Annie&Isabel

Annie & Isabel ~ The Stylish Alternative to a Hospital Gown on Pinterest

2012-02-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

Guess what...we are on...

{follow us by clicking link}

If you or a loved one has been in the hospital and was

forced to wear a to standard issued hospital gown...

We think you might want to pin this!

If you don't know what Pinterest is, it's the fastest growing social

network at the moment...A virtual pin board of all your

favorite things found on the web and SOOO addicting!

{read more here}

Happy pinning & thank YOU!

If you'd like to pin your favorite hospital gown...

please check out our selection HERE. You never know...

someone you love might look at your pins and treat you to

dignity, comfort, and style during an upcoming hospital stay!

{FINAL GIVEAWAY} Hospital Bag Essentials :: The Bag + More

2012-01-30T12:29:00.000-08:00

We've had so much fun introducing our "Hospital Bag Essentials" list to all of you over these past weeks. We had every intention of wrapping up our giveaways shortly after the holidays, but as many of you know..life threw us a few curve balls. We are so thankful for all of your support and well wishes.

All the items on our essentials list are things that we, as registered nurses, know will make your hospital stay more comfortable, but often can be overlooked {see list below}. We have given away all the major items on our list and now we are going to offer you something FABULOUS to put them in. One last giveaway and this time there will be four chances to win!

Meet Morris + Terry.

Morris Terry is a local and sustainable lifestyle brand of stylish athletic and yoga wear. What especially attracted us to Morris Terry {besides their fab tie die pants and chic hoodies} is that they give back to our community. 100% of all sales of their MTX cotton canvas gym bag {pictured above} is donated to support foster youth in Sacramento. They recently were featured in People Magazine's StyleWatch 2012 and SELF Magazine.

ENTER TO WIN THESE 2 ITEMS FROM MORRIS TERRY

:: MTX GYM BAG :: 100 % COTTON CANVAS 100% GIVING BACK

:: MTX PULLOVER ::

TO ENTER this GIVEAWAY-

-LIKE Annie & Isabel on Facebook and post on our wall your choice : MTX Gym Bag or MTX Pullover {posting on our wall gets you entered}

-LIKE Morris Terry on Facebook and post on their wall telling them Annie & Isabel sent you. If you post on their wall they will pick one person to win a $40 gift card to their shop at the close of our giveaway. Their comfy and stylish pants are calling your name, right?!

BONUS ENTRY-

-TWITTER: follow @annieandisabel and tweet "Just entered an @annieandisabel #giveaway for fab @morristerry_MTX bag & pullover ENTER--> http://bit.ly/xjBYLr"

BONUS BONUS-

-JUST "like" our post on Facebook about this giveaway and we will enter you into a drawing for a $30 gift certificate to our shop.

GIVEAWAY OPEN FROM 1/30 TO 2/5 MIDNIGHT PST

**Giveaway is open to US residents only and winner will be picked at random. We were not compensated for this post and we chose to feature Morris Terry in our Hospital Bag Essentials Giveaways because we love their products and their mission.

Hospital Bag Essentials

Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown{s}

Flip Flops {For Showers & The Not-So-Clean Hospital Floors}

Comfy Socks {Preferably With Grippers}

Journal/Notebook {For Questions, Test Results, & Plan}

Shower Gel/Soap & Loofa

Room Spray

Cell Phone, Charger, Sound Dock & Your Favorite Playlist

Lip Balm/Gloss

Favorite Pillow & Blanket

Hard Candy/Gum/Snacks

Morris Terry Bag {giveaway 1/30 - 2/5 midnight PST}

I HAVE CANCER

2012-01-27T16:50:00.000-08:00

This is a post that I never imagined I would be writing. I don’t even really know how to explain it so I am just going to say it……I HAVE THYROID CANCER. I found out January 20, 2012…a day I will never forget. I’m sure every cancer patient can remember the day they were told they have cancer.

The day was a tough day all around. My sister, Selena, had just lost her mother-in-law to a terrible cancer at the young age of 67. We were all very close to her and she was also like a grandmother to my children. Our family drove from Sacramento to Fresno (about a 3 hour drive) to be with Selena and her husband for the funeral. As I sat at her funeral, in awe of what an amazing woman she was, I wondered to myself what my fate would be. I'm only 41 years old, but these are the kinds of things you start thinking about when someone you love dies of cancer at such a young age. Would I live a normal healthy life watching my four young boys grow, get married and have children of their own? Or….would I be faced with a diagnosis of cancer someday that might alter this path?

Ironically, and unfortunately, my question would be answered sooner rather than later. We drove back home from Fresno that day and rolled into town around 6pm. I had just answered a phone call from an Annie & Isabel customer when, at 6:30pm, my surgeon, who had removed the right side of my thyroid on January 11, 2012, called.

The words swiftly fell from his mouth…. “The pathology on your thyroid is back and you have cancer". I know it didn’t come out quite as harshly as that and he spent a lot of time talking with me over the phone, but the main thing I heard was “YOU HAVE CANCER”.

All the while, my husband was in another room getting dinner ready to put on the table and was completely unaware of the news I was taking in at that time. So you can imagine when I came around the corner sobbing, it took him completely by surprise. I cried like a baby the second I hung up the phone and fell into his arms. My children witnessed this too. My 8 year old later told me, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you cry mommy” and, really, he should never HAVE to see me cry like that!!

You see….I never for a second believed I would have thyroid cancer. My thyroid was removed due to the continued growth of a nodule in which I had two prior benign biopsies over the last four years. The cruel thing is that this particular type of cancer is nearly impossible to diagnose with biopsies.

While this has rocked my world over the last week, I have a lot to be grateful for:

* Thyroid cancer is one of the most curable cancers and most people do really well after treatment.

* The treatment itself is so much easier than treatments for other types of cancers.

* I have an amazing family to support me.

* I couldn't ask for a more supportive, loving husband to give me strength during this time.

* I have 4 beautiful boys that provide wonderful distractions for me.

* I have amazing friends and a wonderful school community that have already wrapped their arms around me.

* I get to show off my Annie & Isabel hospital gowns for a second surgery (ok…maybe I’m not so grateful for more surgery but the gowns are a plus!)

* I have a great surgeon who I know will take good care of me.

I want to thank everyone for all their support. I am amazed and overwhelmed with so many wonderful people that have started praying for me and my family and have offered to help in any way needed. I am truly blessed. This whole experience is very surreal, unbelievable and scary but I know I can get through it!!

You know…..sometimes the game of life throws us a curve ball. I just want CANCER to know: I PLAN TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HIT THE CRAP OUT OF YOU!!!! I’m a pretty good athlete too so you don’t stand a chance against me!

Beautiful Allisun & Baby Charlie in the "Annie" Designer Hospital Gown

2012-01-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since we posted a testimonial because we have been caught up with our "Hospital Bag Essentials"giveaways. We have one more giveaway coming up....so stay tuned!

Today's testimonial comes from Allisun who wore our "Annie" designer hospital gown. She took advantage of our partnership with Brenda Bisharat Photography and I think you'll agree......these pictures are adorable!!! Meet the beautiful Allisun with her baby girl Charlie.

"I loved wearing my gorgeous Annie and Isabel hospital gown when I had my baby... It was comfortable, BEAUTIFUL, and covered more than the traditional hospital gowns. Thank you so much for developing such a unique product!!"

Allisun ~ Sacramento, CA

Thanks for such a nice testimonial Allisun. Be on the lookout for our giveaway via FACEBOOK. If you have worn or gifted an Annie & Isabel gown and want to share your story, we would LOVE to hear from you. Please email us at wecare@annieandisabel.com

"Private Practice" Thursdays!!

2012-01-19T15:06:00.000-08:00

So it's Thursday!! Thursdays have taken on a whole new meaning for Annie & Isabel. In our minds, Thursdays are now "Private Practice Thursdays"!! As many of our fans know, our "Isabel" designer hospital gown has appeared on abc's, "Private Practice" several times......FOUR to be exact!

The Isabel designer hospital gown seems to be THE gown for Private Practices' Seaside Wellness Center:

We can't help but get SO excited when we see our Isabel gown on national television. The best part is that we never know when it will show up!!! We watch Private Practice each week in anticipation that our gown just might make an appearance on the show.

Since we have so much fun watching Private Practice, we wanted you to have fun too! For all you Private Practice fans and even for those who aren't.....tune into Private Practice at 10pm on Thursdays on abc. If you see our Isabel designer hospital gown during the show, post on our FACEBOOK wall that you saw it and you will be entered to win a gift certificate for 50% off one of our hospital gowns!! If the gown appears on the show we will count all posts appearing on our wall until 10pm the next day, Friday, PST. We will then choose one lucky winner for the gift certificate.

Have fun (we know we will) and keep your fingers crossed for more Annie & Isabel sightings on Private Practice!!

We will repeat this contest every week that a new Private Practice show is on. The contest is limited to U.S. residents only.

{GIVEAWAY} Bumble & Bumble

2012-01-17T19:34:00.000-08:00

Ready for another giveaway??!! We've really enjoyed sharing items that we think can help make your hospital stay more bearable. There are many more items than the ten that we are highlighting and we will fill you in on those at the end of our giveaways. Now on to our 9th item on the list....

You should NEVER have a hospital stay without some great shampoo and conditioner for your hair. When you are sick in the hospital or ready to get cleaned up after having that beautiful baby there is nothing that makes you feel better than a nice shower. Let's face it women....having our hair feel and smell good can also do a body good!!! That is why 9th on our Hospital Bag Essentials list is Bumble & Bumble's Quenching Shampoo, Conditioner, and Masque set.

We feel everyone should pack some of their favorite shampoo and conditioner because it can really help lift your spirits when you might not be feeling so glamorous in the hospital. We purchased this boxed set because it happens to be one of our favorites when choosing to spoil ourselves every now and then. Don't you think the packaging is fab too??!!

So 9th on our Hospital Bag Essential List......Bumble & Bumble Shampoo & Conditioner

1. Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown - giveaway closed
2. Your Own Shower gel, Loofa, Lotion & Lip Gloss Balm - giveaway closed
3. Comfy Socks - giveaway closed
4. Journal or Notebook - giveaway closed
5. Flip Flops - giveaway closed
6. Smart Phone, Sound Dock & Favorite Playlist - giveaway closed
7. Room Spray like Poo Pourri - giveaway closed
8. Swaddle Designs Baby & Adult Swaddle Blankets - giveaway closed
9. Your favorite shampoo & conditioner - enter via this post
10. ??

To enter this giveaway you can do ONE or ALL of the following:

1. LIKE Annie & Isabel on FACEBOOK AND LIKE this giveaway post on FACEBOOK

2. Share the FACEBOOK giveaway post by hitting the blue "Share" button underneath the post. This will post it on your wall and say:

"Go LIKE Annie & Isabel on Facebook. They sell designer hospital gowns for anyone having to spend time in the hospital and are having a great giveaway today so go enter now!!"

3. Tweet "Check out the great giveaway @annieandisabel is having and enter now-> http://bit.ly/Ab9bun "

If you share the facebook post, please comment on this post or on the facebook thread that you did as not all shares are visible to us.

This giveaway will end at midnight PST on Friday, January 20th. GOOD LUCK and remember........

*Giveaway is open to US residents only and winners will be picked randomly. We were not compensated for this post and we chose to feature Bumble & Bumble in our Hospital Bag Essentials list

{GIVEAWAY} Swaddle Baby, Swaddle Me!!

2012-01-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

We are very excited to resume our giveaways this week!! We have a few more giveaways up our sleeves for our "Hospital Bag Essentials List" and todays giveaway comes from another company that we LOVE.

Many of you may be familiar with Swaddle Designs as they have THE best baby swaddle blankets. I used these with my babies and they saved me!!! My babies were the ULTIMATE swaddle babies.

These swaddles are genius and it's no wonder. The owner, Lynette Damir, is a registered nurse. She came up with the inspiration for her company during her professional work of visiting families with new babies and noticing they often had difficulty learning how to swaddle their babies. She realized their was a huge need to develop a blanket that made it easy to swaddle a baby with little thinking or effort required and that is exactly what she did.

So...our first giveaway from Swaddle Design is a Swaddle Duo pictured below.

We didn't want babies to be the only ones spoiled, however, so we purchased one of Swaddle Designs' Adult Swaddle Wraps to give away!! Doesn't this look luxurious??

This is great for anyone having to spend time in the hospital from new moms to those battling an illness or recovering from surgery. It's even great if you aren't having to spend time in the hospital....who doesn't love to be snuggled up in a nice comfortable soft blanket??!! These come in lots of fun colors and the winner will get to choose their preferred color.

So 8th on our Hospital Bag Essentials List.....Swaddle Designs baby & adult wraps:

1. Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown - giveaway closed
2. Your Own Shower gel, Loofa, Lotion & Lip Gloss/Balm - giveaway closed
3. Comfy Socks - giveaway closed
4. Journal or Notebook - giveaway closed
5. Flip Flops - giveaway closed
6. Smart Phone, Sound Dock & Favorite Playlist - giveaway closed
7. Room Spray like Poo Pourri - giveaway closed
8. Swaddle Designs Baby & Adult Swaddle Blankets - enter via this post
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To enter this giveaway you can do ONE or ALL of the following:

1. Like Annie & Isabel on FACEBOOK AND like this giveaway post on FACEBOOK

2. Hit the "Share" button under this giveaway post on FACEBOOK to share on your own facebook wall and say "Go like Annie & Isabel on facebook and enter this great giveaway from Swaddle Designs!!"

3. Tweet "Enter a great giveaway from @annieandisabel for some @SwaddleDesigns baby&adult blankets http://bit.ly/wLYfDo"

This contest will end at midnight PST on Tuesday, January 10th. Good luck and happy swaddling...for little ones or yourself and remember........

*Giveaway is open to only US residents and winners will be picked randomly. We were not compensated for this post and we chose to feature Swaddle Designs in our Hospital Bag Essentials list. We were given the Swaddle Duo from Swaddle Designs to share with our readers.

{GIVEAWAY} Hospital Bag Essentials :: Everyone Poops

2011-12-15T10:04:00.000-08:00

Plain and simple....we are all human and everyone does it. We take measures to hide this fact, but when you're in the tight quarters of a hospital there is nowhere to hide. It can be very stressful and humiliating to create a not-so-pleasant smell while away from the comforts of home. Let's just say, you don't want your nurse to call a "Code Brown"....seriously.

We knew that some kind of room spray would make our "Hospital Bag Essentials" list. In our search for the perfect spray, we came across Poo-Pourri. The name caught our eye and we soon realized that Poo-Pourri is not your average room spray...It tackles the problem before it ever starts.. in the toilet. With a few sprays to the bowl, no one will ever know you were there.

Poo-Pourri sells products like...

Loo-Pourri ~ A Preemptive Bathroom Scent With a Touch of Elegance
No. 2 ~ Spray the Loo Before No.2 and No One Will Ever Have a Clue!
De'ja' Poo ~ You've Been Here Before, but Now with A Scent you Adore!
Royal Flush ~ Great Washroom Scents for all Distinguished Gents!

