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EASTER: The Science of the Perfect Dyed Egg

Posted on April 4, 2015

If you celebrate Easter, you’ll likely be embarking on the questionable quest to hide a bunch of hard-boiled eggs around your house and hope—oh, hope beyond hope—that all of them get found. Before the hunt, though, you’ll have to dye those eggs in a stinking bath of food dye, water, and vinegar. The vinegar part has always bugged me. Hard boiled eggs have a pungent enough aroma on their own; why do we need to add another acrid smell to the dying process?

It’s not just to keep the kids dunking instead of drinking, it turns out. Most food dyes are acid dyes, so called because they only work in acidic conditions. The vinegar—a solution of 5 percent acetic acid in water—is there to bring the pH low enough that the dye will actually bind. But is there an ideal pH for perfect egg-dying saturation? A normal box of food dye says to add 1 teaspoon of vinegar for every half-cup of water—but would tweaking that acidity by adding more or less vinegar get you better results? WIRED decided to find out.

First, some explanation: Why does acid make the dyes dye better? The colored molecules themselves are sodium salts of a phenolic acid. Once those dyes get thrown into water, the sodium ions fall off, leaving behind the negatively-charged part of the molecule. Add vinegar, and you’re adding lots of free protons—positively charged hydrogen ions—which fly in to take the place of those missing sodiums. The hydrogens, now associated with the dye molecules, are important because they allow hydrogen bonding. Their slightly positive charge acts like a magnet, attracting it (and the dye, in tow) to slightly negative atoms in the protein molecules and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the eggshell.

The color you see on the egg—red, yellow, blue, green–depends on how each particular dye molecule absorbs and reflects different wavelengths of light. But the saturation of that color depends on how strong a bond you can get between the egg’s calcium-filled surface and the dye molecules. So you gotta add vinegar. But how much?

Continue reading at WIRED

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Picking your baby’s nursery color guide

Posted on March 31, 2015

Preparing a nursery for your upcoming bundle of joy is one of the major milestones you reach along the way to welcoming a new baby into the family, and is one of the most exciting tasks for many parents-to-be. Choosing the perfect furniture and bedding that reflects your style while still ensuring that you’re adhering to the stringent safety guidelines put in place to protect babies means there are lots of things you’ll have to take into consideration during the planning process. One of the first things on many parents’ to-do list, however, is to paint the nursery walls the perfect shade that creates a sanctuary for their little one.

Gender and Color Theory

Traditionally, pinks and purples are used to denote a feminine space, while bright primary hues are favored for more masculine ones. If you’re not planning to find out your new baby’s gender before birth or simply want to create a more gender-neutral palette to avoid those traditional gender roles, then grays and muted yellows are a great choice. Part of the color-choosing process will depend upon your attitudes about such things and the way that you want to parent your child.

Longevity

Unless you don’t mind periodic repainting, you’ll want to consider the longevity of a color scheme before you start decorating. Powder pink walls with fluffy bunny borders might be adorable and charming for a newborn’s room, but may not be so well received when she’s starting kindergarten. While you won’t be able to predict your child’s unique and personal preferences before she arrives, you can think about how well certain decorating schemes will carry over as your child gets older. Completely repainting a room isn’t cheap and can be quite disruptive, so you may want to make an attempt to choose something that will age along with your child, at least for a while.

Choosing the Best Shade for the Space

The same paint sample that looks perfect under the fluorescent lights of a home improvement store may be awful when it’s applied to the walls in your child’s room. The best way to determine how both natural and interior lighting will affect your chosen colors is to apply them directly to the wall in a rather sizable swatch. Small sample jars are inexpensive and contain enough paint for you to apply a swatch to each wall so that you can look at the way the light affects the color under varying conditions. The last thing you want to do is invest the time and money in painting the nursery with an untested color, only to be forced to repaint or to live with a shade that you absolutely hate when it’s actually applied.

Coordinating and Pulling a Scheme Together

If you already have a color you’re in love with, you’ll probably choose bedding and window treatments with it in mind. Parents that spring for the bedding first, however, will need to look at the different shades it contains in order to choose one that compliments it well. Decide which route is more suited to your personal decorating style and build around it. You may find that the perfect wall color only reveals itself after you’ve chosen the perfect bedding, and that it contains a color you weren’t even considering before.

