Body Image & Pregnancy
On a walk the other night, I was wearing one of Tom's sweaters and asked if I looked pregnant (because even with my belly it sort of swallowed...
Some clothing items in this post are courtesy of Pinkblush
On a walk the other night, I was wearing one of Tom's sweaters and asked if I looked pregnant (because even with my belly it sort of swallowed me up), and before he could answer, I started laughing and said,
"I wonder when I'll quit wondering if I look pregnant and accept that I do... all of the time" and we both just laughed.
You see, before getting pregnant, or even trying (not knowing we would struggle to conceive), the words of so many women echoed in my mind.
Words of sadness and grief for the loss of their pre-pregnant bodies. How they cursed the stretch marks that appeared. How unattractive they felt. How their (in my opinion) adorable bumps just made them feel like a beached whale. How they felt their husbands wouldn't desire them. And on and on.
I would often listen and sympathize, trying to understand, yet never truly grasping their feelings - as one often can't when they've not "been there" themselves. I'm sure for so many women, it's a process of letting go of the body you've come to know and love and even be able to anticipate its changes. Pregnancy sure throws it all for a loop, and it can come as a shock to see your body change by no doing of your own.
However, for the not-yet-mommas who are worried about this:
Pregnancy is beautiful.
It's a privilege.
It shows the incredible capability your body has.
It adds to your beauty - it does NOT take away.
I must admit, pregnancy has not caused me to mourn my body - not for a second. Mourning your pre-pregnant body isn't something we will all face, because we all come from different places and perspectives and there is no shame on either end. We all get to feel how we feel.
But you see, I have had stretch marks since puberty. During a time when I believe insecurities are at their height. Those marks are still there, but they've faded. I've bared them at the beach, in front of boys I liked, and friends who didn't have them. I've simply become accustomed to them, and think nothing of their presence anymore. To be honest, when pregnant friends would speak of the disgust they felt over their stretch marks, it used to hurt me. I've had them since I was 15... does everyone else really find them so revolting?!
"People get them ALL the time!" I'd think. "Who cares! Of course you're getting them - you're growing a human being! I wonder what you think of mine..." and a feeling of judgement would sweep over me. As if I wasn't pristine and perfect and my marks should be something to cover and be ashamed of.
I've since come to terms with their perspective versus mine, and recognized that their sadness is just as valid as my content on the subject.
Then entered yet another perspective.
Infertility.
After two years of trying to conceive, seeing this body of mine change, and stretch, and grow, has been nothing short of a privilege. I cannot find it in me to curse the heartburn or hemorrhoids or crowded lungs or bulging belly. When my old clothes stopped fitting, I met it with relief and joy. For so long I hoped and prayed to be able to carry this life, and finally my body allowed me to do so. Each change and symptom is a clear reminder that my body is doing exactly what it should to accommodate this baby. There is no mourning from me - only joy.
I'm writing this simply to share my own, personal identity with pregnancy and my body image. It may be different from yours, and that's okay.
Today, I'm simply celebrating this growth, and the love and admiration I have for this body. I'm celebrating the spider veins, and hips, and moments when my husband comes up behind me to hold my belly, kiss me on the neck, and say, "You are more beautiful than ever. I've waited so long to see you pregnant and I'm so happy to see you grow. I can't wait for you to get bigger!" Goodness! Swoon! To hear him say that is music to my ears. I've never felt so beautiful in my life, and he just reinforces my thoughts.
I know it can be hard for some women - and I validate that too.
But for me?
I'm happy.
Plus, not having to suck it in for nine whole months is pretty awesome - haha - so I'm reveling in every part of this season. Okay, even if sometimes I do sound like I ran a marathon after going up a flight of stairs #beachedwhale #owningit
AND a huge thank you to Pinkblush for making pregnancy even more enjoyable and helping all sorts of women feel beautiful in their pregnant skin. Clothes that flatter those new curves make a world of difference, and I love that I have a platform to share such a great brand with you all ♡ Here is that adorable floral dress I'm rocking in these photos (just a different color).
And keep scrolling for a Hondo photobomb!
Minimalist Style | 3
I love having a minimal wardrobe and it definitely forces me to get creative, but sometimes I just want to wear something else. Something I haven't worn a thousand times over, and feels "new to me." Well, those are the moments it's nice to sneak into the husband's side of the closet and steal his clothes! Haha - am I alone in this?! Depending on what I steal, he either loves it or gets irritated, but I can't help it - his clothes are the comfiest!
In today's example, I'm showing you how I style a typical men's t-shirt three different ways. It's been a while since I've snuck this particular shirt of his (we used to fight over it, and I finally gave it back up to his keeping), but I just think men's t-shirts are the best for styling purposes.
