Momma's got a new wardrobe!

This summer has just flown by. I can't believe that BlogHer is only a week away! I've been dying to share with you the outfits I'll be wearing to the conference from Séraphine Maternity, my favorite maternity and nursing designer, and wardrobe sponsor!

Seraphine’s collection evokes the best of European style with our designs being inspired by our French heritage. Our focus is on sourcing the highest quality fabrics with the perfect fit, meaning that you don’t have to relinquish your style just because you’re pregnant. Our maternity clothes are inspired by the latest fashion trends but also practical for both pregnancy and the post-partum phase. A great emphasis is also put on offering stylish breastfeeding clothes and our patented popper system has won many awards for it's ingenious way to enable discreet feeding. 

But before you look, please, I need your help! My friend Staci Intriligator will be taking maternity photos of me while I'm in New York City, and I have no idea which outfit I should wear for the shoot. Oh and? Imagine my hair is straightened like it is in this photo, because I am promising myself I'll make time to do it before the shoot. Please comment and let me know which you think would be best!

Outfit #1: Fuchsia Knot Front Cap Sleeved Dress

Outfit #2: Slate Blue Breastfeeding Sundress

Outfit #3: Raspberry Bump Wrap Top & Cropped Zipped Denim Trousers

Outfit #4: Black Pleated Jersey Breastfeeding Dress

Oops forgot the shoes!

Outfit #5: Knitted Breastfeeding Top & Cotton Poplin Shorts. Why a sweater in August? I've heard it can get cold in the conference sessions! I'd like to be prepared for that. I can easily pair the top with the pants above if it's super chilly.

Outfit #6: Ivory Pleated Cardigan worn over the Nautical Stripe Dress here (you might recognize it from earlier this summer!) Again, since I've heard that the conference sessions and expo can be rather cold, I figured a light cardigan would be a great addition to any of the above outfits.

With a {likely} September arrival for our little girl, I love that I'll be able to continue to wear many of these styles even after the baby comes. Each and every one of the outfits I chose is breastfeeding friendly, and oh-so-comfortable.

For a limited time, get 25% off of your Séraphine order with promo code GGU25!

A big thank you to Séraphine Maternity for providing me with my beautiful new clothes for the BlogHer conference. I seriously have never felt so pretty or stylish. Ha, and I should probably learn some new poses before the maternity shoot, shouldn't I? Please weigh in, which outfit is your favorite?

I received the item(s) free of charge for reviewing purposes. All opinions are honest, and my own.

Steppin' Out Saturday - This might have contributed to the giant basketball belly

Because I'm pregnant and I live for food, we're going to start with that; fashion details can wait ;)

I devoured this Caprese at our favorite local Italian deli, Nica's, in less then 5 minutes.

Then? Gelato of course. Chocolate for me. Carina preferred a combination of vanilla and orange that her Aunt Ellen concocted.

But what Carina really wanted to eat was...Daddy's face? She had a ball trying to chew on his stubble. Sometimes I'm convinced we must have the strangest little girl ever ;)

Dueling tongues - Carina

Mike

Ellen's friend Jun, Ellen, me, and a {rather} pooped little one

Carina:

Top - Jumping Beans from Kohl's

Tutu skirt - Old Navy

Sandals - Angels NY, bought on Zulily

Me:

Top - Old Navy

Skirt - Express (non-maternity, woot!)

Sandals - BOC by Born

Whoa. I'm feeling like I have a basketball underneath my shirt today!

And:

Necklace - Teethease (more on this next week!)

Earrings - made by my aunt, who owns Totally Beaded

And since you can't see them in the photos above, I want to share that I actually have cute painted toenails! You might be thinking, "so what, Mama G?" seeing as how most women have their toenails painted all the time. Well? I'm lazy and this is a first for me...at least in a long time. So let me enjoy showing them off ;)

I had asked for your nail polish recs on Facebook and Twitter a month or so ago and settled on the Julep Maven box. You can get your first box for only one cent with code PENNYINTRO...so I figured what had I to lose? I love it; two polishes, pedi cream, and those little foam things you put in between your toes to paint them. I think I'll wait to see what comes in the next box before I cancel. You guys might have me hooked.

Linking up with Mandy at the Haps.

Steppin' Out Saturday - 1st date night in AGES (and a giveaway!) CLOSED

It has been more months than I care to admit since Mike and I have been able to get out for longer than a couple of hours. Last night we went to a dear friend's wedding reception while Mike's parents watched Carina and it was FANTASTIC. I really enjoyed getting a little dressed up and straightening my stubborn hair for the 1st time in over a year. I felt pretty and relaxed and we had such a wonderful time. I may or may not have eaten four (yes, 4!) desserts. By the end of the night Aurelia was kicking like she was running out of space in there ;)

 Details:

Dress: Milan Maternity

Sandals: Kohl's

Arm Candy: That would be Mike, of course ;)

To be completely honest, at first I was a bit intimidated by this dress from Milan Maternity. I didn't think I would be able to pull it off due to my pasty, pasty whiteness (it seems to be physiologically impossible for me to tan, ha!) After some encouraging by Mike to step outside my comfort zone and try something different than my usual blue, purple, or white, I gave in and I'm so glad I did. I received compliment after compliment and felt so confident and cute wearing it. While the dress looked great all night, unfortunately the humidity got to my hair rather quickly...curse this 95 degree weather!

