MY SIZE AT FASHION WEEK // a NYFW photo series

Babes of all shapes and sizes now have a seat at the FASHION WEEK table.

When I decided to try and go to New York Fashion Week this February, I wanted to go with purpose. I’ve always dreamt of going, but what if I went and didn’t belong?

The stylist part of me would surely fit in, because I’ve been helping design costumes and wardrobe for film/tv for years and I just geek out over fashion in general. But the style blogger part of me thought… would I really have a place on my platform for these sorts of runway shows? Would my audience that I’ve worked so hard to genuinely build feel a little less empowered by seeing women that might not represent their body types on the runway?

STYLE, LIFESTYLEAshley DoroughFebruary 24, 2019mysizeatfashionweek, nyfw, plus size runway, 11honore, chromatComment

WHY THIS SIZE INCLUSIVE RUNWAY SHOW WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL

NYFW 2019 F/W with 11 Honoré

COAT | DRESS | PURSE | EARRINGS

Sure, it was super cool to go to a runway show at New York Fashion Week. Sure, I felt honored that they even took the time to email me back. And, sure, I basically fell out of my chair when they told me they wanted me there. But this wasn’t JUST ANY runway show, and here’s why.

CHD Awareness // #thesisterhoodchat

Welcome to #thesisterhoodchat! This is a weekly chat loop hosted by @thegarciadiaries and @katiemcrenshaw. To participate, simply follow the ladies in the group and interact on the themed conversation of the week. This week, our topic is: Being a mother to a child with a diagnosed medical condition.
Our story 👉🏼 I had a normal pregnancy and a great delivery with our oldest daughter, Emaline. But when they put her on my chest I immediately knew something was wrong.

LIFESTYLEAshley DoroughFebruary 1, 2019emaline, postpartum, shones complex, EMMIE, chdawarenessComment

SELF LOVE UPDATE AFTER BABY #2

It’s been 2.5 months since I had Pearl Jo, and I’m finally starting to feel kind of normal. With that also comes the normal anxiety and the self love/body image struggles. To be honest, it really doesn’t have anything to do with having children. I mean… SURE. I’ve gone through the pain and heartache of losing the body that you thought you knew so well to pregnancy and having to adjust not once, but twice to a new and different body.

But these issues have been with me since I was young and long before having children.

Dear 2019 Body

Dear 2019 body,
Maybe I’ll fit into these clothes again this year, and maybe I won’t. Either way... I promise to love you just the same as I did a year ago when this photo was taken.
I promise not to spend the entire month of January stressed about starting a new diet or changing you in any way.

LIFESTYLEAshley DoroughJanuary 1, 2019New years, plus size, health, postpartum, self care, self love, mombodComment

BRINGING HOME BABY

Bringing home baby - a phrase I never thought would have as much meaning as it does to me now.

A phrase I didn't realize that some people don't experience.

And a phrase I took for granted.

3 years ago, I went into labor with my first daughter and things went smoothly. We delivered her, but I knew immediately that something wasn't right.

LIFESTYLEAshley DoroughDecember 26, 2018uppababy, carseat, safety, emaline, pearl jo, family photo Comment

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING THE RIGHT CHILDCARE

Whether or not you’re a working parent, if child care is an option you’re exploring it can be seriously overwhelming. It’s also something you can’t take lightly, because after all… this is the place that will be taking care of your child while you aren’t there. This is the place that will be feeding them, teaching them, inspiring them while you can’t be.

LIFESTYLEAshley DoroughDecember 21, 2018childcare, GEEARS, georgia childcare, preschool, how to pick a school, how to pick a preschool, emaline, readingComment

KENDRA SCOTT // EMMIE COLLECTIONS + PRICING

Hey friends! Tomorrow is the day of the Kendra Scott event, and if you aren’t able to be there in person you can still shop for the cause!

Kendra Scott is giving 20% back to Kids at Heart, a completely donor funded program that supports cardiac inpatient and outpatient families. We are so grateful for Kids at Heart and are excited to be giving back to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta during Emaline’s birthday month.

Here is the order form for you to complete before 8pm tomorrow, and someone from Kendra Scott will contact you to process it asap.

STYLE, LIFESTYLEAshley DoroughDecember 17, 2018kendra scott, emaline, jewelry, eventComment

#IHEARTEMMIE // DECEMBER 2018 // kendra scott + other ways to help

I’m sharing all THREE ways you can contribute to Emaline’s birthday month and how we are giving back to the cardiac community that so needs your love and support throughout the holidays! From near or far, you can totally be involved!

