Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Best Kindle Reads

sweater c/o | similar denim here and here | mug | kindle c/o

I’ll admit, I love a paper book. I love to leave my previous airline tickets as bookmarks and highlight or underline my favorite parts. I love stacking them on the bookshelf and glancing at them, remembering the intense plot lines or funny parts of biographies.

But the problem is that I never read them twice, and ultimately they crowd up my house sitting in stacks because I can’t part with them. The reality is that my bookshelf is currently full and I’m not looking to add to the collection, and therefore have been dragging my feet when there are so many books I want to read. SO, when the opportunity came to team up with Amazon to try the Kindle, I was all about it. It’s something I’ve been thinking about trying for almost a year but couldn’t take the final step to take the plunge.

After reading books on it for over a month, I’ve got to say I’m into it. I’m finally making a laundry list of the books I’ve wanted to read for months so I thought I’d share my top picks with you!

Sidenote – for those of you traveling, you can also download travel guide e-books to your kindle. I would never think to do that, but it’s genius!

1. Amy Poehler’s Yes Please

2. Peter Nichols’s The Rocks

3. Jessica Knoll’s Luckiest Girl Alive

4. Mary Kubica’s The Good Girl

5. Gillian Flynn’s Dark Places

6. Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? I’m actually reading this now and it’s hysterical –

What have you read this summer that you would recommend? I’m making it a priority to read more (I’ve always loved having my nose in books but not like… intellectual ones, more like Harlan Coben mysteries, #guilty) and would love to hear your picks! This year my favorite picks have been DVF’s The Woman I Wanted To Be (absolutely amazing), Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, Paula Hawkins’s The Girl on the Train and Andy Cohen’s The Andy Cohen Diaries. LOVED all of them – although I confess The Girl on the Train was my least favorite… I think there was so much hype around it I expected something different.

Thanks so much for reading and sharing! XO –

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Southern Style

I recently discovered this little area in downtown Santa Ana that feels so incredibly Southern to me (and it was even incredibly hot and humid the day we snapped these photos, so you know that’s definitely a quick trip home), and paired with this dress it was honestly like I was suddenly transported back to the South. I even followed up this photo sesh with fried chicken and biscuits at 4th Street Market (if you live in OC you guys have to visit this place it’s amaze!) – like… what could be more appropriate!?

In addition to gushing over this sweet dress, I also wanted to share with you guys this Dittos Endless Eyewear program. You pay a flat fee of $19 per month and you can constantly rotate between different designer shades. You can keep a pair for months at a time or switch them out as often as you like, AND should you choose to want to keep the pair forever, you can use your credit to snag ’em. If you’re interested in being a part of the program you can get your first month FREE with code CBLied!

photos by Jason Huang

Thank you so much for reading! XO –

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Friday’s Five

– these loafers that take loafers to the NEXT LEV –

– breakfast al fresco –

– Mary Kay lipsticks that seriously feel like luxe chapstick, love! –

– farmer’s market figs –

– a belated birthday delivery –

Hey weekend – so glad to see you! Christian and I haven’t had a relaxing weekend at home together in over a month, so I’m excited to have some downtime, even if he’s working most of the weekend. So it’s safe to say I’m looking forward to the weekend more than he is, but I plan to make him some fresh and healthy dinners followed by not-so-healthy brownies (his fave) – so hopefully that will put a smile on his face!

We’ve had some cooler weather this week, so our dinners have picked back up on the patio (if you follow on Snapchat: CBLied, you’ve seen the photos!). It’s amazing what sitting outside in the fresh air for dinner does to my attitude in the evenings. After a long day at work followed by sitting in traffic, eating dinner with Christian and the pets on the patio feels so refreshing and definitely changes my mindset. I think I undervalue the positive affects of fresh air – are you guys like that?

So I went on a Forever21 shopping spree for the first time in what felt like years, but I snagged some seriously great basics like this crossbody bag, this t-shirt dress and some simple tees. Hoping everything fits!

What are you guys planning for the weekend? I’d like to say I plan to go to the pool but I’ll probably opt to get ahead on my blog and use self-tanner instead. #Confessions. Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Seeing Stripes

You guys have probably seen this skirt all over my instagram feed (like here and here). Because I can’t stop wearing it! I love how it falls at that length where it’s long enough to be appropriate for any setting but short enough to be a little flirty.

This Topshop tank (only $28!) has seriously been a summer closet staple for me. I’ve styled it in the above two instagrams as well as here, and I absolutely need it in black to wear into the fall. I also love the full camisole versions seen here, here and here! If you love something, snag it in every color, right?

skirt c/o Ella + Scott Boutique, fits true to size | crop top c/o, fits true to size, can be worn with petals or a strapless bra | heels c/o | earrings, no longer available, love these, these and these | “take me away” cuff c/o | diamond bangles c/o | clutch – Bahamas souvenir, love this one and this one (33% off!) | sunnies – no longer available, steal these, splurge on these | taupe cuff c/o

Thanks so much for reading! Where would you guys rock this skirt? XO –

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Wednesday Wish List

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

Last week was all about home, and this week I’m back on the prowl for closet gems… with the exception of the mirror game. More on that in a second!

How adorable is this sweatshirt dress? Under $40 and comes in three colors – I think this would look so great with sandals, wedges or over-the-knee boots. This shirt looks like a closet staple, and these lace-up beauties come in both beige and black – talk about hot! I also cannot get enough of this adorable dress – it reminds of a dress I used to wear all the time in college.

