posts in
women's fashion
Easton's Nursery Reveal
June 14, 2020
I know Easton is 7 months old, but hey better late than never right! I have had the nursery done for a while but wanted to add a few small touches before I shared. I am so in love with this neutral, boho calming, chill nursery I designed for Easton and it is my favorite room in our house! I hope you love it too! I tried to link everything but if I missed something you want, shoot me a DM on my Instagram ! Also- if you want to see the nursery in person, check out my highlights under "NURSERY" I am posting a room tour! xoxo
Our crib, dresser and glider are from Delta Children and are the 'Willow set.' It is currently unavailable but their sets are all so cute! Our glider is in the color sand. We were gifted these pieces. I love that they offer nursery sets. It makes it super easy and convenient when shopping!
Everything linked here:
Pampas grass - highly recommend!
Vase (ours is the "jug")
Black picture frames (all four are 8 x 10)
Curtains (ours are in the color library gray)
Playgym: Poppyseed Play c/o
Rug (ours is 6 x 9)
Shelving in closet (right side)
"E" wall hook: ours exact is Anthropologie & not available but click here for a cute similar
Baskets in closet: ours are Home Goods but click here for similar , these are also super cute
Pacifier clip (that is holding our ultrasound photos)
Ottoman: ours exact was called the Soraya if they ever restock but click here for almost exact version
Side table: ours is called Austen nightstand from Pottery Barn kids but this is almost exact
Laundry baskets: the one with the elephant is Home Goods, the other is Target that I can't find online but this one is super cute
Easton's shirt c/o City Mouse Studio
Easton's shorts
My sweatshirt c/o Abercrombie & Fitch
My shorts (LOVE) c/o Abercrombie & Fitch
Llama stuffed animal - c/o Cuddle & Kind
Teddy bear on chair: mine when I was a baby!
Memorial Day Sales 2020
May 23, 2020
Sharing a few brands I love that have amazing sales going on this weekend! I know I will be shopping! This is the time to take advantage.
Clothing
Aerie: 25-60% off everything. I love their comfy pieces. I live in their tanks & their bathing suits are my favorite.
Abercrombie & Fitch: 40-60% off entire store, online they have an extra 15% off select styles!
Lululemon - up to 50% off which is amazing because their stuff is $$$
Nasty Gal: 50% off everything & an extra 15% off with code GET15, checkout their loungewear pieces. They are SUPER comfy!
Boohoo: 60% off everything, I love my biker shorts from here!
Urban Outfitters- 30% off sale items
Target: BOGO on swimsuits & sandals for the entire fam!
The Sis Kiss: 25% off everything with code Memorial25, this is where my EASTON necklace is from!
Revolve: tons of sale items!
Baby
Cotton On: 30-50% off site wide. I just recently ordered from here & have already placed 2 more orders. Their baby stuff is SO cute & I ordered clothes for Justin & I too. Perfect for the whole fam.
Gap: 50% off with code WARM, extra 10% off with code SUNNY
Little One Shop Co.: use my code YOURHEART20 for a discount. We love their basics and matching sets! Easton is wearing one of their sets here
Old Navy: tees, tanks & shorts are 50% off. So many sales!
The Sh*t they don't tell you about pregnancy, labor & delivery
February 25, 2020
Cardigan: Chicwish c/o
Dress: Lulus, similar here
Bralette: Free People
Booties: Vince Camuto, similar here
Hey babes! I keep going through my archive of photos and finding some I never posted. I loved this chunky cardigan from Chicwish! I still wear it all the time. It's not maternity but it was perfect when I had a bump! They have the coziest pieces and I linked some of my favorite current sweaters and cardigans from them below! :)
My friend Emilee just had a baby and I went to visit her the other day. We were talking about everything no one tells you about pregnancy, labor and delivery! I told you guys on stories I thought this would be a fun blog post to write and maybe help some of you be more prepared?!
Let me also make sure I include these are from my experiences and yes I threw in a few from you guys. I know not one pregnancy, labor and delivery are the same so don't get your panties in a wad if you don't agree with me, lol.
Things no one tells you about pregnancy:
1) As your pregnancy gets farther along, you literally have to pee on average 3-5x a night. And it sucks because it takes you awhile to get comfortable then you have to get up lol.
2) How you will have to eventually ask your husband for help when you put on your shoes.
3) How the farther along you get your husband is afraid to have sex with you because he might "poke the baby."
4) If you experience heartburn, you will need tums by your side 24/7.
5) How your boobs get out of control big and you will not be wearing a normal bra. I lived in bralettes.
6) How actually hard it is to get pregnant. Most of you know we had infertility issues. I thought once I got off birth control I would get pregnant asap! That does not happen (for some like me).
7) It might take you an entire episode of Friends to roll over and get comfortable enough to fall asleep when you hit the 8-9 month mark.
