Ain't No Mom Jeans

Happy Holidays!

Dear Readers -

We couldn't thank you enough for supporting Ain't No Mom Jeans this year.  We feel very blessed to be surrounded by so many cool, passionate moms!  We believe motherhood has been the most challenging yet inspiring job we've ever had, and our hope has been that this fun little blog will help moms feel their best, despite spit-up stains, unwashed hair, and sleepless nights.

Now, we double-dog-dare you to have a Holiday season filled with love, laughter, and at least one "honey you sleep in and I'll take the kids."

See you next year!!

Much Love,

Molly & Shana

Can You Recommend More Tops and Belly Hiding Tips For Postpartum Moms?

Reader Question:

Hello Shana,
 
Since I found your blog through Baby Bunching last week, I've been obsessed and some of the highlights of my past week have been finding new posts each morning. I've devoured every bit of your blog, love your fashion sense and advice, and desperately need your help!
 
You posted a great article, "Dressing Your Postpartum Pouch on The Cheap" and I was wondering if you'd consider creating an updated version of that. Because I never got around to losing all the baby weight after my first child was born Sept '07, it's been harder for me to lose the weight from my second child's birth this past April. I'm feeling pretty portly and because I'm still nursing (partially in hopes of burning more calories to skinny down!!) my "ladies" are ENORMOUS and make me look even heavier than I should. I've always been a size 6 and am now more of a 10/12 (sigh) so I've held off buying new clothes until I can get into my old things. However, I'm beginning to think my friends and neighbors think I'm becoming a bag lady as I bum around in my maternity jeans. (I know that's a HUGE no-no so I'm taking your advice about the premium Gap jeans and I'm on the way to the mall tonight to purchase a pair in whatever size I can fit on my body.)
 
All that said, my request of you,my dear, is to provide whatever guidance and suggestions you can to help me glam up a bit and look as fabulous as my wonderful husband and beautiful daughters believe I am. I truly appreciate your consideration.
 
Many thanks,
Heather

Answer:

Heather, thank you so much for your lovely note!  Am so glad to hear that you have been enjoying reading our posts as much as we enjoy writing them.

We, of course, would love to help!  First off - a quick note on maternity jeans, post partum: if they still look fantastic, the keep wearing 'em.  The problem is...most maternity jeans are made with much more stretch than normal jeans (to accommodate our changing bodies) and once our pregnancy is over, things start to shift.  Most maternity jeans simply don't fit quite right once the babe is out.  If yours do (and if they do, let me know - I'm hoping that a holy grail of maternity jean exists somewhere) then keep wearing them. But, I suspect, like most maternity jeans, they probably give you a saggy, saggy bum.  Not your best look.  :)

On to the tops! 

 

All I Want for Christmas – A Gift Guide to Shiny Objects for Moms

Dads, let’s face it.  You're shopping last minute: you need something fast and you need something shiny.  Shiny objects are always a big hit with moms, but you probably have no idea where to start looking.  If you haven’t picked up on any hints as dads are sometimes wont to do, worry not.  I'm a magpie-like connoisseur of shiny objects and here I submit a few suggestions for you to offer up to your beloved baby mama.  Let’s just dig in since I know you’re scanning anyway and you don’t have much shopping time to spare!

Monica Rich Kosann “The Fine Art of Family” Lockets ($190.00 - $795.00)
I don’t know what it is about becoming a mom—maybe it’s because I feel like I’m missing an appendage when I’m without my boys—but I love having pieces of jewelry that symbolize and remind me of them, even though we’re together 24/7.  My hands-down fav from this collection is the Large Round Vine Locket in sterling silver ($695.00).  At 1-1/2 inches in diameter on a 26-inch chain and with a beautifully detailed swivel clasp, it is large-scale enough to suit my funky vibe but classic enough to stand the test of time.  Also, should my baby bug persist, I’ll be able to fit shots of multiple (“huh, what!?!” I hear Dave exclaiming) kiddos together on either side.  An option that will provide you with literally YEARS of effortless gift giving (and I know you'll love that!), or for those of you planning large families, is the more delicate Round Half Locket in sterling silver ($190.00)—you can add additional silver discs ($165.00) for each child and charms (such as the true love tulip) for mothers’ day or birthdays, a beautiful tradition that will be a big hit with your lady.   The Sterling Silver Toggle Necklace ($495.00) and the Rectangular Gate Frame Necklace ($795.00) are two other stunning pieces in this collection. 
 

A Gift Guide To Help Guys Who Google "wife christmas"

My husband is trying to find me a present.  I know this because he submitted a question to "Ask Ain't No Mom Jeans".  I think he thought it would be anonymous somehow.  In any case, he was getting desperate.  His highly creative Google search of "wife christmas" yielded (in addition to a link to the 1988 Julie Harris movie, "The Christmas Wife")  ideas like, "pictures of kids" or "bouquet of flowers".  Barf.

