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New Stuff
Here comes spring! Along with all of the cleaning and planting come the great new styles! March was good, but April and May will bring so many additions to our store we’ll have your head spinning. Check out some of the new stuff…
Mothers’ Day T Shirt
Who’s Your Mama? T Shirt
Fertile Goddess T Shirt
Knocked Up T Shirt
New fabulous Liz Lange
So, What’re We Doing for Mothers’ Day?
Well, being the mother of 2 very small children, I hate “Mothers’ Day”. Why? Because it should be WAY more than one day, for freaking God’s sake! So, we decided to alter the holiday to my tastes. We’re having Mothers’ Month, instead. :)
Mothers’ Month Show of Appreciation:
We’ll be adding a special temporary category for the month (April 6th through May 6th). Each week it will be filled with different items for which you will receive 10% off at checkout.
Free Shipping
Plus, free shipping off every order through Friday May 6th! (USPS Priority Mail)
Our $25 Gift Certificate Winner(s)
Thank you to all of our customers for the overwhelming response to our new breastfeeding t shirts! They were so popular we’ve decided to do one more design. You gave us your vote, (and there’s still time to do so, if you’d like to make your opinion heard, even though the contest is over) and there is a winner of the $25 gift certificate to the store (to hopefully use toward the purchase of the very nursing tee she helped create, huh?).
However, we got so many great responses, we decided to spread the love! We gave 2 runner-up prizes to the comments we loved the best (they say just what we’re trying to say with our shirts). We’ll paste them below.
Drum roll please…
Congratulations to:
Heidi Michael ~ Grand Prize Winner
Kendra O'Leary ~ $10 ~ keep the funny nursing shirts coming, it’s hard enough learning the skills of breastfeeding in public. If we all could just put a little humor into it, it would make our breastfeeding lives a little easier. You should have one that says "If you don't like what you’re seeing, LEAVE!"
Alicia Tretter ~ $10 ~ I chose these because I truly feel pregnant and nursing women are beautiful, sexy, and amazing. And there is just not nearly enough funky, fun, and cool clothing out there that allows us to maintain our pre-baby fashion style and uniqueness.
A Note on our Tees:
Some women commented that they didn’t like the word “Sexy” as it referred to the breasts or breastfeeding women, contributing to objectification, etc. But that’s SO not what we’re doing.
When I designed these shirts I wanted to show that I am not embarrassed about my body or the things I do with it. And I knew there were many others out there just like me.
I know that men stare at my breasts (heck women do! They’re Fs!) and enjoy them, and I have no problem with that. I can’t stop them, and wouldn’t want to. It doesn’t hurt me in the least. Does that mean I FLAUNT them at the mall and so on? Of course not. I just refuse to hide them or be ashamed of them, and I might as well celebrate them for the wonderful tools that they are, and show how proud I am of them and how I choose to use them.
But more importantly, my main goal was to “main-stream-ize” breastfeeding. We’re not afraid to wear/sell a t shirt that says “Your boyfriend left his boxers at my house”, but we’re afraid to say something humorous about the most beautiful and natural thing in the world? How preposterous!
I WANT these shirts to bring as much “sexy” and “flirty” into the life of a new mother (or 40 year old mother of 6, for that matter) as possible. First of all, who needs to feel a little sexy more than the leaking zombie with spit up in her hair? And secondly, the trend is called “SELF ESTEEM Tees” for a reason. Women in this retched hemisphere need a little self-esteem when it comes to breastfeeding.
The “theme” of our website is “Sexy” with an attitude of “If you’ve got it, flaunt it”, and while we’re not trying to promote objectification of the breast, we are trying to promote the attitude that no one should feel afraid or ashamed of their breasts and the wonderful gift that they are! That’s the number one real reason women fail at, or fail to even try, breastfeeding, and it ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO STOP NOW! You should embrace your breasts and all the power that they have.
Thanks for listening.
Interesting Info
As always, we’ve been busy adding some very interesting content to our site. Here is a sample of one of our articles (sticking with our NIP theme):
10 Tips for Breastfeeding in Public
Jessica Hudson: Owner Eva Lillian Maternity Dec. 20th 2003
Babies and mothers naturally belong together, and when you take your baby with you, breastfeeding is more likely to be successful. With a little planning and practice, you’ll be able to nurse easily and comfortably wherever you find yourselves.
1. Finding the right place
Every nursing pair has different needs when it comes to noise level, nursing position, and privacy. You and your child have a right to have these needs met, no matter where you are. If you feel at ease, the people around you will, too. If you are relaxed and confident, your baby will get started nursing more easily. Find a place where you’re comfortable, whether it’s a bench by a fountain, a chair in a dressing room, or a quiet corner of your favorite coffee hut.
2. Timing
Be alert for your baby’s signals of hunger. Find a place to sit and nurse at the first sign of her discomfort. Better still, take frequent breaks and breastfeed before you steer into the supermarket or head for the bank. Though not all babies are predictable, learning your baby’s rhythms will help you plan your outings so you are in a convenient place when she’s hungry.
