Ode to Maternity Jeans

So I think I forgot to mention that last weekend I had a bit of a shopping spree...for maternity clothes. I have had mixed feelings about maternity clothes from the beginning. For those who know me well, you know that I am pretty much the ultimate cheap-skate (I am my father's daughter). I don't enjoy spending money (particularly on myself). I stress about where my money goes, and am very frugal in my financial decisions. (Just today, in fact, my wonderful husband is "forcing me" to go out for lunch...which I hardly ever do. He said I deserve it, and insist that I go and not feel guilty about it...he's the best.)

So it's a bit overwhelming to me, the forever cheap-skate, to be faced with essentially having to create a whole new wardrobe that I will only wear for a few months (unless of course I save things to wear for future pregnancies). I have borrowed a few pieces here and there, and have looked online for used stuff (without much luck).

Last weekend, I set out to check out 2 maternity consignment stores in the Twin Cities. Nine, which is in downtown Hopkins, and Bellies to Babies in Richfield. Seriously, folks. Why aren't maternity consignment stores more popular?! The concept is GENIUS!

Anyways, to be honest, I was disappointed by the consignment stores. I did manage to find 2 relatively well priced pieces at each store, but overall I wasn't impressed. I found that the experience was very similar to going to most other middle-range consignment stores...very well worn items, many of them apparently shrunk (which is REALLY not helpful for maternity clothes), and most pretty well out of style. Granted, every once in awhile there was a good item...but it seemed to be the exception, rather than the rule.

But, like I said, I managed to find 4 pieces between the two stores - a jean skirt, a pair of khaki shorts, a pair of khaki capris, and a pretty top. After the two consignment stores, I met up with my mom at Kohl's. It just so happened that Kohl's was having a big sale on their maternity clothes...and my mom had a coupon for an additional 30% off everything! They had really nice stuff, so we stocked up! My mom generously offered to buy 4 pieces for me. She got me jeans, black pants, and two nice tops. I also bought myself a couple other tops. I feel set for awhile! It was really weird to try on maternity stuff. It is still really big and long on me...it's hard to imagine that I will fit into some of the stuff I got. My mom is convinced that not only will I grow into it - but grow out of it as well! We'll see.

Anyways, a lot of back story to get to the title of the post...Ode to Maternity Jeans. After stocking up, I decided to try some of the stuff out (like I said, the tops don't really fit...but the bottoms are okay because they are so stretchy). I tried the jeans, and immediately decided that my new maternity jeans are AWESOME. They have the stretchy elastic band, rather than the full blown maternity panel, so they are super comfy. It's almost like sweatpant jeans! Sweet! I'm sure, like many other things with pregnancy, there will come a point where I'm super sick of maternity jeans, but now is not the time!

For now, I enjoy not having the unbuttoned button of my jeans dig into me, with the added fabric of the B-band, and constantly feeling I have to rearrange everything to make it look decent. So for now...loving the maternity jeans! So comfy. So easy to wear! Yay!