A Conversation With: Natalie of Thoughts by Natalie
We’ve been avid reader’s of San Diego-based Natalie’s blog Thoughts by Natalie – “a community for women dedicated to honest talk about beauty, style, wellness, and life” – for a while now, so we were excited to chat with the contributing editor to Glitter Guide & soon to be mom to baby Jack about her pregnancy must-haves, favorite maternity clothes, & lovely advice to fellow first time moms-to-be. Enjoy!
1. You only have a few more weeks before Jack arrives! What’s been the best piece of advice you’ve received since you’ve been pregnant?
Rest, rest, rest—and I’ve absolutely taken that advice to heart! Each day I have all kinds of things on my to-do list, but I always schedule downtime to sit down and do nothing for a while. Also, I’ve been going to bed early to make sure I get as much sleep as possible. Growing a person can be quite exhausting!
2. What have you enjoyed most about your pregnancy? Any major surprises?
Admittedly, pregnancy is not my favorite thing in the world—but feeling the little guy move will be one thing I absolutely will miss once he arrives! It’s always reassuring to feel his kicks and know he’s doing well in there—even when he jabs me in the ribs ;)
3. What are some of your pregnancy beauty & fashion must-haves?
I’ve stuck to very minimalist items during this pregnancy, so I rely heavily on accessories to keep my simple wardrobe feeling fresh—my fedora hat, lightweight scarves, and pendant necklaces are just a few favorites. As far as makeup goes, I love CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion in brown for a natural, bright-eyed look, and I always sweep on some bronzer and my Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Highlighter Stick to reinforce that pregnancy glow.
4. Are there any pieces are you relying on to get you through these last few weeks?
It’s all about black for me in these final weeks—specifically, I have a black swing dress and a black maternity dress that I wear every single week (if not multiple times!).
5. What’s been your biggest indulgence while pregnant? Any foods/drinks you’re looking forward to having after the baby arrives?
Cheese!! Before getting pregnant, I ate cheese very rarely—mostly as a salad topper or when I went out to eat. But now I can’t remember a day this year when I didn’t eat any cheese! It’s just so appealing. Post-baby, I’m looking forward to finally drinking a glass of champagne as well as indulging in some spicy tuna rolls.
6. Do you have any style tips for other moms-to-be?
Keep it comfortable, and keep it YOU. The comfort part seems obvious, but I found myself trying to wear several things at the beginning that looked good but were really not working comfort-wise. Soft fabrics are a must, as well as LOTS of stretches. Also, so many of the maternity options out there are really unattractive, and I think a lot of women feel stuck in a style rut during pregnancy as a result. But it doesn’t have to be that way—I’ve found that by getting a couple sizes up in non-maternity clothes I can be comfortable and stay true to my pre-pregnancy style.
7. Have you started shopping for the baby? Any favorite brands for baby boys?
I honestly haven’t done a ton of shopping for Jack yet, mostly because our friends and family have been so generous with their gifts! As far as brands for good baby boy items go, though, I really love KicKee Pants, Carter’s, H&M and Freshly Picked!
8. What about the nursery?
The nursery is coming along slowly but surely. I knew right away that I wanted the Babyletto Hudson crib in white, so that’s been in the room for a while. Also, I found a dreamy wingback chair from IKEA and a sleek, modern changing table from Land of Nod that keeps the room looking masculine, modern and cozy. Now, we’re just searching for the perfect white dresser and some frames to hang the adorable Sharon Montrose baby animal photos I couldn’t resist buying.
9. Finally, what advice would you give to fellow first-time moms-to-be who are in the earlier stages of pregnancy?
Remember: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!! The hardest part of my pregnancy was the emotional side of things—handling weight gain and skin and hair changes that were less than glamorous. I felt insecure about myself for the first half of my pregnancy and wish I could’ve just seen in the mirror what other people see in pregnant women: a beautiful, radiant person who is growing a life inside her! Also, know that it’s okay to not enjoy pregnancy (it doesn’t make you a bad person or a bad mom) and that it’s temporary. It feels like an eternity, I know, but soon enough you’ll have a sweet baby in your arms and it’ll make it all worth it.
Thank you, Natalie! Some additional Thoughts by Natalie posts you may enjoy:
