When I first saw this dress, I immediately loved how feminine it was. When we lived in the South, I actually rarely wore white or ivory dresses because it seemed like we were always attending engagement parties and wedding festivities. In these events, of course you want the bride to be the only one wearing white, so I would opt for another color or a patterned dress. Now that we live in California we attend very few wedding events, and when we do they’re super casual. So white is back on the table, oh yeah!
This was actually the exact outfit I took to Palm Springs for Valentine’s dinner with Christian (and magically didn’t stain it – major points for me). I can’t wait for the chance to wear it again – it’s so thin and lightweight, making it both ladylike and comfortable. Scroll down for my favorite white and ivory midi picks!
Also, I couldn’t leave out that Shopbop is having an amazing sale this week, including full-price and sale items! Spend $250+ and get 15% off, spend $500+ and get 20% and spend $1000+ and get 25% off with code BIGEVENT15. Below are some of my favorite picks:
Tell me what you’re lusting after! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
This is most definitely a “what would Carrie Bradshaw do” moment in my closet. I originally paired the peplum top with the hot pink skirt and tossed in the floral sandals, looked in the mirror and thought, “is this too much?”
What would Carrie Bradshaw do?
If she felt great, she would rock it. And I thought it was adorable, so even though I got a raised brow glance from Christian, I didn’t care. I felt like a cotton candy cupcake, and I’m into it. That’s what’s fashion is all about – taking risks and seeing how it works out.
Do you have moments when you’re pairing something together and you think, “this might be considered ‘too much’ but I feel great and therefore I’m wearing it.” Because I have this moment often, and I think the most important accessory of all is confidence. If you’re uncomfortable, you’ll look uncomfortable.
If you feel great, own it. Thanks so much for reading! XO –
Y’all may remember seeing a similar skirt here. CAUSE YA DID. I loved this beauty in red so much that I needed it in green too!
On Sunday I went to LA with my girlfriend Nikki to an Academy Awards viewing party at the W Hollywood. I knew this skirt would bring the va-va-voom without looking like a ball gown, as if I was actually attending the awards show. Of which I clearly was not.
I felt very Carrie Bradshaw, and I have to admit the skirt was a showstopper. If you guys have any glam event to attend – this skirt will turn some heads, I guarantee it!
Because I always have a lust list, this week’s wish list is a little all over the place. From a gold bar cart under $215 to classic neutrals, a scalloped swimsuit and a concealer I’ve been wanting to try – I actually keep a little note on my phone of things I’ve got my eye on. Is that weird? I also keep notes of people’s travel tips/recommendations, movies I’d like to see and restaurants I’d like to try.
But this necklace… oh this necklace. I usually like to layer statement necklaces for even more va-va-voom, but with this beauty I can tell I wouldn’t even need to worry with that. When it comes to jewelry, I’m usually a “more is more” kind of gal. Call it the Southerner in me!
What’s on your wish list? Are y’all in this chilly weather living/spring wishin’ phase like me? Thanks for reading – XO –
I’m excited to team up with HP to share the new HP x360 laptop with you guys. HP is bending the rules with this bad boy and the lightweight laptop can be used four ways – traditional laptop, tablet, tent and stand. I wanted to share the capabilities of this device with my favorite computer accessory… coffee!
I’m sharing my four favorite coffee recipes (as of late), kicking it off with a traditional latte and the traditional laptop. We’re still working on mastering our latte art, so we’re gonna need some time on that one. Don’t judge, we tried. When I actually get up when my alarm goes off (realistically 1-2x a week), I love to sit on our patio with Bailey and a hot cup of coffee. I’ll share my blog post of the day on social media and catch up on emails. I love that quiet morning time so much, you would think this would be more motivation to get out of bed.
I’ve shared a frappuccino recipe here, but this Caramel Frappé is like dessert. When our last apartment didn’t have air conditioning (and I was unemployed for a relaxing two months) icy cold morning frappuccinos were my go-to. My tip: use leftover coffee to make coffee ice cubes rather than using regular ice.
These days, this drink is more of a dessert, which pairs perfectly with the x360 used as a tent to catch up on my favorite shows (usually Girls).