8) You don't get this super cute bump right away. It's more like.....does that girl have a little food baby or has she just put on a few lbs? Someone actually said that to me one time. "I thought you just gained some weight!" No Linda. There's a baby in there.
9) To listen to your intuition. If you feel like something isn't right, speak up.
10) That "morning sickness" is actually afternoon and night sickness too!
11) Breathing is hard.
12) You think you are exhausted, wait until the first couple weeks with the babe lol.
13) It's actually so beautiful that we create and carry this baby and they grow inside of us.
14) You do not have to run to the hospital the second you start having contractions, you can actually shower.
15) That when they "check" you, they are pretty much sticking their whole hand up there.
16) That you should take full of advantage of free time. Take long showers, lots of naps, go to the movies, read a book, go out to dinner, etc.
17) How hard it is to keep quiet and not tell anyone the first few weeks.
18) How INCREDIBLE it is the first time you feel your baby move and every time they do you grab your husband's hand to feel.
19) Pack your hospital bag weeks in advance because you could (like me) deliver 2 weeks early.
20) You might actually miss your bump and love being pregnant.
Things no one tells you about labor & delivery:
1) THE SHAKES! Holy cow. After I got my epidural I could not stop shaking. Justin was like babe are you freezing? I was like no I cannot stop shaking?!
2) How the first moment you see your baby is the most amazing, best moment of your life. It was like time stopped for me.
3) How the first few days you are on such a "baby high" you look back and wonder how you ever functioned on 2 hour of sleep. Everything they do is perfect and you just stare and smile forever.
4) That contractions are so much worse than a period cramp lol.
5) You should make a playlist for your delivery and have it playing. We did this and it relaxed me more, plus made all the emotions come out to play!
6) Breastfeeding is hard and sometimes doesn't work when you first try.
7) You have nurses and doctors coming in and out of your room it feels like 24/7 the day after you deliver.
8) You truly need to focus on your breathing.
9) How crazy emotional you are the few weeks after you deliver, and it's normal.
10) How they push on your stomach after you deliver.
11) How PAINFUL the first poop you have is. Pretty sure I thought this was worse than the actual delivery.
12) Postpartum feelings and feeling lonely when and if you are breastfeeding in the beginning.
13) How is hurts to walk after. Attempting stairs is a chore.
14) The first time you ride in the car you might hold yourself off the seat because it is so painful.
15) Post-pregnancy hair loss. Just started experiencing this and it is not fun lol.
16) You wear mesh underwear and icepacks in your underwear.
17) You squirt hot water on your crotch and butt to help the healing.
18) You get hemorrhoids. And have them for a while.
19) How you bleed for a few weeks after.
20) Sometimes your water does not break and they have to break it for you.
21) Once you get your epidural, it is insane how much better you feel. We were listening to rap music and singing. 20 minutes before that I was pretty sure someone had put me in actual Hell.
22) Your doctor may have to "vacuum" your baby out.
23) You can do it even if you think you can't. You turn into superwoman.
24) That if you want you can reach down and pull your baby out (I did this and it was INCREDIBLE).
25) That is hard to remember life before your little one because once you hold them you wonder how you ever lived life without them :)
Thank you so much to Chicwish for sponsoring today's post!
How I overcame PPD/PPA
January 23, 2020
Skirt: Chicwish c/o
Tank: Motherhood Maternity, similar here
Bralette: Free People
Sandals: Nordstrom, similar here
Necklace: Evereve
Boho cuff: Victoria Emerson c/o
I have so many photos I never posted from when I was pregnant so I wanted to share these with you guys. I miss this warm weather and loved these easy outfits. I loved tying a tank over to the side and pairing it with a fun skirt like this one from Chicwish. They have so many cute leopard pieces I will link below for you guys.
This is one of the most personal posts I have ever written. I debated back and forth about sharing. I am being very vulnerable but I hope that this might help other mamas who have felt the same. Let me start off by saying "Postpartum Depression" is defined as a 'type of mood disorder associated with childbirth that can affect both sexes.
Symptoms may include:
- extreme sadness
- low energy
- anxiety
- crying episodes
- irritability or changes in sleeping or eating patterns
- brain fog
- lack of motivation
- feelings of guilt, inadequacy or worthlessness
- physical discomforts like muscle aches or headaches
- irritability or agitation
- lashing out at others
- fear of not being a good mom or dad
Just because you have Postpartum Depression does not mean you are "depressed." I feel like this is the biggest misconception.
Also I do want to say, this is my personal experience as a new mom. I'm not saying what I do is the best or trying to tell you what to do, I just want to share and help.
When we brought Easton home from the hospital, the first few days were kind of like a high. We were so sleep deprived but we were so excited we finally had him. We would stay up all night and watch Twilight movies on end, we would both just stare at him and we both thought we had to be up when he was- which was all night, lol. We honestly didn't know what the hell we were doing (first time parents).
