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Alicia

Featured Motherhood

Q&A Volume 1 | Life As A New Mom

April 8, 2020
alicia fashionista, vancouver mom

You asked on Instagram, here are my answers!

I’ve always hesitated to do an Ask Me Anything on Instagram. I think I worried that someone was going to troll me with a mean question. Which is ridiculous, you guys are the best and wouldn’t do that. My first Q&A went well and not surprisingly, was mostly focused on baby-related questions. I didn’t get a chance to get back to everyone, so I wanted to take the time to answer a few more and to repost some of my other responses so that they can live on the blog.

Q: Post baby must-haves? Having my second but curious anyway.

Okay, these are some off the top of my head. I will sound like a broken record, but I have a blog post coming up for pp and newborn essentials. Otherwise, here’s what I came up with on the fly.

For Mom Postpartum:

  • Depend Disposable Underwear. I know it’s a tad wasteful, but they made life easier and I only wore them for about a week.
  • Once I was back in my regular undergarments, my reusable pads were very comfortable and nice to have. I have a pair from Aisle that’s amazing and some from Amazon that are okay.
  • Pretty much everything in the One Tough Mother box! Nipple cream, stool softeners, peri bottle, etc.

For Newborn Baby:

  • Every baby is different, but our Snuggle Me Organic Infant Lounger has been a saviour! She loves it and it’s the only place other than our arms or the fabric carrier that she’ll sleep!
  • I’ve been loving these footed sleepers from Carter’s. Zipper is essential and the built in mittens are great. Just ordered some more in the next size.
  • Lucy haaaates a swaddle because she prefers to have both arms up and the ability to move them around (felt this in utero). The Love To Dream Swaddle Up has worked wonders.
  • You’ll also need Vitamin D drops and can never have too many blankets!

Q: How much has your life changed after the baby 🙂

Well, I had a baby and then two weeks later, a global pandemic forced us all into quarantine, so my life has been completely flipped upside-down. Besides the obvious strangeness at the moment, this baby immediately gave me a sense of purpose in life and even career that I now realize I’d been after for the last few years. I know that I needed to sort some of my own issues out beforehand, so I’m glad I put that time in, but the timing of having this baby has felt meant to be. I am, understandably, forever changed in the best way.

Q: What’s one of the best things and most surprising about being a mom?

The best thing right now is just the honour of even being a mom. I can’t stop looking at Lucy and marvelling at the fact that we created this beautiful baby.

What has surprised me so far:

  • How I don’t even care about what my body looks like right now
  • The inner strength that moms possess. It’s truly impressive, you Mamas are amazing!
  • How much I can accomplish on such little sleep

Q: How was delivery and labour? Only share if you’re comfortable of course!

It really went really well! I know that not many people get the labour and delivery they’d imagined, I was extremely lucky. Don’t get me wrong, it was still the most painful and intense thing I’ve EVER gone through, but I realize what a gift it is that she arrived in a relatively routine way. I’ve been writing out the whole story and will hopefully finish that to post soon!

Q: What are the best “new mom” or sentimental baby gifts you’ve received?

Every single gift we have received has been incredible. I am continually blown away by how thoughtful people are and that people we don’t even keep in touch with sent something to let us know they were thinking of us. So let me start by saying that anything you give a new parent is appreciated! It should be noted that I am also the kind of person that loves practical gifts. That being said, a few suggestions I’d make are…

Food! Anything food related was a massive help those first days. Especially for those who just dropped it off and we didn’t have to host them or worry about how their visit impacted our schedule. Although, now in lockdown, I suppose this would be protocol anyway, so there you go.

We had friends send baked goods. The surprise vegan cinnamon bun delivery was especially amazing, as was the fresh handmade loaf of sourdough bread. And this was before everyone was making their own bread LOL. Adam’s Aunt was super creative and made an assortment of 12 mini jars of overnight oats and I cannot tell you how great that was. Oats help promote milk production, so they were good for breastfeeding and being mini-sized, they were the ideal healthy snack throughout the day. Seriously, overnight oats are a brilliant gift idea!

Once you know the name and/or birthdate there are some really lovely customized things you can get like a baby book with their name, or something personalized from Etsy.

I always think it’s nice to get something a little pricier that perhaps mom might not splurge on herself. Things like soft organic sleepers and blankets from local companies. If you’re in Vancouver, I love Parade Organics sleepers, Silkberry convertible layette gowns, and Numpfer blankets.

We had a few flower deliveries that put a smile on our faces and made our apartment a whole lot prettier!

And finally, a gift card to somewhere practical might seem boring to some, but I love it. Babies are super expensive, so any little bit helps. We’ve already used up the Amazon gift card Adam’s co-workers kindly gifted us. Same with the GC to Shopper’s (a CVS equivalent). Covered our latest diaper haul because wow she goes through them like crazy!

Oh, also we had tons of friends pass baby items down to us and it’s such a special gift. I hate the idea of having everything brand new, so getting previously loved items from friends and family has been seriously amazing!

Q: Do you and your husband take shifts at night?

