summer style Archives - Popcorn and Pandas

July Express Try-On

Happy Monday and Happy 1st Day of July! July is one of my favorite months for a number of reasons. One, being it’s my birthday month! Where my fellow Leo’s at? (end of July). My sister and I grew up celebrating our birthdays together every summer at the beach. These days, we head to family vacation in August, but we still get plenty of beach days here in NYC believe it or not. I’m also excited for July, because I’m heading on my annual Coach Summit trip!!! Going to meet some of my favorite ladies and business partners out in Indy next week for some fun and inspiration.

Today’s try-on is from Express, and it’s a mix of fun summer pieces that I can dress up or down, take to the beach, take to my Summit parties, wear during our casual conference, or wear running around with my three boys this summer. All items are linked so you can shop. I do receive a tiny commission if you decide to purchase anything using my link (not in-store or outside of this link), and I so very much appreciate you guys using my shop links as it helps me to keep doing try-ons like this! Can’t wait to hear what you think of the pieces!

The green floral halter maxi you see above fits TTS (true to size – I’m wearing an XS), it’s super flowy and very comfortable. The length is perfect for my 5’0 frame, and the back has a super deep V cut for a sweet, but sexy look.

OH and Express is having major sales right now, so mostly everything you can get as discounted prices! Whoop whoop!

Floral Romper

The one I tried on here is a S, and it was a little big up top, so I snagged the XS off the mannequin! Hoping it fits perfectly, so I can wear it to one our parties in Indy with some wedges! This one is 50% off right now!

Waffle Knit Tee

Camo Shorts

This outfit is perfect for running around the playground with my kiddos or running errands in the hood. The top is really comfy cozy, and the shorts are a lightweight linen blend and easy to move around in. After looking up the tee online, apparently it’s supposed to be an off-the-shoulder-tee, but who knew? I guess you could wear it either way. It comes in a few different colors as well. Shorts on sale!

High Waisted Tie Cargo Pant

Paired the same top with these high waisted tie pants that are also the perfect length for my shortie frame. Or maybe they are supposed to be capris, but whatever, they work! Haha. Also crazy comfortable and easy to run around in with three small children yet cute enough to wear to the office if you work somewhere without a super fancy dress-code.

White Ribbed Bodysuit

Same pants, different top. This time rocked a white ribbed bodysuit. I haven’t rocked a bodysuit since probably the 80’s (I was 5), but I sized up here to a small, and it honestly wasn’t as uncomfortable as I’d remembered.

High Waisted Striped Tie Shorts

I tried to mix and match as much as possible to give you different options for how to style everything, and it also works really well if you’re into the capsule wardrobe thing, but here is the same bodysuit top with these linen blend tie shorts. I have tried these shorts on before. I loved them then, and I still love them now! These are a size S, but they run a tad big, so I needed an XS. These are also 40% off right now!

High Waisted Black Tie Shorts

Also comes in navy blue, red, and ivory.

Downtown Cami

Swapped out the bodysuit for this versatile chic cami which you can dress up or down. It comes in a TON of colors and it’s buy 1, get one 50% off right now!

High Waisted Multi-Stripe Tie Wide Leg Pant

I LOVED these pants on the rack, but in reality they were WAY too long on me. They were totally comfortable and if I were about 9 feet taller, I would definitely rock them. Okay maybe I’m exaggerating, but you do need to be kinda tall!

Heathered Strappy Back V-Neck Maxi Dress

FAV item of the day! I loved it so much, that I bought it even though it’s a little long, and I will have to have it hemmed. This particular one is a Medium, because I couldn’t find my size right away. The XS fit a little tight, and I liked the looser fit, so I ended up getting the Small. It does come in a few other colors as well (I tried it in black of course), but this one was my favorite.

Sequin Sheath Dress

Last but not least, this dress was so fun, I had to try it on, even though I have nothing to wear it to! Could be great for a summer wedding or fancy party. It was sort of a pain to get on and off as it’s very body hugging (I would prob wear Spanx under), but I really like it!

