tips for staying focused at work

Transitioning from working in a corporate office to working from home was definitely an adjustment.  It took many, many months to find a routine that worked for me, and if you know me well, you know that I pride myself in efficiency. Crossing off things on my to-do list and then dancing around the kitchen while drinking wine and listening to the Jersey Boys soundtrack (I watched the movie recently on a flight and the soundtrack is like… way better than the musical soundtrack. Which I’ve seen twice and aggressively love.) is basically my perfect day.

SO today, I’m sharing some of my tips for staying focused during the work day – and if you have any to add I would love to hear!

1.  Create a workplace that inspires you.  

For the first year we lived in our townhouse, this guest room sat empty. I was still working in Newport Beach at an office everyday and we didn’t know how we wanted to use the extra space.

The more hours I was logging on the sofa with my laptop at night after my day job, I knew having a desk and distraction-free space was of a growing importance.  We finally created a comfortable room where Christian and I both work everyday, and I love how it turned out!

2.  Embrace an empty desk.

This is tough for me because I am a sucker for stuff, but I try to keep the desktop as clean and tidy as possible.  It helps me avoid distractions and a clutter-free space equals a clutter-free mind (Oprah once said this, so you know it’s correct).

3.  Multiple screens is a game changer.

I discovered this at my corporate job and now I can’t live without it. I’ll have my email on one screen constantly and work on photo editing, spreadsheets, etc. on the second screen. It allows me to me so much more efficient!

4.  Start your day with a to-do list of 3-5 things you want to be sure to accomplish that day.

I’m a woman which means I love making lists. I keep a paper planner, but every day I list 3-5 things I want to get accomplished that day. It helps me prioritize what needs to get done and leaves me feeling like I’ve made a dent in the week’s tasks each day.

5.  Make sure your chair is comfortable and encourages good posture.  This chair is a custom creation from DwellStudio and I am in love with it. It’s roomy (enough for myself + Lula which is very important because she always wants to sit with me!), comfortable, makes me sit up straight and the armrests are the finishing touch that I didn’t have with my last desk chair and really wanted.  It was so hard to select a piece because I loved so many of the pieces, and being able to customize the fabric, wood finish, etc. made the selection feel really personal and unique.

carrie bradshaw lied home officekeeping listsstyling bookshelvesyellow labdwell studio chaircarrie bradshaw lied homehermes traycarrie bradshaw lied homecarrie bradshaw lied home officekathleen barnes

photos by Vincent Elejorde

 

 custom chair c/o DwellStudio in partnership with Robert Allen and Calico | similar marquee lights here and here | desk | dress 30% off! | neckerchief | earrings | bangles | albion ring | sofa – Lee Industries from Gatehouse Home, similar style here | similar mongolian fur pillows | blanket | deer head, this one is under $30 | hide rug from Summerhouse, similar style here | cancer pillow | lamp – no longer available, similar style here and lamp shade | similar Hermés tray | faux fiddle leaf tree

Do you have any tips that help you stay focused when you’re working? Especially to those of you working from home – it takes a little extra concentration not to get distracted when you’re in your own house!

Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –

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kathleen and christian barnes

Christian and I recently spent a weekend in San Diego at the beautiful Pendry Hotel and had the good fortune to spend an evening with the beautiful, talented (and Southern!) couple behind Pura Soul Photo.

It was Christian’s first weekend off in almost two months and we’d been planning a little getaway to SD because we hadn’t been in a few years. When I connected with Devin and Skylar the week before, it seemed like fate that our paths were so conveniently crossing. We met up for a drink and some sunset photos that take my breath away!

I love these photos because Skylar and Devin captured a much-needed weekend vacation during a really high-stress time of our lives. Christian has been interviewing for medical fellowships all over the U.S., so between our separate work travels we’ve gone weeks without seeing each other.  I’m talking 20+ round-trip flights, termite fumigations (aka pack up all our valuables and being kicked out of our house for almost three days), missed family trips, many missed hours of sleep, all of his vacation days for the calendar year being used for interviews, etc.

It’s just another step of our journey together, and through all of this we’ve just reminded each other that we are always on each other’s team. I’ve always encouraged Christian to strive to meet his full potential, and it’s what has brought us to California from Mississippi and what will take us to who-knows-where next. Obviously I’m biased, but he has always been a standout for being incredibly bright (our rehearsal dinner toasts were mostly all about him being good at anything he does and me being dramatic and loving Cheetos and wine), and I’ve pushed him to get outside his comfort zone to see what he’s truly capable of.  He does the same for me and it’s why I have a job I never imagined myself actually doing full-time… and I’ve never been more fulfilled in my work.

