Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Whole30: Days 1-11

In last Friday’s post, I asked you guys if you were interested in Whole30 updates this year and was really surprised that so many of you said yes, SO here we are! Last year I covered Whole30 by a weekly breakdown (you can see all of those in the “food” category of this site), and this year I’m going to be replacing Friday’s Five with Whole30 updates for the duration of this month. Let’s get into it –

PROS:

I have a lot more energy – major perk!

I feel like a balloon that has been popped. I am always shocked at how many grains I eat on a daily basis when I take them away. Yowza!

I love having three healthy meals a day and no snacks. I’m not a snacker and this has just reminded me how much better I feel when I stick to meal times.

CONS:

I miss wine. No surprise there, you guys know I’m a major wine-o! When I have a really bad craving for it (like on Friday or Saturday night), I pour myself a small glass of organic concord grape juice. I know that technically you’re not supposed to drink juices… but I don’t have any guilt about this in times of desperation. OR I’ll pour sparkling water in a wine glass with a lime wedge. 20 minutes later, my craving has disappeared.

I find myself dreading social situations that might involve food/beverages. This is my #1 dislike of any cleanse or eating program… I don’t need any more reasons to stay home. I’m already such a homebody!

FAVORITE RECIPES…

BREAKFAST:

I made these these egg cups (I skipped the sausage and just made them veggie), and the best part about it was not having to think about breakfast. Definitely plan on pre-cooking recipes for weekday mornings. So easy.

I tried the Whole30 method of cooking bacon in the oven (375 on an aluminum lined baking sheet for 15 minutes) and found it SO much easier than the skillet. Small victories!

I made this frittata (pictured above) and it was really good and a nice change after eating the same thing for breakfast for a week.

I’ve started making bulletproof coffee. So far I really love it because I feel like it gives me more energy. I’m going to try to stick with it!

LUNCH:

I made my own mayo for chicken salad. I prefer chicken salad with greek yogurt over mayo, but for the time being this will have to work! I also add walnuts or almonds to this recipe. I put a couple spoonfuls on a bed of lettuce or wrap them up in lettuce wraps.

I like to buy this salsa from Trader Joes and add green onions and red onions to it to make it chunkier. Basically I’m trying to recreate my favorite salsa from our local Mexican restaurant and it works pretty well! I’ll eat it with plantain chips (or add it to a veggie egg scramble), and I’ll have some grilled chicken or protein on the side for lunch. One might say I am addicted to this salsa.

This is the best egg salad recipe (I also shared it last year here), and I like to have it cold with leftover roasted finglerling potatoes.

DINNER:

I made this spaghetti squash and meat sauce and ate it off and on for nights when Christian worked late. I also tried it on zucchini noodles and it was delish.

This is always a weeknight go to recipe for me – fried “rice” without the grains and with waaayyy less calories (ditch the soy sauce if you’re on Whole30).

I made this shrimp recipe and put it on top of cauliflower rice. Really good.

That’s about it for now! I’ll share another update next Friday.

Let me know if you have questions or recommendations! My girlfriend Marissa of Style Cusp has done Whole30 multiple times and does a great job of sharing it on her site too. You can view her most recent post about it here. Thanks so much for reading and have a great weekend – XO –

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8 Date Night Outfit Ideas

Hot Pink Dress – dress – on sale! | bag, similar look for less here | boots

Pink Accessories – scarf | top | denim | boots | bag

Sleek – top | similar skirt | duster cardigan, also love this one | bag, similar look for less here | heels

Pink Metallic Bomber Jacket – similar bomber here and here | similar tee here | similar cutoff shorts | bag

Blush off the Shoulder Top – similar top here – 40% off | similar denim here | heels | bag

Lace LBD – dress – on sale | bag | heels

Velvet Wrap Dress – dress – 40% off, similar styles here and here | heels – 50% off

Coral Jersey Dress – dress | bag

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought I would share some outfits that I would totally wear on a little date night with C. Some scream pink, others are a little more subtle!

Do you have your outfit picked out? Or your gifts picked? I shared a gift guide for her here and for him here, so if you’re still looking for some ideas I hope that can provide some inspo.

Thanks so much for reading, and be sure to check in tomorrow for my first Whole30 update! XO –

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Valentine’s Day PINK Hot Chocolate Recipe

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share a sweet recipe that feels oh-so-appropriate for this time of year – pink hot cocoa!

After date night, it’s nice to have a little something to end the night with. Most times this is another glass of red wine for me, but Christian would definitely pick sugar over alcohol, so that’s inspired this idea. I’m not going to like… I think I’m going to make all my hot chocolate pink from now on. It’s just real cute!

Pink Hot Cocoa Recipe (for two):

3 cups almond milk

1 cup white chocolate chips

1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 to 1 teaspoon red food coloring

Whipped Cream, Marshmallows, sprinkles for topping

Directions:

Combine the milk and chocolate chips in a saucepan. Whisk until chocolate chips are completely melted. Stir in the vanilla extract and then add a small drop of food coloring, building until you find your desired shade of pink! Pour into mugs, load with toppings and don’t worry if some spills out – it adds to the fun (but that’s why a saucer isn’t a bad idea)!

Any home decor that wasn’t link is because it’s an antique or not available online!

And of course – do you have any dessert recipes in mind for Valentine’s? I’m always looking for new things to try. Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: For Him

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

I shared some of my favorite girly V-Day picks last week here, but of course we have to remember the dudes. My dad’s birthday is actually the day before Valentine’s, so I’ve had my eye on some guy gifts!

Per usual, Christian actually owns most of these things. His two favorite dude skincare brands are this one and this one, so I always know that a replenished stock is well received. I bought him these for Christmas and he always wears them around the house. I got him this bag for work last year for his birthday and he uses it all the time, and I’ve been trying to get him to wear these sunnies but he won’t break his wayfarer habit!

Of course, I think the best gift any guy could get is a home cooked meal and/or a great dessert. If I know Christian – this is definitely the case for him. He has a sweet tooth like no other!

If you have an dude gift suggestion – I’d love to hear. I’m always looking for new ideas!! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Lace Up Maxi Dress

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, sometimes you want to have a great date night dress that isn’t red or pink, you know what I mean? I never want to be one of 10 girls in a restaurant wearing red (the same way I usually try to wear something other than black to weddings)… or is that just me!?

When I saw this dress, I thought it could be the perfect pick. It’s a jersey-blend, a maxi that would work equally well with sandals in the spring with lace up details that add a little something extra. Plus… it’s currently 40% off! Add a pop of pink with some fun earrings, and you’re set!

photos by Vincent Elejorde

dress (runs true to size) – 40% off! Also love this one, this one and this one (under $40) | heels, similar look for less here | sunglasses | earrings

Do you guys have reservations or set plans for Valentine’s Day this year? I know it’s during the week, so maybe you’re waiting until Friday to celebrate?

We have a little weekend getaway planned… will be sharing the deets soon! It’s somewhere that has been recommended to us and after wanting to go for some time, we finally made plans.

Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Friday’s Five

– finding some palms at the grocery store (mom tells me this is fatsia) and hoping they’ll live forever (I wish it was easier to find them!) –

– excited to try this new shampoo/conditioner from Function of Beauty that you can customize to your current hair and hair goals! –

– rearranging our kitchen bar cart –

– planting paper whites that my sis-in-law bought me, looking forward to watching them grow!

– a special surprise from my friends at Tecovas, I love these suede boots! –

Happy Friday! I hope you guys have some fun plans this weekend. I’ll be spending some time in LA for some events as well as playing with my nephews. I haven’t spent much time with them since Christmas and I feel like they’re growing so quickly (I know that sounds so cliché but I mean it)!

I started Whole30 on Tuesday… which I definitely had no been planning on doing! I have been sleeping really poorly since I returned home from Paris, despite trying sleepytime teas, essential oils, etc.. I really don’t want to be taking medicine each night to sleep and we don’t have any major travel plans coming up, so I thought I would return to this eating program and see how it goes. I’m a little less strict because I know what foods cause inflammation for me already thanks to this experiment last year, but I’m going to stick with it as best as possible (this means on our two weekend trips we have I will probably cheating with my favorite thing… red wine!).

Last year I did Whole30 and shared weekly pros/cons with you guys (you can see them all in the food category), and if you would be interested in hearing about the recipes and so on this time around, let me know! Honestly, so far it has been 10x easier than last year because we kept up a lot of the eating habits and I know the “rules” already. It’s eating out that’s the struggle, so I’m just trying to avoid dining out as much as possible.

SO, if you would like to hear more about this year’s journey, let me know what format you like best – weekly, recipe shares only or even just a final recap of changes, favorite recipes, etc. I know it seems like everyone is on Whole30 this time of year, so I certainly don’t want to exhaust your eyes if you’re over it. I get it!

I hope you guys have a great weekend! As always, thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: For Her

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

Color me pink and red – hello February! I actually got engaged three days after Valentine’s Day, but Christian picked up and paid for the engagement ring on Valentine’s Day – isn’t that funny? Poor guy had to then go buy me flowers and candy so I wouldn’t get suspicious! God bless.

We don’t really go all out for Valentine’s because it is so closely after Christmas, but it’s always fun to give a small something. It’s such a cute holiday whether you’re in a relationship or single. Some of my favorite V-Day memories were chick flicks and heart shaped pizzas with my roommates in college!

Above are some of my favorite girly picks. This glass holds one entire bottle of wine… which is amazing. This little pouch is maybe the cutest thing ever, and I think these sneakers are adorable and would great with everything this spring and summer.

Do you have Valentine’s Day traditions? I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Styling Stripes

I think we all love some stripes. You can wear them so many different ways, and a great striped dress or sweater can be worn all year round. When I’m looking for a staple closet item, Nordstrom is one of my first stops because they have a little bit over everything in every price point.

I purchased my first pair of Vince shoes from Nordstrom a year or two ago and have nearly worn them into the ground. They are so versatile, as I find so many of their pieces, and my only regret is not getting them in a second color!

When I saw this sweater, I knew it would be a splurge but a a piece that I would wear season after season. Did I mention it’s crazy soft!?

photos by Vincent Elejorde

What’s your favorite striped piece in your closet? Tell me… because I know you have one!

Thanks so much for reading – XO –

Brought to you by Nordstrom

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Stuart Weitzman OTK Dupes

I hinted to these on Instagram here and here, but I have officially found (what I think) is the best dupe for the Stuart Weitzman Highland Boots! I have the Lowland (styled here) and the Highstreet boots (before the heel changed, styled here), both in black. The black was worth the investment to me, but I was on the hunt for a similar pair in grey but without the price tag. When I spotted this pair, I had to buy them to see the comparison for myself.

I actually bought this heeled pair in grey and the flat pair in taupe. They’re under $100, the material is nearly identical, the stay up exactly the same (I think the shaft is actually a little taller). I do think the actual Stuart Weitzman’s are more comfortable… but I suppose you get what you pay for!

SO if you are in love with the style and want to try a lower price point before taking the plunge, I really think this is your pair!

photos by Vincent Elejorde

There are definitely a lot of similar styles out there, and I also bought these and styled them in this post, but they’re not nearly as comfortable in my opinion.

Thanks so much for reading! I’d love to hear what you think – or if you’ve found a better dupe! XO –

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Cozy Boots

I’ve been using this slow January month to get a little more organized, and when going through some of my December photos I found more of this look that was so dreamy with these bright orange leaves, so I wanted to share them on the blog!

I’ve fully embraced cozy mode the past few weeks, and these boots are a little piece of magic, especially early in the morning when I’m taking Bailey out. I feel like the minute I take her off the leash she goes as physically far as she possibly can which leaves me in these boots + my pajamas + my robe climbing through yards of wet grass (any of you real mom are probably rolling your eyes right now, of which you are completely allowed), but flip flops won’t cut it when it’s cold!

I dream of a fenced in backyard. Dream!

photos by Vincent Elejorde

And I’m officially missing these bright orange leaves. All the trees around us are nearly bare! #SeasonalDepression – although I don’t think Californians are allowed to say that.

Thanks so much for reading and happy Monday babes! XO –

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Friday’s Five

– two of my favorite skincare products right now, this exfoliant and this daytime moisturizer –

– the yummiest candle for nights in from my Zoe Report Box of Style –

– I don’t think they make heels prettier than these! –

– using my Paris market souvenir, this sweet little silver vase –

– the best goody box from Aveda –

Welcome to the weekend! This week has been somewhat of a slow crawl for me… but something about this January cold and rain, I’m fine with it.

I did have a really fun wine and apps event at Balboa Bay’s Waterline Restaurant on Wednesday to promote their new wine tasting program, and it was really fun to have a reason to get dressed up and hang with the girls again. Not to mention you guys know that I’ll taste wines all day, any day. I didn’t realize how holed up I had been at home until I saw everyone again and it was really nice!

Thanks to those of you who attended the sample sale at The Stylist LA last weekend – I was so excited to hear how succesful it was! It was great encouragement to clean out my closet – which everyone should try to do to kick off the new year, so if you haven’t yet, I highly encourage you to dig deep in your own closet this weekend.

Other than that, we have a quiet little January over in the Barnes house. I think I need to get into a TV binge mode this weekend to accompany some dresser drawer clean-outs. I’m torn between Netflix’s The OA or to try to watch some of the Oscar-nominated movies… we’re talking big life decisions over here (I kid, I kid). C and I loved La La Land and want to see Manchester By the Sea, Jackie and Nocturnal Animals. Who’s seen Hidden Figures? I’ve heard mixed reviews but I adore Octavia Spencer, so it’s also on my list.

Hope y’all have a fabulous and relaxing weekend! Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Styling Navy and Black

I admit I was late to jump on the navy train… but now I can’t get enough! Similar to the “no white denim after Labor Day” rule that’s been tossed out the window, so has the fear of pairing navy and black together.

I’ll admit, I had to see pieces like this vest that did the initial work for me, but I think when you’re pairing large pieces together (ex: a sweater and denim, a vest and a dress, etc.), they totally work. This vest is a few years old, but I thought it would be a great layering piece in Paris and I loved how it peeked out from underneath my coat. But then again… when you’re standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, doesn’t anything look good!?

This is a great time to stock up on a pretty outerwear piece because almost everything seems to be marked down. Jackpot!

photos by Gabi Alves

I loved your comments on Monday’s Guide to Paris post. Now I have a few more things to try the next time I visit!

I’m also planning to dedicate a post to my favorite spots in Orange County, as it’s a question I seem to be getting several times a week, so stay tuned for that. Thanks so much for reading and sharing! XO –

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Explore The Blog

Shop Around

Whole30: Days 1-11

8 Date Night Outfit Ideas

Valentine’s Day PINK Hot Chocolate Recipe

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: For Him

Lace Up Maxi Dress

Friday’s Five

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: For Her

Styling Stripes

Stuart Weitzman OTK Dupes

Cozy Boots

Friday’s Five

Styling Navy and Black