lilly pulitzer resort collection 2013

the only thing that makes a rainy monday better? the online release of the lilly pulitzer 2013 resort collection! i. want. it. all. if only i had a bank account that would allow me to do that! luckily for me though, my birthday and christmas are just around the corner so lilly will certainly be making the wish list! this collection has miss lilly p.'s signature bright colors and bold prints, in styles that are ready for travel! fingers are crossed that i will get to wear some pieces on my spring break cruise with my mama (which i am already counting down the days to)! here are some of my favorites from the first delivery of resort 2013!

stefani dress

wilda caftan

carleigh tunic dress

middleton palazzo pant and rose top

how fabulous are these?! i am in love with everything which makes it even harder to choose favorites! once again lilly never fails to disappoint!

my monday so far hasn't been terrible. i have two more classes this afternoon then meeting tonight which is thankfully informal. hopefully it won't last too long since i have three tests this week and some homework assignments i really need to work on. if we could fast forward to friday at about 1:15, my life would be great. this weekend is one of my best friend's 21st birthday parties and mom and dad are coming into knoxville so i can't wait to see them! hope everyone has a happy monday and a good rest of the week!

xoxo,
clp

bama weekend recap

well, bama weekend is said and done. it definitely was some of the most fun i have had in college and there's a reason they say to roadtrip with your best friends to atleast one away game. and Alabama's campus was quite impressive to say the least. their fraternity row is jaw-dropping and the gameday atmosphere at the quad is unlike anything i have ever experienced. also, as a bonus, i even got to see Phillip and his friends at the game!to our surprise, all the bama fans were really friendly! i will say i don't have to hear "roll tide" for quite some time though. however, i will say nothing compares to the tradition of our Tennessee way of tailgating. and even though the vols lost, we all still had a lot of fun. between belting songs in the car and conversations that were too much to handle, there was a memory made every minute. 

this weekend's gameday outfit was either between the glorious checkerboard overalls or a jersey and boots. i went with the jersey, leggings and cowboy boots especially since it was number 16's jersey. i completed the outfit with my new power T studs and i was gameday ready! 

the weekend itself flew by and now i am back in knoxy getting ready for a week full of studying after I catch up on some sleep. spending this weekend with my best friends and sisters (9 of us in one hotel room - just imagine what that looked like) is something that I will remember forever! 

xoxo,
clp

all pumpkin everything, throwback thursday & a recipe

y'all! i have had over 10,000 pageviews! what a milestone for me! i just want to start out by saying thank you so much to my readers! because of you, i can do this! please continue to read and share with your friends!

since its thursday, that means its throwback time! once again, its a halloween throwback featuring two of my favorite people in the whole wide world! i don't know what i would do without my Gerhart girls who i have known since birth!

i am on the biggest pumpkin kick ever! pumpkin coffee, pumpkin crepes, pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin brownies and tonight was pumpkin pasta and pumpkin cookies! pumpkin boasts health benefits too! it has loads of vitamin A, fiber, and vitamin C as well as many other nutrients. tonight for supper i wanted some non-traditional, savory pasta so i decided to try out a recipe for pumpkin sauce that i found online at Created By Diane. i plan on serving it over whole wheat shells with maple chicken apple sausage and a side salad. also, i already made up some cookie dough for later on. pumpkin for dinner and for dessert! these cookies are yummy and healthy and the dough can be refrigerated so you only have to cook your desired amount at a time! 

pumpkin oat cookies

1 1/4 c oat flour (or 1.5 cups oats ground in blender until flour consistency)

1/4 cup Splenda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp pumpkin spice

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder 

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup pumpkin puree 

3 tbsp egg whites 

dark chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, nuts, craisins or other mix-ins of choice

1. preheat the oven to 350 degrees. spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
2. in medium size bowl, mix together wet ingredients (applesauce, pumpkin and egg whites). add in the dry ingredients and mix well. stir in mix-ins of choice. 
3. scoop 1/8 cup or 2 tbsp of dough into each muffin tin. these cookies don't spread so mold them to fit the muffin tin. bake for 10 minutes or until set. 

