Ann Taylor, Lane Bryant & Justice Parent Company Files for Bankruptcy

by Jennifer SwartvagherJuly 26, 2020

Say it isn’t so. Ascena Retail Group Inc., the owner of beloved brands such as Ann Taylor, Lane Bryant, and Justice has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. They join a growing list of retailers having to do so as a result of the pandemic.

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A note to our community, from all of us at Ann Taylor

A post shared by Ann Taylor (@anntaylor) on Jul 23, 2020 at 1:00pm PDT

Ascena owns nearly 3,00 stores found in malls across the country. As part of its bankruptcy plan, the company said it would close at least 1,200 locations including all of its Catherines stores, a significant number of Justice stores and a select number of Ann Taylor, Loft, Lane Bryant and Lou & Grey stores.

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From our heart to yours; an update ❤️

A post shared by Catherines Plus Sizes (@catherinesplus) on Jul 23, 2020 at 11:59am PDT

Gary Muto, Chief Executive Officer of ascena commented, “Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lane Bryant, Justice and Lou & Grey have incredibly loyal customers who are at the center of everything we do. These iconic brands have significant long-term potential and we continue to deliver on their mission to provide all women and girls with fashion and inspiration to live confidently every day. This comprehensive restructuring, as well as the actions we are taking to optimize our brand portfolio and store fleet, mark a new start for our company and will allow us to expand our customer-focused strategies across her mobile, online, and store experiences.”

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An important message to our community, from all of us at Justice.

A post shared by Justice (@justice) on Jul 23, 2020 at 1:16pm PDT

Ascena temporarily closed their locations in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. They began reopening locations in early may as state authorities began lifting restrictions. The company noted lower than normal traffic at their reopened stores.

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We’re in the lane beside you.

A post shared by Lane Bryant (@lanebryant) on Jul 23, 2020 at 11:59am PDT

Muto continued, “I am incredibly proud of the entire team for their commitment to serving our customers during what continues to be a challenging period for retail, our communities and our friends and families. We have a clear vision for our future and we will continue delivering meaningful experiences for our customers each and every day. We look forward to our continued partnerships with our valued vendors, landlords and other stakeholders as we emerge from Chapter 11, and this pandemic, as a stronger company.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: M.O. Stevens / CC BY-SA

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Are You Only Allergic to Male Dogs? There’s a Test for That

by Erica LoopJanuary 7, 2020

The littles are allergic to dogs—or so you thought. If you have dreams of adopting a new furry friend for your allergy-prone fam, you may be in luck—that is, if you prefer Fifi to Fido.

Dr. Lakiea Wright, an allergist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, told CNN, “Up to 30% of people who are allergic to dogs are actually allergic to one specific protein that’s made in the prostate of a dog.” With the FDA approval of a blood test for the allergen last May, doctors can now identify whether you (or your child) can live with male dogs or not.

photo: Lum3n.com via Pexels

Wright went on to add, “If you’re allergic to only that specific protein in the male dog, you may be able to tolerate a female or a neutered dog.”

If you’re all in for a hairless pup to avoid allergies, think again. According to Wright there’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Instead, it’s the proteins (such as the one male dogs make) that influence allergies. Wright noted, “When we suspect a dog allergy, we’re testing for that whole allergen. But then we’re also looking at specific proteins, the parts that make up the whole, to refine that diagnoses.”

When it comes to male dogs, the docs look for the Can f 5 protein, which is made in the prostate. Not only can these proteins spread to the dog’s skin and hair, but they can also end up in the air, on furniture or on clothing.

Keep in mind, it’s possible for you (or your child) to have a reaction to more than one dog protein. There are five already-identified allergy-causing proteins dogs make. Even if you’re cleared for the Can f 5 protein, you may still have an allergy to any of the other four.