Adam is a really light sleeper, so when Lucy gets up in the night, he also stirs awake. He will usually take her to the living room for the diaper change and then brings her back for me to feed her in bed (side-lying is amazing for dream feeds if you can figure it out). Lucy is a champ and a really great nighttime sleeper, so this only happens once, sometimes twice a night.

Q: How is Reggie around Lucy?

From the get-go Reggie has been curious but cautious. He’s definitely warming up now though. This quarantine has actually really helped fast-track his comfort level with Lucy, as we’re all together, always. He’s licked her face a few times and cuddled with her twice, which is huge progress for the 6-week mark. Basically, he’s now acknowledging her. I think he just realizes that she isn’t going anywhere LOL.

Q: Do you have a nap/feed schedule?

Definitely don’t have a schedule since we stopped the 3 hr feed. I’ve been using an app to track feeds, diaper changes, and sleep and we just follow her cues. The only routine we have in place at the moment is an 8 PM bedtime. I look forward to a routine soon!

Q: How big is Lucy now?

Unfortunately, we haven’t weighed her since her second week. Once social distancing became protocol, our midwife appointments have been over the phone. We don’t own a scale (body positivity and all that) and I really don’t want to purchase one just for this. Lucy gained really well at first, so it’s not a worry. Trust me, she has absolutely been getting heavier! If I were to guess, I’d say she’s over 10 pounds? One friend on IG suggested we use a luggage scale to weigh her, which is a great idea! My parents have one, so we just have to drive out to their place to get it (they’ll leave it outside, of course).

Q: How’s your baby’s temperament? Fairly easy? Any colic?

Lucy is a gem! This first leap based on the Wonder Weeks app was challenging, especially in quarantine, but I think we’re out of it now. As babies do, she struggles with a lot of gas. Been trying different things and it seems to have improved slightly? Lucy is an amazing nighttime sleeper, but she’s not into sleeping in the day. Naps are short and sweet, she must have FOMO like her parents. Can’t win them all!

Q: How are you doing?

I’ll pretty much copy this one from my Instagram answer.

Mentally, I’m okay. As I shared with you guys, I had depression and anxiety in the first trimester that luckily tapered off in the second tri. I was in SUCH a good place postpartum and then when Covid-19 became a global pandemic, my anxiety came back. I’m feeling better lately, as I’ve been trying to change my mindset. Since they’re talking about this lasting into summer, I’m making plans on ways to cope in order to feel slightly more “in control” of the lockdown. We are VERY privileged in our situation, just wanted to be real about my mental health. I think we all have our own struggles in these unprecedented times, big and small.

Physically, I would pay good money for a massage right now. My stitches and stuff healed up really well, it’s my back that still hurts from labour and delivery. And now my neck and shoulders from breastfeeding and carrying this heavy baby. I should really get some Yoga with Adriene going again.

Update on this: A lovely follower messaged me to point out that I could purchase a neck massager to get some immediate relief. I went for this one on Amazon (I’ve been trying not to order online during the pandemic, but you guys, I was desperate) and it is worth every penny. It’s no RMT, obviously, but it’s pretty darn great.

Q: How has social distancing been with a baby?

Sometimes it’s hard. I’ve had to mourn some things. I’m sad that our families aren’t getting time with Lucy like we’d all envisioned. She is the first grandchild in my immediate family and the second on Adam’s side (but the first, her cousin/future BFF in Chicago, is only 7 weeks older than her). Some days I just wish that someone, ANYONE could hold her for even just an hour. I haven’t felt this motivated to write in years and now that I have this drive, I can’t really get anything done without outside help. It’s little things about being a new mom as well. Not pushing myself to be out and about with a new baby. I would have been running errands with her, going to restaurants, visiting friends and family, attending new mom meetups, etc. Just takes some time to adjust these expectations and embrace our new normal.

Overall, we are so lucky. We are healthy and together. I love that saying, “we aren’t stuck at home, we are safe at home.” As mentioned, I have been shifting my mindset and am in the acceptance phase of all of this. I’ve been planning for a few more months of isolation by rearranging the furniture in our living room to accommodate Adam working from home. We’re also going to clean up and refresh our patio space so that we have a welcoming outside space to use. It all seems insane at the moment, but I know I will look back on this time we’ve been able to spend together and be grateful. How unique for Adam to get all this extra time with Lucy.

To the questions about nursing bras and breastfeeding, I have two blog posts about each of those topics coming up soon! Actually, a bunch of these questions are posts I have in the works, so I will expand on some of these topics for sure.

It was a lot of fun chatting with you guys, will have to do another Q&A again soon!

Featured Health Life Motherhood Vancouver

Pregnant In Vancouver: Where I went for my pre and postnatal care

March 9, 2020
alicia fashionista, south community birthing program, acumamas, uphoria yoga, the cheerful pelvis, vancouver prenatal

From prenatal classes to massage and even yoga. These are the places in Vancouver that I went to during my pregnancy and postpartum.

They say it takes a village and I believe that starts even while you’re growing that little baby. There are so many ups and downs during pregnancy emotionally, but also physically. It’s important to take care of yourself as you grow a little human! I carried very low, which meant I faced a lot of pelvic pain and had to seek help to manage it. A happy tradeoff though, as I didn’t have much heartburn or kicks to the ribs with her settling so low for so long.

