Oh April, you’ve gone by in the blink of an eye! With the end of the month quickly approaching, I’ve decided to fully embrace my birthday week and live it up during my last few days as a 26 year old (cue lots of iced coffees, sweet treats, and treating myself to a few “necessary” purchases). Today was the most perfect day to kick off such an exciting week — a brunch date with my love, coffee at our favorite local shop and the most amazing, cool and rainy weather that made it a-ok to rock a jacket and sip hot coffee during April – which is basically unheard of around here.
Not only is it my birthday week, but it’s also the start of Scott’s finals week(s) and big grad school capstone presentation! It’s still hard to be believe that he’s already at this place in his grad school career, and that graduation day will be here before we know it. If you’re feeling generous, we both would really appreciate if ya’ll could send tons of good vibes Scott’s way — it’s going to be a crazy, and very exciting week!
The next time you see this face…I’ll still be 26! Since the big day isn’t until Saturday (May 2nd), I plan on popping in a few more times to share what I’ve learned during my 26th year, a birthday wish list and another outfit or two (you know how I do!). Have a great week, friends!
Oh, hello there! It seems that I took an unintentional break from the blog, but I’m back today with some sun-soaked photos and a little update. Life truly has been so busy lately, but at the same time, it’s also been all kinds of wonderful. Spring is here and each day is more beautiful then the next! Since we know this amazing weather won’t last long, Scott and I have been taking every opportunity we can to be outside in the sunshine, tend to and enjoy our flourishing garden, and eat all of our meals al fresco out on our darling back patio.
With the coming of spring, also comes the home stretch of Scott’s grad school career! He graduates in exactly 28 days and I couldn’t be more proud of him. He has worked so hard for so many years to get to this much deserved moment in life, and I honestly can’t wait to see him all dressed up in his graduation gown and hood, up on stage and accepting his diploma. I know there will be tears of joy streaming from my face, so if you happen to see me, please offer me a tissue. 😉
I’m signing off today by saying I’m so happy to be back here, and while life will continue to be crazy, busy and oh so fun, expect to see lots of me around this ol’ blog from here on out! I hope ya’ll have a lovely weekend, and I ask that do yourself a favor by taking a few moments today to lay in the grass and soak in the sun — promise you won’t be disappointed.
During my first visit to Texas it rained, and rained, and rained some more. I was hoping for one of those sunny and slightly muggy weekends that Texas is famous for, but since I’m no weather wizard who could change the forecast, I decided to just go with the flow and not let a little rain damper my Texas Style Council parade. Part of this positive attitude included embracing frizzy hair, throwing on lots of layers and lacing up an old skool pair of Converse to track through the dirt and mud along Camp Texlake.
On our first full day at camp, Tieka and I took a long walk through the muddy trails to take in the sights and watch the other campers partake in a few fun activities that Indiana had lined up for us while waiting for the entire TxSC15 group to arrive. Before headed down to the horse barn and high ropes course, Tieka and I snapped a few photos of one another in front of the ranger’s house. We both were dressed super casual and comfy, which was perfect for the rainy day we were having. Take a peek at Tieka’s outfit from this day over on her blog — here!
[Old skool] Converse Low-Tops (same – best color!)
The overall style at TxSC15 was very casual, comfy and warm. I didn’t really pack anything too fancy for this trip, so it was nice seeing the other ladies dressing pretty laid back as well. I really loved everything that Jen wore while at CAMP, and I’ve officially decided that I need a black pair of Birkenstocks after seeing her rock a pair all weekend. Love ’em or hate ’em, they’re here to stay!
Hey loves! I’m back with the final part of my TxSC15 recap. Like I mentioned in my last post, I felt like I had too many things to say and share about from my days at CAMP to jam it all into one post. I still plan on sharing a few outfit shots that Tieka took — frizzy hair and all, but otherwise, I’ve wrapped up TxSC15 below.
Going into camp, I was slightly nervous about feeding my daily caffeine addiction, but the coffee, oh the coffee was amazing! TOMS provided the coffee and kept us all happy and caffeinated the entire weekend. I actually had never tried TOMS coffee before going to TxSC15, but since having my first sip overlooking the beautiful Texas scenery, I’ve become hooked. If you haven’t tried their coffee yet, you can pick up some from their website or stop by one of their coffee shops across the US.
During the first full evening with all the campers, we had a craft night mixer in the coziest cabin. A lot of the CAMP sponsors had a booth setup with some kind of fun craft to do, which in turn you earned a button or “badge” for completing. Savannah and Jenny of Maiedae partnered up with Squarespace and had the most darling space at the mixer. I was really looking forward to meeting these two lovely ladies, as we’ve also known each for years and have partnered together in more ways than one. It’s really easy to say that they are two of the kindest souls I met at camp and I feel so thankful for the time I got to spend with them. They’re incredible women and if you’ve never checked out their site before (which I’m sure you have), you definitely should — especially their print shop and Savannah’s YouTube channel!
