March Delights List

March List... by oykristen // 1. Free People Clipperton Fedora // 2. Kirklands Peach Peony Bush // 3. Kate Spade New York Giverny Floral Scarf // 4. Anthropologie Monogram Quagga Sweater // 5. Oh, Joy! for Target Garden Party Essentials // 6. Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile with Lavender Tea // 7. Etsy Gold-Wire Heartbeat Necklace // 8. Dolce Vita Caitlynn Booties // 9. Maybelline Baby Lips Balm in Oh, Orange! // 10. Marc Jacobs DTM Bolts Leather Bracelet //  

My Marchin List.

Oh, March. You haven't quite ushered in the spring (not by a long shot), but you've brought something quietly different with your patchy presence. You've invited the birds back to my window in the early morning, you've managed to convince the toughened snow to relax a bit, you've made me actually believe there is a change coming. Bless you. Instead of wishing and hoping for April and May, I really want to enjoy this transitional month. In New York, the weather will probably remain in the twenties for most of the month, but there are the slightest telltale signs all around... January and February are definitely gone. And March brings a certain sweet air that can only be appreciated after about 15 torrential snowstorms in a row. March, I welcome you with an armful of gratitude.

// 1. Free People Clipperton Fedora

- Ah, yes please. This floppy fedora is such a fun way to hide bedhead and totally melts into any season's wardrobe. 

// 2. Kirklands Peach Peony Bush

- My dear peonies! I carried this adorable blossom down the aisle at my wedding, so I have a super soft spot in my heart for this joyful flower. They are truly the peppiest, softest flower... you just want to wash your face with them.

// 3. Kate Spade New York Giverny Floral Scarf

- The obsession with Kate continues. This scarf makes me want to go back to France NOW. Cuz we never made it out to Giverny. But apparently, this is what those florals would look like. You know, on a scarf.

// 4. Anthropologie Monogram Quagga Sweater

- Okay, this is just happy. Although we WANT to believe spring is right around the corner, it's still too chilly to be pulling out the tanks and shorts. This sweater is a whimsical way to welcome the incoming season without shedding too many clothes.

// 5. Oh, Joy! for Target Garden Party Essentials

- If you are like me, you are counting down the days until this party line hits Target on March 16. Oh yes! I wish I had a fun party to plan sometime in the near future, because I would be buying up a storm! Oh Joy! is one of my favorite bloggers, and now she's done and taken over Target, too. This line is going to sell out so fast!

// 6. Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile with Lavender Tea

- I've said it once and I'll say it again: this is the best tea. On the planet. The layer of lavender adds just the right amount of honeyed-sweetness that keeps you coming back for one, two, ten more sips. Up here in the north, it's still tea time!

/ 7. Etsy Gold-Wire Heartbeat Necklace

- Oh my word, I died when I saw this sweet necklace. I WANT. It's a gorgeous and dainty illustration of an EKG heartbeat. After hearing my little one's heartbeat, I have a whole new joy for the miracle of such a small, soft sound. 

// 8. Dolce Vita Caitlynn Booties

- Sassy, sassy. And just right for spring. Can't pull out the sandals yet, but this bootie will transition nicely into the warmer months.

// 9. Maybelline Baby Lips Balm in Oh, Orange!

- My new fave balm. I especially love the pop of non-traditional color. And the non-Sephora price.

// 10. Marc Jacobs DTM Bolts Leather Bracelet

- Seriously, Marc Jacobs? You know how to get it just right. This cuff is the perfect mix of fun and edgy. And super easy to mix with any arm jewelry you want.

What are you March musts? How are you prepping for the spring weather?

Fun Freebies

Fun & Free.

Last week was a divine retreat from reality. I escaped the bitter cold of Manhattan and spent some time bouncing around northern Florida (more details on that trip later!) If you're so over the continual snow storms (which have caused a nasty non-stop case of the winter blues), then take a moment here. Go get your pretty tea cup (yes, the really pretty one), brew a hot pot of flowery tea, and just enjoy ten minutes of bliss, browsing through some blissful things.

