February, 2015 | A Lovely Living

February 27, 2015

High Five for Friday

Hey guys! I must confess, I did a terrible job documenting this week in photos. My bad. That being the case, I figured I would give you all a quick update on baby-to-be. Here’s what’s happening in her life and mine (and a glimpse of my other two as newborns):

1) This weekend not only marks the beginning of March, but also my 30 week mark. That seems like a feat until I realize that there are still 10 weeks to go!

2) Baby girl is now weighing in around 2.5 lbs and 15 inches long. Her limbs are doing a number on my insides as she kicks, punches and carries on in there!

3) Chocolate milk. I find myself needing a glass a day and it is heavenly.

4) Heartburn. It’s intense, just as it was while I was pregnant with my other two. As long as I am diligent with my Pepcid, and don’t touch a thing after dinner, I can keep it under control for the most part. It’s crazy how it disappears the minute the baby is born. Something I’m eagerly looking forward to.

5) Exercise. I’m continuing to get a few workouts in per week whenever the weather cooperates. From interval classes to cycling and run/walks, I may be working at a slower pace, but it’s better than nothing.

I hope you all have a great weekend and I’ll see ya Monday!

February 26, 2015

My Denim Boyfriend

Carrying on my denim on denim trend from earlier this week, today I went with this new boyfriend shirt that I recently grabbed at Old Navy. The loose fit of boyfriend apparel proves to work well with pregnancy since it gives just enough extra room where it’s needed. Although coats are still necessary (I braved the weather for a few minutes to tackle this post), I’m ready to start pulling out some of my more spring/summer accessories such as this turquoise necklace in order to add a little dose of color. What tricks are you using to lighten up your outfits while continuing to endure the cold?

Details: Old Navy shirt / Motherhood Maternity denim (similar non-maternity) / Dolce Vita boots / BaubleBar turquois necklace / Stella & Dot monogram necklace / Lucky Brand bangle / Michael Kors watch / RayBan sunglasses / similar clutch

February 25, 2015

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

I don’t think there’s a chocolate + coconut combination that I could pass up. Every time I come across a recipe with these key ingredients I move it immediately to my ‘must try’ list. In addition to coconut flakes, this recipe also substitutes coconut oil for shortening. Coconut oil is becoming more and more of a staple in our house, especially after I read 101 Uses for Coconut Oil. Everything from being an energy booster, to soothing sore throats and serving as a lotion and diaper cream, coconut oil is extremely versatile. When it comes to these cookies (the point of this post after all), the coconut oil not only cut out unnecessary fat but enhanced the overall flavor. In case it’s not obvious, I highly recommend ;)

Baking is always (ok, sometimes) better when I have my mini partner in crime ;)

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies via Add A Pinch:

INGREDIENTS
½ cup firm coconut oil or shortening
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 325º F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat.

Cream together the coconut oil (or shortening) and sugar until light and fluffy with an electric mixer. Mix in the egg and vanilla. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix into the shortening and sugar mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and coconut flakes.

Drop cookie dough by the tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1½-inches between each cookie. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cookies have turned lightly brown and are set. Allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

February 24, 2015

Bags, Bags, Bags!

As much as I enjoy seeing the spring clothing lines being released, I also love browsing new bag possibilities for the season. After a winter full of muted colors, I’m ready for both bold tones and soft, airy pastels to pair with my lighter layers. I’ve gathered a number of bags ranging from handheld clutches to large totes, all under $200 with the majority under $100. This gloomy weather will end at some point and when it does we’ll be ready ;)

Clutch 1 / 2 / 3

Crossbody 1 / 2 / 3

Bucket 1 / 2 / 3

Tote 1 / 2 / 3

February 23, 2015

Shades of Denim

Mixing denims are one way that I love to pull outfits together. With various (almost countless) shades of blue denim alone, not to mention the array of colored denim to choose from, your options seem endless. It may also seem daunting, but if you stick to shades you know work for you and start with what you have in your own closet, you’re bound to come up with a few alternatives. Here’s one way I wore blush denim and chambray last spring and then another version here with a denim top and basic black denim. This time around I turned to my slim selection of maternity clothing and used some of my favorite key accessories (ie scarf, bag and booties) to create another, easy going denim ensemble.

Details: Gap Maternity Top (similar non-maternity) / Motherhood Maternity denim (similar non-maternity) / Scarf (similar check out coupon codes here) / Madewell tote / Jeffrey Campbell booties (similar)

Linking up with Style Sessions

February 20, 2015

High Five for Friday

Hey all, happy Friday! What a crazy, off week we’ve had around here. Three school delays, one early dismissal and a cancellation today due to freezzzzing cold weather has kept things interesting. And by interesting, I mean that my regular schedule was totally thrown. Oh well, I suppose that’s life. But it sure would be nice to get in to the gym every once in a while!

Here’s a look at my week:

1) Thankful for lunch dates with my husband (+ Madelyn) where I can satisfy cravings and we can enjoy tasty Cobb salads.

