{27} Lately…

10635831_10102945434742018_2921162029640458038_n

Lately I’ve been…

reading Finished beachy read,  Another Piece of My Heart, by Jane Green.  Nothing groundbreaking, but a decent vacation read.

writing  A deposition for a court date.  I’m a witness!  Don’t get too excited, it’s just traffic court…

listening  To lots of upbeat music, because Friday I returned to the gym after a 20 month hiatus.  And I actually went again on Monday, and went for a run this morning.  Hoping to keep this momentum going, because I’m already feeling more energized (apart from my sore limbs).

thinking  That we had a really great time last Sunday at the Industry City Dance Party in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.  Zack was eager to go, and I was a little worried that we would be “those people” bringing a baby into an entirely inappropriate situation, but I was happy to find all sorts of kids and babies rockin’ out on the dance floor with the best of them.  It was definitely a party.  And not a kid’s party.  But the fact that kids were welcomed and deemed appropriate there was pretty cool.  Nico (not surprisingly) loved it, and our little fam had a really great time getting our dance on.

smelling  My fav scent, Light Blue.

watching  All the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge videos.  I was a little annoyed by them at first…people dousing themselves so they didn’t have to donate…didn’t make a lot of sense to me.  But after reading this blog post, I have a new perspective.

wishing  Nico an early Happy 1st Birthday!  He is turning ONE on Friday.  I just can’t believe it.

hoping  That I can get my act together this week for a party planning extravaganza.  And by extravaganza, I mean myself, a glass of wine, my living room, and some DIY crafting.

wearing  In the photo above I’m wearing my new ModCloth dress that I got at their 70% off sale!  It’s sold out, but check out some of their other sale dresses here.  Did I mention I was able to go shopping this weekend…ALONE?  It was kind of amazing.

loving  My new haircut (also seen in photo above) from the amazing Tim Dueñas.  Feels so much lighter and loving having some layers again.

laughing  At this adorable friendship on Daily Laughs.

wanting  The summer to stick around a little longer.  I’m not ready for the beach days to end…

needing  To start checking some more things off my bucket list.  And as I’m looking at it…thinking about making some edits.

feeling  Incredibly nervous as today is Nico’s first day with his new nanny and new playmate.  We are going to miss our old one so much, and it’s going to be a tough transition week for all of us, but I’m hoping he will adjust quickly.  

craving  These sweet cinnamon oven roasted peaches.  Thinking this is just the recipe I need for the peaches in our yard this year.

clicking  Looking for a few sweet new baby gifts for little ones on the way.

*

What have you been up to lately?

Hope you are all having a fantastic week!

XO,

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.

Rockin’ Wedding Weekend

IMG_4253_Layers_v1

IMG_4141_Layers_v1

IMG_4214_Layers_v1

IMG_4238_Layers_v1

IMG_4207_Layers_v1

IMG_4243_Layers_v1

IMG_4219_Layers_v1

IMG_4246_Layers_v1

IMG_4271_Layers_v1

IMG_4272_Layers_v1

IMG_4273_Layers_v1

IMG_4166_Layers_v1

IMG_4407_Layers_v1

IMG_4398_Layers_v1

Hey friends!  Well, I wasn’t planning on being completely M.I.A. last week over here, but as it turns out our beach house in the OBX lacked wifi.  I’m sure I could have scooted over to a coffee shop of sorts, but instead I decided to enjoy the free time I had with family, and tried to relax as much as possible.  As much as you are able to with an (almost) one year old child in tow and thirty family members to catch up with.  Nico was a hit with the family and he made sure to show them all of his latest “tricks.”  What a little charmer he is.  The exception to this charm is that our dinner dates with the little guy might be put on pause for awhile.  The scene that entailed was definitely anything but.  Breakfast dates, however, are still a go.  We had a lovely one on the Nags Head Pier watching the waves crash onto the shore.  Nico loved the beach as usual, and we took him up to Jockey’s Ridge to check out the famous sand dunes.  Overall, it was a really nice get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Onto these photos of this beautiful wedding from earlier this summer.  Our dear friends Joe and Colette look ravishing and totally in love.  They were smiling from ear to ear the entire day.  The magic took place in Rock Hall, Maryland (beautiful and totally under the radar), and it also marked our first full weekend away from the little guy.  He was in good hands with his aunt/godmother, and we actually got to sleep in for once, which was kind of amazing.  We had a lovely weekend with friends, and looking back at these photos makes me want to plan another weekend with this crew soon.

