Tips

Enjoy This Summer Road Trip Play List

Posted on July 8, 2017

Bellyitch rewind

Summer is for road trips to family, the beach, to see landmarks and adventure. On your travels, you’re going to need some cool sounds. When you get out of range of your favorite radio station and don’t have satellite radio or an input jack to plug in your iPod or mp3 player, connect the songs on your mobile player and listen to this playlist of top Summer 2017 hits.

I curated for you the tunes I hear playing most often on pop radio stations and MTV and put them in a handy SoundCloud playlist for you to check out!

This list is also great for spinning, running on the treadmill or outside or working out in your gym or home gym.

warning: some may have offensive lyrics so proceed with precaution or upload the radio clean version.

Also, some of these songs are just samples but you can hear the entire thing if you sign up for SoundCloud Go! which is just $5 per month. Not bad compared to other streaming services that are $10 to $30 monthly. Otherwise, purchase the songs from your fave provider and add to your fave playlist or platform like Spotify, iHeartRadio etc.

Enjoy!

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Tips

10 Healthy Snacks For The Family

Posted on July 8, 2017

During the long, hot days of summer, heavy snacks can leave kids feeling sluggish and unmotivated.

Pre-packaged snacks can be filled with additives, coloring agents, and preservatives, not to mention they’re more expensive than their wholesome, homemade counterparts.

Also, during hectic days, parents and caregivers may not have much time to devote to concocting elaborate snacks, but that doesn’t mean you have to go the pre-packaged route.

Here are ten warm-weather treats that are sure to be a hit with your little ones during the hottest of summer days.

1. Fruit Kabobs – Spearing fruit and cheese cubes onto skewers makes for a wholesome snack thats assembled in a snap; this recipe works with any seasonal fruit you have on hand. Apples and cheese are always a favorite pairing; tart, sweet apples and calcium-rich cheese satisfy little ones and parents alike.

2. Parfaits – Layering yogurt, fresh fruit, and granola into glasses requires next to no time, and makes for a light, healthy snack on a hot summer day. Kids love the pretty layered effect, but may not be coordinated enough to keep glass intact; if your little ones are on the clumsy side, opt for unbreakable, transparent plastic. Dont forget the long-handled spoons!

3. Frozen Yogurt Pops – Frozen yogurt pops are readily available in the freezer section of any grocery store; however, they can be laden with preservatives and artificial flavorings. Springing for an inexpensive Popsicle mold is one of the smartest summer-snack investments you can make; simply mix your kids favorite flavor of yogurt with roughly chopped, lightly mashed fruit, pour into molds, and freeze overnight. Enjoy all-natural frozen yogurt pops, naturally sweetened by the fruit and free of preservatives and chemicals.

4. Coconut Water Popsicles – High in potassium and minerals, coconut water is the liquid found inside young coconuts. The coconut flavor is mild and understated, and very low in sugar; to make these coconut water popsicles palatable to kids, mix with chopped fruit and pour into your trusty Popsicle molds.

5. Fruit Pizza – While traditional recipes for fruit pizza call for a sugar cookie crust, parents looking to keep sugar content to a minimum may prefer a traditional pizza crust sweetened with a pinch of brown sugar and cinnamon. Bake crust according to package instructions, and allow it to cool. Spread with a fruit-flavored cream cheese such as strawberry or pineapple, then top with sliced fruit. Drizzle with a puree of strawberries or raspberries, slice, and serve.

6. Graham Cracker Sandwiches – Potassium-rich bananas and peanut butter are a classic pairing; adding graham crackers creates a kid-favorite snack in the blink of an eye. Simply mash a sliced banana with a fork, and mix with a heaping spoonful of peanut butter. Spread the gooey mixture between two graham crackers and serve.

7. Ants on a Log – Crisp, cool celery pairs so beautifully with peanut butter that this classic snack is the stuff of legend. Quickly assembled and loved by kids, Ants on a Log are one of the greatest summertime snacks; just spread a healthy layer of peanut butter onto a celery stick and top with raisins.

