Waveborn Archives - Popcorn and Pandas

{22} Lately…

Lately I’ve been…

reading I finally finished seventh and final Harry Potter book! It took me a long time to finish the series, but it was definitely worth it, and I’m so glad I caught up with the rest of the universe. I’m currently reading a few magazines, and next on my book list is The Happiness Project by Gretchin Rubin. This book has been on my list for a long time, and I’m excited to see what it’s all about.

writing Cards. Birthdays and Babies galore!

listening I know this song has been out for awhile, but I’ve been playing Lorde’s Royals on repeat lately.

thinking Moda Operandi has taken emoticons to a whole new level. Poo on a shoe?!?! I’m shocked. Yet, I kind of think this new loafer line will sell like crazy.

smelling Pasta fagioli. I decided to make it again this year since it continues to be so cold, and we have been eating it all week. If you are interested, here is the recipe I posted from last year.

watching If you haven’t seen Resurrection yet, you must go to abc.com and watch it ASAP! I caught up on the first three episodes this week, and I am totally hooked. It reminds me a bit of The 4400, which is an old favorite of mine, and I cannot wait to see how the season progresses.

wishing My grandmother a Happy 93rd Birthday! She gained another year this past Tuesday, and she is just as spunky as ever. Love you Granny!

hoping My father-in-law has a speedy recovery from his surgery this past week. He recently broke his ankle, leading to his second surgery in a short amount of time. Poor guy. He and my mother-in-law were supposed to come visit this weekend, but we are going to have to postpone until he is feeling a bit better.

wearing Lots of layers…still. I’m ready to rid of some layers. Hopefully soon.

loving My current work and home balance. At times it is tough to be pulled in different directions, and it can feel like you I am not doing well enough at either “job”, but I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way right now. I think I have a great balance of adult time v. quality time with Nico. I am able to get dressed for the day, have adult conversations, and feel like I am making a contribution to both my company and financially at home, all while witnessing Nico’s latest achievements, taking him to music class, enjoying playdates, and watching him grow.

laughing At these 25 Absurd Texts from Mom

wanting More sleep! While Nico typically sleeps through the night (lucky us), he’s been waking up in the night recently for unknown reasons. Thinking it could possibly be teething (although I have seen nothing thus far) or just developmental changes. Regardless of the reason, the entire family is a bit lacking in the sleep department this past week.

needing To hang up the family photos that I just got and framed. I can’t believe how tiny Nico was!

feeling A very bad pain in my thumb that has migrated to part of my hand as well. I think I may have something called trigger thumb most likely due to texting. How embarrassing. Basically my thumb gets stuck in a certain position, and the only way to “unstick” it is an extremely painful POP. My joint has also changed dramatically into a painfully hard knot. I thought if I tried resting it, it may get better, but it’s only getting worse and getting in the way of normal daily activities, so I think it’s time I saw a doctor ASAP.

craving A midi skirt. I know I probably have no business wearing a midi skirt at my height, because it will probably just make me appear even shorter, but they are just so darn cute! I love this one and this one and this one…oh and this one too.

clicking Through dessert recipes to find something I can make for a party this weekend. I enjoy this cupcake recipe, but I don’t know if I am ambitious or skilled enough to take this one on, considering my last baked good came out of a box. Please let me know if you have any ~~easy~~ good dessert recipe ideas to pass along!

What have you been up to lately?

This weekend I am planning on seeing my friends at Waveborn (yes that’s me on their website rockin’ their sweet shades!) to preview their new line of sunglasses. I am super excited they will be in town and that they have included me as a guest to their trade show. We also have a possible baby/family playdate for Sunday in the mix.

Also, a quick reminder that there are two days left to shop my Stella & Dot trunk show! Shoppers will be entered to win free jewelry and pieces at 50% off.

Hope you all have a 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.

Saturday Stroll

The weather has been so gorgeous, and last weekend was perfect for a Saturday stroll with the whole family. We headed over to Caton Park (near Prospect Park) to check out the kids playing soccer (boy, do I miss soccer!), and then headed out for a second family dinner at a local Thai restaurant. Yes, I had dessert before dinner…oops! But the coconut ice being sold at the fields was too yummy to turn down. Nico is loving his stroller (thanks Mimi/Nano and Aunt Angie/Uncle Adam!) We are pretty lucky to have received this gift as it’s basically the Mercedes Benz version of a stroller. It even has shocks! I have to say, it’s perfect for our bumpy neighborhood sidewalks, and it’s definitely getting a ton of use right now.

I’m feeling good and had a great post partum doc appointment this past week. Nico also had his 1 month appointment. He seriously disliked getting his shot (Mommy and Baby were both in tears.) However, he is hitting his milestones so far and is looking to be a healthy baby at this point, so I could not be happier!

