Creating trendy ensembles when you just want to stay warm can be a challenge, but this season’s hottest looks make it easy to keep cozy while dressing up or down.
(Family Features) Creating trendy ensembles when you just want to stay warm can be a challenge, but this season’s hottest looks make it easy to keep cozy while dressing up or down. Whether you’re aiming for style for a holiday celebration or planning an evening out to shop and take in the holiday lights, this season’s trends have you covered.
Stylish layers and updates to winter wardrobe staples are two keys to nailing this season’s on-trend looks, according to acclaimed American fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, who is collaborating with Walmart as creative director for Free Assembly and Scoop, the retailer’s exclusive, elevated fashion brands.
“Like many people across the country who live in a small town, Walmart was the destination for everything where I grew up, including holiday fashion,” Maxwell said. “When I first teamed up with Walmart, I was excited to bring the joy of fashion to people across the country. Everyone deserves to enjoy their holidays in clothing they love. This year, we are proud to offer the biggest trends in holiday fashion, from cozy outwear to glamorous party looks.”
Maxwell offers these tips for creating the perfect affordable look, no matter where your plans take you this winter:
Metallic Shine: Metallic sweater sets, like a boxy crewneck and matching mini skirt in a glitzy gold shade, are must-have pieces for the holidays. Wear the show-stopping set with matching gold earrings and platform sandals for a head-turning party look.
Layers of Style: Layer festive multicolor patterns in intarsia knits like this Free Assembly fair isle sweater with a plaid puffer jacket for an easy update to winter closet staples like lightly distressed jeans and booties.
Party Perfect: Sophisticated outerwear pieces like a double-breasted coat add a modern touch to classic holiday party looks. Pair with a berry-hued mini dress, black tights and black boots for a look that stands out. For a bit of edge, choose a faux moto jacket layered over a sequin cami top or metallic sweater to complement a faux leather skirt.
Casual Comfort: This season, menswear is all about intentional layering and looks that prioritize both comfort and style. Update vintage-inspired flannels by layering with a quilted puffer pullover and matching them with wintry prints and cargo joggers for a look that’s casual and put together all at once.
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Little Lookers: Fashionable little ones can also get decked out this season. Colorful sparkly girl’s dresses from Scoop perfectly complement matching versions for women, ideal for family photos and mommy-and-me moments that make the season extra special. For a more casual event, fair isle sweater dresses in fun shades like lavender can make a classic look oh-so-now.
Find more festive fashion inspiration by visiting Walmart.com.
Rebecca Jo is a mother of four and is a creative soul from Phoenix, Arizona, who also enjoys new adventures. Rebecca Jo has a passion for the outdoors and indulges in activities like camping, fishing, hunting and riding roller coasters. She is married to Rod Washington
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Rebecca Jo is a mother of four and is a creative soul from Phoenix, Arizona, who also enjoys new adventures. Rebecca Jo has a passion for the outdoors and indulges in activities like camping, fishing, hunting and riding roller coasters. She is married to Rod Washington
5 consejos para la salud del corazón para las fiestas
La comida, las bebidas, los regalos y el tiempo con la familia hacen de las fiestas una ocasión feliz para las personas de todo el país. Sin embargo, toda esa celebración a veces puede convertirse en una distracción para mantener la salud del corazón.
(Family Features) La comida, las bebidas, los regalos y el tiempo con la familia hacen de las fiestas una ocasión feliz para las personas de todo el país. Sin embargo, toda esa celebración a veces puede convertirse en una distracción para mantener la salud del corazón.
De hecho, las alegrías de la temporada pueden estropearse para muchos, ya que las investigaciones muestran un aumento en los eventos cardíacos y las muertes por ataques cardíacos durante la última semana de diciembre. Según un estudio publicado en la revista de la American Heart Association, “Circulation”, ocurren más muertes por problemas cardíacos el 25 de diciembre que cualquier otro día del año, seguidas por el segundo número más grande el 26 de diciembre y el tercero el 1 de enero.