Health and Safety

The shade of paint that you choose may depend upon the availability in low- and no-VOC paint lines. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are part of what gives paint its distinctive smell. Benzene, toluene, naphthalene, methyl chloroform and formaldehyde are among the chemicals that traditional paints can contain, all of which have been shown to have adverse affects on human lungs. When you set out to choose the perfect shade for the room that will serve as a safe, soothing retreat for your child, you’ll want to make sure that the paint you use won’t make him sick.

continue reading at our blog partner

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10 ideas for sending a hot lunch to school with the kids

Posted on March 26, 2015

If your child craves more substantial food during the cooler months, a cold-cut sandwich may not cut it for his lunchtime meal. Because so many schools are making the peanut-free switch, the classic PB&J may not even be an option for your young student. While cafeteria hot lunch is an option, truth be told, there’s no telling what’s in the food. Generally, school lunches are prepared with pre-packaged foods that are laden with chemicals, additives and preservatives. Packing a nice, home-cooked hot lunch will ensure proper nourishment for your child and you’ll know exactly what’s in your child’s food.

Stews, Soups or Chili – Prepare the thermos while you heat up your soup, stew or chili. You could even set up a slow cooker the night before and spoon hot chili or stew directly into the thermos. Pack some crackers and shredded cheese in the lunchbox to top off hot soup or chili.
Nachos –This is an option for using up leftovers from taco night. Make a cheese dip to heat up in the morning. Use 2:1 parts cheese to mild salsa for an easy nacho cheese recipe, then put hot cheese dip in a prepped thermos. You could even put heated up leftover taco meat and whole beans on top of the cheese in the thermos; these ingredients are perfect for pouring over a plate of crispy tortilla chips. A small baggy or container of diced tomatoes, olives and onions to sprinkle on top of the nachos add the final touch. .
Cheeseburger or Hot Dog – Hot dogs will fit nicely into a tall thermos, however a hamburger patty may not. Consider making small patties for miniature buns to make little sliders. You can prepare the hamburger bun ahead of time with a little lettuce, tomato and a slice of cheese. Ever wonder what to do with all those fast food condiments that are left over? Toss them in the lunch box to spread onto their hot dog or hamburger.
Sloppy Joes – Whether it’s the mess implied by the name or the savory sauce, there’s just something kids love about sloppy joes. Spoon prepared sloppy joe meat into a thermos, then pack buns and your child’s favorite sides for a hot lunch treat.
Baked Potato – First thing when you wake up in the morning, wrap a handful of potatoes in tin foil and throw them in the oven to bake. By the time you’re out of the shower or have the kids dressed and ready, the potatoes should be perfectly baked on the inside. Open the tin foil, slice the spud down the middle, put a pat of butter on the inside and seal the tin foil back up. Place the potato (with the foil still on) inside the thermos. Send them off with all the fixing’s on the side. Cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, chives or diced onion are great extras for kids to sprinkle on their potato at lunch time.
Tacos – Put hot taco meat in the thermos and build a couple of soft tacos separately. When it’s time for lunch, your child can simply open the soft shells and spoon the meat into the tortilla, then wrap it all up and eat. Chips and salsa on the side would make a perfect as a side dish.
Spaghetti, Lasagna or Mac and Cheese – Whichever classic pasta dish you choose to send off with your kid, a little parmesan to sprinkle over the top is a nice touch.
Breakfast for Lunch – A veggie omelet and a couple of sausage links would tuck perfectly into a wide-mouth thermos. Hash browns might end up soggy, so consider skipping that part. A cup of fruit would go well with this lunch.
Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes – Put hot mashed potatoes and gravy in the bottom of the cooler and place a small slice of hot meat loaf on top. At lunch time pull the meat out and serve on a plate or in the lid, and eat the mashed potatoes and pour the gravy right out of the thermos.
Veggie Stir-fry – Rice will soak up all the liquid if it is put in a thermos with other food that is juicy or watery. If your stir-fry mixture is on the drier side, go ahead and put them in the same thermos. Otherwise, put stir-fried veggies and meat into the thermos and put rice in another container while it is hot. The rice won’t be piping hot at lunch time, but it will be warm enough to eat and enjoy.

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Pi Day is coming: 100 Pie recipes for families

Posted on March 12, 2015

March 14, Saturday is Pi Day and for the first time it is actually the first 5 numbers that represent the numerical value of pi, the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter: 3.14.15.

(if you use the American way of writing dates).

Pi day is also an annual opportunity for math geeks, including nerdy parents all around, to make and eat pie with their family and friends!

We found from recipe curators over at our partners at Foodie over 100 pie recipes – from sweet, to pizza to fruit – for every taste and palette to consider making this Saturday!

Good luck!

