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.

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.

We're doing fine...

1. In case anyone has been wondering, we're doing just fine. I survived my first week as a real (resident) doctor, so did the boys, and so did my patients. The Stephens have had some serious bonding time in my absence:

And Stephen Jr. has apparently learned to watch baseball with his dad, ha.

2. In all seriousness though, it's been hard. There have been tears on more occasion than one, and I miss him desperately. Fortunately ER shifts are so incredibly busy and it's so powerfully overwhelming to all of the sudden carry the responsibility of a physician (even a baby one) that I haven't had much time to think about it. But when I leave to go pump breastmilk for him or I'm nearing the end of my shift and faced with staying late or I see a baby on my pediatric shifts, I miss him...really miss him.

3. But then I get to come home to this, and lots of baby snuggles, and the world is ok again.

4. I'm finally finished with his birth story (I think? No matter how much I tweak it, it doesn't feel like I'm doing justice to the momentous story of a new human coming into the world) and I'll hopefully be (over) sharing it on the blog...so if you're a fan of birth stories in all their glory (not ashamed to share the details) check back in the next week or so.

5. My brother got married two weeks ago and I fully intended to recap it on the blog...but one half-written draft post later, it's prob not gonna happen. I did share some pics over on the 'gram, and I can't help but share what Stephen Gabriel wore (full disclosure that this outfit that I was ridiculously excited about lasted all of 15 minutes and the rest of the night he was in the backup sleeper I packed). Anyways, at least we got some good pictures.

What Stephen and I wore (and what Stephen Gabriel really wore):

6. On another note, I tried Stitch Fix (that's my referral link...if you sign up, I get a small credit toward my next Stitch Fix if I decide to do it again, and you get your own referral link that you can pass on) for the first time.  If you've never heard of it, it basically involves filling out a style profile after you sign up and then paying a $20 styling fee to have 5 items shipped to you. I wasn't crazy about the fee, but it goes toward anything you end up keeping. I bit the bullet and signed up after talking to my cousin, who had a baby two months before me and said that it really helped her to find a few things that work for her during this crazy postpartum/breastfeeding time. Here's a sneak peak of the loveliness that was in my 'fix' and I'll share some reviews soon...

7. Last but not least, Freshly Picked so graciously sent the sweetest pair of baby moccasins for Stephen Gabriel aaaand they're giving away a pair of your choice to one lucky reader. You can find the review/givaway here. 

My shift tonight will round out close to 80 hrs in the emergency department this week, but this is my weekend off (we get one off per month) and I can't.wait. to spend it with my boys. Linking up with Jen.