HTC Happenings, Updates & Favorite Reads // August
Hey There,
I somehow skipped out on the July Happenings, Updates, & Favorite Reads so I actually have a lot to catch up on! The last few weeks have been INSANELY busy between a ton of travel, changing around some future plans, the ADT team beginning to pack up and leave and getting ready for our move next month! So, let’s just jump into this very full life update!
Happenings:
// In last month’s HTC Happenings post, I shared that our little family was moving to Las Vegas in September. Well, plans have changed and we’re now going to be moving to Sandy, Utah instead! The idea of moving to Utah sort of came out of the blue on a random Thursday night but after we laid out a lengthy pros and cons list, we realized that Utah was the right choice for us. The career field that Dustin wants to pursue is booming in the SLC valley, we would be closer to all of my siblings and I would get to wear my fall clothes in October. I was initially kind of mad that plans were changing because I never, in my life, would have thought I would choose to move to Utah, but I truly believe that this is the right place for us to be! It’s been a whirlwind to have our plans that have been set in stone for so long change, but we just put a deposit down on our apartment two weeks ago and booked the flights and moving truck so that Dustin and our brother-in-law can go to AZ and get our stuff in the storage unit down there! We leave in just a few weeks and I can say that I’m actually really excited to live there!
// We did a lot of traveling in the beginning of the month! We first flew to Chicago and drove down to Nauvoo, Illinois to attend my brother’s wedding. It was the first time my whole family had been together in over two years, so it was really special to all be able to set the time aside to travel and be there. After we drove up to Wisconsin for the reception, Dustin flew back to New Orleans to go back to work, and I flew home to New Hampshire with my parents for the week. I wanted to help my mom prepare for the open house she was throwing for my brother and his new bride at the end of the week. It was a crazy busy week full of buying flowers, food, and setting up everything but we managed to squeeze in a day at the beach and it was absolutely perfect.
(How my brother really feels about his three sisters!)
// After spending the week in New England, I hopped a plane and flew down to Baltimore to visit my very best friend and her family in Virgina. It was a quick trip, but it was worth it to read stories to her two-year-old in person (I face time her once a week to read her a story) and to stay up late eating cookie dough and watching Grey’s Anatomy! We also got to catch up with another friend who we both grew up with! Life has been so crazy, but I know I can always count on them both to be in my life and I’m so grateful for that!
// We were very blessed and lucky and stayed dried during the crazy flooding here in Louisiana. It’s been so devastating to see the destruction around us, so we appreciate all the positive vibes and prayers being sent to us here in the Deep South!
// Dustin and I were able to buy a new car last month! We loved our Ford Escape Hybrid, but it hit 200K miles on our weekend getaway to explore the French Quarter in downtown New Orleans, and we realized it was probably time to upgrade before things started going out on it. We had kind of a crazy car shopping experience, involving the first dealership promising to give us a stellar price on my dream car only to backtrack the next day and only lowered the price by 200 dollars. We backed out of that deal quick, because the salesperson was being way too sketchy. We found another dream car later that day at a different dealership at an even better price and went back and bought our new Ford Edge Limited the next day! We absolutely love it (how did I ever function without Bluetooth before?!)
// I’ve been able to collaborate and work with the amazingly talented Whitney Majors (behind Whitney Majors photography) this last month and I’m so obsessed with the images she captured! We actually shot again this morning and have another shoot planned for later this week! If you live in the Twin Falls area of Idaho, you are in luck, because she’s going to be back in that area next month and you should TOTALLY book her! Check out her FB business page here!
// Dustin hit his HUGE goal at work this summer and I am so proud of him! He has protected over 100 homes in Louisiana and has secured a huge bonus for our little family. He has worked so hard this summer and has made so many sacrifices to get us ahead. I’m so grateful for him!
Hey There, Chelsie Blog Updates
I recently launched my own hashtag #myvibrantlife to encourage all of my friends and readers to connect outside of the blog. It’s been SO inspiring to see so many people using it over the last month and all the beautiful, vibrant lives that so many are living. Everyone has a past and everyone has different struggles but these photos show that it is possible to live a vibrant life no matter what! So, I would love it if you would continue to use the hashtag in your photos so we can all continue to pursue a vibrant life together!
Here are some of my favorites from the last month!
Remember, you don’t have to be a blogger to use the hashtag! Just use it!
HTC Recent Reads
Easy and Effortless Beachy Waves Hair Tutorial (and first official Youtube Video!)
Why I Continue to Blog (in the wake of so much sorrow)
Ultimate Guide to New Orleans French Quarter in a Day
20 Quotes to Inspire you to Live a Vibrant Life
Hey There, August (Personal and Blogging goals)
Easy and Simple Back-to-School Makeup Tutorial
Back-to-School Skincare Lineup
Favorite Finds Around the Web
Blogging friends, this is an interesting read if you utilize pop-ups on your site. Google just announced that starting in 2017, they will penalize your google ranking if you have a pop up immediately when people visit your site or scroll through content, if you have a welcome mat covering your content or if people have to dismiss a popup in order to read your content.
25 Satisfying Bullet Journal Layouts to Soothe Your Soul (to go hand in hand with my guide on how to start a bullet journal post!)
Backpacking Havasupai: Havasu, Mooney, & Beaver Falls I love to live my life vicariously through all of Shannon’s adventures and this post from her recent trip through the Grand Canyon was one of my favorite ones ever. The photos are stunning and the way she described her trip made me feel like I was experiencing it right along side her!
This stunning time-lapse of Grand Teton National Park literally took my breath away. I cannot wait to live close to this part of the country again in the fall!
This isn’t a read, but I saw this image the other day somewhere on the interwebs and laughed so hard because it’s me to a tee. I cannot wait for all the fall clothes and all the pumpkin candles and also, Christmas. Bring it all on! (And follow my Autumn inspired Pinterest board if you are like me!)
Few, that was a lot to catch up on! I’d love to know what has been going on in your life in the comments below and what your favorite post was from HTC this summer!
