Milk Friendly - the Button Down.

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Outfit Details:
Target Chambray Button Down Shirt (similar here and less expensive version here), Gap Eyelet Midi Skirt, Anthropologie Sandals (similar here), Mama & Little Alexa Teething Necklace

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Happy September, friends! I want to finish up this milk friendly series by sharing this super cute chambray button down top. I could go on and on about the versatility about this particular top, but I probably don't need to. It's obvious how useful a shirt like this is, right? You can wear it with quite literally anything - skirts, jeans, over dresses, under a tunic or sweater. I actually really love the denim on denim look. And it's suuuuuper milk friendly because you can unbutton and nurse so easily. I love this top and it was so worth the investment. Actually, I got mine from Target and I'm pretty sure it was under $30 but unfortunately it's no longer available - I've linked to a few similar styles below. Also, I've found that it's nice to have a button down like this one in one size larger than your normal size, just so that during those first few months with a newborn a top like this can still button up, if ya know what I mean ;) Also, this is the kind of top that transitions so beautifully into fall.

Happy Labor Day weekend, friends! Wear all the white you can!

Featured Piece:

Other Picks:

P.S. - If you're interested in other nursing-friendly essentials that you can shop in non-maternity stores, check out my posts on the tunic tee, the kimono and the cami dress.

Milk Friendly - the Cami Dress.

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Outfit Details:
Pink Blush Cami Dress, Anthropologie sandals (last season, similar here and here), Stella & Dot earrings (sold out, similar here and here), Covet Letter Necklace

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Nursing a baby is a job. It's such an incredible privilege, one that I don't take for granted. I love that I am able to nourish my baby and care for his needs, but I would be lying if I said it was always so easy. Nothing about having a baby is easy. It's hard work, and breastfeeding certainly takes it's toll on my body. It often feels inconvenient. But in moments where I feel the frustration of being tethered to him, I remind myself that not everyone is able to fulfill their desire to breastfeed their children. I am so blessed to share this season of being so connected to my son, but I want everyone to know that no matter how they are able to feed their babies, fed is best. It's such an honor to nurture these precious little people however we are able to, whether it's with our bodies or with formula or with a combination. Everything that we as mothers pour into them physically and emotionally will produce who they become and that is such a sobering, humbling realization. And however we are able to nourish them is absolutely, completely wonderful and a life-changing investment for them.

That being said, I'm continuing with my Milk Friendly series and sharing another simple little trick up my sleeve when it comes to getting dressed to go out of the house with a nursing baby. When I'm online shopping, I often scan the "dresses" category of a website to look for dresses exactly like this Pink Blush dress shown in the pictures - something cami-style, with a v-neck and spaghetti straps. The reason why this kind of dress is so perfect for breastfeeding is because you can easily wear a strapless bra or bralette and easily pull down the straps when you need to feed your little one. But I also love how versatile this dress is and how it can be styled a bunch of different ways - with a long skirt over it so the top looks like a tank, with an oversized sweater over it so the dress looks like a skirt, with a threaded kimono worn over it or with cropped jeans under it - the possibilities are endless! You will seeing me wear this dress a lot this fall, because the rust color is perfect for the changing season and there is so much that can be worn with it. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Pink Blush has previously been known for its maternity clothes, but they carry so many other cute style that are for everyday life (and also nursing-specific) and I love that they are always including fresh trends for the season, so that this journey of motherhood doesn't have to be a frumpy one. Hurray for cute styles and clothes that make us feel relevant!

P.S. - You can see my other nursing-friendly essentials like the tunic tee and the kimono.

Featured Piece:

Pink Blush Rust Floral Button Front Dress

Thanks to my friends at PinkBlush for sponsoring this post and sending me the product. All opinions expressed are my own.

Milk Friendly - the Kimono.

