Style

Three Easy Ways to Style a White Summer Dress: Edgy, Girly & In-Between

May 26, 2017

It’s been a long while since I’ve done a Edgy, Girly & In-Between post and with summer coming at us in full-swing, I wanted to put together one around a summer dress! I used to HATE wearing dresses because of my leg, but I’m trying really hard to wear one dress a week this summer. Not only are they really cool in the heat, but I just feel so feminine when I wear them. Plus, this white dress from One Loved Babe was only 36 dollars (which is a deal in my book) and I LOVE it. I’m wearing it in a medium and it fits perfectly, although I will say that it did need a slip!

The Closet:

Like always, I tried my best to use only a handful of pieces in different combinations while putting these three looks together. I feel like there are a lot of style bloggers out there who show a new outfit every day and I just can’t afford that kind of lifestyle. I’m more about getting the most out of my closet as-is, while picking up a few new pieces every month. I don’t want anyone who comes across Hey There, Chelsie to feel like they have to spend a lot of money to attain a look that they may like.

White Lace Dress – One Loved Babe ($36.00) – Wearing a medium

Jean Vest – DownEast Basics ($36.00) – Similar here for $19.99 Wearing a medium

Choker – Walmart (gifted)

Golden Necklace – c/o Gray Monroe

Booties – Indigo and Sage ($34.00) – Similar here

Gold Sandals – Payless (last season) Similar here for $11.99

Pink Heeled Sandals – c/o Marc Fischer

Flower Crown – Handmade by your’s truly!

3 Must-Have Pieces for your Spring Wardrobe

March 18, 2017

Thank you to Filly Flair for sponsoring today’s post! Check out all of their beautiful pieces here:

Hey there, friends. Life has been so crazy this month (which you all know) so it’s been really hard to work on HTC while juggling so many other things. This month has been one big emotional rollercoaster with house-buying, moving, birthday-ing, etc. I’m grateful that most of the craziness is now behind us and I can finally start writing again. I have so much to share about this house-buying process, about my birthday this month, and about the new products I’ve been testing out! But, I wanted to jump back into blogging by sharing some of my favorite spring wardrobe items I’ve been wearing non-stop recently.

The weather in Utah has finally become warm and sunny (although it’s been rainy and raw the last two days.) If you follow me on snapchat, you’ll have seen that my new neighborhood is lined with beautiful trees that are all covered in pink and white blossoms. SO springy! I know some of you are still dealing with snow and might not see spring for a little while longer, but as those warmer days approach, here are three must-have pieces for your spring wardrobe!

Transitional Chunky Sweater

When I think of spring, I think of that kind of weather that just can’t make up it’s mind. Just last week, I woke up to rainy, wet, raw yuckiness, but by the time I left for lunch, it was partly cloudy and in the high 50’s. It’s the kind of weather where it’s too hot to keep your windows rolled up, but too cold to keep them rolled down. And that kind of weather calls for a transitional sweater!

Cozy Pink Sweater with Lace-Up Back detail from Filly Flair - perfect sweater to transition from winter to spring. This spring outfit is cozy and light at the same time! // Hey There, Chelsie [Read more…] about 3 Must-Have Pieces for your Spring Wardrobe

Things to Splurge On – Spring Sandals with Marc Fisher

March 14, 2017

This post is sponsored by the PRIMP Network. All opinions are my own.

Last week it warmed up to 65 degrees in Utah and I drove with the sunroof open and the windows down and sang at the top of my lungs to twenty-one pilots. Today, it’s supposed to get to 75 degrees! I think it’s safe to say that spring has finally arrived in the great out West and I couldn’t be happier about it. Spring used to be my least favorite season because I was just so unsure of what to wear while the weather transitioned. This year, however, I feel way more prepared and am excited to share a few different spring outfit ideas over the next couple weeks to help anyone else who feels the same way about Spring clothes.