Missing my vacation already, but a small part of me is glad to be home in Brooklyn.

Hope you all have a great week!

XO,

Gina

{26} Lately…

Lately I’ve been…

reading Finished a few good ones recently.  First up was The Fault in Our Stars.  I wanted to read the book before watching the movie.  Of course, it’s predictable and a total tearjerker, but I was pleasantly surprised with how well a male author (John Green) was able to capture the mind of a sixteen year old girl.  Next, I read Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn.  This author never disappoints.  Although the main character, Libby, is a little unlikable in my opinion, Gillian Flynn is always keeping you on your toes with her novels and makes you want more.  Heading to the beach this weekend, so if you have any beach reads to recommend, please do!

writing  A ginormous to-do list of everything I need to get done before our trip to the Outer Banks.  And a packing list.

listening  Summer…my summer anthem by Calvin Harris.  Prepping a little playlist for our road trip.

thinking  That this beautifully written blog post from my friend Sascha really hits home for the working mom.

smelling  The delicious homemade eggplant parm the hubby cooked this week.  Fresh eggplant, tomatoes, and basil from the garden.  Melt in your mouth amazingness.

watching  The Bachelorette finale really threw me for a loop!  I realize I am delayed on watching my shows, so sorry for being late to the party.  I won’t throw out any spoilers for those who may also be behind on their TV watching, but let’s just say I was really surprised!

wishing  Time would slow down a bit.  My little baby is almost a year old already!  I can’t even take it.

hoping  I can pull off this fabulous fishtail braid at the beach next week shown in this tutorial by Nikki.

wearing  Lots of leopard print this week.  Feeling feisty.

loving  The end of summer sales!  ModCloth, Free People, J. Crew, & Zara have some pretty good ones going on right now.

laughing  At how Nico loves to be chased around the house.  I will crawl after him, and he will start crawling away squealing with delight…then come back and start chasing me while laughing.  That belly laugh is enough to get me laughing and smiling all day long.

wanting  To be with my little boy today.  In case you couldn’t tell, I’m missing him a lot while at work this week.  Looking forward to spending a whole week with him at the beach and introducing him to the place I have vacationed since I was a small child.  Also excited that the whole family will be able to see how much he has grown.

needing  A little girl (one day) so I can buy these adorable ribbons from Brit!

feeling  Totally inspired by hometown friend Candice as she becomes the first plus-sized model to appear in next year’s Pirelli calendar.  Doesn’t she look fantastic!!??

craving  Something sweet.  What else is new?

clicking  On 1st birthday party ideas for my little guy.

*

What have you been up to lately?

Hope you are all having a fantastic week!

XO,

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.

Captured in Cape May

IMG_4653_Layers_v1

I’m finally getting around to sharing some more of our Cape May vacation photos.  Some of these were taken on my camera, and some of them are from my Instagram feed, so don’t mind the inconsistency.  My favorite part about Cape May was looking at all the adorable houses, many of which have been converted in Bed & Breakfast Inns.  The architecture actually reminds me of my neighborhood, Ditmas Park in Brooklyn yet even closer to the beach.  I loved that mostly everything was in walking or biking distance and that it was very family oriented.  Many thanks to my mother-in-law and father-in-law for organizing such a fantastic trip!

IMG_4656_Layers_v110390192_10102778264502518_8693529401359264458_n

10435929_10102778990273068_2144106319396591194_n

IMG_4642_Layers_v1

10441379_10102784622795448_8757667935507904354_n

10383004_10102786558990298_7416152944729358570_n

IMG_4659_Layers_v1

IMG_4673_Layers_v1

IMG_4586_Layers_v1

IMG_4670_Layers_v1

1526869_10102785674872078_4622023219681478576_n

IMG_4727_Layers_v1

*Note*  The 2nd baby pictured is my adorable nephew, Nathan!  He and Nico had a great time playing together throughout the week.

