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!?
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!
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 –
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!
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 –
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 –
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!
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 –
This week a fab reader emailed me with a post request – the best loungewear for those who want to look put together but comfortable working from home. I LOVE this concept, and honestly I’m a little embarrassed I haven’t thought of it before now!
In her situation, she had the day off and realized before her boyfriend came over that she didn’t really have any “polished” loungewear – her options were pajamas, workout clothes or 9 to 5 pieces.
I shared here that I worked in a corporate setting for many years before working in a no dress-code workplace for a few years (insert praise hands) and ultimately working at home the past year, SO I feel like my closet has been through the shifts and changes that have come with that. It definitely took me several months of being in my pajamas until 1PM before I found my groove (and I confess sometimes that still happens when I get settled into the kitchen table with my coffee), so I’m going to spill my weekday wardrobe staples today!
STAPLES:
Leggings, fitted joggers, boyfriend jeans and/or denim shorts – these are basically on rotation. Fitted sweatpants or leggings can feel frumpy, but paired with the right top you can look cute and trendy while still staying super comfy. So that brings me to…
Crop top tees and sweaters, long v-neck tees and sweatshirts – joggers are perfect paired with a cute crop top tee and bralette. A long, comfy tee is perfect with a pair of leggings and chambray, and a cute sweatshirt can be the perfect loungy duo to a pair of distressed denim shorts.
Nikes and mules. I wear these two styles with basically everything.
With a cute ponytail or braid and some “no makeup” natural makeup, I wear these outfits almost daily, and I don’t have to be embarrassed to answer the door for the UPS guy or answer a FaceTime call.
I hope some of you found this helpful! If you have any suggestions for another roundup, I’d love to hear. Thanks so much for reading – XO –
I shared some travel diary photos with Eurostar last week here, but I am excited to finally put together a formal “Guide to Paris” for you guys based on the things that Sarah Thorne and I really enjoyed! Because I spent so much time in London recently (you can find that travel guide here), I couldn’t wait to hop on the train to France. Eurostar was so fast it took just a couple of hours before we arrived and we were ready to explore!
If you’re new to CBL, you can find a lot of the travel destinations and guides I’ve put together in the Travel section at the top of this page under “Categories.” I owe a huge thank you to my sister for helping plan our activities in Paris. Thankfully we are similar travelers which made it even easier!
Because we had both previously visited to Paris on separate trips, a lot of the main touristy things we had already done, but some we wanted to do again (like The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, etc.) because really… who can see the Eiffel too many times!? So let’s get into it –
Where We Stayed:Hotel Providence – we absolutely loved it here and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to stay in a charming boutique hotel. The breakfast was complimentary every morning and we both agreed it was the best French bread and croissants we had during our entire visit! The front desk was incredibly helpful and welcoming, not to mention the rooms and balconies were darling! Big points that it’s very close to a metro station.
Sightseeing:
Tip: I would recommend buying a Paris Museum Pass. We had them and it allowed us to skip major lines, plus you feel less guilty if you just pop into a museum for 45 minutes. If When I return to Paris, I’ll be buying one for sure!
Tip: The metro system is really amazing and we did not have to uber or taxi once. Put some $$ on a metro card and zip around town with no problem!
Tip: Metro passes can also be purchased onboard in the Eurostar bar buffet, which can save you some time!
Tip: Download the CityMapper app. It will tell you where the nearest metro stations are, which lines to get on and what side of the metro to exit. Incredibly easy and makes traveling so much more efficient and stress-free. I wish I had this when I lived in NYC!
Tip: If you do take the Eurostar to Paris during your visit, their 2-for-1 offer gives travelers 2-for-1 entry to museums and galleries across the city (including the Musée d’Orsay)!
Tip: Several museums stay open late on certain nights, which is amazing! We visited both The Louvre and Musée d’Orsay after dinner and loved utilizing that time, so be sure to check the hours of the museums you want to visit ahead of time.
Palais Royal: I had no idea how beautiful this area is. Absolutely gorgeous and more than worth a visit.
Montmartre & Sacré Coeur: My sister made sure we did this, and I was so glad she did! We took the metro there and strolled along the tourist shops along the way up to the church. There was a man on the steps playing the harp which was incredibly beautiful.
Tuileries Garden: A beautiful stroll – we walked through this area before ducking into Musée d l’Orangerie to get warm!
The Louvre: A Paris must – the Mona Lisa! Even though she’s a little underwhelming… but there is so much to see in this huge museum. It was my second visit and I was surprised at how new it felt, but that’s the beauty of museums – there is always something new to see.
Musée d’Orsay: So many of you recommended this museum and once I visited I understood why. It’s beautiful and not as intimidating as the gigantic Louvre. We loved visiting after dinner because they stay open late on certain days.