I recently saw this iced Mint Mojito Iced Coffee here, and I was all MUST MAKE IMMEDIATELY. This refreshing drink does not disappoint and is a great recipe for those weekend mornings when you have a little bit more time on your hands to take your coffee to the next level.
A perfect sip to go along with perusing the web and catch up on all the blogs I follow using my x360 as a tablet.
When I need an extra hitch in my giddy up (yes I just said that, I am from Mississippi y’all), espresso is my caffeine of choice. I will pour espresso over ice cubes and top it off with some white mocha syrup. As the ice melts and slightly dilutes the espresso, it’s still delicious to sip on all morning. A great morning drink on the go!
Sidenote – having dual monitors is my work addiction. Once you start working on two monitors, you can never go back. It’s full-on #firstworldproblems. With the x360, it’s so easy to use the laptop as a stand on my desk for an extra screen.
To add to the fun, HP is going on the road with Meghan Trainor to cover her That Bass tour this month and next month. Follow along here!
What’s your favorite coffee drink? And I’m not talkin’ a regular cup of jo. Let’s get creative here! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
Thank you to HP for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own!
So I don’t know if I’ve fully shared my love of cashmere and eBay on this blog before, but there’s no time like the present.
My entire family, actually, is all about some eBay. I’ve snagged fragrances, Lacoste sweaters, a Burberry trench, designer belts, you name it. In this case, I adore cashmere but refuse to pay hundreds of dollars for it, especially now that I live somewhere that rarely dips below 55 degrees.
Not to worry, this season I’ve snagged camel and black cashmere turtlenecks on eBay, as well as an oversized gray cashmere batwing sweater that is like wearing a blanket, and I love it. I didn’t pay more than $40 per item, and I know these are chilly weather staples that will be hanging in my closet for years to come.
I must also share that these leggings are my new lifeline. They are made of extremely durable and thick while flattering fabric that also has a tummy control panel. I love them so much I could marry them. I’ve been wearing them at least once a week and love how comfortable and sleek they are. I seriously should just go ahead and throw all of my other leggings in the trash because these are 800x more flattering.
So are any of you guys eBay shoppers? I’d LOVE to hear some of the things you’ve scored! Make me jealous! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
– enjoying watching the flamingos last weekend, and convincing myself if I was a bird I would be a flamingo (tall, pink, a little goofy) –
– the best kind of breakfast – Shop Sucre macarons and King Cake –
– someone’s still offended she didn’t get an invite to Disneyland –
– reflecting on a relaxing weekend in the desert –
– a touch of pink –
February has brought some fun weekends this year that I’m all about after a quiet January. Last weekend we enjoyed some R&R (more like I enjoyed considering C was in conference meetings during most of the daytime) in the desert and this Sunday Christian kicks off a week of vacation. Tonight, my brother-in-law (C’s little brother) arrives from Mississippi to take part in a California vacation. Christian and his brother are really close and it blows my mind we’ve only see Timothy twice in 1.5 years. They are in constant contact though, and C has been working to plan the perfect week of bro time.
Tomorrow night we’re stealing my brother and sister-in-law in LA and the five of us will head to the Clippers vs. Kings game. Sunday I’ll head back to LA for an Oscars viewing party and C and Timothy can prep for their week of camping/hiking/surfing (and maybe visit a winery on the way). They’ll ditch me and I’ll work during the week, joining them on Wednesday for a weekend of skiing in Mammoth. Basically just a week jam-packed with sports and outdoor activities… which is definitely a week planned by brothers. Stuff like this always makes me feel sorry for my brother, who grew up with only sisters meaning we would take him to the spa and shopping, when really he would rather be golfing and skiing. The guy loves a hot stone massage though.
Lastly, I’ve finally completed my two-week Lanakin trial and my lashes have actually gotten longer! They’re not lash extension or Latisse long, but they have gotten a little extra boost which I’m always up for.
Have any of you been skiing in Mammoth? We went to Deer Valley last February, but didn’t want to make Timothy fly again after flying all the way across the country. Would love to hear your thoughts or recommendations!
