It is officially summer here—and as a mom, I have had it! This summer, I am taking a stand and declaring that this summer is for every mom bod out there, and it will be the summer that we wear the DAMN bathing suit!

Rock that Mom Bod

I understand how self-conscious it is to be a mom—believe me!  I see young twenty-somethings at the beach that look like they stepped out of a photoshoot as opposed to our day at the beach that involved a million “necessities,” a toddler who threw a tantrum and not one moment to enjoy my beer since I’m not only mom, I’m doubling as a lifeguard, too.

I, too, was once a young twenty-something who arrived at the beach without a care in the world. In fact, if my college self saw me in a two-piece today, she would probably tell me to rock the one-piece instead. But my college self was so naive and thought that her body could take anything (honestly, it had survived way too many nights of tequila shots and Natty Light).

What my college self didn’t know were all the amazing things that my body would be capable of doing. I am still in awe that my body could create and carry a beautiful smart little girl in just 42 weeks. And then, after 22 hours of labor and an emergency c-section, it would bounce right back to take care of this small, delicate newborn. And still, throughout her first year of life, my mom bod could provide the sole form of nutrition to that little girl—and even a little extra to donate to babies in need. My body could survive off very little sleep, be drained to the point where I thought I had nothing left—and then give more.

Our bodies are truly amazing in what we can do, not only as moms but as women.

Wear the Damn Bathing Suit

I know that as a mom, I am guilty of trying to hide the stretch marks, baby weight and c-section scars and shelf when in all honesty, I should rock them as the battle scars they are. These marks and parts of our body that we deem are unsightly are actually signs of our body’s strength—proof that our body can do anything.

Moms deserve to wear the damn bathing suit—and feel as beautiful as our children see us. Rock the c-section scars, stretch marks and baby weight as you chase after your wonderful children in the ocean.

Wear the damn bathing suit so you don’t miss out on time with your family. Rather than sit on the side of the pool fully-clothed worrying about the size of your thighs, put on your bathing suit and play Marco Polo in the pool with your kids. Teach your littles how to do cannonballs. Make memories with your family rather than sit on the sidelines and watch memories being made around you.

The truth is, your kids won’t remember your stretch marks, baby weight or the c-section shelf. Your kids will remember the afternoon you spent building the largest sandcastle they have ever seen or those morning swims at the neighborhood pool.

Maybe if all of us moms got out this summer and wore our damn bathing suits, it would help encourage other moms to get out there and do the same.

We only get so many summers with our kids, let’s not waste them worrying about how we look—instead, let’s just wear the damn bathing suit.

 

Ashley Gillis is a mom to a beautiful, spunky little girl and is the Co-Founder of Hampton Roads Moms, a lifest‌yle blog and resource for Mom's in South East Virginia. She is a lover of the beach, margaritas, coffee, running and speaking her mind. You can get more of Ashley at www.hrvamoms.com.

When it comes to gifts, we’ve all heard the expression “it’s the thought that counts.” But sometimes the thought you want to send is ‘I love you so much I broke my wallet for you.’ The good news is that Amazon has you covered. Read on for a list of Amazon’s most ridiculously expensive luxury items.

Gold-Infused Toothpaste

Amazon.com

Up first is an expensive item for people who want to give a ridiculous gift on a budget. This luxury toothpaste will set you back $70 because it has actual gold flecks in the paste. If you don’t feel right sending gold down the drain, you can always put the tube in a frame and call it art.

Swarovski Crystal Ducks

Amazon.com

Give your loved one a set of crystal ducks to convince them that like birds of a feather, you should flock together. These waterfowl can be yours for $1,498. But these ducks won’t fly to you for free: you still need to pay $14.99 for shipping.

Autographed Keith Richards Guitar

Amazon.com

If you’re looking for the perfect piece to add to your guitar collection, this guitar autographed by Keith Richards is the ideal addition at a cool $2,750. The signed instrument comes with a certificate of authenticity, so you know it’s the real deal.

Mark Saint Gaudens Twenty Dollar

Amazon.com

This 1924 Mark Saint Gaudens Twenty Dollar is a rare find. Designed by President Theodore Roosevelt, the Double Eagle is one of two designs he was able to complete before his death and is considered to be one of the most beautiful coins ever minted by the U.S. Mint. Get your own for only $2,799. 

Luxury Gold Toilet

Amazon.com

They say a man’s house is his castle, and what better gift to give the king in your life than a gold (colored) porcelain throne? Though, at $5,088, this neoclassical toilet better clean itself.

