Why Babies + Coffee Shops are a Great Mix

While on maternity leave, one of my favorite things to do with the little man has been visiting different coffee shops. True, I always enjoy making a java run (with OR without him) but as he's gotten older and we've established some semblance of a routine, it's been a nice way to break up our day and get him to (hopefully) nap at the same time. He loves the stroller and really responds well walks so if we're not walking around our neighborhood or the park nearby, a coffee stop is our other plan. That way, not only do I get some "Mommy fuel"... CAN I GET AN AMEN?

...but we also get out of the house and he tends to doze off while I sip. If I want to meet up with a girlfriend or a Family member during the day, I find that a coffee date is easier to plan - It's really hard to schedule anything at a certain time with an infant (like a lunch or dinner) because there are so many variables but because coffee is acceptable at all times of the day so with that in mind, you can always re-schedule for an afternoon date if your morning was a wash. Plus, coffee outings tend to be shorter, giving you a little more wiggle room if your baby tends to get fussy when you're out...this way, you're not committed to waiting for a meal. 

I'm just saying...I think babies + coffee are great in more ways than 1 :)

My mom joined us when we visited a coffee cafe nearby recently and it was such a nice afternoon. It's a tiny, locally owned shop with homemade muffins (baked fresh each day!) and an adorable menu with seasonal options. I love how different the muffin combinations are - zucchini and pineapple + peanut butter and coffee are two of my faves. The owner is so sweet and such a hard worker...She gets in a 3am every day to bake a fresh batch of muffins and believe me, they go quick! 

She explained to us that the shop is her entire life and it can be really tiring but she loves blending different flavors in her baking and coffee and seeing people respond to them is the best part. She learned different techniques from her Mom when they lived in Greece during her childhood and you can tell that this passion has lived within her since. It's stories like these that make local coffee shops (and any small shop, really) so unique and special. This is another one of the best coffee shops in the area -- You must visit! Their Fall menu is to die for. And if you're looking to try out any more, I shared some more of my favorites here. 

By the way, these Cabi loafers are my new go-to for Fall! Floral & suede = the cutest combo!  Expect to see a lot more of them on the blog in the coming weeks...
Have a great Tuesday!
Wearing:
Top: Urban Outfitters (old, similar) Skirt: Old navy (old, similar) Shoes: c/o Cabi Clothing  Necklaces: c/o Park Lane Jewelry Purse: Forever 21 Sunnies: H&M

When Overalls Come Full Circle

As I pulled these overalls on, I thought about the last time I styled them on the blog...I was about 2 months pregnant, having just shared the news with our Family and feeling pretty excited about everything. Though it really wasn't that long ago, so much in my life has changed and that's one of great parts of blogging my outfits - Getting to look back not only on what I was wearing but what was going on in my life and how my style was representative of that time. I look at those first overall photos and think, how crazy that I hadn't even started writing about my maternity adventure here yet and now, here I am...wearing the same denim but this time as a Mom to the most wonderful boy who has completely turned my world upside down. Sure, clothes are just clothes but they also accompany us on some of our biggest journeys, providing comfort and nostalgia along the way. 

Speaking of comfort, I am not ashamed to say I have been LIVING in these overalls recently...like, multiple days a week. Not only was I so excited they fit again (though a little differently time around, I might add), but they are also super convenient for breastfeeding thanks to the straps. Not to mention, they pair well with tanks, t's and long sleeves which accommodates our recent Summer/Fall weather patterns so they're a great transitional item. Like I said in the first post, when I wear them, it makes me feel like all my regular jeans just aren't as exciting...there's a little bit of quirkiness to these and I plan on keeping them in my weekly rotation this season. As I type this, I'm also searching for a few more pairs because when you love something, you don't set it free...you get as much of it as you can ;)

SHOP THE STYLE:

Wearing:
Top: c/o J. Jill Overalls: H&M (similar) Jacket: J. Crew Booties: Toms Bag: Sole Society - sold out but similar here Choker: c/o Park Lane Jewelry Lip Color: Demure by Glo Skin Beauty

