Inspired by Shamrock Shakes

Madewell chambray shirt, J. Crew Factory mint pencil skirt, Gap dot calf hair ballet flats,
Madewell crystal collage necklace, Gap leather stripe tote

Happy St. Patty's Day weekend! It's been another crazy week at work, so I'm looking forward to a weekend of relaxing and nesting. We ordered our crib (!) this week when we realized it was listed at $20 less than usual. We would have gladly paid full price, but figured we'd jump at the opportunity. All the little costs and savings add up with babies.

To take us into the weekend, I put together an outfit based on a seasonal favorite: the shamrock shake! I may have enjoyed a couple of them over the past few weeks. And while I haven't had any late-night cravings, I found out that the drive-thru at the local McDonald's is open 24 hours. Here's to hoping we won't need to use it ;)

For those looking for a "healthier" or more natural shake, Cupcakes and Cashmere posted a recipe for a homemade shamrock shake this past week. This could be dangerous knowing we could make one any time of the year!

Have you enjoyed a shamrock shake this season?

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The Nesting Instinct is no Joke!

Hey there, Wednesday. How did you get here already? At one of my previous jobs, we joked that you could start asking about upcoming weekend plans once Wednesday rolled around. We don't have anything major planned for this weekend (yet), so please indulge me in prior weekend talk.

Contemplating colors and crib sheets at The Land of Nod

While I had high hopes when writing last Thursday's Friday's Fancies post, my weekend DIY project didn't happen. The urge to nest hit hard and I went on a domestic tirade instead of partaking in some relaxing crafting. After taking the glucose tolerance test on Saturday morning, I spent a few hours looking at nursery decor. There were trips to The Land of Nod and Pottery Barn Kids. And of course the creation of a "sophisticated girly" nursery board on Pinterest.

We took a trip to the city Saturday evening and spent some time with some of the liveliest people we know. And then it was Sunday...

Generally Sunday is a day of rest, but I couldn't resist the urge to clean! John is definitely the neater one out of the two of us, so this was a refreshing change for him. Yes, I usually go on a mini cleaning binge when we're expecting company, but this was more than that. We're going to have a new person living with us!


From the Bucks blog at The New York Times

So I started evicting the clutter from our house. Empty boxes were recycled. Old food and expired sunscreen were thrown in the trash. Documents were shredded. A donation box was filled for Goodwill.

And it felt GOOD!

Babies don't need a lot of stuff to survive, but the stuff accumulates anyways. I figured we might as well start making room for said stuff.

Yes, there's more to do, but I feel like we're making good progress. We also attended a seminar at our parish about what we can do as parents to lead our children toward a vibrant faith and balanced life. Which is much more important than having the perfectly pretty nursery.

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A Little Lace

Kate Spade bow earrings, Hive & Honey bracelet, Mlle Bagatelles clutch,
J. Crew Everly suede pumps, Topshop eyelash lace shell, Gap destructed skimmer jeans



Hi, friends! How did your week treat you? It was a jam-packed week at work, so I'm looking forward to a little R&R. And I plan on doing a little crafting as inspired by this week's Friday's Fancies theme: lace. If all goes well, I should have a DIY post to share with you next week.

In baby-related news, it's the third trimester! Which means I/we need to buckle down and start working on the nursery! It seems like my subconscious was at work while creating this outfit because it has all the colors in my still-to-be-finalized "sophisticated girly" theme: neutrals, bright pink, navy, and gold. Lay Baby Lay is one of my favorite blogs of late and she shares the best nursery inspiration boards. Yesterday's mermaid-themed board has me thinking twice about the nursery.

Being 28 weeks along also means I have the pleasure of taking the glucose screening test this weekend to check for gestational diabetes. Fingers crossed that it goes well!

Have a fantastic weekend!

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Do you need life insurance?

This week marks the second annual Women's Money Week and today's topic is pretty appropriate now that we have a baby girl on the way: Family and Money. With our family about to grow this Spring, we knew it was time to buy life insurance policies. We already have small policies though work, but knew we should have more coverage. Before I delve into the different types of life insurance and how much to purchase, let's take a step back. How do you know if buying life insurance is the right decision for you?

Obviously everyone's financial situation is a little different, but in general, you should have life insurance once someone else is financially dependent on you. For most people, this is when you're starting (or thinking about starting) a family. Even if you're married with no kids, but have a mortgage or significant student loans, life insurance is probably a good idea to look into. Same goes for if you're single and a parent co-signed on a mortgage or student loan. If your parents would be burdened by paying off that debt, it might be a good idea to get a small life insurance policy.

Overall, life insurance gives you peace of mind that your loved ones will be taken care of financially in the event the unspeakable happens. You'll want life insurance to cover the costs of child care, schooling for your children (especially college), any outstanding debts (mortgage, student loans, consumer), regular living expenses (particularly if you and your spouse were depending on two incomes to cover these expenses), and funeral costs.

Since your expenses could differ from another couple's needs, I'll speak to how much coverage to buy later. Additionally, your age and the amount of money you have set aside for retirement and savings will also impact how much life insurance to purchase. Therefore, it's a good idea to reevaluate your financial situation and life insurance coverage every few years.

Any other burning questions about life insurance?
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Scallops and Wild Mushroom Risotto

Scallops are one of my favorite things to order at a restaurant. Mostly because haven't been able to figure out how to cook them properly. I remember some particularly delicious dinners: scallops ordered from the Scottish Arms in St. Louis on Valentine's Day with John; scallops served in their shells with truffles and asparagus at a restaurant in Paris with my Mom, sister, and aunt; and parmesan crusted scallops from Petterino's this past winter with my Mom and John.

Parisian scallops

But things might be changing because we finally figured out how to properly cook scallops this weekend! After attending a day-long childbirth class at the hospital, we swung by Whole Foods to pick up something for dinner. We didn't have any plans for the night, so making an epic dinner became our plan. John was taken in by the scallops' siren song and we resolved to master the art of cooking scallops that night.

We found Tyler Florence's recipe for risotto with scallops and wild mushrooms and never turned back. The recipe had all of my favorites: scallops, mushrooms, and a cheesy risotto.

Back home, we read up on cooking scallops, vowing to follow the instructions to a T. Turns out, we had it all wrong in the past. You need a hot pan to sear and carmelize the scallops. Plus, we were impatient while cooking them. Scallops need to be left alone in the pan until they're ready to flip. And once flipped, they can overcook pretty fast. Finally, scallops need room to cook. Crowding the scallops in the pan will cause them to steam instead of sear. Oops.

I'm happy to report that the scallops were a success! When my friend Kati asked for dinner recipes and tips on how to cook seafood last week, I didn't expect to share a recipe for scallops. Maybe I'll share the tilapia recipe we cooked last night next.

Scallops and Wild Mushroom Risotto

Adapted from Tyler Florence

Ingredients

Extra-virgin olive oil

1 yellow onion, minced

5 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound assorted mushrooms (Portobello, crimini, and shiitake), cleaned, stemmed, and rough chopped
Leaves from handful fresh thyme sprigs (or ~1 teaspoon dried thyme)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 bay leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio
8 cups chicken stock, heated
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 pounds sea scallops (with the foot (crescent-shaped muscle) removed and discarded)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Directions

Place a dutch oven (or other large, deep pan) over medium heat. Drizzle in a 2-count of olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes until soft. Toss in the chopped mushrooms, thyme, parsley, and bay leaves and cook until the mushrooms lose their liquid and are lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the rice and stir 2 minutes to coat with the oil; the grains will turn opaque. Season again with salt and pepper. Stir in the wine and cook 1 minute to cook off the alcohol.

Now pour in 1 cup of the warm stock and stir with a wooden spoon until the rice has absorbed all of the liquid. Add another cup of stock. Continue in this way, stirring constantly and adding the stock 1 cup at a time, allowing the rice to absorb the liquid before adding more. (You may not need all of the stock; the risotto is done when it is slightly firm but creamy.) Take it slow and steady, this could be 30 to 45 minutes.

When the risotto is almost done, it's time to prep and cook the scallops. Place a large pan over high heat and drizzle with a 2-count of oil. While the oil is heating, rinse the scallops and pat dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides.

When the oil is hot (there may be a tiny bit of smoke), place the scallops in the pan. Give them room (we cooked 5 at a time). Cook for 2 minutes and don't touch them until the 2 minutes are up! After the 2 minutes, you can check to see if the scallops are carmelizing (getting brown). If so, flip them over. If not, give them another 30 seconds to 1 minute to cook. (Note: Cooking times will differ depending on the size/thickness of your scallops, pan temperatures, etc.)

Cook for 1 minute on the other side. Since the scallops will continue to cook after being removed from the pan, take them off when the centers are still slightly translucent (you can see by looking from the side). Another way to check for doneness is to press the top of the scallops with your thumb. If they're still springy, they're properly cooked. If they're firm or stiff, they're already overcooked.

At this point, the risotto should have absorbed the last of the chicken broth and be ready. Fold in the butter and cheese, and drizzle with a little more olive oil.

Dish some risotto on a plate and place 3 or 4 hot scallops on top. Garnish with parsley.

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Maxing out my Wardrobe

J. Crew Factory denim jacket, earrings and leather cuff via JewelMint, Gap striped tote,
DV by Dolce Vita Archer sandals, Liz Lange for Target black maxi dress

The other day, I picked up two new black jersey dresses from Target: one short and one maxi. I tried on dresses in other colors and sizes, but they didn't do anything for me. The black ones looked good, so I felt good wearing them. And I'm pretty excited about the blank canvas of a black dress. With a quick change of accessories, either dress can be worn to work, to a baby shower, out to dinner, or just out and about.

Some of my go-to accessories

 

Even before becoming pregnant, accessories have been my way to mix up an otherwise basic outfit. I tend to buy the classics and then play around with punchy accessories or statement pieces. Now that I'm pregnant, I'm trying to make the most out of my maternity purchases and any "regular" clothing items that still fit. Fun earrings or a stripey scarf can make a black T-shirt feel more glamorous. A leopard belt paired with a polka dot top is much more exciting than the standard-issue tie belt that came with the top.

