This is just enough writing, with a practical edge of necessity, for me. I have to get dressed in the morning. Here’s what the Outfits of the Week look like for week two back at work.
Highlight:
Low: dealing with a crappy individual who made me seriously hold back some hormonal eye-watering as my inside voice was asking ‘Why am I even here? Why am I not with my own sweet baby, instead of here at work?’
But then, there are so many other highs:
Monday was a combo of these two looks. Mustard sweater with big scarf, jeans and pendant necklace. A hat, obviously.
A big, bold print scarf is perfect armour for cold weather. Thanks, Pinterest.
This sweater (the actual one I own) was a no brainer. Simple studs. A bold bang. Jeans. Black loafers. People were amused by the sweater. I was amused by their amusement. It is a combo of mariachi, cowardly lion and 70s shag carpet. Perfect.
K
Keeping it minimal – with a Hoibo (Toronto designer! Support local) dress and accessories.
H&M Prairie Dress with ruffle. On Thursdays we wear floral.
With a sturdy boot; just a bit tough.
For Friday PD day… with some classic black Nike trainers – an army green bomber jacket and jeans. Image from bedazelive.com
Well, we made it. What was your fave outfit from this week?
I have been making the very best of it in nursing gear and feeling more and more comfortable with a messy bun, leggings and duck boots as my daily go-to. But lo and behold, it’s time to go back to work. Mat leave is done. Sob.
So, I cut my hair. And scoured the internet for outfit inspo to return to the daily grind (and not the kind that involves scouring the floor for renegade cheerios and packing, repacking and schlepping a diaper bag all over the city). I tried to make my life easier by inviting myself to a party – a plan two weeks of outfits so you can get up at 5 am, get a one year old ready, get out the door on time and go be profesh… without having to think of what you’re wearing. It’s the weekly meal-prep of outfits.
Chop chop! First, I needed a fresh bang to start work and feel as cool as the new near-zero temperatures.
From Monday to Friday, I basically recreated these looks:
From Dress Design Queen
For the snow day… black sweatshirt and tee, with a toque and leather jacket.
From Always Judging: crisp oversized dress shirt with big gold chains (buttoned up, obvs). High waisted denim. Leopard print oxfords. Red lip.
Merrick’s Art : This blog has a great range of wearable inspiration and outfit ideas.
Crushed it. First week down. The funny thing is… I feel like I never left. Maybe some of that is dressing for something other than nursing. And dressing for myself was pretty key to feeling right at home in front of a class for the past five days. Can’t wait to keep this pretty ball rolling.
Real talk. It’s hard to pull it together she. Your day starts at 5 am.
Two days with family in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Two days in Kingston at a wedding. Six days on a resort property.
WEDDING
wedding shoes (strappy leopard heels with geometric heel)
two dresses (in case of baby barf) – one is a rust coloured crepe and lace maxi with a tie front, the other is a black dress with elaborate back straps, both can accommodate breast feeding
gold clutch
BEACH
4 bikinis with mix and match prints
2 pareos/wraps for the beach that can also be sun drapes for the stroller
flip flops
long black floral kimono for over swim suits or for everyday wear
two hats (one floppy, one peaked)
sunglasses (2 pairs)
FOR THE PLANE
Cole Haan slip on loafer, bike shorts, midi dress in a blue and white print from HM with a tie waist and button front, beige breezy kimono layer
RESORT AND TOWN
Shoes –
Tom’s denim slides, Tom’s geometric black and white block heel sandal, Teva platform sandal (black), Cole Haan blush loafers
Dresses and Rompers –
blue gingham tie shoulder dress
red and navy stripe maxi dress (also for sleep/lounging)
white and black graphic print jumpsuit with snap front closure
brown and blush button up floral dress with cap sleeve
fern print shirt dress
rust dress alternate for wedding
Black shirt dress layering piece with long sleeves
Underwear –
strapless bra
nude bra, grey bra, black soft and grey soft
10 pairs underwear and 4 thongs
3 pairs of slip shorts, blue bike shorts and peach bike shorts (for under dresses and bending/sitting with baby)
black sleep slip
nursing sleep bra
Pants
cream lace pant
paper bag waist stripe red pant with matching crop top
moss green flowy capri length
white and blue stripe palazzo pant with tie waist
black Lulu legging
Tops –
mustard ruffle neck top
rust ruffle neck top
matching red stripe bustier top
white t-shirt
cream knit tank
navy knit tank
grey waffle tank
tropical flora and fauna print button up sleeveless
We have had a number of experiences with people calling the donor the ‘father’. I came across this post today and it really summed things up for me. @Raffinee captures my feelings about how to handle those encounters.
