The 5 Destinations I think You Should Consider for Your Babymoon

Posted on February 4, 2016

Much is said about the importance of new parents getting a babymoon in before the delivery of a newborn, especially for first time parents who may be woefully unprepared for the drastic and dramatic shift in their lives to come.

I don’t believe they were en vogue when I was first pregnant, but if I could go back in time and do it again, these would be my top 5 destinations and why:

La Jolla Cove, California– This quaint Orange County city is an absolutely fab place to get away to for several reasons. It’s near the water and provides a wonderful place to have a late evening picnic or to watch the sun rise or set. It boasts a generous amount of day spas for getting a pregnancy massage or a couple’s massage. It has lovely restaurants, boutique shops and brand name exclusive shops along the main boulevard. It’s moments away from bustling down town San Diego where you can find a live band in any genre playing at the varying pubs, clubs, nightspots and hangouts there. Highly rated. I loved going there on my one year wedding anniversary and would highly recommend it as a baby moon destination. If I could live my life over again, I’d apply to get into the University of San Diego which is near this town. Yeah. I love this area that much.

Las Vegas, Nevada- You wouldn’t ordinarily think this is a wonderful place for a pregnant woman to go especially since many people smoke at the various casinos that litter that town. However, to the contrary, there is a variety of entertainment options offering from Cirque du Soleil to Vegas show girl caberets to world class concerts from music industry legends. Prince, Toni Braxton, Celine Dion and others all headlined major nightly shows there. Even if you go there for a weekend, you’re bound to take in a lot of sights and entertainment. And every time I go, I notice a brand new “it” hotel to supplant the one that was the hottest only a few years prior. Don’t sleep on Vegas as a baby moon option. You can’t get knocked up twice. So what happens in Vegas can stay in Vegas.

Saint Marteen and Saint Martin, West Indies. This twin island which is a Dutch property to the South and French one to the north provides visitors all the pleasures of vacationing in Europe but with the extra plus of being in a warm tropical hotspot surrounded by water. The few times I’ve visited, I was able to escape to the the North and take in the villas of the French side or walk into a bakery and greeted by the shopkeeper telling me “Bon Soir” just as if I were in Nice. I could also appreciate the wonderful international flavor of its multicultural population. Locals speak over 8 different languages and as you walk from one block to the next you are bound to hear people talking in different tongues. On the Dutch side, there is gambling and haggling. St. Maarten is known as one of THE best places to get a deal on jewelry. Then for an added bonus, for the fee of the price of a tiny ferry, you can take a day trip over to the even tinier island of Anguilla, a famous and often visited getaway for many A-list celebrities because of how secluded the villas and rented mansions are. It’s a great place to go to really get away and loaf on a quiet beach. Love Love it

Paris, France – It’s not called the city of love for nothing. The museums, cultural sights, restaurants and shopping make this an ideal destination for any occasion. It may be a long while after baby comes that you will be comfortable either traveling with a baby, small child or children or okay leaving the kids for a Paris trip. While you have the opportunity, it may be a great time to take this sojourn across the ocean and to Europe.

Local Bed and Breakfast – Because not everyone has the budget, time away from work option or interest in traveling too far from family or the doctor or delivery hospital while pregnant, taking advantage of a quick weekend getaway to a nearby inn, bed and breakfast or hotel could do! There are sometimes specials on sites like GroupOn, LivingSocial and other sites that can be taken advantaged of and it saves the cost of car rental and air flight. You can plan to catch a play, movie or head to a local lounge or nightclub in the day and then order in, watch movies, chill by the hotel pool and vege at night. It’s a great option for those who already have kids and want some quiet time alone.

All these options are wonderful for mom and for dad who may have had to deal with an irritable, irate and demanding wife for nearly 9 months. Getting away on a baby moon gives couples that time to reconnect and rededicate their love one last time before the restless nights begin with a new baby!

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Packing Your Hospital Bag: Leave These 12 Things You’re Not Gonna Need At Home

Posted on February 1, 2016

Listen, you know all those baby prep books you’ve read that give you super long lists of stuff you need to pack to take with you for labor and delivery when it’s time to welcome your new baby? Okay, you’re not gonna need most of that stuff. Now, you may feel some comfort and security knowing that you have your 90s soft rock 3-disc CD to take your mind off of labor pains, but most likely, it won’t make it out of your suitcase.

