Honestly.

Getting really good at blogging regularly, that is sarcasm in case you couldn't pick up on it. 

I am about to get deep y'all! I think I realized in my current wanting period of all things new, how much I rely on what new I am getting to feel good about myself.  It isn't always a bad thing, I love that I take joy in a new pair of boots or sunnies.  I love that I have narrowed down the silly things that are important to me, but where does that leave me when I can't buy? I am a tired and hormonal pregnant woman.  I feel less like myself that usual.  I am relying on my upcoming birthday to fill a void in my life.  I know what I have in my closet is just as capable of giving me a great outfit as something new.  I know the Sorel booties I am literally dying to get for my birthday will yes elevate an outfit, but my style doesn't depend on them.  I love styling myself and my daughter and will enjoy styling this new baby.  I guess I just want anyone who feels the same way about new things is that it is ok to want, but how awesome you look and feel isn't determined by "new". 

It is funny though, because 9 months in I just have stopped thinking I can buy for myself.  I did cheat a couple weeks ago and buy a new pair of DIFF sunnies when they were on sale.  I felt badly about it for about a minute, but then got over it.  Blame the hormones.  I did finally use a gift card from my birthday last year to buy a new kimono, which felt like a need because I had legitimately worn my others no less than 2947 times this pregnancy.  For anyone looking for a few transitional pieces for pregnancy and beyond, a kimono is where it is at.  That or a duster cardigan if you are pregnant in the cooler months. 

Here I am, 36.5 weeks pregnant and just over taking daily pictures.  It is still 9000 degrees outside and I just don't want to stay in normal clothes for very long.  I am interested to see how I feel post baby.  I will be jazzed to zip up a pair of jeans, but also might not put a high value on "out of the house" clothing then either.  I am very excited to have this sweet baby and honestly LOVE being pregnant. I am ready for my thighs to stop rubbing together so much, though.  Here are bump pictures/OOTD pictures. 

My name is Julia and I repeat kimonos!!!

Maternity pictures.  The wind was blowing just right!!!

 This striped dress with red vans is seriously a favorite outfit of mine.  I feel like a cool mom. 

Summer Break

Hi y'all!!

For those of you holding your breath for a new blog post, it is your lucky day.  I took roughly 6 weeks off.  Good thing this isn't my job, huh???
June flew by, I already told y'all about my cheating in terms of a few new tanks to cover this ever growing belly and the beautiful bridesmaid dress.  We traveled a lot and I was so tempted to shop.  Doesn't everyone shop on vacation and during travels.  It rained at the beach one day during the babymoon and we walked around the mall.  Well that was like a punch to the gut.  Give me alllllll the new clothes.  My sweet mama was in town for two weeks and it was such an amazing time to visit.  We sort of prepped for the new baby and just enjoyed our time together.  She bought me a dress for my maternity pictures coming up, so thanks Ma!
July I started regularly taking pictures again.  I am getting big, let me tell you.  Almost 30 weeks pregnant is a lot to squeeze into some clothes.  If you are pregnant and shying away from fitted clothes, DON'T!!  You will be surprised how a bump can really fill out your shape.  My favorite part of being pregnant is rocking the bump.  Letting people know this baby is here!!!! I accidentally poked someone with my belly while volunteering at a battalion event last week. Like forgot how big I was and just "bop" bumped right into them.   I have had some sweet friends let me borrow some dresses.  Dresses are my ideal while pregnant, especially with as hot as it is.  We have been living at the neighborhood pool.  Jacob and I assume the lifeguards have a name for me like "pregnant curly lady" because RLC and I are there like clockwork at opening.  OOOOH speaking of swimming, I did have to buy a new swimsuit.  My tankini wasn't cutting it anymore and then big blue was struggling being my only suit.  I figured a new suit was ok, because I treat it like underwear and I am not trying to thrift for undies.  If you are still in need of summer inspiration, I have been loving my footwear lately.  Adult salt waters are my best friends, the Steve Madden Donddi, and then of course the ever faithful Birkenstock.  Birks are like a best friend...they love your feet at your worst!
Loving this summer with my baby and waiting for the next sweet baby.  I am also loving that I have made it half way, and that being said I will need to control myself come January!!!!!  I have rudely started giving my mama and Jacob birthday ideas like an ungrateful teenager.  They still love me though.  Fun Fact, I will be 39 weeks pregnant on my 30th birthday.  My mama was 30 while she gave birth to me back in 1988.  I am grateful for the updates and advancements in maternity clothes since then.
P.S. My husband is working through lunch these days, which means I have to stay dressed until he gets home after work or have to take a picture myself.  The struggle is SO real.  See that last picture where there is an arm chair in the bottom half, that was after like 10 minutes of trying to take a picture with self-timer.  It was the best of the worst and I think all I can focus on is why I am not wearing shoes.  #barefootandpregnant

Cheated a bit...

