February 2017 - Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Shopbop Buy More, Save More Sale

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It’s that time of year! This week Shopbop is having its Buy More, Save More sale with code GOBIG17 and the breakdown is:

15% off orders $200+

20% off orders $500+

25% off orders $800+

This discount applies to full-price and sale items. It’s ON! I’m sharing some more of my picks below, such a great time to snag some spring pieces –

Hope you find some goodies! You know I’m shopping. Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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My Exercise Routine with Outdoor Voices

From time to time I get questions about my fitness routine (briefly answered in my FAQ here), and I try to share some of my workouts on Snapchat (CBLied) and Insta-Story (@carriebradshawlied). My favorite kind of exercise would definitely be Reformer Pilates. I tried it for the first time five or six years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

I love that it lengthens and stretches my body, challenges those muscles that aren’t used as frequently and helps me feel leaner and stronger. The downside… it can be expensive. It took me a long time to find a studio in California that I loved. If you live in Mississippi, The Pilates Studio of Ridgeland is the best. My favorite studio ever!

SO, now that I have found Pilates + Cycle, I try to go 1-2x a week, and 2-3x a week I add in some videos and do workouts from home or walk Bailey. POPSUGAR Fitness has some great videos along with Love Sweat Fitness!

When I go to Pilates classes, I always book a morning class so I will get out of bed and get moving. I run my errands afterwards, so I want to be prepared for Pilates but also look put together for the morning. I just recently discovered Outdoor Voices, and I love that they combine fashion and fitness in their workout pieces.

A great pair of high rise leggings is my favorite kind of workout pant because I can pair them with a sports bra and jacket – so easy (and bonus points for holding everything in nice and tight!). I think they’re the most flattering legging, and I love that when I’m doing crunches or planks I don’t have to be paranoid that my tummy is on display – everything is kept right in place!

photos by Vincent Elejorde

leggings, also love these | sports bra, also have and love this one | similar here | sunglasses | lips in Baci

Are you a Pilates lover or have you discovered another workout that you love? I’m always open to trying new things, so I’d love to hear what gets you motivated. And sometimes – cute workout gear is just the push I need, I shared some more of my favorites in the thumbnails above!

Thanks so much for reading – XO –

Brought to you by Outdoor Voices

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Pink Slip Dress

I love a simple slip dress. I styled a black one here and a lace-trimmed one here, but this pink number is a little something special. It feels ultra feminine, but I paired it with my favorite buttery leather jacket to add some masculine edge.

I love the chicness of a slip dress and that it can be worn so many different way – with a layered sweater (like this), a moto jacket or blazer. I think it’s sexy, classic and minimal in all the right ways. Honestly, I’d have one if every color of the rainbow if I could. It sounds like my slip dress collection starts… now!

photos by Vincent Elejorde

How do you feel about slip dresses? Love them or too 90’s for you (you can be honest, this is a safe space)!?

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Yellow Lace Dress

Nothing says summer like a bright yellow dress. I have a similar dress like this one in red, and it continues to be a great pick to wear to weddings. The silhouette is flattering and comfortable which makes it one of my go-to’s for several hours of wear! So when I saw this yellow beauty, I knew it had to be mine!

I added some pink details with these earrings and this bag, but if I were wearing this in summer I would add some brighter tassel earrings (maybe turquoise!?) and a patterned or beaded clutch.

photos by Vincent Elejorde

Do you have a go-to wedding dress? The last wedding I went to was one of Christian’s coworkers weddings. It was a traditional Persian wedding with the most FUN dancing and best food of any wedding I’ve ever attended. It set the bar really high!

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Presidents Day SALES

1 | 2 – over $100 off | 3 | 4 | 5 – 30% off | 6 – 30% off | 7 | 8 | 9 – only $10! | 10 | 11

I wanted to share some of the best of this weekend’s markdowns! So much good stuff, including several items I already own like this bodysuit, this bronzer and these shorts. And we talk about this handbag!? Quite possibly the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Some of my favorite sales and picks below!

Ann Taylor: extra 40% off with code WEEKEND through 2/20

Anthropologie: extra 40% off through 2/19

Banana Republic: extra 40% off through 2/21

Bloomingdale’s: extra 20% off select items with code NEWARRIVALS through 2/20

GILT: extra 20% off with code MUSTHAVE through 2/22

Intermix: up to 75% off through 2/24

Kate Spade NY: extra 25% off with code BUBBLY through 2/20

Lord & Taylor: up to 20% off select items with code SALE through 2/20

Nordstrom: HUGE winter sale – save up to 40%!

