May 22, 2018

Where to Find Affordable (& Fashionable) Maternity Clothing


Dressing your rapidly changing pregnancy body can be a challenge. But when it comes to maternity clothing, you definitely don’t need to sacrifice your style, or your wallet.

When I buy clothes, they need to be three things - built to last, fashionable and affordable. Key word there is affordable, especially for this mama on a budget. And when it comes to clothing that is only going to see the light of day for six to seven months at a time, maybe every two years, I definitely don’t want to be spending a whole heck of a lot.

Where to Find Affordable and Fashionable Maternity Clothing

Ladies, I’m talking maternity clothes here. 

Is it just me, or do they seem to be a heck of a lot more expensive than regular clothing? And come with a selection that’s a whole heck of a lot more limited?

Like I said, since I’m only going to be wearing the clothing for six to seven months at a time, I don’t want to a) buy a lot and b) spend a lot. I tend to stick to basics, such as solid-coloured tops, black pants, etc. and spice them up with items I already have in my wardrobe, such as jewellery, a cardigan, blazer or cute jacket.

Here is my list of go-to stores when it comes to buying maternity clothes.

Where to Find Affordable and Fashionable Maternity Clothing

Old Navy

Old Navy offers a great selection of simple maternity clothing. While the in-store selection varies by location, the online store has a wide variety of dresses, tops, pants, active wear and more to choose from. You can find solid-coloured basics (such as leggings or tees) or a floral printed maxi dress, perfect for summer.

Be sure to sign up for their newsletter that will frequently send you coupon codes (which also apply to maternity clothing). 

H&M

H&M also has some great non-maternity options that will cover the bump, such as their long camis/tank tops. 

Depending on the location, they also have a limited selection of maternity items available in-store. A larger selection can be found on their website, which includes some versatile basics, but also more bold pieces with fun patterns. They even sell maternity one-piece bathing suits online, perfect for the upcoming summer!

And once baby is born, they have a selection of inexpensive, yet stylish, nursing tops. 

Walmart

Walmart’s maternity section is a fairly new discovery for me, as it only consists of about one rack at my local store. Again, the in-store selection is small and varies by location, but a wider variety is available online at very reasonable prices. If you’re looking for basics (think solid-coloured tops, leggings, etc.), Walmart has many different options. They also have affordable, George brand nursing bras available. 

Thyme Maternity

The one thing I will spend a little extra money on is the pants. When it comes to maternity pants, comfort, but also quality, are key. I can switch up the shirt every day, but I usually wear the same pair of pants a few times a week. Therefore, they must last. So for pants, I turn to Thyme Maternity. They have a wide variety of types (i.e. jeans, casual, dressy) for all budgets. You could spend a few pennies on a brand name pair of Silver jeans, or be budget-conscious and stick to a more affordable Thyme Maternity branded pair. 

Thyme Maternity also almost always has sale codes available (sign up for their newsletter to receive exclusive discounts) and in-store and online, you can often snag some great finds on their sale racks. 

They also have the comfiest nursing bralettes for once baby is born. 

Joe Fresh

Ok, so Joe Fresh may not yet have a maternity line (fingers crossed they will one day), but they do have some great pieces that you can incorporate into your wardrobe. You can always find cute cardigans, jackets and shoes that will compliment your maternity top and pants. Their summer collection almost always contains a variety of flowy skirts and dresses that can be worn with a bump, or post-pregnancy. They also have an affordable lingerie line, to help accommodate that growing bust size. 

Sign up for their newsletter to receive notification of sales and coupon codes. 

Where to Find Affordable and Fashionable Maternity Clothing

At the end of the day, you don’t need to go crazy with buying maternity clothing. You’ll only be wearing them for a few months anyways. Stick to basics, add a splash of what you already have, and you will be one stylish (and confident) mama-to-be!



What are your thoughts on maternity clothing? What is your favourite maternity store to shop at? I’d love to hear your thoughts!






*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Purchasing through these links means that To & Fro will receive a small commission.  Thank you!

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May 15, 2018

Celebrating Spring with the Perfect Toddler Tea Party


This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TeaProudly #CollectiveBias

Now that the weather is finally in our favour, we like to celebrate the best way we know how - by getting outdoors with our toddler!

When our daughter was born, I vowed she would follow in her mom’s footsteps and never be a girly-girl. I was against all pinks, purples and princesses. But then, she became a toddler and I quickly discovered that it was not my choice. Babies, dresses, bows and the colour pink are now a common sight in our house. So, getting outside to celebrate the arrival of spring with a tea party seemed like it would be right up her alley.

Creating the Perfect Toddler Tea Party

A tea party is something I can get on board with because it is not just a fun way to eat lunch with your little one. A tea party is also a form of imaginative play, giving your child the opportunity to role play and act out various experiences (ahem, including being bossy). They can experiment with decision making, while also practice their social skills, from negotiation, to sharing, taking turns and understanding consequences.  

Add the outdoor setting and a toddler-friendly tea party is the perfect way to celebrate the return of spring (and the Victoria Day long weekend)!



Interested in enjoying a cup of Bigelow Tea this spring season? Hover over the photo above to click through to Walmart.ca to buy your favourite Bigelow Tea steep flavour.

What do I need to create the perfect toddler tea party?

First, you’ll need a table and chairs. One suitable for little people. To the table, you can add a lace or floral table cloth, but of course its not necessary. Decorate the table with all things spring, including bright colours and fresh flowers. Our favourite spring-time flowers are tulips. Pink for Morley, of course. 

In order to have a tea party, you’ll also need a way to serve the tea and snacks. There are many toddler-friendly play tea sets that will do the trick, or you can opt for a real set. Your local thrift store should have a variety of inexpensive cups and saucers, and even tea pots. For our party, we stuck with a kid-friendly set. Somebody can be a bit messy when it comes to eating and drinking, so plastic was safe. 

Creating the Perfect Toddler Tea Party

Don’t forget to wear your best tea party attire, such as a spring dress. If you’re venturing outside into the sun, a wide-brim hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are also a must.

No party is complete without food. Tea sandwiches are simple two-to-three-bite treats that go perfectly with tea. If you have a favourite sandwich combination - such as peanut butter & jelly or cucumber & cream cheese - try it in miniature-sized version instead. You can also include mini cupcakes, cookies or scones as dessert. 

Whether it is mom, auntie or even a favourite stuffie, don’t forget about inviting friends to share the party with!

Creating the Perfect Toddler Tea Party

Last, but definitely not least, the tea. For our recent tea party, we opted for Bigelow Tea’s organic collection, steep. Our go-to flavour was the caffeine-free Chamomile Citrus. Also toddler friendly, when cooled to the perfect temperature. 

Steep is completely “NEW” to Walmart Canada locations, and comes in six different flavours - Chamomile Citrus, Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Green Tea w/Pomegranate, Lemon Ginger and Pure Green Tea. They can be found in the tea and coffee aisle and, coming soon, online at Walmart.ca.

And, if your toddler is not into the idea of drinking tea, you can always substitute their favourite juice and reserve the tea for the adults at the table. 


Toddler Friendly Tea Party

Just because it’s finally warm outside, doesn't mean we can't drink hot tea. Tea brings people together, regardless of the weather. After all, a good tea party should be all about enjoying the company of others and finding something to celebrate, whenever you can. Like the return of spring.

How do you celebrate spring? Does it involve a favourite beverage, such as Bigelow Tea? I’d love to hear!

Creating the Perfect Toddler Tea Party

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May 11, 2018

Guest Bathroom Inspiration: The Beach


When I think of our happy place, the outdoors immediately comes to mind. And one outdoor space that makes us especially happy is, the beach! 

Growing up on Lake Huron, I have many fond memories of my time at the beach. So when thinking of designing our new home, I knew I wanted to bring some of the lake (and ocean, I don't discriminate when it comes to water) to us. 

The guest bathroom in our new home will double as Morley’s bathroom. In carrying the outdoors theme from her bedroom over, this time, we’re going to get our toes wet with a beach theme. Think lots of blues, beach treasures and underwater photos and art. 
Beach Theme Bathroom Inspiration Board


Since it is a small space, and to be honest, the lighting isn't fantastic, the plan is to keep the walls fairly light and bring in the colour with the decor (towels, bath mat, shower curtain, etc.). We have quite a few photographs we've taken during our time spent at the beach that we will add to the walls for a personal touch.

To learn more about our move, check out these posts:

Stay tuned for the next few months as we get our hands dirty turning our vision into reality, and share the before and after shots of the new space!

Have you recently designed a bathroom? What were some must haves? And what were some things you could have left out? I’d love to hear!


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