On a recent, chilly fall evening, Scott and I made our way down to one of our favorite local coffee shops and sipped on what I can only explain as the best pumpkin spice latte ever. We came to the coffee shop that night to check out the monthly poetry slam that I had been dying to attend, and of course a warm drink was in order as well. Feeling festive, Scott decided to get a PSL, and I stuck with my usual black coffee. Having to try out Scott’s drink, of course, I sipped the best tasting pumpkin spice latte of my life. Since this evening we’ve been back again for another round (hence the two PSLs pictured) of the sweet, but not overly sweet, PSL. If you’re local, be sure and head down to Lo-Fi Coffee in downtown Mesa for a delicious PSL. Tell the owner, Sam, that Chelsea and Scott sent you! Happy Fall/Halloween, sweet friends!
-Chelsea xo
Every year I look forward to visiting Mother Nature’s Farm in Mesa. For the past three years Scott and I have kept our little tradition of visiting the farm every year around Halloween. This year we went on a cool, Autumn evening and had so much fun checking out their little farm store, admiring the pumpkins (they had some crazy looking ones!), and wandering around the farm grounds.
I kind of loved how my outfit fit the occasion! I’ve been waiting for the perfect evening to pull out these rusty orange tights, and our date to the pumpkin patch seemed like the perfect time. I was also pretty happy that I was actually able to wear tights and not be sweating death (we’re still have 90 degree days around here). The evenings really are starting to cool down, though, and I am SO excited to be able to pull out some of my favorite sweaters and boots again!
The farm itself is quite charming (especially for being in the middle of the city), and we really couldn’t have gone on a more perfect evening. The weather was beautiful, the farm was busy, but not too busy, and the fall/Halloween spirit could be felt all around.
Before we headed out on our hay ride, Scott and I had a little visit with the farm’s sweet animals. This cute donkey was loving Scott (especially after he gave him a giant carrot). They had so many cute goats as well!
We topped off our evening with a hay ride around the farm. I truly enjoyed our pumpkin patch/farm visit, and really feel blessed that we have something like this in the middle of the city!
Outfit details:
Poncho: Last Chance
Skirt: c/o Jcpenney
Tights: c/o We Love Colors
Boots: Steve Madden
Bag: Madewell
My weekend was full of celebrations and lots sweet treats! Today I’m trying to get a handle on my giant stack of homework, and getting really excited about dressing up for Halloween on Wednesday!
Do you go to a favorite pumpkin patch every year? Have you carved a pumpkin yet?
-Chelsea xo
With the month coming to a close (seriously, where did October go?), I’m still on the hunt for a cider stand! Lately I’ve been reading around the blogosphere about these cute cider stands that serve hot apple cider and cider donuts, and I’ve yet to find one in the Phoenix area. Before the fall season is over I’m determined to enjoy some warm apple cider and a cinnamon donut, so if you’re local and know where I can get my fix, please do tell! In the case that I can’t find one of those darling cider stands (maybe they’re only a Midwest thing?), I’m in need of a few great recipes to make my cider stand dreams come true. If you have a fav cinnamon donut, or apple cider recipe, I would love to hear what they are! ‘Tis the season!
This fall season I’ve also really been into wool/felt hats, and having fun with my eyeshadow looks! I love how either can change an entire outfit, and add a little pop of color to an ordinary outfit. Emma Dime has an amazing hat collection, and I hope to have a collection as versatile as hers one day (I LOVE her favorite grey hat!).
Outfit details:
Hat: Eddie Bauer
Jean shirt: Levi’s
White shirt: Madewell
Jeans: Levi’s
Purse: Madewell
Moccasins: Minnetonka Moccasins
Thank you SO much to everyone who wished Scott and I a very happy sixth anniversary on Wednesday! We had a lovely brunch date at the new Matt’s Big Breakfast and drank way too much coffee together (very fitting, as we first met in a coffee shop!). Today I’m trying to get my life organized (so many papers and readings to do for school!), and getting excited about Scott’s birthday on Sunday! I’ve also seem to have caught a stomach bug and I’m hoping it doesn’t slow me down too much today. Have any favorite stomach bug remedies? I’ll try (almost) anything!
