Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Helping women love what they wear on a budget

5 Free Ways to Get in Shape After Baby!!

by Katie Haller

   
For most women, one of the hardest parts of having a new baby is getting their pre-baby body back.   It’s not easy.  Every women’s body is affected differently by pregnancy.  For me, my weight gain during my pregnancy was all in my belly.  I remember when my baby bump first started to show, I could feel all my muscles in my abdomen stretching.  There is no doubt that my baby really did a number on my abs.  On top of the stretching of my abdominal muscles, having a c-section didn’t help much.   
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ashamed of my new mom body.  I’m actually very proud of it.  I grew a human in me for 9 months and I think that’s something to be proud of, but like most women, I’d like to lose the mom pouch as it’s called.

I’ve always been a very petite person and it never took me much to stay in shape, but things change after you have a baby.  I think it’s important to set realistic goals for yourself.  Remember that you just carried a 6 plus pound human in you.  It takes 9 months to grow a baby, so it will take time to shed that baby weight.  Don’t expect it to happen overnight.  My goal is to flatten out my belly and get some of my ab muscles back that I used to have. 

So how can new moms lose that baby weight and get back to their old pre-baby body?  For me, I don’t spend money on gym memberships or expensive classes.  I feel like there are plenty of ways to work out on your own.  Here are some ways that I’m working out for free.
Walk/Run- I’m not a runner, but I do love to go on walks.  I feel like there is no easier way to workout for free than walking or running.  All you need are a pair of tennis shoes and you’re ready to go.  It’s the perfect workout for new moms because you can include your baby.  Jack loves his weekend walks with me. 
Baby Exercises-  I love finding ways to include my baby into my workouts.  When I’m not at work, I like to spend every moment I can with Jack, that’s why including him into my workouts is a great way for us to spend time together.  I feel like there is a big movement with baby workouts right now, so it’s easy to find exercise ideas.  Here are a few great baby exercises that I’ve been trying out, here and here. 

Workout Videos- If you’re like me, you might have a few workout DVD’s laying around your house.  I like to use them to get a full-body workout from my living room.  I have a few Jillian Michaels videos that always give me a great workout.  I also like to use YouTube to search for new workouts.  There are tons of great workouts on YouTube and it’s free.

Pinterest- Using Pinterest as a resource for workouts is a great idea!  One thing for me when it comes to working out is that I feel like I have a lack of time to fit it into my day.  That’s why I love finding quick workout plans that are easy and effective.  I’ve been doing a lot of pinning of postpartum workouts you can check out on my Pinterest page (here).

Workout Apps- There is literally an app for everything.  There are lots of different apps out there that will help you diet and help you get on a fitness plan.  I’ve always used Map My Run to track the distance I go on my walks and it will also tell you how many calories you burned.  Since I’m focusing on my core, I recently downloaded an app called Abs & Core Sworkit.  It is basically like having your own personal trainer.  If you’re looking to count your calories, my favorite app for that is My Fitness Pal.  Find an app that works for you and use it.  The great thing is that most apps are free, so you can try one out and if you don’t like it, just delete it and find another. 

Those are my free ways I’m getting in shape after baby.  How did you do it? 


What I Wore- Mom Wear

by Katie Haller

I have definitely been slacking with my outfit post lately. My reason for this is my 3-month-old baby, of course.  He takes up all of that free time that I used to have to blog.  Lately, my days are packed and I never feel like I’m getting ahead on anything.  Monday through Friday I go to work.  My preschool class goes from 8-2, then at 2:00, I try to manage my time appropriately to finish all my paperwork during my planning time, so that at 3:30, I’m on my way home to see my baby boy.  Once I’m home there’s dinner to make, laundry to fold, a baby to change, feed and keep happy.


After I put him to bed around 8:00, I have an hour to clean the kitchen, wash his bottles, get myself ready for bed and prep everything for the next day.  I sometimes get a few minutes to do a little blogging or check my blog social media accounts, but that’s about it.  I have to make sure that I’m asleep no later than 9:00, because I know that I’ll be up with the baby before midnight.  I’m usually up at least 3 times during the night with my little guy.  (He is not the greatest sleeper.)  The next morning I drag my tired self out of bed to do it all over again.  This is why I live for the weekends, but even then, Saturday and Sunday are my catch up days.  I knew having a baby would completely change my life forever, but living it every day can be overwhelming at times.  Please don’t get me wrong though, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.  I love every moment I get with my baby boy.  Every smile reminds me just how much I love that little human.  I love being a mom and I would never want to trade it in for my old life before my baby was born. 

