Friday’s Five

– unripe oranges on an orange tree in Orange –

– Christian finding the wine he’s been hunting down for over a year and cleaning house –

– spending Labor Day at the beach with friends –

– spending the evening at the Orange International Street Fair and wanting to eat everything –

– 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! –

 

Other Mentions:

  • This too-good-to-be-true (literally) Mean Girls – The Reunion preview.
  • 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 –

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Southern Style in Southern California

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.

 (All images via VIP Jackson Magazine)

Thank you so much for reading! XO –

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Hair by Meredith

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 –

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Friday’s Five

– making peanut butter chocolate brownies for my guy –

– my new favorite lipstick shades, Catfight and Anarchy –

– these crazy Dr. Seuss-looking trees in Huntington beach that have me mesmerized –

– a sweet happy and note from the darling Amy at Coffee Beans & Bobby Pins –

– really excited to receive this super fun Diamond Candles…dying to burn this baby down so I can check out this mysterious gem! –

Other Mentions:

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 –

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BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe

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 –

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Long Beach Flea Market

When I found out we were moving to Orange County, one of the first things that came to mind was the Rose Bowl and Long Beach flea markets.  My mom, sister, sister-in-law and I love going to antique malls and flea markets together to find unique trinkets and items, and I had read about these SoCal flea markets on blogs and websites.  I couldn’t wait to check out one of the largest flea markets in the country and was excited to take my Mom (and poor Dad) to experience the madness for the first time.

I was overwhelmed with all the stuff and enjoyed perusing my way down the aisles.  I didn’t have a rolling shopping cart like all the other pros so I was limited to what I could hold in my hands, but for this rookie trip that was all I needed.

On the way back from Long Beach the 405 was closed and we were in so much traffic…with less than 20 miles to empty.  We were forced to hop on all these different freeways and highways to find an alternate way home.  My family always laughs because of the SNL “Californians” skit.  I never thought it was funny…until I moved out here.  Back in the ‘Sip, directions are like, “take Bluecutt until you see the Dunkin’ Donuts on the left and then you’ll take a left at that light.”  In California, directions are, “hop on the 405 North and take the Baker Street exit to 55.  Then take the 55 to the 22 all the way to Orange.”  Every time any local gives me directions it’s all I can do to keep from laughing because it sounds JUST LIKE THIS SKIT, and I just want to say, “what are you doing here, Stu-art!?”

 

But back to the flea market –

So what did I come home with?

A small eiffel tower figurine:

Some sparkly geodes:

And an antique globe:

I also spotted a few familiar faces and an actress.  Are flea markets your thing or is it totally overwhelming and too much “stuff?”  Talk to me.

Don’t forget to enter the Favery giveaway!!  Thank you so much to all the fab girls who have entered!

Thank you for reading – XO –

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Friday’s Five

– this little owl vase I found at Michael’s that has made my coffee table a little more fun –

– spotting my new favorite watch guard tower in Huntington Beach –

– pretty ice cream sandwiches at Vitaly –

– my first day of work at Urban Decay HQ (fun office tour here!) –

– spending the day in LA with my fab friend and talented hair guru, Meredith, at Studio DNA in Hollywood –

Other mentions:

I’ve had a crazy busy but exciting week and hope to chill this weekend and get used to this working gal schedule again. The good news is, no matter how hard I think I’m working, Christian is definitely working harder!  Living with a surgery resident keeps me thankful for my manageable schedule.

In other news, I’m thinking about joining one of the Equinox gyms here in Orange County.  Does anyone have any input on this gym or recommendations for the area?  I love the idea of a gym that provides lots of interesting group classes. Thanks for sharing and have a FAB weekend!! XO –

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Our First Visitors

I was so excited to welcome my wonderful parents to Southern California this past weekend.  My sister and brother-in-law lived in San Diego for a little bit and they have visited kids in Cali before, but none of us have ever really ventured into the pocket areas of Orange County so this was a new experience.

