Consume or Consumed

Shabby Apple Giveaway!

2013-05-17T10:32:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to offer readers of Consume or Consumed the chance to win a $75 gift certificate to Shabby Apple! As you probably already know, Shabby Apple is an online boutique that specializes in vintage-inspired and retro dresses. You can click here to see their cute selection!

The bulk of their offerings are women's clothing, shoes and accessories. They include extended sizes in many of their styles. And they have a "maternity and kids" section called "Mama Apple" that stocks many cute things for baby, toddler, and little girls, new mamas, and mamas-to-be!

One of my favorite maternity looks came from Shabby Apple! Sadly the dress is no longer available. But if you win, you can treat yourself to something from their current stock! Wedding season is around the corner so I'm sure many people will be in need of dresses.

If you can't wait to shop, you can use this coupon code to take 10% off you order of any of their fan favorites: fanfavorites10off

This giveaway is open to anyone with a US shipping address. Please see the widget for additional terms and conditions. Thank you to Shabby Apple for providing the prize to the lucky winner! See how you can enter via the widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Anila Shirtdress Review

2013-05-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

When I was browsing the racks of Anthropologie during my birthday month, I was looking mostly for pieces that could work for nursing. I'm not sure if I would have otherwise been drawn to the simple, lightweight style of the Anila Shirtdress if it weren't for its button front. But I grabbed two different colorways in sizes 8 and 10 to see whether it worked for me. The dress shown above is an 8. The one below is a 10.

Both seemed to run large and the drawstring waist is forgiving. It has pockets and is unlined. The fabric is soft but it seemed a little flimsy. One might want to layer a slip underneath, especially when it is too warm to wear tights. I like the fit of the 10 better, particularly across the bust. I was worried about pulling in the 8. While breastfeeding, I am reluctant to safety pin the space between buttons because the entire point of wearing button front garments is to maintain accessibility for Emilia. So I would rather have something fit without pins across the bust and be bigger elsewhere than have to pin.

I thought I liked the first dress more in terms of color/print but now that I see it in photos, I think the lack of striping pattern is nicer on me. I ultimately passed on this dress but now that it is on sale I am again considering it. I like how lightweight it is which will be comfortable in the dead of summer. And I like the longer sleeves.

I'm curious also about whether it holds up to machine washes. Anyone have this one? Care to share?

OOTD and Rumina Coupon Code!

2013-05-14T13:02:00.000-04:00

Suddenly, it is coats, tights, and buntings weather around these parts. So I am layered up in a DVF, as suggested smartly by Sarah of That Damn Green Dress who reminded me that wrap dresses are about as nursing-friendly as they come. My Rumina full-coverage tank is layered underneath to provide support and modesty in a nursing-friendly package, as this wrap cuts a bit lower than I am comfortable wearing. I have a dinner later this evening with Chris and his coworkers so I figured I should look professional. Emilia is going to meet everyone so I'm dressed to be ready to soothe her too.

Commenter, Eva was the lucky winner of the Rumina giveaway but if you want to try one of their tanks for yourself, you can do so with a 15% discount by using coupon code: CCReview (valid until May 20th, 2013)! In addition to the 15% off, you will get free USPS priority shipping! It's a great reason to treat yourself since it was just Mother's Day.

You can read my review of Rumina tanks, here. Thank you again to Rumina for hosting the giveaway and providing the exclusive coupon for readers of Consume or Consumed!

Outfit details:
DVF dress (old)
Rumina Hands Free Pump and Nurse Tank in Full Coverage (c/o)
Spanx tights
Gucci wedges
Kors watch

A quick note on motherhood style

2013-05-12T10:30:00.000-04:00

I'm only five months in but my mom style is definitely more casual and relaxed than ever. It is more machine washable and separates-focused. I wear a lot of pants these days (sometimes even the ones with elastic waistbands cause... why not?!). My wardrobe is both more comfortable and more stretchy than it was prior to pregnancy and birth. I take more photos in general but less photos of myself (unless they're phone pics). I rarely have time to take head-to-toe outfit photos.

I don't feel like I can dress up as much. But I also don't feel like I have to. I don't have as many dresses that I can wear (at least for now while I am breastfeeding). I don't spend as much time fretting over what to wear or trying on a million things. I don't have as much time to shop or bargain hunt. I don't have as much fun shopping for myself as I do for my little one.