(slightly adapted from Dashing Dish)

some other pumpkin recipes i am dying to try are:

• Skinny Pumpkin Pancakes
• Pumpkin Quinoa Risotto
• Slow-cooker Pumpkin Sausage Chili
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
• Low Calorie Pumpkin Cream Muffins

tomorrow begins Bama Weekend and i am so excited! i crossed most everything off my to-do list and we are Bama Bound the minute everyone is out of class. lucky for me, my one class got cancelled tomorrow so i can be ready whenever! pictures and stories are to come i'm sure! go vols! 

xoxo,

clp 

november j. crew favorites

i really think j. crew plans their collection releases for AFTER i visit the store in green hills. just last week i was in there to meet with katie and get some fall pieces and guess what was released today? the november collection. oh well, i still got some fab pieces from the line that katie had pulled for me and i do have christmas coming up. she also gave me a copy of the november style guide which i swooned over the whole ride home from nashville. it is amazing. it reminds me of the old j. crew from several years back, the reason i fell in love with the brand. don't get me wrong, there is very little j. crew has done that i don't like but this catalog really impressed me. fall is probably my favorite fashion season and j. crew hit the nail on the head, as usual. here are some of my favorite looks from the catalog and just online, which you can see also on j. crew's november style guide sneak peek pinterest board!

toothpick jean in velvet dot

necklace sweatshirt

houndstooth chiffon shirtdress

popover in navy foulard

colorblock silk foulard blouse

secretary blouse

stretchy toothpick jean

this morning i had the most wonderful oatmeal. not kidding at all. i got it the other day at williams-sonoma (i am a 50 year old at heart and it is one of my favorite stores). i am all about pumpkin lately so when i saw the pumpkin nut flavor i just had to try it. it comes blended with pumpkin, nuts and warm spices so all you have to do is add liquid and toppings of choice! today, i made mine with unsweetened vanilla almond milk and topped it with a sliced banana and some pomegranate seeds. to die for and a healthy, filling breakfast choice!

williams-sonoma quick cooking steel-cut oatmeal

to say i am a little overwhelmed is an understatement. there is so much going on in the next two weeks and my planner looks like a pink pen threw up all over it. to top it off, yesterday i cracked my phone screen (i had made it almost 4 years without breaking it) and registering for classes didn't go as smoothly as imagined. however, today i planned out what i need to get done and am starting to cross things off my list which is making me feel better! unfortunately, i have three tests next week so i am working on getting all homework done before i leave for alabama friday so next week i can focus solely on studying! i'll be needing lots of luck next week on my tests! hope you enjoyed some of my favorites from the november style guide and happy wednesday!

xoxo,
clp

staying healthy this season

even though this is my favorite time of year, it can be quite a challenge to stay healthy. between tailgates and watching games on tv, parties and holiday treats everywhere, my self-control is tested constantly. i am a sucker for sweets and some are just too hard to resist. so how do i stay healthy during this wonderful time of year? here are some simple tips that i follow to make sure i don't overdo it!

1. plan ahead: if know that only unhealthy food is going to be offered somewhere, i plan on eating something beforehand or fixing my own food and taking it with me if acceptable. if the party is one that everyone gets to bring something, i try to make sure mine is a healthy option rather than an unhealthy one. it also guarantees that there will be something there that i can eat. 
2. don't skip workouts: this time of year gets busier every day and sometimes you may think skipping a workout is the only way to get everything done. don't do it! make time for yourself to workout, even if it means getting up earlier or putting off something that really can wait. you will feel better and you won't stress about missing a workout.
3. go for the fruit and veggies: fruit and veggie plates are my best friend. fruits and veggies are going to fill you up, not out. just avoid ones that have "loaded," "fried," or any other unhealthy adjectives coming before them. i like to use veggies as dippers instead of chips. its an easy way to save a few extra calories. pair veggies with hummus or cheese and you have a great snack with nutrients and protein. 
4. use a small plate: the smaller the plate, the less you can fill it with. i'm not saying to eat on tea saucers but using an appetizer plate at the buffet is a lot better than loading up a full-size dinner plate just because you still had room. you'll only fill your plate with what you really want instead of getting a little bit of everything. 
5. watch your liquid calories: all those holiday cocktails have sugary calories that come with the buzz. and don't think shots don't either and remember that each can of beer has carbs and calories. i personally would rather eat my calories than drink them so i stick to coffee, skim, almond or low-fat milk, fresca, sweet tea with splenda, club soda with a twist or just plain old water. one drink has the possibility of costing you up to a whole meal's worth of calories but won't provide with the fullness factor of an actual meal. 
6. if you do overdo it, don't fret. once the damage is done, its done and you just have to move on. don't starve yourself or over work yourself at the gym. just realize your mistake, get a good normal workout in, eat a normal meal and move on. whats past is past. 
7. get a good night's sleep: the less you sleep, the more you eat. when you're awake, your body requires energy which it gets from food. so, when you only sleep 4 hours instead of 8, that's an extra 4 hours of energy your body needs. also, late-night snacking isn't always healthy snacking either. a good 7-8 hours of sleep is what everyone should aim for, regardless of the time of year.
8. remember it is the holiday season. you can splurge some! you would drive yourself crazy if you didn't indulge every so often. so, eat the cupcake, drink the punch and be on your merry way! the biggest thing is just to be aware of what is going into your body. by being aware, you will realize what is okay to have and what isn't okay to have. 