And there you have it! Can’t wait to hear what you think and which items you love! I have the full try on Saved on my Instagram Stories if you want to check it out!

Hope you’re all kicking the week off strong! I rocked a double workout today as our BRAND NEW 100 day program launched coaches to begin testing it out! You know I had to try it! It’s going to be a combo of HIIT, strength, and balance for 20-30 minutes per day and it’s set to a LIVE DJ! Very excited! There is ONE sample workouts available for non-coaches if you want to try! Just shoot me a message. Make it a great week everyone! July 4th is coming!

XO,

Gina

Trunk Club Try-On May 2019

Happy Monday! So excited to share another round of try-ons. Today, I’m sharing my Nordstrom Trunk Club. My stylist sent me a bunch of new on-trend favorite pieces to check out. Some were total hits and some were major misses (for me), but it’s always fun to try on new things. Whatever you love, you keep and whatever you don’t, you just send back! You have a chance to review the trunk before it ships and you can also let your stylist know about specific items you may desire. There is a $25 styling fee, but you can use it as credit if you purchase anything from the trunk. So here we go!

The first outfit was a win for me. I own the mom jeans (Target), and decided to style them with this breezy button up, cotton jacket and leather espadrille slip-ons from the Trunk. Loving this casual look! Comfortable and also nursing friendly.

Madewell Surplus Cotton Jacket

Halogen White Leather Espadrille Mule

Treasure & Bond Breezy Striped Boyfriend Shirt

I’ve been seeing these button down dresses everywhere, and I LOVED this chambray version from Madewell. Very comfy and loved the pockets as well! The back straps criss-cross in the back as well which was a nice added touch. And of course, also nursing friendly.

Madewell Button Front Chambray Tank Dress

This was called a utility jacket, but it felt more like a shirt. It was super lightweight, but definitely really comfortable and soft! The striped tee underneath was comfy and great as a basic tee!

Treasure & Bond Utility Jacket

Madewell Striped Pocket Tee

I also loved this button down thread dress from Madewell. This is an XS, the material was super comfy, and it fit well! These nude suede slip on sandals by Halogen were also great. The heel is a good height where it doesn’t hurt your foot and bonus: it’s currently marked down!

Madewell Texture & Thread Front Button Dress

Halogen Slide Sandal

I got majorly excited when I saw this white denim jacket in the trunk! I don’t own anything like it, and it seems like a great spring and summer staple! Bonus: it’s really soft and comfortable as well. I think I’m keeping this one.

Kut from the Kloth White Denim Jacket

The dress hugged me in the wrong places and was a little too loose up top, but I like the print, and would make a sexy date night dress! Just not a great fit for me.

Leith Wrap Mini Dress

I loved this button down dress when I pulled it out of the box, but it ultimately didn’t work for me. The buttons in the chest area pulled too much and you could see right through the holes to my bra which wasn’t flattering. Super bummed, because I loved the color, pockets, and fit of the rest of the dress. Shame the buttons were weird!

Hinge Button Front Midi Dress

This dress was really cute online, and I wanted to love it, but the material wrinkles really easily, and it was not flattering on my body at all. I LOVE the color, but between the wrinkles, the fact that it hugged me in all the wrong places and since it’s not nursing friendly, it’s just not gonna work for me.

Something Navy Flirty Mini Dress

Definitely keeping this black bralette from Free People. Perfect to wear under those summer tanks or shirts where your bra peeks out, because it has such pretty detail you don’t mind showing it! Perfect summer staple.

Free People Bralette

This simple rose bangle was also included in the Trunk inscribed with “Stop and smell the roses.” Classic and chic. Goes with anything. Keeping this for sure.

Kate Spade Rose Bangle

I liked the idea and style of this top, but for the price, I didn’t think it was worth it. It was a little short and a little sheer. It was okay, but I didn’t love it.

