Maternity Wear

Maternity wear, huh?  Why would I be writing about maternity wear, you ask?  Well, you've guessed it, baby #2 is well on his/her way!

Having gone through one pregnancy already I assumed this one would be similar in terms of maternity wear.  Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong.  Last time I spent much of my time working so most of my maternity wear centered around blousy, silky shirts and dress pants or skirts.  This time around however, I am chasing a 1.5 year old. Pregnant.  I find myself needing many more "washable" outfits.  So the silky dress shirts and skirts are just not cutting it.  Today I apparently ran all my errands with my daughter's dried blueberry yogurt handprint on the back of my leg.  Just who have I become?  Lord. 

This time around I 'popped' a bit earlier (everything seems to be happening earlier - the sickness, the uncomfortable positions, lack of sleep, etc) so I've been scouring the web to find some cute, affordable maternity wear. Bad news.  There's not that much casual, cute, affordable maternity wear.  If only I was a clothes designer.  Do you hear me designers out there, help a mama out! 

I was thoroughly disappointed by my local Target's selection the other day.  Two types of dark washed jeans, one skinny, one bootcut, and the only sizes left were xl, xxl, and xxxl.  And somehow the maternity section there just bled right into the plus size section. Because being pregnant just isn't enough, now it is telling me "we can't bother to make clothes for two groups of people - you're all the same to us."  I'm going to try another Target this weekend and I have high hopes for better results.  

After my disappointment in the maternity section I headed to the regular section to just buy shirts that are in bigger sizes.  I'm not quite at the point where normal pants and shirts won't fit.  They're just uncomfortable. And buying pants in bigger sizes doesn't really work as well as it does with shirts.  With pants the waist might fit but nothing else does, leaving you with droop around your knees and saggy butt.  I don't care how pregnant I am, I refuse to succumb to droopy knees and saggy butt.   

Ok, so in the regular section I got completely distracted by spring-wear.  I bought two maxi dresses, a tee shirt, a tank top, and a sweatshirt - all two sizes bigger than normal.  

If this pregnancy is anything like my last one, none of these newly purchased clothes will fit come June. Last time by 9 months I was wearing my husband's tee shirts and my 5'2" body belly didn't fit in them.  He's 6'2".  My doctor said if I'm having a boy he will be bigger than my first child.  My first was 9 lbs 9 oz and 21 inches long.  Pray for me.  

Anyway, these are some of the places I'm praying will accommodate my ever growing belly in a flattering, fashionable way.  

Asos - never ordered from them before but have heard nothing but good things about their regularly sized clothes so I'm hoping the same is true for their maternity stuff.  Check out their maternity stuff here.  Here's a sneak peak at some of my favs...

Elbow patch sweater 

Gray tee with leather trim

Butterfly Jacquard Sweatshirt

Butterfly Belted Dress

Striped Top

Full Panel Boyfriend Jeans

Camel Coat

Old Navy - options are kind of plain but they have a wide selection.  Check it out for yourself as there are just too many for me to list. 

Target - it can't let me down, I love it too much.  I must've caught it on a bad day.  We all have a bad day now and then.  Target, I forgive you.  Just don't let me down! 

Striped Cowl Neck Top

Button Down Ruffle Front Shirt

H&M - in typical H&M fashion the colors are mostly dark and the styles are a little edgy.  And kind of plain in terms of visual interest and pattern.  Not really my style but glad to have more options. 

J.Crew, Gap, and Ann Taylor LOFT all have maternity sections but selection is limited and the clothes are expensive.  Maternity specific stores such as Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod are also quite expensive. I have a hard time forking over $100 for jeans I'm only going to wear for a few months until my belly expands so much that I outgrow every piece of clothing known to man.  

This brings me to my next point.  There really needs to be a legit, affordable, reputable place where mamas can sell back their maternity wear to be re-sold.  Like Uptown Cheapskate or Plato's Closet (I wrote about them a while back, here), but specifically for mommies.  I'm giving away my million dollar idea here but I don't care, I just need cute clothes!

Grab your favorite mommies and at the very least do a maternity clothing swap (or sale!).

~And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!~

Van Gogh and Vino

We trekked south this Christmas to visit my in-laws in Georgia.  The 80 degree weather was a welcome change from the 30 degree temps of the mid-Atlantic.  After much eating, celebrating and movie watching my SIL surprised the ladies with a night out.  So we headed down the road to Van Gogh and Vino.  

The room

This 3 hour long class teaches you step by step how to paint a picture. 

Our lovely teacher and her masterpieces

It's like paint by number for adults, except you get to sip vino all the while. (I think this may actually enhance some people's skills.)  You bring your own wine and snacks but everything else is provided for you - paint, easels, brushes, aprons, pre-drawn canvases (shh, no one has to know you don't have natural talent hehe).  

Our painting was Christmas-themed so it was a bunch of hanging ornaments that you could decorate however you pleased.  

Shh, no one has to know it was pre-drawn for you

When the class began I thought there was no way painting four ornaments would take 3 hours but, in fact, we almost ran out of time.  We got so into painting and creating the time just flew by! 

