Five Favorites: Twice edition

A couple months ago, Twice contacted me and asked if I would share some outfits and an interview for their Top Twicer feature (you can read it here). I discovered Twice (link for $10 referral credit) a few years ago and since then have found some really great pieces from my favorite brands. For those of you who haven't heard of it, Twice sells gently used clothing from brands including J. Crew (!), Anthropologie, Gap, Banana Republic, and Nordstrom.

Here are five of my favorite Twice finds (and be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for a chance to win a Twice gift card courtesy of Twice!). 

1. I found this Anthropologie dress in one of the new arrivals emails that Twice sent me (they send emails with picks customized by your size and favorite brands). It's different than anything I had in my closet, and a great mustard color. I also love that it has the ease of a dress while giving the illusion of a skirt with a fun printed blouse.

2. I was pretty stoked to find this J. Crew white denim jacket in brand new condition. I found these green skinny cargos at Twice too, also J. Crew. Sidenote that Twice was a great place to find a couple pairs of pants and tops for transitioning back to my regular wardrobe in the postpartum period.

3. This Splendid cardi is so me, and the Anthropologie top underneath was another fun find at a great price.

4. Another great Splendid cardi in one of my favorite colors.

5. I found this Gap blazer brand new with tags from Twice! I had literally seen it only weeks before in the store so I was thrilled. Thrown over a basic dress, it makes a great work outfit.

Linking up with Jenna and The Pleated Poppy.

Want to try Twice for yourself? Already a loyal Twice shopper and want some store credit? Twice is generously offering a $25 gift card to a reader and you can enter below. And even if you don't win, you can get $10 off by using my referral link here (thanks in advance!)

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Truths...

Top: Golden Tote

Pants: J. Crew

Boots: Frye

Some truths about this outfit...

...I wore it last weekend, since the majority of my time now is spent in scrubs (I sense a blog/ebay sale coming soon - I just can't justify all the nice clothes still in boxes since we moved)

...The pants are these ones - yes, they're maternity pants. Not the over-belly third trimester kind but the end-of-first beginning-of-second trimester side panel kind. I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight but have a residual tummy pooch that will probably require a lot more crunches/less carbs and these pants are the epitomy of comfy. Unfortunately they're also saggy, and a mid-rise would be much more flattering since these are designed to sit below the bump. I requested a pair of black skinny pants in my next Stitch Fix so we shall see.

...The babe spit up on the pants...and I just wiped it off and still wore them. Gross, I know, but part of reality with a four month old. Another reason to have a blog sale, since I own a ridiculous number of dry-clean-only J. Crew tops that I will probably never dare to wear again.

...These boots are by far the most expensive wardrobe purchase I've ever made. They were almost 40% off on Amazon when I bought them last year, but still sooo expensive and I have a twinge of guilt every time that I wear them. But they're perfect.

...I'm still wearing my hair in a top knot every.day despite the hairstylist's advice at my last appointment to not wear my hair up so much to try to stilt my dreaded postpartum hair loss...and also despite Stephen informing me after two years of marriage and two more years of dating (a.k.a. 4 years of top knot-wearing) that he prefers my hair down.

...My style has done almost a 180 since having the babe...I'm all about long, drapey tops with fun patterns and stretchy, skinny pants...and no dry-clean only (I'm embarrassed to say that I never evah checked the care tags before now). 

...Do these qualify to link up with Jen? I think so. Also linking up with the Pleated Poppy and Tara.

Changes...

Top: Loft // Skirt: Loft // Boots: Steve Madden (via Amazon warehouse last year) // 

Necklace: Lisa Leonard (Stephen asked why I was wearing a tree branch around my neck)

There have been so many changes lately; Stephen Gabriel seems like a new baby every day with how much he's learning and growing...fall is just beginning...Stephen is adjusting to being a stay-at-home dad...I'm coming to the end of my ultrasound/EMS rotation and about to start a new one in anesthesia/psych. Sometimes I feel like I'm grasping onto the very few threads of normalcy in our lives right now...but it's exciting. Learning how to be a doctor, learning how to be a mother, learning how to be a family...we're blessed.

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy.

It's fall again...

 Top: Corinna heathered dolman top from Stitch Fix

Jeans: J. Crew Factory

Boots: Steve Madden via Amazon Warehouse

1. I recently saw this quote on Pinterest:

It made me think about how much I love fall, but it also made me reflect on the excitement and anticipation that I felt at this time last year in early pregnancy. Life has changed very much for the better since then (harder, but better!), and I'm so grateful for all of it.

