With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I'd share my date night routine (not that it's getting much use these days! But still). Whether it's getting ready for a first date with lots of butterflies, or finally going somewhere with your long-term SO that requires actual (non-yoga) pants, or any other occasion when you want to feel a little fancy, there's something a little exciting about getting gussied up to go out.

*It's always nice to start with a fresh face; lately, I've been turning to these Farmacy sheet masks with coconut gel. I love how clean they leave my face, and you get that glowy, lit-from-within skin. Plus, there's lots of extra product in each pouch, so I rub it into my hands and neck. Added bonus: no harsh ingredients or animal testing.

*Date night is the time for a pretty pout. RMS's lip shine in sacred has that perfect blend of color and sheen while also moisturizing. Get double duty out of it by rubbing some into your cheeks for a natural-looking flush. Made with organic ingredients and cruelty-free.

*Increase the wattage when you bat your lashes with tarte's Gifted Amazonian clay smart mascara. The volume-boosting formula adds drama while the moisturizing ingredients keep lashes healthy - I love how you can wear this all day without lashes getting brittle, clumpy or flaky.

*Tame flyaways and make your hair smell amazing with Mullein & Sparrow's rose and vetiver hair serum, handcrafted in Brooklyn from organic, cruelty-free ingredients.

*No chipped manicure on date night! Habit Cosmetic's nail polish in Tabou is the perfect pop of color, and as an added perk, its formula will strengthen and nourish your nails - without harmful ingredients and cruelty-free.

*Finish it off with a spritz of something fancy. The warm florals of Tocca's Brigitte is sexy and sophisticated - like Ms. Bardot herself.

What's your date-night getting-ready routine look like?

After the success of last week's sake-glazed salmon, I wanted to try my hand at another marinade, this time heading south of the border for some inspiration. Just an hour or so of sitting in a marinade, even one that took mere minutes and a handful of ingredients to prepare, makes for a big flavor payoff. 

To make the marinade, combine:
*1/2 tsp dried oregano
*1/4 - 1/2 tsp dried chili powder (I used 1/2 tsp and did not find it too spicy)
*One scallion, chopped
*3 garlic cloves, roughly minced
*Juice of 1/2 lime
*1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro
*1/2 cup olive oil

Salt and pepper your fish - I used about 1 1/4 lbs of cod - and then let sit in the marinade in the fridge for one hour.

When you're ready to cook, heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and then pan fry, 3-4 minutes per side or until cooked through.

​From left to right: Elaina; Sundara.

When J and I were looking at engagement and wedding rings, I knew it was important to me that any gemstones be conflict-free and sustainably sourced, and I was excited to find lots of rings made from recycled gold (which cuts down on all the environmental impacts of having to mine for new metals). We ended up picking out rings from Ken and Dana Designs, a New York designer that met all our environmental criteria, had beautiful pieces, and were all around lovely to work with. I couldn't be happier with the rings we ended up with, and it was definitely worth every penny.

​From left to right: Mable; Bridgette.

However, when it comes to non-wedding jewelry, I was looking for pieces that didn't require quite so much of an investment. So I was curious to see whether I could find more everyday jewelry that shared that commitment to ecologically-friendly, ethical production without breaking the bank. After a little bit of digging, I've found so many beautiful choices that now the difficult part will be not buying everything! I've tried to focus on pieces that are priced at a budget for every day wear.

Good news! Ken and Dana also has a collection of non-wedding jewelry, and they are beautiful. Like the delicate Rinlet necklace (left) or the super fresh Kalika earrings (right). 

Dana Bronfman is another NYC designer who uses reclaimed metals and ethical gemstones to create must-have pieces with a little urban edge - like the Tiny Trina Pendant necklace (left) or the Tiny Trio Cuff (right). 

From the opposite coast, Beklina is a family-owned business in Northern California emphasizing organic, sustainable fashion and showcasing independent artists and designers. I can't get enough of their candy-colored French enamel lockets (left), and this lovely long turquoise necklace (right) is so pretty and elegant.

