Luck of the Irish?

My St. Patrick's Day outfit, sponsored by my favorite maternity skirt, which I ABSOLUTELY intend to keep wearing as long as the elastic holds up, and a pair of Spanx, which I also intend to keep wearing as long as I can still pass for slightly pregnant anytime I wear anything that isn't loose and flowing.

The tank top is a maternity find, too, from Target, and I would kind of like to keep buying every color that they make, because I love how long they are. But also? I would very much like to quit wearing maternity clothes because, you know, I do own other clothes that I would like to wear again someday...
Skirt: Motherhood Maternity Tank Top: Target Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)  

(The cardigan! The cardigan isn't a maternity item! That sort of counts, right? Even though I was wearing this cardigan at the end of my pregnancy?)

 

(Whatever. I'm getting there. There are more non-maternity clothing items that fit me now, compared to where I was at the start of the year. I just really wanted to wear jeans and boots to the St. Patrick's Day festival we went to on Saturday, but that wasn't an option. I'm tired of it not being an option, that's all...)

The Belly is Back

Nothing like writing a really depressing post, then disappearing for a week, huh? I do want to thank you for the sweet comments and emails after my little 'Brigid doesn't like me' meltdown. I know I'm being just a bit ridiculous and over-reactive to the situation, but this parenting thing, man...it's tough. Kids get pretty good at tearing your heart out when you least expect it at a very, VERY young age, apparently.

COMPLETELY related, I feel like I need to go back and apologize to my parents for everything I ever did when I was growing up that may have hurt their feelings, because goodness knows they deserve something from me, now that I know how hard this whole thing is.

Also completely related, maybe you could send some sunshine and rainbow thoughts my way starting tomorrow, when Steve leaves us for a four night trip to Denver, if you have any to spare? I don't want to get beaten by a three-year old again, if I can help it.

On a more positive note, a lady at the gas station told me I looked cute today. So I've got that going for me, which is nice...

T-shirt: Target

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Exponential Growth

Do you see that belly, right there? That is a 34 week pregnant belly in size, at only 30 weeks of pregnancy. I weigh less than I weighed with Brigid, and yet...34 week belly. This is impressive, no?

And did I mention the part where I am going to be a bridesmaid in the wedding of one of my lovely former roommates from college on November 3rd? I'm going to see her this weekend for her bridal shower, and I am FULLY expecting her to take one look at me and say, 'Nope. I take it back. You're out.' Not that she would, or anything, but...holy aesthetic destroyer, batman. I am going to request that I stand behind EVERYONE during that photo session...
 

T-Shirt: Target

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Belt: Land's End Canvas

Bracelet: the beach

Shoes: Nine West

Still Trying

It is so very much easier to dress a pregnancy in the early stages than it is once you start measuring four weeks ahead of schedule, but unfortunately, sweatpants are STILL not considered office appropriate attire, despite my best lobbying attempts. So, dress I do. I usually try to add a scarf or a belt to liven things up a bit, but after being up all night with indigestion last night, I just didn't have it in me.

I just hope the bright colors distract people from the size of what's under those colors...

(Side note: Those of you willing to come help me out if I paid in tacos and taffy? You are sooooooo my kind of people!)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

T-Shirt: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Target

No Filter

Yesterday, an assistant on my team who was out of the office last week took one look at my stomach and said, 'Damn, girl. I wasn't gone THAT long!'

(YES. THAT IS A DIRECT QUOTE. I SWEAR!)

This is the same lady who told me that she knew I was pregnant before I told her that I was because she could see that my hips were getting bigger.

Seriously.

I know she means well, but come ON!

My beach ball baby and I are just going to start working from home for the next few months, I think...

T-shirt/Tank: Target

Cardigan: Loft (outlet)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Shoes: Nine West

Belt: Target

Optimism Is a Good Thing

Unfortunately, the purple top on this dress just does not photograph well, at all. And that's too bad because honestly? That pretty purple top is the only reason I bought this dress in the first place. But you know what IS nice about this picture?
A black skirt, a blurry iPhone camera, and a slimming mirror.

