A Weekend in Santa Barbara

It was so nice to get away with Christian to celebrate our recent one year anniversary.  Does this outfit look familiar from Monday’s (and yesterday’s) post?  We had originally wanted to visit my brother and his family in San Francisco before hitting Napa, but I had some important work meetings I couldn’t miss, so we moved our SF + Napa trip to spring and chose to hit up Santa Barbara and the surrounding vineyards instead.

I didn’t realize it until we had the chance to get away, but it was so nice to spend some quality time with Christian again.  He works around the clock and the three or four days we have together a month are usually spent with him fighting to stay awake. When we actually had the chance to spend some real time together, I kept telling him I had forgotten how funny he is!

Before we made our way to the resort, we made a quick stop in beautiful Ojai.  I couldn’t help but want to look for Nora and the Walker family…but sadly couldn’t find them.  Not even Saul!

A drive into Santa Barbara to eat at one of Julia Child’s favorite spots, La Super Rica Tacqueria.

I always save corks from special occasions and write the reason for the champagne celebration on them. It’s such a special keepsake and I have a cork wreath displaying several of our “special corks” for celebrated evenings – you may have seen it on my apartment tour!

Do you have any favorite spots in Santa Barbara or favorite hotels?  Thanks so much for reading and stay tuned next week for some photos from our visits to tasting rooms and vineyards.  Don’t forget to enter the Molly Jane Design cowhide cuff giveaway!! XO –

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Molly Jane Designs Giveaway

By now, you have seen a lot of jewelry by Molly Jane Designs on the blog.  I am absolutely infatuated with her baubles, made from natural minerals and gemstones that she handpicks herself.  A Southern girl with impeccable taste, Molly Jane creates beautiful and unique statement pieces that can be worn on any occasion.

I adore her druzy cocktail rings, cowhide cuffs (hello GORGEOUS!) and pendant necklaces, and below you will see how I’ve styled these pieces.

– posted yesterday! –

Check out these stunning photos from the most recent Molly Jane Designs photo shoot.  Swoon!

 

Today, Molly Jane Designs is offering CBL readers the chance to win a cowhide cuff!!  Too good to be true, right?  We’re taking this giveaway to instagram, and here’s how you enter:

 

Giveaway will run today – Monday, December 9th at midnight.  The winner will be announced Wednesday, December 11th.
 
MUST BE A FOLLOWER OF CARRIE BRADSHAW LIED TO ENTER
(via Google Friend Connect on right sidebar) 
 
1.  Follow CBL on GFC on the right sidebar
3.  Follow @Kathleen_CBL on Instagram
4.  Instagram a photo from this post, tagging @Kathleen_CBL and @MollyJaneDesign (hint: feel free to regram from my instagram!)
5.  Leave us a comment on this post sharing that you’ve entered!

 

Thank you so much for reading and participating!! XO –
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Brunch at The Bacara

 

Christian absolutely loves a big breakfast.  Breakfast is a meal I usually skip.  However, when at a beautiful hotel, having a big brunch is mandatory in our book.

While in Santa Barbara for our anniversary trip, we looked forward to having a big resort brunch at The Bistro at the Bacara.  I shared a little bit of this on instagram, but as we sat together overlooking the ocean, drinking coffee and reading sections of the LA Times, I couldn’t believe where a year has brought us.

So much has changed, and while we do miss certain things about home, we are enjoying having such a adventurous experience together.  I’m trying to cling tight to these adventures to help me from getting too homesick while seeing everyone share photos with their families over the holidays.  Christian (in addition to our furry babies) is my new family and we’re learning to make our own little traditions.

