Rocked it & Swapped it

Happy Thursday friends! Today's swap is centered around a classic wardrobe staple, this gorgeous white blouse from ASOS. Everyone needs a white blouse in their closet. They are super versatile, can be styled year round, and can be dressed up or dressed down. This one is extra pretty with it's lace and button details, which honestly drew us both to it. Plus it's only $45, so we say stock up on this one while you can! 

When Kaitlyn styled her top, she wore it as a classic combo. Nothing is more easy to pair, while looking very put together, then jeans and a blouse. By adding great jewelry, adorable flats, and a statement bag, her classic look really stood out. When I got my hands on it, I wanted to pair it a bit more unexpected. I paired it with a button-up skirt, faux fur vest, and navy boot. In the end this is a great example of a day to night styling for this blouse, no? 

How many blouses do you have in your closet? What do you think of our pairings? Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today. We truly appreciate it! xo 

The Return of Pre-Baby Jeans

I have dreamt of this day for 9+ months...the day I would be able to slip on a pair of jeans in my regular pre-pregnancy size. I CAN'T EVEN tell you guys how happy this makes me -- While I was so lucky to have a wonderful, complication-free pregnancy, I basically counted down the days until I could return to my normal wardrobe, though it was hard to believe that day would ever come. It's not that I hated maternity clothes...it's just that I felt so much unlike myself. No matter how stylish the maternity options were, I still felt like I was dressing a body that wasn't mine and it was much harder to feel confident in the every day.
So today, I decided to test out the pair of jeans I ordered from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (obsessed with the uneven hem!). I had actually put them away thinking they wouldn't actually fit for another month or so but as a welcome surprise, they slid on and it felt just right. It felt like such an accomplishment to put JEANS on...I've barely been making it out of pj's and nursing tops so for a brief moment in time, this felt really nice. It's AMAZING to me what the body can do...3 weeks ago, I was still dressing a beautiful baby bump and without even realizing it was happening, my body has been working hard to find its way back. Our lives have been a blur these past few weeks, meaning there's really no time to pay attention to my appearance...I've just been focusing on consuming enough calories and drinking plenty of fluids in order to keep the little man's weight up and in the meantime, my body has been working overtime for me as well. It's not the same as it was, but neither is our life...it's better.

P.S. I've been loving mules for a while now and I originally had a few pairs in my cart during the #nsale but I still wasn't convinced on the prices...then I thought, I'm sure I can find a more cost-effective pair that looks identical (just like this Gucci pair!) and low and behold, Forever 21 came through in the clutch. This black pair is under $50 and so comfortable. Most of the sizes are low in stock so don't wait to shop!

SHOP MY STYLE:

Thanks for coming by...It's nice to be back (both here AND in my jeans!) :)

Wearing:

Jeans: Nordstrom

Top: ASOS

Mules: Forever 21

Bag: c/o Verloop Knits

Sunnies: H&M

Necklace: c/o Park Lane Jewelry

Bracelets: Alex & Ani

Baby Shower Style | ASOS Maternity Dress

A pancake station ✔️ 

Baby succulents ✔️ 

A "Mom-osa" bar ✔️ 

A carriage made of cupcakes ✔️

...These are a few of my favorite things 

I must say, the gracious hosts of our baby shower (all 7 of them!) didn't miss a beat in personalizing the day just for us and our growing Family. I remember how early my Mom started plotting ideas for shower day...We shared the big news with our parents in December and a few weeks after Christmas, she was already making folders with ideas and inspiration. A few months later, she hosted the rest of the ladies in my Family at her house for an Italian dinner while they narrowed down options and delegated different tasks to be completed. All along, my Mom made sure everything was kept secret from us because she wanted all of the touches to be a surprise and more than that, didn’t want us having to think about anything since there was already so much on our plates. I’ve been involved in planning multiple different showers (baby and wedding) so I know how much work they are and I can't thank them enough for their time and efforts.