8. Smoothies – Frozen fruit, milk, and yogurt can be thrown into a blender to create a snack thats high in calcium and full of fruity goodness. For ultimate kid approval, serve with a whimsical twisty straw in a colorful cup. Experiment with fruits and yogurt flavors; there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to delightful combinations.

9. Watermelon “Cookies” – Nothing says “summer” quite like the red, juicy flesh of a watermelon. To make these watermelon “cookies,” slice a watermelon into one inch slabs, and then use cookie cutters to make interesting shapes. For those that feel like icing is an essential part of a cookies makeup, a layer of thick vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt provides a calcium and protein boost while maintaining its consistency against the juice of the watermelon.

10. Trail Mix – Bagged trail mix can be full of unnecessary calories and fat, while the all-natural, preservative-free variety gets quite pricey. To make your own healthy mix without breaking the bank, mix any dried fruit, like cranberries or raisins, with assorted nuts and pretzel sticks. For the highest kid approval rating, let them join in the fun. Because it contains no dairy or perishable items, this trail mix can be tucked into a beach bag for poolside snacking, tossed in a backpack to provide sustenance on a long hike, or stuck in a pocket for portable munching at the park.

Fresh fruit is the cornerstone of healthy summer snacks, so be sure to keep as much on hand as possible.

Local farmers markets can be less expensive than chain grocery store produce, so keep your eyes peeled for such facilities. These markets also tend to be fun for kids, so dont hesitate to bring them along for the fruit shopping adventure!

Hope your kids enjoy these healthy alternatives!

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We Just Got Another All A’s Report Card and National Top Test Scores Owed To This Early Learning Software

Posted on June 17, 2017

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I have one more reason to boast about the positive impact the award-winning early learning online platform ABC Mouse has had on my children.

My daughter is the first of my three children to go through the entire curriculum from age 3 to 8 and I was excited to recently learn that she just ended another school year with the equivalent of all A’s in all subjects for all four quarters, and the best part is that she scored in the 99% nationally in reading and high average in math in a nationwide standardized test.

This means she scored higher than 99% of all other kids who took this test. Wow! (See below redacted to protect her privacy )

Age of Learning is a leading education technology innovator which produces the multi-award-winning ABCmouse.com^® Early Learning Academy. The Los Angeles, California-based company serves millions of children by blending education best practices, innovative technology, and insightful creativity.

As I’ve blogged before, here and here and here when my daughter was in pre-kindergarten, I invested in ABC Mouse after seeing an ad for it online.

Well, I should confess that I have always been a big believer in educational toys as tools to supplement your child’s development. So the purchase of ABCMouse.com was the last of a series of online educational tools I’ve used with my children, including the Babbler to help them excel in foreign language acquisition; Baby Einstein to get them attune to color, letters, words and early phrases even as a baby and the “My Baby Can Read” system which I earnestly credit for her learning to read and write as early as two-years old.

And I must say, it was the best preparatory tool because of the gamification aspect of it. The children are timed on their performances on some tasks and they get rewards in order for them to advance. This aspect of ABC Mouse keeps her attention and eager to excel and earn more credits. Also, she is not stalled from going on to the next grade level after she masters one. This means that she can stay one step ahead of her reading and math skills at school too.

Watch a testimonial about Taylor’s experience which is similar to my daughter’s here:

Being ahead slightly gave her and other kids who have this tool at home a great advantage. I meant to share with my readers when the company was having its big 50% OFF sale but I missed the boat! Shoot!

But luckily, there is a 39% OFF Sale going on now. You can get a year subscription for $59. If you’re on a strict budget, there is a $19.95 four installment option but then you lose the savings. The company also offers great deals for schools and teachers so they can incorporate fun learning in their classroom for kids who do not have computers at home or whose parents may not be able to afford it.

