Blog Posts - Chelsea Renee

One plus Two = Three

5/19/2016

This is an incredibly special post for me. A week ago, Brandon and I were finally able to share the long awaited and hard-to-keep secret that...
WE'RE EXPECTING!!

After we were married in February, we both agreed that our getting pregnant was in God's hands. We were both ready and in a place to begin having children, however, we both knew that He had the plan for us! I'm not sure I completely have the words to express how blessed we feel in that our prayers were answered that very next month. Going on 13 weeks this Friday, and not completely having a baby bump just yet - each day I find myself stopping and having to pinch myself, realizing the magnitude of this grace. To be growing and to be carrying, so close to my heart...a piece of my husband and I; our child.

People always say "it's a love you'll never know" (having a child). And I have to say, even just seeing the ultrasound pictures; hearing the heartbeat; simply knowing every second of each day, that you are responsible for this little soul...a part of yours - it truly is like no other. It's a love that you experience upon seeing that very first "positive" only 4 or 5 weeks in. A love that you truly can't even describe.

xo
CRH

A Love-ly Start to the Morning

4/14/2016

You're not seeing things...Easter was, in fact, the last time I had my act together and published a post.
It has been a whirlwind of craziness! Over the past two weeks, we have successfully packed up and migrated from beautiful Phoenix, Arizona to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; making just one quick two night pit stop to visit friends right outside of Amarillo, Texas along the way. Settling in and getting acquainted with the city over the past couple of weeks, I've come to find that it's quite wonderful! Aside from the lovely looming fact of it being in Tornado Alley and for being on somewhat of a small scale, size wise...it's a flourishing city. The restaurants are never ending and all of truly great quality, the city in itself is clean, and the people are friendly. What more could you ask for?

After getting settled into our surroundings...it's all about establishing routine. Every step we take and new adventure we encounter, we always have to find that balance. Especially in a new city and with a new schedule. [I definitely thrive on routine, as terrible as some might find that]. I know that I mentioned my eating habits once before, but that is where a lot of my routine comes in! First thing I focus on when I wake up: food. In true stride, I find something I love to eat, and that becomes my routine; my every morning. I'm not sure what the point is, it's just the way my brain works. I love that little bit of order. If I find something I truly love, why change it? THIS morning, however, I really stepped outside of my box and made pancakes...for myself! [Granted, I made them with my routine Greek Yogurt, fruit and half of a Clif bar, but still...]. Not just any pancakes, either. Heart shaped pancakes. The occasion? My husband arrives home today! Part of our routine, part of our schedule: travel. Just comes with the territory of some careers. But, there is truly nothing better than being back together after being apart! All is right in the world.

Find a reason to make some shaped pancakes! Mix up that morning routine just a little bit.

xo
CRH

Easter Wishes

3/27/2016

Wishing everyone a Blessed and beautiful Easter! An incredible day of Praise, to enjoy surrounded by family and friends.
Hope it's wonderful!

xo
CRH

Beautiful blossoms from our wedding day done by the ever so talented Velvet and Twine of Orlando

"Can" Starts with A Plan

3/21/2016

Something I have struggled with my entire life: planning.
Each new year I buy a planner thinking "...this is the year!" - "I'm going to use my planner...I'm going to be so organized...it's gonna be great!" The catch? Even if I am on top of my game and write in the planner to stay organized...I don't open it and read it!! Ever. Therefore, defeating the purpose of it's general existence in my life. The problem is that I'm one of those people that keeps every single little detail in my mind rather than on a sheet of paper to reference. Grocery lists? I write them...never read them. Half the time I forget to even bring them into the store. Apparently, I like to think that my mental capacity holds my grocery lists and weekly tasks better than any written reminder in ink!? Call it stubborn, call it stupid...they are lists and planners for a reason. I remind myself of this fun fact each time I get home from the grocery store and discover all of the items that I've forgotten, or when I realize an important task set for the week that was never achieved or even thought about.
Planning. It's key!

