The Gift of Vunerability

Reflection has this way of sneaking up on you at the most unexpected times, and sometimes reflection comes in the form of a gift from another’s thoughts that reveal a part of you you didn’t even know you needed to feel. Over time, I’ve learned that vulnerability is the cornerstone of a any relationship worth having, and finding someone who makes you feel that you can be vulnerable is something to be treasured. Bob Marley’s quote below is timeless, beautiful and nothing short of the truth. Enjoy

Peace, Love & Sunshine -Chelsea

“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”
― Bob Marley

LOOK OF THE DAY 10.2.2013

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Like Water for Chocolate

With the exception of a quick run to tutor one of my favorite fourth graders and stop by the grocery store to get flour for my oatmeal raisin cookies, was a working from home on my laptop kinda day. This look had just enough going on to send me out the door with a little pep in my step. I’m a big believer in dressing beyond your mood, so whether you’re feeling on top of the world or down in the dumps, I always remind myself that a little bit goes a long way.

Actually, In all honesty, it wasn’t so much the outfit that did it for me (obviously haha) So, Lauren London is now a character on BET’s hit show The Game, and from the moment she entered the scene in a recent episode, I knew that the lipstick she was wearing had to have been Ruby Woo! Kudos to Mac for doing such a fantastic job designing that stunning shade of red with a hint of blue. The only downside for me is the fact that that bad boy is nearly impossible to get on without a slick aide. Fortunately, I have the perfect solution! This may come as a surprise, but Wet N’ Wild has the most perfect assortment of matte colors, and their Stoplight Red is the ideal compliment. To create the lip color above, I apply a thin layer of Stoplight Red to both my top and bottom lips, followed up by lining my lips with Ruby Woo and then filling in my bottom lip a slight bit with more of the Ruby Woo. The result is the bold color shown above. Hope this is useful for you guys! Although I don’t wear much makeup, I consider myself a master mixer when it comes to blending lip colors. It’s taken me quite sometime to figure the science behind getting right, but it got it! haha Have a great day!

Peace, Love & Sunshine -Chelsea

Song of the Day: The Light- Common

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_-qRcHAhzk

Look of the Day 9.16.13

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Breezy

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

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.

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

As 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, friends, 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

Commitments Shape Your Life

`Commitments Shape Your Life`

My wonderful father shared the devotional below with my family via email. The following quote really moved me, “Tell me what you’re committed to and I’ll tell you what you’ll be in twenty years. We become whatever we’re committed to.” Life is a funny thing to say the least, and as I look back over the last year I see how the commitments I’ve made are shaping my future. Sometimes the biggest lessons stem from a loss and manifest into wonderful blessings once you decide what really matters and choose the life you will live.

God blessed me with a vision to get clothing to underprivileged children and that epiphany blossomed into Mia’s Closet. Mia’s Closet has experienced exponential growth, and we have provided over a thousand children with clothing, mentors and sports activities over the last year. I have finally realized my goal of working as an image and personal branding consultant, and I have been an all around better family member and friend. None of these things happened over night. It was a conscious decision to take control over the things I have control of and run with it!

God is real, and you’ve just got to have faith that his favor is working through you! Putting all personal ambitions aside, the most important commitment I made this year was devoted to my spiritual walk. About a year and a half ago, my dad told me, “I don’t care what church you go to, but you have to go somewhere. The Lord deserves your devotion and you need to fellowship with other believers.” All I could do is say, “Ok” because I knew he was right. So I started praying about it -really hard- and the Lord answered my prayers in a bigger and better way than I could have ever imagined! I found The429! The ironic thing is that I have a friend from my parent’s church who had been inviting me for about a year, and I never got around to going…little did I know! I’ve finally found a church home that operates on a level like I’ve never seen before. Pastor Jeremy Foster delivers a message backed by scripture (and he’s so, so funny!), praise and worship is awesome and the members are sold out on serving the community!

Chose to commit to the people, relationships and goals that add value to your life. God is all about ordering our steps. He will even send us someone to help us get there. You just have to be ready and willing. Step out on faith and meet Him halfway! Your blessing is on the horizon!

Enjoy!

—

You don’t have to understand all the implications of your decision when you choose to follow Jesus. You simply need to respond to his invitation, to make a commitment to follow Christ. Your commitments shape you life more than anything else. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you. Tell me what you’re committed to and I’ll tell you what you’ll be in twenty years. We become whatever we’re committed to. It is at this very point of commitment that most people miss God’s purpose for their lives. Many are afraid to commit to anything and just drift through life. Others make half-hearted commitments to competing values, which lead to frustration and mediocrity. Others make a full commitment to worldly goals, such as becoming wealthy or famous, and end up disappointed and bitter. Every choice has eternal consequences so you need to choose wisely: “Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living!” (2 Peter 3:11 LB) Christlikeness comes from making Christlike commitments.