Rolled Jeans? No way!

Yep - that's what I used to say, but here's how I found myself today:

I decided to be a little rocker-chic today - see the studded belt?  I told you I'd try to do better!  That's right, I wore snakeskin Steve Madden heels, rolled my boyfriend jeans (AE again) AND wore a studded, tooled belt (Ariat).  I even got 2 compliments today.  One on my shoes and the other on my jeans and the rolled look.  Pretty awesome!  Sorry about Olivia, she's a little camera shy today.  Oh - I forgot the top.  You can't really tell, but it's one of those that sort of puddles - what's that called?  Anyway, it's awesome because I could just pull the fabric down to nurse!  Moral of today?  Don't be afraid!  You can do it!  

Pre-pregnancy jeans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have some very exciting news to share.  Almost 2 months to the day, and with lots of hard work, I finally fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans!  I've also lost 14 lbs in the last 2 weeks.  Plenty of motivation to keep up with my workouts, protein shakes and breastfeeding!  If you're interested in my routine, let me know!  Here's today's outfit:

I do still have a little bit of belly over these, so I did my pre-pregnancy, bloated on my period trick, which is to wear a belt one hold loser than what actually holds my pants up and evens out the bulge.  Did it work?  I went black and white today with a pop of blue in my necklace.  Have I mentioned that, although I hate the logistics of a tank under a nursing/wrap top, I do really like that if I pull the tank up underneath the shirt and pull the wrap over, I still get a decent amount of coverage above and below?

Shirt - Target, Cami - Old Navy, Necklace/Bracelet - NY & Co, Jeans - American Eagle, Belt/Shoes - Ariat

Manic Monday

Ok - back to work and fashion.  Here's my latest attempt at looking decent despite nursing AND being fashion clueless:

I hope you read the last post because I'll be referencing that research material!  I was a little limited this morning because the only fabulous nursing bra they had in stock was black and animal print.  So stuck in the dark top section of the closet.  I did have to work today so I wanted one of my easy access tops that I can quickly feed Olivia when I need to.  In comes the black Banana Republic wrap top.  It's sleeveless so it was a great match with this argyle sweater.  Also, I'm still rocking the earrings I told you about and a NY&Co necklace.  I'm also loving those jeggings I mentioned in the last post (American Eagle - I don't really "shop" here anymore, but I just love the fit of their jeans).  Oh yeah - loving the stretch!  And then I've got my trusty BCBG black flats.  They are due for a good conditioning.  I'm still working on branching out with belts and such, but without expanding my closet further, those choices will have to wait because I fit into only about a quarter of my closet.

I'll get better, I promise!

I have a secret......

Whoa what a day!  Busy busy.  I was running late this morning, so I barely got to take advantage of my "alone" time in front of the mirror to practice putting on my make-up.  I agonized over what to wear, despite picking it out the night before.  I second-guessed my choice until the last possible second when - I decided to wear what I picked out!

However - I was a bad blogger and did not take a picture.  So!  Let me clue you in to some nursing mama truths I have recently become reacquainted with:

A. You can nurse in pretty much anything, just remember that if you aren't able to access from the top, you will have to lift up.  Despite the great nursing covers they have out there, you will have a nice triangle of back (fat) showing to the world.  Stay tuned for my new invention - a nursing CAPE!  :)

B.  The grip of a 6 week old baby is STRONG.  See my baby's grip over to the right.  It can rip, grip and take apart.  Be wary of the flailing hands that grab onto necklaces, earrings, hair, etc.  That would be why I insisted previously on non-danglely earrings and am now informing you of this wonderful thing I just found out.  Lean in....closer....CLOSER......  At New York & Co, they will exchange broken jewelry!!  So they have great stuff AND it doesn't matter if that little sweet baby of yours rips it apart - you can take it back!

C.  When jeggings were invented I hated them.  Now that only my pre-pregnancy boyfriend jeans fit, and not a single other pair of jeans does....jeggings are my new best friend.  Buy yourself a pair.  A well-fitting pair, it may be a size up from what you were before, but do it.  Just one pair - bring yourself out of the sweatpants.... embrace the jegging.

And I'll leave you with that... embrace the jegging..... embrace the jegging.....  Have you got a pair yet?  Talk to you soon!

Casual Friday

I'm still working into full-time status at work post-maternity, so I had today off.  Yay!  I meant to go through my closet and get some stuff together but instead spent my day with a variety of other tasks.

