Latest news with #Brittany
Business Journals
a day ago
- Business
- Business Journals
Roland Slate Service Co., Inc. Named Baltimore Magazine's 2025 Best Roofing Company
Roland Slate Service Co., Inc. was named Best Roofing Company in Baltimore Magazine's 2025 Reader's Poll. Known for its expertise in historic roofing and exterior restoration, the family-owned company has served Baltimore for over 35 years. Under the leadership of Brittany and John Rich, Roland Slate has embraced modern tools like drone inspections and customer portals while staying true to its roots. With recent national recognition on the Qualified Remodeler Top 500 list, the company is expanding its services to Washington, DC by late summer 2025.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Couple's Multi-Day Wedding in California Ended With an Elevated "Alice in Wonderland"-Inspired Reception
The couple honored their distinct backgrounds by hosting both a Hindu and a Christian ceremony. When Brittany Riddick and Rohit Nambiar met in San Francisco in early 2019, they had no indication that less than three years later they would be engaged. In August of 2022, Rohit proposed at the Legion of Honor, an iconic spot in the city. 'It was a beautiful way to start our next chapter of our relationship in the city where we met,' Brittany remembers. The couple immediately began planning a wedding weekend that would weave elements of their African American and South Indian heritages together, honoring their roots, their families, and a shared vision for the future all at once. 'California holds a dear place in our hearts and we wanted to showcase how beautiful the state is,' the bride says, so they found two separate venues they loved that gave their family members and friends a taste of the Golden State. And since they wanted to the tie the knot twice—first, with a Hindu ceremony on May 3, 2024, and then again in a Christian ceremony on May 4, 2024—Brittany and Rohit knew they'd need the help of an expert to pull off a multicultural celebration that packed a major design punch. Their pick? Erica Adams and her team at Erica Adams Design. With Erica's help, the couple planned an Indian ceremony with bright pink, orange, and red florals at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara followed by a second ceremony featuring gospel singers and a tented reception at Olive Grove Estates, which had been known as Klentner Ranch at the time of the wedding. They drew inspiration from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland for the reception, focusing on whimsical details and a color palette of deep green and black. 'I wanted our reception tent to feel like we walked into a magical garden,' Brittany explains. "I am creative by nature and trade, and I wanted to choose vendors who produced work that was out-of-the-box, but traditional and timeless. I feel we hit the nail on the head." Read on to see the thoughtful touches of their wedding celebrations, including a custom white-and-black dance floor, floral-patterned chargers, and hand-painted menus, as documented by Nirav Patel. Related: 30 Wedding Theme Ideas for Every Style of Celebration The couple's invitation suite, created by Happy Meneocal, set the tone for their wedding weekend. The Alice in Wonderland-inspired trifold design featured custom illustrations of the Santa Barbara coast, horses, and dice. Their RSVP cards featured an illustration of the couple's two dogs. Guests were also given a weekend itinerary encouraging them to wear color for Friday's Hindu ceremony and welcome reception at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara and black-tie attire for Saturday's wedding celebration at Klentner Ranch. For the couple's Hindu wedding ceremony on Friday, Brittany wore a blush lehenga by Tarun Tahilani, which featured intricate beading and appliqué details. 'For our Hindu ceremony and welcome reception, I went for a traditional South Indian bridal hairstyle, in which I incorporated jasmine into my hair,' she says. Rohit wore a matching blush sherwani from Pernia's Pop-Up. The ceremony took place on the lawn at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara where a mandap covered in cascading greenery and vibrant flowers in shades of purple and pink framed the panoramic ocean view. The aisle was flanked by two flower arrangements on each side, which were planted in white pots. Having two ceremonies—one in honor of each of their backgrounds—was essentially to Brittany and Rohit. "It was extremely important to blend our two cultures together in every aspect, from the food, music, fashion, and décor," Brittany says. Related: 50 Fascinating Wedding Traditions Around the World After the ceremony, Brittany and Rohit joined their guests for an outdoor cocktail hour. A round bar took center stage, featuring a wooden dowel design and vibrant color blocked floral arrangements in shades of orange, pink, yellow, and red. High top tables and small round tables were dressed in pink linens in various hues, adding to the pops of color throughout the space. The evening's celebration doubled as the couple's welcome party. Brittany changed into a strapless silver art-deco-inspired Oscar de la Renta dress with chain fringe beading. 