Mommy Style!

Molly is my entire world!!! If taking care of her meant I could never do another thing for myself then I would totally be okay with that. But luckily that isn’t the case and I know a big part of giving Molly the best life possible is taking care of myself. Both physically and mentally. Part of that is feeling good about myself each day. So I’ve made a promise to myself that I am not going to let myself wear sweats everyday and I’m going to rock my mommy style!!! Woot woot!

This evening Kevin and I took Molly for a walk and I thought, heck I’m going to put on a cute outfit for this family outing. So I slipped into faux leather pants and a cute tank! I’ll get to the pants in a minute but the tank is under $20 and comes in a few different colors. It’s part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale so these prices wont last and neither will the items! They sell out SO fast! I’m wearing a medium FYI. The sale started on the 14th for Nordstrom cardholders (of course I have one!) and is open for everyone starting July 22nd!

The hot mama pants (that’s what I’ve decided to call them) are also part of the Nsale! Normally they are about $100 but they are on major sale right now.

My watch and bracelets (you guessed it!) are also part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The watch is only $15!!!! I mean you cannot beat that price.

Here’s to being a mom and looking good doing it!!! 😉 How do you rock your mommy style? Tell me in the comment below!

1) GRAY TANK 2) FAUX LEATHER PANTS 3) WATCH 4) BRACELETS

77 Thoughts

77 thoughts on “Mommy Style!

  1. You look amazing! If I was someone just reading your blog for the first time I’d never know you just had Molly!

    1. Thank you Terri! I have 18lbs (gained 40 total) to lose but I’m so not in a rush to do it. I’m just good at hiding it with flattering clothes 🙂

  2. Your so happy!! See I bet you have absolutely forgotten about the last few months of discomfort:) Molly is beautiful!!

    1. Almost forgot! Ha! If anything I’m just SO happy to not be pregnant anymore. Caring for Molly is honestly easier for me than how horrible I felt at the end of my pregnancy. I feel like I was blessed with a good baby because my pregnancy and labor were so rough.

      1. Please Ali do not apologize for being you! As you already know people can just jump on happiness to put others down because they don’t feel good about themselves. In reality I feel you are trying to help those people. You are sharing yourself with the world and many of us appreciate your positivity and also when you’ve shared those dark and painful experiences you have had. I wish we were new moms together. My kids are 9 and 11 but I would’ve appreciated your enthusiasm and encouragement when I was going through the new mom time. Keep sharing Ali because your true readers want to hear the good and the bad.

  3. I’d suggested investing in some sweats that make you feel equally as great! As someone with an almost 9 week old- we just had our worst night last night with cluster feedings and reflux. Not more than a half hour of sleep until 6a so you can bet we were in sweats all day! I’ve learned so far that in parenthood it’s best not to make absolutes (e.g. I will shower every day) and just do the best you can and not get down on yourself if you don’t always meet even your own expectations. As long as the baby is fed and clean, you’re doing well!

    1. Good advice! I definitely have! I bought a bunch of maternity/nursing PJs and they make nursing SO much easier in the night and during the day when I didn’t get a lot of sleep and just want to stay in PJs all day 🙂

  4. First, you look GREAT!!! Are you sure you JUST had Molly? Lol. Second, I totally agree with you. Last year, my new year resolution was not to loose weight, which I need to, but was to take care of my personal appearance. Yes, if I loose weight I’ll look better but I needed to work on my fashion first and start rocking my cute clothes instead of going to the store in my pj bottoms. Yikes, I can’t believe I turned into "that" person. Lol. But anyway congrats and I absolutely love your blog.

    1. I just like to get showered and dressed. Makes me feel like me – but the new mom me 🙂

      Thanks for reading!!! xoxo

  5. Um I was still wearing the mesh underwear at this point. lol. It’s great that you are able to do this but I would hate for most moms to feel they have to bounce back as fast and if not they aren’t "taking care of themselves". You look great though.

    1. Sorry you feel that way! That absolutely wasn’t my intention. All moms are BEAUTIFUL! What our bodies do is so amazing and beautiful!

      1. i know it wasn’t your intention! Didn’t mean it in a negative way. I would love to have looked as beautiful as you do so shortly after! But like you said all moms are beautiful. In yoga pants and milk soaked shirts and all : ) Just want other moms to know it’s ok if it doesn’t happen as fast for them.

