting too dark, add a couple tablespoons of water to keep them from burning.

9. About 45 minutes before you think the turkey is done, remove the foil from the breast to allow it to brown.

10. Remove the turkey from the oven and use an instant-read thermometer to determine temperature; it should read 165 degrees F at the thigh when it’s done. If you stuff your turkey, check the internal temperature of the stuffing as well; it should be at least 165 degrees.

11. Tent the bird with foil and let rest for about 25 minutes before carving. If you need more time to make gravy, heat up side dishes, etc., you can let the turkey set for up to an hour without losing too much heat.

12. The intense heat of the oven forces the juices into the center of the bird, so after roasting, let the turkey rest for roughly 20 minutes. The juices will redistribute, and you’ll get moister slices.

Remember to carve your turkey with a very sharp or electric knife and ENJOY!

0 comments

How to Dress Your Bump for Thanksgiving by Trimester

Posted on November 22, 2017

This Thanksgiving, depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, you’re going to have to dress your bump for dinner appropriately. We have some style suggestions of looks to consider or inspire you as your plant your outfit for family gatherings this holiday weekend.

For the first trimester, you should go with an A-line blouse or collared shirt under a cropped sweater or jacket to draw the eye away from the tummy area if you are still not telling others. You may not be in maternity jeans yet so wearing a top that covers the zipper area will allow you to leave it unbuttoned. Accessorize it with a cute tote and some fun pumps in classic colors fall colors like wine, navy, deep orange.

For a second trimester look, I take my inspiration from Kileen of Cute and Little blog. Go with a bump-hugging shirt dress like the Arran dress by Isabella Oliver. Throw over that a lightweight blazer. Add light jewelry and make up and top it off with a pair of low heeled pumps and a shopper bag.

Another second trimester casual look I adore comes from Suzanne from My Kind of Sweet fashion blog. I like how she kept it simple with a shirt dress underneath a denim shirt that she tied above the bump. A pair of grey booties complimented the outfit perfectly.

If you’re in your final trimester, you’re getting close to delivery and style and fashion may be the furthest things from your mind. Keep it simple with a comfy maternity dress under a duster jacket like this:

Good luck moms trying to keep those grimy hands off your bump, this Thanksgiving and Holiday season! ha!

0 comments

We Found THE absolute BEST Black Friday Deals For You

Posted on November 21, 2017

We reviewed the other top stores on their list and identified the items on the Bellyitch Staff’s List that constitute the BEST Black Fridaybdoorbuster Deals around!

Element 40 inch TV- Target for $179

Free Samsung Galaxy Note8, Galaxy S8 or Galaxy 8+ – FREE

Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro no-contract phone – $39

Amazon Fire 7 tablet 7″ 8GB $39

Sony PlayStation 4 1TB console – $199 ($100 off!)

HexBug R/C Robot BattleBots Arena – $49 (Save $30)

Jetson Beam electric scooter – $199 (Save $100)

Skyline 5-pc. luggage set – $49 (Save $50)

Graco Pack ’n Play Simple Solutions playard – $49.99 (save $30)

Dyson V6 Animal – $249 (save $250)

Crock-Pot 4.5-qt. manual slow cooker – $10

George Foreman 2-serving classic grill – $10

Bodum French press coffee for two – $10

Hamilton Beach 6-speed 275-watt hand mixer with case – $10

Ninja Coffee Bar coffee maker with thermal carafe – $199 (save $100)

T-fal 20-pc. nonstick cookware set – $49 (save $50)

Rubbermaid 34-pc. food storage container set – $7

Threshold™ chenille or Sherpa throw – $10

Queen-size bedding sets – $35 (save$44)

20% off one shopping trip between Nov. 28 – Dec. 10*

Kohl

Keurig® K-Select™ Single-Serve K-Cup Pod® Coffee Maker –$99 (save $50)

The Sharper Image 14.4-in. Lunar Drone with HD Camera & Virtual Reality Smartphone Viewer $79 – (Save $89)

X-Rocker Bluetooth 2.1 Gaming Chair – $99 (save $100)

Free Shipping when you shop online for orders over $50

Sears

Reebok Women’s Dash Athletic Shoe – $29 (save $30)

NordicTrack 10.9 Elliptical with Free Delivery – $599 (save $1000)

Sterling Silver 1/10 ct. tw. Diamond Studs fwith any Online Purchase of $19.99 or more – $19

Gold Over Silver 1/10 cttw Diamond Heart Pendant – $17.99 (save $82)

JC Penny

JCPenney Home™ 6-pc. Bath Towel Set – $19 (save $40)

Disney Princess 9-pc. Doll Set – $49.99 (save $50)

Carter’s 2-pc. Stripe Pant Set Baby Unisex – $7.99 (save $12)

Free Shipping on any order over $49.

