favorite fall things

starting to cross things off the fall bucket list today. 

xoxo,

clp

shop the season: marsala

its mid-to-late september and we had one bout of cool weather, so that means its fall right? i chose to pretend it wasn't 85 degrees outside today and have decorated for fall, bought everything pumpkin-flavored i could find (PSA: pumpkin spice latte m&m's... not so good), and have started the closet transition from summer to fall. my favorite color for the fall? pantone's color of the year: marsala. i love this deep, rustic red wine color that makes a statement on its own or as an accent. sophisticated, earthy and rich, its just right for fall fashion. and what better time of the year to wear it than right now, when it complements the season's changing colors so well? so, shop the season in marsala with me and my round up of favorites below!

1 / j. crew skinny stretch cargos

2 / loft leopard jacquard coat

3 / tory burch tassel bag

4 / j. crew feathered crystal necklace

5 / j. crew perfect shirt 

6 / ivanka trump booties

7 / essie "in the lobby" nail polish

8 / bb dakota drapey front jacket

xoxo,

clp

fall fashion finds

fall break wouldn't have been complete without a trip to my favorite place, and hopefully future home, nashville. driving into nashville felt like coming home. anyway, a stop at LEONA was necessary and a walk around green hills mall was essential. (p.s., mom and i ate at Table 3 right near the mall - so good! delicious food and we felt like we were in france the whole time!) needless to say we did some damage on 12 South and at the mall! scroll on for a few of my favorite finds from friday that i can't wait to wear and some i hope to see in my closet soon!

LEONA trouble free t

LEONA long sleeve hello darlin' tee

j. crew asymmetrical zip pencil skirt in wool 

j. crew regent blazer with beaded collar

tory burch macy vest 

c. wonder southern belle novelty slipper

shop happy my friends! 

xoxo,

clp 

recipe: white chicken beer chili

fall weather has officially arrived and with that, comes a new chili recipe! we made this last night for the UT vs Ole Miss game and served with some jalepeno cornbread along side it. if you haven't noticed, i rarely make chili without cornbread. whip this up in the morning, set it on low and hours later, and a few hours later, dinner is served!  

white chicken beer chili

3 cans diced tomatoes

3 cups chicken broth 

3 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

2 cans white beans, drained

1 can chipotle peppers in adobo 

handful cilantro + more for serving 

2 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp cumin 

1/2 cup chopped onion 

1 12 oz lager beer, such as Corona

diced avocado, cheese, etc. for serving

1. in a food processor, combine 1 cup beans, 1 can tomatoes and 1 can peppers (peppers and sauce). process until smooth and add to crockpot.
2. add all other ingredients to crockpot and stir. 
3. cook on low for 6-8 hours. 
4. serve hot with cilantro for garnish, cheese and diced avocado. 

serves 6-8

(recipe inspired by fine cooking)

xoxo,

clp

first fall day OOTD

topshop for nordstrom crop top and skirt, j. crew necklace, ivanka trump booties

xoxo,

clp

judah and the lion concert + OOTD

if you aren't listening to the band known as judah and the lion, you should be. i have been hooked ever since i first started listening to them. judah akers, the lead singer, played on my brother's college baseball team and if you saw him playing on the baseball field a few years ago, you wouldn't recognize him today. but its a change that has been for the better. formed just two years ago in nashville, judah and the lion is going places. with a mix of southern gospel, country, folk, pop and really everything in-between, judah and the lion has a sound all their own. following a new album release, the band embarked on their first headlining tour just this week, with the second stop being the square room here in knoxville on thursday. without question, mom and i bought our tickets for the show.

(image via Judah and the Lion Facebook)

what a show it was. it was one of the best concerts i have been to. the energy, the passion, the lyrics: everything that was felt on stage was felt in the audience too. each song has an energy and a story told through the lyrics that could only be told by the band. i must say that i love every song on the new album, "kids these days", as well as their previous albums, and i loved every rendition and stage version of the song last night. it was a concert that, now, days later, i am still amazed at how good it was. from "sweet tennessee" to "everything changes" there is a song for everyone and every mood and every occasion. if you aren't listening to judah and the lion, you are missing out on a band that is going places fast (and quite an attractive lead singer).

