Stepping Into Spring with Brooks

 

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As you guys know, even though I live in New York City, I tend to avoid monochromatic, black workout gear in favor of bright, fun prints and colors. In fact, a few months ago, when it was requested that I wear black for a photo shoot, I realized that I have have very few pieces of black workout gear aside from shorts and tights. IMG_8426

Imagine my excitement when Brooks launched their Spring Escape collection, featuring lots of color ranging from aqua and teal to vibrant neons. Since I knew that my Spring workout gear from Brooks would be used more for workouts and errands than running, I chose coordinating pieces that could keep me dry and warm during the March and April showers but feeling Spring like thanks to vibrant colors.

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Here is a quick description of the gear I’m wearing in these photos.

  • Brooks Greenlight Running Capris – The wide waist band slips versus creating an akward muffin top while the drilayer material kept me dry during tough workouts. The side rouching provides a fun detail and the crops are available in 7 colors ranging from this fun pattern to plain black. I found the fit to be very true to size and went up one size to provide space for my growing belly.  PSA – Some of last season’s colors are on sale for $20 on this site!
  • Brooks Freemont Running Jacket – As soon as I took this jacket out of the box, I knew it would be a favorite. The semi-fitted nature makes it perfect for either a chilly, drizzly run or running errands. The perforated panels on the jacket ensure that you don’t over heat while the two pockets provide space for phones, cash and headphones.
  • Brooks Launch 4 Running Shoes – This neutral shoe provides the perfect amount of support for my high arches while still being lightweight and cushioned. I’ve enjoyed using this responsive shoe for long walks, Orangetheory workouts and my last few runs in March. Available in seven different colors, there is a color combination for everyone!
  • Brooks Run Happy Smile T-Shirt – This soft, dri-layer t-shirt has become a favorite of mine lately as it is soft and cozy while still being technical enough for my sweaty Orangetheory workouts. The fun blue color pairs perfectly with any of my shorts or crops and makes me smile everytime I wear it.  PSA – Certain colors and sizes are on sale for $20 on this site.
  • Brooks Juno Bra – As you all know, before pregnancy, I didn’t need much support for my 36A chest. I could workout in shelf tanks though I often chose to wear a lightly padded sports bra for high impact workouts. These days, I am wearing a 34C and know that between now and when I start nursing my chest will most likely grow into a D. It’s crazy the support I need these days and am thankful that Brooks creates bras that are perfect for women of all shapes and sizes. After wearing the Juno bra almost exclusively these past two months, I understand why it’s one of their top-selling bras. The adjustable straps make it perfect for a personalized fit or nursing while the back’s mesh provides plenty of breathability. So far I have this in cobalt blue and black but am eyeing the vibrant print as well.  PSA, the previous version is on sale for $45 on this site.

Thank you to Alexis Damen Photography for the gorgeous shots!

Thank you to Brooks for the fabulous gear, half of which they sent me and half of which I bought myself. I’m proud to be a Brooks RunHappy Ambassador.

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Friday Favorites–April 7th, 2017

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Photo by Alexis Damen Photography

Happy Friday! I hope you all have had a good week. We had lots of rain in New York City this week but I am thrilled that the weekend forecast is sunshine and warmer temperatures! Tonight we’re having our next-door neighbors over for a casual dinner and then tomorrow I have a few dates with girlfriends including a workout at Uplift and brunch at Little Owl as Bo is going to be traveling during the day.  The rest of the weekend is going to include a prenatal massage, writing thank you notes, cooking and working on the nursery.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

  • Bo and I love cooking together on Sunday and always make at least a meal or two in advance for the week. This round-up of 20 Healthy dinners you can make on Sunday, or any day of the week for that matter, was immediately added to my recipe Pinterest board!
  • If you’re expecting or have children, did you know that you can stack the coupons at BuyBuyBaby! We were able to save more than $50 this morning by using multiple coupons!
  • After seeing these adorable Sperry Seaside Perforated Slides on Tina’s blog, I decided that they’d make the perfect third trimester shoes since it’s getting difficult to tie and untie my shoes. Comfortable slip-on shoes that are also stylish will be a great Spring accesorry as the weather continues to get warmer! Now, should I order the gray, pink or the gold?
  • As a blogger who also loves my full-time job and career, I appreciated Meghan’s thoughtful tips for the part-time blogger.
  • I’m excited to see Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard next week with one of my girlfriends. Have you all used the site TodayTix yet? It’s a great way to snag tickets for less than normal AND they hand-deliver the tickets to you! The website isn’t for NYC shows only as they feature tickets for shows in San Francisco, London, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC!

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  • I love giving and receiving fresh flowers as I feel they are a great way to brighten up any room in a home. Over the past few weeks we’ve recieved three separate bouquets from Bouqs and each time we’ve been more and more impressed! In fact, I’ve fallen so in love with this company that I’ve sent the same bouquet to three different people over the past month. Due to their freshness and high quality, we found that the bouquets we received each lasted AT LEAST a week if not longer. Never tried Bouqs? Use the code NEWB25 to save 25% off your first order!
  • We whipped up this healthy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad as a side dish Tuesday night and have been enjoying leftovers all week. The flavors only get better with time and I love that you can choose to add protein to make it a main dish or stick with the feta and vegetables when serving it as a side dish. 
  • If I wasn’t pregnant, I would have bought these adorable pieces for Spring and Summer as I’m loving the colors and details.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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Baby Diamond–Weeks 24 through 29 & A Giveaway

 

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Happy Thursday! Today I have a bump update and giveaway for you guys. As you can tell from the picture below, now that I have entered the third trimester, I am definitely starting to look and feel very pregnant. There is no denying that I am expecting! In fact, each morning this week passengers on the subway have kindly offered their seats which has been such a sweet and appreciated gesture.