0 comments

How To do Your Madame Tussaud’s DC Experience

Posted on November 19, 2017

Madame Tussaud‘s famous wax museum has been featuring historical, political sports, literary and pop culture celebrities since 1825.

From then to now, the museum has expanded and is a sought after tourist destination in all of the cities that a museum branch is located in: Hollywood, Las Vegas, Nashville, New York, Orlando, San Francisco and Washington, DC., Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, London, Instanbul, Wein, Bangkok, Beijing, Dheli, Singapore, Hong Kong, and more.

The DC branch offered my family and I tickets to check it out complimentary in exchange for a review.

As could be expected, with DC being a very political town, the majority of the figures inside were ex presidents and other political figures in US Civil Rights history and journalism history.

We marveled at how life like the figures were and got awestruck over how time James Madison was.

Each statue is the actual body size, height and shape of the person it embodies.

My daughter taking the hand of Harriet Tubman to freedom.

Some parts of the exhibit are interactive.

You can sit on a representative of the bus bench that Rosa Parks sat on when she was asked to get up and feel it move and hear an angry driver’s voice overhead order you to get up before sirens flash.

Match up the time in civil rights history with the event.

In a section dedicated to July 4th, guests can dress up in festive Independence Day get-ups and take photos.

The figures are positioned so guests can get up close and personal and snap pics that make it appear as if they are engaging with them.

Me being interrogated by J. Edgar Hoover.

At the end of the exhibit , you can memorialize your handprint in wax for a great souvenir to take home.

There are photo stations around popular parts of the tour like the photo With the Obamas in the mock Oval Office section.

You can also sit down on a replica of an executive desk in the office and look through a top secret envelope of secrets.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience. The price starts around $30 for an adult but if you order online. The price is lower for kids under 10.

To maximize the experience to offset the price, I recommend you set aside 2-3 hours to go through. Then, you den read all of the fascinating facts that accompany each statue and part of the exhibit, take as many creative photos from all different angles with the figures, experience all of the interactive parts of the museum and ft each one in the family to get their hand wax taken.

Also, if you are in DC for the complete tour experience, your purchase of the Big Bus Hop On Hop Off Tour bus $45 ticket price includes entrance to the museum without waiting in line. That’s a steal!

Here are more of my pics:

0 comments

Tips

5 Tips For Traveling with Baby This Holiday Season

Posted on November 18, 2017

Just last Thanksgiving, 48.7 million Americans traveled over 50 miles or more and we can expect much more of the same this year. For those traveling with a newborn, infant or toddler, we know how stressful travel can be, especially when it comes to nap schedules.

However, for your peace of mind, Denise Stern, founder of Let Mommy Sleep, the country’s leading Baby Nurse and Postpartum Care service, is revealing a few fool-proof tips as you prepare your baby for travel during the holidays. In a guest post, Denise can share her Fool Proof Sleep Tips for Traveling this Holiday Season with a Newborn, Infant or Toddler, which includes:

1. Practice at home! Many times babies are not used to sleeping in a travel bed or pack-n-play. Put baby in travel bed or pack-n-play for naptime at home in weeks leading up to the trip.

2. Keep sleep routine as close to home as possible to help baby feel safe and secure. If weather permits, dress baby in pajamas/sleepsack/swaddle blanket that he/she is accustomed to. If renting a full-sized travel crib from a hotel, bring bedsheets and breathable bumper from baby’s crib at home to recreate familiar sleep environment. Sing the same bedtime songs you sing at home and read favorite books.

