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Mandy Velez

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As seen in: Condé Nast, Medium, MSN, Yahoo Entertainment, Yahoo Life, HuffPost, The Independent (UK), Yahoo Canada, Yahoo News, Aol, Yahoo Finance and
Director of Audience Development @condenast. Student loan funeral photoshoot chick. Latina. Aspiring memoirist.
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Articles by Mandy Velez

Trans Gen Zers Are No Stranger to Family Estrangement. Here’s How Some Are Coping

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By Mandy Velez 
| Them
This story originally appeared on Teen Vogue. Read an excerpt below. *Indicates that names have been changed for privacy. TikTok creator Gabbi Hegedus says she hasn't spoken to her biological father in five and a half years. He had been in and out of her life since she was 3 years old, when her parents separated. When Hegedus went to college, she says he stopped reaching out to her completely. "Me reaching out to him and just never getting a response or a call was hurting me more than helping me.
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Inside the Lives of Estranged Gen Z — and the Communities They’ve Found to Cope

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By Mandy Velez 
| Teen Vogue
Welcome to Group Project, a series on the many ways young people are building and engaging with community. From queer resistance to finding new hobbies to forging alternate paths, working together is more important than ever. Here's how young people are getting off their phones and seeking community IRL. * Indicates that names have been changed for privacy. TikTok creator Gabbi Hegedus says she hasn't spoken to her biological father in five and a half years.
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Inside the Lives of Estranged Gen Z - and the Communities They’ve Found to Cope

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By Mandy Velez 
| Yahoo Life
Getty Images/ Liz Coulbourn Welcome to Group Project, a series on the many ways young people are building and engaging with community. From queer resistance to finding new hobbies to forging alternate paths, working together is more important than ever. Here's how young people are getting off their phones and seeking community IRL. * Indicates that names have been changed for privacy. TikTok creator Gabbi Hegedus says she hasn't spoken to her biological father in five and a half years.
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‘Love Island USA’ Season 7: All the Best Memes and Reactions This Week

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By Mandy Velez 
| Teen Vogue
Helloooo Islanders! We’re officially past the first week of a much-anticipated Love Island USA season 7 after last year’s wild and explosive season 6, which gave us PPG (stars Serena Page, Leah Kateb, and JaNa Craig), their partners (Kordell Beckham, Miguel Harichi, and Kenny Rodriguez, respectively), a spinoff show — along with a drama-filled summer with memes that kept on coming.
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The Internet Is Having a Blast Watching Donald Trump and Elon Musk Feud

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By Mandy Velez 
| Teen Vogue
Somehow, we’ve now got two grown men throwing out insults and accusations at each other for the entire world to watch. And the world has a lot to say about it. Check out some of the most entertaining X, Bluesky, and Threads posts and memes about The Hill’s biggest breakup yet below: Bluesky content To honor your privacy preferences, this content can only be viewed on the site it originates from.
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Donald Trump and Elon Musk Feud Is Giving Us Really Good Memes

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By Mandy Velez 
| Yahoo Life
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images We are captivated by a good feud, whether it’s in the sports world, the pop culture space or even the political arena. The latest drama between President Donald Trump and billionaire-turned-government proxy-turned-ex-DOGE-leader Elon Musk, though, is one that some may say they didn’t see coming, but let’s be honest, when one (if not both) have been clocked as a “pathetic man child,” temper tantrums and big blowouts are bound to happen.
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Donald Trump and Elon Musk Feud Is Giving Us Really Good Memes

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By Mandy Velez 
| Flipboard
Allies tried to broker Trump-Musk peace. An Epstein files allegation complicated things CNN — Multiple allies caught in the middle of the implosion between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk were delicately attempting to broker peace between the two men on Thursday when their quiet conversations were disrupted by a post on X. “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in …
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Pope Leo XIV, Formally Cardinal Robert Prevost, Is Being Welcomed With Memes

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By Mandy Velez 
| Teen Vogue
The Conclave has spoken and it’s official — we have a new Pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost has been named the next Pope following the death of Pope Francis in mid-April, taking the name Leo XIV. But not only that, Leo XIV, 69, has made history as the first American pontiff ever — a contribution to our colorful U.S. history and the Roman Catholic Church beyond papal-inspired Met Gala looks.
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Pope Leo XIV, Formally Cardinal Robert Prevost, Is Being Welcomed With Memes

