#OOTD and 24 week update

Pattern Chiffon Kimono - H & M £9.99

Green Pleated Hi-Lo Dress - H & M  £12.99

It's been a little while since I've blogged and it's been down to painful ribs, internet being down and a rainy, rainy Scotland.  Today I am 6 months pregnant and what a milestone that feels like, 1. Because I never even thought I would get pregnant and 2. The day we found out seems like a lifetime ago but we are here and it feels incredible.  The love and support I have felt in the last couple of weeks has been amazing.  I think it's because there is no getting away from the reality that a new addition to the family will be here very soon and friends and family are just so excited.  There isn't much to report on pregnancy symptoms wise apart from going to the doctors to get a throbbing pain around my lower ribs looked at which turns out to just be the uterus pushing on my lower ribs and because I'm short it is really painful early on in pregnancy.  So heat packs at night have really helped but with sitting at my desk at work for 8 hrs doesn't really help but I'm just trying to keep as stretched and mobile as I can to ease the pain.  I've been doing a lot of shopping for holiday clothes this week and purchased a couple of flattering maxi dresses and tankini from Mamas and Papas and H&M is so good for kimonos and oversized chiffon dresses so stocked up on these in different patterns and with the help of my little sister will be doing some blog posts in the sun with the purchases.

So with a day off and a break from the rain I decided to do a blog post today using the backdrop of my husband's scrap yard, why not? It's a bit different.  The multicoloured kimono and green pleated hi-lo dress are both from H&M and will be perfect for holiday, especially with gold sandals and chunky gold accessories.  I will be travelling to Spain in 3 weeks so coming up to 7 months pregnant and I am a bit anxious about travelling so far along in my pregnancy but with it being a short flight and staying at my parents house in Spain it should be a pretty relaxing and well squired break away. 

This week I have my midwife check up.  I would love to be having another scan, it just feels great and puts your mind ease having a scan but I feel him, and he's moving away (definitely on my ribs) so there is no need to keep having monthly scans.  

Ok off to rock side to side on the gym ball and think about what to have for dinner 

Julia x 

OOTD - Hearts and Mint

Heart Print Shirt - New Look Maternity £17.99

Skinny Black Jeans - Mothercare £20.00

Peeptoe Platform Heels - River Island £55.00

Well today I am 20 weeks....I cant believe i'm 5 months pregnant already.  At the beginning the 3 months seemed to just drag and every week seemed to take forever but now it is all going past so quickly and August does not seem that long away.  So today I had a photoshoot for a magazine article on maternity and fashion bloggers and I was so shocked to be asked as my blog is only a month old.  Uhm, who knows what images the photographer uses but I am hoping it is the just the close up face shots because I looked huge in the middle of 4 gorgeous fashion bloggers, but the girls were so lovely and made me feel amazing so it was a great shoot and I am looking forward to seeing the final result.  I did colour my hair for the shoot which started with a purple fringe and mint and silver everywhere else but when I washed it this morning all the purple ran out and was left with just this mint colour but it was a happy accident as I prefer the subtle colour addition to the blonde.  For reference the dye I used was Bleach London 'Sea Punk' (buy it here) mixed with 3/4 conditioner and 1/4 dye to create a soft mint colour.  

Now the challenge is picking a boys name me and the hubby can agree, everything I love, he thinks its too hipster and the names he suggests are too masculine and common so the debate continues.  

Pregnancy to do list - I have my 20 week check up scan at the hospital next week and will be arranging the date for my nursery furniture delivery, can't wait 

I also want to say that my thoughts and prayers are with Taylor Jenkins (The Taylor Diary) and her family at this moment in time.  I follow her lifestyle and maternity blog and was so sad to hear her waters broke last week at just 30 weeks pregnant and her lovely little girl is currently in NICU.  Taylor posted a gorgeous image of her baby with her husband on instagram and what a gift!  Wishing her well x 

Boy or Girl? Boy or Girl?

Ava joined me in the sunny garden

The weather has been so rainy and grey everyday here so not had the opportunity to blog for a while but the sun was shining today so I was ready and out! I've also been sick everyday and couldn't get rid of a horrible migraine all week but have been back to normal since yesterday so feeling good again.  The exciting news is we are going for a gender scan tonight and get to find out if boy or girl and I can not wait, so doing a blog post right now is a distraction and will waste some time.  Although I won't be sharing what the baby is because i'm having a gender reveal baby shower for my close friends and family so it will still be a secret until July, sorry!

