style file : bobbi sunshine swimwear

it's almost always a beach day here on the gold coast. even if it does involve a hoodie and a blanket, i have really grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of living at the beach. my children don't know any different, both of them born and bred on coastal grounds. my girlfriend and i often call it easy parenting at the beach, the kids can run for miles, build sandcastles, talk and screech as loud as they want, and if i've had a particulary difficult or sleep deprived morning, then it lets me calm down and clear my head while they are happy and content to play and explore. i admit, it has taken me probably 4 of the 6 and a bit years i have been living here to be 'ok' with the sand everywhere thing. it's in the car, in your hair, through the house, at the bottom of the washing basket... you get my point?! maybe at that turning point of not caring about the sand, i finally became a 'local'?

 

summer holidays see our beaches at their fullest, and each and every summer our swimmer collection grows. long gone are the days when one, or maybe two {at the max}, swimsuits were more then enough to see me through our swimming days. my kids have at least 5 pairs on the go and i am so happy with the durability and the wear, and secondly important, the designs of the bobbi sunshine swimwear label. this is my second year of stocking the label at my shop and already i'm busting to see what designs and styles are in store for next summer, as i know i will be sticking with this brand. pictured above is summer and marley who are both wearing bobbi sunshine rainbow bunting suits. summer is 4 and a half and is wearing the rashie and bikini pant, although you can't quite see the pant from the rashie covering them, in a size 4. marley is 3 and a half and is wearing the full piece in a size 4 also. so you can see from the styling of the full piece that the sizing is actually quite versatile and marley is going to get at least another one or two summer's out of her pair. summer still has room in her rashie, and depending on what growing she does this year, i dare say she'll be wearing this rashie next summer also. the fabric is 80% nylon 20% lycra with a spf of 50+. this season's full piece is lined inside with another layer of fabric, which makes them so soft and comfortable to wear.

if you're looking for swimwear, pop over to our shopping site {especially if your eyes have not met the yellow chevron full piece yet! and mum's of boys, there is a very cute board short available in the yellow chevron too, sizes 1-12}. i only have a few select style and sizes left in stock, but i can most definately order in your size if it's not available on the site. you'll need to allow about a 3-4 day turn around for delivery on special orders. feel free to flick me an email for more info and if you would like to see the full available range.

101 uses for your jellystone necklace

number 4 : try clipping it around the shopping trolley handle. guaranteed at least 10-15 minutes of non squirming out of the big girl seat during the shopping, and is sure to please those teething gums.

i may not be able to come up with 101 uses, but i can definately give you a handful of handy idea's that our jellystone designs necklaces can provide for you! and seriously, for cost of $16, these silicone pendants are worth every cent! give it a try for yourself.

bella b wear. on sale.

shop the sale. dress the bump. bella b wear. a label you can wear while pregnant. a label you can wear if you're not. on sale.

style file : lilly b

colourful maxi's; that's what i'm seeing and loving this spring/summer in maternity fashion. recognised for their gorgeous maxi dresses, the lilly b label will have you looking and feeling fabulous while pregnant, in any of their delightful designs. the calypso dress as shown above has to be one of my favourites. i am a colour person, i love how wearing a colour can lift your mood for the day, no matter how hormonal it may start out as!

the calypso is a super maxi, meaning it is extra long in length. however, it would be no problem to slice a little from the hemline if you feel it is too long for your height. us shorties will no doubt need to slice some off, but for the taller, this dress will indeed cover your ankles. available in sizes small, medium, large and extra large, this maxi is really quite generous, so if you're on the smaller size of your sizing, then definately go down a size. priced at $199.95, you can see the calypso dress here.

my next favourite is the flora multi tiered maxi in aqua. this dress was extremely popular last year and was featured throughout every pregnancy magazine and worn by some of our aussie celebrities. it was remanufactured so many times to keep up with the demand, but this season see's the popular colourway in aqua, as shown, phasing out. which is such a shame as the colours used are so sweet and soft. the only sizes available now are a small and large. this dress is also $199.95 and is a standard sizing, so stick to your regular size for this maxi.

