Favorites.

I haven't done this in a while, but there's a few things that I'm just loving this spring - some which are belly centric, others which are not. Hooray for spring, & for the little pretty things that make us happy! What's your favorite thing for spring?

(one) Grey Paint because it's soft & warm & goes with everything (two) Sperry Topsiders for JCrew I thought they were a risky move, but I get compliments from strangers & they make me feel a little bit more put together when I'm totally casual otherwise. (three) Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo I've used it weekly for years. Love the smell, love how it makes my hair feel light & fresh & clean. I use it to clean my makeup brushes, too. (four) Gap Coverstitch VNeck Maternity T I think I bought one in almost every color with a great coupon I had the other week. Soft + easy. (five) Kate Spade Alberta Sunglasses Because I'm outside every day & the sun is out [& my niece may have dragged my other pair along the bottom of the pool last year at Disney World - with the very best of intentions, I'm sure. A great excuse to buy a new pair!] (six) A Pea In a Pod Maternity Leggings I want to try Old Navy's no panel version, too. (seven)  Klean Kanteen The stainless steel inside isn't coated, which means it doesn't chip [like Sigg bottles] (eight) L'Occitane Pure Organic Shea Butter My new nightly ritual, especially on my belly. I'll accept stretch marks if they come - that's not the intended purpose - this just makes my skin feel nice & soft, & I think it will be lovely if / when things start to get itchy. (nine) Orla Kiely Baby Bag Doesn't look like a diaper bag, so I'm using it now [shh!].  Also functions as a fantastic camera bag + the pockets are amazing & I love that the shoulder strap is adjustable. (ten) Gap No Panel Cropped Skinny Jeans They make me feel almost-not-pregnant. And an adjustable waist! What an amazing concept. 

Corduroy.

Every year when the corduroy starts coming out I get this happy feeling in my heart. I just love fall, & I love it even more with stores like Gap having such fun colors to choose from (pants, jacket, skirt). And their new Real Straight fit? It's just perfect for me. Perfectly skinny without being stretch pants. Even better than the JCrew cords I typically love so much (that are at least $30 more expensive).

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By the way, this was one of my very favorite books when I was little.

Dinner & a movie.

Last night Mike & I pretended that we were boyfriend & girlfriend & went on a real date.

Dinner & a movie, with the movie portion courtesy of a thank you gift Sarah Jane gave me several months ago for almost killing her infant. We haven't seen a movie in a theater in probably over a year. It was special. I wore a skirt & my new favorite color of lip gloss (beaux). Mike wore his nicest tshirt & even cologne. He smelled nice, & we held hands.

We saw 500 Days of Summer. We really, really loved it (probably me more than Mike - it's my kind of movie), & I have big dreams of being Zooey Deschanel when I grow up, with always-perfect bangs, a perfect taste in music, perfect outfits & a perfectly quirky singing voice. Oh - & Minka Kelly? I saw her at the Gap on 85th Street the other week. She was very smiley, wearing LuLu Lemon pants & not any makeup. Anyway. Afterwards, we proved that we're still cool & had a 10:45pm dinner at BLT Burger. We shared a burger (with blue cheese & grilled onions), sweet potato fries & a peanut butter / banana / chocolate shake - that was mostly peanut butter. Recommended, although the bun wasn't quite up to par.

We walked through Union Square with the hoards of people that were still out. We watched some break dancers. It was the perfect temperature.

We didn't get home until 11:45pm (!). This felt wonderful. You'd think that we were sleep-deprived new parents who rarely get out. We do get out, often actually, but not as often as we should with just each other. It was nice.

Alabaster.

I'm not a knickknack kind of person, but every once in a while I find something that I love.

We have a new Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side that is beautiful. I already have a love for books, & this store just encourages more spending because it's just all so pretty. The other week, I walked out with a few books + this little Alabaster owl from Italy (the store has a great home & gifts section). Of course, I didn't realize that I needed an owl before I went into the store, but when I saw him I just knew that I needed to bring him home.

I like to think that he's watching over our apartment from his shelves of books.

Dark.

Trader Joe's. Dark chocolate wedges. Mike didn't realize that the concept is to eat them one at a time (& even just one a day), so we ran out of them quite quickly - but I'll be buying more. Delicious.

Rain.

Today, it just WON'T. STOP. RAINING. 

I have a love/hate relationship with this said rain.

I went to a kickboxing class at the gym (a block away) in the rain at 9am. I had to run errands afterwards. I had to go to Anthropologie. I did, really. I had to pick up a gift for a baby shower tomorrow - & maybe found two of the very best smelling candles that I realized I needed to get as well (coconut milk mango & almond biscotti). I had to go to Lee's Art Shop to figure out how to hang a frame from my wall (that is going to be a part of my massive frame wall project I'm working on), when it was really built to sit on a table. They did it for free, by the way - I love Lee's. I had to go back to The Container Store for the 87th time. I had to get Mike a Red Bull from our local deli because he took a red-eye flight from Vegas last night & still had to work all day, & that's really hard to do when you haven't slept in 24+ hours. The entire time I was running about - at the end with four oddly shaped bags & a purse full of a bazillion pound camera that I never used, a frame, & other various + heavy things - it was pouring rain. I wore my wellies of course, which was a good decision. I wore my bright yellow rain slicker, even though it sort of feels like I'm wrapped in saran wrap on warmer days. It was all still borderline miserable, but I didn't really have a choice. I couldn't sit at home all day & eat comfort food while watching E! True Hollywood Story like I really wanted to. Mike was home. He might think that this Lady of Leisure thing has gone a bit too far. So you see, I sort of hate the rain on days when I just have to be outside, when I have to ride the buses that have completely fogged windows & equally damp passengers, when it's impossible to get a cab, when the wind blows the rain sideways & the effort to use your umbrella is completely futile. I don't love those days so much, because sometimes in New York, you just don't have a choice about going outside & facing the elements. 

But I do love the days when I get to come home late in the afternoon, put on comfortable clothes, & cuddle up next to my husband on our bed with the window open. He told me about his trip, the breeze was blowing & then we just listened. I love, love the sound of rain. It's one of my very favorites. It's really a beautiful thing. Mike said This is amazing! It's like we don't even live in New York! It sort of felt that way for a minute, but when I looked out our window & saw the bright pots of flowers that our neighbors across the way put up on their fire escape, I felt happy that we do live here. I want a flower pot garden, too. Maybe even tomato plants like my mom told me about the other day. 

So I guess that today, I'm really okay that it's raining.

Jade.

We've been the proud owners of a few plants for the past few years - the first, a peace lily that my mom sent us after we moved into our first apartment on Wall Street. The 2nd & 3rd are rubber plants that we bought a few months later. Both varieties are sturdy, & somehow, I've managed to narrowly avoid killing all of them. However, with all of the commotion of the move & such, they're all looking a little stressed out. Last night at the sight of their obvious fatigue, Mike said Maybe we just aren't plant people, anymore. 

Maybe he said this because they're all droopy & sad this week. Maybe he said that because I drowned our 3 year old little jade plant last year, a plant that we picked up in Philadelphia at the Reading Terminal Market, or maybe because I threw another plant - that I'd had all through college - straight down our 30th floor garbage shoot once I decided that it just had too close of a resemblance to the Charlie Brown Christmas tree & we needed to finally let it go. It also happened to be a plant that Mike rescued from a horrendous rainstorm somewhere in the Midwest during our cross-country drive to New York in 2005. We stopped at a hotel for the night & decided to let our plants out to breathe. When we woke up a few hours later to torrential downpour & rain, Mike ran out to rescue them. It may have been a slightly sentimental plant. 

Anyway, the point is, Mike didn't really mean it when he said that maybe we just aren't plant people. Because really, we are. I like the green (green is my very favorite color), I like having something living, & I like how it makes our apartment feel like a home. 

Which is why I went to Trader Joe's this afternoon & bought Thai curry sauce, a BBQ chicken pizza, some frozen vegetable burritos, a package of handmade flour tortillas (the best), their Cranberry-Walnut-Gorgonzola dressing (my favorite), a few things of Greek yogurt, a container of sour cream (to make macaroni & cheese with), some celery, a bag of spinach, some dark chocolate wedges, a bag of frozen Asian stir-fry, a container of creamed honey (it looked good), two boxes of cereal & a jade plant in a very happy yellow pot. 

(Sometimes I really hate Trader Joe's because my eyes are always bigger than my muscles.)

Hello, Wednesday.

I had to open my iCalendar to double-check what day it is. 

I got my hair cut & colored on Monday. I tried to take a self-portrait to document it, but it just felt silly. That's the best I could do. Hello, camera. 

