– a short visit to Oxford, Mississippi for the burial of our sweet Edie’s ashes –
– a walk around the Square with my Dad –
– and back home after several weeks of travel –
– gearing up for a long weekend at home with my guy (and a binge-sesh of The Night Of) –
– catching up on work and treating myself to happy hour for one –
Reunited and it feels so good! I’ve been home all week and have a few more days before I head to New York. It’s been so wonderful to be back in my space and routine. I always feel like my best self when I’m home – it’s the control-freak in me, I confess.
Christian is on call this weekend, but now that he is senior call I can tell a big difference. In years past, “on call” meant Christian’s pager was going off constantly and he would be in and out all 24-hours of the day. Lately it’s meant a few calls here and there, but rarely something that takes him away all day. This is a huge milestone (or at least I think so)! We won’t be going far from the house this weekend so that he can stay close to the hospital, but after traveling so much, I have no complaints.
AND, some exciting news – Morning Lavender is having a summer sale and several of the pieces from the CBL for ML collection are marked down up to 50% off with code Summer2016! Cute cute cuuuuttteee – if you’re looking for any off the shoulder pretty things, they have you set!
What do you guys have planned this weekend? If you’re laying low like me, I recommend The Night Of on HBO. It’s like Serial-podcast-turned-TV-show. Amazingness! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
Can you believe Labor Day weekend is here? Could summer be coming to an end already!? One of Christian’s coworkers is getting married this weekend (my sister is also celebrating her wedding anniversary – 11 years, cheers!), and it got me thinking about… what on earth am I going to wear?
I’ve shared with y’all that since moving to California several years ago I gravitate toward light, breezy colors. Over the years, light pinks, creams, gray and white fill the majority of my closet. Of course, when you’re a wedding or engagement party guest, you want to steer as far away from whites and creams as possible! It’s the bride’s time to shine, and I usually prefer to wear a fun color instead.
SO, I thought this coral jersey dress would be the perfect late summer cocktail dress for a wedding. This little dress comes in eight colors! You know it’s a popular pick if it’s offered in every color of the rainbow (insert praise hands), which means it looks great on lots of body types because of the draping of the material.
Like everyone else, I’ve been wearing off the shoulder tops since this spring – I’m addicted! I’ve always loved this style, but it used to be so hard to find. Not anymore, my friend! Nordstrom has so many great pieces, and with fall around the corner, there are still so many pieces to work into the season.
For those of you wondering about the bra situation, I recently shared my favorite undergarments including strapless bras here. Check out the scrolling widget above for more picks than just these three – and all of them are under $100!
Do you have a favorite top from summer that you can’t stop wearing? Mine would probably be any white off-the-shoulder number. All day.
Last week I shared the first post of my recent trip to Switzerland with Geneva Tourism, and today I’m sharing the second half of my trip. I have had so much fun going through all of these photos – Switzerland is so easy to photograph because every corner is beautiful!
On my third day in Geneva, I woke up early (only three hours of sleep, but it was totally worth it!) to catch the sunrise over Lake Geneva. Every summer, Geneva offers free concerts that begin at dawn, and you can sip coffee and listen to the live music while the sun comes out. It was so gorgeous and spiritual – an amazing experience (and worth getting up early for!).
After that we crossed the lake to turn on the Jet d’eau – the water jet on the lake that is a landmark of Geneva! If you follow along on Instagram, I shared a photo of it here. It literally reaches 460 feet! Once it had been turned on, a rainbow appeared.
Then we explored Geneva’s Old Town which was absolutely gorgeous. The architecture of Switzerland is just breathtaking – I could look at the beautiful buildings, shutters and flower boxes all day! We climbed a spiral staircase to the top of a church in Old Town that had the most incredible view of Geneva, including the water jet! After that, we had a picnic in the park that was so delicious and relaxing. Before we knew it, everyone was lying down in the grass, soaking up the sun.
