Plum Bows

Sweater: J Crew  /  Tank: The Limited  /  Skirt: Motherhood Maternity  /  Shoes: MIA  /  Sunglasses: Dior  /  Handbag: Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM

This is quite the deceiving top as it definitely does not show the massiveness that is my belly right now.  Dressing for work at 7 1/2 months pregnant has been interesting.  If I could wear my husband's pjs/sweats to work (all that will fit me) I would.  However, I can't.  Most of my outfits are very very basic.  I hardly ever venture into my closet anymore since I'm now just rotating between like 4 different outfits.  The old me would be going crazy but right now I just want to be comfortable.  The baby is getting so big that I'm much more comfortable in dresses with cardigans.  I can't complain though.  I've been lucky to have a pretty normal pregnancy with hardly any sickness so if my biggest problem is finding something to wear, I'll take it!

Bright Dots

It was a drabby and rainy Saturday but I wasn't going to let that stop me from getting on the move.  Saturdays are usually my stay at home, no makeup or fuss kind of day, but this Saturday, I had plans to go to brunch with other preggo ladies.  It was fun swapping stories over breakfast especially because we are all so close in due dates.  

I copied this outfit from MK at Outfit Posts.  I initially tried to button up my cardigan but that was laughable.

Sweater: The Limited  /  Dress: Gap Maternity {Similar Non Maternity} {Love this one!}  /  Shoes: Target  /  Bag: Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM  /  Jewelry: Eve's Addiction, J Crew {Similar Budget Friendly} {Love this one in rose gold!}, Stella and Dot, David Yurman

Navy Polka Dots and Stripes

I really wish that more mainstream stores had maternity options.  I spent a good portion of my day adjusting/pulling this top down since the fit is off now that my belly is in the way.  My necklace was also being quickly swallowed up by my ummmm ever growing chest (very new to me!)  I've been remixing and using the different maternity clothes that I have with pre-pregnancy clothes which seemed to work.  Now, tops are just not fitting as comfortably unless they are loose cotton or side ruching (basically maternity tops).  I may buy a couple maxi dresses for the summer but I'm done buying anything else maternity since I'm already pretty far along.  Any ladies and mommas out there have advice on comfort during the summer months while 8-9 months pregnant?

 Top: J Crew Factory  /  Sweater: Ann Taylor  /  Skirt: Gap Maternity  /  Shoes: Ann Klein via Macys  /  Handbag: LV Neverfull GM  /  Necklace: Ebay

So Many Questions

I've become one of those obnoxious women that sees people with babies and runs up to them so I can ask a million and one questions.  Seriously.  If you have a baby and I'm in your vicinity, run away from me because I will talk your ear off.  I've been welcoming all advice, good and bad, because I'm new to this mom thing.  I also seriously pray that being a new mom will just come naturally to me but, in the meantime, I think I'll pester those around me.

On a totally unrelated note, do navy and black go together?  How's that for a topic change!

Sweater: Ann Taylor  /  Shirt: Gap Maternity {Same just different color}  /  Pants: Gap Maternity  /  Necklace: J Crew

Sequins, Stilettos, Oh my!

Sweater: Loft  /  Shirt: J Crew Factory  /  Jeans: American Eagle  /  Shoes: Sole Society  /  Handbag: Louis Vuitton

I'm guest posting on one of my favorite blogs today so I hope you come visit me over at Sequins and Stilettos!

Diva Confessions

Random thought of the the day:  Fashion Night on Bravo is becoming my favorite night of the week (besides Friday).  I mean Rachel Zoe Project,  Brad Brad World, then Dukes of Melrose...fashion television heaven.  In my next life I want to be a stylist or fashion designer.

I've received a couple comments and questions on how I can still be wearing heels pregnant but I have a couple diva confessions.  Firstly and grossly, I take my shoes off at the office.  I know that's nasty but I don't walk around barefoot and I sit in my chair 95% of the time.  Second, and here comes the diva confession, I'm pretty lazy when it comes to moving around so most the time, people come to me at the office versus me walking around.  So in my defense, I'm not so much a diva and more just plain lazy...don't judge me too harshly.

Shirt: J Crew Factory  /  Pants: Gap Maternity  /  Necklace: Banana Republic  /  Shoes: Stuart Weitzman  /  Handbag: London Fog

Tom-bows

Sweater: J Crew  /  Shirt: Loft  /  Jeans: Gap Maternity  /  Shoes: Converse  /  Handbag: Rebecca Minkoff

This weekend, my husband and I accomplished so much for our little Lucas.  On Saturday, we (and by we I mean my husband) pretty much finished the entire nursery with just a few things missing.  On Sunday, we took a day trip to Tampa to visit my sister, Melisa.  Not only did she and my mom buy more cute clothes for Lucas but Melisa surprised us with a bag FULL of more goodies.  Pictures of Lucas' loot are on my instagram.  Lucas will definitely be one spoiled little boy :-)  I hope it was a good weekend for all!