(photo from our NYC trip by Michael or China... the dog is also theirs!)

And I wouldn't have it any other way. Happy Mother's Day to you and yours!

Rumina Hands Free Pump and Nurse Tanks Review

2013-05-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

As you can see from the giveaway, the Rumina Hands-Free Pump and Nurse tank comes in two styles: regular and full-coverage. I was fortunate to be sent one of each to try for both pumping and nursing purposes and have been able to test them at work and at home for the last month. I have been wearing them constantly, underneath tops and dresses to enable easy nursing and pumping access. I am going to go through some useful specifics regarding the tanks in general, then I will discuss the differences between the styles.

First of all, these tanks have impressive support. I feel secure and stable during a time when my figure is softer all over. The fabric feels nicer to me than that of Bravado tanks. They washed and wore without fading, unlike my black Bravado tanks in the first month. They have enough length to fall to my mid-hip and they provide counter-pressure while smoothing out the stomach. The straps are a bit less structured when compared with Bravado but they're still stable and comfortable. The clips are standard nursing clips, easy to snap and unsnap with one hand. But a flap that goes over the bust is what enables the hands-free pumping. When you lift the flap, you reveal another layer of fabric that can be pulled to the side via an opening, where you insert pump flanges. In the top photo, I am lifting up the flap, but it is difficult to tell because of the design. This same design really keeps one's breasts covered while pumping.

After pregnancy, labor, and birth, I definitely feel less modest in some ways about my body but am grateful to have an option that keeps my business relatively hidden while I pump at work. Even with an office and a door that locks, and even after feeling really comfortable and confident in using my pump, the first few times I did so at work felt awkward. Having a tank that keeps me covered "just in case" mitigated that awkwardness. More importantly, this tank truly supports a hands-free pump experience that allows me to work at my computer while I pump. I have the Medela hands free bustier for pumping and find it frustrating because it doesn't support me well enough to be hands-free. This is different. I found both of the tanks to be very easy to use for nursing and was happy with how I could stay covered while pumping in the tanks.

I also want to speak about fit and sizing but this ties to the differences in styles. With help from Amanda, I was able to determine that the size medium would be right for me. For reference, in Bravado tanks, I took a 34f during the first few months of nursing. At this point I need a 34ddd/e. From the size chart on Rumina's site, my cup size was too large to work with the regular coverage. But the medium fit me. The issue is that the regular coverage exposes quite a bit of cleavage (to the point where I even cropped out my face from the photos), so I use it as a layering piece. The full-coverage comes up high enough to be visible under certain tops and dresses. But generally speaking, I do agree with the recommendation for full-coverage to meet a fuller bust. If I had to pick a favorite between the two styles, I would pick the full-coverage. I think the regular coverage serves a useful role in my closet and I appreciate that it is more likely to be invisible underneath my clothing, but I wouldn't be able to wear it on its own without feeling very exposed. That said, I feel that way about all my nursing tanks. And the Rumina Regular Coverage doesn't expose any more than those.

Overall, I really love these tanks and am so glad to have them in my breastfeeding wardrobe rotation. When I am back in the classroom soon, I will be grateful for the ease of pumping at work, when times between classes are already tight. Thank you to Amanda and Dawn of Rumina Nursingwear for sending me the tanks to review and providing another to give away to a lucky reader of Consume or Consumed!

Don't forget to enter to win one for yourself!

Mother's Day Giveaway from Rumina!

2013-05-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

I am excited to announce my Mother's Day giveaway which is for the coolest nursing tank I've found, from Rumina For Moms. The hands free pump and nurse tanks were developed by a working, breastfeeding mom who wanted to be able to pump hands-free at work, modestly and efficiently. You can read the story behind the tank here. I love that Rumina is a woman-run, family business! Their tanks are available in two styles: Regular and Full-Coverage. You can see how the tank works to enable ease for pumping as well as nursing by viewing this video.

In celebration of my first Mother's Day as a mom, I am thrilled to be giving away one tank to a lucky reader who can select their preferred style and color, in their size. This giveaway is only open to US readers.

I will be reviewing the tanks tomorrow, so that you can have all the information on the differences between the styles and how these tanks stack up to other nursing tank options that are out there. Once the giveaway concludes, I will also be offering an exclusive discount to readers of Consume or Consumed who might want to purchase a Rumina tank for themselves or a loved one.

