Archive for April, 2014

Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2014

Mother's Day Gift Guide 2014

Flowers, breakfast in bed and chocolates are the hallmark of Mother’s Day Gifts. This year, give your one-of-a-kind mom a one-of-kind-gift that she won’t be expecting. The Nine Naturals team has curated a selection of our favorite finds for this Mother’s Day. These beauty, fitness and fashion gifts are the ultimate functional indulgences she’ll definitely want.

For the Beauty-Obsessed Mom:

For the Fitness-Nut Mom:

  • Therm-O-Terra Water Bottle - This BPA free reusable water bottle will ensure that water stays cool during a workout and it has a dual feature of also keeping beverages hot (perfect for the morning coffee/tea on the go).
  • Athleta Spring Tote - This tote has enough space for everything that Moms have to carry for a workout: gym clothes, sneakers, and the occasional misplaced sippy cup.
  • Magic Carpet Yoga Mat by Anthropologie - This yoga mat will help make Mommy and Me yoga a little more colorful.
  • Nine Naturals Travel Gift Set - Our set includes all of Nine Natural’s best sellers in a gym bag ready reusable tote…never settle for the gym’s generic soap again.

For the Fashionista-Mom:

Nine Naturals + Preg Prep Make That Baby Series: Top Ten Tips to Get Pregnant Faster

Top Ten Tips For Getting Pregnant

Article is courtesy of PregPrep.

Before even becoming pregnant, many women start taking steps to prepare their bodies for pregnancy. That is why Nine Naturals is excited to partner with PregPrep in the Make That Baby Series to help bring you helpful tips and information for preparing for pregnancy.

There is nothing more exciting then the moment when you decide you are truly ready to become pregnant. Many of us have dreamt of having a child since we were children ourselves; from playacting with our baby dolls to daydreaming years in advance of the perfect names for our future children. So when many of us finally reach the time when making a family is our first priority, we may feel an overwhelming sense of urgency, an intense aching desire to achieve pregnancy as quickly as possible. But unfortunately, simply wanting to have a child is not always enough to make it happen quickly. There are many factors that need to come together for successful conception to occur. Here are the top 10 things you can do right off the bat to ensure the path is smooth for your journey to a timely pregnancy:

1. Enlist a Pro. See your OB/GYN and make sure you are in good health. Get your doc’s professional take on pregnancy and you. Rule out any fertility roadblocks in your personal health history, and find out about good prenatal options.

2. Get Time On Your Side. Track your ovulation to figure out the best time of the month to really hone in on baby making. Without a good understanding of timing, your chances of hitting the conception jackpot diminish significantly.

3. Toss The Pills. Seems obvious, but if you are on birth control you may need a few cycles to get back to regular ovulation. The sooner you ditch them, the sooner you can conceive.

4. Raise a Glass (of Water) to Your Health. Commit to a healthy diet and regular exercise. Get to a healthy weight and use your future baby as inspiration to let go of any bad habits, like smoking or overindulging in alcohol. Even too much coffee can be an impediment to fertility and healthy fetal development, so caffeine fiends should try to limit their daily intake.

5. Have Too Much of a Good Thing. Make sex fun and do it frequently, another seemingly obvious tip. But with the busy lives of many couples, keeping the ball rolling in the bedroom can often be tricky due to schedules and general exhaustion. If you need to pace yourself, target the 5-7 days leading up to ovulation for your best odds.

6. Tool Around. Women now have the opportunity to use some handy gadgets and over-the-counter tools to help pinpoint their ovulation. Ovulation predictor kits, widely sold in drugstores and online, can help you hone in on the window of opportunity for successful conception. Women with irregular cycles may find these kits especially helpful.

7. Man Up. Help your partner get informed about the things he can do to get things going, like adding zinc to his diet and keeping things cool and loose to keep his swimmers (that’s sperm, girls) strong and plentiful.

8. Hold steady. Some experts advise not getting up for 20 minutes after having sex and tilting your hips up to ensure all the sperm stays in and has a good chance of getting to the egg. While the jury’s still out on whether this really helps, many specialists in the fertility field are convinced it can offer an advantage.

9. Keep the Peace. Finding ways to reduce stress can do wonders for your overall health, and in turn help you maintain regular cycles and optimal fertility functioning. And one great side effect of diminished stress: increased happiness.

10. Team Up with Mother Nature. Take advantage of advances in nutritional health. New research has shown that by adding key nutrients to your diet, you can fine tune your body’s functions (for a variety of health purposes). PregPrep has joined this movement toward proactive health with a new kit to promote conception and a healthy pregnancy: Make That Baby (MTB).

