(photo from October 2016)
Last July, I gave birth to my second child, Bella. My husband and I decided that I should stay home and take a leave of absence from teaching for the year in order to take care of our two children. When I had Brody in 2013, we did the same thing. Being at home with my kids has been a blessing and the most amazing experience, but man is it hard! Now with the new school year fast approaching, I am definitely feeling some anxiety over leaving my kids. It doesn’t help that my son tells me that he doesn’t want me to go back to work! [insert crying emoji] The first time I went back to work after being on leave with Brody, in a strange way I felt ready. We had a tough year financially, so I knew getting back into the classroom was the right thing to do. This time around, we were much better off because my husband took on extra jobs so that we wouldn’t struggle. I love working. Teaching is a part of who I am, but I am feeling tremendous guilt this time around about leaving my babies. They’re my squad. Have any other moms out there experienced this? I recently did some back to school shopping for both myself and the kids, but the anxiety hasn’t dissipated. Well, maybe a little…shopping is somewhat therapeutic, but definitely not enough! Okay, so I’ll quit venting now…onto the clothing and some affordable pieces from H&M!
The first three words that come to mind when describing H&M is simple, chic, and affordable! H&M has always been one of my go-to stores for everything, especially workwear. I love the versatility and simplicity of their designs. Aside from fashion, I also admire H&M’s initiatives. Their drive to make fashion attainable and sustainable is inspiring. Also, in May, they made a huge donation of over $20 million to improve education, clean water, and women’s empowerment around the world. I love their clothes, but I love who they are as a company even more.
I recently purchased this workwear outfit from H&M. The top and bottom combined are under $30!!! Although I am a currently a teacher-off-duty, this outfit can perfectly transition to fall wear. This top is lightweight and the simple pleats at the neckline are a nice touch. (Here’s a similar one on sale…and I love this one too!) It looks great under a blazer or cardigan as well. The best part is, it’s on sale and available online for $12.99!
These pants are one of my new favorites and made from sustainable materials. They are currently on sale for $9.99! They are very lightweight and super comfortable. There are plenty of these in store! Don’t forget to bring in a bag of items to be recycled to H&M. They’ll reward you for being a good citizen of the planet by giving you 15% off your ENTIRE purchase! I put a similar pair from H&M down below for those who like to shop online only. I’m wearing my new favorite pair of pumps here, but these flats would be a great option as well.
I love this top so much that I actually wore it recently for dinner by styling with a pair of jeans, moto (this one is soooo good!), sandals, and my new favorite clutch! This top is simple and classy. I threw on some of my favorite accessories to compliment the sheen of the satin and jazz it up a bit!
