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3 Easy Collagen Smoothie Recipes


I’ve been on a smoothie kick lately as a new way to use my collagen peptides! You might remember I mentioned them in my last food post, here. I won't try to explain them myself,  so here is an article explaining the benefits of taking collagen supplements. Now that we are a few months after I last mentioned them, I will confirm I still notice them helping my hair and nails grow, my skin looking better, and my joints don’t pop nearly as much as they used to! Former ballet dancer problems, just about every one of my joints regularly pop, all the time. But I think these have helped quite a bit! This is not a sponsored post, but I wanted to share how I use specific flavors of my favorite brand, Vital Proteins. As I mentioned in the previous post, I was using the Peptides or Collagen Creamer in coffee, and the Beauty Collagen just with water. They don’t always fully dissolve in water or cold coffee, but they do blend well into smoothies! I’ve found a few recipes around the Internet that include the specific flavors of collagen I already have, but are typically a bit more work than I would like to do. I ideally would like to just throw a few things into a blender, not have to say, cut up an entire cantaloupe. So here is a breakdown of the simple smoothies I have been making. Excluding the ice, they only have 3 or 4 ingredients each!

Mixed Berry Smoothie with Strawberry Lemon Beauty Collagen

1 cup Orange juice (I used Simply Orange)
1 cup Frozen mixed berry medley
1/2 cup Ice


Macros: 45.9C 0F 14.1P

Tropical Smoothie with Melon Mint Beauty Collagen

1 cup Unsweetened coconut milk (I used SO Delicious)
1 cup Frozen tropical fruit medley
1/2 cup Ice

Macros: 27.5C 4.5F 12.1P

Cold Brew Coffee Smoothie with Dark Chocolate Blackberry Collagen Peptides
1 cup Cold brew coffee (I use Califia Farms or Stok)
1 cup Frozen mixed berry medley
(I think this would also be good with 2 scoops of the Lavender Lemon Beauty Collagen!)
1/2 cup Ice 
I take my coffee black, but you might want to add some of your favorite milk if you do not

Macros: 23.9C 0.2F 11.1P

BONUS Recipe
 This was my go-to shake for the last few months, especially to enjoy after a morning workout and going into work

Cold Brew Chocolate Protein Powder Shake
1 cup Cold brew coffee (I use Califia Farms or Stok)
1/3 cup Unsweetened almond milk (I used Harris Teeter brand)
1 scoop Your favorite chocolate protein powder (I like Vega Proteins and Greens)
1/2 cup Ice

Macros: 9.4C 3.4F 30.4P


I like to keep it simple, but I think any of these recipes could also have: spinach, banana, avocado, oats, flax seed, or chia seed added in!

Thanks for reading!

Colorblock Dress and Clutch




Photos by Deeana Kourtney Photography

Sail to Sable dress | Land of the Pine straw bag | Similar wedges | Similar sunglasses

Double the colorblock with this dress and straw clutch! I've always loved Sail to Sable dresses but just about every time I've seen them in store, my size is not available. My mom was at Marshall's and texted me a photo of this one marked down to $30, so I needed to have it! And the monogram clutch has already appeared in this recent post for the Etsy shop my boyfriend and I recently opened. I will acknowledge, those are not my initials on this bag. The style I made from last year was a little bit different from the ones I sold last year, so I needed to make a new sample. Luckily, my best friend also asked me to make one of these bags for her cousin before I even had them listed. But we have also recently listed a palm print design on the same style of bag!




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Spotted Romper









Photos by Deeana Kourtney Photography

Spotted romper c/o | H&M wedges | J. Crew earrings | Brahmin clutch | Similar sunglasses

As someone that is typically all about color, it can be nice to switch it up with neutrals every once in awhile. Especially if you live somewhere with weather like Charlotte and light colors are always a great option for the heat. I think the muted color of this spotted romper from Chichwish understates the fun ruffle details. But if you need it another color, it is also available in an orange tone! I am also loving these espadrille wedges for so many summer outfits. They are under $40, quite comfortable, and available in several colors!




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Another Injury Update


Another month without fitness content warrants another injury update, right? In case you missed my first injury update, I haven't been working out since mid-March due to some issues with my hip. I first thought I just strained a groin muscle that was very slow to heal. It turns out after an MRI/Arthrogram to be a labral tear in my hip. I won't try to explain what that is myself, so if you're really curious about exactly what that is, this article breaks it all down.  But it is a somewhat common injury in athletes, especially in dancers. I had another appointment today to look over the MRI and discuss what can be done about it.  It was kind of crazy to see how a tear that looked so small has been causing me pain from actions as simple as sitting in a chair. After injuries during my dance days, I have built up quite the pain tolerance. To a point where I have even pushed through performing with a stress fracture on a vertebrae in my spine. Although I think I am now adjusted to the fact that I do not have to push through like that anymore, and it is somewhat relieving. The scan also showed some fraying on the other side of the hip labrum (although that is fairly common and did not seem to be much of a concern), and I have some extra bone in my femur. The labral damage seems to be caused by my ballet training and workout schedule, and I was likely born with the bone part of the issue.