3.Try to stay on baby’s time. If possible, try to keep naptimes and bedtimes as close to the same schedule as at home. When traveling across time zones, gradually adjust baby’s bedtime. Some parents like to travel at night so baby can sleep and wake up in destination refreshed. This can lead to an exhausting first day of the trip. If you can “tag-team” with your partner by alternating napping and caring for baby during the first day, then traveling at night could be a possibility.

4. While it is tempting to let a sleeping baby spend the night in a Once at the destination, do not rely on carseats for safe sleep. Car seat or stroller, carseats can sometimes cause breathing problems in babies. Follow the recommendations of the American Association of Pediatrics and the “Back to Sleep” campaign by creating a safe sleep environment and putting baby on back for sleeping.

5. Slow it down – You’re on Baby’s Time! Don’t expect to have a jam-packed site seeing schedule. All the new sights, sounds, and experiences are very stimulating and exciting for baby. Baby could get fussy if overstimulated and too exhausted. Remember that sleep begets sleep. Keeping baby awake longer than his/her bodies need may work for one night or one nap, but fighting against baby’s natural rhythms leads to meltdown.

While it is nice to have alone time with your partner, caring for a baby can be even more exhausting than usual when traveling. We like to remind parents to not stay up too late too!

0 comments

Tips

HOW TO USE BETTER SLEEP TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE

Posted on November 18, 2017

Nothing kills productivity like a bad night’s sleep. According to a study from the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, sleep-related reductions in productivity cost $3,156 per employee with insomnia, and averaged about $2,500 for those with less severe sleep problems.

Here are a few ways to increase the quality of your sleep.

1) Exercise that morning or afternoon.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, exercising in the morning or afternoon can help you fall asleep faster that evening — and then sleep more deeply once you do fall asleep. Regular aerobic exercise has been proven to improve sleep quality and leads to fewer depressive symptoms, more vitality, and less sleepiness during the daytime.

There’s a reason they don’t include nighttime, though: They warn that vigorous exercise before bedtime can actually reverse those good effects of exercise.

2) Avoid eating heavy meals late in the day.

Some studies have shown that food is processed differently at different times of day. Avoid eating a big meal within two to three hours of bedtime, otherwise your body will be busy trying to process those calories rather than resting.

A grumbling stomach won’t help you fall asleep either, though — so don’t deprive yourself if you’re hungry. Just keep in mind that some foods are more conducive to a better night’s sleep than others, like chamomile tea, warm milk, and turkey. Other, lesser-known foods that help you fall asleep are broccoli, bananas, kiwi, tart cherries, and halibut, according to Sleep Expert Dr. Michael Breus.

“The data suggests a high-carb, low-protein snack (under 250 calories) is a good choice,” Dr. Breus told Yahoo! Food. “I suggest cheese and crackers, or even a bowl of oatmeal.”

0 comments

Gifts For That Woman On Your List Who Only Wears Black!

Posted on November 16, 2017

I love Black! Recently, I was cleaning out my closet and realized that the majority of the clothes in my closet is black. I am content with this. I really don’t need color in my wardrobe. I’m not afraid of color. I’ve worn it, but my preference is black clothing. There are others like me. We have a tribe.

If you are shopping for a family member or friend this Holiday season who wears black a lot, don’t try to change them. Instead, get them what they like and that’s something black.

MY CLOSET:

Cleaning out the closet for Summer & remember I need to never buy black again. ??????????????? Closet full of #lbd #blackisthenewblack #iloveblack
A post shared by IamAWAHM (@wahmstyle) on Jun 26, 2016 at 4:12pm PDT

I do wear color and loved the lovely peach bohemian dresses generously provided by Top Tier Style that I wore to the Mother-Son dance and my kids’ school this year and paired earlier in the day with the steampunk shades also from Top Tier Style. I loved that I got to match with my son’s shirt and complement with the tie. The dress was feminine and light. The shades are a conversation starter, durable and top quality.

But these times are rare.

Using the tools from my partners at Shopstyle, I curated a list of the stuff I saw scroll through that was black and I like and I love. I know my tastes aren’t like every other black lover but if you want some inspiration, feel free to click through my finds below:

The steampunk shades and the bohemian dresses in this review were provided by Top Tier Style. If you would like to purchase your own use the coupon code BLOG15 for 15% OFF everything on their store!

