ethical fashion | outfit no. 06

So, date night outfits are fun to chat about, but that's not really what I'm wearing in my day-to-day.  Here is an example of an outfit I wore running errands and going out to lunch with my mom whenever she was in town.  I love the ease of throwing on a one-and-done garment, and this lightweight black jumpsuit fits the bill for a busy mama.  This is yet another investment piece, but I wear it on a weekly basis and it's SO comfy you feel like you're in your jammies (my kinda outfit).  Just this week I've worn it twice already!  I scored a pretty impressive deal during a Hatch end-of-season sale on sale when I bought this jumpsuit, and I want to take a moment to tell you that it's totally possible to have quality high-end items at a somewhat affordable price point. 

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I've always wanted a black jumpsuit, but never could justify spending money on something that I would only wear a handful of times (it's super hard to find nursing friendly ones!).  This jumpsuit is actually maternity (!!!!).  I wore it up til my 9th month and it quickly became one of my favorite summer outfits.  So, not only can I wear this particular jumpsuit pregnant, it's also a button down meaning I can nurse Eulalie in it quite easily.  Plus the fabric is soft and breathable and the black color covers every stain imaginable. Win.  I'm also surprised at how easy it is to transition from summer to fall.  I traded my warm weather sandals for mules and threw on a chunky cardigan for some coziness.  This is one of my favorite ways to style it, but I also can be seen throwing on a sweater or jean jacket and a scarf you've got the perfect fall look!  

outfit details:

JUMPSUIT | hatch collection
(pssst found one on e-bay for you!)

CARDIGAN | old navy (old), similar
SHOES | nisolo

 

 

life lately

september highlight reel

 

 
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1 | Eulalie was baptized into the Catholic church on September 3, 2017.  You can see the photos HERE in case you missed it.

2 | We took a spontaneous road trip to Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana to attend mass at the basilica.  The weather was perfect, the church was INSANELY beautiful, and the music at the mass made me feel like I was in heaven.  The Fossier children, however, did not have the same sentiments and many tantrums were thrown that afternoon.  It was a 2.5 hour drive for us and they cried the whole time (don't worry, we road trip to Louisiana every few months so our family is ol' pros at the car ride game).  Nonetheless we were grateful we got to check another thing off our Indiana bucket list and had a great time despite the torrential meltdowns! 
 
3 | Pier started school!  Mother's Day Out, actually, and he goes twice a week now (as opposed to last spring when he only attended it weekly).  He had a great first month back goes over a different theme each week.  So far it's been "back to school", "bugs", "under the sea", and "things that grow".  He gets so excited whenever we drive up to his school and exclaims, "HERE PIER SCHOOL!!!!" to anyone who will listen.  We're working on sharing and being kind to our friends, but other than that, I think it's the perfect environment for him right now.  

4 | We're teaching Pier about how caterpillars turn into butterflies.  Pier found a huge caterpillar eating our parsley in the garden and we adopted him as our family science project.  I love watching my son's eyes light up wheneverhe discovers something new.  We put Caterpillar (he needs a cooler name than that...) in a glass mason jars with holes in the top, some more fresh parsley, and a few sticks.  Pier asks me every morning, "where cat-pil-er go?" and we watch him in his cocoon as I explain that soon he'll turn into a beautiful butterfly. Sometimes we'll watch the animated version of "the very hungry caterpillar" which Pier loves, and I feel like a great parent for like 5 minutes because we're doing something educational.  Someone should give me an award. 

5 | I celebrated my 26th birthday with my people and it was such a beautiful day.  I was treated to birthday breakfast, a shopping trip, a nap, and a much needed haircut.  Then Bradley and I went out to dinner in Mass Ave at a place called Black Market and walked to Sub Zero Ice Cream for dessert.  They pour liquid nitrogen on the cream and toppings and make the ice cream right in front of you...it's pretty neat. I loved that I got to spend some quality time with my husband.  Holding hands, having uninterrupted conversation, and eating a meal someone else cooked = a dream. Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes!  Your love and prayers were absolutely felt and I'm genuinely touched by your kindness. 

