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!!
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!
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.
– our first day at the Ko’a Kea Resort… can we just start over? –
– getting a taste of the rave reviews ahi poke from Koloa Fish Market –
– nightly sunset watching –
– Christian enjoying the Hawaii waves that are a little easier to ride than in California –
– 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.
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!!
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 –
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!
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!
I’ve been so excited to share this post with you guys because I think sharing home content might be my absolute favorite (happy dance)! Years ago my mom purchased nearly 18 matching chairs from a huge inventory sale and kept six for herself and give six to both my sister and myself (you can see them in this post). We recovered them and I liked them, but I don’t love them (sorry mom!), which I think a lot of people feel about hand-me-downs.
I only brought two to California, and clearly I didn’t think we’d make any friends because we’re always dragging in our patio chairs whenever we have guests. I had an idea of what I wanted, and when I stumbled across these super comfortable linen slipcoveredchairs from World Market, it was a match made in heaven.
I love the tie-backs, giving them a little something extra than your basic slipcovered chair. They are so comfortable that I find myself working from the kitchen table much more often!
Do you have your own dining chair saga story? I am a lover of chairs and lamps (as in I love lamp), so I know that sometimes the hunt is harder than you thought it would be! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
CAN IT BE TRUE? Can the 30 days that felt like 100 finally be complete?
Truthfully, I didn’t find this eating plan that difficult at home, eating out is a totally different story.
Am I glad we did this? Yes. Do I think that I feel so much better without eating ____? Not really. Have I learned more about my body and food from this experience? Absolutely. I hope to continue cooking this way (Christian, with the cravings of a pre-teen, has to have chocolate or he’s going to FLIP – he literally talks about dessert every day), but we like to eat out on weekends and in those scenarios I’d like to #livemylife and have a french fry. I mean… YOLO.
We are heading to Hawaii for a week where we’re going to try to keep up with the reintroduction phase – I told you guys that I don’t have 45 days straight of my life that don’t have travel or events, so we just have to do our best and make it work! This being said, my next Whole30 update will not be next Saturday, but the following.
PROS:
I’m still able to concentrate better than normal, which is really awesome.
I’m so much more aware of labels. I read labels on the back of everything! I hope I will continue to do this.
I lost six lbs., but honestly I feel like I lost so much more than that because I’ve lost so much bloat. Between you and me, I thought I might lose more than that considering I was eliminating almost every kind of food that brings me joy, but c’est la vie!
Christian lost 9 – 10 lbs. And he’s already 6’3″ and skinny… so that’s pretty rude of him.
CONS:
My stomach growls have never been so loud. I feel like all I’m doing is meal/snack prep, yet I’m hungry every 2-3 hours so if I am running errands the cashier can hear my rumbling stomach. It’s a little embarrassing!
Because of having to prepared for every possible food scenario – this eating plan really rules out any kind of spontaneity. I’m a pretty organized “planner,” but even for me this was hard.
I recognize a lot of people can’t eat like this because it’s definitely more expensive. I spend $30-$40 more per week at the grocery.
FAVES:
Tried a cauliflower crust and it was pretty good! I mean, I definitely still prefer real pizza crust and cheese, but it hit the spot. I topped it with tomato sauce, arugula, tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, garlic and salami.
Thanks to y’alls suggestions I tried adding both canned coconut milk and ghee to my coffee. I don’t have an immersion blender, but I poured fresh, hot coffee and the ingredients into my Vitamix, and it definitely tasted creamier and rich! I’ve held off trying ghee in my coffee because I think long-term I would still prefer dairy in my coffee over butter, but while on Whole30 it’s definitely a good option if you’re struggling with black coffee. Thank you for the tip!