'We hired Yonas Michael, who is phenomenal and mixing multicultural music with modern hits,' Brittany says. The venue even introduced the couple to chefs from Kerala who served some of Rohit's favorite foods. On Saturday, the couple celebrated with a second ceremony and reception. Brittany wore a strapless A-line wedding dress by Danielle Frankel in an ombré pink hue. 'It just felt like the most perfect dress for our Californian ranch wedding,' Brittany says. 'I knew it was the one when I saw it first in their collection and, secondly, when I tried it on in their atelier in New York City.' She paired her gown with Tom Ford shoes, a modern updo, and a natural California-inspired makeup look. 'I wanted to feel comfortable in my skin,' she notes. She chose Santa Maria Novella's Eau de Cologne Gardenia as her wedding-day fragrance. She also carried a bouquet of burgundy calla lilies with exposed stems. Inspired by the celebration's ranch location, Brittany wanted her bridesmaids to wear gowns that emanated a refined yet rustic aesthetic. 'I worked with Tara Maietta on all of our looks and she helped really streamline the styling process to ensure that all looks were cohesive,' the bride notes. 'I love fashion and I knew immediately that Tara shared the same vision and taste for the day.' To achieve the perfectly mismatched array, they gave each of Brittany's bridesmaids a few inspiration photos and let them choose their dress for the day. Each attendant walked down the aisle carrying a single white calla lily stem. Rohit wore a custom tuxedo from Klein Epstein Parker, which he paired with Christian Louboutin shoes. His groomsmen wore black tuxedos for a cohesive look. The couple wanted to have a private moment together before the ceremony, so they set up a first look. 'We shared our vows privately and it was a chance for us to be with each other before celebrating with our loved ones,' Brittany says. In the end, the time they spent alone before the ceremony was one of the couple's favorite memories of the entire weekend. The couple had a very specific vision for their Christian ceremony: They wanted to be surrounded by their guests while they exchanged vows. The team at Erica Adams design came up with a creative (and beautiful!) solution: They brought in a round wooden platform as the couple's altar and seated guests in four groups around them. The altar was decorated with a semi-circle arrangement of purple, pink, and red wildflowers and additional arrangements decorated the stone staircase leading to the aisle. The result was visually stunning, but it also ensured the couple felt encircled in love during that very important moment. Related: Why Unique Ceremony Aisles Are Currently Trending at Weddings—And 8 Examples to Inspire Your Own Design The couple hired a choir through Chris Wade Productions to provide live entertainment at the ceremony. 'We had gospel singers enter within each quadrant of the seating to ensure guests were included into the ceremony,' Brittany explains. Finally, the bride made her grand entrance as the choir offered a lively performance. Brittany hugged her dad before he accompanied her down the aisle to her groom. Brittany and Rohit wrote their own ceremony vows and exchanged them in front of their guests. At the end of the ceremony, they jumped the broom before celebrating back down the aisle as husband and wife. At the couple's hillside cocktail hour, guests mingled as they enjoyed signature cocktails and passed appetizers. They found their escort cards displayed in the garden on a round wooden table featuring an oversized arrangement of calla lily and local blooms in an urn. The escort cards took on Brittany's garden-aesthetic vision, featuring illustrations of flowers and butterflies. Brittany and Rohit's reception took place under a clear-top tent, which let in tons of natural light. They added pendant lighting and velvet "Gucci Green" drapery throughout the space for warmth, texture, and dimension. Bella Vista painted a custom black and white checkered dance floor inspired by Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland as the focal point of the space. As they entered the space, guests walked down a path lined with planted trees and lanterns. Black tables were decorated with moss runners, delicate centerpieces of pink, white, and purple blooms, and taper candles in gold holders. 'We curated an artful mix of floral-patterned chargers from Lola Valentine, perfectly complementing the alternating purple and mint china from Theoni Collection,' Brittany says. 'To tie it all together, we had hand-painted menus from Menocal Studio.' 'For us, our menus were a chance to share our cultures with our families and friends,' the bride says. They served a Southern menu including spins on some of the couple's favorite foods, like mini catfish po-boys and duck jambalaya. Brittany and Rohit shared their first dance to 'Love' by Musiq Soulchild before enjoying dessert. They envisioned a minimal design for their two-tiered wedding cake, so they kept things simple by adding just a few fresh flowers that complemented the day's color palette. The couple chose red velvet and cream cheese frosting for their wedding cake and created a dessert bar of bite-sized cakes and tarts. The newlyweds danced the night away with their guests, which was made much easier when Brittany changed into a fun gold sequined mini dress for the party. 'We love a live band, and our band brought everyone to the dance floor,' Brittany says. 'For our wedding we wanted to throw a large party to celebrate our union and West Coast helped us definitely achieve this.' Although Brittany acknowledges the wedding planning process can be overwhelming, she recommends enjoying the moment when the day comes! 'It's rare to have all your friends and family in one space so enjoy it,' she says. Up Next: The Ultimate Wedding Décor Checklist Read the original article on Brides Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
