Miskabelly Shop: Sneak Preview

As much as we love sharing our mama and mama-to-be-stories on the Miskabelly blog, the actual idea of "Miskabelly" started as a sister store for our etsy shop, Miskabelle.  As you know, we have a love for all things vintage and Miskabelly will be a place to find vintage clothing for moms-to-be and babies.  We are also working on a line of baby toys/stuffed animals, handmade from our collection of vintage fabrics, as well as vintage-inspired paintings (which we shared on the Miskabelle blog).
The Miskabelly maternity line will include a wide range of dresses, tops, skirts, etc. for all types of mamas and the baby line will be of course, sweet little vintage baby clothes.
So without further ado, here is a glimpse at some of the lovely vintage pieces that will be in our Miskabelly shop launching sometime this August!

breezy sundresses

flashy 80's tops

work wear

casual bohemian pieces

...and some too-cute vintage baby duds

Hope that gets you excited...I know we are!

xo
Jayme & Amanda

Week 18: Let’s Grow!

Let me just start by giving you a list of my frustrations for this week (yes, I have turned into a whiny baby):

Number 1-- While in an overly-optimistic state I declared “If I can’t eat all the things I love and am craving, I am going to learn to bake gluten free versions for myself!”  We all know the outcome of my previous attempts, but I decided to give it another go and bake some gluten free cinnamon rolls.  Um, yuck.  Just the thought of them now angers me!  After my first bite I found myself wondering who in their right mind would post this recipe online and say that it’s even edible.  Grrr… I ended up eating cantaloupe for dessert instead.  Cantaloupe?   What kind of pregnant woman eats fruit for dessert?

Number 2-- In my 18^th week I have turned into a paranoid/emotional wreck.  I lay awake at night thinking of all the horrible things that could happen to me or to Andrew (the hubby) or the baby….pregnancy complications, birth complications, after we bring the baby home….yadda, yadda, yadda.  I’m sure it’s mostly hormones (and my normal-self’s tendency to be a worry wart anyway) but dang is it stressful.

Number 3-- Last but not least—I WANT A BIG OL’ PREGNANT BELLY ALREADY!  I have got some pretty shocked reactions from people when I tell them I am at 4 ½ months.  I get to hear stories of how “huge” they already were at this point in their pregnancy… and comments like “Wow, you’re lucky.”  But really?  Am I?  It’s not very fun to feel apathetic about food.  AND my wardrobe has become so limited because I’m constantly trying to hide the little bump I have (not only because I don’t want people who DON’T know I’m preggers to think I’m getting chunky, but also because I’m half embarrassed of my lame excuse for a baby bump in front of people that DO know).

But alas, I need to shut my pie-hole because today on one of my twice weekly trips to the post office to ship Miskabelle goods, I had my first real mommy-to-be moment.  As I put my packages down on the counter, the post office attendant asked “Are you expecting?”  WHY YES I AM!  Now, this is not the same post office attendant who watched me heave in a trash can a couple weeks ago (if you didn’t catch that blog, click here!).  But I did have a sneaking suspicion that she had heard through the grapevine about the incident.  But when I suggested  that was why she asked, she claimed she hadn’t heard (so yes, I had to relay it to her).  So jeez, maybe I DO have a “real” baby bump!  Needless to say, I shall remove Number 3 from list… NOW I just need a gluten free personal baker/chef and some kind of tranquilizer.

In these photos:  vintage head scarf, CC California ruched tank, vintage beaded necklace/jewelry, grey skinnies by Tyte (haha...yep, that's what you get when you shop at Ross Dress for Less!), vintage navy flats

22 weeks to go!

xo

Jayme

Post-Baby Body Challenge, Week 1

I've never had a washboard stomach and now it's guaranteed I never will--which is okay because I like curves and softness on my own body.  The thing is, I'm almost 6 months out, and I am seeing too many curves and too much softness on my body.  After pregnancy, my figure is almost unrecognizable to me.  You always hear that even if you get back to your pre-baby weight, your body will be different (except for those rare freaks of nature who seem to pop them out then head ot the gym the following day--I'm talking to you Heidi Klum, Gisele Bundchen, etc. etc.).  My body is a little too different now for my liking, as are my habits.

Now, I know I wrote previously about giving your body grace.  I'm still doing that.  But I think I've been giving myself a little too much grace--or a little too much pasta.  And I sat up a lot of the night with a baby with an upset tummy and realized how much my eating habits affect her and how, when she's old enough, she will see and emulate my healthy--or unhealthy--habits.  I don't just need to get back into some semblance of shape for my own vanity, I need to do it for Aurora. 

