5 Great Maxi Dresses for Day

From left: Gap (on major sale!), Rachel Pally (on sale!), Splendid, Calvin Klein,  Heather

Now that it's getting warmer (and I'm days away from dropping about 30 pounds!), I've finally started thinking about new clothes. Specifically maxi dresses. I love, love, love living in a maxi in the spring/summer, but here's the thing: Honestly, a lot of them make me feel a bit self-conscious during the day when in the city. I mean, if I'm walking around running errands in a long, floral-patterned, strapless or spaghetti-strapped dress, I always feel a bit like I should be on an island beach, not a sidewalk. (Am I in the minority here??) 

But this can all be solved easily. Add a little width to the straps so that they become tanks--or even short sleeves--and stick to solid colors (or something classic like stripes) and now you've got a perfectly daytime-appropriate maxi that works for brunch, shopping, or lazy summer days whether you're in the concrete-jungle...or a tropical one.

Check out a few of my favorite day- and city-ready maxis above. Only one is (slightly!) over $150--two are even under $100! I already own the grey Gap one (SUCH a deal) and I've got my eye on the short-sleeved Heather number or versatile navy Splendid tank dress next. Okay, who am I kidding? I'm totally getting both. (Or all five maybe? Eek!)

Which maxi above is your favorite? And what are your best tips for making a long dress daytime-appropriate? Tell me below!

Can You Love Baby #2 As Much as Your First?

Sadie, 2010 (just one day old!)

As I inch closer to baby number two's arrival, it's hard not to think back to where my mind was just over three years ago before the birth of baby number one. I was nervous, excited, and scared all rolled into one. This time around, I feel similar emotions--but for entirely different reasons. This time I'm less apprehensive about the actual birth (I mean, last time I was seriously freaked out about that, yo), and more wary of the baby's actual arrival. I'm not so much worried about the basics--feeding, changing, soothing, and so on (although I think I've blocked out just how much serious sleep deprivation I'm about to experience...). Instead, I'm secretly wondering if I can possibly love this baby as much as my first. After all, my first, Sadie, is the most amazing person I have ever met and I've loved her times a million since the first second I saw her. 

Now, do I logically know that I'll love the second baby a ton, too? Of course. But it's hard to fathom that it might actually be possible to love something else just as much. Is there enough room in my heart? And is it possible to love a second baby without "stealing" love from your first? We'll find out. He's coming any day now. :)

So, what do you think? Is it possible to love a second baby as much as your first? Tell me below!

The Coolest Spring Sunglasses

I love sunglasses. LOVE. (I mean, no surprise--I wear them in nearly every outfit post.) I have a huge wardrobe of them and love nothing more than scoring a new pair. So, I was thrilled when the eyewear fashion trend site Eyecessorize invited me to attend the recent Vision Expo trade show to view some of the new spring looks. I saw so much cool stuff--and sooo many shades that I'm now coveting. Here are some of the biggest trends you'll be seeing--and some of my favorite pairs...

Subtly Studded. I love me a good stud, and this season, we'll be seeing hints of tasteful studding all over eyewear. My favorite pairs? It's a tie between the two Balmain stunners below: the gorgeous blue pair (snatch them up here in brown or black) and the white ones with round studs dotted across the top (get 'em here). 

Girly Embellishments. Studs weren't the only decorative element to make an appearance. I saw everything from wood accents to lace to fur trim! But I went absolutely BANANAS for the honey-colored Ferragamo shades below with that adorable bow detail. It was very, very hard to walk out of there without them, let me tell you. (Find them here--and make me jealous!)

Cherry Red. There was a rainbow's worth of colored frames at the show, but my eyes gravitated right towards the bright scarlet ones. Though red is one of my favorite colors in general, I've actually never owned a red pair of sunnies. But I think it may be time. I loved how they looked totally modern and not at all Sally Jesse Raphael. (Is anyone reading this old enough to know that reference? Haha...) I especially loved the cat-eye Kate Spade pair below (find it here). Want. So. Bad.

Super Sparkly. I mean, how could this not be one of my favorite trends? We all know that I love a good glittery detail and shimmer was there in spades. I fell especially hard for these black Diane Von Furstenberg sunnies with their sprinkling of gold glitter (similar here), as well as the sequined tortoiseshell Bebe pair.



While I was there, I also got to play with some cool, non-shade specs. I don't wear prescription glasses  yet (but I can feel my eyes getting worse lately, so I'm probably close--oy), but when I do, at least I know now that there are some seriously cute options out there. Here's me having my Tina Fey moment with some clear frames and some ombre-colored ones.


So, tell me below: Which trend is your favorite? And, just for fun, I'd love to know: How many pairs of sunglasses do you own? 

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Eyecessorize, but all opinions are 100 percent my own. 

Can You Guess Which Shoe Costs $1,200 More?

