– embellished booties that make me feel so fancy –
Happy Friday! This week was a littler sweeter than my average week because of all of your feedback from Tuesday’s relationship post and yesterday’s self-love post. WOW. I am so overwhelmed with appreciation and love for you guys. If the saying, “your vibe attracts your tribe,” is true, I’m pretty freaking lucky to have some seriously incredible women who take the time out of their busy days to read CBL and share your own stories and struggles. The short of it: love you, appreciate you, MEAN IT.
The temps have finally dropped in SoCal (praise Jesus!), and as we are getting into fall, I’m starting to feel some fall cravings. I just spent some time in New York and fall is in the air on the East Coast for sure.
That being said, I am really ready for some of my favorite fall tv shows to start back. Because I work from home. By myself. Thus tv characters are basically my co-workers. This Is Us, The Affair, Modern Family, American Horror Story and Shameless to name a few… what are your fall TV shows? Fantasy football is (still) such a thing, which means that instead of watching one or two teams there’s a need to watch all of them, so I’m always looking for a little laptop distraction!
On the note of American Horror Story, I have to mention that they are filming parts of it in our neighborhood! I mentioned this on Insta-Story earlier this week, but I get so excited to see different scenes. A lot of movies and TV shows are actually filmed in Old Towne Orange because this little town kind of looks like Anywhere, USA vs. a palm tree lined neighborhood that gives major California vibes. The movie That Thing You Do was actually filmed here, along with scenes from Parks & Rec, Big Momma’s House, Surviving Christmas, American Wedding, etc.
– and on the note of embellished (insert heart eyes) –
– the cutest pom pom pumps that I can’t wait to wear this fall –
– this volcano candle that seriously gives me all the feels… best candle ever at night before I crawl in bed! –
When Christian and I were snapping these photos a few weeks ago, I knew exactly what I planned on sharing when I posted them.
I consider myself pretty tough (I asked Christian this to verify I’m straight-shooting). I am not much of a crier, and I am fairly good at knowing how to “stay in my lane.” I can put on blinders and just do me, blocking out negativity or outside influence. I think when I was 17 and in Miss Teen USA, I learned not to compare myself to others and rather focus on my own strengths and weaknesses. I am a competitive person, but only against myself. I’m always trying to out-do my own personal best.
But I have my moments where I’m anything but confident.
Five minutes before we took these photos, I had tears rolling down my cheeks. In terms of my career (which is currently this blog), this summer hasn’t been my favorite. Every week it feels like I’m tackling a new problem and it’s felt like two steps forward and one step back since May. This blog was my passion project since 2010 and over the years, it has morphed from an online journal of sorts into a lifestyle website. I left my corporate career to pursue it full-time. My husband is still in school, and he greatly helps me with CBL as it’s kind of become our own little family business.
With that comes a feeling of pressure, expectation to meet certain goals, milestones, etc. Some days I feel completely fulfilled and embrace myself, flaws and all. Other days I feel like I’ll never be good enough and that I might even be happier if I dialed back the blog, ultimately putting less pressure on myself.
I’m not a size 0, and I’m fine with that. I have a 10 lb. fluctuation range that always ebbs and flows depending on how much I’ve been traveling. I’m not a model, never have been and never have pretended to be one. I’m not a tech guru or analytical expert. I’m not a web designer or professional stylist. I don’t have perfect hair or glam makeup skills. I don’t have professional photography training. I hustle, I work as hard as I can, I do my best and most importantly, I always try to have fun with it. After all, when I started this blog I had no idea it would make a dollar. I blogged for years without making a penny, and had so much fun with it!
When style bloggers hit the scene 8+ years ago, it was about seeing real girls wearing outfits and thinking, “oh I can style a dress that way or look like that in those jeans.” As this industry has continued to evolve, now many bloggers look like they just marched out of the magazines. And hey, hats off to them for being so gorgeous. I love to see it! But those of us that are more on the relatable spectrum can be left thinking… real girls, where you at!?
But that attitude isn’t fair either. The girls lookin’ magazine-ready are real girls and they are just #blessed. The issue isn’t other people, it’s my mind. Learning to be content, to love myself, to stop reaching for unrealistic goals thinking that a new handbag, losing 5 pounds or getting 50,000 more followers will make me feel more confident. That is absurd! Learning to be happy with myself, to think of all of the reasons I am so fortunate rather to count all of the ways I could improve… this can sometimes be a day-by-day challenge.
