Celebrity

Family & Holiday Photos Celebs Shared on Instagram This Week

Posted on December 20, 2015

This week, the celebrity families we’ve covered in the past, and generally, took to Instagram to share some tender Holiday moments. For example, Nick Cannon is having a grand time decorating the home with his twins Monroe and Moroccan, and even reuniting with his ex-wife Mariah Carey for some fun too.

Kensington Palace released a new photo of the Royal Family, Kate, William, Charlotte and George. The new pic looks like a holiday card but was likely taking in October as Charlotte is wearing the same floral dress from the last photo released of just her sitting in a gingham print chair.

Some celebs are busy finding creative ways to photograph the Elf on the Shelf and Busy Phillips is doing a pretty good job.

Here are some other photos celebs shared on Instagram this week.

Channing Tatum caught his two girls, wife Jenna Dewan–Tatum and their 2-year old daughter Everly dressed as purple mermaids

Happening
A photo posted by Channing Tatum (@channingtatum) on Dec 18, 2015 at 11:33pm PST

Victoria Beckham and her eldest son Brooklyn Beckham. My he’s grown up!

Never too old for a kiss from mum X #embarrassingmummoment X vb ???? @brooklynbeckham A photo posted by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) on Dec 14, 2015 at 3:28am PST

Jessica Simpson’s daughter Maxwell with dad Eric Johnson were horsing around.

Daddy and Daughter A photo posted by Jessica Simpson (@jessicasimpson) on Dec 13, 2015 at 5:44pm PST

Ciara posed with Alicia Keys and Missy Elliott at a formal event.

Celebrating each other! ?? ・・・ #GirlPower @ciara @missymisdemeanorelliott #womeninmusic A photo posted by Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) on Dec 11, 2015 at 6:17pm PST

Jessica Alba appeared on Chrissy Teigen’s show The Fab Life ,

Watch @FABLifeShow tomorrow for winter beauty looks from moi! I’m sharing @Honest_Beauty tips with @mrjoezee and @chrissyteigen A photo posted by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on Dec 6, 2015 at 4:33pm PST

Megan Fox’s son Bodhi is gorgeous.

Bodhi: Stunner. Clown. Unicorn. A photo posted by Megan Fox (@the_native_tiger) on Oct 14, 2015 at 9:00pm PDT

Reese Witherspoon was giving her poor dog a bone for Christmas

Can’t forget the dogs like presents on Christmas too! ??❤️#harrybarker @draperjamesgirl #lovemylab (link’s in my profile ?) A photo posted by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon) on Dec 19, 2015 at 11:31am PST

Kim Kardashian shared a photo of her daughter

My little ballerina A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Dec 16, 2015 at 10:05am PST

Busy Phillips is getting serious with this Elf on a Shelf thing.

Last night, the elves got into all sorts of trouble and they documented it with Polaroids. They even took sELFies with Birdie and Cricket while they were sleeping! #elfontheshelf A photo posted by Busy Philipps (@busyphilipps) on Dec 18, 2015 at 9:48am PST

0 comments

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

0 comments

Why The Riding Boot is a Winter Wardrobe Staple for all Moms-to-Be

Posted on December 16, 2015

This winter, if you are preggers and looking for winter footwear to purchase for yourself or put on your holiday wish list, you cannot go wrong with The Riding Boot. Traditionally, these are Equestrian boots worn by those who ride horses, but fashion houses have taken them and put a fashion twist on them and mass produce them for the cosmopolitan market of fashion-conscious female shoppers.

It’s a wardrobe “must-have” in my book. Pregnant or not, each woman should have a pair of Riding Boots in her shoe closet.

The Riding Boot is also the pregnant woman’s best friend compared to other types of fall and winter boots.

The Riding Boot is stylish and comes in a lot of different colors and variations. Most brands sell leather Riding Boots but occasionally, you will spot a pair made of tough suede.

The Riding Boot is also easier to slip into while pregnant compared to a wedge boot. A lot have zippered sides and the calf area is usually wider so if you’re experiencing swelling during your pregnancy, that wider shaft can assist that extra girth in the calf.

You can also get a Riding Boot in a supple and flexible material with some give.

The heels on Riding Boots are usually low or flat which are perfect for moms-to-be who have to adjust as their center of gravity shifts as their bellies grow. With high heel boots, a pregnant woman risks a fall that can be potentially fatal to her baby.

My fave brand is Via Spiga because they sell in a moderate price range and you can get a good boot between $70 to $100 and even way less if you catch a good sale or find a pair in one of those discount stores.

Vince Camuto and BCBG Generation boots are most stylish and appealing to me. I love the classic look of Tory Burch. Her signature gold insignia on the boot also stands out and lets others know you’re wearing a quality boot. Of course, the Hunter and Burberry Boot is a great brand that is quality and recognizable. They are long lasting. Take care of them by polishing and brushing them regularly.

They’ll be a great investment!

