Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Friday’s Five

– the view from the rooms at The Dream Downtown –

– missing eating out every meal in New York… back to cooking! –

– a quick stop in Palm Springs, had to visit #thatpinkdoor (full post at this spot here!) –

– lunch at The Parker in Palm Springs –

– finally creating (what I think is) the best avocado toast: toasted Ezekiel bread + mashed avocado (with salt, pepper and lime juice), sliced boiled egg, cherry tomatoes, a little crushed red pepper flakes and sriracha –

I am so excited to be home and resting from back-to-back weeks of travel… I always say this, but my hat goes off to those of you who travel a lot for your jobs. It always takes so much out of me! My stomach acts crazy from eating out so much, my sleep is all backwards from different time zones, my room is a wreck from packing and unpacking – and I always leave something. Usually a phone charger, #oyvey. I realize this are not real problems (cue Christian singing to me “cry me a river“), but still, it’s tough!

New York was so much fun – I know everyone was talking about how cold it was (it was legitimately crazy cold – can’t feel your face cold), but honestly, it was an amazing trip and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Being with girlfriends, attending fashion shows, playing in the city – these are things I never dreamt I would be able to do for my “job.” I always leave fashion week thanking my lucky stars and of course each one of you for allowing me to chase my dreams. Love you, mean it.

After being delayed seven hours for our return flight, I got home at 5AM and went to Palm Springs for the day with Christian at 7:30AM. Being apart for five days, I was happy to make it work so I could spend that time with him (he had some morning otolaryngology lectures to attend and we played in the afternoon). We spent that evening eating pasta in bed and watching The People vs. O.J. Simpson with our pets. That’s my favorite kind of date night, #lazybones.

ON that note, I have some really exciting news to share… Lula LaShonda went to the vet on Wednesday for her annual quality of life checkup (she was diagnosed with cancer in 2014), and the vet took follow-up x-rays of her lungs after her annual exam was healthy. They really believe the blemish we keep seeing in her x-rays might not be cancer and if she is still healthy this summer they would say she is cancer-free. I plan to share a full post on this, but I literally got in the car with her and burst into tears. We’ve had such a long road and I am so grateful that amputating her leg was the right decision (she had a myxosarcoma tumor that turned out to be malignant). We had wine for lunch that day (when I say “we,” I clearly mean me) and spent the afternoon cuddling and working in the bed (her favorite… and my favorite, let’s be serious). I know I always tell you guys about my three-legged cancer rescue kitty – but I had to share that I think we have all loved her back to health!

Thanks so much for reading and being on this journey with us! XO –

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NYFW Back to Black

Packing for fashion week was much easier this time around because I knew I’d just be wearing a coat the entire time! I was able to bring two fabulous wrap coats from Dawn Levy (this is the other one I brought, on sale until 2/28!), and they kept me both warm and stylish while out and about!

When in doubt, black on black always works in New York (it’s more like white on white in California), and I love that the tie-waist gave me some shape while being bundled up. You can’t go wrong with some fur accessories to complete the look!

photos by Marissa of Style Cusp

Thanks so much for reading! More NYFW looks coming next week. XO –

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NYFW Brunch on Park Avenue

In September (post shared here), some of my favorite blogger babes and I had brunch with Oasis Fashion during fashion week. We had so much fun (and I seriously love shopping their new arrivals), that we went for a round two last week to kick off fashion week at Upland on Park Avenue! Note – if any of you ever try this restaurant, the brussels sprouts pizza is divine. Not to be missed!

BUT, let’s get to it and talk about the clothes. My color palette for NY was mostly blacks, grays and creams – and this gray suede jacket is about to be on heavy rotation. It’s so lightweight, comfortable and the material is so soft and comfortable – plus it also comes in black! I think it would be just as fab layered over a maxi dress as it is bundled up in the cold.

photos by McKenzie Thompson

L to R: Krystal of A Pinch of Lovely, yours truly, Nikki of My Style Diaries and Jenn of Haute off the Rack

Thanks so much for reading! More fashion week looks coming in the next few days! Would you guys be interested in an Instagram roundup from the week (photos shared here)? Let me know and I can work on it! XO –

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Storing Wine with Seven Daughters

world market gold bar cart

I’ve had so much fun teaming up with Seven Daughters Wine for some vino-inspired posts (you can see more here and here), and today is a pretty interesting one… different ways I like to store wine! If I am passionate about anything in my life, it tis red wine, so I have a few different storage spots in this house. SO – let’s get started –

1. Y’all have seen me style this bar cart three different ways here, but of course it’s one of my favorite ways to serve wine, especially when we have guests.

wine storage

2. We have this shelving unit that we purchased for our first apartment for patio storage (it was tiny – we were desperate!). I have a small acrylic wine rack that I display some of my favorites on. I love this little wine rack and it’s under $20!

acrylic wine container

3. It’s best to store wine in a dark, temperature-controlled places with the bottles on their side, so a narrow cabinet is a perfect spot. You can find these wine glasses here.

