Avoiding the Mom Frump-Help!

When Munchkin was first born, I was so overwhelmed, tired, and honestly, stunned by how much the ta-ta's HURT when my milk came in, that I spent the first several weeks relying on my collection of nursing shirts and my robe to get me through the constant feedings.

Then I muddled through months 2-4 post-partum relying mostly on maternity clothes, waiting on my belly puff to go down (still waiting a bit!) and sprinkling in a blousy top here and there.

So, Munchkin is now 6 and a half months old. I can happily say that I'm no longer wearing maternity jeans and haven't for a while. In fact, thanks to nursing, sporadic exercise and small miracles, I'm now into size 8 jeans. Well, in certain brands. But that's another blog post. But I'm still having issues fitting into most of my tops, because my body is different now. I'm still working on it, exercising, trying to eat right, etc. The Girls are definitely different, especially since I'm still currently nursing. However, I have a feeling that due to the fact that I gestated and birthed another human being out of my body, it is forever changed. And I'm truly, truly okay with that. I'm proud of what an awesome miracle and accomplishment this is for my body, especially with the worries we had about my heart condition.

Here is my problem now-I want to avoid Mommy Frump at.all.costs. Well, okay, not all costs- The Wiz would have an issue with me spending all of our money on clothes. Ahem. But I'm 29 years old. I am a stay at home mom. I no longer have a classroom to report to, nor 25 students to teach, lead, whatever. I have NO idea where to start in finding clothes to suit my new life. On a daily basis, I wear the following things: jeans, t-shirt, usually a Univ. of S. Carolina t-shirt or a solid colored crew neck shirt, and running shoes. At some point on any given day, I'll don exercise pants while Munchkin and I do our neighborhood walk, then after I shower the black yoga pants come out for the rest of the evening.

I'm tired of the t-shirts. I'm tired of feeling like I look like a slob. But where do I shop??? What kind of clothes suit my new lifestyle, a new lifestyle complete with spit up, urine, breast milk leakage, baby food scraps and the occasional poopy diaper blow out?? I don't need or want to look like a trendy, prissy, coiffed down to the toes mom. That's not really who I am 24/7. I enjoy dressing up like a hot mama when The Wiz and I go out, or when I have a girl's night, but I wouldn't enjoy it every day nor would it be practical.

I just need some direction, some inspiration for where youngish stay-at-home mamas can get some cute, attractive, non-slobbish yet resilient clothes. I want to look feminine, but not frilly or fussy. I want to look my age, not like I'm channeling my inner college student. I want to look like I give a shiz, not that I pulled today's wrinkled t-shirt out of the dryer before slapping my hair in a pony tail and running out the door. Oh, and I don't want to break the bank. Did I mention I'm a stay-at-home mom? One income, friends. You know how it goes. So I need help, friends. If you have had success finding such treasures, please give me a clue as to where to start.

So, please, please, help a mama-sister out! :)