So the outfit, I actually wore this outfit for a night out at the weekend and i've got to say I have been paranoid about my new shape last week but I think the bigger the bump grows the more you have to adjust to your new body and that means re-adjusting your closet and style.  Although I do still feel happy to wear outfits that show off my curves so I went hunting for a midi pencil skirt and came across this red stretch skirt from H&M and I was planning on wear a white blouse but every one I tried on made the outfit look too business-like so I then went on the hunt for a long-sleeve crop top and found this in Topshop sale.  My absolute LOVE purchase at the weekend had to be my new heels from River Island and I love them because they still give me height that I like to have when i'm going out but also they are so comfortable.  These are definitely staple for anyones wardrobe so I recommend going and getting a pair.

I feel this outfit is a really great daytime outfit too as it has a vintage feel to it so I wanted to shoot it today with sunnies and a bow in the hair to give that vintage, summertime feel and I cant wait to wear this again meeting the girls for Summer mocktails, although this skirt might only have one month left in it with my bump.

This week it's all become very real that i'm having a baby.  This might sound crazy as i've been pregnant for 20 weeks now but I think its because of the more obvious bump and now I feel the baby move it makes me excited and anxious all at the same time.  I have to be honest that I am so nervous about labour and I think about it all the time.  I am just hoping that my nerves become settled towards the end of pregnancy and with antenatal classes that they make me feel more prepared and in control and not make me go the complete other direction and panic.
 
Just want to finish with saying congratulations to the winner of the Cwtch Organic Teething Ring which is currently making it's way to the other side of the world to Australia, so well done Margaret-Anne.  I will be having another giveaway in a couple of weeks and it's a really great piece so as soon as it arrives I will photograph and post the new giveaway.

 

Hopeless Romantic #OOTD

Fedora Hat - H & M  £14.99

'Hopeless Romantic' Slogan Tee - New Look £7.99

Black Leather Look Pencil Skirt - River Island £30.00

Envelope Clutch - Ebay £4.95

17 Weeks 2 Days 

I'm planning a night away this weekend with the hubby for some dinner and essential spa time.  The past month i've not really been making plans as I get so tired easily but it is good to make some time for romance.

So I was on the hunt for a full midi skirt after seeing blogger Taylor at www.littleblondebook.com wearing a gorgeous red one from ASOS teamed with stripe top and yellow heels.  I had to have this skirt so straight onto Asos.com and purchased but now just waiting for it to arrive so I decided for the weekend to look for a leather-look midi skirt as I loved how Kim Kardashian styled her leather midi as a sexy and stylish maternity look.  Kim's maternity outfit choices did receive a lot of negativity and I agree that some were way too tight fitting as she was growing but in the early trimesters I think she looked amazing and created sophisticated and stylish looks.  I do like to look through her maternity looks to make choices on what I should wear as I am a size 10-12 before I was pregnant and therefor realise certain outfits can look really bad as my bump and boobs get bigger.   I did get the skirt in a size 12 so probably only get a month's wear out of it with the growing bump but at least I can wear it when the baby is here for those cocktail nights with the ladies (if it ever happens, but it's nice to think this way).  And what better way to have a romantic night with your man then to remind them of your romantic feelings on your chest!

Julia

Instagram - @juliagraham1

Stripes and Bow #OOTD

Striped Split Skirt Dress - H&M £19.99

Blazer - H&M £25.99

Boots - New Look £27.99

Pink Large Bow - Topshop £12.00

Work and after work #OOTD

White Dress - Primark 

 PU Sleeve Blazer - H&M

Shopper Bag - H & M

'Tres Cool' Tee - H&M

Lipstick - Topshop 

I am today: 15 weeks 1 day 

I didn't think I would have time to blog today but I was ready for work early so thought I would capture what i've been wearing to the office.  I am feeling bigger by the day so outfit ideas I have in my head, once i put them on, don't work, at all.  So I have spent tonight online shopping for more maternity wear.  However I do feel really comfortable in this white stretch A-line dress which I bought from Primark last week and still manages to keep bump under wraps.  I just team it with black tights and my lightweight blazer which has contrasting PU sleeves.   My hair is in a funny growing out my crop style stage so sometimes I style still into a crop shape and keep my fringe high which takes 5 minutes so more time to watch breakfast tv and have more toast!  Today's lip choice was a barbie pink shade from the Topshop lipstick range.  And then when I got home it was straight into my casual wear with this motif tee I got from H&M yesterday and stretch cigarette pants, and i'm still in it right now, chilled out with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on, happy lady!  

Pregnancy Update:  I have been cramping on my left side a lot today.  I know its just growing and stretching pains but it does make you feel anxious with every pull.  Got myself booked into pregnancy exercise classes starting next week - will let you know how they go 

Julia