So with all that said, you can understand that my life is busier than ever.  However, I refuse to loose my sense of style.  Having on a cute outfit can always brighten my day.  What I’ve been trying to come up with is easy to put together outfits that are comfortable and cute.  I like to call it “mom wear”. 
Here are some of my mom’s looks from this week. 
Sunday, I wore this hand-me-down dress that my mom gave me a while back.  I love a black dress.  It’s easy to accessorize and looks good on everyone. 
Dress- Nordstrom
Jacket- Meijer
Shoes- Target
My Monday outfit is pretty much my standard look for the workweek.  Leggings, tank top and a cardigan with flats are always my go-to outfit because it’s comfortable and looks cute.  Since I work with kids, I figured my work outfits are good looks for stay at home moms too.
Tank Top- H&M
Cardigan- Target
Leggings- Forever 21
On Tuesday, I wore my grey tunic with a white cardigan.  The cardigan is an Express cardigan that I bought at the Salvation Army for $3.  I love finding simple staple clothes at thrift stores for cheap, especially when it comes to my work clothes. 
Tunic- Nordstrom Rack
Sweater- Salvation Army
Leggings- Forever 21
On Thursday, I wore this look that I wore a few times in the fall while I was pregnant. (Pregnancy look here).  It’s an easy look that doesn’t require a lot of thought. 
Shirt- Old Navy
Cardigan- Target
Jeggings- Old Navy
On Friday, I really wanted to wear a dress, so I wore my new swing dress (read about it here) with a cardigan.  I love how comfortable this dress is in the heat.  It’s a perfect summer mom outfit.

Dress- Nordstrom Rack

Cardigan- Old Navy
 
Look for more mom wear post soon!  I’m all about trying to stay stylish while being a mom.  Plus with the lack of time on my hands, I don’t have time to get to the store and buy new clothes, so I’m trying to reinvent some new looks with the older clothes that I already have in my closet for now.  I can’t wait to share more soon!

Must Have Spring Basics

by Katie Haller

When putting together an affordable wardrobe, it’s always a good idea to stick with the basics and just build off of that.  I like to accessorize and mix and match my clothes to get the most use out of them.  In the spring, I have a few favorite pieces that I like to wear to add a little spring to my everyday looks.  


Today I want to share some of my spring essentials wardrobe pieces that I couldn’t live without. 
  1. Blazers- I love to layer and blazers are perfect for layering in the spring.  They make the perfect lightweight jacket.  I love how putting on a blazer can ready dress up a simple outfit and make it look polished.  My favorite blazers that I have bought are from  the LC Lauren Conrad collection at Kohl’s.  I like to buy them on sale with a coupon or look for acute one on clearance. 
  2. Colorful Statement Necklaces- If you follow my blog, you know I love colorful statement necklaces.  I think that they are the perfect way to make a simple look pop with a little color.  My favorite place to buy accessories like this is Charming Charlie.
  3. Denim Jackets- My denim jacket is my favorite right now and it’s perfect for layering in the spring with almost any outfit.  I found mine a couple summers ago for a steal (read about it here), but denim is pretty popular, so it’s easy to find a cute jean jacket.  Just keep your eyes open for great deals. 
  4. Maxi Skirts- Long skirts are great in the spring.  I like how comfortable they are.  I find the best prices on maxi skirts at Ross and T.J. Maxx.
  5. White Pants- White is the perfect way to add a little spring into your look.  This time of the year is always a great time to look for white pants.  I found my pair of white jeans at Target in the clearance section for under $10. (read about it here)
  6. Colorful Hand Bag- I tend to wear a lot of neutral colors, that’s why I always like to carry a bright colored purse to add some color to my look.  I’ve been using the coral Coach purse that I got as a gift last Christmas.  Charming Charlie is a great place to find a colorful handbag for a decent price! 
  7. Wedge Sandal- I love a wedge sandal as an alternative to a heal.  I’ve been wearing my black strappy wedge sandals a lot this spring.  I bought them at Target last summer for under $10.
Here are a few spring outfits that I’ve put together using my favorite spring basics. 
White Pants//Turquoise Necklace//Denim Jacket

Navy Blazer//Light Pink Necklace
Maxi Skirt//Denim Jacket//Turquoise Necklace

Denim Jacket//Coral Purse//Wedge Sandals
White Pants//Denim Jacket//Green Necklace
Grey Blazer//Coral Purse//Wedge Sandals

I hope you like my looks and get some ideas on how to style your own spring look!

Shopping Finds

by Katie Haller

After having a baby, shopping is just not the same anymore.  Going to the store and leisurely shopping the way I used to is not easy.  But last weekend I decided to face my fears of shopping with an infant and just do it.  We ended up having a nice little Sunday afternoon out bargain shopping (Jack slept the entire time of course).  I ended up at my favorite store at the moment… Nordstrom Rack.  I still had $25 on a Nordstrom gift card from Christmas, and when I get a gift card, you know I’m going to make the most of it and stretch the money as far as I can.  Since I’m trying really hard to be disciplined with my spending habits, I tried to stick to my spring/summer wish list that I made a few weeks ago (post here).  This way I was able to remember the things that I really wanted and not get sidetracked. 

