Maternity Photos!

I had the opportunity to have some maternity photos shot by one of the photographers at work in our home and I'm excited to share them with you!

I recommend having maternity photos taken because it's such a special time to capture in your life.  You may not look or feel your best when you're pregnant, but working with a photographer you're comfortable with will make all the difference. I'm glad I'll always have these to capture my pregnancy. 

Here are some of my favorite shots:

As I write the post, I'm 8 days away from my due date and like I mentioned last week, it still feels surreal to think she will be here soon. 

Hope everyone is having a great week so far!

All photos are copyright by Allen Kramer.

A Cropped Denim Jacket

I haven't owned a denim jacket in a long time but suddenly I was craving one.  I wanted something lightweight for summer and a darker denim (though I love the light ones too!)  

I was browsing at Nordstrom last week and saw a really cute denim jacket on display and decided to try it on just for fun.  It was reasonably priced at $69 (some can go into the $200 range and I didn't want to spend that) and it fit really nicely and was really thin (perfect for the hot weather).  The jacket is by Kut from the Kloth Denim and it comes in different colors. For reference, I got a medium and I would say it fits on the smaller side, so size up if you're between sizes. I'm 38 weeks, 2 days pregnant in these photos :)

Denim Jacket- Kut from the Kloth denim @ Nordstrom (light color, dark color)

Necklace- J.Crew 

Maxi Dress- c/o PB&J Boutique 

Shoes- Steve Madden- similar, similar, similar

A few ladies have asked me if this maxi dress is see-thru because of the close-up photo where you can see skin through it (it's actually a nude slip, not my skin).  Yes, the entire fabric of the dress is sheer. I have to wear it with a nude slip to make sure my underwear doesn't show through.  

I took a photo of the dress upside-down so you could see how the fabric is throughout the garment if you're thinking of purchasing.  The sheerness doesn't bother me, but I realize that it may not be up everyone's alley.  I've kind of noticed that most maxi dresses that are a jersey/cotton material are not thick enough to wear without a slip and I wear them with slips even when I am not pregnant. My mint green one required a slip as well. 

Wishing everyone a happy weekend!

Creating a Date Night Look with Almay's Smart Shade Mousse Makeup

Now that we're in the home stretch of my pregnancy, my husband and I have been spending a lot of time getting ready for baby.  One thing everyone told us is to make sure to go on a few date nights before the baby comes.  I think that's such great advice, because your life as a couple is about to dramatically change as you bring a new life into the world (sleepless nights, most of your attention devoted to baby, new routines, etc.), so it's nice to spend some quality time together as a twosome before baby's arrival.

Recently I got to test out some new Almay products to create a "date night" look and it was really fun to step outside of my typical makeup routine and test out some new products.

The first product I tried is Almay's new Smart Shade Mousse makeup.  I had never tried a mousse makeup before and I never wear liquid foundation so I was curious as to how it would work on my skin.  What's amazing is that the foundation is white in the packaging---but as you rub it into your skin, it instantly transforms into your ideal shade, right before your eyes. I used the Smart Shade Mousse makeup in the color "light."  I was really surprised at how much I loved the texture since I'm a powder girl.  It goes on really smooth spreads evenly and gives your skin a nice, airbrushed look.  It provides medium coverage---I could still see some of my freckles through it (which I love). I followed the mousse makeup with a touch of concealer to cover some blemish marks (hello pregnancy!) and then sealed it all with a light dusting of Almay's pressed powder (also in the color light).

Almay's Smart Shade Mousse makeup in the color "light"

Almay's pressed powder

 

To complete my look, I was sent Almay's intense i-color eyeshadows in the "bold nudes" collection, which was right up my alley.  The long-lasting shades are nicely pigmented and make application easy because all three colors are meant to complement each other.  I actually chose to combine two palettes to create my date night look.  I used the dark brown from the palette on the left to line my top lash line (I dipped my brush into water first to get an even bolder line) and then I used a combination of the two purple shades on my lower lash line---first lining with the darker plum and then going over that with a lighter purple which had a beautiful iridescence to it.  Finally, I used the shimmery ivory shade from the purple palette to make the inner corners of my eyes and my brow bone pop.