Here are a selection of my fave Riding Boots, powered by our partners at ShopStyle:

Easy Street Women’s Kelsa Wide Calf Riding Boot • Easy Street Shoes • $89.99

Journee Collection Women’s Taven Riding Boot • Journee Collection • $69.99

Women’s Fly London Axil Elastic Back Riding Boot • Fly London • $299.95

Women’s Blondo Pakita Waterproof Riding Boot • Blondo • $169.95

Burberry House Check and Leather Riding Boots • Burberry • $495

Crown Vintage Women’s Sporty Riding Boot • Crown Vintage • $59.99

Women’s SlimpackTM Riding Tall II Boot • Sorel • $215

Tory Burch Sofia Tall Riding Boots • Tory Burch • $348.60

Sam Edelman Portman Riding Boots • Sam Edelman • $175

G by Guess Harson Tall Riding Boots Women’s Shoes • G by Guess • $89

Tommy Hilfiger Ilia2 Wide Calf Riding Boots, Created for Macy’s Women’s Shoes • Tommy Hilfiger • $79.99

Style & Co Madixe Riding Boots, Created for Macy’s Women’s Shoes • Style&Co. • $49.99

Inc International Concepts Frankii Riding Boots, Created for Macy’s Women’s Shoes • INC International Concepts • $129.99

Croft & Barrow® Alice Women’s Ortholite Riding Boots • Croft & Barrow • $49.99

Women’s Cole Haan Katrina Riding Boot • Cole Haan • $219.90

Women’s Blondo Volly Waterproof Riding Boot • Blondo • $159.90

0 comments

REPORT: US Pregnancy & Abortion Rate Hit Record Low

Posted on December 13, 2015

The U.S. pregnancy rate and abortions have hit a record low, according to a new research by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Guttmacher Institute released Friday, NBC News reported.

“The pregnancy rate for women in the United States continued to decline in 2010, to 98.7 per 1,000 women aged 15-44, a record low for the 1976-2010 period. This level was 15 percent below the 1990 peak,” wrote researchers Sally Curtin and Joyce Abma of the NCHS and Kathryn Kost of the Guttmacher Institute.

0 comments

Celebrity

Kim Kardashian-West’ Donation Pledge Tweets make Local Girl Famous

Posted on December 12, 2015

I love how local media picked up by national media can really do a lot for charity cases. Here is an example: This week, the popular FOX gossip radio round up show Dish Nation did one of its regular local station feature where it picks a local story to spotlight.

This time, it picked Witchita, Kansas. One of the hosts spotlighted the work of 17-year old Amelia Flores who started a shoe drive to donate to Soles for Souls charity that gifts gently used shoes to people in need. Flores said the charity helped her family during Hurricane Katrina and wanted to give back.

“I felt like this was a way to give back to them and say thank you,” Amelia told her local paper, The Wichita Eagle. “People were super willing to give their shoes,” she said about expanding her initiative from 200 pairs to 2,000. “So I figured why not.”

Flores, who had collected 1,000 shoes but was hoping to get 1,000 more by December 18. “By calculation, she needs 112 each day,” host J-Si Chavez said “We need to start donating, Witchita.”

Fortunately for Flores and the charity, Kim Kardashian-West saw the Dish Nation segment and tweeted her support. And the rest is Viral history….

I’m up breastfeeding & watching this show Dish Nation. I heard the cutest story of a girl who is trying to find 1000 pairs of shoes -cont-
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 10, 2015

to donate to this charity Soles For Souls! They helped her during Hurricane Katrina. I think I know the designer of Shoe of the Year Award! — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 10, 2015

Kanye and I would love to donate those 1000 shoes to Soles For Souls.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 10, 2015

I’ve been looking online to find this little girl so we can let her know the shoes are on their way….but can’t seem to find her — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 10, 2015

Can u help me find the girl who is trying 2 get 1000 pairs of shoes by Christmas @DishNation @Soles4Souls Kanye & I would love to donate!
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 10, 2015

The teen got the message and got some great local news coverage and eventually made a video response:

#Kansas teen is collecting shoes for @Soles4Souls and wants to thank @KimKardashian for her help. Her story at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/6g95FIfza4 — KAKE Lily Wu (@KansasLily) December 10, 2015

@KimKardashian @DishNation Hi Kim! WOW! Thank you so much! If you’d like to DM me, we’ll help you find the girl you’re looking for.
— Soles4Souls (@Soles4Souls) December 10, 2015

I really hope Kim k is talking abt me — Amelia Flores (@milliemflores) December 10, 2015

Flores says her new goal is 25,000 shoes and with all the publicity, she’s likely to reach it!

photo collage: courtesy Dish Nation

0 comments

Celebrity

Ivanka Trump is Not here for the Anti-Donald Trump Trolls on Her Social Media

Posted on December 11, 2015

While businesswoman Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner await the birth of their third child, the very busy blonde has also had to deal with plenty of hate comments left on her social media posts.

