thursday OOTD & spring sale

i feel like all my posts lately have been quite short but to be honest, working 9 to 5 is tiring! i may not be doing physical labor but i am worn out by the time i get home and not in the mood to write long posts! i am still loving every minute of my internship at LEONA and everything about this summer in nashville. each day is something new and exciting and i couldn't be happier! soon i will post my favorites from the most recent j. crew and lilly pulitzer collections and also some of my favorites from the LEONA fall collection! i have seen the fall collection with my own two eyes and oh my goodness, which organ do i need the least so i can buy everything!? it is gorgeous and lauren has outdone herself! tonight i don't feel like staring at the computer screen so the post may come tomorrow or in the next few days but i still wanted to post my OOTD!

j. crew sleeveless drapey top, j. crew reid crop jeans, tory burch miller sandal, c. wonder necklace

i also wanted to share LEONA's spring sale with y'all! we just marked down a ton of amazing spring items and they would be perfect for any wardrobe! shop the great prices in-store or online at www.leonany.com or give me a call! 

xoxo,

clp

feeling peachy OOTD

peach season has started! one of my favorite things about summer! i love getting peaches at the farmers market and from the peach truck whenever i find them around nashville! i have already bought 2 bags from the peach truck and oh my goodness they are good! i am using them in every way that i can and today i put them in my salad!

tomato and peach caprese salad

1/2 tomato, sliced

1 peach, diced

handful grapes, halved

2 slices of mozzarella cheese 

fresh basil

spinach 

balsamic vinegar

1. assemble salad, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and keep in fridge until ready to serve! 

my outfit was peachy today as well! i guess i had peaches on my mind (maybe daydreaming about my lunch?) while i was getting dressed this morning! actually i think i just had fruit in general on my mind when i got dressed! 

j. crew linen shirt, j. crew eyelet skort, j. crew pineapple necklace, marc jacobs watch, kate spade new york lemon keds 

when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! 

xoxo,

clp

urban floral coral OOTD

today's OOTD is a nashville exclusive at LEONA! the urban floral print is one of my favorites for summer (it was hand drawn by the designer herself) and i love the millie dress silhouette since it can be worn as a dress or as a tunic! it was so comfortable and easy to slip on this morning! i paired it with a low-heeled sandal since i was wearing it as a dress!

LEONA millie dress in urban floral coral, j. crew evie midheel sandals 

xoxo,

clp 

memorial day weekend

long time no blog! i have been busy relaxing and such this weekend at home in murfreesboro so i haven't posted anything! my best friend from school, kaitlin came to stay with us this weekend and i have been giving her the tour of murfreesboro and my current home in nashville! i hope she has enjoyed herself!

we went to nashville for some touring and some shopping on saturday and had so much fun! we ate at one of my favorite restaurants in hillsboro village, fido, and it was so tasty! i also had to take kaitlin to iveycake since it is one of my favorites as well! i, of course, spent money i didn't have but i really got some fabulous finds! j. crew and kate spade are always good to me!

yesterday we had our memorial day cookout since kaitlin had to go back to knoxville today and i have to go back to nashville later this afternoon! we were in our swimsuits and by the pool by 11 AM and basked in the sunshine for the majority of the day! the cookout was complete with family, friends and delicious food (of which i ate way too much of my mama's homemade peppermint ice cream)! we were exhausted after being in the sun all day and slept like rocks! i made these easy-peasy baked beans to go with our barbecue and other sides. they are the easiest thing to throw in the crockpot on low all day or to bake in the oven at 350 until heated through!

slawsa baked beans

1 jar Slawsa (i have found at Publix)

2 24 oz cans Bush's original baked beans

garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, to taste

1. place slawsa and beans in slow cooker or casserole dish. season to taste and stir to combine. 
2. bake at 350 until heated through or warm on low in slow cooker until hot! 

i hope everyone has a great day off and remembers those who have served both past and present for our country! happy memorial day and unofficial start to summer!

xoxo,

clp

p.s. LEONA's PRINT PARTY ends today! order online with the code PRINTPARTY for 35% off full-price prints or shop in-store on 12 South until 7! 