the monday back after being home is always a little rough. mine was a bit dysfunctional to say the least. i couldn't remember anything and i think i tripped every time i got up to walk... struggles. i also realized how much i had going on this week between alpha chi, classes and going to Bama this weekend and am a little bit overwhelmed. however, if i put my mind to it and don't let myself stress out and stay healthy, i know i can get through it! nonetheless, i wouldn't trade my break at home for anything. it was absolutely perfect and as i have said before, i have my parents to thank for that. they are truly the best parents a girl could ask for. fall break was a nice break from reality and i am already looking forward to going home next month for my birthday weekend! 

xoxo, 

clp  

fall break adventures: day 4 & a recipe

today i only left the house to make a grocery store run and it was great. it was nice to just stay at home today after going to nashville and franklin the past two days!

saturday started with pumpkin spice crepes, slighty adapted from SkinnyTaste. phillip and dad drove up to knoxville for the day for the game so i decided to make mom and i a fall breakfast! they were light and filling and we had some bananas and raspberries on the side!

pumpkin spiced crepes

1.5 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk

2 egg whites

1 egg

1 tsp oil 

1 tsp vanilla

1 c whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

non-stick cooking spray

greek yogurt cream cheese, pumpkin butter, etc., for filling

1. blend all ingredients except filling in blender. 
2. heat a non-stick pan and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
3. pour 1/4 cup crepe batter into pan, swirling pan to make crepe thin and smooth. cook until bottom is golden brown. flip and cook until golden brown. repeat with remaining crepe mixture.
4. to serve, spoon filling of choice into center of crepe. fold each edge of crepe over filling and roll. serve seam side down and warm! 

i could have gone to the UT game today but decided to watch it from the comfort of my couch at home instead with our gas logs on! mawsie came over to watch the game and we had our own at-home tailgate while we watched the game. megan also stopped by to visit which was perfect! i loved the orange on orange uniforms that UT wore today! AND WE WON. words cannot explain my excitement!

after the game i ran to publix (since they don't have stores in knoxville). mom and i then tag-teamed supper and it was beyond delish. we made creamy mashed cauliflower, roasted acorn squash with shallots and rosemary and roasted pork tenderloin with apples! it was the perfect fall meal.

it was nice today just staying at home and relaxing. unfortunately, tomorrow it is back to reality and back to knoxville. i guess fall break did have to come to an end but it went by far too fast. i have had so much fun spending time with my parents and brother. i am so thankful that i am so close with them. hope everyone has had a lovely weekend so far and that you enjoy your sunday! go vols!

xoxo,
clp

fall break adventures: day 3

can we just rename fall break 2013 to fall food fest 2013? i feel like all i have done is eat! this morning was great though because i got to go to my favorite workout class at the MAC, body pump! i had missed it so much and really enjoyed the workout for a nice change! i also got my haircut today after two months too long! i really like the shorter length she cut it to and the angled style!