Besides all the useless and uncessary things you’ll chorale to the hospital, you’ll have additional things, flowers, gifts, balloons and baby stuff to add to the pile and schlep back home. To save you the trouble and hassle, here is our old tried and true list of 12 things you can leave home and spare your poor partner the back pain.

Newborn diapers– Hospitals provide all the diapers the baby needs during the stay and even send you home with extra starter packs
Nursing cover -There is no need for modesty in your hospital room in your hospital bed. The nurses have seen plenty of boobs in their career. If guests visit while you’re nursing, you can ask them to wait outside until you’re done feeding the baby. Most people won’t get offended.
Wipes– Most hospitals use a very thick napkin that they wet with water and wipes contain elements that aren’t good for a newborn’s skin.
Diaper Cream -Most likely the baby won’t be born with a diaper rash and won’t develop one within the first2-3 days of his life while in the hospital. If he does, the hospital has sample cream to use. Those tubes and jars can add weight to an already stuffed take home bag
Any childbirth class notes or guidelines and labor hints: Really now? Do you think in the midst of breathing through labor pains you’re gonna want to review your notes?
Underwear– Many hospitals provide the most comfortable mesh disposable ones that you will love to use instead of messing up your own. The joke among my friends is that they are the special order Victoria Secret mesh panties for new moms.
iPod or music player – with music selections to help with relaxation Besides being outdated and taking up too much space, piping Gregorian Chants or Enya in the room may be a distraction for the hospital staff, interrupt with monitoring equipment and/or disturb a neighboring laboring moms. If you have a smartphone that has the capability of accommodating music, download music on there and bring your headphones. It takes up less space than bringing your phone AND ipod.
Receiving blankets- The hospital provides plenty that you can take home even afterwards. Save all the cute baby shower gifts for home.
Two regular-sized bed pillows (in bright, distinctive, hard-to-lose pillowcases)- The Hospital or maternity center provide enough. If you are a germaphobe, think the hospital’s pillow cases may be too rough or want something familiar from home, just bring the pillowcases and replace the hospital’s cases. They take up less space.
Baby’s “memory” book – for footprints or staff names and guest signatures Nice idea if you have someone who will remind guests to sign because you’ll be consumed with baby, nursing, caring for yourself, and will likely forget.
Entertainment items (books, crayons, games) for children are to visit in hospital – A lot of hospitals don’t permit young children in the maternity wards, but for those who do and if children come to visit they may not be staying THAT long to get bored and need entertainment. As for other people’s children, it’s not your job to tote extra crap to entertain your friends’ kids.
Clothes for hospital baby photo AND clothes for baby to wear home You only need one of these. Either or. The kid shouldn’t be a fashionista YET that she can’t be seen in the same outfit twice. You can simply put on the outfit before the photo and take it off afterward. If you can, schedule your photo the same day and around your discharge time.

The Extra Crap you don’t NEED but you CAN bring (eh hem, especially if you are a diva or fashionista):

Make up– because you don’t want to end up on Facebook looking like you just went through a train wreck. If your goal is to look like Khloe Kardashian after she delivered Mason or at least attempt to, then you’re gonna want some make up.
Towels- Because the hospital ones are usually washed a lot and can be itchy.
Your own toilet paper – Hospital toilet paper can be thin. Your delicate bum may want something soft then
Your Own Plush Robe – For accepting visitors, walks to the nursery to visit baby and /or walking off the gas for those who have c-sections.
A spare bag – You can use it to store the extra stuff you’ll have to carry home.

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Overdue? Here are 5 Ways to Naturally Induce Your Labor

Posted on January 31, 2016

Bellyitch Rewind

Premature birth may worry you as it worries most expectant parents but becoming overdue can also bring its own concerns and difficulties, and knowing natural ways to induce your labor could be helpful. As you become larger, sleeping can become more challenging. It becomes increasingly more difficult to get into a comfortable position as does breathing as your lungs become more crowded due to your overgrown uterus. If your baby stays in too long then there are risks associated with this, most commonly that your baby could pass meconium. If you find yourself overdue and are seeking advice to naturally help induce labour then the following is a list of ideas to do exactly that.

