Friday, August 29, 2014

Contentment.


One of my favourite bloggers/Instagrammers, Natalie Freeman of Natalie Creates, stated something in her blog post today:

"Right now, I am … focusing on gratitude & contentment instead of my old friends, wants & jealousy."

That line stopped me in my tracks. 

I've been really wrestling lately with an attempt to feel content. We've been going through some big changes lately in our lives. With Daniel's employment, and my lack thereof. Because I was in school for the past two years, I didn't qualify for maternity benefits after having V. Actually, due to my summer employment, I did qualify: I was just short thirty-seven hours. Less than one full work week, and I would have qualified for a maternity income for thirty-five weeks. How about that? 

I've been struggling heath-wise since V's traumatic birth. Not only did her delivery not go as planned, but it took almost three full months for my body to recover. Those of you that are close to me know the details, but the way that V entered the world was much less than a magical experience. My sweet baby girl was well worth every moment, but I'm not sure how I feel about the possibility of that happening again. 

I am scheduled for surgery on Wednesday to have my gallbladder removed. I've been on an incredibly strict, low fat diet for over two months, and it's been quite trying. Let me tell you how extreme it is: over the weekend, we had lunch at one of our favourite spots. I had a bowl of vegetable soup, and half of a chicken sandwich. I forgot that there was mayo and a slice of cheese on that half sandwich, and that night, I had one of my worst gallbladder attacks that I've had yet. I never had a problem with my gallbladder until a couple of months ago, but since it's started, I've had a dozen attacks. It's enough to drive me mad. (The bonus? I've been losing weight at a wonderfully steady weight. I'm at the lowest I've been in about a decade. Yahoo!)

So gratitude and contentment? Yes, I'm struggling. I've shared a few reasons that I'm comfortable posting here, but of course, that isn't the extent of it. Knowing that God has a plan for my life and knowing what that plan is is two entirely different things. I feel as though I've had a lot of learning experiences lately that I haven't discovered yet what I'm supposed to learn. I've been taking pleasure in the little things… and it's all about the little things. 

I have a yummy new recipe that's cooking away in my slow cooker for supper, and I managed to almost entirely empty out of fridge before we went for groceries yesterday evening. Doesn't that give you a healthy dose of satisfaction? I also purchased a couple of large totes so I can store V's clothing that's too big in the basement, so today I've been tackling that. The cooler weather has me itching to nest, and I know that I'm not alone. A sweet friend and I were chatting about it yesterday. 

There's a local exhibition tomorrow that we're hoping to attend. It takes place in the same town that my brother's living in, so I'm hoping to sneak in a visit with him as well. V's dying to see her uncle, I can just tell :) 

Food for thought:
Do you have any favourite verses that you turn to during trying times?
What's a little thing that you've been enjoying lately?
Do share!

Happy Long Weekend!


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

How to Build a Maternity Wardrobe

how to build a maternity wardrobe

When I started searching for maternity fashion on the web, Pinterest and various style blogs, I didn’t find a lot of advice. There were various fashion bloggers that continued to have style posts while preggo, but many of them didn’t include tips. I thought that I’d share some tips that I learned along the way, in an effort to keep those of you with a current (or future) baby bump swagged in style.

When I was first pregnant for Violet, I was quite sick. “Morning sickness” lasted all day long, and I couldn’t even keep water in my system. Needless to say, I was hospitalized for almost a week until they were able to put me on the proper combination of medication to keep my tummy at bay. Because of the lack of proper nutrition, I lost a lot of weight in a short period of time. I was pleased about that fact – I had always wanted to be smaller before I had a child – but the way I got smaller wasn’t the most fun. Since I had lost weight, much of my clothing was baggy on me, in spite of my growing mid-section. I was able to put off purchasing many maternity items in the beginning, other than bottoms – non-elasticized waistbands made me nauseated right from the beginning, even before a baby bump started to show. Once I started shopping, oh boy! Lots of fun.

maternity style

 Here are some basic style tips to get you started in shopping for a maternity wardrobe:

Don’t forget about your regular wardrobe:
Cardigans and casual dresses from your own closet will get you through the majority of your pregnancy, as well as tunic tops. Although many of your stretchy shirts will still fit – and will be tempting to wear – resist the urge. They’ll fit you throughout the pregnancy, sure, but once that baby bump is gone the shirts tend to stay a bit misshapen.

