Model Look Monday--About to POP!

The third trimester is finally here! That of course means your wee one will be here in just a short few weeks. That also means finding clothes in this stage is the hardest. In the third trimester it's important to feel comfortable but still feel attractive. I found this beautiful top the Long Sleeve Babydoll Maternity Tunic $69.50. The sheerness of this top will keep your temperature comfy and the tie will couture your bump. You can wear this tunic with skinny jeans and boots but since I'm all about the comfort in this trimester I chose the Seraphine Maternity Seamless My Leggings $39. They are breathable and are so comfortable you could sleep in them! Wear them with your fave pair of flats,mine are the Classic Reva Ballet Flat Tory Burch $195. And remember you are almost to the big day so get excited!!!

Copyrights A Pea in the Pod,Pickles and Ice Cream, and Tory Burch

Shopping Saturday---Pottery Barn Kids

Now that your halfway through your pregnancy and you have done your registry you have a big project ahead:The Nursery. I already told you about an amazing bedding website but what about your baby's furniture? Look no further than Pottery Barn Kids. Their furniture is made of the finest materials including hard wood(no partial board here!). Check out this beautiful Sleigh Fixed Gate Crib $599 which converts into a toddler bed(with kit). You can put it with the Madison Changing Table$799,in a matching color of course. This Changing table can be a dresser after your child is out of diapers. Want to put some fun on the wall?Try the Ribbon Tin Letters $19 each in your childs name,they are a unique way of personalizing their room. To top off a nursery you must have the perfect lighting. I love the Alyssa Crystal Chandelier $199 for a little girl,its a fairytale! Need help designing your nursey? The workers at Pottery Barn Kids can help you design the perfect nursery for your little angel. They have loads of experience and can help build our registry too. If you haven't checked out this very American staple,you wont be disapointed!

Copyrights Pottery Barn Kids

Fanatic Friday---Selma Blair

You fell in love with her in Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde. Now Selma Blair's next role is mom. You can get her very classic but stylish look easy. I found the exact dress she is wearing pictured below at Isabella Oliver Ruched T Shirt Dress $155 in tan,although it comes in four colors. Selma is a huge Isabella Oliver fan and I can see. Isabella Oliver has been featured in several magazines and worn by many celebs. I found a simple necklace Signature Clover Necklace in Gold  Stella and Dot $69. Its a go to staple that is similar to hers here. Then pair with gold bangles. I found an awesome cocktail like hers,the Aurora Cocktail Ring Stella and Dot $49. You can pair this look with black leggings and boots or wear it as is. I'm in LOVE with this dress in gray!

Copyrights to Columbia Pictures,Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures,Selma Blair,Bellyitchblog.com, Isabella Oliver, Stella and Dot

Top Look Thursday---The Boyfriend Cardigan

The perfect piece of clothing you can during your second trimester is a wonderful,long boyfriend cardigan sweater. You can layer it for any season too! Wear it with a tank and its spring. Wear with a long sleeve shirt and boots,its fall. Then it nicely fits well underneath your winter coat. You probably already own this great staple however I found a great one for you if not. Its the Boyfriend Cardigan from Express $49.90. I chose this one because its washable and cotton,which breathes well. I love these because you can button it all up to slim you or button a little to accent your cute bump. I highly suggust getting several in different colors. You can wear them with leggings,jeans,certain dresses,and more! Bonus:they make you want to curl up ad get comfy!

Copyrights  Express.com

Want it Wednesday---The perfect bedding

Choosing your baby's bedding can be the most fun or super stressful for all parties involved. The bedding is truly key for decorating your nursery. There are tons of options out there, but why should you choose bedding that just anyone could get. That's why I must tell you about an amazing online store Polka Tot Designs. Here you can customize your baby's bedding to a tee. You can choose the color, pattern, texture, monogram,and more so that you can bet your bedding will be one of a kind. The price for this bedding starts at $270 and goes up from there. They also have prefixed sets to choose from as well. I have chosen a few of my favorites but like I said before,the sky is the limit. Remember,you get what you pay for. Yes it could get a bit expensive but it is definitely worth it!

Tips and More Tuesday---Baby Registry

Sometime during your second trimester you will get the chance to find out your baby's gender. This usually happens around 20 weeks however it varies from state to state (in NYC they let you know at 16 weeks which was a huge plus for me!). If you are one of the brave ones that wants to wait to find out until they give birth,kudos to you(I couldn't do it but I'm sure its special to wait)! Either way it will be time for you to do a baby registry. Many women just choose one place or maybe two to keep it simple. However, did you know you get benefits from registering at almost everywhere? I tell my clients to register everywhere and here's why. Most places give you a discount on your remaining items that were not purchased (this will come in handy because few people get everything they need from their showers). This discount varies from 10% to 15%,but every little bit helps and adds up. Another reason,as if that weren't enough, is many places like Buy Buy Baby, Babies R US, and Target give you a goody bag. The goody bags have little samples, loads of coupons,and a few gifts. And how else are you going to get the chance to save 10% off at Pottery Barn Kids? So go hit up the registries and try not to get too overwhelmed and have fun!


