thanksgiving 2014

thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, just like everyone else. but, i don't love it for the food. i love it for the preparation that goes into getting everything ready for everyone and most of all, i love it for what it reminds me to be thankful for: those who gather around our table. yesterday was filled with too much food (currently mourning my waistline) and much family and friends who are now family. 

i love to help cook for thanksgiving. this year, my contributions were dashing dish's clean eating pecan pie and a paleo cranberry sauce. those were me trying to be a bit healthier since i gorged on mashed potatoes and my mawsie's cornbread dressing. i thought both were delicious, and even though i don't usually eat leftovers, thanksgiving is when i make an exception!

yesterday's outfit was one i had been looking forward to wearing! i got the LEONA jess jacket for my birthday (after lusting after it all summer and fall) and knew it would be just perfect for thanksgiving! i paired it with a j. crew black silk top and black draped drawstring waist pants to be comfortable but still on-trend. for jewels, i added stella and dot's helena necklace and it was the perfect finishing piece, along with my vintage chanel button ring, LEONA arm candy and silver tory burch flats! 

LEONA jess jacket, j. crew silk top and drawstring pants, tory burch silver flats, stella & dot helena necklace, stella & dot double clutch

my stella & dot trunk show is still going strong! i have some pieces here with me and they are to-die-for. do your black friday shopping with me and stella & dot, in your PJs with a cup of coffee! you can shop online through december 18th (perfect for christmas presents!). RSVP and shop now!

have a happy holiday weekend and stay safe in those crazy black friday crowds! 

xoxo,

clp  

zipped up OOTD

j. crew asymmetrical zip pencil skirt in wool, j. crew cap-sleeve shirttail blouse, j. crew merino wool v-neck cardigan

xoxo,

clp

p.s. don't forget about my stella & dot trunk show! click here to RSVP and shop now!

stella&dot trunk show

readers! this week i am hosting an online stella & dot trunk show! if you haven't heard of stella & dot, they are a fab accessories line that sells online, through stylists and at trunk shows. the jewelry is on-trend and affordable, with some pieces under $50! click here to RSVP and start shopping now! also, check out my wishlist and see what pieces i am hoping santa puts under the tree!

and as a bonus, everything ships within 3-5 business days so you are sure to have it for all your holiday soirees! its the time of year to get fancy! 

xoxo,
clp

white chicken enchilada bake, take 2 recipe

i love enchiladas, but i don't love the calories, fat and manual labor that comes with them. i know, that sounds really lazy, but sometimes i just want some enchiladas that are good for me and don't require pretentious rolling.

this past weekend, i found the solution to my problem (can you say #firstworldprobs much?!). after seeing many "enchilada bake" that turned out to be just as unhealthy as traditional enchiladas, i went back to search on one of my favorite healthy-eating blogs, dashing dish. after a few minor tweaks to her recipe, i made the most delicious, not-horrible-for-you chicken enchiladas that the whole family loved! we made them as part of my birthday fiesta celebration and there wasn't one bite left!

white chicken enchilada bake, take 2

2.5 cups chicken breast, cooked and shredded

1 can diced tomatoes, drained

1.5 cups plain non-fat greek yogurt

1 4 oz. can chopped green chiles

1 tsp homemade taco seasoning

1 can white hominy, drained (could also use corn)

6 high fiber, whole wheat, low carb tortillas, cut into quarters (i use La Tortilla)

1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese (or cheese of choice) 

1. preheat oven to 375. spray a large baking dish with non-stick spray.
2. to make filling, combine chicken, tomatoes, yogurt, green chiles, taco seasoning and hominy in a large mixing bowl. mix until combined. 
3. start the layering with a layer of tortillas (it is okay if they don't fully cover bottom of dish). then follow with a thick layer of filling. repeat until filling is gone and end with a layer of tortillas on top.
4. sprinkle cheese on top tortillas. bake for 30-35 minutes or until cheese is melted and center is heated through. 