and one more of my fave's is the drawstring print maxi. this dress is featured in the latest copy of cosmo pregnancy and although this image above looks fab, it doesn't do it enough justice. this dress is divine! it is made from polyester and spandex, so it has a bit of a shimmery look to it {perfect for a wedding or special occassion} and is also quite long in length. available in sizes small, medium and large and is again $199.95. you can find this dress here.

note that all of the dresses i have picked out are bra-wearable. i have a lot of customers who prefer to wear a normal bra wherever possible, so these dresses all have awesome boob coverage! any of the maxi's on the site are generally over $150, so this gives you free postage with your purchase.

congratulations to all of our readers who are expecting, we hope you're enjoying it xx

style file : bella b wear

new bella b wear pieces are now available through our shopping site. whites, blacks, cobalts, tea rose pinks and stripes are dominating the new collection looks. this label is great for layering and one of the most versatile fashion labels for women. i'm going to tell you why here, and show you some images so you can see for yourself.

turn your 'normal' clothes into maternity clothes, and then back again into normal. while most of us are keeping an eye on our spending habbits, it's clothing labels like bella b wear that you need to start experimenting with, especially if you are expecting or hoping to. the label is known to have breathable and functional fashion offering unparalled comfort, durability and even a bit of sexiness {sexy is good when you feel like your wardrobe is giving you nothing but a 'daggy ol' mum' feel}. the garments are seam free so it gives you the freedom to move and also gives you support where you need it. heavens knows when you're a mum, you need clothing like this when you're doing more things like getting on all fours and crawling with the bubba, or playing cars with the little dude. the main characteristic of this label is it's unique stretch micro fibre; it is incredibly soft against the skin and just feels so divine to wear.

the latest collection reflects the demands of the modern-day woman, who wants more from her fashion; the mum who wants stylish no-nonsense fashion that reflects a fashionable edge without paying designer prices. a woman should expect her clothing to be comfortable, easy to wear, but be durable and, of course, affordable.

the bella b wear label has classic basics that lend themselves to layering. here are a few tips on how to layer {because layering just doesn't come naturally to some of us} :

: start with a fitted slip dress or tank dress as it gives a nice streamlined foundation for layering

: add some colour, it will not only lift your outfit but may lift your mood also

: push yourself out of your comfort zone, you will be suprised at the compliments you will receive for looking a little out of 'your' ordinary

: don't over think it and don't be scared to mix and match patterns {hell, it just might work}, and try some old with the new

: use pieces like a summer jacket or a knit vest, over your smock dress that's over your half sleeve tee shirt, and accessorise with boots and long chunky necklaces and scarves

: grab your sunnies and don't look back, bring some fun to your look and your day

style file + giveaway :: she-tea

say hello to she-tea. come on over, lets meet the family...

motherhood :: a delicate blend of green tea, white tea, rooibos and peppermint in honour of laughter, tears, love and inspiration.

love :: a blend of white tea and berries created especially for you.

warrior :: an energising citrus black tea blend for when you need to go forth and conquer.

b*tch is back :: a deliciously decadent blend of caramel, vanilla and black tea to assist you in the retraction of claws.

booze hound :: when you wake up declaring "never again"... but you know you will.

scorned :: a nurturing herbal blend, lovingly combined to give you strength to tear out his beating heart.

virgin :: the perfect blend of white tea, apple and cinnamon to assist you in your endless quest for purity.

top bloke :: a good strong cuppa for a bloody great bloke.

we are really happy about the she-tea family joining our shopping site. there's nothing like a nice blend of uplifting tea to calm and give us strength to carry on. laughter in some cases is the best medicine, and with that in mind, the clever women creator's, jodie and vanessa, of she-tea have combined quirky humour with the health benefits of tea for our consuming pleasure. all of the tea canisters are adorned with prints of jodie's art work, aren't they just brilliant, they have definately brightened up my pantry cupboard!

