Here is a list of our MUST-HAVES for the 2026 Spring season! 

J. Renee Burkett Linen Sandal. Effortless elegance for every spring moment.

These J. Renee linen-inspired heels offer a memory foam cushioned platform, a flattering block heel, and charming bow detail—perfect for brunch dates, social events, and moms who want polished style without sacrificing all-day comfort. $124.95

Immediate Relief. Everyday Protection

When skin flares up, finipil® gets to work instantly. This dermatologist-approved formula cools, soothes, and helps protect skin from irritation, razor burn, bites, and more. Gentle for all ages—and essential for every first aid kit. On Sale Now! $19.79

Taste your wines as your winemaker intended!

All natural plant-based wineglass cleaner brings purity to your glass. Restaurant Crystal Clean leaves glassware flawlessly clear and pristine, ensuring every wine’s true flavor shines through. No residue, no compromise, just pure elegance in every sip.

Fatty15, Healthy Aging for All

Delivers pure and patented C15:0, a foundational nutrient that strengthens cells & supports long-term health for kiddos, parents, and grandparents, too. Get 20% off your first purchase of any fatty15 subscription.

Campus Quilts

Don’t let meaningful t-shirts sit forgotten in a closet. This spring, turn them into a custom keepsake quilt or blanket you’ll use every day. Preserve the memories, clear the clutter, and create something that lasts. Start your Campus Quilt today. Starting at $139

Looking for Screen-Free Learning Kids Actually Love?

The GeoPuzzle 7-in-1 Pack lets kids explore the world one puzzle at a time. Each puzzle piece is shaped like a country or state, turning geography into hands-on discovery that makes learning fun. Perfect for curious kids and homeschool families.

Save $50 for a limited time and get all 7 puzzles for the price of 4 (just $99!).

Smarter Snacking Starts with Catalina Crunch

Catalina Crunch makes better-for-you snacks that actually taste great. Packed with protein and fiber and low in sugar, their cereals, granola, and snack mixes support a balanced lifestyle without sacrificing flavor. Enjoy a smarter way to snack every day.

The Adjustable Pillow Everyone’s Talking About

Meet the Easy Breather Pillow by Nest Bedding. With adjustable fill and breathable materials, you can create your ideal level of comfort and support. Whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach, it’s thoughtfully designed to support the way you sleep.

Spring is all about fresh starts and that includes the little things that make your everyday life feel easier, brighter, and more put together. Whether you’re updating your wardrobe with versatile staples, simplifying your routines, or finding new ways to care for yourself and your family, these must-haves are designed to help you step into the season feeling confident and refreshed.

The post Spring Must-Haves 2026 appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

October was National Cyber Security Awareness month and during that time, millions of online identities were stolen in America with more than 200 published breaches.

We’re now getting close to 1 billion records of identity theft – more than three times our entire population in the United States.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans have heard, read or seen something about online safety and security issues recently, according to StopThinkConnect.org. Yet consumers also say they don’t take steps to stay safe online because they lack information or knowledge.

So here are my best tips to help you enjoy Black Friday, CyberMonday and the Christmas shopping experience without losing your privacy and identity or putting your children’s safety at risk:

• Change your passwords – all of them. Do it now and do it as frequently as you can tolerate. If you don’t want to change them often, then use any unique characters you can think of, such as a dollar sign ($) or an exclamation mark (!) or replace a letter “O” with a 0 (zero). This goes a long way in preventing brute force attacks against your password. Also, never trust anyone on the phone who asks for your password, especially if they called you. The same holds true with emails. Both the telephone and email are used by people who try to get your password by pretending to be the IRS, your bank or someone else you have an account with.

• Clean up your apps. Assume most of your smartphone or tablet apps are malware that spies on you and your online behavior. Do you really need them? Delete any apps you don’t use often. Replace apps that take advantage of too many of your privacy settings with similar apps that don’t. On an iPhone, you’re not being eavesdropped on until you run the app.

• Shop online only from websites you trust. If you don’t know where the merchant is located, don’t shop online there. If they don’t have a corporate address or are located in another country, it could be iffy whether you ever see the goods you think you purchased. Also, if their shopping-cart experience is not an HTTPS browser session, then everything you type in ¬– your name, address and credit card information – is going over the Internet unencrypted, in plain view.Never buy online using your credit card on a site that doesn’t have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed. It’s easy to tell you are in a secure, encrypted session. You should see an icon of a locked padlock in your browser and the website URL starts with HTTPS not HTTP. Also, if you receive emails from the merchant, no matter the reason, don’t give them your credit card information over email.

