Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Friday’s Five

– the farmer’s market berry selection by our house never disappoints –

– peony season at Trader Joe’s –

– this lovely sketch by Gabriela Giliberto of this outfit that made my day –

– my Dad proud to photo bomb my blog pics –

– some goodies to try out thanks to my friends at Luna –

To start off the week with a trip to Disneyland with your parents just can’t be beat (you may have seen some of the instagram pics that my Dad took for me, how cute is he?). I had so much fun playing around Orange County with my parents, and Christian was even able to join us on Saturday which was a treat. I sent them on their way to LA earlier this week, and I plan to join them today for a weekend in LA while Christian stays back to work.

Do any of you live far away from your parents and when they come to visit you’re totally surprised at what does and doesn’t impress them? I took my parents to some of our favorite spots, thinking I already knew what the “wow” factor would be. It turns out they were most impressed with a really tall eucalyptus tree down the street (like… who cares?), discovering the world’s largest wind chime at Fashion Island and a hipster ice cream place that bragged on the fact that its cows slept on memory foam mattresses (I live in Southern California… this is real life). Of course we had sunsets and Disney fireworks every night (you can see them from the town where I live), but I was like… really!? You think the beet hummus from Trader Joe’s is more impressive than this Laguna Beach sunset? Hhhhmmmm… “parents just don’t understand.”

So after my Dad performed his first-ever photobomb (he was proud), my parents told me I was wearing them out with all the activities I had planned and that on Sunday they wanted to take it easy at my house, get a good night’s sleep before our Disney adventure (we walked over 10 miles) and “take my blog pictures.” I started laughing and it only made them more determined. SO, this coming week you’re going to see photos by Dr. Williams, and I’m telling you – they’re not half bad! I told my Dad he needed to tell Christian, “I don’t know what you complain about… this isn’t that hard.” But of course he didn’t. #brocode

What are you guys doing this weekend? And please tell me funny stories about your parents – I know I’m not the only one who spends 15 minutes trying to explain to my them what “ride or die” means. Thanks for reading! XO –

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Palm Leaf Rompin’

When my parents came in town, Christian wanted to take them to Corona del Mar to see the jumbo waves and surfers at The Wedge. A trip to Southern California is never complete without a trip to the beach, so I was happy to hop in the car and the palm leaf romper was the perfect piece for a casual day in Newport and Laguna.

And I mean… it’s a palm leaf romper. What’s better than that?

Thanks so much for reading – and stay tuned tomorrow for a classic photo bomb from my Dad. XO –

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Father’s Day Gift Guide

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With Father’s Day this month (June 21st), it’s never too early to start thinking about what to get some of the guys in your life. And because the guys in my life are all so particular and hard to shop for, the wheels are turning in my head!

I feel like grilling, golf or outdoor gear is always a safe bet, and let’s be honest – they need our help to stay dapper, right?

Tell me the gift you got your Dad that was a hit – I love hearing y’alls suggestions!

Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Retro Glam

This dress, oh this dress. Remember when you were little and you would put on a dress-up dress and feel like a million bucks? The full skirt (perfect for twirling), the luxe fabric – it’s like you put on the dress and felt like the best, most fabulous version of yourself. That’s how I feel about this midi dress (and a similar love for this skirt and this skirt).

It’s so funny to see my girly-girl niece (and dare I say protégé) at three years old, falling in love with her princess dresses and dress-up baubles. She puts on a tulle skirt, her entire face lights up, and you can see how special she feels. Fast-forward 20 years and there’s a powerful feeling about feeling confident in the right dress and heels. At my day job (95% female), I see successful and powerful women running a global brand in 4-inch stilettos. And it’s a mighty fine sight to see.

This ladylike dress has a little bit of a First Lady vibe (I’m channeling my inner Jackie O), but I still love the red and white floral pattern and the statement it makes with its full skirt.

photos by Jason Huang

Thanks so much for reading, and tell me – what dress in your closet makes you feel like a #girlboss? XO –

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7 Tips to Summer Cleaning

I was perusing my house lately and realized how much extra clutter I had acquired in the past year. I think that’s part of why I love visiting hotels so much… having a nightstand with nothing but a lamp on it, or a beautifully empty bathroom countertop.

While I know that will never be my house (I admire minimalist so much because I am a lover of “things”), I still try to take steps toward de-cluttering wherever I can, so today I’m excited to team up with Seven Daughters Wine to share some of my tips for summer cleaning. And yes, I realize it’s really called “spring cleaning,” but spring came and went and I didn’t have any time to get on it, so don’t Internet shame me. Scroll on down for my tips!

7 Tips for Summer Cleaning:

1. Can you live without it? This is a hard one for me, but can usually determine whether or not I really love something. I’ve heard that the best way to clean out can be to divide your tasks in segments, and remove everything from that area (take everything out of drawers, the closet, cabinets, whatever you’re working on). Then sort through it before putting it back. The truth is, you can live without a LOT of the “things” that clutter your house, so remember to really curate your home with pieces that you love so much you can’t live without them.

