the flipside + OOTD

on my last eve of living in nashville this summer, i met my parents and brother for supper before finishing the move at The Flipside, a new restaurant on 12 south! specializing in chicken and more chicken any way you might dream of wanting it, it certainly lived up to the hype. decorated as a modern-diner complete with a vintage record player, the flipside offers nashvillians a new dining experience.

we had to order the tator tot nachos since we had heard rumors about them and as bad as they were for you, they were so good. order them and don't think twice. i ordered the "betsy", which is a pounded thin chicken breast, topped with breadcrumbs, buffalo sauce, celery and blue cheese. it was so good! i had a taste of the "phuket" and i might have to order it next time. all of our plates were clean by the end of dinner! also known for their shakes, phillip ordered himself a coke float which he finished quite quickly so i am assuming it was good! put the flipside on your must-try list next time you are on 12 south - you won't be sorry! check out some of the pictures i took below. unfortunately we dove into our food before i could get any pictures!

today's OOTD is a new favorite of mine! i love all of LEONA's shirt dresses but this one is in a fabulous abstract dot print that takes it to another level! i also love that like with so many other LEONA pieces, it is transitional and seasonless. today, i wore it with sandals, but i plan on belting it with tights and boots or throwing on my fur vest over it with tights and booties in cooler weather! and since it was my last night living where i have been most happy, i had to take the ultimate tourist picture with the "i believe in nashville" mural (hey, reese witherspoon instagrammed it too!). i really do believe in nashville, believe in all the opportunities i can see that it has for me. 

LEONA shirtdress (similar here), nordstrom necklace, j. crew sandals

last but certainly not least, the wait is finally over! the much anticipated LEONA SAYS tees have arrived on 12 south! i got my "parlez vous du sud?" shirt today and can't wait to wear it! the tees are in classic LEONA font and lauren leonard's gorgeous handwriting, with five different southern sayings! get yours fast, i have a feeling they won't last long! 

xoxo,

clp

need weekend plans?

looking for something to do this weekend? come to 12 south! the entire 12 south neighborhood is throwing a block party! join us for a saturday filled with giveaways, promotions, food, fun, sidewalk sales, refreshments and raffles! some of my personal favorite 12 south businesses are participating as well as others i haven't had a chance to visit yet! check out the flyer below and click the link for more information, including what businesses are offering as part of the block party!

12 South Block Party

can't make it this weekend? go ahead and mark your calendar for august's party! better yet, come to both! you won't want to miss this new, exciting event! see you there?! 

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

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