wine cabinets

4. My brother-in-law gave us these little wooden wine holders one year for Christmas and they’re such a unique way to showcase a few of those special bottles. Of course, I always think they’re going to fall… but I promise they never do!

different ways to store wine

5. In addition to storing wine, I also like to keep the corks of special bottles. I often will write the occasion in pen on the cork. I have the corks from holidays, our engagement, wedding, anniversaries, birthdays, special celebrations and landmarks – it’s so fun to look through them! This little cork holder was given to us by a friend, but I found a similar one here.

how to display wine corks

6. If you have a display cabinet or china cabinet – you can display a few of your chosen bottles!

world market cabinet storing wine

7. And maybe my favorite way to store wine of all… in my hand! Even better when on the sofa with the softest faux fur throw.

kathleen barnes

And there you have it! I may not have a wine cellar (#homegoals), but I do have plenty of different ways I like to store wine, and I’d love to hear yours if you have any to add! I’ve always wanted to be that barefoot hostess, glass of wine in-hand welcoming guests into our peaceful and cozy home, and I wish I could host all of you! Thank you so much for reading! XO –

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Friday’s Five

marble phone case

– new phone cases that are seriously THE cutest (palm | marble) –

mimi bag

– trying out some new beauty items –

valentines day sugar cookies

– leaving C some of my annual ugly Valentine’s Day cookies – I have legit respect for those who make pretty sugar cookies! –

custom ikea slipcover

– a new custom slipcover for our chair and ottoman (you might remember the fabric samples being shared here) that I am absolutely in love with… full post coming soon! –

packing for nyfw

– packing for a weekend trip in NY –

It’s been so nice to have a few days at home before heading out again, this time to somewhere waaaayyy colder than Hawaii or California! I was feeling all good about the mild winter NY is having, until I realized Mother Nature is playing some major tricks on these fashionistas and bringing snow and weather in the teens. Oy. If anything – I am hoping for some funny memories… even if it means I’m the one slipping on ice for entertainment!

I’ve had so much fun sharing some of the looks we photographed in Hawaii! I’m hoping (if I’m not a human icesicle) to snap some photos in New York – but there will definitely be photos shared along the way on Instagram. Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Pink Maxi Dress

This dress. Oh this dress! The first time I slipped it on, it was love at first sight – fitting in all the right places yet still being so comfortable. Feminine but subtle (unlike this same style dress in a va-va-voom red!), it’s one of those dresses I know I’ll be wearing for a long time.

And I have to acknowledge the chickens and roosters. We woke up to roosters almost every morning, and I was told by my friend Cassydy ahead of time that there are chickens all over the island. Oh man – was she right! They are everywhere – and sometimes followed by baby chicks (if any of you saw me trying to chase them down on Snapchat: CBLied, this was not a drill – they are so cuuuttteee!). So it was only appropriate that they photobombed me in this post and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

This is the last outfit post from Kauai as I head to New York today for Fashion Week, BUT there is still a Travel Kauai post coming soon with all of my recommendations, and you can find the post on Maui here. Thanks so much for reading – and happy early Valentine’s Day to all of you! You can see more Valentine’s inspired looks here, here and here. XO –

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Wednesday Wish List: Date Night

valentines day date night outfit

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

It’s already Valentine’s week! I’ve shared some of my V-day picks for him, her and candy – but I wanted to share a little outfit inspiration for the weekend. You can also see outfit posts here, here and here!

Who doesn’t want to wear a little pink or red on February 14th? I have this maxi dress (it will be on the blog soon!), and I absolutely love the fit. So flowy and perfect for a sneak peek to spring. You might be wondering… what on earth is that long furry thing? It’s actually a scarf that I think is so fun and unexpected for a faux fur accent.

This weekend I’ll be in NY and my Valentine will be in Palm Springs, but if you read Monday’s post, we had a little early Valentine’s date night in Hawaii, so the chocolate eating will just have to be spent with girlfriends – and I think that’s just fine.

If you’ve got a weekend outfit picked out – tell me about it! I’m always looking to get my Lisa Vanderpump on and expand my pink collection. Thanks so much for reading, and don’t forget to enter the Palm Beach Tan giveaway – XO –

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Sunset Date Night

Before we left for Kauai, a friend recommend we spend a day on the North Shore (we stayed on the South side of the island) and end the day with a sunset dinner at the St. Regis in Princeville. Was she spot on or what!? After a day spent driving and beach hopping, Christian and I changed clothes in the car (because we’re classy like that), and arrived at the majestic hotel for dinner at Kauai Grill.

We walked down to the beach for sunset, and then continued to watch the beautiful sky from the table where we ate. Dinner was delicious and the staff was so friendly, I hope one day we’ll be back. If you ever eat here – the scallops are divine!!

crop top & skirt – also love this top/skirt set! | clutch c/o, love this one too | sunnies | earrings c/o, have and love these too, and really love these | hat

I plan on doing a complete post on Kauai with information on where we stayed, what we did and where we ate (similar to the Maui post!), so that’s definitely coming for any of you looking to visit Hawaii anytime soon!

