maternity clothes - Stuff Parents Need

PinkBlush Maternity Review and Giveaway!

September 7, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 59 Comments

A lot of things about this pregnancy are very similar to my first. Things like continually feeling nauseous, feeling completely exhausted all the time, and craving strange foods that I don’t normally eat. (Hello, bacon-wrapped pickles!) One thing is a little bit different this time though, and that is my rate of belly growth! Pretty much the day I found out I was pregnant, I was already feeling bigger around the middle. By week 10, I felt like a whale. At 14 weeks, people already started asking me if I was pregnant. (Which I think is a little bold!) I definitely don’t remember my belly popping out so fast the first time around! I realized pretty quickly that it was going to be time for maternity clothes a bit sooner than I had planned. My wonderful husband pulled the boxes of my old maternity clothes out of the attic for me but I was sadly disappointed by what I found. Everything is so outdated and frumpy looking! Oh no, this would not do.

Then I discovered PinkBlush Maternity, who sent me a super cute top to add to my wardrobe and review. They really have some super cute maternity clothes! I spent lots of time browsing their website, making a list of all the cute things I just had to have. My first choice, a striped top with lace on the sleeves, was unfortunately sold out in my size (I have a slight obsession with stripes!) but my second choice was available. And I have to say, I really do love the top I received. It is super cute, unique, and made of good quality material. I like that the fabric is thick and doesn’t look like it will fall apart before my baby arrives. I also love that it comes with a belt! With my first pregnancy I had NO CLUE how to wear a belt with a pregnant belly, and this shirt figures it out for me. I’ll be pairing this top with black or tan leggings.

I love how unique many of the tops are, and more interesting than the boring items you find in most of the chain maternity stores. Their clothes are also very affordable, which I think is a must for maternity clothes! I was a little disappointed to find that they don’t have a larger selection of jeans and leggings since that’s what I’m currently in need of, but their huge selection of tops and dresses more than makes up for it. (Looking for maxi skirts? They’ve got plenty!) I noticed that they have a lot of really cute things out for fall now, including pants and leggings. If you are pregnant and looking for trendy maternity clothes, I highly recommend browsing their site. I’m pretty sure you’ll find something that suits your style!

Win It!: PinkBlush Maternity Clothing is offering one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a $25 gift certificate to PinkBlush Maternity!!!

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The Crazy Sale Happening Right Now….(AKA What I’m Doing This Morning…)

July 25, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Zulily is going absolutely nuts this morning, folks! Get in on the action! (Affiliate links below…I only promote places where I also shop!). Don’t miss out on the HUGE Christmas in July sale (look below for all the details!).

New to Zulily? Then you’ll want to start here and get signed up (for free, of course!).

Motherhood Maternity, 7/25 from $9.99
Dressing over two million new moms each year, Motherhood Maternity offers a wide variety of high-quality maternity and nursing apparel at amazing low prices. From formal dresses to casual white tees, each design represents everything Mom-to-be could want. Flattering, comfortable and above all else stylish, Motherhood Maternity will make the next nine months your most fashionable yet.

maternity sale

Moving Comfort, 7/29 up to 50% off

In 1977, two 20-somethings decided it was time for women to get in on the activewear game. Tired of wearing men’s clothing during a run, they created Moving Comfort, a company that is proud to say that every stitch sewn is intended solely for women. Engineering garments for the female physique, Moving Comfort creates apparel that encourages women to get and stay fit.