Madewell Woodland Floral Smocked Waist Top

This top was a little large and didn’t really do me any favors. Loved the print, but not the fit. Just kinda made me look wider than normal.

Madewell Striped Peasant Top

Thinking my stylist doesn’t really understand the “mom bod” going on right now. Haha. The color of this top was pretty, but way too low cut for me. I spend a lot of days at the playground with my kids and unless I’m nursing my baby, I don’t really want my boobs hanging out, ya know? So this was a no-go, but I felt like striking a pose anyway. 😉

Hinge Button Front V-Neck Top (similar)

FYI – jeans and shoes are mine and I linked them here:

Zara High Waist Black Jeans (similar)

Chinese Laundry Carnival Sandal

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And that’s it for my May Trunk Club Try-on! I need to send back what I don’t want today, so if you have any suggestions for what I should keep and what I should return, PLEASE let me know!!!

I have the full try-on behind-the scenes posted in my Instagram Stories so feel free to check that out as well. All the items are linked here in case you want to purchase them (I do receive a teeny tiny commission if you use my link, so THANK YOU for using it – it helps me to continue doing these types of try-ons!) OR sign up and get your own personal stylist to have a trunk delivered to your door! I love a good package, and the fact that I don’t even have to leave my house or bring children with me shopping is clutch!

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Hope you guys had a great weekend! We celebrated my nephew’s 1st Birthday, Knox was Baptized into the Catholic Church, and my boys made my mom and I breakfast in bed down in Maryland! The boys were seriously so super sweet to me all day, and we had a wonderful weekend celebrating lots of great things! I was also able to keep up my workouts while away and got in a sweat sesh with my mama!

Back in Brooklyn today and it’s a gloomy, rainy one here, but going to make the most of it! New clothes always help. 😉

Make it a great week everyone!

XO,

Gina

Electric Embroidery

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Dress: ASOS (last season) / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Clutch: Express / Sunnies: Modcloth / Earrings: Forever 21 / Lip: MAC Snob / Bracelet & Necklace: Vintage

Found these photos from a wedding I went to back in June that I never got around to posting. It was a beautiful, gorgeous evening in Upstate NY with family complete with a full vegan healthy menu and lots of dancing, which is my kinda party! Love the bright boldness of this dress and even more, the entire design is embroidered! I definitely need another excuse to wear this one next spring.

We are starting to get into our “back to school” routine over here. My little guy is having a little bit of a hard time getting adjusted to 2’s as I guess is expected, but just something new for us. My older guy is enjoying Pre-K so far, and has come home from school pretty much EXHAUSTED each day. Coordinating a nap for the little one has been difficult some days and yesterday was one of those days. He only got about 10 minutes of one in the car, and wouldn’t go back down. Luckily he’s an easy-going kid, but even the easy-going need naps, and it sorta made him a little nuts. After not putting non-food items in his mouth for months, I have a good idea that he “ate” a marble last night, so in an effort to make sure there was no obstruction, we spent the evening in the Urgent Care Center getting an x-ray. Seems like all is fine, but will just be having to check diapers for the next few days. #momlife

It’s been a little nutty over here and there is a lot of shuffling going on, but we are trying to get into the swing of things, and I am enjoying having a little more time to write, build my coaching business, and have a little bit of a breather again during the day.

Whether you have kids or not, there is definitely something to September having that “Back to School” vibe. It’s almost like the new January in a way. Back into routine. No more late summer nights. I have to say I’m enjoying the routine aspect of it, and I think the kiddos are appreciating too.

Cheers to a fresh fall start! What are you most looking forward to for this upcoming season?

XO,

Gina

Sun Kissed

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Dress: ASOS / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Earrings: Stella & Dot / Bracelet: Vintage / Sunglasses: Brickyard Buffalo / Lip: MAC Snob

Ahh this dress! During an online shopping spree for our June wedding season, I saw this dress at ASOS, and I just HAD to have it! I just love the bright neon florals for summertime, and it was perfect for the outdoor/indoor wedding we attended in Ithaca, NY. I hedged my bets with this one hoping it would fit as only the smaller size was available. I normally would have gone for the slightly larger one, but it seems my hard work in the “gym” aka my living room has paid off and I was able to slip into this delightful fit and flare silhouette! So happy that it worked out, and we had an amazing evening watching the sun go down and dancing the night away with great friends.

It’s been a busy summer here with lots of traveling and more coming up in the next few weeks! Nashville is SOOOOO soon!!! Eeeep! If you don’t remember, here is a post of me from last year’s Summit breakin’ it down with CIZE at 8 months pregnant! LOL! I am getting so excited to return to the place where I met all my coaching teammates in person for the first time and looking forward to learning from the best about how to keep moving my business forward and changing lives along the way.

In other news…not that you all particularly care, but the fellow moms out there might! We are in the midst of potty training with my toddler, and so far it’s going MUCH better than I had anticipated! I speed read the Oh Crap! book which helped to reassure me that we were more or less on the right track! I can’t believe we are crossing this big milestone and he seems to be aging SO rapidly right now! Threenager attitude and all! LOL! The baby learned to full out crawl and now a week later he is pulling himself to standing. SLOW DOWN KID! Ahhh they grow up too fast don’t they? But I do admit, it will be pretty darn cute (and terrifying) when they are running around together/in opposite directions. Haha.

Hope you are all having a great week so far!! I am having a blast with the Jam out in July Challenge!! I don’t know why I haven’t been blasting music in my house during my workouts already! SUCH a great idea and such great motivation!

Make it a happy one!

XO,

Gina

Pattern Mixing

Striped Top: H&M – similar here and here / Floral Skater Skirt: H&M – similar / Sparkly Flats: Nine West / Heart Tote: ban.do / Sunglasses: Vintage Kenneth Cole / Watch: Michael Kors / Necklace: Barami / Lip: MAC Snob / Nails: Essie Sexy Divide

Here is the last of my summer outfit posts, and it’s definitely feeling like fall now. To keep wearing these pieces into the new season, you could always throw on a pair of tights under the skirt or a blazer over the top. I am very into getting as much use as possible out of every article of clothing in my closet for as long as I can! I love the idea of pattern mixing, and I think it works as long as you stay in a similar color palette. Stripes and florals are two of my favorites, so why not mix them together?

This past weekend, we took Nico to the pumpkin patch, and my what a difference from last year to this year! He was so excited about the orange “balls” as he called them, and was crawling all around the patch exploring. We drove out to Stakey’s Farm on the North Fork of Long Island for pumpkin picking, apple cider donuts, and a corn maze. We also stopped off a Briermere Farm for apples and a raspberry creme pie. One way to get me to embrace the colder weather is certainly through my stomach.

Hope you are all having a great week so far!

XO,

Gina

Summertime Sadness

Dress: Free People (sold out – similar here and here) / Shades: Borrowed from my niece – similar / Bracelets: Guilty Jean / Necklace: Family heirloom / Lip: MAC Up the Amp

Summertime sadness…I get all weepy this time of year due to the fact that summer is coming to an end. The days of last minute drives to the beach, toes in the sand, and piña coladas are just about over. The kids are back to school (luckily mine is not old enough yet, so I can still pretend it’s summer for longer), and fall is just around the corner. Now, I do really enjoy the fall for everything it’s worth. Pumpkin spice lattes, hayrides, a new wardrobe with jackets, Halloween parties, trips to the farm for apples and gourds…these are all things that make me love the fall. But I get sad because I do really despise the cold. Winter is my least favorite season because I’m constantly bundled up trying to rid myself of goosebumps. Sure I love a cup of hot cocoa and the first snowfall just like everyone else…and of course I love Christmas…but after that, I am just ready for the winter to be over and summertime to arrive again. The end of summer to me means that it’s only getting colder, and that is not something I look forward to. I am a summertime gal, and I’m going to miss jumping into that ocean. I know it’s still currently warm out, but I think it’s time to start planning that winter beach getaway.