Sex– is often prescribed by doctors to help induce labour because the prostaglandins in semen help soften and prepare the cervix to dilate.
Herbs – hundreds of years ago midwives used herbs to prepare mothers for pregnancy, labour and birth. This was before the invention of pitocin. You must be very cautious with herbs of any kind as they can cause great damage if the correct dosage is not administered. Black cohosh, available in capsules or teas is commonly used to induce labour and can be with or without alcohol. During birth, black cohosh can help strengthen and regulate uterine contractions. Other herbs which have similar effects are red raspberry leaf and false unicorn root. These particular herbs have natural chemicals which are released into the woman’s body and stimulate the baby to encourage her to move and get positioned for birth. Herbs should not be used until the cervix is ready to open as they will not work until then. Beware of some herbs which can be dangerous to you or your baby such as aloe vera, bungleweed and pokeroot as these are some of the herbs that can cause premature birth or birth defects. Always consult a doctor before self-medicating with herbs. Primrose oil is used to induce labour as it has a comparable effect to semen in the cervix by softening and ripening it.
Castor Oil – is taken by some women as a natural method of bringing on labour. The theory being that the diarrhoea and cramping it causes also causes contractions that can induce labour. It is unpleasant to taste but two tablespoons can be mixed into another drink such as a juice. It is advised to consume castor oil in the morning as you will be woken in the night with the cramping and diarrhoea if you take it in the evening. There are risks with taking castor oil such as the expectant mother becoming dehydrated because she has diarrhoea and also it increases the risk of the baby passing meconium while still in the uterus.
Nipple Stimulation – for hundreds of years nipple stimulation has been used by women to help induce labour. It has an effect of releasing a natural form of pitocin called oxytocin. Similarly to pitocin, oxytocin triggers contractions that can bring on labour. This method for naturally inducing labour is only effective near to your due date and when you are ready to give birth. Before forty weeks, it is not advisable to induce labour. The nipples can be stimulated manually or a breast pump can be used. Care needs to be taken as your uterus can become hyperstimulated. Only stimulate one nipple at a time and rest immediately once you notice contractions. Wait at least fifteen minutes after the contractions have stopped before resuming. If you do not get any rest between contractions other problems can arise.
Be Active – whilst most doctors advise you to slow down and reduce your activities as you approach your due date, it is also helpful to remain active as long as you do not cause yourself any stress. Walking a wee bit more than usual and slowly swinging your hips from side to side can help induce labour by stimulating your baby and getting her moving into the birthing position. If you fancy some fun, sex is always a good idea as I mentioned before because along with semen helping the cervix to soften, the female orgasm produces a hormone which aids childbirth.

Other methods women have used include acupressure and eating spicy foods, but watch out for possible nausea with spicy food and medical research has not yet supported this idea as definitely being beneficial.

God luck! Godspeed! And safe labor and delivery to you!

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Keep These 3 Things Secret When You’re Expecting

Posted on January 20, 2016

Bellyitch Rewind

Becoming pregnant can be a momentous occasion that new first time parents-to-be want to share with the entire world. However, there are many parents who have experienced miscarriage and pregnancy loss and have heard horror stories about people’s reactions to various aspects of a woman’s pregnancy when shared with well-meaning friends, family and colleagues.

As a result, some moms- and dads-to-be are cautious about sharing pregnancy and baby related news. When a woman is pregnant, she is particularly vulnerable and sensitive and frankly may not care or need to hear the various opinionated comments that will be hurled at her from all angles. One way to avoid comment, criticism and critique over a choice is to not tell anyone certain information.

1. That you are pregnant: Once the baby’s heartbeat can be seen AND heard, usually by the third month of a pregnancy, the likelihood that will be a viable pregnancy and that fetus growing to term increases exponentially. That is why most parents wait until after the third month to announce to friends. Many parents who do not know this rule make the mistake of announcing too soon and in the unfortunate case they miscarry are then left with the burden of having to tell dozens of people over and over again when they ask that they lost the baby. Therefore, the best rule is to not tell anyone, even the grandparents about the early pregnancy stages if you can help it. Yesterday, I was over a friend’s house and her mom inadvertently kept going on and on about her daughter being sick, not being able to eat shrimp or keep food down. Clearly, she was trying to let us know her daughter is pregnant and I’m certain this woman’s daughter does NOT want us to be among the first to know she and her husband are pregnant. France’s president Nicolas Sarkozy’s dad was the first to confirm accidentally that his daughter-in-law was pregnant before the couple wanted all to know.

2. The name of the baby: Often times, people have strong reactions favorable or unfavorable when you tell them the name you’ve selected for your soon-to-be-born child. Some people will try to talk you out of it or go on and on questioning why you chose that name. It can be annoying. To avoid this, simply don’t share the name. No one is entitled to know your name, not even close family members. Simply say we’re keeping the name private for now. Some will continue to prod. Most people, however, will get it and back off.

