Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Friday’s Five

– the best faux fiddle leaf fig tree I’ve ever seen –

– adding a few MacKenzie Childs pieces to our kitchen and falling in love with this classic bowl –

– new blush mules that are going to be spring staples –

– the most gorgeous silk pajamas that almost feel too pretty to wear –

– a successful 30th birthday party for Christian (balloons here) –

I don’t know how it happened exactly, but after C bought me the most beautiful fiddle leaf fig tree for our wedding anniversary several years ago, I slowly morphed into the plant lady. I have numerous succulents, citrus trees and herbs on our patio and three potted plants downstairs that I tend to like extra pets. I water them on Fridays and whenever I travel without C he always wakes up to texts from me on Friday, “don’t forget about the plants!!”

The one above came from Silk Plants Direct, and it’s the first faux potted plant I have had. From the beginning I thought a plant would look so great in our shared office, but the room doesn’t get as much natural light as other rooms in our house so I didn’t think a plant would survive. This one was the perfect choice, and it brings so much color and vibrancy into the space.

I had some catching up to do this week because I spent the weekend celebrating Christian’s birthday and totally unplugged. The poor guy had to take a standardized test for his residency program on his 30th birthday from 7:30 – 4:30, so sad!! He studied the night before, but after his test it was on. We had a huge group go to dinner together and everyone came back to our house for what felt a little more like a 21st birthday party. It was awesome, and it made me so happy to see Christian so happy! He’s a reserved guy but loves a good party. I discovered this when we got engaged and discussed our wedding for the first time. I wanted 25 people in Mexico… he was like, “but I want a big party with all of our friends and family.” It threw me for a real loop!

He had a great night, and it ended with one of the first year residents who is from Hawaii reluctantly teaching everyone how to hula after much begging. It’s actually a lot harder than you would think!

I’m going to be working over the weekend but C is on call and has some work to do himself… so it looks like we’ll be winding down with some laptops and Homeland. I’ll definitely be spending a few hours at the pool if it stays as sunny and warm as the weather report says it’s going to be (insert praise hands).

Any big weekend plans for you guys? And I’m almost done with season 1 of Homeland – and hooked. I know I’m really late to this game, but do you guys watch this show?

Thanks for reading and sharing! XO –

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Whole30: Days 18-31

Soooo… it’s been a minute since I shared an update on Whole30 and my progress. I shared the first post here and the second post here. Well, that’s because…

I failed this time.

We spent a weekend in February at Terranea Resort and a weekend in Palm Springs. To be frank, it was too challenging to maintain and I fell off the wagon. I thought I could do it, I even called both hotels ahead of time to see if they had mini fridges and brought some of my own fruit and snacks. BUT, a little butter in my potatoes here, a piece of flatbread there and before I knew it, I was still eating pretty healthy but definitely not Whole30-approved.

I knew I would be having the occasional wine during the month but I wanted to be totally honest (as I always try to be on CBL) that by cheating a little during our vacation, it carried into the week once I got home.

SO, this is my final update… my failure! I think some people are able to do Whole30 while traveling and kudos to you – you’re my superhero. For me, I really learned this time that this eating program can only be done when I have 30 days without travel. It adds so much stress to what can be already stressful when it comes to traveling, so I learned my boundaries.

This recipe above can be found here, and I went cheese-free and it was still so good! On to the next! Thanks so much for reading, and if you have any tips for eating well during vacationing, I’d love to hear! XO –

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Spring Break Wish List

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Can you believe it’s time to start thinking (or dreaming) about Spring Break!? That time of year where you’re ready for spring and summer pieces but it’s still a little too chilly for a full fledged beach ensemble.

I bought these shorts and have been wearing them a lot. I like them so much so that I also bought them in black! I have these earrings and these, and I wear them alllll the time (like here). This tasseled pair comes in multiple colors and looks really lightweight and comfortable. Perfect to glam up any look!

Do you have any travel plans this spring? I am heading to New York twice this month and somewhere tropical in April and May, but I’ve really enjoyed saying no to travel the past few months and staying parked in California. I really think I needed this downtime, and I haven’t felt this refreshed in quite a while. So hey – there are definitely some perks in staying home!

Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –

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Summer’s Must Have Shorts

Summer… can you hear me!? This is my last blog post from Palm Springs, and it has me so ready for warmer weather! I can’t complain about our cooler winter in California (and by “cooler” I mean 60 degrees when it’s usually 70), but a long weekend in the desert felt good on my skin.

I’ve got a sunny trip on my calendar next month, and I’ve had so much fun dreaming of swimsuits and beach bags – I’ll be sharing more soon!

In the meantime, this off the shoulder top will be in my suitcase, along with plenty of cutoff shorts like these. I’m linking another pair I recently bought and love below (I wore them here)!

photos by Ashley LaPrade

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Everday Block Heels

I couldn’t love block heels more. They are insanely more comfortable than stilettos, and I’ll always prefer a heel to a wedge. Combine a block heel with a neutral peep toe, and I’m in.

I styled these with a midi dress and moto vest (consignment store steal), but I think they’d look so cute with boyfriend jeans and a tee or off-the-shoulder sweater. They’re so versatile and more comfortable than most of my flats. Seriously! They have something called “heel rest” technology, which means the design distributes your body weight toward your heel and away from the ball of your foot. Try it for yourself and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

And if this pair isn’t your speed, Aerosoles has several block heel options that are perfect for spring, like this pair. So cute! You can check out their spring trend guide here.

photos by Vincent Elejorde

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

Brought to you by Aerosoles

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Nia Skincare

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.

photos by Vincent Elejorde

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 –

Brought to you by Nia

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Blue Maxi Dress in Palm Springs

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’)!

photos by Ashley LaPrade

dress – also available here and here and love this look for less | clutch | sunglasses | heels, similar look for less here | earrings

Thanks so much for reading! And I loved loved LOVED all your comments in yesterday’s post about mom jeans. You guys are the best! XO –

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Styling Mom Jeans in Palm Springs

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!

photos by Ashley LaPrade

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 –

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Shopbop Buy More, Save More Sale

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It’s that time of year! This week Shopbop is having its Buy More, Save More sale with code GOBIG17 and the breakdown is:

15% off orders $200+

20% off orders $500+

25% off orders $800+

This discount applies to full-price and sale items. It’s ON! I’m sharing some more of my picks below, such a great time to snag some spring pieces –

Hope you find some goodies! You know I’m shopping. Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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My Exercise Routine with Outdoor Voices

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!

photos by Vincent Elejorde

leggings, also love these | sports bra, also have and love this one | similar here | sunglasses | lips in Baci

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!

Thanks so much for reading – XO –

Brought to you by Outdoor Voices

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Pink Slip Dress

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!

photos by Vincent Elejorde

How do you feel about slip dresses? Love them or too 90’s for you (you can be honest, this is a safe space)!?

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Yellow Lace Dress

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.

photos by Vincent Elejorde

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!

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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