Many of you know that I am all about affordable style and getting the most out of your closet. However, there are a few pieces that I believe are worth the splurge because of how often you wear it. One of those things that are worth the splurge, in my opinion, are shoes. Being the proud owner of a total left knee replacement, it’s important to me to own shoes that are well-made, stable, and comfortable. Especially when it comes to heels – I don’t wear them often, but when I do, I want to make sure that the heel isn’t going to snap off and, consequently, do some damage to my knee.

Marc Fisher Footwear

That’s why I’m totally okay with splurging on these spring sandals from Marc Fisher because they are the most comfortable and stable heels I’ve EVER worn. I wore a pair to work for a FULL 8 hour day last week and didn’t have any swelling in my knee (which is unheard of) or blisters on my toes. I was surprised that both pairs of shoes felt like they were already broken in, they were so comfortable to wear. I actually feel confident walking in them with my knee because they feel stable and secure.

Since my shoes were a splurge, I decided to thrift as much as I could when styling them, because you know I’m still about getting a good deal and not breaking the bank too much. I’ve been frequenting a thrift shop called Uptown Cheapskate over the last few weeks and have been so impressed at the brands and quality of clothes they carry at a fraction of the price! It was really easy for me to find some ideal spring pieces that can be styled and worn multiple ways, including with my new sandals from Marc Fisher.

Spring Outfit #1 – Denim & Denim

#askHTC – Question and Answers from Instagram

March 10, 2017

It’s FRIDAY, YO! I’m currently working a full day at Headquarters, getting ready for my last quiet weekend for the foreseeable future (see: weddings, buying a house, moving, going to Boston.) I feel like I should probably start packing, but since we’re still waiting on a closing date for our house, I don’t want to jinx anything.

Over the last few months, I’ve seen some of my favorite blogging friends do Q&A posts on their blogs. They were some of my favorite blog posts to read – it was so fun to get to know them through that format. I really wanted to do my own but was kind of nervous no one would have any questions for me. At the beginning of this week, I posted an Instagram asking for questions, and I was stoked to see that people actually had some. So, thanks for not making me feel like a complete loony toon, and leaving me questions on that post. Today, I’m sitting down to answer them!

Question and Answers for HTC

What’s your favorite move? (-Lauren B.) The Keira Knightly version of Pride and Prejudice. I have lost count how many times I have watched that movie. Not only do I love and appreciate the story behind it (#englishmajor) but I think it is the most beautifully filmed movie of all time. Also, the soundtrack is so beautiful, and I listen to it at least once a week while writing.

Winter to Spring Dress Ideas with Lularoe & Giveaway

March 3, 2017

A couple weeks ago, I teamed up with some amazing blogging friends of mine in Utah and a fantastic Lularoe consultant to style several dresses from her inventory. We were all feeling some spring fever, but since it’s still February in Utah, we decided to pick dresses that we could transition from winter to spring, in order to get the most our of our closets!

I’ve tried a couple pairs of leggings from Lularoe, and as fun as they are, I will say that I think they are a tiny bit pricey (especially since I found the exact dupes from Simple Addiction.) But, I hadn’t tried their dresses and was excited to see how I felt about them. Hannah has an amazing selection of items in her inventory, and those of you who “went shopping” with me on Insta stories got to see just how large her shop is! I had so much fun trying on all kinds of dresses and, after consulting with all of you on Instagram, decided to go with this bright coral Amelia dress.

The Amelia Dress is really fun because it’s long enough for my legs, it has pockets, and it has a fun zipper detail in the back. The cut on the dress is flattering on almost every body type, and the material was thick and high quality. Everything about the dress felt high-quality and like it would last a long time. The color is perfect for spring and summer, but it also transitions well from winter into spring when paired with black fleece-lined tights and booties. The pattern on my dress was more subtle, which adds a fun detailed element that you might not pick up on at first.

My favorite thing about Lularoe is that each print they release is only used on about 2500 pieces across all their different styles. This means that the chances of you owning the same dress in the same pattern as someone else is pretty stinking slim!

