Living Room Updates

I haven't done a home decor post in awhile---mainly because I can never get it clean enough to be photographed!

Our living room has become a collection of normal living room things and baby toys/containment devices (lol!) everywhere. Literally. Everywhere. I'm eating my words and laughing at my assertion, before I had a baby, that I "would absolutely NOT have baby stuff everywhere." Yeah, right! The way her face lights up when she plays with her toys, on her activity mat, etc is worth the mess of colors that now surround our main living space (though you can't see them in these photos as they are all in an area in front of the couch and coffee table where there's lots of free floorspace).

We've had our West Elm Tillary sofa for a few years now and I still get emails (sometimes weekly) about what we think about it.  So here is my updated review: don't buy this sofa!  West Elm has beautiful sofas and this style appealed to us at first, but over the years we've experienced its impracticality.  

Namely:

• The backs come off, and although they are weighted, if they're not up against a wall or furniture they fall if someone's been leaning back on them. It's not fun to have to warn guests that they might make your couch fall apart.
• The areas where you sit most do get worn and the fabric becomes looser and because it's so tightly fitted at first, you can see a ton of looser fabric and "wrinkles" where you sit a lot
• Overall, I wish we would have gone with a more traditional, less modular style

On the plus side:

• It's comfortable (when you sit on the parts that are against a wall)
• It's so wide someone could sleep on it 
• You can configure it many different ways though we never have because we like the "L" shape

So overall, we do regret the purchase but it's been a comfortable couch and we are going to keep it for a few more years and not worry about it since it now has spit-up and drool all over it anyway (wheee!)

I think because of the layout of our home, it might have been nice to have two couches and some chairs or something to make the space feel more separated from the rest of the house. The current sofa placement does make the space feel very open but it doesn't really have a cozy feel. However, our home is very open-concept so I'm not sure how achievable that is anyway. Maybe we can try for a more cozy feel in our next home! I do really love this house but having a baby I totally get why people want even more room---baby stuff is big!

Among the things we've updated:

• New sofa pillows- Kevin has officially given up on trying to curb my pillow obsession. Pick your battles.
• Coffee table now used as diaper changing station (no, seriously, we aren't going up a flight of stairs every time Harper needs a diaper change)
• West Elm 2x2 console desk behind couch- it also acts as storage for more baby things, books and magazines---but it's all hidden- yay!
• New mirror on wall
• New artwork on wall and on desk
• Toy basket for Harp's books and other plush objects
• New faux cherryblossom stems

Here are the wrinkles I was talking about- the fabric just becomes loose

||| source list |||

All Gray & White Print Pillows- Jane.com* & GroopDealz.com*

*You have to check these sites daily as the pillow deals only come around every once in awhile. They cost between $7.99 & $12.99 each which is unreal since many home store charge between $30-$80 for a pillow cover (NOPE!)

Purple pillow covers and skinny pillows- West Elm

"R" monogram pillow- ComfyHeavenPillows on etsy.com

Tillary Sofa- West Elm

Geometric mirror- Kirklands

LOVE metallic print- MadeByGirl.com

LOVE frame- IKEA Ribba series

White desk behind couch- West Elm 2x2 console desk

Limited Edition Stop and Smell the Peonies print- SS Print Shop

Blue & white glass bowl- Marshalls Home Goods

"R" Plate- C.Wonder

Faux Cherryblossoms- Marshalls Home Goods

Mirrored Frame- Threshold at Target

Toy basket (on couch)- Target

Flower candle holder- ZGallerie

White Tray- West Elm

Elephant Bookends- Marshalls Home Goods

I hope y'all enjoyed this update! I really love the way the new couch pillows make the space feel fresh!  Have you updated your decor recently?

Weekend Snaps...

Today I'm blogging from my husband's laptop because my MacBook Air is so messed up that I made an appointment at the Genius Bar tomorrow. Despite deleting most of my photos, it still says my startup disk is too full and now I can't even use it (all of the icons are gone and I'm guessing the weird, grainy screen is Apple's version of "the blue screen of death.") SOS!

Today before heading out for some sushi (yum!) we went to GAP so I could return several pairs of pants I had ordered online (I order tall sizes a lot online and ended up preferring J.Crew's minnie pants so I returned most of the ones I got---but I did keep these ones). It turns out that basically the entire store was on sale today (30-40% off most items) so I exchanged the pants I had purchased for some fall goodies.

