Carrie Bradshaw Lied

March Q&A

denim | shirt | shoes – old, similar style here | hudson’s outfit | living room details here

What brand of treadmill do you have?

Sole.

Microblading update. Have you gone back for the touch-up?

It was supposed to be tomorrow but we had to postpone it to April. Hoping I will be able to go!

Does being an influencer change friendships you had before? My friend is an influencer and it’s different now.

I don’t feel it has… but that is from the influencer perspective. I have the same friends from childhood as well as college. In fact… I had a virtual happy hour with college friends last night! I’m honestly thinking why on EARTH we aren’t having more virtual happy hours with our long-distance friends!?

What’s one of your favorite early memory of dating Christian?

He always opened my car door, pulled out my chair and has the best table manners. Still does!

What’s your favorite alcoholic drink?

Pinot Noir, Syrah or Sauvignon Blanc. My friend in town has also gotten us on tequila on ice (Casa Dragones if you’re able to splurge, Casamigos Blanco is a great price point) with 1-2 limes.

Please share your secrets – how you are already back in amazing shape after Hudson!?

I am not in amazing shape, trust me! I exercised and tried to eat well during my pregnancy. I still gained more weight than I thought I would, but wasn’t going to get caught up in it.

I didn’t cut back or push myself during that “fourth trimester” while I was still breastfeeding. I was still working, Hudson was colicky, I didn’t enjoy breastfeeding (more on that here)… I had enough on my plate. I wanted to give my body three months to just rest and recover before putting any kind of pressure on myself.

At 12 weeks postpartum I weighed myself and was 10-12 lbs above my pre-baby weight. So I started writing down what I was eating and really being accountable. Hudson is now a little over 4 months and I’m 6 lbs above my pre-baby weight.

I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables (including potatoes!), brown rice, salads, eggs and beans. Tragically I have cut a good amount of carbs but will have popcorn, open faced sandwiches or an egg-in-a-hole when I need a carb fix.

It will come off… eventually!

Any postpartum things happening that you didn’t expect?

If anything, I’m shocked my stomach has returned (mostly) to it’s previous size. When I was 9 months pregnant I thought, “goodbye belly button. I guess I’ll never see you again.”

I’ve heard resuming your cycle can be intense but after a year of not having it, I didn’t find it to be anything other than the usual.

My postpartum recovery was minimal this time around. We’ll see if I get as lucky next time!

At home workouts?

I’ve got two posts for you here and here!

Is Christian still working during the quarantine? Are you nervous about it at all?

Yes he is. No, I’m not nervous. We feel lucky that our jobs have continued throughout this pandemic, and it’s important to Christian to prioritize his patients health along with the overall public and his own.

It’s difficult but necessary. And things are changing day by day, so we are just taking it one day at a time.

What does Christian think of the drive thru and curbside pick-up? Is it safe?

He said, “it’s safer.” It’s only as safe as the place you’re picking it up from. In his opinion, limiting all interactions as much as possible is the safest scenario.

Is Karen concerned about Coronavirus?

She wasn’t at first. Now I think she’s a little freaked out. But she is happy to stay locked in her house sans “gradeau.” In fact, she was recently telling me how she disinfects her steering wheel and car handles after going to the grocery. She’s apparently been doing this for years.

She’s also considering asking my dad to sleep upstairs because he’s a physician and still working.

I’m not joking.

How are you staying motivated to maintain your business right now?

I’ve always been a self-motivated person and I’ve worked from home for almost five years. With that in mind, my day-to-day isn’t drastically different other than I don’t have childcare and zero social obligations so I have more time to split between work and baby.

CBL has been an income source for our family for many years, and I don’t take that position lightly. We own a home. We just had a baby. That is my motivation to work hard!

Can you post the toy bar attachment again?

Yes! You can find it here and it’s also saved in the “CBL Bebe” stories on Instagram. We mostly use it on this bouncer.

Can you share anything that worked with colic?

