The end of October is near, and I’ve been attempting to wear as much plaid, drink as many pumpkin drinks, and enjoy our pumpkins and puppy Halloween costumes to the fullest (seriously, they both look so cute in their costumes!). October has been a whirlwind month! I felt so on top of things during the early days, but as the month went on I became busier and busier. I was talking to Scott about this last night, and he told me that this happens every October and not to worry – there’s still time to catch up on blogging and finish off my “must-do in October” list, which still includes carving a pumpkin, go somewhere haunted, and eat an apple donut!
This weekend was also a bit of a whirlwind! On Friday, I got off a few hours early after having a party/team building event with my co-workers. Once I got home, I savoured the few extra daylight hours that I’m seeing less of each day. Around 7pm Scott and I headed to downtown Phoenix to attended Pedal Craft Volume 3 – a one night celebration that merges our local design community and our growing urban bicycle scene. It was held at one of our favorite art galleries, MonOrchid, and featured a handful of local artist and their bicycle themed posters – prints of which were sold, and a portion of the proceeds went to Welcome To America, a non-profit organization that lends a helping hand to newly arriving refugees. Scott and I took home two posters – one by our friend Josh (monsters on bicycles!), and one by Kelsey Dake. Pedal Craft was surely a hit this year, and I feel so blessed to have watched it grow over the past three years! Here’s to Volume Four!
Saturday was by far our busiest day of the month! In the morning, I went to pick up my wedding dress (!!!) with my cousin, then in the late afternoon/early evening Scott and I took our engagement photos with our wedding photographer, Sarah of Arrow and Apple. After our shoot, we had dinner with the Rhodes family, and then we were off to my boss’ Halloween party – we went as a cat and a cowboy! Whewww! Sarah has posted two sneak peeks of our photos so far and I’m dying to see the rest! Promise to post a few when we get them!
Outfit details:
Button up: Levi’s
Blouse: Lucky Brand
Bag: Vintage Coach
Jeans: Levi’s
Wedges: TOMS
This afternoon Scott and I had a little lunch date at The Chop Shop, and tonight we’re making the rounds at a few local restaurants, and then enjoying the homemade cheesecake we baked together last night! I started this tradition of baking Scott a cheesecake on his 18th birthday – our very first birthday together as a couple (only four days after we started dating). Every year since then I’ve (meaning my sweet grandmother and I) either baked him a cheesecake, or we’ve bought one from The Cheesecake Factory! This year we used a new recipe, so I’m crossing my fingers that it turned out yummy!
I’m out for now, but I’ll be back later today with an extra exciting giveaway!
-Chelsea xo
Boy, it feels so good to be back in the game! I unintentionally took a mini break from blogging after a busy weekend and a nasty cold that just wore me out (you already knew that!), but I’m so happy to be here and getting back into my usual daily groove – which includes taking in every moment of this glorious month that I can! Weather wise, October has been a beautiful month with chilly mornings and cold evenings in abundance. October is usually a pretty touchy month in Phoenix – hot some years, cold others – but this year its been the perfect mix of hot and cold that any Phoenician could ask for! Dare I say, sweater weather?
Other than fighting off this nasty cold, Scott and I have been busy with wedding planning, checking out our local pumpkin patch, getting ready to take our engagement photos, and planning a date night for our 7th anniversary this Thursday! Where has the time gone? It’s still hard to believe that this will be our last anniversary as a non-married couple – but I am SO excited to start counting January 18th as our (wedding) anniversary.
Lately, I’ve been all about cozy layers and switching up my regular iced coffee for a cup of hot, black coffee in the morning. I’m still sipping on the delicious pumpkin spice coffee that my folks got us from Dunkin Donuts (shhh! don’t tell anybody), and it’s become routine to make a cup for my morning commute – which has been all over the place lately – speedy one day, dead stop traffic the next. At least I have my hot coffee and talk radio to keep me warm and occupied!
Today Scott and I sent off our first batch of Save The Date postcards! It felt a little surreal to be slipping them into the mailbox. Next on our to-do list – take engagement photos this weekend with our sweet photographer and friend, Miss Sarah Rhodes of Arrow & Apple!
With our anniversary just days away, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how much we’ve grown as people, and grown as a couple over the last seven years. Every day I feel so loved and cherished by this sweet man, and I feel so blessed that come January he’ll officially be my husband. He truly has the biggest heart, and is always willing to lend a helping hand. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner and lover in life. John Scott, I’ll forever be thankful for you and your sweet soul.
