Weekend Mom Style

Tee (similar here and here) - J.Crew Factory / Jacket (currently on sale!) - J.Crew / Jeans - Old Navy / Bag - Madewell / Sneakers - New Balance / Sunglasses - Amazon

My "mom style" so far has leaned towards the very casual haha. Not that I expected anything less, I think I wore leggings for about 97 days straight when I was pregnant. So for me, dressing up a little for running around the neighborhood with the family means putting on an actual pair of jeans with my sneakers and wearing a fun tee shirt instead of one of the three tee shirts I rotate through at home that are nursing and allergic reaction-friendly. 

(Have I mentioned my crazy allergic reaction to you here or just on Instagram? Basically since having Mia I've been having an allergic reaction to something, and while it's much better than it was it's currently making my arms and feet itchy. Fingers crossed I'm not just allergic to having a baby.) 

It's so funny living in Chicago in the spring. In any other city, at 55 degrees people would be bundling up. In Chicago, it was a sunny and not windy 55 degrees so everyone got the eff outside. I mean, the park by our house was basically standing room only. I saw people walking around in shorts and sandals. Jeff and I decided to take the baby for a long walk through the park and around our neighborhood, and it made me so excited for the weather to actually warm up and for us to spend lots of time outside this summer. I'm even considering buying this totally necessary leather blanket for laying in the park with Mia. (Did you see that part above about my skin? Yeah we so aren't touching grass here 😂) 

Anyway, back to the outfit! I've loved the button-front jean trend from afar while I was preggo and then recovering from being preggo, and was really excited to try it out myself. Well, it turns out that to get all those buttons on the fly, your jeans basically have to be high waisted and as a short torso-ed person I am not here for that. Mid-rise jeans already manage to cover my belly button, and high rise jeans basically touch my bra. I tried on many pairs but basically chalked it up as something that would never work for me. 

But then I found this pair from Old Navy that have just an 8" rise, not 10" or 11" and you guys, they totally work! They come up just to my belly button, and the button fly holds you in a little more than a zipper making them super comfy and flattering. I also am loving the lighter wash, which feels so fresh for spring. These are definitely a stiffer denim than most of my skinny jeans though and don't have much stretch, so while they're really flattering I probably am not wearing them all day. Which works for me, as we rarely are outside of the house for more than two hours at a time, and you and I both know I'm putting on cozies as soon as I walk in the door. 

Add in a cute leather tote and my favorite jacket (which I somehow managed to cover in chai latte drips, can you tell in the photos??) and I'm basically a walking J.Crew model / basic b mom. And I am here. for. it. 

Tee (similar here and here) - J.Crew Factory / Jacket (currently on sale!) - J.Crew / Jeans - Old Navy / Bag - Madewell / Sneakers - New Balance / Sunglasses - Amazon

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Motherhood Monday: Mia's 2 Month Schedule

Check out our full nursery here

Okay, I should preface this by saying we got really lucky with this little girl. I've never functioned great when I don't get enough sleep (which for me means eight plus hours!) and usually get terrible headaches if I haven't slept enough, so I was pretty nervous about this aspect of parenting.

But it turns out, Mia LOVES sleeping. Jeff and I hesitate to tell other parents how much Mia sleeps so as not to incite violence or jinx ourselves. So I won't be telling you here ;)

That being said, she was a great napper during the day for the first month, and then when Jeff went back to work it was like a switch flipped and she wouldn't nap at all. Like, she was consistently awake for six to eight hours straight, with just short catnaps when she finished nursing until I tried to put her down. And she would get MAD by the end of the day, usually from when Jeff got home from work until she went to sleep for the night she would be super fussy and do quite a bit of screaming.

Finally in the last few weeks we seem to have figured a few things out. First is that I should be looking to put her back to sleep within two hours of her waking up. Second is that while we were swaddling at night, she really needed a swaddle for her naps too. And third is that instead of trying to lay her in her Dock-a-Tot in the living room for naptime, she really should be off in her crib instead so that my activity doesn't wake her.

So here's Mia's typical schedule - keep in mind that these times vary day-to-day. And regularly get thrown off due to explosive poops and emergency baths.

8:00 am - Wake up and eat eat eat - I grab a boppy so we can just sit in bed and watch the news.
8:30 am - Diaper change and eat eat eat some more. The pediatrician said that since she sleeps so much, she's making up the calories here.
9:00 am - Mia hang out in her lounger and stares at her favorite piece of artwork (lollll it's a terrible generic wood carving from Target) or sits in her bouncer while I get ready for the day. If I didn't manage to shower before she woke up, I'll do it now, or depending on my laziness level skip it and add on another layer of dry shampoo and deodorant.
9:30 am - Playtime on her play mat in the living room. The doctor told us that HALF of her awake time should be on her stomach, so I try to squeeze in a lot here while she's up and happy.
9:45 am - She is OVER tummy time and starting to get little grumpy, so we do a little more eating.
10:00 am - We move downstairs to her nursery, get in the swaddle, and nurse a little more until she falls asleep. Yes, nursing to sleep is bad, but the pediatrician said it's okay at this point. Then I run around like a crazy person trying to get things done around the house or on my computer while simultaneously trying to consume as many calories as possible.
12:00 pm - Wake up and eat some more, definitely not while singing some Disney songs.
12:30 pm - Diaper change and then play time on the play mat or in her bouncer. Try to put her on her tummy and try to avoid the screaming that ensues.
1:00 pm - Load up into the car seat, double check that I have the one thousand things I definitely won't but potentially could need, and make our way down four flights of stairs for an outing. If it's nice we'll go for a walk, or we might run errands or explore Target again. She stays awake for a little, and then will fall asleep.
3:00 pm - Come up and shlep Mia, the car seat, the baby bag, and whatever things I have managed to acquire while out and about back up four flights of stairs. I nervously watch her sleep in her carseat (since that's a thing babies aren't supposed to do anymore) while I put away said things I've acquired and try to cram some more food into my body.
3:15 pm - Take Mia out of her car seat as gently as possible but definitely wake her up every time, then we eat some more.
3:45 pm - More playtime and definitely no tummy time screaming.
5:00 pm - We've been (impatiently) waiting for daddy to get home from work and starting to get fussy, so we eat a little more.
5:15 pm - Head downstairs to get back into the swaddle and nurse to sleep again. Dad gets home and wonders where his child is and assumes that she must just sleep peacefully all day. We try to pull something together for dinner before Mia wakes up.
6:15 pm - This nap is usually shorter because Mia prefers to be awake as soon as we've got hot food on our plates. She eats more.
6:45 pm - Our longest awake period of the day. Mia will play with daddy, maybe get a bath or Facetime with her grandparents, hang out in her bouncer or in her swing, and maybe eat a little.
9:00 pm - We head into the bedroom to change into pajamas, do one last diaper change, put on her Owelet smart sock (so that her parents don't have to be crazy worry warts), and do lots and lots of eating (while I watch an episode or two of Schitt's Creek) before she falls asleep - usually around 10:00 pm.

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Friday Finds

Happy Friday!! We have a packed weekend ahead, between my nephew Clark's FIRST BIRTHDAY (it was Jeff's birthday this week too, so I requested he get a smash cake of his own 😂), Jeff's baby sister's baptism, and my first Mother's Day as a mommy! I requested some quiet alone time as my Mother's Day gift, so fingers crossed that actually happens.

one / two / three / four / five

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Blue and White for Spring

Top - LOFT / Jeans (these are old, linking a super similar pair here) - Gap / Mules (similar here, here, and here) - Nordstrom / Bag (similar) - Ann Taylor / Earrings - J.Crew Factory / Sunglasses - Amazon

White and blue are 100% my spring and summer colors. They're so pretty and fun and fresh. Perfect for getting that beach vacation vibe, whether you're actually on a beach or just hanging out in Chicago's 50 degree spring weather.

I love the look of white denim with a blue and white blouse, and have the closet to prove it. As things heat up, I'll swap out the jeans for my favorite white denim shorts or maybe even a skirt, or I'll pair the top with denim shorts and a white sweater blazer for a cool summer night.

I'm so sad that this top sold out so quickly (although as I'm writing this, I did find one size left in petite). I hate when I come on here to share something new with you guys and it's already unavailable. But, no fear, I did some searching for similar tops and found a few winners:

I've actually had these white jeans for a couple of years now and still love them. White jeans may seem scary to keep clean, but they really aren't so bad. To keep them looking fresh, I toss them in the wash with a couple of bleach packets. And, for any stubborn stains, I have a new trick - laying them in the sun! I started trying this for tomato stains and had one completely disappear off of my favorite fleece, then for baby poop stains. It's freaking incredible. Oh sun, who knew you were always the best man for the job?

Top - LOFT / Jeans (these are old, linking a super similar pair here) - Gap / Mules (similar here, here, and here) - Nordstrom / Bag (similar) - Ann Taylor / Earrings - J.Crew Factory / Sunglasses - Amazon

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Motherhood Monday: An Unexpected Perk

I've mentioned before that I have what I like to call "social anxiety." I mean, it's not an official diagnosis or anything, just how I refer to my issues. It's definitely gotten better over the years (I used to literally be nervous to spend time one-on-one with a friend) but it still lingers, especially at parties. They've always been a little scary for me (or let's be honest, a lot), as I have the hardest time making the first move and approaching strangers. I once had my dad drive me two hours in traffic into Chicago so I could go to a networking event while I was in college, couldn't figure out how to talk to anyone, and made him come back and get me ten minutes later. Yeesh.

Nowadays the social anxiety isn't nearly as bad, but it can still rear its ugly head. And, it turns out, I have a new perfect fix.

That's right. My child. 😂

No but really though. We took Mia to a party a couple weekends ago where I didn't know many people, and it was all kinds of awesome. When you're holding a baby, people just want to come up and talk to you. When you're in an awkward conversation sans baby, you can easily excuse yourself to go find the baby. When you're in an awkward conversation with the baby, you can just say she needs a diaper/bottle/pacifier/her dad. When you scan the room and aren't sure who to talk to, you can just find your baby and hang with her instead. Jeff does not have the social anxiety and he even was talking about how great having her around for those exact reasons can be.

So, if you see me out and I quickly excuse myself to "go relieve Daddy of baby duties," you know what I'm really up to. 😉

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Friday Finds

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April Budget

Every month I post about my clothing budget. My budget per month is $350, which may seem like a lot to some and a little to others, but feels just right for me. You can read my thoughts on my 2018 budget here.

Can you believe it's freaking MAY?!?? I mean, after the snowstorm we got over the weekend, I kind of can't. It also means my baby is going to be two months old in two days. I don't know what's happening in the world.

I clearly overshopped this month. But, if you can believe this is how many things I decided to keep, just wait until you see the number of things I'm still deciding on / bought and returned. I decided I'll start sharing those too in case you're curious - I always am!

Here's what I bought this month:

LOFT Striped Shirtdress - originally $79.50, on sale $42.93. I obviously targeted this because of the buttons for nursing, but it's really cute on and a nice length, not too short!

Daily Ritual Tank - $12.00. I have a tee from this same brand that I've been wearing nonstop, so I decided to snag a tank too for layering. It's a great length, and I've been loving these stretchy jersey tops lately since they're super soft and easy to nurse in. 

Old Navy Leopard Espadrille Sandals - originally $34.99, on sale $17.49. I bought these on a whim not really thinking they'd work, but I'm suprised by how much I like them! The sole is really cushy and padded, which is something I require in a sandal these days. The fabric is canvas, not calf hair like many leopard printed shoes, which means they'll be a lot more durable for summer. 

Old Navy Button Front Jeans - originally $39.99, on sale $20. I've been on the hunt for a pair of lighter wash jeans basically since last spring, and found some winners in this pair! The rise is a mid-rise, 8" which is basically the lowest you can find these days. They are a lot sturdier / less stretchy than the other denim in my closet. They also have a raw hem which I personally love. I mostly targeted them for the button-fly though, such a cute and on-trend detail! 

Universal Thread Slide Sandals - $19.99. I bought these today (as I'm typing this, not publishing ;) after considering them for a while. I have been wanting the more expensive Steven Greece sandals for a while but the color I want doesn't come in my size. I wasn't going to get these, until I tried them on in stores. The top is so comfortable!! I can tell these are going to mold right to my feet and be something I'll reach for daily this summer. 