        1. Why would someone else feel they have to bounce back from this blog of her saying she dressed up a little to make herself feel good?? LOL goodness people!

      2. You have nothing to feel sorry about. People shouldn’t projet their situations and experiences on you. I think you look stunning, you always do. And whatever any of us can do to feel good about ourselves we should make those efforts, baby or no baby. And like you said this was a fashion post. People need to keep their negative feelings to themselves.

  6. Ugh. This post annoyed me on so many levels. It’s people like you that make new moms feel like crap because you paint everything like it’s rainbows and sunshine – and it’s not. Yes – it’s absolutely wonderful and the love you feel is beyond belief – but it’s also exhausting and messy and hard. I call bullshit.

    1. Honestly, I’m tired of moms making it seems so terrible. Yeah sure I’m tired but this baby is a blessing! It’s not THAT hard when you have a good partner and a really good baby. We know how lucky we are. It’s negative moms that really upset me. So say what you wish about my "bullshit" but I find motherhood to be amazing and I’m not going to apologize for that.

      1. I am not being negative – I’m being honest. Being a mother is amazing but it’s hard. You have been a mother for 11 days – talk to me after 365 days.

        1. I have been a mom for 5 years. My first baby was super hard and I never understood why everyone said motherhood was amazing. I was exhausted and stressed all the time from the constant crying. My second baby was bliss…never cried, slept. It’s not bs, it’s a different experience. Plain and simple. Oh and by the way, my first baby is now 5 and total heaven. Just a hard baby 🙂 you go Ali, enjoy that precious baby

        2. She’s being honest as well! If you read her blog she had a crazy tough pregnancy but she’s being real! She’s embracing the good and bad! Did you expect having a kid was going to be easy?? No of course not, so why state the obvious! Why not just embrace the positives instead of negatives! And again, just because you have a tough experience, does not mean she is or everyone else is! And yes I am a Mom!!!!

        3. You call it honestly, others look at it as negativity, myself included. 11 days, 365 days, 25 years-not sure why it needs to be a competition of who knows more. She’s speaking from a place that she knows and for people to bring her down because you feel otherwise is disheartening to a new mother.

        1. Yep, exactly. You can have a great partner and baby, but there are a million and one reasons why it can still be hard. Being 11 days into motherhood and saying "it’s not that hard" is incredibly naive, tone deaf and smug.

    2. And obviously you don’t read my blog because I’ve been super honest about how hard my pregnancy was. Having Molly in my life is BLISS compared to being pregnant. That’s my experience and just because it’s not yours doesn’t give you the right to judge me.

    3. Andi,

      If you don’t like the blog unfollow her but don’t try and beat down a new mom who is pulling the positives put of her new journey. There’s a lot a ugly and negative in life in general but that doesn’t mean people have to focus on it. I applaud Ali for her honesty, good and bad. She has and will continue to have a positive affect on woman’s lives

  7. Every mom has a different path & we can’t force anyone into what we wish was our ideal. I had a rough last month of my pregnancy (bed rest) & even though I felt like crap in the first few weeks I did the same & got up and got dressed before venturing out. It did so much for my mood.

    Not everyone’s baby is the same, not everyone has the same labor, hell not everyone has the same LIFE after baby. My "baby" is two and I just got divorced – we should all support our fellow moms no matter what their path! Ali you look amazing & I admire you getting up & outside!!

  8. Ali, you are an inspiration and don’t let anyone bring you down! Parenting is different for everybody and I think you have shared both the ups and downs of pregnancy and having a newborn! It is literally exhausting but you have to make the best of it because you have a precious child who makes it all worth it! Love you and love your blog!!!

    1. Agreed! Some people choose to look at the negative side and others make the best of it! Here’s to being a mom that tries to look at the best of it! But of course acknowledges the hard parts 🙂

      I will write a blog post soon about the ups and downs. This was just meant to be a fashion post because I’m obsessed with the NSale 😉

  9. Ali,

    Don’t apologize for being happy, loving motherhood or loving your body. Anyone who follows you and reads your blog knows you’ve taken very good care of yourself most of your pregnancy and that is Huge when it comes to bouncing back after birth. And you are breast-feeding which benefits you and Molly!! You are very real and a light to many woman so don’t fall into the mess negative people like to stir up. You are fabulous and are doing a great job!! Keep it up:)

    1. Thank you for saying this! I truly care about being real in this blog and empowering women to share their REAL experiences. I know mommyhood is really hard for some. But I just wish those moms wouldn’t push their bad experiences on those of us that are having a positive experience.

