Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Guide to Geneva, Switzerland, Pt. II

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!

dress | dress | sunglasses

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 –

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Blue Ball Skirt

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++!

photos by Jenny Megenney

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

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Friday’s Five

black cat and yellow lab snuggling

– playing catch-up on my laptop and seeing these two snuggle on their own, proud pet mom moment! –

girlboss autographed book

– having the chance to meet and hang with both Chelsea Handler at Sophia Amoruso for a Netlfix #GirlBoss getaway, hello dreaming –

view of Los Angeles

– the view from The Line Hotel in LA –

room service breakfast

– waking up to some chorizo and eggs in a white fluffy bed… one of the best parts of hotel living –

girlboss tv show

– 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 –

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Transitional Stripes

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.

photos by Jenny Megenney

Thank you so much for reading! If you have a favorite striped dress that you can wear a million ways, tell me about it! XO –

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Let’s Talk Undergarments

guide to undergarments

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

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!

BUT, to formally answer these requests, I wanted to share a post about my favorite undergarments. My favorite brands would be Hanky Panky, Spanx, On Gossamer and Eberjey (for pajamas). For comfort, CK bras and underwear are my go-to, along with lace bralettes. For smoothness, I go to Spanx bras and On Gossamer’s mesh underwear. Everyone knows the power of a good pair of Spanx, and if I need an underwire bra, On Gossamer is amazing!

The three Amazon goods I can’t live without: a bra strap converter, sticky petals and toupee tape (way stronger than clothing tape).

Do you have anything you swear by? I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Guide to Geneva, Switzerland, Part I

geneva switzerland

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.”

hotel richemond how a swan sleeps white swan geneva lighthouse le richemond hotel mornings in Geneva switzerland lake in Geneva Switzerland making your own swiss army wife swiss army knife carrie bradshaw lied carouge green shutters switzerland geese shrubbery art what to do in geneva switzerland carouge switzerland guide to geneva switzerland

dress, similar style here | bandana | sandals | bag | sunglasses

vineyards of switzerland electric bike countryside of switzerland european animals switzerland winery carrie bradshaw lied pig in europe countryside village wine tasting in switzerland biking through vineyards bienvenue sunflower field

european motorcycles

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.

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Friday’s Five

– Lula – who has been dangling her legs over the sofa and cracking me up! –

– a new perfume with a delicious scent and super cool packaging (and it’s all natural) –

– a visit to the Getty Center with my siblings –

– the UD Pro Makeup Brush launch from (with the most hilar foam finger) –

– 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!

Thank you so much for reading – XO –

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7 Ways to Incorporate Greenery into Your Decor

choosing indoor plants chardonnay carrie bradshaw lied home

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.

fiddle-leaf-fig-tree carrie bradshaw lied home ficus tree indoor plants

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.

fake plant

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!

table-plants metal watering can

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.

DIY succulents gold water mister

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.

indoor orchid

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!

carrie bradshaw lied home

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.

adding greenery to your home for free home of carrie bradshaw lied

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

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Back to School Style

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.

photos by Jenny Megenney

Did you guys snag anything at the Nordstrom sale that you’re excited to wear in August and September? I want to hear the scoop.

Thank you so much for reading! XO –

Brought to you in partnership with Nordstrom

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Duffy Day with Seven Daughters

Last week, I went on my first duffy boat picnic with some girlfriends and lots of Seven Daughters Wine and let’s just say – it was a party! I’ve rented duffy boats for my old job when we would have business opportunities come into town, but I mean, load up your girlfriends and rent a boat by the hour and it’s a different kind of day.

I am loving this wine-in-a-can trend, and it’s one of the best accessories for an outdoor event. Picnics, bbq’s, outdoor concerts, beach days, pool time, duffying – cans are so easy to throw in your bag! We brought Seven Daughter’s recently released Moscato cans, and they were the perfect bubbly to pair with a cheese plate and fruit (and lots of other snacks we had in tow).

I brought along some sparkling water and lemons in case anyone wanted a spritzer – I love a summer spritzer!

photos by Taylor Cole

Thanks so much for reading! Have you tried wine in a can yet? What are your thoughts?