As you prepare yourself for pregnancy, Nine Naturals knows that you are thinking about everything that you put in and on your body. Nine Naturals is excited to offer the Nine Naturals + PregPrep Bundles, featuring Nine Naturals products of your choosing with the PregPrep Make that Baby Kit! Detoxify your beauty routine with luxurious all natural & sulfate-free products and get key nutritional support to bolster fertility and promote ideal reproductive health with physician-formulated natural supplements in the PregPrep Make That Baby Kit.

Freezer Friendly: Meal Planning Ahead of Delivery

Freezer Friendly Meals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article & Photo Courtesy of Well Rounded NY.

Petit Organics founder Michelle Marinis shows us that with a little planning, meal time can be a breeze…even with a newborn.

You’ll hear close to a million pieces of advice throughout your pregnancy — you’ve probably heard more than enough already. One of the best bits of advice I received was to meal plan in advance of your delivery. When your little bundle of joy arrives, chaos will quickly follow. Your schedule no longer belongs to you, but rather revolves around a teeny tiny hungry, sleepy, poopy munchkin. Leisurely preparing your meals whenever you feel like it will be a thing of the past.

Freezing is a great make-ahead strategy and some recipes freeze better than others. Try to prepare your freezer-friendly meals at least two weeks in advance of your due date in case you have an early arrival. I recommend you double or triple the recipes and separate them out so you’ll instantly have three meals covered. One less thing on your “to do” list when you are sleep deprived can be incredibly helpful. Be sure to label and date each before you put them in the freezer.

Read on for my top three recipes for freezing. All recipes below will safely keep in your freezer for up to three months. Enjoy!

VEGETABLE CHILI

Ingredients:
· 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
· 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
· 1 orange bell pepper, seeded and diced
· 1 medium red onion, diced
· 3 cloves garlic, minced
· 2 cups fresh or frozen corn
· 2 cups kidney beans (or one can, drained and rinsed)
· 2 cups black beans (or one can, drained and rinsed)
· 2 cups pinto beans (or one can, drained and rinsed)
· 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
· 1 large (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
· 1 tablespoon cumin
· 1 teaspoon coriander
· 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
· 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional if you prefer less spice)
· ½ teaspoon sea salt
· Black pepper and paprika to taste

Preparation: In a large pot over low to medium heat, add the first five ingredients and sauté for 4 minutes. Next, add the remaining ingredients, stir to combine and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove pot from heat and allow to cool, stirring occasionally to release more heat. Once the soup is room temperature, it is ready to be packaged for the freezer. You can use freezer-safe Ziploc bags that take up less freezer space when frozen flat. I personally prefer sturdy food storage containers with tight-fitting lids to minimize the chance for leaks and prevent the transfer of smell to other foods in your freezer. Label with the date and contents, and place in your freezer.

To reheat: The night before you plan to serve the soup, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight. Thirty minutes prior to serving, place in a large pot over low to medium heat. Heat through stirring occasionally until the desired temperature is reached.

SWEET POTATO, BLACK BEAN & KALE ENCHILADAS

Ingredients:
· 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
· 1 poblano pepper, seeded and diced
· 1 clove garlic, minced
· 1 medium sweet onion, diced
· 3 kale leaves, stems removed and chopped in 1” sections
· 1 tablespoon water
· 1 large sweet potato, baked and mashed or pureed
· 2 cups black beans (or one can, drained and rinsed)
· 1 teaspoon cumin
· ½ teaspoon sea salt
· 3 grinds freshly cracked black pepper
· 10 non-GMO corn tortillas

Preparation:
In a skillet over low to medium heat, add the extra-virgin olive oil and poblano pepper. Sauté 5 minutes then add the garlic and onion. Sauté 5 more minutes. Remove from skillet and place in a large mixing bowl. Next, add the water to the same skillet over low to medium heat. When the water begins to sizzle, add the kale and sauté until just wilted (approximately 1-2 minutes). Strain off the water and add only the kale to the mixing bowl. Add the sweet potato, black beans, cumin, salt and pepper to the mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon, stir to combine. One at a time, place the black bean, sweet potato and kale filling into a corn tortilla. Wrap and place in a freezer and oven-safe baking dish. Repeat until the dish is filled. Cover the enchiladas with moisture and vapor-proof material such as freezer paper, heavy foil, plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid. Fix tape around the edges to make a tight seal. Label and date the contents and place in freezer.

To reheat: Place uncovered in a 400 degrees F until heated through (approximately 1- 1 ½ hours).

PASTA WITH HOMEMADE MARINARA SAUCE

Ingredients:
· 10-14 Roma tomatoes
· 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
· 1 small onion, diced
· 2 cloves garlic, minced over low to medium heat. Heat through stirring occasionally until the desired temperature is reached.

· ½ teaspoon dried oregano

· Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Preparation: Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a cooling rack on top of the pan. Slice each Roma tomato lengthwise and place cut side up on the rack. Roast the tomatoes in the oven for at least 2 but no more than 3 hours. Remove from oven and allow to cool. In a large pot over low to medium heat, sauté the onions and garlic in the olive oil for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn the heat to low and add the tomatoes, oregano, sea salt and pepper. Using an immersion blender, blend through until you reach your desired sauce consistency.