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10 iphone apps for Stay-at-home moms

Posted on March 11, 2015

Anyone who says that stay-at-home moms don’t work has never stayed at home with a child or managed a busy household. Simply keeping up with everyone’s appointments, day-to-day maintenance, household shopping, and running errands can be a major undertaking. Thankfully, the amazing number of apps available for the iPhone in the App Store include a fair amount that are very useful to today’s harried stay at home mom. These ten are among the most indispensable, and can streamline many of a busy mom’s errands into more manageable feats.

Grocery iQ – Finding the time, and a babysitter, for a leisurely stroll through the grocery store is a luxury that few stay-at-home moms can afford. Because the key to a successful, meltdown-free shopping trip almost always hinges upon your ability to get in and out of the store in record time with your kids in tow, this free app is a lifesaver. Build your shopping list from the comfort of your own home, find coupons for your favorite brands, and streamline the process of grocery shopping.
Errands To-Do List – Juggling the demands of running a household while looking after energetic and often rambunctious children, all without ever forgetting a date, shopping item, or appointment, is a feat beyond even the most unflappable moms. Managing your to-do lists with an app like the free Errands To-Do helps to ensure that you’ll never forget an important item again, as you work through your list and check them off one by one.
Evernote – More often than not, important items occur to harried moms at the least convenient moment and are forgotten by the time she manages to find a second to make a note. With Evernote, you’re able to choose one of several options for recording and documenting your thoughts, ensuring that precious ideas don’t fall through the cracks.
Holdr – Chasing a child around the house with a phone precariously wedged between your ear and shoulder while waiting for a customer service representative to take your call can be one of the most frustrating daily errands that a mom regularly faces. Thanks to Holdr, the days of being forced to stay on hold indefinitely are over. With this free app you can attend to other pressing business during your hold period, and Holdr will call you back as soon as your representative comes on the line.
Mom Maps – When you’re faced with a long summer day or a teacher’s in-service day that keeps students out of school, finding nearby attractions to keep the kids occupied and away from the television can present a challenge. For $2.99 Mom Maps users can pinpoint kid-friendly diversions in the surrounding area, ensuring that they never have to hear cries of “I’m bored!” again.
WebMD – Determining whether your child’s rash is a mild reaction or a sign of something more serious isn’t easy for the average person. Without medical training even the slightest cough can be cause for alarm. Thankfully, applications like WebMD exist to provide on the spot consultations so that you can decide whether a trip to the pediatrician is in order or if they just need a good night’s rest.
Feeding Your Kids – Teaching kids good dietary habits is certainly not easy in today’s over-processed, preservative-packed world. With Habit Changer’s “Feeding Your Kids” app, you can learn how to make small adjustments each day, teaching your children to choose healthier foods for themselves along the way.
Bank of Mom – Tracking kids’ expenses and helping them to manage money is one of the most important lessons that a mother can pass on to her children. The spending habits that your child learns today can very easily determine how financially responsible he will be as an adult. With apps like Bank of Mom, monitoring those habits for later discussion is a snap.
Find My iPhone – Kids aren’t particularly known for their patience, but the number of apps in the App Store designed to keep them occupied are numerous. If you make a habit of handing your iPhone to an antsy child, however, chances are that a forgetful little one will eventually misplace your iPhone. With Find My iPhone you can sign in on another Apple device with your Apple ID to spot your phone on a map, remotely erase all data, or lock the phone until it can be found.
Key Ring Rewards Cards – The days of keeping up with dozens of tiny plastic loyalty and customer rewards cards are over, thanks to apps like the free Key Ring Rewards Cards. Scan and save all of your old cards into your iPhone, look for new loyalty programs to join, and save digital coupons to your cards from inside the app. With this app you’ll be able to cut clutter and organize your memberships, ensuring that you never have to fumble for another card through dozens that look similar again.

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10 Winter outdoor play tips

Posted on March 1, 2015

With rising childhood obesity rates and the increasing illnesses that accompany a sedentary lifestyle, it’s no secret that kids should be encouraged to get outside and engage in active play. As the lower temperatures approach, so does cold and flu season, which can be greatly exacerbated when kids are held indoors where germs can easily be spread through respiratory droplets and exhalations. Keeping kids safe while they’re out in the cold, however, is an absolute necessity. The following guidelines can help you ensure that your kids’ activity levels don’t suffer at the onset of winter and that they stay safe until the spring thaw rolls around.

Use Sunscreen – Protecting kids’ skin from the damaging rays of the sun is a major priority for most parents and caregivers during the summer months, but one that often falls to the wayside when temperatures cool down. In fact, the reflection of the sun off of snow and ice can be almost as damaging as direct exposure. Make sure that your youngsters are slathered with sunscreen before they hit the outdoors.

