olive + peach ootd

target twill vest / target twill shorts / j. crew linen tee / j. crew sandals

xoxo,

clp

hawaii packing list

supper out / 1 leona top & pant

hitting the beach / 2 tory burch bandeau & bottom

island shoes / 3 soludos espadrilles

shade from the sun / 4 panama hat

day shopping / 5 LOFT maxi dress

beach cover-up / 6 j. crew tank dress

beach reading / 7 beach town by mary kay andrews

tourist pictures / 8 polaroid 

beach essentials / 9 target straw tote

this time next week i'll be oahu bound! 

xoxo,

clp

last sorority formal OOTD

and just like with everything else lately, my last sorority formal has come and gone. it is bittersweet for sure. while i am excited for a new chapter of my life, i am also sad to be ending this one. while all semester we have been saying we can't wait to graduate, now that it is less than 3 weeks away, we would like a "pause" button. i will no longer be able to see my best friends' apartment from my window. they are always a phone call away, but now we will have to work around graduate school and work schedules to get a quick chat in.

last night could not have been more perfect. i went single and sober, but that was how i wanted to go. i have to say that everyone looked gorgeous, in their own way. that is one thing i love about my sorority, we are all very different, but we are all beautiful individually and as a group. it was bittersweet talking to my pledge class throughout the night. we all couldn't believe how quickly this night had come. i am so glad that i made the effort to go since socials are not usually my thing. i'm so lucky to have friends that didn't mind that i third-wheeled it all night!

our spring formals are semi-formal, and i went with a classic LBD from my favorite designer, LEONA. i dressed it up with some knotted gold dangles and simple nude strappy heels. a smoky eye (that stayed all night thanks to a fabulous, affordable primer), nude lip and nude nails finished the look.

LEONA téa tunic / rebecca minkoff mini quilted bag / target pamela heels

xoxo,

clp

you make me blush OOTD

i'm beaching it this week on spring break, but i wanted to share this fab monochromatic outfit i wore to dinner in pensacola tonight. the blush on blush combo i love created a makeshift jumpsuit that was just perfect.

LEONA very v back top / LEONA hazel pants / target pamela heels / 

tory burch bag (from last year) / stella & dot havana cuff

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 favorites

it has been far too long since i have posted some friday favorites! i thought today i would include a little bit of everything, from activewear to nail polish! this post is a bit short, but i haven't been able to do my normal online perusing lately!

• i love target's champion athletic wear. it is hard for me to go into target and not come out without a new top to sport to the gym or around campus! my latest purchase was this pullover and it may be my favorite buy yet! it is so comfortable and lightweight! i throw it on with some yoga pants, over a long-sleeve, tank or short sleeve and have even thrown on a scarf with it! 

• LaRoque for belk: i came across the clothing label LaRoque on pinterest last year and have been obsessed ever since. based in columbia, south carolina, the brand is southern and classic but with a modern twist - my kind of clothes. the designer, annabelle laroque, won a competition and her line is being featured at belk this spring. the melissa backless dress is my favorite piece from the collection! 

• lately i have become a bit of a nail polish junkie (but isn't every girl?). this spring i am loving the pastel shades and new nudes! essie is always a favorite nail polish brand of mine and i love their new spring collection! my toes are currently sporting "spin the bottle" - perfect for spring until i decide to go bright for summer! 

• kate spade never fails to make me lust over everything they make. currently, i am loving their newest additions to their home accessories collection. i love everything in this collection but this trinket tray really caught my eye! there are also picture frames, salt and pepper shakers and flower vases that match!  

• i have also become a makeup junkie of sorts! i am no guru at all but i have found some products that i really love! my most favorite right now is guerlain's météorites' pearls! applied with a large powder brush after foundation and blush, they even out your skin tone and give you and amazing glow! they are great for midday touch up too! 

i am happy for the weekend to be here. one more week passed means one more week closer to summer. i am in major need of a new routine and a change. this semester has gotten to me and i need something different. luckily i have an amazing opportunity this summer at leona and can't wait for the changes it is going to be! tonight, however, i am parking on the couch to watch my vols play in the sweet sixteen! i have had my orange on all day for big orange friday! go vols y'all!

xoxo,

clp

tuesday target finds & a recipe

tomorrow i start my spring semester of my junior year. how weird is that?! really though, the time is flying by! i came back up to knoxville on sunday to beat the weather and not get stuck in murfreesboro so i have been spending the past two days getting back in the swing of things. trader joe's, publix and target have all been crossed off my to-do list and i think i am ready to start the semester! hopefully it won't be as bitterly cold tomorrow when i have to trek to class - these single digit temperatures getting to me! last night for dinner i was really craving spaghetti squash and italian so what better than to break out the crockpot on such a cold monday? this recipe is so easy and could be done in the morning before going off to work! it is healthy and can be made a variety of ways but the beauty of it is that everything cooks at the same time in one pot! i made a salad to round off the meal and it was delicious! 

crockpot spaghetti squash and meatballs

1 spaghetti squash, cut in half and seeds removed

4-5 meatballs per person (i used frozen, but you can use homemade if you want)

2 cans diced tomatoes 

3 cloves minced garlic

1/3 cup chopped onion

italian seasoning, black pepper, etc., to taste

1. in a large crockpot, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic and spices. 
2. place spaghetti squash cut side down in tomatoes.
3. spread meatballs around spaghetti squash.
4. cook on low for 4-5 hours, until meatballs are cooked through and spaghetti squash is tender. 
5. remove spaghetti squash and shred with fork. 
6. serve meatballs with tomato sauce over spaghetti squash, topped with cheese if desired.

