With Thanksgiving this week, I’ve been looking up recipes, going to multiple groceries and getting the house ready for a family food fest. It’s my first time hosting and our fourth California Thanksgiving, so our West Coast family plans to celebrate at our house this year, and I’m so excited! PS – if you’re looking for some tablescape ideas, I shared two different setups here and here.
Between teaching my newphew Rowan how to crawl through the doggie door and making sure the turkey is cooking, I want to look cute but also be comfortable. Nordstrom always has so many great pieces that can be dressed up or down. I snagged this this jacket during the Anniversary Sale, and now it’s available in seven colors! If you don’t have one of them… seriously, you need it. It’s even more gorgeous in person!
I think this would be a great outfit for Thursday because it’s cozy, but you can wear boots, ballet flats or in my case… even be barefoot (most likely)! I also love these jeans that I bought in two colors. They’re highwaisted and ankle grazing, and I know I’m going to be wearing them all year long.
What were you thinking about wearing Thursday? Some other outfits that I think would be great are here and here.
Just a reminder that I will be posting the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals all weekend, so be sure to visit CBL for the scoop or follow along on Instagram! You can also find all of my holiday gift guides at the top of this page under “holiday shopping.”
I have been using Mary Kay products for years (I love their skincare and fragrances – Cityscape is heaven), so I was honored when given the opportunity to talk about The Mary Kay Foundation and the products that help support putting an end to domestic violence.
This is such a beautiful time of year, and the holidays are a great reminder of how thankful we all are for our blessings. It’s always wonderful to remember to pay it forward where you can, and it can be as small as one dollar. Every dollar counts!
SO with this in mind, Bailey and I are going to share our 6 tips for getting better sleep with the help of Mary Kay!
1. Get comfortable.
I love a pretty pair of pajamas, and if they are a silk or satin pair, all the better. Another thing that Christian and I have both started doing in the past few months is switching to silk pillowcovers (we have already racked up three – we love them so much). It’s better for your hair and skin, and this beautiful slip silk cover would be such a fabulous Christmas gift for a girlfriend, sister or mom.
2. Pay attention to what you eat and drink close to bedtime.
Try not to go to bed too hungry or too full. Setting a time to stop eating at night (mine is usually around 8PM) can be helpful. Then I’ll sip on tea or hot water with lemon. This includes alcohol!! I admit I like a hot shower with a glass of wine and a podcast blaring, but I am trying to make those more of a weekend treat.
3. Prep your skin.
Duh. Ever since high school I’ve been extremely diligent about washing my face before bedtime, and I like a thick overnight moisturizer, nourishing eye cream and rose lip balm.
4. Turn off electronics, pick up a book.
This is a hard one, but having a great book to read certainly helps. I started The Couple Next Door last week and it’s so good! I need a little reading light for when Christian is still sleeping.
5. Have an in-the-bed routine – mine includes lavender essential oil and a great hand lotion.
I’ve begun using lavender oil at night on my feet, wrists and neck, and then I’ll put a heavy lotion on my hands and feet. Now I associate the smell of lavender with bedtime. I love it!
6. Exercise.
It’s no secret that regular physical activity promotes better sleep – and Bailey would agree! Some say if you exercise too close to bedtime you might be too energized to sleep well, so listen to your body and what works best for you. I take two morning Pilates Plus classes a week and try to take Bailey on an evening walk whenever I can squeeze it in.
Do you have a nighttime routine that has helped shape your sleep patterns? And for the record, we don’t sleep with pets in or on the bed… but Lula and Bailey were cute accessories and let’s be honest – Bailey looks pretty great in the eye mask (and I think she knows it).
With cooler temps approaching, it’s important to think about your skincare and beauty routine. I always want to make sure to account for seasonal changes with my skin and make sure I’m protecting it properly. So this means the products in my makeup bag usually make a seasonal shift and I make room for some new things to keep my makeup routine on point but also nourishing. Today I’m sharing some new products I’ve been wearing this season from Revlon that do just that – so let’s get into it!
