christmas bucket list

who wants to join?

xoxo,

cop

favorite fall things

starting to cross things off the fall bucket list today. 

xoxo,

clp

life lately: august update, summer recap

well, i am closing in on the end of my summer. these past few weeks have been busy but i wouldn't want it any other way. my internship at LEONA ended and i can honestly say my time at LEONA and in nashville was the happiest i have been in a long time. the internship presented me with an amazing opportunity to have a hand-on experience with the business and operations side of a growing designer label. every day was different, sometimes i did a task just right, sometimes i was presented with a challenge, and sometimes i made a mistake. it was an experience i will be forever grateful for. the LEONA team taught me so much, about myself and the business. i truly feel like i have found where i am meant to be and what i am meant to do. hopefully it won't be the last time i am working at LEONA! i already miss 2309 12th South Avenue more than i thought i ever could!

as far as my summer bucket list went, i think i added more to it than crossed off. i did read most of the books on my list, though found more to put on my wish list. unfortunately, i didn't make it to any movies but that's what red box is for! there was no lake day this summer but i spent a few afternoons by our pool and a weekend in charleston which i would choose over the lake anyway. i made it the local farmer's market as often as i could, both the one on 12th South and the Murfreesboro market. i have more than eaten my share of fresh veggies and fruits, with no plan of stopping. knoxville apparently has a wonderful market at market square on saturday mornings that i am hoping to get to soon. i also ate at some new restaurants & dessert places this summer (the pharmacy, taqueria del sol, the flipside, epice, saint anejo, gray's on main, boca loca, jeni's, crankee's) and dined at my all-time favorites (the puffy muffin, the frothy monkey, mafioza's, fido, las paletas). i definitely added more restaurants to my nashville bucket list! the summer was everything i could ask for and more. rewind it and let me press play again!

i have spent the past several days in murfreesboro at home. though i didn't want to leave nashville, i have relaxed here at home. mom and i went shopping and i have been packing up my things getting ready for my last move to knoxville. it is so strange to think that just 3 years ago i was moving into humes with a random roommate and now i am moving into my own single-girl apartment as a senior, with my best friends just a look out the window away. so much has changed since then, for better or for worse, but i couldn't be happier with where i am at this exact moment.

i have started blogging for my sorority and couldn't be more excited about launching the alpha chi omega at UTK blog! we plan to use the blog as way for parents, alumni, family and friends to stay involved in all that is going on with the delta pi chapter. check out our first post, sign up to get posts in your inbox and stay tuned for a recruitment recap coming next week!

i am still hoping to build my blog followers so please continue liking and sharing! also follow me on instagram, twitter and pinterest (links on the right). your support means the world to me and i appreciate my readers taking time out of their busy days to read my ramblings. speaking of ramblings, that is what this post has come to. i'm off to read my textbook-sized september issue of instyle!

xoxo,
clp

life lately: june update

with it being the official first day of summer (and national wear your lilly pulitzer day), it seems to be a good day to post an update on my life lately! it has been just over a month since my last "life lately" post so it is due time for another! the one word that still describes my life right now: happy. i really think i am happier than i have ever been! it is going to be so hard to leave nashville in 2 months and go back to school in knoxville. i am loving every minute of my internship at LEONA and loving every minute spent crossing things off my summer bucket list. i have made new friends and am trying to step outside of my comfort zones. i am maintaining a healthy weight and still enjoying cooking healthy, nutritious foods. all in all, i may be dog-tired by the end of some days, but life lately is pretty sweet. here's a quick review of what i've been up to in the past few days (a new restaurant, some shopping, and a pedicure treat!)

• epice nashville: i tried epice on wednesday with a family friend and it did not disappoint! i love trying new cuisines and lebanese was one that i had not had to the chance to dive into. i drive by the neighborhood lebanese bistro twice a day and it is always crowded at supper time and now i know why! the clean, stark interior lends itself to a delicious menu, one of which i can't pronounce many of the items but they all sound delicious. i ordered the hummos beyrouti (ground sirloin with pine nuts over housemade creamy hummus with pita chips and a peasant salad) and ate almost every bite (had to save some room for dessert). i would certainly recommend epice, as well as go back time and time again! 
• LEONA: work lately has been great! we are starting to get fall in and getting ready to ship out the first part of it to stores and it is unbelievable! LEONA girls are in for a treat with this collection! i have also been featured on the LEONA : nashville Facebook page in some lovely outfits! i think at this point in my internship i have tried on the entire store for some sort of photo! no complaints though! click the links below to see my "shorts story" and two possible outfits for the fourth! 