We don't want you to be caught in a "Code Brown" situation in the hospital or even at a friends house, so here is your chance to win your very own Poo Pourri! We will have SIX lucky winners. We have 2 gift sets {pictured below} and 4 other single bottles of Poo-Pourri to share.

So 6th on our Hospital Bag Essential List is.....Poo Pourri for your hospital room.

1. Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown - giveaway closed
2. Your Own Shower gel, Loofa, Lotion, & Lip Gloss/Balm - giveaway closed
3. Comfy Socks - giveaway closed
4. Journal or Notebook - giveaway closed
5. Flip Flops - to enter click here * closes midnight 12/15 PST
6. Smart Phone, Sound Dock & Favorite Playlist - to enter click here * closes midnight 12/18 PST
7. Room Spray like Poo Pourri - enter via this post
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To enter this giveaway you can do ONE or ALL of the following:

1. Like Annie & Isabel on FACEBOOK AND like this giveaway post on our FACEBOOK page

2. Tweet "Enter the @annieandisabel giveaway so you will never be caught in a #CodeBrown @poopourri1" http://bit.ly/sf91GH

3. Share our post on your facebook wall by hitting the share button on our post and saying "Enter the Annie & Isabel Facebook giveaway so you will never be victim to a "Code Brown" http://bit.ly/sf91GH

GIVEAWAY ENDS MONDAY 12/19 AT MIDNIGHT PST.

This gives you up to 3 entries into this contest!!! Good Luck and...

*Giveaway is open to only US residents and winners will be picked randomly. We were not compensated for this post and we chose to feature Poo-Pourri in our Hospital Bag Essentials list. We were given products from Poo-Pourri to share with our readers.

{GIVEAWAY} HOSPITAL BAG ESSENTIALS :: iPhone, iTunes, i-Everything

2011-12-14T13:38:00.000-08:00

We know that iPhones have certainly changed our lives....period. So, taking your smart phone to the hospital definitely made our Hospital Bag Essentials list. Having your phone not only keeps you connected to your friends and family, it allows you to time your contractions, capture your labor in pictures and video and play your favorite pick-me-up or push-baby-out music while in the hospital. Also, it makes it easy for you to post a pic of your new little one and you in your Annie & Isabel hospital gown to your Facebook wall or Twitter stream. {HINT HINT}

But, seriously... We are excited for this giveaway because ANYONE will love this.. not, just someone going to the hospital. We love Kate Spade and love her iPhone cases. We are giving away this zebra Kate Spade iPhone 4S case {which matches perfectly with our Susan hospital gown} and a $25 iTunes gift card to one lucky winner!!!

So...5th on our HOSPITAL BAG ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST is... your smart phone, sound dock, and your favorite playlist

1. Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown{s} - giveaway closed

2. You Own Shower gel, Loofa, Lotion, & Lip Gloss/Balm - giveaway closed

3. Comfy Socks - giveaway closed

4. Journal or Notebook- to enter click here *closes midnight 12/14 PST

5. Flip Flops - to enter click here *closes midnight 12/15 PST

6. Smart Phone, Sound Dock, & Favorite Playlist *enter below
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To enter this giveaway -

All you have to do is join our mailing list HERE. We will never spam you or give your email address out. We just want to send you special offers and happenings of Annie & Isabel now and then. Also, if you don't already like our page on Facebook.. we'd love that too!

This giveaway will run through Sunday December 18th at midnight PST. We will announce the winner Monday morning via email and on our Facebook & Twitter feeds. This giveaway is open to US residents only and the winner will be selected randomly. If we do not hear back from the winner within 72 hours and new winner will be picked. Good Luck!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We also wanted to recommend bringing a travel speaker set to the hospital. We emailed our favorites Bose and Koostick, but never heard back.. ha! Hey, it never hurts to try, right?

Here are a few examples of sound docks from most technical to just plain cool...

Bose Soundock® Series II digital music system - retails $299.99

and

Koostik, the "natural alternative to electronically amplified iPhone sound docks".

Each dock is hand crafted out of solid wood and made in America. We appreciate their values that ring so true with us. Koostik sells various sound docks for iPods, iPhones, and iPads ranging in price from $70-$90. How convenient would their docks be to pack in your hospital bag? No batteries or plugs and the sound is beautiful.

{GIVEAWAY} Hospital Bag Essentials :: Protect Those Feet With J Flops

2011-12-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

** GIVEAWAY **

There is NO reason that your bare feet should ever hit the hospital floors or, even worse...the dreaded hospital showers! You might like to think that hospitals are "clean", but take it from the registered nurses in your life...they are not that clean and actually house a mecca of superbugs and bacteria. ALWAYS pack a pair of flip flops in your hospital bag.

For today's hospital checklist giveaway, we are really excited to partner with Jennifer of J Flops. Jennifer started J Flops in 2006 for the pure joy of making girls feet happy and stylish and THAT she has! The custom craftsmanship behind each pair is undeniable. Jennifer sews all embellishments on by hand; from fun glitter and ribbon, to beautiful Swarovski crystals. J Flops make the perfect addition to your Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown!

We are giving away THREE $30 gift certificates to J Flops...

THE

There are 4 ways to enter this GIVEAWAY!

1. Like Annie & Isabel on Facebook AND like this giveaway post on our Facebook wall.

2. "reshare" {located next to the "comment" button} our Facebook post about this giveaway and say "Annie & Isabel is having a giveaway today"

3. Like J Flops on Facebook

4. Tweet out "Follow @annieandisabel & enter their giveaway for some fabulous flip flops here-> http://bit.ly/tGVnRr "

This gives you up to FOUR entries into this giveaway. Good Luck!!

This giveaway will close at midnight PST on Thursday December 15th. We will announce the winner on Friday morning on our Facebook wall. This contest is open to US residents only and the winner will be selected randomly.

So let's review our Hospital Essentials checklist so far:

1. Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown{s} - giveaway closed

2. Your Own Shower gel, Loofa, Lotion, & Lip Gloss/Balm - giveaway closed
3. Comfy Socks - to enter this giveaway click here *closes midnight 12/13 PST
4. A Journal or Notebook - to enter this giveaway click here *closes midnight 12/14 PST
5. Flip Flops - giveaway closes midnight 12/15 PST
6. ?
7. ?
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{GIVEAWAY} Hospital Bag Essentials :: Bring a KATE SPADE Journal!

2011-12-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

When a friend or loved one is stuck in the hospital and you don't know how to help them, here is a useful gift! Please read on.. so you can enter to win this fabulous journal from Kate Spade!

Are you are getting ready for a long hospital stay? Don't forget to bring a journal or notebook. When you are in the hospital...all the days tend to blur together. You lay in your hospital bed with emotions of uncertainty and questions, and when the moment comes and the doctors arrive...your mind goes blank! It happens every time. They are in a rush and you forgot that one thing you wanted to ask! I am always handing my patients paper to write down their questions.

Having a journal or notebook gives you a place to jot down all your questions, concerns, and test results. Just last week, as I cared for my patient in the ICU, his lovely wife was being his amazing advocate and writing down all the happenings of the day in her journal. Having a journal will allow you to keep everything organized and ready for when someone needs information about your hospital course.

So...4th on our HOSPITAL BAG ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST is... A Journal

1. Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown{s} - giveaway closed

2. You Own Shower gel, Loofa, Lotion, & Lip Gloss/Balm - giveaway closed

3. Comfy Socks - to enter this giveaway click here *closes midnight 12/13 PST

4. A Journal or Notebook

5. ?

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We love all things fabulous, so we purchased this Kate Spade journal to give away to our fans.

TO ENTER:

comment on this blog post with your email address AND/OR "like" our post on Facebook about this giveaway. We will put your name in twice if you do both!
You do not have to be heading to the hospital to win!

This giveaway will run for 3 days and will close at midnight PST on Wednesday December 14th. We will announce the winner on Thursday morning on our Facebook wall and via email if you've entered on our blog. This contest is open to US residents only and the winner will be selected randomly. You are not eligible if you have won a previous hospital bag essential giveaway this week.

*This post is dedicated to my friend Nicole Carillo. My son was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and was urgently admitted to the ICU when he was 2 years old and I was 8 months pregnant. Nicole brought me a journal, along with food for a week...and coffee every morning! I kept track of his lab results and updates from the nurses and doctors. I also wrote down all the names of the amazing medical staff that cared for him, so I could write them all thank you notes. I always cherish thank you notes from the patients I take care of and didn't want to forget the nurses and doctors that made our hospital stay so much more bearable. The journal Nicole gave me helped me after we got home from the hospital to process all that happened those two scary weeks. It helped me tremendously. Thank you Nicole!!! You are an amazing friend.

{GIVEAWAY 12/11-12/13} Hospital Bag Essentials :: Comfy Socks

2011-12-11T09:33:00.000-08:00

Yes... these are standard hospital socks THAT are just plain ugly! How are you supposed to feel better when you have these to look down at while you roam the halls? Today's "HOSPITAL BAG ESSENTIALS" item is your own cute and comfy pair of socks!

We love these shea infused lounge socks from Bath and Body. They are so incredibly soft and, more importantly, have grippers on the bottom {nurses don't like you to get out of bed without the grippers}. We are giving away one pair of each of the socks below....... these so beautifully match several of our designer hospital gowns.

To enter our giveaway today it's easy!

1. "like" our post on Facebook about this giveaway - - - {HERE}

Contest closes at midnight PST Tuesday 12/13 & we will announce our 3 winners on our Facebook wall. Contest open to US residents only and winner will be picked randomly.

{GIVEAWAY} Hospital Bag Essentials :: Don't Forget Your Lipgloss!

2011-12-09T07:53:00.000-08:00

I will never forget how it felt to shower for the first time after the birth of my first son in the hospital. It was amazing...yes, I said amazing! I have been a nurse for quite a few years, and there is nothing that grosses me out more than hospital showers. That is why I packed my own shower gel, loofa, lotion, and lipgloss for my stay. I was so thankful I had them when the long awaited shower came to fruition and the visitors started to trickle in to see my son. It may seem like such an afterthought to bring your own products, but it can make a huge impact on your stay.

So, next on our list of Hospital Bag Essentials are shower gel, loofa, lotion, and of course lip balm/gloss;)

We are thrilled to partner with alex + von consultant Anne Hamilton who is a breast cancer survivor and our Annie & Isabel warrior for this giveaway. After her victory against cancer, she started a blog "Livin' the Green" in which she educates and inspires all who subscribe to live a cleaner more healthy life. She has influenced us tremendously and even has us trading in our morning toast for green smoothies {sooo yum!} and shopping more organically for our families. When Anne announced that she was going to be a consultant for alex + von, a website dedicated to representing products and brands recommended and tested by women, we were listening. She introduced us to 100% Pure, a line of natural and organic skincare, bath and body products, and fruit pigmented cosmetics. Every product that we have tried...we have LOVED. Because the skin on our body is our largest organ, it is only fitting to nourish it with products that will not harm you.

We are honored to be able to share 100% Pure products with you. We will be giving away 2 baskets:

1 FRENCH LAVENDER BODY WASH, LOOFA, BODY LOTION, AND 1 MINT LIP BALM

AND

1 EUCALYPTUS BODY WASH, LOOFA, BODY LOTION, AND 1 MINT LIP BALM

To Enter:

Comment on this post & TELL US WHICH 100% PURE SCENT YOU WOULD WANT TO WIN :: FRENCH LAVENDER OR EUCALYPTUS
Like Annie & Isabel on Facebook and comment on our post "lavender or eucalyptus"
Like Livin' The Green on Facebook

For an Extra Entry

"share" {button next to like} about our giveaway on Facebook

*To be eligible to win this giveaway you must be a resident of the United States. The winner will be selected at random and your name will be entered as many times as you enter {up to 4}. Entries must be submitted by midnight PST this Sunday 12/11. We will announce the winner on our Facebook wall Monday morning. Good Luck!

Please take a moment to check out alex + von and 100% Pure! We know you will love the products too!

LET THE GIVEAWAYS BEGIN..........WHO INSPIRES YOU?

2011-12-04T09:03:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of the holiday season, we would like to introduce our "HOSPITAL BAG ESSENTIALS" giveaway campaign that will run for the next two weeks! We have partnered with some of our favorite brands and purchased other products that we feel are necessary in making any hospital visit more comfortable. As nurses, we know what you REALLY need and we can't wait to share these items with you.

We will be giving away TWO Annie & Isabel hospital gowns throughout this campaign. What better way to kick off the fun than with a FREE Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown....THE most important item in your hospital bag.

If you know anything about our company, you know that all our hospital gowns are named after women who have inspired us. We want to know who has inspired you.

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is tell us about a person who inspires you on our Facebook wall. Sometimes pictures help to tell your story, so we invite you to include a picture with your post if you so choose, but it is not required.

Now for the fun part.....the person with the most likes on their story will win the Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown. We will ask our followers to vote on their favorite post and encourage you to invite your Facebook friends to help you win by liking your story.

This contest will end on Thursday, December 8th at midnight PST. Good Luck and we can't wait to hear your stories!!

READY, SET.........GO ----> FACEBOOK

and remember.......

Esther's Testimonial and An Appearance on the TV Show "The Doctors"!

2011-11-30T10:47:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest rewards of having our company, Annie & Isabel, is the opportunity to come into contact with , learn from and often be inspired by the amazing women that wear our designer hospital gowns. The women that share their stories with us always remain in our hearts and often in our prayers as they battle a disease or deal with unusual diagnoses or circumstances. The testimonial we are sharing today is no different. This testimonial comes from, Esther, who is a young mother of two beautiful children. We were contacted by Esther because she was interested in wearing one of our designer hospital gowns to recover from a rare surgery to correct a condition called Pectus Excavatum. The surgery Esther endured to correct this condition was very invasive and required a lengthy recovery. We were so happy that Esther was able to enjoy wearing one of our hospital gowns to provide some comfort, dignity and a little style during her hospital stay!!

We have been anxious to share Esther's testimonial with you because her story may be featured on the television show, "The Doctors"!

A part of her surgery was filmed for the show in order to share her story in hopes that it can help anyone else dealing with this condition. While our hospital gown was not filmed during the pre-operation and surgery it still feels pretty cool to know that we played a small part in Esther's successful surgery and recovery.

Esther is a 33 year old woman who is married and the mother of two beautiful children. She was born with Pectus Excavatum which is a congenital condition in which a person's sternum and several ribs grow abnormally, causing a large indent in a person's chest. People can live symptom free of this condition but in more severe cases it can cause problems. Esther had never had problems until she had her second child. It was at that time that she began experiencing shortness of breath, a racing heart and an inability to physically exert herself to a normal activity level. She also had severe pain in the middle of her chest that she described as the feeling of "a knife being plunged in one end and out the other." She realized that she needed to undergo a pretty radical surgery in which a metal bar is placed in her chest to hold up the chest wall and allow her muscles and tendons to grow and strenghthen and learn their "new" position, at which time the metal bar will be removed.

Esther has undergone a very painful and long recovery but we are happy to report that she is beginning to get back to her normal daily activities with a much higher quality of life. This surgery has been a life savor for both Esther and her family!

