popcornandpandas, Author at Popcorn and Pandas

Wedding Wear

The last weekend of June, the hubby and I headed down to Maryland to see our good friends Kurt and Tiffany tie the knot on the Chesapeake Bay. I struggled with whether or not I should buy a maternity dress for this event, but ultimately decided that it wasn’t worth the expense for one night, since this is the last wedding I am going to be able to make before the Little Monkey gets here. Instead, I decided to wear this number I purchased from Forever 21 a few months ago. I wore it to another wedding earlier this year, and because of the stretchy middle material and the flare underneath the bust line, it works perfectly for my prego shape. I topped off the look with earrings from Amrita Singh (a bridemaid’s gift from my friend Katie’s wedding), and these gold sparkly bow pumps. My husband calls them my “Wizard of Oz” shoes, but I absolutely love them. Before you think I am insane for wearing 5 inch heels while 6.5 months pregnant (ok, so maybe I’m a little insane, but heels just make a girl feel prettier, right?), I did end up changing into flats for the dancing portion of the evening. No one needs a pregnant woman falling over on the dance floor.

Photos by: Zack Notes / Edited by: Myself

Dress: Forever 21 (now on sale!) / Sparkly Glitter Bow Pumps: ALDO / Earrings: Amrita Singh – this pair is also similar / Watch: Michael Kors / Gold Clutch: (old) – similar here / Lip: MAC Candy Yum Yum / Nails: Essie Boom Boom Room

We got back from our mini-vacation to Maine this weekend, and wow did we have an amazing time! I have so much to share from our trip, but first I want to share some fabulous wedding photos from Kurt and Tiff’s big day. I have lots to edit and catch up on from my time away, so stay tuned this week and next for some exciting posts to come!

XO,

Gina

Family Reunion

fam·i·ly

/ˈfam(ə)lē/

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Noun: A group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.

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Now, this gigantic group of people above may not all live together in one household…but I certainly consider them all family.

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After at least a 10 year long hiatus, my Italian grandfather’s side of the family got together at the end of June for a family reunion in Davidsonville, MD. My cousin, Valerie, was kind enough to open her home to 100+ crazy Italianos from all over the U.S. Some as far as Maine, Iowa, and Washington state. I expected maybe 40-50 people or so, but to have over 100 just blew my mind. It proved to me that I was not the only one who saw a larger definition to the word “family.”

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We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day, a pool for the kiddies to enjoy, delicious BBQ, and a lot of fun. We had a large family tree diagram to trace each bloodline back multiple generations thanks to my Uncle Art. People brought tons of old photos. One of my favorite moments was sitting with my Uncle Danny (my Grandpa Frank’s 1st cousin) while we looked through an old photo album of his life from childhood to the present. He had so many stories of growing up with my Grandfather that really just made my day. Everyone brought tons of desserts, and many of them were family recipes. I think I ate more dessert than actual lunch food! Oops.

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We had such a great time catching up with each other that I really wish so much time hadn’t gone by since our last reunion, and I’m hoping that the next one will be sooner rather than later.

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When I think of family, I think of love, respect, sacrifice, holidays, being there for one another, having a shoulder to cry on, people to laugh with, those to get crazy with, honesty, trust, friendship, acceptance, support and care. Family shapes who we are as people and changes us for the future. I realize that not everyone may have this same definition of family depending on their life experiences, but I am so grateful for the amount of love in my family.

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You can’t choose who is in your family, but you can choose whether or not you want to spend time with them. The fact that so many people came out for this reunion shows how much we all care about each other even after so much time had gone by. I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of such a greater whole, and I’m looking forward to when my Little Monkey will be able to join this amazing group of people that I can call my own.

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XO,

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Gina

America’s Playlist

Wanted to wish you all a Happy 4th of July week! As you may already know, we are taking a mini-vacay in Maine, and I will also be taking a little break from posting on popcorn and pandas. Although, rest assured, I will be taking many photos while on my trip of course, and will have lots to share when we return.

I decided to put together a little playlist of some of my favorite patriotic American jams. Hopefully you can use these ideas for a BBQ or however you happen to be celebrating this year.