Meet my blogging friends:

Keara from Modest Style – Amelia Dress

Abby from The Classy Giraffe – Madison Dress

Kate from Love Simply Kate – Amelia Dress

Karli from Everyday Ellis – Carli Dress

Valentina from Life’s Riches – Carli Dress

I love the way all the girls styled these dresses, especially because it gave me so many ideas on how to transition my dresses from winter to spring. Here are some of the common ideas that we had between us on how to rock your dress while you wait for the weather to warm up!

Winter to Spring Style Ideas for Dresses:

Fleece Tights – Perfect for keeping your legs warm on days when the weather can’t make up it’s mind and settles for an awkward 47 degree temperature. They add great contrast to bright colors and add warmth to the outfit!

Booties – When it’s too cold (or slippery) for heels, but your dress hem is too long for knee-length boot, whip out those booties! They will keep your tootsies warm, give you more stability on snow, and give your dress a relaxed feel.

Leather Jackets – Once again, this is the perfect item for that awkward “in-between” weather. Plus, my buffalo plaid peacoat might clash a little bit with the brighter colors. I love my leather jacket (styled here and here) because it actually keeps me pretty warm without taking away from my dress.

Gold-Toned Jewelry – Almost all of us ended up accessorizing with gold-toned jewelry. These pieces bring warmth to all the outfits and make me think of sunshine and warmer days, which is why I love wearing them during weirdy-weather days!

Shop similar items here (the booties are one sale for $13.99!)

Also, how cute are these sweet blogging friends of mine? I had an amazing time collaborating with them and would highly suggest you check them out if you are looking for some new reading material/cyber-friends. We all had our hair done by the talented Christy Lee, our makeup done by Makenzie Peacock, and our photos taken by Sadie of Sadie Banks Photography. So, friends in Utah, check these girls out if you are in need of any of those services! And, if you are interested in checking out the Lularoe dresses, you can check out Hannah’s inventory here.

What is your favorite dress styled here?

P.S! To get you all in the spring spirit I’ve teamed up with some awesome bloggers to do a little “self-care / spring break recovery” care package (or you can choose the cash!)

*The winner will get to choose one of the three prize options below – so this photo does not represent the exact prize

The Prize: The winner will get to choose one of the three options below!

Option 1:

Set of 6 Bath Bombs

Fujifilm INSTAX Camera with Film (color of your choice)

Bath & Body Works 3 Wick Aromatherapy Candle

$100 sent to you via Paypal

Option 2:

Beach towel (pictured)

Flamingo Pool Drink Holder (pictured)

Pool float (Your Choice of Flamingo, Swan, or Donut)

1 bkr glass water bottle (your choice of color: fuchsia, white, pink, green, mint, or blue)

Bluetooth water resistant speaker

$100 sent to you via Paypal

Option 3:

$225 via PayPal

The details: The giveaway is open internationally (however, if you are the winner and living internationally, you will only receive option #3 as the prize). The giveaway starts today (3/3/17) and running until 3/13/17! The winner will be contacted on 3/15/17 via e-mail (if the winner does not respond in 72 hours, a new winner will be selected).

The more “tasks” you complete below, the more entries you will receive, increasing your chances of winning.
CODE: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Edgy, Girly, In-Between – 3 Easy Outfit Ideas for Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2017

Well, it’s been a whirlwind of a week. Dustin and I got pre-approved for a home on Tuesday and immediately jumped into house hunting on Wednesday because we’re kind of in a time crunch since our apartment lease is up on the 21st of March. We’ve looked at 7 homes in the last few days and put an offer in on one, but are currently waiting to hear back from the sellers. On top of the house hunt, Dustin’s parents came to town to visit us this last weekend and I’m working full-time for the next few weeks to cover for another employee. Things don’t look like they are going to quiet down anytime soon, either, because we’ve got 2 weddings (including my sister’s,) a trip to Vegas, and a move coming up all between now and the first week of April. So, I’m going to do my best to stay consistent on posting at HTC but it might be a little spotty for the next few weeks. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

I’ve been sitting on this post for a week now, but like I mentioned above, things have been a bit psycho. Still, I wanted to share this even if it’s a little late in the game (as in Valentine’s Day being tomorrow.) But, I’m really excited about this post, too, because this is the first in a new series that I’m introducing to HTC this year!

