neutral.

{Top: Similar | Scarf: Similar | Shorts: Similar | Bag: Mishqua | Shoes: Similar}

And just a few shots with my new accessory ;)

I'm back (after a very long hiatus)! Sorry for the complete radio silence! I am just trying to figure out this whole toddler and baby thing. All the free time I used to enjoy has just simply disappeared! I have a feeling most of it has gone toward laundry. Nobody told me how it would suddenly quadruple! But I'm hoping I will find some balance soon. So please be patient with me and this little blog.

It's hard to believe that my little newborn is already a month old. Where does the time go?!? He's growing and changing and I'm still in that awkward, hard-to-dress phase, where clothes aren't my friend. But every day I get up, take a shower and try to put together a cute outfit. It's crazy how a woman's body changes. I feel like I need a whole new wardrobe for this weird-nothing-fits-me-I-just-had-a-baby purgatory that I'm in. But that's not realistic so I'm working with what I've got and buying a few pieces that are a little looser (boyfriend style) that will still be trending through fall and winter. It's not easy but then again when is getting dressed ever easy? :)

Linking up with Style Elixir, the Pleated Poppy and Because Shanna Said So.

my style: two weeks postpartum

{Top: Similar | Pants: Similar | Purse: Similar | Shoes: Similar}

I have to commend every woman blogger out there who has documented her pregnancy and postpartum style. I think it's really hard to put yourself out there. Your body just changes so much during pregnancy and it's really hard to figure out how to dress it in a way that makes you feel good about yourself. I never really felt like I was embracing my true style while pregnant. Really I was just trying to get through it in a sort of stylish way.

And now that I've had the baby, I feel even more self-conscious than I did before. I keep expecting my body to go back to what it was. And unfortunately that doesn't happen. I still look kinda pregnant. I can't tell you how many times I've pulled non-maternity stuff off my shelves in the hopes that it will actually fit this time and it doesn't at all. Such a blow to my self-esteem.

My sister-in-law sent me the best article about how women should feel about their bodies postpartum. We need to give ourselves time. Our bodies spent nine months growing and stretching to nurture the baby that we now hold in our arms. And somehow we expect that they should shrink back to pre-pregnancy form in a shorter amount of time. We look at our bellies with embarrassment instead of wonder. We tug self-consciously at our shirts. We cringe every time we see our reflection in a store window. And we should stop. We just need to be patient and give ourselves time.

And this is what I"m doing here. Giving my body time to heal and that's okay. My goal is to get back in shape and feel good about my body one day in the not too distant future. But that day is not today. Right now I just need to nurture my body and my baby and that's okay. The bumps and lumps are okay for right now. They are a part of my story, the story of how I have given birth to two beautiful boys.

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy, Because Shanna Said So and Style Elixir.

navy eyelet.

{Jacket: Similar | Dress: Similar | Bag: J. Crew | Necklace: Target | Shoes: Similar}

I'm back! (So sorry for the lapse last week.) Being eight months pregnant, dealing with two sick boys and maintaining a functional household is hard! I decided I needed to take something off my plate for a bit and that something happened to be the blog. But I'm happy to be back!

Getting dressed at this stage is hard. Most of the time I just crave comfort and then when I actually do dress up, I just don't have the energy to take photos. I am so ready to be a normal sized human being who feels strong, energetic and healthy. I honestly cannot wait to strap on some running shoes or dive into a pool for a swim. There's just something about being active that makes you feel good.

I am officially two and a half weeks from my due date. Crazy huh! And even though I already have a child, I still can't imagine what life will be like when this little one comes. We are excited and nervous and ready and not ready all at the same time. All this to say, if you see another lapse in the blog, it's probably because we're having a baby!

Until then, regular programming has resumed!

dotty.

{Top: Similar | Necklace: J. Crew Factory | Shorts: Ann Taylor Loft | Purse: J. Crew | Shoes: Similar}

This may not be obvious to everyone (how it's not obvious I don't know), but being nice to pregnant women is just well, NICE. 

Talking about how big they are is not nice. Commenting on how tired they look is not nice. Pretty much any negative comment that you would NOT make to any other woman on the street is 100 percent off-limits with a preggo. Just because a women's pregnant doesn't mean you get to lose your filter. Not cool people. Not cool.

Want to know how to make a preggo's day? Compliment her! I literally almost keeled over from shock when a young, attractive man said hello to me and then told me how cute my shirt was. I mean it's not like men are looking at me these days (Not that I need them to. I am happily married and well, eight months pregnant). 

But the fact that a man could be so nice when other women are so not just floored me. It made my day, week and maybe even my month. So the moral of the story, be nice please. That eight-month pregnant lady that you pass on the street who is chasing her toddler...well, it's me or some version of me. And trust me, I know how tired I feel. And I know how big I look. And I don't need anyone reminding me and neither does she. 

Linking up with Because Shanna Said So and The Pleated Poppy.

boho beach baby.

{Top: Similar | Necklace: Similar | Bottoms: Old Navy | Shoes: Sole Society}

Happy Monday friends! How was your weekend? Ours was filled with lots of summery activities. We went to the beach, the pool and water playgrounds...you name it, we did it (as long as it involved water that is).

Summer has finally arrived in the city and it's a little bittersweet. I love summertime but the temperatures keep creeping up. I know, I know I complain when it's too cold and I complain when it's too hot...such is the life of a pregnant lady!

