News

Mother’s Day For Women Dealing With Infant Loss and Infertility

Posted on May 11, 2020

Most people don’t realize how painful Mother’s Day can be for those struggling with infertility and loss.

If that woman is you, you are allowed to do whatever you need to do to make it through this Mother’s Day.

Taking care of yourself becomes essential as you try to work through the grief and loss that has overtaken your journey to motherhood.

But on this day especially, take care of you.

You have permission to opt out of all the Mother’s Day messaging today and avoid people who may not understand what you’re going through and not be sensitive to your feelings today.

Do whatever brings you comfort. Binge on your fave ice cream. Enjoy a nice bottle of wine. Take in a Netflix movie. Spoil yourself. Or just rest and go to bed early.

Shut out the rest of the world and practice a little self-care.

And know that you are not alone in needing to do so.

Finally, here is my fave inspirational song and video from gospel artist Yolanda Adams with a great message.

from your friends at The Bellyitch Blog

View this post on Instagram

This topic is an extremely sensitive one and It is important for me to bring it up especially as we approach Mother's day weekend. ⁣ I'll specifically speak from my own experiences with it. And the hardships us women and even men in my community face when it comes to pregnancy.⁣ ⁣ For some reason pregnancy is something that is just automatically suppose to come after marriage. No idea who created such a rule or why such a rule exists. ⁣ ⁣ I remember being newly married and the first thing people started doing instead of greeting me was look right at my belly. Then when they noticed I was not pregnant the look of confusion following "oh you're not pregnant yet" would be their conversation starter. ⁣ ⁣ I will never forget when just after 3 months of marriage church service ended and a member in the church who saw me yelled at the top of her lungs in front of everyone saying "BARBARA YOU'RE STILL NOT PREGNANT YET. WHEN WILL YOU GET PREGNANT? YOU'RE TAKING TOO LONG." ⁣ ⁣ I remember standing their speechless because I could not believe someone could ask and act in such a way. My husband however, came to my rescue and respectfully told her everyone has plans and it's God who gives children.⁣ ⁣ What made me so sad is what if I was really trying and had no success? What if I found out I could not conceive naturally? What if I just went through an unsuccessful expensive fertility procedure? What if I just recently miscarried? Do you know how all of these accounts affect women and men who are journeying this together? ⁣ ⁣ I always made sure I prayed for my future children regardless of when we decided to prepare. When God said it was my time, that was and the only timeline I followed through with and no one else's.⁣ ⁣ Dont ever let anyone force their pregnancy timeline on you! Don't ever let anyone make you feel less of a woman or man because to them you're "taking too long." If pregnancy is something that you seek and whatever method you have to go through take it to the Lord in prayer. For it is he who provides.⁣ ⁣ Photography by @mennydc5

A post shared by BARBARA|MOTHERHOOD|LIFESTYLE (@mrsbarbarankansah) on May 8, 2020 at 1:51pm PDT

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News

Mother’s Day: 7 Last Minute Quarantine Era Gifts You Can Get NOW

Posted on May 8, 2020

Hey guys! Mother’s Day is on Sunday!

In this age of Covid-19, it may be a little bit harder to find a gift for mom. If you are a mom, your husband, spouse or partner cannot rely on your kids making something for you in school so it’s time to get moving.

If your mom is still alive and well, lovely. You’re going to need to find a nice way to recognize all she did for you. And if you’re in a strained relationship with her, maybe this year is the year to send out an olive branch, especially considering the fragile state of the world.

Whatever your situation, here are 8 things you can get for you mom before Sunday:

Online cooking class

A lot of in-person classes, courses and the like have gone virtual.

An annual MasterClass membership is the best way to learn cooking skills from some of the world’s best chefs. Each class—from the likes of Alice Waters, Gordon Ramsay, and Dominique Ansel—consists of about a dozen or so pre-recorded videos that range from 10-30 minutes so you can learn at your own pace. Right now they’re offering a buy-one get-one deal on their annual all-access membership, which means you can take as many classes as you’d like over the next 365 days and give a membership to a friend or family member for free.