Planning our trip to Mexico with a two month old, was a great challenge for these new moms. It was a grand success. Check out the photos at the end. Drumroll…here is what we packed:
Infantino Carrier
Travel bassinet
wipes
diapers and swim diapers
formula (pre-mixed or concentrate)
birth certificate, parent letter and passport
breast pads/washable inserts
pump (we skipped this since I’m now producing enough milk on my own, with some formula top-ups)
carseat, base (or learn to safely install without the base), stroller attachment
changes of clothes for you
I’m investigating, in advance of travel, to see if our destination stocks the formula, diapers and other things we like for baby. If we can avoid taking a week’s supply, that will really save on space
Also, look up whether breast feeding in public is safe/legal/recommended in your destination
Sleep Sheep or white noise machine
medications (like Domperidone, for me)
vitamins for you and vitamin D for baby
coconut oil for sun protection for the babe
a UV protecting cover for the stroller. Jolly Jumper makes a great one and Milk Snob has a great cover that doubles as a nursing screen
Diaper cream and corn starch
Baby paper and some simple toys (we ended up getting some beautiful, colourful pompom garlands in a market, which he couldn’t take his eyes off. These now hang over his change table! But careful that he isn’t unsupervised, as with anything that involves string)
Nosefrida (for air travel and stuffiness)
Infant Tylenol
Gripe Water if you have a gassy baby
We upgraded our tickets and baby’s first trip was in Business Class.
First Class Flyer – extra leg room, wider seats and a bulkhead gave us ample room for him. No tears at all on either flight to and from Mexico! Bravo little traveller!This was the main entrance to the condos we called home for two weeks. Watching the sunrise. Three generations.A boy and his MamaThey see me Strollin’
Sun-protected
For Clothes, we knew we’d have access to in-suite laundry, so we packed:
Bibs
Layettes
Shorts and pants
Short-onesies/rompers (this was the majority of the outfits)
Pajamas – for the plane and at night with the A/C
Burp cloths and muslin wraps
Socks
A knit jacket/sweater for air conditioned spaces and the plane
Swimsuits/rashguard
Sunglasses
Hats
Copy of his birth certificate, immunization record, passport, health card
Swimming with baby was an amazing first.
We loved all the time with each other, with him and with our family. For the rest of the trip photos, scroll down, past the last of the items from our travel must-haves.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Fanny pack, a carry on for us, carry on Diaper bag, small purse, big suitcase x 2 (one for us and one for all the baby stuff), a small suitcase of diapers and formula.
We made a call to set up/confirm our travel insurance/health insurance, etc.
We arranged a cat and house sitter, and also opted to use the Park ‘N Fly valet service (plus detailing) so we came home to a happy cat, safe home and a clean car.
Adios, Mexico and Gracias for a great first vacay with our blossoming family.
Now, listen…Always time for a tasty snack.
Enamoured of pom poms
Stroller styles
Our little global traveller
Nautical vibes
Out at the Tuesday Market
Family photo at NickSan
Baby-wearing
Big Baby-sized Beer
Hot Mama, with our Milk Snob Stroller cover
Babiators. And a babe x2Hard to believe our little one is 11 weeks old!
What are your travel must-haves? Share your faves in the comments!
Travelling to Mexico … with a baby. The list looks very different from the usual. ‘Remember,’ says my mom, ‘It’s not a fashion show… people dress super casual in Nuevo Vallarta.’
Paring down will be key. Let’s start at the bottom and work our way up.
For the winter arrival at the airport, then to walk the streets in Mexico: brown ankle boots – pairs with jeans and dresses.
For tops and bottoms, everything has to go with everything and it needs to enable nursing. In addition to a few mix and match pieces, I’ll be bringing some dresses.
HM nursing top
Nursing bras from HM and I’ll also be bringing three nursing tanks (which are tops or layers) in black, white and grey
HM Nursing DressEasy nursing tank dress (HM)HM polka dot wrap dressKokette long cardigan and some stretch jeans
Anthropologie HatLight tank top with scalloped edge – HM
Orange hues tie the wardrobe together with blues and cream colours. Robe – Urban OutfittersSwim suit from Urban Outfitters – two bikinis and two one-pieces will be rounding out my suitcaseAerie one pieceAnthropologie wrap sweaterTank dress with nursing panel
Athleisure will feature heavily – like this combo from Aerie
Great one piece from AerieWhat vacation would be complete without some crop tops? I just gave birth two months ago and feel more empowered than ever to rock a bathing suit and live the mantra – a swimsuit body is any body with a swimsuit on it.
