italian stuffed peppers recipe

today's post is short partly because i honestly don't have much to say and because i should really be studying! but i wanted to share this healthy and easy recipe with y'all!

italian stuffed peppers

4 large bell peppers (green is best in this recipe, but any color will do)

1 cup brown rice

1 cup chopped onion

4 links spicy italian chicken sausage (pre-cooked and diced)

2 tsp minced garlic

pepper, italian seasonings, to taste

shaved parmesan or cheese of choice, for topping

1. cook rice according to package directions and set aside.
2. preheat oven to 375. 
3. trim bottom of bell peppers so that they have a flat surface to stand up on. then cut a portion of the stem end of the peppers off. remove seeds and membrane from pepper. place hollowed-out peppers in a cooking dish sprayed with non-stick spray. 
4. remove stem part from tops of peppers and then dice pepper caps. sauté all ingredients except for hollowed out peppers, rice and cheese in a non-stick saucepan. cook until peppers and onions are soft and sausage is browned. 
5. add cooked rice to pan and mix with pepper and sausage. add more seasonings if needed. cook long enough to warm. 
6. divide the filling evenly among the four bell peppers. firmly pack the mixture into the peppers. sprinkle with cheese of choice.
7. bake at 375 for about 30 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and is slightly brown and peppers are soft. 
8. serve hot with a side salad to round out the meal! 

(slightly adapted from Kalyn's Kitchen)

my whole family liked this recipe and i easily made it just for myself recently. it can easily be adapted for any cuisine and made vegetarian by subbing beans or mushrooms in place of the sausage. 

this weekend has been a bit on the boring side but i am to blame for that since i am not one to invite myself places and since i am not a big partier. however, it is probably good that i haven't done much because the weekends coming up are full from now until forever it seems! i like to be busy though and have been known to go stir-crazy so i am looking forward to all the events coming up! have a wonderful start to the week!

xoxo,

clp 

friday favorites

it has been far too long since i have posted some friday favorites! i thought today i would include a little bit of everything, from activewear to nail polish! this post is a bit short, but i haven't been able to do my normal online perusing lately!

• i love target's champion athletic wear. it is hard for me to go into target and not come out without a new top to sport to the gym or around campus! my latest purchase was this pullover and it may be my favorite buy yet! it is so comfortable and lightweight! i throw it on with some yoga pants, over a long-sleeve, tank or short sleeve and have even thrown on a scarf with it! 

• LaRoque for belk: i came across the clothing label LaRoque on pinterest last year and have been obsessed ever since. based in columbia, south carolina, the brand is southern and classic but with a modern twist - my kind of clothes. the designer, annabelle laroque, won a competition and her line is being featured at belk this spring. the melissa backless dress is my favorite piece from the collection! 

• lately i have become a bit of a nail polish junkie (but isn't every girl?). this spring i am loving the pastel shades and new nudes! essie is always a favorite nail polish brand of mine and i love their new spring collection! my toes are currently sporting "spin the bottle" - perfect for spring until i decide to go bright for summer! 

• kate spade never fails to make me lust over everything they make. currently, i am loving their newest additions to their home accessories collection. i love everything in this collection but this trinket tray really caught my eye! there are also picture frames, salt and pepper shakers and flower vases that match!  

• i have also become a makeup junkie of sorts! i am no guru at all but i have found some products that i really love! my most favorite right now is guerlain's météorites' pearls! applied with a large powder brush after foundation and blush, they even out your skin tone and give you and amazing glow! they are great for midday touch up too! 

i am happy for the weekend to be here. one more week passed means one more week closer to summer. i am in major need of a new routine and a change. this semester has gotten to me and i need something different. luckily i have an amazing opportunity this summer at leona and can't wait for the changes it is going to be! tonight, however, i am parking on the couch to watch my vols play in the sweet sixteen! i have had my orange on all day for big orange friday! go vols y'all!

xoxo,

clp

more reading & a recipe

i was quite the reader over spring break! having a kindle makes it so easy to read anywhere because it can fit into any bag and hold countless numbers of books! it also helped that i was on a ship with no outside world contact so i had no other choice! i finished the two books below and am starting john grisham's newest novel, sycamore row. mama read it while on the cruise and could hardly put it down!

• the silent wife by a.s.a. harrison: i read this book on the premise that it was similar to gone girl. i found that it was really interesting and often took surprising turns. harrison writes the novel from two points of view: her and him. the novel follows a couple at a bad place in their not-official marriage and the events that lead to the ultimate ending. the ending caught me off guard and the novel is expertly plotted. it caught my attention from page one! 

• girls in white dresses by jennifer close: i have picked this book up at the store multiple times and finally ordered it on my kindle before spring break! it has been a new york times bestseller since its debut and is a great, easy beach read. it tells the story of three different women, starting in their mid-20's, dealing with love and heartbreak, getting older, family pressures and career changes. with funny backstories and real-life situations, it is a book that is easy to relate to and makes for a great read. 

my book count for the year is now up to six which i think is decent since i also have to read for school! still, it is no where close to how many my mom has read! i am so glad i got at least some of her love for reading in me!

tonight for supper i made a semi-original recipe! it was inspired by whole food's recipe for lentil, butternut squash and collards pie but i modified it quite some bit so i could use ingredients i already had on hand!

black eyed pea, kale and butternut squash pie

3/4 cup black eyed peas

1 9-inch frozen whole wheat pie crust

1 cup cooked and mashed butternut squash (i used frozen) 

3/4 cup frozen kale

1/2 cup skim milk

1/4 cup goat cheese

1/2 cup egg substitute (not egg whites)

pepper and salt, to taste

pepper or tomato relish, chow-chow and hot sauce, for serving 

1. preheat oven to 400. 
2. in pie crust, layer squash, kale and black eyed peas. sprinkle with cheese.
3. combine eggs, milk and salt/pepper in a bowl and whisk until thoroughly mixed. pour egg mixture over pea mixture in pie crust. 
4. bake for 40 minutes or until middle is set. allow to cool before cutting into wedges. serve with pepper or tomato relish, chow-chow and/or hot sauce! 

i think swapping out black eyed peas instead of the lentils adds a nice southern touch! this would also be a great brunch recipe (easter and mother's day are approaching fast!). this week has beyond exhausted me. getting back into the groove after spring break was much harder than i thought! spring break was such a tease but thankfully there isn't much left of this semester. i am missing my mama and daddy, brother and pets very much and can't wait to see them next. i only had one class today so the weekend came early which i am very thankful for! this weekend is consisting of homework and studying (i have so much due next week), barre3, some UT basketball and some relaxation (even though i had a whole week of it last week). hopefully everything will go as planned!

xoxo,

clp

j. crew april style guide favorites

better late than never! the april style guide debuted while i was on the cruise and i have been busy getting back into my normal routine since i have been back in knoxville so this is the first chance i have had to post my favorites! this may be one of my favorite new arrivals release yet - this collection is bright, colorful, light, preppy and southern! everything i love and want in my wardrobe! i have already ordered the seersucker dress and will be counting down the days until i can wear it after easter (that's my rule). the weather needs to warm up ASAP so i can break out the spring wardrobe!

seersucker eyelet shift dress

eyelet shirtdress

eyelet midi skirt

pink geo top

beach pant

jeweled bow top in stripe

(all images via j .crew's pinterest or www.jcrew.com)

spring break was wonderful but such a tease. it has been quite tiring and overwhelming getting back into my school routine and looking ahead at what all is going on! it is hard to believe that there are only five weeks plus exams left of this semester but i must say i won't be sad to see it over and be back in middle tennessee for the summer! this week i am working on schoolwork, trying to organize my life and working off a few of those cruise pounds (but missing those pillow chocolates and desserts). tonight i am going to aubrey's with my bestie, kaitlin, so we can rehash our spring breaks! i always love our girl dates! they are the best way to vent and get a good meal out too!

on another note, my sorority, alpha chi omega, participates annually in Relay for Life here at UT. i am posting the link below to donate to our team so that we can raise money to benefit the American Cancer Society. any amount is much appreciated and every dollar raised brings us one step closer to a world with less cancer and more birthdays and where no more lives are lost to the disease! 

donate by clicking here!

xoxo,

clp

spring break is in the books

well, the spring break of my junior year is in the books. and what a wonderful, couldn't have dreamt it to be any better spring break it was. mom and i flew to miami on saturday and boarded the ship on sunday. from there the phones were turned off and we sailed into the sunny horizon of the caribbean sea towards mexico and the bahamas. after a morning spent in the spa getting a much needed facial and hot stone massage, multiple naps by the pool, plenty of good food (and free ice cream 24-7), a walk through cozumel (mexico is not my favorite place), yoga on the beach at castaway cay and all the disney characters, it safe to say that mom and i had a great time. i am so lucky to have a mother who will take me on a cruise and one that i enjoy spending so much time with. i couldn't thank her more for everything she did for me on the cruise! it was truly the only way i would have wanted to spend my spring break!

i quite enjoyed dressing up in all my summery clothes for dinner so i made sure to document each outfit to share! some things i had saved to wear for the cruise and then other things were favorite outfits that deserved an encore!

tory burch linen tunic, lilly pulitzer white beach pants, dolce vita green heels, lilly pulitzer bangle 

j. crew top and shorts, kork-ease wedge sandals, kate spade necklace 

lilly pulitzer originals whit shift, tory burch sandals

lilly pulitzer print top, lilly pulitzer beach linen pants, jack rogers sandals

j. crew button down and linen skirt, kork-ease wedges, j. crew pineapple necklace

la roque shell, leona blue linen pants, tory burch sandals

lilly pulitzer knit sweater and linen skirt, j. crew orange tank, tory burch sunglasses and sandals 

kate spade shirt, j. crew pixie pants, tory burch reva flats, kate spade necklace

everything went absolutely perfect and mom and i both wore stretchy pants home if that tells you how good the food was. disney cruise line has spoiled me and i don't know if i could go on a different cruise line! daddy met us at the airport and we ate at a nashville favorite, taco mamacita's, for supper then it was home to phillip, stella and sapphire! this morning came early because phillip and i signed up for the Special Kids 5k! we ran on ally davis's team, who is a family friend with down syndrome and one of my favorite people. she is always smiling and cheering on her dad's team, the blue raiders! i finished third in my age group with a time of 27:03, which i was quite proud of since i hadn't run since the last 5k i ran in december! it was fun to run with phillip and also one of my best friends megan and kelsi, who i went to high school with. exercising for a good cause is always a fun thing!

unfortunately it is back to the real world tomorrow (and regular meals). i am headed back to knoxville and will be back home for easter! it hard to believe that there are only about 8 weeks left of this semester! where did the time go? today i am meal planning, unpacking to repack and target-ing. pretty much, today and tomorrow will be spent reorganizing my life! i couldn't have asked for a better spring break and am already looking forward to my next girls trip with my mama! 

xoxo,

clp

p.s. i am back in the sublease market for a place in nashville this summer! let me know if you hear of anything! 

book reviews & leprechaun treats

one of my new years resolutions was to read more. i think i have done well so far since i also have academic reading i have to do for my classes. i have recently finished two books which were both superb! i definitely would recommend them both!

• The Great Santini by Pat Conroy: Pat Conroy is one of my favorite authors and though his books can be a bit dark, they are always great works of fiction. this one follows a marine family through the trials and tribulations of growing up with a marine father in south carolina. i really enjoyed reading it and want to read the new follow-up novel, The Death of Santini, next.
• Zelda: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler: i love any novel set in the roaring 20's so this one has been on my reading list for quite some time. though it is fiction, the characters and much of the story is based on the actual lives of the famous Fitzgerald family. it provides great insight into the troubled saga that was the life of f. scott fitzgerald and his wife, zelda. 

i always like to make festive meals and fun treats for holidays. since i won't be home on st. patrick's day this year, i decided to go ahead and make a fun dessert tonight in honor of the upcoming holiday! these are super simple and all i really did was take skinnytaste's low fat rice krispy treat recipe and changed a few ingredients!

st. patrick's day lucky charms treats

2 tbsp light butter spread

4 cups or 10 oz marshmallows

6 cups lucky charms cereal

1. spray a casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside. 
2. heat a large saucepan over medium heat. melt butter and be sure to coat the bottom of the pan (spraying it with cooking spray wouldn't hurt either).
3. once butter is melted, add in marshmallows and stir until completely melted. remove from heat.
4. stir in lucky charms until completely coated. do this fast before the marshmallows cool! press into casserole dish and allow to cool before cutting (but they are super good if warm and gooey!)

tomorrow mom and i are off on our spring break adventure! we fly out of nashville tomorrow and will board the boat on sunday! i can't believe it is finally here! i am packed and ready to go and counting down until takeoff tomorrow. i promise to share our trip stories when i return home next weekend! here's to safe and happy travels! 

xoxo,

clp 

bbq chicken pizza for one

nature and i are no longer friends. the past few days i have gotten to deal with more creatures than i would ever want to. the most recent was the mouse, which i got to see both alive and dead, caught in a trap. the ten seconds i spent trying to figure out what to do once i saw it staring at me from the pantry shelf would probably win a prize on america's funniest home videos. the fact that i used a pack of paper bags and a roll of aluminum foil as my defense against a mouse further solidifies the fact that my life is a joke. nonetheless, the evil mouse that eats our food was caught by the trap and fingers are crossed that we have no more little visitors!

tonight for supper i am having a quick and easy, simple meal. i have been craving bbq chicken pizza so i decided to give into my cravings in a better-for-me way. it was much healthier than the usual bbq chicken pizza found at restaurants and was just right for supper along with a salad, made up of grapefruit, strawberries and grapes!

bbq chicken pizza for one

1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded

1 flat-out flatbread (i used multigrain with flax) 

2 tbsp barbecue sauce (i used sweet baby ray's)

spinach

chopped onions 

chopped bell pepper

shredded cheddar cheese 

1. heat oven to 350. spray flat-out flatbread with cooking spray and bake in oven for about 7 minutes. remove from oven.
2. top flatbread with barbecue sauce and then toppings. 
3. return to oven and cook for about 10 minutes, until crust is crispy and cheese has melted. 
4. cut and serve! 

*other/additional toppings such as avocado, black beans, bacon, corn, apple, hummus, pineapple and/or cilantro would be good as well! 

tomorrow i am headed home for spring break! i could not be more excited to be home, for the cruise and to get out of knoxville! i feel like a break is much needed for everyone. i also cannot wait to meet miss stella! unfortunately, i packed up most of what i want to take with me on the cruise and i already have a packing problem... i still have yet to pack some essentials and the suitcase is already full and most likely over the weight limit... the two days before we leave are going to be busy, spent beautifying myself with nail, hair and other appointments! this girl is in desperate need of some TLC! 

xoxo,

clp

weekend with the parents OOTD

my mama and daddy are in foxy knoxy this weekend and i could not be happier! i definitely need some daddy, mommy and daughter time after the awful past week-plus i have had. i feel like i have complained more than usual on here but it really has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad past few days. really though, if it wasn't one thing, it was another. however, things are looking up! one major test and a few assignments are all that i have to do in terms of schoolwork this week as well as alpha chi omega's annual philanthropy "dodging domestic violence" dodgeball tournament tomorrow  and monday meeting, but other than that, i am pretty much golden for spring break. my test on monday has got me a little stressed but luckily it is at the beginning of the week rather than at the end! spring break cruise outfit ideas and packing list are floating around in my head (along with supply chain management shipping terms) and the fact that i will be in florida this time next week is hard to believe! spring break really crept up on me this year, but i am definitely welcoming it with open arms!

my parents are in knoxville this weekend for their annual spring parent's council meetings. tonight we went to a dinner celebrating the parent's council board members which meant i dressed up for once in my life! i feel like i have gotten quite lazy in terms of dressing nice lately, which i blame on the freezing cold weather we have been having. today it finally warmed up, but i am still wearing tights since my legs are as pale as ever. my outfit tonight was one that katie at j, crew mainly put together for me, however i added some spring touches to it to bring it into march and make it work for these warmer temperatures. i am always a fan of peplum and pink by themselves so this outfit with both of them together is a win!

j. crew peplum top, j. crew pink wool a-line skirt, kate spade sparkle tights, kate spade collar necklace, ivanka trump booties

on another note, we have a new addition to our family! phillip got a dog this weekend and i could not be more excited! her name is stella and she is a two year old boxer! i can wait to meet her when i get home on thursday! phillip will certainly have his hands full but it will be so nice to have a dog back in residence! 

don't forget to spring forward tonight! i am certainly looking forward to that extra hour of daylight in the evening and will most certainly be okay with losing an hour of sleep to get it. wish me luck in studying and cross your fingers i do well on my test monday! happy saturday to all!

xoxo,
clp

coming up for air & a dessert recipe

to say this has been a trying past week and a half is an understatement. i know this is what i signed up for when i came to college, but these past few days have left me both mentally and physically exhausted. today, i finally got to come up for air. yesterday was a marathon day but i came out alive but barely. today is the first day in what seems like ages that i have a chance to relax and breathe a little bit. i do have a test on monday but after that, i am golden. the sunny skies and big boat are calling my name!

i wanted to share a quick, easy and healthy dessert recipe with y'all today. i made this up the other night and it turned out to be really good, especially with a glass of milk on the side! the recipe makes three individual portions, but you could definitely just do it as one big parfait. it is a sugar free, fat free, full of fiber treat that is great for an after dinner treat!

quick and easy individual banana pudding parfaits

1 package sugar-free, fat free banana cream pudding

3/4 cups fiber one original cereal

sliced banana or other fruit for topping

pecans, walnuts, cinnamon, etc. for topping (optional)

1. prepare pudding according to package directions. set aside. 
2. in individual container, layer 1/4 cup fiber one cereal, 1/2 cup pudding and then toppings of choice. repeat with until all ingredients are gone. 
3. serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. the longer it sits, the more mushy the cereal gets.

its an easy recipe than can be adapted to any flavor pudding and fruit combination. this one is great because is resembles classic southern banana pudding without all the calories. try it out and i think you will be pleased with the results! 

since i have no friday classes this semester (which i don't think will happen in the fall) the weekend officially started for me at 12:25. i am definitely looking forward to this weekend since my mama and daddy are coming up for some parent's council meetings. we already have plans to eat at dead end bbq, get a mini-pie from buttermilk sky pie shop and attend the grand opening party at the new lilly pulitzer store, palm village knoxville (which dad will probably sit out)! i just love it when they come up to knoxville for the weekend because i actually go out to eat at some of my favorite places. i still have decided where we will be brunching on sunday but i'm sure it will be delicious! i am counting down the seconds until i get to see my two most favorite people in the world tomorrow! have a great last day and a half of the work week everyone!

xoxo,

clp

p.s. i finally secured a sublease for an apartment this summer in nashville! it may be dangerous that i will be able to walk across the street and be at green hills mall! 

oscar sunday

who is watching the oscars tonight? i hope to catch at least some of it, mainly the red carpet because i love awards season gowns but also i hope to catch some of the actual show because ellen is hosting it. ellen is one of my favorite tv personalities and i love getting the chance to watch her show! if you are watching the oscars, kate spade posted this awards show ballot! print it and see how many you actually get right! may the best picture win!

(image credit kate spade blog)

xoxo,

clp

happy march & leona loves

happy first day of march y'all! spring isn't too far away now! in honor of the first day of march and me being in a major springtime mood, i want to share some of my favorites from LEONA, which i am still over the moon about interning there this summer! the spring collection is fabulous, with cutout details when you wouldn't expect it, removable collars and sheer overlays that transform pieces completely. i am lusting over many pieces and hopefully i will see some hanging in my closet as part of my spring/summer/work wardrobe! 

susan short & peppy top

lewis dress

stripe pencil skirt

camille blouse

hannah top

dot pant

clearly i am tired of coats, scarves and sweaters! spring fashion is calling my name! today feels very springlike outside and later today i will be off to soak in some sunshine at the baseball field! the vols play at 2 and i'll be getting the bats and balls! i am excited for this season as a diamond girl, especially with a winning team! go vols! 

xoxo,

clp