Topshop: extra 20% off through 2/18

ULTA: extra 30% select items with code 504927 through 2/18

West Elm: extra 20% off select items with code SAVE20 through 2/18

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you guys have a beautiful long weekend! XO –

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Whole30: Days 12-18

Last week in this post I shared the first installment of my second round of Whole30. I have to be upfront and honest that I’m not being as intense this year as I was last year (if you even call that intense… rules are hard!). My first time trying this reset, I wanted to follow along as strictly as I could so I could not only see all of the benefits of the program but also determine what inflammatory foods were for me (the answer was grains and dairy).

This time I’m trying to follow Whole30 as best as I can but I’m mostly just trying to eliminate grains and diary completely. I’m going to confess – I had wine during our weekend stay at the Terranea Resort and I had wine on Valentine’s Day. I’m putting it out there!

I previously covered Whole30 by a weekly breakdown (you can see all of those in the “food” category of this site), and this year you guys shared you would be interested in hearing about it again so I’m replacing Friday’s Five with updates!

PROS:

I feel more focused… but part of me thinks this might have more to do with the bulletproof coffee?

I have more energy – noticeably more. So much so that I’ve been exercising 4 – 5x a week (not my usual).

CONS:

I’m getting a little bored in the kitchen.

I think I need to hide the almond butter… I put it on bananas, apples, straight spoonfuls into my mouth. I think I’m overdoing it!

I miss the ease of “I’ve had a long work day and don’t feel like cooking, let’s just grab some tacos.” This may sound crazy, but it makes me sad to go to a restaurant and get a burger wrapped in lettuce. If I’m going to pay to go to a restaurant I want to get their best dish, not the one compliant dish on the menu. Ya feel me? I’m a pretty adventurous eater and will eat almost anything, so being limited to roast chicken and steamed veggies just isn’t cutting it – which is why I’ve tried to avoid eating out altogether.

I’m heading to Palm Springs for a long weekend, so resisting nachos by the pool is going to be hard! Thankfully I called ahead of time and there are mini fridges in the rooms, so I plan to bring some things.

FAVORITE RECIPES…

I tried this crack chicken thanks to one of my amazing readers (thank you Charlotte) and it’s the bomb. I visited Whole Foods yesterday to check out the Tessemae’s dressings, sauces and marinades. Thank you guys so much for recommending this line – it is as delicious as you said it was!

I made this avocado salsa for some steaks we grilled and it was sooooooo good. I’ve also been sautéing mushrooms and onions and putting it on top of most everything. Yum!

I’ve been having this egg salad with added green onions for lunch, and I really love it.

I’ve been roasting butternut squash and topping it with a crispy egg and half an avocado. A really easy and rich dinner. Christian also really loves this!

I made some garlic shrimp (similar recipe here) and topped it over cauliflower rice with onions. It was really good (and quick), and was a great leftover dinner topped with, you guessed it, sautéed mushrooms and onions. I feel like I’m talking about onions so much I’m beginning to look like Jim Carrey in The Grinch when he takes a big fat bite of a raw onion.

That’s about it for now! Sorry the photo with this post is so mediocre. I cook most of the “prettier” meals at night and it’s already dark out so I don’t snap more than an Insta-story or Snapchat photo. This was my bulletproof coffee and apple with… almond butter of course (I told you I’m overdoing it, #nutbutterislyfe).

If you have any favorites from your Whole30 journey, I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading and I hope all of you have a beautiful weekend – XO –

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Off the Shoulder Maxi Dress

If you’ve been reading CBL for a little while, you know that this dress embodies all the things I love in a spring or summer dress. Bright colors, off the shoulder, subtle ruffle hem, flowy – all the things!

I’ve always loved maxi dresses, but I have to admit living in California has taken it to the next level. It feels so easy and perfect for the weather, and everyone dresses so casually here that it feels like a maxi dress is still casual enough but adds an extra girly touch.

This one is so comfortable, and I shared below that I would recommend sizing down if you’re in between sizes! I also shared some of my favorite off the shoulder picks. We’re heading to Palm Springs this weekend, and I think this dress needs to be tossed in my bag for sure.

photos by Vincent Elejorde

Are you maxi dress obsessed like me? Spring is around the corner, and I can’t help myself.

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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5 Ways to Beat the Blues

First of all, I hope everyone had a sweet VDay yesterday! C surprised me with tripling our bistro lights on the patio (I’ve wanted to do this since we moved in and he kept saying no), which was the best surprise ever. We cooked dinner and ate outside while listening to Cuban music. All was right in the world.