2) 28 weeks down, 12 to go. I had my second (yes, they do it twice around here) glucose test and am glad to have them officially out of the way!

3) With a now potty trained toddler (ie wiping and washing hands some 20 times/day), the bitter weather and endless dishes (always, right?), my hands are so very thankful for this hand relief.

4) I picked up this cute bomber jacket at Old Navy this week. It’s great as an extra layer now and will be a perfect jacket in a few months. I can’t seem to find it online at the moment, but here’s a similar option.

5) I’ve made this Tuscan Pot Roast a few times now and I think it gets better every time. It’s a perfect weekend meal since it takes a few hours to roast and fill your home with a mouth-watering scent!

Hope your week was great! Enjoy the weekend!

February 19, 2015

The Crazy Cycle

Just curious who else continues to get dressed for the day, looks outside and realizes that this is what will be going on top of your cute ensemble yet again?! Don’t get me wrong, I love the change of seasons here in the northeast, but after three school delays and an early dismissal already this week, I could use a little break. Or at least some sunshine. On the other hand, it is a great time to be stocking up for next year. I already ordered a Patagonia coat for my son in the next size up in preparation for next winter. The sales this time of year can be extremely enticing, so as much as you may despise the daily weather report at the moment (or is that just me?), try to take advantage by thinking ahead. Come November, you’ll be glad you did!

Coat / Hat / Scarf / Boot Socks / Hunter Boots / Gloves

February 18, 2015

Baked Chicken and Sun-dried Tomato Penne

My love for baked pasta dishes runs deep and I had a feeling that the use of sun-dried tomatoes and a yummy cream sauce would make this one a keeper in my book. When I was pregnant with both Jack and Madelyn I remember having quite an aversion to chicken. Thankfully this hasn’t happened yet with this pregnancy because I cook with chicken often. I actually made this recipe a few weeks ago and just looking at these images again has my mouth watering. I think the frigid weather we’ve had lately is also adding to the appeal of this dish, but I’ll use any excuse to make this again!

Baked Chicken and Sun-dried Tomato Penne via The Art of Comfort Baking:

Ingredients:
1/2 pound Penne (I used closer to 3/4 lb)
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast (I used 2)
1 tablespoon Spicy Grill seasoning
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour, plus 1 tablespoon
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups milk
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, in oil, diced
1 cup mozzarella
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 Italian seasoning bread crumbs

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 2-quart baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Cook your Penne in a large pot of boiling salted water about 3 minutes short of al dente. Drain and return to pot.

Dice chicken into bite size pieces and toss with grill seasoning. Cook until cooked throughout.

In a large heavy pot or dutch oven, melt butter over medium. Add flour and garlic, whisk and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add milk while whisking and bring to a simmer, whisking frequently until sauce thickens, about 6-8 minutes. Add tomatoes, cook for 1 minute. Take off heat and add mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan.

Add chicken and pasta to sauce and season with salt and pepper. Pour mixture into baking dish and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and bread crumbs. Bake for about 25 minutes until golden and bubbling.

February 17, 2015

I Love You

For those who celebrated, I hope you enjoyed a sweet Valentine’s Day this past weekend. My husband and I did get to dinner on Friday, but I had spent the night prior with some sort of a stomach bug (it wasn’t pretty), so I wasn’t exactly into the food. Thankfully my ginger-ale and company were great :) We spent most of Saturday home with our littlest loves since the weather wasn’t all that fantastic. I tend to enjoy relaxing days cuddled up inside. Until the kids are about to explode with energy that is!

Oh, I also changed up my hair since you’ve last seen me. For those that have been following along for a while, you’ve likely noticed that I’m big on changing my hair. Both in length and color, I tend to get bored after a certain period of time. I’m in the process of growing it out a bit and the longer it got, the more I was beginning to feel a bit washed out with all of my highlights. I didn’t want to do anything permanent during pregnancy, so my stylist did a quick glaze to take me closer to my natural color. It’ll likely lighten over time, but I’m enjoying the update!

Details: JCrew coat (this years version on sale here and here) / JCrew sweater (option) / Motherhood Maternity denim (similar non-maternity) / Jeffrey Campbell booties (similar) / Stella & Dot necklace / Fingerless gloves (Sold out but I found a similar pair on Etsy here)

Linking up with Style Sessions

February 16, 2015

What’s better than a SALE?

A clearance SALE! Ladies, Nordstrom is currently having a pretty awesome Clearance Sale and I wanted to share a few of my favorites. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you’ll probably want to ;) Beautiful sweaters, great denim, pretty accessories and great pumps that are pretty darn close to Pantone’s color of the year, Marsala. Happy shopping!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

a lovely living

Monthly Archives for February 2015

High Five for Friday

My Denim Boyfriend

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Bags, Bags, Bags!

Shades of Denim

High Five for Friday

The Crazy Cycle

Baked Chicken and Sun-dried Tomato Penne

I Love You

What’s better than a SALE?