Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Stress Reveals Character

My mom and I were recently talking about how crisis reveals character, and I told her that I actually feel like stress reveals character. In times of crisis, I have usually been able to keep a good perspective because there’s more of a responsibility to be strong for others who are involved. I feel my attitude is centered around a team mentality, which means in times of crisis you usually have support from family, friends and so on.

Stress however, is usually more self-centered. When I was engaged to Christian and we were weeks away from living together, I was so nervous to live with someone who would really see all the sides of me – the good, bad and ugly. Christian and I were engaged in February, and a few weeks later my niece Edie was born. She has a terminally ill disease and is severely handicapped. The joy of our engagement so quickly shifted by the aching of our hearts for my brother’s family and their firstborn child. Of course now, this experience has only made me love Christian and my family so much more intensely, but at the time, my heart was broken for so many reasons and I felt particularly stressed.

One time in particular, Christian was over at my house when we were engaged and I just knew I was about to cry the tears of an overwhelmed, exhausted bride. I went to the laundry room and shut the door, sitting down by the washer and crying. After a few minutes, Christian came looking for me and was like, “what is WRONG with you!?” Now it makes me laugh, but at the time, those private moments of stress and suffocation were exactly what I did not want him to see (and to be honest, I still prefer to be by myself when I’m feeling this way).

Another time, I came home completely exhausted and overworked, tried to act like I was fine, and then got in the shower and cried tears of stress. Once again, knock knock knock, “Kathleen… I can hear you crying.” So clearly you guys can tell I have a pattern when I am extremely stressed… a private pity party.

I so admire people who can remain calm in times of stress and it’s a trait I consistently long to have. A few tips I’ve tried that seem to work for me:

Get some fresh air. This might just mean a walk around the block, sitting on a park bench for a few minutes or walking to get a cup of coffee. Often a few minutes outside in the sunshine and fresh air, focusing on my breath, can put my head in a clearer space.
Laugh. Find something or someone to make you chuckle. A few of my favorites lately here, here and here.
Relax with scent. There may be a certain lotion, incense or a candle that calms you. I love to light incense or rub a little lavender essential oil on my wrists and neck.

Got some tips for how you handle stress or any good shower cries to share? Don’t hold back.

Thanks so much for reading and sharing! XO –

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Friday’s Five

– a mimosa and mani morning on my first Saturday at home in quite some time –

– when Christian comes home with fruit from his coworker’s yards –

– marble pajamas that are just too good to be true –

– a new day cream that I can already tell will be a summer beauty favorite –

– the sweetest surprise from the most fabulous friend that I adore –

I’m currently ringing in the weekend from Miami, the land of some of the most beautiful people. Yowza! The last time I was here was for my college bestie’s birthday four-ish years ago, and I remember feeling like I was the “real girl” in a sea of supermodels (you know you remember this SATC scene, a personal favorite).

I definitely plan on visiting Prime112 again with these California and New York girls I’m here with – the last time I was there I remember feeling super fancy when a stranger sent a drink to my table (no worries, I was years from being engaged to my dreamboat). That kind of stuff never happens to me so let me relish in my moment. I actually recently shared this story with Christian and he looked at me with attitude and gave me his usual review, “not impressed.”

I mean… sometimes I think I’ve created a sassy monster.

What do you guys have in store for the weekend? I know it’s Mother’s Day weekend so some of you must have some sweet plans! And if you have yet to get mom a gift (as in your mom, not my mom although I’m sure she’d love it), check out this post from last week with some of our family’s favorite gifts that don’t cost a thing.

Have a beautiful weekend and thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Striped Dress with Lace Trim

When I tried this dress on I thought, “if only I’d had this dress the year I was getting married!” This is one of those feminine, ladylike and polished pieces that can be such a versatile addition to your closet. Worn to luncheons, work, your own bridal showers (if you’re the bride), cocktail events – all you need is to alternate a few accessories, and it can work for almost any occasion.

Those of you who have been reading CBL for years (yes, this blog has actually been around for five years… I can hardly believe it and feel as though any of you who have been reading for the long-haul deserve a serious virtual-web-hug from me!) may remember hearing me preach that a white blazer is a closet staple. I actually wear my white blazer so much more than my black one. I think it looks crisp and stands out so much more than your standard black blazer!