Like I wrote about a couple weeks ago, blogging has been crucial in my journey to loving myself again. Not only have I found a new confidence to post pictures of myself, but I’ve been able to really discover my own style – which (in case you haven’t noticed) is usually a mix of feminine and edgy pieces. But, I know that sometimes we want to be a bit more girly or a bit more edgy, so that’s how the idea behind “Edgy, Girly, In-Between” was born. So, here are 3 Easy Outfit Ideas for Valentine’s Day:

The Closet:

I love sharing affordable style options and ideas on HTC, because no one has the money to buy new clothes every few days – which is also why you’ll see some of the same pieces being styled in different ways to give you ideas on how to get the most out of your wardrobe! So, I’m going to try my best to use a lot of the same pieces between the three looks so that all outfits are really attainable. So, here’s what I pulled from my closet to create these three looks:

Floral Skirt – $21.00 from Indigo and Sage

Black Criss-Cross Top – $23.99 from Wight Gold

Colored Moto-Leggings (Brick or Coral) – 32.00 from Wight Gold

White Tunic – $27.90 from Nordstrom

Brown Booties – $19.99 from Rue21 (Similar)

8 Ways to Rock being a Hot Mess

January 30, 2017

I feel like I’m a broken record for saying the same thing over and over again, but seriously: things have been so insanely busy since the new year that it’s been hard to keep my head on straight. Between my new job, my blog, my photography gig on the side, house hunting (more on this soon,) blogging events and collaborations, and the NFL playoffs, I feel like I’m going a million miles a minute in every direction. I can barely keep my eyes straight and most of the time, I feel like I’m truly the definition of being a “hot mess.”I’m not complaining – it has been so good to be busy in this kind of way.

I’m not complaining – it has been so good to be busy in this kind of way. I used to be such a control freak and my anxiety would get the best of me if I didn’t have EVERY.SINGLE.THING. planned and under control. I would get so worked up if there something (like an invitation to dinner with friends) popped up last minute or if I didn’t get to every single thing on my blog to-do list before dinner time. But, in my quest to thrive in this new year, I’ve tried to let go of some of my control-freak tendencies and go with the flow of things. In other words: I’m kind of a hot mess most of the time, and I’m learning to just rock it instead of apologizing for it.

I feel like the term “hot mess” has a bit of a negative connotation, but I’ve grown to love the term. To me, it means that I’ve got a lot going on, that I’m a bit disorganized and frazzled most days, and that I’m in a state of disarray while still trying to keep myself composed. So, here’s how I’ve been rocking my hot mess status during this last month:

Stitch Fix Unboxing & Try-on: January 2017

January 13, 2017

Well, it’s been a hot second since I got myself a Stitch Fix, but since I always get so bummed after Christmas (because no more Christmas music) I decided I would treat myself to a fix this month. I think the last fix I got was in August and I didn’t even blog about it. The last fix I think I shared was back in March of last year, and that was my best fix to date! This one was…not my favorite, but it was fun to get a package in the mail and to see all the things my stylist picked out!

In case you haven’t heard of Stitch Fix, it’s a pretty fun clothing subscription service. You fill out a style profile and link up a Pinterest board to clothes you like. You pay a $20 dollar styling fee and can write a note with any special requests for specific clothing you may be looking for. A stylist picks out 5 items of clothing and accessories and sends them to you! You have 3 days to try them on in the comfort of your home and then you mail back whatever you don’t like in a prepaid envelope and keep what you do like! The $20 dollar styling fee goes towards anything you want to keep!

Since I just got my stunning leather jacket a couple weeks ago, I specially requested my stylist to send me tops I could wear with it. I also was SUPER jealous of Jenn’s clutch that she got in one of her recent fixes, so I requested that, as well.

