I love making vegetarian meals with all of the summer vegetables available and this brown butter vegetable skillet pasta looked amazing. The good news is that it tastes even better. I have made this dish at least four times this summer (as long as it’s warm, I call it summer y’all) and it tastes just as good warmed up for lunch as it does for dinner, something that is really important to me when cooking large meals for just Christian and myself.
Without boatloads of cheese this dish would still be amazing…but I mean…why not add boatloads of cheese?
More cheese, please.
Make it. Eat it. And tell me how much you love it.
Add a baked or grilled chicken breast if your family won’t eat vegetarian. So good! Thanks for reading! I’m hungry now. Yums. XO –
I accidentally published this post last Wednesday for a little less than hour because I’m a ditz. My apologies!! TODAY, I’d like to share a quick, easy and inexpensive DIY Ikea Bar Cart Hack.
You may have caught a glimpse of this recent addition to our apartment here. Allow me to explain myself. I actually have a bar, seen on our apartment tour, and I’ve also styled a tray table into a bar here. I have a feeling I’m acting as if I’m cocktailing much more than I actually am…but it’s just the decorative bar cart craze that I’ve fallen into!
I was in Ikea several weeks ago and stumbled across this basic kitchen cart for only $25. We have a very small kitchen in our apartment and I thought this cart would be a great way to store decorative glasses and pitchers. I also loved this one, but at only $25 I couldn’t pass this baby up.
Before I put it together, I spray painted all of the hardware and nails gold. I put sprayed about three coats, letting each one dry about 20 minutes before spraying again.
I’m still using my current bar for our wine and liquor, this one is mainly for our glasses, pitchers and some cute decorative things. Not a necessary addition to our apartment…but like I said, it was a fun $25 project and I was still unemployed at the time with some extra crafting time on my hands!
What do you think? Thanks so much for sharing your input. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for this fab pave chainlink bracelet! XO –
I love chainlink bracelets and all the different ways they can be worn. Layered, gold, silver and even pave for a little sparkle. This J.Girls Jewels bracelet has been on my wrist ever since I received it and I’m so thrilled that J.Girls Jewels has provided a fab pave link bracelet for a lucky CBL reader!
I’ve worn this bracelet dressed up, dressed down and in between. If you want one of these sparklers enter to win your own bedazzled bracelet!
I’ve been loving these instagram contests – so let’s try it, y’all.
Giveway will run Monday, September 16 – Sunday, September 22. Winner will be announced Monday, September 23rd.
MUST BE A FOLLOWER OF CARRIE BRADSHAW LIED TO ENTER
(via Google Friend Connect on right sidebar)
TO ENTER:
Make sure you’re a follower of CBL via GFC (on right sidebar)
Follow CBL on Instagram
Repost a photo from this post on Instagram (or repost one of the bracelet photos from my instagram) and hashtag #cblpavegiveaway and tag @CarrieBradshawLied
Easy easy easy – do all three and you’ve entered. I hope y’all enter to win this bracelet…or don’t so I can have TWO!! I’m so greedy but it’s the truth, I’m in love. Thanks so much for reading and for your participation – XO –
– paddleboarding on a beautiful day…and falling in so many times I lost count –
Other Mentions:
Discovering Modere and thinking I need these satiery chews to curb my afternoon hunger at my desk.
Making Christian watch the camping episode (part 1 / part 2) of Nick & Jessica on Newlyweds (I own all the seasons of course) to prepare him for a better look at reality for our weekend adventure.
Stalking bloggers and instagrammers in New York for NYFW and watching some of the shows live online (amazing!).
She’s just being Miley. This music video confirming that I think Miley Cyrus has lost her marbles. She is starting to look like the female prisoners in Orange is the New Black.
I’ve had a flashback this week to Christian’s last year of med school. I trot off to work and the house husband stays home, runs errands (mostly mine) and cooks dinner. I gotta say, I don’t hate it. Christian has had this week off of work and has enjoyed relaxing, eating donuts and watching plenty of football. Since I just started my new gig, I wasn’t able to take the week off to play, but we made sure to have plenty of adventures last week and I have agreed to go camping this weekend with our couple friends and neighbors (reference the Newlyweds clip above). Thanks for all y’alls camping advice here, I’ll be using it.