BUT onto today’s post! We’re going to get a little deeper today, so I hope you guys will continue reading with an open mind! And I’ll be sharing the details of this space below, but stick with me up here!

I recently connected with a reader and she told me that she and her friend loved CBL and that laughing at my loco Snapchats and Insta-stories had helped her friend who has been a little down. First of all, I will ALWAYS be ok with anyone and everyone laughing at or with me, so I loved hearing that I had made someone smile! But of course I don’t like to hear that anyone is blue.

Secondly, I thought – oh girl, I’ve been there. If you’re human, and especially if you’re an emotional female, you’ve had the blues. My sophomore year of college I was in a major funk and it took over a semester of wanting to sleep all the time before I even recognized that I was struggling.

Since then, I’ve had several not-so-great office jobs (and some amazing office jobs!), moved across the country from all of my family and friends, lost one of my closest girlfriends and former roommates, my four-year old niece left us for heaven… life has its ups and downs, and we’ve all had our moments when we’ve thought, “God, why didn’t you want you to protect me from this? Why would you allow these terrible things to happen to anyone?”

I can’t go without mentioning how much Bailey loves our new rugs from Rugs USA. This fringe jute rug has been on my lust list for quite sometime, and she has been crawling under the coffee table just to nap on the sheepskin. She loves it so much that I occasionally pull it out for her, and she’ll pass out for hours (if you follow on Snapchat: CBLied or Insta-story, you’ve already seen how often she’s snuggling on it)!

Of course now to my list of spirit-uppers! I feel it must be said that if you are battling depression, you should seek professional advice. Knowing when to ask for help is empowering and never shameful. BUT, if you’re struggling with a case of the blues, regardless of the reason, I have some things I like to do when I’m down that always help me from the inside out.

Yoga/Stretching/Breathing Exercises – Usually this is the first thing that will give me some instant gratification. Quiet your mind, take deep breaths through your nose, listen to the birds, loosen your muscles. It is one of the fastest ways I can find instant peace. When I get upset or stressed out, focusing on my breathing before reacting always helps me calm down. Christian would say I need to do this more, and he’s right – I do! PS – YouTube has some AMAZING videos to guide you if you’re new to this.

Get Outside – It’s amazing what fresh air and sunshine can do. Honestly – such a gift!

Read a Book – Some may disagree, but for me a healthy distraction can be a great thing. Diving into a great book – fiction, non-fiction or self-help – helps me focus on something else and allows a shift in my thought process.

Attitude of Gratitude – if Oprah said it, you know it’s right. Concentrate on 10 things you are blessed with – even better, write them down.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

Eat Healthy (or even just healthier) – If you’re already down, eating poorly is only going to make you feel good for 10 minutes and bad the rest of the day. Try a new healthy recipe or challenge yourself to eat whole foods. The natural energy that comes from the right nutrients will surprise you.

If you have anything you go to when you need a lift in spirit, I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Valentine’s Day LBD

If you’re on a hot date, one of the most important things is to feel confident. Christian knows that I rarely dress for him (sorry babe!). I choose pieces that make me feel like my best self, which in turn gives me confidence, makes me sit up a little straighter and feel like I’m presenting the best version of Kat. Thankfully, I’ve always dresses this way, so he’s not surprised when I show up somewhere in head to toe tassels with 45 bracelets on. You never know!

This LBD is $85 and if you ask me, looks way more luxe than the price tag reflects. The material is thick and it pulls and cinches in the right places. Don’t get me wrong, I love to wear pink and red all year long and February is no exception, but if I’m going out on 2/14… I usually pick another color. Is that weird!?

I also think this dress would be so great for wedding season and is appropriate for all seasons. Add faux fur stole or jacket and va-va-voom!

photos by Vincent Elejorde

Do you have an LBD in your closet that makes you feel like a million bucks!? Tell me about it!

Thanks so much for reading and Happy early Valentine’s! XO –

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Whole30: Days 1-11

In last Friday’s post, I asked you guys if you were interested in Whole30 updates this year and was really surprised that so many of you said yes, SO here we are! Last year I covered Whole30 by a weekly breakdown (you can see all of those in the “food” category of this site), and this year I’m going to be replacing Friday’s Five with Whole30 updates for the duration of this month. Let’s get into it –

PROS:

I have a lot more energy – major perk!

I feel like a balloon that has been popped. I am always shocked at how many grains I eat on a daily basis when I take them away. Yowza!

I love having three healthy meals a day and no snacks. I’m not a snacker and this has just reminded me how much better I feel when I stick to meal times.