The tag line for fashion company Ash & Rose is "ethical, sustainable, beautiful," Their extensive jewelry collection is also affordably priced, which is good because they have a ton of gorgeous, wear-with-everything options to choose from - like these nest earrings (left) and this stacking chevrons necklace (right).

Ruff & Cut embraces natural textures and raw gems in an aesthetic that echoes their commitment to sustainable jewelry, as seen in their Hammered Silver Medallion Pendant (left) and Aureole earrings (right).

 Wild Mantle bills themselves as a socially and environmentally conscious fashion company, which comes across in their small jewelry collection handcrafted from sustainable materials, like the unique Mica necklace (left) or the graceful Heartwood earrings (right).

Zady is primarily a fashion house for men and women with an emphasis on environmental sustainability. Their jewelry is versatile and perfect for everyday wear - like the hammered gold bar necklace (left) or the island gradient necklace (right), both of which would lend a touch of class and style to just about everything in my closet.

Helpsy is a NYC-based company curating fashion (including shoes and accessories) and home goods with an emphasis on social and environmental responsibility. Their wide selection is budget-friendly, and you can find everything from the cheeky - like this Feminist necklace (left) that I must have, proceeds from which also benefit Planned Parenthood - to the sophisticated - like this crescent moon necklace (right), proceeds from which funds educational training for women artists in African communities.

I was excited to find so many options that emphasize style without sacrificing a commitment to ethical and sustainable production, and surprised to see how much is fairly affordable.

We've just scratched the tip of the socially responsible, eco-friendly fashion iceberg, but it should be plenty to get you started on any Valentine's Day gift wish lists <3

*Did anyone else watch How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days a million times over? No? Our tv in college went through a period where it broke and the only two movies we had in the tv room were How to Lose a Guy and Love Actually, so I remember a period when I just watched those two repeatedly because no one could be bothered to bring a new DVD into the tv room. Anyway, the title for this post comes from the first of those two. Enjoy!

This is one of my new favorites: it is so, so easy to make, it's absolutely delicious, and it's good for you too. Full of omega-3s and low in mercury, salmon is also a sustainable choice if you buy wild-caught from Alaska or Washington State. I usually don't mess around with salmon too much - it's plenty flavorful on its own - but I wanted to step my game up a bit and this marinade, adapted from simplyrecipes.com, comes together in seconds with a big flavor payoff.

To make the marinade:
Combine 1/2 cup sake, 1/2 cup mirin, and 1/2 cup of soy sauce with 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger, 1/4 cup white sugar and a dash of red chili flakes.

Cover one pound of salmon with the marinade (either in a freezer bag or a sealed Tupperware) and place in fridge for one hour.

To make this a complete meal, I used this time to cook my quinoa, replacing half the cooking water with low-sodium chicken broth for extra flavor.

When you're ready to cook, pour the marinade into a small sauce pan and bring to a boil, then reduce heat (do this carefully - mine caught fire thanks to the alcohol in the sake and mirin). Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pan and place the salmon skin-side down in the pan. Pan fry for 3-4 minutes per side or until cooked through, basting regularly with the reduced marinade.

To serve, scatter chopped scallion and toasted sesame seeds on top the fish. I also tossed a pound of baby spinach into the heated pan and sautéed that quickly to make a complete meal out of it. We even saved the sauce and used it on tofu and broccoli the following night, getting even more bang for our buck out of a delicious dinner that took minutes to prepare.

Hello, my loves! Hope you all had a happy and relaxing weekend. Every weekend should be a three-day weekend, don't you think?

Highlights of this one included an impromptu visit from a dear friend from California, picking up nursery hand-me-downs from good friends (and getting to spend some quality time with their adorable baby in the process), and a long-overdue haircut for me.

