A Day in my NYDJ Maternity Jeans

October 25, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Family, Fashion

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!

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. — 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.

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!

Pumpkin Patch

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard

October 18, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Family, Fashion, Food, Travel

IF YOU PLAN ON TRAVELING HERE READ THESE TIPS FIRST:

Over the weekend we took the Metro North from Grand Central to Croton Falls station for a fun day at Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard up in North Salem, NY! Wear comfy shoes and be warned - they only have porta potties.. You can use the bathroom at Gordon's Deli as soon as you get off the train from Croton Falls station where they happen to have yummy sandwiches! We envisioned a quiet day in nature. Not so~ There's loud (fun) music and dust kicked up by what reminded me of a "Times Square crowd" if you go on a weekend. Last year we were faced with a lot of traffic (from the station to the orchard) and long lines for everything, so we went earlier in the morning this year and it was much better traffic wise. Also prepare to stand still often, there are quite a lot of bees. Lastly, bring cash.

First things first! I've learned that as a parent, your greatest joy comes from watching your child have a blast. Chase quickly spotted the row of bouncy castles in the back so we zipped there first. At 2.5 years old, he was only allowed on 2 of the 3 inflatables. We paid $3 for the bouncy castle where Chase waited patiently on line. Once he got in he realized it is not connected to the slide he saw and stayed for less than 30 seconds. I pushed him back in but he wasn't interested in jumping. So to the big slide we went! It was $2 per turn or $5/3 turns. I paid the $2 to see if he can handle it and he LOVED it! I got him the bundle ticket and let him go 3 more times in a row. I thought it was worth it because he rarely comes across such a giant slide and laughed the entire time. Plus I really enjoyed watching him come down in an "X shape". The 3rd inflatable was an obstacle course for kids older than 6 years.

Pumpkin picking! Got one!

Dancing with his friend Charlotte to the live music during our (second) lunch break! I'll share a video on Instagram - they were soo cute!!

The tacos were pretty good! Do'h - Don't forget to try the homemade cider donuts like we did this time~ Had them last year and they were really good.

Apple picking: Apparently due to many circumstances such as an extremely hot summer, apples (and pears) were no longer on the trees and only in bins. You can only enter this "picking" section if you are buying a $20 bag. It's worth the short, but steep hike up because there is a great view, fresh air and you can get away from the crowds.

I'm including this because they had the longest line of all. Just FYI: might want to go early if you're interested!

We only picked a couple of mini pumpkins for easier traveling. I would have picked some larger pumpkins had we drove. Grab a single serving cold apple cider while you're paying inside the store - it's so fresh!

Once we got back to Grand Central Station my friend Nancy (Charlotte's mom), whose family spent the day with us, pointed us to Joe & the Juice. I ordered "Joe's Green Mile" and guess who stole it from me. I was happy to share it because he has gotten pickier about his vegetables and it has spinach, avocado and broccoli! It was one of the tastiest juices I got so I am curious to go back and try every flavor. I was a little surprised when I was paying because at $10, it was pricier than Juice Generation which I already find a bit expensive. It will be the occasional treat!

Memory Lane from exactly a year ago at the same place - looks like we are starting a tradition!

I can't believe he was small enough to put in the bin. Today, those pumpkins would have been squashed to pumpkin pie!

Shop the Look

I got this pumpkin costume last year for the same event and it still fit~ Milking it ;)

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A day in Dumbo

July 11, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Family, Fashion, Food

Fun Fact: Hank and I had our first date in Dumbo Brooklyn - we went to the art fair in 2010!

Over the long weekend earlier this month I spent a fun-filled family day in Dumbo Brooklyn with my husband, son and sister. We left the house without eating breakfast so I quickly yelped brunch spots, and came across AlMar. The Egg in a Cloud dish sparked my interest, but being a family friendly restaurant solidified our decision. The restaurant has high ceilings and the food was as tasty as it looks. It was an ideal brunch! Next time I'd love to try Atrium.

