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OH-MY-GOD!!!!!!

If I thought it was hard to take pictures when I was pregnant ( you know the whole “gather up the energy, put make up on, wash my hair, possibly style my hair, put clothes on, go somewhere pretty to take pictures), well it is twice as hard trying to get a good picture with Alexis in tow. I still have to do all the preparations listed below, all while she’s hopefully sleeping, then pray for good mood on Alexis’ part, so that all the pictures didn’t look like this

And even when she’s in a good mood, how on earth do you get a 2 months old to pose? You don’t! So you take a million shots hoping that at least in ONE of them she’s going to look decent in and you don’t have a closed eye or busy shushing her. It’s even harder with Alexis because she tends to make all kinds of faces that might look cute in real life, but definitely don’t when they’re frozen on a photograph.

So nowadays, I have to be content with 1 photo out of about 100 that looks good. And after yesterday’s Mommy and Me shoot, this is The Photo:

I think the result is decent considering yesterday was a fussy day!

We’re both wearing a Mommy and Me set from Boob Design, my absolutely favorite item in their store. If you’ve been reading my blog since I was pregnant, you’re aware of my undying love to this brand. I think they have the cutest maternity  clothes and absolutely THE BEST nursing wear on the market. They just opened their US store which makes it impossible for any pregnant or nursing woman to resist buying something. I wasn’t planning on running another Boob giveaway, but after numerous requests from readers, I finally have it ready. So enjoy! It’s open internationally and anyone who’s pregnant or nursing or planning on becoming pregnant or has a baby can enjoy Boob Design clothing. I also have a DISCOUNT CODE if you plan on purchasing something. It’s 20%OFF any purchase except for Outlet and it’s valid till April 12th. Use BOOBDESIGN-APRIL-20% code to get the discount.

Some of the other Boob items that I have:

So for those who aren’t familiar with Boob Design ( and note: this is not a review, I just love them this much), their nursing dresses, tees and tanks have a special pocket that opens up without exposing your belly so you can breastfeed in public without the darn cover-up. They are definitely my prefered online retailer of nursing clothes. I’ve nursed in Boob tees in public and it’s a breeze!

It’s funny that I had to nurse Lexi during the shoot, but it looks damn good, doesn’t it? You open the top pocket and latch the baby on- VOILA! No boob hanging out :) Most items are made out of organic cotton or  lyocell and are very nice to touch and are very stretchy ( which is a key to baby onesies, because Alexis has developed hatred of clothes going over her head, so I have to stretch the neck to make sure it doesn’t touch her face as I put it on)

So here are a few other photos taken that I am somewhat ( but not fully) happy with.

This was taken after the shoot, while I was putting Alexis to sleep in the stroller (more on that later)

BUY IT:  Use BOOBDESIGN-APRIL-20% code to get a 20% off discount until April 12th.

WIN IT:

So now, due to popular demand, I present to you a Boob Design giveaway.
There will be 3 winners of $150 credit to Boob Design Store each. The contest is open internationally and there’s a new entry that can be entered in once a day.

BELOW ARE THE GIVEAWAY RULES
and Mandatory Entries: {read carefully}

There are two mandatory entries, after which you will have additional entries available,
and 2 daily entries for which you can come back to enter daily.
The winning entry will be verified and the winner disqualified if the action is not found or if the mandatory items are not fullfilled.
Make sure to notate how you’re following the blog in the extra info field (entry #1). The entry won’t count if that information is missing.
Please make sure to visit Boob Design facebook page and write on their wall what you’d buy if you won.
The giveaway is open to INTERNATIONALLY. See the rafflecopter widget for additional terms and conditions.

UPDATE: You can now log into the Rafflecopter through Facebook or just by using your name/email.

If you have a blog, there’re 2 entries each worth 10 points ( post our button on your blog’s sidebar and blog about the giveaway)

{If you’re not sure how to use to enter, feel free to watch this video tutorial or email me at contact {at} prebabyblog {dot} com
Otherwise, make sure to read everything carefully. Click the DO IT link first, then I’VE DONE IT once the action is completed}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is NOT a review.

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Welcome to Week 10 of Pregnant with Style feature, a weekly low down on the cutest and little known maternity brands.

