Today I rounded up some of my favorite summer picks from A&F. They are a great go-to for lounge-y at home pieces, but lately I feel like they have been serving it up in swimwear and dresses. Like this leopard lady and this always chic strappy midi. Love.
And it must be mentioned that “LTK Day” is coming up this Sunday 7/19, and everything you see above is going to be 30% off through the app. You can follow me via the app here, and during this one-day event, select retailers like Abercrombie, Frontgate, Outdoor Voices and Sam Edelman will be marked down only within the LTK app. So you can see the markdowns + promo codes and shop the sale all in one place.
Any LTK post tagged with a participating retailer’s product will be called out with an “LTK Day” tag. As you tap on the products for more details, the unique LTK Day offer will appear.
SO if you really love any of the above, there’s a chance you can snag it on markdown on 7/19. If you follow @kathleen_barnes in the ltk app, I’ll be sharing my picks and favorites within the app! This is the second year they have been doing this, and I think it gets more streamlined each time. Let me know if you planning on checking out the deals and I can share more as we get closer to the sale.
Thank you so much for reading and visiting. It’s been too long since I’ve shared a Friday’s Five, so I have one queued up this week! Big hugs, XO –
I’ve been trying to share more recipes lately, and this easy summer salad is one that is super healthy and fresh to meal prep ahead of time for quick lunches or snacks for the week.
I’ve found that a key to my success in eating healthy is thinking ahead for lunches. I always have dinner plans for the week (and even write our dinner options on the large chalkboard so we both know what the options are), but I usually freestyle lunches.
And that’s where I can get in trouble. I don’t think about lunch until I’m already hungry and am therefore more likely to make a less-than-healthy decision. So by making a big batch of a salad like this, I already know what I can easily and quickly make for lunch. Sometimes I’ll have this salad with a cold baked sweet potato, leftover veggies from the night before, two hardboiled eggs or a piece of toast. I typically do need a little something on the side or I will get hungry again in a few hours.
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and cooked with 2 cups of water
1 cucumber, chopped
1-2 cups chopped tomatoes
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic
1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
a few tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
salt & pepper
For dressing: fresh lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil (optional), top with feta cheese (optional)
Directions:
Rinse your quinoa and cook on the stovetop with 2 cups of water until water has evaporated. Watch to ensure you don’t accidentally burn your quinoa!
Chop your vegetables and combine with chickpeas. Toss in your cooked quinoa and mix together.
I like to store the salad this way and add the dressing to individual portions. You can eat it on its own or put it on top of lettuce or arugula. I will top with a 2 oz. feta cheese, half a lemon squeezed and a splash of red wine vinegar. You could also add a little olive oil if you like. Or you can make a dressing with equal parts vinegar and olive oil + 2-3 lemons squeezed and mix it all together if you’re taking it to the office or to a cookout!
similar bowl | room details here, similar coffee table here
You can find more recipes under the “food & drink” category of this site. If you have a favorite meal prep salad, I’d love to hear!
A while back I styled a black organza top for an edgy office look, and I’ve loved that top ever since. This pink one is on the more feminine side, but gives the same look. Because I dig them both so much, I wanted to round up some of my favorite sheer organza tops below!
Just a note – you can absolutely style these with a crop top or full camisole. You could even put a higher neck sleeveless top if you wanted to cover up more. You can also pair a vest or blazer over it for more coverage. So know that there are certainly options for layering!
Would love to hear if this is something you could see yourself wearing!
I haven’t shared as many photos in my office as I’ve intended to. Probably because since social distancing began, I haven’t been in here as much as I once was. But I’ve been continuing to make small changes here and there to make it feel more inspiring and comfortable. It’s a space I do love to sneak away to, for sure.
I’ve shared for a few months small snippets about my small collection with Amazon The Drop that comes out later this summer. I know there is some confusion about how a limited collection like this works, so I wanted to answer some of the most common questions to hopefully make more sense!
