Please join Connie Marshall, Certified Pre/Post Exercise Specialist and Owner of LifeFitness4Me and Tammy Layson, Owner of Modish

Maternity, San Diego’s BEST designer maternity store for their Mama-2-Be Mixer event!

When:        Tuesday, August 17, 2010 from 5:00PM-6:30PM
Where:        Modish Maternity
1000 Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 551-1800

Admission:    $10.00 per person

RSVP:        Email connie@LifeFitness4Me.com for RSVP Link (RSVP Deadline: Saturday, August 14, 2010) – SPACE IS LIMITED

Guests can…

•    Shop the racks of Modish Maternity for some of the hot designer maternity clothes;

•    Sample delicious foods prepared by Julie Barber, Personal Chef and Owner of Bellyful Meals;

•    Learn some great prenatal exercises demonstrated by Connie Marshall, Certified Pre/Post Natal Exercise Specialist and Owner of

LifeFitness4Me;

•    Mingle and make friends with other mamas-2-be;

•    And more…

http://www.LifeFitness4Me.com ~ http://www.modishmaternity.com ~ http://www.bellyfulmeals.com

 To win: Look on the Earth Mama Angel Baby website and choose an item you have tried or would like to try and comment on this Bliss Nine blog as to what that is.  Comment by next Monday, July 19th to win!  A winner will be selected at random and notified.  Good luck!

During the beginning of my pregnancy I used the Clean and Clear sunscreen moisturizer – really only because I got it for free from a friend who worked at Neutrogena. But I really wanted something paraben free and organic (i.e. safe for me and baby). So after reading reviews, talking to some Sephora representatives, I decided to try Josie Maran’s Protect Daily Sun Protection.  Ms. Maran’s skin care line’s main publicized ingredient is Argan Oil and you can view her product ingredient information page for more information on her ingredients.  Apparently, Argan Oill started being “trendy” a couple of years ago.  Read this review on Argan Oil’s history. The claim is that Argan Oil contains antioxidants, Vitamin E and nourishes and protects the skin.

I tried it on my hand at first and it had a sticky feel. The sales representative at Sephora said it would feel different on my face.  So, with that in mind, and the reviews I had read about this product, I purchased it for $32 and tried it out.  It does leave light film on the face, but with an SPF of +40, it seems to do it’s job in providing skin coverage and moisturizing.  I put a bit of foundation on top after letting it absorb for 15 minutes, as suggested by the product packaging.   The ingredient list reads like a chemistry texbook.  And since I’m not a chemist, I’m relying on the product’s claims of being organic as well as some basic research on the individual ingredients listed. Check out Treehugger’s recent blog about whether Josie Maran’s award winning products are indeed “green” and judge for yourself.

As for me, I will definitely try her makeup products – as makeup is known for their lack of strict regulations and phthalates. Here is a simple reference to the Environmental Working Group’s Shopping Guide for Safe Cosmetics.  Also, Mother Love’s website has a great article on the chemicals to watch for in body lotion ingredients.

Throughout my first pregnancy, I used an expensive stretch mark preventative lotion (not to be named), given to me by a friend who swore by it and her friends swore by it.  Isn’t that how we come to get most of our products?  I dutifully slathered on the thick lotion on my belly morning and night.  I knew there were parabens in it and that it wasn’t “natural”…but I had also seen my mother’s post-birthing belly and knew stretch marks were my destiny – so I needed all the help I could get.  Stretch marks formed during the last two months of my pregnancy and were doomed to stay there for almost a year in all their purple striped glory.  That expensive cream didn’t do a thing.

Come time for pregnancy number 2 – this time I didn’t use any specific products on my belly.  Why put chemical laden lotions on my belly when it didn’t appear to help?  When it got itchy, I just slathered on my toddler’s toxin-free California Baby lotion. I knew the stretch marks would soon arrive and probably leave a deeper impression than last time (even though they had significantly faded over time).   Then I had a call from Julie of Earth Mama Angel Baby to review some products and participate in a giveaway on my blog.  She graciously let me choose the item I wanted to try.  Of course, I chose their Natural Stretch Oil!  Though I had about 2 months left of pregnancy to go, I hadn’t seen any stretch marks develop and thought – even if this oil doesn’t help, at least its non-toxic, organic and vegan.  As soon as I received it, I rubbed it on all over my belly.  Usually scented products made me nauseous.   Most pregnant women shun products with heavy scents.  Though the Natural Stretch Oil has an herbal scent to it, I actually enjoyed the light scent.  The best part was the oil absorbed easily and didn’t cling to my clothes or create a slick sensation.

Now for the results:  I’m currently almost 2 weeks post-partum…drum roll please…… no stretch marks!!!  Okay, so I gained 15 pounds less than my last pregnancy, which may have something to do with it.  But based on research, stretch marks will either be there or not.  There is really no way to prevent them.  So whether the oil helped or not, it was nice to know that I was putting something on that relieved the itchy belly and I knew was safe for my body and for baby.  I’d like to think it did do something to prevent the marks from appearing .

The product can also be used to massage the perineum in preparation for birth.  I had intended to use the oil for this purpose as well because I had a bad experience with my episiotomy the first time, but I really never found the time or willingness to have my husband help me do this.  But what a great option!  I love it when a product has multiple purposes!