The shower was a few weeks ago and we are still overwhelmed with the love we were shown that day. There was so much joy and happiness spilling out of every little moment and we feel so blessed that our little man is already so loved. P.S. You should have seen our faces once we got all of the gifts into our house...oh my God. I just kept saying, babies CANNOT need this much stuff (though I'm told we'll be surprised how much of it we actually do use). We put everything in the dining room until we were ready to start going through it (many days later) and then napped on the couch for hours, the dog included. A tiring day for us all!

Here are few shots of my favorite details:

party favor succulents found here

cupcake carriage by smallcakes 

"mom-osa" station

As for the dress, I considered quite a few – I basically kept my eye on the rotating maternity styles at ASOS for a few months and closer to shower day, I ordered a few different ones. I was obsessed with this style online – It was out of stock for so long (and actually is again, but the maxi version is available!). I loved it so I waited for it to be re-stocked to try it on...unfortunately, it was still a little too big/boxy on me and I was really looking for something more body hugging. As I’ve mentioned previously, I prefer this when it comes to maternity styles…in my mind, there’s no reason we should hide our bump or the rest of our shape. With that said, I ended up choosing this half sleeve style (in light blue, of course!) and was very happy with it. 

SHOP MY SHOWER LOOK:

P.S. If you're still hunting for a maternity occasion dress, here are a few of the other runners-up I debated on and off...they're all so beautiful! 

SHOP OCCASION DRESSES:

And because this outtake is too good not to share...Damn wind! Would have been a fun shot :)

Overjoyed and overwhelmed, all at once!

Can't believe we're about to become Mom & Dad...Eek!!

Let the adventure begin... 

Wearing:

Dress: ASOS Maternity

Shoes: Splendid c/o ShopBop

Earrings: Francesca's (old), similar

Bracelet: Alex & Ani

Lipstick: Butter London - Loved Up

You're One in a Melon | Pom Pom Shorts

Happy day after the 4th, aka the fireworks and grilling hangover! I hope everyone had an amazing holiday weekend - I know we did and it was a much needed break from stressing about everything we have had going on (recent life update here in case you missed it!) Luckily, I'm still off work today because I wanted one day to recover from all the activity and just relax a little bit. Waking up to an alarm the day after the 4th is a rude awakening, so this way, I was able to sleep in and enjoy breakfast in our beautiful backyard in the woods. 

In other news, I have been living in these shorts lately (non-maternity version here and here)...Once the weather turned warmer, I knew I needed to add a few pairs of shorts to my maternity collection because I couldn't get by on dresses every single though (though I've surely tried!). I like this pair because they are so comfortable yet the pom pom hem keeps them from looking too much like sleep shorts. I paired them with this tie front top which could not be more perfect for my belly. I feel like the little knot at the bottom keeps a things a little more conspicuous than they really are (aka well-disguised) and it's a fun twist on a basic white t. 

But more than anything, I'm obsessed with the watermelon clutch...I was with Lisa when she purchased it at a T&J Designs event last year and I remember thinking, you're going to regret not doing the same -- turns out I was right! They had a lemon one too, both of which are the cutest accessories for Summer! I want to wear it with everything...I don't believe this one is for sale any longer but this one is almost identical. Don't hold back from purchasing like I did...just a little fruit for thought ;) 

SHOP THE LOOK:

P.S. When I found these shorts on ASOS, I took a screen shot of the model because I loved her maternity look so much so she may or may not have served as inspiration for this outfit ;) Hey, when your belly is taking over your body, you'll take style spark wherever you can find it! 

Wearing:

Shorts: ASOS Maternity - Love them in non-maternity yellow too!

Shirt: c/o J. Jill

Shoes: c/o Superga via J. Jill - Sold out but similar here

Clutch: T+J Designs - similar

Jacket: J. Crew

Sunnies: H&M

Lipstick: Glominerals

Poppin' in Pineapple | ASOS Maternity Dress

Welcome to week 35 of sharing my body with baby boy A! Time has absolutely flown by -- It feels like years ago that we shared the big news with our parents on Christmas morning. I suppose part of that is because I didn't really "feel" pregnant for the first half and I wasn't obviously showing until 4 or 5 months...for a while there, it just looked like I had eaten a few too many ice cream sundaes (which I had!), but during the last 2 months, this belly expanded big time, making room for my growing boy and preparing for the main event. I will say, getting dressed got significantly harder over the past few weeks (and feeling cute/chic isn't always easy to come by), but I DID invest in a few Summer maternity staples to hopefully get me through the last few weeks and the beginning of the warm days including this OTS pineapple dress (currently on sale!). It's a jersey material so it's super soft and breathable, not to mention one of my favorite prints for Summer. 

