DIY Heartburn Dragon Maternity Costume

When I realized I’d be pregnant just before Halloween, I knew I had to do a costume blog post! I was kinda hoping for a whole set of them, but sadly I didn’t leave enough time for brainstorming and I ended up racing against the clock just to do this one. It was completed less than a week before my due date, and baby came a day early! I got the idea when I woke up one night with terrible heartburn. It feels like you’re breathing fire and that’s when it hit me- a dragon costume! Might as well put those terrible side effects to good use, right?

This costume is super easy and cheap to make, which is perfect for any expectant momma. You can also add it to a maternity dress without ruining it by using safety pins, which makes it perfect for being frugal. Plus, you can use any color dress you have or even a t-shirt and pants, or a hoodie. Really, whatever you have at home would work! Plus it’s actually pretty funny and super comfortable.

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You will need:

Green Dress (similar here)
Felt (similar here)
Ribbon (similar here)
Colored cardstock (similar here)
Wooden skewer (similar here)
Glue gun (similar here)
Scissors (similar here)
Safety pins (optional)

Directions- Dress

1. Measure a piece of ribbon going down the back of your dress. It can go all the way down, or only to a certain point. The choice is yours. I went with just above my booty so it would be comfy to sit in!

2. Start cutting triangles out of your felt. You’ll want 2 of each piece. You can either randomly cut triangles, then trace the same shape to make a copy, or fold your felt in half and cut the triangle so you end up with 2 identical pieces.

3. Line up your triangles on either side of your ribbon. Make sure all your spikes are facing the same way! What we’re going to do is glue them down so that they stick up on the ribbon.

4. Starting at either the top or the bottom of your ribbon, take your triangle and add a line of glue to the “bottom” edge, aka the one facing the ribbon.

5. Place the triangle down to glue it onto the ribbon. You want it to be laying down across the ribbon, over to the other side. Once it’s cooled, fold it back over to the side and add another line of glue, then press the other side of the next triangle onto the ribbon. You should now have two flaps facing each other.

6. Glue the flaps shut, and repeat all the way up the ribbon for all your spikes.

7. Once you’re done, you can either glue these spikes to your dress or safety pin them on so you can wear the dress again normally!

Directions- Fire

1. Pick out the colors for your fire. I used red and 2 shades of orange.

2. Draw a flame shape on your first piece of cardstock. In retrospect, I kinda wish it was a little thinner so it looked more like I was breathing it out, but you can do whatever you like for the shape!

3. Cut out the shape you drew, then place it on the next paper. You want to be sure the pencil edge is facing up (so you have a good side and a bad side that both match), then trace a larger version of your fire onto the next paper. Cut it out, and repeat again. Then, flip them all over and stack them in size order.

4. Glue your layers together, trimming as needed so they fit well together. I added glue to the bottom edge and left the flame side unglued so it would dance and look like it was moving when I waved it!

5. Glue your flames onto a wooden skewer. For safety, I cut off the pointy edge with some scissors.

Hah don’t mind these silly posed photos- 39 weeks preggo and had to have my husband help with the pics. He was pleased as punch and I was pretty much ready to plop my butt back on the couch. But, now that I don’t have this bump anymore I’m missing it- go figure!

What do you think of this costume idea?! Is it super clever and perfect for your heartburn? Or, did you have a different symptom you’d rather “show off”? Let me know in the comments below!

My Favorite Summer Pregnancy Snacks

While I wasn’t planning to be in my third trimester of pregnancy during the summer, I quickly learned just how difficult this can be! Apparently everyone else knew it, but I was blissfully unaware of what was to come. That being said, being pregnant in the summer allows you to have some pretty amazing snacks. Some of these may just be a pregnant lady’s cravings, but here were some of my favorite things to eat this summer!

Water and Frozen Fruit Smoothies

Ok, so smoothies aren’t exactly a new thing, but I quickly learned how much I craved sweets with my baby girl. We want them ALL THE TIME. In order to satisfy these cravings without going into sugar shock, I had to be a little bit creative. I started mixing frozen fruit (you can do packaged fruit or fresh fruit that you’ve frozen) and water, about a 50-50 ratio, then blended it in my Ninja Blender. The result is a cold, watery fruit juice that tastes a little bit sweet and super refreshing. It’s sweet but not too much, and it also sneaks in some much-needed water.

Ice Pops

When I was feeling especially hot or craving sweets, I’d grab an ice pop from the fridge! I didn’t want anything super sugary, so I stocked my freezer with Outshine Fruit Bars. The fruit and vegetable ones were the best because it gave me some extra nutrients since I’m not a huge fan of veggies. You can also make your own, which would allow you to make them whichever flavor you want, plus reduces waste since there's no box or plastic wrappers!

 

Hummus & Veggies or Crackers

If you’re craving something savory, try some hummus! I definitely had a hummus phase, where no one was allowed to touch my hummus haha. It’s so tasty and healthy, plus you can dip fresh veggies (extra nutrients for baby!) or some crackers for a filling snack. Add some cheese and you’ve got a tiny meal!

Ice Cream

Ok this is a no-brainer! Ice cream is fabulous in the summer. Barely an explanation needed here, but I enjoyed ice cream on a cone, and going out for some gave me a nice walk. Be conscious to avoid soft serve, as it can be dangerous. But, a scoop or two of regular ice cream is just perfect!

Oreos & Milk

My pantry was pretty much stocked with oreos throughout my entire pregnancy! I don’t think this is a particularly summer snack, but it was one of my faves so I had to include it. Paired with a cold glass of milk, it was perfect for those chocolatey cravings!