As a note – my stylist left me such a sweet note. She felt bad that she couldn’t send me some of the things I was looking for due to them not having them at headquarters currently, but mentioned that she loved my blog! How sweet! So, I totally appreciated that from her, and will definitely request her when I decide to get another fix.

Stitch Fix Unboxing & Try-On:

My Word of the Year (2017)

January 9, 2017

Last year was the first year I decided I would give myself a word of the year, after going back and forth over it for a few weeks. It was a trend I had seen going around my blogging community and my friends on Facebook for a couple years and originally had thought that it was a ridiculous practice. But, I learned the error of my ways and decided to give it a go last year and boy, was it more guiding and successful than any resolution or goal!

Leather Moto Jacket Outfit for Winter, featuring white tunic and fringe scarf! // Hey There, Chelsie

Last year, my word was “Fearless.” I chose that word because I wanted to really work on living my life as vibrantly as possibly during 2016. In order to do that, I needed to let go of a lot of my fears and anxieties that stem from my past. I knew that 2016 was going to be a year with many changes and a lot of unknown and I wanted to face those challenges more gracefully.

I didn’t live fearlessly 100% of the time during 2016, but I did learn a LOT about myself. I was surprised at how many times I kept coming back to my word throughout the year – and that I used it constantly as a guiding force as I face changes and new challenges.

So, I’m excited to pick a new word for this new year. It didn’t come as easily as fearless did, but it did come fairly quickly after I did some soul searching and pondering on what I wanted to get out of 2017.

Was I Fearless? A Look Back on 2016

December 27, 2016

*Affiliate links may be used in this post – clicking them does not cost you anything!

Thanks to thredUP for partnering with me today to style this pretty green dress for the holidays! Even though it’s past Christmas, this holiday outfit is still perfect for New Year’s Eve!

I kind of wish there was more than one week between Christmas and the New Year because I have so much I want to say and share about this past year and about this coming year. But we only have a week, and I didn’t blog yesterday because Dustin and I both had the day off and I was trying to keep a nasty cold at bay and also because I just wanted to eat discounted Christmas chocolate and snuggle. Sometimes you just have to let go of being a perfectionist and embrace the small moments that count – that’s one way I’ve learned to live more vibrantly in the past few months.

Since the new year is coming (whether we want it to, or not) I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and planning and reflecting. I’ve been working tirelessly on a lengthy and detailed 2017 business action plan for HTC. I’ve been taking some online courses and trying to budget out my money for some much needed electronic upgrades. And I’ve been taking the time to look back on the past year and think about the things I accomplished and the things I decided to let go of.

At the beginning of 2016, I decided my word of the year was going to be “Fearless.” I wanted to let go of my self-doubts and anxieties of what other people thought of me and pursue the things that set my soul on fire. I wanted to turn my back on personal fears, like my cancer coming back for me or being in an accident that would cost me my leg. I wanted to go more with the flow and not stress out so much about changes (both big and small.) I wanted to be brave and courageous and fearless and make 2016 my own. I chose this word before I knew that we would move three times across the country. I chose this word before I knew my husband would have three career changes. I chose this word before Rosie got bit at the dog park, before the transmissions in both of our cars started dropping out at the same time, before our downstairs neighbors started harassing us for walking around our apartment. I chose the word “fearless” without knowing what 2016 held and I hoped I would be able to make it my own.

So was I fearless?

December Weekend Outfit & Simple Addiction Coupon Code

December 9, 2016

I received free product in exchange for this styling. All opinions are my own. The Simple Addiction Coupon code is NOT an affiliate link!

December seems to hold the busiest weekends of the month. Between holiday parties, holiday errands, and holiday dates, we are ALWAYS on the go during December weekends. I’m typically a homebody and introvert and prefer to stay home during the weekends, snuggled in with Rosie and Dustbust, but I do not mind staying busy during December because I want to experience the holiday season as fully and vibrantly as possible!

