Sweet Ladi Jane

Travel Tuesday: ACM Awards Recap

04.05.2016

What an incredible ACM weekend in Las Vegas! I got home at 1 AM last night, but thankfully it is a beautiful day here in Nashville, so I am currently recovering by writing to you all in my jammies on my back porch. Let’s start from the beginning.

We landed in Las Vegas in the early evening on Friday and I headed straight over to my interview at MORE with the lovely Rachel Smith. She and I met in Los Angeles, by the pool, and instantly became friends, which was great because it made our interview natural and so much fun. While hanging in the green room, Rachel and I had to fit in a quick game of Pac Man…she definitely beat me!

After we said our goodbyes, I headed over to meet Phillip and the gang at Giada De Laurentiis – an incredibly beautiful restaurant. Giada’s tasting menu experience was set up like you are attending a dinner party at her house. The first course was a lovely array of cheeses and Italian meats – right up my alley! Next came a beautiful Caprese salad with juicy heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella. The main course was a Rigatoni vegetable bolognese and was nothing short of delicious. I was so full…until a beautiful copper dessert cart parked right next to our table. They offered an assortment of delicious sweet treats, and we tried a bite of every one! Definitely a great way to end the meal.

I woke up Saturday morning ready to enjoy a fun time at the Content Creator Studio powered by Cracker Barrel Studio at ACM Party For A Cause. This event was an absolute blast for me. There was a huge production space with different pods full of some of my favorite social influencers and I had the opportunity to walk around the room to meet everybody. My first stop was with WhoSay, where we played roulette karaoke. I destroyed a Jimmy Buffet song in case you were wondering. Let’s all remember, I am not the singer in the family – oops! After that, Kimberly Schlapman and I experienced some mind blowing magic with Collins Key. We couldn’t believe the tricks he was doing; Collins is extremely talented. I then shared a special memory with the beautiful Blair Fowler. She asked me if I would rather apply my make up with my left hand or allow Philip to do it. Funny thing is, Phillip actually has! I asked for his help while I was in labor with Penelopi. I wanted to look my best for the arrival of our beautiful daughter. I’ll post a photo on my Instagram for my throwback Thursday, so make sure you keep an eye out! After sharing that moment, an incredible illustrator, Alex Kim, created a piece for Sweet Ladi Jane. Side note– she has been named one of the top “5 must-follow fashion illustrators” by Vanity Fair. To finish out the amazing day, I got to snuggle with the one and only Doug The Pug!

Before I knew it, Sunday was here, and with it came the ACM awards! I was so excited and honored to attend. My morning started with the lovely Jared Keys. Jared is a wonderful hair and makeup artist who has been doing my makeup since high school! We always have a ball together.

After hair and glam, I headed to the MGM Grand to finish getting dressed before the red carpet. I always get butterflies right before we walk on. It’s fun watching everyone on the carpet while running into so many of my beautiful friends. All the lovely ladies gracing the red carpet were stunning with hearts of gold to match.

After the carpet, we headed to our seats to watch the show. My favorite performance was Little Big Town and Trombone Shorty, (I know I may be slightly biased), but it was epic! I am so proud of Phillip and his bandmates. They work tirelessly and are incredibly talented. Join me in congratulating them on their wins!

Whew – What a weekend! Anyone have recommendations for sore feet? Hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well!

Fry-Day: Brie Cheese, Please

04.01.2016

What could possibly be better than cheese? Fried cheese! Welcome to another Fry-Day, where I’m sharing the perfect kind of platter to have in time for your happy hour this evening. All you need is brie cheese, oil for frying, honey, and crackers. Brie is my all-time favorite cheese, so any recipe or snack that incorporates it is a good one in my book.

Check out how to make fried brie cheese below. I’d even suggest pairing this delightful snack with a refreshing Rosé – Cheers!

