Happy Halloween to all of you from Lula LaShonda!! #threelegsandfabulous
She usually reverts to the same witch Halloween costume, but it looks so good on her why mess with a good thing?
Have a fabulous and safe holiday – I’m typing this with a mouthful of Snickers…but it’s bite-size so it’s like, not even real candy, right? Good thing I have this guide to help me match my vino to my candy – thanks for sending, Mom!
Thanks for reading – XO –
I’ve always loved the J.Crew preppy look on others, but it just doesn’t feel “me.” I don’t really know how exactly to describe my style – feminine while still a little edgy, classic meets trendy, or as my husband would say (literally I just asked him), “baggy.”
This is about as preppy as I get, but I really love the way this outfit turned out. I was playing in my closet and wanted to pair these killer pants with a sweater, but just the cashmere sweater with the pants just wasn’t enough. It needed a little something else – enter the classic button down.
And let’s be honest, anything looks great next to this personalized python tote. Love at first sight!
cashmere sweater, eBay, love this one and this one | pants c/o | dress shirt – Express | heels c/o Shop Prima Donna | bag – c/o Mimic Design | necklace c/o INPink | pave bracelet c/o | sunnies – c/o People by People | statement ring c/o | lipstick – pink velvet | assorted bracelets
Thanks so much for reading – XO –
I have a lot of spots I adore in New York. After living there for a summer and visiting more times than I can count, some of my favorite gems include Ess-a-Bagel, tea at the St. Regis, the booths at Bryant Park at Christmas time (Manhattan Vintage in particular), lunch at L’Ecole, any meal at Cafeteria, walking around Pearl River Mart, dinner at Rosa Mexicano – I could go on forever!
However my brother recently added a go-to spot to the list – the chocolate chip cookies at Levain Bakery. It’s so tiny and hidden you might miss it (confession: I walked past it twice and didn’t notice it), but once you get inside and smell the intoxicating aroma of baked goodness…you can’t buy a chocolate chip cookie fast enough.
My mom found a replica recipe years ago and made them for the family when we were all at Watercolor in Florida. Christian, the man with an endless sweet tooth, has been begging me to make them ever since. I refused because they have so much butter. I finally caved and found this recipe. I reduced the butter to one and one-fourth stick (it called for two) and still think they came out great!
I’m sure if I just put all the butter in there they would be even better…so if you try the recipe as is, let me know what you think!
Happy eating! Thanks for reading and let me know if you try this recipe! XO –
– this super fun new keychain from Etsy –
– bringing back some Mississippi McCarty cups my sister gave me to California –
– the fact that my workplace has now taken a professional headshot of not only myself but also my kids (sidenote – this photo makes me want to take the ombre out of my hair and go dark again…what do y’all think?) –
– Halloween-inspired blooms scattered around the house –
Happy Friday!! I’m so excited to have some downtime this weekend after several fun and busy weekends in Mississippi and LA. I need to play a little catch up and get inspired in the kitchen again…I can only eat so much grilled chicken and roasted vegetables before I’m totally bored. I need to take more advantage of our crockpot, but I feel like I can only find good soup and chili recipes and it’s not quite cold enough for that just yet. Do y’all have any suggestions?
I cannot believe it is almost November, my absolute favorite month because it’s the month I married my (mostly) dreamboat husband! Last year, for our one year anniversary, we chose to explore the vineyards in Santa Barbara and stay at the Bacara as our gift to one another. This year have chosen to sneak away to a cabin in the mountains, and Christian told me last night gifts were back on. Help! Do you have any anniversary gifts that you particularly loved or loved giving? I’d love to hear.
I hope y’all have an amazing weekend – thanks so much for all your helpful advice! Happy giveaway entering! XO-
When Altuzarra announced their collection for Target, I marked that precious date in my calendar. I was in the car after church shopping from my phone and added this python pencil skirt to my cart pronto!
