Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Staycation in Laguna Beach

Christian and I have had so much fun traveling all over the state of California exploring all of the fast-paced cities and charming pockets in this ridiculously beautiful state, but believe it or not, we have not had a “staycation” together, where we stay at a local hotel for the weekend and play tourist in our own city. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for so long, but when C has a weekend off we usually head out of town instead of looking down the road at all of the beautiful hotels right here in Orange County!

I’ve had friends come in town and we’ve gotten a beach-front hotel before, but C wasn’t able to experience it (I mean, #girlcode) and let me tell you – I’m about to be scoping out all the resorts and hotels in OC! We were invited to spend the weekend at the Pacific Edge Hotel, and the short drive, easy planned weekend far exceeded any expectations we had. The hotel sits on the sand with ocean-front rooms that will make your jaw drop.

Usually when we travel (like our upcoming trip to Kauai), we spend so much time researching the area – from extracurricular activities to restaurants, beaches, hikes and so on. With a staycation, you don’t have to worry about any of that – you know the area, and instead you get to see your town as an outsider. Honestly – it’s so much fun!

We had a little seagull visit us most days on the balcony, and sleeping to the sound of waves crashing is what dreams are made of. The hotel embodies the California vibe blending surf and beach cottage, and Christian brought his board to surf in the mornings by walking only a few feet to the ocean. I mean… the whole weekend has me thinking all I need in life is a little condo on the beach. Dreamy!

Honestly, I could have stayed a week, I can’t say enough about it! It was the most peaceful weekend, and we had an amazing meal at Driftwood Kitchen (that had plenty of Whole30 friendly items, hallelujah!). I’ve eaten at The Deck (also connected to the hotel), and some of the prettiest sunsets I’ve ever seen have been from that patio restaurant.

If you’re interested in staying a night or two in Orange County, I really encourage you to check out Pacific Edge Hotel. The beach-front room is worth the splurge because staying this close to the water is such a unique and memorable experience!

AND from now until 3/15 (excluding 2/12-2/14) an oceanfront room is $345 and village view $285 with promo code ELNINO. Escape from El Nino at a SoCal boutique hotel – I mean… if it were up to me I would stay there the whole month! There’s beachfront dining at both Driftwood Kitchen + The Deck (on the property) or since Pacific Edge Hotel is just one block from Downtown Laguna Beach, you can take a stroll to lots of adorable shops and restaurants. We also ate at Broadway and it was fab – great atmosphere.

So just to share, the El Nino package includes complimentary daily valet parking, TV + DVD player, charcuterie and cheese platter, “Laguna Local” umbrella + neighborhood “Sleepy Hollow” trucker hat, bottle of wine upon arrival, complimentary hot chocolate upon arrival.

And if any of you stays there… can I come with? It’s not weird, it’s natural. Just let it happen. Thank you guys so much for reading and please tell me about your staycation adventures in your city! Another Whole30 weekly update will be on the blog tomorrow – XO –

PS – the winner from Monday’s post is announced in the original post here! Thank you so much to everyone who entered!

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Classic Denim with Macy’s x Guess

Without a doubt, I wear denim at least 5x a week. I’ve always been a jeans lover, but since I’ve moved to California it’s become an even deeper love affair with the causal vibe of everyday, and I think we all agree that a great pair of jeans is a must-have closet staple.

I don’t discriminate against color or cut, but I think a great fitting pair of white jeans can go a long way, and this pair from Guess fits like a glove. Macy’s has a great selection of jeans in almost every style – classic or trendy – they’ve got you covered.

Do you have a classic pair of denim that always does the job? I’d love to hear what you love (check out Monday’s post and giveaway for the most amazing beauty steal suggestions from Walgreens in the comments section!). Thanks so much for reading! XO –

Sponsored by Macy’s

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Valentine’s Day for Her

valentine's day gift ideas for her

1 (comes in 6 colors!) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 (on sale!) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

Last week I shared some of my picks for him (based on what I know my husband likes), and this week we’re back to the girls! I think these are some great picks to forward to your guys OR for your girlfriend, sister or mom. My mom always had the sweetest Valentine’s gifts for me when I was in high school, and I hope that I have a daughter I can do the same for.

I have this scarf in two colors and absolutely love them – they’re thick, soft and extra long. This mug comes in several different words and is the cutest and these lipstick shades look like a trio of my rotating shade picks. Of course I’m a sucker for all Diptyque candles and I bet this one smells like a dream!

