Look of the Day 9.16.13

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Breezy

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Looking back, I should have gotten two pair of these leopard print slippers. I’m crazy about these bad boys.

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I am such a sucker for palazzo pants. Thank God for the fact I’m aware of that…They always seem to catch my eye. I love the dress up dress down versatility of the style.

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When going into a closet full of possibilities, I’m always a bit grateful for crazy weather days. My selection is immediately narrowed down giving my search a very clear sense of functionality. An overcast day in Houston can be tricky -the entire day may pass by with out a drop of rain- so I picked this palazzo pant, dolman top combination for a look that was just breezy enough to stay cool if it didn’t rain and just warm enough if it did. 

THE MOMENTS THAT FREEZE YOU IN TIME

heavenAs I sit here typing, I think about how my throat was closed so tightly earlier I could barely speak. There’s this terribly familiar sensation that passes over me when I receive bad news. The response always seems to rollout in the same order: shock, a sudden urge to clean and get organized, followed by the blow of the reality of the situation, in which case, my head drops low and the tears begin to flow –so slowly that I can see and hear them falling one by one. Then, I write.

God blesses us with people who are simply in our lives to serve a purpose for a time or a season, and then there are people whom you nonchalantly assume will be around forever. They have become part of the family. You envision them at weddings, visits during the holidays, etc. The thought that they would ever be removed from this world prior to old age is simply dismissed in an effort to ward off any negative energy liable to attach itself to such a thought.

Our family has dealt with an unprecedented amount of loss in the last two and half years. Before that, there was a stretch of time that carried on so well, I remember thinking, be grateful for this time. Everyone has to deal with loss. As painful as it is to lose grandparents, there is something so heartbreaking about the loss of a loved one who is young and seemingly has their whole life ahead of them. What’s even more devastating is the reality that just hours ago I was having a casual conversation with that person, jokingly locking them into volunteering at an upcoming Mia’s Closet event. It never could have occurred to me that in less than 24 hours that person would be gone.

I say all this because there are so many people whom we engage with everyday: family members, Despairfriends, co-workers, the kid next door -all needing someone to confide in. They may even be carrying an unimaginable weight. Burdened by life’s circumstances, poor decisions or just and overall sense that they have reached a point where they feel unloved and unimportant.

My prayer this day is that God will reveal those suffering to me. That at whatever point when they are in most need of smile, a call, a visit, a hug; I will know to be there. I always use the term vibing. It’s that feeling of having an instinct to reach out to those close to you. To feel their energy, whether good or bad and sense that they are in need of a true friend in that moment.

Life is hectic. We are busy. People are wrapped up in their social lives, ambition, relationships –you name it. All I know is that there are situations I will never understand. Stories that will bear such gravity that for a split second I’ll hurt all over again. And then, I’ll remind myself of this: The past is the past and we are set forth to be a blessing to others. Use these moments as a subtle push to always progress forward and love those around around.

I don’t know what your circumstances may be, but if nothing else, my hope ist that I’ve reached your heart. Let this inspire you to call a loved one. Tell them them how much they mean to you. Finally set a date in stone to get together. Cherish life . Choose to be positive.

Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone. Life is the sweetest gift the Lord could have ever given us. It requires a conscious decision to make it count for something.

For anyone who may be going through an unexpected loss of a loved one, visit here and here for words of encouragement.

Peace & Love -Chelsea

New job. New beginning. Endless opportunity.

Hey guys!
This is long overdue, but I have exciting news! God is amazingly wonderful and gracious! I couldn’t be more excited to announce that I have a new job! As of September, I was brought on the Houston Style Magazine team as their Fashion and Social Media editor. My first assignment was Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2013 which I attended with Houston Style Magazine National Entertainment reporter Rebecca Briscoe in New York, New York.
I had the wonderful pleasure of interviewing author and celebrity stylist June Ambrose after the Rebecca Minkoff show! Video below, enjoy!

June Ambrose on MBFW, Her Must Haves &  Being a Rockmom!

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with June, aka the Style Curator and Rock Mom, here’s a tidbit about her from her website: 

Whether designing custom metallic leather pants for Sean “Diddy” Combs and Busta Rhymes, One of a kind pieces for Jay Z & Will Smith or Styling & crafting couture outfits for divas such as Zoe Saldana, Missy Elliott, Kelly Ripa, Kim Cattrall, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Estelle, Garcelle Beauvais and Ciara, June has left an indelible mark on today’s youth, inspiring countless trends and major fashion statements found in popular culture.