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By Mandy Velez 
| Yahoo Canada
Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take The Conclave has spoken and it’s official — we have a new Pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost has been named the next Pope following the death of Pope Francis in mid-April, taking the name Leo XIV. But not only that, Leo XIV, 69, has made history as the first American pontiff ever — a contribution to our colorful U.S. history and the Roman Catholic Church beyond papal-inspired Met Gala looks.
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19 Perfect Grandparent Valentine's Day Gifts From the Kids

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
iStock Valentine’s Day is a time of love, but it’s also a time of stress for moms. There are little knickknacks to buy for the kids, then there’s getting them their class valentines. Usually, it’s all of the above. But grandparents deserve love, too. Or maybe it’s tradition to get the grandparents something, as they’ll likely keep it among their prized possessions for years to come.
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Love Is Blind Season 7 Normalized Dramatic Heartbreak With Marissa's Relatable Reaction Original

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By Mandy Velez 
| Teen Vogue
In this op-ed, Teen Vogue’s audience development director Mandy Velez reacts to an especially heartbreaking scene in Love Is Blind season 7. I’m standing in my kitchen, watching Marissa George experience heartbreak in real time in Love Is Blind season seven. She’s sitting on the bed in the show apartment she shares with fiancé Ramses Prashad, tears in her eyes.
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Back to the Future’s Casey Likes Is a Gen Z Marty McFly-and Broadway’s Newest Heartthrob

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By Mandy Velez 
| Teen Vogue
Back to the Future star Casey Likes is in his ‘80s era. “I've gone from seventies to eighties. Now I got to do something in the nineties,” the actor jokes with Teen Vogue in his dressing room in New York City’s Winter Garden Theater.
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Back to the Future’s Casey Likes Is a Gen Z Marty McFly—and Broadway’s Newest Heartthrob - NewsBreak

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By Mandy Velez 
| NewsBreak
By signing up for our newsletter, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies.
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Back to the Future’s Casey Likes Is a Gen Z Marty McFly-and Broadway’s Newest Heartthrob

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By Mandy Velez 
| Yahoo Entertainment
Back to the Future star Casey Likes is in his ‘80s era. “I've gone from seventies to eighties. Now I got to do something in the nineties,” the actor jokes with Teen Vogue in his dressing room in New York City’s Winter Garden Theater.
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Too Much Blush Is a Real Fear. Here's How I Beat It

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By Mandy Velez 
| Teen Vogue
Seeing the trend sent shivers down my spine. This was one of my biggest beauty phobias. I think this phobia started when I was a child. To give you context, my mom is an 80s baby who made it through the style and beauty trends of the era with a few battle scars (and embarrassing photos). After seeing the errors of her generation who applied so much color to their faces they could have been a Henri Émile Benoît Matisse painting, she taught me very early on that less is more, especially blush.
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These Taylor Swift-Coded Conspiracies About Trump’s Charges Are Both Silly and Eerie Original

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By Mandy Velez 
| Teen Vogue
One thing about Taylor Swift fans is that they can sniff out a conspiracy theory anywhere, at least when it comes to the Swiftie metaverse. Admittedly, some of these theories are a bit ridiculous, and the latest connection that some X users are making between Taylor Swift and former President and now convicted felon Donald Trump’s hush money trial verdict would fall in that category.
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How The Outsiders Star Sky Lakota-Lynch Went from Bullied Theater Kid to Broadway Star Original

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By Mandy Velez 
| Teen Vogue
As Johnny Cade in the new Broadway musical The Outsiders, Sky Lakota-Lynch shines. He completely transforms into a 16-year-old Greaser from Tusla, exuding both the pain and the hope of his character in the inflections in his voice and in his facial expressions. He nails Johnny’s quiet, and vulnerable, demeanour as well as his silent strength.
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My Student Loan Funeral Went Viral - Here’s What Life Has Been Like Since

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By Mandy Velez 
| Teen Vogue
I’m eating lunch at my desk again. It’s a textbook-sad office meal of salad and half-mushy grapes, but I find I'm feeling grateful just to have this time to myself. I recently stopped one of my side gigs, writing freelance articles, so that I could focus on my full-time job and spending time with my family. It took years to overcome the fear of losing that extra income, but after I got this new job, and a raise along with it, I cut the cord.
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My Student Loan Funeral Went Viral - Here’s What Life Has Been Like Since