2. Find something you forgot you had? Maybe that’s a sign you don’t need it. I’m a major victim of this! “Oh my gosh I forgot about these jeans…” which also means I haven’t thought about them in a year, so clearly I can live without them.

3. Switch it up. When you get bored, try switching things up before you buy something new. I like to try moving around throw pillows, coffee table books or accent chairs if I’m feeling décor stagnant (is that a phrase? Does that even make sense?).

4. Donate. This is something that always makes me feel better about clutter purging, knowing that if you donate the items it’s going to help someone else out there who needs it more than you. The easiest thing for me to apply this to? Unworn clothing and books I know I’m not going to read again.

5. Whistle while you work. Music can be a huge motivator, and making a killer playlist can make all the difference for me. Currently this playlist is my jam! Can you picture me dancing around my house to Robyn? Because it happens. And in my mind, my rhythm is a showstopper.

6. Set reasonable goals. Depending on the size of your housing, it may not be attainable to fully clean out in one day. Break it up into rooms and tackle one room per weekend or look at your calendar and mark off days you know you can clean out.

7. Treat yoself. Determine a prize that you can work toward once you complete your summer cleaning checklist. For me, a favorite prize is a tall glass of vino on the patio and watching the husband cook dinner for me. Why is he cooking dinner for me? BECAUSE I JUST CLEANED THE ENTIRE HOUSE. #winning

Have a great tip that I missed? Please share! I’m always looking to expand my OCD/Type-A clean house strategies.

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Friday’s Five

– mornings in my new favorite pajama set –

denim – Forever21 (old), similar here, here (40% off) and here | sweater c/o, no longer available, triple love this one | tank – Target (old), similar here | sunnies | bracelet

– coming home to a flower lei that Christian picked up for me on the way home = obsessed –

– picking up blooms in Corona del Mar that have lasted over a week –

– my new best friend this summer, Betty the flamingo –

– checking out these photos from a fun OC/LA blogger gal photo shoot –

This Friday is a little extra fun because my parents are visiting from Mississippi! They helped me do a little painting when we moved into our townhouse last year, and they also came to Malibu for a California Christmas. This time, I’ve forced them to stay with me (my Dad is more of a hotel kind of guy) and I can’t wait to treat them to a long weekend in our neighborhood before they head to LA to hang with my brother’s family.

I’m also heavily considering dragging them to Disneyland because fun fact – my pretty serious Dr. Williams dad is actually a huge Disney fan. I went four times as a kid with my family and recently took Christian to Disneyland for his second Disney trip. Now that I’ve been at least once here in California I feel like I have a better idea of where everything is, what is and isn’t worth the wait and so on so… I’m pretty pumped to go back with my parents (and also to let them pay for it… because I am the youngest child and can still use the “help me I’m poor,” as I’m pretty sure I’m still 18 in their eyes). I’m sure you’ll see some Mickey ears on instagram if we head that way!

What do you guys have planned this weekend? Or are you still recovering from last weekend’s festivities? Thanks so much for reading – I always love reading and replying to your comments! XO –

PS – Thanks so much to P.S. I’m from the Midwest for this adorable feature! Hollyn is such a doll, and it was a privilege to participate in her Catching Up With series. Y’all check it out and give sweet Hollyn some virtual web love!

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Black & White

When in doubt, go with solids that can’t go wrong. I recently snagged a few amazing cashmere pieces from Minnie Rose, and this short-sleeved black cashmere shirt is going to get a lot of wear. I think I told you guys about my eBay cashmere shopping spree, but a few turtlenecks and sweaters later, they are mostly kept in my closet for the occasional wear on a ski trip (or petting as I peruse my closet options… you know you’ve been there).

SO, when I realized short-sleeved cashmere was even a thing, you know I was all about it.

photos by Jason Huang

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Wednesday Wish List

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With so many great pieces I’m looking to add to my closet this summer, I couldn’t help myself from putting together another wish list (!!). Several of these picks are on sale (more info sales going on here), and several pieces are from a favorite shop of mine when I lived in New York for a summer – Scoop! I have such fun memories of walking into Scoop in Soho with my roommate and bestie Shallon and leaving with one of those brightly colored shopping bags. So I can’t help but peruse their site for the latest statement pieces.

Lots of solids, denim and a punch of color – what more do you need for summer?

Tell me what’s on your wish list! And where do you have some of your most fun shopping memories? Thanks for reading! XO –

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Plunge Top

Is a long weekend not the best thing ever? Christian actually had yesterday off (no worries – he did work on Sunday) and we had so much fun making the most of the weekend – hiking, brunching, wine tasting, flower picking, playing with my brother’s family and my little niece and nephew and hitting the pool (if you guys follow me on instagram or snapchat [CBLied], you may have seen the gigantic flamingo pool float that I’m obsessed with and got quite a workout inflating). It was one of those weekends perfectly split between adventure and relaxation – a hard balance to find but when you find it, it’s like striking gold.