And I’m still obsessed with my Anne Klein Fashion Fit watch (first shared here). I’ve discovered how stationary I am during the day and have really been trying to walk more, even if it just means taking the longer route in the office to get a cup of coffee or parking a little further away. I’ve also been wearing the lightweight black band (the watch comes with two band options which I love) when I sleep so it tracks how much deep sleep I’m getting… and now I’m turning into Christian by being obsessed with monitoring how much good sleep I get each night. Have any of you felt like this with your sleep monitoring watch, bracelet or app? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Wednesday Wish List

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Remember that sleeveless Ann Taylor trench everyone had last year? I was late to the game, and by the time I decided I couldn’t live without it, it was sold out.

The shortest horror story in history.

That’s why I’m mega excited to have spotted this beauty that was in my cart stat. I know it’s going to be the perfect addition to my California-layer-loving wardrobe, and I’m so excited to pair it with dresses, jeans and everything in between.

What was that piece you coveted that got away? Tell me. I have mad web hunting skills, you never know… I might be able to find it for you!

Thanks for reading, guys! XO –

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Tropical Maxi

I actually snagged this dress months ago but had been holding onto it for our vacation. I knew this dress on the beach would catch the most beautiful breeze and that I would feel full on J.Lo circa 2000 Grammy’s.

I remember telling C, “when I put this dress on, Kathleen disappears and J.Lo enters the room.” I’m sure he was like… “why is this my life?” It’s fine.

For those of you who visited yesterday, I want to remind you about this CBL bracelet stack that I seriously can’t get enough of. I worked with Busywrist to design a custom stack that is currently 15% with code CBL15. I love that it mixes both silver and gold with an evil eye – we all need some good energy, right?

Tell me what you think of the stack! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Wearing White on White

It’s no secret I love wearing white in the summer. Something about tanned skin against a crisp white anything is just everything that’s right with summertime. This linen-blend shirt is going to be on a heavy rotation… as in I may have worn it the day after this with denim cutoffs. The best!

Another item that’s going to be my partner in crime is this new Anne Klein Fashion Fit watch. It not only keeps the time and date, but it tracks your steps, monitors your sleep and keeps up with your calories burned. This watch keeps all of these valuable details while also looking fashionable, coming with two watch bands to match any ensemble (plus switching bands is also super easy). I actually learned how to work this baby while drinking wine on my couch and was grateful it wasn’t counting my calories consumed… as that could be quite frightening.

I had two dinners tonight. Just sayin’. Here’s to hoping this fab watch will help keep me in check for the bikini months ahead!

I also want to share that I have collaborated with the fabulous Megan of Busywrist to create this adorable bracelet stack that is now available to you guys as the CBL Stack (you may have also seen it worn here). WHAT!? So fun!! Y’all can get 15% off this week with the code CBL15.

Thanks so much for reading y’all, I hope y’all had an amazing weekend – XO –

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Friday’s Five

– this thoughtful surprise gift from the incredible team at Framebridge –

– this delightfully furry handbag –

– Gigi New York reading my mind –

– designing my first pair of shoes with Shoes of Prey (!!). Tassels, neon, python and hot pink… I mean = dream. –

– missing my roomies and friends from the blogger conference last weekend –

Heeeeyyyy Friday! Happy to welcome this weekend at home, the first in a while, especially because one of my closest friends from childhood is visiting for a wedding! I actually had not seen two of my childhood best friends in two years and got to see Anna in Dallas last weekend and Kady in LA this weekend – talk about jackpot. They’re those kinds of friends that when you’re together, you haven’t skipped a beat even if it’s been years. The best.

I will be in Miami next weekend, so I’m enjoying some California breeze until I travel back to the South. The last time I was in Miami I was in such awe of the beautifully blended culture (I remember feeling like chopped liver compared to the Cuban goddesses), I can’t wait to visit again. I am 100% the girl eating french fries in a muumuu in a cabana and pointing out all the pretty people at the pool. #neverchange

Can y’all believe that it is almost May… I mean, WHAT the WHAT!? I can’t believe summer is right around the corner, but I’m excited for it as adventures always seem to start in the summer. And this will be the first summer that I’m not moving in quite some time so HECK YEAH. I do not miss the annual hoarding of cardboard boxes around this time.

