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Easy ways to use crafting with your kids as bonding time

Posted on May 3, 2014

Guest Post

There is something about sitting around the table doing crafts with your children that is so great for bonding. Just having mom and dad sit down to play with them makes the children feel loved and special. Some adults like to do crafts too so it is no big deal, but there are many adults who are not fans and would rather avoid it. Even if you are not a fan, I believe you will find it enjoyable. It is important for them to explore their creativity when they are small and it really helps their imaginations and gives them encouragement to consider other areas of study.

There are many neat and easy arts and crafts projects you can do with your kids. The craft stores and dollar stores are full of craft supplies so it does not have to cost a fortune.

1. Craft Sticks – You can buy a large package of craft sticks for basically pennies and make many neat projects from that one package. All you need is some glue, some magic markers or crayons, and imagination. You can create houses, cars, chairs, tables, jewelry boxes, etc, the possibilities are endless. You can decorate with beads, buttons, or jewels to design something to give as a gift or to keep. Craft sticks make nice picture frames for school pictures from your child to grandparents or even Christmas decorations for the tree. You can even create a bird feeder or bird house for the birds that come to visit your yard.

2. Nature – Some other items that are great to use for crafts are items from nature. Take a walk with your kids and pick up beautiful leaves, interesting sticks, or soft green moss. Then use those things to make a collage or use your craft sticks and make a fireplace with a crackling fire and moss on the mantle. Another great thing to do with leaves is to put them under your paper and use a crayon to cover them with color and bring out the imprint of the leaf. Most children love watching the imprint of the leaf appear right before their eyes like magic!

3. Paper Plates– Paper plates can be used to make cute vases for wild flowers or to draw faces on and cut out the eyes for masks. There are all kinds of things to be made out of inexpensive paper plates. You can make bunnies for Easter, banjos, turkeys for Thanksgiving, hats, or even birds. How about making teepees out of the plates and log cabins out of craft sticks and creating an entire village? Using construction paper or colored tissue paper you can add wings to your birds, make flowers for your hats, or grass around the teepees, the possibilities are practically endless.

4. Bead, Buttons and Bags– Beads and buttons are a lot of fun to make crafts out of. Your kids can string the beads or buttons on plain string or elastic for jewelry. Another great craft item that is mere pennies is small paper bags. They are perfect to use for making hand puppets. The faces can be made with markers or use the buttons for the eyes and the nose and beads for the mouth. You can add hair with yarn or strips of construction paper and even ears if you would like.

5. Baking Fun – Kids also love baking cookies, cupcakes, or cakes and this can be a wonderful family activity. Sugar cookies are a lot of fun because you can roll them out and use cookies cutters just like with play dough. And then the decoration ideas are endless. You can use M&M’s, raisins, nuts, sprinkles, plain sugar, colored sugar, cinnamon candies, or even leave them plain and then ice them. The icing is just powdered sugar and food coloring with a little milk to get to the right consistency. And the best part of making cookies is that you get to eat them when they are done! Rice Krispie Treats are easy and fun to make as well and you can mold them in to different shapes if you would like.

There are many ways to enjoy time with your children doing crafts or baking together. It is a wonderful way to spend a rainy day or to keep your children sitting down and happy instead of running around and bored. They will feel loved when you take the time to sit down and spend time being creative with them.

Ken Myers is a father, husband, and entrepreneur. He has combined his passion for helping families find in-home care with his experience to build a business. Learn more about him by visiting @KenneyMyers on Twitter.

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INTERNATIONAL: 7 Bollywood Actresses who got pregnant before getting married

Posted on May 3, 2014

Here in the US, many celebrities get pregnant before getting married. It’s become a non-issue almost by now, even though the comment section after such announcements are usually filled with a few jabs by some traditionalists.

And it’s still a pretty big deal in places like India which has its own massive celebrity culture in Bollywood.

Entertainment One India ran down a listing of recent cases of celebrity women who got knocked up before walking down the aisle. It is still such a taboo that only one has even acknowledged the fact.

Oh well. Check out it’s slideshow HERE.

