My maternity basics

Wow! It's been October since I've posted anything on the blog. A LOT has happened since then and I think you all will understand why I've been MIA from here for a while. For those who don't know, my husband and I are expecting our first child in August! We're so excited and it's been a whirlwind since we first found out.
I've been learning a lot about maternity fashion as I watch my belly grow more and more every day. At this point I am almost 29 weeks along (already in the third trimester!) I have some maternity clothes and a handful of my non-maternity pieces still fit. Those are mostly long tank tops and jersey knit dresses that have a lot of stretch.
I have found that simplicity is the key for me when dressing my baby bump. I want to be comfortable and not have to think too much about what I put on. Below is what my basic maternity wardrobe has looked like in the past few months.
Basic T-shirts and a good pair of maternity jeans in a dark wash have worked great for me. Easy dresses that I can throw on in a minute are also wonderful. When wearing a dress, I like to accentuate the bump with a skinny belt right above my belly.
Accessories like scarves are great to dress up any basic piece. I also love carrying a lightweight purse (because I have enough weight on me as it is) and comfortable shoes are a MUST, especially in the third trimester. The pair show below is from Clarks. I find that when I wear less supportive shoes, my ankles are more prone to swell.
I've also included a few baby bump shots for those who are curious. :-)
I hope this helps any moms to be out there and gives you a look at what I've been wearing lately.

Bump at 22 weeks. Dress and belt (old, similar here) from Target.

Bump at 28 weeks. Top from JCPenney.

Polished Up: Formula X in Invincible

For quite a while I have heard nothing but great reviews for Sephora's Formula X polishes. They are supposed to have a great formula and have a long-lasting finish. So I was excited when I was able to get my hands on a mini version to try it out. The shade I have is Invincible, a vanilla shade that is great for any season.
When I applied this polish I noticed it was very streaky. Even after the second coat and applying a top coat there were still visible streaks left behind (you can see them in the photo above). I also didn't enjoy the brush. It was too small (maybe just because this was a mini size) and didn't seem to pick up enough polish from the bottle.
The worst part about this was how long it lasted. After less than two days I noticed chipping. By the end of day two I was so frustrated that I took a cotton pad full of nail polish remover to my nails.
I don't know how other shades perform or if the full-size versions are better, but I don't see myself picking up any other shades from this line. I miss the old Sephora polishes that I have reviewed on my blog before (here and here).

How To: Fall Wedding Weekend

Last weekend I was blessed to get to see a good friend marry the love of her life. I spent the weekend with her and our friends having a blast. I was sad to see the time end and drive the 5ish hours back home.
Below are some outfit ideas for your next wedding weekend to take you from a night out with the girls to the ceremony and the trip back home.
Hope you all are having a great weekend!!

How to: Working on the Weekend

I hope you all are enjoying my new "How To" weekend posts. I love putting together outfits, but I don't have a lot of time in the week to stop and pose for photos. On weekends like these when I go out and cover events for the newspaper I like to feel as comfortable as possible while still looking put together and professional. For everyone else out there working on the weekend, here are some outfit ideas to keep you going in comfort and style.

How to: Lazy Day Chic

Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you are having a great weekend and getting some time to relax. Today I'm feeling a little lazy but I still want to look put together to run errands. Below are three ways you can still look chic while staying cozy and comfortable.