after my haircut, mom and i went to The Puffy Muffin for lunch, one of our favorites! i had my usual summer salad: pimento cheese on tomato with fresh fruit! they have some of the best pimento cheese i think. we then shopped at our favorite little boutique next door, Hot Pink, and then went to downtown Franklin and shopped around there some as well. as trip to Franklin would not be complete without getting cupcakes from IveyCake. i don't know how she does it, but they are the best. i got my usual "i do" flavor and stepped outside my cupcake comfort zone and got the spiced apple for tomorrow night! for supper tonight, we are making Eggplant Rollatini from SkinnyTaste with a salad. it is in the oven right now and it smells so good!

today turned out to be a gorgeous fall day. i love all the pumpkins and fall decorations and i think our house looks absolutely perfect! i love the stacked pumpkins and especially the cotton ball wreath.

happy fall friday y'all! 

xoxo, 

clp

fall break adventures: day 2 & 2 recipes

what a wonderful thursday! day 2 of fall break was nothing short of perfect!

for breakfast, we had crockpot steel cut apple oatmeal! it is so easy, ready for you when you wakeup, delicious and filling! it also makes the house smell wonderful! i topped mine with half a banana and some walnuts but really anything goes!

overnight crockpot apple oats

2 c steel cut oats

4 cups water

2 large apples, sliced and diced

cinnamon, to taste

non-stick cooking spray

1. spray crockpot with non-stick cooking spray.
2. combine all ingredients in crockpot.
3. set on low for 8 hours. 

*half of the recipe serves about 3 people. the recipe above makes a lot!

after breakfast, i had a much-needed beautify-ing appointment then mom, phillip and i were off the green hills! i said the mothership was calling me home! we had lunch at The Southern and it was beyond good! i had the grilled portobello mushroom with butternut squash, phillip had a burger topped with pimento cheese and mom had a shrimp BLT. we all cleaned our plates! 

tory burch sweater, AG jeggings, j. crew mcalister boots, 

long champ le pliage expandable tote

after lunch, we headed to the mall and did some shopping! i met with my favorite person ever, my personal stylist at j. crew, katie! katie is always so helpful and she helped me pick out some great fall outfits! we hit up hill center and whole foods before heading back to murfreesboro.

for supper, we had put white and chicken chili in the crockpot before we left and daddy made some cornbread while we were on our way home. it really hit the spot since today felt so fall-ish. 

white bean and chicken chili

2 cans white beans, rinsed and drained

4 c low-sodium chicken broth

1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 whole chicken breasts (about 3 lbs)

1 tsp each salt and pepper

2 onions, chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 4 oz can green chiles

1 4 oz can diced jalepenos

1 c water

1 tbsp cumin

1. place beans and broth in slow cooker. 
2. warm oil in skillet. sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and cook until brown. transfer chicken to plate and drain fat from skillet. add onions and garlic; cook until softened. add onion mixture, chilies, jalepenos, water and cumin and chicken to slow cooker. stir. 
3. cook on low for 6 hours. remove chicken and shred, then return to slow cooker. 
4. serve. 

tomorrow, mom and i have another fun-filled day planned that i am looking forward to! needless to say i am exhausted tonight after our long day in nashville! 

xoxo,

clp 

fall break adventures: day 1 & a recipe

i guess today is technically day 1 of fall break and thank the good lord almighty that it is finally here! it officially started for me at exactly 1:01, the minute my finance class let out. i fueled up with coffee and then i was murfreesboro bound for the next 4 days! this semester has been great, but they don't lie when they say junior year is stressful and hard. fall break couldn't have come at a better time!

it was almost like christmas morning when i got home. i have ordered quite a few things and had them shipped home and my room was starting to look like santa's workshop! its sad how much fun i had opening the packages and everything fit so that was fantastic! also, mom and dad had the house all decorated for fall and halloween and it looked great! i love seasonal decorations!

next on my list of things to do when i got home was to make some pumpkin apple bread! mom and i have both been dying to make some so i decided i would have some waiting on her when she got home from work! the house smelled wonderful as it baked!

pumpkin apple bread

1.5 c whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp baking soda

3 egg whites

1/4 c Splenda brown sugar

1 c pumpkin puree

1/4 c plain greek yogurt

1/2 c unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp pumpkin spice

1 apple, sliced and diced

1/4 c crushed walnuts (optional)

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray one loaf pan with cooking spray.
2. in a large bowl, mix flour and baking soda.
3. in a medium bowl, mix egg whites and brown sugar. add pumpkin, yogurt, applesauce and spices until mixed well. 
4. mix wet batter with flour mixture until combined, but make sure not to over mix.
5. stir in apples. 
6. evenly pour batter into loaf pan. sprinkle walnuts on top of batter.
7. bake 50-60 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. 

