thanksgiving OOTD & a recipe

well thanksgiving has come and gone so i guess its on to the next holiday! the christmas season is officially in full swing! today, we are taking down our fall decorations and starting to put up christmas! i think yesterday was one of most enjoyable thanksgivings we have ever had and i am thankful for all the warm conversation and familiar faces that filled our home. as i told my mom, we had more than enough food. i told her that we had been cooking for two days straight so it was thanksgiving leftovers for supper tonight. my outfit for thanksgiving was a gift from my parents on my birthday that i saved to wear yesterday. of course, in true claire fashion, the majority of it was j. crew and my stylist at green hills, katie, helped me put some of the pieces together (she is something i truly am thankful for!). 

j. crew collection tweed jacket, j. crew grey tippi sweater, j. crew toothpick jean in velvet dot, ivanka trump booties, j. crew tassel necklace

two of the many thanksgiving cooks!

i also wanted to share this delicious recipe we had for supper on tuesday night! everyone (besides me) was a little wary of the pumpkin but they all raved about it. even phillip ate it which was a pre-thanksgiving miracle! i served it with a black bean, tomato and avocado warm salad and pumpkin salsa from The Fresh Market (unfortunately this is only seasonal). 

enchiladas with pumpkin sauce

3 chicken breast, cooked and shredded

6 scallions, thinly sliced

1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree

4 cloves garlic

1 jalapeno chile, sliced

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 cup grated sharp pepper jack cheese

1/2 can rotel, with juice 

1/2 tbsp cumin

cilantro, to taste

8 6-inch low-carb tortillas (we like La Tortilla Factory)

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine chicken and scallions, set aside.
2. In a blender, puree pumpkin, garlic, jalapeno, chili powder, 1 cup water, cumin, rotel, cilantro, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until smooth (hold top firmly as blender will be quite full). Pour 1 cup of sauce in the bottom of an 8-inch square (or other shallow 2-quart) baking dish.
3. Lay tortillas on work surface; mound about 1/4 cup chicken mixture on half of each tortilla, dividing evenly. Roll up tortillas tightly; place, seam side down, in baking dish.
4. Pour remaining sauce on top; sprinkle with cheese, cilantro and additional sliced jalepeno if desired. Place dish on a baking sheet; bake until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

this recipe serves four people perfectly without leftovers and the addition of a side dish, salsa and chips. it was a great, healthy twist on a mexican dish and i really encourage you to try it! don't be afraid of the pumpkin! happy decorating to all - it's beginning to look a lot like christmas! 

xoxo,

clp 

thankful

if i tried to list everything i am thankful for, i wouldn't be able to. there are so many things that have shaped my life that though i may not have appreciated them at the time, i am thankful for them now. my family, friends, faith and opportunities that i have been granted make me truly blessed. thanksgiving always reminds me how lucky i am and how much i have to give thanks for.

the most updated headcount for thanksgiving at our house is 22 people. our house will be full of the thanksgiving spirit and i am thankful that we are able to open our beautiful home to so many people. feeding 22 people may sound like a challenge to some, but the lowe-parsley-jennings family knows how to do large amounts of food and people. so what all is on our menu? just a little bit of everything so that no one's thanksgiving tradition dish is left out. here's whats on the menu:

• turkey, ham
• broccoli casserole
• dressing 
• sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, yukon potatoes
• green beans
• macaroni and cheese
• squash casserole 
• corn casserole
• cranberry relish 
• green jello salad 
• greens and black eyed peas 
• dinner rolls, baby butterball biscuits
• relish tray, deviled eggs, celery with pimento spread, jalepeno relish with cream cheese 
• chocolate pecan pie, apple pie, pumpkin cream cake, pumpkin pie 

quite the menu we have planned out and mom is afraid we won't have enough... i think we will have more than we will know how to dole out at the end of the evening. 

since it is thanksgiving and thursday, a special throwback is in order. this picture never ceases to make us laugh every time we see it. 

happy thanksgiving y'all and remember what you are thankful for!

xoxo, 

clp

thankful for thanksgiving break & a recipe

i am so thankful that i got to start my thanksgiving break a couple of days early thanks to my teachers canceling class. i came home yesterday and it was quite the picturesque drive if i do say so. snow flurries while listening to christmas music on the country highway? doesn't get more cinematic in my opinion. anyway, last night i fixed a healthier chicken pot pie that was delicious and served the four of us perfectly along with a fruit salad. i like this recipe because it doesn't use tons of butter and only has crust on the top so it keeps your carb count in check. it was a great healthy comfort recipe to warm us all up! 

