I've Been Keeping a (Kinda Big) Secret

If you follow me on Instagram then you already saw my news yesterday.  For the past few months I have been keeping a big secret from you guys.  I am pregnant! Although you might have already guessed this when there was a lack of posts about wine and wine recs (I can tell you I sure do miss my wine and lets be real my vodka and tequila too).  I can't tell you how overjoyed we were to find out I was pregnant after our long journey and struggle for baby number two.  Maybe it was cathartic that I wrote about my struggles and that helped take the stress off me but I think most likely this was just God's grand plan.   I also think each and everyone of you that prayed for us helped.  Prayer makes a difference, I am firm believer in that.   I never in a million years thought it would take me 14 months to get pregnant again, but patience and trusting God's master plan paid off.  Everything happens for a reason and I strongly believe that.

It has been a long first trimester, after a miscarriage your head is messed up, you worry about everything. I tried to relax but the 12 weeks crept by as I waited to be out of the first trimester.   However I will say this time I did not have that weird feeling I had before when I had my miscarraige, I felt like this pregnancy would stick.   I have been sick this time around,  everything has made me nauseous and it has been hard to eat but in all honestly I welcomed the symptoms with open arms because I felt like it was reassuring that my baby was ok.  After struggling for so long you appreacite every aspect of your pregnancy, even feeling like ass.   One thing I will say, is it is true you show way early with baby number two.  By 11 weeks I had a full on baby pooch.  We just had our big ultrasound this week and everything looked normal.  This is me estactic afterwards (yes,  I totally made Matt snap my picture in a parking lot to document).

We are due in November and the timing could not be better.  I orignally wanted my kids close in age but now I am so happy for the spacing we will have. Sterling gets more independent each day and I know he will be a huge help when the baby comes.  Plus this sweet baby is going to have two cousins within 9 months of him or her.  We are thankful beyond belief.  God's timing is perfect.

Don't worry this won't turn into a baby blog,  but I will share some baby things I discover along the way and bump fashions of course.  I am pretty anti- maternity clothes so I will be working with my closet and buying a few regular pieces that can be worn while pregnant and post baby.  Get ready for some major bump styling.

Thank you all for your prayers and continued support.  I have no doubt all your prayers helped.  and for those of your still trying, stay strong and don't give up.  It takes alot of patience and it is hard but stay positive and trust in God.  He has a plan for all of us sometimes the timing is just different from what we imagined.

I am signing off til next week to spend some time with family as we celebrate my grandfather's life.  Have a fabulous weekend dolls!
xoxo

Pasta with Pesto and Peas

When I lived with my sister this used to be one of our favorite recipes.  We used to make it all the time.  I probably hadn't made it in over year when last week I decided I needed it my life again.  This is so easy to whip together and so delish.  It is the perfect Summer pasta.  The peas and pine nuts pair together so perfectly with the pesto and the shreds of Parmesan make this even better.  I used store bought pesto- if you shop at Costco they have great homemade pesto there for cheap but I am sure this would be even better if you made your own.  I only used one type of pasta, the spirals are my favorite because I feel like the sauce really sticks in the grooves.  I have made this with or without the mayo so if you hate mayo you can totally leave it out but it does help the pasta stay creamier.   Add more pesto if you leave the mayo out.   If you wanted to serve this for a dinner it would be killer with grilled chicken or shrimp over top!

Enjoy!

:: P A S T A  W I T H   P E S T O  A N D  P E A S ::
Adapted from Ina Garten

Ingredients  3/4 pound fusilli pasta
3/4 pound bow tie pasta
1/4 cup good olive oil
1 1/2 cups pesto (packaged or see recipe below)
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/4 cups good mayonnaise
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 1/2 cups frozen peas, defrosted
1/3 cup pignoli (pine nuts)
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions  

Cook the fusilli and bow ties separately in a large pot of boiling salted water for 10 to 12 minutes until each pasta is al dente. Drain and toss into a bowl with the olive oil. Cool to room temperature.

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree the pesto, spinach, and lemon juice. Add the mayonnaise and puree. Add the pesto mixture to the cooled pasta and then add the Parmesan, peas, pignoli, salt, and pepper. Mix well, season to taste, and serve at room temperature.

Pesto: 

1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup pignoli (pine nuts)
3 tablespoons chopped garlic (9 cloves)
5 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups good olive oil
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Place the walnuts, pignoli, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 15 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Use right away or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.

Notes: Air is the enemy of pesto. For freezing, pack it in containers with a film of oil or plastic wrap directly on top with the air pressed out.

To clean basil, remove the leaves, swirl them in a bowl of water, and then spin them very dry in a salad spinner. Store them in a closed plastic bag with a slightly damp paper towel. As long as the leaves are dry they will stay green for several days.

