Dress: Pink Tartan, Sweater: C/O Tobi, Glasses: C/O Joseph Marc from Clearly.ca
The number one topic I get asked about since becoming a mother is sleep. How many hours do I get? How many times does Sterling wake up? Naps? With so many parents struggling with lack of sleep, it makes sense that everyone is so curious about how we are doing.
Trevor and I have been very lucky, Sterling is a great sleeper (so far) napping throughout the day and only waking up a few times overnight. The midnight wake ups may be few but they still cause us to walk around pretty dazed, especially on the bad nights. So when Fisher Price reached out for Sterling to try their Soothing Motions
Bassinet, we jumped at the opportunity to improve our routine. Although this post is sponsored by Fisher Price all opinions are 100% my own.
Loaded with features like nature sounds, music, a nightlight and projection light that displays stars on the ceiling, this bassinet has it all. The projector is also removable which is ideal for travel or use as a table top soother. It’s easy to assemble and takes up little space, making it perfect for beside my bed, allowing for easy feedings during the night when needed.
My favourite feature of the Soothing Motions Bassinet is the way that the bassinet sits in the stand allowing it to move with Sterling’s movements and the calming vibrations that help lull him back to sleep. The mesh sides are also great for visibility and for allowing air to flow through, ensuring he doesn’t overheat.
It also has a spot underneath ideal for storing your diaper bags, books or in our case Taco, who loves to stay close to Sterling ensuring he’s safe all night.
For those who are in the baby planning stage, I would be adding the Fisher Price Soothing Motions Bassinet to your wish list. #RegisterForSleep today and get a good night’s rest, once your baby comes.
If you are interested in working together in please contact Krista at Shine Influencers (krista@shineinfluencers.com).
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Maternity shoots are a right of passage that I feel that all pregnant women should spend the time and money on. After everything your body does during these 9 months it’s important to embrace and celebrate all the changes by documenting it. Picking an outfit that makes you feel glamorous and comfortable is key to having a successful shoot.
This gown was created by the amazing team at Sew Trendy Accessories, a brand that specializes in handmade maternity gowns, formal gowns, boudoir clothing, gown accessories and newborn outfits ideal for photo shoots. I picked the timeless Krysten gown in white, because I loved the long sleeves and elegance of the cut.
When you order your gown and send in your measurement there are some options you can choose from to customize the dress. I chose the boat neck, rather than a droop back, to ensure I could wear a bra and picked to have a simple train instead of the exaggerated ones. If you are looking for maternity shoot inspiration, check out their Instagram account, as it served as a daily source of the most magical and beautiful images.
We shot this at 35 weeks pregnant on a freezing cold day at the Scarborough Bluffs. Other outfits that I’ve shot that could have worked for a maternity shoot are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and one of my favourites 6.
Dress & Headpiece: C/O Sew Trendy Accessories, Jewellery: Vintage
]]>Some of my favourite fashion moments and memories from 2017:
My Focus on Mental Health
2016 was a difficult year for me personally, so when this past year rolled around, I made it a goal to focus on mental health and wellness, ensuring I spent time outside, reflecting and finding mindfulness while living in the moment.
Our New Home
After a long delay, we finally moved into our first home back in late February and were able to share our first two room reveals. Up next, once it’s finished, will be the nursery which we have been putting together for a few weeks now.
Styling The Bump
Trevor and I planned to start a family in early 2018 and were fortunate to get pregnant right away. Since then, my pregnancy has not been so easy as I’ve struggled with morning sickness, carpal tunnel and lots of hip and joint pain. We are now reaching the end (37 weeks currently) and could not be more excited to welcome our baby into our family.
2018 will be an exciting year filled with more changes than ever before, and cannot wait to share all of details with you. I also wanted to shout out to some of the amazing brands I partnered with this year; Delta Faucet Canada, Clearly, Tobi, Carry Maternity, Pink Blush, Daniel Wellington, Coach, One of a Kind Show, and Westowne Mazda. If you are interested in working together in 2018 please contact me (barbara.ann.solomon@gmail.com) or Lindsay @ Shine Influencers (lindsay@shineinfluencers.com).
Can’t wait to meet you in 2018.