Photos by: Zack Notes / Edited by: Myself

Top: GAP / Tank: J. Crew / Jeans: Motherhood / Sunglasses: Waveborn / Shoes: MIA – on sale! / Earrings: ALDO / Necklace: Family Heirloom / Watch: Michael Kors / Bracelets: Gorjana, Stella and Sparkle, and Baublebar / Lip: Lancome Red Haute

Stroller: Uppababy Vista / Car Seat: Chicco Keyfit 30 / Chicco Car Seat Adapter for Uppababy: Amazon / Baby Blanket: Carter’s

Looking forward to the weekend and having Daddy home with us. I’m picking up a dress for one of my best friend’s wedding’s next weekend. I was super worried about how it was going to look having just had a baby, but luckily the material is forgiving and the color is black! Also, breastfeeding and walking around the neighborhood have proven to be advantageous to starting me off on getting my old figure back. I have to keep reminding myself that it took me 9 months to get the way I was, so getting back to normal is not going to happen overnight!

Also on our possible weekend agenda is taking Nico out for his first visit to the pumpkin patch! Hoping photos will follow.

Happy Friday and a Happy Weekend to all!

XO,

Gina

Happy 1st Birthday to Popcorn and Pandas

Would you believe that today marks one whole year that I decided to make the change to my little ole blog, popcorn and pandas? I know, I can’t believe it either. It’s been a crazy year full of adventures and travel, fashion and fun, pregnancy and now a new baby. It’s been wonderful and therapeutic to have this creative outlet to share with you all, and I am completely grateful that you all have chosen to follow along for this past year.

Below I have reflected a bit on some of your favorite posts this past year:

My first two outfit posts with the amazing photographer Marisa

Reminiscing a Rockin’ Summer

Summer Stripes

Lettered sweaters were my jam

Sported my favorite Halloween costume

Rang in the New Year in Winter White

Foxes became super trendy

I had some ups and downs, announced my pregnancy, and did a cool photo shoot with Justin to find out the sex of our Little Monkey

I added some Flair to my wardrobe

Craved everything peplum

Felt a little Guilty

I ate my first mangosteen

Went to Arizona and saw the Grand Canyon

I made some waves with Waveborn

Made fresh homemade tomato sauce and pesto from the garden

Enjoyed the sunrise on Branch Lake in Maine

Watched as my belly grew larger and larger

And gave birth to a beautiful baby boy

It’s been such a great year, and I am hopeful that this year will bring even greater joy. Thank you so much for following my adventures. Would love to hear any feedback that you have of things you want to see from me in the coming year. What you like/don’t like. What you want to see more or less of (outfit posts, lately posts, shopping posts, personal stories, photography, baby stuff, etc…) I have less free time on my hands, but hopefully I can make things happen!

Happy Friday everyone!!!

XO,

Gina

Desert Florals

Here are some images from our second day enjoying Sedona, Arizona. Oh, how I love those red rocks! The views were absolutely stunning, and it’s tough to really capture it in a photo alone. I hadn’t been feeling that great in the middle of our trip, but this day, I was feeling much better and able to explore. We drove around making stops at different locations for photos, and then walked a little on the West Fork at Oak Creek trail which was a lot of fun. I really hope to go back to Sedona when I’m back to my athletic self and can really take it all in!

Floral Pants: Motherhood – similar here, here, and here (in non-maternity) / Chambray Top: GAP – similar (runs big FYI!) / Tank: American Eagle / Shoes: Nordstrom Rack / Shades: c/o Waveborn / Earrings: Baublebar – similar / Ring: Banana Republic / Necklace: Family Heirloom / Watch: Michael Kors / Beaded Skull Bracelets: c/o Guilty Jean / Spike Bracelet: ASOS / Bow Bracelet: Baublebar / Lip: MAC Impassioned

Tonight I’m headed out with the girls for a little mani/pedi action. I usually do my own nails, but the belly is starting to get in the way making it impossible to paint my toes these days. Oh darn, I guess I have to pamper myself! Looking forward to hanging with the ladies.

Tomorrow I am participating in the Wall Street Heart Walk with my Alpha Phi sorority Alums in NYC. Did you know that heart disease is the leading killer in America? There’s one more day to donate, so if you are able to contribute, I would really appreciate it!

Hope you all have a great day!

XO,

Gina

Ride the Wave {Waveborn Part II}

Remember my friends from Waveborn? Well, they were also kind enough to send over a fresh pair of Baysides for my husband to rock this summer, so I forcefully…err kindly…asked him to show them off in this blog post since he was wearing them all over Arizona. I love the look of these shades, and I have to say, my man is lookin’ pretty studly in them…or maybe I’m just biased 😉 Remember, every pair of shades you purchase from Waveborn also helps give someone the gift of sight! Check out their campaign here.

Sunglasses: c/o Waveborn / Button Down: Thrifted – similar here, here, and here / Jeans: ZARA – similar / Flops: Reef

Happy Hump Day everyone! Yesterday ended up being a beautiful sunny day, and we enjoyed a lovely dinner outdoors at Spina in the East Village with two of my favorite Aussies. The $5 mussels and meatballs were to die for as well as their homemade fresh pasta dishes. Nom Nom Nom! Tonight is going to be a low key one. I’m hoping the sunshine will come out to play again despite the weather reports.

Have a good one ya’ll!

