Author: chelseawp

Rompers and Picnics at the Beach

Crashing waves, rompers and champagne… now that’s what I’m talking about! Before our trip to Europe, my husband and I celebrated our one year anniversary at Crissy Beach in San Francisco. One of our favorite ways to experience our city is packing a yummy picnic and enjoying the sunshine.

I wore this adorable eyelet romper (previously featured here!) for our casual day at the beach and paired it with my favorite spring accessories- Leopard Sandals, a dutch braid and a perfectly packed picnic basket! Nothing recharges me after a crazy week like spending a day relaxing in the sunshine. To have your own effortless picnic day, check out my guide to preparing for the perfect picnic here!

shop my beach romper look:

Eyelet Romper- similar here ($50) and here ($27) / Denim Jacket- similar here ($35) and here ($40) / Sam Edelman Adora Leopard Sandals (on sale for $70!) / Gold Collar Necklace (on sale for $15!) / Bamboo 21-Piece Insulated Picnic Basket ($40)

Prepare the Perfect Candy Buffet in 4 Steps

photo by Phillippo Photo- Indiana

April is here and wedding season is upon us! These days it’s not enough to just have a cake at your wedding, candy buffets are a must! Brides have been getting super creative with their dessert offerings and candy buffets are a fabulous, fun option to take care of even the biggest sweet tooth on your big day!

How to Create the Perfect Candy Buffet:

Pick a color scheme- This may seem obvious, but before you do anything you need to nail down your color scheme. For most, this will simply be your wedding colors, but sometimes you need to add a color to compliment your pop color (like the white in the pictures shown). I love focusing on shades of colors rather than being too matchy-matchy. This gives your candy buffet dimension and can even give you flavor variety!
Get your canisters- Now you need to figure out placement in your venue and the size of your table. This will help you get an idea of how many canisters you can fit. I ended up with room for seven canisters (all from Michaels) and took the pyramid approach. Symmetry is key! I bought one big canister for the middle and built the table out from there. Play with the set-up! I chose to keep my candy buffet simple, but you can do a big floral arrangement in the middle, your wedding cake or even a display of cupcakes. One last note on canisters, make sure it’s easy to get candy out of them for your guests, you want to make sure your guests spend more time dancing than in line for candy!
Pick your candies- This step is crucial. It can make or break a candy buffet. Let start with the variety. Even though I wish everything all the time was chocolate, you have to have variety for your guests. A few of the favorite candies from my wedding were taffy (people loved to just grab them out of the jar since they were wrapped), Sixlets (similar to M&M’s) and yogurt covered pretzels. I ended up getting most of my candy from Oh Nuts!, they have a huge variety and you can shop by color or flavor and can even schedule your delivery. It made shopping a breeze! Now for the big question, how much do you buy? I found this to be the hardest part of the candy buffet! There are a lot of guidelines out there about how many pounds/guest you should buy, but when I really started to think through it those guidelines are so arbitrary! Since it’s based on weight, one pound of yogurt covered pretzels is going to be much different than one pound of M&M’s. To solve for this, I created a simple spreadsheet to help visual what I was actually ordering. Check it out here! This spreadsheet really helped me decide if a candy was worth it from a cost perspective and if I would have enough candy per person to fill up my favor boxes!
Time for accessories!- Now it’s time to glam up that candy table! First you need favor bags/boxes. I ended up ordering my pink chinese takeout boxes pictured from Amazon, but there are a ton of options out there. When ordering candy, consider how large your favor bags will be. The bigger the bag, the more candy the guest is likely to take. Most people seem to fill it up to the brim! If you are opting for a bigger option like me, make sure to air on the more generous calculations of candy/person. You will also need scoops and/or tongs. Your catering company might provide these, but if not I found these great silver utensils from Party City. Just be mindful of the type of candy people need to get their hands on. I found for the candy I bought, I needed a mixture of scoops and tongs, and it doesn’t hurt to get extras! Now for the fun stuff, labels and decorations. I chose to keep mine simple with a matching tablecloth, a sparkly banner, homemade labels, some balloons and personalized napkins, but the sky is the limit here! Have fun with it, just don’t forget the essentials!