—Erica Loop

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All the New Movies and Shows Coming to Disney+ in December

by Shahrzad WarkentinDecember 5, 2019

Disney’s new streaming service is packed with movies and TV shows, but as some fans have already noted, not everything Disney was available at launch. Luckily Disney+ is adding new shows and movies in December.

Disney just gave fans a sneak peek at all the exciting content it’s gifting us with in December. In addition to new episodes of Disney Originals, there are also new Marvel and Star Wars movies coming to the platform this month.

We’ve made a list and checked it twice!

From @MarvelStudios’ Thor: Ragnarok to the Original Documentary One Day at Disney, here are the new movies and series coming to #DisneyPlus this December.

What are you adding to your Watchlist? #NowOnDisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/v9CKWsbyi6

— Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) December 1, 2019

Check the full list of new shows and movies coming to Disney+ in December:

Dec. 1

Garfield: The Movie

Glory Road

Marvel Rising: Chasing Ghosts

Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron

Dec. 3

One Day At Disney

Dec. 5

Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok

Dec. 6

Disney Family Sundays Episode 5

Encore! Episode 5

Forky Asks a Question Episode 5

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Episode 5

Marvel’s Hero Project Episode 5

One Day At Disney (Shorts) Episode 1

Pixar In Real Life: Finding Dory Aquarium Escape

The Imagineering Story Episode 5

The Mandalorian Episode 5

The World According to Jeff Goldblum Episode 5

Dec. 11

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Dec. 13

Disney Family Sundays Episode 6

Encore! Episode 6

Forky Asks a Question Episode 6

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Episode 6

Marvel’s Hero Project Episode 6

One Day At Disney (Shorts) Episode 2

SparkShorts: Wind

The Imagineering Story Episode 6

The Mandalorian Episode 6

The World According to Jeff Goldblum Episode 6

Dec. 18

The Mandalorian Episode 7

Dec. 20

Disney Family Sundays Episode 7

Encore! Episode 7

Forky Asks a Question Episode 7

George of the Jungle 2

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Episode 7

Marvel’s Hero Project Episode 7

One Day At Disney (Shorts) Episode 3

Pick of the Litter Episode 1

The World According to Jeff Goldblum Episode 7

Togo

Dec. 26

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Dec. 27

Disney Family Sundays Episode 8

Encore! Episode 8

Forky Asks a Question Episode 8

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Episode 8

Marvel’s Hero Project Episode 8

One Day At Disney (Shorts) Episode 4

Pick of the Litter Episode 2

The Mandalorian Episode 8

The World According to Jeff Goldblum Episode 8

Dec. 31

Marvel’s Spider-Man

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Disney+

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Why Do Babies Hiccup? It May Have to Do with Brain Development

by Erica LoopNovember 15, 2019

Researchers may have discovered an actual purpose for those adorable little baby hiccups. As it turns out, the sweet little noises may boost some types of brain development.

A recent study, published in the journal Clinical Neurophysiology, looked at the brain activity of 13 newborns (born between 30 and 42 weeks) when they hiccuped. Through EEG data, the researchers found that contractions in the diaphragm muscle during hiccups elicited a response in the newborns’ brain.

photo: Public Domain Pictures via Pixabay

The increased brainwave activity the researchers recorded may tie to breathing and breathing muscle regulation. In other words, the newborns’ hiccups were training their brains how to regulate breathing.

The study’s senior author, Dr Lorenzo Fabrizi, said in a press statement, “The activity resulting from a hiccup may be helping the baby’s brain to learn how to monitor the breathing muscles so that eventually breathing can be voluntary controlled by moving the diaphragm up and down.”

Not only did this study help to find a reason for newborn hiccups, but it may also connect to adult hiccups too. Researcher Kimberley Whitehead noted, “Our findings have prompted us to wonder whether hiccups in adults, which appear to be mainly a nuisance, may in fact by a vestigial reflex, left over from infancy when it had an important function.”

