{Valentine's Outfit}

ahhhh...the day of Love! 

Okay, cut the crap. ( I need a record screeching or something to be as dramatic as I am writing this in my head. Oh well)

 In all reality I never used to like this holiday until I got married. All you single peeps I know how ya feel. I used to get together with my girlfriends and go out or have a little party & that was always a ton of fun! Show your family, friends, co-workers, whoever some love & kindness today. You never know who just needs to see a genuine smile!

Andrew let me go out and buy a Valentine's outfit! He is so sweet and honestly, I know I have said this before, we have been so good with our money. The fact that he just let me go and pick an outfit out was like the sweetest thing ever!

Dress: Old navy Here

Tights: Target

Belt: Mom's from the 80's

Jewelry: Forever 21 & Kate Spade

Shoes: Steve Madden

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Love Forever,

Chel Chel

{Valentine's Eve} + Gift Guide

I am so excited for my first married Valentine's day! Not sure what Andrew has planned but I do know were going to one of our favorite places, the drive-in. We love getting piles of candy and popcorn and curling up in a blanket and getting to watch two movies for the price of one! Perfect! Here is an outfit I picked out to get in the mood for Valentine's day.

Top: Forever 21 (last season)

Jeans: Old Navy here

Boots: Lane Bryant (last season)

Jewelry: Forever 21

Can't wait to show you my Valentine's day outfit!

Here's a last minute gift guide & very budget friendly!

T-shirt Nail Polish Make-up Bag Lush Heart Soap Love Necklace BoyBrief Undie Hairtyes Valentine Card Happy (almost) Valentine's day! Love Forever, Chel Chel

hello Tuesday!

This post will be a little random with good & bad but it's just some thoughts & experiences lately.

Well first I had an awesome hike this morning with my friend Jordyn! We have been friends since childhood and we have recently reconnected since we are both in the same spot now. There are tons of trails around where we live so we did one today called Mt. Wanda. It's a little over a mile up & then we just make our way down. I think my Nike app said like 2.30 miles or something. 

Instagram this morning: chelzz08

Gorgeous right?! Felt so good at the top staring all around at God's beauty.

So Sunday Andrew and i did some shopping as you saw in my previous post. He bought me that new Kate Spade phone case. Well.... let me tell you, don't buy that case. I was holding my phone at work yesterday on the playground and a jr high kid totally pulverized me with a huge ball! (which they aren't supposed to throw them like that anyways) 

My phone fell barely 2 feet and it got so scratched up! I should have taken a picture but I was so bad I didn't. I am surprised for a 30 dollar case it didn't hold up better. Although, honestly like most overpriced material items they never hold up well. It's always my inexpensive items that last me seriously forever.

 I was so upset though because Andrew and I have been really good with money since we got married six months ago so the one time we really can let loose a little and treat ourselves my dumb case gets ruined. Well I went to go take it back because I couldn't believe how horribly this case was made. I just wanted to take it back but I couldn't and I only could exchange so I got a silicone case instead. They actually paid me .27 cents to to get that one. So at the end of the day I can't be that upset and my old manager helped me so it all worked out. However, I am now sticking to my gut & budget from now on and I am not buying unnecessary expensive items. 

Here's my new case:

Still cute but honestly it's not really worth 30 dollars in my opinion. I will stick with the inexpensive one's on amazon! 

Last, my best friend just got back from Canada! 

Isn't she so gorgeous and stylish! She went to visit her family and cousins up there & from her pictures she looked like she had a blast! I hope I can visit one day and she can show me around. 

One day though she texted me a picture of this crazy hat! 

However not so crazy because we both love England. We went there when we were thirteen on a missions trip with our church. ( not missions like the Jehovah witness do. ) We had the time of our lives! We still can't believe our parents let us go & we were the youngest on the trip. We swear when were 30 we're going back so I hope we can make that happen. Maybe the hat will bring us luck!

Source: media-cache7.pinterest.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Happy Tuesday Everyone! Love Forever, Chel Chel

Weekend Recap

It seems like the weekend always fly's by! I am thankful for them though. They provide rest and relaxation for me so I really shouldn't be complaining!

Andrew and I got our tax return which can I just say was such a blessing! This last pay period was horrific and we really tested God in this area. We tithed knowing that we wouldn't have enough for all our bills. Well as God always does He came through! We already had decided how we were going to divide up the money so yesterday we did a little (lot) of shopping on ourselves. We haven't really been able to do this since we got married in July so it was nice to let loose!

Yes, I totally took a picture of myself in Nordstrom even with people walking in and out!

Sweater: J.Crew

Top: Styles (like Forever21)

Pants: Target

Necklace: Target

Bag: Coach

Anyways,

The hubs and I had fun in Crate & Barrel & bought some miscellaneous items.

Just posing around Walnut Creek. I'm ready for Spring!

Andrew bought me a new iPhone case in exchange for him getting an iPhone 5. 

Not really a fair deal but honestly I care more about my cute case than an iPhone 5!