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Planning a New Year’s Eve outfit is usually a daunting task, having to take into account how you will be celebrating, what the weather will be like, and ensuring you’d be comfortable for what is typically a long night. I remember in my 20s, spending hours freezing while waiting for cabs to pick up my girlfriends and I, while wearing somewhat inappropriate outfits for winter in Canada. Times have most definitely changed.
This year, at 37 weeks pregnant, my night will be a bit different than years previous. Trevor and I will be keeping the evening plans simple and quiet, while visiting with some friends at their house. Now that we are in a new stage, with #babyNegin on-the-way, ensuring comfort will be the single most important thing for me when getting dressed for the evening out.
Like, I’ve said throughout my pregnancy, knits have been my go-to choice of fabric, (examples: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) as they are so easy and stretch well allowing for my bump to stay cozy. I quickly fell in love with this simple black midi dress from Tobi (which is on sale now), and it will likely be my NYE outfit paired with sparkly necklace or statement earrings. I am also obsessed with the fact that these stretchy knits will fit well postpartum, as I work to get my pre-baby body back.
Dress: C/O Tobi, Hat: Helene Berman (old), Frames: RayBan C/O Clearly, Boots: Dr. Martens, Tights: H&M Mama
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Even though it’s still considered fall, Toronto is officially freezing and has a thick layer of snow covering basically everything. This outfit was shot a few weeks ago (at 31 weeks pregnant), when the temperatures were a bit more mild and ideal for light layers, rather than down parkas.
I love this layered look as an easy office to holiday party transitional outfit. Adding this adorable oversized asymmetrical sweater (now on sale) over one of my favourite body-con dresses, helped dress down the leopard, making it more appropriate for the office. This chunky knit is the perfect for the chilly season ahead and can be easily paired with jeans, leggings and dressed it up.
With this growing giant bump, I kept the dress unzipped and folded one of the sleeves down, tucking it into my bra (hidden by the sweater) which allowed for the off-the-shoulder slouchy look to be achieved.
Being a style blogger for the past 5+ years, I’ve become very accustom to photographing my outfits and documenting my life. But for most people there are few occasions when they are photographed professionally. Typically their engagements, weddings, and during their pregnancies are the usual times they invest in portraits to remember these special milestones in their lives.
Because pregnancy is such a funny time in your fashion life, where nothing really fits the same, and clothing can at times feel like the enemy, over the next couple weeks I wanted to share a few of my favourite outfits that I’ve found would work perfectly for a maternity shoot.
The Wrap Dress: I found an amazing selection of stunning wrap dress on Pink Blush‘s Instagram and loved how stunning they looked on a growing bump. Once on their website, I found a bunch of different cuts, hi-low, short, and the maxi cut that I’m wearing, and a wide selection of the most stunning floral prints. Being a huge fan of the contrast of my hair and the colour blue – it was a simple decision for me when I spotted this one, and I began planning a location close to the waterfront to compliment the print.
I think that this dress is perfect for any upcoming occasion you may have during your pregnancy, a wedding (they also have the wrap dress in lace) baby shower or maternity shoot, as it’s effortless and comfortable.
Dress: C/O Pink Blush, Frames: C/O Clearly.ca
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When building out your maternity wardrobe, it’s almost like building a capsule collection of essentials that can take you from baby-bump to post-baby. I felt it was most important to invest in pieces that could take you anywhere, from a business meeting, to a night out with the ladies with switching up your accessories and shoes.
It became clear during the planning stages of my wardrobe, that a “little black dress” would be a must-have, for the first time in my life. My closet is pretty full, so when most women would turn to a LBD for an easy fix for a wardrobe solution, I have always embraced colours and prints. But for my limited pregnancy collection, it was important to be practical with my purchases, ensuring that I would have the right pieces regardless of occasion.
Enter this stunning Isabella Oliver a-line dress from Carry Maternity. The fit flowed perfectly over my growing bump making it easy to wear throughout my pregnancy. I loved the subtle features, like slightly flared bell sleeves and perfect neckline. This effortless dress can be worn dressed up or paired with sneakers to take you anywhere.