LEONA very v blouse, nordstrom leather leggings, via spiga wedges

xoxo,

clp

monday must-haves

fall is in the air and and in the stores. neutrals, deep fall colors and cozy sweaters are filling racks, plaids and mixed textures are on every mannequin. i was originally planning on just doing an october style guide favorites from j. crew, but after some online shopping (i should be studying), i discovered some other finds i wanted to share with you on my monday must-haves list!

target french blue over the knee boots, navy

j. crew cropped jacket and plaza skirt in stripe tweed

madewell varick trousers

madewell sash shorts

j. crew dutch floral pant

madewell denim crop tank

j. crew oversize stripe turtleneck

j. crew structured necklace tee

vera bradley satchel in cobalt

aerie skinny jogger

i may be a bit MIA on here this coming week as it is the hardest week of the semester thus far... 3 tests and 3 group projects have me stressed to the max! still, i know it will all be worth it when i am home in murfreesboro for a weekend away friday! heres to a good week! 

xoxo,

clp

p.s. nashville shoppers: madewell opened last week at the mall of green hills! go visit j. crew's sister store as soon as you can!

target: on target for fall

target may be my achilles' heel. i have been too many times to admit since i have been in knoxville and each time, i come out with something i didn't go in for. still, i needed it all right?! this fall, target has yet the fashion bullseye (see what i did there?), especially with trendy items at great prices that may not be in your closet forever. and they have great basics and layering pieces for transitioning seasons. i also love their workout brand and i always make a trip through that section as well! so what have i added to my ever-expanding closet (i know i have a problem) from target? see the pictures below and then head to your closest target to see what is in store!

sam & libby ashland studded sandal

knit jumpsuit

split hem tee

high waist flare jean

before you go, make sure you have the target cartwheel app if you don't already! to date, i have saved over $100 using the app! its so easy to use and so worth it! happy shopping!

xoxo,
clp

friday finds

well, nashville shopping got the best of us today... we came home with a full trunk and an empty wallet. but, back to school clothing shopping is done! and mom said i'm not allowed to get anything for a good while... going to have to practice some self control! we had the most perfect mother-daughter day: eating lunch at our favorite brentwood spot, the puffy muffin, and then stopping by LEONA on 12 south (i can't seem to stay away) and then going to the the mall at green hills! with lots of coffee (probably too much) we powered through and had quite the successful day! see all my friday finds below!

brittany fuson luggage tags

LEONA peppy top and very v blouse 

tory burch bernadette metallic flat

nordstrom faux leather leggings 

j. crew broken-in boyfriend jean

j. crew pleated lattice skirt

j. crew cotton cropped sweater

j. crew endless shirt

j. crew silk sleeveless blouse in heart dot

xoxo,

clp

favorite fall trends

the fact that i applied for graduation yesterday freaks. me. out. where did the time go? i remember moving into homey little humes and the struggles and triumphs that came with my freshman year as if it were yesterday. and now, i am a week away from moving into my new apartment for my senior year. time really does fly by...

on another note, if you have been to any retail store lately, i'm sure you have seen new fall items hanging on the racks! i know it is still hot as H-E-double-hockey-sticks out and hard to think about sweaters and scarves and boots, but i am dreaming up fall outfits! there are some great trends this fall season that i am obsessing over and can't wait to incorporate into my closet.

