friday fun, saturday smiles OOTD

happy sunday y'all! how has your weekend been? my weekend has been absolutely wonderful. i can't even put it in words! 

friday was friday-funday. it started with a great hour long spin ride at the Y then a trip to the grocery. a stroll up and down 12 south was nice and then a lap around target (an expensive lap) were both enjoyable as well. i did some shopping in downtown franklin (expensive as well) until i met my mama and daddy for dinner at gray's on main! we had the cornbread skillet with bacon butter as an appetizer and it was yummy in all of our tummies! i ordered one of the best cobb salads i have ever had. while it wasn't necessarily a healthy salad, it was still to-die-for with its toppings of avocado, a deviled egg and watermelon relish! mom ordered the nashville hot chicken which i will say was quite hot but tasty and daddy got the shrimp and grits which looked fab as well! the presentation of everything was great but i will say the service was a little lacking! however, it is certainly a place i would recommend (make reservations though) and one that i want to go back and try out the lunch and sunday brunch menus! after gray's, we splurged and treated ourselves to iveycake with coffee! a cheat day was long over due!  

yesterday i worked the LEONA + Brittany Fuson Pop-Up party! i love brittany's illustrations and she and lauren leonard of LEONA have both inspired me to start drawing again! i bought two of brittany's prints, "berry bouquet" and "cover girls" (both below) to adorn the walls in my apartment! there were so many prints that it was hard to choose which ones i wanted but these two had red-heads in them so they were a must! one day i hope to have her do a custom illustration! she is not only extremely talented but so sweet as well and i loved getting to meet her and talk with her during the party! check out her products online at www.brittanyfuson.com! 

"berry bouquet"

"covergirls"

(images property of brittany fuson, courtesy of [ brittany fuson ] on Pinterest)

i think the pop-up party was a hit for both LEONA and Brittany Fuson! i really enjoy working the store and everything about my internship. i couldn't be happier where i am right now and with what i am doing. the people who surround me are amazing, talented and passionate about what they do. this summer is truly a learning experience - i am less than one month in but have learned so much and know i have so much more to learn. i feel like i have found my niche and know that i am headed in the right direction. 

yesterday's outfit was of course LEONA. my LEONA collection is growing more and more each week which i love but my wallet does not (even my phone case is now LEONA)! it is well worth the price though - everything about each piece is top-notch and luxurious. nothing leaves the store unless it is perfect! my dress yesterday was from a few seasons ago but still current, which is another great thing about LEONA. the designs are timeless and can be worn season after season! i paired the tippy dress with some black stripy j. crew midi heels and was ready to work! 

LEONA dress, j. crew sandals, kate spade bangles, tory burch logo earrings 

i'm not sure what is in store for this lovely sunday! i am going to go on a quick run soon before it heats up then i'm not sure what i will do with my day off! i may treat myself to a single-girl movie or i may soak up some sun! i hope you all spend your sunday doing what you love with the ones you love! 

xoxo,

clp

productive saturday & 2 recipes

it is only 3:00 and i am worn out! i have had quite the productive saturday so far! it started relatively low-key, with my morning coffee, one of my new favorite breakfasts of mueslix cereal with almond milk, sliced banana and dried apricots sprinkled with cinnamon, OJ and the today show. i then went to sweat it out at real hot yoga! i hadn't been in a while and it was quite the workout! i swear i was even sweating from my kneecaps... (TMI i know). after hot yoga, i came home and made a cornbread salad (complete with spinach, corn, green peas, onion, tomato and buttermilk and ground pepper) and also sliced up a pear with some cranberry cheese for lunch.

after lunch, i set my sights on the kitchen. i have a pretty busy week ahead of me starting tomorrow afternoon so i wanted to go ahead and make some things for my lunches and breakfasts this week. i made up a batch of my go-to granola, which will be yummy with kefir and fresh fruit. i also hard-boiled a few eggs (just put in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes and voila!) for sandwiches or wraps. this warm weather has me wanting not only pimento cheese but also chicken salad so i decided to make both this week since the pimento cheese keeps well! these are all classic recipes, but lightened up (no mayo!) and modified a bit!

lightened-up jalepeno pimento cheese

1 cup non-fat plain greek yogurt

1 4 oz. jar diced pimentos

1/2 small can diced jalepenos, plus 1 tbsp of juice from can

2 tbsp chopped cilantro

 1 8 oz. block Cabot jalepeno light cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 8 oz. block Cabot sharp extra light cheddar cheese, shredded 

1. combine all ingredients together and stir well. serve as sandwich, as a dip with cut vegetables or wheat crackers, on sliced tomatoes, or melted in an omelette! 

(slightly adapted from Southern Living)

greek yogurt chicken salad

6 oz. shredded white chicken (i used canned)

1/2 cup non-fat plain greek yogurt

1/4 cup dried cranberries or raisins

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/8 cup chopped pecans or almonds

1 tsp honey

pepper, to taste 

1. combine all ingredients together and stir well. use a pastry blended to chop ingredients more. serve as sandwich, as a dip with cut vegetables or wheat crackers or on sliced tomatoes.

(slightly adapted from The Yummy Life)

needless to say, i am very much looking forward to my lunches this week! this week really starts the push towards the end of the semester. i am working the vanderbilt vs. UT baseball game tomorrow afternoon and then my week consists of classes, meetings, projects and tests. friday i will be working the sea-ray relays meet and also participating in relay for life. a week from today is the orange and white game, which mama, daddy and phillip are coming up for so i am looking forward to that as well as my chapter's senior recognition banquet next sunday. hopefully i will be able to come up for air at some point, but if not, i'll be back on here as soon as i can! 

xoxo,

clp 

p.s. last night i saw divergent. it was so much better than i expected and i definitely recommend it! i was a hypocrite and saw the movie before reading the book but it is waiting for me to read on my kindle tonight!