—Erica Loop

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Walmart & TerraCycle Collect More Than 1 Million Car Seats During Recycling Event

by Erica LoopSeptember 23, 2019

Walmart recently announced an early end to its first car seat recycling event. If you haven’t gotten a chance to trade in your old car seat for a $30 Walmart gift card, it’s too late—at least when it comes to this year’s event.

After collecting nearly one million car seats in less than one week, Walmart (in partnership with TerraCycle) had to change the end date from Sep. 30 to Sep. 21.

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A post shared by Walmart (@walmart)

According to a press statement, “The response to-date from our customers has been incredible, far exceeding both our and TerraCycle’s expectations. Due to the overwhelming response from our customers, we are quickly reaching capacity for this program.”

One million collected car seats certainly sounds like a sizable number—but that doesn’t compare to the quantity of plastic water bottles it equates to. The car seats are, “The equivalent of diverting over 200 million plastic bottles from landfills”, according to TerraCycle.

While this event was forced to end prematurely, a Walmart spokesperson noted, “Through the car seat recycling event, we’ll help families to keep their kids safe and help reduce plastic waste from landfills. We look forward to hosting future events supporting the needs of parents and families.”

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Walmart via Instagram

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Actress Danielle Fishel Gives Birth to Baby Boy Adler Lawrence

by Erica LoopJuly 1, 2019

Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World actress Danielle Fishel and her husband, Jensen Karp, welcomed a beautiful baby boy on Jun. 24.

Fishel’s baby, Adler Lawrence Karp, made his grand debut four weeks earlier than expected. One day before Fishel was set to go on maternity leave her water broke, sending her to the hospital.

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A post shared by Danielle Fishel Karp (@daniellefishel)

During an ultrasound, Fishel’s OB found fluid in Adler’s lungs. The actress was put on magnesium sulfate and she delivered soon after. When sharing her birth story on Instagram, Fishel noted, “We still don’t have Adler home with us because the deeply good doctors and nurses in the NICU are working diligently to find out why the fluid is there and determine the best way to get it out.”

The actress went on to write, “I can’t wait to share more details about him with you (he hates having a poopy diaper for even 1 minute, he loves bath time, he has the cutest sneezes I’ve ever heard) and sing the praises of his NICU care team but I prefer to do that when Adler is in this crib in his nursery at home on a still unknown future date.”

Congrats to the new parents and we hope they get to take their sweet little boy home soon!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Danielle Fishel via Instagram

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New Study Says Moms Are Healthier When Dad Stays Home After Baby’s Birth

by Erica LoopJune 10, 2019

Recent research may have found a connection between dad’s ability to stay home, following the birth of a baby, and mom’s physical and mental health.

The study, which was released by the National Bureau of Economic Research, looked at the effects of parental leave reform in Sweden. In 2012 Swedish law changed, giving dads the option of taking up to 30 days of paid leave following a baby’s birth.

photo: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash

So what did the researchers find? Not surprisingly, letting dad stay home (and still get paid!) after a baby’s birth reduced the risks of maternal health issues and helped to improve mental health.

Study researchers noted that mothers were 11 percent less likely to get an antibiotic prescription and 26 percent less likely to need an anti-anxiety prescription in the first half-year following childbirth. That is, when dad was given the flexibility to stay home. And as it turns out, dad didn’t actually need all 30 days to make an impact. The researchers found that the average dad only took a few days of paid leave—but still had a positive impact on mom!

—Erica Loop

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Are You Playing UNO Wrong? The Internet Weighs In

by Erica LoopMay 7, 2019

Cheaters beware! The makers of UNO have you pegged. A recent tweet, by the company, cautioned players to follow a well-known (but widely disregarded) rule. And here’s what you need to know.

In the Wild West of card games, UNO players take major liberties with the draw four and draw two cards. Instead of picking the four cards that the “+4” requires, some (and we’re not accusing anyone here) players stack a “+2” on top. That eliminates an extra card from their hand and smacks a six card penalty onto the next player.

If someone puts down a +4 card, you must draw 4 and your turn is skipped. You can’t put down a +2 to make the next person Draw 6. We know you’ve tried it. #UNO pic.twitter.com/wOegca4r0h

— UNO (@realUNOgame) May 4, 2019

After tweeting a cautionary, “You cannot stack draw 2 & draw 4 cards,” the rule-makers at UNO got plenty of social flack from the rule-breakers. One Twitter user questioned the 35-year lapse in rule-giving knowledge:

It took you 35 years to tell us this.
🤔
Do you know the amount of fights, broken friendships and flipped tables this information could have prevented????#Uno pic.twitter.com/cEULmRqkiq

— Victoria L. Bolton (@vickilaketta) May 5, 2019

Another noted that this new reiteration of the old rule will change his life!

My life will never be the same #UNO pic.twitter.com/ICeChN6hrT

— Tyler (@kingtylerdavid) May 7, 2019

And one amateur UNO historian noted that the draw two and four rule wasn’t official until 1998.

Stacking Draw Two and Draw Four cards has never been in the rules. It became an official House Rule in 1998, but they were never mixed. #UNO pic.twitter.com/rEsWFmWWPT

— Douglas Temple (@DougTemple87) May 7, 2019

But don’t worry if you’re still looking for a way to win. The makers of UNO recently tweeted that, “You can win with an action card.”

Whether it’s WILD, SKIP, or Reverse, you can win with an action card. Go WILD! #UNO pic.twitter.com/YtyIfy6BTJ

— UNO (@realUNOgame) May 7, 2019

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: elPadawan via Flickr

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This Company Sold $30 Million In Fake LEGO Sets

by Erica LoopMay 1, 2019

Forget about that counterfeit Coach bag your hubby “accidentally” bought for your anniversary, the latest copycat is for the pint-sized set. According to reports, the Chinese toymaker, Lepin has been raided for allegedly selling knockoff LEGO sets.

LEGO bricks are nearly synonymous with a hefty price tag so when Lepin building blocks showed up online with deeply discounted prices, plenty of people took notice—including the Shanghai police.

photo: Rick Mason via Unsplash

While the toys don’t boast the LEGO logo, they were reportedly copied from the plastic brick-maker’s blueprints. The Lepin website advertises the nearly-identical sets (including faves such as Star Wars) as “compatible with LEGO.”

The Shanghai police noted in a statement, that Lepin is suspected of selling over 30 million U.S. dollars’ worth of the knockoff products. Following an investigation, four suspects were arrested and 630,000 finished products were seized, according to the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua. Shanghai police also took more than 90 production molds used to make the LEGO-esque bricks.

Lepin posted a statement on its website, announcing that the company will continue selling all remaining sets but will stop future production May 1 per the Chinese Government and Shanghai Police’s requests.

—Erica Loop

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Zoe Saldana’s Home Has No Kid-Free Spaces & We Applaud Her Ideas

by Erica LoopApril 29, 2019

Actress Zoe Saldana’s house is fit for a kid. Actually, it’s fit for three kids—her four-year-old twins Cy and Bowie and two-year-old son Zen!

Saldana opened up to Architectural Digest, sharing her views on creating a family-centered home space. The actress noted that even though she grew up, “in that generation where you only had one room in the house that was for the kids and then every other room you weren’t supposed to go in, because that’s where Grandma’s china was,” her home has plenty of places for the kiddos to play.

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A post shared by Zoe Saldaña (@zoesaldana)

What’s it like to live like Saldana? While she and hubby Marco Perego enjoy their home’s interior Italian ’60s modern aesthetic, they also take their children into consideration. Saldana told Architectural Digest, “I wanted to make sure that in addition to everything being beautiful and affordable and super artistic, I wanted it to be child-safe. I have three boys and they’re going to be jumping, ripping and biting. I also wanted it to be durable.”

Child-safe, affordable and durable? Yep, we totally get that!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Zoe Saldana via Instagram

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