Hi friends,
Happy Wednesday! I hope your week has been off to a good start so far. Wanted to share a short blogpost this morning about a few items I noticed on the Amazon Prime sales. If you are an Amazon Prime member and have been waiting to pick up a few items from your wish list, this may be a good time to check their sale. I know this year is challenging in so many ways and Amazon Prime day may or may not be on the top of your priority list. My sale finds and posts are never meant to make you feel pressured into buying something you absolute will have no use for. However, if you've been looking to buy special occasion/ holiday presents for your loved ones or had some of these products on your wishlists, it's worth checking them out. The goal for my blog and Instagram shares are so I can do the research on products so you don't have to. Hope this is useful! 1.Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker 11 in 1 with Air Fryer, 8 Qt- Priced at $119.99, safe to say, it is every busy household's kitchen must have gadget. Add in the air fryer and you basically can throw out the rest of your kitchen gadgets. Just kidding. But in all seriousness, it makes meal prep significantly easier, and also perfect for the upcoming cooler months for the endless stews, soups and curries for dinner. The air fryer piece is ideal for prepping pizza, crisping veggies, chicken wings, cooking fish, I mean the list is endless. If you need any IP recipes, my friend Ashley from My Heart Beets is your girl. If you're not following her blog already, you absolutely must! 2. Hair dryer brush & styler- This hot air brush & dryer is currently listed for $11 less than regular price and based on the reviews it works on all hair textures and takes about 10 minutes to style. If I didn't have the Revlon hair dryer I would've added this to my cart. 3. Amazon Fire Tablet/Kindle Paperwhite - Whether you are looking to invest in the 7" tablet for all your reading and streaming needs (compatible with Netflix, Disney +, Amazon prime video, Spotify, zoom, Kindle & Audible) or the 8" for the wider screen display OR the paperwhite to make the switch to digital reading (at less than $80)- these deals are perfect for gifting your loved ones or yourself. 4. Nespresso Vertuo- The last but definitely not the least, the Breville Vertuo coffee and espresso machine ( priced at $70 less than regular price) is a game changer for coffee drinkers ( the espresso machine can make coffee in 5 different cup sizes). The machine comes with the Aeroccino ( fancy name for frothing machine) and I promise you, your coffee experience will never be the same. We have had this espresso maker at home for almost a year and have been completely spoiled ( in the best way possible). It is usually pretty hard to get a good deal on these so IF you've been contemplating buying one, I'd suggest looking into this. That's all folks! I promised to keep this short. Thank you for reading and enjoy your week! -Sophia
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Happy Friday friends! Hope you're doing well and staying safe. I've had a busy week with work and getting back into our regular routine as it is after any vacation (endless laundry am I right?). We took a long road trip last week up north to Vermont for a few nights with the kids and stayed at this perfectly cozy wood cabin via Airbnb. The drive was about 8 hours from Northern Virginia so you can imagine with 2 kids ages 2 & 1, we had a long road ahead. Literally and figuratively. Thankfully the cabin was everything and more than what we could imagine. It had all the amenities you could think of that makes up a perfectly socially distanced getaway. We spent most of our times in the cozy kitchen cooking up meals as well as outdoors enjoying sunshine and the beautiful fall foliage surrounding us. I'd like to believe the kids also enjoyed a slower pace and change in scenery. The hosts were very gracious and helpful and I would highly recommend staying here if you are planning on visiting Vermont soon. In this blogpost, I hope to share some activities in VT as well as some tips we have learned over the last few months (we've taken 3 long road trips over the summer) when it comes to long drives with two little ones and things we pack to make life a bit easier. Here are a couple of things we did in Brandon, Vermont which was where our Airbnb was located. Besides spending plenty of time outside of the wood cabin and going on a few walks on the property we did explore nearby as well as lots of leaf peeping
Now on to what we do to prepare for long drives with the kids- We ( as in my husband and I) are planners. We have a running list of items to pack that we adhere to. As they grow, needs change, we have adjusted the growing list. A few things to keep in mind besides the essentials ( diapers, clothing, toiletries, medicine, utensils) we have been packing dry snacks, fruits, frozen foods, milk, frozen breakfast items ( we take a large cooler) to minimize grocery store trips. Also during these current times when dining out is still a big question mark when it comes to safety, it is reassuring to know we can always have meals at our Airbnb. We have taken our daughter's high chair insert to attach to a regular chair and it has made meal time significantly easier. Here are a few questions I received the other day when I asked what you would like to hear more about traveling with little ones in a long car ride-
Thank you for reading and wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Sophia Hi friends!
I hope you are making the best of your 2020 summer so far. We've been enjoying the outdoors as often as the weather permits and the double stroller is getting used to its full potential. I know this year has been challenging for everyone, some more than others. Much respect to the new parents trying to navigate parenthood in the midst of a pandemic. Parenthood is hard enough already! We are learning something in this journey ourselves every day. Our kids have their own likes and dislikes and we've learned that since day one. Now that Nora is almost turning 1 ( where does time go!), we have figured out a routine of our own with the kids with mornings, feedings, playtime, screentime, bathtime & bedtime ( our favorite - woohoo 2 ish hour window of freedom). In all seriousness, I do sometimes get questions from new moms or moms-to-be about what were the must-have baby products we used for our kids and I've compiled a concise list of our household favorites. Keep in mind, every baby has their own preference. Also, I'm not an expert here, just sharing our tried and true favorites. If you have suggestions to add to this list please do share. Never hurts to share the wealth. If you would like to follow along on this journey of parenthood & everything in between, you can find me at @adashofsophie Thank you for visiting the blog! Wishing you a great week ahead. I've divided the products up in the following categories to navigate easily (I hope). Do let me know if you have any questions. SLEEP Blankets - I suggest talking to your nurse and pediatricians at the hospital but for our kids we only swaddled the first few months in the bassinet. Also check out this weighted swaddle Head shaping pillow - Not a necessity but we used for both our babies Bassinet Both my babies slept next to me in the bassinet in the first 3-4 months until they outgrew and transitioned to their cribs Travel bassinet ( good to take to family gatherings, short overnight trips etc) Baby monitor - Couldn't say enough good things about this. We even take on our trips with us Sound machine This has been a game changer for both our kids from the beginning. But we don't take them on trips because we don't want them to be too dependent . Speaking of which, we do not use black out curtains either but I do know many parents find them helpful. BATH/GROOM Baby bath tub - So this tub has the newborn insert for safety and the infant side is more sturdy once they can hold their heads up(neck strength etc Wash Nail It's daunting having to cut/trim a newborn baby's nails. This filer is easier to use FEED/DIAPER Baby Bottles - We loved both Dr Brown & Comotomo for our babies. My son preferred Dr Brown and I think it worked because we had to supplement with formula initially and then pumped. For my daughter I nursed her so she preferred the Comotomo ( the nipple on the bottle is pretty close to the real deal ha) Gripe water- Used this in the first few months for the babies when they had gas Mylicon- Another remedy for those long nights when they are in pain from gas Bottle drying rack - You'd be surprised how much you use this with the bottle inserts, pump parts etc Baby bottle wash- This is non toxic and safe for use on baby bottles Bottle brush Bottle warmer We used with our son ( Dr. Brown bottles- Comotomo bottles don't fit so I would put the bottle in a cup of warm water. Don't put bottle/breast milk directly in microwave) Burp cloth You will quickly notice how many you go through in the first few weeks Boppy pillow Helps with holding them while nursing/feeding with a bottle in the first few weeks for extra support Diaper subscription SO for both our kids we used Pampers and there were definitely times we thought a subscription would've been useful. Something to keep in mind- Huggies is just as great, Pampers was something we used and felt like had better coverage/less leakage. I believe they do sell Huggies at Costco if you do have a Costco membership Diaper pail - Works well with controlling odor etc Diaper changing pad Something that's so portable and easy to grab and go Baby healing ointment IF breastfeeding/pumping Pump- Your hospital/insurance should provide you with a pump Nipple shield- IF you have issues latching, your lactation consultant will be able to provide more guidance. Remember there are sizing differences with the shield Nipple cream Really needed this and used in the first few weeks/months Nipple pads- Those first few weeks of nursing, you need these to make sure there's no leakage onto clothes, or even any discomfort Nursing cover- This one doubles as a carseat cover. So when I was nursing Nora I wanted