#latergram of hanging with my pregame partner before one of my favorite events of the year! #GlamourWOTY25 @glamourmag
A photo posted by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump) on Nov 9, 2015 at 9:43pm PST

Each entry she uploads on Instagram or Twitter has a comment section littered with remarks from detractors of her father, Donald Trump, who is running for president and doing so in a very bombastic style that includes making some pretty unconventional and out-of-this-world controversial statements that have been called xenophobic (calling for banning all members of one religion from entering the country despite the First Amendment Freedom of Religion clause of the Bill of Rights) and racist (calling Mexican immigrants to the US rapists); and raking some actions that serve to scapegoat and demonize the 14 million Black Americans living in the US (like recklessly tweeting a racist graphic created by a Neo-Nazi with made up stats from a non-existing entity which wrongly blames blacks for 97% of the murder of Whites when the actual FBI account has it at 14% and shows that 83% of Whites are killed by other Whites).

Clearly, even though she is the Executive Vice President of Development and Acquisition of The Trump Organization, does not mean she would necessarily endorse his statements and thinking.

The reality tv Star of The Apprentice has been silent on them altogether. She did appear briefly on Saturday Night Live with him when he hosted despite the objections of Latino protesters.

Being on #SaturdayNightLive was incredible! I am so honored to be a guest tonight on this epic show! @NBCSNL #snl #dreamcometrue (Credit: NBC/ Bella Bronson) A photo posted by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump) on Nov 7, 2015 at 9:26pm PST

But of course she will support her own father. What’s the deal asking her to speak out against him? That’s not what she’s here for and she is not a politician.

Baby bump and me out on the town! #PlusOne
A photo posted by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump) on Dec 5, 2015 at 8:29pm PST

Just look at this pretty floating pink flamingo. Sneak peak at Summer collection.

Escape the cold with these great warm-weather travel ideas. I may need another trip to #TrumpDoral soon! CC: @TrumpCollection (link in profile.)
A photo posted by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump) on Dec 8, 2015 at 5:57am PST

photos: Instagram

0 comments

Parenting

10 Places to Celebrate Your Baby’s 1st Birthday Party

Posted on December 4, 2015

The first birthday is usually a big one for new parents. If there is one milestone that is celebrated in a big way, it’s the first birthday.

Here are 10 ideas of places where you should consider throwing your infant’s celebration.

1.Botanical Gardens – It’s never too early to instill a love of the outdoors in a child. Most cities have botanical gardens, and most of those gardens have a dedicated area for kids to play and explore. Contacting the botanical garden nearest you is the best way to figure out their policies and the logistics of staging a first birthday party in such a lush, magical place.

2. Crafts Studios – Your baby might only be a year old, but he can smear paint on a surface with the best of them. When he’s done and the party has wrapped up, you’ll have a keepsake to remind you of the occasion for years to come.

3. Indoor Playgrounds – Kids with birthdays in the winter months aren’t usually able to enjoy an outdoor celebration, unless they’re budding ice skaters or snowboarders. When your little one reaches her first birthday during wintertime, hauling her friends to an indoor playground can be a great way to encourage physical activity without risking frost bite.

4. Kid-Themed Restaurants – Every city has at least one kids-only eatery. Parents may not love the pizza and shouting, but these places are heaven for kids. Your little one may be too small to attack the arcade games with fervor, but she will probably still be entranced with the animatronic shows and costumed mascots wandering around.

5. Ice Cream Shoppes – Everyone loves ice cream. From the little ones in your entourage to the oldest member of the party, everyone is sure to be thrilled with an ice cream party. Some shoppes even encourage kids to get creative, building their own wild sundaes and choosing offbeat toppings.

6. Parks – Those pavilions at your local playground can usually be rented or even reserved free of charge for parties, depending on the municipal policies in your area. While older kids run and play to their heart’s content, adults and very young children can enjoy the shade and shelter of a pavilion before the cake is cut and presents are distributed.

7. Aquariums – The sights and sounds of an aquarium are entrancing for kids of all ages, even those who are just turning a year old. There may even be special programs offered by your local aquarium for birthday parties, so make sure that you contact the administrative office to find out what your options are.

8. Zoos – There’s no upper or lower age limit on loving the zoo. Most even have smaller petting zoo areas inside to encourage hands-on interaction with domesticated animals! A zoo birthday party is a great way to encourage curiosity about animals and natural sciences in your little guests, while providing plenty of celebratory fun.

9. Amusement Parks – The idea of strapping your one-year-old into a rollercoaster is probably repellent, but there’s more to most amusement parks than adrenaline-rush rides for thrill seekers and daredevils. Most amusement parks have an area of smaller, more sedate rides for infants, toddlers and small children. Booking a birthday party at an amusement park near you will allow your little guest of honor to cruise around on a slow-moving train or bob along in a tiny boat to celebrate his special day!

10. Home – Birthday parties can very quickly become prohibitively expensive, and they’ll only get more extravagant as your child gets older. When he’s still so small and not likely to remember his party, there’s nothing wrong with hosting a smaller celebration with a more intimate gathering of friends and loved ones. Hosting your child’s first birthday at home allows him to stay in a comfortable, familiar environment while everyone crows about how handsome he is and how much he’s grown.

0 comments

Parenting

10 Places to Celebrate Your Baby’s 1st Birthday