Ten happy moments of the week

Photo by J. Astra Brinkmann

1. Zucchini noodles! I finally invested in a vegetable spiralizer this week and made some zucchini noodles for the first time. I was really surprised at how much I like them and also, how filling they were. Recipe and photos coming soon.

2. I'm filled with all kinds of big sister pride (as well as feeling insanely old at the same time) as my lil brother started his first week of college on Monday. 

3. Productivity levels at an all-time high this week. The house is clean, the laundry is done, my desk at work is clean and my to-do list much shorter. For whatever reason, this week I was on top of my game and that's a good feeling because I can't remember the last time that happened.

4. Cool mornings that require a light jacket or sweater. Pretty pretty please can this gorgeous non-humid weather stick around forever?! Bahaha nope, this weekend is going to be hot and sticky. Just in time for the Made in America Festival. 

5. Getting in a visit to the Spruce Street Harbor Park before they closed for the season (and then finding out that they were staying open for the rest of the month!)

6. Finally eating a lobster roll. 

7. Finding things to wear for MIA! I'm going to be honest, I have a bit of anxiety about attending the festival this year. For one, at four months pregnant I'm not sure how much energy or tolerance I will have for the whole thing. Second, at this stage that just looks like I'm eating too many cookies, it's challenging to find clothes that I feel good in... well low and behold, I found a couple of options that are comfortable and don't make me feel like a whale. If you're still stuck on what to wear, check out my MIA Style Guides for this year and last year. 

8. I finally downloaded the WhatsApp app and now I'm able to text my boo-thing in Egypt all day err day. Welcome to the 2014, Marissa. 

9. Pumpkin oatmeal for breakfast. I know, I'm jumping the gun on the whole pumpkin thing, but honestly, this oatmeal I've been making and bring to work every day is delicious, easy to grab-and-go, and so filling!

10. Getting all caught up on The Leftovers, I honestly don't know what to make of the show but it does kind of hook you in. This past Sunday's episode was by far my favorite. 

Get there before it's gone: Spruce Street Harbor Park

We finally made it. With only a handful of days left to spare, we ventured over to the Spruce Street Harbor Park after work for some fresh air and grub. The temperature was perfect, the seats were plentiful (since it was Tuesday) and the air smelled of salt and greasy burgers. This summer pop-up park opened mid-June and Bry and I have been talking about getting there ever since they opened. But you know how summers go... way too fast. So low and behold, we found ourselves just days from the park closing for the season and decided we needed to high tail it down to the harbor. This pop-up park is just dreamy, there are activities for kids and adults alike, shipping containers filled with arcade games and tasty treats for sale, a floating garden oasis, hammocks and Adirondack chairs galore and the beautiful Delaware River to gaze out at. 

*BREAKING NEWS* Spruce Street Harbor Park is going to stay open until September 28 (according to this Uwishunu article) They were originally planning to close September 1, but now you've got a whole month to get your booty down there!

A trip to the 'burbs for brunch and brews

BryGuy and I have been craving lobster rolls for quite some time now, so we did a quick search online for best lobster rolls in Philadelphia and Paramour in Wayne came up. We've never been there, and Bry said it was on his wish list of places to try, so we figured we'd bring a couple of friends with us to test it out. We arrived at the Wayne Hotel, parked out front and made our way into the restaurant. The front porch was busy with diners, but the inside was empty. We were promptly seated on the front porch which was lovely, and promptly ordered beverages (fun cocktails for everyone else, water and coffee for me.) 

Made in America 2014 Style Guide

This is the third year the Made in America Festival is being held in Philadelphia and of course, I got my tickets nice and early. However, if you're anything like me, you wait until the very last moment to get your outfits together, so this weekend I'm headed out in search of some festival appropriate attire. Last year, I put together this 2013 MIA style guide, which I think is still appropriate, so check it out for some additional inspiration.

Wardrobe lessons learned over the past two years:

1. Wear comfortable shoes. This is not the time to try out knee-high gladiator sandals or your daintiest flip flops, for two reasons; one, your legs and feet are going to swell from standing and being in the heat (ouch) and two, the concert is dirty, really, really dirty. Protect your piggies and your pedicure and stick with close-toe, flat options with good support.
2. Leave your romper at home. I made the romper mistake last year. Think about it a romper is a one piece outfit with shorts...how do you think you go to the bathroom in that? I'll tell you. You either strip naked in the port-a-potty (so nasty) or you pull the shorts and your underwear to the side (also nasty, but faster.) Save the romper for another time!
3. Hands-free is key. Bring a back pack, cross body bag, fanny pack, whatever. You're just going to want to not have to worry about a shoulder purse/bag all day long.

Ten happy moments of the week

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1. Alpacas. I got to see some real live furry alpacas at a farm in Cape May last weekend and it was a dream come true! I don't know why, but I'm totally obsessed with these weird creatures -- they had lots of personality and crazy hair.

2. Celebrating Bry's birthday at the beach per usual. This has become our tradition over the last three years and this year we couldn't have asked for better weather.

3. Safe travels to and from Cincinnati for a work trip. Also, it made me incredibly grateful that I don't have to travel more for work, it's stressful and exhausting!

4. Holy crap, was this morning not just the most perfect and beautiful morning ever?! It was one of those mornings that feels like "back to school" weather but then it warms up to like 80 during the day. If I could take this day and experience it for 365 days out of the year that would be fabulous.

5. Never having to go "back to school" again.

6. Seeing Bry's face today when he heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time. He told the doctor it sounds like the baby's swimming in there, to which the doc responded "well, it kind of is..."

7. Josh is coming to visit us! I feel like I haven't seen that guy in forever (even though it's only been about 3 months or so) but I sure am glad to get a weekend with him.

8. Johnny Rockets chocolate milkshakes. I may have indulged in a little treat at the Chicago airport (yes, I flew PAST Cincinnati first...) and boy was it awesome.

9. Shark week. Sharks are so cool, although I'm less interested in the science-y stuff and more interested in the attacks.

10. I watched The Other Woman on one of my plane rides and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. I'm a sucker for Leslie Mann, Cameron Diaz is always dressed impeccably in her movies, and Kate Upton is a hottie. Plus, Jaime Lannister, yum.

Ten happy moments of the week

Photo by Jackchen Design

1. A school night sleepover with one of my besties and staying up talking until way past my bed time. 

2. A sale at ACME on Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal. Have you had this stuff? It's amazing. I know, I know, cereal is the devil --well baby likes it, so shut your mouth.

3. A trip home last weekend that was full of so many happy moments, all you can eat sushi with my sis, my father in law's retirement party, and lots of quality time with the fam. 

4. Meeting my girlfriend's week old baby boy, Keegan. He's such a little cuddle bug and I got some diaper changing and bottle feeding practice. Let's do this parenting thing, I'm totally ready...not!  

5. Getting my Crossfit Games workout on. Did you watch the games at all? They were a lot of fun to watch this year and this week we did the final workout, Double Grace (60 clean and jerks for time.) It was brutal, but I channeled my inner Annie Thorisdottir and finished with a smile. Bahaha if you've ever seen me work out you'd know that's a lie. 

6. This weather. Cooler nights and bright sunny days, now that's what I'm talkin' bout!

7. Binge watching Tyrant, have you seen it? The acting is not the best, but I'm hooked. This week's episode was bananas. They have about six episodes available on-demand so try it out and let me know what you think!

8. Hearing baby's heartbeat and seeing its weird little face via ultrasound. As I mentioned in my previous post, this part of pregnancy is rather boring, and sometimes I wonder if the little bugger is still doing well in there. It's always a welcome relief to hear the rapid beats during my appointments. 

9. BryGuy. He's just the best for so many reasons. This week he was an exceptional friend and I'm just reminded how lucky I am to have him. Plus, the other day at the gym he was doing shirtless L-sit pull ups and damn, that was hot! 

10. Popsicles. I forgot how much I love them, especially the whole fruit strawberry and coconut ones. Sometimes all I want at night is something really cold and fruity and they totally hit the spot.