• wide-leg pants: skinnies are still in style, but a great wide-leg will be nice this fall to loosen things up a bit. they are free and easy and ultra-flattering. i plan on tucking my high-waist styles into a fitted top such as a crew neck sweater and then pairing them with chunk heeled shoes. 
• midi-skirts: like with the wide-leg pants, midi-skirts are easy and free. they are back in style, with ideal lengths ranging from below the knee to mid calf. since they cover more leg, i may try pairing a high waisted one with a crop top or sleeveless blouse, or keep it classic with a button-down
• track pants: fall seems to be all about letting loose. track pants offer an elastic waist (hello new favorite) and are easy to dress up or down. cute paired with tennies or pumps, i plan on wearing mine just about everywhere with either a simple tee or a silk top!  
• print on print: popular for a few seasons now, print and print is better than ever this fall. from matching separates to contrasting prints paired together, the fashion world is embracing prints for fall in chic and modern ways. 
• capes and wrap coats: outerwear was all over the runway, with capes and wrap coats making many appearances. i have my eye on a few capes that are great fall transition pieces and am ahead of the game because i have a great camel-colored wrap coat in my closet! 
• fur and animal prints: as always with fall ready to wear, fur was present. i personally love fur, especially fur outerwear (you may have noticed my rabbit fur vest from past OOTDs). don't skimp and buy cheap fur though! make it an investment piece or find really good-looking faux fur! animal prints were also in full force. i love leopard print so i can't wait to add more of it to my wardrobe! 

happy shopping y'all! 

xoxo,

clp

terrific tuesday & a recipe

seriously, where did this semester go? this is the last full week of classes, next week i only have one day of class and after thanksgiving, i come back for two days of classes then exams start. it seems like just yesterday i was moving into my apartment and getting ready for school to start. this semester has been great, but i am ready to be home for longer than just a weekend. i am also ready for some new classes next year! i love using seasonal ingredients and tonight for supper i made a delicious fall dish! i am also trying to use things already in my pantry and this recipe fit the bill. it is also the perfect combination of carb, protein and vegetables!

wild rice pilaf with squash, cranberries and pork

1/2 cup wild rice

1 small butternut or acorn squash, peeled and cubed (about 2 cups)

1/4 cup pecan halves

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves

1/2 cup shredded carrots

2 celery stalks, chopped

1 tsp thyme

1/2 cup fresh cranberries

salt and pepper, to taste

1 cup frozen kale

2 pork chops

herbs de provence, to taste

goat cheese (optional)

1. Cook wild rice according to package directions. The rice should be cooked, but firm.
2. Cook pork chops in skillet or other desired way. Season with herbs de provence. 
3. Spray skillet with non-stick cooking spray. Cook squash, cranberries (if using fresh) and frozen kale in skillet until squash is tender. Season with salt and pepper. In the same pan or separate, sauté onions and garlic until soft. Add celery, carrot and thyme and stir-fry for a few minutes.
4. Meanwhile in another skillet, toast the pecans over medium heat. Watch closely or they will burn quickly. Transfer nuts to bowl and reserve.
5. Combine rice, squash, carrots, celery, cranberries and kale mixture in bowl. Top with sliced pork chops and pecans. Season to taste, top with optional goat cheese.  

• Serves 2 as a main dish or serves 4 as a side dish without pork!

you may be wondering what inspired this post's title: "terrific tuesday". nothing too spectacular happened but there were a few things that just made my day!

1. Opening my email to find my Tory Burch Holiday Gift just waiting to be opened! 
2. Lilly Pulitzer retweeting me again! This time it was about the release of the Alpha Chi Omega print product line which they said will be available for pre-order soon!
3. My teacher cancelled class the Tuesday before Thanksgiving so i am officially Murfreesboro bound for Turkey Day on Monday after my test at 1:15! 
4. I also finished my own Christmas shopping for mom, dad and phillip which is a relief! now i get to start helping mom and dad with gifts for others which i love doing! 

the only bad thing about today is that i ate my last IveyCake cupcake leftover from my birthday and seeing that at least i had a cupcake to eat, i can't complain much. that's all for today so until next time!

