Red and pink are two of my favorite colors to wear, yet I don’t seem to wear either enough. I feel like I wear so much black this time of year that throwing in some cheerful color can really impact my mood. I love this chunky knit cardigan. I think it would be perfect with a solid white tee and denim. Loving this pullover also.
I’ve been looking at this wine chiller for at least two years now. I have this candle in the traditional packaging but this special design is so fun!
Last year Hudson was just a little peanut for Valentine’s Day, but this year I’ve been trying to think of something fun we could do together. Heart shaped pancakes and coloring might be as far as we get… but I still want to do something fun. If you have any young toddler holiday activity hits, I’d love to hear!
With the Super Bowl coming up this weekend, I wanted to share a BBQ Nacho recipe that is the perfect party app to bring to a gathering (if anyone is gathering right now… ) or make at home for your family. Honestly I just want a snack and beverage to enjoy for the commercials. And halftime show.
And I get it. Nachos are easy. But these are kind of next level delicious. Go on this journey with me –
INGREDIENTS
tortilla chips
shredded cheese – I used a mix of sharp cheddar and mozzarella
chopped green onions
chopped tomatoes
bbq chicken or pork – I used this package from Trader Joe’s
optional:sour cream or Greek yogurt, avocado, cilantro, jalapeños
DIRECTIONS
Layer chips, cheese, onion and tomato. Top with warmed bbq pork. Put in the oven at 375 for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with your additional toppings and serve immediately.
If you have a tried and true appetizer for things like the Super Bowl, game days, birthday parties, etc. I’d love to hear. Outside of nachos, I love a cheese board, cream cheese and pepper jelly with crackers and basically any kind of chip and dip. Literally, I will eat any chip and dip.
Thanks so much for reading, and you can find more recipes in the “Food & Drink” section of this site! XO –
I’ll be transparent, this week wasn’t my favorite week. I had a few days where I just couldn’t seem to wake up on the right side of the bed and it really carried throughout the day. It’s also been dark and rainy outside… some weeks are just like that. BUT I’m really making some efforts to make sure the weekend is different.
Tonight we are starting a new activity – theme nights. With the cold, wet weather outside and Covid numbers being so high, we have been staying home day after day after day. So I want to bring some fun back into our calendars. I told Christian I am officially starting self-indulgent themed nights.
I sent him an invitation for a “Snazzy Jazzy Night in the Parlor.” In all of my rearranging lately, I pulled out some of my grandmother’s silver trays and candelabras. It made me want to play vinyls, light the candelabras in the living room, have appetizers and champagne and flip through coffee table books. That sounded like the perfect, self-indulgent night. I was happy to host it solo or Christian could join me.
Themed nights can happen as often or not often as we choose. He might want to smoke a brisket and watch a movie outside with a heater and beer. He can invite me to participate, but the intention behind it is not necessarily to choose something that we would both enjoy. I want us to both choose things that are completely self-indulgent that we would enjoy alone or with each other. The key is to come up with the idea and execute it, but invite the other person to participate should they wish. And since I declared “snazzy jazzy night,” it has given me something to look forward on a particularly annoying week.
All of this to say, I would encourage you to do the same in your house! Think about the perfect day or night that would bring you joy. Other ideas I thought could be fun are movie and pizza night on a cozy pallet on the floor (like how we all would as kids). Sushi, cosmopolitans and SATC. Putting a tablecloth over the foyer table and having dinner in the foyer by candlelight, seeing if music travels differently with the tall ceilings, as if we are somewhere other than our home. A idea is all you need.
Next week I’ll have to report how our first theme night goes! Hope you have a beautiful weekend – XO –
I have unintentionally begun 2021 with all things furniture/accessory rearranging. I’ve been spending any free time flipping through design coffee table books and getting ideas. And I love that it doesn’t have me necessarily purchasing anything new, rather just shifting things around for a fresh feel. Sometimes it’s not really about adding additional items, rather taking away for a clean, inspired look.
But I won’t deny that my wandering eye has discovered a few things I’m lusting after along the way. Like this beautiful and sleek lamp I found on sale that I think would be amazing in the foyer. Or this burled wood desk I’ve almost splurged on multiple times. And this footed bowl I bought for an orchid arrangement (my tips here).