But I won’t lie, these last few months have been tough. There are frustrated conversations over the phone about not feeling supported, feeling like I’m carrying the responsibilities of both of us… and then some, feeling like I’m so often alone when I need my partner and so on. But this is not forever, it’s just a season.  Christian is wrapping up his eighth (!!) year of medical training after college and still has two to go.  However, the light at the end of the tunnel is finally visible and after 10 years together, we both know that as long as we stay on each other’s team we can get through any season.

Perspective is everything.  Rather than compare my relationship to others, I need to focus on what makes my relationship unique.  All the quirks, all the inside jokes, the moments, the vows, the commitment, the love.  It’s beautiful – flaws and all.

christian and kathleen barnessan diego couples shootcalifornia couples shootbeach couples shootsan diego sunsetcarrie bradshaw liedsunset couples shoot on the beachsan diego cliffspendry hotel san diegocouples silhouettecalifornia palm treessan diego california couples shootsan diego cliffs

photos by Pura Soul Photo

 

similar white dress here, here and here | similar navy dress here and here + earrings | similar off the shoulder dress here + earrings + bag

If you are a couple in the Southern California area, I can’t recommend Skylar and Devin enough. They are kind, inspiring, upbeat and FUN, and their full hearts show in the photos they capture together. It doesn’t surprise me that they capture amazing wedding and couples photography, and you can check out some of their wedding work here.

Thanks so much for reading! And if you have any marriage advice for those high-stress times in your relationship, I’d absolutely love to hear. XO –

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renting bikes in florida

– cruisin’ around 30A –

dappled dachschund

– my brother’s dog who flew with him from California #queenbee –

florida beach boardwalk

– this week’s morning walk –

30A beach bonfire

– a bonfire, tacos and s’mores on the beach –

paddleboarding 30A

– using these paddleboards on the still turquoise water (and on the sand if you’re Harper) –

I’ve been in Florida all week on a family vacation, and after four years of not visiting 30A every summer like I’ve done since I was a baby, it’s been so sweet to be back.  California beaches are beautiful, but I’ve loved being back in the silky white sand of Santa Rosa Beach and actually being able to paddleboarding out into the ocean (without a wetsuit). Gorgeous!

One of the highlights of the week was a beach bonfire with tacos and s’mores. Everything was set up for us by the team of Live Well 30A, including chairs and tiki torches, and we sat there for hours roasting marshmallows while the kids searched for crabs with their flashlights. So much fun!

Live Well 30A provides all kinds of services and rentals (like the bikes and paddleboards we’ve been using all week), and the concept is beyond brilliant. A one-stop shop for all your beach needs (where was this 10 years ago?! We needed this!) and so easy!  You can also find your beach rental using Rent 30A, so literally in two websites you can get basically everything you need – including catering or an in-house chef. AND if you’re traveling to this area and use code CBL30A, you can get 10% off your order!

I plan to share another blog post in the next week or two with what we did, where we stayed and some of my 30A recommendations, so stay tuned for those details.  Thank you so much for reading (and for all of your recs on Instagram), I hope you guys have a beautiful weekend! XO –

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organic doctor skincare

I’m excited to share some skincare that I’ve been using lately (and Christian might also be dipping his fingers in) that I think you guys will love.  When I’m taking care of my skin, I want to feel beautiful inside and out.  I like to know that what I’m putting on my body not only smells and feels good but is good for me.

Organic Doctor® skincare products are a new skincare line from Britain that just launched in the U.S. in over 3,000 CVS stores nationwide and on Amazon. I love that it’s a clean beauty solution that is accessible and affordable.  Plus it’s free of parabens, petroleum, SLS, synthetic colors and silicones. They source natural ingredients from all over the world!

Truthfully, I didn’t really pay that much attention to the ingredients in my shampoo and skincare until Christian started ordering his own sulfate-free shampoo and chemical-free body wash.  It made me wonder about the ingredients I was using.  Now I’ve discovered a new collection that we can both use, and we’ve actually had a lot of fun trying the different collections together.

Sometimes it’s just the scent of a product that starts your morning right or ends your day peacefully.  The coconut oil and rose otto collection smell absolutely incredible (my personal favorites), and I love knowing the coconut oil is sourced from organic farms.

