I'm too old to bind my feet, right?

My shoes don't fit. Again.

This makes me have the sads because here is a snapshot of all the shoes I've acquired during this pregnancy that I now fear I may never be able to wear:
[L-R: Nine West wedges via Style Encore // Tallulah lace booties // Doc Martens via PlanetShoes // TOMS x3 via Zulily // Buyamba sandals]

Aren't they wonderful?

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may remember that when I had Jude, my feet grew half a size and I had to start from scratch in terms of shoes. I was bummed because I had some pretty great shoes, and I didn't know that feet growing permanently due to pregnancy was a thing. For the next two years, I thoughtfully rebuilt my entire shoe collection, going from a respectable size nine to a harder to find 9.5. Then I got pregnant again. And surprise, surprise... my feet grew nearly half a size again. Thankfully, since 9.5 was so hard to come by, most of the shoes I had acquired in the first Post-Pregnancy Shoe (Re)Collection Project of 2010-2012 were a size 10. But then I got pregnant again. And, lo and behold, my feet are now closer to a 10.5 (which, as you larger footed ladies know, most manufacturers don't make half sizes after size 9). As you can imagine, I do not want to start my shoe collection over again, let alone with size 11's!

I gained more than 50 pounds this pregnancy on top of the extra 10 pounds I had yet to lose from carrying Caroline, so I am just bigger everywhere, including my feet and hands (side note: my wedding rings have been in the safe for more than two years now as I'm unable to get them over my knuckle, and I already had them resized once). All this to say that I am more determined than ever to get in shape... not so my pants or rings will fit again, but rather so all my wonderful shoes will fit!

I am especially bummed because I have been wanting a pair of floral Doc Martens since middle school, and now I am the proud owner of these beauties:
My Facebook friends helped me pick these out, and I only tried them on once before my feet swelled up in my third trimester.

I first fell in love with Doc Martens because Kendra, this impossibly cool girl a couple grades ahead of me in junior high, had multiple pairs of Doc Martens, including a rad floral pair that I've been thinking about for, literally, 20 years now. And my love for them only intensified after pretty much wanting to be Rayanne Graff (without the, you know, substance abuse problems), Jane Lane, and Six who could each wear the heck out of a pair of Docs. Ah, nineties nostalgia!

And now, thanks to PlanetShoes, who I am madly in love with, my floral Doc Martens dreams have come true. Well... almost. I finally own my dream boots but (nightmare!) I can't get my fat feet into them. I've been dying to do an outfit post featuring these boots forever, but I guess for the time being y'all can use your imagination.

1. Dr. Martens 1460 floral canvas // 2. Cuyana leather tote // 3. Moorea Seal Heisenberg Hat // 4. Noonday Collection Golden Leaves Bib // 5. James Perse Kimono Dress // 6. Free People Trapeze Slip
I don't know if this outfit would be junior high Kendra approved, but I think Six would be down. Now if only I could get my shoe size down...

First outing post Lucy

I did it, y'all! I "got dressed" and left my house for the first time since having Lucy last Monday. I wasn't quite ready to leave the house with all three kids by my lonesome, but while Lucy was napping and Caroline was being fed lunch by my mom, I did make a quick jaunt to Macy's for Clinique Bonus Time and then I picked Jude up from school.
Despite my smug face in the photos (please ignore!), I have to use "got dressed" in quotes because I didn't actually get dressed. I simply pulled a skirt on over the maternity tank and shorts that I had slept in, and I festooned it all with a stretchy belt in a (failed) attempt to make it look like I had a waistline.
date: 4 April 2014 (11 days postpartum) // occasion: errands  skirt (as "dress"): thrifted // belt: thrifted // tank: Old Navy (maternity) // shoes: c/o Loly in the Sky
I got these shoes (and this pair, too) waaaay back in April (see also 1, 2). The team at Loly in the Sky introduced me to their handmade in Mexico / Austin based brand and were kind of enough to send me two pairs while I was in Indiana taking care of my ailing grandmother last spring. Since then I have worn the snuff out of them, and they remain the number one most complimented shoes in my entire footwear arsenal. My outfit may have been a miss, but my shoes? A+!

TOMS fangirl here

Do you have a brand that you're crazy loyal to? A brand that someone would for sure label you a "fangirl" of? I'm fairly certain that could be said about me and TOMS.

It all started in 2007, when Blake Mycoskie came and spoke to a small church community I was a part of at the time. TOMS was barely a year old and other than the TOMS account exec that went to our church, none of us had heard of them before. But after Blake's presentation, I was goner. The vision he had for his fledgeling company combined with his heart for giving, made it clear that he was on to something huge. I bought my first pair of TOMS the very next day, and now seven years later (and ten pairs of TOMS later!), my love for the brand is still going strong.

