Non-Maternity Maternity Style

Today is a reader request day.  I received an email wanting some suggestions for non-maternity clothes that you could wear during pregnancy and after.  With both of my pregnancies I bought minimal maternity clothes. It seemed like such a waste to me to buy something I could only wear 9 months plus I was not a fan of most of the maternity items I came across.  Really the only maternity pieces I bought were a pair of jeans (old navy has great cheap maternity jeans), jean shorts, and several maternity tanks.  Otherwise I tried to use pieces from my closet. 

A tip is to shop at TJmaxx or Marshalls and Forever 21 for cheap finds.  You can always size up from your normal size and find some great cheap alternatives there.  ASOS also has a great maternity section if you want actual maternity wear.

A few non-maternity maternity staples for me were:

ONE | Spanx Leggings

I wore these my entire pregnancy. Towards the end I would just wear them under my belly.  They were even better afterwards.  I swear they helped flatten my stomach.   I wore them almost everyday for the first month after I delivered Frances and I still wear them!

TWO | One Resort Maxi Dress 

I lived in this dress while pregnant and I still wear it now!  It is so loose and flowy you can wear it the whole nine months.

Here is a view of me wearing it pregnant and not pregnant. and yep I love it so much I own it in 3 colors:)

THREE | Wilt Trapeze Dress

Trapeze dresses are always perfect maternity dresses because they flare out. This one also comes in gray.

  

FOUR | Hatch

Hatch is line that came out right at the end of my pregnancy with Frances.  It is genius.  The clothes are made to be worn during your pregnancy and after.  I love all the Hatch Designs, I wish it would have come out earlier in my pregnancy.  If you click on the link for the dresses it will show you a non-pregnant model wearing the dress as well so you can see how it fits both ways.  You can view the entire Hatch collection here.

Slouch Dress | Stripe Dress

Grecian Dress | Lawn Dress

Tee | Blouse

Henley | Stripe Dress

FIVE | Poncho

I loved ponchos while I was pregnant. I had a Vince one I wore all the time over jeans and dresses.  This Vince version is 50% off.  A classic piece you could wear during and after pregnancy.

 Here is picture of mine paired with a stripe dress. The stripe dress I picked up at Old Navy. I was 9 months pregnant here, that is the great thing about ponchos you can wear them the entire time.

SIX | Stretch Skirt

I know this seems weird but I loved a fitted knit skirt while pregnant.  It was so comfortable and it looked so cute with loose blouses and tees.  I owned this Alexander Wang skirt in green and wore it all the time.  Below is a picture of it and another example of a fitted knit skirt.

SEVEN | Swing Sweater

 The JCrew swing sweater was my favorite during my pregnancies.  I actually wore it to the hospital the day I delivered Frances.  Stock up on these they are amazing.  The lightweight linen version is on sale now too. Use code GOSHOPPING to get extra 30% off.

This is picture of me wearing it right after I had Frances.

NINE | Liz Lange Tank

These tanks are Maternity but I swear by them!  I actually still wear mine today.  Since they ar longer they are great layered with skinny jeans and leggings.  You will not find a better tank top for the price, $12.99. And right now they are buy one get one 50% off. 

I rounded up a few other pieces that are Non-Maternity but would be great for before and after.

I always welcome reader requests so shoot me an email if you have an idea!

Thoughts For Thursday

A few weeks ago we did a photo shoot with Pink Chicken, one of my favorite kids lines.  They asked Frances Moon to be their model for the Fall line coming out in 2016.  I was ecstatic because I just adore their line.  The photos won't be released til next year when the clothes come out but I had to share a few photos we took of Frances and Henry at the end.  They were rewarded with lollipops for their hard work.

I wanted to share two recent purchases I am loving.  Both are under $100 too.

This Vince Camuto Blouse has become such a favorite I am considering ordering another color.  It is great because you can wear if off shoulder or pulled up.  Runs on the large side, definitely size down.  I am in a size xs.  It comes in 6 different colors.

Vince Camuto Blouse

also wearing DL1961 Shorts | Gigi Olivia Tote | Sam Edleman Flats | Ray-Ban Glasses

Here is a view of it on my shoulders. 

Frances was loving her Jeni's ice cream:)

Second favorite outfit is this Topshop Dress.  It is so comfortable.  Plus I love the fringe + embroidery detail.  This also runs on the large side.  It is loose and would be fabulous pregnant.

Topshop Dress

The Nordstrom sale is still going strong.  I wanted to share a few beauty favorites on sale.

This PMD machine is amazing.  The machine was made to replicate the treatment used for microdermabrasion by using the same aluminum oxide crystals on spinning discs.   It slightly suctions your skin and it feels really weird at first.  I swear by mine and I use it about once a week.   It tightens your skin, helps remove dead skin, and smooths your fine lines.    It is normally $179 but now it is $106.  

PMD- Personal Microderm Device

My other top 10 beauty picks from the sale.

The Nest Candles never go on sale, I had to treat myself to a set of them!

I read Elin Hilderbrand's, The Rumor at the beach and Jane Green's Beach House.  Both were such good reads.  I think I read each book in 2 days, the characters definitely suck you in.  I recommend both, although I think I may have liked The Rumor a bit more.

Matt and I just booked a trip to New York City next month and I am so excited.  I have not been to the city in probably 6 years.  Would love to know any favorite shops, restaurants, or things to see/do while we are there.

 I am totally obsessed with this chocolate.  If you have not tried it you need to.  They just came out with a new flavor that has cinnamon toast crunch mixed in the chocolate.  I have not seen it yet but when I do I am buying it.  I purchased my bars at World Market and Starbucks, not sure what other retailers carry them.

