mom-wear-wednesday [8]

coat: Anchor Blue// jeans: Express// cami: Charlotte Russe//
necklace: West One// sandals: Primark

on Jameson:
 pants, vest: Carter's// t-shirt: target// sandals: the Golden Boot

I bet you guys thought I forgot about this week and was going to break my promise (again).

Well, this almost actually happened, due to the fact that the surprise guest above did not feel like going to bed and staying there until 9:14 pm (which happens to be the time that I am currently writing this post).
This, friends, is why it is called mom-wear-wednesday. I should probably tie that whole mom-thing into the blog name too, since I seem to bring it up all the time.

Oh well.

I guess I'm just going to have to take pride in being a "mommy blogger" now, instead of the serious and accomplished writer I used to be.

Anyway, onto the clothes.
Like I said before, I am loving that fall Autumn is here. I feel like I have clothes that are a lot more suited to this season, and I also feel like I pull them off a little better. Summer is about wearing as little as you can get away with and this can result in looks that are not so flattering for those of us with spare stomach skin and stretch marks from carrying children in our bodies.
So when the time comes to cover yourself up with style, I like the challenge.

I love this jacket, even though it's probably five years old.
I bought it when I worked retail before I left for college and it has become one of my favorite fall Autumn jackets. It's got a nice shape, a good neutral color and it's not overly warm. In fact, I haven't taken any pictures for next week yet because I've been wearing this jacket every day and I figure that I should probably come up with something new for you all to see.

Do you like how I have finally made Jameson take pictures with me for this week? Actually, let's try, 'Do you like how Jameson got tired of Dad standing in the doorway taking pictures of Mom and decided to make a break for it while he saw the opportunity?' Because I think that's a little closer to the truth.

Oh well. At least he's cute.
And he's got a nice sense of style. Which fits in well.

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mom-wear-wednesday [7]

sweater: West One// jeans: Express// boots: Payless

necklace: Past Times// nails: Rimmel 60-second dry in "Grey Matter"

Well folks, we're back.

After an unscheduled absence last week, I decided to try to make up for it by giving you a real, put-together outfit complete with accessories and polished nails.

Also, please note my reverse ombre hair that has occurred because I am too poor to keep up a dye job (and because it takes two boxes of the stuff from the store because I have too much hair). So actually, I am just setting a new trend that none of you all have caught on to yet.

Finally, please be aware that everything but the sweater in this outfit is at least two years old, if not older. And I bought that sweater in the middle of June, when it was on sale, because I knew how flaky summer was (and then I wore it a few weeks later during one of our "cold snaps"). Oh well. Look at me being resourceful.

But bigger than anything else is the news that fall Autumn is officially here.

Which I am really excited about, because it means boots and sweaters and pumpkins and spices and hot tea with good books while the wind blows and the leaves fall.
But I am also sad, because it means the chance for summer is gone and I didn't get so many of those amazing summer things that I love. However, I am trying my best to embrace where and when I am at, so I am now saying, "Bring on the pumpkins."
Except that England is kind of lacking in the pumpkin department, which has led to me ordering pumpkin candles online since I can't find them anywhere else.
(ex-pat problems)

Anyway. I am loving big flow-y sweaters this year, because they are so comfortable and super flattering.   Not to mention that I can also wear them with leggings if the mood strikes, or a cute skirt and tights (if I actually owned those things).
I've kind of jumped on the gre(a)y bandwagon, too, even though that's been around since last year. I just like the different look and it pairs well with other colors--it looked great with the turquoise nail polish I had for summer, but will also look good with the deep purple I bought for fallAutumn/winter.
And I love long necklaces because when I wear them I don't have to worry about other accessories. It's a one-stop-shop thing, and as a mother, I appreciate the ease of not having to think.

Okay, friends. That's it for this week.
I promise to be back here next week (I've already taken the pictures, so I'll actually keep that promise this time) and I've even got a surprise guest.
Aren't you just dying to know who it is?