I have said from the beginning I wanted to breastfeed which I'm proud to say I've made it 11 weeks and 2 days in counting and am still going lol. I love it. However in the very beginning (it's weird saying "the beginning" because it still is but you know what I mean), he was eating every hour it felt like. As much as Justin wanted to help, there was really nothing he could do. I would feed Easton, lay him down, go take a shower then he wanted to eat again, it was completely normal for a baby but I was exhausted.
I remember one night I was up feeding him at 12am, 1am, 2am, 3am, 5am and 7am. I woke Justin up crying because I was so mentally and physically exhausted. I want to be the best mom I can be to my child but as a functioning human, I need a little sleep, ya know?
I would nurse him and look down and just start crying. I was so extremely beyond over the moon happy I finally had my baby but I felt like I was "sucking" as a mom. Or so I thought. I was anxious, googling everything, questioning everything I did, comparing myself to other moms and their babies, it made me so sad.
Once I became a mom it was like a gained a new piece in my heart. I started noticing every mom and their babies. I saw complete strangers differently. I remember seeing a mom by herself pushing a grocery cart with a baby carrier while trying to hold her toddler and her purse. I was driving but I just thought why is no one helping her?? I would have never noticed this prior to having Easton. It was amazing I was noticing other moms more but it just showed my emotions were working in overtime.
When the nurse talked to us about PPD in the hospital, I told Justin and even thought "this will never happen to me." We have waited so long and this is all I've ever wanted.
We went to our first month checkup and they made me take a test. It was just a paper form with questions about Postpartum depression. I ended up circling enough questions yes that leaned me on the side that was closer to PPD/PPA. I hugged Justin and just cried. Why was I feeling this way? I love Easton so much?? None of this makes sense? I was not depressed. I was tired. I was overwhelmed. I was anxious. I was emotional. Plus having a baby in the dead of winter in Ohio where it gets dark at 4:30-5 isn't exactly dream "baby time". I wanted to take walks with him, go visit friends, etc. and we literally couldn't leave the house because it was so freezing.
Our doctor said he could prescribe me with a SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). This would be used as an antidepressant. This is not thie route I wanted to take. I was put on one in high school which led to me continuing to take it in college and it really messed with my hormones. The second I knew I wanted to have a baby I stopped taking it and have never wanted to be on any since.
I told the doctor no and instead Justin and I talked about other things I could do to make me feel better. I started taking Vitamin D everyday, I started making time to do something for myself everyday even if it was taking a walk or going to Target, I started journaling everyday and I downloaded the "Calm" app.
The number one thing that helped me get through the PP depression was support. Talking to friends, family and other moms. Once I started talking about it and doing the other things listed above I felt like a new human. I think a lot of moms are afraid to talk about this topic on social media because they don't want judged. You already get judged by how you raise your child and the last thing you want people to think about you is that you are a loose cannon.
I am here to tell you, there's not one mom out there that is "perfect." And guess what? That's perfectly fine! Your baby does not need you to be perfect, they just need you. You are amazing and your little one is soooo lucky to have YOU as a mama. Give yourself grace girlfriend. You are not alone. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here! XO
Thank you so much to Chicwish for sponsoring today's post!
Thank you so much to Chicwish for sponsoring today's post!
25 things I've learned in the first month of being a mom
December 17, 2019
Dress: Chicwish c/o
Heels: Target
This makes me miss being pregnant! I wanted to share this gorgeous dress with you guys from Chicwish! It is non maternity but was very comfortable and flattering on the bump! They have tons of cute picks for the holidays I will link below! They also have a holiday sale going on, you can get up to $20 off your order depending on how much you spend!
Being a mom has been the most rewarding, most amazing, most challenging and best thing I've ever done. It's something no one can describe to you until you've experienced it yourself. I wanted to share with you some things I have learned in my first month of being a mom in hopes that I can help one of you! I want you to remember, if you take anything away from this post, know that you are doing GREAT! You were chosen to be your baby's mother and nobody knows what your baby needs better than YOU! :)
1) Take all the postpartum care you can from the hospital. The big hospital underwear, dermoplast, ice packs, witch hazel pads, you will need it all.
2) Take shifts with your partner! In the first couple days Justin & I thought we both needed to be up watching Easton's every move. But then we both realized neither of us were getting any sleep. Sleep is a luxury, so take it when you can get it!
3) I know everyone says this, but you should really try to sleep when your baby sleeps. Now that he is older and we have somewhat of a routine, I sleep during his first nap just to get an extra energy boost for the day!
4) Accept help. It is OK to accept help. I felt so emotional because I wanted to do it all, but guess what, you can't in the beginning. If someone wants to cook you a meal or come over to hold the baby while you shower, LET THEM.
