Thursday, January 31, 2013

Friendships with Mentors.

I don't know about you but I have a very special mentor who mentored me for many years. Her name is Andrea and is now one of my dearest friends and I love her very much! 

Jamaica Missions Trip 2010


I wrote a guest post over at my friend Katie's blog Unwritten about friendships with mentors. Go check it out!

Katie and I met in 2008 and I have loved being friends with that girl ever since! So glad she has encouraged me to blog and also helped me!
Bayside Church 2008

Bloom Coffee 2008

Love Forever,
Chel Chel


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

oh, how Pinteresting + Pearls & Boots

Happy Wednesday!
I love the middle of the week. The worst is over and the best is yet to come. It's perfect.
I am so excited for Valentine's day! It's all I have been pinning lately besides my usually, ridiculous, humor pins and then fitness pins.


 Valentine's day isn't just all about feeling down in the dumps because you don't have that special someone. It's a day to really show everyone that you care about them. I can't wait to send out all my little valentine's and make everyone I love feel special. Here's what I have been pinning lately.














{^This is a printable! ^}
Who can you show some love to?
 
Link up here!!
Pearls + Boots Outfit







Dress: Thrifted
Shirt: Forever 21
Necklace: Forever 21
Tights & Socks: Target
Boots: Lane Bryant
Flower: Forever 21
Belt: Forever 21
Love Forever,
Chel Chel

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Getting my Fitness on!

Source: ebay.com via Chelsea on Pinterest


I think it's fair enough to say everyone wants to be in shape. We all want to feel good about ourselves, be able to get dressed with ease and all together live healthy so we can have a long life. Fitness to me cam easy as a child. I played soccer for 12 years, swam for about 3 and played water polo for 3. I know what it feels and looks like to be in shape. I know the work it takes and the dedication to keep at it everyday. 
It's not easy.
With all these new fad diets and different ways to exercise there really isn't any excuse. ( However, I do find some of the diets absolutely dumb and ridiculous. Like juicing? really? You need more than plants to keep you alive people!)



Anyways, I am a firm believer in hard work, eating a balanced diet and staying motivated to keep at it in the long run. 

Also, by balanced I mean don't deprive yourself. My mom lost over 50 pounds in a year because she kept up her exercise, not restricting her food. I think it's so ridiculous when people feel so guilty over eating a brownie, a cupcake or a burger. Give up people! It's okay, just keep moving your butt everyday and in the long run it won't matter when your metabolism is always up and movin. When I was playing water polo I HAD to eat. If I didn't, well lets just say my head would probably be under water. Seriously though please don't beat yourself up over what you eat. Try to balance everything out and treat yourself. It ain't gonna kill ya.

Okay, back to the fitness stuff. So lately I have been trying to walk everyday ( except Sundays ) for 30 minutes. So far it's been pretty good. Last week I did maybe 3 or 4 days because it was really busy and I was getting over being sick. Now mind you where I live is on a hill. Everywhere around me is hills. So my walks gets pretty intense because I try to power walk up this gigantic hills. I feel good though. I know my body is starting to feel good too. It may just be about 30 to 40 minutes but it's something. It's my starting point to really get going again. I know that feeling of being in shape and I crave that everyday. Fitness is a lifestyle not a fad. Everyday I do it I know it's becoming my lifestyle.


My view this morning after walking up a massive hill.


What are some ways you stay in shape? 

Love Forever,
Chel Chel

Monday, January 28, 2013

Weekend Recap


Well, the weekend has come and gone like it always does. I think weekends should be 3 days and work days, 4 days. Makes more sense to me. Anyways, I had a very nice weekend relaxing, hanging with friends, finishing season 2 of Downton Abbey, and going to church. Here are my outfits from Saturday and Sunday!


Saturday's Outfit







Sweater: J.crew
Tee: Forever 21
Jeans: Forever 21
Shoes: Vera Wang from Kohls
Jewelry & Flower: J.Crew & Kate Spade


Sunday's Outfit




Top: Anthropologie
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Target
Necklace: Tillys
Bracelets: My R: Forever 21 and My L: J.Crew


Sunday afternoon Hubby and I enjoyed Starbucks downtown for a little date.



Isn't he adorable! ( Well I think so! )
I love him for taking pictures for my Sunday outfit. We have yet to locate his tripod so I have had to get creative with my fashion posts. I am on a mission to find it though so I can get some more cohesive photos coming along. Bear with me as I am new and still figuring out my blog! 



