Belli to Belly

As a woman blooms into pregnancy, everyone around notices her how beautiful she is becoming… glowing, radiant and happy. Her hormones are in full drive and she has probably never “sparkled” more than during these nine months. However, those same hormones can affect her complexion (pregnancy acne, anyone?) not to mention a belly-full-of-baby can leave a few souvenirs in the form of stretch marks, once it shrinks back down to its normal size.

Advertisement

Zuma Rossdale Swims Ashore!

Stefani’s first born son, Kingston, has an 8 1/2 pound little bro named Zuma Nesta Rock – and man, the internet is a-blaze with speculation as to why the baby was named that.

Well, it seems pretty obvious to me, a fellow So-Cal girl, that the gorgeous stretch of Malibu shore called Zuma Beach could easily serve as inspiration. Duh!

Toast little Zuma with a drink created in honor of his big brother. The Kingston Krush is featured in the CelebriBaby Preggatini chapter in my book!

Bienvenue Brangelina Babies!

They’re heee-rre – and who doesn’t want to see the photos?

People Magazine reportedly paid upwards of $14 million to be the first to present the Knox and Vivienne to the world.

The babies were born in (my dad’s hometown) Nice, France on July 12. Oooh-la-la.

As if the French Riviera weren’t already glitzy enough!

Clean Your Baby the Green Way!

Method launches its line of baby and kid products!

I’ve been touring the country with Method on its “Detox America” campaign teaching The Liquid Muse Sustainable Sips cocktail classes to “greenies” from Seattle to Manhattan. Since becoming intimately acquainted with Method’s delicious smelling, non-toxic cleaning products, I use nothing but those in my home. And, now… I know what I will use on my future baby!

Meet a Mom-To-Be

TV Host Victoria Recano's Preggatini Party

I was honored to serve Preggatinis™  at Victoria Recano‘s fancy schmancy Hollywood baby shower at Ketchup, organized by the Hot Moms Club, last Saturday. Not only is Victoria a lovely and glowing mom-to-be but she loved the drinks. (Yay!)

In this photo she is toasting the cameras with the Yankee Doodle Candy mocktail. This drink has freshly juiced pineapple (I juiced them that morning!) as well as mango juice, a squeeze of lime and Fre(R) alcohol-removed sparkling wine. A swirl of grenadine gives the drink a layered effect… and in case you’re wondering… the glass is rimmed with Pop Rocks(R) candy, which snap, crackle and pop with every sip.

Other Preggatini™  Victoria loved were the Kingston Krush made with ONE coconut water and acai juice (found in the CelebriBaby chapter of the book) and the Preggie Provence featuring a homemade lavender syrup, organic lemonade and DRY lavender soda.

Guests were also treated to single serving sized samples of ONE coconut water in their goodie bags as well as a copy of “Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom-to-Be” and a jigger from The Liquid Muse. I’m including all three recipes here so you can make your baby shower a Preggatini Party(TM) too!

Kingston Krush (Martini Glass)
As featured in “Preggatinis: Mixology for the mom-to-be” by Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, The Liquid Muse
2 1/2 ounces ONE coconut water
1 1/2 ounces ONE açai juice
1/4 ounce lime juice
3/4 ounce red fruit simple syrup
1/2 teaspoon coconut flakes

Rim glass with coconut flakes. Pour all liquid ingredients into a mixing glass, shake with ice, then strain into a cocktail glass. Sprinkle with coconut flakes.

Yankee Doodle Candy Cocktail (champagne flute)
1 package pop rocks
1 1/2 ounces mango juice
1 1/2 ounces pineapple juice
1/2 ounce lime juice
1/4 ounce grenadine
1 ounce Fre® Alcohol-Removed Brut sparkling wine

Rim the champagne flute with pop rocks. Set aside. Pour juices into an ice-filled cocktail shaker, shake vigorously, then gently strain into the champagne flute. Slowly add the Fre Brut so it doesn’t fizz up over the rim of the glass. Last, slowly pour in the grenadine, allowing it to settle at the bottom of the glass, creating a layered effect.

Preggie Provençe (Rocks or Wine Glass)
As featured in “Preggatinis: Mixology for the mom-to-be” by Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, The Liquid Muse
2-3 white grapes, halved
3/4 ounce homemade lavender-rosemary syrup
1/2 ounce lemon juice
2 ounces lemonade
1 1/2 ounces DRY Soda® Lavender
1 lemon wheel
1 sprig of rosemary

Muddle cut grapes in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add lemon juice, lemonade and lavender-rosemary syrup then shake well, with ice. Strain into an ice filled glass. Top with lavender soda and garnish with a lemon wheel and sprig of rosemary.

©2008. All recipes are property of Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, of The Liquid Muse, LLC. They may not be printed, sold, or otherwise used without written permission from Natalie Bovis-Nelsen.

Are You Multi-Functional?

Vital Action Performance Water burst on the scene late last summer touting itself as a multi-functional beverage. Equipped with herbal-based supplements such to boost Energy (Panax ginseng), Stamina (Arginine), Immunity (Echinacea) and Recovery (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine), it also claims to have 100% of recommended daily intake of B3, B5, B6, B12, otherwise known as the “feel good” vitamins.

Organica? Totally!

Most people start out gung-ho with their New Year’s resolutions. Work out more. Eat healthily. Drink less alcohol. Blah, blah, blah. Luckily, a few new beverage products help make that a little easier.

ONE Healthy & Delicious Drink

Every once in a while, even the most ardent cocktail lover reaches for a thirst quenching, healthy, nonalcoholic beverage. Water is great but can be a bit, well, dull. Ice tea is fine but kind of blah. Sodas don’t hold much interest to a more refined adult palate. What to do?