activewear sale

Christmas in July Event

Christmas Crafting Collection from $7.99
From customizable stockings, stickers and needlepoint artwork to Sizzix tools and thank-you notes, this merry medley makes spreading the spirit a snap.
Christmas in July: Home Décor
Spruce the spruce and deck the halls with this merry medley of Santa figurines, snowmen signs, ornaments and pillows that gets every onlooker into the joyful spirit.
Christmas in July: Trim the tree
zulily has gathered some of their favorite festive tree trimmings to introduce some good cheer to your home come December. Spruce the spruce with this merry medley of college-themed ornaments and classic Christmas figurines that gets every onlooker into the joyful spirit.
Christmas in July: Textiles
Spruce upthe space and deck the halls with this merry medley of college-themed stockings, tree skirts and colorful pillows that gets every onlooker into the joyful spirit.
Christmas in July: Toys up to 50% off
From roller coaster tables and deluxe play kitchens to riveting ride-ons, plush toys and games, this merry medley ensures your precious angel will be wide-eyed with surprise come December.
Christmas in July: Girls’ Apparel up to 60% off
Red and green bows and ruffle pants to candy cane tees and Santa leggings, this merry medley preps your little ones for photos, pageants and more Christmastime events.
Christmas in July: Boys’ Apparel up to 60% off
From Brown Bear John Johns and bodysuits to Grinch tees and comfy reindeer pajamas, this merry medley preps your little ones for photos, pageants and more Christmastime events.
Christmas in July: Door Decorations
Holly doormats and snowflake garden flags to yuletide planters, this merry medley makes spreading the Christmas spirit a snap.
Christmas in July: Baking from $5.49
From cookie cutters and cookbooks to pans, platters and stainless steel bowls, this merry medley makes whipping up the Christmas spirit a snap.

Bellaband: Extend the Life of your Non-Maternity Pants! Review and GIVEAWAY!!

November 21, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 48 Comments

Being pregnant brings with it some very interesting challenges for your wardrobe. For me, my non-maternity pants started to get tight around week 7. Yeah, I know…lucky me. But maternity pants would literally fall off of me at that point. So…what to do? Simply unbuttoning your pants might work, or you might find yourself hiking up your jeans frequently throughout the day…not an attractive look, my friends.

The Bellaband from Ingrid & Isabel is THE answer to this dilemma, and it is also a product that will be useful throughout the pregnant and during your postpartum time. Allow me to explain!

First, the Bella Band is a very VERY helpful item to have when you still need/want to wear your “regular” pants. I’m just now fully outgrowing my non-maternity jeans at 16 weeks. Given just how round my belly already is, I feel GREAT about how long I got to wear them, and all thanks to my Bellaband. If you look at the picture to the right, you can see how the Bellaband is designed to fit around where your pants button. They do an EXCELLENT job of smoothing out the pants (so that your unbuttoned look isn’t obvious under your clothes). Additionally, toward the bottom of the Bellaband, there is a silicone strip that I have never seen before on another product, and it REALLY holds your Bellaband in place. I had a similar product in concept for my first pregnancy, but it would never stay in place, so it was only somewhat helpful. The Bellaband doesn’t move and keeps my pants exactly where they should be.

As I’m moving into my maternity pants, some of my stuff from the last pregnancy is still big on me. The Bellaband helps hold those pants in place, too, so that they aren’t baggy and saggy and generally unattractive. I’ve found that my pants just look better with the use of the Bellaband!

The Bellaband is also useful because as my belly grows, and it becomes more and more possible that you can catch glimpses of it as my shirts stick out further, the Bellaband is long, so it can actually help cover up my belly for modesty (and extra warmth in the winter!).

After you have the baby, you will find yourself in a similarly strange place with your wardrobe as you did when you were first outgrowing your old stuff. Simply put, NOTHING fits! Bellaband comes to your rescue, once again, and helps your too-big pants stay put and your too-small pants start to get used.

I have been VERY impressed with just how well this product works for me, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is expecting. It is now the workhorse of my wardrobe. I have 2, and I think that’s how many everyone should have, because you’ll pretty much always be wearing one!

Buy it!: The Bellaband comes in 5 color choices, has an organic option and a lace option, as well. Pricing starts at $28.00. You will get your money’s worth and then some, I assure you!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need winner will get your choice of a Bellaband or Bellaband Lace! Yay! [Read more…]

Affordable, Fashion-Forward Maternity Wear: Kiki’s Fashions Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

November 7, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 55 Comments

Welcome to Maternity Monday, where I highlight products and services for the expecting mom and family.

