Now, let’s talk about the fall coat trends that the fashion girlies are raving about. They’re calling it the “old money” aesthetic, which is all about understated elegance and classic pieces. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for looking chic and sophisticated, but sometimes a girl just wants to have fun, you know? And that’s where printed coats come into the picture.

Sure, I may have a collection of solid-colored coats that would make any “old money” enthusiast proud, but where’s the joy in wearing something plain when the weather turns frosty? Why not add a touch of whimsy and flair to your outfit with a well-cut printed coat? Trust me, it’s like a little burst of happiness every time you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror.

Picture this: you’re strolling down the streets of New York City, wrapped in a coat adorned with an eye-catching print. Maybe it’s a playful polka dot pattern or a bold floral design. Either way, heads are turning, and smiles are spreading. You’re turning the city into your own personal runway, and boy, does it feel good.

But here’s the best part: a printed coat doesn’t mean sacrificing sophistication. Oh no, my friend. When it’s well-cut and paired with the right pieces, it can be just as polished and put-together as its solid-colored counterparts. It’s like magic, really. You get to bring your vibrant personality to the forefront while still looking like a million bucks.

So let’s shake things up this fall. Embrace the joy of prints and colors. Let your coat be a canvas for self-expression. And when the temperatures drop and the “old money” crowd is shivering in their plain coats, you’ll be strutting your stuff with a twinkle in your eye and a skip in your step. Because life is too short for boring coats, my friend. It’s time to let your true colors shine!

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After some back and forth as to whether to just give up on purging the closet and turn our second office/bedroom into the nursery we decided to go with our original plan because my mom will be staying with us for about two months when le bébé arrives and she will definitely need a comfortable room to stay in. We began redesigning the second bedroom but still, the nursery project sits semi-dormant. I went ahead and drew up plans of what I wanted the nursery to look like and started sourcing the essentials for decor to make le bébé comfy and feel at home. One of the big furniture pieces for the nursery is the crib.

We are designing a gender-neutral nursery with an earthy and organic aesthetic for le bébé so when it comes to cribs, we’ve been leaning more toward wooden cribs in dark and sandy colors to fit the theme. We perused too many sites to count in search of the perfect crib and narrowed it down to two brands, Babyletto and Namesake. We went back and forth on whether to get a mini crib or a regular-sized crib. The mini crib is a space saver measuring under 40 inches in length as opposed to the regular crib, which is usually 55 inches in length. Most mini cribs convert to toddler beds but our apprehension is having to buy a bigger crib should le bébé outgrow the mini.  We love the Gelato 4-in-1 convertible crib and its matching dresser, which also comes in a mini version. It comes in four colorways but we fell in love with the natural walnut color with gold feet. The second crib we are also looking at is the Eloise Eco-Weave 4-in-1 Convertible Crib in Honey and its matching dresser by Namesake. Coming in equally tied is the Nestig 3-in-1 Cloud Crib. We love the mix of white and dark wood, which would also match the nursery decor.

All the cribs we looked at are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which means they have been tested for over 10,000 chemicals and pass the most stringent emission standards. We want le bébé to be exposed to as few chemicals as possible and we feel that choosing a healthier crib is within our control. A clean crib creates a healthier environment for your baby to sleep and develop. We looked at Greenguard Gold Certified cribs at Pottery Barn Kids, Target, West Elm, Walmart, Nestig, Babyletto, and Namesake.

We found cribs under $150 and loved the ones offered by Delta Children at Walmart, mid-priced cribs at Target and Amazon for under $500, and more expensive offerings from Pottery Barn and West Elm that will set us back at least $1000.  As we finalize furniture and decor, I can confidently say we’ve exhausted the search and now have to make the tough decision of picking one of the three cribs mentioned above. Shop some of our favorite cribs below.

One of the biggest challenges I have faced is finding adequate care and treatment from my obstetrician. Unfortunately, my experience has been far from ideal. I have had to deal with inadequate care, poor communication, and a general lack of concern for my well-being. It has been frustrating and disheartening, to say the least.

At 23 weeks pregnant, I made the difficult decision to fire my doctors and seek care elsewhere. It was not a decision I made lightly, but I felt that it was necessary for the health and well-being of myself and my baby. As women, we are often taught to be polite and not make waves. We are expected to accept subpar treatment and care without complaint. But when it comes to our health and the health of our unborn children, we cannot afford to remain silent.