 

denim – Tractr Jeans (c/o) / sweater – Forever21, similar here and here / vest – Rachel Zoe, similar here and here / booties – Forever21 (old), similar here / bag – Ivanka Trump, love this one / bracelet – Derng (c/o) / necklace – Etsy / cuff – Molly Jane Designs (c/o)

 

Thank you for reading and to anyone who has had a small and intimate Christmas – please share with me what made it so special!  Also, some Cyber Monday deals shared here.  XO –

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Friday’s Five

– bringing out my naughty or nice pillow –

– these Nine West x InStyle boots that I kept seeing so fabulously styled on Pink Peonies going on sale –

– spiked hot cocoa and Modern Family marathons –

– seeing Justin Timberlake for the second time since we moved to Cali this summer –

– our teeny tiny coffee table Christmas tree –

Remember last week when I said I was skipping Friday’s Five today?  I lied.  Too many sweet photos I wanted to share and I just can’t stay away from CBL try as I might!On Wednesday night, Christian and I saw Justin Timberlake at the Honda Center in Anaheim.  This summer the Legends of the Summer tour was a totally different feel (mentioned here).  The audience was mostly divided JT/Jay Z fans and there weren’t any backup dancers or much of a production.

This concert was all the contrary, taking me back to Justin seven years ago with FutureSex/LoveSounds.  Lights!  Dancers!  The stage detaching and moving over the audience!  Justin’s Thanksgiving and Mickey Mouse Club stories!  The concert went on past midnight and it’s safe to say that it was one of the best nights I’ve had since I moved to California.

I was so thrilled to have the experience with Christian, who was actually able to come with since the Honda Center is just a mile or so from the hospital – he changed out of his scrubs in the car!I had a fun-filled Friendsgiving with lots of good eats and lots of good drinks.  It was so special to be able to spend Thanksgiving with friends (and even with family since my cousin lives in OC) since we aren’t able to make it back to the South for the holidays.  I’m thankful for a short work week and lots of time to shop online!!  Speaking of, some Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals below:

Alice + Olivia | 25% off sitewide 11/28 – 12/2
Ann Taylor | 40% off entire purchase with code GET40 11/29 – 12/1
Asos | take 20% off sitewide with code GIMME20 11/28 – 12/2
French Connection | save 30% off total purchase + free ground shipping on orders over $150 with code W13COUPON 11/27 – 12/2
Gap – 50% off everything with code BLCKFRIDAY
GiGi New York | receive a phone wallet with the purchase of a full size handbag today, 11/29!
Henri Bendel | save 25% off your order of $100 or more and receive a $20 Splurge Card with every purchase with code TURKEY25 11/29 – 12/1
J.Crew – 30% off everything with code HOLIDAY
Urban Outfitters | save an extra 50% off all sale merchandise

I hope everyone had a beautiful holiday surrounded by the people you love.  Have a wonderful weekend and eat plenty of leftovers.  Speaking of, remember the Friends episode with Ross and the Thanksgiving sandwich?  Love that episode.

Thanks for reading!! XO –

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Sarah Thorne Creates

I’m so proud to announce my sister’s Etsy shop, Sarah Thorne Creates!  Our mom is an artist and has been painting oil paintings and crafting since before we were born (there’s a lot of CBL Mom art in my apartment tour).

We may be pulling from the same gene pool, but my sister, Sarah Thorne, definitely inherited the artsy gene.  She has some serious skills with both the paintbrush and mixed media, while I like to think I use my artsy gene with pairing clothes!  Not to mention that my sister-in-law, Anna, also has some serious artsy talent.  So basically….I’m the only one coming in at nada.

In writing this post I’m realizing that these are the  most recent good photos of my sister and I…from a YEAR ago.  That needs to be fixed!  It’s just so hard to take sister pics over facetime.  They usually involve me getting my niece to facetime with Bailey and Lula LaShonda…not kidding.

But back to art.  I am a huge fan of Etsy and supporting artists and small businesses.  Not only can you really score some unique pieces, but you also can find something so original and custom.  You can’t beat that!  Sarah Thorne has so many charming (and sparkly!) pieces at extremely affordable prices – a great Christmas gift idea!  Some of my personal favorites:

Check out Sarah Thorne Creates and let me know what you think.  See something you like but want it in a different size? Contact ST for a custom quote.

Thank you for reading and shopping!  If you like the shop, be sure to add it to your favorites.  XO –

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Friday’s Five

– it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas –

– these headphones given to me by my sweet hubs so he can snooze while I catch up on my Housewives –

– a beautiful hike in Laguna –

– meeting the incredibly kind and fun Tamra Barney Judge at the Kendra Scott Fashion Island holiday launch –

– this cute fellow outside the Kitson at Fashion Island –

Welcome to the weekend!  Christian has begun working nights and so we now get to spend about an hour together a day…bleh. I am so envious of couples who both have normal jobs and actually get to go to dinner and hang out regularly!  They say absence makes the heart grow fonder…is that even if your married?  Caroline Manzo (Real Housewives of New Jersey) seems to think so.

