Staying Stylish

As a new mom I will admit that most days you can find me either in yoga pants or, if I'm actually leaving the house, my maternity jeans.  I lost most of the baby weight, and am even noticeably thinner around my ribs, but my hips are a different story.  I'm hoping to be into my normal jeans by the time my maman comes in January.  I also am lucky if I think to put on mascara and some concealer to hide dark circles.  I figure I'll get better at this over time, but most days I could care less because I spend most of my days cuddled up with Nora in bed.

I do have to leave the house sometimes.  Whether for errands or simply to get out and live a little.  Right before Nora arrived I had purchased another Gerard Darel bag off of ebay (a Midday Midnight).  Love it, but carrying a handbag and a diaper bag is a little bit of a pain, so it will be sitting in my closet.

However, I got lucky this summer when I won a Timi and Leslie Rachel diaper bag from a blogger (whom I've actually known IRL since I was much younger).  I was a little shocked to win it, but super excited because it's stylish and not something I would have splurged on for myself.  (And it kept me from even thinking about splurging on the Gerard Darel BB bag...)  But I thought, awesome, it's stylish, but how well will this thing work out for me?

The answer is: really well.  It looks like a bag I might carry normally, has a ton of pockets, and has been such a godsend.  I use it to function as both a handbag and a diaper bag.   It can carry several diapers and wipes, a wet bag, a spare outfit for Nora, Sophie the Giraffe, a soft elephant, a swaddle blanket, deodorant (am I the only one who obsessively carries this with me?), my sunglasses, my wallet, my iPhone, toffee espresso beans, gum, her hair brush, and even my make-up bag without being overly full.  (It also carries a ring sling when I need it to.)

Another big thing for me is how easy it is to carry.  For this bag I carry it either on my shoulder or in my hand, and it is super comfortable either way.  It doesn't slip off my shoulder or dig in.  And while it's big enough to hold everything, it isn't so big that it's a nuisance.  Overall I'm in love with this bag, all it's little (and big) pockets, and it's stylish-ness.  They're a little pricey, but if this one ended up dying on me in a couple years and I needed a new one for another child, I would definitely splurge on another by Timi and Leslie.

*I was not asked to sing this bag's praises nor given any compensation. I just loved it and thought I'd share in case any of my readers are expecting or looking for an awesome gift for someone who is!

Tiny Little Things...

Make me so dang happy!  A couple days ago I won an ebay thing for a Gerard Darel clutch in varnished cherry.  It's deliciously the color of a cherry blow pop (to my recollection, it's been years since I had a blow pop).  And it should be arriving either today or tomorrow!  Pics will ensue once it arrives! 

And I should mention that while I plan to do a more serious and in depth post later to answer some questions about how I have been slimming down, this week has been fun with long talks at outdoor tables while drinking coffee.  And I should mention a little ol' thing like turning 25 this Saturday.  

Yes, I am going to officially be a quarter of a century old!  And I am a tad bit thrilled.  Just a wee bit.  There is a international antique show (with vendors showing wares from all over Europe) this weekend, with a live auction on my birthday evening.  After we finish with that though, it will be dinner, champagne and dancing (if things get over early enough for dinner).  And the best part is I am taking my new clutch out on the town!

Now, what to wear to accessorize the new pretty?  Hmm, I don't want to have to do any shopping because at this rate, what's the point.....nothing is really going to fit after a while and I already have a nice pile of things that need to be/will need to be altered.  So perhaps I will go bold and wear a short LBD I have been too nervous about wearing out.  It would be perfect for a night of being on my feet and dancing.  I will post pics when I decide.

And on a slightly more serious note, if you pray or send good intentions out or whatnot, please keep us in your thoughts.  G tests for the next rank this Friday!  And while he's been studying for months (and that's actual studying not "studying") and he assures me he's not nervous in the least bit, I am.....so at least think of me!  

I have been loving the comments lately, so keep them coming!  I'm even planning to take some advice to heart very soon!

*EDIT* Dinner will be Friday night after G's test.  I have a birthday certificate for a bottle of champagne (real champagne, oooh) at Cafe Rouge.  It would have been cutting everything really close had we gone Saturday night, so we are skipping ahead one night.  And G also called about an hour ago from work to remind me that he has a week off because of our anniversary (something he insists on is not working that day) and I had completely forgotten, so it was like an early birthday gift!

Feeling Sexy

I am loving my life lately!  I am now officially too small for some of the clothes I wore on my honeymoon.  My shorts I wore today are cute, but they are slung low, because that's the only place they fit!  I've been a wee bit excited about it!  And after weighing myself last night for the first time in about a week and a half I realized that I am really close to weighing the same as I did when I was 13!!!  Okay, yes, I was a bit overweight at 13, but I haven't seen these numbers on the scale in over a decade, so I am get to be thrilled.  

And because of that I am becoming more than a bit obsessed with trying on my clothes and putting new combinations of outfits together.  And shopping.  Yesterday while in Bury we stopped in at Noa Noa, one of my favorite stores that is based in Denmark (it's where I got my purple dress I wore on Easter).  And I found the most amazingly cute linen dress and leather belt.   (please excuse how tired I look in the photo it was nearly 3 in the morning).

However, now that I have this dress I want this bag.  I think it would be great on the plane home this summer.  But with plans to possibly being buying our first home and eventually getting around to having babies, should I be splurging on a purse that I probably don't really need?  (G is being completely supportive and thinks I should get it, but Im the one who has buyer's guilt)  And I also need to figure out what shoes to wear with this dress.  I could do a simple dark brown leather or I could punch it up with a bright green or purple.  Or I could pull on a gladiator (which I desperately want for this summer).  Hmm, any suggestions?

Lately I have been feeling more relaxed about myself.  It helps that everything fits (or is too big, but that's less frustrating than everything being tight), so I  no longer have the days where I cry and refuse to go anywhere like I'm 5.  And I have been feeling sexier.  I've been making more of an effort.  Currently I am trying to curl my hair some days since G likes it and it gives my hair more body.  And I am playing with make-up trying to figure out what really works for me and how to apply it (I'm usually the quick make-up consisting of maybe a cream eyeshadow, some mascara and lipgloss type of girl).  And I have been realizing that when my life is chaotic (and really, when is it not? I try to stay away from that stuff on here) I feel more uneasy, so I have been allowing myself to relax more and not answer the phone if I don't feel like it, or just go on a walk to de-stress.  So far so good.  

What are ways you de-stress?

Patent Leather Beauty

So I am in love with a patent leather handbag.  I said it, and I never thought I was a patent leather type of gal.  But I love it's robin egg blue inside, it's pockets, it's special compartment in the middle with a kisslock closure.  It's just pretty sexy when it's on my arm, almost as sexy as my husband on my arm.  And my local store has it for $300 instead of $500.  And I can find it on ebay for less.  Hmm, what's a girl to do?  We just shelled out $300 for car repairs, so I am feeling like perhaps I should wait (god knows I will be able to find it on ebay for a few months more).  But here it is so you all can admire it.  

What do you all think?  Hot handbag yes?