I had such great experiences throughout my pregnancy, I wanted to share where I went for a midwife, prenatal classes, massage, acupuncture, prenatal yoga, pelvic floor physio, and labour/delivery. In terms of postnatal care, please note that I am only a few weeks postpartum and will likely have more to add to this list as time goes on!

I live in East Vancouver, so I will say that most of the places mentioned are on this side of the city. I hope you still find this list helpful and if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below or shoot me an email.

Midwife Group Care at South Community Birth Program

The South Community Birth Program came to us highly recommended by many friends. Adam and I already see a Doctor at South Hill Family Health Centre, which is attached to SCBP, so it was really a no-brainer for us. We loved how medical-based the Midwife group is and we opted for their group care option. That included attending a monthly (and later on, bi-weekly) prenatal group/checkup with other couples who were due within a few weeks of us from 20 weeks onward.

I’ll admit that I was skeptical as things began about the group and sometimes wondered what was “so great” about it. Now that I’ve had a baby in the program, I can honestly say that they are the best of the best. The care and attention we received during labour and the support they offered us afterward is incredible. I love that they always have a midwife on rotation at the hospital, I knew we were in good and familiar hands as soon as we arrived. There was a nurse from SCBP at our place the first morning we got home to check on Lucy and I, and we’ve since been to a handful of appointments, so I have confidence that Lucy is doing well. I also love that they have lactation consultants readily available and you can book in as much as you need to! I’ve felt completely supported by the SCBP from the moment we arrived at the hospital, which has helped my mental health immensely.

The prenatal classes were informative enough, learning the science behind childbirth helped ease some anxiety, but I see now that it’s the connection with those people in the room that is far more important. We started a What’s App group chat with everyone, as well as a separate one for just the Mamas and as babies began to arrive, the chat became so important. You realize that we’re all in this newborn haze together and people are asking great questions and/or sharing helpful advice. I love that we can all be breastfeeding in the middle of the night and messaging, you just feel less alone. I appreciate everyone in the group so much and I don’t know what I would do without them!

They also offer a Doula program, where they match you with an amazing local Doula and we honestly couldn’t have done it without our Doula Shania. She knew what I needed even when I didn’t and was a calming presence while I laboured. She was friendly but very professional and I absolutely have her to thank for coaching me through pushing and for being a large part of how I was able to have the birth experience I’d hoped for.

Acupuncture at Acumamas in Olympic Village

Acumamas came highly recommended by the local women on Instagram. I was nervous, having never tried acupuncture, but Renee made me feel very comfortable. She also did some cervical softening acupuncture points at my last appointment and that, combined with walking and my sweep is definitely what I think jumpstarted my labour!

Prenatal Yoga at Uphoria Yoga

The timing couldn’t have been better, with Uphoria Yoga opening so close to me while I was pregnant. They largely focus on yoga for the family, including pre/postnatal, childcare, kids yoga, etc. The prenatal yoga instructor, Brenlie, is simply amazing! Her classes are incredibly insightful and give you a real sense of community with fellow expecting women in the neighbourhood. It was the perfect place to meet up with fellow pregnant friends from our SCBP class and beyond as well!

I have to say, Brenlie of Nurture Natal was actually extremely influential in my birthing experience. She always weaves in lessons and topics to do with childbirth into her classes, as well as faux contraction work, pelvic floor exercises, and plenty of helpful yoga poses. While I was in the throes of contractions, her teachings and mantras were repeating on a loop in my head and I was desperately hanging onto them like a lifeline. Her words gave me hope and comfort while I survived contraction to contraction. She always says that her goal is for women to have an empowered birth and it was definitely the case for me!

RMT Massage at Healing Tree and Acumamas

I already went to Healing Tree for RMT treatments, so it was an easy transition for me to get some prenatal massages there as well. I went for a slew of appointments at the end of 2019 to use up my health benefits and it was a real treat. Unfortunately for me, I needed some more appointments at the very end of my pregnancy because I was so sore those last weeks and was kicking myself for not pre-booking a bunch of appointments in anticipation of that. Hot tip for any pregnant ladies out there, book massage appointments the month leading up to your due date. You can always cancel if baby arrives early!

Luckily, Acumamas, where I already went for my acupuncture, offers specialized prenatal massage therapy. I was able to put myself on a waitlist and got an appointment before it was go-time. I desperately needed that massage and Cassidy was a very talented RMT!

Pelvic Floor Physico at The Cheerful Pelvis

I am SO glad I began my pelvic floor work while I was pregnant and that I consulted with Rachelle at The Cheerful Pelvis. She assessed me (I didn’t do an internal assessment, we’ll see how my recovery goes over the next month and where I’m at 6 weeks pp) and gave me really helpful exercises to help minimize my pelvic pain. I only had a few appointments beforehand, but she did provide me with information and a helpful document about perineal massage and what to expect postpartum and I look forward to our follow up next month.