(slightly adapted from dashing dish)

be on the lookout tomorrow for a post about my stella & dot trunk show i am hosting! santa claus will be asking for a christmas list soon and some new gems fit perfectly in a stocking! 

xoxo,

clp

birthday weekend recap

birthday #22 has come and gone, and i couldn't have asked for a better weekend at home to celebrate. friday consisted of christmas village with my mom and then meeting phillip and daddy at adele's in nashville for a nice birthday supper! it was fantastic - from the appetizers to the desserts, there wasn't a bad looking thing on the menu. we all ordered something different and not one of us was disappointed. the ingredients are fresh and local, with a daily changing menu. i ordered the roasted fall vegetables with polenta as a side and ate every last bit! it might have been the best polenta i have ever had. for dessert, we each ordered something different and sampled each other's! mom's banana pudding with banana bread (an award winning dessert) was delicious, as was my chocolate mousse with housemade whipped cream! the restaurant is located in the gulch and is a converted tire store, which creates a very cool atmosphere perfect for a downtown restaurant.

saturday was the annual family fiesta! we made ground beef tacos, homemade refried beans, blender salsa, a white chicken enchilada bake (recipe coming soon!) and guacamole. the birthday cake was iveycake "i do" cupcakes of course. it was a wonderful night filled with my closest family and friends. i am so thankful for those who were able to celebrate with me and missed those who could not!

yesterday, which was my actual birthday, was rainy and cold, but on the bright side i had a heart-warming birthday dinner with my best friends at cru in knoxville. their cheese plate and wedge salads are my favorite! i am so happy that they were able to take the time out of their sunday to come have dinner with me!

so what did i wear this weekend? since it was cold, i had to switch up my outfits a bit, or cover them outside with a coat, but i still tried to look my best for birthday weekend.

stella & dot sanibel pendant

j. crew regent blazer, j. crew silk top, j. crew lookout jean, ivanka trump booties

LEONA sweater, june rabbit fur vest, j. crew boyfriend jeans, ivanka trump booties

this week is a busy one, but there is a light at the end of the semester tunnel and its getting brighter! have a happy monday and stay warm!

xoxo,
clp

in remembrance on veterans day

yesterday marked twenty-three years that my grandfather on my mom's side of the family has been gone. sunday marks my twenty-second birthday. i never had the chance to have him hold me in his arms, much less get to know him. still, i feel that i do know him through the stories my mom and her siblings, my dad and uncle, and my grandmother tell about him. his spirit lives on through them. i admire him for the achievements he made in his life. it is because of him that our blood runs orange. i have no doubt that we would have gotten along well. i think he would have quite liked my red-headed-fiery attitude. i believe i would have made him shake his head and laugh in my younger days and frustrated him during my teenage years. today though, i hope i would make him proud. i have always said that if i was asked the question of who i would want to have dinner with, living or dead, he would certainly have a seat at the table.

not only was yesterday the anniversary of my grandfather's death, but today is also veteran's day which makes yesterday mean even more. pa, as the grandkids called him, fletch lowe as his family and friends knew him as, was a general in the united states air force. hearing the stories through others of his experiences flying c-130s in the air force has always kept me riveted to my seat. because of him and so many others like him, including the man who came into our lives after the passing of my grandfather and who I consider to be my grandfather, tony, i am able to live the life that i am accustomed to. i am forever grateful and forever indebted to those who serve, have served and will serve our country. the men and women in the armed forces should not be celebrated on certain days of the year, they should be recognized every day for their service to our country. it is because of them that we have what we have. so on this beautiful november tuesday, i am remembering my grandfather and thanking those who serve our country. let us not forget them when it is not a national holiday. happy veterans day to men and women of our military, may we celebrate our dedication to america always.

xoxo,
clp

4 ingredient beer bread + 3 piece outfit

last night was low-key and lovely. two of my best friends, caroline and ellie, came over for buffalo chicken chili and beer bread (recipe below) and some buttermilk sky pie shop pies. since the three of us have such different schedules, its hard for us to find a time to all get together, but when we do, we pick up right where we left off! the evening was full of catching up on everything and indulging in too much yummy food! i made my buffalo chicken chili recipe and tried out a recipe for beer bread, which i was so impressed with! it was quick and easy and you probably already have everything you need at home!

