Tatyanna Wright's Haute Mama

Preggatinis?

Pregnancy practically invites the many things we ladies often deprive ourselves of, the little indulgences like extra chocolate, more cheese, ice-cream and pasta. And how about a good old cocktail? I have to confess, I often missed having a drink with the girlfriends whilst preggers. While our bodies tend to naturally reject alcohol during pregnancy – natures way of protecting both mother and baby – I rarely drank more than two or three sips of wine over the course of a dinner.
So I am thrilled to tell you about Author/Mixologist Natalie Bovis-Nelsen’s perfectly titled new book “Preggatinis(TM): Mixology For The Mom-To-Be”. Natalie is best known as The Liquid Muse and her first book is due out in December – just in time for the holidays, when your pregnant self wishes she could be drinking with her non-pregnant mates!
With a job description that involves tasting, sampling, mixing, and creating cocktails for corporate events and private parties as well writing about alcohol for magazines and her blog, The Liquid Muse, Natalie wondered how she could possibly avoid nine months of alcohol consumption should she become pregnant. So, like any good mixologist would do, she began experimenting with non-alcoholic cocktails and jokingly called them Preggatinis. Thus the idea of creating non-alcoholic cocktails was born.
Natalie drew inspiration from her favourite potation combinations like refreshing citrusy cocktails, exotic spicy concoctions and the occasional dessert drink. She also loves champagne, and tried really hard to make her sparkling non-alcoholic cocktails good replications of ‘the real thing.’ Soon, her pregnant friends enlisted her preggie-friendly drinks for their baby showers.  “They loved holding pretty, tasty drinks in sexy stemware and I realized I was on to something.  So, I decided to trademark Preggatinis, and write a book”.

Many recipes in Preggatinis(TM) call for fresh fruits and vegetables to be juiced at home. Natalie approaches non-alcoholic cocktails the same way she approaches a quality “fully leaded” cocktail.  The philosophy behind The Liquid Muse Mixology is to avoid artificial flavorings, colors and pre-bottled mixers as much as possible. Creating non-alcoholic drinks is not as simple as you think. Natalie builds each recipe from scratch as its own balanced drink: “It is not a matter of simply removing the tequila from a margarita and leaving the mom-to-be with a glass full of disgusting, neon yellow sweet-n-sour mix.  All 75 of my original recipes in the book reflect quality mixology and are created from scratch”.

Her favourite preggatini? The indulgent Pumpkin Pie.  “It is so decadent”. 
Well I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy and actually taste a few preggatinis!
You can pre-order your Preggatin(TM) book now at Amazon.
Buy one for yourself and one for a pregnant friend for the holidays and ‘indulge’ away!

G Diapers Green Revolution

I love them! I first discovered them a couple of years ago when they were only available for purchase online directly from the company’s web site (they are now available at many health retail stores like Whole Foods nationwide). I was becoming disgusted with the amount of diaper waste we were contributing to, and wanted to find a solution that allowed me to continue using disposable diapers (or nappies as we in our family say), without resorting to cloth ones. At the time, I wasn’t completely satisfied with the environmentally friendly diapers – they have since developed and my son wears Seventh Generation pull-ups to bed almost every night. Though he’s outgrown his G Diapers – they were fabulous when it came to toilet training as they so closely resemble underpants, but that’s another story! The large fits 26–36lbs, my son regretfully was finding them to tight to wear to bed so we switched to pull-ups. I did consider cloth diapers, but decided against them. I think you’re either into them or you’re not. Just like you’ll either be into G Diapers or not. It’s a personal choice and only you will know what fits best with your lifestyle.

There are several things I love about G Diapers. Firstly, the flushable element – it’s where all that stuff belongs, not permeating the nursery or kitchen inside that soiled diaper sausage maker you bought! Secondly, if you happen to be travelling with your child to an eco-chic location, or a place where you cannot flush, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your waste is not going to become land-fill, as the diapers are 100% biodegradable. How is this possible? They are plastic free unlike other disposables that can sit in landfill for up to 500 years. Thirdly, and amazingly, you can use them as compost! Who would’ve thought? Believe it or not, there are beneficial vital nutrients in that wet flushable that go back to the soil as it breaks down over 50-150 days.