xoxo,
clp

day before birthday recap, recipe & ootd

day two of birthday weekend! i am going to make this post short and sweet because i am exhausted but today was nothing short of perfect! i started today out with body pump and now i am ending it with an iveycake lemon blueberry cupcake! in between came lunch at goodness gracious with mom and phillip, a quick stop at green hills, and then mom and i went to christmas village in nashville! we came home to delicious buffalo chicken chili and cornbread so you could say that today could not have been better! posted below is the recipe for our chili and a picture of my outfit from today with my handsome looking brother, phillip, at goodness gracious! 

buffalo chicken chili

1 1/2 lb. raw boneless skinless chicken breasts, halved

1/4 tsp. each salt and black pepper
3 cups low-sodium fat-free chicken broth + more if needed
2 15.5-oz. cans cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups peeled and chopped carrots

2 cups chopped onion

1 tsp. chopped garlic

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 cup Frank's RedHot Buffalo Sauce + more if desired
crumbled blue cheese, feta, etc. for topping

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and place in a crock pot. Add all remaining ingredients except hot sauce. Stir. Set crockpot on low for 6-8 hrs or high for 3-4.
2. After chicken is fully cooked. shred with two forks and return to crockpot. Add hot sauce to chili and stir in crockpot. add additional chicken broth if needed.
3. To serve, top with additional Buffalo Sauce and cheese if desired! 

(slightly adapted from Hungry Girl)

green piko top, june rabbit fur vest, AG jeggings, j. crew mcalister boots,

j. crew statement earrings, louis vuitton speedy 30 and bandeau scarf 

told you it was going to be short and sweet and to the point! happy friday to everyone and happy almost birthday to me! 

xoxo, 

clp 

some like it hot

i began this cool saturday morning with one of my favorite alternative workouts, hot yoga! i do hot yoga here in knoxville at Real Hot Yoga and love it! everyone is so nice and the instructors are great. not to mention, it is a workout. the benefits of yoga are many and when you add in a 95 degree heated room, the benefits are even greater. my favorite hot yoga class is hot power yoga which i took today. it is a combination of various poses and sequences that strengthen and tone and the "hot" element ramps up your workout by adding a cardiovascular workout and a detox! it was a great break from regular cardio and my muscles feel stretched and as a whole, i feel cleansed. afterwards, i stopped in trader joe's (they are next door to each other - so convenient) and was the definition of the classic yoga and organic food cliche.

i wanted to share my costume from last night's costume-birthday party since i think it turned out pretty cute. it was definitely one of the easiest costumes to put together! all i had to buy was the shirt since i had everything else on hand so it was also a budget friendly costume! happy (late) halloween from your one and only red-headed pumpkin!

the temperature dropped quite a bit which to me means its a perfect night for taco soup! this is an original claire recipe and it is a family favorite! it can be easily adjusted according to what you like and you can make it meatless if you prefer. i think i make it different every time and it always turns out delicious. this time instead of chopped jalepenos, i threw in some chili peppers in adobo sauce to kick the spice up quite a bit. i also used diced fire roasted tomatoes with green chiles instead of the can of rotel. it is so adaptable so make it yours! it makes a crockpot full so it can serve a crowd but also freezes wonderfully! tonight i am making some jalepeno cornbread to serve along with the soup as the perfect complement!

taco soup

1/2-1 lb cooked ground beef with taco seasoning

1 c diced onion (i used frozen)

1 c chopped or sliced bell peppers (i used frozen) 

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup corn (i used frozen)

1 can pinto beans

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can mexican stewed tomatoes

1 can hot rotel

diced jalepenos

cumin, red pepper, to taste

garlic, to taste

up to 1 cup water, as needed

cilantro

diced avocado, onion, sour cream, shredded cheese or other toppings of choice

1. combine all ingredients in a crockpot or large soup pot on stove. let simmer/warm on low. 
2. serve with toppings of choice.