You can stop here by simply freezing the marinara sauce and cook the pasta just before mealtime or you can prepare your pasta of choice (I love buckwheat for the added protein) and add it into the sauce prior to freezing. If you are freezing the pasta with the sauce, only cook it to al dente. As the pasta is reheated, it will cook just a bit more and you don’t want overcooked, mushy pasta.

To reheat: The night before you plan to serve the pasta, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight. 30 minutes prior to serving, place in a large pot.

Bon appétit to you and your bébés!

This article is by Michelle Marinis courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Raised in Texas with a down home Southern upbringing, Michelle Muller-Marinis grew up with a passion for food and cooking. After moving to NYC and beginning a family of her own, Michelle realized the importance of fresh, healthy baby food – she discovered her little ones were always happiest with a spoonful of homemade food in their mouths! She is the founder of Petit Organics and an NYC mom of three boys, Pearce, Rylan and Brandt. You can find Michelle on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Petit Organics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Planning for the Unexpected: All You Need To Know About Creating A Will

Wills

Article is courtesy of Everplans.com

If there is one thing that almost all parents and parents-to-be have in common is that they are always planning and preparing for the next step - but what happens when the unexpected happens? That is why Nine Naturals is excited to partner with Everplans in the Planning For The Unexpected Series to help bring you helpful tips and information for everything from financial and medical planning to spiritual and grief counseling.

Who gets your kids? Who gets your stuff? What do you need to make it official? You’ve got questions, we’ve got this article.

Why You Need One

So your family/friends/business associates don’t spend the next decade fighting, in court and possibly in person…with fists. The fights can get even uglier if you have young kids, or lots of money and property, or both.

Example of why picking a guardian is so important: If you don’t want your irresponsible brother raising your kids, and you don’t make it clear in your Will, and he’s the closest relative your kids have if you die, then the courts will most like give him your kids. If you want your responsible cousin to be the guardian, and put it in your Will, then there’s nothing your brother can do about it.

Decisions You Have To Make

Who Gets Your Stuff?
Anyone you want. A beneficiary can be family, friends, pets, strangers, organizations, institutions. By identifying who gets what, you’ll relieve some of the stress your family will have to face when settling your estate. If not, your heirs have to make these decisions.

We’re sure your family is incredible, but money can make people weird. Especially since they’re going through a tough time without you around. Isn’t it better for them to be able to blame any decisions they don’t agree with on you rather than taking it out on each other? Family feuds are so 19th century. Just ask the Hatfields and McCoys…if any of them are still alive.

The Only People Who Get Nothing Are…
The people who serves as witnesses to the signing of the Will. So make sure your brother or best friend isn’t a witness, unless you don’t want to give them anything. Then the jokes on them!

The Person Responsible To Make Sure Everything You Want Gets Done
This is an “executor” because they have to “execute” everything in your Will. Makes sense, right? This person is responsible for paying any debts or taxes on behalf of your estate and making sure that the people who are supposed to inherit your assets actually get them.

Who’s Taking Care of Your Kids and Dependents?

This is usually the toughest decision to make. Who’s going to raise your kids if you die? If you’re married it’s probably your spouse. If you’re divorced, it’s probably your ex-spouse. If you don’t have a spouse or your ex-spouse isn’t an option, then you’ve got some thinking to do. Most people have Godparents, but that could just be an honorary title you gave someone to make them feel better. It doesn’t mean you want them actually raising your kids. Odds are you already know who you want to serve as guardian but you have to make it legal.

Who Handles the Money and Assets You Leave For Your Kids?
Enter the Guardian of the Estate, who’s tasked with managing your child’s financial well-being. There may be a significant amount of money involved, especially if you have life insurance, and it’s this person’s duty to always keep your kid’s best interest in mind when making financial decisions.

We already established that a court will name a guardian if you don’t. Well, that same guardian will most likely get all the money and assets as well. So if you don’t care enough about your kids to name a guardian, at least think of those sad, lonely piles of money getting into the wrong hands.

It ain’t easy being an estate guardian but being fiscally responsible is paramount. Apart from managing the assets, he or she also has to make an inventory of the assets for the court, file annual reports detailing the value, income, investments and expenses of the estate.

Just Because You Trust Someone To Raise Your Kids, Doesn’t Mean You Trust Them with Money
You can choose different people to serve as a person guardian and estate guardian. Why?

