The last year has been a complete whirlwind. Below you’ll find a gallery of some of my most favorite personal style moments and the stories behind them. My 30th birthday’s right around the corner, and I’ll be there welcoming it with open arms. Thirty here I come!
Enjoy! Xoxo -Chels
Coffey Shop Photo Shoot With Compozition’s Unique James.Williamsburg, New York Travesia Photos Shoot With Andrea DuarteLook of the Day Last day in New OrleansSunday Morning Look of the DayThird Ward Vintage Store Photo ShootLook of the NightA Leap of Style Photo ShootA Leap of Style Photo Shoot with KarissaFinally got a temp job Look of the Day :’-)New SAKS Grand Opening Look of the DayThat time I got locked out of Bill and Debra’s taking out the trash. Wearing the overcoat of the old man next door, his nurse had me wait on the steps… Maybe it was because I was running around the neighborhood (the shame! haha), in my socks, trying to borrow someone’s phone. Which leads to the size and a half too small shoes on my feet from the neighbors across the street. He politely explained to me that they were Gucci, so please don’t forget to bring them back. What a mess of a day hahaHeaded home to Sugar Land for the first time since the journey began. I was leaving with so much more than I came with. It was a literal 180. God had blessed me with a new job and a place by then. So much to be thankful for. This was a good day :’-)First night at my new place in Brooklyn.Usie with my Maddy MooYou don’t see this coat?! (Thank you Kanye for this quote. We use it almost every day haha)Easy like Sunday MorningLook of the DAy: Big hair. Big Glasses. High boots.Quite possibly the coolest Houston find of 2016.Awesome Natural Hair photo shoot with Fred Agho.My first New York Photo Shoot ever with Derrel AnthonyTimeless photo shoot with Fredis BenitezTrip prep with this queen.
Curls and sunshine in DC with Janae.Interviews NYCFind your center, always.This neighborhood. Such a dream.Motherland vibes with Carol Lipworth Designs.A little something (s) borrowed.Speaking engagement ootn.Speaking engagement ootn.Old school Ronin days.Laguna vibes.Hi, yes this is Cleo. How may I help you? Oh, you want to talk about birthdays? Sure thing. My rate is $75 an hour. Let’s begin.Irvine Market.Newport is always so good to us.Philly vibes with this handsome guy.Aiport StyleAOL/Huffington Post Offices NYCThis is what a yes looks like. My beautiful Lisa Diaz in her wedding gown. Eyes closed. Big smiles. All the feels.Every 6 months we get O on the dance floor 😛Hmmm or more like every quarter.Me, every weekend. 60’s + 70’s vibes all day, every day.Arrived! First night in NYC.Capture all the moments. When you’re old and on the porch, you’ll be thanking yourself.
My Pretty ValentineNew Year, New HaircutTwinning. Anything for an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, especially if it’s for Bren.Cold day in Houston ootd.Cozy Jam VibesLast day of our Orange County beach tour. 29, thank you for being so great to me. Rain or shine, this year is one for the record books.
These train stations 💕 You know that feeling when you’re about to flip, and you catch yourself because you’re like, hold on wait, this is a trap. Something good is about to come of this 😅 Please, let something good come of this haha
The cherry on top of yesterday’s craziness was that I had not just one, but two, @uber drivers, cancel my rides. After a 5 hour ride from NYC, the last thing you want is to spend another hour in the side of the road, in an unfamiliar city, trying to explain your location to someone who doesn’t speak English well. I could feel myself getting more and more mad. Like I was maxing out. I had all these bags, and in that movement, I thanked God for Christopher Ballew.
A few weeks back, he planted a seed that has stayed with me through every step of this clumsy transition –Embrace The Detour. I remembered his advice about 20 seconds before entering into the main concourse… Guys, Union Station is beautiful, like amazingly beautiful, and in that moment, I could literally feel all the tension leave my shoulders. I was like this is it. This is why. I was so hellbent on getting into a car and making it to my destination that I would have missed out on this moment. I call them the moments that freeze you in time. Some are the feel good kind. Some hurt like crazy. But nonetheless, they slow you down just long enough to be fully present. Take it all in. And feel everything that’s happening in such a dreamy way.
I’ve been using The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson as my devotional for years now, and his stories of how God has opened door after door have been such an inspiration.
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For years now, I’ve created this mental image of what Union Station looked like, and in retrospect, if either of those first two rides had worked out picking me up from the parking garage, I would have missed out on that reminder of God’s awesome faithfulness to Mark, and the simple truth that He makes no mistakes. He’s in our corner working it out, even when if it doesn’t seem like it.
This move has not been an easy one. It’s been wonderful, but it hasn’t been easy. It has actually been a huge challenge and an even bigger test of my faith, resiliency, and ability to commit to believing in the vision I see for myself day in and day out.
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Sometimes, we’re moving too fast to have a chance to take it all in. Build a life you’ll love, yes, but the key is remembering to actually enjoy it. The funniest part about it all (not haha funny) was that I had the opportunity to pass on job search advice to my driver who was a recent grad and had just immigrated here from Cuba.
*I also told him that if he really is tired of the cold, is looking for warm and friendly people, and good food, Houston’s the move. You don’t have to be miserable and in despair. Control what you can. It’s so interesting how the feeling of being stuck can convince us that there aren’t any other options.
Trust the timing of your life. I’m seeing more and more that so much of what happens “to us” is more about how God is going to use us. The journey is just as beautiful as the destination. Happy Saturday guys ✌🏿️😋 Xoxo -Chels
Madison’s taking Florence, Italy this year to study abroad. Here are a few highlights of our favorite vlog moments before her big move. Send some love and good vibes her way. Today was her first day of classes, and I’m so crazy proud of my baby sister! Enjoy!
This year I did things a little differently. I planted written reminders of my vision for my life and words of encouragement all around my room and in my devotionals. The beauty of vision is that it creates a filter, so whether I come across one of these intentionally or it slips out of my Jesus Calling like this one, I have a reminder right there in front of me of my vision for this year and beyond. Each time I come across one, it serves as a checkpoint for me to ask myself, what’s working? What’s not working? Is there something I can do differently? It also allows me to recognize when it’s time to switch things up and/or try something new all together. If we change when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing, it’s imperative to recognize that pain, angst, or whatever you want to call it, and create opportunities to win. So many battles start in the heart and mind, and I choose to believe that we can position ourselves to welcome a beautiful shift once our minds can convince our hearts of the fullness we have in store in each and every area: our careers, our families, love, all of it. Chase the vision. It’s wonderfully beautifully ours for the taking.Happy Thursday guys! Xoxo-Chels 💋
💞 We’re officially halfway through the year, and this morning’s devotion was right on time. There was too much good to not share. Enjoy!
Your response to God’s promptings will make or break you. It may seem unsafe or insane, but if you stay in the boat, you’ll never take that leap of faith to walk on water.
When God keeps something from happening, we don’t know how to thank Him because we don’t know what He did. But someday, He’ll reveal the invisible answers, and we’ll praise him for them.
Praying hard starts with listening to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. And if you are faithful in the small things and obey those little promptings, then God can use you to do big things 💕
This walk seems to be an ongoing cycle of crazy leaps of faith and hand holding, another leap of faith and the hand holding resumes, and so on… At some point, the parent lets go of the bike and there goes their baby racing full speed ahead all on their own.
Pray intentional prayers and trust your gut regardless of what stage of the cycle you’re in. All things are working together for the good. We just have to wholeheartedly commit to believing that all things are working together for the good 🙏🏾❤️🌞 ~Chels
