– the first fresh flowers I’ve bought in quite a while (love this tumbler as a vase) –
– loving my designer necklace dupe I found for $15 –
– the prettiest Valentine’s macarons from my friends at DL1961 –
– the cutest sneakers from Ellen Degeneres’s line –
– the most luxurious soft cream from Lancome (it smells so incredible I’m savoring it!) –
Happy Friday!!! I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine’s Day whether it included a fancy date night, heart-shaped pizza at home or a box of chocolates and wine. Honestly I love all of those things and am hoping this weekend incorporates all of them. Never enough of a good thing!
It has rained… every single day this week. It also rained all of last weekend, so I’m definitely starting to feel a little stir-crazy in this apartment. I didn’t even know it could rain this much in California!? Don’t get me wrong, I like a little rain. It’s so peaceful. But I mean, it feels like quite a premium price to pay for six weeks of rain. I think we’re good now, rain! BYE GIRL.
Tonight we have a get together with some friends in the neighborhood, and I’m excited to get out of our place a little bit, even if it’s with umbrellas! I also failed to see Bohemian Rhapsody or A Star Is Born in theaters (major #fail on my part), so I am anxiously waiting to watch them! It looks like Bohemian Rhapsody is now available, so that will hopefully end up on the agenda… with some heart-shaped pizza.
What do you have going on this weekend, and how did you celebrate Valentine’s Day? My dad’s birthday is the day before VDay and he hit a milestone year this year. We bought him some AirPods as his gift, so I’m hoping he’ll get some good use out of them! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
I’ve been holding onto this embarrassing video to share the week of Valentine’s Day, ha! Christian found some old photos of us together when we were packing up last year. He happened to come home early the day I was shooting ahead some video, so we filmed this quick blast from the past.
I watch this video and laugh because our energy levels are so mismatched. Oh sweet, subdued Christian! You can see the first half of our video together here.
For more videos, check out the video category or you can subscribe to my baby of a YouTube channel. For additional FAQ questions, check out this video or the FAQ page! More Barnez and marriage-related post, can be found in the marriage category.
Thank you guys for reading and watching! I want to work on creating some more video content, so if you have anything you would like to see on video, please let me know! XO –
I first heard about Elemis when I was staying in a London hotel and saw they carried their products. After trying them, I pulled the whole “I’m taking all of these travel sized pieces with me,” and so my love affair with the brand began.
I’ve mostly used their resurfacing pads, toner and face lotion (also love the SPF version here), and honestly have always loved everything I’ve tried. When you read about the brand, you’ll find they are the #1 luxury British skincare line, so I’m just late to the party. So now that you know my backstory, today I’m so excited to share their new collection of Superfood Skincare!
These products are packed with goodness – rich in antioxidants, omega fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that nourish and moisturize the skin. I love knowing the ingredients I put on my skin, after all, it’s our biggest organ. I know we all know that, but even just sitting and thinking on it, it’s pretty wild what we put our skin through (thank God for sunless tanners, #amIright?).
You can learn all the science and details behind this collection here, and my favorite pieces from the collection below!
So let’s talk about my personal favorites! I love the Superfood Berry Boost Mask because it helps control oil and mattify the T-Zone, which I definitely need. I also love love love a facial oil, and this one is really lightweight and highly concentrated with plant-based nutrients… not to mention it’s casually one three awards. Just sayin’.
AND you can get 15% off your order right now with the code 15SUPERFOOD. So be sure to take advantage of that!
Have you ever heard of or tried Elemis? And if you have, I’d love to hear which products are your favorite!
Thanks so much for reading, and you can find more beauty-related posts here. XO –
It’s Valentine’s week! I was bound and determined to put together a fun red and pink post this week, but I want to paint a little mental picture of the behind-the-scenes of shooting this look. Not to complain or pretend my life is so hard (I chose this career and I truly love so much of it), but just to keep it 100 with you guys.
I thought we could shoot the look on our rooftop because it’s been raining almost nonstop since January 1st. I knew we would have a short no-rain window and I was traveling Sunday and Monday. So I was practically bird-dogging the window Saturday and darted up to the roof as soon as the downpour eased.
We go to the roof, and it’s insanely windy. Like, hair mustache, eyes are watering windy. Not gonna happen. So I go back to the apartment to get a hair band to put my hair in a ponytail. I hike back to the roof. It’s still so windy we can barely pretend to look like normal human beings.