To get a sunny glow on my skin, I swiped Almay's smart shade bronzer onto my cheeks, the sides of my nose and in my hairline.

Here was my final date night look:

 

A close-up of the eye makeup---it's hard to tell from far away, but up-close, you can see that I have a bit of an olive color mixed into my eyes---and this gorgeous purple shadow really brings that color out. Maybe I need to wear purple more often!

 

I hope you liked this look!  

 

Check out Almay's website for more information about their products and don't forget to like Almay on Facebook!

"What's your go-to date night look?" Answer in the comments below for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.

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37 weeks! FULL TERM

I was so blown away by all of the thoughtful and sweet comments on my last pregnancy update post---thank you so much to all of you who took the time to leave a comment or email me about your breastfeeding experience. It was so nice to hear from mommas in similar situations to me and I'm so glad to have gotten so much encouragement and support from so many of you. A million thanks!

I'm two weeks out from my due date today and emotionally I'm in a place where it all feels really surreal.  The birth of the baby still feels far away (it's not!) and for some reason it's so hard for me to picture this beautiful life growing inside of me actually being in my arms soon.  

I think that if you've always wanted to be a mom, you kind of picture what your life might be like with a baby but now that it's so close, it's hard to actually imagine the moment where I'll first see her face and hold her tiny little body.  I am so excited and have so much anticipation for that incredible, life-changing moment, but like I said, it feels very surreal. It doesn't help that I was watching Holly Madison's E Special about the birth of her baby while writing this post...definitely teared up a little when the doctor placed her baby on her chest after birth. 

In terms of being prepared for our little arrival, the nursery is done, but I'm going to post the photos after her arrival because her name is in there.  Speaking of the name---I've gotten a lot of questions about it. What I can tell you is that we've had her name picked out for about four years now. I've kept a list of baby names we love on my iPhone for a long time and when we found out it was a girl we knew immediately the name we were going to choose.  We've been calling her by her name since we found out she's a she and we already have about 17 nicknames for her (yep, we're those people!) 

All of the newborn and 0-3 size clothing is washed and most of the essentials have arrived at our doorstep (thanks, Amazon!) We've assembled the pack n' play, swing, bouncer, etc and our carseat is being installed this weekend. It feels good to have most of the major items taken care of. 

Some of her clothing--I have it all divided by size. Up until last week I only had about four pieces of newborn and 0-3 clothing so I ordered more online and my mother in law got us some awesome stuff as well. Everyone told me to buy bigger sizes and then I realized I didn't have anything for her to wear those first few months.  I kept the tags on the larger clothing like a lot of you recommended in case she outgrows it before she has a chance to wear it. I made little sizing tags out of scrapbook paper (you can see them above) to divide up all of the sizes too.

I know babies need to be changed a lot when they are little so I also have some simple/plain onesies in newborn and 0-3 sizes in her dresser.

I got this cute little hanger thing at Marshalls Home Goods and I had my husband install it in her closet to hang all of her hooded towels from it. I got each towel as a gift at my baby showers so they are extra special!

Also...how cute is this hat? (from The Tiny Toppers on Etsy.com) I bought it for her newborn photos!

I still haven't fully packed my hospital bag but it should be done soon...usually I'm so prepared for everything but I guess the whole "so surreal" feeling has kept me from having a strong sense of urgency. I figure if I went into labor early I could just toss most of what I need into my hospital bag and go.

In terms of how I'm feeling these days...it is what it is, ha. My hands and feet have swollen up a bit, my back hurts, almost all positions are uncomfortable to sit in and I'm still feeling a lot of pressure down low---but hey, two weeks out, I can't really expect anything else.