Fresh Fruit

Summer has some of the best, juiciest fruit in season! When I first got pregnant I was craving watermelon like nobody’s business but it was February/March and it definitely wasn’t in season. I had watermelon flavored EVERYTHING but nothing satisfied the craving like real watermelon. Then, as summer came, I started craving nectarines, peaches, and apricots! By the end, I was really loving blueberries in my cereal. Fresh fruit is a great and healthy way to satisfy those sweet cravings.

Salads

Summer is hot hot hot and sometimes you don’t want to eat a hot meal on top of it. But, a girl’s gotta eat! I really enjoyed salads, especially after a long day commuting in the heat. My favorite was anything with fruit (hah, duh) and a nice light dressing. There are plenty of homemade versions on Pinterest but you can also grab tasty ones at takeout places like Panera!

Water with Frozen Fruit

We’re supposed to drink a whole lot of water through pregnancy and it can get pretty boring. So, I started freezing my leftover watermelon and strawberries, then adding them as “ice cubes” to my water! It added some nice flavor to the water and kept it really cold. Win win!

 

Fresh Iced Tea

Avoid the sugary powdered stuff and the sugary packaged stuff and make your own iced tea! Grab your favorite (decaffeinated!) tea bags and steep them with some honey or agave syrup. Then, pour it over a glass of ice and enjoy. I have this cup which makes perfectly cold iced tea that’s perfect for at home and on the go! It has an auto-close feature that shuts the lid once you remove the straw, so you can add your ice to your hot tea and shake it up well!

Low Fat Cream Cheese & Pita Chips

Another new snack I started to love! Some Stacy’s Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips and cream cheese to dip it in! It’s crunchy and cool, slightly tart and sweet. Plus you can add some fresh fruit too if you want, like strawberries and blueberries!

I think one thing I’ll really miss about pregnancy is being able to eat all.the.time and never really gaining the weight! It’s been fun, but all good things must come to an end. Baby is coming soon, and that’s even better than anything else!

What are your favorite summer or pregnancy snacks? Was there something you just couldn’t get enough of? Let me know in the comments below!

Maternity Style: Movie Date Night

When you're pregnant in the summer, few things are as fun and refreshing as going to see a movie in an ice cold theater! It's got all our favorite things- entertainment that you get sitting down, a comfy recliner, and snacks. A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to see a movie and I  decided to try something a little different with my outfit. You see, baby HATES pants/shorts, and I get cold in the theaters but it's hella hot outside. So, I wore a maxi skirt up high so that it was nice and breezy before I got to the theater, but could be pulled down to my hip area for extra warmth when I got inside. It was also a fun alternative to wearing one of my same 7 dresses yet again!

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If you want to re-create the look, I've rounded up a few great options for each fashion piece! I've also linked a few scarves that you could add on for some extra warmth in the theater.

White Tanks  1  2  3 

Maxi Skirts  1  2  3  4

Bangles  1  2  3  

Shoes  1  2  3  

Clutch  1  2  3  4

Earrings  1  2  

Necklace  1  2  3  4

Belt  1  2  3 

Keychain  1  2  3 

Scarf  1  2  3  

It's such an easy, comfy, effortless way to look stylish.

What do you wear to the movies? Do you get cold, or is the temperature just right? Let me know in the comments below!

Maternity Style: Tropical Summer Tassel Outfit at Pier17

Back on June 30, I attended the Color Block Party for Pier 17 as they re-opened and launched their new Geronimo orb installation! It was pretty hot that day and I was 6 months pregnant, but I made the most of it with a cool, lightweight dress and my very own water cup. I still feel a little bit left out when everyone's having cocktails and I can't, so having this cup made me happy! People kept coming up to me and asking me what I was drinking. Spoiler: just water!

The theme of the event was to be colorful and wear summer brights, so I wore my awesome tassel dress I got last year from Forever 21. I accessorized it with tassel everything, like earrings, a bracelet, and a keychain. I wore cute and comfy colorful crocs plus my flamingo bag for the very first time. To copy the look, I've got 3-4 options you can snag to get a similar look!

Dress  1  2  3  4

Sandals  1  2  3 

Earrings  1  2  3  4  5

Flamingo Bag  1  2  3 

Bracelet  1  2  3  4

Pineapple Cup  1  2  3 

Keychain  1  2  3  

Overall the outfit was perfect for keeping cool on such a hot day. I didn't even get to wash & style my hair because I wasn't feeling well, but putting it in a cute bun helped to keep me cool so it ended up being perfect. I brought along a matching pair of sunglasses too, but it ended up not being that sunny so I didn't need them. Into the purse they went!

My husband wasn't planning to come with me that day, but I wasn't feeling well and it was over 90 degrees on top of that, so I was thinking of not going which made me super bummed! I had already convinced all my friends to join me, but I live much farther so it was a long trip to do alone. I asked him to come and I think he felt bad for me so he joined as well! You can see by his face he was having so much fun joining us. That's sarcasm, by the way. He didn't enjoy the heat!

PS- You can tell I love a theme and picked out my husband's outfit so he could match too! As for everyone else, well... I have no control over them! Haha. Overall it was a really fun event and I love getting dressed up in fun colors, so I call that a win! So crazy that soon I'll have a mini-me to bring to all these events.

I'm hoping to post about my cute and comfy outfits and adventures more often. Hopefully it'll encourage me to dress better- hah!