J.Crew Sophie Sweater Blazer - originally $138.00, on sale $82.80. My mom bought this for me in camel for Christmas, and I loved it so much I decided to snag it in white as an easy layer for spring and summer. It definitely runs big, I got it in a large. You can see it here.
J.Crew Factory Earrings - originally $39.50, on sale $23.50. I thought I was done with statement earrings, and then I got two pairs for my birthday and bought these (and another pair last month) so I guess they're here to stay! I'm loving that in navy, this pair feels a lot more subdued than some of my others and goes with a wider variety of outfits.
Old Navy Tank (bought in stripes and plain white): originally $16.99, on sale $8.50 x2. Another great staple, perfect for layering or on their own. These are also that soft, stretchy jersey material I'm loving.
Old Navy Striped Shorts: originally $26.99, on sale $13.49. After finding out I was pregnant I basically only wore comfy shorts with stretch waistbands for the rest of last summer, and now I don't want to go back to denim! This pair is super cute and the red will be perfect for all of my patriotic combos around the Fourth of July.
Daily Ritual Maxi Dress: $24.00. We had one really warm day last week, and I realized I only own one maxi dress anymore! Which really is unfortunate for me, because I've been battling a crazy allergic reaction since Mia was born and have a bad rash on my legs - it looks like I'm diseased! (Don't worry, I'm not diseased, I got a biopsy done and it really is basically just long-lasting hives.) So I added this maxi to my cart immediately. It's the same soft, stretchy fabric as the tank and tee I own, and is surprisingly flattering and long enough for me (I'm 5'9"). Winner!
LOFT Embroidered Blouse: originally $59.50, on sale $32.13. This is already sold out, noooo!! So sad because it's really beautiful in person, hoping it comes back in stock - I'll let you know!
Old Navy Distressed Denim Jacket: originally $44.99, on sale $24.29. I've wanted this since last year so I decided to finally spring for it. I like it because this jacket comes in a tall, so the sleeves are actually long enough for me! This is an example of how you might need two of a particular item in your closet - I already owned a denim jacket but it's a little cropped so I can't wear it with most pants. This one is full length so it goes great with dark-wash jeans or leggings.
Amazon Tie-Front Henley - $18.99. I bought this in purple right after Mia was born, and wore it so much I decided I needed another color! It's really cute and on-trend but at a good price, plus it has those buttons I need these days. Definitely size up in this, I got an XXL.

Total Spent: $348.61
Total Saved: $223.81


And some things I bought that didn't work out or I'm unsure of:

Gap Woven Tote: I liked this, but ended up deciding to keep the one I bought last month instead.
Vince Camuto Espadrilles: I love these on other people, but thought they made my (already large) feet look huge! They were decently comfortable though, and I think would break in well.
J.Crew Factory Button Front Mini: I like the fit of this, but from the pictures online I thought it would be white. It's really more of a light khaki which I couldn't really see wearing. I actually haven't really worn khakis since middle school when they were a part of our uniform!
J.Crew White Toothpick Jean: These were okay with a good rise and inseam length, but a little baggy on me around the knees and ankles. I like the Rockstar white jeans from Old Navy I've had for years so much better (and at a much better price point!).
J.Crew Button Fly Jean: I tried these before trying the Old Navy pair, but the rise was just too high on me - 9" hits way over my belly button! They are cute, but I'd go with Old Navy on these too.
Hinge Floral Mini Dress: This is so cute and such a flattering cut, but there's a seam across the bust that looked awkward on my chest. There isn't any stretch to the fabric so definitely go with your standard dress size, no vanity sizing!
Vero Moda Button Front Dress: This is super cute but the XL was too small on me, and it doesn't come in a bigger size.

Sole Society Tenlyn Sandals: So cute but the straps around your foot are HUGE. Like, even with the ankle strap tightened I still felt like I was going to step right out of them.
J.Crew Stripe Sneakers: These are so adorable!! I need to walk around the house in them a little before I decide whether or not to keep them - leaning towards a return but I'll let you know.
J.Crew Striped Bow Mules: Unsure on these too - they're a tiny bit narrow in the toe for me so I'm trying to decide if they'll be comfortable enough that I'll actually wear them.
J.Crew Denim Shorts: Cute enough, but I sized up for a slouchy fit and they just look way too big.  You can see them here.
Ann Taylor Floral Drop Waist Dress: Haven't gotten this yet, hoping it's a keeper! Seems like it would be great to dress up or down.

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