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mom-wear-wednesday [6]

top: h&m// leggings: pink by Victoria's Secret//
baby carrier: beco gemini

on a recent visit to London with one of our favorite friends from Moody,
who happens to be traveling around the world and came to see us!

I'm going to be honest and tell you that today's post was sort of an afterthought.

We've been out all day, and I've been thinking a lot about the background series that I've got going on, and somehow taking pictures of what I'm wearing just doesn't seem that important. 

However, I've managed to rustle up some pictures of actual "mom-wear" in action (complete with photo-bombing baby on my back) so you know that I'm legit.

And actually, this outfit comes in a close second to the favorite sweatpants, as far as the mom-outfit most often worn goes.

I'm always in leggings, and this tank top is long enough so that people don't get disgusted by my uncovered rear-end, and is also loose enough that if I'm having a fat day I'm not too self-conscious. It's one of the few items of clothing that I actually bought more than one of (I have it in a turquoise color as well).

It's a winner all around.

Seriously though, as I've been rehashing my sordid history, I've had lots of conversations with myself about my appearance and why it's something that affects me (and many, many other women) so strongly. I was at the gym tonight, fighting my way through spin class after ditching for at least 6 weeks, and I just couldn't stop thinking about it all:

--all that "fitspiration" that travels around pinterest and blogs, "encouraging" women to be stronger than they think they can and to sweat more than they want to.

--the way I can go from appreciating and *almost* loving my body to being absolutely disgusted with myself in the same breath.

--how it's such a unique and personal struggle that nearly every woman has to face at least once in her life.

--wondering if I will ever reach a place where it's not a concern, or a panic, or a battle anymore. Will I ever be comfortable in my own skin for longer than a day or two?

I think that once I'm done with the series I've got going on right now, this is something I'd like to explore more and talk about in-depth. 

I'd love to hear from you guys, and how you think/feel/worry about it all.

I know I'm not the only one that struggles with this or feels this way, and I'd love to know people's thoughts about the whole thing.

Anyway. 

(Boy, the mood around here sure has gotten heavy lately, hasn't it?)

I promise, promise to do a legit post next week, complete with hair-donut video and everything. 

So please don't be scared away by all the serious talk. 

There is a lighter side coming, you just gotta hang in there with me!

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mom-wear-wednesday [5]

top: H&M// jeans: charlotte russe//
shoes: fitflop// earrings: RissyRoos

Oh dear. Mom-wear-wednesday almost slipped by me today, you guys.

Jameson is at his grandparents house for the afternoon, and I've been watching tv/reading/eating copious amounts of biscuits in my sweatpants and tank top. 

Then Daveo came home from having lunch, and I was getting stressed about the paperwork that I was attempting to fill out, and so we decided that it was time to walk down the to pub and have a drink.

(How absolutely English does that sound?)

So I threw on jeans and a top, and left on the mascara from yesterday, and called it a day.

At least I put on some legit earrings to help. And deodorant. I put that on, too. 

Note how I am wearing the most "mom" shoes ever, the FitFlop.

I don't know if they've done much in terms of toning my rear end, but let's just talk about how comfortable these babies are. Seriously, it didn't even matter that they are hot pink and kind of weird looking--I wore them everyday for the last two months of my pregnancy. I am not even kidding. Any time I think I might have to do a lot of walking, I put these on, whether they match my outfit or not.

--the smart thing to do would probably have been to buy them in black, but these were the ones on sale, so...there you go. 

Okay. Tell me what you guys want to see next week, because I need some inspiration.

Do I attempt some weird hairstyle from Pinterest?

Do I make my first "v-log" and show you the hair donut?

Do I take pictures of Hubs for a change, and show you the dad-wear that goes down around here?

Let me know.

