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10 Alexa Skills That Will Change Your Parenting Life

Erica Loop

Dec 16, 2018

Alexa isn’t exactly where the term “mother’s little helper” originated (far from it), but that’s not to say it can’t lend a major hand to moms everywhere. (We’re fully on board with getting a little Amazon assistance now and then!) If you need some serious mommy-ing help, check out these not-to-miss skills.

Quick List

Mother and daughter embracing in kitchen

There’s no chance that you’ll remember the all dozen things on your shopping list next time you’re shopping. But Alexa can help you ask Quick List to add items that you’ll need as you remember them, making your shopping trip with baby a breeze.

Erica Loop

Erica Loop is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh. When she's not busy creating kids' activities for her blog Mini Monets and Mommies, you can find her trying to hang out with her teenage son, being chased by her two Olde Boston Bulldogs or teaching a children's karate class (she's a third degree black belt!).

Issues

Peanut App’s Latest Release Gears Towards Women Struggling With Infertility and Infant Loss

Raising children can be tough, especially if you've never done it before. Friends and family can be a great support system but it's nice to be able to hang out with other moms who share your interests and parenting style. This was the motivation Peanut, the social networking app designed to help moms find their tribe. Since it's launch, Peanut has become a premier destination for moms and moms-to-be to foster relationships through motherhood.

Today, the app deemed "Tinder for Moms" unveils a new platform, Trying to Conceive (TTC), a space for women on their journey to conceive. Peanut TTC is the first digital community that offers women on assisted fertility journeys and considering alternatives to pregnancy, a community of support through shared experience. The app also offers a space for women who have experienced miscarriage or infant loss.

The CDC reports that 1 in 8 couples in the U.S. experience infertility, and although advances in medicine and technology can increase the chances of conception, they don't address the overlooked emotional and mental toll that comes with the process — anxiety, loneliness, and depression. These issues fueled the Founder and CEO of Peanut, Michelle Kennedy, to develop Peanut TTC.

Founder and CEO of the Peanut App

Brit + Co: How have you seen the conversation and connection surrounding motherhood change since the birth of the Peanut app?

Michelle Kennedy: With any relationship, including those we have with apps and tech, there is always an initial trust-building period. For moms, and new moms especially, this is crucial. They're asking questions about their children, nothing could be more precious. Beyond that, there is a vulnerability as a new mom that I can't quite put into words. It's an incredibly scary and lonely moment in your life. And when we don't know or understand something, we tend to hide. However, as Peanut has grown, we've seen the opposite than one might expect when it comes to connection and vulnerability. The bigger the community, the more intimate conversations amongst women have become. Women have full trust in each other, and in the app — because of how we build it, and because of how we protect our community. They share everything. They help each other in times of need. They laugh together. They meet up and they build lifelong relationships. At Peanut we have been able to scale with intimacy, and that is a major accomplishment of the women on the app.

B + C: Do you use the app yourself?

MK: I can say with full confidence, that I have used Peanut every day since its inception — save for the birth of my children. And even then, there's a fair chance I was in-app for a moment or two. I love watching our community grow. I am a part of that community. I laugh and cry alongside these women. Sometimes I check in during a 4 am feed, and just reading comments and threads from other women gives me a sense of calm. I built something that I would use. It only makes sense that I use it.

Peanut TTC App Screenshot

B+C: Why did you decide to expand with TTC?

MK: Very much like Peanut, Peanut TTC was born from a real need. We know moms need support and comfort and community. They want to be able to chat in trusted environments. Women going through fertility journeys need that equally, if not more. For both the most patent reasons and for the emotional battles of TTC that are kept in the shadows or shrouded by the science of it all. Primarily, it's just not easy to find another woman who is on a TTC journey -- it's not as obvious. There are no visual signals for a woman who has experienced loss or who is trying for a baby. A mother may even have a child by her side, and yet is struggling to conceive baby #2.

B + C: What problems do you see or experience associated with motherhood? What stigmas still need to be broken?

MK: Oh, where does one start? As I am a working mother, I can speak on that specifically. There is this idea that motherhood distracts you, makes you less employable — we see this all the time. Women are replaced during maternity leave. They are scared to reveal pregnancies to employers. Job security is a major concern. There are so many backward notions about this, but these fears are also built on the notion that raising children is solely a woman's job. No one ever asks a new dad how he's going to work and manage a newborn. No one ever asks a father-to-be if he's going to come back to work after the baby is born. Why? We all know why. And it's a detriment to modern motherhood.