We moved on to a watchmaking class at Bucherer (photo below). Geneva is actually considered the birthplace of of high-end watchmaking. It was so detailed and meticulous – now I think I appreciate well made watches so much more.
We ended the day with dinner at Hotel Richemond’s Le Jardin – so delicious – I could have stayed at this hotel for a week. No time was long enough!
Thanks so much for reading! I loved taking you on a little tour of Switzerland. It was such a magical trip and experience, and I hope that the next time I visit Europe, Christian will be in tow.
If you’ve visited Switzerland and had any favorite spots that I missed (like the alps – gorgeousness!), I’d love to hear! XO –
This top and skirt come as a set (and in black too!), but I think they can easily be worn separately, and that’s part of the magic of this combo. There are not enough opportunities in life to wear a ball skirt (ok, I realize this is just my opinion), but sometimes you just have to create your own reason to add some fancy!
I think this skirt would look really cute with a crop top tee (like this one) and heels, or you could wear this top with a different midi skirt or high-waisted pants. Versatility is everything, and when you splurge on a set like this that can be worn several different ways, your maximizing your purchase. A++!
dress c/o Aidan by Aidan Mattox, love this dress | earrings – BaubleBar, get 20% off orders over $50 through 8/31 with code CBL20 | heels – no longer available, love these and these | similar clutch here and here
– waking up to some chorizo and eggs in a white fluffy bed… one of the best parts of hotel living –
– having the opportunity to meet and interview Sophia Amoruso –
Happy Friday!! Crazy to think that last Friday I was in Switzerland, and this Friday I am in Mississippi… oh what a difference a week makes. I will be home for 8 days when I get home from this trip and you have no idea how excited I am to be home for a minute! My skin is like… “woman, what are you doing to me!?”
I still have another Switzerland post to share with you guys this coming week to wrap up that dreamy trip (first post here) – so more to come! This week I spent two days in Los Angeles with Netflix, a Hollywood moment that I’m not sure how I got in on, but I am thanking my lucky stars. We played on set with Chelsea Handler for her Netflix show (you may remember the other show I attended of hers and mentioned here) for one day, and then we got to walk the set of Sophia Amoruso’s new show, Girlboss, coming to Netflix in 2017! To have the chance to hang with both of them was so surreal… talk about fempire inspo.
We walked the set of the new Girlboss show, walking around her apartment (based on Sophia’s real apartment in San Francisco), walking through the costume closet and hearing the details behind the wardrobe – so now I’m like, can this show start already because I’m dying to see it!
After that crazy inspirational Netflix #girlboss getaway, I changed gears and hopped on a plane to come to Mississippi to be with my family as we lay Edie’s ashes to rest. It will be an emotional weekend, but one that I think we all need. Even though we now our girl is flying high above us, we miss her every day. I thank her every day that she sends so many butterflies to me – they are all around my neighborhood and it just fills my heart.
Hope you guys have a beautiful weekend – thank you so much for reading and sharing your love. XO –
These photos were taken in my little neighborhood on the most beautiful evening that truly felt like sneak peek to fall. Probably like so many of you, fall is my favorite season of the year. I think it helps that it’s connected to so many happy memories – starting school, cheerleading, beginning college, getting married… and I can’t believe it’s around the corner!
This striped sweater dress is such a great base layer for the upcoming months. It can be worn with additional pieces, making it warmer – or dressed with a denim jacket (I just ordered this one, so excited) or military jacket. I think mixing textures is a really fun way to add interest to an outfit, especially for fall and winter – hello faux fur. Try pairing a masculine piece with a feminine piece (more about my love of that combo here), or mixing metal pieces or rockstud accents to a preppy look to add some edge.
I’ve been surprised by how many times y’all have asked me about my undergarments – what kind of bra I’m wearing, what I wear under a dress or top, etc. I admit I have no groundbreaking information to share – the answer is usually one of the following: a slip, no bra, sticky petals, a bralette or Spanx. Voila! My secrets revealed!
