That Forever 21 Dress

... you know the one.

I wear it every other day, but it never looks quite the same. Thank goodness.

 dress: Forever 21, tank: Old Navy, belt: Target, sandals: Target, sunnies: New York & Company

I wore a variation of this to a coffee date on Saturday (different belt and shoes), but decided to wear it again for errands, today, because it's a fool-proof nursing combo. The dress is strapless (because I chopped the top section off!), so I just pull the top up, dress down, and it's very inconspicuous. Also, the most important of all the things: I'm dressed and comfortable. Winning combination.

Outfit Fail

I think I'll be having quite a few of these outfit fails while I'm trying to fit my between baby and normal body. Should be fun. This dress is a go-to for me whether pregnant or not. It's just been an awesome tent that I can belt or wear a cardigan with. I even want to get a slouchy sweater to wear over it in the fall for a completely shapeless look. Sounds sexy, right? I think I lost my style over the last year. I've got some work to do. Anyway, I wanted to wear my dress, but it's strapless and I'm nursing... I really need a good, supportive nursing bra and can't go strapless right now. I thought if I threw a top over and belted it, I'd still get the boho vibe I love from the dress and cover my straps. In looking at this, though, I remember how much I really dislike short sleeves and man, I look matronly. I tried.

 dress: F21, top: Old Navy (it's going to Goodwill), shoes: Fergie, belt: Old Navy

awesome lioness hair: c/o Summertime

I need to do myself a favor and not wear a belt until the belly is all the way gone. And while I'm at it, I'll do myself another favor and not wear sleeves this length, ever. Win some/lose some!

Baby Bean Update: 29 Weeks

Happy Saturday! Aaaand... we're at 29 weeks! In my mind, I just think of it as 30 weeks. Not only because they're so close to each other, but because Bean is coming a week early, so at 29 weeks, I have 10 weeks left. Sorry, this wasn't meant to turn into a math post. That's the deal, though. And this is where we are! People keep saying things to me that you shouldn't ever say to a pregnant woman, which is really fun. My reactions are not so much rude as indifferent. Example: In WalMart last week, a lady said, "Oh, wow. That baby is coming soon." I said, "Sure." I mean, maybe 10 weeks is soon to some people. Maybe she thought I was going to have Bean next week (something makes me think choice B is more along the lines of WalMart lady's mindset). I get tired of explaining the laws of physics to people: I grow out, not up. I don't have up room. I'm not 5'7". I'm 4'11" (okay, 4'10 1/2ish"). I don't look like *most* other pregnant women. So, "Sure" is just an easier and more efficient response, lately.

 dress: Forever 21, belt: Old Navy, scarf: Happy Scarf, shoes: Fergie

Bean is ON my spine/sacrum. I feel her kicks in my back more than my belly and last night, I literally crawled to bed. When I got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I sat on the toilet and cried because my low back was hurting so badly that I thought I might just sleep right where I was. Back pain is boring old news, although it's much more acute now. The unfortunate part about that is that it's probably only going to get worse. The fortunate side to everything is that all the pain and discomfort has the best outcome, ever. A new symptom: Crying. I mean all.the.time. I've always been an emotional person, but I've gotten better over the past two years. Over the past week, I've become a blubbering idiot and it's not been fun! Today, I cried because my husband walked S across the street to talk to our neighbors' (for 5 minutes) and she didn't have any sunscreen. In my defense, I've been reading a lot about early-onset melanoma, so I'm totally freaked out... AND it was 1:00- sun way high in the sky. I totally overreacted, though. I cried for almost a half hour.

Here's to the next 10 weeks! We still haven't done anything in the nursery. Oops.

Taking Advantage

... of the last of the warm weather, anyway.

Which really is just silly, because I can't WAIT for it to be cold. Late fall and winter are my absolute favorite times of year. The smells, family, holidays, decorations, chill of the air - everything. I love this time! But last Sunday, it was in the low 70s and I could still get away with bare legs and no jacket. My gifted Forever 21 floral dress hadn't made it out of the closet in quite a while, so I decided to give it a last tights-less spin of the season.

dress: Forever 21 (gift from Rachel)

shoes: Gap via Whitney

necklace: Zales, 2007 Christmas gift from Hubs

belt: came from another dress

(full Little S. outfit post)

So, I'm having a weak moment about my hair cut. I *really* miss my long hair! I'm so thankful that my locks are healthy and that it only takes 10 minutes to dry and flat iron or curl now, but the cooler weather is making me really wish I had pretty, long, thick hair for hot rollers and side swoops. Hindsight, right, my friends?

As soon as I get home from work, I usually throw on something that makes me feel a little prettier, even if it's pajamas. Usually, pretty much anything makes me feel prettier than my dirty leggings and t-shirt after caring for four toddlers all day. Luckily, Thursdays are Bible study nights and slipping into something pretty means I get to get dressed for the first time all week. I also never spare the chance to wear this Forever 21 dress that I chopped up after the first time I wore it. It was a halter with an empire waist and I just cut the whole top piece off. Now the "empire waist" is the top of the dress. There. No hemming, less cleavage, better dress.

dress: F21 (used to be a halter, but I chopped the top off!)

cardigan: New York & Company

belt: Target

sandals: Target

necklace: It was my Nana's

(photos from two Thursdays ago)

I keep thinking, "When I'm a SAHM, I'm going to be able to get dressed however I want EVERY day." In reality, what's the likelihood that I won't wear my leggings and t-shirts still? I desperately miss getting to be creative with my wardrobe!

Hint of Kelly

I've been hanging on to these kelly green knee highs from We Love Colors for.ev.er. I saw them, loved them, ordered them, and received them. And then I sat, staring at them for weeks before deciding I just couldn't figure them out. All of my tights and bright socks are displayed in my closet so that I see them every day. And every day that I looked at these knee high socks, I thought, "I'm too short. The color doesn't go with anything I have. HOW do I wear these?"

Enter the dress I refashioned last week. I wanted to wear it over the weekend and since I'd already showed three ways to style it, I figured I should do something different. Different? Ohhh, it was hammer time. And by hammer time, I mean kelly green knee high sock time. You'll have to excuse the grainy photos because we didn't get home from the playground/grocery excursion until 9:00 at night and, well, it was dark. My camera doesn't do so well in the dark, I guess.

dress: F21 via Rochelle, refashioned by me

socks: c/o We Love Colors

boots: Payless

Now, I LOVE my bright green knee-highs! They're so cute and add the perfect zing to a black and white outfit. I did, however, learn that dresses aren't a good idea when you're climbing playground equipment with your two-year-old. Just some personal experience and wisdom...

Styling maurices: Texture

I'm not one for minis or pencil skirts, so when Kristie brought this to my fitting room, I was hesitant. Anything that shows everything going on around my tummy and bum isn't usually a win in my opinion, but the texture of this Pull on Textured Skirt hides and shows off at the same time. It's like elastic magic. I didn't know if I was fully sold until I walked out and Kristie said, "Ohhh, Hubby's gonna LOOOVE that one!" Okay, so a skirt that feels like a nightgown that makes my butt look good? Umm, sold.

Like I said, this type of skirt is totally new to me, so any styling ideas would be greatly appreciated! I know a black pencil style skirt is probably one of the most basic wardrobe pieces one could own and in most people's minds, this is probably not rocket science. But I really am at a loss and I want to make good use of this gorgeous and comfortable piece. I really want to play with wearing it at the waist and then pull it up to be more of a high waisted skirt. I hope to get some good ideas before our vacation at the end of September so I can wow hubby on a date! Email me your black pencil skirt styling ideas at alittlebitofthisblog{at}gmail{dot}com!