And if you’ve had your own duffy day or booze cruise – do tell! I’m still trying to see if I can find an airbnb-on-a-boat situation, how fun would that be!? XO –

Brought to you by Seven Daughters Wine

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Friday’s Five

– finding these barely worn Sophia Webster Angeline heels at a consignment store for 1/4 of the price-

– a beach day with my favorite guy –

– and some of my favorite girls! –

– the most amazing meal at AnQi that I can’t stop thinking about (and am sad all my leftovers are now gone), if you’re in the OC area I would highly recommend this spot for the most delicious Asian Fusion I’ve ever had –

– a new addition to our living room wall, the sweetest cotton watercolor from Anna Cate Home, it reminds me of my grandmother’s house in the Mississippi Delta! –

Happy Friday! Last Friday I was welcoming some of my Louisiana girlfriends town and today my sister and her family have arrived for some Southern CA family time. They’ll be spending the majority of their time in LA with my brother’s family (I’m always the afterthought as the sibling with no kids… if you can relate, please comment so I know I’m not alone!), but I definitely plan to pop in and hang out with everyone – it’s rare to have all the siblings and cousins in one place!

I had a lot of fun being a tourist in my own city over the past week – renting a duffy boat on the Harbor (more about that Monday!), hopping around Newport Beach and riding bicycles to dinner. Now I am trying to kick the work mode in high gear before I leave town – and I’m thankful to have the Olympics to keep me company! What is your favorite sport to watch?

And I can’t go without oogling one more time about this new print. Isn’t it the sweetest? The gold frame is so fabulous too – I love how much it makes the wall pop.

That’s about all I have for now – I hope you guys have a beautiful weekend! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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8 Tips for Packing Light

Christian and I knew we wanted to travel as much as possible when we got married, and when we moved to California six months after we were hitched, it made it even easier to take weekend trips to places we had never been. I’ve now been working on Carrie Bradshaw Lied full-time for almost a year, and it’s made the opportunity to travel much easier. Even when it means I have to leave Christian behind because his schedule is not as flexible (insert sad face).

Last week I teased that I was heading on an international adventure soon, and today I wanted to share that I’ll be heading to Geneva, Switzerland to explore and share my experience with all of you! I will be traveling with the Geneva Tourism. While I visited Zurich almost ten years ago, I know there is so much more of Switzerland to see.

I am sharing some of my tips for packing light – the more I travel, the more I learn, so scroll down for my best advice!

1. Plan Ahead

I plan out every outfit ahead of time. This means it might take me longer than most to pack, BUT I am almost always fully prepared for my travel days and don’t have to spend time thinking, “what am I going to wear today?” It also eliminates packing unnecessary items that I don’t need and that will take up extra room in my suitcase.

2. 4-Wheel Suitcase

I used two-wheeled rolling suitcases foreevvvvveerrr, until my large, checked luggage wheel broke and it was time to replace it (I always go with Samsonite or Travelpro for checked luggage). I replaced it with a four-wheeled Travelpro, and it made my two-wheeled rolling carryon feel so heavy once I had to pull it again! I knew when it was time to replace my Hartmann carryon, four wheels was a must. This new Henri Bendel lady just glides without putting any strain on your upper body. It’s a major upgrade, and I am so excited to start traveling with it!

3. Protective Cover

If you’re going to have nice luggage, you have to think about how you will protect it in different scenarios. Now that everyone carries on, I like to be prepared if I have to check my bag at my gate, and a protective cover can mean everything! This Henri Bendel piece comes with one, but if yours doesn’t – don’t fret, Amazon has tons of great options. I keep it rolled up in my suitcase just in case I need it.

4. Shoe, Lingerie and Laundry Bags

I’ve used these since high school, and it’s a no-brainer. Who wants the bottom of their dirty shoe to be right next to their underwear and pajamas!? I separate all my items – shoes, undergarments, dirty laundry, jewelry, etc.

5. Slippers

When I stay at a hotel with disposable slippers, I usually stash the extra pair and keep them in a shoe bag to take on my next trip.

6. Portable Battery Pack

Christian upgraded me to this cell phone battery charger for my birthday, and it’s my new bff! I had a mophie that provided one full charge, but this one packs 5.8 charges and has two ports to charge multiple phones at once. I never travel without an extra battery pack!

7. Great Book(s)

I mean… this doesn’t need an explanation. I’m currently reading The Husband’s Secret, and when I’m done I’m moving onto The Singles Game!

8. Travel-Sized Steamer

I don’t go anywhere without this guy. My old steamer recently broke after a faithful seven or eight years, and this one is so small, much lighter in weight and steams really well. If you’re looking for a small handheld steamer, I would highly recommend this one (and it’s only $30).