3. The gender: Well this may only apply if you are a celebrity and wanting to keep the gender a surprise for your spouse, other family or the public. Think Kelly Rowland to Beyonce’s baby gender news this weekend. Some parents who have two or more children of one gender may be better off just telling people it will be a surprise instead of revealing they’re going to be having yet another child of that same gender. Saves them all the pity looks and questions if they’re going to keep trying. At that point, they’re probably busy preparing for the arrival of the baby being gestated at the time.

Photo credit: CEBImagery.com via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC

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The 7 Tips You Need to Read Before Going Back to School After Having a Baby

Posted on January 14, 2016

You don’t have to let the fact that you had a baby before or in the middle of college deter you from returning or starting. Despite all the obstacles and challenges associated with returning to school after a baby, if you put in a plan, you certainly can do it and findAnanny.com wants you to use these beneficial suggestions to get it done.

1. Build a Support System – The most important thing for a student mom to have in place is a strong and reliable support system. Not only will you need help with childcare and managing the needs of your new baby while keeping up with your studies, you’ll also need a shoulder or two you can cry on when things get difficult. Finishing school as a parent will be a challenge, and having a few people in your corner can make all the difference.

2. Create a Routine That Works For Your Family – There is no hard-and-fast rule about how you have to structure your household routine, especially when your little one is still an infant. Find a schedule that works for you and build around it. If online classes are more conducive to learning and completing assignments than a traditional classroom setting, that’s the best solution for you. On the other hand, getting out of the house and interacting with your classmates may help you manage the demands of parenthood more easily. Whatever works for you is the best solution, regardless of how well it would work for someone else

3. Set Realistic Goals -You may have planned to take on a full course load before your pregnancy, but that may not be realistic after the birth of a child. Rather than setting goals that aren’t feasible and being disappointed when they prove to be a bit more than you’re ready to handle, take your time and make a plan that you can actually adhere to. Celebrate each milestone along the way and stay focused on each smaller goal as they approach

4. Work Out a Reasonable Timeline- Finishing school on the standard time table may be out of the cards for you as a new mom, and that’s okay. The goal is to finish, so take the time to figure out when you can realistically complete your studies. You may have to shoulder a lighter burden in terms of classes and finish later than some of your peers, but you’ll still leave with a diploma, which is better than trying to take on too much only to end up burned out and frustrated enough to quit school altogether. You may also have ideas of returning to school days after the birth of your child, however, that may not be possible. Finding the right time to return to school after you recover from delivery and have bonded with your new baby may be a bit more complicated than simply returning as soon as you’re discharged from the hospital.

5. Find a Caregiver You Trust – Your child will have to be cared for while you’re at school since you won’t be able to take her to class with you. To make the transition into school after becoming a new parent, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve found a childcare provider you absolutely trust and have no qualms about leaving her with. If you’re distracted and worried about your child’s safety while you’re in class, your academic performance probably won’t reflect your actual abilities.

6. Prepare for a Bit of Separation Anxiety -Regardless of how excited you are to get back into school after your maternity leave ends, you will feel at least a little bit of separation anxiety until you adjust to the idea of no longer spending the entirety of each day with the fascinating little person you’ve created. If you’re prepared for the stress of leaving your child in someone else’s care and understand that it’s just temporary, it can lessen the sting and help to make that pain a bit more manageable.

7. Don’t Be Scared to Adjust Your Schedule – As a new mom and a student, your schedule may have to be adjusted a few times until you find the one that works for you. Making adjustments is not the same as admitting defeat, so don’t be afraid to finagle things until you find the methods that work best for you and your new family.

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Parenting

Free Shipping Day: Shop My Pick of Parents.com’s Top 100 Toys of 2015

Posted on December 18, 2015

Today is Free Shipping Day! If you haven’t already purchased your gifts for Christmas, there is a list of over 1,000 online merchants including major merchants and brands like Target, Sports Authority, The Children’s Place, Nordstrom, JC Penny, Saks Fifth Avenue, UGG, Coach, and more that will ship for FREE if you order today! Click HERE to get easy access to all the merchants.

If you’re thinking of Toys, back in September, Parents magazine released its Best 100 Toys for 2015 list! It was a wonderful list of toys curated based on tests and industry trends and divided by Infant, Toddler, Pre-school and School-aged toys.

Access Parents.com’s assessment of why these toys made the list HERE!

Out of these 100, here are my Top 12 picks and Why!