1. God Bless the U.S.A. – Lee Greenwood

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E]

2. American Child – Phil Vassar

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c1x3wcbvAc]

3. American Woman – Lenny Kravitz

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzWHE32IxUc]

4. American Boy – Estelle feat. Kanye West

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic5vxw3eijY]

5. Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZD4ezDbbu4&oq=born%20in%20the%20usa&gs_l=youtube..0.5j0l9.59101.60371.0.61884.15.13.0.0.0.0.138.1150.10j3.13.0.eytns%2Cpt%3D-35%2Cn%3D2%2Cui%3Dt.1.0.0…1ac.1.11.youtube.NSProT_-o3Q]

6. Independence Day – Martina McBride

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VPpAZ9_qAw&oq=independence%20day%20ma&gs_l=youtube..0.5j0l9.37455.41797.0.43532.19.10.0.1.1.0.1302.4006.3j1j0j4j7-2.10.0.eytns%2Cpt%3D-35%2Cn%3D2%2Cui%3Dt.1.0.0…1ac.1.11.youtube.fKC5U7bc-x8]

7. Rockin’ in the Free World – Neil Young

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdiCJUysIT0]

8. American Pie – Don McLean

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAsV5-Hv-7U&oq=american%20pie%20don&gs_l=youtube..0.5.130478.133372.0.134948.16.9.0.2.2.0.793.1970.5j2j5-1j1.9.0.eytns%2Cpt%3D-35%2Cn%3D2%2Cui%3Dt.1.0.0…1ac.1.11.youtube.u1FnLcTufeA]

9. American Girl – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WBWov6nd6E]

10. Pink Houses – John Mellencamp

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOfkpu6749w]

11. Born on the Bayou – CCR

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIjUY3pjN8E]

12. Everyday America – Sugarland

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntQPddLf97g]

13. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. – John Mellencamp

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dO_QKwtko4]

14. Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue – Toby Keith

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PXSK3iDeAI]

15. Party in the U.S.A. – Miley Cyrus

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M11SvDtPBhA]

16. America the Beautiful – Ray Charles

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUjr8EVgBg]

Hope you enjoyed this little mix of classic rock, country, and a little dance to celebrate America!

Happy 4th!

XO,

Gina

Fashion for the Fourth

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1. Nautical Knot Earrings: J. Crew / 2. Red Stripe Sperry Top Siders: Nordstrom / 3. American Flag Sunnies: PacSun / 4. Tory Burch Kelsey Laser Cut Tote: Neiman Marcus / 5. Religion Flag Tee: We Like Fashion / 6. NARS Jungle Red Lipstick: Beauty.com / 7. Gucci Envelope Clutch: Profile Fashion / 8. American Flag Shorts: We Like Fashion / 9. Red Retro Sunnies: Liberty / 10. Nautical Stripe Bangle: Coach / 11. Anthony Peto White Panama Hat: Modewalk / 12. Red and White Stripe Button Dress: New Look / 13. Red and White Stripe Tote: Modcloth / 14. Americana Pillow: Calypso St. Barth / 15. Dolce Vita Striped Sandals: Jildor / 16. NARS China Blue Eyeshadow: Beauty.com / 17. Vintage Style Polka Dot Bathing Suit: Unique Vintage / 18. Red and White Sailor Dress: Attitude Holland / 19. Navy and White Sweetheart Dress: Forever 21 / 20. Navy and White Soludos: Shopbop / 21. Marc Jacobs Red Jean Shorts: Stylebop / 22. Fossil Watch: Piperlime / 23. Z Designs Anchor Necklaces: MetroPark / 24. Essie Butler Please: Target

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The 4th of July is right around the corner, and I decided to put together this little red, white, and blue inspiration board to put me in the mood! We are getting extremely excited for our upcoming mini-vacation to the cutest lake-side cottage in Maine. But first, we have a wedding to celebrate on Maryland’s Eastern Shore! We are headed down there tonight to celebrate our friends Kurt and Tiffany tomorrow, and we couldn’t be more excited.

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Happy Friday, and hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

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XO,

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Gina

It’s Electric

And it’s back to my uniform this summer…the maxi dress! I scored this one at a discount price from a local spot near my office. Again, it’s not maternity, which makes me happy because I know I will be able to wear it post-pregnancy. I love the rainbow of colors on this dress, and it was perfect for a beautiful sunny Saturday family reunion with my Dad’s side of the fam.

Photos by: Zack Notes / Edited by: Myself

Maxi Dress: K&G Fashion Superstore – similar / Sunnies: Modcloth / Sandals: Dolce Vita (on sale!) / Necklace: Baublebar / Bracelets: J. Crew, Flair Accessories, ASOS, and c/o Guilty Jean / Watch: Michael Kors / Nails: Essie Turquoise and Caicos / Toes: Essie DJ Play That Song / Lip: MAC Snob

Happy Hump Day everyone!