Example: Let’s say your sister is great with kids but horrible with money. And your brother is great with money but horrible with kids. See, now it’s all starting to make sense…

If you opt for different estate/person guardians for whatever reason, make sure they can collaborate effectively and work together on the child’s behalf. Whenever the person-guardian needs funds for the kid, he or she needs to hit up the estate-guardian for the money. On paper this makes sense, but you won’t be around to manage the personal dynamics if things go south. So, choose wisely and let them know beforehand so it’s not a shock. Plus, if you sense any tension then you can choose different people.

Do You Want to Use an Attorney or Do It Online?
Quick and Clean: There are a bunch of online legal services that can help you create a basic and official Will that covers all the bases (beneficiaries, guardians, and an executor).

More Involved: If you have complex financial arrangements, such as real estate, overseas assets, elaborate investments, or trusts, then you’re going to need some help. This means working with an attorney or an online service that offers advice from real lawyers. The best way to find an attorney isn’t much different than finding a good doctor, electrician or dog walker. Get recommendations from friends, family, or other attorneys. Once you have some options meet with the prospects and make sure you get along, approve of his or her working style and skills, and, of course, don’t forget the price tag.

If You Die With A Will

Think of your will as an eager flower that’s not allowed to bloom until a probate court gives it permission. But once it does it’s a thing of beauty. So beautiful we crafted the next section into a three act play:

Act 1: Your executor presents the will to a probate court.

Act 2: The probate proceedings can take anywhere from 3 months to 3 years, depending on your state’s laws and the complexity of your estate. In short, get comfy. You can’t distribute property, sell assets or pay off debts until the court grants approval.

Act 3: The court validates the Will. Victory! Now the executor can get to work and start handing out assets to the beneficiaries.

If You Die Without A Will
The short of it: The court gives your closest surviving relatives everything, including assets and custody over minor children. (Also known as “succession laws.”) Your estate will still have to go through the probate process, and “intestacy laws” kick in to determine who gets what.

Your Will, Your Say: What You Can Put In It
You can create a Will as basic or elaborate as you want. If you want to keep it simple you can split all your money, assets, property, investments, dragons (just making sure you’re still awake) evenly between all your beneficiaries. If you want to make sure some people get more, and other get less than more, this is how you make sure your property is given to the people you want the way you want it.

Keep Your Family In Check
When money’s involved, things can get quite heated, even among the happiest of families. We’re sure your family is wonderful, but if you’re concerned about possible disagreements that can drag on for years, a Will helps avoid all the drama. You make the decisions so if they’re angry they can take it up with you and keep it out of court. And you’re not going to be too receptive to their complaints since you’ll be wearing a stylish halo and jamming out with Jimmi Hendrix.

Property You Can Include in a Will

  • Actual property, such as real estate, land, and buildings. Oh, and don’t forget to include all the castles you own like the one pictured above. It’d be a shame if you left that out.
  • Cash, including money in checking accounts, savings accounts, and money market accounts, etc.
  • “Intangible personal property” such as stocks, bonds, and other forms of business ownership, as well as intellectual property, royalties, patents, and copyrights, etc…
  • “Unproductive property” such as cars, artwork, jewelry, and furniture, etc…

What Happens to All the Leftovers?
Who’s got time to itemize every single possession in your life? Enter the “residuary estate,” which is all the extra stuff you don’t think is worth listing out separately. (Example: Stereo system, end table, power saw, shoe collection, photo albums, lamp shaped like a tiger, etc…) For these miscellaneous items you designate a “residuary beneficiary” who takes charge over all the remaining assets you don’t leave to named specific beneficiaries.

You may want to leave instructions so this person doesn’t feel the need to save everything as an eternal shrine to you, but can dole it out to friends and family as they see fit and donate the rest to charity or the local dump. Before you leave all your possessions to a residuary beneficiary, make sure you take a basic inventory of your assets to make sure you’re not including a few gems you want a specific person to have in the leftover pile.

A low-fi solution: Put Post-It Notes or gift tags on the underside of the items with the person’s name. This makes cleaning out your residence after you’re gone a sort of scavenger hunter/second Christmas for your family.

What if You’ve Got a Lot of Leftovers? “Pour” Them Into a Trust…
A Pour-Over Will funnels any assets in your name into an already-created trust when you die. This is like having a holding room for any assets you may have forgotten about or intentionally left out of a trust that you would like to move into a trust after death. Hence the assets are “poured” into a trust.

Unlike the “residuary estate” mentioned above, once these assets are poured into the trust, those assets will be subject to the terms and stipulations of the trust. The reason people create this is to help heirs avoid probate if it’s under $100,000, or at least make the probate process go faster. The laws vary from state-to-state so this is one of those things you want to speak with an estate attorney about.

If You’ve Got a Lot To Give, It Can Get a Little Complicated

If you have significant property or assets, or particularly elaborate investments or financial arrangements, get help from an attorney to determine the best way to distribute said assets.

The attorney can help identify tax-efficient ways make sure your beneficiaries are taken care of, which may include establishing a post-death trust (fancy name: “testamentary trust”) or using other financial and legal wizardry he or she learned in law school.