The main focus of this year’s conference was centered on creating a meaningful presence online and offline. Bethany Joy of TOMS, who is a very sweet, thoughtful and genuine lady that I was extra thankful I got to meet, spoke to this concept during her keynote session. She not only talked about TOMS and their mission of doing good and better the lives of others, but also about her own family’s legacy and how she is working to uphold it by doing something meaningful and bringing joy to others. Her keynote discussion was definitely my favorite of the whole conference and left me feeling very inspired.
Oh, these two ladies – Nicole and Chelsea! They kept me laughing and practically crying throughout the whole time we were at camp. I had only recently connected with both of them online before headed out to Texas, but they made me like we had all been friends for years. Chelsea is a talented photographer and Nicole writes about weddings for a living — talk about dream jobs right there! Now, if I can only convince them to take a road trip headed south to visit me for a couple days — one day, one day!
This photo — I can’t even remember what the lady behind the camera was doing, but she was cracking me up! Anyways, I was also so happy to finally meet Liz while at CAMP. Liz and I have also been blogging in the same circle for years now, but we also have a pretty special person in common — our wedding photographer, Sarah! Liz was so nice and so full of spunk — just like you would imagine her from reading her blog. She’s planning on taking another big road trip in her old skool Winnebago this fall, so I’m excited to see her when she stops in Arizona.
Out of all the new brands and businesses I was introduced to, Tagspire was by far my favorite. I could write a whole post on their platform, but basically they make your lifestyle shareable and shoppable online. Their app is launching later this spring, but you can sign up for an account now and get started sharing all kinds of things you love. Don’t forget to follow me when you sign up!
Ok, I’m going to wrap this all up by saying I feel incredibly blessed to have been a part of such an amazing conference and the legacy that will live on with it. I gained so much from this experience and I’ll forever be thankful and indebted to Indiana and her wonderful team for making this happen! TxSC, you will be sorely missed, but never forgotten!
Where do I even begin? Well, I’ve said it before and I’ll said it again, CAMP Texas Style Council was everything that I hoped for and more. I’ve been home from CAMP for almost two weeks now and it still feels like I just left — the experiences, the people, the sisterhood, the lessons and the coffee have all stayed close to my heart and mind.
One of my most favorite moments from CAMP was when I finally met Indiana, the mastermind behind Texas Style Council. She welcomed me straight off the shuttle with a giant hug and the sweetest words. Her kindness really set the stage for the whole weekend, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the time that I got to spend with her. She and her amazing team worked SO hard to put together such a creative, comfortable and educational weekend, and deserve all the love and support for making CAMP happen. For reals, though, check out these ladies and all of their awesome endeavors!
The word “tribe” and talk of sisterhood were brought up a lot during camp. Going into CAMP, I already felt like I had a strong connection with a few of the ladies who were going to be there like Tieka, Savannah, Jenny and Jen. We’ve all spent years blogging alongside one another, sharing our daily lives, celebrating the big and small moments together in life and continuing to be supportive of one another even when it was easy to be jealous or greedy. Jen, Amy and Julie actually spoke about this during their session, one of my favorites during weekend, and how they turned their online friendship into a loving, real life support system – a tribe, their tribe. Jen was even in Julie’s wedding — a cherished moment that I can wholeheartedly relate to because I met my best friend and own beautiful bridesmaid, Courtney, through my blog back in the day. This space really has blessed me with some amazing friendships, experiences and support over the years, and it’s those things that keep me going and wanting to be here. Each and everyone one of you are amazing, kind and thoughtful and I feel like I can’t thank you enough for your support over the years and being in my tribe.
Ok, now I’m getting a little teary eyed over here! I’m going to take a little break and finish up the second half of my recap shortly! Also, thank you to Chelsea Laine Francis for letting me use some of her darling photos from camp!
Hey ya’ll! I’m back home in Phoenix after a long weekend in Texas for CAMP Texas Style Council! Camp was honestly everything that I had hoped for and more. Not only did I fulfill my childhood dream of attending sleep away camp, but I also had the chance to meet so many amazing ladies that I’ve known and bonded with online for years and years now.
Out of the 200 ladies in attendance, I had only met one in real life (holla, Jessie!), so there were lots of people to meet and bond with throughout the weekend — like Tieka, who I was lucky enough to have as one of my roommates. She’s got the sweetest soul and made me feel instantly comfortable in our home away from home. She’s an incredible lady and I hope our paths cross again one day soon!
While I was at camp I also has the pleasure of meeting Chelsea Francis — an amazing photographer with (no joke) THE cutest Southern accent. Chelsea and I had started talking on Twitter a few weeks back and before I knew it we were standing in the muddy woods of Spicewood, Texas together snapping photos and giggling over how I instantly moved into my poses (force of habit!) after she snapped my headshot, which she took for free for every lady that wanted one at the conference — talk about gracious!
Ever since arriving back in Phoenix on Sunday night I’ve been nursing a bad case of the post-camp blues. It hurts my heart that everyone lives so far a part, but I guess that just means I’ll have to start taking regular road trips to visit these incredible ladies that I was able to bond with over coffee, comfy clothes and the thought that we’re all in this together.