Cost: $180 for two all-access annual memberships And for the next three days, if you buy one annual membership, you get one for yourself FREE!

For a lower budget option, you can purchase a few $10 classes from Bluprint which offers over onloine 100 cooking classes in addition to crafing classes so if mom is into crafts, you can mix and match it! The classes are family-friendly and are for complete beginners to experts who want to know how to make cheese.

Cost: From $10 per class

MEMORIES: CUSTOM PERSONALIZED ALBUM

Turn all the photos you have stored in your phone into a virtual and real memory book. Shutterfly.com is offering up the services of its expert team of book deisngers for free right now. You just pay for the final product. Send mom the link to the final product so she can reminisce over the memories and she’ll get the actual book in the mail too to keep and cherish forever. Books start at $15.95

Order today at Shutterfly!

ZOOM BRUNCH

Order brunch using DoorDash, GrubHub or UberEats and send over to mom. Create a Zoom account and send her the link and together connect, eat, catch up, chat, play some tunes. The first 45 minutes are free!

DRIVE BY FLOWERS AND MEAL DELIVERY

If mom lives near by, you can pick up a bouquet of flowers at your local grocery store or big box store. Walmart has them bagged already. Then grab some take out or a pizza from your local restaurant’s to-go service and drop them off at mom’s doorsetp. This is what my siblings and I will be doing for our mom on Sunday.

PJ’S AND ESSENTIAL OILS

Everyons is living in their pajamas all day and night so ordering then picking up a pair from your local Target store then dropping it off at mom is the way to go! The store also has access to lots of other items like essential oil diffusers, chocolates, cards and more.

You can order from Target online and maybe get it delivered in time if you hurry!

GIFT OF FITNESS

If mom is still active, get her a membership at an online gym. The Peloton App (no bike required) is 6 months free. Beach Body On Demand has one month free and a lot of other fitness apps have deals. Also, get her gear like a pair of UnderArmour Women’s UA Charged Escape 3 Reflect Shoes which is just $66 right now, down from $90.

GIFT CARDS

Finally, since everyone is home behind their computers shopping and having packages delivered to their doors…eventually, you cannot go wrong with an E-Gift Card from mom’s favorite retailer!

Hurry up and shop!!

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10 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas You Can Get Even During Qurantine

Posted on April 29, 2020

Mother’s Day is coming up, believe it or not. I know it’s probably something that may escape the minds of family members given the global stay home orders and how our days and weeks are blending into each other.

If you have a first-time, veteran or mom-to-be in your life and you are racking your brains looking for ideas and suggestions on what to get her, here are 10 mainly free or relatively inexpensive ideas you can pull off without leaving the house!

Do-nothing day—plenty of moms would love to spend a day not having to lift a finger or spend the day doing just what they want to do. So give your mom a card that tells her she is entitled to a day off—and be sure to honor it!
At Home Spa day—since she can not go to the spa, bring the spa to her. Check out my recent posts with several at-home pantry, fridge and kitchen cabinet ingredients spa recipes.
A clean car—Mom’s car can get downright disgusting after shuttling kids around all the time. So grab the kids and have them help you wash the car.
Customized necklace—May isn’t a good month to buy jewelry because stores often hike prices in anticipation of Mother’s Day. However, you can find affordable necklaces with charms that can be engraved with children’s names online at Etsy.com.
Photo mug—plenty of companies create mugs with photos on them for about $11 online from a popular chain store like CVS online. This gift is ideal for grandmothers who appreciate a creative way to show off pictures of the grand kids.
Plants and flowers for the yard—rather than a bouquet, buy a potted plant, flowering bush or tree that will last for years. Or let Mom buy plants for the garden and then plant them for her.
Photo album—most of our photos are now digital and we rarely print them out. So get some photo paper from Target, Walmart or Amazon and print out your pictures at home, put them in an album and let mom enjoy looking at them the old-fashioned way.
A clean house—give Mom a break from her daily chores and do them for her (the way she would want them done). Wash the dishes, do the laundry, sweep the floors and make the beds.
Frame the kids’ art—Moms will surely get a few pieces of handcrafted art from the kids for Mother’s Day. Make it easy for her to display and store them with a frame that lets you do both!
Make a donation in Mom’s name—for the Mom that already has everything, make a donation in her name to her favorite charity or motherhood-related organization.
Bonus idea—Take the time to sit down with your mom and ask her to share family stories that you can record or write down in a journal that can be shared with other family members.