On the flip side, if you don’t have significant or complex assets that require legal counsel, simply decide who will receive your assets, how they’ll be distributed and you’re done.

Property You Can’t Include in a Will

The short of it: If you don’t own something outright you can’t give it to someone when you die. What are those things? Glad you asked!

  • Any property you own equally with someone else (fancy name: “joint tenancy”). Example: You can’t give away a house you own with your spouse, since the property automatically transfers to the surviving owner.
  • Any trusts, retirement plans, or insurance policies that clearly state a beneficiary.
  • Stocks or bonds that are set to transfer to another party upon death, which is just like the bullet point above.

Digital Property Still Isn’t Yours to Give
While you may consider digital assets as your personal property-i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Gmail, etc…—the law doesn’t agree with you. Most online media companies (including social media, email and communication, photo and image sharing, etc…) are legally forbidden from disclosing content or granting account access to a third party without the consent of the owner. If the owner of the content or account dies, the law generally agrees the family of the person who owned the accounts is not allowed to access those accounts.

Solutions For The Digital Asset Dilemma
Since laws and legislation have moved painfully slow regarding digital property, you have to get a little creative. Many people include login and password information in Wills in an attempt to transfer digital accounts to heirs; this doesn’t always work, since many companies claim the transfer of access violates the company’s terms of service. (This is buried in that endless scroll of rules and conditions no one ever reads but you’re forced to accept to access their service.)

While it may be angering to know that a social media company can hold your account hostage beyond death, you probably don’t want to put this information in your Will for a different reason. A Will is a public document, and sharing login and password information here isn’t a secure. The Internet can be a mean place and who’s to stop some bored digital hooligan, or identity thief, from combing through Wills and accessing these accounts in hopes of causing all sorts of trouble.

This doesn’t mean you should give up and accept defeat. There are ways. Check out our How to Create a Digital Estate Plan to get the low-down. Plus, different states have different approaches. Example: Indiana, Idaho, and Oklahoma allow executors access to email accounts, social networking accounts, and blogging accounts.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
It’s a good idea to periodically review beneficiaries to make sure the person or people named are still the ones you want getting the money or property. Things change over the course of your life-marriage, kids, divorce, cash windfalls, etc…-so it’s a good idea to keep everything current. Even if you’ve already named a beneficiary for certain assets-trusts, retirement plan, insurance policy, or stocks or bonds that are set to transfer upon death-it’s not necessarily set in stone. You’re allowed to change your mind and leave these things to somebody different.

Once You Get A Will, Where Should You Keep It?

One of the primary reasons we created this entire world of Everplans is to make the logistics surrounding death less of a confusing nightmare. Your Will should be digitally stored in your Everplan and physically stored along with other important estate planning documents in a secure, easy-to-access location. You should share this info with someone you trust-we call that person a Deputy-so it can be easily found when they need it.

Places To Store It
In your home in a personal safe, a locked filing cabinet, or any place you feel comfortable. If you store it in a location that requires a combination, password, or key for entry, you have to share that information as well or else it won’t be of much assistance when it’s needed.

Storing Your Will with an Attorney
Many estate attorneys and personal attorneys will be able to store your will in a secure location in his or her office. If you choose to store your will with your attorney, be sure to tell your family so they’re not tearing up the house looking for it.

In Your Everplan, Of Course
Not to toot our own horn, but we’re pretty good at this. After you create an Everplan you should upload a copy of your Will and share it with your Deputy or Deputies. You choose what you want to share, it could be everything, it could be specific things, it could be nothing. You also choose what they see while you’re alive and what they’ll have access to when you’re gone. You can add and delete Deputies as frequently as you choose.

Don’t Store Your Will in a Safe Deposit Box
Again, do not store your Will in a safe deposit box. Unless the box is jointly managed-and your survivors are authorized to access the safe deposit box-the bank will likely require a court order to access the box, and that could take a long time.

Informing People Where Your Will is Stored
Wherever you store it, make sure that important people you trust—your spouse, your adult children, your attorney, etc.—know where your will is located so that they can easily locate and access it if/when they need it.

Enough Legal Talk, Let’s Get Personal

You’ve been inundated with a lot of information and have made a lot of hard decisions. This is the part where you get to kick back and be yourself without any laws, statutes or other complicated aspects getting in the way.

It’s called an “ethical will,” which is a terribly cold name for something with so much heart. At Everplans we call it “Letter To Your Family,” where you get the chance to let your family, friends and anyone else close to you in this world know who you are and how you feel about them.

The thought of this letter gives us happy chills and misty eyes, because this is the culmination of all your hard work. Not just in getting a plan together, but in life and what you pass on to future generations. We’re fully aware people share so much through social media, but there’s something special about sharing personal thoughts directly to the people you love written directly from your heart.