(slightly adapted from Peanut Butter and Peppers)

hopefully, i will post about my fall break adventures every step of the way and share them with you! today hasn't too exciting but i am so happy to be at home with my family and even my cat! by the way, today being october 16th only means one thing: ONE  MONTH UNTIL MY BIRTHDAY! let the countdown begin!

xoxo,
clp

L'Amour Fou, recipe & OOTD

for my fashion and culture retail class, we were asked to watch L'Amour Fou and then write a brief reflection on it. usually movies assigned by professors are miserable, but this one was not. the movie is about the late, great, fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent as told by his lover and business partner, Pierre Bergé. it tells of the struggles of Laurent, as well as providing insight into his personal life that he kept very private while he was alive. i warn you that the movie is in french, though it is not hard to follow with subtitles. i found the movie to be almost sad at the conclusion because you can see how much love Bergé had for YSL, the individual and the brand and how the company had become such an integral part of his life.

i am strange in the fact that i love movies/documentaries about the fashion world. they often show sides of the industry that one doesn't know about and being the fashion lover that i am, i love gaining new knowledge about the industry that is such an essential part of our lives. some other movies that  encourage you to watch are The September Issue, Coco Before Chanel, Bill Cunningham: New York and even The Devil Wears Prada. Next on my must-see list is Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's, which is all about the "house that fashion built."

it is still unseasonably warm here which continues to put me at a loss for what to wear. all i want to wear is tights, scarves and boots but i think i would suffer from heat stroke if i did that. still, i feel like i can't wear certain clothes because it is october and i would look out of place like i thought it was august. today i had to dress business casual for an internship information session. i wore a jeweled tank and then dressed it down with simple black pants. for a pop of pattern, i slid on my leopard flats. just in case, i grabbed my j. crew downtown field jacket in case the room was chilly. the outfit was simple but still had interesting details.

j. crew jeweled shell, j. crew pixie pants, kate spade leopard flats

kate spade bow bangle, michael kors tortoise watch

kate spade leopard flats

though i didn't plan for it to be, today ended up being a meatless monday. i encourage you to go meatless one day a week. it both helps with weight management and loss and also saves money! this week i am trying to eat my leftovers and just use what i have on hand before i leave for break so tonight for dinner i came up with this recipe. i threw some things together in a skillet and it turned out to be a great breakfast-for-dinner meal!

fall southwestern salsa grits breakfast bowl

1/4 c grits

1 c water

1 c cubed butternut squash

1/2 c kale

1/2 c black beans 

sliced bell peppers
jalepeno, chopped

chopped onion

cilantro

cumin, red pepper, to taste 

1/4 c pumpkin salsa (mine is from Fresh Market), plus more for serving

1. in a medium sauce pan, bring water to boil. add in grits and stir occasionally. once grits have absorbed almost all the water, reduce heat to low and stir in salsa. 
2. meanwhile, in a skillet, sauté butternut squash, kale, black beans, sliced bell peppers, cilantro, cumin and onion until cooked through. 
3. to serve, put grits in bowl then top with beans, kale and squash mixture. 
4. top with cheese, avocado and additional salsa. 

fall break is literally less than two days away and it seems like time is crawling by! this girl just wants to get home and see her mama, daddy and brother! i am even missing my cat a little bit! i have so much that i want to do that i am not sure i will be able to get it all done but we will see! happy monday to all and to all a good night!

xoxo,
clp

my kate spade addiction & barre3

i love love love kate spade. her quirky designs and sayings, glitter and bright colors are everything i could ask for. i love that her motto is "live colorfully," something i strive to do. from her accessories to her home and gifts line to her clothing collections, there is nothing i can't take my eyes off of. this season, kate spade has teamed up once again with keds to deliver the cutest collection i have ever seen. i jumped on the pair of glitter keds before even asking permission to get them (thanks mom!) because i knew they would sell out if i waited.

