thursday is the new friday & a recipe

at least for me anyway! i feel like i hardly went to class at all this week between the snow day and then not having class tomorrow. but i'm not complaining! coursework in my classes is starting to really get rolling and this weekend i can already tell will be partly filled with studying and working on some assignments!

i have majorly been craving some peanut butter pie but i know that my waistline doesn't need it (my favorite is from ye olde steakhouse - it is a sin to go there and not at least bring home a slice). so, to silence my craving, today i made a healthy peanut butter pie. this pie is oil-free, sugar-free, low-sodium and vegetarian! it really is delicious and i promise it tastes almost as good as the real thing.

healthy no-bake peanut butter pie

1/2 c Better 'N' Peanut Butter

1/2 c regular creamy peanut butter

3 medium bananas 

1 tbsp vanilla

1 tbsp Splenda granulated sugar

1/3 c dark chocolate chips (optional, for topping) 

1. blend everything together except chocolate chips until very smooth in a blender or large food processor. 
2. pour into a prepared pie crust (recipe for a homemade graham cracker crust below) evenly. 
3. optional: melt dark chocolate chips in microwave. drizzle over pie filling. (i used a fork to make a swirl with mine)
4. place in freezer until firm. 
5. pie should be kept cold. you can keep it in the freezer and thaw before eating. 

(recipe slightly adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie)

healthy homemade graham cracker crust

1 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs (or 10 graham cracker sheets)

3 tbsp milk of choice

1. in  a food processor, process crackers or crumbs into fine crumbles. 
2. add in milk of choice and process again to combine. 
3. pour the now sticky crumbs into a pie pan and press down very firmly (i just used my hands) to evenly spread crust on bottom of pie pan. 
4. if making a no-bake pie, simply pour pie filling over crust. there is no need to pre-bake this crust either - just pour desired pie filling on top and bake according to recipe.  

(recipe courtesy of Chocolate Covered Katie)

make this as a weekend treat you won't regret eating! it is a seasonless dessert and keeps well. i can't wait to bite into it later tonight! 

xoxo,

clp

j. crew february style guide favorites

new lilly pulitzer yesterday and new j. crew today! add in a snow day (partly self-given) and it doesn't get much better! so on this snow day, i am sipping coffee and perusing the new arrivals! like with previous style guides, j. crew gave a sneak peak  of the february style guide on pinterest. below are some of my favorites from the style guide, in stores today! 

 perfect shirt in floral foulard worn with the Collection circle skirt in nightgarden floral

flower sleeve sweater

silk dress in antique floral

vintage denim jacket in patina wash worn with the Collection silk pant in abstract coral print

embroidered stripe tunic

 merino triple-stripe elbow patch sweater

lightweight merino tunic sweater

(all images via j. crew's pinterest)

how fab is the collection! and you know it will only get better as they release more in the coming months! i see a wish list being sent to my personal stylist at green hills, katie, very soon (seriously, they are gifts from God)! i feel like this collection is a great blend of the j. crew we all know and love, with many of the spring trends seen at the spring fashion shows thrown in. many of the pieces have great spring-to-summer and day-to-night transitions that make them applicable to any occasion! 

well, now that i have lusted over both the lilly and j. crew spring collections, i guess i am going to have to actually do some schoolwork on this cold day. i am thankful that my teachers take their students' safety into consideration and cancel class when the roads are sketchy (i did manage, however, to make it to kroger and the gym today - call me crazy). i am certainly thinking of those that  had it way worse than east tennessee and am hoping that all my readers stay safe and warm! 

xoxo,clp

lilly pulitzer spring 14 favorites

there are no words. i am love-love-loving lilly pulitzer's first round of spring 2014 collection! with these frigid temps we are currently having, the collection certainly has me dreaming of spring! the prints are amazing as always and the silhouettes are lilly classics with a modern twist. i can certainly see myself in many of the pieces - i am actually going to wear the ashlynn keyhole detail maxi dress for my sorority's carnation ball this spring! but without further ado, below are my top five favorites!

ashlynn keyhole detail maxi dress

yvette wrap dress

robyn short sleeve dress

 

delia shift dress

iona shell

i obviously love the shift silhouette and the boxy shell silhouette. i have found that both are flattering for my body shape and the shell works well with multiple pairings when looking for bottoms! i can see myself wearing some of the newest pieces to my internship this summer because they are perfect for business casual in the south! 

xoxo,

clp

two healthy dessert recipes

i am a sucker for sweets. i can resist just about any savory food, but when it comes to something sweet, i have a hard time saying no (but in all actuality, lately i've had a hard time saying no to food in general). after supper, my sweet-tooth aches for something and a glass of cold milk. i have tried many "healthy" dessert recipes and some of them definitely were thrown in the trash but some of them have turned out to be really good. another tip for sweet-tooth problems is to just make half-batches of sweets so that there aren't as many to be tempted by and to substitute with healthier ingredients (like applesauce or banana for eggs and oil, whole wheat flour for white flour).

i have made both these recipes in the last week and they are both really good! don't veto the first recipe until you try it! i know you are going to read through the ingredients and immediately think i am crazy for saying that its good, but it really is! i even have two of my roommates approval! the second recipe is a little bit healthier spin on haystacks, which are usually made with chow-mein noodles. the recipe below has some extra protein and fiber that regular haystacks don't have!

healthy cookie bars

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 c regular oats 

1/4 c unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla 

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 c Splenda Brown Sugar Blend (or 1/2 c regular brown sugar)

1/2 c mix-in of choice (chocolate chips, craisins, m&m's, etc.)

1. spray 8x8 pan with Pam and set aside. preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. place all ingredients, except mix-in, in a blender or food processor. process until mixture is smooth. stir in mix-in of choice. 
3. spread evenly into pan. cook for 25-30 minutes. let stand for about 10 minutes before serving.
4. store leftovers in refrigerator in an airtight container. microwave for 30 seconds to reserve. 

(recipe slightly adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie)

healthier haystacks

1 bag butterscotch chips (or chocolate chips)

1/3 c peanut butter (creamy or crunchy) 

1 pouch (3 3/4 c) Fiber One Original Bran Cereal

1. line cookies sheets with wax/parchment paper.
2. in a large microwavable bowl, melt peanut butter and butterscotch chips on high for 1 minute, stirring every thirty seconds. repeat until melted thoroughly and smooth. 
3. stir in cereal until well coated. drop mixture by rounded spoonful onto wax paper. refrigerate or let sit until haystacks are firm. 
4. store in airtight container. 

(recipe slightly adapted from Fiber One)

these recipes are great for the sweet tooth in all of us. they won't do terrible damage to your diet or your waistline and they are tasty as well. everyone has to indulge every once in a while and both these recipes allow you to do so more often! make these as a treat to start your work week off right!

xoxo,

clp

favorite friday finds

so i have been pretty good about not spending my money on things i don't need and sticking to a budget which was one of my new years resolutions! however, last weekend i went home so, of course, a trip to green hills ensued. mom and i went saying we weren't going to buy anything but next thing we knew, we had shopping bags in our hands! nonetheless, it was all for spring and getting ready for our cruise so we passed the purchases off as acceptable! today i also treated myself to a big-girl purchase since i landed a dreamy internship earlier this week. once again, i am not your typical college student and instead of celebrating by going out or another typical young adult way, i went to one of my favorite home decor boutiques in knoxville, fig and company, and bought myself a ghost chair! i have drooled over ghost chairs for quite some time and i finally found one in my budget!  i love how you can combine them with both modern and traditional decor and they mesh seamlessly! i can't wait to put it in my apartment next year! below are my favorite finds as of late!

dolce vita niro sandal 

tory burch vesper top

tory burch brinda tee 

kate spade brighton rock collar necklace 

my ghost chair! 

i think i need to join shopaholics anonymous because i just can't seem to keep myself away from the stores! new lilly pulitzer and j. crew spring collections should be coming out in the next week or so... fingers are crossed for self-control! happy weekend everyone! 

xoxo,

clp

summer internship news & a recipe

i have been on Cloud 9 ever since Monday! i am so excited to tell y'all that i will be interning this summer for LEONA in nashville! this internship is everything i could ask for... i will be working on the business side of the label, getting a hands-on experience about everything that goes on behind-the-scenes. and to top off how fabulous it is, LEONA's offices and boutique are located on 12 South in Nashville! one of my favorite cities of all time! i don't know if i could have asked for more. that being said, i am currently in the market for a summer sublease!

the other night at home i made a delicious fall and winter recipe that is healthy, flavorful and filling! i altered it a bit from the original recipe i found on The Novice Chef. her recipe was good but i found a few shortcuts to take and it was still delicious! it served the four of us perfectly, along with sliced roasted acorn squash, brussel sprouts and wild rice!

spiced pork tenderloin with sautéed apples

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp coriander

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp thyme

1 lb lean pork tenderloin, trimmed of fat and cut crosswise into 12 pieces

1 apple, sliced and chopped into smaller pieces

2 large shallots, sliced

1/2 c chopped onions

1/3 c apple cider vinegar

1. heat a large, sprayed skillet over medium high heat. place pork in skillet and sprinkle spices evenly over pork. stir to coat well. cook pork until done.
2. when pork is close to desired doneness, add apple, shallots, and onion and apple cider vinegar. cook until apples are crisp yet tender. stir to mix flavors together well and add more seasonings if needed. 

this week was super short for me! just three days! i really like not having friday classes thats for sure! i get to run all my errands on fridays now and truly do relaxing stuff on the actual weekend! tomorrow i have an advising appointment for my senior year which is so strange to think about! i'll also be trying to stay warm... i have had enough of old man winter and am ready for some above-freezing temperatures! y'all stay as warm as you can!

xoxo,

clp

chapter OOTD

instead of meeting on monday night, we had chapter meeting tonight because of the MLK holiday. its beyond cold and getting colder so it was a boots and fur vest kind of outfit! i also wore a shirt i got for christmas from Leona and it could not be more "me" because of the shoe print! 

june fur vest, leona shoe print blouse, j. crew pixie pants, vince camuto boots 

to top off the outfit for the cold, i bundled up in my j. crew pink coat, cashmere scarf and cashmere-lined leather gloves! 

hope everyone has a good of a long weekend as i did! there was not a moment spent that wasn't enjoyable and i am already missing my family! luckily, i get to see them quite often and daddy will be up here for winter parent's weekend soon! 

xoxo, 

clp

saturday OOTD

today was such a perfect day! all four of us went to nashville to do some shopping around and have a nice dinner out! it worked out great that tennessee basketball played midday, so phillip and dad dropped mom and i off at the mall and they found a place to watch the game so we could shop to our hearts' content! for supper, we had an early dinner at whiskey kitchen and it was one of the best meals i have had in nashville! i would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good meal! today's OOTD was perfect for shopping and warm! the necklace i borrowed from mom today and i could not tell you how many compliments i got on it! it was just elephantastic!

tory burch cashmere tunic, anthropologie corduroy leggings, tory burch reva flats, j. crew necklace (close-up below) 

xoxo,

clp

soup, scandal & sheath cake

happy long weekend! its an extra long weekend for me since i have no classes on fridays this semester! i decided to take advantage of having four days off from school and come home! coming home, even this early in the semester, is always good for me. it gives me a chance to relax before everything at school really gets going. it also helps that i love my home so much. i came home yesterday and it honestly felt like i had only been gone for a day or two. i am so lucky that i have a wonderful home life to come home to.

today was spent getting beautified i guess you could say. i hit the MAC for my favorites classes and then went to get my eyebrows done and my haircut. i'm one of those types that only trusts my haircutter here so i have to get it cut when i am home!

i also got to spend the afternoon with one of my absolute favorite people in the world, my grandmother. today's freezing cold temperatures meant soup was on the menu and nothing beats mawsie's vegetable soup. i asked her to come help me make her vegetable soup so i could learn from the best. i love spending time with my mawsie. i am not sure if she knows how much i love visiting with her and how much of an inspiration she is to me. she has done so much in her life that i can only hope to do.

i can't exactly fit in her lap anymore, but i know she is always there for me. and though i did more observing than actually making today, the soup turned out perfect and now i know the method to the magical-ness that is her vegetable soup! of course, vegetable soup is not complete without cornbread so granny's cornbread it had to be! the lowe family recipes are getting good use today! 

i hope everyone is staying warm! i have just about had it with these extremely cold temperatures. if you know me well, you know that i am always cold so i have been bundled and layered up the past few days! tonight i will certainly have the fire on. along with the fire burning and vegetable soup, tonight's agenda includes season three of Scandal! mom and i are almost caught up! i also will be treating myself to a piece (or two) of my mama's chocolate sheath cake (courtesy of my mawsie actually), which is a family favorite! we made it last night as a treat since i came home for the weekend and i could hardly wait for the icing to cool! 

chocolate sheath cake

1. mix together 2 cups flour and 2 cups sugar. 
2. bring 1 stick margarine, 1/4 cup shortening, 4 tbsp cocoa and 1 cup water to a boil in a saucepan.
3. add 2 beaten eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp vanilla. 
4. mix ingredients well and pour into greased pan.
5. bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes. 
6. 5 minutes before the cake is done, melt together 1 stick margarine, 4 tbsp cocoa and 6 tbsp sweet milk. bring to a boil.
7. remove from heat and add 1 box powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. beat well. add 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts are our favorite).
8. spread over cake, allow to cool and serve! 

next to mom's strawberry cake this is a favorite! not healthy at all but you have to indulge every once in a while! enjoy y'all!

xoxo,

clp

what i ate wednesday & recipes

breakfast: the best meal of the day in my opinion! it is certainly my favorite meal and it should be yours too! if you eat breakfast, you are less likely to be overweight and less likely to overeat later in the day. eating a balanced breakfast, with a protein, carb and fruit/vegetable, is proven to lead to healthier choices later in the day and correct portion sizes. eat within an hour of waking up to get your metabolism up and running for the day!

i could eat breakfast foods for every meal of the day, which i actually did today. breakfast consisted of my favorite cereal from trader joe's, bran flakes, almond milk, cinnamon and banana and blueberries. it was perfect to to get me through my workout! for lunch i tried out a recipe i have seen multiple times floating around on pinterest and it was delicious and filling. try this for either breakfast or lunch and i promise you will stay full for hours (since i had it for lunch, i also had a sliced apple and some peanut butter)

egg white steel cut oats

3/4 cup liquid of choice (i used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)

1/3 cup williams-sonoma steel cut oats

1/4 cup egg whites

1 tbsp cinnamon 

1 tsp vanilla

1 banana, sliced

1 tbsp crushed pecans

1 tsp chia seeds

1. bring liquid to boil in small pot. add in steel cut oats and egg whites and reduce heat to medium low and allow to simmer for 3 minutes. 
2. remove from heat and allow to sit for 2 minutes. stir in remaining ingredients and serve warm! 

*this recipe can easily be modified for whatever oats you have on hand. just cook one serving size according to package directions and follow recipe above. 

for supper tonight, pancakes just sounded like music to my ears. nothing else i had in my pantry floated my boat so i decided to whip this single serving pancake recipe, serving with it sliced fruit and 2 slices of canadian turkey bacon for protein. i have been pinning many pancake recipes on my breakfast, lunch and dinner board and this one was calling my name since i had cored pineapple in my fridge! 

single-serving pineapple-upside-down pancakes

1/3 cup whole wheat pastry or whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp Splenda granulated sugar

1/3 cup milk of choice (i used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)

2 tsp vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla

2 pineapple rings

1. in a mixing bowl, stir together all ingredients to form a batter. 
2. spray a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. 
3. when the skillet is hot, reduce heat to medium-low and drop 1/4 cup of batter onto skillet. spread lightly then place one pineapple round in the middle, pushing down just a little into the batter. repeat with remaining batter and pineapple.  
4. flip pancakes with edges become brown and are able to flip without breaking. continue cooking until desired done-ness is reached. (makes 2 thick pancakes) 
5. serve with blueberry syrup (make by heating frozen blueberries over meadium-high heat and mashing with wooden spoon) and greek yogurt cream cheese spread! 

(recipe courtesy of Chocolate Covered Katie)

even though i have only been in knoxville for a little over a week, i am heading back home tomorrow! since i don't have classes on fridays and monday is a holiday, i have a four day weekend ahead of me! i am looking forward to seeing my parents and brother, and even my cat, and just spending some time at home! 

xoxo,

clp 

easy-peasy trail mix recipe & a deal

trail mix is such a good go-to snack! however, the pre made trail mix at the store often contains too salty nuts, too sugary dried fruits, and chocolate without the health benefits. so, instead of buying the store's trail mix, i dare you to make your own! it really is one of the easiest things you can make... so easy a kid could do it! the recipe below is my favorite version and i am often finding myself replenishing it! it can easily be adapted to fit your tastes and easily doubled or tripled! i usually keep mine in a plastic container so it is easily accessible for snacks! (just make sure you don't eat too much - while nuts are good for you, they can be high in calories so make sure to keep it to a single serving)

trail mix

1/2 c unroasted, unsalted almonds

1/2 c unroasted, unsalted peanuts

1/2 c reduced sugar craisins

1/2 c unsweetened banana chips

1/4 c unroasted, unsalted sunflower seeds

1/4 c white chocolate chips

1/4 c dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs

1. combine ingredients (i often just make it in the container i plan on keeping it in) and mix well! 

i also wanted to share with my knoxville readers an amazing deal if you are looking for a good workout! Barre 3 Knoxville is celebrating their second anniversary and they are offering their clients an awesome deal on Groupon! 4 classes for $39 - an $80 value! i definitely jumped on it because i really enjoyed the Barre3 class i went to! Click here for the deal!

xoxo,

clp

a healthy college student's dream recipe

what college student hasn't whipped up some hamburger helper? its easy to make and budget friendly. sounds great until you look at the nutrition label... unfortunately, amidst its cheesiness and noodles, there is high sodium content and high carbs as well as other unhealthy ingredients. still, even i get the craving for some good ole hamburger helper! so after much searching, i found this gem amidst the copycat recipes and i have to say it is delicious! i didn't change it one bit and i made a salad to go along side it. there was no post-dinner guilt with this hamburger helper!

better-for-you homemade hamburger helper

1 lb extra lean ground beef

2.5 cups skim milk

1.5 cups hot water

2 cups dry whole meat macaroni (or pasta of choice)

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp Splenda

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

1.25 cups low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

1. heat a large, sprayed skillet over medium-high heat. add the ground beef and brown until the meat is cooked through, breaking with a wooden or plastic spoon, and no longer pink.
2. add the pasta, milk, water, cornstarch and spices. stir to combine and bring to a boil. once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer. cover and cook for 12 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. 
3. add in cheese and stir until cheese has melted and combined. serve immediately.

(recipe courtesy of Prevention RD)

give this recipe a try and i guarantee you won't be picking up a box of hamburger helper at the store again! its quick, mistake-proof and easy on the wallet too! 

xoxo,

clp 

zucchini banana bread recipe

happy friday! one week of 2014 down, 51 more to go! i am happy that the beyond freezing temperatures are gone for now and am hoping that as the days keep getting longer, the temperatures keep rising! i wanted to post this zucchini banana bread recipe that i made last night. it was a healthy alternative to the cupcake i was really craving but it was just perfect for dessert when warmed up and with a dollop of greek yogurt cream cheese on it!

zucchini banana bread

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup shredded zucchini (about 1/2 to 3/4 of a medium size zucchini)

1/2 cup plain greek yogurt

1/2 cup applesauce

1 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour or whole wheat flour (or a combination of the two)

1 egg

1/2 cup Splenda granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp basking soda

1/2 cup mix-in of choice (chocolate chips, walnuts, etc.) 

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. set aside. 
2. in a medium-size mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, except mix-in, and mix until smooth.
3. blend in mix-in of choice. 
4. pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. 
5. keep in airtight container in refrigerator. to serve, warm in the microwave for about 30 seconds. 

(recipe slightly adapted from Healthfull Ever After)

i know i am going to enjoy having my fridays off this semester. today i was able to sell some clothes to plato's grab some essentials at target, and shop the great home sale that anthropologie is having. i picked up some fabulous things for my apartment next year - at a major discount! as of right now, it looks like my friday night is consisting of some Netflix-ing and some Kindle-ing with a slice of zucchini banana bread! i am going to take it easy before the semester really gets going! have a happy weekend y'all! 

xoxo,

clp 

lilly pulitzer for the home

today is friday for me! as of 12:25, it was officially the weekend! i think i am really going to enjoy having no friday classes this semester... too bad jobs aren't just monday through thursday! but between yesterday and today i have been to all my classes, printed all my syllabi and bought my books so i am ready to roll for this semester. hopefully it will be a good one here on rocky top!

i posted some of my new year's resolutions previously but i wanted to add a more recent one that i did not share. another one of my resolutions this year is to put my self more on a budget and control my spending. so far i have done okay, but with the new resort and spring collections coming out, i know i am going to have a harder time! my mottos are going to be "spend less and wear more" and "quality over quantity." there are a few things i may treat myself to with christmas gift cards, but besides that, i am going to try to wear what i already have since most of it has only been worn once or still has the tags on it! i am lucky enough to be able to wear, in my opinion, fabulous clothes so i think they need to be put on display more and i believe i shouldn't buy something just because it is the newest thing! fingers are crossed that i can keep to this resolution y'all! 

as most of you know, i love Lilly Pulitzer. one of my favorite things about the brand is that they are not just clothing. they partner with other companies to produce items ranging from iPhone chargers to shower curtains. Garnet Hill is one of the companies that Lilly partners with and they just released their newest collection of Lilly bedding and bath! i can definitely see some of the following in my apartment next year!

perfectly printed percale bedding collection

well-connected cotton rug

sister florals towels

happy thursday y'all! tomorrow is friday which means it will be the weekend for everyone! have a good one! 

xoxo,

clp 

tuesday target finds & a recipe

tomorrow i start my spring semester of my junior year. how weird is that?! really though, the time is flying by! i came back up to knoxville on sunday to beat the weather and not get stuck in murfreesboro so i have been spending the past two days getting back in the swing of things. trader joe's, publix and target have all been crossed off my to-do list and i think i am ready to start the semester! hopefully it won't be as bitterly cold tomorrow when i have to trek to class - these single digit temperatures getting to me! last night for dinner i was really craving spaghetti squash and italian so what better than to break out the crockpot on such a cold monday? this recipe is so easy and could be done in the morning before going off to work! it is healthy and can be made a variety of ways but the beauty of it is that everything cooks at the same time in one pot! i made a salad to round off the meal and it was delicious! 

crockpot spaghetti squash and meatballs

1 spaghetti squash, cut in half and seeds removed

4-5 meatballs per person (i used frozen, but you can use homemade if you want)

2 cans diced tomatoes 

3 cloves minced garlic

1/3 cup chopped onion

italian seasoning, black pepper, etc., to taste

1. in a large crockpot, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic and spices. 
2. place spaghetti squash cut side down in tomatoes.
3. spread meatballs around spaghetti squash.
4. cook on low for 4-5 hours, until meatballs are cooked through and spaghetti squash is tender. 
5. remove spaghetti squash and shred with fork. 
6. serve meatballs with tomato sauce over spaghetti squash, topped with cheese if desired.

*instead of meatballs and the canned tomatoes, you could easily use a meat sauce, homemade sauce with vegetables, or even a jarred pasta/marinara sauce of choice (but watch out for high sodium with the latter!).

i just love target. i can/have done some major damage in there, especially when it comes to apartment shopping. yesterday i was at the super target at northshore and had to practice some self-control and get out of there before i drained my bank account. i am moving to a new apartment next year that i get to completely decorate myself so i have started to shop around for decor! target's threshold line is one of my favorites since it is affordable and usually appeals to my style of decorating. the newest threshold collection is so cute and i am already coveting some pieces that i want for next year! the items below are from the threshold white and gold decor collection and the botanic blush collection!

Demijohn Vase

Butterfly Gold Foil Lampshade

Tufted Bench 

Tufted Ottoman 

Oblong Magnolia Decorative Pillow

i hope everyone is staying warm! i am keeping to my warm apartment and since it is the last day of my break, i felt it necessary to stay in my pajama's, watch netflix and read all day! 

xoxo,

clp 

happy birthday daddy!

today is a big day y'all! it is my daddy's birthday! i have a father like no other. i always say that my mom is my best friend and i am my dad made over, which i couldn't be more proud of. i always call him "the mystery man" because i swear i learn something new about him everyday. he is unlike most dads in that he cooks, cleans, is a great bag holder when shopping, is the ultimate handyman, can build just about anything and even did my hair when i was younger ("no bumps daddy!"). he is the reason that my standards are set so high when it comes to men in my life. i will always be his baseball-watching partner, his Tennessee Volunteer, his red-headed, freckle-faced daughter and his little princess no matter what.

xoxo,

clp 

last saturday of break & a recipe

well the time has come. tomorrow i am heading back to foxy-knoxy. the weather is driving me back a day earlier than planned but i am putting my big girl panties on and dealing with it. while speed packing everything up today, i seriously hated my decision to bring the majority of my clothes home. unpacking is going to be a blast tomorrow that's for sure!

i haven't posted lately because of my mom and my newest addiction: Scandal. we are two seasons late jumping on the Scandal train but we are well on our way to getting caught up. we even gave up a trip to nashville just so we could stay home and watch it... can you say addicted much?! there are so many plot twists that each episode leaves us wanting to watch another! but really, if you haven't watched it before, seasons 1 and 2 are on netflix and i highly recommend it! and as a bonus, kerry washington's clothes are perfect and the dream working-girl wardrobe!

i have also been working on one of my new year's resolutions: to read more! i got a kindle for christmas and i absolutely love it! i really do think i am reading more because of my kindle! last week, i finished The Fault in Our Stars and while it was an excellently written story, i did not love it as much as it seems the rest of country does. still, it was a good read! i just started Beautiful Ruins the other night and am not very far into so it is a little slow right now!

tonight we are celebrating my dad's upcoming birthday a few days early since i will be back at school on his actual birthday. we are being quite gourmet in my opinion and are having lobster and steak, quinoa and kale stuffed portobello mushrooms and roasted brussel sprouts. my mama has made me a brussel sprouts lover over break and i am not complaining! our favorite way to cook them is shared below!

roasted brussel sprouts with goat cheese and cranberries

1 bag brussel sprouts, fresh or frozen

1 cup cranberries, fresh or frozen

balsamic vinegar

garlic powder

pepper

goat cheese 

1. preheat oven to 350. spray a casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. combine brussel sprouts and cranberries in casserole dish. pour desired amount of balsamic vinegar over (but don't drown them!). sprinkle garlic powder and pepper over brussel sprouts and cranberries to taste. stir to coat evenly. 
3. roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes. to serve, sprinkle with goat cheese. 

these are delicious and healthy! tonight i am not including the cranberries but other than that i am fixing them as listed above. we are making a light apple pie for dessert since it isn't dad's actual birthday! 

i have had the best absolute christmas break i could hope for. though i didn't do everything that was on my winter break bucket list, i don't think this break could have been more perfect. classes start wednesday and it is so strange that i will be starting the second semester of my junior year. i am excited to start classes that dive further into my major and can't wait to see all my friends! we also have a new roomie at my apartment whom i can't wait to start living with! with that being said, i have gone too long without watching Scandal so netflix is calling my name! 

xoxo,

clp

happy 2014! & a recipe

2014 is here! i celebrated mine with my parents at home in front of the fire and my ankle in a brace (thanks to me missing a step a few nights ago - if a sprained ankle hurts this bad, i can't even imagine a broken one).! i know that doesn't sound like the usual 21-year-old NYE, but i'm not exactly the typical 21-year-old when it comes to partying...

to ring in the new year, last night we had authentic chicken tamales, homemade guacamole and salsa with sliced veggies (i cut up jicama and bell peppers to use instead of chips... saves both carbs and calories!). we then had our annual chocolate fondue as a NYE treat, complete with cubed angel food cake, pineapple and strawberries! (back to healthy eating tomorrow, right!?) NYE has never been a favorite holiday of mine so i may have been asleep before it actually struck midnight here, but i did ring in the new year with NYC... this old woman couldn't keep her eyes open another minute! nonetheless, it was the perfect way to end 2013 and to welcome 2014!

i don't totally understand the concept of new year's resolutions because i think if you want to make a change or start something new, you shouldn't have to wait until January 1st to do so. however, i am jumping on the resolution train and making a few. in 2014, i resolve to:

1. continue "documenting" my life by taking pictures more
2. continue to eat healthy and maintain a healthy lifestyle and weight
3. relax a little & stress less 
4. socialize more 
5. travel more 
6. read more
7. work towards achieving my career goals 
8. stay organized and purge the unnecessary 
9. step outside my comfort zone 
10. just be happy

it may be a cliché, generalized list of resolutions but i think they are good starts to living the life i want to live. 

tonight for supper we are feasting on traditional new year's foods for good luck in the new year. we always make a big new years day supper and my grandparents come over to munch on the good luck with us! our menu this year includes:

• pork tenderloin, so that we can embrace the challenges and adventures that await us 
• black eyed peas, to bring prosperity  
• greens, to bring wealth (recipe below) 
• cornbread, also to bring prosperity 
• baked squash casserole, just because we like it

new year's day greens

6 Canadian bacon slices, chopped
1 sweet onion, chopped
1 16 0z package fresh greens of choice (turnip, mustard, collard or mixed)
1 12 oz. can light beer
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp butter spread
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

1. sauté onion and bacon in large dutch oven over medium-high heat until onion is tender.
2. add greens in batches and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted. 
3. stir in beer and bring to a boil.
4. reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 25 minutes. stir in remaining ingredients. 

(recipe courtesy of Southern Living)

here's to more happiness, more smiles, more sparkle, more laughter and more love. happy 2014 y'all.

xoxo,

clp