We celebrated my Little Monkey’s 1st Birthday over the weekend with a big nautical themed party with family and friends. He was on cloud 9 hanging out with all his little buddies, jamming out to music with the Munchkin Music Club, and eating a fabulously decorated (and tasting) cake from Betty Bakery. Pics to come on that later, but wishing everyone a Happy Monday!

XO,

Gina

All About Hair

As most of you know, I recently got my hair cut by the amazing, Tim Dueñas, at Arrojo Studio. Having recently celebrated my 30th Birthday, I decided to treat myself to a fancy hair cut, and I am so glad I did. Tim asked about my lifestyle and my daily routine, and without even needing me to show him a photo, he knew exactly what I needed in a hair cut. Long enough to still put up in a pony and go (mom life doesn’t give me much time for styling), but plenty of layers and shape if I do find a moment to wear it down. I am incredibly happy with how it turned out.

That being said…Irresistible Me sent over their fantastic extensions, and I couldn’t wait to try them on! Now, let me be straight with you. I know ladies have been rocking extensions for awhile now, but I never jumped on board. To be honest, as much as I wanted to try them out, it was extremely intimidating to me. I am not the best stylist when it comes to hair, and even when I received the box, I took one look, and e-mailed my contact there freaking out about how I was supposed to apply these things! She sent me a video tutorial, and I have to say, I am completely surprised at how easy it was to clip them in. While, I love my fresh new cut, it’s exciting to know that if I am craving a longer, fuller look for a date night or event, I can now achieve that without spending a fortune at the salon.

I have posted Before and After shots, and you can really see how natural they turned out. A lot of other extensions I have seen have the potential to appear mullet-like, showing a clear separation between the real hair and the “fake” hair. These flowed beautifully with my natural hair. Speaking of natural…Irresistible Me boasts 100% natural hair in all their clips.

So what do you all think of extensions? Have you tried them before? Which look do you like better?

Before:

After:

*** I apologize for the blurriness in some of these photos. We are trying out a new lens, and my husband was also taking these with a baby strapped to him, so there was some shake-age. Haha.***

Hair Extensions: c/o Irresistible Me / Top: Necessary Clothing / Scalloped Shorts: Necessary Clothing / Shoes: ALDO (similar) / Bag: Rebecca Minkoff / Shades: Vintage / Earrings: c/o Stella & Dot (now on sale!) / Bracelets: Henri Bendel, Baublebar, Stella & Sparkle / Watch: Michael Kors / Lip: MAC Impassioned

And can you believe my outfit is actually a top and shorts set? I wore them together, but apart, I think they would be just as cute styled in a different way. I went on a sets kick this past shopping trip. I don’t know what it was, but I was alone for once and excited, and I kept seeing adorable sets, so there you go. The one I’m wearing is sold out online, but if you live in NYC, you may still be able to catch it in-store. I also purchased this adorable two-piece top and skirt set, and I hope I can find the perfect occasion to break it out.

We spent the weekend in Brooklyn with our nieces, celebrated Nico’s 1st Birthday with a slice of rainbow cake (the big celebration is coming up this Saturday), and reminisced back to last year’s Labor Day Weekend when I was actually in labor. My how much has changed since then.

Hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend as well!

