{23} Lately…

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Lately I’ve been…

reading  The Happiness Project by Gretchin Rubin.  I am two chapters in, and I’m already thinking about what I could do to be happier.  I am totally with Gretchen in the fact that I am already happy…but I agree that there is no reason to not be the happiest you can possibly be.  So far, it’s been pretty thought provoking, and I’ve already thought about so many little changes I could make that would add up to a big difference.

writing  RSVP’s.  Wedding and baby shower season has officially begun.

listening  I’m guessing this will be the “song of the summer” – #SELFIE by the Chainsmokers

thinking  It will be strange to celebrate Easter without my Uncle this year…at the same time, I am excited to celebrate another 1st holiday for my little man, Nico.  Thoughts on painting Easter eggs vs. dyeing them this year?

smelling  Garlic and onions and a sweet smelling tomato sauce.  Mmm.

watching  Dallas Buyer’s Club.  So happy I finally got to see this Oscar Nominated film.  I can’t believe how far Mathew McConoughey has come in his career.  Bravo.

wishing  A Happy Birthday to my {might as well be} brother-in-law, Adam.  Hope you and your Mama had a great time celebrating yesterday!

hoping  That my child will learn to take a nap in his crib.  He’s starting to sit up in and grow out of the swing (I know, we were able to use this a lot longer than most, and it has served us well).  It’s starting to get to the point where he will only nap in the stroller, and that isn’t always an option!

wearing  Dresses!  It’s now warm enough that I don’t have to bundle in pants every day.  I love wearing free flowing dresses in the spring and summer seasons, and I am particularly loving these daytime dresses from Free People.

loving  The amazing weather that we had over the weekend!  We went on multiple walks, enjoyed the Brooklyn Smorgasbord, had a night out at the beer garden, and relished in the sunshine.  Nico also had his first adventure in a swings last weekend, which was a ton of fun!

laughing  At Nico’s current method of transportation.  After a few failed attempts at crawling, he has resorted to scooting while sitting up.  It’s hysterical.  

wanting  A pedicure.  It’s almost flip flop season people, and these puppies are not ready for open-toed shoes.

needing  To baby proof our apartment.  You don’t realize the potential dangers of your home until you have a little one almost on the move.  We ordered a few things from Amazon including thesethese, and these.  If anyone has any suggestions in this department, they are welcome!

feeling  Very behind at photo editing.  Between keeping up with work, a baby, this blog, mealtimes, and an attempted social life, my personal photos have been severely neglected.  I still have to edit our family Christmas photos and ones from Nico’s Baptism.  I keep setting time slots to do it, and something “more important” and time sensitive arrises.

craving  Coconut sorbet.  I have been cutting back a bit on dairy currently, because I think it might be having a slight impact on my babe’s digestion.  I tried out almond milk for the first time, which is surprisingly decent, and coconut sorbet has become my new best friend (because a girl has to satisfy that sweet tooth).

clicking  Over on the Merch website.  Love these stamped necklaces, and would love to get one that says “Ditmas Park.”

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What have you been up to lately?

Also, congratulations to readers, Rachel and Joyce!  You have each won a $35 credit to Stella & Dot jewelry for shopping the trunk show!  You have also won an additional piece at 50% off.  Check your e-mail later today for details.

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.

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A Storybook Shower

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Last Saturday I was down in Maryland to celebrate a baby shower for my sister-in-law and future baby nephew!  It was adorably themed as a storybook shower, with many of the food options based on some of our favorite childhood books.  We each also brought a book in place of a card to shower the momma-to-be and start a library collection for her little guy.  I am so excited to meet my nephew, and looking forward to introducing our boys so soon!  Of course, I had to get our last bump-to-bump shot as well.  It’s crazy to think that the next time I see my sister-in-law, we will both be moms!

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Happy Bump Day 😉

It’s been a busy week here with long work hours, doctor’s appointments, a dinner date with a friend in town from Detroit, and more.  Hope you are all having a good one as well!

XO,

Gina

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{14} Lately…

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34 Weeks

Lately I’ve been…

reading  Just finished The Sh!t No One Tells You: A Guide to Surviving Your Baby’s First Year by Dawn Dais.  I’m not sure whether or not it was a good idea or a bad idea to read this book.  It was quite terrifying, although I suppose I am grateful for the dose of reality and preparations.  Just started reading Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan.  Stumbled across it last week while browsing at Barnes and Noble and figured I would read it since I went to Maine this summer.  It’s more of a beach read about family summer drama.

writing  Well technically, I haven’t started yet, because my apartment has been a disaster zone since the baby shower, and I haven’t even been able to sit on the couch.  HOWEVER, I plan on starting to write out some thank you notes this weekend for all of the lovely gifts we received from our family and friends.

listening  I think I am late on this song, but I heard it a few weeks ago, and honestly it reminds me of my grandfather who always used to say, “You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.”  Ain’t that the truth, Grandpa.  The song is Cups by Anna Kendrick from the movie Pitch Perfect.

thinking  That every time I think my belly can’t possibly get any bigger…I wake up, and it’s bigger.

smelling  The Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels Heavenly that I put on this morning.

watching  The Challenge: Rivals II.  I know it’s ridiculous that I still follow these shows, but I just can’t get enough of the drama that unfolds with every new season of a challenge.  I also constantly wonder how I would measure up in these challenges.  Something tells me I would give those girls a run for their money.

wishing  That I could fly out to Missouri to celebrate my friend’s Cris and Kate’s big day this weekend!  This is the second big wedding we have missed this year, and it’s definitely a bummer to not be there, even though I know it’s for a good reason.  Wishing Cris and Kate a magical day and lots of love!

hoping  To make a lot of progress on our little boy’s room this weekend.  I’m really excited for my vision of how it will look when it’s finished, but it’s a long process to get there!  I’m hoping we can get a good chunk done this weekend.  Am I in nesting mode perhaps?

wearing  Mint green shorts and a gray and orange striped top (different color here), both from Motherhood Maternity.

loving  The maternity session photos that Misa*Me Photography took for us!  She gave us a little sneak peek, and I am so excited to share them with you all in the next couple of weeks.  She did a wonderful job, as always.  Stay tuned!

laughing  At this rendition of Ice Ice Baby that my co-worker shared with me earlier this week.  Props to the editor for stringing together 280 movies worth of clips to create this.

wanting  To swing by the Hester Street Fair on the Lower East Side this weekend.  My friends, Nicole and Maria, have a booth this summer for their handcrafted jewelry company, Guilty Jean, who you may remember from these previous posts. (Spring Has Sprung, Preppy With a Twist, Spiked & Studded, and Boho Spring).  Looking forward to checking out their latest line!

needing  Water, water, water.  Hydration is key for this prego mama.

feeling  Alien-like movements coming from my belly.  He’s kicking and squirming more and more every day.  I swear, it’s the weirdest feeling ever that something is alive and moving inside of you!  But it’s also pretty cool.

craving  Watermelon.  Nothing like this delicious fresh fruit on a hot summer day.

clicking  Through resume after resume.  Trying to find someone to fill in for me at work while I’m away.  I think we are getting close to making a decision!

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What have you been up to lately?

Happy Friday!  Hope you all have a great 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.

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Monkey Business

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When we came up with the name “Little Monkey” for our future babe, we never realized how much this name would take off!  When we started using the name, we didn’t know if we were having a boy or a girl.  Once we found out, we decided we wanted to keep his name a surprise until his arrival, so again the nickname, Little Monkey, stuck.  It seems that is has stuck with everyone else as well!  My mom, sister, and aunt threw us a beautiful monkey themed baby shower for our little boy, and I swear, I didn’t know this much monkey stuff existed!  Monkey cake, monkey diaper tower, monkey onesies (for many different months and hardly any duplicates!), monkey sheets, monkey towels, monkey blankets, monkey backpacks, monkey toys, and the list goes on and on.  At this point, it literally looks like a monkey exploded all over our living room.  Our family and friends have spoiled us with many wonderful gifts for our little guy.  We are so grateful and appreciative to have so many great people supporting us and loving us and our little one on the way.  And one thing is for sure…he is either going to really love or really hate monkeys at the end of his first year!  Here are a few photos from the shower.  Hope you enjoy!

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The ladies behind it all! Thank you so much!

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We had our second prenatal pediatrician consult this morning, and still have one more to go before we decide on a doctor for our little guy.  Had a good doc appointment yesterday, and it looks like he is growing strong!  Still working on “project nursery”, and think it’s going to take quite some time before it’s complete, so hopefully he continues to hang out inside for a little while before making his grand entrance.

Hope you are all having a great week!

XO,

Gina

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{13} Lately…

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Lately I’ve been…

reading  Just finished What Remains by Carole Radziwill.  She is one of the more recent additions to the New York City Housewife cast, although she wrote this book long before.  Carole was a reporter for many years, a princess, and related to the Kennedy’s.  This memoir is about friendship, love, and loss.  It’s extremely sad, but very real, and Radziwill is an excellent writer.  I just started Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks as I heard it was decent and was looking for a light summer beach read (even though I’m not at the beach).

writing  Contracts.  I’m no lawyer, and I can’t exactly say much yet, but it’s exciting, and I’m drafting, drafting.

listening  I’ve always been an Avicii fan, but I’m really loving his new single Wake Me Up.  It starts out with a folk/country guitar style, and breaks into the typical dance/house style of Avicii that we know and love.

thinking  That all I wanted was summertime, and now I got my wish…but it’s so hot, I don’t know how this prego body is going to make it through August.

smelling  Breakfast food…my favorite!

watching  Holy Bachelorette!  Some intense home visits and a sad goodbye.  Go figure they are all in love with her, except the one she is in love with.  I still can’t believe I got into this show this season…those to blame, you know who you are…

wishing  That I could fly out to San Fran to celebrate my friend’s Trey and Suzette’s big day this weekend!  I know it will be amazing, and I’m sad to miss it.  But excited instead to celebrate my bestie Teri’s bridal shower and a baby shower for my Little Monkey.

hoping  For good weather this weekend.  We have a maternity photo session scheduled with Misa*Me Photography, and I’m hoping the weather will cooperate!

wearing  Gray and blue striped cotton jersey dress that was handed down to me by Danielle, my college roomie and cutest little mama!

loving  The new Up the Amp MAC lipstick that I got for free by turning in my 6 empties to recycle.  Also loving the new Benefit They’re Real Mascara I got for my birthday from Sephora.

laughing  At this awesome maid of honor speech I discovered on Zigi’s blog.  I died laughing, and it totally made me think of my bestie Teri.  Let’s just say this girl does a sick Eminem.

wanting  To jump in a pool for my birthday (next weekend)…anyone know a place in the city that could throw a good pool party?

needing  Air conditioning.  Been blasting it lately!  I’m dreading the electric bill.

feeling  Incredibly lucky for my amazing family and friends.  Everyone has been so generous, and we have already started getting lots of packages and gifts to the house for our little man, and I haven’t even had my shower yet!  I cannot wait to get everything in order!  Thank you everyone, I really appreciate it.

craving  Chocolate and fruit.  I have been wanting a little bit almost every day lately.

clicking  Photography inspiration ideas for our shoot this Saturday.

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What have you been up to lately?

Happy Tuesday!

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.

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