i love the smart and funny naming so much. would anyone like a cup of the b*itch is back? hehe. they will all make for some fabulous gifts, a tin of motherhood along with a tin of top bloke would be a great pressie for new parents, and each tin is only $19.95, so doesn't break the budget.

to launch the wonderful new tea products into the world of yummy mummies (and delicious daddies), we're going to giveaway a set of 6 tins of tea. the 6 tea's will consist of; warrior, b*tch is back, booze hound, scorned, virgin and dirty hippy. to be in the running to win the set, you just need to leave a lovely comment on this post (feel free to share which tea makes you giggle or want a cup of), along with your email address. my lovely apprentice will help me draw a winner on monday. have fun giggling xx

style file :: byog (bring your own gown)

say hello to the exquisite hospital gowns by byog (bring your own gown). having a baby just got even more glamourous! ok, ok, i know what you're thinking, how can labour be glamourous? well these gorgeous gowns may not help with the pain, and might even get thrown accross the room at some stage during that miraculous thing we call labour, but i tell you what, they are about to make life as a new mum (no matter how many times round) that extra bit easier. and have you feeling and looking gorgeous in all of those first photo's!

we have these fab gowns available in 3 prints (as pictured above) and in 2 sizes (s/m and l/xl). each gown comes packaged in it's own reusable bag and has a removable ribbon tie. not only are the gowns stylish and fashionable, but they're also very practical! made from 100% soft cotton, they have snaps all the way down the back for full coverage and down the arms to enable easy access for breast feeding.

but think outside the square here, these are not just for pregnant mummies, they will brighten up any lady's spirits that has to have a hospital stay.

the gowns have made it big overseas with celebrities such as gwen stefani, jessica alba, sarah michelle gellar and tori spelling all doning one.

and then we also have these super funny push out socks, which i think would make an excellent little something to give to your girlfriend when the baby news is announced!

style file :: willowblu

it's in our style file, so that means it's also on our shopping site! we are so super excited by the new arrival of willowblu leather bags here at yummy mummies this week! what can we say, we are women and we love handbags and shoes!

you may have noticed that our nappy bag section has been blank since our relaunch. well, we have actually been waiting for the perfect nappy bag to rock our world and we have finally found it! this is ivy. isn't she cute? especially in that vanilla colour! i am love love loving vanilla right now.

like all of the willowblu bags, it is made from genuine top quality leather with a fully lined interior. it has two zipped pockets at the front, a zipped panel at the back and another zipped pocket in each of the (exterior) sides. it's pocket heaven! the interior also has 2 zipped pockets plus compartment spaces for everything; the iphone, the nappy cream, the teether ring, the emergency packet of fruit flakes and the dummy!

it's a little on the smaller side compared to some of the bigger nappy bags that can fit everything bar the kitchen sink in them. and i think these days it's quite popular to have a nappy bag that doesn't look like a nappy bag, so i am a big fan of the smaller sizing. means you take less, and lets face it, sometimes we do tend to over pack which in turn means lugging around a heavy bag! but stay stuned, i hear willowblu is working on a new bigger nappy bag none the less. we'll let you know about it as soon as we set our eyes on it!

pop on over to the site and check out all of the fabulous range from willowblu that we have available. there is only the one nappy bag that we carry, the other 7 designs are classed as handbags, but most of the messenger style bags are more than capable of being a nappy bag too. oh, and check out the cleo clutch while you're there, i am loving this to pieces - just need to line up a snazzy dinner date so i have a somewhere to take it out to!

style file :: rosie roo

gumboots are the new black. didn't you know?! and with bright, bold, fun designs making their statement loud and clear, we thought it was only fit that yummy mummies jumped upon the gumboot train so we could offer our gorgeous customers more than just maternity and children's clothing. toot toot! we welcome onboard, rosie roo gumboots (or wellies, or rain boots, or whatever you like to call them)!