6 | Speaking of birthdays, my mama surprised me mid-birthday-week to help me celebrate.  We have birthdays days apart so it was a real gift to spend it together.  She really is my favorite present and she spoiled me with birthday shopping, brunch, and free babysitting.  That woman has a heart of gold and we are a mess of giggles whenever we get together! Also, thank you dad for sending her my way and going without the company of your wife for the week ;).  We wished you were celebrating with us! 

7 | The Fossier fam went apple picking with our family friends the Keinsley's and it was a blast.  Seriously, the apple orchard is the highlight of my fall and I'm going to miss it immensely whenever we move back to Louisiana.  I can't believe it was our last time doing my favorite fall tradition!  I can't think about it too much or I'll probably cry.  I'll post photos later this week because they make me smile so big each tie I look at 'em. 

what's in my diaper bag

Is it strange that I am fascinated with how people pack their diaper bags?  I have no idea why it's so interesting to me but it totally is.  Maybe because I know just how challenging it is to get out of the house with a baby and I'm in awe of how other mothers manage it.  I wanted to write this post when Pier was an infant, but I wasn't confident in my diaper-bag-packing abilities then.  New mama Emily was usually a hot mess that forgot the majority of the useful things (but somehow remembered to pack a baby hat in 80 degree weather?).  I'm still a hot mess but I like to think I'm a hot mess with a few more years of experience.  And as a result, I write these posts because I care about you new mamas and want you to learn from my mistakes. Plus it's just fun. 

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Like other areas in my life, I try to keep the contents of my bag simple.  But life with a baby and a toddler is never really simple.  You can't keep your diaper bag too bare bones because of the "expect the unexpected" factor that children bring (you just know that blow-out-onesie-ruining-diaper is going to happen at the most inconvenient time).  Let's just say I've had my fair share of horror stories during Pier's infant days.

My secret for maintaining a simplified diaper bag?  I designate 3 separate zipper pouches to distinguish between my stuff vs. kids stuff. I find this one trick keeps me sane and organized. I was gifted Pier's zipped up pouch but HERE'S the one I use for Eulalie and THIS is the one I use for myself.  Side note: Does it make me high maitenence if my list is longer than the kids?!

mama bag

LIPSTICK
TIDE-TO-GO PEN
HAND SANITIZER
TRAVEL SIZED SUN SCREEN
RXBAR
SUNGLASSES
EO ANTI-ANXIETY ROLLER BLEND
HAND LOTION
MEDICINE
CREDIT CARDS + CASH + LICENSE
 

Once those things are taken care of, then I have the rest of my necessities free to roam around the bag as they please.  You'll notice I don't have any wipes in the kids bags...that's because they are probably my most frequently used item and must be easy to access at all times.  I usually keep a full sized (aka non-travel) pack of THESE around.  My other must have items are a NURSING COVER, DIAPER CHANGING MAT, and my WATER BOTTLE that usually gets confiscated by a certain two year old.  And I'll have my SOLLY BABY WRAP or WILDBIRD RING SLING tucked away during the fourth trimester period.  I'll also sneak THIS in my bag if we're going out to eat with the kids...it's perfect if I we need to hold his attention for an extended amount of time. 

My diaper bag is the convertible day bag from NENA & CO. and I love it so much (and get compliments galore whenever I wear it out!). Like all baby-related items, you're going to have personal preferences as to what works for you.  I've just accepted that the three magic words of parenthood are trial-and-error -- a mantra that even can be referenced to a bag for your kids diapers.  It's my personal opinion that backpack diaper bags are crucial.  I did the non-backpack thing for a while and quickly realized I'm not an over-the-shoulder-bag kinda mama. 

If you're in the market for a backpack diaper bag, I rounded up a few of my online favorites for you:

01 | the practical BLACK BEAUTY
02 | a fashionable UTILITARIAN pick
03 | if you want a LITTLE LUXURY
04 | this lovely  STYLISH OPTION
05 | a CLEAN & MODERN beauty
06 | the bag my friends SWEAR BY

What are your diaper bag must-haves?  Any tips and secrets you'd like to share with this newby mama of two are welcome! 

ethical fashion | outfit no. 5

It's officially fall! You know what that means... goodbye sundresses and hello boots, scarves, and chunky sweaters. It's been like 80 degrees here so those particular seasonal accessories might have to wait awhile before I break them out of my closet.  This cardigan, however, was an investment purchase with the intent to wear it year-round.  I'm all about a good grandpa cardigan and this one is perfect for layering in the winter, or keeping in my car during the summer (because, air conditioning). 