I travelled to the Guérande salt marshes to investigate the health benefits of Celtic sea salt
Picture this: a flat, sandy-hued landscape, a clear cobalt sky, a salty breeze off the Atlantic and a patchwork of shimmering salt marshes stretching out like a natural mosaic. It's hot – maybe 25 degrees – it's late June and, apart from the gentle occasional chirrup of birdsong, it's silent. This is the Guérande Peninsula in Brittany, France, where tradition and nature unite to create what locals call 'white gold' – Celtic sea salt or Sel de Guérande. Unlike ordinary table salt, this mineral-rich treasure is harvested by hand in a centuries-old craft, offering a host of health benefits and a briny burst of flavour that's winning over chefs and wellness enthusiasts alike. I am visiting the Guérande salt marshes to meet Xavier Delamare, the UK's sole importer of Sel de Guérande. He's not just a man worth his salt, he's a man on a mission. His aim is to educate people on how Celtic sea salt is a game-changer for your health. Here, at the marais, there are no factories or chemicals – just the weathered hands of paludiers (salt workers, from the Latin 'palus', meaning marsh), wielding wooden rakes in a practice dating back to the Iron Age. At the Maison des Paludiers museum in nearby Saillé, I learn how this ancient craft nearly vanished in the 1980s, only to be revived by a dedicated few who believed in its value. When the museum guide recounts this story of triumph over near-tragedy, it brings tears to my eyes. The Guérande marshes are a sight to behold. It's midday, getting warmer by the minute. The clay-lined ponds glisten in the heat, mirroring the cloudless sky in their glassy surface and I'm privileged to see this natural masterpiece from a breathtaking new perspective. Xavier, a licensed pilot as well as a sea salt enthusiast, takes me up in his French-made TB20, a sleek four-seater single-engine aircraft. Cruising at 150 knots (about 172 mph) and 2,000 feet above the marshes, the view is magical. From above, the intricate grid of ponds looked like an abstract painting, with shimmering threads of water weaving through the landscape catching the early morning sunlight. 'That is the best way to view the salt marshes,' Xavier says proudly after we land. The 20-minute flight is most definitely a highlight of the trip, offering a rare glimpse of the marshes' scale and beauty. Feet firmly back on the ground, after a bumpy bicycle ride from the village of Saillé, we meet a paludier named Fabian. He shows us around the ancient grid of ponds where seawater is naturally filtered through clay up to 17 times before being left to evaporate under the sun and wind. The result? Two types of salt: coarse 'gros sel', which forms at the pond's base and the delicate 'fleur de sel', snow-white crystals that bloom on the surface under perfect conditions – abundant sun, low humidity and a gentle breeze. Watching the paludiers work their long-handled rakes – a 'las' for coarse salt and a 'lousse' for the fine stuff – feels like witnessing a meditative dance with the tides. It's labour-intensive, but the pride in their craft is clear. This isn't just salt harvesting; it's a way of life, unchanged for centuries. Over a marsh-side picnic of galettes and local cider, Xavier's enthusiasm is infectious. 'Our salt is alive!' he declares, throwing his hands into the air. He explains that refined table salt is 98 per cent sodium chloride, but Sel de Guérande contains just 71-74 per cent sodium chloride, with the rest of its composition a treasure trove of bioavailable minerals – magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and more. 'These are essential for hydration, nerve function, muscle recovery and digestion,' Xavier says. Many experts agree. According to Jessica Shand, a nutritionist and author of The Hormone Balance Handbook, 'Celtic sea salt is an unrefined, mineral-rich salt. Its natural light-grey hue comes from the clay lining of the salt ponds, which infuses the crystals with trace minerals that are largely stripped from standard table salt, making it, in my eyes, a super salt!' Anyone who's studied unrefined sea salts like Sel de Guérande agrees they support electrolyte balance, making them a favourite among fitness enthusiasts for post-workout hydration. 'The key minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc and iodine help with hydration and electrolyte balance,' says Shand. Magnesium aids muscle recovery, while potassium helps regulate blood pressure. The salt's naturally moist texture and grey hue – from clay and nutrient-rich microalgae like Dunaliella Salina – signal its unprocessed purity. The clay-lined ponds also naturally filter out contaminants like microplastics, which Xavier proudly notes have never been detected. 'Our salt has never shown traces of microplastics in any analysis,' he declares. 