Without spoiling my review, I will say that I've been wearing my Rumina tanks non-stop since I got them. If you are a breastfeeding mom or a breastfeeding mom-to-be, you don't want to miss out on this giveaway! Thank you to Amanda and Dawn from Rumina for providing the awesome prize! You can enter for your chance to win via Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What I wore back to campus

2013-05-03T09:30:00.000-04:00

My first visit back required that I look somewhat pulled together while remaining breastfeeding friendly. I went with a stretchy dress layered over a full-coverage Rumina pump and nursing tank (review and giveaway to come!). I was comfortable even though the dress is a little body conscious. But by the middle of the day I was the wrong kind of overdressed. Definitely didn't need the trench coat!

Tomorrow I will be launching a Mother's Day giveaway from Rumina and can't wait to tell you about these nursing tanks. I like them even more than the ones from Bravado.

Outfit details:
Rumina nursing tank (c/o... giveaway and review coming this weekend!)
Random stretchy nursing/pumping-friendly dress
Tory Burch Warren ruffle trench
Marc Jacobs Mercer Tote
Marc by Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats (in black here)
Michael Kors horn watch (also here)
Spanx tights
Amber pendant; Anjolee eternity band (c/o), misc. jewelry

Maitland Lace Dress Review

2013-05-01T09:30:00.000-04:00

I don't have a lot of time to myself these days and with the wardrobe constraints inherent to breastfeeding, I don't have the same ease about shopping as I once did. But as April was coming to a close, I realized that a birthday discount was about to expire unused. So I arranged for my mom and sister to meet me at the mall for some grandma, aunt, and baby time. The three of them played together while I browsed the racks at Anthropologie. I was drawn quickly to the Maitland Lace Dress. The shape reminded me of that of Fluttering Flora. The layering of lace over cotton, the cap sleeves, and the letter sizing were all reminiscent of the dress that carried me through a decent chunk of pregnancy.

Although my gut told me to try the large, there were none available and I grabbed a medium. It was stretchy enough to fit without unzipping (I didn't see the zipper until the dress was on) but still looked snug once it was on my body. I think I need a large and I think that is accurate to my current size. I also think a belt would really help break up my midsection. The underslip is not fully attached (though not fully unattached either), making it different from Fluttering Flora. I'd say this dress runs slightly large. I like the quality of the lace and thought it was a cute dress overall. I am not a huge fan of the color on me so I will be passing. But I think it will be a great look on many figures.

Wrinkly Southward Stop OOTD

2013-04-23T10:30:00.000-04:00

When it comes to my new mom wardrobe, I spend more time than ever before contemplating seriously the laundering instructions on a garment tag. If it isn't machine washable I'm probably going to allow it to collect some dust.

But a few years ago I let the Anthropologie's Southward Stop dress sell out even though I kind of loved it. I'd revisit my old review and regret not tracking one down. Of course, I would have bought the wrong size for me now so perhaps it is for the best? Not only is this dress nursing-friendly, but it is also machine washable! Even better, I found one on ebay for a non-gouged price!! I realize after looking at these photos that I should have ironed it before wearing. Ironing has fallen pretty low on my list of priorities.

Anyway, I wore this to dinner with Chris and baby the day before I finally got a long overdue postpartum haircut.

Outfit Details:
Southward Stop shirtdress from Anthropologie
Nordstrom cardigan (similar; similar plus size)
Lucky Brand Emmie flats
Spanx tights (high waisted, thank goodness!)

On Emilia:
Baby Gap jumper
Carters onesie
Leggings from Gabriel Brothers
Trumpette socks

Birthday Jewelry Giveaway from Anjolee

2013-04-20T11:57:00.000-04:00

I just celebrated a birthday. And the blog is celebrating one too. This year, for the first time I will also be celebrating Mother's Day as a mom as well as a daughter so I have been contemplating ideas for things I'd like to do as well as give. I've also been thinking about birth and birthstones. I was born in April with CZ/diamond/white topaz as my birthstones. My due date was in December so I anticipated that I'd be able to commemorate birth with a cool, blue-hued piece. Thankfully I didn't rush into purchases because Emilia arrived early and I'm eying the deeply warm yellow of November's citrine.