Changes and Changes

Sweater: J Crew  /  Dress: Motherhood Maternity  /  Shoes: Sole Society  /  Handbag: Coach

I have to laugh when I look at this photo because I literally look like I'm smuggling a beach ball and wearing three layers under my sleeves!  Maybe taking photos after work isn't the best idea.  I recently went through my archives and got a kick out of my expanding belly.  When I started blogging, it never occurred to me that I would soon be documenting my pregnancy.  I've lately been feeling better and better the further in pregnancy I get.  My husband said to me the other day, "you're pretty proud to be pregnant, aren't you."  He wasn't asking because he knows that I am.  If you asked me a year ago when I was planning to have children, I would have said not any time soon.  Now, I can't imagine not wanting to have this child.  It's a strange thing this pregnancy is but I'm loving every minute of it.

Love Is All You Need

Sweater: Forever 21  /  Shirt: J Crew  /  Skirt: Motherhood Maternity  /  Shoes: Stuart Weitzman  /  Handbag: Chanel  /  Accessories: J Crew, Ebay, Stella and Dot, David Yurman

Happy Valentine's Day!  I wore this outfit on Sunday and thought how Valentinesy it looked then I remembered that Valentine's Day was today!  Oops, pregnancy brain.  So I'll be wearing this again since only like two people saw me on Sunday.  Does anyone else do that?  

Today is extra special because, fingers crossed, we find out the baby's gender at our appointment this morning!!!!!!!!  I'm so excited I can barely stand it!  I've been reading online how some women drink Mountain Dew or something really sugary to make sure the baby is alert during the appointment.  I'm going to play it safe with some orange juice and hope for the best.  I have a feeling it's going to be a boy but will be very happy either way!

Bows, Bows, Bows

When I think of yellow and black together, I think of a bumblebee and not in a good way.  Yet, I always gravitate between pairing the two colors together and it isn't until I've been in the outfit for a whole workday that I think, "man, I look like a bumblebee."  Maybe I'll remember to pair yellow with something different and that's a big maybe seen as though these days I've been shampooing my hair three times in a row because I forget whether or not I've washed it or not.  Oy vey...

Sweater: J Crew  /  Dress: Target  /  Shoes: DSW  /  Handbag: Chanel  /  Jewelry: Kohls, J Crew, Stella and Dot, David Yurman

Devil in Me

 Dress: Target  /  Handbag: Chanel  /  Shoes: Sam Edelman  /  Accessories: Gucci Sunglasses, J Crew, Stella and Dot, David Yurman, Elizabeth Cole

I'm trying my best to channel this outfit from the movie "Devil Wears Prada."  That is one movie that I could watch over and over and over again.  One of my husband's pet peeves is that I can watch movies over and over again without getting sick of them.  But who can resist not watching films like Legally Blonde, Devil Wears Prada, Bridget Jones, and 500 Days of Summer three times in one day?  Am I right or am I right?

Practical Love

My husband and I have become quite the practical gift givers.  He gave me a Clarisonic Mia and he bought himself a vacuum.  I say he bought himself the vacuum because I could never bring myself to spend as much as he did for a flipping vacuum.  Since it is our finances, you could say my gift was that I would stop stopping him from buying the vacuum.  He had his mind set on a Dyson vacuum which of course we had to order because we couldn't find the one he wanted locally.  The man literally said to me, "I can't wait for the weekend to be over because I'm that much closer to getting my vacuum."  And that people is love.

Sweater: Gap  /  Shirt: J Crew  /  Jeans: AE  /  Shoes: MIA  /  Handbag: Coach

Over the Bump

I'm trying to be creative and expand my closet without purchasing new items.  In an effort to do so, the only way to wear this skirt now is to zip it up over the bump.  At first, I thought I was a genius but after an hour sitting at work, I remembered the magic of maternity bottoms.  Ahhhh maternity bands!

Sweater: The Limited  /  Skirt: JCP  /  Shoes: Stuart Weitzman 'Capsize'  /  Jewelry: J Crew, Stella and Dot, David Yurman

Weekend Errands

These are my new maternity jeans.  I banned myself from shopping but these were purchased with a gift card I received for Christmas.  Back to the main topic though - maternity bottoms.  Seriously, how will I ever go back to normal pants, jeans, or skirts?  Maternity bottoms are the most comfortable things EVER.  I'm not kidding.  I don't even care if the maternity band shows - that band is magical.  My favorite pencil skirts for work are from J Crew but, unfortunately, they don't have a maternity line.  I would love to know if anyone knows where I can find colorful maternity skirts!  I think I would cheat on my ban if I could find them...shhhhhh...

Sweater: J Crew  /  Tank: Gap  /  Jeans: Maternity Gap  /  Shoes: MIA  /  Handbag: Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM  /  Jewelry: Forever 21, David Yurman

Until Fall...