'The active filtration system, designed to remove foreign particles and contaminants, transfers seawater between ponds with precision. For example, one filter allows only bottom-layer seawater to pass to the next pond, while another permits only mid-layer seawater to move forward, using materials like sand for filtration. While absolute purity is challenging to guarantee, we confidently state that our salt is free from microplastics.' With a lower sodium content than table salt, Celtic sea salt is a wise choice for those watching their blood pressure. Its 82 trace elements make it a 'multivitamin from the sea,' as Xavier puts it, though he advises ensuring iodine intake from other sources like seaweed as Celtic sea salt isn't fortified. Moderation is key of course – French health authorities recommend limiting salt intake, and most of us know that too much of any kind of salt is never a good thing, so consult a doctor about your diet if you have any health conditions and especially if you suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure). Elaborating on the benefits, Shand continues explains that, 'the full spectrum of electrolytes in Celtic sea salt supports proper nerve signalling and can actually improve cellular water absorption, countering the dehydration concerns linked to refined salt. It also supports hormone and adrenal function – adequate sodium and trace minerals are essential for a healthy adrenal stress response. And it's good for thyroid and metabolic function.' It's clear that Celtic sea salt is beneficial to health. In fact, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, French biologist René Quinton conducted groundbreaking experiments demonstrating that seawater, with its mineral composition strikingly similar to human blood plasma, could support health and healing. His work, detailed in his 1904 book L'Eau de Mer, Milieu Organique ('Seawater, Organic Medium'), showed that diluted seawater and the salt it contained could restore balance in the body, particularly in cases of malnutrition, dehydration and chronic illness. Quinton's most famous experiments involved injecting diluted, sterile seawater (known as Quinton Plasma) into dogs that had been – quite horribly, but such was the nature of 19th century medical experiments – bled to near death and then revived. Quinton later applied these findings to humans, using 'Quinton Plasma' to successfully treat conditions like cholera, tuberculosis and infant malnutrition in clinics across France. His work suggested that the trace minerals in seawater – the same ones found in Celtic sea salt – are essential for cellular function and overall vitality. Celtic sea salt's mineral profile aligns closely with Quinton's findings, offering a natural way to tap into the ocean's therapeutic potential. Dr James DiNicolantonio, a cardiovascular research scientist and author of The Salt Fix, notes that Celtic sea salt is a natural, unrefined source of essential minerals that can help replenish electrolytes and support optimal hydration. He explains that unlike processed table salt, which is stripped of its mineral content, this salt provides a balanced spectrum of trace elements that align with the body's needs, making it a valuable addition to a health-conscious diet. When it comes to cooking, chefs love Sel de Guérande for its complex, briny taste and Xavier, a former chef, suggests using 'gros sel' for cooking (perfect for salt-crusted fish or pasta water) and baking. He recommends saving fleur de sel as a finishing touch for steaks and desserts. A pinch on chocolate or caramel desserts oddly elevates sweetness, while a few grains in sugary coffee cuts bitterness. Registered dietitian and nutritionist Elizabeth Huggins stresses that, 'while Celtic sea salt is harvested from the sea or saltwater lakes through the process of evaporation, which allows it to retain trace minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium, these minerals are only present in trace amounts.' In her view this limits their practical impact on health. She recommends a diet of whole foods like vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds as a more effective source of these nutrients. However, this salt does have surprising uses that seem to benefit health. Feeling queasy? A pinch in warm water can settle a dodgy stomach. Salt is crucial for digestion, aiding nutrient absorption and transporting glucose and amino acids in the intestines. It supports hydrochloric acid production, essential for breaking down food and killing bacteria. 'My mother and my grandmother used it whenever we were feeling unwell,' claimed Xavier. 'It's an old remedy, used for generations in France.' Sea salt effectively relieves acid reflux by supplying trace minerals and balancing stomach acid. When it comes to evacuating toxins, drinking a larger amount of salt causes the body's defence mechanisms to react and attempt to maintain homeostasis by rejecting the excess amount and thus saving the body from the harm any excess would cause – in layman's terms, it makes you vomit. As the sun sets, casting a golden glow over the marshes, I say 'au revoir' and reflect on what I've learned about 'white gold.' I've long used Celtic sea salt at home but visiting Guérande has revealed not only its true origin but its magic too. This salt is a product of nature, tradition and, dare I say it, love. Back home in England, I check my kitchen cupboard and smile. Yes, the tub of Sel de Guérande, bought in my local health food shop about a year ago was indeed, as I'd started to suspect, imported by Xavier. I wondered if it had been harvested from the same marshes I'd just visited, perhaps by paludier Fabian himself. The world suddenly feels pleasantly small. Fabian and his fellow paludiers – with only 15 new ones trained each year – are keeping an ancient craft alive, delivering a salt that's as good for your body as it is for your palate. So if you're still using processed table salt, perhaps it's time to bin it and invest in Sel de Guérande instead. Your health and your tastebuds will thank you.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Red Warning - Frank McNally on why Galway fishermen dread foxes