If you need me, I'll be over here ignoring EVERY OTHER MIRROR in my life that is trying to tell me that I look much, much bigger than this. Welcome to my happy place, friends :)

Dress: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Banana Republic

Belt: Land's End

Shoes: Target

Countdown

It's August, y'all. Seriously.

 

August.

 

This means three weeks until my final Gulf Coast vacation of the year (and maybe next year, too, because who wants to drag an itty-bitty baby to the beach?). Four weeks until I can justify getting my Halloween decorations out (Yes, I decorate in September. No, I am not ashamed of it). Ten weeks until Brigid's birthday. Eleven weeks until my anniversary. Thirteen weeks until Halloween. Thirteen weeks and one day until I can listen to Christmas music. Sixteen weeks until Thanksgiving. Eighteen weeks until my due date. Twenty-one weeks until Christmas, itself.

 

And now, I've exhausted myself just thinking about it.

 

It's a good thing I love this stretch of the year!

Dress: Target ($8 on clearance. My favorite kind of purchase...)

Cardigan: Target

Shoes: Nine West

Necklace: J Crew

Wishful Thinking

I have reached the point in this pregnancy where I don't mind looking at myself from the front, but I have looooong since given up on trying to make myself look ok from the side. Especially when wearing a dress, my butt and my stomach kind of combine into one, large, round mass that more or less makes me look like I should be giving birth tomorrow instead of 4-ish months from now.

You know how there are some people who do the cute, belly-only pregnancy?

(Like the very, very skinny pregnant girl I was with in the elevator yesterday? The one who looked like I could eat her in one sitting?)

Yeah, I am not one of those people.

But the end result is worth it, so it is what it is. And in the meantime, I will make myself content with pinning adorable fall outfits on Pinterest that I won't be able to wear until next fall, since I won't be fitting into any of my cute sweaters this year.

It's a good thing I'm resourceful, y'all.

 

Dress: Motherhood Maternity

Tank (which is actually mustard yellow, but looks nothing like that in my lovely iPhone pictures): Target

Shoes: Kenneth Cole (outlet)

Bracelet: Target

Necklace: Old Navy

It's the little things...

Last night, the power went out in our neighborhood for about five hours. Considering what people in DC and the surrounding areas have been facing these last few days, I realize that I am incredibly lucky it was only out for five hours, because things could always be much, much, MUCH worse.

Perspective. I have it.

However, no amount of understanding could prevent me from swearing loudly at the tree that fell on our lines at 6:30PM or at Georgia Power for not having our power back up and running in an hour and a half, because do you know what happened to me last night?

I MISSED THE BACHELORETTE HOMETOWN DATES!!!

Perspective. It's hit or miss with me, really.

T-shirt: Target

Cardigan: Gap (outlet)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Shoes: Nine West

Necklace: J Crew

Bracelet: Macy's

I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th of July!

I'm Melting...

Well, now, that was a...warm...weekend, huh? Steve went to some pub/anniversary/beer celebration on Saturday, and I couldn't get Brigid interested in doing anything other than playing games in her nightgown, so Saturday was a complete waste of time. And then on Sunday, we attempted a trip to the pool, but that was a bit of a failure, because the water couldn't have been cooler than 95 degrees, which is slightly less than refreshing.

But, I had power all weekend (except for a random three hour window early, early Monday morning, around the same time we lost power last weekend, too, oddly enough, but that doesn't count...), which is more than a lot of the east coast could say, so I'm not complaining.

Still...It could cool off any day, now.

T-shirt: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Bracelets: Target

Shoes: Francesca's

Summer!

GUYS!! IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!!!! WOO!!!!

Well.

That didn't work at all.

I'm trying to get myself really excited about this season, because really, I LOVE the summertime. But I mostly love the summer because it means outdoor beer festivals and jet skiing on the lake and not changing out of my bathing suit for days at a time.

