style the bump

California Cool!!

Bitter sweet feelings right now posting one of my last maternity looks on the blog. It’s so crazy for me to look at these photos with baby girl in my belly as she is currently in my arms gazing into my eyes. It’s been 3 wonderful and crazy weeks. I’m sorry I’ve been a little MIA on the blog as I’m trying to embrace all the time I have with my baby girl while she is still this tiny little thing. There are moments I want to pull my hair out, and then there are others I want to bottle up and cherish forever. Motherhood is such an amazing experience and I’m trying to soak up every second I have. Thankfully I still had some pregnancy photos to post, since most days I’m wearing nursing tanks and leggings. I try to get out of the house for a walk or running errands, but with Carlota feeding what seems to be every 30 minutes I need to be dressed appropriately.

I think this is one of my favorite maternity looks. All pieces are non-maternity and were found in the back of my closet. I wore a classic little black dress but made it daytime appropriate by adding this Zara shirt. Accessorizing with oversized shades, a hat, and ankle boots make this look perfect for a stroll around the streets of Silverlake.

Dress: Alice and Olivia old (Similar here and here) //

Shirt: Zara old //

Hat: Lack of Colors //

Boots: Anine Bing //

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 //

Getting the Royal Treatment at A Pea in the Pod

I started my blog several months ago as a creative outlet. What started off as a hobby and something I wanted to do for myself has really become something I am passionate about and so excited to share with all of you. The moment I felt like a true blogger was when I was personally invited to attend A Pea in the Pod Maternity’s “Get the Royal Treatment” Event at their Beverly Hills location.

I was given the opportunity to meet Olivia Capone Myers Style Director of Destination Maternity and the Seraphine Maternity founder Cecile Reinaud. I have been such a fan of both A Pea in the Pod and Seraphine Maternity ever since I got pregnant and was introduced to the world of maternity fashion. In previous posts you will see many of my outfits consist of items from both these stores. The event was held Friday February 20th from 3-6pm and featured the new Seraphine Spring Collection. Many expectant Moms-to-be came to the store and benefited from great styling tips and advice from the experts themselves. I was so excited to pick their brains and get guidance on what to expect from the last few weeks of pregnancy and especially the next stage of motherhood.

The event was very luxurious with pampering hand massages from the beauty brand Basq NYC, Macaroons from Bottega Louie, and Belvoir sparkling elderflower water. What else could a pregnant woman ask for!?!? Oh thats right, there was an opportunity to win a $300 shopping spree at Seraphine.

Hopefully there will be many more events such as this in stores located near you. I would recommend this experience to all.

Some items from Seraphine Maternity’s New Spring Collection

Myself with the beautiful Olivia Capone Myers

Caftan: Seraphine Maternity //

Jeans: AG Jeans (A Pea in the Pod) non-maternity here //

Espadrilles: Chanel //

Since it was a presentation of their spring line I wanted to wear something colorful and fitting for the event. I loved this gorgeous Seraphine Caftan and can’t wait to wear it to the beach. Its a perfect maternity piece that will still be something I can wear postpartum. I decided to style it with these jeans and espadrilles for a boho summery look that was appropriate for the event. Sometimes its good to think outside the box and you can transform an item to give it an entirely different look/vibe.

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!!

BUMPstyle Box

I will be the first to say that dressing your bump is NOT easy. Things that normally fit your body suddenly start to look awkward. Somedays wearing something oversized works well and then other days you feel like a beached whale. I now take at least 30 minutes trying on different outfits to see what will work that day. Thankfully my husband has been patient with me during my morning routine.

When looking at style and gossip magazines you see pregnant celebrities looking fabulous. Prior to my pregnancy I didn’t even realize how challenging it would be because all the maternity fashion I saw were the pristinely dressed models and actresses. Many of the celebrities we see photographed have personal stylists that find and choose their clothing for them. They help them determine what looks good and what just doesn’t make the cut. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have someone do that for us? With BUMPstyle box you can.

BUMPstyle box is a chic maternity boutique delivered to your door. You work with a personal stylist (Hannah) that hand picks 3-4 outfits just for you. You take about 10-15 minutes filling out a Style Profile. This helps your stylist better understand your size, style, budget, and lifestyle. Once you receive your box, you have 5 days to decide what you’ll purchase and what you’d like to send back. You’ll only be charged for the items you decide to keep. How amazing is this!! I had my bridal shower coming up right around the time I tried BUMPstyle, so I mentioned this was something I wanted them to focus on. I received multiple dresses and fell in love with one that was perfect for the event. I will post all about my bridal shower in another post and you will see what I had selected.

Here are a few of the items that were sent to me with my box.

Dress: BUMPstyle Leota //

Clutch: Michael Kors (old) (Similar here) //

Heels: Zara (old) (Similar here and here) //

Dress: BUMPstyle Seraphine (on sale %50) //

Belt: BUMPstyle Seraphine //

Heels: Jimmy Choo (old) (Similar here) //

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.