Healthier Chicken Pot Pie

6 oz chicken, skinless, boneless

1 tbsp. canola oil

1/4 cup onion, diced

1 1/4 cups peas (frozen)

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup corn (frozen)

1 cup chicken broth, low sodium

1 tbsp butter (I used Brumble and Brown)

1/4 cup whole wheat flour or all purpose flour

1 cup non-fat milk

1/2 tsp. thyme

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 pie crust

1. Preheat oven to 375F
2. In a large sauce pan, add canola oil and heat till warm, add chicken. Cook chicken until no longer pink. Take chicken out of pan and set a side. Shred when cool. 
3. In the same sauce pan, add onions, and cook until tender about 3 - 5 minutes. Add frozen vegetables and chicken broth. Cook until vegetables are no longer frozen.
4. Meanwhile in a separate pot; add butter and flour and milk. Whisk until it thickens up about, about 6 minutes. Add pepper and thyme and pour into vegetable mixture.
5. Add chicken to the vegetable mixture; mix until combined.
6. Add vegetable mixture to either one pie pan.
7. If making one pie, place dough over top of pie pan and crimp the edges. Cut 4 slits in the middle of the pie crust to let the steam escape.
8. Place your pie pan on a baking sheet and cook for about 35 to 40 minutes until crust is golden brown.

this cold weather has me trying my very hardest to stay warm! we are busy bees at the Parsley house preparing for Thursday and i could not be more excited to have everyone over. tonight however, my plan is to sit by the fire with my fur blanket and maybe even flip through the Vogue magazine that has been sitting on my nightstand for a week now. i hope everyone has safe travels tomorrow! 

xoxo,

clp 

the week ahead...

well i am officially in the homestretch for this semester. over the next couple of weeks, i will be spending more time in murfreesboro than knoxville. my goal this weekend was to finish up all my homework and assignments so that i don't have any to do over thanksgiving, clean and organize my room/the apartment and to pack my stuff up for home. i got all my clothes together and its safe to say that i am taking an obscene amount home but since i will be home all but five days in all in december, i am taking most all of my winter clothes home. loading and unloading the car is sure to be fun. i also finished up all my christmas shopping for gifts for just me and picked up a few other gifts to help mom out some.

the week ahead is definitely a busy one even though i only have one day of class. we have thanksgiving at our house which i love helping host and the current headcount is 22 people i think. luckily, the four of us make a good team and we get everything done that needs to be done. with so many things to do, one may wonder how i stay organized. i write everything down in my planner and of course, make lists. i have a meal plan, workout plan, and to-do list for this upcoming busy week that officially kicks off the holiday season. 

the meal plan: thanksgiving is meant for overeating and i'm not going to try to change that. i don't allow myself to splurge often and thanksgiving is certainly a day i should allow myself to do so. nonetheless, i am going to watch what i eat (and what my family eats because their health is just as important to me as mine own) very carefully in the days leading up to turkey day and a healthy breakfast on thursday. here's the menu i have in mind for this week.

• monday: Peanut Butter and Pepper's chicken pot pie with a fruit salad
• tuesday: Freutcake's enchiladas with pumpkin sauce, black bean salad and pumpkin salsa 
• wednesday: spaghetti squash with crockpot pasta meat sauce, salad (no carbs!) 
• thursday morning: banana and berries steel cut oats made with almond milk 

the workout plan: 

• tuesday: spin class
• wednesday: cardio and body pump
• thursday: treadmill 

the to-do list:

• tuesday: cleaning, last minute grocery run for any forgotten things
• wednesday: going to get the christmas tree (but not decorating until AFTER thanksgiving!), some pre-thanksgiving cooking and setting up the house and decorating for thursday 
• thursday: watch the macy's thanksgiving day parade of course and enjoy the holiday! 
• friday: decorate for christmas! 

y'all probably think i am an OCD freak who has to plan everything out and if that's true, so be it. i think i would go crazy if i didn't carry my Lilly planner with me 24/7 and that's okay with me. i may be a 45 year old in a 21 year old body and that's alright. planning everything out reduces my stress level which i need all the help doing. 