• Don’t use cash or debit cards. You have three major choices when shopping – cash, credit or debit. In rare but growing instances there’s even a fourth option called “Bitcoins,” which are now accepted at some merchants including Overstock.com. Bitcoins could be considered the equivalent to the cash option, because once used, you can’t get them back. So, if you have to choose among these options, the best is the credit card.Here’s why: If you experience identity theft, credit card laws allow you to keep all of your credit immediately, with no responsibility during an identity theft or fraud investigation. With a debit card, your bank’s policy can be to tie up your money in the amount of the fraudulent transactions for up to 30 days. Some have been known to take up to 60 days to resolve the issue.

• Don’t use public WiFi without using SSL encryption. Public Wifi networks can be a hacker’s dream. If they want, they can see what websites you are visiting and insert malware into your computer or other device. The hacker also has access to any information you are sending out over the Internet, which could include credit card numbers or other critical information.

About Gary S. Miliefsky

Gary Miliefsky recently blew the lid on the how Russian, Chinese and Indian hackers are behind the top 10 flashlight apps specifically designed to collect and expose your personal information to cybercriminals abroad. Fox News Bret Baier’s interview with Miliefsky broke records for Fox with over 5 million views. Miliefsky is a consumer advocate who has been recently featured on ABC, Good Morning America, World News Tonight, NBC’s Today, FOX News, CNBC and elsewhere for his expertise as a cyber security expert. He is Founder of SnoopWall Inc., a cutting edge counter-intelligence technology company offering free consumer based software to secure personal data on cell-phones and tablets, while generating revenues helping banks and government agencies secure their networks. He has been active in the INFOSEC arena, as the Executive Producer of Cyber Defense Magazine and a regular contributor to Hakin9 Magazine. He has patents and patents pending on his inventions for Computer and Network Security.

The post Halting Hackers For The Holidays appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

*BPT

The post How to shop for Cyber Monday deals appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Research shows consumers know credit card fraud is a reality in today’s economy. In 2013, 552 million consumer identities were stolen from retailer data breaches according to the 2013 Norton Report, and that number is projected to grow in 2014. Nearly 70 percent of Americans frequently or occasionally worry about identity theft, according to a recent Gallup Poll and 62 percent worry about having a computer or smartphone hacked. More than a quarter of Americans reported they, or someone in their household, had personal financial information stolen in the last year by computer hackers who targeted retailers.

Despite these fears, most consumers aren’t taking the necessary steps to protect their private information. Nearly half of smartphone and tablet users do not take even the basic precautions to protect their mobile devices, according to the 2013 Norton Report. This includes using passwords, installing security software or backing up files. Nevertheless, they’re sharing personal financial information more than ever.

As Cyber Monday draws near, industry analysts project many will flock to e-retailers to take advantage of the hot online deals. Last year, Cyber Monday sales reached a record $2.29 billion, with 17 percent of consumers purchasing via mobile devices, USA Today reported. This year, IBM predicts more than half of all online holiday purchases over Thanksgiving will come from mobile devices.

“With the added threat of retailer hacking, cyber crime is at an all-time high for today’s consumer,” says Dr. Rajin Koonjbearry, professor in the College of Engineering and Information Sciences at DeVry University. “An ill-informed consumer is a hacker’s primary target, so this holiday season consumers take responsibility for their own protection.”

Koonjbearry offers these tips for consumers to protect themselves against cyber hacks:

* Shop on secure websites: Avoid accidentally clicking on infected sites by looking for the SSL certificate and ensure the site starts with https:// and has a padlock icon.

* Keep your passwords secure: Use different passwords for each of your online accounts, and change each password every three months in case your data is hacked.

* Update anti-virus software regularly: Cyber criminals are always developing new viruses to hack into your devices. To ensure your computer is protected from the latest threats, install anti-virus software and configure it to update automatically.

* Delete apps you don’t use: Information stored in mobile applications, like passwords, is vulnerable to Internet hacking. Get rid of apps you no longer use.

* Swipe your own card: When you’re shopping in-store, always swipe your own card or ask the clerk to swipe the card in front of you to ensure they don’t copy any personal information.

“Cyber criminals will pounce on the opportunity to exploit a seemingly simple security mistake,” says Koonjbearry. “Savvy consumers need to mitigate the risks by staying wary of anything suspicious this holiday season.”

*BPT

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With Halloween under our belts and Christmas fast approaching (50 days to be exact), parents are staring one of their worst nightmares right in the face: holiday shopping. Want to skip the lines and ditch the early bird sales this year? If you’re new to online holiday shopping and not sure where to start your search, don’t worry… we’ve got you covered. Pour yourself a cup of tea, grab your favorite blanket and enjoy perusing AKA Mom Magazine’s ‘Top 10 Marketplaces’ from the comfort of your own living room (or bed—we won’t judge!)

1. New Egg: For all the nerds and techies in your life. It’s our favorite geeky paradise.

2. The Grommet: All the latest consumer goods at ridiculously low prices, plus free shipping on orders of $25. It’s a win-win!