I don't know if it totally worked, but when I was still trying to disguise my belly, I thought that wearing louder accessories would detract from my mini baby bump. My hope was that people would notice the giant flower pinned to my blazer instead of said bump. Scarves were also super helpful when trying to cover-up my ginormous boobs that seemed to pop up overnight.

Now that I'm further along, I'm getting less restful sleep. So a swipe of red lip balm, heels, or bright pink shoes help me feel more put together. And hopefully detract from the darker circles under my eyes. I'm sure this will also be helpful when our baby girl is here.

Have a great Friday and weekend!

Do you have any go-to accessories that help complete your outfit?

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Exercising for Two

Remember that one time I ran the Chicago Marathon? It's been quite some time since I've talked about exercise, so why not bring it back?

Post-college, I've had an up-and-down relationship with exercising. I'll be really disciplined while training for a half marathon or the one full marathon. But when I don't have a specific goal in my future, I tend to slack off a bit. I'll let work, or most anything, be an excuse for why I can't make it to the gym or go for a run outside. Sure, I'd work out once or twice a week, but I know I function better when I exercise a few more times each week. And yes, I realize there's a balancing act between a legitimate rest day and a made-up-excuse rest day.

When I found out I was pregnant, I had another excuse in my arsenal: first trimester fatigue. Most days, my sluggishness and overall tiredness were legitimate reasons to listen to my body and rest. My doctor told me that the first trimester is "all about survival" and I totally believe it. But there were times that I used my pregnancy as a baloney reason for skipping the gym.

When I think about it, it doesn't make sense. Part of me is still a bit intimidated by the prospect of gaining the recommended 25 to 35 pounds. I know my body knows what's best for it. And I've even seen the breakdown of where all those pounds go: the baby, increased blood and fluids, fat and nutrient stores, etc. But weighing more than my husband isn't a very attractive thought. So you'd think I'd be more diligent in staying active while pregnant.

Once I entered the second trimester, conveniently during the holiday season, my energy started to return and I was motivated to get active again. During more recent prenatal appointments, my doctor continued to stress the importance of exercising while pregnant. She suggested getting some physical activity about 3 or 4 times a week. And of course while staying properly hydrated.

In talking with friends (and reading blogs) with new babies, I heard a common theme that exercising while pregnant helped with labor, delivery, and recovery. With that, I had a new goal: exercising for a (hopefully) easier labor and delivery and faster recovery.

 

Even though I'm almost into the third trimester (!), I still haven't mastered my pregnancy exercise routine. Yes, I only make it to the gym one or two times a week. But I have been more active around the house. So that has to count for something, right?

As I'm sure you can guess, my pre-pregnancy exercise of choice was running. Some ladies continue to run while pregnant, but not this one. Even in the beginning, I found running uncomfortable. Even if running was comfortable, I have a bit of a psychological barrier. Back in June, I went for an easy, probably not even 3 mile, run. That was the day before I miscarried my first baby. Deep down, I know going for a run wasn't the cause of the miscarriage, but a little piece of me will always wonder. For now, I get plenty of physical activity just walking or using the elliptical machine.

Another pre-pregnancy regular was hitting the weight room. It was generally a combination of free weights, machines, and body work (squats, push ups, abs, etc.). I lifted a little bit during the first trimester and have made a conscious effort to continue strength training now that I'm in my second trimester. Emily over at Daily Garnish wrote a few posts about exercising while pregnant and I followed her strength training workout the other day. She put it perfectly:

"I have to be careful to not push myself too far, and always make sure to stop when I can feel my body straining too hard or tiring too quickly. The goal now is not to make it difficult, but rather just to keep my muscles engaged and body moving. While I have significantly reduced the weight I lift for each exercise, I’m still lifting enough that it’s keeping my muscles toned and my body healthy."

One of the bigger changes I made to my workout routine was adding swimming. I started swimming in the summers around age 8 (as evidenced by the cute picture above) and swam competitively (i.e. year-round) from sixth grade through senior year of college. Once I finished my last event (the mile) at conference, I basically retired from swimming. That's when I picked up running. Since I wasn't running while pregnant, I was looking for a little variety. Particularly of the low-impact variety. Swimming became the perfect solution. If I thought I was walking slow, I'm now swimming at a snail's pace in comparison to my college years. But I'm taking it one lap at a time and listening to my body.

Overall, I can tell that being active while pregnant has been beneficial. I put on about 20 pounds (gulp!) in the first 20 weeks. Some of that may have been due to holiday over-indulging, but I know part of it also had to do with my lower activity level. Since exercising more, my weight gain has been much more gradual. Plus, my blood pressure is more normal. During the first trimester, it was a little bit high, though it could have been due to general anxieties of being in a doctor's office and wondering if my baby was OK.

Thanks so much for continuing to read my pregnancy- and baby-related posts! Are there any sorts of posts that you're missing? I'm currently brainstorming a DIY project to share.

Note: I'm not a doctor or exercise expert. Please consult with your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine, especially if you're pregnant.
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