Mommies With Style

Even though I’m only 16 weeks pregnant right now with my third child, I’m drooling over Oilo Studio’s fantastic crib bedding. We’re going to have to redo our nursery bedding again, when our third child arrives this summer.  We had boring white bedding for our first child (used on my son’s toddler bed now) and our second child, a daughter, is still in a crib, using beautiful pink organic bedding, from Until Kara. #3 will be a boy and we’re going to have to start from scratch.

Oilo’s Modern Berries Crib Set ($399) would be perfect for my upcoming arrival’s crib bedding. White with sage green, it’s patterned after the red currant berries that grow in Norway and can work for a boy or a girl. Included in the set is a 100% woven cotton bumper and bed skirt, a zippered slip cover bumper, fitted cotton percale crib sheet. It’s machine washable and made in the USA.  While we didn’t use bumpers until both our children approached a year old, I like to have them included in a set.

Exclusive for MWS Readers: Purchase at  www.oilostudio.com — use code: mws2010 to receive a 15% discount on any order.

I’m entering the 2nd trimester of my third pregnancy. While this pregnancy was a surprise, this baby will be coming mid-August and I’m getting really excited. I did pregnancy product reviews for Mommies With Style in 2007, when I was pregnant with my now 2 year old, Allegra. This is me on the left (hint, I’m the shorter one). The amazing Nicole Felicano of Momtrends interviewed me recently for her Great Expectations Quiz Series — click here to read my answers!

These are some of the products that I loved during my last pregnancy & the first new product I’m enjoying.

Bella Bands: I’m still too small for maternity clothes, but my tummy is starting to stick out a little bit. I’ve turned to the fabulous Bella Bands – which I absolutely lived in during my second pregnancy.  I can throw them under a t-shirt and not have to worry about my tummy becoming uncovered. My favorite was the black lace Bella Band. Click here to read my original review: Bella Bands. They’ve also got some new products, part of their Essentials Collection – the Everyday Cami, a Ruched Tank, Belly Leggings, and an Everyday Pant, which our writer, Julie, reviewed during her pregnancy last year. Click here to read Julie’s review.
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I started this post on Saturday the 31st, got about halfway through and needed to leave to go to dinner at my in-laws.  I figured I’d finish the post on Sunday.  Luckily, the bag had already been packed.  By 12:30am I was on my way to the hospital.  The little one was on her way…3 weeks early!  So I can honestly tell you that the items I’ve listed below were actually used while I was at the hospital.

It’s taken a month, but I finally think that my bag is completely packed and ready to go to the hospital.  Initially I was unsure where to even start, so I asked a few friends, searched online and even got a list from my doctor.  I’m certain that I’ve overpacked, but I’d rather be prepared.  I wanted to share a few special items that I’ve packed to make the delivery and our hospital stay a little more special.

From my brief overnight stay at the hospital earlier in my pregnancy, I quickly learned how uncomfortable the beds and pillows are.  So, I knew right off the bat that I had to definitely have some pillows packed.  At this point in my pregnancy I’m used to sleeping with a minimum of five pillows, though I knew lugging that many with me to the hospital was out of the question.  Luckily, Utterly Yours has created a pregnancy pillow that supports both your stomach and lower back (doing the work of two pillows) in one small cube.  When opened it forms two wedges; one made of memory foam that conforms to your belly and the other made of a high density foam to support the back.  Each wedge is covered in a different, stylish fabric to coordinate with any bedroom.  And it’s compact design makes it super easy to take to the hospital for some relief both during and after delivery (the cover is machine washable).  The Utterly Yours pregnancy pillow is available in small, medium and large sizes and can be purchased directly on their website starting at $39.95.