Esther recovered in style with her "Susan" Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown. While you can tell she had just undergone a major surgery, she looked pretty good in her hospital gown!

Here is what she had to say about wearing her Annie & Isabel hospital gown:

"I absolutely LOVED the "Susan" hospital gown. It made me feel like a human being at a time when my entire world had turned upside down. I felt like a woman wearing the gown and not a specimen or science experiment. It was very pretty and beyond pretty. It was fun and had personality. I also got many compliments about the gown, and that felt really good and made me feel a whole lot more comfortable given that I had just had a metal bar literally shoved into my chest, and wasn't feeling so hot in general. I also liked the thickness and quality of the material and how when it covered my body, it was not revealing in the slightest. I appreciated the modesty it afforded me, both laying in the bed, and walking around the hospital wing. All in all, I was so happy to have such a pretty gown to recover in."

Thank you for such a nice testimonial Esther. We know you will be enjoying a much better quality of life and can now fully enjoy playing with those beautiful children of yours!

"I Cheated Cancer"

2011-11-09T09:55:00.000-08:00

Today's "Wednesday Warrior" is Patricia Brett. Patricia's immediate and extended family have been ravaged by breast cancer. She has lost loved ones and has seen several family members suffer through surgeries and treatments to beat breast cancer. Patricia herself, feeling like it was only a matter of time before she would have breast cancer, underwent a prophylactic double mastectomy to give herself a chance to live a long life and be able to enjoy seeing her son grow up. She tells her story so well below. What we really love about Patricia is that she used this awful experience to help other breast cancer survivors by creating a product to help women feel better about themselves after losing their breasts. Please read Patricia's story below to find out more about her family history with breast cancer and the amazing product she developed to help breast cancer survivors!!

"I cheated cancer.

These three little words would be enough to satisfy most people for a lifetime. For me, it simultaneously signaled the end of one journey and the start of a new one. It also taught me there is a real truth to the old saying "everything comes full circle."

I grew up in Ravenna, OH, the youngest girl in a family of 11 children. My father, the oldest son in a family of ten, had the added responsibility of looking after his siblings. This included his youngest sister Veronica, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41. I went with him to visit her in the hospital and remember him bringing her wigs. I knew he was thinking, "If only she could look better she would feel better, and then she'd get better." Sadly that wasn't to be the case. Including Veronica, who passed away at age 44, my dad lost three of his six sisters to breast cancer, all at young ages. I always knew, even as a child, that breast cancer was somehow "in the family". I wouldn't realize just how much until many years later.

In February 1998, my sister Regina was diagnosed with breast cancer - at age 41. She had to undergo the full treatment - mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. The first in my generation, she was soon followed by three first cousins, all about my age or younger, including two of Veronica's daughters. Later, more cousins were diagnosed, two with breast cancer and one with ovarian cancer.

It turns out that my family carries a genetic mutation that predisposes us to breast and ovarian cancer. The cold hard facts - while there is a 50% chance of having the BRCA1 gene, if you do have it, there is up to an 85% chance of getting breast cancer in your lifetime. And with my family history, it wasn't "if", it was "when".

In early 2002, I tested positive for the BRCA1 gene. Of the six girls in our family, only my sister Regina and I carry the gene. I always knew I was like my father. The person from whom I inherited the genes for blue eyes, long skinny legs and hard work ethic, passed along to me a genetic mutation for breast cancer. Luckily, he never knew this himself, having passed away before our discovery.

After a whole summer spent worrying about whether or not I had breast cancer, followed by surgical biopsies (all negative!) I decided to eliminate my risk. So, in January 2003, I had a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. I was 39. My son had just turned two and I knew I needed to be around to see him grow up. Four years later, in May 2007, after a long and difficult decision-making process, I had my ovaries removed. While these measures may seem drastic to some, it was the only way I could insure that, at the very least, breast or ovarian cancer would not prevent me from some day attending my son's wedding or seeing him graduate from college.

Strangely enough it was a wedding, or more specifically, Regina's visit to New York in search of a dress for her daughter's wedding, that started my entrepreneurial wheels turning. She wanted something beautiful, sexy and elegant, which could also accommodate her thick-strapped bra and breast forms (she calls them "Thelma and Louise"). We scoured all of Manhattan and found nothing. She ended up wearing the same simple, black, tank-style column dress she had worn to countless other events. It just struck me, after everything breast cancer survivors have to contend with, finding something to wear shouldn't be yet another challenge.

Then, in October 2007, not long after my ovarian surgery, I joined Regina and her then 29 year-old daughter Gabe for a girls' weekend. Gabe, who inherited the BRCA1 gene from her mother, had scheduled her own risk-reducing bilateral mastectomy for December of that year. Like her mother, she opted not to have reconstruction. For perspective, this was my 5'2", blond-haired, blue-eyed, tiny, beautiful, recently married niece who wore cute little camisoles with colorful bra straps peeking out! While she had made peace with the idea of surgery, she spent the weekend venting, "I'll have to give away my entire wardrobe!" or "The mastectomy swimsuits are all floral with horrible little skirt bottoms." You get the picture.

That Monday I came back to New York, pulled out my sketchbook and began to draw. At the same time, I drafted a rough business plan with the (admittedly) unglamorous working title 'Fashions for Women - Post Mastectomy'. I joked, "If I can design a building, surely I can design a bra or swimsuit?!" After all, I did have a Master of Architecture degree from Yale! Armed with inspiration from my sister and my niece, I set out to create something to help both breast cancer survivors and pre-vivors (a person like me, who has not been diagnosed with cancer, but has survived the higher risk of cancer) look and feel like a million bucks again.

I made the first swimsuite myself, fashioned from a store-bought pattern that I modified to add coverage where needed, cut it a bit sexier where I could and added pockets that allowed for breast forms. It was totally crude - the suit barely held together, the leg seams and armholes weren't even finished.

The next time my sister came to New York for a visit, I asked her to try it on. Almost immediately her eyes lit up, she burst into tears and started twirling like a little girl.

"This is the sexiest thing I've worn in ten years!" she declared. "This could be the bodice of a dress, a shirt, a body suit...!"

Since then, I've worked with more patternmakers, sample sewers and factories than I care to admit. It's a technical, well-engineered solution that requires a high level of expertise. Maybe that's why some of those other suits looks the way they do. But I kept at it, knowing that, if I was successful, one day women all over the world would have the opportunity to twirl around like my sister and feel fabulous all over again.

The brand, which debuted in Spring 2010, is named veronica brett, in honor of my aunt Veronica who we lost to breast cancer 35 years ago. She was beautiful, intelligent, elegant, and an inspiration. I want every woman who wears a product bearing her name to feel the same way, and to truly believe our philosophy that "LIFE NEVER LOOKED SEXIER".

These pictures are of one swimsuit that Patricia designed and is modeled by breast cancer survivor and activist, Stephanie LaRue. Please visit Patricia's beautiful website, Veronia Brett, to see many more. You can also find her company on FACEBOOK and TWITTER.

The "Annie" Hospital Gown Brings Comfort During a Tough Pregnancy and Hospital Stays

2011-11-07T12:59:00.000-08:00

Today's testimonial comes from Michelle who is a friend and co-worker of mine. Michelle is an Emergency Room nurse and knows, first hand, how terrible standard hospital gowns are. She was excited to purchase her own Annie & Isabel gown well before her sweet little daughter was born. It was a good thing Michelle ordered her gown early, because, unfortunately she had some unexpected hospital stays during her pregnancy.

Michelle picked the "Annie" designer hospital gown to wear during her hospital stays and gave us a very nice testimonial below:

"I wanted to let you know how much I loved having my gown for my hospital stays during my pregnancy. I was admitted a couple times during my pregnancy due to preeclampsia and it was hard to be away from my young son and husband; especially not having my baby yet to keep me occupied. It was really nice to have a hospital gown that I was comfortable in, and that smelled like home during those stays. I got so many compliments from nurses, doctors, and other patients during my stays and while being stuck on bedrest in the hospital was hard, it made me feel a bit better being able to wear something of my own style and that I knew was clean. The gown was wonderful during the frequent fetal monitoring. It was also great to wear after the birth of my daughter. I loved having the snaps on the sleeves to help with pumping and since my little one was in the NICU I had to pump often. The pocket was wonderful to put my camera and cellphone in during my visits to see my daughter. I will definitely recommend these gowns to my friends - it's so nice to wear something of your own during hospital stays, and the gowns are perfectly designed for monitoring, breastfeeding, pumping, and walking to and from your room while maintaining modesty."

Congratulations and thank you Michelle!!! Your new family of four is beautiful.

KCRA Channel 3's Leticia Ordaz Welcomes a New Baby Boy!!

2011-11-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

It is such a pleasure to share this beautiful testimonial from Leticia Ordaz today. For those of you that are local to Sacramento, you probably recognize Leticia Ordaz. She is a news reporter for KCRA Channel 3. She is a beautiful person inside and out and recently welcomed her first child into the world. We feel so honored that she wore one our "Isabel" Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown during her hospital stay. We also, once again, have the most amazing pictures to share with you from Brenda Bisharat Photography, who captured the first precious moments of the Ordaz's new family together. These are some photos that we know Leticia and her family will always cherish.....such a beatiful family!

Leticia wore the "Isabel" designer gown during her hospital stay. Here is what she had to say about her experience wearing her Annie & Isabel hospital gown:

"I wanted to let you know I absolutely loved my designer Annie and Isabel hospital gown. Your blue "Isabel" gown made me feel so glamorous after giving birth. The hospital staff at Sutter, along with my friends and family commented that I didn't look like I had just been through hours of labor. The gown made me feel beautiful. Thanks for creating a wonderful garment for new mothers. Brenda Bisharat's beautiful photos really helped capture my joy of becoming a mother for the first time. I can't thank you enough for making my special day even more memorable. I loved the gown so much, I have the picture of me and my sweet son Maxton on my facebook profile."

Leticia Ordaz ~ Sacramento, CA

Our "Isabel" designer hospital gown will be making it's second appearance on national television tomorrow night on abc's Private Practice! Watch the preview here to see Addison, played by Kate Walsh, in the gown. This episode airs Thursday at 10pm.

Happy Birthday Mom! :: ONE DAY Susan Designer Hospital Gown {birthday} SALE

2011-10-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

Tonight our family will be going out to dinner to celebrate our mom and best friend Susan's birthday. She taught us the importance of family and we are SO blessed to have her as our mom! She has always supported us in everything we've done...from following her footsteps to careers in nursing to starting Annie & Isabel, which has been more wonderful than we ever could have imagined! She is always there to listen and knows just what to say...or not! As most of you know...we named our "Susan" zebra print hospital gown after her. With each gown that we ship out, a card is laid upon it with these words that say it perfectly...

To celebrate her birthday...We're offering a one-day-only 20% discount on The Susan Gown. Use the code "CelebrateSusan" today {October 27th} in our shop.

Happy Birthday Mom! We love you SO much!

::Wednesday Warrior:: Brandie's Story

2011-10-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

We are happy to introduce you to this weeks Annie & Isabel "Wednesday Warrior", Brandie. We have been following Brandie's blog and battle with breast cancer for the past 6 months and find her to be such an inspiration! She is currently rockin' her "Annie" Annie & Isabel hospital gown for radiation treatments. We'd love if you read Brandie's story below then leave a comment or visit her blog to cheer her on! She has been feeling exhausted this week from radiation and we hope our Annie & Isabel love will bring her a smile today!

"Just about 6 months ago, my world was turned upside down when I learned I had breast cancer... Hearing the news was just so shocking. I imagine it's always shocking to get that sort of news, but the thing is... I had no idea I might even have cancer. You see, my mom had breast cancer when she was 30. So my doctor sent me to get my baseline mammogram solely based on my mom's history. The doctor even told me she didn't see anything going on, so don't worry. It was just going to be a baseline. When the mammogram showed that something was going on and I found myself having to get a biopsy, none of it seemed to make sense.

I am 31 years old. I have 3 kids to raise. Breast cancer had no place in my life. And yet, there I was, trying to process some of the hardest news I've had in my life. The doctor appointments felt never ending. Decisions has to be made. Treatment plans mapped out. Babysitters to be found and a huge fight that needed to be fought.

3 weeks after diagnosis, I was at the hospital having a double mastectomy. My hospital stay?... It was the longest I'd been away from my two youngest kids, and only one other time was I away from my oldest for that long. It was so hard.

A month later... chemotherapy started. 16 weeks of chemotherapy - 4 different medicines being pumped into my body.

Now it's time for me to start radiation. It has gotten off to a rocky start... there were some issues with being able to get the radiation to where I needed it to be. Thankfully, those issues are resolved so now I can get back to kicking cancer's butt.

Brandie {far left} with her parents and sisters

I won't lie. It is hard. This road is full of many bumps, some bigger than others. The love and support from my family and friends have helped me get through it all. The other thing that has helped me get through this is blogging. I love having that outlet. I've been honest- maybe too honest some days - on my blog about everything going on. It's been such an important part of the acceptance process and the healing process. For me being able to share, has taken away the power of cancer and put it back into my hands. So much right now is out of my control. The feeling like I'm getting some of it back...? Well, that's amazing!!"

Brandie's Blog :: http://journeyof1000stitches.blogspot.com/

Brandie in her Annie hospital gown ready to take on radiation....in style!

ABC Primetime Drama Private Practice Features Annie & Isabel Hospital Gowns!

2011-10-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

A few months back we received an order for twelve Isabel gowns in various sizes from ABC Studios! We couldn't help feeling SO excited at the thought of Annie & Isabel making it's primetime debut! Last night was the night! Our Isabel gown was spotted in the Oceanside Wellness Group of Addison's "Private Practice". Here are a few screen shots and a link below so you can see it for yourself. We must say that the actress looked gorgeous and the gown looked so beautiful on her, don't you think?! Thank you to everyone for you support and excitement along with us!

Watch the episode HERE on ABC.com

{2 minutes 10 seconds into the episode...not too long to wait!}

Wednesday Warrior ~ Breast Cancer Survivor Makes Her Passion Her Mission

2011-10-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

Today's Wednesday warrior is Elyn Jacobs. Elyn, her mom, and sister all battled breast cancer. Elyn was her mom's main advocate and it was this experience as well as her own that made her realize how important it is to have someone be an advocate for you when going through a diagnosis such as cancer. As nurses we KNOW this to be true. We feel blessed to be in the medical field and have used our knowledge to advocate for many family members and friends during their own medical ordeals.

Elyn was so passionate about the need for people to have advocates when dealing with a cancer diagnosis that she left her job on Wall Street, where she had worked for 23 years, to start her own business of being what she calls a "cancer coach." She helps anyone dealing with a cancer diagnosis navigate through the medical system. Her story is wonderful and we feel so strongly about what she is doing that we thought she was the perfect person to be our Wednesday warrior!! When you read her story below, you will know why she is such a brave warrior in a world that can be hard to navigate with a cancer diagnosis.