Now that dads cannot rely on the kids to make her a handmade card at school, it’s time for them to get on it and start planning! Hopefully, these 10 tips will help!

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2019 Mother’s Day Freebies

Posted on May 11, 2019

Moms deserve a real treat on Mother’s Day. Fortunately, plenty of restaurants agree and have started offering Mother’s Day deals good enough to make any member of the family smile.

Whether you’re taking Mom out for a special brunch, lunch or dinner, or you’re a mother and want to indulge yourself at one of your favorite spots, these Mother’s Day specials are all worth checking out.

Deals can sometimes vary by location, so make sure to call your local restaurant to confirm they’re honoring these Mother’s Day specials!

Mother’s Day Restaurant Deals for 2019

Baskin-Robbins: Surprise Mom with Baskin-Robbins’ ice cream cake and save $3 on your purchase with this coupon!

Boston Market: Purchase any Family Meal for 4 or more people on Mother’s Day and receive $5 off (coupon required; available on BostonMarket.com beginning May 8).

Bruegger’s Bagels: Enjoy heart-shaped bagels in blueberry, cinnamon raisin and plain varieties.

California Pizza Kitchen: Treat Mom to a heart-shaped pizza from May 9 through May 12. During the time frame, California Pizza Kitchen will donate 20% of food and non-alcoholic beverage purchases to March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.

Capital Grille: Enjoy the $49 Mother’s Day prix fixe brunch, which includes options like lobster frittata, steak and eggs and chicken and waffles. Children’s brunch is $15.

Casa Ole: Get $1 strawberry margaritas (with purchase of an entrée) at participating locations during Mother’s Day weekend.

Charlie Brown’s: Enjoy a three-course Mother’s Day dinner for $22.99.

El Torito: Take her to a Mother’s Day champagne brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Brunch includes made-to-order omelettes, a waffle station, bottomless mimosas and more. Prices vary by location.

Fig & Olive: Enjoy delectable prix fixe brunch and dinner menus, specialty cocktails and more!

Fleming’s: Enjoy a three-course brunch menu for $30 on Mother’s Day.

Eddie V’s: Get Mother’s Day brunch for $49 between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 12.

Fogo de Chão: Treat Mom on May 12, and receive a complimentary dining card that’s valid from May 13 to July 11 (Sundays through Thursdays only) and good for one full Churrasco lunch, Sunday brunch or Full Churrasco dinner. (One card per party.)

Macaroni Grill: Make the most out of Mother’s Day brunch with specials like caramel apple and walnut french toast, eggs benedict and more.

Maggiano’s: Enjoy Mother’s Day family style brunch or dinner for $27.99 ($12.99 for kids 5 to 12).

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Tips

10 Great Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

Posted on May 1, 2019

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to start making those gift purchases for the special Moms in your life. Finding the perfect present for these ladies can be a challenge; here are a few tips to help ease the stress of coming up with something a little more lasting than breakfast in bed.

Gift Baskets – While there are certainly a staggering array of pre-made gift basket options, putting one together yourself is both surprisingly easy and the best way of ensuring that each and every item is handpicked for the guest of honor.
Personalized Gifts – It’s possible to personalize almost any gift you can come up with; adding a birthstone, a monogram or any other signifying features is one of the best ways to give your selected item a personal touch.
Jewelry – There are entire lines of jewelry, all with varying price points, designed for the Mother’s Day gift-buying set. From necklaces with charms to symbolize each of her children to bracelets with each child’s birthstone, there’s definitely no shortage of precious adornments created with Mom in mind.