I have so much more that I want to say and share about CAMP Texas Style Council, so I’ll be back soon with more stories and photos from Camp Texlake!
Happy Sunday, darlings! I’m headed to CAMP Texas Style Council in a matter of days and I am SO excited to finally have a sleep-away camp experience. I grew up traveling a lot with my folks in the summertime, so camp was never really in the cards for me. For years I obsessed over shows like Bug Juice and movies like The Parent Trap and Troop Beverly Hills and always dreamed of going away to camp to take part in all those activities that felt like a right of passage growing up.
And now, at the bold age of 26, I’m going to camp for very first time! To make sure I take part in all of those activities that I’ve dreamed of for years and years now, I’ve got a short to-do list that will make all my camp dreams come true. So, without further adieu —
1. Eat Oreos with a side of peanut butter – Parent Trap style!
2. Have a campfire sing-along.
3. Giggle with all my fellow campers late into the night.
4. Sing Cookie Time – Troop Beverly Hills style!
5. Watch the sunrise from the porch of our cabin.
6. Jump in the lake with all my clothes on (ok, ok — maybe not quite that one!).
7. Make everlasting friendships.
8. Sip coffee around the bonfire with my girl scouts.
9. Take more photos than I ever thought I could to commemorate this magical experience.
10. Leave camp feeling refreshed and inspired!
What is/would be on our camp to-do list? Have you ever attended sleep-away camp before? Tell me about it!
-Chelsea xo
Happy Friday, ya’ll! I’ve been on a big beauty kick lately – organizing, picking out my spring favorites and make a few new purchases. I blogged about my #earlyspring lippy picks post earlier in the week (here!) and today I wanted to share my nail polish picks — just for good measure. 😉
Julep’s Joanna: A cool blue grey with a slight shimmer — one of my favorite Julep polishes!
Essie’s Bikini So Teeny: A cult classic and the prettiest blue. I’ll wear this all spring and summer long.
Essie’s Bond With Whomever: A true lavender and Easter appropriate tone. This color reminds me a lot of my late grandmother, so it’s a favorite.
Essie’s Blushing Bride: A gorgeous blush tone perfect for a bride — or every day, in my book.
Essie’s Serial Shopper: A pinky coral that offers a pop of color. If you’re a fan of Essie’s Tart Deco, you’re going to love this shade!
What nail polishes have you been reaching for lately?
-Chelsea xo
While the great state of Arizona may not recognize daylight savings time (weird, I know!), I’m still over here enjoying the extra hours of daylight and taking outfit photos in the evening again. The winter months can be rough on us style bloggers (am I right!), so I’m feel crazy thankful for all these extra hours of light. We’ve also been having these beyond gorgeous sunsets lately, so I’ve been taking a few moments every evening to sit out on our porch and just breathe them in (totally therapeutic, if you were to ask me!). If you’ve never seen an Arizona sunset before, I highly suggest getting rump over here ASAP and experiencing one first hand — you won’t find that kind of beauty anywhere else.
Dress: Notrdsrom
Necklace: Madewell
Belt: Levis
Braceletes: Jcrew & Kate Spade
Booties: Sam Edelman
It’s Wednesday and I’m super pumped for the day ahead. I may have gotten up extra early today to take in the sunrise, slurp on some iced coffee and pen this post. I’m definitely a morning person, so I feel most energized in the a.m. when the birds are chirping and the smell of coffee can be found lingering through our home. I wasn’t always a morning person, but I’ve found pleasure over the years in getting up early and enjoying some “me time” while Scott and the kitties are still sleeping. Anyways, I hope ya’ll have a wonderful day! Oh, and let me know what your morning routine is like in the comments — I’m hoping to share mine soon!
-Chelsea xo
With spring just around the corner, I thought just for fun I would share what I’ve been wearing on my lips during this transitional period — or #earlyspring as I like to call it. Now that the weather is warming up I’ve found myself more drawn to light pinks, mauves and of course my signature color, red. Here are all the deets on the lippies above:
SUGAR by fresh: A lemon scented lip balm that will take your lips from dry and chapped to nourished and smooth like that. I have the original version here, but also love the tinted options as well.
Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Peony: After eyeing this lippy for what felt like months now, I finally took the plunge and purchased Melted Peony for my introduction into the Melted line. I love how easy this is to applicate, the formula and how nicely it wears off. I love this shade for more of an every day wear, but will definitely be purchasing a bolder color just for kicks!
NYX Glossy Lipstick in Tea Rose: I picked this up on a whim during a recent Target run. NYX lipsticks never seem to disappoint, and this lovely pinky nude definitely doesn’t.
BITE Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Rhubarb: I’ve been loving on this color all winter and don’t have plans to put it away any time soon. I adore these pencils and love this shade for all the pale ladies out there. It’s the perfect every day color!
NYX Matte Lipstick in Pure Red: This is my “perfect” red, if you will. I’ve been wearing this color for years now and love how long lasting it is and the bold color payoff you get. Pure Red gives MAC’s Ruby Woo a run for its money!
What lipsticks/lip balms/lip glosses etc., have you been reaching for lately?
-Chelsea xo
