October is Italian Heritage Month and this little jersey tomato is stoked for this very special holiday.  Another fellow writer and Italian-American, Raymond Peraino, is back with words, pasta and some gravy or is it sauce? Let the celebration commence!

Words of the day from Ray:

Dating as far back as the first century and later introduced to Italy in the XIII Century by Marco Polo, pasta is now made and enjoyed the world over. Being of Italian descent, I’m here for all things pasta related.

Pappardelle is my personal favorite fresh pasta. The soft, silky ribbons are what dreams are made of. I’m going to let Andrew Rea from Binging with Babish explain to you with his richly colored and calming voice just how easy it is to make fresh pasta should you choose to do so. Check him out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdSLKZ6LN94&t=375s

Ready? Let’s roll! (Pasta jokes!)

Pappardelle with Wild Mushrooms

Before getting started:

If you have trouble sourcing any of these mushrooms you can use whatever you can find fresh — button mushrooms, crimini (baby portobello), whatever you like will all work just fine.

-and-

If you’re pressed for time, you can skip the making of the fresh pasta and buy another wide fresh or dry pasta like dry pappardelle, fettuccine, mafaldine, tripoline, etc. just be sure to closely follow the cooking time provided for the pasta you purchase.

You’ll Need:

16 ounces Pasta (500 grams)

12 ounces chanterelle mushrooms (350 grams)

12 ounces king oyster mushrooms (350 grams)

6 ounces Hen of the Woods mushrooms (175 grams)

2 shallots, peeled and sliced (sub 1/2 medium onion)

2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced

3-4 tablespoons unsalted butter (50 grams)

1/2 cup white wine (or vegetable stock) (120ml)

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (15 grams)

1 handful of Italian parsley leaves, picked (reserve some to garnish)

½ cup aged Gruyère cheese (or more to taste) (110 grams) (sub. Aged Gouda)

a good squeeze of lemon juice

high temp oil as needed (grapeseed, safflower, sunflower, avocado, etc.)

kosher salt, as needed

black pepper, as needed

You’ll Do:

1.       Fill a large pot with water, salt it generously and let it come to a vigorous boil while you prep

2.       Cut the mushrooms into large chunks. (They’ll shrink when cooking.)

3.       Heat a thin coat of oil in a large, wide, flat bottom pan over medium heat. When it begins to simmer, add a single layer of mushrooms cut side down and sprinkle with a bit of kosher salt. Cook until deeply golden, then flip and cook on all sides until tender. This will take a few minutes on each side. Remove to a bowl and continue with the rest of the mushrooms.

4.       When all the mushrooms are cooked, add the butter to the empty pan. When melted, add the shallots and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the shallots are tender, then add the thyme, white wine, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Let simmer to reduce liquid and intensify the flavors. After a few minutes of simmering fold in the mushrooms. Turn heat to low stirring to make sure there is no scorching until pasta is ready.

5.       Once your salted water has come to a rolling boil float the into the water.  Give it a gentle stir to keep it from clumping and cook until slightly tender. Heads up, if you’re using fresh pasta, it cooks FAST —about 2-4 minutes depending on noodle thickness.

6.       Once pasta is just beginning to become tender, use tongs to transfer the pasta directly into the pan with your mushrooms and sauce. Turn the heat up and gently fold the pasta into the mushroom sauce. Add reserved pasta water to the sauce as needed and toss together so that everything is well incorporated. This should look glossy and amazing by now.

7.       Take off the heat and sprinkle in parsley and aged Gruyère.

8.       Place the pasta is a family style platter and top with all the sauce or divide into individual bowls and top with an optional drizzle of olive oil, a little black pepper, and some parsley leaves. Serve immediately.

Buon Appetito,
Dai & Ray

Has it really been a month since Ray graced us with a Mocktail Monday?

You are in luck today – get the glasses ready, Ray is here to fill your day with his wordy ramblings and a recipe for something seasonably sweet.

As written by Ray:

This post-season potable has a goodbye whisper from summer in the form of blueberry and a gentle gesture to your taste buds that fall flavors are on the way. It may sound strange, but blueberry and rosemary play well together.

I love this transitional mocktail. It’s got a little bit of summer and a little bit of fall all in one glass, it’s easy to put together whether you’re serving two or twelve, and it feels like a treat.  Do yourself the favor and screenshot this one, download it, print it out… just make sure you can find it again because I’m sure it’ll be a drink you’ll want to make more than just on a Monday.