Again, I am quick to recommend this program to any parent I know who wants to give her or his child a leg up in education and needs a good referral. I offer this program because I discovered it on my own, paid for it myself and have seen the benefits of it repeated time and time again! I love it so much that I am now an affiliate and will benefit form a portion of the sale form any purchase of a subscription based on my recommendation.

Here is a list of the various parenting, educator and child development awards it has won:

National Parenting Publications Awards;
Parents’ Choice Gold Award;
Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice Award for Excellence in Design;
Moms’ Choice Awards;
Learning magazine’s Teachers’ Choice Award;
Tabby Award Winner of Best Android App for Kids
Family and Entertainment, and User’s Choice Best Android;
the Tillywig Toy Awards Brain Child Award Winner;
First place in SheKnows Parenting Award;
W3 Awards;
WebAward Education Standard of Excellence; and the Family Standard of Excellence; and
the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Winner.

Good stuff! Consider it for your kid too!

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The Friendship Divide: Childfree Friends & You

Posted on June 16, 2017

There’s no doubt that the moment you become a parent for the first time, the friendships in your life tend to change. That’s inevitable. After all, you have a different set of priorities now – and not a soul could blame you for how your worldview has shifted.

Some new parents, however, tend to find themselves worrying they have gone too far. This concern tends to be confirmed as a genuine worry, especially with STFU Parents constantly showcasing examples where parents have crossed the line. When you have child-free or childless friends (there’s a difference!), you can feel like you’re walking on eggshells trying to maintain the friendship. You don’t want to be that Mom can’t talk about anything else, but at the same time… there’s not a lot else that interests you now.

Parenting is consuming. It becomes the focus of our day, much to the bafflement of our child-free and childless friends. For one thing, we’re constantly on the alert for new information. Someone has some new advice, tips, or research? We’re more than happy to set aside our other worldly concerns so we can check this out immediately and see if there’s something new for us to learn. Then there’s the fact that if someone asks if we’ve had a good day, our answer might depend heavily on how our child – rather than us as an individual – are doing. We see them as one and the same thing; child-free and childless friends, however, do not.

Nevertheless, maintaining strong friendships is an essential component of getting yourself through the early stages of being a new parent. There’s also the fact that spending time with friends is a vital component of the “me time” that every Mom needs every now and again. So how can you keep these friendships alive when your baby arrives?

1) Be Careful With Your Choice Of Words

One of the main things that your childfree/less friends want to know when you have a child is that you’re still you. As a new parent, it’s easy to fall into the habit of using “we” instead of “I” – so: “we went to the park” or “we went to the grocery store”. This can feel alienating to friends who don’t get how that feels, so try and be careful to use “I” instead of “we”. It’s such a small thing, but it’s basically making it clear that you’re still you, just now with a child in tow.

2) Keep Your Expectations In Check

Sometimes, you’ll hear a story about how a Mom has become angered by her childless/free friends not coming to her child’s birthday party. It’s usually an overreaction, which is why maintaining your expectations is important. Your friends care about you and your baby, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to want to be involved in what are conventionally “Mommy” type things – so give them a break every once in awhile.

3) Shed Toxic Friendships

The above are good ideas for maintaining friendships, but try and remember that it works both ways. If you have friends who never show an interest in your baby and fake yawns any time you mention the trials and tribulations of being a parent, then maybe they’re not such good friends. If you’re going to make the effort to find a neutral space where you and your friends can just be “you”, then it’s not unreasonable to expect them to occasionally show an interest in your life-changing experience. It’s all about balance, and you’re not the only one who needs to be willing to do it!

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The 10 Things to Consider When Picking a Summer Camp for Your Child

Posted on June 16, 2017

It’s kinda late right now to be finding a Summer Camp for your child but you might as well know the ten ways to choose the perfect camp for your kids anyway.