I’m a lip balm hoarder – I seriously have a chapstick or tinted balm in nearly every room of our house (and in my handbag at all times!). SO, you know I love Revlon’s Kiss™ Balm that comes in six colors and flavors that take me back to my childhood – Tropical Coconut, Juicy Peach, Fresh Strawberry, Sweet Cherry, Crisp Apple and Berry Burst. You know I need the Tropical Coconut, like… yesterday, and all six options have SPF20 and natural fruit oils, so you’re hydrating and protecting at the same time.
I’ve also been using Revlon’s ColorStay™ Brow Pencil, and I love, love, love a brow pencil that is double-ended with a spoolie. It’s everything you need in one product, and this pencil comes in five shades (I like the Auburn shade). A great waterproof eyeliner is always a must for me, and this ColorStay 2-in-1 Angled Kajal™ Liner gives you two great options – a clean and smooth cat-eye OR you can use the brush on the opposite end of the pen to smudge out the liner for a sultry, smoky eye. I know a smoky eye can sometimes feel intimidating, but this little brush makes it seriously easy. PS – it comes in four shades! I’m wearing Graphite.
Last but certainly not least, I think I may have been converted to cream shadows. I love eyeshadows, but I admit it’s a step I often skip. What I love about these ColorStay™ Créme Eye Shadows is that they are super easy to blend – a step I usually don’t follow through with enough. In twelve shades, they’re waterproof and mess-free (which means no shadow fallout – insert praise hands), last up to 24 hours and come with a small built-in brush.
Do you have any fall/winter beauty items that are essential in your makeup bag? I’d love to hear! And tell me I’m not the only one with serious nostalgia for flavored lip balm.
Thanks so much for reading! XO –
This post is sponsored by Revlon through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select.
Last week I shared a formal holiday tablescape, but I think we all recognize that not every holiday hosting opportunity is “fancy.” It’s always fun to pull out the silver and crystal for a special occasion, but there are also the holiday gatherings that come in all of the weeks leading up to Christmas and NYE, so I wanted to share a more casual holiday tablescape.
When I registered for our wedding four years ago (and I let Christian hang at home while I brought my interior guru sister-in-law instead #bestdecision), I instantly new that Juliska would be the everyday collection that I would use all of the time. Four years later, I still absolutely love it and have added more pieces to my china cabinet.
I’m excited to share this more casual tablescape with you guys, and know that you can always cut costs in table runners by clipping greenery and resourcing your leftover pumpkins or even fruit from your refrigerator.
Thank you so much for reading! And if you’re also a lover of Juliska, check out the assortment at Saks and Bloomingdale’s. I’m not going to lie, Christian and I are in love with these pasta bowls. We’ve been using them for everything!
Happy decorating! XO –
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One of the big reasons I think we all love Nordstrom so much is that you can find the perfect gift under $30 for your Secret Santa party… or you can find that one special thing for the person you want to splurge for or even your own Christmas wish list. When I saw this cape in the store and realized it could double as an oversized blanket scarf… I knew it was a Burberry dream come true.
Years ago I decided that a classic Burberry trench was on my “timeless closet staples” list. I started saving up every month, and ended up finding a vintage one that I actually wore all over London in October! I have a small classic Burberry plaid scarf, but I really wanted something bigger and cozier. This oversized cape was perfect in every way. I love the fringe detail and that I can wear it two ways for two completely different looks (and ps – it’s so incredible soft!).
Nordstrom has an amazing Burberry collection, and if you are looking for a gift for the luxe lover this holiday season, I think this classic scarf or this tie would both be great gifts.
Do you have a Burberry piece on your wish list? Have you checked out the selection at Nordstrom? If anyone is planning to gift me this year (hint hint, Christian are you reading this?), I’m all about this military jacket. So cute!