Saint MacDara, whose feast day and associated pilgrimage by Connemara fishermen featured elsewhere in these pages on Thursday, is a rare example of a holy man known only by his surname. This is because his first name was Sionnach, meaning 'fox'. And it has long been a superstition among fishing communities, not just in Ireland but as far away as Brittany, that any mention of foxes on a boat is sure to bring bad luck. Their belief was recorded by the antiquarian R.A.S. Macalister when, making the pilgrimage in July 1895, he pondered why the saint was so known: 'Sinach [as Macallister spelt it] was his proper name; but he is always called after his father, the meaning of that word (a fox) had anything to do with its non-application…we can only infer; anyhow the fact remains that this name was dropped, and the Saint was one of the first to have a surname, for reasons best known to those who applied it.' READ MORE Such was the strength of the superstition that anyone sighting or hearing of foxes while on the way to sea would turn back and abandon the day's fishing. But it wasn't just foxes, Macallister explained. Quoting John O'Donovan, of Ordnance Survey fame, he noted a range of four-legged animals equally dreaded by Galway fishermen: 'They cannot bear to hear the name of a fox, hare, or rabbit pronounced, and should they chance to see either (sic) of those animals living or dead, or hear the name of either expressed before setting out to fish…they would not venture out that day.' This being a big hurling weekend, I'm reminded of an immortal quip from the late Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, covering a game between Tipperary and Galway in the 1990s: 'Pat Fox has it on his hurl and is motoring well here comes Joe Rabbitte hot on his tail...I've seen it all now, a Rabbitte chasing a Fox around Croke Park.' Well, witty as it was, that's another story you couldn't mention on a fishing boat off Galway, apparently. Down in Kerry, meanwhile, the prohibition extends to pigs. According to the blog sight or mention of anything porcine there was traditionally sufficient reason to give up fishing for the day. If a pig had to feature in conversation at sea, it was by euphemism, as 'the fellow with the curly tail'.' In similar vein, the fox was 'the bushy-tailed fellow' or 'the fellow with the pointed ears'. Even the foxy words 'red' or 'rua' were avoided in boats. Hence a Blasket Islander named Pádraig O Guithin, who was known as Pádraig Rua on land but became Peadaí deaghdhathach' ('brilliant-coloured Paddy') at sea. Getting back to Oileán Mhic Dara, the saint himself had an ominous reputation. In his report on this week's pilgrimage, Simon Carswell noted a tradition whereby boats passing the island dip their sails three times. Not to do so is (or at least used to be) an invitation to trouble. Macallister quotes a story from 1672, about 'a certain captain of the garrison of Galway' who, after passing the island without the usual ceremony 'was so tossed with sea and storme that he vowed he would never pass there again without paying his obeysance'. It was too late. Before the captain had a chance to revisit the island, he went down in a shipwreck. A few years after that, in the case of 'one Gill, a fisherman of Galway', vengeance was swifter and more direct. Refusing to strike his sail at the island, he went 'not a mile beyond' when, on an otherwise calm day, the mast was toppled by a sudden gale 'and struck him on the pate dead'. The comic novelist Mervyn Wall wrote about Oileán Mhic Dara for The Irish Times in 1968. He noted then that the superstition concerning four-legged animals extended to deer. This being so, it seemed a sinister coincidence that there was a 'Deer Island' close to MacDara's, something that had proved very bad luck once for a group of British soldiers. Wall heard from locals the story about how a fugitive named O'Donnell was arrested while disguised as a priest near the village of Carna, but bargained with his captors by claiming to have buried gold on Deer Island, for a planned escape to America. So the five soldiers rowed there with him but made the mistake of getting out of the boat first and throwing him a rope. Naturally, he cut the rope and floated away, throwing himself into the hold to avoid their gunshots. Back on the mainland, he then dissuaded locals from rescuing the troops, who by the time they were found had starved to death. It might have been just a story. But there was a place on Deer Island called the 'Mound of the Strangers'. And an old man in Roundstone told Wall that as a boy, circa 1910, he and friends had dug a little into the mound, finding there a well-preserved belt buckle with the initials for 'Highland Light Infantry'.