a short story

july fourth outfit idea 1

july fourth outfit idea 2

• yesterday i had a total "me" day! spin class, a trip to whole foods, coffee from eighth and roast, a pedicure and some friday shopping were all part of my friday! i'm not sure how, but my days off from my unpaid internship always involve spending my nonexistent paycheck. i think a shopaholics anonymous intervention is needed... nonetheless, i have gotten some great finds and new additions to my closet this past week, pieces that are classic, on trend, seasonless and timeless! 

j. crew "masterpiece" linen tee: to dress down a high-heel shoe printed silk skirt

ivanka trump loire flat: a seasonless shoe perfect for skirts, pants and dresses

tory burch kerrington crossbody shopper: a great printed summer purse 

tennessee home t-shirt: for off days

andre assous anouka espadrille: a midheel wedge that will carry me through summer and into fall

as you can see i have been a bit shopping-happy lately! all the things i have gotten lately are perfect for building my wardrobe! today, mom and dad are coming up to nashville to visit me (luckily they come or i might get a little bit lonely)! i always love seeing them and today we are going to the nashville farmer's market, visiting a few places we have wanted to go but have never actually gone, and dining at saint anejo for supper! i went to barre 3 this morning in the gulch for a good workout so now i am ready to do some fun summer stuff with them! have a happy first official day of summer y'all!

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

christmas break bucket list & a dessert

i make lists. lots of lists. grocery lists, wish lists, to do lists. the list goes on and on. the most fun list (besides a wish list) is my bucket list. i even have lists of bucket lists. for christmas break, i have made myself (and whoever wants to join) a bucket list. it contains a ton of seasonal activities that are happening in murfreesboro and nashville! i really hope i get to accomplish most of them, but to do so i will definitely have to hit the ground running!

1. nashville predators hockey game: i have only been to one and i was teensy then so i really want to go this year! phillip goes quite often so hopefully we will get to go to one together! 
2. lights at opryland: every year i want to go see the lights and somehow time just gets away and they are turned off before i get the chance to see them. this year i am determined to see them! 
3. ice! at gaylord opryland: mom and i have wanted to go to this for a couple of years now but like with the lights, time got away. this year it is frosty the snowman themed so a christmas classic is a must see! 
4. painting with a twist: now that i am 21, i really want to have a fun mother-daughter date at painting with a twist. mom is afraid her painting will look bad, but i keep telling her the wine will loosen her up! (i already offered to be the DD - her artistic skills are lacking a bit) 
5. actually go see movies... in theaters: i couldn't tell you the last movie i saw in theaters so hopefully i may get to see at least one over break. frozen comes out soon and i really want to see it. mom loves going to movies so i know i will have a taker when the time comes! 
6. cross some restaurants off my nashville restaurant bucket list (told you i like lists): the list has grown quite some bit with the opening of new restaurants that all look delicious. it seems like every time i cross one off, i add two more. i hope to try some new ones as well as frequent some favorites in nashville over break!  

for now, the list isn't too long but i know i will probably come up with some more things to do! 

today was a long day. i left the apartment at 8:30 and didn't get back until 4:30! i am just a bit weary. nonetheless, i was put in the holiday spirit by the salvation army bell ringers at kroger and my purchase of peppermint creme coffee at the fresh market today (yes, i did go to two different grocery stores). i also snatched up some pumpkin salsa while it was still on the shelves! also, lilly pulitzer released the first products for the alpha chi print. i must say that i am a bit disappointed that there are only 2 items available for preorder and unfortunately, neither are products that i want. its rare that lilly disappoints me so i am hoping that more products will be revealed soon. i am still on that pumpkin kick and i have been craving rice krispie treats so tonight for dessert i made a half batch of pumpkin spice rice krispie treats! they were so good with the hint of pumpkin and cinnamon... i may or may not have eaten half of the batch! 

half batch pumpkin spice rice krispie treats

2 tbsp butter

2.5 cups mini marshmallows

3 cups rice krispies cereal 

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp cinnamon 

1. spray large saucepan with non-stick cooking spray. melt butter over low heat. 
2. add marshmallows and stir constantly until completely melted. stir in spices. 
3. remove from heat and stir in rice krispies until well coated.
4. press into loaf pan or 8x8 baking dish. 

if you don't want pumpkin spice flavored rice krispie treats, just leave out the spices! and try not the eat the half the pan like me! 

xoxo,

clp