So we go back to the apartment to get sneakers to hike uphill to another shoot location. We walk, in the rain, to the next spot, where it’s still so windy that I nearly crawl into a doorway to put my hair back into a ponytail. My eyes are watering. I can’t feel my ankles. Christian has his rain jacket on and is trying to snap photos quickly while a car is trying to parallel park into the spot he is standing in. Needless to say, it’s a s%$* show.
I know no one cares about this saga, and the details aren’t really the point. The point is: nothing is as it seems. So on this national self-proclaimed day of love, love yourself. Don’t let anything online, your perception of someone who has an easier or better life than you, stand in the way of appreciating who YOU are and what you have in your life. Everything is smoke and mirrors. Seriously… everything. Know that!
I didn’t shoot this look with the intent to share the drama behind it… but I felt it was worth sharing. Just as a reminder not to let anything you see elsewhere diminish your light. Girl, we’re all out here strugglin’ to do our best.
HAPPY Valentine’s Day week! Thanks so much for reading! XO –
– watching Lula meet her paradise – faux fur, our bed and some serious sunshine (talk about #weekendvibes) –
– using a Christmas gift for the first time, I know I’ll get so much use out of it! –
Happy Friday, my loves! It feels good to have been home for a full week, back in the swing of things. I’ve found that two weeks is usually the longest amount of time I can actually enjoy escaping my life without starting to feel homesick or anxious about getting back to work. Are any of you like that? A few years ago I was traveling for three weeks, and the third week was so much less fun for that exact reason – so I’ve at least learned my limit!
We had a super fun and rowdy Super Bowl party last weekend, so this week it’s been mostly catch-up-on-work-and-chill mode, eating lots of garlic noodles and making my favorite vegetable orzo soup for this chilly, gray weather.
I have a quick 36-hour trip coming up that will take me somewhere sunny for a splash (yay!), and while I do not feel ready to get on another plane, I do look forward to a change of scenery. I don’t know that I’ve been anywhere that feels warm in… several months, so I am looking forward to that sunshine!
This weekend we have some plans to go see the new home of one of our couple friends, shoot a few work projects, and I’m hoping to watch A Simple Favor. I wanted to see it in the theater, and I never got around to it. SO I’m convinced we need a whole candlelit, blankets, popcorn night out of it. Have any of you seen it?
Tell me your weekend plans… and I’m sorry mine aren’t snazzier! I just read through this recap and I sound like a real snore. But I LOVE YOU GUYS, mean it! XO –
At the beginning of 2019 I asked you guys on Instagram what kind of blog content you would like to see in the new year. It was beyond helpful to look through tons of your responses, and it was clear that while y’all love fashion and style, it’s more insightful and personal content you’re really looking for.
So I wrote down a ton of your replies and there one I saw many times was, “how do you make friends in a new city?” Today I’m rounding up the strategies I’ve used when we’ve moved time and time again.
7 Tips for Making Friends in a New City
1. Go to a workout class.
I love to workout from home in SF because now I have to calculate the 10-15 minutes it takes to walk to the studio and then instead of a quick class it’s larger time commitment… but I still make myself go once or twice a week just too have that female social interaction. A spin, yoga or pilates class has continued to be where I’ve met likeminded girls.
2. If you have a dog, linger at the dog park.
Despite the fact that she’s definitely made finding housing more difficult, Bailey does help us be more social with our neighbors and neighborhood. It’s how we’ve met countless people – just lingering with the dog in the front yard or walking her around the block.
Dogs and kids can be great icebreakers!
3. Find a church or a small group.
We have usually found our church by narrowing down the church options in a certain radius and then literally searching their reviews on Yelp. No lie. We will try 3-4 different churches and usually find one we both like!
Over the years I’ve become much more of a homebody. It feels like instinct to say no to invitations or events because I’d rather be home. However when I’m new to a city, I always try to say yes.
And almost always, I’m glad I did. The social interaction and putting yourself out there is key to making new friends!
5. Make Plans with that friend-of-your-sister-in-law’s sister.
You know that family friend that you haven’t seen in 15 years but your mom keeps telling you to reach out? Or that friend of a friend?
Again, even though it’s tempting to stay at home in your sweatpants watching Bravo! (because you know I passionately love that), reach out. There’s a 75% chance (or more!) that you’ll have a great time.