I debated sharing a post on this but have stalled because if I’m being honest… I don’t know how encouraging it would be. We tried everything. Gerber Soothe Probiotics helped a little bit, but it really just took time and a LOT of patience.

Know when you need a break. Tap out and let your partner tap in. Talk openly with your pediatrician. And don’t feel guilty for hiring a babysitter or someone to help and give you a few hours or afternoons of relief.

In Hudson’s case, it lasted 9 weeks. Then week 11 came along and he was a gem. It was nothing I had done, he just outgrew it just like our pediatrician said he would. I had stopped breastfeeding by then, the colic was fading and I was finally really able to bond with him.

How did you know it was colic for Hudson’s fussiness?

I talked openly with our pediatrician. He gave lots of great suggestions, we tried them all and pretty much nothing worked. He is part pediatrician and part therapist (joking), but he was essential in my sanity. And now Hudson has outgrown it and is doing all the things our doctor said he would. Colic is temporary. When you have overcome it (and you will!), it will quickly become a distant nightmare!

If you haven’t had a colicky child, this may sound dramatic. If you have had a colicky child, you feel me on this one.

What formula is Hudson on?

I’ve chosen not to share this only because it’s really most important to see what formula is going to work best for your baby. I am not an expert by any means!

We tried four or five different formulas before finding one that worked for everyone, but we continued to talk openly to our pediatrician who gave us some samples. Those samples were really helpful in the process of narrowing it down.

What is Hudson’s feeding/napping/sleep training schedule?

We mostly follow Taking Cara Babies and Moms on Call. Every baby is different – do whatever works for you!

Do you like your Miku baby monitor?

Yes! I love that we don’t have to carry around a monitor and our cell phones, it’s just an app on the phone.

We did have a snafu with it stopping working, and after several troubleshooting calls with Miku they exchanged it. But other than that, it’s been very convenient.

Can you please list more baby essentials for new moms?

I shared this post but I don’t have more because you really don’t need that much stuff. Babies need breastmilk or formula, diapers and wipes, bottles, some clothes and bath items and a lot of affection/physical touch. Don’t feel like you have to buy a ton of stuff.

What’s your honest opinion about lab diamond engagement rings? Would you have wanted one?

I have a blog post about lab diamonds here. I think for earrings, bracelets, necklaces, bands and so on it can be a great option if you’re cost-conscious. I don’t know that I would have preferred a lab diamond engagement ring, but they are conflict-free and environmentally friendly which is amazing.

But seriously – who cares what anyone thinks. It’s your ring. Whatever makes you happy is the right choice.

What earrings are you wearing?

I have six ear piercings (look away, mom!) and shared some of my tiny earring favorites here.

Luxury purchases you regret?

I actually shared a post on my most and least worn luxury accessories here!

Trends you’re loving and not loving?

Loving: matching sweatsuits and jogger ensembles.

Not Loving: Dad shoes, biker shorts, 90’s vibes.

What is your favorite boyfriend denim?

Always Levi’s. If they’re 100% cotton I size up one size. If they have some stretch I order my usual size (27).

Love these, these and these!

How tall are you?

5’7″

Holy grail hair products you can’t and shan’t live without?

Moroccan Oil, Mason Pearson brush, Oribe Texturizing Spray

How did you use the PMD to get rid of the bumps on your arms?

I used the body attachment and just followed the instructions that come with the device. There is also a video tutorial on their YouTube Channel. This device is great too!

Do you use any organic/aluminum-free deodorant?

I am a longtime Cashmere Mist wearer. But it does have aluminum in it.

I have tried so many natural deodorants and honestly hated them all. They were sticky, didn’t work well and one gave me an armpit rash. Necessaire makes a Eucalyptus aluminum-free cream deodorant and it is truly the only one I’ve liked. It’s really good!

What’s your go-to tinted moisturizer?

Right now I really like AmorePacific – hoping it will be restocked! I also really love Urban Decay’s One and Done.

What are you using as a Botox alternative with the quarantine?

I haven’t had Botox since 2018. I keep meaning to get some and then I forget. So I guess just hydrating and taking care of my skin! My tip top picks here.

