popcornandpandas, Author at Popcorn and Pandas

{39} Lately…

coolmom

Lately I’ve been…

reading A lot faster than I had been! LOL! I recently finished The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. Part of me wants to immediately start tidying every single inch of my apartment, and the other part of me is experience extreme anxiety at the thought of going through her process! I am also reading Balancing in Heels by Kristin Cavallari and I have to say I am enjoying it! We have a lot in common in terms of being moms, trying to live a healthy lifestyle with fitness and food, an interest in fashion yet realizing that being busy moms we have to be more practical and other things have become more important than mani/pedis and putting on a full face of makeup every day. (although it IS a nice treat to do so!) Lastly I am reading the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman with my husband. We thought it would be a good idea to figure out what each of our love languages are and then to read about them individually to see how we can make sure we are on the same page. If you don’t know what love language you are speaking, take the quiz here! Btw…Kristin Cavallari and her husband read this book too! LOL!

writing This blog post, e-mails, and coach welcome posts on my team page!

listening Okay, I know I posted this on Facebook the other day, but I am completely obsessed with “Lost Boys” by Ruth B. right now. OH and Nico is requesting “My Name is NO” by Meghan Trainor on repeat.

thinking About my upcoming free challenge group that I am going to host this month. Excited to share soon!

smelling A pumpkin spice candle. Yes, in the spring. Does that mean I’m NOT basic? 😉

watching Orange is the New Black. And Teen Mom 2. Yup. True story.

wearing My J. Crew jammies. So cozy!

feeling Excited that this Mother’s Day I will be a Mama of TWO! 🙂 Feeling very blessed!

wanting The hubby to come home! He is out of town again and I am missing him big time.

needing To book my flight to Nashville for this July!!! I am so excited to go see my fellow team of coaches, get inspired and grow my business! It was such a blast and such a great learning experience last year. I am pumped to go again.

loving The new Tony Horton 22 Min Hard Corps workout program. Granted I’m only on Day 3, but it’s simple and it’s quick! The boot camp style exercise moves are a total body workout and seems to be effective so far!

wishing For sunny days. I have had enough of this gloomy, rainy stuff! bring me some sunshine please!

hoping To find some pretty new dresses to wear for wedding season! We have THREE weddings coming up this June!

craving Fresh fruit! My favorite time of year is approaching, where all the best fruits come out to play. Some of my favorites are watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, blueberries, and who am I kidding…I love it all…

clicking For Mother’s Day gifts for all my favorite Mamas out there 🙂 What is your favorite place to shop for this holiday?

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

What have you been up to lately?

XO,

Gina

P.S. The mug is from Francesca’s. It’s sold out, but I also love this one 😉 #likeaboss

Melt Away May

Melt Away May Invite

ICE CREAM!!!! No, I am not running an ice cream eating challenge group (although that might be pretty fun 😉 ) …

We all like ice cream. You can say you don’t, but I know you do…or maybe you are just weird 😉 No one wants to give up these kinds of things for life. And we don’t have to. Your journey toward health and fitness does not mean you have to eat food that tastes like cardboard, be hungry all the time, or work out like a maniac for hours and hours each day. To me that doesn’t sound fun or healthy. And neither does depriving yourself of the finer things in life…like said ice cream.

Just because I love ice cream doesn’t mean I need to eat it every day. But it also doesn’t mean I can’t have it and still live a happy and healthy lifestyle. In fact, that happy factor goes right up after a delicious bite! I’m a firm believer that if you are fueling your body with the right whole foods, vitamins, and nutrients 80% of the time, then you should absolutely enjoy that ice cream (or pizza, or chocolate, or whatever you please)…the other 20%…and you should enjoy it guilt-free! Enjoying these things can be satisfying and it can also curb that urge to go on a super binge down the road.

My post-partum health and fitness journey has been different than any other journey I have had previously because while I have always been an athlete…I never really thought too much about what I was eating. I liked to think that I was eating healthy most of the time, but I never REALLY paid a super amount of attention. After baby #2, I really dialed into my nutrition, paid attention to what I was eating and learned a lot about my habits from doing the 21 Day Fix program. It made me think about healthy habits for a lifestyle rather than just a fad diet.