Minimalist Style | 1
Minimalist Style | 2
Here are my easy outfits broken down:
1. Patterned pants, flats
2. Flowy skirt, necklace, heels
3. Jeans, belt, hat, flats
Boyfriend/husband/oversized tees are so easy and fun to style. You could also throw on a cardigan, shorts, and sandals. Or a maxi skirt, skinny belt, floppy hat, and sandals. So many amazing options out there, but below are just a few to get your wheels turning. Go "steal" that hubby's t-shirt!
Excuse my little photo bomber :) Hope you enjoyed these simple ideas!
Don't forget to follow me on social media to stay up to date and connected. Feel free to message or email me with any content requests, ideas, or collaborations!
Minimalist Style | 2
Have you guys been seeing this 'kimono' trend? I have been seeing it around the last couple of years, but was unsure of the point. I try to be more functional than stylish these days, so I kept thinking "Is it like a cloak? But it doesn't keep you warm..? Is it mostly for tall people? Or moms? Is it supposed to be fancy?" ... and then I tried one on. All those question blew out the window and I got hooked. So this is my first kimono and three simple ways to wear it - trust me, it probably won't be my last one.
On the topic of the functionality? I actually love it for summer. The summers here can be sweltering, and I love that the breathable material actually helps keep you cooler. The sun beating down on me doesn't feel nearly as hot, and somehow I've felt far less sweaty and gross when I'm donning it. It's also just really dang comfy while also feeling cute. I'd say kimonos are a win-win-win. Let me know what you think.
There you have it! Super simple ways to mix up the same item. Of course, these could be adjusted by switching out different types of shoes, or adding jewelry, or trying different hairstyles, but I figured I'd focus on the basic adjustments you can make with staple items you probably already own!
What do you think of the kimono trend? Would you give it a try, or are you waiting for it to pass?
Minimalist Style | 1
Bear with me, folks. I know I don't share style or beauty related posts very often. This is mostly due to the fact that I've always felt it would be expensive (and I'm thrifty). You know, all the trends, the time, the hair and makeup products, etc...
I have a personality that can easily get caught up in those types of things and fall down a rabbit hole. Note: I may be a minimalist, but it is not without effort in some regards! There are some material things that I never have an interest in owning a lot of, but other material things can become highly addictive for me to start collecting. Clothes are one of them. However, our small bedroom closet has largely kept me from overdoing it there.
That being said, I also don't have a need for a lot of clothes either. I have what I'll call an "accidental capsule" wardrobe. It includes mostly basics, a few semi-trendy items, and lots of neutrals. To keep things feeling fresh, I'm going to challenge myself to mix-up my outfits a little more often and get creative in my closet.
Real quick today, I'm going to share just three different ways to wear a printed dress. All of these ideas are stupid simple, but I tend to always wear this dress alone, so this was actually really mixed up for me!
I realize these outfits are not earth shattering, but since leaving college, I've put very little thought into my outfits. This was fun for me to do, and I think I'll try to share more simple outfit pairings in the coming months!
Is there anything on this topic you'd like to see? How to dress up yoga pants perhaps? haha :)
No, but really. If this is a topic you'd like me to cover more often, let me know in the comments! I wouldn't mind a little extra excuse to hit the mall now and again, and I'd like to feel more confident in my fashion choices and not fall behind the times.
Fall Packing List
About four years ago, I would have happily joined the ranks of fashion blogging. Back then I had a closet filled with all things wild and crazy and I had no fear of fashion faux pas... often times to my everlasting shame (meaning: some really weirdddd outfits). However, nowadays I hold more to a capsule wardrobe - not because I necessarily want to, but because I don't tend to keep more than I need in terms of things. Minimalism is a way of life that seems to naturally suit me.
That being said, if I were to ever add fashion blogging to my little online space now, I think I would only do so in the fall.
Why?
Well because it's all things basic. It's boots, and textures, and scarves, and hats, and neutrals. It's a time of year when you can seemingly do so much, with so little. Not to mention, it's also the time of year when my little heart gets filled with happiness, and I leave summer's sweaty thoughts behind me and prance around in my pretty little boots and flowy dresses. Truly, I become an entirely different person.
Today, I'm sharing with you a few outfits I packed for the trip I'm currently on. All these pieces are great for mixing and matching and can be dressed up or down with more layers, different shoes, or added accessories. Keep an eye on my Instagram and maybe you'll catch me wearing them. I'll try to come back later on and link back to some of these items, but majority of them can be found at Old Navy and Target.