6. Make an effort with coworkers.
When we first moved to Orange County, my job was essential to how I met other young women in the area.
And now that I work on CBL full-time, I am fortunate to get invited to events, and I always try to go if my work schedule allows. I have showed up to many events not knowing a single person, but I’m always proud of myself for being brave enough to go.
I know not all jobs put you in a position to be around people your age, but if you can make it happen or prioritize making some friendships in the break room – it makes a huge difference!
7. Volunteer somewhere.
I love volunteering for three reasons:
It makes my heart feel good.
If I’m blue, it takes me out of my own life and reminds me of how much I have to be grateful for.
It’s a great way to meet others with big hearts and honest intentions.
You can’t go wrong with volunteering because it’s always time well spent.
I read Christian this list to see if he had anything to add, and he made a great point. Be proactive in pursuing your hobbies, and be open to meeting people while you’re at it. Because when you’re out and about doing something that interests you, you might meet someone else who enjoys that same thing. And then you already have that thing in common.
Do you have any tips or tricks to add to this list? I’d love to hear what they are! Thanks so much for reading and sharing, and I hope this will be helpful to some of you! XO –
I’ve surprisingly gotten an earlier start on Valentine’s Day than usual this year. I think it’s because I enjoyed the holidays so much this year (Christmas in a city was even more fun than I expected), that I am more than ready to bring on another.
Rather than another gift guide, I thought it could be fun to round up some of my favorite 2/14-related articles to get you in the spirit too! Let’s get into it –
So far our plans are just dinner and a walk in the neighborhood. I recently made restaurant reservations for C and I at a raved about Michelin-rated spot that is close by, mostly because we walk past it all the time and keep saying, “we’ve got to make a rez to see what the fuss is about!”
Shockingly, there are actually 57 restaurants in San Francisco with Michelin Stars… which feels like quite a lot for such a small city. Honestly the older I get, the less I necessarily care to drop too much on a meal. I’m usually thinking, “I could have seen a broadway show or bought a beautiful silk scarf that I’d wear forever instead of eating risotto and truffles.” However when it’s a special occasion and I can look forward to it leading up to, it feels more appropriate. I think our fancy dinner will be our only gifts to each other this year, and that’s a-ok by me (although I did love #7 article – some really good ideas!).
Would love to hear your plans, if you already have some! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
Cheese straws can usually be found at a Southern happy hour, shower, tailgate or ladies luncheon. The rumor is that a frugal woman mixed leftover biscuit dough with some cheese and formed it into long narrow strips that were baked along with the biscuits. But they were enjoyed as a snack instead of with the meal… and now we refer to them cheese straws.
Who knows if this is even true, but most of us who grew up in the deep South can remember snacking on these at any party. My family has always used my Mississippi Delta grandmother’s recipe, and after polling y’all on Instagram if you would be interested in having it, over 90% said yes!
I’m sharing the ingredients and directions at the bottom of this post, but know that you don’t HAVE to make them in these little star strips. You can make them in round little biscuit bites by rolling the dough into small balls and flattening the with a fork or spatula. You can also roll the dough into logs, about 1 inch in diameter, wrap in wax paper and put in the freezer for a little bit or in the refrigerator overnight to firm the dough. Then you can slice them into rounds that are 1/4 of an inch thick. Make them your own. I promise – the shape isn’t what makes them so delicious!
Grammy’s Cheese Straws
Serving: 2 -3 dozen
Ingredients:
1 1/3 sticks of softened butter
1 jar Kraft Old English sharp cheese spread (you can find this at Kroger or Ralph’s)
1 1/8th cup all purpose flour and add enough self rising flour to make 1 1/2 cups flour total
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional: you can also add 1/2 cup of tiny chopped pecans pieces or Rice Krispies cereal to add some crunch
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350. Cream butter and Kraft cheese until blended well. Add salt and red pepper, blend again.
Stir the two flours together to blend. Then turn on mixer and add flour to cheese and butter mixture – a little at a time so it won’t go everywhere. Or you can add all of the flour at the same time and wrap a dish towel tightly on top before turning on mixer (demonstrated in the photos above.) This prevents the flour from going all over your kitchen.
Pipe out the cheese straws onto a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 14 – 16 minutes.
After they cool, if they are not crisp all the way through, mom puts the pan back in the oven that is cooling off (not turned on) and let them sit in there for about ten more minutes.