In addition, the workouts were an awesome variety that really targeted the entire body each week. Previously I was a soccer player, basketball player, a runner, etc…I had natural results because I was so active every day with 2 hour practices or hour long runs. After baby #2, 2 hour practices on the soccer field were definitely no longer practical! With this program I could get a 30 minute workout in each day without ever leaving the house…and I got a total body workout that produced amazing results…while still allowing me to enjoy life with those treats J

While I do still sometimes crave that game on the soccer field…with my current lifestyle and hanging out with my little guys on a daily basis…this is how I am able to get it done…and how I am able to get results. I have to say I am probably the HEALTHIEST I have been in my entire life. All it took was:

*Healthy Meals & a Realistic Outlook on Nutrition

*30 Min Daily Workouts

*Drinking a daily dose of dense nutrition each day

*Checking into a group full of positive, inspiring individuals that keep me accountable each day

*Surrounding myself with positive “co-workers” who build me up and make me a better person, athlete, mom, and businesswoman.

These days everyone has a full, busy life…but it doesn’t mean we don’t have time for the things that matter. And our health definitely matters. It’s all about what we choose to do with that time. You deserve that time for yourself. YOU MATTER!!!

I am starting my next Challenge Group up on May 2^nd, and would love to have you MELT AWAY MAY with me! Comment below with “I want to Melt Away May!” and the best way to contact you if you want to learn more information or need help choosing a program to fit your needs, likes, and goals. This summer I am excited to finally feel confident in a bikini while enjoying that ice cream guilt-free! Who’s with me? LET’S DO THIS!

Hope you are all having a great day! We are in Maryland this week spending some extra time with family while Nico is on Spring Break from school and the hubby is on a work trip in Austin. Make it a great one all!

XO,

Gina

I Need Coffee

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I Need Coffee Tee: Target / Black Denim: ZARA (old) – also like these / Booties: H&M (old ) – similar here / Lip: MAC Up the Amp

Seems this is my mantra these days between two kiddos, working from home, keeping up with my fitness, household obligations, and somewhat of a social life, but hey…I would rather be busy than bored right? I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. Ok fine, maybe I would get just a liiiiiiittle more sleep 😉 But we’ll get there.

Hope you all are enjoying this Wednesday! Hoping to head out to enjoy the sunshine we are finally getting in NYC this week!

Make it a great day!

XO,

Gina

Green Gardens

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Floral Blouse: Express (sold out, but similar here) / Denim: AG Jeans / Booties: H&M / Hat: Vintage / Sunnies: Vintage / Necklace: Amrita Singh / Lip: MAC Rebel

These photos were taken back on Easter weekend, when we had the most gorgeous Saturday at my parent’s house. It was so nice to be outside in their beautiful yard in Maryland where the grass is green and the flowers are starting to bloom. Of course my Nico couldn’t get enough of swinging in the new hammock my Dad put outside. We caught up with friends, dyed Easter eggs, and I even got a (much needed) fresh hair cut. Many thanks to Nikki for the new locks and style!

Since that weekend, it’s been a bit frigid up here in NY. Hoping that spring weather will come back around again soon.

Today is Day 3 of 21 Day Fix Extreme. Whew! It’s definitely challenging. I am feeling the burn, feeling myself getting stronger already, and dialing in that nutrition again. Wish me luck staying on track tonight on my dinner date with a friend!

Hope you all are having a great week!

XO,

Gina

Trés Chic

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Back at you this Friday with the full outfit post. I had so many of you ask where I got this darling sweater below. I got it around Christmastime at Nordstrom, and it is made by Halogen. Unfortunately, it’s no longer in stock…even at Nordstrom Rack. I have searched high and low for something “similar” but have come up short. Halogen does make another cute sweater though that is on super sale at Nordstrom Rack right now and is also very soft with embroidery if you want to check that one out. Looks like there are a few left if you hurry. Sorry to disappoint. I was hoping to find something similar, but maybe Halogen will come out with another great find soon!

Also, this sweater is not super similar, but along the lines of Paris and French things, I do love this one as well from Catherine Malandrino via Neiman Marcus Last Call.

Additionally, I scored this houndstooth coat marked 50% off at H&M right before Christmas. I tried it on while babywearing and had no idea if it was truly going to fit me, but I decided to take the risk, and I’m glad I did!