And of course I have this amazing life partner who is both a sounding board and truth-teller. I was so embarrassed that he saw me shed tears out of lack of confidence. I usually keep those moments private because I want him to only see me as a strong and secure wife he married. But he knows exactly what to do. I don’t need someone buttering me up, I need a truth-teller who can hold up a mirror and say, “girl – you’re never going to be satisfied unless you learn to CHILL!”
So there’s my spiel on self-esteem and a little bit more about the days that I definitely don’t have it. I just want to humanize those feelings and self-doubts we can all have, no matter how confident we appear to be.
I’ve never claimed to be the authority on all things style, but I share my life because it started out as fun and has become my job. There are websites out there dedicated to bashing bloggers for literally anything. You can’t please everyone, and the fact that anyone would choose to spend their free time writing crazy mean and usually incorrect things about complete strangers is both appalling, sad and bizarre, but it exists.
Perfecting my ability to put on blinders is always a work in progress, and I’m challenging myself this fall to focus on my attitude and perspective. Do you guys relate to this? Just to be transparent, this isn’t a cry for compliments, rather I’m hoping to start a little conversation about learning to love yourself.
I’d love to hear your insights on self-esteem and how you tackle those moments when you’re feeling anything but confident. And if you need a little music motivation, this and this are two of my favorite songs when I need a little self love.
I shared some of the details of a recent trip to Napa last week in this post, but I wanted to share one of my favorite looks from the trip!
This cardigan made me realize that I don’t have enough polka dots in my life. I build a lot of my wardrobe around solids (which are super practical), but a few statement pieces like this are always fun to have. And it’s currently on sale for less than $20!
I paired my polka dots with these jeans I can’t seem to stop wearing. I added my designer dupe mules from this post. I am so into them right now! The final touch was a spotted clutch – spots on spots on spots.
Tell me your feelings on polka dots! And how cute would this cardigan be partially buttoned over a white or chambray dress? Thanks so much for reading – XO –
Anytime I do a Q&A with you guys, one of the most frequently asked questions is always about advice being married to a medical student/resident/fellow/doctor. Hint: for some of the rest, check out my FAQ page!
I’m always so surprised, yet when I recently shared this post I realized that so many of you guys are in the same position with your significant other. Furthermore – many of you ARE the MD and have said that I help you understand how your partner feels. Hats off to those smarty pants. You go Glen Coco!
I always strayed from the topic because I was worried that I would sound like I was just complaining, but a reader had the great suggestion to make it more of a “how to stay busy when your partner is away 90% of the time.” I thought, now THAT I can do.
We took some of these dreamy beach photos with Abbi Cooley in July, and I’m so excited to share them with you guys. There will be a second part sharing the rest of the photos we took (and when I got tackled by enormous/aggressive waves not once, not twice… but three times). I thought these photos would be perfect for this post that I’ve been wanting to share.
SO, all that to say… scroll down for my tips for being married to someone who’s an MD. Fun Fact: I’m actually the daughter, sister, sister-in-law and wife of doctors… so I’ve learned from some of the strong women in my family too. And I would think what I’m sharing below applies to anyone whose partner works a lot.
Their job and the health of their patients is going to come first, so your life will be more fulfilled if you’re passionate about your own career. If that’s not the case, picking up an exercise/running hobby, perfecting your cooking skills or learning a new craft (calligraphy, painting, learn a language, learn photography, etc.) are some suggestions.
Maybe this hobby is a Bravo! or Netflix marathon… I’m not judging. #Youdoyou.
2. Keep it moving.
In our house, Christian would much rather me keep things moving and live my life than wait around on him. He can easily get caught up at the hospital – most recently when my parents were in town he didn’t get home until 1AM. So go ahead and cook dinner, and leave him a plate in the microwave. Go to the musical or movie solo (the lights go out and you can’t talk anyway – who cares if you’re alone?). Walk the dog without him. You get the drift. Sometimes a spouse can feel pressured to not let you down when they know you are waiting but their schedule is out of their control. C always knows I would rather him be present, but when he can’t be, he wants me to have fun without him.
I’ve always been independent and after a being a med school girlfriend for four years and a resident wife for five years, I’ve become even more independent. I call AAA my boyfriend.
3. Make the home a peaceful place.
I always try to have the house tidy and clean by 5PM (my mom always did this for my dad), and if I’m really good – the kitchen is brewing with good smells or a candle is lit. I want Christian to look forward to coming home to a quiet, relaxing house rather than feel like he’s leaving one hectic place for another.
When I work crazy hours and come home to this scenario – it’s the best!
4. Share how proud you are of them. And when they’re exhausted… remind them that their patients don’t want to be there either.