I’ve been reading about the magic of tea tree oil for your skin for quite a while, so I’ve been using this Tea Tree Blemish Stick and it’s amazing! I made sure to bring it with me on my beach trip to help with blemishes that sunscreen will sometimes create.

organic beauty productstea trea beauty spot stickorganic skincare productscoconut face creamfinding organic beauty productskathleen barnestea tree oil for facewhite tweed dress with fringe

photos by Vincent Elejorde

headboard (on sale!), also available here | bedding, also love this (on sale!)| dress | gold bangles | albion ring and earrings | similar lamp | similar mirrored chest | mirrored tray

Some of the products I’ve been using:

Rose Otto Cleansing Milk | Rose Otto Face Mask | Rose Otto Night Cream | Rose Otto Toner | Rose Otto Skin Lotion

Snail Gel Cream | Snail Gel

Tea Tree Blemish Stick | Tea Tree Skin Lotion | Tea Tree Body Wash | Tea Tree Face Wash

Coconut Oil Eye Perfect | Coconut Oil Day Cream | Coconut Oil Skin Lotion

Have you tried organic skincare products before? I really think once you do you won’t go back. I love knowing what I’m putting on my skin and with a line as vast as Organic Doctor®, you’re covered head to toe. You can find these products online at Amazon and at CVS!

Thanks for reading and sharing, and you can find Organic Doctor on Facebook here and Instagram here. XO –

Brought to you by Organic Doctor®

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carrie bradshaw lied

If you follow CBL on Insta-Story you probably recognize this shirt. I actually immediately linked it to my right sidebar section titled “seen on snapchat and insta-stories” because I got so many questions about it, and it’s totally worthy because it’s my favorite striped shirt right now!

It’s got a loose, boyfriend fit without being too baggy, and it’s incredibly soft and thin.  I love the blue stripes and that the pocket stripes go horizontally rather than vertically. So cute!

I paired it with the distressed boyfriend shorts I have in two colors, and I’ve also worn it with flare jeans for a date night look. Comfortable and effortless – and it will easily take you into fall.

tassel straw clutchblue striped topflamingo necklacecarrie bradshaw lied blogtopshop mom shortsdistressed boyfriend shortsflamingo necklacetassel clutch

photos by Vincent Elejorde

 

shirtcurrently buy one get one 50% off! Also love this one and this one | shorts, also have and love these | heels | clutch | sunglasses | necklace, another similar style here | blue ring | lips in Naked

Are you a striped shirt lover? I love a good black or navy striped tee but I think this is such a fun twist on the striped trend.  A littler dressier but easily dressed down with a pair of shorts or boyfriend jeans.

I linked some more of my favorite button front striped tops above!  Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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recipe for dog cupcakes

– Bailey’s favorite cupcakes for her 10th birthday –

My first daughter turned 10 (or 75 in dog years according to this calculator) on Wednesday!  Technically our vet thinks Lula is older but because she was an adult rescue, we’re not exactly sure of her age.  However I found Lula about a week before Thanksgiving so that’s when we celebrate!

Every birthday Bailey has feels a little extra special because I helped Christian pick her out when we had only been dating a few weeks. Which means her age is essentially the exact amount of time we’ve been together. Cheesy… but fun!

I make this recipe for her every year and she loves it. You can make it in a loaf pan but I make it in little cupcakes and give her one each day of her birthday week.

tortoise aviators

– new shades that are perfect for summer, and they’re on sale! –

leather backpack

– the prettiest travel bag that I plan to use this weekend –

highlighter palette

– the most gorgeous golden highlighter palette that I’ve also been using as eyeshadow – obsessed! –

bon voyage hat

– picking some of my favorite hats for a week at the beach –

I’m packing for my first time at 30A in like… four or five years and I’m so excited! We went on a big family trip when there were 10 of us and now there are 13 so it’s time for a do-over. We didn’t know my grandmother would pass away two weeks prior to the trip, so we actually all saw each other recently (minus Christian).

Per usual, Christian can’t make it (again), but I plan to soak up some family time… and count down until C actually has ownership of life again! Med school/residency/fellowship… will you EVER be over? 10 years too long!

I plan to do a travel guide after the trip because we have some really fun things planned, so stay tuned for that!