Rosemary Blueberry Fizz

(serving: one 12 oz glass)

Ingredients:

8-12 blueberries

1 rosemary sprig, stripped

1/2 oz honey (roughly a tablespoon)

1 oz fresh lime and/or strawberries

4 oz sparkling water

Ice

Instructions:

Thoroughly muddle the blueberries, rosemary leaves, and honey in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add a squeeze of lime juice and top off with ice.  Cover and shake vigorously for a few seconds. Strain through a mesh strainer into a tall glass with fresh ice. Top with sparkling water and stir. If you want to get fancy and impress guests, garnish it with a sprig of rosemary and a lime wheel.

A sprig of rosemary and a lime wheel?  Well give me a minute as I get my fancy fascinator on. Hats off to you Ray. For all the readers, make sure you make it, post it, tag it, because we want to see it. @motherhoodmaternity #mocktailmonday

–          Dai & Ray

Too tired to put on a costume? Too big to care? No problem – we got you BOO. [My puns are frighteningly good!] October is here and if you thought I loved September, that love is only surpassed by my adoration for Halloween. As I have gotten older, and Santa has brought me less and less for Christmas, Halloween has taken the prize for favorite holiday. Any chance I get to dress up, I am there. I really hope that just because you are pregnant, you’re not thinking about forgoing a costume.

Let us dress you.

Look how cute our “model” is with her ACTUAL daughter. You may remember Abby and Cedar from our real mom shoot last month. Carved in cuteness, Abby is wearing our pumpkin outfit, which comes with both the maternity tee and striped pants. It’s super stretchy and really soft, made from jersey knit, so you can eat as much candy as baby-in-the-belly can handle.

BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE! [Brace yourself for some truly horrible wordplay]

We’ve got a bone-chilling skeleton costume, a pawsitively adorable mama bear look, a cunningly cozy fox 2-piece outfit, a “Something’s Brewing” witchy look that’s bubbling over with cuteness, a super hero outfit that SAVES you time looking for a costume, a mummy look to wrap you up in something snuggly, a one of a kind unicorn outfit, and a purrfectly easy cat costume. Most of these costumes come in plus too, sizes 1X-3X!

These outfits are super soft. I mean sugar crash on the couch and sleep all night soft. How are you dressing your bump this Halloween? Show & share @motherhoodmaternity  

Fun fact… that witch in the picture is me. Last year I was pregnant with my little Roni girl. Even more of a fun fact… I was not pregnant in that picture, BUT the following year I actually was and used this on my own Instagram. No one knew the truth, until now. That’s Hollywood baby – or well, South Jersey.

Our lead art director, who is one of the most talented people I know – hey Klaud – hand made that sign. She used a grey board, like the ones you get for school projects, some pipe cleaners, fake webs and of course a spider – voila, the perfect backdrop for a gender reveal photo.

The social team and I took this theme and really ran with it. We found a cauldron and got pink and blue bath bombs. However, my sister in law really did throw me a surprise gender reveal last year and it was all about witches and wizards. [You know the real theme millennials, but let’s keep it generic, so I don’t get sued!]

She filled out cauldron with vinegar and baking soda and food dye ala your volcano for the science fair in fifth grade, so when we threw water on it, it bubbled over with pink perfection. That is our actual reaction. I thought I was having a boy.

Are you revealing this October? We love to see the creative ways to share the news. Hit us up @motherhoodmaternity

–          Daina

There is a day for everything, right? But we are HERE FOR THIS! Not only do I love plaid, because it’s a classic, but man does it look cute on a pregnant belly. Visions of fall family photos fill my head. Somewhere there is a pumpkin patch just waiting for today – the worldwide celebration of plaid!

Come on set with us to the wilds of Wisconsin where there was neither a lack of cheese nor plaid.

Meet Andrea, our model here with her son, Bridger. She’s a life coach and also has a daughter named Montana. [Cute story – she and her husband met in Montana and thus the name stuck!] Our Milwaukee mama helped show off our gorgeous nursing styles while being on set with her actual son, who was actually hungry, in clothing she was actually wearing while feeding him. Thanks plaid poncho. Today is your day.

Do you remember Abby? Our mom to Cedar and baby boy on the way? She was a part of our MAMA WEARS THE PANTS campaign and we were so happy she joined us in Wisconsin with her husband and daughter. Look at her posing away in this pink plaid maternity dress.

You know the old adage… another wrap, another barrel of hay. I want to also introduce you to the puppies. There are 9 of them and they are 6 weeks old and my boss ADOPTED ONE! Be still my heart. Click to shop the plaid style top on Abby and the other multi-wear nursing wrap on Andrea.

P is for plaid, but it’s also for PUPPY!!! Click here to shop this cream, black and hint of yellow and baby blue plaid perfection.

A plaid/sweater duo – check! Puppies – check! Hay bale – check! Wagon – check! Cute kid – check! Somewhere that aforementioned pumpkin patch is crying, because this is the new fall photo op worth posting. [Editor’s note – we want to see it all, wherever you take your plaid images @motherhoodmaternity]

Happy Plaidurday ladies!

Love Your Tartan Clad Gal,

Daina

Nude is not a one-color fits all, right?  We wanted to take our best-selling seamless style bra and make our “nude” more accessible to you. We do know that there are more than just 4 colors of skin tone, but we think this is a pretty great place to start!

Our mini rainbow of nudes offers the perfect base palette. What’s underneath counts, and what you put on top should then steal the show!  If you haven’t got our seamless maternity bra, which also is a nursing bra, you need to. It’s honestly the most-loved bra because it’s super soft, but also supportive without a wire. It has over 500 five-star reviews and has won awards based on real mamas’ votes.

Our summer campaign was all about the seamless bra – 5 years, 5 stars and 5 solutions. The clip down straps are there for easy access for nursing and pumping. The stretchy and soft material is made to grow with your breasts as they change throughout pregnancy and when your milk comes in. The removeable pads allow for no show nipples and leak protection. Unlike other wireless and soft bras, the seamless has a barrier in between the breasts to avoid the dreaded uniboob. No one likes uniboob.

But people do like seeing real mamas and real pregnant women in real clothes, so let’s go on set to meet the “models” wearing our newest nudes!

Olivia is pregnant and also a mama [obviously] wearing the nu nude in tawny brown.

Alexis, our nursing mama, is also wearing the new tawny brown shade!

Holly is newly pregnant and wearing our original nude color.

And new mama Ashley can be seen in our other new colorway: mink.

These seamless nudes are in the full bust style for extra support & comfort.

Send us your nudes… um well your nu nude bra purchases @motherhoodmaternity

How does Motherhood® bottle up style? By taking the plastic and making something amazing. We know the wave of the future is clothing that you can feel good about, which is why we are dipping into sustainable style, so that our oceans will be there for those babies in your belly to enjoy.

Our newest pieces are crafted from Repreve® fibers, which are recycled materials made from plastic. Motherhood teamed with Repreve® because so far, they have helped recycle 14 billion plastic bottles, and we are so happy to be a part of that number. They take the bottles, sort through them at the recycling facility, wash them and essentially shred them into little flakes.

To simplify it, they take those flakes, blend, melt and then make little pellet like “chips” out of them.  The chips are then made into strands of fiber, but in the way yarn looks. The end result is clothing that is so soft, you look just as good as you feel wearing it. The material is so finely woven, that each piece is impeccably comfortable. The plastic also allows for a unique breathable feel too, which is great for when those pregnancy hormones strike, and you think you’re having an early onset hot flash.

This post is to honor the ultimate mama, Mother Earth, so make sure you do her a solid and check out our newest maternity collection, featuring a super soft sweatshirt, comfy long sleeve tees, and smooth as butter jeans. Oh, and tag us in outfits made with our look good, feel good, do good pregnancy pieces @motherhoodmaternity #mhgoessustainable – see you there, earth angels.

–          Daina

Our sister site, A Pea in the Pod®, is celebrating the work pant this month too. The best-selling professional pair is newly named The Curie. Much like the way we gave monikers to Motherhood’s pants, The Curie was inspired by the history of women wearing pants.  This idea that most of us don’t even think about today was the ultimate power move. In some countries it was [and still] is actually illegal for women to wear pants. Up until 1993, women were banned from wearing pants on our own senate floor. As a girl who grew up in the 90s… that just doesn’t seem that long ago. [Excuse me as I dust off my 31-year-old shoulder.]

The pantsuit is something we hear about now and immediately think of it as a power suit. It breaks down whatever stigma was there that perhaps our generation isn’t so aware of. Because we wholeheartedly believe that women wear the pants; take my word that moms really wear the pants and yes if you’re pregnant, you are a mother! You already have begun thinking about your child first, and now are navigating how to dress with bump and then baby. Moms wear the pants.

So, this pair is made for our boss babes with a bump. Our Curie is all about looking professional but feeling amazing. We paired our bottoms with color coordinated tops for a monochromatic look. The idea was to keep the styles clean, crisp and eye-catching. Work wear doesn’t have to be drab.

Let’s break down the pant. It’s crafted from a tech-twill, which is both breathable and stretchy, but still structured for a hard day’s work. It features an ankle length, slim silhouette and faux slit front pockets for the ultimate in looking profesh. And, of course, it is complete with the Secret Fit Belly® panel for a fit that does not quit. We love the color ways too: basic black, classic navy, rich burgundy, neutral olive, and the perfect plaid.

Shop it & share it. See you on @motherhoodmaternity

We named our pants. Why? Because why not. This is marketing after all! Actually, we named them to make it easier for our working mamas-in-the-making to shop. Pregnancy can be overwhelming, and we wanted the whole shopping experience to be anything but.

