Maternity Clothing Favorites

June 11, 2013 By 2 Comments

Growing a human requires a wardrobe switch and given my obsession for shopping, I’ve wanted to do a maternity-focused clothing post for months. Tomorrow marks 33 weeks so I figured this post needed to be written before I become a permanent fixture on the couch after 7 p.m.

I clung onto my regular pants until the ghetto rubber band trick literally exploded on me one day in the kitchen of my office. I was about 16 or 17 weeks in at that point. The belly band drove me nuts so I gave in and went for the full gusto of maternity pants with the giant panel. For me, the under belly style just isn’t comfortable.

Since I am lucky enough to be able to wear jeans to work most days, I splurged on designer skinny jeans for my daily uniform of jeans with boots during the colder months (it snowed well into May in Denver this year!). A Pea in the Pod is not cheap but the designer jean options are truly chic and helped me come to terms with the belly expansion. I love the AG and 7 for All Mankind options. Again, these aren’t cheap and if I could not wear them 5+ days a week I would have stuck with GAP and Old Navy styles only. The splurge will also motivate me to fit back into them if we have a Sprout #2 some day!

Enough about jeans, lets move on to every pregnant woman’s go-to fave…legging.

Credit: A Pea in the Pod

A Pea in the Pod has several styles to choose from, but I am terrified of leggings that are too thin and show my butt if I bend over. No one wants to see that, especially now. Another splurge, but the Secret Fit Belly Jersey Knit Maternity Leggings from the store are fabulous. I have gotten more than my money’s worth since about 15 weeks. A close second were the maternity leggings from Boden USA (though they are not available right now so they must be a seasonal offer). At about $30 they are much more affordable, hold their shape and provide plenty of coverage. I am a big fan.

Credit: Target

Target tanks have also been a godsend. The Mossimo brand are my favorite and once my pre-pregnancy styles got too short to wear alone I simply went up a size. They have a ton of stretch and in the store come in a wide variety of plain and printed styles. I wear them under sheer-ish tops for extra coverage and solo with a cardigan and chunky necklace for work or weekend.

Other tips:

  • Run, don’t walk, to H&M if you have a store near you. The MAMA maternity line is very small but adorable. I scored several tunics there plus a black cotton dress that I wore weekly until summer arrived. Unfortunately the website maternity section is sorely lacking
  • Try going up a size in GAP or GAP Outlet workout clothes for the last trimester. I really didn’t want to buy anything new but having only two pairs of pre-pregnancy workout pants that can be slung low enough to work creates so much laundry when you’re working out 4+ days a week still
  • If you do like to wear shorts I highly recommend ordering a pair from Destination Maternity. For about $29 you can get a pair that is flattering and comfortable, even if you just opt to wear them around the house
  • Buy tunics. Early on I didn’t like the length of most tunics as I felt – since I am short – like I was being swallowed whole by my outfit. But now I wish I had a few more because they are so forgiving, especially on the days where you can’t get over what’s happening on your front side (and backside, and side-side)

To close, I’ll leave you with a few of my faves as captured by awkward “selfie” iPhone pics… So strange to look back at what I thought was a big bump. Damn, if I only knew then what I am living/carrying around now.

Non-maternity, empire waist maxi dress (don’t be afraid of maxi dresses that aren’t in the maternity section. Just look for high empire waists and try on a size larger!)

H&M MAMA maternity top; Target Mossimo cardigan

Pea in the Pod tank; regular Target cardigan

Old Navy loungewear top/hoodie

A Pea in the Pod lightweight sweater

Mossimo tank from Target and ugly pre-pregnancy fleece PJ pants (evening shot for my mom who lives in California)

Filed Under: Fashion, Pregnancy Tagged With: ,

Hello (Almost) 32 Weeks

June 3, 2013 By 6 Comments

iPhone Picture at 31 Weeks

Wednesday will mark the 32 week milestone. Little sprout still has much growing to do but our nieces (twins) were born at 32 weeks so for some reason, that number is giving me pause. I think it’s because we’re entering the time frame where we don’t want the little guy or gal to come yet…but nature is nature and I certainly can’t force my body to go all 40 if that isn’t in the cards.

It is also an exciting week because we’re headed to Crested Butte on Thursday for a extended weekend babymoon. I remember booking our hotel months ago and not being able to comprehend that I’d be 32 weeks for this trip. Well here we are. The belly and lack of oxygen when I sit down – sprout likes to take residence in my ribcage – is a clear sign that we are on the real countdown. Neither Mike or I have been to Crested Butte. Even though I can’t be as active as usual, we’re planning to seek out an easy hike or two. I’ll also be treating myself to a prenatal massage (80 minutes!) and some pool time.