We're going to the beach in 2 weeks. I'm honestly dreading it.  I can't tell you the number of cute coverups I have purchased so as not to be seen in a bathing suit.  I don't buy those Cosmo headlines of getting your "perfect beach bod" after a few weeks, but I could use a little tough love.  I also have a wedding dress to rock in about two months.  So here, dear readers, is where I've decided to bare my soul (and body).  I need some accountability and I also need a record of my goals and progress.  So welcome to the Post-Baby Body Challenge.  Each week I'll share a fun picture of myself (cringe) and a list of mini-goals for both my eating and exercise, as well as one self-love activity (to maintain that grace I referred to earlier).  Other hot mamas (with a little more to love), feel free to join me!

Here's where I'm starting (can't believe I'm actually sharing this, but (BUTT-hehehe), here we go).  Worse than I thought, but I suppose that's another strong motivator:

I'm not going to focus on "losing weight" because 1)there's no way in HELL I'd post my starting weight here and 2) we don't own a scale so I don't actually know (or want to know) how much I weight right now.  I'm focusing on getting toned up (I used to have fantastic arms and now they're so jiggly!) and energized.  Also, notice the fly pink and black sneakers:  I bought them to motivate myself (cute workout gear can't hurt, especially for a fashionista like myself).

This Week's Goals

Diet

Drink a glass of water with each meal(before drinking anything else)

No snacks after 8pm (Rora's bedtime)--a warm drink (tea or decaf coffee) instead.

Exercise

Do two P90X workouts with Q

Take three walks with Aurora

Self-Love

Morning pages at least four days

It's early as I write this--I already had my first cup of coffee (and no water!), so I must make up for that.  It rained yesterday, so while the air is hot, it isn't humid--looks like a great day for a walk with my two loves.

Cheers!
Manda

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Week 17: Milestones

17 weeks.  Kinda feels like when you turn 17 years old.  Exciting because you’re one step closer to good things to come (turning 18/being considered an ‘adult’/freedom to buy naughty things that you probably wouldn’t buy anyway/ability to cash in that lotto ticket and get back the 2 bucks you spent on it) but not any kind of noted milestone in pregnancy (end point of morning sickness/start of a new trimester/halfway mark/finding out the sex of your baby/HAVING your baby). 

But hey, I can’t complain!  Here are a couple of exciting things that happened this past week:

     1.  Pretty sure I felt the first baby movements.  It felt like tiny bubbles (not the gassy kind…) near the surface of my stomach.  At one point I even had Andrew (aka Hubby) put his hand on my belly and he felt it too! 

      2.  Had a doctor’s appointment today where we got to hear the baby’s heartbeat again (and I got to drink a large glass of what tasted like flat orange soda, for my glucose blood test…keep your fingers crossed—I have been eating a LOT of Skittles and Sour Patch Kids lately). 

It was great to hear the heartbeat but it’s still pretty strange having a little baby growing inside of you and not getting to see it for weeks on end.  After spending the weekend with my niece (Aurora, 5 months) I came home feeling sad.  I missed her and I missed my sister (her mama) and I missed MY baby….?  Yep.  I know it sounds so incredibly weird, but I just had this strange longing to see my baby, hold my baby, listen to my baby cry…. but alas I have 23 weeks to go before this will become a reality!  I’m trying to focus on the now--the last summer Andrew and I will spend as a ‘couple’ rather than a ‘family’.  But we have been married for 4 years now and dating for 6 years prior (eeks!  that’s 10 years together!) and are so ready to welcome this new little babe into our lives to form our own family. 

Not sure if it’s the heat or the hormones, but I’ve been just a bit down in the dumps lately.  I am certainly grumpy!  Poor Andrew had to deal with my complaining while he graciously took these week 17 photos (I might post some outtakes later of me scowling and being a brat—NOT cute).   Today I will spare you:  Here’s the bump at 17 weeks…and me being a proud mama-to-be—which I ‘spose is exciting enough for me…no milestone needed.

                     

In these photos:  vintage silk print scarf, white tank from Target, vintage peach maxi skirt, fringe wedges by Sam Edelman (courtesy of hand-me-downs from sis!)

xo

Jayme

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Weekend Update in Pictures (and words too)

I was anticipating Jayme and Andrew's visit all week.  I had a running to-do list up on our kitchen whiteboard so that everything would be perfect--it was their first time visiting our house in VA (and Q's and mine first time entertaining overnight guests!).  I could barely sleep on Friday night, and even though I am known for my late sleeping on Saturdays (since Q is home, he'll usually get her out of her crib if she starts fussing and let me sleep in, since he doesn't have to go to work.  They get special time together and I get special time...with my bed!), I was up with the sun.

They got in around 10am, and of course, while they were very excited to see me and get a tour of the house, they were EXTREMELY excited to see Aurora!  And she was just as excited to see them:

 Top:  Uncle Andy makes Rora smile.  Bottom:  Aunt Jayme gives Rora some cereal.