Sweater: Banana Republic  /  Shirt: Macy's  /  Skirt: J Crew  /  Shoes: Stuart Weitzman  /  Handbag: Chanel

I had to say goodbye to this skirt after I wore it.  In fact, I had to say goodbye to almost 95% of my skirts and pants this week.  It's goodbye until fall when I can *fingers crossed* fit into them again.  I could probably wear this skirt again soon but I have a weird thing about skirts that are above the knee at the office.  I had to wear this skirt above the belly which shortened the hem.  At this point, I think it's funny how big my belly is getting so I'm fully embracing it! 

Abstract

Dress: Old Navy  /  Sweater: J Crew  /  Shoes: Sole Society 'Kelly'  /  Handbag: J Crew

Dresses make me so happy.  They are easy and forgiving.  However, there was a time that I despised dresses.  Middle school Maria was NOT a fan of anything girly.  I didn't hit my girly peak until the summer between the 8th grade and 9th grade.  No matter what anyone said or did, I could not have cared less about what I looked like in middle school.  Looking back, I wish someone could have been like "hey, why don't you brush your hair" or "maybe your dad's t-shirts aren't the best things to wear" but, honestly, it wouldn't have mattered.  Dad's old t-shirts and ratty hair was my norm.  I cringe at those super awkward photos that now happen to be my husband's "favorite" of me...he's evil I tell you...

Pattern Overload

Sweater: Ann Taylor  /  Shirt: J Crew  /  Jeans: AE  /  Shoes: Ann Taylor  /  Bag: Louis Vuitton 'Neverfull GM'

So I put myself on a shopping ban.  Yep.  That's right.  A Shopping BAN!  So far so good.

This year, we will be adding a new family member so I want to be smarter about my finances.  For as long as I can, I will only be buying essentials.  Now, do realize that my waist line is expanding so I did cheat a little by buying a maternity suit.  I consider buying the suit an essential because I have to wear it at least once or twice a week and none of my other suits fit.  For Christmas, my husband absolutely spoiled me so I consider that to be my last hooray.  As for maternity clothes, many family members bought me different items of clothes or gift certificates so I think I'm okay on the maternity clothes for a bit.  I'm interested to see how long I can last!

Has anyone else gone on a shopping ban and, if so, any tips?

New Year, New Me

 Shirt: J Crew  /  Sweater: Gap  /  Pants: Talbots  /  Handbag: Kate Spade  /  Necklace: J Crew

Why hello there and happy new year!  Did you have any resolutions for the new year?  I had one and it's pretty simple...snap out of it!  Admittedly, since I learned that I was pregnant about 2 1/2 months ago, I got into a deep dark funk.  Not because I am not ecstatic about the lil one we're expecting in the summer but because I got really sick and just felt crappy overall.  My blogging was sporadic because I wasn't dressing up for work, my hair and makeup was a mess, and I just stopped caring.  Well, I am by no means the first pregnant woman that still has to work full time so I've decided to quit the pity party and snap out of it.

I am now looking forward to blogging more regularly because I really want to look back to see the growth of this already ginormous belly.  For how early I am in my pregnancy, my belly is big.  The picture in this post was taken three weeks ago and it makes me sad to look at it because those pants no longer fit me.  I didn't anticipate my belly growing so quickly.  I even had to tell my cousin I couldn't be in her wedding this past December because I no longer fit in my bridesmaid dress.  Although it sucked to not be in the wedding, it just means I have a healthy and growing baby so that makes me very happy.

During my blogging break, I started ready some "mommy" blogs and I discovered something...I'm the worst preggo mommy.  I seriously had a panic attack when I learned that I was eating things I shouldn't be and using the wrong soaps, etc.  No judgment please! :-)  Needless to say, I need to buy some books and read up quick.  Don't worry, I won't be dishing out any advice because, let's be honest, I know nothing.  

This has turned out to be a longer post than usual!  Thank you again and I hope you all had a great holiday season!

New Norm

I'm so behind on reading all of your amazing blogs!  Every day I think as soon as I get home, I'm going to catch up on my reader.  It's one of my favorite things to do when I get home to unwind.  However, the new norm has been to get home from work, change in my pjs, and LITERALLY go to sleep.  Like 7 p.m ish sleep...then I wake up at 4 a.m and toss and turn until it's time to go to work again.  I'm told that the 2nd trimester gets better so I'm looking forward to feeling like myself again.  I know it sounds selfish to complain.  I really am grateful and excited for my little one to arrive in a couple months. This is just the tired nauseous Maria typing talking :-)

Shirt: J Crew  /  Vest: Banana Republic  /  Pants: TJ Maxx  /  Shoes: DSW  /  Bag: Kate Spade  /  Necklace: Ebay

The Lodge and Gardens

For the holiday, my family and I spent most of the week at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia.  It was absolutely beautiful and the weather was perfect.  Best of all, my sweet little sister, Adriana, was able to make the trip from NYC.  It's always nice getting to spend time with her.  Since she lives in NYC, she's definitely used to the cooler weather and could get away without bundling up like I did :-)

Skirt: J Crew Factory  /  Sweater and Top: Loft  /  Scarf: Target  /  Handbag: Coach  /  Boots: Nine West