May 29, 2013

Scenes from our weekend in Cleveland (part 1)



Chris just started a new job and while this is fantastic news for our family, it also means that our schedules have become a little less flexible. Naturally, he has to accumulate vacation time and is beginning from scratch. But that doesn't eliminate our shared travel bug! We decided that in the meanwhile, we would utilize any long weekends we could to take short trips. Our first voyage was over Memorial Day weekend, when we drove up to Cleveland to eat, shop, and explore.


We visited the newly remodeled Cleveland Art Museum, which is pretty fantastic and free to the general public! While there, we saw so many wedding parties taking photos, which always makes me feel a little wistful. As a spectator, I was reminded of the strangers who wished me well and snapped photos from the patio outside of Heinz Chapel, while I waited to walk down the aisle on my own wedding day.



Chris put his art history degree to use as he took Emilia on her own private tour. It was fun to compare her reactions to the art on this trip vs her previous museum visit at the National Gallery of Art (when she was two months). At six months old, she was less into impressionism and cubism. She was more into portraits of women and girls. She still liked the mobile sculptures of Alexander Calder. But she also appreciated multisensory and multimedia pieces.


 
We loved the West Side Market, where we shopped and had lunch. Because it was a Saturday on a holiday weekend, it was very crowded. Thankfully, we opted to wear her rather than try the stroller. She loved looking up at the architecture of the space in the main terminal.





There was certainly a lot to see!




 


We took a break to eat our hand pies from one of the vendors. We also gave Emilia a break from the Ergo so she could stretch her legs.



We ate at some amazing places too. I can't wait to go back!

Outfit details
Me:
Tory Burch Warren ruffle trench
J. Crew anchor dress
Old Navy leggings
Lucky Brand Emmie flats
Marc Jacobs Mercer hobo
Norman Childs glasses/Etro sunglasses

Chris:
Vince sweater
Marc Jacobs jeans (note that these are way cheaper in the mbmj store than online for some reason)
Vans slip ons
Lifetime Collective sunglasses

Emilia:
Osh Kosh cardigan (similar hoodie set she also has here)
Tea Collection dress (same in another colorway here)
Old Navy leggings
Trumpette socks
Handmade hat

By the way, I'll be drawing the Shabby Apple Giveaway winner later today and contacting them via email. The winner will also be posted in the Rafflecopter widget. Thank you to everyone who entered and to Shabby Apple for providing the prize!

May 21, 2013

Boden Clearance Sale Info


This Saturday, May 25th, 2013 at the David Lawrence Convention Center, in downtown Pittsburgh marks the Boden Clearance Sale with clothes for women, men, and mini. I have a prior commitment so I won't be able to make it but nearby readers should check it out! I love their styles for little ones and they always have great colors and prints in their offerings for women.

I've never been to this sale so I can't offer much info on it beyond what is above. You can try to print the images above to redeem the $5 offer but it was sent to me by a friend so I don't have one to pass along, myself. If anyone knows more about this sale (like the % discount on most things, how crowded it gets, and/or how things are organized) I'd love to learn!

May 20, 2013

Silk Mabel and Sunstream Eyelet dress reviews

anthropologie dress
Silk Mabel Dress
If you checked Effortless Anthropologie this morning, you saw a huge swath of markdowns and second/third cuts at Anthropologie. I figured I would post my take on a few of the new sale items since I tried on a bunch of stuff during my birthday month.


The printed bodice of the Silk Mabel Dress drew me to it instantly. I loved the vibrant flowers though I wasn't sure about the framing on the bottom half of the skirt. I would have rather seen an all over print that dissolved in concentrated toward the hem rather than the striped border with solid side panels. The length of this dress matters in part because of the framing around the flowers of the skirt. If you need to hem, it would be tricky. Still the shape was something that I thought might work on me and I liked that it had the potential to be breastfeeding friendly without requiring a button front. I grabbed a large and thought it was cut amply. I didn't try a medium but it might have worked which leads me to believe this dress runs fairly large. My postpartum figure is not a size medium but I had enough extra room everywhere in the large that I think for this dress a medium would have been fine. The length of the large was just below my knees which (unless in heels) is slightly longer than I prefer. I like it to hit right at my knee, covering it ideally. I imagine the medium would have been a bit shorter. It was comfortable and airy and as described by the name, made of silk. I think for the sale price this would make a great occasion dress (even though it could also be styled easily for day... I personally am not as into the bottom half of the dress as I am the top so I would only shell out for the sale price if I had a specific event in mind).