Speaking of the Real Housewives, I had the pleasure of being invited to attend the Kendra Scott LUXE Collection launch party on Tuesday evening at Fashion Island, meeting both Kendra Scott and….TAMRA BARNEY-JUDGE of the Real Housewives of Orange County.  Can I say I’ve never been so starstruck?  Y’all know I watch every show on Bravo!, especially all of my housewives.  Tamra was so kind and approachable, talking to me about where I moved from, what I do, etc.  She even grabbed my hand to compliment my engagement ring!  She’s even more hilarious and fabulous in person than I thought she was and now I’m an even bigger fan (if that’s even possible).  I now just need to find Vicki and Heather and my OC Housewife dreams are complete.

I plan to have some girlfriend and fall weather time this weekend.  What are your plans?  Do you watch the Real Housewives of OC?  Who’s your favorite?  I’ve been watching the new Beverly Hills ladies and I think I have a huge crush on Joyce.  She’s so beautiful I can hardly look at her.  I love some pageant girls!  Talk to me.  Give me your real housewife confessions.  A HUGE thank you to reader Rachel B. who shared that RHBH vulture.com article with me last Friday.  ABSOLUTELY hilarious – a new one for this week’s recap!  Thank you so much for reading – have a beautiful weekend!  XO –

PS – Who else is obsessed with this Lady Gaga Fashion! track on her new album?  I literally think I’ve listened to it 25x.

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Skin Laundry

When I heard Skin Laundry had opened shop in Newport Beach, I was interested to learn more about it.  With locations in West Hollywood and Santa Monica, Skin Laundry has opened it’s third location at Fashion Island and today y’all will get a sneak peek inside the beautiful salon!

Skin Laundry’s concept is created around getting a fabulous facial treatment in just 10 minutes.  Using laser treatments, the trained nurses tighten and tone the skin on your face and neck by stimulating collagen and elastin production.  The treatment cleans out your pores, ridding bacteria, dirt and makeup residue and leaving you with an even, glowing complexion.

I’ve never had a laser treatment and was surprised how easy and noninvasive it was.  Skin Laundry charges the same fee for all clients regardless of your skin condition and even better?  First time clients receive a complimentary first session!  You can read more FAQ about the salon and treatment here.

If you’re in Southern California, check out Skin Laundry and let me know what you think! They accept both appointments and walk-ins, so drop in any time.  Thanks so much for reading – XO

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Styling Bookshelves

After this apartment tour and this bar cart post, several of you left blog and instagram comments about my bookshelf styling. I am by no means a shelf styling pro, but I’ve tried to pack these shelves with as much as I can while still keeping them looking somewhat orderly.

I like to mix up vertical and horizontal sections, while showcasing some of the more special trinkets and items,changing up the dimensions on different shelves.

While I wouldn’t let Christian bring his mounted deer head to California, we did bring these antlers.  They remind me of Christian’s family’s farm and hunting land in Mississippi…and if I have to hear about him missing duck season ONE more time…

 It was fun to mix my fashion books and pink geode bookends with Christian’s medical books and bookends.  His and hers!

These Tiffany’s playing cards are just the cutest gift ever.  A fab Christmas gift from my mom years ago.

deer antlers

I had been wanting a skull for a while and lo and behold Christian won a plating contest at the hospital, winning a prize…and this fun little guy (we named him Hector).

More about this little eiffel tower here.

More about this vintage globe here.

I just wanted to show some more detail of the shelving and how I try to visually break up each section, while still utilizing the shelves for storage.  Don’t be fooled…inside that basket on the upper shelf lies a ton of loose receipts!

Please feel free to leave any questions or suggestions in the comments below.  Thanks so much for giving your feedback and inspiring this post!! XO –

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One Year Anniversary

 

I can’t believe it’s been one year.  Since we’ve been engaged, we’ve welcomed two nieces and a nephew, we got married, Christian interviewed for residencies in 14 locations across the United States (you can read about that here) and graduated medical school, we packed up our entire lives, moved across the country and both started new jobs and our marriage together.