wearing red OOTD

LEONA red top, j. crew white matchstick jeans, tory burch miller sandals, marc jacobs watch, kate spade bangles 

xoxo,

clp

monday OOTD

j. crew schoolboy blazer, j. crew floral eyelet cafe capris, lilly pulitzer white v-neck, tory burch miller sandal, j. crew mint bangle

xoxo,

clp

life lately

my life lately in one word: happy. in the past week, i have moved to nashville and started my internship with LEONA. i have explored my new neighborhood of 12 South. i have joined a new gym. all new things, all happy results. nashville already feels like home to me and i haven't even been here a full week. there has always been something missing when i am in knoxville, yes, my friends are there and yes, my school is there, but there has always been a void since day one. here in nashville, no void. i feel like i have been here forever and that everything just clicks. can i just stay happy here forever? 

i tried out two local favorites this weekend, crossing them off my bucket list! taqueria del sol and jeni's ice cream were both winners and definitely warrant another visit! the key lime fro-yo at jeni's with graham cracker crumbs in it was absolutely divine and i loved all three of the salsa in taqueria del sol's sampler! 

yesterday was LEONA's Go Gray in May event which i helped work! i think it went off without a hitch and am excited to see the final amount that is donated to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. i have newfound respect for those who work in retail, as i was on my feet all day in uncomfortable (but cute of course) shoes and by the end of the night, was exhausted! you don't realize the work they do when you are the shopper! after the event, i met my mom and dad for BBQ at edley's on 12th (and devoured my pork platter - working works up an appetite!) and then we went to fido in Hillsboro Village for a dessert with local lattes (so good)! 

on friday i was featured in the Millie Dress (worn as a tunic) with the white Mercer Pant on the LEONA: nashville Facebook page! the dress comes in a couple color and print options and i am going to have to snag one before they all sell! 

this week has been perfect and i could not be more excited for the summer ahead of me! i am hoping to live every second of it happy! 

xoxo,

clp 

GO GRAY IN MAY with LEONA

SIP + SHOP + PRIZES + $50 of Leona loot for every $100 you spend! + LIVE MUSIC + FOOD + 10% of proceeds donated to Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center! First 50 hoppers receive a YELP bag filled with Nashville goodies! 

If you would like to purchase LEONA and give to the cause tomorrow and WILL NOT BE IN TOWN OR LIVE OUT OF TOWN, you can call the store and purchase something by phone and we will ship to you or hold in store for you! See items to purchase online at www.LEONANY.com and call with your order!

Please invite all of your friends! All the LEONA Ladies will be there to help you shop for a cause either over the phone or in person! 

xoxo,

clp

gnocchi recipe & OOTD

day two: done! today was just as busy at LEONA preparing for the Go Gray in May event this saturday (which i hope to see some of your beautiful faces at)! but it was a good day none the less! the weather had me wondering what to wear since it decided to cool off quite some bit! i chose this outfit since it was easy to work in and easy to run around town in if i had to do errands! (picture is awful i know - need to work on that!)

liberty of london for j.crew button down, j. crew stripe sweater, j. crew ankle toothpick jeans, j. crew ballet flat 

also, check me out in today's featured piece at the LEONA nashville store on Facebook! this top is adorable and can be worn in so many ways and i am definitely going to have to purchase a pair of the hoop earring for myself!

nashville exclusive lilly top in sheer stripe, michel short, bar cuff

for supper tonight i fixed something in the crockpot, turned it on and went to work and it was ready when i got home! i wasn't sure if the gnocchi would cook correctly in the crockpot but it worked perfectly! this recipe isn't a soup but i wouldn't call it pasta either... it is more of a conglomerate but i don't like calling it that! still it is a healthy and filling meal that is easy to fix! i had some grapes with mine but a small salad would be also great with it or some baked bread!  

gnocchi and chicken sausage crockpot dish

1 package frozen gnocchi

3 links italian chicken sausage, sliced

1 can stewed tomatoes

1 can diced tomatoes

1 cup chopped onion

1 can (or as many as desired) quartered artichokes, drained 

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 cup frozen kale or spinach

black pepper, garlic powder and italian seasonings, to taste

1. spray crockpot with non-stick cooking spray. 
2. throw everything in crockpot and stir. adjust seasonings if needed.
3. turn on low for 6-8 hours. 
4. serve topped with cheese of choice.

once again, i am quite tired from work! i think tonight will be spent catching up on shows i missed last night and maybe another early bedtime with no alarm set for the morning!

