dressing the bump

Family Portrait

Baby girl has finally graced us with her presence this Thursday March 26th at 10:48pm, weighing 7 lbs and 1 ounce and 20 1/4 inches long. Carlota Pi-Henderson. I am so overjoyed with emotions and lack of sleep!! hehe We have so much love for her already and she’s only 3 days old. I can’t imagine my life without her and I’m already sad that time is going by so quickly. I want to keep my little princess as this little tiny bundle of joy but I’m also excited to share all of her life experiences with her. So many mixed emotions….I guess that could also be due to all the changing hormones. I can’t wait to share photos and my birth story with you in an upcoming blog post.

Here are a few more of my maternity shoot photos from Bleudog photography. Shawna is amazing and I’m so happy I found her to get photos of this special time. I’m thrilled I can finally hold my baby girl, but a part of me still misses feeling her little kicks inside my belly. I miss having her so close to me 24/7.

I love this photo of my first child Pinxo. Shows the love we have for each other. He has been so good with little Charlie and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I think he’s still a little confused of what’s happening in our house and who this new addition is, but he’s so gentle with her. He is her little body guard. He needs to be close to her, but doesn’t get too close. He also occasionally likes to smell and kiss her. I think he’s a little jealous now that our attention is shared between the two of them. He was an only child for 7 years so that’s totally understandable!!

Dress: Felicity and Coco non-maternity I just went up a size //

Love me!!

Today I am a little over 39 weeks pregnant!! WHAT?? How did the time fly so quickly? How is it that baby girl is going to be here in less than a week? I don’t think I’ve wrapped my mind around that completely!! She is due March 28th, but really she’ll come whenever she decides she’s ready to make her appearance into the world.

I’m starting to find that dressing is more of a challenge. These photos were taken a couple weeks ago and I don’t think that this shirt would fit over my current bump situation. Lately wearing a maternity t-shirt and jeans or a dress are my go-to-looks. Note to all my pregnant readers: Invest in maternity T-shirts from the beginning. I bought a couple of them when I first went maternity shopping. At that point I really didn’t need them but still wore them. They have been my savior these past few weeks. Many other shirts are just not long enough to cover the bump, or wearing really large loose things makes me feel huge with all the swelling and weight gain. Its nice to have something that accentuates your curves while providing proper coverage. I will link the ones I have at the end of my post.

Pregnant or not, boyfriend jeans are always a good idea. So comfortable and chic. I added a white button down shirt and sweater to dress them up a little. Since I have stuck with simple versatile pregnancy items, I transform my look with my accessories. I added some cobalt blue for a pop of color.

Shirt: Rosie pope maternity //

Cardigan: Aritzia (Similar longer version here) //

Jeans: Motherhood Maternity //

Glasses: Ray-ban //

Necklace: Aqua Bloomingdales old (Similar here and here) //

Maternity T-Shirts: A pea in the pod similar here and here //

Spring is in the air!!

I’m in my last month of pregnancy and it’s starting to really hit home that baby girl could be here any day now!! I have such mixed feelings. I’m so excited for her arrival and to finally meet our little angel. I’m eager to finally start getting back to my pre-pregnancy figure and wear regular clothes. I’m thrilled that our life will be full of love and excitement, but also scared of all the changes. A part of me will be sad to no longer have my baby bump and my little girl so close to my heart. I am one of those people that is petrified of change!!

In less than a few short weeks it will no longer be just my husband and I. It’s been just the two of us (and Pinxo, our Boston Terrier) for 7 years. We have our routine, and it’s about to be shaken-up. I don’t know what to expect, but I do know it will be one of the greatest changes of my life. I know that as soon as I hold our baby girl in my arms, all my fears will go out the window.

These photos were a part of my Maternity photo shoot. I can’t wait to finally start sharing all those photos with you. Throughout my pregnancy I have been such an advocate of maternity jeans as a wardrobe staple. They are so comfortable and let you feel “normal” when all you want to wear are sweats or leggings. This is especially true in your 3rd Trimester. Having a pair of colored jeans, especially in the spring and summer is my favorite. Its a great way to spruce up a look. These mint Jeans from Motherhood Maternity have been a great piece in my maternity wardrobe. I love the color, fit and not to mention they are super comfortable!

Shirt: Wendy Bellissimo (Non-maternity here and here) //

Denim: Motherhood Maternity (Non-maternity here and here) //

Espadrilles: Chanel (Similar here and here ) //

Bag: Celine //

Isabella Oliver Maternity

My bump style has evolved over the past nine months of pregnancy. Starting out as a jeans and button down kinda girl, I’m moving towards favoring dresses especially now that I’m approaching the end of my third trimester. There is nothing like a figure hugging dress while pregnant. I must say that I feel my sexiest when I’m wearing one.