Anjolee specializes in fine diamond and gemstone jewelry. They have a wide selection of highly customizable pieces like bangle bracelets and diamond eternity bands. To celebrate my birthday, Anjolee would like to give a reader of Consume or Consumed a chance to win their own eternity band gemstone ring with CZs, set in sterling silver. It is just like the one above (except my piece is set with Emilia's birthstone! Review to come!). An eternity band would make a great costume ring, a nice sparkling gift, or if you have an April birthday like me, a birthstone piece!

There are many ways to enter. This giveaway is open only to US readers. A representative from Anjolee will be put into contact with the winner and send their prize directly

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Birthday OOTD and the challenge of dressing while babywearing

2013-04-16T09:30:00.000-04:00

Last year for my birthday I was newly (and quietly) pregnant, celebrating (and conferencing) with Chris in San Diego. This year for my birthday, we flew for the first time with Emilia to New York City to attend a friend's baby shower. On top of considering breastfeeding accessibility issues, I had to contemplate how to dress around/for babywearing. The weather seemed like it was going to cooperate and although we could have checked them, we had no desire to lug a car seat and/or stroller to the city. Perhaps when E is bigger it will make sense to bring an umbrella stroller but she's too little for those so the only option would be the entire travel system. As someone who typically eschews our stroller any time we'll be navigating a crowd, babywearing is the perfect solution.

In the Ergo with Chris

On its surface, babywearing isn't a topic that relates to my usual outfit or shopping related content. But I've learned that just like dressing to breastfeed, you have to really think through a wardrobe strategy when babywearing. It's so easy to overheat if you aren't careful. But underdressing brings its own concerns. Still, wearing a baby while they're in a thick, bulky bunting seems impossible. I had to think long and hard about what kinds of layers would fit under and over the carriers I planned to used. And I had to think just as carefully about how to dress baby. A sweatshirt-weight bunting with a hood from the Gap (here) was perfect for spring temperatures.

Now that we're home and the trip was a success I am so glad we wore her all weekend. It was not only easy but she felt secure and safe while wrapped up. She napped when she needed to while we walked around. I nursed her when she was hungry. Of course, our schedule was very different but for a few days that wasn't a big deal. We have great memories of our first flight trip as parents!

It was so easy just to strap her onto one of us and go. We have a few different carriers and each bring their own wardrobe related anxieties. The Ergo is Chris's favorite but the backpack style straps make for awkward layering constraints. The Moby is complicated because of the trickery required to wrap it correctly. The K'tan is probably my favorite currently, because it is like a pre-wrapped Moby. It adds less bulk than the Ergo and it is way faster to put on than the Moby but offers similar styles for holding/wrapping. I do think that once the weather turns from warm to hot babywearing will become much less comfortable due to heat. But for now when things are temperate, it is perfect. I had such a great birthday weekend and will probably share more photos soon. Sadly the one above depicting my baby shower outfit is the only "outfit photo." Outfit photos are a lot harder to get these days.

Details:
Tibi Hudson and Houston shirt dress in green colorway
Burberry Brit jacket (current season version here; similar here)
Spanx tights
Ferragamo My Joy flats
K'tan

Shopping Kate Spade friends and family

2013-04-12T10:50:00.001-04:00

Crewnecks & Scoopnecks
Athletic Shoes

Kate Spade Friends and Family is upon us! I am debating whether I want a pair of the adorable Keds for Kate Spade sneakers? Or a narcissistic dress? Or a diaper bag? Or perhaps an artfully inspired bracelet? I love this scalloped necklace. My indecision likely means I will let this sale pass me by but I love it when the sale can go on further sale. Use code S13FFUS to take 25% off everything on Kate Spade, Jack Spade, and Kate Spade Saturday until 4/13/2013. Of course, beware of sale goggles, particularly when a lot of this stuff is final sale!

Ode to (Anthropologie) shirtdresses and breastfeeding style

2013-03-27T12:48:00.003-04:00

Button fronts are my current wardrobe saviors. And dresses have long been my favorites because of their ease. In familiarizing myself with baby clothing (and its related categories/genres), I've realized that dresses are basically adult one-pieces! Despite their simplicity, they manage to fool onlookers into believing that dress-wearers are pulled together. As an increasingly harried person with less time than ever before to focus on my own outfits, I will use any tricks available to pretend that I am "pulled together." I've become especially drawn to shirtdresses for reasons of practicality as well as style! My closet already houses many cute, fun shirtdresses in bright colors, patterns, and shapes.

