ALL SANDBOX NEW

Something that people don't really talk about, at least I didn't realize, is that you still have a belly even after you give birth to your baby and in my case, a rather large one. I woke up the next morning after a 24+ hour labor, looked down at my stomach, and thought for a second that I'd dreamt the whole thing. Then I looked over at my sweet baby girl, realized it obviously wasn't a dream, and started to cry at the sight of my body. What I now know and after I've caught up on some sleep is 1) exhaustion plus hormones makes me extremely emotional and irrational and 2) it took me nearly 9 months to put on this weight, how could I expect it to magically disappear in one day? The last week of my pregnancy I was at my heaviest and most swollen. If I look back at pictures of myself (ones I haven't shared here), I honestly think it looks like I swallowed myself. I'm not trying to be self deprecating - that's just what it looks like to me, and it's okay. I was growing a person, so I'm giving myself a pass.

Now when it comes to dressing post maternity, I'm not ashamed to say that I'm still wearing some of my maternity clothes. What? They're comfortable. Also, loose fitting shift dresses and the belly bandit are my best friend. Here I paired my loose dress (#FabFound at Marshalls of course) with very thick heeled tan sandals. The thick heels are like training heels and are really easy to walk in.

I wore this outfit for Blair's newborn photography session with Yehudis Goldfarb Photography of which I cannot wait to see and share more! Did you see the sneak peek?

OUTFIT DETAILS \\
Marc New York dress, $39.99 compare at $68, c/o; Kelsi Dagger sandals, $79.99 compare at $130, c/o

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Disclosure: I have received free products or value from Marshalls of The TJX Companies, Inc. in connection with my affiliation with Marshalls Project FAB. All opinions are my own.

While my mom was in town I was able to make a very quick run to Marshalls to shop for some post-pregnancy clothes. Within 10 minutes my cart was filled to the brim with all of their latest Spring dresses, separates, and shoes. Here are some outfits I put together...

It really doesn't matter if it's Spring, Summer, Winter or Fall, black and white is always in style for me, and it's like winning the lottery when I can find designer brands I love at Marshalls for waaaay less than I would pay at the boutique store. These two-toned kitten heels can be dressed up with this structured drop-waist (tummy hiding) dress or dressed down with some distressed boyfriend jeans and a great cut t-shirt.

I love matching separates, and this set only cost me $40! What's great about a single print, separates set is that you can create a lot outfits by mixing and matching with some closet staples - wear the top with jeans (flared denim is hot right now) or layer it over a solid color body-con dress and then add a white button down blouse to the skirt. Keep any of those outfits comfy with some pointed-toe flats like these laser cut d'Orsays.

This watercolor painting-like print dress and paired with these leather, thick-heeled open toe-booties are what I'd called a "punk chic" look. It's what I'd wear to events around the city, and to feel even cooler (but stay warmer), I'd throw my leather jacket on over it.

Did you see the teaser video I made on Instagram for this post? If not, see it here. Which look is your favorite?

OUTFIT DETAILS \\
#1: Kate Spade dress, $99.99 compare at $168; French Connection shoes, $59.99 compare at $96, c/o
#2: Katherine Barclay top, $19.99 compare at $29; Katherine Barclay skirt, $19.99 compare at $29; Franco Sarto flats, $39.99 compare at $64, c/o
#3: Mercer & Madison dress, $29.99 compare at $42; Dolce Vita shoes, $34.99 compare at $77

Looking for details on the fourth look? Stay tuned!

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Disclosure: I have received free products or value from Marshalls of The TJX Companies, Inc. in connection with my affiliation with Marshalls Project FAB. All opinions are my own.

I'm happily in my third trimester of pregnancy. Aside from getting used to having a huge belly, I feel great and am embracing the need to nap a lot again. To celebrate this pregnancy, my husband and I have made plans to dine out a lot this month - with just each other and with friends. It's also because we expect our opportunities and energy to go out will decline for a while once our baby gets here.

Since we normally cook at home, dining out is always a big treat for us. Here are some of the local restaurants that are on our "to-try" list and plan to eat at this month:

• Cork 
• Ghibellina 
• Compass Rose 
• Posto
• Etto
• Rose's Luxury

When available, we like to use OpenTable to make our dinner, brunch, and even lunch reservations. OpenTable makes going out to eat much easier, and it's especially great when the restaurants offer OpenTable points. We've redeemed these points for gift certificates to at any eligible OpenTable restaurant.

One night we probably won't go out to eat on is Valentine's Day (maybe a lunch), but I always find the service and food on that night rushed or forced. Getting take-out and watching a movie in bed sounds much more my speed.

Getting dressed is now more difficult to do on my own and takes a lot of time. I'm spending most of my time in sweat pants (even in public) but do still love the opportunity get dressed up. I found this "Solstice Cowl Dress" on clearance at Athleta. It's not maternity but is loose enough to squeeze my bump in to, and the side ruching gives more room for growth (even in the size small). This is a great dress for a "pregnant date night" with my husband. Blue is his favorite color.

Curious about any of the restaurants on my list? Follow me on Instagram because I like to share what I eat.

Wearing: Athleta Solstice Cowl Dress, Zara pumps, 'Mom' locket from She's Unique, hair by Rachel Wetsel from Salon Nordine, c/o

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Hey, hey, hey... I'm pregnant and wearing a pencil skirt and crop top! I didn't think it was going to happen, and it's not quite the same crop top and pencil skirt look from February (brace yourself, the change is quite drastic - insert monkey emoji covering his eyes), but after staring longingly at the skirts in my closet, I couldn't take it any longer. I knew I wasn't ready to bare my bump, especially not in these cooler temperatures, so a high waisted skirt was my best bet. Between us, I had to size up 3X larger than I normally wear. I probably could have gotten away with one size lower but any kind of pressure on my stomach is pretty uncomfortable. What do you think? Am I pulling it off or should I stick to maternity jeans and sweatpants?

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Though I was unable to attend New York Fashion Week this year, I still love keeping up with the shows and pinning my favorites on my Fashion Weeks Pinterest board. One accessory trend that stood out to me this year was belts! I've always loved the look but will admit I often forget to take advantage of the accessory's waist cinching capabilities. I'm definitely inspired to add more belts to my wardrobe. What do you think about this trend?

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