“Las vacaciones son un momento ajetreado, a menudo estresante, para muchos de nosotros”, dijo Mitchell S.V. Elkind, MD, MS, FAHA, director de ciencias clínicas de la American Heart Association. “Las rutinas se interrumpen. Es posible que tendamos a comer y beber más y a hacer menos ejercicio y relajarnos menos. Dormimos muy poco y experimentamos demasiado estrés. Si bien no sabemos exactamente por qué hay más ataques cardíacos mortales durante este tiempo, es importante tener en cuenta que estos factores pueden incrementarse, aumentando el riesgo de un evento cardíaco mortal”.
Ser consciente de este fenómeno anual y tomar algunas medidas importantes y saludables para el corazón puede ayudar a salvar vidas. Considere estos consejos del Dr. Elkind y los expertos de la American Heart Association.
Conozca los síntomas y tome medidas. Los signos de un ataque cardíaco varían en hombres y mujeres, pero es importante reconocerlos temprano y llamar al 9-1-1 para obtener ayuda. Cuanto antes comience el tratamiento médico, mayores serán las posibilidades de supervivencia y de prevención del daño cardíaco.
Celebre con moderación. Comer saludablemente durante las fiestas no tiene por qué significar privarse. Hay maneras de comer de manera inteligente, como limitar la ingesta de sodio y buscar pequeños intercambios saludables para que continúe sintiéndose lo mejor posible mientras come y bebe con moderación.
Practique la buena voluntad hacia sí mismo. Tómese un tiempo para cuidarse durante esta temporada ajetreada. Leer un libro favorito, meditar o incluso jugar con mascotas son formas productivas de reducir el estrés de las interacciones familiares, las finanzas tensas, los horarios agitados, los viajes y otros factores estresantes que pueden provocar las vacaciones.
Siga moviéndose. El ajetreo y el bullicio de la preparación para las fiestas a menudo deja de lado el ejercicio, pero es importante mantenerse activo tanto como sea posible. Sea creativo para mantenerse en movimiento dando un paseo familiar o jugando juegos físicamente activos con sus seres queridos.
Tome sus medicamentos. Los horarios ocupados pueden hacer que algunas personas se salten los medicamentos, a veces incluso los olvidan en casa o no renuevan las recetas a tiempo. Trate de usar un cuadro de medicamentos como recordatorio y asegúrese de controlar los números de su presión arterial.
Descubra más formas de vivir una vida saludable para el corazón durante las fiestas y durante todo el año en heart.org.
Parents can enhance their children’s screen-time value by choosing high-quality media – that is, content with educational benefit. PBS Kids has many popular shows, from “Nature Cat” to “Sid the Science Kid,” that would qualify as educational.
Two other elements contribute to the quality of screen time.
First, screen content should be age-appropriate – that is, parents should choose shows, apps and games that are specifically designed for young children. Using a resource such as Common Sense Media allows parents to check recommended ages for television shows, movies and apps.
Second, parents can look for shows that use evidence-based educational techniques, such as participatory cues. That’s when characters in shows break the “fourth wall” by directly talking to their young audience to prompt reflection, action or response. Research shows that children learn new words better when a show has participatory cues – perhaps because it encourages active engagement rather than passive viewing.
Many classic, high-quality television shows for young children feature participatory cues, including “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Dora the Explorer,” “Go Diego Go!” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”
Point out basic concepts, such as letters and colors.
Model more advanced language using a “think aloud” approach, such as, “That surprised me! I wonder what will happen next?”
No. 3: Connect what’s on screen to real life
Learning from media is challenging for young children because their brains struggle to transfer information and ideas from screens to the real world. Children learn more from screen media, research shows, when the content connects to their real-life experiences.
To maximize the benefits of screen time, parents can help children connect what they are viewing with experiences they’ve had. For example, while watching content together, a parent might say, “They’re going to the zoo. Do you remember what we saw when we went to the zoo?”
This approach promotes language development and cognitive skills, including attention and memory. Children learn better with repeated exposure to words, so selecting media that relates to a child’s real-life experiences can help reinforce new vocabulary.
No. 4: Enjoy screen-free times
Ensuring that a child’s day is filled with varied experiences, including periods that don’t involve screens, increases language exposure in children’s daily routines.
Two ideal screen-free times are mealtimes and bedtime. Mealtimes present opportunities for back-and-forth conversation with children, exposing them to a lot of language. Additionally, bedtime should be screen-free, as using screens near bedtime or having a TV in children’s bedrooms disrupts sleep.
Alternatively, devoting bedtime to reading children’s books accomplishes the dual goals of helping children wind down and creating a language-rich routine.
Having additional screen-free, one-on-one, parent-child play for at least 10 minutes at some other point in the day is good for young children. Parents can maximize the benefits of one-on-one play by letting their children decide what and how to play.
Even in small doses, parent-child playtime is important.Vera Livchak/Moment via Getty Images
A parent’s role here is to follow their child’s lead, play along, give their child their full attention – so no phones for mom or dad, either – and provide language enrichment. They can do this by labeling toys, pointing out shapes, colors and sizes. It can also be done by describing activities – “You’re rolling the car across the floor” – and responding when their child speaks.
Parent-child playtime is also a great opportunity to extend interests from screen time. Including toys of your child’s favorite characters from the shows or movies they love in playtime transforms that enjoyment from screen time into learning.Erika Squires, Assistant Professor, Wayne State University and Lucy (Kathleen) McGoron, Assistant Professor of Child and Family Development, Wayne State University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
(Family Features) Celebrate Mom and other special women in your life with a Mother’s Day gift that makes a lasting impact for children.
When you shop at UNICEF Market, you’re not only choosing beautifully hand-crafted artisanal gifts, but also supporting its efforts to keep children healthy, educated and safe across 190 countries and territories. A portion of every sale could provide safe water, enhance schools, supply essential services or protect infants from preventable diseases.
Each item, from jewelry and apparel to homeware, is sourced from talented artisans who receive fair prices for their creations, strengthening their communities and supporting their families. In fact, the gifts give back three times over: They support artisans and help communities thrive, assist vulnerable children and make for thoughtful, compassionate Mother’s Day gifts.
Choose a meaningful gift that honors the special women in your life while empowering children with the tools for a better future.
Featured Gifts
Aqua Handblown Recycled Glass Carafe and Cup Set, ‘Delicate Aqua’
Add a touch of elegance to any space with this eco-friendly carafe and glass set, handblown from recycled glass by artisans in Mexico. Perfect for your home office or bedside table, it’s a beautiful and practical way to support sustainability.
Handmade Artisan Jewelry
Choose from a stunning collection of handmade jewelry crafted by artisans from around the world, including first-edition Beads of Hope Bracelets from Guatemala. From modern designs to timeless elegance, each piece tells a story of cultural heritage and artistry.
Unique Home Decor
Bring a global touch to your home with handcrafted decor from Africa, Latin America and Asia. Whether it’s a rustic accent, a Peruvian rug or an African sculpture, these pieces can add character and charm to any room.
. These donations support life-saving programs and can be sent via email or printed as a card. Perfect for those who have it all, these gifts honor the special women in your life while supporting children across the globe.
Mom and Baby Care
Ensure the safety and well-being of both mother and baby with a package that includes essential medications for a smooth and safe delivery. This gift directly supports the health of moms and babies in need.
Bundle of Hope
Your donation can provide children with the essential tools for learning and growing: clean water, soap, exercise books, pencils, vaccines and therapeutic food. This gift helps ensure all children have the resources they need for healthy, productive futures.
This Mother’s Day, celebrate moms and children around the world with a gift that keeps on giving by visiting market.unicefusa.org.
SOURCE:UNICEF
Rod: A creative force, blending words, images, and flavors. Blogger, writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Cooking enthusiast with a sci-fi vision. Passionate about his upcoming series and dedicated to TNC Network. Partnered with Rebecca Washington for a shared journey of love and art.
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Erika Squires, Assistant Professor, Wayne State University and Lucy (Kathleen) McGoron, Assistant Professor of Child and Family Development, Wayne State University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
(Family Features) Celebrate Mom and other special women in your life with a Mother’s Day gift that makes a lasting impact for children.
When you shop at 