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

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

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  

Maternity Monday: 5 Places to Shop during Pregnancy

Now that I am 5 months into my pregnancy, I have learned a few things about navigating the world of maternity clothes. I was able to get away with my regular jeans for quite a while, then a few more weeks because I started using a rubber band to keep them closed. Eventually, that was no longer an option either and I had to invest in a few pairs of maternity jeans which I was not looking forward to. Those panels could not be comfortable or flattering, right? And full disclosure, I STILL feel that way about them...some women love them but wearing a panel all the way up to bra has definitely taken some getting used to! BUT...My advice would be not to resist before you try- I have found a few pairs that work for me and to be honest, before I became pregnant, I always thought the tight shirts with the ruching on the sides were out of date and way too "basic" for my taste. Then, out of pure curiosity, I tried one on at Old Navy and guys --  It was SO comfortable and kind of flattering so while I sat there eating my words, I invested in a few more colors and plan on enjoying them all the way to my due date. We are lucky with how far maternity clothes have come over the past few decades and there are many ways to keep feeling confident and chic through the 9 months. Here are a few shops that have helped me feel stylish through my pregnancy so far:
1. Pink Blush 
I read about Pink Blush long before I was pregnant when I saw other future Mama's wearing styling their dresses and I remember thinking how much maternity clothes have changed over the years (for the better). I made a mental note of the brand so I could re-visit when I was pregnant and now that I own a few items, I can officially say, the clothes feel just as wonderful as they look. There are so many soft, feminine styles that not only dress your growing bump, but effortlessly adjust to motherhood and beyond. 

Wearing: Maxi Dress
2. Destination Maternity
My Mom and I recently made our first trip here, as I had been complaining about my normal tops not fitting (holy boobs, guys!), so she insisted that I actually invest in a few maternity tops and promised we would make a fun day of it. I resisted at first, giving into the visions in my head of ill-fitting matronly tops, forcing me to succumb to the stereotype of "Mom Jeans" way too early.  Turns out, it was just the opposite and I could have spent all day there...actually, we almost did and finally forced ourselves to leave after 2.5 hours, only due to another obligation. The store's selection is just as on-trend with any other of my favorite stores, making it easy to find things that aligned with my personal style and better yet, giving me confidence that I would be able to feel (as much) like myself as possible during the next few months.

Wearing: Black Ruched Dress

Wearing: White Jeans // Top  P.S. I also bought this top and I LOVE IT! It's so comfortable and such a fun saying.
3. H&M
When I first started needing maternity jeans, I borrowed a pair from my co-worker that she had saved and they are black, skinny jeans from H&M which have become my absolute favorite pair. They fit perfectly and feel the most like normal jeans. I love their overalls and basics, plus you can't beat the prices.
4. LOFT
I love LOFT year round! I started shopping here when I got my first "real" job at an insurance company and I couldn't get by with my Forever 21 wardrobe anymore and since then, it has been a go-to for well made, classic pieces I can wear year after year. I started my maternity jeans hunt here because I had some good reviews online and I have a few regular pairs from here that I really like so I waited for a sale (which is never too long) and ordered a pair of dark wash jeans with a panel. They are a skinny style and actually fit like a glove, so besides the obligatory stretchy material that goes over my belly, they look and feel like my regular jeans.
5. Old Navy
As an avid shopper here already, it was easy to make the transition to their maternity line which I consider great for your basics. In store (at least my location), there isn't a huge selection...in fact, the first time I went in, I couldn't even find it because it was all the way in back and SO small (I think I actually said out loud, "this is it?"). BUT, the good news is they have a decent selection online and you guys know there is always a sale. I like shopping for staples like the aforementioned tight, ruched shirts that are great for layering and solid/striped dresses for Summer that will be perfect under a light cardigan or jacket. 

Wearing: Striped Dress
As for a few of my other favorite shopping resources?
ASOS Maternity - So many trendy styles at decent prices! Isabella & Oliver - Nice for a few investment pieces SHOP MY FAVORITE SPRING MATERNITY LOOKS:

Other Mom's or Mama's to be...

What are your favorite maternity sources?