Dressing the Bump

It is hard to find a good balance between fashion and comfort when dressing your pregnancy body. I understand the desire NO.. basic need to be functional and with all the body changes, hot flashes, bump growth and such. Here are some looks that might inspire you and help you get through the moments when you start considering sweats and a t-shirt as the pinnacle of your fashion arsenal. 

My Personal Tips 

* Figure out your needs: Are you mostly in a work place environment, stay at home mom or worker, working out a lot, are you in meetings most of the time or chilling at the park or coffee shop (drinking decaf of course). This will defiantly drive what outfits are most practical for you.  

* I tend to lean towards neutrals and bring in pops of color with accessories that I already own.  A grey v-neck t-shirt can carry you a long way wither it is under a blazer, or paired with a comfy maxi.

Places to Shop 

     * Old Navy, Gap, Target give great options especially when you are being $ conscious and trying to build up your basics. 

      * Loft Maternity is a bit more expensive, but would be a good resource for some of the investment pieces, and if you are looking for an outfit for an event like a wedding or graduation.

       * Asos, Pink Blush Maternity, Zulily.com are some other sights that have some cute items for you to check out. 

       

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Sweet Frills

We are so very excited to welcome our little girl into the world in a few weeks and am not too shy to say I will find great joy in dressing her up. Here are some looks I love and can't wait to see her in them. 

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Fall Scarves

I love scarves! I like the way they add color, texture, and interest to an outfit. You can wear an outfit that is neutral and then add a scarf and the look changes. It can also balance out your body shape if you have more to your bottom half having some interest up top will emphasize your narrow waste. 

There are so many tutorials out there to give you new ideas and inspiration. I like the look of this world market tutorial hope you enjoy it.  

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Tips for online clothes shopping

      I know shopping online is nothing new and many of you out there have it down to a science and are masters at clicking that checkout button. My online shopping journey only began three years ago and was really founded on necessity. I was living overseas and the clothing options were limited especially when you are 5'10 and living in Japan. I have always felt intimidated by online shopping, and was a firm believer in needing to touch, smell, see, and try on the item several times before I can purchase it. My mind has been opened and now that I am stateside and have the ability to shop in stores I keep finding myself snuggling up with a cup of coffee on my couch and shopping my favorite stores online. There are some helpful tips to keep in mind when shopping online that will hopefully make your experience more pleasant and rewarding. 

1. Know your size
    This may seem like common sense, but we all have a handful of go-to stores that we love, but that does not mean I wear the same size in each store and that all size 4's are equal. I know this can be super frustrating and can be discouraging, but once you acknowledge this your online shopping experience can be much smoother. For instance I know roughly how Gap sizes their items compared to J.crew and that influences what sizes I put into my cart. If you are unsure what size you would wear in that store .... go shopping! Physically go try on some items and take note of the fit and how often you are having to size up or down.

2. Read Reviews
     This helps me A LOT, that being said you can't always believe what you read. Look for reviews that have a lot of people commenting on the clothing that you are interested in. If that particular item has 5 stars and 42 reviews you are looking at an item that will most likely work for you. Read through the reviews focus on the comments by women your height, body type. Read the ones that give that item only 1 star and see why, was it a size issue, material quality, maybe they thought they were getting a different color than was advertised. I have been swayed both to purchase an item and to walk away from it based on the insight of other shoppers.

3. Wait for the Sale
      A huge plus with online shopping is the promotions and sales they offer which you might not even see in store. Now that you have a handful of go-to stores you can sign up for their email service and you will get notifications on all their online sales. This does not mean you can't shop ahead of time when you have a free weekend put the items you "can't live without" in the cart and wait for the sale to hit. I find it a wise practice for myself to shop put the items in the cart and walk away for a couple of hours and then come back and revisit my items before purchasing. 

4. Careful!
     I know you can get swept up in the fun and ease of online shopping, but you are using real money and you do have to pay for shipping so be consciences of that and you will be able to see your actual final bill before you click the purchase button. Many stores will offer free shipping if you purchase a certain amount of merchandise equalling a set price. Example would be free shipping when you spend $50.00 or more. Also, make sure you read the fine print with items that are labeled FINAL SALE. I don't want to discourage you from making a purchase, but just be aware that you might have to eat the cost if the item does not work for you. 

I would love to hear some tips from you on how you successfully shop online. Here is a website that looks awesome and might help you with your shopping

ENJOY

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Sunny Mondays

    I know Mondays can be rough and daunting because it is the day of the week when it seems like everything gets put on your plate at once and you have a view of the upcoming week and it looks insurmountable. Well, cheer up and maybe thinking about something bright and colorful might do the trick.

   We have already discussed the transition from summer to fall, and one of the colors that you can continue to use and incorporate is yellow. It can range from light, sunny tones to rich, mustard autumn tones. You can use it as the main focus of your outfit or your home or just the right pop of color to set off some of the darker tones that are used consistently in the autumn months. Whatever you decide you really can't go wrong and I personally feel this color can bring that extra "thing" to your look. 

 

 

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Fall Hair Trends

    

      This fall the hair trends tend to flow from summer to fall with subtle differences. There is a darkening of color, which is to be expected, and a bit more bang, as well as some of the length taken off in some instances. But you still see the softer hair styles, curls, and braids being used a lot. Looser looks with subtle ombre or honey highlights throughout.

 

    All in all, it seems like the transition from summer to fall can be done with some ease and hopefully not straining your budget and a lot of the braiding skills we relearned this summer we can continue to use them into the cooler months.