Obsessions

{CLUB MONACO MELANIE DRESS}

I am so obsessed with florals for this Summer.  I love the bright pop of color.  They just make me happy.  This dress looks like it would be easy to wear casual during the day with flats and also dress up for a night out.

{RACHEL PALLY MAXI SKIRT}
I love all Rachel Pally pieces.  I own several of her dresses and they are my favorites.  This is next on my list.  The pattern is perfection and best part they are all made out of super comfy cotton/modal fabric.  This would look so cute with a white tank and nude sandals.

 {TORY BURCH AMALIE FOLD OVER MESSENGER BAG}

 I saw someone carrying this bag a few weeks ago and I have been obsessed with finding it ever since.  It looked so cute and chic on her.  I am all about cross body bags these days.  They are so much easier and give your shoulders a rest.  Best part is you can carry it as a clutch as well.

Now I just need to save up for this baby.

{SHISEIDO PURIFYING MASK}
I will admit I bought this mask because Jessica Alba told me too.  I was reading her book and she mentioned how she often did Clay masks and how good they are for your skin.  I always love the Shiseido line, I use their face wash and eye cream and they both work great,  so I knew their mask would be a good choice.  I tested it out this weekend and must say I was super impressed.  You only leave it on your face for 5 minutes but afterwards my face felt so smooth and refreshed.  I will be using this weekly.

{SPLENDID MASON T-STRAP SANDALS}
I love Splendid shoes.  They are all so cute and all under $75.  These are my newest obsession I just can't decide if I want to order the black or nude color.  I love them both.  These would go with everything from jeans to dresses.

{BARE BEAUTY BLOG}

This blog is my newest obsession.  Right after Sterling was born I took Pilate's to whip my body back in shape and Jess was my instructor.  She is drop dead gorgeous with an amazing body.  She recently started this blog and it is so eye opening.  She breaks down what products are safe for you and what to look for in ingredients.  It is so interesting.  She even includes healthy recipes too.  You must check out her Blog Here.

Happenings

Hope everyone had a fab Mothers Day.  Here is what has been happening in our world lately.  

Last week my parents were in town and it was so nice.  Mom and I did some shopping and I found some really cute stuff.  Case and point, this dress from Forever 21.  How expensive does it look??  It was only $24.  Please follow my lead and snag this beauty.  

Don't mind Sterling in the background he was obviously over shopping.

{Love 21 Tie Front Georgette Dress}

My mom also treated me to this JCrew dress for Mothers Day.  I am obsessed with it!  I found mine in the store but I was looking online and it comes in navy too, which I really love.  It is the perfect casual Summer dress.

{JCrew Knit Tunic Dress with Marled Trim}

We hit up alot of consignment and antique stores. Those are our favorite places to shop and I scored this amazing brass Lions Head door knocker.  I have been wanting one forever.  My dear old dad installed her for me and I couldn't be happier.

In case you noticed in the previous picture, I moved my Lulu and Georgia Runner to our bedroom.  I put my sweet dad to work while he was in town helping me rearrange stuff.  We also hung this vintage mirror from my grandmother and moved our bar area.

For Mothers Day Sterling surprised me with these flowers.  I kid you not he went on a walk picked them, asked me for a cup and then arranged them himself.  Pretty impressive work for a 3 year old.

Sterling has been such a character lately.  I just love this age (minus the insane tantrums and bossiness), he says and does the funniest things.  These are two scenes I witnessed lately.  The first picture he told me he was calling the police because Daddy fell and the second picture I walked into while he was sleeping in full pirate costume.

I made Gazpacho for the first time this weekend and it was amazing.  So refreshing, healthy, and delicious!.

Say a big prayer for my grandfather he is back in the hospital.  I trust God in all his decisions and my grandfather has lived a very long life but it is very hard on my mom and her brother.  Keep my family in your prayers to give them strength during this difficult time.

 

Have a wonderful Monday.  I am so excited our couch is getting picked up this morning to be recovered,  a little Mothers Day treat for me from my rents.  We will be living without a couch for a few weeks which will be kind of weird but totally worth it!

xoxo

Being a Mom

Mother's Day is Sunday and this year for some reason it really got me thinking about being Mother and what it means.  

Being a mom is the greatest Blessing in the world.  

Being a mom is single handedly the most rewarding and most challenging job ever.  There are no days off .  The future of a human being depends on you.  What paths they choose in life and the direction they take their life is a result of the decisions you make while they are young.  This is heavy stuff.  Being a mom means never having a second to yourself again- not even peeing or showering.  You fully open your life to this tiny human being and it is forever changed.  Your freedom is gone.  Being a mom means alot of sleepless nights and exhausting days.  It means sometimes going days without showering or leaving the house.  It means cleaning up more poop and vomit than you could have ever imagined.   It means sacrificing what you want so you can provide and take care of this person you created.  It means being under appreciated most of the time.  It means crying yourself to sleep sometimes because the day was so incredibly long and monotonous.  It means sometimes needing a glass of wine at 4:00 in the afternoon because it was one of those days.  Being a mom means worrying incessantly.  It means pulling yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn every morning with a smile on your face no matter what. 