Dressing for fall is too much fun and I can't wait to show you some of the new pieces I've added to my capsule wardrobe.  That being said, I tend to want to buy every little thing when a new season comes...convincing myself that I need yet another somethin-somethin in my closet when, in reality, I don't.  That's why capsule wardrobe-ing (that's a word) is so helpful.  I love to get creative with my fall pieces and transition some of my summer favorites too.

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So I gabbed about the cardigan but what about the other parts of the outfit? The olive green shirt is a perfect year-round basic and underneath the chunky cardigan, you get a great fall palette contrast.  I'm also someone who doesn't follow the "white after labor day" rule. This eggshell white skirt is a fantastic versatile addition to your wardrobe.  I will probably wear it with a black shirt, leggings, and boots in the winter and a flowy tank in the summer. 

outfit details:

SHIRT | everlane
CARDIGAN | babaa knitwear
SKIRT | etsy, similar here and here
SHOES | born footwear

working out with little ones

I don't know about you, but finding time to exercise with two little ones around is next to impossible.  Usually you'll find me squeezing in a quick work out during nap time or once the kids are in bed for the night, but every now and then I have to do my exercising when Pier plays (or watches a video) and Eulalie stares intently at me from her bouncy seat.  Exhibit A:

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Pier thinks it's a big game whenever mama puts on her exercise videos...it's cute as can be but it usually involves in me pausing whatever I'm doing 100 times before finishing what I started.  I gotta do what I gotta do to make any type of exercise happen -- even if it's just for a few minutes.  I'd like to think that I'm setting a good example for my kids by investing in my physical and mental health.  Exercise isn't something I get really excited about, but I know that I always feel better whenever I finish a work out.  Pilates, in particular, is something I go to whenever I feel stressed or need some me time.  I'm not great at it, but I love the way it relaxes me and establishes a beneficial mind-to-body connection.  

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About a year and half ago, I joined an online Pilates community called the Balanced Life, run by instructor Robin Long. Robin is one of those talented people that you can't help but gravitate towards.  Her "grace over guilt" mentality is exactly what I need postpartum.  Having a baby changes your body in remarkable (and a bit unsettling) ways...it's easy to become discouraged getting back into any type of work out rhythm.   She's gentle and kind and has a gift for teaching. The workouts are challenging and effective, yet completely doable no matter what your fitness level.  When you're a mom you hold babies, nurse babies, and wear babies all day long, leaving you with all kinds of aches and pains.  Pilates has helped tremendously with my bad posture and back tension. I can't recommend it enough! But my favorite thing about Robin is that she never makes me feel "less than".  Didn't get to work out today? or this week? or this month?  The Balanced Life community assures me that it's ok to try again...Tomorrow is another day to start fresh.  One baby step leads to another and then another and before you know it, exercise is a part of my routine on a regular basis.  

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So what does this look like in my every day?  Well, a lot like the photos you see here. When you join the community, Robin and her team will send you an e-mail with your monthly work outs and a recipe bundle (which help me tremendously in the kitchen whenever I'm in a recipe rut!).  Usually your workout schedule for the week consists of three short Pilates workouts (typically under 15 minutes) and two longer ones that run 30-40 minutes. You don't need any fancy equipment. I don't even have a mat! All you'll need is internet access and a willingness to try something new. I don't strictly follow the schedule -- some days I'll take a long walk or do 15 minutes of dance cardio instead.  I like to switch things up and listen to my body.  But no matter what,a calming Pilates routine is my go-to whenever I'm stressed or feeling overwhelmed. 

I wanted to take the time to talk about this because being a member of the Balanced Life has helped so much whenever my depression and anxiety act up. I know many of you are busy mamas, so if you're looking for something new to help you get back on the work out track, I encourage you to look into Robin's mission.  She's got some great resources and youtube vidoes online, but if you're interested in joining the Balanced Life Sisterhood you can use my referral link HERE.  I can't tell you how impactful is to be a part of a community of beautiful women who uplift and encourage!