Baby Pictures, Schmaby Pictures

Last week we posted tips for taking glamorous pregnancy photos. What's better than beautiful, professional photographs to document your life?

Awkward Family Photos, that's what. So much better.

One of the funniest blogs around, Awkward Family Photos is a bottomless pit of terrible holiday snapshots, school pictures, and unintionally creepy family portraits that will make you pee your pants. For all the moms-to-be out there, the "babies" archive is particularly fantastic. The thing we love best about this site is that it's a great reminder that not everything will be picture perfect for any family...but you can always, always laugh about it later.

Awkward Family Photos

Marooned on Maternity Leave Island? Here Are Some Reads!

We spend a lot of our time reading tweets from pregnant women--many of whom are on maternity leave, and many of whom are climbing the walls out of sheer boredom. There's only so much of The View you can take before you seriously lose it, right?

Think of this post as your maternity book club. When you hit the fifteenth hour of the Today show, we're going to go ahead and assume you'd rather have something fun to read. Thankfully, the ladies at Jezebel (a great site worth reading all the time) just posted a particularly awesome gallery of the twenty best celebrity bios.

These books are filled with enough lurid details and gossip to make them worth their while. (And we can personally vouch that Mommie Dearest is a page turner.) So, if you're looking for some rad reads while you're counting down your last trimester, we highly recommend anything from this post. We also do not recommend using wire hangers.

20 Celebrity Bios You Should Read from Jezebel.com

Healthy Mamas Monday: Do Your Homework!

The people over at About.com's pregnancy and family section have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Instead of just putting together page after page of checklists and info no one can remember, they've established an Online Childbirth Course that's free, comprehensive, and very cool. Sign up for info on:

-How to tell if you are in labor.
-What to pack for labor.
-Relaxation and breathing for labor.
-Common medications for labor including the epidural.
-Labor interventions like fetal monitoring and more.
-Cesarean Birth
-Postpartum
-Breastfeeding and more!

Online Childbirth Course

The Big Countdown!

Big news from the Moody Mama universe: our new collection will be available for pre-order online at

http://www.mmtarget.com

on April 15! We've never been prouder to work with such a great store and we can't wait to see what you think about our new designs. Until then, add us to your bookmarks and check out the pieces we currently have for sale through Target.

Tasty Thursdays: Disaster Cakes!

Cake Wrecks is one of the funniest blogs on the internet. Who would've thought that ingredients as simple and wholesome as eggs, milk, flour and sugar could be turned into obscene/misspelled/disastrous/disturbing desserts?

Every cake they've ever posted is hysterical, but there are an assortment of maternity and baby shower cakes that are meant to be charming...but succeed in being terrifying. Click the links below for some of the weirdest cakes ever baked for moms-to-be.

Return of the Belly Cake

Get In Mah Belly!

"Baby Showers"

A Womb With a View

Words of Wisdom Wednesday!

"[On how to diaper a baby] Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again."

--Jimmy Piersall, baseball player

Beautiful Mamas Tuesday: Maternity Photography!

A quick check of Twitter, or Facebook, or mom blogs, or even just a survey of beautiful pregnant women we know has shown that maternity photography is a growing trend we can really get behind. Women around the country are having their portraits taken, baby bumps proudly showing, in order to document this unique and momentous time in their lives.

The people over at Parents Magazine interviewed Sarah Merians, a professional photographer who specializes in maternity photos. For those moms-to-be who are considering getting professional photos taken, or even those who might want to do their own photos at home, there are a few great tips:

-Don't wear anything with an elastic waistband to the shoot, so your belly will be mark-free.

-Get your hair and makeup done! You deserve to feel as glamorous as your photos will look.

-Soft lighting and black and white film can really help accentuate a pregnant woman's "glow."

Parents.com Interview with Pregnancy Photographer

Image from sarahgreenphotography.com

Healthy Mamas Monday: Travel Tips!

Dr. Spock has been a go-to medical reference for moms and moms-to-be since many were babies themselves. But did you know he has a website chock full of tips? There's great medical info about tons and tons of pregnancy and child related topics, but here's a really useful article on travel tips for pregnant women. The author, Dr. Marjorie Greenfield, suggests the following:

-Whether traveling by plane, train or automobile, make sure to take the time to get up and stretch your legs.

-Your second trimester is the ideal time to travel.