      BTW – it’s 6am in CA and I’ve been up every 2 hours feeding her. But I’m still happy. Exhausted and can’t think straight. But so very happy 🙂

      1. I was a young mother and I wish I had a positive role model back then and wish I had taken better care of myself back then so I didn’t have to work so hard now, lol. I choose to follow, read and embrace the positives of this world and only use the negative as a teaching opportunity for my children!

        BTW, you look awesome even as exhausted as you may are!! You have that Glow of pure happiness and everyone needs to see that:)

  10. How anyone can be offended by this post is beyond my comprehension. Kudos to you for looking so gorgeous and loving being a new mommy the way you do….I felt exactly the same about being a mom when mine were born and still do 26 years later! Time for people to stop tearing each other down…..ignore the haters and rock those "leather" pants lady!!

  11. Ali, you are so beautiful! Congratulations to you and Kevin, on baby Molly!

    Ps: your blog is amazing and don’t let these people bring you down;) love you!

  12. I’ve had 3 children. I was always back in normal clothes quickly, showered daily, makeup on, laundry done, house picked up, dinners made etc….. That was my normal, my experience, doesn’t make it right or wrong and it shouldn’t make anyone feel defensive.

  13. Ali….while I don’t have kids don’t apologize or feel like crap because others can’t handle the fact you don’t look like the night of the living dead because you just had a baby! You look comfortable and happy….enjoy it:)

  14. Ali- I’m a mommy to be expecting in November with a baby girl as well. Keeping up with your blog has put everything in perspective – no matter what she will be worth it in the end 🙂 The past few months have not been easy. You look great now as you have the past 9 months! Definitely an inspiration for all mommies!

  15. My daughter (child #1) was the hardest baby, ever. When she stopped screaming, I thought something was wrong. Took her forever to nurse. I think we both cried the majority of her first year (and beyond!) It was rough. My husband and I couldn’t even have dinner out, bc no one would babysit her. That bad. (And doctors couldn’t tell us why she screamed so much, etc.) I’m lucky if I got a shower in, and was on my own when my husband went back to work (then we moved far from family, due to his job, so I was really alone.)

    My son (child #2) was super easy. As long as he was fed every 2-3 hours, he was happy sleeping all swaddled in his swing, or being snuggled next to me in one of carriers. I showered, was able to get my hair done, wore real clothes…ha! Night and day. I felt physically much better than after my first, too (with her, I was in severe pain for 2 months, due to some TMI birth issues…ha.) It was easier to want to get up, and get dressed, and go out into the world.

    Two very different experiences, with two very different kids (who are still now exact opposites!)

    I’m happy that Molly has been such a good baby! I truly know how easy breezy that can be! (I had hyperemesis with my son, so him being an easy baby was probably my reward!)

    I know even now (my kids are 9 and 12), I do feel better when I take care of myself. Are there days I stay in yoga pants bc I’m not leaving the house? Sure! And when I do leave the house, it feels nice to put on something else (for me, no one else. At this point, I don’t care what other people say!)

    No one should be angry at how you’re handling being a new mom. I’ve been on both sides, and I’m happy I got to experience an "easy" baby. Glad you are doing so well!

  16. I’m not a mom, but I read your blog faithfully. I think it’s absolutely amazing. I think you’re an awesome mother already, and regardless of what other people say you’re doing exactly what you need to for Molly. Just like you said – in order for you to take care of her you need to take care of YOU. It doesn’t matter how you do that, just keep doing it.

    Don’t let negative moms get you down. I hope when I have my first baby I can be as wonderful of a mom as you have been to Molly already. Thank you for being real, reading your blog is a joy.

  17. Ali I do enjoy reading your posts! I am not a mother yet, but you’re giving me some serious baby fever. Haha. Congrats to you and Kevin!

  18. Ali,

    I think you’re perfect. I’m going to be 20 next month, I’m in college and definitely not yet ready to be a mom, but from reading your blog posts and following along with your Snapchat stories, I am so happy for you and I hope to be half the mommy you are someday! The end of your pregnancy may have been rough and I know you’re exhausted from being up with Molly, but you always keep a smile on your face and turn everything into a positive. I think you’re doing an incredible job and you’re such an inspiration to all women out there who have not yet gone down this path in their lives, but want to someday. Don’t let these few Negative Nelly’s keep you down, because you’re amazing! Kudos to you, keep on keepin’ on, Mama!