 Top Row: Always Skinny Jeans- GAP |  Leopard Flats- GAP 

| Legging Cords in Navy- GAP |

I have to say that GAP's always skinny jeans and their legging pants fit incredibly well. I absolutely love them!  This is the first pair of cords I've owned in probably 10 years and I love them so much I kind of want to get them in more colors. For reference, the regular length fits me well in both the jeans and the cords. I could get the tall length but I prefer them not to bunch at the ankle so the regular length is perfect. I also like to roll them up a bit sometimes.

 Bottom Row: Polka Dot Sweater- in GAP stores (similar, similar)| 

Leopard Flats- GAP | Racerback Bra- GAP

I also stopped in at Right Start in Rice Village and picked up a few things for Harper.

Nose Freida & Filters- we already have one but need another for on-the-go | Bella Tunno pacifier clip | Caterpillar toy | Sassy bear toy (similar)

Also featured in the above photo are these gorgeous headbands from Ryan&Wren on Etsy.  I discovered this amazing shop using Etsy's search function (I think I typed in "modern baby headbands").  How cute are they? Harper wore one of them for her 4 month photos today and I just love them on her!

I hope you're all having an amazing weekend!

Dressing for the Day...

Outfit 1: Tee- J.Crew Factory (similar, also love this) | Skirt- J.Crew | Shoes- Nine West | Necklaces- J.Crew & Tiffany & Co.

Outfit 2: Chambray shirt- Forever 21 (similar, similar) | Pants- J.Crew "minnie" | Shoes- Clarks, c/o | Necklace- J.Crew Factory

If you took a stroll through the office where I work, you would see a very wide array of styles of dress. From uber casual to suits and ties, it's really all over the place.  My style philosophy when it comes to the workplace is "dress for your day."  Some days, I know I'll be at my desk all day writing, making calls, etc., whereas other days I'm going from meeting to meeting at the hospital and need to be dressed up.

The above are two outfits I've worn this week.  The pencil skirt was worn on a day I had an offsite lunch meeting with some other PR folks and the outfit with the pants and chambray shirt was worn on a day when I knew I'd just be at my desk.  I definitely still dress up more than I dress down, but it's nice to have days where I can get away with more casual ensembles.

Do you dress for your day or do you consistently dress up or down? I'd love to know what what your office is like and if you see the same wide array of styles that I do!

Three Month Favorites

This post is a little late...but here's what Harper and me have been loving at three months!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Uppa Baby Vista stroller- we started to take Harper out a lot more after she got her 2 month shots so our stroller has been essential. We no longer use the bassinet- we either use the regular seat tilted back or our car seat with the uppababy adapter. It takes a little bit of use to get the hang of folding it down (I had to call Kevin from the parking lot of IKEA the first time I tried it because I just couldn't get it to fold) but once you figure it out, you're golden.

That's Not My Panda book-  I like that it has high contrast images and textures. It's been fun starting to read to Harper now that she pays a little more attention.

Marina the Mermaid (by Lamaze)- Finally! A baby toy with red hair. This too-cute mermaid has so many textures and colors---and even a little mirror. Harper loves to hold her, touch her and put the hair pieces in her mouth. Babies. eating. all. of. the. things.

O-Ball- Every baby needs one of these as a first toy. Oh my goodness they are so awesome. All of the holes allow baby to grab the ball and hang on to it. It's a great toy for teaching your baby how to hold things when they first start to grab at objects. A must-have! It also comes in a rattle form---we have one of those too!

Lovey- Harper loves loveys. She loves to take naps with them. They are so soft and they just seem to soothe and relax her. She uses one from PBK (a bunny) and one from RH B&C (an elephant that Kevin got me for Christmas when I was pregnant).

Dr. Smith's Diaper Rash Ointment- We are fortunate not to have to deal with diaper rash recently, but Harper did experience diaper rash when she was about 1.5 months old so we use cream preventatively. Not during every diaper change but if she's a little red or if she's had a couple of diapers I will apply some of the cream to protect her skin and in hopes of eliminating rash before it starts. We also have this ointment at daycare for them to use on Harper. I like that it's a true ointment and it just feels very smooth and rich on the skin.

