34 Weeks

Another post for the maternity series.

Lovin the red and denim combo with some neutrals mixed in.

I've also been glued to this wall for the past few posts.

Hubbs has been busy with the whole 9-5 job thingy.

Denim shirt: H&M, knit sweater: Old Navy, pants: Ross (maternity), shoes: Nine West,
necklace: F21, watch: Guess, bracelets: target and thrifted.

Photos: Gina Lacanilao

Maintain.

Well, it's been a few weeks since I've posted anything.
It's been quite hard to get any outfits on file mainly because

a) no time and b) being pregnant doesn't always make you feel like taking any pictures.

I pretty much have a rotation of all things comfy and what works with my belly in my closet at this time.

It has felt a little redundant to me over the past few weeks and even months.

But then, today, I decided I might as well show off these outfits, however few,

to display that although I've been preggers,

 I have tried to maintain what style I could with my ever-changing bod.

It hasn't been easy but it's opened up my eyes to being creative with what I already have.

Because let's face it, maternity threads are so not the business. Yucky.

Anywho...

This whole pregger thing has progressed rapidly

and tomorrow, Peanut will officially have been cooking for 32 weeks!!

That's right. 8 whole months.

The home stretch.

Yaaaaah, baby!

Diy denim vest, lace top as worn before here in 2011 (as you can see, it is now a crop top on me. lol.), random tank, Joie boots, maternity skinny jeans from Ross (!), Guess watch, bracelets (l-r) H&M, F21, Target, necklace F21 

Sheer and flared.

The bump is getting HUGE.
Like .Icantbreathe. kinda huge.
And these days, dressing up is all about trying not to look like a tent. Or a whale. Or a house.
Even though I feel like one.
Snagged this shirt on clearance from Old Navy.
Suuuper excited not to pay full price for it.
Perfectly sheer and demure.
And these flares, also from ON, totally mimick saran wrap for my babygotback.
 Completed the look with some red (of course!) BCBG pumps.
Don't you just love how pointy-toes are back??
So classic.



@always_ashleyrae

Life lately via Instagram.

Some pics of moi.

Outfits and armcandy.

Cali weather. Ranging from warm and sunny to cold and stormy.

Some good eats in the local area. Including garlic butter tilapia from Kitchen a la Ash. 

And white chocolate covered strawberries made by the hubbs. Ohhh yeaaah.

Takin it back old school for ya.

The cutest flower girl of the Eighties.

The hubbs showing off his skills on the dance floor.

Young love circa 2003.

And if you're on Instagram, let's partay and divulge our private lives together!

It's sooo much fun.

@always_ashleyrae.

Repeat.

Striped dress and the color red.

I am not usually a stripe-y anything kinda girl but these casual dresses just fit my bump so well.

I can't help but want to show off my baby in such a body con way.

And with this Cali weather in the high 60's-low 70's, I am still able to bust out my favorite boots EVERRRR.

Over-the-knee WITH tassles.

Two seasons and counting. And worth every penny.

Thank you, ALDO.

On a more baby centered note, I've decided that I don't want to find out the sex of my little peanut here.

I want it to be like Christmas when I finally pop.

I had my doc write it in a notecard including an ultrasound of those precious privates, which is now sealed.

Buuuuut, trying to shop for neutral colored stuff is the most annoying thing.

I'm almost tempted to tear that envelope open just so I can shop.

Almost.

We'll see how long this will last. ;)



Casual day out.

Kept it super simple today with some red skinny jeans and black lacey tee.
Yes.
Red and skinny jean in the same sentence by a pregnant woman.
I had been mourning the semi-permanent, un-wearable status of all skinny jeans in my closet.
And I couldn't believe my luck when I found these. At wallet friendly Ross of all places!
Haven't yet put down $$$ for new clothes for my new figure because I'm still having a hard time letting go of my old figure.
And of course, I had to complete my outfit with some heels for a little bit of height.

I plan to keep wearing my beloved heels until I start to teeter over.

And even then, I may just switch to wedges. Ha!

Have a great weekend, everyone!



All sorts of reasons why

I love this man.

-He's awesome at EVERYTHING he does. Seriously. I wish he'd let me in on the secret.

-He's got a better booty shake than Beyonce which he shows off to me nearly every morning, putting my skills to shame.

-Mr. Fix-It. I will NEVER have to hire anyone to fix my car or my house. I am truly blessed. So, is our bank account.

