Once the elation of finding out your pregnant sets in, there are a multitude of thoughts that start swimming around in your head – most of them fun and exciting ones like the idea of decorating a nursery or the prospect of buying baby clothes.

Our number one was the prospect of shopping for maternity clothes but that’s another story.

One of the first things you also think of is baby names.  For some this is easy – they have been making mental (or sometimes actual) notes for years and have a pre-made list of names ready to go.

For others, they relish the idea of now beginning on a journey of research and inspiration.

And for some this task suddenly dawns on them as becoming monumental and way more difficult than ever imagined! The thought of having to name your baby and they are ‘stuck’ with that name forever is daunting alright.

So where did you start or have you not already?  Like most things in life now, we start with Google and here you’ll find a bazillion links on lists and inspiration.

I’m not going to give you links to my favourite lists as its just too big a task listing them all!  But here are some of my personal tips on what to consider when getting that shortlist of baby names together:

1. Think of every single way it can be shortened and make sure it still sounds good.
2. Google it.  In the global lives we lead, you never know where your kid will end up living, working or travelling when they are all grown up (I know… its a bit hard to jump that far ahead in life now but you kinda already have that responsibility now – sorry!) and you don’t want them burdened with a name that has double meanings in far off lands.  If you type ‘define:[insert word]‘ straight into google you’ll get a dictionary definition…
3. Nicknames – think of everything that this name could sound like / rhyme with.  If it rhymes with something funny or amusing or lets face it, sick or gross (schoolboy humour will never die!) then trash the name.  You’re doing your kid a favour, trust me.
4. C a n   y o u   s p e l l   i t?  Do you want your kid to spend the rest of its’ life spelling out their name on the phone and to new acquaintances?  Life is too short to have that burden.  Just think of a time when you’ve lived in a street with a weird name and you had to spell it out to the take away restaurant EVERY SINGLE TIME… enough said.

As I said before, there are a bazillion places to look and lists of baby names to get inspiration and find the one that’s right for you, and your partner but here are a few places to include:

1. Obviously the world of celebrity baby names is inspiration for some and for others it is a first port of call to find out what not to name their babies!
2. There are copious lists out there – top 10 from the last year, top 10 from the last decade, top 10 baby names from the last century, and on and on.  Some big hitters in Australia are Essential Kids and Kidspot but there are so many more too.  Just google it.
3. Be careful who you ask in your family and in your friends/social groups.  Some people will have strong opinions on names that might have been in your shortlist (without them knowing) but it can be really disappointing when that happens. Also, you don’t need to know the pet names of everyone in your life.  Because trust me, there are some pretty popular baby names out there that cross both the human/animal divide. Our top tip – ask your friends (who already have kids and do not plan on having any more) what names they had on their lists but didn’t use.  A good friend of mine did this and it was just what they needed – they didn’t know the sex of their baby which was due in just 1 week but during dinner with friends, they asked this question and were presented with a name that finally both expectant parents just loved (prior to this their list of possible names was long on both sides but neither of them agreed on one)!
4. Whatever you do, don’t ask any family member what they would choose. Inevitably they’ll tell you names they don’t like (and you do) and there’s nothing worse then knowing this and being disappointed or eventually choosing the name and having them feel awful for having said something rude about it
5. If you’re planning on a baby moon, download this app (I know I know… ‘there’s an app for that?!?’) – we found this via Babyology and for just a few dollars, it gives you insights into 1000s of names.  I would have loved this when I was pregnant as flicking through the pages of a baby name book was excruciating – almost like being back at school!

Even if you’ve finished with choosing baby names, its still so much fun to look at the most popular baby names of 2014 are so far…!

This week we showcase our classic Rockmama Skull Tank – designed to be worn during pregnancy as a super comfy maternity top, and beyond the bump also.  Funnily enough all of the @rockmamastyle pics shown here are beyond the bump!image courtesy of @thestyle_edit_

image courtesy of @melaniekatrina

Image courtesy of @katameliastarr

image courtesy of Maritza@Rockmama

Here’s our Skull Tank Maternity Top Worn With a Bump:

Featured alongside one of our favourite Rockmama’s, Christina Aguilera, our basics range is the ‘base layer’ of everyday maternity style.

When you’re pregnant, even for the second, third or fourth times, keeping your style and being comfortable is not as easy as it sounds.  We started Rockmama because we just couldn’t find cool, stylish clothes that could be worn with the bump, but after also.

This year we released our much anticipated basics range – featuring a short sleeve stretch maternity dress, long sleeve stretch maternity dress and the stretch maternity leggings.  These are the epitome of classic styling and allow you to dress up or dress down your maternity style every day of the week.

Your eyes are heavy and struggling to stay open. Well don’t sit in front of the TV, here are our top ten tips for fighting the burning sensation in your eyes and lifting your spirits in these exhausting times as a new mum!

