Popcorn and Pandas

Happy Bump Day

Surprise! Happy Bump Day!

Zack and I are so excited to announce that we have a Little Monkey on the way, expected to arrive on or around September 10th of this year. 🙂

Here is a photo from my 13 week sono. I am now at 14 weeks, and happy to be in the second trimester. It’s amazing how much detail you can see, and I cannot believe there is a tiny little human growing inside me!

Little Monkey is so photogenic already. He/She even waved for the camera! (either that or L.M. was still fist pumping from the Swedish House Mafia concert…or sucking his/her thumb?) I’m going with L.M. was saying “Hello” and “Happy Birthday” to Dad last week.

It’s been a bit of a crazy adventure so far, and we are both looking forward to what lies ahead…specifically this weekend, I’m thinking my wardrobe needs an update of clothes that actually fit…

Happy Bump Day!

XO,

Gina

#44 Eat a Mangosteen

Saturday March 9, 2013

Have you ever heard of a mangosteen? Being a lover of all things fruit, this item made it to my great adventures list as something I just had to try. I had heard that it was the best fruit in the entire world, and it was super expensive and rare in the United States. This fruit comes from a tropical evergreen tree mostly found in Southeast Asia and in some South American countries. I hadn’t “googled” the fruit in awhile, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect it to look like or taste like when my husband brought a bunch home for us to eat on Saturday. He had been out exploring in Chinatown after his class, and stumbled across this rare fruit at a decent price (although still not cheap!) I think $8 a pound. When mangosteens first arrived in the US, they were sold for $43 a pound! So I’m thinking relatively here. Of course I had to photograph the little buggers, which kind of look like acorns from the outside. The edible inside part tasted sweet and tangy, juicy, and fibrous. The flavors were a bit like a type of small orange, and nothing like a mango. There wasn’t much meat on the fruit, and although it was indeed tasty, there is no way I am claiming this as the best fruit in the world. That being said, I am excited that I was able to try such a rare find in the U.S. I would definitely eat it again, although maybe next time I would wait to travel to Southeast Asia instead of paying $8 a pound.

Have you ever tried a mangosteen? If so, what did you think?

Hope everyone is having a good week so far.

XO,

Gina

Dinner Party

There’s nothing like an impromptu Saturday night dinner party! I broke out the fine china (for only the second time in two years…let’s just say was about time to put those amazing wedding gifts to good use), and whipped up a little Italiano meal for the hubs and my friends Brooke (a new Brooklynite) and Kendel (visiting from Baltimore). Pasta with red sauce, breaded chicken, mixed green salad, and a bottle of red (or maybe two bottles of red). Doesn’t get much better than that huh? Except for maybe the little game of “Flip Coaster” we invented after dinner. Don’t even get me started on how insanely good Brooke is at this game–she put us all to shame. We had so much fun that we completely lost track of time, and the fact that we were supposed to be meeting friends out in Manhattan that night. Zack ended up crashing, but the girls and I rallied for a fun little night at the Back Room on the Lower East Side. The Back Room is a swank little speakeasy that serves cocktails in teacups and beer bottles in paper bags. We had a great time, and I’m thinking we will need to have a repeat date sometime soon!

Photos by: Zack Notes / Edited by: Myself

Dress: Free People (old) – view their current dress collection! / Leather Jacket: Vintage – love this asymmetrical alternative / Tights: Urban Outfitters / Boots: ALDO / Cardigan: Forever 21 (old) / Bag: Chinatown / Scarf: Gift / Necklace: Guilty Jean / Watch: Michael Kors / Bracelet: Baublebar / Lip: Lancome Luxe / China: Lenox Chirp

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Mine was quite relaxing, and I’m looking forward to chilling out this week as well. I’m a bit excited about the extra daylight hour. It reminds me that spring is right around the corner!

Happy Birthday to my twin cousins, Briana and Victoria, today! Love you girls!

