Ok, I’m gonna put this out there — the Market Theater Gum Wall in Seattle is GROSS, but — it’s also awesome and was one of the places I was most excited to visit while in Washington. Located in Post Alley under Pike Place Market, this chewing gum wall is basically a historic landmark in Seattle. I’ve been wanting to leave my gum mark here for years, so I was stoked when we finally made our way to the sticky alley, chewed our gum and added it to this unique (and disgusting) piece of art.
Can you tell how excited it was? Overall, I think my family was pretty disgusted at how jazzed I was at the idea of sticking my gum on top of layers upon layers of other people’s gum — I didn’t let their comments bring me down, though, as I’m sure you can tell, haha.
I left my gum on top of someone’s business card and just hoped that it would be there years to come. Unfortunately, shortly after our trip to Post Alley, Pike Place officials announced they would be cleaning off 20 years of gum from the infamous Market Theater walls in an effort to preserve the building for years to come. From what I can tell, it seems that used gum will still be welcomed here after an estimated 2,220 pounds of sugary, sticky gum has been removed and the 115 year old building has been preseverd the best it can be! Now, tell me — would you or have you ever leave your gum mark on this sticky wall? Are you sad that they’re cleaning it off? Are you completely grossed out by this post? SORRY, haha!
Happy Sunday, sweet friends! I’m back with yet another Seattle adventure — I promise they’re coming to an end (soon!), but if you could just humor me with a few more posts than I’ll get back to reality soon (which is just as wonderful as our trip to the PNW — life really has been the best!). Anyways, one early morning, when the sun was still rising and we were warmed and tucked into bed, I decided to peek outside to see if the fog had settled in the night before. Much to my delight, the fog was thick and seem to be calling my name, so we quickly threw on a couple of layers and headed outside to capture a few memories in this glorious and magical autumn morning.
After venturing out into the cold, we spotted these giant, fallen leaves right next to my Aunt and Uncle’s house — natures best kind of props, if you ask me!
Hi silliness always gets me laughing and puts a smile on my face — 9 years later and I’m so happy to be his.
It truly felt like there was magic around every corner in Washington state and I already can’t wait to head back there one day very soon. And while it’s complete Autumn on the blog, it’s starting to feel like winter in Phoenix. The days are getting shorter, the mornings are getting colder and my daily outfit has included a sweater, coat and a scarf almost every day (that may be a bit overkill, but this desert rat isn’t used to the cold!). Scott and I had a pretty calm weekend — dinner with our sweet friend, Tish, and her darling kiddos. We also spent quite a bit of time with our family, cleaning our home and getting ready for another busy week. How was your weekend? I wanna hear all about what you did and the adventures you went on, so please share! Let’s chat!
Ya’ll knew this post was coming, right? Well, I guess I may have mentioned it in Monday’s post, but you knew I couldn’t pass up the chance to check out the oldest Starbucks there is! While at Pike Place Market, I was on a mission to track down this caffeine-filled establishment. I knew it would be a bit touristy, but hey — we were tourists and I definitely was in need of a venti iced coffee! 😉
After asking for directions from a local shop owner, we walked a down few blocks along the market and found ourselves in front of a teeny, tiny storefront with the longest line. As the story goes, the very first Starbucks burned down in a blazing fire in 1971. Whether or not that story is true, we may never know, but I do know that this miniature Sbux along Pike Street is now the oldest and definitely their most popular location.
After about a 20 minute way, which I definitely tried to talk myself out of, I finally had my beverage in hand and can now say I’ve been to the first — errr, oldest Starbucks there is. Anyways, I’m currently sipping on some home-brewed coffee and getting ready for a busy day. It is icy outside — like 48 degrees, which means winter has finally come — just kidding. It is chilly, though, and I’ve been sitting in front of our space heater for the last hour, not wanting to pull myself away from the coziness of the heat blasting in my face and my kitty, Boots, curled up at my feet. It’s time, though, and I hope ya’ll have a beautiful and cozy day!
Have you ever been to the Starbucks at Pike Place Market? What did you think?