Copyright Babies R Us,Pottery Barn Kids,Buy Buy Baby,and Target

Model Look Monday--Show off the belly!

Since I focused on the first trimester last week I thought this week would be perfect for the second trimester, also known as the best trimester. When you get closer to your second trimester you suddenly start to feel a little better. Your body adjusts to the new baby inside and you are ready to show your new baby bump. This trimester can still be tricky to dress for with maternity clothes,so I chose a phenomenal outfit that has what you need from maternity but not totally baby wear. Start with a basic striped tee-shirt like Short Sleeve Scoop Neck Side Ruched Maternity Shirt from Motherhood$26.98.For this item I would go with maternity because you will get a better fit that does not ride up. Then pair it with your fave pair of skinny jeans like 1969 Nude Full Panel Always Skinny Jeans from the Gap $79.95. Depending on how your jeans are fitting you can either wear your pre-preggo jeans with a belly panel or maternity jeans. Add a bit of polish to this look by wearing your black blazer like the Travel Collection Jacket from The Limited $118.80(on sale from $198). At this stage in pregnancy you probably don't need a maternity jacket.Lastly add a pop of color to the look with Naturalizer Valya in Red $69 patent leather flats. They will be comfy and fashionable. Add a long necklace and your set! Now get out there and be proud of your baby bump!



Copyrights to Motherhood Maternity,Gap,The Limited,Naturalizer/Piperlime

Saturday about me

Usually on Saturdays I write about wonderful stores to find great deals or unique things. However,as requested by several people I am going to tell you a bit about me and what I do. My name is Rachel and I'm originally from right outside of Nashville,Tennessee. I have always been interested in fashion and from the age of 18 I worked in retail while in college. A few years ago,my husband and I moved to New York City due to his job. I was so excited to be there! All the shows,culture,and of course the fashion! I immediately got offered a few jobs in the fashion field but went with Juicy Couture. I loved Juicy Couture and how very girly it is! I started as a salesperson but quickly advanced. I did wardrobe styling and helped high profile people dress to impress(including pregnant women). Juicy Couture is much more than track suits by the way. In the flagship stores and select others,they carry a full line of clothing plus an elite line called Bird. I enjoyed my job so much! Then the best thing that has ever happened to me,happened.I became pregnant with our son(who is now 9 months old). Due to several risk factors,after 5 months I had to stop working. Since I had to stop my conventional dream job,I made it my mission to help style other pregnant women. I found it very hard to find clothes that were stylish,that I liked,without spending a ton. Now,9 months later, my business has moved back to Nashville with us.I am now incorporating what I learned in my 2 years in NYC and mixing it with a Southern twist. Due to my experience and classes I have taken I am very qualified for all of your fashion needs. My most popular a la cart I offer is a closet consult. In this consultation, I go through your closet/drawers and show you how to incorporate items you already own into pregnancy fashion. I then explain the items you might want to purchase and show you where to find them. I also offer shopping days where I can go with you to the mall or shops and style you.I always know where things are on sale and what to skip out on. Both options are geared towards maternity and post-baby, however I am open to helping other genres as well. I have listed my prices below and if you need any referrals I can provide that. I have a promotional sale going on through the holidays so my prices are slashed for savings! Please email me with any questions or to set up your appointment! My email address is belleswithbumps@gmail.com. And please keep reading my blog and pass it along to your friends!

•  Closet Consultation (2 hours)-$150,on PROMO for $75
• Shopping (per hour)-$50,on PROMO for $25
• Shopping (entire day)-$300,on PROMO for $125
• Design your wardrobe-Price upon request 

Fanatic Friday---Hillary Duff

We all know how you feel in the beginning of your pregnancy. You have loads of emotions and on top of everything, your tried and true body starts to change. I believe every woman should take a cue from one of the latest mommy-to-be's Hillary Duff. She has grown up on our tv screen and radio,but now she and her new hubby are expecting their first child. She is refusing to let it slow her down or change her awesome style. I found an awesome rocker inspired outfit that is similar to the one she has on below. Keep in mind that she is still not very far along (one of the items might be hard to wear if you were about to give birth!). I found the staple rocker piece J Brand Leather Skinny Pants $896 at ShopBop.com. These pants are for one hot mama! They take a bit of guts to wear but look stunning on. Then the French Connection Fierce Feline Top $118 at Bloomingdales is a close duplicate to Hillary's top. The flowy feel of the top, makes it a great choice for those early months. Lastly, I found a killer classic bag that will go great with this look (as you can only sort of see hers in the picture). The Marc by Marc Jacobs Petal to the Metal Voyage Satchel $498 at Saks Fifth Aveune in black has a rocker feel and 2 ways to carry it. It is a great leather bag that, I can say from seeing it in person, defintely makes a statement. So, search for your animal instinct as Hillary did.