-When traveling by plane, some airlines are reticent to allow very visibly pregnant women to travel for fear that they might go into labor. It's always a good idea to bring a note from your doctor to prove you're a-ok to fly!

Healthy Travel Tips for Moms-to-Be (from drspock.com)

Fiesta Friday! A Link We Love!

Who doesn't love a little gossip now and then? There's nothing more fun than reading a Star or In Touch magazine every once in a while, or checking up on your favorite celebs with Perez Hilton.

People Magazine has the most addictive blog for moms-to-be and pop culture enthusiasts alike! Their Celebrity Baby Blog is a hot spot for good-natured gossip on who's expecting, who's had their baby, and who's been captured looking as adorable as little Harlow Madden (daughter of Nicole Richie and Good Charlotte's Joel Madden) does here. So kick back, get your clicking finger ready, and enjoy your Fiesta Friday.


People Magazine Celebrity Baby Blog

Tasty Thursday: Ginger & Fruit!

What's more satisfying than a dessert that's both decadent and healthy?

The people over at Fit Pregnancy put together a recipe for Ginger, Mango & Pineapple Crisp which seems like the perfect food for a sunny spring day. It's super easy to make (throw frozen fruit in a casserole dish, top, bake!) and ginger, wonderful root that it is, can often help settle a queasy stomach. Click the link below for the recipe and enjoy a summery fruit treat!


Ginger, Mango & Pineapple Crisp

New Feature -- Sites We Love

You may notice a new list on the right of sites we just adore. Click on over for excellent pregnancy and motherhood resources. And, if you have a blog yourself, let us know! Just send us an e-mail to moodymamasblog@gmail.com.

Words of Wisdom Wednesday!

"I want my children to have all of the things I never had. And then I want to move in with them."

--Phyllis Diller

Beautiful Mamas Tuesday: Plaid!

One of the biggest fashion trends of the past few seasons has been plaid. We've seen it everywhere from the runway to Urban Outfitters--heck, even Miley Cyrus is selling buffalo plaid shirts in her Walmart collection with Max Azria! Plaid is an easy way to dress up that bump in a trendy way.

If you don't feel like stealing flannels from your man's/dad's/grandpa's closet, we've got the piece for you!

The thing we love about our collection is that it fits well when you're pregnant and still manages to be current and fashion-forward. We wrangled our friend Christian Siriano, winner of Project Runway and designer for the likes of Rihanna, Christina Hendricks, Lada Gaga and Heidi Klum, to create some truly fierce pieces for our customers.

Christian designed the Buffalo Box Pleat Tunic for us and we can't say enough about how cute and comfortable it is. We're all mad about plaid!

Healthy Mamas Monday: Exercise!

Women work out to feel healthy and look great--to keep our arms toned, our butts perky and our legs lean. But did you mamas-to-be know that there are a few simple exercises that can help make for an easy labor?

The fine folks at the Mayo Clinic have compiled a few easy exercises that will help prepare your muscles for labor. It's just like training for a marathon; the more toned your muscles become, the better they'll perform come the big day!

The excercises at the link range from simple kegels to the yoga-like "tailor sit." We particularly like the low back stretch, which looks like it feels great. Click here to see the whole range of exercises.

Fiesta Friday!

It's time to have some fun every Friday on the Moody Mamas blog! Check back every week for party tips, fun games, things to make you laugh, and anything to help let your hair down before the weekend.

There's really nothing funnier than a laughing baby. We mean, nothing. You can't possibly watch these videos without a giggle, we promise. As the week comes to an end, maybe you've had a long day at work, or maybe you're on maternity leave, or maybe you've got a brand new little one. Regardless, it's time to smile! Kick back with a mocktail and embrace the weekend.

Tasty Thursday!

Each Thursday, we will be featuring a delicious recipe for you to try! Check back every week for new food ideas for you and your baby.

As much as you might like to end some days with a martini, everyone knows that moms-to-be have to unwind without their favorite drink of choice. However, why not try a mocktail? Click here to find a huge index of delicious virgin drinks that will make you feel as though you're on a tropical island sipping a pina colada--even if you're just on the couch.