Find Out Where Their Friends Are Going – It’s a good idea to start your journey by finding out where your child’s friends will be camping – and don’t send them there. In addition to depriving your child of a valuable opportunity to make new friends and learn to socialize with a new peer group, you’ll also be ensuring that the same cliques and social hierarchies follow them. Though kids might protest initially, they’ll quickly come to appreciate the clean slate.
Look Into Club-Sponsored Camps – For kids who are active in scouting programs or clubs, it might be a good idea to check into summer camps sponsored by those programs. The tenets and aims of the camp will be familiar to kids who participate in the same activities at home, giving them the chance to meet new people while still retaining that sense of familiarity.
Take Special Interests Into Account – Budding thespians might get more enjoyment out of a theater camp, while aspiring athletes are much more likely to have the time of their life at a sports camp. Tailoring the summer camp experience to your child’s interests is one of the best ways to ensure that they have a great vacation.
Research Special Needs Camps – Kids with learning disabilities or special needs are not automatically excluded from the sleep away camp experience. There are many summer camps created solely for special needs kids; with a bit of research, you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your special kid.
Decide if Religion is a Factor – For families that strongly emphasize religion, summer camps with a similar emphasis might be the best fit. Speaking with a clergy member can help you find great religious camps, as can a bit of online research.
Location, Location, Location – One of the most important things to consider when looking at summer camps is the location of your favorites. Families on a budget might have a hard time making parents’ weekends after incurring travel expenses to accompany their child to and from camp.
Make Visits For Next Year – If possible, start scouting summer camps the year before your child will be attending. Visiting while the camp is in session is a great way to get an idea of how things will be the following year, whereas an off-season tour will only showcase facilities.
Consider the Financial Implications – Private camps can run well into the thousands for an eight week session, while non-profits like YMCA camps and others of their ilk are considerably cheaper. Don’t be fooled by a hefty price tag, either; some of the highest-rated camps in the country are lower cost non-profits. In the case of summer camps, it’s not always a “get what you pay for” situation.
Examine First Aid and Infirmary Facilities – Kids get hurt. From daredevil stunts to simple carelessness, bumps and bruises are just part of the territory. Because of this fact, you’ll want to make sure that there are adequate first aid and infirmary facilities on-site, and that medical help can be quickly secured in the event of an emergency.
Let Your Child Play a Part in the Decision-Making Process – Having a conversation with your child about their wants and needs from a summer camp experience is an important part of the process, as well. Listen to and consider each of your child’s points before choosing a place for him or her to spend the majority of their summer vacation.

There are so many things to consider when choosing a summer camp that the task can be overwhelming for many parents. Taking the process one step at a time, looking at each camp from every angle is the best way to be sure about your decision. Because it can be quite time-consuming, it’s also a good idea to begin your search far in advance to avoid last-minute snap decisions made out of desperation. The American Camp Association accredits summer camps and is a great place to begin your summer camp search.

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Increase Your Child’s Chances of Surviving an Active Shooter Situation with These Tips

Posted on June 15, 2017

Today has been quite a tumultuous one in the United States with not one, not two, but three different active shooter emergencies, including one this morning by a gunman who attacked Congressional Republicans during a charity baseball game practice. One of the Congressman’s 10-year old son was nearby the playing field in Virginia.

Now that these incidences are becoming more common place here and abroad, places like cafes, movie theaters, schools, sporting events and concerts are fertile ground for terrorists or lone gunmen to target. It’s pretty sad and scary because no longer can we be assured that we can avoid the type of places that these incidents occur at because there is not typical target any longer.

We may have heard the story of the little girl who survived the Sandy Hook shooter by pretending she was dead and staying still. Most kids are not prepared for such a situation and wouldn’t necessarily be that quick on their feet to think like that. It then leads us to the inevitable. We have to prepare our children for surviving an active shooter situation.

Here are some basic pieces of advice, adapted from instructions and policies created by the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Training Institute

What is an Active Shooter?

An active shooter emergency involves one or more persons, using a firearm, engaging in a random or systematic shooting spree. The vast majority of shootings in this country are over in a matter of minutes, involve persons known to one another, and are confined to a particular area.