Diamond Tennis Bracelet

Amazon.com

Sometimes you want to buy that special someone an incredible piece of jewelry, but you can’t face another trip to the mall. Not to worry, Amazon is there to help you out. This whopping 7-carat bracelet can be yours and delivered right to your door for only $10,999.

Amazon.com

This one-of-a-kind signed letter from Voltaire and was written just weeks before his death in 1778 from Paris. The letter is written in beautiful script and in French and would make a thoughtful gift! Who doesn't need a famous signed letter hanging in their home?

Achieve epistolary excellence for the sale price of $20,000.

Feineshi Cast Copper Horse Sculpture

Amazon.com

Surprise the horse lover in your life with this exquisite bronze sculpture. At $26,633.64, it’s still less expensive than buying your loved one a herd of their own. Bonus: no mucking out a stall necessary!

Grateful Dead 1966 Concert Poster

Amazon.com

Sure you can buy cheap posters anywhere, but when you could bring home a mint condition 1966 Grateful Dead concert poster, why would you get anything else? This poster holds great significance, being the first time the Grateful Dead are associated with a skull symbol and is one of the hardest to find for Dead Head collectors.

It comes at a groovy price of $27,500— plus $4.50 for shipping if you can swing it.

 

Franck Muller Men’s Watch

Amazon.com

True collectors know a watch is more than just about telling time—it's about making a statement! If you're looking to spoil a certain someone this year, then look no further than this gorgeous Frank Muller Vanguard Seven Days Skeleton Color Dream watch. The automatic self-wind mechanism and water-resistant features make this a timeless—yup, we went there—accessory.

With a $45,000 price tag, this thing should be able to act like Cher and turn back time.

Tigrani Sterling Silver Chess Pieces

Amazon.com

Blaise Pascal once called chess “the gymnasium of the mind.” And this holiday season, you can wrap up these delicately sculpted silver and bronze chess pieces for the mental athlete on your gift list. At $45,000, your wallet is going to get a workout, too. The chessboard is sold separately.

White Gold Diamond Ring

Amazon.com

Everyone knows that love is priceless, but sometimes you want to stun your fiance-to-be. With a diamond weighing in at over five carats, you better propose on a cloudy day or this eye candy may blind your future spouse.

You can’t buy love, but if you have $65,900, you can buy this diamond ring.

Mordecai Brown Signed Baseball

Amazon.com

Own a piece of baseball’s “dead-ball era,” signed by Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown. 

Yes, at $267,265.99, this signed baseball costs the same as an average home in Texas, but you’re buying memories here. Those don’t come cheap.

Mickey Mantle Baseball Cards

Amazon.com

Run, don't walk—because this Mickey Mantle autographed baseball card is only $363,640. This set is 100% certified-authentic and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from James Spence Authentication so you won't strike out.

—Teresa Douglas & Karly Wood

Featured photo: Unsplash

 

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Of all the physical changes that women experience while pregnant, stretch marks are some of the most persistent (and annoying).

As an obstetrician and maternal mortality expert, I’ve delivered more than 6,000 babies over nearly four decades and have had the opportunity to see what really works (and doesn’t) when it comes to preventing and treating stretch marks, otherwise known as “striae.”

What Exactly Are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are long, thin scars that appear when your skin is stretched a great deal over a short period of time, such as when a woman’s belly grows during pregnancy. The stretching causes the collagen and elastin in your skin to rupture. Scars appear as your skin heals. These marks can be aggravating to those who are pregnant, but at the end of the day, they are only superficial and don’t have any health implications. However, there are things you may want to do to help fend them off and possibly even treat them.

Stretch marks appear at different times during pregnancy. Some may come at sixteen weeks, but most come between 20 to 25 weeks of gestation. These streaks on your skin are far from the worst thing people may experience during pregnancy, but nobody likes them.

When they first appear, stretch marks tend to be red, dark brown, reddish-brown, purple, or pink in color and may feel slightly raised. Over time, the color should fade and the scars sink beneath your skin.

Preventing & Treating Stretch Marks

When it comes to stretch marks, there are some things you can do to prevent and treat them, and some things you have no control over. For instance, the thin or thick nature of your skin comes with genetic makeup, and there’s nothing you can do to change it. If your mother had stretch marks, there’s a better chance that you will, too. However, there are some preventative measures you can take.

The one thing that I have found to be helpful in the prevention of stretch marks is exercise. Physical fitness is your best bet for keeping them at bay.

You can combat stretch marks by starting pregnancy at an appropriate weight and fitness level. The exercise will help distribute the size of the uterus, rather than have it hanging out front. Fit muscles will help distribute the challenges of gravity on a pregnant woman’s body. So, if you’re still in the pregnancy planning stage, now is a great time to start working out.