CONS:

I miss wine. No surprise there, you guys know I’m a major wine-o! When I have a really bad craving for it (like on Friday or Saturday night), I pour myself a small glass of organic concord grape juice. I know that technically you’re not supposed to drink juices… but I don’t have any guilt about this in times of desperation. OR I’ll pour sparkling water in a wine glass with a lime wedge. 20 minutes later, my craving has disappeared.

I find myself dreading social situations that might involve food/beverages. This is my #1 dislike of any cleanse or eating program… I don’t need any more reasons to stay home. I’m already such a homebody!

FAVORITE RECIPES…

BREAKFAST:

I made these these egg cups (I skipped the sausage and just made them veggie), and the best part about it was not having to think about breakfast. Definitely plan on pre-cooking recipes for weekday mornings. So easy.

I tried the Whole30 method of cooking bacon in the oven (375 on an aluminum lined baking sheet for 15 minutes) and found it SO much easier than the skillet. Small victories!

I made this frittata (pictured above) and it was really good and a nice change after eating the same thing for breakfast for a week.

I’ve started making bulletproof coffee. So far I really love it because I feel like it gives me more energy. I’m going to try to stick with it!

LUNCH:

I made my own mayo for chicken salad. I prefer chicken salad with greek yogurt over mayo, but for the time being this will have to work! I also add walnuts or almonds to this recipe. I put a couple spoonfuls on a bed of lettuce or wrap them up in lettuce wraps.

I like to buy this salsa from Trader Joes and add green onions and red onions to it to make it chunkier. Basically I’m trying to recreate my favorite salsa from our local Mexican restaurant and it works pretty well! I’ll eat it with plantain chips (or add it to a veggie egg scramble), and I’ll have some grilled chicken or protein on the side for lunch. One might say I am addicted to this salsa.

This is the best egg salad recipe (I also shared it last year here), and I like to have it cold with leftover roasted finglerling potatoes.

DINNER:

I made this spaghetti squash and meat sauce and ate it off and on for nights when Christian worked late. I also tried it on zucchini noodles and it was delish.

This is always a weeknight go to recipe for me – fried “rice” without the grains and with waaayyy less calories (ditch the soy sauce if you’re on Whole30).

I made this shrimp recipe and put it on top of cauliflower rice. Really good.

That’s about it for now! I’ll share another update next Friday.

Let me know if you have questions or recommendations! My girlfriend Marissa of Style Cusp has done Whole30 multiple times and does a great job of sharing it on her site too. You can view her most recent post about it here. Thanks so much for reading and have a great weekend – XO –

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8 Date Night Outfit Ideas

Hot Pink Dress – dress – on sale! | bag, similar look for less here | boots

Pink Accessories – scarf | top | denim | boots | bag

Sleek – top | similar skirt | duster cardigan, also love this one | bag, similar look for less here | heels

Pink Metallic Bomber Jacket – similar bomber here and here | similar tee here | similar cutoff shorts | bag

Blush off the Shoulder Top – similar top here – 40% off | similar denim here | heels | bag

Lace LBD – dress – on sale | bag | heels

Velvet Wrap Dress – dress – 40% off, similar styles here and here | heels – 50% off

Coral Jersey Dress – dress | bag

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought I would share some outfits that I would totally wear on a little date night with C. Some scream pink, others are a little more subtle!

Do you have your outfit picked out? Or your gifts picked? I shared a gift guide for her here and for him here, so if you’re still looking for some ideas I hope that can provide some inspo.

Thanks so much for reading, and be sure to check in tomorrow for my first Whole30 update! XO –

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Valentine’s Day PINK Hot Chocolate Recipe

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share a sweet recipe that feels oh-so-appropriate for this time of year – pink hot cocoa!

After date night, it’s nice to have a little something to end the night with. Most times this is another glass of red wine for me, but Christian would definitely pick sugar over alcohol, so that’s inspired this idea. I’m not going to like… I think I’m going to make all my hot chocolate pink from now on. It’s just real cute!

Pink Hot Cocoa Recipe (for two):

3 cups almond milk

1 cup white chocolate chips

1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 to 1 teaspoon red food coloring

Whipped Cream, Marshmallows, sprinkles for topping

Directions:

Combine the milk and chocolate chips in a saucepan. Whisk until chocolate chips are completely melted. Stir in the vanilla extract and then add a small drop of food coloring, building until you find your desired shade of pink! Pour into mugs, load with toppings and don’t worry if some spills out – it adds to the fun (but that’s why a saucer isn’t a bad idea)!