But I was surprised at his concern.  I am usually pretty predictable, gift-wise.  I love all things shiny or sparkly or wrapped in a tiffany blue box with a white bow.  I mean, really - any item off of M's holiday accessories post, or even our Perfect Winter Party Shoes, and I'd be delighted.  Home run.

But this year, Mike detected something different.  Or perhaps he noticed that I already went on a small shopping bender, coming home with fun holiday party items. <<giggle>>  In any case, he was questioning his usual methods.  Which made me think:  What do moms really want for Christmas this year?

I'm not sure if it's the sad state of the economy, or if Raines' turning two (and acting like it), or my husband's crazy schedule (work + school), but life has felt a bit hard lately.   I find myself already looking to the new year and wanting to do things differently.  Simpler, somehow.  I want to spend more time with family, but at a slower pace.  Think long walks with self-brewed coffee instead of crazy running from place to place and hitting Starbucks drive-thrus.

I don't think I'm alone.  So this year, my Christmas picks reflect this need to slow down, to simplify. 

...And to wear something pretty everyday.  Because some things never change. 

Gifts To Help Get Us Out Of The House

It's one thing to get out with the kiddos when the sun is shining and shoes are optional.  It's a WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME when it's freezing, and your two year old not only doesn't want to wear shoes, but throws a screaming fit over long-sleeve anything.  Not to mention that once you've stuffed the little screamer into his snowsuit and are now hauling him football-like down the stairs, you yourself drenched in sweat....by the time you get outside (and cooled off), you realize that the hat your grabbed for yourself is the one with the moth holes, and that you are missing a glove.  Not that this has happened to me (cough),  I'm just sayin.  In addition, over the last two years, my diaper bag has mysteriously gotten heavier.  It's the same bag.  With the same stuff.  It just bugs me more.

So here are a few items are help ease this process.  Nothing but time will cure the kiddo's long-sleeve phobia, but here are a few goodies that inject a little bliss into the "we're having fun, dammit!!" process.

   

I've been coveting the Lug Life Glider Sling Bag, currently on sale at ebags.com for $50.  This is the perfect long-walk diaper bag.  It sits close enough to your body to feel like a backpack, but is urban enough to look cool.  It comes in a wide range of colors, including ocean (pictured).

I'm also in love with J.Crew's Merino Trapper Hat, $45, and their Ribbed Merino Glittens, $24.  They are soft, warm and cute.  Cream may not be the most practical color, but it's beautiful and snow-bunny-like.  And they are just expensive enough to feel like a gift. (I think nothing of dropping $200 on jeans, but a $50 hat? Whoa!) 

Lastly, if your lady sports a ponytail even half as much as I do, try Juicy Couture's Faux-Fur Earmuffs, $55 at Neiman Marcus.  The key with earmuffs is that you want to choose a color OPPOSITE to her haircolor.  Blond?  Choose a darker earmuff.  Brunette?  Go light.  Else, they blend in too well and from a distance it will look like she has hair spurting from her ears.

All I Want for Christmas: A Holiday Gift Guide for Dads Part I

From work to more work to working some more, rocking our babes at 2 AM, then bouncing back up again at 7:15 for Wiggly Waffle and snuggles on the sofa (before work), to rowdy games of chase, bedtime stories, then sharing kitchen duty and running through the whole drill all over again, every day, my husband is the hardworking-est person I know. 

What do I get for this incredible guy who is everything to my two tiny boys and me?  What Christmas gift is enough to say all I’d like to about how dear he is, how much he is appreciated?  Well, nothing.  Nothing can possibly say it all, or even come close.

Curbing my urge to hover, asking less, understanding more and some sugar would probably go a long way, but I can’t wrap those up and put them under the tree, so I’ve attempted to find some cool things to help my dear husband slow down this frenetic pace our life has set and take some time out for himself.  If I could, I would give him all of this and more, including a week-long tropical vacation and a new pair of skis, both of which he sorely needs, but a blog post will have to do. 

A Crazy-Good Massage ($70.00 - $110.00)
Spas are for boys, too, but you don’t necessarily have to provide the fluffy robe and slipper frills.  Try a more pared-down establishment, like Heaven Nail Spa in Denver.  Your hubby may bristle at being dropped off at a nail salon (throw in a mani/pedi if he doesn’t, because you know he needs it), but he will not believe the crazy magic fingers on one Ms. Sogi—she gave me a shoulder massage that made me feel like warm butter, so ask for her by name.  If you’r e in NYC and haven’t checked out Graceful yet, your priorities are WAY out of whack.  Even though they squeeze clients into sheet-partitioned cubicles (they’ve got Manhattan real estate prices as an excuse), we consider planning cross-country trips to the city just to go get massages here.  