There are 4 core styles of our work pants.

1. The Maia – These are our #1 work pants made from a super stretchy tech-twill. We like to call them The Mother of All Pants! They come in a sleek, skinny silhouette, as well as a postpartum version with compression. [Please make sure you do not wear the postpartum ones while pregnant, because they are made to help tighten stomach muscles that have stretched from pregnancy and BIRTH!] Maia means “great” and “mother” in Greek, so for all the goddesses out there, this one is named for you. Expect to find this style in your usual suspects of black and navy, but also grey, khaki, white, polka dot, and other seasonal shades!

2. The Bella – These are as smooth as butter. The silky fabric is stretchy and truly a skinny finish. Bella of course means beautiful in Italian, and we really feel like these versatile pants make every outfit look good. The full-length style creates a flattering fit, and the 5-pockets add something special to an everyday work bottom. Find it in black, but also charming colors like frosted rose, olive and burgundy.

3. The Cady – This maternity style comes in 2 leg shapes: skinny and bootcut. Both are crafted from Ponte fabric, which is a smooth and stretchy material that features interlocking knit so that they always retain their shape. These are true professional pants, so we wanted to give a nod here to our forefathers foremothers of women’s rights who help make a difference for good in the world!

4. The Zelie – The bi-stretch material on these pants make them perfect for mamas on the move. Not everyone sits all day at a desk, but even that requires comfort- trust me! The Zelie comes in both a straight leg and flare version. The name is French and it’s cute. Do we need more of a reason? But alas, we do. Zealous sometimes gets a bad rap, but it just means passionate. “Zel” also is derived from the meaning for envy, which we are sure you will be envied when you wear these to work.

That’s all folks. Make sure you send some desk selfies to us @motherhoodmaternity – we would love to see how you wear the pants, bring home the bacon, or fulfill the fruit of your labors [just in case you’re vegan!]

I crack myself up. -Daina

Back in the day, the 80s being the day, this company was started because a working pregnant woman could not find professional clothing that fit her and her career. So, Rebecca Matthias created her own expecting styles, and thus the birth of Mothers Work. Now we are called Motherhood® Maternity.

Our September campaign is all about how moms wear the pants, both figuratively and literally. We shot video and photography, capturing real mamas-to-be in our new work pants, and discussing how being pregnant has changed not only their lives, but their workdays too.

Emily is a teacher who works with young children. She has to be both comfortable and professional. She told us that since she is so petite, [I hear ya lady!] she dresses on the more business side of business/casual. We put her in our Cady maternity pants, which are skinny pontes, because she needs the extra stretchy material for getting on the floor with her students!

Leah lives for fashion. Before she changed careers, she had to wear a uniform to work, which she did during her first pregnancy with her son Braylon, 8 years ago. Now that she has more freedom, she has been using her best asset, her bump, to make style waves through her social accounts. Although she doesn’t need to be as professional anymore, we dressed her in our Zelie maternity pants, which comes in both straight and flare leg, because a woman wears many hats… or in this case, pants.

Rachel is a dermatologist who recently opened her own practice! Talk about a mama who wears the pants. This is her first time being pregnant and she is already wondering how her job is going to change once baby comes. She wants to be comfortable, since she is on her feet, and yet also professional because, you know… the whole doctor thing. We dressed her in our Bella maternity pants, which are made from a buttery smooth fabric. She is wearing seasonal shades of burgundy and olive in our skinniest leg shape.

Abby is a model mama and a model in general! She has a 4-year daughter with the cutest name, Cedar, and is pregnant now with a boy! For her, dressing for work looks very different than our teacher, doctor or office worker. In fact, that freedom may even pose more of an effort. This was her first time wearing maternity pants and she said it was life changing! She couldn’t believe how good they make her feel – how her blood is flowing properly, and she can truly breathe. Oh, and she looks downright amazing in our #1 maternity work pants, The Maia. She modeled them for us in ALL the colors, because when in Rome – or a studio in Center City, Philadelphia.

Speaking of The Maia, Laura is dressed in our postpartum version with compression. She is a mama of 2 who is a superhero that still is nursing her 1-year old daughter. Her nine-to-five requires her to look professional, especially as an office administrator. She wishes she knew about our nursing clothing for both of her previous pregnancies, because she did nurse at the shoot – in our clothes! The postpartum Maia pants are there to help with post-birth stomach muscle recovery. They kind of tighten everything in for a really smooth and seamless finish. The 4^th trimester doesn’t end after 3 months. Mamas’ bodies work in overdrive, which is why our clothes are there for the long-haul.

Next week I am going to break down the inspiration behind the names of the pants, so stay tuned! Until then… see you on the gram. #mymomtruths @motherhoodmaternity

Yours TRULY,
Daina