After lunch we wanted Chase to run around so we headed to the nearest playground which was at Pier 5. He loved the sandbox shaped like a boat. Dumbo is a residential neighborhood so here is an extensive list of playgrounds in the area~

Then to relax, we picked up some snacks at Peas & Pickles for a picnic at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The views are beautiful right by the river and the iconic bridges. We strolled to Jane's Carousel and Chase (finally) fell asleep in his stroller (he was too excited and stayed up way past his usual naptime).

We figured it's a good time to grab an early dinner with Chase napping, and it's not often we come to Brooklyn so we headed for their famous pizza! We figured the lines wouldn't be too bad considering it's a holiday weekend and everyone was out of town, but both Juliana's and Grimaldi's lines were still too long. So we headed closer to the water where we can always rely on Luke's Lobster. We ate outside and I love that you feel a bit like you're on vacation.

When Chase woke up, we needed to find a bathroom so we got some treats from One Girl Cookies. We got a sample of flavors though Chase ate most of them. It was right by the park so we picnicked again to change his diaper. It didn't feel right to leave without checking out the shops so we went to a bookstore we saw across the street from the cookie store called Powerhouse and then Shibu, a Japanese furniture store. Sadly, both were going out of business.. and almost everything was on sale. I got a blank textbook from Powerhouse to use as a sketchbook which I'm excited to fill with designs and ideas.

We grabbed one last strawberry smoothie for the subway ride back home. It's unfortunate that none of the subway stops in Brooklyn have elevators! I suggested walking over the Brooklyn Bridge but by the end of the day we were all pretty pooped!

Outfits wise - I wasn't planning on blogging the day when we left, so it's simply weekend casual in a white top, denim shorts, and my most comfortable sneakers.

P.S. We stumbled upon this amazing flower garden! It is located by River Cafe between Luke's Lobster. Nothing is more soothing to me than the sound of trickling water and there is a lovely little stream by the entrance to the garden. It's a sweet spot from the urban environment when the flowers are in full bloom!

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Photography by Deborah Chang and myself

Castle Dreaming

May 23, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Fashion, Food, Travel

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!

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Post cards from Barcelona, Part 2

May 16, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Fashion, Food, Travel

Ciutadela Park, wearing Shopbop — Ciutadela Park, wearing Shopbop

Welcome back for Part 2 of our trip! I mashed together some of my "naturey" photos and ended up with a parks list. I have come to realize I have a soft spot for parks when I travel. When you're running around seeing all the sights, it's especially relaxing to sit and listen to some water trickling while soaking in the surrounding culture. My favorite place was Ciutadela Park, as we went back twice by choice. There's something about this park that brought out a sense of home away from home. It reminded me of a condensed Central Park in NY, except this park has palm trees galore!

We also went back to the beach for a second time. The first time, we stumbled upon it on our way to the cable car that takes you up to Montjuic. We saw people selling blankets and decided to come back for a picnic if we had time. On our last day we happened to walk by the beach again. Before making it to the sand, we got distracted by some people making large bubbles for the crowd. It was then I noticed groups of people buzzing around on electric bikes and scooters of all kinds. Right there in the middle of the board walk we spotted a rental place and had a spontaneous ride! I definitely recommend going along the entire boardwalk this way. It was so fun that had we discovered it sooner I may have convinced my husband to do all day rentals everyday~

El Nacional is a gem! There are multiple restaurants in one large open space with THE most fabulous interior. Our Airbnb was just around the block and I would have missed it had I not just seen it on my friend's instagram (@mjtraynor). I think we tried most of the sections and I can't really recommend one over the other. The tapas section was a unique experience because they come around announcing available plates in their hand (kind of like dim sum carts). Definitely check out this space if you're in the neighborhood!

Happy Place

central park

April 05, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Fashion

cocotrish patricia chang central park 11

cocotrish patricia chang central park pretzel bag

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If you haven't noticed by now, I am going through a lace top phase~ If the "sheer"ness makes you shy away from lace tops yet you love the look, try this top. (Bonus: it just went on sale!) For accessories, I put my black wool hat away and traded it for a neutral one that I've been wearing during the transition to spring. I topped the look off with my handy dandy trusty pretzel bag that matches every look. I seriously have yet to come across an outfit that the pretzel bag doesn't match!