When does your collection launch?
I can’t reveal the exact date until closer to time, but it will be launching later this summer and I will give you guys a heads up when I’m given the green light to do so?
Since late 2019. We originally planned on releasing early 2020 and then pushed back to give myself more time after having a baby. Then we were planning on spring and pushed back again due to coronavirus. So we are READY to launch this bad boy!
Did you really design the pieces?
Yes, from a blank canvas we chose the story, moodboard, silhouettes, fabrics, colors, etc. From there, Amazon’s team created the sketches and produced the garments.
I’m so excited and fascinated to hear and see what you guys think!
Why is it only available for 30 hours?
Each piece is actually made on-demand, just for those who order them. They’re taking this approach to reduce waste, which I can definitely respect. So in order for Amazon to be able to ship your order to you in 2-3 weeks, they limit the sales to a 30-hour period.
When you check out, Amazon will give you and estimated product delivery date so you can know when to expect your piece(s), and you’ll be charged when it ships.
And know that Prime members will still get free shipping! Should something not fit, you will also have up to 30 days to return the item for a full refund.
Can items sell out before the 30 hours?
Unfortunately… yes. Many of the fabrics come in limited quantities which means items can technically sell out. Some collections have had pieces sell out in only a few hours!
How can I be the first to know when it has launched?
You can sign up for text notifications here! I actually have been signed up for 6+ months and I simply get one text when a new collection is launched. I’m not one to sign up for notifications, but because of the limited timeline I appreciate the small reminder.
What is the sizing?
XXS – 3X and so far I feel like each piece runs true to size. You’ll see what size I’m wearing in the product description and Amazon will call out if a piece fits loose, oversized or fitted. Intentionally, nothing in this collection is fit-sensitive – aka wrap pieces, breezy camisoles, etc.
Is the fabric machine washable?
Yes – every piece should be machine washable! The materials are modal, elastane, cotton and other comfortable (and soft!) fabrics that are low maintenance. The fabrics will also be called out on the item details page.
These are pieces and fabrics I plan on wearing everyday myself. I wouldn’t design something that I don’t personally find comfortable!
How many pieces total?
We haven’t decided just yet but it will definitely be under 10 pieces, all adult women’s clothing.
How are the pieces made?
Amazon’s Global Human Rights Principles are here should you want to read them (it goes into detail about safe and healthy workplaces, diversity and inclusion, suppliers, etc.).
What is the price range?
We haven’t confirmed exact prices, but each piece will absolutely be under $100.
Will it ship to _________?
The collection will be available worldwide, which is amazing!
What will the fit be like?
I have intentionally not designed anything fitted so that the pieces selected will be more accommodating to all kinds of body shapes and sizes.
The product description of each piece will display my height and what size I am wearing, and you can also reference the size chart to check your measurements with sizing (which is most important to determine your size!).
Can you give us a sneak peek?
Yes! You can check out the saved stories on Instagram under “The Drop” for a sneak peek!
If you have any additional questions that weren’t listed here, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below. Thank you so much for sharing in this excitement with me. I’ve absolutely designed this collection with all of you in mind – flattering, chic, comfortable, versatile and functional. I can’t wait to see what you guys think!
This week’s wish list is a summer dream under $100. The cutest white midi dress, leopard sarong dreams and the bag that’s most definitely on my wish list.
To shop, simply click on the item or find the correlating number below the product collage –
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 – 30% off | 6 | 7 | 8 – 50% off with code GOFOURTH | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 – 30% off with code GIANT | 14 | 15 – 50% with code LOVEIT | 16 – 40% with code LOVEIT | 17 | 18 | 19 – kathleenbarnes for 15% off | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25
We have this mini baby pool and have used it many, many times already. The bottom also blows up for a little cushion on the baby tush, which I really love. I love this pattern on a headband. We’ve used this sunscreen a few times already and have really liked it. I can use it on my face but also on my shoulders and such, which is really nice.