Do you have any special Valentine’s Day memories? My favorite from childhood would probably be when I was in the sixth grade and my mom told me that after school she would take me to get my ears pierced! C and I almost always go to a steakhouse, and it’s something he definitely always looks forward to. Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Fit and Flare

It’s no secret that I love winter whites, so when I got this white skirt (only $33!), I knew it would be the perfect date night piece for our staycation in Laguna. I paired it with neutrals, but I think it would look just as cute with a black turtleneck and over-the-knee boots. It brings just the right amount of volume and makes a statement on its own, so I like keeping the rest of the look simple while the skirt steals the show.

And this coat (which is on major sale) – I wish I had this beauty when I was in New York, but I definitely plan to bring it back when I head back to the city in a few weeks. I’m a sucker for a tie-waist coat and have some fur cuffs that are begging to go for a spin!

Do y’all have any of these neoprene “scuba” skirts or dresses? I love how lightweight they are while still keeping their form so well – genius! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Natural Everyday Makeup

carrie bradshaw lied

I’m the girl who has been wearing the same kinds of eyeshadows since jr. high, and rose-tinted hues have always been some of my faves! When I went to the People’s Choice Awards a few weeks ago, I loved seeing women with natural, glowing makeup on the red carpet, reminding me that you don’t have to wear a lot of makeup to look and feel great.

Covergirl has the most beautiful rosey-hued eyeshadow palette, some seriously volumizing mascara and a pinky-mauve lipstick that gives me the soft, feminine look I’m going for. Even better, you can snag all of these affordable items at your local Walgreens. OR you can enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post and win a swag box of your own!

I used two of the darker brown shades and blended them into my crease, adding a lighter pink on the inner corner and blending toward the middle. I used the darkest shade to smudge into both my top and bottom lash line, and pulled it all together by curling my lashes and adding two coats of mascara. Add a few quick strokes of lipstick and you’ve got a rosey eye and lip that keeps the focus on you!

covergirl eyeshadow carrie bradshaw lied blog katy perry mascara best drugstore mascara

By leaving a comment and sharing your favorite beauty item that can be found at Walgreens, you’re entering to win:

Update 1/22: Our winner is Miss #92, Ashlee! Thank you SO much to all of you who entered!

Do you have any drugstore makeup favorites? Or are you like me – still wearing the same hues from high school? #Nojudgement. Thanks so much for reading! XO –

Sponsored by Procter & Gamble

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Whole30: Week 2 Review

Last week I shared how I was feeling 10 days into Whole30, so today I’m sharing what’s changed 17 days in! My overall attitude at this time is… bleh. I’ve settled into the eating plan and when I’m home it’s no big deal… but I’m not necessarily excited about meal times.

Confession: I had a few glasses of wine at the People’s Choice Awards. And guess what happened next? I threw up. Twice. What the what? And it was a Malbec from Argentina and two glasses of Meiomi Pinot Noir – that’s the good stuff! A few glasses of wine used to be a Thursday night (I mean, it’s basically the weekend), and now it made me sick to my stomach? I don’t regret it, but I am glad it’s taken that wine craving away. The book says if you cheat to start over, but I’m not because… I’m not. However, I felt I needed to be truthful with you guys!

PROS:

Eating so many vegetables has challenged me to branch out and try new veggie that I wouldn’t reach for beforehand.

I’m getting sick of chicken and red meat, so I’m challenging myself to cook more seafood and it’s a nice change.

CONS:

In the 30 days we are doing Whole30, so far I’ve had an overnight stay in LA for work, two separate work dinners in LA and guests in town for 8 of the 30 days… which has made eating a challenge. If I had to pick 30 days where I wasn’t traveling, having visitors or attending food-centered work meetings… I would never be able to do Whole30 because so is life! So I’ve worried that when trying to do my best eating out that I’ve cheated – who knows what oils they’re cooking with, etc.

The clear skin has left me unfortunately, I’ve got some blemishes on my chin and I’m usually ok in that area… not a huge deal but I just wanted to share because last week my skin was really clear! Of course this could be due to other factors as well.

I strongly dislike how much I think about food. I’m constantly cooking, washing dishes, reading labels, looking up new recipes, making grocery lists, meal prepping, chopping vegetables, thinking about what I can eat… I don’t like food to take up this much of my thoughts. I like to just eat when I’m hungry and call it a day!

