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

How to Shorten a Dress Without Sewing

At a whopping five foot three (and 3/4's!), my torso is on the shorter side. This comes in handy when I want to wear a romper or jumpsuit (anyone else notice those are only made from shot torsos?!), but not so much when I want to wear a tunic or a knee-legnth dress. As you already know, Kaitlyn and I swap a lot, but what is a perfect fit on her is not always a perfect fit on me. For this I use an easy fix for shortening a dress without sewing, a belt! 

OK, I realize I am not reinventing the wheel here, but by realizing this simple trick you really can get more out of your wardrobe. Prior to belting this beauty, it was below my knees. Not the best length for my body type to be honest. By adding this gorgeous tassel belt and pulling the material up over it, the dress quickly took on a new look and shape. Which was better for my shape. ;)

Dress: c/o J.Jill // Jacket: Sheinside (similar) // Boots & Sunglasses: c/o Sole Society // Necklace: Baublebar // Bag: JustFab // Belt: B-Low the Belt via Box of Style // Ring: Vintage // Lip Color: gloMinerals-Sorbet

Do you ever belt a dress to shorten it? What are your favorite no sew hacks?

If it's Not Broken, Don't Fix it

I have owned this dress since 2012 and it is still one of my summer favorites. I love how lightweight and breezy it is, and the high-low hem is subtle enough to still be "on trend" four years later. The best part, I never mix it up too much as it is beautiful as it is. If it's not broken, don't fix it, right?

When it came to styling my dress for a night in the city, I kept it easy as usual only adding a few other pieces. Strappy heels, a great cut-out bag, my favorite leather tie necklace, and a denim jacket where all I needed to take this look to city chic. In the end I added a pop of teal with my earring and in doing so, I ended up mixing my silver and gold metals... I am OK with that!

Wearing:
Dress: Gentle Fawn via TSF box service // Shoes: Just Fab // Jacket: Pepe Jeans (similar) Shoes: c/o Sole Society // Earrings: Baublebar // Necklace: Free People (similar)  Watch: Fossil // Fitbit
Here is how I have styled my dress in the past: 

source // source I've had quite the hair evolution over the years! ;)  Do you have a dress you wear year in and year out and don't mix up the styling that much? How would you style this rust colored beauty? (I'm always looking for new ideas!)

Print Mixing 101: A Guest Post

Oddly enough, I liked school. Never mind the fact that I cut class as much as possible, preferring instead to sit at home watching risqué Prince videos (high school) or sleeping off last night's inappropriate behavior (college). I also loved my brief teaching stint- those second graders taught me MUCH more than I taught them!

Today, I am heading up a little class I call Print Mixing 101. I think the best teachers are those who are still learning, and that is why I am not teaching the Master class on this topic. I just started print mixing this year...boldly going where not many North Shore moms have ventured before.

Let's start with the basics, shall we?

There are a few simple guidelines that I have discovered. I don't want to say rules, because really, in fashion there are no rules. White becomes the new black, the Canadian Tuxedo becomes all the rage, and and Birks are on the runways. (Psssst....on the DL I heard Crocs are sneaking onto the scene in a similar fashion. Say what?)

Print Mixing 101

1. Colors of a feather flock together. This isn't to say that you can't mix various options on the color wheel, but in our 101 class, keep it simple. Staying in the same color family makes it easier on the eye.

2. Size matters. Quarter-size polka dots work well with stripes of approximately the same height. HUGE florals work with large scale plaid.

3. Don't discredit accessories.  A leopard skirt with a bold striped clutch? So clutch.

4. Think outside the box(es).  Stripes, plaids and winowpanes are lovely but don't just take prints into account. Textures like lace, brocade, quilted leather and fringe can give can get things moving without creating a traffic jam.

5. Go pro. Celebs pay tons of money to hire stylists, who in turn essentially broadcast the advice they paid for by wearing the suggested clothing. Study Rihanna, SJP, and Solange. Mix masters.

6. Pattern on pattern can be soooo hot. If you pair black and white stripes with grey and white stripes, you can work it into a look all your own.

7. Have fun. Because if you aren't enjoying it, it ain't worth it my friend. It is just fashion, not brain surgery.

I also believe in putting my money where my mouth is. Here are some pieces from my closet, and how I worked them!

One thing I love about this outfit- both the top and skirt came from Target.  The top was $5 on the clearance rack, and the skirt was around $20. The shoes are Nine West from the DSW clearance rack- my favorite shoes in my collection.

Why This Works: The polka dots were about the same size as the flowers in the skirt, so one didn't overpower the other. Also, since they were both black and white, they didn't crazy clash. Adding in shades of grey in the skirt helped it from being too solid. Earrings are from RocksBox, a great pair that I always fall back on.