*instead of meatballs and the canned tomatoes, you could easily use a meat sauce, homemade sauce with vegetables, or even a jarred pasta/marinara sauce of choice (but watch out for high sodium with the latter!).

i just love target. i can/have done some major damage in there, especially when it comes to apartment shopping. yesterday i was at the super target at northshore and had to practice some self-control and get out of there before i drained my bank account. i am moving to a new apartment next year that i get to completely decorate myself so i have started to shop around for decor! target's threshold line is one of my favorites since it is affordable and usually appeals to my style of decorating. the newest threshold collection is so cute and i am already coveting some pieces that i want for next year! the items below are from the threshold white and gold decor collection and the botanic blush collection!

Demijohn Vase

Butterfly Gold Foil Lampshade

Tufted Bench 

Tufted Ottoman 

Oblong Magnolia Decorative Pillow

i hope everyone is staying warm! i am keeping to my warm apartment and since it is the last day of my break, i felt it necessary to stay in my pajama's, watch netflix and read all day! 

xoxo,

clp 

phillip lim for target & meatloaf for one sunday

just a quick short post tonight! i wanted to share what i got from the phillip lim 3.1 for targetc ollection and my meatloaf for one recipe!

so i was going to practice self control and not get anything from the phillip lim for target collection because i really didn't need anything but i got on the target app on my phone this morning and had ordered this dress before i even brushed my teeth. i love it because it is leopard (an obsession) and it can be dressed up or down and worn in both fall and winter! is there such thing as shopaholics anonymous because i think i need to find where they meet.

3.1 phillip lim for target knit dress in animal print

tonight for supper i stepped out on a limb and tried meatloaf. my mom has always tried to get me to eat but there was something about it that always turned me off. however, since my diet has changed so much in the past 18 months and since i like so many new things, i decided to give it a try. since its just me, i obviously didn't need a whole meatloaf so i searched pinterest and found a "meatloaf for one" recipe. i ate every bit of it! 

meatloaf for one

1 tbsp whole wheat breadcrumbs

2 teaspoons skim milk 

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp grated provolone or mozzarella cheese

2 tbsp chopped onion

2 tbsp grated carrot

4 oz extra lean ground beef

pepper, to taste

1. preheat oven to 375.
2. in a mixing bowl, mix all ingredients until combined. 
3. form mixture into a "loaf" and bake until cooked through, about 40 minutes. 

(slightly adapted from Martha Stewart)

now its time to study since i have put it off all day! hope you all had a fab weekend!

xoxo,

clp 

ten things i'm loving this thursday

1. Gillian Flynn, author of Sharp Objects, Dark Places and Gone Girl: i have only read her first book, Sharp Objects, but i couldn't put it down! It was kinda dark and a little bit graphic, but it was one of the best novels i have read in a while! i picked up Dark Places today and plan on starting it as soon as i can!  
2. HGTV magazine: i have only gotten two issues of it but it is such a good home decor magazine! i was a little bit wary of it for some reason but i got it anyway and i am obsessed with it! we even subscribed to it today! it offers a great mix of high and low price products, easy and affordable DIYs and decorating tips from great designers. 
3. Target: who doesn't love Target? when i'm at school, my weekly trip to Target serves as a stress reliever. in the past year or so, Target has really upped their game. they have cute, affordable clothes, adorable home decor and now even groceries! i think the majority of the things for my apartment at school have come from Target and i couldn't be happier with how they look! 
4. Lilly Pulitzer's fall collection: i love lilly pulitzer. the more colorful my outfit, the better. every season i can't imagine how they can top the last, but somehow they always do. this fall is no exception to the trend. the collection stays true to her bright colors and prints, but is also on trend for the season. the lifeguard press stationary and gifts collection is cute too. i can't wait to purchase a few of the items! 
5. kate spade new york's fall collection: kate spade's fall collection is all about new york city, one of the "twenty five things we love". i am particularly in love with it because of my recent trip to nyc where i fell in love with the city. the collection has adorable clothes and quirky accessories that pay tribute to all things new york. i will hopefully be acquiring some of the pieces in the near future! 
6. skorts: i love them. always thought they were soccer mom-ish but the tides have changed. i bought my first one from athleta the other day and it had little ruffles on it! i loved it so much i got a bright pink one the other day that is from target's C9 by Champion brand! they are great to work out in or wear around town running errands and perfect for any age! 
7. picture albums: i know it may be old-fashioned and no one really develops their pictures anymore, but i love putting pictures in photo albums. it is so much fun sitting on the couch going through an album and remembering the exact moment the picture was taken. 
8. Homeland: i finally joined the rest of the country and am hooked on Homeland. we thought the first episode we caught was so good that we ordered the whole first season and we are already done with the first disc and it just came yesterday! the plot continues to thicken with each episode and claire danes excels at playing her character. each episode leaves you wanting to watch another! 
9. my Lilly Pulitzer planner: i am a planner to the extreme and my Lilly planner is the reason i stay sane. i broke out the new planner for this school year and somehow between school, alpha chi omega and life in general, there is pink ink everywhere in it! still, it keeps me organized and i highly encourage a day planner to anyone. 
10. blogging: i have really taken a liking to blogging! i hope y'all are enjoying reading it as much as i am enjoying writing it. any suggestions are welcomed and i hope to post more recipes, DIYs and maybe some workouts soon too! 

xoxo,

clp

p.s. how bout them braves y'all? 13 streak!