Merging with Capitol Moms....

While we have loved hosting an additional maternity focused blog. As a part of our re-structuring we have decided to return to our original format of hosting maternity and motherhood goodies onto our original blog.

http://capitolmoms.blogspot.com

See you there!

Doing the pre-baby clean? Try Method's Summer Cleaning Sale

I always advise our pregnant mamas to use non-toxic cleaning substances to make their homes all sparkle-y when the urge for nesting has set in. One of my favorite brands is method and another is Clorox's Green Works line.

The girls at Celebrity Babies have clued us in on a special treat at method. Their Summer Salad Bundle. For $16, you get all purpose spray, dish soap, hand wash and a soy candle.

I say, go for it, your home will thank you.

Shop at www.methodhome.com

Looking for an excuse to get out of the city: Visit Citibabes Hampton's Trunk Show

To RSVP: email retail@citibabes.com

A lush way to start a layette - BabyStar's Summer Sale

I love a good sale. Especially, when it is on products that I would buy anyway. BabyStar's Customer Appreciation and Sample is on now until July 22. Click through the link below.

There you'll find, grab-bags of luscious blankets, burps and bibs, a fabulous quick-change, an on-the-go essential along with samples of their new apparel line and bedding at 47% - 75% off.

Visit the sample sale here, http://www.babystar.com/sample-sale.php

The Maxi Dress: Stylish solutions for the growing mother

I am a big fan of the Maxi Dress -- heck, who doesn't love a dress that is forgiving, feminine and versatile. I also love that this new trend will carry you through the hot summer months and transition easily with a sweet cardigan to the cool, early days of fall.

Here are some of my favorites:
(Note: With the generous fabric many non-maternity styles without fitted waists will work beautifully for the growing bump.)

Nicole Miller's Long Babydoll Dress in a brilliant exotic print
This is a yummy, sexy print that will have all eyes on you and celebrating your beauty.
Juicy Couture's Simple Ruffled Maxi is another option in a cool cotton.

These styles found at www.revolveclothing.com and www.nordstrom.com

Oh Isabella: up to 40% off Isabella Oliver Maternity Wear

CM2B favorite, Isabella Oliver is having a sale, up to 40% off of the well-loved, bump-loving and figure flattering fashions for moms-2-be that love clothes.



Shop now at www.isabellaoliver.com

Capitol Moms introduces Pampered Pregnancy Packs

Introducing Capitol Moms Signature Pampered Pregnancy Packs, celebrating pregnancy and impending motherhood by gifting an expecting mother three times throughout her pregnancy with a special "4th" trimester/coming home gift after the arrival of the new child.

Capitol Moms founder, Teia Collier, says "Pregnancy is such a life changing experience. We wanted to create gift that celebrates the whole pregnancy, not just the end. With beautifully wrapped, useful products like a great pregnancy planner, tummy balm, a sweet hospital gown and many others, it's a fun gift that keeps on giving."

We offer the Pampered Pregnancy Packs in 2 sizes and can shipped to any address.

For more information, call 571-723-3304 or email, info@capitolmoms.org

Fun styles for Mommy and Baby from Michael Stars

It's' a well known fact that we love the good stuff -- the fun things that aren't just every where and those things that make a grown man want to hold a curl up with a dreamy, creamy blanket while watching a football game.

One new fabulous thing is the new Michael Stars baby line -- Mikey Stars. Made from super-soft, Supima cotton in the traditional shades that every mom loves, but in my new favorite the dip-dye -- like tie-dye but cooler and less-busy. Available in styles for girls and boys with coordinating styles for the bump-set and beyond.

Pictured above are two of our dip-dye favorites: the tank dress ($36) with the coordinating swaddling blanket ($38) -- fabulous.

Panera Bread's Bun in the Oven Salute at INOVA Fairfax

Seriously yummy, good eats and Wi-Fi teamed with a cool, family friendly atmosphere all come to mind when I think of Panera Bread. I am a fresh bagel and baked good lover and with their fabulous semolina bread -- I am a customer for life, but together, Panera and INOVA Fairfax are celebrating an especially busy month and the births of over 1,000 babies at INOVA Fairfax with a special contest and salute to mommies delivering in June with the Bun In the Oven Contest.

They will be delivering sweet, gift packages full of goodies for mom and baby, right to the beds of mommies at the hospital. And, one special baby will have a bagel named in his or her honor for the month of August.

How fun is that, a sweet treat, a rockin' gift bag and a new baby all from a great local hospital? Sounds like a plan to me.

For more information on INOVA Fairfax, visit www.inova.org

To find a local Panera Bread, visit www.panerabread.com

Ohhh, Babystyle's Spring Sale: High quality, maternity fashion at Spring Sale Prices

Do you want to make those gas-stretched dollars go further? Who doesn't want on trend, high quality maternity pieces that can carry you through the summer and the rest of the nine-month stretch at fabulous prices? Yes! Then check out Babystyle's Spring Sale.

They've got the goods for mama-to-be, baby and beyond at up to 75% off.

This mama loves a good deal.

Here are a couple of Capitol Moms2B picks for the bump set.
The Kale Silver Diaperbag -- will add a sweet, silver glint to your everyday look.

Pair it with Babystyle's Country Garden Shift a versatile piece that can be dressed up or down with the right shoes and accessories.

Enter Twilite Moon's "Amazing" Giveaway

Oooh, I love a giveaway and when it is chock full of great things, it's even better. Twilite Moon's Spring Giveaway is fabulous with $2500 worth of prizes including a Bugaboo Cameleon with accessories, a Skip Hop Diaper Bag, Prince Lionheart tools and more, but the runner up gifts aren't bad too - 4 Storksak diaper bags.