2. It's been hard lately to find time to keep this little space on the internet going. I have several half-written posts in my drafts about intern year, motherhood, medicine that I can't seem to finish. I'm having a hard time expressing my thoughts completely on it (and maybe even grasping how I really feel about it) so I guess I'll finish them in due time...or maybe not, and that's ok.

3. In the meantime here's a shot of what I've been doing at work lately on my EMS month:

Emergency medicine has it's perks.

4. I totally missed out on the opportunity to do a sappy, sweet anniversary post when we celebrated two years on August 31. My mom gave us the best gift ever and flew in for the weekend so she could help us around the house and watch the little man for some dates. We went out to dinner twice (!) and also went for a hike, which was totally therapeutic and some time that we really needed together.

 

5. Continuing on the fall note, it's my favorite time of year for outfits. I recently picked up a few things using a credit that I had from my Loft (everything is currently 40% off with the code fallstyle!) I definitely did not need another pencil skirt, but the mustard pattern was too good to pass up. The blouse is breastfeeding-friendly and both the skirt and the blouse will be great pieces for an emergency medicine conference that I have in Chicago next month. The cardi and top are great basics.

Links: Skirt // Cardi // Long-sleeve top // Printed blouse

 6. And another outfit that I planned to share last Sunday but didn't have time to post:

Skirt: J. Crew

Vest: J. Crew Factory, super similar here or here

The last time that I wore that utility vest was actually when I was very pregnant so it was nice to be able to zip it this time ha. I'm not sure that I love it how I wore it with the maxi skirt/tee but I think it'll look great over a striped top and skinny jeans/boots for fall.

7. You probably noticed from the pictures how big our little guy is getting...I feel like I can barely remember bringing him home as a teeny newborn on the cusp of being small for gestational age...now I'm guessing he's 60th percentile? We shall see at his 4 month (!) check up in a little over a week. We love him so very much and he is worth the sleepless nights a thousand times over (I can't imagine what it's like to have a baby that sleeps through the night but someday it'll come). He is getting to be more and more interactive and it's such a joy...

Linking up with Jen // The Pleated Poppy

On this outfit...and glorious weekends

Cardi: Loft

Top: Collective Concepts

Jeans: J Brand

Booties: Sam Edelman (thrifted last year)

 1. This outfit fits my postpartum criteria for long drapey tops, and also goes back to my girly roots (oh how I love pink...and a great drapey cardigan). The cardi also doubles as a nursing cover, and it's only $15 on sale right now at Loft. I saw the floral top originally on someone's Stitch Fix review and then found it on clearance at Off Saks (it's 40% off this weekend!).

2. My jeans (wearing them above...and in just about every other postpartum photo on my blog where I'm wearing jeans) are still on sale and I so wish that I could justify another pair, since I go into half-crisis mode whenever the little man spits on them (and I wash them way less than I really should).

3. My favorite pants of all time are 40% off sale price again this weekend (reviewed them here).

4. I have another Stitch Fix scheduled for next week and I'm pretty darn excited to see what the pretty little box brings this month. I'll be sure to share some reviews soon (in the meantime you can read last month's review here). I've been wearing the embroidered tank and the grey striped top they sent last month over and over again.

5. Due to some scheduling glitch (and the grace of God) I ended up with a three day weekend this month. Part of me wants to go somewhere and take advantage of what will be one of my very few long weekends over the next three years...but most of me just wants to stay at home and cuddle Stephen Gabriel.

6. I shared my birth story this past week (part one here, part two here) and I think it may have come off a little strong based on some of the comments...but at least I can say that it was honest? I wrote it a few weeks after his birth and when I re-read it before I posted it, it was almost like re-living it again. I feel like I understand the meaning of suffering in a much deeper way since his birth...both in the sense that it was unlike any suffering I've ever experienced before and because the gift that came of it in little Stephen was so much greater than anything I could have ever imagined.

7. Stephen and I are celebrating our second anniversary this weekend...any last minute anniversary gift ideas for him? Just call me uber prepared ha.

Have a glorious weekend. Linking with Jen.

On white jeans, and intern year...

