A Day in my NYDJ Maternity Jeans

At 5 months pregnant I may be just starting to "show", but I'm in full swing maternity pants mode! My friends used to notice how I never wear jeans. In my 20's I realized how uncomfortable jeans were and naturally phased them out of my wardrobe. This ALL changed with my first pregnancy with Chase. Discovering maternity jeans was like tasting a donut for the first time. It's a whole new world with the elastic waist band, I honestly wonder why we don't wear them all the time! I wore them for at least a year after birth as it was too hard to let them go just yet.

Working from home, I can get away with pjs all day. But on the weekends, my husband and I like to go out for a little adventure. Here's a day in my NYDJ jeans running after Chase and staying comfy all day long at the Botanical Garden!

I love watching him explore!

It was "giant pumpkin weekend"!

Costume I made for him last year.

Chrysanthemums exhibit

'Can you see my bump now?' pose

Watering plants in the green house.

Another successful play date with Charlotte and her family filled with lots of hugs!

I learned an awesome trick to fold the bottom of the pants long-ways, and then rolling them up for a more fitted ankle. 

Shop the look:

I like skinny jeans because as you are expanding, it helps give you more polished look. I recommend getting a size smaller than usual as they run a little loose. 

Maternity Boyfriend

Maternity Legging

Maternity Legging

You can be casual, put together and playful all in one look - I styled my jeans with a neutral palette as this pregnancy is really making me feel neutrals these days. But I'm always one for a little touch of whimsical! 

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Perfect Picnic, Birthday Edition

It's our second year that Perfect Picnic has created the most incredible spread for Hank's birthday picnic! He is so loved and is the most selfless person. He is always giving all of himself for Chase and I and I wanted him to have a beautiful day to celebrate him!

And you can see why I chose Perfect Picnic - their attention to detail is flawless and they really know how to make your day special. I love their classic blanksets, and the pillows make the long hours spent at the park much more comfortable (something you wouldn't normally bring out to the park yourself). On this hot Saturday, you can bet their fans and umbrellas came in hand - they thought of everything!

This was a customized event spread that was ordered for 20 people in mind, we had close to 30 friends and family show up with plenty of food still! Perfect Picnic has all sorts of picnics starting as low as $10 for a Kid's meal, $15 for an adult's Grab & Go bags, to delivery boxes and catering. My personal favorites are the Soppressata with Spicy Dilly Green Bean baguettini, Kale Salad, and the Fig Spread. Though honestly, they're all amazing! The baguettinis are unique and explode with flavor - you might remember that they happen to be perfectly Chase sized from this image last year:

When I'm walking around Central Park I'll see beautiful engagement spreads on the weekends, or people having a relaxing lunch~ If you're interested, it's really simple to use. We arranged a date and time, showed up, enjoyed, and left! They set up and clean up everything for you if you choose to do a spread. Here is their site for more info - Happy Picnicking!

PerfectPicnic.com

1. Make your picnic selection.

2. Pick your date and time to enjoy.

3. Choose delivery or experience location.

Packing: Beach Essentials for Mom and Toddler

My family and I just came back from the beach this weekend with my in-laws down in New Jersey. The water was still too cold for swimming, but the weather was perfect for beach bumming - breezy and not too hot. Now that summer is officially upon us I thought I'd share what I packed and hopefully save you some time & planning!

Let's start with this photo above of Chase's hands covered in sand and baby powder. For those of you who don't know this life hack: Baby Powder helps get sand off instantly! I learned this while packing last week and I'm thrilled to report that it really works. I started calling it "magic powder"! Chase would rub his eyes with his sandy hands which bothered him and all wet wipes did was waste time. I will never go to the beach (or sand box) without it from now on.

Many may brush off the 'First Aid Kit', but we did have a small incident where my husband cut his hand - so at minimum I suggest packing Band-Aids and Neosporin. 