XO,

Gina

Swedish House Mafia

Swedish House Mafia. The Final Tour. I purchased tickets before Christmas for this night to surprise my husband for his 32nd Birthday. Well, I got too excited and spoiled the surprise about three weeks early, but nonetheless, we were both ecstatic to see them live for the first (and sadly last) time. Cue the lights, cue the neon, cue the scantily-clad dressed teenagers, cue the fist-pumping, and cue the dancing. This was one party not to be missed! Sebastian Ingrosso, Axwell, and Steve Angello killed this performance, and I am so glad Zack and I were able to be a part of it. The energy in the room was contagious at Madison Square Garden, and it was a dance party the entire time. I wish I could go back and experience it all again, but at least I have these photos, and the video at the bottom of this post to remember it. Hope you had a Happy 32nd Birthday Zack! I love you!

Swedish House Mafia Concert Highlight Video by Zack Notes. Photos (except one of me) taken by myself.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr7CVvQf9gQ&w=870&h=580]

I’m assuming this post will pump you all up for this weekend. Happy Friday, and enjoy that snow New York!

XO,

Gina

{7} Lately…

Lately I’ve been…

reading Catching up on my Marie Claire reading. The February & March issues are featuring so many spring trends that have me itching for warmer weather.

writing A Birthday card for the hubby. His Birthday is on Tuesday, but we are celebrating this weekend.

listening Swedish House Mafia all day today. Gotta pump myself up for the concert tonight at Madison Square Garden. Can’t believe this is their last tour. Sad face. I scored tix to start off the hubby’s b-day celebration. I’ll leave you with one of my favs: Don’t You Worry Child ft. John Martin

thinking About how much fun this concert is going to be. It’s consuming my mind today!

smelling The yummy bagel with cream cheese that I am about to consume.

watching Don’t hate, but I have been loving the Snooki & JWoww show this season. I mean, how cute is little Lorenzo?!?!

wishing That we hadn’t been woken up at 4am last night with the doorbell ringing from a cab driver that got stiffed by my neighbor. I mean, really?

hoping For positivity and strength to surround my Uncle and help him fight off the sickness he has been faced with at this point in his life. I also hope that my Mom can find equal strength since she has been his rock during this time.

wearing Black leggings with a pink and grey striped top, black and white striped cardigan, studded combat boots, my panda necklace, and my new MAC Candy Yum Yum from my bestie, Nichole! You rock!

loving The fact that we started making friendship bracelets at our last girl’s night on Tuesday. What a trip down memory lane! So fun, but I realize my skills need some brushing up.

laughing At this poor girl who tried to do a hair tutorial. I know it shouldn’t be funny, but it’s kinda funny.

wanting A big cup of coffee from Starbucks. Preferably a Cinnamon Dolce Latte.

needing The winner of my Flair Accessories giveaway to reply back with her shipping information. If I don’t hear from her soon, someone else may become the lucky winner instead.

feeling A bit sleepy due to being woken up last night.

craving This gold Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C. Oh wait…I already bought it. I’m not allowed to crave anything else for awhile…

clicking Through Amazon for some photo paper to print on for class. We are learning to use Camera RAW and Photoshop, so exciting!

What have you been up to lately?

Happy Weekend!

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.

#96 See Phantom of the Opera on Broadway

Friday February 22, 2013

When I was a little girl, my parents went to see Phantom of the Opera, and they came home bearing a soundtrack of the performance. My sister and I started listening to it, and we quickly grew addicted. We played this soundtrack day after day, memorized all the songs, sang them around the house, and fantasized about the day that we would get to see this show ourselves.

Fast forward to about a month ago. The hubby and I now live in the Big Apple with Broadway at our fingertips. We decided that we were going to check this item off my bucket list, and we bought tickets as our Valentine’s Day present to each other. To say I was excited would be an extreme understatement. I skipped around the city for the past month giddy with anticipation. I played the songs around the house to get Zack as equally pumped up for the show (well maybe not equally.) I counted down the days until I would finally be able to see the show of my dreams.