Two of my favorite things combined into one dress – velvet and wrap dresses! I think this would be such a pretty dress for a holiday party, especially if you’re in one of of these states where it’s not necessarily cooler than 65 degrees!
In addition to all things sparkly, I have to share this ring design that I collaborated with The Jewelry Design Collaborative. Several years ago, I picked up a little cubic zirconia cross ring from a sidewalk vendor in New York that was so delicate and sweet. I loved it! But after only a few months, the little cz pavé studs starting falling out, and it no longer had the same sparkle.
When JDC reached out about working together to design something special, I knew I would want to recreate the design with quality materials that would not only last longer, but last forever! After a phone call and a few emails back and forth with photos and design sketches, we worked together to create this feminine Cross Ring that is so special to me.
I am so excited that the Cross Ring will now be available to everyone! I’d love to hear your feedback about the design or a special piece that you have that you’d love to recreate. I think this would be such a beautiful piece to hint hint to your special someone. PS – you can now find all of my holiday content for 2016 at the top of this blog under “holiday shopping!”
Christian designed my engagement ring, and now I’ve designed my first piece of jewelry with JDC. If you have experience designing jewelry, I’d love to hear about it!
When I bought this sweater (styled on the blog here), it led me to this bell sleeved beauty, and I had to have it. I love the olive color, but I can’t deny my love of gray. I am so obsessed with the sleeves and v-neck, and I love that Nordstrom has such a great selection of bell sleeved tops right now!
I think this would be a great outfit for Thanksgiving weekend, and I’ll probably be changing into this sweater after I take off the apron. I love the sweater selection at Nordstrom, and I love that you can break down your online shopping experience by color, silhouette and price point. It makes it so easy to find exactly what you’re looking for and fast!
140% off! | 2comes in 3 colors! | 3 | 4comes in 8 colors and under $40 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 840% off! | 9
I mean, this time of year I’m all about drawstring pants, hot chocolate, fuzzy socks and a great candle. Even better if the hot chocolate is replaced with an eggnog latte. It’s #basic, but also basically heavenly so I accept it without shame.
This blanket looks so luxe and comes in so many colors… while still being under $40. I can’t get over it – a must! I think some of these items would make great gifts for sisters, girlfriends or coworkers, and I included a few extra items in the shoppable thumbnails, so feel free to peruse through.
If you have a cozy something you’ve purchased recently, I want to hear. Now I’m going to go and put in my fireplace video. You know I love it (more about that here).
Thanks so much for reading! Stay cozy, and if you have any cozy favorites, I’d love to hear (I’m always excited to expand my blanket and sock collection) – XO –
– keeping my pumpkins around through Thanksgiving –
– a box of goodies from dermalogica, which is extra fun because I’ve been using this brand since high school –
– using lemons to jazz up a pitcher vase –
– a fridge stocked with suja Juice – the Probiotic & Greens is my favorite! –
– a new addition that I can’t wait to hang, this pretty mirror! –
Happy Friday guys! After having several peaceful weekends at home, Christian and I are excited for a little staycation in Laguna this weekend to celebrate our four year anniversary (thank you for all of yesterday’s sweet words!). This is Christian’s first time to not be on call in almost three weeks… so I think he’s looking forward to it most of all!
I do have a favor to ask from you. Some of you have kindly shared that while you were subscribed to CBL via email, you weren’t receiving the posts to your inbox. The tech team I work with was able to look into it, and people were receiving emails again but then some said that the photos wouldn’t show up. They show up for me, BUT I wanted to ask for your help! IF you’re signed up to receive emails and they are displaying oddly, could you please screenshot what it looks like for you and email it to me at kathleen@carriebradshawlied.com? I know this sounds kind of bizarre, but we’ve been trying to look into it, and without knowing what exactly it looks like, it’s hard to solve!
The beauty giveaway winner is announced in the original post! MORE fun giveaways to come!