Time flies when you are dying to buy all the new things.
So in the spirit of total honesty, I have to tell y'all I cheated.  I bought two things brand new.  One kind of didn't count, and one definitely does.  My sweet sister who is a Matilda Jane trunk keeper was having a sample sale.  She had a return that had not been worn and I wanted it.  So I bought it, they were a good deal, they feel awesome on, and I love them.  MJ ruffles will make your life better. Still doesn't justify my purchase, but I deemed them a necessity if my wardrobe for this pregnancy.  I styled them this blog post, they will be my last picture and I think everyone can agree they were worth it.  SECOND failure, I had to break down and buy my bridesmaid dress brand new.  I searched and I searched mercari and poshmark for a dress that would work for my wonderful friend's color scheme and that would fit this growing belly.  I felt bad for all of 2 seconds buying it, but end of the day so worth it.  Its a maternity dress and the color is beautiful and I think I am going to double use it and restyle it for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in November/December after I birth this baby.

Now that I have come clean with y'all I feel a little better.  I don't think I have purchased anything B/S/T recently.  I have my eye on a t-shirt dress which is my jam until this belly really protrudes.
I finallllllllly got all my wardrobe traded out and am comfortably putting clothes I don't fit in right now in totes organized by garment.  I was having a hard time deciding between garment type vs. season organization.  I went with garment. I think I made the correct decision.  I pulled a few dresses for a friend to borrow and knowing to look in my dresses tote really eliminated a lot of the guess work and time associated with the project.  There is a comfort level in only having things in my closet that will fit me now and for the next 20 weeks.  I think nothing is harsher for a pregnant woman than trying something on in hopes that it fits and then it doesn't.  Don't need that drama in my life.
Can we talk about all the new things I want that I am not going to get??? NEW SUNNIES!!! I need ZERO new sunnies, but man the spring/summer lines that are being released are honestly so legit.  I know I sound like a tool saying that, but its true.  I can see myself wearing them, feeling so good and looking fly.  I think the neat part of this challenge is making myself feel good in what I have.  I have nice things and need to appreciate them.  I have a rocking pair of gingham glasses my husband bought me before we were even engaged.  They are still really relevant.  Pulled those bad boys out, and feeling like a new woman.  Anyway, I hope you feel inspired to buy all the new things because I can't...I kid I kid.  I do hope you feel inspired to give items in your closet new life by stepping out of your comfort zone in how you style and pair things.  My pictures are super out of order and its funny how sometimes my belly is really there and then sometimes baby is hiding. 

 Forgot to take a picture this day, but thankfully I have a double shot with my friend Stacie at her sprinkle!!!

The last chilly day in NC.  I felt like such a blah lady that day. 

Forgot to take a picture this day too, snagged one from the baby's 2nd birthday!!! OK, she might not be a baby anymore! Also, this is how rough a mom looks that has been sweating over a child's birthday party!!!

My straight hair was no match against this NC humidty.  Got my curls back!!1

The ruffles.  Worth every penny!!! 

New Twist...

Y'all, April is FLYING!!!!! I can't even believe it is halfway to May and that I am on my way to having the cutest 2 year old running around the house.  We are reaching the time of year where my toe nails always need to be ready and the armpits need to be shaved!! My husband will never know the extra work that summer time brings.
April has started to challenge my strength.  So many good sales, so many new trends that I don't have in my closet.  Also, in our family life a new clothing challenge is...I am pregnant with Baby C #2 and dressing an early 2nd trimester body is stressing me.  Call me vain, but if I am being honest with you I feel better when I LOVE my outfit.  I can have a blah day, but if I am loving my threads I am ok-ish.  My belly is growing, and y'all better believe that I LOVE DRESSING a belly.  My belly is still just too new.  It is growing, but it is still a little too jello-esque for my liking.  I had to put away my normal jeans and am wearing my post partum jeans from RLC, but lets be honest those don't fit. Maternity jeans are still really baggy in the crotch and the full panel area.  So needless to say, dresses have been my friend.  Dresses are always my friend though.  If you aren't a dress person, I challenge you to try a t-shirt dress or a cotton/jersey shift dress. So comfortable, So versatile, and honestly nice and breezy in the summer time. I bought 2 new to me Carly style dresses off of our yardsale site. I was tickled to reply "bought" first on the post.  Carly dresses fly off the virtual shelves on my B/S/T page.  I also did buy a maternity lot that came with 2 pairs of shorts and a few random things. I really just needed the shorts, because I didn't have any with Ruby Lou.  She is an early May baby, so shorts weren't a NEED.  Well being due late September means I will be PREGNANT this summer.  Mama is going to need some shorts.  So I bought a couple used and then a sweet friend is letting me borrow a few things.  Shorts are always a tough one for me. While I appreciate the body God blessed me with, I am not lacking in the thigh area.  My thighs pack a punch and I wish jean shorts were made with bigger leg holes.  I am not trying to have the denim be tight on my thighs, not today not ever.  I need to pull out of spring/summer and maternity totes from the garage, but honestly who has the time.  RLCs naps have been filled with my napping or snacking.  I am sort of holding strong, I feel like I have been looking a lot on our B/S/T page and I probably don't need anything, but I justify my looking and buying that I am still helping with eliminating textile and fabric waste, RIGHT? 

The self timer cut off my shoes and my vans were a completing piece for the long maxi skirt outfit. 

 

This was a rough day to get ready for church.  It was raining and nothing fit.  My husband tried to "help" me find an outfit, but all that happened was I got cranky and thought I didn't need a rain jacket.  Hormones are crazy.