Kim, painting away

Kit, hard at work

Kim's painting

My painting

I'm not the most artistic person in the world but I tried my best and that's all that matters lol.  Right? Or at least that's what my parents always told me.  

Great for a girls night out, a birthday party or simply a change of pace, Van Gogh and Vino lets you bond with your friends, get creative and drink some vino.  What could be wrong with that?!  And you have your masterpiece to go home with - a souvenir of fun times with the ones you love. 

~And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!~

Look up a similar class in your hood and get painting! 

DIY Christmas Gifts

So in an effort to save some cash and put more effort into gift giving I decided to DIY some presents this year.  

If you need some ideas, keep reading.  If you're done getting gifts keep reading anyway, what else are you doing for the next five minutes? ;)

My first project was courtesy of your favorite and mine - Pinterest.  The oh so famous DIY handprint reindeer (full tutorial can be found here).  Ever since our bundle of joy has entered our lives my husband and I have come to realize how crazy our parents are for her.  Head over heels, proud, bursting with love, obsessed.  Whatever you want to call it.  So what better way to make the grandparents happy than a little  ornament made by hers truly bearing her teeny, chubby little handprint?  And since it's Christmas and all, might as well slap some extra paint on that and make it a reindeer.  Thank you Pinterest.  (You can follow me on Pinterest, just click the button at the top of the page).

My second DIY was much simpler - homemade chocolate chip cookies.  But I didn't just want to simply put them in a tin and send them on their way.  I wanted them to look cute and pretty.  Like the Pinterest ones.  F****ing Pinterest! 

My last DIY project was more overwhelming. Homemade hand salve.  I was not familiar with the ingredients or how to use them, but I found the simplest recipe I could and crossed my fingers.  And said a prayer. And threw a penny in a fountain and made a wish.  Ok, I didn't really do that last part.  

I headed to Michaels excited to cultivate  my inner Martha Stewart. When I got there however, I realized how not crafty I actually am.  I wandered around Michaels like a lost puppy studying different kinds of paint and markers and stickers.  Oh my! Do you know how many different kinds of labels and stickers they sell??? Yea, me neither but it's a lot.  

I managed to find washable paint, ribbon  and a piece of oak tag for the reindeer handprints fairly easily.  Then I walked the whole store before stumbling onto, or rather into, the baking aisle.  I picked up some mini plastic baggies in an hourglass shape and some ribbon.

And then the confusion ensued.  I needed tins to hold the lotion, beeswax, coconut oil, essential oil, and sweet almond oil.  The coconut and almond oil I had to get from the Vitamin Shoppe but the rest was from Michaels.  I eventually found everything I needed in the candle making/bath area.  Did you know Michaels sells bath salts and other random bath products?? I studied the beeswax for about five minutes before my daughter started begging for the Minnie Mouse book across the aisle.  

I headed home to begin.  

I knew the reindeer might be the hardest in terms of cooperation from the little one so I laid down some garbage bags and made us some garbage bag smocks.  She rocked that garbage bag if I do say so myself.  And they worked like a charm! No paint on our clothes or floor.  

I mixed up some red and green to make brown, rubbed it on her hand and patted it down all over the oak tag before she even knew what was happening.  Then I gave her the part of the oaktag we hadn't used and let her go nuts finger painting it. She had a blast and so did I! I glued some googly eyes on, painted a red nose, punched a whole, tied some ribbon and wrote my holiday message. On the back I wrote the year, and my daughter's name and age.

Next, I baked some cookies using the Nestle Tollhouse recipe, put them in baggies and tied them up.  

But I decided they just didn't look cute enough.  I tied ribbon around them and made label in MS Word to tie onto each bag.  

Much better.

Lastly, the hand salve.  Using a double boiler I melted equal parts almond oil, coconut oil and beeswax. 

This is where things got tricky.  I discovered the hard way that I'm allergic to one of those oils.  As the oils heated up and melted, my throat was shrinking in size.  

I began coughing and wheezing so I ran and opened the windows which helped a bunch.  Except I was an icicle by the time the oils had melded together.

I think it's the coconut oil because this has happened once before at Benihana in Hawaii. On our honeymoon.  On the first night.  I had to leave the restaurant and order a $31 burger from room service and my husband got his food to-go and had to eat it on the balcony alone outside because just the smell of it made my throat start acting up all over again. Romantic right??

But I would not be deterred so easily.  Once melted, I took the bowl off the heat, added a vanilla and lavender essential oil and poured it into the tins I bought.  Then I washed my hands, changed my clothes and got out of the house as quickly as I could while it aired out.  What better way to spend a morning out then visiting Santa? So that is just what we did.  (I forgot to take a picture, but they look pretty cute if I do say so myself.)

I will be delivering my goodies tomorrow so I hope everyone enjoys them!  I never got to test out that salve so I hope it is silky and soothing.  But I guess I'll never really know.  Stupid allergies!

Doing something meaningful and thoughtful brings joy to others but really giving just feels darn good.  Happy Holidays!!!!