a local mum by the name of jacqui wallbank is the wonderful woman behind the label. she has made women's gumboots that are comfortable, affordable and even a bit daring for some of us. the classic knee length boot is handmade from the highest quality natural rubber, so you won't find cheap synthetic rubber in any rosie roo gumboots. they are screen printed and are cotton lined throughout to ensure comfort. they have a 2.5cm rubber lug sole with an adjustable buckle at the side to create a slim line look. and they are, of course, waterproof. we have 8 different styles in the women's range and you'll find them varying from sizes 4 - 12, for a reasonable $85. my fave? jazz (top picture) and abby (below). but do pop on over to the site and check out the other 6 designs.

however, it doesn't stop at women's gumboots. rosie roo kids wellies are a newer line from jacqui and they are just as comfortable and fun as the women's. they are made from the same high quality rubber and cotton lining and insoles, and come in 4 different designs, ranging from sizes 6 - 12, with a cool price tag of $35. these little rocket lace-up's are the cutest gumboots i have seen yet! you can see the other 3 here.

so, if the music festivals are your thing, then now's the time to get organised and glammed up in your boots, and if you're taking the kids too, then gear them up with a pair aswell! or it might be the muddy paddocks, or doing the gardening, walking along the beach, or just splashing around with your mini me's that's more your scene. whatever it is, make your statement with the kids this autumn/winter in rosie roo.

style file :: baybo

street wear. i love it. now don't get me wrong, i love ruffles and lace and angels wings too, but there is something about a street wear look that creates total uniqueness. jeans are always a great starter for a street wear look and probably something we all have in the wardrobe. so from there is easy because it's all tee's and accessories!

baybo has designed a wicked range of tee's that will help complete the street wear look for your mini me, and i am happy to announce that baybo is now being stocked in our online store. i am personally loving the ami winter tee - japanese style infused into a long sleeve tee. this is going to be one of my daughter's winter wearables once the cooler weather works it's way up north.

of course, the baybo branding has a lot more than tee's. they have created hair snap clips, awesome girls leggings with a very cute bubble dress to wear with, a range of juice products which include shampoo, conditioner, hair styler and so yummy you'll want to eat it bubblebath, and even some pj's to keep it all happening in the evenings.

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we have all of our baybo items online, so cruise on over and check them out for yourself.

style file :: oopsie

the super cool lifestyle products from new label oopsie are now available in our online store. if you haven't had a squiz yet at these awesome products, you really are missing out.

the first range from oopsie includes a gorgeous take on the basic cooler bag, which is super funky and my personal favourite. it takes me straight back to my full time work days, i nearly always took my lunch to work and i spent quite a few weekends looking for a groovy lunch bag but never succeeded in finding it. i gave up on my search and continued to just shove my lunch in my handbag. clearly i wasn't the only one disappointed in the lack of options available for a multi purpose bag like this. thank heavens for two wonderful gold coast mum's, jo and sandy, for coming to the rescue!

the range also includes practical but stylish single and double bottle bags. all three products are made from a durable polyester outer and have easy to clean pvc heat sealed lining. the single bottle bag comes with a d-ring attached so you can clip it onto anything, while the lunch and multi bags have an adjustable strap aswell as internal and external pockets. the lunch bag also fits in a 6 pack perfectly!

oopsie is practical and stylish, and already proving to be very popular. grab yours today!

style file :: post pregnancy belly wrap

if you feel that you'll want a little help with firming your tummy back into shape after bub has been born, then let me introduce to you the post pregnancy belly wrap. belly wraps have been used for centuries, all over the world. i recently was telling my nan about the wraps in one of our afternoon phone calls, and she told me she wore one after birth for 6 out of 7 babies she'd had, they were called step-in's and you most certainly wouldn't not have worn one back in her day.

so what is it and how does it work? the wraps help with the process of flattening and firming your tummy, they help to smooth out those wobbly bits, give you abdominal and lower back support, minimises bloating and water retension, promotes good posture and is recommended by physiotherapists and midwives. it ticks all the boxes and has a small price tag of $49.95.