EverplansEverplans is a leading online resource dedicated to empowering people to plan for and deal with life planning, end-of-life planning and dealing with a death. The website offers step-by-step processes to help people understand the totality of the decisions they need to make and get things done. The mission of the company is to make life planning, end-of-life planning, dealing with a death, and supporting someone through their loss less confusing, more manageable, and easier to work through. Everplans was founded in 2011 by Adam Seifer and Abby Schneiderman, entrepreneurs with a passion for helping people and a proven track record of creating successful online communities.

Planning for the Unexpected: Q&A with Abby Schneiderman, Co-Founder of Everplans

If there is one thing that almost all parents and parents-to-be have in common it is planning and preparing for the next step - whether it’s trying to get pregnant, preparing for the baby & birth, planning that first birthday party, or trying for number 2. But what happens when the unexpected happens?

That’s exactly the question that Abby Schneiderman, Co-Founder of Everplans.com, tried to answer when she she realized that there were many online resources dedicated to the happy events in our lives, such as weddings and pregnancies, but very few dedicated to the unhappy, unexpected events. And so Everplans was formed, the most comprehensive end-to-end resource dedicated to making it easier to plan ahead for your family so they’re taken care of when something unexpected happens, such as sickness or death. Everplans functions as a step-by-step guide for everything from financial and medical planning to spiritual and grief counseling.

NN: Tell us the Everplans story. What was the inspiration behind Company?

AS: I was getting married and using all of the great sites out there (theknot.com, weddingchannel.com) to help me plan. I had been engaged for over two years and then directly after the wedding I went right into planning for the birth of my first child. It dawned on me that there were so many amazing resources for people planning *happy* life events like weddings and babies and I wondered what was out there for people who were dealing with the not-so-happy events, like aging and death. My Co-Founder Adam and I started researching and it seemed liked there was a huge void; we couldn’t find a single company who was trying to offer resources and guidance in a way that seemed created for people like us. We’re both parents of young kids and also have parents in their 60′s and 70′s. We thought: What would happen if we needed help one day? Where would we turn? So we built Everplans.

NN: What is the background of you and your co-founder?

AS: Adam and I are both repeat entrepreneurs. Adam was on the founding team of a company called SixDegrees.com (which was the first social network), and then went on to co-found a company called Fotolog.com — which is the biggest site you’ve never heard of. They were sort of like a precursor to Instagram; people could upload a photo a day. In 2007 they had over 30 million members and were the 15th most trafficked site in the world. I, too, am a tech entrepreneur. Prior to Everplans I co-founded one of the first music social networks which was called Haystack and then went on to work for a tech incubator where I helped other people take their ideas and build them into businesses. But I was always itching to do my next thing. When I met Adam I knew I wanted to build something with him. We felt like we could take our expertise in building big consumer sites and put it towards an area that felt so drastically left behind.

NN: Many find it difficult to plan for the unexpected, what first steps do you recommend so that parents and parents-to-be can ease into planning for future?

AS: It seems overwhelming at first, but when you take a step back and look at the landscape there are only a few things of vital importance.

1. First and foremost, new parents need to name a guardian for their kids, which means creating a Will. It doesn’t have to be fancy but it needs to be official because if something happens to you and you don’t pick a person to care for your kids then the courts will be making the choice for you. As a mom, the thought of someone other than my husband or myself deciding who raises our daughter is infinitely more terrifying than creating a basic Will.

2. Make sure your family is financially taken care of in case something happens. This can be taken care of with Life Insurance. There are two main types of Life Insurance: Term and Permanent. Term covers you over a set amount of time and can be somewhat affordable depending on your age, health and habits. Perm (also known as Whole Life or Universal), never expires but can be a lot more expensive. Many people think they’re covered because they have a policy through their job. But the reality is, your company policy is usually not robust enough.

So even though there are other things you can do to plan ahead, just getting a Will and Life Insurance taken care of will be hugely valuable to your family.

Our goal is to take the mystery and confusion out of this planning, and focus on why you plan in the first place-your family and loved ones-so you actually want to do it.

NN: What type of services and information can people find on Everplans?

AS: In addition to the hundreds of articles, checklists, and guides that we have on everything from how to write a will, to what to wear to a funeral, we offer a planning tool that helps people get their affairs in order. We take you through an assessment, find out what planning you’ve done, and then give you and checklist and personalized recommendations on what you should tackle first. We then allow you to store your documents and plans in your “Everplan”, and share your plan with the people in your life you want to have access (we call those people your “deputies”).

You have complete control over what you share and with whom, so you don’t have to worry about anyone seeing thing you don’t want them to see.

NN: What role has technology played in helping to achieve the Everplans mission?