5) Who the heck invented snaps? Zippers are life. And if I'm being really picky, zippers that start at the bottom. Make sure when you're buying onesies, get the zipper onesies or gowns! These make life 1,000 time easier during those middle of the night changes.
6) Do something for yourself everyday even if it's taking a hot shower. Go outside and take a walk. Make yourself a coffee and actually drink it while it's hot. You deserve it.
7) Any projects you wanted to finish, do them before you have the baby, lol.
8) Cuddle as much as possible. You will never get this time back. Babies love skin to skin!
9) If you are breastfeeding, meet with a lactation consultant. She helped me so much! We even took a breastfeeding class before having him but she showed me things I didn't know.
10) Once again, if you are breastfeeding, create a "breastfeeding station." Next to our glider in the nursery I have a water bottle, nipple cream, a snack, a burp cloth, gas drops, gripe water, a pacifier, etc.
11) It is a lot harder than I thought!
12) Don't be afraid to ask questions. Get to know other moms!
13) Take one day at a time. And breathe.
14) Never compare your baby to other babies.
15) If you like to be on a schedule and want your baby to have a routine, check out @takingcarababies. We started this at 4.5 weeks and it has helped Easton's sleeping so much!
16) MOST of the time, babies cry for 3 reasons. They are hungry, cold or need their diaper changed. (Number one tip from MY mom)
17) Postpartum is no joke. If you are experiencing it, talk to someone. (I can write another post digging deeper in this).
18) Be present in the moment.
19) Learn it's ok to say no. I have said no to a bunch of social engagements.
20) You will always figure out a way and it will be ok!
21) Do not let your marriage slack. Being partners as mom and dad and as husband and wife are so important. When Easton goes to bed at night, Justin and I have "us" time whether it's just talking (mostly about Easton), watching a show or putting our phones away and hanging out.
22) You don't realize how much free time you had before baby, lol. When he naps I am literally running around my house trying to do the dishes, start laundry, catch up on emails, etc.
23) Always have a burp cloth on hand. (I've been spit up on numerous times lol)
24) There is absolutely no love like the love for your child.
20) You look at life completely different. You are a mama now and that's your number one job. :)
There are so many things I've learned I know I''m missing some. You will truly never understand things about motherhood until you've experienced it yourself. I am so blessed to be Easton's mama and I can't wait to keep learning more everyday to be better for him!
Photography: Kandid with Kate
Thank you to Chicwish for sponsoring today's post!
Tips for shopping conveniently & wisely
December 11, 2019
This post is sponsored by Zappos.
Boots: Zappos c/o
Does anyone else feel like the first of the year goes sooo slow and the end FLIES by?! I can't believe it's already December and I have a (over) ONE month old! Makes me sad he is growing so fast! However I am so excited to celebrate our first Christmas together as a family! :)
I love shopping but let me tell you, with a newborn and being a little scatter brained it has been a little hard to find time. I wanted to share some tips on how I shop conveniently and wisely!
HOW I SHOP CONVENIENTLY & WISELY
1) I check shipping & handling. I know this sounds crazy but sometimes you think you get such a good deal then the shipping ends up being as much as what you are buying!
2) Check return policies. Will I be able to return or do I get a store credit if I don't return in 5 days (insert eyeroll)?!
3) Check reviews. It's always great to hear what other people think (honestly) about what you're buying!
4) I shop online, I mean duh. SUPER convenient.
5) Take advantage of rewards programs!
Using my Zappos Rewards I received these amazing boots with FREE expedited shipping. They have amazing customer service and a 365 return policy (pretty amazing)! They have a huge selection of Justin Boots which I love. Fun fact: the first gift Justin ever got me were a pair of Justin boots as a hint because he surprised me with a trip to Nashville! I love them. I hope my tips help you babes! Xo
BOGO on my Favorite bracelets!
September 18, 2019
Earrings: Anthropologie
Tank: Amazon
Wrap bracelet: Victoria Emerson c/o
Boho cuff: Victoria Emerson c/o
Skirt: SheIn
Booties: Marc Fisher c/o
Bag: Gucci
Today one of my favorite companies Victoria Emerson is having another HUGE sale on their entire website! I had to share as I just got some super cute ones in! Their wrap bracelets and boho cuffs are the perfect statement piece to add to any outfit! Their entire site is BOGO- with NO CODE NECESSARY!
I wear this wrap bracelet almost every single day. I think the ivory goes with all my outfits as I'm obsessed with neutrals! This is the one I'm wearing on my left wrist in the photos above! This boho cuff is one of my go to's for Fall and I can't wait to wear it with everything!
I linked my other favorites below. Make sure to check out my stories on my Instagram today for up close details!
Thank you so much to Victoria Emerson for sponsoring today's post!
Photography: Kandid with Kate
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons