[Disclosure: I participated in a Blog Blast Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Bella Gravida. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.]

You'll only spend half a year or so in your maternity clothes (per pregnancy of course), and while being pregnant is a really great excuse to go on a grandiose shopping spree, it's just not in the budget for most of us. So, you buy the absolute bare minimum and reach out to friends for hand-me-downs. Those were your only options, until now... 

Did you know you can actually RENT maternity wear now? This is so freaking fabulous, I just can't even!!!

Bella Gravida, which means Beautifully Pregnant in Italian, is a brand spanking new clothing rental service (website launched TODAY, September 18!) with thousands of designer maternity and nursing outfits, a flat monthly fee (from $39 for 1 item/month to $119 for 7 items/month), free shipping, laundry service included, 6 categories (Classic, Modern Trendy, Romantic, Bohemian, Dramatic, and Southern Chic), no return deadlines, and unlimited exchanges.

I worked throughout my first pregnancy and always felt so frumpy in my hand-me-down office-friendly maternity clothes that didn't quite fit right or weren't my style 100%. This second time around, I was home and able to stick to very simple tank tops and t-shirts, but man oh man I wish this service had launched just a few months (or years) earlier so I could have used it. What an amazing way dress your bump in the latest trends and give your struggling self-esteem a boost! It would also come in handy for that random black-tie wedding you have to attend at 8 months preggo!

So, if you have a bun in the oven or are expecting to be expecting anytime soon, go check out Bella Gravida's website ASAP and let me know what you think! You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

One of the hardest parts of being a parent of littles in the city is stroller storage. Unless you're completely loaded, you don't have a garage, shed out back, or a basement. So, you're forced to bring that stroller inside, along with all the crud its wheels have picked up on the sidewalk.

But there's an awesome new product out there helping to solve this problem. Say HELLO to CityStork's Stroller Wheel Covers!!

CityStork covers feature an absorbent interior layer to soak up moisture from wet and snowy wheels, a rubberized spandex outer layer to prevent leaks, a mesh ventilation window to speed up dry time and prevent mildew formation, and elastic bungees that allow you to tighten and secure the covers to your wheels. They have 4 different sets available ("universal", "all cap", "all pouch", and "6-cap"), so you can find one that'll work with pretty much any stroller (except the large wheeled joggers).

I recently got my hands on a "universal" set and tested them out on our StrollAir My Duo stroller. My first reaction was how nice the material is - really soft and high quality! I have to be honest, you'll likely get your hands dirty putting the covers on the tires (at least until you've had some practice and get a good system down), it's not the easiest of jobs but it's not too bad. The back wheels' covers are kind of like shower caps and you don't even need to pick up the stroller to put them on, you just spin the tire gradually and pull the lip of the cover over the edge. The front wheels's covers are fully enclosed bags, so you should note that the front tires will not roll with covers on. However, the back wheels will roll, so you simply pop the stroller up on its back wheels to push it to wherever you need it to go.

We tend to keep our stroller in the entry way, where we take off our shoes, so in regular weather putting on the covers is probably not something I would bother with. But on a rainy day, or in the winter when the wheels get covered in snow and salt, you betcha I'll be covering them up! They're also great to keep on any spare strollers you have stowed in closets or under beds.

Another great use for these is when you have a little one who falls asleep in the stroller. When you get home, pop on the covers, and wheel baby back to a quiet area of the house to continue their nap. And you don't have to go back and mop up after the stroller later!! YES!

Their Universal Stroller Wheel Covers go for $34.99 on CityStork's website or Amazon (if you're expecting, go ahead and add them to your baby registry!!). Their "all cap" and "all pouch" sets also go for $34.99, and the "6-cap" set is $39.99 (check here to see which is appropriate for your stroller).

I also recently started using CityStork's stroller hooks, which are pretty great. They're velcro, so easy to get on and off, and each strap features two independent hooks and you get two straps in a box, i.e. 4 hooks. Each strap can hold up to 8 pounds and they're great for hanging a water bottle, shopping bag, you name it! You can even get creative and use them in other places, such as hanging a baby toy from the headrest of the passenger seat in your car, etc etc. And check it out - 7 fun colors to choose from - a fun and functional way to add a pop of color to your stroller!

You can grab a pack of 2 Stork Hooks for $11.99 on CityStork's website or Amazon.

I've been hunting high and low for the perfect crib mattress for my little ladies on the way, and I could not be more excited about one I've recently come across: Breeze by Lullaby Earth. I feel kinda silly being all giddy about a crib mattress, but honestly I am and here's why:

It's BREATHABLE:
The mattress cover has a 3D honeycomb pattern that is 100% breathable. So, when your baby reaches the "OH MY GOD HE FLIPPED OVER AND IS SLEEPING ON HIS STOMACH" stage at around four or five months, you can rest assured that he will be just fine. Phew!!

It's WATERPROOF:
There are a couple of other breathable mattresses on the market, but Breeze is the only one out there that is breathable AND waterproof. For me, it's not worth being breathable if it means the mattress is out of commission the second baby has an accident. Seriously, where is baby supposed to sleep the rest of the night while the mattress is being cleaned and is drying?? And putting a waterproof cover over your breathable mattress defeats the entire purpose of having a breathable mattress! So... Lullaby Earth has created one that is breathable AND waterproof and my hat is off to them. Finally! Someone has done it! Well done!!!

But how did they do it? Well, the cover has the nifty 3D honeycomb design that makes it breathable. And the backside of the cover is waterproof. But that's not all. The mattress itself is also waterproof. So, it's double waterproofed - hoorah!! This means, when baby has an accident you just take off the cover and throw it in the washer and dryer. In the meantime, the mattress will be dry and ready to go. You can order extra Breeze covers to have on hand, or you could simply throw a sheet on the mattress until the cover is ready to go back on the mattress.

It's GREENGUARD GOLD CERTIFIED:
UL Environment's Greenguard certification program tests products to verify they meet their very strict emissions standards. The Gold certification is their strictest one, and ensures products are safe for sensitive individuals (children and elderly) and are acceptable to use in places such as schools and healthcare facilities.

No, it's not "organic" but it is made of two of the safest and most widely recycled plastics out there - PE and PETE. Also, it should be noted that Breeze does not contain any polyurethane foam, PVC, vinyl, latex, wool or other allergenic materials, glues, adhesives, phthalates, pesticides, or GMOs.

NO FLAME RETARDANTS:
Most crib mattresses, even many of the "organic" ones, finish off their product by covering it with flame retardant chemicals. Of course we want our baby's mattress to be resistant to fire, but does it really need to be doused in toxic flame retardant chemicals that have been linked to numerous health issues. Survey says... NOPE! Lullaby Earth is one of the few awesome brands out there proving you can meet the fire resistant standards without the use of chemicals by simply choosing materials and design wisely. Hooray!

It's LIGHTWEIGHT:
It's 8 pounds! Yes, this crib mattress weighs the same as a newborn baby. It's super light which makes changing sheets a snap! Other mattresses out there, especially the ones with coils, weigh upwards of 20 to 30 pounds. No thanks!

Check out my video to get a closer look. If I can throw this bad boy around at 8 months preggo with twins, anyone can!!

So, pretty awesome crib mattress am I right?? You can purchase Lullaby Earth's Breeze crib mattress for $279 on their website, on Amazon, and in many retail shops. It comes with one cover (you choose white, pink, blue, green, or grey). You can buy an additional cover for $99.

Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.