Unfortunately (but also fortunately, since it is for good reason) my current bustline is more ample than usual. Under normal circumstances, the solution (to safety pin closed a dreaded boob-gap) would be fine. I've even done this with pieces that don't really gap, just to add additional coverage and security. A safety pinning strategy won't work for me at the moment because I have a newborn who needs consistent, safe, and often swift boob access. In public, when I'm wrangling my nursing cover over an increasingly mobile, squirmy worm, I have to move fast so as not to tip the scales from having a happy-but-hungry to a full-on "hangry" baby.

My birthday is on the horizon so I will admit to feeling self-indulgent. During Emilia's recent four-month-sleep-regression-related middle-of-the-night feedings I've been scouring ebay on my phone to find some button front dresses. Preferably ones that are machine washable! And preferably ones where I already know about sizing/fit due to previous experience and reviews, etc. I'm really glad I did so many Anthropologie fit reviews over the years as I can use this information to inform my searching.

Within a few days, I've collected a handful of my favorites! Mostly shirt dresses from Anthropologie (some of which I already own, pictured above) except up-sized. The good news is that these also give me work-friendly options with pumping access. I wish I had thought more carefully about postpartum times, in the process of putting together my maternity wardrobe. I wrote extensively about how frustrating it felt to spend money on temporary clothes. But I still wound up with a maternity wardrobe I really loved (despite the polyblends... at least most synthetics are machine-washable!). In retrospect, I should have paid more attention to maternity and maternity-friendly styles that were breastfeeding friendly too.

At times I've felt like stylish nursing-friendly clothing might be harder to come by than stylish maternity clothing. If retailers carry anything at all that they market as suitable for breastfeeding moms, they hide it under "maternity" labels or elsewhere entirely. Most of the time if it is nursing-friendly it isn't labeled as such so as to not deter customers for whom this isn't an issue. As I scour the websites of my favorite retailers, I yearn for advanced, detailed search settings. I dream of being able to check boxes that say "sleeves," "button panel," "button front," "machine-washable," "prints," "stretchy fabric," "deep v," "cowl," and more. Rather than searching futilely and ineffectively, I have gone with what I already know: seasons-past Anthropologie. The above is a start, at least.

But hey, if you see any good shirtdresses please let me know!

Tucker for Target OOTD

2013-03-14T18:24:00.000-04:00

We had a few friends over to celebrate Chris's birthday not long ago and it was a good excuse to get dressed up. I was too busy preparing to to snap any photos of my outfit sans baby but in my quest for nursing-friendly dresses, I recalled this button front Tucker for Target dress. I found one in my size, NWT on ebay for cheap and wore it that night. It is a bit long and blousey but that's fine with me. I actually like that it is a poly material, because it is machine washable (oh, how things have changed!) so if I get drool (or worse) on it, I don't have to worry.

Emilia's outfit is also an ebay score. It's hard to find kiddo clothing that isn't your standard pink-for-girls, blue-for-boys. This floral dress from Tea Collection was a cute, soft, comfy bargain.

Outfit details:
Tucker for Target dress
Spanx tights in chocolate
Miu Miu jeweled flats

Canvas Print Review and Giveaway!

2013-03-13T20:19:00.002-04:00

It was a few years ago, after Chris and I had a friend take some engagement photos, that I first learned about canvas prints. The idea sounded really cool and I had a great coupon so I ordered one (pictured above). Since then, they've become very popular and I enjoy ordering them to give as gifts for loved ones to commemorate special photos. So when Signazon contacted me about reviewing and hosting a giveaway for a canvas print, I was glad for the opportunity. First I will review my customer experience with Signazon. Then I will invite you to enter to win your own canvas print from them!

I chose my favorite family picture from our newborn photo shoot to be made into an 18x24inch canvas portrait. The order process was straight-forward. I uploaded my photo file, requested gallery wrap so that the canvas was framed appropriately, put my info into the standard checkout forms, and ordered the item. It shipped promptly and arrived in a box where it was carefully protected. When I took it out I got a little teary because the photo is so meaningful to me at this point... to see it in a larger scale was overwhelming. The colors are vivid. The finish is a softened matte. The gallery wrap makes it ready-to-hang. I am not sure where I will hang it yet but I know I want it to be in a special place and am leaning toward our bedroom.