Creating your own candy buffet and have questions or do you just have ideas to share from doing your own candy buffet? Please share in the comments below! And for more candy buffet fun check out the blue candy buffet below we put together for my sister’s baby shower!

March Birchbox Review 2015

Birchbox was the first subscription service I signed up for and quite possibly my favorite! I just love receiving this adorable little box every month and seeing what’s inside. Some months are better than others, but I tend to get a ton of use out of the products. And even if it’s not my favorite product, it’s usually still great for all my travels! Check out my March Birchbox Review below and share what you think in the comments!

If you aren’t familiar with birchbox, it’s a $10/month subscription to monthly deliveries of beauty and skincare samples. And don’t forget… they offer boxes for both men and women! It’s truly a mini treat to yourself once a month and it’s a fabulous, inexpensive way to get introduced to new brands and products. As an added bonus, birchbox has an amazing rewards program. You get points for each monthly sample you review and each dollar you spend in their shop. 100 points= $10, and those points add up fast!

Below is my review of my March Birchbox- the creativity birchbox:

Whish Shave Savour Hair Inhibiting Gel
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré (24-Hour Miracle Cream)
Mirenesse Glossy Kiss
ORIGINS Smarty Plants™ CC SPF 20 Skin Complexion Corrector
Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Heat Protect Spray

Have all my dreams come true? Is there really a product out there that can slow my hair growth between shaves? I received the Whish Shave Savour Hair Inhibiting Gel in my box this month and assumed it was like the other Whish shave gels I have received in the past, but I was wrong! This is an after shave gel that is supposed to not only hydrate your skin but slow hair growth. Like I mentioned before, it’s a gel (not a lotion) so I expected it to be a little sticky. To my surprise, it actually went on smooth and absorbed super quick. They also offer a ton of scents, I received pomegranate, which was simply yummy! I’m not sure if I’ve noticed a difference in my hair growth since I started using it, but it’s worth a try right?

Next to be reviewed is the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré (24-Hour Miracle Cream). Talk about versatility, this cream does it all! I used it both as a makeup remover and a makeup primer- I think it worked great as both! It also left my skin feeling amazing! I was a little disappointed with the tiny sample and the price of the full size bottle. It will be great for traveling, but a little expensive in my opinion for a makeup remover.

Time for a fun one, Mirenesse Glossy Kiss! I love this lip gloss! I goes on so smooth and leaves my lips feeling super soft! It’s so creamy and a great cross between lipstick and gloss. It also has an amazing gold shimmer to it that makes my lips look plump and full. I love the texture of this gloss and will definitely will be investing in other colors of this Mirenesse Glossy Kiss!

Up next is the ORIGINS Smarty Plants™ CC SPF 20 Skin Complexion Corrector. I’ve gotten quite a few CC creams in my past birchbox deliveries. This one has a great, lightweight texture to it and it just glides on the face. It has a very faint tint to the cream and leaves the skin looking a little shiny and almost pearlescent. I followed this CC cream with some powder to tone down the shine, but besides that it’s a great cream. The only other drawback I found was the smell. I found the earthy scent to be a little off-putting for a face product.

Lastly, I’m wrapping up this month’s reviews with the Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Heat Protect Spray. I have to admit something guys, I am a sucker for heat protecting sprays. If you have long hair I think it’s important to protect it as much as possible. I have a protecting spray that I currently use (and love), but I found this one to work great as well! After straightening my hair, it left my hair looking shiny and smooth and smells better than a lot of the other sprays out there! I would recommend this to anyone in the market for a heat protecting spray.

And that’s a wrap for this month’s beauty samples! Have you heard of any of these brands or tried any of these products before? Tell me about them in the comments below!