Recently, TOMS teamed up with Jonathan Adler to product a funky line of shoes that I'm nearly salivating over. I am just about to pull the trigger on the top right pair of sandals. My size is out of stock online, but as soon as I've been given the all clear to take Baby Lucy out and about, she and I may head to Nordstrom so that I can see them in person and try them on.

Unlike before, I don't think my feet grew a half size this pregnancy, so to celebrate I had planned to treat myself to a pair of the TOMS platform wedges. I had them in my online cart and then all of a sudden-- wh-wh-wh-what?! It was like a trip to the grocery store. I just went in for ONE THING...

platform wedges // half united bracelet // raven + lily bangles //  ballet flats // playa sandals // jutti flats // correa sandals

I just got three pairs of TOMS using some Zulily credit last month, so I don't think I can justify FIVE more pairs... or can I?

Anyway, like I said, huge TOMS fan here. I haven't yet made it to the new Austin TOMS Roasting Company store front, but I endeavor to go there as soon as I can. Who's down to join me on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon sometime (i.e. when Jude is at Mother's Day Out)?

Wait! Did you know that TOMS was making coffee now? It's true! Blake delivered one of the featured talks at SXSW and announced it there. For every bag of coffee purchased, a week of clean water is provided for a person in need [more info here]. The coffee is available on TOMS.com and at Whole Foods stores nationwide, in addition to being served at the cafe in Austin. I ordered the Peru Roast from online and plan to make myself some iced coffee with it here soon! It smells divine, and Chris really enjoyed it hot, too.

If you're at all interested, here are my sketchnotes from the TOMS talk at SXSW (click on the image to see it full size). Blake talked about seven choices that shaped the TOMS brand and announced (#7) the TOMS Roasting Company:
If I haven't convinced you to try TOMS by now, for a limited time, TOMS is doing a $20 off promo. If you sign up using my link, I'll get a credit, too. And trust me, it'll be way easier for me to justify me buying more new TOMS to Chris this way. Well, probably. Maybe. Let's try it and see...

22 weeks // Feelin' Like a True Texan + an Ariat Giveaway [closed]

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Ariat. 

I've been meaning to get legitimate cowboy boots for a long time now. One cannot live in Texas without real western boots, right? Why they don't issue us all a pair with a breakfast taco and plate of brisket at the state line upon arrival, I do not know. If I were governor of Texas, I'd certainly make this my first line of action upon inauguration.

I had a cheap pair of boots that I bought for my time on FNL, but, as my best friend Bee pointed out, every time I wore them, they were so painful that my littlest toenails would fall off (I am bewildered as to why I continued to torture myself with them, actually).

Fast forward to a few years later: the heels were worn down, and I could no longer squeeze my feet into them at all (Remember? With each child, my feet have grown a half size), so I finally gave them to Goodwill a few months ago. Now they're someone else's self-inflicted torture devices. Goodbye, cruel boots! And...

Hello, new dream boots! Look, y'all! Authentic Ariat cowboy boots-- toenails still intact:

date: 17 Nov 2013 // occasion: City Life gathering

dress: c/o eShakti // boots: c/o Ariat // cardigan: Lands End Canvas // bag: thrifted // Texas necklace: c/o Maya Brenner

There's something about this outfit. Whenever I wear it, Chris just lights up and offers to take me out to BBQ. I should probably wear this seven days a week!

I swooned a little when I opened the Ariat box and laid eyes on these beauties for the first time. The patina, the stitching, the almond shaped toe... these are pretty much perfection. Admittedly, I had a little panic attack trying to get them on the first time, but once I learned that I needed socks and that I needed to use the boot's pull loops, all was great! Who knew those loops were actually functional? 

Sadly, as much as I'd like to wear this dress all the time so Chris offers to take me out to dinner, this may be the last time I can don this dress during this pregnancy. The front is starting to creep up now that the bump has become a formidable force. The boots, on the other hand, have just been broken in, so I expect these will join the heavy rotation for fall. I'm going to wear these with dresses, skinny jeans, maxi skirts... oh, man. I'm just thrilled to finally own a pair of well made, classic western boots. It's hard to believe that I didn't even own a pair growing up in the country, living next door to a horse stable and riding ring!

And just to be sure these boots are with me in the long run, I ordered these a half size up from my current size in case Baby 3 follows suit and causes my feet to grow another size. Fingers (and toes) crossed that that will not be the case, though!

/ / / / / 

Dig these boots? Click here for your chance to win an amazing Ariat giveaway! 

