Pregnancy Magazine

We don’t review a lot of food products on Pregnancy, but one cannot deny that food is a big part of being pregnant. While my appetite increased with pregnancy, so did my attention to health. So you can imagine my excitement over BISCOTTEA and BIS*COFFEE – shortbread that not only satisfies my cravings for the delectable but also comes as close to being “good” for me as a cookie possibly could.

BICOTTEA and BIS*COFFEE are tea and coffee-infused shortbread that are made to pair perfectly with your favorite caffeinated hot beverages. These cookies do not disappoint with their distinct yet not overpowering flavor. With each bite of BISCOTTEA, you get clear hints of teas like Earl Grey or Chai. With BIS*COFFEE, you’ll be delighted with the sophisticated flavors of Cappucino, Mocha or Espresso. My favorites are less traditional – the fruity Blueberry Tea and the refreshing Mint Tea. Blueberry struck me as unique in an era of food that claims to have fruit flavor, only to contain an inferior, fruit-like flavoring. With BISCOTTEA, the blueberry you taste is clearly the real thing! The Mint BISCOTTEA has a cool mint taste that keeps this cookie from feeling heavy despite its buttery goodness. Paired with tea, it lifts the spirits and is a great pick-me-up.

So, how can something this delicious be healthy you ask? They’re not exactly low calorie, but BISCOTTEA and BIS*COFFEE have short, recognizable ingredient lists that champion natural, organic and fair trade ingredients. They use real butter (that certainly adds to the appeal!), real sugar and actual coffee, spices and fruit juice. Two of the shortbreads are even Gluten Free – the Chai Tea and the Blueberry Tea. While the Gluten Free varieties were a little more dense and didn’t have the same crispness as those made with organic wheat flour, they were still really good – not at all what I expected from Gluten Free cookies. Even without gluten intolerance, I would be happy eating these on a regular basis.

BISCOTTEA and BIS*COFFEE come packaged singly or in packs of two, which keeps them fresh for each sitting. You can also purchase them in 5.6 oz, 28 oz or 33.6 oz sets as well as in a 24-piece assorted gift box. While they are available mostly in specialty stores, you can easily find them online at www.biscottea.net.

So, next time you need a little treat to carry you through the day, give BISCOTTEA or BIS*COFFEE a try. You deserve it!

If your New Year’s resolution involves getting all your baby’s photos in order, you need to know about KODAK Gallery (www.kodakgallery.com) and the great tools and products it has to offer. While we all grew up believing in KODAK as a trusted name in photography, I had no idea how far they had come along with their online tools and photo gifts. If you haven’t checked out their site, it’s definitely worth a look. Here are just some of the great items I found.

Photo calendars are a perfect way to capture a lot of photos in a gift that you know will get used throughout the year. While the rewards are great, making the calendar is often a pain. However, KODAK just unveiled a new set of photo layout tools that makes Wall Calendars and Photo Books a breeze. The best part is that their tool is adaptable for the entire range of designers – from the mom who just wants to input photos and have the tool magically arrange them to the mom who can sit there for hours adjusting every little detail. I fall closer to the latter end of the spectrum and was excited to spend far fewer hours at my computer this year. Plus, I didn’t find myself fighting templates as I usually do on other sites, which saved me much frustration.

How does it work? First, you select what type of calendar you’d like, choosing time span (12 or 18 months) and size (standard or oversize). You can even select which month to start with if you didn’t quite get around to creating a calendar before ringing in the new year. Then, pick a design from among 23 themes offered. Add your photos to each page, uploading as you go or selecting from your KODAK albums. KODAK automatically arranges your photos on the page and gives you the option of different layouts. Go with what they give you or use one of their templates as the starting point and switch to Custom mode where you can zoom, resize, move and rotate your photos as you wish. It’s the perfect mix of auto and custom! The program has great flexibility, letting you switch calendar size at anytime and providing an Undo button (a feature I found myself using often). You can mix and match the design themes, choosing from over 240 backgrounds for each month. Another tip: use the “Save As” function to save several versions for yourself, your parents and your in-laws – just go back and switch out a couple photos instead of having to re-create everything from scratch.

In addition to paper, KODAK can print on a wide variety of materials. You can create photo gifts on porcelain, canvas, cloth, leather and wood! I tried out the Filligree Porcelain Ornament and was excited to see the results – a little bit on the dark side, but overall a really nice quality print with a smooth glossy finish. But, if I thought the ornament was impressive, I was absolutely blown away by the Photo Wall Art (glossy and UV/scratch resistant on a wood panel). We’re still getting compliments from visitors the second they set eyes on these classy pieces. The photos look great blown up to 11” x 14” (also available in 16” x 20”). Set on wood, they have slots in the back for hanging and are ready to go. No need to bother with framing!