Ingredients:
-1 Wedge of Brie Cheese
-3 cups of Crisco Oil
-Ian’s Gluten Free Panko
-Triscuit Crackers
-Honey
-1 egg

Directions:
1. Crack the egg into a small bowl, add salt and pepper to taste, and then whisk.
2. Used a small biscuit cutter to cut the brie into smaller pieces, then coated the cheese with egg wash, and roll in Panko.
3. Heat 3 cups of oil in a heavy saucepan.
4. Place Brie in oil and fry until golden brown.
5. Serve on top of Triscuit, drizzle honey on top of brie.

ACM Awards: Beauty Prep

03.31.2016

As we approach the final countdown to the ACM Awards, I can’t help but express my excitement for what all this fun-filled weekend entails. My schedule is packed tight with some amazing opportunities and I’ll be sure to recap you all in a Travel Tuesday post next week!

With all the events and activities that revolve around a big weekend, like any woman out there, I want to make sure I look and feel my absolute best. Here are some routine steps I take to proactively prepare, not only for the ACM Awards, but any significant event in my life.

Wash Makeup Brushes
If you ask any beauty expert about washing your brushes, they will tell you that it’s a must! Washing your brushes can make all the difference for your skin and for the application of your makeup. With a cleanser from Sephora, I will shampoo the brushes and air dry them overnight.

Coconut Oil Treatments
Coconut Oil is essential to every household because there are so many uses for it. I use coconut oil to repair and protect my hair from future damage, and to give some love to my scalp. Tonight, I will enjoy a nice scalp and hair treatment using coconut oil. Before I apply the oil, I like to rinse my hair out with some warm water to help get the oil all throughout my hair. I recommend applying it from the root to tip for best results.

via Whole Foods

Dry House Nashville
Before I hop on the plane, I made an appointment with my favorite ladies who know how to make a girl feel like a hundred bucks. Alli always takes such amazing care of her clients. It’s such a relief to know that I’ll get my hair done before I board the plane, and will be all ready for Friday night’s events. I will make sure that I post a photo on my Instagram of the finished look!

via Dry House Nashville

Can’t wait to share all the adventures and amazing opportunities that I will experience this weekend — Stay tuned, friends!

Travel Tuesday: Boston, MA

03.29.2016

Boston is one of my favorite cities to visit. There is something to do for anyone and everyone in this city, not to mention the amazing architecture, culture and food. My family and I traveled up to Boston this past fall, and had the opportunity to spend a few days in the city. We LOVE it when we have a couple of days off in one place because it’s a wonderful opportunity for some quality time to explore and be together. Below I’ve shared several of my favorite activities to do in Boston!

The Freedom Trail – This is a walking trail of 16 historical significant sites. You do not have to purchase any tickets, but you can take a private guide tour. I am so grateful that I was able to show Penelopi several of the sites. My favorite was the Old State House — an absolutely beautiful building that once housed the colony’s government. Several events happened there that contributed to the start of the American Revolution. I have added a private tour of the Old State House to my list when I come back!

via Freedom Trail Foundation

The Boston Aquarium – When you enter the aquarium you immediately see an open air habitat of penguins that wraps around a three story aquarium tank, full of all sorts of sea life. As we watched them fight for the top of the rock, dive into the water and catch a couple of fish, it was an amazing sight to see the penguins interact with each other. They are certainly the stars of this aquarium! We watched them for what seemed like an hour, and filmed a little bit of their game of “King of the Hill.” We were in total awe and quite entertained by these little guys.

Babbo Pizzeria – I love Italian Cuisine. We were introduced to Babbo by one of my favorite people Lori McKenna. We met her and her wonderful husband, Gene, there for dinner one night. The restaurant sat us at a big round table so we could order family style and interact with everyone. As an appetizer, we enjoyed a wonderful variety of different cheeses, meats and olives. My main dish was the Tagliatelle al Ragu which was heavenly. I don’t think I left one bite in the bowl.