I'll find out at my OB appointment on Thursday if I've made any progress---last week the baby was low and my cervix was softening. My OB won't let me go past 41 weeks so I will definitely have the baby sometime before June 5th.  

How far along? 37 weeks (I do these a week behind as a recap of the previous week, so I'm actually 38 weeks today).  

Total weight gain/loss: I've gained about 27 pounds now. 

Maternity clothes? I am still wearing non-maternity tops (aside from the Liz Lange tanks) and maxi dresses and my GAP skinny maternity pants. Ladies who are thinking of becoming pregnant one day---hang on to all of those looser tops and tunics you bought because they will get you through your entire pregnancy.

Stretch marks? Still none. I'm using Belli's Elasticity Belly Oil and Mustela double-action stretch mark cream in rotation. 

Symptoms: Pretty much what I mentioned above. Overall general discomfort. The other night I woke up a lot and had cramps that radiated down through my thigs and legs. It was awful.

Sleep: It's been okay. During the work week I tend to sleep better than on weekends.

Best moment this week: Feeling like things were getting done for the baby. Everything is ordered and organized. It's all coming together and that's a good feeling.  I also had a good NST test so positives all around.
 Have you told family and friends: Yes!

Miss Anything? Being comfortable

Movement: She has been pretty active lately. It's so tight in there though. Hopefully she will see the running out of space as a cue to let us welcome her into the world :)

Food cravings: Subway, candy, ice cream

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just eating large portions, so I'm trying to eat small portions very often

Have you started to show yet: All people ask these days is when I'm due.

(this was actually taken today, at 38 weeks)

Baby is a: Girl!

Belly Button in or out? Out

Wedding rings on or off? I finally stopped wearing them this week. I just wear a thin, faux band now.

Happy or Moody most of the time: I feel emotional but overall happy.

Looking forward to: My OB appointments, seeing my maternity photos, meeting our baby SOON!

Thank you for reading and for all of my pregnant readers, please feel free to check in below as well and let me know how your pregnancy is going :) I also welcome everyone's advice and comments about pregnancy!

Pregnancy Favorites

Now that I'm just two and a half weeks away from my due date, I thought it would be a good time to share my pregnancy favorites.

I'll start with skincare because it's the first thing I changed when I got a positive pregnancy test.  My two favorite skincare products have been Belli's acne control spot treatment and Belli's eye brightening cream, both created with ingredients safe for pregnancy.

The spot treatment does seem to help keep blemishes at bay and treats existing ones. It's not as strong as formulas I used before pregnancy, but it gets the job done and I'm thrilled I found a spot treatment that was safe to use.

I've also really enjoyed Belli's eye cream. I wasn't initially head over heels with it, but over time I really did notice that it was keeping the skin under my eyes bright and well moisturized.  Plus, one tube lasted me my entire pregnancy!

Next up are stretch mark creams. Let's face it---stretch marks are totally based on genetics, but it doesn't hurt to keep you growing belly supple and moisturized.  My favorites ended up being Mustela's double action stretchmark cream and Belli's belly elasticity oil.

The Mustela cream is the absolute perfect texture and I liked its light, sort of floral scent.  It feels like a really luxurious cream and it absorbed really nicely into the skin.  I also ended up getting baby products from Mustela's line and I can't wait to use them!

Belli's elasticity oil smells heavenly and spreads super easily. I liked alternating between a cream and an oil.  Both products also last a really long time, especially when you're alternating.

For my hair, I've pretty much kept up the same routine but I've absolutely loved Keratase's Elixir Ultime and Macadamia's deep repair hair mask.  My ends have been really dry (not sure if that's pregnancy related or not) so these products have been lifesavers.

I apply the Elixir Ultime from the nape of my neck to the ends of my hair before blowdrying.  I use about 5-7 pumps and this stuff lasts forever, so don't hesitate at its steeper price.

