“We could not pick a name, cause all the comments were great, so we did a random drawing of 17 numbers in a box and picked number 5 who happens to be Julie.”

I have to agree, with so many wonderful readers taking the time to comment how can we choose one winner.  That is why in addition to Julie (lucky you!) winning, every person who posted a comment can purchase this  sweatsuit for 30% off.  All you need to do is call Nuka direct at 310.828.4141 and they will process your order (they apologize, but their website does not allow them to offer this discount online).  And for Julie, just call them up or email us at info@myhormonesmademe.com and claim your sassy new sweats!

All this talk about cozy sweats and you are probably wondering how I can spin this into a fashion tip, but you have to know that even sweats are important.  You cannot go running around in some ratty old things circa 1990 or worse yet, you Pregnant Girls know who you are, wearing your husband’s sweats as yours get a little tighter in places you would prefer to deny.

Not to worry, I have a solution for my fashionable pregnant friends.  Nuka maternity’s Julie Noik is the new it designerfor comfortable and cozy maternity essentials.  She designed a v-neck short sleeve hoodie (pictured) that is a complete life saver.  You can layer it over a long sleeve tee for extra warmth or wear alone and pair with your favorite maternity denim.  The options are endless and every piece in her collection is this fabulous and versatile.  Best of all, the extra soft fabrics will hug your belly for a most flattering fit.  Her pieces are all hand dyed so each item looks special and brings that much more style to her comfortable and easy to wear designs.  So much multi-tasking from one amazing designer.  Of course she is a woman, who else could pull all that off and still have time to be mom.

This week we are giving away a NukaPullover Hoodie and Loop Terry Pants.  That way you can have your own set of stylish sweats to wear day and night.  The giveaway includes the look pictured in the first image and seen on Nuka’s website.  Each piece is made from super soft modal and can be machine washed.

I know you are just itching to win and it is so easy, we just want to get to know our readers.  Are you pregnant, trying, how did you find us and what can we do on Hormones to keep you coming back?  Please leave a comment and forward our blog to just one friend who might enjoy it as much as you do (that one is on the honor system).  Winner announced next Thursday, November 19.

I’m always surrounded by pregos, that is pretty much the point of owning a maternity store, but for the first time ever I can actually help my girls out in the wardrobe department.  This got me thinking about you, my online friends.  Why shouldn’t you be able to enjoy a few perks (can we say discounts) and get more of the same advice I offer my real world friends.

The basics:

First things first, buy a bra that fits.  Do this for you and everyone else who has to gets to looks at those boobies.  We love Bella Materna; also nursing friendly, but if you aren’t ready to go that route choose your favorite bra in a size or two up.  Don’t forget to size up in the rib cage, since lucky Pregnant Girl that you are, this area will also grow.  Consider one of everything from Ingrid & Isabel, I have said it before and will say it over and over on this site, these camis and bottoms will save you from many wardrobe malfunctions and allow you to wear some non-maternity clothes a little longer saving you money in the long run.

For work (business casual attire):

Olian basic panel pants in black, brown or charcoal & the Juliet Dream jersey skirt in black or charcoal are easy and understated so they can be worn frequently.  Once you have two to three basic bottoms accessorize with scarves and jewelry and any/every top that works to cover your bump.  If you are newly pregnant you can most likely get away with non-maternity tops for a little longer.  We all know that buying work clothes is the least fun so choose items that can mix and match, which brings us to fun/weekend wear.  Grab that Juliet Dream skirt because it works as great for running errands on Saturday as it does at the office!

For fun:

Pair that JD skirt we talked about above or your favorite denim (you NEED one good pair of jeans ladies, this is as important as food and water as far as I am concerned) with basic cotton LA Made or 2 Chix tees.  If you stay at home or work in a super casual environment you are extra lucky because you can spend more on your fun wardrobe since you got to skip the work wardrobe.  Comfort is key so grab Maternal America’s knit pant, they are a true lounge pant, but the dark colors mean you can fudge them a little and pair with cute flats, a basic tee and scarf or necklace for a dinner date.

Since I am so adamant about denim I will tell you that all of my best pregnant friends have LOVED the Paige Westbourne jean because it does not have a panel.  This meant nobody knew they were wearing maternity jeans making them perfect from day one of pregnancy until long after the baby arrives, genius right.  You, my online friends, can order them for 15% off, just enter coupon code: hormones.

Visit every Friday for more fashion tips and fashion giveaways (there is a really great giveaway coming next week, we are talking an entire outfit from Nuka maternity!).

p.s. Autumn, you are our Michael Stars give away winner; please email us at info@myhormonesmademe.com with your shipping information.

The maternity version of these tees are simply a little longer and a bit wider to allow coverage for growing bumps.  And let me tell you they will cover your bump until the bitter end.   As a bonus they look just as cute on your new post baby bod (you know that one you want to trade in for your pre baby bod) as they do on your 8 month bump.  We have no idea how they fit so well, wash so well and wear so well, but then again that is what makes them a must have.

The only drawback we have found so far…it is impossible to buy just one. 

This week we are giving one away!  All you have to do is vote for us by clicking on the Top Baby blogs link and then leave a comment telling us what you want to see more of on our blog.  Winner will be announced next Friday, November 6!

So on to our announcement, there was a tie.  What’s that you say?  You didn’t know there could be a tie.  Well there can be and there was.  Congrats to Elisa and Layla, two ladies working to do good for other people’s kids.  Please email me at info@myhormonesmademe.com with your shipping information, Wet Ones will be sending the wipes directly to you.

I called my daughter, the Pregnant Girl blogger, to tell her I’m not speaking to her.

