Last summer, I was convinced that I was going to have the best summer of my life.
I had just finished up my first year of law school, and I had nothing but time from June until August. I knew it would likely be my last summer “off” before graduating and entering the workforce, and I was ready to make the most of it.
I sat down with our three kids and together, we made our summer bucket list.
Go blueberry picking.
Hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Attend an outdoor music concert.
Go kayaking.
Run a 5k together.
The list went on and on. We even crossed a few items off early!
But towards the middle of June, I started to feel… off.
I was extra tired during my morning runs. I felt a little queasy, but thought maybe it was the humidity. I noticed myself drifting off at my desk more often. On a whim, I decided to take a pregnancy test on a random Thursday afternoon.
My husband and I — who had only been married two months at this point — had just officially decided to not try for a fourth kid. We reasoned that our three kids, our puppy, and our affinity for running in the mountains for five hours on the weekends, would all keep us busy enough.
But those two pink lines said otherwise.
Hot girl summer, bucket list summer, and do-all-the-things summer quickly became bedridden summer.
Zofran summer.
Saltines and a prayer summer.
‘It’s okay,’ I reasoned with myself, ‘there’s always next summer.’
Well now, “next summer” is here, and I am four months out from giving birth to twin girls. I wouldn’t say I’m feeling hot (except at night, because holy moly those postpartum night sweats). When you hear “hot girl summer,” most people probably think of matching sets and matchas and manicures, not night sweats and hair loss and mood swings.
But we’re making the most of the cards life has dealt us, so here are some ways you can still have a hot girl summer, even if you’re postpartum!
- Go through your wardrobe.
Now is not the time to be trying to squeeze into your old jean shorts that never fit you anyways. Even if you can, why?
I’ve found that although the number on the scale has returned to exactly what it was prior to my twin pregnancy, I don’t feel the same, and I’m drawn towards different clothes and styles. Especially since I’m chasing five kids around this summer, my number one priority for my outfits these days is that I can comfortably move around while looking halfway decent. I stick to lots of neutral colors so I can mix and match pieces easily, and if I’m wanting to jazz it up, I’ll wear extra jewelry.
Consider what you want your clothes to do for you as you go through your wardrobe. What colors, styles, and textures make you feel your best? Maybe fun patterns or bright colors are your jam, or maybe you really prefer round-neck shirts to v-neck shirts.
Regardless of what you decide, go through all of your clothes now and make sure you have a handful of outfits you genuinely love so that you’re not stressing and upset every time you get dressed. Nothing is hotter than feeling comfortable and happy in what you wear, so find what works for you!
- Find one really great, high-quality swimsuit.
Is summer really summer if you don’t find yourself at the beach or the pool at some point? I won’t be making it to the beach this year (because honestly with three older kids and newborn twins, that just sounds awful), but I do love going to the pool, if anything simply to wear my big kids out!
Wherever you end up, you are likely going to need a swim suit eventually this summer, so here’s my advice on that:
Take your old swimsuits and just put them away somewhere (and that can definitely be the trash can). Now is probably not the time for stringy two-pieces, side boob, and especially if you’re nursing, you’re going to want a little extra support. There’s no reason to go crazy and buy half a dozen new suits. Finding one simple, staple piece can go a long ways.
- Buy some cheap shades.
Sunglasses are the perfect way to accessorize almost any outfit over the summer, and nothing feels cooler than rocking some sick shades. What’s not cool, though, is dropping hundreds of dollars on said sick shades. Instead, I love companies like Goodr. They have a wide variety of shapes and colors, and most of their sunglasses are around $25.
And honestly? Sometimes I love the sunglasses on top of my head more than on my actual face. If I’m trying to feel more confident in an outfit, adding accessories like sunglasses or jewelry can go a long ways!
- Start going on hot girl walks.
Postpartum or not, getting in exercise outside as often as you can is good for anyone! Walks are especially great postpartum, though, because you can take your babies with you.
If you have a baby like my younger twin, and they don’t necessarily enjoy being in their stroller, I would try wearing them in a wrap for your walk. If that still doesn’t work, see if you can find a time to get out by yourself, even if it’s just for fifteen or twenty minutes. I promise that finding the time to get in some movement and be outside will have you feeling loads better.
- Sip on fancy drinks.
We’ve talked about sunglasses and jewelry, but you know what else counts as an accessory for an outfit in my opinion? A fun beverage!
When you’re postpartum, it’s more important than ever to stay hydrated, so depending on how you look at it, treating yourself to a fancy drink is actually a necessity. At least, that’s what I tell myself every time that I find myself in the Starbucks drive thru!
I don’t really drink coffee, but some of my favorite drinks so far this summer have been the Dirty Dr. Pepper from McDonalds, the Pink Drink from Starbucks, an Alana energy drink, or any soda poured over ice in my Stanley.
- Delete all of your social media.
You know what will really have you feeling hot this summer? Deleting your Instagram. Ditching the mindless scrolling and constant comparison.
This one is such a hard one for me because, admittedly, I just love social media! But I have to carefully monitor my time on it, and how it affects my mood. Like most postpartum moms, I’m sure, I tend to feel a little bit more vulnerable and sensitive in this phase of life. I’m working on feeling comfortable in my own skin again, and sometimes the endless barrage of perfectly curated outfits, gorgeously tanned skin, and meticulously posed photos from the most optimal angles just don’t make me feel my best. Shocker, right?
If I notice that social media is making me feel self-conscious or jealous more than it’s inspiring me, that’s my cue that it’s time for a break.
Read about how I’m really doing postpartum this time around here:
And also here:
And finally, some more postpartum advice here:
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