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

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 :)

SHOP THE LOOK:

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

Everyday Maternity Style | Old Navy Dress

I will not lie - By the time I snapped these photos over the weekend, I was burnt out. I went to work on Friday followed by a wedding that night where I danced in heels until the last song, got up early for the Farmers Market the next morning and then headed home to quickly change into a  nicer outfit for our Mothers Day lunch outing and after THAT, shot 3 different outfit posts for a fun upcoming collaboration (changing in a relative's garage in between one of them, I might add). I consider myself a do it all, no sitting down, admittedly FOMO diagnosed kind of gal but as I start making my way through my last trimester, I think I need to slow it down a little bit. This weekend was nonstop and while I enjoyed all of our activities, I crashed fairly hard for a few hours on Sunday, realizing how much my body needed a break. Even though it was beautiful out, I forced myself to lay on the couch in the AC and actually fell asleep for a few minutes. I never take naps but our crazy schedule had finally caught up with me, giving me little choice.

Needless to say, these aren't photos of me reinventing the style wheel in any way but rather, some simple ones we snapped in between a much needed iced tea and a dreaded visit to the grocery store (the lines on Saturday and amount of irritation I experienced is exactly why I use Peapod). As my pregnancy progresses, I am a big fan of form fitting dresses and lightweight layers (jean jacket, sweater, kimono, etc.) I think the bodycon maternity styles are flattering because it still gives you shape and makes it much easier to tell that you are pregnant and not just 5 cheeseburgers past the recommended intake. Plus, I feel so much more comfortable in dresses these days -- they are so much easier for a growing stomach rather than belly band jeans which I'm constantly re-adjusting. Hopefully the nice weather is here to stay because I'm ready to have this dress and about 5 other similar ones on rotation for next 2 months :)

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Wearing:

Dress: Old Navy

Jacket: J. Crew - similar

Bag: Target

Necklace: T+J Designs

Sunnies: Old Navy

Lipstick: GloMinerals

Spring Awakening | LOFT Maternity Dress

"Spring is the Meryl Streep of seasons: You never know from day to day exactly what it's going to look like, act like or sound like. But Spring is at its best when it's performing in its traditional role of "rebirth." (source)

 Isn't that the truth? Here in the Midwest, it feels like we have been waiting for a reemergence of sunshine and flowers for so long and this weekend provided us with a wonderful taste. The whole weekend was outdoor-worthy and we didn't waste a second of it. We took the pup for a Saturday morning stroll in our downtown and EVERYBODY was out...I mean, everyone and you could almost feel the collective sighs of relief among those we passed on the street. Perhaps the weather Gods heard my complaints and decided it was time for a break...(Thank you!)

I also attended a fun baby shower for one of my favorite ladies who is due just a few weeks before me, giving me the perfect chance to break out a floral dress I've been saving. This was one of the first moments I put on a maternity dress and felt REALLY pregnant. The high elastic waist definitely emphasizes the baby bump but it's also super feminine and very comfortable, making it a nice transition into the season for a soon-to-be Mom. 

Even though I'm already 6 months along and growing at a great pace, I'm still getting used to this new body and the adjustments that come along with it. Its a very weird feeling to have no control over what's happening to you but on the other hand, it amazes me that my body has this incredible ability. One thing's for sure, I look forward to being able to spend more time in dresses instead of jeans over the next few months...baby boy and I decided we like the freedom, not being confined by a belly band. I'm thinking tank dresses & my favorite jean jacket will be a staple uniform in the coming weeks...

SHOP THE LOOK:

Happy Spring to you!
Wearing:
Dress: LOFT Maternity (on sale!) Jacket: J. Crew Bag: Target Sunnies: Old Navy Shoes: Dolce Vita via Target  Lips: Glo Minerals - Crimson Earrings: c/o Park Lane Jewelry - similar

Stripes, Sunnies and a Baby Bump Update

Another day, another striped shirt. I love all color combinations but the classic black and white duo is fool proof and almost always makes you look effortlessly put together. It was love at first sight with this cowl neck, off the shoulder style from one of my favorite maternity sources. It's so soft which makes my baby bump happy and yet on trend with this season's Spring looks so I couldn't resist. 