Capitol Moms says, "Ooh Yummy -- Happy shopping" Hurry and enter by 5/31/08.

To enter visit, Twilite Moon, a treat for maternity, new motherhood, baby and beyond, at www.twilitemoon.com

A Polish safe for Mama and Baby: Polished Mama Nail Products

Let's shout Hooray for Polished Mama Nail Care Products!

Non-toxic, no odor, long wearing polish in beautiful colors, what more could you ask for in a polish? Not much...

Founder Kristin Polston has created a line of fabulous products with the mama-to-be set in mind. Great polishes (Craving is the CM2B favorite), moisturizing remover, and swanky pedicure kit, perfect for pampering mamas-to-be and beyond.

To see other colors and to get your own, visit www.polishedmama.com

Help us write our book...

Capitol Moms founder, Teia Collier, is teaming up with Julie Belgard of Greater Washington Therapy to edit a collect of bump to baby stories, both the funny, touching and dramatic -- to have a balanced book, we need them all. Here is our letter to moms.

Dear Moms,

Every mom has a baby story--from finding out they are pregnant to the actual birth and beyond. These are wonderful, bonding stories, both funny and dramatic, and we realized that there are very few formats in which to share them.

We are working on editing a book of bump to baby stories--particularly how you found out you were pregnant, how you told your partner/family/friends/boss.... and then what came next, and are collecting the stories of mothers around the country to be featured.

We would love to share your story along with our own. Please feel free to email your story at: bumpstories@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Julie and Teia

Cooling it down when it's hot outside

When it's hot and your skin is screaming try one of our favorite tips, Evian Spray. A secret of make-up artists, it helps moisturize and refresh skin. I love to gift it to pregnant and new mamas to help regulate temperature.

We buy the three packs and encourage mamas to keep one in the purse and in diaper bag and one in the car -- for those emergency hot flashes.

Available at www.drugstore.com, Sephora and CVS stores nationwide.

Coming April 28th - Capitol Moms Members Connect

Shhh, I wanted to let y'all know about a project we've been working on.

Capitol Moms Members Connect.

We are creating an exclusive community where mothers can share, network and celebrate their motherhood journey while getting tips on the latest and greatest, partake in special members-only events and have access to Capitol Moms personalized services at a discounted, members-only rate.

More details coming soon....

A New Favorite: Ratzerfratzer Burps and Bibs

They look almost too luxurious for daily use with the satin brocade baked with surprisingly absorbent chenille, but then you try them and find that they absorb projectile spit-up, catch running drool and are large enough to protect clothes and even survive a busy, teething two year old.

We tested the blue green tapestry and have been impressed. The bibs and burps have survived the wash, spit-up and the Grandma test. And at $18 and $20, they are a steal -- an easy way to earn oohs and aahs with a versatile product.

To see other styles and check out Ratzerfratzer's fabulous sale section, visit www.ratzerfratzer.com

Mocha Manual Guide to a Fabulous Pregnancy Now out on DVD

Girls, I want to share a fabulous resource that I have on my keeper shelf -- The Mocha Manual Guide to Fabulous Pregnancy is now on DVD.

I used the book as a primary resource with both of my pregnancies and share it with my clients, family and friends. It is a well-organized resource that highlights some of the unique circumstances that effect women of color in pregnancy and walks like a helpful friend the gambit from shaping a healthy pregnancy and preparing for delivery to managing maternity leave.

The DVD (with a coupon for a free onesie) is available now at www.walmart.com and Walmart nationwide.

Look for a special giveaway for CM and CM2B readers coming soon.

Free Lilaguides for a limited time

For a limited time, the makers of The Lilaguide, "a new parent survival guide to shopping, activities and more" and its' companion website are offering a special deal to new members that login to www.lilaguide.com -- for a free copy of the latest Lilaguide, which is on my local resource shelf.

Curious, I signed up for the site. Sign-up was fast and easy. I quickly tapped into the local network and can always find reviews by local mamas of products, services and restaurants.

To see more and to get your own FREE lilaguide, visit www.lilaguide.com

PregoPlanner: Charting your Pregnancy in style

One of my favorite tips to mamas-to-be is to get organized. Keep all of your pregnancy related information in one place -- the details of your OB-scouting and then visit information, test results, questions and contact information, hospital information, pre-baby checklists, your baby registry wish lists are among some of the things that should be kept in a centralized location.

A great way to keep it together is the PregoPlanner by Braelyn Bounty Bug.
I love that the planners come in three great styles, (my favorite) the chic zebra, pictured to the right, ultra-cute dressy and the classy chocolate. And that there are places for all the important moments and details of your pregnancy. It will also be a great memory book to remember this pregnancy and refer to during future ones.

Visit Braelyn Bounty Bug, www.braelynbountybug, for more information on this CM2B favorite.

Bump rubs: Soothing products for the tummy

A common pregnancy complaint is itchy, superdry skin on the growing tummy -- after experiencing the bump itch in both of my pregnancies; my tip is to avoid the scratching the delicately stretching skin and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

These are two of my favorites.

1) Mustela's 9 Month Maternity Stretch Marks Double Action.
This lightly scented, super-rich cream massages into the skin beautifully to put a stop to the dry dump for hours. Purchase locally at Dawn Price Baby - Eastern Market and online at http://www.mustelausa.com/stretch_marks_double_action.html

2) MamaMio's Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil - CM2B Fave!

A mildly citrus scented oil that was (and still is - I use it regularly still 3 months after Sollie's birth) a pleasure to use. My skin has a nice, not greasy, moisturized feel, a subtle sheen and even better no stretch marks.

Order at www.mamamio.com (free preggie pops with most orders for a limited time)