In addition to calendars, photo books, ornaments and wall art, you can add your photos to mugs, magnets, notepads, mouse pads, jewelry – even wine glass charms, tote bags, iPhone cases and wallets.

If you find yourself hooked on making photo products (not unimaginable!) and are looking for more photos to use, you may also want to download the KODAK Gallery iPhone app. With this app, multiple people can contribute to a Group album immediately from their phones, adding photos or commenting on ones already there. With the iPhone camera getting better and better, the resolution on these photos is good enough to use on photo products, so you can be inspired to make even more photo gifts! You’ll still have to go to the KODAK site to manage your album and create photo products, but now you won’t have to chase everyone down for their photos after a group get together.

So, check out the KODAK Gallery site and start making use of all those digital photos that are currently trapped on your computer. With so many options to try, you’re sure to find something you like!

Since I’ve had my baby 4 months ago, people comment frequently about my “glow from within,” which always makes me feel so good. It’s not only sweet that can they recognize the happiness that motherhood brings me, but also they are kind enough NOT to comment on the serious bags under my eyes which I’ve gotten from lack of consistent sleep. (Though many people also do ask, “How are you sleeping?” which probably means it actually does show on my face). So, I was so excited to try the MD Confidential Illuminating Eye Cream, because I personally was getting tired of looking so tired.

The MD Confidential Illuminating Eye Cream combines botanicals and antioxidants to “moisturize and minimize the appearance of dark circles and puffiness” around the eyes—a perfect promise for new mothers! I have been using it for a week now, and I’ve definitely seen an improvement in the appearance of my eyes on days when I wear the cream. I use it in the morning after washing my face, and in the afternoon if I’m going out somewhere. The cream is light and not at all greasy, and feels smooth going on. It doesn’t leave a sticky or shiny residue like some eye moisturizers I’ve tried. The cream actually leaves my eyes feeling firmer, less puffy, and a bit brighter and tighter overall. It has a light pleasant scent, nothing either too fragrant or chemical like. The eye cream also does not contain hydroquinone, which is another benefit I liked. However, the list of ingredients on the back is somewhat longer and more complicated than I’m used to reading, and includes some of the familiar alcohols and acids that are in many beauty products. This initially made me pause, but it is comforting that at least half of the ingredients are natural botanical plant extracts (such as clover, lavender, licorice and white tea for example). All in all it feels like a nice combination of natural extracts and professional “medical” technology that feels great and works wonders on my tired eyes. I’d recommend this MD Confidential Illuminating Eye Cream to any new mother, or really anyone who wants to feel just a little brighter around the eyes.

A few weeks after I gave birth to my first baby, I received the Citrus Lane “Welcome Home” care package and it truly brought a smile to my face. What a sweet packaging of very useful newborn baby products and helpful parenting information! It’s always fun to get things in the mail, and the stylish presentation of the products in this care package/gift box was part of its charm. The cute printed box was stylishly arranged and contained five really helpful products to get me started my first month including: a Mommy’s Bliss Gripe Water, a tube of Weleda Baby Calendula Diaper Care, one Sage Creek Organics Cotton Baby Washcloth, a Cotton People Organic Cotton doll, and an Aden + Anais cotton muslin Burpy Bib. All of these items were put to good use within days as diapering, burping, washing, and helping baby’s digestion along are really the most important activities those first days. Along with those assorted products there was a welcome letter from Citrus Lane that explained the use of each item as well as a “Baby Boot Camp” information sheet with useful information for first time moms… including my favorite reminder, to “be gentle to yourself, get more help than you think you need.” Lastly, there was also a helpful article from Circle of Moms on the “Top 10 Essential Baby Items.”

Not only were the products exactly what a mom of a newborn needs, it came assembled in an attractive care package, so it really felt like a sweet welcome home gift. If you are looking for something to send someone who’s just had her first baby, don’t hesitate to send a Citrus Lane care package. Especially for first time moms, those first few weeks it’s pretty hard to get out of the house when you realize you need diaper cream!

Citrus Lane offers monthly care package gift boxes for parents at all different stages of a child’s life. Boxes start with newborns and go up to 18 months, and are available in three, six, or 12-month subscriptions. Every month, subscribers receive four or five top rated baby products, along with parenting tips tailored to their child’s age and stage. The products are chosen based on recommendations from Citrus Lane’s community of parents, so they are always offering products that parents really love. I like that they don’t allow companies to pay for placement in these gift boxes. In my opinion, the product assortment, the information for parents, and the overall presentation make the Citrus Lane care packages a great choice for a gift for any parent.