B+C: What are your hopes surrounding women and the conversation of motherhood in the future? What does that community look like?

MK: This digital community is the signal — the lighthouse, if you will, for women who feel alone. It's the heart behind the science. All are invited into this compassionate and community-driven space. These women comfort each other. Share. And ultimately, no matter where their journey takes them, they take care of each other. Additionally, the more we speak about our experiences, the less isolating they become. Peanut TCC shines a light on what is often a silent struggle.

6 Goopy Takeaways from the 2019 In Goop Health Summit

In goop Health, the wellness summit from Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle brand, came to Northern California over the weekend. San Francisco also got its first permanent goop retail store. It was a full day of all things "goopy." There were B12 shots, astrology readings, skincare lessons, and energy cleanses. And a lot of thoughtful conversations around self-reflection and how to improve our individual and collective impact on the world.

Topics spanned from love to death, and speakers including actress Sophia Bush and author and 2020 presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, emphasized that wellness is a journey that has many paths. Scroll through to see six key takeaways from the day.

In goop Health Summit San Francisco 2019 BJ Miller Gwyneth Paltrow Getty Images

1. Rethinking death can change the way you live. BJ Miller is no stranger to life-altering circumstances — he lost both legs below the knee and one arm below the elbow in an accident in college. Despite and because of that, he went on to become a doctor, specializing in hospice and palliative medicine.

Miller says he's interested in things that you can't fix or control, and one of the biggest examples of that is death itself. But it's also not something to fear. Miller says that once you recognize the mundaneness of death — how it's everywhere, all the time, from simple things like leaves falling off trees to actual loss of life — and learn to accept and have a relationship with a larger reality, death becomes less scary. "Be less surprised that you're dying someday," he says. His point: Death is inevitable so be kind to others and yourself, and appreciate what you have while you have it.

In goop Health Summit San Francisco 2019 James Doty Getty Images

2. Compassion is good for the mind and body. You've probably heard the phrase that no man is an island. James Doty, founder of Stanford University's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, has put real science behind that theory. Doty says, when you care for others, you are rewarded — literally, because the reward centers in your brain light up. He points out that one of the characteristics of blue zones (regions of the world that have a higher average lifespan) is that they have a strong sense of community. "Connection defines our life and makes us healthy," says Doty.

In goop Health Summit San Francisco 2019 Sallie Krawcheck Getty Images

3. Reclaim your power via money. When we think about health and wellness, we tend to think about psychological and physical health, not necessarily financial health. Sallie Krawcheck, founder of Ellevest, an investing platform for women, wants to change that. Money is power, and simply put: Women have less of it than men. There's the gender pay gap. And women tend to invest less than men despite the fact that historically, women outperform men on investment returns. She encourages women to invest, support each other, and talk openly about money with friends. "It's hard to talk about money, Krawcheck says. "Here's what helps: wine."

In goop Health Summit San Francisco 2019 Sophia Bush Getty Images

4. Be an active participant in this world. Sophia Bush leaped onto our screens and hearts with One Tree Hill. Since then, she's become just as familiar for her activism as her acting. Bush uses her social platforms and new podcast, "Work in Progress," to talk about important issues in politics and the world at large. In our trying times, she emphasizes the importance of taking care of yourself. "We fail when we burn out," she says. Bush wants to inspire other people to get involved in helping the planet, helping each other, and working towards something bigger. "Life is too f**ing long to settle for anything," she says. "Look around, we're the adults now."

In goop Health Summit San Francisco 2019 Tatiana Schlossberg Getty Images

5. Fighting climate change is a collective responsibility. Tatiana Schlossberg, journalist and author, used to avoid the subject because it made her anxious. Not anymore. Through research, she became an informed citizen. And today she is a leading voice for action. Schlossberg advises everyone to educate themselves about climate change. It isn't going away anytime soon and the consequences are getting graver — "no matter who you are, this problem is going to affect everybody," says Schlossberg. One easy way to begin is to simply try to consume less (eat less meat, fly less, etc.) because now, she says, "every question is a climate change question."

In goop Health Summit San Francisco 2019 Gwyneth Paltrow Marianne Willamson Getty Images

6. Lead with love. In a world that seems more divided than ever, Marianne Williamson still has a positive outlook. "I think the average American is a good person." Author, spiritual adviser to Oprah Winfrey, and presidential candidate, Williamson thinks we have been too preoccupied with an "it's all about me" attitude that we've forgotten we need to work together as a community for something bigger. "We need to love with as much conviction as is displayed by those who hate." To do this we need to strengthen our emotional muscles. Just like strengthening our physical muscles, it takes daily practice to open your heart and stand on higher ground. If you're looking for guidance, Williamson says that it starts with intention. If in your heart, you truly want to cultivate love, she says "the universe will open up to you in unbelievable ways."

