On the best tights and yoga pants ever, smoothies, shoes, and a giveaway

Friday, May 2, 2014

Ending the week with 5 favs (linking up with Hallie) lumped in with Friday Quick Takes (linking up with Jen...is that cheating?)

Five favorites this week:

1. Preggers tights: If there's one thing that I could change about this pregnancy, it would be to start wearing Preggers compression tights earlier. I purchased a pair of grey ones early on in my pregnancy which I wore constantly with dresses but never under my scrubs or dress pants, despite how comfortable and durable they are. I'm kind of in disbelief that I spent so many weeks on my feet at 6-7 months pregnant on my surgery rotation and didn't wear any compression stockings (contrary to my mom's warnings about my genetic predisposition to varicose veins). Well, it came back to bite me because the last month or two, I've had awful, crampy leg pain along with a couple faint-but-still-there veins showing up on my calves. Needless to say, I've been wearing the Preggers every.day. and was thrilled when they wanted to collaborate and sent me another pair of my beloved grey tights (I love, love all the fun colors they have but grey is just so practical and arguably more fun than black) along with a pair of their amazing pantyhose. I have to honestly say that I like the Preggers compression tights 10x more than my prescription maternity hose which have a saggy, uncomfortable top, versus the supportive but uber comfortable Preggers waistband. They are offering a $50 (!) gift card to a reader and you can enter at the end of the post.

A bunch of maternity outfits with my Preggers tights


2. I have to give this Isabella Oliver dress a shout-out because it has been my go-to dress for graduation (see #7), Easter, maternity pictures, work, church, etc. It was worth every penny because of how much I've worn it and the fact that I still feel good in it even this pregnant. Bonus that it's really, really comfortable (it's made of this stretchy but forgiving jersey fabric) and the blue/green color is just beautiful.



3. I've been obsessed with smoothies lately. I like this Strawberry Oatmeal one for something a little more substantial as well as this Strawberry Orange Oatmeal one (kind of like a healthy orange dream smoothie), but my go-to lately has been this smoothie that I modified from an old concoction that I pinned from Grace. I add a banana (half a banana is fine too), a cup of frozen berries (I love the antioxidant blend of cherries, pomegranate, raspberries, wild blueberries, and strawberries that I picked up on sale at Target), a cup of vanilla soy milk, a large dollop of plain greek yogurt (I like Fave or Chobani), a generous spoonful of honey, and a big handful of fresh spinach. The spinach may seem a little weird, but I can't really taste it and it's a great way to get in a little extra veggies (Stephen hasn't braved the spinach yet but I'm determined to get him to try it this weekend).



4. Yoga pants: I've been living in them ever since I finished my last med school rotation. I didn't find maternity yogas to be necessary (my pre-pregnancy ones work just fine, tucked under my now large-and-in-charge bump). My absolute favorite pair of comfy pants are the J. Crew dream cotton pants (on the right of the picture below)- I've had my black pair for a couple years and wore them over and over again throughout this pregnancy. They are starting to get a little threadbare, so I picked up a pair of navy ones during the J. Crew 30% off sale (still going on). They fit just loose enough through the legs and butt to be flattering. I also picked up a pair of J. Crew yoga pants (on the left of the picture below)- I'll be honest that although they're so very soft and comfy, I don't think they're the most flattering pair of pants on me right now (really though, what pants do feel flattering at 38 weeks pregnant?) but I kept them because the fabric is a-mazing and I think they'll be perfect for after baby.


5. Old Navy has been killing it in the shoe department lately. First up, these heeled clogs that look so similar to Swedish Hasbeens (I ordered the tan pair):

 Old Navy ($32.94 + 25% off)

Swedish Hasbeens ($218.95)

And next, these wedges (I'm 100% a wedge-over-heel girl) that are a dead-ringer for the J. Crew Lillian wedges:
Old Navy ($29.94 + 25% off)

J. Crew ($129.99 on sale)

Annnndd adding two quick takes at the end/linking up with Jen:

6. For those of you who have been following along with my mundane pregnancy details (and don't mind reading about cervical exams), we had our 38 week check-up yesterday. My doctor was shocked that the baby's head had 'dropped' (not a medical term ha) dramatically and apparently his head is now engaged in my pelvis (yay!). My cervix is thinning but not dilated yet. I was up for a few hours last night with nausea and cramping, so I'm not sure if that means anything or not...honestly though if he could wait until Friday that would be great (I'm scheduled for a spa pedicure on Thursday with the gift certificate Stephen gave me...I know, I sound so selfish, sigh).

7. I made the bittersweet decision this week to not go to our medical school graduation ceremony on May 10 based on the fact that I will either be almost 40 weeks pregnant with a good chance of delivering on the way down or back (it's a 7 hour drive each way) or my water breaking as I walk across the podium to get my diploma OR we will have a brand new babe. We did have our rural medicine program graduation last week (there are 10 of us in the track) which was lovely:


And make sure to enter the Preggers giveaway if you are expecting/soon to be expecting/etc. etc.:





a Rafflecopter giveaway

31 comments:

  1. I love those gray Preggers tights too! I never bit the bullet and got them during this pregnancy but after hearing your praise will definitely get them for next time. Also you look amazing for 38 weeks - I'm at 37 and just feeling enormous and ready for baby to get here! :)

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    1. Aren't they awesome? And thank you! We are so very close!!