AS: Everplans relies on a number of things that wouldn’t be possible without the use of technology: the ability for us to create a step-by-step personalized platform custom to each individual, the ability for us to allow them to securely store their information and scanned documents in their Everplan (which is in the cloud), the ability to share these electronic plans with different people, and the ability for us to put all of it in one place. The fact that we can create a simpler, more intuitive way for people to get this planning done is critical, we think, in getting more people the ability to get over the hurdle and DO this planning! And of course, it’s all online, so you can do all of it in the comfort of your own home if you choose to do so.

NN: What advice do you have for people that used Everplans and are ready to take the next step & find legal and medical consultation? Is there a directory or resources you recommend?

AS: The first step is to take our quick assessment and get an overview of what you need to get done. For people who need to get a Will created, and want to do it online, we offer a link to a company called RapidDocs that is offering Everplans customers free wills and legal documents for our launch. But for people who have potentially complicated estates, we recommend you speak with an actual attorney to draft your will or set up trusts. And you should find your estate attorney the same way you’d find a good babysitter: ask your friends, family and other people you trust for recommendations.

To document your healthcare wishes, we have resources for you inside the Everplan where you can create your Advance Directive, which includes your Living Will and naming a Health Care Proxy. These documents are free and available on our site along with state-by-state instructions on what you need to do to make them official. We just want to make sure you remember to add them back into your Everplan after you’ve signed them so that you store them and share them properly.

NN: How did you come up with the name Everplans? What is an Everplan?

AS: It was really hard! Ultimately we picked a name that felt like it conveyed that we were a company that would help you do this kind of planning. And we thought it wasn’t super cheesy like the rest of the names we were considering. :)

Abby Schneiderman is a repeat entrepreneur who loves finding ways to use technology to make people’s lives better. Prior to co-founding Everplans, Abby was a Principal at Tipping Point Partners, a NYC start-up incubator, where she was part of the team that launched several businesses, including AppOrchard, an iOS consultancy for the enterprise, and Cookstr, a recipe-driven nutritional technology company. In 2004, Abby co-founded Haystack Media, one of the first music social networks.

Happy Earth Day! Nine Naturals’ Favorite Earth-Friendly Tips

Happy Earth Day! As an all-natural, 100% plant based company, Nine Naturals not only loves moms & moms-to-be, but also Mother Earth. At Nine Naturals, we know that the products you use on your skin not only impact your health and well being, but also impacts the Earth and the environment around you. That is why our products are eco-friendly and free from artificial chemicals that could potentially harm the environment.

With Earth Day here, we wanted to share with you some of our favorite Earth friendly tips from our Nine Naturals Team!

Grace (CEO): Use products that are good for you and the environment! When you use products like Nine Naturals that are 100% plant based and formulated without artificial chemicals, you are not only protecting yourself from harmful chemicals but also ensuring that these chemicals don’t enter the environment. Next time you use a product, think of how chemicals from your shampoo or bodywash re-enter the ecosystem once you flush them down the drain. For instance, chemicals commonly found in personal care products have been found back in drinking water and nanoparticles from personal care products have been found in fish. Use products that are safe for the environment, like Nine Naturals, Dapple, Seventh Generation.

Amanda (COO): Just say no to plastic bags! They fill up landfills, damage animal ecosystems, expose our households and food to toxic chemicals, persist in the environment forever and, when the wind is blowing in NYC, blow back and forth past my window on 6th avenue (think Forrest Gump’s feather but with a dark twist). I keep a stock of reusable bags to cover any shopping trip. And I always keep a compact bag in my purse.

 

 

 

Valentina (Web Developer): My best earth day tip would be to GO PAPERLESS. I’ve switched to electronic banking, all my utilities are handled online, and even my magazine subscriptions are now purely online and paperless. It’s good for the environment and super convenient. You can also reduce your paper waste

 

 

 

Hetal (Marketing Director): If you can Walk, Walk, Walk! I’m a bit of a fitness nut and luckily live in New York, where I can walk everywhere. Not only is it good for my health and a great calorie burner, but it also brightens up my day to walk in our neighborhood in Tribeca (where the Nine Naturals offices are located) and get coffee at a local cart vendor, or go for a run in central park. Even if you don’t live in New York, walking is a great way to run errands without using fuel or emitting chemicals into the environment.

 

 

Claire (Marketing Associate): Ditch synthetic fragrances and breathe in the good stuff! I love immersing my environment in a variety of scents but scented products like candles and sprays often contain toxic chemicals, like phthalates that are a big no-no in my house. A cheap and easy tip to make your home smell wonderful is to boil a large pot of water and add in your favorite essential oil blends. My favorite combo is Lemonpeel essential oil, Lime essential Oil, Peppermint Oil.

 

 

Happy Earth Day! What are some of your favorite earth-friendly tips?

Earth Day Sale! Enjoy 15% off Sitewide

Nine Naturals + Preg Prep Make That Baby Series: Get Time On Your Side To Get Pregnant Faster

PregPrep Ovulation Chart

Article & Photo is courtesy of PregPrep.