58 Gift Ideas for People Who Love Coffee a Latte

For many of us, late nights and early mornings have made coffee a staple in our daily routine. As our coffee culture evolves, home brewing becomes more of an art form than just adding grounds to a coffee machine. Whether you’re in love with the buzz, the smell, or just the taste of coffee this is the list for you. From coffee subscriptions that give you a taste of beans from around the world, espresso scented candles to fill your home or a t-shirt that sums up your coffee infatuation, make your day, or someone else's, a brew-tiful one, with one of these coffee-lover gifts.

Sunrise Coffee Candle ($40): Love the smell of coffee? Fill your home with the scent anytime with this Homesick candle.

UpCircle Coffee Body Scrub ($20): Buff away dry and dead skin with this coffee body scrub with shea butter, peppermint and eucalyptus oils.

Stojo Pocket Cup ($15): Reduce waste by carrying your coffee cup with you. Whether you're purchasing coffee from a local shop or grabbing a cup from your machine at home, this collapsible cup is a great choice for coffee on-the-go, from 8 oz to 24 oz.

Big Island Coffee Roasters Classic Espresso Bites ($24): This bite-size espresso gives you two ways to enjoy Hawaiian coffee. Either pop it in your mouth for a creamy pick me up or melt it in hot water for an espresso-to-go.

Yes Plz Coffee + Zine Subscription ($17): Get sourced beans from around the world and a weekly arts and culture publication with this beans + zine subscription.

Coffee Neon Light ($75): Let coffee be your guide with this neon steaming cup of coffee.

Soma Brew Bottle ($40): Don't let your hectic schedule jip you out of a quality brew. This on-the-go brew bottle allows you to brew coffee or tea during your commute. Pour hot water over ground coffee, put on the lid and you're good to go. Leave it in the fridge overnight for cold brew in the morning.

Daily Harvest Gift Box ($75): Give the gift of worry-free lattes or morning smoothies with a Daily Harvest gift box. Simply dump the ingredients into a blender, add your favorite base and you've got a cold brew + almond smoothie.

Coffee Bath Mat ($40): Never forget your morning fuel with this cotton shag reminder.

KRUPS Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder ($19): Grind your favorite beans in seconds — less than 10 to be exact.

Covergirl Exhibitionist Lipstick Cream, Coffee Crave ($6): Rich and smooth just like a cup of good coffee, Covergirl's Coffee Crave is a great color for any season and time of day.

Good Day Cold Brew Coffee (7pk for $42): Have balanced energy with Good Day's CBD infused cold brew coffee.

More Coffee Sweatshirt ($68): And then more coffee, and then a little more after that — this is the perfect sweatshirt to espresso your love for coffee.

Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug ($80): Keep your coffee at just the right temperature and control it with your smartphone.

Hemp-Infused Azuca Sugar ($160): Add a little hemp-infused sugar in your coffee cup to smooth out your morning cup of Joe.

Stainless Steel Thermal Mug ($28): For the days where you're literally being held together by coffee grounds.

Iced Vanilla Latte Coffee Gummy Bears Coffee Cup ($8): Coffee lovers won't be able to stop eating these coffee-infused gummy bears from Sugarfina. Enjoy latte-flavored sweetness with a tiny kick in each bite. It's a great blend of coffee and candy.

Hamilton Beach 14-Cup Programmable Front-Fill Coffee Maker ($60): This coffeemaker lets you know how long its been since your last brew and can hold 14 cups of coffee. Need we say more?

Nutrient Vitamin Coffee 30-pack ($30): Get a little more out of your traditional cup with these individually wrapped instant-coffee packs that come with a serving of vitamins in each.

Rifle Paper Co. Tea & Coffee 2020 Hanging Calendar ($20): With this hanging calendar, you'll always fit coffee in the schedule.

Bonavita Interurban 1.0L Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle ($130): This kettle can be adjusted in one degree increments. When it gets all steamed up then it shouts, tip it over and pour it out — over your favorite coffee.

Casetify Coffee Time iPhone Case ($45): Hello, it's your latte calling.

Chef'n Coffee Scoop Plus Clip ($8): Never lose your coffee scoop in the bag again.

Pour and Simple Graphic Tee ($25): What's better than a classic black tee? A classic black tee with coffee mugs on it, of course.