That’s all for now! Thank you guys so much for your feedback, encouragement and suggestions. Seriously – I have really appreciated all of your insight and guidance and hope you’ve found these honest reviews helpful! Thanks so much for reading and have a great weekend – XO –
– a new pair of Tecovas cowboy boots from that are so comfortable that I’ve been living in them –
– the vinyl from my in-laws that I listen to every night while I cook (“Army of One” is my fave) –
– packing for a Hawaiian adventure –
– cooking with lemons from our lemon tree –
– an exciting giveaway that’s happening over on Instagram! official contest rules here –
Hey weekend! January weekends have not disappointed so far, and they’ve been jam-packed with fun adventures and visits from family and friends… and this weekend is no different! My girlfriend Amy is coming in town to play, and we’ve been friends for years. We connected several years ago after realizing we basically had everything in common and the rest is history! Once she heads back to the South, C and I will start our vacation… and you’ll be seeing more of that soon (insert happy dance).
BUT, the most important thing to share today is a really exciting giveaway that supports the philanthropy that is near and dear to my heart, The Her Initiative (a part of Healing Waters International, more about this organization here and here). This week, I’m working with 1040taxes.com to offer two CBL followers to win one of two $500 gift cards! Here’s the catch – we are trying to bring awareness that1040taxesis a safe and simple way to file your taxes online while also giving back to an amazing cause. They are going to give $2 to Healing Waters for every tax return filed through their site. File your taxes AND make a difference by choosing 1040.com with promo code: CLEANWATER (and get 10% off both your federal and state tax return!).
I know this isn’t my normal kind of giveaway, but I feel passionate about helping Her, and hey – you have the chance to win $500 so I mean, you have nothing to lose by entering AND you can learn more about filing your taxes yourself, #boom.
What are you guys up to this weekend? Gimme the scoop. Thanks so much for reading! XO –
One of my favorite colors to combine with gray is a soft pink, and this Cluse watch has been living on my wrist for the past few weeks. I love how feminine the pink + gold combo is, and it’s classic, clean design makes it a perfect combination of feminine and modern. Plus it’s so lightweight – which is so comfortable! Bonus – the straps are also interchangeable, so you can change the color depending on the season and your mood.
In oversized sweater-land (one of my favorite things to wear), gray has become my new black over the past two years, and I think it’s because it’s easier to wear than white but less harsh than black, especially in Southern California where it’s a sunny 60-70 degrees year round! This ShopBellaC boyfriend sweater is so comfortable, and the side slits give it a little sass – I’m obsessed!
watch c/o Cluse (free worldwide shipping!) | denim c/o | sweater & scarf c/o ShopBellaC | heels | bag | sunnies | lipstick c/o | cable bracelet 1, 2, 3, 4 | gold bangle c/o, similar style here and love this one
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 (ok so it’s a pillow.. but I mean, it’s real cute) | 9 | 10 | 11
Since I’m still on Whole30 and can’t have sugar I thought… why not torture myself and do a Valentine’s Day candy roundup? That makes sense.
What’s a Hallmark holiday without candy? My favorite part of Valentine’s Day is probably binge-eating the very specific double decker box of assorted chocolates I request every year. I’m not kidding – there are two qualifications – that it is assorted (obviously) and that there are two layers of chocolates. I don’t even want jewelry or anything fancy, I want the candy.
I can’t describe the happiness I have when I start cramming these delicious treats into my mouth and inevitably start getting a little sad to see them go so quickly… only to remember there’s a WHOLE SECOND LAYER waiting to be devoured. The joy!
Christian made the mistake of getting me a single layered box of non-assorted chocolates several years ago and to his dismay I punched my finger in all of them like a twelve year-old to confirm that they all had to the same filling (who even eats those plain soft ones? Let’s be serious). I think I scarred him for life, so now he’s aware of the passion I have for the double decker sweets on February 14th. We laugh every time I think about it – but I mean, every guy who’s ever had a girlfriend should realize that you don’t mess with a girl and chocolate. Just let it happen.