Life has been extremely hectic and Mike is fitting in a lot of last-minute work travel before the final month. We really need a quiet weekend away. Just us. No house work. No dog. No agenda or responsibilities. We plan to savor every moment because in a few weeks life will never be the same.

For those who are interested, here’s the latest and greatest of my (almost) 32 week journey:

  • Cravings: Not much to report. Still loving all fruit, especially citrus and watermelon. I’ve always needed something sweet before bed and ice cream or frozen yogurt is pretty much my go-to these days. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t ready for a summer cocktail. A margarita or mojito sounds especially refreshing. I did have a small glass of wine (savored over 4 hours!) at a wedding three weeks ago. It was my first sip/glass of anything since finding out I was pregnant. It tasted divine.
  • Sleep: Pregnancy insomnia is real. Everyone keeps telling me, “sleep now while you can!.” But it isn’t that easy. Around 3 a.m. I have to use the bathroom and then it’s impossible to get comfortable again. And the baby decides to have a dance party. And I can’t stop thinking about work, house work, becoming a mom…or some version of all three. Then I usually make the mistake of checking Facebook and getting totally engrossed in posts. An hour or more tends to creep by before I find sleep again.
  • Fitness: Still going strong and I am grateful to still be up for it mentally and physically. Spin, yoga, yoga sculpt and barre/kettle bells. I have to modify throughout each class but it’s worth it. I believe, 100 percent, that working out is the reason I’ve felt so good since day one.
  • Biggest Worry: Breastfeeding. Yeah, labor scares me but it is the horror stories of first-time moms having terrible trouble breastfeeding once they leave the hospital that has me extra nervous. What if the baby won’t latch? What if I hate it? How will I know when to feed or how much the baby is getting?
  • Can’t Wait For: Hearing the doctor shout, “it’s a boy” or “it’s a girl.” I cannot wait to meet little sprout but I am extra eager to finally know if we’ll be cuddling our son or daughter. It is time to know the sex.

Any words of wisdom for month eight?! 

Filed Under: Pregnancy Tagged With:

Happy Anniversary Hubby!

May 29, 2013 By 1 Comment

Credit: Zorn Photography

Happy 2+8 anniversary to my handsome and incredibly supportive husband Mike. The 2+8 reference is that we’ve been married for two years today, but together for 10 years total! Meeting, falling for and giving my heart to Mike has made the last 10 years unforgettable. He is my rock, my patience, my best friend, my biggest fan…and soon-to-be the most wonderful and supportive father.

Credit: Zorn Photography

Our wedding was a celebration for the record books and I know the years ahead, even with highs and lows, will continue to be filled with many more celebrations. How do I know that? Because we do not take anything for granted. We know that relationships, at all stages, take work. And we’re more committed to that work – the fun and the challenging – than ever before.

Credit: Zorn Photography

Mike, you know that I love you to the moon and back. And in case I don’t say it enough, I appreciate you every single day. Thank you for making me the luckiest wife around. Happy 2+8 to us.

Filed Under: Family, Reflection Tagged With: ,

Hello 3rd Trimester

May 9, 2013 By 3 Comments

Taken at my baby shower, just shy of 28 weeks. My dear friend Kelly drove from San Diego to LA to attend. It meant so much!

I feel like I just announced on the blog that we are expecting. It seems like yesterday I made Mike come with me to the store to grab a test even though I was sure it would be negative. I can still vividly remember the bliss of sleeping through the night without nature calling me to the bathroom.

But here we are at 28 weeks and the start of the third trimester. The baby won’t be here tomorrow, but little sprout is much closer to the big debut than not. Holy. Crap.

Are we ready? Kind of. Friends, family and coworkers have been so generous and we have received too many gifts and hand-me-downs to list. We have important things like the car seat, breast pump and stroller. The crib and dresser are ordered and the nursery is hopefully two – four weeks away from being 100% done. Our birth class is booked (end of June) and we have appointments scheduled with the other doctors in our practice who may be our doctor during “show time.”

We have some names in mind but need to do a lot more work on those. We know three baby boys who will be born before sprout so that is adding additional pressure to have at least three or four options on our short list. Oy.

My nesting and obsessive need to clean instincts are in full effect, which is really hard because our house is a disaster zone. Our old office setup that was in the nursery is scattered throughout the basement, which is why I haven’t posted any reveal pictures. All of the baby items we received don’t have a place in the nursery yet so they live in our sitting room, just a few steps from our front door. Mary Poppins, where are you when I need you?