Girl’s night went off with a hitch last night. Mucho thanks to my girl Ailie for graciously painting my toes (I can no longer reach them). I am not a big fan of feet, and not sure I would have jumped at this opportunity had the roles been reversed, so this task was very much appreciated! We had a great night of nail painting, mud-masking, movie watching, and festival chicken.

This morning I rose early to meet my cousin Seamus for breakfast in the city. He is in town from Cali to surprise his sister today as she is giving birth to another little baby tomorrow. So sweet! The last time I saw him was on his wedding day to my cousin Alex, so it was great to catch up! So glad we were able to make a little get-together happen this morning.

Hope you are all enjoying the week so far!

XO,

Gina

Skull Tank Revisited

You may remember this top from earlier this spring when the weather was still a bit on the chilly side. I decided to break it out again for summertime while it still covers my baby bump. I paired it with some mint short shorts and some comfy sneaks for a fun filled family day in Maryland. We had our belated Father’s Day celebration this past Sunday with both my family and my husband’s, complete with crab cakes (because that’s what Maryland’s all about right?), brisket, chicken, corn on the cob, pasta salad, strawberry salad, beans, homemade tortillas, rolls, ice cream, cake, a musical performance, a little rain, a little sunshine, and a lot of fun.

Photos by: Zack Notes / Edited by: Myself

Skull Tank: Hot Topic – similar / Mint Shorts: Motherhood Maternity – non maternity version / Sneaks: ALDO / Bracelets: c/o Guilty Jean (2), ASOS, Flair Accessories / Watch: Michael Kors / Necklace: c/o Guilty Jean / Chevron Ring: Baublebar / Nails: Essie Turquoise and Caicos / Lip: Korres Guava Lipstick Natural Pink #13

Last night, we went to our final child birth class and learned a lot about breastfeeding and newborn care. I’m really glad we decided to take the class, and now we feel a lot more confident going into the whole birthing experience. Tonight, I am joining the ladies for a spa night in complete with manicures, pedicures, and facials! Whoo! Nothing like a little mid-week pampering. The rest of the week, I plan on relaxing, and getting ready to travel back down to Maryland again for my friends Kurt and Tiffany’s wedding on the Eastern Shore! Shortly after returning from that trip, we head off to Maine for our last mini vacay of the summer. Fun times ahead!

Hope you all are stayin’ cool this Tuesday.

XO,

Gina

Happy Summer!

Summertime is…

sunshine

the beach

picnics

friends

ice cream

family vacations

outdoor concerts

boat rides

amusement parks

frozen drinks

iced coffee

swimming pools

Central Park

bike rides

sunbathing

long walks

BBQs

tank tops

watermelon

midday thunderstorms

holiday weekends

bright lipstick

crab feasts

snow cones

…and so much more…

These are all things I look forward to in the summertime…and now it’s finally and officially here…

HAPPY SUMMER YA’LL!

Zack and I are headed down to Maryland tonight for a big family reunion and a belated Father’s Day celebration. We have been blessed with beautiful weather, and we cannot wait to see everyone!

Have a great weekend.

XO,

Gina

{12} Lately…

Lately I’ve been…

reading Finished reading Fly Away by Kristin Hannah. If you’ve read the prequel Firefly Lane, you will definitely enjoy this book. I always enjoy a good Kristin Hannah book. I am now reading Khaled Hosseini’s newest novel, And the Mountains Echoed. I was a huge fan of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, so naturally I had to read this book. So far there are a LOT of character introductions, and I’m hoping that somehow they will all end up stringing together and making sense eventually. So far it’s interesting…I think I’m just waiting for the connection and the point of the whole story. I’m confident that it will come, but will let you know how I end up liking it.

writing E-mails catching up with friends.

listening Really liking Lana del Ray’s Summertime Sadness. The original is beautiful, but I love the Cedric Gervais remix of course. I don’t really have summertime sadness myself…quite the opposite actually, but for some reason, I just dig this song.

thinking That they must have been working on the apartment above my office for about the past 5 years. Seriously…will they ever be done???

smelling And also tasting, this delicious Aloha Banana smoothie I’m consuming. Fruit-a-holic.