Thank you thank you thank you always for your help and support. I hope y’all have a beautiful weekend! XO –
Today marks four years of marriage with Christian, and honestly – I can’t believe how fast we got here! It feels like it was just a year ago we stood in a garden, under bright red and orange fall trees and bistro lights and said “I do.” Similar to last year’s three years post, I wanted to share four questions that we both answered (separately).
1. How is marriage different than what you expected?
Kathleen: This is probably not surprising, but I don’t think I fully understood how much of our “partnership” I would spend solo. My brother is a radiation oncologist, my dad is a gastroenterologist, my brother-in-law is a pediatrician… but with Christian’s head & neck surgery training, my MD relatives agree that his schedule is even more time-consuming (insert thumbs down emoji). And trust – there are other residencies even more intense than his! 11PM to 8:30AM surgeries are not uncommon, and I’m left experiencing dinner parties, events, date nights, movie nights… alone.
Obviously there is hope that this will not always be the way things are, but I also assume that when he’s done with all of his training we might have children – which is an entirely different distraction from our relationship (although a beautiful one). But hey – I also tell myself if he wasn’t busy with this there would be something else. Anyone who works hard (regardless of the profession) has a demanding schedule, and you just have to roll with it.
Christian: I think my expectations of marriage were similar to most people’s perceptions in that they were based on what I saw from my own parents, but what Kathleen and I realized as we read this book together during our engagement is that everyone’s expectations are different because everyone’s families are different. As we build our own marriage we have to reconcile these ideas.
In the first year we would catch ourselves saying “but my dad always takes out the trash, it’s your job” and “but my mom likes doing the dishes” to one another as we projected those expectations on one another. Both of our parents have strong marriages which serve as invaluable examples, but it is no substitute to finding our own path.
We now recognize that we live in a different place, in a different time, and are different people in a different relationship so our marriage is going to be appropriately different. We are still getting the hang of our roles as husband and wife but I wouldn’t trade it for anything (unless you’re reading this Megan Fox, in which case- call me!).
2. What is a habit you love about the other person… and one that you don’t love?
Christian: I’m a big fan of Kathleen’s habit of cleanliness. She has a lower tolerance of mess than I do, so the house stays nice and tidy. I’d say her bad habit is her reality TV addiction. She’s always itching for a fix staying up late into the night to catch people talking about people talking about pointless drama.
Kathleen: Christian is a researcher, and I LOVE it. When we go to a restaurant, he’s already looked up the backstory and fills me in on how it started as a food truck, etc. When we travel together, I rarely even look into where we are going because he’s been reading about it for months and has already memorized a map of the city.
On the flip side, if Christian lived alone, he would stack all of the day’s dishes in the sink and wash them at 11PM. I literally read this out loud to him and he replied with, “it’s actually so much more efficient.” But also dear… it’s gross. And it drives me nuts!
3. What was the relationship highlight of the past year?
Kathleen: I think going to Hawaii in February (travel posts here and here) was probably the highlight of the year for me. I absolutely love all things Hawaii, and exploring this lush island with my adventurous best friend was so much fun.
Christian: This spring we went back to Mississippi to celebrate 2 of our close friends getting married. It was great to see family, catch up with friends, and reflect on our own vows.
4. After four years of marriage, what’s your advice for choosing a partner to someone who might be dating or considering marriage?
Christian: Instead of getting discouraged looking for the finished product, find someone you love and enjoy the journey together.
Kathleen: It feels like Christian and I laugh together every single day. Whether we are laughing at each other, at something else or joking with each other – it creates this happy, loving environment that is almost always fun. Attraction is incredibly important, but for me, genuinely being best buds is next in line.
If you have any of your own marriage tips you’d like to share, I love hearing from you guys! So many great tips in last year’s post.
I am so excited to be hosting my brother’s family for a delayed Thanksgiving this year. Christian is working Thanksgiving Day and the day after, but I can’t complain – we’ve had Christmas Day together every year. So I’ll take what I can get!