I had so much fun taking them all over the area.  We walked around Balboa Island and Lido Isle in Newport, had lunch at Fashion Island and hit the farmers market by the Huntington Beach Pier, walking the pier as well.  We had brunch at the Beachcomber in Crystal Cove and drove all over Laguna and Dana Point.  We stopped and walked around San Juan Capistrano and then ventured back to Huntington Beach to finally try out Slapfish.  We hit up the Long Beach Flea Market, and drove by the UCI Hospital and walked around the Outlet Mall in Orange.  We played around in Costa Mesa at The Camp and ate at both Native Foods and Eat Chow.  We ate….and ate and ate and I think I’m still full!

It was so fun to spend some time with them and show them all the beautiful areas I’ve been referencing for the past several months, and I must admit I was sad to see them leave.  They left us in SoCal to rent a car and venture along the coast to Santa Barbara, Monterey and Saltillo, ending in San Francisco to see my brother and sister-in-law.

Thank you for flipping through all my paparazzi pictures!!  To those of you who are familiar with the OC area, were there any awesome spots I missed for our next visitors!?  Thank you for reading and sharing – be sure to check out the Lady Gatsby giveaway winner below!  XO –

PS – A BIG thank you to all of you who shared your legs stories with me.  I love you, I really really love you. Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Heirloom Bruschetta Recipe

 

I love summer tomatoes.  My basil plant has really made our meals more delicious this summer and bruschetta is a big favorite in our house.  Simple and fresh…and deliciously messy, this savory treat is not served on the sofa.  I used farmers market heirloom tomatoes for this particular batch of bruschetta, but any tomatoes work perfectly.  My stomach is growling as I type this!

      serves four

  • a French baguette
  • one pint heirloom grape tomatoes, halved, or tomatoes of your preference
  • large handful fresh basil leaves
  • about 2 TB olive oil
  • 1 TB balsamic vinegar
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3 TB butter
  • salt & pepper to taste

In a small skillet on medium-high heat, add the olive oil and garlic.  Sautée until the garlic is lightly brown and then pour into a mixture bowl.

Add the tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, basil, salt and pepper to the bowl.  If you can, cover the bowl and refrigerate for an hour or so, allowing the flavors to really blend.

Cut about half the baguette into individual slices.  Melt the butter in a skillet and add the bread to the skillet, lightly browning on both sides.  Repeat until you have as many pieces as you’d like.  If you’d rather, you can butter the bread and stick it in the oven on broil until the bread has browned a little bit – your call.

Remove the bread from skillet, allow it to cool for a beat or two and add a generous helping of the tomato mixture on each piece of bread.


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Thank you for reading!  XO –

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Friday’s Five

– beautiful terrariums from Dewy Flowers in Los Angeles –

– seeing my favorite living celebrity at the Rose Bowl (swoon) –

 – a seriously mouthwatering BLET from Tart –

– this dog at the farmer’s market who was in heaven –

– writing thank you notes after an exciting meeting with my new Lady Gatsby stationery –

 Other mentions:

  • This BBQ chicken pizza that is screaming my name.
  • This blog that has me seriously thinking my hair is totally boring.
  • My latest addiction to all things Gregory Gorgeous.
  • These 23 precious pictures that definitely made my day.
  • The racy preview for Passion – Rachel McAdams new movie coming out in August.  I love some Rachel McAdams, who doesn’t?

I’m so thankful for such a fun and exciting week.  A few exciting meetings, getting together with new friends, a mention in the OC Register, some seriously swoon-worthy treats that I can’t wait to share with y’all and finally…a haircut!

Christian has this Saturday off…his first day off in several weeks, so I plan to go along with whatever he wants to do. He’s been working like crazy – leaving for the day at 3:30am – yikes!  I wouldn’t be surprised if the only thing he has planned is sleeping in and being served breakfast in bed.  Luckily, that I can handle.  What are you plans this weekend? Thank you so much for reading, sharing your comments and making this blog so much fun for me! XO –

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DIY BluePrint Cleanse

I recently took to juicing in my Vitamix now that I have a nut milk bag to drain some of the pulp.  I have heard so much about the BluePrintCleanse and have been curious to see what all the fuss is about.  $250 for three days worth of juice seems a little pricey when there are so many DIY recipes out there, so I thought I would give it a whirl!