If you already have stretch marks, treating them is challenging, but not impossible.

Creams Are Not the Answer

Many people faithfully rub expensive creams or DIY concoctions on their bodies in an effort to erase the aggravating marks, but I have yet to see a topical treatment that works.

Instead of investing in cosmetics, I always suggest going back to exercise after the baby is born. While rubbing vitamin E and coconut butter on the skin are popular traditional treatments, they are not a substitute for the great circulation and taut skin that exercise and nutrition provide. Hydration is important too. Whatever exercise you were doing before pregnancy is something to continue while pregnant.

Be Gentle with Yourself

Though physical activity is important, I will caution women who weren’t exercising previously not to start exercising during pregnancy in order to prevent stretch marks. The marks may be irritating, but they are not worth putting your good health at risk, especially while you are pregnant. You can always dive into an exercise routine once you’ve had your baby.

Some stretch marks may be inevitable, but staying physically active and hydrated during and after pregnancy are the best preventative measures you can take to help fend them off.

Dr. Alan Lindemann
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

An obstetrician and maternal mortality expert, “Rural Doc” Alan Lindemann, M.D. teaches women and families how to create the outcomes they want for their own health and pregnancy. In nearly 40 years of practice, he has delivered around 6,000 babies and achieved a maternal mortality rate of zero! Visit LindemannMD.com

It’s been a long nine years for iCarly fans, but the wait is almost over! Paramount+ just released the official trailer for the reboot and Carly will be back with her web show on June 17!

The OG show ran for six seasons and followed Carly Shay, whose skyrockets to online fame. Only one problem: her parents are abroad and there’s suddenly a lot of new success (and problems) to deal with. So Carly recruits the help of her friends Sam and Freddie, plus older brother Spencer to help juggle stardom and high school life. iCarly initially ran on Nickelodeon and a 2010 episode was the second-most watched in network history. The two-part final episode took place in November, 2012. But as today’s trailer demonstrates, the gang is (finally) getting back together.

http://https://www.instagram.com/tv/CPlgUvWB8db/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor and Nathan Kress will all reprise their original roles, only this time they’re navigating life as twenty-somethings, including dating and love lives. Laci Mosley is a new addition as Carly’s roommate and Jaidyn Triplett joins as Freddie’s snarky stepdaughter. And of course, the web show is back with the same set and familiar pranks that iCarly fans have been missing. Only now it’s shot on an PearPhone!

You’ll get three fresh episodes on June 17 if you’re a Paramount+ subscriber, with new episodes coming in weekly. In total, 13 have been ordered up for the first season of the reboot. In the words of Carly, “I know somehow we’re gonna get there and feel so wonderful!”

—Sarah Shebek

Featured photo: Dooley Productions / Shutterstock.com

 

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Failure to Thrive

Photo: Cheryl Gottlieb Boxer

Recently I was going through some old papers in an effort to tidy up, and I came across a page from my son’s infant feeding log. This piece of paper was 22 years old, but seeing it still felt like a punch to my stomach.

Born six weeks early after a harrowing pregnancy, our son’s earliest days and weeks were filled with sadness, anxiety and desperation.

We literally fed that child around the clock, yet he would not gain weight. We tried breastfeeding, then formula feeding, then a variety of foul-smelling predigested formulas. Every ounce consumed was carefully logged. Everything that exited his body was meticulously noted.

There were doctor’s appointments, specialist referrals, blood tests and x-rays. I’d feed him before each weigh-in at the pediatrician’s office, and pray he wouldn’t poop just so he’d be an ounce or two heavier than he was the week before.

That scale became my greatest foe, and I hated it with a passion.

Yet nothing we did worked, and our son’s weight continued to falter. Until all we were left with was a hospital admission, and three ugly words: “Failure to Thrive.”

“Failure to Thrive” is a cruel diagnosis. It felt as much like a condemnation of my mothering as it was evident that something was wrong with my child. He was the one not meeting the goals on the growth chart, but I felt like the one who was not measuring up.

Well, all I can say is twenty-two years later, those dark days are a distant memory. That diagnosis did not define me as a mother, and it most certainly did not define my son.

Twenty-two years later, he is living his best life and is most assuredly not failing at thriving.

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” is a boosted board-riding, roller coaster-loving, wants to jump from an airplane one day, thrill-seeking adventurer, who keeps his mom on her toes and her heart in her throat.

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” is a deep voice and an even deeper soul who plays “Livin’ on a Prayer” on his guitar just because his mom loves it and sings on stage and loves the crowd and belts out a tune slightly off-key.