anthropologie dress
Sunstream Eyelet dress
anthropologie dress

The Sunstream Eyelet dress is another s/m/l sized piece that comes in a variety of colors. I tried on the green and very much liked the hue. I grabbed a size medium even though I would have picked the large to try if it was available. I hadn't counted on how stretchy this dress would be. I didn't see a size zipper and still got it on without a problem. So this one also runs big. Even with my current bustline (which is larger than normal due to breastfeeding) I thought the dress worked on my figure despite my short waist. I would definitely wear in real life with an actual bra rather than a nursing tank because as supportive as they can be, I still think I am better held up with underwire. This is especially noticeable in the side view. For the sale price, this is a great dress! I would be more likely to grab it if it was $60 instead of $80 because until I wean I won't be able to wear this much. The fabric is comfortable and although the lining is a poly blend, it doesn't seem like it would be too uncomfortable in hot weather.

Although I'm passing on these two even at their sale prices, I feel that they bode well for the direction in which Anthropologie is headed. I hope that their styles begin to grab me again soon because even with the barrier of my pregnancy and postpartum realities, over the last year I haven't found much to add to even a hypothetical wishlist.

May 17, 2013

Shabby Apple Giveaway!


I'm excited to offer readers of Consume or Consumed the chance to win a $75 gift certificate to Shabby Apple! As you probably already know, Shabby Apple is an online boutique that specializes in vintage-inspired and retro dresses. You can click here to see their cute selection!

The bulk of their offerings are women's clothing, shoes and accessories. They include extended sizes in many of their styles. And they have a "maternity and kids" section called "Mama Apple" that stocks many cute things for baby, toddler, and little girls, new mamas, and mamas-to-be!

One of my favorite maternity looks came from Shabby Apple! Sadly the dress is no longer available. But if you win, you can treat yourself to something from their current stock! Wedding season is around the corner so I'm sure many people will be in need of dresses.

Dresses from Shabby Apple

If you can't wait to shop, you can use this coupon code to take 10% off you order of any of their fan favorites: fanfavorites10off

This giveaway is open to anyone with a US shipping address. Please see the widget for additional terms and conditions. Thank you to Shabby Apple for providing the prize to the lucky winner! See how you can enter via the widget below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



May 16, 2013

Anila Shirtdress Review

anila anthropologie

anila anthropologie
When I was browsing the racks of Anthropologie during my birthday month, I was looking mostly for pieces that could work for nursing. I'm not sure if I would have otherwise been drawn to the simple, lightweight style of the Anila Shirtdress if it weren't for its button front. But I grabbed two different colorways in sizes 8 and 10 to see whether it worked for me. The dress shown above is an 8. The one below is a 10.

 

Both seemed to run large and the drawstring waist is forgiving. It has pockets and is unlined. The fabric is soft but it seemed a little flimsy. One might want to layer a slip underneath, especially when it is too warm to wear tights. I like the fit of the 10 better, particularly across the bust. I was worried about pulling in the 8. While breastfeeding, I am reluctant to safety pin the space between buttons because the entire point of wearing button front garments is to maintain accessibility for Emilia. So I would rather have something fit without pins across the bust and be bigger elsewhere than have to pin.

I thought I liked the first dress more in terms of color/print but now that I see it in photos, I think the lack of striping pattern is nicer on me. I ultimately passed on this dress but now that it is on sale I am again considering it. I like how lightweight it is which will be comfortable in the dead of summer. And I like the longer sleeves. 

I'm curious also about whether it holds up to machine washes. Anyone have this one? Care to share?

May 14, 2013

OOTD and Rumina Coupon Code!


Suddenly, it is coats, tights, and buntings weather around these parts. So I am layered up in a DVF, as suggested smartly by Sarah of That Damn Green Dress who reminded me that wrap dresses are about as nursing-friendly as they come. My Rumina full-coverage tank is layered underneath to provide support and modesty in a nursing-friendly package, as this wrap cuts a bit lower than I am comfortable wearing. I have a dinner later this evening with Chris and his coworkers so I figured I should look professional. Emilia is going to meet everyone so I'm dressed to be ready to soothe her too.