WHAT TO GET AN EXPECTANT MOM FOR A GIFT!

Flowers – Though it might be so common that it’s almost a cliché, flowers are the perfect gift for a friend or relative with children. While you might want to step it up a bit for your own mom or the mother of your children, they’re a time-honored tradition for moms that aren’t immediate family.
Day Spa or Salon Gift Certificates – The frantic pace of today’s world makes it difficult for women to fit a day of pampering and preening into her schedule. A gift certificate for just such a thing makes a spa day seem like less of an indulgence and more of a treasured gift.

Gifts Tailored to Her Specific Interests – Everyone is different, and harried moms are no exception. Taking your special lady’s interests and hobbies into account when selecting your gift is a good way to go the extra mile and provide her with something that she’ll actually use and appreciate.
Family Tree Artwork – Artwork that incorporates genealogical information can range from minimalist and sparse to very ornate, so there’s a style to suit any décor. Moms are sure to love a family tree painting or print, and there are several retailers, both online and brick-and-mortar, that specialize in them.

WHAT TO GET A BRAND NEW MOM AS A GIFT!

Luxury Items – “Luxury” items don’t have to be big-ticket purchases; they’re simply things that Mom might want but would never get for herself. For families that have been forced into serious belt-tightening by the economic climate of the last few years, a luxury item can be something as simple as a more-extravagant-than-usual dinner or a bottle of her favorite perfume.
Handmade Gifts – Moms of small children are sure to be moved to tears by a gift they helped to make, so giving little ones a hand in creating her gift can be a big hit. However, handmade gifts aren’t restricted to the smaller set; crafty or artistic grownups can get in on the fun, too!
A Day Off – Though it might seem simple, often the best gift that a mother can receive is to spend her special day alone, pursuing her own interests with no responsibilities. Sending her along the way with reassurances that the kids and household will be well looked after in her absence will give her a break that is likely to be much-needed.

Just as there’s no one-size-fits-all Mom, there are no one-size-fits-all gifts. Take the interests and tastes of the Mom in your life into account when choosing her gift, rather than falling back on the old standards. Even a small amount of effort will go a long way!

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Parenting

Happy UK Mother’s Day {How it Differ’s from America’s}

Posted on March 31, 2019

Happy Mother’s Day to the UK moms, family, friends and followers today!

In United States and many parts of the world celebrate Mother’s day annually on the second Sunday in May each year.

However, in the United Kingdom, their version of the holiday, called “Mothering Sunday” is linked to the Christian Lenten calendar and is acknowledged on the fourth Sunday during the period of Lent, when people typically give up things like certain foods or bad habits for the days leading up to Easter.

And because Easter is linked to the lunar calendar which changes every year, UK’s Mother’s day changes annually too!

Mothering Sunday is a celebration held to honor mothers and maternal figures.

The day has evolved into an occasion for kids to honor and give presents to their hardworking moms.

In America, Anna Jarvis, campaigned for a May date in memory of her own mom – who had died that month, which was formally adopted by President Wilson in 1914.

Many other countries have since adopted America’s date.

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BumpNews

15 Celeb Moms Celebrating Mother’s Day First Time

Posted on May 14, 2018

There were a lot of celebrity births over the past year which means yesterday, plenty of celebrity women we’ve “bumpwatched” and became moms for the first time ever were able to celebrate their first Mother’s Day.

One trend we noticed among this latest crop of first time moms: either they’ve concealed their babies from the spotlight, and laid low since becoming a mom or they’ve been all in, giving their babies their own Instagram or making them the star of the parents social media feed. No in between. All In or Nothing. Whatever floats their boat, we’re sure each had a great time yesterday celebrating Mom’s Day for the first time since their babies were born. Here is a run down:

International human rights attorney Amal Clooney and husband George Clooney are very private people, yet the arrival of their first set of children, twins —a boy named Alexander and girl named Ella— was big news yet, the Clooneys have yet to talk about them in the public other than George revealing their first words were “Mamma!”