Of course your partner knows you love them and are proud of their commitment to helping others… but a reminder doesn’t hurt. And when they’re exhausted and feeling snippy, remind them that their patients don’t want to be at the hospital either. They would much rather be… pretty much anywhere else. My father-in-law told Christian this and he continues to say it was one of the best pieces of advice!
5. Respect their sleep.
Growing up, my mom made it very well known that 9:50PM was last call on loud noises or incoming phone calls. My dad is like a fine-tuned robot – in the bed at 9:30PM and lights out at 10PM. We had an upstairs phone line for the kids because anyone who knew our family knew that calls on the downstairs line after 10PM were no bueno. Procedures are often scheduled crazy early in the morning, and my mom was majorly protective of my dad’s sleep.
At the time I was like… ok everyone relax! But now I totally get it. Christian’s hours are very intense and he is operating on patients in both scheduled surgeries and emergency room scenarios, so when he has the opportunity to sleep, he needs to take it. Buy your partner a silk eye mask and if you’re a late night TV watcher, invest in some wireless headphones.
I’m by no means saying we have a perfect marriage or that there aren’t times that I feel lonely or jealous of my friends whose partners are around more often… but these are just some of the things that work for us!
Do you have any tips for being married to an MD or partner who works crazy hours? I’d love to hear. Thank you so much for reading and as always, if there are posts you’d like to see I love getting your feedback! XO –
Silk and satin camis are one of the staple items in my closet that I can’t have too much of. I have camisoles like this in white, black, red, blue and now yellow… they go with everything all year long!
A classic camisole is a must-have in my book, and this one comes in four different colors so if you love it – there’s more where that came from. Dress it up with heels for a date night or with boyfriend jeans and slides for daytime. They look chic and effortless on their own if it’s warm or you can layer with a cardigan, blazer or moto jacket when the temp drops.
And of course I must mention what this day means to everyone in our country. Three years in a row I’ve been in NYC for this day, and last year I had the great privilege of walking down to the memorial. There were bagpipers playing, flowers and American flags being left by loved ones, and I was moved to tears. May we never forget the men and women who lost there lives on that day, the families who are affected and those who have served for our country in the days and years after this tragic day.
I recently shared this set on Instagram, and one of my favorite things about it is how great the pieces are both together and separately. I wore this top with denim cutoffs and got so many questions about it, so I thought it deserved its own post!
Remember when I talked about dressing for you body in this post and this post? Well… this is an example of not doing that. Ha – seriously! I am curvier on the bottom and my legs are not the feature I typically accentuate, but this top and skirt combo was so cute that I said… I will forgo my usual silhouette and roll with it.
Have I ever told y’all the cheerleader legs story? I never really thought anything about my legs growing up. When I was in high school and looking for a prom dress, I tried on a dress with a slit. My mom was in the dressing room with me, and the gal working the store came to take a peek and said, “oh I know the dress for you.” She proceeded to then yell to her coworker, “bring out that red dress with the slit, she has cheerleader legs.”
My mom and I looked at each other, jaws dropped and just started laughing. Mind you, I was a cheerleader for six years, and I most definitely DO have the muscular legs to prove it (and that’s not me bragging because… I do not love them), but I actually blame this girl for making me aware of something I was not previously bothered by.
Shoutout to the girl in Clinton, Mississippi who has haunted me… forever. Not really, but kind of because my mom always seems to bring it up, followed by laughter. #Rude.
If you have a story similar to cheerleader legs… you know I want to hear.
On the subject of cheerleading, the guy who took our annual cheerleader photos in high school once told me to turn my face to an angle to “hide your lazy eye.”
I was like, “what’s a lazy eye?” So there’s another one for you. Also, #rude.
Packing for fashion week is unlike any packing process I’ve ever really had. The first year I went, I went with the company I was working for at the time. I was working at an event during the day and then at night I would hop to parties or events on behalf of my blog. It was a great way to get my feet wet without fully immersing myself in the environment.
I brought one outfit for each day… makes sense right!? Apparently not! Girls change outfits all day, wearing one outfit to one event and another for a designer’s show. It’s a doozy. Now that I’ve been a few times, I have a better idea of what I need and always remember to bring the necessities with me from past trial and error.
Great luggage (both carryon and checked) are a no-brainer. I got these noise-cancelling headphones for my birthday this year and they live up to the hype = amazing. I also never leave without a rechargeable battery pack for my cell phone. No one wants to be scouring the walls for an outlet to plug up their phone! Tennis shoes for the last few days when your feet hurt are a must (made this mistake once, never again!).
