I think we would all agree that taking care of your skin is always a good idea. The OCD girl in me has always been pretty good about washing my face twice a day, not sleeping with makeup on, wearing SPF and just shielding my face from the sun whenever I can. I remember purchasing my first anti-aging skincare product in college after one of my roommates made me feel like I was already behind (!!), and I’ve been using different preventative aging products ever since.
Today I’m sharing a brand new line that I’ve been using called Nia. It stands for “not into aging,” and is a skincare line created by millennials for millennials (which I love!). Their products, which just launched at Ulta, target situational stressors and their impact on skin, like wear + tear from putting on makeup and late night weekend benders. The six products are also each uniquely designed to visibly counteract even the earliest signs of aging.
I’m no chemist, so I’ll keep it short and sweet, but the science behind the line is from NIA-114™, which is a patented molecule that fortifies and protects the skin. It gives these products a little extra fighting power, and personally I really love a product that not only smells amazing (seriously… amazing), but also wakes up my skin and helps it feel smooth, soft and dewy.
My current favorites are the cleansing foam, illuminator (great for a makeup primer as well) and the neck smoother. I’d never even heard of a neck smoother but I love the concept! It’s so easy to forget to take care of our necks, but we really should be just as attentive.
If you’ve tried these products, I’d love to hear what you think! And tell me I’m not the only one who has been wearing anti-aging products since they were 20!?
If you would like to see more of this little “cloffice” space, you can check it out here. Thank you so much for reading! XO –
I have had this gorgeous dress for months and have been waiting for some warmer weather that would allow me to pull it out in all of its glory… enter Palm Springs.
It flows and twirls in all the right ways, and I shared another dress from this same designer here and here. I am in love with the beachy, boho styles in all of their colorful and cheerful prints. Perfect for summer (or summer-dreamin’)!
I’ve been so excited to share some of the photos our long weekend in Palm Springs! I never spent that much time in the desert, usually we kind of breeze in and out for the weekend. On this trip we were there for four nights and five days, and I actually feel like I know a lot more about the city.
Plus we stopped to see the Cabazon Dinosaurs, admire the windmills, walk around Downtown Palm Springs and find all the old Hollywood stars on the walk of fame, eat the most amazing sandwiches ever (seriously – if you visit PS you must stop here for lunch!) and snag C some clothes and the fanciest outlet I’ve ever been to.
But one of the highlights was visiting The Saguaro Palm Springs for the first time. I had seen countless photos on social media, but it really was even more adorable and kitschy in person. Every corner is something unique and fun, and it might just be one of the most cheerful hotels I’ve ever been to. But of course, every hotel in Palm Springs seems to be over-the-top adorable. It’s part of the city’s charm!
As for the “mom jean” trend, I caved and after much research bought this pair. When I think “mom jean,” I always think of this hysterical SNL skit, but after seeing how amazing Levi’s looked on so many girls… I went for it! I’ve really loved these cutoffs, and these jeans did not disappoint. Keep in mind they are 100% cotton which is pretty rare these days, so they don’t fit like your stretchy skinnies! Now would be a great time to shop some mom jeans if you’re feelin’ them because you can get a major discount!
Who else is ready for summer!? Gimme some sunshine! You can still save up to 30% on nearly everything in Shopbop‘s sale this week. My picks are here! Thanks so much for reading! XO –
From time to time I get questions about my fitness routine (briefly answered in my FAQ here), and I try to share some of my workouts on Snapchat (CBLied) and Insta-Story (@carriebradshawlied). My favorite kind of exercise would definitely be Reformer Pilates. I tried it for the first time five or six years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
I love that it lengthens and stretches my body, challenges those muscles that aren’t used as frequently and helps me feel leaner and stronger. The downside… it can be expensive. It took me a long time to find a studio in California that I loved. If you live in Mississippi, The Pilates Studio of Ridgeland is the best. My favorite studio ever!
SO, now that I have found Pilates + Cycle, I try to go 1-2x a week, and 2-3x a week I add in some videos and do workouts from home or walk Bailey. POPSUGAR Fitness has some great videos along with Love Sweat Fitness!
When I go to Pilates classes, I always book a morning class so I will get out of bed and get moving. I run my errands afterwards, so I want to be prepared for Pilates but also look put together for the morning. I just recently discovered Outdoor Voices, and I love that they combine fashion and fitness in their workout pieces.
A great pair of high rise leggings is my favorite kind of workout pant because I can pair them with a sports bra and jacket – so easy (and bonus points for holding everything in nice and tight!). I think they’re the most flattering legging, and I love that when I’m doing crunches or planks I don’t have to be paranoid that my tummy is on display – everything is kept right in place!
