Spring Florals and A Giveaway

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It’s so ironic. Over the past 36 weeks, my body has done one of the most feminine acts possible, growing a child, though I for most of the time, I have not felt very feminine. As I began my pregnancy, I spent time reading multiple books, blogs and perusing baby apps. Every single one promised me the same thing – an incredible pregnancy glow. While my face has enjoyed a bit of a glow and tan thanks to chloasma, this glow and artificial tan has not left me feeling pretty.

There comes a point in pregnancy when nothing starts to fit and getting dressed, even for a work from home job, becomes a battle and teary-eyed breakdown just waiting to happen. I’ve experienced this during three different points in pregnancy:

  • Week 15 or so, when I felt bloated and as if I’d had a giant burrito for lunch that kept my pants from buttoning.
  • Week 26 or so, just when Spring and multiple trips and celebrations were about to take place.
  • Week 35 when I started retaining water and even my maternity clothes started to feel uncomortable.

These days, I find myself only wanting to wear my 25 year old XL boxer shorts (Yes, I typed the number 25 next to years and it’s true, I’ve had these Jockey boxer shorts for 25 years. I realize that in itself is a topic for an entirely separate post.) and an oversized long-sleeved t-shirt because these are the two most comfortable articles of clothing I own. Even though I have built a wardrobe of 10-15 different maternity pieces, at this point in pregnancy, many of them no longer feel comfortable. The t-shirts are getting a bit too small, the dresses a bit too short and the leggings a bit too tight, especially in my calves.

Since the pregnancy weight gain has made me revert back to some of my high school and college fashion tendancies, when I was over 200 pounds, I realize now that I spent much of my pregnancy trying to camoflauge my body. Part of this was due to being pregnant in Winter when almost all New York Women dress in head to toe black. But, even beyond that, I’ve done little to draw attention to my bump or new, round shape.

It wasn’t until Pink Blush reached out to me, offering to send me a dress for my upcoming bridal shower, that I realized many pregnant women opt for vibrant colors and prints even during their third trimester. The pictures I saw of real women on their site gave me hope that there was a place for Spring florals in my wardrobe.

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For those of you who haven’t heard of Pink Blush previously, it is not only a maternity brand. In fact, their site is filled with Women’s, Women’s Plus and Maternity clothing ranging from their famous dresses and tops to shoes, active wear and even accesories. Their large selection of reasonably priced maternity dresses and tops have made them famous within the maternity clothing scene as their quality, selection and price point is beyond your imagination! Their variety of styles, patterns and prints allow any woman, regardless their shape or size, to find something that will make them feel feminine and pretty.

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I fell so in love with the Pink Blush Mint Floral Sash Tie Dress that I have worn it for multiple occasions over the past six weeks.  The v-neckline flatters while also allowing for this dress to transition into a nursing-friendly dress after pregnancy. Even with my growing bump, the long length allows the dress to skim my ankles. But, my favorite part of the dress was the way the vibrant aqua and pink colors finally helped me find that elusive pregnancy glow.

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Inspired by their 25% of Memorial Day Sale email, this week I ordered a few things to enjoy in the coming weeks and months:

Your Turn –  CONTEST OVER – WINNER IS #27 – Sarah. Want to enter the giveaway for a $75 PinkBlush gift card?  Leave a comment letting me know what ONE topic you’d like to see more of on the blog. The giveaway will end Monday at 10pm EST. 

Thank you to Pink Blush for sponsoring this giveaway and for the gorgeous dress. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Navy, White and Everything Nice

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If you were to open my closet, especially the one dedicated to my Spring and Summer wardrobe, you would see lots of classic pieces but most frequently, the colors navy and white.  More specifically, navy and white stripes. A classic combination, I fell in love with the navy and white color combination a few years ago and have since found myself adding a few pieces to my wardrobe each year.  Last year the navy version of this dress and this top were on constant rotation and often paired with gold hoop earrings and a fun gold or cork clutch.

This year, even though I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to find a navy and white item to wear during the Spring and Summer months. I figured my chances of finding something as cute as last year’s pieces would be tough, but decided to give it my best shot when my mom and I spent the day shopping for maternity clothes last month.

Guys, no one told me there were SO many adorable maternity clothes these days.