xoxo,

clp

go gray in may & my first day

internship day one: done! today was my first day working for LEONA at their nashville headquarters and i personally don't think it could have gone any better! i was busy all day which is exactly what i wanted to be and i have already learned quite a bit! i am amazed about all the corporate-level things that go on behind the retail front that as a shopper you don't think about! if you follow the LEONA: nashville page on Facebook (which everyone should), i was featured as the store model today! click the links below to see the beautiful pieces i got to pose in! 

the margot dress

seafoam silk paige tee, white linen wallace trouser, tube necklace, double chain bracelet with logo, gold hoops

also, this weekend is LEONA's Annual Event Benefiting Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and i am excited to be a part of it! go gray in may by shopping at LEONA on saturday to raise money and awareness for brain cancer research, as a portion of all purchases will be donated. check out the flyer below, the event page on Facebook and come see me and the rest of the LEONA girls on saturday! 

i am quite tired after working all day (i'm a nine to fiver!)! i really enjoyed my day and am looking forward to this summer as an intern for LEONA headquarters! it is going to be the best experience imaginable and i could not be any happier! if you can't tell, i really am on cloud nine right now! i have loved getting to tell two of my very best friends megan and kaitlin all about my day! however, i may shortly fall asleep since i have been up since before dawn (literally - had to get my workout in before work!) so i am signing off of here and dialing up my mama! 

xoxo,

clp 

lemon pea pesto recipe

so i move to nashville for the summer tomorrow! i could not be more excited - or more busy! the past few days have been filled with cooking for mother's day, working out, packing and then unpacking today at my place in nashville! oh, and eating quite a bit of the delicious strawberry cake i made for mother's day per mama's request (seconds don't hurt right?!)... tonight for supper i made a great spring pasta dish that really hit the spot! i made homemade lemon pea pesto then served it mixed with whole wheat penne, sautéed asparagus and grilled chicken, topped with a sprinkle of parmesan and my signature salad on the side! this pesto would also be yummy on some toasted bread or crackers, with white beans, on a salad or baked on chicken!

lemon pea pesto

1 cup thawed frozen green peas

handful basil, chopped

1 tbsp minced garlic

2 tbsp lemon juice (or more)

2 tsp olive oil

pepper

1. pulse all ingredients together in a food processor (i actually did mine in a magic bullet and it worked fine).
2. adjust if desired and serve!  

(recipe slightly adapted from Love and Lemons)

i will officially be a nashvillian for the summer tomorrow! i start my internship on wednesday and am nervous but excited! hopefully all goes well! tomorrow i am going to hit up the farmer's market at sever park and just get acclimated to my summer home! murfreesboro, i'll see you for memorial day weekend! 

xoxo,

clp

happy mother's day

where would i be without my mom? she is my rock, my role model and my best friend. i would have never been able to make it through the past three years of college without her always being just a phone call away for the good and bad days. though i may be the reason she has to now color her hair (sorry mom) because of my difficult teenage years, i know now i would be no where near where i am today without her. i keep realizing more and more often how much i am like my mother. i am thankful for the relationship and bond that we have today. without her, i would be lost and without a very vital part of my life, a person that has shaped who i am and who i hope to become.

happy mother's day to all the mama's out there, including both my aunts and grandmothers! have a wonderful day and don't do any "mom" stuff today! 

xoxo,
clp

graduation OOTD

just a quick post following a long couple of days! mom and i went to knoxville yesterday afternoon for my cousin's graduation from UT today and it has been a busy 24 hours so tonight's post is just my graduation outfit! excuse the wind blown hair!

j. crew eyelet seersucker dress, lands end sandals, kate spade purse

xoxo,

clp 

summer bucket list

i am on day three of summer vacation! there are so many things i want to do this summer that i hope i am able to squeeze them all in! the list grows each and every day but as of right now, here is the summer 2014 bucket list!

