Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Plant-Based Diet: Week Two

Last week I shared my first post about eating a plant-based diet for the month of January. I included why I was doing this, how I was feeling and my favorite vegan blogs + recipes. SO, we are now two weeks in and I’m excited to share another update!

This week was little more challenging… thanks to hormones and lady things (TMI). I found myself having a few not-as-healthy days… like when I bought a bag of salt & pepper kettle chips that became my best friend. Also hence the mac & cheese recipe below. BUT one thing I’ve been really surprised by is that my beef/pork/chicken cravings are actually zero.

I have actually found myself occasionally thinking about a boiled egg, fish and cheese… but have somehow managed to stay on track. More about how I’m feeling at the bottom of this post!

Last Week’s Recipes:

Thai Curry – without chicken, 100% vegan version here – featured in this post! Note: I used brown rice noodles instead of rice and didn’t like them as much as regular noodles. I would try to find rice noodles next time OR just use jasmine rice. I make this curry dish often and we switch it up between noodles and rice!

Broccoli Cheese Soup – so good, we also ate with a grilled (soy) cheese for leftovers.

Vegan Caesar Salad – crazy good and I added homemade croutons. YUM.

Garlicky Mac & Cheese – really savory and easy to make.

Crock Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal – it was alright but I’ve made one more like this recipe before and I remember it being better.

Hippie Bowls – if you watched Christian’s review on Insta-stories… he wasn’t digging this meal but I liked it!

Homemade Pizza – One of my go-to’s when I want a quick and easy dinner is to make a pizza. I’ll buy Trader Joe’s pizza dough or cauliflower crust and do half red sauce, half of their vegan pesto. Top with almond or soy mozzarella and then load with veggies (we like to top with shredded brussels sprouts too)! Other times I’ll just do mushrooms and onions – it just depends on what veggies I have on-hand.

Dining Out:

Continues to be a non-issue. We ate out three times last week. Two times I had a vegetable sandwich with chips or fruit and one time we had Mexican food (I had a vegetable crispy taco with rice and beans).

Here is what I actually ended up eating last week (obviously some of these items weren’t intended to be on my meal plan but sometimes a girl attacks a bag of chips. I am who I am):

photos by Christian Barnes

How I’m Feeling:

I feel great. My skin is clear, my energy levels feel normal I’m able to focus easily. I’ve been surprised that I don’t feel puffy or bloated, despite eating carbs every day. I did see an increase in my weigh-in this week but I think that was more cycle-related. Stay tuned!

Let me know if I missed anything, and I’ll touch base with you guys next week! Thanks so much for reading and sharing all of your helpful tips. XO –

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Friday’s Five

– snagging these striped leggings for 40% off (code is GOFORIT, makes these under $20!) –

– loving the new Urban Decay x Kristen Leanne collection and especially loving the highlight palette and Bun Bun Lipstick –

– Christian finally snagging some new sneakers, these are a part of the Zappos The Ones Collection – a throwback to old school styles. So cool, I have my eye on these! –

– adding these two sweaters to my collection, I can actually rep my alma mater in style, love it! –

batiste

– stocking up on dry shampoo – Marshall’s always has these for $7.99 (the cans are 13.5oz!) –

By now we should all be getting settled into 2018, which means writing “2017” accidentally on checks and paperwork should be slowly ceasing (truthfully, this always takes me more like a month to get the hang of the new year).

We got a lot of rain this week, and if you’re a Californian you know how special the rain is! It made the temperatures drop quite a bit. Although it’s also brought some pretty devastating mudslides, so lots of prayers being said for those who have lost loved ones or their homes in the Central Coast.

Christian has Monday off for MLK Jr. Day, and we’re still trying to figure out what to do to take advantage of his extra time off. Do you guys get Monday off too? Would love to hear what your weekend plans are! I’m trying to twist his arm to go to California Adventure… but we’ll see if he goes for it.

