In this image released by Palmer's, actress and Hollywood mom Ali Landry, far left, whose second child is due in October, reviews her lines with director Alan Cresto, far right, during her advertising shoot for Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Advanced Stretch Mark products, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Palmer's/Rene Macura)Ali Landry is on top of the entertainment world and over the moon about her second pregnancy. She's been Miss USA, one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People and Stuff Magazine's 100 Sexiest Women, yet feels that right now is the best part so far. "This is exactly what I need to be doing and I'm extremely fulfilled." Drop dead gorgeous at eight months pregnant, she credits listening to her body, slowing down and stopping to smell the roses to keeping healthy during her pregnancy. She still exercises, but only with the goal of getting her endorphins going, or her "saving grace," as she refers to them. "The scale is going up, only one direction," and she seems just fine with that.
So how does a busy mom, mom-to-be again, wife, actress, fashion designer and executive producer find time to take care of herself and not just everyone else? For that she credits her mom, one of eight siblings. Landry's grandmother never had time for herself with nearly a dozen children, and felt guilty if she did try to eek out some time. Landry's mom sagely counseled her though that she should take time for herself, as no one else will do it for her. With an incredibly supportive husband, Landry is quick to clarify that this isn't a bad thing. But it's up to you to find time to "take a bath, get a massage or.... wash your face," she explains with a laugh.
In this image released by Palmer's, actress and Hollywood mom Ali Landry, far left, whose second child is due in October, proudly displays her baby bump during her advertising shoot for Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Advanced Stretch Mark products, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Palmer's/Rene Macura)And, she's conscientious of taking full advantage of that attitude while pregnant, as well she should. As the new face…and belly… of Palmer's Cocoa Butter products to prevent stretch marks and stay camera-ready throughout her pregnancy, Landry makes sure she takes time to slather herself daily no matter what. A cult classic and a customer favorite, Landry wants to shout these products benefits from the rooftops. Judging by her recent photos at eight months pregnant, it's not hard to see why.
Landry is so gorgeous now, it's hard to imagine but says she was a tomboy growing up. So, of course, her daughter is the girliest of girls. Landry went so far as to paint her nursery a neutral blue, but it backfired. "She has to have everything pink and anything shiny...a sparkle, a rhinestone." She'll stop on the street to grab something glittery and precious and ask her mom to keep it safe for her, she explained with a laugh. Despite mom's current stunning glamour though, she does not allow her daughter to wear any make-up. Only recently is she allowed to paint her nails sometimes, over the protests of her father. Estela's consequence for misbehavior? Landry temporarily takes away a princess dress.
In addition to creating a new family member due in October, Landry's other baby is due in December: "Hollywood Mom's Club" on the TV Guide Channel. She glows even more as she talks about this project: it's the first she's sold and the first she's executive produced. And she "owes it all to my husband," she explains with a broad smile. He encouraged her to create her own opportunities, pursue her own projects and step out of depending on agents. Now agents help her facilitate deals she's created, instead of her just taking projects they've come up with.
In this image released by Palmer's, actress and Hollywood mom Ali Landry, far left, whose second child is due in October, proudly displays her baby bump during her advertising shoot for Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Advanced Stretch Mark products, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Palmer's/Rene Macura)So are viewers going to see glammed out Hollywood star moms pretending to dish around a staged potluck? Not with Landry in charge. Being in the spotlight, she feels obligated to be candid and honest. Honesty is her ultimate goal, "to speak from the heart and touch the heart by sharing." She's hasn't yet thought about whether she'll be keeping some things private or letting it all out there but she will do it with integrity.
The show stemmed from Landry and other celeb mom friends real potluck dinners. Although undoubtedly more glamorous than the average mommy midweek gathering, what with Denise Richards changing into Ugg boots from Louboutins after coming over post- Spike Awards, it's a night all about comfort. Landry's favorite meal contribution: pretzel salad. She's pretty sure she's the only one who actually ate it, and she'd do it again. "That would be so good right now!" she laughed.
In this image released by Palmer's, actress and Hollywood mom Ali Landry, far left, whose second child is due in October, proudly displays her favorite Palmer's product during her advertising shoot for the brand's Cocoa Butter Formula pregnancy products, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Palmer's/Rene Macura)Yet a third new baby Landry is incredibly proud of? Spokesmoms.com, her new site for moms and the vendors they love (or hate). Sort of like a "Yelp for moms," the site is designed to be intuitive. Come across a fabulous baby product you think everyone should know about? You can post it on this new site. Did the much-touted product you rushed out to buy for your child not live up to its promises? Again, Spokesmoms.com is your site. Suppliers and entrepreneurs of products for kids and moms too will be able to reach out to parents and get real, honest feedback.
With all these projects and a family, don't expect Landry to nest at home with the new baby too long. Although she feels some of the best parenting advice she's gotten is to not try to jump right back into her old life with a new baby, Landry's essentially going to have triplets: new baby, new show and new site. That will keep anyone busy, even a multi-tasking celebrity mama.