Clothing wise, I forgot to pack long sleeves. I just thought 'hot beach hot beach hot beach'. Fortunately my husband was better prepared and I was able to borrow his during the trip. You will likely come across an air conditioned environment or a chilly night time, so it's best to bring a couple layers. Thankfully I managed to pack my toddler a hoodie and long pants which came in handy. While we are on the topic of baby clothes - pack double what you plan to! Their clothes are so small anyway, it doesn't hurt to be prepared for anything.

When we travel with our toddler I always bring a baggie and leave it out within reach. He tends to get nauseous quite easily especially if he just had a meal (he threw up twice on the bus ride home). If you plan on going on a boat or long car ride - you can salvage everyone's clothes and seat by having this and lots of wipes out.

Last note - sun protection. I love the sunblock that you can spray - it's so easy to apply (especially on kids that don't sit still or can't be bothered) and applies much more evenly. Don't forget to cover your ears and feet and reapply every few hours.  I also recommend a canopy if you are going with a family instead of lugging multiple umbrellas. Tip: I got Chase to wear his sunhat by telling him he can only play in the sand if he wears it! 

Save this Check List - It's a printable image I made just for you!

Napping tip: Chase sleeps best if he eats and drinks after play time. Change them out of their swim diaper and put on normal ones - Chase once got a diaper rash because we didn't know that swim diapers don't breathe. Find or provide shade, then sneak on sunglasses since there are no black out shades on the open beach for a longer nap. Your little one will appreciate a small pillow if you can manage one (I used my spare dress and his small blanket). Now you can really kick back and relax!

If you're packing food - this chicken wing recipe and corn will be a crowd favorite for both kids and adults! My sister-in-law Linda is an amazing home cook and of course she would find this! From Bonappetit.com, serves 4 - marinade altogether for at least one hour or overnight and grill for 15-20 minutes on medium heat.

• 4 garlic cloves
• 1/4 chopped fresh oregano
• 1/4 chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• salt, pepper
• 2 pounds chicken wings

Now have a blast and make lots of memories!! Thanks for reading!

Castle Dreaming

During the middle of our Spain trip, we got to sneak away to a romantic Languedoc France. We took the train and as we got closer to Languedoc, the scenery become more tranquil and stunningly serene. The high speed train was so smooth and we whizzed by horses, vineyards and a large lake. It's funny - I think the freshest baguette sandwich I ever had was at a train station during a transfer in France. I had no idea Hank planned a Michelin star lunch so I accidentally spoiled my appetite a bit with 2 of those sandwiches (no regrets). We stayed in a fortified town called Carcassone in the south of France. We stayed at Hotel de la Cite which is the most charming hotel straight out of a medieval fairytale. You step outside the hotel and the basilica is right there. Because the bulk of the people there were tourists, the town felt a bit like Disney World's Epcot except everything is actually authentic. Nonetheless, we admired the church and headed out to edge where we got hit by the wind and soaked in the views. There was something so fresh and exciting about being here with my husband, I was excited to see him in his element during this leg of the trip and spontaneously go out to explore with my "adventure buddy". He was especially excited for our wine tasting tour that took us out to a couple local vineyards and another picturesque town, Minerve. I wish we had taken our time to explore it since it is known as one of the most beautiful towns in France and some of the views reminded me of the Grand Canyon. Because we were with a group and it was unfortunately a bit rushed. During our tour it was my first time trying organic and live wines (In case you are wondering, I am not pregnant yet so it was safe to try the live bottle - which I liked and learned I like "tannin"). Ugh, without a doubt the best part of France was the price of their wine. It's ludicrous how expensive a glass is here in NY compared to their 2.5 euro. A side note: Feeling a bit adventurous I ordered "black pudding" and apple salad - turns out it means "blood sausage"! Being Korean we have something similar so it wasn't bad, but it was definitely not what I anticipated. I think my husband knew what I was ordering and gave me no warning, haha. 