This is how G Diapers work: You purchase a ‘getting started’ kit, this way you get a good sense of the product and if it will work for you without wasting a lot of money. The kit contains two pairs of ‘little g’ pants – they sort of look like cloth swim diapers with Velcro sides. They are 100% cotton, machine washable and come with two snap-in liners made of breathable polyurethane coated nylon, NOT PVC. They are very simple to change and rinse out. You also get ten flushable diaper refills that closely resemble hospital size sanitary pads. Anyone who gave birth vaginally will know what I’m talking about. The kit also includes a H.U.G (Handy User’s Guide) – which is a flushing wand or sorts that you can suction to your bathroom wall for quick easy access. The H.U.G. is for breaking up the diaper so it will flush more easily. Though in my experience the really wet diapers broke apart instantly in the toilet and flushed without a problem. The poopy ones tended to require assistance. 
The biggest difference I experienced when I switched to ‘G’s was the frequency in which I changed my baby. Regular disposables can make you dependent on their ability to trap moisture, hence leaving the diaper on for longer periods. I hadn’t realized how much I depended on them until I started having to change the ‘g’ refill every two or three hours. You get used to it, and your babies bottom might even thank you in the form of zero nappy rash.

That’s Fair Dinkum, as they say in Australia where G Diapers hail.
To find out more, visit: http://www.gdiapers.com

Dressing A Pregnant Bride

Though it wasn’t my wedding - I was maid-of- honour - A pre-pregnant self chose a gorgeous Vera Wang silk taffeta draped strapless ball gown with bustled skirt to wear to this black tie affair. I had to have the bodice taken in and re-boned as the off the rack sizes were a little big. After all the alterations, the dress was truly divine, and I couldn’t wait to wear it.
Four months before the wedding, I conceived. By my second month of pregnancy, weight gain was obvious and my breasts looked like over filled water balloons. I pulled the dress from its garment bag and tried it on. To my horror – (did I really think I was going to get it zipped up?) I could barely do it up!  Oh my god! What was I to do, how much more weight would I gain before the wedding? I immediately called the dressmaker – whom kept track of my measurements as the months approached. The dress was taken out on average every two weeks, when the countdown to the final days were upon us, my dressmaker turned and said: “If this wedding doesn’t happen in 10 days, you are not going to fit into this dress, and I’m going to have to sew panels into it”. Hmm, no more pasta – well at least for two weeks I thought!
The wedding came, and I just barely fit into the dress. I had a little bulge in my silk taffeta bodice, but the dress, almost bursting at the seams looked lovely. My stunning blushing bride friend was a little nervous for me – and the dress – but thankfully it all worked out.
No need to harrow over my story  - but it did however inspire this article on dress options for a pregnant bride.

The often over looked dilemma of conception leading up to the wedding could cause some brides-to-be to have a major panic attack. While others embrace it, looking forward to the challenge of finding the perfect dress. Whatever your situation, three things are certain: 1) you’re going to have a baby, 2) you’re going to be married, 3) you will need a dress.
There are endless options for the pregnant bride - Everything from maternity and ready-to-wear to vintage and bespoke. Many bridal boutiques carry a limited selection of maternity gowns so call ahead and ask how many dresses they have, and view their web site to be sure it fits in with your sensibility.
If you are thinking of wearing maternity, a really fabulous place to start is http://www.maternitybride.com/ - with a collection of very appealing looks for a garden, beach or destination wedding, and formal or traditional church wedding. The designer can alter the length of your dress or gown as requested. She also designs custom dresses. I strongly recommend you take your dress to a professional dressmaker for any future alterations leading up to your vows, as you will definitely grow by the time your shipped gown arrives to your home.

Don’t forget, you will be constantly growing, so consider a style that can expand in the right areas yet remain elegant.
Getting married and having a baby are two beautiful experiences, and lucky you, you get to enjoy both simultaneously!