The reality is that the healthcare system in this country is failing women, particularly women of color. The maternal mortality rates in the United States are shockingly high, and the disparities between white women and women of color are staggering. According to recent articles by the New York Times, Black women are three to four times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related causes, and Indigenous women are also at a higher risk.

This disparity is a result of systemic racism within the healthcare system, which leads to inadequate care and treatment for women of color during pregnancy and childbirth. It is a problem that has been acknowledged for years, but little has been done to address it.

As women, we need to use our voices and speak up when we are not receiving the care we need and deserve. We need to be willing to take up space, to be seen and heard. We need to demand better care and treatment, not just for ourselves but for all women.

It can be challenging to speak up, especially when we are pregnant and vulnerable. But we need to remember that our lives and the lives of our unborn children are at stake. We cannot afford to remain silent. We need to be willing to ruffle feathers and make waves if that is what it takes to get the care we need.

For me, speaking up required getting the strength and time to call different department heads, finding the head of public relations at the affiliated hospital, as well as the department chief, and going through the channels to get my voice heard. It was not easy, but it was necessary. I refused to accept mediocre care, and I was willing to do whatever it took to get the care I needed.

But speaking up is just one part of the equation. We also need to demand change within the healthcare system. We need to hold healthcare providers accountable for the care they provide. We need to push for policies and practices that address the systemic racism and bias that exists within the healthcare system. And we need to demand equal protections for all races.

The healthcare system in the United States is failing women, particularly women of color. It is up to all of us to push for change and demand better care for all women. We cannot afford to remain silent. We need to use our voices and speak up, and we need to demand change.

It is also important for white women to recognize their privilege and check in on their BIPOC friends who may be struggling. While pregnancy and childbirth may have been a smooth sailing experience for some, it is not the reality for many women of color.  By checking in on our friends and listening to their experiences, we can help to create a more supportive and inclusive environment for all women.

In addition to speaking up and demanding change, there are steps we can take to protect ourselves and our families. One of the most important things we can do is to educate ourselves about our rights and the care we are entitled to receive. We can also seek out healthcare providers who are committed to providing equitable and compassionate care.

It is also important to have a support system in place. Pregnancy and childbirth can be challenging, and having a network of supportive friends and family can make all the difference. We can also seek out support groups and resources that are specifically designed for women of color.

Ultimately, the key to improving maternal care in this country is to address the systemic racism and bias that exists within the healthcare system. We need to demand change at all levels, from individual providers to policymakers and lawmakers. We need to hold healthcare providers accountable for the care they provide, and we need to work together to create a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system.

As a pregnant Black woman, I have had to confront the systemic racism and bias that exists within the healthcare system. It is a reality that I have experienced firsthand, and it is a problem that affects women of color across the country. But by speaking up, demanding change, and taking steps to protect ourselves and our families, we can work towards a better future. We can create a healthcare system that is equitable, compassionate, and supportive for all women, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Outfit Details
Hanifa Sweater Dress, Stuart Weitzman Wedges, Poolside Basketbag, Julia Vaughn Necklace, Shashi Earrings

It is often said that the first sound we hear in the womb is our mother’s heartbeat. Actually, the first sound to vibrate our newly developed hearing apparatus is the pulse of our mother’s blood through her veins and arteries. We vibrate to that primordial rhythm even before we have ears to hear. Before we were conceived, we existed in part as an egg in our mother’s ovary.

All the eggs a woman will ever carry form in her ovaries while she is a four-month-old fetus in the womb of her mother. This means our cellular life as an egg begins in the womb of our grandmother. Each of us spent five months in our grandmother’s womb and she in turn formed within the womb of her grandmother. We vibrate to the rhythms of our mother’s blood before she herself is born.

And this pulse is the thread of blood that runs all the way back through the grandmothers to the first mother. We all share the blood of the first mother. We are truly children of one blood.

Layne Redmond 

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Out of love comes our little bundle of joy this fall. Thomas and I are elated to welcome our first child into the world this coming September. Let the adventure begin.

I set everything with a powder and brighten my undereye a bit with a banana powder like Sacha Buttercup (optional). I fill in my brows with a brow pencil from NYX and add a dose of color to my cheeks. I’m obsessed with the Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Color Fuse Talc-Free Powder Blush with Fermented Arnica. It’s a hydrating formula that delivers the most beautiful warm color on the cheeks. Shop my vacation makeup must-haves below and check out my easy makeup tutorial on my Instagram.

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