I am so lucky to have had such a wonderful, complication-free pregnancy so far (knock on wood!). Some of you future/current Mom's may hate me for saying this but I didn't experience any morning sickness and most "typical symptoms" have been relatively unnoticeable (except for that nasty metal taste in my mouth early on...really annoying yet SO minor). The ease of things really surprised me because anyone who knows me well has witnessed the results of my super sensitive stomach -- For as long as I can remember, I just figured it was a normal to a have a stomach ache after eating but eventually, I started to take better notice of what foods affected me poorly and have done a good job eliminating (or at least cutting back) on those items. That said, I just assumed I'd make good friends with porcelain throne over the 9 months but I have been very blessed and instead, am spending most of my time adjusting to belly bands and not having any bra's that fit! ;)

In other baby news, we have slowly begun registering and I mean SLOWLY because honestly, I find the process to be slightly overwhelming and I plan on adding a few things each day to make it easier on ourselves. On one hand, I'm super excited to pick out all our little peanut's accessories (including nursery decor!) but there are so many versions of everything so it takes a lot of time to read the reviews, compare safety ratings, etc. It's nice to have options but I almost think it would have been easier 20-30 years ago when everyone just purchased the same stroller because it was the only one on the market. These days, there's so much pressure to make sure you're picking the best of the best when it comes to your children which don't get me wrong, I understand -- but in reality, we would get by just fine without having access to 30 stroller options. Everything in our lives is given in excess from TV channels to grocery stores to social media apps. I take advantage of a lot of this freedom but I also find myself longing for simplicity sometimes and there are things we can do on our own to take shelter from the noise. I read a quote the other day that really resonated with me:

"We know the world only through the window of our mind. When our mind is noisy, the world is as well. And when our mind is peaceful, the world is, too. Knowing our minds is just as important as trying to change the world." -- Haemin Sunim

 P.S. Stay tuned for an informational registry post coming soon! I'll be sharing some of the resources I found helpful and priority items on my list.

SHOP THE LOOK:

  Fellow Mama's to be...Let's chat! How is your pregnancy treating you? What is your favorite/least-favorite part so far?
Wearing:
Top: Destination Maternity (similar non-maternity) Jacket: J. Crew Jeans: H&M Maternity  Shoes: c/o J. Jill (very similar under $35) Hat: Sole Society (similar) Sunnies: Sole Society Necklace & Earrings: c/o Park Lane Jewelry Purse: T+J Designs Lipstick: GloMinerals - Crimson  

Neutral Maxi Dress for Spring

At almost 20 weeks pregnant, loose dresses and tops in lightweight fabrics are my jam. Maintaining my comfort level is becoming more of a priority each week but on the same note, it's still important to me to wear things that give me confidence and make me feel like myself and this J. Jill Tencel Maxi accomplishes all of the above. We've rambled on about our love for tencel material before so I'll save you another speech but please know, slipping this dress on is the equivalent to wearing your coziest pj's. The high-mock turtleneck is great for that midway March point on the calendar (when there's still a chance of snow on a regular basis) but with it being a sleeveless maxi accompanied by a defined slit in the back, it's got Spring vibes all geared up and ready to go.

  SHOP THE LOOK:

I also wanted to share the story behind this bracelet - It was a Christmas gift from my girlfriend and upon opening it, I thought it was beautiful and unique but wasn't sure what it meant. After a little research, I was extremely touched by the backstory. It's from Branded Collective, a company who employs survivors of human trafficking from a Nashville-based non-profit, End Slavery Tennessee. Branded is an economic empowerment jobs program where the women collaborate with local artisans to design and handcraft the jewelry collection. 

Many victims of human trafficking are branded; their captors physically mark them with a number or symbol so each of these pieces contains a unique number that represents one of the millions trapped in the nightmare of trafficking. I love supporting companies who are making a difference - These pieces have a humanitarian component that's both beautiful and philanthropic so it is an honor to wear these numbers.

Wearing:
Maxi dress: c/o J. Jill Jacket: Kut from the Kloth Bag: Just Fab (old but I LOVE this weekender style!) Booties: Just Fab (similar) Bracelet: Branded Collective Necklace: c/o Park Lane Jewelry Belt: Old Navy