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mom-wear-wednesday [4]

Dress: Old Navy// Shoes: Primark//
Headband: Rissy Roo's// Earrings: Gift from sister

Wow. Four weeks in a row.
I'm going to be honest and say that I can't believe I've lasted that long. (Or that you guys have been that interested.)
But maybe what I should really be surprised at is that so many people are so interested in what I look like when I walk out of the house. Are you all sure you want to be getting fashion advice from me?

Eh, whatevs. It makes me feel a little bit better about my wardrobe. Ha.

Anyway...I threw this on because it was sunny outside and the phone said that it was 71 degrees. The dress is old (like, at least four years old) because I wore it on my honeymoon, but I like the color and I like the way it makes my shoulders look. (Is that too honest?)

Clearly you have all seen the sandals before, but can I just say that for the £3 I spent on them at Primark, they have been a dream? Honestly, I walked around London for nearly seven hours on Saturday, and my feet were fine. So weird, but so wonderful.

Let's talk about the hair pictures for a minute. Is this something you all even want to see? I kind of feel like I've got to keep coming up with new hairstyles to put on here, since I've given away the hair donut secret and I should really do something different at least for the one time a week I'm photographing myself, right? But also, that means there's kind of pressure on me to figure something new out...like I need to go start a new board on Pinterest or something and actually attempt some of the hair tutorials on there. So, input needed. I am NOT a hairstylist and sometimes I'm all thumbs when it comes to taming this mane, but I like to try new things once in a while...I guess what I'm saying is, I'll be the hair guinea pig if that's what you all are looking for.

Also, note my cute little rosette headband. I finally got to jump on that bandwagon after I won a giveaway at Much Love, Illy and I am so excited about it. I got two headbands and two pairs of earrings from the lovely Larissa at Rissy Roo's and I am stoked. I love accessories, and I love free accessories, so this was everything I had ever dreamed of. Plus, I actually won a blog giveaway...which I am still kind of amazed about, because I didn't think that could actually happen.

So do you want to know the sad secret about this outfit?
After I took these pictures, I realized that I was going to be carrying Jameson around on my back for awhile, and that the baby carrier would not look great with this dress...so I changed into leggings and a tank top.
Dang. I know.
I should have taken pictures so you all could see the real "mom-wear-wednesday" that was happening (because it was definitely mom-wear, and it was definitely happening).
I promise I was not trying to "fashionista" you here, it just so happened that without Hubs around to tote my child, this dress was not mom-approved for my outing.

Next week I promise to actually take a picture on my way out the door (maybe with Jameson strapped to my back) so you can see EXACTLY what I am wearing. Sound good?

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mom-wear-wednesday [3]

Look at me being all posey.

Dress, Leggings: H&M// Sandals: Atmosphere by Primark//
Necklace: anniversary gift from Hubs (Warren James)

Well, well, well.

Look at me breaking out the fancy camera and "professional" pictures on you. 

I know. 

I did it this way because we were on our way out the door and I realized I needed an outfit for today, and it was the spur of the moment so I said, "Hey, Hubs, can you just take my picture really fast?"

"For your blog-thingy?" He answered back.

"Yup. For my blog-thingy."

These pictures are evidence of the fact that the sun never sticks around long in England, even if the temperatures rise a little bit. Although, I did end up putting a coat on later in the afternoon while we were out. Ugh. 

In case you can't tell, I've been into easy dresses lately. I love summer dresses, and the fact that summer only sticks around for four days here kills me, so I've been trying to wear as many as I possibly can. Plus, they're an outfit in themselves, so I don't have to do any match-work. Because (let's get really honest here), I'm pretty sure that Jameson stole my fashion sense after he was born. 

Honestly, I used to kind of know what I was talking about when it came to shopping and dressing myself but now, when I get into a store I just kind of stand around and think, "Right. I don't even know what I'm looking for."

And then I get sad, and feel very un-womanly-like and just throw on my favorite sweatpants. 

Send help. Maybe in the form of Gok Wan.