The side slit takes me back to the early 2000s when slits were all the rage. Do y’all remember that? When every pencil skirt or dress seemed to have a side slit?I’ve never been a huge skirt slit gal, mostly because I lack confidence in these gams of mine, but I’m trying it out and it does make a fitted pencil skirt a little more comfortable – so that’s a bonus!
skirt – Altuzarra for Target, available here | sweater – Lulu’s, similar here | trench coat – Burberry, vintage, similar here (on sale!)! | heels – Lulu’s, sold out, love these and these | sunnies – Ray Ban | clutch – c/o Shop Prima Donna | lipstick – Urban Decay Venom | date place necklace – c/o TAudrey | #winenot necklace – c/o Bad Bad Jewelry | shark tooth ring – c/o Favery | tassel earrings – Etsy | cuff – c/o Brahmin, love this one
Did you score any great pieces from the Altuzarra collection? Alexander Wang for H&M is coming 11/6 – mark your calendars! And don’t forget you can get 25% off full-priced items right now at J.Crew with the code TGIFALL. Happy shopping and thanks so much for reading – XO –
While I was in Oxford, Mississippi visiting my family, I knew I had to visit one of my favorite spots, Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s home. When we snapped these photos I had a four-day old nephew named Rowan, so it was an extra special trip!
When I was in college, I remember coming to Rowan Oak on a spring day and laying out a blanket to study from a text book – yes, just five years ago we studied from text books and not just computers. #stoneage
I love these cypress tress that line the path to the front door, what a beautiful place to be inspired to write, right?
denim – Paige (on sale!) | boots – Frye | top – c/o L.Mae Boutique, love this one too | scarf – Zara, love this one and this one | sunnies – c/o People by People | lipstick – Urban Decay Venom | cuff – c/o Brahmin, similar here
Thanks so much for reading! XO –
Leather and suede and everything in between – these boots are everything I’m looking for in a great pair of fall boots. Stacked heel and a neutral color that will go with everything. And blanket scarves – are they not the best? They’re perfect for cool summer nights in California where I need something more than a cardigan and less than a jacket.
And this “B” sweatshirt – I mean – is it meant for this Mrs. Barnes or what?
In other shopaholic news, Shopbop and East Dane are having a 25% off site-wide sale with code FAMILY25 through tomorrow!
SAKS is offering 25% off of jewelry this week with code FRNFAM, as well as 30% off at Forever21 this week with code TAKE30. What is on your wish list? Are y’all as addicted to midi skirts as I am? Do share. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to enter the Bad Bad Jewelry giveaway! XO –
– arriving in Oxford and visiting one my favorite spots, Rowan Oak, the home of William Faulkner (and this time around it was extra special because I just gained nephew #4 this week and his name is Rowan!) –
– this gorgeous, handmade Lilli & Tori necklace –
– this #werk mug that makes my mornings a little sassier –
– the most fab People by People shades to add to my collection –
So I’m in Mississippi and it’s beyond amazing to see so may lovely faces that we’ve only seen via FaceTime and Skype for the past year and a half. We’ve played in my husband’s hometown of Jackson and are now in Oxford with my family. We head down to Fairhope, Alabama tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see my bestie get hitched!
It’s been a great week and I know it will be a little sad to say goodbye, but I look forward to getting home to my sweet pets and the newest addition to the Williams family – my new nephew Rowan. He joins his big sister Edie and is with my brother and sister-in-law in Los Angeles. I can’t wait to have this little guy in my arms!
Thanks so much for reading and don’t forget to enter the Lisi Lerch giveaway! Have a beautiful weekend XO –
When I pieced this outfit together, I thought, “this is the perfect combination of my Southern style and California style.” Ladylike and feminine with a little edge thrown in with the sandals and cropped sweater. It’s the perfect blend of two cultures I adore!
