Style » The Best Nest

Have you ever heard of mall-walking? No? It’s what old people do in the sweltering climes of America when it’s too hot to power walk outside. They don their shell suits and head inside for laps + air-con. I couldn’t fit in a shell suit if my life depended on it and we need sheltering from the rain and cold rather than the heat but Dave decided today that I needed to ‘GET OUT OF THE HOUSE’ and ‘GO FOR A WALK’ {his loud american self even louder than usual}.

So, I put up little resistance inwardly laughing at the naivety of the man – did he really think he would escape the mall with just a walk? A free walk. Too funny.

It was actually nice. E had decided that the lesser of two evils on offer today was to visit his great-grandmother instead of going to the mall so Dave and I were rolling solo. I don’t know why but being out in public and huge and preggo without Ethan makes me self-conscious. Strangers ignore you when you’re towing a surly 8yo, they don’t force conversations and ask ‘when the twins are due?’ or ‘is it my first?’. I’m not sure why it bothers me if people think Dave and I are expectant first time parents, but the assumption really doesn’t go down well. Though in saying that, we were out as a family and the Friendly Stranger assumed that Dave must be my ‘new’ husband and not Ethan’s Dad, simply because of the obvious age gap. People are lovely aren’t they?

So back to the mall, we were able to finish shopping for E’s bag of gifts from his Little Brother that we will take to the hospital with us, I crossed a couple of weird purchases off my mental list such as buying a regular 2 button mouse for my Mac because I simply can’t abide by NO right mouse button any longer. I got my eyebrows waxed which was awesome until the technician started some after-wax threading which is so damn painful it made hippo recoil! We found Ethan two pairs of Vans for $70! I loved them so much we bought him a size up for next year too;

vans-kids-old-skool-v-suede-skate-shoes-dress-blue-stv-navy2

A little peek into Country Road resulted in this win;

Country_Road_Cowboy_Shirt

I had been coveting this shirt online for ages, it was in the SALE with an extra 25% off! {shop here, $48.65} Obviously this is a post-hippo-purchase {PHP if you will}, but I’m thinking button-ups with a breast-feeding tank underneath are going to be my new wardrobe staples in the coming months.

So, mall-working for preggo-exercise; 4 out of five stars. Dave wasn’t done though, round two involved Pak ‘n Save laps and shopping for food which wasn’t nearly as much fun : (

Thankfully I have survived this enormous pregnancy without spending too much on maternity clothes, in fact I think I have only purchased half a dozen actual ‘maternity’ items.
Dressing has been made moderately successful by purchasing staples in large (and now XL!) sizes. I found pregnancy jeans really uncomfortable so tights have been my go-to for the bottom half. Definitely the best in comfort, quality and price were a pair I picked up from KMart for $10 in the standard women’s section. Layering has been key, I have to go to work five days a week so I have had to maintain a level of business-casual. This has been made easier by being able to wear layers with a smart cardigan or woollen coat over the top (not that I can button them!).

From top left to right, these are my staples that have allowed me to layer, keep warm and comfortable – though I am now totally over them and just wish to fit some jeans and a slouchy sweat!

Maternity_wear_must_haves

1. Oversized tanks: Cotton On (3 for $25)

2. Glassons Ponte Stitch Detail Leggings (On sale now for $29.99) these have a super wide elastic waistband so are seriously comfortable and

are a really heavy fabric so are a little more substantial than your average leggings.

3. Any old black leggings. I have worn standard sizing pairs more than maternity ones.

4. Patch Stripe Knit Maxi Skirt: (On sale now for $29.99)

5. Cardigans galore. I picked up this one in a Country Road sale in a larger size than normal and have loved having a nice bright pop of colour to slip on.

6. My trusty thrifted-on-Trade-Me Levi’s denim shirt. The length of this makes it ideal to wear in the weekends with tights and tunics.

7. Maya maternity T’s and tanks from The Warehouse. These have washed really well and work perfectly layered over a tank.

