4 months and the bella band

So I've been a little alarmed at my tummy's growth over the last week. This was taken Saturday at exactly month 4. The day before I didn't look pregnant, I promise.

And can you see my Bella Band in color "Pepper"? (I also ordered the black with lace.) It's serving it's purpose perfectly as none of you, I'm sure, can tell that my jeans aren't buttoned. With these lovely things I can pull another month or two out of these pre-prego jeans. Which is good since I wear them almost every day. They're the best $25 I ever gave Old Navy.

And my praise for Bella Band would probably be endless... if I'd bought mine one size bigger.

This is their sizing chart which I found confusing. I'm exactly between a size 1 and 2. This is their advice:

If you want a snug fit, go with the smaller of the two sizes you are considering. If the idea of something snug is unappealing, but you still need to hold up your pants, try the larger size.

Do I want snug or do I want larger? Who knows? I've never been pregnant before. So I guessed, but I think I guessed wrong.

The band tends to sneak up my waist during the day so I'm constantly pulling it down. Especially when I sit or bend over. But then again, what do you expect when you're wearing pants that don't fit? I suppose it's not going to feel perfect.

I ordered two bands, Pepper (above) and a black one with lace. My one thought, if I was to do it again - buy all bands with lace at the bottom. Because the top of the band is still lace. So you get the best of both worlds. (Of course, only the cute colors come in regular.)

And, interestingly enough, the day after I ordered my $26 bands online, I noticed Target has some that are only $15. Their colors are boring, but cheap sometimes is.

So that's my take. Overall, the Bella Band is a great idea. I've been wearing them almost every day since I got them. Just make sure you order the right size. Whatever that is.

tanks to the rescue

So I have to share with you some friends of mine. My maternity tank tops from Target.

I've actually been wearing them for years. A non-prego friend of mine always wore them and I marvelled at how she found tank tops that didn't ride up on her and show her tummy. Of course, if they had, she didn't have a tummy to be ashamed of. But she wasn't really the type.

Well, she let me in on her secret - buy maternity. They're always long enough and never shrink too tight. So out I went to my favorite Target and snapped up the first two I saw. And since I'm one to layer EVERYTHING, I always had that perfect amount of tank showing below sweaters, tees, you name it.

What I DIDN'T know, is what a lifesaver they've become now that I am pregnant. (And getting rounder.)

I'm to the point where the jeans rarely get buttoned anymore and a rubberband has extended my pants on more than one occasion. And since it can be an awkward thing for a half-open zipper to show all the time, my long tank tops have come to the rescue. They pull down just right and keep everything under wraps.

So if you're willing to spend the best $9.99 of your life, run to that bullseye store. I have tanks in cranberry, mint and I recently added the ever-practical white.

They're lifesavers, I'm telling you.

weekend notes: party time

I'm afraid you are all about to be very disappointed. As it turns out, "holiday casual" means jeans. It was confirmed by the host. So no little black dress for me. No patent leather sky high red heals. No patterned stockings.

But in the end it may have been worth it. For this priceless conversation happened on Friday morning between my mother and me:

phone rings

K: Hey, mom, what's up?

M: I was wondering if you got the dress?

K: Oh, yeah, about that. Sadly we'll be wearing jeans. The Brigade Commander's wife (host) said it was very casual. I know, huge disappointment. I'm going to Banana Republic this afternoon to find a good holiday sweater.

M: Maybe you should get a pair of those jeans with the apples on the bottom.

Oh. Dear. Mother. You may be cool, but you're not very hip.

If you're lost and know not what I speak of, check out Crafty P's and Rebecca's comments here. You can order your own Apple Bottom Jeans here. The one's above are the Debbie Apple Pocket Skinny Jean at a reasonable $69.00. Very festive, don't you think?

I did run to the BR outlet, my favorite one-stop shop. I grabbed a cute short sleeve number there and some heels from Dillards. I looked very put-together in my jeans and holiday-wear. Sadly Jim and I took the holiday look quite literally, he in a red button-down, and me in my green sweater. We looked like that couple. What was I thinking?
Oh, and I should mention that the party was fun, complete with a tasty chili cook-off. (Lots of standing, so I sat on the couch and watched football when my feet started hurting. Darn heels.) We rubbed proper boss-elbows, laughed with friends, and ate and ate. One of the funner office parties I've been to, actually.

Yes, funner is a word.

And frankly none of you caught it because you're still trying to figure out how you'd even get into those jeans above. Or should I say spandex? That is one confident woman.

to do: christmas parties

*** You guys are great! I never expected such a response! So I had to add to the comments myself. Check it out!

So the great thing about moving to a new area around the holidays is that you are invited to parties and get to meet people quickly. And eat lots of Christmas cookies. The bad news is that we don't have any of our stuff yet so all my holiday-type-clothes are in a box somewhere far far away.

But really it isn't so bad since that means I get to go SHOPPING!

So I did and I have been. To find that perfect little dress that qualifies as "holiday casual". That's what Saturday night's invitation said anyway. Whatever the heck holiday casual means. Someone said it's like dressy church. Around here that could mean khakis. I've translated it as "party dress, but without extreme embellishment".

Which means I might be a bit dressier than the average party attendant this Saturday night, but gosh darnit, I'm going to be cute.

So last week I found myself at the BCBG Outlets and I think I did find the perfect dress. And at $58 dollars, it might be. I tried to find a picture online but the closest I could find is the one above. Mine doesn't have the ruffles, and the waist is a bit more empire so in a lot of ways it's not like that one at all. But it's super cute. And instead of listening to the Advent sermon on Sunday, I was accessorizing it in my head.

The tricky thing is, I don't have it yet. It turns out it's non-returnable so I panicked at the checkout. But I think I might go back and see if they still have it.

So, IF they do still have it, and IF I do go buy it, what shoes should I get? Do I wear black stockings since that seems to be so in right now? Do I even try to incorporate red since it is Christmas time? What about jewelry? The neckline is high, so I might forgo a necklace and opt instead for long chunky earrings. Any suggestions???

I need my blogsphere stylistas!

black friday

I'm feeling very unAmerican today because I didn't get up at 5:30am to go stand in line somewhere. Every year I do, even if it's by myself. One year I had all of my Christmas shopping done by 8am.

But not this year. I forgot to buy a newspaper for all the ads. And we don't have internet right now, so I couldn't research that way, either. And being new to the area, I wasn't quite sure how to approach it all.

So instead I slept in.

BUT... since I'm in a coffee shop right now with free wi-fi, I'm doing what I usually do and shop online. And I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't share with you the fabulous sale going on at Tulle. Everything, absolutely everything is half off. And free shipping.

So I'm ordering:

blue cobalt sweater, $13.25

olive safari skirt, $12

white cardigan, $15.75

Warning: if you do order from them, everything runs small. Let me know what you get. I love hearing about others finds. Happy shopping!