My Personal Style || Fashion, Hair, Beauty Highlights 2016

Hey guys!

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 Duarte
Look of the Day 
Last day in New Orleans
Sunday Morning Look of the Day
Third Ward Vintage Store Photo Shoot
Look of the Night
A Leap of Style Photo Shoot
A Leap of Style Photo Shoot with Karissa
Finally got a temp job Look of the Day :’-)
New SAKS Grand Opening Look of the Day
That 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 haha
Headed 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 Moo
You don’t see this coat?! (Thank you Kanye for this quote. We use it almost every day haha)
Easy like Sunday Morning
Look 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 Anthony
Timeless photo shoot with Fredis Benitez
Trip prep with this queen.

 

Curls and sunshine in DC with Janae.
Interviews NYC
Find 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 Style
AOL/Huffington Post Offices NYC
This 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 Valentine
New Year, New Haircut
Twinning. Anything for an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, especially if it’s for Bren.
Cold day in Houston ootd.
Cozy Jam Vibes
Last 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.

The Moments That Freeze You In Time: Union Station

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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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Processed with VSCO with f2 preset

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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Processed with VSCO with a4 preset

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

 

If you are who you say you are…

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Late nights… Early mornings… And a heart full of anticipation that something beautiful on the horizon… It amazes me that life can look one way in the natural, and yet, I’m able to feel a quiet calm in my spirit that everything is coming together for the good. They say that the cells in your body react to everything your mind says, and that negativity brings down your immune system. So today, I’m going to intentionally push past any doubts, fears, negativity, offenses and be intentional about how I speak to myself. One of my all-time favorite quotes from Oprah’s Life You Want Tour is this– If you are who you say you are, then who are you saying you are? After all this time, I can, literally, still hear the raspy voice of the Soul Cylcle instructor yelling that to us. Buy-in is everything. Remember whose you are, and what you’re believing for. Have a great day you guys! Peace, Love & Sunshine ~ Chels

Float, Effortlessly

Float, Effortlessly

T By Alexander Wang crop shirt
$485 – farfetch.com

ONLY black velvet cape
$36 – zalando.co.uk

Yang Li wool pants
$690 – luisaviaroma.com

Yves Saint Laurent tassel purse
$2,555 – selfridges.com

Sydney Evan 14k gold ring
neimanmarcus.com

Michael kors jewelry
jomashop.com

Tory burch jewelry
saksfifthavenue.com

Gold earrings
amazon.co.uk

Alexander McQueen umbrella
lanecrawford.com

River Island wide brim hat
$39 – riverisland.com

Nars cosmetic
narscosmetics.com

Moon and Lola drinkware
laylagrayce.com

What to Wear: New Year’s Eve 2013 Lookbook Video

Hey guys!

This week I wanted to give you a little inspiration for outfit ideas for New Year’s Eve. Check out 3 looks stylists, Fey and Phil, have put together just for you! Stay tuned for the next Coffey Break Chat –can you believe it’ll be in 2014?! Time flies. Be safe! I wish you all the best in 2014 ❤

Peace, Love & Sunshine, Chelsea