Get a baby sling like Camila Alves
August 31, 2008
Actor Matthew McConaughey shows his Texas spirit as he takes his girlfriend, Camila Alves, and their newborn son, Levi Alves McConaughey, to the University of Texas vs. Florida Atlantic University game over the weekend.
Alves is carrying baby Levi in a Serena and Lily market Sling in Flax/Sky Blue ($129). This sling is hand embroidered on 100% organic cotton and features one seamless piece of fabric that keeps baby calm and happy against his parents.
Do you plan on using a sling or upright carrier, such as the Baby Bjorn, with your baby?
Top 5 postpartum wardrobe essentials
August 31, 2008
You have prepared your pregnancy wardrobe and baby’s newborn outfits, but what about your postpartum attire? Stock up on these essentials now so you are not stuck wearing your maternity clothes or trying to squeeze into your pre-pregnancy clothes too soon.
Between the lack of sleep and the postpartum recovery, it is a good idea to have a few postpartum ready-to-wear pieces that you can throw on without much thought that will make you feel and look great.
-Nursing tops: If you plan on breastfeeding, buy a couple of stylish tops that are forgiving on your postpartum tummy and make nursing a breeze.
Pictured is the Nursing Top from Mimi Maternity in Deep Aqua.
-Pants/jeans: You probably won’t be able to wear your pre-pregnancy jeans until you are around 6-9 months postpartum (or sooner for those lucky few) which is why you should consider buying some jeans or pants 2-3 sizes larger than your pre-pregnant size. Trust me, it will feel good to wear something that does not have a belly panel. Plus, you will love watching those jeans get baggy as you return to your pre-pregnant size.
-Dress: Look for an empire-waist dress that has a flattering v-neckline. Bright colors or a floral print will brighten your face and your baby will love looking at the colors!
Alison Sweeney on her pregnancy life saver
August 31, 2008
The Biggest Loser host and Days of our Lives actress Alison Sweeney recently spoke to The Cradle about her second pregnancy. Already mom to Ben, 3 1/2, she is expecting a daughter this winter.
On having another baby:
Even though Ben is only 3½ , it seems like forever since I’ve dealt with a newborn! I’m re-reading all the pregnancy books and new parent books to refresh my memory. I am looking forward to seeing Ben’s reaction to the new baby; I think that will make this whole experience completely new and different for us.
On maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy:
It is always difficult when you’re pregnant to deal with body image. There are some (very lucky) women who don’t seem pregnant at all except for their “bump.” I am not like that! I have been maintaining my workouts and trying to not give in to the cravings – not just for my figure, but for the health of the baby. But there are times when you have to relax and enjoy this different experience, keeping in mind that it’s not permanent!
Favorite pregnancy products:
“A Pea in the Pod is a life saver. They have great lines of clothes that are perfect for any pregnant woman. I love them. There’s a full body pillow that I absolutely NEED. Can’t sleep without it now.”
Pictured is Alison Sweeney at the GE High-Profile Pair in the Square event on August 26th.
Angie Harmon: Early pregnancy style
August 31, 2008
On the heels of confirming that she is indeed preggers with baby number three, actress Angie Harmon and her husband, NFL star Jason Sehorn, had a nice dinner date at Nobu over the weekend.
Harmon and Sehorn are parents to 4-year-old Finley Faith and 3-year-old Avery Grace. Before announcing her pregnancy, Harmon had said they did want more kids, but couldn’t agree how many more. “I’d like to have two more [kids] but Jason only wants one more,” she says. I guess we will have to wait and see who wins that argument!
The Women’s Murder Club actress doesn’t appear to be showing much of a bump yet. I love the combination of black, white with red accessories — even her nails are red!
Ashlee Simpson loves her maternity jeans
August 30, 2008
Pregnant popstar Ashlee Simpson recently blogged on her MySpace page that she is enjoying a healthy pregnancy. “Carrying a child is the most inspiring, emotional, amazing experience of my life. My weight and my pant size are the absolute last thing I am concerned about. I am only concerned with having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.”
What else is Simpson loving about her pregnancy? Her maternity jeans! “They have stretchy tops — it is awesome!”
Are you on the lookout for the perfect pair of maternity jeans? Check out the related posts below to get you started.
-5 Tips for buying maternity jeans
-How to find maternity jeans that are the right length
Alison Sweeney on pregnancy weight gain
August 28, 2008
The Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney said that although her show is about losing weight, she is feeling good about gaining weight. “It’s really the only time in your life that you’re supposed to gain weight. They say that you’re eating for two, but you have to remember that one of the two is only five ounces. It’s not the same,” she tells People.com.
