Showing posts with label Style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Style. Show all posts
Dearest Muffin Top:
Thanks so much for visiting. Please do not ever return.
Lots of love,
J
xo

Wikipedia never lets me down:
Muffin Top:
"a generally pejorative slang term used to describe the phenomenon of overhanging flesh (fat) when it spills over the waistline of pants or skirts in a manner that resembles the top of a muffin spilling over its paper casing."


There is something so confronting and unnerving about the words "overhanging flesh (fat)". Nothing good can ever come of those three words strung together.

Sadly, after giving birth to my dashingly handsome son, I too fell victim to the dreaded MT. It's funny, I never noticed it while I was pregnant. It's like it was hiding (baking?) and waiting to make it's grand entrance when I was most vulnerable...post partum.

If you google 'muffin top' you'll find a million and one different ways to rid yourself of the muffin top. There are diets, exercises, creams, surgeries, clothes, all designed to eliminate those unsightly bulges of 'overhanging flesh'.

Despite the numerous links I was offered through my google searches, I believe that it was Wikipedia's fine definition that became my ultimate motivator to bid farewell to the dreaded muffin top.

I like to wear low-rise jeans. And I enjoy a curve hugging dress. But I like to enjoy these things sans muffin top.

Things are still not fully resolved, but i'm getting closer (and refusing to give up on) bidding farewell to dear MT.

Here are some tips i've come across:
  1. Eat clean: Cut out the junk and reduce the amount of starchy and sugary carbs. Eat lots of protein.
  2. Drink water: Keep yourself hydrated and drink about 8 glasses a day. 
  3. Get moving: Include a cardio session with your workouts. 
  4. Weight train: Muscle burns more calories than fat, so the more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn all day long. You'll also strengthen your bones and feel stronger. 
  5. Give up on spot training: Unfortunately, we don't get to decide which part of the body we can gain and lose weight from. 
  6. Buy clothes that fit ;) Your goal may be to fit into those pre-pregger jeans, but in the meantime, you can buy yourself a pair of 'transition jeans' that will get you through until the MT vanishes. 
Anyone have any other pearls they'd like to share? How did you shed yourself of the dreaded muffin top? 
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Embrace Your Inner MILF





We've all seen them....

The tired, washed out, I've-lost-my-mojo-type-moms. The kind of moms who dress and look about 10 years older than they are. These once stylish ladies find themselves in high rise, pleated jeans, a faded cotton t-shirt or hoodie, visible roots, no make-up, and a tired old ponytail.

Sigh...

LADIES...IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY!!

Sure you're sleep deprived and covered in spit up and baby poop. Of course you've got a bit of a mommy tummy and your hips might be a bit wider than they were a few years back. Naturally you spend 99% of your time making sure that your little angel is dressed to the nines which leaves little to no time left for you.

All that being said. I'm telling you that there is still time for you. In fact, I would argue that you must make time for you!

I'm a firm believer in working with whatcha got! Maybe we don't all look like Heidi Klum after 4 kids (did she seriously walk the runway 6 weeks post partum?). But we can still strive to look our personal best. I think that if you look deep enough...there is a MILF inside of all of us ;)

So if you're a new or seasoned mom who is searching for her mojo, here's where you can start.