Can you share how you keep your house so clean? Any schedule or tips?

I have two amazing women who come and help clean 2x a month. We have a Roomba that’s on a timer and runs every day at 9AM. I also have always been the person with a clean room. I truly have no memory of my parents telling me to clean my room. I function in an “outer order, inner calm” mentality. I am uninspired in a messy home!

Can we see a before and after of the exterior of your house?

I’ve chosen not to share street shots for privacy reasons, but I have shared some up-close angles on insta-stories (saved in the “GA Home” saved stories). It’s a pretty dramatic difference just in painting the brick, shutters, revamping the front sidewalk, etc. We want to plant a few shrubs and monkey grass things in the front yard before it will feel “complete.”

Then… onto the last big home project: remodeling the bathrooms. Nervous about that!

If you were to have your choice of 1) clothing line with your name or 2) a talk show, which would you choose?

Oh my gosh this is hilarious! A clothing line. Only because I could do it more from home and most likely be able to spend more time with the family.

Not a question, but you should totally just show up with a cat and see how long it takes C to notice.

I WISH. I would love to foster a cat, but Christian is not (currently) on board. I can’t do it behind his back because if he showed up with another large, shedding dog I would lose my mind! I love Bailey so much, but the dog hair is… a lot of maintenance. She’s almost 13 and I would do anything for her, but I can’t do another retriever. LOVE their personalities but the hair and size is a lot for a mostly indoor pet.

No question! Just love how much your life has changed in the past year. So much happy!

I love you. Thank you. We are so happy and grateful. You can’t really appreciate the highs unless you’ve lived through some lows!

Thank you so much for checking in and reading this novel! You can find all previous month’s Q&A’s in the “personal” category as well as by searching “Q&A” on this site.

Appreciate you for stopping by – XO –

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Den + Bar Reveal

I have been slightly tweaking and moving this room around for what feels like the longest. Ironically, it’s the room we spend the most time in! I am so excited to finally share what we have finally come up with to fill this space comfortably. This is our den and intended to feel like more of a casual “family room.” It is open to the kitchen, breakfast room, bar and living room, so it was important to me that these four spaces flowed nicely with each other.

Originally I had these super cool Citizenry accent chairs in this room. But once this Anecdote coffee table came in, the finishes didn’t flow. I moved my Paula Rallis Home boomerang chairs from my office to the den and put the safari chairs upstairs and it all worked out just right.

Below are the photos of the styled space that I’m so excited to share. And be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom for a $500 giveaway you don’t want to miss!

photos by Viva Lux Photography

similar dress here and here | similar pumps here and here | long necklace | “h” necklace | hudson necklace

Now for the $500 giveaway! Anecdote has so graciously offered to give a CBL reader $500 toward shopping anything on the site. They just launched their small business this year, and to offer something like that during this crazy time is incredibly generous. To enter, simply:

Leave a comment on this post with your IG handle and how you might want to spend the credit
Follow @kathleen_barnes + @shopanecdote on Instagram (you’ll want to follow their account for major home decor inspiration anyway, trust me)
Leave a comment on this Instagram post with which room in your home you want to refresh!

AND don’t forget you can get 15% off Anecdote products this week with the code KAT15. A winner will be selected Friday and announced shortly after.

Thank you so much for reading and check out other room tours in the “home” category – including our bedroom, dining room, living room, kitchen + breakfast room and Hudson’s nursery.

Y’all stay safe and enjoy using this time to get cozy in your beautiful home!

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Friday’s Five | At Home

– making the most of staying in by tidying up –

– a new backpack handbag from J. Lowery –

– potting a gardenia plant –

– finding ways to work at the dining room table so I can enjoy all of its pretty –

leggings | cardigan dress | similar mules for less | dining room details here

– a personalized bucket bag that I’m excited to pull out this spring –

Alright guys, week one down – how is everyone doing? If I’m being honest, not too much has changed for me other than not having our usual childcare scenario, being less busy on email and not running errands.

