Ready to laugh your way to firmer, sexier abs? Want reassurance that your life is way better than Gwen Stefani's? Need some tips on how to feel beautiful during pregnancy? Then you've got to meet Jenna McCarthy! Her hilarious book, The Parent Trip: From High Heels and Parties to Highchairs and Potties is truly LOL funny, plus it's honest and is packed with must-know tips. CafeMichelleL also thinks it's a great read.

I had a chat this smart and funny mom of two girls, and she gave great advice for soon-to-be and new moms on how to look and feel hot even if you can't fit in your pre-mom jeans. Jenna rules!


Jenna McCarthy's Style Tips for Super Moms

Just because you look like a linebacker who swallowed a toaster doesn't mean you should throw in the towel. Here are some tips for looking and feeling your best during the magical (and seemingly endless) expectant period and beyond:


  • Your old jeans won't button any more, but the maternity clothes you bought still swim on you. It may seem silly to invest in an interim wardrobe, but remember you'll wear it again on the flip side. You don't need to break the bank, but picking up a handful of basics will make getting dressed-now and later-infinitely less distressful. Best bets: A skirt with a fold-down waist, a flowy tunic, a pair of stretchy black low-rise yoga pants and a roomy hoodie (zip-front for easy access!).


  • For the love of leche, do not resort to the old hubby's-oversize-Beefy-Tee routine. You're a beautiful, fertile goddess-not a Biggest Loser contender. Insider mommy tip: Stockpile a dozen or so men's basic white tanks (dirt cheap!) and layer your regular fitted tees over them. They're about a mile longer than the women's version, so they keep you covered while giving you a chic, layered yes-I'm-really-this-put-together look.


  • Quick, look straight down. Yowza! Now that you've got it-flaunt it! Seriously. This is your chance to work the old plunging neckline like never before. Dust your décolleté with shimmery powder and take the girls out for a night on the town. (Your husband can come, too.)


  • Mineral makeup is a mom-to-be's best friend. It's totally baby-safe, offers varying degrees of coverage (dust it on dry for a sheer look or mix with water for a foundation-like finish) and doubles as sunblock, which is key for preventing the dreaded "pregnancy mask." Bonus: You can even sleep in it without worrying about waking up to a gnarly breakout. What broken capillaries?


  • Baby's sucking up all those nutrients you're ingesting, which is a good thing. The frizzy mop of hair you have as a result? Not so much. Weekly deep-conditioning treatments can help nourish parched tresses. Cheap trick: Warm up a little olive oil and get superdad to administer a relaxing scalp massage before bed. (Throw on an old ratty pillowcase first.) In the morning, apply shampoo directly to your scalp before wetting hair, then add water, lather, rinse and enjoy your silky locks.

 

Read more from Jenna McCarthy over at Pregnancy Buzz where she dishes on how to set up your baby registry.