But I like my hair. I love it, really. I've been on a quest the last 6 months for a more reasonable hair option than my beloved Bradley. I've been going to him for almost 4 years. We're facebook friends, and it makes me sad every time I see one of his crazy updates. He's really fun. He's so good. I just can't keep up with his truly exorbitant prices. Like Mike said once, I could fly to Washington, visit my parents for a few days + get my hair cut for less than what he charges. 

I found a girl at the Aveda salon on 86th Street. Her name is Lee. She's really nice. We talked about cupcakes for a really long time, & she didn't think I was crazy when I gave a full analysis of the differences (in both cake + frosting) between Butter Cup, Magnolia, Crumbs, Two Little Red Hens, Butter Lane & Georgetown Cupcake. She loves to do color. The price of her cuts only have TWO digits, not THREE, & the color was reasonably priced as well. I look like me, just without poo-brown hair (now it's a pretty brown, with teensy tiny little highlights that don't look like, HELLO, I JUST GOT MY HAIR PINSTRIPED). She also fixed my bangs that were weed-wacked on Saturday. Phew. 

I'm wearing Aveda's tinted moisturizer these days, too. I'm sort of over wearing foundation - even Bare Minerals - right now, especially since the humidity is starting to kick in (72% yesterday). My skin is a lot happier - I think as a result of this, & also I think because I'm using this La Roche-Posay moisturizer. I also love their SPF 15 - & it's one of the few products out there with Mexoryl. My skin has basically been a disaster my entire life, so I'm happy to find a few, simple products that make a difference. The woman at Aveda who washed my hair on Monday said, Your skin is beautiful! It's doing exactly what it is supposed to do & is perfectly hydrated. I've definitely never heard that one before.  The last time someone commented on my skin was when we were in Arizona & the woman who was giving me a facial asked if I ever (ever!) drank water. 

Mangos.

Lately, you're my favorite.

(PS - the dictionary says we can call them mangos or mangoes. They don't mind either way.)

Spring Shopping Basket.

1 Too Faced Shadow Insurance  ❘ 2 JCrew Toothpick Ankle Jeans  ❘ 3 Gravis Flip Flops  ❘ 4 Fresh SuperNova Mascara  ❘  5  Bumble & Bumble Does it All Styling Spray  ❘ 6 Philosophy Microdelivery Peel  ❘ 7 Miss Amy's Pear Preserves  ❘ 8 Kiehls Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Repairative Hair Pak ❘ 9 Nike Tempo Running Shorts

Runners Up:

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Smoothing Serum

Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo

Hobo

We especially like cryogenically frozen ice cream.

Apparently, there was quite the legal battle between Dippin' Dots & Mini Melts.

Although we're impartial in our frozen ice cream balls brand loyalty, we're happy that MiniMelts is at the Central Park Zoo.

There's nothing better on a warm NYC Saturday. It's worth the walk. Especially if you get to eat in on a nice, shady bench.

Big, bright bunches of balloons always make me happy.

We spent a nice afternoon at Central Park. Me - taking photos for Suzi + family, & Mike - playing with his miniature lacrosse sticks with the boys  & hanging out with our friends that were picnic-ing at the Great Lawn. I'm happy to see that the tradition of Sunday afternoons spent at the park with our friends is continuing this year. All are welcome. Just show up. With food to share. Really.

Totally unrelated & random, but I'm wanting to document anyway -

1. Sometimes I really wish that I had a private blog & knew all of my readers so that I could freely discuss all of the absolutely ridiculously absurd things that people say at church, sometimes right over the pulpit & oftentimes in Relief Society or Sunday School. I'm happy that I was sitting by a like-minded friend today. Yikes.
2. Gnocchi al Gorgonzola from Trader Joe's is one of my favorite meals. It's frozen, it's easy, it's cheap, weird cheese has a tendency to make me happy, & gnocchi is my very favorite Italian dish.
3. My big toe nails sort of look like shattered glass, I'm thinking due to my running as of late. I guess I haven't been paying attention during my pedicures & have had polish as a cosmetic shield. I was tired of bright pink toes the other day & took it off myself. Note to self: must get new pedicure ASAP. And are my toenails going to start falling off? Gross.

Andrew + friend Connor left this afternoon after our morning at church. They were good guests, & we had a lovely time with them. I especially love that I got to do things that I've never done in my city before. The Statue of Liberty? I'm pretty sure it was about time. And as uncomfortable as it is to cram four adults into our tiny little home (Guest room? We call that our living room-slash-dining room), I really love that Andrew has been to visit us a few times. It makes us feel loved.