Thanksgiving is his absolute favorite holiday, and the first year of his residency he worked and I had a Friendsgiving. I brought home a plate for him that he warmed up in the microwave at 9PM… and while I know he was appreciative, I also know he was a little sad. SO, this year he asked if we could feast and celebrate on Saturday. And of course, I was happy to oblige (but that also means I’m going to drag him into the kitchen to help for the first time in his life! Ha).
SO, today, with the help of Seven Daughters Wine, I am sharing 7 easy and low-cost ways to to achieve a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape. I loved putting this post together – so I hope it will inspire some of you who are planning out your holiday!
1. Table runner. Not all dinner parties require such extravaganza, but if it’s a holiday, why not pull out all the stops? Here’s what’s even better – I didn’t buy anything special to make this runner. I was trying to think of something with different textures and colors, and I remembered I had some burlap leftover from a makeshift Christmas tree skirt a few years ago.
I didn’t have enough of the same color, but no fear – I cut the pieces to make a two-toned fabric runner. I actually ended up liking the two-toned even more! So as my high school art teacher would say – there are no mistakes. Ha! Then I clipped some greenery from the yard and layered it on top of the fabric.
2. Add some fruit, pumpkins or winter squash. I had apples and pomegranates in the fridge, so I just pulled out a few and placed them sporatically.
3. Candles. We all know that a few lit candles can add ambiance to any occasion. I have mercury glass candle sticks and votive candle holders that I love to pair with our china.
4. Greenery or Floral Arrangements. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but adding a few flowers or some vases of greenery adds a formal touch. For the past year or so, I’ve chosen to skip buying flowers and simply clip greenery from outside. Now Trader Joe’s also sells $1.99 bundles of greenery too! I polished two of my silver julep cups and filled them with greenery.
5. Linen Napkins. I’d love to be the kind of woman who used linen napkins at every meal, but…. who wants to do all that laundry on the daily? I reserve them for special occasions, and they really add such a beautiful element to the table. If you’re looking for personalized linens at a reasonable cost, Etsy is a great place to start! I love this shop.
6. Name cards. Growing up, my mom would have name cards at holiday tables, and I loved the formality of it. Who doesn’t love seeing their name on a place card? It just shows that the host was thinking about you in advance, and I think it’s a wonderfully polite touch.
No place cards on hand? I grabbed some leaves from outside and wrote on them with a gold pen. Easy!
7. Great wine and good conversation. A must. I am more of a red wine drinker this time of year, but I like to have a few bottles of Chardonnay on hand in case a guest prefers white. When I know we have a few wine drinkers in the house, I love to pull out a decanter to pour my Seven Daughters into.
I’m also excited to share that Seven Daughters is hosting a Friendsgiving Giveaway Contest here, and it’s super easy to enter!
Thank you so much for reading! And if you have any tried and true tablescape ideas, I’d love to hear. My mom is so great at putting together a spread – I hope I can continue the tradition! XO –
With the holidays comes the festive parties, and if there’s ever a time to bring out something sparkly or gold, it’s now. Some of them call for tacky Christmas sweaters or casseroles; others call for something a little more sophisticated.
Macy’s has such a huge assortment of holiday dresses, and I love their selection of elegant pieces that are appropriate for all ages. I remember shopping there as a teenager, and now as an adult venturing from the juniors section to more mature looks, I can still find something for almost any occasion.
I chose this Calvin Klein brocade dress because of the gorgeous material and muted colors that still provide a little glam with the gold and off-the-shoulder touch. Add a rich berry bag and ladylike brooch, and I think this look would be perfect for a holiday party that you could still wear throughout the year. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for dresses to wear to weddings! I think this one can go either way, but something about the touch of gold just feels perfect for this season.
dress c/o Macy’s (also available in petite here), also love this one and this one | heels – Stuart Weitzman, similar look for less here | bag – Lumilla Mingus, similar look for less here | sunglasses
Do you have any holiday parties on your calendar that you’re shopping for? And can you believe that Thanksgiving is around the corner? Like… how did that happen already?