Almond Breeze Vanilla Almondmilk Creamer ($4): Not everyone's tummy can handle dairy. Almondmilk's vanilla creamer is a tasty substitute everyone can enjoy.

Etta + Billie Ritual Roasters Cold Brew Mint Coffee Soap ($14): Wake your body up with this organic cold brew + mint soap. Your skin will thank you later.

1950's Retro Style Coffee Maker ($200): For the nostalgic coffee drinkers, flash back a few decades with this retro-style machine.

Burst Sonic Toothbrush Rose Gold Edition ($100): Give someone back their smile with an electric toothbrush guaranteed to keep the coffee stains away.

Barisieur Coffee Brewing Alarm Clock ($445): For the people who must be lured out of bed by the smell of coffee, try this coffee brewing alarm clock.

Coffee Poster ($23): Add some decor to your place so visitors will know that home is really where the coffee is.

Ratio Eight Coffee Maker ($500): This simplified yet chic coffee maker gives you a great cup of coffee with the touch of a button.

Avana Sedona Tumbler ($25 - $30): Give this insulated, double-wall, stainless steel tumbler to your favorite mover and shaker.

My/Mo Dulce de Leche Mochi Ice Cream ($5): This coffee-flavored treat is a chilled delight for people who love the taste of coffee but don't need the energy.

Neon Coffee/Wine Reversible Sweatshirt ($58): Any day with coffee and cardio is a good day.

Bright On Teeth Whitening Kit ($80): Don't let coffee stains get in the way of your beautiful smile. Remove unwanted stains 3x faster than strips with this year supply Bright On kit.

Hooded One-Piece Pajama ($50): Goodnight, sleep tight. Don't let weak coffee bite.

Smashmallow Dark Chocolate Dipped Cold Brew ($5): If you like marshmallows and hot chocolate, you'll love these dark chocolate cold brew marshmallows.

Highwire Steeped Bag ($3): Steeping isn't just for tea. Keep a few of these in your bag at all times and you'll never be without coffee. All you need is hot water and you're good to go.

Winky Lux Coffee Kitten Palette ($25): Mask those sleepy eyes with coffee themed eyeshadow palette.

Capresso Milk Frother ($98): Be your own barista and make cafe-inspired drinks at home with this milk frother.

Nespresso Essenza Plus ($229): This chic and compact coffee machine can squeeze onto any counter space. Perfect for the one-and-done coffee drinkers, this machine also has a reordering system that allows you to refill your capsule supply with the touch of a button.

Jcoco Chocolate Arabica Espresso ($8): These chocolate espresso candy bars make great stocking stuffers, but probably a good idea to not hang them over the fireplace.

Nitro Flash Brew 12 Pack ($47): For the nitro brew fans, try a 12 pack of Verve's flash brew coffee.

Instant Americano Mushroom Coffee Mix ($20): NeuRoast's instant americano comes with five superfood mushrooms to help you focus your energy.

Hemp Creamer Variety Pack ($28): These Elmhurst hemp-infused creamers can smooth out any morning.

Coffee Art by Dhan Tamang ($9): Wow your friends with your barista skills by adding latte art to their cup of coffee.

Granita di Caffè Body Scrub ($34): Scrub away the day with Jordan Samuel's body scrub.

Cold Brew Coffee Cocktail Set ($24): Remix your cold brew into boozy cocktails with this gift set.

Bodum Mini Coffee Press ($15): This '90s colored mini french press is the perfect size for limited counter space.

Hot & Ready Sommers Sweater ($108): Just how we like it.

Coffee + Donut Earrings ($20): Name a more dynamic duo than coffee and donuts.

Atlas Coffee Club Subscription ($60-$240): Travel the world one cup at a time with this coffee club subscription.

Gloria Jeans's Apricot Crème Coffee ($16): Expand your coffee palette with flavored coffee in a variety of interesting flavors from Gloria Jean. Try pumpkin spice, southern pecan pie, holiday cheer or start with the apricot créme.

The Coffee Lover Gift Set ($127): This Tweak and Twine gift basket is a collection of perky goodness for any coffee lover.

James Avery Coffee to Go Charm ($62): Keep a charm on your arm for good luck that you'll never be without coffee.

DIY Doodle Mug ($24): The perfect coffee mug to get you through a boring morning meeting. Each mug comes with two markers for doodling. Write down ideas or play tic tac toe with your co-workers.

To Go Coffee Glass Ornament ($18): All I want for Christmas is...more coffee.

Coffee Power Graphic Tee ($25): There's nothing like that perfect cup of joe to charge up your day.

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