the girlfriend's guide | nursing mama summer wardrobe

My friend Amy is always coming up with great post content for my blog. She should really start her own because now I feel the pressure! But really, she is good for her ideas and today I'm honoring another one of them. Amy asked if I would do a post on nursing friendly summer clothes. Her daughter Emma is just about eight weeks older than Beau so she and I share the same clothing concerns. We will both be nursing over the summer and believe it or not, dressing ourselves can get tricky.

Amy also shared this all-too-true meme with me a few weeks ago and I died laughing:

So I've put a bit of thought into this and have come up with the following requirements for my wardrobe: no sundresses that I can't pull the neck down or unbutton (this is the WORST - I live in dresses in the summer!), nothing that requires a strapless bra (because NO), and nothing that would make me melt during June in Texas.

First, I gathered some of my favorite undershirts. I started wearing tanks under my shirts in college and although it's not for everyone (my mom gets overheated), I really like the look and I always have one underneath my clothes. Since becoming a nursing mom, I found that it's even more important to have a tank and the stretchier, the better. I've purchased these from Target and these at Nordstrom Rack (size UP), but so far my favorite for nursing is this one. (Before and during pregnancy I really liked these from Old Navy. They hold their shape forever and they are super soft. I haven't tried nursing in one but if you have, let me know!) I'm still looking for one in the $5 range that I can stock up on so if you have a suggestion, please let me know! Anyway, I wear these under EVERYTHING.

Secondly, I just want to touch on the undergarment issue really quickly. I hinted at how uncomfortable I was during pregnancy in my bras (the WORST) and everywhere I looked recommended this bra from Target (and found online). I was hesitant to 'invest' that much in something I hated SO MUCH so I found these on Amazon, read the reviews that said they are pretty much identical, and bought them. They were the only bra that relieved my pain. After they wore out a bit, I splurged for the one everyone recommended and guess what, it was EXACTLY the same as the Amazon bra, but I preferred the Amazon bra the best. I've since invested in a couple 'real' nursing bras (even one with under wire - yuck) but for the most part, I live in these. They get worn out, but they are just about the most cost effective you will find.

Right now when I shop I'm looking for something a little bit flowy, light weight, and easy to lift up or pull down to nurse Beau. I'm not a fan of button up shirts so I don't have many of those.

For loose tops, I've been obsessed with this online boutique. I follow the shop on instagram and try to strike when she is running a sale but otherwise I just like looking at all the fun things she has. I have these three tops and love them:

striped | black | fringed

And this one is in my cart just waiting for a sale. I'm obsessed with it!

For summer, I'm all about tanks and tees. I have this side split tee from Target in grey and it's the comfiest shirt ever. I always feel super comfortable in it and it is so easy to nurse in.

I've seen this style tank at Target and at Old Navy and I think it's really flattering, especially from the back. The split would make it easy to nurse in (and I would wear a tank underneath, of course!)

High neck tanks are in and these two are cute, especially the plaid (it's on sale!)

Most of my shopping is done online, at Target, or at what we call "Dirty Dillard's".  There are two Dillard's clearance centers in the area and not only do they have great deals, but they really can be dirty. I compare it most to a Ross, or something like that. Anyway, all of the merchandise comes in at 60% off from Dillard's stores. The stock is either overstock, items that didn't sell, or damaged. I've bought clothes in perfect condition at the outlet and then saw it in the stores for full price later, so you just never know. There is good stuff, friends! 

Also, Dirty Dillard's is ALWAYS doing a sale. It is usually on about half of the store (women's summer clothes, etc.) and they are marked down between 40-60% on top of the already discounted price. I've also been in before when they were doing buy 1 get 2 free on dresses. So, yeah. 

I always end up going towards the same brands somehow and when I was there a couple of weeks ago, I picked up some items by Chelsea and Violet, M.S.S.P., and a tie-dye tank by Karen Kane. I also got some Gianni Bini shorts. They were doing buy 1 get 1 free on summer items. Of course I can't find the exact items to link them for you, but if you have a Dirty Dillard's near you or you just want to check out the regular store, those are the brands that I like. I included some options in my collage below.

