sunday's lust list

getting back into the school routine has taken up most of my time this week and i haven't been able to get a post in! the past few days have been filled with tweaking things in my apartment, going to classes (i'm in for a hard semester) and seeing my friends! still, i have found time to do some online shopping! i am dreaming about quite a few new things that i have found so here is the latest lust list!

topshop textured crop-top and full midi skirt

stella mccartney "the 70's flare" jean

kate spade "sabine" velvet flat 

tory burch regina calf hair bootie

tory burch collins fringe moccasin

tory burch fleming medium bag

halogen v-neck sleeveless jumpsuit

LEONA perfect party dress

today is another very special lady in my life's birthday: my grandmother. she is the reason i have red hair and my role model. if i am half the woman she is, i will be better than most. i am forever grateful for the close relationship we have. the redheads of the family have to stick together! today i am lucky to get to have lunch with her! after that, the online shopping will have to stop so that i can start getting back in the "you actually have homework now" groove. on the plus side of school starting back up, it will be football time in tennessee this time next week! go vols! 

xoxo,

clp

soup, scandal & sheath cake

happy long weekend! its an extra long weekend for me since i have no classes on fridays this semester! i decided to take advantage of having four days off from school and come home! coming home, even this early in the semester, is always good for me. it gives me a chance to relax before everything at school really gets going. it also helps that i love my home so much. i came home yesterday and it honestly felt like i had only been gone for a day or two. i am so lucky that i have a wonderful home life to come home to.

today was spent getting beautified i guess you could say. i hit the MAC for my favorites classes and then went to get my eyebrows done and my haircut. i'm one of those types that only trusts my haircutter here so i have to get it cut when i am home!

i also got to spend the afternoon with one of my absolute favorite people in the world, my grandmother. today's freezing cold temperatures meant soup was on the menu and nothing beats mawsie's vegetable soup. i asked her to come help me make her vegetable soup so i could learn from the best. i love spending time with my mawsie. i am not sure if she knows how much i love visiting with her and how much of an inspiration she is to me. she has done so much in her life that i can only hope to do.

i can't exactly fit in her lap anymore, but i know she is always there for me. and though i did more observing than actually making today, the soup turned out perfect and now i know the method to the magical-ness that is her vegetable soup! of course, vegetable soup is not complete without cornbread so granny's cornbread it had to be! the lowe family recipes are getting good use today! 

i hope everyone is staying warm! i have just about had it with these extremely cold temperatures. if you know me well, you know that i am always cold so i have been bundled and layered up the past few days! tonight i will certainly have the fire on. along with the fire burning and vegetable soup, tonight's agenda includes season three of Scandal! mom and i are almost caught up! i also will be treating myself to a piece (or two) of my mama's chocolate sheath cake (courtesy of my mawsie actually), which is a family favorite! we made it last night as a treat since i came home for the weekend and i could hardly wait for the icing to cool! 

chocolate sheath cake

1. mix together 2 cups flour and 2 cups sugar. 
2. bring 1 stick margarine, 1/4 cup shortening, 4 tbsp cocoa and 1 cup water to a boil in a saucepan.
3. add 2 beaten eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp vanilla. 
4. mix ingredients well and pour into greased pan.
5. bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes. 
6. 5 minutes before the cake is done, melt together 1 stick margarine, 4 tbsp cocoa and 6 tbsp sweet milk. bring to a boil.
7. remove from heat and add 1 box powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. beat well. add 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts are our favorite).
8. spread over cake, allow to cool and serve! 

next to mom's strawberry cake this is a favorite! not healthy at all but you have to indulge every once in a while! enjoy y'all!

xoxo,

clp

mawsie's vegetable soup & an OOTD

today i bring you the best soup recipe ever. my mawsie's vegetable soup. it is my favorite soup and i request it multiple times each year! she made it for me when i was home a few weeks ago and it hit the spot. i love how the recipe is in my grandmother's handwriting and the stains on it show how well "loved" it is. the recipe below is just what is pictured, typed word for word. we love ours served steaming hot with a side of granny's cornbread! 

mawsie’s vegetable soup

1. Cook until tender one package beef stew meat. Cut it into bite size pieces and cover with water and add a tsp. of salt. Cook over medium heat.
2. For a really big pot of soup, add 2 cans Tomatoes and ½ can water. For less soup, add 1 can tomatoes and ½ can water.
3. Add two diced potatoes, 1 large stalk celery (diced); 1 large onion (diced), 1 large chunk of cabbage (sliced thinly); 1 large carrot (diced). Add ½ package frozen mixed vegetables. 
4. Sometimes, I add extra frozen green beans and frozen corn cut from the cob.  
5. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add about 1/8 cup of sugar.
6. I also put a hot pepper in mine.
7. Also add ½ cup macaroni.