Some beautiful (FREE!) things/ideas/projects to brighten up your life:

- Gorgeous Desktop Wallpapers (even for your iPhone!) from DesignLoveFest. I've been enjoying my computer SO much more since I set my background with the last floral design. So so happy.

- Homemade Herbal Tea Face Mist from the always lovely Free People Blog. Have you poked around this blog yet? It's so breezy and cool, just like the brand. And this spring-y DIY is so easy. Ah.

- A bevy of 50+ Gorgeous & Free Wall Art Printables from Fab N' Free - all different design styles, just download, print, and load up your walls with some fresh inspiration! I don't know about you, but with all this snowy weather, I could definitely use some refreshing in my home. I chose the botanical prints :-)

More Fun Stuff.

- Also, I would really love to use this heavenly wallpaper in my bedroom. Think I could get my husband on board? Yeah, me neither. But still - so dreamy!

- Creamy Pesto Avocado Sauce from neverhomemaker to be used on anything from burgers to pasta. Dear God, yes.

- I snagged this during its 24-hour free period, but I still think that this new tune from U2, "Invisible" is more than worth the $1.29 on iTunes. Get it here. Bono is a bonafide wordsmithing genius, right?

Hope your days are slowly becoming a little more springy. I hate to keep harping on the winter blues, but for today, just today, these lovely little things made me a little happier. Hope they did the same for you!

1st Trimester Must Haves

1st Trimester Must Haves by oykristen // 1. Amazon The Baby Name Wizard // 2. Origins Gloomaway Body Wash // 3. The Honest Company Belly Balm // 4. Barnes & Noble The Hobbit // 5. Mmm bacon // 6. Lacroix Lime Sparkling Water // 7. Rainbow Light Prenatal One Vitamin // 8. Lululemon Skinny Will Pant // 9. Green Juice // 10. Krispy Kreme Original Glazed // 11. Netflix Instant Streaming //  

1st Tri.

People, the first trimester of pregnancy is a really interesting time. A really interesting, odd kind of time. I didn't really experience the whole "wow, life is growing inside of me, this is AMAZING"-feeling, but I didn't feel angry/pissed/annoyed by the pregnancy either. I fell somewhere in the middle. And coming from a family of women who ADORE pregnancy and all things baby-licious, I sort of expected to feel, you know, all prance-y and glowy. Unfortunately, the whole pregnancy glow thing is actually just sweat. It's sweat and getting ridiculously out of breath walking up the stairs. But thankfully, these are the few things that made my early pregnancy a lot more comforting: 

1. Amazon The Baby Name Wizard

- My sweet sis lent me her copy of this unique baby book. I've really enjoyed it because it gives you a strategy for how to name your child; it's not just a list of names. It provides a ton of insight behind why you prefer certain sounds/combinations and it teaches you how to choose a name for your child that is meaningful, teasing-free and completely one-of-a-kind. Now if only we can decide on something.

2. Origins Gloomaway Body Wash

- Last year my bff Trish gave me this lotion as a gift. It is so peppy and joyful smelling, I decided to splurge and get the body wash, too. It makes a world of difference in my morning mood. If I wake up and wash with this, the whole day has a better outlook. It may seem simple, but you will grasp for anything comforting during those first few unknown months of early pregnancy. I've learned that a tiny little bit of pampering can really go a long way!

3. The Honest Company Belly Balm

- I immediately ordered this when I found out I was expecting. I got my first stretch marks at 12 years old (and they have never disappeared!), so I didn't want to wait and "chance it" with this whole pregnancy thing. They say stretch marks can't be avoided, but I'm going to try my darndest to prevent any more from plaguing my body! And for those of you ladies who have told me you've never had them in your life... I just can't imagine. For those of you who understand the concept of thunder thighs - I have yet to obtain any new stretch marks with this balm. Fingers crossed!