XO,

Gina

{Style Envy} Rompin’ Around + Turning Thirty

On Brianna – Romper: Forever 21 / Sandals: Michael Kors / Necklaces: Forever 21

Introducing my beautiful niece, Brianna. You may remember a few posts way back when from my Style Envy segments with Marisa and Alex. Every now and then I like to showcase someone else’s style rather than my own, and Brianna was looking so adorable in this romper while we were on vacation in Cape May that I just had to snap some photos at the beach. Rompers made a small come back last summer, and they are still in full force this season. It’s so nice to only think about one piece. No need to worry about which top is going to go with which bottom. Matchy matchy tops and bottoms have also been a trend this season, so why not just buy one piece and call it a day? Of course, everyone’s main complaint about rompers is the ever-annoying hassle of going to the bathroom, but in my opinion, it’s no big deal to suck it up for a day for the sake of fashion. That’s what we women do, right?

Onto my niece…Bri is one of those people with a natural easy-going attitude. She’s always down for an adventure, for trying fun new things, and she’s a total pleasure to be around. Throughout the week whenever someone would make a suggestion about something fun to do, she was always up for it. No matter how weird to crazy the activity, she was always excited to partake. Want to go play skee-ball at the arcade? Yup. Want to go for a walk? Yup. Want to take photos on the beach? Yup. Want to go get ice cream? Yup. Want to go on a four-person family bike? Yup. She reminds me of my husband (her uncle) never wanting to sit around. Always go go go…they might miss something or won’t be able to enjoy the most out of their vacation if they are relaxing too much. We had a blast hanging out at the beach, and I only wish she and my sister-in-law could have stayed longer!

On a final note, I turned 30 over the weekend. That’s right THIRTY. Holy crap. Where does the time go? I remember when I used to think thirty was so old. It’s crazy how much I have grown and changed in the last decade. Met Zack, graduated college, moved to New York City, got into the animation/advertising industry, partied my ass off, traveled, got married, moved to Brooklyn, slowed down, had a baby, and now I’m a mom of an almost 1-year-old. My twenties were a lot of fun indeed. As scary as 30 sounds, I do admit, I am excited to embrace this new decade with the clarity, responsibility, and self-awareness that I did not always exhibit in my twenties. Sure occasionally I know I will miss my carefree days, but my life is all about my family and closest friends right now, and I couldn’t be happier.

Special thanks to my husband for planning an amazing 30th surprise weekend for me complete with Six Flags, a fancy dinner, a night on the town, and finished with a beach day. I am a lucky lady.

Hope you are all having a great week!

XO,

Gina

Beachy Keen

As excited as we are for our Little Monkey to get here, the hubby and I are trying to soak up as much couple time as we can while it’s still just the two of us. We headed to Rockaway for a romantic little day on the beach complete with yummy arepas from Caracas, beautiful weather, good reading material, and great conversation. These pics are from 37.5 weeks pregnant, and today marks 38!

Photos by: Zack Notes / Edited by: Myself

Dress: Victoria’s Secret (old) – similar style / Headband: Urban Outfitters (old) – similar / Sunnies: Vintage / Earrings: ALDO / Friendship Bracelets: Jacob Riis Boardwalk Vendor / Nails: Essie Play Date

Have a lovely Tuesday everyone!

XO,

Gina

Boho Bump

You may remember this Free People number from last fall when I styled it with a military flair. These days, flowy dresses are the most comfortable thing to wear, and I love that this dress is so versatile and adaptable from season to season. I paired it with a sari bag and handmade bracelets from Uncommon Goods as well as a beaded headpiece for a summery bohemian look. These photos were taken at 36.5 weeks pregnant on my trip to the Hester Street Fair last weekend, and I cannot believe I only have a few more weeks of outfit photos left with this baby bump!

Photos By: Zack Notes / Edited By: Myself

Dress: Free People (old) – Free People Dress Shop / Headpiece: American Eagle / Flops: Havaianas / Sari Bag: Uncommon Goods / Bracelets: Uncommon Goods and Guilty Jean / Necklace: Guilty Jean / Watch: Coach / Elephant Ring: nOir / Lip: MAC Up the Amp / Nails: Essie Naughty Nautical

Happy Friday Everyone!

XO,

Gina