Another thing I think I'll do this summer is what I did when I was 7 months pregnant and up last summer: kimonos. I *think* they are still on trend this year and honestly it's the best way to stay covered, stay cute, and stay cool in Texas heat. The kimonos I have are so lightweight that you don't even feel them. Mine are from Target and SheInside last year but here are some that I'm eyeing:

Also, don't forget about swimsuits! I'm going with the one piece trend this season for obvious reasons...but there are some SUPER cute one pieces out there! Some more conservative than others, but all super cute:

The hunt for dresses is really tough. I might break my own rule here and make an exception for strapless dresses (with a strapless bra) because I cannot go all summer without wearing a dress. I gathered up a few options for button down and wrap dresses so I'll have to give those a go as well.

Lastly, here is a roundup of items I think would be great for summer and great for nursing from H&M. They are a favorite for affordable options!

Mark is going to KILL me because I found lots of cute things for myself while writing this post. I won't tell if you don't! Anyway, if you found something you love (and I hope you did!) write back and let us know how it worked for you. And if you're shopping online, don't forget to use your eBates! (Here's my latest testimonial to eBates in case you missed it!) It makes a huge difference and who says no to extra cash in their pocket?

Happy shopping, mamas!

a day in MY life

I mentioned a while back that I was considering doing a 'day in the life' sort of post but wasn't quite sure if I wanted to put in the effort. Well, I heard from a few of you (especially those of you named Amy) and y'all said you liked reading those posts. So here I am, sharing my very mundane life with you! Ha!

I decided to do the photo every hour format because that was a lot easier for me to handle. I set my alarm on the hour between 9am and 7pm and tried to take a photo of what we were doing right then. Throughout the day I remembered to take a few in between, too. 

Keep in mind that every day is different. I did this on Monday and it was a very low-key day for us. There were no hurried grocery runs or appointments, no laundry to be done or dishwashers to unload, and no bills to sort through or projects to keep up with. Tuesday looked very different - I met my mom in Dallas for lunch, spent time with her until the afternoon, and then did various things at home after. All that to say - no day is the same! Here goes.

9am

I'm VERY lucky in that I can usually get this boy to sleep until 8 or 8:30. He still wakes me up at least once to eat at night but he understands that his mama is not a morning person and he lets me sleep in a bit. ;) At 9, we were up with a changed diaper and on our pallet for supervised play while I took a bath to wake up a bit!

After my bath, I plopped him in the high chair with some raspberries (in his masher thing) and a little peanut butter toast while I ate my PB toast (with honey!). 

10am

Beau was up closer to 8 this morning so he went down for a nap at 10. I try to stick pretty close to a 2 hour awake time between naps when we are home. So far it has worked pretty well!

11am

I forgot to take a picture but I worked on my Etsy orders, tidied up a bit, and just had some relaxing time while B finished up his nap. 

12pm

B was up shortly after 11 and at 12 I set up him in the crib with some toys while I got down to business. I had noticed his nursery was looking a little dirty so I did some thorough cleaning while he watched (he was a little clingy on Monday so within eyesight it was)

See that closet? He has WAY too many clothes and I have to organize his too big/too small bins of clothes every couple of weeks.

 After!

Lunch for me, play time for B!

1pm

We continued the play time but since he was whiny, I joined him for some moral support (see the hand? He touches me about every 10 seconds to make sure I'm still there)

 2pm

Beau threw a straight up FIT for his second nap around 1:30 so I nursed him in bed and he fell asleep (proven to work 95% of the time). He purposely hugged me to make sure I didn't desert him.

Up around 2:30 so we headed out for a couple errands! I had a coupon for a free Frosted Lemonade from Chick-fil-A and it was the perfect treat! Gulped that down in about 5 minutes.