with such a busy week ahead, today i am planning to relax some. i can't start checking things off my to-do list until i get to murfreesboro so today i am packing up my car, painting my nails in essie's "penny talk" (a fabulous rose gold that is perfect for this time of year), studying for a test i have tomorrow and trying to stay warm! i will be murfreesboro bound mid-afternoon tomorrow so i want to make sure that i have everything packed and that the little red rocket is ready to roll out after my exam! i can't wait to spend time with my family this week for thanksgiving and the traditions we have are things i cherish. from thanksgiving to decorating for christmas, this coming week is one of my very favorites. blog posts may be few and far between but i will try not to desert y'all! happy early turkey day!

xoxo, 

clp  

christmas break bucket list & a dessert

i make lists. lots of lists. grocery lists, wish lists, to do lists. the list goes on and on. the most fun list (besides a wish list) is my bucket list. i even have lists of bucket lists. for christmas break, i have made myself (and whoever wants to join) a bucket list. it contains a ton of seasonal activities that are happening in murfreesboro and nashville! i really hope i get to accomplish most of them, but to do so i will definitely have to hit the ground running!

1. nashville predators hockey game: i have only been to one and i was teensy then so i really want to go this year! phillip goes quite often so hopefully we will get to go to one together! 
2. lights at opryland: every year i want to go see the lights and somehow time just gets away and they are turned off before i get the chance to see them. this year i am determined to see them! 
3. ice! at gaylord opryland: mom and i have wanted to go to this for a couple of years now but like with the lights, time got away. this year it is frosty the snowman themed so a christmas classic is a must see! 
4. painting with a twist: now that i am 21, i really want to have a fun mother-daughter date at painting with a twist. mom is afraid her painting will look bad, but i keep telling her the wine will loosen her up! (i already offered to be the DD - her artistic skills are lacking a bit) 
5. actually go see movies... in theaters: i couldn't tell you the last movie i saw in theaters so hopefully i may get to see at least one over break. frozen comes out soon and i really want to see it. mom loves going to movies so i know i will have a taker when the time comes! 
6. cross some restaurants off my nashville restaurant bucket list (told you i like lists): the list has grown quite some bit with the opening of new restaurants that all look delicious. it seems like every time i cross one off, i add two more. i hope to try some new ones as well as frequent some favorites in nashville over break!  

for now, the list isn't too long but i know i will probably come up with some more things to do! 

today was a long day. i left the apartment at 8:30 and didn't get back until 4:30! i am just a bit weary. nonetheless, i was put in the holiday spirit by the salvation army bell ringers at kroger and my purchase of peppermint creme coffee at the fresh market today (yes, i did go to two different grocery stores). i also snatched up some pumpkin salsa while it was still on the shelves! also, lilly pulitzer released the first products for the alpha chi print. i must say that i am a bit disappointed that there are only 2 items available for preorder and unfortunately, neither are products that i want. its rare that lilly disappoints me so i am hoping that more products will be revealed soon. i am still on that pumpkin kick and i have been craving rice krispie treats so tonight for dessert i made a half batch of pumpkin spice rice krispie treats! they were so good with the hint of pumpkin and cinnamon... i may or may not have eaten half of the batch! 

half batch pumpkin spice rice krispie treats

2 tbsp butter

2.5 cups mini marshmallows

3 cups rice krispies cereal 

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp cinnamon 

1. spray large saucepan with non-stick cooking spray. melt butter over low heat. 
2. add marshmallows and stir constantly until completely melted. stir in spices. 
3. remove from heat and stir in rice krispies until well coated.
4. press into loaf pan or 8x8 baking dish. 

if you don't want pumpkin spice flavored rice krispie treats, just leave out the spices! and try not the eat the half the pan like me! 

xoxo,

clp 

terrific tuesday & a recipe

seriously, where did this semester go? this is the last full week of classes, next week i only have one day of class and after thanksgiving, i come back for two days of classes then exams start. it seems like just yesterday i was moving into my apartment and getting ready for school to start. this semester has been great, but i am ready to be home for longer than just a weekend. i am also ready for some new classes next year! i love using seasonal ingredients and tonight for supper i made a delicious fall dish! i am also trying to use things already in my pantry and this recipe fit the bill. it is also the perfect combination of carb, protein and vegetables!

wild rice pilaf with squash, cranberries and pork

1/2 cup wild rice

1 small butternut or acorn squash, peeled and cubed (about 2 cups)