And of course I couldn’t end the week without tell you what your comments in yesterday’s post meant to me. Honestly I was completely floored and touched with all of your stories and personal experiences with your own grandparents. How LUCKY we are to learn from such an inspiring generation and may we do that for our children and grandchildren. Very, very special. Hope you guys have a beautiful weekend! XO –

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vintage flight attendantgrammy

My grandmother, Sarah Patrick Abide (or to me known as Grammy), recently passed away three months shy of her 90th birthday.  We shared the same birthday, and I’ve referred to her as my role model for as long as I can remember.

All of the incredible things she accomplished in her life are documented here, but with Mother’s Day around the corner, I want to share some of the things I learned from her. Both the woman she was to others and to her family.

  • Life is better when God is at the center. She lost both of her parents and younger brother when she was in jr. high and she lost her only son to a brain tumor when he was only 27.  She never steered from her faith, and there was never time for a pity party. She was always smiling, always warm and her goodness was infectious!
  • Put others before yourself and you’ll never regret it.
  • Travel often. As a flight attendant in the 50’s, Grammy loved to travel and explore. Some of her best days were when she was hopping city to city.
  • Toasted pound cake with butter is the most delicious breakfast option, best served guilt-free!
  • Women drink scotch.
  • Master a few recipes and grape leaves can go with every meal.
  • Canisters are really just different sized cookie jars.
  • When in doubt, wear pink.
  • Food is a language that everyone speaks.
  • Live and lead by example. A silent leader, she was never trying to teach us lessons, but taught us so much by the way she chose to live her life.
  • The best things in life are not possessions.  She ran a women’s clothing store for the majority of her life but she cared more about creating a community than a perfect house or wardrobe.

sarah patrick abidecbl weddingmy grammycarrie bradshaw lied weddingcarrie bradshaw lied wedding

photos by Will Jacks

My father’s mother passed away of breast cancer when he was only 10, so Grammy is the only grandmother I’ve ever known. As you can see in this post, we were incredibly close… although I think everyone who knew her would say that because she was just that kind of lady!

Without telling me, Christian wrote my mom a letter sharing his memories of my grandmother. He told my mom that he thought some of my best qualities came from Grammy.  He said that as he reflected on how much I’ve admired her all of these years, he realized that her journey from growing up in a small town to traveling all over the world and being based out of several metropolitan cities with American Airlines showed me as a young girl that I could set high ambitions and achieve them.

He also said he was happy to be along for the world tour that Grammy started and that I continue.  Queue the waterworks!

I was so fortunate to have her in my life for so long and we are beyond grateful that her life was long and her pain was short.  She’s now reunited with her husband, parents, brother, son and great granddaughter.  She’s the first person in our family to greet my niece Edie in heaven, and that makes all of us very, very happy.

If you have some life lessons you’ve learned from a special grandparent or family member – I would love love LOVE to hear! Thank you so much for reading – XO –

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:2-4

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mothers day gift guide picks

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

 

Thank you so much for the feedback in last week’s summer staples splurge vs. save post!  I definitely heard your thoughts loud and clear so we’re going to keep it up.

Mother’s Day is approaching on May 14th, so the time to start perusing for mom and grandma is now.  I think some of the above options would be great for that special lady in your life.  I have a portable record player and it’s just the best. I recently went through my grandmother’s vinyls and picked at least 20 to add to our collection, and it’s going to be so special knowing they were hers.

I love this little mother/daughter sets like these necklaces or these champagne glasses – how fun! This would be a great gift for the mama #girlboss, and I’ve had these roses since January 1st and they still look brand new. Unbelievable!

My mom asks for the same thing every year – a letter or story.  When I have something good to share I always write one, but sometimes I just have zero ideas. This year I have one though, so I’ll be typing up a letter pretty soon! Another gift that I always love receiving is fresh flowers in a pretty vase (love this one). The vase can be reused and who doesn’t love roses?!

If you have something in mind for mom, I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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black maxi dress

I love the lines of this maxi dress because it changes it up with the two side slits and is perfect with flats or better yet, barefoot.  I had intended to only share it on Instagram (hence why I’m facing away for basically every photo), but the photos made me so happy that I thought I would share them on the blog!

The front is so cute with two long slits that make this maxi dress (under $50!) perfect for a tropical vacation. I am admittedly fully onboard with the pom pom and tassel trend, but I don’t like dropping too much on a piece that I want to be able to wear on the sand without worries of staining or ruining.