Are you a Pilates lover or have you discovered another workout that you love? I’m always open to trying new things, so I’d love to hear what gets you motivated. And sometimes – cute workout gear is just the push I need, I shared some more of my favorites in the thumbnails above!
I love a simple slip dress. I styled a black one here and a lace-trimmed one here, but this pink number is a little something special. It feels ultra feminine, but I paired it with my favorite buttery leather jacket to add some masculine edge.
I love the chicness of a slip dress and that it can be worn so many different way – with a layered sweater (like this), a moto jacket or blazer. I think it’s sexy, classic and minimal in all the right ways. Honestly, I’d have one if every color of the rainbow if I could. It sounds like my slip dress collection starts… now!
Nothing says summer like a bright yellow dress. I have a similar dress like this one in red, and it continues to be a great pick to wear to weddings. The silhouette is flattering and comfortable which makes it one of my go-to’s for several hours of wear! So when I saw this yellow beauty, I knew it had to be mine!
I added some pink details with these earrings and this bag, but if I were wearing this in summer I would add some brighter tassel earrings (maybe turquoise!?) and a patterned or beaded clutch.
Do you have a go-to wedding dress? The last wedding I went to was one of Christian’s coworkers weddings. It was a traditional Persian wedding with the most FUN dancing and best food of any wedding I’ve ever attended. It set the bar really high!
1 | 2 – over $100 off | 3 | 4 | 5 – 30% off | 6 – 30% off | 7 | 8 | 9 – only $10! | 10 | 11
I wanted to share some of the best of this weekend’s markdowns! So much good stuff, including several items I already own like this bodysuit, this bronzer and these shorts. And we talk about this handbag!? Quite possibly the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Some of my favorite sales and picks below!
Ann Taylor: extra 40% off with code WEEKEND through 2/20
Last week in this post I shared the first installment of my second round of Whole30. I have to be upfront and honest that I’m not being as intense this year as I was last year (if you even call that intense… rules are hard!). My first time trying this reset, I wanted to follow along as strictly as I could so I could not only see all of the benefits of the program but also determine what inflammatory foods were for me (the answer was grains and dairy).
This time I’m trying to follow Whole30 as best as I can but I’m mostly just trying to eliminate grains and diary completely. I’m going to confess – I had wine during our weekend stay at the Terranea Resort and I had wine on Valentine’s Day. I’m putting it out there!
I previously covered Whole30 by a weekly breakdown (you can see all of those in the “food” category of this site), and this year you guys shared you would be interested in hearing about it again so I’m replacing Friday’s Five with updates!
PROS:
I feel more focused… but part of me thinks this might have more to do with the bulletproof coffee?
I have more energy – noticeably more. So much so that I’ve been exercising 4 – 5x a week (not my usual).
CONS:
I’m getting a little bored in the kitchen.
I think I need to hide the almond butter… I put it on bananas, apples, straight spoonfuls into my mouth. I think I’m overdoing it!
I miss the ease of “I’ve had a long work day and don’t feel like cooking, let’s just grab some tacos.” This may sound crazy, but it makes me sad to go to a restaurant and get a burger wrapped in lettuce. If I’m going to pay to go to a restaurant I want to get their best dish, not the one compliant dish on the menu. Ya feel me? I’m a pretty adventurous eater and will eat almost anything, so being limited to roast chicken and steamed veggies just isn’t cutting it – which is why I’ve tried to avoid eating out altogether.
I’m heading to Palm Springs for a long weekend, so resisting nachos by the pool is going to be hard! Thankfully I called ahead of time and there are mini fridges in the rooms, so I plan to bring some things.
FAVORITE RECIPES…
I tried this crack chicken thanks to one of my amazing readers (thank you Charlotte) and it’s the bomb. I visited Whole Foods yesterday to check out the Tessemae’s dressings, sauces and marinades. Thank you guys so much for recommending this line – it is as delicious as you said it was!
I made this avocado salsa for some steaks we grilled and it was sooooooo good. I’ve also been sautéing mushrooms and onions and putting it on top of most everything. Yum!
I’ve been having this egg salad with added green onions for lunch, and I really love it.
I’ve been roasting butternut squash and topping it with a crispy egg and half an avocado. A really easy and rich dinner. Christian also really loves this!
I made some garlic shrimp (similar recipe here) and topped it over cauliflower rice with onions. It was really good (and quick), and was a great leftover dinner topped with, you guessed it, sautéed mushrooms and onions. I feel like I’m talking about onions so much I’m beginning to look like Jim Carrey in The Grinch when he takes a big fat bite of a raw onion.
That’s about it for now! Sorry the photo with this post is so mediocre. I cook most of the “prettier” meals at night and it’s already dark out so I don’t snap more than an Insta-story or Snapchat photo. This was my bulletproof coffee and apple with… almond butter of course (I told you I’m overdoing it, #nutbutterislyfe).
If you have any favorites from your Whole30 journey, I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading and I hope all of you have a beautiful weekend – XO –
If you’ve been reading CBL for a little while, you know that this dress embodies all the things I love in a spring or summer dress. Bright colors, off the shoulder, subtle ruffle hem, flowy – all the things!
I’ve always loved maxi dresses, but I have to admit living in California has taken it to the next level. It feels so easy and perfect for the weather, and everyone dresses so casually here that it feels like a maxi dress is still casual enough but adds an extra girly touch.
This one is so comfortable, and I shared below that I would recommend sizing down if you’re in between sizes! I also shared some of my favorite off the shoulder picks. We’re heading to Palm Springs this weekend, and I think this dress needs to be tossed in my bag for sure.
First of all, I hope everyone had a sweet VDay yesterday! C surprised me with tripling our bistro lights on the patio (I’ve wanted to do this since we moved in and he kept saying no), which was the best surprise ever. We cooked dinner and ate outside while listening to Cuban music. All was right in the world.
BUT onto today’s post! We’re going to get a little deeper today, so I hope you guys will continue reading with an open mind! And I’ll be sharing the details of this space below, but stick with me up here!
I recently connected with a reader and she told me that she and her friend loved CBL and that laughing at my loco Snapchats and Insta-stories had helped her friend who has been a little down. First of all, I will ALWAYS be ok with anyone and everyone laughing at or with me, so I loved hearing that I had made someone smile! But of course I don’t like to hear that anyone is blue.
Secondly, I thought – oh girl, I’ve been there. If you’re human, and especially if you’re an emotional female, you’ve had the blues. My sophomore year of college I was in a major funk and it took over a semester of wanting to sleep all the time before I even recognized that I was struggling.
Since then, I’ve had several not-so-great office jobs (and some amazing office jobs!), moved across the country from all of my family and friends, lost one of my closest girlfriends and former roommates, my four-year old niece left us for heaven… life has its ups and downs, and we’ve all had our moments when we’ve thought, “God, why didn’t you want you to protect me from this? Why would you allow these terrible things to happen to anyone?”
I can’t go without mentioning how much Bailey loves our new rugs from Rugs USA. This fringe jute rug has been on my lust list for quite sometime, and she has been crawling under the coffee table just to nap on the sheepskin. She loves it so much that I occasionally pull it out for her, and she’ll pass out for hours (if you follow on Snapchat: CBLied or Insta-story, you’ve already seen how often she’s snuggling on it)!
Of course now to my list of spirit-uppers! I feel it must be said that if you are battling depression, you should seek professional advice. Knowing when to ask for help is empowering and never shameful. BUT, if you’re struggling with a case of the blues, regardless of the reason, I have some things I like to do when I’m down that always help me from the inside out.
Yoga/Stretching/Breathing Exercises – Usually this is the first thing that will give me some instant gratification. Quiet your mind, take deep breaths through your nose, listen to the birds, loosen your muscles. It is one of the fastest ways I can find instant peace. When I get upset or stressed out, focusing on my breathing before reacting always helps me calm down. Christian would say I need to do this more, and he’s right – I do! PS – YouTube has some AMAZING videos to guide you if you’re new to this.
Get Outside – It’s amazing what fresh air and sunshine can do. Honestly – such a gift!
Read a Book – Some may disagree, but for me a healthy distraction can be a great thing. Diving into a great book – fiction, non-fiction or self-help – helps me focus on something else and allows a shift in my thought process.
Attitude of Gratitude – if Oprah said it, you know it’s right. Concentrate on 10 things you are blessed with – even better, write them down.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27
Eat Healthy (or even just healthier) – If you’re already down, eating poorly is only going to make you feel good for 10 minutes and bad the rest of the day. Try a new healthy recipe or challenge yourself to eat whole foods. The natural energy that comes from the right nutrients will surprise you.
If you have anything you go to when you need a lift in spirit, I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
If you’re on a hot date, one of the most important things is to feel confident. Christian knows that I rarely dress for him (sorry babe!). I choose pieces that make me feel like my best self, which in turn gives me confidence, makes me sit up a little straighter and feel like I’m presenting the best version of Kat. Thankfully, I’ve always dresses this way, so he’s not surprised when I show up somewhere in head to toe tassels with 45 bracelets on. You never know!
This LBD is $85 and if you ask me, looks way more luxe than the price tag reflects. The material is thick and it pulls and cinches in the right places. Don’t get me wrong, I love to wear pink and red all year long and February is no exception, but if I’m going out on 2/14… I usually pick another color. Is that weird!?
I also think this dress would be so great for wedding season and is appropriate for all seasons. Add faux fur stole or jacket and va-va-voom!