Left: Giuseppe Zanotti // Right: Schutz (also here in silver)

Okay, so what do you think? If you guessed that the nude colored sandal on the left is the pricier one, you're right. It's by Giuseppe Zanotti and it's diviiine. (Especially to this pregnant lady who can't wait to get back into wearing precarious heels once again!) But with my recent big purchase, and you know, diapers, a $1,500 pair of shoes is just not in the cards right now. That's why I was thrilled to find this really, really similar--and completely gorgeous--version by Schutz (the black pair on the right above, plus it also comes in a cool silver). Same sexy shape, same badass studs...and a full $1,200 cheaper. And that's a lot of diapers, my friend. 

So did you guess correctly? And let's pretend: If they both cost the same, which pair would you prefer?

Sparkly Spotlight: Edamame Spa

The relaxation room at Edamame (a.k.a. where I blissfully zoned out pre-treatment)

Late last week, I was invited to visit the Edamame Spa (a chain of spas specializing in treatments for preggo ladies), and--being that I'm currently in the super-uncomfortable/achy-back/can't-sleep stage of pregnancy, I couldn't say yes fast enough. In fact, I believe my exact words were, "Oh my god, YES! Can I come tomorrow?" So this past Saturday, I hauled my big ol' belly out to Destination Maternity in Manhattan (for those who haven't been knocked up, this is like the Mecca of pregnancy spots in the city with A Pea in the Pod, Motherhood Maternity, and the spa all under one massive roof).

After changing into a cushy robe, and vegging out in the Zen-like relaxation room, I was called in for my treatment. I had had prenatal massages before during my last pregnancy, but only the kind where you lie awkwardly on your side with pillows supporting you. They're okay (I mean, a massage is kind of like pizza: even an ehh one is still pretty good, right?), but you sort of spend the entire time slightly disappointed that you can't fully relax comfortably and that they can't adequately get at your tight, desperate back. 

But this was different. Edamame has these cool "prego pillows" which are giant cushions sitting on top of the massage table with the middle scooped out. This allows you to lie on your tummy, which may sound like no big thang, but when you're nine months pregnant, you likely haven't lied on your stomach at all in five-plus months!

(By the way, lying on my pregnant belly for the first time in ages was awesome, but thanks to the squirmy baby factor, it was honestly a bit odd, too. Imagine getting a massage lying on a cat and that's basically what it feels like. Though in a good way...!)

The massage itself was fantastic--and it was a real massage. Some spas seem to be overly, unnecessarily gentle, treating you like a delicate pregnant flower, but this therapist meant business. She absolutely went to town on the knots in my back, which is exactly how I like it. After 50 wonderful, please-don't-end minutes, she applied a cooling, minty gel to my legs to help with circulation, and I was sent on my way. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon, huh?

So have you ever had a massage while pregnant? What did you think of it? Tell me below!

Edamame Spa, 575 Madison Avenue, New York City (Find other locations across the country here)

The Best Baby Shower Gifts

Have you guys checked out To & From yet? If not, you must! It's a great online magazine that's basically one huge gift guide chock full of cool stuff curated by various bloggers and tastemakers. I'm always on the lookout for a unique gift (ok, often for myself...!), so I was honored to be invited to participate in this season's issue, which features tons of awesome present ideas for birthdays, weddings, graduations, Mother's Day, and more. You'll find me sharing some of my favorite baby shower gifts (no surprise there!) including a few that I've still got my fingers crossed for myself like this and this. (And, yes, I still managed to squeeze in a blowout-related gift!) Check out the new issue right here--and let me know what you think below. 

Home Sweet (New) Home

Welcome home

So, because I didn't feel like I was making enough major life changes this year (I mean, there was this and this, but that's it--haha), my husband and I have decided to make another one. And it's a biggie. {Drumroll, please...} We bought a house (!!)--and we're moving! This has actually been in the works for a few months, but I've kept it pretty quiet because I was superstitious that something was going to happen to make it, you know, not happen. But we closed this week and our dream house (that's it above!) is now officially ours.

The house also happens to be in a completely different area than we live in now, so to make this even a bigger change, we'll soon be making the move from our beloved Brooklyn (sniff, sniff!) to Hoboken, New Jersey! We definitely have mixed feelings about this--we're sad to leave Williamsburg as we really, truly have fallen in love with this place, but we're also very excited to make the move to our new neighborhood. It's certainly a different vibe, but we know it's going to be great. (Plus, apparently there's a blow-dry bar opening there soon, and you know that's pretty much all I need!)

So in the months to come, look for the occasional decorating post to pop up here as I'll be doing a ton of that in the new place. (And will want input and advice!!) 

But for now, I just wanted to share the news! (*Oh and if you live in Hoboken, please, please, please share your favorite spots with me below! Restaurants, shopping, stuff for kids--we need to learn about everything!)

xoxo,