Now we are on a countdown to our next family adventure…the Outer Banks!  This is a place my family has been going every summer since I was four.  Last summer, I was hugely pregnant and unable to attend as my due date was creeping up, so I am extremely pumped to not only return to the OBX, but to show Nico how much we all love this place and each other.  My cousins have already started the text chain, and I cannot wait to see them!

Happy Monday!

XO,

Gina

Floral Fit & Flare

IMG_4066_Layers_v1

I’m tiny, yet curvy (even more so now post baby), so the classic fit & flare has always been a favorite silhouette of mine.  I found this Pim & Larkin floral beauty on sale via Piperlime, and I had to snag it for wedding season.  Unfortunately, this one is sold out, but they have other gorgeous options as well.  I particularly love the two black and white striped fit & flare options you’ll see on this page.

IMG_4067_Layers_v1

IMG_4078_Layers_v1

IMG_4100_Layers_v1

IMG_4116_Layers_v1

IMG_4127_Layers_v1

IMG_4134_Layers_v1

Dress: Pim & Larkin via Piperlime – sold out, but love their other options here /  Shoes: Sole Society / Clutch: Express / Shades: ModCloth / Bracelet & Earrings Set: Gifted / Lip: Lancome Fuchsia Clutch (discontinued – Wannabe is similar)

I apologize for falling off the world (wide web) these past few weeks.  It’s just that it’s summer time, and I have been having way to much fun enjoying it rather than writing about it.  I’ve been taking photos along the way, but I’ve been too busy to bother with editing and uploading.  Sorry, not sorry. These were taken back on our trip to Rock Hall, MD.  We were on our way to the rehearsal dinner, and we passed a drive-through wildlife refuge.  There was no question, we had to turn back around and take a peek.  We saw a hawk, baby deer, a few more birds and a gorgeous landscape which turned out to be a beautiful back drop for a photo op as well.

This summer has been epic for road travel.  Who would have thought we could handle this many adventures as a family of three?  I have to say, Nico is taking these road trips like a champ and he seems to enjoy every new place we take him.  I have so much to share from the rest of Rock Hall, Cape May, and Rehoboth, and I promise I will give it my best effort, but I have to warn you we have the North Fork, Deep Creek Lake, and the OBX on the horizon!

Hope you all are enjoying your summer as much as I am.

XO,

Gina

{25} Lately…

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

Lately I’ve been…

reading #Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso, founder and CEO of Nasty Gal.  Incredible story and extremely inspirational.  Would recommend to anyone, not just the ladies.

writing  In Nico’s baby book.  I have a few months of catching up to do with all his new milestones!  

listening  “Talk Dirty” by Jason DeRulo.  As a former sax player, I had to give a shout out to the awesome solo work in this song.

thinking  It’s been a bit of a crazy few weeks for me and my family.  We lost my beloved Granny recently, and although she was 93 years old, it was  sudden and a bit of a shock for all of us.  After losing my Uncle earlier this year, it’s been rough for everyone, especially my Mom.  I cannot imagine losing my own mother, and I know this has got to be incredibly difficult for her.  My Granny was the sweetest lady, and I miss her dearly.  I am comforted in the fact that I was able to be by her side in her last week along with the rest of our family, and that she was comfortable and knew we were all with her at the end.  I truly appreciate all of the love, prayers, cards, and support that people have given us during this time.

smelling  The great outdoors.  Spent Zack’s 1st Father’s Day Weekend hiking Bear Mountain on Saturday, and Sunday was spent smelling the sweet salt air at Rockaway Beach.  I would definitely recommend the Perkins Memorial 3.9 mile trail loop.  Amazing views and a challenging, fun hike.  I impressed myself by doing a few rock scrambles with a baby on my back as well, and we were able to introduce Nico to his first ride…the carousel!  Onto the beach…if my fellow New Yorkers make it to Rockaway this summer, you must go to 106th street for arepas at Caracas.  I insist!  P.S. Nico LOVED the beach.  That’s my boy!