I’m very into vase, pots and jars right now and am having to restrain myself as I really don’t need any more. But how cool are these? I mean, I might have to get this one. I’ve never seen anything like it!
I’ve had my eye on this sunbathers scene for so long. I absolutely love it but have no idea where I would put it. But I’ve loved it for at least a year. I recently looked back on some photos of travels, and it really hit me that I haven’t stepped foot on a plane in a year and a half, and we have only stayed in one hotel during that timeframe. I am longing for an adventure, even if just a road trip!
Have you taken any great road trips during covid months? I’m thinking something East Coast beachy…
I have fallen down a decor rabbit hole lately. I’ve been rearranging some stuff in our home, which I love to do, and I will get ideas and inspiration from things I’ve seen in a coffee table book or a friends home.
My biggest tip would be to start in your own home with things you already have. Often times you have great pieces, you just need to mix up how you’re displaying them. Move chairs around, move decorative accents and even better – don’t be afraid to move art! Patching up a wall and touching up the paint takes no time and is no big deal.
But if you’re still trying to fill a spot, below you might get some ideas for DIY-ing something. On my Instagram, I have an “Art | DIY” saved story that shows some of the hacks I’ve used in our home. Below you’ll find even more decor DIY ideas that I’m loving right now.
The $17 designer dupe lamp in the below video has me SHOOK!
And piggy-backing off of that lamp I love so much, here is the same strategy applied to thrifted vases. Apparently, I need to buy some oven bake clay, like asap.
The below aren’t as much of DIY’s and more-so just major inspiration.
– adding a clam shell to our shelves that I’ve had my eye on (similar one here) –
– finding six brass champagne flutes at Goodwill –
– a little extra time with this very, very busy little man –
I hope everyone has had a beautiful week! We took Monday off in honor of MLK Jr. Day, so the short week has me double checking if it’s really Friday. I heard that one of the men running for Mayor of New York is claiming to encourage the four day work week. And it got me thinking… maybe I should be doing that more often. What’s your work week typically like?
This has been my second week back into Reformer Pilates, and it has been so great. It’s really refreshing how good it makes me feel, and I’m mad at myself for not getting back into it earlier. But at least we’re on a roll now, and for that I’m grateful.
I stayed up late watching the Real Housewives of Orange County reunion and WOW. Talk about a boxing match. I thought Potomac was intense but that was another level! Did anyone else watch?
We got this ball pit this week, and it is just the most adorable thing ever. I’m hoping to play in it with Hudson this weekend. It comes with a little storage box for the 500 balls that are in the pit and I’m like, for a Covid kid this is just the best. So fun!
That’s all I’ve got, friends. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and thank you so much for reading! XO –
I love an orchid because you can often get beautiful blooms for months rather than a week or two with freshly cut flowers. I always assumed these beautiful orchid arrangements I saw in other people’s homes must have come from a fancy florist. But lately I started playing around with an extra planter I had. With a quick google search, I realized that most are creating their own masterpieces from the grocery orchids for $12.99 we all know and love.
I learned a few tricks that make a big impact in making your inexpensive orchid look like it too came from a fancy florist.
Step 1 |Ditch the planter your orchid comes in and transfer the inner plastic casing around the roots a larger planter.
Get creative! Below you’ll see my three orchid planters – a jar, a wine cooler and an actual planter.
If there is space to fill, I’ve filled the bottom with loose bubble wrap and placed moss around the sides and top. Which leads me to…
Step 2 | Use different kinds of moss as filler. I bought mine from a local craft store.
Step 3 | Replace the plastic support rod with natural sticks or twigs. Add a few extra for some visual interest. Also, if you ever receive fancy arrangements, you can save the twigs and clips for future use!
Step 4 | Pull some green moss to use as a disguise of your plant clips. My sister told me some people like to use little ribbons instead of clips. Personally, I prefer the natural look of simply using moss. But I think with the right delicate ribbon that could be really pretty.
Have you ever repotted an orchid? If you have any additional tips, I’d love to hear.
We have already embraced some Valentine’s Day pajamas over here, so I am already thinking in red and pink! I wanted to share a few picks that grabbed my attention.
I love these pajamas (shorts version here) because while they have hearts on them, they still feel appropriate year-round. These are the slippers I pretty much live in right now. I have these sunglasses in black and red – they’re so fun!