  19. Ali, you have always been my favorite from the bachelor family! I had my first baby 10 months ago and have worked so hard to get my body back! People are always criticizing how "easy" it was for me…little do they know the time and energy I put into getting "me" back! No matter what you do, someone will have something to say! Focus on you and Molly because these moments are precious! Congratulations! Thank you for being real!

  20. Ali,
    I’m pregnant with a baby girl due in October. This is my first after many losses. It has been a roller coaster getting here but every day is a blessing. I was actually telling my husband how I love watching your snapchats and reading your blogs because you are making me so excited for my bundle of joy! I’m so tired of people only talking about the negatives and basically complaining. And telling me I will never sleep. To be honest after everything I’ve been through I can’t wait for those sleepless nights because I never thought I would have them. So I thank you for making me excited!!! Good luck and I can’t wait to watch Molly grow!

    1. Allison, I’m so sorry for your losses. I myself have lost 3 and had my miracle daughter 7 weeks ago. She is the delight of my heart! There are nights I wish I hadn’t had sleep deprivation, and it’s OK to have those emotional moments. Like you though, I cherish this journey and try to walk in gratitude for my blessing!

      Ali, your website does make me smile and encourages me to look on the bright side and want to rock my inner mommy star. Thank you! Congrats on your beautiful Molly!

  21. Ali ?

    I’m a loyal reader and wanted to thank you for your honest posts throughout your journey. You’re a beautiful woman, and Molly is very lucky to have you as a momma. Thank you for being an inspiration to all of us and for sharing your tips and tricks !

    I do have one question though. Will you ever decide to write a book? I feel that a fashion book written by you would be amazing!!!

  22. Having a baby is definitely a blessing and everyone has their own challenges as a new mom. I have twins that are 10 months old and now 18 weeks pregnant. It is important to be positive and share that bc your children can feel any frustrations. Having children can be difficult at certain points (sleep training, teething, being sick) BUT it’s what you make of it. Ali, you look great! I gained 65lbs with my first pregnancy and was back in my jeans 1 month later.

    All moms should SUPPORT each other. Good or bad. We all have struggles but we can learn from each other. ❤️

  23. Ali,
    I think the joy that motherhood has brought you is so evident and so inspiring. When you posted the picture on Instagram with the caption "this has been the best week of my life," I took a screen shot and texted it to my sister because I thought it was so sweet. I just ended a long term relationship because he didn’t share my desire to be a parent, so seeing people on social media talk about how terrible/hard/exhausting motherhood is constantly can be kind of discouraging. I’m no fool, I know it’s hard and I think everyone has the right to share both the ups and the downs. But no one should ever shame you for sharing your Ups, and good for you for choosing to stay in positivity! I’m sure when the super hard days come, you won’t shy away from letting us know that motherhood is challenging too. But what I love is that you keep perspective through it all. Thanks for sharing YOUR truth and not letting social media’s expectations define your journey!

  24. I hope my IG comment wasn’t taken negatively, as I didn’t mean for it to. I think you are adorable and bubbly and seem radiating in happiness! I too had a horrific pregnancy, I had a rare liver disease that caused everything literally to be horrible. I still am scared to get pregnant again because I will 90% most likely get it again and my pregnancy was a nightmare. Then my son was born and he was such a hard baby. Bad reflux, tons of nursing problems (but stuck with it and nursed til 2!), cried 24:7, my husband works 12 hour days, it was tough. I don’t say all this to make moms who are having an easy time feel bad, I’m just saying it to offer a different bit of insight, plus, many many moms have a hard time! I was a nanny before my son so being a mom wasn’t hard, it was the crying 24:7, the no help, etc. Plus no sleep, so many sleep regressions, etc. Just keeping it real!

    I think this post may have irked some just because at 10 days declaring you made a promise to yourself not to wear sweats every day is daunting to so many. Most people at 10 day PP are still bleeding terribly, their vagina is ripped in half, their boobs are leaking, they’re walking zombies…it’s hard!! Taking a shower is a luxury for some! Leather pants weren’t even an option for my swollen body. And even with nursing around the clock it took me 1 year and hard work to loose my weight. And then when baby isn’t sleeping 20 hours a day you have to somehow miraculoisly take a shower and get ready while the baby wants you to just hold her 24:7. So some days, sweats just work best!