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Outfit Details:
PinkBlush Purple Lace Mesh Kimono c/o, Target Mossimo Supply Racerback Tank, Free People Bralette (similar here and here), Free People Roll Crop Jeans, Blowfish Wedges (similar here and here)

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We continue the conversation about nursing-friendly clothes! I have boiled down my wardrobe to a set of staple breastfeeding-friendly essentials that I rotate through and mix with my non-nursing clothing. Last week I chatted about my love for the basic tunic tee. Which brings me this week to kimonos - I love them! My sisters gifted me a few last year for my birthday which was the BEST gift, because you can easily transition these from maternity wear into nursing wear and regular everyday wear! You don't have to change sizes from maternity to non, so it really is such a versatile accessory that can make any outfit all the better. I love this particular kimono from PinkBlush because it's a twist on the traditional cardigan and made with a thinner, gauzy, lightweight fabric- which really helps when you're dealing with hormonal hot flashes and a sweaty baby nestled up against your body.

I like to pair a kimono like this one over practically everything in my wardrobe - it adds an extra layer that gives your nursing tees, nursing tanks or simple dresses that extra pop of fun. Plus, it provides extra coverage, especially over those dorky clip-down straps on nursing tanks. This one really caught my attention on the website because of all the fancy lacy detail, and also, it's purple, so it's like duh. So so pretty. Almost makes you forget about milk stains and baby spit up. Almost. I also really like this one, this one, this one and this one for the coming fall months. These would look so good with practically anything!

A quick note about PinkBlush - I have featured them here and here before and it's because they have trendy pieces that work for any stage of a woman's life. PinkBlush is known for maternity wear, but they also have great women's clothing, plus-sized clothing and nursing clothing. And so many of the pieces are transitional through different stages, which is obviously what we are all trying to do - making our clothes work for us!

Featured Piece:

Purple Lace Mesh Long Maternity Kimono - Pinkblush

Talk to me mamas! What is your biggest struggle with making your clothes work for nursing? I'd love to hear from you!

Many thanks to my friends at PinkBlush for sponsoring this post and sending me the product. All opinions expressed are, as always, completely my own.

Milk Friendly - the Tunic Tee.

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Outfit Details:
Free People We The Free Charleston Tee, Target Mossimo Supply Racerback Tank, Free People Bralette (similar here and here), Free People Roll Crop Jeans, Puma Classic Suede Sneakers, Mama and Little Nicole Necklace in Sweet Mint (use code KRISTEN for 10% off!)

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I am so excited about this series. Styling, nursing-friendly clothes are seriously under-represented in women's fashion. As a mom of a 7-month little boy, I am constantly rifling through my closet and trying to find things that I can wear out and about while still looking relatively cute and put-together. Most of my tops are off-limits - they're too silky (hi, let's show all the drool shall we?), too high-neck (how to access the boobies?), too low-cut (too much cleavage with these milk monsters), too tight (because I am not back to my pre-pregnancy weight) - so seriously, what's a girl to wear??

It's complicated.

I wish I could say that I can make all my current clothing work for nursing, but that's just not the case. I've had to shop. I nursed my first son Everett for 16 months, and that entire time I was always on the hunt for clothes that worked for that season of life. Now that I'm back on this milk train with Daxton, I have more of a grid for what to shop for and how to make nursing-friendly clothes relatively stylish. Because lets be honest, most of what is on the market for pregnant and lactating mamas is just frumpy. But not all! There are ways to piece together a cute and practical outfit. Over the course of this month, I'm going to share a series of looks that work for nursing mamas. And today I'm starting with one of my most-worn essentials - the tunic tee!

I love wearing tops like this one because it's basically like wearing a gigantic tee shirt - only prettier and softer. It's easy to layer this kind of look with a nursing tank underneath (I have this tank in about 10 colors) or even just a simple bralette like this. I love a lot of the Free People tees because they have some unique cuts up the side (making it a little easier to nurse), and you can either pull the top down or pull your shirt up - these tunics make it easier to do either. But I will say that most of my Free People tops are kind of delicate (even the cotton-blends), so I wash them on gentle and cold cycles. Just FYI :)

During the month of August, I will be sharing 6 different essentials for nursing mamas! I'm really excited to share because I've spent a lot of time hunting for the types of clothes that seem to work best - other than just straight up nursing tops.

Featured Piece:

We The Free Charleston Tee - Free People (on sale now!)

Tell me, what is your biggest struggle with nursing clothing? Do you feel like there are things that "hold you back" from being your most comfortable self when it comes to what you wear during this stage of motherhood? I'd love to hear from you mamas!