Tennis legand Serena Williams and her husband Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian welcomed their daughter Alexis Olympia last September and now the duo are stars of an HBO docu series about her arrival.

Khloe Kardashian was one of three of the Kardashian-Jenner women who welcomed a baby this year. Her sister Kylie Jenner had her first baby while Kim Kardashian welcomed her third child via surrogate. She had managed to stay out of spotlight since giving birth to True (with her estranged boyfriend NBA Cleveland Cavaliers star Tristan Thompson) in April 2017.

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross and and her two-time Super Bowl champ hubby Aaron Ross welcomed their baby boy, Aaron Ross II in August.

The youngest of the Jenner-Kardashian clan, Kylie Jenner welcomed her daughter Stormi with boyfriend Travis Scott on February 1 and she did an excellent job keeping the entire pregnancy under wraps.

It was last Mother’s Day 2017 that Kevin Hart announced that his wife, Eniko Hart, was expecting their first child. Their son Kenzo Kash made his grand debut in November and every since he’s been one of the happiest babies around!

Bring It On star Kirsten Dunst also did a great job covering up the majority of her pregnancy and only revealed it when she was well into her third trimester while posing for an ad campaign. She welcomed a baby boy this month with fiancé Jesse Plemons and they too have yet to even discuss baby since he arrived.

On May 2, Jordin Sparks and her husband, model Dana Isaiah Thomas welcomed their first child together, son Dana Isaiah Thomas Jr. and the American Idol alum stunned everyone when she was spotted walking the red carpet just three days later. Wow!

Julia Stiles and her husband Preston J. Cook welcomed their son Strummer Newcomb Cook on Oct. 20, 2017. The Silver Linings Playbook star was recently “mommy shamed” for the say she carried her baby in a carrier but clapped back like a champ.

POWER star Naturi Naughton welcomed her daughter, Zuri in July 2017 and she too has been great about keeping her little one out of the public eye but we’re sure she is a looker like her mom.

The Southern Charm star Cameran Eubanks had her daughter Palmer on Nov. 11, 2017. After celebrating with a hilarious shower, Eubanks has since shared lots about mommyhood on her Insta!

The Hills Babyboom

Lauren Conrad led the little baby boom of alums of the MTV show The Hills when she welcomed her first child, son Liam, on July 5 with her hubbie William Tell. Since becoming a mom, she too has laid low but pops up once in a while to show off her mom power!

HEIDI PRATT

Heidi Pratt who was Conrad’s nemesis on the show and her husband Spencer Pratt also welcomed a baby boy named Guinner on October 12017 but unlike the others, they’re pretty out and open about sharing photos of him in social media.

Finally, Whitney Port had her first child Sonny with husband Tim Rosenman in July 2017 and was very transparent about the trials of pregnancy on her YouTube channel but looks to believe it was all worth it.

Shamari DeVoe

Former 90s bandmember and wife to New Edition singer Ronnie DeVoe, singer Shamari Stone DeVo welcomed boy twins, Ronnie III and Roman last October. The boys are so popular they even have their own top social media Instagram account with tons of followers.

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BumpNews

Mother’s Day 2018: What Celebrities Tweeted Today

Posted on May 13, 2018

Here is how celebrities celebrated their moms and motherhood today on Motherhood. They shared some tender moments from childhood and current times with their own moms, wives and children in the following tweets archived in a Twitter Moment! Look:

You guys it’s my first Mother’s Day!!!! Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mommies out there! May you be appreciated all year round for the hard work you do. And happy Mother’s day to my mama, Ella, the best mommy in the world! ??? #HappyMothersDay pic.twitter.com/b33tCHwsBs

— Eva Longoria Baston (@EvaLongoria) May 13, 2018

Here's how celebrities are celebrating motherhood?