1. GOOD FOOD

Eating nutritious food is key when fighting sleep deprivation. Our bodies require more vitamins and nutrients that are not replenished from missing solid sleep and more so if you are breastfeeding. So make sure there is always fresh fruit and veg available in your house, so the choice for good food is an easy one.  Another of my favourite quick go-to foods are fresh nuts and seeds in the fridge and for something ultra sweet that does not contain chocolate, try keeping fresh dates in the fridge too.

2. EXERCISE & FRESH AIR

I find if I am truly exhausted no matter how much I nap or rest, I still can’t get my energy levels up. So grab your pram, (don’t forget to put the baby in it!), and head out into the big wide world for a long walk. Once the fresh air hits your face you will feel automatically recharged and your endorphins levels increased. It’s amazing how simply stepping out of the house can make such a huge difference!  If you’re looking for ideas for exercise that is not just walking with the pram, check out this excellent website, Mumafit with lots of great inspiration for exercise during and beyond pregnancy.

3. BLAB TO A FRIEND

Close friends who understand how you are feeling are priceless. A quick coffee or catch up with a friend, or playdate with another mum and bub will let you have time for an adult chat and allow you to vent your frustrations, concerns and discuss how you are feeling. We as women need to talk and communicate, and once things are said out aloud, we usually feel a lot better! So whinge away to your mates and let them have a whinge back!  And usually, just knowing that you’re not the only one feeling absolutely crap today is so encouraging to just get on with the day!

4. FAMILY HELP

If you have family nearby, grab hold of them firmly, and beg them to take the baby for you for a couple of hours a week. Even if they could just come by to take bub for a walk outdoors, that would be an amazing help and I am sure you could use a long uninterrupted shower once a week!

5. SEX

An oldie but a goodie! You and your partner are probably feeling a little disconnected, tired and probably also a little un-sexy, and although sex is likely to be the last thing on your mind, once you get started you won’t regret it. Relax and enjoy – even if you only have 10 mins to spare, use it wisely!

6. MUSIC

A great tune always perks me up, and I hate to admit it but  80′s – 90′s music really makes me smile and remember old times… when I was young and freeeeee! So turn down Dora The Explorer and turn up your radio and have a little dance around your lounge room! Thank me later!  Even better, resort to youtube and find your favourite old music video clips.  If baby is crying, having you jumping around the room screaming “Girls just wanna have fun” will put a smile to their face pretty quick!

7. RETAIL THERAPY

New shoes always help. Remember that! If you can’t get to the shops, shop online and you will even get a visit from the post man a few days later! It sort of counts as a visitor….right?

8. A GOOD BLOW WAVE

My mood depends on how good my hair looks. It’s simple… my hair is drab, I feel drab! My hair is fabulous, I feel FABULOUS! Go and get a $40 blowwave and throw those gorgeous locks around. Just make sure the baby doesn’t spew in your hair for a few days…

9. THIS TOO SHALL PASS

You WILL get sleep again one day. This is not forever, so try to always remember that, and try to enjoy the journey with a smile once in a while!

 10. WE ARE TOO TIRED TO THINK OF NUMBER 10 – OFF TO HAVE A NAP….

Happy parenting mama’s! We hope you sleep well tonight. xx

Photo credits: heathyfoodteam.com, Mamafit.com, Mom it Forward, Whattoexpect.com, All Smiles Regardless, Vibe Vixen

Rockmama’s signature range of maternity tops can be worn:

• Before the bump
• During the bump
• After the bump…. and of course
• With no bump at all!

It’s also the perfect tee to pack in your hospital stay bag. Once your baby is born you will need something comfortable, loose and also stylish to wear while your visitors are coming to see you and the new bub!

Check out these pics of our photoshoot, modelling ROCKMAMA with no bump at all and then another set with the bump – the same versatile tops in both sets of photos:

Long Sleeve Tees, Oversized knits, T-Shirts, Maxi Dresses or Mini Dresses, even Maternity dresses – stripes are all the rage again.

Striped Maternity Dresses and Tops Always Look Simple and Chic

We’ve been tracking  good old celebrity style to see how the worlds most fashionable have been wearing their chic stripes.

For summer striped maternity style, adding touches of denim, or tailored white shorts will give you a true nautical look.

You can pair your stripes with wedges in summer, with flat ankle boots for spring, or with opaque tights and black boots in winter – it really is a style that crosses so many seasons, and that can take you from weekends to office, business to beach!

The stripe can also be looked at as a neutral tone, and can we worn with pretty much any other colour on the spectrum. As we’ve seen, a red pair of heels & bright lips works magic on a nautical mini dress! In fact any pop of colour suits the stripe!

Stripes also look chic over a baby bump and are just as popular in maternity wear. Rockmama has recently launched a set of Hello Sailor striped maternity dresses that can be worn with or without the bump to keep your style sense up to date!

Get the Look with Rockmama Hello Sailor Striped Dress – worn as a maternity dress or just as good without a bump!

Let’s get a bit of A-lister inspiration to guide us through the stripes….