Buzz Feed
7 days ago
- General
- Buzz Feed
24 Things From Target That'll Plain Save The Day For Busy Parents
A positively ingenious set of Infantino wrist rattles that'll save you from picking up that rattle yet again for your baby who hasn't *grasped* grasping yet. Just attach the rattles around the wrist or the ankles like a bracelet and let your baby discover the magic of their rattling hands and feet while you take that well-earned deep breath. Promising review: "Super cute multi-functional baby toy with soft colors and teething accessories." —Brittany bPrice: $8.49 for two rattles And a pair of Munchkin faucet extenders to help your toddler feel a taste of independence and help save your hands from quadrupling the washing. These sink extenders help your little one easily reach the water without needing to be hoisted up like a sack of potatoes. BuzzFeed editor and mom-of-two Heather Braga has this for her 3-year-old. She said, "We're working on potty training my toddler, which comes with the added routine of constant handwashing. He's itching to be independent in all ways (yay) so I knew it was time to add these to my cart. They slip over the two very different faucets in my bathrooms and have truly made it easier than ever for my son to wash his hands."Promising review: "I have two toddlers who are potty training. This has been a wonderful addition to our sinks! Don't have to juggle between carrying your little one and washing their hands at the same time!" —K1525Price: $10.99 for a two-pack A compact, portable Jool Baby travel potty seat that can make an adult seat the perfect size for little potty trainers. Save your back from holding them up onto the seat in public restrooms so they don't fall in because the bare minimum here means no peeing toddler clinging to you and bringing your face inches from a public toilet. This amazing potty seat comes with a travel bag and can be quickly and easily wiped clean with an antibacterial wipe. It suctions onto the toilet, keeping your kid both physically and mentally secure. Promising review: "This product has been a game changer for getting my toddler to use the potty in public. He is smaller, so normal potties are intimidating to him. I highly recommend this seat for any little kids!!! So easy to attach and fold up. Each to clean after, too. Such a brilliant product." —KatePrice: $14.99 (available in three colors) A bottle of detangling spray for turning morning cryfests into a quick and easy process. This leave-in conditioner is hypoallergenic, all-natural, and gentle — plus it smells amazing. I recently switched my fine-haired daughter over to this leave-in conditioner, and we both love it! The citrus vanilla scent is SO good, and it actually works. I can spray this on wet hair after a shower or on a knot in dry hair, and it's equally great. Promising review: "This stuff smells fantastic and works like magic! My kids have long, wavy hair, and this has become a part of their hair care routine because it's so amazing. It detangles, and the good smell lasts in their hair." —Mama KesPrice: $7.79 A formula-mixing pitcher, aka an absolute game changer for avoiding gas and getting formula ready, like, ~yesterday.~ Not having premade formula while you have a hangry baby should be low on your list of effort you want to use. And there's nothing like making an entire batch before bed and easily pouring a bottle when you're still half asleep. The formula comes out clump-free, can be made up to 24 hours in advance, and has no bubbles, which can lead to gas. If you're a nursing mama, it can also re-mix breast milk. Promising review: "I love this pitcher; it is the perfect size. Easy to use so that you can store formula for the whole day, and it removes air bubbles in the milk. If you have a baby registry, make sure to add this gift." —RhondaPrice: $9.99 (available in three colors) A cool mist humidifier that'll help soothe when your kiddo comes down with a cold and hopefully get them back up and running sooner. I don't know about you, but I have precisely zero minutes to waste on yet another virus my kids bring home. So many people swear by humidifiers, but I had never used one before having a baby. If you're a skeptic like I was, I can verify that getting a humidifier has been so helpful, especially now that my kids are a bit older. Whenever I see the first sign of a sniffle, I pull the humidifier out and see dramatic improvement when I try to grit my teeth and hold on until it passes. Promising review: "This humidifier has been a blessing! Our other one got wet so we ordered this. I was skeptical because of the size, but it actually works great!! I love the different selections you get for what type of speed you want for your humidity and light." —JayPrice: $39.99 (available in two colors) A super convenient Ubbi grape cutter to take all of the work out of minimizing choking hazards. Quickly insert the grape or tomato and slice it into a safer size — especially when you have