Another clearance rack score! The skirt was under $15 at Ann Taylor last year (thanks Zahra for the tip!) and is both a texture and a pattern. The shirt was a LOFT purchase last year as well. I would totally wear this look to the office...if I had one.

Why This Works: Since the shirt already had stripes going two ways (pockets one way, shirt another), it was already a bit busy. I added a subtly textured skirt but kept it interesting with the different length overlay. As for the lipstick, I love a bold red party with a business outfit. This is NARS Lip Pencil that I received from Sephora for my Birthday- if you are a Beauty Insider, you get one too!

Annnnnnnddddd for the grand finale- I scored this shirt from Sisters Marie at the #SwapInTheSuburbs! I needed to add a floral piece to my wardrobe, and am so thrilled that I found this one. Skirt is a Target clearance rack score from a few years ago; dare I say it was around $8? The perforated leather peep-toe shoes (BCBG) are from Crossroads Trading in Lincoln Park, which is IMHO is one of the best resale shops around. Earrings are BaubleBar, Buried Bauble from last year.

Why This Works: Because it is fun. That's why.

A little trend tip for all you fashion-forward gals out there....matchy-matchy is a "DO" now! I used LAQA & Co. Lip Lube in Menatour to match my BaubleBar Statement Earrings. Make sure to check out the BaubleBar semi-hidden Happy Hour for great deals on all things sparkly!

Alright class, today's lesson is over. Time to do your homework and WORK those prints!

Thank you to Sisters Marie for allowing me to guest post- these two gals are incredible!

Cheryl Leahy is the author of the blog all dressed up with nothing to drink..., and her motto is“Don’t Give Up! Figuring out how to adapt to motherhood while keeping a sense of self is an art form.” She is also the Style Editor and Marketing Manager for The Little Style File and is a Featured Contributor for 30Second Mom.

Animal Instincts

I recently wore this dress of Kaitlyn's and it was love at first site. Here's the thing though, the dress comes with this great gold cinched belt and when Kaitlyn wore it last, that's how she styled it.
I wanted to take the dress out of it's box and style it in a way that would make it look different. There is a beautiful drape detail on the top so I carried it over into the rest of the look.
I added a drape front cardigan, drape front faux leather jacket, and lots of silver jewelry that felt like it was in the "animal instincts" type category. In the end I wanted to add a pop of color so I did so in my shoes and in my clutch.

Dress: H&M (swap w/ Kaitlyn) // Cardigan: M. Rena via TSF Box Service // Jacket: c/o Just Fab // Shoes: Zara // Clutch: Shoedazzle // Necklace: Baublebar // Sunnies: Express // Earrings: Castellammare Jewelry // Full Finger Ring: T+J Designs // Stackable Rings: Shop Jules 

Do you ever style your dresses to look not like themselves? I think you get more bang for your buck when you do that, don't you? 

Because I Love Plaid!

I have to admit, I am mad for plaid! 

I just love that it can be styled preppy, chic, or even grunge depending on which piece of clothing has the plaid print on it. 

Here are a few plaid looks I am currently swooning over:

(source) 

(source)

(source) 

Which look is your favorite? 

Are you going mad for plaid this season?

Behind the Scenes: Fall Photo Shoot

We recently headed into the city for a Sisters Marie fall photo shoot. We worked with the very talented Neil Pili (yes, again...we love his work!) and we were thrilled with his new studio space. It's stunning with all of the exposed brick, a full (stocked) bar and comfortable yet modern seating areas (think West Elm meets Ikea).

We were also joined by a videographer (video coming soon!) who did some behind the scenes looks for us that we look forward to sharing with you.

Here's what we wore for our first fall look:

Jacket: H&M // Shirt: TJ Maxx // Jeans: H&M // Booties: c/o Just Fab // Bag: c/o Just Fab 

Watch: T+J Designs // Bracelet: Bauble Bar // Cocktail Ring: Elephant Gyspy // Small ring: Lili Claspe // Necklace: Threadsence

Top & Skirt: Piperlime // Shoes & Bag: c/o Just Fab // Necklace: Clyde's Rebirth // Ring: c/o Sole Society // Bracelet & Watch: House of Gemmes // Earrings: c/o Lotus Blossom Design // Hair by Jacquelyn Marie

We have so much fun shooting with Neil...

After the shoot, we headed over to a great bridge and graffiti wall for a few impromptu photos and video clips with both gentleman. Thank you both for doing this with us in the rain and putting your lives in harms way by standing in oncoming traffic for the sake of a great picture...THAT is dedication ;)

Neil Pili  (photos) and Matthew VanGronigen (video)

We can't wait to show you the finished product!