Headband: Urban Outfitters

Chambray: J. Crew

Jeans: J. Crew

Sandals: Sam Edelman

 1. Yesterday was Stephen Gabriel's (a.k.a. Junior's) 3 month birthday. Of course every mom says this, but I just can't get over how adorable and sweet he is...he's brought an incredible amount of joy into our lives during his very short existence. It's been harder than I ever anticipated being away from him, but on the bright side it makes me cherish all the time that I get to spend with him while I'm at home. It also makes me want to do a better job at work - if I have to be away from him, I want to be the very best doctor that I can be while I'm gone.

2. Intern year as a resident is incredibly difficult. The first week was so powerfully overwhelming that it's hard to put it into words. It's an immense responsibility, making decisions that affect other people's lives. And the entire first week was also an internal struggle for me, being away from the baby and quite honestly wondering at times why I ever decided to go to medical school. The last couple weeks have been an uphill climb though...I'm learning a lot and feel grateful that I've been able to take care of some patients that really needed it and also that Stephen Sr. is doing such a good job at home.

3. Next a disclaimer that tucked under my shirt in these pictures is a holter monitor. I've had problems with heart palpitations in the past (although not until I started medical school and took board exams ha) and they've returned with a vengeance. I'm almost 100% certain that it's from fatigue (emergency medicine residency may be better than some, but we're constantly switching shifts and working all kinds of weird hours) and stress, but after Stephen felt my wildly irregular pulse for the upteenth time he convinced me to go see a doctor. They take palpitations seriously after pregnancy, so holter monitor and echo it is.

4. These jeans. I credit them to Gigi, because she shared that there was some kind of crazy pricing going on at J. Crew and they were marked down to $15 (now sadly back to $115). I own one other pair of white jeans that now happily button but unfortunately have no stretch and are pretty low rise...and stretch plus a higher rise are the keys to comfortable jeans postpartum I've discovered. These are the other jeans I've been living in (I'm probably wearing them in any recent pictures on the blog where I have jeans on)...I found them on sale at Nordstrom Rack while I was still pregnant and they've been a lifesaver.

5. I've discovered that postpartum hair loss is really a thing. I thought that I was exempt because my hair did just fine for the first couple months postpartum, but it turns out that the three month mark is about where it starts. Hence the headband which is covering up an embarrassingly thin area near the front of my head...and since this headband actually stays on my rather large head and my hair is probably not growing back any time soon, I'm about to order two more.

6. I feel like my style has gone through a major change since I had little Stephen. I'm not as attracted to the recent arrivals at J. Crew (also partially due to the fact that my closet already has an overabundance of J. Crew/J. Crew factory) and instead have been gravitating towards drapey tops with fun prints like the ones I got recently from Stitch Fix (post here) and also more boho pieces like this kimono from Anthro (if it would only go on sale....way on sale).

7. Last but not least, I shared the first part of little Stephen's birth story here, and part two will be up on Monday.

Happy weekend! I'll be working all weekend, but this week marks the end of my first month of intern year, which is pretty darn satisfying. Linking with Jen.

Five favs: Stitch Fix edition

 I first heard of Stitch Fix last year via a couple of different style blogs. In case you aren't familiar with it, basically you fill out a style profile that includes information on your body type, size, style preferences (preppy vs. boho vs. romantic, etc.), lifestyle (whether you mostly wear business casual, jeans and tees, etc...), price point, and the type of clothes/accessories you're interested in getting in your 'fix.' Then you pay a $20 styling fee and a personal stylist chooses and mails 5 items to you. The $20 styling fee goes toward anything you keep, and if you keep everything you save 25%.

To be honest, I wasn't at all interested in Stitch Fix when I first heard of it. I like picking out my own clothes and I felt like it was marketed for people that either didn't like shopping (unfortunately not the case with me ha) or felt like they needed help putting outfits together. Fast forward a year and one baby later, and I reconsidered. First off, I needed some new tops flattering for a postpartum/breastfeeding body. I have a long torso, and tops that flatter me normally hit just below the natural waist so now that I'm breastfeeding, almost all my tops are too short. I also can't wear most of my button-ups right now (a large percentage of my shirts) because the buttons gap. Secondly, I started to realize that I was stuck in a J. Crew rut...not necessarily a bad thing, but I felt like adding a few unique pieces that were a little out of my comfort zone would breathe new life into my closet. And thirdly, being a resident and new mom leaves little time for shopping....another population that Stitch Fix is marketed for.