Despite various accolades and titles, June Ambrose has been every bit of an awesome example of how to grace her transition to greater fame in humility. She was unbelievably warm and approachable and gave us a meaningful (& long!) interview. It was a really pleasant experience, and I will definitely use her welcoming disposition as my personal standard in the future.  Just watch 😉
Best,
-Chelsea

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The Woman Behind the H&M You Know & Love

Nicole Christie: The Woman Behind the H&M You Know & Love

This may appear to be an ode to Nicole Christie, and I don’t know that I can argue anything short of that. H&M’s brilliance and commitment to redefining norms clearly extends beyond their clothing! Nicole Christie is a refreshing example of someone who can have it all, and still remain humble. I had the pleasure of catching up with the Fashion Star judge, and she offered some great advice to our Coffey Break readers!

Houston has received two H&M’s over the course of the last two months, and Houstonians couldn’t be more excited! We discussed the future of H&M in Houston, how to start a career in fashion and the benefits of getting a college education. Check out the interview below:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rHINuF_C0E&feature=g-upl]
Special thanks to Houston Style Magazine and Rebecca Briscoe for the opportunity!

-Chelsea

Mia’s Closet celebrates our first year of serving the greater Houston community!

Hey guys!
Today is a very special day for me and countless Mia’s Closet supporters! It is our 1 year anniversary and I am so blessed to be able to share this occasion with our Coffey Break readers! For one year we have been dedicated to providing clothing, free of charge, to families in dire need of support. Words cannot express the beauty of our volunteers interacting with the children and teens k-12 that we serve in the greater Houston community.
Our Houston-based nonprofit  Mia’s Closet, has had an incredibly busy couple of months, and  here are some of our most recent highlights. Mia’s Closet is a clothing donation organization that provides events to build confidence and self-worth in girls k-12.
On Saturday, March 3rd, we hosted our very first Family Fun Day in collaboration with several local companies and organizations. Thank you to the support of Wing Express, Hungry Heroz, Raydon Marketing Solutions, Moonstar Clothing, Mr. Fix It, State Farm, Triumph Christian Center, DJ Fanci, Karaoke for Kids and HCA Healthcare for helping us create a truly remarkable experience for these families! We were able to assist 200 kids with clothing, sports equipment and food –all for free! Please take a look at the following link for photos from the event: MIA’S CLOSET PRESENTS FAMILY FUN DAY AT YATES HIGH SCHOOL!!

On Friday, March 30th, Mia’s Closet and Niko’s Locker teamed up with Las Americas Middle School, Kaleidoscope Charter School, NHPO -National Hispanic Professional Organization Leadership Institute, PAIR -Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees, TSU Student Government Association, The UNO Project 2050, and Kachi Designs to present The Mia’s Closet After School Carnival at Las Americas Middle School! It was the most incredible experience, over 300 students attended. Las Americas and Kaleidoscope serve as a relief campus for HISD. Their students are non-native speakers and refugees. They represent over 32 different countries and over 20 different languages. We had the privilege of visiting classrooms on a few occasions prior to the event, and the loving atmosphere they have created for their students is one of a kind environment. Here are the photos from the event! MIA’S CLOSET PRESENTS THE LAS AMERICAS AFTER SCHOOL CARNIVAL!!
We recently received a really wonderful testimony from one of the Las Americas teachers, Ms. Sosa: “I just have to tell you, we have already gotten visitors as a result of the volunteer e-mails that you sent out, they were forwarded your e-mail with our website info and they came to see the school for themselves and they are seeking volunteer opportunities here! We even had the Houston Chronicle here!!! They will be here next week hopefully to do a feature story! All stemming from Mia’s Closet! God Bless You!!”Our first year has been a great year so far, and we look forward to the opportunities to come! This year we created Niko’s Locker, our subsidiary for boys k-12. Mia’s Closet hosts events on a quarterly basis and it is a blessing to say that we are ahead of schedule! Our next event will be during August for back to school. Feel free to contact us for opportunities to donate or get involved, and please, spread the word!
Thank you and God bless,
Chelsea

“Like” Mia’s Closet on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/MiasCloset

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View Mia’s Closet highlights at: http://thecoffeybreak.com/category/mc-videos/