restaurant, book and movie review

well it was a fun night in the 865 last night... the weather service alert going off on my phone at 1:15 AM for a tornado warning was terrifying enough, not to mention the thunder, howling winds and lightning! usually storms don't bother me much but without my daddy to keep me safe, i did end up sitting in my bathroom for about 30 minutes and monitoring the storm on my computer - thank goodness for live streaming! thankfully, it ended up passing through without any damage! yesterday, i went on the ultimate girl date with kaitlin: target, movie, dinner and ice cream! it was really a good break from campus and the apartment though and got my mind off the exams that i am starting to study for today. i thought for my post today i would share with you my opinions on my recent reads, eats, and views!

• divergent by veronica roth: i started the book after i saw the movie which i hate doing but it was so worth it! i didn't think i would like the movie, much less the book but i was unable to put it down! it may be more of a young adult book, but the fast-paced plot, action and budding romance had me hooked! 
• insurgent by veronica roth: this is the second of the three books in the divergent series and just like the first one, i was hooked! the characters grow and mature in this sequel and the plot thickens in unexpected ways. the last part of the book was especially interesting and i have already downloaded the third book, allegiant, to my kindle! 
• the other woman: hilarious. this was on my must-see list for the summer and i am so glad i saw it yesterday. my friend and i laughed the entire movie and though it was funny, it was not stupid-funny. it was a great girl-empowerment movie with a comedic side! not to mention the clothes were fantastic! i would definitely recommend this to anyone, boy or girl! 
• cru bistro and wine bar: after the movie we were famished so we decided to try out cru! i had been to the one downtown for brunch but their dinner menu is completely different. they have a little bit of everything but not in the applebee's/TGI friday's way. cru's menu ranges from soups and salads to sushi and pizza, with an extensive wine list. the menu has a gourmet southern flair to it and something that everyone can eat. i ordered the tomato arugula salad which comes with sliced tomato, feta, cornbread croutons (OMG - must try to make!) and a peach-basil vinaigrette. i topped mine with some grilled chicken since it was my entree and it was delicious! i would certainly eat there again without hesitation! 

today is moving day part one! my mom and dad are the world's best because they are taking the time to drive up here and get a load of my stuff to move back home! i will move everything else when i come home after exams! they were also going to come see me as a diamond girl at the baseball game tonight but unfortunately the weather canceled the game. still, they are making the trip and taking me out to dinner so i can't thank them enough! my first exam is on thursday so the hard core studying begins as soon as i finish writing this! i hope everyone stayed safe last night with the weather and continues to be safe today as there is still a possibility for more storms! 

xoxo,

clp 

carnation ball recap

last night was the night we had all been looking forward to all semester! carnation ball! my chapter has carnation ball once every four years and it is our most talked-about formal - from dresses to hair to everything! carnation ball is put on a higher pedestal than all of our other semi-formals and deserves special attention and my attendance! i am so happy that i went! i had the most perfect shoes, dress and clutch, a wonderful best friend who did my makeup, friends that told me my hair was pretty since i was in tears about it, and most importantly, the most perfect date! the night was everything i could have planned for and i wouldn't have wanted to spend it with anyone else besides my date and my alpha chi sisters!

j. crew dress, mudpie glitter clutch, kate spade charm heels 

kate spade charm heels 

derek, the best date! 

of course this morning i was up before seven even though it was a very late night for me! sometimes i just wish i could be a normal college student and sleep in! i guess today starts the studying for exams... i only have three and my first one isn't until thursday, but i need to get on the study-train now so i don't get behind! packing up my things at the apartment is also on my to-do list. i will be done and home for summer a week from tomorrow so i am trying to pack up everything i can! it is amazing how much stuff accumulates! i am also going to get coffee with my best friend from high school today and am looking forward to catching up with her! we may not see each other very often but when we do, its like no time has passed and we pick up right where we left off! enjoy the warm sunshine today y'all! 

xoxo,

clp 

lilly pulitzer summer 2014 favorites

new tory burch, j. crew and lilly pulitzer all in one week... i feel sorry for my bank account. i am trying to avoid anywhere that sells clothes like the plague but my email just keep enticing me. and when the subject line says "new arrivals" i can't help but click! i shared some of my favorites from tory burch (who is having a 25% off everything sale by the way) and j. crew the last two posts so today's post is all about summer in lilly! i wouldn't want to spend my summer any other way, and this collection is as lilly as lilly can be! i think the collection is much more wallet friendly and more casual which is great for both me and my mom. the fabrics are light and the prints are bright of course! it was hard to choose my favorites (which i know i say with every new release) but these are the pieces that really stood out to me!

acadia v-neck tunic sweater

delia shift dress

chrissy beach short

courtney tunic dress

marigold lace trim skort

macfarlane lace detail shift dress

today i had my last class as a junior! just three exams stand between being a senior which is crazy. its almost big-girl real-world time! right now though, i am preparing for the coming weekend by wearing my formal shoes to break them in, complete with socks and nike shorts. really a trendsetting look. in a little while, i am off to learn to play some tennis this afternoon and soak up some of the beautiful sunshine!

xoxo,
clp

j. crew may style guide favorites

my productivity has possibly been at an all-time high today... workout, sell books, shower, today show and ellen, homework, lunch, kroger, walgreens, bank, hardware store and even a stop by starbucks for a zen green tea with splenda and that was all before my class at 2:10! i must have done all caffeinated coffee this morning instead of my regular 2 scoops caf and one scoop decaf! it does feel great to have gotten so much done though!

as usual, j. crew released some new arrivals today and also posted their may style guide on pinterest! i really think they plan their releases for after i go to the store... that may be a good thing though, especially since this style guide and collection release has me lusting over many pieces! the collection is feminine, light and summery with a preppy and professional vibe. many of the pieces can be worn multiple ways and i am going to have to get my hands on a few of them for my summer wardrobe!

bandeau top and high waisted brief in seersucker

drawstring pant in brushstroke floral

surf skirt in cove floral

swiss-dot flounce sleeve dress

lightweight merino scallop sweater

waffle beach sweater and pleated eyelet skort 

(all images from J. Crew's Pinterest)

the linen cardigan, seersucker blazer and navy heels were also added to my wish list! i just got out of my last supply chain class of the semester and tomorrow i have a group presentation but that is all the school i have except for finals! seriously, where did this semester go!? i know i have said that multiple times but really i can't believe the end of it is here! happy last days of classes to all my college readers!

xoxo,
clp

tory burch summer lookbook favorites

tory burch released her summer lookbook and i could not be more in love with it. her designs and prints just have summer written all over them and make me want to go on picnics, ladies lunches and warm summer strolls! if i could get one of everything that would be great, but life doesn't work that way! here are just a few of my favorite looks from the collection!

brandyce tunic, lennie pant

talia dress

paris dress

rhoda dress

(all images via www.toryburch.com)

i love the greens that she is using and also the botanical prints! i feel like i am in a garden! i also like a lot of her new shoes and bags as well for summer! anything light and bright i am loving for summer!

its hard to believe that in two weeks i will be moved out of the woodlands and done with my junior year! i am ready for it to be over and for my summer to begin! it is a new chapter that i am looking forward to! with the end of this week comes the end of classes and also carnation ball which i am looking forward to! i never go to social events because i am a hermit but i am actually going to this one! hope everyone is having a good start to the week and happy earth day!

xoxo,
clp

easter sunday OOTDs

happy easter y'all! what an absolutely beautiful day to celebrate our savior! church this morning was beautiful as well, from the easter lilies, the choir and the sermon. it certainly makes me want to make sunday morning church service more of a regular occurrence.

easter morning started with some of skinnytaste's insanely good blueberry oatmeal muffins and let me tell you: they were insanely good! i used frozen blueberries instead of fresh, didn't pulse the oats and used splenda brown sugar but they were still delicious! i also made the batter up last night (but didn't add the blueberries until this morning) and they baked perfectly! we also had some chopped fruit on the side and it was the perfect easter morning breakfast before church! the easter bunny also dropped by our house last night and he was way too good to us! somehow the bunny always fills our baskets with more than we could possibly need! even though we are 21 and 24 years old, phillip and i still hunted for easter eggs this morning! this year however there wasn't a real winner since we each found 12 eggs!

in my fashion book, with easter comes white bottoms, shoes and accessories, linen pants and of course, the return of seersucker! i love seersucker so much that the men in my wedding will be wearing it (a: if there ever is a wedding & b: i guess that means i will have to get married sometime between easter and the ut vs alabama football game in october). today we were dressed in our easter best for church and then changed into something still springy but more comfortable for lunch at my grandmother's! it was a two OOTD kind of day!

j. crew jeweled collar sleeveless top, j. crew collection skirt, kork-ease wedges, lilly pulitzer white bangle 

j. crew collection jeweled v-neck, j. crew linen drapey pants, tory burch sandals, tory burch aviator sunglasses 

we always go to my grandmother's for easter lunch every year. we have more food than we know what to do with, she makes her to-die-for poundcake and the grandkids have a big easter egg hunt! the egg hunt is always the highlight of the day and is always fun since the eggs all contain little pieces of green paper that obviously the older kids scramble for! to add to the lunch, i made copycat aubrey's squash casserole and it was pretty tasty if i say so myself! i ate more than i should have and will certainly not be stepping on the scales tomorrow! i know a day off from exercising and splurging on food is good every once in a while but it still gives me anxiety! i do know that i will be eating normal again starting in the morning!

this weekend was nothing short of perfect and i am sad to see it come to an end! i love spending time with my family and am so lucky for the closeness i share with them, especially my mawsie, mom and dad. it is hard to believe that i will be done with school just two weeks from tuesday and will be a senior! tomorrow starts the last leg of my junior year! i hope everyone has had as happy an easter as me and that you have great start to the week!

xoxo,
clp

daddy daughter friday & a recipe

today was daddy-daughter good friday! since we were both off from school, we decided to have a day spent in nashville just the two of us! of course, we went to the puffy muffin in brentwood (best. pimento. cheese. ever.) and a stop by iveycake was essential. we had some errands and shopping to do at green hills and then we picked up a key to my sublease for the summer! less than a month and i will be there working! i picked up some cute spring and summer pieces to add to my closet today and i can't wait to share them in future OOTDs! today's OOTD is one that i have been saving for the perfect occasion! a day spent with my daddy was just what the outfit called for and i got more compliments on my junebug sweater!

tory burch cardigan, j. crew gingham printed jeans, tory burch sandals

tonight for supper we tried a new recipe from dashing dish! it was an enchilada bake that layers tortillas instead of rolling actual enchiladas. dad made it before we left for nashville and set it in the fridge so it was ready to put in the oven when we got home! we all thought it was really good and quite filling! 

white chicken enchilada bake

1 can reduced-sodium white beans 

2.5 cups cooked and shredded chicken breasts

1 can rotel, drained

1 4 oz can chopped green chiles

1 1/4 cup plain non-fat greek yogurt

1 tsp taco seasoning (we used homemade)

1 small can white corn, drained

4 high fiber, low carb tortillas, cut into 4 quarters (we use La Tortilla)

1/2 cup mexican or pepper jack cheese

1. preheat oven to 375. spray large baking dish with non-stick spray.
2. make the filling by putting the white beans in a mixing bowl. mash until they are creamy and broken up. add chicken, tomatoes, yogurt, green chiles, taco seasoning and corn. mix until combined.
3. put together by layering two of the cut tortillas on the bottom of the baking dish, followed by the filling. top with remaining tortilla layer. top with shredded cheese.
4. bake for 35-40 minutes or until cheese is melted and dish is heated throughout. 

(slightly adapted from Dashing Dish)

top this with salsa, make some guacamole and you have an easy and healthy mexican dish! it makes enough for four people with some leftover! the recipe also freezes well, either before or after baking. 

i am so happy to be home with my family but am quite tired! it seems i am always more tired the day after i get home. tomorrow mom and i are preparing for easter sunday by dying eggs, making sugar cookies and maybe sitting out in the sun some! we are planning on grilling for supper since the weather is supposed to be fabulous tomorrow! have a wonderful easter weekend y'all!

xoxo,

clp 

dessert recipe & OOTD

what a perfect weekend! it was busy but so enjoyable! yesterday was great starting with the tailgate before the orange and white game, some spring football and ending with a delicious dinner at chesapeake's, all with my mama, daddy and phillip! today started early with breakfast at tupelo honey, alpha chi omega senior recognition at the orangery and then ended with a little time in the sun talking to my grandmother! i could not have asked for a better weekend! my OOTD was from senior recognition! all my favorites were on: kate spade, j. crew, tory burch and leona!

j. crew jeweled-collar oxford, leona tweed shorts, j. crew heels, tory burch clutch, kate spade bracelets

i also wanted to share a yummy dessert/snack recipe! this is great to just keep on hand, especially when your graham crackers are about to go stale or you have some really ripe bananas! they are easy and a healthy version of an ice cream sandwich! 

banana graham cracker sandwiches

1 banana

1/3 cup peanut butter or nut butter of choice

4 sheets graham crackers, broken into halves

1. mash peanut butter and banana together in small bowl. mix well.
2. spread mixture evenly among 4 graham cracker halves. top with other half to create a sandwich.
3. wrap in plastic wrap or place in plastic container and put in freezer. allow to freeze for at least an hour before serving. keep in freezer for up to one week. 

i must say i am a little worn out after this weekend! luckily this week isn't bad at all with school and i am murfreesboro bound on thursday for easter! here's to hoping everyone has a great week! 

xoxo,

clp

gingham and OOTD

i made it through my busy friday! it actually was not that bad of a day! the weather was gorgeous so it was nice to be outside at the track meet and get some sun while rocking my polo and skort diamond girl uniform! relay for life was successful as well! as a chapter we raised over $5,000 for the American Cancer Society! it also made our efforts so much more worthwhile seeing the survivors take the first lap around circle park. i also really enjoyed spending time with my alpha chi sisters!

yesterday i did have some downtime and took a few minutes to peruse the latest handbag offerings from one of my favorite designers, tory burch. her spring/summer collection is to die for as a whole, but i am especially in love with some of her latest handbags! a common theme on the runways for spring/summer was gingham and tory burch successfully incorporated it into her collection. i always love tory burch's purses because they are on-trend but still classic, can be carried multiple ways, to multiple events and are priced well for designer bags. below are my favorite gingham pieces from the collection, along with one timeless, blush colored purse that is perfect for any season and any event!

fleming double pocket bag

kerrington gingham cross-body

kerrington gingham open dome tote

robinson printed cross-body

kerrington shopper

and keeping with the theme of this post, even my OOTD had gingham! today was the orange and white game so of course the orange and white was out with abundance on campus! i picked up this cardigan last spring at kate spade and i swear it was made with Tennessee in mind. it is perfect for tennessee football and i am finally getting to wear it since the weather was too hot during football season for it! 

kate spade cardigan, j. crew colored jeans, jack rogers sandals, kate spade bracelet and clutch, tory burch sunglasses 

also, my nails are currently painted essie's "spin the bottle" which is a great color for spring. i love having my nails painted but can't always afford to get a manicure. my problem is that they always chip too soon and then i end up chipping them all off myself (a bad habit of mine). however, when i get gel top coat and base coat, they are much more durable! the other day i wanted my nails done but being broke, couldn't afford to get a gel manicure. instead, i decided to do my own nails since i am not half-bad at it and they turned out pretty good! i also found this clear polish the other day from revlon and my nails are still chip-free four days after i painted them myself which is a miracle! i highly recommend it! 

revlon extra life no chip top coat

well i am quite tired after a long day out in the sun! be on the lookout for another new OOTD tomorrow!

xoxo,

clp

2 shades of fabulous from j. crew

yesterday, j. crew released another round of new arrivals from their spring collection. unfortunately if you looked up "broke" in the dictionary, a picture of me is what you would find. still, a girl can dream right? some of the pieces are not my style, but a few really caught my eye. the product i am most obsessed with is the two-toned metallic heels. mixing metallics can be tricky and j. crew did it without fail. these shoes go with anything... from jeans (especially those fabulous high-waisted ones below) to skirts! they are a must-have for my closet! here are just a few of the things i am lusting over from the newest batch of spring arrivals!

mixed metallic gladiator high-heel sandal

collection neon dot jacquard short

scallop-leather merino tee

point sure hightower skinny jean in drifter wash

photo floral dress

(all images credit jcrew.com)

well this week has been a busy one but on the bright side, i took my last two tests of the semester until finals start! i can't believe that there are only two weeks left of class. can't believe it, but can't wait for them to be over. this semester has been a tough one so i am happy to see it come to an end. summer is calling my name and i am excited for hot days by the pool, spending time with friends and family, working at LEONA and living in nashville!

i know i probably shouldn't, but my weight has been on my mind lately. it went down a little bit after the cruise but i have a hit a plateau and have the fear that it will continue to rise instead of stay the same. i would like to drop the few pounds i gained on the cruise but my body is clinging to them. my mom says this is a good thing but it is definitely bothering me. i have come to realize that weight issues are always going to be mental for me and i know that they shouldn't be. as long as i am healthy and happy, the number on the scale shouldn't matter. however, these past few days, my weight has been nagging at me. its hard to put into words and its hard for others to understand. i continue to eat healthy and workout daily so i am not sure where to go from there. hopefully this will go away in the next few days.

tomorrow is the day i prove myself as wonder woman! not really but i have quite the busy day to end the week. for diamond girls (or spring sports ambassadors) i have to work the annual sea-ray relays track meet for the majority of the afternoon and then it is straight to relay for life until nine. a work out and trip to the grocery are on my list for the morning! fingers crossed i make it through the day so that i can enjoy the spending the day with my parents and brother who will be here for the orange and white game!

xoxo,
clp

productive saturday & 2 recipes

it is only 3:00 and i am worn out! i have had quite the productive saturday so far! it started relatively low-key, with my morning coffee, one of my new favorite breakfasts of mueslix cereal with almond milk, sliced banana and dried apricots sprinkled with cinnamon, OJ and the today show. i then went to sweat it out at real hot yoga! i hadn't been in a while and it was quite the workout! i swear i was even sweating from my kneecaps... (TMI i know). after hot yoga, i came home and made a cornbread salad (complete with spinach, corn, green peas, onion, tomato and buttermilk and ground pepper) and also sliced up a pear with some cranberry cheese for lunch.

after lunch, i set my sights on the kitchen. i have a pretty busy week ahead of me starting tomorrow afternoon so i wanted to go ahead and make some things for my lunches and breakfasts this week. i made up a batch of my go-to granola, which will be yummy with kefir and fresh fruit. i also hard-boiled a few eggs (just put in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes and voila!) for sandwiches or wraps. this warm weather has me wanting not only pimento cheese but also chicken salad so i decided to make both this week since the pimento cheese keeps well! these are all classic recipes, but lightened up (no mayo!) and modified a bit!

lightened-up jalepeno pimento cheese

1 cup non-fat plain greek yogurt

1 4 oz. jar diced pimentos

1/2 small can diced jalepenos, plus 1 tbsp of juice from can

2 tbsp chopped cilantro

 1 8 oz. block Cabot jalepeno light cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 8 oz. block Cabot sharp extra light cheddar cheese, shredded 

1. combine all ingredients together and stir well. serve as sandwich, as a dip with cut vegetables or wheat crackers, on sliced tomatoes, or melted in an omelette! 

(slightly adapted from Southern Living)

greek yogurt chicken salad

6 oz. shredded white chicken (i used canned)

1/2 cup non-fat plain greek yogurt

1/4 cup dried cranberries or raisins

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/8 cup chopped pecans or almonds

1 tsp honey

pepper, to taste 

1. combine all ingredients together and stir well. use a pastry blended to chop ingredients more. serve as sandwich, as a dip with cut vegetables or wheat crackers or on sliced tomatoes.

(slightly adapted from The Yummy Life)

needless to say, i am very much looking forward to my lunches this week! this week really starts the push towards the end of the semester. i am working the vanderbilt vs. UT baseball game tomorrow afternoon and then my week consists of classes, meetings, projects and tests. friday i will be working the sea-ray relays meet and also participating in relay for life. a week from today is the orange and white game, which mama, daddy and phillip are coming up for so i am looking forward to that as well as my chapter's senior recognition banquet next sunday. hopefully i will be able to come up for air at some point, but if not, i'll be back on here as soon as i can! 

xoxo,

clp 

p.s. last night i saw divergent. it was so much better than i expected and i definitely recommend it! i was a hypocrite and saw the movie before reading the book but it is waiting for me to read on my kindle tonight! 

a twist on traditional mexican: baked tacos

mexican food is my favorite food. i think i could eat it all day, everyday, but then i might have a slight probably wearing the clothes i like to wear. though its not the most diet friendly cuisine, there are ways to make it healthier which i hope to continue to share! my favorite way to make mexican healthier is to simply swap veggies for chips! i like to slice up either jicama or bell peppers to dip into salsa and guacamole! another way is to use small, soft corn tortillas. they are only 45 calories a piece and can be easily made into hard taco shells if desired! tonight's supper recipe is one that is relatively easy and a change up from traditional ground beef tacos!

baked tacos

1 lb extra lean ground beef

1 recipe homemade refried beans

1/4 cup salsa

2-3 tbsp homemade taco seasonings

8-10 hard taco shells (homemade recipe below) 

shredded cheese and your favorite taco seasonings

1. preheat oven to 400.
2. brown ground beef. drain any fat. add salsa, beans and seasonings. 
3. spoon mixture into taco shells. 
4. place filled shells into a casserole, standing up. sprinkle with cheese.
5. bake for 10-12 minutes or until heated through. 
6. serve with your favorite toppings!

homemade taco shells

1. using 6 inch corn tortillas, wrap in a barely damp paper towel and steam in microwave for about 30 seconds. lay the tortillas on a clean working surface and spray both sides with cooking spray. carefully drape each tortilla over bars in the oven rack.bake at 375 until crisp, about 7-10 minutes (watch carefully). 

(recipes slightly adapted from One Good Thing by Jillee) 

it is fro-yo friday! after supper tonight i am going to get some frozen yogurt and to see divergent with one of my friends! perfect girl-date for a stormy friday night! have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo,

clp

easy single girl pintos

pinto beans and cornbread: a southern staple. and for some reason, also a meal that has been on my mind. however, since i didn't have the time or patience or mouths to feed to soak a large pot of beans, i came up with this quick and easy single serving recipe for some southern pinto beans! of course, i had some of granny's cornbread with it and also some tomato relish to add in an extra kick of flavor!

easy single girl pinto beans

1/2-3/4 cup canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed

2 slices bacon, chopped

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup vegetable broth 

1/2 jalepeno, chopped finely 

salt and pepper, to taste

cayenne pepper, to taste

water, enough to cover beans

1. combine all ingredients in pot and bring to a boil. 
2. reduce heat to medium-low and allow to simmer. you want the beans to develop a sort of "bean broth." if they start to cook down too much, add a bit more water. stir occasionally and mash some of the beans. (i probably let mine simmer for about 15-20 minutes). 
3. serve warm with cornbread and chow-chow or tomato relish! 

this isn't a go-by-the-books recipe so do whatever works for you! if you don't want your beans to be mushy like mine, add less liquid and don't allow to simmer as long. this recipe doesn't do justice to the pintos that you would find on my mama or my grandmother's stove, but it serves as an easy, healthier substitute to the southern staple (and it has the health benefit of loads of fiber!). tomorrow i am using the remainder of the pinto beans in a favorite recipe of mine: oven baked tacos! be on the lookout for that recipe coming soon! 

xoxo,

clp