I did get a lot of use out of my regular clothes during the first few months but as time went on, I found maternity styles to be much more comfortable and flattering. I'm definitely a fan of body-hugging looks with a belly instead of buying regular dresses in a few sizes up - tighter clothing still allows you to show off your waistline instead of making you look boxy and larger all over so I have been wearing a lot of ruched tanks and bodycon dresses. Plus, we do plan on having more children so the way I see it, there's nothing wrong with building a reasonably sized versatile maternity wardrobe you will undoubtedly visit again (or share with pregnant friends through the years!).

SHOP THE LOOK:

CURRENTLY:

In addition to my wardrobe, my feelings and routines are ever changing lately so I figured I'd share a little "belly briefing" of life currently...

MOOD: Excited! Our baby shower is coming up and the amazing women in my Family have been hard at work on it for months. I remember the night they all got together at my Mom's house to discuss the theme, divide up responsibilities and of course, dine on a homemade pasta meal a la Lynda. They skyped me during their visit and I felt so loved knowing they were all together working on something special for us. Can't wait to share some photos with you guys (UPDATE >> It was AMAZING!)

MIND: Busy. On overload, actually. In addition to it slowly sinking in how close we are to becoming parents, there has been so much going on. My husband had major surgery to repair his torn ACL and meniscus about 3 weeks ago which means we have 3(ish) weeks left until he can begin to start walking without his crutches. It has been a trying time for us, that's for sure -- Not only do I feel so bad that he has to spend his well-earned Summer vacation in a brace and on crutches but I've been doing my best to help him with everything he needs which meant a lot of going up and down the stairs many times a day and my preggo belly isn't always the easiest shuffle around. He also can't drive for a little while yet so I have been taking him to his PT appointments and anywhere else he needs to go which I know is frustrating for him to lose that independence but he's taking it like a champ and making great progress. On the bright side, it has allowed us to spend a lot of time together, with both of us in a very tender state nonetheless so I think we've truly gotten to understand the feeling of "in sickness" as well as in health and it's made me feel even closer in our relationship. 

ANTICIPATING: Our 4th of July Wisconsin trip! It's my most cherished weekend every Summer and I'm so glad the baby's due date is far enough off to allow us to enjoy our annual traditions without any worry (fingers crossed!). Counting down to 5 days of sunshine, good food, great company, amazing views and time spent at my favorite place on earth.

BODY: Honest thoughts? Some days I look in the mirror and think, wow. I feel amazing for nourishing a human life for 9 months and what a beautiful sight it is to see him growing (healthily) inside of my belly, something I've thought about my whole life. It makes me feel like wonder woman. Other days, I look at posts like this and think, OMG...How was this last Summer and good Lord, I can't wait to find my way back to that person. My workouts have always been such a big part of my life and a huge stress reliever, so not being able to participate in those activities (hot yoga, long runs) has been quite an adjustment for me. I think that routine is the biggest thing I'm looking forward to having back. It just makes me feel like me.

MISSING: Sleeping on my stomach (I CAN'T WAIT TO DO THAT AGAIN!). Cold deli sandwiches whenever I want. Jeans without panels. Bra's that fit normally. Strapless bras. Un-swollen feet. Bending over without groaning. Riding bikes. Grapefruit Shandy. Mimosas. Red wine. Rolling over in bed without feeling like a beached whale. 

CHERISHING: The baby's movements - To me, this is one of the coolest parts about being pregnant and it gets even more exciting towards the end. Sometimes they still feel like little heartbeats but other times, they're so strong, they shock me, especially when I look down and see little ripples moving across my stomach. It's so weird to be going about your normal day and then all of a sudden feel feet or elbows having a dance party inside of you...life is crazy! These moments make me feel very connected to this boy of mine and I know I will miss them once he enters the world.