I have had my fair share of nursing bras and tanks and absolutely prefer tanks made by Glamourmom. These nursing tanks are soft, comfortable, easy to use, and provide great support.

I love Glamourmom nursing tanks because they provide the most discretion when breastfeeding. I nurse in public and am conscientious of my belly so would rather not expose it if possible. With these tanks, the breast is even further covered because when you unsnap to nurse, the top part of the tank stays attached to the strap, creating an illusion that you are just holding your baby. It may not seem important when you are at a park with other mommies or at your sister’s house but you realize how important it is to be discrete when you are at a busy restaurant full of strange men and, gasp, teenagers and young adults who are even more uncomfortable than you with breastfeeding in public. I’ve tried covering myself with blankets and breastfeeding aprons but found them to be too distracting to my baby, causing her to latch on and off too often. The Glamourmom nursing tank is far less of an operation and just as discrete, if not more.

The Glamourmom nursing bra long tank is the perfect length to pull below the hips. The snaps are easy to use with one hand and I can wear the tank under my clothes without it looking bulky. I actually dread when I am done breastfeeding and have to return to regular uncomfortable underwire bras! I think the Glamourmom Nursing Bra Tank has a large part in why I feel this way.

www.glamourmom.com

In December, Glamourmom is partnering with Feed The Children and will match any product purchased from www.glamourmom.com or www.glamourmom.co.uk with a nursing bra tank donated to a mom in need. Click for more info.

I found the perfect solution for turning any shirt into a nursing top. The Undercover Mama nursing tank is a slim fitting tunic that attaches to the hooks of any nursing bra, and instantly turns your bra into a nursing tank top for more coverage while feeding. It’s like a tank top without the straps. I wore this tank in off- white yesterday under a sweater, much like a camisole, and really liked how it fit snugly and added a layer of warmth, as well as more coverage for in-public nursing. The little hooks were easy to attach to my nursing bra, and similarly they were easy to un-attach for quick and easy nursing. You wouldn’t want to wear this tank on it’s own, as it is clear that the bra straps are not part of the shirt, and it looks a little bit awkward as a stand alone, but for wearing underneath a sweater or other over-shirt, this is a perfect nursing solution! I initially thought I would get more use of it in the summer, but as winter approaches and I start to wear more layers, I’m sure I’ll be wearing it more often underneath other heavier shirts. The Undercover Mama tank is a simple and convenient solution for on-the-go moms who want to wear their regular tops and sweaters while nursing.

The holidays are even more fun than usual when you have a little one around, but with so many kid products out there, where do you start with the holiday shopping? Never fear! Our gift guide is here to help you find gifts that are sure to make baby smile.

Wee Gallery Jungle Art Cards (ages 0-12 months) are beautiful cards that fascinate babies with their high-contrast black and white images. A set comes with six 5x7” cards that display different sets of animals. You can either lay the cards out for baby to play with or mount them on your nursery wall to create a mini gallery. These cards immediately captured my daughter’s attention and held it as she flipped from one image to the next and then back through several times more. Created by a graphic designer-teacher, husband-and-wife team, the artwork is in a sophisticated yet child friendly style that both you and your child will enjoy. As kids will continue to enjoy identifying the animals even as they get older, there’s no rush to take this artwork down after baby’s first year. Go to www.weegallery.com to learn more.

The Peek-A-Boo Snuggle Pal and Soft Peek-A-Boo Blocks (both ages 6 months and up) from B kids keep baby busy with cute characters and bright colors. Small, soft and highly portable, the Snuggle Pal is great for attaching to baby’s car seat or stroller so that she can crinkle and rattle it anywhere she goes. This is an engaging toy that baby can easily interact with from the very first months. The Soft Peek-A-Boo Blocks include three hinged plastic blocks and a set of six soft, rubbery blocks that are easy for baby to grip. My daughter remains happy and highly occupied, as she loves putting the rubbery blocks in the hinged blocks, taking them out and putting them back in over and over again. Easy to stack and easy to knock down, this is a fun first building toy. Learn more about both toys at www.blueboxtoys.com.

