It’s one of my favorite times of year – AWARD SHOWS! Oddly enough I rarely watch the actual show, but I do love me some Red Carpet fashion. At the Golden Globes this year, what many consider the precursor to the Oscars, Hollywood’s most beautiful moms are shining brighter than ever. We’re seeing a bit more black than usual at this event, but you’ll see lots of pink. You know, one of the “in” colors for 2011. Let’s see which mommies are wearing it best and which ones are strutting their own unique style…

Pregnant mom-to-be Natalie Portman is glowing in this beautiful pink gown. I love seeing her look like the opposite of her psychotic Black Swan  persona. Yikes, that was unsettling. I’ll never look at a hangnail the same again.

Proud mama and timeless beauty Nicole Kidman looks stunning in this neutral dress. I wish she had a few more curves – like 20 pounds worth – but she still looks amazing. Her cutie hubby Keith Urban is probably wishing her heels were a bit lower though.

Boogie nights, one, Julianne. I love the fact that Julianne Moore went for hot pink. I love the contrast with her red hair and, of course, the nude shoes. I’m a sucker for nude shoes with bright colored dresses.I’m sure Joan Rivers will have something bad to say about it, but I give two thumbs up!

Jane Krakowski poses with her growing baby bump in a gorgeous light blue gown. I love how the style of the dress accentuates her curves and her wonderful statement earrings.  Pink is for suckers, perhaps? This mommy thinks so.

America’s favorite mommy, Sandra Bullock, is pulling a Khloe Kardashian by giving us a new hairdo for the Golden Globes. I’m guessing she didn’t actually cut bangs for real… I think those are fake. She looks beautiful in this nude-tone dress with delicate embellishment. Oddly enough, Ryan Reynold’s ex, Scarlett Johansson, showed up to the Globes in a lookalike gown. Ouch, that’s awkward.

You can catch all of the excitement as it happens HERE on the AP’s Livestream!

Images: WireImage

There are so many fashionable maternity collections to choose from right now. I just blogged about Heidi Klum’s latest endeavor, Lavish, on Droolicious. Just browse the clothes at Isabella Oliver or Mommy Appelseed. They are so hip! Take a look at the links below and see a few of my faves. Rock that baby bump, girls!

Maternity Jumpsuit: Friend or Foe?
Strut Your Baby Bump Klum-Style
Skinny Maternity Jeans for Preggo Fashionistas

Maybe it’s because the weather has been so cold or maybe it’s because this looks so super-duper cozy. No matter what the reason is I love this maternity sweater. This is the Cable Batwing Sweater at Isabella Oliver and it’s on sale now for $167.

Speaking of looking fab with a baby bump, my favorite momtrepreneur, Heidi Klum, announced today she is working on two maternity lines. It’s about time! She chases around her four kiddos and still has time to do Project Runway, design jewelry and clothes and look incredible the whole time. Now that is talent, my friends.

Lavish and Loved will debut online and in stores February 12, 2010. A Pea In The Pod and Motherhood will carry her items. Lavish features iconic looks and Loved is affordable. (We’ll see!) Read more about it here!

Read more from MommyQ – Project Runway: Who’s Getting Auf’d Tonight?

This is the leather Mercer Bag, a new addition to the Nest’s collection. And what a diaper bag it is! It features suede details and gold tones hardware. It’s also a departure from black – remember navy? I think it’s a refreshing change.

Other features include:
- separate zippered diaper compartment at the bottom keeps the rest of the bag neat and fresh and includes an extra large changing pad and diaper and wipes pocket
- 2 large exterior and 1 interior zippered pockets
- 2 interior bottle holders
- 2 divided pockets to hold extra clothes, toys, etc
- key chain holder
- removable, adjustable long strap

Indulge at Arte Bebe for $385. Shipping is free.

Enter C-Panty! I’ve seen a lot of “new” baby and maternity products over the years, but this one is really top-notch. It is a panty designed specifically for post cesarean use. Instead of wearing those big, mesh, hospital-issued boy shorts or granny panties, you can wear these. They have special panels and a silicone layer to protect and support your new scar during healing.

Hop over to Droolicious (a Babble blog) to read more about the C-Panty. Now that’s one smart pair of undies! If you have mom friends with a c-section on the calendar, make sure you send them a link to this post!

It may look like a normal bag, but it has tons of storage compartments and insulated pockets, not to mention a padded changing mat, detachable bag, mobile pocket (who doesn’t need one of those!) and wipe-clean lining. Go ahead, it’s still cool to be like Angie.

If you’re looking for an even more indulgent diaper bag, check out the Felix Ray ‘Emma’ Diaper Bag. Pleated details, a bow and goldtone studs? FUN! And you’ll be paying for that fun too. It retails for $450 at Nordstrom.

- A normal-weight woman should gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy.

- An overweight woman —should gain 15 to 25 pounds during pregnancy.

- For the first time, the guidelines set a standard for obese women — to gain 11 to 20 pounds.

- An underweight woman should gain 28 to 40 pounds.

Thankfully, the article stresses the importance of gaining weight in a healthy way. Just because you’re preggo doesn’t mean you can live on Dr. Pepper, Skittles, bacon sandwiches, Cheetos and a daily Frosty!  You can’t throw all of your knowledge about nutrition out the window just because you see a plus sign on the little stick. It is tempting, but it’s not smart.

Keep this in mind – you will probably want to lose everything you gain.  (If for no other reason than you like your existing wardrobe and don’t want to say goodbye to those William Rast jeans forever, right?) See, that takes the fun out of your nightly rendezvous with Krispy Kreme, doesn’t it. It may sound odd, but my big craving was those old-school multi-colored rainbow popsicles. I probably had one every day and haven’t had one since I was pregnant. Strange, huh?

When I was pregnant, my doctor told me my goal weight gain was 25-30 pounds. Well, I gained a ton more than that. (I may have been on the underweight side when I got pregnant, but only by a few pounds.) I probably gained close to 55 pounds during my pregnancies, maybe more. I was freaking out, but my doctor was fine with it. My diet was good and I was exercising, but I packed on weight no matter what. I passed all of my blood tests and check-ups with no problem, etc.

My point is if you gain more weight than you’re supposed to, don’t starve yourself to stay within the “recommended” numbers.  Don’t beat yourself up mentally or try to exist on a unrealistic diet. Every pregnancy is different. These guidelines are exactly that – benchmarks. You may be within that range and you may not. Be honest with your doctor and if you’re doing everything you can do to be healthy, yet you’re packing on the pounds – so be it. You need to be smart. Your body will do the rest.

Weight gain guidelines – friend or foe? How much weight did you gain? Do you agree with these guidelines?

There are two things I love about this maternity cover up…it’s not black and it’s not white! This cute cotton Button Front cover-up features a fresh paisley print in shades of green and long sleeves. Perfect for transporting that growing belly at the pool or the beach. You could easily wear it as a top with shorts or jeans too.  Retails for $58 at A Pea in The Pod.

When you’re preparing for a new baby, it seems like there are tons of things to buy. Sometimes in an effort to save some dough, new moms skimp on things for themselves, like sleepwear. Take it from a mom who knows, if there’s anything that brings your life some extra comfort during those last weeks of pregnancy and first weeks of motherhood (and nursing), it’s nice sleepwear.

This beautiful Black Lotus Nursing Chemise by Belabumbum is sexy, functional and comfortable. The small lace details are just enough to make you feel feminine, yet not too frilly for your lifestyle. The straps are adjustable and there are nursing clips above each bra cup. Treat yourself. You deserve it! Retails at Tummy Style for $59.

When I watch Ace of Cakes, I’m blown away by the details and amazing creativity. I felt the same way when I stumbled across these magical diaper cakes. You can customize your very own five tier diaper cake thanks to Diaper Cakes Made by Becca. Based in Arizona, Becca aims to please. She delivers creativity, enthusiasm and attention to detail. She also creates adorable diaper wreaths and personalized gifts. If you want to throw the perfect baby shower, skip the edible and give the inedible a taste. Diaper Cakes by Becca.

The BellaBand™ is a solution to all of the fashion-related twists and turns you’ll encounter during your pregnancy. Oh, how I wish these had been around when I was expecting! Too big for your normal clothes, yet too small for maternity clothes? Read on…

It’s a seamless-knit, ultra-soft, thick, stretchy band of fabric. The top hem is wide and flat to reduce lines under your favorite shirts. The bottom hem is double-sewn to prevent riding up. It actually grips your pants, skirts and shorts. (Ingrid Carney is one clever mommy!)

Why so great? Because you can wear your favorite pre-pregnancy jeans unbuttoned, pull the BellaBand over them with your favorite shirt and – Voila! A perfectly cute outfit. You’ll probably start using it around 18 weeks or so. Towards the end of your pregnancy you’ll love it, because all of your elastic waistbands will start to get pushed down by your big belly. The BellaBand will keep you covered. See how it works! Now available at BabyEarth in a variety of styles. A wonderful baby shower gift!

This weekend MommyQ was introduced to Alana Lilie Designs. This is the cutest, most high-end looking photo jewelry I’ve seen. Stunning, in fact. Alana creates sterling silver photo jewelry like charms, necklaces, bracelets and rings. You just send her the image and she does the rest! She creates ornaments and lots of other great gift items like photo cuff links for proud papas!

And if you’re wanting to show off your adorable 4-legged baby, you can do that too. Puppies and kitties qualify as children too.

Why? Because as a sleep-deprived parent trying to remember your own name can be a challenge. Trying to remember when your baby last ate, when your baby got a new diaper and when your baby napped – practically impossible.

The ITZBEEN Baby Care Timer is a multi-purpose tool that helps you remember the basic details of baby care. It has four timers for changing, feeding, napping and more that count up with the touch of a button!

The ITZBEEN has several other helpful features including a nursing reminder switch that easily reminds mom which side baby nursed from last, a soft-glow nightlight to help parents find their way in the dark without waking the baby and a backlit display so parents can read the times and the clock in the dark. Plus, a back clip makes the ITZBEEN totally portable and allows for hands-free use of the nightlight!

A green baby shower is just as much fun as a traditional shower, it just has a sprinkle of eco-friendliness. The centerpiece can be a cake made with cloth diapers, decorated with fresh flowers. The party favors can be glass baby bottles with organic ingredients like popcorn, M&Ms or Cheerios. Instead of a guestbook, everyone can sign an organic baby t-shirt as a keepsake. Ditch the paper plates and wrapping paper to keep stuff out of landfills. It make take a little bit more creativity, but the benefits are worth it. Enjoy the photos!