Hair band, bow: Claire's

And finally, the moment all you ladies, (and probably more ladies) have been waiting for, the highly anticipated hair donut!
My hair is still wet here because we'd just come back from family swim time, but you get the gist of it.
Even though it looks like my hair has been masterfully swept up all on it's own, it's not.

 This little guy is hiding inside, holding up my hair and making it look beautiful.

I would do some fancy-pants video and show you how to do it yourself, but there are a million and one on YouTube, so I'll just leave you this and tell you to practice a lot, because it takes awhile to figure out how to get all your squirrely hairs in there.
If you really, really need me to (and you ask really nicely) maybe I'll make a video showing you how I do it. Maybe.

And that's the end of this "me-pretending-to-know-what-I'm-talking-about-when-it-comes-to-fashion" post.

The pretend fashionista inside will be back next week.

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mom-wear-wednesday [2]

We're back.

Two weeks in a row. I'm kind of amazed at myself, but hey, at least I'm being consistent somewhere in my life.

Dress: H&M

So, let's not talk about the fact that I don't have a full-length mirror anywhere in my apartment and I have to take two pictures of myself and put them on top of each other so you can kind of get the effect.

Also, let's ignore the wrinkles in the dress (to be fair, Hubs offered to iron it, but I told him that this was about real-life, not being pretentious. Haha.) and that I have no make-up on. 

Let's do talk about how I am dressed with my hair mostly blow-dried (except the ends. I don't have time for that--it's roots and fringe, if we're lucky) by 9:30 in the morning. The only reason this happened is because I dragged my butt out of bed to the gym at 7 a.m. and made sure I got a shower before Hubs left for work.

Also, please note the sleeping baby in the background once again. That's how you know this is legitimate mom-wear: I have to take the pictures and write the posts during his nap time. I am Awesome.

And if I were even cooler, and if this were a real fashion post, not just me taking pictures of myself, I would be wearing this belt from Forever 21 and these shoes from Blowfish. But I'm not, and this isn't, so it's just me in a dress. Cool.

And there you have it. 

p.s. The "much-anticipated" hair-donut-bun is coming soon. Give me a few days to get some baby puke, ground food, and milk in there and it'll be dirty enough for me to show you. Aren't you so excited?

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mom-wear-wednesday

Oh yeah, I'm doing it.
And none of this fashionista stuff either--this is the down and dirty "What Moms Actually Wear" post.
Because I know you all are just dying to know what I look like sitting behind this computer, right?
(Plus my fashion sense is questionable since I had a child. He took that part of my brain while he was inhabiting my body.)

Depending on the time of day that these pictures are taken, the outfit could vary a bit.
For example, I am currently dressed the way I am since it's 10:15 in the morning and I haven't had very much human contact today (other than with my one-year old).

So, let's begin.

Utah Utes sweater/sweatpants: Victoria's Secret
//Nailpolish: Maybelline 40-second dry in "Turquoise Lagoon"
//Glasses: 8-year old prescription made by "seventeen". I think.

A close-up of the sleeping baby in the background. Haha.

Ah yes. The matching sweatpants/shirt outfit. Every mom's favorite and mine in particular. When I first moved to England, I was so homesick and sad all the time (and pregnant), so I bought these Utah Utes sweatpants to represent. Then when I was home over Christmas, I got the matching sweatshirt to go on top. Plus they were both on sale, and I am a sucker for VS sale items.

This nailpolish is actually my new obsession. In all seriousness, I am in love with the color and it really does dry in, like, a minute. Which is great since I usually have to pick up a child/wipe up food/do any other menial task about five minutes after I've put it on.

I've had no reason to put my contacts in yet today, so you get to see my wonky and extremely old "sexy librarian" glasses. They're so old that the prescription is probably off, but there are more pressing matters in my life at the moment.

At least I did my hair--all praise the hair donut. It makes me look semi-put together without having to do anything other than roll it up and pin it down. Holla.

And there you have it. The first, iPhone edition of mom-wear-wednesday. Come back next week and see what goodies I've got in store for you!

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