watching  Watched the throwback movie Big for the first time with one of my favorite actors of all time, Tom Hanks.  Although the method of getting “bigger” was a tad cheesy, I really enjoyed the movie and would recommend it.

wishing  For the weekend to get here!  We are heading to Cape May for the first time for a family vacation with the hubby’s side.  Looking forward to snuggling that little nephew of ours, and spending time with the entire fam.  Have any of you been to Cape May before?  Would love some suggestions on what to do/where to eat/where to shop, etc.!

hoping  That Nico feels less pain when the rest of his teeth come in…yes, you heard right…Nico got his first tooth this weekend!  My boy is getting big.  

wearing  This new vintage style bathing suit I purchased from Grey Dog Boutique.  Discovered this shop from Bonnie over at Flashes of Style.  Go say hi!

loving  The the line-up of summer travel we have on the horizon.  While driving long distances can sometimes be draining, Zack and I are always up for an adventure, and this summer will be no different even with a little one in tow.  We started off the summer in New Hampshire with good friends, enjoyed upstate NY last weekend, and have Cape May to round out the month of June.  July we will be heading to Rehobeth Beach (DE), North Fork (Long Island), Deep Creek Lake (MD), and celebrating my 30th (eek!).  Ending the summer will be a trip to the Outer Banks (NC) and celebrating Nico’s 1st birthday.  Some may call us crazy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

laughing  I’m not a cat person, but this kitten jam had me rolling!  

wanting  This shocking coral lip color for the season.

needing  Some more time with girlfriends.  I’ve been loving the family life without a doubt, and I love my boys to death, but sometimes a girl needs some quality time with her girlfriends too!  Hoping to set up a few “girl-dates” while the weather is nice and warm. 

feeling  A second needle injection into my thumb this morning.  OUCH.  My thumb has definitely gotten a lot better since the first shot, but it’s still not completely back to normal, and as the doc said “I am too young to have this problem!”  Not to mention how impossible it is to “rest your thumb.”  I really do hope this one will curb me from having to undergo surgery, but worst case scenario, I have heard it’s a fairly simple procedure.

craving  More time to work on this blog and other personal endeavors/passion projects.  My creativity is bursting at the seams with very little time to act!  I’ve always been great with time management, but juggling work, caring for a baby, and our social/travel calendar have made things a bit more tricky.  I know it’s tough to “have it all,” but I’m determined to come up with a way to make things work without sacrificing my family time.

clicking  Nico is pulling himself up to a standing position, and I think it’s time for some functional shoes for summer.  I’ve been searching around online, but does anyone have any favorites they love for their little one?

*

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.

Insta-Snaps from New Hampshire

We spent Memorial Day Weekend up in New Hampshire near the Wolfeboro area and Lake Winniepesaukee.  While it was rainy and cold a lot of the time, we did manage to get some sunshine and some great hikes in.  We stayed on Lower Beech Pond overlooking the water in a fantastic lake house with good friends.  We drank wine, cooked delicious meals together, played games, explored the town of Wolfeboro, and took in some stunning views.  If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen a lot of these, but here are a few snaps from our trip.

IMG_4183

 Nico reading a story at the lake house with my bestie, Erin

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

 Penny Candy Shop in Wolfeboro, NH

IMG_4185

 Yes, I think I will have some wine this vacation! Oops!

IMG_4251

Snuggling my baby at Camp Beech in Tuftonboro, NH

IMG_4255

 Taking a break for lunch on the Italian Trail on Mt. Shaw…that one’s for you Pops!

IMG_4256

 My two happy guys!

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

 Mountain Selfie on the top of Mt. Shaw

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

 So proud of Nico on his 1st hike ever! He was a champ in his Beco Gemini Carrier.

IMG_4293

 Cairn aka Rock Tower

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

 On the top of the White Ledge Loop Trail in the White Mountain National Forest

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

 Standing on the top!

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

 Continuing on the trail loop

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

Such a stunning view!