On another note...
Ladies, when you tease your hair you don't let it show! TACKY & very unkempt looking. I wish I could have helped this poor lady! More reasons why I need to go to hair school. Ahh!


Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Love Forever,
Chel Chel

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Twist & Tuck { Braided Updo }

Source: indulgy.com via Chelsea on Pinterest


Here's a hairstyle I tried this weekend from Pinterest. I like the look but for my hair it didn't hold up all day. I have very long, thick, coarse hair. I think this style would be better on shorter to medium length hair and thinner. However, I enjoyed the style along with everyone else I came across through my day.  Plus, it's a pretty simple style to throw your hair up and still have a style. Enjoy and let me know what you think!






Source: pixbx.com via Chelsea on Pinterest


Here's my take:





Love Forever,
Chel Chel

Friday, January 25, 2013

These are my confessions.


I confess I am happy it's the weekend! 
I confess last weekend Andrew and I did absolutely nothing because we were both so sick.
I confess I still can't really drink coffee. I am not sure what phase this is or why but I am not enjoying it like I used too. Very sad.
I confess I am obsessed with Downton Abbey. Oh that british show brings me joy.
I confess I am dying to buy this dress I tried on at Old Navy two weeks ago but I am waiting to use my super cash from Christmas.
I confess this season of my life is rainy but my Heavenly Father has shown up in ways I never thought possible.
I confess I am dying for the end of March to take a trip with my girlfriends for our very close March birthdays.
I confess today will be a long day at work because it's a half day at the school but I love those kiddos and enjoy every minute with them.
I confess I LOVE doing hair and I really need to find the courage to finally go to school for it.
Need to confess something? Go see A Blonde Ambition
Love Forever,
Chel Chel

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Storms, Rain & Trust.




I would say this season of life isn't necessarily a storm but it's not sunshine spring day either. I have been growing tremendously for about the past year. I have encountered more changes in a short period of time than I have ever expected. I got married, gained friendships, lost friendships, had people move away, had new people enter my "space", go through painful hurt by people I never thought would hurt me and so on.
 It's been a ride. It's been unexpected
However, through it all I tried to chose Jesus. I try to remember, "Oh yeah, My heavenly Father cares about all this so let's just talk to Him." It's a hard thing to remember to talk to Him because we can't tangibly touch him. I have such a hard time with this because I am such a textile person and have to touch EVERY. SINGLE. THING. I'm five years old at the grocery store touching every pasta jar, rice bag and other weird shaped things. 
You get the point.
It doesn't mean He isn't there though because He is. You start talking to Him, reading His word, giving your tithe and it's like BAM here I am! Blessing overload. That's not why I talk to Him though. I talk to Him because I am not strong enough to live this life alone. Yes I have my husband, friends, and family but it's not enough. I need jesus everyday or it just doesn't work. Everyday seems like a rainy day without Him to help me, encourage me and slap my wrist when I get a little sassy. ( alot sassy)
This is and has been a very rainy season. It hasn't stopped raining but I haven't stop praying and knowing right now I am in the will of God and its where I am supposed to be. It's a little thing called trust I am trying my best everyday to learn. My trust has been broke I think more times this year than it has been my whole life. I choose to trust God because He knows whats best even though all I see is rain and mud.
I choose to dance in this rain though, get my boots a little muddy and keep on trusting.













Love Forever,
 Chel Chel

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Oh, How Pinteresting! ( Link Up )

Dear Pinterest,
 How you capture the soul of every woman on this planet. To show us how un-crafty, un-domesticated, un-fashionable and how lame our un-traveling lives are. Yet, you suck us in to your virtual pinboards and make us dream we can one day become these amazing women who can have it all.

Okay, cutting the drama. 
However, we all know Pinterest does this to us. It SUCKS you in. 
Lately, I have been pinning things I just either find completely hilarious or undeniably beautiful. So relatable to each other. I know.

 Here's what's been on my boards lately.


Source: flickr.com via Chelsea on Pinterest



I pretty much live in the most amazing place EVER.

Source: flickr.com via Chelsea on Pinterest


So obessed with Downton Abbey right now. Wish I could see this place in real life.



Gorgeous, right?

Now to the hilarious-ness:



Source: wanelo.com via Chelsea on Pinterest


If you haven't seen Pitch Perfect...well you need too!



Right? Didn't I tell you?



My life FYI.



Applies to every woman I know. 


Again, like I said. 
  
Love this Link-up!!

Love forever,
 Chel Chel