Commenter, Eva was the lucky winner of the Rumina giveaway but if you want to try one of their tanks for yourself, you can do so with a 15% discount by using coupon code: CCReview (valid until May 20th, 2013)! In addition to the 15% off, you will get free USPS priority shipping! It's a great reason to treat yourself since it was just Mother's Day.

You can read my review of Rumina tanks, here. Thank you again to Rumina for hosting the giveaway and providing the exclusive coupon for readers of Consume or Consumed!

Outfit details:
DVF dress (old)
Rumina Hands Free Pump and Nurse Tank in Full Coverage (c/o)
Spanx tights
Gucci wedges
Kors watch

May 12, 2013

A quick note on motherhood style


I'm only five months in but my mom style is definitely more casual and relaxed than ever. It is more machine washable and separates-focused. I wear a lot of pants these days (sometimes even the ones with elastic waistbands cause... why not?!). My wardrobe is both more comfortable and more stretchy than it was prior to pregnancy and birth. I take more photos in general but less photos of myself (unless they're phone pics). I rarely have time to take head-to-toe outfit photos.


I don't feel like I can dress up as much. But I also don't feel like I have to. I don't have as many dresses that I can wear (at least for now while I am breastfeeding). I don't spend as much time fretting over what to wear or trying on a million things. I don't have as much time to shop or bargain hunt. I don't have as much fun shopping for myself as I do for my little one.

(photo from our NYC trip by Michael or China... the dog is also theirs!)

And I wouldn't have it any other way. Happy Mother's Day to you and yours!

May 08, 2013

Rumina Hands Free Pump and Nurse Tanks Review




As you can see from the giveaway, the Rumina Hands-Free Pump and Nurse tank comes in two styles: regular and full-coverage. I was fortunate to be sent one of each to try for both pumping and nursing purposes and have been able to test them at work and at home for the last month. I have been wearing them constantly, underneath tops and dresses to enable easy nursing and pumping access. I am going to go through some useful specifics regarding the tanks in general, then I will discuss the differences between the styles.


First of all, these tanks have impressive support. I feel secure and stable during a time when my figure is softer all over. The fabric feels nicer to me than that of Bravado tanks. They washed and wore without fading, unlike my black Bravado tanks in the first month. They have enough length to fall to my mid-hip and they provide counter-pressure while smoothing out the stomach. The straps are a bit less structured when compared with Bravado but they're still stable and comfortable. The clips are standard nursing clips, easy to snap and unsnap with one hand. But a flap that goes over the bust is what enables the hands-free pumping. When you lift the flap, you reveal another layer of fabric that can be pulled to the side via an opening, where you insert pump flanges. In the top photo, I am lifting up the flap, but it is difficult to tell because of the design. This same design really keeps one's breasts covered while pumping.

After pregnancy, labor, and birth, I definitely feel less modest in some ways about my body but am grateful to have an option that keeps my business relatively hidden while I pump at work.  Even with an office and a door that locks, and even after feeling really comfortable and confident in using my pump, the first few times I did so at work felt awkward. Having a tank that keeps me covered "just in case" mitigated that awkwardness. More importantly, this tank truly supports a hands-free pump experience that allows me to work at my computer while I pump. I have the Medela hands free bustier for pumping and find it frustrating because it doesn't support me well enough to be hands-free. This is different. I  found both of the tanks to be very easy to use for nursing and was happy with how I could stay covered while pumping in the tanks. 


I also want to speak about fit and sizing but this ties to the differences in styles. With help from Amanda, I was able to determine that the size medium would be right for me. For reference, in Bravado tanks, I took a 34f during the first few months of nursing. At this point I need a 34ddd/e. From the size chart on Rumina's site, my cup size was too large to work with the regular coverage. But the medium fit me. The issue is that the regular coverage exposes quite a bit of cleavage (to the point where I even cropped out my face from the photos), so I use it as a layering piece. The full-coverage comes up high enough to be visible under certain tops and dresses. But generally speaking, I do agree with the recommendation for full-coverage to meet a fuller bust. If I had to pick a favorite between the two styles, I would pick the full-coverage. I think the regular coverage serves a useful role in my closet and I appreciate that it is more likely to be invisible underneath my clothing, but I wouldn't be able to wear it on its own without feeling very exposed. That said, I feel that way about all my nursing tanks. And the Rumina Regular Coverage doesn't expose any more than those.