For additional pelvic floor and postpartum work I love following Kim the Vagina Coach on Instagram. She has lots of great exercises, pelvic floor and pp advice, as well as fun pelvic floor challenges!

Labour and Delivery at Women’s Hospital

I also have to give a shoutout to Women’s in general. Every single nurse and staff member we interacted with at BC Women’s Hospital was incredible. Even when they were short-staffed and the admitting nurse was scrambling, she made sure to stop by, provide me with a bouncy ball and heat pack, and reassured us that we’d get a room soon.

We opted to stay over for a night and all the nurses who checked on us throughout the night and into the next day were incredibly helpful. My friend advised me to enlist as much help with breastfeeding as possible while in their care and I’m so glad I did! Every time I would demonstrate a feeding, each nurse had different tips and tricks and combined, Lucy and I learned what a good latch was and got some really solid practice. She eats like such a champ now!

What do you think, any places I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments below if you have something to add!

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Featured Life Motherhood

Welcome Little Lucy

February 23, 2020

I’m so excited to introduce you to our daughter, Lucy Ryan Winnett. Born on February 22nd, 2020 at 11:40 am, weighing 7 lbs 6 oz.

Lucy means ‘light’ and she certainly has been a bright light in our lives already. Her middle name is after her cousin Ryan who we know he would have adored her.

So far she’s a mini Adam and my heart can’t handle it. A full head of blonde hair and blue eyes! I never would have guessed. We’ve been enjoying these first days and navigating the newborn haze, but I wanted to share some photos from the hospital. For a newborn photoshoot, we opted for a ‘Fresh 48’ session with Mads form These Days Photo and I am SO glad we did! Such special memories that I know I’ll always treasure.

The full birth story is on the way soon! It’s tough to find time to write it all out with a baby on one arm LOL. For now, here we are as new parents with our little Lucy.

All photos by These Days Photo xo

Featured Travel Vancouver

My Stay At Nectar Yoga B+B on Bowen Island 2020

February 20, 2020
nectar yoga, bowen island, alicia fashionista, nectar yoga review

Here’s everything you need to know about this incredible yoga bed and breakfast on Bowen Island, just an hour away from Vancouver!

This was a gifted stay with Nectar Yoga B&B, but as always, opinions and my obsession with Nectar, are my own.

I have such a special place in my heart for Nectar and the beautiful people who run it. Alex and I visited their original Bowen Island location back in September 2016 and had the most amazing few days away (I even made a vlog about it, you can watch that here). That had been my first yoga retreat and it was such a delight.

They’ve since moved to a larger piece of land and built a stunning upgraded Nectar 2.0. I swear you can feel the tension in your shoulders dissipate as soon as you turn down the gravel driveway. Their brand new location sits on 20 acres on beautiful Bowen Island and features various Instagram-worthy cottages, large Yoga Dome, a stunning main cabin/common area, walking trails, and an overall feeling of being in nature amongst the tall Pacific Northwest trees.

nectar yoga, bowen island, alicia fashionista, nectar yoga review

The Accommodations

The part that gets me, is how much love and time and energy went into building it by the owners themselves! I was blown away to learn how hands-on they were in building Nectar Yoga, talk about multi-talented. Pretty sure my marriage barely survived us building all our new IKEA furniture last month. We had to bring my brother in as a buffer LOL. The amount of thought and detail that has gone into the accommodation and overall experience is incredible. Even the email communication beforehand made packing for the retreat and getting to the island incredibly easy.

This time around, we stayed in the Quartz Cottage. It’s a gorgeous large A-Frame building closest to the Yoga Dome and had more than enough room for two of us. The beds were super comfortable, I swear I sleep better in a peaceful forest setting. The room was spectacular, it feels like a getaway, but with the comforts of home.

nectar yoga, bowen island, alicia fashionista, nectar yoga review
nectar yoga, bowen island, alicia fashionista, nectar yoga review
nectar yoga, bowen island, alicia fashionista, nectar yoga review

The Yoga

I cannot say enough great things about yoga at Nectar. Andrea is one of my favourite yoga instructors, and trust me, I’ve done a loooooot of yoga. She always seems to know exactly what you need in each class and provides the perfect mix of getting a sweat on, but also keeping you zen. The Yoga Dome also provides such a unique and memorable setting for your practice. If you stay for two nights as we did, you get 4 yoga classes total, along with morning and/or evening meditations. Andrea is also incredible at guided meditation, she revealed to us that she meditates for an hour nearly every single morning. Her calming energy and vast knowledge make your sessions with her extremely effective and restorative.

nectar yoga, bowen island, alicia fashionista, nectar yoga review

The Food + Main Lodge

We had the most delicious breakfasts! I am a vegetarian and allergic to eggs, so vegan food is ideal for me, which is exactly what Nectar offers. It was so lovely sitting down in the main lodge, getting to know the other guests over a drool-worthy vegan meal and fresh coffee. I’m still thinking about the grilled grapefruit with rosemary!