An Active Shooting incident does not follow this template. It may last for minutes or hours, range over a large and constantly changing area, and threaten everyone within close proximity of the shooter(s).

Do You Get any Warning?

Persons may or may not receive advance warning of an active shooter. A witness, personal observation or the sound of gunshots may be the only alert you receive, leaving little time to react.

What Does an Active Shooter Emergency Sound Like?

The sound of gunshots, unlike special effects in movies and television, may sound muffled and make a “pop, pop, pop” noise. It is reasonable to assume that a series of such noises are gunshots and you should begin to take necessary precautions.

What’s Wrong With the Traditional “Shelter In Place” Process Police Use?

Traditional response to this type of incident has been to shelter in place and wait for the police to arrive. While this type of response is not wrong, case studies of several active shooter incidents have shown there may be instances where it is not possible or a secure location has been breached, resulting in an increase in casualties.

What is a Good Alternative for Pre schools and Day Care Centers?

The “ALICE” response plan has been identified to assist you in your response should this type of incident occur.

Pre-Schools and Day Care Centers come with unique factors and questions in dealing with this type of emergency. Building layout and features, the high number of younger children, and the consideration of possibly having only the option of “Lockdown” in some areas presents issues outside of normal protocols.

The staff should become skillful and think in terms of “when…then…” for an alert mindset.

Why Pre-Schools and Day Care Centers Present a Problem

Unlike most buildings, Pre-Schools and Day Care Centers usually only have one identifiable entrance for the public, but have several egress points for those in the building to escape in case of emergency. These points usually lead to playground areas that are fenced in order to keep children from wandering from the premise.

Consideration should be given to these fenced areas being gated and easily opened by staff to exit. Whether in an Active Shooter Emergency or Fire, the ability to move large numbers of staff and children away from the premise should be paramount. Once away from the building, the issue becomes one of keeping the children together and moving them to a safe haven. This location should be planned out and drilled into the children in much the same way we evacuate for fire drills. Campus Safety Has an Excellent Plan for administrators of schools and day care centers you can download HERE!

What should You or Your child do in an Active Shooter Situation to Survive?

What follows is a simple, example of an ALICE for Pre-Schools/ Day Care Centers.

ALICE

“ALICE” is an acronym for 5 steps you can utilize in order to increase your chances of surviving a surprise attack by an Active Shooter. It is important to remember that the “ALICE” response does not follow a set of actions you “shall, must, will” do when confronted with an Active Shooter. Your survival and the survival of the children are paramount in this situation. Deal with known information and don’t worry about unknowns. You may use only 1 or 2 parts of the response plan or you may have to utilize all 5. In this type of incident, your perception is the reality and you will be deciding what the appropriate action is for you to take.

Alert- Can be anything.
- Gunfire
- Witness
- PA Announcement
- Phone alert
Lockdown- This is a semi-secure starting point from which to make survival decisions. If you decide to not evacuate, barricade to secure the room.
Lock the door using all securing mechanisms.
Cover any windows in the door if possible
Tie down the door, if possible, using belts, purse straps, shoe laces, zip ties etc.
Barricade the door with anything available (desks, chairs, rolling cabinets, etc.)
Look for alternate escape routes (windows, other doors)
Call 911
Move out of the doorway in case gunfire comes through it
Move children to the safest location in the room
Silence or place cell phones on vibrate
Once secured, do not open the door for anyone. Police will enter the room when the situation is over.
Gather weapons (coffee cups, chairs, books, pens, etc.) and mentally prepare to defend yourself or others.
Put yourself in position to surprise the active shooter should they enter the room.