Outfit details:
Sweater: Forever 21
Bag: Madewell
Jeans: Levi’s
Boots: Sam Edeleman
What are you thankful for this season? & on a side note – favorite places to stay/venture around in San Francisco?
-Chelsea xo
October has been a bit of a crazy, busy month, but I couldn’t have expected anything different from my favorite time of year (well, other than getting a sinus infection that just won’t go away). Here’s a little wrap up of what Scott and I have been up to lately:
Booo! Did I scare you with my mini, not so planned, break? Well, I sure hope not! I had no intentions of being MIA, but this past week has been crazy busy and I’ve had a sinus infection bringing me down! However, I’m on the mend and I’m excited to get a few posts up that I’ve been hoarding (literally – October is THE best time to take style photos!). Also, today marks the three month countdown from when I become a Mrs. Ah! I can’t believe we’re already getting so close and that I get to call this sweet guy above who has been taking care of my runny nose self my husband oh so soon!
Ok, I’m off to finish up the work day, but I promise to be back soon!
What have you been up to this week? Any plans for the weekend?
-Chelsea xo
In honor of World Sight Day, TOMS has even released a pair of limited edition #BESHADY sunglasses that you can only find on their website (and for a slamming deal at $55). Just like with their shoes, when you buy a pair of TOMS shades you’re helping to make a difference in the life of another. For every pair of sunglasses sold, TOMS helps a person in need by caring for their sight needs, whether that be with perscription glasses, sight-saving surgery, or medical treatment – TOMS is there to help.
Today I’m rocking the TOMS Yvette Panama Tortoise sunglasses inside and out and about. Over the years my family has been immensely affected by visual impairment, and I’m more than thankful for those who have stepped up and lent a helping hand. In honor of these efforts, TOMS and I would love to encourage you to rock your shades all day today and #BESHADY with us!
Just to put things even more into perspective, here are a few stats centered on visual impairment:
-285 million people are visually impaired or blind
-80% of visual impairment worldwide can be cured or prevented
-9 out of 10 people with visual impairment live in developing countries
-Over 12 million children worldwide have visual impairment that can be improved with glasses
On a side note, yesterday evening a big storm rolled into Phoenix and today we’re enjoying the most crip weather we’ve had all season – it’s only in the 50’s outside! I’ve got a busy day ahead of me with meetings and a few projects to accomplish, but I just know it’s going to be a beautiful, and very shady autumn day.
Outfit details:
Yvette Panama Tortoise sunglasses c/o TOMS
Scarf: c/o Le Mode Accessories
Dress: Madewell
Boots: Steve Madden
I would love it if you would #BESHADY with me today! Don’t forget to tag me (@chelseabird) and @TOMS so we can check out your shady self!
-Chelsea xo
Today was an extra blustery day in Phoenix – the wind was blowing hard and the leaves were swirling around in the air. I took a nice long walk on my lunch break and came back feeling refreshed and ready to take on the rest of my work day. I stopped at Starbucks on my way back to the office, so the iced coffee I got may have had something to do with it too! 😉 In the mornings lately, I’ve been bringing hot pumpkin coffee with me to work – I almost feel ashamed to say what brand it is, but I’m not joking when I say it has the perfect amount of spice + pumpkin flavoring without being overpowering (like most flavored coffees seem to be). You wanna know where it’s from? Ok – twist my arm! It’s from Dunkin Donuts! My folks picked it up for Scott and I awhile back and I’ve been obsessed with it since! Ok, now let’s pretend like this coffee conversation never happened…
Scott and I are spending the evening in getting caught up on blogs and emails (me!), and watching American Pickers and cuddling with the puppies (him!). Scott is sitting in our recliner with the feet up and Piper is laying in between his legs with her head on his foot – SO cute! Even though she’s our little spitfire, she’s so loving and warm. Scout likes to spend his evenings laying on the cool tile and occasionally watching TV. When he was a pup we would catch him watching TV all the time! I swear, these two pups have the biggest personalities!
Outft details:
Vest: Old UO
Sweater: Eddie Bauer
Top: Bass Pro (really!)
Jeans: Levi’s
Boots: c/o Blowfish Shoes
Ok, I’ll be back in the morning with an extra special post!
How was your day? What kind of warm drink have you been loving lately?
-Chelsea xo
Happy Monday! Man, this weekend zoomed by way too quickly. Scott and I spent some time with our sweet friends, Nadia, Ernest, and their little girl, Penny, Friday evening, which ultimately led to a late night dinner date at the new and improved Liberty Market! This was our first peek at the restaurant since they installed the new booths, art work, and updated their menu. While things do feel a little different at LB2, the overall warm atmosphere that I always loved about Liberty still feels the same. I got my old favorite, the Farmer sandwich, and Scott picked a dish from their new offerings. While I didn’t try his pork chili bake, I trust his judgment that it was up to Liberty standards. We did share a delicious dessert (pecan pie), and left happy and stuffed. LB2, we’re happy to have you in the neighborhood!