Make Ariat A Part of Your Fall Fashion Wardrobe

Since 1993, Ariat has designed advanced riding footwear and apparel for top equestrians. Our fashion collection evolves from an authentic bootmaking legacy of quality, comfort and style. In our design process, we unearth handmade details and rare materials. With this season's footwear and apparel, we have reinvented traditions, drawing from Western and English heritage alike.   

The contest is hosted on Ariat’s Facebook page and is open from November 18 – November 27, 2013. One winner will receive a product of their choice from Ariat.com. Three winners will receive a pair of Ariat boots of their choice. Two winners will receive a pair of Ariat jeans of their choice. Winner will be announced on December 2, 2013 via the Ariat Facebook Page. Winners will be contacted via email and have 3 days to accept.  

What are you waiting for? Enter now!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Ariat. The content and opinions expressed here are my own. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. 

To learn more about Ariat and enter their fabulous giveaway on Facebook, please visit: http://bit.ly/1hQteNk.

22 weeks // leggings + tall boots

Can you believe that this pregnancy is already more than half over? I suppose that's what happens when you don't find out you're pregnant until you're seventeen weeks along!

I have endeavored to get off my bum and document what I've been wearing this time around. I have never been pregnant in the fall and winter, so when I began thinking about how I was going to dress the bump, at the tip top of my wants list was a pair of really great, basic black maternity leggings and a pair of brown, flat over the knee boots. I imagine that these two items will become my go-to's when it starts getting colder.
  date: 20 Nov 2013 // occasion: city seminary for women  shirt: Gap (maternity) // leggings: c/o Boden (maternity) // vest / jacket: PJK x Man Repeller // boots: c/o Duo // necklace: Jen Loves Kev (handmade) // hat: c/o America Apparel // wallet: Kate Spade // wire bag: some online craft store... can't remember! // lip color: Quince by Bite
If my mom were here, I'm sure she'd tell me I look like I'm going fishing. Am I right or am I right?   The bump finally appeared a couple weeks ago. I think every pregnant woman can agree that it's nice going to the "clearly I'm pregnant" stage versus the "is this thing from a large lunch or from gestating?" phase.   Duo Boots are the bomb dot com. Why? Because each boot is made to fit your own foot and calf. When I placed my order, I had to give them my calf measurements, ensuring a perfect fit!   I love Jen Loves Kev. When I first started reading her blog, I bought a brooch she made and sold via her Etsy shop. I love that four years later, we've become friends and I'm still snatching up her handicrafts. I love this hand painted necklace of hers. It goes with everything!
My friend Joanie and I have three giant bins of maternity clothes that we pass back and forth to each other, because between the two of us (or four of us if you count our husbands) we've managed to make six kids in under six years (!!!). Because all of our kids have been born in October, the giant maternity boxes contain mainly sundresses, shorts, and t-shirts -- no leggings or boots or coats or anything cool weather appropriate. Needless to say, this mama has been burning the midnight oil scoping out the online maternity clothing sales.

I've decided to think outside the box (both literally and figuratively) in the next few months. Watch for some not so basic maternity outfits coming up here in the next few months... including things from my what- not- to wear list! You ready? I am!

Adored Austin + Family on the Minnetonka blog today!

My family is on the Minnetonka blog today!
I was interviewed about my well documented love for moccasins. Check it out to see cute photos of my family and to see me use the word "multifarious" in all seriousness.

Read more >>>

Moccasin love

When I was in the first grade I had three pairs of shoes: plain white (generic) Keds, denim boots, and a pair of white Minnetonka moccasins that my grandma picked out for me. That was the only hint of her heritage in our home.

My grandmother is full blooded Native American. She was raised on a Sioux reservation in South Dakota, and her heritage is one that I hope to learn more about. She didn't talk a lot about it because Native American people were so prejudiced against when she was younger that she silenced that part of her life from us for so long. She raised me, but I never once heard a single story about her life on the reservation. I'm determined to ask her more about it the next time we're together this fall.

To say that I like moccasins would be an understatement. I really love moccasins. They're comfortable, fun, stylish, and versatile. Minnetonka is, no doubt, the most famous makers of moccasins, and I own several pairs:
  1. double fringe side zip boot // 2. studded mocs // 3. calf-hi three layer fringe boot // 4. soft sole Thunderbird // 5. hi fringe boot
And I hope to own many, many more!

