january to december 2014

is anyone else in a post-christmas daze? from the cooking to the eating to church to the laughing to the running around, christmas was a bit of a blur, but i couldn't have asked for it any other way. santa came by and was very good to me, he really outdoes himself year after year. i have eaten more than i needed to, but i guess that is part of the holidays. reigning myself back in is proving to be a challenge, but i know with a little discipline and routine, i will be back on track (especially with the help of my new Misfit fitness tracker - obsessed)!

with the christmas season coming to an end, another year comes to an end. 2014 has many things: a happy, sad, challenging and rewarding. i feel that i kept up with my resolutions from last january fairly well: i am now at a much healthier weight and still eat healthy, i have made myself more social (which i am still working on), i read more, i traveled as much as i could, i relaxed a little (still working on that too) and i have worked towards my future. i know many have noticed a change in me, and i have as well. i am still on cloud nine since my summer in nashville, and am the happiest i think i have ever been. i look better than i did a year and a half ago as well, though i will always struggle with my diet and body image, but that is something i am able to admit to. i have found friends that i know i will keep forever, through all the post-graduation unknown that will soon ensue. i have a strong relationship with my family that i am thankful for.

instead of posting a "claire's year" on Facebook as many others have done, i chose to share some of my favorite moments from 2014 below. they are some of my favorite memories from this year, with my favorite people (and in some fabulous clothes!).

SPRING BREAK CRUISE WITH MY MOM 

MEETING THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR HOUSEHOLD, STELLA

ATTENDING THE WEDDING OF MY SORORITY SISTER THIS SUMMER 

THE LOVELY LEONA CLOTHES

MY HAPPY PLACE ON 12 SOUTH

TWO OF THE BEST ROOMMATES FROM SUMMER

SUMMER ADVENTURES AND TRADITIONS

QUICK TRIP TO CHARLESTON

NASHVILLE BECOMING HOME 

FOOTBALL WEEKENDS WITH FRIENDS

MY BEST GIRLS

CHRISTMAS EVE

so what is ahead for 2015? my last semester at UT (given all things go as planned), a weekend in asheville, a part-time job to finance my shopping problem, barre3 and workouts, a girls trip with my mom and grandmother to florida for spring break, graduation, hawaii, maybe a trip to new york, and fingers crossed, a job. i'm looking forward to what 2015 has in store, i think it may just the year of the claire with red hair. 

xoxo,

clp

merry christmas eve

the past few days have been full: full of cooking, cleaning, working out and last minute shopping to get ready for christmas. but most importantly, they have been full of family, friends, giving, smiles and laughter. i am writing this while sitting at my kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee from our "12 days of Christmas" mugs and thinking about how thankful i am and about how much i love the holiday season. yes, i'm not going to lie, i love the santa aspect of christmas, but i also love the holidays for so much more. i am lucky enough to be in a warm home, filled with holiday cheer in every room and more treats than any one person could ever eat. i think about those who aren't as blessed as i am and it makes me truly cherish this time with my family and friends. with that said, i am wishing all my readers a very merry christmas and hope that it is one to remember. really soak it in, every moment, and take a mental picture to remember for years to come. remember why we celebrate this time of year. from my home to yours, merry christmas! 

xoxo,

clp

venison, zucchini and ricotta meatballs recipe

phillip got his first deer of the season over thanksgiving break, so our freezer is full of ground venison! i had to warm up to the idea of deer meat, but now i am a fan! i have made meatloaf, chili and now these meatballs from venison. i also love the venison sausage as a healthier alternative to all pork sausage at breakfast! still a red meat, ground venison is much leaner than traditional ground beef. it has much less fat (you would be amazed at what little grease cooks out), less calories and more protein. it does have a bit of a gamey-flavor, but i can barely tell the difference when i use it over ground beef! the recipe that follows i made with venison, but it could also be made with ground turkey or beef. it was a "you can make this again" recipe! we had meatballs over angel hair pasta nests with homemade marinara and served with a side salad. 

venison meatballs

1 lb ground venison (or ground turkey or extra-lean beef)

2 tbsp whole wheat breadcrumbs

1 cup shredded zucchini, squeezed dry

1/4 c part-skim ricotta cheese

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tbsp italian seasonings

1 egg

1. preheat oven to 375.
2. combine all ingredients for meatball in ball and mix together,
3. portion out meatballs with a tablespoon. shape into balls.
4. spray a large skillet with nonstick spray. brown meatballs on all sides in skillet. 
5. transfer meatballs to cooking sheet and bake in oven for about 10 minutes, until no longer pink inside. 

(recipe slightly adapted from Mantitlement)

tomorrow i will be working all day at LEONA on 12 South so make sure to come and see me! they are offering amazing holiday specials right now and i would love to outfit you for all you holiday gatherings! i can also be your little elf and mark those last things off for everyone on your christmas list! 

xoxo,

clp

chicken and gnocchi recipe

i realize i have been blog-MIA lately, but with exams, coming home and getting ready for christmas, i have been quite busy! nonetheless, i have managed to cook some delicious (if i say so myself) suppers for the Parsley household! i just really love coming home and cooking for my family! it is so much easier to cook for more than one and to try out new recipes on them! last night for supper, i found this delicious southern living recipe and altered it to make it a little bit easier and healthier. it is a twist on classic southern chicken and dumplings, and turned out to be so good and so filling. we had a citrus salad on the side and it was the perfect winter supper! 

chicken and gnocchi

1 package mini gnocchi

1/2 tsp rubbed sage

1/4 tsp ground thyme 

2 tbsp butter

1 c carrots, thinly sliced

1/2 c celery, chopped

2 garlic gloves, minced

1/2 c dry white wine

1/4 c whole wheat flour

4-6 cups chicken broth

4 cups shredded cooked chicken

shredded/shaved parmesan, for serving

1. cook chicken and shred. set aside. 
2. melt butter in dutch oven over medium heat. add carrots, celery and herbs. cook until carrots are tender. add garlic and cook 1 minute. 
3. stir in wine and cook until reduced by half. add in flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. gradually stir in broth (we used the leftover broth from boiling our chicken). 
4. bring mixture to boil over medium-high heat. reduce to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes or until slightly thickened. add more chicken broth if desired. in last 5 minutes of simmering, add in gnocchi. stir in chicken and cook 3-5 minutes until hot and gnocchi is soft.
5. serve with parmesan cheese.

(recipe makes about 4 2 cup servings)

with christmas just a week away, i am certainly in the christmas spirit. my sweet tooth is as well... i made peppermint rice krispies and white chocolate avocado biscotti this week! it is so hard to resist all the holiday treats! i hope everyone is getting into the spirit and maybe this recipe will inspire you to get in the kitchen too! check out some of my other recipes here as well! 

xoxo,

clp

the best SAMPLE SALE of the year at LEONA

its the most wonderful sale of the year... sample sale that is. this weekend only, LEONA nashville is hosting their bi-annual sample sale at the 12 south flagship store! this only happens twice a year and this time around, LEONA fall 2014 samples are included! find more information about the sample sale on the Biannual Sample Sale event page on Facebook and get yourself to LEONA nashville as soon as you can THIS friday, saturday and sunday!

i already have a sample sale wishlist running and hope i can snatch up these amazing deals before they are gone! and if you can't make it this weekend, come see me at LEONA nashville sometime this month when i get to work the store over my break! i am so looking forward to being back at LEONA for a little while and can't wait to see what all is in store! let me help you find your perfect holiday soiree outfit! 

xoxo,

clp

P.S. you still have 7 days to shop my stella&dot trunk show! click here to RSVP and get some jewels to go with your LEONA sample sale finds!

good reads

i am lucky that i was given the "enjoy reading" trait in my family. i, like my brother, mom, grandmother and many other family members can't put down a good book. because i now have a kindle, and have for about a year, i find that i read more than i did before. i love the portability and slim design of the kindle, it fits easily in my purse and on the treadmill reading ledge. i also get some daily reads delivered to my inbox. right now, i just get two which is more than enough along with the other emails i receive (i'm on about every store's mailing list). keep reading for my most recent book review, my favorite online publication, and my two daily reads that come straight to my inbox!

• three wishes by liane moriarty: i picked this novel out after i read moriarty's other novels (the husband's secret and big little lies). like her other books, this one did not disappoint. the book follows three triplets who when together, share laughter, thrills and chaos and apart each have their own trials and tribulations. from fork throwing to affairs, the reader follows the three sisters as they grow older and up and the life of a forever-together trio. the novel opens with a prologue that is explained in later chapters and keeps the pages turning. i quite enjoyed the books with its clever plot turns and believe that you will too!  
• the skimm: the skimm is a daily email newsletter that gives you everything you need to start your day and be able to carry on an intelligent conversation about current events. i skim through it while sipping my morning coffee or walking to class and i feel relatively well informed 
• she reads truth: she reads truth is one of the newest things coming to my inbox, and one that i look forward to. it is a daily devotional for women to read together and to grow in christ. right now, the 'plan" is the advent, which i especially enjoy. it is an easy way for me to read the scripture and bring christ more into my life wherever i am since i can just pull it up on my phone each day! 
• matchbook magazine: matchbook is an online magazine i have been reading for a couple of years now and it is one of my faves! with the slogan "a field guide to a charmed life", it celebrates the "classics - shaken and stirred". from interviews to gift guides to fashion to decor and everything in-between, the magazine never ceases to inspire me to live the life i adore!  

i have been at home for the majority of this week since my first exam isn't until monday. tomorrow i am heading back to knoxville to study and finish up my second to last semester! i can't believe how fast it went by, but am looking forward to being home for the holidays! 

xoxo,

clp

thanksgiving 2014

thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, just like everyone else. but, i don't love it for the food. i love it for the preparation that goes into getting everything ready for everyone and most of all, i love it for what it reminds me to be thankful for: those who gather around our table. yesterday was filled with too much food (currently mourning my waistline) and much family and friends who are now family. 

i love to help cook for thanksgiving. this year, my contributions were dashing dish's clean eating pecan pie and a paleo cranberry sauce. those were me trying to be a bit healthier since i gorged on mashed potatoes and my mawsie's cornbread dressing. i thought both were delicious, and even though i don't usually eat leftovers, thanksgiving is when i make an exception!

yesterday's outfit was one i had been looking forward to wearing! i got the LEONA jess jacket for my birthday (after lusting after it all summer and fall) and knew it would be just perfect for thanksgiving! i paired it with a j. crew black silk top and black draped drawstring waist pants to be comfortable but still on-trend. for jewels, i added stella and dot's helena necklace and it was the perfect finishing piece, along with my vintage chanel button ring, LEONA arm candy and silver tory burch flats! 

LEONA jess jacket, j. crew silk top and drawstring pants, tory burch silver flats, stella & dot helena necklace, stella & dot double clutch

my stella & dot trunk show is still going strong! i have some pieces here with me and they are to-die-for. do your black friday shopping with me and stella & dot, in your PJs with a cup of coffee! you can shop online through december 18th (perfect for christmas presents!). RSVP and shop now!

have a happy holiday weekend and stay safe in those crazy black friday crowds! 

xoxo,

clp  

zipped up OOTD

j. crew asymmetrical zip pencil skirt in wool, j. crew cap-sleeve shirttail blouse, j. crew merino wool v-neck cardigan

xoxo,

clp

p.s. don't forget about my stella & dot trunk show! click here to RSVP and shop now!

stella&dot trunk show

readers! this week i am hosting an online stella & dot trunk show! if you haven't heard of stella & dot, they are a fab accessories line that sells online, through stylists and at trunk shows. the jewelry is on-trend and affordable, with some pieces under $50! click here to RSVP and start shopping now! also, check out my wishlist and see what pieces i am hoping santa puts under the tree!

and as a bonus, everything ships within 3-5 business days so you are sure to have it for all your holiday soirees! its the time of year to get fancy! 

xoxo,
clp

white chicken enchilada bake, take 2 recipe

i love enchiladas, but i don't love the calories, fat and manual labor that comes with them. i know, that sounds really lazy, but sometimes i just want some enchiladas that are good for me and don't require pretentious rolling.

this past weekend, i found the solution to my problem (can you say #firstworldprobs much?!). after seeing many "enchilada bake" that turned out to be just as unhealthy as traditional enchiladas, i went back to search on one of my favorite healthy-eating blogs, dashing dish. after a few minor tweaks to her recipe, i made the most delicious, not-horrible-for-you chicken enchiladas that the whole family loved! we made them as part of my birthday fiesta celebration and there wasn't one bite left!

white chicken enchilada bake, take 2

2.5 cups chicken breast, cooked and shredded

1 can diced tomatoes, drained

1.5 cups plain non-fat greek yogurt

1 4 oz. can chopped green chiles

1 tsp homemade taco seasoning

1 can white hominy, drained (could also use corn)

6 high fiber, whole wheat, low carb tortillas, cut into quarters (i use La Tortilla)

1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese (or cheese of choice) 

1. preheat oven to 375. spray a large baking dish with non-stick spray.
2. to make filling, combine chicken, tomatoes, yogurt, green chiles, taco seasoning and hominy in a large mixing bowl. mix until combined. 
3. start the layering with a layer of tortillas (it is okay if they don't fully cover bottom of dish). then follow with a thick layer of filling. repeat until filling is gone and end with a layer of tortillas on top.
4. sprinkle cheese on top tortillas. bake for 30-35 minutes or until cheese is melted and center is heated through. 

(slightly adapted from dashing dish)

be on the lookout tomorrow for a post about my stella & dot trunk show i am hosting! santa claus will be asking for a christmas list soon and some new gems fit perfectly in a stocking! 

xoxo,

clp

birthday weekend recap

birthday #22 has come and gone, and i couldn't have asked for a better weekend at home to celebrate. friday consisted of christmas village with my mom and then meeting phillip and daddy at adele's in nashville for a nice birthday supper! it was fantastic - from the appetizers to the desserts, there wasn't a bad looking thing on the menu. we all ordered something different and not one of us was disappointed. the ingredients are fresh and local, with a daily changing menu. i ordered the roasted fall vegetables with polenta as a side and ate every last bit! it might have been the best polenta i have ever had. for dessert, we each ordered something different and sampled each other's! mom's banana pudding with banana bread (an award winning dessert) was delicious, as was my chocolate mousse with housemade whipped cream! the restaurant is located in the gulch and is a converted tire store, which creates a very cool atmosphere perfect for a downtown restaurant.

saturday was the annual family fiesta! we made ground beef tacos, homemade refried beans, blender salsa, a white chicken enchilada bake (recipe coming soon!) and guacamole. the birthday cake was iveycake "i do" cupcakes of course. it was a wonderful night filled with my closest family and friends. i am so thankful for those who were able to celebrate with me and missed those who could not!

yesterday, which was my actual birthday, was rainy and cold, but on the bright side i had a heart-warming birthday dinner with my best friends at cru in knoxville. their cheese plate and wedge salads are my favorite! i am so happy that they were able to take the time out of their sunday to come have dinner with me!

so what did i wear this weekend? since it was cold, i had to switch up my outfits a bit, or cover them outside with a coat, but i still tried to look my best for birthday weekend.

stella & dot sanibel pendant

j. crew regent blazer, j. crew silk top, j. crew lookout jean, ivanka trump booties

LEONA sweater, june rabbit fur vest, j. crew boyfriend jeans, ivanka trump booties

this week is a busy one, but there is a light at the end of the semester tunnel and its getting brighter! have a happy monday and stay warm!

xoxo,
clp

in remembrance on veterans day

yesterday marked twenty-three years that my grandfather on my mom's side of the family has been gone. sunday marks my twenty-second birthday. i never had the chance to have him hold me in his arms, much less get to know him. still, i feel that i do know him through the stories my mom and her siblings, my dad and uncle, and my grandmother tell about him. his spirit lives on through them. i admire him for the achievements he made in his life. it is because of him that our blood runs orange. i have no doubt that we would have gotten along well. i think he would have quite liked my red-headed-fiery attitude. i believe i would have made him shake his head and laugh in my younger days and frustrated him during my teenage years. today though, i hope i would make him proud. i have always said that if i was asked the question of who i would want to have dinner with, living or dead, he would certainly have a seat at the table.

not only was yesterday the anniversary of my grandfather's death, but today is also veteran's day which makes yesterday mean even more. pa, as the grandkids called him, fletch lowe as his family and friends knew him as, was a general in the united states air force. hearing the stories through others of his experiences flying c-130s in the air force has always kept me riveted to my seat. because of him and so many others like him, including the man who came into our lives after the passing of my grandfather and who I consider to be my grandfather, tony, i am able to live the life that i am accustomed to. i am forever grateful and forever indebted to those who serve, have served and will serve our country. the men and women in the armed forces should not be celebrated on certain days of the year, they should be recognized every day for their service to our country. it is because of them that we have what we have. so on this beautiful november tuesday, i am remembering my grandfather and thanking those who serve our country. let us not forget them when it is not a national holiday. happy veterans day to men and women of our military, may we celebrate our dedication to america always.

xoxo,
clp

4 ingredient beer bread + 3 piece outfit

last night was low-key and lovely. two of my best friends, caroline and ellie, came over for buffalo chicken chili and beer bread (recipe below) and some buttermilk sky pie shop pies. since the three of us have such different schedules, its hard for us to find a time to all get together, but when we do, we pick up right where we left off! the evening was full of catching up on everything and indulging in too much yummy food! i made my buffalo chicken chili recipe and tried out a recipe for beer bread, which i was so impressed with! it was quick and easy and you probably already have everything you need at home!

4 ingredient beer bread

3 cups all purpose flour

4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 tbsp Splenda brown sugar

12 oz beer of choice (i used coors light)

1. preheat oven to 375 and spray a 9x5 loaf pan with non-stick spray.
2. in a medium mixing bowl, mix together first three ingredients. pour in the beer and stir until just combined.
3. pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 35 minutes, or until the top of the bread is lightly browned and a knife comes out clean.
4. slice and serve! 

(slightly adapted from half baked harvest)

i will end this post with a selfie of what i wore to a meeting today on campus! it was more on the casual side but still looked very put together! 

j. crew cotton cropped sweater, j. crew silk sleeveless blouse in heart dot, 

j. crew sateen toothpick pant, c. wonder novelty smoking slippers

xoxo,

clp

p.s. 8 days until the birthday! 

award show style: cma's 2014

you know you are from nashville [area] when your favorite awards show is the CMA awards. its on both my mom and my bucket list to be able to go one year! maybe next year since i won't be in school (hint, hint)?!

anyway, though i love the performances, the hosts (how fab did pregnant carrie look?!) and everything about country music, the outfits are my favorite part. from the red carpet to the stage outfits, the stars of country music never disappoint and the men clean up real nice. so who made my best dressed list? keep reading to find out!

(all images via today and people)

this post is short and sweet, but i must be getting to class! have a great thursday everyone! we are almost to the weekend! 

xoxo,

clp

healthier no-bake cookies + big little lies

can i get a "go vols"?! last nights game was just too much! i wish i could have been there, but with the weather, i was happy to watch the vols beat the gamecocks from the warmth of my apartment, complete with some chili and cornbread!

today i tried out a new dessert recipe (lord help me and my sweet tooth...)! no-bake cookies (or doodoo balls as i have been known to call them) are my absolute favorite cookies, but unfortunately what they do to my waistline is not my favorite. i have come across many recipes for "healthified no-bakes" and today i decided to test one out! they are still cooling on my counter, so i can't say how they taste, but they sure do look delicious!

healthier no-bake cookies

1 ripe banana, mashed

1 cup Splenda

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup unsweetened original almond milk

1/2 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)

1 tsp vanilla 

3 cups old fashioned oats

1. place all ingredients except vanilla and oats in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring & being sure to not let the milk burn. 
2. allow the mixture to melt together and to boil for 1 minute. remove from heat and let cool for 1 minute. 
3. stir in vanilla and oats until well-combined with mixture. 
4. drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool to room temperature. 

(slightly adapted from eating bird food) 

a week or two ago i finished liane moriarty's newest novel, big little lies. engaging from page one, the novel follows the politics of a coastal beach town preschool's parents. the book has both light and dark moments, leaving the reader shocked with each page turn. following three women at crossroads in their lives, big little lies is a clever take on ex-husbands, second wives, children and scandal, all centered around a schoolyard. add this to your library as soon as you can! 

xoxo,

clp 

costume reveal + its birthday month

with november comes the start of birthday month! my birthday is two weeks from tomorrow so of course the festivities i plan for myself are beginning! last night, i didn't do any trick or treating or halloween partying, but i did dress up! as i posted yesterday, i was holly golightly and i think my costume turned out great, especially given the fact that at 5 PM yesterday i had yet to make the mask!

j. crew endless shirt and leggings, c. wonder smoking slippers, cynthia rowley tassel earrings

i was originally supposed to be on my way to columbia, south carolina, right now to cheer on the vols. however, because of the weather, we cancelled our trip and i think it may have been a blessing in disguise. i think i would have been a popsicle by the end of the game. these past few weeks have been very busy with school and studying, and a relaxing weekend with no home game seems to be what i needed. today, i am going to see gone girl finally and then going to watch the game at a friend's apartment! no tests next week so i am certainly looking forward to a less crazy week! 

stay warm everyone and go vols! 

xoxo,

clp

happy halloween + DIY costume

happy halloween y'all! though i may be too old to go door-to-door trick or treating like in the good ole days, i'm not too old to play dress up! because as kate spade says, "playing dress up begins at age five and truly never ends." so, after many costume considerations, this year i decided to be audrey hepburn as miss holly golightly from breakfast at tiffany's. and no, not the typical pearls and black dress holly, but the sleepy but still fabulous holly, eye mask and all.

(source: calder clark)

since i had the grand idea to be miss audrey just this morning (i had originally planned to just be a cat), i didn't have the time to order the mask. instead, i found this DIY from martha stewart and got my crafty skills going! i think it really turned out well and also had the bonus of costing under $15 and being easy to make! 

stay tuned tomorrow for the full costume reveal! 

xoxo,

clp

almond butter banana muffins

today, in my quest to do anything but study, i whipped up some muffins! i had some bananas that had turned quite quickly so i wanted to use them in something rather than just freeze them! i came across a few recipes until finally settling on this easy, quick and healthy one! they are grain-free and oil-free as well as having no butter! i plan on topping mine with some truwhip or cream cheese frosting tonight for dessert, but these are certainly healthy enough for breakfast or a snack!

almond butter banana muffins

1/4 cup almond butter (or nut butter of choice)

2 ripe bananas

1 egg

1 tbsp honey

3/4 cup oats

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1. preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray six muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. 
3. pour batter into muffin tins, evenly distributing between all six.
4. bake for 12 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. 
5. allow to cool before removing from pan, store in airtight container for up to one week or freeze. 

(recipe adapted from running with spoons)

bake and enjoy! 

xoxo,

clp

my take on business professional

well, i'm always one to stand out when it comes to my clothing choices. today for an important, nerve-racking presentation for one of my classes we were required to dress business professional. when i was told this, my first thought immediately was "oh yay! a new fancy outfit!" last weekend, with the help of my favorite personal stylist at j. crew green hills, katie, i was able to snag this gorgeous tweed dress! so while everyone else was in the typical black business suit, i chose to stand out in this lovely little number. better yet, it will be a great dress for glitzing up with accessories for the coming winter months!

j. crew mixed tweed dress, steve madden pumps

its bama weekend y'all! here's to hoping for an upset! go vols!

xoxo,
clp

fall fashion finds

fall break wouldn't have been complete without a trip to my favorite place, and hopefully future home, nashville. driving into nashville felt like coming home. anyway, a stop at LEONA was necessary and a walk around green hills mall was essential. (p.s., mom and i ate at Table 3 right near the mall - so good! delicious food and we felt like we were in france the whole time!) needless to say we did some damage on 12 South and at the mall! scroll on for a few of my favorite finds from friday that i can't wait to wear and some i hope to see in my closet soon!

LEONA trouble free t

LEONA long sleeve hello darlin' tee

j. crew asymmetrical zip pencil skirt in wool 

j. crew regent blazer with beaded collar

tory burch macy vest 

c. wonder southern belle novelty slipper

shop happy my friends! 

xoxo,

clp