This has been a most-worn fragrance of mine this year, and this is a new lipstick that I can’t stop wearing. I put this on every night, and I absolutely need this book for Hudson.
What do you usually do on Valentine’s Day? I usually hunt down a heart-shaped pizza. Seriously! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
– is this entire post going to be about my love of flowers? –
Early in the week I simply googled “how to make an orchid look expensive.” And from there my rabbit hole journey of trying to upgrade all of my orchids began. I’ve been considering making this topic its own post, but all of this time I’ve been thinking everyone is getting their fancy looking orchid arrangements from some magical location. Now I realize they’re just upgrading them with beautiful planters, moss and twigs from home. Totally attainable and an easy, inexpensive hack!
This week I revisited an old mindset of mine that is very freeing. Even when you’re busy (and not swamped busy, but just a full day), ultimately what’s most important will get done. So often I feel like, “one day when _____ is done, I’ll be able to relax.” But there will always be a laundry list of things to get done. It reminds me of one of my all-time favorite quotes from Alfred D’Souza:
“For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin — real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.
This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”
Sometimes you just have to stop busy bee-ing and allow yourself time to do what you want. Not what you should be doing, but what you want to do. And this week that has been less cooking, more playtime and actually sitting down and flipping through, selectively reading my interior design coffee table books. Typically they just sit there, looking pretty and serving decorative purposes. But if you actually pour a cup of coffee, grab a Diet Coke or sparkling water and just enjoy the beauty of every page… so much inspiration is there for you!
And it has really brought my mood up. After such a sad and disappointing week in America last week, this week I’ve been on social media less and flipping through design books more. I would give it a 10/10.
Those are just a few things bringing me joy this week. And my sister is coming to visit us today for her first Georgia visit in a year, so we are so excited to see her! I hope everyone has a beautiful and cozy weekend. Hugs –
There have always been a few things on my personal home “I’ve made it list.” Some of those things are a double oven (got it!), two refrigerators (don’t got it) and a small, dedicated space for a mini gym (somehow… got it!). A few months ago we added a MYXfitness bike to our basement gym. It’s sleek (I love the white!), doesn’t take up much space and packs in a lot of workouts.
The biggest reason why I thought this would be the best stationary bike for us is because not only can you take instructor-led classes or scenic rides with road noise, silence or music, but you can also swivel the monitor 360 degrees and take an instructor-led mat class. Mat classes vary from yoga, pilates, core, HIIT to stretching and meditation.
Like most, during quarantine I started working out more often and then it slowly tapered off. But my goal this year is to remind myself that anything is better than nothing. Even if it’s just a 20 minute ride or a 15 minute core workout. It eventually adds up and most of all, it affects my daily attitude.
For price, dimensions and a full list of every class offered, check out the MYXfitness website. There you can also watch a short bio video on each instructor and see which classes they specifically teach.
Last week I asked you guys on Instagram to send in any questions you had on the MYX system. Thank you so much for taking the time to do that, below you can find my answers!
How are the classes? Do the spin classes have choreography or is it just biking?
I really enjoy the classes and have found myself actually take more mat classes than cycling classes, whereas Christian usually only takes the cycling classes.
There are a variation of rides – climb rides, HIIT and Interval rides, Endurance rides, MYX rides and warm up/cool down rides. You can also watch sample clips from rides on their website.
Does it sync with the Apple Watch?
The MYX mobile app connects with Apple Watch but the tablet app does not.
How’s the music?
There are different playlists for each workout, and you have the ability to skip a song should you want to. The music differs for every type of class, which means you can take the same class five days in a row and possibly never hear a single repeated song.
Lastly, there are separate volume controls for the music and coaches, which I really appreciate.
How much is the monthly membership after you buy the bike?
$29 per month for unlimited access to all content. Collectively they have hundreds of workouts and compared to its competitors, this is the best monthly membership cost.
How often do they upload new workouts?
New workouts are added weekly!
Do you have to have special shoes?
No, I just wear sneakers. But the pedals are made for both options, so if you have bike shoes and want to wear them, they’ll clip in.
Why MYX over Peloton or SoulCycle?
