Good times at Mimi!

It wasn't too many days until I broke down and went maternity clothes shopping. Now I'm not a power shopper by nature and typically spend 30 minutes from entry to exit, including check-out, when shopping. But I knew this was going to take some time so, with an empty afternoon ahead of me I went out to fill in the gaps of my new formed maternity wardrobe. I wrapped up work and went across the street to the specialty maternity store. I was very warmly greeted and explained the layout of the store, how to size oneself and sales/new arrivals that might be of interest. I explained I was looking for a few things for our up-coming trip to St John and just looking in general!

So I looked and found an exhausting abundance of that style I have hated since the day it was introduced even in my way pre-pregnancy days. That empire waist shirt, with the flowy skirt-like bottom. I found every variation on this theme; the short sleeved, long sleeved, tank, satiny, sporty, peasanty, frilly, geometric, fashioned with a ribbon to tie, or an elastic to secure or simply a seam to indicate this is where the boobs lie and everything else covers the belly. Oh boy this is going to take some time. So I dialed into my thrift store like focus and began to hone in... taking in first, colors and sizes and then filtering down to styles that seemed out of place in the land of empire waist.

The woman helping was actually very helpful. Taking my finds off my hands and selecting a few extras to stash away in my dressing room. She personally looked for dresses that I might enjoy while on the island and brought in a pair of jeans I thought were a stretch, no pun intended, for me, but I'd try them on. I was actually amazed at all I found. And doubly impressed with all that I bought for under $120. Luckily all the things I really liked were on sale. But even the new jeans, which I did end up getting, were very affordable.

My next stop was Daffy's to find a jacket I could fit over my belly. My winter jacket is so tight now that when I take it off I let out an audible sigh of relief! Not good, considering I have at least 2 more cold months left. So, after much laboring over my choices of white, brown or black, with sweater trim or not, removable sleeves or hood, and most importantly L or XL. I bought, for $30 a great hooded, down XL white jacket that I loved immediately!

And now I have my first full maternity outfit to wear out tonight! I great red sweater over a nice fitted long sleeved shirt and my new awesome jeans... ah to be able to breathe and eat with out discomfort topped with my new jacket! I feel better already about this season!

And the great thing is I'll get to preview my spring/summer pregnancy season when we go to St John. Fun! I just hope my bathing suits fit! hmmmmm.