From what I was told today, labral tears usually involve some other issues like damaged cartilage in the hip and bumps on the femur from hip impingement. Luckily, my hip is only affected by the tear. However, the only way to truly fix it is surgery. There is a chance I can manage the pain with physical therapy, and possibly some injections. But if I do end up needing the surgery, I should be back into workouts within a few months after it. I'm obviously hoping this will not be necessary, we will see how my hip responds to strengthening exercises and another trial of a prescription anti-inflammatory (as I did not respond too well to the first one). I don't think I've ever heard of someone getting excited about physical therapy exercise before, but I sure was happy to be given an exercise plan today! I've been so worried that I would make my hip hurt worse or cause more damage with certain exercises, so I have barely worked out in close to 3 months now. I tried some arm and ab workouts a few times (that my nutrition coach Noor was so wonderful to put together for me!), but the ab portion usually caused some pain. So I just waited until I had word from my PA on what would be best for healing. These exercises I was given to do are targeting the glutes (I was told it is important for that area to be strong if surgery is needed), although there is a decent portion of abs and a little bit of arms involved as well. I just tried them after work today and so far only resulted in a little bit of pain! Although I know I will be very sore tomorrow (well today, as you're reading this!), I felt so weak in several exercises. I have noticed some muscle loss over the last six weeks or so, and I am hoping to start to get some of it back this way.  Before this injury, taking more than a week off of exercise made me feel a little crazy. So I will take whatever I can get to get at least a little movement going again! As I mentioned in the first update post, it is a little sad to see a lot of fun happenings in the Charlotte fitness scene that I have had to just watch on Instagram. Although I need some additional time off, I am really trying my best to stay positive. It will be worth it in the long run that I am not risking further damage pushing the injury. I have been reading a lot of other blogs that documented their experience with the same injury, and I have found them very helpful just to read a first-hand story from someone that has already been through it. So I am thinking I will be making these posts more regularly after some of my appointments to share my progress as well. It seems like there has almost been a movement of people trying to be more "real" in their blog and social media presence, and showing more than the highlights. So here is my attempt at that, the fitness side of my life isn't always jumping around in a matching activewear set at whichever boutique fitness studio I pop into that day. Lately it has been a lot of sitting on my couch and giving this injury what it needs to heal!

Thanks for reading!

Floral Statement Top








Photos by Deeana Kourtney Photography

Floral lace top c/o | James Jeans white denim c/o | Baublebar for Target earrings c/o | Neely and Chloe bag | Super similar wedges | Prada sunglasses

The weather in Charlotte has been all over the place lately. We had a few weeks in May with 90+ degree temperatures, so I was wearing a lot of simple dresses or shorts and tank tops. But now we have had several rainy days in a row. Which is never my favorite, but the rain has cooled it off to a point where I have been able to bring the white jeans back out! I think this top from Chicwish is quite the statement, and because I have to wear black and white for work events, I think will also be great with black work pants and heels!



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Introducing: Land of the Pine


I've already posted about this on Instagram over the last week. But my boyfriend and I opened an Etsy shop together! You might remember last year I sold some painted monogram bags and I was considering bringing them back for this summer. TJ also discovered over the last year that he has quite the talent for painting and had opened his own shop. So we decided to join forces and open Land of the Pine! The name comes from being North Carolina natives, TJ is an NC State University grad, and I think it sort of plays on Caralina Style as well! 
In the shop you will find a few of my painted monogrammed accessories, some of his paintings, and a few collaborative designs. He is so talented and it has been so much fun creating a few pieces together like this sunflower hat and this lemon hat. I gave him a rough idea of how I wanted them to look, and I was amazed at how they turned out! We plan on creating quite a few more products for the shop, TJ specifically wants to add some more "for the guys" products. Be sure to follow along on our Land of the Pine Instagram!






Lemon hat

Route 66 painting


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Red Jumpsuit








Photos by Deeana Kourtney Photography

H&M jumpsuit (under $20) | Pink Reef earrings c/o | Brahmin bag | Similar heeled sandals | Prada sunglasses | Becca Beauty lipstick c/o Influenster

I saw this jumpsuit in the window at H&M with a $12.99 tag next to it and I knew I wanted it. But I had to order online to get the right size, and when it arrived in the mail, I wasn't sure about it. I posted to my Instagram Story that I might send it back. But got a sort of overwhelming response to keep it, so here it is! I've been into red for summer lately, and this jumpsuit is just so fun. I think it will be great to wear to a rooftop bar!



Thanks for reading!