"My mother succumbed to breast cancer in 2007, after a long, grueling battle. I was diagnosed just prior to her death and my sister a year later. My mother always said “I never meant to get cancer.” Nobody intends to get it and nobody should ever feel at fault for getting cancer. I never meant to get it either, so after battling breast cancer I realized that I would do everything possible to avoid a recurrence. I began with extensive research to better understand the causes which led to certain lifestyle changes I have made. Cancer is a multifactorial disease. Simply put, several elements combine to either produce or eliminate a cancer cell. By changing the environment in which cancer was permitted to grow, you reduce its ability to take hold again. I exercise, but no longer so intensely that I compromise my immune system. I gradually changed my diet to a mostly plant based one, and cut back on my wine intake. Some people eat to live and some live to eat. I do both, I just make better choices now and concentrate on foods with cancer fighting nutrients. I take supportive supplements to strengthen my immune system. I have taken steps to reduce my stress, adding yoga and other relaxation modalities into my routine. I avoid situations that I know will be stressful, such as opting to take a taxi rather than drive on a rainy day in traffic.

Elyn with her beautiful boys

From beginning to end of my journey, I had an incredible team of doctors who empowered me to take control of the situation. My questions were answered, my voice heard. When faced with a life threatening disease, you can acquire amazing strength if you have a solid plan and strong team behind you. I reflected on my mother’s ordeal, and in remembering all the errors and near mishaps, I came to realize that likely my experience was far better than most.

Elyn's mother 4 months before she succumbed to breast cancer

My mother’s journey was strife with episodes of doctor’s orders, not teamwork, and I had to intervene many times. I remember one particularly disturbing occurrence. She had just endured some substantial surgery for recurrence when her doctor called to say a follow up scan detected a spot on her lung. The doctor recommended a biopsy procedure resembling open heart surgery. I explained that my mother was very weak and that such invasive surgery would kill her. The doctor gave us no options. I began calling other facilities to see if there was some other way. I soon learned that my mother could likely have a needle biopsy. I called a doctor I knew at the New York City location of my mother’s cancer center and asked why this was not an option for her. He calmly explained that of course it is, but that the adjunct facility simply is not aware of this option. I was stunned. This was a prominent cancer facility. The needle biopsy was performed in New York, no cancer; we could have lost her to an unnecessary surgical biopsy. Many women find it a challenge to find a doctor who can hear and respond to her opinions and questions, and all too often women are pushed into a path for treatment that does not suit her core needs or desires.

I found my new passion. I wanted to be the voice. I wanted to make sure that all women were heard by their doctors and received the best possible care. I wanted to help women to reduce their risk of recurrence. I wanted others to know the value of complementary therapies during and post treatment. I wanted to help others get past their cancer and into cancer-free lives. I became a cancer coach.

Elyn's favorite spot...the beach in front of her parent's beach house...beautiful!!

I have been successful in helping women better understand their diagnoses and treatment options and in helping them choose the right team and path for treatment. Cancer treatment requires an individualized plan, as every cancer is unique and there is not one plan for treatment that fits the needs of all.

Information is power. My goal is to get this information to women and to empower them to make the best choices for them, for their cancer. I accompany women on visits to the doctor where I take notes and ensure the tough questions get asked. I know that under these circumstances, it is very difficult to concentrate on all that a doctor is saying. Together we choose a team, even if that means second or even third opinions and firing a few doctors. Once team and treatment plans are chosen, we work together through the process. I feel strongly that no woman should have to face cancer alone.

My role is not often easy, but I want to make a difference. Helping others has helped me to heal, and the appreciation of my clients tells me I am making a difference."

To learn more about Elyn's mission and clients, please visit:

Elyn Jacobs Consulting, Inc

Shannon Welcomes Her Third Daughter In The Elizabeth & Annie Designer Hospital Gowns

2011-10-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

We have been so excited to post this beautiful testimonial from Shannon which chronicles the arrival of her third daughter. You may recognize the gorgeous work from Bisharat Photography and we feel honored that our Annie & Isabel designer hospital gowns were the backdrop to such a special day! Brenda Bisharat is available to photograph your birth if you live in the Sacramento area, something that we both did with our youngest sons - unfortunately before Annie & Isabel came about! She took these photographs of Shannon before, during, and the day after her daughter arrived. Thank you to Brenda and to Shannon for sharing them with us!

Here is what Shannon wrote about her experience wearing her Annie & Isabel designer hospital gowns:

"During my pregnancy, I learned that one of my daughter's classmates mom was one of the designers of Annie & Isabel. I knew then that I had to don one of these adorable gowns during my hospital stay for baby # 3.

So, it was such a treat when during my maternity photo session, our wonderful photographer, Brenda Bisharat, surprised me with two beautiful Annie & Isabel gowns. We were expecting our third daughter - so the Annie and Elizabeth were perfect. The gowns were washed, ironed and packed weeks before my due date - just in case! There was no way I would wear any old gown."

"While at the hospital in labor, I wore the Elizabeth. I walked and walked that short hallway in my adorable gown and heads turned every time! Nurses and other patients couldn't help but comment and ask where I got it - or if it was provided by the hospital. I proudly replied, "No, it is Annie & Isabel - it was a gift." Big belly and all, I received tons of compliments."

"Even as the team of doctors and nurses came in when the baby was born, they couldn't believe how adorable the gown was, and that I was actually wearing it during labor! The yellow and fun polka dot pattern made me feel so happy and comfy."

"Once I was moved up to my private room, I changed into the Annie gown. It was so nice to feel "pretty" just after delivery! And to be so comfortable, I felt like a princess!"

"Thanks to Brenda Bisharat and Annie & Isabel for helping us moms feel extra special! I only wish I had them for my first two deliveries:-)."

~Shannon, Sacramento, CA

Do you know about our partnership with Brenda Bisharat Photography for local moms-2-be?

With the purchase of an Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown, Brenda Bisharat will come to the hospital the day after your delivery for a complimentary photo session of you and your new baby! In addition to the session, Brenda includes a free 5x7 and will put up a nice slideshow that you can share with family and friends. Click the link below for more information.

Brenda Bisharat Photography Partnership

The Blessings of Caregivers

2011-10-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

October is breast cancer awareness month and we thought it would also be nice to bring awareness to caregivers....the very people that directly support their loved ones through a cancer diagnosis. These are mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, husbands, wives, companions and friends. We saw this video on the blog of Erika Sudz, who is also battling breast cancer. This beautiful video by Martina McBride was so touching that we also wanted to share it as it is a a true testament to the caregivers in the lives of those who battle any chronic illness.

If you had a caregiver that helped you through a tough time or you were a caregiver, please share your story by commenting at the end of this post.

She dropped the phone and burst into tears
The doctor just confirmed her fears
Her husband held it in and held her tight
Cancer don’t discriminate or care if you’re just 38
With three kids who need you in their lives
He said, "I know that you’re afraid and I am, too
But you’ll never be alone, I promise you"

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong
When you let go, I’ll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can’t take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.

She made it through the surgery fine
They said they caught it just in time
But they had to take more than they planned
Now it's forced smiles and baggy shirts
To hide what the cancer took from her
But she just wants to feel like a woman again
She said, "I don't think I can do this anymore"
He took her in his arms and said "That's what my love is for"

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong
When you let go, I’ll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can’t take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.

And when this road gets too long
I'll be the rock you lean on
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.
I’m gonna love you through it.

Bras and Quilts to Support Breast Cancer

2011-10-06T13:32:00.000-07:00

While I was at work on Monday I had to run to get a TB test which nurses working in the Emergency Room are required to do annually. The test was administered in one of our buildings across the street, the Sutter Cancer Center. As I ran over there I was struck by a sea of beauty!! I forgot that, because it is breast cancer awareness month, there would be a huge display of quilts all around the building. Each quilt is auctioned off and all the proceeds go to support breast cancer research and treatment programs through Sutter Medical Center. It is such an amazing program and a great way to touch the hearts of so many people. The quilts are left up in the building for the month of October and each quilt is usually made in honor of someone who battled or is battling cancer.

I thought I would share the news story our local television station, KCRA channel 3, recently aired showing off the beautiful quilts as almost all of us have been touched by cancer in some way.

Bras Created Out of Quilt Patterns

One of the programs supported by this auction is the Navigator Program which we also support through the sales of our Annie & Isabel "Elizabeth" hospital gown. Mary Pare, who runs the Navigator program, speaks in the video clip above. You can read how we are giving back here:

Annie & Isabel Gives Back to Support Breast Cancer Patients

If you are interested in looking at more of the quilts or bidding on them online you can go to the Sutter Medical Center website link below:

The Breast Cancer Quilt Auction

::Wednesday Warrior:: Anne Is "Livin' The Green" After Being Diagnosed With Breast Cancer While She Was 8 Months Pregnant

2011-10-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

We thought we would kick off our October "Annie & Isabel Warrior" features with Anne Hamilton who has an inspiring story and is such a great example of living your best life! Anne was 8 months pregnant with her third son when she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. We first learned about Anne's story when several people ordered our hospital gowns for her to wear during her upcoming birth and surgeries. We thought that was such a testament to what a special person she is {and now WE know that to be SO true!}.

Anne is cancer free {woohoo!!} and has started a beautiful blog that follows along in her journey to lead a healthy and clean lifestyle called Livin' The Green. We know that life is busy and there is never enough time, but we highly recommend subscribing to Anne's posts {top right corner of her blog} and you will be happy that you did. It took having breast cancer for Anne to basically change her life overnight... but, even if you make small changes... they all add up, right?!

Anne is now a beauty consultant for 100% Pure. All products are synthetic-, fragrance-, paraben-, and toxin free. We have tried a few of her products and love them! We LOVE the organic coffee bean caffeine eye cream. To learn more about 100% Pure - read HERE.

Here is Anne just moments after her sweet boy was born with so much on her mind for the upcoming weeks. We are so happy to share her inspirational story with all of you! To read her full testimonial about her experience wearing her Annie & Isabel gowns - read HERE.

Anne, you are a true warrior and we are so blessed to have gotten to know you over the last year.

Meet Brianne....Our Latest "Feel Better Campaign" Recipient

2011-09-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

"I plan for the future, live for today and cherish every moment I have with those that I love, because you never know what tomorrow will bring" ~ Brianne

This is Brianne. She is a 20 year old college student who was diagnosed at birth with cystic fibrosis. We are extremely happy to announce that Brianne is our latest recipient of our "Feel Better Campaign". You can read more about our "Feel Better Campaign" on our recently updated website here: FEEL BETTER CAMPAIGN

We are very excited about this campaign because we both have seen how much a nice, beautiful, dignified, designer hospital gown can help in the treatment and healing of a person dealing with a difficult diagnosis. We have had so many women wear our gowns and express such gratitude for how our hospital gowns made a difference in their hospital stays, radiation treatments and rehabilitations. We feel truly blessed because while each of these women thank us for designing our hospital gowns, we thank them for teaching us so many life lessons!!

When we read stories of women dealing with tough diagnoses, we immediately want to give each of these women one of our hospital gowns. The "Feel Better Campaign" is a small way in which we can give back to some of these women and we encourage you to read about our campaign and give back as well!! We plan to give at least three gowns per year to a deserving person. You can help us by nominating someone that you feel would benefit from one of our hospital gowns and may not be able to afford to purchase one themselves. Our nomination form can be found here: NOMINATIONS

We would like to share more about our latest recipient Brianne. Brianne recently wrote to us about how much she loved our designer hospital gowns. She has had to spend plenty of days in the hospital and always dreads wearing the oversized, dingy, standard hospital gowns. She loved that our hospital gowns were chic and provide dignity by covering the back side completely. She also loved the fact that our gowns come in many sizes, including extra-small!! Brianne chose our "Susan" gown and we think she looks fabulous in it.

Brianne is a very family oriented girl and recognized that we shared this value with her when she saw that we named our company and all of our hospital gowns after family members who we loved and were important in our lives. Brianne is now living at home due to an increase in the number of lung infections she has had and decrease in her lung function. Her immediate and extended family are a huge support to her and to her brother and sister who are also living with cystic fibrosis.

Brianne graduated with honors from high school and completed two years of college away from home before having to move back home due to more medical problems related to her cystic fibrosis. She is a go getter, however, as she still attends junior college near home, gardens in the backyard when she can with her mom, and enjoys going to jazz concerts with her dad. She tries to live the most normal life that she can but her normal is very different from that of the average person.

Brianne spends four hours a day doing breathing treatments and chest percussion. She also takes 15 pills a day, needs to eat 4,000 calories a day to maintain her weight, and attempts at least 20 minutes of exercise a day to strengthen her lungs. When she is sick, she adds another hour to those treatments and 4-5 more pills a day!!!

With all those pills and treatments, Brianne remains so very positive which is what we love so much about her. She recently told us the following statement, which really inspired us and made us realize that she is a perfect candidate for our "Feel Better Campaign":

"I have learned over the years that a positive attitude and outlook on life goes a LONG way. Why waste my time being upset over the things I personally have no control over. Sure, I have bad days where I really hate Cystic Fibrosis, but most days I am able to smile and find the beauty and good in my life. One thing I've learned about Cystic Fibrosis is that you never know what will happen. So I plan for the future, live for today, and cherish every moment I have with those that I love, because you never know what tomorrow will bring."

After the Loss of Twins Delivered at Six Months, Amy Celebrates The Miracle of a New Baby Girl!!

2011-09-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

In February, we were SO excited to see a beautiful new mama had posted the most adorable pictures on our Annie & Isabel facebook page! Amy looked so chic and stylish in her "Evelyn" Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown as she welcomed sweet baby Lucy Valentine. We absolutely love when our customers post pictures on our facebook wall as it gives us great pleasure to see women enjoying their stylish hospital gowns!! If you haven't become a fan on our facebook page head on over as we have recently had two other women post pictures of themselves in their Annie & Isabel gowns.....a new mom of twin boys Rocky & Max and another recovering from surgery in our Susan gown!

Here is what Amy said about her experience receiving and wearing an Annie & Isabel hospital gown:

"I can't even begin to express my love for my Annie & Isabel gown. My hubbie and I had just faced delivering little 6 month twins that we lost the previous year where I stayed in the hospital for a month and lived in my normal dreary hospital gown. So when we were blessed on our 9th cycle of IVF with another little miracle I couldn't have been more excited to receive the most AMAZING gift from a dear friend and fellow Annie & Isabel devoted fan. It seriously was the biggest HIT at my shower and had the entire room in oooh's and ahh's! I was so excited to slip it on after my c-section from delivering our little miracle Lucy Valentine!! It truly made me feel like a million bucks and I loved how bright and cheery it made me feel! We are already back on our IVF cycles trying for another miracle!!! Annie & Isabel, you truly made our most amazing experience in life a million times even more exciting! All thanks to you!!

All my love, Amy xoxo"

Amy....we are keeping our fingers and toes crossed for another miracle in your family! Thanks so much for sharing your story and first pictures with us.