I bought an inexpensive straw visor for our Memorial Day trip to Christian’s family’s beach home, but this one is undeniably fabulous. Might need to splurge!
Separately, my birthday is actually this weekend and I have a few little things on my wish list. A match striker, a matching linen top and pant and new wine saver. I’m also requesting a pool day. We don’t have a pool or nearby friends with a pool. And as mentioned above, we only have a small baby pool. So we are going to need a larger adult blow up pool. And maybe a raft. Perhaps a steady flow of white wine spritzers? A dream!
Tell me what’s on your summer wish list! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
I bought this dress in two colors last year and wore them when I was six months pregnant. A few great dresses like this can really take you far.
This dress has pockets (every girl loves some pockets), and it can be worn off the shoulder or with the sleeves on the shoulder. It’s stretchy and cotton which makes it fully breathable in the heat. It is a winner for almost any summer occasion (although too casual for a wedding in my opinion… not that anyone is attending weddings in corona szn, shoutout to all my brides!!).
Because this dress sold out fairly quickly, I wanted to round up some similar styles that give you the same look below. They are easy, breezy and perfect for weekdays or weekends. Best styled with flats which is a big win!
Time always seems to move quickly but when it feels like groundhog day everyday with coronavirus lurking around the corner, it moves both fast and slow it seems. Hudson is 7 months old and has tooth #3 and #4 coming in, he’s about to crawl (I am not rushing that whatsoever, God bless) and watching him sprout and grow really does serve as a beautiful daily reminder to soak up these baby days.
I never really considered myself a “baby person,” but the way those blue eyes look at me. Oh. My. Goodness. This age where he can’t run away from me or be sassy… oohhh it’s delicious!
But onto things like food and clothes – all of our favorite topics, yes? Yesterday I shared an easy corn dip that makes for a great bbq dish. I think this easy shredded chicken recipe would be fabulous with bbq sauce and slaw on a slider. A low country shrimp boil that’s easy and packed with flavor or a classic tomato pie. And if you’re looking to be a little healthier a tomato and cucumber salad is good for snacks or a side dish.
As for the fashions, below are some of the holiday weekend’s sales:
Anthropologie | extra 50% off already marked down items
Verishop | extra 15% off select summer pieces with code SUMMER
Would love to hear what your plans are! We don’t have any social distancing plans but hey – not to late to make some, right? Thanks so much for reading – XO –
Last week I shared that I wanted to share a few summer dips with you, and this corn dip is one of them! It’s super easy, makes a big batch and is great for a summer bbq or on the side of a salad, etc. I made it before having our in-laws in town for a long weekend, and we were able to eat on it for snacks here and there throughout the weekend!
Ingredients:
3 cans of corn (even better if it’s Mexicorn)
1 (7 oz) can of chopped green chiles
1 (6 oz) can jarred jalepenõs (drained and use excess liquid to taste)
1/2 cup green onion
1 cup mayo
1 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
16 oz sharp cheddar cheese serve with: corn or tortilla chips
Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Allow to chill in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving with corn or tortilla chips.
Thank you so much for reading! If you have a favorite summer dip I’d love to hear. Another easy dip I love is combining feta cheese, cooked lentils and Trader Joe’s bruschetta mix (found in the refrigerator section) with limited liquid from the bruschetta mix. I found it via Amber Lancaster and it’s delicious!
You can find more recipes in the “food + drink” category of this site. XO –
I have a few series that have started on CBL including the monthly Q&A’s and now the monthly top 10! It’s so fun and helpful taking the time to round up these top questions and products because it also always feels like a touch-base with you guys.
Doing so allows me to see what things y’all were loving – exercise and swim or home and baby? This month it was fun to see clothing be the frontrunner of the show. Perhaps we are all getting back into the swing of getting dressed each day while still staying comfortable, efficient and motivated. Or at least… for three – four days a week. I’ll take what I can manage.