With a life in continual motion - planning is necessary. Planning with a man?...not always easy! I always tease my husband about our lack of planning. But in some miraculous way, we always tend to pull it together. Needless to say, usually at the last minute. Planning ahead is key: the sole purpose of a planner. It gives you that sense of efficiency that you don't have otherwise. You're better able to allot your time, travel at a better price, to anticipate. That might just be the keyword in it all: anticipate!

Around the time of my wedding, I was given a gift by my Maid of Honor. At a time when you have eighty-million different tasks and decisions going on, this is the gift to receive! Breaking down each day with "Today's Top Three"; increments by each hour for tasks, with a to do column beside it; and even areas to include details such as dollars for the day, time for dinner, and a "don't forget" box -- The Day Designer is a planner to the max, wrapped up in complete style with a gorgeous and durable exterior.

Covering all the bases you would ever need to reference, and even with a quote at the top of each day to kick it off; it truly is more than you could ever ask for in a planner. The real deal.

All in all...just be sure and open your planner to read what you record! That is definitely Step One. And if you're not a planner, strive to be one. Set it on your desk or your bedside table; carry it with you in your purse. Set a time to maybe check over it each morning over breakfast and coffee. It's the perfect way to anticipate your week and alleviate any unwanted stress to go with it!

xo
CRH

Sundays are for Splendor

3/20/2016

Ohh, the Splendor of a Sunday! Downside: tomorrow is Monday and that means the start of a new work week for most. The upside: Sundays are special; a day intended for rest and a day that carries different importance to each person. Whether it's spending your mornings going to church and enjoying a nice lunch with family following, or attending a Sunday family dinner that night to soak up that quality time you've missed all week. Sunday's to me bring peace. The kind experienced from family and enjoying the things you love and worship. My favorite kind of Sunday is spent at home; sleeping in with my husband, cooking a big ol breakfast, relaxing or working on our home the rest of the day, and then attending the evening service at our church, The Summit [in Orlando].

A splendid little detail that I cherish? Fresh flowers; a love engrained into me by my mother. She has always had a knack for fresh flowers; growing them and arranging them. They were always a part of our home growing up and a trait I love so dearly about her: the passion she has for them. Now, my green thumb is more of a chartreuse green. In other words...unlike my mother, I have never had the natural ability to grow things! I do try; the effort is there. At our house, we have an amazing garden area that was installed by the previous owners. So, naturally...my garden pants are on and I'm on a mission to get that puppy up and running. Prior to the wedding festivities, my husband even brought home a rose bush to really kick things off! Roses were my grandmother's favorite flower and one of the first blossoms I wanted to incorporate. Aside from our garden, we have two mature camellia trees in the yard that bloom...like...crazy! Those have become the staple live flowers in our home. They are continually found on the windowsill in our kitchen and as shown below, I arranged them with a few of the leftover flowers that I brought home from our wedding. [I think I repurposed our wedding flowers for the entire week following]! These were set in our bathroom and really brought that bit of "splendor" to the space. Amazing what fresh flowers can achieve with their natural beauty.

Have a beautiful Sunday; however you spend it! Appreciate the splendor of it.
xo
CRH

Simple, yet Strong

3/18/2016

Decorating a room is everything. It is the feeling that welcome's people into the space; giving them a sense of who you are and how they'll perceive their time spent there. It's not just the color you choose for the wall, or the proportional amount of furniture you have in there and how you arrange it...it's the details! [Again, my keyword]. Those little details that are All About You. Things that you love and the style that defines you and your family. A major thing for me [and I tend to get a little carried away in this department]: wall space. The pictures and art that you hang to accent the beautiful room that you have created with your valuables. The cherry on top to tie everything in aesthetically! Since moving into our new home, one thing that I have come to cherish and enjoy: simplicity. I guess you could say I've become a little more selective with the frame count and holes nailed into the wall in my old age. Come time for my first apartment seven years ago...those poor walls were doomed!