FAVES:

I know Whole30 discourages smoothies, but I needed something in the morning that wasn’t eggs or fruit… and this smoothie is so delish and really cures a sweet tooth!

Christian has been eating raisins to satisfy his sweet tooth – which works for him but makes me laugh because I’ve never really seen him snack on handfuls of raisins?

Have you done Whole30? What helped you survive the halfway slump? Thanks so much for reading and I hope you’re having a great weekend! XO –

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Friday’s Five

– choosing between fabric swatches for a fun collaboration with Comfort Works –

– morning walks on the beach (leggings | top | bag ) –

– putting the tree up, but welcoming the open space –

– fresh touches for a visit from my in-laws –

– snuggled up for a lazy morning working from bed in my new Royal Scout throw (15% off through 1/22 with code royalcarriebradshawlied)-

Happy Friday! I took a break from Friday’s Five during the holidays because I had so many other fun things I wanted to share with you guys – but I’m hoping to bring them back! I love reading recaps of other people’s weeks, and I’ve always thought it was fun to share.

The faux fur throw is a new addition as of late, and let me tell you – this beauty puts other faux furs to shame! It has this amazing, heavy weight and the bottom side is the coziest plaid. When looking for fur throws, I think the key to the most luxe look is to find one that has slightly longer hairs, and this one has hairs over an inch long, giving it that ultra chic, high-end look. If you’re in the market – you won’t be disappointed in this beauty! I think she’s found a permanent home on our bed. If you’re interested in taking the plunge, for one week you can get 15% off with code royalcarriebradshawlied!

Tomorrow I’ll be posting my second round of Whole30 reviews… I think I’m in a slump so it might not be as upbeat as last week’s, but I promise it will be honest!

My in-law’s are coming to visit for their second time since we’ve lived in California, and it’s been really fun watching Christian plan their visit for such a long time. My parents have been able to come visit more times than I can even count, but for C’s schedule is so much more difficult, so it’s really a treat when his family can spend time with him.

I hope you guys have an amazing weekend and as always, thank you so much for taking time out of your day to visit CBL! XO –

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Glowing and Smooth Skin

It’s no secret that the best beauty weapon is great skin. I have my mom to thank for my olive complexion, but she also instilled skincare advice to me when I was young and has always been good to her own skin. I have used a gentle face cleanser like Purpose Soap and Oil of Olay moisturizer since I was in high school!

Crest White-Strips are a no-brainer these days, and my Venus razor always stays in my travel toiletries bag. All of these items you can snag at your local Walgreens without breaking the bank. Who said great skin had to be expensive?

Do you have any skincare secrets that are budget-friendly? I’ve been on the hunt for the the best drugstore blemish cream and have yet to find the perfect one! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

Sponsored by Procter & Gamble

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Valentine’s Day for Him

valentine's day gift guide for him

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

I know you’re thinking, “check yourself, I literally just put up my Christmas tree (or was that just me?)” BUT you guys – Valentine’s Day is around the corner and you know I like to get started early!

Like always, I rounded up a men’s gift guide with things Christian already owns and loves (like anything Kiehl’s, this watch, these Sperry’s and bluetooth headphones) or things that I wish he’d embrace (like this adorable tee and this musk that I actually wear sometimes).

I’ll be continuing to share my gift guide picks for your friends, yourself (#treatyoself… or forward to your guy) and your sweet tooth! Thanks so much for reading – and if you’ve ever gotten a V-day gift to remember, I’d love to hear! My favorite would be the engagement ring I got three days after Valentine’s Day a few years ago. XO –

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Black Pleated Maxi Skirt

If you guys follow along on Instagram or Snapchat (CBLied), you may have seen that we had a little “staycation” recently in Laguna Beach at the Pacific Edge Hotel. It was so convenient, so beautiful, so fun and left me thinking… why on earth don’t we do this more? I plan to share a lot more next week in a full post, but I am on full staycation mode and am going to be hunting some more gems in Orange County!

This outfit – I mean, you guys know my love affair with maxi’s of any kind. A maxi dress or skirt on the beach is always a good idea, and I wore this little outfit before we had dinner on the beach. This “top” is actually a bodycon dress that I wore underneath this flowy skirt, and I’m already thinking of other ways to wear the skirt – leather jacket and booties, chambray and wedges, crop top and sandals…

Thanks so much for reading! Have you ever had a little vacation in your own city? I’d love to hear about it – I now think staycations are so underrated! XO –

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New Year Hair Resolutions

I know we all come up with New Year resolutions (exercise more, de-clutter the house, dine out less and eat in more are always at the top of my list!), but this year, I’ve teamed up with Pro Beauty to share my beauty goals and I’ve already tried implementing them this month.

