modcloth style challenge.

Ladies, I'm back! I know I've been quiet around these parts but we've been transitioning to being a family of four (and it hasn't been all roses and sunshine). And of course as much as I love you guys, my family comes first. Our littlest is finally on a schedule, so that means I have a few quiet minutes that need filling! What better way to start back to the blog than with a challenge from Modcloth!

I was asked to create an outfit with the "In the Key of Chic" dress. Since it's still a little cool in my parts for a dress like this, I paired it with a gorgeous green coat and some stunning cameo earrings. I just love the whole look and I hope you do too!

Is this outfit making you crave sunshine and warmer temps like me?

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.

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.

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?

polka dots and mint.

{Jacket: Similar | Belt: Target | Sweater: Similar | Tunic: Old Navy | Pants: Similar | Shoes: Madewell}

Oh man getting dressed these days is well...not easy. The weather just refuses to warm up, so I am forced to remix the the few, very few pieces that are still appropriate for colder weather. This means lots of open layers.

It's a little too late in the game to go purchase sweaters that I can only wear for (what will hopefully only be) a few more weeks. And the sweaters I do have are not maternity so they fit very awkwardly (that's a nice way of putting it). So all this to say, my creativity is really being put to the test. Most days I am cold because I can't button any of my layers and I refuse to put on my winter coat in the middle of April (some evenings I cave because I just can't stand being cold anymore).

Please tell me it is warmer where you guys are! Somebody needs to be enjoying the sunshine!

navy & mint.

{Necklace: Similar | Scarf: Target | Cardi: Similar | Flats: J. Crew Factory}

It's official I am entering the not so attractive part of my pregnancy. There are less and less "keeper" photos and fewer and fewer outfit options. I know I still have a ways to go and I am not really sure how I'm gonna maintain a style blog! 

Not only has my mid-section grown but it seems that every part of me has. Funny story for you...not so much for me. I decided to get a pedicure last week and forgot to change my pants. I mean I'm lucky I remembered to shave my legs. 

So I get there and cannot get my pants up. It literally took me more than five minutes to hike up my pants to just below knee level. And even that was pretty excruciating. As I am sitting there getting my pedicure, it seems that my pants are getting tighter and tighter and I'm getting more and more uncomfortable. All I can think is, how am I gonna get these down before my manicure? Finally after several minutes of stewing I come up with the plan that I will go to the bathroom so that I can somehow extract my pants off my legs. And after my pedicure that's just what I do. 

Um it took a really, really long time to get them back down. I even considered asking someone in the nail salon for scissors so I could just cut them off. And to prove this was no joke, I walked a way with a nasty, nasty bruise all the way around my leg where my pants were stuck. Attractive I know. 

The beauty of motherhood folks. This is it.

polka dot leggings.

{Jacket: Similar | Sweater: Similar | Tunic: Similar | Scarf: Similar | Leggings: Similar | Boots: Steve Madden}

Polka dot leggings just sound like a really big miss, right? In fact, these were in my closet for longer than I would like to admit collecting dust. I was terrified of what kind of failure I had invested in this time. I mean who in their right mind can pull off polka dot leggings?

Well, I am so happily and pleasantly surprised. There's just something about these guys that WORKS and works WELL. They aren't crazy loud...well, I mean they are polka dot leggings so maybe just the right amount of loud. 

Now the trick is how many times and ways can a pregnant lady wear polka dot leggings without being over the top? Because this is the MOST comfortable outfit EVER. 

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy and the ladies below.

stripes and dots.

{Jacket: Similar | Sweater: Similar | Shirt: Similar | Necklace: Similar | Jeans: Gap}

Hello ladies! Welcome to Tuesday! We had a wonderful long weekend hence why I am starting the week a little late. When my husband has the day off, I take the day off, so I can make the most out of my family time.

One of the best parts of this weekend was my first blogger date! It was so, so, so much fun! I feel like this is what blogging is all about. I met up with Chris from Chubbette Tales and Shelly from Old is the New. And they are just as full of personality as they are on their blogs. Such a fun time with such wonderful ladies!

Now on to this look, which I love! Stripes and polka dots have won me over as a winning combination. If only, I had unlimited quantities of both...

furry.

{Vest: Similar | Shirt: Similar | Boots: Steve Madden}

I might have a tiny resemblance to Chewbacca in this outfit, but I don't care. This vest is so warm and cozy. Perfect for Chicago winters.

If I wasn't pregnant and hadn't walked a million miles this day, I would have swapped the knee-high boots for heeled booties for a chic-er look. But I am pregnant and I did walk a million miles, so boots it was.

Another very, very sad side effect of this pregnancy is that I hate the idea of lipstick. Like absolutely HATE it. And if you haven't gathered from the title of this blog I LOVE lipstick. It's very, very tragic. Sometimes I can manage it like this day. But as soon as I come home, I wipe it off. Who am I?!? Since when does pregnancy change something so central to who you are like lipstick?!?

Oh and when the lipstick comes off that means the real clothes are replaced by my husband's t-shirt and my trusty pj pants. Just being honest here people.

Lastly, I just want to thank all you lovely readers for your sweet comments to our big announcement yesterday. You guys make me want to be one stylish pregnant lady! Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy and the ladies below.

a winner.

{Sweater: Similar | Shirt: Gap | Jeans: Old Navy | Shoes: Target}

I hate to admit it but a lot of my winter clothes are still in storage. I'm just a little late on the season change (this happens a lot). But I pulled a few things out before I headed west and this sweater was one of them. I had it last year and liked the idea of it but never really loved it. Now I love it. I think it might...dare I say it...be the greatest sweater I own. Oh and you can't tell in the photos but my shirt has teeny, tiny little polka dots, so now it is my favorite shirt. Put my favorite shirt and the greatest sweater together and what have you got....a winner my friends. And probably the only time I have pulled off a semi-monochromatic look and liked it! And to top it all off this outfit is so me. I like simple combos that pop and well, polka dots. 

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy and the ladies below.