Friday, May 22

LONG WEEKEND



Did this seem like a long week for anyone else? I think it was definitely the anticipation of a long weekend, but Monday just seems like ages ago! No matter what you're doing to celebrate Memorial Day, I hope it's fun, safe, relaxing, and full of laughing and smiles. 
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what I'm into this week

// this is going viral, but in case you haven't seen it, I kind of don't hate Justin Bieber after laughing along to this video. It's actually pretty amazing.

// Madewell's new arrivals are too good. I want this, this, and this... and I could keep going. 

// Black bean burgers are such a good alternative to meat, especially when you don't have a grill. This recipe from the Pioneer Woman is on my list to make next week. Salivating already.

// new emojis might be coming in 2016, with bacon making the list. BUT WHERE is the taco emoji?!

// speaking of tacos, did you see my girl Annie's recap on her Harbour Island vacation? Photos. are. amazing. Get ready to start pinning and planning a vacation ASAP. 


Have a great weekend! Follow me on INSTA (@lovethislifeblog) for Memorial Day weekend pics!

Wednesday, May 20

WHAT TO PACK: MEMORIAL DAY


Yall ready for a 4 day weekend?! Friday at 5:00 seriously cannot come soon enough. I'm headed to my friends' lake house in southern Illinois and am so ready for some sun, relaxation, margarita buckets, and boat time. What are your plans? Does the above packing list fall into your travel plans?

shop: bikini (also love this) // panama hat // sunglasses // towel // coverup

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Monday, May 18

WEEKEND REVIEW


Picked up Georgia peaches from The Peach Truck on Saturday morning.


Celebrated our sweet co-worker Erica and her engagement! #DoTheHussle 



Brunch at BurgerUp - one of my favorite Nashville restaurants. 


And like that, we're at Monday already. I hope everyone had a great weekend. I was in Nashville for the THIRD weekend in a row - I think this might be record setting! I love, love, love traveling, but it is so nice to be home for an extended period of time. Now it's time to make it through the work week before heading out of town for Memorial Day!!! We can do it, yall!  


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Wednesday, May 13

WHAT I WORE WEDNESDAY









Wow, it has been almost a year since I last did an outfit post. About time, right?! I hope to do one of these every Wednesday, or at least every other Wednesday. I thought I'd start off with a go-to outfit of mine: jeans, sleeveless blouse, and heels of some sort. Comfortable, polished, but can go from work to night. My kind of style. 

Shop the post: top (similar) // necklace // jeans // mules

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Tuesday, May 12

SRIRACHA LIME CHICKEN CHOPPED SALAD



Oh my goodness y'all, I just love the feeling of spring and summer. The days are longer, the nights are warmer, and doesn't the food taste so much better? I find myself eating so many more fresh vegetables and lighter meals in these warmer months, and this salad is a great example. I saw a version of it on my friend Whitney's blog and knew I had to make a variation for myself. The original recipe called for grilled pineapple, but I don't have a grill and don't like pineapple so I removed that. Still, so, so yummy... This will definitely be a repeat in the coming months!

SRIRACHA LIME CHICKEN CHOPPED SALAD 
1 lb chicken tenders (or chicken breast if preferred)
1 avocado
1 red onion
Cherry tomatoes 
Choice of lettuce (I picked arugula)
1 lime
3 tbsp sriracha

LIME VINAGRETTE
1/3 cup light olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 limes, juiced
2 tsp raw honey
Dash sea salt

Marinate chicken in sriracha and lime juice and add salt and pepper to taste. Cook chicken at 350 for 20 minutes. Dice avocado, cut tomatoes, and finely chop red onion. Add over bed of lettuce and add chicken. Toss with lime vinagrette and enjoy!

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Wednesday, May 6

BACK TO BLOGGING



Wow, it has been quite some time since I've even logged into my blogger account, let alone drafted and published a post. Why the silence? Well, two reasons. I couldn't find my computer charger despite thinking I knew where it was, so I finally ordered one from Amazon. Except when that arrived, there was a little twist in my family's life.

Almost 6 weeks ago now, I got a text from my mom while I was at work that my sister's NYC apartment was on fire. She was safe since she was at work, but immediately I started freaking out when I started watching videos online and checking Twitter. Of all the people and all the apartments in New York, it was my sister and her apartment building in the East Village explosion late March. She and her roommates, and two other buildings of people lost absolutely everything.

Needless to say, blogging wasn't exactly a priority from that point on. My focus was on Jane and making sure that she was going to get back on her feet as quickly and smoothly as possible. Writing posts about fun summer clothes or coffee table books just seemed so unimportant and insensitive when Jane had pretty much nothing and was starting from zero.

It's been a pretty emotional whirlwind for my family, and even more so for Jane, of course. I mean, what are the chances? And the feeling of losing everything... it's maddening and overwhelming and I can't imagine. It takes time - especially as a girl - to accumulate the perfect pair of jeans, a great LBD, jewelry, bags, home decor... oh my gosh it's never ending! But in the grand scheme of things, it's not the things that even matter. What matters far, far more are the people in your life, and this was so apparent after the blast. I am so incredibly thankful that blast took place when Jane was at work and not when she was at home in the evening or in the middle of the night. I'm so grateful for the generous love and support she has received from family, friends, and even strangers. It's an understatement to say how blessed and loved she is - and that's what counts at the end of the day.

It's so easy to get caught up in the materialistic world we live in, especially with blogging and social media. Moving forward, I'm still going to write and share plenty about clothing and shoes and jewelry, but I also want to focus on the lifestyle part of this blog as well. Material things are great, but it's also the day to day and people and events in between that make life so special and unique. I can't promise I won't take another blogging hiatus, or that I'll be on here every day, but I hope that what I post is worthwhile and makes you want to continue to read and follow along. Thanks for joining me on this lovely little journey of life.

- xoxo - 

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