I hope y’all have a wonderful weekend! Thanks so much for reading and HAPPY FRIDAY! xo –
Y’all read me profess my love for hairstylist Meredith Morris last week here. Today Meredith has kindly participated in a little Hollywood Stylist Q&A for both myself and all of you! This girl has experienced it all, and I’m so fascinated by her and always asking her questions about her life and career. I loved spending the day with Meredith and her sweet trio of pets, rescue dogs Draper and Desmond and Miss fancy pants kitty cat, Winnie Cooper. Swoon!
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Q:What is one of your proudest accomplishments in your career?
A: I’m lucky in that I have proud career moments every day, whether it be watching a client walk the red carpet with confidence or simply hearing from a client that they love their cut/color and have gotten compliments on their new look. Someone trusting me with their “crown jewel” makes me feel proud and accomplished.
Q: What are some challenges you’ve had to overcome adjusting to the culture change from Mississippi to Los Angeles?
A:I have been living in Los Angeles for ten years. I must say that I just had no idea what to expect, I only knew I wanted to be part of the “taste making” culture of Los Angeles. I grew up fantasizing about life in California and I am a huge lover of film. I think the hardest thing for me to get my head around was how steep the competition is here. Everyone is beautiful, everyone is a talent, and I early on learned that you just have to be patient, work hard, and keep yourself grounded. I believe I have had success in this city because that is how I have spent the last ten years living.
The weather is also a huge help. I love the health culture, and as a Mississippi girl I love the outdoors and have embraced so many wonderful outdoor activities. Even after ten years of living here I drive down the palm tree lined streets and think to myself “Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here and be part of this magic.”
Q: Do you have any Hollywood hair icons?
A: I love Hollywood glamour! My beauty icons are Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Doris Day and of course, pinup girls. I love the detail and the formality of their styles. They are probably the most influential ladies in my personal style and my personal look.
Q: Which celebrity hairstyles do people seem to most want to copy?
A: The most exciting thing about being a hair stylist in LA is that I am part of a community that sets trends. The work that I do is the work that people clip out of magazines and take to their local stylist to recreate. That is such a dream to me and I pinch myself that people have that much respect and love for my personal passion.
Rachel Bilson ombre, Kate Middleton layers, Christina Hendricks red, Michelle Williams pixie, Amanda Seyfried blonde, and Victoria Secret model hair… I die for Victoria Secret model hair; It’s so beautiful, sexy and effortless looking. I think these are the most requested looks and trends today. I prefer rather than copying the look of a current hair icon, enhancing and giving each client their own individual look. These girls obviously can serve as inspiration but I feel it my duty as a hair stylist to be honest and to tell my clients why I see the importance of designing and creating a look specific for her face shape, her coloring, and her personal style. It’s never about recreating something that’s already been done, it’s always about personalization and customization.
Q: What inspires you?
A: I’m never lacking inspiration. I’m most inspired by the people that I work alongside. I love that I am able to work in a salon and amongst people who share my love and passion for making people look and feel great!
People watching also inspires me. I’m constantly seeing young people “breaking the rules” with creative and bold personal style. I love that being part of this Hollywood madness pushes me to be better than my best.This creative freedom is what keeps me inspired and on my toes and that’s why after 13 years, I am still as passionate as ever about great hair.
Q: What are your favorite hair products for the average glam girl?
A: I am such a product junky! I swear my bathroom looks like a Sephora or Ulta. I love high end products along with inexpensive drug store treasures that I have found. I’m a firm believer in playing around and cocktailing products to find that perfect combination that works for you.
Oribe – my favorite product line. Tom Ford collaborated and did the fragrances for the product, so not only is every product perfection but they also smell so rich and expensive.
Psssssst Dry Shampoo – my favorite drug store product that I cannot live without. Every glam girl needs this product.
Bumble and Bumble Curly Hair line – for curly hair girls, like myself, I just don’t think it gets better than this product. It’s magical!
Q: How is celebrity hairstyling different from regular hairstyling?