1 - I read my Mom's blog Over Forty Style and found she had discovered a better way to put on foundation.  I'd already decided to do some shopping later today and thought why not look nice doing it?  And then I discovered a brilliant idea for those short on time - TAKE ADVANTAGE!  :)  My husband is home today as well, so he sat with the kids watching Disney Jr while I spent time upstairs perfecting my makeup application techniques.  As mentioned in my first post, I've never really been into clothes or makeup, so I have to practice at it.  I think I did an okay job.  My mom liked it, which means I must have!  So my plan is to take advantage of my husband's time at home, which will mostly be weekends, and do my hair (not today) and makeup.  I figure if I have some time to perfect and practice the task, I will get better and faster at it and then I will be able to do it at 5 am before the kids wake up (ok, ok - 7am which is the latest possible time for me to wake up and be out the door almost on time - but the GOAL is 5am so I don't have to rush).

2 - Take a look at my picture again.  See the earrings?  I usually hate non-dangly earrings.  But, as with most nursing moms, I've got a baby grabbing at anything close to her, so... not so much.  But do you know how hard it is to find non-dangly earrings that aren't hearts, butterflies, words, etc?  I just wanted something understated that will go with anything and weren't pearls.  I like these because they are not covered in crystals, not obviously flowers, and silver so they'll go with most of my jewelry.  Oh yeah, they also will work for dress up or dress down.  Here's the close-up from Target:

3 - Since Harrisburg, PA is void of a Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack, I had to find a specialty lingere store to find nursing bras (or even regular bras) in my size.  I drove all the way to Camp Hill and was AMAZED at the service offered by Kim at Underneath It All.  She was just fantastic!  Two seconds to measure me and about the same to pull down a nursing bra that fit and separated the girls!  How fantastic!  She ordered a few more for me too since I intend to breastfeed until at least next year.  Please please please get a fitting ladies!  Even if you have no special considerations like my small ribcage, large boob situation.  I thought I knew my size, but that was after being measured 2 years ago.  Alas - they have grown even more. 

I should also add that because I was out only a little bit, I rocked the ponytail and yoga pants today - compression style does wonders for the pooch left by Baby Olivia.  I will definitely need to amp it up tomorrow because I've got service in the morning, a couple's date and then a baby shower to attend!  Till tomorrow! 

Day One

I spent yesterday trying to think of what essential pieces a nursing mom must have to create some semblance of a fashionable wardrobe.  If you're anything like me, you've been wearing yoga pants since the day your baby was born.  You may or may not be like me and lost all the baby weight and then some without even trying (don't hate me yet, did you read my first post and how it took 2 years to lose all the weight from my first baby?)!  But now that we've hit 5 weeks, I find myself in public more than ever, and yoga pants just aren't cutting it.

So I spent all day yesterday perusing multiple malls for essentials.  My goal: skinny jeans in my new post-partum size, a nice-looking cardigan, a nursing bra with underwire and whatever other nice nursing-friendly tops I could find.  The take?  Jeans - check.  Cardigan - check (although a little expensive for what I've been spending, I wore today and it is comfy and good quality).  Others - 2 colorful necklaces, 1 chunky bracelet, a black pencil skirt and a pair of earrings.  No go on the bra (they had a nice selection at Target, but not even close to my full-of-milk cup size).  These are the things I feel will get me through this transition period until I get back to my old clothes.  What, you say?  You can't fit into your old clothes despite being lighter than pre-pregnancy?  That's right, gained all the weight in my thighs, and my hips apparently spread to the ends of the earth!  :)

As part of my post-baby transformation, I've begun Power 90, a Beachbody program, and I've started to get my life together in the form of preparation and accountability.  Part of this is getting together everything I need for the next day ahead of time (usually the night before).  So I laid out everything I wanted to wear and managed to leave like this:

Cardigan, Nursing Tank, Earrings - Old Navy, Jeans - American Eagle, Flats - BCBG, Bracelet - New York & Co

Of course, I spent the day looking like this:

And even worse, most of the time I had my Moby wrap with baby inside, to make me look even more frazzled!

My intention was to have time to do my make-up, hair and experiment with tucking my tank in, leaving it out, putting a skinny belt around my waist or a wide belt in belt loops on jeans.  I also wanted to wear my oh-so-cute Steve Madden nude pumps, but in my rush out the door, ALL of the above was forgotten.... oops.  Oh well - Baby Olivia had everything she needed and my big girl Isabel was fed and ready for preschool.  Priorities people!

Oh - before I leave, I wanted to point out a few things.  1 - I apologize for the droopy uniboob the nursing top creates.  I'm placing my faith in Zappo's to get my new nursing bras in asap.  Unless you are tiny in the chest area, I suggest getting at least one underwire nursing bra, it helps the silhouette.  2 - Can you even see the bracelet I'm wearing?  It's stretchy, which I love because I have small wrists and I can't stand the sliding of a bangle.  It also doubles as a marker for which breast is next for the baby, I just switch it every feeding to remind myself.  Looks a little better than the hair tie I've been using, eh?  Alright - baby's crying - got to go!  See you tomorrow when I discuss the rest of my "essentials".