In the past, when I was having a “fat” day I would avoid horizontal stripes and tight clothing like the plague. It almost seems like a contradiction…wearing a tight dress when you’re at your largest. When you’re pregnant all those rules go out the window. This is a time when a woman should embrace her curves because its such a beautiful time in her life.

This Isabella Oliver dress is perfect. It fits in all the the right places and has the perfect length. I find that when I am trying to squeeze into some of my non-maternity dresses they start to ride up and become a little too risqué. What used to be an appropriate length is now a mini skirt that may not be suitable for a mama-to-be running errands. The best part is that this dress can totally be worn postpartum as well. How perfect is that.

I love the neutral colors and simple striped pattern of the dress. I kept the look chic and casual by adding a hat and Converse and keeping my jewelry minimal. Lately I have been living in my sneakers since my feet and ankles have decided to swell like crazy!! One of those pregnancy side effects that has come to haunt me.

You can see my swollen ankles pretty clearly here!! hehe Not my most flattering photo. What has been your worst pregnancy side effect?

Dress: Isabella Oliver //

Hat: Revolve //

Shoes: Converse //

Baby Shower for the little princess!!

My past few weekends have been so frantic getting all the final touches ready for the arrival of baby girl, that I’ve been very behind with my blog posts. I think after baby girl arrives I will still have a bunch of maternity pictures to post.

I am so excited to share with you the pictures from my gorgeous baby shower. I am very thankful that I have such wonderful people in my life, who care so much about me and helped me put together such a beautiful day. I’m the type of person that is always keeping busy. Most days I am so busy that I almost forget I live so far away from my family and many of my best friends. When life moments happen, such as having your first child, it really hits you hard. Many important people in your life are not there to share each step along the way. These moments also make me realize the new family and friends I have made here in LA and how thankful I am to have them. My sister-in-law Raquel and bff Nora stepped right in to take charge and throw me the most magical baby shower. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

The party was filled with friends and loved ones who came for mimosas and brunch. We had a make your own mimosa bar and a virgin cocktail bar for those of us not drinking or expecting. There was a desert table filled with chocolates, doughnuts, cupcakes and a beautiful strawberry cake.

Two of the pregnant ladies in front of the desert table….how fitting!!!

The table setting was perfect. It made me think of Alice in Wonderland meets rustic glam. I loved that we all sat together on the long table. My sister-in-law Raquel made these wonderful Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrubs for all the guests as party favors for attending the shower. All natural ingredients and they smell amazing!!

Games and activities are a must during a baby shower. One of the games was to wear one of the pink necklaces below and try to collect them from the other guests. Whenever anyone mentioned the word “baby” they had to give away their necklace to the guest that caught them in the act. The lady with the most at the end of the shower won a prize.

The ladies competed in changing a diaper blindfolded game. This is much harder than it sounds. Veteran mom Jen was obviously the expert at this and blew everyone else under the water.

My favorite activity was having everyone decorate a onesie for baby girl. How cool is this idea! Now we have many onesies that are made with love specifically for her.

I wore this beautiful dress that I received from my BUMPstyle box!! You can read all about them in one of my previous blog posts!! It is such a great asset for pregnant women because you get a personal stylist that selects maternity pieces specifically for you. Dressing the bump is not an easy task, and there are limited options. This takes away all the hard work and frustration. You just have to decide if you like the pieces selected for you or if you want to return them and wait for your next box.

Dress: BUMPstyle box Tees by Tina //

Kimono: Lottie and Holly old (Similar here and here) //

Necklace: Bauble Bar //

Denim dress on repeat!!

While the East Coast is still in full fledge winter mode, its been quite the opposite here in LA LA land. All I want to wear is something easy and breezy. I’m thankful that baby girl is coming in 4 weeks because I don’t know how pregnant ladies handle their 3rd trimester during the summer. I’m already constantly hot and sweaty and the weather has been pretty perfect. It’s a weird feeling for me because normally I’m always cold. I’m constantly in need of layers when I go out….now I can’t get enough of the AC!!

This denim dress was one of my first pregnancy purchases back in my first trimester. It’s on the verge of no longer fitting over my growing bump, but lasting through 8 months of pregnancy is pretty good. Not to mention, it will be a perfect addition to my wardrobe postpartum.

Many fashionistas and bloggers wear or photograph stand out pieces once and then you never see them again. This could be possible if you had a limitless budget, but for the rest of us this is not an option. Finding basic pieces that suit your style can and should be worn multiple times. All you have to do is change your accessories, shoes and handbag and voila you have a new transformed look. Here is a link of how I styled this dress in the fall during the earlier stages of my pregnancy.

Dress: Gap old (Similar here, here and here) //

Necklace: Bauble Bar //

Shoes: Jimmy Choo old (Similar here, here and here) //

Glasses: Ray Ban //

Bracelets: Rabat //

Purse: Goyard //

Thank you for visiting my blog and embarking on this journey with me!!