But this year, there is no beer. And there is no jet skiing. And as I have yet to find a maternity bathing suit that I actually like, well...there's not much of that, either. At least, there won't be once the ruching gives out on my Land's End non-maternity swimsuit, anyway.

(Please join me in a silent prayer to the powers that be at Land's End: For the good of my sanity, just let that suit last me until my vacation is over in September. That's all I need. Please. Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease.)

And, you know, winter will be bringing a baby with it this year, so I'm kind of in a hurry to get to that part of things, too.

Only six more months to go!

(Haaaaa. ONLY six months. That's, like, forever in baby-waiting years...)

Dress: Motherhood Maternity (also a Brigid-era purchase)

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Shoes: Nine West

Belt: Target

Say What?

I was back in Indiana this weekend, for my baby sister's high school graduation, and while it's always fun to spend time with my immediate family, my extended family can be exhausting at times. Especially when there is no beer or wine involved to help my patience.

Case in point: My grandmother looked at me at one point and said, 'You look like you're a little bigger this time around, huh?', to which my aunt added, 'Well, that's to be expected. Your stomach muscles never really recovered from the first time around, did they?'.

Family...you have to love them, right?

 

Dress: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Gap (outlet)

Belt: Target

Shoes: Jessica Simpson (from DSW)

Two in a Row!

Well, thank you all for the indignation on my behalf, yesterday! Seriously, why can't people at least pretend to be surprised when you announce your pregnancy?!?! Why does everyone feel the need to tell you that they just KNEW it was happening?

Whatever.

Brigid told my I was wearing a pretty skirt today, so all is right in my world again.

(Except for that hair, I think. That hair is nowhere close to being right. Hoo, buddy, do I need a haircut!)

T-Shirt/Tank Top: Target

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Shoes: Kenneth Cole (outlet)

Falling off of the wagon...sort of

I went shopping again today, and that just makes me sad, because after months of doing an excellent job of practicing my 'just say no' technique, I feel like I've really failed at what I set out to do this year. (What I set out to do this year was not shop, in case that needs clarification...) But, at the same time, the shopping has been kind of necessary, too, so I keep trying to focus on that.

(Well, the shoes weren't really necessary. In fact, those were not even anything remotely CLOSE to necessary. So that was a big fail. But we'll ignore that one for now...)

See, when I was pregnant with Brigid, I wasn't too concerned with what I was wearing to work everyday, because I was on my own. I was kind of out of the way in the office, I kept a low profile, and I just wanted to be comfortable. I am 99% sure that I wore the same skirt every day for the last three months of the pregnancy, just because I could.

But this time, it's different. I'm in a management position, now. I'm in meetings and holding interviews and participating in presentations. I have people looking for me all. of. the. time, and I don't think I can get away with wearing the same skirt for three months straight, anymore.

Plus, I've discovered fashion/style blogs since Brigid was born. So if I did try to wear that same skirt that often? I'd develop a serious case of Internet induced guilt. And NOBODY wants to see that...

So, I had to build up my maternity-fitting, work-appropriate, wardrobe. I've added another maternity dress to the three that I already owned. I've picked up two pencil skirts and two non-pencil skirts, so I could retire the lonely, ratty black skirt from Brigid's days. I still mostly have t-shirts as tops, but I've added a couple of blouses. And THAT'S IT! That is ALL that I am buying.

(Um, with the exception of one or two more blouses, maybe. I just think I'm going to need something more than only two nice tops and a bunch of t-shirts, as fabulous as I think those t-shirts might be...)

I've also got a couple of pairs of shorts and a jean skirt to throw into the mix, on the casual side of things, so I'm kind of excited about this pregnancy-as-fashion-challenge thing I'm cooking up for myself. It's like I'm doing a Kendi-style remix, with a maternity flair.

And real pictures. At some point, I promise, I will go back to real pictures...

Cardigan: Gap (outlet)

T-shirt/Tank Top: Target

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity (outlet)

Belly: Chick-Fil-A chocolate shake

Human Valentine

I'm pretty sure that when I was growing up, the 'don't ever wear pink and red together' rule was right up there with not mixing black and brown as a fashion requirement, to be followed at all times.