    Again, nothing but love to you and your new family, I’m just sharing my insight on a hot topic like this. As I lay here in a tent in Ojai camping with my 2 1/2 year old snuggled against me asleep! Being a mom truly is the best thing in the entire world. Rough, draining, and exhausting, but the most amazing thing in the world!

  25. Ok so here is my 2 cents on this!! ALL mom’s have different pregnancies, different deliveries, different personalities, different partners/relationships, and different emotions. We as women and and mothers should support each other’s experiences as mothers however different they can be…I am a mommy of 4….I had hyperemesis with all of 5 of my pregnancies (I had a miscarriage after my 1st) If you asked about my pregnancies I would tell you they were torture and I was miserable and depressed…does that make me a bad mom…NO!! I would be talking about MY experiences and MY feelings. Once my children were born they were perfect..they ate, slept, and rarely cried. My husband and I worked as a well oiled machine. If I discuss this does that mean I am glorifying motherhood, the hardest job in the world…NO! Again I am telling my experience. I am not pretending that my life , babies/children are perfect…I have those messy, crazy, frantic moments..ok days for sure. I am not pretending to know what it’s like to have a colic baby who won’t stop crying anymore than someone who has a glowing pregnancy can pretend to understand what I went through with a pic line in my neck to keep me from throwing up every 2 minutes. Ali is telling her experience, she is in essence journaling her experience as a new mom. People need to relax and support each other. This is just the beginning for Ali and her family. I am sure she will have her couldn’t even shower today kind of days, and I am also confident that she will post about that too. Mother’s of all kinds and all experiences should listen to one another, cry with one another, laugh with one another, and be open to ALL their journeys….and if you can’t be that don’t follow someone or read their blog to just be negative…I Enjoy reading!! Keep being you Ali!!

  26. Ali,
    I have a kind of personal question? I just had a baby 3 weeks ago. I agree 100% of what you said. I know if I don’t feel good about myself it’s going to be harder for me to take care of my baby and my family. Now to the question….I have heard a bunch on different things people are using to wrap there stomach to help reduse the swelling and to help get my stomach back. Have you heard of any good ones or any advise?
    Thanks
    Laura

  27. Ali I love your style and I think you are an amazing genuine person. Molly is so lucky to have a mommy like you 🙂 I can’t express enough to how important it is to do things that make you feel good as a new mom. Things that make you feel like YOU again…. like taking a shower, getting dressed and putting makeup on. Those were also things I did and made myself do after I had my babies…The happier I was, the better mood I was in which resulted in a happy mommy 🙂
    Motherhood is wonderful but can also be a tough place sometimes. Have you ever heard of critic’s math? The formula goes like this (1 negative comment +10000 compliments = 1 negative comment ) It’s always that negative one that stings. We all need to support one another and build each other up instead of knocking each other down with negative comments. Keep doing what you are doing Ali because so many women out there love and adore you. Haters are always gonna hate and their negativity doesn’t define you it’s just a reflection of their insides and insecurities.
    Thank you for being you 🙂

  28. Your mommy glow is beautiful! Congratulations! I agree-getting dressed helps you feel better and when you feel confident, your children benefit. I have 3 children and even if it’s my workout clothes and makeup, I feel good. I didn’t learn this until baby 2, but dry shampoo is the best mom tool ever! ?

  29. Your daughter is beautiful! I love that despite the hardships you’re are continuing to see this as a blessing and nothing less. That’s so inspiring!

  30. Getting Enjoy every moment…savor i/going out makes you feel like a person again, and breaks up the monotony of feeding/changing/sleeping. I have 2 little ones, and I try to get out everyday, even if it’s just for half an hour. To the park, to the store, to the library, wherever it is – it helps break up day and keep you feeling part of society 🙂 at least for me it does. Motherhood suits you, congrats again. It is truly the best gift ever!!! 🙂 So thankful and grateful I’ve been blessed twice. Enjoy the time with Molly, it is so cliche, but very true…it does go by fast!! savor every moment xoxo

  31. I love your outlook and I agree, as a new mommy it’s important to still feel like yourself.
    I have an 8 month old daughter and I honestly feel more confident in my body now than I ever did before.
    That being said, I know there were days when I needed to stay in my sweats and just stare at my baby 🙂 there were days when it would’ve felt like added stress to think that I needed to get up and dressed. I LOVED the first few weeks of her life where nothing was more important than sitting on the couch and feeding her.
    Thank you for your encouragement to moms everywhere. I’m sorry there have been negative comments. I blog as well and I understand how even the most honest of writings can be taken in the wrong way.
    Enjoy motherhood!!!