As far as the hair mask, I continue to repurchase this product over and over because nothing else compares to it. I've tried expensive and inexpensive conditioners and I can truly say this one is the absolute best at leaving hair feeling moisturized and smooth. It also smells incredible.

I haven't been doing my nails as often during pregnancy. I might paint them every 10-14 days. But I've only been using "3 free" formulas that are free of the harmful ingredients some nail polishes contain.  Essie, OPI and Butter London are the three brands I've been using.  My favorite colors have been:

Essie- minimalistic and go ginza
OPI- sweet heart and bubble bath
Butter London- teddy girl

Pregnancy for some reason seemed to make my lashes less lush than usual, so a good mascara was essential to make the most of them.  I have love love loved DiorShow waterproof mascara and Clinique's bottom lash mascara.  They truly bring out the best in my lashes.

Now onto some style faves.  As I've mentioned before, I didn't buy any maternity clothing aside from two pairs of pants and some tank tops so I've really been able to utilize the looser pieces in my existing wardrobe. Even in the last two weeks or my pregnancy, I'm still wearing non-maternity tops that are a looser or tunic-style.  It's been wonderful to be able to maximize my existing wardrobe in this way.

First mention will go to GAP's really skinny maternity pants which I scored before they seemed to have discontinued them.  They are the perfect pants---fitted throughout and they made all of my longer/looser tops look pulled together. They look great with both flats and heels. I got these early on in my pregnancy and have been able to wear them through to the very end. Best investment ever (and they were on sale for like $25 so not really much of an investment at all!)

(these are the non-maternity version, but you get the idea)

I've also loved Lululemon's cool racerback tanks and their Wunder Under crops. Lululemon does sell the cool racerbacks in an extra-long length (limited colors), but I've found the normal ones still fit over my belly because they are stretchy and long.  My wunder unders have also been fantastic---I just roll the front down on them so it's not pressing on my belly.  They are stretchy and super comfy, perfect for weekends!

Liz Lange's long & lean maternity tanks from Target have been a Godsend because they are SO long.  I would stick with your regular size on these because the length will stretch over your belly perfectly.  They are a super soft cotton, thick and stretchy. I will continue to wear these post-pregnancy as well.

Another pair of tights I've enjoyed are these footless tights by Preggers. They are compression tights which help with swelling during pregnancy and help improve circulation. I was able to wear them under some dresses/tunics when it was cooler here in Houston and the compression really does feel nice---especially if you'll be on your feet a lot during the day.  They also have a super stretchy part over the belly that grows as you do---unlike normal pantyhose that made me feel like I was choking my belly.  

I stopped wearing heels a couple of months ago. I was just over it.  My feet started to swell this week for the first time which is an odd feeling, but with just 2.5 weeks left I can't complain.  I have been obsessed with my Tory Burch Reva flats throughout my third trimester.  They are comfortable and make walking around at work a lot easier. I've worn them more in the last few months than ever before.

The maxi dress I got from PB&J Boutique has totally saved me this pregnancy. I wear it on weekends all.the.time.  Sometimes on Saturday and Sunday (don't judge!) It's so comfy and flattering.

(obviously earlier on in my pregnancy)

I also got several great maxi dresses for my baby showers including from Forever21 and Zappos.com, so check out those sites for some great options (I linked the ones I purchased above).

One last item---GAP's racerback sports bra. Lifesavers. With the rib pain I started to have towards the end of my second trimester, I could no longer wear regular bras, even when I went up a band size. These are soft, stretchy, comfy and overall perfect for pregnancy (though if you are very well endowed, they may not provide enough support, word of warning).

Those are all of the items I can think of for now! I hope you enjoyed this post. Please feel free to share your pregnancy favorites in the comments below!

FTC disclaimer: I purchased all of these products with my own money except for the Preggers tights and PB&J maxi dress, which were sent to me for review.