My inner child is weeping for me, right now.

(Then again, my inner child wore a school uniform until she was 12, so we don't necessarily trust her style judgment, anyway. PINK AND RED, FOREVER!)

Sweater: Gap

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Skirt: Banana Republic (outlet)

Necklace: Old Navy

Shoes: Missoni for Target

Sick Day

I slept ten hours last night. TEN HOURS! Who does that these days?

And even though I slept a good four hours longer than I normally do, I still woke up this morning, completely exhausted. And then, it just got worse as the day went on. I think I've officially fallen victim to the toddler germs...and I'm now working from home, in sweats and the most comfortable sweater ever. That I stole from my husband. After accidentally shrinking it in the dryer.

Anywhoo...

Look! Old outfits that I never got around to posting when I actually wore them!

This was my attempt to win over the moms' group in my neighborhood with clean, shiny hair, as opposed to the unwashed mess I introduced them to the first time we met. I think it went well, considering I scored an invite to the December dinner, too. Apparently, wine is more important than clean hair in this circle. Which is why they are my kind of ladies...

(Side Note: I'd worn the dress as a top, as seen in the bottom picture, to work that day, before losing the skirt and adding boots for dinner that night...it's getting all kinds of creative up in here!)

 

Dress: F21

Cardigan: Target

Skirt: H&M

Belt: J Crew

Boots: Bare Trap (DSW)

Tights: We Love Colors

Don't forget, eShakti is offering $20 off of any order through the end of the year, when you use the promotional code NOTAHOBBY0811.

The discount code is not case sensitive. Only one gift certificate can be used per order. The code can be used any number of times until the validity period. This discount code is not applicable on our Overstock category. This cannot be combined with any other offer / discount that may be active during this period.

Also, you can find my post about the skirt the company sent me to review here.

Back to Work

I left work at 2:30pm last Wednesday, and I haven't been back. Until this morning. Woo!

Where are my lottery winnings hiding, so I can do this whole vacation thing on a permanent basis?

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With November rolling to a close, now seems like a good time to update you on the self-imposed shopping ban I'm under right now. It's...well, it's kind of going.

I spent some money last weekend at the outlet mall, because I'd already told myself that I could, but even that didn't have the thrill for me that it normally does. Sure, I found some things that I wanted (I always find things that I want), and I picked those things up. But towards the end of my trip, I was tired of shopping.

WHO AM I, AND WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH MYSELF?!?!

Generally, I do not get tired of shopping. But all I could think, as I wandered the mall, was 'do I really need another sweater? another skirt? don't I already have EVERYTHING that this place is selling?'. And do you know what?

I kind of do.

So, December is almost upon us. And it's time for me to buckle down, and save some money. No shopping. No spending. No nothing.

Let's do this.

Worn to work last week (before the temperatures dropped again...)
Dress: Gap (outlet)

Belt: Target

Boots: DSW

Bracelets: Mango Tree

Don't forget, eShakti is offering $20 off of any order through the end of the year, when you use the promotional code NOTAHOBBY0811.

The discount code is not case sensitive. Only one gift certificate can be used per order. The code can be used any number of times until the validity period. This discount code is not applicable on our Overstock category. This cannot be combined with any other offer / discount that may be active during this period.

Also, you can find my post about the skirt the company sent me to review here.

Tweed!

I am not a huge fan of winter. I don't like cold weather. I don't like gray skies. And I really, really don't like icy winds.

I like fall. I love November and December, because I'm a holiday nut. But once January hits? I'd like to skip forward to May, thank you very much.

But there are a few things about winter that make it a little more bearable in my mind, if you're going to insist that I be out and about in it...

Tights and boots are awesome, obviously, as are scarves and fun hats. A pretty winter coat? Yes, please. Starbucks in cold weather is kind of perfect, too. And then there's tweed.

I love a pretty tweed.

Of course, even with this list, it's still only enough cheer to get me through to February, maybe the beginning of March, at the most. Then I'm just kind of over it all and want nothing more than to start planning a beach trip effectivie immediately.

But, I guess it's a start...

So, help me out...what are your secrets for surviving the dreary weather? And if your answer is 'I live in Florida or California, so it's no big thing...', then I might be moving in with you in a couple of months. I clean up after myself really well, I promise!

Dress: Tahari (from Dillards)

Cardigan: J Crew (outlet)

Belt: Target

Shoes: Nine West

First Impressions

Last night, I went to dinner with a group of moms from my neighborhood that I'd never met before. Well, I'd met one of them before, obviously, because a group of moms from my neighborhood wouldn't just invite me to dinner if I didn't have some sort of 'in', I guess.

I mean, I am awesome and amazing, of course, but you can't tell that just by looking at me. It only comes out when I talk.

(And by it, I mean the insane amount of social awkwardness that actually makes up my personality. And the fact that one glass of wine with dinner is all it takes for me to start talking and NEVER SHUT UP AGAIN. So...who wants to hang out with me now?)

Anyway, it was fun. The women were ridiculously nice, they told funny stories, and all were work-outside-the-home mothers, so we could commiserate on those lovely days when you see your kid for all of fifteen minutes because of some work related disaster or another. And not one of them gave me anything remotely resembling a side-eye for the unshowered mess* that I was, thank goodness.

Not that this means they weren't judging me for it, of course. It just means they were very, very skilled at passing that judgment in secret. Which is a skill I can get behind, you know?

I just hope I made the cut for next month's outing...

Tank Top: Target

Sweater: Loft

Jeans: MICHAEL Michael Kors (via Macys)

Shoes: Nine West (via ShoeWoo.com)

Bracelets: Mango Tree

*As mentioned on Twitter last night, Steve was out of town on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Unfortunately, this meant that when I turned my alarm off in my sleep on Thursday morning (which happens more than I'd care to admit these days), I didn't have his alarm going off an hour later as my back-up plan. And that, in turn, meant I didn't get up until a full two hours later, when my mother-in-law showed up to watch Brigid. So, I left the house, showerless, to get to work. I thought I could squeeze in a shower between work and dinner, but that didn't really happen either.

Do I know how to do first impressions, or what? Seriously...you totally want to hang out with me, don't you?

One Pink Belt

I own one pink belt. One.

And other than one pink bracelet, and maybe a pair of earrings, that is the extent of the pink accessories that I own. So during the month of October, as I've been trying to stay involved in the Blogging for Breast Cancer Awareness challenge, this poor belt has had quite the work-out. Remember when I started this whole thing, and I was excited because I noticed I had more pink in my closet than I thought I did?

Well, it turns out, I was right the first time.

Thank goodness for my little pink belt, I guess.

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(Oh, and one side note on the pants from yesterday...based on the pictures that I posted, I don't think the pants look completely terrible, which is one of the reasons that I chose to keep wearing them, instead of frantically trying to change clothes at the last minute after the photos have revealed what a complete disaster my chosen outfit really is. Not that that has ever happened, of course.

The problem came later in the day, when every time I looked in the mirror in the bathroom at work, they started looking worse and worse. I don't know if it was the fading of my morning optimism (which doesn't actually exist, unfortunately), a general loss of shape in the fabric, or just a really, really bad mirror/lighting combination in the office bathroom, but everything started looking...droopy, I guess. The pants seemed too long, the thighs seemed to baggy, the butt seemed too shapeless. It was just off, somehow.

And that right there would be reason #892 that I don't like pants...not only is it overtly painful to make them work on me, they are sneaky little saboteurs, too, waiting to take down my whole day when I least expect it and can do nothing to change it. I'm burning them all...)

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(Ok, not really. I'll just try to wear them again when all of the hard feelings have worn off, of course. The definition of insanity, and all of that...)

T-shirt: Forever 21

Sweater: New York & Co

Skirt: J Crew (outlet)

Belt: Target

Boots: DSW