~And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne.~

NYE Looks for Girls, Guys and Mamas-to-Be

2014 is right around the corner and if you're anything like me, you've been so focused on the holiday gift-giving that you have not picked out your NYE outfit.  

Well, I'm here to help so here we go.

This dress from Target doesn't look like much in the picture, but I just saw this today and it looks WAAY better in person.  Thick fabric, well made and classy with sheen but not too much shine.  And cheap at only $17.49!

I think this dress from Arden B is cute but I could never wear it.  $79.00

One, I'm too old.  Two, the sheer part reminds me too much of a dress I wore to a Sweet 16 in my sophomore year of high school.  Never go back in your fashion people, only go forward.

I love this embellished strapless number from Express. Don't forget your spray tan.  Be bold with a faux fur bolero or neck wrap.  Or be edgy with a black moto jacket. $178.80

If you want to class up your New Years this dress is the perfect mix of class and sparkle.  And the shoes, who doesn't need a pair of red stilettos?! Charlotte Russe Jeweled Waist Midi Dress $32.99

  

Ring in the New Year boldly with this Chain Strap Dress.  This is for you perfect-bodied, risk takers.  Not a look everyone can pull off.  But if you're gonna try, it may as well be on New Year's!  I hope you juiced all day to fit into this thing. $34.99

Want to eat and drink a ton and not have to worry about erupting out of your dress?  My kind of dress - comfy, cute and self-UNconscious this   Asos Swing Dress has your name all over it.  Free People-esque but way cheaper, I'm loving this slightly boho swing dress. $68.97

Feminine, soft (and not black) this green Modcloth Warehouse Lace Back Soft Dress ($123.41) is festive and great for holiday soirees.

Asos Check Dress is a little preppy, a little 1950s and a lot holiday.  Keep Christmas around for just a bit longer this New Years with this midi dress. $99.82

Sticking with the 1950s vibe, this metallic Modcloth Subtle Luxury Dress ($51.99) will channel your inner Betty Draper. 

If you choose a simple dress, add some interest to your outfit with these Modcloth Vegas Earrings $16.99

Or add some sparkle with these bad boys Modcloth Razzle Dazzling Earrings $16.99

I've wanted a hard case clutch for a while and this just fit the bill.  Cute, simple, and cheap, the Express Pave Bow Topped Hard Case Clutch ($23.94) hits the nail on the head.

Perfectly edgy for a night on the town, this Express Oversized Ball Bead Clutch ($35.94) will hold all of your party essentials.

Express Suede Foldover Clutch $35.94  Similar to the Clare Vivier foldover I've been coveting, this much cheaper version, adds interest and the suede just screams winter.

Want something not so...black?  Why is every dress and purse always black?!  Anyway, this is a great winter white option.  Also comes in silver. Express Soft Top Foldover Clutch $20.94

Gentlemen, I did not forget about you!  Here are some NYE looks for you too.  It's pretty easy if you're a guy - dressy jeans, nice shoes, button down, sweater, blazer, jacket - you're set.  

Express has some good options to help you ring in 2014.

Like this tux blazer ($136.80), plaid shirt ($41.94) and bow tie ($23.94). 

You can go fancy and pair it with tux pants, but I prefer it with dark jeans.  If the bow tie is too much just leave it out, you'll still look suave.

Sidenote:  If you love ties and bow ties you must check out The Tie Bar.  A million options, they WILL have the tie you're looking for!  They are very reasonably priced and even offer longer length ties than the standard tie if you so desire.  

I just love this Houndstooth Blazer from Express ($136.80).  It's hard to see the houndstooth in the picture so go to the website and zoom in.

Perfect for a cold winter's night, I would dress it down with a solid colored sweater layered over a button down and jeans.  

Lastly, I have more pregnant friends right now than I can count so I thought I'd pop (pun intended!) some ideas up here for them too!

ASOS has tons of great options for mamas-to-be. 

Like this Long Sleeve Embellished Cuff Dress by Mamalicious. $63.52

Or this  Mamlicious Embellished Front Fitted Sleeveless Dress $63.52

A little dresser and elegant, thisNew Look Maternity Dress with Necklace ($36.28) is perfect for a fancy dancy night out. 

A little more comfortable with a pop of color this Skater Dress with Lace Trim and Contrast is perfect and can definitely be worn again.  And at $50.82 it's a steal!

Maybe not the most holiday of prints, but I LOVE this Midi Skater Dress with Large Floral $50.82

If you want something other than black that's suer cozy and wintry this Sweater Dress with Leopard Sleeves ($36.30) is perfect.  The leopard sleeves will draw attention away from your belly so people might actually look at your face while you talk. 

These two dresses from Target are very reasonably priced and can be worn many times after the holidays.

Target Liz Lange Sleeveless Ponte Dress $24.74

Target Liz Lange Beige/Black Colorblock Sweater Dress $29.99

No matter what way you choose to ring in 2014 be sure you are safe and most importantly, that you are with those whom you love the very most!

~And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!~