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By Mandy Velez 
| Yahoo Finance
Liz Coulbourn [Sarah Mazetti](https://www.instagram.com/sarahmazzetti/?hl=en) I’m eating lunch at my desk again. It’s a textbook-sad office meal of salad and half-mushy grapes, but I find I'm feeling grateful just to have this time to myself. I recently stopped one of my side gigs, writing freelance articles, so that I could focus on my full-time job and spending time with my family.
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How Preparing To Conceive Taught Me To Love My Body

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
I stopped caring what people would think if they saw me look different than before. I stopped caring about what my own body-critical voice thought of the changes happening to me. Even if the bloating never went away and I had to live with pimples on my face and a more-protruded lower belly pooch from an altered body composition, I'd do so with the confidence and satisfaction knowing that I was keeping myself healthy and was more in tune with its changes than I ever had been before.
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20 Active Outdoor Activities That Moms-to-Be Can Do Comfortably This Summer

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
A mom-to-be will either love or hate being pregnant in the summer. It can be rough because being hot is already a symptom of pregnancy. Should one add sweltering summer heat to mix? Forget it. We suppose on the flip side it could be nice because there's no need to trudge through snow with a belly or wear a million layers on top of it. But no matter how a mom-to-be feels, there are ways to make the summer pregnancy experience survivable.
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20 Ways To Keep Kids Entertained on Rainy Summer Afternoons

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Summer is most kids' favorite season for obvious reasons: They get to ditch indoor activities and be outside in the sun and fresh air. There's time to run around with the neighborhood kids, and there are possibly days at camp, swimming, finding bugs - whatever kids do in summer weather. It's still sometimes hard to keep kids occupied for so many hours every single day of the week, though. With older kids, that's basically eight hours or more per day that now have to be filled.
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Not Found

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By Mandy Velez , Bethany Braun-Silva 
| CafeMom
CafeMom is a supportive community where moms can get parenting tips and updates, real talk, laughs, and the latest celebrity news all in one place
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20 Mother's Day Gifts To Make Working Moms' Lives Easier

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Working moms and stay-at-home moms all work so hard. They handle all of life's challenges and still make sure their kids are happy, healthy, and loved. And yes, both SAHM and working moms have mom guilt. I personally relate to working moms as my own mother worked throughout my childhood. I don't know how she did it, to be honest. She woke up every morning, got herself ready for work, then got my brother and I ready.
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18 Beauty & Style Momfluencers Who Help Us Feel Good in Our Own Skin

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
We see a few types of mom influencers across Instagram and TikTok. There are the funny ones who post hilarious skit videos and reels, the somber "This Is Real Life Parenting" momfluencers, the ones who share their meals or homes, and then there are the beauty and fashion ladies who know everything about to makeup and style. We adore some of those rock star beauty and fashion mothers who also give us a peek into their daily lives as moms.
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Sustainable Beauty Products for That Spring Makeup Routine

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
It's hard to feel like we, as individuals, can make a big difference in protecting the planet, but being eco-conscious and sustainable can go a long way if we each do our part. From using green cleaning supplies to reusing products that would otherwise go to waste, the small things add up. This also includes trying to be more sustainable when it comes to the beauty products we use and spring, with its emphasis on new beginnings and hope - and of course Earth Day - is a great time to start.
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Sun & Water Safety Tips for Spring Break & Beyond

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By Mandy Velez , Lorena Bueno
| CafeMom
Exponential Interactive, Inc d/b/a VDX.tv Cookie duration: 90 (days). Data collected and processed: IP addresses, Device identifiers, Probabilistic identifiers, Browsing and interaction data, Non-precise location data, Users’ profiles, Privacy choices more Cookie duration resets each session. View details | Storage details | Privacy policy Consent Cookie duration: 365 (days).
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18 Must-Have Spring Toys To Keep Kids Occupied

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Let's be honest: Kids are clingy. We love them, of course, but sometimes it's hard to find moments where we don't to entertain the little ones or feed them or put them to sleep, or make sure they're not getting into who knows what again. That's why our coffee always gets cold and parents are stressed. Although older kids tend to be a bit easier to steal a moment away from, doing so proves to be more difficult for younger kids and toddlers.
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20 Useful Items To Make Parents' Lives Less Stressful