The main lodge is a new addition that the old location didn’t have and it’s such a perfect new feature. The lounge area is a great place to hang out in the afternoon if you’re not into exploring the rest of the island. We did our morning meditation there, as the dome was quite chilly that early, especially in January.

nectar yoga, bowen island, alicia fashionista, nectar yoga review
nectar yoga, bowen island, alicia fashionista, nectar yoga review
nectar yoga, bowen island, alicia fashionista, nectar yoga review
nectar yoga, bowen island, alicia fashionista, nectar yoga review

The overall experience was 10/10. If you’re into yoga or even the idea of a recharging local getaway, Nectar is a must. It’d be awesome as a reflective solo trip, bonding with a friend, partner, or small group, and if I worked at a company, I would absolutely suggest it as an option for a team retreat!

Also, I’m thinking of doing a guide to Bowen Island, would you be interested in that as well? Let me know in the comments below!

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Home Style

Thrifting For Holiday Entertaining

December 20, 2019
alicia fashionista, value village thrift. holiday thrifting

‘Tis the season for hosting!

This post is in partnership with Value Village Thrift.  As always, opinions are my own.

Collaborating with Value Village has been one of my absolute favourite 2019 partnerships. Though I have been a VV thrifter for many years, creating thrift-specific content for the last 6 months has been completely eye-opening.  I’ve loved searching for secondhand items with a theme/specific goal in mind. It has reminded me how much I love the thrill of the hunt, challenged me to browse areas of the store I would otherwise not necessarily think to visit, and frequent visits have made me fall in love with thrifting all over again. 

This month, I wanted to share some things I found that inspired me to update our holiday table decor and other hosting essentials!

alicia fashionista, value village thrift. holiday thrifting

I’d been on a quest for vintage looking candlesticks and these matching silver ones are absolutely perfect.  I even thrifted the candles! This inspired the remainder of my holiday table decor in an assortment of mixed metals.  I love this small brass tray, it’s perfect to display decorations like these mercury glass candle votives and this cheeky little nutcracker.  You could also put things like the salt and pepper and cranberry sauce, or a gravy boat on this tray, which would make passing those items around the dinner table even simpler.  I live for these little details at the dinner table and am so happy to have snagged these new-to-me items for such reasonable prices!

alicia fashionista, value village thrift. holiday thrifting

I happened to be thrifting with my mom when I found these ornaments and they had two full boxes in great condition with this ivory/silver sparkle, as well as a clear bauble with small white snow-like pom poms inside.  I held onto this set of twelve small ornaments and then came up with the absolutely brilliant idea of using them as place cardholders. My mom and I couldn’t get over what a creative genius I was until we were standing in line to pay and I looked down and happened to read the writing on the box that clearly labelled them as holiday ornament place cardholders.  No wonder these little decorations “gave me the idea” to use them as such LOL. They have a flat bottom and the open ring that’s specific to them sitting nicely on a plate, but I am positive you could recreate something similar with a traditional round bauble with some imagination!  

alicia fashionista, value village thrift. holiday thrifting

Adam and I love playing vinyl when we have company over, but adding to the collection with new albums can be very costly.  I browsed the extensive record collection at my local Value Village location and was so happy to stumble upon a few Christmas options!  Ended up with this instrumental organ and chimes gem, still sealed in its original wrapping, so it’s in excellent condition. I can’t believe I never thought to check out the vinyl collection, I will be carving out more time to sift through them during my next Value Village visit!

alicia fashionista, value village thrift. holiday thrifting

A holiday gathering wouldn’t be complete without a festive look.  Behold, the G.O.A.T Value Village Thrift find (in my closet, anyway).  I mentioned it in last month’s post, but seriously, isn’t she a beaut? I cannot wait to live in this dress for the next few weeks!

Be sure to browse the rest of my blog posts with Value Village Thrift:

5 Thrift Shopping Hacks
Last Minute Halloween Costumes
On Thrifting Maternity Clothes

Happy hosting, my friends xo

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Featured Style

On Thrifting Maternity Clothes

November 26, 2019
alicia fashionista, thrifting maternity clothes, value village maternity

Let’s talk about thrifting bump-friendly clothing!

This post is in partnership with Value Village.  As always, opinions are my own.

Pregnancy is, perhaps, one of the best times to be buying second hand!  We’re going to be staying in our one-bedroom apartment, so less is more.  It’s going to be a challenge, but we are trying not to get caught up in everything that we “have to have” when it comes to this baby.  That includes any baby-related items (for the nursery, clothing, gadgets etc.) and of course, maternity wear. Sure, I’ve purchased a few newer clothing pieces to accommodate the bump, but I’ve also found a lot of success in thrifting apparel that works with my changing shape. 

Cost is also a huge concern for us because the rumour is that kids are expensive lol. Investing in a ton of brand new full-priced maternity wear is…crazy. The fact that anything specifically catered to the bump will only be worn for a few months means that I’ve been hunting for pieces that I can make work now as well as beyond just these 9 months.  