A: I style my salon clients with the same love and care that I style a celebrity walking the red carpet. I think the difference is that styling a celebrity the stakes are a little higher. The celebrity is going to be photographed and scrutinized and picked apart. I try and not get too in my head about it and I always do my best to work with the stylist, makeup artist, and celebrity to create a perfect well rounded look that will have her feeling most confident. After all that’s what it’s all about, confidence! Confidence is what is beautiful and confidence translates.
Q: To what do you attribute your success for becoming one of LA’s sought after stylists?
A: I think I have managed success in Los Angeles because I have maintained my integrity behind the chair. I’m a girl’s girl. My love and care for each person that trusts me with their hair comes out and I think that trust is what has helped me create success for myself. I have never taken any client or job for granted. Hair is everything to people and I think my appreciation for that is what has helped me achieve so much here. My parents always told me that when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. I believe it to be true. I am so blessed that I have found a job and career that allows me to express my creative skills and share my heart so openly while making people feel better about who themselves. How lucky is that?!
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I mean…how can you not love this girl!? Thank y’all for reading and thank you to Miss Meredith for sharing her insight with us. Check her out at Studio DNA, on her website, blog or via instagram. She has a new pinup girl ‘do that is to die for!!! XO –
When I saw this sweater on Forever21 online, I was like…I have it have it. Now. Obviously it’s cute, but it also reminds me of my B*Witched cd I had in the fifth grade. That music video is so terrible. Terribly awesome. In fact, that gem is somewhere in my childhood bedroom under the bed. I admit that I just recently got rid of my cd tower and buried my cd’s in a giant cd case that has found it’s new home safely under my bed in Mississippi. You can’t get rid of those babies! I have to have proof that yes, I actually paid money for the Crazy Town, Brandy and Space Jam cd’s. And maybe stole a Coolio cd from one of my siblings.
Back to clothes. When I ordered this sweater I thought it was a normal person sweater. When it came in it looked like I had swiped it from my fifth grade closet…while in fact listening to B*Witched, because it is actually a KIDS SWEATER. Since when did Forever21 have kids clothing? I took this rare coincidence as a sign I must in fact find a way I could wear the now “cropped” sweater and keep it, so I layered it over a strapless dress and voila! Instant love.
When I saw this sandwich on How Sweet It Is (obsessed with this food blog), I knew I was going to be trying it. Caramel. Apple. Brie. What more do I need to know?
This sandwich was so good I ate mine over the sink rather than plating it to sit down. That’s a deliciousness giveaway right there – if you’d rather eat it standing in the kitchen than sitting at the table, it’s good. I’m a big fan of the combination of cheese and bread in any form. They are two of my all time favorite things, in addition to cola bottle gummies, air conditioning and the Real Housewives…but now we’re getting off topic.
This truffle grilled cheese is pretty incredible too, in case the idea of caramel in your sandwich isn’t striking your fancy.
But it should. Oh, it should.
I strongly encourage you to try this sandwich that is breaking all the rules of grilled cheeses. Amazing.Tell me…would you put caramel in your grilled cheese? Thank you for sharing your thoughts!! XO –
– Dr. Barnes bringing me home something I’ve been wanting…a (replica) skeleton head!! He came in second place in a plating workshop and he kept the gift card while I’m keeping the skull. We named him Brutus. Just in time for Halloween! –
This girl’s impersonation of Kourtney Kardsashian that is SPOT ON.
Finally finding the time to hunt down the Lindsay Lohan / Oprah interview and watching it here.
Hearing that Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele’s Fifty Shades of Grey characters have been cast…and being more than a little devastated that my beloved too-gorgeous-to-be-true Matt Bomer didn’t take the lead role.
This cat doing the exact same thing I do when Christian discovers that I ate the entire pint of gelato without giving him a bite.
I enjoyed having an extra long holiday weekend last weekend, having Tuesday off in addition to Labor Day. Christian and I spent plenty of time relaxing and spent the actual holiday at our favorite Orange County beach with friends. I finally treated myself to a mani/pedi, and I can’t even express how much happiness it brought me! I am crazy excited to bring that unnecessary luxury back into my life now that I’m employed again…along with reformer pilates classes and a DVR. I refuse to put my love affair with television in the backseat. It’s probably not a healthy addiction…but I have no excuses. I LOVE TV.
