Today my doc and I were sharing a giggle about how rude people can be towards pregnant women- whether it be passive-agressive personalities, or sheer stupidity. Fortunately, most people in my life just tell me I’m looking great (they remember what I looked like when I was dreadfully sick, though…), while some others ask, with a cheerful smile, “Are you sure there aren’t two in there?” Uhhh… so you’re saying I look bigger than I should. Great. Thanks. And I’m pretty sure after five ultrasounds and twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy, they would know if there were two. So there’s no need to ask such a silly thing.

But really, I’ve had it quite nice, with people being mostly polite and caring in their comments. And I haven’t had anyone come up and try to touch my belly yet (besides close friends, but they get a free pass), so that’s nice. I wouldn’t want someone touching my belly when I’m not pregnant, and people, these things do not change when you stick a baby inside. Promise. Just restrain yourself. I’m preparing for the day when I’m in the frozen foods section and I notice a stranger’s hand on my belly. Oh Lordy. That’ll be the day.

O U T F I T   D E T A I L S :

blouse: thrifted | skirt: thrifted | hat: Avenue Antiques (Canton, Ohio)
sunglasses: Tejas Vintage on Etsy | shoes: thrifted (vintage Hush Puppies)
photos by Phil (the husband)

Bright, graphic wall art seems to be popping up at all of my favorite home goods stores across the web. Not willing to spend our decorating budget on brand-new art, I thought I would make my own bold artwork for the walls of our home, using inexpensive supplies I had on hand, plus some cheap scrapbook/memory frames and thrifted record albums.

I always like to browse records while at the thrift store, on the off chance I’ll find an artist I enjoy, or even find design inspiration from a record’s cover art. My last shopping trip didn’t result in any good listening material, but I did find some record albums whose covers really spoke to me. They said, “paint me!”

S U P P L I E S :

• record album covers (browse the thrift store for the best looking covers)
• 12 inch by 12 inch frame (found mine for $5 at the craft store)
• gesso (white canvas primer)
• acrylic paints (I used Folk Art brand)
• paint brush
• razor blade
• steel ruler
• cutting surface

1.) Remove the insert from your 12×12 frame and trim around your album cover, using the insert as your guide. 2.) Decide what shape you want to paint, and start layering on the gesso with your paint brush. I used the trimmed edges of my album cover as guidelines, but didn’t tape off the edges, because I wanted a more imperfect appearance. 3.) Once your gesso is completely dry, cover it with your acrylic paint, doing as many coats as you like. I found two coats sufficiently covered the gesso for my standards.

Once your newly painted album cover has dried and cured, pop it into your frame and find somewhere in your home to hang it! I think three of these would look smashing hung vertically in a small hallway, or hung horizontally in a long hallway. Where would you put them in your home?

Oh, fashion bloggers. You inspire me to be more creative with my wardrobe, to travel to new places, and to spend more money on clothes (oops). I must admit, I’ve recently cleared a lot of fashion blogs from my blog reader, in an effort to streamline my mind and better curate the influences on my own personal sense of style. As I went through the process of tailoring my list of favorite fashion bloggers, I began to notice a trend in the ladies I love to follow. Each of these girls seem like down-to-earth ladies who don’t take fashion seriously, but seriously love the 1960s. Just looking at their clothes each week makes me wish we were friends in real life! (I don’t even care how lame-o that makes me sound.)

Of course, there are other fashion bloggers I admire, but these ladies have me particularly wishing for the days when this baby bump will have disappeared. Then I can find some crazy floral trousers like the ones worn by Nicole of Fashion Forestry. Ah-mazing!

Click on each image to explore each of the blogs!