the best time to use a belly wrap is within the first 6 weeks, starting a day or two, after birth. the wraps are made from a polyester/lyrca blend, so they will stretch and mould to your body, and with the generous velcro strip, you can adjust it as your tummy shrinks allowing you to continue to use the wrap as your body slims down. the best way to decide on which wrap size is right for you is to measure your tummy at around your 8 month pregnancy mark. this will give you a good guide as to the size your belly will be just after your baby is born. in helping you choose the right belly wrap for you, or for someone else as a gift, there are three sizes to choose from:

	pre pregnancy pant size	fits belly size
small	6-8	70cm - 86cm
medium	10-12	85cm - 107cm
large	14-16	102cm - 122cm

belly wraps are proving to be very popular and sought after, celebrities included! they will make a great hospital bag addition or baby shower gift, and you can purchase them now from our website.

style file :: mavi

every mum-to-be needs a stylish pair of maternity jeans. am i right? mavi jeans are renowned for their perfect fit jeans and when i heard they launched their first pairs of maternity jeans earlier this year to australia, i knew they would be the perfect jean to stock at yummy mummies, before i had even laid my eyes on them!

the angelina jean uses two side stretch panels that expand with your growing belly. this is a mid rise boot cut style in a dark washed indigo stretch denim. i secretly tried a pair of these maternity jeans on as i'm not yet back into all of my "pre baby" clothing, and i tell you what, they are super comfy and look so damn good on! so i chucked on a belt and a pair of heels, and seriously, it was hard to believe they were maternity jeans. in a word, these jeans are hot, and will be your new bff (well for nine or so months anyway)! you'll find them online with our relaunch, with a reasonable price tag of $149.95, but if you possibly can't wait until then, you can email your order through to me.

style file :: baby base ink

keeping in theme with my streetwear focus this week, i wanted to let you in on one of the funky new labels that will be arriving at yummy mummies upon our relaunch in a couple of weeks. meet baby base ink. funky street smart headwear for the little people in our lives. i love the by-line for this groovy label: small sizes, big personality. and these super cool hats give just that. personality! i know that most of us, at some stage or another, have searched for that piece of clothing or groovy accessory that hasn't been seen around the play ground before, something different and in trend (and especially for our boys). well guess what? we found it!

the photo above is of base, yep, as in baby base ink. a cool name for a cool baby! base's mum has made all of the designs on these funky hats herself. the detail of these designs are something else and the quality of the hats are second to none. now, i just need to find a way to make my 17 month old keep one on for longer than 10 seconds!

on location with shelley :: lady bump photoshoot

a fortnight ago we hit the streets of brisbane with a couple of camera's and a pregnant woman and her dog, in the search of something different for the back drop for our lady bump photo shoot. lady bump is yummy mummies' own maternity label. shelley was the perfect model; 33 weeks pregnant, willing to try my idea's, not afraid to do a quick clothes change behind a towel, and just plain fun!

i have a thing for graffiti walls. i love the rawness of the art and the bold colours. the brisbane powerhouse was our location for this photo shoot. what was once an old power station has over the past decade been converted into a creative arts centre. it worked perfectly for what i had in mind!

we all know how handy a pair of black pants can be when pregnant, especially for work. but i don't think they should be strictly limited for that. i wanted to put a bit of a street wear twist to my label, incorporate that black pant into a new style; just add a pair of converse's, a 2 chix maternity tee, sunnies, and viola, one super stylin mumma ready to go! you can find the lady bump shorts and pants on our website.

style file :: indi g - pretty little things

i was meant to be saving these for the relaunch of our new look website that will be up in a few weeks time... but they're just too damn pretty to not share with you straight away!

