Giving the Cold Shoulder | Floral Cabi Top

You don’t have to look far for this Summer’s best accessory – All you need is a little shoulder pop and thanks to all the different off the shoulder tops currently trending, there is an option for everyone. I love this chiffon, floral style because the subtle straps help it stay put (no annoying adjustments during the day!) and the soft ruffle across the chest and sleeves gives it romantic, feminine vibes. 

I stumbled upon this shirt at the perfect time because it has a loose fit which leaves some room for my growing baby bump yet still allows me to embrace my personal style. For me personally, one of the hardest things about these 9 months has been feeling "out of my element" when it comes to my clothes. I shouldn't be complaining because nowadays, there are so many cute maternity options available to expecting Mother's. My Mom has told me multiple times that she had two sweaters - a party sweater and a work sweater and would basically wear them on repeat because there just wasn't a plethora of things to choose from. So when I think about that, I feel lucky to have so many current trends that are also made in maternity styles but I still miss my old wardrobe and being able to pick out anything I want to wear for the day. It's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things but I am really looking forward to that day I can pull on my skinny jeans again... :) 

P.S. This outfit was featured on the Cabi blog as part of a maternity style project ...

Stop by to check it out! I had so much fun working on it :)

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What do you think of the cold shoulder trend this season? 
Wearing:
Top: c/o Cabi Clothing Jeans: Jessica Simpson - Destination Maternity (similar) Shoes: c/o Shopbop Purse: Sole Society (similar) Sunnies: Old Navy Necklace: c/o Cabi Clothing

Don't Hassle the Tassel | Style & Co Blouse

Not every trend catches my eye or motivates me enough to want to try it -- For example, I noticed corsets are coming back in a much more casual way than Rose in Titanic but the comfort factor definitely still looks to be missing. I've seen them layered over a t-shirt or structured white button-down and while I don't think it's unattractive, it's just not my jam due to how impractical and restricting they seem...oh, and I can only imagine my husband's reaction if I tried to layer one over a dress...pure confusion ;)

But that said, I AM definitely enjoying the tassel trend, whether it's on a woven tote or lining the edge of a blouse. I feel like they bring a little bit of party to any outfit, like this bell-sleeve top and white jeans. What started as an otherwise casual look became much more fun with the addition of these tassel earrings. They are also great for dressing up a basic ponytail...throw on your favorite lip shade, colored sunnies and I feel like it's an instant Summer hit. P.S. Some of the BaubleBar tassel earrings are now available at Target for amazing price points -- I love these!! 

SHOP THE LOOK:

How do you feel about tassel mania? Any trends you just can't stand?
Wearing:
Top: c/o Style & Co - Sold out but similar here Jeans: Destination Maternity Sunnies: Quay Australia (similar) Earrings: c/o Gray Monroe Sandals: Old, similar here Bag: Express (similar) Necklace: c/o Park Lane Jewelry Lipstick: c/o GloMinerals - Sorbet

Lakeside Style | Striped Cabi Cardigan

I can't believe Memorial Day weekend has come and gone. From here on out, Summer always seems to fly by but for now, I am letting it all sink in because there's so much going on in our life right now. After standing up in a best friend's wedding on Saturday, the Family packed up the car and headed to the lake for a few days of R&R. Our annual Memorial Day visit typically includes many seasonal firsts: The first inaugural boat ride, the first visit to our regular ice cream shop, and the first time we fire up the s’more pit in the backyard. This time around, we added a few new activities including hitting up the driving range together (usually reserved for a boys outing but we all wanted to stay together) and a trip to the coffee shop for muffins and plant shopping. It was such a fun day and a beautiful weekend filled with sunshine.

This season also marks another exciting first, as my husband and I begin the real countdown to  welcome home the little man (just 9 weeks to go!). It will surely be a different kind of Summer than we're used to, but one with so many significant memories just waiting to be made. I am looking forward to things like our first stroller ride, first warm night on our deck together, and baby's first trip the Farmer's Market -- The lack of sleep though? Not as high on my list ;) 

Style wise, there’s nothing more appropriate for a lakeside weekend than nautical stripes and the combination of white and navy so I wasted no time adding this nautical-esque Cardigan to my wardrobe. I adore the long length, especially for warm days turned into cold nights. I paired it with the softest t-shirt ever and the ankle wrap sandals for a comfortable yet put together ensemble. Cheers to new adventures this Summer, both in style and life! 

P.S. I am nothing if not a repeat offender - Check out this look I styled for Memorial Day a few years ago...not to mention, I shot these photos in the same area around my house. What my neighbors must think... ;) 

Hope everyone enjoyed the long holiday weekend! Xo

Wearing:
Cardigan: c/o Cabi T-Shirt: c/o Cabi Pants: Jessica Simpson - Destination Maternity Sandals: c/o Cabi Hat: c/o J. Jill Sunnies: Old Navy Necklace: c/o Cabi Bag: Old - Similar here

The Perfect Summer Top | J. Jill Linen Button Down

31 weeks down down, 9 weeks to go. Isn't that crazy?! Part of me wonders where all the time has gone and part of me feels like the third trimester may quickly wear out its welcome. I tried on four different outfits before work this morning before I found something that was both comfortable (a main goal of mine) and presentable...AKA my morning routine takes a lot more time than it used to. For most of my pregnancy, I was able to wear some of my regular, looser fitting shirts with maternity jeans. These days, many of them no longer work so I have been spending a lot of time in dresses (this is one of my favorites) but with our recent string of chillier rainy days, I opted for white jeans to keep the Summer vibes alive and this amazing linen button down. You guys, my new favorite shirt!