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” is a meat-loving, raw fish-consuming, midnight snacker who wakes up in the morning and asks “What’s for dinner?”

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” is a heart of gold who loves his grandma and teaches senior citizens how to use technology and plays with babies and is loved by ALL the dogs.

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” offers the strongest hugs that lift me off my feet and melt my heart and make a mom wish this moment could last forever.

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” is a college student too far away, missed by his sister and adored by his parents, finding his way, making the grade, reimagining the world, leaping with faith.

Thriving.

This post originally appeared on No Sick Days For Mom.
Feature image via iStock
Cheryl Gottlieb Boxer
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Cheryl is the creator of the popular blog, No Sick Days For Mom, where she offers encouragement and support to moms muddling through marriage, motherhood, chronic illness and the empty nest. Cheryl resides in New Jersey where she micromanages her tolerant husband, her geriatric cockapoo and her two mostly grown children. 

I was scrolling through Facebook the other day and saw a post that took me back a little. It laid out the year 2021 in words like this: Twenty Twenty One. Say that to out loud yourself……get it? Hear it? I guess many people would feel as though it is true, that 2020 was the year that defeated us, the year that WON.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve felt like giving up many times this past year. Life with special needs kids has always been hard but this year just seemed like the icing on the cake. There was that week back in March where we were told that this “quarantine” thing would only last a week or so. Then a week turned in weeks, a month into months, and so it continued.

Every little detail, every ounce of hard work that I put into getting my children the services they needed was stripped away from them within a week. As time went on, we started to get some services back gradually as fall neared. Things seemed to get back to some sort of “normal” although not really sure if that is the right word to use or if there is such a thing as “normal” anymore.

As we came around the corner to the end of the year, my girls took their turns in the hospital with relapses of seizures. I was once again reminded of how strong they truly are. I could go on and on about the many struggles of 2020, the year of defeat, but I’m done. Instead, I’m going to re-focus on some positives of 2020 and rename it the year of “OVERCOMING.” 

We found a new house that met all our family’s needs in the right timing and location. Belle learned how to walk independently. Bryleigh learned how to write her letters and her name. Bryleigh learned how to start reading short sentences with sight words. Bryleigh and Belle started receiving additional therapy services and made big gains. And I found a tribe of women who truly understand this journey and feel supported.

So here’s to 2021, what I’m calling the year of “REDEMPTION.” Here’s to claiming happiness, health, and hope!

My name is Mandi. My husband Lucas and I have 3 beautiful daughters. They are Bryleigh (6), Belle (3), and Briella (2). Bryleigh and Belle have a rare genetic syndrome called Pitt Hopkins Like 1 Syndrome. Characteristics include epilepsy, developmental delays, low muscle tone, Autism, etc.  

Will you accept this rose? Your Valentine won’t be able to resist a chocolate rose filled with peanut butter. This new Reese’s Peanut Butter Rose is a gift we can all get behind.

Reese's Peanut Butter Rose

Gift a single rose to your special someone or grab one for yourself.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Rose will be available nationwide, for a limited time, in a standard 3.9 oz. pack retailing for $3.79.

Reese's Big Box O' Love

What’s better than one classic peanut butter cup? Try twenty! The new Reese’s Big Box O’ Love makes the perfect gift for the chocolate lover in your life, or even better, enjoy a box for yourself this season

The 14 oz. pack will be available nationwide, for a limited time retailing for $9.99.

Reese's Peanut Butter Hearts

Hershey’s is also bringing back Reese’s Peanut Butter Hearts for more peanut buttery love this Valentine’s Day!

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Hershey’s

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The holidays are fast approaching. And for the past few weeks, my mind has been filled with excitement and longing for celebration and togetherness. In an ever-changing world that we are a part of, looking forward to something is a must these days. But as the first of the next few major holidays creep up on our families, a new concept plagues my thoughts.

In our area, holiday gatherings are not “banned” but discouraged, as we still reside within a worldwide pandemic. And there’s a very real chance that we won’t be able to come together, as we usually do, I can’t help but wonder if Beckett even notice? Will he even care? Does he recognize Thanksgiving? Does he yearn for Christmas cheer? Will he learn the tradition behind celebrating a New Year? Will he wonder why such a disruption has occurred this year? Or will it all pass him by for yet another year, like a busy day simply following the next?

I’m a people person. I love to be around others. To joke, to laugh, to engage. To see emotion exude from the faces of those you love. And my boy, my sweet, nonverbal, autistic little love, he much prefers his own company at this point. The company of the few. Too many faces equal too many feelings. We know this. We are quite familiar, as he is anything but “silent” on the subject. But he does enjoy to explore, and run, and do his own thing, no matter if we are home or in a relative’s space.