But I know one thing. I cannot wait to meet sprout. He or she is kicking like crazy and loves taking aim at my right rib in particular. Sprout especially likes to show off his or her rib-kicking skills at night when I am trying to relax and watch TV and then again when I crawl into bed. The whole thing is magical and extremely uncomfortable all at the same time.

I also spend a lot of time thinking, “I am going to be a mom.” Soon a little person will count on me for everything, and then even when our son or daughter can be wholly self sufficient, I will still be “mom.” Forever. It is thrilling, daunting, humbling…there are so many emotions running through my heart and soul. It is still surreal.

Any tips for staying healthy, happy and sane in the final trimester? 

Filed Under: Pregnancy Tagged With:

Overwhelmed and Blessed

May 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Credit: Imgur.com

I’m sitting at the airport in Burbank, Calif., on my way home to Denver after a weekend in LA for my baby shower that was way too short. Pictures to come but I had to write about how overwhelmed I feel with all the blessings and love we’ve been shown over the past few days in anticipation of little sprout.

On Thursday my office threw a three-way baby shower for myself and two other colleagues who are expecting in May and July respectively. I received so many thoughtful gifts and warm wishes. My heart was filled to the brim.

Then yesterday, Saturday, my mom threw me a gorgeous baby shower attended by family, family friends and my dearest girlfriends. I was astonished by all the generosity, appreciative of the advice and grateful for the chance to connect with the women who have helped shape the person I am today, and I mom I hope to be.

I am not ready to go home to Denver and I wish I could ditch my flight and stay just a few more days. The life change ahead is becoming more real each day and the next time I come back to LA I won’t just be me. I’ll be a mom with little sprout in tow, introducing him or her to the entire family. It seems impossible to fathom. But I am bursting from excitement and anticipation.

We are so ridiculously loved, lucky and blessed. Family and friends are truly what make life so sweet.

Filed Under: Family, Pregnancy, Reflection Tagged With: , ,

Pregnancy Workout Routine

April 24, 2013 By 2 Comments

Credit: Fitnessista.com

Since announcing that we are expecting I have gotten a lot of questions and comments about my fitness routine. So, I wanted to share what I have been and am currently doing at 26 weeks and talk about why working out while pregnant, for me personally, is more important than ever.

Normal routine – give or take depending on work and other scheduling conflicts 

  • Monday: Spin + yoga class (30 minutes of each)
  • Tuesday: Yoga sculpt class (60 minutes) or spin + yoga class again
  • Wednesday: Spin + circuit class (core, balance and barre type work; 30 minutes of each)
  • Thursday and Friday: Depends, but usually spin + yoga again one of the days but not both
  • Saturday: Kettle bells + barre class (60 minutes)

The instructors at my gym are knowledgeable about what is and is not safe as my pregnancy progresses. A few of the female teachers also have little ones themselves and have shared their personal experiences with me. I have also asked my doctor a lot of questions and done a ton of research on my own. Because I was working out regularly before I got pregnant my doctor did not think it was necessary for me to wear a heart monitor. She said that as long as I felt okay and never got completely out of breath, my body was used to the pace.

And at the end of the day, I listen to my body. If a move doesn’t feel right I don’t do it. When I need to take a water break I do and catch up with the class when I’m ready, and when I need a day off altogether I take it without hesitation (well, that last part about having “no hesitation” is a lie but I do take it off).

Workout modifications

  • Cut out handstands and inversions completely once I found out I was pregnant
  • Avoid any position that has me lying flat on my back (started at 20 weeks) or on my belly (started around 16 weeks)
  • Lowered which weights I use in most classes, or switch back and forth between a lighter and heavier set depending on the exercise and exertion level
  • Avoid all heated classes and will likely switch to morning classes, when the gym is the coolest, as the temperatures heat up in May and June
  • Avoid all deep twists in yoga
  • Move from a chaturanga pushup back to plank position instead of into upward facing dog (started around 16 weeks when upward dog became uncomfortable)
  • Use yoga blocks in some poses, such as pyramid, as it gets harder to bend all the way over
  • Eat a protein-rich snack before every class (e.g., Greek yogurt, Larabar, apple and peanut or almond butter)

What working out, especially pregnant, does for me 

  • Relieves my stress after work or puts me in the best frame of mind for the day ahead
  • Helps me sleep
  • Keeps me limber and stretched, a god send as my hips and lower back have rebelled against sleeping on my left side starting at about 18 weeks
  • Helped/s me deal emotionally with the changes my body is going through (and the numbers I see on the scale at each doctor visit). I know that I am taking care of little sprout and myself
  • Keeps me strong, which I am told will help me during labor. I used to say “white dress, white dress” to myself during grueling workouts pre-wedding. Now I close my eyes and think, “labor, labor labor,” when the going gets tough in a class
  • Keeps what I have worked so hard for, fitness-wise, within reach for after the pregnancy. Aside from my random decision to run a marathon in 2007, I have never stuck with a workout routine until two years ago and I am determined to keep fitness, in whatever form it looks like once sprout arrives, in my life

I realize that I am very lucky to still be feeling as strong as I do. Many women are forced to take it easy for the safety of their baby and I have tremendous respect for whatever is needed and feels best for your body.