Some other places we visited that aren’t photographed here:

1. El Centenario: Delicious Mexican fare – We loved the fresh homemade chips and salsa, chile relleno, and chicken enchiladas they had to offer.  The staff was very friendly, and we would definitely go back here.

2.  Downtown Grille:  We came here for coffee and enjoyed their lattes so much, we came back again on the way to drop our friends off at the airport!  I enjoyed both the Blueberry Cobbler latte and the Milky Way. Yum!  If we go back, I would like to try their breakfast as well.

3. Sandy Martin Art Gallery: We had a lovely conversation with owner and artist, Sandy.  She is an extremely talented artist in multiple mediums including oil paints, watercolors, photography, & more.  She loves music and hosts parties within the gallery featuring local musicians on the in-house piano and guitar.  She also knows all the town gossip and Jimmy’s Fallon’s whereabouts when he comes to town.  Definitely a nice stop in!

4.  Sprout’s: Featuring lots of children’s toys, clothing, and gifts.

5. Details: Great little boutique stop for gifts and accessories.  Also have an adorable dress selection.  I walked away with a dainty little flower crown that I love!

6.  Jake’s Seafood: Enjoyed steamers, haddock, chowder, and lots of other yummy seafood here!  Outdoor seating is nice as well.

7.  Castle in the Clouds: A beautiful stop with a beautiful view.  It was rainy and we were hungry, so we didn’t end up doing the tour, but we did have some lunch (I had a lobster roll…drool!) at the Carriage House.

We had such a great time on our trip, despite the inclement weather.  I’m glad we were able to get two great days of hiking in, but I think next summer if we go back to New England, we will try for the 4th of July weekend again so it will be warm enough to jump in that lake!

Hope you are all having a great week!

XO,

Gina

Enhanced by Zemanta

{24} Lately…

10173625_10102694714936518_694743385761873635_n

Lately I’ve been…

reading  The Girl on the Cliff by LucindaRiley.  This book came on recommendation from a friend, and so far I am super captivated!

writing  A packing list for our trip to the lake house in New Hampshire.  We leave tomorrow, and I cannot wait!

listening  Let me start off by saying I know this song is kind of terrible.  But something about this song and my old club days makes me not hate it.

thinking  Time is going so fast!  Nico hit two milestones this past week.  “Crawling” – or his version of it at least.  He’s basically sliding all over the apartment (including underneath the table and chairs as seen above…we are in trouble), and I told the hubby we should at least strap a swiffer duster to his belly so the floors get cleaned at the same time.  I kid, I kid.  He also pulled himself up to a standing position all by himself on Monday.  I was at work, and I missed it, which sucked, because as a mom you never want to miss those first moments.  I am so happy for him and all of his latest accomplishments, but it’s starting to hit home that our little baby is getting bigger, and it’s impossible to go back in time to when he was tiny.

smelling  Not much of anything, because I have been all stuffed up with sickness this past week.  Meh.

watching  The Bachelorette is back!  Any early guesses of who will win?

wishing  For clear skies in New Hampshire, so we can view all the pretty stars at night again this year.

hoping  Along the same lines…for sunshine this weekend!  The weather is looking a bit gloomy thus far.  I know we will still have fun catching up with our friends, playing board games and watching movies, but if possible, I would prefer to be hiking and exploring!  

wearing  Casual today in Paige denim, black and white striped tank, Camo jacket, and New Balance tennis shoes

loving  The fresh Hazelnut coffee we have been getting from Fairway.  I’m not much of a coffee snob.  I usually drink one cup a day, and the Keurig system works for us.  I had never really thought much about the freshness of the K-Cups, but until you have had one of the new Fairway One Cups (which foregoes all the bottom plastic as well for the green folks out there), you haven’t had a good K-cup!

laughing  At this woman who was just a LITTLE bit excited to be a grandmother.

wanting  A recommendation for a new spring nail polish!  Who has one?

needing  A new bathing suit for summer, but dreading the shopping process this year.  None of my old suits fit my current body, so it’s back to the drawing board.  I have a couple ideas in mind in terms of styles, so hopefully I can find something that works.

feeling  Still feeling pain and popping in my thumb a couple days after the Cortisone shot.  Hoping it kicks in soon, or else I may need another injection and possibly surgery.  Oy.

craving  Fresh fruit.  It’s almost summertime, which means all my favorite fruits will soon be in season!

clicking  Around on the Father’s Day gift hunt…it will be here before we know it!