Being a mom also means being the luckiest person in the world.   It means a simple smile, hug, or laugh can make your entire day.  It means laughing like you have never laughed before. It means having a love so immense it sometimes brings you to your knees.  Being a mom means living a life so fulfilling you need nothing else.  You frequently wonder what you did with your life before this child was born.  Being a mom means finding simple pleasures out of everything.  Being a mom means having an unspoken bond with all other moms we just get each other.  Being a mom means appreciating your mom that much more- you know what she sacrificed and put into raising you and how hard it was.  Being a mom means being incredibly strong, your body housed a baby for 9 months and then birthed it.  Being a mom means thanking God every single day for the miracle of life he blessed you with.   It means being grateful beyond belief.  Being a mom is the most wonderful thing in the world.

To all you moms out there enjoy this day.  I know we all deserve to be pampered and appreciated at least for one day.  Being a mom is hard as crap but worth every minute.  I wouldn't change it for anything.  And Happy Mothers Day to my mom, the most incredible mom in the world, she is my inspiration.

Obsessions

{VELVET RELAXED TEE}

Lately I have been having a love affair with tie dye.  I guess my inner hippie is coming out.  I love this little tee.  It would look so cute with jean shorts or white jeans.

{VELVET SLINKY MAXI DRESS}

I am pretty smitten with all things Velvet is coming out with lately.  Love this maxi it looks so comfortable and chic.  Perfect for a day of running errands or a night out.  Love both colors equally and the price is great.

{ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS}

After Erin blogged about these this week and after seeing them in every fashion magazine from Bazaar to Vogue, I am fairly certain I need a pair.  These are my three favorites.

 NIKI STRAPPY SLIDE  || MEDEA THONG  || ALETHEA FLAT

{HUNTER DIXON IKAT PEPLUM DRESS}

I am such a huge fan of Social Dress Shop and my love just grew even more now that Sarah picked up the line Hunter Dixon.  How amazing is this dress??  The colors, the pattern, the style it is pure perfection begging me to buy her.  Good news for you all Sarah is offering 25% any full priced items with code DRESS25.  

{GAP PRINTED WEDGE SANDALS}

I can't believe these are from the Gap!  How fabulous are they??

{GREAT GATSBY SOUNDTRACK}

Download it, its good.  So many amazing artist including my boy Jayz.

{NANETTE LEOPORE ONE PIECE}

This is the most gorgeous bathing suit ever.  It looks like it would be so flattering.

Siriacha Glazed Meatloaf + Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes

This is the meatloaf recipe we grew up eating kicked up a notch.  The meatloaf recipe is my mom's and I spiced it up a bit by adding in Siriacha because,  well I like Siriacha on everything.  You can always add more Siriacha if you like the heat or omit totally if you don't like at all.  I think the glaze over the meatloaf is the best part and it helps keep the meat moist and flavorful.  

As for the potatoes who doesn't love a good mashed potato?  The key to these is the cream cheese and using a hand help blender to mix them.  My grandmother made them this way and by using the mixer it gets the potatoes so light and fluffy.  This is totally a mans meal, but worth every calorie I assure you.

:: S I R I A C H A  G L A Z E D   M E A T   L O A F ::

- 1-1.5 pounds ground Sirloin

- 1/2 white onion finely diced

- 1/2 green bell pepper finely diced

- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

- 1 egg

- 2 tablespoons ketchup

- 1/3 can tomato soup

- Salt and Pepper

For the Sauce:

- 2/3 can tomato soup

-2-3 tablespoons ketchup

-2 -3 tablespoons siriachia

Mix all ingredients together by hand.  Do not over mix.  Season pretty well with salt and pepper.  Mold into loaf shape in baking dish.

Mix together rest of tomato soup, ketchup and siriachia to taste.  I taste the sauce as I mix adding in more ketchup or siriacha to get the desired taste I like.  Spread this over the meatloaf.  We use all the sauce because we like alot of sauce but you can use as little or as much as you want.

Bake at 350 degrees 45mins- 1 hour.

:: C R E A M   C H E E S E   M A S H E D  P O T A T O E S ::

- 4 Russet Baking Potatoes

- 1/2 container of cream cheese

- milk

- 4 tablespoons butter

- 4 tablespoons sour cream

Peel and slice potatoes and place in pot of water and bring to boil.  Boil about 30 mins or until fork tender.  Drain water and add in cream cheese, sour cream, and butter.  Using a handheld mixer blend all the ingredients adding milk as needed to desired consistency.  Season with lots of  salt and pepper.