Winter layers

The best part of dressing for winter is layering. You can add so much to your look by adding multiple layers. California winters do not allow us to wear chunky knits and thick coats so wearing a cool scarf, hat and pattern mixing can add the same effect.

Lately I have been all about a good hat. It can add so much personality to a casual outfit and is perfect for those days where your hair is just not cooperating. I love this Lack of Color fedora. It is so versatile, and if you are more adventurous than myself they come in multiple funky colors.

Pattern mixing has been in full effect this season. Things that you would have never paired together a few years ago are becoming trendy. Adding multiple patterns to a look is another way to add layers and volume to your outfit. This Scalpers scarf is a statement in itself with its bold colors and scull and cross bone pattern. Pairing it with my stripped shirt and Louis Vuitton bag tames it down. When I’m pattern mixing I try to have a basic pattern mixed with a bolder pattern. Having more than one loud pattern can be a little overwhelming for my taste. Some of the simple patterns I tend to use are stripes, leopard, and polka dots. These can all be paired with any other print.

Shirt: BCBG generation (Similar here and here maternity here) //

Jacket: Zara //

Hat: Lack of Color //

Scarf: Scalpers old (Similar here and here) //

Jeans: A pea in the Pod Maternity (Non-Maternity here) //

Boots: Sergio Rossi old (Similar here ) //

Winter Whites!!

Fashion rule number #1….no white after labour day!!! This fashion faux pas has been passed on from generation to generation and we have all grown up hearing this. These past couple of years white has become a major power player in the fashion world. It has been a featured color on multiple runways as the color of the season. No longer are we abiding by these rules, and I love it.

I think an all white look is so chic and powerful. Pairing white jeans with a textured sweater is a perfect winter look. Lately the weather in Los Angeles has been like summer so this outfit has a mix of the two seasons.

I was worried that white would be a color to avoid during my late stages of pregnancy. Once I found these Wendy Bellissimo skinny jeans from Motherhood maternity I realized that this did not have to be the case. I love the distressed knees and perfect fit. Maternity jeans are not what they used to be. They look and fit just like regular jeans without the waistband.

Jeans: Wendy Bellissimo Motherhood Maternity //

Sweater: Aritzia (Similar here) //

T-Shirt: A pea in the pod maternity (currently on sale) //

Shoes: Converse //

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban //

Purse: Goyard //

Working with what you already have!!

How many times have you walked into your closet in the morning trying to decide what your outfit of the day will be and think “I have nothing to wear!!” I feel like this is the story of my life. I am constantly aimlessly staring at my hanging clothes thinking I need a new wardrobe because nothing is right and there is nothing for me to wear.

This is becoming worse now that majority of my clothes are either too tight or too short to cover the belly. I have a limited amount to work with, and it has forced me to get creative and think outside my comfort zone. It has also pushed me to look deeper in my closet and pull out those items that have been there for years and I have forgotten about. I have obviously bought maternity clothing….I think there are multiple items that are essential, especially jeans (as stated in my previous post). I also don’t want to splurge too much on an abundance of maternity items since I will hopefully get back to my pre-pregnancy shape in a few months. (This is my goal….lets see how that works!)

All items in this post are at least 2-4 years old, other than my sunglasses!! I tend to lean towards classic pieces rather than trendy ones. This works to my advantage because I can still wear them years later.

Take a peek into your closet and pull out a piece you haven’t worn in a few years. You may be surprised and a whole new look may come out of it without breaking your bank account.

Cardigan: Aritzia old (Similar here, here and here) //

Dress: Twin Set Simona Barbieri old (Similar here, here, here and here) //

Boots: Sergio Rossi old (Similar here and here) //

Clutch: L.A.M.B old (Similar here and here) //

Sunglasses: Karen Walker //

That perfect pair!!

Everyone has that one pair of jeans that are their favorite. They fit you perfectly and flatter all aspects of your figure. During my pregnancy I had quickly outgrown my perfect pair of jeans. I then started to wear some of the others in my closet and used elastic belly bands to help hold them up. This worked well early in my pregnancy but it quickly started becoming uncomfortable. I know many expectant mothers wear their regular jeans for as long as possible, but this was not the case for me. Possibly because I was gaining more weight than the average, or my belly was lower than others… but I rushed to purchase maternity jeans as soon as I hit my second trimester. I am so thankful I did because I was able to wear comfortable stylish pants all throughout my pregnancy.

When I found these Seraphine maternity grey jeans I was thrilled. There is something about grey jeans that I love so much. They are different than the usual blue and black, and go with everything. I had tried on other brands of grey jeans and was disappointed because they didn’t make me feel confident wearing them. When I tried on these, I knew they were going to be my “perfect pair” maternity jeans!!