• read: i plan on putting the kindle to good use this summer! the first few books on my list include bossypants by tina fey, the one and only by emily giffin, the beautiful and the damned by f. scott fitzgerald. i will also be turning the pages of many, many magazines as well! 
• watch: there are so many movies coming out this summer! i still want to see draft day and then see million dollar arm, neighbors, maleficent, the fault in our stars and tammy! luckily my family loves movies so i will have someone to go with! 
• lounge: we aren't taking a beach vacation this year so i am planning on lounging as much as i can, either by my pool or someone else's! i also am dying to get some lake time in so i want to rent a boat up at center hill one saturday! 
• work: i am interning this summer at LEONA and could not be more excited! i start in less than a week! i plan to soak up everything i can and learn as much as possible during my internship there. i already know that it is going to be an amazing experience and one that i am so lucky to be able to have! 
• eat local: one of my favorite things about summer is the farmer's market! i love fresh fruits and vegetables and always make a trip to the farmer's market! my parents and i go to the one in murfreesboro on saturday mornings on the square and this summer i will be able to go to the 12 south market on tuesdays! i also hope to cross some restaurants off my list! i am dying to eat at gray's on main, husk, saint anejo and the pharmacy! i will also have to hit up the places right down the street from me which include burger up, urban grub, the frothy monkey, 12 south taproom and taqueria del sol! 
• nashville: i am so excited to be living in nashville this summer - it is a dream come true! i hope to take in everything that the city has to offer! 

i have a busy summer ahead of me but i wouldn't have it any other way! happy summer to everyone! 

xoxo,

clp

senior status & a recipe

officially a senior in college! yesterday i bubbled in my last scantron of the semester and motored on home for summer! yesterday was like a marathon but i came out on top and all unpacked! for cinco de mayo we fixed upside-down salsa cornbread, homemade refried beans and homemade guacamole! it was the perfect welcome home supper (the angel food cake and fresh picked strawberries from valley home farm weren't too bad either)!

today was busy as well! i don't know why i always try to do everything the first few days when i get home but i always do! i hit up the MAC for a good workout and then it was on to running some errands, cleaning up the house and doing a bit of cooking! i also had to pack a load of things to take to my nashville apartment tomorrow. life has been a bit of a blur since i got home to be honest!

i did find time this afternoon to sit outside and paint my nails in OPI's "kiss me i'm brazilian" pink and finish allegiant by veronica roth. it was different than the first two in the divergent series in that it is told from two perspectives but it is just as gripping as the first two! this is a series that i am so glad i took the time to read! it is a great summer trilogy!

this post is short and sweet but i wanted to share that i was home from knoxville for the summer! tonight's supper is in honor of summer: BBQ pulled pork, corn, baked beans and watermelon! the BBQ pulled pork recipe is one of the easiest i have ever made and the house has smelled wonderful all day!

crockpot BBQ pulled pork tenderloin

1 trimmed 2 lb pork tenderloin

1/2 to 1 cup chopped onion

1 cup BBQ sauce (we like Sweet Baby Ray's)

garlic powder, to taste

1. cover bottom of crockpot with 1/2 cup BBQ sauce and onion.
2. place pork tenderloin in crockpot and cover with remaining BBQ sauce and season with garlic powder if desired. 
3. cook on low for 4-6 hours, until cooked through and tender.
4. shred tenderloin with two forks (i just did this in the crockpot) and stir to coat. 
5. serve on whole wheat buns with your favorite BBQ sides! 

(recipe courtesy of youbeauty.com)

xoxo,

clp

wedding shower OOTD

well, less than 24 hours left of my junior year. really, where did it go? again, i feel like so much has changed once again this year. i have really tried to work on myself, especially since january. i believe that i have improved on some aspects but still struggle with some, and am still working to better myself. it feels great when people notice how i have changed as well and tell me as many have recently, so i use that as a benchmark as well. i can only hope that i continue to improve in my eyes and the eyes of others as i end my junior year and begin the last year of my college career!

last night i celebrated my sweet sister's upcoming wedding! it was such a great way to end my junior year. in addition to some yummy snacks (the meatballs - oh my goodness!) and delicious cake, sisterhood was all around as we watched courtney open her gifts... without breaking any bows! if you were like me and unaware of the breaking bows tradition, i will give you a short and sweet summary of it... the bride tries not to break any of the bows on her shower gifts - the number of bows she does break predicts the number of children she will have! the maid of honor, or any other bridesmaids, save all the ribbons and bows from the bride's various showers and then makes them into a bouquet for the bride to carry at the rehearsal dinner! it is a new southern tradition and one that i will definitely take part in when the time comes! the wedding shower really made me realize how much i am going to miss my best friends and sisters. some i won't see until july or some august, but hopefully i will be able to see some of their beautiful faces before then!