I finally took the plunge and signed up for my first fix after seeing a super cute, super flattering striped top on my cousin (it's the same top I got in my fix below!). She had a baby two months before me and told me that Stitch Fix had worked really well for her postpartum. I also started a new Pinterest board here for my personal stylist (you can link to your board in your style profile and I highly recommend doing this to help the stylist find pieces you like). So without further ado, here's what I got in my first fix:

1. Mauna Mixed Print Sheer Open Cardigan

I felt like the stylist read my mind because I've been wanting to try a kimono, and this one has a really fun print. This was definitely different than anything I have in my closet and was also a good price point for a trendy piece. Sadly this was a size larger than I normal wear and way too big.

2. Kut from the Kloth Kate distressed boyfriend jeans

I'm wearing these in all the pictures and actually really liked them. The denim had lots of stretch, which is a must while I'm still returning to my pre-baby body, and I liked the wash and little bit of distressing on them. I also thought the back pocket placement was really flattering (sounds weird, but I'm really picky about this on jeans). Unfortunately they sent me a size up from my normal and while they looked ok on, the waist was too loose without a belt and they felt like they would stretch out too much throughout the day. I was surprised how much I liked these though and would love to try this brand in my normal size.

3. Kahlo embroidered solid tank

This was one of the items that I pinned on my Pinterest board (you can pin actual Stitch Fix pieces and specifically request them) and tied with the striped top below for my favorite items in the box. I don't own a lot of navy, and the mint embroidered detail is so pretty and unique. I should have taken a picture of the back since it's longer in the back and has a neat drapey crossover below the shoulders. This tank is supposed to be a "trapeze" style and it's perfect postpartum since it falls nicely without being too baggy.

3. Corrinna striped heathered dolman top

 This is the top that my cousin was wearing and I loved, so I requested it and it definitely didn't disappoint. The fabric is softer and more substantial than a typical knit top, and the length is great (so hard to find for me lately!) I do own a lot of striped tops, but no grey ones and none with a dolman sleeve.

4. Moni geo print blouse with camisole

I had a couple of these Moni blouses pinned on my Pinterest board but the print was a surprise. It's a gorgeous color and pattern, and I typically hate studs but somehow they work on this blouse. It doesn't really go with the boyfriend jeans I'm wearing in the picture, but I tried it on later with a pencil skirt and liked it even more. I kept going back and forth about keeping this, and I actually had it all ready to return but decided to enlist Stephen's opinion. He's always honest when I ask for his opinion on clothes whether he loves something or hates it (he actually told me my top looked like a grandpa sweater last week ha). Anyways, he really, really liked this top so I changed my mind about keeping it, which is good because I think I would have regretted sending it back.

Your fix also comes with a note from your 'stylist' and suggestions of how to wear the items (fun).

I loved everything that was in my box and would have kept it all for the 25% discount if everything had fit (the stylist asked for feedback on sizing so I think that would work better next time). I liked the surprise of not knowing what was in the box and also liked that the pieces they sent weren't too far out of my comfort zone but were different than anything I already have in my closet. All in all, I would definitely recommend Stitch Fix and can't wait to try it again!

Happy Wednesday! Linking up with the Pleated Poppy//Heather.

Sunday musings...

Top: Piperlime clearance, dress version here//3/4 sleeve version here

Skirt: J. Crew (old), current version here//similar here

Shoes: Sam Edelman

Lips: Nars

I spent the whole summer looking for a white peasant top with blue embroidery and finally find one just as the summer is lagging to a halt. I originally loved this one but it was too pricey and waaay too short when I tried it on...so I was pretty excited when I found this one on popback at Piperlime (I used a 40% off coupon). The length is perfect and it's nice and light for summertime.

If I look tired in this picture, it's because I worked until 4:30 a.m. The pediatric ER was crawling this weekend which didn't lend itself to getting home on time  (side note that I had some really interesting cases...including my first case of Kawasaki). And on the plus side, having a baby is probably the best way to train yourself to function on very little sleep.

We walked to mass this morning and when the priest saw Stephen Gabriel, he said "That's a new one!", which is funny because he seems so big to us now. I'll be spending the day with my little guy before I go back to work tomorrow. Have a lovely Sunday (linking up with FL&P).

Embroidered pom pom tank...