1/4 cup pecan halves

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves

1/2 cup shredded carrots

2 celery stalks, chopped

1 tsp thyme

1/2 cup fresh cranberries

salt and pepper, to taste

1 cup frozen kale

2 pork chops

herbs de provence, to taste

goat cheese (optional)

1. Cook wild rice according to package directions. The rice should be cooked, but firm.
2. Cook pork chops in skillet or other desired way. Season with herbs de provence. 
3. Spray skillet with non-stick cooking spray. Cook squash, cranberries (if using fresh) and frozen kale in skillet until squash is tender. Season with salt and pepper. In the same pan or separate, sauté onions and garlic until soft. Add celery, carrot and thyme and stir-fry for a few minutes.
4. Meanwhile in another skillet, toast the pecans over medium heat. Watch closely or they will burn quickly. Transfer nuts to bowl and reserve.
5. Combine rice, squash, carrots, celery, cranberries and kale mixture in bowl. Top with sliced pork chops and pecans. Season to taste, top with optional goat cheese.  

• Serves 2 as a main dish or serves 4 as a side dish without pork!

you may be wondering what inspired this post's title: "terrific tuesday". nothing too spectacular happened but there were a few things that just made my day!

1. Opening my email to find my Tory Burch Holiday Gift just waiting to be opened! 
2. Lilly Pulitzer retweeting me again! This time it was about the release of the Alpha Chi Omega print product line which they said will be available for pre-order soon!
3. My teacher cancelled class the Tuesday before Thanksgiving so i am officially Murfreesboro bound for Turkey Day on Monday after my test at 1:15! 
4. I also finished my own Christmas shopping for mom, dad and phillip which is a relief! now i get to start helping mom and dad with gifts for others which i love doing! 

the only bad thing about today is that i ate my last IveyCake cupcake leftover from my birthday and seeing that at least i had a cupcake to eat, i can't complain much. that's all for today so until next time!

xoxo,
clp

birthday weekend comes to an end

i guess all good things have to come to an end... including my birthday weekend. it was nothing short of perfect though, thanks to family, especially my wonderful parents. i know i say that often on here but you really have no idea how lucky i know i am to have parents as great as mine. mom and dad, i love you to the moon and back. thanks for 21 amazing years.

i spent my actual birthday doing whatever i wanted to do! we had pumpkin pancakes for breakfast, mom and i went to target and did some damage, stopped by publix and then hung out at home for the rest of the day. i had a few visitors and then the family came over of the annual birthday fiesta! on the menu was tacos, tamales, pinto beans, rice, guacamole and salsa! all of my favorites! dessert was of course cupcakes from IveyCake, my absolute favorite. i had the most perfect 21st birthday even though i didn't do what most do on their 21st birthday. it was exactly what i wanted.

the drive back in the rain today wasn't very much fun but i am ready to crank this week out. hopefully, i will be headed home for thanksgiving a week from tomorrow (my classes got cancelled on tuesday and wednesday luckily) and i am already looking forward to being back home. this time of year always makes me miss my family even more than usual. i think that is one thing that i will never get over. looking at my planner, this week doesn't look to crazy and i am thankful for that. hopefully it stays that way but you never know! lastly, i want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes, every person made me feel special! it is so strange to actually be 21 since it is something you look forward to for most of your teen years. i do feel a little bit older but not much different besides that. i am certainly looking forward to what 21 has in store for me.

xoxo,
clp

day before birthday recap, recipe & ootd

day two of birthday weekend! i am going to make this post short and sweet because i am exhausted but today was nothing short of perfect! i started today out with body pump and now i am ending it with an iveycake lemon blueberry cupcake! in between came lunch at goodness gracious with mom and phillip, a quick stop at green hills, and then mom and i went to christmas village in nashville! we came home to delicious buffalo chicken chili and cornbread so you could say that today could not have been better! posted below is the recipe for our chili and a picture of my outfit from today with my handsome looking brother, phillip, at goodness gracious! 

buffalo chicken chili

1 1/2 lb. raw boneless skinless chicken breasts, halved

1/4 tsp. each salt and black pepper
3 cups low-sodium fat-free chicken broth + more if needed
2 15.5-oz. cans cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups peeled and chopped carrots

2 cups chopped onion

1 tsp. chopped garlic

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 cup Frank's RedHot Buffalo Sauce + more if desired
crumbled blue cheese, feta, etc. for topping

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and place in a crock pot. Add all remaining ingredients except hot sauce. Stir. Set crockpot on low for 6-8 hrs or high for 3-4.
2. After chicken is fully cooked. shred with two forks and return to crockpot. Add hot sauce to chili and stir in crockpot. add additional chicken broth if needed.
3. To serve, top with additional Buffalo Sauce and cheese if desired! 