Now, I am not yet a mother...however, when that blessed moment in time comes along...you better believe I will be incorporating accents of simplicity into my nursery decor! My latest calligraphy request came from an expecting mother asking for a simple black written quote from the movie "Fantastic Mr. Fox". We could have gone with bright colors and wild typography...but I appreciated her vision of just solid black and a simple design. I love to incorporate my whimsical script into something as powerful as a spoken quote. Letting the quote and the flow of the letters speak for themselves.

I hate to quote an old saying here, but I do love to admit: "Less is More". This is often times the truth in every aspect of life.
Keep things simple!

xo
CRH

It's that Lucky Day

3/17/2016

Today is the day - the one covered in green; "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" becomes the most commonly seen shirt, and clovers aren't just taking over your garden in the front yard...they're now posted on everything! This is the day.
It comes in perfect timing, at that. I have been enviously gawking over the presence of Emerald Green lately. Anticipating the moment to feature it and adoring every little glimpse of it that I catch.
So, in lieu of the actual importance of today: Happy St. Patrick's!
But please put your hands together for...our new Beloved: Emerald Green.

Fabulous to wear and even more incredible as an incorporated accent, Emerald Green is the color to flaunt. Whether it be a set of regal velvet drapes in your living room or subtle luxurious pops of the color throughout your event...it brings the statement and earns the attention that it deserves. This lovely shade can stand strong complimented by most any color, or can simply be placed within a white setting and make that significant punch alone. It's the color that truly has an heir of elegance and grace.

If you're not completely up to date with my crazy quirks, one of the majors: I'm all about the details in an event! And that is where I think this color truly shines. It doesn't have to be the main focal point of your big day, but subtle touches of it really create that pop everyone only hopes to achieve when planning. Whether it be your shoes [as seen on Colin Cowie Weddings], the envelope or envelope liner of your invitation suite, a painted accent on the invitation [as shown from a feature on Weddings Unveiled], your bridesmaid dresses, or even a simple dark greenery runner against a stark solid linen at the reception [shown on Colin Cowie Weddings]-- it's simply the perfect powerful color to bring that wow factor to your event!

IMAGES: Emerald Green Pumps: featured on Colin Cowie Weddings | Invitation Suite with Painted Accents: featured on Weddings Unveiled. | Greenery Runner Tablescape: featured on Colin Cowie Weddings

Enjoy your green-filled day & absolutely keep it in mind for that upcoming event!
A dinner party graced with Emerald Green accents?...plan it.
xo
CRH

Relish in Routine

3/16/2016

When it comes to food - I am somewhat of a routine eater. I like the foods I like, and I weirdly stick to eating just those! But I tend to go through phases with them. I'm trying to indulge in the 'splurge and have some chips' route here and there; but I'm typically quite boring when it comes to my diet. Often times to the point that I am harassed by family and friends for my weird eating. The latest routine-breakfast-combo would without a doubt receive some attention from that group. Regardless, it has become my Arizona go-to each morning! I like to think of this as a stunt similar to that of Mom's who sneak carrots and other vegetables into their children's diets without them knowing. I'm not a huuuge fan of pumpkin seeds by themselves; I'll eat them because of their health benefits - but I don't truthfully enjoy the taste. So, in addition to grape nuts, PB2 (powdered peanut butter), bartlett pear, banana, and enough almond milk to cover it all just right -- I add in the pumpkin seeds! The gang is all there. Just a few things pumpkin seeds contain: magnesium, zinc, and plant based omega-3's. Sneak those little guys in! They're worth it.

Definitely not saying you have to spend your mornings eating a grape nut and pumpkin seed extravaganza - but...at least try it sometime!

xo
CRH

Plan, Pack...Repeat.

3/15/2016

The wedding is over, the dust has settled; the stress of planning is no more and details on flowers and color schemes are a thing of the past. Typically, you honeymoon...you head home...and routine of 'life as you know it, now'...begins. Let me first rewind this real quick -- we were engaged mid-September, moved into our first home in December, were married in February. (...I'll give you a second to count up those months)! Oh, and my husband had to be in Arizona a week after the wedding. We...kicked into high gear immediately! So, needless to say: don't ever put a timeline on your engagement for planning purposes. Yes, ample time is helpful and very beneficial with managing life and planning a wedding at the same time - however, it can be done with any little amount of time that you have.