Super Model, Shea Anne, Wears Annie & Isabel Hospital Gowns For The Birth of Her Second Child

2011-09-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

norellecosmetics.com

In March, 2011, we were introduced to Shea Anne, a beautiful model who was expecting her second son in May of 2011. Shea is affilitated with the online magazine, Mom's Advice Magazine. Two online issues of Mom's Advice Magazine have published so far and it is a really wonderful, packed with loads of information for moms and moms-to-be! We were asked to become a sponsor of this magazine and, because we loved the exciting things they had planned, we jumped right in.

She is absolutely gorgeous and is an incredibly sweet person. She wore two of our Annie & Isabel hospital gowns for the birth of her baby this past May. She chose the "Elizabeth" and the "Isabel" designer hospital gowns and looked beautiful in both. Here is a little video from right after her baby boy was born in her "Elizabeth" hospital gown. There is nothing more beautiful than the sound of a baby's first cries after birth and we feel honored that she is sharing such a special moment with all of us.

We thought it would be fun to do a little Q&A with Shea!

A&I: How long have you been modeling and working in photography?

Shea: "I've been modeling since I was 16 and have been doing photography for about 2 years now".

A&I: What are some of your most memorable modeling jobs that you have done?

Shea: "Working with brands such as the J Lo campaign, Speedo, Daks, cover of Pregnancy & Newborn, and Fit Pregnancy".

http://www.pnmag.com/

A&I: Are you planning on focusing more on photography and Mom's Advice Magazine now, or will you continue to model, or both?

Shea: "I am focusing on the magazine! I still model, but only for clients that I've been working with for years as it is not my main focus anymore. I'm trying to encourage and help other moms through the magazine".

A&I: What did you like most about your Annie & Isabel designer hospital gowns?

Shea: I loved that the back of the gown was not open, so I could actually walk around!! They are also great looking. I love the fact that I looked different than anyone else in the hospital because having a child is supposed to be a special time so you want to look special as well".

Below is the latest online issue of Mom's Advice Magazine. Be sure to check out pages 47 for Shea's story on wearing her Annie & Isabel hospital gowns and page 52 to see our ad. Thank you Shea for including Annie & Isabel in your fall issue and for supporting mom owned businesses! Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy!

Jessica Welcomes Georgia Jane in The Anita Hospital Gown

2011-08-31T11:49:00.000-07:00

This is Jessica with her beautiful baby girl Georgia Jane in the Anita designer hospital gown. Jessica is a local Sacramento mother who was able to take advantage of our partnership with Brenda Bisharat Photography... as you can see by these beautiful pictures of Jessica and Georgia just days after her arrival! If you are local to the Sacramento area and haven't heard about this amazing opportunity with award winning Bisharat Photography, please read HERE.

Here is what Jessica had to say about her experience wearing a custom Annie & Isabel hospital gown for her birth and recovery,

"I was five months pregnant with my second child and was scratching my head trying to find a really unique and fun baby shower gift for one of my best friends having her first baby. Of course, gifts for the baby are so much fun, but special gifts for the mommy are just as cherished.

I remembered when I had my son Jackson, almost two years ago, how dingy I felt in those worn out hospital gowns. At the most beautiful time in your life, you want to look and feel as great as you can... you know those pictures will make their way around! I remembered hearing about Annie & Isabel hospital gowns and thought, that's perfect!! Who wouldn't love and appreciate that?!

Sure enough, at the baby shower the hospital gown was a huge hit! All the mothers repeatedly said, as the box was passed around, "why didn't they have these when we had our babies?!" The best thing about it, was the darling packaging and keepsake fabric.

So, naturally I had to buy one for the birth of my daughter, Georgia Jane in April. The Anita gown was so comfortable fitting and looked great in pictures!"

~Jessica, Sacramento, CA

Such a special photograph ~ 4 generations

Jessica and her mother Janie are about to embark on a very exciting adventure. Tomorrow, September 1st, will be the grand opening of Puddles... a children's boutique in Lyon Village on the corner of Fair Oaks Blvd and Munroe in Sacramento. Click on their name to check out their site and learn more!

Survival ~ A Cancer Warrior's Lessons Through Poetry

2011-08-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

Survival

The meaning of survival

may be different than you've heard.

It doesn't mean you're cancer free.

It doesn't mean you're cured.

It doesn't mean you're through with treatment,

or that your hair is growing back.

It doesn't mean your scars have healed.

No, it doesn't mean any of that.

Survival means that you've decided

to live each moment of your life,

and to never let the sun go down

on anger, hate or strife.

Survival means you seize each day

and live your joy out loud,

and you look for silver linings

behind each and every cloud.

Survival is not a timeline

and it's not just a prognosis.

It's the way you decide to live your life

after diagnosis.

You can count days on a calendar

but there's a better way.

Survival is not measured in tomorrows

but in the value of today.

© Molly Shoemaker Schaechtele

Have you ever met someone briefly, by chance, that left an unforgettable imprint on your life?? That is how I feel about Molly Schaechtele, the woman who wrote the above poem. Molly has been fighting cancer for twenty two years. She was diagnosed in 1989 with colon cancer and again in 1990. She enjoyed being cancer free until she was diagnosed in 2006 with breast cancer and, with further testing, due to this second diagnosis, also discovered she had stage IV colon cancer that is considered incurable. While most people would throw in the towel, and feel a lot of self pity and possibly give up the good fight, Molly has not. She has a heart of gold and truly does see the "silver lining behind each and every cloud." She lives life to the fullest and appreciates and savors each and every day she has. She has a lot of life lessons to teach and I wanted to share her story because I think we can all learn from her.

I was introduced to Molly when she contacted us recently after we were featured in a local magazine "Inside East Sacramento". She had just been discharged from the hospital (the third hospital stay in only a couple of months) and she thought an Annie & Isabel hospital gown might be just the thing she needed to cheer herself up in the event that she had to return to the hospital.

Molly purchased the Anita and Evelyn hospital gowns.....so perfect for her bright and cheery personality, don't you think?!

She, however, gave me a bigger gift.....two books of poems that she has written and published about her journey with cancer and the life lessons it has taught her. Each book is small and includes poems that will make you smile, a couple that might make you cry, and most that will make you realize that even if you are fighting a beast like cancer, there is so much more life to live and treasure!!

If you want to be inspired or help inspire someone going through difficult times then this book might be just the perfect gift!

I leave you with one last poem from Molly that demonstrates so well her undefeatable spirit!!!

It's A Matter of Scheduling

You tell me that I'm going to die,

that I should put my affairs in order.

'Tis easier said than done, my friend-

Quite frankly,I'm a hoarder.

You tell me that I'm going to die

and soon will be departed.

but there are projects I must finish

that are only half-way started.

You tell me that I'm going to die

but how can that be true?

I must update my will and trust,

and my life insurance too.

You tell me that I'm going to die

but I still have rooms to paint

and curtains to hang and trim to fix

before my house is truly quaint.

You tell me that I'm going to die

and the thought just makes me dizzy.

so if you don't mind, I just won't die...

Quite frankly, I'm too busy!

© Molly Shoemaker Schaechtele

Thank you Molly for reaching out to us. You are a true inspiration and I feel blessed to have been touched by your outlook and love of life.

Molly's Schaechtele's books can be purchased through ebay here:

Tickle Me Pink

Dad-2-Be Joe Goes Shopping For The Perfect Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown

2011-08-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

It is always fun when a husband purchases an Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown for his wife. When we first met Joe, we were displaying our hospital gowns at Sacramento Magazine's, the "Best of Sacramento" event. We were thrilled to be chosen by this popular local magazine as the "The Best Gift for the Expectant Mom".

Joe's wife, Becky, is the Marketing Director for Sacramento Magazine and was one of the main coordinators of the "Best of Sacramento Magazine" event. She also happened to be pregnant! She made sure to bring her husband by our booth and subtly let him know which Annie & Isabel hospital gown was her favorite.

A few weeks later, we were in contact with Joe as he wanted to surprise his wife with an Annie & Isabel hospital gown for Christmas. He came over to our office and what a joy it was to meet him. This was their first child and you could see the excitement in his eyes and the love he has for his wife...which was so sweet to see!

We received lovely testimonials from both Joe & Becki and they were also fortunate enough to be able to take advantage of the partnership we have with Brenda Bisharat Photography who took some amazing pictures of their new family in the hospital.

Here is what Joe had to say about his experience purchasing an Annie & Isabel hospital gown:

"After seeing the Annie and Isabel gowns at Best of Sacramento, my wife had implied as to which one she would like if we were to get one for our daughter's delivery. (We were 4 months pregnant at the time) I purchased the gown as one of my wife's Christmas presents. Upon opening it Christmas morning, my wife said "look baby girl, now I'm ready for delivery."

I worked with Anna and Selena from the company and they helped me to pick the right size and confirmed that I had ordered the right print.

Enclosed was an offer for Brenda Bisharat Photography to come to the hospital and do a free photo shoot with our newborn. She was so amazing and was able to capture many amazing photos. We wound up buying quite a few pictures from her because we liked so many but it was definitely difficult to narrow our selection down!"

Here is what Becky shared about her experience with her "Evelyn" Annie & Isabel hospital gown:

"We found out we were expecting about the same time I first learned about Annie and Isabel gowns. A few months later, I saw them in person and my husband and I loved them. I quickly decided which one I wanted to wear when I delivered our daughter.

One of the gifts I opened on Christmas morning was the Annie & Isabel gown. I was so excited that I tried it on right away and "modeled" it for my husband. As we neared out due date, it was one of the first things I packed to bring to the hospital.

When I went into active labor, I decided I'd save the gown for after the delivery. It was so nice to shower and put on my beautiful gown that smelled fresh out of the dryer and hold our daughter, Cleo. It was so soft and comfortable, as well. I recommend your gowns to everyone!"

"My husband called Brenda Bisharat Photography to arrange for her to come to the hospital and take pictures. I am so glad we took advantage of this wonderful opportunity. We wouldn't have these first photos as a family and Brenda captured moments that would otherwise just be a memory. The complimetary 5x7 is beautiful and there were so many great images, we ordered several more. We even used these for the birth announcement (which I'll hopefully have mailed out before Cleo is in Kindergarten).

Thanks again!!"

~Becki, Sacramento, CA

Chris Welcomes Daughter in Her Annie & Isabel Designer Hospital Gown

2011-08-11T16:32:00.000-07:00

This is Chris who recently welcomed her second daughter Olivia. Thank you Chris for sharing all these wonderful pictures of your delivery day wearing the Annie gown! You look gorgeous and we are so happy you enjoyed celebrating another baby girl with our pink designer hospital gown!

Here is what Chris had to say about her experience wearing an Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown,

"My girlfriend was my labor and delivery nurse and when she first came into the room she immediately commented on how cute my "Annie" gown was and then made me promise that when she has a baby... I'll get her one!! The delivery of my second child was filled with excitement and challenges. My delivery was less than 2 hours, but my recovery was over 10. Due to the circumstances, I was unable to shower until after 9pm. Throughout that time, I was happily wearing my Annie & Isabel gown. While I hated not being able to clean up, I loved that I was in something that was mine. I was able to be comfortable moving between rooms, between care takers, and unexpected visitors because I had full coverage! I loved that I could breastfeed without problems and that I had a bit of fashion while waiting to clean up! I hope I don't have to use my hospital gown for medical purposes in the future, but I'm appreciative to know that if I was ever to be admitted to the hospital, I'd have my own comfortable, back covering, super cute gown to bring with me. Thank you so much for designing such a wonderful product."

Christine Welcomes Another Precious Boy to Her Bunch in The Susan Designer Hospital Gown

2011-08-08T15:46:00.000-07:00

Christine recently wore our Susan designer hospital gown for the birth of her 3rd boy! We love that she chose to celebrate the occasion in our wildly chic Susan gown, because.. well... as fellow mom's to ALL BOYS...it seemed to fit the occasion perfectly. Christine is a friend of ours and a wonderful mother to her precious boys. She took advantage, being a local Sacramento client, of the partnership we have with Bisharat Photography... as you can see by these beautiful moments captured in these photographs! If you are local to the Sacramento area, read about our partnership HERE. The gift of an Annie & Isabel hospital gown to a mom-2-be in Sacramento, is more than making the mother look and feel fabulous... it is about gifting them the opportunity of lasting memories to cherish with a complimentary hospital session from Bisharat Photography.

Here is what Christine said about her experience wearing the Susan hospital gown for the birth of her son,

"When I found out I was pregnant for the third time, I knew I needed an Annie & Isabel hospital gown. Being able to put on my own gown, that no one else had worn before made me feel so beautiful and special. When I arrived at the hospital I was already in labor so as soon as my third son Ayden was born, I went to clean up and put on my "Susan" gown. When I came out of the bathroom the nurses and midwife all asked me where I got such a beautiful gown and I told them about Annie & Isabel. One nurse mentioned that she had another mother who also wore one a few months back! They all thought it was such a great idea and I completely agree. Being able to unbutton both sleeves for skin to skin contact and breast feed without having to take off the whole gown completely was worth it. I hope my next designer hospital gown is a shade of pink!"

Boys.... Boys.... Boys...so fun!

Brittany Welcomes Second Daughter In The Anita Designer Hospital Gown

2011-08-05T06:59:00.000-07:00

Brittany is one of many lucky women who have been gifted an Annie & Isabel from one of our loyal customers Marie. Marie has gifted over a dozen of our hospital gowns to her girlfriends for their special delivery days! Brittany welcomed her second daughter recently wearing her "Anita" Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown and here is what she had to say about her experience...

"I received my Anita gown as a gift ~ it was even more adorable than I had expected! I washed it and had it packed and ready to go to the hospital with us. We checked in around lunchtime with strong contractions and Lily Finch was born that evening at 6:58 ~ a health 9 lb., 8 oz girl! It was wonderful to have something clean and cute to put on after labor and delivery. And I got so many compliments from the nurses. My older daughter, Madeline, who prides herself on being fancy was so happy to see me in it and not just a plain green gown. Thank you for making an already wonderfully happy day even better ~ what a treat the gown was to have. Thank you!"

~Brittany

Thank you Marie for you continued support and thank you Brittany for sharing your beautiful family with us.

Lessons in Life....From a Breast Cancer Survivor

2011-08-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

An unforeseen gift that we have been given in starting our business, Annie & Isabel, is being touched by so many strong, inspirational women who are fighting courageous battles with cancer and other chronic illnesses. We have found that most of these women, once they have completed treatments, and even sometimes when there is not a cure for their cancer, often talk about the blessings of their cancer experience. They talk about having fuller lives, filled with a joy, and a zest for living life to the fullest. They talk about living in a way that they will leave no regrets. They talk about really connecting to other people. They talk about seeing what is important and not sweating the small stuff. They talk about never taking things for granted, being grateful and feeling loved. While we would never wish to go through a cancer diagnosis, it makes us almost envious, in a way, listening to these women because they seem to have been given the gift of discernment. They seem to have everything right. I think, only until you are faced with a life battle can you understand this. We, therefore, try to learn from these amazing women and change our lives to enjoy as much as possible and to remember to look out for opportunities to love others whenever we can. We feel so honored to count these women as our friends. Annie and Isabel brought us together and their collective life wisdom is the gift that we have been given by being touched by women.