That reminds me, I should email my landlady and let her know we’re sticking around. Oh, to do’s!!

What are y’all doing this weekend and who has been to Miami recently? Thank you so much for reading!! XO –

PS – I have to share that World Market is offering 25% off today and tomorrow for their Friends & Family event with code FFWEB! I adore this place. For those of you who saw our home tour – I have several pieces from World Market. I think it’s time I snag C a desk!

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Embellished Midi Dress

This was one of those dresses I knew I would love as soon as I saw it. I love wearing white in the summer, and bonus points if it’s a flowy maxi with a little color. This is the kind of summer dress dreams are made of!

The top of the dress is embellished with sequins, thick threading and all kinds of “flair.” You know I love this, but since I wore my hair down, I found my locks constantly being snagged by the embellishment. Which meant I looked like I was fighting with a dress that was pulling my hair. An interesting visual if you stop to think about it. This are the things women do to look cute… I mean, WWCD (what would Carrie Bradshaw do)?

Go forward, I’ll wear my hair back… unless I one day gain the courage to get that lob I’ve wanted for a year. #haircoward

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Gift Guide: Mother’s Day

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Mother’s Day (May 10th) is a few weeks away and you know I had to give you some of my favorite picks for that special lady (or ladies) in your life. I don’t know about you, but my mom can be hard to shop for. The reality is that if she wants something, she just buys it for herself. And that woman has a lot of stuff… so what do you get the person who has everything?

For me – it’s either a funny gift like this (obsessed) or a story. My mom has a big scrapbook where she keeps stories we write. It could be a funny story about when I had a full out #whitegirlproblems moment and my car wouldn’t crank in the Bloomingdale’s parking lot at 9pm while Christian was performing surgery and not answering my calls OR when I drank to many margaritas and ended up giving a parking lot cat a new home.

Another idea is do what my sister did a few years ago and create a little book of “Karen-isms.” We compiled all the ridiculous things my mom is known to say (ex: “stop being a hater” and “I’m awesome,” whenever she completes a project). And of course she read it and laughed at every single one, saying “um YEAH, that’s true, totally agree,” only confirming that she stands by her Karen-isms.

What are some of your original gift ideas for your mom? And don’t have time to come up with some thoughtful, handmade gift? This guide’s gotcha girl.

Thanks for reading! XO –

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Palm Print Dress

This dress is like… a vacation staple, right? I love the comfortable fit-and-flare of the silhouette and the cutouts in the back are an extra dose of fun.

I wore this little number for our last dinner in Hawaii at Capische at the Hotel Wailea. That last night on vacation is so bittersweet… ok mostly bitter. But re-living our vacation through these posts has actually been so much fun and reminds me how important it is to treat-yo-self. I usually am the person who takes one vacation day here, two vacation days there, but to take a full week off is a rarity. Now that we live in California, there are so many new trips we want to take and Christian can’t take the one or two days off, rather he gets to pick four weeks a year to completely unplug. For that reason, we’ve become the week-long vacationers and I never expected for it to feel so much more relaxing.

Coming back to hundreds of emails is not so relaxing, but nonetheless, I’m grateful to have a reason to take this time for ourselves and experience something new together. What’s your vacation strategy? I’d love to hear.

Thanks so much for reading you guys! XO –

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Guide to Maui, Hawaii 2015

Oh my goodness, could this be my favorite post of all time!? YES. It’s a Monday (painful), and I’m hoping to take you away on a little vacation today…

I’ve been promising y’all to do a compilation of some of our favorite parts of our recent trip (especially for those of you lucky ducks that are heading to Hawaii soon, I am happy for you and also hate you… just kidding, but am extremely jealous, yes), and here it is.

Sidenote: you can catch the roundup of our day driving the Road to Hana here, this Friday’s Five toward the end of our trip and this post for more photos!

Because it’s practically in my DNA to be the paparazzi, I was taking snaps left and right to capture the moments that I knew I would want to look back on. Below are some of our Maui favorites:

Hotel: We stayed at the intimate Hotel Wailea. If any of you are thinking of Maui for your honeymoon or a romantic getaway – I can’t recommend this hotel enough. There are only 72 suites and when we were there, it was all adult guests. The staff is extremely attentive and helpful and the smaller resort allows a really peaceful experience.
- Complimentary amenities include yoga several days a week (I even convinced Christian to come with!), happy hour at the pool every day at 5pm, a mixology class on Sunday at the bar and a group kayak outing mid-week in the Pacific Ocean.
- We had an ocean view suite that allowed us to watch the sunrise while drinking coffee in fluffy robes on the cozy balcony every morning (if only every day could start like this) and watch the sunset at night when we were in the room. Incredible view! A few of those sunsets you can see below.
- The short walk to get Maui’s local organic coffee was another favorite part of my morning. Of course I bought some – but at home it’s just not the same!

Favorite meals: Mai Tai’s and dinner at sunset at Mama’s Fish House, the ahi tuna nachos at the Hotel Wailea pool (pictured below, I’m still drooling) and the fish and chips and fish tacos at Paia Fish Market. Other spots we loved were the pies at Leoda’s Pie Shop (key lime yes please), the cocktail menu at Humahumanukunukuapua’a and crab ramen with Asian truffle broth at Sansei.

Rental Car: A must. I would recommend a convertible for a memorable time!

Adventures: Road to Hana, the drive to Haleakala for the sunrise over the volcano (I shared these photos in the Road to Hana post), surfing and shopping in Lahaina (that’s where the potato chips on a stick and the frozen lemonade are from!) and stand-up paddleboarding in the calm (and delightfully warm) Pacific Ocean.

These were my absolute favorite parts of the trip. There was more that we did – but I just wanted to include the seriously brag-worthy notes! Of course there were things I would have liked to have done – snorkel, sail, take a helicopter tour, eat macadamia nut pancakes at The Gazebo, and this cinnamon roll place that I heard was life-changing – but until next time.

And of course some iPhone snaps:

I can’t thank you guys enough for all of your amazing recommendations and tips. I seriously read every single one and was making notes on my phone thanks to all of your feedback! Anything you think I missed? I’ll take any reason to go back!

Thank you for reading and for always being a part of these adventures with me. Sending out virtual hugs to “all yous!” *Real Housewives of NJ shoutout.* XO –

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Friday’s Five

– these seriously adorable Danielle Stevens rings (and I’m addicted to these studs) –

– this incredible illustration from the ever talented Jordan from this post –

– falling in love with the Via Maya collection –

– I’m always ready to pop some bubbly with Chandon, especially when paired with a spa package and grapefruit-cucumber-mint recipe. #sipdelicious –

– the cutest flats ever for less than $27 –

Hello from Dallas! As some of you may have seen on social media, I’ve arrived in fabulous Texas for a blogger conference. In years passed I was weary to use my vacation days to attend a blogger function (those vacay days are like gold you know), but this year I couldn’t be more excited to be here, especially because I need to take up these trips back to the South whenever I can!

I have a lot of traveling going on this summer that is both exciting and slightly exhausting, but I’m ready to embrace it all and even better when my plus one gets to come along.

In real news: Tuesday I had a 24-hour stomach flu that was anything but glamourous. I was tossing and turning, vomiting from 3:30AM on and I still had to pack to leave Dallas after work on Wednesday. Oy (I’ve been reading a lot of Andy Cohen, can you tell?)! Somehow I made it and time will tell if I forgot anything in my fatigue. Isn’t that the worst? I sincerely hope none of you get sick! Unless you get to lay in bed and watch blackish… then it might be worth it.

Here’s to the weekend!! What are y’all up to this weekend? Thanks so much for reading – and y’all snag those adorable flats for real! XO –

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Explore The Blog

Shop Around

Stress Reveals Character

Friday’s Five

Striped Dress with Lace Trim

Wednesday Wish List

Tropical Maxi

Wearing White on White

Friday’s Five

Embellished Midi Dress

Gift Guide: Mother’s Day

Palm Print Dress

Guide to Maui, Hawaii 2015

Friday’s Five