Heidi Klum at A Pea in the Pod where BLANQI can be found!!

Heidi Klum launched her new collection at the Pea in the Pod collection store in Beverly Hills.  Our BLANQI bodystyler hangs a few feet away…we are in good company ;)

All Saints – obsession of the week

Having heard of All Saints, but never actually seen it in person, I (Sabina) was super excited when our L.A. publicist Wade Parkins and life/after/denim’s Jason Shelby took us to the boutique on North Robertson.  I have to admit that I’ve been kind of obsessed since – the images on the website do not do the clothing justice!  Speaking of website, I can’t get on it without wanting to buy everything! They also have an amazing children’s section, and for you pregnant girls, plenty of bump-friendly tops.  A few of my favorites:

LOVE BIG earrings!!!

And for your little princess

Ritz cracker crime scene

“Stop looking at me like that, Ritz cracker”

I am not sure when it started…I think with the goldfish.  I don’t even like goldfish, but would somehow find myself inhaling the orange dust after my son was done with them.  Then came the wheat thins, and the ritz crackers, and the triscuits, and, oh, the flavor blasted goldfish!  I grab that giant box ( you know the one, like a super-sized school milk carton?), sit down in front of the computer, and when I look back up, I find that I have possibly just eaten my carbohydrate allowance for one week, plus my family’s.  So tonight it was the Ritz crackers.  I opened one, cylindrical package, devoured it, then opened a second, telling myself that I would only eat a couple – What is it with us “telling ourselves” that we will only have one?  Who are we talking to anyways when we do that?  It’s like we’re asking permission from some hard-ass, drill-sergeant  version of ourselves who, should I eat more than a couple, would bust out, drop-kick me and put a choke-hold on me until I spit out that mushy cracker.  Having said that, I could probably have used the drill sergeant tonight…3/4 of a box later, and I am swimming in a sea of salt and bloat.

Sound familiar? :)

love,

Sabina

Jacqui Maxwell, looking gorgeous in her bodystyler!

Jacqui Maxwell, model and actress, has starred in movies like The Dukes of Hazzard, and tv shows such as 24, CSI, Gilmore Girls, and Charmed.  We had the pleasure of working with her at the Expecting Models fashion show in L.A., where she modeled our BLANQI bodystyler.  She is super sweet, and looked amazing on the runway.  These are some snapshots that I took of her outside of the tent – no special lighting, no retouching…natural beauty :) .  Thank you so much Jacqui!  It is lovely to have met you!

Jacqui is wearing the long, pale nude, size large bodystyler.  We paired it with denim leggings and L.A.M.B. wedge sandals.

This shot from the back shows the x-shape that wraps around the front underneath the belly and supports the baby bump!

What is she wearing?

We’ve decided to document Valerie’s pregnancy style journey :) and so will post weekly updates – what she was wearing that day, and how to combine it with our bodystyler.

Today she was wearing a long, pale nude,  size small  bodystyler, with a cropped wrap and sweatpants.  Super cute! :)

Kerri Walsh welcomes son!

Congratulations, Kerri, on your baby boy, Sundance Thomas!  It was lovely meeting you – hope you enjoyed our bodystyler in your last weeks, and that it made life a little easier ;)  We wish you all the best!

Who says you can’t wear horizontal stripes?

Horizontal stripes are generally not the most flattering look, but I think that Valerie looks adorable in hers :)

Fashionistas at Fred Segal (Valerie sporting her BLANQI bodystyler of course)

Valerie Caron, Wade Parkins, and Jason Shelby

Kelly Preston and John Travolta expecting

Kelly Preston, 47, is expecting a baby with John Travolta.  Wonderful news :) after such a tragic loss of their son Jett :(

Wade Parkins – you’re an Angel!

Meet Wade, our incredible multi-tasking interim L.A. publicist / driver / ambusher / photographer / bag holder / researcher / tour guide.  Thank you for your kindness and generosity, and for being our Angel in the city!

And thank you Rufus for lots of love and kisses ;)

Gwen Stefani + Sea Band = Pregnant??