What are you up to today? Know of any cute cider stands?
-Chelsea xo
Six years ago today, when we were 17 and 18-years-old, Scott asked me to be his girlfriend in a parking lot in Tempe (PS I’m the older lady!). Over the past six years we’ve grown up so much together, and our love has grown to a measure that I never even thought possible. Six years later I look back and feel so thankful that I came to your coffee shop that night back in September of 2006, and will never forget the butterflies you gave me. Six years later I see all of the accomplishments that we have made together, and feel so thankful that you have always been right there by my side (through ever light and dark moment). Six years later I am in complete, and utter love with you and feel so thankful to have you as my partner in this crazy life of ours. I love you with all of my heart, John Scott! Happy anniversary, my sunshine!
With all my love,
Chelsea xo
This past Friday Scott and I headed down to the Melrose Distric of Phoenix for the Cleo & Clementine grand opening. Cleo & Clementine is a vintage/inspired vintage/handmade indie bridal shop that is full of lovely garments, jewelry, and accessories (for non-brides too!). The shop is the brainchild of Monique Martinez, of the Ouma Etsy shop, and Jennifer Wood, of the Mignonne Hanmade Etsy shop, and ladies were both so warm and welcoming in their beautiful new shop!
While at the grand opening party Scott and I ran into Lauren! Lauren is a native Arizonian and recently moved back to the city. She works at one of my favorite stores (Madewell!) and has a cute blog too!
Cleo & Clementine is full of SO many treasures, and I was seriously in awe at hope beautiful everything in the shop was.
See those sequin skirts? I NEED one of them in my life! They were seriously SO gorgeous, and the perfect piece to wear to a holiday party! I just may need to go back and get one!
This gorgeous dress caught me eye while I was checking everything out. The lights underneath the skirt are too cute! What a pretty touch to add a little light to their amazing space.
This pretty FieldGuided tote caught my as well. For years I have been a fan of Anabela’s work, and now I’m kicking myself for not picking this up! I hope it’s still there next time I pop in!
Scott was such a trooper and took so many great pictures of the shop for me! After we were done checking out the shop we treated ourselves to a coffee creme brûlée that we got to see torched right in front of us! Overall, we had a lovely time at Cleo & Clementine and will definitely be back in the future!
If you’re local, make sure and stop by the Cleo & Clementine shop sometime soon! You can check out their Facebook page right here, and don’t forget to send them well wishes on their grand opening!
With Scott and I’s six year anniversary coming up on Wednesday, I’ve been thinking about what I want to wear on our anniversary dinner date. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting glammed up a bit – smoky eye makeup, high heels (err, do I own any of those? yikes!), and an ensemble that is more glammy than my everyday wears. I’ve been thinking that this pretty pencil skirt from LuLu*s would be the perfect piece to center a glammy outfit around! I LOVE the gold detailing, and how shapely it makes me feel (even though I may be a tad self conscious about it, I’m still going to rock it!).
Traditionally, iron and sugar are given on a six year anniversary. Over the past few years Scott and I have payed attention to the traditionally gifts, and have given each other a few gifts that corresponded with our anniversary year number. One year he gave me wooden earrings/necklace pieces and I still absolutely love them!
When I was thinking of what I wanted to style with this LuLu*s skirt, this dainty clutch came to mine. I’ve had it stowed away in my closet for some time now, always saving it for a special occasion. It belonged to my late grandmother and it, just like she, holds a very special place in my heart.
I recently read Elizabeth’s thoughts on how she wants her own anniversary ensemble to be, and now I’m set on picking out the perfect outfit for the occasion (even if it ends up being simple!).