All of that to say, this year felt pretty easy and a whole lot of fun!  Christian and I have learned so much about each other and ourselves in the almost seven years we’ve been together, and he’s truly like my other half.  We’ve been through so much together and he’s my constant, my rock, my security blanket, my home.

I wanted to have some photos taken to capture where this year has brought us.  I wanted to have some memories of the beginning of our marriage in this beautiful new place we call home and was so thrilled when he was onboard with the idea!  The poor guy works around the clock and with only four days off a month, spending one of them hopping rocks in front of a photographer was such a special act of service (my love language) and I am so thankful.  More cheesy bragging on this guy I’m lucky enough to call my husband here.

 

I was honored to have the beautiful and talented Breanna Holderby capture these photos in Malibu.  She is such a delight to work with and if you’re in the LA area, I couldn’t recommend her enough!  You can also check out her blog here.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for photos from our anniversary trip to Santa Barbara and the wedding cake topper that made its way all the way from Mississippi to be eaten on our one year anniversary.  Do any of you married ladies out there have advice for how to stretch the newlywed phase for more than a year?  I would love to hear!

Thanks for being a part of this journey with us.  XO –

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Friday’s Five

– some new sparkly statement necklaces –

 

– couch and snuggle time with Lula LaShonda –

– adding a fun monogram sticker to my planner –

– Mississippi notepads from my sister-in-law –

– the sweetest petit fours from my mother-in-law for our wedding anniversary – brought all the way from Mississippi! –

 

Other mentions:

We have finally we have left for our anniversary trip to Santa Barbara!  Thank y’all so much for your awesome recommendations and tips – I so appreciate it!  I have been researching vineyards and tasting rooms and with the advice of many, I think I’ve narrowed it down to a few.  I’m ready to kick my feet up, let someone else do the driving and sip some vino!  But let’s be honest…aren’t we all ready for that everyday?  I’m looking forward to turning off electronics and enjoying the scenery.

Y’all have a fab weekend and don’t forget to enter the Foxy Originals giveaway! XO –

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White Peplum Top

 
I have loved my strapless peplum top so much (featured here and here), so when I saw this Asos peplum top with sleeves (!!), I knew I wanted in.  Thanks to Scoutfit, I was able to bookmark the top until it was discounted, saving me time and money.  I got the exact top that I wanted for $20 less by bookmarking it and waiting until I was alerted that it was on sale.

I layered some sparkly necklaces with it and added a fun touch by attaching my Chanel brooch (given to me on my wedding weekend from my sweet mom) to my Baublebar necklace.  I love attaching brooches to necklace when I can make it work – such a fun and unique touch!

 

top – Asos (c/o Scoutfit), similar tops listed below / skirt – Express (old) / heels – Forever21 / watch – Michael Kors / bracelet – Derng (c/o) / bag – Chanel / pave necklace – Baublebar (c/o) / sparkly bib necklace – Etsy Vintage / brooch – Chanel / sharktooth ring – Favery (c/o) / lipstick – Urban Decay Turn On

 

 

Thank y’all for reading and don’t forget to enter the Foxy Originals giveaway!  Come back tomorrow to see how I use Scoutfit to snag steals and deals on my favorite online picks. XO –
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Friday’s Five

– a Sunday drive down Rodeo –

– these gorgeous pieces of jewelry from Molly Jane Designs (you may have seen them on instagram) –

– a stop by Sprinkles Cupcakes in Newport –

-almost two years later, still being so glad I splurged on this Horchow headboard (also mentioned here and here)-

– these flats from Shop Prima Donna –

Happy weekend (finally)!  I am excited to have a relaxing fall weekend and prepare for a visit from my in-laws.  Christian finally has a week off and since I couldn’t take off of work this round, it was a perfect opportunity for Christian’s family to come in town!  He’s going to show them around town and I’ll spend some time with them in the evenings and then C and I will pack up for a much needed vacation weekend.  It will be so nice to be around family as I’ve found myself a little nostalgic for the South lately.

Tell me what you’re up to this weekend…and please watch the Hello Ross Dog Pageant.  Amazing.

Thank you for reading! XO –

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