I’ve found the spot to get all your pom pom goodness for less and am sharing some of my favorite dress picks below!

carrie bradshaw liedkathleen barnesblack off the shoulder maxi dressround mirrored sunglassesla paz mexicocarrie bradshaw lied blog

photos by Michelle Preau at Playa de la Paz

 

dress (runs TTS), also love this one and this one – under $30!| sunglasses | hat | earrings, also love these | gold cuff

Thanks so much for reading! You can check out other posts from Mexico here, here, here and here and stay tuned… because I might be heading back this month! XO –

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shoshanna blue dress

I never met a midi dress I didn’t like, and this one is no exception. I love the flirty hem at the bottom and the tasteful peekaboo of skin that makes this dress perfect for a spring or summer wedding. It comes with straps, but I think you could even tuck them in and make this number strapless!

But today I’m going to dive a little deeper than fashion. I’m honored to have the opportunity to combine this blog, my love of fashion and a cause that is so near to my heart.  If you’ve been following my blog for some time, you’ve heard me talk about my niece Edie who passed away last summer at only four years old due to a rare genetic disease. When she was born we knew her life would be short, but our hearts were still broken to see her in pain.

Mila is a 6-year-old girl in Boulder, Colorado, suffering from Batten disease—a rare, neurodegenerative condition causing seizures, vision loss, cognitive impairment, and early death. There is no cure… yet. Her parents are forced to make excruciatingly painful decisions as the disease takes its course.

Eventually, families with children suffering from Batten disease are left to face life without their child. But Mila’s mother has decided to make a difference and raise $4M to fund research and start a gene therapy trial to halt degeneration in children facing Mila’s type of Batten. The foundation aims to help find a cure to Batten disease and to fund scientific advances, which can be used to combat additional genetic diseases affecting hundreds of millions of people all over the world.

SO how can you help!? This weekend, 4/28 – 4/30, 10% of all sales on Tuckernuck.com go to Batten research.  By doing what some of us do best (myself included), you can help support this cause to help children like Mila.

blue crochet dresskathleen barneskathleen barnesblue shoshanna dresswhite hardshell clutchblue shoshanna dresswhite tassel earringscarrie bradshaw liedkathleen barnes

photos by Vincent Elejorde

 

dress c/o Tuckernuck, also love this one (on sale!) and this one | earrings c/o Tuckernuck, love the navy ones too | heels, similar look for less herehere | similar clutch here and love this one and this one | albion ring | “3” necklace, “c” bracelet and x ring

Thanks so much for reading and for supporting such an incredible cause.  It’s amazing what we can do when we band together.

Read more about Mila’s story here. Thank you so so so much for reading and have a beautiful weekend! XO –

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carrie bradshaw lied

My fab photog Vincent and I were laughing going through these photos that I looked like an American Airlines flight attendant – if you follow me on Instagram you may have seen the Insta-story!

A flowy dress with a cinched dress is one of my favorite silhouettes (it’s why I always go bananas for wrap dresses), so when I saw this dress from Express came in so many colors and patterns I knew I’d hit the jackpot.

I saw the adorable selection of neck scarves, aka “neckerchief,” and I maybe have gotten one in every color. I always love seeing the different ways other fashionistas style neck scarves (love the gif tutorials here), and I thought this one would be so cute with anything – a white tee and boyfriend jeans or chambray dress.

neck scarf with a red dresscarrie bradshaw liedstuart weitzman nudistfloral ruffle dressstyling a neck handkerchiefeyelash and lips clutchexpress red dressorange county fashion bloggercarrie bradshaw lied blog

photos by Vincent Elejorde

 

dress (30% off) and neck scarf – Express, also love this dress (30% off!) and this one | heels, also love these | clutch, also love this one | lip in Bad Blood |cable bracelet 1, 2, 3, 4

Are you into the neckerchief trend? I think they can be dressed up or down and I love that they work for almost any dress code. It’s a really fun touch to a spring or summer look – I linked some of my favorite ones from Express above!

Thanks so much for reading – XO

Brought to you by Express

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summer trend look for less

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

 

Usually I create “Wednesday Wish Lists” each week based on pieces I’ve been coveting or perusing online, but this week I thought I would try something different to see how you guys liked it!  I actually used to use this format years ago but stopped for some reason or another… maybe because I got caught up in all the cute things I was eyeing online. Same story, different day.

I actually snagged this top and neckerchief recently and looooove them both. I also bought this cute clutch a year or two ago and always get compliments on it!  I also added these to my Amazon cart – love that they are such an amazing look for less.

Let me know if you guys like this layout and I’ll keep it up! It definitely takes more time but hey – you guys are worth it. Love you long time! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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