Guest Blogger: Pearls and Green Tea

This blog needs a good dose of maternity done right! If everyone is holding their breath for me to get pregnant again anytime soon, you should probably exhale now. Instead, I now direct your attention to the beautiful Jiye from Pearls and Green Tea. Wouldn't it be great if we could all look this stunning during the third trimester? Jiye gives some great tips on dressing up that bump. Be sure to check out her blog - enjoy!

Hello Readers! I'm thrilled to be filling in for Teal today! I'm Jiye from Pearls and Green Tea. I became really interested in maternity fashion when I was pregnant with my first. To my big disappointment, I did not find a lot of trendy, affordable maternity clothing on the market. I ended up buying cheap clothes from Forever21 and Target in bigger sizes and making them work with my bump. I'm preggers with #2 now and pretty much doing the same thing. Here are some basic tips for styling a baby bump!

• belts: tied right above or below the belly bump
• stretchy non maternity clothing
• maternity spanx (they exist!!)
• long cardigans layered over everything (to hide that back fat and muffin top action...oh was that just me?)
  
• form fitting clothes are actually more flattering than huge clothes when pregnant (show off that bump!)

Here's a recent look with my daughter, A. We were heading out to her ballet class.

J.Crew top (outlet mall find for almost 90% off)  |  Target maternity shorts  |  Madewell sandals  |  Goyard handbag

That's it from me today. Thanks Teal and good luck on your big move!

Seattle Style Week: Lindsay Living

Finally, I'm happy to feature Lindsay from Lindsay Living today as we wrap up Seattle Style Week. The multi-talented Lindsay has taught me quite a few things about style, places to go in Seattle, and of course, the lean. Follow her blog and check out her articles on Seattleite. Enjoy!

Hello everyone! My name is Lindsay and I write a little style blog over at Lindsay Living.  Teal, as you know, is leaving the Emerald City for exciting opportunities in San Francisco.  While I adore SF, I will be so sad to see her go.  She asked a few of us Seattle Style Bloggers to guest post while she is on the move and I thought it would be a great opportunity to share a little bit of my Seattle summer style and one of the amazing Seattle landmarks I just visited for the first time recently.

Fisherman’s Terminal is this amazing marina space in the Port of Seattle west of Lake Union and the Ballard Bridge and flowing into the Puget Sound. I went on what might have been the most perfect Seattle summer day; the weather was gorgeous and the sky was as blue as the water. There’s something about being on the water that makes you feel great about life. If you’re ever in Seattle you’ll have to zip over there for a yummy lunch at Chinook’s and some fabulous photography.

Worn | Chambray dress, Old Navy | Woven belt, thrifted | Coach wedges, thrifted | Sunnies, Anthropologie |

Thanks so much, Teal, and good luck with the big move!

Seattle Style Week: Bright Tights, Cloudy City

As Seattle Style Week continues, I bring you my fellow California transplant, Emily of Bright Tights, Cloudy City. From the minute I discovered her blog, I felt I had found a kindred spirit. Emily cracks me up, can remix with the best of them and loves to include her amazing dog, Tucker, in her outfit posts - a girl after my own heart. Be sure to follow her blog. Enjoy!

Hi there! I'm Emily from Bright Tights, Cloudy City, and I'm filling in for Teal as she travels 800 miles with her family to where she belongs, San Francisco. 

I'm also a recent California transplant (4 years) which is one of the things Teal and I bonded over. We both decided (over wine) that you just KNOW when you meet someone from your home state. Other people I can spot from a mile away, Ohioans. There's just somethin' about those Midwesterner's...

When Teal asked us all to write about "Seattle Style", I knew exactly what article of clothing I'd highlight. To be honest, I was a TOTAL cliche when I first arrived. I went straight to REI and purchased multiple items made out of fleece and then headed straight for the flannel. After being in Seattle for a bit I realized the real trend were boots. Boots allow you to wear cute summer dresses when it's only 67 and jeans instead of rain gear when it's pouring. While I still own all the fleece and flannel I purchased that first month and use them often (when camping) I feel like with the addition of boots I've finally been able to mesh my two styles into something vaguely Calitonian (Any buddy else not afraid to admit they miss Bennifer?). 

Full Disclosure: While we're both technically California Girls it's fair to say we're from 2 very different California's. Teal is from a city that regularly lands itself on Top 10 lists, while my hometown boost slightly less impressive stats. While my little town may have some of the worst air quality in the state (Not to mention the smell! Think 100's of dairy's and 100+ temperatures) and an apparently exceptionally high auto theft rate, it's still home. And I think we can all agree, sometimes that's the only place you want to be. 

Good Luck Teal! We'll miss you in our lunch quartet! 

Outfit Details

Dress: F21

Belt: Gift

Bracelet: Gift from Santa Claus

Shoes: Born via Nordstrom 

Seattle Style Week: Blue Paper Lanterns

Next up for Seattle Style Week - Kimmie from Blue Paper Lanterns. I've had the privilege of getting to know Kimmie during my time in Seattle over some fun-filled dinners and lunches. She has a style that always strikes me as sleek, classic and effortless. Follow her blog to get a true sense of the Seattle atmosphere. She takes her fantastic photos throughout the city. Enjoy!

Hi Expecting Chic readers! I'm Kimmie from Blue Paper Lanterns.

Teal asked me to write up a post about "Seattle Style" and I was a little tempted to put on a black North Face fleece, flannel shirt, hiking pants, and Teva sandals (with socks, of course), but 1) I don't own any North Face or Tevas, and 2) it's in the middle of the summer, so as much as I want to wear my long sleeve flannel shirts, it's just not seasonally appropriate... so I wore the next best thing, a plaid shirt.

You may be puzzled as to why I'm wearing a long sleeve shirt and pants, and that's because it's summer in Seattle! It was super windy and pouring rain today (hence closed toe shoes) and the highs only reached the 60s. It's okay though, because we did have a nice weekend and 80 degrees was a little too much for me.

Good luck, Teal, with your move down to San Francisco! We're going to miss you up here in the rainy city. :)

Top: Target
Jeans: J. Brand
Belt: Banana Republic
Necklace: Kenneth Cole via Macy's
Shoes: Target

Seattle Style Week - Secondhand Stylist

Today is the first of my fabulous guest bloggers - Jenn from Secondhand Stylist. She has such an eye for fantastic consignment and thrift finds, not to mention tremendous style and wit. If you aren't following both of her blogs yet, why the heck not? She's the best! Enjoy!

Hi there, Expecting Chic readers. I'm Jenn from Secondhand Stylist, filling in for Teal while she makes the move back to California. She's been one of my blog friends from the beginning and I wish her lots of luck in her new endeavors.

Secondhand Stylist is actually my second fashion-y blog, born because a lot of my readers on The Suburb Experiment would comment that they would love to wear thrifted or vintage clothing but were unsure how to make it fit into their current wardrobe. The goal isn't to wear secondhand head-to-toe but to pick one piece and put it together in 3 different outfits with things already in my closet.

Because I wanted to keep things interesting here, I'll show you 3 looks already featured plus a brand-new "bonus" outfit:

The Floral Blouse

thrifted blouse, Free People sweater, F21 jeans, Sam Edelman booties (via 6pm.com), Target ring

As you can see this is basically the same as an outfit already pictured but the addition of the sweater gives you another option for a fall day.

The Knit Minidress

thrifted sweater dress and necklace, Nordstrom boots, AE belt

Even though the temperatures are still warm here I have my eye towards fall and planning how to bring current items into the cooler season.

The Polka Dot Blouse

thrifted blouse and purse, I Heart Ronson skirt (JCPenney), BCBG pumps

This is one of my favorites. I can't wait to wear it to work this week.

Thank you, Teal, for having me guest on your blog - and I look forward to following you all the way to San Francisco. OK, that sounded a little stalker-ish. Let's try that again. I look forward to following you via blog to San Francisco!