Copyrights to HillaryDuff/Hollywood Tuna,J Brand/Shopbop.com,French Connection,Bloomingdales,Marc by Marc Jacobs,Saks Fifth Avenue

Top Look Thursday---The Sweater

To continue on our week of the first trimester I chose a basic item that you all probably have in your closet,yet I bet you didn't know you could wear it now. It is a long,cozy sweater like the Marled Sweater from The Limited $69.90(One sale now Buy one get One 1/2 off on sweaters!). You can wear this one off the shoulder or in a cowl neck. The length is great for masking your bump or shaping it out to show off. Bonus,add a belt after you have your baby. I really like the color in this sweater because it has a retro feel with a modern twist. I'm really loving rich browns this fall as well. As you can see, you are able to mix various shades of brown and it still looks amazing. I would wear this,or one similar, with skinny jeans or leggings. Then you have the choice of boots(my fave!),flats,or heels. The great thing about sweaters is that you can layer under and over them---so helpful for being pregnant! Go look in your closet or hit the mall!

Copyright The Limited

Want it Wednesday---KickTrak

The world of counting your baby's kicks has just gotten easier, thanks to the KickTrak Prenatal Kick Tracker $24.98. This amazing new product actually will keep track of your little ones activity instead of you writing it down. When your little one starts moving just grab your tracker and start pushing the button. This device could help detect if there was a problem by alerting you of a difference in the amount of activity your child is doing. It is small enough to take with you and much easier than paper and a pen.

Copyrights to BabiesRUS and KickTrak

Tips and More Tuesday---Tips for the First Trimester

As I stated yesterday, I'm focusing on the first trimester this week. I know this trimester is,for most women,the least liked trimester. Your tired,might have morning sickness,clothes do not fit correctly, have trouble sleeping,etc. Well, here are some top products that may help ease you into the 2nd(most favored) trimester. First I must tell you about the Tummy Tube by A Pea in the Pod $26. This seemingly simple looking item is what you need to stay in your pre-pregnancy jeans, get added support during later trimesters,and help keep your pants up after you have your baby. It comes in 3 colors and you will fall in love! Next is the most amazing Mustela Specific Support Bust  $26.99,which is an alcohol free lightly scented lotion made for your boobs. This cream will help prevent stretch marks and itching while they are growing. Many women use this even after pregnancy,avalible at Babies R Us. Next we have the Boppy Pregnancy Wedge $17.99,my personal addiction! When I was pregnant with my son I had a very hard time getting comfy for sleep with the added inches.Then I got this wedge and never left home without it. Although you may find that you need a body pillow later,this smaller one travels well and is much easier during your in between times. I personally only used this one because it was all I needed but everyone is different. Lastly I want to reccomend Mama Bee Belly Balm by Burt's Bees $9.99. This thick belly balm is all you need to relieve your itching belly and help prevent stretch marks. Just a little does the trick and unlike its counterparts, one jar is all you will need during your pregnancy. I hope you go and try these innovative products and let me know about others that you have loved!

Copyrights to A Pea in the Pod,Mustela/BabiesRUS,Boppy/BabiesRUS,Burt's Bees/Motherhood Maternity

Model Look Monday--Barely Showing

I thought that since we are in between seasons it was a great time to visit the uncomfortable in between phase of pregnancy. This occurs when you are a few months pregnant and have a hard time fitting into your jeans,but not big enough for maternity. This stage is usually an un fun one,possibly due to the worry that people might think you are "fat" instead of pregnant. This also is the time that many women have morning sickness so anything to help you feel better is much needed. I found a beautiful fall dress(that you can wear practically year-round!) that is perfect for this problem. The Maisie Dress in Abstract Floral from J.Crew $178 is a wonderful flowing dress. It has a cinch just higher than your waist that will flatter either a tiny bump or what could be what you might worry looks like you ate too much. You can put leggings underneath to warm it up. Pair this with Cece Suede Ballet Flats from J.Crew $128 in Dusty Cedar or a nude pair of pumps. Top it off with Woman's Canvas Trench Coat from Old Navy $39,the perfect staple for the fall. Be sure to check back all week as I will focus on this subject for the week!

Copyrights to J.Crew,Old Navy

Shopping Saturday---Pickles and Ice Cream

Hey all Southern Belles with bumps! You must go check out the best maternity boutique in Franklin,Tennessee. Pickles and Ice Cream(which is a chain and has other locations) is a one stop shop for your maternity needs. They have designer fashions,basics, and gifts. One signature dress I found there was the Maternal America Maternity Black & Hunter Green Front Tie Dress. It is season less and the green can be used a neutral color. They also have a great PJ set Olian Maternity Green Leaf 4 Piece PJ Set, which is perfect for your hospital stay and comes with a matching onesie for great pictures! I want to recommend my favorite Bravado Bliss Nursing Bra Chai. I had a very hard time finding a nursing bra that fit my unique body shape but the people at Pickles and Ice Cream helped me find the perfect one. Not everyone has the same bra type so they have many to choose from. Go check out this store and the adjoining children's boutique in Franklin or check them out online. Happy Shopping!

	Nashville, TN 539 Cool Springs Blvd. Franklin, TN 37067 Behind P.F. Chang's 615-778-1599

Copyrights to Pea in the Pod,Olian Maternity,Bravado Bliss,Maternal America Maternity