Not Your Daughter's Jeans

Dealing with a post baby body can be a challenge. Not only are our emotions as a new mom (or in my case, now, mom to 2 under 3) completely awry, our bodies have gone in a million directions and as we hate to admit, gravity has started to work against us.

And the thing is, I REALLY loved to shop before I had babies. I loved the feeling of carrying an armload of clothes into a dressing room, and doing the take off-put on-look-turn-stare-“how does this look?” dance with myself (and my hubby if he were so tortured as to have to go with me). Back then, I had a lot more money, a lot more time, and a lot more patience.

Jeans have become my worst nightmare. There are so many stipulations when searching for the perfect jean. I often ask myself questions like “Do they go up high enough on my belly, but not too high?” and “Is the color of the denim dark enough, but not too dark?” and “Is the length ok? Will they shrink too much when I wash them?”. You know, all the typical questions.

I have had many favorites in my days, but I was recently sent a pair called Not Your Daughter’s Jeans (aka NYDJ) to try out, wear about town, and tell ya’ll what I think.

I must say, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality and appearance. I was slightly worried about the name. I can see where the company is going with it, making it clear that they care about the ever changing needs in the clothing department of those of us with “daughters” (not just daughter’s, but you get my drift). There are a number of added perks with these jeans that I have never seen in any other jeans. With their “Lift-tuck” technology that flattens the tummy, contours the hips, and lifts the booty, crisscross stitching and reinforced pockets, all working together to make you look an entire size smaller.

Now, I’m not sure I looked an entire size smaller, but I do think I looked pretty good if I do say so myself. I also felt pretty good too. The front of the jeans were high enough to cover my troubled area, and with a belt looked pretty good. I’m not sure if I would be comfortable wearing them with a shorter shirt or something tucked in, because I am still self-conscious about “looking” like I am wearing Mama Jeans, but I do adore what they do for me in the fit department. They are a great length, so I am not stepping on them, but my ankles aren’t showing. They stretch enough so they don’t feel binding, but aren’t baggy. And regarding the name, the label says NYDJ, so even with a name like Not Your Daughter’s Jeans; no one will know the implications behind the initials. They are an all around genuine and authentic department store quality pair of jeans, well worth checking out.

NYDJ can be found at a variety of locations, such as Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdales, Macy’s, and more.

Stella & Dot GIVEAWAY

I have never really been a “jewelry” kind of girl. I have often found a basic necklace or earrings, and wore it for an extended time where it became my staple piece. The only time I would change it up on the rare occasion of getting dressed up, like a wedding or night out with the hubby. Now, being a Mom, I have found that anything I can use to show my “Motherly Pride” scores big points with me, so when I came across Stella & Dot jewelry and their line of monogrammed necklace charms, I was sold. And with the extreme generosity of Elise, a super sweet Stella & Dot stylist, I was able to pick out my very own necklace, complete with the initials of my two kiddos as well as their birthstone (they were both born in March).

I chose the leather cord instead of a glitzy chain, because again, I’m not really much of a sparkly kinda gal, not to mention I have a super strong baby girl who pulls and tugs on anything within reach numerous times a day! And let me say, this necklace has taken a beating and still looks brand new and is as tough as ever.
What I really love about Stella & Dot is the selection of beautiful pieces to choose from. You can search by style, occasion, piece, or price. And within all of these categories, you will be sure to find something to fall in love with! There are items for the minimalist as well as the show stopper and all of these glamorous items would work well with outfits you already own, or shoot, go out and buy yourself a whole new outfit revolving around that new Stella & Dot piece you just HAD TO HAVE! You deserve it!
Aside from making me a happy girl with my new piece of jewelry, Elise wanted to make sure a very special Sharing My Instincts reader got her hands on a piece of Stella & Dot as well! She is generously offering up a Soiree Pave Bracelet in Turquoise to a special winner right here! Perfect for you, or specially packaged and ready for gift giving this holiday season! Just follow the rules below!

WIN IT!
*Visit Stella & Dot and pick out your favorite sparkly piece of jewelry and leave a comment here with your pick!

The fine print:
*Contest end Sunday November 22, 2009 at 11:59pm.
*Winner will be chosen by a random number generator and will be given 48 hours to respond. In the event the original winner does not respond within 48 hours of congratulatory email, a runner up will be chosen.
*Contest is open to blogger and non-bloggers alike, just be sure to leave an email address so I may contact you in the event you WIN!
*Don't worry, by entering my email, I will not keep your info for any other purposes.

A Mother's Boutique GIVEAWAY!

When I became pregnant, I decided that I wanted to breastfeed my new baby girl. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I wanted to try. I knew that I would need to do things differently with her right from the start than I did with my son, so I started researching all things breastfeeding. I looked into breast pumps, nursing covers, and even clothing made for the nursing mother. That was when I came upon a now good friend, Judy ( @MommyNews on Twitter) who is the owner of an online store called A Mother’s Boutique.

