Maternity + style

Yes. Maternity wear and style can be out together in the same sentence. In fact, what a better time to up your style game than when showing off your gorgeous bump? I wrote this piece for Grazia in April which sums up my sentiment on this topic:

"I am 22 weeks pregnant. With twins. Which means a beautiful big bump that is only going to get bigger. And bigger. However, under no circumstances, even twin circumstances, do I feel it is acceptable to lose your sense of style during pregnancy. I say this for many reasons:

• First, pregnancy is such a wondrous time to celebrate your body – you are creating another human being! It’s a reason to show off your bigness, show off your glow, show off your bump. Your hair is lusher, your nails are stronger, your skin is glowing – you may as well have a good outfit to match.
• Second, the old adage of look good, feel good. Yes your back may ache or your digits may swell but if you are wearing a cute preggy shift, all that is more bearable. Certainly more bearable than slumping around in baggy clothes that make you feel slumpier, bigger and baggier.
• Third, stylish maternity clothes are a perfect excuse for a new wardrobe. Generations ago pregnant women were basically limited to curtain-patterned tents as maternity wear but we are so spoilt for choice now.

I am not advocating trendy get ups if that’s not who you are. I believe the same general style rules apply when you are pregnant:

- Dress for your shape, your age, your style

- A dash of lipstick goes a long way.

- Never underestimate the power of a pair of good shoes (they don’t have to be heels darling!)

- Classics are fail proof – hello skinny jeans (albeit preggy jeans with a stretchy waistband) and white shirt which will see me through many a winter’s day

- Comfort is important but this doesn’t mean sweat pants and a gym top a la Kim K."

___

ASOS maternity range was my go-to option (they do ship to South Africa but you save  lot if you can find a friend willing to bring an order back for you). There is lots of choice for all occasions - dress up, casual and work wear. The prices are comparable to maternity wear in SA. I found the sizes to generally be spot on although 2 pairs of pants just didn't work.

Here's a selection of dresses, tops and pants from their site at the moment that I love:

I found basics the most useful, with a few unique pieces with which to mix and match - I lived in my stretchy jeans and black leggings! This jacket would have been great to have.

Hapy birthday Tata Madiba!

{via here}

A checklist for any age

 {via here}

"Forgive. Forget. Fake it. Chin up. Wear lipstick, make lists, make sure your voicemail isn’t full. Mix protein shakes, send timely thank you notes, sip drinks more slowly, stare at adults’ eyebrows, smile without dimples, develop perfect posture. Be gracious, be kind, eliminate self-pity. Look in the mirror and shift your internal monologue from ‘How do I look?’ to ‘This is my face,’ from ‘What the hell am I doing?’ to ‘This is my life.’ Capitalize your emails, read the news, walk briskly, stay focused, and never, ever let on that you are somewhat lost and sometimes lonely and so completely confused (and would someone please just let me know what it is I’m supposed to do next, where exactly I’m supposed to go). Just keep going. Go, and do not stop." Jennifer Schaffer, A Checklist for the age 19

Seeing double

There are some things in life you never imagined yourself doing. Preparing for our twinkies to arrive has brought upon quite a few of those:

1. Installing two car seats in the back of the car and crying about it. Fear not, they were not tears of sadness, perhaps a few of overwhelmed-ness but mostly because the sight of these two seats literally tugs at my heart.

2. Watching the husband build two cots on a Friday night. Now although the husband lived in London for a good while, he somehow never built IKEA furniture (!?). Watching him build our two IKEA cots made me look at him differently, perhaps it was the first glance of his impending role as a dad? Whatever it was I think it made me love him even a bit more than I already did. Seeing two cots set up in our nursery was also a very real indicator that there would be two real babes in those two cots.

3. Snuggling up with two soft bunnies at the age of thirty. No, this is not for my own comfort (although it is undoubtedly comforting I will admit). The idea behind sleeping with these bunnies is so they can smell like me in the instance that one or both of our babes has to go to ICU. Smell is a baby's strongest sent and since they already know my smell, the bunnies will feel somewhat familiar to them if we have to be separated.