Packing wise - cute outfits are fun, but hey I'm on vacation and nothing feels better than stealing my husband's cozy cardigan come the moment to put an outfit on. I noticed I wore the buttons unaligned when I was uploading these photos - a sure sign of a relaxing time~. It's always a good idea to pack a set of comfortable clothes for back up because at the end of the day, you want to feel good and enjoy yourself! Lastly, you're in luck~ I found the embroidered blouse I'm wearing at a market from our last trip to Korea- I typed in "bohemian top" to find something similar since I figured some of you might ask about it- and I found the exact one! (Korean markets often sell wholesale to brands). It happens to fall under both "cute outfit" and "comfortable outfit" so it's a winner! Well, that's the last of our week and a half in Europe - next stop, Paris!

Post cards from Barcelona, Part 1

Dessert Shop by Picasso Museum

Dessert Shop by Picasso Museum

Passeig de Gracia

Palau de la Música Catalana

Mini Croissant, Hot Dog by Patricia Chang

El Nacional 

Mercat de la Boqueria

Palau de la Música Catalana

Palau de la Música Catalana

Hotel El Palace, Jacket by Patricia Chang

Pudding

El Nacional

 Outside Mercat de Santa Caterina 

Mercat de la Boqueria

Floristeries Navarro

Floristeries Navarro

Mercat de la Boqueria, Sangria Flavor

Mercat de la Boqueria

Streets of Las Ramblas

Catedral de Barcelona

Mercat de la Boqueria

Breakfast at Tapas 24

Breakfast at Tapas 24

Tibidabo Amusement Park

Tibidabo Amusement Park

El Nacional's restroom

El Nacional, black squid ink paella tapas

Gaudi's Palau Guell

View from Airbnb

Brunch and Cake by the Sea

On our first day we did a tour of Palau de la Música Catalana soon after we landed. We went during the day to see the light flood in through the incredible stained glass ceiling in the most beautiful theater you'll ever step foot in! Though not by Gaudi, it was a taste of the unique architecture we would see in Barcelona. I was especially happy to see mosaics and colorful tiles all throughout the city. 

The food was just as vibrant as the surroundings. Mercat de la Boqueria is a must - there are many repeating stands, one of them being fresh juices displayed on ice with pretty and enticing colors. I tried as many flavors as I could, one of my favorites being 'Mint Coconut' - yum!! A restaurant you must try is Tapas 24 - sadly we never made it to lunch or dinner. So on one of our last days we tried to go early to beat the crowds and ended up trying their breakfast menu. It was one of the most memorable meals I've ever had! The fried calamari baguette - please order this and thank me later. 

Packing wise, the weather is pretty much spot on to New York so I brought layers for early May. We had a range of chilly to very warm days during the first week. One piece I packed and loved were these denim shorts from Shopbop. They are meant to be casual so they are baggy and super soft, making them the most comfortable denim in the world. I always like playing with looking a bit dressed up, but having that element of bringing it back to casual and easy. 

This was Part 1 so stay tuned for more recommendations!

How to #WatermelonPizza

Just when I thought beautifully organized toppings on a smoothie bowl was the epitome of photogenic healthy foods, I stumble upon this. Have you noticed the strange trend on Instagram (and I'm assuming on Pinterest & the like) lately? #WatermelonPizza? Did your face cringe or did it light up? Haha, I remember being intrigued yet a little confused about how I felt about it.  

Recently I saw it on @natehunt's beautiful Instagram page, and it was his take with a greek yogurt spread that finally sold me that this could actually be a tasty dish. I do like greek yogurt, but I'm not craaazy about it. That got me thinking about what flavors are successful with watermelon. Ah, yes of course - Watermelon Salad! I googled some recipes and came up with my own take. What a pleasant surprise when it was even more delicious than I anticipated my first time around. Here's how it went:

Timidly, I chose a small watermelon as it would be my first attempt. It's perfectly round and absolutely adorable. Made me happy to pick it. You can pick a large one if you want to make one for a party or have a more prominent "pizza" look.