Before even becoming pregnant, many women start taking steps to prepare their bodies for pregnancy. That is why Nine Naturals is excited to partner with PregPrep in the Make That Baby Series to help bring you helpful tips and information for preparing for pregnancy.

If you are ready to conceive and you want it to happen sooner rather than later the magic word is: TIMING.

If you don’t time your baby making to happen during the short window of opportunity each month, conception is impossible. That fertile window occurs on the five days leading up to and including the day of ovulation. The reason this window is wider than just the day of ovulation (when the egg is released from the ovary) is that unlike the egg, which only lives for 24 hours, the sperm can live for several days in the reproductive tract. But if you miss that period of time then you’ve missed your golden opportunity – until the next month, that is.

Some people handle the issue of timing by having sex every other day throughout their entire cycle when they are trying to conceive. But this can be exhausting and arduous for some couples. Those who opt to hone in on their fertile days and time sex to occur when they have the best odds may have a better shot. Here are a few ways women use to determine their ovulation date and fertile window.

Calculate the Date:

One of the easiest methods for pinpointing ovulation can be done with some simple math. First figure out the length of your cycle. For most women this is between 28-30 days. But some women have shorter or longer cycles. Once you have the length down, subtract 14 to determine your ovulation day. For example if your cycle is 29 days long, your ovulation day would be on day 15. (29-14) Count backwards an additional 5 days to determine the first day of your fertile window. (Days 10-15) Have sex at least once daily during this period for the best odds of conception.

Do a Temp Check:

It’s not for everyone, but some women have great success with charting their basal body temperature to determine when they ovulate. BBT method is based on the science of the body temperature increase that has been proven to occur right before the release of the egg. (Basal body temperature rises about half a degree.) It’s not the best method for timing sexual intercourse immediately, as it leaves little time left to conceive after you have figured out ovulation is occurring. But it does help pinpoint the date of ovulation in women with a regular cycle if you chart it for a few months, and can be used for future baby making scheduling. It does require the use of a special thermometer that is inexpensive and available in most drugstores.

Check In With Your CM

Cervical mucus may sound a bit unappealing, but changes in this important bodily fluid can help a woman determine ovulation, as well as enhance the success of conception. Some call it the “egg white” test, but when you notice your cervical discharge becoming stretchy and more abundant (like raw egg white), that’s a sign that ovulation is near.

Predict With A Kit

Most women have regular cycles, but some women don’t. For those with a more unusual rhythm, an over-the-counter ovulation predictor kit can be a great help. The kits can be found in family planning section of drugstores. Most of them use your morning urine to detect a surge in the lutenizing hormone that occurs just before ovulation. Less commonly found kits use saliva or sweat to pinpoint the date.

Whatever method you use, be sure to take the time to get your timing right, and you’ll be well on your way to increasing your odds for conception success.

As you prepare yourself for pregnancy, Nine Naturals knows that you are thinking about everything that you put in and on your body. Nine Naturals is excited to offer the Nine Naturals + PregPrep Bundles, featuring Nine Naturals products of your choosing with the PregPrep Make that Baby Kit! Detoxify your beauty routine with luxurious all natural & sulfate-free products and get key nutritional support to bolster fertility and promote ideal reproductive health with physician-formulated natural supplements in the PregPrep Make That Baby Kit.

Nine Naturals’ Natural Sunscreen SPF 32 is featured as “Favorite New Product of 2014″

 

Natural beauty expert Jessa Blades, of Blades Natural Beauty, discusses how to clean out the chemicals hiding in our makeup drawer and picked Nine Naturals Natural Sunscreen SPF 32 as one of her “favorite new products for 2014.” According to Blades, “Protecting yourself from harmful rays should be part of your beauty routine too! …It provides the physical barrier and it’s hydrating for the skin…Also, I know how hard it can be to find natural sunblocks that don’t make you look like a ghost. This one rubs in really well.”

Nine Naturals Featured as “Favorite Eco-Friendly and Organic Beauty Buys” in Daily Candy!

Nine Naturals Top Organic Beauty Pick on Daily CandyIn honor of Earth Day, Daily News put together their “Favorite Eco-Friendly and Organic Beauty Buys” featuring Nine Naturals among the list of earth friendly products! Read the review below:

Though it’s designed for expectant mothers wanting to avoid toxic chemicals, we think Nine Naturals’ unscented deodorant ($16, www.NineNaturals.com), is perfect even for those who aren’t actively planning to expand their families. The aluminum-free formula is unscented (try finding that at the drugstore!) and shea and cocoa butters mean that darn underarm area remains moisturized. Nine Naturals also launched an SPF 32 sunscreen to its collection using only plant-based ingredients ($24, Ninenaturals.com)

 

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