Last but certainly not least, I can’t go without sharing how moved I was at Oprah’s speech at the Golden Globes. WOW. I’ve always jokingly said “there’s God, Jesus, then Oprah,” but I found myself clapping for her on the sofa of our living room. She is incredible, and I feel lucky to be alive during her lifetime so I can soak up all the words and wisdom that is Queen Oprah. Would love to hear what you thought!

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

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High/Low Price Point Mixing

I have been mixing high and low price points in outfits for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a small town where the fashion options were: JCPenney, Payless, Wal-Mart or Sears, so I learned to get creative.

I think mixing and matching can be intimidating to a lot of people but I promise, it doesn’t need to be! I’ve shared this with you guys before, but when you’re looking to splurge, keep it to accessories or classic pieces. In this look, the only piece over $60 are the handbag and shoes.

These kinds of items (particularly bags, jewelry and outerwear) tend to hold their value if taken care of, much more so than other closet items.

And even saying that, the shoes in this look are a designer dupe! When you have a fabulous bag, beautiful jewelry or a classic blazer or jacket, it automatically elevates everything else you’re wearing. I think the bag in this outfit makes the skirt look much more luxe than a $52 tweed wrap skirt.

I know I preach this all the time, but versatility is everything. When I was helping my sister with her own closet recently, I pulled a leather purse strap off a shelf and tied it at her waist like a belt. Just because you’ve always worn a certain dress one way doesn’t mean you can’t layer a sweater over it with booties to create a completely different outfit for free.

If you’re in a clothing rut, dedicate some time to get creative in your own closet before purchasing something new!

photos by Vincent Elejorde

I’ll never stop mixing and matching. I may live in a city with millions of people now, but you never know – I could be back in a small town in 10 years. Trust me, I’ll be mixing Wal-Mart and Target with Chanel and Prada – #dontcare! You do you, girl!

Thanks so much for reading – and if you have any high/low price point mixing tips, I’d love to hear! XO

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Favorite Shows to Binge on Netflix

I love television. Love it. If I want to be basic female who blames any of her weaknesses on her parents, I would say maybe my love of television is deep rooted in my upbringing.

I was allowed to watch 30 minutes of TV a day growing up, and we weren’t allowed to have in TV’s in our bedrooms. Apparently my Dad had one in his room growing up and said he didn’t really hang out with his brothers at home because everyone just retreated to their rooms. So in an effort to get their kids to hang out with each other, learn to share and play outside… I was graciously turned down when I asked for my own TV every year for Christmas.

Cut to college where I got to have a TV in my dorm room. I was like… THIS IS LIVING. Lying in my bed and watching The OC was one of my greatest pleasures in life. So now I’m basically a complete addict. Maybe I’m making up for lost time?

I also work from home now which means I typically have a show on while I edit photos, answer emails, write copy (literally watching Parenthood while I’m typing this right now), etc.

Because I’ve been open with you guys about this addiction, I get a lot of questions about my favorite shows to binge and do I have a list for you! I thought I would dedicate a whole post to my Netflix faves. So let’s get into it!

FEEL GOOD:

Parenthood | Love it. Love it so hard I wish I was a Braverman.

Friends | I mean… who doesn’t like Friends!? I watched several seasons while painting our breakfast room table (post here). I don’t even feel like this one needs an explanation.

Master of None | Christian and I love Aziz Ansari. His stand-up specials are also on Netflix and they’re hilarious. We’ve seen him live and he was incredible. So yeah… we’re obsessed.

Friday Night Lights | I was slow to accept that this show is amazing. I was like… let me just dip my toe in it. And after like… 4 episodes I was all, “this is the best show regarding sports of all time.”

Friends From College | We just kind of stumbled upon this one weekend and loved it. I think Keegan-Michael Key is beyond hilarious. He can say basically anything and I’ll laugh (we love this skit of his).

DRAMA:

Mindhunter | If you’re a true-crime lover, this show is for you. It dives deeper into the history of several serial killers and tries to connect the dots of behavioral patterns. A fascinating look into the behind-the-scenes of capturing what is truly evil.

