Flipping the pages of the August issue of InStyle magazine, we came across an article that might make some of your grandmother’s gasp.  Now, being good Southern girls, we aren’t telling you to wear white after Labor Day, but there are a few rules that fashionistas may want to check out:

•  Mix metals – silver and gold, you heard it correctly, mix your metals in jewelry and accessories.  You’ll give off a radiant hue.
• Belt anything but your pants – Add a belt over an evening jacket, top or dress.  Even our moms-to-be get into the game with one of our hottest sellers:  the “boobie tube” by Notice in a b&w zebra print.  The wide, black leather belt adds another dimension between bust and belly for a totally sassy look.
• Don’t put away your pastels – they work a little magic with this Fall’s dark hues and can be perfectly paired with charcoal gray, chocolates and any shade of black.
• Grab your fine tooth comb – big hair is back.  Okay, so maybe it never left some parts of Texas but you can give your flat iron a little break and add some lift at the top and back.  Can’t break the flat-iron habit?  Use it to smooth out spots for a perfectly coiffed mane.  Just make sure you don’t resemble your high school yearbook pic.

If you’re one of those lucky mamas that produces more milk than you need or you’d like to help an ill infant, consider donating your extra breast milk to Mother’s Milk Bank of Austin (MMB).  MMB is a non-profit organization whose mission is to accept, pasteurize and dispense donor human milk by physician prescription primarily to premature and ill infants. 

Human milk contains antibodies to fight disease and infection and also protects against allergies.  It contains growth hormones to help babies develop and properties that have been shown to increase intelligence and decrease the risk of obesity and diabetes later in life.  It is especially critical for preterm or ill infants who are at greater risk for intestinal infections.  Mom’s own milk is always preferable but when it is not available, milk given generously by screened donor mothers is the next best alternative.

The Texas Medical Center in Houston is one of MMB of Austin’s major drop-offs for donor milk.  In addition, many of the hospitals here in Houston receive donor milk from MMB in Austin.  As an expectant mother, you can learn more about this life-saving organization that could help your child or another ill infant.

For more information in Texas, visit www.mmbaustin.org or Google “Mother’s Milk Bank” and your city name to find a location closest to you.

Yes, it’s that time of year again!  The edge of fashion meets the heart of Houston at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas Labor of Love Luncheon & Style Show benefiting The March of Dimes.

Sure to sellout once again, this soiree is a fun, fashionable and feminine celebration of women.  With Lucy Noland, KHOU’s Channel 11 news anchor, as emcee, guests will enjoy Houston image consultant Cathy Fitzpatrick Cleary’s famous style seminar, Todd Ramos’ runway fashion show and light fare prepared by Chef Steve Caruana.  Guests can also shop dozens of the city’s hippest stores at the Boutique Bazaar. 

NINE will return with maternity fashions on the catwalk and a fabulous mini-boutique at the bazaar.  Check out our hottest gifts, accessories and Fall fashions including our best kept secret, non-maternity transition lines that will demand a spot in your closet!

Details:  Saturday, September 6, 2008, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Main Ballroom of the Westin Galleria at 5060 W. Alabama

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.labordayluncheon.com

Add a splash of purple to your Fall wardrobe with this top by Olian.

2008 has been a year for purple and it doesn’t slow down with Fall fashion.  The color has long signified royalty and nobility.  As a child, my sister worshipped Donnie Osmond and his purple socks and she has long favored the intoxicating color.  The opposites of hot red and cool blue come together to create this striking color so it is no wonder that Pantone, the world renown authority on color, has declared Blue Iris, a combination of the calming aspects of blue and the mystical qualities of purple, the 2008 Color of the Year.  And fashion designers have jumped on this, ensuring that shades of purple blanketed the runways from Resort to Spring and Fall collections.

Lucky you, maternity designers haven’t missed their cue either!  Core pieces to add to your collection:  a fashionable wrap by Olian that goes from day to night in a rich shade of deep purple will add a splash of color to your closet and extends beyond the baby bump period into a wardrobe staple; a draped halter top in deep eggplant purple that slips easily under a jacket and then goes solo for a date night before and after the little bambino arrives; a dolman sleeve ribbed knit top from Ripe maternity in a great shade of grape that will mix well with denim, chocolate, black, charcoal and winter white! 

For those of you wanting more of a jolt, consider a gorgeous lavender and green floral print top from Olian that features velvet trim detail or a show-stopping column pleat dress from Notice that swirls with shades of plum and lavender and is offset with striking black details. 

Just can’t push yourself to “do” purple? It was the Donnie Osmond sock memory, wasn’t it?  Add a splash of color with a quilted handbag or clutch in lavender or plum.  Each works well with monochromatic outfitting, adding a playful note to your tailored look.  No matter your style, purple adds a touch of elegance, romance or edginess and the wide-range of shades offer something for everyone.

If you’re like most of us, you’re not ready to abandon the playful pinks, watermelon reds, French pedicures and golden metallic hues and enter the dark side just yet.  But you want to keep your mani/pedi in full throttle fashion as we move from summer to Fall.  So what’s a girl to do?  As we kicked back in our stations at Isle Pedispa, we couldn’t help but notice the arrival of some great shades of coral that will brighten your day and your mood as the season begins to change. 

Since OPI has retired two of my faves from their collection (100 degrees in the shade – very appropriate for August in Houston and Cajun Shrimp), I had to try out their new “Modern Girl” and “Boat House” by Essie.  Wonderful shades, each in its own right.  Ease yourself into it with Boat House as it leans toward a pink coral and work your way up to Modern Girl since it is more of an orange-y coral.  Either one is very versatile, mixing with the great metallic sandals of summer into the notorious shades of chocolate and caramel that make Fall famous.

