Warming Up.

These last two weeks have brought us out of our hibernation and out into the warm sunshine. Spring took its time this year, but it is here and here with vengeance! The flowers are breath-taking, the weather is amazing, and the city is giving off new vibes. When I walk around and see all of the shops out on the corners, colorful flowers and herbs at the markets, the people riding bikes and walking around, it reminds me of why we moved here. This is the brillance that I remember when we would visit. The bustling streets filled with smiling faces taking in all of the beauty surrounding us. On our free days, we have been trying to spend as much time as possible outside. Pat fixed up our bikes and we have been exploring all of our surrounding neighborhoods on wheels--which has been great! The farmer's and flea markets are popping up all over which are some of our favorite places to visit. The cherry blossoms are outrageous in the neighborhoods, botanical gardens, and parks. I am so excited that this season is here and am really looking forward to all of the exciting adventures we have planned for this summer.

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xo

Coconut Chia Seed Pudding.

Last night I had my first go with chia seed pudding and boy am I glad I did! The ingredients are minimal and it's super versatile so you can really add anything you want to it.  Since it was our first go-round, we kept it simple.

1 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 Tbs agave (any sweetener of your choice)
1 Tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

*Serves 2-4

Mix the wet ingredients together first. Then add the chia seeds and coconut. Mix thoroughly, cover, and set in the refrigerator overnight. It smells amazing and can be quite tempting so I understand if you can't make it through the night before you dive in! However, let it sit for at least 3 hours before you indulge to give the chia seeds time to expand. Once you're ready, you can top it with whatever you'd like--fruit, nuts, granola, chocolate, etc. We used what we had and went with grapefruit and walnuts which gave it a wonderful tart twist. It is delicious and healthy and a wonderful pick-me-up pudding. Enjoy!

xo

DIY Baby Swaddles.

With my niece's arrival quickly approaching, I decided it would be fun to make her a couple of gifts rather than buying. After brain storming and a couple of trips to Mood Fabric in Manhattan, I decided on some headbands and blankets/swaddles. The blankets were super easy and perfect for a summer baby. All you need is a fabric of choice (I picked jersey knit & muslin), scissors, a small paint brush, fabric paint in the color of your choice, and a hand made or store bought stamp. I actually tried to make a sweet potato stamp but that is a place that I will have to revisit as my first attempt was not as successful as I'd like to admit. However, the store bought stamps worked very well and they're perfect if you pick a pattern that you can use for other projects. You will also need some tape to secure the fabric to the floor or table for an even surface for stamping. Once you have everything and have washed your fabric initially, cut out your chosen shape from the fabric--you can either sew the edges or leave them raw. Tape the edges to the floor/table so the blanket is taut, and use the paint brush to apply the fabric to the stamp then stamp away! You may want to trial stamp on a piece of paper so you can find the perfect amount of paint to use for a clear, even stamp. Let it dry over night and then throw it in the wash. Make sure you cold wash it to keep the stamped print nice and vibrant!

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Good luck!

xo

The Perks of Marrying a Thai Boy.

Heavenly home-made pad thai from my little Thai man.

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A couple of days ago, we spent the day exploring the bustling streets of China town. We popped into all sorts of stores looking for the best ingredients for our pad thai adventure we had planned for that night. We saw, smelt, and heard all sorts of interesting things. We also stopped in for some hand stuffed dumplings at Vanessa's Dumplings, which we definitely recommend if you're ever in the area. Very affordable and very delicious. The meal was a success and I look forward to many more culinary adventures!

xo

A Baby on the Way.

A baby girl is on the way! Of course, not for my husband and I, we will be waiting a couple of years...but for my sister and brother in law! This will be my first niece and I cannot wait to love on her. With the due date quickly approaching, my brother in law's sister and I decided to throw my sister a Baby Sprinkle. A couple months ago, we started off by picking a date, time, and space. Living in NY, space can put you in a bit of a pinch, especially for a get together. However, we decided to take on the challenge of making my small apartment a spacious place for about 15 girls to hang out and chitchat. We then planned the menu and decor and the different teas we would be having at the tea station. Fast forward to a couple of days ago and we had ourselves a great time, good conversation, and plenty of space! 

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 Tea cookies in the making

My brother in law's sister who is also due very soon!

Can't wait to meet you baby girl!

xo