The Five | I was basically advertising this show all over social media because I stumbled upon it, saw it was based on a novel by Harlan Coben (an amazing mystery author). It was SO good, and I felt the need to share a PSA! I’ve since received 92374384343 direct messages with “what was that show that you recommended?” so I need to share it somewhere permanently!

Ozark | We love Jason Bateman and really hope this show has a second season. So good!

The Keepers | A disturbing docu-series that is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

The Crown | A fabulous show! I think this is a must-see for anyone who liked Downton Abbey. If you’re a Downton fan, I think you’ll love this show.

House of Cards | I had a hard time listening to Kevin Spacey’s terrible Southern accent (it’s actually why I initially ditched it and later revisited the series), so selfishly I’m not sad to see him axed from the show. Looking forward to the final season and the stunning #bosslady that is Robin Wright.

Orange is the New Black | I’ve been hooked on this show from the beginning. I love the complexity of the characters and you have to credit the writing of a show that completely takes place inside a female prison and is still completely captivating.

Stranger Things | I’m the opposite of a Sci-Fi person (still haven’t seen Star Wars and probably never will), but I had to witness the return of Winona Ryder with my own eyes. I’ll always root for her! More than anything, I’m amazed by the kids starring in this show and their talent. A++!

Other Netflix specials I really loved were Lady Gaga’s Documentary (Five Foot Two), the Amanda Knox special and any stand-up by Jim Gaffigan, Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer or Sebastian Maniscalco (this guy is a riot, snippet here).

Christian really liked Narcos. I watched the first season and then was like… I think this is too much violence for me so you can watch it on your own. And he did!

I’m considering watching Mad Men, Black Mirror or The Fall. I’d love to hear your favorite shows to binge on Netflix! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Styling Short Hair

This post is long overdue! I chopped my hair about a month ago. Honestly, I haven’t had hair this short since jr. high, and I was so nervous to make the cut. Once I left the salon chair (I go to Jeanna at Salon9), I couldn’t believe I’d been nervous and I thought… I should have made this cut a long time ago! It feels more mature and no-fuss. I love it!

Since then I’ve been getting questions a lot of questions about how I’ve been styling it. I wanted to wait until I had tried a few irons, curlers, products, etc. so I could share my favorite strategy with you guys. I promise it’s not groundbreaking information, but I like to share blog posts when I get the same question often so that it will hopefully answer everything in one place!

Two of my favorite things about having short hair are:

It cuts my styling time in half.
My hair holds curl and texture SO much longer.

Step One

Once I’ve washed my hair (I wash my hair 2-3x a week), I use this detangler with this brush. I’ll then add either this leave-in conditioner or this moisturizing cream.

Step Two

I then blow dry it with this blow-dryer and will spray in this heat protectant spray before plugging in a curling wand or iron. When I’m styling it for the first time I will use this 1″ curling wand for tighter waves that fall throughout the day. For the next 2-4 days, I’ll use this iron with this 1.25″ barrel to maintain the waves or touch them up.

In this post, I have third day hair. On the first day I curled it with the wand and then today before the post I touched it up with the clip barrel.

Step Three

Once I’ve curled my hair I’ll spray this texturizing spray in the mid-section of my hair and will lightly spray with hairspray. If I’m going to be taking photos for my blog, I will pop in a few clip-in hair extensions (I’m wearing them in these photos) from Bellami for extra fullness! I use the ones shared here, and I cut three wefts when I cut my hair so I could continue to wear them.

photos by Christian Barnes

top – sold out, similar style here and here (on sale) | jeans in post-modern blues (runs TTS) | similar earrings | room details here

AND I thought this would be a fun time to host an all-about-hair giveaway for you guys! To enter to win the below, here are the steps:

1. Leave a comment on this post with your favorite hair product.

2. Follow @kathleen__barnes on Instagram.

3. “Like” any of my last three photos on Instagram and leave a comment, tagging two friends who you don’t think follow me on Instagram, tell them why they should follow.

1/16: The winner is Mary Allison Mitchell, first runner up is Annalise Botzenmayer! So many amazing entries I had to pick more than one. THANK YOU SO MUCH for entering! XOXOXO

Thanks so much for reading and entering (I threw in a few beauty products too because… why not!?)! Can’t wait to hear what some of your hair must-haves are. XO –

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Plant-Based Diet Meal Plan: Week One

A few weeks ago I was considering doing Whole30 again this month (you can see all my posts on Whole30 here). After watching What the Health, I decided to challenge myself to eat plant-based for a month instead (this means eliminating meat and dairy from my diet)! When I shared this on Instagram, you guys said you’d be interested in weekly check-ins, recipes, etc., so here we are.

I’ve been buying only organic, free range/cage free meat and dairy products since I watched Food Inc. many years ago. It changed the way I grocery shop. I’ve said it before, but one of the most impactful parts of the film was when the narrator said “every time an item goes across the grocery scanner, you’re voting.” That means I’m voting for the treatment of animals, the handling of my produce, the employees who work at these farms, etc.

First thing first, I do feel the need to share that I don’t have a problem with people eating meat, and my father-in-law even owns a cattle farm. I just want the animals to roam around on grass, live normal lives and be treated kindly while they’re living. I would happily eat any dairy from my father-in-law’s farm if they were dairy cows!

Food is a touchy subject for many, so I just wanted to be honest that I am doing my best to eat plant-based, but I’m not going to beat myself up if I find out a product has a non-dairy ingredient I missed. This isn’t an allergy, therefore it’s not an emergency. Everyone makes the choice that is right for their bodies, and I completely support that. I’m doing my best to read ingredient lists and use helpful sites like this one that list all the vegan foods at Trader Joe’s (this Instagram account is great too).

I will be sharing any inches or weight loss at the end of the month (note: I’ve already seen the numbers go down which is kind of crazy). That being said, weight loss is not the reason I decided to do this… but it’s a welcomed result, let’s be real. I’ve chosen to adjust my diet for a month to see how it makes me feel, to help me recognize where my food comes from, and to push me to explore more vegetarian recipes.

So basically, I am a full Californian now (said in this accent).

Some great vegan food blogs I’ve been stalking:

Faring Well (located here in Orange County!)

Last week’s recipes:

Mexican Rice – I used half of this in the recipe above!

Veggie Fajitas

Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

Veggie Burgers – used soy cheddar cheese and a vegan egg

Veggie Burrito Bowls – This is what’s featured in this post! I used Trader Joe’s soy shredded cheddar cheese and it tasted great. I also added onions, cilantro, hot sauce, etc. You can totally use this recipe as a base and make it your own!

Brussels Sprouts Salad (with no cheese or bacon)

Kale Salad (without cheese)

When I’m doing a specific food “challenge,” I’ve found it’s vital that I make a loose weekly meal plan. Life is busy and when you’re hungry, you’re hungry, so looking at a piece of paper to remember some of your options is mega helpful!

Once a week I pull up several recipes I want to try, I write down the ingredients I’ll need for the grocery and I sketch out a little meal plan (you can see a picture of this above). I’m only going to be sharing what I actually ended up eating because I thought it would be more realistic for what a week attempting plant-based looks like.

Dining out:

Eating out has been NO big deal which is huge for me. I love to have lunch with the ladies and eat out on the weekends with Christian (I’m a new mega fan of Loving Hut). While I was on Whole30, eating out felt overwhelming and honestly, a little sad. Grocery shopping has also been really simple and I found everything I needed in one stop. AND my grocery bills have been less expensive that my usual runs – even with loads of avocados, nuts, vegetables, etc.

How I’m feeling:

I feel great. I am having no trouble waking up in the morning or concentrating during the day. I’ve have zero stomach aches and my body is functioning extremely regular and consistent.