4. Barnes & Noble The Hobbit

- This is an old favorite, and this particular copy is so so beautiful. My dad got it for me a few years ago, and I love to crack it open every once in a while and re-read this fanciful story. Believe me, the 1st tri has you laying around A LOT. So reading... yeah, it's a good break from all the Netflix you watch. Oh wait, I'm getting ahead of myself...

5. Mmm bacon

- I craved bacon with a passion during weeks 6-10 of my pregnancy. I couldn't get enough. That was around Thanksgiving/Christmastime, which is when I was with my Georgian family, and let me just say... my mom was kind enough to make it for me almost everyday. I know, it can't possibly be healthy to eat bacon that often, but what can I say? My body yearned for it. It yearned, people. I guess this child is a protein lover.

6. Lacroix Lime Sparkling Water

- This isn't the first time I've sung the praises of delicious Lacroix water, but now more than ever I have been gulping it down! Especially this lime flavor... yum, it is the perfect thirst quencher! Especially since pregnancy makes you crazy thirsty and you can never get enough water to feel satisfied.

7. Rainbow Light Prenatal One Vitamin

- I don't know a lot about prenatals, let me just clearly state that. But this particular vitamin has been a great choice for me - no upset stomach, no burping up weirdness, and super easy to digest. Just a really well rounded food-based pill that is chock-full of hearty vitamins for mama and baby.

8. Lululemon Skinny Will Pant

- This pant. Is a dream. Stevie was sweet enough to take me into Lululemon when I couldn't fit into any of my leggings anymore (they were so tight and the waistband was cutting into my stomach and KILLING me). I tried on several pairs of their plain black leggings, and finally landed on this Skinny Will pant. It has a great tummy section that you can adjust and fold down under your belly (comfortably!) or you can pull up over your stomach and it smooths out your belly underneath your shirt, exactly like a belly band. They are a bit pricey if you're just purchasing them for yoga pants, but I have literally worn these every single day for the past month. And no, I'm not exaggerating. You can wear them just like any other leggings, with tall socks and boots or with your comfy Toms or, obviously, to the gym for yoga! This is my favorite (and most used!) pregnancy purchase so far.

9. Green Juice

- Eating is a bit of a pain during the first trimester. When your tummy is always grumbly and nauseous, the last thing you want to eat is healthy food (AKA salads or vegetables). However, I found that I could get in some good nutrients by throwing them into a smoothie or juice. I snacked on lots of crackers and toast and other forms of carbs during the 1st tri, but if I could sneak in a smoothie or juice everyday, at least I knew I was getting some good nutrition in the midst of feeling crappy. This isn't just for pregnant ladies! My hubby loves this Green Juice recipe as much as me!

10. Krispy Kreme Original Glazed

- Okay okay I know what you're thinking. Crazy munching pregnant lady! But actually, I've been eating less sugar since I got pregnant because I don't really crave it. With the exception of these delicious "hot now" treats, of course. I just can't help it. I've limited myself to purchasing these only once during my pregnancy (so far), because I don't want to loose all control, but oh... don't they just look delicious? PS I never craved donuts pre-pregnancy. Like EVER. Did too many donut-related fundraisers in middle and high school. Somehow my brain has recently experienced amnesia from hating donuts from way back then. If you've known me for long enough, I probably sold you a box of these as an 8th grader.

11. Netflix Instant Streaming

- Um, how do people live without Netflix? This delicious application made my 3 months of horizontal life so much more pleasant. I blazed through episodes of White Collar, Burn Notice and How I Met Your Mother, along with some good old favorite viewings of Emma and You've Got Mail. It helped me laugh when I felt like nothing was funny AT ALL.

I know a LOT of ladies out there that are pregnant right now. What were your 1st Tri must haves? Leave it in the comments below!

Columbus Circle Romance: Robert

// The Columbus Circle Loop. And our view from the top! //

Getting Back Out There.