3. Birchbox: In search of beauty gifts for a certain prima donna? Look no further.

4. Gilt: No need to feel guilty about shopping here! Get insider access to top designer labels for up to 60% off. You can thank us later.  

5. Uncommon Goods: The name speaks for itself: creatively designed merchandise at affordable prices. (P.S. this is where we learned that early candles were often eaten rather than burned). Don’t believe it? Check out the website for more fun facts associated with their merchandise.

6. One Kings Lane: The be-all and end-all of home décor marketplaces. From vintage pieces to modern finds for any home, we guarantee your online shopping cart will be overflowing. 

7. FireBox: Their most popular items include a pair of magical unicorn slippers, an underwater disco lightshow, a Star Wars Death Star cookie jar, and gourmet scented pencils properly labeled ‘Smencils’. We’re not kidding. And we aren’t sorry that we love it.  

8. Etsy: The ultimate site for all things vintage and handmade. Connect with artisan vendors from around the world whose craftsmanship goes into every unique piece, from handmade jewelry to homemade soaps, Etsy truly is the best online platform for one-of-a-kind gifts. 

9. Red Envelope: When it comes to finding the perfect present, Red Envelope has what you’re looking for. But don’t take our word for it, check it out today!

10. The Man Registry: Have an alcohol aficionado in your family? Or perhaps just a thirsty uncle who knows his way around a wet bar? Don’t we all? The Man Registry has personalized gifts from engraved beer pitchers to miniature whiskey barrels perfect for the man in your life.  

The post Don’t Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Mom Expert Vera Sweeney Shares Her Favorite Online Tools to Make Holiday Shopping Easy for the Whole Family

The holidays are a wonderful time of the year to take a break and spend time with close family and friends. That’s why it’s important to avoid getting caught up in all the  holiday  shopping mayhem and the stress that goes with it. In a recent TOTSY.com survey of nearly 2,200 moms, three out of four moms said they hated having to play NASCAR driver to find a spot in the mall parking lot for some last minute shopping to find the perfect gift! So it’s no surprise that online holiday shopping hit record sales at over $37 billion last year.

Here are some essential online resources from mother, wife, mom expert and founder of I’m Not Obsessed Media, Vera Sweeney:

1. Online wish lists are mom’s new best friend.

Moms are usually inundated with endless phone calls from aunts, uncles and grandparents asking what the kids want for the holidays. Luckily, technology is catching up and there are online wishlists that can help save you time. One of the best wishlists I have seen is offered for FREE by Tykoon.com.   Kids & parents select their most wanted items from the 100% kid-safe Tykoon Store. Links to wanted items can be sent directly to family members through the online and iOS app for easy purchase and delivery from Amazon.

2. Work the private sale sites.

Private sales sites have become a mainstay in the way moms shop because they offer fantastic Black Friday level discounts…ALL THE TIME. These limited time stores offer lower prices but can have longer shipping times so get started early. One site I use a lot around the holidays is TOTSY.com, which offers up to 90 percent off retail prices for products for kids and grown ups! They also give you access to great quality products and brands that can be hard to find at big box retailers for that unique and perfect holiday gift.

3. Bloggers just might be moms’ little helpers for the holidays.

Every year, it’s a struggle to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, along with the deals that will help you stretch your budget. Luckily, there are hundreds of bloggers already doing your homework for you! I love to gather up all the awesome products, deals, giveaways, discounts and contests I come across and share them online with readers of my blog, so come by and take a look at Lady and the Blog. Keep an eye out for my flash giveaways and contests where you can win great gifts and gift cards to help out with your Christmas budget.  

4. Online stores are a must if you want to save time and avoid lines…but look for ones that are truly special.

Sure, we all know most stores have online sales for Cyber Monday but there are so many amazing products that don’t get carried in mass retailers. Luckily you can find them online at specialty web retailers. One site I like is Oompa.com, that sells safe, quality and unique baby toys from around the world. Their ‘naturally brilliant’ selection includes brands like Green Toys, who produce a line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. 

 

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About Vera
Vera Sweeney, mom, blogger, social media influencer and New York resident, is the founder of LadyAndTheBlog.com. She is considered one of the top female digital influencers in today’s social media space. Her lifestyle and parenting brand helps busy women stay on top of the latest trends in fashion, food, family and travel. Some of Vera’s recent accolades include being named “Top 50 to follow in Social Media” by Restaurant Business Magazine (2012), Babble’s Top 50 to Follow (2010, 2011), and “Top 5 to Follow on Long Island (NY) by Newsday. She has been featured on media outlets including CBS News, Fox 5 News, E! Entertainment, Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine, The NY Post’s Page Six, and the Rachael Ray Magazine. Follow her on Twitter at @VeraSweeney and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/inomommy

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