I’ve had a few people ask if I’m tired without eating meat, and contrary to what many assume, it’s actually really easy for vegans to meet dietary protein recommendations. Almost all vegetables, beans, grains, nuts and seeds contain protein, and I’m eating these daily.

photos by Christian Barnes

Let me know if you have any questions or if you’d like to see anything specific in next week’s update! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –

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Friday’s Five

– the most gorgeous flowers from my friends at Nespresso –

– C obliging in my Christmas wish of matching jammies and slippers every year (a belated photo!) –

– and spending a long weekend with these munchkins (another belated photo!) –

– the most captivating sunset –

– the cutest personalized zipper pouch from Stoney Clover Lane that I can’t wait to travel with –

Happy Friday! You guys, we survived the first week of a new year – here’s to us! I love the start of a new year, it’s like buying new pens for school year (reminds me of this movie scene). Exciting!

Christian has been home for dinner every single day this week which is definitely a highlight for us. I’ve loved cooking plant-based meals for him, and I’m excited to share the recipes we’ve been whipping up in next week! I’m really looking forward to sharing this eating journey this month with you guys – hopefully we can all learn from each other (which is one of my absolute favorite thing about blogging).

This weekend we’re taking it easy and hanging around here. I can’t even remember the last time we both had a weekend off together, so it will be really nice. There’s actually nothing I’d rather do. What are your plans this weekend? Are the decorations down or will you be tackling that? Gimme the scoop!

Last but not least, I wanted to share a few sales happening over the weekend:

Ann Taylor | extra 50% off select items with code REFRESH

Coach | extra 50% off sale items

Express | up to 70% off select items

J. Crew | 40% off select items with code NEWYEAR

Intermix | extra 30% off select items

Macy’s | extra 20% off with code WKND

Pottery Barn | 40% off select items + free shipping with code FREESHIP

Tory Burch | extra 30% off with code EXTRA30

Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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15 Best Buys of 2017

1 (sold out, similar styles here, here and here) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Last year I shared 13 of my favorite closet additions of 2016, and this year I was excited to compile a similar list. It’s interesting to look back and think of the items that you reached for most, whether they were $10 or $1,000.

I’m diving deeper into each item and why below – and of course, I’d love to hear what some of your most useful purchases this year were!

1. Velvet Handbag

Literally yesterday in this post I was saying how much I’ve been digging the return of velvet. So when I started seeing it on handbags this year, my eyebrows definitely raised. I wanted to wait until I found the perfect beauty, so when I spotted this gal on sale on Cyber Monday I didn’t think twice (sorry Christian). She has since sold out but I linked some similar styles I also love above!

2. Chanel Ballet Flats

I shared the story behind these flats here. I am definitely more of a heel gal, but I am trying to challenge myself to wear them as much as possible so I can break them in! You can find a similar style for less here.

3. iPhone X

Christian wanted to buy the new iPhone for me when it came out, but being slow to adapt to change I was hesitant. I still really enjoyed my 7+ and didn’t feel the need to upgrade. But then two months later I went for it when we realized C’s phone was having issues, so I’ve handed my 7+ down to him and am getting used to this Meet the Jetsons lady.

4. Burberry Cashmere Poncho

Y’all have seen me style this poncho here and here, but it continues to be one of my favorite cold weather accessories. It looks great worn as a poncho or velvet scarf, and it feels so good.

5. Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet

I don’t even know where to start with this product. It feels incredibly silky and smooth on your lips and the color is a gorgeous matte. I find myself reaching for Fawn over and over again, and when my sister-in-law borrowed it in NY over the holidays, she instantly was like, “what is this, I need it.” Trust me, it’s good!

6. YSL Clutch

Another Cyber Monday win. I have been wanting to invest in a nice, roomy black clutch for the past year or two and was just waiting to find the right one. This one is a great size and I am always a fan of caviar leather.

7. Cashmere Joggers

I have three pairs of gray joggers. This is not a joke. I have three pairs and I wear them at least 2-3x a week. I try to pair them with cropped tees or fitted hoodies to make them look more polished, but they’re perfect for sitting cross-legged at my desk. If you’re a jogger or sweatpants lover, a cashmere pair is your best friend. Trust me on this.

8. Yeti Tumbler

I received a Yeti Tumbler as a gift from friends at Bumble, and I’ve been surprised to find that I use it every single day. Christian has had one for quite some time and uses his frequently, but I never really tried it. I’m hooked.

9. Noise Cancelling Headphones

I feel like I’ve told y’all around 20x how obsessed with these headphones I am. Before owning them, I felt like everyone talked about them but I thought, “they’re just headphones… they can’t be that great.”

Oh how wrong I was. These have CHANGED my life when it comes to traveling. Screaming baby behind me? Mr. Sniffy Nose next to me? The snorer on the row over? No longer a problem. They really have made my frequent air travel so much better and for that, I would pay any price.

10. Capri Blue Candles

I light a candle or use my essential oil diffuser every day. These have become some of my favorite candles because the burn so well and the scent is so pleasant. They’re fantastic candles.

11. Gigi New York Pens

This may sound crazy, but I live for a great pen. What’s more awful than reaching for a pen and it not working that great? A real pet peeve of mine. These are my FAVORITE pens. They are so beautiful, have a great weight to them and write so smoothly. I’m a believer.

12. Amazon Fire Stick

The tool I didn’t even know I wanted. C surprised myself with this for Christmas and we hooked it up to the bedroom TV. I LOVE IT. I love it so much that I returned the cable box we had in there. So much that we’ve even considered getting rid of our cable altogether.

13. Amazon Echo

Another Christmas gift from C, and I’ve loved it so much! She controls the lights in our house now (thanks to these light bulbs), and I really love using the Echo to play different genres of music while cooking, seamlessly play my podcasts without having to use my hands (those of you who cook get why this is so nice), or tell me snippets of the day’s news. It’s been pretty fun.

14. Garlic Press

This may sound super lame, but I asked for a garlic press for my birthday. I’m literally laughing as I type this because it’s really so lame. BUT, I am part Lebanese which means I put garlic in everything. Once I got a garlic press I was like, “WHY THE H*#$L HAVE I BEEN CHOPPING GARLIC ALL THESE YEARS!?”

15. Burlap Grocery Bags

I love these bags so much I have three. I know they seem pricey for reusable bags, but let me tell you why they’re worth every penny.

Because they’re 100x better than any grocery bag you’ve ever used in your life. And I say that with confidence. They are so roomy, which means that usually I only need two to hold groceries for two people for an entire week. Every time I’m checking out the cashier asks me about them because they’re amazed at how strong and roomy they are, and they’re also super cute. So yes, they’re totally worth it!

Ok the novel is over, but I couldn’t share my 15 favorite buys of 2017 without some explanation! Now that I’m done yapping your ear off, tell me some of your favorite purchases. No seriously, tell me because I might need to buy them. Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Styling a Velvet Blazer

Who isn’t loving velvet right now!? I love the nod to the 90’s and let’s tell the truth, it’s crazy soft and comfortable. I actually have joggers that match this gorgeous blazer and plan on styling a head-to-toe look for you guys soon so you can see a dressier velvet look!

For this time around, I wanted to show how wearing velvet doesn’t have to be super dressy. You can literally pair it with a tee and jeans. Have fun with mixing textures and colors. That’s another great thing about velvet – the rich, vibrant color. Y’all might remember I splurged on this bag on Cyber Monday and I’m already in love!

photos by Jason Huang

Have you splurged on something velvet this season? Or are you lucky enough to have held onto something from the 90’s that you can pull back out (the BEST)! Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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My 2018 Goals

Aaahhh, resolutions. Some love ’em, some hate ’em – and truthfully, I see both sides. BUT I do love Queen Oprah’s manifestation/”secret” mentality, so I like to set realistic, achievable goals every year. Plus, it’s always interesting to look back and see what was a hit and miss in the previous year!

I thought I could show you guys how I do that –

First I like to dive back into the previous year’s goals. Mine are here. I try to evaluate what I achieved, what I didn’t and why. I think I really tried to tap into each resolution except one: weekly date nights with Christian.

Excuses, excuses, I know… but my travel schedule and Christian’s work schedule don’t make it easy. He became one of the chief residents this year, which added responsibility and hours to his weekly workload. SO, my attempt to work-around this is just to try harder. Maybe I need to wake up super early to cook breakfast for us sometimes when the nights are too hectic. It’s still a goal, and I’m not going to give up!

With that evaluation behind me, let’s set some new goals shall we?

Eat your greens. I’ve shared on Insta-Story, but I’m eating plant-based in January. This means I’m going to be eliminating animal products (meat and dairy) for a month. I recently watched What the Health on Netflix and a short educational video on YouTube (I’ll share in the comments if any of you want to watch it but warning: it made me sob) that inspired me to try this and see how it goes! I plan to share weekly pros and cons along with my meal plan/eating journal each week on CBL, so stay tuned if you’re interested!

I’ve done Whole30 a few times and you can find all those posts here.

Create video content. This is has been on my “to do” list for many, many months but I know it’s a lot of work and definitely has learning curve so I keep putting it on the back-burner. I’ve recently expanded the CBL team which has allowed more open time in my calendar to take on new projects… and also means no excuses!

Weekly date nights. Still a priority, and as shared above, I plan to get creative to find ways to make it happen more consistently.

Think positive. I learned a lot about myself when watching this documentary. I think I’ve gotten a lot better over the years, but looking at things in a positive light, seeing the lesson or light in frustrating situations is something I’m always trying to do more of.

Be more spontaneous. I am 100% Type A – always have been. This means I can be selfish with my time and (happily) live by my agenda. LIVE BY IT. Christian is totally not this way and he is always so wonderful at getting me to dip my toe into spontaneity on occasion. He knows I need a little pep talk and I’m like, “Kathleen! You don’t even have kids, GO! Do whatever!”

I’d love to hear how you guys tackle resolutions, reviewing your previous year’s goals. Can you tell I’m Type A just by this post!? #geez

Thank you so much for reading, sharing and being a part of this blog with me. Really, you guys don’t know what it means to my life and our little family. You’ve given me my dream job. XOXO –

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End of 2017 SALES

1 – under $30, also have and love these | 2 | 3 – 40% off in 3 colors | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 – 40% off in 4 colors | 9 – major designer bag sale here, more of my picks below! | 10 – under $60 in 2 colors | 11, styled here

ASOS | up to 50% off select items

BaubleBar | up to 60% off select items, including my all-time favorite tassel earrings!

Bloomingdale’s | up to 75% off select items through 1/1, MAJOR discounts on Nespresso, including my favorite machine!

Express | up to 60% off select items

Horchow | 20% off + free shipping with code NEWYEAR through 1/3

Intermix | 40% off flashsale – crazy amazing deals on luxe items!

Madewell | extra 30% off sale items with code YESPLEASE

Net-A-Porter | up to 70% off select items

Nordstrom | save up to 50% through 1/2, some of my favorite picks:

Pottery Barn | up to 30% off with code CHEERS

Revolve | up to 65% off sale items

Shopbop | take an extra 25% off sale items with code JOY25

Splendid | up to 30% off select items

SSENSE | major designer markdowns – I scored a discounted YSL clutch on Cyber Monday! Some of my favorites here:

Steve Madden | extra 40% off sale items with code CHEERS

Stuart Weitzman | up to 50% off select items, love these and these (so fun!). Also the boots I wore here are now 40% off!

T3 | save up to 50% through 1/7 – I have and use this blowdryer and this curling wand trio

Urban Outfitters | up to 30% off sale

Wayfair | up to 70% off select items

West Elm | extra 20% off select items with code BYE2017

Raising my glass to 2017, bring it on 2018! Thanks so much for your support and encouragement over the past year. Each of you have been a part of this journey, and I can’t thank you enough for taking the time out of your lives to check in here. Means more to me than I can even put into words.

Hope you guys have a FUN and safe weekend! XO –

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Favorite Podcasts of 2017

I am a HUGE podcast-lover, and I get so many questions from you guys about my favorites that last year I shared this post rounding up some of CBL’s fave listens of 2016.

Since then, I’ve discovered even more gems! So I wanted to round up another post including new finds. I still love the original ones I shared last year, these are just some new additions worth sharing.