]]> http://www.rockmama.com.au/celebrity-style-trend-horizontal-stripes/feed/ 0 http://www.rockmama.com.au/angelina-jolie-celebrity-style-maternitys-little-black-dress/ http://www.rockmama.com.au/angelina-jolie-celebrity-style-maternitys-little-black-dress/#comments Mon, 08 Sep 2014 04:15:20 +0000 http://www.rockmama.com.au/?p=1652 If there is one celebrity that loves a black dress, it’s Angelina Jolie!

Regularly worn throughout all of her pregnancies, her black maternity dresses were a pregnancy staple, and we understand why! The Little Black Dress can be worn WITH anything, TO anything and is easy to dress up or dress down. 

A Maternity Dress for all Seasons

And like Angelina Jolie’s style,  a black maternity dress can be worn across all seasons. With trench coats in winter,  cardigans in Spring or a singlet version in the warmer months.

And once the pregnancy is over and the baby is born, a black dress is the perfect disguise for the mess that a child will regularly leave on your clothes! The days of wearing lighter shades are limited, and with a brood of six for this Supermum, I think Black is a clever choice.

Get Ange’s Maternity Clothing Style Here, with the Rockmama Basics range:

If you, or someone you know is pregnant and you think fits the Rockmama mould please contact us.

You can email some pics (both face and body) to email: rock@rockmama.com.au outlining how far along you are, and your height.

The photoshoot will be in Melbourne, Australia and the chosen model will only be required for maximum of 2 hours. Please be quick – we aim to shoot next week!

For the month of September, every product review goes into the draw to win a $50 Ella Bache gift voucher to be used at any one of their 142 stores Australia-wide, to spend some time out to pamper yourself! 
Here’s what you need to do to enter:

On the Rockmama website, click on the ‘login’ button in the very top right (reviews are limited only to those who have actually purchased products on the site).

Enter your username and password to login.

Find the product you have purchased and submit a review.

Easy.

You receive an entry for every review submitted and the lucky winner will be announced on 1 October 2014.

Good luck Rockmamas! x

+ Note: If you cannot remember your password, click on the link and enter your email address – you’ll instantly receive an email to reset it.

+ Limited to Australian Customers Only.

So, if you’re pregnant right now and feeling crap, I hope this list cheers you up and reminds you its not all as bad as it feels!

1. Positive!

That moment when you see the positive on the pregnancy test…priceless. A mixture of shock, happiness, excitement and fear!

2. Secret Whispers

The feeling that only you and your partner know there’s a little being growing inside your belly.  Loved this post recently by Megan Gale remembering this moment too (http://instagram.com/p/q0cx9jGNkP/?modal=true) 

3. The Shout Out

I’m not even sure how much I used social media back in my first pregnancy but these days its so much fun (and easier) to tell everyone you love about your big news…

4. New Body.. New Wardrobe – Lets Shop!

Going shopping for new clothes to suit my new body!  Surely this is the absolute best for Rockmama’s like me! For me, personally, this was a real eye-opener – I couldn’t find comfortable and cool maternity tops and clothes that I really felt matched my style.  I bought a few dud items that normally I wouldn’t be caught dead leaving the house in.  And so, Rockmama was born. I was so determine to find maternity clothes that suited me, I just went ahead and designed them myself.  Voila!  The rest, they say, is history!

5. The Great Divide

Do you or don’t you? Finding out the gender of your baby is always a hot topic for newly pregnant parents. Even if you choose not to know, just knowing that someone else (whoever did your test for you) does is almost just as much fun!

6. Oh So Cute – Shopping for Baby

Going Shopping for Nursery Furniture and Baby Clothes… “oooohhh that’s so cute!”.  Never have I said that phrase as many times as I did when I first started shopping for my baby. And for those ‘closet’ interior designers out there – this just opens a whole new space for decorating and styling in the home – yay!

7. Can I Have More?

Eating for two…need we say more.

8. Mini Me Moment

In preparation for the big day of bringing your little one home, you’ll go through the most domestic of activities – unwrapping, washing and hanging out on the line all of your new baby clothes.  Then of course you need to fold, sort and neatly place them all into their new little drawers and cupboards (possibly the one and only time they’ll be that neat – you’ll never have the time or care to fold a onesie once the baby is around!)

For me, hanging them on the line was one of those special moments I’ll never forget.  I’ve never seen such tiny little clothes hanging next to mine before and it really brought everything home to me.

9. Out of Office Setup

There’s something quite special about setting up your Out of Office email responder knowing its not just another 2 week holiday you’re going on. This is it. Maternity Leave is about to begin!

10. Ok, I’ve Had Enough Now.

As hard as those last weeks are, you still can look forward to that feeling of getting the baby out!!!!

What were your favourite moments during pregnancy? Did they outweigh the parts you’d rather not forget!?!?

Photo credits: Baby Centre UK, Catch My Party, Google Images, Lifed and Instagram.