I’m so excited to share my first post of my trip to Geneva, Switzerland with Geneva Tourism! I shared some info about this trip in this packing post, but I had not been to Europe in nine years and was so excited to go back.
The first full day I was there, we walked to the lighthouse on the lake. There is such a beautiful view of the city from the lake, and I couldn’t get over how many white swans were everywhere! In the morning, they were sleeping – I had never seen a swan sleep and they curl into the tightest little ball. So as a true tourist, you know I had to take a photo.
We went to Victorinox to make our own Swiss Army Knives, and the whole time I just thought, “Oh if Christian could see me now, he would be so proud!” After that we walked around the neighborhood of Carouge for the first part of the day, and I couldn’t get over how much it resembled Italy. Turns out, it’s called “Geneva’s small Italy.” Each building was more beautiful than the next, and we had lunch at Restaurant du Mont-Saléve. Délicieuse!
The afternoon was my favorite part of the entire trip. We rode electric bikes to the countryside of Geneva. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat (CBLied), you may have seen me compare it to my vision of heaven. Absolutely stunning. There were sheep, cows, horses, geese and pigs roaming fields (just as they should be). There was the largest field of sunflowers I’ve ever seen. We even biked to France (you’ll see the little hut with “beinvenue” toward the bottom of this post)! We stopped at a local winery, and the view of the countryside was breathtaking. You guys love how much I enjoy biking around Orange County on my little beach cruiser, so this was my dream afternoon!
We had dinner on the lake at Brasserie des Halles de I’lle as the sun set, and walked back to the beautiful Le Richemond hotel under bistro lights beside the lake (can we talk about the darling macarons they left in my room?). I think any trip where you don’t have to plan and can just follow along is the mecca in my book, and Caroline and Kristelle of Geneva Tourism couldn’t have been better hostesses.
One of my favorite things about the Swiss is how peaceful and respectful they are. So much of the country is based on the “honor code.” For example – you don’t have to show your bus, train or trolley pass every time you hop on, rather they trust that you are truthful and have paid your way. The same policy goes for newspaper sales. How amazing that there is still a community with people whose core values and intentions are honest. Geneva is known for this state of mind, and it’s been called the “Geneva Spirit.”
Thank you so much for reading! I LOVED reading all of y’alls comments about your trips to Switzerland and hearing about your favorite things! Part two of this trip will be on CBL next week, so there’s still more fun stuff and recommendations to come.
– arriving in Geneva, Switzerland and deciding I might want to stay forever –
Happy Friday! I am currently writing this at 12:15AM Switzerland time (this 9-hour time difference really has be in a doozy), but despite sleepy eyes, I am so excited to enjoy the rest of my time in Geneva and get home to edit all of the photos I’ve taken (behind-the-scenes on Snapchat: CBLied!)! The scenery is so breathtaking, it’s been so much fun playing tourist and following along the Tourism team of Geneva. Isn’t it fun to play the “child” on trips and just follow the leader? The. Best.
It’s always a little hard for me to have these kind of experiences without Christian by my side. Truthfully I always feel like I’ve forgotten something… and it’s my guy! I miss him so much, and not being able to talk much because of the time difference is hard for me. But the challenge is good and as my Pilates studio has written on the wall (I love this and think of it often!), “if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.”
I will be back on an 11-hour flight soon (not looking forward to that part), but will be back in California to visit with Christian’s sister and her family before leaving for a short conference in LA. Excited to share more about that!
What are your plans this weekend? I loved all of your comments about Switzerland and how much you love it – it got me even more excited, so thank you!
Today I’m teaming up with Seven Daughters Wines to share 7 ways to incorporate greenery and plants inside your home! This has definitely been a new love of mine, so I’m exciting to share my plant-lady-love with you guys. If you follow me on Snapchat (CBLied), you may have seen me count all of the plants in our home + patio on “plant watering day.” The grand total was… 18 (excessive), but only five of these are inside!