COMEDY:

Watch What Happens Live – Obviously, when this became a podcast it was like the best thing that ever happened to me. I no longer watch the show as much and just listen while I’m cooking, driving or cleaning.

Watch What Crappens – The parody podcast that reenacts and makes fun of all things Bravo! related. Ben and Ronnie are a RIOT. Christian can’t handle it though – he’s like, “first you watch these women fight on TV and then you listen to these two guys mimic their fight!? I can’t listen to this.” But it’s like liquid gold in my ears. No shame.

PaleOMG Uncensored – I think Julie is hysterical and I was honored to actually be on her podcast earlier this year (you can listen here)! She is totally raw, honest and unfiltered, and I love listening to her discuss her dog, hilarious neighborhood situations and overall stories.

TRUE CRIME:

Casefile – I love these because they’re quick bites of true crime stories that usually have full circle endings.

Cold Case Files – Addicting with new stories for every episode. This is A&E’s podcast, so you know it’s going to be good.

True Crime Garage – Love these guys and how they have a beer of the week, discuss different popular true crime stories and always honor the victim.

Up & Vanished – I’ve never listened to a podcast like this before. It starts off sharing the story of missing woman in Georgia and then by the end of the podcast someone is arrested and charged with her murder. INSANITY, but also kind of amazing that by bringing up an old case and digging into it, it actually helped solve a murder mystery and give the victim and her family justice.

Dirty John: Mind-blowing that this entire story took place about 20 minutes from me in Orange County. A captivating story about a real relationship built on a nightmare.

S-Town: The sister podcast to Serial. Binged it when I was traveling and kept calling my sister because I couldn’t believe this story was less than an hour from where she lives in Alabama. Bananas!

PERSONAL and/or BUSINESS:

Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations – Obsessed. Oprah is my Queen, and I love everything she does. Now that I can listen to her interview all kinds of people on my phone!? It’s like winning the lottery.

Dear Sugars – I heard about this podcast from Oprah’s podcast, and it’s amazing. It’s almost like a more polished Dear Abby, produced by the New York Times. One of the hosts is the author of the book Wild (you might remember the movie with Reese Witherspoon), and both hosts are incredibly wise with their thought-provoking replies to readers letters.

The Skinny Confidential: Him & Her Podcast – I love listening to Lauryn and Michael share their opinions on relationships and business. It’s always interesting hearing both a female and male perspective on marketing, branding and marriage.

Where Should We Begin – I recently started listening to this podcast when I heard it mentioned on another podcast. It’s almost like eavesdropping on a couples therapy session… except they know they’re being anonymously recorded for a podcast so you don’t have to feel guilty about it. Fascinating!

Women of the Hour – I love pretty much love everything Lena Dunham creates, so when I heard she had a podcast I was all in. She treats it almost like a show with seasons, but it’s a great listen.

Did I miss anything that you love? Tell me your favorite podcasts! And don’t forget to check out last year’s favorites here. Thank you so much for reading! XO –

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Explore The Blog

Shop Around

Last Week’s Recipes:

Dining Out:

How I’m Feeling:

FEEL GOOD:

DRAMA:

It cuts my styling time in half.

My hair holds curl and texture SO much longer.

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

1. Leave a comment on this post with your favorite hair product.

2. Follow @kathleen__barnes on Instagram.

3. “Like” any of my last three photos on Instagram and leave a comment, tagging two friends who you don’t think follow me on Instagram, tell them why they should follow.

Some great vegan food blogs I’ve been stalking:

Last week’s recipes:

How I’m feeling:

1. Velvet Handbag

2. Chanel Ballet Flats

3. iPhone X

4. Burberry Cashmere Poncho

5. Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet

6. YSL Clutch

7. Cashmere Joggers

8. Yeti Tumbler

9. Noise Cancelling Headphones

10. Capri Blue Candles

11. Gigi New York Pens

12. Amazon Fire Stick

13. Amazon Echo

14. Garlic Press

15. Burlap Grocery Bags

COMEDY:

TRUE CRIME:

PERSONAL and/or BUSINESS: