Danae took our fabulous pregnancy announcement photos back in June so things had changed a lot since then and we needed another photo session. Obviously I had a much more noticeable bump now! :)

And we are so in love with them! Once again Danae captured this precious milestone / life event for us beautifully.

Now that we have first-hand experience I wanted to share what items we found most useful with a newborn through 3 months - our most used items, products that made our life easier, and our little one's favorite things.

Our baby was diagnosed at 26 weeks with Asymmetric Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). Such an early diagnosis and with measurements in the 2nd percentile labeled our pregnancy “critical and high risk".” Definitely not what you expect with a first pregnancy, especially one during a global pandemic. Although every case is different, hopefully our story will help other with similar diagnosis. The key point—You are not alone! The diagnosis is one that encompasses a wide-range of causes and outcomes. Please reach out if you have specific questions. I am not a doctor, but I can share what I know from our experience.

Postpartum is an exciting time for new mothers. You get to meet, take care of, watch and learn who your little one is. But it’s also a time of huge adjustments and healing for you as a new mom (or second time or more time mom. For me I got so wrapped up in planning for baby and the ups-and-downs of our pregnancy that I was unprepared for postpartum. There were so many things I was not expecting. Now I know. Hopefully my ignorance will help others prepare for this crazy time. I’ve rounded up some products that truly helped me pull through those first six weeks.

Chances are if you're checking out this page you're pregnant. First off, congratulations! The 9 month journey is such an exciting time. I mean it's life changing. Seriously nothing will ever be the same again (but in the best possible way). Being pregnant is cool and weird and fun and uncomfortable. All the emotions wrapped up in one thing. I've rounded up some items that really made a difference during my pregnancy in the hopes they can help you out too.

As someone who enjoyed reading all the books to feel “prepared” and since April is C-section Awareness Month I wanted to share my insights after my cesarean section experience for all those future mamas out there. These are just some of my thoughts, things I didn’t expect, and tips that helped.

For some, taking their spouse’s last name when they get married is something they’ve always wanted and is not even a question. For others, the decision is change your name is tougher. Essentially there were four options—keeping your maiden name, taking your spouse’s surname, moving your maiden name to your middle name, or hyphenating/combing the two.

Not knowing baby’s gender has been such a fun experience for LeBraun and me. A few weekends ago we got our parents and siblings together—virtually—again to go through some Old Wives Tales Gender Predictions and to share some of favorite baby name possibilities. What do you think Sponge will be? Are you Team Boy or Team Girl?

Fortunately Autumn still feels like Autumn and our pantry is stocked with apples from orchards all around B.C. and since you can never have too many fruit-based desserts here another SUPER easy one—Apple Cake! Note: For the Americans following along, it would be an excellent addition to your Thanksgiving meal in the few weeks.

There were so many great questions asked on our stories and I tried to cover most of them, but some needed much longer answers so I compiled them here. Hope it's insightful for those TTC or considering it or give you what you were looking for if you were the one who asked the question.

Emanuele helped us capture the end of our first year of marriage. It was a year filled with so much love, adventure, and laughs. Ahh we can't wait to get these all printed and up on our walls.

So the traditional first anniversary gift is the gift of paper…well I knew exactly what to do as my job is literally to make things with paper everyday. :) Now this illustration of our wedding venue hangs on our wall amongst illustrations of more of our other favorite places. It’s so special.

This no-bake treat is super easy—a creamy combo of sweet vanilla pudding, fresh strawberries (or fruit of choice) with the scattered crunch. Essentially all the best textures in a chilled layered dessert. It’s definitely one to bring to a backyard party or family get together. It’s not so much a “pie” as a layered dessert, but that’s what we have been calling it so there you go

Now everybody is on the avocado toast train, and admittedly it’s one of my favorites as well, but for a colorful, fresh summer ready alternative it’s time to hop aboard the strawberry toast train! A little sweet, a little tangy followed by the hearty crunch of the toast. Mmm!

PART 2 // I could spend 1000 days in Paris and there would still be more to see, but ten days is a reasonable start for a first time visitor, and I’ve pulled together the perfect itinerary filled with iconic sights, historic monuments, glimmering lights, cafe life, bohemians alleyways, and cullllture (make sure to roll your tongue a bit when you say that last one). :)

I could spend 1000 days in Paris and there would still be more to see, but ten days is a reasonable start for a first time visitor, and I’ve pulled together the perfect itinerary filled with iconic sights, historic monuments, glimmering lights, cafe life, bohemians alleyways, and cullllture (make sure to roll your tongue a bit when you say that last one). :)

Paris offers endless opportunities and each person’s experience will be different, but there are definitely some places that are MUSTS, especially for first time visitors. By all means let the city move you first and if you have the chance we’ve compiled some great additions to your Parisian adventure, avec plaisir!

Paris is also known as one of the most expensive cities in the world, but a trip to the City of Lights doesn’t have to break the bank. There are free (or close to free) activities scattered across Paris giving even the most budget-conscious adventurers the chance to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, activities, culture, and experiences of France’s capital.

So you’ve decided to visit le gai Paris, well you’ve made the right choice!  Hopefully these helpful tips will make your experience everything you hoped it would be. Ahhh I’m jealous, can you take me with you?! :)

Most people are surprised to find out that macaroons and macarons are actually two completely different baked items, not just an alternative spelling or translation issue.

Capitol Hill is more than just a metonym for the U.S. Congress. In addition to housing some of the nation’s most powerful edifices, Capitol Hill is rich in green spaces, tasty restaurants, beautiful row houses, and a community of relaxed, go-getters!

Christmas Eve Eve is upon us, which means time to get that last-minute bakign in. We've roundup up a few of our favorite holiday recipes that are easy to prepare AND real crowd pleasers! Enjoy.

For many, adapting holiday favorites for guests can be a daunting task. Luckily we've been doing it for years and can hopefully help a bit.

We've compiled some of our favorite holiday recipes for Thanskgiving, Christmas, and other gatherings through the end of the year (although the majority of these can be enjoyed year-round). There are adaptations for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and combos of all. Happy bellies all around!

Ask anyone who has traveled to Portugal “What’s the one place not the miss?” Chances are they’re going to respond “Sintra.” Atop the hills sit opulent castles and palaces, medieval forts, and extravagant mansions. Sintra’s nothing short of magical! It’s the perfect day trip from the hustle of Lisbon.

Among our favorite stops was the small city of Coimbra, the medieval capital of Portugal from 1131-1255. Home to the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest academic institutions in the world, the city has become a major cultural center. It’s a mix of creative, academic, ancient, and modern. Many of the archeological structures date back to the Roman era. Many of the city’s historical buildings are now classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their “ceremonial and cultural traditions” that are kept alive because of them. 

I’d recommend spending at least two days in this academic and cultural center of Portugal to discover what makes Coimbra such a unique place. Note: It’s steeped in history, but also in elevation as it’s built on a hill. Be prepared to walk uphill a lot. The good news is that at some point you get to walk back down again. :)

For a country known for fresh seafood and meat-based traditional meals, we were pleasantly surprised by the wide selection of vegan offerings throughout Portugal. We’ve rounded up just a few of our favorite spots! #worldveganmonth