I like to put my juices in cute glasses because deep down in my heart it makes me miss chips and salsa a little bit less. Some of these juices really are so good – like the pinapple-apple-mint juice and cashew milk.  I think I’ll keep making these even when not on the cleanse.

Did I follow this cleanse exactly like I should have….no.  I slipped a quinoa-spinach-avocado-egg dinner one day and maybe had a handful or two of yogurt covered raisons another day.  BUT I mostly drank the juice, and I just wanted a healthy eating head start.  I felt energized and awake each day and would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to kick start a diet or change things up.

Let’s start with the overall grocery list of what you’ll need.  These ingredients cost me about $40 at a local community-owned grocery store.  I would recommend a farmer’s market or local supplier if you have one available!

The first juice is the green juice that you’ll drink first and third a day for three days.  I like to make all the juices for the day the evening before.  That way I have a full day’s worth and I can have a fresh batch everyday.  Do whatever is easier for you!  If you want to make one day’s worth of juice at a time, double this green juice recipe.

The second juice you will drink each day is pineapple, apple and mint.  Use more or less mint to your liking – whatever you prefer!  I love mint so added a small handful.  This is definitely my favorite juice.  I can picture adding a little rum and an umbrella straw and sitting on the beach…

The fourth drink you’ll have each day is the spicy lemonade.  This is similar to the master cleanse drink that I tried in college for about four hours.  This lemonade is by far my least favorite drink of the day.  Confession…day two and three I skipped the cayenne pepper.  Whoops!  Clearly I’m not a rule follower.

The fifth juice is carrots, apple and beets.  Be sure to wash your cutting board and blender/juicer immediately after making this as to avoid any beet stains!  And definitely don’t grab the pitcher with slippery fingers and shatter the pitcher on the floor, leaving a really fun beet juice murder scene.

The sixth and final juice of the day is the delicious cashew milk.  You can use raw almonds if you would like. Whichever you choose, be sure to soak the nuts in a bowl of water for at least three hours before blending.

 

And that’s a juice cleanse wrap!  Would you ever try this?  Do you have more willpower than me?

Talk to me.

Thanks for reading and good luck if you plan on trying the cleanse! XO –

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Kendra Scott Color Bar

I was thrilled to recently be invited to try out the Color Bar at the Fashion Island Kendra Scott boutique.  I have always shopped her jewelry in boutiques or online and was so excited to visit one of her actual stores for the first time.

Y’all know I love some Kendra Scott baubles, worn here, here and here, to name a few.  I find her pieces perfect for both day and night, and I think that is one of the main reasons I have always been so drawn to her jewelry. The Color Bar is so neat because you can actually create your own one of a kind pieces – necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets – they have it all.  I was a lady on a mission and knew I had my eye on some Darby earrings, although the Gwen earrings were coming in a close second.

 

I have several pairs of the Danielle earrings.  I can’t get enough!  I think the simplicity of the style allows the colors of the stones to really come through.  I could only peruse for so long before I had to go straight to the Color Bar.  It’s an enormous digital screen covered in jewelry…any bauble-lover is going to be drawn to it, right!?  So many options…but I kept going back to cobalt blue.

The winning pair!  I’ve had my eye on these Darby earrings for a while (I blogged about them over a year ago here) and cobalt blue is one of Kendra Scott’s big colors for fall – so it was meant to be!

And now the fabulous ladies at the Kendra Scott Fashion Island boutique make the custom beauties right in front of you – voilá!  You can use the Color Bar online, but I must admit it’s so fun to watch the KS girls make your prized piece right there at the counter.  A really neat experience if you have a store nearby.  They were telling me that lots of brides and bridesmaids will come in to design pieces to go with bridesmaids gowns – how cute is that!?

Of course, now I’m just craving all the beauties below (sigh). So many new colors I love – peach! Mint! Ivory! A big thank you to the fabulous ladies at the Kendra Scott boutique at Fashion Island.

Thank you for the opportunity to try out the Color Bar and for your kindness and help! I spy a dog bowl at the door…maybe next time I can bring Bailey and we can create a custom bedazzled collar for her so she can feel as special as I did. She also happens to look fab in cobalt blue.

Thank y’all for reading! XO –

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