Top: J. Crew

Pants: J. Crew last year (Factory version)

 Shoes: Birkenstocks

When I find a good thing lately, I wear and rewear and wear it some more. It's been that way with my skinny zipper pants, and also with this embroidered top. It's hard to find things that work on the postpartum/breastfeeding body, and so I've tried to carefully purchase a few things that will tide me over for the time being. This beauty easily transitions from work (layer it under a blazer) to a dinner date with Stephen (it's perfect over skinny jeans or these grey skinnies) to church (denim skirt/cardi) and our recent pre and post wedding festivities (my brother got married this past weekend). It's also currently on sale + 40% off here.

Top: J. Crew

Cardi: Gap (old), similar

Skirt: J. Crew (old), similar here or here

Since we're on the subject of my postpartum wardrobe (yet again - sorry), here are the five pieces on constant rotation in my closet:

1. J. Crew Factory Swing Tunic: I'm wearing it here, and I loved it from my first day out of the hospital.

2. J. Crew Campbell Capri: Stretchy is the secret to pants fitting postpartum. These literally saved me during orientation at three weeks post-birth - I wore them every.day. and since they are my pre-pregnancy size, I'll be wearing them for a long, long time.

3. J. Crew Embroidered Pom Pom Tank: Gorgeous embroidery and just loose enough without being sloppy.

4. J. Crew Skinny Zipper Pant: Wore them here and every day lately they are pretty much either on my person or in the wash (white + baby).

5. J. Crew Factory Embroidered Peasant Top: Wore it here...summer perfection.

Linking up with Heather // Agi // the Pleated Poppy.

5 Favs: J. Crew edition

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

J. Crew is still running a huge sale (40% off all final sale items and 40% off select summer items) and five of my favorite things are on super sale:

1. Downtown Field Jacket (worn here): This jacket is timeless and uber flattering...I love the navy and gold buttons (this is one of my sister's favorite things to borrow out of my closet).
2. Boyfriend Fatigue Jacket (worn here and here): You can't go wrong with a pretty and structured military jacket in a classic shade of green.
3. Linen Baseball Tee (worn here): J. Crew's linen tees are light and airy for summer, and I love the pale pink/grey color scheme.
4. Skinny Zipper Pants (worn here and here): I already wrote all about my love for them in my post here. It's tough to find flattering and comfortable pants postpartum, but these work thanks to the stretch and the mid-rise. They can be dressed up or down and the 'pearl' color pretty much goes with everything.
5. Linen Lace-trim Tank (worn here): Another pretty and comfy top (I have the heather grey/champagne)...and it will transition easily to fall with a cardigan or jacket.

I also realized that my favorite cardigan (ever) is part of the sale...the mixed tape cardigan is a closet staple in a great length (hits just past the hip on me) and fit (the arms are nice and snug...I hate cardigans with baggy arms!). I own it in black and ivory, and wore it here and here.

Linking up with Heather for Five Favorites.

On being parents (+ what I wore Sunday)

It's so funny how Stephen and I used to go on dates all.the.time before the babe was born and we totally took it for granted. That along with watching movies, free time (reading blogs for me, playing computer games for him ha), and sleeping. Our lives are changed forever, harder but completely for the better of course. It makes the time together seem sweeter (although the two times we've been out alone since he's been born I've constantly texted my mom to make sure he's ok...maybe that'll change eventually?) Also, coming home to this face is the best:

It's crazy how much being parents has enriched our relationship. Little Stephen Gabriel has made us laugh harder than we've ever laughed (although there have been tears too, at least on my part) in his short life and we just love our little guy to pieces. And seeing Stephen as a dad has made me love him in a way that I didn't know was possible.

And for what I wore Sunday:

Linen lace tank: J. Crew (on super sale!)

Pants: J. Crew (on super sale!)

Cardi: J. Crew

Sandals: Sam Edelman

Wearing lately {+ my favorite pants}

Getting dressed postpartum is hard. I made the mistake of trying on a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans a week after giving birth (don't do it). Four weeks out, I had dropped 20 of the 28ish pounds that I put on while pregnant but my loose jeans pre-pregnancy still wouldn't cut it. And now, 6 weeks later, I can get them on and button them (barely) but they just don't fit like they did before. I started exercising again last week: so far I've tried zumba, hip hop aerobics, and cardio-boxing along with this dvd a couple times a week (funny story that this is the same dvd that I did with my mom after she gave birth to the youngest two of my 7 siblings). Still though, it's going to be awhile before my clothes fit like they used to, and that's ok.