We finally had a lazy weekend morning, which I don't think we've had for a really, really long time. It was nice to sleep in and lounge on the couch without running out the door (usually because we are behind schedule). We just took it easy and it was such a treat!

I hope you had as wonderful of a weekend!

Linking up with Style Elixir.

a little splash of emerald and a trend collaboration!

{Top: Similar | Jeans: Similar | Necklace: Similar | Shoes: Similar | Bag: Similar}

It is getting harder and harder to find tops that cover my belly! I was walking down the street today and saw this woman with her belly hanging out of her shirt and I am very fearful that will be me. I think maybe I need to opt for moo moos (how can I possibly make that look stylish??) at this point to ensure that does NOT happen to me.

I am digging farther and farther into the reaches of my closet to pull out something that covers this expanding midsection. And I've said it once, I'll say it again, if it weren't for accessories my outfits would become real boring real quick. But alas, I found a shirt that fits and I found some pretty great accessories to make this look pop. I am thinking I should find some more emerald colored goodies. The color is just too pretty to pass up!

Today I'm over at Lipgloss and Crayons wearing the outfit below for a trend collaboration. I actually love how this look turned out. One of my better maternity creations, I think. Oh and even better than this striped outfit, there's a giveaway for a pretty awesome J. Crew bracelet happening too! Don't miss out on it!

{Vest: Similar | Shirt: Old Navy | Scarf: J. Crew Factory | Shorts: Anthropologie | Bag: J. Crew | Shoes: Target}

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Because Shanna Said So and Style Elixir.

hello neon!

{Top: Similar | Purse: J. Crew | Skirt: Gap | Shoes: Similar}

Happy Monday! I have realized that my love for neon knows no bounds. I walk into a store and immediately pick up everything neon and then I buy pretty much all of it. I go to the nail salon and inevitably choose a highlighter-esque color. I just can't help myself. Be it yellow, orange, green or pink I just have to have it. 

This skirt is kind of my new love (again another great non-maternity, maternity piece!). I want to wear it everyday and the color just makes me smile. You might think a large, pregnant lady wearing neon is a bad idea. I say your wrong. I may need to invest in the pink and peach versions too! Here's to neon!

summer uniform.

{Shirt: Similar | Shorts: Similar (so in love with these!) | Purse: Similar | Shoes: Madewell}

We decided to play around with our light in this photo shoot and I really like how it turned out. Sometimes seeing the same outfit photos day in and day out can be a bit boring, but these have some spunk! And there are times when we get stuck in a rut (like I feel we have been lately) and then I give my photographer (i.e. husband) a good verbal lashing and he wows me with something like this. And then we are right back on track.

If there were ever a summer uniform (on those rare occasions when the weather rises above 75 degrees), this is it.  I am so in love with these shorts (which are not maternity) but so light and comfortable to wear. There's no tightness or awkwardness or heaviness. I feel like I can conquer anything in this look like scrubbing the floors on my hands and knees, running to my son's aid as he has a horrific fall and cleaning up glass from a broken wall sconce (which is proving very difficult to replace). This is real life people. Pretty stripey shorts and the grunge of everyday life. But hey, at least there are pretty stripey shorts...this is what they call the bright side. Happy Wednesday!

Linking up with Style Elixir, the Pleated Poppy and Because Shanna Said So.

bubblegum-ish.

{Jacket: J. Crew | Shirt: Similar | Jeans: Similar | Shoes: Similar}

This outfit makes me think of bubblegum, cotton candy or some other sugary treat that sounds all too delicious right now with all the bright pink that's happening. And if you follow me on Instagram, you already know that my shoes are what four-year-olds dream of. They just love these pretty pink slippers!

And I know my four-year-old self would be really proud if she could see me now. I have unnaturally large feet and there just wasn't much selection when I was growing up. My options were always brown and black or some other equally distasteful color. My mother would always push practicality over pretty. Bur really all a little girl wants is to ditch practicality and go for pretty time and again. Am I right?

The good news is my mom doesn't buy my shoes anymore so I can buy all the pretty I want and trust me I do!

style and sleep approved.

{Jacket: Similar | Shirt: Similar | Pants: Anthropologie | Purse: J. Crew}

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This HAS to be the perfect maternity outfit. Any outfit that looks this good on the street and feels just as good on is a winner in my book. I took my usual daily nap (yes I can't make it through a day without a nap!) in just the top and pants. And I was so comfy. I mean this look is style and sleep approved. There aren't many outfits that can do both!

I know I really shouldn't dress based on this concept but I just can't help it! I am too far along at this point to not be comfortable!

Fortunately or unfortunately, I found these pants online. I am really tempted to buy the navy and coral colors. I mean a whole wardrobe made of linen pants is okay...right?

summer whites.

So this outfit didn't translate as well as I would have liked it too. I was going for a pretty neutral outfit with a big pop of neon only the the neon didn't photograph very well. And let me tell you these shoes are in-your-face-neon. In fact, someone commented on how they needed to put sunglasses on because my shoes were so bright. I know so original, huh?

I usually wouldn't share this look with you guys but I am so burnt out and exhausted and we still have to pick a rocker for the nursery and fold clothes before I can just chill. I hope you will accept my excuses just this once (okay it may happen more than once).

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy and Because Shanna Said So.