(ALSO: We set up most of these in our Amazon Shop for your convenience that you can shop from HERE to save you time of searching. )

1. View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack

From Mattel-Very cool because it reminds me of the View Master from my childhood only this one has been updated and reloaded. It’s now a virtual reality master and instead of the same 10 images you see over and over again until your pops buys you a new pack, you download an app, drop in your smartphone and get taken away to a new universe! Very cool! It retails for $29.99 but is available at Amazon.com today for Price: $22.49

2. Haba’s Croco Kuno Crawling Tunnel by HABA –I like that it stimulates the imagination and combines physical activity and play with creative play. It retails for $70.00 but is available at Amazon.com for $66.49

3. GoldieBlox Craft-struction Box From GoldieBlox – Boys, traditionally, are guided to excel in Tech, Math, Engineering and Science and many toys cater to boys excelling in STEM from a very young age because Legos and other toys that encourage analytical and logical skills essential for learning to code and excel in math are tailored to boys. Enter GoldieBlox on the scene a few years back and you’ve got a new generation of toys aimed to getting girls into the Odyssey of the Mind type of creation. It retails for $39.99 but is virtually impossible to find! Good luck getting your hands on one!

4. Fisher-Price Spinnyos Giant Yo-ller Coaster From Fisher-Price -Speaking of Odyssey of the Mind, Fisher Price’s Yo-ller coaster encourages pre-schoolers to explore cause and effect with this awesome colorful gadget toy! It sells for $49.99 retail but is available at Amazon for $39.98 today and ships FREE!

5. Frozen Glitter Convertible Ice Skates – How cool are roller ice blades that convert to roller blades? So awesome that your little Frozen fan can use these colorful personalized ice blades in the winter and get to use them in the Spring and Summer months too. Nice. They retail for about $77.

6. Minecraft Stop-Motion Animation Studio -I love stop-motion animation! And my kids love Minecraft! What a cool way to combine a love of Minecraft and video making. It’s perfect for nurturing your budding filmmaker. I have a couple in my household. It retails for $54.00.

7. Klutz Finger Knitting Craft Kit From Klutz – When my daughter was in the first grade, her teacher taught her how to finger knit and from that day forth, our home was filled with her knitted creations. This kit from Klutz would be great to continue that love and passion of hers. It lists for $21.99 but sells for less than half that at Amazon.com at $10.67.

8. Transformers Robots in Disguise Super Bumblebee Figure From Transformers -Bumble Bee is one of my fave Transformer and so of course I’d love to play with a giant sized version if I were a kid! It’s selling for 65.92 at Amazon.com.

9. Educational Insights Design & Drill BrightWorks – I loved the Light Brite design boards I grew up with so Educational Insights award-winning design toy is perfect for your little designer to use the power drill to create cool designs with color and lights. It sells for about $33.00.

10. LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box – You can never have too many legos and with this box, you’re little Lego builder is set up for months of building fun. Nice. It lists for $59.99 but sells for $56.99 on Amazon.com now.

11. LeapFrog Number Lovin’ Oven – What a super cute way to nurture your future Foodie. ha! I love LeapFrog educational toys and this addition is a gem. It lists for $24.99 but is available for $23.99 today.

12. Fisher-Price Bright Beats Dance & Move BeatBo – It’s one of those must-have toys I hear that loads of toddlers and their parents hunting down. It’s colorful and is a learning toy and you can’t go wrong with Fisher Price. It’s still available at $39.99 at Amazon.com and ships today for FREE!.

Here are all 100 Toys on the Parents Best Toys of 2015 list :

Birth to 12 Months:

Fisher-Price Dance & Move BeatBo, $40 at Fisher-Price.com
Yookidoo Gymotion Robo Playland, $70 at Amazon.com
Playskool Fold ‘n Go Busy Elephant, $25 at HasbroToyshop.com
Estella Baby Security Blanket, $30 at Estella-NYC.com
Skip-Hop Explore & More Rocking Owl Stacker, $16 at SkipHop.com
Chewbeads Baby Gramercy Stroller Toy, $15 at Chewbeads.com
Tiny Love Rock & Ball, $15 at Amazon.com
Little Tikes Lil’ Ocean Explorers 1-in-1 Adventure Course, $80 at LittleTikes.com

Toddlers:

Playskool Play All Day Elmo, $60 at HasbroToys.com
Chicco Fit & Fun Mini Golf, $25 at ChiccoShop.com
Haba Croco Kuno Dragon Crawling Tunnel, $70 at HabaUSA.com
LeapFrog Number Lovin’ Oven, $25 at ToysRUs.com
Tomy Push Me Pull Me Puppy, $30 at Amazon.com
VTech Sit-to-Stand Ultimate Alphabet Train, $50 at VTechKids.com