Waterproof Clothing is Key – Keeping kids warm during the winter chill relies heavily upon your ability to keep them dry. Melting ice and snow can leave most fabrics wet, soggy and very cold. Make sure that you invest in some waterproof or water-resistant clothing and shoes, especially proper boots.

Know the Signs of Frostbite – Frostbite occurs when your child’s skin or extremities are literally frozen. The nose, ears, fingers, cheeks and toes are most commonly affected, and it can be quite dangerous when these extremities suffer from frostbite. Signs of superficial frostbite include itching, numbness, tingling or burning sensations. The affected skin may become white, flushed, yellow or blue and appear frozen, and will be cold to the touch.

Dress for Success – Just because your kids are bundled against the cold doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re wearing safe clothing. Hoods and hats don’t take the place of helmets for activities like biking or skating, while tight clothing that restricts movement can present a danger as it inhibits kids’ ability to move and balance properly. Be sure that your brood is dressed appropriately for outdoor play, not just for cold temperatures.

Insist on Warm-Up Breaks – When kids are enjoying themselves and are particularly absorbed in an activity, it’s easy for them to lose track of time. That’s why it’s important for you to insist on periodic warm-up breaks to check for signs of hypothermia or frostbite and ensure that they don’t get too cold.

Keep Ice Skating Safe – Ice skating is a beloved, time-honored cold-weather outdoor activity. It can also be quite dangerous, though. Public areas designated for ice skating are far safer than ponds or bodies of water on your own property, which may not be thoroughly frozen and could crack under kids’ weight. Be sure that any ice your children are going to skate on is frozen solid, and that they’re wearing the right protective gear.

Smart Sledding – Racing down a snow-covered hill on a sled is one of life’s great thrills, even for adults. Kids love sledding, but it’s important that they understand the basic safety rules before setting out. Sledding down hills that terminate near a road, down paths that have obstacles like jumps, rocks or bumps, or down icy slopes are all sledding safety no-nos. Kids should also never be pulled on sleds behind moving vehicles of any kind.

Don’t Forget About Dehydration – Dehydration isn’t a concern reserved solely for warm-weather months. While your children are enjoying a session of outdoor play, be sure that they’re taking in plenty of fluids.

Scarf Safety – Scarves are useful tools for protecting against the cold, as they can be wrapped around almost any part of the body that feels cold. However, they can also become ensnared in moving parts of toys or overhanging branches, closed in doors, or otherwise tangled in a manner that presents a strangulation risk. It’s better to opt for cowl-style scarves until kids are a bit older and less rambunctious.

Double-Check Equipment – Making sure that any equipment for outdoor play, whether new or old, is in good condition, fits properly and is otherwise suitable for use before sending kids outside with it. Damaged or broken equipment can very easily cause injuries, especially if kids are using them improperly to compensate for the damage.

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Celeb Moms (and their Kids) on Instagram (PHOTOS)

Posted on March 1, 2015

It’s back. A rundown on what some of the celebrity women we’ve covered here in Bellyitch are sharing recently on Instagram. Today, we’re reposting some of the more adorable moments Celeb moms posted of themselves with their kids (and a few without).

Ali Larter enjoys the morning with her new daughter.

Third-time new mom Savannah Brinson shared a photo of her boys with hubby LeBron James.

Ivanka Trump and her brood pose for a photo shoot.

Garcelle Beauvais and her twin boys.

Cheering on dad Chris Bosh who was sidelined with a lung blood clot is his wife Adrienne and their kids.

Still digging this family photo of Josh Duhmel, Fergie, their son and nephew.

Lil Kim‘s daughter Reign is soooo cute!

Alicia Keys unveiled a photo of her new son Genesis Ali in a cute family black and white with hubby Swizz Beatz, their older son Egypt and Swizz’s son Kaseem from a previous marriage.

Zoe Saldana and hubby Marc Perego team up to take twin sons on a nature walk.

It’s belated but this photo of Tori Spelling and her large brood at their Super Bowl party is so cute!

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10 Reasons Moms Can’t Get Alone Time

Posted on February 21, 2015

You wouldn’t expect to work constantly and not get any vacation time or time off and yet motherhood can seem just that way on a daily basis. There are many reasons mothers don’t get much needed alone time. Sometimes it’s the circumstances and sometimes we get in our own way. Here are ten reasons why personal time escapes many mothers.

