Archive for June, 2014

The Un-Shower

un-shower

Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

Why not throw a baby shower your friends actually want to come to?

Fact: Every time any person under 70 gets an invitation to a baby shower, she rolls her eyes and tries to think of ways to get out of it. Yes, every time. And she will for yours too. Between the wishing well, those embarrassing shower games, and the sitting around for 2 hours while the mama-to-be opens each and every last gift from each and every last co-worker’s cousin’s daughter, you can’t blame her for wanting to jump out of her skin.

But wait! You don’t have to have one of those showers! For this last big hoorah before baby arrives, why not throw a party that everyone — including you — will want to attend? Here’s a few ideas for a great “Un-Shower” that will have all the girls you know praying for an invitation:

Terrarium-Making: Flower workshops are sooo last year. For a new twist on the classic, bring your group to Twig Terrariums where you can all create customized little green worlds filled with the hilarious miniature figurines the Gowanus shop is known for. $150/person for two-hour private workshops. Groups larger than 20 get discounted rates.

Makeup Workshop: The first night out after baby comes is worth putting on your “going out” face, so perfect your “hot mama” look now with a group of friends at a Jessa Blades makeup workshop. The Brooklyn-based makeup artist, natural beauty expert and herbalist offers regular workshops around the country, but will also put together an event for a small group.

DIY Spa Products: For a celebration centered around that beautiful body of yours, a DIY spa product party in your living room (or someone else’s) may be the way to go. The Good Home Company founder and CEO Christine Dimmick will help you create body lotion, massage oil, foot scrub, bubble bath or shower gel, all from natural ingredients that you can feel “Good” about. Prices start at $1,200. Email [email protected] for more info.

Tie-Dye Party: There’s no better baby onesie than a tie-dyed baby onesie. Unless that baby onesie is tie-dyed by YOU! We’re lucky enough to have tie-dye guru Shabd Simon-Alexander in our own great city, so take advantage, ladies! For a private workshop safe for pregnancy, Shabd can pre-mix dyes, then come teach you and your friends some cool tying techniques and guide you through some dipping and dripping. For those afraid of messes, she’ll keep the buckets at home and finish off your creations herself. Email [email protected] for group pricing.

Cooking Class: If you’re a domestic at heart, or just love to eat, a cooking class could be the un-shower of your dreams. Michelle Marinis, founder of Petit Organics and healthy-eating website Silver Spoon (coming soon!), offers private in-home cooking lessons for groups. For a mama-to-be, she can focus on nutritional prenatal recipes, but your non-pregnant friends shouldn’t fret — for a little extra, she’ll bring over a case of wine to really get that party started. Prices start at $800 for 2 hours. Email [email protected] for details.

Crafting Workshop: Whether you want to learn to sew, feel an urge to knit using your arms, or have another creative endeavor in mind, the Brooklyn Craft Company can come up with the DIY party of your dreams. Private events at this Greenpoint studio are suitable for any skill level, and can also include food and beverages. If WE were planning an un-shower, we’d choose the Catlady Craft Night (cat nail art, anyone?) but maybe that’s just us.

This article is by Jessica Pallay, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Things We’ve Read: Week of June 23rd

Pregnancy News Nine Naturals Things We've Read

Shorter time between pregnancies linked to earlier delivery (Reuters): According to a new study, women who become pregnant again within 18 months after having a baby are more likely to deliver early.

What The New York Times Got Right and Wrong About Maternal Mental Health (HuffPost): The New York Times highlighted important information about maternal mood disorders, but they missed an opportunity to go further in depth about what these disorders look like and how to differentiate them.

BPA May Make Breast Cancer Cells Resistant To Treatment (WUNC): A study recently taken out at Duke University reveals that BPA, a chemical found in many plastics, can make breast cancer cells resistant to treatment.

White House Moves to Overhaul Policies for Working Parents (HuffPost): The White House is aiming to change policies to benefit working parents for a more family friendly work environment, including paid leave and accommodations for pregnant women.