Dress: Isabella Oliver C/O Carry Maternity, Hat: BCBG, Frames: Ray Ban C/O Clearly.ca, Heels: 10 Crosby Derek Lam, Necklaces: Catbird, Jewlr
One of the unexpected fashion struggles I’ve recently been faced with, while growing this little nugget in my stomach, was planning for a formal event. Typically I shop early and plan ahead when attending a wedding, gala or something that requires a new gown. But when you are unsure of how big you’ll be at the time of the event, it creates an extra level of difficulty and stress.
For my cousin’s wedding a few weeks back, I began my search online, looking for local stores that would carry something formal and fun and that would fit a me at 25 weeks. I kept finding myself on ASOS browsing their huge selection of dresses. Having only shopped on their site once before, and not too pleased with the sizes (or duties) of the items I had purchased, I found myself hesitant to order, but I finally came around a few days later when I felt that there weren’t other affordable options that would really work. I picked out a handful of dresses with two in mind for this event. Two would provide me choice, given the inability to try it on, or knowledge of how big my bump would be at the time of the event. When the order arrived, this off-the-shoulder blue dress was the clear winner, as the other option could fit a bump double the size and a bust half the size.
I do love this dress and it had caught my eye on their site super early during my pregnancy, when I was researching flattering silhouettes. The body-con shape leaves nothing to the imagination and shows the world your beautiful growing bump.
The struggle is definitely real shopping online, especially on sites that you don’t often shop on. But the task is even harder when your body is going through daily changes. I still hope I can find an occasion to wear the other dress as it’s stunning, or at least fit into it to properly to share with you on the blog.
Dress: ASOS Maternity, Shoes: 424 Fifth, Bracelet: Swarovski, Necklace & Earrings: Vintage
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Being a curvy woman, horizontal stripes have always been a touchy subject. Some people think that they highlight the wrong places on your body and can make you look larger. I’ve found that with picking the right stripe along with a great fitting garment can be super flattering for any body shape. Some of my favourite outfits that I’ve worn that feature horizontal stripes are 1, 2 and 3.
When I was shopping in my latest go-to boutique, Carry Maternity located in Yorkville, I stumbled upon this long sleeve maxi dress and completely fell in love with the cool tones. Once trying it on, I loved how stretchy and warm it was perfect for my growing bump and will work for post-baby too.
I’ve paired it with white boots and a wide brim hat, but plan to layer a long cozy cardigan or structured blazer on top and ankle boots for when the weather gets a bit cooler.
And Taco agrees, stripe are totally in.
Dress: GeBe Maternity C/O Carry Maternity; Hat: Lack of Color, Boots: Zara, Glasses: Ray Ban C/O Clearly.ca
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Growing up, my family had our seasonal traditions. In the fall I looked forward to a fun filled day at Chudleigh’s Apple Farm, where we would fill bags with freshly picked apples to bake into pies and make into apple sauce. My memories of this magical farm were vivid, rows and rows of trees, adorable animals, tractor rides and the feeling of family and tradition.
It had been years since I had gone, when last year, Trevor and I decided to venture out to Milton, Ontario and pick some apples. I shared the wonderful experience of the late fall day on my Instagram here, here and here. We picked 2 bags of apples, and purchased some of the delectable pre-made pies, which inspired us to make our own, which we did a few days later.
I’ve since been looking forward to my return this year, not only for the beautiful scenery for some blog photos, but also to indulge in more of their delicious apples (and pies – I love pie). Last month, I got invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of my favourite farm, and I don’t think I’ve ever RSVPed quicker to an event. I couldn’t wait to visit and celebrate one of my favourite spots, and bring Taco along for the adventures.
The weather was perfect for a late summer weekend, and we spent the day frolicking around Chuleigh’s and enjoying Sunrise apples right off the tree. Taco loved his first bites of apple and was in heaven once we got to the fields. We also enjoyed their savoury blossoms, new to their store this fall, with options like pizza, pulled pork, tuna melts and mac & cheese, I indulged in almost every flavour.
It’s easy to say that I cannot wait to go back again this season, picking up few more bags of apples and letting Taco enjoy the beautiful farm.
Dress: Isabel Maternity from Target, Sunglasses: C/O Main & Central by Clearly.ca, Sneakers: Superga, Earrings: Emily Valentine
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