Date Night Shift Dress

A couple weekends ago, Mr. J and I headed out for a date night, which will surely become scarce once baby arrives.  Even though we live closer to San Jose, we hardly ever go downtown and usually opt to head up to San Francisco.  But with Jersey Boys touring at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, we headed south for dinner and a show.  We're really trying to cherish our last few months alone before our world gets turned upside down.

The first trimester was all about hiding the pregnancy.  While probably imperceivable to most, the early changes in my body were very frustrating for me, especially when trying to get dressed in the mornings.  My closet is filled with tailored pieces that are more fitted and waist-defining.  While there was no bump, my waistline was definitely expanding and everything was becoming a bit too snug.  For weeks, I was envious of Sarah's more bohemian style and closet full of flowy tops!  Fortunately, I was able to get by with the rubber band trick, wearing my silk button down shirts untucked, and accessorizing with big necklaces to draw attention away from the untucked hem.  Reluctant to purchase too much maternity-wear early on, I also invested in some inexpensive shift dresses in a size larger than I normally wear since it may also be a while before I can squeeze myself back into my usual wardrobe postpartum.  I'm hoping these will buy me some time while I find more sartorial solutions to dress this exponentially growing bump!

Color block shift dress: ASOS. Blazer: Zara (old). Gold-heeled sandals: Zara (old). Bag: Fendi 'Petit 2Jours'. 

Bracelet: Sarah Chloe. Necklace: very old from a boutique in Chicago.

Simple Summer Outfit Post-Baby

About two months ago, my life was indelibly altered.  Our little family grew by one tiny, feisty little being who filled us with overwhelming love and joy.  My six weeks of maternity leave literally flew by, and before I could blink I was already back at work, finishing my last couple weeks of residency and starting my new fellowship.  I spent the first 21 days of maternity leave on lock down at home, forbidden to leave the house - part of a Korean tradition where the new moms rest and eat bucketloads of seaweed soup as part of the healing process from the delivery.  Over two months later, I still don't quite feel back to my normal self, but I feel unbelievably lucky to have a healthy, smiley little girl. 

I wore this simple outfit to one of my best friend's baby showers, one of my first social outings since giving birth.  I've quickly learned the hurdles of nursing wear, which similar to maternity wear has its own annoyances.  I ended up bringing my baby bear, so a dress was out of the question because it would make it impossible to feed her.  Hence, I ended up with separates with a loose top that could be easily lifted up.  I'm still in my maternity bottoms but thankfully my pre-baby wardrobe had plenty of flowy tops.

Silk tank: Theory (old).  Confetti skirt: Zara (old).  Heeled sandals: Celine.  Ring: Cartier Trinity Ring.  Handbag: Fendi 2 Jours Medium in Dove.

Bump

Well the title says it all and I'm so excited to be able to finally share the news with you!  We've crossed the halfway point and my bump is just starting to show (highly dependent on clothing, posturing, and proximity to my last meal).

Early on in my pregnancy, my friend Deb told me that the 3 trimesters can be described as dreary, cheery, and weary.  I can't comment yet on the third trimester but the first two are pretty accurate descriptions!  While I was fortunate with just a brief stint of morning sickness, the first trimester was definitely dreary.  There was a constant level of exhaustion.  There is also a nagging worry that I think lingers throughout until the baby is born healthy and in your arms.  The exhaustion and worry combined with working full time and pretending like everything is normal adds to the dreariness.  The second trimester, however, has been very cheery!  Increasing energy levels, the emerging bump, and feeling the baby's first kicks all make the recent weeks much more enjoyable.

My clothes are definitely getting tighter and tighter and I'm already feeling the challenge of dressing my changing body.  Let's just say I've had to resort to some creative ensembles over the past few months.  Now that the secret is out, I can't wait to share more with you in the months to come!

Dress: River Island via ASOS. Nude sandals: Zara. Bracelet: Sarah Chloe. 

Crossbody satchel: Mulberry 'Alexa'. Sunglasses: Coach (old).

Peach and Strawberry Crumb Pie

Hello everyone!  It has been over a month since our last post and there's no one to blame but myself.  In my defense, the past month was incredibly busy with Mr. J and I moving into a new home.  Fortunately, we were able to get the majority of our stuff unpacked and organized so we could enjoy the 4th of July weekend.  Our long weekend was just one BBQ after another (no complaints here!).  We hosted the first get together and my friend Vero brought over a delicious peach and raspberry pie from Mission Pie.  With a ton of fresh peaches on hand, I decided to make my own peach pie, swapping out the raspberries for strawberries.  And not to toot my own horn, but this pie was absolutely delicious!  The slightly tart strawberries really complemented the bright peach flavor and the crumb topping paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is just drool-worthy.

Peach and Strawberry Crumb Pie

Pie crust recipe here

Ingredients

For the filling:

3-4 large peaches, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1/2 pint of fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced in quarters

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

For the crumble topping:

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

6 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and rolled oats; using your hands, work in the butter until large clumps form.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

In a large bowl, toss together the sliced peaches and strawberries, flour, and brown sugar until combined.  Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Roll out a single pie crust into a 12-inch circle on a floured surface to prevent sticking.  Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and trim the edges.  Crimp the edges with your thumb and index finger.  Transfer the peach and strawberry filling to the pie shell.  Break the crumble into medium to large size pieces and sprinkle evenly over the top of the pie.  Place pie on the middle rack with a lined baking sheet underneath to catch any juices that spill over.  Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, until the juices are bubbling and the crumble top is golden.  Cool on wire rack and serve with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.