Recently, through twitter, we got the following tweets:

After reading these tweets we were so excited to be contacted by a happy customer. It gives us such great joy when we get feedback from those that have worn an Annie & Isabel hospital gown. We went on to read Sharon's blog, Shae's Window To The Soul, and found that she received her hospital gown after being diagnosed with breast cancer. We were so touched by reading Sharon's journey in overcoming breast cancer on her blog. You see, her journey started well before she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer has ravaged her family. We invite you to read her blog post written in October 2010 called, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, written only months before her own diagnosis.

Sharon's blog posts are honest and sometimes heart wrenching stories of what it has been like for her to live with breast cancer in her family, be diagnosed with breast cancer herself, go through surgery and breast cancer treatments, and finally, to begin the journey of moving forward with life after treatments.

Sharon is a gifted writer and an obviously strong woman and someone we can all learn from. Her blog posts are like reading short novels. They bring you in and make you want to keep reading the next blog post. Sharon is a reminder to remember what the important things in life are, to appreciate every day........and don't sweat the small stuff!

As Sharon mentioned above, she wore the "Elizabeth" Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown.

Here is what she had to say about her experience wearing her Elizabeth designer hospital gown:

"I received the Elizabeth gown from my cousin and his wife after I had described a moment pre-surgery stating I could fit another person in my choir-robe style hospital gown. Knowing I would have radiation treatment, they sent me one of your beautiful gowns.

Not only are the Annie & Isabel gowns well made and durable, they are stylish. The Elizabeth gown is bright and colorful, which is a nice break from the standard, faded, monotone hospital gowns. As women, we know all too well how the right outfit, accessory or shoe can be a pick-me-up, and my designer gown fit that role during my treatment.

during my 7 weeks of treatment, I saw many ladies who could have used a gift like an Annie & Isabel gown. Attitude is everything when you are in the battle of your life and cancer treatments can often strip a woman of her femininity. When a woman is battling cancer, a fresh, fashionable, feminine gown can be a real boost to how she feels as she endures weeks or months of treatment.

Each time I wore my gown, I felt the love and prayers of the people who gave me such a creative and stylish gift!"

Sharon ~ Houston, Texas

This New Mom Rocked her Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown for Labor, Delivery & Recovery!!!

2011-07-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

We always love when we get an order from someone who is excited to gift one of our Annie & Isabel hospital gowns to a friend for the delivery of their baby. It is such a fun, unique gift to give a friend that is sure to bring a smile to their face. We received a nice testimonial from Corina, who delivered her first baby recently. She received her "Anita" designer hospital gown from her good friend Jenn.

Here is Jenn with Corina. Jenn didn't want Corina to wear this dreadful, oversized standard hospital gown...........

Jenn and Corina in the early stages of labor - love the starbucks!!

So she gave Corina the "Anita" gown for a more comfortable, stylish delivery:

Corina getting excited to bring her baby boy into the world!!

Trying to get labor moving faster.......and texting:-)

Proud mama with baby Chase. He was born a healthy 7lbs 5oz after 16 hours of labor

Corina was able to enjoy her designer hospital gown for her labor, delivery and recovery!! Here is what she had to say about her experience:

"The gown was great! It was very comfortable and a size small fit perfectly. I received compliments all day from staff, visitors and other moms. I liked the pockets and the option to snap or tie the gown at the neck. The gown was great for recovery as well and made nursing much easier compared to regular clothes. I will be wearing my gown again at my next delivery."

Congratulations Corina!! Welcome to the wonderful world of motherhood. Thanks to Jenn, too, for keeping your good friend comfortable and stylish throughout her hospital stay.

A Proud New Mom Celebrates The Birth Of Her Daughter In Her PINK Annie and Isabel Designer Hospital Gown!

2011-07-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

Introducing baby Emilyn and her mommy Loraine...

in The Annie Gown

Loraine received an Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown at her baby shower. We keep hearing from our customers that the gift of an Annie & Isabel gown is always the "hit gift" and "talk of the shower"! Who doesn't want to make a mom-2-be feel comfortable, stylish, and celebrated on that special day? Loraine received our Anita gown, but knew she was having a baby girl and wanted to go all out with our pink Annie gown for her upcoming birth! Baby Emilyn is absolutely precious and Loraine looks beautiful in her Annie gown! Here is what she said about her experience,

"Thanks for being so accommodating with my gown exchange. I truly enjoyed the personal service you provided ~ even down to the pre-washing my new gown in baby friendly detergent! You went the extra mile to ensure that I would truly enjoy my Annie and Isabel hospital gown... and I did! It was so much cuter and easier to feed the baby in than the frumpy hospital issued gowns. Thanks again!

~Loraine

Tiffany Darlyn Hospital Gown Giveaway Winner!!!

2011-07-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

We want to thank everyone who entered the Tiffany Darlyn hospital gown giveaway and a special thanks to Tiffany for hosting this giveaway!!! We had over 100 entries into the contest which is awesome. It was really fun to read through all the entries to see which gown each person would choose and what they would be using the hospital gown for. The majority of women chose the Susan gown and most planned on using their designer hospital gown for pregnancy but we also had other entries from people that planned to use it for a surgery or as a gift to someone dealing with a chronic illness which is such a wonderful gift!! We even had a few men enter our contest to gift it to their wives or family members for an upcoming delivery. How great is that??!!

Before we announce the winner we just want to say how much we appreciate everyone's support and we would like to offer a 15% discount to all those who entered our contest. You can use discount code "TiffanyDarlyn" when you check out from our store. This discount code will expire one week from today on Tuesday, July 19th.

OK....now what you have all been waiting for. Here is a hint.....this person said they hoped to win the "Annie" hospital gown.

Using Random.org we chose our winner......and the winner is.........

On our blog the winner entered as JMeeTV and her name is Jamie Jones. Congrats Jamie!!! Please contact us ASAP to claim you new designer hospital gown. You will definitely be the most stylish, comfortable and dignified woman in the hospital:-)

Two Days Left to Win an Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown with Tiffany Darlyn!

2011-07-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

Have you entered our giveaway with Tiffany Darlyn yet?

Watch her video here and enter via the link below...

Two days left...

We are closing entry at 12:00 p.m. PST this Tuesday July 12th.

We will use Random.org to pick a winner and announce the evening of July 12th..

Good luck to all...we are loving all the entries!!!

~ ENTER HERE ~

"How Is Selling Clothing Making a Difference In People's Lives? I'd Love To Know!"

2011-07-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

When my sister and I made the decision to become nurses it was because we felt called to a profession that allowed us to help those in need......as is the case for most nurses. We can't imagine giving of ourselves in any other way than through our hands and hearts as we care for our patients in the hospital. We feel honored to help others during times when they are most vunerable. Every day we have the privilege of making a difference in someone's life and that, in and of itself, is amazing. But, doing what we do is not always easy and the stress of our jobs can weigh heavily on us. We try not to let our work life interfere with our personal lives but sometimes a particular patient's story or outcome will stick with us for days, years, and sometimes forever. It changes who we are and how we live. We both have had a few rough weeks at work and are so thankful for the support we give to each other. Anna has been dealing with a short staffed ER and barely gets a lunch or bathroom break most days. I recently experienced one of the hardest deaths of my career and have been caring for some patients with heart wrenching circumstances. Through all of this sadness, however, we find strength and inspiration from the men and women fighting the good fight before our eyes. When we come home on days where a person lost their life unexpectedly and we are faced with comforting their heartbroken family, it makes the little everyday stresses so inconsequential. It is on those nights that we hold our families close and remember that each day should be cherished like it is the last. Here are some things we should all remember:

Life is not always fair.

Every day without pain and suffering should be cherished and lived to the fullest.

Appreciate the little and big things each day and try not to sweat the small stuff.

Treat each day like it could be your last and make the most of it.

When we started Annie & Isabel it came from the core of who we are as women and nurses. We obviously didn't choose our career in nursing because we wanted to be recognized for our compassion and care. We chose it because we love to help others feel better. When we started Annie & Isabel as a side business, we based it on that same desire..... to help those in the hospital. Providing comfort and dignity in the small form of having your OWN hospital gown is not a genius idea! Hospital gowns have been around...umm...forever. We just redesigned them from our first hand experience and added features that we know are lacking in the standard gown. We have used our expertise from our professional careers to make what we know to be an amazing direct to consumer hospital gown. What other product can you gift yourself or a loved one that provides comfort, style, and dignity in the hospital?! What other product has the power to bring a smile to someone during a most difficult time?!

We receive so many emails from our customers telling us what a difference having their own gown made during their stay or in the stay of the person they gifted the hospital gown to. We are so touched and honored that people WANT to share their stories with us and especially love that the many testimonials we recieve, come from people wearing them in all stages of one's life.... from bringing a new life into the world to helping someone die comfortably and peacefully.

Amy, a woman welcoming her first child said, "I loved the fact that it closed completely in the back so I could walk the halls without worry and the shoulder snaps allowed me to easily nurse my little one"...

14 year old open heart surgery patient Katie said, "The gowns made my days so much brighter! I felt "dressed" in the gown, which made me feel less like a patient and more like a person. I love my hospital gowns!"

Karen who cared for her mother in her final days said, "She passed away around midnight and the gown brought comfort to more than my mom during the time of her final hours in hospice. We were pleased seeing her in such a nice hospital gown and knew she would appreciate the spiffy, detailing and the fact that they matched her slippers. Thank you so much for helping us."

Hearing from these inspirational women is what keeps us going! Like we always say, "When you look great, you feel better!™" and that is not just what we think or what you see on the home page of our website... that is what we know. We know this from our days at work when we can take the extra time out of our busy days to wash our patients hair or soak their tired feet...and now we know this because of all our amazing customers that tell us about it when wearing their Annie & Isabel gowns in the hospital or at home.

Yesterday on Twitter my {very supportive} husband suggested @AnnieandIsabel to @kim who was looking for "creative and positive people" to tweet about. Someone else tweeted back to my husband....

"How is selling clothing making a difference in people's lives? I'd love to know!"

Honestly, my first reaction was a feeling of frustration...knowing that he clearly did not understand our product and there was no way he had ever been a patient in a hospital bed. My calm husband, however, chose to look at this as an opportunity and tweeted back to him with a link to our hospital stay testimonial page. His response......

"Cool- I'll try to remember them next time someone I love has a hospital

visit that lasts more than a day"

We really want to thank all of our readers, followers, and friends for all of your support. You are all a part of our Annie & Isabel family. Every time we send out a hospital gown we think about the people that will wear our hospital gowns. Sometimes our thoughts are of excitement as a woman anticipates the arrival of a newborn child. Sometimes our thoughts are of prayer as the woman about to wear their Annie & Isabel hospital gown will be going through surgery, cancer treatments or battling a chronic illness and sometimes they are thoughts of sadness and comfort as a family prepares to say goodbye to a loved one. Just as we carry the stories of our patients from work in our hearts....we also carry the stories of the women who wear our hospital gowns in our hearts. Thank you all for helping Annie & Isabel make a difference.

Tiffany Darlyn Designer Hospital Gown Giveaway ~ Winner Picked July 12th

2011-06-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to be doing an Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown giveaway with Tiffany Darlyn. We want to give a big welcome to all of Tiffany's subscribers, blog followers, twitter and facebook fans!! For those of you who don't know who Tiffany is...let us introduce you.

Tiffany is a 21 year old beauty guru on youtube. She produces videos on youtube about fashion and beauty that include makeup tutorials, hair tutorials {including the products used to produce the finished look} as well as clothing styles to make a girl look great!!

Tiffany is currently pregnant and will be wearing our "Susan" hospital gown for the birth of her son. She has gained quite a following from people all over the world. We discovered her through another poplar youtube beauty gure, Dulce Candy. Dulce Candy wore our "Annie" and "Susan" designer hospital gowns for the birth of her son. What we love most about both of these beautiful women is that they are down to earth women wanting share their gift of style to anyone that wants to follow along and they're fun to watch too! Their personalities shine throughout all their videos and they have a way of inspiring all the women who watch their videos as can be seen by all the great feedback they get!!

We asked Tiffany how she got started and how she gained such a following and here is what she had to say:

"I decided to start my youtube channel because I got inspired by other gurus on youtube like DulceCandy87 and KandeeJohnson! I was always into makeup, hair and fashion and I thought it would be fun to share my love with other women or young girls as well. So I made a few videos and I saw that I was getting positive feedback from people, and I started getting requests to do more videos. I ended up making my videos continuously and as I made more videos, my subscriber count went up, and next thing you know I'm at 30,000+ subscribers! I made a blog spot, twitter, and facebook fanpage and my subscribers would follow me on there as well. I've been making videos for about 2 1/2 years now and its something I really enjoy! Not only is it fun, but I love that I can inspire young girls and sometimes older women, and all of the great feedback I get from them is even more of a plus!"

We are so happy that we can share our company with Tiffany's subscribers and equally excited to introduce Tiffany and her youtube channel to our fans! Tiffany has two Video Blogs on Youtube. The first is her Beauty Channel and the second is a fun Pregnancy Video Blog. Check them out!!

Now...for the fun part....the Annie & Isabel hospital gown giveaway. We are going to randomly pick one lucky winner for an Annie & Isabel hospital gown of their choice. In order to win you need to do the following:

1. Go to our website and look at all of our hospital gowns at http://www.annieandisabel.com/

2. Go to our facebook page at www.facebook.com/annieandisabel and "like" us.

3. Come back to this blog post and tell us which hospital gown you like best and what you might use it for.

4. You can get an extra entry if you share on your facebook profile the following: "@Annieandisabel is having a giveaway on their blog for a designer hospital gown. Go like them on facebook and find out how you can enter to win!" Then you must make a separate comment on this blog post that you did that. (you have to put the @ before annieandisabel so that it will link to our facebook page and it will only work if you like our facebook page first)

5. This giveaway is only open to U.S. Residents

We will use Random.org to generate a winner and will announce on July 12th who the lucky winner of one of our beautiful hospital gowns is on our blog ~ facebook ~ and twitter pages.
Thank you to everyone who enters and GOOD LUCK!

Another Proud Mama in Her Annie and Isabel Designer Hospital Gown

2011-06-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

Another new proud mama in her Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown. This is Mary and she is wearing the "Isabel" hospital gown. She is a first time mommy and loving life with her sweet little girl. Here is what she had to say about her Annie & Isabel hospital gown:

"Just wanted to say how much I loved my Annie and Isabel gown. It was great to have something new and clean (that I knew was clean) to put on after she was born. I really appreciated the full coverage and snap up sleeves as I was on IV medication for the first day and had to get up frequently. I got so many compliments from the nurses and family. Thanks."

~Mary

We have some great news about our Isabel designer hospital gowns! A while back we announced that the Isabel fabric had been discontinued....at least that is what we were told by our fabric distributor. We just ordered more fabric to make more hospital gowns and guess what?... The Isabel fabric is still being produced! We are so happy about this, because The Isabel gown is one of our best sellers.. and our personal favorites too!