Boston Tea Party Museum
The Boston Tea Party Museum is a perfect example of my favorite kind of museum because it’s interactive and fun for all ages. Our tour started in a town hall meeting where members of our group were chosen to play roles in the storytelling of the Boston Tea Party. We were then escorted on to “The Eleanor” that was filled with replica tea boxes from British East India Company. The kids even had the chance to “throw tea into the sea” and also saw an actual tea box from the British East India Company that was recovered from the water. The museum curators are friendly and answered all of the curious children’s questions. I can not say enough great things about this museum – the Boston Tea Party Museum is a MUST if you ever visit!

Have any of you ever been to Boston? What are some of the cool things you’ve done?

Fry-Day: Chocolate Chimichanga

03.25.2016

It’s FRY-Day! Woohoo! Today I have a recipe that I made A LOT in college and it also happened to be a favorite amongst my sorority sisters and roommates. Chocolate Chimichangas are so delicious (and addicting). Everyone loves a fried treat with chocolate and ice cream especially after a long night of studying or working!

I actually received this recipe from from my sweetheart’s mom during my high school days. The first time I made these in college was a girls night. We had finished up Rush Week and wanted to have a fun little fiesta! My closest gals and I decided we were going to make a big Mexican feast where each of us was in charge of one dish. I decided I would make Chocolate Chimichangas because well, they are easy, quick and inexpensive. We thoroughly enjoyed this yummy dessert which paired perfectly with our Mexican feast. You can use it at your next girl’s night — perhaps for the next season of the Bachelorette. What are some of your favorite fried desserts? Have a wonderful weekend, sweet friends!

Ingredients:
-Hershey’s Chocolate Bars – one for each person
-Tortillas
-Crisco Oil
-Breyer’s Vanilla Ice Cream
-Toothpicks

Directions:
1. In a large sauce pan, pour enough oil to barely cover the chimichanga. Heat the oil.
2. Wrap tortilla around the Hershey’s bar, and hold together with a toothpick.
3. Pop fry the tortilla and chocolate. The goal is to melt the chocolate and make the tortilla flakey. *Pop fry means fry for a short time*
4. Remove from heat, place on plate, top with two scoops of ice cream. You can even add chocolate syrup on top!
5. Enjoy!

ACM Awards Dress Inspo

03.24.2016

I talked about my press day attire last week, and now it’s time to give you the inside scoop on what inspired my dress and accessories for The 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Award Show. It’s so much fun to get dolled up and spend the evening celebrating the wonderful genre of country music which has been so good to my family over the years. I also can’t complain about my handsome date who I get to attend every award show and red carpet alongside. 😉 This year, Little Big Town will perform and lead the group nominations with four including their 10th nomination for Vocal Group of the Year along with Single Record of the Year, Video of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year. So proud of my best friends and husband!

I love the ACM Awards because of the laid back atmosphere and that you really can get by with any kind of attire. This year, I knew I wanted to wear a long dress and accent this look with my favorite kind of jewels – gold of course!

This isn’t the exact dress I will be wearing, but you can be sure to catch a sneak peak on my Instagram next Sunday on show day. Don’t forget to tune into all the fun LIVE on Sunday, April 3rd on CBS at 8PM ET. Let me know what you think, friends!

ACM Awards – Outfit Inspo by sweetladijane featuring platform shoes

Travel Tuesday: Last Minute Spring Break Trip

03.22.2016

Spring is here, and there’s no better time to take a few days off of work and everyday life to do something memorable! You’re never too old to for a mini spring break because we all deserve to unplug and explore this beautiful country that we live in. Whether you’re able to travel far or can only go somewhere nearby, I’ve thought of a couple options for all you last minute spring break planners.

1. Asheville, NC – Free Wine Tasting at the Biltmore
This is a quick, easy and beautiful drive from Nashville, making this the perfect last minute spring break trip. Plus, this time of year the gardens are absolutely stunning.

Via Biltmore.com

2. Zero George Street Boutique Hotel
I love the look of this place! I found it on Pinterest and cannot wait to stay here. First of all, it’s located in one of the most beautiful places in Charleston – southern charm at it’s finest. Secondly, their website is stunning. When I book a room, I know exactly what I will be walking into. Finally, they have a cooking school which is not only unique to them, but also amazing!
via Zero George Street

3. Airbnb
I have saved several vacation spots on my Airbnb wish list. If you aren’t familiar with this amazing travel site, check it out. It’s easy to use and you can find rental properties everywhere you go. Throw that dart on a map and go!

via airbnb.com

Are you headed anywhere fun this spring? Let me know!

