Maternity Monday - Enjoy a Mommy Mocktail

There are 2 great reasons to mix up a mommy mocktail, besides that they're yummy non-alcoholic drinks - not to mention great for kids parties too!

During the first few months when you're still trying to "hide" the fact that your pregnant, you're bound to be put into a situation where you would normally have a cocktail...girls' night out, holiday party, working dinner...but now you can't. For many, including myself, this was the big tip-off that hmmm, something is going on here. So, ya gotta fake it! Go for a mocktail! Here are a couple tips.
- my favorite drink was tonic (or sprite) with a splash of cranberry & a lime. looks just like a cranberry & vodka.
- ask the bartender to put ginger ale in the same style glass they would serve beer...without ice.
- have a glass of "white wine" or tonic in a wine glass.

Once everyone knows your pregnant, I got very tired drinking water while my friends were enjoying a cocktail...it seemed very boring to me. This is when trying one of the many mocktail recipes out there are both fun & yummy! Check out this great book, "Preggatinis, Mixology for the Mom-To-Be" by Natalie Bovis-Nelsen. The book goes far beyond a virgin daiquiri, its full of nonalcoholic versions of real drinks, such as the Cosmom (with orange juice and orange syrup instead of vodka and triple sec to mix with the cranberry juice). She also suggests how to "De-Virginize for Dad," adding back the gin, vodka or tequila to certain drinks.

Here's a refreshing summer mommy mocktail to try, the POM Julep (the yummy drink shown above)

Ingredients:

1 ounce POM Pomegranate Juice

1-1/2 ounce grapefruit juice

1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

1/2 ounce simple syrup (mix equal parts hot water and sugar; stir to dissolve, cool)

2 mint sprigs

How to mix it:

1. Bruise 1 mint sprig in bar mixing glass with honey syrup.

2. Add remaining ingredients and shake over ice.

3. Strain over ice into a chilled rocks glass.

4. Garnish with the remaining mint.

Support Local. Shop Local. The 5/30 Project.

We all know times are tough, especially here in Michigan. Chatting with all my other local retailer friends in downtown Royal Oak, the attitude is the same "we're hanging in there" (by the skin of our chinny chin chins). It seems like every month there is another store or restaurant that is closing, the most sad are the ones that have been our favorites for years & years. This year is a real test for all of us, we can only hang in there for so long!

The 3/50 Project is dedicated to spreading the word on how easy it truly is to help support our local retailers. We all know its easy to pick up a gift while buying toothpaste at Target or running into the mall on our lunch hour. But since we're all spending less, we should all make spending an experience. A girlfriend of mine admits she's spending less on gifts, so shopping at local boutique-y stores make the gifts more special - it truly isn't about what you spend but that the gift is as special as the person receiving it.

Maternity Monday - "When shoudl I start wearing maternity clothes?"

Hmmmm...I get this question almost daily from first time mom-to-be. And since we're getting into our busy maternity season. How do we have a "busy season"? Most babies are born in the fall, this is because most babies are conceived during the holiday season...blame the cocktails at the holiday parties, so right about now those mom-to-be are just getting to the point that their jeans are getting a bit snug. THIS is the time to start wearing maternity clothes! For some reason many...many...women put off buying their first pair of maternity pants. I'm not sure why. You're uncomfortable...using that silly rubber-band "trick". When you're only putting of the inevitable...you're going to have to buy and wear maternity pants some day, so why not do it now and get the most wear you possibly can out of them. I'm talking specifically about pants here because that's what we grow out of first...we can cheat with our tops for a few months longer. We also have a few options for "transition" pants at the store. Remember, anything you buy now you will be wearing after the baby is born. I know you're thinking "I will loose my baby weight fast, I'm breastfeeding." But its truly not always that easy! My personal rule is, put the maternity jeans away when your baby is 6 months old - that gives me one more month!! Because believe me, if you think buying maternity pants is depressing due to your growing body, its nothing compared to the feeling of buying "big girl" pants because you can't fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes.

So, toss out the rubber band & stop into the store for some real comfy pants! See all you September and October moms soon!!

HullaBaloo Summer is On Sale - Maternity, Baby & Kids Clothing Throughout the Store!

Twice a year at HullaBaloo its out with the old & in with the new! That means its SALE time!

I feel like summer is just beginning and I've been hearing more & more from our customers "When are you getting your fall stuff in?" Well, in order to do that, we need to move out the last of our summer stuff. Its all still super cute...and we still have some summer left in us here in Michigan...so come grab that something special that you've had your eye on for the last few months!

This season, I think, is the best season finale sale we've had at the store. Rabbit Moon, Zutano Basics & Toddler, Cotton Caboodle tees & tanks, girls' swim is 30% off! Maternity halter tops, tube tops and capris from Olian & Juliet Dream and diaper bags are 30% off!

Want to receive additional coupons for savings throughout the year, sign-up on our email list the next time you're in the store! Or vist our new website at hullabalooonline.com & send us an email with "join email list" as the subject with your email & we'll be glad to add you!

HullaBaloo Has a New Website - hullabalooonline.com

I'm so excited to finally be able to write this! HullaBaloo has a new website...and a new web address.

hullabalooonline.com

Its been a long road and I have to admit a lot of procrastination, too. When you get a minute, take a peek. Again, thanks to Kelli from purpletreephotography.com for all the great shots of both the adorable children shots along with the clothing shots. Enjoy!

Maternity Monday - The Boobie Tubie from Olian

Ok. I know it sounds like something you would order online & receive in a plain brown paper package. But its not! Its also such a great idea that you don't need to be pregnant to wear it.

SO what is the "Boobie Tubie"? Give me a sec here & I'll explain.

Ok, for some reason, all our favorite maternity designers (we love you all, but...) love to design tops with low plunging v-necks! If you're one of those pregnant girls who went from a modest B cup to a double D, you're probably trying to figure out how to dress "the girls". Or, if you work in a very conservative work environment with many men - like the automotive world for example - a low-cut anything with your brand new "girls" is so not appropriate for the work place. But you love the top...if only...

So this is where the Boobie Tubie comes in. It is a "tube" of fabric that is worn over your bra - it is not to give you support - but to give you coverage. Worn under a v-neck top, the fabric of the tube "fills-in" the V, covering any cleavage. Worn in a coordinating color of your top, it appears to be a part of your shirt...and no one would be the wiser.

HullaBaloo carries them in the ever popular & versitile black or chocolate brown; they are available in sizes S-XL. Not local? No problem, call the store & we will ship one out to you; mention you read about it on our blog & we'll ship if for free!

HullaBaloo's Newest Fan ~ Welcome to the World Baby Carson

If you've been in shopping within the past nine months, you most likely have seen Dana working at the store sporting her own baby belly!

Its been a long last few weeks - as many of you can relate to - but today I'm so excited to introduce everyone to baby Carson! Born yesterday on July 10th, weighing in at 6lbs 10oz and 20.5 inches long - we're both excited that he's a little peanut and will be able to wear Zutano's Itzy Bitzy for a little while! Both mom & baby are doing great and are resting in the hospital for a few days before they go home to be with big sister Avery & dad.

Congratulations Dana! Enjoy these precious few months, they go by so fast & although they're the most exhausting, they're the most precious. We can't wait to meet him!

Maternity Monday - The Scoop on the Bella Band

Welcome to my first "Maternity Monday"! I thought if I gave myself some "categories" I would do a better job at keeping up with my blogging! My goal is (every) monday to blog specifically for the wonderful mom-to-be!

The BellaBand...another great mom-preneur must have! The inspiration came to Ingrid, the "inventer" of the BellaBand, one morning while pregnant with her first child, Isabel. Getting dressed for work she realized she had "popped" over night & her clothes no longer fit comfortably. To get through the day she put a tube top around her waist to hide the fact that her pants were unbuttoned; untucked her shirt & went off to work (if you've been pregnant, I'm sure you've been there). And the rest is history.

I love the BellaBand for many reason. We all know the basics, not wanting to give up our favorite non-maternity jeans or you're in that "awkard stage" where regular clothes don't fit but neither do maternity. But here are a few more reasons the BellaBand can stick around in your closet a bit longer.

Its great to smooth out the panel of your maternity pants under a tight top, or to diminish that little belly button that's popping out.

After that sweet bundle of joy comes, you will once again find yourself in that "akward stage" where nothing fits - and believe me nothing is more depressing than buying a pair of pants a size or two bigger than you're used to!! Also, if you're breastfeeding, the band can conceal your belly as you lift the corner of your shirt to nurse.

I believe in the BellaBand from Ingrid & Isabel...but not all belly bands are created equal...I have many moms that will agree to that!!

Kid Friendly Sparklers...Of Course its a Craft!

Ok. So I hate to admit it, but I'm not usually the mom who cuts craft ideas out of parenting magazines, take a trip to Micheals for supplies and then actually sit down & do a craft with the kids. I wish I was that mom more often. Not sure why I'm not. I love crafty creative things - I went to art school after all - and my daughter loves doing them. But somehow the mountain of laundry & list of un-answered emails calls my name louder (or Maybe its the guilt of what to do with the craft once its done!)

But this week, I was that mom! In our little city the 4th of July is a full weekend of celebration. Mary's favorite holiday right behind the gift giving ones of Christmas & her birthday..."red white & blue day" as we call it in our house! So when I saw this super cute craft for "kid friendly" sparklers, I thought Mary would not only love to wave these at the parade, but would love making them!! During a playdate with her favorite little girl friend, we made our own sparklers! It was easy for my 4 1/2 year old & not as messy as one would think with glitter & glue...I give it an A+.

1. take 5 or 6 pipe cleaners & cut them in half for one sparkler

2. dip each end in glue, then in glitter; lay to dry

3. gather the stems together, taking one to twist in the middle of the other. bend & flare out the "arms" to resemble fireworks

we glued our's onto thin wooden dowels so they could be "waved" in the air.

Hope everyone has a wonderful (& safe) 4th of July!