Hello! Wow, it’s November and I still have so many photos and stories I want to share from our trip to Seattle. I’m hoping to wrap things up this week (or early next) with our PNW adventures, but for now, I’m gonna be chatty about our trip down to Pike’s Place Market on the most beautiful autumn day! It had been years and years since I had last been to the market, and since this was Scott’s first time, we decided to take in all the stops and sidewalk shops along the way — we even stopped by the oldest Starbucks and the gum wall, but I’ll save those stops for another day!
If you’ve never been to Pike’s Place Market before, it’s something magical — there are oodles of sidewalk shops lining the marketplace as you roam through, selling everything from fruit, fish, flowers and so much more. It was so hard not to buy something at every booth, but I did my best to walk through all of the shops before making my purchases (a giant bouquet of flowers and some delicious chocolate covered cherries!).
It’s kind of crazy, but five dollars will get you a giant bouquet of gorgeous, fresh flowers at the marketplace! I must have peeked at all of the flowers shops before finally picking my $5 bunch (a gorgeous, autumn-inspired arrangment). My only wish is that I could have saved them and brought them home to dry, as they were so beautiful!
This handsome guy was loving the PNW way of life, and while we’re desert rats for life, Seattle will always have a special place in our hearts.
If a trip to Seattle is up next on your travel list, I would definitely suggest making a stop at Pike’s Place Market. It may be a little touristy and kind of crazy at moments (I definitely saw a man throw a fish back and forth across his booth), it’s such an amazing, iconic place. Promise you won’t regret it! In other news, it’s Monday and I’m fighting off a nasty sinus cold, so I’m going to go make some hot tea and call it an early night. We’re in that weird transitional stage in Phoenix where one day it’s really cold, and then the next it’s in the 80’s. So with all this back and forth, my allergies and sinuses are just a mess! It’s starting to get colder, though, and I couldn’t be more excited! Bring on the layers! Have great evening, loves!
Hello! I’m back with another mini-adventure from our Seattle getaway — during our PNW stay we called my aunt and uncle’s cozy farm house home. Since their property extends out a few acres, they don’t have many neighbors, but they do have a pretty walking path that seemed to lead us to one of the most beautiful autumn sights I’ve ever seen. During our walk one evening, when the sun was setting fast, we snapped these photos super quick — just hoping the light would cooperate and that the nearby chickens wouldn’t come after us — they were housed up in a super cute chicken coop, though, and didn’t seem to mind us being there one bit!
Since getting back from Seattle life has seem to continue to be so busy — all good things, though. Birthdays, Halloween, our amazing friends, Matt and Tish, moving here from Albuquerque, prepping for holiday craft shows and so much more. Busy or not, I love this time of year and wouldn’t trade it for a thing. It’s finally starting to be cold here every day — like in the 60’s, and I’m just so stoked. I’ve been slowly pulling out of my jackets, boots and coats, and now I think it’s time add a few blankets to our bed and pull out my fuzzy slippers for the evenings. Right now I’m currently bundled up on the coych, sweater on and a blanket in my lap — we’re just about to eat a hot dinner and I’m feeling just so content. Life is good, sweet friends!
One more thing before I go, tomorrow our dear friends, Rob and Christina of the New Darlings blog, are hosting the Furry Friends ASAPCA + West Elm Holiday Photo Shoot at the Scottsdale Quarter West Elm. If you’re local, stop by with your pooch to have their photo taken from 6-8pm. You can get more details here, and I hope to see you there!
Our Seattle getaway was truly everything I could have hoped for and so much more. We experienced chilly days, falling leaves, autumn mornings, foggy days and it seemed that I couldn’t layer enough if I tried — a true autumn on all accounts. Scott and I have been talking about taking this trip for so many years now, so to finally be in the Pacific Northwest with my whole family felt slightly unreal. Every moment we spent in Washington truly felt good for my soul, and left me feeling refreshed and ready to take on another busy season of life.
