Edgy done right! Check out my sister Angela’s effortless look. She paired a Brooklyn Nets tee from Junk Food’s new NBA line with black on black Converse, black tights, a fitted Arden B leather and a leather clutch (love the skull detail!) Currently enrolled in Jean Madeline Cosmetology and Esthiology school, she’s been expressing creativity with her own style more — like with her navy ombre hair. I never thought colored hair could look so cool.

Follow her here on Instagram to check out her full hair portfolio!

Stay tuned for details to vote for Angela’s look in a style contest with Junk Food!

So, surprise, I may actually switch it up for my big night out and not wear black. Since I probably won’t ever be comfortable in candy apple red or pink, this burgundy Tees by Tina bandage dress in Rouge, $110, is perfect for me. They’re the most comfortable dresses in history (seriously!) with just the right amount of stretch.

Next, shoes. This black Victoria Colasanto Wall Street pair, $110, is perfect. And the extra height from the super-high platform will elongate my leg (much needed!)

And to finish it off, this pair of Liz James Tricia earrings, $175. I’m a simple girl. Too many jewels and I wind up feeling too Jerseylicious. These subtle sparklers will go perfect with a great pin-straight blowout and a smoky eye.

Hope you all enjoy your big Valentine’s night out! Short on a date for the Hallmark holiday? Use it as an excuse to get all your single girlfriends together and toast to being independent and fabulous. Any excuse to get dressed up and go out for a few cocktails is a good one!

MS xo

Which is why I love being a part of these blogger styling contests. It forces me to think outside the box and put together an outfit beyond what is black leggings, UGG boots and my old Fordham sweatshirt. It’s comfortable, people!

This round, I was asked to style a pair of patterned jeans by Level 99. I chose the Basset houndstooth style from the selection below. Honestly, I would’ve never picked up a pair of jeans like this on my own. I am a plain black tee, dark jeans and flat black boots (when I’m not in a sweatsuit! don’t judge me) type of girl and I rarely step out of my comfort zone — especially since I’m not yet back to my pre-baby body. But lately, I’ve had total fashion envy seeing other girls pull off printed denim so well.

This particular pair worked so well for me because it wasn’t too crazy and the fit was super comfortable (a must for me). The understated print probably could’ve done well paired with some color, but let’s be honest, I’ll wear mostly black until the day that I die. I styled my printed pair with a loose black H&M top, animal print Aldo scarf, fitted leather jacket from Arden B and distressed Zara motorcycle-style boots. I loved this look because I felt like myself but not as boring and “safe” as usual. That’s a victory for me on a Friday night.

Stay tuned for voting details to support Marijah Stewart in the Level 99 blogger contest!

In conclusion, this is what I am slowly learning during my time as a new mom: Don’t let these other skinny new mom bitches intimidate you. It took 9 months to put the weight on, it’s going to take time to take it off for mostly normal, breathing humans. Black is slimming. So, it’s OK to have a mostly gothic wardrobe for now. No, your body may never look the same. It may come close in time, but will probably never be what it was before, no matter how hard you work. That’s OK, too. Look what you have to show for it — a happy baby. It’s all about her (or him!) now. Would an extra hour at the gym, plus an hour at the nail salon, plus the tanning salon, plus effort to blow dry your hair each week, plus a whole new wardrobe make me look and feel better? YES. But for now, if I decide to spend that time  with my baby instead, that’s quite alright. After all, summer is still 6 months away. That gives me plenty of time to polish up before summer

Oh yeah, and don’t be afraid to step out of your fashion rut. Give printed denim a try!

Since I’m still in body-after-baby mode (aka I still have 20 lbs. to lose), I needed to find something for a wedding this past weekend that would camouflage my figure without being a tent. And I’ve been searching for a floor-length kaftan since the first time I laid eyes on Rachel Zoe. Here’s what I came up with…

The price of Nicole’s look: Probably more than my mortgage

After a lot of Internet searching, I finally found this ASOS kaftan for $30:

The only problem: The dress, which is meant to be worn on the beach as a cover-up, was too sheer to stand alone. So, I dug a plain black maxi out of my closet and wore it underneath as a slip. Add a pair of black BCBG pumps and oversized gold knot stud earrings from H&M and my look was complete.

Not without my sister Angela‘s help with my hair… (start with two braids in the back of your head, wrap around and secure with bobby pins)

Add a little bit of Clarins self tanner (the best) to punch up my paleness to finish the look!

Hey all!

Junk Food has asked me to be a part of another styling challenge! This time it’s a Game Day look with a vintage NFL tee. I picked a Philadelphia shirt, naturally, in support of the Eagles and my hometown.

Please RE-PIN my look on the contest Pinterest board, here, if you like it. One “re-pinner” will be chosen at random to receive one free Junk Food tee!

Thanks for your support!

M xx

The challenge? Style a vintage style football shirt from Junk Food’s NFL line of tees.

My thoughts: how can I create an outfit that is cute without being cheesy, but also comfortable and casual for a Sunday or Monday night football party?

Here’s what I came up with: I paired my tee with black high-waisted American Apparel leggings (the extra support is figure friendly, especially for me at 7 weeks postpartum!), an Urban Outfitters leather bomber jacket and distressed motorcycle boots from Zara. A little dark (I love black! what girl doesn’t?) but I felt festive without looking like a 12-year old kid. As a new mom, I’m quickly finding that it’s tough to balance style when you’re too old for silliness but too young for mom jeans (not good at any age!).

Do all moms do this?

Not sure, but this trick comes in handy for me every day!

Whenever my baby is being fussy and she’s already been fed, changed, played with, walked around, rocked, swayed, sung to and pleaded with — i.e.when I’m out of options and losing patience fast! — I turn to my microwave. Yep, my microwave. Head to the kitchen, flip on the exhaust fan and your baby will be pacified in seconds! Maybe it sounds like it does inside our bellies? I don’t know, yo. Either way, I’m not really asking questions. Who cares!? All I know is that when I press that button, it’s lights out for baby Reese, and that works for me!

Passing this along to all the new mamas out there. Hope it helps! xx

No true Desperate Housebitch has the time to have her diamonds professionally cleaned every few weeks. So, here’s the next best thing: brighten up your bling with a soft toothbrush and a few spritzes of Windex. Your platinum and gold will be gleamin’ and you won’t waste any time/effort/gas monies hauling ass all the way to the jeweler.

Steer clear of using this trick on other gemstones as they may be too delicate and could be damaged. Holla.

Contest is powered by Rafflecopter and a winner will be chosen at random on Friday. Tees will be shipped to contest winners immediately following announcement!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Leave it to the former reporter in me to ask every question under the sun. There’s not a conversation I had with another mother during my pregnancy that didn’t leave me with some bit of advice about childbirth and motherhood. Like, Stay home as long as you can before going to the hospital. And, Breastfeeding is tough for the first two weeks. By my ninth month I thought I had it all covered. But trust me when I say, no amount of advice prepared me for the reality of what has been the last 14 days of my life.

Let’s start with the delivery.

I used to think I was “good with pain.” I no longer believe this to be true. It’s widely known that if your baby is in a breech position, you’ll probably give birth via c-section. It is also commonly understood that the ideal position for a baby to be in prior to delivery is head down. Yet no one talks about what happens if the baby comes out situated as “sunny side up” (nowhere near as pleasant as the breakfast dish that inspired its name). Which is why I felt like I got hit with a bag of what-the-f—k when I delivered a baby who decided to arrive staring right into the eyes of the doctor and nursing staff. Hello, world! Goodbye, consciousness. It’s hard to describe pain, but the words “never again” left my mouth on more than a couple occasions during my two-plus hours of pushing. Blackout is the only way I can describe it. And this was with an epidural. In conclusion, I believe that women who opt for a natural birth (i.e. consciously deciding to forego the drugs) have real life super powers. Or are clinically insane.

On to the episiotomy. You hear about it, but as if it’s an urban myth, you never really picture it being a part of your own delivery. Well, I am here to tell you it is a very real thing, ya’lls. And it happens really fast… before you can swear to push harder or bargain with the doctor on behalf of your vagina. No, once the word “episiotomy” makes its way to the delivery room, your womanhood is doomed. And epidural or not, just knowing what’s going on down there is enough to really rock your world.

And lastly, we have breastfeeding. Who the f—k invented breastfeeding… or at least who made it popular again? I’d love to meet him or her. I’d also like to go back to that moment in the recovery room where I got the bright idea to give nursing a shot… and say No, bitch. Just no. I guess I should’ve listened more closely or asked follow-up questions when people said that the first two weeks were “tough.” Well, in the grand tradition of my brutal honesty, let me just say that “tough” doesn’t really do it justice. Excruciating, maybe? Brutal? Nightmarish, worst-pain-you’ve-ever-felt-in-your-life, perhaps? Yes, I am currently nursing (up until press time, that is), but I make no promises that this whole shebang is going past today. There should be a celebratory ceremony held in your honor if you make it past the first 10 days of this shiz. But no, not even a frayed blue prize ribbon. Want a more concrete example? It’s like having your rack cross paths with a cheese grater… every two to three hours, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You catch my drift?

This is not intended to scare moms-to-be or to tell a good story. It’s just the truth, yo. So, hug your mom today and give her a big old kiss. Because she may very well have had to compromise the well-being of her own lady flower just to bring you into this world.

And that’s just volume one.