so let me introduce to you, indi g - pretty little things hair clips, a darling little creation from a wahm and her mum! made in my home town of wagga, you have the choice of a single packaged hair snap clip, or a duo package which contains a single hair snap clip and a press stud button feature in the same design, so you can attach it (sew on) to another garment. you might like to stitch the button feature onto a singlet, a top, a hat or a headband, or anything really, to make a cute matching combo with the clip. or, if you like, a little tip for if your baby has little or no hair, just clip the hair clip onto her headband!

these are going to make fabulous christmas stocking fillers for any little girl (or big for that matter)! and stay tuned for some groovy (and not over the top) christmas clips coming soon!

you can see more of the collection on our facebook page or our website. single clips are $6.95 and the duo packs are $12.95. be quick as there is only one of each style! xx

style file :: quack maternity

quack maternity has designed a super stylish range of breastfeeding clothing that has revolutionised the way we breastfeed today. they are so stylish that i've even had non pregnant ladies buy them because they are on trend and just super comfortable. the elastic ruching at the sides of each garment gives you the stretch you need whilst your belly grows, and the quality and blend of viscose and lycra that quack uses feels soft and delicate on your skin. it really is an experience to wear.

when shopping for maternity clothing, versatility is key. you may want to invest in a few pieces of clothing that are suitable for pregnancy, breastfeeding and beyond. establishing breast feeding may be one of many challenges you may face when becoming a new mum, and if you have the right clothing ready on hand for when that time comes around, it might just make it a little easier to meet baby's needs without showing any more skin than you want to. quack's design makes it easy to nurse, you just lift up the top layer of fabric under the bust to access discreet nursing openings to feed your baby. my favourite part of the quack range is the cute little signature duck that's printed on the underneath panel so that when you lift up to feed, baby has something to look at.

you can browse our range of breastfeeding tops here along with many other fab pieces of maternity clothing.

style file :: little diva

gorgeous. divine. unique. yes yes yes. the work that comes from little diva is nothing but! little diva is another top australian small business sewing up a storm for our consuming pleasure. the fabrics that christine brings to us are so unique and funky that you're more than likely not going to see them on any other little girl in the play ground. when i asked what inspires christine, she answered "most of my inspiration comes from fabrics. there are so many beautiful fabrics out there with the most delicious colour combinations and patterns that i really have to stop myself buying them all. i also get inspiration and ideas from my children and the things they love and need".

sitting right alongside these gorgeous pieces of girls clothing are the intruiging members of the snigglebottom family. sniggle who? the snigglebottoms came from a desire to use up every last piece of fabric and a love of sewing with felt. on combining the two, the snigglebottom family was born and has kept growing ever since. they are one big happy family of brothers, sisters, cousins and the odd stray! no two are ever exactly the same which is why there was a need to name each and every one. pop on over to our website to see the gorgeous work from little diva.

style file :: huggalugs

you can imagine my excitement when our huggalugs order arrived last week. i've been busting to try out the new legruffles on my little girl, check her out, cool or what?! (she's totally loving it too)! how do you wear them, what are their purpose, i hear you ask... wear them on the legs and on the arms, for warmth or for fun, under skirts, over pants, with your modern cloth nappies, or just for dress up's! the legruffles are super girly and come in vanilla cream, smitten kitten, so pink and funky black. but we musn't forget about the little men in our lives either, the leghuggers are a cool twist to add to your boys wardrobe, in designs like dinosaurus, jo bomber, egg head and cheeky monkey. jump on our website to see our full selection.

style file :: pram rock

check out the cool shirt i won from pram rock for my little bubbalicious mini me. too cool for skool that's for sure. pram rock offer some wicked threads for bubba's and if you're looking to add a bit of street style to your baby's wardrobe, then these shirts are for you! dribble j, skate brat, croozin for a snoozin and funk soul bubba are a few of the designs on offer and you can grab your pram rock t-shirts from our website!

danielle and her husband matt started the business using their combined graphic design and printing skills, along with some experience in the surf industry. all designs are 100% original and each t-shirt is hand printed using silk screens, available in sizes 00 - 2, short sleeve and long sleeve. Street, punk and funk baby tee's for the style conscious bub! Seriously cool.