3. Three steps to discreet nursing
1. Bring your baby close. Discreetly unfasten your nursing opening and your bra. 2. Help your baby latch on, then arrange your clothing to cover your breast. 3. Look up from your baby and resume your conversation, read a magazine, or watch the passersby. People tend to follow your gaze, so looking up will focus them away from what's going on under your shirt. In fact, most people will be unaware that you are breastfeeding. Accept that some people will be curious, and proceed with pride!
4. Create the mood
There’s no need to attract attention when you don’t want it. Fumbling with your clothes or looking around nervously will make people curious. Wear loose fitting tops or tops with nursing openings to minimize the amount of attention you give your clothing. Meet people’s eyes and smile, or create your own privacy zone by reading a book or engaging in conversation with a friend.“Remove yourself” without leaving the scene. Create a private space with the positioning of your body. Turning away from the crowd sends out a signal that you are not available for interaction. If you choose to, carry a scarf or baby blanket to drape over your shoulders as you nurse. A blazer or sweater can create privacy, too.
5. Going shopping
You’ll buy some extra time with a happy baby if you nurse in the car before you go into a mall or store. Once you’re inside, locate the lounges in your favorite shopping areas (fitting rooms are handy, too). Encourage stores to set up places for nursing; for instance, if there’s space for a chair, leave a note for the manager, or call with a suggestion.
Try nursing a younger baby in a baby carrier. Slings make it especially easy to position a baby to nurse while shopping. They’re very discreet, and the closeness is a bonus for both of you.
6. Traveling by bus, train, or plane
Even with the benefit of anonymity in a bus station or an airport, the sheer number of passing strangers can fluster you —and your baby. These are scenes far removed from the peaceful privacy of your home.Larger airports often have lounges for breastfeeding and diaper changing, but train and bus stations might not. If you feel more comfortable with privacy in these places, seek the remote seats in the waiting areas. A traveling companion with a newspaper can offer “cover” when you’re latching on or switching breasts. A small blanket or a shawl will provide some privacy for you and keep your baby warm. The less modest among us can use this as an opportunity to educate.Once you’re on-board, both your seat choice and your positioning can affect your comfort. Sitting beside a window keeps you away from the passing crowd and makes it less likely that your baby will be disturbed when nursing or sleeping.
7. A table for two — or more
There’s no reason you can’t enjoy a restaurant meal and feed your baby, too. Look for restaurants with private booths or tables. Choose a seat removed from the traffic flow. When you want to nurse, turn away to position your baby, then turn back to face the table. Remember the importance of body language and attitude. A smile will convert many people from surprise or disapproval to sympathetic understanding if your baby is fussing or nursing. If someone complains, explain that you are doing the best thing for your baby. If you’re still uncomfortable, ask for a more private table.
8. Dealing with family and friends
Not all of your friends and family members will be comfortable when you breastfeed in their company. Unfortunately, it’s often this pressure from others that makes women nurse in hiding — or wean prematurely. Remind your friends that you’re doing the best thing for your child, and remind yourself that their discomfort is their problem, not yours. You can be sensitive to those who seem uncomfortable, but don’t let them dissuade you from breastfeeding. With a little gentle persuasion, friends and family may soon be helping to create private space for you to nurse. Most passersby won’t give you a second glance.
Is your partner embarrassed when you breastfeed in public? Call your La Leche League leader for ideas and a schedule of meetings for couples. Watch how other mothers nurse at meetings. Give your partner articles about the benefits of breastfeeding, and talk about ways to increase your privacy, minimize discomfort, and support your decision to breastfeed. A partner who is a strong ally helps make the experience a positive one for all of you.
Encourage your partner to hold your baby as much as possible. Skin-to-skin contact is believed to stimulate production of the hormones that motivate protective, supportive behaviors in men as well as women.
9. The toddler challenge
Many mothers find that the higher activity level of their nursing toddlers brings about changes in breastfeeding. Although long nursing sessions probably aren’t at the top of most toddlers’ “to do” lists, toddlers do like to know the option is available, so they check in now and then for reassurance. If your toddler proceeds to undo the buttons on your shirt, pull off the blanket that covers you, or reach through your shirt for your other breast when you are away from your home, you might feel uncomfortable. Discouraging these habits at home will translate to more discreet nursing in public. Click here for more ideas.
If you aren’t in a position to nurse immediately, many toddlers are amenable to a certain amount of negotiation. Say “let’s look for a more private place,” or “you can nurse as soon as we get to the car” to hold off your child for the 30 seconds it takes him to get interested in something else. Just be sure to follow through on your promise.
10. Getting the support you deserve
Breastfeeding confronts the rules of our culture that breasts should be covered in public. Those who disapprove of breastfeeding in public probably aren’t focusing on its purpose: nourishment of children. When we sense disapproval from those around us, we tend to retreat to more private places — or find ways to stop nursing in front of others, which can be a disservice to our children and other nursing women everywhere.
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More interesting info at evalillian.com...
Farewell
Lastly, we always welcome feedback from our customers and potential customers. If there is anything we could improve, if there is anything we don't offer that you would like to see us offer, if there is anything we can do to make your shopping experience at Eva Lillian more pleasant, please let us know immediately.