  32. Hi Ali!

    I love your blog! I just had my first baby (he’s 1 month) and every time I’m nursing I love to go to your blog to see if there’s anything new. Here I am nursing and reading through these comments and I want to say I applaud you for standing up for yourself and staying true to you! Every woman has such a different experience (for me pregnancy was great and some days I even miss it! My delivery and recovery were just fine but breast feeding has been super taxing on me and I’m just starting to get the hang of it!) and we need to build eachother up and support eachother in this motherhood club! Thanks for your posts and keep it up! Hour long nursing sessions are boring without them!

  33. Honestly people have to stop with the negative comments! I have a 2.5 month old and the negative comments started when I was pregnant! Oh enjoy life now, or forget about sleep for 18 years! Like come on people…no one expects having a baby to be easy but geez not every experience is even the same!! Also, having a supportive partner makes all the difference and its not our problem if people don’t have them! You knew this before you got pregnant if this person would be helpful or not! I’ve been to get my nails done, hair done and massage! You are better fitted to take care of someone when you take care of yourself 🙂 You rock those leather pants Ali!! Forget those "negative" Mom’s and let them be jealous because thats all it is 🙂

  34. I have a 6 month old and a 4 year old. My first was SO easy! My second, not so much 🙂 I love both of my daughters to the moon and back but it does get hard. I think it is wonderful that you’re enjoying motherhood so much and that you’re focusing on the positives. It can be very easy to slip into negative thinking so I like the way you’re combating that. I do like what another poster said though, don’t think in absolutes. Motherhood changes everyday! The best advice I can give you is that every phase of their lives has its perks. Find the good (i.e. a smile, laughing, or baby kisses) and it will get you through the tough times.

  35. Karen

    Ali! I’ve read all your blogs and have gotten so many cute ideas from you! Being a new mother is the most rewarding thing. Sure it can be daunting at times but that’s normal. In a world so full of negative and cruel things happening…your post are like a breath of fresh air! You keep rocking with your cute positive attitude! I’ll be reading. Molly is such a precious little angel…xoxo!

  36. I too have a hard time with this…I think it just makes the moms out there having a hard time feel even worse. When I had a newborn, when I saw new moms "bounce" back it make my postpartum depression worse. I had to unfollow a lot of people. Andi – that might be what you have to do but I get how you feel.

  37. Wow, woke up to check in on Ali and family this morning and saw this energetic string of positives and negatives. Everyone take a deep breath!! Let us just be joyful for healthy babies, please. Kudos for Ali for being so brave in sharing her ups and downs throughout her pregnancy. She has given us the facts of her journey and how she was feeling at the time. In no way has she said things to shame other moms who didn’t do, say, feel, act the same as she has. If we as Mom’s are not mature enough to be able to express our and understand others pregnancy journey’s, then shame on us! The negative comments that people feel "safe" saying behind a comment section with just a name and black and white letters are ridiculous and hurtful. Think about it ladies, really, how much of what you say here would you say to Ali face to face if you were sitting next to her at the pediatricians office with your baby in your lap? Ali made goals to not always be in sweats, and why not? She is so right that when you get up and get dressed you do feel better about yourself but I doubt she believes that everyday she will get up and out of sweats when it has been a bad night with baby! Let’s just get real and support each other, okay? Ali, Molly is just beautiful and I am still amazed at how alert she has been in all your photos. A cutie pie for sure.

  38. Ali you are awesome!! I love seeing you and you inspire me. I’m due next month and couldn’t agree more that taking care of yourself in essence makes you a better mama for your baby. Congrats on sweet Molly!

  39. "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those mind don’t matter, and those that matter don’t mind." You’re doing great, girl!!