B. toys offers a line of amazing products that run the gamut from traditional wooden toys to electronic toys. Zany Zoo (ages 1-3) is a large wooden cube that captivates with five surfaces of engaging activities. My daughter has been fascinated with this toy, moving from the bead coaster to the alphabet tiles to playing peek-a-boo with four animals hiding behind four little doors. With cute illustrations, bright colors and quality craftsmanship, this is a favorite in our house for babies and adults alike. Wheeee-ls! (ages 1-4) is a set of four adorable vehicles that each sport their own personalities. Made of a soft rubber, these are a child’s perfect first cars, as they’re easy to grip and won’t hurt when baby rams them into herself or you. Without needing batteries, these cars rattle and jingle and race across the floor after you pull them back to rev them up. My daughter’s face lights up each time one goes sailing across the floor. These little cars have been great motivation for getting her up and moving! Available at Target stores, these toys are definitely worth checking out. You can also find more information at www.justb-byou.com.

IKEA is known for creating stylish and affordable furniture, but they also carry a huge selection of adorable kids’ toys, including an extensive line of plush. Leka Cirkus (all ages) is a musical toy with a bunny that can be pulled from a hat. As the bunny returns to the hat, it plays a soft lullaby that makes my daughter smile and break into a little dance every time she hears it. Torva Wild Strawberry (ages 1 and up) is part of a line of highly huggable soft toys that whimsically feature fruits and vegetables. My daughter has had to pull this toy away from me, as it is hard for even adults to resist picking this toy up and giving it a squeeze. Both Leka Cirkus and Torva are part of IKEA’s annual Soft Toys for Education Campaign (running running November 1 – December 24) that benefits children in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia through Save the Children and UNICEF.

HABA Color Play Building Blocks (ages 1 and up) are quality wooden blocks that include six colorful bridges and three stimulating cubes that engage your child through visual, acoustic and tactile features. Even before these blocks were out of their package, my daughter was drawn to them, curious about how the prism in one block caught the light and how the small ball in another rolled around inside the cube. Now that the pieces have been freed, she enjoys knocking them down as I stack them into tall towers. Soon enough, I’m sure she will be building towers of her own. Made with solid Beechwood and water-based stains, this is a great toy that is safe for the little ones. Find these blocks at www.maukilo.com.

Cascades’ Cardboard Playroom Table and Children’s Chairs is a complete kid’s furniture set that you can assemble from two flat-packed boxes. It’s magical to see fully functional furniture pop up from flat cardboard! While assembly can take some work, it doesn’t require any tools and is incredibly sturdy once put together – the chairs will accommodate your child for quite some time with a weight limit of 100 pounds. Made of cardboard and including two crayon compartments, these pieces provide a great space for kids to display their creativity by encouraging them to draw directly on the furniture surfaces. My daughter loves that it’s ok to draw on this table! It’s a quick and easy way to have a personalized play space. It’s also ready to go as a game center with a cat and mouse game printed directly on the tabletop and a hockey game that easily attaches. These pieces are made from recycled materials and can be recycled once again when you’re done with them – a green product that both you and your kids can enjoy. Learn more at www.boutique.cascades.com/ca/en.

Skip Hop started out making diaper bags and has evolved into a company that makes a variety of fun and functional kids products, from bedding to feeding to bath items to toys. Zoo Pack Little Kid Backpacks are a delightful way to pack up all of your child’s things. At the moment, we use the backpack to take our daughter’s many loose items to and from daycare. However, we see this product growing with her and eventually holding her books as she starts school. We have the amazingly cute lady bug design – this bag also comes in a number of other designs, including a frog, a penguin, a monkey and an owl. With so many options, you’re very likely to find your child’s favorite animal and motivate her to carry her own things! The Hug and Hide Activity Toys (ages 3 months and up) come in five different animals and are another favorite in our house. This soft plush toy includes 10 different developmental activities, including peek-a-boo, a baby-safe mirror, two different teethers, various textures and elements that crinkle, chime and squeak – plenty to keep baby busy and exploring for quite some time. Soapster is a clever one-handed soap dispenser that can be mounted to the bathtub wall via suction cups, adhesive tape or screws. Whimsically shaped as a penguin friend that my daughter constantly chatters to while bathing, this tool mixes 1 part liquid soap and 1 part water to create a soapy foam for washing baby. It’s a great way to make bath-time fun for both mom and baby. Find out more about Skip Hop and their entire line of products at www.skiphop.com.

With all that comes with the first year of being a mom, new moms deserve something especially nice for the holidays. So, whether you’re shopping for a new mom or are a new mom yourself who’s looking for a few ideas to whisper to your significant other, here are some of our top picks for products that will delight and pamper all the new moms in your life.