I will post the giveaway of the Pregnancy Pampering Kit in June, which includes the Natural Stretch Oil.  In the meantime, if you want to give a gift to a mama with the propensity for stretch marks, tell her not to worry, enjoy the pregnancy and try the Natural Stretch Oil from Earth Mama Angel Baby.  I will definitely be recommending this and the other products from Earth Mama Angel Baby to my clients!

And right now, the site is offering $10 for their Mother’s Day Special!

We are so happy to be celebrating the wonderful store Babies in Bloom’s birthday baby fair on Saturday, March 20th.  The birth and baby fair will be held between 10-1 p.m., ending in a concert by kid-folk music band Hullabaloo.  There will be raffles for prizes and a free gift (as available) for each family.  And 15% of the sales from that day will go to the Tri-City Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Come by, say hello, support a great store and a great cause!

Check out Danielle’s background on her website Womb to Wisdom Birth Services.   Below is her guest blog about her services and business!

Womb Wisdom Birth Services
Hello! My name is Danielle DeLuca Mendoza and I am the founder of Womb Wisdom Birth Services.  I created Womb Wisdom in order to provide women and families with comprehensive birth services; from prenatal education and counseling, to labor and postpartum support, and after-birth healing products.  I feel blessed to be able to work with pregnant and parenting women as I believe childbirth is a truly transformative time.
Womb Wisdom Birth Services include 1) Birthing from Within Childbirth Classes 2) Doula Care 3) After-birth healing products for mom 4)Prenatal and Postpartum Individual & Group Counseling support

BIRTHING FROM WITHIN classes offer you a soulful and holistic approach to birth preparation that integrates both kinds of knowing. Our classes prepare you to birth-in-awareness whether you are birthing at home, in a birth center, tipi, taxi or hospital.

Birthing from Within mentors believe that childbirth is a profound rite of passage, not a medical event (even when medical care is part of the birth).  Parents learn practical information through discussion, videos, and activities; as well as empowering parents to birth in awareness through creative approaches for their childbirth education.
By being able to mobilize your coping resources and recognize your inner strengths, you can relax more fully in your body & mind before labor and birth in awareness.

4-week series are offered on an on-going basis in San Diego & Encinitas
Please visit www.wombwisdombirth.com or
Call Danielle at 619-886-9910 or email at wombwisdom@hotmail.com for class details

Read their article, Part I, to see what CPSC has to say regarding crib safety.

Co-owner, Allison Andrews gave us a message for their customers, “I loved creating more than a retail store, but a community for mothers. It was a very special experience for me that I will ever hold dear in my heart. So many of the customers became my friends and I enjoyed being a part of the pregnancy. I learned a lot from my customers and appreciate the wisdom, advice, and encouragement they gave. I will miss being in the store and seeing all my moms. BUT thank  god for the internet and staying connected by email, our website and our facebook. I know my partner and myself look forward to in the future being able to bring back the store.  Until then take care and we wish you and your family, health, happiness and fun.”

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of supporting your local stores.  Some of our favorite children’s stores in San Diego include Magical Child, Thinker Things, Style Child, Babies-In-Bloom, Geppetto’s, and The Happy Heinys Store.  They all carry fun and unique toys, have helpful and friendly staff, and have a collection of eco-friendly toys and products.

Happy New Year everybody! I am so sorry for being M.I.A. in the past few months. We’ve been busy with the holidays, visiting expos and learning about new products to be introduced in the new year.  We are excited about 2010 and how companies are jumping on the BPA-free and eco/green wagon.  We hope the companies continue to produce safe products for our children and the environment.

Graco Stroller Recall!

The CPSC announced the recall of certain models of strollers manufactured by Graco, which amounts to an amazing 1.5 million strollers!  There have been reports of amputation and lacerations due to a defect in the hinge mechanism on the stroller’s canopy.  Check on the CPSC link to match up your stroller’s model number to the model being recalled and if your stroller is being recalled, stop using the stroller immediately.

Family Announcement!

Also, I am so happy to announce that I am pregnant with my second child.  She is due in April and being a baby planner, I am pleased to be a bit ahead of the game as it comes to what kind of double stroller I want for the toddler/infant combination.  Having had a number of clients, who were pregnant with their second child, and wanted toddler gift baskets for their toddlers, I am going to make it a “TO-DO” that my first born is ready and excited for his baby sister to arrive!  If you are interested in a toddler basket, contact us for a custom request!

I was contacted by the owner of Once Upon A Favor, Marci Krown, to discuss what Bliss Nine does for pregnant women and for me to get to know her online party favor business.  We had a great conversation about her passion and knowledge of party favors.  It was only when I got to help her for a few hours at the Babytime Expo in San Diego, that I really saw her attention to detail, her marketing prowess and the wide range of products Once Upon A Favor has to offer.

From bouquets made of onesies to baby shower card games, Once Upon A Favor offers a wide assortment of favors for almost any theme you can think of and for any budget.  And if you’re having trouble figuring out wording on a customized favor, or whether certain games work for your theme, Marci has abundant knowledge about those details.  Once Upon A Favor can do almost any order in a short period of time (just ask Marci).

Bliss Nine is all about boutique personalized customer service.  It is always great to meet another company so customer oriented and who provides personalized custom service to its clients.  You can contact Bliss Nine to help you plan the perfect baby shower!  Doing it yourself and want some favor ideas?  Once Upon A Favor is a great place to start!