Well, let me tell you. It was everything I had dreamed of and more. The sets were absolutely stunning. The acting was superb. The music was phenomenal. You know how you wait for something for so long (almost your whole life), and the excitement builds up, and then when it finally gets here, you are just overcome and overwhelmed with emotion?!?! Well, that was me on Friday night. Blubbering in my seat to all of my favorite songs that I had been waiting to hear live for all these years. I almost felt silly for tearing up at a Broadway show, but I just could not believe that I was actually there seeing Phantom on Broadway. Before Friday, I only knew the music. Now I could put faces and emotions and stories to the tunes. It all came together, and it was just perfect.

I cannot believe it took me that long to see this show, but I will say that it was worth the wait. I will also say that I am pretty sure there will be a “second time” of me seeing this show. So Angela, (my little sister) you better get your butt up to New York. You have no idea what you are missing!

Bright Lights Bigger City

I typically tend to avoid touristy areas like Times Square, but I happened to be here last Friday night with my camera in tow, and I decided to take advantage. As much as the crowds can be crazy and frustrating, there is something about Times Square that fills you with energy and excitement. The bright lights. The big city. It makes you feel as if you are a part of something really magnificent. So I took the opportunity to dive right in there with the tourists and take some photos. I hadn’t really taken any night shots since I started my photography class, so I experimented with what I had been learning, and here is what I came up with. Hope you like.

And now for a little tune to put you in the spirit:

Bright Lights Bigger City – Cee Lo Green

Happy Hump Day!

XO,

Gina

Oscar Favorites

Happy Monday!

Today I want to share some of my favorites from the Oscar Red Carpet. Two major trends I saw this year were metallics and pale neutral colors. Of course, there were a few pops of bright color in there as well. There were so many to choose from this year (even the gentlemen rose to the occasion!), but these were on the top of my list.

JessicaChastain — Jessica Chastain looking gorgeous in Giorgio Armani – Steve Granitz/WireImage

StacyKeibler — Stacy Keibler in a stunning metallic dress from Naeen Khan – Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

AmyAdams — Loving Amy Adams in this gown from Oscar De La Renta – I could be biased, because it reminds me of my wedding dress – Kevin Mazur/WireImage

JenniferLawrence — Oscar Winning Best Actress Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Couture – Steve Granitz/Wire Image

CharlizeTheron- — Charlize Theron with a sexy haircut and sleek white dress from Dior Haute Couture – Michael Buckner/Getty Images

AmandaSeyfried — Amanda Seyfried looking sophisticated in Alexander McQueen – Kevin Mazur/WireImage

HalleBerry — Halle Berry never fails to be a showstopper. Looking amazing as always in Versace. – Steve Granitz/WireImage

ChanningTatum — Oh Channing, I know you have a pregnant wife, but you are so ridiculously handsome. – Getty Images

JenniferGarner — Jennifer Garner supporting her hubby, Ben Affleck in this beautiful bordeaux number from Gucci – Steve Granitz/Wire Image

NaomiWatts — Naomi Watts sparkling in Giorgio Armani – Jason Merrit/Getty Images

KerryWashington — Kerry Washington brings a pop of color to the Red Carpet in this fabulous dress by Miu Miu – Jason Merrit/Getty Images

NicoleKidman — Nicole Kidman shining bright in L’Wren Scott – Steve Granitz/WireImage

EddieRedmayne — Les Mis star, Eddie Redmayne dressed in Alexander McQueen and looking dapper. Loving those shoes. – Kevin Mazur/WireImage

DanielDayLewis — Best Actor, Daniel Day Lewis rocking navy and black by Domenico Vacca – Jason Merrit/Getty Images

SandraBullock — Sandra Bullock looking ever so classy in Elie Saab – Jason Merrit/Getty Images

BradleyCooper — Loving the slicked back hair, baby blues, and Tom Ford tux on Bradley Cooper – Steve Granitz/Wire Image

HughJackman — Hugh Jackman looking smashing in Tom Ford – Jason Merrit/Getty Images

JenniferAniston — The always adorable Jennifer Aniston donning a bright red gown from Valentino – Steve Grantiz/Wire Image

Would love to know your Red Carpet favorites as well!