mom and dad are here for their parent's council fall retreat so we are going to have taco soup and cornbread tonight and watch UT hopefully win against Missouri. i have had such a perfect weekend so far. not to mention, east tennessee is absolutely beautiful this time of year which makes me love fall even more. the view from my bedroom window could not be any prettier! 

fingers crossed for a Volunteer win tonight and have a great rest of your saturday!

xoxo,

clp

p.s. countdown to 21: 2 weeks! 

all pumpkin everything, throwback thursday & a recipe

y'all! i have had over 10,000 pageviews! what a milestone for me! i just want to start out by saying thank you so much to my readers! because of you, i can do this! please continue to read and share with your friends!

since its thursday, that means its throwback time! once again, its a halloween throwback featuring two of my favorite people in the whole wide world! i don't know what i would do without my Gerhart girls who i have known since birth!

i am on the biggest pumpkin kick ever! pumpkin coffee, pumpkin crepes, pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin brownies and tonight was pumpkin pasta and pumpkin cookies! pumpkin boasts health benefits too! it has loads of vitamin A, fiber, and vitamin C as well as many other nutrients. tonight for supper i wanted some non-traditional, savory pasta so i decided to try out a recipe for pumpkin sauce that i found online at Created By Diane. i plan on serving it over whole wheat shells with maple chicken apple sausage and a side salad. also, i already made up some cookie dough for later on. pumpkin for dinner and for dessert! these cookies are yummy and healthy and the dough can be refrigerated so you only have to cook your desired amount at a time! 

pumpkin oat cookies

1 1/4 c oat flour (or 1.5 cups oats ground in blender until flour consistency)

1/4 cup Splenda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp pumpkin spice

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder 

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup pumpkin puree 

3 tbsp egg whites 

dark chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, nuts, craisins or other mix-ins of choice

1. preheat the oven to 350 degrees. spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
2. in medium size bowl, mix together wet ingredients (applesauce, pumpkin and egg whites). add in the dry ingredients and mix well. stir in mix-ins of choice. 
3. scoop 1/8 cup or 2 tbsp of dough into each muffin tin. these cookies don't spread so mold them to fit the muffin tin. bake for 10 minutes or until set. 

(slightly adapted from Dashing Dish)

some other pumpkin recipes i am dying to try are:

• Skinny Pumpkin Pancakes
• Pumpkin Quinoa Risotto
• Slow-cooker Pumpkin Sausage Chili
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
• Low Calorie Pumpkin Cream Muffins

tomorrow begins Bama Weekend and i am so excited! i crossed most everything off my to-do list and we are Bama Bound the minute everyone is out of class. lucky for me, my one class got cancelled tomorrow so i can be ready whenever! pictures and stories are to come i'm sure! go vols! 

xoxo,

clp 

fall break adventures: day 3

can we just rename fall break 2013 to fall food fest 2013? i feel like all i have done is eat! this morning was great though because i got to go to my favorite workout class at the MAC, body pump! i had missed it so much and really enjoyed the workout for a nice change! i also got my haircut today after two months too long! i really like the shorter length she cut it to and the angled style!

after my haircut, mom and i went to The Puffy Muffin for lunch, one of our favorites! i had my usual summer salad: pimento cheese on tomato with fresh fruit! they have some of the best pimento cheese i think. we then shopped at our favorite little boutique next door, Hot Pink, and then went to downtown Franklin and shopped around there some as well. as trip to Franklin would not be complete without getting cupcakes from IveyCake. i don't know how she does it, but they are the best. i got my usual "i do" flavor and stepped outside my cupcake comfort zone and got the spiced apple for tomorrow night! for supper tonight, we are making Eggplant Rollatini from SkinnyTaste with a salad. it is in the oven right now and it smells so good!

today turned out to be a gorgeous fall day. i love all the pumpkins and fall decorations and i think our house looks absolutely perfect! i love the stacked pumpkins and especially the cotton ball wreath.

happy fall friday y'all! 