By far, the question I get asked most frequently. First things first, I don’t have a Peloton and have only taken one of their classes in a hotel gym a few years ago. I probably took less than 10 SoulCycle classes while I lived in California. So I’ve dabbled in both but truthfully am not super knowledgeable about either.
What I like about the MYXfitness is the wide assortment of classes and the 360 swiveling monitor for the extra classes including core workouts, pilates, yoga, kettlebell, etc. My favorite combo is to take a short 20 minute hip hop class and follow up with a mat workout.
On their website, if you scroll down you’ll find a full graph with the differences between MYXfitness and Peloton in terms of size, workouts, weight, etc.
Do you feel like there are enough variety in the classes?
Definitely yes!
How long are the classes?
They range from 5-60 minutes with everything in between.
Do you have a discount code?
Yes! With the code KATHLEEN you can get $150 off your order and free shipping (valued at $250). AND the MYX and the MYX Plus are $100 currently, so that is up to $500 off!
Can you use other fitness apps on the screen? For example take a peloton class using the MYX?
No. You can ride with our without a MYX instructor and with or without music. The scenic solo rides are in locations like San Francisco, Costa Rica, Northern Italy, Hawaii and so on. The solo scenic rides offer road noise, music or you can silence both.
Does it track your performance?
The MYX bike comes with a heart rate monitor that allows you to track your heart rate in every workout.
Also, when you create your MYX account you’ll be asked a series of questions that helps create your custom heart rate zones. There is also a SmartMYX option that will tell you which workouts to take based on your specific goals.
One thing it does not do is track distance, which I wish it did.
Who are some of your favorite instructors?
Most of the classes I’ve taken are from Christina and Shaun.
How long is shipping?
Typical shipping is 2-5 weeks which is significantly faster than its competitors!
I hope that helped clarify some of your questions about this particular at-home system. If I missed your question, please leave it in the comments or check out the MYX Fitness website.
Don’t forget that with the code KATHLEEN you can get $150 off your order and free shipping (valued at $250). If you are a self-motivated person who will really use a machine like this for quick and frequent workouts, it is really, really worth it.
Thank you so much for reading and leave me any additional questions you might have! XO –
What a start to 2021. If you’ve turned on the television or opened any social media app, you are aware of what is going on in our country. So in hopes to give us a pleasant distraction, I wanted to stay in theme with this Friday snippet post and share five moments of gratitude from this week.
1. We finally got the Christmas trees in the attic (!!). And it wasn’t easy with two flights of stairs, so that’s a win.
2. All my shows are back with fresh episodes, loving that.
3. The frostbite on my outdoor plants is really depressing, however I’m happy to report my indoor plants continue to thrive. And that’s important because after my spouse, child and dog, they are my next of kin.
4. I discovered and ordered this vase on Amazon and trés chic!
5. I finally received this beautiful star for a tree topper for next year. It clearly took a very long time to cross the ocean and arrive… but I never think about holiday decorations until it’s holiday time. So at least I’ll be ready next year!
This weekend I have a little bit of work to do, but I look forward to some disconnect and playtime with my little guy. What were some of your moments of gratitude amongst the chaos this week?
In times like these, I do look for the joy and good. Sometimes we can focus too much on the hate, but there is always good. I hope you have a beautiful weekend – XO –
I’ve shared some of my top podcasts picks before in 2016, 2017 and 2018 (or you can find them by searching “podcast” on CBL). But it’s been a little while since I shared some new podcasts I love, so I wanted to spill the tea!
Celebrity Book Club | This is a new podcast to me but I honestly love the recaps to celebrity books I’m interested in but won’t necessarily read. It’s almost like a cliff notes!
Tom Brown’s Body | A deep dive into a 2016 disappearance of a Texas teenage boy.
Even the Rich | REALLY love these two girls and how they break down some of the most iconic historic families – JFK Jr, Princess Diana, the House of Versace, even Britney Spears!
Anatomy of Murder | This pod is relatively new but I need more episodes. It’s two former detectives discussing different murder cases and analyzing them.
Unlocking Us | Queen Brené Brown is here to save us all. Hallelujah!
Just B | You know I am going to listen to Bethenny’s podcast, but it’s actually really good. Per usual, she gets straight to the point and has a wide variety of guests.
If you have a favorite podcast right now, I’d love to hear! Thank you so much for reading – XO –
