Archive | March 2014

The Must Have Shirt for Before, During, and After Pregnancy

Mar7

I have a friend who posted her weekly bump pictures on Facebook and had the cutest outfits, so when I got pregnant I went to her first for tips on my pregnancy wardrobe. My first problem was with the word “MATERNITY” no one was allowed to use it around me, for some reason it made me very angry. 

So on a search I went to look for regular clothes I could wear throughout my pregnancy.  This solved many problems, for starters, it was way less expensive. I think that’s because when you are pregnant and at the mercy of the clothing retailers, maternity clothing manufacturers feel like they can charge you an arm and a leg for clothing. However, you can buy regular larger than your “normal” size clothes on sale, and not on sale for a lot less.  You also have more options, and personally, it made me feel a lot better to know I was wearing regular clothes.

On my quest for clothes I found the Portofino shirt. I bought it in 3 different colors during my pregnancy and an extra new color since I have had my son. I love these shirts! They work with so much! You can wear them with skinny jeans, shorts, skirts, leggings and they look fabulous! They are super easy, wash and wear, no ironing required! What more could you ask for! I get compliments every time I wear them and have suggested them to pregnant and non-pregnant friends.

What is so great about these shirts you may ask? Well for starters a story… I work as a teacher with children 5- 9 years old. I didn’t want to be asked every day when, or if I had the baby. (I tell you children have no concept of time when it comes to pregnancy, if you have or work with children you understand this, if you don’t, I kid you not, they will ask you every single day!) So… I waited till I was 7 months pregnant to tell my older ones and about 4 weeks from my due date to tell the younger ones. When I wore this shirt, my kids had no idea I was pregnant. One teacher who I rarely saw didn’t even realize I was pregnant a month out from my due date!

Other reasons I love these shirts…

-They come in a million colors and patterns, ok not a million but close.

– They wash and wear soooo easily; you never have to iron them!

– Easily accessorizable, (if that’s a word) dress them up or down.

-They look great pregnant and even better not pregnant!

– You can wear them buttoned up or open with a cami underneath.

– The possibilities are endless by wearing them with jeans, leggings, skirts, shorts….

You can find the Portofino shirt at Express stores or www.express.com  they range from 49.50 – $59.50 depending on color and pattern, but they periodically run specials for buy one and get a discount on the second as well as major deals for $$$$ off depending on how much you spend.  Do not miss out on this fabulous top, it will not disappoint.

http://www.express.com/clothing/Apparel/Portofino+Shirts/cat/cat1040025

Who wants to be told they look skinny in the hospital after giving birth?

Mar4

I got the trick! Belly Bandits! It totally worked!

I ordered my Belly Bandits about a month before my due date. They give instructions on the website for how to measure in your 8th or 9th month to determine what size you will need.  I had seen the Belly Bandit in various magazines well before ever becoming pregnant and kept the idea in the back of my mind for when the time came. Well when I became pregnant they even sold them in my OB’s office, where someone suggested waiting until I came back for my post-partum appointment to get one. Don’t do that!

Use the tips and if you can remember to measure at 8 months and then measure again at 9 months to see what size to buy  to wear in the hospital immediately after giving birth. I can tell you it makes all the difference. You’re stomach starts to flatten out almost instantly.  It’s totally worth rit.

It kind of stinks that you will have to buy multiple sized Belly Bandits to change out as you shrink down, but you will be happy you did. Additionally, they provide much needed back support and I have heard they are extremely beneficial for mommy’s who have C-sections. Hang on to your Belly Bandit, because I have another post coming soon on my favorite wraps that work even better with your recycled Belly Bandit! 🙂

http://bellybandit.com/

Couture Belly Bandit

The Dreaded Stretch Marks!

Mar2

It only seems fitting to have my inaugural blog post start the same way my journey as a mom startetummy butterd with a casualty of pregnancy…the dreaded stretch mark! I have to be honest, I was not a big fan of the idea of gaining weight and getting bigger during pregnancy. I was the girl in the gym the day before my due date squatting furiously in an effort to get the party started. I was in the gym my whole pregnancy, we are talking doing push-ups from the floor at 9 months pregnant! I know I am a nut case! 🙂

So having stretch marks was not an option! I had read about a product that guarded against stretch marks and even helped the ones you already had. I figured let’s give it a shot, and at least I tried something. I gotta tell ya, I made it out with NO STRETCH MARKS!!!!!!! I was religious in my application and started early, like before anyone knew I was pregnant(maybe 10 weeks), and used two products every time I showered, morning, night, and anytime in-between. oil

Now, The Spoiled Mama products are a little on the pricey side, but I tell you they are worth every red cent! Plus, they do have a rewards program so they hook you up with a discount when you re-order plus a sample of their other products with each order.

I used both the Bump Gloss and Tummy Butter from my knee up to my neck! I’m telling you, NO STRETCH MARKS! The stretch marks I had on my outer thighs from puberty started to disappear too! I couldn’t ask for anything more. We are talking scars more than 15 years old fading away.

I think the trick is that you need to start early, and keep using after you give birth while your skin is shrinking back to its original size! These are the keys to success! Definitely give these products a try.

Check out The Spoiled Mama products at http://www.thespoiledmama.com/