Judy runs a well-oiled machine over at A Mother’s Boutique, with a huge variety of only the best when it comes to the needs of the pregnant of breastfeeding Mom. From top-of-the-line Breast Pumps, to Nursing Wear, to Slings and Carriers, she’s got it all. She carries brands like Ameda, Bravado, the Maya Wrap, and Japanese Weekend, just to name a few. And with her great prices and amazing selection, you will be able to find exactly what you are looking for.

When Judy heard I was planning on breastfeeding, she graciously sent me something amazing to try, The Body Tank by Annee Matthew, a revolutionary combination of a tank, a corset, and a nursing top, all in one. And I must say it is all of that, and much more! It was the first thing I put on in the hospital after the birth of my daughter, and I wore it all day and night long. It is super comfy, made accessing the breast, even at 3am, easy and effortless. Without the added snaps and clasps found on most nursing tops, this tank is top notch. The added little bonus is tummy control it offers, every little bit helps in making a new mom feel cute and stylish, and this top did just that. Now in these following days since leaving the hospital, I have also discovered the added support made for the breasts of a nursing mom, yes, support is VITAL!

Not only can you find all this awesome stuff at A Mother’s Boutique, but Judy also has an amazing blog, Mommy News & Views, where she talks about all sorts of breastfeeding and parenting topics that are important to all of us mama’s out there. Keep an eye on Judy’s blog as it continues to grow and flourish with valuable information that is sure to not be missed.

Judy can be found on Twitter under the name @MommyNews. She is a valuable asset to the breastfeeding community as well as an amazing friend. Contact her with your nursing questions and I am sure she will be more than happy to assist you.

WIN IT!

One lucky Sharing My Instincts reader will win an Annee Matthew Body Tank in size/color of their choice by simply answering the following question:

"What material is the Annee Matthew Body Tank made out of?"

Email your answer with the subject line reading "A MOTHER'S BOUTIQUE" to sharingmyinstincts@comcast.net.

The fine print:
*Contest ends Sunday March 22, 2009 at 11:59pm CDT.
*Contest open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike.
*Winner will be chosen from all correct answers at random by a random number generator and with have 48 hours from initial congratulatory email to respond. If original winner does not respond, and alternate winner will be chosen.
*Don't worry, by entering my giveaway I won't keep your info for any future use!

John Grout's Relaxing Sounds of Nature CD

The Rain on My Face...

With my past experiences with anxiety and all the different medications I have tried to calm and relazx me in stressful situations, I have found that nothing can compare to the power of an amazing CD full of nature sounds. I have tried my hand with a number of different environmental CD’s but none have stuck with me like John Grout’s Relaxing Sounds of Nature.

Now, how different can one nature cd be from the next you ask? Well, we all are wired to respond to sounds and situations differently, so explaining why this one would great for everyone is difficult. But I can assure you that the first 3 tracks are the best! I actually have them memorized, with each hooting owl and raindrop like the lyrics to a song. It is comforting to know what’s coming up next. And if I close my eyes and meditate on it, I imagine myself sitting in that rainforest or on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, experiencing all of those noises first hand. Feeling the rain on my face, the breeze blowing by, and the waves at my feet.

If you are in need of some relaxation and releasing some tension, then I think this CD just might be you’re all natural answer. No medications, no therapy, no stress. It is all around relaxation. And come on, leading the life of SuperMom, SuperWife, and all around SuperWOMAN, can be tough. Give yourself a break!

Little Stork ~ The Essential Delivery Bag

I’ve Got It in the Bag!

Now if you know me, I am a list-maker. I attempt to be as strictly organized as possible. Now ever since having my son almost 2 years ago, that obsessive-compulsiveness part of me has sort of been thrown to the wayside, but in preparation of the birth of our second ( a daughter, Lily), I have taken it back and am using it to my advantage.

You see, I am almost 36 weeks pregnant, so it’s nearing time and the inevitable “Hospital Bag Packing Ritual” of mine has begun in full force. But not without the help this time of Little Stork, a fun company that has taken all the guess work out of what you need to make your hospital stay during labor, delivery, and post-partum a breeze.

I got my hands on the Essential Bag [$115], but let me tell you, that is plenty for me! They also carry the Original, Deluxe, and Mother of All versions, all with a little more than the previous bag, so you would just need to check them out to see which one would satisfy all of your needs.
In the Essential Bag, there were 5 smaller bags, all for a different part of the process. The Birth Experience Bag has everything necessary to keep you calm and cool during labor; like ponytail holders, a headband, socks, camera, notepad, and more. Then there are Mom and Dad bags, all with the necessary toiletries for each parent. Then a small bag with an ever so cute hat for the baby (pink for girls, blur for boys, or green as a neutral), and then a small bag with breastpads and nipple cream (if you so choose to breastfeed).

Of course, I had to add some things of my own, like a few outfits for me, the take-home outfit for Lily, my video camera, and a few other small things, but with the amazingly large size of the bag, IT ALL FIT!!! And I quite the over preparer!

It’s nice to know that someone out there combined all the pertinent items needed for an expecting mother, so we can spend more time resting and relaxing for the big day. Now, as long as we remember to grab the bag on our way out the door, then we’ll be set!