Before we get to that, though, I’ll back track and share that we landed in Seattle last Wednesday evening around 9:30pm. Scott and I had both worked earlier in the day, but that didn’t stop us from feeling all the jitters and excitement that comes with traveling. When we finally made it out of the airport, we couldn’t help but ohh and awwh over how chilly it was, and how pretty the colored leaves were under the city lights. We ended up getting to my Aunt and Uncle’s house (where we were staying) around 11pm, chatted for a bit and then fell asleep as soon as we crawled into our twin sized-bed (there was two, but who likes sleeping alone!).
The next morning we woke up to a cloud of thick fog covering everything — as far as our eyes could see out of the tiny window from the cozy farm house we were staying in. This was by far one of the dreariest morning we’ve ever experience, so like any desert native would, we took full advantage while we could by throwing on a few layers, making some hot coffee and taking a little walk outside while the fog still surrounded us. It really was one the most peaceful moments we had together during our entire trip, and I’m sure the feeling won’t be something I’ll forget anytime soon. Like they say, the Pacific Northwest is full of peace and magic (and vampires too — ;))
While the fog burned off, we spent a few hours running around, doing some family errands and seeing my mom’s old stomping grounds. We actually spent a couple of hours visiting my family cemetery, which was quite an experience. The cemetery opened in the late 1800’s and is where many of the area’s most distinguished leaders were laid to rest. The trees and leaves there were absolutely beautiful, and I couldn’t help but take a picture or two — a bit morbid for some, but really a special place to me. Anyways, later in the afternoon, when the sun was starting to go down, we took a drive through Point Defiance Park, a large “urban” park in the heart of Tacoma. Point Defiance holds such a special place in my heart, as some of my most fond memories from my trips to Washington state growing up seem to all be set here — specifically at Owen Beach, which is where all of these photos were taken, along the rocky shore of the Puget Sound.
Owen Beach was one of the most important stops I wanted to make while in town. Before this trip, Scott had never been to the PNW before, so having him see the one place that holds so many joyous memories for me felt so important. It’s safe to say that he now loves the rocky shores of Owen Beach just as much as I do and we’re both looking forward to coming back here again — hopefully one day very soon!
The colors along the shore were just incredible — bright yellow, orange, red, and green.
My momma and I!
My dad and uncle (who we stayed with during our whirlwind trip!).
Every inch of Owen Beach was so incredibly beautiful — this view wasn’t too bad either! 😉
I’ll be back soon with more photos and stories from our Seattle getaway! In case you want to see more photos + snip-its of our adventures now, you can see more on my Instagram under our trip hashtag — #birdsdopnw. I hope ya’ll are having a lovely weekend, and Happy November!
Happy Birthday, sweet husband of mine! Today, you’re a year older, a bit wiser and more handsome than ever — inside and out. I feel so incredibly lucky to have this be the 10th birthday we’ve celebrated together, and I truly look forward to all the birthdays and special celebrations ahead of us in the years to come (because I know they’re just going to get better and better as the years go on).
Today, you’re 27, and finally the same age as me! So welcome to the club, my dear, and here’s to an incredible, amazing, adventurous, spectacular year!
Hello, sweet friends! Another beautiful October weekend has come and gone and now we’re just days away from our Pacific Northwest adventure. Other than going to Pineapple Triangle, a local artisan market, we laid pretty low this weekend — doing laundry, nursing a nasty sinus infection, and getting ready for our trip. We did take a drive down the prettiest, most dreamy street in downtown Mesa where every house was decorate for Halloween and there was leaves on the ground — looked like something straight out of Stars Halloween! Speaking of GG, did you guys hear that “supposedly” Gilmore Girls is having a revival series on Netflix?! AHHH! Can you hear me screaming at the top of my lungs over how excited I am? I’ve been a GG fans since the very beginning, so to think that there might be a possibility of getting a glimpse in Luke’s diner or seeing Stars Hallow in its forever autumnal state again is crazy awesome and exciting — fingers crossed!
Ok, friends — I’m out for the evening, but I hope ya’ll have a lovely one! Oh, and if anyone has any Seattle suggestions I’m still all ears! Promise to share lots while we’re there — catch more of our adventures on Instagram and Snapchat — UN: Chelseabirdd! Talk soon, friends!