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Kerry Washington & 11 Other Celebs who never announced their baby news to press

Posted on May 2, 2014

So the news today is that Scandal star gave birth to her and husband Nnamdi Asomugha first child together, daughter, Isabelle Amarachi Asomugha TWO WEEKS AGO on April 21.

Congrats!

Figures though, right? She never told anyone she was engaged, never publicly acknowledged she was married before getting hitched and so this makes sense to conceal this news about the birth at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, that TMZ uncovered today.

She would not be the first to attempt to just keep it all hush hush.

Actress Neve Campbell never announced when she birthed her first child with hubby JJ Feild in August 2012 until paparazzi captured the family at a park and the baby looked to be about a month old!

Later that year, Megan Fox waited almost a month to announce in October that she had given birth in mid September.

But singer Dido takes the cake! The British crooner welcomed her first child in the summer of 2011 but didn’t mention a baby until 6 months later in a tweet in December that year! We hypothesized that maybe it was our query that perhaps prompted the UK Daily Mail to inquire.

And of male stars, actor Michael Ealy randomly mentioned during an interview on the Steve Harvey show this February that he and his wife of two years had a kid. And the kid is like a few years old.

Same deal with singer Pharell and his wife, Helen. We only recently started seeing pics of his son Rocket Man who is now 5 years old.

Not just births either.

Jennifer Hudson never revealed she was pregnant ever. A wayward cameraman accidentally discovered it when she was about 8 months along.

Same deal with actress Evageline Lily. She too was hiding away in Hawaii to avoid the prodding press when she got busted in her 7 or 8th month trying to avoid the “bumpwatch!”

Adele, Megan Fox, Drew Barrymore and January Jones all never confirmed their pregnancies either until their news leaked when they were well into their pregnancies.

And Now you know it’s not that unheard of that some celebs actually value privacy in these matters. Ha!

Please H/T if you share!

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Allergy Season: These Suprising Facts about Allergies are a MUST READ

Posted on May 2, 2014

Approximately 55 percent of Americans suffer from allergies.

Most Americans are allergic to something: pollen, dander, dairy products, gluten, and mold are just a few of the most common allergens. In fact, if you don’t suffer from allergies to these or other compounds, you are actually in the minority!

What’s even more important, says, Dr. Susanne Bennett, author of “The 7-Day Allergy Makeover“ is that countless people think that their low energy, problems with digestion, or headaches are “normal” when in fact, they may be the signs of undiagnosed allergic reactions.

People who suffer from one allergy tend to suffer from many, because allergies are a sign of a deeper dysfunction in your system. Only by getting to the root cause of these allergies can you hope to eliminate them for good.

Here are some of the most important things Dr. Bennett says people need to know about allergies:

Allergies don’t always show visible signs. Allergens don’t always affect the system you might think. Another common misconception is that respiratory allergies only affect the respiratory system and that food allergies only affect digestion. This is not the case. In fact, allergic sensitivities to food, such as sugar, can cause joint pain due to inflammation. Gluten sensitivity can produce lethargy and brain fog. Likewise, inhaling mold doesn’t simply affect our breathing. It can also cause headaches and itchy skin. Finally, many chemicals, such as MSG or artificial sweeteners can even affect our emotional well-being, producing nervousness and anxiety.

The environment is loaded with allergens. Allergens are carried in our furniture, our cars, and even the very air we breathe and water we drink. Toxic chemicals and fungi are two very common types of allergens that may be hidden in our every-day environments.

Drugs and creams don’t actually treat allergies. Americans spend over $4 billion to fight their allergies each year. The majority of that money is spent on doctor visits and medications. But drugs and creams don’t actually treat allergies. Every doctor will admit that such medications merely mask the symptoms without addressing the root causes.

While antihistamines and other drugs may provide temporary relief, their use is often accompanied by uncomfortable side effects. What’s worse, by loading the body with even more difficult-to-process chemicals, people who use such medications may actually be making their allergies worse. Your skin is overloaded with allergens.

If you’re using beauty products and soaps with chemicals in them (sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and phthalates, just to name a few) you are wearing your body down with chemical allergens. Your pores are permeable; you will absorb whatever you apply on your skin!