All Value Village locations may not have designated maternity wear, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find amazing gems to add to your closet while you struggle to dress a changing figure.  Here are some recent finds and why they work with the bump!

alicia fashionista, thrifting maternity clothes, value village maternity

Look For Open Front Sweaters and Jackets

How cute is this faux leather Zara sweater jacket?  I’ve been feeling weird about how short cardigans look with the bump (I know, it’s random, but trust me on this one), so the open waterfall draping provides an ideal flattering silhouette to showcase le bump.  It has been ideal for me to wear jackets, coats, and sweaters that can be left open. Letting the baby bump breathe!

alicia fashionista, thrifting maternity clothes, value village maternity

Go For Oversized

I’m so thankful for the size range at my favourite Value Village location (if you’re local, it’s the Coquitlam store on United Boulevard).  Being a size Large but not exactly fitting into that now, I rely on XL and up in order to find pieces that work with the bump, especially if I do want to achieve that oversized look. I was so excited when I found this black silk button-up in the plus-size section a few weeks ago.  With the sleeves rolled up and belted, it is such an amazing fit! I’m pretty sure it was under $10, which is such a steal for a silk blouse! It is going to be such a staple piece for me for the rest of this pregnancy, as I always need something longer and slightly oversized to go with leggings and maternity denim.  The best part? I will absolutely be rocking this blouse postpartum and beyond.

This previously loved blouse is such a versatile basic, I love how just switching shoes and layering a coat can completely change the look and make it more casual.  

alicia fashionista, thrifting maternity clothes, value village maternity

Love For The Elastic Waist and Flowy Skirts

There was one more piece that I found on this gloriously successful Value Village trip that I haven’t photographed yet, but I can’t wait to show you!  It’s a kelly green vintage dress with a pleated skirt (pleats are ideal with the growing bump) that is going to be perfect this holiday season! Depending on how far along you are or how much you’re showing, it’s not impossible to find skirts and trousers that could work in the earlier portion of pregnancy and then for postpartum.  It helps if the fit is a bit looser as well, just to really give room for that elastic to stretch comfortably.

alicia fashionista, thrifting maternity clothes, value village maternity

Do you have any tips or tricks for thrifting maternity wear?  I would love to hear them in the comments below!

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Featured Life

Pregnancy | The First 20 Weeks

November 16, 2019

I’m finally publishing this at 25 weeks, so I’d say I’m nailing this Motherhood thing already.  I’ll probably be that person developing newborn photos when this kid is in elementary school.  No really, I wanted to make sure I got all my thoughts down about what the first half of this pregnancy has been like because time felt like it was crawling until it wasn’t and now I can’t believe that we’ll be meeting baby in just a few months.  This post has been a long time coming, but here goes.

We found out on Father’s Day. We’d both suspected it, as I was mildly nauseous the entire week leading up to Sunday, June 16th and besides the odd hangover, nausea isn’t something I would normally experience. I set my alarm for 7 am, unable to wait for a second longer. Adam woke up as per usual, forgetting my plan to pee on a stick. I stood alone in the bathroom and witnessed a second pink line appear for the very first time. I stepped out of the bathroom in mild shock, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

I was all over the place that first week.  I happened to take a prenatal vitamin the morning we found out because we’d been sort of trying since January and I’d long before given up on taking them.  Suddenly panicked about having to care for something growing within me, I took one of the large prenatals that had been sitting in the cupboard for the last few years (they weren’t set to expire until a month later, so we were still good).  Except that we weren’t good. First of all, I took the prenatal vitamin in the morning and learned the hard way that to limit nausea, it’s best to take them at night. Also, I didn’t bother reading what was in said vitamin, and they were not vegetarian-friendly (I’ve been vegetarian since I was 2 years old).  My system rejected me so terribly, I threw up all the celebratory pizza we’d had for dinner and more. I was finally done puking the next morning and spend the next day completely exhausted. Don’t worry, I’ve since found vegetarian prenatal vitamins and they’ve been great!

If you’d asked me last year what I envisioned the beginning of pregnancy to be like, I’d have described a dreamy movie-worthy sequence.  Soft morning light, me in a gauzy white nightgown, touching my still flat tummy as I stare off reflecting on my gratitude for creating this life. What I’d never considered before conceiving, was how a surge of hormones would affect me.  How the cocktail of those raging hormones combined with the worst fatigue imaginable, would lead to spending the hours of the day that you are awake feeling like absolute trash. How could I have known that I’d be so bloated that my usual clothing didn’t fit right away?  That keeping everything a secret would be so tough. How insecure I’d be about not showing and having people constantly pointing it out. That I wouldn’t sleep through the night for my entire pregnancy. How I’d endure a bought of crippling depression and anxiety.  You just can’t know until you know.

So yeah, the first trimester was a complete mindfuck.  Baby starts out the size of a poppyseed. I remember sitting on our flight to Chicago, 4 days after finding out.  I was eating a vegan lemon poppyseed loaf and I stared down at this delicious baked good, marvelling at just how minuscule an actual poppyseed was. It made it even more difficult to imagine what was happening inside my body.  

The fragility of the first few months was a huge deterrent for me to feel any major bond towards this tiny growing thing.  I think that not getting TOO attached was a defence mechanism and my way to protect my heart. It’s this internal struggle of excitement, a big secret, feeling like garbage, and extreme gratitude for this gift.  