The Feliciana in Cerise Red is a faux wrap dress with ruffle detail and flutter sleeves.  The single side ruching makes the dress flattering during any stage of pregnancy and I think it will be perfect for slimming even after baby arrives. Before we left for the wedding I took advantage of the inner tank sheath, which allows for easy nursing; just pull the outer layer over and lift the inner sheath. Made of 70% polyester, 25% viscose, and 5% spandex, I love the way the dress feels: nice and comfy, and just a little stretchy.

28 weeks!

Other styles I love from Milan Maternity include the Aubriella, Carissa, and Elisabetta tops and Vittoria dress.

Milan Maternity's philosophy:

Pregnancy is a time to be celebrated and every woman deserves to have a great wardrobe during this special nine months! However, most of us don’t have $80 to slap down for a single designer maternity top, and also don’t want to settle for frumpy, unflattering styles either. Our mission is to provide designer style that flatters your new shape at prices you can be happy about.

Shop
Milan Maternity offers stylish and affordable maternity, nursing, and transitional wear. What's transitional wear? Those perfect pieces that fit just like regular tops but have some extra length added for the baby bump. Great for before, during, and after pregnancy. Psst...peek at their homepage - you can get 10% off every order with coupon code 10MMOFF!

Win

Milan Maternity is generously offering one of my readers a top of their choice!

How to Enter:

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. Make sure to click "Enter!" after you complete each entry. All currents count! The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends at 11:59 PM on Saturday, July 7th.

The first entry is mandatory - Visit Milan Maternity and leave me a comment telling me which top you'd choose if you won! Once you complete this entry, the widget will give you the option of completing the rest. Complete more steps for more chances to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Me and the ladies at the reception :)

I was not compensated for this review. I received the item(s) free of charge for reviewing purposes. All opinions are honest, and my own.

The bikinis I won't get to wear & summer essentials!

This post is underwritten by Old Navy. Whether you're looking for a tankini, bikini, or a one piece, Old Navy has you confidently covered at a great price.

During the summer of 2010 I was pregnant with Carina and had the worst time finding a swimsuit that didn't make me feel like a stuffed sausage. In 2011, I was working full time during the summer, and that coupled with Mike's scramble to finish his Ph.D, we were never able to get away to the beach. Sad panda :(

This year? Knowing that we were going to be back on the East Coast in such close proximity to the sand and surf, I was really excited about the prospect of squeezing myself into some cute bikinis for the first time in a few years. I pictured myself in something like one of these...

I love me some ruffles and plaid.

But then...THWARTED! Pregnant again. No teeny bikinis for me this summer. Fortunately I found a tankini that I love, but part of me is a little bummed I won't get to wear one of the above. I know what you're thinking; I could just rock the big ol' belleh in one of them anyway. I wish I had the confidence for that! ;)

Instead of lamenting the cuteness-that-I-won't-be-sporting, I've been focusing on all of the great beach accessories that I can still wear and bring. And of course? All of the adorable things I can put Carina in!

Some of my favorites:

For me:
Flip-flops | Hat | Bag | Sunglasses

For Carina:

Sandals | Swimsuit

What will you be wearing to the beach this year: bikini, tankini, one-piece, nothing (um..do tell?!?), or something else?


Thank you again to Old Navy for sponsoring my post. I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.

Checking in & Fresh Produce!

Part 1 of our vacation is over. We spent a lovely long weekend in Cape Cod with my parents, sister, and Carina's cousins. Carina had a blast during her first trip to the beach.

Double fisting cookies

Weeee!

It's raining sand!

In addition to the beach we spent a lot of time relaxing, grilling, chasing around the kids, and we even made it to my favorite place - the Clam Shack in Falmouth. Fried clams = NOM. Vacation continues with part 2 in Philly on Friday!

I took a 25 week bump photo, but didn't get around to doing the update post. I'll roll it all into the 26 week update for next week. Do you like my dress? It's from Fresh Produce and I am in love with it. It's not necessarily designed for pregnancy, but works so well with the bump! I am excited that I'll be able to wear it even after Aurelia arrives. Made of Rayon and Lycra, the Effortless Dress is really comfy and perfect for summer.

25 weeks

 
More about Fresh Produce:
Fresh Produce designs, manufactures and markets a leading women’s and children’s lifestyle brand of clothing. In women’s apparel, the Fresh Produce brand is known for its original prints, vibrant color and stylish, comfortable clothing, all designed and created by CEO, Mary Ellen Vernon. For nearly three decades, Fresh Produce has delighted women with beautiful clothing that is primarily made in the USA. 

The heart of the Fresh Produce is rooted in the positive impact of color. We love color and want our customers to light up the room in our clothes. From casual tops and feminine dresses to decorative scarves and stylish pants, Fresh Produce is dedicated to creating feel-good clothes women want to wear every day.  The coastal-inspired colors and broad assortment of easy-to-wear pieces are flattering and comfortable on all shapes and sizes and are available in Extra Fresh plus sizes as well as children’s styles. The comfortable fabrics, fit and style reflect carefree ease.

Aside from the Effortless Dress, the Cafe Wrap Dress, Essential Cardigan, and the Encore Tank are my favorite styles. And I would love the Girl's Ruffle Tank Dress for Carina. Check out the beach dresses, casual clothing, and women's cardigans over at Fresh Produce!

I was not compensated for this review. I received the item(s) free of charge for reviewing purposes. All opinions are honest, and my own.

Maternity Fashion: Séraphine - Review & Giveaway! CLOSED

After discovering recently how great it feels to find a cute dress that fits well, I've been on the search for a few more. Since I have been feeling "meh" about the way I look for the last few months, I admit that the little pick-me-up that comes from wearing a flattering dress has done wonders for my self-esteem. When Séraphine Maternity contacted me about trying out one of their gorgeous dresses, you can imagine that I jumped at the chance. Séraphine has a wide range of maternity wear from casual tops and dresses to swimsuits, and from pants and skirts to luxurious gowns - even wedding dresses! Many of the styles are also breastfeeding friendly.

I received the Nautical Stripe Dress, which I thought would be perfect for our Cape Cod vacation (and I was right!) I love wearing it - from the backyard BBQ, to shopping, to the beach! And yes, I did all three of those things in this dress today. I'm exhausted ;)

Up close detail

With its striped print, deep navy trim, empire waistline defining belt, and cute gold buttons with anchor detail, this dress is just adorable. I really like that it's made of comfortable light weight jersey, and that you can easily unbutton the front to breastfeed.

In addition to the Nautical Stripe Dress, I am also in love with the Slate Blue Breastfeeding Dress, the Fuchsia Knot Front Cap Sleeved Dress, and the Knitted Breastfeeding Top.

More about Séraphine:

Shop Seraphine’s chic maternity wear collection with confidence. Epitomizing the essence of Parisian chic, our range of stylish maternity clothes comprises everything you will need to make your pregnancy a stylish one. Our range of maternity dresses give the best of both worlds with fashionable and functional styles that translate effortlessly to nursing. Shop for the perfect maternity dresses ideal for every occasion and are already providing a keen celebrity following. Shop our glamourous new line of LUXE designer maternity dresses ideal for all your summer occasions.

Over my bathing suit at the beach!

Shop

Séraphine Maternity has a huge range of stylish maternity wear including dresses, tops, skirts, pants, swimsuits, and even wedding gowns! Many of the styles are also breastfeeding friendly (woohoo!) Enjoy a 25% discount with code GGU25.

Win

The amazing folks at Séraphine are offering a $100 credit to one of my lucky readers! Umm...can't I keep this one? Pretty please? No? Okay. For one of you ;)

How to Enter:

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. Make sure to click "Enter!" after you complete each entry. All currents count! The giveaway is open Worldwideand ends at 11:59 PM on Saturday, June 16th.

The first entry is mandatory - Visit Séraphine and leave me a comment letting me which style you like best! Once you complete this entry, the widget will give you the option of completing the rest. Complete more steps for more chances to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was not compensated for this review. I received the item(s) free of charge for reviewing purposes. All opinions are honest, and my own.

Steppin' Out Sunday - Renaissance Faire!

As soon as we arrived at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire, I saw exactly what Carina needed. Not a pretty princess hat {although we did look for one}, or intricately decorated fairy wings. No. A wooden sword.

She proceeded to smack me in the face with it shortly after I purchased it. Serves me right for buying a 17-month-old a weapon, I guess. Despite the Mommy abuse, we had a great time!

Epic Carina pout face

Fun on Daddy's shoulders

Trying to hit Daddy

Trying to escape from Mommy

 

Details

Dress: Shabby Apple - not a maternity dress, but I made it work ;)

Sandals: Kohl's

Parasol: Bought at the Faire since silly me forgot a hat

Carina

Dress: Hartstrings (gift from my Mother-in-law)

Hat: Flap Happy (gift from Mike's Aunt)

Shoes: Baby Deer -from Zulily

What did you do this weekend?