I love the understated details of this midi skirt that give it a vintage feel. It pairs so well with this lovely Laguna Pearl necklace and Trades of Hope silver necklace – you know me, more is more. After seeing Carrie wear pearls so much in the first SATC movie, it made me whip out my lovely pearl strands more. The first pair being from my mom for my 16th birthday. I remember her saying, “you won’t appreciate this now, but one day you will.” She was right – every girly girl needs a strand of pearls!
skirt – c/o L.Mae Boutique | cropped sweater – Lulu’s | heels – Lulu’s, love these and these | pearl necklace – c/o Laguna Pearl | silver necklace – c/o Trades of Hope (supporting underprivileged women – read more here) | sunglasses – Amazon | snake cuff – c/o Le Tote, love this one | gemstone ring – c/o Kendra Scott | assorted David Yurman | date plate necklace – c/o TAudrey | #winenot necklace – c/o Bad Bad Jewelry | arrow bracelet – c/o INPink | gold bangle – c/o Gorjana | lipstick – Urban Decay F-Bomb
How would you describe your style? Thanks so much for reading and don’t forget to enter the Lisi Lerch giveaway! XO –
Christian and I recently bought some eggs from our neighborhood farmers market and while they sat in my refrigerator, I was trying to think of how the two of us would go through a dozen eggs. I like a hard-boiled egg occasionally, but other than that and the occasional baking, I don’t really eat them.
I stumbled up this recipe and knew it would be the perfect way to take advantage of these fresh eggs and veggies. Easy and fresh – it tastes great warm or at room temperature. It was a great dinner and an even better lunch the next day.
Are y’all big egg-eaters? If so, what’s our favorite way to cook/serve them? This is starting to sound like Runaway Bride (remember?), but I’m genuinely curious!
Thanks so much for reading and let me know if you try this recipe! XO –
– the first few blooms on our bougainvillea tree –
– falling in love with my new Shu Uemura eyelash curler –
– being inspired by this post to spray paint this dinosaur to house some bangles, a little DIY jewelry holder –
The day has finally come – we are heading to the motherland to visit our family and see one of my college besties get hitched!! I can’t wait to eat some real Southern food, hug the necks of all of our family members and for me, most importantly, meet my 15-month old nephew, see my grandmother and watch one of my closest friends marry a truly amazing man.
While we’re away my California sister-in-law is expected to give birth to her second child. I am so bummed we will miss it, especially considering we are their only CA relatives, but we had this trip planned before we knew they were expecting, and I know I will be lucky enough to get to see this child often in LA. They have been so understanding which only makes me wish I could be there for them even more. I can’t wait to hear what gender this little one is, making our niece/nephew count 7 under 7!
I’m sure I’ll be instagramming our adventures along the way – thank y’all so much for reading and have a wonderful weekend! XO –
On my last night in New York, I spent the evening downtown in West Village having dinner with my college bestie at Joseph Leonard. Before that delicious meal (while watching the side streets be shut down for an Infiniti commercial), I was so fortunate to meet up with the oh-so-darling Megan Weaver to snap these photos.
While we were walking around looking for a more private spot to shoot some photos, we came across this swoon-worthy alley and it was a vision and moment that reminded me why New Yorkers fall in love with Manhattan. I also had a Carrie Bradshaw stoop moment, sitting on the steps of a brownstone – hello. A huge thank you to Megan for capturing a photo I will always treasure!
This outfit was not something I had originally planned on wearing together, but I wanted something comfortable with a touch of dressy and I thought it did just that. This is one of the many reasons I love packing solid colors when traveling, so you can mix and match if you’re in a pinch (I also mentioned this strategy last week here)!
photos by Megan Mueller Weaver
lace skirt – vintage, love this one and this one | tank – Forever21, this one | heels – Zara, similar here | necklace – honeymoon souvenir, love this one | sunglasses – Amazon | bangle – David Yurman | bag – Chanel, love this one | knuckle ring – c/o Kendra Scott | lips – Urban Decay Venom
Thanks so much for reading! XO –
