What I Wore | Grayscale

WhatIWore: Guys. I’m on my 25th try at writing something for this post and just giving up at this point. My heart is not really into it now, but we’ve all gotta get up and out of bed and get dressed, right? So I’m going to talk about my outfit, which I actually really like, instead of addressing the current state of our union, which is more like an episode of Black Mirror than I ever imagined possible. I won’t ignore that things are really screwed up right now, but I’m working on my stress levels for my health and that of my daughter. Phew! 

Ok! Let’s start with something easy - the weather! Thank goodness for clear blue skies and crisp mornings! It’s actually starting to feel like it’s the right time to bring out the warmer winter gear and I love that! I was at Old Navy yesterday for a separate project when I saw this hat and jacket (both 50% off in store) and turtleneck, which is long enough to easily cover my belly (and under $20). I’ve been pinning a lot similar outfits lately, and it all came together quite easily this morning. I think one of the things that has made me more confident in wearing maternity clothes has been wearing trend forward accessories, jackets and non maternity tops when they work. In short - I just feel like myself. Way more than I did with my first pregnancy. I don’t feel dumpy like I did last time (and truthfully, fall is much more fun to get dressed than the height of summer heat!)

When: November 14, 2016

What:
Hat: Old Navy
Shades: Karen Walker ‘Super Duper’
Turtleneck (regular sizes): Old Navy
Jeans: Jeans: AG ‘Stilt’, (non maternity here)
Coat: Old Navy
Boots: gift of Rockport, from last fall (similar under $100)

Where: Coffee Shop and errands

What I Wore | November Morning

WhatIWore: See what I did there? November Morning? Mourning? 

I can’t bring myself to say much today, I’m still in a state of shock, so I’m just going to post my outfit. It feels a little like battle gear. Like I’m going to go out there and be the boldest, fiercest and best version of myself today. I won’t carry on like everything is ok or that this is normal, but I will carry on. 

On Tuesday I hit my two month count down until my due date! On Wednesday, I heard her heart beat and got a great report from the doctor. I have so much to be hopeful for with my children. As I laid by Felix in bed last night, he sat up and said “Mama’s belly jumps! Baby sister down there!” and then put his cheek to my bump and said “Baby kicks Felix!” I can’t wait to see these two together and add to the enormous amount of love we have in our house. 

When: November 10, 2016

What:
Shades: Karen Walker ‘Super Duper Strength’
Dress: Monrow, gift of A Pea in the Pod
Jacket: MICHAEL Michael Kors
Boots: Clarks

Where: Coffee Shop

As for my outfit, I’m really loving this knit turtleneck dress (a gift from A Pea in the Pod - thanks guys!)… and I think I’ll be able to wear it in the future too (maybe not while nursing, but I love the fabric and silhouette). By embracing my ever growing body (and wearing form fitting clothes!) I’ve really helped my self esteem out over the past 7 months. It might seem counter intuitive to wear tight dresses when you’re expected, but I love the way it feels! 

What I Wore | Comfy Cozy

WhatIWore: Good morning all! Hope you had a nice weekend. I’m throwing things back to last Thursday for today’s post. Here’s what I wore for a quick visit to a branding and marketing class at IU that a friend of mine teaches. I love being on campus and with students! This particular course was in the newly renovated Kirkwood Hall, which is home to the new School of Art + Design. I’ve been hearing about these plans for over a year and it’s really amazing to see everything come together so quickly! 

When: October 13, 2016

What:
Shades: Karen Walker
Sweater: ModCloth (last year)
Maternity Dress: JCPenney
Tights: We Love Colors
Bag: J.Crew
Booties: Rag + Bone

Where: On campus visit

I’m all about this type of cozy yet pulled together type of outfit - it’s perfect for a crisp and gray morning. Everything is knit, so it’s got the comfort factor, but it’s not yoga pants, ya know? It’s kind of hard to put into words, but do you ever have those days when the thought of wearing pants feels far too constricting? Even when I’m not pregnant I feel like that some days! PANTS. That’s how I felt the morning I wore this. Also worth mentioning - the dress is navy and gray stripes and I’m wearing it with black tights and boots. I felt the combination of the dress with the bluish toned gray sweater was enough to balance out the tights that don’t necessarily match. I also think this dress will be cute with an olive jacket and booties for a little more of a casual setting! 

What I Wore | Cool Mom

WhatIWore: Confession: I’ve never felt like I could live up to the role of cool girl. You know the type of girl that loves football, doesn’t wait around staring at her phone for a boy to call and that has confidence to spare? I’d rather watch PBS on Netflix, I can’t play mind games and I envy women that don’t give a hoot about what other people think. 

When I had Felix, I went through what could delicately be called an identity crisis. Paired with PPD, it took me many months before I felt like myself or at least a new version of myself as a mom. Pregnancy was hard, the birth and recovery were hard and then being hospitalized with more surgery was… yup. Hard. The year I became pregnant and a new mother were the toughest both physically and mentally of my life. 

This time around has been so different. Minus some struggles (read: morning sickness and mood swings) in my first trimester, I’ve had a much better experience with this pregnancy. I feel more confident about what my body is doing, how my baby is growing and how I’ll handle two kids. I also feel better about the way I look. I’ve had a slower and more steady weight gain, I feel so strong (lifting a 33.5 lb toddler up and down all day will do that for ya!) and I’ve been wearing clothes that give me more self confidence. 

Speaking of clothes…

When: September 29, 2016

What:
Shades: Prada (thrifted for $30!)
Necklace: J.Crew (more great costume jewelry here)
Jacket: BB Dakota, a gift of A Pea in the Pod
Tee Shirt: a gift of A Pea in the Pod
Jeans: AG legging (one size down), gift of A Pea in the Pod
Boots: Clarks

Where: Coffee Shop

So, speaking of clothes, this is a new outfit! I feel like such a cool mom and maybe… just maybe, a cool girl!? Cool woman? I feel good. Last week I posted about these jeans and my experiment to try a size down from the other items I previously purchased (verdict: the smaller size stretches to the perfect fit for me!). A Pea in the Pod generously offered to complete the outfit, so many thanks to them for their gift (I chose the items myself)! I will absolutely be wearing the jacket beyond pregnancy (it’s got the texture and feel of a sweatshirt, but the asymmetrical zip makes it feel fashion forward to me!). I’m also nearing the point of no return to regular length tee shirts. So far they’ve been long enough to cover the bump and not reveal the stretchy belly panel on my jeans, but specifically made maternity tees fit and flatter much better now. 

And I’ve gotta mention the boots too. On my recent assignment for Clarks I fell in love with these boots too, so I ponied up and bought them for myself. I love the super stacked high heel and buckle detail. There are still some sizes left in the black, and there’s also a brown version.