Must Haves:
  • A pair of the best jeans you can afford. I'm partial to Rock & Republic, Seven for All Mankind, and True Religion. But really, any jean that fits you great is a winner! If you're not sure where to start, hit a boutique and ask one of the fashion forward looking sales people to help.
  • If you must wear sweats, invest in some good ones. Put away the flannel pajamas you got for $10 on sale and get yourself some Lululemons or even better, a Juicy Couture suit. Even when you're comfy...you'll still look like you've got a bit of sexiness in ya!
  • Get a great bra. If you're still breastfeeding buy a sexy nursing bra. If you're not BFing, go and get properly fitted as your size has likely changed. A well-fitting bra makes all the difference in the world.
  • If your post partum bod needs some help, invest in a Bella Band and/or some Spanx.
  • If you're pale, pick up some sunless tanning cream. A little colour hides a lot ;)
  • Buy some hot shoes. I'm a sucker for stilettos but if that's not your thing, find some sexy flats or over the knee boots.
Must Dos:
  • Visit your hairdresser. A new haircut, colour and style will do wonders for your self esteem!
  • Go to the gym. Regularly! Working out is the greatest form of therapy.
  • Clean up your diet. You'll look and feel better when you start to eliminate some of the junk.
  • Shower and put on mascara every single day. Spritz a little perfume on too!
  • Connect with your girlfriends. Nothing makes you feel more like a woman than a bottle of wine and some girl chatter with your closest friends.
  • Get out of your sweat pants as often as you can.
  • Work on your swagger. Get your shoulders back, chin up and walk like you mean it!
  • Put away your maternity clothes. Yeah, they're comfortable and yeah they fit...but they don't help you shed your 'mom image'.
Remember ladies...You were a hot, vivacious woman before you were a mom. Having children does not mean that you must lose yourself.
Summer is right around the corner...it's time to embrace your inner MILF!!

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Trendy Moms...Most Coveted Baby Things!
Ok...I'll admit it. I love beautiful things! Before I had a baby I was always finding new items to drool over. Online shopping was a bit of a hobby of mine.


Now that i'm a Mom, I've added trendy baby items to my online shopping list.

Allow me to indulge as I offer you my list of the hottest baby items and name brands of 2010...

Must have products: Dream blanket, swaddling blankets
Must have products: Go-Baby Inmat and Outmat
Must have product: Gladiator style shoes from their "Couture" line. Does it get any better than this?
Must have product: Fur lined boots from their "Smaller" line.
5. Moby D Wrap:
Must have product: Moby Organic Wrap.
Must have product: Jolly Jack (skull and crossbones) baby legs.
Must have product: Chocolate dot blankie
Must have product: Baby Signing Time full collection
Must have product: Bugaboo Cameleon stroller and bassinet
Must have products: Baby Banz sunglasses and Baby Banz one piece UV bathing suits
Must have product: The Original Leather Bib
Must have product: California Baby SPF, California Baby Super Sensitive Hair & Body Wash
Must have product: Klean Kanteen Classic with sippy top.
Must have product: Teething Bling necklaces.
15. Umi
Must have product: Ollie Baby Shoe
Must have product: Baby Bjorn travel crib
17. Beaba
Must have product: Beaba Babycook

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20 Fashion Must Have Items for the Pregnant Gals!
I don't know anyone who is elated when they watch the scale climb...and climb...AND climb during their pregnancy. Even though we remind ourselves (constantly) that it's for a good cause, it's still pretty daunting to watch those numbers increase.

I'm a firm believer that it's during the most challenging and trying times in life that you need to make sure you continue to invest in YOU! Taking care of yourself physically and emotionally is so important during your pregnancy.
So how can you pull it all together and look fantastic throughout your 40+weeks of pregnancy?
Start with these fashion staples:
  1. A-line skirt. Generally pretty flattering on most body types. Unless your legs look like Heidi Klums while pregnant, i'd avoid anything above the knee. Skirts that skim the knee make your legs look long and lean.
2. Grecian tunic top. These are great for wearing over tights or a pair of slim fitting jeans. Suitable for all seasons.

3. Wrap around top. Gwen Stefani rocked a few of these tops while she was pregnant. If it's good enough for Gwen...then it's good enough for me ;)

4. True Religion maternity jeans. These are gorgeous. A pricey investment but as soon as you try them on you'll see that the fit of these jeans DOES NOT COMPARE to the fit you'll get with jeans from Old Navy or Motherhood. These jeans will take you through your entire pregnancy and at least a few months post partum.

5. Basic cami and long sleeved shirt. Perfect for layering or for a casual look with sweat pants or jeans.


6. Classic pencil skirt. Avoid the temptation to hide under big and baggy clothes. You'll end up looking frumpy. Stick with clothes that are more form fitting and will show off your beautiful bump and your new curves.

7. The Maxi dress. This dress is ridiculously comfortable and perfect for cool summer nights. Dress it up with some heels or keep it casual with flats or flip flops.