A few statement pieces are great to bring, but don’t bring all your finest things. Last year I was at a brunch that took a hard turn for party town (of which I fully support) but I wasn’t expecting it and was left in my seat clutching the Chanel bag Christian had just given me for my birthday. I was panicked/waiting for someone to slosh red wine on it by accident. I ended up excusing myself early due to my anxiety. SO, I bring a few of my nice bags and shoes but it’s also nice to have a few less formal pieces you can actually live a little in, if you know what I mean.
Any work trip is full of talking, talking and more talking. I get sick with a sore throat EVERY year and am searching for cough drops or begging Jenn for some essential oils. She has let me use her Cloves oil in the past and it really helped, so I’m coming prepared this year!
I’m hopping on a red eye tonight to head to the city and look forward to seeing some of my favorite babes while I’m there. There’s so much preparation that goes into the trip but it’s a great time to see some familiar faces, meet some new ones and get inspired for the new season.
What do you guys think? Have you ever packed for a big work trip? What are your must-haves? Thanks so much for reading – XO –
I recently went on a girls trip to Napa and San Francisco with a group of girls on a unique trip that I’m so excited to share some more info on!
When Sarah of the GirlTalk Network originally reached out, I thought, “what is this organization all about?” The more I read, I discovered this nonprofit that brings likeminded female entrepreneurs together to inspire, encourage and empower each other.
One of their mottos is “community over competition.” How beautiful those words are! When you are linking minds with others in your industry (regardless of what it may be), it can be easy to feel guarded and protective of your business. We’ve all been burned before by trusting someone we shouldn’t have, and it’s never a good feeling. BUT when you can find a group of women that are confident in their own work, encouraging of creativity and uniquely being YOU, it’s a very special place.
What We Did:
We went to some vineyards and had champagne and wine tasting, but some of my favorite things we did on our trip was a picnic at our hotel (more of that in the photos below) and spending the day on the Napa Valley Wine Train. You GUYS. I’ve been wanting to take a cruise on this train for so long, and I was so excited to experience lunch and wine tasting on the train. However cute you think it is, multiply that by 10. The lunch was delicious (three courses!) and the views along the the way were stunning. If you’re heading to Napa and considering hopping aboard – do it!
Where We Stayed:
Napa – Senza Hotel | This hotel is so darling and is nestled right in the middle of all of these vines. We had our picnic below just outside the patio doors of our room, how special is that? The bathroom was so pretty, and I still can’t believe I didn’t make time to soak in the big tub – it was beautiful!
They had a complimentary breakfast in the morning that was a crazy amazing spread complete with a gigantic Nespresso machine (you guys know I’m a sucker for some Nespresso), and I kept thinking… I love these ladies but I have GOT to bring Christian back to this place!
Four Seasons San Francisco | I recently stayed at the Four Seasons Residence Club in San Diego (mentioned here, here and here), so I was so excited to check out the SF location. Give me a robe and some slippers, and I think I could have camped out here forever. The hotel is in such a great location (not far from Lombard Street – wish we had the time to hop over!), and staying at this gorgeous hotel really got me so excited for all of our SF adventures to come (more on that here).
Best Meal:
MKT Restaurant at Four Seasons San Francisco | We started our meal here with a punch bowl that combined champagne and tequila and was… incredible. The view of the city from this restaurant can’t be beat and the food was so delicious. The Tuna Crudo, Charred Octopus, Uni Gnocchi and S’mores dessert were some of my favorites. My stomach is nearly growling just thinking about it!
This was my first time wearing clothing from JustFab and you guys – they have some of the cutest stuff! I loved all their blush pieces that are great summer to fall transitional layers, and I couldn’t get enough of the trench coat. I wore it on the plane to and from SF, and I know it’s going to be the perfect lightweight layering jacket.
And of course the shoes… I can’t not talk about their bootie collection. I wore a peep toe olive green pair that I think are so versatile. I can’t get enough of green right now!
I hope this is some helpful info for any of you planning on heading to Northern California anytime soon! I also have another post on a trip to Napa from last year here.
For more info on the GirlTalk Network and how you can involved, check out their site here. Thanks so much for reading! Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend – XO –
This post went live on Sunday before I was finished working on it (#whoops)… and I was out and about LA with Christian. So I finished tweaking it and wanted to share some of this holiday weekend’s sales!
Hope you have all had a beautiful weekend and enjoyed some time off. And of course – all of our love to those of you in Houston. Thanks for reading – XO –
– designing a pair of fall mules with Shoes of Prey that I know I’m going to wear constantly –
– checking out what will be my home in a year (if you’re new to CBL, more about that in this post) –
– some new cell phone cases from Casetify that seriously couldn’t be any cuter –
– the coziest sweater with the best embroidered words ever… not today –
Happy Friday!! I’ve had a blissful week at home this week, and by blissful I mean a no makeup – hair in a bun – drinking coffee until noon – kind of week. Put your nose to the grind and work through dinner kind of week!