**Update: the original giveaway that was posted has closed. Thank you to those of you who entered!**
Have an amazing weekend, y’all. Thanks for reading! XO –
One of my favorite things to do with Christian on the weekend is go to the beach. While California as a whole is very pet-friendly, a lot of the beaches only allow dogs at certain hours of day (which I totally understand, as my dog is a total wild woman). Newport allows dogs after 4:30pm, which means Bailey gets weekly beach walks during the summer and spring after work.
Dana Point and Newport Beach have my favorite Orange County beaches… but Queen B loves the ocean. Now that it’s darker earlier, she hasn’t been getting her weekly fix, so C and I took her for a joyride. Her excitement level is something else. I feel like she acts like we keep her locked in the basement and her beach visits are her only time for fresh air in months. It’s not embarrassing at all… false. It’s way embarrassing. BUT, I love this quote from Ryan Adams, “There is nothing wrong with loving the crap out of everything. Negative people find their walls. So never apologize for your enthusiasm. Never. Ever. Never.” So Bailey – you win, girlfriend!
I have to wear a swimsuit around Bailey because she loves to walk up to me and shake her salty water and sand all over me. So I layered some loose-fitting pants and a crocheted cardigan over this super fun Triangl bikini for a put-together beach look.
bikini c/o Triangl | crochet cardigan – Gypsy Couture Boutique, similar here and here | pants – Forever21, old, love these and these | pendant c/o Johnny Loves June | sunnies | gold cuff c/o Gorjana | assorted David Yurman | gold chain bracelet c/o INPink
That sunset gets me every time. What’s your favorite time of day at the beach, lake or pool? I’d love to hear. Thanks always for reading! XO –
I get a lot of emails from new bloggers and girls who want to start a blog. I’ve briefly mentioned some of my personal advice in the FAQ area of this blog. However it sounds like you guys want more, so I thought I would dedicate a post to passing down what I’ve learned and things I wish I had known when I started this blog in 2010. Note: this is purely my opinion only – I’m certainly not claiming to know it all!
1) Do it because you love it. I would absolutely recommend starting a blog only if it’s because you genuinely love photography, writing and sharing your experiences with others. I did not start this blog to make money, nor did I even realize it could possibly make a dollar! Blogging regularly takes a lot of time, persistence and energy, and you have to really love it to spend the time working on it, especially after working 40+ hours a week in your day-job. Point: don’t do it for the money or freebies, do it because you love it.
2) Invest in a DSLR. I blogged for about two years without having a nice camera. Why? I have no clue. But your camera will quickly become your best friend, and if I could rewind, I would have had a better camera from the beginning. I started out with this camera, and it was a great beginners camera!
3) Quality not quantity. I aim to post 5x a week, but sometimes life gets in the way, time slips away or I’m simply not inspired. Years ago, I would just throw up anything to post daily. This is my personal opinion, but I think you guys prefer quality posts over something thrown up here to avoid being silent. Now, if I don’t have something I’m excited about or proud of to share, I just skip a day if necessary. And this is still something I struggle with when I feel stretched thin!
4) Success doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient. I blogged for years before anyone ever sent me anything to review or style. And I didn’t care! I blogged because I loved writing and I loved your comments and emails. I think there’s been a surge of new blogs in the past few years, and when reading blogs it’s easy to think they just started a website and poof! Instant success. For some that might be the case, but for me it was anything but. If you’re starting your blog for the right reasons and you’re being authentic and original, success will come. Keep peddling, stay passionate and consistent – it will show.
5) There’s no magic formula. Or if there is – I’m unaware of it, so please share! Ha – but seriously, everyone is unique and different things work for different people. I try to focus on creating relatable, original content and credit others when they’re inspiring my work. There’s nothing more disappointing than when you feel like someone has taken your content and claimed it as their own, so always give shout outs to those who are influencing your content (ex: yesterday’s post – I only heard about the PMD through my girl Mint Arrow!).
