coming up for air & a dessert recipe

to say this has been a trying past week and a half is an understatement. i know this is what i signed up for when i came to college, but these past few days have left me both mentally and physically exhausted. today, i finally got to come up for air. yesterday was a marathon day but i came out alive but barely. today is the first day in what seems like ages that i have a chance to relax and breathe a little bit. i do have a test on monday but after that, i am golden. the sunny skies and big boat are calling my name!

i wanted to share a quick, easy and healthy dessert recipe with y'all today. i made this up the other night and it turned out to be really good, especially with a glass of milk on the side! the recipe makes three individual portions, but you could definitely just do it as one big parfait. it is a sugar free, fat free, full of fiber treat that is great for an after dinner treat!

quick and easy individual banana pudding parfaits

1 package sugar-free, fat free banana cream pudding

3/4 cups fiber one original cereal

sliced banana or other fruit for topping

pecans, walnuts, cinnamon, etc. for topping (optional)

1. prepare pudding according to package directions. set aside. 
2. in individual container, layer 1/4 cup fiber one cereal, 1/2 cup pudding and then toppings of choice. repeat with until all ingredients are gone. 
3. serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. the longer it sits, the more mushy the cereal gets.

its an easy recipe than can be adapted to any flavor pudding and fruit combination. this one is great because is resembles classic southern banana pudding without all the calories. try it out and i think you will be pleased with the results! 

since i have no friday classes this semester (which i don't think will happen in the fall) the weekend officially started for me at 12:25. i am definitely looking forward to this weekend since my mama and daddy are coming up for some parent's council meetings. we already have plans to eat at dead end bbq, get a mini-pie from buttermilk sky pie shop and attend the grand opening party at the new lilly pulitzer store, palm village knoxville (which dad will probably sit out)! i just love it when they come up to knoxville for the weekend because i actually go out to eat at some of my favorite places. i still have decided where we will be brunching on sunday but i'm sure it will be delicious! i am counting down the seconds until i get to see my two most favorite people in the world tomorrow! have a great last day and a half of the work week everyone!

xoxo,

clp

p.s. i finally secured a sublease for an apartment this summer in nashville! it may be dangerous that i will be able to walk across the street and be at green hills mall! 

its the little things & OOTD

it's the little things that truly make a difference. it may seem like nothing at the time, but it could impact you or another person more than you know. today i was minding my own business washing my hands at the TRECS when a girl came up to me and said "i see you at the gym all the time and wanted to let you know that i think you are beautiful. i thought you should hear that today." i don't think the girl knew how much her comment had an effect on me. I have always had body issues and even though i lost weight and am much healthier and happier, the body issues will still always be there. i know i will always struggle with that and its something i am going to have to live with or overcome. the girl probably does not know that she made my day and i have been on cloud nine ever since. it has inspired me to do more "little things," in the hope that they may have a big impact.

as i mentioned in my previous post, last night we had big little reveal and i became a grandbig! our family grew and i am just obsessed with my grandlittle, mackenzie. her, megan and i are three peas in a pod so i think our family is going to be really close, which is what i have always wanted. i also love my extended family more than anything too! we all come together perfectly to make the best little family!

my little family

our extended family 

i am so excited for tonight! mom, dad, and phillip are coming in and we are eating at dead end bbq (best bbq in knoxville by far and some of the best i have ever had) and then we are going to the blake shelton concert, which i have heard is phenomenal! i can't wait for phillip to try dead end bbq since he is quite partial to edley's in nashville. i also can't wait to see mr. blake shelton on stage at thompson-boling in his tight blue jeans and cowboy boots. fingers are crossed he plays rocky top! for the concert, i decided to wear some printed jeans i wanted to wear before september ended and a bright sweater. i apologize again for the horrible picture... i was in a bit of a rush!

j. crew sweater, j. crew gingham toothpick jeans, tory burch navy caroline flats

as i write this, my parents are on their way to get me so i must be going! hope everyone has a great friday night and that it is "ten times crazier" than normal! 

xoxo,

clp

top five knoxville restaurants

now that i am back in knoxville, i thought i would share my favorite places to eat around here with y'all! there are countless delicious restaurants in knoxville but these are the ones that i frequent quite often and always take out-of-towners to.

1. aubrey's: by far one of my favorite restaurants ever. their menu has a little bit of everything, from soups and salads to burgers to pasta. my favorite thing to order at aubrey's is the baked squash vegetable side dish but i honestly haven't had a thing from there that wasn't good. the service is always excellent as well. 
2. sunspot: i just discovered this at the end of last semester and wish i had discovered it sooner! as part of the aubrey's restaurant family, it does not stray from having delicious food and top-notch service. the atmosphere and design of the restaurant is really cool, with large patios and open air-seating. this menu too has a little bit of everything, including many dishes for vegetarians. my favorite is the sweet potato tamale that comes with portobello mushrooms, black beans and salsa. i need to try something new but i can never resist it! as a bonus, all the food is prepared with fresh, local ingredients. they also have a half price wine night on wednesday that many of my friends enjoy! 
3. tupelo honey: well worth the wait. i cannot express how good this restaurant is! the menu boasts items that are traditional southern but with modern spins. i hear their bloody mary's are to die for and they serve breakfast all day (my favorite meal of the day). the complimentary biscuits and honey are mouthwatering and serving sizes are generous. my favorite breakfast dish to order is the breakfast bowl, which is made up of goat cheese grits topped with black eyed pea salsa verde, an egg and bacon. i also love their black bean burger with any of the fresh sides. 
4. dead end bbq: best barbecue around! dead end's barbecue is some of the best that i have had. i like it because it is not "wet" bbq but it is also not dried out. their hot sauces have just the right amount of spice and they also have other choices on the menu that don't include barbecue. i always order the pulled pork plate with the mayor's beans and jalepeno cornbread. my whole family loves it and we may even get it for a tailgate this fall! 
5. chesapeake's: i have been going to chesapeake's for as long as i can remember. it is a locally owned restaurant specializing in seafood, but their non-seafood dishes are excellent as well. the entire family (and by entire, i mean entire) usually makes a trip to chesapeake's at least once during football season but mom and dad and i try to go more often. you can't leave without getting a slice of key lime pie! its a little piece of heaven! 

other restaurants that i enjoy here in knoxville are ye olde steakhouse, surin of thailand, litton's, don gallo's, copper cellar, cafe 4, tomato head and calhoun's. there are even more that could go on this list but if i had to choose only five to eat at, those described above would certainly be at the top of the list. next time you are in knoxville, i definitely recommend any of these restaurants! you won't be disappointed!

xoxo,

clp