Hey, Friends! As I near the end of my second pregnancy, I wanted to share some self-care tips for my expectant mothers out there. If you’re not feeling your best these days, you’re not alone! But here are some easy things you can do to improve your wellbeing:
Serena & Lily Riviera Kids’ Table and Chairs c/o / Old Gap Kids Bow Flats / Newer Ralph Lauren Dress / Similar Hair Bows
Note: This photos were taken for an Instagram giveaway collaboration I did with Nothing Bundt Cakes, but they were too cute to not include on the blog! The company is opening its 300th bakery. And to thank guests, they’re giving away up to 300 free Confetti Bundtlets for 300 seconds today at 3 p.m. at your local bakery. Learn more here!
I’ve been getting a lot of questions about Emma’s table and chairs, so I thought I’d dedicate today to reviewing them!
$19 Waffle-Knit Tie Top / J Brand White Maternity Jeans (Btw: Did you see this pair of white maternity jeans from Madewell?! Also, if you’re not pregnant, I highly recommend this pair of affordable white skinny jeans. I’ve had mine for years and love them! They’re a deal, and they’re very soft and stretchy yet don’t lose their shape throughout the day.) / Cole Haan Riding Boots (On sale! Also available via 6pm.com. I LOVE them. They’re so great for spring when things are muddy and chilly.) / Mark & Graham Monogrammed Necklace (The BEST Mother’s Day gift. So affordable, too! I cried when Mitch gave me mine.)
Have you seen these tops around? It seems like they’re everywhere, and for good reason: They’re super affordable, super comfy and super flattering… and they ship for free and arrive on your doorstep within two days via Amazon Prime. HUGE FAN.
J.Crew Dreamy Pajamas (The navy polka dots and navy stripes are my fave.) / Mark & Graham Initial Necklace (Makes for the best Mother’s Day gift!)
If you haven’t heard about J.Crew’s Dreamy Pajama line, you’re missing out. It’s completely changed how I approach bedtime, and has truly made me happier and more relaxed.
SO pumped about these! There are a bunch of natural woven slides out there, but I’ve found slides to be pretty impractical for motherhood. (And my feet get much too chilly in them!) These look perfect, though. They’re also made by Me Too, which is known for comfort. (My mom swears by ’em.)
Oh, hello, there! I have to admit that I’m so proud that I kept the blog up and running this week. I was talking to Darby–my best bud from New York who’s due two weeks before me–and we both agreed that we’re proud of ourselves for just existing at this point. 😂 But here’s what’s going on with the Larkins:
Mitch here!
Here’s a bit of truth for you today: While the rest of the world is out soulfully cycling and orange theorizing, I’m mostly polishing off my toddler’s snacks. And unlike many in our generation, I prefer to focus on the non-essential oils; you know, the ones that are typically used to deep-fat fry. To add insult to injury, I recently “Konmaried” my fat pants in a fit of unbridled optimism about a new diet… but instead, I gained a bunch of weight and now have no pants and have been wearing gym shorts and a parka around Chicago. Doin’ great over here.
And as much as I’d like to fill this blog post with excuses, it’s time to own up to the fact that I started out strong and then fizzled out. But this is a pretty common problem with New Year’s resolutions, right? I mean, perhaps we should make “New Quarter Resolutions” instead. Those seem like something that we could actually stick to!
Today, I’m linking up with my friends Julia from Lemon Stripes, Danielle from Danielle Moss, Liz from Hello Adams Family, Emily from Isn’t That Charming, Liz from Pure Joy Home, and Eva from Happily Eva After for our monthly series we call “Mom Talk.” ☺️ Last time, we talked about kids and sleep, and before that, we chatted all things screen time. And today, we’re obviously talking about food. Don’t forget to check my girlfriends’ amazing blogs to read about their experiences, strategies and perspectives, too! I admire these mothers so much.
I should start this post out with a disclaimer. It took us a long, long time to get Emma to eat solid food. The struggle was real; she only wanted to drink milk. And much like her mother, she was a stubborn little thing. We literally never got her to consume a single spoonful of jarred baby food… and just when we were starting to freak out and Google all the terms and browse all the parenting forums, my mom (a former NICU nurse) said something incredibly calming: “Never have I met an adult who survives solely on bottles of milk. It’ll happen!”
And then, two months later, Emma decided to start eating solids. The first thing she went for? Spicy chicken wings. I kid you not. 🙄😂
Red Shoes / Quilted Jacket and Tights are old from Janie and Jack / Tights
Every once in a while, Mitch surprises me with the absolute cutest iPhone photos of Emma… and it makes my life. He snaps them when he drops her off at her peewee program in the morning, and she apparently hams it up for him. Just thinking of those two doing a mini photo shoot for Mommy both cracks me up and warms my heart. ;)
Matouk Scallope Shams, Hydrangea/Allium Duvet Cover (Similar Here, Here and Here), and Hydrangea/Allium Euro Shams
If you caught this recent post, you know that Mitch and I have been trying to update our master bedroom and make it feel more mature. The space previously looked dark, cluttered and busy, and to be honest, our style has changed since we first threw it together! (And we definitely threw it together, considering our gut renovation was completed riiiiight before Emma was born. 😂)
We’re not completely done with the master, but we wanted to show you the progress we’ve made so far.
Machine-Washable J.Crew Blouse that FEELS LIKE SILK (Non-maternity, but it’s SO flattering that it even works for preggos! I went up two sizes for the bump and it works perfectly. If you’re not pregnant, I’d suggest ordering your normal size. It comes in navy blue polka dot which I wore on the blog here, leopard, black and white, too.) / Cole Haan Navy Striped Vesta Pumps (Obsessed! Perfect for the spring since I can’t get away with exposed toes. Way too chilly! They come in navy and leopard, too.) / Old Navy Pixie Pants (Here’s the maternity version, which I’m obviously wearing here. If you’re pregnant, I’d suggest sizing down.) / Tortoise Clutch / Gold Earrings (Also love these!) / J.Crew Pearl Twisted Hammock Bracelet (Necklace version here.)
This is my favorite outfit I wore while in Newport. I wore it the evening of day 2, and Mitch snapped these pics right before we left for the night. I have to say: I was pretty proud of my Newport outfits, as I’m very much drawn to leggings and oversized sweaters at the moment. 😂But I worked hard to find some dressier-yet-still-super-comfy stuff ahead of time, and I felt more confident–and more like myself!–because of it.
Here’s a look at the pieces:
