Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Anniversary: Two Years

Monday, 11/10, marked seven years with Christian and two years of marriage. He’s my best friend and partner in this roller coaster of life. I stole the words of Carrie Bradshaw (and had them embroidered on our wedding day handkerchiefs), “it’s just me and you.” I try to remember that along with what our minister shared with us during our pre-marital counseling, “remember to be kind to one another.” Simple words but always a good reminder.

I’ve shared bits of our wedding here, but I wanted to share with you guys some photos that I haven’t shared publicly before – some of my favorites. Thanks for sharing the trip down memory lane with me!

While Christian and I have been together for many years, we didn’t live together until we got married and this has brought along some new lessons. I actually realized a few weeks ago how much Christian really knows me when I called him while I was sitting in an hour of traffic to go just 15 miles from my work to our home (we recently moved closer to the hospital now that he takes home call and it’s made my commute a devil). Christian patiently listened to me vent, told me he understood how frustrated I was and why I was angry and talked to me the entire way home so the drive would go by faster. When I got home he had a glass of wine ready for me on the patio from a bottle we picked up on a trip to Santa Barbara and told me we were going to ride bikes to the circle to have dinner at Gabbi’s. Now that’s a man I’m lucky to call my husband! Now if only I could learn to be more patient and calm like him.

As our dear friends read at our wedding, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12: 9-18

To my love – let the breakfast in bed, late night swims, drinks on the patio under the bistro lights, kitchen dance parties and early morning coffee dates continue. Love ya boo –

You can also take a peek at some of our first year anniversary photos here. Thanks for reading and to you married gals, what have you learned in your first few years of marriage? I would love to hear! XO –

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Lulu & Georgia Giveaway

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I am so thrilled to be participating in the “12 Days of Giveaways” this year with Lulu & Georgia! I’m giving you guys a little extra help with your holiday gift giving by sharing my favorites above and offering $100 to one lucky CBL reader.

All you have to do is enter via the Rafflecopter below by following CBL + Lulu & Georgia on Facebook (CBL / Lulu & Georgia), Pinterest (CBL / Lulu & Georgia) and Instagram (CBL / Lulu & Georgia). Poof! You’re entered to win.

Must be a follower of CBL via Google Friend Connect (right sidebar) to be eligible to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will run until midnight 11/17, and the winner will be announced 11/19. Thanks for reading and entering!! XO –

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Quote This

I’ve stumbled upon a lot of hilarious quotes lately and I’ve been sharing many on CBL’s Facebook page. I wanted to gather some of my favorites as of late…what does it say about me that many are about food? #notashamed

What are some of your favorite quotes? I’m also mega obsessed with this site full of gif images, particularly this post, this post and this post. You can see more of my favorite quotes on my Pinterest page!

What words are inspiring you this Tuesday? Thanks for reading y’all – XO –

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Happy Halloween

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 –

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Preppy

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!

Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies

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 –

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Friday’s Five

– this super fun new keychain from Etsy –

– meeting my perfect and precious nephew, Rowan –

– 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-

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Python Pencil Skirt

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!

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 –

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Rowan Oak

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?

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Wednesday Wish List + 25% off at Shopbop

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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 –

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Friday’s Five

– 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 –

– this photo (my Carrie Bradshaw moment) by Megan Mueller Weaver being featured on PureWow Dallas –

– 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 –

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Ladylike

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!