Happy Friday friends! The week back from vacation always kicks me in my bootay, so to say I’m excited for the weekend would be a drastic understatement. Sharing my monthly Q+A today… and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ahead!
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1. Have you found any great prenatal workout programs?
I swear by the Tone It Up pregnancy workouts. I add in my own 20-30 minutes of cardio and then do one of their routines and it’s such a great workout. I’ve found them to be just as challenging as the regular routines, but lower impact. They incorporate weights, resistance bands, booty bands, and kettlebells… which I really appreciate. I love feeling strong during pregnancy and these videos really help.
2. I am pregnant the second time around and feel like I’m already starting to show even though it’s still early! I’m not ready for maternity clothes, but my normal jeans are already feeling so tight around the waist, especially since most of my jeans are high-waisted pairs. I know you felt like you were showing earlier this time around, as well. Any key wardrobe pieces that have gotten you through the first trimester? Also, would you consider doing a post on your favorite maternity jeans once you are further along?
Yes, I can share my favorite maternity jeans when I purchase a pair. I do love the selection of maternity jeans here… as well as this selection of maternity dresses. I have this distressed pair + these distressed black jeans saved for future reference…. I’m a fan of this style because I love tucking in my shirt and these will allow for that throughout my pregnancy. I also swear by this BellaBand which allowed me to wear my regular jeans all the way into my third trimester the first time around. I think I’ll be busting it out again in the next few weeks…. I also loved these bralettes (well, I still do). They really supported my growing chest… since I’m typically very flat chested!
3. Can you give me your recommendations for Hawaii, specifically Maui? I will be heading there in a few weeks and would love any suggestions you might have.
When we head to Hawaii we typically try to stay at a Marriott Ocean Club because they have full kitchens and BBQs which makes traveling with a little one so much easier…. since you don’t have to eat out for every single meal. That being said, we do head out and some of our favorites places to eat are Monkeypod, Japengo (excellent sushi), Prison Pizza (great to have delivered to the room or to enjoy on the beach during sunset), Cheeseburger in Paradise (I know, super touristy, but it’s so good and right on the water in Lahaina), Dukes has a beautiful view of the sunset, and we also love Farmers Market for healthy sandwiches and açai bowls. I also highly recommend Merriman’s for gorgeous coastal views and one of the best Mai Tais I’ve ever had. They have a beautiful outdoor seating area and a great Happy Hour.
4. I was hoping you could give me some insight into this issue. Is there a way I can go about getting my husband to be more attentive and involved with our two kiddos, without sounding like I’m nagging? He without a doubt loves them bot but is unmotivated to spend quality time with them. I especially feel it’s important for our 3.5 year old girl. I honestly don’t know if this is a common thing or not but it’s a source of tension in our marriage.
Such a great question, and one I’m sure a lot of people have. Without knowing your husband personally, I can only provide some broad and general suggestions. Obviously your goal is to be heard, not just to say what you want. That being said, I think figuring out how your husband takes feedback best would be an excellent starting point. Historically, how have you approached sensitive topics with him and had success? When TJ and I were expecting Harper, I bought a bunch of books to read (for myself) and one I bought for him was “Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters.” I told him I’d heard it was a great book with a lot of great reviews. Whenever we’ve had some differing opinions on certain parenting issues, I typically find some research, and have us look at it together… that way it’s not as much of an attack as it is an exploration of the research and best ways we can apply that to our family. Hope that helps a little and best of luck!
5. I’m on the hunt for comfortable joggers, for sleep and for lounging. On the lighter side, not too hot since it stays warm longer here for us in central CA. You are the queen of comfort in my opinion, can you help me out with some recommendation?
I love a good jogger! The softest pair I own are these Lou + Grey ones (temporarily 40% off with code FRIENDS)… they’re super comfortable and don’t look like a typical jogger. I own them in black, grey, and an ivory color. This Beyond Yoga pair is a favorite as well… a littler warmer than the Lou + Grey pair, but so comfortable. I’ve worn them on two long flights (5+ hours) and around the house as well. And, I am a huge fan of these Urban Outfitters joggers too… super comfortable + high waisted.
6. Do you have any recommendations for stylish comfortable booties or sneaks (mom friendly…)? I need some ideas for flat shoes to wear dressy or casual (jeans or joggers) running around with a 2.5 year old and carrying a 6 month old. I don’t really want any kind of heel nor a traditional workout sneaker. I have chucks and tretorns… but any other suggestions? And for casual, no heel, booties?
Tretorn is my all time favorite sneaker… so glad you already have those… these leopard kicks are my most recent purchase from the line and they’re super comfortable. I also own these Cole Haan sneakers and they’re amazing… super comfortable and they’ll keep your feet warm during cold temps. They come in a lot of color options and I own them in the ivory/tan color. I don’t know if these New Balances are too “athletic” looking, but I love the two toned color option. Annnd, not sure how cold it gets where you live, but I’m obsessed with this shearling lined sneaker. I think it’s super cute and a great alternative to a regular sneaker. As far as a nice flat boot goes, I think these Free People booties are a beautiful option. They can easily be dressed up, or down, depending on selection of bottoms, top, and accessories…. and these Madewell Chelsea boots are also an excellent classic choice.
7. Can you give some recent book suggestions? I’ll be heading out on a girl’s trip and would love some good recs!
Over the past several months my favorite books have been: When Life Gives You Lululemons, The Woman In The Window, All We Ever Wanted, Small Great Things, + Crazy Rich Asians (I read the sequel and it wasn’t as good as the first….).
8. Any suggestions on fall to winter shoes that aren’t booties or boots? I’m on the east coast and would love some casual wear!
I know on the East Coast it’s gets pretty cold and snowy in the winter… that being said, I still love these shearling lined sneakers I mentioned above. I think they’re a great combination between sneaker + bootie… and they’re so cute! I also think the Sorel Kinetic boots I featured in yesterday’s post are an excellent option. They’re casual, cool, and super comfortable. If the black color isn’t your thing, I am also obsessed with (and own) the brown option. Love them! I also bought these faux fur trimmed shoes for a cold weather trip last year, but ended up not wearing them because it wasn’t cold enough. I still love them and think that they are so cute!
9. I’m always amazed how you plan meals for your family. I work 10-12 hour days and once I’m done at the gym I’m not cooking for an hour. Do you have any tips on food prep for a busy life?
Yes, of course! I recommend keeping meals to under 30 minutes, because I don’t think anyone has time to slave away in the kitchen for an hour during the week…. I use a crockpot (or pressure cooker) and have found the recipes by Skinnytaste to be helpful (specifically for the crockpot), healthy, and tasty. If you can toss everything into the pot before you head out for work, or even the evening before and store it in the refrigerator, it will be ready when you get home. I also try to buy as much food “pre-prepped” as possible. By that I mean I buy onions already diced, garlic already minced, carrots + cabbage already shredded, etc to cut down on any prep time. I literally toss in and cook. Makes life much easier. Spending an hour prepping on a Sunday evening helps as well. Pre-cut any meats and freeze/refrigerate them for the week ahead. Grocery shop on Sunday so that you have the ingredients you need for the week ahead. It makes such a big difference.
10. Can you share your thoughts/opinions on the Ava Women’s Bracelet? I know you mentioned that you used it in your pregnancy journey, and was considering it myself, but wanted to get some more information.
I think the Ava Women’s Bracelet is great. I wrote a little about it in this post, and while it won’t get you pregnant it truly helped me to track my fertility accurately. I wore it nightly, synced it to the app on my phone in the morning, and it gave me the data I needed to determine if I was in my “fertile” window. The month I used it 100% correctly, it alerted me to my fertile window (they give you 5 days) several days before I would have thought…. and that was the month I got pregnant. It tracks fertility by measuring your skin temperature, resting pulse rate, HRV, and sleeping patterns. It’s also FDA approved. If you’re interested in it, I really encourage you to read more about it here… as it answers more thoroughly exactly how it works and the scientific evidence behind the tracking. I can honestly say that I would have more than likely missed my fertile window without it.
11. Any ideas for a 1 year old family session? I am open to dresses but tend to lean more towards jeans/pants and top/sweaters. Jumpsuits are awesome too! I will say white is not her color because she is soooo white with strawberry blonde hair. Thanks!
That will be so cute! For our most recent family photos, I had Harper wear this adorable boho romper and it was super cute… it comes in three color options. It’s also beautiful in this deep plum color… which is great for fall. If you’re open to a jumpsuit as well, I think this flutter sleeve option would pair so cute (and your daughter could wear this chambray romper). I know you mentioned that you tend to opt for items other than dresses, but I own this embroidered option and it always looks beautiful in photos… and would be cute when paired with the toddler romper. It comes in several color options as well, so you can find one that pairs with the color you put your daughter in. If you want to go with a sweater, this open knit option comes in several colors (I would go with cream if you’re trying to coordinate colors)…. and this faux wrap sweater is beautiful too… and the boysenberry would pair beautifully with the plum colored romper. If the romper is too cool for your little one this time of the year (not sure where you live) top it with a cute cardigan, like this one.
12. How old is Harper and what will the age gap be between your kids?
Harper will be 3 and 3 months when our new little girl arrives.
13. How long did it take you to conceive?
6 months with a chemical pregnancy around the third month.
14. Did you manage to consistently workout during the 1st trimester?
I wrote about my first trimester in this blog post, but yes, I was able to consistently workout throughout my first trimester and felt very fortunate. Since I workout in the mornings, I wasn’t impacted by the extreme afternoon/evening fatigue that would have hindered my ability to do so.
15. When did you first know you wanted to have kids with TJ?
TJ was always a great “boyfriend” and when I would see him with other people’s children I knew that he would be a gentle and loving father. When we first got married we knew we wanted to wait several years before bringing children into our lives so we could travel and solidify our marriage. Right after a relatively busy spring of traveling (we went to Europe, ran a half marathon together, and then went to Hawaii with my family) we decided that we would try to start a family. We felt as if we had done so much traveling and enjoyed the first four years of our marriage. I think it was a natural progression… the feeling of it feeling right… but I did always know that he would make a great father and would be a supportive and equal partner in the parenthood journey, as he had been throughout the beginning years of our marriage.
16. What are your everyday facial products that you use?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, TULA is one of my favorites. I use the illuminating serum, overnight rescue cream, under eye cream, and the resurfacing gel toner (every time I run out and don’t use it for a little while I can tell a huge difference in my skin…). You can get 20% off with code SHANNON. Side Note: I always wish I could give more options, but when I find everyday products that work for me, I tend to use them religiously.