I’ve put together an iPod playlist of some of my favorite songs as well as some soothing music to play during the laboring process.  I have no idea if any of this will sound good to me or if I’ll even want noise at all, but either way I’m prepared.  Included on my playlist are songs from “Stork Tunes” and “Music for Mother and Baby” CDs.  Stork Tunes, a compilation CD consisting of soothing music by Norah Jones, Billy Joel and other top artists celebrates motherhood and helps women relax while preparing for and giving birth.  Proceeds from the sale of the CD will fund March of Dimes efforts to give every baby a healthy start in life.  “Music for Mother and Baby” was composed by Andreas, a father who used his experience with babies to create this soothing and relaxing music.  The songs were written to help create a peaceful environment in which the baby could sleep.  As a side note – during labor and delivery I had no desire to listen to music, but was glad I had it ready just in case.

I know that with a new baby comes a new routine, a new schedule, and a great deal of organization.  I packed Baby’s First Journal to help me get started on the right foot from day one.  Baby’s First Journal will allow me to track all the essential information about my baby’s day-to-day progress from feedings to diaper changes, sleep habits and doctor’s visits.  It includes three months of logging pages and is designed to easily fit into any diaper bag.  I know I’ll be thankful to have all this information right at my fingertips.  Baby’s First Journal can be purchased on the Glow Baby website for $15.99 and comes in green, pink, and blue.  Use coupon code: mommies and receive 20% off your purchase.

No one expects to be stylish during a hospital stay, especially after giving birth.  There is, however, a great way to stand out from those other new moms and look a little less frumpy in all those mommy/baby photos.  More than Maternity offers customized hopsital gowns in a variety of beautiful fabric designs that are sure to brighten up your hospital stay.  Gowns are made from 100% cotton and fully snap up the back as well as down each shoulder for full coverage and nursing ease.  Why would you want to slip on that ratty old hospital-issued gown when you could have one custom designed just for you?!  You can purchase a More than Maternity gown on their website.  Prices start at $59.00.  Mention Mommies with Style in the message to seller section and receive free shipping.  I wore my More than Maternity gown my second day in the hospital and received compliments from all of my nurses and doctors.  It definitely made me feel much more presentable than the raggedy hospital gown I was given! And I didn’t forget  baby either.  I’ve packed my Tweetle Bug Boutique “I’m Not a Boy” newborn hat collection in case we do have a baby girl.  The hats are handmade from newborn hospital hat material keeping the nursery look with a new stylish flare.  The collection comes as a set of three – one with a bow, one with a poppy and one with a violet.  This way no one will mistake our little baby girl for a boy!  Hats can be purchased individually from Tweetle Bug Boutique’s website from $11.99-$14.99 or as a set for $30.00.  We were blessed with a little girl who was lucky enough to have all three “I’m Not a Boy” hats to wear during her stay at the hospital.  In the photo above, she is wearing the Genevieve hat with a poppy flower and I’m wearing my More than Maternity gown.

Packing your bag for the hospital can be overwhelming, and for those moms-to-be who already have enough stress there is a solution to your packing troubles!  Baby Time Bags offers several hospital bags already packed with everything you could need for your hospital stay.  There is no worrying if you forgot a toothbrush or a pair of flip-flops for the shower – Baby Time Bags has you covered.  The bbBasic includes mints, socks, a headband, flip flops, lip balm, a clock, mouthwash, nursing pads, slippers, a reference guide, pen and journal, organic lotion and body wash, plus so much more.  The bbLuxe contains all the practical items of the Basic bag plus some extra special goodies including a robe, hand massager, shampoo, massage oil, and Thank You notes.  Or you can indulge with the bbPreme bag that offers a going home outfit for the baby, a hospital gown, a nursing gown, and a labor ball.  The bags cost $125-$350 and make an excellent baby shower gift.  Use coupon code MWS10 to receive 10% off your online purchase.

Samples of the above products were provided for review on Mommies with Style.

Thinking about having a baby?  Know someone who is expecting?  Already pregnant?  Whether you’re shopping for a gift or just for yourself.  Here is my list of the top 7 items that have kept me happy (and sane) these past 8 months of pregnancy. 

Number 1: Maternity Pillows 

I can’t imagine these past few months (and the next one) without my Select Comfort Maternity Pillow.  About the middle of my second trimester I began to wake up with a sore back and realized that I needed some extra support.  I tried sleeping with a throw pillow between my knees, propping an extra pillow under my head and building a pillow blockade to keep me from rolling over onto my back.  None of these seemed to do the trick.  It wasn’t until I received Select Comfort’s pillow that I began to sleep soundly again.  The pillow is really two pillows in one.  A pillow to support your back and one to rest your ever-expanding belly are connected by an adjustable velcro pad in the middle.  It folds in half and has little cloth handles for travel.  And believe me, this pillow has gone with me anytime I was planning to sleep away from home.  The pillow is currently on sale for $29.99 on Select Comfort’s website, but hurry – the sale ends at the end of January!

Number 2: Leggings

I can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful it is to be pregnant at a time when leggings are in fashion!  To me, they are the most comfortable thing to put on besides sweatpants, and I’m even able to dress them up to wear them to work.  The best part is that you don’t even have to buy maternity leggings – since they’re stretchy you just have to go up a size. 

Number 3: Organic Body Products 

Even before becoming pregnant I dabbled in natural and organic body products.  But from the moment my pregnancy test turned positive, I tossed all the old face wash, lotions and body wash and replaced them with products that I knew were safe for both me and my baby.  I figure that I’m exposed to so many chemicals and pollutants from everyday life, that the least I should do is try to reduce any additional contaminants I put in my body when I actually have control of it.  Sweetsation Therapy has a wonderful line of organic body products.  Two that I’ve been using throughout my pregnancy are the Aqua*Tica Organic Botanical Night Cream and Q*Lumiere Organic Day Creme with Cucumber and Co Q10.  Both of these pregnancy-safe skin treatments not only prevent wrinkles, but also treat skin discoloration that often occurs during pregnancy.  The ingredients list on both of these products is full of vegetables, flowers, herbs, and plant extracts.  They smell fresh and they’ve certainly done a fine job of replacing all the face lotions I used pre-pregnancy.  Sweetsation Therapy has a wide range of organic and natural products on their site for everyday use, pregnancy and even for babies.  Use coupon code Mommies with Style at checkout to receive 20% off of your purchase.

Number 4: Water Bottle

For someone who’s never really thirsty, the amount of water you need to drink while pregnant is staggering.  I quickly learned that if it wasn’t in front of me at all times, I was definitely not drinking enough.  Very early in my pregnancy I purchased a 750ml, BPA-free water bottle that has been filled with water and hasn’t left my side since.  It’s kind of like a baby bottle for pregnant women, though it’s certainly kept me from getting in trouble with my doctor!

Number 5: Layering Tees 

Pregnancy and layers just go hand in hand.  I could be overheating and sweating while my husband’s teeth are chattering in the car.  It’s the complete opposite of my life for the past 30 years, but it’s something I’ve learned how to overcome…it’s called layers.  It’s not very often these days that I leave the house (or my room for that matter) without at least one or two layers of clothing that I’m able to take off througout the day.  Between my tank tops and long cardigans, I’m usually wearing a long-sleeved tee.  One of my favorites is one I received from Love My Belly.  They are an online maternity clothing shop specializing in tees, though they also sell dresses, bottoms, and baby clothes.  My double-sleeve tee is a short sleeved black t-shirt with longer, patterned sleeves sewn into it.  It’s perfect with a pair of jeans or leggings to be casual or paired with a long skirt and short-sleeved cardigan for work.  And it’s extremely comfortable.  Place an order on the Love My Belly site with coupon code MWS20 and receive 20% off.

Number 6: Yoga DVD 

Now I have to be completely honest – I haven’t used my Pregnancy Yoga DVD much.  However, just the knowledge that I have it and that it’s ready for me whenever I have the motivation to actually use it keeps me feeling pretty good.  Pre-pregnancy I was all about working out and going to the gym.  Staying active and fit was pretty important.  There’s just something about being pregnant that takes that drive out of you, but that’s where a good yoga DVD can come into play.  I received a Yoga 4 Pregnancy DVD led by Brenda Strong of Desperate Houswives.  It’s a great workout for all three trimesters.  She even gives some great labor techniques that you can do with your partner.  The exercises aren’t too challenging and I’m sure they will certainly help during labor.  So if you’re expecting or may be in the near future, it’s definitely something to have on hand….just in case!  You can purchase the DVD for $24.95 from the Yoga 4 Fertility website.

Number 7: Accessories, Accessories, Accessories! 

I’ve always loved adding accessories to any outfit, though since I’ve been pregnant I’ve learned the value of doing so.  All it takes is a coordinating scarf, a chunky bracelet, or some big earrings to take the focus off of an ever-expanding baby bump.  Plus, with all the stretchy cotton pieces you’re likely to wear while pregnant, some fun accessories can help to make any outfit a little bit more exciting.  Twister Silver has some stunning jewelry that will liven up any outfit.  Despite the name, they have more than just silver and the styles range from delicate to showstoppers and from classy to bohemian.  Their prices are extremely reasonable and the pieces are definitely unique to anything you’d see in a department store.  I have a pair of their Glacier Earrings with a Victorian design and dangling Swarovski crystals.  They’re definitely stunning.  Check out all Twisted Silver has to offer on their site.  Their jewelry makes a wonderful gift for any woman, expecting or not!

Samples of some of the above products were provided for review on MWS.

The following is a paid Advertorial from Love my Belly Maternity:

Pregnant?  Look no further than the fabulous Love My Belly Maternity where you’ll find stylish items like this Sandy Dunes long sleeve v-neck, this Burnout Hooded Tee and this double sleeve tee-hoodie.

Please visit www.lovemybelly.com and take advantage of this SALE and look fabulous this holiday season with your gorgeous belly!

We have added a lot of new styles and there are many styles on sale and CLEARANCE.

Research shows that babies in the womb can begin to hear as early as 20 weeks.  This was an astonishing fact to me, though our baby definitely reacts each time daddy reads to him/her.  With all the craziness that baby must hear each day, it’s nice to have some quiet time for both the baby and me.  I typically pick up a book or a new magazine, but I like to use the opportunity now to share some good music.

The Bellysonic stereo speaker pouch is a baby’s first set of headphones and a great way to share a free moment and some good tunes.  I have read several studies claiming that prenatal thought and sleep patterns can be influenced by music.  Some suggest that music helps create a more nurturing and stress-free environment for the baby.  Music is certainly something that I love, so I’m happy to have a simple way to share it with my baby.

The Bellysonic is crafted from soft and lightweight Organic Sherpa cotton fabric and contains 2 removable digital stereo headphone speakers.  For weeks I’ve been strapping the pouch around my belly and slipping my iPod inside.  So far my baby has heard great music from Beethoven to The Dave Matthews Band.  What’s great is that I can also listen to what’s playing to my tummy with the headphone splitter.

Bellysonic can be purchased for $69.95 at www.bellysonic.com .  Enter coupon code MWS20 for an extra 20% off.  Your baby will thank you.

A sample of this product was provided for review on Mommies with Style.

Let me start off by saying that someone should market an adult-sized “Plush Pad”, especially for us pregnant women who have trouble getting comfortable!  I’d love to have one of these to carry around. 

The Plush Pad is designed as a portable changing station but can be used for so much more – a mat for “tummy time” or an extra cushion during a nap.  With its memory foam cushion and roll-up design, it can be taken anywhere and used for just about anything.  When open, the Plush Pad measures 2 ft. by 2 ft. and offers a memory foam center surrounded by ultra-soft (and stylish) boutique fabric.  The cover is water-repellent protecting against accidents.  Simply remove the cover from the cushion (like a pillowcase) and toss it in the washer. 

If you’re not familiar with it, memory foam is a remarkable material.  It is made up of billions of high-density, elastic microcushions.  When the temperature sensitive cells come in contact with a warm area of the body, they become soft and more pliable.  In cooler areas they stay firm.  The cells actually shift position and reorganize to conform to the body.  Memory foam acts as a shock absorber to help protect a baby’s head and neck. 

The Plush Pad comes in 13 different fabric selections and can be purchased worldwide at select baby boutiques and online for $24.94.  Purchase a Plush Pad from the site prior to January 20, 2010, and receive 15% off when you enter coupon code MWS120 at checkout.

A sample of this product was provided for review on Mommies with Style.

Looking for a few little gifts to fill her stocking?  Need something small for a friend?  Here are a few last minute ideas:

Keep mom on her feet with GRiPPiES products.  These adhesive grips are perfect for pregnant moms to prevent slipping.  I’m not always wearing shoes or slippers when I’m home.  With a house full of hardwood floors and the instability of a 7-month pregnant belly, adding GRiPPiES to a few pairs of my socks has really helped to keep me upright!  They offer two lines of products: iron on adhesives and peel + stick adhesives.  GRiPPiES can also be used for kids’ socks and tights.  Once applied, they are machine washable and dryer safe.  GRiPPiES retail for $5.99 and can be found at Target stores, Buy Buy Baby, or grippiesonline.com.

With all the stuff that travels with mom and baby, it’s difficult to stay organized and quickly find what you need.  The last thing you want to do is crawl around the backseat looking for a missing binky.  Bella Tunno’s best-selling Bella Binker keeps binkies close and clean and is simply designed to take up minimal space – no more life-size giraffe and teddy bear clips!  Bella Binkers are made from grosgrain ribbon with a simple silver clasp and velcro loop.  There are almost 100 stylish designs to choose from to make a child’s outfit funkier and a mom’s life easier.  They retail for $8 and can be found in more than 4,000 boutiques nationwide as well as online at bellatunno.com.

Help mom pamper herself for a good cause with Perfect As Is Lip Balm.  This ultra-moisturizing tinted lip balm is 75% organic, and all profits, after taxes, go to support women’s health advocacy and human rights issues.  The .25 oz tube has a fatter than normal packaging making it easy to find in a messy purse/diaper bag and simple to apply.  It smells and tastes delicious thanks to the rosebud oil and stevia it’s infused with.  It feels smooth and silky for hours after application and has a sheer pink tint to add a bit of color.  Perfect As Is Lip Balm retails for $7 and can be purchased at iamapeacekeeper.com or at select Parfumerie Douglas.

Give a naturally sweet mom some naturally sweet snacks.  Peeled Snacks are individually wrapped servings of dried fruit.  The snacks have no added sugar, oils, preservatives or other fillers and provide a full serving of fruit.  These organic snacks are a natural source of vitamins, minerals and fiber.  The small packages are quick and easy to throw into a diaper bag for a quick, healthy snack.  They’re not too sweet like many of the other dried fruits available today. You can buy them individually or in gift packs with cute gift boxes or, my favorite, the Cute-2-the-Core Gift Box which includes one of each flavor as well as an adorable onesie. Available flavors include apple, pineapple, apriocot, mango, banana, and cherry. Peeled Snacks can be purchased at Whole Foods, Amazon.com, Nordstrom, or at peeledsnacks.com.

Mom doesn’t have to change her shirt after a deodorant mishap. With just one wipe of a Skid Out sponge, deodorant, drips and drool simply disappear. This specially-textured sponge has no need for moisture and is not treated with any chemicals. It’s safe to use on almost all fabrics. Use it to remove toothpaste stains, baby drool, pet hair, deodorant skids, and makeup smudges. Best of all – it really works! This small round sponge is perfect to throw in your purse and keep in the bathroom where most of these mistakes happen. The sponges come in packages of two and retail for $4.95. They can be bought at Nordstrom stores or online at drugstore.com and garmentguard.com.

Samples of these products were provided for review on Mommies with Style.