3pm

Perfect timing, we are at our destination! We <3 Target! (p.s., how cute is the highchair/shopping cart cover my mom made for Beau!? I LOVE it. One side is sophisticated foxes and the other is navy polka dots. It has straps to tie on his toys and pockets for misc. things PLUS it folds up into a pocket for easy storage. My mom's totally a genius!)

4pm 

Back from our errands and I'll spare you with the full view of what I was doing. It was snack time for Beau!

After snack, it was back to playing (my mom made that pallet too)...

...while I tackled the kitchen cleanup from the morning and afternoon!

5pm

Third nap of the day. After some more fit throwing from B, he finally fell asleep and I spent the downtime working on a blog post with my feet up.

6pm

Dad's not home yet and there was severe weather in the area. There was some SERIOUS hail near us but luckily we just got rain and some tiny pea sized hail. 

Beau went in his play pen so I could get dinner ready.

That face!

Dinner!

7pm

Dinner is served! Burgers and fries for Mark and I (celebrating his hard-earned raise!) and Beau followed shortly after with a raspberry, spinach, and greek yogurt pouch.

After dinner Mark and Beau did bathtime, I worked on Etsy, and then it was jammies and bedtime for the baby. At night I usually work on Etsy, straighten up a bit (run the dishwasher, do a load of laundry, etc.), and watch a little Netflix. Then it's lights out around 11!

So that's our super duper exciting day (I'm kidding no one here)! I'm sure I'll appreciate these posts when things get a bit busier and I can look back on my little pipsqueak. I hope it brought you some entertainment today!

our summer trip - CHARLESTON - suggestions needed!

We've booked our flights and our airbnb for Beau's first official summer trip - to Charleston, South Carolina!

I've always wanted to go to the Carolinas and we started exploring a trip there on a whim. Before we knew it, we were booked for 4 nights with two other couples in June. I can't wait!!!

We are staying in this super cute house in between Folly Beach and Charleston (and it has a pool!!!). We're planning on one day at the beach and the rest of the time spent exploring the city. I also really want to go to a plantation but there are so many that look so gorgeous and history filled. Which one should we go to??

I know there are a TON of bloggers in the Charleston area or those that have visited and I need your advice!! What should we do? Where should we eat? There will be two babies under age 1 with us so the more baby-friendly, the better. 

I've been doing my Pinterest research and there is SO MUCH to see! I'm excited to just soak up all of the history and beauty of the city and get away for a bit! Also, Beau will be 9 months when we are there and I've heard that babies love the beach...so I'm hoping that's true!

I'm really looking forward to this getaway. Please share any tips or suggestions!!!

beau andrew | seven months

How is this even possible? We're on the downhill side of one year? Seven months old?!

I'm currently sitting with said seven month old in my lap as I write this. He is clingy and touchy-feely and is muttering "gah, gah" over and over. He blessed me with a lovely blowout as we got out of the car at our destination this morning so he was treated to a back-of-the-car diaper change. (I think he was just protesting his cargo shorts - an outfit which I had dubbed 'Beau, class of 2005'). I then proceeded to browse another JBF sale where I found the fun blocks in this month's picture. Once we checked out, I couldn't find my keys in my purse. Oh dear. Not to worry, they were just sitting on top of my unlocked car in the parking lot - where they had been for over an hour. #mombrain

We were supposed to run more errands this morning but 1) I forgot my grocery list, and 2) we needed to come home and 'regroup' after the morning's events. After some playtime and a nap I think we'll be ready to head back out. 

Anyway, here's what's up this month. Beau is:

-still throwing us for a loop every night. Sometimes sleeps through, sometimes wants to be fed at 3am (so much so that I'm waking up around 3am every morning wide awake. awesome.)

-wearing size 4 diapers

-wearing anywhere between 12 month and 18 month clothing (the outfit in this month's pictures is an 18 month)

-nursing every 3 hours or so during the day and eating a pretty big meal around 7 each night. We'll transition to 2 meals a day this month. We are doing mostly purees because homeboy doesn't love chewing things and mama doesn't love the anxiety that comes with each possible choking bite.