XO,

Gina

Find the Sun {Waveborn}

My Waveborn sunnies arrived in the mail, and I was super excited to rock them this past weekend! For each pair of Italian designed and handcrafted shades you purchase, Waveborn provides a new pair of prescription eyeglasses or funds a portion of vision-restoring cataract surgery for a person in need through their partners Unite for Sight and SEE International.

They are currently hosting a crowdfunding campaign so they can continue to bring you more styles and colors for 2013. They raised over $10,000 on the first day of their campaign, and the numbers are still increasing. There is still plenty of time to join the campaign, so check it out!

Photos by: Zack Notes / Edited by: Myself

Sunglasses: c/o Waveborn / Maxi Dress: Target / Jean Jacket: American Eagle / Flip Flops: J. Crew – similar / Bag: Longchamp – this color sold out, but more colors here / Travel Bag: Urban Outfitters (old) / Earrings: ? (old) / Necklace: Family Heirloom / Chevron Stack Rings: Baublebar / Snake Bangle: Henri Bendel – sold out, but shop bangles here / Watch: Michael Kors / Bracelets: Guilty Jean, ASOS, Baublebar (similar) / Nails: Essie Mint Candy Apple w/ Madison Avenue Hue accent nail / Toes: Essie Avenue Maintain / Lip: MAC Impassioned

I was very excited to find this colorful maxi dress for such a bargain price at Target this past week! Typically, with my 5’0 stature, it’s very difficult for me to find a maxi dress that isn’t too long. I suppose since this dress was in the “juniors” section, maybe it was a bit shorter. Or could it be because I’m now sporting a little baby bump? Either way, I plan on rocking maxi dresses all summer long. Frankly, I have found the majority of maternity clothes I have come across to be old-looking, frumpy, and just plain ugly. Of course, there have been some good finds here and there, but I am beginning to think gorgeous maxis from the regular sections (sans ones with zippers) may be the way to go this spring/summer!

Happy Hump Day!

XO,

Gina

{10} Lately…

Lately I’ve been…

reading May issues of Health Magazine and Marie Claire. Got some yummy new recipes and a desire to return to Italy!

writing Thank you notes for all of the kindness my family and friends have shown toward Little Monkey so far! He is a lucky little boy!

listening To the news. I admit, I am not the best when it comes to keeping up with the news. I usually get my updates from Facebook and Twitter (I know, that’s horrible, but true). But events from the past week have kept me tuned in.

thinking That I cannot believe I am halfway through my pregnancy! 20 weeks in, and 20 weeks left until I get to meet my Baby Boy!

smelling Not much of anything. I have been sick and stuffed up all week.

watching The always entertaining Real Housewives of Orange County. Never a dull dinner party.

wishing For safe travels as we head down to Maryland this weekend.

hoping That I can pack my bags in less than 2 hours. For me this would be an accomplishment.

wearing Today is a lazy day. I blame it on being sick all week. I’m literally in yoga pants, New Balance tennis shoes, layered tank, tshirt, and sweater. On days like today, I’m so very lucky my office is low key.

loving The fact that 215 people have signed up for the John Petrovick Memorial 5K this weekend! I am so thankful to my friends who have put this event together. This is a great turnout for the very first event, and John would be so happy and proud. So excited to see you all in Baltimore!

laughing At myself trying on bathing suits with my prego belly last night in preparation for our trip to warm-weather Arizona. No really…it was quite comical.

wanting To be outside playing in this sunshine today. It’s gorgeous in NYC!

needing To flush this sickness throughly out of my system as soon as possible.

feeling Super excited for our trip to Arizona at the beginning of May. Hanging out with my pen pal in her hometown for the first time, seeing family and friends, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, warm weather, Mexican food, our two year wedding anniversary, and our “baby moon” trip…so many reasons for this excitement!

craving Everything and anything neon. As seen on Monday’s post.

clicking I took a million photos during our Boston trip last weekend of the wedding and the rest of our adventures. Once again, I’m blaming my sickness for my delay in posting these, but I promise they should be up sometime next week!

*Sidenote: I just got my Waveborn shades in the mail today, and I cannot wait to rock them oh so soon!

What have you been up to lately?

Happy Friday!

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.

Waveborn

Waveborn is a sunglasses company combining affordable fashion with social good. For each pair of Italian designed and handcrafted shades you purchase, Waveborn provides a new pair of prescription eyeglasses or funds a portion of a vision-restoring cataract surgery for a person in need through their partners Unite for Sight and SEE International.

Director of Business Development at Waveborn, Mike Malloy, is a personal friend of mine from high school. He is a great guy, and he introduced me to his brand and the mission behind their company. I was immediately drawn to the idea, because what is better than fashion? Fashion that can help people and make a difference in the world. Sign me up!

Today Waveborn is launching their crowdfunding campaign to increase their styles, colors, and your ability to give for 2013. I have donated myself, and I am looking forward to sporting some Waveborn shades on my upcoming outfit posts this spring and summer.

Check them out, rock some shades, and give some sight this spring!

XO,

Gina