several young kids or are prepping for a party or play date. One less thing to worry about! Price: $9.99 A snack storage solution so they can quickly grab their treats with zero fuss and zero wasted time. Promising review: "I have type 1 diabetes, and I use this as my snack tray when my blood sugar drops. So now I can easily see what I have, and my family can get something quickly for me. This could be used for so many different things. Great product!" —mzmullisPrice: $19.99 And a set of clear fridge organizers that'll make preparing meals and snacks easy and efficient rather than chaotic and frustrating. Keep your essentials at the ready and just watch how easy you'll make it look. Promising review: "Great addition to our fridge! Helps keep our fridge more organized and makes it look better, too! Great thick material. Very easy to clean, too!" —SamyasPrice: $25 for a four-piece set A touchscreen toaster so they can ~independently~ figure out exactly how they want their toast without figuring out what the number dial actually means (I mean — do any of us REALLY?). Just touch the image of what you're toasting, touch the image of how dark you want it, and enjoy the benefits of a morning that doesn't include scraping char off of toast. Promising review: "This toaster is amazing. The countdown clock and toast color options are so handy. Makes perfect toast every time!" —Oswald LuciusPrice: $54.99 (originally $299.99) A Shark handheld vacuum to quickly pick up crumbs under the table or high chair without getting on your hands and knees with the dustbin. Save yourself time, energy, and effort by quickly sucking up crumbs and enjoying the feeling of walking near the table without Cheerios sticking to your feet. For the longest time, I used a dustpan and broom to get my kids' crumbs after meals. It wasn't that big of a deal, but it was annoying. I finally decided to treat myself to a handheld vacuum, and I do not regret anything except for waiting so long to get one. It's one of those really small things that really did make one part of parenting so much less work. Now that my baby is a big kid, she happily vacuums up after meals that are still messy years later. Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this little vacuum! It's so easy to use — my 2-year-old, who likes to help, can even use this vacuum. It's powerful and the attachments are easy to exchange. It is bagless and easy to empty; you can charge it easily from any outlet. I have a long-haired cat who sheds a lot and this vacuum works well for pet hair." —StruPrice: $99.99 A fan-favorite Skylight calendar for keeping all of your family appointments in plain sight. Not only does it automatically sync to your calendars, you can set up chore charts for your family members and keep lists all in one place. This calendar does use a subscription for a wider range of functions, but the calendar, chore chart, and lists (aka the most important) don't require anything extra. That being said, it's a huge time saver since it connects to Google Calendar, iCloud Calendar, and Outlook Calendar to keep everyone's schedule in one place. Promising review: "This literally does it all! There is also an app that goes along with it so you can see your calendar on the go & it can be separately accessed by your spouse or kids as well! The chore charts and reward stars are great for kids. The meal planning calendar is such a great tool. Being able to have everyone's schedule all in one place is just great. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️" —ADPrice: $319.99 A shoe organizer to keep footwear front and center rather than *maybe-possibly-under-the-bed-will-you-just-find-it??*. This low-profile storage solution can keep things organized and out of the way and shave off precious minutes from getting out of the house. Promising review: "No more messy entryway whenever we have guests. This is a very nice piece. Sturdy and easy to assemble. Happy with this purchase." —ken210Price: $102.99 A document holder AND backpack station that can hold documents, backpacks, and a sweater without completely gunking up your entryway. Each kid can have a station because you do NOT need to search for the backpack and homework folder as you're trying to get everyone out for school. Each organizer can hold up to 25 pounds, so if you have middle or high-school-aged kids, it might not work if they keep heavy textbooks in their backpacks. Try something more heavy-duty to clean up the entryway and keep things organized. Promising review: "This was perfect for our preschool homework station! Kept homework in the pocket and hung backpacks on the hooks! So functional yet still very modern and sleek." —JosiPrice: $25 An easy-to-use toy storage solution if the very idea of packing up a vast array of toys is exhausting in and of itself. Simply pile toys into the mat, gather them, and collect up to nine pounds in one beautiful scoop. Even the youngest toddlers can scoop and dump — because