Until about two years ago, I didn’t have a single plant in my home. I had been wanting a fiddle leaf fig tree, so Christian surprised me with one he picked out from a local garden. I found a sunny spot for it, and by watering it once a week, it’s managed to look beautiful ever since.
This triggered my love of indoor plants, and when we moved the fiddle leaf to the breakfast room to make room for the temporary Christmas tree two holiday seasons ago, I really enjoyed having the pop of green in the new room. SO, I went to Home Depot and bought a new plant… and the story goes on.
I’m now a wino cat-lady turned plant-lady, and I mean… I’m happy as a clam.
I’m going to break down the different ways I like to incorporate plants inside the home – so let’s get started!
1. Traditional floor plants. I know, I know, this is obvious. Floor plants are a great way to add a pop of color, and I love they add height and texture to a space.
2. Faux plants. Don’t have a green thumb? Plants can get excessive if you’re on round two or three of purchasing a plant. I water all of our plants on Friday mornings (except the basil outside which needs more frequent watering). When I’m going to be out of town, Christian waters them for me. If you want to add nature and color into your home without the maintenance, there are lots of great faux options. This little potted tree is a faux plant I picked up a few years ago from Ikea.
3. Table plants. This can be a great way to try out a plant without spending as much money on a floor plant. I purchased this one for less than $25 at a Home Depot and found the pot for it at Home Goods. You can try out a smaller tabletop plant and see if you can keep it alive. If it’s doing well and you’d like to expand your indoor plant collection, you’re ready to splurge on a floor plant!
4. Succulents. These guys are really low maintenance and hardly require any water (although they DO require lots of sunlight, so they’ll need plenty of light!). I have a small plant mister that I will spritz my indoor succulents with.
5. Orchids. I’ll pick up an orchid about once a season. They’re so beautiful and require very little water, but they do need sunlight! From time to time I’ll set mine out on the patio to get some sun.
6. Greenery arrangements. I tend to lend toward floral arrangements with lots of bright greenery in them. Christian picked up this hydrangea bouquet for me at our neighborhood grocery store with all of these fresh leaves and twigs and I LOVE it!
7. Pluck twigs and leaves from outside. On another note, you don’t have spend a dollar to try pops of green in your home. I often take a pair of scissors outside our house and cut some twigs off of a tree in the front yard and stick them in vase. True story! I’ve gotten to where I almost prefer this over buying fresh flowers.
A lot of you have been asking about our new rug – thank you so much for the feedback! We have had a sisal rug for years, but after a few too many pet vomit incidents, it was time for a fresh start. I wanted to try something more interesting, and this geometric rug has really balanced out the room in a unique way.
And now it’s time to sit back, pour a crisp glass of Seven Daughters Chardonnay (or even make a spritzer, my favorite summer drink!), and get back to our Stranger Things marathon. Have you guys been watching this show!?
Do you have a favorite indoor plant – real or faux? I’d love to hear about it! Thanks so much for reading! -XO –
Brought to you in partnership with Seven Daughters Wine
Back to school is here… can you believe it? Sadly it’s been a while since my mom has taken me back to school shopping (we always went to Birmingham… Galleria and Summit what’s up!!). BUT, this time of year it’s all about preparing for fall while staying cool. That “transitional” time of year where it’s not exactly fall, but we’re kind of over the summer pieces in our closet.
I popped in Nordstrom last week to check out some classic pieces, and I had a green military jacket on the brain. I found this one and I love love love it! It runs big so I recommend sizing down. I also found some really great flaresthat were high-waisted, which is great for those fluttery off-the-shoulder tops we’ll all be wearing well into September.
I thought this was the perfect “back to school” look, casual but put together just enough. Stylish but doesn’t say, “I’ve had this outfit planned out for a week!” Effortless, cool and comfortable.