Mothers have to do everything – Some moms believe that nothing, absolutely nothing, will get done without them. They need to oversee every detail of family life and make sure things are running smoothly. As long as they have that outlook and it works for everyone concerned, chances are nothing is going to change.
Perfectionism – The perfect mother doesn’t need alone time, or so she thinks. Trying to live up to the unattainable image of the supermom is a sure way to crash and burn.
Demanding kids – Sometimes little ones can be extremely demanding; Mom cannot even go to the bathroom alone. Children like this want to know where Mommy is every minute and she’d better not get out of their eyesight. The idea of alone time for such a mom is just a pipe dream.
Fathers that don’t support alone time – If you have a husband that doesn’t support your alone time, it might be much harder to get. Some fathers are kind enough to take the kids while Mom goes off and does something she wants to do or maybe even stays home and takes a bubble bath. But for the mother who doesn’t have that kind of support at home, finding the time to be by herself can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Too busy – Some mothers are workaholics and doing too much all the time to take a break. Every minute is planned and used to the max. This mom gets tons of things accomplished, except perhaps some much needed self care.
Over scheduled – Similar to the busy mom this mom is always on the go, but she has some down time. The only problem is that her down time is spent with other people. She’s waiting for the kids to do this or that, she’s at dance rehearsals or foot ball practice. With a little help she could actually manage to get some alone time in there somewhere.
Guilt feelings – There are mothers who just feel so guilt ridden about taking private time for themselves, they can’t bring themselves to do it. It feels as if they are stealing time away from the family.
Worried about the kids – These moms are worried that something terrible will happen to the kids if they are away, even for a little while. Over protective mothers have a need to hover over their children constantly and really can’t function without them. Chances are many of the hovering moms, in reality, don’t even want time to themselves.
Not thinking creatively – All it takes at times is a bit of creative thinking to get a piece of alone time. Most moms could probably figure out how to make it happen if they would take the time to get resourceful with their thinking. You’d be surprised what a little imagination can dream up!
Single parents – Mothers who don’t have a backup parent or other family support around them can find it especially difficult to find time for themselves. Trading babysitting favors with other single moms and making time in the early morning or late evenings when the kids are in bed may be options for these moms. Again, creativity is the key.

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Review: The ‘Kid Lid’ protects your laptop from baby and toddler users

Posted on February 21, 2015

In this digital era we live in, chances are most babies will find themselves in front of a laptop viewing an educational DVD or cartoon while resting on her tummy on a play mat before the age of one. By the time an infant gets to toddlerhood, he would have become a pro at online games. It’s just the world we are living in now.

But babies and kids’ love for laptop videos can be costly if they bang on the keys or spill food or drink inside of it.

Enter the Kid Lid. This innovative product, which retails for $29.99, is essentially a cover for the keyboard portion of the laptop.

The latest iteration of the invention which launched and got funded on Kickstarter last year folds up easily for storage and portable carriage. It also comes in Black. That was the color of our complimentary review copy ($39.99).

Created by a company called Mogolo, The KidLid can be wiped cleaned or placed in the dishwasher even, and is made up of BPA-Free Poly Carbonate plastic. It covers laptops that are 13 or 15 inches in sizes and comes in white, but the black and watermelon colors are also available in the fold up variety. An elastic velcro strap helps keep the lid in place.

I love it and found it to be perfect and functional! Check out a video on the product:

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Reese Witherspoon Lessons: How to care for your expensive handbag

Posted on February 18, 2015

This weekend, much ado was made in gossip blogs over a paparazzi image of actress Reese Witherspoon dumping out water that had spilled in her sunny yellow $4,000 custom Reed Krakoff bag.

Witherspoon, a frequent featured mom in Bellyitch, had just come from the gym with her 10-year old son Deacon.

GET A SIMILAR BAG UNDER $100

I know it sounds petty but keeping your super expensive handbag in tip top shape is serious business. This water in the bag thing is downright sacrilegious in some circles. So for the uninitiated, here are some rules of caring for your purse that cost over $1,000.

1. Keep it in the dustbag that it comes with.

2. Stuff it with acid free tissue or airbags to help maintain its shape.

3. Store the bag in the box and placed on a high shelf in your closet or bag shelf.

4. Make sure the space it is kept in has a moisture level of 50% because anything above 70% will cause molding and rotting.

5. Use moisturizer occasionally. Meltonian shoe cream is the best./

6. If you live in a humid environment, store your bag in an air conditioned place.

7. Keep all make up in makeup bags before putting them in the bag.

8. Avoid storing pens, markers & pencils in the bag and/or limit to one pen with a secure cap.

9. To avoid theft, avoid leaving the bag in storage racks, coat check ins, cubby holes etc. Best not take your bag where you need to leave it in someone else’s care.

10. Buy renter’s or home owner’s insurance and make sure your bag is listed as an insured item.

The end. Be a responsible hawt bag owner. ha!

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