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BumpNews

10 Mother’s Day Posters To Share, Tweet, or Tag Someone On Today

Posted on May 13, 2018

Happy Mother’s Day from your friends and family at Bellyitch Blog. Today is a day for sending out greetings and well wishes to your mom, siblings, aunts, Godparents, neighbors, friends and other family members who are mothers. In modern times, these messages are not always delivered through a telephone call but via Text, a posting on someone’s Facebook page, an @ mention in Twitter or Instagram or Snap Chat.

Pinterest and Etsy are not social media platforms but they are great places for snagging a creative Mother’s Day Poster to share. Including the one above, here are 10 for ya!

Finally, for those who Mother’s Day is a tough time:

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BumpNews

Mother’s Day: 5 Free or Low Last Minute Gifts She Will Love

Posted on May 12, 2018

Sometimes Mother’s Day can creep up on you, and before you know it you are panicking about what gift to get. Other times the budget just is not there to get the gift that she really deserves.

Here are some low-cost gifts that can be put together last minute to show Mom she is appreciated and if the day arrives and you realize that you forgot to send a gift or card to your mom who may not live close to you, there are always Hallmark eCards for Mother’s Day you can send .

1. Time to herself Moms are busy. They were many hats, and most of their time is dedicated to other people. So why not give mom a break? Take the kids for a day, so she can have a day off. Give her the time to pursue whatever she wants and make sure there are no unwanted interruptions. If Mom wants the day to go shopping, then make sure the car is not in the shop.

If she want to stay at home and garden, followed by lounging in the tub with a good book, make sure the kids are out of the house so there is not competition for the bathroom or soccer balls rolling through her plants.

P

One last tip, do not make Mother’s Day the day she gets off. This should be a separate day. A date that is agreed on in advance so that she can makes plans if she so chooses.

2. A weekend of sleeping in

For moms with young kids, sleeping in is a true luxury. Little ones are frequently early birds and one they are awake, there is no convincing them they should go back to bed. That can mean Mom is up early seven days a week corralling kids who have gotten a full night’s rest regardless of how many hours of sleep she has gotten.

Any sleep deprived mom will cherish the opportunity to have a morning to sleep in, but an entire weekend of sleeping in is gift gold. If you can slip out of bed in the morning before she has been roused by the kids and let her wake up to the surprise of a clock that has ticked past her normal time, all the better.

However, if you are a sound sleeper and are afraid you will not hear the kids first, or if she will still beat you out of bed, announce your intentions beforehand. That way, when Mom hears the first sounds of a waking child she can nudge you out of bed.

3. A surprise girls’ night out- Mom may have a routine with her girlfriends. Maybe they arrange playdates so they can hang out, maybe they work out sporadic nights out when they can arrange kids-free time. Maybe Mom has not seen her girlfriends in a long time due to distance or schedules, etc.

If she is a social butterfly, then try to contact the significant others of the rest of her social circle to pre-arrange a night when all “the girls” will be free. Then let Mom and her friends make their plans with the knowledge that there is no schedule juggling to be done.

4. Mix tape or playlist – This may seem like a cheesy thing from your high school days, but do not think cassette tape filled with sappy love-songs. Rather, put together a playlist that includes some of her new favorites, as well as a few favorites from specific points in her life, and then include a track or two of her kids singing. This can be something that give her on a CD, or maybe load it onto her mp3 player to surprise her.

5. Clean the house -In some homes the chores are split 50-50, in some maids do some of the basic cleaning, other moms dos the majority of the housework herself. Regardless of the percentage of routing cleaning tasks mom has on her plate, she will enjoy having a week where she will not have to do every single one of them.

Try to tackle the chores she dislikes the most first, and try to do as many as possible.

Happy Mother’s Day weekend y’all

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mother’s day

Online cooking class

MEMORIES: CUSTOM PERSONALIZED ALBUM

ZOOM BRUNCH

DRIVE BY FLOWERS AND MEAL DELIVERY

PJ’S AND ESSENTIAL OILS

GIFT OF FITNESS

GIFT CARDS

Mother’s Day Restaurant Deals for 2019

HEIDI PRATT

Shamari DeVoe