When Jude was born, the first pair of shoes I bought him were Minnetonkas. I am delighted that my moccasin fever has become contagious to my entire family:

6. double fringe side zip boot // 7. double fringe side zip boot // 8. ankle hi tramper boot // 9. chukka boots
[Outfit details: family's shoes courtesy of Minnetonka. Indiana: cardigan- American Apparel, leggings and tank: Silence + Noise (UO), bag: gift from Jen // Caroline: dress- Splendid, leggings: Happy Green Bee, headband: Amazon // Jude: sweater- American Apparel, jeans: Levis, vest: Osh Kosh (thrifted) // Chris: jacket- Cloth Logic, shirt: Old Navy (similar), jeans: Levis]

Those little pink ones slay me.
I wonder if Caroline will pass down moccasin fever to her children one day.

Sale Alert: Sole Society on Refinery 29 Shops

I posted this to my Facebook page last week, but now that the sale has been extended through October 4th, I thought I'd spread the news over here, too.

I love Sole Society and already own two pairs of their shoes. I was super impressed by the quality of each pair I purchased, and I actually look forward to their marketing emails each week!

I think this Refinery29 deal is phenomenal, but here's the catch: it's for new Sole Society members, only. So if you're interested, here's what you need to do:

1. Join Sole Society with a new, valid email address. Congrats! You're a member!
2. Browse around the site and add your favorite pair of shoes to your cart. Be sure to note the price (most shoes are $49.95/ pair, but some of the tall leather riding boots are $89.95).
3. In a new browser, go to the Refinery 29 Shops page here and click "vouchers" on the top of the page. Click the Sole Society one.
4. Purchase the voucher that will cover (or come close to covering) the cost of your most desired shoes: you can get $50 for $25 or $85 for $40.
5. Your voucher will be sent to your email immediately. Check your email and grab the unique promo code from the voucher.
6. Use your promo code in your Sole Society shopping cart. If your shoes only cost $49.95 and you got the $50 voucher for $25, you won't even have to pay shipping! Score! You just got some killer shoes at 50% off! 

My Maternity Favorites

I had my 33 week midwife appointment today, and it hit me that it's a very real possibility that in a little more than a month, I could be holding Baby Girl Adams (Jude was born at 37.5 weeks, and apparently it's pretty common to go the same number of weeks --or less!-- with subsequent births). Bah!

That got me thinking about the all the stuff I've been using a lot this pregnancy, so I thought I'd take some time away from my busy napping and Hulu watching schedule to share those with you:

1. Earth Mama Natural Stretch Oil // 2. Urban Skintrition Stretch Mark Cream // 3. Aveda Blue Oil // 4. Redkin Powder Refresh // 5. Clinique Turnaround Moisturizer // 6. Baby Bump Pro // 7. Fossil Braid Stretch Belt // 8. Bearpaw Bailee Loafers // 9. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea // 10. Liz Lange Maxi Dress // 11. Be Maternity BeBand // 12. Husband Coached Childbirth // 13. Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way // 14. What to Expect When You're Expecting

Click on the item above to be taken to its webpage. Read on for my thoughts on why these have become pregnancy essentials for me this go around:

Groupon Sale Alert: Cute Sandals and Colored Denim at Make Me Chic

Ever since my friend Sydney blogged about summer sandals, I've been keenly aware that I am lacking one or two casual pairs of flat sandals for my summer vacation needs (at the end of last summer, three of my favorite pairs of sandals finally collapsed and fell apart from years of overuse and abuse). Last night I saw a Groupon for Make Me Chic, an online shop I haven't heard of. While most of the clothing isn't really my style (y'all, I'm getting old!), they had a lot of on-trend sandals that were in the Old Navy price range even without the Groupon.

I happened to have some Groupon credit burning a hole in my pocket, so I did what any impulse shopper would do... I got the dang Groupon! Here's what's currently sitting in my shopping cart:
I really like those neon yellow sandals! The teal edged sole is what sold 'em for me. On Friday, I got some highlighter yellow jeans from Francesca's, and I think they'd be a nice complement. In fact, I'm nearly certain the neon jeans in stock at Make Me Chic are the same brand as the Francesca's ones. I've sent in an inquiry to find out. If so that would mean they're USA made and pretty much the most affordable and comfortable skinny jeans I've ever tried on. Comfort is the key for me as I'm wearing these right below my baby bump. If they are the same jeans, that blue shirt will get tossed out of the cart in favor a pair of some bright blue jeans, which Francesca's didn't carry.

Anyway, take a look around Make Me Chic. If you see $50 or $100 worth of stuff that's on your summer wish list, be sure to take advantage of that Groupon in the next couple of days.

Disclosure: Any first time Groupon purchases made from the Groupon link I posted may result in me getting some Groupon credit for the referral. This means you may be fueling my unshakeable penchant for shopping and eating out. In that case, thank you!

New Spring Loves (2012)

Recently I feel like I've been introduced to a lot of new, great things, so I thought I'd share what I'm currently digging.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11