Shop secondhand:
Considering the short period of time that one uses a maternity wardrobe, keep an eye out at your favourite secondhand shops. Consignment stores, thrift shops, even websites like Kijiji and yard sale sites are excellent sources for inexpensive, mint condition maternity clothing. Some of my favourite maternity pieces that I purchased were secondhand: sometimes they are fantastic brand-name items at a fraction of the price.  Also, borrow what you can from previously preggo friends that take a similar size as you. Most ladies are eager to share.

Check out the big-box stores:
No need to shop at the expensive, boutique style maternity stores: your local big box stores, such as Target, Walmart, Old Navy and Sears have great maternity clothing at much better price points. If you do happen to stop at a specialty store, make sure to head straight for the back: the sale racks can render many awesome, stylish pieces at a fraction of the price.

Stock up on staples:
I’ll get into this a little more when I talk about what I purchased, but remember – basics and layers are your friends always, but especially when outfitting a baby bump. Simple tanks, t-shirts, and long-sleeved tees are lifesavers and can be dressed up or down.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize:
The use of accessories can really stretch your maternity wardrobe. Necklaces, earrings and scarves draw attention to your glowing mama face and away from your possibly less-than-stylish outfit. A belt placed below your bust and above your bump does wonders to define that one part of your body that seems to remain trim throughout your trimesters.

Fancy footwear:
If you don’t already have them in your wardrobe, invest in a quality, cute pair of sturdy heels (a wedge is always comfy and stylish) and an adorable pair of flats with a bit of flair. Your swelling feet will thank you when you’re carrying the extra weight around on comfortable footwear. Nothing worse than feeling as though the only thing that fits is your pair of Crocs that should only see the light of day when you’re weeding the garden.

Wardrobe Essentials:
While pregnant for Baby V, I found that I was able to mix and match my maternity wardrobe much more easily than my regular clothes. I think that this was due to the fact that I shopped more strategically – I wanted to be able to put together outfits quickly. Most of the pieces that I purchased were solid colours, with a few stripes and polka dots mixed in. Most of my pattern tended to come from non-maternity dresses or scarves.

maternity fashion and style

When it comes time to shop for a maternity wardrobe for your expanding tummy, I would recommend purchasing the following items:

Jeans (2 pairs): one dressy, and one more casual or trendy.
Pants (2 other types): I chose a pair of coloured jeans and black dress pants.
Leggings: if you’re able to find them, maternity leggings are the best, since they’re made for your expanding mid-section.
Casual skirts (1-2): I found a maternity jean skirt at a consignment shop that I wore until it fell apart.
Dressy skirts (1-2): try and find skirts that you can dress up or down.
Tank tops (2-3): pick at least one neutral – the much-longer tanks are perfect for under your non-maternity cardigans, and are lifesavers for covering your expanding chest and belly.
T-shirts or long-sleeved tees (2-3): the extra length makes a huge difference between feeling self conscious and covered. Try to find at least one in a fun colour or print.
Blouse: I had a white maternity blouse with black polka dots, purchased through an Instagram sale, that went well with jeans as well as dressier bottoms.
Maternity dresses (1-2): I loved my maternity dresses; in fact, my favourite one was what I wore for our maternity photo session.
Maternity coat: whatever the season, try to borrow or purchase an appropriate coat. You won’t regret it when it’s -15 degrees out and your coat is actually able to button over your bump.

I hope that these tips and suggestions can help even one of you to feel less daunted by your dwindling closet. I had lots of fun dressing myself and my bump, but just wait: dressing your new little one will be even more exciting!

All images in this post were taken by the lovely Michelle Leudy of Hind Heart Studios. If you're located in Cape Breton and looking for a great photographer, I highly recommend them! Let them know I sent you :)

First image/graphic was edited by myself.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Seven Years Later

One of my favourite impromptu road trips - a trip to Lawrencetown beach, several summers ago.
On Sunday, August 17, Dan and I celebrated seven years of marriage. Somedays it seems like yesterday we tied the knot, and other days, it really does seem like it's been seven years. We were young getting married - both of us were 20 - but I don't regret it. We got to experience so much of life together because of that decision that we made. As high-school sweethearts (we'll have been together for ten years this October), sometimes it seems like we have more shared memories than separate, and that's something that's really special.


I don't usually gush on and on about my significant other here on the blog, or anywhere really, as I'm not much of a PDA (public display of affection) or SMDA (social media display of affection - did I make that one up??) sort of person. But guess what? Daniel's the type of awesome guy that deserves a little of that. He's the best life partner that I could ever ask for, or ever even hope for. He's the most caring, thoughtful, compassionate, loving individual that I've ever had the pleasure of coming into contact with, and I get to spend my life with him. For every ounce of uncoordination and clumsiness I have, he has a double dose of agility and coordination. We are a great balance for each other: when he's worked up, sad, or disappointed, I can usually turn him around, and likewise. Never does he complain about dirty laundry, messy floors, or a less-than-stellar meal: he turns around and puts a load in the washer, picks up a broom, or thanks me for making "a delicious supper".


