Peru is so high on my travel list (not top 5 but close!), and the mystical Machu Picchu is definitely the reason.  A good friend actually spent the week hiking the Inca Trail in May, but I think I would be one of the visitors that chooses the Inca RAIL over the Inca Trail, just like Phil Van Nostrand of phillipvn.com.  The amazing images of his trip to Machu Picchu are really making me jealous right now and making me rethink the always-shuffling top 5!

{photography by Phil Van Nostrand of phillipvn.com}

We are just weeks away from meeting our little Peanut, and I honestly can’t believe how quickly time has passed.

We’re quite busy laundering and folding itty bitty baby clothes and blankets; hanging artwork on the walls of the nursery; stacking diapers; and tackling the million other odds and ends on our to-do list. But I also know how important it is to find time to pamper myself. Between an expanding waistline, an achy back, and regular heartburn, it’s sometimes the small indulgences that make all the difference.

Here’s a list of my current favorite finds:

Bella B Tummy Honey Butter: Not sure if I can credit good genes or this belly butter, but I’m still stretch mark-free at 36 weeks pregnant! Plus it keeps my stomach from itching throughout the day.

Clinique Repairwear Intensive Night Cream: Typically my skin is oily during the summertime. But not this year. And so I’ve incorporated this silky face cream into my nightly routine. I use it after Clinique’s 3-Step products, and my husband jokes that I now have about 12 steps to complete each night. It’s true.

St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter Moisturizer: Speaking of dry skin, I am in love with this body lotion. It smells sweet and goes on smooth. I use it twice a day.

Snoogle: I simply cannot sleep without this pillow. It hugs the natural curves of my body and forces me to remain on my (preferably left) side all night. And its soft jersey cover is comfortable enough to replace my standard pillow. So far hubs is okay with the new guest in our bed. He even “snoogles” after I get up to shower in the morning.

Crocs flats: Wedges and stilettos may be stylish, but I just can’t wear them. Not before and definitely not now. And even my flats don’t feel as supportive as they once did. Fortunately, I found the most comfortable pair of shoes: sling back flats by Crocs. They basically haven’t left my feet since I bought them.

Jersey Dresses and Tanks from Old Navy: Comfortable. Versatile. Affordable. Love everything about them. And they’ve become absolutely essential in these final weeks when nothing else seems to fit.

Prenatal Yoga DVD: I miss my power yoga class, but this DVD does the trick for now. There are planks and warriors and triangles — with modifications for each trimester. And I feel amazingly loose and relaxed after my 50-minute living room session.

TUMS Smoothies: I thought I knew what heartburn was until I entered the third trimester of pregnancy. Now, no matter what I eat, heartburn accompanies it. Enter TUMS. I eat at least three per day.

Other things I can’t live without: Honey Bunches of Oats, fruit of all varieties, Annie’s cheddar bunnies and macaroni & cheese, English muffins with Grandma’s strawberry preserves, and ice cream. Also: my husband. But that goes without saying, right?

What are your favorite products, pregnancy or otherwise?

Aside from having *super* crappy weather, my sister and I SO enjoyed our time in Budapest and Vienna! Budapest is an amazing city, full of gorgeous architecture, great food, and really helpful and kind people. Our home base was the Corinthia Hotel Budapest and we absolutely loved it there, especially the pool and jacuzzis after a long day of sightseeing. The main attractions in Budapest are the Parliament building (second largest in Europe), St Stephen’s Basilica, the Hungarian State Opera, taking a stroll through Buda to see the Fisherman’s Bastion, and a trip to one of the amazing bath houses. We started our first day with Parliament and St Stephen’s.

{outside Parliament}

{on our way to St Stephen’s}

{the Basilica – we went up to the top but the weather was so bad!}

After Parliament, we made our way walking through Pest to the Opera House – the most GORGEOUS opera house I have ever seen!

On Day 2 in Budapest, we ventured across the Chain Bridge over to the Buda side of the city. You take a little funicular up to the top and then walk through the cobblestone streets – it’s like being in a completely different city!

The Fisherman’s Bastion had sweeping views of the city and was definitely a tourist mecca. :)

{inside the Matthias Church in Buda}

{the view of Parliament from the Fisherman’s Bastion}

Then it was time for our favorite activity in Budapest, a trip to the Szechenyi thermal baths – there are TONS of bath houses in Budapest, but this is by far the most popular, the largest medicinal bath in Europe, and each pool is a different temperature – it was awesome! We loved our afternoon here and when I go back to Budapest, I want to go to a bathhouse every day! :)

Sadly, the next day it was time to leave Budapest, but we were excited to explore Vienna! Vienna is seriously beautiful. Every building looks like it’s cut out of icing on a cake or something! It’s so detailed. We visited the Hofburg Palace, toured the opera house (the most famous opera house in the world), visited Kaisergruft (the Imperial tombs), walked down Mariahilfer Strasse and through St Stephen’s Cathedral, visited the Leopold Museum and the Albertina, ate a Sacher torte, and enjoyed our ONE day of sunshine the entire trip. We stayed at the Hotel Das Tyrol and it was in a perfect location. We enjoyed the amenities and location of the hotel but neither of us slept well – not sure if it was the bedding, the temperature (she’s a warm sleeper and I am a cold sleeper, but neither of us were comfortable), or what, but I might pick a different hotel in the same area if I find myself in Vienna again.