keds x kate spade new york champion glitter

kate spade also is finally releasing a gifts and accessories line in partnership with Lifeguard Press, who also has a line with Lilly Pulitzer that i am obsessed with. i have been anxiously awaiting the release of the kate spade collection and i finally found some of it online at Swoozie's (this site is great - tons of great gifts and holiday decorations at any price range). i may or may not have made a few impulse purchases because i just couldn't resist...

reusable tote - to add to my collection! 

cat mask - perfect for halloween! 

great gatsby notebook - for jotting down notes!

bookmarks - one for me, one for mama! 

how adorable is everything?! if you can't tell, i am in a major shopping mood, which is unfortunate since i am a full-time student with no part-time job. somehow, i keep finding a reason why i just have to have something! also, i am already starting to brainstorm christmas gifts! i feel like i have more gifts than usual to buy this year and there are only 73 days until christmas so its time to start shopping! i may even do some DIY gifts this year. last year phillip and i did stockings for mom and dad and we are continuing the tradition this year so i am already starting to get ideas for that!

i went to my first barre3 class today and loved it! it was such a nice break from cardio and i know i got a workout because my legs were shaking during class. as the instructor said, "if its not shaking, its not changing!" i will definitely be feeling it tomorrow! you may be wondering what barre3 is exactly. 

"barre3 evolves the dancer's workout by combining the grace of the ballet barre with the wisdom of yoga and strength of pilates. barre3 workouts are set to an upbeat soundtrack and follow a vigorous pace moving through a sequence of postures designed to shape and lift the entire body." 

-barre3

i really liked the class and will be going again. they told me a studio is opening up in nashville soon and i know there is barre11 in murfreesboro that i will have to try out. i can already tell i am going to be feeling my workout tomorrow! 

tonight is family dinner night! we are having my crockpot chicken tacos with guacamole and black beans! i am so excited to spend some time with my little and grandlittle! and since i have been putting it off all day, i now get to work on finance flashcards to begin preparing for the next test because i know it will be a doozy. after dinner, i have clean sheets and a good book to crawl into bed with and no alarm set for the morning! happy saturday! 

xoxo,

clp  

a chili and cornbread kind of night

fall weather finally showed up this week which means one thing: its time to make some chili. there are very few things that represent fall more than a bowl of chili and a slice of cornbread do. since chili feeds a crowd, i invited my favorites over to help me eat it! this recipe is my brother's recipe and it is my favorite red chili recipe! he always surprises us when he breaks out his chef hat and makes us something that is delicious! of course, i made granny's cornbread to accompany the chili!

phillip's chili

1-1.5 lbs lean ground beef

1 chopped onion

1 can Rotel Chili Fixins

2 cans no-salt added petite diced tomatoes

1 can dark kidney beans, drained

1 can light kidney beans, drained

1 can chili beans, NOT drained

1/2-1 can water

1 tbsp cocoa (optional, but encouraged!)

1 tbsp sugar (i used Splenda)

2 tsp each cumin and ground red pepper

at least 3 tbsp chili powder

salt and pepper, to taste

1. brown ground beef and chopped onion together. 
2. put in large pot or crockpot.add remaining ingredients to pot and let simmer on stove or cook on low in crock-pot for 6-8 hours.
3. serve hot with toppings of choice!

i am so happy kaitlin, alivia, kellan and lauren came into my life. before i found them and others, i didn't really have a "group" of close friends in alpha chi. i know i can depend on any of my sisters for anything, but these particular girls have become my best friends. i don't know where i would be, certainly not at UT, if it weren't for this group of girls that have become such a part of my life. i have changed quite a bit since i left for college, as i think everyone does, and my group of friends has changed both here and at home. i am so lucky to have found people who accept who i am, both for my strengths and weaknesses.

"they are the family we choose to surround us, the sisters bound by love instead of blood. they know when we are lonely, and appear without being called. when we feel lost, they provide a living map to what comes next; when we doubt everything about ourselves, they remind us who we are." 