Inform- Using any means necessary to pass on real time information.
Given in plain language.
Can be derived from 911 calls, video surveillance, etc.
Who, what, where, when and how information
Can be used by people in the area or who may come into it to make common sense decisions
Can be given by “Flash Alerts”, PA Announcements or Police Radio speakers
Information is a two-way street, if you have information share it with the police dispatch or the office

Counter- This is the use of simple, proactive techniques should you be confronted by the Active Shooter.
Anything can be a distraction device
Throws things at the shooters head to disrupt their aim
Give children the command to act (disruption tactics) or move
Create as much noise as possible
Attack in a group (swarm) if possible
Grab the shooters limbs and head and take them to the ground and hold them there
Fight dirty-bite, kick, scratch, gouge eyes, etc.
Run around the room and create chaos
If you have control of the shooter call 911 and tell the police where you are and listen to their commands when officers arrive on scene.
Commit to your actions, this is the last resort.

Evacuate- Remove yourself and the children from the danger zone as quickly as possible.
Decide if you can safely evacuate
Assist children in moving to secure rally points away from the building
Run in a zigzag pattern as fast as you can if alone
Do not stop running until you are far away from the area
Bring something to throw with you in case you would encounter the Active Shooter
Consider the distance to the ground if you go out a window. 3 floors up is considered the survivable drop zone.
Break out windows and attempt to quickly clear glass from the frame
Consider using belts, clothing or other items as an improvised rope to shorten the distance you would fall
Hang by your hands from the window ledge to shorten your drop
Attempt to drop into shrubs, mulch or grass to lessen the chance of injury
Do not attempt to drive from the area
Once at the rally point move children to most secure position possible and account for all the children in your care

Secondary Issues

Anyone may call 911 should they perceive a threat. Don’t worry if it turns out to be no issue, error on the side of caution.
Responding Police will have their weapons drawn and ready for use. They do not know exactly who the shooter is and will probably point weapons at you. Just remain calm and follow any directions they may give you. You may be asked questions, patted down, and given orders to exit certain ways.
Responding Police are there to stop the Active Shooter as soon as possible. They will bypass injured people and will not help you escape. Only after the shooter is stopped will they begin to provide other assistance.
If you come into possession of a weapon, do NOT, carry or brandish it! Police may think you are the Active Shooter. If possible, put it in a trashcan and carry it with you. If you come across Police, calmly tell them what you are carrying and why. Follow their commands.
Be prepared to provide first aid. Think outside the box. Tampons and feminine napkins can be used to stop blood loss. Shoes laces and belts can be used to secure tourniquets. Weighted shoes can be tied around a person’s head to immobilize it. Remember it may be several hours to secure an entire building and safely move an injured person. The actions you take immediately to treat injuries may save their life. Equip rooms with “GO Buckets” containing water, bandages, medications, zip ties, kitty litter to absorb moisture in the bucket should it be utilized as a toilet, etc.
If you are in lockdown for a long period of time, give consideration to issues such as bathroom use, keeping people calm, games, books, etc.
Pre-select Rally Points away from the building and practice with the staff and children moving to these locations. Make sure that the locations you are evacuating to know why and where to place you should an emergency occur. Involve local Law Enforcement in this planning.
Consider setting up classrooms and offices to make it harder for an Active Shooter to enter and acquire targets. Remember, posters and signs on windows, while welcoming, may obstruct your view of people entering the location.

These measures are meant to provide you with the knowledge and skills you may need to make decisions for your safety and the safety of the children. There are no mandates on how to survive, you are empowered to make decisions and won’t be second guessed.

What Can Parents do To Prepare for Non School Active Shooter Situations?

A new book from the Alice Institute called “I’m Not Scared, I’m prepared” ($8.55) tells the story of a teacher who has to tell her students what to do if a “dangerous someone” is in their school. Because we live in the world we live in, a book like this is needed for educators and parents so that their children are prepared for surviving a possible attack. It teaches the concepts taught in the training school for all children in a non-fearful way. Children learn things like:

Listen to the teacher and the announcements
There are ways to help the teacher barricade the door
There may be a time to go to a rally point with or without the teacher

and more.

photo: Screengrab WBUR/Getty

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Never Have to Worry About What to Wear with Le Tote’s Subscription Box (60% OFF SALE)

Posted on June 13, 2017

The best subscription box for preginistas who are new moms-to-be and don’t have time any longer to figure out their clothes, Le Tote, is having a wicked sale offering 60% off first month with code “SAVEME60.”