Seriously. I had no idea. I honestly expected to wear baggy, loose dresses and flowing tunics for most of my pregnancy. But, while I quickly discovered the multitude of websites with adorable maternity clothing, I also realized that these items often come with a hefty price tag. The sites I’ve loved the most have clothes that are priced in line with or higher than J.Crew. However, the thing I have to keep in mind is that this clothing will have a limited window of use. While yes, Bo and I hope to eventually have a second child, I have no clue what season I’ll be pregnant. Therefore, I’ve done my best to limit my purchases and focus on items that are necessities as well as items that can also be used during nursing.

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As soon as I saw this dress in the window of Serpahine’s SoHo location, I was in love.  The super, soft jersey knit had enough stretch to fit throughout my pregnancy while the lift up access at the bra line allows for easy nursing after I give birth. Unlike many dresses I’ve tried on recently, this one is long enough to expand for my growing stomach while also hitting right at my knees.  When it was cooler, I layered my jean jacket over the dress and now that it’s warmer I’ve been wearing it with my favorite Jack Rogers or Converse

While doing research for this post, I discovered that since I bought the dress, Seraphine has added two more styles to their collection – this adorable navy and white dress which is on sale for $71 and this swingy, flattering striped dress

For this look, I paired the dress with these fun Bauble Bar Metallic Crispin earrings and my favorite straw clutch. These gold earrings pair perfectly with just about any outfit from a casual t-shirt and jeans to a dress.  This clutch is only $48 on Anthropologie and is large enough to hold anything you could need for an evening or night out on the town. 

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Photo credit: Alexis Damen Photography

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Stepping Into Spring with Brooks

 

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As you guys know, even though I live in New York City, I tend to avoid monochromatic, black workout gear in favor of bright, fun prints and colors. In fact, a few months ago, when it was requested that I wear black for a photo shoot, I realized that I have have very few pieces of black workout gear aside from shorts and tights. IMG_8426

Imagine my excitement when Brooks launched their Spring Escape collection, featuring lots of color ranging from aqua and teal to vibrant neons. Since I knew that my Spring workout gear from Brooks would be used more for workouts and errands than running, I chose coordinating pieces that could keep me dry and warm during the March and April showers but feeling Spring like thanks to vibrant colors.

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Here is a quick description of the gear I’m wearing in these photos.

  • Brooks Greenlight Running Capris – The wide waist band slips versus creating an akward muffin top while the drilayer material kept me dry during tough workouts. The side rouching provides a fun detail and the crops are available in 7 colors ranging from this fun pattern to plain black. I found the fit to be very true to size and went up one size to provide space for my growing belly.  PSA – Some of last season’s colors are on sale for $20 on this site!
  • Brooks Freemont Running Jacket – As soon as I took this jacket out of the box, I knew it would be a favorite. The semi-fitted nature makes it perfect for either a chilly, drizzly run or running errands. The perforated panels on the jacket ensure that you don’t over heat while the two pockets provide space for phones, cash and headphones.
  • Brooks Launch 4 Running Shoes – This neutral shoe provides the perfect amount of support for my high arches while still being lightweight and cushioned. I’ve enjoyed using this responsive shoe for long walks, Orangetheory workouts and my last few runs in March. Available in seven different colors, there is a color combination for everyone!
  • Brooks Run Happy Smile T-Shirt – This soft, dri-layer t-shirt has become a favorite of mine lately as it is soft and cozy while still being technical enough for my sweaty Orangetheory workouts. The fun blue color pairs perfectly with any of my shorts or crops and makes me smile everytime I wear it.  PSA – Certain colors and sizes are on sale for $20 on this site.
  • Brooks Juno Bra – As you all know, before pregnancy, I didn’t need much support for my 36A chest. I could workout in shelf tanks though I often chose to wear a lightly padded sports bra for high impact workouts. These days, I am wearing a 34C and know that between now and when I start nursing my chest will most likely grow into a D. It’s crazy the support I need these days and am thankful that Brooks creates bras that are perfect for women of all shapes and sizes. After wearing the Juno bra almost exclusively these past two months, I understand why it’s one of their top-selling bras. The adjustable straps make it perfect for a personalized fit or nursing while the back’s mesh provides plenty of breathability. So far I have this in cobalt blue and black but am eyeing the vibrant print as well.  PSA, the previous version is on sale for $45 on this site.

Thank you to Alexis Damen Photography for the gorgeous shots!

Thank you to Brooks for the fabulous gear, half of which they sent me and half of which I bought myself. I’m proud to be a Brooks RunHappy Ambassador.

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