But if I can offer any unsolicited advice for friends and readers who are not yet pregnant but may be one day, do yourself a favor and establish some sort of workout routine now. It is much easier to maintain your stamina and motivation if fitness is already part of your life.

A yoga/spin/sculpt teacher that I adore recently had a baby, but last year I’ll never forget what she told me when I said I wanted to have a baby one day. She said, “train to be pregnant now, before you are even pregnant. Work hard now and you will be grateful when the time comes.” She could not have been be more right.

I have no idea what months seven through nine will hold for me and I realize that at one point, not slowing down will not be an option. As the basketball protruding from my front side turns into a watermelon I look forward to trying some prenatal yoga classes and on potentially more days than not, giving myself a break entirely.

I’d love to hear what you think about working out during pregnancy. I really enjoy learning from others who have paved the way before me!

Filed Under: Fitness, Pregnancy Tagged With: ,

Quinoa with Roasted Peppers and Feta

April 22, 2013 By 2 Comments

Quinoa is “the perfect protein” according to many pregnancy magazines so I have been trying to eat it regularly. Just like tofu it’s pretty much a blank slate for recipes and a combination of flavors. And idiot-proof to make — my favorite.

Credit: Lemonsforlulu.com

The recipe, via Lemons for LuLu, could not have been simpler. I made it Sunday for a few friends we had over for a BBQ. Pescatarians and meat eaters alike would have gone back for seconds had I made a double batch. I’m not entirely sure if feta is or is not on the pregnancy “do not eat that cheese list” but the packaging said pasteurized and at some point it just gets too hard to keep track. If feta is on the naughty list I likely only had a few bites. Don’t send the soft cheese police after me please.

Additional quinoa recipes I’d like to try soon:

Three cheers for the perfect little protein!

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With:

Dove Real Beauty Sketches

April 18, 2013 By 1 Comment

Credit: Dove.us

I have a major crush on Dove. Not just their products (in my bathroom right now: Dove Cool Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner, Dove goFresh body wash and Dove Clinical Protection deodorant), but the brand itself. How can you not as a woman and in my case, a marketer?

Dove’s latest video inspired me and brought my already watery eyes (damn cold) to full tear-brimming capacity. Have you watched this yet?

Why are we (women) so incredibly hard on ourselves? Oh yes, that’s right. Magazine covers of airbrushed celebrities, Pinterest boards dedicated to washboard abs and “she lost 50 pounds six weeks after having a baby” headlines don’t help.

When I look in the mirror I see “flaws” that others may never notice, or gasp, could actually think are beautiful. I see years of battling acne and the dark marks lost fights have left behind. I see a chin that a doctor once wrote down could benefit from a “chin augmentation.” I see a nose that’s hard to ignore and a smile that despite full mouth braces as an adult with rubber bands, is still and will forever be crooked. Today I may embrace the growing belly that is home to our first child until July, but will I hug what is left behind weeks after delivery? How will I come to grips with the new place my hips and thighs end up? Time will tell I guess.

Please don’t mistake this as a post seeking comments about all of those flaws being in my head. I am not fishing for compliments of any kind. I merely want to start a dialogue about how hard it can be to celebrate your natural beauty, and to recognize that we are all gorgeous in our own way…inside and out. Be kind to yourself. If not everyday, at least start with once a week. That seems more than fair right?

P.S. This post is not sponsored. I pay full retail price for all of my Dove products and have never received samples. I was just inspired. 

Filed Under: Beauty, Reflection Tagged With: ,

Overstock.com Ottomans

April 17, 2013 By 2 Comments

In the next week or two we will be ready for a full basement reveal. Yippee! Seriously, you are going to be pretty impressed I think.

While Mike has been slaving away and up to his ears in drywall mud, lighting, paint and furniture assembly, I’ve been busy with online shopping (and Copy Cat Chic blog stalking) and trips to Home Goods. While our main couch and chair are staying put for now, I wanted to complete the face lift by sprucing up the accents that make a room cozy and personalized. But on the cheap of course.