So we go, we do, we push for inclusivity. And we cross our fingers for our positive, happy boy to acclimate. Oh, 2020. The many curve balls you have thrown. With the probability low that we will be able to get together for these holidays, I’m saddened. But not just for my own selfish holiday-loving reasons. But because it has dawned on me that my littlest love, my loving little boy, may very well be happy yet to simply stay. He cares not if our Thanksgiving table is home to three chairs or twenty. He pays no mind to Christmas trees or presents. He will remain here at home, in his element for these celebrations with us, and whether or not he knows they have arrived, he will be delighted. Because he is home. His safe place. The place of little want, or questions, or confusion. And a big part of me is forever grateful for it. Because he knows our love for him.

But I hope with all my might that we can someday reach a day where he requests to go out. That he prefers to go and be in the company of all the people that love him. To get to the day that he knows the excitement of holidays, and traditions, even if they look different to all others. Traditions are made to be your own, after all. With all the change occurring, I suppose it better that Beckett doesn’t know the importance of these days to his Mama. It’s better this way, to keep his springy spirit. But I pray that one day in his future, we can all celebrate, and he will look forward to the occasion and the love that follows.

This post originally appeared on To Infinity & Beyond Words.

BriAnna is a stay-at-home mom to her Disney loving, son Beckett (5), and wife to her Navy  Veteran husband, Cameron. Beckett is Autistic and non-verbal, so BriAnna created her page, "To Infinity & Beyond Words" to shine a light of love on their world of special needs. Their family of three call Nebraska home, and call themselves blessed. 

Have your kids been asking (relentlessly, as kids do) for a pet? A recent survey conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Spin Master found that a lot of kids have been campaigning for a pet. In fact, the average kid will beg for a pet 1,584 times before they reach the age of 18. 

The study of 2,000 parents of school-aged children found that seventy-four percent of kids have asked for a pet with seventy-eight percent of those specifically wishing for a puppy. All of this asking is not in vain with two thirds of parents giving in after about three years on average. Many parents think it may be good for their child, as learning to play gently, learning responsibility and being encouraged to spend time outdoors were found to be the top benefits of growing up with pets.

Pets

Parents should be even more prepared to hear, “Can we get a puppy?” as we enter the holiday season, and they will ask seven more times per month during this time. Sixty-two percent of kids who have asked their parents for a pet will eventually relent for the holidays. 

A third of parents surveyed are planning to buy their child a pet this holiday season. When they looked back to their own childhood, almost half received a pet as a present with many of those saying it was the best present they ever received.

Pets

“It’s a dream come true for a child to receive the ultimate surprise on Christmas morning — a puppy,” said Jean Gomez, Vice President of Marketing, Spin Master. “As some parents remember from their own childhood, receiving a pet for the holidays leaves a lasting impression — the ultimate surprise and moment of pure joy can be delivered during the holiday season, without the responsibility (or clean up) of a live pet.”

Pets

While kids are asking (and asking, and asking) their parents for a pet, the survey found they need to do more than just that. Parents feel it is important to start small and build up to getting a new pet. Twenty-five percent of those polled wanted their child to show they could care for a toy pet before committing to a real one.

“A toy pet can bring so much excitement and joy, while also acting as a step toward getting a real pet,” said Gomez. “And while some parents may say no when asked ‘can we get a puppy’, an interactive pet like Present Pets that barks and paws its way out of the box can deliver that magical experience for the whole family.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Spin Master/Featured photo: Alicia Jones on Unsplash

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Coin battery ingestions by young children has been on the rise for nearly twenty years, but Duracell is doing something about it. In an innovative move, the trusted battery brand has developed a new bitter-tasting coating on specific coin batteries to keep kids safe and help deter accidental ingestions.

Duracell Lithium Coin batteries (sizes 2032, 2025, and 2016) are now made with a clear, non-toxic, bitter coating. This unsavory coating is specifically added to batteries that measure 20mm, which is similar to the size of a child’s esophagus in hope of helping to discouraging swallowing.

photo: Courtesy of Duracell

Unfortunately, when children swallow lithium coin batteries, they can become stuck and burn through the sensitive tissue of the esophagus in only two hours. It is Duracell’s hope that the new coating, coupled with child-safe packaging and other education can help prevent the swallowing of coin batteries.

The new batteries have been awarded the Parent Tested Parent Approved Winner’s Seal of Approval.

––Karly Wood

 

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