That will usually crisp them up all the way through. PS – they also freeze well if you want to double the recipe.
***
We have some old school cookie presses that we use, but you can find a cookie press online (just read the reviews first!). And please know that you don’t have to use a press. However, if you do want to buy a cookie press, Karen would advise a metal one. She bought a plastic one once and it works horribly. Not worth the expense!
There’s another great recipe here that uses shredded cheddar cheese if you can’t find Kraft or want something a little fancier. When I first realized that these used cheese from a jar, I’ll be honest… I was surprised. They certainly don’t taste like it, but no judgement here!
Now you can make a cocktail, grab a beer or pour a glass of wine, grab a small plate of cheese straws and sit on your screened porch. We’ll take you – you’re a Southerner!
Thanks so much for reading. If you make your own cheese straws, love eating them or have never heard of them altogether – I’d love to hear! XO –
I’m finally back in San Francisco after spending two weeks in the South – making my way through all the charming towns visiting some of my favorite people. I was scheduled to be home yesterday, but after waiting in the small regional airport I fly out of in my hometown, my original flight had other plans… so I ended up bumping my flight to today. God’s way of telling me it wasn’t yet time to return to my regular life, I suppose!?
I have been sharing photos along the way on my Instagram, but I thought it would be fun to have a little roundup on the blog. The last time I spent this much time in the South was a few years ago and I shared this post and this post (other Southern visits here and here). So we’re bringing a winter version today! Truth be told, the South really shows its full beauty in spring, summer and fall, but I still thought some of this historic homes downtown were still a sight to be seen at any time of year.
You can also find these outfits linked in the “shop my Instagram” page linked at the top of this site, or I’m linking the details below each photo. These photos were taken in Birmingham, Alabama and Tupelo, Columbus and Oxford, Mississippi.
You can find some additional photos from my trip to the South here, and of course, mom’s salad from Monday (my favorite)!
And there you have it… two weeks that certainly didn’t feel long enough but all the reason to come back in the spring! I wanted to do a video this time but honestly, I was enjoying myself too much. Ha! But if I come back in the beautiful spring it would be so fun to put together a video for you guys!
Are you a West Coaster or Southerner? Or neither? I would love to know where you’re from and where you live now. I am so grateful for our California experience for many reasons, and one of them is because I now appreciate where I grew up in a way I never would had I not had the opportunity to live somewhere else.
Thanks so much for reading, and have a beautiful weekend!
Last week I shared my Valentine’s Day gifts for the ladies here, and this week I wanted to share some of my picks for the guy in your life! Guys are hard to buy for, I get it girl, so let’s get into it –
1 | a great watch | Christian has his grandfather’s rolex, yet until I gave him an Apple watch a few years ago, he always reached for his Timex. You can’t go wrong with this classic watch!
3 | beer cap map | If your dude has an “man cave” or dude room or whatever you want to call it, I think this could be super fun for a beer lover.
4 | classic shades | I’ve bought Christian several pairs of Ray Bans over the years. I think they look great on every face shape!
5 | portable campfire | this little can is SO COOL. You can take it with you and have a portable campfire! My mind is blown!
6 | electric kettle | This is on Christian’s list for when we are in a kitchen with more storage. We keep one on our stove but an electric kettle heats up instantly!
7 | a good book | Of course, not every dude would want this book… but Christian likes to think he’s Bear Grylls so it’s right up his alley… that is if he doesn’t already own it.
8 | cozy sneaker (on sale) | Never enough sneakers, particularly for San Franciscans.
9 | wireless charger | This is more like a gift for everyone. Never enough chargers!
10 | suitcase grill | Ok this is the snazziest little thing I’ve ever seen.
11 | mens skincare | Guys never buy themselves good skincare
13 | booze | Always a great gift, let’s be honest.
14 | cold brew coffee maker | Christian and I are coffee addicts, so any fun device to try is right up our alley.
You can check out an older roundup for dudes here and my favorite Valentine’s Day movies here! If you’ve hit it out of the park with a gift in the past, I’d love to hear!
Last year around this time I shared this post with some of my favorite Netflix picks… because I’m a TV junkie. Truth be told, I spend a lot of time at my home office, at my desk editing photos, putting together collages like the one above, writing blog posts, answering emails, etc., so I often have something on TV in the background.