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  2. I'm not pregnant, but I definitely fancy a (boring) black pair of Preggers tights for (God-willing) pregnancy number two.

    Smoothie addict advice: Freeze the spinach. Stick that bin straight in the freezer (if you intend to use it all just for smoothies). They will chop up much finer when you go to blend them and they won't go bad if you buy them in super bulk. I put SO MUCH spinach in my smoothies they are straight green, but you can't taste it!! It's kind of my favorite thing. (Kale is another story. Can't get on the Kale bandwagon.) Running off to make a smoothie for lunch...

    Oh and PS - the cramps sound very promising!!!!

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  3. In anticipation of an upcoming pregnancy (God-willing), I love the grey, navy and black (I'm boringly practical) but the pretty colours are super fun too!
    You looks great! Maybe baby will show up for Mother's Day (and we can share a birthday)

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    1. Good luck Melody! I had to be more practical too because of work, but wow I love those fun colors! And Mother's Day would be absolutely perfect (I have been thinking about that :)

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  4. Congratulations again! I am very sure Stephen and your parents are proud.

    And I love your much affordable shoe finds :) thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks so much Sarah! I was so excited to find those Old Navy shoes.

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  5. That's so great that your little guy's head is nice and low and ready for business! That's what I'm praying happens this time... Sara didn't really cooperate with me last time and her big head stayed way up high and turned funny. Gah, can't think about it too much! Anyway, I'd love to get my hands on those tights and I definitely need them because varicose veins and spider veins are my biggest pregnancy woe. (I know, I could have it a lot worse!)

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  6. I love the leggings in gray! But I would really love to give the gift card to my bestie who is pregnant with her first!

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  7. I would love to get my hands on any pair of these , but the fun colors are ao great!! You are looking great, best of luck with labor and delivery, anticipating the announcement of the newest member of your family! :)

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  8. Varicose veins during pregnancy run in my family too, plus I have a clotting disorder. I'm sure those tights would help.

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  9. Love the light support footless tights!

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  10. The pantyhose and tights seem great! I love that they come in so many colors but I'm a little too intimidated to wear colored tights :) Both of those ON shoes are so cute!

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  11. I have never heard of Preggers but I am sold! :) Congratulations on your graduation!

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  12. I think I'd have to go with the gray too!

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  13. I've only bought one pair of pregnancy hose before and they were terrible. I think I snuck them off mid banquet! These look much better. Perhaps I can use them whenever we (hopefully) have number 4.

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  14. I think I'd have to skip the tights and go for those leggings. They look so much better than the maternity leggings I have

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  15. Erika....I have had a "spinach smoothie" for breakfast every day for three or four years now (seriously), and you don't taste the spinach at ALL, tell your husband. :) (I use a cup of vanilla almond or soy milk, several ice cubes, a scoop of vanilla protein powder (but that's not necessary; I do it to give my breakfast some staying power), half a banana, and two very large handfuls of fresh spinach. Tastes like vanilla and banana.) I am convinced that all that spinach/vitamin C is great for my skin!!

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  16. Those Preggers tights sound wonderful and I will have to keep them in mind for any future babies. I don't think I'd be able to get my legs into them during the Texas summer heat for this pregnancy, though!

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  17. I am 8 months pregnant and in need of compression tights!

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  18. I think I would get the footless tights in navy

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  19. My little guy dropped noticeably around that time too... and it worked out well for us :) Love the Isabella Oliver dress on you - definitely a great buy!

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  20. I don't think my comment showed up from earlier, but I'd totally go for some tights/leggings. :) Would be so nice for last month or so of pregnancy!!

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  21. I wish I had known about preggers with my last baby! They look great! And you look great too! Congratulations on graduating!

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  22. I love preggers! I've also been wearing compression sleeves under long skirts with my sandals.

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  23. I loved my Preggers tights and leggings for my first, but both were in black - I'd love a pair of the footless grey ones for this #2. NOT looking forward to trying to wear them in humid VA summer, but they make my poor circulation more bearable!
    And Ps - you look SO cute, I love your maxi skirts and that knit wrap dress is just perfect on you!

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  24. Woot just found out recently that we're pregnant again and due in December so tights are awesome! Especially in Minnesota!
    And spinach in fruit smoothies is totally disguised by all the yummy fruit!

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  25. Grey is a magical color, so I would pick those!

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  26. I am 6 months pregnant on my surgery sub I and have 1+ pitting edema! Definitely on the hunt for good compression tights/socks!

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  27. The colors are so fun, but I think I'd have to go with something boring/more versatile with gray or black!

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