4. Receiving two big, beautiful bunches of flowers. One the day we found out we I was pregnant with twins, my mom sent these two bouquets to our apartment. I was feeling on top of the world and it was such a lovely thing to come home to.

5. Being doubly spoilt by my wonderful family and friends. I am really touched as how generous people have been to us - giving us not only one of a gift but two! Not to mention all the kind words of support and thoughts from my lovely readers :)

Weekend time

Wishing all my lovely readers a happy weekend. My giant dome is preventing me from being that social so I am going to be chilling out this weekend. The nursery also needs to be finished! I had some practice contractions last night (EEEK!) so packed my bag today - at least that is ready.

I am sure you will be getting up to more exciting antics than resting weary feet and folding baby swaddles. So whatever it is - have fun. Be good. And have a glass of champagne for me.

{Photo by Pia Ulin via here}

Weekly round up of 10 links:

Some more amazing Lego designs (birds! iPhones! wedding dresses!)

If winter is getting you down, take a look at this sunshine map of Europe

A beautiful vertical garden

When typography and food come together

Work spaces of the famous creative set

Intricate design of a Persian rug on a whiteboard

Are you watching the Tour De France? I love these posters for the race

A Coke vending machine brings India and Pakistan together

Good advice for a happy marriage

What a fun idea to add a little sparkle to your cupcakes

xoxo

35 weeks

I am 35 weeks pregnant this week. Which means the babes will be arriving so soon. It is quite a thing walking around in public with my giant twin dome. Many stare and often comment - I don't mind but feel I should have at T shirt that says "It's twins people."

I can't imagine that my bump can get even bigger but I am hoping to keep the twinlets in for at least another 2 or 3 weeks to make sure they are as healthy and strong as possible. How do I plan on doing this?

1. Talk to the babies (it is much warmeer and calmer in there that out here in this crazy world)
2. Walk very slowly. I am like a giant ship in the night.
3. Keep driving and outings to a minimum - then feet up and rest
4. Stay calm. And breathe.
5. Stop yoga (Note - This was a hard decision as yoga has really helped me throughout my pregnancy but I am listening to my instincts. If I was pregnant with one I am sure I would be doing downward dogs until I went into labour. But I am at risk of these babes coming early,  squats, hip openers and cervix softening visualisations made me a bit concerned.)

These are easier said than done. I still have a to-do list that keeps growing - you know all that admin that you keep putting off until you realise that if you don't sort it out now you will never get a chance to do it? Besides, sorting out admin does nothing for ones nerves - my medical aid actually made me cry today after being on the phone for the better part of an hour. The nursery is still not done (roping in my sister/mom team this weekend to finish up). And the bags are not packed! (I don't think my last minute packing technique will be suited to this situation). And our name search continues...

Beyond all these practical things, the thought of two babies arriving is not exactly calm-inducing either. Two babies! TWO. Arriving on earth in just two or three weeks to change our lives forever. Joy. Excitement. Fear. Hope. Love. Anxiety. Peace. Worry. Happiness. Nerves. Amazement. Love. Excitement. Take your pick...

PS. Check out our my maternity shoot on Emma Jane Nation (I can't believe how tiny my bump was then). Thank-you Emma for a lovely post :)

bare legs, bakeries and ice-cream

I haven't been very conscientious about keeping up to date with my photographs on B&D. I still have pics from last year I want to share. I console myself with the following thoughts:

a) somethings don't go out of date
b) I think my posts are better when I share what I feel like blogging today, and not what I "should" blog
c) there are no rules in my little land of B&D - to me that's half the fun of blogging

So, now that I am done with that little explanation, here are some snaps from a wonderful summer's day we spent in Kalk Bay when we were in CT in March. Kalk Bay holds a special place in my heart as I have wonderful memories of escaping there while I was studying at Stellenbosch, to indulge in a day of vintage store browsing, Cafe Olympia lunch, or a stroll in the harbour.

This time around we joined a bunch of friends for lunch at the cool, casual Live Bait Restaurant, just under the more formal Harbour House Restaurant but with an equally beautiful view across across the bay. After a long, lazy meal we strolled through town and finished off with coffees from Olympia Bakery, and (my favourite), yummy ice-creams from the Ice Cafe.