Are you using dairy alternatives? Be careful! You ever wonder why you feel bloated and gassy after that vegetarian meal or cup of dairy-free ice cream? One of the most common allergies is to soy. While avoiding dairy is essential for healing your allergies, replacing it with soy can give you terrible digestion and leave you tired. Try almond or coconut options instead.

There are seven types of foods that cause the majority of food allergies. These include: dairy products, gluten products (wheat, barley and rye), sugar, alcohol, peanuts, eggs, and mold-containing foods (such as many dried fruits, moldy cheeses, and mushrooms). By eliminating or even reducing your intake of these foods you can help reset your body’s load of allergens and eliminate your allergy symptoms.

Runny noses and itchy eyes can be due to more than pollen. Pollen is often thought of as the only airborne allergen. However, pollen allergies are seasonal and usually disappear once pollen-producing plants stop releasing it into the air. If you have typical hay fever symptoms (runny nose, watery eyes, swelling, and itchiness) that last year-round, you may actually have mold allergies.

Mold is common in any damp area in the home, such as bathrooms and basements. While black mold is visible to the eye, many other forms of mold are not as easy to spot and will build up in humid areas. Mold can also be ingested when we eat certain foods, such as peanuts, dried fruits, green salads and moldy cheese (Roquefort blue cheese, brie cheese). These should be avoided for mold-sensitive individuals.

We can be allergic to chemicals in our tap water. Tap water in America won’t produce acute allergic symptoms. However, it is filled with numerous chemicals to which people have allergic sensitivities. The buildup of such chemicals in our bodies over time can wear it down and lead to even more allergic symptoms. Many people experience itchiness and discomfort after swimming in a chlorinated pool, yet they drink it almost daily in their tap water. Likewise, small amounts of other chemicals, such as arsenic, mercury, fluoride, and even uranium are allowed in our tap water. For this reason, having a carbon-filtered reverse osmosis water purifier is essential to help deal with allergens in our water.

Bad gut bacteria can make you allergic to many foods. There are over three trillion bacteria in your gut and they help process and digest foods and extract nutrients that your body could not do on its own. However, through improper care of our fruits and vegetables, untidy kitchens, and exposure in our urban environment, we may ingest bad bacteria that hurt our digestive systems.

Bad bacteria in our gut make it more difficult to process what are known as fermentable carbohydrates, the short-chain sugars that are found in countless foods such as beans, broccoli, cabbage, and pitted fruits such as peaches, plums and cherries. Humans have difficult time digesting these fermentable sugars because we lack the enzymes to break them down. The end result is intolerance to fermentable carbs that can produce terrible bloating, gas, cramping, and constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is often the direct result of allergic sensitivities produced by bad gut bacteria.

Our furniture and cars can trigger chemical allergies. Increasingly, much industrial production depends upon what are known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs. These compounds, such as formaldehyde, are found in many glues, vinyl products, paints, fuels, carpet and plastics that we are surrounded by every day.

For instance, furniture made of particleboard will often use formaldehyde in its glue, while the “new car smell” is actually that of volatile organic compounds in the paint, leather, carpet and glue. VOCs can produce a host of allergic symptoms, such as itchy throat, headaches, brain fog, and confusion. At higher concentrations it is especially harmful to human health.

Allergic sensitivities can make you feel hung-over—without drinking a drop of alcohol. If you’ve ever woken up irritable, with poor concentration, and with low energy, you might be having a “sugar hangover.” If you eat too much fruit and sugar, the yeast and mold that are common in the gut will begin to ferment it. This fermentation produces an autointoxication that is similar to what happens when you drink too much alcohol. Your body has a “brewery” churning in the gut. As a result, you may feel exactly like you Do when hung-over, without the fun of getting tipsy the night before!

Allergies can be healed all-naturally. The good news is that allergies can be healed all-naturally, without drugs, creams, or medication. By improving the quality of seven key areas in our lives, we can rid ourselves of the buildup of allergens and toxins in the body. You will restore vibrant health from the inside out!

Dr. Bennett believes that if you’re dealing with chronic symptoms every day, then you have hidden allergies that are preventing you from feeling good and achieving your optimal state of health. Her new book The 7-Day Allergy Makeover offers clear, easy to understand, and effective strategies for people suffering from allergy symptoms – the obvious ones and the not-so-obvious ones.