I am so so excited to be pregnant, but I can't deny it's been taking a toll on me (and my back, and my feet, and my ability to sleep . . .). Plus, work has been busy and stressful, and it was time for some pampering. So I used the gift certificate J got me for my birthday and took myself to the Scott J. Aveda salon for a little me time.

Nothing like a fresh haircut and blow out to add pep to your step. Plus, the ladies at Scott J really know how to take care of a tired mama to be! (Seriously, if you're in Brooklyn and looking for some hair care, go see Marlo. After bouncing around different salons for ages, I think I've finally found my hair home.)


In addition to the cut, Marlo recommended a botanic treatment to revitalize my color-treated and winter-dried hair, which was just what I needed. Not only did it make my hair feel fantastic, I also got treated to a hand massage while the treatment was being absorbed by my hair - and a little shoulder rub before heading to my chair for the trim. And because my hair was too thick and heavy to hold any curl from a round brush by itself (one perk of pregnancy: crazy hair growth), Marlo broke out the curling iron and hair pins to make sure I left feeling bouncy and pretty.

My hair is so cute, you almost don't even notice the bags under my eyes. I also splurged on a new lip gloss - Aveda's Nourish-Mint gloss in Star Dahlia, which really does have a nice moisturizing texture. You can't really go wrong with Aveda products - responsibly sourced, packaged in sustainable materials and produced with renewable energy, plus they always smell great and get the job done. So all in all, pampering time was a success!

It was also a nice reprieve from the recent temperature drop. We finally had our first snow of the season! It's mostly melted away, but the cold remained. Below, a round-up of ideas to keep you cozy and warm as we ride out the rest of the winter months.

1. Super cute woolly sheep slippers.
2. Signature hot chocolate with house-made marshmallow from City Bakery (make your own marshmallows at home with Ina Garten's recipe).
3. Coyuchi's cozy striped wool blankets.
4. Fair trade, 100% organic, super comfy heather flannel pajamas.
​5. Knit slipper socks on sale now at west elm.
​6. Mulling spices from Greenpoint Trading Co.

*The Neapolitan Novels. Elena Ferrante's writing is beautiful and I can't put these books down. I devoured the first three and am trying to drag out the fourth and final book in the series, The Story of the Lost Child, trying to make it last as long as possible because I don't know what I'll do when I'm done, but the story is so gripping and the emotions so moving that I can't stop turning the pages. Help!

*Making a Murderer. It is SO GOOD. If you are one of the five people not currently watching it, you must! It is compelling and intriguing and horrifying and fascinating and infuriating and really good television - helped by the fact that the filmmakers were able to film so much of what was happening as it was happening, and had access to what seems like tons of contemporaneous film and audio recordings (being able to film that much of the court proceedings is kind of unheard of and it's awesome). And it's the first time J's ever wanted to binge-watch a tv show.

*Clementines. These juicy little suckers are in season right now and I'm pretty much constantly snacking on them (much healthier than the chocolate alternative I keep in my desk drawer!).

*Maternity pants. Elastic waistbands all the time FTW.

*NARS velvet matte lip pencil in Cruella. I got the sample size as a birthday gift from Sephora and it's become my go-to for when I go out, need to look nice, or just want to perk up my face. It's beautiful and flattering and goes with everything.

*Blog more. It's been shameful, I know. With some good reasons, but not all, but one reason - technological difficulties - is being solved because J's buying me a new laptop! Since my old Mac has just about given up doing anything besides spinning wheel of death.

*Be greener. This is one I'm always trying to improve on, and the new year's and non-stop insane weather is a good time to reassess. I think we've done a pretty good job phasing out products with toxic (either for people or for the planet or for both) ingredients like parabens and sulfates, and as an added bonus, most of those products also aren't tested on animals.