As a refresher, Le Tote is a relatively new clothing subscription box company that ships members unlimited number of apparel and accessories each month. It just recently entered the maternity wear business and it just recently started offering maternity wear. We love it so much, we’ve partnered with Le Tote as affiliates.

With this new deal, you’re looking at paying just $16 for a bunch of clothes for that first month that you can dazzle your friends with at an event, post the pic online and then return without having to pay for the high price of the complete item that will just be stashed away in your closet to be cycled again in 6 months. Save the costs.

The company has great new subscription options for maternity and post maternity 2 Clothing Items, 1 Accessory; 3 Clothing Items, 2 Accessories ; 4 Clothing Items and for maternity that gives subscribers much more flexibility.

Again, for this offer which only goes thru June 30, you’ll get 5 new items (3 clothing and 2 accessories) recommended. You select which you want and then get them shipped to you to wear as long as you want. When you’re done ship it back. It’s a great way to always have fresh new and chic clothing.

It takes the effort, time and stress out of finding chic maternity and well styled maternity clothing. Get 3 garments and 2 accessories delivered right to your door . And, you get a chance to wear all of the high end brands you may not necessarily want to fork over hundreds of dollars to acquire for a limited period of time.

Also, if you’re a fashionista and are love to wear different styles without repeating, then what a wonderful way to show off a very robust wardrobe without getting broke in the process!

Le Tote gets hundreds of brands and fresh styles each week. We think it’s also a great option for Fashion Bloggers who cannot be seen twice in one outfit. A subscription box is a perfect option!

It’s a preginistas dream come true! Your Instagram page will be amaze-balls!

With hundreds of brands and fresh styles arriving every week, you’ll love exploring new looks. And you can get your first deliver for 50% off! Sweetness!

Also, note for full disclosure that as an affiliate, we get a fee for each sign up.

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These are 2017’s Best & Worst States for Working Dads

Posted on June 12, 2017

With Father’s Day approaching and nearly 93 percent of dads with young kids working today, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2017’s Best & Worst States for Working Dads.

In order to help dads balance their dual role as parent and provider, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia across 22 key indicators of friendliness toward working dads. The data set ranges from average length of work day for males to child-care costs to share of men in good or better health.

Best States for Working Dads		Worst States for Working Dads
1	Connecticut	42	Arizona
2	Minnesota	43	Georgia
3	Vermont	44	Arkansas
4	Massachusetts	45	Idaho
5	New Jersey	46	Alabama
6	Rhode Island	47	Louisiana
7	Delaware	48	New Mexico
8	Wisconsin	49	West Virginia
9	District of Columbia	50	Nevada
10	New Hampshire	51	Mississippi

Best vs. Worst

The District of Columbia has the highest median family* income (adjusted for cost of living), $98,156, which is 1.9 times higher than in Hawaii, registering the lowest at $51,442.
North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate for dads with kids aged 0 to 17, 1.22 percent, which is 5.4 times lower than in Nevada, registering the highest at 6.54 percent.
Massachusetts has the lowest male uninsured rate, 4.5 percent, which is 4.8 times lower than in Texas, registering the highest at 21.5 percent.
Minnesota has the fewest deaths due to heart disease among males (per 100,000 men), 145.0, which is 1.9 times fewer than in Alabama, registering the most at 276.5.
Mississippi has the lowest child-care costs (adjusted for median family* income), 4.6 percent, which is 2.7 times lower than in Nevada, registering the highest at 12.3 percent.

*Refers to families with kids aged 0 to 17 and in which the father is present

To view the full report and your state or the District’s rank, please visit:

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-for-working-dads/13458/

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Three Ways to Reduce Screen Time This Summer

Posted on June 10, 2017

Brain drain is common in the Summer. It’s a time to unwind and have unfettered access to computers and games. Nothing wrong with that, right? Well, yeah, but it should have some limits.