i chose to pull an oldie-but-a-goodie out of my closet for the shower! it is a few seasons old, but still in style, a benefit of tory burch and her classic silhouettes and designs! though her dresses are investments, they are timeless and can be worn season after season!

tory burch dress, dolce vita cage heels

xoxo,

clp

weekend wants & an appetizer recipe

with studying comes online shopping... right?! not sure how they relate to each other but somehow during finals week, i always end up shopping online and finding things i absolutely have to have. maybe its all the studying that does it to me? so, without further ado, here are some recent finds from my favorite brands that are making my weekend want list! 

lilly pulitzer cruiser camp shirt

kate spade hutton tropical print lounge pants

j. crew patch pocket skirt in stretch cotton

j. crew tie-back tank in stripe

j. crew silk eyelet top

tory burch schaeffer flip-flop

j. crew embroidered floral racer dress

topshop crepe scallop hem top

tonight i am attending my first wedding shower as an actual friend of the bride - not a relative or someone i know through my parents. it is really strange but exciting to see a friend getting ready to be married and start a new chapter of her life! i contributed to the shower munchies with a favorite appetizer of mine courtesy of my lovely aunt! it is perfect for any occasion and i always rave about it when she makes it!

pecan-rolled cheeseball

2 8 oz. blocks cream cheese (i used greek yogurt cream cheese)

1 tbsp minced garlic

seasonings of choice - i used an herbs de provence blend 

chopped pecans, for rolling the cheese ball in

1. allow cream cheese to soften to room temperature
2. once softened, mix all cream cheese, garlic and seasonings of choice together and form into ball.
3. roll cheeseball in crushed pecans until fully covered. chill.
4. serve with crackers, pretzels, or chopped veggies.

i only have two days left here in knoxville for the semester... i am amazed at how fast this year has gone by. i feel like i have stepped out of my comfort zone a bit and am trying to do it more often. i have had to make grown-up decisions and do things that come with growing up. i have grown closer to and found my best friends both here at school and back at home, people i know i will be able to depend on for many. many years. seeing the seniors i have become better friends with graduate is bittersweet, as i know that will be me in just one short year. these last two days will consist of studying for my last two finals (hooray!), packing up the rest of my things, and making sure i see every last person one more time! i want to leave you with a quote that really stuck in my head after i read it. it is nothing special really, but it made me think of the things i have that i am glad i wake up for each morning, even if they do require work to maintain. 

"stay close to anything that makes you glad you woke up each morning"

have a wonderful first weekend of may and enjoy the spring weather! 

xoxo,

clp

may day recipe

happy may! april definitely flew by and it is hard to believe that may is here! with may comes summer, flowers, vegetables, fruits and many other things so i am welcoming it with open arms! i am one final down, with two more to go on monday! tonight will be a bit of a study break since i may be brain dead from taking my final earlier today! for supper tonight i decided to try out a new recipe that i had seen multiple versions of on pinterest! i always love any twist on mexican and this was a great, healthy and vegetarian take on tacos!

black bean, sweet potato and corn tacos

serves 4

2 sweet potatoes, diced 

1 can reduced sodium black-beans, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup corn kernels 

2-3 tsp lime juice

cumin

red pepper 

garlic powder 

small corn tortillas

lettuce, cheese, salsa for topping 

1. preheat oven to 400. spray pan with non-stick cooking spray and place diced sweet potato on pan. spray potatoes with cooking spray as well. top with lime juice, cumin, red pepper and garlic powder to taste. place in oven to bake until softened and toasted brown, about 30 minutes. 
2. meanwhile, spray a skillet with non-stick spray. add onions and corn and cook until onions are translucent. add beans, lime juice, cumin, red pepper and garlic powder (all spices to taste. cook until heated through.
3. when sweet potatoes are done, remove from oven and add to skillet with beans and corn mixture. stir together. 
4. heat corn tortillas in microwave for about 15 seconds. serve tacos topped with desired toppings and enjoy!

(slightly adapted from Joy The Baker)

try this recipe out on monday for cinco de mayo! i really liked it and am looking forward to making it for others! 

xoxo,

clp