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!
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 –
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 –
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)!
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 –
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!
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.
– 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 –
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 –
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 –