I am planning a post about what to wear while caring for and feeding an infant. Planning. Everything takes longer and best laid plans get complicated and deterred.
Then comes the holiday season. The holiday show must go on. And we made merry like it was no big deal. We are getting the hang of things.
Our son is now two months old and we are smitten. From tree-side selfies to family party snaps … I’ll let the pictures do the talking.
Inspired by easy access to the boobs, these are the outfits that are in rotation right now – as a newly-nursing mama.
First up, ASOS; they have an amazing selection of basics, as well as nursing/maternity dresses and tops, so cute that they don’t even look like nursing specific garments.
ASOS DESIGN Maternity Nursing Cami With Clips 2 Pack SAVE C$52.60
Zara is a treasure trove of items that aren’t nursing specific, but sure do fit the bill.
I can’t wait to wear this in Mexico when we head off with our little one in tow.
Zara checked dress
Draped checked blouse, riding the plaid trend from fall into winter.
Zara dress
Oversized patchwork shirt – Zara
Bird satin tunic – Zara
The basics already in your closet can also find their way into nursing-friendly outfits.
I made a point of sectioning off my closet, moving conducive items to the front of drawers (I fold Marie Kondo style, like library books in my drawers, spine up), and in the closets I have a section just for items that ‘fit’ as nursing wear.
The penchant for sleepleisure is perfect for moms (or anyone, really). A cool relaxed pant and pajama-style top are easy, breezy, with full front access.
This screams chic, while maintaining the comfort needed to plunk down on the floor, change a quick diaper or feed a writing child.
From a site that boasts ‘sexy but modest’ clothing… this is definitely a wear-on-repeat idea. I have a Halston Heritage-inspired vintage silk dress, handed down from my mother, that looks pleasingly similar to this one! https://www.sexymodest.com/products/brigitte-button-down-maxi-dress
Rounding out the on-trend items on deck, we have a jumpsuit, onesie, or romper. I have a gorgeous crush velvet version in navy blue from Aerie/American Eagle. It’s surprisingly easy to wear and layered over a cropped t-shirt it actually functions like a nursing outfit, but also looks amazing and feels like a playsuit. Velvet is in demand this season, but has staying power since it keeps cropping up when the temperatures drop. https://www.stitchfix.com/?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=pinterestschedule
Basic, in the best possible way; buttons, waffle knit, loose and versatile. This even has snaps instead of buttons. I couldn’t ask for more. https://www.instagram.com/p/BnwgFpDHN6V/
What I like best about all these pieces is that many are items I already own. Others, I will be able to keep wearing them long after my little one has graduated to solids… which is, I think, a solid investment.
Here is my fall line-up of nursing-approved, affordable fall-into-winter items. I mostly haven’t purchased anything new (either for maternity or breast-feeding), but here are the five items I’ve added to my rotation.
Not really a fan of uniform dressing, but this tunic/dress is going to save my life. I made the mistake of going out for lunch at a nice place, once already, in a dress that required a whole half top/sleeve removal to allow feeding access. This Old Navy Swing Dress is cheap and cheerful (about $40 but with a bonus 40% off and free shipping).
I got it in three colours. Layered over pants, open over another top, or with leggings and over the knee boots, this is going to be a go-to piece for all my nursing days when I’m out of the house.
Next up, also from Old Navy, and also on sale (!) the Chambray utility onesie…
With summery shoes this will be perfect in Mexico when we head for a winter getaway, but also for fall with rolled cuffs, a slubby scarf and some lace up combat boots. Open to the waist with a tank, or with a contrasting, or embellished belt – this piece is pretty versatile. Today I wore it with a half-up topknot and this teddy bear coat from Chance and Fate. So comfy. Paired it with pineapple embroidered velvet slides… No big deal.
My goal is to buy as little ‘new’ stuff as possible – this might be it. As my sister-in-law (also breast feeding) said: “oh, yay… (not) another cross front top.” When maternity options are underwhelming, I’m going to try to be inspired by what’s already in my closet. Challenge accepted.
StyleSaVie 