I think that a lack of connection (or at least the powerful kind I’d envisioned) so early is common.  Paired with the isolation of no one else knowing, I believe that this along with the hormones caused the superstorm of first-trimester depression and anxiety that I didn’t even realize was a thing.  I couldn’t get out of bed and when I did, I felt hopeless and depleted.  Motivations levels weren’t low, they were non-existent.  Every day felt like a fight to do mundane things and knowing that I was growing this baby was the only thing that forced me to get out and walk and still eat as healthy as possible.  Moving and getting nutrients helped keep my symptoms fairly manageable and on the really bad days, I kept telling myself that, “tomorrow is a new day and things will be better.”  And usually, they were. Seriously, if you’re in the early days of pregnancy and feel like crap, you are absolutely not alone in that, I promise you.

Adam has been incredible throughout my pregnancy, but especially within those first summer months.  He stepped up so much when I was plagued with low mood and picked up the slack with everyday tasks and chores without hesitation.  He is constantly thanking me for giving him this gift and for carrying and growing our baby and it’s so heartwarming. When I reached 13 weeks, he even asked for a performance review of his support during the first trimester. “Was I too much? Could I be doing more?” Gosh, he’s going to be the best dad.

I was extremely lucky and had very little nausea.  I mean, it was still there, but compared to what I know some friends have had to endure, I had it very easy. Thanks to the time of year, my biggest craving was sparkling water. Couldn’t get enough of it! My only aversion seemed to be chocolate and sometimes textures bothered me (I opened up a banana one morning and immediately started dry heaving lol).   Food-wise, I was really okay to eat my usual things, just in smaller portions and along with small healthy snacks throughout the day. Of course, we invested in a box of saltine crackers and I carried a few with me everywhere I went during those first weeks to keep any onset nausea at bay. It’s the strangest sensation for hunger to make you then feel like you might be sick. I’ve only had heartburn once thanks to a post-dinner bowl of lemon sorbet. My ears and throat closed, it was hard to breathe and, not to be dramatic, but I legitimately thought I was dying. I’d never had heartburn before, so I took a Tylenol and desperately tried to sleep. Luckily, I figured out it was actually Tums I needed at 3 AM and was able to sleep for a few hours. Ohhh sleep. I napped all the time in the first trimester and then would have to get up in the middle of the night to pee, but otherwise, sleep was fine. That turned into insomnia for my second trimester and I can’t go back to sleep for two or three hours every time I get up to use the bathroom in the night. So yeah, I guess I’ll catch up on my sleep in my 40s? Here’s hoping!

Looking back, I see nature’s plan now with those first twenty weeks.  My perfect Hollywood scene of pregnancy is actually more representative of the second trimester (but still a total dream sequence).  You need time. Mentally and physically. The first half of this pregnancy has already done an amazing job of preparing me for Motherhood.  I haven’t slept through the night since I peed on a stick. I’ve had to learn a new level of patience. We’ve had to do a lot of boundary setting with people.  There have been a few scary-to-us moments and what felt like tough decisions to make. Adam and I have had to be more of a unified team than ever before. Navigating days where I don’t feel like myself.

I know that more challenges are on the horizon, but I look forward to the rest of the pregnancy and can’t wait to meet this little babe. Thanks for being here on this journey with us, it’s been one wild and wonderful ride!

Style

Last Minute Halloween Costumes

October 28, 2019
value village halloween, alicia fashionista, last minute halloween costumes, thrifted costumes

A few simple and fun Halloween costume ideas for my fellow procrastinators

This post is in partnership with Value Village Thrift.  As always, opinions are my own.

Dressing up for Halloween is a blast, but I’m usually that person scrambling for a costume at least midway through October.  What can I say? I tend to work best under the pressure of deadlines.

I can’t believe I’ve never really blogged about it before, but my favourite way to pick out a costume is to get creative with second-hand items and combine them with existing pieces from my own closet.  I DIY accessories where I can (depending on how much time I give myself LOL) and it’s legitimately such a fun, low-budget, and low consumption way of celebrating Halloween! Especially if you need more than one costume for work, play, trick-or-treating, etc.

I cannot even tell you how many potential costume ideas I was bombarded by at my local Value Village!  I was so inspired, I honestly could have put a dozen costumes together if I needed that many. My growing bump did limit my options, but there was so much potential at every turn.  The ’90s are still such a huge trend and I would say that besides the classics, I had lots of characters from that decade in mind. I almost purchased a red velvet jacket with black fur trim that reminded me a little of Cher Horowitz’s Alaia dress look from the party scene in. A pleated skirt that with a wig and blouse (perhaps tea-stained) could have made a great Mrs. Doubtfire.  Years ago, I thrifted a red trench coat and hat and went as Carmen Sandiego and they had the exact items to re-create that! There was plenty to work with if you just wanted to keep things really basic (like a cowgirl or hippie) or if you wanted to stick with something current in pop culture (Ariana Grande, the cast of Queer Eye, etc).

value village halloween, alicia fashionista, last minute halloween costumes, thrifted costumes