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Houndstooth Coat: H&M (sold out, but similar here from Calvin Klein via Bloomingdales) / Pink Peony Paris Embroidered Sweater: Halogen via Nordstrom / Leopard Print Blouse: H&M (old) / Jeans: AG Jeans / Booties: H&M / Necklace: Express / Lip: Younique Stiff Upper Lip Stain in Sleek c/0 Suzie Engler

Happy Friday!! This week has been pretty smooth which can be rare when you have two kids, you are running a business, and you are on the road a lot. Thankfully the babes have been napping regularly and have been in the best of moods. I think the trick has been to wear them out in the morning so they are ready to crash in the afternoon and then mama can get a little break haha. At least that has been working this week. I’m sure next week will change 😉

Have a date night planned with the hubs tonight and a busy, but exciting weekend ahead! TGIF!

XO,

Gina

Sleek

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You know that lady in your family who gives hugs and smooches and then leaves evidence of said smooch all over everyone?

“Oh I guess you said hello to Aunt so and so, because you have lipstick on your cheek.”

Yeah, that’s me. My poor kids have lipstick smooches on them regularly. So when Suzie suggested I should try out Younique’s Stiff Upper Lip Stain, I figured I would give it a shot! I love a new lip color and had never before tried a stain, so I was pretty excited to check it out. I chose the “Sleek” color for the winter season, and I also think it will be great once fall arrives.

Below are my before photos with a naked lip.

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And on the contrary…POP! The Sleek Stiff Upper Lip Stain in action. It’s bold and beautiful. I just love the richness of the color. Since I had never used a stain before, the texture was a little more fluid than I was expecting. I suppose I was thinking it would be like a gloss? But that was definitely not the case. I realized you have to let it dry and that two coats works the best! I was SUPER impressed with the fact that it stayed on ALL day without reapplication, and my kid’s faces were not covered in lipstick by the end of the day. I would definitely recommend trying it out, and it also comes in a variety of colors if dark and bold is not your jam.

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This was the first Younique beauty product I have tried, but it looks like I will need to check out some more! Many thanks to Suzie for this great pick!

Hope you are all having a great week so far. We are getting back into our groove from the Easter holiday. We traveled to Maryland so this week has been all about grocery shopping, laundry, paying bills, and cleaning the house. Ohhhh adulting. Trying out lip stains is much more fun! 😉

But in all seriousness, I cannot even believe March is almost over and we will be into April in no time. This year is flying by and the boys are growing way too fast. Luca is already 7 months old, and Nico over 2.5 already. Where does the time go? I am finishing up P90X3 this week, and feeling stronger than ever. I have been absolutely loving it, but I DO feel as if I have let my nutrition slip just a bit in the past couple months. SO I am taking measures to the EXTREME with 21 Day Fix Extreme next month to get back on track…eeeep! I’m a little nervous, but I am up for the challenge.

Also looking forward to warmer days and more long walks and days on the playground with my boys. Bring on the spring!

XO,

Gina

Caribbean Cruise

Woweee, ok if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you are probably sick and tired of seeing all of our Caribbean Cruise photos by now….but just in case you’re notttt, and you wanted to see a little more detail from the trip, I created this blog post.

The ship (Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas) was absolutely incredible! One of the biggest in the world, it had everything from a wave rider, putt-putt golf, aqua theatre, rock wall, zip line, multiple pools and hot tubs, all you can eat ice cream dispensers, clubs, grand ballrooms, a champagne bar, a “Central Park” re-creation, stunning views, a solarium, a carousel, 17 floors, amazing restaurants, and even a Starbucks. I mean, seriously?!?! I am cruise SPOILED!!!

When docked in the Bahamas and Jamaica our ship just dwarfed every other one next to us. I literally cannot believe our company rented out the entire boat for us. I was beyond impressed with the great lengths they went to make our trip amazing and how wonderful the Royal Caribbean staff was.

Each day, we woke up to the option of working out with a celebrity trainer followed by an awesome post-workout Shakeology bar. My little buddy came up and did two workouts with me on the top deck.

Nassau was absolutely beautiful. We walked around the town exploring, went to Junkanoo Beach, treated ourselves with ice cream and Bahama Mamas, and splashed in the crystal clear waters. This was Luca’s first ever trip to the beach, and I’m pretty sure he was a big fan!

Getting to spend quality time with some amazing friends and fellow boss ladies on this trip was fantastic. We hang out online pretty much every day, but to see each other in person, you would never know we had only met face to face ONCE before! These gals push and inspire me daily, and they have become so important to me. It was also a super huge bonus during our team dinner to have Tony Horton come up and entertain my children! He was just as sweet and as funny in real life as he is on DVD 😉 So grateful to have been surrounded by so many positive people each day on our trip.

These smiles pretty much made my vacation! My boys had an awesome time, and I’m so happy I was able to provide this adventure for them! I will never forget it.