Whether it is for mother's day, a birthday, the birth of a new family member, a wedding, or just because, canvas prints make great gifts and commemorate a favorite photo beautifully.

In addition to canvas prints, Signazon offers car graphics and wall signs. They are a business that caters to other businesses as well as regular consumers.

You can enter to win your own canvas print from Signazon through rafflecopter below! There are many ways to enter. This giveaway is open only to US readers. Signazon will be put into contact with the winner and send their prize directly to them.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Recent Buys

2013-03-08T10:34:00.000-05:00

I haven't had much time to shop since last fall but I've still managed to buy a few things (other than baby clothes... which are their own can of cute, addictive consumer worms, particularly from Tea Collection and Baby Gap).

The Stella and Dot-esque bracelets were on a flash sale site. The Kate Spade book clutch was marked down considerably. Everything except the chair in the bottom row came from ebay. So I did get some good deals at least. This list isn't comprehensive but it does have what I consider to be the highlights.

Date Night Outfit

2013-02-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

Last weekend was Chris's birthday so we spent a lot of time celebrating. And thanks to my parents who babysat, we went out to dinner alone for the first time since Emilia was born. It was kind of great to wear something that didn't need to be breastfeeding-friendly! I contemplated wearing an old favorite but immediately became overwhelmed by indecision. Which of my dresses was the most deserving? I couldn't pick. I know that sounds a little nuts but ... that's where I am right now. haha

I opted for the above new-to-me number instead. I bought this MBMJ dress off ebay, thinking that the button panel would offer nursing access. Sadly, it doesn't go down low enough. But I like the dress anyway!

We went to Salt of the Earth which is one of our favorite spots in town. We had gone to brunch at Meat and Potatoes and Kaya the night before so it was a very decadent weekend.

Outfit details:
Marc by Marc Jacobs dress
Spanx tights
Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse flats
Marc Jacobs Mercer East West Tote
Kate Spade bangle; Michael Kors watch

Keep or return this Target dress?

2013-02-21T11:20:00.001-05:00

As I was saying in my previous post, a big part of me longs for my carefree wardrobe/shopping past life. I love my new life with Emilia and aim to continue to breastfeed for at least her first year if not longer. But I am already growing tired of having to be so careful and strategic when it comes to dressing and shopping for clothes. When I was pregnant it was way easier to deter myself from buying clothing, not knowing where my figure would end up afterwards. But now I feel an itch to either wear my old favorites (most of which don't provide boob access and fit funny) or shop for new things. I know it should have been obvious but I am still surprised by how postpartum times are a whole new state of "in-between."

Breastfeeding on demand requires me to consider the logistics of how I will nurse in public on my terms: comfortably and modestly. In winter it is somewhat easy because I can rely on drapey layers to provide some coverage. Come summertime, I predict that lightweight shirt dresses are going to be key to my warm weather strategy. It was that assumption that led me to buy the above denim shirt dress from Target. The only problem is, the size that doesn't gap at the bust is a little blousey everywhere else. I am debating whether I should keep or return. I bought it knowing that I could take it home to experiment with styling options. I know that superfluous belt would last all of 15 minutes on a hot day.

Details:
Target shirt dress (long sleeve version here)
Nordstrom cardigan
MBMJ pumps
Anthro belt

I'll be back this weekend with a giveaway so stay tuned!

Shopping with a newborn

2013-02-13T23:34:00.000-05:00

Last month, Chris and I ventured out of SWPA for the first time in a long time. We didn't go far and we didn't stay long but it felt wonderful to get out of town. I was eager to hit the stores that Pittsburgh doesn't have: Saks, Nordstrom Rack, Bloomingdales, Loehmann's, Barney's Coop. With giftcards burning holes in my pocket I couldn't wait to hit the sales. But shopping while traveling with a newborn for the first time was way more difficult than I ever imagined.

en route to Friendship Heights

Between taking turns holding her, changing her, feeding her, and keeping her happy there was little time left for browsing. When strapped for time, I'm usually a "head directly to the sale rack, do not linger around new arrivals as they are out of your price range," sort of shopper. But sale racks are often disorganized and crowded. And for the first time in my life that disorganization overwhelmed rather than enticed me. So I wound up nursing the baby in an out-of-the-way chair while Chris looked around. BTW, thank goodness for Nordstrom. Their "Women's Lounge" was an oasis of calm for my harried, frustrated, and otherwise disappointed self. I really couldn't focus even when Chris had the baby because I spent those minutes worrying about whether she was ok, if she wanted to eat, did she need to be changed, was she on the cusp of a meltdown, etc. At the end of the weekend, I returned home empty handed.