LIFESTYLE, STYLEAshley DoroughDecember 10, 2018emaline, iheartemmie, kendrascott, charity, eventComment

Pearl Update // 11 Days Postpartum

Promised to be transparent with you all and so here we go: This is way harder than I could’ve imagined. This week, I’ve been waking up in tears a lot. In many ways, I’m experiencing a lot of things for the first time with this baby and I’m loving every minute of it.

LIFESTYLEAshley DoroughNovember 7, 2018postpartum, this is postpartum, pearl, baby pearl, pearl jo, kids, postpartum journeyComment

PEARL JO'S BIRTH STORY // hospital newborn photos

PJ is here, and our hearts are SO FULL! As I mentioned in the previous post, my fluid levels were severely high towards the end of this pregnancy and so at 37 weeks they decided to induce me (Friday, October 26th). At the time, PJ was head down and my doctor was confident we could deliver her naturally.

CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU, PJ // family maternity photos

Oh my goodness, baby girl! I don’t even know where to start. You have made your presence known during this pregnancy! Starting at Week 4, I thought I had the stomach flu… but nope, that was just you, letting me know you were here! I stayed nauseous 24-7 until about week 18, and then I finally came out of the fog, so to speak.

In the beginning, before our first ultrasound, I was so filled with anxiety. I remember not being able to sleep one night,

AN OPEN LETTER TO MY FIRST-BORN:

Thank you, Sesame Street Live, for sponsoring this blog post. Scroll down for an exciting giveaway at the bottom of this post!

Dear Emaline, E, Em, Emmie, etc…

You’re about to be a big sister and I am in complete denial. None of it feels real, and I honestly have no idea what to expect in the coming weeks.

I’m writing you this letter because maybe one day, you’ll read this and it will mean something.

LETTING GO + ppa/ppd

LIFESTYLEAshley DoroughOctober 10, 2018ppd, ppa, postpartumComment

Emmie // #fedwithlove

The first 4 months of her life I was ANGRY. I felt robbed. I had spent my entire pregnancy dreaming of what it would be like to bring her home - but what actually happened was a series of events I would have never dreamt of.

LIFESTYLEAshley DoroughOctober 9, 2018mom life, #fedwithlove, EMMIE, emaline, kidsComment

OH, BTW WE ARE HAVING A BABY! I guess it’s time for a bumpdate?

Although I have referenced the fact that I am pregnant on here, I realized the other day that I never made the “official announcement” on the blog that we are having our second baby girl… so, better late than never!

I haven’t been big on doing “bumpdates” - but I thought I would update you all on how I actually am doing, despite the pics and videos you see on Instagram.

"YOU AREN'T PLUS SIZE ENOUGH"

“What happens when you finally lose all the baby weight, what will you call yourself then?”

“What size are you REALLY, though?”

“Are you calling yourself plus size just because you’re pregnant?”

“What size were you before you got pregnant?”

These are just a few examples of questions I get ALL of the time. From real life friends and family, to people I don’t know on the internet.

YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS

I've been hearing this quote several times in the past week - almost like it's the universe SHOUTING IT AT ME. It's been a really good reminder. Life is full of seasons, things can be challenging but hard doesn't have to be a bad thing.

If you've been following along with me, you know I've been working my butt off before this baby comes to make some extra cash and secure more hours towards our healthcare benefits.

10 More Weeks

10 more weeks of people asking me if I’m having twins 🤦🏼‍♀️
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This has happened to me several times, and again today. I really try not to let these things bother me, and today I didn’t get mad, or upset, but as soon as I got in the car I realized I felt completely deflated. Like something is wrong with me and I’m not doing something right.

LIFESTYLEAshley DoroughSeptember 7, 2018pregnancy, plus size and pregnant, mom life, diet culture, eating disorder recoveryComment

MY HEART BABY...IS STILL A HEART BABY

Heart baby. Also known as: a child with a congenital heart disease or heart defect. You'll see all kinds of heart babies out there; some of them are barely holding on, some of them have had several surgeries and are thriving, and some of them got extremely fortunate in being able thrive after only one major surgery, and seemingly like nothing ever happened to their heart.

The latter is what we have prayed and hoped for.