xoxo, 

clp

a chili and cornbread kind of night

fall weather finally showed up this week which means one thing: its time to make some chili. there are very few things that represent fall more than a bowl of chili and a slice of cornbread do. since chili feeds a crowd, i invited my favorites over to help me eat it! this recipe is my brother's recipe and it is my favorite red chili recipe! he always surprises us when he breaks out his chef hat and makes us something that is delicious! of course, i made granny's cornbread to accompany the chili!

phillip's chili

1-1.5 lbs lean ground beef

1 chopped onion

1 can Rotel Chili Fixins

2 cans no-salt added petite diced tomatoes

1 can dark kidney beans, drained

1 can light kidney beans, drained

1 can chili beans, NOT drained

1/2-1 can water

1 tbsp cocoa (optional, but encouraged!)

1 tbsp sugar (i used Splenda)

2 tsp each cumin and ground red pepper

at least 3 tbsp chili powder

salt and pepper, to taste

1. brown ground beef and chopped onion together. 
2. put in large pot or crockpot.add remaining ingredients to pot and let simmer on stove or cook on low in crock-pot for 6-8 hours.
3. serve hot with toppings of choice!

i am so happy kaitlin, alivia, kellan and lauren came into my life. before i found them and others, i didn't really have a "group" of close friends in alpha chi. i know i can depend on any of my sisters for anything, but these particular girls have become my best friends. i don't know where i would be, certainly not at UT, if it weren't for this group of girls that have become such a part of my life. i have changed quite a bit since i left for college, as i think everyone does, and my group of friends has changed both here and at home. i am so lucky to have found people who accept who i am, both for my strengths and weaknesses.

"they are the family we choose to surround us, the sisters bound by love instead of blood. they know when we are lonely, and appear without being called. when we feel lost, they provide a living map to what comes next; when we doubt everything about ourselves, they remind us who we are." 

-Barbara Alpert

y'all, i have had one of the best fridays ever! this morning, i made chili, did laundry, cleaned up the apartment, shopped online and was headed for the gym all before 8:30. i then had finance after lunch which i was dreading because we were getting our tests from last week back. however, after i got my test back, i was on cloud nine the rest of the day. the grade was refrigerator worthy in my opinion. after class, i went took some clothes to plato's for some spending money, and then went to target and trader joe's! i also finally decorated a pumpkin i had bought over a week ago! though i didn't do anything extraordinary, it was such an enjoyable afternoon and evening, especially with the stress of not knowing how i did on my test gone. i did purchase a few things today as a treat to myself which i thought i would share my two favorites with you and also my finished pumpkin! 

merona chunky cardigan

power t studs

my decorated pumpkin

the rest of my friday night is consisting of Homeland, Gone Girl, Pinterest-ing, and birthday wishlist making. tomorrow morning i am trying out a Barre3 class which i am really looking forward to and i am having my little and grandlittle over for a family dinner tomorrow night! i love low-key weekends and am going to enjoy this one before school gets busy again after fall break! 

xoxo,

clp

happy october!

"i am so glad we live in a world where there are octobers"

-l.m. montgomery 

happy october! october is one of my favorite months of the year! it brings so many of my favorite things and this year, october is spilling over with things i am planning to do.

october is already off to a great start with the revealing of the Alpha Chi Omega Lilly Pulitzer print! i may be a little bit biased but i think its the best sorority print yet. i am beyond obsessed with it and can't wait to order anything and everything that they put it on! i was afraid it was going to look too christmas-y since our colors are red and green, but in true Lilly fashion, they made it perfect! i also love that they not only incorporated our flower, the red carnation, but also our symbol, the lyre! i just can't get over how much i love it!

lilly pulitzer alpha chi omega print

my month of october is already almost totally planned out which means i will be a busy bee! however, most of it is fun activities with a side of schoolwork. the things i am most looking forward to this month are...