This past month of pregnancy was a whirlwind including some travel, some pain and a wonderful weekend with some of my closest friends and family celebrating Baby Girl Diamond. I want to do a separate post highlighting the wonderful shower as it was such a special day. So, for now, let’s focus on some of the feelings, cravings and thoughts around the past few weeks of pregnancy.  Don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post, especially if you live near NYC!

Baby Size: Over the past few weeks Baby Girl Diamond has grown and progressed from an eggplant, to a papaya and now a butternut squash.  At 29 weeks she is approxiamately 2.5 pounds and 15 inches in length! She’s doubled in size since week 24 which explains why my bump is growing so rapidly. The above picture was taken two weeks ago during a photo session with the lovely Alexis, and I feel as if I’ve already grown a great deal in just these two weeks.

Weight Gained: As of last week’s appointment I had gained 17 pounds. Even though both my doctor and I are comfortable with this healthy amount of weight gain, it is definitely starting to make me feel a bit awkward as I’ve reached the point where I can feel the burden of carrying the extra weight. By the time I go to bed each night, my legs and feet are swollen and my lower back has started to ache a bit. Based on advice from fellow mothers, I’ve started elevating my feet more often, asking Bo for nightly foot massages and taking more baths.

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Workouts: As I shared earlier this month, I’ve decided to take a break from running. Since I stopped running, about 75% of my pubic pain went away overnight which has allowed me to continue working out six days a week. While many people keep telling me to slow down, I feel best when I workout, especially in the mornings. Now more than ever before the workouts give me an extra boost of energy. Over the past month I’ve been able to maintain my habit of two Orangetheory Park Slope workouts, 1-2 Pilates classes at A-Line Pilates, 1 barre class at XTend Barre, 1-2 swimming workouts at our YMCA and 1 long walk each week. Now that I am in the third trimester, I am being very careful to work with instructors before class to get the modifications needed to stay safe and healthy. I can definitely feel the positive effects of these workouts as I’ve been able to increase the weight that I lift at Orangetheory during pregnancy and am finding each of these workouts to become easier with time, even while I am becoming larger and more awkward.

Cravings: While I’m still constantly thirsty and craving fruit,  some of my other cravings have defintely started to resemble those of a sterotypical pregnant woman. Each night I find myself enjoying a small bowl of ice cream or frozen yogurt. I also craved turkey burgers this week as well as gummy or fruit flavored candy.

Food Aversions: Similar to last month, I’m not having strong aversions except to food that typically induces heart burn as I’m still fighting daily heartburn.

Symptoms: As I mentioned earlier in the post, I just feel large. Even though I know I still have another eleven weeks of growth, I’ve started to feel very awkward and pregnant these past few weeks. I’ve had leg and foot cramps a few times the past week and, depending on where she’s positioned, I feel like my stomach is stretched to it’s edge especially after eating or if I have to go the bathroom. It’s a crazy feeling! I am starting to force myself to slow down a bit, making fewer evening commitments and plans as I grow more tired each week.

Sleep: After a few weeks of frustration with the Snoogle, I switched to using multiple pillows to support my body. I sleep with a long, king sized pillow behind my backside, one pillow under my head, wrap my arms around another pillow and put a fourth between my knees. I’m not sure why, but this has allowed me to sleep far better than the Snoogle as of late. Now, getting in and out of all these pillows is quite a different story. It’s hilarious to watch especially in the middle of the night when I wake up to go to the bathroom.

Wearing: As the belly continues to grow, I’ve found it impossible to wear pre-pregnancy size bottoms, even stretchy workout pants. Luckily, I had one pair of large Nike tights and a few pairs of Brooks bottoms which were previoiusly too large. These have become my go-to workout bottoms while I’ve been living in my Seraphine clothing at work. 

Other Random Thoughts: I can’t believe that in just 11 or 12 weeks we will FINALLY get to meet Baby Girl Diamond. It feels like pregnancy has flown by, but at the same time we are so excited to meet her and can’t wait. It’s crazy to type those words as I still feel like we have SO much to do these next few weeks. Bo and I finally got our act together and made a shared list in Wunderlist so we could keep track of the things we have to do. Here are just a few of the things on our list:

  • Interview and decide on a pediatrician
  • Finish the nursery (install new light/fan, touch-up paint, finish book shelves and hanging art)
  • Organize closets and cabinets in kitchen and upstairs to make room for everything
  • Work with our insurance to order the breast pump
  • Wash all her clothing and organize in drawers/closet
  • Take Baby CPR and car seat class
  • Decide if we’re going to do a maternity photo shoot

Giveaway Time

Now, for any of my readers who are based in the New York Area, I have a great giveaway – free family ticket to the New York Baby Show.

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The 2017 New York Baby Show, on May 20 & 21 at Pier 94 will once again be the largest show for new and expectant parents in the country. Now in its 7th year, no other event provides a better experience for thousands of expectant and new families from New York and neighboring counties, seeking a family-friendly jamboree of top brands, great speakers and seminars, big giveaways, and lots of learning, support, bonding, and fun as you make your way into parenthood. I am giving away tickets for you and your family to experience the show. Normal ticket price is $30 per family (for 2 adults and up to 4 children), and $20 per individual. Click here to enter!

Images courtesy of www.alexisdamen.com

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