9. The wrap dress. A great dress for your baby shower, and dinner dates with the hubs.

10. Smooth line black trousers. A must have item. You can easily wear with a pretty blouse to the office or pair it up with a sexy top and some heels, for a night on the town ;)

11. Basic leggings. Comfortable and stylish. Ideal to wear under tunic tops and sweater dresses.

12. The trapeze trench. You will rock this cute jacket during your pregnancy and post-partum too. It definitely polishes off a great outfit.

13. Juicy Couture velour suit. I literally wore out a few of my Juicy suits during my pregnancy. For those days when I felt like wearing sweats but didn't want to look like a frump, Juicy suits did the trick. I always felt pulled together yet comfortable.

14. Sexy maternity/nursing pajamas. Put away the flannel pjs for a night or two. You'll definitely feel womanly and sexy (and functional too!) wearing a maternity/nursing night gown by Belabumbum.

15. Boyfriend cardigan. This is a great piece for layering. You can feel comfortable wearing this in the office or out for a casual trip to the mall.

16. A little black dress. I'm sure that you will find a million and one places and occasions to wear a classic black dress. Dress it up with some heels or go casual with some flats.

17. The sweater dress. Pair it with tights and a pair of boots and you'll definitely stop some traffic. These dresses are super comfortable but also a bit fitted to accentuate your curves.

18. Empire dress. Guaranteed you'll have at least one function to attend while you're pregnant. Lucky me...I had 4 weddings to attend when I was 8 and 9 months pregnant! This classic and elegant dress looks fabulous at any stage of your pregnancy.

19. Lululemon Groove Pant. These will be your go-to lounge pants while you are pregnant. I wore mine throughout my pregnancy. We all know how great lulus look on everyone...the seem to have the same affect when you're pregnant.

20. Ingrid & Isabel BellaBand. The perfect little tool that you can use throughout your pregnancy and also post partum too while you are nursing. These bands help you to max out your non-maternity clothes a bit longer!



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Getting Through Your Pregnancy with Grace & Style
Swollen ankles, stretch marks, acne, limp hair, mood swings, morning sickness, weight gain, itchy stretching skin, aching back, sun spots... Sounds sexy, right?

Pregnancy is no joke. It's hard on the body and emotionally exhausting. We all know that the prize at the end of the journey is all worth it (once they start sleeping through the night) but that doesn't change the fact that carrying a baby for 40+ weeks is hard work. Doing it and looking good is even tougher.

Here are some tips to get you through your pregnancy with grace and style:
  1. Limit your time in Motherhood and Thyme. Seriously. Every time I stepped foot in those stores I left feeling enormous and frumpy. Buy some of your staples there (e.g. black pants, black skirt, some tanks and t-shirts) but save your pennies for some more stylish maternity clothes. Ebay...Ebay...Ebay is the way to go!! Keep your eyes peeled for some of the following brand names: Olian, Maternal America, Juicy Couture Maternity, Isabella Oliver, Ed Hardy, Nicole Richie, Belabumbum, Chiarakruza, Japanese Weekend, Juliet Dream, Michael Stars Maternity, Momzee Maternity.
  2. Invest in some designer maternity jeans. You will wear these throughout your pregnancy and for at least a couple of months after you have the baby too. Well worth the investment. Again...search Ebay for some significant deals. You'll want to search for the following brands: 7 For All Mankind, Citizen's of Humanity, Paige Premium, Rock and Republic, Joes, Chip & Pepper, Lucky, Hudson.
  3. Get pampered! Keep up on hair appointments, massage treatments, manicures and pedicures.
  4. Go for a make-up consult. Your skin changes when you're pregnant. Visit a Mac counter and see what they can recommend for you.
  5. Stay moisturized. We all know that stretch marks are genetic but it still feels nice to keep that itchy and stretching skin well hydrated.
  6. Drink lots of water and eat clean. Try your best to avoid binge eating :)
  7. Invest in a bella band.
  8. Get into the gym regularly. Continue modified weight training.
  9. Avoid the sweat pant and stretch pants trap. Nothing will make you feel frumpier than staying in your joggers 24-7.
  10. Work on your photo pose.
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