I was so excited when I put it on because it's a long length, non-maternity (which means it will be perfect post-baby) and since it's linen, it's super lightweight. It has side vents too so I think this will be one of my go-to tops to beat the heat when I'm feeling super preggo towards the end of June ;) Things are getting very real lately, friends...my body has changed a lot and so has our second bedroom, which is now almost fully transformed into the little man's nursery...stay tuned for photos of the progress next week!

SHOP THE LOOK:

Wearing:
Top: c/o J. Jill Jeans: Jessica Simpson (similar) Shoes: c/o Sole Society (similar) Purse: Express Jean Jacket: Forever 21 (similar) Lemon Cup: Kate Spade via Shopbop Sunnies: LOFT Flowers: Mariano's

Sunday Brunch Style | Old Navy Sweatshirt

When people say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, I can only assume they’re really talking about Sunday brunch. To me, there is absolutely nothing better on the weekend, whether you’re cooking up a big meal at home to sounds of the record player or meeting friends at your favorite spot. I love trying new places and when I’m researching, I’m looking for a few key elements:

1. A somewhat unique menu. Let's be honest, of I just wanted the standard eggs and hash browns combo, I’d go to Denny’s. I'm hoping for some banana stuffed waffles or a quinoa bowl that tastes like heaven (Enter Egg Harbor).
2. The phrase “bottomless mimosas” written somewhere on the menu – Okay, it doesn’t HAVE to be bottomless but the ability to order champagne and orange wins a lot of bonus points. Can you tell I'm counting down the days until my first post-baby mimosa?
3. Coffee. Not just your standard 2-day old black coffee in a pot, but a few different flavors and options is preferred (Buttermilk wins this category hands down).
4. Ambiance – One of the best parts about testing out new locations is seeing how each place is decorated and what kind of vibes it has. My husband would say this point is totally irrelevant as long as the food is good but if you’re a woman, you know we all google photos of the place before we go. It just makes the experience more fun...Plus, would we really want to Instagram our food in an ugly setting? ;) 
5. Outdoor seating - If it's anytime between May-September, I pretty much consider this a requirement. There's better way to waste enjoy a Sunday than dining on delicious food in the sunshine with good company.

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I'm also all about the Sunday brunch "throw on and go" style. I feel like after the work week, so many of us are ready to wind down and just wear what makes us feel good. You can't go wrong with a graphic sweatshirt and distressed jeans but the addition of a neck scarf makes it a little more playful and dresses it up a bit. My brother liked the scarf because it reminded him of fashion from the 60's and I am totally okay with this! This specific scarf is a great choice because 100% of the net proceeds from provide support to community-based organizations that help disadvantaged and homeless women become more self-sufficient. Brunch is best served with a touch of hospitality :) 

What are your favorite brunch spots?  What do you look for when choosing a new spot?
Wearing:
Sweatshirt: Old Navy (similar) Jeans: Pea in the Pod Earrings: c/o Park Lane Jewelry Sunnies: Old Navy Lipstick: Kylie Cosmetics Shoes: Nautica (Love these slip-ons too!) Purse: Target Scarf: J. Jill 

Blue Hues + Big News

Style obsessions come and go and coming in hot for me lately, are peplum tops. A little ruffle never hurt nobody, especially a preggo lady looking for an extra boost of flirty and feminine...plus they are super flattering on all body types. I have a growing collection and was excited to add some gingham to the peplum gang -- I jumped at the chance to order this LOFT top (on sale!) because with it being so light, I figured it was perfect for Spring and will pair great with white jeans as well (*tip - as with most things from LOFT, size down with this top...runs pretty big!)

I suppose I love this top because I'm also very into blue hues lately...Perhaps this has something to do with some BIG NEWS we found out last week! My husband and I are still reeling from finding out we have a son on the way. I'm going to have a son...a SON. In case you are wondering, typing those words feels just as surreal as the vision in my mind. I will be honest - For some reason, I was so positive we were having a girl (which makes no sense because it was obviously just a shot in the dark!) But because it's my first pregnancy, I found it fun to play into all the stereotypes and old wives tails, a lot of which made me think bows and tutu's...except for the ladies in my life who thought boy all along because of the way "I'm carrying." Seriously, does any of this stuff hold any truth?

Well, they were right. My Dr. said with much certainty, "looks like you're having a boy!" and I felt slightly blindsided...Sir, I don't have any boy names on deck and I don't know a thing about Matchbox Cars or Dinosaurs (or whatever boy things are cool these days...) But a little while later, I started thinking about my nephew (Lisa's boy) and what a big piece of my heart he has. Like, heart physically hurting when he's in pain or fluttering when he's happy and then I realized it's not about toys or what you "might not know," because it's only what you don't know YET...there's so much time to learn. Soon, I will begin a lifelong relationship with a special boy unlike any other in my life. A gentleman who I hope will always protect me, treat women with much-deserved respect, work hard at something he enjoys and love his Family just as unconditionally as we love him.

I should have figured because it IS customary in my Family for a boy to be born first...I always felt lucky to have an older brother who watched out for me (especially because he's the best one I could imagine), so hopefully we're following that trend. Not to mention, he and my Mom have such a special relationship...they got to spend almost 8 years together before I came along and you can definitely tell how much of her was instilled in him. Her generous spirit and sensitivity are obvious in his actions every day and I love seeing how great of friends they have become. I have so many amazing Mother-son examples in my life and look forward to setting my own soon enough.

Now, back to hanging with my hubs and editing/politely disagreeing over our "baby boy names" google doc... ;) 

SHOP THE LOOK:

Wearing:

Top: LOFT

Jeans: Destination Maternity (similar)

Trench Coat: H&M

Wedges: c/o Shopbop

Bag: Just Fab (similar)

Bracelet: c/o Park Lane Jewelry

Lipstick: GloMinerals