to get comfortable with nursing in public and I totally understand that not everyone feels the same level of comfort. Lactation cookies - The cookies helped me with producing to freeze for when I returned to work Handpump Really came in handy when I didn't have the option to plug in the breastpump and was on the go Freezer bags CARRIER/TRAVEL Car mirror - We purchased 2 for each car Stroller- Britax and the carseat clicks in Carseat We are big fans of Britax and did our research on safety Carseat base - We got 2 to keep in each of our cars Baby swing- Used a lot for both of my babies with being able to put them down for a quick nap while I worked around the kitchen etc. Its expensive so be sure to keep in mind it may or may not work for every baby. Keep receipt for exchange/return MISC- Thermometer Plain onesies - Long sleeve/ short sleeve It's best to keep in plain onesies when home, they spit up, soil their clothes so often. We got newborn, 0-3 size to be fully prepared Kick n play- The pediatrician will recommend tummy time for the baby after a few weeks All of these are affiliate links via Amazon that pays a small amount of commission ( at no additional cost to you). This encourages me to continue providing useful content to you via Instagram & the blog. Thank you for using my links to shop. I greatly appreciate it. -Sophia Happy Friday! If you've clicked on this blogpost, thank you for joining. Food is a universal language that we all speak and nothing brings us together quite like sharing a good meal. With us trying to stay home and maintain safe social distancing, cooking at home has become something many of us are experimenting with and enjoying. My husband Marjan & I both like to believe we are big foodies which has always encouraged us to try new or emulate favorite recipes at home. But with having little ones it's close to impossible to try making elaborate meals during the week with work and all things that come with being a grown up. We've made some of these meals for a few years now and some are new recipes we've been trying; but they all have ONE thing in common- they all take about 30 minutes to prepare. Wait there's another thing in common- they're absolutely delicious! A few disclaimers before I go into sharing these recipes -
Poke' Bowl Ingredients
Vegetarian Summer Bowl Ingredients
Mexican Fiesta Bowl Ingredients
Chicken Tikka Bowl Ingredients
Thai Basil Noodle Bowl
Ingredients
Hope this post helps with your meal planning and gives you ideas for dining at home this summer. Thank you for reading! -Sophia Hi friends, I hope you're staying safe and healthy and making the best of this great weather. Times are challenging as we try to figure out our new normal- more so life events and celebrations with restrictions on social gatherings (rightfully so). As I'm sure you have been seeing drive-by birthday, graduation, retirement, anniversary, baby/bridal showers and even weddings become the new way of continuing celebrations & milestones. Our son turned 2 on Memorial Day and we put together a small drive- by birthday party so he could enjoy his day outside while our friends and family came and wished him from a distance. We started off the day with a zoom call with our families all over to cut the birthday cake and get the festivities started. We shared the call details as well as the driveby details beforehand via Evite. I've put this blog-post together for anyone that is contemplating throwing a similar celebration this summer, while sticking to a small budget and on a time crunch. Keep in mind as drive by events are popular currently, shipping time on banners, yard signs etc are to be considered. We aren't pros at social distancing events but we really loved planning the celebration, seeing our friends and mostly our little guy's reaction was priceless. I'd say that itself was a success. Hope this helps! Do send me a message if you have any questions. My dress- Under $30 My sneakers - Under $30 Headbands- Under $15 Jordan's shirt- Under $10 Jordan's terry pull-on shorts- Under $6 Jordan's faux suede double buckle sandals - Under $20 First and foremost, cake. You always have to have cake for ANY celebration. Let's be real, we don't need an excuse for cake. I wish I could say I had the patience and skills to bake a custom cake but thankfully we have professionals for that. I ordered a Paw Patrol cake from Copper House Bakery & it was an absolute hit. Here is her Instagram page if you are in the DMV area and looking to order any baked goods. Quality, taste, customer service, delivery- all of it is a solid 10/10. I promise this isn't a sponsored post. Here