Umbra Lookend Bookends combine two must-haves for any new mom’s home – picture frames and bookends. As a new mom with plenty of books and even more photos, I love that this product makes me feel better organized on both fronts. Stylish, with a clean, modern look that fits well with any décor, these bookends are the perfect way to show off new baby photos while also keeping all those parenting books in order. Make this gift extra special by pre-filling the frames with photos of the new family so that this gift is ready to use straight out of the box. These bookends are available along with a number of other fun and creative products on dormify.com.

Monogrammed Valentino Light Weight Egyptian Cotton Waffle Robe from Luxor Linens lets mom lounge around the house in style, especially in those first few months when she’s so busy that getting dressed just doesn’t seem to happen. Made from lightweight Egyptian cotton, this robe feels great and maintains its quality even after several washes. Personalizing the robe with monogrammed initials is a great touch, and you have several options for customizing it by choosing robe color (white or beige), thread color and text style. A subtle monogram with tone-on-tone monogramming, where the text thread is of the same family as the robe color, is especially elegant. Not sure if she wants her initials on the robe? “MOM” is a fun three-letter alternative that will make her smile. This is a gift that mom will enjoy slipping into on a daily basis! Find it on luxorlinens.com.

WEI Beauty White Lotus Hydrating Cream gives mom an energizing start to her day and helps revitalize her as the day comes to a close. As new moms nurse and find themselves constantly washing their hands, it’s no wonder that they often feel dehydrated. Infused with elements of the white lotus, a flower known for its ability to hold water, this cream is intended to restore moisture to dry skin. This hydrating cream feels great as it’s smoothed on as a facial moisturizer following cleansing. Non-oily and with a fresh, natural scent, this cream immediately leaves mom’s face feeling well nourished and rejuvenated. Applying this cream is a simple routine that I look forward to each morning and evening. With all that new moms have to deal with on an ongoing basis, this cream gives mom a great reason to pause and indulge. White Lotus Hydrating Cream is available at www.weibeauty.com and www.spacenk.com.

I love, love, love this tank! I have the large, black tank and plan on getting the extra large next! I have worn it between weeks 17 and 27 of my pregnancy and it has retained it's shape, support and color - which rarely happens with any clothing I own. The material is soft and feels great. It has enough coverage and support for those days when my chest was tender that I could wear the tank and take a break from wearing a bra - which was a great relief. I love the cut in the front and back, the width of the straps (and that they are adjustable!), and the length to cover my growing tummy. I've been wearing different tanks underneath shirts for some time now, but this tank I feel comfortable wearing all on its own.

Devyn Bag

I recently had my first baby and was slightly overwhelmed when I had to figure out what to bring with me in the diaper bag for our first outing. I was thrilled when I was given the Devyn Bag as the bag itself makes it so easy—it’s all laid out in three easy compartments- a one stop shop Diaper bag/ laptop bag/ and insulated cooler bag (for milk or other hot/cold food)- perfect for working nursing moms.

The purse compartment has 3 inside pockets for diapers, wipes, and other small items, as well as a larger pocket that can fit a swaddle, a change of clothes, and my personal items. The laptop compartment is nicely padded and fits my 15” Macbook perfectly. The insulated compartment has 6 mesh bags pockets, 3 on each side, and comes with a dehydrated ice pack that you soak with water, freeze, and slip in the middle of the two rows of pockets to keep your breast milk or other food cold. (Apparently, you can also heat the ice pack in the microwave to keep your items warm, though I haven’t found the need for that this summer!)

One of my favorite features is that it has a phone and key pocket on the outside of the bag, which is great for me as I find I’m always rummaging around in my purse for those things- and the bigger the bag the harder it is to find these crucial pieces when I need them. So, having the pocket on the outside saves me time and keeps me organized. Love it.

Not only is the bag very functional and relatively compact for all that it does, it’s super stylish as well. I love the black and purple messenger bag design, and the fact that it’s a washable material makes it easy to clean with a rag or in the washer. No expensive drycleaning needed!

The only downside is that this bag is designed for fairly specific usage, so if you aren’t working, and don’t need to be carrying your laptop and keeping breast milked chilled, this ideal set up is a little wasted. While you can fit other things in both the laptop compartment and the insulated pocket besides a computer and food, because the bag is neatly divided in thirds, there isn’t a large inner compartment to carry larger items like a blanket or sweater—things you might want in your diaper bag.

I found the Devyn bag to be more fun, stylish, functional than most diaper bags I’ve seen, and I’d recommend it hands down for working nursing moms!