*

What have you been up to lately?

Hope you all have a great week!

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.

Enhanced by Zemanta

In the Garden

IMG_3679_Layers_v1

My guy has been working hard on our garden this year.  I can’t say I have participated much more than a trip to the nursery to pick out some plants (which was really fun by the way!) and a couple days of watering, but I’ve been watching the baby, ok?  In due time when these plants start producing some vegetables…that’s when my work will come into play.  I will be making homemade tomato sauce and pesto, and I will have a happy husband.  Teamwork makes the world go round.

IMG_3698_Layers_v1

IMG_3668_Layers_v1

IMG_3692_Layers_v1

IMG_3705_Layers_v1

IMG_3664_Layers_v1

IMG_3700_Layers_v1

IMG_3661_Layers_v1

IMG_3691_Layers_v1

IMG_3671_Layers_v1

IMG_3687_Layers_v1

Top: J. Crew (old) / Dress (worn as a skirt): Free People (old) – shop day dresses / Shoes: Nordstrom Rack / Bag: H&M / Sunnies: YSL / Lip: MAC Up the Amp / Necklace: Gifted / Bracelet: Oja Jules / Watch: Coach

It was a bit of a rough weekend, as I caught a sinus infection and was completely laid up. We had to cancel our anniversary dinner and I missed the 30th Birthday celebration for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law.  On a separate doctor’s note, I spent yesterday morning in the orthopedic office getting a Cortisone shot to try and help my trigger finger.  Womp womp.

Starting to feel better today, and enjoying the amazing weather we have had in the city the past few days.  We are getting excited for our upcoming family mini vacay with our best friends Erin & Rai.  You may remember them from our Maine trip last year.  We have decided to take another adventure with them to the New England region, and this time we are visiting New Hampshire (and we will also have a mini addition to the crew this year!)  We are heading north earlier in the season, so it will be a bit chillier than last year but we are looking forward to a bit of adventure, some breathtaking natural surroundings, and some R&R as well.

Hope you are all enjoying the week so far!

XO,

Gina

My 1st Mother’s Day

What a wonderful 1st Mother’s Day spent with my boys!  I relaxed this weekend, and we also took a day trip to Coney Island which means I didn’t spend much time writing posts.  However, I did snap a lot of photos, which I will be sharing in the next couple weeks.  My favorite gifts are ones that are made with love and pull at my heart strings.  This gift from my amazing husband had me in tears as he compiled a bunch of our videos of our son, Nico, who is now 8 months old (almost 9 now…eek!)  It’s crazy how much you forget about each little step along the way because your baby keeps growing and changing and you have to keep up.  Watching this video really hit me hard, because you cannot rewind those little moments.  He will never be that tiny again.  Seeing him with so little hair, making those squeaky little sounds he used to make, hating tummy time with a passion, when he really looked at me for the first time, trying those first bites of food, the first giggle, when he loved sleeping on my chest…you cannot get that back.  We are forever pushing forward.  Which of course, in and of itself is also extremely exciting.  I love thinking about all the other firsts Nico will accomplish…but it’s a bittersweet feeling, knowing you cannot go back to when he was tiny…and it gut punches you when you realize how fast this is all going.

Nico, it has been a pleasure and a joy to be your Mom these past 8.5 months.  I love you forever.

And a special belated Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms I know in my life.  I am lucky to have wonderful grandmother’s, aunts, a godmother,  ladies that I can call 2nd moms, and a fantastic mother-in-law.  Most importantly, I am so lucky to have my Mom.  She has shown me what it takes to be a good mom, sister, daughter, and friend.  I now understand all the hard work, time, and effort you put in to raise me.  I love you so much, and I cannot thank you enough for being my rock.  I love our nightly chats on my walk home from the subway, and you are already an amazing Mimi to our Nico.

XO,

Gina

Enhanced by Zemanta