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Whether it's finding a cool way to keep coffee warm or a technique to calm kids down, parent hacks are so useful. They're ways to steal some alone or productivity time, and sanity, back from the amazing chaos of raising children. Product hacks exist, too, and they're the items that are in themselves hacks. From kitchen toddler stools to grape cutters to changing pad liners, they are the little things can make those annoyingly tedious tasks much more manageable.
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20 Slang Sayings Teens Use & What They Mean

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
By No cap translates to "no lie" or "I'm not lying. Used in a sentence, teens would say something like, "I saw the teacher do this weird thing in class today, no cap." Or, if someone asks if something is true, a response could be "no cap." Such as, "Did you really get Beyoncé tickets?" "I did, no cap." Similarly, "no capping" means "no lie."
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Tucker Carlson Thinks Ohio Train Tracks Are Anti-White Original

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By Mandy Velez 
| The Daily Beast
Tucker Carlson is at it again with a new conspiracy theory that deflects blame for the East Palestine derailment from Trump. Plus! A little history lesson on a badass abortionist. Fox News' Tucker Carlson hinted at a new conspiracy theory to explain the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and it's that the train coming off the tracks in an area with a lot of white people was probably on purpose.
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20 Amazing Finds To Make Postpartum Life Easier

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
There's a lot we know about postpartum. We will be tired, maybe really, really sad, and fed is best, whether it be breastfeeding or bottle feeding. And there's a lot about postpartum that is still hidden from general knowledge. Two words: Adult diapers. There's also sore private areas, feeling ravenously hungry if nursing, and length of time for C-section recovery, to name a few.
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20 of the Best Skin Care Trends at Every Price

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
The skin is an amazing organ. It's the largest organ, but also one that can impact how we move through the world. While perfection is an unattainable goal, being able to simply nourish and love the skin one has, and create a self-care wellness routine, can be done with products at any price point. It's easy to get caught up in the fancy, high-priced trendy brands that many call holy grails, and while those do often give results, so do the creams, serums, and tools that are not as expensive.
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18 Fresh & Stylish Nail Trends To Try RN

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Nails are one of the most universally loved aspects of the beauty space - and for good reason: A fresh set or a cool polish design is an expression of individuality and makes the wearer feel more put together. Nails are something we can enjoy in any setting - even if it's while working from home or spoon-feeding the kiddos.
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21 Beauty & Wellness Gift Ideas for Our Fabulous Mom Friends

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Self-care isn't just something that moms can do themselves. It can be gifted to them, too, if the mom friends in one's life are into beauty and wellness. If that's the case, we think they'll appreciate one of the gifts we've curated, including a refreshing face mask, hydrating skin care, a matcha kit, or other the salad bowl of her dreams.
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20 Things Every First-Time Thanksgiving Host Needs

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Imagine this: after year of after having Thanksgiving dinner at loved ones' homes or tons of potluck friendsgivings at their places, it finally happens. Thanksgiving dinner is set to be at one's home, for the first time. It's exciting! Playing host can be fun. But it can also be scary. Thanksgiving is a big deal. It's one of the best holidays of the year and people truly put so much time and energy into it. There's planning the actual meal and the guest list and then prepping the home itself.
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20 of the Best Amazon Black Friday Deals Under $200

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Oprah may have her list of favorite things, but we have a list of our own: some of the best Amazon deals for Black Friday. Not only did we find a bunch of great deals across the wellness, tech, and fashion spaces, but all of the products in this round up are $200 or less, because there's nothing sweeter in retail than a deal on top of a deal.
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16 Moms on IG & TikTok To Follow for Fall Decór Ideas

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Fall is a favorite time of year for moms. There are the fun holidays, like Halloween, as well as pumpkin and apple picking and chillier weather for chic fall outfits. It's also the time of year to lean into the "cozy" vibe and decorate the home for fall, and bring the stunning fall foliage color palettes (and spooky ones) inside. We found mom home décor influencers on TikTok and Instagram who have posted their own design ideas and DIYs in hopes we can all benefit from the inspiration.
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Cold Weather Costumes in Case Halloween Is Extra Chilly

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Depending on were you live, the weather forecast for Halloween might be looking a little grim this year. So many people take a lot of pride in the outfits they choose to wear on Halloween. For kids, it's the one time of year they get to express themselves and show off their costumes for school friends or while trick-or-treating.
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20 of the Best Products to Get Our Skin Ready for Winter