are the Paw Patrol figures we decorated the cake with. Signs/Banners- In the beginning stages of planning, I reached out to a few local event planners and the quotes I received were quite steep. These signs from Michael's were less than $25 (Save 20% with code 20MAKE4120) arrived within a few days and were perfect with the colorful balloons we got from Party City we had setup in our front lawn. Also linking similar yard signs since the Michael’s one keeps selling out- here. Speaking of the balloons,I can't take credit for the balloon setup. My husband took the lead on placing the curbside order and putting hooks into the ground to tie up the balloons. We also got this custom banner via Etsy which we loved and may just recycle next year (shhh don't tell Jordan). Goody bags- We handed out goody bags with a simple customized printable note (from a safe distance of course) to all the kids (had to include some of Jordan's favorites - bubble dispenser, toy cars, Paw Patrol graham crackers, stackable crayons & more. Target dollar corner FTW!) Milano cookies for the adults because let's be real, us adults deserve party favors too and cookies are always a good idea. Lastly, as we had planned to spend a good bit of the afternoon and evening outside, we setup a canopy in our driveway(this is on sale for under $50 and this is under $100) and really was such a good decision to get some coverage from the sun. Got to hand my husband credit for this one! If you’re planning on hosting a drive-by this summer, dont forget to apply sunscreen & bugspray. We were prepared for the kids. And stay hydrated! Sorry the mom in me can’t help it.
That's all! Hope you continue to find reasons to celebrate this summer while being safe and healthy! Thanks for reading. Sophia Outfit : Gifted - Kali , wearing size 4. Hi friends, Today I am excited to feature my friend Nisha's Indian Fashion rental wear online boutique RENTALYA. Nisha and I connected on Instagram several years ago (the good old days before algorithms and impressions) but our mutual love for fashion is what made us friends. Since then, life has changed in monumental ways but what remains true is still, our love for style. Nisha & her friend Lauren launched RENTALYA in 2018 together and have continued to make Indian fashion attainable for any special occasion while . Can't wait to see what big things RENTALYA has in store ahead. I had the opportunity to ask Nisha a few questions about her brand, how the process of building a startup has been and any advice for fellow female bosses. You can also connect with them on their Instagram page here. This lovely two piece was originally rented for a friend's wedding but due to COVID , I was unable to attend. However, I took full opportunity of being at home and styled this 3 additional ways including 1 indo-western way. Keep scrolling to read Nisha's interview and to see how I styled this outfit in different ways. How does RENTALYA work? With RENTALYA, we’ve made the process of renting trendy South Asian fashion super simple. You can browse and book your rental date on our website and receive a clean, ready-to-wear outfit to your doorstep. Wear your outfit, take all the selfies you want, and ship it back with a prepaid shipping label. Forget about dry cleaning it and storing it -- we do all that so you don’t have to! How has the process with the startup been so far and what plans do you have for RENTALYA in the near future? The process has been incredibly rewarding. It’s been amazing to see the community come together around fashion, culture, and celebrations. This year, we’re excited to expand into some fun new categories (we already added jewelry!), especially into bridal and bridesmaids. We’ll also be adding a lot of great content and resources on styling and weddings! What was your inspiration/motivation behind RENTALYA and could you tell us a little bit about yourself? Growing up as an Indian American in New Jersey, I attended a ton of events where I dressed up in Indian clothes - from weddings to garba to family parties. My friends and I would walk into these events, scan the room, and inevitably see a select one or two people in these stunning outfits. Everyone in the room was thinking the same thing: Where did she buy that? I love feeling connected to my culture, and there’s no better way to express that then through my outfits, but I just never felt confident or happy in what I was wearing. And I knew I wasn’t alone. I started RENTALYA to make South Asian fashion accessible in a sustainable way, without compromising style and quality. How is it creating, managing & operating a female owned business? I feel so grateful to be able to lead a female owned business, especially at a time like this when there is an incredible community of female founders out there. The support system is invaluable. Do you have any advice for fellow female entrepreneurs? Approach being a female entrepreneur with a positive mindset - because it’s an asset, not a drawback! Don’t focus on the statistics that say otherwise. Focus instead on living and breathing your mission and being the best entrepreneur you can be. Rise, and bring other female entrepreneurs with you! Thanks for reading. Wishing you a great week ahead! -Sophia Photo by : Shab + Coop Photography