4 ingredient beer bread

3 cups all purpose flour

4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 tbsp Splenda brown sugar

12 oz beer of choice (i used coors light)

1. preheat oven to 375 and spray a 9x5 loaf pan with non-stick spray.
2. in a medium mixing bowl, mix together first three ingredients. pour in the beer and stir until just combined.
3. pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 35 minutes, or until the top of the bread is lightly browned and a knife comes out clean.
4. slice and serve! 

(slightly adapted from half baked harvest)

i will end this post with a selfie of what i wore to a meeting today on campus! it was more on the casual side but still looked very put together! 

j. crew cotton cropped sweater, j. crew silk sleeveless blouse in heart dot, 

j. crew sateen toothpick pant, c. wonder novelty smoking slippers

xoxo,

clp

p.s. 8 days until the birthday! 

award show style: cma's 2014

you know you are from nashville [area] when your favorite awards show is the CMA awards. its on both my mom and my bucket list to be able to go one year! maybe next year since i won't be in school (hint, hint)?!

anyway, though i love the performances, the hosts (how fab did pregnant carrie look?!) and everything about country music, the outfits are my favorite part. from the red carpet to the stage outfits, the stars of country music never disappoint and the men clean up real nice. so who made my best dressed list? keep reading to find out!

(all images via today and people)

this post is short and sweet, but i must be getting to class! have a great thursday everyone! we are almost to the weekend! 

xoxo,

clp

healthier no-bake cookies + big little lies

can i get a "go vols"?! last nights game was just too much! i wish i could have been there, but with the weather, i was happy to watch the vols beat the gamecocks from the warmth of my apartment, complete with some chili and cornbread!

today i tried out a new dessert recipe (lord help me and my sweet tooth...)! no-bake cookies (or doodoo balls as i have been known to call them) are my absolute favorite cookies, but unfortunately what they do to my waistline is not my favorite. i have come across many recipes for "healthified no-bakes" and today i decided to test one out! they are still cooling on my counter, so i can't say how they taste, but they sure do look delicious!

healthier no-bake cookies

1 ripe banana, mashed

1 cup Splenda

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup unsweetened original almond milk

1/2 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)

1 tsp vanilla 

3 cups old fashioned oats

1. place all ingredients except vanilla and oats in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring & being sure to not let the milk burn. 
2. allow the mixture to melt together and to boil for 1 minute. remove from heat and let cool for 1 minute. 
3. stir in vanilla and oats until well-combined with mixture. 
4. drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool to room temperature. 

(slightly adapted from eating bird food) 

a week or two ago i finished liane moriarty's newest novel, big little lies. engaging from page one, the novel follows the politics of a coastal beach town preschool's parents. the book has both light and dark moments, leaving the reader shocked with each page turn. following three women at crossroads in their lives, big little lies is a clever take on ex-husbands, second wives, children and scandal, all centered around a schoolyard. add this to your library as soon as you can! 

xoxo,

clp 

costume reveal + its birthday month

with november comes the start of birthday month! my birthday is two weeks from tomorrow so of course the festivities i plan for myself are beginning! last night, i didn't do any trick or treating or halloween partying, but i did dress up! as i posted yesterday, i was holly golightly and i think my costume turned out great, especially given the fact that at 5 PM yesterday i had yet to make the mask!

j. crew endless shirt and leggings, c. wonder smoking slippers, cynthia rowley tassel earrings

i was originally supposed to be on my way to columbia, south carolina, right now to cheer on the vols. however, because of the weather, we cancelled our trip and i think it may have been a blessing in disguise. i think i would have been a popsicle by the end of the game. these past few weeks have been very busy with school and studying, and a relaxing weekend with no home game seems to be what i needed. today, i am going to see gone girl finally and then going to watch the game at a friend's apartment! no tests next week so i am certainly looking forward to a less crazy week! 

stay warm everyone and go vols! 

xoxo,

clp