today i was particularly dressed up more than usual for a thursday because i went to an information session about a possible summer internship and the attire was business casual. since it is unseasonably warm, i cant wear boots and tights yet and i feel like it is still too warm for most of my sweaters. i had completely forgotten about this dress and i am so glad i decided to wear it layered over a white button-down. if you can't tell, i love layering button-downs under dresses as it adds another layer of depth to the outfit! 

j. crew silk paisley dress, j. crew white button-down, 

j. crew gold link enamel frog necklace, navy tory burch caroline flats

i am so happy that it is finally thursday. tomorrow after my finance test i will feel like a new person. cross your fingers and say a prayer for me tomorrow as i take it! also, a special happy birthday shoutout to my uncle! 

xoxo,

clp 

p.s. the ugly sweater 5k is coming to nashville december 7! i am already signed up! there is free beer and hot chocolate afterwards and you get to wear your best tacky christmas sweater so why not sign up!  

whirlwind of a week

well the first week of junior year (if three days qualifies as a week) has come to an end and i am glad it is over. it has been a whirlwind of a week. thankfully it is the weekend and i am hoping to let myself relax some and rest.

yesterday was a busy day despite having only one class. i would rather have none at all but one at 12:20 on a friday is nothing to really complain about. i did get to spend two hours of my friday afternoon at the genius bar getting them to install windows on my mac (oh the irony). though it took way longer than i expected, they did get my computer to run all the programs i need for class. i was there so long that i lusted over a kate spade phone case so long that eventually i convinced myself i just had to have it.

this morning i woke up and went to power hot yoga at Real Hot Yoga here in knoxville. i love going to hot yoga. not only do you sweat out all your body's toxins, but it also gives you a great strength workout and is a nice break from cardio.

i also made a trip to another one of my favorite places, Trader Joe's. i like grocery shopping at trader joe's because they offer healthy, organic foods at a lower price point than what you find the same products for at larger supermarkets. while they don't have absolutely everything on your shopping list, they do have a great selection of produce and their brand is top-notch. they also sell things that are exclusive to only their stores, such as their infamous cookie butter (which i have yet to try but am going to soon). today, along with many fruits and veggies, i picked up some of their frozen tamales, ravioli and their layered hummus, all of which i have heard are excellent. trader joe's is definitely one of my preferred places to grocery shop.

at the grocery store, i try to buy only what i know i am going to eat. i plan my meals out extensively so i don't waste any food, especially since i buy so much produce that will go bad. meal planning also helps to control your budget and helps with weight management. i find that i spend less because i buy only what i need. meal planning helps to manage weight because you see exactly what you are eating. though it can be time consuming and isn't as flexible, it has more advantages than disadvantages.

today is the last day of formal recruitment and i am quite excited for bid day tomorrow! not only will things get back to normal, but we will get our new pretty little lyres! since i have been on the setup committee i have not seen how the rounds are going firsthand, but i hear that alpha chi omega is a force to be reckoned with! i look forward to seeing who will be wearing our letters!

i made myself breakfast for dinner tonight! this was a quick and easy meal that came together in less than thirty minutes. i didn't want anything too heavy tonight so i fixed zucchini corn cakes with a fried egg, turkey sausage and added a sliced tomato and some watermelon and cantaloupe on the side. the recipe makes just enough for one, but can easily be doubled.

zucchini and corn cakes

1 large egg

2 tbsp + 1 tsp milk

2 tbsp + 1 tsp whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup corn kernels (i used canned)

3/4 c grated zucchini

1/4 c chopped onion

pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, etc. to taste

tabasco, if desired

goat cheese or feta cheese, if desired

1. Stir together all ingredients in mixing bowl until combined. 
2. Drop batter in 1/4 cup measures into heated skillet (sprayed with PAM!). Cook until browned on both sides. 
3. Serve warm, topped with cheese or tabasco hot sauce if desired. 

(adapted from Whole Foods Market)

today is one of my most favorite person in the world's birthday. my sweet, sweet grandmother is celebrating another year of her fabulous life. she, like my mama, is one of people i look up to the most. her life has been nothing short of admirable and i hope i can be half the woman she is. she is the source of my red hair which i am now and forever grateful for.

my mawsie, as she is affectionately known, has always been my biggest fan. the time i spend with her is time that i cherish the most. i know she is always just a call away when i am in knoxville or a five minute drive from my house in murfreesboro. so, happy birthday mawsie and here's to many more years of you! 

xoxo,
clp

p.s. coming tomorrow: favorite september arrivals from j.crew!