The Cheery Evelyn Hospital Gown Helps Joy Feel Better During a Recent Hospital Stay

2011-06-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

We have been receiving so many orders recently from people buying our hospital gowns for themselves or for a loved one or friend dealing with an unplanned hospital stay due to an illness or injury. We have a special place in our hearts for all the brave women who face difficult hospital stays. While it is always hard to hear about people dealing with tough diagnoses, it makes us feel good that our gowns might provide a small bit of happiness and comfort in that person's hospital stay. We package our hospital gowns with so much love and often think about the people who will wear our gowns as we iron each gown and prepare it to be sent out in the mail.

We want to thank our customers that write to us and let us know how their hospital stays went and what they thought of their Annie & Isabel hospital gown. It always brings a big smile to our faces and keeps us motivated to spread the word about our company so that many more people can be provided with comfort, style and dignity during their hospital stays!!! We always say....when you look great....you feel better and our customers tell us that too!!

Here is a lovely testimonial from Joy who recently wore our Evelyn designer hospital gown.

"To the designers of Annie & Isabel hospital gowns... my compliments. The style and beautiful colors are so cheerful. They made my stay in the hospital pleasant. The hospital staff at St. Agnes always made comments about the gown... "where did you get that gown?... it's so pretty!"

Thank You,

Joy"

If you have worn an Annie & Isabel hospital gown and want to share your story, please email us at wecare@annieandisabel.com We love to share the stories of all the inspirational women who have worn our hospital gowns!!

A Birth Story from a Dads-Eye-View by Charlie Capen of HowtobeaDad.com {Guest Post}

2011-06-16T00:46:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, we get awesome birth testimonials from moms who deliver their babies in Annie & Isabel designer hospital gowns {we love you ladies!!!}. We thought it would be fitting, as we all get ready to celebrate Father's Day this Sunday, to get the "man version" of that ah-mazing birthing process all of us women talk about. Charlie and Andy {also dad's to all boys} are the hilarious guys behind HowtobeaDad.com and we are honored to have Charlie guest blogging here today about the birth of his son Finnegan. The first two stories were published on their website and we want to thank Charlie for sharing with all of us, Part III of "Dude to Dad: A Birth Story". This is quite a story and we know you will all enjoy it.

To read Part I of "Dude To Dad: A Birth Story, click here!
To read Part II of "Dude To Dad: A Birth Story, click here!

Dude to Dad: A Birth Story, part III

“I’m not getting in the car, Charlie. Forget it…”

After three moaning hours of "slow dancing" my wife, being stood up by our doula, having a doctor basically tell me to do whatever I thought was best, calling a friend who'd recently had a baby to assist, my brother probably losing his mind in the next room and, to top it all off, not having our bags or a printed off "birth plan" prepared since he was now coming a week early, I was ready to say, "Cool. Let's poop that baby out right here. We have hardwood floors."

But I'm not one of those people who think like they talk. I think in concepts, not in words. So, it was a split-second before I said in a tone of voice that would make God do whatever I wanted and with as much charm as the snake in Eden, "We're getting in the car now."

And so we did.

Our doula, bless her errant and absent heart, decided we were wrong about my Avara's contractions calculations that I was frantically emailing her. She must've chalked it up to her "those parents-to-be are just freaking" instincts she'd had about us. Well, she was wrong. And did I mention the birth plan she drew up for us when we first met with her? When I attempted to print it, it said TWENTY pages. We discussed it for 10 minutes. EFF THAT.

But let me back up for just a minute. We know we aren't medical professionals, and we're good with that, but we figured we'd earned the right to make some decisions about the birth process, so we wanted a birth plan. We studied harder than the majority of our friends and armed ourselves with knowledge. But we also understood the fluid reality of birth. Situations change. Things develop. There is no friggin NEED for a birth plan to be 20 pages because I can't imagine a nurse speed-reading it and saying, "Sounds good to me" upon arrival.

It's 12:23am. Do you know where you unborn son is?

...So, in between minute long contractions every other minute, we scooped up some pillows from the couch and we all struggled to the car. We loaded my wife into an SUV, in the "way back", as we called it when we were kids. You might call it "the trunk". She was on all-fours. It was the only position my wife could stay in. It was 12:20am.

I drove like a ninja, if ninjas knew how to drive, racing like a man with a death wish and hearing my wife makes sounds I could never imitate or want to hear her utter ever again. We got to the hospital in about 20-25 minutes and pulled up into the massive parking structure maze. By then, Avara's contractions were coming less than a minute apart and she basically couldn't walk and couldn't talk. We asked the half-brained parking attendant if they had a wheelchair we could use. Nope. I mean, it's a hospital for godsakes. Why would THEY have a wheelchair.

We finally made our way to the registration area (having pre-registered for Finn's delivery). The nurses were very nice and things seemed relatively calm, but the nurse who checked us in, noticed my wife having a nuclear contraction and asked, what would we come to know as, the "billion dollar question":

"Are you pushing right now?"
"No... I've been trying not to... for over two hours."

This nurse, as far as I'm concerned, is a Nobel Prize winner. She saw what was happening with my wife, what I'd tried to explain for over 3 hours to others, and she leapt on it. We went immediately to an "active labor room" (by wheelchair) where she checked my wife. "Well, you're 10 centimeters dilated. You're going to have this baby," she said overly perkily. She then turned to me with her eyes wide and mouthed, "I can feel his head."

It was total pandemonium in the hospital room. See?

Then came the sh*tstorm. Clothes ripped off. Machines plugged in. More nurses (with less bedside manner). More stress. If only I had my 90 page birth plan to tell everyone to shut up and speak in hushed, calm tones. I'd love a whisper, if I could get one. But every time I asked for lowered voices, I got: "YEAH, NO PROBLEM. WE CAN DO THAT" in the style of a Texas trucker trying to beat out his big-rig for sound. They paged our doctor, an installation of some celebrity in his own right at our hospital, but they worried he wouldn't make it. And remember, from Part 2, he was supposed to go out of town.

At that moment, the heart monitor could no longer find a heartbeat for my son and they began administering oxygen to my wife. I could tell the nurses were getting skittish. I kept myself buoyant by thinking about user error and machine failure. They wanted us to push. Where the hell was our doctor? They told us 'he couldn't to be reached' and in came a resident who looked like he was twelve years old, deciding out loud what do with his "patient". My stomach sank and right then in came our doctor, pulling his sweatshirt off like Superman in a phonebooth with his scrubs underneath. We were both relieved better than any drug they could administered us, just seeing his face. He dove his head down by my wife's chocha and then popped back up with smile, "So, we're going to have a baby now!"

30 minutes on Earth and Finn was dominating the conversations of the room.

Yep. And we did. Three to four pushes later, no more than 20 minutes from setting foot in the Obstetrics wing, my wife produced the most amazing baby boy I've ever seen. No drugs. No substitute doctor (he was drop kicked out of the room). No one stronger than my wife. Yes, she did crush my hand to brittle dust. Yes, I did look down and watch my son being born. And no, I wouldn't take back any of it.

We remained there a day and half afterwards because my son's oxygen levels were a bit low and our night nurse, Hailee, was amazing. After a rigorous bath and few more suction appointments, he was right as rain and we drove home at about 13 miles per hour the whole way. In Los Angeles. Where people kill each other over driving too slow.

The First time seeing Finn.

"Two of my favorites."

It wasn't how we planned it. There were many failures along the way. But when you have that baby in your arms, it really doesn't matter. Nothing matters. Except that perfect baby and his perfect spit-up, all over your clothes...

Thank you so much Charlie for sharing your whirlwind birth story with us. The only thing missing in an Annie & Isabel gown for your lovely wife Avara..maybe next time, eh?

Charlie and Andy are running a contest for Father's Day - check it out and enter today {they want to treat you to Starbucks!}

Follow How to Be a Dad - you will laugh daily, we promise!

{ website }

{ facebook }

{ twitter }

Kirsten Enjoyed Her Anita Hospital Gown After a Quick Delivery!

2011-06-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

A wonderful testimonial from Kirsten. She shared with us such sweet pictures of her daughter looking so proud to be a big sister! We love to hear from women who have worn our gowns. Thanks Kirsten!

"Our little boy was born on March 11th. He came into the world in a hurry and I didn't have my gown on for the actual birth. But, I can honestly say that putting on my gown a couple hours after he was born was wonderful! It made me feel refreshed and beautiful. It was just so nice to wear something that was clean and hadn't been worn by complete strangers. I received many compliments on it from all my nurses and also from family members who came to visit me. I loved that it covered everything that needed covering and the pocket was perfect for keeping my chapstick handy! My gown will always be a part of my memories of the wonderful day our son was born. Thank you so much!"

~Kirsten, California

Speaking of quick deliveries... We have a GREAT guest post this Thursday {in honor of Father's Day} from Charlie, from HowtoBeaDad.com. Birth stories are pretty funny coming from a Dad's point of view. You won't want to miss it... Here is an intro from Charlie about their site. We have really enjoyed following How to be a Dad and hope you will too! You can find them on Facebook and Twitter too.

Donate Life America - You Can Save a Life and Leave a Lasting Legacy

2011-06-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, our post was about living donation and the National Kidney Registry, who helps promote and facilitate transplants for so many people awaiting kidney transplant. We shared the amazing story of Liane and her mother, who were part of a 21 paired cross-country kidney transplant exchange. The National Kidney Registry has changed the way people wait and endure years of dialysis while waiting for a donor. It is truly ground breaking and really built on love and the desire to help a loved one waiting. Please read yesterdays post if you missed it...we were truly inspired while writing it!

Today, we wanted to quickly follow up with the most common type of transplants performed in the United States and the ones we see in our jobs as RNs, and that is donation after death. On Monday, on our Facebook page, we posted a poll regarding organ donation. We were surprised that the majority of those who participated, want to be organ and tissue donors and are actually registered on the DonateLife.net website!

The Organization Donate Life America is a non-for-profit national organization committed to increasing organ, eye, and tissue donation. By going directly to their website, they will direct you to your individual states donation sign up page. The website is full of wonderful facts about donation and very inspiring stories... {get you kleenex}... We thought we would post this short video about John and his gift of sight.

video from DonateLife.net

As nurses, we see first hand how a failing organ can effect a person's life. All too often, I am working in the ICU trying to keep someone alive who has a liver that is rapidly failing. The only thing that will ultimately save this individual, is a liver transplant. Many times a liver will become available because of the great gift of another person who made their wishes known to their family, but sometimes that liver never comes and my patient will die in our ICU waiting.

We encourage you to please visit Donate Life's website and educate yourself about organ donation. You can limit your gift of any organ or tissue you do not want to donate and can exclude use for research. Take the decision and stress away from your family, and make your wishes be known. To give you an idea of how many people are waiting to receive an organ, please see the statistics from the Donate Life's website below.

28,663 people were given a second chance at life last year!

PLEASE REGISTER YOUR WISHES TODAY & help us spread the word by posting on your Facebook page and/or Twitter page. If we encourage just one person to sign up, it could save the lives of many! If could be your loved one in need of an organ, eye, or tissue transplant someday.

{ WEBSITE - WWW.DONATELIFE.NET }

{ FACEBOOK - DONATE LIFE }

{ TWITTER - DONATE LIFE AMERICA }

You can leave a lasting legacy of life and give the ultimate gift...

The gift of LIFE!

Liane Becomes a Living Organ Donor To a Stranger To Save The Life of Her Mother

2011-06-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

I will never forget my darkest day as a mother thus far, when my 2 year old son George was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. As I sat by the side of his ICU crib for three days as he lay unconscious, I prayed for my sweet boy to wake up and act like the energetic and sweet boy we loved. It was surreal being on the other side of the bedside. I was usually the ICU nurse who was comforting the mother, not the other way around. The masses of doctors and nurses came in and out and were preparing me for the worst. They suspected that George was having seizures from the infection that surrounded his brain and we would not know his ultimate prognosis until he woke up. They thought there could be a chance that he would lose his hearing from this...I didn't care about hearing loss...we could learn sign language... I just wanted to be able to take my son home, back to our beautiful family life we had started together. I felt helpless, which is a terrible feeling for a mother and more so for a nurse who knew all the possibilities of complications that come along with bacterial meningitis. That feeling of wanting to save your child from the pain and suffering they are experiencing is unfortunately one of the realities that so many parents have to deal with when their child is sick. George spent 2 weeks in the hospital and I'm so thankful to be able to say that besides being deaf in his left ear, he is just as normal as any little boy his age. He wears a hearing aid, or "magic ear" as he likes to call it.

The nightmare experience with our little George made me realize that, as a parent, I would have done anything to help make our son well again... and so I want to share the story of another parent, Garret, and his wonderful idea that has saved many lives. This was an idea that was born out of parent's love for his child and the same desire to save her life. It is also the story of Liane, who would do anything to save the life of her mother.

Last spring, we received an order from my college roommate Vanessa for one of our college girlfriends Liane, who was going to be donating her kidney to a complete stranger. I reached out to Liane and learned that she was going to be part of a 21 paired cross-country kidney transplant exchange....and she would be donating her kidney in return for her mother to receive a kidney that was a good match for her. These surgeries would be performed at UCSF, where I work as a RN, and are made possible because of an organization called the National Kidney Registry.

I wanted to know more about how these paired kidney exchanges worked, since many of them were being performed at UCSF, and when I read about Garret Hill, the founder of the National Kidney Registry, I knew exactly how he felt when he found out 36 hours before surgery that he wasn't a good match for his 10 year old daughter who suffered from kidney failure. It is a terrible and helpless feeling to watch you child suffer. Garret used his extensive background in business and software development and founded the National Kidney Registry. This allows willing donors, who might not be a perfect match for their loved one in need, to donate their kidney and in return their loved one will receive a kidney. This registry has decreased transplant wait time for their patients from up to 51 months to 11 months per their website and have been responsible for 276 transplants to date. They project to facilitate over 2,000 by the year 2013. We encourage you to watch Katie Couric's coverage of the National Kidney Registry on CBS Evening News below. With organizations like the National Kidney Registry, the success with live donor transplantation could be endless.

Here is a picture of Liane and her mother. We are happy to report that both Liane and her mother are doing well! Because Liane agreed to be part of a kidney exchange, her mother received a kidney in the 21 live donor chain. Talk about paying it forward!

On the day that Liane so selflessly gave one of her kidneys at UCSF Medical Center, she celebrated the occasion in our Annie designer hospital gown. Here is what she said about wearing an Annie & Isabel hospital gown.

"A wonderful friend gave me an Annie & Isabel pink hospital gown prior to donating a kidney and being hospitalized. I can't tell you how cute, practical, and comfortable it was. I wore it the whole time I was in the hospital and every nurse commented on how cute it was. I love how it covers all the important "areas" unlike the coventional hospital gowns. It is a definite must have for any woman who has to spend and time in the hospital. I love my gown and still wear it at home as jammies!"

~Liane, Hawaii

Tomorrow we will have another post about organ donation. Please stop by and learn about another way to give the ultimate gift.... the gift of life! YOU could save a life or many.

Here is a diagram of the cross-country kidney exchange that Liane and her mother were a part of. If you want to learn more about The National Kidney Registry, please visit these sites and help spread the word about living donor donations.

