I've always been a fan of simple white tee - there are so many ways to wear it. Dressed up or down, borrowed from husband or skin tight, it's staple in every woman's closet. I love this tee from SheIn because, well, it makes an excellent point. ha! Also, dressing it up was one of the easiest outfits I put together - simple outfit, pumps, and statement bag. Done!
I don't ask this very often, but I'm in a contest for feature in LUCKY magazine. If you would please take some time and vote for my look, I would really (I mean really) appreciate it.
Welcome to another week!I'm enjoying early fall immensely. Speaking of fall, red is the hottest color this season, in fact all shades of red from orange to marsala. This red midi skirt is my favorite and I had my eye on it when I was pregnant (also love this one). I'm so happy I have (somewhat) of a waist back and can wear it now.
Also, let's talk about my glasses, yes they are designer (yeek!). To be honest, I cannot afford the price tag on them, and that's where shop DITTO comes in. DITTO is an excellent eyewear rental service for a reasonable price. This is how it works. You pay $19/month to get any (ANY!) designer pair and keep it as long as you like. When you want a new pair, you simply send the old one back and order another one (love this pair). Simple right?. DITTO is giving away first THREE MONTHS for free to TWO lucky readers!
Two winners will be picked at random and announced on Monday, September 7.
Be sure to check back!
**No purchase is necessary to enter or to win. Odds depend on the number of eligible entries received. Must be US resident, 18 years or older. Must enter by September6, 2015 at 11:59 PT. All entries will be verified. This post has been sponsored by DITTO who provided me with the product. All opinions are my own.
Between getting the nursery ready and thinking of baby names, who knew that the nine months could fly by so fast. Of course, you have all the basics (and more) covered for the baby but who knew that there was so much more involved in your own postpartum care. Here are my top ten items that I couldn't live without right now. Hope it helps some of you new moms in search for things to stock up before you give birth. Trust me, you do not want to make a Target run on the way from the hospital.
Nursing Tanks & Bras- I've tried couple different brands and by far these are my favorite. I always size up and buy few of the same color so it's easier to wash them. There will be plenty of leakage and you will change them very often, so get a few.
For the times when you will actually want to feel like a human being and leave the house, you will need a little more support than a tank. For easy access you still want to wear your nursing undergarments but the ones that have a little lace and look sexy.
Nipple Cream - When the breastfeeding starts, it's uncomfortable at the very least and very painful at most. Yes, nursing isn't supposed to hurt (after a while) but those first few days are rough. All of a sudden someone is abusing your most sensitive parts every few hours. Having something to soothe the pain (see below) and keeping nipples from cracking is important.
Gel Pads - These pads are life savers! I used them non stop for first few days and wish I knew about them with my first baby. They are a little on a pricey side but well worth it. I didn't have to buy any because the hospital gave me two pairs and I only used one.
Nursing Pads - Once your milk comes in, there is no tell when and how often you may leak milk. Sometimes it happens when you start to hear your baby cry, other times the let down may happen at the most random times. To protect yourself from embarrassment and having to change your clothes all the time, place these pads inside your tank or bra.
Soft Undies - Postpartum pain is something nobody talks about. From the crazy uterine contractions (that help to shrink your tummy but hurt like nobody's business) to the sensitive bottom, you will want nothing to do with your lacy undies. Comfort is the key! I get a few of the cheaper underwear (just in case of leakage) and size up for comfort.
Shapewear - Although it's not time to start dieting and worrying, it's never to early to start caring for your tummy. The shapewear provides not only definition to your waist but also helps with all the loose muscle jiggle. Especially if you end up with C-section, tummy support is a must as it will help you move around. Even with natural birth, I love the support it give my stomach and although I don't wear it all the time, it's nice to have it on hand. Although I would recommend wearing regular SPANX if you have a lot of weight to loose or lots of loose muscle at all times. It definitely helps move things along in getting into shape. Nursing Pillow - Whether you are a first time mom or a seasoned veteran, the nursing pillow helps relieve pressure of your back from holding the baby and helps with support. I use my body pillow from pregnancy as a boppy (it has a similar shape) but if you didn't get one while you were pregnant, this is a great things to own. Nursing can be a little difficult at first so having to put baby somewhere while you re-position yourself or rest your elbow while you're nursing is a must! Fenugreek - just in case your milk supply doesn't take off or it starts going down, it's nice to have breastfeeding essentials on hand. Some of the recommendations for boosting milk supply are oatmeal (in any form), fenugreek, mother's milk tea, blessed thistle, drinking plenty of water and rest. By far, fenugreek is the most effective way to boost milk supply in my opinion.
Essential Oils - I have a witch hazel and essential oil blend that has been helping me tremendously. With lots of sensitivity down there and possible perineal tears, it's important to have the tools on hand to heal scars and bleeding faster. I found that essential oils are a lot safer that over the counter prescription in a lot of cases and therefore won't hurt to have something ready just in case.
If you have any more questions about delivery (natural or C-section), postpartum recovery or nursing, please feel free to contact me at happymedley@gmail.com. I'm not a pro but have learned my fair share after having two babies.
Check out my Instagram for a chance to win a gift card to AMAZON.
dress: SheIn c/o (also love this one) sandals: BCBG (similar here & here on sale!) clutch: Target sunglasses: Choies c/o necklace: old (similar here and here)
To say that I'm a little late to the party is an understatement. But what one to do when the pretty floral dress is hanging in the closet? Wear it! I couldn't fit into it when I had my belly and been waiting to loose some of that stomach to wear it. I still have about ten pounds to loose but there is nothing a good pair of spanx wouldn't fix. Also, it's almost fall and this is my last chance to sport some flowers. And to be honest, it's so pretty that I hope I get to wear it again in the spring (and maybe this one too)
Happy hump day! Here is another edition of dress for less and this time I'm getting ready for fall. It's hard to think that we are almost through with summer. I'm actually looking forward to light layers and cooler temps. Also, cobalt blue is promising to be thecolor of the season.
When I was doing our small remodel, I couldn't spend a ton of money on things like decor and pillows. I spray painted pretty much everything that could be spray painted and sewing my own pillow cases (it's much easier than it sounds). I love love LOVE spray paint! It's the best invention ever. With a few cans I transformed frames, lamp base and vases into something totally different and fresh. Most people couldn't guess that those new items were actually all things jazzed up with spray paint. If you have something old (and possibly ugly) in your house, get a can of spray pain in a color of your choice and get to work. It will be worth every dollar! And even if you hate it after you spray it, you can always do it again (and again). That's the beauty of that thing.
Lay a drop cloth down in a well ventilated area, preferably outside. Take your vase (you can do this with jars too) and clean it well. The spray paint won't stick if there is any grease or dust residue. Decide how you want to have the pattern (for example, you can paint it into stripes).
Grab your electrical tape. Do not try to do this with painter's tape - it doesn't adhere as well and the paint may leak through. The electrical tape is a lot more elastic and perfect for uneven shapes (trust me on this). Section off the pattern you desire. I went with random geometric shapes, taping on the go. I didn't measure or count anything.
Next comes the hardest part you have to have patience (and time to spare). Carefully spray a ligeven first coat, and don't try to cover everything. You will need to spray a few coats to cover the piece evenly. If you try to spray paint the entire thing with first coat, you will have leaks and it will look messy. Let the vase dry and repeat. Do this a few times, letting it dry at least 5 minutes between each coat.
When you think you have achieved a good coverage (it will take about 4-5 coats), let the vase stand over night (or at least 8 hours). Gently peel back the tape and admire your handy work.
Welcome to another week! Postpartum dressing is difficult, especially for church and special occasions. With nursing and still having a little bit of belly, most of my clothing fits a little weird. I can zip up my jeans but have all that loose skin hanging out on top. All you mamas know what I mean, right?
If you notice, this dress is not nursing friendly at all. My plan was to nurse Abbie right before church and then right after we got home. It didn't work out quite like that. Right on queue, two hours after I fed her, she was up and my milk let down. Fun times! So I had to invent new ways to feed her while keeping the dress on (thank God there was a private room in church). I will have to rethink my dress choice next Sunday ha! Do any of you have any tips for postpartum body dressing?
Hope you are having a good day and thanks for stopping by!
Little Miss Abbie is 3 weeks old today and I can't believe it! She has changed our family so much and already showed her personality (she's got a pair of lungs;). The first few weeks with a newborn are always difficult but we are hanging on. Jonathan has a little bit of interest and proving himself very useful. He brings her pacifier and throws diapers in the garbage, and tell me 'go get it' when she's crying. To be honest, I haven't cooked one dinner since she was born and have pretty much lived in my nursing tanks and the same pair of shorts. Every time I'm frustrated because I don't know why she's crying, I try to remind myself how fast time flies and that this stage will never come again. I'm enjoying her sweet cuddles and cute little sighs, especially after she's done nursing and contently falls asleep on my chest. It's the best time of my day.
Shopping for designer look-a-likes is something I love to do. To be honest, I wouldn't know what to do with a $2k bag. I think I would put it under a glass bowl and not let anyone touch it, let alone wear it. ha! Here are some great steals that are a lot less than the real deal, but still look amazing! Hope you have a great Wednesday!