Maybe you’re just craving more beauty buys? Check out last month’s post, February Birchbox | 2015 or start getting your own birchbox delivered right to your door!

Pink Floppy Hat on the Pier

Lately, my outfits have been centered around my accessories. Whether it’s a hat, a bag, shoes or jewelry, these accessories seem to be dictating the rest of my outfit and I kinda love it! It’s great when a statement piece can hold it’s own in an outfit. This weekend it’s all about my pink floppy hat!

I got this Pink Floppy Felt Hat from Nordstrom for only $28 this past week. I think it creates the perfect spring look paired with black and denim basics. It seriously saved my hair this weekend! As we were walking on the pier, the wind was blowing my hair everywhere! It was perfect to tame my mane and to hide my less than perfect hair day, but still not give me hat hair!

I chose to style this hat with my Old Navy Denim Jacket and Liquid Leggings, but I think it would look just as great with a flowy maxi or jeans and a tee. Floppy hats are going to be everywhere this spring and Nordstrom has an amazing selection at really affordable prices! Shop them here before they are all gone!

shop the pink floppy hat look:

Pink Floppy Felt Hat ($28) / Old Navy Light Denim Jacket ($20) / Nordstrom Rack Black Button-Up Blouse ($35) / Old Navy Liquid Leggings ($13) / Steve Madden Sequin Heels- similar Aldo ($80) and heels.com ($50) /ASOS Slanted Bar Clutch Bag ($27) / Nordstrom BP Cat Eye Sunglasses ($12) / Jewelry via Rocksbox

Lilly Pultizer for Target Look Book

Hey Target lovers! Get ready to book a beach vacay ASAP, Lilly Pultizer for Target is almost here! If this collaboration doesn’t justify hopping on a plane to the nearest beach, I don’t know what does.

Photos courtesy of Target

In the words of Lilly Pulitzer, “Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink.”

In January, Target announced their upcoming partnership with the high-end, preppy designer, Lilly Pulitzer and they just released the full look book! This limited edition collection launches April 19th and includes 250 pieces, ranging from clothing, accessories and shoes for both women (including plus size!) and girls, as well as home decor, outdoor accessories and beauty products! What more could a girl want? The 15 exclusive collaboration prints are bright, playful and true to the Lilly Pulitzer brand esthetic.

As I scrolled through the look book, it was impossible for me to find a favorite look. I was pinning nearly every item! The collection has a bright, carefree feel to it that (in typical Lilly fashion) screams Palm Beach! I pulled together some of my favorite items in the collage below. These are serious summer must haves! The white eyelet coverup is so easy and how cute does it look paired with that straw tote on the model above? And what about that fringe kimono? It is perfect paired with a swimsuit for a day spent poolside! Lastly, those accessories! I cannot stop thinking about these pineapple sandals! They are so fun and unexpected! Really, I could go on for days, so I’ll let you just check out the look book yourself!

Photos courtesy of Target

Share your favorites in the comments below, I would love to hear what you guys think of this collaboration!

March Rocksbox Review | 2015

Would you love getting sparkly jewelry delivered to your doorstep? Yep, thought so! Time for you to check out Rocksbox! (Use the code chelseabff5 to get your first month free!!)

Before I send back this month’s box to be replaced with another set of amazing jewels, I wanted to do my first Rocksbox review of spring! I have to admit, my Rocksbox stylists are starting to really get my style! My monthly picks seem to be more and more on point!

How it works:

1. BECOME A SHINE INSIDER ($19/month)- Take the style survey and add items to your jewelry Wish List.

2. GET 3 PIECES TO WEAR ON LOAN- Each piece is hand-selected for you based on your style and specific requests. Wear your pieces as much as you want!

3. RETURN ANYTIME TO GET 3 NEW PIECES- Return your Rocksbox pieces anytime and as often as you like. Every set has 3 pieces of designer jewelry, worth an average of $200 per set.