Do you like getting all glammed up for your anniversary, or do you like to keep it simple? Do you have any anniversary traditions?
-Chelsea xo
This is the official call for November sponsors and beyond here at Tea Talk! November is going to be an awesome month (kicking it off with my mom’s birthday on the first!), so if you’ve been considering sponsoring I would say, go for it! I love supporting other bloggers, independent shops, and local/non-local businesses, and sponsorships is a great way to get your name in front of my sweet readers! I have a passion for personal style, iced coffee, good eats, adventures around the Phoenix area, a passion for fall, and more, so if you think your ideal reader/customer is a personal style loving, iced coffee (or tea) obsessed, adventurous kind of gal, give sponsorship a try!
I offer three sizes, small, medium, and large, and all are set at very reasonable prices. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! I would love to work with you and make sure you get the most out of your time here at Tea Talk. To find out more about sponsorship rates, ad sizes, stats, and more, check out my sponsorship page right here!
Like the Summer Must List I wrote back in June, I thought it would be nice to gather my thoughts and write a Fall Must List for the new season. Once again, I am following along in the footsteps of MAV from 3191 Miles Apart, and hope this list will help me in organizing all of my must-have, must-do, must feel for this wonderful season.
Must-Have:
Cozy boots
Hot coffee
Apple cider
A cozy sweater
The perfect fall album
Pumpkins
Soups
One good read
Must-Do:
Go to a pumpkin patch
Have a fancy anniversary dinner
Bake a cheesecake for Scott
Something spooky
Watch Hocus Pocus
Carve a pumpkin
Take Scout on lots of walks
Have a few evening coffee dates with friends
What is on your Fall Must List? Please feel free to blog your own list and leave a link below! I would LOVE to read what’s on your list for this season!
-Chelsea xo
To say the last month has been a walk down memory lane would almost be an understatement. In the past month I’ve seen ten or more old friends and acquaintances that I haven’t seen in as long as six, or seven years. It all started with running into two very old friends at a local coffee shop, and since then I’ve been seeing people here and there, in places I frequent, and some that I usually don’t. I live in a HUGE city/area, so I can understand why I haven’t seen so many of these people in years, but really, the different, little communities around are pretty tight and people still seem to hang around the same old areas (even if our paths have only crossed now after all these years).
Its been neat to see where people are today. Married, babies on the way, with much more facial hair than they once had (only talking about the boys, of course!), still up to the same old stuff, but only with a slightly different schedule. When I first saw the two friends that seem to create this snowball effect of running into people left and right, I said out loud that they were still the same old punks to me. Now, I truly mean that in the best way because that is how I knew them growing up, and that’s what I loved about them when I was younger. Free spirited, unique in their own way, and still very kind. It was heart warming to see that people you hold such fond memories of are still the same (and I’m hoping they think that about me too).
On another note, lately I’v been really loving these Minnetonka booties! To me, moccasins are the perfect shoes for fall, and most days I can be found sporting a pair. I picked this pair up in a tiny, ski resort town on the Western Slope of Colorado and have been loving them ever since. Right now I’ve got my eye on these pretty Woodstock Boots, and think I may need to make a little splurge if I can get my hands on them! What Minnetonka Moccasin style is your favorite? PS I totally had to try out Erin’s famous jump! She always has a way of making her jumping photos look so chic!
Outfit details:
Cardigan: Last Chance
Top: Madewell
Scarf: Karen Kane
Bag: Madewell
Jeans: Levi’s
Booties: Minnetonka Moccasins
Tonight I’m so excited to attend the grand opening of Cleo & Clementine, a cute, new boutique in Phoenix! They’re going to have creme brûlée from Torched Goodness (one of the best food trucks in PHX!), a cute photo booth, treats, and lots of handmade goodness! If you’re local, you should definitely stop by and check out the shop. You can find all of the details right here.
What do you have planned for the weekend?
-Chelsea xo