Hi friends, How are you holding up so far? These uncertain times definitely have us all a bit on edge. It is important to leave it to the professionals for advice and understand they are working tirelessly so we can be safe at home. I am hopeful we can all stay put and get through this together. With that being said, I am looking forward to being outdoors with my little ones again in happier warmer times. Jordan will turn 2 this summer and Nora will turn 1. With them being so close in age (15 months apart) I have received a couple of questions from fellow mom friends and I figured it would be easier to put my thoughts on paper. So, if you’ve clicked on this post because you’re about to embark on the crazy journey of having 2 kids under the age of 2, welcome and good luck. This post will NOT prepare you by any means, ha! What I can say is, you can always feel free to message me when you’re feeling way too overwhelmed and I promise you, it’s just difficult right now but once the kids are a bit older and more independent, they will be pretty much growing up together. You will possibly be done with diapers, baby foods, ALL the baby items almost at the same time. Well that's the plan. Only time will tell :) With that, lets dive right in, shall we?
Stay safe and healthy. -Sophia Outfit details- My jumpsuit - Target Available in mustard and black, front buttons are easily nursing friendly. NOT maternity. Wearing a size small. Less than $25 My headband- Amazon comes in a pack of 6 different leopard prints and under $13 Nora’s outfit- Target under $18 Nora’s turban- Etsy $17 Hi friends, Happy Friday! Ive been enjoying my time at home with Nora these last few weeks now that we are somewhat settled in a routine. A routine as in she eats sleeps and repeats. Sounds easy right?There's more to it than just that. For example, Nora has colic (gas) pains at times no matter how many times she's been burped after feeding. Something I can't seem to recall with Jordan, my 16 month old son. You would think I wouldn't be as clueless having that we just experienced the newborn life last year, but every baby is different. Also, the first month almost seems like you’re in survival mode with sleep deprivation and frequent feedings and trying to keep up with regular life stuff in between. As a matter of fact, I am typing this while nursing Nora as I wait on my car to get serviced at the dealership. So here is my survival guide for my new parent friends who are about to start this journey. Disclaimer: I am by no means a pro but hope that my experience can help someone who may be going through the same. Do remember, you are not alone in this journey. When a friend asks “How can I help”, tell them what you need. Whether it’s a hot shower or meal, or help with laundry or dishes. Or even an adult conversation and just a mental break. Lean on your loved ones and ask for support- they are there to help. Reach out to fellow mom friends. Use all your resources. And I dont mean this in terms of asking what breastpump works best but topics such as the postpartum blues. Hormones are a b word and its important to talk to someone if you feel down or low. Ok, with that being said, here is what I have learned from my first month with Nora. Here we go! FEEDING- Before I start on this mammoth topic, FED IS BEST. Doesn't matter if you are feeding your baby formula or breastmilk. I was a formula fed baby and turned out okay for the most part ( I kid). With Jordan, we had latching challenges so I pumped and bottle fed until he was 7 months while supplementing with formula from time to time towards the end. With Nora, I have been nursing her for the last 7 weeks and pumping and freezing for when I return to work. Nora feeds about every 2-3 hours. At night she feeds every 4-5 hours which allows this tired mama to get some much needed shut eye. These lactation cookies are not only a great snack but I also like to believe that they help with milk production. Not to mention, they