So I’ve been on the mirror hunt for a mirror for our guest bedroom. Something I notice when I’m staying with friends and family is whether or not there is a mirror in the room, because I hate to hog the shared bathroom to do my makeup, hair, etc. I think something as simple as having a mirror in each bedroom can be a huge game changer and allows guests to feel comfortable staying in their room until they’re ready. I love this one, but I’ve also been perusing Craigslist for any antique beauties. How pretty is this one and this one?

Any suggestions for places to shop for mirrors? Thanks so much for reading and y’all have a fab week! XO –

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Lady in Red

I’m finally sharing my last round of photos from our time at Miramonte Resort in the desert (more posts here and here)! It was love at first sight when I saw this red maxi dress. The color, the pattern, the way it falls and the cutout back – ooh la la! These earrings were the perfect addition because I mean… what screams summer more than bright tassel baubles!? If you love them too you’re in luck – they’re 20% off until Friday with code CBL20!

Christian snapped these photos quickly before dinner and fun fact – it was sprinkling the whole time. He was such a trooper though, and I felt a little bit like this. But I bought him a few cocktails to make up for it!

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Floral Midi

I love styling midi skirts because I think they’re so fun and flirty – you can see similar skirt stylings from previous posts here, here and here. This ensemble felt so Carrie Bradshaw-esque that you know I couldn’t help myself (insert praise hands emoji)! I think I was subconsciously channeling Carrie’s outfit in this scene with the studded belt. Something about pairing the feminine floral with the edgier belt felt like such a perfect pairing of my Mississippi and California style.

Today I’m sharing how you can shop this look on this blog, my social media and through Piccing. Piccing is the first lifestyle shopping experience built on a visually-driven social platform that gives shoppers globally the tools to access and purchase multiple items through an image. This could be anyone from a celebrity to your girlfriend! All you have to do is create a free account, upload an image and “picc” up to five shoppable items associated with the image.

They already have 80 million members, which means more styled images to peruse and shop. You can check out my profile here, as well as Piccing’s blog here. Their blog helps give more insight into how Piccing works and features the users they “cherry picc” they highlight.

photos by the talented Jason Huang

Thank you so much for reading! XO –

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Wednesday Wish List

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

We are in the process of waiting for our new sofa to arrive before we move our current downstairs sofa upstairs to the home office, and I’m in a full-on nesting mode. I go through these phases where I want to sell everything in my house and start over, is anyone else like that? My sweet in-laws also gave me a slipcovered chair for my birthday that C shared I’d had my eye on, so I’m ready to move that baby in.

Is this not the coolest outdoor chair ever? I think it goes hand in hand with a glass of wine and patio bistro lights, am I right? I also have a similar ladder in our house that my mom made for me in college, you may have seen photos of it here or here. I love hanging blankets on it and it continues to be a piece I love having in our home.

I received the most adorable picnic basket (you may have seen it here) from one of my bridesmaid’s moms as a wedding gift and it remains one of the cutest things we have – something I love but probably wouldn’t have bought for myself. Great gift idea!

Any home pieces on your wish list? I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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That Pink Door

I knew when we recently went to Palm Springs we had to make a stop at the iconic pink door with its own hashtag, #thatpinkdoor. Honestly, it was even more adorable in person that I even imagined! It felt like it was 150 degrees in the desert, yet I was smiling ear to ear because this door was too cheerful not to, plus this off-the-shoulder Topshop number just fit the bill so perfectly.

Christian participated in taking about 30 photos and then politely jumped back in the car with AC. No judgement.

Have any of you been to Palm Springs and seen this beauty? Or better yet, have any of you convinced your husband why you should paint your front door pink or Tiffany’s blue? Because I’ll take all the advice in that area I can get.

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Red Lace

A few weekends ago I had a meeting in Venice, and Christian joined me so we could visit the canals for the first time. It was so much fun to walk up and down the walkways, looking at all the charming homes along the canals and even spotting a mama duck and her babies swimming by!

This red dress combines so many things that I love – the midi length, red, lace – and I think it would be such a great dress for a wedding. It brings the va-va-voom on its own!

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Friday’s Five

– this adorable baby ginger jar from my in-laws –

– the prettiest gold scissors from White Elephant Designs –

– seeing spots with Yosi Samra –

– throwin’ shade –

– wrapping up an indescribable week –

I can’t even begin to explain what this week has meant to my heart. I came to the Dominican Republic this week for The Her Initiative, an organization that works to provide clean water to women and children and empower women. What is more powerful than that?

I can’t wait to share more with you guys in the future with a full post on what this experience has exposed me to and what I’ve learned from these joyous, welcoming and loving children – there’s too much to say in just a Friday’s Five!

Y’all have a beautiful weekend and thank you so much for reading – XO –

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Shades of Pink

I drive past this bougainvillea every single weekday on my drive home from work. It catches my eye every time, and what you can’t see in these photos is that the bougainvillea bush wraps around a really tall palm tree. I love how vibrant the blossoms are, and after it rains there will be hot pink petals all over the ground. It only takes a week or two before it’s completely full with beautiful flowers again, and I am always amazed it bounces back so quickly!

On the drive home from church a few weeks ago I asked Christian if he would pull over so we could snap a few photos. I think because I’ve passed by this palm tree bougainvillea hybrid so many times, these photos are probably some of my favorite that we’ve taken all summer. We’re going on our third year living in California, and the bougainvillea that is sprinkled all over this state never ceases to take my breath away.