What Nobody Tells You About the First 3 Months of Motherhood (HuffPost): Being a mother of a newborn is hard and tiring, but for this mom, it’s totally worth it.

Just how important are midwives for a healthy pregnancy? (Voxxi): When it comes to pregnancy, much emphasis is placed on the mother-doctor relationship, but the midwives should definitely not be ignored either.

Nine Naturals Style Guide: Fourth of July Maternity Fashion

We know dressing for a hot summer day isn’t easy, especially while pregnant and being out and about during the upcoming Fourth of July weekend. Fourth of July fashion is all about showing off your patriotic pride and dressing up in red, white and blue. Even though you have a limited color pallet to work with, the possibilities are endless! Whether you’re attending a BBQ, headed to the beach, or enjoying brunch with friends and family, we have just the right looks to keep you cool, comfortable and stylish.

BBQ Ready: Headed to a summer BBQ this Fourth of July? Time to pull out our favorite summer staple – the maxi dress. This blue and white striped maxi is Fourth of July perfect, especially when paired with a vibrant statement necklace. Grab a jean jacket in case it gets chilly and dress it up with a pair of wedges to give you added height. Complete the outfit with festive red nails for a subtle nod to the red, white and blue.

BBQ

Spaghetti Strap Empire Waist Maternity Maxi (Jessica Simpson), Vintage denim jacket (J. Crew), Pledge Leather Espadrille Wedge Sandals (Jimmy Choo), Give It A Swirl Triple Strand Necklace (Kate Spade), American Beauty 5 Free Nail Polish (Priti NYC)

Beachy Style: Just because you have a growing bump doesn’t mean you can’t flaunt it at the beach this summer! Show off your bump with a solid blue one-piece bathing suit that features ruffles along the neckline for a touch of added flair. Go bare or cover it up with a simple white tunic. A classic wide-brimmed straw hat and your favorite pair of shades will protect your face from the beaming sun. Don’t forget to throw in Mott 50’s sun protective scarf and Nine Naturals Natural SPF Sunscreen 32 in your nautical beach tote!

Fourth of July Maternity Fashion

Pleated Maternity Swim Cover-up (A Pea in the Pod), Dot Bow Straw Hat (Ann Taylor), Ruffled Maternity One Piece Swimsuit (A Pea in the Pod), Classic Square Sunglasses (Ralph Lauren), Nautical Striped Tote (Daily Look), Sun Protective Shawl for Birchbox (Mott 50), Patent Thora 2 Sandal (Tory Burch)

Daytime Brunch: Fourth of July weekend is a time for family and friends, but don’t forget about the food! If you’re heading into town for a delicious meal, think casual yet sophisticated. Throw on a comfortable pair of white maternity jeans to show off that summer style, topped off with a loose fitting patriotic red blouse and a navy blazer for a classy, yet chic touch. Finish the outfit with a leather sandal so you’re ready to walk around town for a little shopping after brunch!

Maternity Fourth of July Fashion

Maternity Skinny Jeans in White (LOFT), Blue Depths ‘Abree’ Open Front Blazer (BCBG), Convertible Sleeve Button Front Blouse (MISOKA), Donddi Sandal (Steve Madden), Jeweled Quill Earrings (J. Crew), Lydia Tote (Tory Burch)

Nine Naturals Quotes

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Fill er up!

water bottles

Article Courtesy of Well Rounded NY

From the moment I got pregnant with Oliver, a thirst hit me like no other. Already an avid hydrator, I found myself revisiting the water cooler for more than just the office gossip. Drinking water for two is crucial for pregnancy. “Not only is it healthy for you and your baby, but you’re more likely to contract and go into pre-term labor when you’re dehydrated,” says New York City OB-GYN Meredith Halpern of Cityscape OB/GYN. Reason enough to stay hydrated.

