Cara box + Girls weekend

This week/weekend I am on a girls trip with two of my best gals!
My friend Tiffany and I are flying to Arizona to see our best friend Kristina! We have become like three peas in a pod lately and it's really been great!
Kristina and I have been friends since we can remember and we have had a long distance friendship for the last 10 years now. It's hard but we def make it work!
Tiffany and Kristina met in college a few years back and became close instantly! I met Tiffany through Kristina and we have totally connected this year! We both got married and went through a lot of the same things at the same time.
I am so grateful to have great friends in my twenties. It's hard to find those true, loyal committed friends. I know with these two by my side I can count on them for the years to come.

I will be off blogging land until next week! Until then Happy Wednesday & I can't wait to share my adventures when I return!

Love Forever,
Chel Chel

Ps My Cara Box reveal will be posted next week. I know it will be late but promise to show the exciting things I received. :)

Weekend starts Tuesday.

1. My friend Jordyn introduced me to slack-lining & I LOVE it! 

2. I got to see my beautiful friend and her family this weekend!

3. I also got to see my furry friend Colby.

4. I sill drink Starbucks. I'm still not for gay marriage. I still love gay people for who they are and the lifestyle they choose. Get over the fact that the CEO shares his opinion & you don't agree with it. You don't have to agree but I think that Dump Starbucks picture is ridiculous & hateful & I hate, hate!

5. Had a cheat meal at Buffalo & it was so good!

6. My little sister went to jr. prom! I cannot believe she's old enough for prom! So gorgeous isn't she?

7. Tuesday is my Friday! Hallelujah!!! getting on a jet plane and heading to AZ for some relaxation, fun & much needed girl time. Holler for girls weekend with those two pretties!

8. I ran 11 miles this week.

9. I did media for church this weekend & loved being back behind the Mac.

How was your weekend? What are your thoughts on the Starbucks "issue?"

Love Forever,

Chel Chel

Linked up with: Weekend Shenanigans

Messy Night Owl

All day I was thinking about what to write about today.

What link-up to join so people could see my blog.

What people would be interested in.

How I should do another fashion post because those are fun and people like those.

Or maybe another post on something spiritual because then I can converse back and forth on what I believe.

Blah blah.

Noise.

I didn't create this blog to write noise.

 I started it to express my thoughts, feelings and share my life.

Not that I really thought I had an interesting life but I wanted somewhere to write where I could always connect and be inspired by other people. 

I wanted to inspire people. 

However, my life is messy. 

Why would I ever want to tell people I have hard time keeping my apartment clean when I only work a part time job?

That I'm still really angry at my Dad for leaving.

That I have no clue what I want to do with my life career wise?

That I struggle to apologize when I'm wrong.

That I wish certain friends were still in my life even though they treated me like crap.

That I'm not perfect.

I read a lot of blogs. So many it hurts my head because then it spins with information I have no clue what to do with. I read a lot of the same stories. See a lot of the same outfits. See the same makeup tutorials. 

The list goes on.

I want to read about people.

About their lives.

Their struggles.

Hurts.

Joys.

Passions.

Life.

I love looking through the window into someone else's world and wondering what their life is like. It's easy to paint a beautiful picture of life through blogging. You only show what you want others to see.

I want to be seen.

I want to be seen even if people don't like everything I write.

I want a free place to write & share even if it's only to a few people.

That's okay. 

I'm not looking for an audience.

I'm looking for connections.

I have made those already and it's just incredible and mind blowing to me how I have connected with people I have never met in real life. Maybe I never will. But I have connected with people and shared deeper thoughts with people I am closest to in "real life"

I have a story. 

You have a story. 

 I want to read and connect with those stories. Even through this web.

How crazy modern our world is now.

But I'm a woman with many thoughts, emotions, creativity, messiness, sarcasm and a keyboard.

A keyboard to write on this little blog of mine and type every thought and emotion I am willing to actually share with this big world I live in. 

Life is so damn messy & I'm okay with that. I'm not perfect. I stay up wayyyy to late for my own good and then you get posts like this!

You're welcome.

Love Forever,

Chel Chel

Hearts + Magenta = Love

Top: Borrowed// Skirt: J.Crew// Tights: Target//Shoes: Urban Outfitters//Clutch:Vintage

I adore the springtime.

 I love the fresh smell of rain. 

Beautiful flowers. 

Warm Sunlight.

My Birthday.

And even the smelly trees that bloom in California. 

I love this outfit for spring because it's still bright yet still has that element of the last of winter. 

I bought this skirt from J.Crew when I worked there & it has been one of the most used pieces in my wardrobe.

I'm thinking about blogging a list of must-have pieces in your closet.  

Pieces you can easily wear over and over in so many different ways and seasons.

A perfect black mini would most definitely be one of mine.

My friend & photographer Lyndsie actually borrowed this gem from me after the shoot.

If you ever need any photos, she is seriously your gal!

I love stepping behind her camera because I know I will always get amazing photos!

What are your favorite spring items? Do you have any go to pieces? 