And last, but not least…Jamaica Mon! This place was gorgeous, and I definitely plan to return for a longer stay!

Again, I am so grateful to have had this experience with my family and close friends. A year ago, I never would have imagined a Caribbean vacation would be possible with a toddler and 6 month old. What an adventure! So happy to have stumbled upon the opportunity to work for such an amazing company. Looking forward to what is in store for our future!

We are now back to our regularly scheduled programming here in New York. Yesterday was a cold one waking up to a bit of snow on the ground. While I am still dreaming of the islands, it is nice to get back into my normal routine again!

Hope you are all having a great week!

XO,

Gina

Sporty Spice

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Sweater: Express / Tank: Old Navy / Jeans: Rag & Bone / Shoes: New Balance / Hat: Baltimore Orioles / Necklace: Love Lori Michelle

It’s tough to find the time to get in an outfit shoot these days, especially with the cold weather with two little ones when your husband is the photographer. I promise I still get dressed…sometimes. Well, at least on weekends. But enough with the excuses. We made it happen last weekend. A casual outfit for a casual day…brunch at Bar Bacon (amaze!), the playground, and a walk through Central Park. The kids both slept through brunch, so it was kind of like a date. It was nice to get into Manhattan and have the kids feel the magic of the city and the tall buildings, but also to escape to our favorite city sanctuary of Central Park.

Since I am generally in workout gear during the week these days, I normally dress up a little more over the weekends. But I felt like going for that sporty look with the sneakers and baseball cap. It’s not my typical go-to style, but it felt right for the day and felt comfortable for what we had planned. I even had a fellow mom strike up a convo with me on the playground because of my Baltimore O’s hat. She was a former Marylander as well. See, not everyone in NY is a Yankees fan 😉 You can take the girl out of Maryland…

…but she will still sing the Star Bangled Banner with an “O!” (All you Maryland people know EXACTLY what I’m talking about! And everyone else is like huh?)

I digress…speaking of my hometown…we will be heading back there on Friday after the boy’s doc appointments (6 and 2.5 yr. check ups already!). Saturday we will be celebrating my baby boy Luca as he will be officially welcomed into the Church! Very excited to celebrate his special day, which he will also share with his Papa who is turning 35! Looking forward to a day of family, friends, and celebration!

Hope you are all having a fantastic week!

XO,

Gina

Oscar Favs 2016

Well, I may not have made it to the movie theatre once to see any of this year’s Oscar nominations…when you have a new baby, everything is on Netflix! I will have to add all of these films to my queue. However, I did have time to catch most of the Oscars including the Red Carpet. Cate Blanchett has my absolute favorite look of the night. I think she looks incredibly stunning! Below are the rest of my favorites from the night in no particular order.

88th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals — Julianne Moore in Chanel

Maria Menuounos — Maria Menounos in Christian Siriano

Saorise Ronan — Saoirse Ronan in Calvin Klein

Which Red Carpet look is your favorite? Or do you have a different favorite look that did not make this list? Please share! 🙂

We had a great family weekend with a nice brunch in the city followed by some adventures in Central Park. It was a beautiful day and such a nice little tease for spring! Busy busy week ahead prepping for our upcoming trips to Maryland this weekend for Luca’s Baptism and our cruise to the Caribbean the following weekend. Lots to do before we leave!

Today starts block 3 of P90X3 for me, and I’m super excited to be 2/3 of the way through the program. Although slightly sad that it’s coming to an end this month, because I am really enjoying it!

Make it a great week everyone! And Happy LEAP Year!

XO,

Gina

Color Block Bikini

Splurge v. Steal

Last summer, I was exercising and working hard, but let’s be honest…I had a big ole prego belly! 😉

While I didn’t imagine being in a bikini only 6 months post-childbirth, my company reward trip to the Caribbean is coming up in just a couple weeks! I suppose I could rock a one piece (and you know I could find a vintage style one I’d adore!), but I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little bit excited to own all this hard work I have put in each day for these past few months!

I have had my eye on some color block bikinis, but wouldn’t you know, most of them have sold out. Here are two still available that I am deciding between! I LOVE the colors on this one by PILYQ, but it’s a little cheeky if ya know what I mean, and it’s $75. The other has a little more coverage and is $27 from Missguided, but the colors aren’t quite as fun!

What do you think? Make the splurge? Or grab that steal?

Happy Friday everyone!!

XO,

Gina