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Thrify Thursdays: DIY Shaving Cream

      To be honest I sometimes envy guys and how concise and efficient their shower routine is. If there was some magical product that you could use on your hair, body, face, and shave with that was moisturizing, cleansing, and good for you I would be one happy camper. This product might not be all those things, but it comes close. I have incorporated coconut oil in my beauty routine for years in one way or another and this is just taking it one delightful step further. 

This is all the product you need, you can sue whichever citrus fruit you like I actually used grape fruit in the batch I made. 

 All you need to do is mix 1-2 cups of the coconut oil(the amount depends on how much you want to make) 3tbs of honey and zest your fruit... lemon, lime, grapefruit. 
Place all items in your blender (I used my kitchenaid) and blend until you have the consistency of whipped cream. 

The consistency was a wonderful surprise once it sets it feels like body butter and once you apply it to your body it melts into a more oily texture. I use this for several things, shaving primarily, and what I like most is that it moisturizes as well leaving your skin wonderfully soft. I use it on my face as well the honey is an astringent, and the coconut oil is moisturizing. Apply, leave it on as you shave and rinse well when your done. It is also a great heavy conditioning treatment for your hair. Apply it to the length/ends of your hair pull it into a bun, and leave in for however long you have before rinsing and washing as usual. 

  Find a container that can be closed tightly so that moisture does not get in, and store in a dry cool place. I have not been disappointed at all actually I am falling in love more every day with this product. The only down side I can say is if you have a thing against more oily moisturizers you might not be too keen on this one, but when you dry off you can always towel some of the oil off, and if you shower in the evening by morning there is no remnant of oil usage. 
   Please try!! what do you have to loose and it smells heavenly as well. A bit of luxury in your every day routine.






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Shopping for a Cause

If you are not familiar with the idea there are several organizations that help women & men around the world earn a living, gain independence, and dignity through providing them a means to earn a living. These organizations team up with artisans from around the world and market their goods for us as consumers to purchase. It is a marvellous idea and it makes spending money all the better because you know you are helping so many people around the world. 

Once such organization I love shopping at is Noonday Collection they feature beautiful pieces at decent prices. Please take some time to check them out and do some online shopping for a cause. 

 Here are some items I love and really hope you discover something that takes your breath away and read through the web site and get an idea what they are all about. If you are interested they also have a blog that you can follow. 

http://www.noondaycollection.com/blog-1

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Summer ~ Fall

Summer ~ Fall by carrielee34 featuring aviator glasses

J Crew j crew shirt
jcrew.com

J.Crew highwaisted jeans
jcrew.com

Orla Kiely yellow handbag
anthropologie.com

Olivia Burton rose gold jewelry
$115 - the-dressingroom.com

Aviator glasses
ahalife.com

Lucky Brand infinity scarve
luckybrand.com

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DIY : Facials

    I love natural at home beauty tips and remedies. Nothing against more traditional store bought creams and facial serums, but there is something satisfying in knowing exactly what is in the product and saving a whole bunch of money! I am going to highlight three at home facials that I use often and have worked really well for me.

    You may of seen this one on several different posts on pinterest and other DIY beauty blogs. All you need is the three ingredients shown, a small bowl, and spoon. You mix all three ingredients till you have a thick paste and then apply to your face and neck. Leave it on your face for 15min or longer if you have the time. To take it off use a warm wet wash cloth and remove the mixture and then wash and moisturize as normal. This facial moisturizes, lightens acne scars, and helps prevent breakouts.

       Honey - 3 tbs 

          Cinnamon - 1tbs

        Nutmeg - 1tbs 

     This is a poor reducing facial that also moisturizes. You take a E tablet and and spread on a clean face then take egg whites and massage over the vitaminE.
Let this sit on your face for 15-30min and then rinse with warm water. 
As the egg whites dry your face will feel tight, but after you rinse it will feel smooth and refreshed. 
    *Tip: let the egg sit out on the counter till room temperature so that it does not freeze your fingers when you separate your yoke from the white.

      Aspirin is a great reducer of inflammation so you can imagine that it would be a great use in reducing a red inflamed break out. You can use it as an all over facial or as spot treatment. Take 2-3 tablets (the number of tablets depends on if you want to cover your whole face or just a spot or two) take the tablets in hand and drip some water over the tablets to soften them up. You will end up with a gritty paste that you then apply to your whole face or on the problem area. Let is set for 15-20min and then rinse. I would follow up with a moisturizer since the aspirin can be a bit drying. 
     
     I would only do two facials a week at most three I have learned over the years that you need to be subtle in the use of facials because they are beneficial, but an over use of them can turn out to be bad for your skin. Don't forget to moisturize after these will make your skin feel wonderful and soft so you might not think you need to moisturize, but you will retain more of the benefits of the facial by sealing in the moisture. 
I have also noticed that for me doing these facials at night is most beneficial it gives my skin time to rest and does not over tax it by applying makeup. By all means you can do it during the day especially if you have an event to attend. 
Hope you take some time and try it out! I don't think you will be disappointed.

    

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Oui, oui, Paris

    There are days you get this travelling itch and it seems like all you can think of is the adventures you have been on and the ones you are dying to take. I am having a Parisian sort of day and remembering all the wonderful things I saw, felt, experienced, and ATE while in Paris. I feel like just being there changes your stature and effects your demeanour.

   Do something special today for yourself wither it is carving out a bit of quiet time at a quaint cafe or spending some quality time with someone who revives your spirit. SINCERELY,

Timeless Stripes

    There are few things associated with design, fashion, and decor that have had the diverse impact and staying power as stripes. 

  

Stripes are not regulated to a specific season nor have to abide by  fashion rules.

 Stripes can be dressed up, casual, used in home decor and are never cuter than when seen on little tykes. 

Ultimately 

Stripes 

Are

Timeless SINCERELY,