Tights Are Not Pants

Well it's that time of the year. The time where the air is a little chillier, boots come out, and opaque tights aka "leggings" become an acceptable excuse for pants. I was never a big fan of leggings for several reasons but most of all because 99% of leggings are SEE-THROUGH! Maybe not in front of your floor length mirror in your bedroom when you don't move at all but as soon as you walk, bend over, get into the sun it ain't a pretty sight! 

But then I found these fabulous little cuties from none other than... J.Crew!

I got these 2 years ago and they are SO fabulous! They have faded a little but I mean 2 years of use will do that! They have a great waistband that holds everything in (great for after baby) and are VERY THICK! They are not see through at all and look like normal, tight, pants. They have a cute seam up the leg and a zipper in the back. I have probably sold 50 pairs of these by people asking me where I got them. My old boss in NC went and bought 2 of every color after I told her. That's right! They come in green, grey and black. They are on $98 on JCREW.COM and $69.50 on FACTORY.JCREW.COM. 

And the best news I heard this year is they now come in J.Crew maternity! Not that I need them right now but it's good to know in the future... far off future... that they are available! 

Now we are all ready for fall! So please throw your opaque tights away and invest in some actual leggings. You and the girl walking behind you as your bend over to pick up your baby will thank me! 

Cats In Space and Other Fun Fall pants!

I went on a little shopping spree today! I have been loving patterned pants lately and wanted some for fall. I really loved them last year but was super preggo and had to buy a whole new preggo work wardrobe and had to wear "dark colors" from head to toe while at work... lame! So this year I was determined to get some fun pants! I wanted some bright fun solids and patterned jeans but still classy and not too crazy. I almost bought these at Target but passed. Just Kidding!  #targetfail

 I went to the J.Crew Outlet to return something and what did they have ON SALE?? fun bright cords and fun patterned denim! I decided to go with and the neon violet and the brilliant coral for the cords. Check them out HERE! Now online they are $64.50 but in the store they were $19 and $25! SCORE!! And then got THESE fabulous patterned jeans in deep black. Now the question that my husband said when I sent him a pic of my purchases was "Cute... but do you have anything to go with them?" DO I?! HAHA

Here are some fun outfits I put together and thought I would share. Sometimes buying bright pants is a big step and then sometimes you are so hesitant to wear them because you don't know what to pair them with. So here are some fun new outfits to test out. 

** I tried to provide links to some of the items shown below or to things similar but since they were already in my closet some are not still available. :-) 

OK violet pants... They are a spring color but can they be ok for fall?

Here they are paired with stripped rhinestone long sleeve J.Crew TEE and some fabulous Tory Burch FLATS.

Next up a little leopard!!

Paired the bright pants with a J.Crew snow leopard cardigan and COLE HAAN FLATS with bow detail.

Now on to the bright coral skinnies!

Love that leopard J.Crew silk longsleeve blouse, JCREW CORAL NECKLACE, and COACH PATENT FLATS. 

Got a denim shirt?

Pair it with the coral pants and some LEOPARD FLATS!

Now on to the patterened jeans. I would highly recommend not pairing patterened pants with a patterend shirt, but to each their own! 

OK for a casual every day look. 

Paired with a CASHMERE PLUM CREW NECK and those same fabulous plum TORY FLATS.

Is it getting cold? 

J.Crew jacket, coral button up, and orange TORY FLATS, a bright orange necklace, and a skinny black belt. 

Wanna rock some heels? Date Night?

Pair them with a royal blue BR SILK TUNIC, black velvet heels, fun teal earrings, and a black blazer if it's a little chilly! 

So I have learned 3 things from going through these pics, I buy nice BRIGHT shoes, I own a lot of leopard, and I love some J.Crew! haha! 

Now we can't forget about our little baby fall fashionista. This is what I am loving for Ava for fall! 

Target CARDIGAN, Target maroon JEGGINGS, chevron bow, and Brown Mary Jane SQUEAKERS (They squeak when they walk!)! How cute!! 

Now get out there, buy some fun pants, and be a fall fashionista. 

Baby Wrangling

I have been an absentee blogger lately! Probably because I have been spending most of my days baby wrangling! We officially have a VERY mobile baby! I was so concerned because as of her 9 month birthday she hadn't started officially crawling yet. She would scoot, army crawl, and roll and scoot some more to get places and would get on all 4's and rock but then get on her tummy to scoot around. She loved sitting and playing and LOVED standing. 

Here is her standing during her 9 month baby photo shoot

I talked to the pediatrician (who was not concerned at all ) because all of Ava's baby friends were crawling already. .... That is right I broke Mommy rule #1! You cannot compare your baby to other babies! Ava is very advanced in eating, lol! But she really is. She only eats finger foods, no purees anymore. She is a and has been a fabulous little sleeper since 3 months, and is very very vocal but physically she was content not pushing herself when there are other toys closer by to play with. Well that all changed at 9 months and one day. Ava started full crawling and then later that evening decided to walk by herself with her walker! I could not believe in one day she went from contently playing to walking and crawling. 

Ava in full crawl for the first time. Yes I bribe her with the ipad! Hey, I play educational games! 

Now this walking thing has gone from 0-60 in 2 weeks. Tiny Toes (We call her this because she has INCREDIBLY small feet! She just now fits in 0-3 month shoes. I do not know how these tiny toes can support her body weight but somehow they do) wants to walk all day! She still cant walk alone but is starting to walk only holding 1 of our hands and she walks all over the house with her walker. I always follow very closely to catch her if falls. I know walkers are "dangerous" but I have no stairs and I am not going to let her use it when I am not 6 inches away to catch her. So basically from 7am to 7pm minus 2.5 hours of napping, possibly 2 hours of errands, we are walking around. She has started to loose her chubby thighs, saddest thing ever, her appetite has almost doubled, and she is taking some awesome long naps! 

Ava walking with her walker. She can get it off the wall, flip it around, and take off. 

This is Ava pushing her stand and play table because I had moved her walker so I could leave the room and get the laundry. Guess I can't leave her alone anymore. Even for just 20 seconds! 

It is so funny to me how we Moms worry so much about our child development, especially during the first year. I think SAHM and first time Mom's are even worse at it, but we obsess on when they roll over, when they start sleeping through the night (That is a big one because Momma loves her sleep), when they crawl, pull up, walk, eat solids... I know I am at fault for comparing her to other babies but she is going to do what she wants to do when she wants to do it! I went to library story time on Tuesday and there was a little boy who was 5 days older than Ava. He was crawling around so fast, pulling up on everything, and far more advanced in terms of agility but his Mom was saying how he hates trying to walk. She tries all the time and he just bends his knees when she tries to hold him up to walk. He found his way to move and is sticking to it. Whereas Ava is still clumsy while crawling can pull up to her knees and sometimes all the way but not always, but can totally run while she is holding both of our hands. 

So my Mommy advice to you Mom's out there let your child advance at their own pace. There aren't many adults out there that can't walk or roll over or sit or eat solids... Just relax, have a glass of wine (preferably after the husband gets home but to each their own ;)) and enjoy your baby at every phase!