Looking for an excuse to pamper yourself? You've already hit the jackpot: pregnancy is the best excuse going for nurturing yourself mind, body, and soul. So unplug the phone, light some candles, and start running that bubblebath. Here are some fabulous ways to nurture your inner diva as you begin the countdown to delivery day.

  1. Pick up a copy of The Pregnant Woman's Comfort Book by Jennifer Louden (HarperCollins) - required reading for all moms-to-be who are serious about mastering this pampering thing.
  2. Treat yourself to a blank book to use as a pregnancy journal. Or dig out your camcorder and start a video diary - the perfect way to capture memories of your incredible growing belly.
  3. Curl up on the couch with a pregnancy magazine and savour the fact that you're pregnant.
  4. Whip up a yogurt smoothie in the blender using low-fat yogurt, berries, and ice. Not only is it decadent and delicious: it's a healthy way to boost your calcium intake.
  5. Surf over to TheNursery.com and hook up with other moms who share your due date.
  6. Brew yourself a pot of ginger tea using grated ginger root. Not only is it delicious: it may also help to ward off morning sickness.
  7. Treat yourself to an aromatherapy diffuser and some essential oils. Orange, mandarin, bergamot, and grapefruit are all known for their ability to relieve nausea. (Peppermint, spearmint, and ginger are effective, too, but watch how much you use. If the aroma is too overpowering, you'll make your nausea worse, not better.)
  8. Turn your bathroom into a spa by trying out some of the facial mask and body wrap recipes in Greda Breedlove's book The Herbal Home Spa (Thomas Allen).
  9. Treat yourself to a low-fat decaff latte or toss a LUSH CafeLatte bath bomb into your tub - two terrific caffeine-free ways to get your java fix.
  10. Invite a girlfriend over to watch Raising Arizona or some other video about babies. It's the ultimate chick flick experience.
  11. Treat yourself to a skin cream that delivers maximum SPF protection, like Vichy's Capital Soleil Extreme Sunblock, which boasts an SPF rating of 60. Protecting your skin against the sun will help you to ward off the so-called "mask of pregnancy" - an area of increased pigmentation on the face.
  12. Get a sneak peek at your post-baby universe by reading