Usually in this scenario without childcare, I would feel overwhelmed and stressed. However because my email is slower than usual, I’ve actually been able to use that free time to get organized and spent more one-on-one time with Hudson. And it’s been really nice! After spending so much time with him during his colicky weeks, now that he’s happy it is a joy to spend this extra time with him. Working from with a crying baby? Not easy. Working from home with a happy baby? Challenging but definitely more do-able.

I’ve chosen to choose gratitude over anxiety. Grateful that we have a home, backyard and neighborhood with fresh air to spend this “social distancing” time in. I’m grateful that I have a happy little baby boy to make the days fly by. Grateful that I get to be the one to get him up from every nap, soak up every smile and kiss. We’re grateful that we can afford to stock our pantry and refrigerator and that the grocery stores have plenty of food. Grateful for all of our healthcare employees, grocery store employees, police force, delivery men and women and so on who are putting themselves at risk so we can all stay home.

I shared some of my top activities for staying in this week in this post, but I’d love to hear your favorite thing you did this week! I love seeing how everyone is really coming together to help and share positivity right now. It’s what I hope I’ll remember from this unusual time in history.

In staying in tune with what this blog is about – fashion, home, style, etc. – I want to share some major sales that are happening at the moment. If you’re focusing on spending/shopping less right now, I absolutely understand! I am just sharing the below for anyone who is interested or has had their eye on something. For those people, there is an opportunity to get it at a discount – like my mom snagging our favorite deodorant at 25% off! I might need to snag one too…

Abercrombie | up to 50% off

American Eagle | select styles up to 40% off (including denim)

Ann Taylor | up to 70% off sale items

ASOS | up to 50% off sale

Banana Republic | 40% off regular priced items

Crate & Barrel | 20% off kitchen essentials

GAP | 40% off your purchase with the code TREAT

H&M | 15% off orders $60+ and free shipping with the code 3705

J.Crew | 30% off your purchase and 50% off sale styles with code NEWNEW

Last Call | extra 10% off designer bags and shoes + extra 40% off everything

Levi’s | 30% off and free shipping with the code FRIEND

Madewell | 25% off your purchase with the code WHATASALE

Nordstom | 25% off select items site wide

Old Navy | up to 50% off site wide

Pottery Barn | 25% off bedding, 30% off bedroom furniture, 25% off quilts and free shipping with the code SPRING

Sam Edelman | 25% off with the code FAMILY25

West Elm | 25% off your purchase with the code FRIENDS

Big hugs and thank you guys for reading! Stay safe and if you have any at-home activities or recipes you’ve been loving, please share! XO –

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Morning Skincare Habits

While staying home more right now, I’ve been spending more time than usual pampering myself. I’ve given myself a pedicure, masked my face and hair, organized my beauty drawer and so on. I’ve shared some recent posts about my evening skincare habits, but today I wanted to talk more about some of my morning skincare favorites. I really do feel that if you take great care of your skin, it’s even easier to keep your makeup minimal and let your beautiful, clear skin make the statement. Which is even more fabulous with warm weather around the corner! Clé de Peau has so many luxurious skincare and beauty items that achieve just that. With a huge focus on quality and luxury, I know what I’m putting on my skin is just as good for me as it smells and feels.

I start the morning by washing my face, and I’ve recently been using their Clarifying Cleansing Foam. A little bit goes a long way because as you lather, the cream becomes this rich, textured foam. I’ll be sharing a quick demonstration on Instagram Stories today! From there I will use a toner if I’m taking my time. If I’m trying to be a little speedier I’ll go straight to a serum or essence. Then I’ll apply a face cream like Clé de Peau’s Intensive Fortifying Cream or I’ll mix a moisturizer with their Multi Repair Oil. The oil can be used from your nose to your toes as it’s lightweight and just enough to give your skin a spring dewy finish.

