Wednesday 19 March 2014

Waiting For The Little Lady...

we were lucky enough to sneak in some photos of my growing baby bump 
& all of us patiently awaiting for the arrival of our little girl! 
these were taken about a week before her arrival by the amazingly talented Mango Studios.

i can't tell you what a blessing this pregnancy has been & how loved this tiny girl was before we even met her. these photos just remind me how lucky i am for my incredible family & all the love we share. can't wait for the love to continue to grow with our little lady finally here. she's such a treasure!

here are some of our favourites from the shoot, hope you enjoy :)







   

 




























Thursday 13 March 2014

Grumpy Bear + A Treat from Loved by Hannah & Eli...


i love this grumpy bear so much!
i've been smitten with all designs by Loved by Hannah and Eli for a while now
 but this t-shirt takes the cake! the quality, uniqueness & attention to detail of their line blows me away, not to mention that everything they make is so cute it kind of hurts.


i fully support dressing for your mood but this kid has got it down to an art.   
i couldn't stop giggling at his attitude filled little smirks… it's funny how as a mama bear you even want to remember their little grumpy faces, furrowed brows & pouts! i would say mission complete based on these shots in the most appropriate & adorable outfit of all time ;)


i'm so excited that the amazingly generous folks at Loved by Hannah and Eli 
are offering my wonderful Mama In Bloom blog readers a real treat! 

use promo code: BLOOM 
to received $5 off any purchase until 10pm PST tonight, yay!



find them on Instagram & be sure to use #hemailday to show us your new duds!
happy shopping my loves 
xo

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Guest Post || Dressing The Bump from the Lovely Blonde Closet...

hi loves
i'm SO excited to have the gorgeous Amaris from the oh so stylin' blog- Lovely Blonde Closet give us growing, pregnant mama's some tips on how to dress your bump in the third trimester! i'm always so impressed with her ability to keep comfortable while having such vast styles & trends incorporated seamlessly in all of her amazing outfits & i think you will to. while i'm so tempted to live in sweats these last few weeks of pregnancy, whenever i see a post on her InstagramFacebook, Pinterest or blog i'm instantly inspired to throw on some red lipstick & do something daring with my outfit for that day. it's kept me not only looking better than i would normally (i get out of my pj's! yay!)  but feeling amazing about this bump & embracing all the glorious pregnancy changes in my body! 
enjoy, friends!

Dressing The Bump In The Third Trimester


Dressing your darling bump in the third trimester is not always an easy feat. While most of us are feeling huge, and as though our bellies could not possibly grow to be any bigger, it is important that this time be cherished and that our bumps be embraced. Above all that, it is crucial that we are comfortable! So far, I have found that adapting certain pieces from my pre-pregnancy wardrobe, has been a key ingredient to comfortably transitioning through each trimester of pregnancy. It has allowed me to feel as “me” as possible, which is something I have heard from other expecting mama’s, as being a challenge with all the changes we encounter during pregnancy. As our bodies change, thus forcing us to change our wardrobe and having limited outfit choices, it is easy to not feel like ourselves anymore. 


With that being said, I have found in the last trimester getting dressed is not as easy as it has been earlier on in my pregnancy. I always was told that I would end up wearing sweats and leggings the whole last trimester of pregnancy and pretty much feel like a slob. I personally refuse to believe that is an option or has to be what happens! Now don’t get me wrong, at the end of the night, I am that girl in comfy sweats or jammies relaxing at home in one of my hubby’s old tee’s, but it doesn’t mean that needs to be what I live in 24/7 or have wear out and about for my daily life. As I briefly mentioned above, my secret to avoiding this entirely, is to incorporate maternity clothing (which are obviously necessary at this point) with pre-pregnancy items from your closet. I find that incorporating maternity pieces, such as this white basic top from H&M Mama maternity line, along with a simple pair of tights or maternity jeans and a big cozy sweater (something I have worn a ton pre-pregnancy) pull together a very casual, comfortable, look for the third trimester. Mixing old pieces and new pieces to fit your growing bump, create a look you most likely would wear pregnant or not! I also find wearing some more fitted tops to show off the bump, boost my confidence a bit and makes me look “thinner”. As tempting as it may be to go for those bigger “tent” looking loose tops, I would suggest not to at this point in your pregnancy! It will only give the illusion of you being bigger than you are, and you really don’t want that at this point I am sure. Wearing something that fits and curves to your bump helps define it more clearly and makes you appear smaller. For those that love those looser fitting tops, add a belt under your bust to pull your top in and give it some shape! 


My last piece of advice would be that when you get up in the morning to get dressed, dress to what you’re feeling that day. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself! If you’re feeling bloaty and yucky after a night of fulfilling your lovely pregnancy cravings of french fries and ice cream, then you may not want to wear stiff maternity jeans, or anything that may make you feel uncomfortable, so opt for a comfortable legging or stretchy pant (like the ones I am wearing above - which by the way are not maternity, but I just wear the waist tucked under my bump instead). Pair your leggings with a basic top and layer with a cozy sweater and even a scarf, add a few accessories and a cute pair of booties and voila, you look like a put together mama-to-be! By doing this, you are still very comfortable, while still looking great. I hope this advice helps any of you mama’s struggling to find what to wear in the third trimester, I know it is not always easy! Know you are all embarking on the most amazing journey ever, and pregnancy is such a beautiful part of it, so embrace it, show those bumps off and don’t feel you need to sacrifice your style or fashion sense just because you’re pregnant, treat your beautiful baby bumps as an accessory instead! 


Xx Amaris (the Lovely Blonde Closet) 

Outfit Details: 

Sweater: Zara (old) |Top: H&M | Faux Leather Leggings: Topshop | Booties: Target | Beanie: H&M | Necklace: H&M | Watch: Michael Kors (similar here) | Handbag: Tory Burch |