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Avengers production director confirms Scarlett Johansson’s pregnancy, says they’ll work around her bump

Posted on May 1, 2014

So it seems like the President of Production for Marvel Studios Kevin Feige has unknowingly let the pregnancy cat of the bag on Scarlett Johansson‘s pregnancy.

Although rumors an reports have circulated for close to a month or longer now that the A-Lister is preggers with her first child for fiance Roman Dauriac, neither have officially confirmed the baby news.

However, during an interview about filming of Avengers:Winter Soldier Adventures: Age of Ultron, the Daily Mirror reports, Feige said that his first reaction of learning of the pregnancy was that he “was very happy for her and very excited for her,” his second reaction was, “we’ve got to move some pieces on the chess board around schedule-wise.”

That has meant that the Lost In Translation actress will need to wear a special high-tech suit with a green band around her waist to edit out her growing baby bump. Much of the movie magic will be done in post-production.

And director Joss Whedon said he still expected her to do her fight scenes.

Whoa! Recall, last month we reported that during the filming of Divergent actress Kate Winslet did her own stunts right into her third trimester. It’s a different ball game.

But considering all the negative press Indian movie producers and American ones who cut actresses like Hilary Duff from projects after they became pregnant, it’s a toss up.

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Mom’s Day/Summer Travel Prize Giveaway: Win a Stokke My Carrier Cool and more ($340)

Posted on May 1, 2014

Stokke My Carrier Cool, 7 A.M. Enfant Roma Diaper Bag and Hiho Batik

Mother’s Day is around the corner.

If you have a mom-to-be or a new mom in your life who will be caring for an infant this summer and could use some support, consider gifting her the new Stokke My Carrier Cool.

It’s made of breathable mesh textiles that reduces heat and moisture to keep both parent and baby cool and dry for outdoor, active or warm weather use. If you are so inclined to use a baby carrier, this is a perfect carrier to consider for summer travel, whether you’re heading on a flight, going on a vacay, off to the beach, a festival or other outdoor outing.

How about adding on to that the a 7.A.M Enfant Roma Diaper Bag? It’s a chic, light-weight, roomy (15″Wx14″Hx10″D) and functional tote with plenty of space for spare clothes, books, make-up and laptop. In naddition to the spacious main compartment, this stylish tote has four deep pockets and an attached pouch. It comes in gender neutral shades so dad can feel cool about carrying it too.

Why not toss in a colorful and funky originally designed and personalized accessory from Hiho Batik?

The Brooklyn, New York experiential retail store is also an art space where folks of all ages can come in and create one-of-a-kind products made of 100% cotton. The venue is also host to creative birthday parties.

Consider it all a possibility today thru May 7th, when our sponsors give one lucky Bellyitch reader a chance to win this entire prize back valued at $340.00!

Enter below for US and Canada entrants only! Winner picked randomly via Rafflecopter. Get more chances to win by social sharing about the contest and following Bellyitch and the brands on Facebook and Twitter.You can get up to 30 Entries today!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Pregnant in Heels’ Rosie Pope takes her ‘Mommy IQ’ to Southern Baby Show

Posted on May 1, 2014

If there is one celebrity mom who is most definitely qualified to be dishing out advice, it’s designer, maternity concierge and mom of four, Rosie Pope!

The former star of the BravoTV show Pregnant in Heels headlines the Southern Baby Show in Charleston, South Carolina this weekend, May 4th, when she takes her famous “Mommy IQ” on the road.

Expect to find the Rosie Pope Maternity founder and author of “Mommy IQ: The Complete Guide to Pregnancy” answering questions about the “bump to baby” experience, including insights from the book like her own delivery experience, why parents are so anxious today, and how to tune out judgmental voices that make new parents doubt themselves.

The mom to new baby Bridget, born last month, Vivienne, 21 months, Wells, 2½, and J.R., 4½ all with husband Daron, is expected to dismantle fears from the growing business around trying to make you think babies are overly complicated.

It’s touted to be very funny and “momtervational.”

