"Capsule" Update

Time to link-up with Anne and Jacquelyn for a little "capsule" update. Read about how I downsized and developed my version of a fall capsule if you haven't seen that yet! So far the efforts made to clear out the closet clutter have paid off. Lots of items for this capsule period (September - November) are hanging out unused in my closet right now, but I expected that. Those items are the ones that because of their fit I expect them to be the first non-maternity pieces I'm able to reach for so I think I'll appreciate already having them at my fingertips rather than put away in another room because something tells me I'll be busy tending to other important business for awhile like snuggling a cute little baby. :)

Having less items taking up space has made it easier to find the items that still fit and are current favorites. Speaking of items that still fit, even some maternity items are no longer comfortable. I even caught my belly hanging out of a maternity t-shirt the other day. Ugh. But the end is near! So here's a highlight of what items I've been relying on to stay as comfortable as possible:

Black ponte pants - Right after I swore I was done buying maternity clothes, my black jeans and black dress pants stopped fitting. I tried to deal without them, but quickly realized how often I like to wear black pants. For something like $34, money well spent. I've worn them at least twice per week since getting them and let's be real - they'll be worn for a little while even post baby.

Olive skinnies - I had such a reliance on my non-maternity pair that I shouldn't be one bit surprised that I've had the same reliance on my maternity pair from Loft. I'm officially convinced that my closet always will need a pair of olive and a pair of black skinnies to turn to!

Maternity leggings - My mom bought these for me early on in my pregnancy. We randomly found them at Walmart and while they've gotten a decent amount of use this whole time, they're pretty much the only pants I wear on the weekend now.

Tunics - Best non-maternity purchases ever. My collection consists of two that were Target clearance purchases (gray short sleeve and orange short sleeve), a dark gray 3/4 sleeve one I've had for so long I can't even remember when I bought it, and a brown H&M one I thrifted that gets worn to work at least once a week. Most often though they've been perfect to pair with my leggings and I typically pick one, wear it both days on the weekend, then it hits the laundry. Extra bonus - since these are non-maternity I see them being long time favorites as long as I'm not so sick of them by the time I have this baby that I want to use them to start a bonfire in the backyard.

Over-sized cardigans - Maybe I lied and my over-sized cardigans have been my best non-maternity purchases. The black one was a Kohl's clearance find and I really wish I would've bought the navy one they had too. Perfect layering piece! The tan cardigan wasn't designed to be this much of an over-sized fit, it's just a Target sweater I thrifted that's a size XXL. I try not to let the size on a tag prevent me from trying something I think can work for me, especially when it's only $3.99! 

So there you have it - all the things I don't think I could live without this fall. A focus on comfort and mostly on neutrals with the exception of the orange tunic (but I have to admit that's worn more for the function of the fit than because I like the color!). I'll hopefully be joining in on the link-up next month, even if first time motherhood happening between now and then means I have nothing different to share! :)

Delayed Inspiration

tee: Target (maternity)

knit cardigan: Dollar General

scarf: World Market

pants: Target (maternity)

boots: Clothes Mentor

I have some vacation days that need to be used by the end of October or I lose them. At first I was really disappointed that my timing didn't work out to be able to use these days as paid days while out on maternity leave, but now I'm really thankful that I have to use them because it's given me a really good reason to take a bunch of random days off, making work a lot more manageable for these last few weeks! Monday was one of those days, and when I checked out Nora and Megan's Inspiration Monday post, I knew I had the perfect outfit to wear to work on Tuesday (because let's be real...I wore yoga pants to the grocery store and leggings to the thrift store on my day off!). My version included boots because it finally feels like fall, black pants to make my outfit just a little bit more work appropriate, and the scarf to pull in some color! 

Consumed

dress: Target

sweater: thrifted

shoes: Target

I can clearly tell this outfit is one that's from a few weeks ago that never got posted because I'm wearing shoes with a heel! My feet have been pretty sore lately and the little bit of puff has arrived sooooo heels probably aren't the best idea from here on out. So are you sick of me talking/complaining about being pregnant yet? I feel like it's all I talk about and it has consumed my every waking thought, but I suppose that's pretty normal for a first time mom being 3 weeks away from her due date.....right? :)

Effort

tee: H&M

sweater: Kohl's

pants: Target (maternity)

shoes: Target

The day I wore this outfit I had these pieces stuck in my head, then for some reason tried to talk myself into something different before I realized I was being ridiculous and should just wear what sounds comfortable for the day. There's not too many days recently that are super comfortable so I've decided to just not fight how I'm feeling on any particular day anymore. I've put in some effort to make some better dietary choices that I think are helping me feel the best that I can because pregnant or not, a lunch of easy mac, chips, and Coke Zero will make you feel awful - I know this but yet still try it anyway! Might as well make outfit choices that I know will make me feel my best too! 

Weekend Wrap Up

L to R top row: "cute as a button theme" banner to show off the theme with cupcakes and a diaper cake / close up of the delicious blue velvet  cupcakes / cute clothes for the little guy hung up and paper in the shape of onesies for guests to write and advice for me on and pin up

middle row: what my niece wrote on one of the cards they had at the shower for giving me advice / my nephew's message to me in the card that went with the present he and his mom gave me...this may have made me cry :)

L to R bottom row: with my momma and brother's girlfriend / with my niece who discovered her head is right at baby belly height and that he makes a great pillow when standing next to me / mad that I didn't snap a pictures before my other SIL had to leave for work, but with my SIL, niece, and MIL

So how's this for ridiculousness - this isn't my wrap up for this weekend we're just now finishing up...it's from last weekend. Whoops. Last weekend we headed up north for our baby shower and used it as a great opportunity to be home for the last time before having the baby (my husband and I aren't from the same town, but grew up in the same area). The baby shower theme was "cute as a button" and it felt like my sister-in-laws, mother-in-law, and mom put effort into every last detail. We headed back to Columbus that night with full hearts and a full car!

I have some vacation days that have to be used before the end of October or I lose them, so thankfully I had the foresight to take Monday off to rest a little bit. Good thing too, because Sunday mid-morning through about midnight that night with the exception of the time it took me to go to Walmart and drop my husband off at the airport for a work trip, I did nothing but write notes, put things in their place, and washed and folded all of his cute little clothes and blankets. It was almost an obsession, so even when I did take it easy on Monday my mind could only focus on my to-do list, leaving me with no focus for writing blog posts and then no energy for it the rest of the week! 

So hopefully I learned my lesson! It's time to slow down, try my best to enjoy these last weeks of pregnancy (very hard to do!) and rest up when I need to. Which is exactly what I did all afternoon after my husband convinced me that the living room needed re-arranged and re-organized. :)

The Gray Tee

tee: Dollar General

blazer: Target

pants: Old Navy (maternity)

shoes: thrifted

So here it is, the Dollar General gray tee I raved about in last Monday's post. It's a men's tee but with that super soft, vintage feel to it and it's $7 price tag, I couldn't resist. I thought it would be best for lounging around the house in, especially since my options for loose fitting tees is growing pretty limited, but I had one of those days that nothing else sounded comfortable so I threw a blazer over it, put on some pearls and black skinny jeans and called it a work outfit!

Linking up with Because Shanna Said So and The Pleated Poppy...