I'm so thankful for every day of the past seven years. We've had our most eventful year yet over this past year, between graduating from college, having a baby, a new job for Daniel, numerous health complications for me, and life's fastballs that seem like they come flying along, left and right. There's no one else that I would rather have spent those critical moments with. I can't wait to see what lies ahead for the two of us in our lives together.

Happy Tuesday!

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

A Cape Breton Summer


Between a brand-new baby girl, Dan starting a new job, my health issues, and an effort to save our funds, Dan and I had a low-key, local summer so far. Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, we tried to keep our spirits up with little trips to fun spots in our area. We didn't get to the beach as often as we had planned (as of today, we've only been there twice) but plan to spend most of the evenings there this week.


Since Dan started a new job, we're on the hunt for a new home, too. The areas that we're looking in don't have many current options in our price range, but that doesn't stop us from looking. We have faith that the right place will come along at the right time. Before Dan took the new position, we had been searching for a home near his old job, but nothing worked out. We even had an offer in on what we thought was the perfect place, but it fell through. Now, in hindsight, we're thankful that it didn't work out. We were upset at the time, but since this new job opportunity came up, it's a wonderful thing that we're not stuck with a newly purchased home in the wrong community.


While we've been busy house hunting and baby-wrangling, we didn't plant a garden this year. I have a window box full of flowers and foliage, a container with three healthy basil plants, and a container with nasturtiums. That little bit of green goodness on my step is satisfying my need for growing things. I'm at home with Violet this year, so I have the opportunity to support our local producers and farmers' markets for our fresh veggies. My favourite grocery store is great to support Atlantic producers, so I'm able to support our local economy even at the "big box" stores.


Today's shaping up to be a good one. Violet had a great little nap, and I managed to have a uninterrupted shower, too. Dan's at work, so Violet and I are heading outside for a walk. Our dog, Sage, is eager to get out in the sunshine, and so are we!

How are you spending your summer? Do share!

Happy Tuesday!

Monday, August 11, 2014

Multitude Monday : August 11, 2014

Photobooth fun with our family of three
Good morning! Since it's Monday, I think I'll tackle another Multitude Monday. What's that? In case you're unfamiliar with the concept, or new to the blog, I'll explain the theory behind it. Each week, I like to list ten things that I'm currently thankful for. It's a great way to start my week off on a positive note, especially on Monday morning - which is usually a down-in-the-dumps time of the week. Feel free to chime in through the comments, on your own blog, or in a journal - you could even list a few things on your fridge as a gentle reminder this week.

Here's a list of the ten things that I'm currently thankful for:

771 - a much-needed quiet escape by myself on Saturday morning
772 - a yummy burrito, yellow beans, and an African necklace from the farmers' market
773 - enjoying a potluck and conversations with our church friends for lunch yesterday
774 - a calm morning: Violet enjoyed her feeding this morning, then fell asleep peacefully
775 - a working washer and dryer to keep our laundry fresh and clean
776 - being able to afford fruits and veggies that are delicious and nutritious
777 - singing "happy birthday" on repeat for V yesterday morning - it made her so happy!
778 - purchasing two new basic v-neck t-shirts that I'll get oodles of use from
779 - thrifting a couple of new-to-me books that I'm eager to sink my teeth into
780 - our recently cooler evenings that are so much better for sleeping

What about you? What are you currently thankful for? Do share!

Happy Monday!

Friday, August 8, 2014

Still Kickin'

One of our beautiful Cape Breton sunsets
I'm popping in to let you know that after almost two months of not blogging, I'm still kicking.

Between doctors' appointments, family get-togethers, Cape Breton sunshine and raising a sweet baby girl, my blog has taken a bit of a backseat. I miss taking (and having!) the time to sit and edit photos, come up with clever graphics, and write. Dan went back to work this week after having the entire month of July off (which was amazing), so it's been a big adjustment doing this parenting gig solo during the days. Needless to say, I'm excited that it's almost the weekend - and he'll be home! I can't wait to spend some time with Dan, and to have some alone time, too… sometimes a girl just needs some of that, you know? Thankfully, he enjoys getting to spend time with his littlest girl and I can sneak away for a few moments. By the sounds of it, August seems like it's really going to rock!

I can't wait to get back into the blogging groove. See you soon!
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