Hello! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I’m Chelsea and I’ve been blogging here at Tea Talk since June of 2009. I’m 27 years old and grew up in the heart of the desert in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m a wife, influencer marketing professional, coffee connoisseur, and downtown Phoenix supporter. I married my sweetheart of 9+ years on January 18th, 2014! I spend my days blogging, going on adventures with my husband, Scott, sipping on iced coffee, playing with our two pups and kitties, Piper, Scout, Boots and Peter, and also spending time on our 10-acre orchard in the outskirts of Phoenix. I’m passionate about my local community, social media, influencer marketing, being a pinfluencer and encouraging others to follow their dreams. This blog is where I share my personal style, our adventures and daily life. Enjoy!
——————–FAQ————————
How did you get the idea to start to Tea Talk?
I started blogging when I was in junior high back on Livejournal and Xanga and absolutely loved it. I started blogging here in June 2009 because I wanted a space where I could show my then boyfriend, now husband, what I was up to while spending the summer away in Colorado. After our summer a part came to a close, I contiuned writing and now I’m here today!
What’s your career?
I’m a full-time blogger, as well as the Influencer Relationship Manager at Find Your Influence, an influencer marketing platform and network.
What are your thoughts on grad school?
Grad school was an amazing experience and I’m so happy that I continued on with my education. If have any specific questions about the process or about my degree, please feel free to email me!
How did you grow your hair so long?
I haven’t seriously cut my hair since I was twelve or thirteen, only trims to keep the ends nice and bangs if I wanted them. I condition my hair well, but I don’t take vitamins or use any kind of special products on it. Long hair runs in my family!
How do you style your top knots?
Great question! This is my most requested blog post, and you can read all about how I do my top knots in my tutorial right here!
What’s your favorite coffee drink?
Unsweetened iced coffee with no room!
Do you have a favorite coffee shop?
Yes! I love Peixoto Coffee in downtown Chandler.
Do you really drink a ton of coffee?
No, not really. Maybe one or two a day! 😉
Is Scott your boyfriend, fiancé, or husband?
Scott is my husband! We’ve been together for over eight years and we tied the knot on January 18th, 2014!
Where can I see your wedding photos and video?
I blogged about our wedding and you can see an overview photo post here, my getting ready photos here, our first look here, a few portraits here, our ceremony, and our bridal party + I still have more posts to write! Also, our wedding highlight video is here, and our reception highlight video is here.
What are some of your favorite places in the Phoenix area?
I love Lux Central, Lola Coffee, Frances Vintage, The Grow-OP Boutique, Nami, Cibo Pizzeria, Liberty Market, Peixoto Coffee and The Original Chop Shop Co..
October always seem to bring out two sides of my personal style — one being my super autumnal side that just wants to wear rust, orange, red, brown, yellow and grey all day, and the other being my “edgier” side where all I want to do is wear black and pull out all my studded pieces (or dress like the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus — but that feels less appropriate for every day, haha). Either way, I’ve been all about layering lately and really getting into fall the season. It’s hard to believe that we’re already half through October — seriously, where has the month gone? October is my very favorite month, so I’m hoping these next few days slow down just a bit. A week from Wednesday we’ll be in Seattle, and I just can’t wait to see all of the fall colors and soak in all the chilly weather there — it’s going to be amazing!
I’m currently curled up in my pjs with my kitty, Peter, right by my side. I’ve been watching the tv show “Fixer Upper” for the past two hours and I seriously can’t stop watching it! Have you guys seen this show before? Chip and Jojo Gaines are so cute and I seriously wish they would come makeover our home — not sure that will happen unless we move to Waco, Texas, though, so here’s to dreaming they expand their market sometime in the near future. 😉 Ok, I’m gonna go make some tea and settled down for the evening — Scott and I both have had this nasty sinus headache/drippy nose thing going on all day long, so I’m hoping for some relief soon and a good night’s rest for the both of us.