I’ve browsed Overstock.com for years but since I am generally wary of online shopping – I absolutely hate dealing with returns – I have never made a purchase. Until now. It started a few months ago when Mike found a Pottery Barn-worthy rug pad on Overstock for a fraction of the price. Score! Then I started hunting for two nice leather ottomans that could double as seating and storage for the basement TV room. Seeing that it’s the coolest room in the house and I am due at the end of July, I anticipate spending a lot of time down there.

Target had a few options, and of course so did the higher end stores. But when you are shopping for a basement that will soon be overrun with baby gear it seems silly to buy Crate & Barrel accents. Spit up on Restoration Hardware upholstery? I don’t think so.

Enter Overstock.com.

Credit: Overstock.com

The Contemporary Storage Ottomans aren’t necessarily “cheap,” but they are much more affordable than what I found at other places and extremely sturdy. I am so impressed by the weight and heft of the product, and the tray on the backside of the lid is extremely well constructed.

Credit: Overstock.com

The ottomans come in a variety of colors but we opted for two in the dark brown color to sit on either side of the fireplace. Committing to color in furniture is tougher for me as I tend to hold on to pieces, expensive or inexpensive, for a very long time. In fact, we just threw away a Target dresser that Mike built for me not long after we met, circa 2003. It was thrashed but I lugged it across state lines. Twice. But I digress.

These ottomans are a perfect seating + storage solution for any space, especially smaller rooms. I can’t wait to show you how they look in the finished room, hopefully next week. Arriving on our porch this afternoon will be yet another Overstock.com find — an accent table for downstairs. My fingers are crossed that I love it just as much as these!

What websites, or stores, are your go-to for affordable home decor finds?

 

Filed Under: Home Improvement Tagged With:

Sick and Pregnant

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

I am sick for the second time in this pregnancy. It’s just a really bad cold, but I have learned that a bad cold + pregnancy is a new type of hell. My typical cold-fighting routine includes a healthy amount of Claritin-D to alleviate congestion pain, DayQuil, NyQuil and if I catch it early enough, some alcohol because alcohol can kill a cold in its track (sometimes).

But when you are growing another human doctors frown on the “Quils” and tell you to take Tylenol Cold. Well, let me tell you my thoughts about Tylenol Cold. I swear it is a placebo of nothingness, marketed to desperate pregnant women in a colorful box because we’re willing to try anything by a certain point.

No disrespect to my homeopathic mamas out there, but steaming and nasal rinses are not a cure-all. At least they aren’t for these sinuses. Give me the drugs.

Below are a few things that, collectively, finally have me on the mend day 4+ into this beast:

  • Sleep. I have a really hard time taking sick days but after a whole weekend of laying low, I woke up Monday absolutely miserable and never made it out of bed. Know your limits, and then give yourself even a little more slack if you are also pregnant. Your body is working extra hard for that little babe and fighting sickness may be taking a backseat
  • Pho (or any spicy Asian soup). I used to swear by won ton soup when I was sick but now that I don’t eat meat, vegetarian-based pho with as much heat as you can handle is a god send. Despite a 100 percent plugged head I could actually taste the flavors in the pho and the steaming hot broth felt so good on my throat and chest. I’ve been eating it almost exclusively since Sunday. Pho 38, if you live in Denver, has been my savior
  • Nasal rinse or a neti pot. But don’t overdue it! On Friday and Saturday my nasal rinse helped a lot. But by Sunday I think I over-dried everything and I got a bloody nose at the supermarket, my one “put on clothes and get out into the world” outing for that day. I haven’t touched it since but may do weekly rinses once I am fully healed to keep things open and uninfected
  • Crying. Well, it kind of made my stuffy nose worse but at a few different points, I just cried. I couldn’t help it. My face hurt so badly and my medicine cabinet is full of wonderful OTC drugs I can’t take. It made me very sad
  • Tea, orange juice and whatever liquids (sans a hot toddy) that sound good. Everything I read stressed liquids and at one point I noticed sprout had been really still for a lot of hours, and once I started pumping fluids in again the movement became more regular

I’ve also been told to try Tylenol PM and read in multiple places that it is safe for a night or two, especially since sleep is so critical to the healing process. Essential oils have been recommended (e.g., lavender on your nose) but I couldn’t muster any strength to go to the store, and I worried Mike would never return if I sent him on that mission. The man does NOT like grocery stores.

What other remedies do my fellow moms-to-be and current mamas recommend?

Signed,

Day 4+ and this better be over soon in Denver

Filed Under: Pregnancy Tagged With:
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