So I decided to pick up a couple pairs of pants and tops that fit well now. It's good for my psyche and body image in this somewhat rocky time ha...

 

Pants: J. Crew 

Top: J. Crew

These are the J. Crew skinny zipper pants, which are on sale today for $25 (gasp). I first saw them in this picture:

 

Shirt: J. Crew bell floral tunic

Pants: J. Crew skinny zipper pant

I kind of fell in love with the whole ensemble, the gorgeous blue tunic (also on super sale today) and the perfect pants. I didn't think that they'd work for me now, but I ordered them in the larger of my two J. Crew pant sizes and hoped for the best. I was shocked when they arrived: they fit beautifully (I mean, as beautifully as pants can 6 weeks postpartum) with (almost) no muffin top, just enough stretch, flattering back pockets...aaaand I may have picked up another pair today (but seriously, $25!)

These Splendid tunics are part of the very few shirts that I owned pre-pregnancy that are flattering right now, and I've been wearing them nonstop:

On left:

Tunic: Splendid

Jeans: old, current version from J. Crew Factory

Sandals: Birkenstocks

On right: 

Tunic: Splendid

Sandals: Sam Edelman

These tunics definitely fit me differently than they did before I was pregnant, but they are drapey, which is always good post-partum, and they are long enough which has been an ongoing problem for me since I started breastfeeding. They're on sale right now here in lots of colors but they're still kinda pricey (I found mine on sale at 6pm.com and on Ebay).

I know it's been said before, but I'm trying to appreciate my body for the incredible feat that it's accomplished: birthing a human being (sans epidural, no less - although whether that was a good idea I'm still wrestling with in my mind ha). So I will forgive my stretch marks, soft belly, and "extra curves" and marvel in what my body has done. In the meantime, I'm trying to eat healthy, exercise and dress in a way that is flattering now. And at the end of the day, what really matters right now isn't worrying about my clothes or counting calories, it's reveling in this sweet little guy and relishing every moment with him...it's amazing how much joy a person so tiny can bring.

Last week, in our 4th of July best!

 

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy and Agi.

Polka dot skirts and sleepless nights

Tee: Loft

Skirt: J. Crew clearance last year; same available here from J. Crew Factory

Sandals: Sam Edelman

Being a mom means that you start to stop caring (or noticing) that your scarf is on lopsided, there's spit-up on your shirt, and that your hair hasn't been washed for 2+ days (thank God for dry shampoo). So if my outfit pictures seem different, that's why...and it's all worth it. Yesterday's mass outfit (linking up here) consisted of a postpartum friendly skirt (on wicked sale right now), one of my favorite tees (I had to buy a couple in a size bigger to accommodate the inevitable expansion from breastfeeding), and these sandals that were a postpartum pick-me-up (see Kayla's post for more).

There are so many things to figure out as a new parent and it often feels overwhelming. I'm the oldest of eight kids and a medical school graduate, but the fact that I really don't feel any more knowledgeable or prepared than the average new parent becomes more glaringly obvious each day. Our latest hurdle is sleeping. The only books that I read pre/early pregnancy were Ina May's birth book and the La Leche league breastfeeding book, so maybe I'm missing something glaringly obvious since I never read any books on new babies...but the last few nights have been rough. The funny thing is that it all started with his best night of sleep ever a few nights ago: two glorious 4 hour chunks with one feeding in between. Since the little guy has come a long ways from the fragile 6 pound 3 ounce that came home with us (I'm pretty sure he's pushing 10 pounds now, if not bigger) I thought maybe that night was the start of a new 'thing' but I was dead wrong.

I think I'm partially to blame for the sleep problems though...when we were packing our house to move, we noticed that little Stephen slept for much longer chunks during the day in his Rock n' Play sleeper than he did at night in his cosleeper. Fast forward to coming home from my brother-in-law's wedding when we got home late and decided to forego the cosleeper for a night...and it just never went up again since our little man seemed to love sleeping in his soft and comfy Rock n' Play. I had a nagging feeling though that it didn't really meet the standards that it should for safe sleep, and after a little googling last weekend found numerous pediatricians advice to NOT use it for overnight sleeping. So thus started the transition back to the cosleeper...and mostly sleepless nights.