I’m not a fan of buying overpriced and anything-but-green water bottles, so I started using reusable water bottles a few years ago. And unlike my reusable grocery bags, these get actual use. But not all water bottles are created equal. Just like the baby gear you’re currently stocking up on, you want to make sure the water you ingest on a daily basis is free of BPA and anything else you can’t pronounce. Glass is the safe choice…and the pretty one. Which we think is important if it’s going to be one of your accessories for the next few months and beyond. Because the hydrating does not stop once baby is here. One of the best nursing tips from my birth instructor was to set up a nursing station (or a few) in your home that always has a water bottle filled. So yes, you’ll continue pee’ing a lot for a little while longer, but you’ll also ensure both you and your baby stay hydrated.

Here are 5 glass water bottles to keep your thirst at bay.

  1. bkr: bkr’s philosophy is all about clean living. Which is exactly what you want from your drinking water, right? The founders of bkr thought out every detail in this usable piece of art. Each bkr bottle is dressed in a removable silicone sleeve, available in various gorgeous colors, and has an easy-to-drink-from mouth. Oh, and doesn’t bkr’s About Us page make you want to be a part of their club? $30
  2. Lifefactor: The first glass bottle I ever sipped from, Lifefactory remains a modern classic. Lifefactory’s bottles are always BPA/BPS-free and dishwasher safe, and the company is constantly revamping their colors and styles. Also, the wide mouth allows easy access for ice cubes and fresh fruit. The new Straw Cap style is designed for one-hand operation and upright, spillproof sipping (no tipping needed) making it perfect for hydrating on the go or while nursing. $26.99
  3. Bamboo: While most glass bottles ensure safe and clean drinking at all temperatures, Bamboo bottles add an extra level of strength and style. Offering three different styles of tops — classic, flip and hot tops — this bottle company strives to maintain a green earth by utilizing one of the renewable materials available: bamboo. So go ahead and fill’er up with cold or hot beverages — the bamboo can withstand the heat. $25
  4. Takeya: With its passion for beverages and drinkware, Takeya creates water bottles to carry both water and one of the delicious iced teas for which the company has become so known. Made with durable glass and covered in a silicone jacket, Takeya’s see-through window for checking fluid levels really makes this bottle unique. $17.99
  5. Aquasana: These Aquasana bottles leave you with the purest taste of water like only glass can. Aquasana, which can be purchased in a bundle of six, is a no-frills option that makes it easy for each family member to take a bottle on the go without having to worry about a few dirty ones in the sink. $31.11

This article is by Kaity Velez courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Things We’ve Read: Week of June 16th

Pregnancy News Nine Naturals Things We've Read

Best Parenting Tweets: What Moms and Dads Said on Twitter This Week (HuffPost): A collection of the most hilarious 140-character tweets from parents about what their kids are saying these days.
Pregnancy Researchers Unlock Key to Triggering Labour (Hunter Medical Research Institute): A potassium channel in the uterine muscle functions as a electrical switch - when turned off, it allows labor contractions to occur. However, this switch tends to stay on in overweight women, leading to difficult labors.
The Agony and the Ecstasy of Raising a Toddler (HuffPost): Life after having a child explained by comics.
Tiny robotic arm could operate on babies in the womb (CNN): Scientists are developing a tiny robotic arm to perform surgeries on babies in the womb to correct complications and conditions, such as spina bifida, before the babies are born.
EU Court Supports Rights of Pregnant Workers (Courthouse News Service): The EU High Court has rules that pregnant women who stop working during the late stages of pregnancy can receive public benefits as long as they return to work soon after giving birth.
Airport Screening Machines During Pregnancy: Is It Safe? (CafeStir): Airport screening machines are low risks for dangerous radiation exposure, but there are alternatives, such as the traditional metal-scanner or a pat-down, for women who want to stay safe.
These Popular Plastic Bottles May Be Messing With Your Hormones (Mother Jones): A study tested BPA-free plastic containers and found that these products leaked hormone-altering chemicals after being exposed to heat.

First Trimester Nutrition: The 3 Diet Changes You Have To Make

First Trimester Nutrition

At Nine Naturals, we firmly believe that everything that goes on and in your body during pregnancy can impact your health and your baby’s health. We are excited to announce that we have teamed up with registered dietitian and nutrition expert Samantha Lynch to bring you a 3-part Pregnancy & Nutrition Series, focusing on nutrition for every trimester of pregnancy!