Feeling Beautiful.

Feeling Beautiful.

I had this moment.

I was putting Everett to bed. I was alone for the evening, with Stevie out of town for work. We had just finished a tumultuous bath time experience. Someone was very, very tired. Okay, two someones were very very tired, but only one of us could rightfully wail about it.

I sat down in Everett's room, in my little second-hand glider chair, nursing him in silence for what seemed like a long time. He slowly calmed down, drifted into a drowsy lull, and finally, oh so finally, fell asleep in my arms.

A sigh of relief. Success. My glass of wine was awaiting.

But his room was so cozy and so warm, I decided to linger for just a moment longer than usual. I was finally on my own time, and I wanted to take in this little bit of quiet bliss. To breathe. I looked around at this little baby haven we had created. I looked at his sweet bedding, already gently worn in by his raucous sleep behavior. I looked at his books, beautiful stories all carefully curated by treasured friends and family. I looked at the pictures on the wall, all items of grand sentiment to me and to Stevie. This was a lovely, sweet space. Something that took time and effort to create. I loved this moment, this moment to enjoy all the pieces of my son's special room.

I stood up carefully, sure not jostle him too much, and lifted his head into my chest. He murmured a few indistinguishable "wah-ma-ra-ma-wa"s and rustled around a bit, eyes closed, finally opening his mouth widely. And then.

Then.

He let out the loudest, milkiest, manliest, most bellowing burp a human baby could possibly summon. I mean loud. Right in my face. I mean like a half an inch from my mouth.

It was a big boy burp. It was like a sumo wrestler burp.

Hooowwwwww did my child just create that noise? I could practically hear an echo! Oh how I wish someone were here to experience this with me! Stevie would have lost it. I was having trouble holding back my laughter, but I didn't want to shake too much and waken him.

I calmly laid my baby boy down in his crib and silently chuckled to myself. What an absolute character I have given birth to. What a riot this boy is. What joy!

As I was witholding the verbal glee, I caught a glance of myself in Everett's bedroom mirror. And for this moment, I felt very very beautiful. Not beautiful because someone told me so, and not beautiful because I was trying to convince myself that I needed to believe it. Just beautiful, in this moment, in this mothering role that has taken me so long to figure out, in this season of life that has stumped me in a thousand ways. But letting all those maniac pressures go, and laughing at my baby son's gigantic burp in his darkly-lit room, I felt this grace of motherhood wash over me so gently, so greatly, and I felt a new kind of beauty. A beauty in the moment and a beauty in myself. I felt a new kind of appreciation for me, for what I have created, fostered, loved, and now, just now, was able to enjoy. It was the kind of beautiful that you don't apologize for. That you don't create some self-deprecating resistance to. It was about time for me to feel beautiful, for my own sake. It's not anyone else's job to convince me of what is mine.

It was a moment of sheer simplicity, yet I felt the impact in the deepest part of my abdomen. Ironically, exactly where my son had occupied for 9 months. I soaked the moment in, smiled to myself, and said a quick prayer of thanks.

As a woman, I shouldn't find these moments so fleeting. I should do a better job of appreciating me and loving me and openly allowing these moments where beauty surprises me with it's easy presence.

What I'm saying is that it shouldn't be a rare occurrence.

And I wanted to take the time to share this little nugget. Because, as women, we can spend a lot of time facilitating our external beauty, but when was the last time you actually, deep down in your bones, felt beautiful? Like, really really relaxed in your own beautiful self? It shouldn't be hard to remember a time like that, but... it's kind of hard, isn't it?

Take a moment for you today. Take as long as you need. Moments are hard to come by, because they are expensive, they cost us time with others and doing other things. But I guarantee that you are worth your own investment. Take your moment and relax really good into it and allow yourself to focus on this truth:

I am so beautiful.

I am lovely and I am strong and I am worthy and I am able.

I don't have to strive for my beauty because I just am.

And my beauty manifests in everything I hold dear.

I am rooted and I am winged, prime for my flight.

I am easily convinced of this truth.

I am because I say I am.

Yes, I am getting a little mushy on you today. But it's really up to you to follow through with the mush. What could it possibly hurt?