Fuchsia Silk & Navy Wool.

/

Spring has sprung! I don't know about you, but spring clothes always feel so refreshing and peppy. This little number is no exception, and I wore this out on a little day date with my man when the weather was just right. Clothing has been a little bit challenging lately, since I feel like a stranger in my own postpartum bod. I am continuously having to change the way I think about what I see in the mirror, to the point where I speak out loud positive things about myself. I sound like a self-help dweeb in my bathroom, but I'd rather be that instead of getting into a negative slump. Over time, feeling bad about your look can seep into every part of your life, and I am determined to keep my mind healthy while I have grace for my body as it continues to evolve.

It's easier said than done.

But let's talk more fun things! Like day dates and beer flights and cute clothes that make you feel like spring has arrived. I love this look because it's a fresh twist on some really solid classics. I am a big fan of blazers (I have a few too many in my closet) because they always feel appropriate and versatile and chic. This navy shade of the 1-button peplum blazer is ultra classic, with a preppy pattern and a tailored cut. And you can't really see it in these pics, but the collar has a gray felt lining underneath - if you're bold enough to pop a collar, this is the one you do it with! The mega bright fuchsia shade of this silk tank is my favorite - it's a great confidence booster when you need some lively color therapy! I know silk isn't really practical to wear around messy toddlers and babies, but that's why it's a good reprieve from my normal mom clothes. It's fun to wear something on a date that feels like you're on a date. These baby blue jeans (yes, they're maternity, still rockin' the maternity wear...) gives this outfit a playful edge, which I'm always a fan of. And of course, I had to pair it with my new golden flatform sandals because, well, my sister told me to.

When it comes to clothing, my sister is always right.

I love when clothes make me feel. This particular look made me feel confident, put-together and playful. Banana does a bang up job of creating pieces that look classy without going stodgy. And of course, they always hold up like a dream. Stevie has Banana shirts from when we were dating - and they look amazing, still. 

We spent this particular afternoon exploring a nearby downtown square, taste testing beer flights and sliders. And letting the season's pale sunshine warm our tired hearts. We are eagerly trying to soak up all the rest we can get these days (living with a toddler and a newborn is like getting your beauty sleep punked every single night), but since the shut eye is minimal, we figure the least we can do is steal a few hours away for a break every so often. And day dates really are my favorite!

What are your ideas for day dates? I would love some new ideas, especially since spring has emerged! Picnics, parks, flying kites - what do you do when you go on daytime dates? Would love to hear from you! xox

Outfit Details:
Banana Republic Peak Lapel Peplum Blazer
Banana Republic Easy Care Double Sleeve Tank
Paige Maternity Jeans (past season, similar here and here)
Mossimo Nonie Metallic Flatform
Anthropologie earrings (sold out, similar here and here)
Stella & Dot "K" Necklace
Stella & Dot Engraved Necklace (Chain + Tags)

Many thanks to Banana Republic for sponsoring this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Banana Republic Styling Event!

/

Last week I had the privilege of hosting a styling event at my local Banana Republic! As many of you know, I've had the joy of partnering with Banana Republic over the past year on style posts (here, here, here, and here) and I was ecstatic when my local branch reached out about this spring pant promotion (all are 40% off right now!) Many people don't know that BR has completely redesigned their pants this year, so if you haven't tried them on lately - it's worth giving it another go! There are four fits of the Banana Pants (other than their regular denim) - the Sloan, the Ryan, the Avery and the Logan.

I do want to say one thing about CLOTHING. I was a little nervous about coming to this event and trying to squeeze into clothes that don't fit this 2-month postpartum body. Like, you want to look and feel your best at something called a style event, and I can't say that I look and feel my best right now. BUT. I have to keep reminding myself that this is real life, I have a real body, and I gave birth only 10 weeks ago. These things take time - just like they do for every woman. Please tell me you pep talk yourself like this, too! Haha by the way, I am wearing the Sloan fit denim ankle pant.