Overall, I really love these tanks and am so glad to have them in my breastfeeding wardrobe rotation. When I am back in the classroom soon, I will be grateful for the ease of pumping at work, when times between classes are already tight. Thank you to Amanda and Dawn of Rumina Nursingwear for sending me the tanks to review and providing another to give away to a lucky reader of Consume or Consumed!

Don't forget to enter to win one for yourself! 

May 06, 2013

Mother's Day Giveaway from Rumina!


I am excited to announce my Mother's Day giveaway which is for the coolest nursing tank I've found, from Rumina For Moms. The hands free pump and nurse tanks were developed by a working, breastfeeding mom who wanted to be able to pump hands-free at work, modestly and efficiently. You can read the story behind the tank here. I love that Rumina is a woman-run, family business! Their tanks are available in two styles: Regular and Full-Coverage. You can see how the tank works to enable ease for pumping as well as nursing by viewing this video.

In celebration of my first Mother's Day as a mom, I am thrilled to be giving away one tank to a lucky reader who can select their preferred style and color, in their size. This giveaway is only open to US readers.


I will be reviewing the tanks tomorrow, so that you can have all the information on the differences between the styles and how these tanks stack up to other nursing tank options that are out there. Once the giveaway concludes, I will also be offering an exclusive discount to readers of Consume or Consumed who might want to purchase a Rumina tank for themselves or a loved one.


Without spoiling my review, I will say that I've been wearing my Rumina tanks non-stop since I got them. If you are a breastfeeding mom or a breastfeeding mom-to-be, you don't want to miss out on this giveaway! Thank you to Amanda and Dawn from Rumina for providing the awesome prize! You can enter for your chance to win via Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May 03, 2013

What I wore back to campus


My first visit back required that I look somewhat pulled together while remaining breastfeeding friendly. I went with a stretchy dress layered over a full-coverage Rumina pump and nursing tank (review and giveaway to come!). I was comfortable even though the dress is a little body conscious. But by the middle of the day I was the wrong kind of overdressed. Definitely didn't need the trench coat!


Tomorrow I will be launching a Mother's Day giveaway from Rumina and can't wait to tell you about these nursing tanks. I like them even more than the ones from Bravado.

Outfit details:
Rumina nursing tank (c/o... giveaway and review coming this weekend!)
Random stretchy nursing/pumping-friendly dress
Tory Burch Warren ruffle trench
Marc Jacobs Mercer Tote
Marc by Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats (in black here)
Michael Kors horn watch (also here)
Spanx tights
Amber pendant; Anjolee eternity band (c/o), misc. jewelry

May 01, 2013

Maitland Lace Dress Review


I don't have a lot of time to myself these days and with the wardrobe constraints inherent to breastfeeding, I don't have the same ease about shopping as I once did. But as April was coming to a close, I realized that a birthday discount was about to expire unused. So I arranged for my mom and sister to meet me at the mall for some grandma, aunt, and baby time. The three of them played together while I browsed the racks at Anthropologie. I was drawn quickly to the Maitland Lace Dress. The shape reminded me of that of Fluttering Flora. The layering of lace over cotton, the cap sleeves, and the letter sizing were all reminiscent of the dress that carried me through a decent chunk of pregnancy.

Although my gut told me to try the large, there were none available and I grabbed a medium. It was stretchy enough to fit without unzipping (I didn't see the zipper until the dress was on) but still looked snug once it was on my body. I think I need a large and I think that is accurate to my current size. I also think a belt would really help break up my midsection. The underslip is not fully attached (though not fully unattached either), making it different from Fluttering Flora. I'd say this dress runs slightly large. I like the quality of the lace and thought it was a cute dress overall. I am not a huge fan of the color on me so I will be passing. But I think it will be a great look on many figures.

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