This office-friendly ‘50s look is so fun!  I found this poodle skirt for $9.99 and the pink cardigan (worn backwards) for $4.99.   The look reminds me so much of my dance days and I’ve had the Grease soundtrack in my head ever since taking these photos.  Speaking of which, a Pink Ladies or Sandra Dee outfit would also be easy to achieve with Value Village finds!

value village halloween, alicia fashionista, last minute halloween costumes, thrifted costumes
value village halloween, alicia fashionista, last minute halloween costumes, thrifted costumes

Adam called this costume: Pregnant witch with a baby brewing!  I love the simplicity of finding an all-black outfit and creating a classic costume from it.  Last year I added ears and went as a cat, so I mixed things up with this witchy ensemble.  This velvet skirt with ruffle hem sparked the inspiration and along with the hat, this costume came to a grand total of $11.  The skirt is a little too big, but I just tied it together with a hair elastic at the back and it all worked out because again, pregnancy makes standard fitting clothes a bit tricky.  A classic witch costume like this is perfect for the office and trick or treating. Actually, I would wear this out to a friend’s Halloween party as well, why not? It’s extremely comfortable!  If you wanted to step it up, you could even DIY a black broom to go with it for Halloween this year.

value village halloween, alicia fashionista, last minute halloween costumes, thrifted costumes

It’s definitely not too late to throw something fabulous together for this weekend and/or the 31st and if you go for second-hand, you don’t have to spend a ton.  What are you dressing up as this year? Have a safe and happy Halloween, Witches!

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Beauty

4 Mascaras That Don’t Totally Suck*

October 21, 2019
best mascara 2019, alicia fashionista, vancouver beauty blog

*In my humble and completely non-beauty-related-professional opinion!

Things I want a decent mascara to achieve:

1. The illusion that my lashes are at least slightly longer than their natural stubby state.
2. Added volume so that they don’t look as sparse as I sometimes feel they are, especially when I lose a bunch at one time and freak out about going bald.
3. As per the second point, a mascara cannot lead to excessive loss of lashes. I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life.
4. Not flake the f*ck out and spill black specs all over my face all day. My under eyes are dark enough, ya feel? I’m too awkward for tiny mascara clumps to be sprinkling onto my skin.
5. It must be waterproof in order to be long-lasting, but cannot be impossible to wash off. I can’t stand when a mascara won’t come off with my simple makeup removing routine.

I’m indifferent about slight mascara clumping. Sure, I don’t want it to look like I only have three fat lashes, but I also don’t need the illusion that I have no mascara on at all. I’m not ashamed of my reliance on the cosmetic. There’s no need to play hard to get with mascara. She knows she’s my #1.

In terms of application, I started using mascara primer a few years ago (thanks for the recommendation, Mom) and am forever changed. It helps keep my mascara on with vibrant colour and lots of volume. I find that it can dry the waterproof mascaras slightly (but protects my actual lashes from damage) so to wash it off, I gently use warm water and dab with my fingers to wet the lashes before using makeup remover and washing my face.

I know that mascara look, preferences, and even performance are quite varied, but below are some of my personal favourites.

best mascara 2019, alicia fashionista, vancouver beauty blog

LANCOME Grandiose Extreme

I received this little gem in a package from Nordstrom’s beauty counter when they opened in Vancouver and have been re-buying it ever since. The wand is quite small and curved with dual bristles but performs so well! It takes a few applications to get used to it, but the amount lift and curl achieved from this mascara is incredible! Use this one daily with the primer, of course.

SHOP THE LOOK: This Nordstrom set with primer and remover or just the mascara.

L’Oreal Voluminous Original

Give it up for the OG mascara of my adulthood. I started stepping things up and purchased the Voluminous primer to go with it and it’s amazing! This mascara is a great option if you’re on a tighter budget, even with the added primer cost, both products are cheaper than one tube of the other mascaras I’ve listed. It doesn’t quite measure up to my Lancome loves, but it does perform well for the cost and is a slightly more natural look than the others.

SHOP THE LOOK: Voluminous from The Bay or Walmart (US)

LANCOME Monsieur Big

I don’t know what kind of witchcraft Lancome does to make such amazing mascaras, but they get two of my four recommendations! Mr. Big is quite similar to Grandiose Extreme in terms of performance. The application is different though because it’s a chunkier wand. This is my go-to for a night out!

SHOP THE LOOK: The Standard Size or Mini Tube from Sephora

Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir

Look, I really wanted to add this to the list because I had a tube of the MJ Velvet Noir and remember loving it. I wish I’d taken notes at the time because now I can’t remember exactly what it was like but I know that I went through the entire thing and remember thinking I would re-buy. I should probably just grab a mini tube of it to get reacquainted.

SHOP THE LOOK: Sephora Mascara and Gel Liner Set or Mini Tube (great to test out with) or Standard Size

As I mentioned, I am no beauty expert, so if you have any recommendations I would love to hear them! I’ve seen positive reviews for some Benefit and Tarte mascaras, have you tried any? I’m super curious, it’s just always tough to veer away from what I know works. Also, I have tested out a few natural mascaras and so far none can even come close to the heavy mascara look I prefer, but if you’ve found any clean beauty mascara that adds hefty volume and/or length, please do pass that info along.

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