Preschoolers:

Jakks Pacific Hulk Smash, $70 at Walmart.com
Spin Master Bunchems, $25 at ToysRUs.com
Fisher-Price Spinnyos Giant Yo-ller Coaster, $50 at ToysRUs.com
Mattel Barbie Color, Cut, and Curl Deluxe Styling Head, $30 at Kmart.com
LeapFrog Epic Kids’ Tablet, $140 at BestBuy.com
Lego Classic Large Creative Brick Box, $60 at Lego.com
Doc McStuffins Pet Vet Checkup Center, $80 at ToysRUs.com
Crayola Color Wonder Light-Up Stamper, $25 at Crayola.com
International Playthings Buddy’s Balloon Launch, $20 at intplay.com
Spin Master Paw Patrol Patroller, $60 at Target.com
Hasbro Jurassic World Chomping Velociraptor Head, $20 at HasbroToyshop.com
Educational Insights Design & Drill BrightWorks, $40 at Amazon.com
Hasbro FurReal Friends StarLily, My Magical Unicorn, $120 at HasbroToyshop.com

Ages 5 and Up:

Gerd Hahn’s Worry Eaters, starting at $16 at HaywireGroup.com
Uncle Milton T-Rexcavator, $20 at Unclemilton.com
Zing Firetek Zeon Bow, $15 at Walmart.com
Jakks Pacific Aladdin Magic Genie Lamp, $17 at Target.com
Hasbro Super Bumblebee, $50 at HasbroToyshop.com
Spin Master Zoomer Kitty, $100 at ToysRUs.com
Smak-a-Ball, $24 at FatBrainToys.com
Disney Playmation Marvel Avengers, $120 at DisneyStore.com
Lakeshore Learning My First Weaving Loom, $30 at LakeshoreLearning.com
PlayWheels Frozen Convertible Ice Skates, $50 at ToysRUs.com
GoldieBlox Craft-struction Box, $40 at Goldieblox.com
Mattel View-Master, $30 at Target.com
Crayola Color Alive Action Coloring Pages, $6 at Crayola.com
American Girl Truly Me, $115 at AmericanGirl.com
WowWee MiPosaur, $120 at Target.com
Anki Overdrive Starter Kit, $150 at Anki.com
Mattel Minecraft Stop-Motion Movie Creator, $33 at MattelShop.com
Klutz Finger Knitting, $22 at Klutz.com
Educational Insights Read My List! Game, $15 at Amazon.com
Yomega Kendama Pro, $20 at Yomega.com

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Fashion

Cyber Monday: Deal CODES at 20 Hottest Fashion Sites

Posted on November 30, 2015

It’s Cyber Monday and we’ve got a listing of 20 of the Hottest Fashion Sites’ Cyber Deals via our partner* sites! Many of these deals are good until midnight. A few lapse at noon and some are good until tomorrow morning!

Ready. Set. Shop!

ASOS

20% off everything onsite by entering promo code CYBER at the checkout. This will end next Tuesday morning at 8am

Barneys New York

Up to 40% off select regularly priced clothing, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and children, plus gifts for the home. Going on now!

Bloomingdale’s

Cyber Monday sale! 25% off select regular and sale items, plus free shipping on US orders; Nov. 30 only.

Diesel

Early access! Up to 40% off the entire store

Farfetch

For the sale happening now, enjoy up to 40% off through Nov. 30), take an extra 10% off all sale prices; use code BF15 for discount.

JCPenney

J Brand

30% OFF Site wideFree shipping on all orders.

Lord and Taylor

LUISAVIAROMA

Macy’s

Extra 20% Off with Code Cyber

Moda Operandi

Up to 50% off Styles & An Extra 30% Off with Code EXTRA30

Neiman Marcus

Up to $500 when you Shop Full Priced Items with Code GC4YOU

Has extended their sale, so until 12pm CT you can save up to 60% off when you take an additional 33% off already reduced prices

Nike

Extra 25% of Clearance with Code GETOUTHERE

Nordstrom

Shoes Up to 40% Off

Shoes.com

Get 30% off orders of $100 or more! Choose from thousands of men’s and women’s new Winter arrivals. Use code CYBER30. Ends Dec. 3.

Shopbop

Save up to 25% with code GOBIG15. And now through Nov. 30., spend $250+ and save 15%; spend $500+ and save 20%; and spend $1,000+ and save 25%.