This event was a blast! In the beginning, I was a little unsure of what I was supposed to do/how I was supposed to interact with people. But maybe those old days of working retail kicked in or something because it became a party in the dressing room! It was so fun meeting different women who were coming in to shop for something particular, invite them to try on a pant or two, and suddenly the entire dressing room was filled with laughter and commotion and fun!

One woman in particular never thought that a certain craaaaaazy floral button down would look good on her, but I practically forced her to try it on and it was so much fun seeing the look of joy and shock spread across her face. She was smiling so big in that highligher pink shirt, something I could tell would usually be way too wild for her, but she looked gorgeous in it! She grinned all the way from the fitting room through check out, where she bought the shirt (the last one, drat! I wanted it too!), but it made me realize the power of clothing.

I love the transformation of clothing, how they can make us feel good about ourselves - powerful, sexy, special, feminine. I think my love of clothing is found in that transformation - going from feeling one way to feeling a different way, just by putting on something colorful, soft, eyelet, or ruffled.

Isn't it fun being a girl?

Thank you to Banana Republic Peachtree City, especially Leigh Mostetler the manager, for having me in-store!

Prayers of a Mama.

/

I pray that he is strong. But sensitive, too.

I hope that he is confident. Sure of all the goodness that is unique to him.

I just know that he is going to be funny. I don't know why, but I just do.

I want him to be trustworthy. Accessible. Humble.

I want him to dream enormously, radically big dreams.

I pray that some things come easily to him -  like making friends and understanding the letters on the board.

I pray that he knows how loved he is. All the days of his life, that the love would saturate into his bones and rattle his DNA.

I can't wait to hear his voice sing, see his features mature, and watch where his feet take him.

It's going really fast. I am having trouble catching my breath, because he's just growing right before my eyes. Every day that I get him out of his crib, he is longer, stronger, his eyes more engaging. How is time speeding up?

Everett and I like to call him our lovey dovey :) It's amazing how a baby can melt you into a cooing, ridiculous, baby-talking fool.

ML13.jpg

My 2-month-old Daxton might just be teething. I know you probably think I'm crazy. Everett teethed reeeeeally early, and lately Daxton has started gnawing on everything in sight. I started wearing my Mama & Little teething jewelry last week as a way to get him used to it. Training him to know that this it's just for him - something he can practice cutting his little soon-to-be teeth on :) He's catching on.

I was introduced to this jewelry because I won some of it on an Instagram giveaway! So seriously you guys... enter those giveaways (ahem, see below for your chance...) Mama & Little jewelry is made of 100% food-grade silicone, is FDA-approved, and is free of all creepy toxins, including BPA, PVC, phthalate, cadmium, latex, lead and heavy metals. The necklaces feature a breakaway clasp (for added safety) and an exposed cord design to avoid hair snags and tangles. So basically Arleene (the founder of M&L) has thought through every scenario that would make a piece of teething jewelry really convenient and comfortable for on-the-go mamas. Thank goodness!

My favorites out of the collection are the ones I'm wearing - the Frida, the Nicole and the Alexa. Interested in winning some of this fun jewelry? Visit my instagram - I'm running a giveaway for a $50 Mama & Little gift card! Winner will be contacted on March 1 - best of luck to you, friends!

Many thanks to Mama & Little for sponsoring this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

3 Ways to Style a Springtime Scarf.

/

I laughed so hard when I found out Banana Republic was sending me some springtime items to share here on the blog. I mean, seven weeks ago, I gave birth. My very first thought was, this post-baby body isn't in any kind of shape to be modeling cute clothes!

But after a moment, I thought, shame on me.

That is a terrible attitude to have about this postpartum body of mine, this body that grew a beautiful, healthy baby boy. And then I realized that if my initial reaction about my post-baby body is so negative, there are probably a lot of women who think this way about themselves, too. And it's not okay!!! We have to celebrate the important things, like the gift of giving life to little humans, and have grace on ourselves for the process it takes to create a baby and to rehab from having a baby, too.