you have no time to waste picking up hundreds of tiny toys. Price: $53.99 (originally $76.99) A Bissell vacuum/mop combo that'll make your old bucket and mop system completely obsolete. This machine will vacuum and mop at the same time, keeping your floors squeaky clean and allowing you to forget there was ever a time when you would wipe the crumbs off your feet on your pant leg. Promising review: "It is a great product, especially for people who don't have time to waste. The product is easy to use, it cleans and mops simultaneously, you don't have to switch from vacuum to mop, and it sanitizes. The first time I used it, I could see the difference on my floors." —SashaPrice: $179 (originally $229.99) A gentle alarm clock for your older kids that doubles as a night-light and an OK-to-wake clock for your youngins'. The light gradually gets brighter to help wake them up more peacefully than you in a "GET UP OR WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE" panic. Promising review: "I use this as my alarm clock. The light feature that turns on 15 minutes prior to my set alarm time is wonderful! It slowly gets brighter, and I am always awake before the alarm sounds. It's nice to not wake up the whole house. The night-light feature options are very pretty and nice to have just before going to sleep." —JBPrice: $21 A magnetic responsibility chart so the ~responsibility~ of getting ready in the morning doesn't land fully on your busy shoulders. This chart comes with 92 magnets for personal, communal, and social skills and a dry-erase marker for any goal that might not be included in the provided magnets. If you have a non-reader, check out this simplified version for the morning and evening routines!Promising review: "A probably one of my favorite purchases from target. Really helps my toddler to understand responsibilities and keeps us on track for the day!" —JessicadrakePrice: $18.79 An electric toothbrush because absolutely no one has any time for cavities. This toothbrush comes with an app to help ensure your kids are brushing those mouthbones rather than taking a swipe and calling it a day. Promising review: "Daughter loved that she could choose the design on her toothbrush. Cleans teeth very well. The app helps her stay constant with brushing for the full length of time. Really happy with the product. Works better than other electric toothbrushes we have tried in the past." —TargetMomPrice: $34.99 (available in pink and blue) A car seat buckle release tool that'll protect your nails *and* your patience from how surprisingly difficult unbuckling is. Plus — when they're older — they can learn to unbuckle themselves, ensuring that you are not burying your face in the drop-off line as you get out of the car to unbuckle your kid. The car seat buckle desperately needs to be one less thing you fight with. Promising review: "Liked the colors. Bought one for each car. My daughter can now unbuckle herself with this which helps speed up the drop off line at school." —EricaPrice: $28.99 for a two-pack (available in two color combos) A backseat storage bag to store toys, snacks, or whatever else they need as you're chauffeuring them to all of their practices. If you're on the go often, having some snacks always at the ready is going to save a lot of energy. If you're keeping this in your car full-time, only pack snacks that won't melt. Promising review: "Love how this can fit on the seat of my car or on the floor. Love the pockets on the sides that allow me to put items that I need but don't want my twins getting into. Fits so much stuff and perfect for a road trip." —TwinmamaPrice: $16 And a portable trash bin that'll help keep tissues, snack wrappers, and other garbage from filling up the backseat. Just stash the trash, empty it, and enjoy the freedom of not having to chase down snack wrappers that fall out when you open the car door. I keep a small trash can with me, and I am always surprised at how quickly it fills up. Luckily, the trash can fills up instead of my backseat. It's so easy to empty while I'm at a gas station or quickly before I head out with the kids, and it's saved so much mess. Promising review: "I love this trash can for my car. I have one in each vehicle. Its small and can easily be squished out of the way if needed. This is the first trash can my kids use in the car." —ChrisPrice: $11 A visual timer to help make transitions easier for everyone. Since kids can't tell time, "five more minutes" doesn't mean much. With this handy timer, they can watch the colored portion get smaller and be less shocked when time is up. If you have a kid who struggles with transitions (like mine!) or doesn't understand any time but NOW, this timer is for you because no one has time for a meltdown. Price: $35.04 And a foot massager because at the end of the day, you deserve a little relaxation too, darn it. You might as well give those dogs a little rest — because tomorrow's busy day is already calling. Price: $100.99