Lastly I’ll use my ring finger to gently apply some eye cream. This Enhancing Eye Contour Supreme Cream is unlike any eye cream I’ve ever tried. It’s extremely hydrating but honestly goes on your skin like silk. The texture is completely unique. I’ve been using it so carefully as to not let any go to waste because it’s so good, I’m going to be sad when the jar is empty!

photos by Viva Lux Photography

Thank you so much for reading! For more skincare and beauty content be sure to visit the “beauty” category of this site. And if you have a favorite item in your morning skincare routine, I’d love to hear.

Stay safe at home and take advantage of the extra time for some self-care!

brought to you by Clé de Peau Beauté

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10 Ideas for At-Home Activities

1) Get organized!

This has definitely been my favorite social distancing activity so far. I immediately organized my fridge and pantry, and I plan to get to my closet and my office closet as well.

Some readers suggested cleaning your spice drawer, making sourdough starter, cleaning out your car and practicing baking.

Take advantage of this time at home to spring clean!

2) Try cooking new things.

Just because you’re spending more time at home and less time eating out doesn’t mean you should make bad choices! Let’s not forget summer and swimsuit season is still ahead and these few weeks shouldn’t ignite bad habits.

I tried to keep temptation to a minimum and make smart choices when stocking our fridge and pantry for the next two weeks, and it’s a great time to try some new healthy recipes. A few of my favorites that I’ve shared on CBL are this lemony carrot snack, my go-to pimento cheese, tomato and cucumber salad, vegetable orzo soup, my favorite chopped salad and bell pepper nachos. To indulge I love this easy Alfredo Mostaccioli and easy garlic noodles.

Treat yourself to a whiskey rebellion and peruse the “food + drink” category for some recipe ideas!

3) At-Home Exercise.

I’ve shared some of my favorite at-home workouts before in this post. Now that we have a treadmill in our basement with a TV, our Mirror and some free weights, I definitely plan to take advantage of it and make sure I’m staying active. Walks outside are another way to get fresh air while respecting social distancing!

Someone also suggested riding bikes – love that suggestion!

4) Self-Care.

I try to set aside time every Sunday for a face or hair mask and some extra self-care time. However I don’t always get to it, and I’ve already masked and given myself a pedicure.

Clean out your beauty drawers, pull out the sheet mask and give yourself a manicure. Self tan (my favorite tanners here) and be ready to come out of this quarantine glowing, hunny!

This can even mean getting ahead in cleaning your makeup brushes!

You can find a DIY hair growth mask here along with some other favorite beauty hacks.

5) Read.

I wish I set aside more time to read regularly. I have always loved reading and in elementary school the librarian always joked that I was the student she saw weekly, checking in and out books to read at home.

Whether it’s an audiobook (I’ve heard Jessica Simpson’s book is so good) or sitting on the sofa with a cup of English breakfast tea (my fave), I love the thought of using this time to squeeze in some good reads.

A few posts rounding up some of my beach read picks here and here.

6) Garden.

I coincidentally picked up some spring plants at Lowe’s last week and have already enjoyed planting them with Hudson in the bouncer outside. I have gotten out the leaf blower and enjoyed prepping our patio for this spring.

Someone suggested repotting, fertilizing, trimming plants and trees… there’s always something you could be doing outside.

7) Play games or do a puzzle.

I LOVE a good card or scrabble game. So many suggested 1,000-piece puzzles – when Christian starts a puzzle he cannot peel away. My family does a puzzle almost every Christmas and it’s something that always drives me nuts!

Some card game ideas here.

Monopoly Deal is another great one!

8) Get out that long to-do list.

Someone said they were transferring all their VHS tapes to DVDs, such a smart use of extra time.

9) Be active with your kids.

A reader said she set up the backyard sprinkler for her kids – how adorable is that!? Backyard camping or swing sets, flag football, sidewalk chalk… so many sweet ideas to try with little ones.

10) Netflix and chill.

I shared a few binge favorites here and podcasts favorites here, here and here, but we all deserve some low key sofa time.

A reader said she and her friends pressed “play” at the same time on the same movie from different homes and live texted – pretty cute!