Here's to a happy week.

Kitchenette.

Went Wednesday morning with the lovely Amy, Erin & Laura. 

Almost cried tears of disappointment when they said the breakfast burrito was only offered on weekends. 

Waiter worked his magic & pulled some strings. 

Left very happy. 

PS - Open invite for anyone who ever wants to go there with me. Really.

PPS - Total pounds lost since I stopped working: 5

PPSS (?) - Cheese grits are one of my very favorite things in life.

Verdict.

Did you know that if you don't like something from Sephora, you can just take it back?? Even if you've used it?? It says so, right on the back of the receipt. Count me in as a loyal customer. 

After a 15 minute conversation last week with a very patient employee, I brought home Make Up Forever's Smoky Lash (whose very-slight margin of victory over Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes was only due to perceived ease of use). I used it. I hated it. Clumpy, goopy & dry. I really hate dry mascara. I took it back.

I came home from trip #2 with Supernova from Fresh (I really love Fresh products). 

I love it. 

Great whipped texture (no clumps, goops  or spidery lashes), wonderful separating brush & gives natural but defined lashes. I'm quite pleased. 

(If you try it & hate it - sorry. I've decided that mascara shopping is like bra shopping. I'm quite particular, & understand that we each have our own tastes & needs.)

Head, shoulders, knees & toes.

Super Slough Scrub

We've had the lovely privilege this year of experiencing one of the most brutal, coldest New York City winters ever. There's nothing like piercing wind with frigid temperatures, day in & day out. Alas, I've turned into an alligator. Head, shoulders, knees & toes. Crackly & dry. I think I've tried just about every body scrub out there, & I've finally found something that I l-o-v-e. It makes the bruised knees I received in my efforts to buy it absolutely worth it (I look like a 4 year old, by the way). 

I scrubbed down in the shower yesterday for a full five minutes, finished things off with a nice coat of lemon + sage body butter & emerged feeling brand new. Soft as butter (albeit red as a lobster, but just for a few minutes). It's magic in a blue bottle. Ask Mike. TMI? 

(Purely temporal) happiness is:

This tshirt (that I blatantly-copied-with-permission from my friend Missy - & even though the stock market tanked today [come on, he inherited a recession])

Yellow shoes.

You'll probably think I'm gross, but really.

I quit washing my hair. Seriously. Well, sort of.

1. It takes forever to blow dry. Not washing hair = 30 minutes of extra sleep. Priceless.
   
2. Our apartment is about 47 degrees in the morning, so lots of wet hair after a morning shower just isn't fun (brr).
   
3. It's not great for your hair to wash it every day.
   
4. Color fades faster if you do, & with the amount I have to pay to get it done, I need it to last as long as I possibly can (recession, recession).
   

Solution.

Bumble & Bumble Hair Powder (thanks, SJ). It's a dry shampoo - sucks up extra oils, allows you to re-style hair, & gives great texture & body. Added bonus: I buy the brown version & it covers up roots in between color appointments if necessary. I'm washing my hair every-other-day now, or even every-3rd-day (gasp! don't judge). It's amazing, which made it easy to get over the psychological need of washing my hair every day.

I'm still showering every morning though. And I'm not smelly. Promise.

Their marketing really just couldn't be any better.

Nars blush in Orgasm.

Heard about it, tried it, bought it, love it - & I'm not really even a blush person.

Scented.

Sometimes it seems sort of silly to buy something that you'll only burn, but I love candles. However - I'm pretty picky about scents (& bras, & jeans, & pens I use, & hairspray, & just about everything else), so when I found this candle (in mulled wine) I had to snatch it up. It's making me quite happy tonight, & that's absolutely worth $16. I think I'll go back & stock up before they dissapear post-holidays.

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I had a fun day (just wait - think the MoMA & two crazy girls playing with their shadows for a ridiculously long time), it's Saturday, I'm wearing my slippers, Mike is out grocery shopping for me (nice husband.), my apartment is clean & it smells delicious. It's a good day.

Like lipstick, but like lipgloss, & sort of like lipbalm.

My latest favorite. In Exquisite.

The next revolution in lip wear is here! A lipstick and lip gloss all in one that boasts extended wear while keeping lips feeling soft and smooth - never dry. The secret is a blend of patent-pending polymers that provide long-lasting wear with rich pigment that glides on like your favorite gloss. The tip of the pen is contoured to provide easy, precise application - hugging every curve of your lip.