Thanks so much for reading – and don’t forget to enter the Palm Beach Tan giveaway! XO –

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Red Maxi Dress

When it comes to putting on something slinky (especially around Valentine’s Day!), sometimes the one thing that can make you feel confident is a great tan. You guys know the phrase, “if you can’t lose it, tan it?” Ha – you know you’ve heard it!

Before heading to Hawaii, I knew having some color would make me feel better in a swimsuit, and I had this red dress picked out for a pre-Valentine’s Day date night at the Ko’a Kea with Christian (he will be in Palm Springs and I’ll be in New York on the 14th!). I have been getting spray tans from Palm Beach Tan since college, and they always do the trick (and for me last about a week – more info here). Not to mention if you don’t love your spray tan, it’s free. That’s got to make you feel good about it! With Valentine’s Day around the corner, who couldn’t use a quick spray tan to make that red dress pop?

SO, today I’ve teamed up with Palm Beach Tan to give five readers a spray tan visit and one reader a three-month unlimited + a Chi styling kit + $150 to pick out something special at Nordstrom! Just scroll on down to see how you can enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy entering! Thank you guys for reading – XO –

Sponsored by Palm Beach Tan

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Friday’s Five: Kauai

koa kea kauai hawaii

– our first day at the Ko’a Kea Resort… can we just start over? –

koloa fish market ahi poke

– getting a taste of the rave reviews ahi poke from Koloa Fish Market –

koa kea resort

– nightly sunset watching –

surfing in kauai

– Christian enjoying the Hawaii waves that are a little easier to ride than in California –

kauai shaved ice

– Hawaiian shaved ice from Old Koloa Town –

We are having so much fun in Hawaii, and I’ve been sharing moments here and there on Snapchat (CBLied) as well as Instagram! Excited to share a full Kauai post sharing photos, our stay at Ko’a Kea and our recommendations for anyone looking to make the trip. Several posts coming soon!

We are enjoying our last few days here, and I’m soaking up every second of Christian’s time off work before he gets back to the grind of long days and nights. We’re feeling really lucky to be able to share this time together, and thank you guys SO much for all of your awesome tips during our time here. You rock.

Thanks for reading! Have an amazing weekend! XO –

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Valentine’s Date Night

You guys know I don’t usually rock bodycon… but sometimes you gotta pull out your weapons for someone special, you know what I mean? On Tuesday I told you guys that this week I was bringin’ a little Valentine’s sugar and spice – and today I bring you… spice!

This dress comes in both wine and black, and it’s one of those dresses you just have to channel your inner Beyoncé and go with it. What’s that quote – “you have just as many hours in the day as Beyoncé?” Or channel your inner Nene Leakes – another silent mentor of mine. Yes, Linneathea!!

dress c/o Lulu’s | heels, similar look for less here | clutch c/o Erin Dana, also love this one | earrings c/o | cable bracelet 1, 2, 3, 4

Thanks so much for reading! If you need something with a little more va-va-voom, Lulu’s has you covered. I mean this dress, this one and this one? Girl, please. #Werk.

Thanks so much for reading! And if any of you have a special little dress you love in your closet, spill it! XO –

Sponsored by Lulu’s

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Ladylike Valentine

striped midi skirt

I’ve got a few outfits planned to share with you guys this week – a little sugar and spice for Valentine’s Day and today we’re bringin’ the sugar!

A crop top and midi skirt are two friends of mine I can never say no to, so this when I spotted this ensemble at Nordstrom, it was no exception. I think this would be such a cute outfit if you were hosting a Valentine’s day party at home or even a couples dinner out. And this skirt can totally be worn so many different ways afterwards too – black turtleneck and ankle booties, white button-front shirt and black pumps. It’s work-appropriate, church-appropriate – you don’t have to pair it with a crop top if you’re not a crop top girl!

eliza j skirt embellished crop top patent leather clutch carrie bradshaw lied blog pink roses wrapped in paper how to wear a striped skirt what to wear with a black and white striped skirt carrie bradshaw lied blogger nordstrom pink gift card

crop top & skirt | heels, look for less here | similar earrings | cable bracelet 1, 2, 3, 4 | clutch

I’ve linked some other outfits from Nordstrom that I think are perfect for Valentine’s Day!

And while you’re shopping for yourself (I wont’ tell), if you’re still looking for a gift for a special someone, you can’t go wrong with a Nordstrom gift card. I love to give Christian gift cards because it means we can go shop for him together and I get to help him pick things that complement his frame – he’s not one of those guys who enjoys shopping. At all!

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

Sponsored by Nordstrom

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Explore The Blog

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Friday’s Five

NYFW Back to Black

NYFW Brunch on Park Avenue

Storing Wine with Seven Daughters

Friday’s Five

Pink Maxi Dress

Wednesday Wish List: Date Night

Sunset Date Night

Red Maxi Dress

Friday’s Five: Kauai

Valentine’s Date Night

Ladylike Valentine