talking trends: spring 2015

statement spots: diane von furstenburg top & skirt / mules: vince / cropped wide jeans: j. crew / matching separates: j. crew hoodie & shorts / fringe: j. crew sweater / espadrilles: tory burch / trenches: gap / midi skirts: j. crew / paper bag pants: gap / florals: tory burch dress & j. crew cuff

here's to hoping spring gets here sooner rather than later.

xoxo,
clp

two for one jewels: stella & dot style

who doesn't love a buy-one-get-one? well, with some of stella & dot's necklaces, you are getting just that (and with some other things, even three for the price of one). one of my favorite things about one of my latest obsessions is stella & dot's multiple ways to wear an item. and its not just multiple ways to wear a necklace, i got a pair of earrings that can be worn as a long chandelier, a stud or a shorter chandelier. statement jewelry doesn't get much better than that. stella & dot's spring collection is just gorgeous. on-trend, feminine and light, its just what i want adorning my ears, neck and wrists this spring. below are the newest additions to my jewelry box, ready to be worn!

shop online at stella&dot

xoxo,

clp

spaghetti squash pizza crust + book review

pizza: the ultimate cheat meal. i'm not the biggest pizza person, but when i want it, i want it. i have had a hankering for pizza the past few weeks, but i still wanted to try to maintain some sliver of health to my meal. i love making pizza on flat-out wraps, but i have had a spaghetti squash on my hands that has been waiting to be cooked so i opted to try a new, low-carb alternative: spaghetti squash pizza crust! i have tried cauliflower pizza crust, but it was a pinterest fail. this recipe was a success though! now if you like deep dish or crispy crust and crust is half the reason you love a slice of pizza, this isn't for you. however, the sauce and veggie toppings are my favorite part of pizza so this was perfect! tonight i just stuck with marinara sauce and turkey pepperoni with a sprinkling of parmesan and it silenced my craving!

spaghetti squash pizza crust  

1 cup cooked spaghetti squash

1/4 cup part-skim or fat free ricotta cheese

3 tbsp whole wheat flour 

pepper, garlic powder, to taste

1. preheat oven to 400.
2. combine all ingredients in bowl and stir until nicely mixed. 
3. pour mixed "dough" onto a parchment paper (this is important!) lined cookie sheet (or pizza pan) and shape into a circle. make it as thin or thick as desired.
4. cooke for 20-30 minutes, until edges are crisp.
5. remove pizza from oven, top with your favorite toppings and put back in oven to bake. 
6. pizza is finished when cheese has melted to your liking!

serves one

(slightly adapted from skinny girl standard) 

i also wanted to recommend a book i just finished, the good girl by mary kubica. what a suspenseful, page-turning novel. if you liked gone girl, then put this one on your reading list. you won't be able to put down the story of a one night stand turned into kidnapping with a love story and unbelievable twist at the end. the novel is a roller coaster of emotions and a puzzle from the very beginning. if you are in the mood for a thrilling, gets your heart beating mystery, read this ASAP! 

xoxo,

clp 

january lust list

1 LEONA ginny tie dress / 2 stella & dot eva ear jacket / 3 street level reversible vegan leather tote

4 kork-ease berit wedge / 5 LEONA jude top + slim pant / 

6 essie comfy in cashmere nail polish / 7 tory burch lip color in pas du tout / 

8 kate spade georgica beach bandeau + beach stripe coverup

9 tory burch bleecker scrappy sandal / 10 kate spade rally leather keds

looks like warm weather is on my mind.

xoxo,
clp

asheville weekend getaway

we made a quick little getaway for the long weekend to asheville! i have been wanting to go back to asheville for a while now (last time i went i think i was about seven and didn't appreciate it) and this weekend was the perfect time! with it being just a couple hour drive from knoxville, mom, daddy and phillip stayed at my place on friday night and then we loaded up and came to asheville saturday morning!

saturday we spent at the biltmore estate and biltmore village! can you say dream house? i am fascinated by the architecture and interior design of the home and life of the vanderbilts. so full of opulence and grandeur, can't even imagine calling that place home! before our audio guided tour (touristy i know, but definitely worth it), we ate at antler village (on the biltmore grounds) at cedric's tavern, which was delish! i ordered the charcuterie board (cheese, sausage, mustard, picked veggies and housemade bread) and it was so good. we all were quite full when we left!

after touring the estate, we drove over to biltmore village to shop around some and eat supper. unfortunately, most of the shops were closing by the time we got there, but there are some cute little boutiques as well as some stores such as j. crew and williams-sonoma to browse in. daddy and phillip walked over to two breweries, french broad and catawba, while mom and i shop! i think they certainly had a good time! for supper, we went the mexican route and chose cantina biltmore and all four of us were part of the clean plate club. i ordered the veggie quesadilla (definitely a cheat weekend) with grilled veggies and ate every last bite. their salsa and guacamole were great. i also tried mom and dad's side of cayenne-honey roasted brussel sprouts and they may have been the best brussel sprouts i have ever had. definitely something i would order again and that i want to learn to make at home! dessert was a sampling of cookies from well bred bakery and those were no disappointment either!

sunday was no day of rest. we started the day at lexington avenue brewery (delicious food and good beer apparently), went back over to the biltmore for the winery and wine tasting, then stayed downtown for the remainder of the day. while phillip and daddy went to as many breweries as they possibily could, mom and i treated ourselves to coffee, hot chocolate and sweet treats at the chocolate lounge. what better place to pass the afternoon than a chocolate lounge?! we walked around downtown some, watch some football at wicked weed brewery and then had supper at the highly-recommended restaurant, rhubarb. i think mom ordered the best with her goat cheese gnudi, but there wasn't one thing on the southern menu that didn't look good. southern living definitely didn't lie when they named rhubarb as one of the south's best restaurants. and since we were splurging, we ended the night with ice cream from ultimate ice cream, which was the ultimate treat!

since we all needed to get back to the real world, monday we just woke up and breakfasted at early girl eatery, another place we were told was delicious! it was the perfect way to wrap up the weekend! clearly, we ate our way and the boys sipped their way around asheville, but it couldn't have been a better quick january getaway! i love that the four of us are able to travel together and really enjoy each other even as we get older (i think we may have more fun now than when we were younger).

lucky for this old senior, i only have a three-day school week! i could get used to the holiday on monday and no class friday thing! i have got some barre3 workouts in the planner, as well as some blog posts floating around in my head, some homework i may need to do, work on friday and a soup and chili night planned for the coming weekend! have a lovely short work week y'all!

xoxo,
clp

store spotlight: est8te knoxville

this semester here in knoxville, i have a part-time job (mainly weekends) at a fabulous little local boutique, est8te. owned by a lovely mother-daughter team, est8te offers luxury to the ladies of knoxville. it houses sophisticated southern clothing with a collection of carefully curated accessories. with brands that include, LEONA, tory burch, milly and haute hippie (just to name a few favorites), est8te brings current trends and staple pieces to knoxville's style scene.

i for one was at a loss shopping in knoxville until i discovered the gem that is est8te. the designer lines that est8te has are unmatched anywhere else in knoxville, all thanks to the owners. nell brewington, daughter part of the mother-daughter team, says that "because of her love for clothes and jewelry, owning the store feels more like fun than work." she also loves working with her mom, who she says teaches her to be a better person and owner everyday. the passion that this duo has together is clear in every aspect of the store. from the atmosphere to the product selection to the beautiful smiles they always have on their faces, the brewington ladies' hearts are in all that is est8te.

i love my time spent at est8te. being around beautiful clothes is something i love and i love helping a customer find exactly what they are looking for: the perfect dress, shoes or necklace. i love connecting with the customer and hearing their stories and what led them to the store. working at est8te has given me the opportunity to work with clothes in an enjoyable environment with people that i can learn from everyday.

est8te has just what the fashion-conscious of knoxville are looking for. spring is coming in everyday and the store beginning to brighten up with the colors of spring. new, locally made jewelry is in store now as well as some pajamas that i am dying to get on my body. est8te has exactly what you are looking for, whether it is an outfit for a formal, a night out on the town or a night in. stop by soon for a personal shopping experience and to see what all is in store (and whats on sale too)!

est8te facebook

est8te instagram

xoxo,
clp

back at barre3 + breakfast

theclairewithredhair has hit a milestone... 50,000 page views! i cannot thank y'all enough for reading my ramblings and recipes, my thoughts and tribulations! i really do enjoy blogging and as long as you keep reading, i'll keep posting. and if you really like it, share with your friends and family!

as you have read about before i am not one to shy away from trying out fitness classes... from barre3, to total body to spin to hot yoga, i have tried quite a few. some i have hated (read: zumba) and some i am sore for a week afterward. my latest fitness class obsession is barre3. i have written about it before, but now i practice barre3 more frequently than in the past and can really see results. i started going to class infrequently about a year ago, but in the past three months or so, i go on a regular basis.

i have noticed such a change now that i go 3+ times a week. not only just in getting better and challenging myself more in class, but in my everyday life as well. barre3 is all about the mind body connection, a three part formula that carries you from class to work to home. the workouts are designed to change the body to "one of equal balance, flexibility and strength." so what changes have i seen since practicing regularly? more than i am most likely aware of. i can tell that i breathe better and more controlled in my other workouts and am aware of how my breathing connects with my workout. i have much better posture. i was talking with one of my favorite barre3 knoxville instructors, cara, and she told me that my posture has improved exponentially since i first started and she has noticed a change. i find myself carrying myself taller and sitting up straighter while in lecture or even just at home watching tv. my physical body has also changed. as many of you know, i was drastically underweight. now i am at a healthy weight, putting on about 15 pounds of muscle in the past year. barre3 has helped me do that. through isometric holds, light weights and small one-inch movements, i have built muscle and actually have a what they call a "barre3 butt!"

the barre3 method combines holds and both small and large movements to give the full body workout that revs the metabolism, increases the heart rate and energizes the body. i have never once left a class feeling worn out and exhausted, but rather feel energized.

in addition to taking studio classes, i partake in the online workouts as well as read the barre3 blog for recipes (which are all amazing) and health tips and have the barre3 app on my phone! i really do believe in everything that barre3 teaches... it has improved my lifestyle for the better. everyone at barre3 always has a smile on their face and is willing to talk to you, modify any poses and help you in any way that you can.

don't be afraid of trying a new fitness class. with the new year, try something new. you never know, it could become something that impacts your life in a positive way. try barre or spin or yoga or a new healthy breakfast recipe (below), whatever strikes your fancy!

PB2 overnight chia oats

1/4 c old-fashioned oats

1/4 nonfat greek yogurt

1/2 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 tbsp chia seeds

2 tbsp PB2 powdered peanut butter

1. combine all ingredients in a container with an airtight lid. mix until well combined.
2. refrigerate at least overnight. (you can prepare up to two nights ahead of time)
3. serve with sliced banana, berries, nuts, etc.

xoxo,

clp

red carpet report: golden globes 2015

awards season is upon us! first up, the golden globes! the red carpet was stunning: from the hair and makeup to the accessories to the gowns, the attendees did not disappoint. it was hard to choose, but here are my early favorites, courtesy of huffington post, vogue & E! Online!

& best dressed goes to emma stone in lanvin! 

happy golden globes y'all! 

xoxo,

clp

beginning of the end

and just like that christmas was over, new years came and went, i packed up and headed back to knoxville, started my part-time job and and done with syllabus week of my last semester. where did christmas break, december and 2014 go? things are going so fast... i graduate in may. the job application process has officially begun and its both terrifying and exciting. i always like to have a plan and right now, my future is exactly planned come mid-may. however, i have full faith that something will come along and everything will fall into place.

for now though, i am going to savor my last semester here at UT. its going to be a busy semester full of schoolwork, but i'm not complaining. i plan to spend it balancing school, work and friends. as i mentioned earlier, i just started working at est8te, a high-end designer clothing boutique here right off kingston pike. i will be working on fridays and saturdays and i would love some visitors! i also want to spend as much time as possible with my friends, as we will never be living this close ever again. next year, i won't be able to walk out of my building and across the parking lot to my best friend's apartment. the friends i have made here, in alpha chi and not in alpha chi, are ones that will last forever, spanning states. and as always, spending as much time with my family is something that i intend to do. they mean the world to me, as i am missing them so much already, and who knows where my life will lead me post-graduation. we have some great trips planned: a weekend in asheville, spring break in florida and a family trip to hawaii! i am so fortunate to be able to travel like i do. i know it is going to be a memorable start to the year.

my posts have been few and far between lately, but i have been busy with the holidays and have a bit of a writer's block post-holiday. i have some ideas floating around in my head that you may see soon on the blog. until then, stay warm in this frigid weather!

xoxo,
clp

happy new year

i am starting 2015 right: a traditional new years lunch (pork, greens, baked tomatoes, black eyed peas and cornbread), a low-impact workout, family time, gilmore girls and friends on netflix and pajamas. i feel like i have been going nonstop since i got home for christmas break, all due to my constant need to not sit still. when will i ever learn to relax? maybe that is what i should resolve to do in 2015...

anyway, this past week i have been spending my days at LEONA and i love it there! if you haven't stopped by to shop the bi-annual end of season sale, you should. the spring collection coming out is amazing and will be hitting stores soon. come see me tomorrow and saturday on 12 south! on tuesday, we all went to nashville for the day! we ate lunch at the local taco, a place i had read about and recommended to us by my uncle! with three locations in nashville, it is a lovely little taco shop, with some of the best guacamole i have ever had in a restaurant! everything is fresh and local and i loved my "monster veggie bowl". it is definitely a great place for lunch!

i am a stay at home girl for new years eve. i would love to do the downtown nashville scene, but i am such a wimp when it comes to the cold! maybe one year i'll layer up and see the music note drop in person! last night we did our annual cheese fondue, cheese and charcuterie board and then chocolate fondue for dessert! it has been a tradition that mom, dad and i have done for a few years now and i love it! i was also asleep on the floor by the fire by about 10 PM so needless to say i celebrated the new year in my dreams.

i hope everyone has had a safe and happy holiday season. i am sad to see the holiday season come to an end, but am ready to get back into a routine.

cheers to a happy and healthy 2015 full of family, friends, adventure, travel, sparkle, laughter and love. dream big and work hard.

(picture credit: levo league)

xoxo,
clp