-Barbara Alpert

y'all, i have had one of the best fridays ever! this morning, i made chili, did laundry, cleaned up the apartment, shopped online and was headed for the gym all before 8:30. i then had finance after lunch which i was dreading because we were getting our tests from last week back. however, after i got my test back, i was on cloud nine the rest of the day. the grade was refrigerator worthy in my opinion. after class, i went took some clothes to plato's for some spending money, and then went to target and trader joe's! i also finally decorated a pumpkin i had bought over a week ago! though i didn't do anything extraordinary, it was such an enjoyable afternoon and evening, especially with the stress of not knowing how i did on my test gone. i did purchase a few things today as a treat to myself which i thought i would share my two favorites with you and also my finished pumpkin! 

merona chunky cardigan

power t studs

my decorated pumpkin

the rest of my friday night is consisting of Homeland, Gone Girl, Pinterest-ing, and birthday wishlist making. tomorrow morning i am trying out a Barre3 class which i am really looking forward to and i am having my little and grandlittle over for a family dinner tomorrow night! i love low-key weekends and am going to enjoy this one before school gets busy again after fall break! 

xoxo,

clp

halloween throwback thursday & a recipe

happy fall y'all! i think fall has finally arrived here in tennessee! fall could possibly be my favorite season of the year (even though i say that every time the season changes). what is better than vests, corduroys, l.l. bean boots and scarves? with fall comes football, bonfires, and corn mazes as well as fall foods such as squash, apples and pumpkin. so, in the spirit of halloween and it being throwback thursday, i am sharing some halloween and fall pictures from years past. i find most of them to be quite funny and its obvious that being a witch was my go-to costume (maybe that should be telling me something?)! the "campbell court gang" always trick-or-treated together every year and there was always quite the assortment of costumes. halloween is one of my favorite memories from my childhood and i loved looking through these pictures!

on a different subject, my thursday was made today when this popped up on my phone:

its safe to say i almost had a heart attack. i was quite excited! i mean, everyone that follows Lilly Pulitzer on Twitter saw my tweet. my tweet! it may not be headlining news, but for me it made my day! one of those little things! and Lilly's reusable bags really do make grocery shopping even more fun (i love going to the store - gives me ideas for meals)! i get compliments on them almost every time i go to the store!

and to round off this post, i thought i would include a breakfast recipe! i had this this morning and it was so good! it could even be a healthy dessert!

breakfast banana pudding for one

"cookie layer"

1/3 cup oat flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp better 'n' peanut butter

1/2 large banana, mashed

1 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk 

1 tsp vanilla

"pudding layer"

1/2 cup plain greek yogurt

1/2 large banana, sliced

strawberries, blueberries, pecans, walnuts, cinnamon, honey, etc. for topping

1. in a bowl or container with lid (i usually use a round Ziploc container with a screw-on lid), combine "cookie layer" ingredients and mix well until a "dough" is formed. spread evenly on bottom of container. 
2. spread the "pudding" greek yogurt over the dough layer. then layer sliced bananas. 
3. top with additional cinnamon and toppings of choice. 
4. serve immediately or refrigerate overnight.  

enjoy!

xoxo,

clp

the wishlist & veggie burgers

my birthday is coming up next month and i treat it like a national holiday. i even give myself the day off (this year i will be giving myself thursday, friday AND saturday off). i actually celebrate the whole month to be honest. this year, i am turning the big 21, even though what comes with the milestone doesn't matter much to me. however, it will be nice to simply be able to get in places that are 21 and up. being the untraditional college student that i am, i am going home for my birthday to celebrate with my family, a tradition that i love. each year i make a birthday wishlist so that people have an idea of what i would like (if you know me, i am really picky and bad about hiding my true feelings if i don't like something). it makes gift-giving much easier on my mom for sure. my wishlist has become a bit of a laughing matter because of some of the extravagant items that i include. so what made the infamous list this year? listed below are the main things i have been lusting after for quite some time now!

louis vuitton neverfull MM in damier ebene

tory burch coley knit slipper

kate spade girl about town scarf

vince camuto "karita" over-the-knee boot

tiffany and co. fifth avenue dessert plate

these are just some of the things that i would love to get the most! of course, items from j. crew, lilly pulitzer (especially the new alpha chi omega print collection!) and other things will be making the list this year! some of it i do include just on the off chance a family member or friend wins the lottery! 