So I'm off to the hospital now to do some mandatory prep before our central line certification tomorrow (being an intern on maternity leave means that I still have plenty of training and workshops to complete on my month off). I'm thankful today for strong coffee, and the little smiles that make the sleepless nights all worth it.

On being postpartum...

Stripes: J. Crew Factory (only $14.50 right now!)

Skirt: J. Crew (factory version here, retail version here)

Shoes: old, similar here

Despite everything that women say about it, the weeks postpartum are kind of like labor: nothing can really prepare you for it. I hit the rut that people talk about this week; the scale decided to stay at a standstill, I'm still just barely squeezing into my pants, and a look in the mirror shows flab where I never had it before and the little squiggly red lines that appeared on the sides of my stomach at 39 weeks pregnant.

It's funny because any time I've mentioned how awful labor was (I'm working on my birth story by the way - just not quite satisfied enough with it to share just yet) or how discouraging the postpartum body changes are, people always respond "Oh, but it's worth it, right?!" Of course it was worth it, 1000 times over. But that doesn't mean that labor wasn't horrible, or that postpartum body changes are more disconcerting than I thought they would be.

Anyways, I was more than thrilled to find this skirt in my closet from last summer which actually fits - thanks to the elastic waist, but I'll take it. Speaking of elastic waists, I just discovered that pull-on (a.k.a. elastic waist) shorts are totally in this summer. Perfect timing for the newly postpartum...I ordered these and these on sale to try, and I also found these from Old Navy.

And this is what Stephen Gabriel and I wore to mass yesterday, so we're linking up with FL&P.

Shoes: A Postpartum Pick-me-up (guest post by Kallah)

I'm thrilled to have the super sweet Kallah here today for a guest post. Be sure to check out her blog, Being Open to Life, for lots of pictures of her adorable little boys and posts on running, style, and life as a young mother.

Hey y’all! My name is Kallah. I have been an admiring reader of Erika’s for a while now… I was sucked in by the J.Crew Everything and I stayed for the sweet lovestory, adorable bump pics, and kind heart of this humble girl. Seriously - she puts me to shame!

Also. I love that, despite her missionary work and general self-effacing generosity, Erika has an appreciation for good quality and stylish taste. Life is all about balance!

I blog over at Being Open to Life… mostly my gushy, rambley reflections on my experiences being a mama at the ripe age of 25. I have two little boys and am SO excited for Erika getting to experience the boy-mom adventure with Baby Stephen.

Post-partum style is tricky. Let me rephrase that. Post-partum everything is tricky. Even in the best of pregnancy weight-gain situations, you generally have to be patient for your hips to shrink back to size; and while for some people breastfeeding seems to suck every ounce of fat off them, for others it is incredibly effective at keeping an extra 5-10 lbs of padding on your body until you wean. I was in the former camp for my first born, the latter for my second. Karma.

Don’t do what some people have done, and freak out at week 7 PP that this is the new normal for your body, and you will never be the same again. Just… wait it out. And look on the brightside. The awesome thing about having to put a hold on the best summer wardrobe of rompers and clingy jersey cotton etc etc while your body settles? SHOES. Some might see spending a good chunk of cash and time on getting the perfect shoe as a waste. I firmly regard it as an investment. See, shoes are not like summer dresses or trendy tops. A shoe that is well-made and well-designed will look good and be stylish for a very long time. The trick is to sift through the ads and decide - what is hype and what is a lasting, tasteful, good shoe investment?

Here I am, in all my unsponsored glory, to answer that question. Because a) one of my biggest passions on my own blog and elsewhere is finding ways to nurture yourself as a mom. And b) so I can play around with my husband’s Bamboo Graphics pen. Oh yes.

AKA

An Instant AND Necessary Self-esteem Boosting Pickmeup for a PostPartum Mama

The first type of shoe you need to have for summer, obbbbviously, is Sporty.

I had fallen in love with the Supergas as styled in all the J.Crew catalogs the last couple of summers. And yes they are *clay-oven-baked in Italy* to seal them up. Gahhh how sexy are Italians! I can just imagine the roaring fires in gorgeous big brick ovens, as ripped, brown Mediterranean men roast… shoes.

Anyway.

