Bucket List before baby

As it's getting closer and closer to baby time, we decided to have a 'bucket list' to make sure we get certain things done before.  It's giving us ideas of what to do this summer and getting things done so we can have little or no stress and not scramble to get things ready for our little bundle of joy. Here is a quick snapshot of the beginning of our list to give an idea.

Bucket list includes two categories:

1) Things we want to do and might not be able to until a little after the baby is born

- like going to the movie theater together, my favorite restaurant, certain hikes or events

2) Things we need to get done/discuss before the baby is born

- like starting a college fund, finishing the dresser, or fixing our car so that expense is taken care of

Let me know if there are other things I should add!

Which Maternity Support will you use?

I know there are many kinds of maternity supports out there.  Some to just wrap around your waist and to discretely hide under your clothes.  Right now I'm wearing the BellyBra which not only hides extremely well underneath clothes, it supports my body and my ever-growing 7 month belly so I can get the support and comfort I need while doing my daily activities.  

Here is one of the awesome BellyBras.  You can choose from a nude color, like the one above, or black or white.  The thick elastic on the bottom is 2 inches long and is shorter in the back so the front fits underneath your belly for a slight/gentle lift feeling.  I loved how comfortable the lift was for my stomach and really relieved some of the weight on my back.

Here is the front and back of the BellyBra, as you can see, it has a built in bra with elastic under the bust.  This maternity support also has a full panel covering the stomach which I think looks smooth and comfortable under clothing like shirts and dresses. As you can see in the back, the elastic is higher and rests in your lower back and the back has a panel that is a 1-way stretch that gently pulls shoulders back.  No hooks or other metals to push against your skin and machine washable!

Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga During Pregnancy

During this pregnancy my working out is extremely limited. There is a huge list of activities to avoid while pregnant, so the two kinds of exercising I do now in my third trimester includes walking and prenatal yoga.

Both of these are low risk for problems to me and the baby and still keeps me active without overdoing it.

Prenatal yoga benefits from the Mayo Clinic: 

Improve sleep

Reduce stress and anxiety

Increase the strength, flexibility and endurance of muscles needed for childbirth

Decrease lower back pain, nausea, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches and shortness of breath

Decrease the risk of preterm labor, pregnancy-induced hypertension and intrauterine growth restriction

Right now I'm using the Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga video in the middle (blue video).  I love how I can determine my pace for a 15, 30, 40, & 75 minute practice depending on the day and how I feel.  I'll even start the 75 minute practice and after 25-30 minutes pause the video and start there the next day/time. The other two videos have other options you can choose from as well.  

I really like how there are three people in the video doing the poses (one in first, second, and third trimester) so I can follow based on my trimester or my capabilities.  This especially helps me from overdoing it or trying to move in ways my body can't right now.  The short forms give modifications, labor poses, and yoga practices.  I'm really excited to use some of the poses I learned during labor.

From using the videos, I have felt more relaxed and particularly calm about giving birth, from stretching out it has helped my muscles particularly during the night, and I have slept better when I have done some kind of yoga during the day.

Order now to prepare your body for labor, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. Videos from the Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga site start around $13.95 and again are so easy to do from home whenever you have time.

Website: www.prenatalvinyasayoga.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Prenatalyoga 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/prenatalyoga

Tamera and Adam's Celebrity Nursery

I came across this beautiful nursery from celebrity Tamera and Adam on Style Network.  I loved the accents they put throughout the room and their baby blue and tan colors.  They also didn't have an enormous room for this nursery, so it was more relatable for us regular people who want to decorate a room like this.

I think my favorite thing in this room is the "A" initial.  I love the subtle blue color with white and how this would look great in any room as the baby grows up.  I think the A by itself would look a little boring/small for the wall, but having the striped pattern on the wall along with the two framed stars on the side really filled up the space without too much crowding.  If you look around there are many cute accessories from the teddy bears and amazing trunk perfect to keep all of the baby toys in.

This window in the corner of the room would be awkward designing, but the curtains help even it out to make it look even.  

Love this changing table, I love how it's not just one color but has a brown top and the drawers are outlined in the same color.  You can see the red star lights around the mirror (and if you look closely, you can see a cute baby jersey hung up by a blue star) a pop of this red brings your eyes to that point and helps the room give a pop of color. They used red a few times very subtly. 

And here we are back to the crib! What a fun nursery for their little baby.  

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Oko Creations Gift Certificate Giveaway

What is Oko Creations? They are a Canadian family business that uses only the best eco-friendly textiles to make maternity, baby, and other care products. These textiles include organic cotton, hemp, organic merino wool an recycled polyester.  They use reusable and durable products including their tags on their products, packaging and shipping materials, and business cards and advertisements.  

I love how their products are high quality and so cute! Here are some of the awesome products they have, enter now through July 20, 2013 for a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate.  

1) Baby
For Oko Creations baby products, you can find bibs, changing pads, cloth diaper liners, bibs, and more.  I love the products made from Hemp and Merino Wool which adds such comfort and durability.

Hemp baby wipes

This set of 5 wipes are perfect for changing dirty diapers or can be used for bathing.  One side of the wipes is soft and the other is textured to help clean your little one and still provide comfort.  I love how durable the hemp is and the colorful outlines that come in blue, red, green, yellow, and purple.

Organic cotton hooded towel

Merino wool baby mittens

These mittens are my favorite! They are made from merino wool and have velcro around the bottom to keep in the baby's warmth.  These mittens are so soft and are great for the cold winters and to prevent the baby from scratching his/her face.

2) Women

In Oko Creation's women's section, I absolutely love their hemp diaper bags which are super stylish and fun.  You can also find nursing pads and sanitary pads made from breathable and washable fabrics. 

Hemp diaper bag

Merino wool nursing pads

During lactation, you can go through tons of nursing pads.  These nursing pads from Oko Creations are perfect to have, not only are they reusable and eco-friendly, they are waterproof, breathable, durable, soft, and absorbent. This pack of 6 includes 4 hemp compresses and 2 wool barrier pads to allow you the comfort you need in nursing pads.  

Full set of pads

3) Care Products
Ontop of their great baby and women's products, you can also find care products like makeup headbands (so cute), washcloths, and handkerchiefs.


Enter with Rafflecopter below:
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Intelligender Test to tell your baby's gender at 10 weeks

When I saw the Intelligender kit online, I got really excited thinking maybe once and for all we can determine the baby's gender.  Quick recap.... I had two ultrasounds that said our baby was a little girl, next ultrasound we were told we were having a boy!  I was so excited to get my Intelligender kit in the mail and it was so easy and nice to use from home.

The Intelligender Gender Prediction Test can show your baby's gender as little as 10 weeks pregnant.  The kit comes with two main pieces, 1) the actual test - labelled boy and girl 2) syringe to collect and insert your urine into the test.

6 Easy Steps to Determine the Baby's Gender:

1) Collect first morning's urine in clean container
2) Remove the sticky tab from test jar
3) Use syringe to pull 20 ml's of urine, insert into exposed hole in test jar
4) Swirl around for 10 seconds
5) Place test on flat surface for 5 minutes
6) Read your test at 5 minute mark and match the color to the boy or girl color chart.

Look at what the Intelligender test revealed... It's a BOY!!!

I'm so excited to confirm our baby's gender.  I would have used this kit earlier in my pregnancy if I could have and it was so fast and easy to use.  Online pricing is $27.99 and 2+ kits are $24.47 each.

Feel free to check out and follow Intelligender on their social media sites:
http://www.intelligenderblog.com
http://www.facebook.com/intelligender
http://www.youtube.com/intelligender
http://twitter.com/intelligender
http://www.pinterest.com/intelligender

Pretty Mommies Maternity Skin Care Giveaway

This pregnancy has made my face look worse than it ever did in High School.  No matter what time of day or circumstances, my face always looks so bumpy and full of pimples.  I tried a few different products, but by far my favorite and most effective one I tried was from Pretty Mommies.
Their products are effective, safe, and targeted toward pregnant and nursing women.  They create their products to target hormonal breakouts and melasma and don't use anything that would be harmful to you or your baby.

Enter below to win a set of Pretty Mommies Skincare products.  Giveaway goes through July 20, 2013.

Step 1: LET’S BE CLEAR FACIAL CLEANSER

I use this Pretty Mommies cleanser morning and night to help my face stay clean and get rid of my oily skin. I   love the exfoliating feeling I get from using this product and how I don't even need to take off my makeup before washing my face.  This cuts through dirt and makeup to make my face clean and fresh.

Step 2: TRUTH BE TOLD SKIN BRIGHTENER

After using the "LET’S BE CLEAR FACIAL CLEANSER", I use this brightener to help tighten and brighten my skin.  Even after one use I could feel the subtle tightness especially around my mouth and forehead.  I also thank my glowing complexion to this amazing product.

Step 3: PROTECT and REFLECT SPF 30

Before going to the pool, I put on this amazing product to help my sensitive pregnant skin from getting fried. A little goes a long way and the Zinc Oxide protects my skin and reflects ultraviolet rays.

Enter with Rafflecopter below:

  a Rafflecopter giveaway