Linked up with: Style Elixir // The Pleated Poppy // All Things Alisa // DC in STYLE

Love Forever,

Chel Chel

Friendships in your Twenties.

Source: vodkamom.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

I have learned a lot about friendships in my early twenties so far. This isn't going to be the most positive post but this is my opinion, feelings,thoughts and ramblings. You graduate high school and you have your group of friends you think you will forever be best friends with. How untrue that story is. I remained close with very few of my high school friends. We all went off to different colleges, places, and even countries. Some of use graduated, got married, moved out, and some are even having babies. Crazy how in a short amount of years how people change. The change isn't the bad part it's that you don't change together anymore. When you are able to make your own decisions you start to make changes different from each other.  I have a hard time with change. Don't we all?  I want everything the same as it's always been because it's comfortable. At the same time I seek adventure and I'm a curious cat that I love to seek new things out too. My friendships have drastically changed since high school & even more drastically since I got married. I never thought getting married would change some of my friendships with people but it totally does. Even having a wedding changes friendships. I am so happy to never have a wedding again. I loved it & it was beautiful but excuse me it was a pain in the ass at the same time. People get so frustrating during what's supposed to be a very happy time.  Anyways, I would say especially since getting married I have learned a lot about people I thought were my friends. In friendships I have very high expectations of people. I think because I am that type of friend I expect it back. How untrue that is! I'm learning but I look for: Loyalty Trust Honesty Love Joy Communication Common ground Deepness I have a very hard time with shallow people. I really don't understand how people have more than five people they call their "best friends"  It's very hard to really maintain a deep friendship with someone let alone more than five of them. You still have your significant other & family to pour into. I don't understand that. I have experienced great loss of friends in the past year. Mostly due to finding out how different we really are. Also because of some of the qualities I named above. It was really hard but really humbling. I have had a chance to sift through the people who no longer grew me, poured into me and wanted the best for me. Now I have the people who do all that for me and I do all of that for them. It's been very hard and hurtful but I have learned a lot. What friendship really means and how to be an even better friend. I adore the people I am friends with and constantly remind them of how much they mean to me. Blogging and social networking has also been an incredible way to meet new people. I have connected with people via internet that I would have never met otherwise. It's really amazing and I enjoy getting to know these friends better. Your twenties change you and some friends will stick by you forever, some you think will stick by you forever, don't, and you will meet new ones a long the way.  It's okay and I look forward to the people I will meet in my lifetime. I know which ones are stuck with me for life and which ones may only be here for a season. I have learned to let them go, live their life and let them figure out for themselves what friendship is to them. It isn't the same for everyone.  What do you think makes a good friend? How are you a good friend? Have your friendships changed since you moved away, got married, had a baby etc?

Source: pandawhale.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Love Forever, Chel Chel

Good Afternoon!

A few ramblings.

First. Google friend connect, from rumors I hear, will no longer be.

awww. 

However,
There are two ways you can follow me!

You can follow with Bloglovin:

or  by e-mail:

 This is on the right side of my blog in the toolbar. Type in your email. It will have you type in a letter code to make sure you're not a robot. Go to your email and click confirm to start receiving my blog on your e-mail! Ta-da! You can now peek into my life & keep up with me! I also will keep posting on my Chelzz Chats page on Facebook. If you haven't already liked me there to stay updated you can HERE Make sure to "like" my page to see my posts on your news feed. Second. I am really feeling empowered lately.  I started exercising, getting healthy & running to help myself. I never thought I would inspire others to get up and get moving. I cannot believe how many people have come up to me and said, "You inspired me to start moving." I feel incredibly blessed to be looked up to. I am not the fastest, the best, the most fit or super healthy. I am making choices everyday though to eat better, run farther & feel better inside my body.  You can do it! Everyday is a choice about how you want to feel! No one else can make that choice for you. I started by walking 3 times a week for 20 minutes. That's it. I slowly moved up to walking longer distances, jogging, adding running and now full on running for at least 20 minutes or longer 4-5 days a week.  You never have to be a runner if you don't want to. Find something you like to do & stick with it. Eventually it becomes a habit you can't live without. It's a lifestyle not a short term fix. Try it! I guarantee you will feel a whole lot better! Go to my Fitness board on Pinterest for inspiration & how to start moving from that couch! Love forever, Chel Chel  Linked up with: Style Elixir

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Color + Texture = Spring

Top: Nordstrom Rack// Jeans: Old navy// Shoes: Target

Belt: J.Crew// Necklace: Forever 21// Bracelets: Forever 21// Hair Clip: Gift

My friend Lyndsie is seriously an amazing photographer.

I am so grateful to her for taking some blog photos for me!

I didn't really have any inspiration for this look. 

I really love the top I'm wearing & actually recently have been able to fit in it.

The polka dot jeans just add a little something to a simple top. 

Pair it with a statement & Voila'! A spring outfit emerged. 

I love mixing patterns, color and texture. 

Those glitter flats I literally wear with almost everything. I need to find more shoes because I do not want those pretties to get worn out too soon.

The belt I picked up from J.Crew when I used to work there a few years back. I never paid close to even half price for my items I picked up in the few years I worked there.

I'm a sale girl & always will be.

Plus, I don't think you need to spend a lot to have great style.

And honestly, I just think some expensive pieces are redundant. 

You can find almost exactly the same pieces for a fraction of the cost.

And it almost never fails that my expensive things somehow magically get ruined and my Forever 21 pieces that I have had for years are in perfect mint condition.

Does this happen to anyone else?

I'm not against all expensive things. I'm speaking more for basic items like shirts, pants, skirts, etc. that sort of thing. 

Now if you handed me a Marc Jacobs bag I will gladly take that off your hands for you!

I love style. I have always made it my own.

I'm a girl who shops on a budget, loves to try trendy items, sticks to what looks best on my body shape, and strives to inspire others to put together a style that works for them!

Happy Wednesday!

Love Forever, 

Chel Chel

Style Elixir // All Things Alisa // The Pleated Poppy

{Housewives run in the early afternoon}

{ FYI I'm dripping sweat as I write this post}

Ain't nobody got time to run at 5am! I'm busy getting my beauty rest people!

Okay I'm not knocking 5am workouts. I wish I had that willpower to get up that early. 

My motto right now is I'm a newlywed, I don't have children right now therefore I sleep until I want to. I work in the afternoons at an after school program so there is literally no reason for me to be up early. 

I know your jealous.

I would be too.

So, I run when I get up.

Usually between 9-10:30 I'm laced up and moving.

I guzzle some water because I haven't had in during my beauty sleep so it gets my metabolism going. 

I don't know how some people drink soda in the morning. 

My stomach would HATE me.

Then I usually get some protein in me. 

Egg, Yogurt, Whole wheat toast with PB.

Something. 

Otherwise I get so exhausted by the end of my run and I don't finish strong.

I'm on a 10k training schedule.

I run 4-5 times a week.

I do strength training at least 2-3 times. (I'm trying to get better)

I do circuit training 2-3 times a week.

My schedule says to have 3 rest days but I only do 2.

Which even then I still ride my beach cruiser around town.

Also, I stretch a lot! You really need to because otherwise your muscles get tight and it's harder to get active right off the bat.

I'm really happy that a little over 8 weeks ago I decided to get active and healthy again.

I can't be the only newlywed who put on "love" weight.

Andrew and I would eat out alllllll the time when we were dating and engaged. It's kind of annoying thinking back about it. I just let myself go because I was happy. I didn't go super crazy but I was headed down that road pretty quick if I didn't changed something.

Every time I run I think back how active I was. I used to do two-a-days during water polo. I don't know if you understand how hard that sport is. It's one of the hardest in my opinion. We had 5am workouts (see I used to do them) Then afternoon workouts. That would total 4 hours a day of dry land workouts & in the water workouts. 

It was nuts & I couldn't get enough carbs in my system to keep up.

What i would do for that body again!

Anyways, my point is I know I can do this. 

I know I can push through painful moments because they make me stronger. 

And you know what?

You can to!

Love Forever,

Chel Chel

Vintage + Polka Dots & Weekends.

 Top: Forever 21//Skirt: Forever 21//Jewelry: J.Crew & Kate Spade//Flats: Target

Hair Clip: Gift//Purse: Vintage//Blanket: Urban Outfitters 

Well here's the first of three outfits my amazing friend Lyndsie photographed for me!

I was really inspired by Rachel McAdams hair from The Notebook.

I styled my outfits around my hair & really went for a vintage but modern look.

I really love a mid to full length skirt. They are easy to wear and really comfortable.

You can easily mix up this skirt with a patterned top, cardigan or if you're brave enough, a mid length top.

Weekend

Saturday:

5k baby! This was my longest and fasted run to date. 

It was hard.

I had to catch my breath a few times.

I ran up a HUGE hill.

I kept going.

I was dripping sweat.

I almost cried.

I did it!

I started seriously working out again 8 weeks ago & now I'm here. 

Let's just say I'm proud of myself & you can do it!

I'm not a size zero with a perfect body & never will; but I don't strive for a "look."

I strive for health, fit, active and joy!

It starts by making a choice, everyday.

Sunday:

Took my pretty bike out for a ride downtown & soaked up the sun with an iced coffee!

Good circuit training after Saturday & just fun!

The hubby & I went on a cheap date to Berkeley & grabbed some yummy fro-yo.

//Photos from my Instagram\\

Then we went to our favorite spot called Fish Ranch. It overlooks Oakland and San Francisco. You can see the Golden Gate bridge and it's always a gorgeous view for sunsets.

With all the car trouble we've been having money got tight really fast.

Blah!

 I seriously would take that pretty bike of mine and ride it everywhere I needed to go if I could. Cars are such  money pits!

Anyways, as always the Lord is faithful & I know we will get through it. 

We always try to make the best out of everything & it let's us get more creative on how to have fun dates with each other. 

Today marks 2 years since we've been together. Crazy how time flies.

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Love Forever,

Chel Chel

Linked up with : Sami's Shenanigans