-He isn't into "regular" sports. So, I'm spared from having to endure baseball, basketball, football, soccer or hockey season. Yesssssss.
-He's got a perfect nook just for me when we cuddle. Eat your heart out, Carrie Bradshaw.
-He prays for me and our little family.
-He loves the Lord with all his heart.
-He does his own laundry. Yes. You read correctly.
-He's my baby's daddy.
-He makes me laugh. Like LOL-ROTFL-LMAO-kinda laugh.
-He CHOOSES to LOVE me even at my ultimate unlovable worst.
-He's my favorite friend. EVER.

-And of course, let me not forget to mention the obvious. Six-feet-three inches of S.E.X.Y.

HAPPY LOVE DAY, Monkey.
Thanks for loving me.

Leggy stripes.

Showed off some leg today.
Channeling my inner sexiness.
Learning to embrace the evolution of mah new bod.
Who says you gotta be pregnant and frumpy???


Btw, anybody got any cool diy ideas for a Vday gift for the hubbs?



Snakeskin.

I really, really, luuuurve animal prints.

You've all seen my leopard and now meet my snakes.

Fell in love with these snakeskin beauties from Nine West. 

Super sexy and totally comfy for this Pregger.

Ran around town today with these glued to my feet and felt oh-so-glam.

Like Heidi "9-months-preggo" Klum kinda glam.

Ohhh yeeeeeahhh. 



Feelin' floral.

It's getting to be that time, folks when nothing I have in my closet fits the same way anymore.
And I'm holding on to what little figure I used to have.
Yet, I still find myself wandering around the part of a store that holds sizes 0-7.
Strategically, "missing" the maternity section.
And walking out of that said store with sizes that I could only fit 6 months ago.
And then realizing, when the heck was I planning to wear this?!
I've gotta get things together. A shift in thinking would help.
I mean, this baby is not gonna be a small one.
The husband was a twin and he weighed 7 pounds, while his twin bro weighed almost 9 pounds.
If that doesn't bring me back to reality,
then I'm sure the 60 extra pounds I'll gain by the end of this adventure definitely will.
Oh, the joys of pregnancy!

Anywhoo, the bump and I decided to wear something easy today.
A floral dress complete with cowboy boots and denim vest.
Ready to frolic in this California sunshine.



Leather, leopard and loafers.

This whole pregnancy thing is a trip.
My body is going through all sorts of changes that I am amazed by.

The bump seems to be getting bigger by the second. I mean minute. Ok, maybe I'm being dramatic.
We'll stick with getting bigger by the day.
I can now feel little love pokes from peanut.
Movements so quick and subtle that only I can feel them.
Like a private conversation or joke just between the two of us.
And I know the hubbs is jealous. I mean who wouldn't be?!?
This baby's got those pokes down to a perfect science.
It's the best feeling EVERRRR.



@always_ashleyrae

So, the hubbs and I finally got our act together and joined a family plan.

A cell phone family plan.

He has an iPhone and I had a Droid.

There was no way on God's green earth that he was giving up his beloved iPhone so instead,

he surprised me with my very own!

And now I've got this budding romance with the phone of my dreams.

And of course, in order to become a "real" iPhoner, I had to get myself on Instagram.

I'm not sure how many bloggers out there use this amazing app, but I'm sure there are plenty.

Unfortunately, I haven't found you and you haven't found me. Yet! :)

(Note the username in the title.)

So, until that happens, here are some pics I'd like to share...

A couple outfit teasers for ya.

Full posts coming soon.

Totally in love with my new sparkly loafers!

And some arm swag and red lips to keep it glam.

Half of my jewelry collection.

Faves on display for easy access.

Some wall art of the hubbs and I.

True love is a beautiful thing.

And finally...

Introducing the little miracle from the Lord which came from the meshing of those two lucky people in the above picture.

Yes.

We're having a baby!

4 months and counting. Woo woo!

So, if I look like I've put on some pounds...

This tiny person is to blame.

And I wouldn't have done it for anyone else.

Mommy loves you.

Welcome, my little love bug to the world of blogging.

The new.

Hairdo.

Chopped it.

Well, not completely.

But for me this is pretty short.

Some layers, and sort of this asymmetrical bob-ama-jiggy with just the last bit of ombre left in the front.

And of course, the bangs. Always the bangs.

Whether it be long and sideswept or blunt and straight.

This is the first of the few changes that are about to happen.

I've got some other things up my sleeves.

Including, possibly, no scratch that, definitely changing my blog name.

And changing the content.

To include not only my style, but the story of my life as I live it.

Btw, let's do this whole Instragram thing. Find me: @always_ashleyrae.

It's sooooo much fun!

Last of the long.

So, here we go with change.

This is the last outfit post with my long, flowing mane.

No more ombre and no more Kim K. curls.

Aaaaah!

I usually don't do very much with my hair. I like it long. And so does the husband.

But I'm definitely ready to try something different.

Can't wait to share soon!