Musée de l’Orangerie: A beautiful little museum with Monet’s Water Lilies. Incredible!
Eiffel Tower: A must. You can drink wine and eat bread & cheese on the grass or stand on the balcony above and admire – whatever strikes your fancy (and whatever makes sense depending on the time of year of your visit). Extra points if you get to see it twinkle at night!
Notre Dame: A must. We lit a candle for my Catholic grandmother (she turns 90 this summer!) and enjoyed the beauty of the cathedral. Exceptional.
Eating:
Tip: Check around the restaurant at others dining. Most restaurants include tip in the bill so unlike in America, French patrons often do not tip as it is not expected. When I saw euros on other tables I would try to leave some as well!
Tip: We had a few places written down to try but we mostly used Yelp based on our location. It never let us down.
Café du Marche: Close to the Eiffel and delicious – great pasta!
Angelina’s (inside Galeries Lafayette or The Louvre): You guys said to hit up Angelina’s for hot chocolate… and you were correct. It was amazing! What I couldn’t seem to figure out was that it is inside the Galeries Lafayatte shopping area as well as (according to my online digging) The Louvre. Just a heads up! We had some pastries there and they were good but not life-changing. The hot chocolate for two however was divine!
O’Chateau: We had so much fun doing a wine tasting here and learning more about French wines and the regions of winemaking in France. You guys know that I love anything involving wine (my Napa Guide here), so it was really fun expanding my palette and knowledge.
Carette: Recommended by the fabulous photographer we worked with, Gabi Alves, this cafe is both darling and delicious. We stopped for coffee and sweets (pictured below), and we felt so Parisian, even just for a moment! A great cafe grab a coffee or tea close to the Eiffel.
Ozio: Another rec from Gabi, this was a fantastic lunch spot close to the Eiffel. The best pizza and pasta from our trip, hands down.
Le Petit Vendome: Yelp guided us to this delicious local spot after wandering around the shops at Place Vendome and it was beyond. I will admit it is not incredible service (so I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re in a rush), but absolutely amazing food!
Le Relais Gascon: This may have been my sister’s favorite meal of the trip. We ended up here after spending our morning at Montmartre (and the shops close to it), and it was a delicious stop with these salads topped with homemade potato chips. Enough said (check it out on Yelp!).
Shopping:
Tip: Be sure to check the Euro to USD price before purchasing an item to make sure you aren’t paying more than you would in the U.S..
Tip: The department stores in Paris offer the VAT (value added tax) refund in the basement of their department stores (unlike London), so be sure to do that before you leave if you’re buying a fancy something!
Printemps: A great department store with plenty of luxury everything.
Galeries Lafayette: Another gorgeous department store – where we had hot chocolate and also where I bought my Gucci belt (shared here)!
Paris Flea Market: We did this on our last day (which was a weekend day), and it was so much fun. We both got some special pieces I know we’ll cherish forever, and I felt very Carrie, even in the very cold January weather. A memory I know I’ll have forever.
Place Vendome: We actually wandered over to this area by default and it was stunning. Definitely worth a visit if you’d like to shop and stroll!
Shops along Rue des Francs Bourgeois: The darling girls at the front desk of our hotel suggested this area when we were looking for something to do on our first evening, and it was really fun! Plus I ran into the Urban Decay store and got to see my Lula on the wallpaper of the bathroom there… so you know that was extra fun for this cat lady.
Again, if you’d like to know what I would recommend doing in London, you can check that out that guide here.
While I don’t have any international plans on the docket at the moment, I’m always looking forward to what kind of travel guide I’ll be able to put together for you guys next!
Thanks so much for reading, and of course if you have any Paris favorites, of course I would love to hear! XO –
I’m excited to share a photo diary of my 2017 visit to London and Paris with Eurostar! After I returned from October’s visit to London and Amsterdam (you can find a London Guide here and an Amsterdam Guide here), I was beyond thrilled when Eurostar offered the opportunity to come back to London and take the train to Paris. A dream beyond my imagination!
When I traveled to Europe for the first time in college, we took the train to travel between Italy, Switzerland and France. It was so easy and left me incredibly jealous that getting around the U.S. isn’t as swift! On this trip, we first landed in London for a quick bit before heading to Kings Cross to explore the growing area of London. Then we quickly hopped on the Eurostar train to head to Paris. The check-in process to boarding the train took under 30 minutes, and I especially loved that you take your suitcase with you to stow away in an area on your section of the train. It makes the entire process even easier (and much faster).
In just over two hours we were arriving in Paris, and honestly it felt like 30 minutes because we were served a full lunch (including wine and dessert!) and there was complimentary wifi onboard (unlike my 8-11 hour flights). My sweet sister got to planning our day in Paris while I emailed away, and having that time to work only made the rest of our day go even smoother. We actually got so comfortable on the train that when the attendant shared we would be in Paris in 10 minutes I was like… wait, that can’t be us, we just got on the train!
The train station to our hotel was under 15 minutes, and my sister and I couldn’t get over how easy it was. This was actually her first train ride in Europe, and we are already talking about all the other places we’d like to visit. Eurostar also offers rides to Belgium (along with direct routes between London and Lyon, Avignon and Marseille in the South of France), and will soon be offering a ride to Amsterdam. If only we had that back in October – I so much prefer trains over planes!
I can’t even begin to explain what an incredible experience this was to share with my sister. I know we created lifelong memories together, and it was no surprise that she was the perfect travel companion. Of course we have taken countless trips together, but not just the two of us, so it was such a fun and special experience! I think we gave my mom and sis-in-law major FOMO though… so clearly the four of us need to plan a trip together in 2017.
If you’d like more information on what I would recommend doing in London, you can check that out here. I plan to share a full post on what we saw, ate and where we stayed while in Paris – so expect to see that next week!
And if you’re wondering where some of these outfit pieces came from you can shop most of them here.
If you follow me on Instagram… you’ve probably already seen this vest. The one I loved so much I bought it in two colors (a la Monday’s post here)!? Yeah… this is the one! I wore them both over my coats in Paris. It is so lightweight but really does provide some extra warmth.
Lucky for you guys (and me), Neiman Marcus Last Call has some amazing steals and deals, including a huge 60% off sale including clearance items and cold weather essentials starting 1/21. AND if there’s something you extra love – there are so many pieces already on major markdown. I linked a replica for this entire outfit below and every single item is reduced. I mean… yes please!
If you follow along on Instagram, Insta-Stories or Snapchat (CBLied), you probably know that I cook at home… a lot. I’ve gotten a lot of questions from you guys about certain recipes and so many of you screenshot the dishes I share SO… I thought why not try to mix in some of my favorite healthy eats a few times a month!?
I used to share more cooking posts (you can find them under the “Food & Drink” category), but I kind of slowed down because they were never my own original recipes, I was just cooking and crediting my favorite food bloggers. I’m happy to share my favorites as long as I link back to the source, so let me know what you guys think about more food and recipes and I’ll get on it!
This month I wanted to share a handful of the quick and easy dinners I’ve been making since I’ve gotten back from Europe. I definitely enjoyed plenty of baguettes and croissants, so I’m trying to go light on the carbs at home.
1. Greek Salad. I love making this for lunch, but it’s great with dinner with some seared salmon or grilled chicken. Full of fresh veggies and flavor.
2. Broccoli Rice and Shrimp “Fried Rice.” I’ve eaten this multiple times (if you follow me on Snapchat: CBLied) in the past few weeks, but it’s seriously SO yummy and really helps cure the fried rice craving I have from time to time. If you’re really counting calories ditch the cashews!
3. Chicken Nachos. I don’t even know what needs to be said besides…. YUM.
4. Garlic Parmesan Spaghetti Squash. I wasn’t as in love with spaghetti squash as everyone else seems to be… until I simplified it. This dish is just squash, butter, garlic and cheese and seriously tastes like a rich pasta without the guilt. SO GOOD!
5. Tilapia with Lemon Butter Sauce. Christian isn’t really a salmon or tilapia person, but I love keeping some tilapia in the freezer for unprepared nights because it’s so easy. I was determined to change his mind and this recipe is actually on the Trader Joe’s tilapia packaging. It is DELISH. So good that C actually said, “this tastes like it came from a restaurant.” I usually serve it with brown rice and steamed veggies. Yum!
I’ll be drumming up my favorites for February. If you have any New Year favorite dishes so far, I’d love to hear! For those of you doing Whole30, I share my experience and favorite dishes here: Week One | Week Two | Week Three | Week Four.
This little sidewalk lined with palm trees might be my favorite little part of our neighborhood. Whenever we ride our bikes from our house to the Circle, we always make sure to cruise down this part, soaking up each palm tree on each side.
Of course this time I couldn’t hop on a bike in this mini skirt from Nordstrom, but it was worth it because let’s be serious, it’s super fun! I styled a longer fringe skirt last year here, but this mini version feels young, modern and flirty, and I know I can easily carry it into summer. For a casual look, it can be paired with an easy tee and bomber or for a more dressed up look you could pair it with a sleek turtleneck and tights.
I think every girl should have a leather skirt (mini or pencil) in their closet. I have one from a consignment store in Birmingham, Alabama that I still pull out regularly!
