With a holiday season unlike any other, we need to get creative with our gift giving. A brand new app called Goody, a first-of-its-kind gifting concierge is designed to make the art of gifting a seamless and genuinely enjoyable experience for both the gift giver and recipient. Giving a gift can be as easy as sending a text, plus you even get to see the recipient open it.
Goody’s curated list of on-trend, best-in-class vendors takes the stress out of browsing and ensures a variety of quality gift options.
Here’s how it works:
Sender:
Download the Goody app
Choose your gift
Enter your recipient’s phone number
Draft a note + send!
Recipient:
Receives a text
Via web browser, opens a beautiful, digital gift unwrapping with the personalized note
Inputs address + accepts!
The sender is notified and credit card is charged only when the gift is accepted.
With loved ones spread far and wide this holiday season, personalized and greeting cards are taking on a whole new meaning. Cardlet, a husband and wife-founded app takes sending your loved ones customized greeting cards to the next level with the magic of AR. Show the ones you care about how important they are to you with this service that requires zero trips to the store.
Cardlet is a physical greeting card delivery service powered by an app that helps you schedule, customize and order high quality greeting cards for an affordable price (starting at $6.95) with ease (delivered in 3-5 business days). Every card is enriched with a hidden AR experience that introduces a new dimension to the message it contains, including a feature that allows the card-giver to imbue their very own voice into the card.
As a new mom, Cardlet founder and CEO Jenny Sich was inspired to create Cardlet after forgetting to purchase a Father’s Day card. Confident that there should have been an app to help with that, she and her husband Matt Sich, a software engineer and Apple Worldwide Developers Conference attendee, set out to make greeting cards simpler and more meaningful with technology. This holiday season, as gift-buyers seek to avoid the stores, personalized cards delivered courtesy of Cardlet are a no-brainer way to connect with loved ones while staying home.
Mere days ago, celebrity couple, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen announced the miscarriage of their son, Jack. Their openness about their loss has invited others to begin a conversation about this all too common matter more publicly. One in five early pregnancies ends in miscarriage and approximately 15% of American women age 18-44 go through a period of infertility during which they may have one or more miscarriages. Additionally, October is national pregnancy and infant loss awareness month.
What to say (and do) to/for someone after experiencing a miscarriage:
• I am so sorry
• I love you (or I care for you)
• I am not sure what to say, but I am here for you
• I don’t know what it’s like for you, but I am here to listen
• I am praying for you (or what specifically can I pray for you?)
• I am sending you a huge hug
• Can I bring you dinner tonight?
• Send them flowers, mail them a card, or send them a “thinking of you today” text
• It is so good to see you. How are you?
•When and if you are ready to talk, I would love to bring you coffee or a bottle of wine
• Send them a free, hand-knitted pocket prayer square/remembrance gift from Baby Blessings Ministry (complimentary; go to www.yourangelwings.net for more information)
What NOT to say:
• Everything happens for a reason
• At least you already have a child (Or be grateful for what you have)
• Just relax and quit worrying
• You can always try again
• You must be so upset
• It wasn’t meant to be (or it’s not the right time)
• At least you weren’t further along
• I don’t know how much more of this roller coaster I can take
• Have you been tested for…a, b, c?
• Maybe you should consider adoption
• God doesn’t give us more than we can handle
After a few months have passed, you could consider saying these things to your loved one or friend who experienced a miscarriage:
I am a sixth-generation southerner, wife, author, lead singer of a rock band, entrepreneur, and mother of three. After the birth of my first son, I struggled with secondary infertility over a six-year period. I then opted for surrogacy, leading to the birth of my miracle twins. My infertility journey inspired me to write my memoir, "Angel Wings."
It has been over two months since I have written a blog post. I wish I could say that it’s because I was having so much fun with my family during this global pandemic that I didn’t have time to write.
But that would be a lie.
I have seen so many women posting about how wonderful quarantine has been at home with their families. That even though things have gotten rough, they are making it through and coming out on the other side of this a much better person overall. They have succulents and do crafts with their kids.
And I wish I had been doing those things.
But, to be completely honest, I am just trying to make it out of this mess of a world in one piece.
Disclaimer: Don’t tell me to look on the bright side after reading this. I have been. I am making the most of all this. But I also know that this hasn’t been easy on anyone and let’s stop lying and say we’re 100% okay.
Look at the last three months of our lives. It’s been a true clusterf*ck. Everything was cancelled. Literally everything.
I was supposed to go to a Backstreet Boys concert with my sister this fall and it has been rescheduled for 2021. I don’t know if Backstreet will be making it back. They are older than me and I can’t walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded.
But back to the real world. The crappy one we have been living in. I can’t even take my kids to a playground.
I can’t run an errand when it’s just me and the boys because I can’t take them into the store with me, but I also can’t leave them in the car because DCBS would get called.
And then, finally this Coronavirus was starting to get a little better and things were easing up and everyone goes out and people start getting sick again.
Sending our kids to school in the fall will be like sending them into a spaceship of plastic in tiny hazmat suits. Kind of like that Flight of the Navigator movie from my early nineties childhood.
THEN some douche dongle decides to murder an innocent black man in cold blood with people yelling at him to stop and the crowd filming the entire incident.
And that’s when the world went up into flames. I decided to educate myself about racism and realized that as a privileged 35-year old woman living in a mid-size, mostly white town in Kentucky, that I had been unknowingly judging people because of the color of their skin.
That was absolutely embarrassing and it’s hard to admit because it feels so dirty. But now I know and am learning more and have realized that black lives matter and some people that call themselves Christians are still racist.
Disclaimer: I will get about 7 hateful emails because of the comment above.
So not much has happened over the last three months. Just chillin’ with my fam on the back porch.
Can we all just admit it?
This has absolutely been one of the hardest times in my entire life. I have been trying to balance all this change with raising two young boys, working and trying to be a good wife.
My husband had his entire baseball team’s season cancelled and was absolutely crushed for the ten seniors that were on the team this year. At least five, maybe six now, have been signed to play baseball in college. Logan, I just want you to know I am proud of the coach you are.
On the other side, I have been working full time at the office and Logan has been taking care of the kids while working from home.
And the sum of all that craziness showed us that marriage isn’t easy.
I never talk about our marriage on here, but this pandemic and the chain of events following have made us realize how much work it is to make a marriage work and that we have to spend time together communicating every day. It can be hard because we are both tired and frustrated and want our lives to feel a small bit of normalcy again but it’s worth it.
So yeah, unicorns and rainbows over here.
Oh, and I need someone to potty train my two-year old but that would just be pouring gasoline on this dumpster fire right now. His poop is the size of my arm and it’s getting so gross but he is not showing interest. So I will continue letting him wear big boy underwear over his diaper.
So let’s take a vow that we will start being honest about how we are feeling. I have been having a hard time. Lots of anxiety. And I just realized it because I had been lying to myself that everything was great and that life hasn’t thrown me a curveball of poop that was on fire.
Until next time, which is hopefully sooner rather than later.
I am a full time working mom with two little boys, Henry and Simon. I write about real life and real life gets messy. Contributor for Motherly, HuffPost Parents, Scary Mommy, Today Parents, Love What Matters and Her View From Home.
Father’s Day is this weekend––do you have a gift for the special dad in your life? Never fear, Dunkin’ is here!
The family fave donut shop has whipped up Dunkin-themed IOU coupons and you can download them for free! Head to the Dunkin’ website to snag the perfect coupon for your dad, like a breakfast together, a hug or a coffee break.
You can also give dad a much-needed coffee break by sending an e-gift card with a special design from DunkinCoffeeBreak.com. For every card purchased, Dunkin’ is donating $1 (up to $100,000) to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. This organization aims to health and hunger relief for children in underserved communities.
Donuts and coffee not your dad’s thing? Then you may have better luck at Baskin Robbins, where you can find a Polar Pizza Kit. Each kit comes with everything you need to make the dessert pizza of your dreams.
For $24.99 you’ll get a pre-packed quart (of your choice), one cookie or brownie shell, two dry toppings, two wet toppings, spoons and napkins.
––Karly Wood
All photos: Courtesy of Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins
Now you can enjoy the sweet taste of marshmallows in an icy treat. Luigi’s recently debuted a new galaxy-themed blue and purple swirled Italian ice. Best of all, they are topped with multi-colored star sprinkles.
A simple thank you goes a long way. Whether it’s your best friend, neighbor or your mom tribe, it’s so important to express appreciation to the people who make our lives better and brighter.
Show your family, friends and all the important people in your life how grateful you are for them with a sweet thank you from merci Chocolates. Known as Europe’s most famous gift-giving chocolate, the name literally translates to “thank you” making it a convenient, thoughtful way to express gratitude. merci offers a collection of eight unique flavors, including Creamy Chocolate, Coffee and Cream, Hazelnut-Almond, Hazelnut-Crème, Marzipan, Dark Cream, Dark Mousse and Praline-Crème.
Want to really make your merci Chocolates gift stand out? Personalize your own merci product cover! Choose your design, add a personal message, upload your photo and print it off for a thoughtful gift. It’s that easy! You can upload photos and create as many covers as you want.
merci Chocolates are available in grocery stores and retailers nationwide. Click here to find a store close to you on the merci website.
merci believes in spreading gratitude and showing appreciation every day. Saying merci with a sweet treat is a perfect way to express your gratitude. Send grandma and grandpa a message of love. Say “merci” to your kiddo’s teacher by sending chocolate and a personalized message. Or show some appreciation to your neighborhood postal worker or grocery clerk. For all those who deserve a heartfelt thank you, say thank you with merci Chocolates.
Parents and kids are tapping into their creative sides looking for fun ways to pass the time. Now kids can take their own idea for a toy or game and turn it into a concept that could end up being sold at major retailers like Target. The CHITAG Young Inventor Challenge happens annually each year as part of Chicago Toy & Game Week, but, the group has partnered with major industry players like Mattel, Magformers, Scholastic and the American Specialty Retailer Association (ASTRA) to launch a special spring edition, specifically to help inspire kids stuck at home due to COVID-19.
The CHITAG Spring Young Inventor Challenge is open to kids ages 6-18 as of Apr.15, 2020. To enter, kids need to create an original prototype toy or game and show the judges how to play with it using photos and sending in a pitch video. The deadline for entry is Jun. 15 and winners will be announced Jul. 1.
This is the 14th year for the Young Inventor Challenge, in which heavy hitters from top toy companies mentor each entrant. There’s even a Young Inventor Design Guide which walks parents and kids through the creative design process.
During the judging phase, toy companies have the option to work with inventors to bring their games to market.
While we’ve been social distancing, Brookfield Zoo has welcomed some pretty exciting arrivals—two handsome 4-year-old African lions. While Chicago hasn’t been able to welcome these beauties in person just yet, read on to learn how you can be a part of their virtual welcoming committee.
The 4-year-old brothers, Brutus and Titus, were transferred to Brookfield Zoo from Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, UT, on March 17. With the zoo being temporarily closed, they introduced the new arrivals via a Bringing the Zoo to You Facebook Live chat.
After seeing the brothers, kids began sending drawings of the lions and welcome messages to the zoo’s Facebook page. Staff decided to line the windows of the lion’s outdoor habitat with these well-wishes, which caught the eye of Titus.
Brookfield Zoo would like to fill the entire window with artwork and is inviting kids to submit their original masterpieces to the zoo’s Facebook page. They will be printed and added to the window for the lions to enjoy.
Brookfield Zoo’s Bringing the Zoo to You Facebook Live Chats are held on weekdays at 11 a.m. Be sure to join in to visit with your zoo favorites. If you miss one, no worries, you can go back and watch on Facebook or YouTube.
Note: As a non-profit, Brookfield Zoo relies on ticket sales, memberships, education program fees, meeting revenue and donations to operate. These temporary Covid-19-related closures have had a significant impact on the operating budget of all non-profits. Please consider making a donation, purchasing a membership or visiting the zoo in person when restrictions are lifted.
America Ferrera is now a mom of two. The Superstore actress announced the birth of her daughter via social media. The little girl arrived on May 4, just in time for Mother’s Day.
“🌟LUCIA MARISOL WILLIAMS 🌟arrived on May 4th to give me my Mother’s Day hugs and kisses herself. Mama, Dada & Big Brother are over the moon to welcome her bright light to our family,” Ferrera posted on Instagram along with a sweet photo of her newborn daughter’s little hand.
Ferrera and husband Ryan Williams also have a son, Sebastian, who was born in May 2018.
Since the couple wasn’t able to throw a baby shower due to the coronavirus pandemic they asked friends to donate to the Yes We Can World Foundation which helps deliver essential supplies to migrant children on the U.S.-Mexico border. In her posts she implored friends and family, “Dear friends, if you’re considering sending Lucia a gift, please donate to @yeswecanwf in her name. Or make a donation today in honor of the Moms you love! Visit www.yeswecan.world for more info.”