That’s enough of my rambling for one day! If you have a Valentine’s food memory, please share it. Seriously – you’ll make my day! Thanks so much for reading, and you can check ouit my gift guide for him and her if you’re in the shoppin’ mood. XO –
I’ve shared this before, but as I’ve gotten older I find myself wearing more solids and neutrals over everything else. I look for versatility in everything I purchase, and I try to curate my closet with pieces that I know will take me through the seasons with their ability to be worn multiple ways. This includes only adopting trends that work for my body and when in doubt – keeping it neutral. I call it the Jennifer Aniston wardrobe! She always looks great, right?
Having a closet of versatile staples includes a great looking and comfortable pair of nude wedges that you can wear all day. These Aerosoles wedges are so ridiculously comfy, and the heel height is just right, letting me know I can wear them 9 to 5.
I have more energy and feel better this week, while C says he’s still tired and sad. Christian has worked until midnight in surgeries several times this week, so I can’t really speak for him – having this many eating restrictions when you work as much as he does and have very little time to eat or drink anything can certainly be a drag. All of his coworkers are telling him that he looks “thin” and his “eyes are sunken in,” and I’m like, BUT WHAT ABOUT ME? Just kidding. But I’m not.
Another confession (I mean… these are weekly, whoops) – while my in-laws were visiting they wanted to visit a vineyard, and Christian and I hated to not take them on a quick and easy trip to Temecula. SO he and I shared two wine tastings at different vineyards (may have equaled a little less than a glass total). I cheated, again, with liquids… again. This time I felt no side effects whatsoever, but I still wanted to be totally honest.
PROS:
I think never feeling bloated is really an even more amazing feeling than I thought it would be. I feel like my body operates at its peak when eating this way. While I’ve only lost 5 lbs. (you’re not supposed to weigh yourself but I did, sue me), I could really tell a difference when I tried on clothes at Nordstrom on Friday. I was wearing a whole size smaller than I usually do (I think it’s because grains are usually 75% of my diet). Not eating grains and dairy has me completely unswollen, which I find interesting.
I have been amazed that I don’t have intense cheese cravings. I thought I would really miss it, and it turns out I can totally live without it (except for worth-it splurges, like pizza or mac ‘n cheese).
I’ve noticed that I don’t get as distracted as I usually do. I have more focus, which is interesting (and helpful!).
I’m not a pork person but I’ve started incorporating bacon into dishes and I mean… when you can’t eat 29473957 things, bacon tastes like little strips of gold.
CONS:
I mean… is it annoying for me to keep talking about the dish washing? I hate washing dishes… I spend a large chunk of my day in front of the kitchen sink,.. I know, I know, cry me a river (Christian likes to sing this song to me when I whine).
Eating out continues to be a challenge/not fun, and I’m in social/work situations where dining out cannot be avoided. As a previous eater of all the things, I don’t like being the person who sits there and doesn’t touch her food because I can’t eat ____.
The only dairy item I really have missed is organic half & half in my coffee. Christian doesn’t usually use any sweetener so he’s ok in this area. After all of this, if the only dairy I consume is coffee creamer – I don’t know which is better for me – soy creamer, organic or coconut creamer? Canned coconut milk isn’t cutting it anymore!
In the absence of not being able to eat soy, grains, dairy, legumes, sugar, alcohol or anything processed (oy!), I find myself eating more meat than I usually do. I’m trying to eat more veggies and less meat but it’s hard with all of these limitations.
FAVES:
This salad (minus the cheese) + bacon + sautéed shrimp = heaven. I ate two servings and had to unbutton the top button on my jeans if that’s any indication.
We both love bruschetta, so I’ve been topping marinated lemon pepper chicken strips with tomatoes, basil, olive oil, salt and pepper. Delish!
Thank you guys SO much for all of your tips, support and recipes along the way! It’s been really fun to share these weekly updates with you guys and I’m really looking forward to the reintroduction process and sharing my final thoughts. Hope you’re having an amazing weekend! XO –
