countdown to baby: hospital go-bag packing list

I am 37 weeks pregnant today, officially full-term! Baby could arrive any day now! Graydon was born exactly one week before his due date, and I was completely unprepared. This time, rather than throwing together a hospital go-bag in between contractions, I started prepping all the essentials ahead of time. Everything is basically packed and ready to go, minus a few last minute things that I use day-to-day. Here's a peek inside my bag, with a full packing list below!

1. Skip Hop Nolita Neoprene Diaper Backpack // 2. Seventh Generation Newborn Diapers // 3. Target Satin Slides (similar here) // 4. Earth Mama Nipple Butter // 5. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask // 6. babyGap Bunny Hat (similar here) // 7. Honest Company Spray Hand Sanitizer - Grapefruit Grove // 8. Target Satin Pajamas // 9. Target Striped Hearts Fuzzy Socks // 10. Little Unicorn Cotton Swaddle - Birch // 11. Carter's French Terry Coverall // 12. Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Camera // 13. Freshly Picked Newborn Moccassins - Cashmere

Hospital Bag Packing List

For Mom:

1. Flip-flops/Slippers

2. Cozy Socks

3. Nursing Bra/Nursing Pads

4. Nursing Pajamas/Robe

5. Underwear*

6. Maxi Pads

7. Going Home Outfit**

8. Toothbrush/Toothpaste

9. Shampoo/Conditioner/Dry Shampoo

10. Bobby Pins/Hair Ties/Headband

11. Deoderant

12. Contact Case/Solution

13. Glasses

14. Lip Balm

15. Hand Lotion

16. Nipple Cream

17. Face Wash/Moisturizer

18. Makeup

19. Any other toiletries you need to feel human

20. Saltines/Rice Cakes***

21. Wallet/I.D./Insurance Card

Notes

*You will be wearing pads for at least a month after baby is born, so invest in some cheap, comfy undies, like these.

**Your body will still look about 6 months pregnant when you leave the hospital, so pack maternity clothes.

***Immediately after Graydon was born, I couldn't keep anything down except super mild, easily digested snacks. I will be forever grateful to my mother-in-law for showing up at the hospital with Saltines.

For Baby:

1. Diapers/Wipes

2. Swaddle Blankets

3. Hat

4. Going Home Outfit

5. Sibling Gift (a little something to give your older kid/s, from the new baby)

For Your Partner:

1. Toiletries (toothbrush, deoderant, glasses, etc.)

2. Extra Clothes

3. Slippers/Flip Flops

4. Pillow/Blanket

5. Wallet/I.D./Insurance Card

6. List of people to call when baby arrives

Tech/Misc.

1. Cell Phones (loaded with music, apps, etc.)

2. Camera

3. Chargers for all devices

4. Magazines/Other light reading

5. Gift/Thank You for nurses

For the Car:

1. Infant Car Seat

2. Towel/Trash Bags (to sit on in case water breaks en route to the hospital)

friday favorites

We are officially in the final countdown to baby — due date February 28!!! I had what is (probably) my last shoot before maternity leave earlier this week, the nursery is almost ready, the baby clothes are washed and put away, and it feels like this little guy could be here any day now! Before life turns into nothing but babybabybabybaby, I wanted to take a quick minute to share a few of my favorite things right now. 

1. Living Proof PhD travel kit // 2. The Handmaid's Tale // 3. Simply Curated Botanical Collection No. 1 candle // 4. Gilligan O'Malley seamless nightgown // 5. Casper pillow

I know I'm late to the party with Living Proof, but I picked up this travel set for myself when I was Christmas shopping, and OMG this stuff is amazing. The shampoo and conditioner smell so good, and I feel like they actually clean my hair (unlike some other high-end hair care products). And the dry shampoo is a miracle, especially on mornings when I need to get Graydon out the door for preschool and I don't have time for a shower and blow dry. (Just make sure to do the dry shampoo BEFORE you get dressed so you don't look like you dusted yourself with baby powder.)

I am so excited for season two of The Handmaid's Tale (premiering April 25 on Hulu)! The first season of the show was SO GOOD, and in anticipation of the new season, I'm rereading the book for the I-don't-even-know-how-many-th time. Margaret Atwood is a genius, I can't recommend her work enough. Read it if you haven't already!!!

This candle...just one sniff is all it takes to fall in love. It smells like the lushest garden, with notes of honeysuckle, plum, rose petals, jasmine, gardenia, lily of the valley, carnation and green leaves. Each Simply Curated candle is hand poured in Grand Rapids, Mich., 100 percent phthalate-free, and the gorgeous glass vessels make great barware once the candle is done.

All of the above are awesome, but honestly, at 36 weeks pregnant, my absolute favorite thing in the world right now is getting cozy AF and going to bed. This nightgown from Target is so, so comfortable - I went up one size to accommodate my expanded belly, and it gives my more generous pregnant bust the support it needs. It's stretchy enough to pull to the side for nursing, but there is a maternity version with drop-down cups that I will probably add to my rotation once baby is here.

And speaking of being comfortable — at 36 weeks pregnant I'm definitely in the as-many-pillows-as-possible phase. I currently have five full-size pillows on my side of the bed. My main pillow, the one I lay my head on, is from Casper, and it is the Most. Comfortable. Ever. I'm obsessed with it. I normally wouldn't spend that much on a pillow, but hey, I'm pregnant, I deserve it, right?