Central Park is such a nice break from work and the city. If you followed me for a while, you know how much time I spend there. This is really the happiest time of year for me when I see the buds and blooms pop up, promising warmer weather and picnics ahead. Do white cherry blossom trees remind anyone else of popcorn in the sky? :P

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Play Date with H&M

March 18, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Family, Fashion, Vlog

Behind the scenes for blog post on Cocotrish.com

Everyone is wearing H&M
Locations include: The Standard Hotel, Sugar Factory, High Line Park, Whitney Museum

Nancy and I have been friends for many years. From being single girls and going on memorable trips, to entering the new world of motherhood, we've had a lot of adventures! I've learned that the best kind of friend to have is one that wants the best for you. Nancy is that friend. Even if it's something I may not want to hear, she will always give me her genuine loving advice. She's someone I can count on, which is priceless. I hope that Chase and Charlotte will grow to be best friends! They're well on their way!

1) What do you love most about your friend?

Patricia says about Nancy: Her ability to have a conversation with anybody she meets. I admire how much respect she has for others.

Nancy says about Patricia: She's so fun to hang out with and talk to - its always a good time whether we are just sitting around, chatting at home or going out on the town!

2) What do you think she appreciates most about you?

Patricia says about Nancy: Keeping it real.

Nancy says about Patricia: That I am always here for her to talk to and will always give her my honest advice/feedback.

3) Her favorite thing about you is?

Patricia says about Nancy: I will understand and always be there to listen.

Nancy says about Patricia: Perhaps same as above (#2).

4) Best memory of you and your kids together?

Patricia says about Nancy: The fact that they have met since birth.

Nancy says about Patricia: When we took the kids to Freedom Tower.

5) How are you parenting styles different?

Patricia says about Nancy: By default, Nancy is a working mom, and I am a stay at home mom.

Nancy says about Patricia: Patty is a whole lot more creative and artistic and those qualities manifest in her interaction/play with Chase.

6) Best piece of parenting advice she's given you?

Patricia says about Nancy: Too many! I love how much she sings to the kids, so I sing more at home.

Nancy says about Patricia: That they'll be fine!

7) How would she describe herself in three words?

Patricia says about Nancy: Elegant, well rounded, loyal.

Nancy says about Patricia: Creative, lovable, business-savvy!

8) How does she react to her kids tantrums?

Patricia says about Nancy: Haha, she hides her stress well and uses a calm voice.

Nancy says about Patricia: She's very understanding and loving.

9) Name her favorite tv show? Favorite guilty pleasure tv show?

Patricia says about Nancy: Oh gosh! I can't say that I know. We watched an episode of Odd Mom Out together once.

Nancy says about Patricia: The Bachelor and Real Housewives

10) Funniest thing she's ever done?

Patricia says about Nancy: I don't think she would want me to repeat it! She has probably said the funniest thing I've ever heard a friend say.

Nancy says about Patricia: Back in the day she would ride her scooter every where, even while wearing designer dresses and heels

11) If you spend a date together with your kids, what would she want to do most?

Patricia says about Nancy: Go eat at Ootoya (a Japanese restaurant) and then go to a playground.

Nancy says about Patricia: Picnic in Central Park.

12) If your friend could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Patricia says about Nancy: Paris. It never gets old for her.

Nancy says about Patricia: Currently, maybe Morocco or Greece.

13) Most perfect day for your friend “sans kids”?

Patricia says about Nancy: The spa and shopping.

Nancy says about Patricia: Enjoying/exploring the city with her girl friends!

14) What's a guilty pleasure that she wouldn't want to admit?

Patricia says about Nancy: Shopping!

Nancy says about Patricia: Bonchon chicken.

15.) If your friend could have one wish what would it be?

Patricia says about Nancy: To go to Paris with her husband on a whim.

Nancy says about Patricia: Being the sweetheart that she is, for her husband, son, sister, parents and closest friends to live happily ever after alongside her!