Friday Five

Y'all I don't even know the last time I did a Friday Five so I decided today was the day to bring it back. I don't know that it will stay but let's roll with this...

I have lost all of the baby weight and then some. In fact, I am down twenty + pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. I have absolutely no idea how I did it. I don't even remember the last time I was this small, maybe right after college? It has been liberating but a little bit unnerving given my history. It has also been super frustrating because my clothes don't fit and I have had to build a new wardrobe. Darn, right?  So today I am going steer clear of thinking about my body image issues and, instead, talk about my five favorite new pieces that I have been living in and they are 100% from Old Navy. Between Ebates and holiday sales, I made out like a bandit. These are not only super comfortable pieces but pieces that also flatter my body which is the ultimate win.

1. Oversized Rounded-Hem Top. This shirt is one of my absolute favorite things I own right now. It's super lightweight so it will transition into the warmer months well (if warmer months ever happen again). It's super easy to dress up or dress down and the length is perfect for jeans or leggings. Love.

2. Supersoft Cocoon Tunic Top. The name is a little deceiving because I would hardly consider it a tunic, but they are spot on with the supersoft. I have worn this to run errands, for work and just around the house. It's so dang comfortable.

3. Funnel-Neck Sweater-Knit Top. I was unsure if I would like this as much as I do. It definitely requires a cami underneath but that doesn't bother me since I wear one under most of my clothes anyways. The description on the website lists a hi-lo hem but that's a stretch. This morning alone I have gotten three different compliments on this top.

4. Mid-rise Rockstar Skinny Jeans. I cannot say enough about these pants. They hide all that needs to be hidden. They are super slimming. And they are comfortable to boot thanks to the stretchy denim. I don't think I have ever loved a pair of jeans so much.

5. Jersey Leggings. I loved the black ones I got so much that I ordered a second pair in navy. They are suuuper inexpensive (on sale right now for $11). They are a thick legging which is nice to pair with a boot for winter. And I would be a big ole liar if I said I hadn't worn them to work a couple times. 

So there you have it. My new wardrobe staples. All super friendly for work, wife and mom. What's not to love about that? Happy weekend, y'all. If you see me out, there is a 100% chance I will be wearing at least one of the things shown above :)

This post does not contain affiliate links even though I think Old Navy should be paying me to sing their praises :)

Toddler Rompers

One of my favorite parts of summer as a Mama is seeing those little chunky thighs in shorts, skirts and rompers.  Holy moly - I cannot help but be all heart eyes when I see that little girl in her summer wardrobe. I am particularly obsessed with rompers.  While not always fun at diaper changes, they are super adorable and I really love that look for tiny humans.  I just wish I could pull it off!  Here are some of our favorite rompers this summer:

Target is on point with their romper game - shocker, right?  From the simple chambray to the neon colors and bright floral prints - they have a little bit of everything. I am loving the red ruffle shoulder romper described on the website as "spicy" and if I spot it in Target, you can bet your bippy that little gem is coming home with us for our spicy little girl!

Old Navy caught me seriously off guard when we were there a couple weekends ago.  Their simple but random prints made me swoon. I could not pass up on the black and white pineapples or the black and gold zebras.  Of course they had their trademark brightly colored striped rompers, but those did not tug at my heart strings the same way.

I love that Carters and Gymboree have some really cute, simple rompers this summer.  While I do love the bold, I love the simple ones just as much. I really like Carters crochet romper.  I love that you can easily add a pop of fun and color with an Emerson Grace Boutique headband, clip or wrap!  And Gymboree is killing it with their denim romper with the summery orange detail and the flutter sleeves. It's simple but playful. Swoon. 

Do you have a favorite place to get rompers? We are dying to add to our collection!

Done feeling Frumpy Dumpy

It has been almost six months and thirty-five pounds since the little miss graced the world with her presence.  That's right - I have lost all but ONE pound of the baby weight. Woot!  However, my pre-pregnancy clothes - they still don't fit right.  Yea, my jeans button most of the time, but they sure don't fit the same and seriously do not look good.  I have childbearing hips and a post-baby booty. Two things that I surprisingly cherish because, after our journey to have Natalie, I realize that not everyone gets to have those things.  

It's been a weird mental struggle though.  I cherish the fact that I have childbearing hips which helped me through a flawless delivery but I feel frumpy dumpy being stuck in my maternity clothes because I don't like the way my pre-pregnancy clothes fit and feel.  I hold onto my pre-pregnancy jeans because what if one day my hips and booty decide to shrink just that little bit and I can get my jeans to button and fit the way they once did.  Every weekend I pull them out of the closet and I put them on and I feel bad about myself. I look in the mirror and see a body quite similar to the one I had before I had Natalie, but when I put on some of my pre-pregnancy clothes I sure don't feel the same as I did before I had Natalie.  Before I put on those jeans, I feel great and positive.  After, I feel deflated and sad.  That's absolutely no way to live.  As I mentioned in a post about body image before, I don't want to teach my child those feelings.

My husband tells me all the time that I look damn good.  Why not start believing him?  I cannot show my daughter how to be a strong, self-confident woman if I am not one. I have made the decision to stop feeling frumpy dumpy and start feeling good about myself.  I started the transition by going through my closet and getting rid of things.  Five pairs of jeans, two skirts, tons of shirts, sweaters and a few dresses later - my closet is fairly empty.  And I love it.  I feel so liberated.  While the pile below may not seem like a lot, you can barely see our 100lb pit bull behind it so that puts into scale just how big this pile of clothes really is.  The clothes are all in great condition and will be donated to charity which also makes me feel pretty darn good.  

The next step is to buy staples that I can dress up or dress down.  I have started a board on Pinterest to help inspire me and to give myself visuals of what I am trying to accomplish. A lot of the items I want are used in several different outfits.  The thing is, I don't ever want to feel frumpy dumpy again.  I want to wear heels to work again - something I haven't really done since I worked at Girl Scouts.  I want to wear tops that I can dress up for work and then change into jeans and wear around town with my family on weekends.  I want to wear patterned shoes and not think twice about it.  I want to dress like a mom that has it together because damn it, I do have it together.  I want to dress how I feel because I feel pretty dang fabulous and that's how I want Natalie to see me.  

Whoa caffeine fueled rant... maybe I shouldn't drink so much coffee in the morning.  I guess my point is, I am done feeling bad about my body after growing a human and I am excited to start really feeling like myself again and seeing myself the way my husband sees me. Let's see how this goes :)