Designer Women s Apparel Men s Apparel Shoes Handbags Saks.com

Saks Fifth Avenue

Up to 50% Off Select Styles

Selfridges

Up to 20% off* Selfridges in stores and online. Use SELFCCE at the checkout today! *Exclusions apply.

Ted Baker

Up to 50% Off

Tommy Hilfiger

40% off sitewide with code BFSALESTYLE40.

*All links are affiliate links. Bellyitch recieves a portion of Any purchase from these links.

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Parenting

Essential Items Every New Mommy Should Put on Her Baby Shower Registry

Posted on August 15, 2015

Guest Post from Social Monsters

Walk into any baby store, and you might get overwhelmed at the plethora of items to choose from. As you browse for a stroller, car seat, high chair, bassinet, crib, dressing table and other baby accessories, you just may break into a sweat and leave — only to return later, once you have done a little research. And that’s a good idea. Read reviews, check recall lists and ask your friends and family for recommendations before you begin choosing items for your registry. Start your list off right with these four must-haves.

Swaddling Blankets

Swaddling your newborn not only makes her feel comfortable and cozy, it can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Research has proven lower instances of SIDS when baby is swaddled and placed on her back. Swaddling helps control baby’s Moro reflex and helps reduce awakenings caused by the startle reflex. To learn more about safe sleep, visit SwaddleDesigns.com.

Creating a safe sleep environment for babies is essential when setting up your nursery. For the first three months, baby’s crib should be outfitted simply with a tight fitted crib sheet. No loose blankets, pillows, toys or stuffed animals should be in the crib or bassinet. A fitted sheet and a swaddled, back-sleeping baby are a recipe for safer and more restful sleep for everyone in the house. Be sure to get swaddles that are large enough and made from high quality fabric. SwaddleDesigns swaddles have handy swaddling instructions sewn right into the seam for easy reference.

A Bedside Bassinet

The AAP discourages infants from sleeping in the same bed as their parents, because the practice poses a higher risk for SIDS and increases the risk of suffocation. If you want your baby close, instead opt for an in-room, free-standing bedside bassinet that is close to your bed.

With exceptional ventilation and adjustable legs, the Arm’s Reach Concepts Clear-Vue Co-Sleeper tops the list of reviewed co-sleeper bassinets. The side of the sleeper folds down, giving mom easy access to baby at any hour of the night. Room-sleeping products are designed to be used from the first night home until about five months of age.

A High Chair with Longevity

When you have a baby, you’ll finally realize why other moms say, “They grow up so fast.” It’s important to get items that grow with your child. Keep your kid seated safely from six months to six years with an adjustable high chair.

Convertible high chairs adjust to your child’s growth, eliminating the need to purchase another chair or booster seat in the future. Be sure the chair you put on your registry has a safety harness, an easily removable tray, seat covers you can wipe clean, something that fits your dining space and one that complies with ASTM safety standards.

Parents.com suggests the modern, minimalist HiLo chair by AGE Designbecause it has handy pull-out side buttons allowing you to easily flip the high chair with a tray and straps to a flat chair that slides under the table so your growing little one can sit with the family at dinner.

Babyproofing Gear

Some of the most important shower gifts are the baby safety products that you’ll need to protect baby from your home. Register for items like baby gates, lower cabinet and drawer locks, safety locks, corner guards and edge bumpers for furniture with sharp edges like coffee tables and raised fireplaces.

You may put off baby proofing your home until baby gets to the point where she can move around on her own, but you’ll find that comes before you know it. It’s best to create a safe environment before she arrives.

Due to the large amount of preparation that having a baby entails, many new parents overlook some key items that should be added to the baby registry. Add these four baby shower must-haves to your registry list to be that much more prepared.

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BumpNews

The New Year Housecleaning Go-To for Tips

Posted on January 5, 2015

The new year also represents a time for people to clean house, throw out junk, and update or reorganize piles of stuff that have accumulated in different corners of their home or office. I’m in the middle of cleaning out my attic this week and I remembered this post from this Spring about my go-to bible for home makers:

When I got engaged back in 1999, a dear law school pal of mine threw me a bridal shower in her quaint Capitol Hill apartment. It was wonderfully organized and I got a chance to check out her very neatly organized home.

Her secret: The Bible of keeping house, “Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House” by Cheryl Mendelson, which she gave me as a gift.

It is a nearly 100-page hardback text and includes a comprehensive guide to every section of the home and is easily understood and great for beginners, like I was back then. Even intermediate or advanced home makers will find this resource text helpful.

My dog-eared version of the home-cleaning bible

I didn’t grow up with a mother who passed on homemaking skills and techniques to her children so I was clueless. The book was right on time.

In it, Mendelson explains materials and properties of common household items which is essential for knowing how to care for them and extend their life. She explains when to replace worn out items. Home Comforts has sections and subchapters like Electricity Safety, The Air in your Castle, Caring for jewelry, Ironing, How to launder Tricky Items and more.

Since I am pretty busy and have been since getting hitched years ago, I haven’t had time to comb carefully through the entire book, yet I use it as a reference guide and turn to it often…especially each Spring during Spring Cleaning time!

If you don’t already have a copy and are considering purchasing a new home or just want to start fresh and learn how to manage your own home, I highly recommend it. It’s available at Amazon.com in Kindle, Paperbook and Pdf now! And it makes a great wedding or bridal shower gift.

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6 Fashion Blogger Must-Haves: My Blogger’s Holiday Wish List (Pt2)

Posted on December 16, 2014

Here is part two to my Blogger’s wishlist dedicated to the fashion blogger.

Because Bellyitch is part celebrity, part fashion, part parenting blog, as the founder and editor-in-chief of this blog, I get to put on different hats on various posts.

So from the perspectives of a fashion blogger, I know that it is hard for family and friends to figure out what I may like as they may be unsure of my taste and preference. For me and any other fashion blogger in your life, it’s probably a good idea to go with accessories!

Here are my top 6 suggestions of what would or could be on a fashion blogger’s wish list or a good gift idea for them or any woman who enjoys visiting fashion blogs.

1. COSTUME JEWELRY

Personally, I enjoy wearing chunky bracelets, big bold statement necklaces and unique bright and eye-catching rings or mini-rings, and other eclectic pieces of jewelry. They are conversation items and can individualize any look. Having a gift of a new piece would be appreciated because additional pieces can be mixed and matched with jewelry already in the wardrobe. Also, costume jewelry is usually cheaper and also more likely to get lost, broken or dull quicker and thus need replacement more frequently than fine jewelry. This reason is also why it’s always a welcome gift.

2. SCARVES

A girl can never have too many scarves! They come in all sorts of materials, patterns and styles and can accent any look. Worn like a pashmina, a scarf can dress up a casual dress. Wrapped around the neck in an infinity loop and it adds a splash of color to a mono-chromatic dress. Lighter-weight ones work in Spring and Summer and heavier ones can keep you warm in cooler weather or worn on the head or double as a blanket on an overnight flight.

3. JOURNALS

I am a compulsive list-maker and have dozens of hard cover journals filled with notes, budget calculations, and lists. I don’t throw mine away either as I love to be able to look back and see where I was before and what items I’ve been able to check off my lists. I love getting them with fun colors or sayings on the cover and in a portable size so I can carry them everywhere I go, refer to them when needed or use them to jot down ideas for blog posts while waiting for the kids to rehearse or while at the dentist waiting room, for example. I carry my journals everywhere with me!

4. SCENTED CANDLES

I really enjoy fragrant aromas like eucalyptus, mint, lavender not just because they make your home, purse or body spell nice but because they have therapeutic effect as well. Depending on the scent, aromatherapy candles can lift the mood, energize or calm. I love burning scented candles burn during my blogging work day.

5. SMART PHONE COVER

As a blogger, I am constantly with my smart phone in my hand, social media networking past posts, capturing images for future blog posts, sharing finds to my social media network, communicating with other writers or staff members and occasionally, fielding real telephone calls. It is an extension of me and therefore also a fashion accessory and conversation piece. Like this cassette tape iphone cover (above) always get people talking because many cannot remember the last time they saw a cassette tape and will ask me what I’m doing with one, not knowing it is just a cover.

6. PERFUME

Like I said, aromas are my thing, and like journals, a girl can never have too many bottles of perfume either. When you find a scent that works and sticks, get it and use that as your staple, but I love to also mix it up. Jessica McClintock works very well with my body chemistry and I always get compliments on it when I wear it. People cannot help but stop and tell me how good I smell and ask about the scent. I prefer sweeter scents like Versace‘s Red Jeans and Jean Paul Gaultier‘s Classique are also part of my go-to scents.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

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gift guide

Swaddling Blankets

A Bedside Bassinet

A High Chair with Longevity

Babyproofing Gear