You can make as many "pies" from one watermelon depending on how thick or thin you slice it. Don't be intimidated by this step. Slicing watermelon is fairly smooth and easy with a large knife.

Feta seems to be the ideal cheese to marry with the flavor of the watermelon. It's the combination of sweet and salty that work so nicely together.

Red onions. Is it just me? I love it when a recipe asks for red onion because it adds color.

Here are my toppings and you can play around with yours. Baby Arugula, Pistachio nuts, Mint, Cherry Tomatoes, Olives, Cucumbers, Artichoke. 

I have a confession here: The ingredients in the round bowls are from the self serve salad bar at Whole Foods! It was from a greek salad dish. This was a great idea for me because I personally don't like random leftovers in the fridge. Even for a larger pizza, you won't be needing much of each topping. 

Garnish your pizza!

Time to cut the slices! Again, it was surprisingly smooth and easy especially since I made thin pies.

I did make a note however for next time: If you want a super neat presentation, try slicing them right after the feta cheese step, and then garnishing the slices afterward. 

Voila~ Watermelon Pizzas will make for a great appetizer this summer. Your guests are guaranteed to make a comment about it as well as enjoy it!

Difficulty level: It's much easier than making a real pizza, and just as easy as making a salad. Harder than ordering pizza delivery. Ha ha..

Finally, I found it flavorful as is, but a drizzle of delicious olive oil and a pinch of pepper never hurt. You won't need to salt because of the feta cheese and olives. 

I devoured 2 pies by myself immediately and my family shared the third pie. My toddler, Chase went for all the pistachios (and an innocent bite of the crust which he didn't like). Conclusion? Clean to eat since it doesn't flop like a real pizza. Juicy, fun and delicious! Please share your pies and personal twist on the recipe if you do one with me. I'd love to see it! Happy eating and the camera CAN eat this one first since it's not a hot dish ;)

Drop the Mic Ice Cream

Chickalicious has been one of my favorite restaurants for many, many years. I learned recently, that it is called "Drop The MIC Ice Cream Factory" on Mondays through Wednesdays from 3pm to 11pm, where they serve 7 flavors of ice cream. Last week, Chef Mieko was kind enough to let me try them all to share with you!

I kid you not, the Black Truffle is hands down the most flavor packed truffle ice cream I've ever had. If you love truffle, this flavor is a taste of heaven! I can't wait to go back to have it again! I catch myself thinking about it from time to time, wishing I had ordered one more while I was there.

I randomly tasted the Pink Grapefruit Sorbet first and I recommend starting with a sorbets as a nice way to whet your palate with a fresh flavor. Another memorable one for me was the soothing Purple Potato ice cream. Many of my friends said they loved the Roasted Banana the most. Let me know which ones you try in the comments below! I'd love to know your thoughts, as well as where you went while you were in the neighborhood. My friend Sun, founder of Sjouel, was my date and we went to eat at Momofuku Noodle Bar afterwards just around the corner (I love everything on their menu, but there's not a visit I don't order the Pickle Jar as a side!).

I'm wearing a lace top by Alexis which I love so much that I own it in 2 colors. I was in a neutrals mood this day. I intended to wear pastels, but there's something zen and fresh when I think about this space, it affected my outfit otherwise. When I met Chef Mieko it solidified that it is indeed a peaceful place. There are no distractions so all your senses are focused on the flavors dancing in your mouth.

FLAVORS:

Black truffle ice cream, semifredo, cognac soaked cake

Purple potato ice cream, sour cream semifredo, bourbon soaked cake

Pink grapefruit sorbet, brown sugar semifredo, grand marnier soaked cake

Roasted banana ice cream, cacao nib semifredo, almond cake

Coffee milk sorbet, semifredo, sambuca soaked cake

Granny smith sorbet, white chocolate semifredo, calvados soaked cake

Sweet potato ice cream, semifredo, orange cake

• Photography by Sun Chung
• Recommended by ChubbyChineseGirlEats