I am sure I will get the hang of this eventually, right? Until then, thank goodness for online shopping.

Self-image in the reflection of my daughter

2013-02-09T11:00:00.001-05:00

As I continue to recover from pregnancy and birth, I find myself feeling surprisingly positive. My body has changed for sure. I accept that it (much like life) will never be the same in ways both positive and negative. That was a part of the deal struck when my partner and I decided to plan our family. But it's hard to be overly critical of a body that grew, birthed (albeit with interventions), and nourished my healthy baby girl. It's hard also to harbor the same mixed feelings about my physical appearance -- those ones that plagued me as an adolescent and early post-adolescent -- when everyone says that baby girl looks just like me. She has such a sweet, lovable, curious face. Her face indeed resembles my own baby photos closely. I cringe at the thought of her being hard on herself about her looks as she matures. And when I think about the overly critical, appearance-obsessed world in which she will grow, I worry.

There was and still is something validating about the fact that my younger sister and I look so alike. Even though I can be hard on myself, I think she's gorgeous. And I feel the same way about my daughter. My heart breaks at the thought of her or my sister being so self-critical. So why should I be hard on myself? It sets a bad example and it just doesn't add up! It also makes me wish I hadn't put my own parents through the ringer with my own adolescent self-criticism. The idea that Emilia might someday find fault with a visage that I find so beautiful is kind of devastating.

The outfit above was my trying out options for Valentine's Day. Although the wrap fits, I know it would look way better if I steamed it and put it on over tights. It's too cold to wear it sans tights anyway and even though I'm 10 weeks postpartum I still really like the added support from control top. Still, trying stuff on without Spanx helps me keep perspective on where my body is at the moment.

Outfit details:
DVF Greer in spring shadows print
Bravado tank underneath
MBMJ pumps
RedEnvelope necklace (c/o)

Nursing friendly staples

2013-02-06T20:03:00.000-05:00

Cardigans
Maternity Tops

The last few weeks of wrangling my newborn and getting the hang of this mom thing haven't left me with much spare time to dress up or be fussy. If I'm not being covered (albeit lovingly) in drool, I'm worried about spilling something on myself due to sleep deprivation-induced clumsiness. More than ever, I need my clothing to be functional and machine-washable.

For this reason, I've sought out comfortable, stylish layers to keep warm but maintain constant access to Emilia's source of nutrition. My drapey cardigans are getting a major workout because they offer warmth as well as additional privacy when I'm maneuvering her under the nursing cover. I've beefed up my nursing-friendly top wardrobe too. Gap put a bunch of nursing shirts on clearance (FYI, their nursing clothing is clustered with Maternity... my favorites are this cowl top and this crossover shirt) and at the advice of a dear new friend from my mom's group, I also picked up a few Bravado tanks. I was hesitant due to the retail but they really are worth the money. I'm not small busted by any stretch and the support these tanks offer put Target's Gillian O'Malley nursing tanks to shame. They are long enough and have fabric thick and sturdy to provide additional stomach support.

For fit reference, I find that Bravado nursing tanks run true to bra cup and band sizes. Though I've not had them for long enough to know how stretched out they will become or how they'll hold up with lots of use/wear, I am glad to have them around to try. I've felt much less exposed and all over the place since they've become a part of my wardrobe.

Dressing for two OOTD

2013-01-24T16:04:00.000-05:00

Lately I really find myself dressing for two: myself and my little one. As my body continues to adjust postpartum, my wardrobe options remain limited. Not only do a lot of things fit differently but much of my clothing is breastfeeding unfriendly. The hit of my closet has been a Missoni for Target spacedye dress with stretchy fabric and front button panel. Carol of In Pursuit of Pretty Things gave me the sage advice a while back that drapey cardigans would become really important to my nursing ensembles. She was totally right! not only do they help keep me warm but they offer some potential for additional modesty when I'm wrangling my cover, the baby, and my clothes on the fly.