0 comments

Take a Look at What Nursery Trends Were Hot in 2017

Posted on November 16, 2017

Like other home design trends, nursery design also changes periodically.

Unlike the baby room your parents set up for you, today’s nurseries are less likely to have carpet. Millennial parents are eco-conscious so they will resort to natural materials, organic cribs and bamboo and hardwood floors.

Also, parents these days are shying away from gender traditional shades and opting for neutrals, browns and monochromatic shades for their newborns be can blend them in with furniture through kids curtains .

The folks at 7thAndNewbury.com used their design expertise to survey trends. They also took into consideration what modern customers are utilizing and put together this infographic presenting what’s popular this year in nursery design.

76thandnewbury-180-nurserydesigntrends2017_v5

0 comments

Traveler’s Holiday Gift Guide for Frequent Flyers from $0 to $20

Posted on November 15, 2017

Everyone has that person in their life who is an avid traveler. This is the person who spends more of their life on the way somewhere than sitting home. We live vicariously through them via the fabulous photos they share in social media.

If you are interested in helping to fuel their adventures, consider gifting them something than any frequent flyer would appreciate. All of these gifts cost anywhere from NOTHING to $20!

1. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter ($19.99) – This is a must-have for international travelers especially who have to be very careful about water quality. The LifeStraw Filtered Water Bottle cleans up 99.9% of waterborne parasites & bacteria from water sources in countries where water quality can be an issue.

The 2nd stage activated carbon filter reduces odor, chlorine and leaves zero aftertaste too

2. 2. Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel: Our List of the 500 Best Places to See($16.99) – The traveler’s bucket list of places to go is constantly growing. This award-winning and very popular book from the Travel Guide experts at Lonely Planet will give them a host of new ideas!

3. All in One Travel Wallet – 2 Passport Holder + Gift Box / cash tickets cards pen ($16.99) – Although frequent travelers are usually organized, they could appreciate another new option to store all the things they need for the flight in one place: passport, ID, boarding pass, money and more.

4. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: Revised Second Edition Paperback – July 1, 2015 ($18.99) – Similar to the Lonely Planet guide, this well reviewed book provides a host of ideas

5. Offer to House Sit a Pet – ($0) – If you wanderlust pal has a pet, you know the cost of pet sitting services can be high for them. Gifting them pet sitting services during one of their longer stints away from home would be much appreciated.

6. Bake a tin of cookies for them to take to the airport – ($5) – Also pretty low cost would be to prepare a tin of cookies, granola or some other snacks that can be taken with them on a flight or at the airport.

7. Everlasting Comfort 100% Pure Memory Foam Neck Pillow Airplane Travel Kit With Ultra Plush Velour Cover, Sleep Mask and Earplugs (Lifetime Warranty) ($18.95) – A frequent traveler doesn’t leave home without the essentials for a long flight across the ocean. This kit included a neck pillow, mask and earplugs to help them get some rest on an extended plane trip.

8. Make them a Mix Tape and put it on a Jump drive, Spotify, SoundCloud or some other service. ($0) – A traveler could always use some new tunes to jam to while waiting in the airport or heading somewhere exciting. Get them in the mood with some of their (and your) fave music.

9. Pioneer Quality Audio Performance In Ear Lightweight Metal In Ear Headphone, Blue (SE-CL722T-L) ($19.99) – Speaking of tunes, the earbuds they give out on the flight cannot compare to a set of quality earbuds.

10. Create a list of Free Events going on where they are heading. ($0) A gift of list of fun and FREE activities that are happening near or around where your travler friend is heading would be a time and money saver when they arrive.

11. BONAZZA Universal International Travel Adapter Kit with 3.4A 4 USB Ports – International travelers know the challenge of finding an outlet to fit their US-based electronic devices and products like hair dryers. This travel adapter kit works in Over 150 Countries and a bonus is that in includes aUSB Power Adapter for iPhone, Android, All USB Devices ($19.95)

12. Germ Defense Kit – Protect Yourself While Traveling! 30+ Piece Kit – $14.95 – Germs are everywhere in public places and during travel, it becomes doubly important to wipe off surfaces like courtesy phones, counters and more. Your wandering buddy will appreciate this germ travel kit.

0 comments