{Discover other weeks and maternity brands here}

JULES et JIM Maternity

“Jules likes seeing his pregnant wife sexy. Jim prefers the classic, refined look.
Together Jules & Jim make up a line of maternity clothing in tune with new trends, at once comfortable and urbane”

BELOW ARE THE GIVEAWAY RULES
and Mandatory Entries: {read carefully}

There are two mandatory entries, after which you will have additional entries available,
and 1 daily entry for which you can come back to enter daily.
The winning entry will be verified and the winner disqualified if the action is not found or if the mandatory items are not fullfilled.
Make sure to notate how you’re following the blog in the extra info field (entry #1). The entry won’t count if that information is missing.
Please make sure to visit Jules & Jim facebook page and post on their wall what you’d like to win (entry #2). 
The giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. See the rafflecopter widget for additional terms and conditions.

UPDATE: You can now log into the Rafflecopter through Facebook or just by using your name/email.

If you have a blog, there’re 2 entries each worth 10 points ( post our button on your blog’s sidebar and blog about the giveaway)

{If you’re not sure how to use to enter, feel free to watch this video tutorial or email me at contact {at} prebabyblog {dot} com
Otherwise, make sure to read everything carefully. Click the DO IT link first, then I’VE DONE IT once the action is completed}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received this item from Jules&Jim in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Week 6 of Pregnant With Style

{see previous weeks here and come back each Sunday for more}

Discovering and introducing new and interesting maternity brands…

This week it’s Everly Grey Maternity.

USE CODE EVG20 to get a 20% discount off your Everly Grey purchase for the month of November as a special promotion for my readers.

Everly Grey is your total everyday affordable maternity wear, from dresses, to soft tops, to blouses to comfy pants and shorts.

I got to try out an Emmy top and Owen twill cargo pants and I have one word for you: COMFORT! I remember when I first received my package and put the Emmy top on, I spent the rest of the day lounging in it.

The top feels more like a tunic – long, lean and comfortable, perfect for fall weather. The navy inspired stripes add a touch of elegance to any casual outfit, so you can still look classy if you pair it up with skinny jeans and a pair of stilettos. The 4″ side slits will accommodate your ever-growing front and rear without accentuating it. All together I thought the Emmy Top was a perfect item to have in your wardrobe, both during pregnancy and after.

So when I first tried it on, I walked around in my undies and this top for a few hours until my husband looked at me strangely and asked “Why don’t you have pants on?”

That’s when I remembered I forgot to try out the pants lol

I’d say the biggest complaint I’ve heard from pregnant women about maternity clothes are pants/jeans that just don’t fit/don’t fit right. And I have to agree: the band pressing on your stomach is just too tight and too uncomfortable after a certain point in pregnancy.

Say hello to the Owen Pants! I love twill pants in general. I had a ton of skinny twill pants before pregnancy and hope to buy many more after. I love how they hug your body but don’t look exactly like good old jeans. The band of these pants is below the belly, just like you’d wear normal pants, except for it’s a slightly thicker and sort of like a soft scrunchy. It doesn’t press on your tummy but doesn’t stick out from under your shirt. In other words, the pants band fits perfectly under your belly without causing any discomfort or bunching up. I love the zipper on the ankle that gives it a more rough look, as well as big pockets on the back and the sides that take the pants from leggings category to cargo pants field.

Below are a few other things I own and/or like from Everly Grey Maternity:

{blue top no longer carried} {Blue Beth Dress}

{Rowan Tuxedo Top} {Robyn Top} {Poppy Dress} {Beth Dress}

All the Everly Grey items I have are extremely soft and comfortable, but most importantly affordable. And now you get an opportunity to win your own Emmy Top or Owen Cargo Pants in your size! All you have to do is ENTER the giveaway below. Please read the rules carefully, but otherwise it’s super easy with Rafflecopter (no more multiple comments for entries- one click each and you’re done (almost)).

You can also USE CODE EVG20 to get a 20% discount off your Everly Grey purchase for the month of November as a special promotion for my readers. They are having a really good sale right now, so don’t miss out.

BELOW ARE THE GIVEAWAY RULES
and Mandatory Entries: {read carefully}

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 Week 4 of Pregnant with Style project!

This week it’s all about staying sexy during pregnancy and breastfeeding without sacrificing comfort or function.

Let me introduce you to a mom-owned lingerie company called Bella Materna. They make very high quality nursing and pregnancy bras as well as loungewear and nightwear.

After about the 1st month of pregnancy, it was clear that none of my bras were going to fit comfortably. Aside from the cup being too small or too uncomfortable, it seemed like my chest size grew too. So pregnancy bras are definitely something every pregnant girl has to buy, and then again nursing bras if you are planning on breastfeeding.

Well, I gotta say that’s a lot of bra and size changes between pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, nursing and then post nursing.  Of course, one can always go and buy a bunch of cheap bras, but as some of you might have experienced, they don’t last long and don’t feel too comfortable, let alone look good.

By the time I received my Sexy Tshirt Nursing bra from Bella Materna, I had already bought 1 pregnancy/nursing bra. However, it had been lying deep in my drawers waiting for me to become desperate enough to use it. Now, I am not a fan of wearing bras. I usually try to avoid them like the plaque and take my bra off the second I get home ( sometimes even in the car on the way home). So let’s just say I was not looking forward to having to wear one at all times during pregnancy ( so that my boobs would sag more than they have to from the additional weight).

So comparing the bra I had bought to the Bella Materna bra, it’s very clear that comfort and quality beats anything else. And if it ends up looking attractive enough for my husband to comment on it- well that’s just a bonus!
I am 2/3 done with the pregnancy and I never ONCE wore that first bra I bought, because while it might be cheaper, it also isn’t comfortable at all, so it turned into a waste of money for me. The Bella Materna bra is the opposite, I find myself hanging around in it because I forget I have it on. And the hubby is enjoying me walking around in my Bella Materna underwear much better than if I wore most of the moo-moo looking pregnancy lingerie out there :) Plus I feel much better about owning a set of nice looking high quality lingerie that I know will last me for a few years of changing sizes as I go through pregnancy and breastfeeding.

 So here’s how you can win ANY Bella Materna Bra of your own.

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Week 3 of the project I secretly dubbed “Best Little Known Maternity Brands”.

As I mentioned before, I am going to introduce 1 relatively unknown awesome maternity company each  week and give you guys an opportunity to win something. As I find maternity brands, other than the typical Gap, Old Navy, Pea in the Pod, etc, I will be writing about them here every Sunday. So far I have posts lined up till the end of the year, so come back every Sunday for a new discovery. Often enough the maternity items I will be reviewing are suitable for wear before pregnancy, as well as post-partum and during nursing, so even if you’re not currently pregnant or looking to get pregnant, don’t miss these.

SHABBY APPLE

I have always been a HUGE fan of Shabby Apple. I’ve known about their terrific dresses for quite a while, however only recently did I discover that Shabby Apple also carries a small but “oh-so-wonderful” maternity line. And their maternity dresses are just as glamorous and detailed as their women’s dresses.

I’ve been eyeing the Two’s Company (Da Vinci in non-maternity style) dress for a while, so I was completely stoked when I finally received it. I loved the idea of a simple yet detailed dress that feels and looks comfy, like something you’d wear instead of sweats and a tee to hang out with your friends and still look cozy, but not dumpy. The kangaroo pouch just made it an “inside joke” for the maternity version of the dress.

A simple dress at a first glance, Two’s Company is far from that. The puff sleeves add a sophisticated touch to the casualty of a  grey jersey dress, the drop waist adds to the laid back look, the pouch up front reminds me of the comfort of a sweatshirt.

I felt and looked comfy and cute in the dress the second I put it on. This is what maternity should be about: adapting non-maternity styles to look fabulous whether you have a baby on the way or not.

Some of my favorites are women’s dresses that look like a two piece outfit: a skirt and a blouse. How can you not love that?  And have you seen Shabby Apple’s version of a little black dress? Yum!

There’s really no need for me to go on and on, because I think the dress selection speaks for itself- just look at it.

If you’re sold on Shabby Apple already, you can use this coupon to get 10% OFF in the next 30 days: ”theartofmakingababy10off”. They often run cool promotions, so feel free to check out and like Shabby Apple Facebook page to get those discounts.

Now here’s how you can score a FREE DRESS!

Shabby Apple would like to give away one dress to a lucky winner! The winner gets to pick the maternity version of the dress seen in my photos (Two’s Company dress) or the non-maternity version (Da Vinci dress). The giveaway is open to US residents only ( sorry my Canadian, European and international friends! )

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Hey, guys, remember I told you that I discovered quite a few lesser known maternity brands that I’m loving so much I will be featuring them throughout my pregnancy? And not only featuring but giving you all an opportunity to score some goodies as well!

Well, here’s one of them!

Annee Matthew Maternity

I remember how daunting it was: the concept of buying clothes that looked bad, felt uncomfortable, cost too much and would only be worn for a maximum of a few months before being put away in the furthest corner of my closet to hopefully never be seen again. Oh the fear of maternity clothes! And how surprised I was to find out that “Hey, maternitywear does come in pre- and post- version too”.

But then somebody dropped a bomb on me:”If you’re going to be breastfeeding, you will need to buy a whole new wardrobe to be nursing friendly”  !BAM!

That’s where Annee Matthew maternity clothing comes in and that’s one of the things that I LOVE about it. It can be worn before pregnancy, during pregnancy, during the “whale period” of pregnancy AND while breastfeeding, it’s comfortable, it’s affordable, it fits like a glove and it’s super cute.

For some of you this might not come as a surprise, but as a first time mom who pretty much never had to deal with babies or pregnant friends (most of my friends are still waiting to have babies), this seemed really cool!

Check it out:

You lift up the flap on the shirt to expose your wondrous nutritious BOOBIES through special openings any time you need to breastfeed in public (or private). Your probably still squishy tummy stays hidden by the shirt, your baby is happily nursing away and you’re still looking fabulous ( picture below right)

So this was a new concept to me and a fun one too!

Next:  Softness! Aaaaahhhh! I literally melted! One word: organic bamboo ( ok, that’s two words). It’s made out of luxurious, eco-friendly bamboo fibers and probably the softest, most pleasant-to-touch piece of clothing in my whole wardrobe ( not kidding!)

We all know how sensitive our skin gets the second we get pregnant (ugh), and this shirt is like wearing a cloud ( again, not kidding).

It’s really incredibly comfortable. When I first got it, I kept prancing around the house and twirling ( yes at 22 weeks pregnant) and just enjoying the feel of it. It also fit me PERFECTLY! The fabric is really nice and stretchy, so I’d imagine it would hug everyone’s curves just the right way.

Next: Another thing I noticed is that the flap in the front sort of concealed my belly in a good way. I was 22 week pregnant while taking these photos and I was showing quite a bit. However, I could totally pull off the “what? I’m not pregnant!” look, which means that when I am really big, I’d hope that this shirt would make me look less like an elephant (I’m tired of the “whale” methaphor) and more like a … umm… you know…whatever is smaller and cuter than an elephant. A baby elephant? You get my point!

And post partum is going to be another story. I’ll probably live in this shirt, deny that I still look 5 months pregnant and keep telling myself that I am back to my prebaby shape. Because it makes you look THAT good.

Annee Matthew store has all kinds of styles: short sleeved, long sleeved, dresses, casual, dressy. I didn’t get to to try out the dresses ( remember, I am a dress addict?), but they look just as comfy.
My absolute favorite is Vanna Dress.

Ok, now onto the coolest part: GIVEAWAY

Annee Matthew would like to give  the same shirt  (found here) away to one of my readers. You’ll be able to pick the size and color ( it comes in plum{shown above} and black)

So, if you guys want to experience the coolness factor of wearing fun, soft, comfy, nice looking, versatile “maternity and beyond” clothing ( you don’t have to be pregnant to do that), enter the giveaway!

BELOW  ARE THE GIVEAWAY RULES and Mandatory Entries: {read carefully}
There are two mandatory entries, after which you will have additional entries available.

All comments will be moderated and will appear once approved.Please make sure to comment on which item from Annee Matthew store you liked to be eligible (entry #2)

{If you’re not sure how to use to enter, feel free to watch this video tutorial.
Otherwise, make sure to read everything carefully. Click the DO IT link first, then I’VE DONE IT once the action is completed}
Open to US residents only.