But back to the clothes. I let my hair air-dry and kept it comfortable and simple this weekend for a date on the Circle. This gray tee comes in three colors and is actually reversible – how amazing is that? I paired it with these jeans that I have been wearing on repeat and some of my favorite accessories.

I’d love to hear what you did over the weekend! Thanks so much for reading you guys and I hope some of you snagged some great steals from all the discounts shared on Friday – XO –

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Friday’s Five + Memorial Day SALES!

– Bailey’s pool ready for the long weekend –

– always being able to count on our neighborhood berry selection –

– a new assortment of Sigma makeup brushes –

– photo booth fun at the Stella Artois event at a ranch outside LA where John Legend performed (life moment for sure)! –

– an assortment of new inflatables for the weekend (flamingo / donut) –

Hey hey hey!! It’s the weekend, and I hope all of you get an extra day off to celebrate Memorial Day and pay tribute to our veterans. According to historians, Memorial Day actually started in my hometown of Columbus, Mississippi when the women of the town went to Friendship Cemetery to put flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers. I think several towns claim to have started Memorial Day, but there is also a lot of history in my childhood church that was at one time transformed into a hospital during the war. There’s a lot of fascinating history there, and I still am so amazed that my hometown church is almost 200 years old!

Christian actually has the entire weekend off (including Monday!), so we plan to catch up with some friends of ours in Laguna, and I’m crossing my fingers my brother’s family makes it down to visit us in Orange County for a pool day. We’ve got the pool floats, a fridge full of booze and food to grill and bikes to ride – let’s do this summertime!

Tell me what you’re up to this weekend. Thanks so much for reading guys, and don’t forget some serious SALES:

You can still get up to 50% off select items this weekend at Nordstrom (shop my picks here)!

BaubleBar is offering 20% off site-wide using code MEMORIAL20, 25% off 3+ items using code MEMORIAL25 and 30% off 4+ items using code MEMORIAL30

Until 5/25 Amazon is offering 25% off fashion purchases with code FUN20SUN

20% off at Anthropologie

20% off at ASOS with code LONGWKND through 5/26

40% off at Banana Republic with code BRSUMMER

30% off at BCBG through 5/26

Bloomingdale’s is offering 20% off with code SPRING20 through 5/25

Handbag and shoe sale at Bluefly – an extra 20% off through 5/26

Additional 30% off sale items at DVF with code SUMMER30

20% off markdowns at Equipment with code MD2015 through 5/25

30% off EVERYTHING at French Connection with code FC30MS

15% off site-wide at Furbish Studio with code SUMMER15 through 5/25

25% off at J.Crew with code SUMMERLOVE through 5/25

Up to 70% off at Kendra Scott

Extra 25% off with code HOORAY through 5/25 at Macy’s

20% off at Max & Chloe with code VACAY

Up to 40% off at ModCloth

Up to 40% off select items at NastyGal with code HOT$TUFF

Up to 50% off everything at Old Navy

Up to 75% off at Revolve

Up to 55% off at Saks

40% off at Scoop NYC

20% off site-wide at Serena & Lily with code ALLOUT through 5/26

Up to 50% off at Spanx (love their workout gear!)

Have a fun and safe weekend!! XO

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Draped Dress

When I put this ensemble together, I felt both comfortable and totally myself. You know when you put those pieces together that feel so “you?” I strutted down the stairs to Christian and was all, “this outfit is so me.”

To which he replied, “it’s a lot of fabric.”

I’m fine with it. I love the t-shirt material of the dress that wraps into a side knot, which looks amazing on its own or with a vest or blazer layered over it. These sandals come in eight different colors, and with the simple and flattering style I’m (naturally) convinced I need all eight! I used to wear so much black when I had a more formal workplace, while I’ll always love all black everything, now that I live in Southern California I love wearing breezy, light colors.

Thanks so much for reading, and don’t forget to shop the Nordstrom sale – up to 50% off select items! XO –

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Nordstrom SALE, II

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So this morning I shared the news of Nordstrom’s major sale going on now through 5/31. Confession: I tried to prep and pick my favorites the night before the sale began… and literally none of the items I listed were on sale.

A) Yikes.

B) Story of my life, champagne taste on a beer budget.

C) I’ve got to fix this!

SO, now that the sale is underway, I’ve picked some Nordy’s faves that actually ARE on sale. I’m sorry about that guys, honestly, I was laughing when I was double-checking my picks and was like… “WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!?”

So I couldn’t finish the week off without correcting myself! Above are some steals that are worth checking out and tell me if you score something major! Thanks so much for reading and for your patience – XO –

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