watching Saw an episode of the Kardashians (yes, I’m guilty) last night where Kim is in severe pain during her pregnancy. I think this all goes to show pregnancy never happens the way you plan, and you have to be prepared for all kinds of challenges. I have had my fair share, but very thankful to be feeling good right now!

wishing That I could see into my belly to see what my little man looks like. Weird? Maybe, but I think it’s weirder to feel and see kicks and movements inside me all day without actually being able to see who’s in there doing it!

hoping For my Uncle to come home from the hospital soon. His surgery went very well, and we are so grateful. Hoping that he will have a good recovery. He is a tough cookie!

wearing Floral pants from Motherhood (super sale right now!), Mint Poly button down from Express, Sparkly Flats from Nordstrom Rack, Sunnies from Francesca’s, Michael Kors watch, and my Henri Bendel Bracelet.

loving The fact that we are having a family reunion this Saturday with my Dad’s side for the first time in probably at least 15 years. So excited to see all of my cousins and extended family. It’s been way too long!

laughing At the fact that I got pooped on by a bird yesterday…yes I can only laugh because it did not get on my head or my clothing, and it was easy to clean off. Thank goodness, because I had a meeting 15 minutes later…

wanting Coffee. Been getting a bit more sleepy again as I am now in the third trimester of my pregnancy. And the smell of it, just makes me want it more! Been trying to stay away from coffee though most of the time (except for my weekend treats). Hence, the vitamin packed smoothies to wake me up!

needing A back massage. Thinking of making an appointment to get a prenatal massage soon to ease the aches and pains of the third tri.

feeling Hormonal. One minute, I’m super happy. The next minute, I’m crying. And I am not usually a crier. I feel like my mood can change with the flick of a light switch lately.

craving Ice cream. But that’s really nothing new…I heart ice cream. Especially in the summertime.

clicking Catching up on all my favorite blogs and discovering some new ones as well.

What have you been up to lately?

Happy Hump Day!

Love,

Gina

***I was inspired by Tina of Like Ordinary Life to create this post, and she was inspired by Lauren of siddathornton, who started The Sunday Currently.

Weekend Snaps

Wanted to share a few photos from the past couple weekends we have spent in NYC. It’s been nice to actually be in town for a bit and enjoy this amazing city!

My awesome soccer team at our championship BBQ in Williamsburg, BK

A little corn hole action…

Taking a walk in the neighborhood with our neighbors

Pretty little house in the ‘hood

View of Coney Island from my beach chair…

Brighton Beach – so happy to be at the Ocean!

Toes in the sand (Wearing Essie DJ Play That Song)

It’s been so nice and super relaxing these past few weekends staying in town and enjoying this city in which we live. I often think about how lucky we are to be in such an urban place with so much to offer in terms of food, theatre, culture, events, and more. And in addition to this crazy metropolis, how is it possible that we still have the ocean only 4 miles away from our home? For me it is the best of both worlds, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Hope you all had a great weekend, and wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

XO,

Gina

Boardwalk Tribal

Two summer trends I am embracing this season are 1) obviously the maxi which you have seen a lot lately in previous posts, and 2) tribal prints. I actually received this dress as a gift a summer or two ago, and I broke it out for a quick impromptu beach trip to Brighton Beach/Coney Island. I also recently found this amazingly bright tribal necklace from Flair Accessories. It was the last one, and I just had to snag it. If you’re lucky, she may get some more in stock! We had a great time watching the sun go down, reading our books with our toes in the sand, and walking along the boardwalk catching the last of the Puerto Rican Day Parade festivities. I heart the summertime.

Photos by: Zack Notes / Edited by: Myself

Maxi Dress: Gifted / Tribal Necklace and Bracelet: Flair Accessories / Watch: Michael Kors / Flip Flops: Rainbow / Shades: NYC Street Vendor / Lip: Lancome Fearless / Nails: The Balm Hella Yella (from LOFT)

The storms seem to be winding down, and we are heading into (hopefully) a gorgeous weekend. Do you all have anything special planned for Father’s Day? The hubby and I will be spending our Father’s Day weekend preparing for him to be a father and me to be a mother at a weekend intensive child birth course. I’m a little nervous, but excited to learn and get ready (as most we can) for our big day ahead.

I also want to wish a Happy Father’s Day to my own Father, as well as my Father-in-law and my Godfather. You all have made a wonderful impact on my life and my husband’s, and we are so lucky to have the three of you. While, we won’t see you this weekend, we are looking forward to our family reunion and belated Father’s Day celebration next weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone!

XO,

Gina