I used to wash my hair every day. For the past year, I’ve tried to find a dry shampoo that I really love (I’ve been using this one, but I’m still trying to find a good one for brunettes if you have any recommendations) because I want to wash my hair less and find new ways to wear it up. Otherwise I touch it or play with it during the day, making it oily. I have so many baby hairs that my top knots don’t always look as polished as I’d like, so I want to find cute ways to pull it back without leaving braid indentions or creases.

Enter the perky ponytail! I have really fine hair, so I sometimes use this little trick when I want a visually pleasing ponytail. My long hair (that has no body whatsoever – I have hair like a child I’m serious) tends to weigh it down, but I will separate the bottom half, securing it with a hair band. Then I’ll tease and fluff the top portion of my hair, loosely pulling it back over the existing ponytail and securing with a no-crease hair tie.

Leave a few pieces out, create loose waves with the Pro Beauty Tools 1 1/4″ Curling Iron, and you’ve got a sleek and sophisticated pony that will last all day. Trying new ‘do’s like this help me wash my hair every 2-3 days, and it’s a pattern I aim to continue throughout the year.

The 24K gold platted barrel of this iron provides advance heat technology that’s ideal for all hair types. AND for you ladies looking to use less heat on your hair in the New Year, the direct heat of the gold barrel penetrates hair faster so you don’t have to hold the iron in your hair as long, reducing the amount of time your hair is exposed to heat! My fine hair will be thanking me for sure.

Do you have any hair resolutions for 2016? And is this dark hair as jet black to you guys as it feels to me? Yowza! I recently had a stylist bring the color back to my roots and it’s been so many years since my hair has been this dark I don’t even know what to think!

Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –

Sponsored by Pro Beauty

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Whole 30: Week 1 Review

In November when I hosted my Party for Her, Kayla Fruchtman of Healing Waters and The Her Initiative was staying with me and telling me about her experiences with Whole30 – a program challenging 30 days of extremely clean eating (no cheating!), followed by a 10-day reintroduction process to see which food groups may or may not irritate your stomach (quick rundown here).

I was fascinated. I’m not one for a rigid eating program, but the purpose of this is to learn more about your body, how it tolerates foods and how you feel when you eat the way we are intended to eat… I feel like it’s a mostly vegan diet with meat and eggs.

SO, after sharing some of my Whole30 journey on Snapchat (CBLied), you guys were asking questions and screenshotting all my meals. After asking earlier this week if y’all would be interested in hearing weekly updates – the majority of you said yes so here we are! Every Saturday I plan to share some pros and cons of the week and my favorite recipes.

I am 10 days in, so far:

PROS:

I must cook healthier than I thought because the meals taste good and not much different than what we normally eat.

Christian has gotten so into it, which really surprises me!

My skin is totally clear and dewy.

Seeing a refrigerator full of fruits and veggies, organic produce – it makes me feel confident and happy with my purchases. As I learned watching Food Inc. years ago, every time a food item runs across the scanner, you’re voting. As an animal lover, free-range and grass fed is a non-negotiable.

I feel completely debloated and I never feel swollen or overly full after meals.

CONS:

I miss wine. It might be my only real craving.

I don’t like that it makes me avoid social scenarios that involve restaurants or alcohol because I’m concerned I’ll cheat.

Traveling is really, really hard. Even if it’s just a staycation or two nights in LA – it’s hard. Thankfully in California we can eat vegan without the soy and get away with it, but if I didn’t live somewhere so accommodating, it would be even harder.

I’ve had some indigestion getting use to eating so many veggies… my friend Marissa recommend this.

I feel like I spend all my time at the kitchen sink washing dishes, pots and pans… no one likes that!

I’m starting to feel so tired and sluggish all day. They say mid-way through the program you have tons of energy… ready for that to kick in!

FAVES:

Egg scramble with lots of veggies and avocado tastes so indulgent and delicious.

Clementines and apples are some of my favorite snacks.

Egg salad for lunch never gets old for me.

A banana and almond butter is my go-to if I’m hangry.

Lemon juice. On everything!

This taco salad is so good!

Let me know if there if there is anything specific you guys are wondering and if you’ve done Whole30 before – I’d love to hear about any favorites you might have! Thanks so much for reading – XO –