  40. I’m not a mom but I think I know how you feel to some degree–look good, feel good right? A cute outfit always makes me feel refreshed and ready to take on the day. This is your blog girl, keep telling YOUR story and let negative people deal with whatever it is that makes them want to criticize you for the smallest of reasons. I love your blog and your adorable family and think you (and Kevin) are as real and down to earth as they come.
    (Also this outfit is super cute and so is your baby 😉 )

  41. Ali I love reading your blog. Even though it has been 21 years since I was a new Mom I think you are a beautiful Woman inside and out and Molly is blessed to have a Mommy like you. Kevin is the perfect match for you and so happy he is good with Molly. Some guys are not at the beginning. Mine hardly did anything with my son till he was older. Thanks for sharing this pregnancy and all the ups and downs a long the way. Congrats

  42. Ali, I always look forward to your blog postings and want to say forget the negative comments. The one thing I love about you since you were on the bachelor is you’re a sunny ? positive person and it is contagious ??. It is so awesome that you are helping so many others cope with their pregnancy, post baby and you inspire them to feel great about themselves. Love your fashion sense and that it’s budget friendly? and realistic. Hope you have a fantastic rest of this beautiful day and soak up every moment with Lil Molly ? look forward to your next blog, tweet and Instagram photo. Take Care ☺- Erica

  43. You hit the nail
    On the head by just saying "hey moms let’s make ourselves feel good by buying a few flattering outfits" – I suspect Ali has a stomach roll like many of us maybe even still do. Thing is, there are ways to figure flatter ourselves even with our various lumps and bumps what have you (which most of us have) so why not encourage women to do that. I’m not trying to dress to look perfect (it’s NOT my Main focus!) but heck hearing a "you look nice" as a mom is "nice"!

  44. I saw your tweet, and although I had read your blog, (Loved it as usual) I dont usually read the comments. I hate that woman feel the need to bring other woman down. Its your blog, your perspective, and you as the blogger have the right to write anything you want. If they had truly followed your blog they would have seen your honesty about how uncomfortable you were pregnant, and this must feel like a cake walk after that!! About dressing to feel good I can relate. I have anxiety and when I’m going into a situation that intensifies it, I always dress in a way that makes me feel pretty and confident. It helps emotionally on the outside, even if I’m shaking in my boots on the inside. You do YOU Ali, and ignore the haters. Molly is beautiful, and so are you inside and out!!

  45. Ali, I’ve followed you for years, ever since the Bachelor. Keep your head up and ignore the haters. Congrats on your new bundle of joy. I don’t know how anyone could look at the sweet face and not have an amazing day. ?

  46. Ahh i soon get to rock my mommy style, in November!! First time mom, love the hot mama faux leather pant idea, why not… hard to think about right now though, baby makes me so hungry!!

  47. Ali,
    I love reading your blog and I have read through these comments and I felt a lot like you did when my son was born. I had an awful pregnancy- I had terrible gall bladder attacks, lost 30 pounds, my husband at the time cheated on me at 4 month pregnant. It was a horrible pregnancy, but when my son was born even being alone (because my husband left) with him wasn’t that hard! Yes, I was tired but my son was a great baby and such a blessing! I had great support from family and friends so they were amazing but nothing compared to those 6 weeks I had at home with my son! You are beautiful and no matter what you look like after a baby is born it is a special time for bonding so if dressing up to go for a walk makes you feel like you then that’s great! Congratulations on Molly! She is beautiful!

  48. Geez! People are so negative! Luckily the positive people outnumber the negative!’ With my first baby I lost the weight fast, but my second has been a lot harder.. Just because I’m not in your situation doesn’t mean I’m going to hate on your situation for losing the weight fast. People are so sensitive and jealous! You go girl! Continue looking and feeling your best.

  49. Ali- you are so adorbs! I enjoy following you- you keep it real and are not afraid to not be perfect in the eyes of the world. You really are an inspiration, because there are so many people that are out there that prefer to just judge and criticize. Power to you that you have think skin and support to keep yourself strong through it all.

    BTW- you look great. I put on 70 pounds in my pregnancy and it is still sitting here 18 months later. My daughter was not growing like she should have the first 6 month. My doctor said you need to eat more and put on more weight. I literally stuffed my face and was gaining 3-5 pounds a week. Luckily it helped, she was born a solid 8 pounds and healthy as can be. 18 months old and has only been sick once and is ahead of the game when it comes to milestones. I never really will understand how amazing our bodies are and how each and every pregnancy is so different. But if 70 pounds of weight gain is what I needed, hey that is fine by me! Rather gain the weight for a healthy baby than to have an unhealthy one. Although, now that it is 18 months later and summer has rolled around, I decided it was time to start weaning my daughter from nursing and FINALLY starting to lose weight.