Life keeps my husband and I moving and with the stress of that continual motion - comes a whole lot of gratefulness. To see all that we see and to experience all that we have. If there is one thing we have mastered, it's packing! That, and adapting to a new city.

Our first travel stop of 2016: Arizona....we return! Now, I am a true Floridian - through and through. Born and raised in Orlando; I have lived in the humid, hot Florida climate for going on 28 years of my life now. Let's just say that come time to relocate this little Florida Orange into the desert?...it doesn't go well! First on the packing list for all Floridians: lotion and chap stick. Underline them and maybe even pack back-ups! No, aside from the dry climate and the overwhelming traffic problem, Arizona truly is great.

Just to give you a little starter of what it's got going on: the sunrise and sunsets over the Arizona mountains -- are like no other. The Arizona sky is definitely something magical to see. Brandon makes fun of me every morning because as we see the sunrise I always gasp and say "Oh my gosh, look at the sky!! There really is nothing else like it". Granted, I tend to be amazed by the slightest little things. The rocks and the mountains everywhere you drive are incredible. If you venture out into areas such as Sedona or where some of the Canyon Lakes are located...you're in for a treat! Adventure wise....it's a tie between hiking beautiful Camelback Mountain and horseback riding through the mountains. (And that's taking into consideration my level of "adventure")! This photo was actually taken last year as my husband and I hiked camelback.

Our all time favorite Arizona restaurant is Bandera - located in beautiful Old Town Scottsdale. I won't even go into detail - I'm just going to say: go!! (If you're ever in the area). It's...magnificent. Another Scottsdale gem: The Original ChopShop Co. From incredible juices to protein bowls and Chelsea-style salads; it's perfection. Again...go!! This year we're located West of Scottsdale and have found a new little fave location called The Cabin | Whiskey & Grill, in Glendale. Taco Tuesday's and Karaoke Wednesday's -- ...what more could you ask for!?

Theme of the day: Explore & Experience.
xo
CRH

New Chapter of My Favorite Book

3/14/2016

It's a time full of planning - of anticipation, decisions, a touch of stress, and a whole lot of excitement. But the wedding has come and gone...and it was more than I even imagined! A month ago yesterday - February 13 | 2016. I married the man of a love story I'm not sure I ever dreamed could be true; much less...be ours. For that, for him...I am forever grateful.

Santa Fe River Ranch was the setting for this unforgettable day! Venue by weekend and Cattle Ranch by day...it is truly majestic; in every sense of the word. Located in Alachua, Florida - just North of Gainesville - the family owned Santa Fe River Ranch and staff, immediately became a part of our hearts. My advice for any bride: figure out a couple of key elements that you want in your venue - a place that means a lot to who you and your partner are together; what you both love - and then...don't settle! It's like finding your home. You'll come across so many that you think: "I can make this work, let's do it!" When really it's just...eh. If there's one thing my husband taught me in that process (and in much of my life): ...be patient. I know it's typically a time crunch to quickly set a date and pick a venue. But, unless you have dreamed of a specific venue and setting your entire life and you know exactly what you want and where it is - know that the perfect venue to accompany even just a little dream...is out there! Don't rush into making that decision. Make it count. In addition to the love you and your partner bring, it's the foundation for everything you'll build upon that day!

Now, I hate to burst anyone's bubble who may not realize this, but...there's typically no way around stress! Even when you think you've outsmarted the outbreak of it...it's often times inevitable. Especially with something as big as planning your wedding. My next bit of advice for you: in all of the craziness, with all of the decisions...don't forget to stop and take time to do something for yourself. Go shopping, snuggle up with your husband on the couch (...even if it's just for a measly thirty minutes!), take a bubble bath, or even indulge in something creative that takes your mind somewhere else, for just a moment - off color schemes, flowers, and choosing vendors.
Try and escape, here and there!

xo
CRH