So Gwen Stefani has as of late been sporting flowy tops and suspicious medical wrap bracelets.  While loose clothing doesn’t imply a baby belly ( could have a big-lunch belly ) the wrist bands have caught the attention of all the media, and of course, readers such as us :)  I did a little digging, and this is what I found:

  • The Sea-Band has been clinically tested against nausea and vomiting in travel, pregnancy, anaesthesia, chemotherapy and all conditions which induce nausea.
  • The Sea-Band is a knitted elasticated wrist band, which operates by applying pressure on the Nei Kuan acupressure point on each wrist by means of a plastic stud.
  • Because the bands do not use drugs, they do not cause any of the side effects associated with anti-nausea drugs and can be worn on each wrist whenever you feel nauseous.
  • They are suitable for adults and children.
  • The Sea-Band may be washed up to five times with a mild detergent in warm water without losing its elasticity. (medexsupply.com)

What do you think?  Pregnant?  If so, dying to gift a BLANQI bodystyler to shape her in style! ;)

Closed blinds at Opening Ceremony

Great mirrored blinds at Opening Ceremony in L.A.

Valerie and Sabina

OUR FIRST EDITORIAL! American Baby magazine features our maternity shaper

We are beyond excited to announce that BLANQI and our bodystyler will be featured in the June issue of American Baby that comes out around May 25th.!  Look for us in the crib notes column, written by senior lifestyle editor Jessica Hartshorn :) :)

For those of you unfamiliar with American Baby, it is “the leading resource for the expecting woman and the new mom. It’s the first place she turns for information about her baby and herself on her incredible journey through motherhood” ( courtesy American Baby ).  It has a 2,000,000 monthly circulation.  It is the first magazine you receive when pregnant ( in the “welcome to pregnancy” diaper bag provided by the OBGYN ) and the magazine in every OBGYN and pediatric office in the U.S.  Yeay!


Jason Shelby, life/after/denim

This is Jason Shelby.  He works with life/after/denim, and he does not like to be photographed.  Over a period of 5 days, we tortured him with many surprise snapshots.  I like this one, and I think Jason would be okay with me posting it on this blog for the world to see :)  He is, by the way, the most hysterically funny person I have met!  Valerie and I laughed so hard we almost cried!  AND life/after/denim is awesome.  Check them out http://www.lifeafterdenim.com

Need some skymiles? Buy a BLANQI bodystyler :)


Missoni, how I love thee

Love, love, love this Missoni boutique entrance.  I didn’t enter those beautiful doors, however, for fear of great disappointment when told that the dress I want costs $2,500!  ha ha ha!  I will just stick to admiring the facade for now.

Valerie auditions for “The Fashion Show” on BRAVO

Sooo proud of Valerie for taking on BRAVO and thousands of designers!  She is off to NYC this morning to prepare for tomorrow’s casting call – did I mention that she is doing all this while pregnant, taking care of a 3 year-old, receiving orders ( for our bodystyler – yeayy!), and hosting CBS at her house for our segment taping?  Yes, a good business partner, indeed! :)  Go Valerie!

“Keep the preggo away from the cupcakes!” and other randoms from the W





“Yeayy!”

Our attempt at a fashion shot in front of the Pea in the Pod on Beverly Drive that carries our bodystyler:

Professional volleyball player Kerri Walsh

We met Kerri Walsh at the Bump it Up event at the W hotel in Beverly Hills.  She is super cute, and super tall!  (I could only wish! )  We gave her a sample of our bodystyler, and are looking forward to some feedback – keep posted…

Valerie, Kerri Walsh, and Sabina

Kaitlin Olson on People magazine’s baby blog (and another shot of Valerie gifting her at the event :) :) You’re the best!

Super thrilled to have given her a Bodystyler – hoping she loves it!

Eating out in L.A. ( and entertained by a passer-by :)



Valerie gifts a BLANQI bodystyler to Kaitlin Olson of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”

So we couldn’t possibly leave the PAM event without giving a bodystyler to the very pregnant and beautiful Kaitlin Olson.  Valerie charmed and impressed, and we hope she loves it as much as we do!!

PAM event and our first ever green carpet! BLANQI bodystylers, Kaitlin Olson, Ricki Lake, Jaclyn Stapp, Liza from expecting models…

Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney from Always Sunny in Philadelphia - they are having a boy!

Valerie, Jaclyn Stapp (wife of Scott Stapp), Liza from Expecting Models, Sabina

Ricki Lake looking beautiful

Funny! :) Valerie, Jaclyn Stapp, Liza, Sabina

Valerie and Sabina

Expecting Models Fashion Show

So excited to be one of the featured maternity designers for the Expecting Models fashion show at this weekends Pregnancy Awareness Event in LA!!!

www.pregnancyawarenessmonth.com

Expecting Models Fashion Show featuring Grammy Award winning Scott Stapp of Creed! – Expecting Model
expectingmodels.typepad.com Expecting Models is honored to partner with “Pregnancy Awareness Week” A special thanks to Scott Stapp for halting his to support his wife Jaclyn Stapp.