• this upcoming weekend's home football game: the whole family is coming up with a delicious tailgate in hand and it is the SEC home opener. i can't wait to see the vols run through the T in that smokey grey!
• cooking for my friends: i have already planned a chili and cornbread night with my best friends and then also planned a taco night with my alpha chi little and grandlittle. i love cooking for others and the off weekend from football was the perfect opportunity!
• i am going to my first barre3 class on the 12th and could not be more excited! i have always wanted to try out barre3 and i am finally getting the chance to do so. changing up my workout is always good for my body and i think this will be a great break from the cardio i usually do.   
• FALL BREAK! finally a couple of days off from school and it couldn't come at a better time. this girl needs some beautifying done (hair, eyebrows, nails, etc.), some murfreesboro and a little bit of nashville. mom has taken off from work the whole time i am home and we are going to nashville at least once, treating ourselves to IveyCake and just relax at home with daddy and phillip. i would love to go to a pumpkin patch and decorate the house for fall as well! 
• we also have many fun sorority events this month! sisterhood retreat is this sunday, founder's day is coming up and we also have a mixer or two. the new members will perform in LipSync later in the month and i'm sure they will put on a good show! 
• i am going to my first away game as a student this month too! it will most likely be a blood bath, but a group of us in Alpha Chi is road tripping down to Tuscaloosa for the UT vs Bama football game. i have heard away games are the most fun so i can't wait to see what is in store for us! 
• and of course, if its october that means that november comes next which mean my birthday is almost here! the countdown is on which means i will have to get started on the infamous birthday wishlist i make every year for my parents (which they usually laugh at)! 

this list doesn't even encompass the spur of the moment things and schoolwork that will come up. i love fall and october really is the official start of it for me. i am excited to cook some fall recipes and to break out my fall clothes (especially my boots)! life really does start over again when it gets crisp in the fall!

xoxo,
clp

family weekend, OOTD & a recipe

what a busy weekend it was! this is a lengthy post but i didn't want to leave anything out!

friday night started out with supper at dead end bbq with mom, dad and phillip then we went to the Blake Shelton concert which was one of the best concerts i have ever seen! mr. shelton gave knoxville a good time!

saturday came bright and early with the AXO CarniVol tailgate and then the UTK Parent's Weekend tailgate, followed by the UT vs South Alabama football game that was a little too close for comfort there at the end. saturday ended with supper at aubrey's (complete with key lime pie) and an early bedtime.

game day shoes from none other than tory burch

sunday brought the AXO Parent's Brunch at The Foundry that was just wonderful. the food was great, as was the program and my parents really enjoyed seeing what we do as a sorority. before the studying commenced, i treated myself to a much-needed pedicure and made a delicious fall dinner of roasted acorn squash (recipe below).

j. crew dress, liberty of london for j. crew button-down, kork-ease wedges, 

longchamp tote, louis vuitton bandeau scarf, j. crew bangle

stuffed roasted acorn squash for one

1 small acorn squash

1 link chicken apple sausage 

handful of sliced mushrooms

chopped onion

1 small apple, sliced and diced

handful of spinach

1 tbsp liquid egg whites

1 tbsp goat cheese

1 tbsp whole wheat bread crumbs

herbs de provence, to taste

minced garlic

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the squash halves cut side up on the baking sheet. Brush minced garlic and herbs de provence on the inside of each squash half. Roast in the oven for 45 minutes until tender.
2. Bring a large skillet over medium heat and add the sausage. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until meat is cooked through. Add the onion, apple, spinach and mushrooms to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the egg white and cook until done. 
3. When the squash halves are finished roasting, evenly pile the sausage stuffing into the two halves. Top with goat cheese and herbs de provence. Return to the oven and cook for an additional 18-20 minutes.

i hope everyone has had as wonderful a weekend as i have! i really enjoy spending time with my family and love it when they come up to knoxville. here's to a good week this week and maybe another W for the vols next saturday!

xoxo,

clp