These are some of my top picks for passing the time efficiently over the next few weeks – would love to hear any suggestions you have! Thank you so much for reading – XO –

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Spring Espadrilles

After so many months of cold, rainy weather… it’s sometimes hard to imagine that spring is around the corner. But she is and she’s ready! And you know who else is ready? My closet. Because I can’t wait to start pulling out some spring pieces like these espadrilles from DSW. They come in four colors and are so incredibly lightweight, making them so comfortable for all day wear.

I love that this pair serves as a neutral while still having a unique touch in the python shoe strap. It adds a fun little pop that means they can go with most looks or even be the focal point of the look themselves.

And the last thing I’m missing to complete this look is… a faux tan. Note to self: must apply some self tanner before I show these legs to the world.

photographed by Christian Barnes

espadrilles – under $60!, also have them in black and love them, similar style here and here | bag | sunglasses | shirt | skirt (old), love this one and this one

I saw these sunglasses on the site and immediately bought them. They look so expensive in person, and I cannot believe they are under $40. A total steal! And from now until 3/21 you can get 20% off all Crown Vintage products with the code KATHLEEN20.

What spring shoe styles are you excited for? You know what that means… time to get your pedicure on, girlfriend.

brought to you by DSW

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Bedroom Reveal

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen this room a lot, but I wanted to officially share our updated bedroom with you and the pieces we have upgraded since moving to Georgia!

This room originally had no ceiling fixture. That would be fine by me, but Christian cannot sleep without a ceiling fan. So we had this Craftmade ceiling fan installed and I love how quiet it is. We softened the wood floors with this gorgeous Annie Selke rug, and I love the texture it brings to the room.

Our bedding was upgraded to this fresh set from Boll & Branch, and my mom made the antelope pillows for me from some fabric I found. We installed sconces to free up counter space of our bedside tables, and downsized from bedside dressers to these Port Eliot pieces. I love the masculine touch the cherry wood brings to the room, they were the perfect touch!

I snagged this gorgeous mirror on a Black Friday sale, and it really makes such a major first impression. A splurge, but overall a great investment.

photos by Viva Lux Photography

You can check out more decor posts in the “home” category of this site, including our living room, dining room, kitchen + breakfast room, my office and Hudson’s nursery. Our den and bar are coming up next!

Thank you so much for reading! XO –

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Hosting a Dinner Party | 8 Things I Learned

After living in small spaces for so many years, I never thought I would have a breakfast room and a formal dining room. It is a luxury that I don’t take for granted, so now that we are a little more settled in Georgia I wanted to have some new friends over for dinner. I’ve never had that many people over for a seated dinner and happily accepted the challenge!

Many of you asked for the menu, tablescape details and so on. And I definitely learned a few things along the way I thought I would share. So much of this was a learning experience and now I’ve learned some things I’ll incorporate for next time, like purchasing a linen runner for the dining table, insisting guests take home extra dessert, etc. But let’s get into the top tips I found helpful –

1. When recipe planning, think of one pot dishes.

There are so many articles out there with outlined supper club recipes (like this and this), but I really wanted to try to find something that would be a one pot dish and delicious. I wanted to feel confident in what I was cooking and not have to keep my eye on several different dishes. I went with this penne with shrimp and herb cream sauce, a big salad and french bread.

It’s also thoughtful if you can ask the guests ahead to make sure you aren’t missing any allergies or dietary restrictions. In California we had friends who were gluten-free, paleo, vegan, vegetarian, kosher… it’s best to ask upfront so you are prepared!

2. Do a trial run.

The week before I made the main dish for Christian because I had never made it before and you do not want to try a new dish at a dinner party. Always do a trial run so you can know to add a little extra of this, a little less of that, etc.

3. Make your dessert (and anything else you can!) the day before.

I made pies for dessert because I knew I could make them the night before, including the whipping cream. One less thing to think about!

4. Write out your timeline.

This was a suggestion from my mom and a really great one. I wrote out a timeline for the day that went along the lines of:

12PM – peel the shrimp

3PM – chop herbs, chop salad toppings

5PM – work on cheeseboard and setting out appetizers, light candles, turn on all of the lights, preheat oven

You get the drift. Down to lighting the taper candles on the table, I wrote it all down on a small sheet of paper because when everyone is at your house and your chatting and having wine… it’s so easy to forget to light the votives or warm the bread, etc. You know how it goes!

5. Pull out all the fancies.

I have had our formal china sitting in my childhood closet for six years, I couldn’t wait to pull it out! These kinds of occasions are literally why you have all of your entertaining pieces. The platters, the salad bowls, the silver… use them and enjoy them!

I literally didn’t even mind doing the dishes while listening to podcasts because it meant I was using all of these beautiful pieces as they were intended to be used.

6. Label the trash can.

In the future, I will make or buy a pretty sign and temporarily put it on the drawer. For now I just put a very classy sticky note on the drawer that is the trash can and it worked like a charm.

7. Do you have an extra sink? It could double as an ice chest.

I didn’t have the time to photograph it, but I filled the bar sink below with ice and put the Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Topo Chico and beer in it. Easy and a little extra fun.

8. Check the water pitchers!

At the end of the night I noticed all three water pitchers were empty. It was so busy (in a great way) that I never thought to refill them with ice and water. Next time I’ll know to keep my eye on them and refill them more often.

dining room featured and linked here (including china) | bar to be included in den reveal coming soon!

One last element I haven’t yet perfected – figuring out how to move guests out of the kitchen. Our downstairs is basically a big, open circle between the foyer, dining room, powder room, breakfast room & kitchen, den and living room. Yet everyone still tends to naturally gather inside the kitchen. Perhaps because this is where the hosts typically are? I’m still trying to figure out how to set things up in a way that takes guests into the den and living room to sit and relax. I’d love any suggestions from those of you who are seasoned entertaining pros!

Thank you so much for reading! And if you have any dishes that have worked well for a large dinner party, I’d definitely love to hear. XO –

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Friday’s Five | Designer Sunglasses Dupe

– moving some accent chairs around and loving these in our den –

– the perfect size hoop earrings –

– picking up some fall pieces for Hudson from Zara Kids –

– the best Celine dupes I’ve seen in quite some time –

– trying some new lipsticks from Decorté –

Happy (almost) weekend!! I’ve felt a little out of sorts this week as Hudson got sick last week and now passed his small but mighty cold onto me. Truthfully, this is the most sick I’ve felt in a long time. Being sick takes on a new meaning when you have a little baby to take care of… so the entire situation has been a learning experience.

I think after a week of this cold I finally might be on the upswing (crossing my fingers). My mom is coming into town to catch up and hang out in this rainy weather. She hasn’t seen Hudson since Christmas, and when babies are this little two months brings a lot of growth and development! So I’m excited for her to get some Hudson time. He’s pretty delicious. I hope that I will continue to get better so we can have fun around town and not be trapped inside!

Can we take a small moment to acknowledge the RHONJ reunion? I mean… these ladies came out of the gates swinging! Being sick in bed, watching that first reunion was most definitely the highlight of the day. I actually then took a nap and dreamt that I was on a reunion which was maybe the best dream of all time.

I’m going to try to take it easy this weekend in hopes to kick this cold for good. This is probably the first month I’ve felt fully back in the work swing of things, so this sickness is setting me back a little bit… but I hope this rain will finally let up and we can move forward with a little less flu/coronavirus/cold season! Lord, I’m praying!

Speaking of coronavirus… I have so much hand sanitizer already from having a winter baby, but is anyone else a little freaked over this? I feel like we wake up every day with some crazy count of everywhere it’s spreading. We’re trying not to think about it too much but with so much chatter about it, it’s hard.

Thanks so much for reading – hope you have a fabulous weekend – XO –

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Wednesday Wish List | Shopbop Sale

Shopbop is having a major sale right now where you can get up to 25% off with the code SPRING. There is a discount tier and you can get 15% off orders $200+, 20% off orders $500+ and 25% off orders $800+. The sale goes through 3/8 so there is plenty of time to scout your favorite pieces!