All of these looks are also linked under “shop my Instagram” in further detail if you need additional info! Let’s get into it –
When I saw this dress online, I knew it was one of those classic summer styles that would always be chic. And as every girl loves to say… it has pockets!
I love dresses that hit at this lower calf/ankle length because they’re so easy to wear with both flats and heels. When I recently discovered it’s currently 75% off, I wanted to make sure to share the goods. It’s on sale both here and here, and I linked some classic white eyelet dresses I’m also loving below.
I’m also loving these earrings under $50 that will go with every summer outfit. A natural, lightweight raffia earring is such a staple in my closet. I also have and love these – seriously, they go with everything.
dress, also available here – both on sale! (if you’re in between sizes I would recommend sizing up) | bangles (I’m wearing two sets) | earrings | similar heels here and love these | pinky ring | necklace | room details here
Are you venturing into spring dresses are still hanging in yoga pants? Truly, no judgement either way. Personally, I’ve been “getting dressed” at least 3-4 days a week (on my designated “work days,” we’re still on the COVID-19 childcare limbo schedule) and I do find myself to be more productive when doing so. But hey – whatever works for you. I think my word for 2020 has most definitely become grace.
Thank you so much for reading. I’m sharing a really easy summer dip this week I know y’all are going to love! XO –
– a new bottle of Equilibria CBD drops in mint (15% off your first order with code kathleenbarnes) –
– a new batch of hydrangeas after keeping my last ones alive for two weeks (my tips here) –
You made it to the weekend – gold star! I got a few bursts of energy this week and got after organizing details for our bathroom redesign. I also spent a full day organizing my closet and prepped some food and snacks for my in-laws who are coming to visit. Hudson is going to be so spoiled with lots of attention, he doesn’t even realize!
And let’s be honest, there is no personal joy like an organized house. I’m not sure how long it will last, but for the moment, I will appreciate it!
There were two fun activities I did with Hudson this week that I think are great for baby moms. We blew up an inflatable pool on the patio (not reinventing the wheel here but didn’t realize it would be such a hit) and combined Greek yogurt with some food coloring and let him play with it in the tub before bath time. Both activities kept him entertained for 45 minutes to an hour and were super easy to do. Highly recommend for parents of babies who are sitting up!
It shouldn’t be too hot this weekend, so we’re hoping to get outside with the in-laws some for walks and maybe some al fresco dining. A few more local restaurants have opened up and not only do I want to show my support but I also love the idea of not doing dishes. Have you ventured to restaurants much yet and if so, was it worth it or is takeout still the way to go?
A few sales happening this week for those who are interested:
Alice & Olivia | end of season warehouse ale up to 80% off
Fourth of July is around the corner… as crazy as it feels to type that. But it is! And last year’s July 4th was such a blur in the midst of moving that I barely remember the day, other than the previous homeowners invited us to the country club to watch the fireworks. Which was beyond kind to the brand new people in town.
Below is some inspiration to get your summer holiday vibe on. To shop, just click on the item in the collage or find its corresponding number below!
This is a Yeti that I don’t currently have and definitely think I need for the hot summer ahead. And if you need a $6 neckerchief to add to a white dress and call it a day, that’s what I call an easy breezy patriotic look.
If you’re having people over, a fun drink is the cherry on top. Love the idea of this star spangled mule. I also think some strawberry, cucumber and basil water feels refreshing and little special (bonus points if you have some basil from your quarantine garden!). I’m going to try to put together some app and meal ideas next week as well!
AND one of my favorite brands, MacKenzie-Childs is having a major summer sale right now with hundreds of discounted items, final sale. So if you love them like I do, be sure to check that out!
If you have a 4th of July tradition, I’d love to hear it. Now that we have a little one, finding fireworks is going to be the challenge this year. Thank you so much for reading and sharing! XO –