Coincidentally, Christian has had the same kind of work week so needless to say, we are excited for this long weekend off. We are going to spend some time in Los Angeles, hanging with my brother and his family and knocking some of the things we’ve had on our LA bucket list. Now that we have less than a year in Southern California, we’re feeling a little bit of a running clock to check everything off. We started our time here with a bang and then… got lazy. But we’re going to end with a pow!
Most importantly, I can’t say enough how much my heart goes out to everyone in Texas right now. I was a teenager when Katrina hit Mississippi and Louisiana, and I remember how devastating it was to the community both during and of course, after the storm. The coverage we’ve seen of Houston this week is just heartbreaking. NY Times has a great article about ways to donate to those in need in Houston (and avoid scams), including animals here. Lots of love and prayer going out to you guys –
Thanks so much for reading and I hope you guys get a long weekend to recharge – XO –
When the weather is nice, a picnic can be the perfect way to spend the afternoon. Get some fresh air, take the dog, some snacks and wine – what’s better than that? After having quite a few weekend picnics, I’m sharing my 7 steps to planning the perfect picnic with Seven Daughters Wine.
I mean… maybe this should have been #1 BUT truth be told, any little basket will do. I got the one above as a wedding gift, and it makes me so happy to pull it out for a date for two. This picnic was actually for myself and my parents (photos by Dad – he’s the best), and it was still a great resource for the cheese knife, utensils, plates to keep things steady on the grass, etc.
If you’re gathering all the good stuff for a picnic, there’s nothing better than a great rosé. Rosé in a can!? Changing your life, my friends! Whether you’re packing a picnic, heading to the beach for the day, off to the movies… a great wine-in-a-can is so easy. No wine opener, packing glasses, etc. If you’re an adventurer and enjoy toasting outside of your house… trust me, it’s the most convenient option ever!
AND I’m not typically a sparkling wine or rosé drinker, but when I can have just a taste without the pressure of opening an entire bottle? Perfection.
4. Cheese, Crackers, Snacks…
I mean, you gotta have a little nosh. Cheese, crackers, watermelon, some salad, champagne grapes – these are a few of my favorite things.
5. Water
It’s nice to have some water after a can or two of rosé or to rinse your fingers if you’ve been eating watermelon or sugary fruit!
6. Paper Plates, Plastic Utensils, Wet Wipes, Paper Towels
I find that these are some of the items that are often forgotten. Make sure you have enough disposable plates and utensils so everyone can fix themselves a little plate. Bonus points for wet wipes or a roll of paper towels!
7. Trash Bag
So maybe this is a less pretty thing to mention but I’m telling you – it’s the thing everyone always forgets! After the wine and nibbles — it’s much less fun to go to the trash can when you can’t consolidate everything in one bag. Save yourself the trouble!
Thanks so much for reading! Do you love planning some lunch or dinner al fresco? I’d love to hear your must-haves. Trust me, once you see how easy wine-in-a-can is for outdoor entertaining – there’s no going back!
You can check out Seven Daughters on Facebook and Instagram and find their wine in your area here. AND the code CBL7D is good for 20% off any Seven Daughters purchase on Uncorked.com! XO –
I’m about to share a big secret with you guys… one of my favorite places to shop for clothes and accessories (especially shoes, including these!!) is Amazon and The Fix. I’ve snagged so many amazing deals from these Celine sunglasses that were sold out everywhere to dresses for $30. It’s THE BEST.
You guys know I love to mix high and low. I strongly believe in the “cost per wear” mentality when it comes to your closet – divide the cost of the item by the number of times you’ll wear it. I shared this in yesterday’s post too!
SO if you invest in a great designer handbag and you can wear it all seasons for years and years… that’s a splurge well worth the price. The pieces I tend to invest in are handbags, jewelry, classic outerwear and the occasional shoe.
I can be rough on my shoes though, so I try to be selective on where I spend those dollars. Luckily, I recently discovered Amazon’s The Fix and oh snap! So many good designer looks for less. I snagged these designer look alike cap toe mules for under $100. SERIOUSLY.
In this look, my sunglasses and handbag were a designer splurge and the dress (under $25) and heels are steals. I love that I don’t have to feel guilty if I only wear this memorable dress a few times. Cost per wear guys, get onboard!
What’s your shopping budget looking like? Are you a cost per wear person or do you prefer to splurge on other things? Would love to hear. And let me know if you would want to see more high/low posts like this!