Sweeney, 31, is expecting her second child, a daughter, this winter.
The actress says she had some food aversions early in her pregnancy (”Grilled chicken or tomatoes would be the worst. I would tell my husband to get it away from me!”) but is now filling up on healthy fruits and cereal.
“All I wanted was Cheerios — it was all I could eat for two months,” she says. “I definitely have a sweet tooth with this pregnancy that I didn’t have with my son. With my son, I craved savory things. My doctor said to buy fruit at the farmer’s market. I bought a cantaloupe, and I had to stop myself from eating the whole thing. I cut it up and put it in this big bowl and then next thing I knew, half of it was gone.”
I remember craving fruit when I was pregnant. It gave me the sweet taste I was craving, without being too heavy.
Cool new maternity style: The back panel
August 27, 2008
If you are newly pregnant, it won’t take more than a few trips to the maternity section to learn a whole new vocabulary. Before long you will be throwing around the terms full panel, mid-panel and side shirring, much to the amazement of your non-pregnant friends.
Your fashion vocabulary lesson of the day is: Back Panel. To quickly sum up your panel options, you can either opt for a full panel, which is a panel of stretchy material that is sewn into the front of jeans of pants and completely covers your belly to allow plenty of room for grown. A Mid-Panel can either be folded to worn under your belly, or pulled up to cover half of your belly. The self-explanatory “no-panel” features jeans that are cut to be worn under your belly and do not include a panel.
The back-panel is a new concept in the world of maternity fashion. It is a panel that is sewn on the back of you jeans, allowing some extra room to grow. The benefit of this is that you get the hip under-the-belly cut, thus allowing you to wear bump-hugging tops without the panel showing, while also giving you those couple of extra inches to grow.
Pictured is the Back Panel Front Pocket Jeans ($78) from Gap maternity.
Getting ready for delivery
August 26, 2008
‘I did a lot of walking during the pregnancy and I had a wonderful, much longed-for natural delivery. I was in labour 24 hours and he came out completely beautifully. It was a triumphant birth and it laid a lot of ghosts to rest for me. It was incredible to experience being able to do it totally naturally.’
-Actress Kate Winslet
Did you have a natural birth? Would you do it again?
Read More:
-Pain-free birth? Try hypnosis instead of epidural
Do you really need maternity clothes?
August 26, 2008
Do you need to buy maternity clothes, or can you get away with buying clothes in the “non-maternity” section throughout your pregnancy?
As Isabella Oliver points out,
“Know the limits of non-maternity. Neither of us recognized the limits of our non-maternity wardrobes during our first pregnancies. We hung on to favorite pre-pregnancy clothing long after they were either flattering or comfortable. We hope you will show more style sense and instead of constantly pulling tops down and trousers up – not a good look – please take the plunge and invest in good quality maternity clothes. Today, you will find options to suit all budgets and personal tastes, so you can enjoy comfort and confident style.”
Of course, they are trying to sell maternity clothes they have to say that, right? True, they are selling maternity clothes (and fabulous maternity clothes, I must admit) but I know that once I hit a certain point in my pregnancy clothes that were “maternity” seemed to fit my curves so much better than trying to fit into non-maternity. If you haven’t noticed, today’s maternity clothes are just as stylish as the non-maternity set.
Pictured is the Ruffle Wrap Dress by Isabella Oliver.
Gwen Stefani: Maternity style recap
August 26, 2008
With the arrival of Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale, the second baby boy of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, comes the end of following our favorite fashionista through her stylish maternity looks.
Zuma was worn on August 21st weighing 8 1/2 pounds and was welcomed home by his big brother, 2-year-old Kingston.
Forget constricting jeans or tight pants, Stefani dressed for comfort and style throughout her pregnancy by pairing printed skirts with flirty bump-hugging tanks and wrap tops. She was a fan of Isabella Oliver, wearing their Kimono Top and Wrap-Around Top, to name a few.
The Maxi Dress was a favorite of Gwen’s, as she was seen wearing a variety of the long flowing dresses out to lunch, to the beach, the park and a baby shower. Some of our favorites included the A Pea in the Pod Peacock Print Dress and the Diane von Furstenberg Ora Printed Silk Maxi Dress.
Another one of Gwen’s fashion favorites? Red lipstick and large shades, of course.
Click here to check out Gwen Stefani as we followed her style throughout her pregnancy.