The first trimester is very important during pregnancy, both in terms of the baby’s development and how pregnancy can affect moms to be. During this crucial time, it’s important to:

Get Plenty Of Folic Acid: Ensure you are taking at least 400 mcg of folic acid to prevent neural tube birth defects including spina bifida, anencephaly and chiari malformation. These brain and spinal cord defects develop in the first 28 days after conception, long before many women know they are pregnant. Foods with folic acid and folate include:

  • Dark leafy greens
  • Asparagus
  • Fortified Grains including bread & crackers
  • Legumes

Eat Fiber-Rich Food: Suffering from constipation? You are not alone. It is common in pregnancy because hormones slow the rate of digestion, allowing for more nutrients to be absorbed by you and your baby. The following tips will help fight constipation:

  • Include fiber in each meal and snack:
  • Fruits during breakfast & as snacks
  • Vegetables during lunch & dinner
  • Whole Grains
  • Chia & Ground Flaxseeds
  • Stay hydrated and drink water between meals to keep things moving
  • Speaking of moving, exercise! It will aid the digestion process!

Alter Your Diet To Help Prevent Morning Sickness: If you are one of the unlucky women who suffer from morning sickness, aka “all day sickness” here are some nutrition tips to ease naseau and ensure that you are getting the proper nutrition for you and your little one:

  • Eat small frequent meals, rather than large meals many hours apart. The key is having something in your stomach at all times
  • Avoid spicy meals
  • Drink liquids between meals, rather than with meals
  • Drink small amounts of liquids throughout the day to avoid dehydration
  • Leave some saltines on your night table and munch on a few before getting out of bed
  • Lemon, ginger, watermelon has been known to help relieve the nausea
  • Try to rest and get enough sleep at night

Samantha LynchSamantha Lynch, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian who caters to everyone from engaged couples, pre-post natal woman, athletes, celebrities to students and stay-at-home moms. Based in Manhattan, she holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition from NYU. After graduating in 2009, she started her own nutrition counseling practice to fulfill her dream of helping people live longer, happier and more energetic lives without compromising their social schedule. Samantha has been featured as a nutrition expert in Cosmopolitan Magazine, Refinery29, Shape.com, The Daily Meal, & OK TV and was also featured as herself in a national Boost commercial airing in both the US and Canada. Samantha is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Greater New York Dietetic Association. She lives in Manhattan’s Union Square with her husband Roger, 3 year old daughter Lucy, and is expecting Baby #2 in July 2014.

 

Nine Naturals Ingredient Story: Mongongo Oil

NN_Ingredient_Story_MongongoOil

At Nine Naturals, we’re on a mission to make beauty simple, smart and safe for moms and moms-to-be. Integral to that is understanding our ingredients’ science and benefits. Today’s Nine Naturals Ingredient Story about mongongo oil is part of an ongoing series featuring the natural ingredients behind our high performance beauty products.

Mongongo oil, also known as manketti oil, is a rich, versatile ingredient. It has been used for centuries by the !kung people of the Kalahari desert as a dietary staple and to protect skin from the harsh climate of the region. While the southern African mongongo trade remains active to this day, mongongo oil is now also recognized worldwide for its protective and moisturizing effects on hair and skin.

The Science & Extraction of Mongongo Oil

Mongongo oil is extracted from the nut of the tree Ricinodendron rautanenii using a cold press technique. The nut is first separated from the pulp of the fruit in which it grows and then subjected to intense pressure. A traditional hand press can yield up to 28% of the nut’s weight as oil while a modern hydraulic press approaches a 40% yield. Mongongo oil is rich in moisturizing poly-unsaturated fatty acids, in particular linoleic acid. It also contains extremely high concentrations of vitamin E in the form of γ-tocopherol. The tocopherol has the interesting and useful property of stabilizing the oil, acting as a natural preservative for many months.