A few things I have my eye on below – just click the item to shop or find the correlating number below.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18

Classic summer dresses like this one and this one.

Cocktail pieces that work for weddings any time of year like this one and this one.

The summer bag that goes with everything.

The silk pillowcase that adds a little luxury to your nighttime routine for months and months.

Classic strappy sandals and the most gorgeous Mary Jane’s with a little dose of edge.

And of course, the high waisted denim like these and these that are literally my uniform.

Any spring items on your wish list? Spill the tea! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Kitchen and Breakfast Room Reveal

I’m so excited to carry on with the room reveals and share our kitchen and breakfast room with you guys!

I’ll never forget walking into this kitchen for the first time. I truly could not imagine myself living in a home with this much storage, these kinds of appliances, a big farmhouse sink, could it actually be my life? After so many apartments and temporary living situations, I honestly stopped dreaming about homes like this because I didn’t want to set myself up for disappointment.

But after my mom and I walked through this home when I was only a few months pregnant, it was hard to compare anything else to it. It was so much more than I had dreamt of. I could envision Christian and I chasing our children through these rooms, cooking dinner while listening to the crackle of the fireplace… it was everything and more.

I love this kitchen. I love this home. And I am so, so grateful that the previous owner had such wonderful taste and we didn’t have to remodel it ourselves!

photos by Viva Lux Photography

breakfast room: rug c/o Annie Selke, love this one | table and wooden chairs – custom, similar here and here | slipcovered dining chairs – old and no longer available, similar style here | pendant light c/o Craftmade, also love this one and this one | pet portraits – Karen Williams and Streater Spencer | framed chalkboard – custom | platter and dome – wedding gift, love this one and this one | plant stand – antique, love this one and this one

The breakfast room table is especially important to me because my mom had it made when we lived in Nashville. I grew up eating every single dinner with my family at this table. Then my sister had it in her home for her family. When she decided to get a bigger table, she offered it to me and I knew it would be perfect for this room. It has secret napkin drawers and I know we will create so many moments at this table that already holds so many memories.

The kitchen was completely remodeled by the previous owner. She has excellent taste and a great eye, so I am beyond appreciative and grateful that we can benefit from that. Because of this, I don’t have the details on the specifics of the countertops, backsplash, etc., but I’ve listed what I do know above. Anything that is available online is linked! If it’s not listed, it’s only because the item was a gift, it’s very old or was not purchased online.

You can see more home content and room reveals, including our living room, Hudson’s nursery and my office, in the “Home” category of this site. And our bedroom is up next!

Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Friday’s Five | Faux Olive Tree

– finally printing photos since Hudson entered the fam –

– grouping candles together on a little tray and wondering why I never did this before (Hollywood Hills candle + rose candle) –

– loving this view of this room from the foyer –

– a faux olive tree that proved to be a great buy (this is the 6ft) –

– still loving these black taper candles –

Happy Friday! I am still reeling from all of the incredibly moving feedback in Monday’s post. Truth be told, it was something that I had intended to keep private. But now that I’ve shared it, I know I was led to share it for a reason. I’ve now read over 500 personal experiences and stories on the topic, and what’s wild is that they’re all unique. The one thing they have in common is that mothers know what works best for their children and themselves. And that is always a wonderful reminder.

I made this recipe earlier this week and it was really good. It also heats up well! I didn’t get dibs since Christian ate most of it in two days… but when he eats all the leftovers that fast I consider it a compliment to the chef!

I am so excited that Bombshell is finally available for rent, I’ve been wanting to see it for months! I also recently started The Outsider on HBO per my parents recommendation and whoa. It stays with you. VERY spooky. And someone on Instagram told me that it was filmed thirty miles away from where I live, so we’ll see if I get any sleep this weekend. Why would I do this to myself!? SPOOKY.

I can’t go without mentioning The Real Housewives of NJ finale. I was glued to the TV, speechless. It felt like such a monumental moment after watching these families for so many years. I don’t want to reveal any spoilers if you haven’t seen it yet, but if you have – I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Thanks so much for reading and have a beautiful weekend – XO –

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