This weekend I plan to paddleboard with Christian, watch some movies on my “to watch” list (I always have a running list) and let Christian run the ship since he has this coming week off of work. Whatever he wants to do goes…which is why I’ve agreed to go camping next weekend. We plan to camp with some couple friends, which I think will make all the difference! Sara and I can drink wine and eat s’mores and the boys can do whatever boys do when they go camping.
What do you plan to do this weekend? And tell me…what fall shows are you excited about coming back on? Thanks for reading and have a fabulous weekend! XO –
I was honored to have the opportunity to share how I’ve tried to combined my Southern style with the styles and trends of California girls in this month’s VIP Jackson Magazine.
You can check out the article here. A big thank you to the fabulous staff at VIP for this opportunity! It’s always a treat to work with this group.
Y’all have seen me mention Meredith Morris on CBL here and here, but it’s time I share some more info about this fab lady.
I met Meredith through her cute-as-a-button mother, Marilyn. Marilyn and I did Pilates together at my beloved Pilates Studio back home in Mississippi. Marilyn shared my blog with Meredith and as soon as we got to know each other we were instant friends. Meredith is one of those girls that you meet and in 10 minutes you feel like you’ve been friends 10 years. She is positive, encouraging, cheerful and she’s quickly serving as my Mississippi to California role model. She has adjusted so well here while still holding onto her charming Southern roots. I love that she often uses the phrase “living.” Ex: “I was tired today but decided to go hiking and then hit the beach instead of staying in bed. Living.” I am kind of obsessed and have now completely stolen the phrase from her – just ask Christian.
In Mississippi, I adored both Syd Curry at Smoak and Lauren Longo at Gloss. Both stylists are fabulous and Syd styled my wedding mane, while Lauren gave me some fabulous highlights for the wedding festivities. My inner lazy was just letting the highlights grow out, so when Meredith suggested adding some subtle ombre into my hair I was instantly onboard! Meredith recently rejoined the Studio DNA team in Hollywood and I was excited to see her new work digs.
She has spent almost 10 years in Los Angeles and has styled the hair of Hollywood stars and starlets from A to Z. She’s a pro and a beauty trendsetter, and to have her color my hair was such a privilege. Along with my (now two pairs of) Chuck Taylors, my new ombre hair is another West Coast-inspired moment…and I’m loving it!
This is air-dried, untouched hair…don’t be frightened (even though I am)!
This picture shows how annoying I am. And how much I adore Meredith for putting up with my shenanigans with her sweet smile.
I’m obsessed! Thank you for reading and a BIG thank you to Meredith and Studio DNA for my new beachy ‘do. You can also visit Meredith’s brand new blog, Now That’s The Look or check out her instagram account or personal instagram. If any of you are in the Los Angeles area, be sure to check her out! You won’t regret it. XO –
What a week! With my first full week of work behind me, I am getting adjusted to the working schedule again. It was so wonderful to have the summer off and it makes getting back to the office even more exciting and fun. With the long weekend ahead, I’m looking forward to hanging with some friends at the beach and spending some much need quality time with that husband of mine I never seem to see. What do y’all have planned?
Thanks so much for checking in and don’t forget to enter the Favery giveaway! Thank you so much to those of you who have entered and shared your favorite pieces and sweet comments. I love each one!! The winner will be announced Monday. Have a FAB holiday weekend!!! XO –
I’ve bought Christian the California Pizza Kitchen bbq chicken frozen pizza so many times I can’t even begin to count. I have a feeling my Mom has bought it for my Dad even more. It’s so good and simple enough that I knew I could easily recreate it. Luckily, the Pioneer Woman (as always) came to the rescue! She shared her version of the CPK bbq chicken pizza here and I followed along.
I love her pizza dough recipe – so easy and so good. We ate this pizza twice in a week – so I’d say it’s a big win.
If you have a carnivore in the house, make this pizza. Two thumbs up from my kitchen to yours. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to enter the Favery giveaway! XO –