Baby toy rings- Obsessed with these! We use these multi-purpose rings to hang toys from her beloved activity mat and her swing---anything goes! She loves to grab her toys when she is playing on her mat and these allow us to bring them down closer to her level.

Chicco KeyFit 30 carseat- At first, our carseat was the most intimidating thing ever. I always felt like I was doing it wrong and could never get it tight enough, etc. I watched YouTube videos and they helped, but nothing is better than seeing a carseat specialist so that's what we did. She taught us how to correctly use the straps to ensure the most snug and safe fit. It's so worth it to have that peace of mind.

What did you love at 3 months? Share your recommendations in the comments below!  For four months we are looking to buy an exersaucer and more interactive toys.

Swimwear That Saves (Our Planet)

When I was pregnant with Harper, I started becoming more aware of eco-friendly, organic and natural products.  I even changed all of my cleaning products so I wouldn't be exposed to certain chemicals.

That's why when I was approached recently by a brand called ECO SWIM by AQUA GREEN, I was curious to learn more and was immediately impressed with what they had to offer--- swim and beachwear that's made responsibly with a mission to help our planet and reduce our carbon footprint.

ECO SWIM is a U.S. based, fourth generation family-owned company. The family behind the brand believes that they have a responsibility to our families to reduce our overall environmental impact. They currently design, fit, source, cut and sew all of their items in their home state of Pennsylvania and they've pioneered ecological initiatives to keep our beaches and planet beautiful for generations to come---all because they know it's the right thing to do.

The company has also put their money where their mouth is by funding clean-up projects and to date, they've collected over 50,000 pounds of trash from our beaches and they've also planned and funded 13 clean-up events throughout 2013.

I picked out this pretty (and super-comfy) gray cover-up and one of their polka-dot bikinis (I don't think it's a surprise I chose polka-dots since I'm obsessed). Cover-ups are a total must-have right now as I'm nowhere near being ready to frolic on a beach in my bikini yet... or come to think of it, frolic in general. I think it's clear this brand proves that being eco-friendly doesn't mean sacrificing style. 

(LOVE that the sides are adjustable in length!)

And here is the bikini top---it's SO cute and flattering and I love the feminine detail of the layered ruffles (it also comes with straps!) 

How cute are those bottoms?!  I love that they offer a little more coverage. Definitely digging that post-baby!

Cover Up- c/o Eco Swim | Bikini- c/o Eco Swim | Sunglasses- c/o Lulus | Hat- Zingara | Shoes- Ivanka Trump (similar) | Clutch- Kate Spade (similar, similar, love this one too!)

Does how eco-friendly a brand is influence what you buy? I'm curious to hear your answers!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Stripes + Dots in One

Shirt- Banana Republic (on sale! I got a S for reference) | Pants- J.Crew minnie pant | Shoes- J.Crew Factory emery flats | Necklace- J.Crew

Harper: Baby Gap knit pants | Carter's tee (similar w/ long sleeves for fall!)

These J.Crew Factory emery flats are my current faves. I want to get them in every color!  They are initially extremely uncomfortable---but I added an insole (they were too big but the size down was too small) and a gel adhesive heel liner and now they're perfect!  You can also use these rub strips.

Today I went for a simple look---skinny navy blue dress pants with a button up shirt.  I got this shirt recently for 40% off at Banana Republic and I'm really pleased with the fit. It's hard to come by dress shirts that are long enough on me and this one was a good length. Plus---it combines my two favorite patterns---dots and stripes. This shot was taken after a full day os wear so it's wrinkly, but it's cotton so it is what it is.

Meanwhile Harper continues her (my) love for stripes in her Carter's tee (on sale for like $4) and Baby Gap knit pants. They are SO soft. I highly recommend them.

Have a great evening!

Monday Florals + Stripes

Blouse- J.Crew (sold out) similar, this is pretty too! |  Skirt- J.Crew |  Shoes- Nine West |  Necklace- Tiffany & Co.

I purchased this J.Crew blouse when I was still pregnant. Like 8 months pregnant. I knew it would sell out (and it did) so I bit the bullet and got it using an online coupon code.  I don't own another top like it---the print is so beautiful (it was called "punk floral"), the sleeves are a fun length (just a teeny bit longer than the average t-shirt) and the back cutout is a fun detail (and doesn't go so low that your bra shows, which is great).

I decided to pair it with one of my newer No. 2 pencil skirts. I liked the idea of mixing prints to create a more interesting look. I added a navy blue cardigan later on as my office is like the arctic. Thank goodness for space heaters.

Harper wore stripes today too. Her romper is from one of Baby Gap's summer collections, but this one is another cute option! Or you could get a dress that looks really similar.

I hope you had a happy Monday!

Weekend Snaps...

Weekends are so fun because they always mean more family time!  Harper seems to have started her four month sleep regression a little bit early, so that has been a blast, LOL :)

On Saturday we had lunch at Ruggles Green in the Heights and then took Harper to 19th street and walked around while she lounged in her stroller. It all ended with delicious frozen yogurt.

Shirt- Old Navy | Shorts- J.Crew (sold out) | Diaper Bag- Marc by Marc Jacobs

Harper- Baby Gap romper (love this one! and this one and this one)

We've also been going on lots of walks with Harper in the evenings when it's cooler. We love our UppaBaby Vista stroller and I'm thrilled it came with a mosquito net!  We also got her a Mamas + Papas stroller/car seats spiral toy. She loves it!  We don't use it on her carseat though because you should never add accessories to your baby's car seat that did not come with it as it can void the warranty and cause potential safety issues.

I also ordered a new musical playmat for Harper. It's so fun because she can kick the keys and make music as she plays with the hanging toys. It's a bit hit. Last night she played a little song for Lulu, too.

Harper also loves her new Baby Einstein octopus toy. It plays music and says colors.

It's so fun to watch her learn and discover. Her facial expressions are just priceless!

I also updated our new DIY chalkboard (made it out of a mirror) with some fun little notes for September. I clearly need to learn how to do the fancy writing. And yes, I really do heart Oreos.

Despite the fact that little Harps has been fussy all weekend (sleep regression and a majorly stuffy nose, thank you daycare!) she's had countless moments of sweet smiles that we just can't get enough of.

Hope your weekend was as great as ours!

Rediscovering My Closet & Postpartum Bodies

After taking a 12-week maternity leave where I wore v-neck t-shirts and Lululemon shorts every.single.day (no, really) I was ready to rediscover my closet when I returned to work. I hadn't worn a lot of my clothes in so long that it actually feels like I'm wearing something new sometimes, even when I've had the piece for a couple of years (which is kind of awesome!) I've purchased new items recently too, but there's nothing like mixing and matching new finds with old favorites.

Though all of my old clothes fit me, which I'm surprised by and thankful for (and so is my wallet), some fit differently. Not differently enough not to wear them anymore, but a postpartum body just isn't the exact same as before, especially so soon after giving birth. After all, it takes nine months to put it on and even if you're back at your pre-pregnancy weight, or even below it, your body doesn't quite look or feel the same (and it shouldn't).

What I recognize is that it will take time and a lot of hard work to get my body to where I'd like it to be.  I definitely want to feel strong and be toned again because I have zero muscle mass right now (and darn it, I worked hard for it before!)  so I've started to walk more often by taking Harper out in her stroller now that it's cooled down a bit in the evenings (thank goodness for mosquito nets!) It's a nice time for our family to just relax and talk about our days as we stroll along, away from distractions like TVs and laptops.  I've also tried to do planks when I'm on the floor with Harper during tummy time, but lets just say those were a challenge and are going to require more practice.

Finding the time to actually work out is tough because by the time we do her evening bath time routine and Harper is asleep and I pump one last time, I'm exhausted. My fitness goal for the next few months is to start up Bar Method classes again and go every Saturday. Slow and steady. I know if I strive for more, I will end up disappointing myself so I'm starting off with the goal of once a week to get some strength and energy back. I'm also going to physiotherapy for my neck once a week and it's amazing how much of a difference it has made after just two appointments. 

I don't like to give myself a hard time about my body because I'm incredibly proud that I grew and gave birth to an amazing little human life, and also because I'm quite okay with it. Is it the same as before? No. But I never claimed it was or would be (read more about that in my "post baby body" post). 

What struck me to write this is actually a post by my online friend Anna Sacconne.  She and her husband have a YouTube channel that chronicles their daily lives and a beautiful one year old daughter, Emilia.  Anna recently wrote about her postpartum body (she is currently pregnant with her second baby) and how much criticism she received when she posted bikini photos from a family vacation.  The comments ranged from "she should be ashamed to wear a bikini" to "if my stomach like that I would kill myself."  If you know Anna, you know she's gorgeous and tiny. Not that it matters how tiny she is---but it puts into context how ridiculous and cruel many of those comments were. A lot of women would be thrilled to have a postpartum body like hers (myself included!)

I too have recently read some not-so-nice criticisms about my postpartum body online, though not quite at that level of harshness, so Anna's post really struck me. I can't say it better than she did so I encourage you to read it here.  

What I agree with Anna about the most is that getting my body "back" is very, very low on my list of priorities. I want to focus on my family and spend time cherishing moments with my daughter especially now that I'm back to working full time. Every moment she's awake is time I want to spend with her and devote to her. At the same time, I do want to be active and healthy so I can set a good example for Harper as she grows.

As a new moms, we're all judged so much. Every decision is put under a microscope and everyone has an opinion. I recently blogged about the "I Support You" movement where moms are supporting one another about how they chose to feed their babies---so why can't we support each other about this, too? 

Postpartum emotions are full of ups and downs and the last thing women need to be doing is putting down other women's bodies during a time where there's so much else going on.  A time when there are many more important things to focus on and celebrate. 

To want or expect a woman to look exactly as she did before giving birth is asking her to pretend what happened, didn't. It's asking her to take back those nine months where her belly grew and stretched (and maybe other areas too) to make this new life she loves so much. 


When I see photos of myself wearing my old clothes- I feel good about myself. Otherwise, I wouldn't wear them. I wear them because they fit and because they make me feel good. For being just shy of four months postpartum, I think I'm doing pretty well. Like any woman, I have days where I feel lumpy and puffy but I don't let those days define how I feel about myself overall. 

before baby// after baby

before baby // after baby

before baby // after baby

before baby // after baby (same pants, same size, different color)

The bottom line is that some women seem to want to find fault in other women and want to bash them for any reason they can find. I can tell you that in the four years I've been blogging, I've been criticized for being too thin, not being thin enough, having a "creepy" baby bump (seriously!) and also for my postpartum body. It's really disheartening that women spend their time doing this, but it is what it is. As long as I keep sharing outfits, snippets of my life and family, etc, I know it won't stop, but I love doing this so it's just something I have to deal with.

I'll leave you with part of Anna's blog post that I think sums it up well:

"So please bear with me as I continue to share imperfect pictures of my current self and remember to hate less & love more...whether that be yourself or someone else.  Because life is too short to spend under your own little cloud of negativity and critiquing other women's bodies.  What's important is that you are happy with who YOU are."

And I am. Sorry if that bothers you, but if it does, it says more about you than it does about me. 

And just to clarify, I have never once said or "pretended" that my body was the same as before and I am not uncomfortable with my new body (please refer to this post, I've always been honest and forthcoming about it). What I'm not comfortable with is people making rude comments about my postpartum body---and it's not because they hurt me (though they are annoying)---it's because they hurt all mothers, especially those who are struggling to lose weight and are having a difficult time accepting their postpartum bodies. Think about the broader impact of your statements.

An Emerald Dress for the Last Days of Summer

It's not even close to the "last days of summer" here in Houston where the heat and humidity continue to be bountiful. I'm more ready for fall than I ever have been.  Alas, mother nature probably won't grant us cooler temps until October, so I'm still wearing some of my favorite breezier summer dresses.

This one, from Lulu's, has a beautiful low back which is a fun and unexpected detail. Plus, it keeps you pretty cool.

 (...and you can still see the scar from my mole removal. sigh.)

Dress - c/o Lulu's | Sunglasses- c/o Lulu's | Necklace- GroopDealz.com (similar) | Hat- Walgreens (similar, similar, similar) | Bracelet- J.Crew (and here and here) | Lip Gloss- Almay Color+Care in Blooming | Shoes- Ivanka Trump- (similar, similar)

Hope you're enjoying cooler weather---or if it's still hot, I hope you have a fully functioning A/C system :)

Wishing y'all a great weekend!