(slightly adapted from Hungry Girl)

green piko top, june rabbit fur vest, AG jeggings, j. crew mcalister boots,

j. crew statement earrings, louis vuitton speedy 30 and bandeau scarf 

told you it was going to be short and sweet and to the point! happy friday to everyone and happy almost birthday to me! 

xoxo, 

clp 

j. crew holiday style guide favorites & a throwback

i love getting holiday catalogs in the mail and of course, j. crew's is my favorite. as usual, its a work of art. just like with their last style guide, they debuted their holiday style guide on Pinterest. all the plaid, tartan, wool and cashmere is getting me so excited for the holiday dressing season! many items from this collection will be making their way onto my christmas wish list! here are a few of my favorites that hopefully i will be warm and cozy in this season! 

sleepshirt in bright cerise plaid flannel

plaid lodge moccasins

shirttail mini in sequins

crepe boatneck dress in modern red 

(a must for christmas eve!)

collection cashmere tunic, gold stripe mini skirt and the chevron checker snood

 boyshirt in deep ivy plaid, Collection trouser in royal duchesse and the Riviera earrings

jeweled starburst sweater, stretch perfect shirt and the Collection Café Capri in berry bouquet

boyshirt in rock salt plaid, stretchy toothpick jean and the colorblock wool baseball cap

(all images via Pinterest and jcrew.com)

today kicked off birthday weekend! i took some "personal absences" from two of my classes and headed home this morning after class. i got all my homework done before i left so i am really looking forward to a mostly school-free weekend. i was actually happy to see my cat and can't wait to sleep in my own bed tonight (not to mention happy to see my parents too). caroline came by so we could exchange 21st birthday presents (so strange that we are 21) and megan also stopped by! for her birthday, i got caroline a kate spade idiom bracelet. even though they market it as a bridesmaid gift, i think it is perfect to give someone that has been my best friend for literally my whole life. i am so happy i got to see both caroline and megan while i was home! i am glad i have been able to keep in touch with them after high school.

tomorrow is busy busy full of birthday weekend celebrations! i am going to body pump, lunch at goodness gracious with mom and phillip, green hills and christmas village! needless to say mom and i will be on the go all day long! i promise tomorrow's post will come with a full day recap, an OOTD and a recipe that has become a favorite here at the Parsley house!

xoxo,
clp

p.s. since my birthday is just 2 days away, here is a special throwback thursday picture from my very first birthday!

happy birthday to my BFF!

today is a special day! it is my very best friend in the whole wide world's 21st birthday! caroline and i have literally known each other our whole lives - i think we even met in the nursery. not many people can say they have known their best friend for their whole life but i am lucky enough to be able to. though we have different friends and go to different schools, every time we get together (which unfortunately is not as often as we would like) it is like nothing has changed. we can pick up where we left off last time. from preschool to elementary school to the summers we lived at each other houses, we have so many memories together. as shown in the picture below, we have changed quite a bit but i know one thing will never change: from the cradle to the grave, she is my best friend no matter what happens and i hope she has the happiest of birthdays!

xoxo,

clp

p.s. birthday countdown for me: just 3 more days! 

cold day soup recipe & OOTD

how cold did it get?! and it is only getting colder! i am not a huge fan of the cold so if i am freezing now i'm not sure what i am going to do when it gets below freezing! i thought the dramatic drop in temperature since yesterday was the perfect excuse to break out my new mini-crockpot and make some soup! i came up with recipe myself after looking at a myriad of soup recipes and seeing what i had on my pantry shelf! it looks and smells good already and i just turned it on!

lentil, chicken andouille sausage and vegetable soup

3 links chicken andouille sausage, sliced and halved

1/2 cup dry lentils

1 cup chicken broth 

1 can diced fire roasted tomatoes

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup frozen okra, corn, bell pepper and celery veggie mix (mine was called "gumbo vegetables")

1 tsp black pepper

1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tbsp cajun seasoning

1 tsp onion powder 

1. throw all ingredients together in a crockpot. cook on low for 4-6 hours
2. serve with cornbread and plenty of tabasco! 

i had a group presentation today in my retail class which meant i had to stray from my usual class uniform of yoga pants and an oversized t-shirt. the project was on Lilly Pulitzer so of course my group and i all wore Lilly to present! i apologize for the absolutely awful picture quality! 

lilly pulitzer vest in "in the beginning", j. crew navy tissue turtleneck, j. crew winter white ankle cords, tory burch suede caroline flats 

today consists of studying and getting ready to go home in less than 48 hours! if you can't tell i am counting down the minutes! hope everyone is having a great start to their week! 

xoxo,

clp 

veterans day & OOTD

a special thank you goes out to all the men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving our country. they deserve far more than to just be recognized on only one day. my late grandfather dedicated his life to serving our country and I wish I had had the privilege of meeting him.

i was in a hurry to leave for meeting tonight so i threw on a dress and some tights and was out the door! 

ann taylor dress, navy opaque tights, tory burch navy caroline flats, tory burch logo earrings 

xoxo, 

clp 

kick-starting birthday week & a recipe

today was the first day of birthday week! it is so strange to think that i will be 21 on saturday... feeling very old! i started out birthday week with lunch at aubrey's with my parents! it is one of my favorites and i had been craving their baked squash. it was delicious as always and it hit the spot!

yesterday started quite early since the football game started at noon! it made for a long day, but it was  fun nonetheless. the extended family came up for the game along with a few extras and we all went to the game together and then dinner. homecoming winners were announced at halftime and though alpha chi omega-phi mu didn't place, i still think we did a phenomenal job throughout the week competing. the game wasn't much fun to watch and it was quite chilly (you should have seen me all bundled up) but we stayed until the very end. i always love sitting with my brother at games and this time we had the added bonus of his friend travis who was entertaining to say the least. after the game we all went to ye olde steakhouse, a knoxville tradition, and had dinner a table away from Josh Dobbs and Marquez North. they were so nice to give autographs and take pictures with some of the little kids who came up to them! i had a steak kebab and steamed vegetables that were very good and of course finished dinner off by sharing a piece of peanut butter pie with my dad. ye olde's peanut butter pie really is a slice of heaven.

tonight for supper i tried out a recipe that i had seen floating around Pinterest: skillet lasagna. it is a different take on lasagna that doesn't demand the time-consuming layering and baking that traditional lasagna requires.

skillet lasagna

1 tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 eggplant, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cans Italian diced tomatoes

1/4 cup tomato sauce

3 basil leaves

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 cup skim ricotta cheese

1/2 c part-skim mozzarella cheese

about 6 ox broken lasagna noodles (fully cooked)

parmesan cheese, for serving

parsley, for garnish 

1. heat oil in large skillet. add onion and cook until softened over medium-high heat. add eggplant and garlic and cook until eggplant is softened and garlic is fragrant. add in tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil and pepper. cook until mixture thickens up a bit, about 5-10 minutes. 
2. add noodles to skillet and stir into the mixture. spoon the ricotta cheese into the mixture. add in mozzarella. cook about 2-5 more minutes, until thickened. 
3. serve topped with parmesan and parsley.

• eggplant could easily be swapped out for mushrooms or any cooked meat would also be a great addition to this recipe. 
• i modified the recipe a tad from The Realistic Nutritionist to use things i already had on hand. i didn't have any ricotta or mozzarella so i used a couple of wedges of Laughing Cow Garlic and Herb cheese and it was still delicious! i also topped mine with feta instead of parmesan! 
• this dish paired with a side salad full of veggies is the perfect meal! 

i am headed home thursday for birthday celebrations and i could not be looking more forward to it! i already have the whole weekend planned out and can't wait to spend time at home. mom and i also have tickets to christmas village so i am looking forward to that annual trip to nashville! this week is at school just consists of the usual schoolwork, tests, workouts and alpha chi meeting. nothing too stressful! lastly, a special happy birthday goes to the late, great, barefoot queen of pink queen, Lilly Pulitzer! may her prints be celebrated forever!

xoxo,
clp

fridays and homecoming

i really enjoy fridays this semester. i have gotten into a friday routine that is just perfect: wake up and eat a leisurely breakfast, head to the gym, come home, shower and eat lunch then head to finance. after finance i usually run some errands (most days includes a trip to target but i resisted today!) and then back to the apartment to get ready for the weekend! today i went to anthropologie, the southern market (which was a christmas wonderland and got me into the holiday spirit!) and stopped by the local farmer's market! it was just perfect and now i am on my couch for a lazy evening before tomorrow's early kickoff!

this week has been a busy one because it is homecoming week here at UT! this year, we were paired with Phi Mu which was different than the usual fraternity-sorority pairing. still, we decided to compete in the large float competition even though we were without manly-men to help build the float and it has been such a productive week! i really think that as a sorority, if we set our mind to it, we can do it! the winner of homecoming won't be announced until tomorrow at halftime, but we have been competing in different events all week to gain points. also, our very own president is on the ballot for homecoming queen so fingers are crossed that she wins the crown! a special shoutout goes to our homecoming chair, emily, who has truly put her heart and soul into this week and it has showed! i can't imagine a more smoothly and well-run homecoming week! our lawn decoration, window decoration and float turned out amazing thanks to both chapters putting in long hours of pomping and gluing!

i know i have been MIA on recipes and shopping posts these past few weeks. the semester is coming to a close so i think all the teachers came together and decided to assign every test and homework to all be due at the same time. i promise i will try to post more recipes soon and some great product finds! until then, all i have to say is go vols and go alpha chi-phi mu homecoming!

xoxo,

clp 

31 things to do before december 31st according to kate spade

making this my goal. time to get started now!

1. trim the tree. add tinsel.
2. put a twinkle in someone’s eye.
3. treat yourself to a new shade of lipstick.
4. sit by a roaring fireplace surrounded by s’mores-in-progress.
5. go ice skating.
6. drink a hot chocolate. (well, more than one.)
7. make your january 1st resolutions. now break them while you have the chance.
8. decide what your favorite champagne cocktail is.
9. spend a rainy or snowy day writing your holiday cards.10. organize dinner with old friends.
11. fall in love with a party dress.
12. fill your apartment with fresh flowers.
13. get a glitter french manicure—try rose gold glitter polish with black glitter tips.
14. then, get a glitter pedicure.
15. leave a little sparkle wherever you go.
16. make a new playlist of re-mixed holiday tunes.
17. master your mom’s mashed potato recipe.
18. host an arm party: stack on the sparkly bangles for a night out.
19. sneak a kiss under the mistletoe.
20. see the lighting of the christmas tree at the metropolitan museum. (it’s in the medieval wing.)
21. pick this year’s wrapping paper:
black and white stripe paper with metallic bows…shades of pink…shade of metallic…
mixed metallics…matte paper with glitter ribbon…
22. try something new. glitter tennis shoes?
23. host a cocktail party and don’t even think about cleaning up till the next day.
24. make time for a little dancing during your pre-party prep.
25. take a stroll (or drive) through your favorite neighborhood after dark and enjoy the twinkling lights.
26. dazzle everyone at the office holiday party.
27. go somewhere you can wear a fabulous masquerade ball mask.
28. take the long way home from a party, just to wear your dress a little bit longer.
29. make a snow angel.
30. open one present early. (it’s totally ok.)
31. dance till dawn.

(via kate spade blog)

i can actually cross a couple off my list already but wish me luck on the rest! 

xoxo, 

clp

monday meeting OOTD

oh monday. today was long so this post is short. i had an early birthday supper at my favorite restaurant in knoxville, Sunspot, with some of my very favorite people and then formal meeting. i saw it as the perfect occasion for breaking out the tights and leather booties for the first time!

j. crew jeweled collar sweater, j. crew wool skirt, brown opaque tights, ivanka trump booties

and i can't pass on the opportunity to brag on my brother a little bit! today he shot his first deer with a bow! i am so proud of him! good thing he enjoys venison meat because i won't be eating any of it! 

xoxo,

clp

p.s. birthday countdown: 12 days 

bistro at the bijou OOTD

this morning i had a wonderful brunch with my parents at The Bistro at the Bijou. they serve a little bit of everything but we all decided on items from the brunch menu. it was delicious and we would all highly recommend to anyone (and they take reservations which is a plus)! i decided to dress comfortable but still cute for brunch. the outfit was also perfect for this crisp fall day!

tory burch leopard scarf, j. jill knit tunic, camilyn beth vest, j. crew leggings,

tory burch boots, louis vuitton speedy 30

i have no tests or major assignments this week but i'm sure homecoming will keep me busy! this weekend with my parents in town has been nothing short of perfect and i am already looking forward to the entire family coming up for the auburn game next weekend! here's to wishing everyone a good upcoming week! 

xoxo,

clp 

p.s. birthday countdown: 13 days! 

some like it hot

i began this cool saturday morning with one of my favorite alternative workouts, hot yoga! i do hot yoga here in knoxville at Real Hot Yoga and love it! everyone is so nice and the instructors are great. not to mention, it is a workout. the benefits of yoga are many and when you add in a 95 degree heated room, the benefits are even greater. my favorite hot yoga class is hot power yoga which i took today. it is a combination of various poses and sequences that strengthen and tone and the "hot" element ramps up your workout by adding a cardiovascular workout and a detox! it was a great break from regular cardio and my muscles feel stretched and as a whole, i feel cleansed. afterwards, i stopped in trader joe's (they are next door to each other - so convenient) and was the definition of the classic yoga and organic food cliche.

i wanted to share my costume from last night's costume-birthday party since i think it turned out pretty cute. it was definitely one of the easiest costumes to put together! all i had to buy was the shirt since i had everything else on hand so it was also a budget friendly costume! happy (late) halloween from your one and only red-headed pumpkin!

the temperature dropped quite a bit which to me means its a perfect night for taco soup! this is an original claire recipe and it is a family favorite! it can be easily adjusted according to what you like and you can make it meatless if you prefer. i think i make it different every time and it always turns out delicious. this time instead of chopped jalepenos, i threw in some chili peppers in adobo sauce to kick the spice up quite a bit. i also used diced fire roasted tomatoes with green chiles instead of the can of rotel. it is so adaptable so make it yours! it makes a crockpot full so it can serve a crowd but also freezes wonderfully! tonight i am making some jalepeno cornbread to serve along with the soup as the perfect complement!

taco soup

1/2-1 lb cooked ground beef with taco seasoning

1 c diced onion (i used frozen)

1 c chopped or sliced bell peppers (i used frozen) 

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup corn (i used frozen)

1 can pinto beans

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can mexican stewed tomatoes

1 can hot rotel

diced jalepenos

cumin, red pepper, to taste

garlic, to taste

up to 1 cup water, as needed

cilantro

diced avocado, onion, sour cream, shredded cheese or other toppings of choice

1. combine all ingredients in a crockpot or large soup pot on stove. let simmer/warm on low. 
2. serve with toppings of choice.

mom and dad are here for their parent's council fall retreat so we are going to have taco soup and cornbread tonight and watch UT hopefully win against Missouri. i have had such a perfect weekend so far. not to mention, east tennessee is absolutely beautiful this time of year which makes me love fall even more. the view from my bedroom window could not be any prettier! 

fingers crossed for a Volunteer win tonight and have a great rest of your saturday!

xoxo,

clp

p.s. countdown to 21: 2 weeks! 

hello november

the week is finally over! after a quiz and three tests, i am glad that the weekend is here! this weekend brings a birthday-costume party, mom and dad coming to town and the start of homecoming here at UT! and today brings us november! where on earth did october go? i don't mind though because i can celebrate 21 years of myself starting today (yes, i get the whole month)!

i am still on that pumpkin kick i talked about earlier and as a treat for surviving this past week and since my parents will be here, today i made some pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting! if you ignore the icing, they really aren't horrible for you and they make the whole kitchen smell like amazing!

pumpkin cupcakes

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 cup pumpkin (NOT pie filling)

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 cup Splenda brown sugar blend 

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 egg

2 tbsp honey 

cream cheese frosting

1 block greek yogurt cream cheese (i used kroger's brand)

1 stick butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with 11 cupcake liners and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
2. in a large mixing bowl, combine ingredients for cupcakes and mix well. 
3. fill each cupcake liner with 1/4 cup of batter. 
4. bake for 30 minutes and let cool before icing. 
5. to make frosting, beat all ingredients together in a mixing bowl until thick and smooth. 
6. ice cupcakes once they are cool and store in the fridge until ready to serve! 

now that halloween is over (which i have never gotten to celebrate in college because i have always had a test the day after), holiday season is already in full swing. i love everything about the holiday season and am so excited that everything holiday related is starting to appear in stores. i went to target today and they have out their thanksgiving decorations (which some of is already on sale!) and are starting to put out their christmas decorations! i bought an adorable pink and green stocking to hang on my door later this month. i have a rule where i won't decorate for christmas or listen to christmas music until after my birthday! 

and sorry for being MIA for the past few days but i thought school should probably come before blogging! since i have a much lighter workload this coming week i promise not to disappear on you! happy november to all! 

xoxo,

clp