Daughter (D):   Why?  (I’m sure with an eye roll.)

Mom (M):   Because you had a guest blogger and I want to be a guest blogger!

D:   You’re in luck.  A vendor just called and wants to send me some wipes and I need to blog about them.

M:  Wipes?  What kind of wipes?  I love wipes.  Wipes make everything clean.

D:   I don’t know.  I haven’t received them.  I’m busy, I’ll call you later.

M:  The call never came so I took matters into my own hands and started preparing for my blog about “Wipes”.

Later that evening, I was telling my husband about the potential blogging gig I got.  I’m so excited.  I might get to blog about wipes.  This should be easy because everyone loves to be clean.  Not everyone loves clean like you do, he said.    The next day I Googled “baby wipes”.  I got 1,690,000 results.  That tells me someone likes to be clean besides me.  There’s even a recipe on how to make baby wipes at home – ick!  Did you know Brad Pitt keeps fresh with baby wipes – who cares?  I guess I’m getting off subject on my first and perhaps last blogging job.

What does a new mom need to look for in a wipe?  In addition to the numerous types of wipes there are also countless brands to choose from.  So, I say if you have brand loyalty, stick with the brand you like.  As far as the type of wipe, I’m just overwhelmed and discouraged by too much info.  Read on:

There are eco-friendly wipes, natural aloe wipes, hypoallergenic wipes, non-toxic wipes, unscented wipes, wet wipes, homemade wipes, wipes with no harsh chemicals, flushable wipes, wipes you can warm, natural wipes, soft skin wipes, shea butter wipes, non-woven fabric wipes, organic cotton wipes, lightly scented wipes, premoistened wipes, soft and thick wipes, triple value pack wipes, wipes for breastfeeding, chlorine free wipes,  wipes for the face, wipes for the tushie, cloth wipes, cotton wipes, wipes by Huggies, Pampers, Luvs, Target, Johnson & Johnson, Rite Aid, Wal-Mart, and on and on and on. 

Wow, I had no idea there are so many choices out there.  When the Pregnant Girl blogger was a baby I put a wet wash cloth in a plastic bag and off we went.  I used it on her face first and tushie last!

Please email us at info@myhormonesmademe.com with your shipping information.

Mark your calendars Mommas because Sunday, October 18 is a one day baby event that celebrates new and expectant moms.  It is called Plan A BABY, but that is just code for super cool, chic event for only the hippest moms at the coolest of places, The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.  Oh, if ever I wished I was one of you, this is the day.  They have promised to shower and indulge you lovely ladies while you mingle and discover products for today’s modern mom (HELLO, that is so you, that is why we are friends!).

Wait, it gets better, they are giving away tickets, you read that right and I know FREE stuff is the best.  All you have to do is visit them at www.planababyevent.com and upon checkout enter “giveaway”.  Hurry up because they are only giving out a limited number of tickets, then you have to part with your hard earned money and fashionable ladies never pass up a deal.

This week we are giving one away!

I’m sorry, did you miss the memo?  We are talking about BOOBS and giving away a Hooter Hider, so hurry and leave us a comment for your chance to win, come back Saturday to find out if you are the lucky winner!

Boobs are a really big deal right around the time of puberty.  For some girls you weren’t getting them fast enough and you swore you would just die if you had to start Junior High without a proper bra.  For others, myself included (and I am not bragging because I could leave ‘em more than take ‘em) they arrived uninvited in the 5^th grade and you were utterly mortified when you went to visit Grandma who announced “look who has boobies”.  Ugh, seriously, that was such a traumatic time in life.

Over the years some ladies chose to upgrade, some had to downsize and most just moved on and proceeded to complain about what they got.  You know the drill here; mine are too bouncy, too saggy, too small, too big, lopsided, different sizes, achy, hard, soft and I think you get the picture. 

Suddenly you become a mom and the tatas that merely filled your shirt just right, too much or not enough are supposed to feed your baby.  And probably you are thinking I just delivered an 8 lb. child, I can certainly latch that tiny mouth to my OH MY GOD that hurt.  Yes, sometimes it hurts.  Or maybe that baby has acid reflux and cannot keep down the food you worked so hard to deliver and the Dr. is saying well he needs to gain this much weight as if you are choosing to have your child hurl breast milk every 5 seconds.  Or maybe your baby cannot latch at all and so you are feeling like a failure at this thing called motherhood because all you have to do is feed, clothe and diaper your child and you cannot figure out this nursing thing. 

I met a lactation consultant last night who I swear could change lives.  I think she is like the Dog Whisperer, but for babies and their breastfeeding mamas.  So I asked her the question, the one question all rational women have.  “If this nursing thing is so natural, as it should be, why is it so damn hard?  What did our ancestors do?”  So now you’re all waiting for, as Oprah might say, an aha moment.  Not so much, but here is the insight she provided.  She told me it’s because many years ago women breastfed without the need to cover themselves.  Girls grew up watching their moms, aunts, sisters, neighbors and friends nurse.  Even men were more in tune with this process.  Then she asked when I have ever seen a baby latch onto a mom’s boob.  I blushed and assured her it would be wholly inappropriate to stare and therein lies the answer, the aha if you will.

I am not sure how I feel about that answer because I love a good Hooter Hider and prefer not to see the boob come out while I am thinking about my own dinner.  Perhaps I am a prude reverting back to my 5^th grade self who hated her boobs then and has not fully embraced them now.

What do you think about nursing?  Is it okay to nurse in front of others or should you cover up for their benefit?  Give us your feedback and you could win a Hooter Hider of your own!  Winner announced on Saturday.

Wish you won?  Visit on Thursday and post a comment for next week’s giveaway.