Cheers to the weekend!

back in time bridal for hour detroit

Naeem Khan gown, $8,490, and Jardin Jewelry earrings, $330, at Roma Sposa; Vintage gloves, stylist's own.

The first time I stepped inside The Peacock Room's new flagship store at the Fisher Building, the space was still under construction and very raw. But it took my breath away, nevertheless. I knew it was going to be an incredible space, and the finished product definitely lived up to expectations. When I called the owner (and total boss babe), Rachel Lutz, about shooting the Hour Detroit bridal feature in the new store, I was so thrilled she said yes! It was a dream location, the perfect setting for vintage-inspired bridal looks. It was inspired by vintage photographs of women shopping at Bergdorf Goodman, so I pulled together a collection of gowns that are modern takes on looks from the 1920s to the 1950s. I absolutely love the way this shoot turned out! See the full shoot below!

heavy metal for hour detroit

Mixed Metals: Halston Heritage dress, $525, at Neiman Marcus, Somerset Collection South, Troy; 248-643-3300; neimanmarcus.com.

My first published editorial shoot for 2018 was such a dream collaboration. I'm always thrilled to work with the incredibly talented Lians Jadan, and for this shoot we also worked with Erik and Israel Nordin of the Detroit Design Center. The Nordin Brothers are known for their cutting-edge metal sculptures, and it was an honor to feature their work in this shoot. The art pieces were the inspiration for the styling — I wanted the clothing to have the same mix of hard edges and gentle curves found in the artwork. We were also so fortunate the Nordins were gracious enough to make a few custom pieces for the shoot, including the ring swing (I want one in my house) and the futuristic, space goddess headpiece that we lovingly named "the Beyonce." #SLAY

nursery sneak peek!

I have been in full-blown nesting mode lately, getting everything organized for baby boy's arrival next month! His room is coming together so beautifully, it's already my favorite room in the entire house. Yesterday the new chair for his room was delivered, so I wanted to share a quick little sneak preview of the space!

1. Chair // 2. Pillow (sold out online, similar here and here // 3. Stools // 4. Clock/Nightlight

The mountain mural is by far my favorite part of the room. After we lost our baby last year, I immediately wanted to escape to the mountains, and we spent a week in the Rockies with our dear friends from Colorado. The mountains are so vast, ancient, and humbling, it truly was such a healing experience to be surrounded by their immense beauty. Two of my very sweet, amazing, talented girlfriends helped paint the mural, and it is so beautiful and holds so much meaning for me. We still have a few little things left to finish up the room, but I am so happy with how it's coming along! It is so peaceful and serene, the perfect place for middle-of-the-night nursing sessions and all the baby cuddles. I can't wait to bring this little boy home!

best of 2017: fashion

One of the things that makes me happiest is my work as a fashion stylist. Work has been a refuge for me over the last year as I coped with the loss of my son – it kept me sane in so many ways. I am so grateful to have a career that feeds my soul, and I am so fortunate to work with so many talented people. Above are some of my favorite shots from 2017, from beautiful bridal to sporty menswear. To see more from these shoots, and more of my work in general, follow me on Instagram!

Top Row (l-r): Hour Detroit women's eveningwear, photo by Roy Ritchie. Hour Detroit bridal fashion, photo by Jenny Risher. Hour Detroit men's fashion featuring Detroit City FC, photo by Lians Jadan. 

Middle Row (l-r): Metro Detroit Weddings bridal accessories, photo by Brad Ziegler. Hour Detroit "Best of Detroit" magic-themed shoot, photo by Jenny Risher. Metro Detroit Weddings bridal fashion, photo by Heather Saunders.

Bottom Row (l-r): DBusiness "Executive Fashion," photo by Martin Vecchio. Metro Detroit Weddings bridal fashion, photo by Amber Marie Photography. Hour Detroit winter fashion, photo by Martin Vecchio.

new year, new baby, new blog

Twenty-one weeks pregnant with my third son. Photo by Heather Saunders.

If you've been following me on Instagram for the last year and a half, you've seen that my life has been a whirlwind. Work has been busy and rewarding, Graydon just keeps getting bigger and bigger, we moved into a new house - and we've also experienced a devastating loss and the renewal of hope.

In 2016, we decided the time was right to grow our family, and after two early miscarriages we were overjoyed to find out we were expecting another baby boy, due in March 2017. We shared the good news with friends and family, Graydon was so excited to be a big brother...and then we lost the baby at 21 weeks pregnant. Words cannot describe how incredibly painful it was to lose him. It's a grief that will never go away, and not a day goes by that I don't think of him.

This past year has been all abut healing, rebuilding, starting over. Despite the pain of our loss, 2017 was a year filled with love and joy. In June I found out I was pregnant again, and our third baby, our third son, is due to arrive February 28, 2018. It has been a long journey, marked by uncertainty and anxiety, but this baby is strong and healthy, and I can't wait to welcome him into our family.

And as I prepare to welcome a new baby, I'm also looking to the future and making plans for this blog. I want this little corner of the internet to serve as a place for me to share all the things that bring joy and happiness to my life, from my beautiful family to the job that feeds my creativity, and everything in between. I am so grateful for all the wonderful things in my life, and I'm excited for what the future will bring.

The last year and a half has been a wild ride, but I feel like the adventure is just beginning.