Some of my favorites: ella + mila nail polishes (currently very into their cup o'latte shade, it's the perfect neutral); skin care from om aroma co. (absolutely everything, but especially their lavender toning mist and manuka honey face masque); cosmetics from Josie Maran (I've been using the coconut water cheek gelee on my cheeks and lips); hair care from alba botanica (their so-smooth gardenia conditioner smells amazing and is super moisturizing); home cleaning products from method (it doesn't hurt that their products are smartly designed and smell great, too).

Areas I need to improve on: deodorant (just can't bring myself to try the all-natural ones because I like dry pits!); eyeliner (haven't found a green alternative that I like better than my current drugstore cheapie); clothing (I really want to get away from fashion made in sweatshops and cut down on the environmental impact of the things that I buy; I was excited to read about Project JUST and look forward to using their work to guide my shopping decisions more!). If you have any good recs, please leave them in the comments!

*Don't drop the baby. That's right! Let's Have Another is having a first - baby girl due end of March! The nausea and fatigue which also contributed to my blog-silence have mostly (thankfully) subsided - I guess I'm in that nesting phase now, so I'm going to try to direct some of that energy to keeping this blog up (see Resolution 1).

• Sliced bananas, chopped walnuts and bourbon sauce
  
• Spiced apple compote and a dollop of mascarpone
  
• Nutella
  
• Nostalgia.
  

Also, Yom Kippur is imminent, which means, among other things, it's a good time to remember those whose fast is not by choice. Here's where you can donate to City Harvest; Feeding America; and Oxfam America's efforts to provide food and other necessities to refugees from Syria.

Photo credits (top to bottom): 1) mine (pumpkin waffles from Trader Joe's and Edy's slow-churned Fudge Tracks ice cream); 2) Cooking Classy's pumpkin waffles; 3) Mother Thyme's banana bread waffles.

Well we didn't get to ring in a new year with world peace, but I did make these buttery, chocolatey morsels that are so, so good. I didn't do much tinkering with Dorie Greenspan's world peace cookie recipe - it's Dorie Greenspan, after all - just made some adjustments based on what I had on hand. And it was a perfect way to break in my new KitchenAid stand mixer!

I couldn't find bittersweet baking chocolate at my grocery store, so I subbed in the unsweetened chocolate that I had in my pantry - which works fine as long as you chop up the chocolate pretty finely (biting into a large chunk of totally unsweetened chocolate is not the most pleasant experience).

I also didn't realize until I had started baking that I'd someone managed to run out of vanilla extract (I had like three bottles of it! I don't know where it all goes) - but I did have some chocolate whiskey on hand which I used instead, and it turned out nicely.

So, bottom line: if you are well-prepared/have an adequate grocery store, you can make these as is. But if you are a little bit of a mess, and have to make adjustments on the fly, these will still turn out pretty darn tasty.

Last weekend was Labor Day, and the City totally emptied out. At first I was a little wistful we hadn't made plans to go anywhere, but it turns out we didn't have to leave the confines of the urban jungle to find a little breathing room and some natural respite.

What I'm saying is, the nice thing about staying home when everyone else goes on vacay, is that you get the best spots of the City to yourself. Which for us, meant a trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

Normally totally overrun with crowds on weekends during late spring and summer (with lines down the block during the much-heralded Cherry Blossom Festival), it was so quiet and peaceful and totally charming.

Not to mention that the rose garden was stunningly in full bloom. A riot of boisterous colors in every direction, as far as the eye could see.

It was such a beautiful afternoon, perfectly capped off by a pizza and beer happy hour with friends at a new spot in our neighborhood. And even though we didn't make it to a beach for the long weekend, we did manage to get some sand between our toes at Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pop Up Pool beach.

And then, this morning, on the walk to work, the skies were gray and drizzly and - Mary Poppins-like, a changing wind was in the air. Fall might be here only temporarily, but I'm welcoming an end to this heat wave. Bring on the chunky knits and oversized cardigans and fluttery scarves! Here's to roasted root vegetables and pumpkin pie and apple crumbles! Three cheers for brisk autumn winds and bright scarlet and gold foliage!

See you next year, Summer.