Grilled Lettuce.  I am thinking this needs to happen in my life.  I have never grilled lettuce before but I keep seeing recipes of it and now I want to try it.  I will try and recreate a recipe soon and share!

We had our monthly girl's supper club last night and this is what I wore.  This is the one dress I purchased from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale.  I figured I could wear it now and into Fall with tights and booties.  Runs TTS.

Alice and Olivia Geo Dress

Thursday Vibes.

Southern Cobb Salad with Homemade Ranch

I am back with another salad.  In the Summer all I want to eat is salads.  All day everyday.

This salad is all you need for a meal.  Creamy avocado, fresh crisp corn, tangy blue cheese, salty bacon and a homemade dressing to top things off.  Little confession I usually never buy store bought dressing, except for the odd occasion. I find homemade dressings taste so much better but they do take time.  If you don't want to make your own Ranch dressing- use the Hidden Valley powder packet and mix it up, it is second best to homemade.  This homemade dressing was full of flavor from all the fresh herbs and really good but next time I may make a few tweaks to it. Matt and I thought it needed a little something like maybe some fresh lemon juice added to it.   I added  pickled okra because I love pickled okra.  I could seriously eat a whole jar of okra.   I also boiled some extra eggs and made deviled eggs to go on the side.  Matt got into the eggs before I could even get a picture of them. But the deviled eggs and pickled okra give this Cobb a Southern twist.  This salad is perfect for a Summer dinner!

Enjoy.

|| S O U T H E R N  C O B B   S A L A D  +  H O M E M A D E   R A N C H ||

- 1 head Romaine Lettuce shredded

- 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes halved

- 3 ears corn with corn sliced off ( I baked the corn unwrapped at 350 about 15 mins first)

- 3-4 green onions sliced

- 1 avocado diced

- 2 hard boiled eggs diced

- 6-8 pieces of bacon cooked and crumbled

- 1 cup blue cheese crumbled

- Rotisserie Chicken diced

- pickled okra 

- Deviled eggs on the side

R AN C H  D R E S S I N G 

via Foodie with the Family

1¼ cups cultured buttermilk
1 cup sour cream
¾ cup mayonnaise
⅓ cup, packed, finely chopped dill
¼ cup finely chopped parsley (flat-leaf or curly)
¼ cup finely chopped chives or green parts only of scallions
¾ teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano
1 large clove garlic, peeled and finely minced or pressed (or ½ teaspoon granulated garlic)
1 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
freshly ground black pepper to taste

 

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until well mixed.  You can also stir by hand as well to mix.

For the salad, I like to place everything on a big platter divided.  That way everyone can serve their own salads and put what they want on it.  This would be stellar with grilled chicken but I was lazy and used a Rotisserie chicken.  Would also be great with grilled corn.  You actually don't even have to cook the corn but I usually bake it in the oven 10-15 just to slightly cook it.  Mix all together and drizzle with the ranch!

Kid Style | Back to School Favorites

I have to admit I love dressing my kids.  It is so fun to play around with different styles, although these days Sterling has an opinion of his own and wants to choose his own outfits.  I do always love seeing what he chooses and seeing his little personality come out in his outfits. 

With school starting in just a month, I picked up a few things for "back to school' for the kids.

Choosing outfits for the kids was the easy part, getting them both to look at the camera at the same time not so easy:)

Mini Boden Tee | Peek Camo Pants | Converse Low Top Sneakers 

Tucker and Tate Dress | Converse High Top Sneakers

This is Frances Moon working it.  She takes modeling very seriously.

They both are wearing converse sneakers which are a favorite around here year round.  I tend to find Converse runs on the large side so if you are debating about sizes, I suggest ordering down a size.

Frances Moon's dress is even cuter in person.  The colors are even more vibrant than they show up in the photos. She is wearing the size 24 months.

Chunky little legs.

Sterling always chooses camo when he has a choice.  He also prefers comfy pants (aka elastic waist pants) so these pants were real winners. Camo + elastic waist = one happy little man.

We always love Mini Boden tee shirts, the quality is fantastic and the designs are always really cool like the rhino tee he is wearing. It is currently 40% off too!

Sterling's Babiator Sunglasses are part of the Nordstrom sale and only $12.

You can shop their back to school looks below

The Nordstrom Anniversary sale opens to the public Thursday but if you are a card holder you can still shop early until then.  There are some adorable kid's clothes on sale perfect for back to school.

I always stock up on the Hannah Anderson PJS when they are on sale.  The quality is amazing.

My kids are PJ obsessed and love getting new ones.

This Little Giraffe Blanket is hands down the softest baby blanket.   They make such wonderful baby gifts.

Frances still sleeps with hers.  

 The Babiator Sunglasses are awesome for little kids. Sterling and Frances both have a pair.  They really fit their little heads well and actually stay on.   They also come in a Baby Version.

This is also when I buy the kids winter coats since they are reduced.  

Patagonia is always a favorite in the Mason House.  I ordered Frances this pink one and Sterling the black.  These jackets are wind proof and water resistant.  I also like that they are not bulky, they are still thin enough to be able to buckle them in their car seats.

I couldn't resist this fur vest for Frances.  We had a similar one last year and she wore it all the time.

Tucker and Tate Faux Fur Vest

I just love Sperry's on the little boys. Sterling loves to wear his "boat shoes" so he can match Daddy.  We have this navy pair and Sterling wears them often.   I like the navy because it is different from the traditional brown but still really classic.

Sperry Billfish Shoes

Other kid and baby favorites from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale.

Thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. .