    Although I wish I had this blog a while ago, because I never really understood in the beginning how just showering and making myself look pretty made me feel so much better about myself. It is hard when your focus is all about the baby. Especially when it comes to breastfeeding. IT IS SO TIME CONSUMING! But I am glad I stuck with it. It is the best thing I have done for myself and my daughter. Now it is a little hard when it came to weaning. She was showing signs she was ready and wanting to nurse less. But two weeks later of weaning and dieting I no longer produce milk and she is not happy! All she wants to do is nurse, especially for comfort. It breaks my heart.

    You remind me so much of myself though when I had my daughter. I, like yourself, am so overjoyed to have have her in my life and take in every moment that I can. Till this day she is my world and has the most priority in my life. Some people will say that is wrong- my theory is this: we are shaping our children from day 1. They came from a world that was so warm and cozy so why not give them that throughout their entire life. Make them feel loved and nurtured all the time. They do not know any better. And lets face it, it’ll teach them that you are a safe haven to them and in this world we are bringing our children into they need to feel safe somewhere. Although you are doing a much better job at keeping your dog in the picture that I ever did with my two. Two german shepherds are hard to contain and take out with a baby. It is a lot easier now.

    You definitely love being a mom and it looks great on you. You are doing much better than I did the first couple weeks after giving birth. I had the hardest time breastfeeding my daughter. It took me an entire week for me to get my milk in, and was advised to have as much skin-to-skin contact with her as possible to help with my hormones to keep producing milk. I took 9 fenugreek pills a day and my diet consisted of mainly lactation cookies for an entire month. Also I drank so much fluids (since milk is 80% water) that I remember not being able to hold my bladder long enough to make it up the stairs to go to the bathroom in time, so I would urinate all over myself! My first 2 weeks were hard and I stayed in a robe for the first month. I showered every other day if I was lucky. Then at 2 weeks of nursing I had to change my diet and cut out all dairy because her body couldn’t handle it in the milk. That was not fun. Although I was so happy and excited and still head-over-heals with my daughter, it was hard on me in the beginning between nursing and then I didn’t get paid maternity leave and my husband literally just started working after being laid off for a few months and he wasn’t able to spend any time with me at home. As much as I enjoyed her every single day and having her all to myself. I wish I had more support and took some time to feel good about myself. I am so glad you have Kevin. Not only does he seem like a supportive partner but also a very hands-on and great father too!

    BTW- isn’t it just so cute when babies are milk drunk??? The funniest thing ever!

    Advice for such a busy mommy like yourself- stay up to date on everything! I fell behind and I am so mad at myself. I had one of those calendars where you write in it things your baby did the first year. Like first trip to the mall, so and so visited today, first trip here, first bon-fire, first sleep over, etc. And I never got to fill it all in and it is something I really wish I kept that up to date. My go to- was taking pictures to remember everything and texting myself and locking the message so it couldn’t be deleted. I have her first word, roll-over, climbing the stairs, first tooth, everything in pictures and text messages saved. I would find time then once a month to transfer it down in her memory book here and there instead of doing it right away. Then I was still able to accomplish a memory book at least!!

    I did this with my daughter, and I am so glad I did I got all the supplies by myself and did it, but definitely best to do it young since they don’t move as much. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b7/5c/9b/b75c9b01cb19c15fa83db0725db65abd.jpg

    Wish I had accomplished this one:
    http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/lF0AAOSwR0JURHXx/s-l225.jpg

  50. Good for you for being so positive! As someone who took over a year to get pregnant, the worst thing I ever read it people complaining constantly about their baby or the transition from pregnancy to baby. I have 8 weeks left and CAN’T wait. No matter how hard it is! It took me a LONG time to be able to experience it and I know it will be hard and I will be tired but I am so grateful that I will be able to experience it!

  51. Congrats to you and Kevin on little Molly! She is adorable!!

    where did you get your gray robe you wore at hospital or on the way home? It looked soooo comfy!
    I have been a huge fan of yours since day 1!

    Thank you!
    Amanda

  52. I got this shirt and wore black pants with it to the Guns N Roses concert last night in Atlanta…SUPER cute! Love your style!

Shop Ali's Feed

Click an image to shop
@ali.manno