Dear Bella Band,

Thou art my frenemy.

You were super cool in the beginning. Thanks for helping to make my wardrobe last through the months of pregnancy. I used to show you off, my inseperable buddy.

I remember the day I went into labor and I placed you in a container and put you in storage. Like all good things, I thought our relationship had come to an end. We were parting on good terms, though. I would have fond memories of you hugging my bump and growing with me.

Sad was the day I returned from the hospital and realized that I still needed you. Yes, I came crawling back and unsealed your container. There you were, rolling your fabric in a way that could only mean "I-knew-it."

It's been almost 4 months post-partum and we're still together, a fact that frankly depresses me. Sometimes I blame it on the skinny jean fad that spiked in my fertile window. -But you know better. You've been gossiping with my nursing bras, haven't you? Laughing about your permanence at my expense.

(Were you the one who slipped that coupon for cookie dough into my purse? Figures.)

You're lucky I don't have the time to exercise, but once this nursing business is finished it is SO over between us. That is, until I get pregnant again and we're BFFs.

Check Out My Son (and Blouse)

You might recognize the latter from this giveaway.

I Won My First Giveaway Prize!!!

Check it out, y'all!

How perfect is this win for my wardrobe project?! After the crappy week I had, this is just what the doctor ordered. EEEEeeeeeeeeee!

Thanks so much to Kay at The Van Gogh Cafe for the CZ Fashion Springwear tops.

I will have to post pictures modeling the clothes when I receive them.

The Essential Scarf

From H&M, only $7ish

Let me tell you why I can't live without this accessory. I have used my scarf to:

• Look put-together, without the effort.
  It may seem impossible to look stylish when you have a child consuming all your time and energy, but adding something as simple as a scarf really does wonders to make an outfit.
• Cover myself during public breastfeeding.
  I have the standard shield, but in summer it gets unbearably hot under there. I discovered this use when I was in a parked car trying to feed my boy and my scarf, still around my neck, fell perfectly into place. It's very light and Philippe got a lot less sweaty during the feed.
• Hide nipple leakage.
  This was my initial reason for buying scarves.
• Block out smoke.
  A bonus! When I pass by cigarette smokers I hold my scarf to my face. Do you think that's rude of me? I don't, in fact when people have said something about my conspicuous dislike for tobacco smoke I say "Sorry, but I'm allergic to cancer."

This post is part of my follow-up to The Resident Mommy Makeover.

Mommy Makeover

I think I need to call Stacy and Clinton.

Almost every time I breastfeed I watch TV with the excuse of "what else can I do?" My thoughtful son has timed it so that his feeds coincide with What Not to Wear and I thank him for it.

Now I'm going to admit to something super cheesey, but true. I've learned so much from watching this show! There are a couple of episodes that really affected me. The first was of a young woman who couldn't get over how "different" her body had become and stopped caring about appearances because she thought she was a lost cause. The other was a young mother who had all sorts of excuses for why her outfits weren't that bad, like "I was just out for a quick errand." Both of these women were given makeovers and they looked gorgeous afterwards. You almost couldn't believe the before and after photos were of the same person.

As I sat there in my paint-stained shorts and over-sized shirt I had to examine myself. I started to say, "well, I'm going to be indoors most of the day. . ." but I knew I was falling into a trap. I also looked in the mirror and was appalled by how out of control my wavy hair had become (think Medusa).

I vowed to remedy things and styled my hair first, telling myself that I would wear it down most days and NOT in the classic resident pony-tail. I then went to put on a blouse and found that it didn't fit me anymore. NONE of my button-up shirts were working for me. I was relying on them and these nursing shirts from Old Navy. I suddenly realized I hardly have anything to wear when I start working again!

Now I'm scrambling to put together a Resident Mommy wardrobe. The requirements are daunting, I need clothes that:

• Look professional under a white coat
• Allow for easy nursing/pumping
• Disguise milk leakage
• Are affordable
  (bonus if they can be worn outside of work)
• Machine Washable
• Won't constrict me if I have to straddle a morbidly obese person to perform chest compressions (true story, while pregnant no less)
• Oh, and look flattering!

Will keep you updated on this one.

Got Girl(s)?

Double post for today!

I found this sweet deal for Shabby Apple clothing at Kenzie Poo's website. Their clothes are hip, modest, and help fund micocredit endeavors. Enjoy.