I bought these last summer when everyone else was buying Converse… I have fairly wide, big feet, and I always thought Converse All-Stars looked wayyyy too clownish. Or maybe I’m not hipster enough. Whatever. I love the roundedness of the Superga in contrast - and the fact that it doesn’t have that clowny little rubber lip on the tip of the shoe. This is much more my style.

I bought mine at Piperlime but you can find them at Nordstrom too! (They are sized a little big, btw). What’s Italian for “I wear them so much and I feel cool when I do”? Let me go check Eat Pray Love.

[Seen wearing in that first pic.]

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The second type of shoe you really need for summer is an easy Pretty sandal that gives any outfit a pop. But one that is also understated enough that you will feel comfortable wearing it all the time. My pick for a pretty sandal is wholly unoriginal and I have worn the heck out of them for the last FOUR years…

Ok, so these have been around since the 60s, thanks to fashion icon Jackie O. But they have gotten a major resurgence in preppy sorority houses and private schools all over the South in recent years. Also I think there was a mass blogger gifting from Jack Rogers last summer. #trending. [I was not included, so be assured I am not paid to promote these.]

It can be really tiring seeing everyone and their daughter (literally - 13 year old mini-me’s) traipsin around town in the same old shoe.

But…. but… BUT… everytime I put this shoe on, I really do feel prettier. Instantly. I wear them with sundresses, with skinny jeans and a v-neck white tee, with preppy little J.Crew Chino 3 Inches. I have worn them with silk dresses to weddings and with ripped up old Levi cutoffs to the beach.

Here are my JRs being so fancy:

(The fact alone that they made hugely pregnant me feel pretty is the only thing you need to know, right!).

And here they are being casual:

I couldn’t imagine my summers without that little gleam of metallica on my feet. I have to recommend them. Though not if you want to feel ahead of trends or one-of-a-kind. And, after last summer, not if you don’t want to look like a blogger.

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Sporty, pretty… next up for summer is a sexy sandal. The kind you toss on for your date night while on family vacation. The kind that makes you feel a little high-maintenance.

My pick for sexy is…

Literally, anything Dolce Vita/ DV by Dolce Vita. They are gorgeous. So on trend. These designers have the magic touch.

Now, full disclosure. I have lusted over this brand of shoes in store for a year or so now, and they feel like the real deal - soft, fairly heavy (good sign for quality material)... but I have yet to purchase a pair for my own closet. These inhabit my Pinterest closet only. ;) So I can’t speak to how long they would last looking amazing. But I believe they would hang in there for a long while.

If you can’t afford the selection at Piperlime or Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack is always a good bet. Or 6pm.com! I have loved my experience shopping from 6pm so much, I have been reluctant to spill my secret lest everyone go buy everything before I can. But I give in for Erika and her lovely readers. The returns are a pain in the butt, (you have to pay for shipping and send it off yourself) but since shipping to you is free, it feels worth it. Sending a handwritten package of returns from your Post Office to a random warehouse address in Kentucky feels sketch, but they come through and refund you. Pinky swear.

I found these Seychelles (my second fav brand to Dolce Vita) from 6pm for literally $20. (They were $80 last summer in Anthropologie!):

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The last summer shoe that makes me happy I own it from June to September is another one I would like to be too cool for, but no such luck!

This is the exact style of TOMS I own. Its called the Hemp style, or something like that. I got mine in Nordstrom, because they’re sized a bit smaller, so its definitely one you want to try on in store.

Calling them cute is... a stretch. But goodness are they comfortable. Easy, breathable, and in the nude color, I felt like they were actually fairly flattering to my short legs. I wear them a lot because I can easily walk 5 miles in them without getting blisters later. They’re great for chasing little kids around the park!

So there you go… shoes that fill the summer needs of Sporty, Pretty, Sexy, and Ugly! [slash Disgustingly-Comfortable].

So. If you find yourself in the same boat as Erika as a newly Postpartum mom this summer, the best advice I can give you is relax. Try to soak in this season of the honeymoon of motherhood. And if the baby weight melts off, AWESOME. But if it seems to be taking awhile for clothes to feel and look normal on you? Join the club; don’t worry about it or feel like you have to settle. Your body is going to spring back; just give it the nurture and love it needs… and the best way to do that, obviously, is to buy the damn shoes!

p.s.

Dearest Lovely Erika: a bazillion thanks for the opportunity to play Graphic-Designing-Fashion-Blogger for a day, without the risk of losing any of my own fragile readership slash fanbase.

;)