Below is this month’s collection:

Perry Street Amelie Crystal Necklace (retails at $90, member price is $72)– When I saw this necklace in my rocksbox, I could hardly contain my squeals of delight! I’ve seen this necklace featured before and have had my eye on it! BUT, when I started trying it on, I found it harder to wear than I expected. I ended up finding the perfect tank to pair it with, my Old Navy Hi-Neck Tank! (ft. in Pink Pumps post), it looks great with anything simple and hi-necked.

Gorjana Mika Cutout Drop Earrings (retails at $65, member price is $52)– As I’ve mentioned before, Gorjana has become one of my favorite jewelry designers! Their pieces are well-made and you can feel the quality of them as soon as they touch your skin. These earrings are no exception. These completely WOWed me as soon as I saw them. They are so fun and geometric with just a little edge! And they are just delicate enough to pair with all my favorite gold accessories.

Sophie Harper Pavé Bar Necklace (retails at $56, member price is $44)– This delicate pavé necklace is right on trend! I love the simple and dainty look of this necklace. Because it’s so beautifully simple, I find myself wearing it all the time! It goes well with all my gold jewelry, but especially with the Gorjana earrings featured above! And just like Gorjana, this Sophie Harper necklace is great quality. They have been my go to dynamic gold duo these days, a perfect pair!

Are you like me and can’t get enough of Rocksbox? Try checking out last month’s set of jewelry- February RocksBox Review.

Still want more? Sounds like you are ready to get your own Rocksbox! Go to Rocksbox and use code chelseabff5 to get your first month free! Enjoy! And make sure to tell me what you think of Rocksbox in the comments below!

Hot Pink Pumps at the Palace

I grabbed these hot pink suede pumps off the clearance rack at Old Navy about a month ago and have been dying to wear them. Not only did I get a great deal, but also the heel height isn’t too high so they are easy to wear anywhere and they have a girly element to them that I just couldn’t resist.

This weekend I paired these hot pink suede pumps with my favorite Forever 21 skirt and moto jacket. There is nothing that makes me feel more like a princess than this airy organza midi skirt and pink heel combo! I had so much fun twirling around while we were shooting… unfortunately none of those action shots turned out, but I think the tourists at the Palace of Fine Arts got a good laugh!

I accessorized this feminine look with this edgy Perry Street necklace I got from Rocksbox. This bib necklace makes a statement and I think it looks great layered on top of this Hi-Neck Tank from Old Navy. This tank is a must-have for any girl with a collection of statement necklaces. It’s only $12 and is super soft, I’m headed back to Old Navy for additional colors!

shop pink pumps at the palace:

Forever 21 Moto Jacket- similar here ($40) and here ($38) / Old Navy Drapey Hi-Neck Tank ($12) / Forever 21 Embroidered Organza Skirt ($25) /Perry Street Amelie Crystal Necklace ($72) via Rocksbox / Pink Pumps- similar H&M ($60) and Chinese Laundry ($48) / Cleopatra Brooke Clutch- similar Shopbop ($100) and Rebecca Minkoff ($95) / kate spade Ursula Sunnies ($165)

Garden Party Ready | Spring Dressy

Well, it’s finally here. Happy first day of spring!

Lately I’ve been inspired by super feminine “spring dressy” looks. I’ve been dying to get dolled up for really any reason ever since Lauren Conrad’s launch of her Cinderella Collection. Adding to my obsession, I recently came across this J. Crew Laser-cut Midi Skirt and cannot stop thinking about it! At $128, it’s more expensive than I normally spend on such an impractical purchase, but I couldn’t resist including it in today’s Garden Party collection. It doesn’t hurt to look right?

With Easter right around the corner, retailers are starting to shift their assortment to spring apparel, so it’s about time our closets start following suite! This spring is all about pretty pastels, texture and florals, and my favorite items seem to be all about texture. Check out the embellished clutches, textured skirts and even cut-out shoes below! There are tons of tiny details built into these pieces that make them feel perfectly delicate, ultra feminine and spring forward. How could you possibly resist them?