Other than gobbling down delicious food, we spent most of our weekend down at The Orchard with my folks. They’ve been working really hard to clean up their ten acres of land (wow! this is still mind boggling to me!), and it’s really coming along! We’ve also been collecting pumpkins and gourds to decorate their front porch with – it’s really looking picturesque!
The train tracks down the road from The Orchard have really become one of my favorite things about their new place. I grew up next to the railroad, so having these old, wooden tracks close by makes me feel right at home. There isn’t any kind of warning sign/safety arms that come down when a train is coming by, so I’ve made it a point to always pull up slowly and scout the tracks before I drive up and over them. This seems like a no brainer, but when you’re so used to having a warning every time the train is about to pass by, it becomes a (necessary) task.
This morning it was a chilly 60 degrees outside and I may have drove all the way to work with the windows down! I’m so happy that it’s finally getting cooler and I can bundle up without looking slightly silly. Today I’m wearing a super cozy sweater and sipping on some hot pumpkin coffee that my folks picked up for Scott and I. This week/weekend is going to be busy, busy, so I’m savoring these quiet moments while I can. On Sunday we’re celebrating the love of two very sweet friends, and we couldn’t be more happy for them! YAY for weddings!
Outfit details:
Sweater: Madewell
Top: Ann Taylor
Jeans: Gap
Purse: Vintage Coach
Bracelets: Kate Spade
Ring: Vintage
Boots: Sam Edelman
How was your weekend? Any big plans for this chilly Monday?
-Chelsea xo
Scott and I recently stumbled upon this hidden gem of an orchard – a pistachio orchard tucked away in between suburbia and rural farmland. Last weekend Scott and I were out on a random drive to check out more of the area when we spotted this orchard just off the road as we zoomed by. The next evening, just as the sun was setting, we came back to get a better view. Much to our surprise, every homecoming group had the same idea as us – HA! The orchard was flooded with teenagers dressed up in their evening’s best. One group even had a cute pendant banner hanging behind them for their photos – talk about stepping things up! To get a better feel for the orchard, and not to disrupt the dance pictures that were being taken by swarms of adorable parents, we walked further into the trees.
The light was absolutely magical as the sun set on this small orchard. The bright spots of yellow and orange that were filtering in through the leaves and branches gave off the most warm feeling, and in this moment and space it completely felt like we were in a different place. I’ve always dreamed of flying to Maine during the fall and driving down the coastline, taking in the red, orange, and yellow leaves along the way as we stopped in at all of the East Coast cities I’ve ever wanted to visit. One day we’ll make it there during the fall and go on this trip I’ve envisioned for so long, but for now, I’ll taken any slice of fall heaven in the Arizona desert that I can get!
Lately I’ve been rocking a lot of red accents and looking for ways to incorporate more fall tones, and the occasional pop of color, into my wardrobe. Fall always puts me in the mood to rock more reds, oranges, greens, and my go-to neutrals. I’ve also been digging out a few old favorite pieces from the back of my closet and re-working them into my current daily wears – it’s just like shopping, but free and speedy! I’ve also have my eye on a few new dresses and some plaid button ups, as well as something special to wear for Scott and I’s seven year anniversary this month. If you see anything that just screams me, please send a link my way!
As we were leaving the orchard, the view from the other end left us breathless. The pistachio trees looked magnificent all of their fall glory, and the glow couldn’t have been more perfect. I’ve noticed that when the sun sets around our orchard, the area almost gets a little foggy – perhaps it’s only the dirt settling around us, but I would like to think that it’s fog and a chill is about to set in (hey, it has been in the low 60’s lately!).
It’s Friday and date night is calling our names! One of our favorite local restaurants, Liberty Market, just had a revamp and we’re dying to try our their improved menu. We don’t have many other plans for the weekend, but I’m excited to just get some rest (I’ve been fighting off a nasty cold the past few days), and work on some wedding details – our Save The Dates need to go out ASAP!
Outfit details:
Jacket: Nordstroms Rack
Top: Old online shop
Clutch: Cleo & Clementine
Jeans: c/o Madewell
Flats: Madewell
What are your plans for the weekend? Do you have a favorite Halloween movie? Favorite fall tradition?
-Chelsea xo