-scooting in circles and doing planks but not quite crawling yet.

-rolling from back to front and front to back whenever he wants to, but hasn't figured out the barrel roll yet.

-talking more, mostly in 'gah' but sometimes says 'mah'. I'm working with him on saying 'mama' and 'hi' and hoping that comes soon!

-taking 2 or 3 naps a day, usually at least an hour long if it's a good day.

-playing independently until he sees me, and then he gets a little fussy. I love watching his intensity!

-sitting up unassisted 90% of the time, but sometimes takes a dive backwards so there is usually a pillow or something there to catch him.

-weighing in somewhere around 22 pounds. We went in to the doctor a couple of weeks ago for some eczema help (this boy will have allergy issues for life, this is for sure) and he weighed 21 lbs 12 oz. He is somewhere around 29 inches long.

-still OBSESSED with his father. His face lights up and he can't control his movements when Daddy walks through the door.

-getting more attached to me, especially when he is cranky. 

-changing physically so much. His hair is getting super long and I'm pretty sure his eyes changed overnight. I think they are hazel-ish like mine. They change from brown to green. Lucky boy!

-sleeping unswaddled in a sleep sack. I was really worried about transitioning from the swaddle but it really wasn't bad at all. He's been in the sleep sack for about a month now. 

-grabbing for EVERYTHING, especially necklaces, hair, and anyone's cup.

-loving playing with his feet, especially when he is getting his diaper changed. 

-not as easily entertained as he used to be. TV doesn't hold his attention very long (not that he's given the chance much) and he gets bored in the stroller. I need to get more creative!

-loving the song Pop Goes The Weasel and also likes me (and only me) to make monkey noises at him. It's almost a guaranteed smile when I do it. 

-enjoying his time outdoors when I drag the pack n' play out there. Still likes to watch Motley and he laughs as she runs by.

(please excuse the poor quality of this post - I've had a special editor the whole time I worked on it. So far I've caught two suicide backwards dives. So there's that.)

All in all, we are BUSY. Time is rushing by and this boy is getting bigger and bigger by the second. 

DIY diaries | three tier herb garden

Spurts of energy, good moods (both Beau and me), time, and creativity sometimes collide and the results vary. This time, though, everything turned out for the best!

Beau and I spent some time outdoors during these first few days of Spring and worked on this fun little tiered herb garden. It was fun, easy, and I'm excited to reap the benefits of it over the next several months. 

As I got started, I decided to take out my phone and document my process so I could share it with you guys. If you're interested in making one for yourself, here's a list of what I used (I picked everything up at Home Depot):

potting mix

12" clay pot

10" clay pot

6" clay pot

(3) small rosemary plants

(3) small basil plants

(1) small lavender plant

jar of pebbles (lots leftover to use for other projects)

two small buckets (I used two different sizes of this type and just held them up next to my pots to decide what size to get)

plant labels (found mine on amazon here)

sharpie

gardening spade

gloves

scissors

Start with your largest pot. I used the plastic bucket turned right side up as a solid base for my middle pot. I poked a hole in the bottom of the bucket to allow water to flow through (since it will be coming out of the bottom of the middle pot). I added some pebbles in the bucket to weigh it down a bit.

Add your potting mix and then your plants at the desired height. It's okay if some potting mix gets into the plastic bucket. 

Next, add your middle sized pot. This time, I used a smaller plastic bucket and turned it over. I poked more holes in the bottom and added pebbles around it so water could go around and under as well as through.

Then I added my potting mix, plants, and the smallest pot. Add water, and done!

We had two huge Rosemary bushes at our last apartment and I used it in lots of my dishes, I love it so much! I'm so excited to have it fresh on hand again.

So far the dog and the squirrels haven't been interested in my herb garden (just in photobombing my shot). Let's hope it stays that way!

Happy gardening!