  

I’ve been wanting a new pair of jeans for the longest time.  This might sound crazy coming from someone with a closet full of jeans, but you can never have enough denim.  I had something specific in mind.  I wanted to find a pair of jeans with a thin stretchy material that would be nice and light for the warmer weather, and also had distress faded look to them.  I ended up settling on a pair of jeans with no holes and thicker material.  They were only $12.97 and they fit well.  I felt that I couldn’t beat the price so I bought them.  Once I got them home, I tried them on and realized I had made a mistake.  Despite the great price and fit, they were not the jeans that I was looking for.  So later in the week, I made a quick trip back to Nordstrom Rack to return them.  While I was skimming through the clearance racks I stumbled upon this pair of jeans for $13.50.  I was so excited because they weren’t there earlier in the week and they were just what I was looking for, including the price.  I was very satisfied with my exchange.

(similar)

My other Nordstrom Rack purchase was this striped swing dress that I bought for $18.97.  Now I know on my shopping list I was looking for a bright spring color dress.  I’m still searching for one, but I thought that this dress was a safe bet for me.  I love black and white and I love stripes.  I figured that I would bring some color to it with a fun necklace.  This style of dress will be perfect for the hot desert summer that we have here in Las Vegas.

(exact)

My last purchase was from Target and it came straight from my shopping list.  I was looking for a pair of braided sandals to replace the white braided sandals that I bought at Target years ago.  I ended up pretty much buying the same pair in the cognac color.  I paid full price, but they were only $15.99, so I wasn’t sad about that.  Target is one of my favorite places to buy shoes because their shoes are always affordable and they are made well for cheap shoes. I know that I will get plenty of use out of these sandals.

(exact)

Whenever I get new clothes I love to put together new outfits and share them.  So here are a couple looks I came up with.

Here I put together 2 looks with my new jeans.  On the left, I have a casual look with my new sandals.  On the right, I put together a dressier outfit with a blazer and heels.

Here are 2 outfits with my swing dress.  The first look on the left is simple and perfect for the hot summer weather.  On the right, I wore my wedge strappy sandals with my denim jacket to dress it up a bit more.

I hope you like my shopping finds.  Hopefully, you can find some great spring deals too!  Happy shopping!

Simple Sunday

by Katie Haller

I haven’t done a Simple Sunday post in a year probably, but today I felt the need to quickly reflect on my weekend.  I like to do Simple Sunday posts to reflect on the things in my life that I love so that I can emphasize on the “happy life” part of my blog.
This weekend I barely left the house, but I got to spend the weekend with my boys.  Lately, on the weekends we have been trying to get out and do something as a family, but this weekend it was just nice to be home.  Jack is changing so much every day and I love getting to spend the entire day with him.  He’s smiling and laughing all the time now.  He thinks that his daddy is hilarious and I love to watch the two of them together.  Now that I’m back at work, I appreciate every moment I get to spend with my little family. 
My Saturday outfit, accessorized with a baby.

We took a lot of baby selfies! I couldn’t help myself.

He just discovered his hands a couple weeks ago.

All smiles!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend too!!  Have a great week!

My Closet- Weekend Wardrobe

by Katie Haller

I’m officially back at work now.  It has taken me a while to adjust to working with a baby, but it’s been getting easier as the weeks go by.  The hardest part about being back at work for me, besides missing my baby boy, is finding the time to get all the things done that I need to do.  I feel like there is never enough time in the day to accomplish everything.  A simple task like painting my nails has to be put on hold.  I literately had to do my nails in my classroom last Monday morning.  I’m finding that it’s especially hard to keep up with documenting my outfits like I used to.  Blogging about my outfits is something that I enjoy doing, that’s why this weekend I made a point of taking pictures of my outfits to share with all of you, even if they are a day or two late.

This weekend, I decided it was time to ditch my leggings and get back into my jeans.  It’s been so long since I’ve worn most of my jeans, so I figured it was time to start wearing them again.  Besides, before I know it, the weather will be too hot for jeans.

On Friday, I had a professional development day at work.  My favorite part of these days is no kids, which means I can wear whatever I want and not worry about my kiddos messing it up. (Hopefully, no one minds the baby foot that got in the picture.)
Jeans- LC Lauren Conrad Kohl’s (similar) 
Tunic- Nordstrom Rack (similar)
Blazer- Target (similar)
Sandals- Target (similar)
Necklace- Charming Charlie (similar)
On Saturday, I decided to pull my ripped jeans out of the closet.  I haven’t worn them in a while and I forgot how comfortable they are.  This was the perfect outfit for my casual Saturday of running errands. 
Jeans- T.J. Maxx (similar)
Shirt- H&M (similar)
Cardigan- Target (similar)
Necklace- Target (similar)

On Sunday, I decided to switch it up a bit and wear my flared jeans that I haven’t worn in the longest time.  I’ve been wearing skinny jeans for so long, I forgot how much I liked a flared bottom sometimes.  It’s always nice to switch up you wardrobe when you get board of one style.

Jeans- Nordstrom (similar)

Top- Walmart (similar)
Sweater- Old Navy (similar)
Shoes- The Goodwill (similar)

Those were my outfits this week.  I promise to keep up with my daily outfits, it just might take me some time to get them posted, but I guess that’s just mom life for you. 

I hope you’re having a great week! 

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