Mongongo Oil’s Benefits for Hair and Skin Care

Mongongo oil packs a powerful combination of moisturizing and protecting skin and hair. In addition to linoleic acid, mongongo oil contains a number of other fatty acids that blend to make a potent cocktail that both hydrates and aids in repair.

Why Nine Naturals Loves Mongongo Oil

What’s not to love about a nutrient-rich ingredient that works to both moisturize and repair skin? Given this it should be no surprise that Mongongo Oil is one of the key ingredients in our Repairing Body Balm. In fact, the ingredient is so effective that it creates a truly versatile product that you can use in many different ways! We hold all of our ingredients to this high standard, and you can learn more about the others by checking out our ingredient glossary.

Work From Home Parenting Tips

Work From Home Parenting Tips

Article courtesy of Well Rounded NY

6 of our favorite enterprising mamas give us their sage advice on working from home. Working from home when baby arrives may sound like the dream (and it may be), but between feedings, diaper changes, figuring out nap schedules and just straight-up parenting, it takes time to ease into a steady balance of working and mom’ing.

Check out these insider secrets from 6 of our favorite work-from-home mamas:

Nicole Gonzalez (founder of Lillies & Leon): Working from home is no easy task. It’s so easy to get distracted with life. Babies, dishes, lunch time… while I can’t say I have found the perfect balance (it’s a myth people! ;) I have found that setting aside specific time frames as well as having a “workspace” helps. We live in a small NYC apartment so creating an office is not an option. When the weather is nice I pop Lucas in his stroller and by the time we get to Starbucks (the extra two block walk to the one with outdoor seating is totally worth it!) he’s snoozing. I can get about 2 solid hours of work done and drink a latte in peace. When the weather isn’t great or it’s just one of those days where getting out of the house isn’t an option, I always try to set my laptop up at the dining room table or our small parsons desk - basically anywhere but the couch. I find it makes a huge difference in how productive I am during those short bursts of work time.

Jahje Ives (founder of Baby Jives): You have to decide what you are willing to give up both in your business and your personal life in order to achieve balance. Right now while my kids are young I am not willing to give up more than a few hours during the day with them because I started my business so I could stay home with them and experience this part of their life. So I have help a few hours a day when I can work without the distraction of kids and then I switch back into mom until I can work again after they go to sleep. It’s not an ideal schedule but it’s the one I choose right now and I know it won’t last forever.

Fleur Louise (co-founder of The Artful Bachelorette): I’m a Mama to two boys: Clark 2.5 years and August 6 months. I run The Artful Bachelorette from my ‘home office’ AKA: bed, bath and kitchen. I try and get all of my urgent work done between 7am-2pm while my eldest is at daycare. Trying to be organized and getting shit done while you have help is key. In the morning I usually do some cooking, cleaning, breast feeding with my little one, emailing, calls and most enjoyably eating, mostly all at once. It is all about multitasking.

Lindsay Meyer-Harley (founder of Darling Clementine): It’s not easy, but can be done. You’ve gotta be willing to work in short spurts, 10 minutes here, an hour there. You’ve got to get in the mentality of having a lot of projects open at once, that you work on here and there as you are able to, otherwise you’re in for a stressful day.

Raluca State (founder of Raluca State PR and What Would Gwyneth Do): Don’t try to multitask the personal and the professional. When it’s time to work, make sure your kids are out of the house or have childcare that can keep them occupied. When it’s time to mom, shut down the computer and close the office door (try your best to get an office door, if you can). Both areas will suffer if you’re trying to juggle them all at once. Don’t work in pajamas. You will be far more productive if you treat

Junia Montano (content manager & submissions editor at 100 Layer Cake): When I returned from maternity leave, I eased my way back into full time work, from my home office. The first couple of months were actually doable, because your baby sleeps for huge chunks at a time. Sadly, that fooled me into thinking that I had this all under control and could keep working full time from home indefinitely. After about 3 months, nap time became more of a game to see when she’d actually take them.

This article is by Kaity Velez courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Nine Naturals Quotes

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