These days, kids are getting 400% more screen time than they should.

According to Dr. Robert Melillo, co-founder of Brain Balance Achievement Centers, a holistic, drug-free approach to addressing behavioral, social, and learning difficulties—the average kid has 7.5 hours of screen time per day, compared to the recommended 1.5 hours. Studies show that excess screen time inhibits right brain development—leading to short attention spans and inhibited social development.

Here are his suggestions on how to ease up the screen time this Summer:

1. SCREEN-FREE ACADEMICS

Many parents turn to “educational” apps to feel better about screen time, but a screen is still a screen. To encourage traditional childhood learning, present your kids with an array of books or academic workbooks, or take them to museums.

2. SUMMER CAMP

Try enrolling your child in a summer camp, but be sure the camp is strictly screen-free. There are many creative camps that include arts and crafts, musical theater, and dancing, or a sports-oriented program that encourages outdoor activities like swimming and soccer.

3. ALTERNATIVE INDOOR ACTIVITIES

Screens can be used as an easy tactic to calm a difficult child. If your child tends to lack focus, they might also get bored while playing games. You may find yourself giving in and allowing them to watch more TV or iPad shows than you would normally approve of. Outdoor activities are an alternative way to pique their interest.

Since the right hemisphere of the brain regulates impulsivity, attention, and socially appropriate behavior, a child with decreased right brain activity may be hyperactive, oppositional, disruptive, and often distracted. To see if your child’s screen use might be linked to a brain imbalance, take this simple online assessment: https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/our-program/childs-personalized-plan/online-assessment.

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Your Memorial Weekend Pool Opening Sunscreen Guide

Posted on May 27, 2017

This Memorial Day weekend, if you plan to be outdoors, make sure you practice safe sun safety. First, wearing sunscreen is a crucial part of any outdoor activity for kids, and sunscreen can help protect children’s skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. Kids often get sunburned when they’re outside unprotected for longer than expected. Parents need to plan ahead and keep sun protection handy in their cars or bags.

Just a few serious sunburns can increase a kid’s risk of skin cancer later in life. They don’t need to be at the pool, beach or lake to get too much sun. Their skin needs protection from the sun’s harmful rays whenever UV peaks.

A baby’s best defense against sunburn is to avoid the sun or stay in the shade. For babies younger than 6 months old, physical barriers are best – clothing, hats, pop-up tents and umbrellas.

For children older than 6 months, an effective sunscreen, applied liberally and frequently, is an important part of a parent’s sun safety toolkit.

By and large, the sunscreens that perform well in Environmental Working Group‘s 2017 Guide to Sunscreens are mineral-based products with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as the active ingredients. These products protect against both UVA and UVB rays, but watch out for products that have low percentages of these active ingredients, as they may contain other ingredients that boost the SPF on the label without actually protecting from other skin damages.

Parents need to be mindful that certain ingredients in sunscreen could pose safety concerns, including retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A that is linked to sun sensitivity, and oxybenzone, a hormone disrupter.

Steer clear of sunscreen products with an SPF over 50. Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and broad spectrum protection when your child goes outside. For the best protection, apply sunscreen generously 15 minutes before going outdoors and reapply at least every two hours. You should reapply sunscreen after sweating, getting wet or towel drying. Don’t forget to protect ears, noses, lips and the tops of feet.

Last but not least, avoid aerosol sprays. They provide inadequate skin coverage because they don’t provide a thick and uniform coating on the skin. And kids can inhale spray products.

Choosing the right sunscreen from the hundreds of products lining store shelves can be daunting. EWG researchers came up with a list of 14 worst-scoring sunscreens for kids to avoid:

You also can check out the ratings for almost 1,500 sunscreens, moisturizers and lipbalms with SPF in the EWG 2017 Guide to Sunscreens.

For more information about how to stay safe in the sun, visit EWG’s Sun Safety Campaign.

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