color me.

Sweater: J. Crew | Similar

Scarf: Target | Similar

Shirt: LOFT

Belt: Gap | Similar

Jeans: Gap

Bag: Rachel Zoe

Shoes: Madewell

I'm busy burning the midnight oil because my baby is in no mood to sleep. So instead of trying to unsuccessfully catch a few zzz's, I decided to blog. Sleepless baby means more productivity. That's an exhausted mom looking at the glass half full.

Every day I draw my blinds, the sky is gray and the ground is white. I am completely over this colorless, cold, brutal winter. And I'm starting to crave color so my days don't all look the same. It's funny. At the beginning of winter all I wanted was grays, whites, blacks and blues. 

Now those colors are taking a backseat (or being shoved to the back of my closet). Now is the time for color, pattern and punch.

What about you? Are you keeping the winter blues at bay with a good dose of color? Or are you still sticking with your neutrals?

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

*I'm still working on finding a groove with my blogging so please bear with me! I'm hoping to get back on a somewhat regular schedule as soon as possible, Thanks for continuing to read!

can you hear the kids screaming in the background?

{Blazer: Gap | Shirt: Similar | Jeans: Similar | Shoes: Similar}

Folks, we are getting to the point where taking outfit photos is starting to get real embarrassing. I mean I"m fine with it. I'm totally cool with looking like an idiot. It's my husband who doesn't like looking like one.

Take these photos. We were going to a circus event (in a rush as usual because we can never seem to leave on time EVER.) And so we had to hurriedly take these photos in front of all the other families heading to the event. But the real kicker is we leave the kids in the car (don't worry we don't abandon them...we take the photos right outside the vehicle). And we put the windows down so we can talk to them. Well, during this particular shoot (and let's be honest many of them), T was kicking the seat screaming at the top of his lungs because well, we are taking photos and he is sitting in the car. Meanwhile everyone is staring at us because I am vainly having my husband take my photos while my children are clearly not having it. And of course he's done and I"m like, "Take one more like this. Oooh how about this. How's this look?" And so on and so on.

I think the real solution to this problem is buying a house where we have a YARD so that we don't have to cart our kids on EVERY single photo shoot. (Hence maybe another reason why we've been lacking on the outfit photo front). Don't you wish there was video accompanying these photos? The things I do for this blog.

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

here's to the last of summer.

{Jacket: J. Crew | Necklace: Similar | Shirt: Old Navy | Shoes: J. Crew Factory | Bag: Rachel Zoe}

'

I'm thinking this is the last of the shorts outfits and that fall is really here. How happy are you about that? I know I"m pretty pleased!

My husband is leaving for four days and it's just me, a toddler and a babe. Now does that sound like fun or what? {Insert sarcasm here.} Truth be told, I'm actually terrified. But I just need to put on my big girl pants and buck up. Right? Right. {That's me giving myself a pep talk.}

So if it's quiet around these parts for the rest of the week you'll know why. It's because I've either pulled all my hair out or my brain has atrophied from baby and toddler speak.

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

a little bit fall.

{Sunglasses: TJ Maxx | Jacket: Similar | Sweatshirt: Similar | Scarf: Similar | Shorts: Gap | Purse: Rachel Zoe | Shoes: Similar}

So I've just realized that I am kind of love with the way an open scarf looks (hence the last two outfits). I think it adds a lot of interest to a relatively simple outfit. I especially love the way it looks here. It just adds so much.

And I am really starting to feel like myself more and more each day. I feel like my sense of style is starting to come back and I am not just restricted to maternity wear and large oversized items. I feel like I lost my style a little bit during this pregnancy because I wanted to cover up my arms or I felt like I had to try to mask my large belly. I don't have those problems anymore. And it makes me so, so happy! I feel like a new and refreshed me and I am ready to dive back into my closet (and this blog)!

On another note, I have become a reading machine. It's one of my favorite things about nursing. Every time I wake up in the dead of night to nurse B, I have my trusty Kindle by my side. I've blitzed through three books since he was born. Having a good read awaiting me every time I drag myself out of bed makes those dreary nighttime hours go by so much faster. And more importantly, it makes me love nursing. What is usually a tedious chore becomes a beloved, quiet moment between me and my babe (and my book of choice). And dare I say, maybe it makes me hope just a little (teensy bit) less for a child who sleeps through the night. Right now I'll take my quiet, peaceful moments where I can get them.

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

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.

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.

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?

seeing blue.

{Necklace: Similar | Blazer: J. Crew Factory | Sweater: Gap | Jeans: Similar | Shoes: Similar}

I do not understand what's happening with this weather! Aren't we supposed to be on the verge of summer? But our forecast for the rest of the week is in the mid to high 60s! I really shouldn't complain because let's be honest when I'm this large, I feel much better in layers upon layers of clothing. 

But still! I feel like I won't get any summer before this baby comes. And then I won't get any summer after this baby comes because well I'll have a newborn and a toddler on my hands. 

And can we talk about being 7 1/2 months pregnant with a toddler who wakes up in the middle of the night? That means this mama wears something similar to pjs all day (yes, I just admitted that on my style blog) and she has trouble getting off the couch as her toddler keeps trying to pull his much-too-pregnant mama to a standing position while asking, "bye-bye?" over and over again.  Needless to say, we did not go bye-bye until daddy came home.  Poor kid. He certainly has learned to identify the "fun" parent these days (hint: it's not me!).

And that's pretty much my life these days in a nutshell.

mint, navy and red.

{Sunglasses: Kate Spade | Jacket: Similar | Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft | Short: Similar | Clutch: Gap | Sandals: Target}

These are the last photos from my vacation in paradise and unfortunately it seems way too long ago. Real life has settled in, the tan has faded and the relaxed vibe is gone. We are in baby mode--getting the nursery together, washing onesies and making sure we are ready when the time comes. Busy, busy!

I absolutely love the simplicity of this outfit.  A little bit of mint, a little bit of eyelet, and a little bit of denim. The perfect combo in my opinion.

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