That’s right.  Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t have a fun, bubbly drink over the holidays.  Pre-pregnancy, my husband and I spent many an evening with a good dinner and a great bottle of wine.  For the past six months we’ve certainly continued to eat well, but the only one enjoying our collection of great wines is my husband.  More often than not, I spend dinner sipping water from my 24oz Camelbak.  So, you can imagine my excitement when I received samples of a non-alcoholic drink made with real wine grapes!

Vignette Wine Country Soda is a light-bodied soda sweetened with varietal wine grape juice from California vineyards.  It’s only slightly carbonated and isn’t super sweet like most fruit juices.  It’s beautifully packaged in small glass bottles and looks great in a wine glass! 

The soda is available in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rosé varieties.  They are all-natural, non-alcoholic, and caffeine free.  They have no added sugar, color, preservatives, or high frutose corn syrup; all of which adds up to a great drink for us pregnant ladies!

Vignette Wine Country Soda can be purchased from their online store or at a variety of specialty stores, restaurants, and wine-tasting rooms across the country.  A 12-pack retails for $28.50 and would certainly boost your spirits (no pun intended) this holiday season!

Samples of Vignette Wine Country Soda were provided for review on MWS.

I know that when February rolls around I’m going to have to tuck away my clutches and purses, handbags and wristlets.  They’ll be stored in long, plastic containers under my bed and exchanged for the required accessory of all new moms - the diaper bag.  Now I’ve been told by several kid-carting ladies that a large purse would suffice, but as someone with a passion for organization I can’t wait to separate all of baby’s necessities into the countless pockets found inside diaper bags.  For its organizational convenience and carrying capacity, I was willing to sacrifice a little bit of style, but now I know better!

Over the years, bands of new moms must have united to make their voices heard and demand a more stylish way to lug around everything baby needs.  The diaper bag industry has responded with some fabulous new designs and I’m excited to carry them.  Here are three favorites that I’ll be sporting next year:

Pinnington Bags – These unique bags are designed with unexpected combinations of texture, pattern and color.  They are handmade with luxurious home decor fabric making them very durable and stylish at the same time.  When I first saw them I was immediately impressed with the pattern and color pairings – fabrics that really stood out and were so unlike most other diaper bags I had previously seen.  You can tell that a lot of attention has been paid to detail, even on the inside.  The coordinating (but of course different) fabric inside is a wipeable material that is easy to clean.  It also has several inner pockets for organization.  Pinnington Bags come in three distinct styles each with a variety of color and pattern options.  My favorite is the August Diaper Bag.  I just love the ruffles stitched in to dress up the zip closure.  Order your favorite bag by Valentine’s Day (2/14/10) and you’ll receive 30% off when you use coupon code: mommies.

timi & leslie – This collection of diaper bags is not only convertible to serve for several other functions, but it also comes with an assortment of matching accessories that all busy moms need.  The roomy bags include a removable shoulder strap, a bottle tote, stroller straps, changing pad, wristlet, and an easy access key fob.  The inside is made of a waterproof lining - a huge plus – and has several elasticized pockets so you can quickly find everything you’ve packed.  The timi & leslie diaper bag collection is designed for “the woman in every mom”.  I could easily use my Jane Bag for the office or even as a carry-on when I travel.  It has a real vintage look with the double-handle tote design and patent leather exterior; not at all what I would envision as a typical diaper bag.  timi & leslie bags can be found at retail locations nationwide.

Amy Michelle – The “Go Tote” or all in one tote serves as a purse, work bag and diaper bag in one.  Amy Michelle’s diaper bags definitely reflect today’s styles and really look more like a purse than a diaper bag.  Unless you were pushing a stroller, I really don’t think anyone would ever guess that you had a diaper bag slung over your shoulder.  In fact, I’ve even considered switcihng to my Sweet Pea as my winter puse!  For baby – the bag includes a washable changing pad, internal and external bottle pockets, pacifier holder and attaches to a stroller.  For mom – there are credit card slots, a zippered pocket and an easy to find key ring.  Use coupon code: Poppy to receive 15% off of your purchase.  As an added bonus, up to 5% of Amy Michelle’s profit goes to The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver.

Samples of these products were sent for review by MWS.