My ideal pick for days like this are things that don’t require my full attention (which is why I’ve yet to sit down and watch Bird Box – I know I need to give it 100%!). Anything too intense doesn’t work for my daytime marathons since I only give about 40% of my attention, but I save the more dramatic ones (like Ozark, House of Cards, etc.) for evenings when I can really concentrate on them.
With that being said, let’s get into some January goodness!
1 | Friends from College, Season 2 | Christian and I randomly discovered season 1 when it came out years ago and we binged it in two days. I LOVE Keegan-Michael Key on a spiritual level. It’s hilarious, such a talented group of actors, and we loved both seasons so so much.
2 | Private Life | I heard about this movie from Sundance, and when it hit Netflix, I think I watched it the first day it came out. I love both lead actors, so I knew it would be worth the watch. And WOW. I was blown away at how raw, honest and heartbreaking it was, while still having laugh-out-loud moments. It really helped me to understand more about women who have gone through IVF, and I feel more empathetic than ever about the process.
3 | Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat | My friend Jennifer Rose recommend this four part docuseries and it’s both fascinating and adorable. The host may be the most enthusiastic and likable person I’ve ever seen in a documentary. If you love food or cooking – I think you’ll love this!
4 | Atypical | I’d seen this on my Netflix homepage but I never watched the trailer. On the first week of January when there was nothing going on, I dipped my toe in. I watched both seasons that week. I can’t express enough how much I love shows like This Is Us, Atypical and Modern Family that highlight family dynamics that are anything but cookie cutter. It’s insightful, endearing and helps us all be more understanding of each other.
5 | Queer Eye | I LOVE these boys. It’s impossible to watch one of these episodes and not fall in love with them. What’s great about this series is that you don’t have to follow anything in a particular order. You can just grab a quick episode when you feel like it.
6 | Sebastian Maniscalco | My favorite shows of Sebastian’s are here and here, but this one is still worth a watch! I find myself saying “what’s wrong with people?” perhaps a little too often. His small annoyances and observations are truly hilarious.
7 | You | So many of you recommended this show and WHOA. Penn Badgley plays one convincing creepy guy. Warning: it makes you want to do a background check on anyone you go on a date with.
8 | Gaga: Five Foot Two | I’ve always been a Gaga fan, but this documentary revealed things about her I never would have known had she not been so vulnerable. If you already love her, you’ll love her even more. If you don’t, I think it will show you how talented and big her heart really is.
9 | Schitt’s Creek | Ok so I have to confess I’ve only seen one episode of this show. My best friend Katie told me to watch it years ago, and I watched the first episode. I have no idea why I didn’t stick with it! Now my parents and so many friends LOVE this show. So I’m going to pick it back up. Everyone says it’s hilarious and it seems like the perfect show to tune into while I work. I’m on it!
For more recommendations, be sure to check out this post from last year. And if you have a show you love that isn’t on either of these lists, I’d love to hear about it!
When I was in high school, my mom and I had lunch at a Tupelo, Mississippi restaurant that had probably the best salad I’d ever eaten in my life at that time. It was sweet, tangy, crunchy, rich – and extra extra delicious.
We wrote down the ingredients we tasted and started making it at home, calling it the “Tupelo salad.” I’m embarrassed to say I don’t even remember the name of the restaurant!
Since then, when I’m coming home I usually request it, so I figured no better time than this trip home to photograph it and share the recipe online! Also, this will help me remember the recipe when I’m trying to make it in California. Thank you internet.
Scroll down for the recipe!
Ingredients for Salad:
mixed greens
chopped tomatoes
walnuts
chopped red onion
blue cheese (you could also use gorgonzola)
boiled eggs
craisons
You can really use any greens for your base. You could chop romaine, add avocado, fresh strawberries, etc., and make it a really hearty chopped salad – YUM.
The original recipe is with grilled or shredded chicken, so if you want to add that as well – it’s delicious.
Ingredients for Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing:
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3 TB dijon mustard
3 TB honey
1/4 tsp chopped garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
salt + pepper to taste
Mom uses her immersion blender for the dressing and at home I’ve put all the ingredients in a blender. Either way works!
And there you have it. One of my absolute favorite salads that never gets old. It’s always a goodie!
Thank you so much for reading – and mom has suggested us sharing how to make cheese straws while I’m home. Let me know if you would be interested in that! XO –
Last year around this time I shared 