tonight for dinner i had a meatless meal. i have been craving a good veggie burger (i promise they are delicious) and i found an easy recipe that i decided to try out. the results turned out great and i had it on an arnold bread whole wheat sandwich thin with regular burger toppings. i also had some baked beans and a cucumber tomato salad on the side! 

sweet potato and chickpea burgers

1 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) 

1 cup mashed sweet potato

1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs

spices of choice (i used cumin, pepper and mrs. dash's extra spicy seasoning) 

1. Drain, rinse and roughly mash the chickpeas. Combine in bowl with all the other ingredients. Stir until mixture forms.
2. Form the mixture into 4 patties (if the mix is too dry and is falling apart then wet your hands when shaping them).
3. Spray grill pan with non-stick cooking spray and grill burgers until edges start to crisp. 

this week has gone well so far, especially since i haven't had much homework to do which has left me with free time i am not used to having. however, i am not complaining though because next week is quite busy before i go home for fall break! i am ending my wednesday with some modern family and nashville and then it is off to bed! 

xoxo,

clp 

ut vs georgia weekend

this weekend couldn't have come at a better time. after last week, i was in need of seeing my mama and daddy again and just spending time relaxing and hanging out with family. since the game was at 3:30, we got to have our traditional big Lowe family tailgate, complete with flu shots for my cousins! my contributions were a cold mexican layer dip (recipe below) and my pimento cheese! we obviously had enough food to feed an army, with a tailgate spread including fried chicken, honey-baked ham, potato and pasta salad, desserts galore and a fruit and veggie tray!

cold mexican layer dip

1 can black beans

2 avocado 

salsa (homemade or jarred)

corn

lettuce

1/2 c reduced fat shredded cheese of choice 

diced jalepenos 

2 cloves minced garlic

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp cumin 

1 tsp lime juice

1. puree black beans with garlic, onion powder, cumin and lime juice. spread evenly on bottom on casserole dish.
2. spread layer of avocado on top of beans.
3. next, spread salsa over avocado, followed by corn, lettuce and then a light cheese layer. garnish with diced jalepenos.

*i didn't put amounts on every ingredient because this recipe can be altered to fit your own tastes. i like mine without sour cream but some people add a layer of that to the bottom. you could even add a layer of cilantro lime hummus if you would like!

what a game it was! though UT didn't come out with a win, i still think it was a "moral victory," even though i hate that saying. i loved the smokey grey uniforms and i haven't heard neyland be that loud in a long, long time. the game yesterday just shows the potential that this team has and where Butch Jones is taking us. its a year to rebuild and yesterday was just a brick in jones's "brick by brick" plan.

you would never guess that it could be almost 90 degrees on october 5 and that you could get a sunburn but leave it to tennessee weather to prove you wrong. like i have said before, this unseasonably warm weather has thrown a wrench in my outfit plans so yesterday i was at a loss for what to wear to the game. after many opinions i decided on a simple shift dress and i was so glad i did. anything else would have been way too hot! i also snagged my mom's bracelet, shown in the "arm candy" picture below, for the day because it was the perfect shade of orange to match my dress!

target orange dress, tory burch purse, tory burch logo earrings, 

tory burch sandals, tory burch sunglasses

alex and ani AXO bracelet, lily and laura bracelet, 

j. crew orange bracelet, timex leopard watch

now that sunday has rolled around, its time to gear up for another week. luckily, this week is not as busy as last. fall break starts next wednesday so that is something to look forward to! today i am going to Sunspot with my parents before they head back home and i am making myself order something other than the sweet potato tamale that i get every time. after lunch, we have sisterhood retreat where we are doing a field day competition between pledge classes. i am then making a trip to Fresh Market for some essentials but after that, it is back to the apartment for the night. i am looking forward to a relaxing evening and maybe even an early bedtime! 

on another note, i want to thank all my readers! i have almost hit 8000 pageviews which i think is pretty impressive. i couldn't have done it without my readers so thank you for putting up with my rambling! i am still enjoying blogging and try to post as often as i can. here's to many more pageviews and to wishing all my readers a fantastic week ahead! 

xoxo, 

clp