Happy Birthday Phillip!

03.18.2016

I absolutely love birthdays! It’s my love language — who doesn’t enjoy a day of celebrating your loved one?

Today happens to be one of those special days. It’s my sweet, wonderful husband’s birthday. We are celebrating out on the road at the Houston Rodeo with a triple chocolate cake from Rustika, a Crown Royal bouquet and a lot of other birthday treats! Help me wish Phillip Sweet the happiest of birthdays! Tag him in your post and hashtag #PSweetBirthday.

ACM Press Outfit Inspo

03.16.2016

‘Tis the season for awards! The ACM Awards are on April 3rd in Las Vegas, and I have some exciting plans while I am there. I’m heading west a few days before the show to participate in some press events to promote Sweet Ladi Jane. I couldn’t be more thrilled about it, so of course to prepare for this day, I knew I had to pick out a top notch outfit. After browsing through Pinterest and some online stores, I found the PERFECT outfit to wear for this day.

My day will begin with Rachel Smith from More and More Access. Rachel and I struck up a casual conversation by the pool in LA and instantly became friends. She shared some interesting local history about Las Vegas, so I’m hoping I catch a behind the scenes look at some of the landmarks that give this city its character and history. I’m sure there are a lot of secrets to be told!

After my time with Rachel, I’m heading to work with Doug The Pug, Collins Key, Blair Fowler, Brodie Smith, Amymarie Gaertner, and Alex Kim Designs. It’s Sweet Ladi Jane’s first full press day! Woohoo!

I’ve created the board below which inspired my outfit of choice for the day. Let me know what you think! Stay tuned for an early sneak peak of this outfit, which will be found only on Sweet Ladi Jane.

More on Sweet Ladi Jane’s Polyvore Profile!

Spring Cleaning

03.14.2016

Spring has (almost) sprung! With warmer weather fronts and the daylight sticking around longer, I feel like, at least hope so, the winter days are long gone until next year.

This time of year, I always get the itch to clean. It is amazing what can accumulate over a year! To start, I create a couple of sections to help me organize how I want to get rid of the clutter. Some items I sell or donate to Goodwill, and the rest I give to a local shelter or children’s home. This spring season, I decided to try a few new cleaning and organizational apps and give you my personal reviews on them. Check them out below and tell me what you think!

Let Go – I have seen SO many commercials for this app, so I had to try it out myself. I did sell a couple of items…but I had to meet the buyer in person which made me a little nervous. With that in mind, I picked VERY public places such as the front of Whole Foods Grocery Store. Also, I made sure I was paid in cash only. The best part about this app is that it doesn’t take any of the money from the sell!

Offer Up – I like the look of this app better than Let Go. You can sign up for a TruYou account, which makes you feel more comfortable because you know who is behind an offer. There are two ways that they verify you- your Facebook and driver’s license. Like Let Go, Offer Up requires you to meet up with the buyer in order to make a sell and you keep all the money that you make. Again, I advise that you meet the buyer in a VERY public place and take cash only.

Decluttr – This by far was the easiest app to use out of all three. Decluttr allows you to take your old DVDs, video games, and CD’s, scan the proof of purchase barcode, and it then tells you what they will pay you for them. When you confirm everything that you want to sell, they send you a packing list and postage to mail your goods. The downside is that you don’t get much money for them, but hey, are you really using them anyway?! Also, you don’t receive your money up front.

I believe that the best way to clean is by making sure that you have some good tunes blasting throughout your house. To help you out with this, I have created the perfect cleaning playlist with songs I am currently listening to and can’t get enough of. Get pumped and ready to clean with these jams on my ‘Spring Cleaning’ Spotify playlist! Any song suggestions?

Happy Spring cleaning!