We played and relaxed for a while after their three and a half hour drive.  After that, it was time for a shopping trip!  Discounts, thrifting and vintage are some of our favorite things.  We hit up Loehmann's, then came home for lunch.  After lunch, we headed back out to Unique, a huge thrift store in Virginia, where we found some amazing vintage baby clothes (that I will soon share on a preview blog!).  It was hot and humid and what I simply call "gross" outside, so we came back to the haven of our central A/C and hung out for a while.  Of course, downtime always means "cool tricks time" for Aurora:

She'd really like to think she could drink out of a glass.  She loves gnawing on the edge, but if a sip of water gets in her mouth, it still surprises her.  We were laughing so hard at how excited she got over a little water glass!  I know I'm her mom, so I'm biased, but I swear she is the cutest and funniest girl there ever was.

We went out to dinner in the evening, once things cooled down.  Unfortunately, it took a little while for us to park, and then a little while waiting for a table, so we ended up sitting down just about half an hour before Rora's usual bedtime.  She started to get really fussy, so we had fun passing her around, trying to see who could keep her calm the longest.  In the end, it's always Daddy who has the best ideas.  Outside of the restaurant, there was a fountain/waterfall--Rora loves water (baths, showers, the ocean, her baby pool, bubbling brook sounds to fall asleep)--and this calmed her down for our ride home:

Rora, Q and me outside of P.F. Chang's in Arlington

We came home and put Aurora to bed, though not without more fussing (she was definitely overtired by this point).  Then we hung out in the living room, listening to some XM radio and talking while Jayme highlighted my hair (yes, she's my personal shopper, hairstylist, makeup artist, etc).  We were all pretty tired after running around all day, so we rolled into bed around 11:30pm.

The next morning, it was time for our favorite city breakfast spot, Open City.  It's a little bit of a drive from Virginia, but it's worth it, especially as it's become a family tradition:

 our little family

The place was pretty packed and a little stuffy. Jayme, Q, and I all got delicious frozen cappuccinos. Andrew had coffee (with animal crackers on the side, which Aurora had to sample--below, in pic with Q). We had egg scrambles and French toast.  Aurora was good for the most part, but we had to play hot potato with her once again toward the end of our meal:

from top clockwise:  Q & Rora, Uncle Andy and Rora, me & Rora and an English muffin, Aunt Jayme and Rora

After breakfast, we did a little driving tour of where Q grew up, then came home to chill.  When Aurora went down for her afternoon nap, Uncle Andy and Aunt Jayme decided it was time to go.  We were all sad!  But it was a fantastic weekend and I couldn't help but think how awesome our times together in the future will be when we have TWO babies to play and snuggle with!

We'll keep you updated on that progress, as Jayme hits the 17 week mark this week!  Yeah!

Later,
Amanda

Adventures in Pregnancy: Volume 1

Pregnancy brings on all kinds of changes, emotions and oddities…some you read about all the time and some that might come as a surprise.  This morning was certainly interesting…and at Amanda’s suggestion I decided to share [with embarrassment] in a blog.

In prepping for my upcoming weekend trip to D.C./VA to visit the sis (see our other blog for more deets: miskabelle.blogspot.com) I decided to take the day off.  We had a pretty great week of sales on Miskabelle and I saved all the wrapping/packaging for this morning.    I happily wrapped each box in brown paper then stacked them up and stepped back to admire, like a proud parent.  I snapped a pic with my phone to send to Amanda AND to my hubby AND to twitter. “Should be an interesting trip to the post office all by myself,” I tweeted.   Little did I know…

It was a queasy kind of morning (as usual) so as I sang along with my iTunes tracklist (rapping along with Drake, belting to Jonatha Brooke, grooving to some Elton John….), wrapping up our week’s purchases, I sort of only managed to choke down a couple bites of yogurt.  But….that’s not so unusual.  I finished wrapping, threw on my sundress and off to the post office I went.

I managed to get my stack of boxes into the post office without a hitch.  I stood filling out some international packing slips (Canada, United Kingdom, Australia).  I stood watching the post office worker weigh the packages.  I stood making small talk about vintage clothing.  I stood…..starting to feel a little queasy <’you’re fine….you’re fine….almost done…you can do it….’>  Nope.  Couldn’t do it.  I suddenly was seeing stars and grasping the counter for dear life.  “I think I’m gonna pass out.”  Sitting down on the floor of the post office I dry heaved.  Two sweet ladies in line behind me came to the rescue….one grabbing a trash can, the other holding my hair.  The poor post office worker offered me crackers in a panic and graciously brought me a glass of water.  What an adventure.  At some point I think I mentioned being pregnant and luckily this gets major sympathy points—especially from those who have been through it.  Mommies love sharing their battle stories.  I feel so thankful that us moms/moms-to-be have that connection!  I was truly embarrassed but felt comfort in someone else’s “I’ve been there” story.

Yeah….that was my first major adventure in pregnancy.  So next time we have a big week of sales….I will shut up and take my stack of boxes to the post office sans brag-y tweets and texts.  I have learned my lesson! #karma

Humbly yours,

Jayme