Speaking of covers, I have two (from Udder Covers... one was handed down to me and the other was bought with a code where I paid only --admittedly exorbitant-- shipping) that are incredibly useful in helping me feel confident leaving my house knowing I can feed her whenever she gets hungry. You can see one of them below:

Here we are at a museum (notice the tiny legs draped on my lap). As an aside, I need to give a shout out to Nordstrom who has the most cushy, lovely set up for breastfeeding shoppers! I knew about their "Women's Lounges" from seeing them on my way to the regular ladies rooms but didn't realize how rare and useful they were until now. It's shocking how many public restrooms lack changing tables! So Nordstrom's plush couches, pillows, separate rooms for diaper changes, and quiet, private spaces make me want to give them my entire shopping budget! I guess some Macys stores also have separate nursing areas so I was really surprised to find nothing at Bloomingdales (who is owned by the same company that owns Macys). Maybe it was just that location? Although you don't always need an entire designated room, sometimes you want that separate space!

Larrivo Dress Review and Giveaway!!

2013-01-16T19:15:00.000-05:00

Larrivo is an American brand specializing in maternity and nursing clothing. I was lucky to become familiar with them when I visited A Mother's Boutique back in October. I tried on two Larrivo dresses. The Ying Anytime and the Irene. Both of them were comfortable, vibrant, and stylish. In terms of size, I found that although I could wear a medium I preferred large to offer a bit more bust room. I chose the Ying Anytime dress because I am a huge fan of prints but the Irene was very flattering and pretty. For the price, I find this brand to be very good quality. These dresses are smart buys because you can wear the pieces during and after pregnancy. And for me, the biggest challenge of dressing a breastfeeding body is finding dresses. Tops and tanks are plentiful. Even big box stores carry them. But nursing dresses are a different story. I also appreciate that many of the Larrivo pieces can be styled for professional settings, making pumping at work less of a challenge.

A detailed size chart can be found on A Mother's Boutique's website.

As promised yesterday, A Mother's Boutique has generously offered one lucky reader of Consume or Consumed a chance to win their very own Larrivo Ying Dress (maternity AND nursing friendly!) in the color of their choice. The dress comes in electric blue print (as shown above), solid olive green, and solid hot chocolate.

The giveaway is open only to US readers. The winner will be chosen via random draw. A Mother's Boutique will arrange for the dress to be sent directly to you.

Entering is easy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keeping Warm

2013-01-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is the tenth winter that Chris and I have spent together as partners. His February birthday gives me the convenience of shopping post-holiday sales because in Pittsburgh there's always enough winter left after February. He'll make use of warm layering pieces, men's jackets and other cold weather gear. At this point, his coat collection rivals mine. I think this Paul Smith number is my favorite.

I've been browsing men's coats and jackets on Jacamo and other sites to see if anything could fill a hole in his wardrobe. But he's pretty discerning and at this point I prefer for him to give me guidance. He picked out the Rag and Bone sweater I already purchased. It's been challenging holding onto it until February because I know he really wants it.

Black and blue OOTD

2013-01-15T13:04:00.000-05:00

Although it hasn't been included on the blog, I wore this Larrivo maternity and nursing dress (called the Ying Anytime Dress) a bunch over the last few months. I wore it to my second wedding anniversary dinner at Salt of the Earth. I wore it to a party when I was very pregnant. I wore it to teach. And most recently, I wore it to visit family. I love the graphic print and the very functional empire seaming that opens to enable breastfeeding on the fly (see below).

Larrivo is a fantastic, relatively affordable designer brand that offers versatile "wear during and after pregnancy" pieces. It is carried by A Mother's Boutique. I will be giving away a Larrivo dress from A Mother's Boutique in my upcoming review so stay tuned!

outfit details:
Ying Anytime Dress by Larrivo c/o A Mother's Boutique
Spanx High Waisted Tight End Tights
Streets Ahead bow belt (similar here and here)
Gucci wedges (similar)
Glass flower pendant necklace (anniversary gift Chris bought from Wildcard)
Target Neiman Marcus make up bag (worn as clutch... easier to throw into a diaper bag this way!)
Vintage bracelet; Kors watch