are dangerously delicious so you have been warned. For times when there is a leakage situation, these nursing pads have been a savior. Trust me I speak from experience, I have ruined too many nursing bras and pajamas by not wearing nursing pads. Speaking of nursing bras, I bought these in every color available and they were great during pregnancy as well as post pregnancy. While we are on the topic of nursing - nipple cream was one of my best friends in the first few weeks. Nobody tells you how much it hurts. Or maybe they forget. I mean even the lactation consultants say “If it hurts, you’re not doing it right”. Anyways, I’m here to tell you, it gets better after the first few weeks. Until then, lather on the nipple cream after feedings and take warm baths. I have mustered up the courage to get more comfortable with nursing in public thanks to this cover from Amazon. It doubles as a car seat cover as well and the breathable soft material is perfect. Also, not to sound like a mom and I know this is such a no brainer but drink your water. I’m serious, be sure to stay hydrated at all times regardless of if you are nursing the baby or not. Your body needs to be replenished of all the water post delivery. I had a few dizzy spells due to low blood pressure after having Nora because I forgot to drink enough fluids. I keep a water bottle at my bedside. If your baby has colic pains, consult your doctor first. For Nora we have used gripe water, mylicon and these drops and they work. As far as I can recall, we had to give Jordan the same and thankfully after the first 3 months, the colic pains went away. Nora was congested a few weeks ago and and this little remedies saline spray seemed to do the trick. Also keeping her slightly elevated when she slept, helped. Again, consult your pediatrician if the little one has a stuffy nose. I only speak from experience and NOT medical expertise. SLEEP- Let’s be real friends, there’s not much sleep involved in the first month. I mean the baby sleeps plenty ( something about 16+ hours) when they’re not feeding. I’m talking about the parents. But that too gets better with time I promise. The first few nights at home are definitely the hardest. Next thing, it doesn’t matter if you’re sleeping in separate rooms, co sleeping, or in the bassinet- you know what’s best for your child and there is no right or wrong way to do it. Jordan slept in the bassinet until 4-5 months and then we transferred him to his own crib when he outgrew it. Nora is currently sleeping in the same bassinet. We used a head shaping pillow for Jordan and trying the same for Nora in the bassinet. We probably won’t start sleep training her for another few months depending on her feedings. BABY WEARING - So I have been in the market for a good baby wrap that does not require a 20 step process to secure the baby. Nora is a cuddler ( not complaining, but mama’s got things to do). My friend highly recommended this and based on hers and other online reviews, I'm sold. The process is fairly simple and its also nursing friendly. I will be receiving it soon in the mail and will gladly share my feedback with anyone interested. Mom friends, if you’re reading this, share your favorite wrap/carrier too please in the comments. That’s all I’ve got for now. I’m sure I've missed a million things on here so I apologize for that,but I tried to share all my knowledge that I've gained this time around, in the first month. Wishing all you moms and dads the best of luck and much sleep (ha!). As cliche as it sounds, savor every moment and snuggle. They really do grow up too fast. Thanks for reading. Happy weekend! Sophia Hi friends! I had this blogpost drafted and ready to go before our little girl Nora made a surprise early entrance the next day. I'm talking dramatic water breaking at 5AM and rushing to the hospital. Also, you better believe, I did make time to curl my hair and send a work email while waiting for my brother-in-law to come pickup our son Jordan before we headed to the hospital. I had his overnight stay bag and all other essentials in order, just in case we did end up having the baby early. Having been through this once before, I like to think we have a “semi” better idea of what to bring to the hospital. So I wanted to share a few tips on what to bring for the whole family in order to avoid overpacking- Yes that includes the dad’s packing list too! With that being said, I will shamelessly plug in my husband and his college mates' new podcast series that shares everything related to fatherhood at Novice Father. Please feel free to share any feedback if you do get a chance to