{all above, at the Hofburg}

{Mariahilfer Strasse}

{St Stephen’s Cathedral}

{left: enjoying a Sacher torte, right: our cute little garden restaurant for dinner}

{some of the crazy crypts at Kaisergruft}

{Vienna opera house – beautiful, but not nearly as pretty as Budapest, in my opinion!}

So there you have it, our whirlwind time in Hungary and Austria! Have you ever been to Budapest or Vienna? I’m dying to take my husband to Budapest (I truly loved it there), and to go to Prague. Anyone planning a trip to either of these places let me know – happy to help out with any advice I can offer!

When JB and I learned we were having a boy, I immediately started daydreaming about how I would decorate the nursery. As I scoured the internet and magazines for inspiration, the only thing I knew for sure was that I didn’t want it to look babyish.

Some of you are probably scratching your heads right now. She doesn’t want a baby’s room to look babyish? So I’ll explain.

My goal is to create a comfortable space for my son and for myself. Yes, I’m decorating partly for him and partly for me since I anticipate I’ll be spending quite a lot of time in his room.

First, I thought about colors. Specifically, paint colors. I don’t think a nursery should be limited to candy coated shades of pink or blue or yellow. And truthfully, I don’t care for pastel colors anyway. My office, which will become the baby’s room, was painted a bright shade of green called Dill Pickle. I actually had nothing against the color for a boy’s room. In fact, one of my closest friends painted her baby boy’s room Dill Pickle. But after two and half years surrounded by green walls, I was ready for a change.

So I began seeking inspiration, and when I stumbled upon Hawken’s room and Finn’s room I knew I found exactly what I wanted. Their striped walls appeared sophisticated, preppy and masculine, which I loved. I also liked the fact that stripes would add visual interest and dimension to my baby’s small room. Once JB and I agreed on the walls, the rest of color scheme sort of fell into place.

My painted doubted my vision from the beginning, but when he pulled the last piece of tape off the wall, he acknowledged that my idea worked. No, the room doesn’t look exactly like Hawken’s and Finn’s… but you’ll have to wait a little bit longer for the big reveal.

Stay tuned for part 2: nursery furniture.

 {images via Project Nursery and Ohdeedoh}

One of the great things about living in Colorado is the great access to farm-fresh produce during the summer.  From fresh corn to fragrant tomatoes, everything seems to be in season right now, so we decided to take advantage of the abundance of wonderful food at a summer “Farm to Table” dinner party last weekend.  The meal featured local, organic produce and flowers, and herbs and other goodies right out of the garden!

Our friend Robin, of Robin Cain Photography, was able to come and photograph the festivities.  She’s such a talented photographer–check out her blog or site if you’re looking for a Colorado wedding or portrait photographer!

It’s such a great feeling to work with farm-grown produce, especially when you know where it came from.  It doesn’t have to be fancy (as you’ll see here), but be inspired by the flavors of the season!

Above: Salami, figs, and a goat cheese spread.

Warmed goat cheese spread:
Simply combine equal parts cream cheese, marinated feta, and goat cheese; add whatever herbs you have on hand (I used chives and thyme; but rosemary would be a wonderful addition!) and bake in dishes at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.  Serve with crusty baguettes or crackers.

Our cat, Butters, had a great time with all those savory smells!

Above: These wonderful fingerlings came from a local farm and were seasoned with garlic and rosemary, roasted in olive oil.

Roasted Fingerlings:
Slice fingerlings thinly. Drizzle with olive oil, fresh diced garlic, and thyme, rosemary, or other favorite herbs.  Roast at 400 degrees, in a single layer on a  baking sheet for about 25 minutes, or until browned and slightly crispy. Finish with a dusting of sea salt.

We finished off the meal with a delicious dessert of lemon curd cakes, drizzled with lemon syrup and dolloped with a creme fraiche whipped cream, poppy seeds, and a sprinkling of pistachios.  The best combination of salty, sweet, and tangy–and a perfect end to a summer meal!  Recipe via Food & Wine.

What recipes are you enjoying this summer?