These are all my tips – and I’m sorry if it’s not as juicy as you thought. I think every blogger has strategies that work for them. The key is being original, honest and having a passion for this blogging world. It’s not about page views, dollars or freebies – it’s about loving this online community and writing and sharing your experiences with others. Keep at it, I mean, how amazing is it that you can carve out your own space on the Internet to look back and reflect on it over the years? That’s pretty freakin’ awesome if you ask me.
Thanks to all of you who emailed me to inspire this post! Love you guys, mean it. XO –
I’ve been trying out some new beauty and skincare items lately, and I wanted to share my thoughts with you guys. Even though I work full-time in cosmetics, I’m actually not a beauty junkie. Never have been. I’m more of a clothes and accessories girl (big surprise there), and I usually keep my hair and makeup routine quite simple. But today I’ve got some products that are definitely brag-worthy to share.
This formula is hydrating with more coverage than a tinted moisturizer and less coverage than a foundation. This is my new go-to for weekday work makeup when I need a little coverage but nothing too heavy for daytime. Their eyeshadow palette is also the perfect travel eyeshadow – a little bit of everything in a small package. I brought that to Palm Springs this weekend and it was absolutely perfect!
2) Smilepacks 7 Day Whitening System
Who doesn’t want a brighter smile? I’d like to think that I could give up red wine and coffee to have pearly whites, but we both know that’s never going to happen. Enter this whitening system. In just three days I could see a difference, and after a full week my teeth were noticeably whiter. I only experienced teeth sensitivity once (due to my keeping the trays on too long), but once I started setting my timer I never experienced any sensitivity or pain like I usually due when whitening my teeth. Normally $129.99, Dazzlepro is offering CBL readers a huge 70% off discount with the code Smile4KB, bringing the final cost down to $39 with free US shipping. Steal!
One of my blogger friends, Corrine of Mint Arrow, was promoting this handy tool around Christmastime and I was sold. I have a simple skincare routine for my face that I maintain, but she was sharing she used this device on her arms to smooth them out and couldn’t live without this baby. I’ve been using it on my arms because I’ve always had these little bumps (I believe the official term is Keratosis Pilaris), and I thought this could help. After just one time using it, I could definitely tell a difference. With this PMD + my beloved Clarisonic – I think my entire body is set!
I love a good lotion and this oil-free moisturizer and corrective eye cream feels amazing. It’s lightweight and smells and feels so luxe. After using the moisturizer at night, I wake up with the silkiest, smooth skin. The skin on my face has always been pretty sensitive (salt water from the ocean makes my face burn and I’m then digging through the cooler to put ice on my face – true story), so I rarely branch out of Oil of Olay for my face in fear of irritation. But this stuff is good guys, real good.
Do you have any new beauty tools you’ve experimented with lately? I’d love to hear! Thanks for reading y’all – XO
– packing these beauties for our Valentine’s weekend in Palm Springs –
– having my nails done on a vintage airstream (I mean… so adorable), thanks to the gals at The Nail Truck and my friends at P.J. Salvage HQ and Shout PR –
– I mean… does a more accurate mug even exist? And this card from my girlfriend Amy, hilarious and 100% true –
– weekend snuggles with Lula –
– a new set of incredibly soft sheets (seriously – even Christian is addicted) –
We are heading to Palm Springs for the long weekend (!!!), and I’m ready to order room service, lay by the pool and binge-read. While this may sound like a romantic Valentine’s weekend away, we’re actually going because Christian has a medical conference, and I’m the tag-along. I was originally planning on going to Fashion Week, but after going back and forth I decided to opt for warmer weather. I’ve only been to Palm Springs once (recap here, coincidentally in February of last year), so I’m excited to visit again!
I’m halfway through my two-week run with Lanakin for longer lashes (mentioned last week) and I have to admit I can really see a difference. I curled my lashes and was like, well hello there, where have you girls been hiding? I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts with y’all when the full trial is complete.
I hope y’all have a wonderful weekend filled with roses, chocolate and red wine (because those are all of the important ingredients for my perfect weekend). #treatyoself And a big thank you for all your sweet words about our little Valentine’s Day Lookbook shoot. I’m still so impressed Christian went along with it for me!
Happy Valentine’s Day and thank you always for reading – XO –