I had a great time watching the Academy Awards last night with the hubby. I felt very knowledgable about a lot more of the films this year, because of our Race to the Oscars. I also thought the competition was really fantastic this year. So many amazing pieces of work were nominated, and so many categories held really wonderful options for winners. There was a even a tie in the Sound Editing category this year. I have never heard of an Oscar tie! What an honor to share. The performances were great, and there was even a guest appearance by our First Lady–what a surprise! Congrats to Argo and Ben Affleck for winning Best Picture. How exciting!

I had a great weekend fulfilling a bucket list item (more to share on that later!), date nights with the hubby, coaching basketball, and relaxing. Looking forward to a busy week ahead as well.

Hope you all have a great week too!

XO,

Gina

Spring Fever

1. Yellow Trench Coat: Target / 2. Butter London Spring 2013 Collection: Nordstrom / 3. Wide Brim Straw Hat – Kate Spade / 4. Fan Fringe Necklace – J. Crew / 5. Rainboots – Charlotte Russe / 6. Rebecca Minkoff Striped Mini M.A.C. – SHOPBOP / 7. Polka Dot Short – Forever 21 / 8. Floral Porchfield Dress – Jack Willis / 9. Pink Blazer – Topshop / 10. Blue Minnie Pant – J. Crew / 11. Jeffrey Campbell Lace Ankle Bootie – Nelly / 12. Anchor Studs: J. Crew

I don’t know about you, but I am OVER this cold weather! All the talk of snow and chill has me jonesin’ for spring. I couldn’t help but scour the online shopping world for some of my favorite on-trend pieces that I cannot wait to get my hands on. If only I could wear them right now! Although I tend to wear a ton of black in the winter time, I am very excited to sport some color this spring! This little collection above makes me happy, because it reminds me that spring is just around the corner.

In other news, congratulations to “Befab4lyfe” for winning the Flair Accessories earring giveaway!!! Please inbox me your shipping info to { gina dot notes26 at gmail dot com }. Then, I will have these gorgeous iridescent studs on the way to your door as soon as possible! Thanks to all who entered the giveaway.

I am ticking off a bucket list item tonight, that I cannot wait to share with you next week!

Happy Friday Everyone!

XO,

Gina

A View From Weehawken

Last Saturday we made the trek out to Weehawken, New Jersey for a good friend’s housewarming party. I have driven through the Lincoln Tunnel many times, and have looked up at the houses up in the cliffs imagining the stunning views they must have of Manhattan. Well, on Saturday I no longer had to imagine as I saw this view for myself! WOW. We spent tons of time hanging out on this ledge taking photos before joining the housewarming festivities…which were also a ton of fun by the way! Congrats to my friends on their new digs and their fabulous view!

Photos by: Zack Notes

Top: ASOS – now on sale! / Pants: ZARA / Boots: Steve Madden – on sale at Swell! / Hat: Union Square Holiday Market – similar / Scarf: Gift – similar here and here / Sunglasses: Vintage / Bag: TJ Maxx / Bracelets: Flair Accessories, ASOS, and Wanderlust + Co. / Watch: Betsey Johnson / Necklace: Forever 21 / Lip: Lancome Luxe

Last night we held our final screening for our Race to the Oscars. We saw the Oscar Nominated Animated Shorts program! Most people don’t get a chance to see the films in this category, so I always feel like I have an upper hand when guessing the winner. I am always impressed by the level of talent, and this year was no disappointment.

If you haven’t already entered to win my giveaway, you have two more days to score these amazing stud earrings from Flair Accessories!

XO,

Gina