One of the things about pregnancy is that you can allow yourself little pleasures from time to time.
Little Luxuries Hepburn bag
Chances are you aren't going out as much as once did because you don't have the energy and the thought of nights out when eveyrone else is smoking and drinking and you're supping on an orange juice don't appeal. In which case, you deserve the odd treat!
Even if you're on a tight budget, friends or family might be mooting the idea of a baby shower. In which case, the new Little Lifestyles ranges we discovered a couple of weeks ago are certainly worth checking out.

Little Lifestyles
Little Lifestyles is a new company offering a small (but perfectly formed) range of changing bags, maternity bags, baby bedding and lotions.
Little Leisures City Hobo (Raspberry)
Their colours are delicate whites and pastels for the main collections and strong stylish hues for their everyday items, with a simple graphic trademark pattern that follows through on their fabrics and packaging.
Although the colours look rather too Gwyneth Paltrow for everyday use down at the baby clinic, the ranges are durable and washable, and priced in reasonable comparison with brands like OiOi and BabyBjorn (smaller bags are around £45 and largest ones are about £60-£70), so you're not paying Hollywood prices!

The Little Luxuries Collection
The all-white collection is a daring challenge to everyday life and to explosive nappies, but don't let that put you off.
The range betrays its ambitions in its names:

The Hepburn Bag is fully lined, water resistant and comes with a large padded changing mat. There three gathered inside pockets and a lovely wide opening and metal clasp fastening, to make rooting around for small tubes of cream much easier. The effect is like a chic Fifties version of a doctor's bag.
The Monroe Maternity Case - despite Marilyn Monroe being one of the least mumsy icons you could imagine - is wonderful and I seriously want one even though I'm not planning a trip to the maternity ward anytime soon.
Little Luxuries Monroe Maternity case
The square design comes in soft but durable white fabric and has a huge main compartment for clothes, home comforts etc. It is fully lined and water resistant and has a large gathered pocket (like your granny's vanity case would have had), and a zip pocket. It's 50cm long, 22cm wide and 35cm deep so it's not too big for an overnight stay but is big enough to carry all your needs.
The Loren Beauty Case could be used for maternity or any time, really. It has a concertina-style opening and three gathered pockets plus a detachable zipped pocket inside for trips to the hospital loos. It's 30cm long, 18cm wide and 21cm deep.

The Little Leisures and Little Linea Collections
Little Linera 400
The Little Linea range comes in three sizes, all of which have useful poockets and a bottle holder, making them as useful for maternity use as for general use after your baby is born. The colour combination is a kind or terracotta body with beige front pockets, making them acceptable for men to carry too.
The flexibility of the range (the Linea 400 includes two detachable zip pouches when you just want to carry toiletries or baby changing essentials) and the light weight of these bags makes them a very nifty choice.
The Little Leisures Collection is three bags of differing sizes designed for life on the go after your baby is born. They come in granite (blackish), teal (muted, rich blue) and raspberry and have a coordinated changing mat with its own carry bag, transparent 'wet' pouches and bottle holders, in addition to various little pockets and zip-up compartments. The City Compact is fab because its two elasticated straps make it suitable for all kinds of buggies.

The Little Lotions Collection
The idea behind Little Lifestyles' lotions range is that all the bottles are suitable for mother and baby, so you both smell lovely and parents don't need to lug around two sets of toiletries.
Little Leisures City Compact
The Bath and Body Oil is a light, non-greasy oil that can be added to baths or massaged into the skin. It contains Chamomile extract and Evening Primrose Oil and is a good relaxing oil.
The Shampoo and Body Wash is a gentle wash that won't sting your baby's eyes. (Babies don't need anything except water to wash in for the first few weeks, so bear that in mind.) It contains Chamomile and Aloe Vera and has a lovely subtle aroma.
The Cleansing Milk can be applied and then washed or gently rubbed away when you don't want to dry out your baby's skin by frequent bathing. It contains Chamomile and Vitamin E.
The Moisturising Milk is a light cream that again contains Vitamin E, and Aloe Vera and is suitable for frequent use.

The company are pretty new, but we like the simplicity of their ranges. If you give them a go, we'd love to know what you think, too.
For more on the ranges, check out the Little Lifestyles website or check out their list of stockists around England, Wales and Scotland.