Oh Lordy. How’dya like that 8 pound bump o’ baby? At this stage it’s like I’m carrying a bowling ball around, he is SO heavy.
I am;
- Exhausted
- Uncomfortable in bed, ergo not sleeping well
- Worried about how how big this kid and I are going to get if he hangs in there to term, (visions of Octo-Mom are further tormenting my sleep)
- Finding day to day tasks more difficult, bending down is nigh on impossible
- Still working and enjoying it
- Very very excited
- Very very much looking forward to sushi
- Missing my lovely clothes and looking forward to shopping once I lose some weight!
- Loving that E came to the growth scan this week with me, it was his first of the whole pregnancy and it was awesome. Because the hippo is so big it was easy for E to understand what he was seeing on the ultrasound. Leftover paranoia from my miscarriage that was discovered via a routine ultrasound – with E present – meant that Dave and I have gone to all previous scans sans E.

Skirt: Egg maternity, passed on from a friend
Tights: KMart
Tank: Oversized from Cotton On
Top: Kmart
Jacket: Esprit
Shoes: Sperry

My darling Mother’s Day began earlier in the week when Dave asked me what I would love to do on Sunday; my reply surprised him as it did not involve either he nor Ethan, and it did not involve shopping (technically)! I had RSVP’d to a morning celebrating the arrival of ALAS Women’s Sleepwear at The Department Store.

We were treated to a scrummy brunch by Little Bird Organics whilst we got the chance to get acquainted with the gorgeous organic/Fairtrade textiles used in the sleepwear range and the inspirational ladies behind the ALAS brand and philosophy, Kelly and Betony.

Alas Pyjamas

After the eats and greets concluded {actually, if I’m being truthful the eats continued throughout the morning!}, we settled in to our crafting, and whipped up some beautiful dream catchers. I had been wanting one for the nursery so was quietly chuffed that I made my own and was able to incorporate some special bobs and beads from broken jewellery that I had saved over the years – for no good reason until now!

Crafting is good for the soul, as is beautiful, soft sleepwear {you wouldn’t believe how soft}. Thank you ALAS for a lovely Mother’s Day with some fab ladies x

Dream Catcher Workshop

Dream Catcher

Poncho : Country Road

Skirt: Huffer

T-shirt: Verge

Sandals: Overland

We went out on Saturday AT NIGHT! I was so excited as it was a little bit cooler so I could wear my slouchy cardy/poncho finally. Believe it or not I purchased this in January, smack bang at the beginning of the never-ending-summer. I LOVE winter clothes and jackets and layering and scarves…….I possibly love the idea of these things a tad bit more this year as I will have the aftermath of baby hippo to hide throughout the winter {shudder}.

See that skirt? Mum bought that for me 10 years ago. Good old Huffer. I always keep quality clothes especially those that fit you through a range of sizes like this skirt does.

31 weeks;

- Baby hippo is a busy beaver, we woke up one morning and Dave told me that bubs had been building a house all morning!

- The nursery is set-up!!!! I am waiting for the last two prints to arrive from the states {then I will frame everything}, the mobile to arrive and then I can decorate ::squee::

- My belly feels heavy. Just SO heavy, like it’s filled with a bowling ball. Iron pills are helping with my energy levels but lugging the hippo around in the afternoons is hard work.

- I am ridiculously excited. We have washed all of E’s baby clothes and nearly all of his blankets, I can’t believe how much I saved for 8 years! Definitely feel like we are on the home stretch now, fingers crossed the home stretch is not quite 9 weeks long x.

Kath Leopard Flat~ Overland $179

It feels like I had been searching for the perfect pair of leopard flats for my whole life, {a teensy exaggeration, but, the hunt has been on for well over a year}. I found these at Overland whilst searching for the perfect tan boots {that’s another post}. They are super soft and comfy, with a ‘hairy’? outer, but what I really love about them is the contrast toe. Let’s face it, ballet flats can be boring, but this black toe cap adds definition and a touch of interest to a pretty safe shoe. I love these flats, possibly even more than usual as I don’t require assistance from Dave or Ethan to do them up! Stylish flats should be on every mama-to-be’s getting ready for baby list.

Mall-Walking

My Maternity Wear Must-Haves

35 Weeks Preggo

Dream Catcher Workshop | ALAS & The Department Store

Wardrobe Wednesday | 31 Weeks, It’s Poncho Time

Aquisitions | Leopard Flats. Finally