The Southern Baby Show is one of a few pregnancy expos that have sprouted up in recent years that are quite similar to the very popular bridal expos that have been around for ages in they feature vendors, presentations and loads of advice for expectant and new parents.

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Trend: Maternity Capsule Collections – Veronique launches at GILT.com

Posted on April 30, 2014

Veronique’s capsule collection a GILT

It seems capsule collections are the new trend in maternity wear. Designers are creating a collection of pieces that mix and match to form one maternity wardrobe to last a mom-to-be through most of her pregnancy.

Innovative! They are great for overwhelmed, busy and distracted moms who have loads on their plate and may not have the time to put together a wardrobe of stylish pieces.

To enhance each look, simply add scarves, bangles, a string of pearls, a jacket and you’re good to go!

Last month, Jennifer Love Hewitt launched her capsule collection with A Pea in the Pod and today, celeb-fave NYC store Veronique Maternity launched its capsule collection that will be sold exclusively on the online boutique, GILT. A second phase of the collection will launch on May 21.

It’s all in celebration of the store’s 30th birthday and its years of dressing the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow to Angelina Jolie.

Check out the OFFERINGS AT GILT.COM/VERONIQUE

Striped Top GILT $48

Belted Jumpsuit GILT $89

Wrap Dress GILT $89

Jumper Twist Dress GILT $89

Slim Jump in Pant GILT $95 + Sleek Blouse GILT $79

The Smart Dress GILT $83

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Celebrity Mom Experts Backlash: Alicia Silverstone’s The Kind Mama v. Critics

Posted on April 30, 2014

From Kristin Cavallari and Jenny McCarthy‘s vaccine stances, to Snooki’s expert book on parenting published within the same year of delivering her first baby to Jessica Alba‘s Honest company to the numerous celebs who’ve launched maternity (Jessica Simpson, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Victoria Beckham) and baby clothing lines beyond, there seems to be a refreshed backlash against celebrity mom parenting experts of late.

Recently, Gwyneth Paltrow and her controversial statements comparing Hollywood and 9-5 moms, and her reportedly pretentious stance on parenting were the subject of quite a few news articles.

And now, the latest celebrity mother to face the ire and snark of critics is Bellyitch Bumpwatch alum Alicia Silverstone.

The Clueless star’s latest book “Kind Mama: A Simple Guide to Supercharged Fertility, A Radiant Pregnancy, A Sweeter Birth and a Healthier, More Beautiful Beginning” triggered such a visceral response from Herald Sun writer Wendy Tuohy that she lashed out against it and other celeb experts in a commentary on the site.

It starts:

IN BREAKING news from Hollywood, parents who don’t sleep with their baby are guilty of borderline neglect, nappies are bad for babies (they should do their business “in the grass”), post-natal depression is what you get for doing your diet wrong — oh, and tampons can give you infertility.

And it doesn’t get kinder from there! Oy! Read the entire piece HERE!

No doubt, because of their high profile and huge following, celebrity parents are able to use their strong brand presence among general audiences to secure clothing lines, book deals and command a platform to espouse whatever they wish.

What are your thoughts generally? Understandable cashing in on their branding to make a living or exploiting their impressionable audiences for a quick buck?

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Survey: Moms don’t want flowers and cards on Mother’s Day

Posted on April 30, 2014

A recent MyTime.com survey found that moms want different gifts than what they get.

While 52% of men give flowers or cards on Mother’s Day, only 16% want those gifts. Most prefer something creative involving family photos (23%), a gift certificate for a massage or facial (21%) or a gift certificate for a salon gift (17%).

MyTime, which sells instant gift certificates for those most-wanted items on mom’s list, discovered through its survey that most (73%) of the moms among the 1,000 survey participants expected to go out to eat and do something other than what they normally do on any other day.

This special something can include a trip out of town (23%), getting pampered at a spa (20%), a day off from chores (15%) or a visit to a salon (13%).

It’s not too late to get one of these preferred items if you haven’t picked up a gift for mom yet. The survey also showed that 42% of men will make plans either a few days before Mother’s Day or will wait until the day itself. Meanwhile, 6% of men admit that in the past they have forgotten Mother’s Day altogether. doh!

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