Then we had a little ice cream date! I really treated myself with this chocolate peanut butter heaven because I have been so good with eating lately!

 & my awesome new Nike Pegasus running shoes! 

Oh my goodness these were heaven on my run today!!

You can't really tell but I'm like RED hot here covered in sweat. 

It was a good run!

Also, for my Nike's I got super feet to go in them. They are in soles and wow they sure make a difference in my arches. Have you ever heard of them or tried them?

On another note I have some news! I am now apart of a bigs & littles blogging network!

I found out about this through newlywedmoments a blog I happened to find somehow!
You should check her out she's got great recipes, newlywed advice and overall seems like a fun lady!
I am a little & my big is...
drumroll...
Kelsey!!

She blogs over at storiesofkel

I am so excited about this network and I have already met some other bloggers. Kelsey has already helped me a ton but beyond that I am so grateful to meet her & get to know her more!

Also, I created a facebook page you can "like" Go HERE to like it! 

Linking up with:

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Love Forever.

Chel Chel

Happy Saturday!

Saturday is my FAVORITE day of the week! Seriously though, who's favorite day isn't Saturday?

Anyways, I'm sorry blog I didn't post on you for two days! Lots going on and a minor injury to the arch of my foot so needed a break. Alas, why I am posting on a lovely California saturday! Finally was able to do a little shopping thanks to our tax money! Husband wanted me buy a Valentine's day outfit and then he let me grab a few other things. 

Enjoy!

Top: Old navy Here

Jeans: Old Navy Here

Shoes: Steve Madden

HairTye: Twistband

Jewelry: J.Crew & Kate Spade

Nail Polish: NYC

Picked these conversation hearts at Target! It wouldn't be Valentine's Day without them! 

Have a lovely weekend everyone!!

Love Forever,

Chel Chel

{Oh, How Pinteresting}

I'm feeling athletic again. Im starting to feel better about my health, my eating habits and my life in general. I have been working my way up to running and so far pretty good. My right foot in my arch has been hurting so I think I may need an in-sole but other than that I'm really trying to push myself during the weekdays and during the weekends I like to go hiking.

So here's some fitness related pins I have been pinning lately.

Source: backonpointe.tumblr.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: superskinnyme.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: fitpinupdiva.tumblr.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: homemadediva.tumblr.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: soon2befit.tumblr.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: skinnyms.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Chelsea on Pinterest

Currently in the middle of week two. Hoping to do the Color Run in San Francisco March 2 which is the day before my birthday! What a way to start my 23rd birthday off! Link up with Michelle here.
Love Forever, Chel Chel

Churches + College

Source: flickr.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

These are some thoughts lately I have had on how Churches view college age adults. (18-29 age range) First off, this age is a roller coaster. Life changes in the blink of an eye. You graduate high school and you instantly have a million decisions you can make. It can be exciting but also frightening at the same time. All the W questions get brought up and it can instantly make you anxious and worried if you're making the right choice.
Where church comes into this mix, well frankly I don't think it does. Not enough at least. Sure sometimes there are home groups or small groups at some churches and if you're lucky maybe even a college group service to go too. However, I don't think that's enough. I don't think enough churches are putting enough emphasis on this age group. This is the age where we figure out who we are, what our identity is, who we are going to be friends with and what type of lifestyle we want to live. This age group comes and goes through generations and I think a lot of us get lost. We start going through life and hit our middle age and then go through this middle age crisis wishing someone was there to guide us in our twenties. Our twenties shape and define what values and morals we are going to have throughout our life. It's a critical time that I don't think churches pay much attention to.   It gets skipped.
Left alone until you get married or stay single into your 30's and 40's and then you can go to married's groups or singles groups. Well great now you are defined by your age and martial status, Not exactly who you are in Christ. Because in your twenties you didn't develop this with a group of mentors and peers around you to help support and cheer you on while you are growing your relationship in Christ. It takes a lot of courage to claim you're a Christian on your twenties without having some support behind you. 
So what is my point of this little ramble? Well that I don't think churches care enough or put enough emphasis on this age group yet expect us to rise up and become these God fearing people without much support or help. Small groups and college age services are great but the problem is they are far and few between and they aren't a priority like a lot of ministries are. More focus gets put on the ones before college age and after college age.
This age shapes and molds who we are in Christ and were not strong enough to do it alone. We need people. We need leaders who care passionately about this age and guide us through this weird, crazy and scary time of our life. 
This post is bold on my part. I am really nervous to hit that post button because this is a topic that most churches don't care to hear because it doesn't fit there criteria. Well in my opinion more leaders and pastors should care about this age. It shouldn't be swept aside and it should be a priority. Unfortunately, to many churches have an agenda and a housekeeping list they need to stick to or it ruins there little perfect church mold. 
I want to connect with the un-churched. The people who don't understand church. The people who just need someone willing to listen to them and not judge them. Someone to care when no one else seems to. To show them love, hope and life. People don't need the bible shoved down their throat. 
They need love.
Isn't that what we all need?

  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19

Love Forever, Chel Chel