Whew! That was a long one but it feels really good to document some feelings. It will be fun to look back on these things months or years from now and remember all the little moments. 

Thanks for reading! Xo

Wearing:

Dress: ASOS Maternity

Jacket: J. Crew

Purse: c/o Sole Society - Similar

Sandals: c/o Sole Society

Sunglasses: Target

Earrings: Bauble Bar for Target

Lipstick: Clinique Chubby Stick

A Little Namaste Goes a Long Way

Weekdays can feel really long. Let me re-phrase that: WINTER weekdays can feel tremendously long. Especially the last few, which if you’re from Chicago-ish, I’m sure you will agree. Not only are the first few weeks back are the holidays super depressing but it has also been extra Eeyore-style gloomy outside for what feels like, forever. Rain, ice storms, sleet and no sunshine make it difficult to feel cheery or motivated do much of anything. We were blessed with such a beautiful Fall and I had gotten into such a great routine of waking up early to walk the dog, train for the half-marathon or prep healthy meals for the week. But for me, all of these things greatly depend on the weather which has a direct affect on my mood so there’s definitely been more couch sitting, less aerobic activity these days. During Winter, there’s a time for hibernation…until a certain point and then you just get the itch to start the countdown for Spring.

With that said, Winter is here to stay for a few more months so instead of focusing on the negative aspects, I’ve been doing a few little things here and there to make the weekdays feel less monotonous....aka adding a little more "namaste" into the every day. It really helps to have some things to look forward to, even if it’s as small as face timing your friends during the Bachelor to talk about how ludicrous Corinne is (anyone else?!) 

• Plan a night each week to watch your favorite show with girlfriends. Like I mentioned, I am usually conversing with some ladies during rose ceremonies but even better than that, I look forward to “Nashville Nights,” where 3 of my favorite ladies and I gather each week to watch the show. We take turns hosting and the person who’s turn it is, provides some fun snacks for the group. We’ve been trying to keep these a little healthier so last time, we had yogurt & (homemade) granola parfaits which were super tasty! 

• Try a new exercise class with a friend. My gym recently hosted a free class of the new version of Body Pump so along with one of my besties, I tried it out and really enjoyed it. It felt nice to do something “out of my routine” and spend some time with her as well. I liked it enough to consider signing up for it on a weekly basis so I consider this well worth the visit (plus, I was so sore the next day!)

• Make an easy dinner with your significant other. My husband has MANY talents but cooking isn’t one of his top 10. Okay, well it might be but I couldn’t be sure because he’s barely touched the stove in 3+ years. That said, we DO enjoy making one of our favorite weeknight meals together…he cooks the sausage while I make the pasta (similar to this recipe) and even though it’s simple, we’re still side by side and it feels nice to both be contributing. Especially if I put a little Sinatra on the record player while we work…

• Go out for breakfast or coffee on a weekday. I find that I have a much easier time waking up early on the weekends because usually, it's to get a head start on a fun day I have planned. During the week though, it's not as easy to jump out of bed without hitting snooze a few times. A few times recently, I have met co-workers for breakfast or my Mom for coffee, even if it's just for a half hour before work and it has been a much brighter way to start the day. Instead of diving right into your normal, rushed routine, this makes it feel like you had time outside of work to enjoy yourself.

• Wear impractical shoes just because you want to. Normally, I would reserve these fabulous glitter booties for New Years Eve or a night out with the girls, but why not pair them with a classic jeans & cardigan combo to add a little extra sparkle? I certainly think the other coffee house patrons found them to be quite a sight at 8:00am :) 

SHOP THE LOOK:

What are your tips for mid week pick-me-up's?
Wearing:
Cardigan: Old Navy (similar) Striped Turtleneck: Old Navy (very similar) Jeans: Old Navy  Purse: Sole Society (Old but similar and so cute here) Booties: ASOS (indentical under $70) Hat: Etsy