I took a couple of months off from life. When I found out I was pregnant, I was shocked. Then thrilled. Then ill. For quite some time. I have finally unearthed from my icy apartment and started exploring this wonderful city once again. One of the first places Stevie took me (to celebrate our being normal restaurant-goers once again, oh, and the kid coming our way) was to a restaurant in Columbus Circle called Robert.

Ambiance.

Located on the 9th floor of the Museum of Arts & Design, this restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over Columbus Circle and the west side view of Central Park. Pretty legit. The restaurant itself is verrrrry hip, with darkened mood lighting, super modern furnishings and live tuneage played on the baby grand piano in the corner. Very "New York"-y. We had the best time being normal adults again. Like, laughing. And not wearing days-old pajamas (okay, to be fair, it was only me who did that). But just to marvel at this incredible city we live in - ah, it was just such FUN. I continually have these "aha" moments about living here in New York. I can't believe we are here. I can't believe I am actually auditioning and attempting to live my dream. It's probably a conversation for another time, but "living the dream" isn't always what you think it will be like. Ha. But this kind of restaurant ambiance is the perfect setting to have THOSE kinds of conversations. Aren't date nights the best when you can really talk and process with your best friend? Anyways, back to Rob.

Service.

The service was super outstanding - our waiter was so attentive and insisted that I shouldn't miss out on all the fun because I'm pregnant. He surprised me by bringing out (several) gorgeous, flowery virgin cocktails. So adorable and made me feel really special. It could have just been sparkling lemonade, but it made me feel like a lady again. And then they threw in free dessert! Such spectacular service.

// Sorry for the grainy photos - it was really dark in the restaurant! Check out the fancy lemonade they used in my pregnant-friendly cocktail - apparently it's available at Whole Foods, yumm. //

Food.

The food was decently good, though perhaps not totally outstanding if you're looking for really inventive cuisine. I would definitely recommend visiting for pre-dinner drinks or post-dinner dessert and coffee. The live music really makes it feel swanky, and looking out over the sparkly lights of Columbus Circle, well, that's doubly swanky. Make sure to reserve early on Opentable for a table by the window - those spots go weeks in advanced!

// A chilly walk home along the park. //

Walk in the Park.

All in all, if you're a New Yorker and haven't yet discovered Robert, it's a definite MUST. And if you're visiting, it's a decadent spot that captures all the charm of Upper West Side New York. Now go on, enjoy!

Taste: "Good Morning!" Green Juice

Good Morning Green Juice.

It's almost the weekend! To celebrate, let's add some healthy color to your morning routine! This is such a delicious way to get revved up and start the day. It's even better then a cup of coffee. That's right, I said it. I love drinking this in the morning because it feels really good to get in so many fruits and veggies so early in the day! Plus, it looks suuuuper green, but I promise it doesn't taste like grass. It tastes really tangy and refreshing (thanks to that hot hit of mint, mmm.)

This recipe serves two and is best if made in a high-powered blender, like a Vitamix, or a juicer.

Ingredients:

- 2 ribs of kale

- 1 handful of spinach (about 1 cup)

- 1 cup baby carrots (5-6)

- 1 green apple

- 1 red apple

- 1 lemon, skin and pith removed

- 3-4 sprigs of mint

- 1-inch piece of ginger, peel removed

- 1/3 cucumber, peeled

- 1 cup water

Method:

1. Place all the ingredients into Veronica the Vitamix (it's a bond, people), and secure the lid.

2. If you have a Vitamix: Select Variable 1. Turn the machine on and quickly increase speed to variable 10, then turn on High. Blend for 45 seconds or until the desired consistency is reached.

If you have a juicer/food processor: You might have to do this in batches. My food processor is only a 2-cup, so I would probably have to break this up into three separated batches. Or you could try to use a powerful blender, but just make sure all your ingredients are roughly chopped (the carrots might pose the biggest problem.)

Seriously, this is going to make you feel like a superhero. Now go and conquer your week!

Keeping your weekend green! And let me know what you think!

*This recipe was featured this week on Flat8 Magazine's website! Make sure to visit the site and check it out! Their content is so fun :)