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Along with pumpkin spice lattes, holiday prep and fun new nail colors, the changing seasons mean a change in a few skincare products, which is music to enthusiasts' ears who are looking to upgrade their routines for cooler weather this fall and winter season. As the seasons change, having skincare products to better prepare and protect skin for the weather is key. And the main takeaway is to find products that really lock in that moisture.
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The Trendiest Plus-Size Costumes To Win Halloween This Year

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Spooky season is totally underway and we're so here for it! We love the holiday because while it's just fun to dress up no matter how old we are, it's the one day where it's perfectly acceptable to do so. While costume retailers haven't always been the most inclusive, a few are starting to get with the program and we found a ton of incredible plus-size costumes that are sure to win any costume contest this year.
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18 Popular 2022 Costume Ideas To Try

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Another Halloween is upon us, which means another year of fun costumes for everyone - kids, celebrities, and parents, alike. Even the family pet can dress up for the holiday, which is what makes this one so fun. Dressing up is a chance to get creative and have a scare, or a laugh, depending on what the costume is. Some people spend weeks, even months, deciding what their, or their family's, costume should be, and last year's Halloween costumes will be hard to top.
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20 Mental Health Resources Every Mom Needs to Know About

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
As moms, our mental health is something we often overlook. We are so busy making sure everyone else is fine that we tend to just power through and tell ourselves, "Oh, it'll get better" or "It's just this season of life" or "It's like this for every mom." A lot of us are quietly struggling with our emotions. There's postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, moms who have anxiety, moms with addiction issues, and moms who are grieving.
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Things To Teach Kids About Navigating Cliques at School

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Kids can be mean, often downright cruel, and may not even realize it. Who here has ever felt victimized by a school bully? We sure have. Humans are built to find groups and fit in, so it makes sense that these behaviors manifest themselves on the playground or middle school lunch rooms without other kids understanding how they may hurt the feelings of a child who is not part of that group, but wants to be.
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20 Ways To Pamper Yourself on Self-Care Day

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Self-care means a lot of different things. In the past, self-care has meant just face masks and pampering and spending money. But that message has evolved - at least for us. It can also mean doing things that make people feel more fulfilled as a person or more well-rested or true to themselves, aka things that are free. It's hard for women and parents, especially, to take time for themselves even in small ways or to ask for help, but doing so is imperative to staying on top of one's mental health.
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19 Summer STEM Projects for Kids of All Ages

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Teaching kids through STEM (science, technology engineering, and math) exercises is so beneficial to their learning. Although one of the many benefits of STEM is sharpening math, science, or tech skills and getting kids interested in it, there's more to it. According to Shari D.
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20 Father's Day Gift Ideas For Dads Who Are Really Just Big Kids at Heart

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Every year it seems harder to get a Father's Day gift for dad. There's the typical gifts like grill sets or sports memorabilia, or even things like tools, but what about the dads who are kids at heart, like this dad-to-be who packed a game console for the maternity ward? Just because he's technically a grown-up doesn't mean he doesn't like to have fun. Let's be honest, we all love when we can "play" with toys and not be judged.
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16 Books To Help Get Those Finances in Order

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Finances can be scary for people to think about. Everyone has their own relationship with money and it is constantly changing, based on jobs, children, or spouses, and it can be incredibly stressful as money is how we are able to live. However, it's not impossible to master and when it is mastered, it becomes so much easier to manage.
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Pour One Out for Jared Kushner’s Ghostwriter

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By Mandy Velez 
| The Daily Beast
Does anyone care about what Jared Kushner has to say? The New Abnormal podcast host Andy Levy thinks not. Kushner has a book coming out called Breaking History: A White House Memoir, and Andy is not confident anyone wants to read it. “I know there are people out there who think Don Jr. is like the greatest thing in the world. We know there are people out there who think he’s just absolutely fantastic.
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17 Size-Inclusive Brands Everyone Can Shop

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By Mandy Velez 
| CafeMom
Brands can no longer get away with serving only part of the population with model-like measurements. Women and gender nonconforming people who want to dress chic no longer have to look as hard as they used to thanks to more brands becoming more inclusive in their sizing — from having plus and curvy sizes that go up to 6X or size 40 to including petite and tall options and sizing based on averages, not outdated practices.
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