NATIONAL KIDNEY REGISTRY

{ WEBSITE }

{ TWITTER }

A Husband's Gift of an Annie & Isabel Designer Hospital Gown

2011-06-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more sweet than when a husband buys his wife an Annie & Isabel hospital gown for the upcoming birth of their child. It is one of the best "push presents" he can give because it provides his lovely wife the gift of comfort, style and beauty during a time when she might not exactly feel that way! We hear time and time again from new mothers that our gowns made them feel so beautiful and we LOVE that!! Thanks to all of the hubbies out there who support Annie & Isabel and in turn support their wives.

This proud husband, Dino, purchased the "Annie" designer hospital gown for his wife, Katie, and here is what Katie had to say about her experience:

"I wanted to thank you so much for creating such great gowns. I wore the Annie Gown during my birth to my beautiful daughter Sophia. Whan an awesome gown! It was so nice after a long labor to take a shower and put on this comfortable gown that made me feel beautiful. I love how easy it was to breastfeed my daughter and how easy it was to cover up too when people came to visit. After being in the same maternity wear for so many months it was great to put on my own personal gowns. I can't tell you all the compliments I got from nurses and staff about how awesome they thought this gown was. I can't wait until I can wear it again or maybe I will try one of the other beautiful patterns for the next delivery."

Congratulations Dino & Katie...Sophia is so sweet!

An Oklahoma Family's Heartbreak and Tragedy - PLEASE READ AND SHARE

2011-05-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we received an email from Megan, who recently wore one of our hospital gowns for the birth of her 3rd child. Megan lives in Oklahoma and shared a heart breaking story with us. Here is her email -

"Hi Girls,

Not sure if you heard, but my state, Oklahoma, was hit with a round of tornadoes on Tuesday, May 24th. The little town of Piedmont was demolished. A mom, Catherine Hamil, got into the bath tub with her children Kathleen 5, Ryan 3, and Cole 15 months. Her husband was out of town for business. I don't know if you are familiar with tornado safety, but growing up, we were all told to "go to the tub" for protection. Catherine put a mattress over them and, when the tornado hit their home, it sucked them out of the tub and literally tossed all four of them about. Their house was completely flattened and scattered to the foundation. The whole state is moved by this story. Her daughter Kathleen survived with serious injuries. Her son Cole died the following morning at the hospital. Her son Ryan was missing for 2 days and sadly was found deceased in a pond behind their house early Thursday morning. The mother Catherine, who is also 5 months pregnant, has had surgery for pelvic fractures. My question is, I was wondering if you would donate a hospital gown for the mother? If not, could you cut me a sweet deal? I won't quit loving ya if you can't do it, but I thought I would ask:) Let me know if there is anything you need from me!

Thanks Girls,

Megan"

The Hamil Family

We are so thankful Megan wrote to us, because as most of you know, we just launched our Feel Better Campaign, in which we donate our designer hospital gowns to nominated and deserving recipients. Our mission in starting this program is to support people in need during difficult times. We hope, that by sending Catherine our hospital gowns, she can enjoy a bit of comfort during her upcoming birth and any upcoming hospital stays she may have to endure as a result of her injuries. As you read this story, we encourage you to share it with your friends, with the hope that together we can surround the Hamil family with our love and support. Because of social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, almost $40,000 has already been raised for the Hamil family. If you would like to support the Hamil family there are many ways to do so.

{ HAMIL FAMILY ASSISTANCE FUND }

{ FACEBOOK - SHOWER OF HOPE OKLAHOMA }

{ TWITTER - SHOWER OF HOPE OKLAHOMA }

{ SHOWER OF HOPE - BLOG }

Here are a few pictures of the damage that the Hamil family endured last Tuesday May 24th, 2011

The Hamil's home in Piedmont, Oklahoma before and after...

A heart wrenching video from Mailonline.com after they found Cole's body.

"My little buddy': Father fights back tears as he reveals that missing three-year-old son has been found dead"

14 Year Old Undergoes Open Heart Surgery.....Part Two

2011-05-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

So if you didn't read yesterdays post, you will want to read that first here: Katie's Testimonial Part 1. This is part II of the story of Katie, a 14 year old girl who underwent open heart surgery due to a previously undiagnosed heart condition. Our last post left off saying that we were about to get a surprising update on Katie!!

We knew the day that Katie was going in for her open heart surgery thanks to her aunt, Jenny, who purchased an Annie & Isabel hospital gown for her. We thought about Katie that morning and went about our day working on Annie & Isabel matters. We were checking our email when we received an email that absolutely made our day and our week!! It was an email that made us realize that every minute of hard work that we put into our company is soooo worth it. The email was from Katie's aunt, Jenny. True to her word, Jenny wrote to update us on Katie's progress. She emailed us the following picture which just blew us away:

This is Katie in the pediatric Intensive Care Unit, just HOURS after having open heart surgery. She has the biggest grin on her face and is looking as bright and cheery as the Evelyn designer gown that she is wearing. Can you imagine sitting up in a chair within the first day of having open heart surgery?? We are nurses and we were surprised and excited to see her doing so well! The surprises weren't to end there, either.

Shortly after receiving that wonderful email from Katie's aunt, Jenny, we received another message. Amazingly, Katie's nurse that day happened to be a friend of ours, Claudette (pictured above with Katie). We hadn't talked to her in quite some time but when she saw this beautiful gown on her patient, she knew right away that it must be an Annie & Isabel hospital gown. She was also amazed at how it helped in the recovery of her patient. Claudette was so impressed that, with the permission of Katie and her family, she contacted us to tell us how excited she was that Katie had this gown and what a difference it had made in Katie's recovery. Here is what she wrote to us:

"I am currently an RN at Children's Hospital Oakland. I have been a Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Nurse for over 8 years now. There are so many reasons I love my job, but one of the great joys is being able to bring to the families and our patients, the most brave kids you will ever meet, some normalcy during their stay in the ICU.

With this brings my story of Katie. Katie had a whirlwind first hand experience as a pediatric heart patient. She was diagnosed and underwent her surgery in such a short time frame. I had the pleasure of helping care for Katie her first day post-op. It was then we encouraged Katie to take a bath, braid her hair and get out of that stale hospital gown from surgery and get into her new and improved gown from Annie and Isabel! After the bath, hair braided and gown in place, I was taken aback on how Katie was actually glowing! She was able to get up and out of the bed and into the chair! We were all so excited to see her with so much strength and in such a great mood so soon after this intense surgery. Katie looked at me and said how much getting up and out of bed, and wearing something that she loved made her feel just that little bit better (this girl was smiling ear to ear). It truly made my heart smile.

Thank you Annie and Isabel for bringing a little bit of sunshine to maybe just another day in the ICU."

~Claudette Arguello, RN, BSN

Even her cardiologist, Dr. Rosenfeld (pictured above with Katie) was impressed with Katie's hospital gown!

Katie's aunt, Jenny, was so happy with the difference the Evelyn designer hospital gown had made in Katie's first day of recovery that she ordered a second gown, The Susan, which we promptly altered to include the telemetry pocket and shipped out that same day. Thankfully it got there in one day because Katie's miraculous recovery from her surgery got her out of the hospital and home within 76 hours. Katie was back to school within two weeks!!! She is an amazing young lady!

Here is what Katie had to say about our hospital gowns:

"This gown made my day so much brighter! My aunt gave me a second gown because I felt so good wearing the first one! I had so much fun showing it off to all the nurses. I felt "dressed" in the gown, which made me feel less like a patient and more like a person. I love my hospital gowns!"

Katie, we are so glad you recovered so well from this big surgery and wish you a lot of healthy years of swimming, snow skiing, water skiing and sporting activities and loving life!!

14 Year Old Girl Undergoes Open Heart Surgery and Recovers In Her Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown With a Smile

2011-05-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to share this next testimonial with you. This is the story of Katie, a 14 year old teenager, who recently underwent successful open heart surgery. The need for open heart surgery came as quite a surprise to Katie and her family. Here is the story in Katie's mother's words:

"Katie enjoys competitive swimming, snow skiing, water skiing, and other outdoor sports. Her pediatrician's office recently placed a greater emphasis on cardiac health in athletic children. Katie's pediatrician referred her for an ultrasound due to a heart murmur that she'd had since birth, even though doctors had repeatedly concluded that this murmur was "innocent".

No one expected the ultrasound to show that Katie's heart was greatly enlarged. After an MRI, doctors confirmed that Katie had a Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect, a hole between the two top chambers of her heart that also affected the right upper pulmonary vein. Given Katie's athleticism and lack of symptoms, this diagnosis came as a great shock! Within a month, Katie was admitted to Children's Hospital Oakland for open heart surgery under the superior care of Dr. Howard Rosenfeld, her cardiologist, and Dr. Frank Hanley, her surgeon."

A week prior to Katie's surgery, her aunt, Jenny, e-mailed us to purchase one of our gowns for her niece. When we found out that her niece was having open heart surgery, we knew right away that Katie was going to require a hospital gown that would allow for cardiac monitoring.

Did you know that Annie & Isabel hospital gowns can be altered to provide a pocket, called a telemetry pocket, that allows for cardiac monitoring? We have done this on several occasions and this is what it looks like:

front of gown with telemetry pocket in middle

This pocket on the front of the hospital gown will hold a portable cardiac monitor and has a two inch button hole like slit that opens to allow for cardiac monitoring cords to come through. Anyone in the hospital that has cardiac problems or requires any heart surgery will require heart monitoring.

pocket open to show slit where cords come through

We added the telemetry pocket to Katie's Evelyn designer hospital gown and sent it off. Jenny was kind enough to let us know when Katie was going to have her surgery and told us she would update us on her progress. We got an update that we never expected!! Check back tomorrow for the 2nd part of this great story!

A New Mother Delivers in the Annie Designer Hospital Gown

2011-05-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

Here is Allison wearing her Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown as she gets ready to deliver her first child. She is wearing the "Annie" gown and we love that her cute flip flops look perfect with her hospital gown. We are sure she was the most fashionable mom on the labor and delivery floor! Thanks Allison for your testimonial!

"All ready to welcome miss Lauren Whitney...a big THANK YOU to Joyce and Annie & Isabel Hospital Gowns for making me feel stylish during my labor & delivery...I received many compliments while walking the floor."

-Alison Minneapolis MN

Happy {Belated} National Nurses Week!

2011-05-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

Our Mother Susan ~ The Namesake of Our Susan Gown & Inspiration to Follow Our Dreams of Becoming Nurses.

Happy National Nurses Week - {last week} - We were SO busy working that we did not get a chance to post this!

We are feeling nostalgic as we write our second National Nurses Week post here on our Annie & Isabel blog! One year ago we had just launched our business providing a direct to consumer hospital gown alternative and were so excited to share our designer hospital gowns with the world.... and that we have! With over 50,000 visits to our website, and hundreds of gowns sold, we have been overcome with joy as we help women feel comfortable, dignified and, of course, stylish in the hospital.

If you've followed along in our first year, you know that we are sisters, wives, mothers to 6 energetic boys between the two of us, and LOVE our "real jobs" as RNs working in the hospital. We feel very honored to be in a profession that is so rewarding and feel good knowing that we can make a difference providing the care that comes from our hearts to our patients on a daily basis.

We, as nurses, feel so much gratitude in having the opportunity to touch the lives of our patients in some of the happiest and also the saddest moments in their lives. Nurses have a great impact of everything about your hospital stay. We are the eyes and ears of the hospital. We are your advocate and your voice.

In honor of National Nurses Week {last week}.... Thank you to all of our co-workers who support us and teach us something every day. We don't know what we would do without you!

We also want to give a big thank you to all of you who have supported Annie & Isabel with comments on our posts, "likes" on Facebook, and thinking of us as your "go-to baby present" and gift for friends that have unwanted hospital stays. We have been overwhelmed with the love out there for our baby girls "Annie & Isabel"... if you don't know the story... click here!

Oh... we almost forgot! Our post last year "Why Did You Become a Nurse and Not a Doctor?" had so many hits from people who Googled "Should I become a nurse?" which we thought was so neat! If you found our blog and are thinking of a career in nursing... it is a true calling and an amazing career! There are so many things you can do with a nursing degree. You can work in a hospital as we do, but you can also find just about anything that might fit your interests! If you ever want to ask us anything more about why we love being nurses, please don't hesitate to email us ~

wecare@annieandisabel.com

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Meredith Wears Her "Susan" Annie & Isabel Designer Gown & It's A Hit With The Hospital Staff!

2011-05-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

We are so happy to post this beautiful testimonial from Meredith, of San Francisco, in her Susan designer hospital gown as she welcomed her son Andrew into the world! Thank you Meredith for your kind words and we are so happy you loved wearing you OWN hospital gown for Andrew's debut!

"I knew I wanted to wear and Annie and Isabel gown for my second child's birth. I selected the Susan months before our baby was born and knew it would be just right for making me feel great during labor and delivery. When I checked into triage and asked my husband to help me put the gown on, the nurse came in and said, "Oh my goodness, that's the cutest gown I've ever seen. Where did you get it?" She proceeded to call in 3 other nurses and they all gushed about it. A few hours later, when the anesthesiologist arrived he said, "Did I miss the room where they're handing out the cool gowns today? Where did you get that?" Everyone who came into my room absolutely raved about the gown, and when I told them where I got the gown, they all said you should sell them at CPMC. Aside from everyone around loving it, I loved it. I knew I had washed my own gown, and that I could snuggle my newborn baby with a clean mommy hug. The nurses tried everything to keep it clean during delivery, and it was actually pretty clean even at the end. I love the photos from our son's birth and feel like I look so beautiful and happy in my gown. My dad is a doctor, and when he showed his colleagues the photos of our son's birthday, once again, all the doctors and nurses said, "Where did your daughter get that awesome gown?" Keep it up. You are making such a difference in making women feel comfortable and beautiful."

Just Precious!

A Sweet Mother's Day Gift

2011-05-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

We wanted to wish all mothers and moms-to-be a very happy Mother's Day today!! We, as mothers, know how blessed we are to have the beautiful families that we have and to also have the privilege of mothering our children with the hopes that they remain healthy, well-rounded children. Mother's Day is a nice time to reflect on our families and the blessings we have.

Some mothers are getting an extra special present this Mother's Day....the gift of a new baby. The new mother below, Hilary, is one such mom!!

Hilary celebrated the birth of her third child just three days ago. What is even more exciting to us is that this is the second birth in which she has worn her Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown. Hilary was one of the first mothers to ever wear an Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown and now she is one of the first to wear it for a 2nd birth!!! She first wore her Annie & Isabel gown when she gave birth to Raven which you can read about HERE. Scroll near the bottom to see her testimonial:-)

Proud New Mama!!

She delivered a healthy, beautiful baby girl. How sweet is she?

This is what Hilary said about wearing her Annie & Isabel hospital gown for the second time which we thought was so neat:

"I was so excited to be able to wear my gown again....it held such good memories from Raven's birth and now it will hold memories from Azri's birth!"

Congratulations Hilary and a special Happy Mother's Day to you!!!

Don't forget that we are still offering free shipping on orders through today with code "Mothers". Last chance to order your gown with an $8 savings on shipping.