Whether you are headed to a garden party, celebrating Easter with your family or just dressing up in front of your mirror at home, the collection below is too good to pass up. Spring forward with spring dressy!

shop spring dressy:

Forever 21 Crochet Trim Dress ($25) / LC by Lauren Conrad Tulle Skirt ($48) / Old Navy Floral Dress ($25) / Accessorize White Embellished Clutch ($44) / H&M Crepe Jacket ($25) / ASOS Blue Slanted Clutch ($27) / Forever 21 White Mesh Paneled Skirt ($20) / H&M Pink Suede Pumps ($60) / J. Crew Laser-cut Midi Skirt ($128) / Guess Babbitta Floral Pumps ($99) / ModCloth Rosette Clutch ($40) / ASOS 3D Floral Clutch ($63) / LC by Lauren Conrad Floral Cut-Out Heels ($55)

Spring Getaway Guide- Under $30

Although I no longer have an official spring break, my calendar is always packed with weekend getaways. Between my trips to the beach, wine country and Southern California, I’ve been packing for the sunshine a lot lately. And after all this practice, I’ve got it down to a science! That’s why I pulled together today’s spring getaway guide.

My spring getaway guide has a definite beach vibe- featuring tassels, fringe, lace and more! My vacation looks are always about staying casual and effortless. I believe you should be able to go comfortably from poolside to town without a major wardrobe change. And lucky for you my picks below help you do just that!

Packing for a trip is all about the staples. Bring a statement hat, sunglasses and a great cover-up and you are already half-way there! Now, just add a few swimsuits and your favorite shoes in a beach bag and you are good to go! (Make sure you check out my spring shoe trends post for more amazing deals on shoes!) As long as you stick to more neutral items, your outfitting will be a breeze no matter where you are.

Versatility is key, but my favorite part about this collection is the price tag! Each of these items can be found for under $30, can you believe it? I am obsessed with the tassel bracelets from gold and gray and the H&M beaded shorts, I can see myself wearing these with everything! Shop these items below and share your favorite spring getaway finds in the comments!

shop the spring getaway guide:

Forever 21 Crochet Maxi Cover-Up ($23) / Nordstrom Floppy Straw Hat ($22) / Forever 21 “ooh la la” pouch ($5) / Nordstrom BP Sunglasses ($12) / H&M Floral Bikini Top ($20) / Forever 21 Lace Up Gladiators ($28) / Forever 21 Fringed Cutout Swimsuit ($25) / Old Navy Reversible Pink Tote ($29) / Gold and Gray Wooden Tassel Bracelets ($26) / H&M Beaded Shorts ($30) / Forever 21 Flatform Criss-Cross Espadrilles ($20)

Beach Bumming in cut off denim shorts

The weather in San Francisco has been hard to beat lately and I’ve been taking advantage of the sunshine as much as possible. On nice weekends it’s only a short drive up north and we are at the beach! It feels great to take the day to relax and put my toes in the sand.

When dressing for a day at the beach a swimsuit is an obvious must, but lately I’ve been ditching the cover-ups and opting for outfits. Cut off denim shorts are a basic for hot summer days, so why not rock them on the beach? And to complete the relaxed beach vibe I opted for this Old Navy Button Up Boyfriend Shirt. It is a great staple for any girl’s closet and is so versatile. I not only pair it with cut off denim shorts, but it looks great with shirts, leggings and boyfriend jeans depending on my mood.

Lastly, I featured this Vegan Leather Reversible Tote on my Trendy Spring Accessories on a Budget post. This bag has been a lifesaver! I chose the Cognac/Black color option and it has been my go-to bag ever since. As you can see, it’s a generous size, well-made and even fits my laptop. It’s super simple, but comes with a matching zippered clutch that attaches to the inside for quick finds. Not to mention, it’s such a great value at only $48! Nordstrom has a few other colors available, including a light pink one that’s perfect for spring adventures!