I’m working on a big fatty list of Holiday date ideas for next week (I know, I’m getting it out later than I planned, but that still gives everyone 2 whole weeks to get as much holiday cheer in) but wanted to share this cozy outfit I wore last weekend while exploring a SUPER cute Christmas tree lot with Dustin (complete with reindeer, turkeys, and Santa!) I’m all about being cozy and comfortable during weekend adventures, especially during the winter, but since it’s December, I still want to look festive! I mean, Christmas only comes once a year, right?

FURTHER READING: #myvibrantholiday CHALLENGE AND 30 HOLIDAY PHOTO IDEAS FOR INSTAGRAM

I am super cliche and LOVE wearing peacoats during the winter. I don’t think there is anything as warm or classy looking than a peacoat. But, peacoats can be super pricey and in a fit of madness, I sold my 3 peacoats when we moved from Idaho to Arizona, thinking that we weren’t going to live in a state with a real winter for quite some time. Well, that was a silly notion, because here we are, 1.5 years later living in Utah and it is most definitely winter here. Oops. Anyway, I saw this buffalo-checked pea coat at Costco about a month ago and loved it SO much, but didn’t buy it at first because I wasn’t sure if I would wear it a ton since it is a pretty bold color and pattern. But, I kept on thinking about it, and my rule is that if I think about something more than 3 times in a week, it’s meant to be.

Hey There, I’m Chelsie

November 17, 2016

PR samples – I was sent a sample to style. All opinions are my own.

This year has been insane for me and my little family and between all the changes that we’ve gone through, I’ll be the first to admit that my blog has suffered at times. Now that life is settled down just a tiny bit (as in, instead of it feeling like a hurricane, it feels more like a tropical storm) I feel like it’s time to start fresh here. I know that there are some new faces around HTC, especially from Instagram, so I wanted to just take some time and reintroduce myself – to show you that there is a real human being writing the words behind this screen and that my life is not picture perfect as some posts may lead you to believe.

Hey There, I’m Chelsie!

Yes, it’s spelt with an “ie” and not an “ea” because phonetically, it just makes more sense. Apparently, the word “chelsea” means port of ships, which I’ve always been embarrassed to share. Back in the day when it was cool to look up the meaning behind your name, my friends would be like: “oh my name means ‘Princess of Peace’ or “Warrior Loved by All'” and I’d be like “Cough mynamemeansaportofships.” But I’m fan of it now, especially because I realized that ships live on the ocean and I truly love the Ocean. I am all about that salt water life.

Style

Three Easy Ways to Style a White Summer Dress: Edgy, Girly & In-Between

The Closet:

3 Must-Have Pieces for your Spring Wardrobe

Transitional Chunky Sweater

Things to Splurge On – Spring Sandals with Marc Fisher

Marc Fisher Footwear

Spring Outfit #1 – Denim & Denim

#askHTC – Question and Answers from Instagram

Question and Answers for HTC

Winter to Spring Dress Ideas with Lularoe & Giveaway

Winter to Spring Style Ideas for Dresses:

Shop similar items here (the booties are one sale for $13.99!)

Edgy, Girly, In-Between – 3 Easy Outfit Ideas for Valentine’s Day

The Closet:

8 Ways to Rock being a Hot Mess

Stitch Fix Unboxing & Try-on: January 2017

Stitch Fix Unboxing & Try-On:

My Word of the Year (2017)

Was I Fearless? A Look Back on 2016

December Weekend Outfit & Simple Addiction Coupon Code

Hey There, I’m Chelsie

Hey There, I’m Chelsie!

Hey There!

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Style

The Closet:

Transitional Chunky Sweater

Marc Fisher Footwear

Spring Outfit #1 – Denim & Denim

Question and Answers for HTC

Winter to Spring Style Ideas for Dresses:

Shop similar items here (the booties are one sale for $13.99!)

The Closet:

Stitch Fix Unboxing & Try-On:

Hey There, I’m Chelsie!

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Popular Posts

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