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

on the menu + OOTD

i have such a good looking meal plan this week that i just had to share it! i am altering some of the recipes a little bit to make them healthier or to use what i have in my pantry and fridge!

• monday: crispy gnocchi with basil, zucchini and yellow squash (from iowa girl eats), side artichoke salad (instead of corn in the original recipe, subbed yellow squash we got at the farmer's market saturday - delicious!), coconut rice krispie treats (just dump some shredded coconut in with the regular rice krispie treat ingredients!)
• tuesday: crockpot salsa chicken tacos with black beans and guacamole with veggie chips (sliced jicama and bell peppers) - this time around, i added some black beans to the crockpot as well and cut back on the chicken! 
• wednesday: dinner out with a friend at epice nashville - it is a lebanese restaurant on 12th that i drive past twice a day and have really been wanting to try! the menu items that are really looking good to me right now are the mujadara, fatayer, and the hummos!
• thursday: slow cooked peach pork from dashing dish over brown rice with stir fried veggies (right now i am thinking about trying out soy and chile-glazed brussel sprouts) - instead of doing chicken in the main dish, i am going to cut up a pork chop for another kind of lean protein! also, i am going to use frozen peaches with the skins on
• friday: stuffed chicken breast from tag'z (you haven't lived until you've eaten one of these) with baked zucchini and squash, salad 

my mouth is watering just thinking about the tasty meals ahead of me! on the hand, today's OOTD was full-on LEONA again! my collection of LEONA is growing and growing and i love it (i may or may not have bought at least one thing a week since i started - oops)! i did buy a top today that is just perfect for UT football games! even though the designer went to alabama, this top just screams go big orange! for all you UT fans, snatch this top up (picture and linked below) so you will be ready when kickoff rolls around! 

clara tunic in tangerine

LEONA top, LEONA sylvia shorts, j. crew mid-heel sandals, kate spade bangles

that's all for today, folks! mondays wear me out (5:45 AM spin always gets to me once the better half of the day is gone) so i am signing off to go fix my lunch for tomorrow and lay out my clothes (makes for such an easier morning)! 

xoxo,

clp