Maternal America's take on the classic white shirt is a must-have for Fall.

Wondering what fashions our haute mamas will be wearing this Fall?  Here are our NINE must-haves for the season:

• The Great White Shirt – Classic button up, stylish wraps, peplum sleeves or ruched details are all the rage
• The Perfect Trouser  – Wide-leg, tailored, satin, boot-cut, herringbone or whatever tickles your fancy
• Rich Colors – Indulge in shades of plum, magenta, mustard gold and Persian blue.  Mix it with your basic black, chocolate brown and winter white!                  
•  Irresistible Textures and Fabrics –  The softest cashmere, wide wale rib knits, velvet burnouts and luxurious embroidery steal the show.
• Detailed Dresses & Draping Tops –  Flatter your figure with shrug necklines, large cowl tunics and draping tops that accentuate your best curves.
• Leggings & Footless Tights – With this little addition, you can turn your favorite dress into a tunic.
• Wrap Dresses – The classic style goes the distance in animal prints, floral patterns and houndstooth.
• Menswear Redefined – Feminine details like ruffles and rosettes add playful touches to the male inspired herringbone and houndstooth fabrics.
• Denim Trousers – Vintage washes, dark linen and contrast stitching take these pants to the height of fashion.

The lazy days of summer are almost over.  That means school schedules, sports and special events are on the horizon.  We’re busy moms.  We multi-task and operate in overdrive most of the time.  Growing up, my mom called us by our sibling’s names, the name of our pet, or simply “that one,” and resorted to pointing or grabbing us by a piece of our clothing to get our attention.  Keeping it all together and getting everyone where they should be can get a little tricky.  Sound all too familiar?

Thankfully, MomAgenda, a stylish and functional planner is available to help eliminate chaos and restore order in your life.  This little invention is an original day planner created for Mothers, by a mother. 

Our faves include the Desktop Agenda & the NEW Wall Calendar that feature:

·          17-month calendar runs from August 08 to December 09

·          Unique week-at-a-view format with space for mom, up to four kiddos (or 3 and your hubby) and dinner planning for each night.  Features monthly views too.

·          Pull-out MomEssentials that allows you to keep information at your fingertips and transfer it easily into the next year’s book without rewriting a thing.

·          Inspirational quotes and extra spaces to jot down notes.

Keep your cool and do it all in style.  The 2008-2009 editions are now in stock at both of our stores.  The Desktop Agenda is available in five stain-resistant colors including chocolate, lime, blue, pink and the new cheetah print as well as pink or marine blue moc croc.  Find us at www.ninematernity.com

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month

In honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we’d like to pass along some benefits of breastfeeding that we found on www.womenshealth.gov and in the pages of Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine’s August issue:

• Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants.  A mother’s milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby’s growth and development.  Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula.
• Studies have shown that women who breastfeed their children are 50 percent less likely to develop breast cancer.  It also lowers the risk of ovarian cancer and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.
• Worldwide, the average age that babies stop breastfeeding is 3 to 4 years.
• The average cost of breastfeeding per year is approximately $300.
• The average cost of formula feeding per year is between $1000 and $2000.
• Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy.  It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding womany may have after giving birth.
• Research has shown that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of SIDS as well as your child’s likelihood to develop allergies, ear infections and asthma.

See what’s in store for you at www.ninematernity.com

Phase Three:  Okay, so when is this little bundle going to make its appearance??  Once the excitement of pregnancy has worn off and you are sleep deprived from heartburn or having to go to the bathroom ten times per night, you will ask yourself the aforementioned question. 

The final hurrah before your trip to the hospital is your baby shower!  It’s your party, so you should be glowing as you make your entrance in a fabulous outfit.  A show-stopping dress is always in style for such a special event.  And there are many fashionable cuts for top and pant outfits that ensure you’ll be the center of attention.  We help many honorees shop for their outfit the very week of the party and that’s perfectly okay.  You want to make sure you’re buying something that you look and feel good in and at this stage of the game that can change every hour.

Now it’s time to make sure you’re ready for the hospital.  You should purchase one or two good nursing bras if you plan to nurse.  It’s best to have a professional fitting to make sure that you are purchasing the right size to accommodate your changing shape.  Yes, if you can believe it they will get even bigger!  Bravado and Melinda G are two of the lines that offer a good fit and a good price.    Grab your Lansinoh and Lily Pads, must-haves for the nursing mom, and your bag is almost packed.

You will also want a cute set of pajamas for the hospital and a nursing top or two.  Nursing styles have come a long way and are also actually flattering if you can believe that!   No more pulling up your shirt and flashing the world.  Designers have created fabulous “lift up/pull-down” styles that give you plenty of coverage over the top while still being able to feed baby easily.  Look for styles that can take you through the end of your pregnancy into nursing.  The list of nursing lines has increased dramatically over the past few years and the styles have become much more “of the moment”.  Some lines to look for include Majamas (check out their funky line called Nixilu), Japanese Weekend and Glamour Mom, that great little tank with the built-in nursing bra.  And some of your favorite designers, like Olian and Maternal America, have added nursing pieces to their collections too.

Phase Four:  The Joy of Motherhood.  This, I must say, is the best phase of all.  The past forty weeks have built up to this amazing event.  It is the most incredible and breath-taking moment that a person can ever experience.  You are so lucky that you get to take this ride, for your life will never again be the same! 

Have fun and cherish every moment!