All I Want For Christmas: A Cozy Chic Gift Guide For Moms

This gift list comes courtesy of our much-loved, contributing author, J.  J is the one who found Maura Daniel's amazing nursery lighting, and  Avalisa's modern nursery art.  J, a self-confessed fuzzy croc wearer, is also someone I turn to for inspiration.  She's never fancy or frou-frou...but I can always count on J to help focus my attention on something fabulous, yet often over-looked.  So I knew that J's Christmas list would be filled with simple picks that beautifully celebrate the season.  And it is.  Cozy and chic - just like J. 

Men -- If you have trouble shopping for your wife because she is just SO DARN PRACTICAL...this is your gift guide.  All of J's picks are useful, but gorgeous enough to make her feel just a little bit spoiled.  

1.  Something Cozy-Chic to Wear

 

Frye's Harness 12R boots, $238 from Frye.com, is a beautiful but practical choice.  These boots are made from perfectly distressed leather that will get softer with wear, and have that so-hard-to-find heel:  low and sturdy enough to be able to walk everywhere, but without any orthopedic overtones.

The North Face's Metropolitan Parka, $279, packs 600 fill down insulation into a chic little package.  I love the sleek cut and the gorgeous metallic color (tanzania tan).  This is not your average puffer jacket.

Is a hip and stylish digital watch an oxymoron?

Reader question:
Got any recommendations for an affordable, hip and stylish digital watch?  I hope that's not a total oxymoron.

With middle of the night feedings, watching the clock during the day to remember when the baby needs to nap or eat, and getting sloshed with water from washing my hands and my two year old's hands about 75 times a day, I'm looking for a digital watch that can handle getting splashed.  Sounds lame, but at 4 a.m. when I'm trying to recall how many minutes the baby has been nursing, I can't even handle reading the hands of a standard watch!

Thanks!

Answer:
While a backlit digital watch is not my favorite accessory (for those, click here), there are a lot of digital watches out there that can be worn beyond the darkened room of your babe.  If you want to wear a digi for more than utilitarian purposes, a good rule of thumb is to embrace the inherent awkwardness and in fact enhance it by going with something chunky and larger-scale, thereby making it cool.  Digis only look truly lame when you're wearing a diminutive ladies' version, which generally have no sense of irony.  Check out these cute and styley options in order of price, lowest to highest.

Can I Wear a Flowy Shirt With Dressy Shorts?

Reader Question:

Can I pair the dressy satin shorts with a flowy sleeveless blouse for a holiday party? I live in Florida...

Answer:

Yes!  Especially if you are lucky enough to be enjoying the sunshine at this time of year, dressy shorts with fab heels and a flowy little top are a perfect choice for a holiday party!  Be careful of the length - your top should end at least 4-6 inches above your shorts.  In other words:  make sure you can still see the shorts.  Else, you'll end up sporting a Lady Gaga no-pants look.  Not great. 

Depending on your body type (and your shorts) you can also experiment with tucking the shirt in. For some great examples, check out the Dressy Shorts post on The Fashtastic Blog.

Also, there's another great photo for inspiration here.

Happy Holidays!!

xo,

S

Holiday Styling Tips for Moms: Pulling it Together with Accessories

Over the last week we’ve been talking about putting together holiday looks with simple, easy-to-wear items you might already have in your closet.  Now it’s time to pull it all together with your accessories. I’m suggesting some pretty budget-busting options, but with the vintage-feel and focus on detail that most of these items have, you can definitely find comparable if not better pieces if you get creative: raid your grandma’s jewelry box for early inheritance pieces, go thrifting and, if all else fails, hit your friendly Claire’s Boutique for disposable versions of these high end looks.

Yay Sequins!
The sequin looks we talked about earlier this week all hinge on one critical, bling-ed out piece, so it’s important to keep the rest of the look simple to avoid looking like a worn out Vegas act.  Leave the neck bare while pairing a sequin top like the BB Dakota Black Andisue Sequin Jacket with an understated, though still eye-popping bracelet like Anthropologie’s Toasted Meringue Cuff ($198.00),  a cocktail ring like Banana Republic’s Portrait Ring ($42.00) and Broadway Multi-Stone Earring (or the edgier Alexander McQueen Skull Drop Earring - $295.00) then grab a muted metallic clutch like the Martin + Osa Metallic Clutch in Pewter ($98.00).

 

What We're Reading This Week: Cupcakes and Cashmere Holiday Survival Guide - One Key Piece

For the last two weeks, Ain't No Mom Jeans has been focusing on easy ways to look festive for the Holidays.  All of our advice has been surrounding the principle of investing in one fab Holiday item and mixing it in with your current comfy basics. 

Blogger Emily Schuman of cupcakesandcashmere.com, is the Guest Blogger for December on luckymag.com.  Her most recent post, Cupcakes and Cashmere Holiday Survival Guide: One Key Piece, beautifully illustrates the same technique of festive Holiday dressing we've been discussing here.  Her pick?  This gorgeous Vena Cava skirt, pictured at left.  In her post on Lucky Mag, she shows how she was able to style this skirt three different ways. 

Her post is a great inspiration for easy-but-glam holiday style!

xo,

S