Today I want to talk about maternity clothes. My thought on them is that I don’t want to spend a lot of money on something that will only be worn for a few seasons (if you don’t outgrow them before the end of the pregnancy!). But since I don’t want to spend a lot of money, I also find that my maternity wardrobe tends to be quite sparse, especially as compared with my typical wardrobe. So, I learned the hard way last time around that even though I am budget-conscious about my clothing, I need to balance that with being fashion-conscious. If you have to wear something constantly, it had better be cute! With my first pregnancy, it was price alone that drove my purchase decisions, and as a result, I had clothes that I genuinely wanted to burn by the time I was 9 months pregnant. They were ugly, falling apart and I had no choice but to keep on wearing them.

This time around, I’m taking a more balanced approach. Inexpensive is very good, but if it is cheap and not cute, then it’s a waste of money, no matter how little it costs! Fortunately, thanks to other fabulous bloggers, I have learned about a wonderful online shop called Kiki’s Fashions. This is a store that offers very trendy maternity clothes, and the price tags are very much in line with what you would find at places like Old Navy or Target. Woo hoo!

I had the opportunity to try a long-sleeve maternity top from their fall line and it is, without question, my very favorite top to wear. I love that it has stripes on the top, which are so hot this fall, but that the stripes draw your attention away from the bump and the lower part of the shirt is in a slimming black. Yes, I know, there will come a point in the pregnancy where all the black in the world won’t help, but for now, I really appreciate having my bump not emphasized. The top is also very comfy to wear, and I’ve found it to be a piece that I can dress up with jewelry and black pants, or dress down with a pair of jeans. Basically, it’s perfect! The price tag is also perfect, at $22.99. That’s FANTASTIC!

Kiki’s Fashions is currently offering 25% off store-wide for all orders over $75. That makes it a great time to get stocked up on super cute cheap maternity clothes! I’m thinking about ordering this maternity coat. It’s super cute and only $35.99!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $25 gift certificate to Kiki’s Fashions so that you can pick out the perfect pregnancy look for yourself or an expecting friend!

[Read more…]

Just for Fun: Maternity Clothes Shopping

June 17, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

Are you thinking that I have a secret to share by talking about maternity clothes????

Well…….

Drum roll please……

Sorry to disappoint! There’s no big announcement coming from me today. But even though I’m not pregnant, it recently occurred to me that many of my readers are (or might be soon!). So just for fun today, I thought I’d do a bit of browsing for quality maternity clothes. And I thought I’d go hunting somewhere you probably aren’t looking….across the pond! Let’s see what the expecting ladies in England are sporting, shall we?

First, I spy some CUTE maternity maxi dresses. Isn’t this adorable? And black is such a slimming shade (said half in jest, as we all know there comes a point in pregnancy where no color will help!).

My next pick is for for this cutout back top (though I wish it was available in something other than horizontal stripes). What an excellent way for a woman to still show a bit of skin without doing that whole show-your-belly business (more power to you if that’s your thing, but it was definitely NOT a good look for yours truly).

Finally, I do love to see pregnant women rockin’ a print (don’t settle for all solids, ladies!). Look at this gorgeous top. So perfect for summer, and it can be dressed up or down with ease. Cute!

And now for the bad news. It doesn’t appear to me that those of us in the U.S. can make an online purchase from Very, the store that sells these cute clothes. How very unfortunate, and what a missed opportunity for them! Perhaps they can be persuaded to change their minds on that one, because one thing I do remember about being pregnant (2 years ago…feel like 2 decades ago, sometimes) is that I craved more variety and more options for affordable and cute clothes. I know maternity fashion has come a long way in recent years, but I was still pretty disappointed with the selection, at least in my price range.

So, all my pregnant readers….what are your must-have fashion items for the summer? Get me up to speed on what’s in style!

This post is in association with Very.co.uk. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.