listen. Would love to hear your take! Outfit details- White boyfriend overalls- On sale currently here and here Grey t-shirt- Under $15 Hairband- Old but loving this and this for 15% off with code ASOSNEW15 (Less than $10) Target large tote bag - Packed this one from last year and has all the zippers and pockets one could need. Here is a list to begin with: FOR BABY -Hats and socks for baby. Hospitals are cold all year around. Our little ones will be swaddled in the signature hospital hat and blankets they provide but definitely bring along a few ones of your own. For babygirl I purchased a few adorable swaddles from Target recently and cant wait to wrap her up and snuggle in. Here is the Etsy swaddle set I packed as well. -Receiving blanket for baby -A few outfits for the baby - Be sure to pack varying sizes (premie/ nb/3-6m). With Jordan, this noob mama packed no premie sized ones and my little munchkin was swimming in his outfits. - Formula. This is just in case you have your own preference of formula choice and brands as sometimes the breastmilk needs to be supplemented. The hospital does give samples of formula and if you ask the nurses they would be more than happy to provide more samples. - Newborn (bring a few premie sized) diapers, diaper cream (the hospital very generously provides these but always good to have a few of your own) FOR MAMA -Sweatpants/comfortable clothes to wear at the hospital and after being discharged. I bought these and these from the Nordstrom anniversary sale in both colors a few weeks ago and have packed to go home in. A few pairs of pajamas and a robe in case you're planning on having visitors. Linking my maternity pajamas here and here from my maternity wear post here )and a pair of non maternity ones that I am bringing. -Toiletries & makeup bag (in case you are planning on taking some pictures with your little one. Trust me, I even packed a hair straightener and spray and was glad that I did.) -Sanitary pads (not a necessity as the hospital will provide plenty, regardless of if you have a c-section or vaginal delivery) -Headphones, charger, books/magazines (not a lot of time to get summer reading done with giving birth and all but definitely do not forget to pack your cellphone charger) -Flip-flops ( for using the restroom and lets be real, comfort). Linking inexpensive OLD Navy here and my favorite Target ones here. -Water bottle (this isn't an absolute must- the hospital has plenty of water and cups, lets be real. They even give you a water bottle as a part of your care package so you can rock that bad boy, post delivery. I use mine for the gym, because childbirth should be worn as a badge of honor) - nipple cream medela/lansinoh. These, you want to stock up on. You may not need it right away at the hospital since it takes a couple of days for the milk to come in (if you’re planning breastfeeding) etc, but better to have on hand. -Nursing pads. Same as above but definitely another item you would like to stock up on for the future in preparation for the baby -Hair ties (not a necessity but good to keep on hand always) -Towel (to use at the hospital) FOR DAD - Overnight clothes - Socks - Deodorant - Travel size toiletry bag Don't forget to have your gas tank filled if the baby due date is right around the corner and also the car seat installed. Wishing you the best of luck and many congratulations! Thanks for reading- Sophia Hi friends, If you are reading, first of all, thank you! This blogpost took much longer than expected, for good reason- you know, life! But now that you are here, I would like to preface with the fact that I truly enjoyed putting this post and it made me miss my blogging days from 4 years ago. I am active on Instagram and LiketoKnow.it (in case you are curious to know about any outfit details) but hoping to get started around here if time permits while I'm on my upcoming maternity leave. I guess time will only tell! With a toddler AND a newborn, who knows. With that being said, I’ve learned a few things about what has worked and not worked for me, when it comes to maternity wear shopping, especially the second time around. Motherhood however, not sure- work in progress over here, ha. For some background, I work a corporate 9-5 ( well more like 7-3, because my 1 year old is an early riser), so I have the need for office appropriate wear. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy dressing up on weekends for social events etc. Also, since weekends are packed with kid activities and errands, I prefer a lot of easy (but looking put together) outfits. I am currently in my 8th month of second pregnancy and for sizing reference I am ALMOST 5'2 so more on the petite side with childbearing hips (for real). My goal with this blogpost is to help reduce the time of shopping/searching for the right item for expectant mamas with finding the right pieces that can be worn and styled several different ways. With that being said, please note, all our body types are different, we all show and grow differently in different pregnancies. Pregnancy is truly a beautiful blessing that we never should take for granted and it should be celebrated throughout as we continue to provide a safe haven for our growing babies. Please note, these are all what has worked for me so far and is just my take on maternity wear- by far I am no expert of course. DRESSES Depending on the season, a few basic maternity dresses are key. I shopped on Boohoo, Asos last year for some and this year being that the majority of my pregnancy is during warmer months, I invested in a few more. I have linked most available and some that I would’ve purchased if needed. For now, I have a few on heavy rotation. This heart printed one, this polka dotted midi, this white midi & this yellow wrap midi. Here are a few formal wear dresses that I have been wearing to events. Those sponsored are mentioned. Pea in the pod C/O 40% currently $100.80 Rose shoulder detailed dress Shoppinkblush C/O currently $125 Black sequin tulle gown ASOS maternity textured drape shirt maxi dress PANTS I've found Maternity pants/jeans shopping pretty challenging since I have short legs and big hips. Sizing up usually bunches up the pants in the wrong places and also most pants don't have the right belly band attachment. These LOFT jeans have a dark denim wash that can be dressed up or down. Currently ONLY $20 - no code required These ASOS $35 white maternity jeans (no code required) come with an under the bump waistband that needs a bit getting used to, but for the pricetag is well worth a try. These vacation pants (lemon print) here and (tropical print) here are breathable and not to mention the print makes it look like resortwear. Would be perfect to wear on top of a bathing suit. PANT EXTENDER/SHAPEWEAR/SWIMWEAR If you are in your first trimester and not showing as much just yet but need the extra room, these extender inserts from Amazon worked very well for me. I was able to stretch out my pants and jeans (literally) in the belly area until it just was time to give in and purchase maternity pants. I also purchased this maternity shapewear by SPANX 4 months ago in black and nude to wear under work dresses from Nordstrom and honestly, gamechanger. I purchased these two bathing suits (Lemon print & striped) both under $35 and have perfect for the pool/ beach this summer with loose coverups ( non maternity cover up from here) WEEKEND WEAR/CASUAL Here are a few easy weekend wear that I have been defaulting to. Overalls or maxis are always an easy option because it takes zero effort. Jersey Maxi dress- This maxi dress from Old Navy that is currently on sale ($15!) is an easy throw on for comfort with either tennis shoes and a baseball cap or wedges and a kimono for a more dressed up look. Other maxi dresses like this this or this are a quick outfit for the weekends to take from errands to dinner with change in accessories etc. Denim overall – Motherhood Maternity sizing runs big so I would suggest sizing down. Currently priced at $34.97. Extra 30% off applied at checkout (no code) Black long sleeved overall – Motherhood Maternity Currently priced at $29.97. Extra 30% off applied at checkout (no code) Loose overall (non maternity)– This amazon find loose overall-has been a go to for the hotter days with lots of room to move in. Polka dotted jumpsuit- This lightweight plisse jumpsuit is perfect for wearing so many different ways and feeling comfortable. Linking non maternity here as well since it has enough stretch. ATHLEISURE I always heard about the Lululemon align crop ¾ crop pants being comfier than wearing pajamas and now I can sincerely attest to that statement. Although big t-shirts and sweatpants are most likely what I usually wear at home 90% of the time. Once in a while, when I'm feeling fancy- this pajama set or this is what I reach for. Also, to note, post delivery at the hospital, comfort is key. I have packed these two in my hospital bag. I hope this was a useful post and please do share your feedback! I would appreciate any kind of tips that could make this blogpost or future ones easier to navigate or more informative. I'm a bit rusty as you can tell so if you stayed till now, thank you! - Sophia
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