This list of mocktails doesn't just take the alcohol out of favorite drink recipes; many are interesting and tasty concoctions all on their own. Our favorites are the "Flossy Aussie" (lemon soda, kiwi juice, kumquats, kiwi, lime juice, simple syrup) and the "Preggie Provence" (lemonade, DRY Soda Co lavender soda, rosemary, white grapes, simple syrup, lavender, lemon peel).

Words of Wisdom Wednesday!

Every Wednesday on the Moody Mama's blog, we'll share some of our favorite quotes about pregnancy and motherhood. Check back every week for wit and widsom!

"People are giving birth underwater now. They say it's less traumatic for the baby because it's in water. But certainly more traumatic for the other people in the pool."
--Elayne Boosler

Beautiful Mama Tuesdays!

Each Tuesday on the Moody Mamas blog, we'll be featuring beauty tips, products, and ideas for feeling beautiful while you're pregnant. Check back here every Tuesday!

Stretch marks -- can't live with 'em, and unfortunately, most of us can't live without 'em either. These are often a natural part of pregnancy, but there are ways to minimize their appearance. The key to avoiding these purplish marks is elasticity. Though none of these remedies can completely prevent stretch marks, they can decrease their intensity and provide some wonderful aromatherapy in the meantime!

Aside from staying hydrated and well nourished, some mamas swear by natural products like cocoa butter or almond oil (both of which smell divine). These are great for moisturizing your skin throughout your pregnancy and, as the Hip Chick Pregnancy Guide points out, it's a wonderful way to give your baby a light massage as you rub it into your belly.

Healthy Mamas Monday!

Every Monday on the Moody Mamas blog, we'll be featuring tips and tricks to keep you feeling great during your pregnancy. Check back here every Monday for information every Mom should know!

Despite all of the stuffed animals you're likely to get as baby shower gifts, your baby's best friend is actually folic acid. This little wonder supplement helps your baby's brain develop and prevents certain birth defects like spina bifida--plus it gives moms healthy hair, nails and skin! You can find it in the dietary supplement aisle of your local pharmacy or drug store.

Here are some facts on folic acid from the CDC. Even better, here's a list of delicious cereals that provide 100% of your suggested daily requirement of folic acid so you can start your day off right! According to the National Library of Medicine, other food sources of folic acid include "beans and legumes, citrus fruits and juices, whole grains, and dark green leafy vegetables."

Calling all Moody Mamas!

Do you have a photograph of you wearing a Moody Mamas outfit? If so, send it along! We'd like to feature real mamas-to-be looking beautiful on our blog.

Send photos to moodymamasblog@gmail.com!

Also, you can follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook to keep up with all of the Moody Mamas updates. Our Twitter is here and our Facebook page is here.

Meet the Moody Mamas!

Welcome to the brand new Moody Mamas blog! Here you'll find not just updates on our clothing line, but also pregnancy and maternity resources that will inform and entertain. For our inaugural post, we thought we'd let you know a little bit about how our line came to be.

A few years ago, we had just moved to Los Angeles and were on a quest to create a clothing line that would make women feel empowered, vivacious and sexy...but we weren't thinking it would be a maternity line. We were in our early twenties and had never been married, let alone had children.

Our inspiration came in the form of a beautiful pregnant goddess named Shiva. “Women still want to feel sexy and flirty even though they are pregnant or nursing” she enlightened us. “If you girls want to do something that will make women feel good about themselves, you should make maternity and post-partum clothing.”

Something about what Shiva said to us clicked. Since we had never been pregnant, we realized that it was imperative to do some research before taking on such a difficult task. During this “period of enlightenment” we went to pre-natal yoga and Lamaze classes, interviewed many pregnant/nursing women, convened with OB-GYNS and pediatricians and even wore fake bellies to give us an approximation of how it felt to carry a child. It took us a year to complete our pregnancy boot camp and we emerged eager to begin designing. Having familiarized ourselves with the world of maternity, we now understood why it was our duty to help moms-to-be feel beautiful.

Which brings us to where we are today. After two difficult years of trying to conceive, we became the proud parents of our own beautiful baby, Moody Mamas, Inc. In spring 2008, we launched our inaugural collection and look forward to many more years of being successful Moody Mamas. We work with designer and Project Runway winner Christian Siriano (creator of the Fierce Mamas line) among our most talented staff who help make Moody Mamas a success.

We are so proud to have produced a line that celebrates the beauty of expecting women and the thrill associated with pregnancy.