In fact, if anything this is the time to spend a little more time on clothes, just to help make the transition easier. It can be tricky to find pieces of clothing that are flattering during the postpartum phase, but I found that this white ruffle jacket and silk floral scarf create a fresh, elegant look. They highlight features that are beautiful on every woman - the face and the neck, all the while minimizing the areas that are still in flux for me (hello, those are maternity jeans I'm still wearing!)

I had so much fun playing around with this spring scarf that I decided to style it three different ways:

1. Around the neck.
This is my favorite way to wear one of these little scarves, because it feels so cheeky and elegant. And Audrey Hepburn worn them this way, case closed. Instead of a necklace, opt for folding your scarf until it is long and thin, then tying it loosely around your neck.

2. Tied in your hair.
I like this look tied up in a high ponytail, because it feels young and fresh, like I'm going to a sock hop. You can also try trying the scarf around a low bun or in a side braid - the options are endless!

I've got a little shadow ;)

I've got a little shadow ;)

3. Tied around a purse.
I have seen scarves on purses styled so many ways, and they're always fun and unexpected. I just tied this scarf on the handle of my bag to give the neutral palette a little pop of color. Isn't the kelly green just perfect?

Styling and photography by Rachel Hill.

Outfit Details:
Banana Republic Ruffle Cotton Jacket, Banana Republic Geo Floral Small Square Scarf, Gap Maternity Jeggings, Stella & Dot Gilded Path Double Wrap Bracelet, Top (past season, similar style here)

Many thanks to Banana Republic for sponsoring this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Making the Most of Our Time.

/

Living outside the realm of time sounds alluring, I'll admit.

This pregnancy has felt long and yet, now at the end of it, I am scrambling to finish up projects on my to-do list before this babe evicts. I am doing my best to squeeze the pulp out of every moment, to hone in on what is really important and attempt to discard what just isn't. Spending time with my little boy, who seems to get the drift that everything is about to change because he is more sensitive, more apt to throw a fit, more curious about my burgeoning belly - spending time with him is nothing but an investment. So that means sometimes we go on a lunch date together instead of doing the laundry. That means sometimes I forgo the dishes to play trains instead. That means we read an extra story before bedtime. Because it's just fun and that matters. And because this idea of time being the most precious commodity is true; and as I'm getting older, it pulses truer and truer.

My best gift to give is my time. And I'm doing my best to give it where it matters, especially right now.

I've been thinking about this whole timing thing a lot more lately. JORD Wood Wristwatch sent me the most beautiful of all timepieces, this little emerald green and dark sandalwood number, and each time I wear it I am reminded to measure my moments carefully. It's making me think twice about how I'm spending my time - am I spending it where it really matters? Just yesterday, Stevie and I stole an hour away to have a lunch date because we don't know how many more of these opportunities we will get before a fourth Hale is added to our bunch! It was pouring rain outside and we sat by the window and laughed while we ate fish tacos (I know, weird winter food) and he poked at my puffy feet underneath the table in an attempt to play footsie. And it was wonderful. How many moments do I get like this? I'm enjoying them as much as possible right now. And this watch, let me tell you, it is something special - I am really taken with how exquisite the piece is without being too feminine. And also, I have this thing with emerald green. It's becoming my favorite color these days, to decorate with in my home, (remember this little DIY?) to wear, and apparently - in my wrist watch collection. I'm thinking that wooden watches are the new little black dress :) Especially for pregnant women who don't fit into anything little.

And now for a contest! JORD is giving away a $75 gift card to one lucky winner - and ALL those who enter will automatically be given a $25 gift card to use on their site. You can enter the giveaway here, and all you have to do is enter your name and email address. This is a sweet way to score a great gift for your sweetheart the holidays and also - everyone is a winner! Once you've entered the contest you will immediately be emailed a $25-off gift card. The men's watches are equally as unique - I've been eyeing this, this and this for Stevie for Christmas. Shhhh don't tell.

Merry Christmas shopping, friends. Remember to take stock in the moments you've been given this season - they are fleeting at best!

This post was sponsored by JORD Wood Watches. All opinions expressed are my own.