Author: chelseawp

Spring in your Step- Spring Shoe Trends

Magical things happen in Spring. Birds start chirping, flowers bloom, and people come out to soak up the sun.

I don’t know about you, but to me the spring season is all about getting out of hibernation and enjoying the outdoors. There are trails to be explored, parks to be sat in, pools to be swam in and most importantly… spring shoe trends to be worn! Lucky for you, I’ve got the perfect footwear to start your spring off on the right foot (pun intended), no matter your budget! 🙂

When looking for shoes to go out and enjoy the spring weather in, I have a few requirements… First of all, comfort! I love shoes that can be slid on and off easily and are comfortable enough for me to wear for hours. Second, versatility! It’s important for my shoes to not only be able to pair back to multiple things in my closet effortlessly, but I want them to take me from day to night. Spring days out and about often turn into spring nights unexpectedly! I don’t want to be caught in my flip flops while trying to enjoy a nice dinner with friends. Lastly, price! As you know, I am always price-conscious and shoes are no exception. I walk around so much that I find myself literally running my shoes into the ground. Between how fast I wear through them and how quickly trends change, I prefer to stick to a strict budget to keep both my wallet and my feet happy.

With that said, I pulled together some easy, budget friendly styles below. I can still hardly believe all these styles are under $30!

shop spring shoe trends:

Ankle Strap Sandals ($13) / Espadrille Flatform Slides ($20) / Steve Madden Annee Flat ($25) / Cap Toe Espadrilles ($25) / Striped Lace Up Espadrilles ($16) / Lace Up Gladiator Sandal ($28) / Double Banded Slide Sandal ($20)

Channel the Romance- floral and lace trend

Wake up! Winter is almost over and it’s time to start stocking up on some spring looks!

Florals, crochet and lace are all attracting my eye this season. There’s something about this ultra-feminine look that just screams “spring has sprung!”. Connecting the spring mentality to these pieces makes this trend completely irresistible. This trend goes perfectly with summer festivals, but it also great for any barbecue or day out and about. Although I love each of these pieces individually, I would personally choose to style them separately. I think a delicate crochet top looks great with boyfriend jeans and I would rather wear a floral skirt with something like a leather jacket. I love mixing the soft side with some edge, it makes this trend more transitional and wear now. Shop my favorite floral and lace trends below and share your must-haves in the comments!

shop the floral and lace trend:

Perforated Loafers ($16) / Leaf Head Piece ($6) / Perforated Clutch ($22) / Scalloped Crochet Top ($20) / High Waisted Rose Print Shorts ($15) / Floral Romper ($20) / Pink Floral Blouse ($23) / Crochet Lace Midi Skirt ($30) / Tiered Lace Tank ($18) / Rose Headband ($6) / Floral Perforated Clutch ($45) / Rose & Lace Maxi ($33) / Perforated Oxfords ($28) /Lace Espadrilles ($25)

February Birchbox | 2015

Anything that gets delivered in this fun of a box has to be amazing, right? And guess what, they were! Although not every sample in this month’s box was perfect for me, a few were spot on and the samples were generous! Check out my thoughts below and share what you think in the comments!

If you aren’t familiar with birchbox, it’s a company offering a subscription to receive monthly samples of beauty products (They offer boxes for both men and women!). I love it because it’s a mini treat to myself once a month and it’s a great, inexpensive way to get introduced to new brands and products. As an added bonus- it makes a great gift for the girl (or boy) who has everything!

Below is my friendship birchbox. It’s dedicated to the people who cheer us on, calm us down, and make us laugh so hard we cry!

Laura Geller Beauty GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing Mascara

PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray

Marcelle Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover For Sensitive Eyes

Davines MINU Shampoo and Hair Serum

Juicy Couture Hollywood Royal Perfume

Today I’ll start with my favorite part of my beauty routine… mascara! I received the Laura Geller Beauty GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing Mascara in my box this month. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a huge mascara snob. I usually use two different types of mascaras in the morning, a lengthening and a “thinner” if you will. I love long skinny lashes, so I would love to find one mascara that can do both! This mascara might just be the one! It not only lengthens my lashes in just a few swipes, it’s virtually clump free! It goes on smooth and doesn’t flake off or clump lashes together. I will definitely be purchasing the full size when my sample runs out!

Next to be reviewed is the PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray. This sea salt spray is not for me. When I’m going for the beach bunny look, I like loose, smooth waves, not sticky, tangled hair! I know sea salt spray is supposed to give beachy, textured waves, but I found my hair to tangle too easily and become unmanageable. Although the texture didn’t work for my fine hair, the scent was enticing and fresh!

Now onto the Marcelle Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover For Sensitive Eyes! Makeup remover is never the sexiest sample in a birchbox, but it is sometimes the most needed. I never want to splurge on makeup remover, or even buy it for that matter, but I’m glad I got to try this one. The formula in this little bottle is able to get off the toughest and longest lasting makeup and it leaves my skin feeling silky smooth! Now I can’t wait to take off my makeup! Luckily the sample was very generous so I will get a ton of use out of it before I need to invest in a full size, but the good news is it’s only $15 for the full bottle! What a steal!

Up next is the Davines MINU Shampoo and Hair Serum. Again, I don’t think I have the target hair for this sample. This shampoo and serum duo is eco-friendly and color safe, two things I love to see on my shampoo label! The scent left my hair smelling fresh and citrusy, but I didn’t love the texture of my hair. I usually wash my hair every two days, but there’s no way my hair would last a full two days without washing while using this shampoo. My hair immediately felt flat and dirty, there’s no way I will be investing in this hair care duo!

Lastly, I’m wrapping up this month’s reviews with the Juicy Couture Hollywood Royal Perfume. I’m already a fan of Juicy’s Viva La Juicy perfume, so I was excited to see this tiny tube in by sample mix. Like the Viva La Juicy scent, a little goes a long way. It has strong sweet scent that is perfect for a summer night on the town. It’s a blend of fruity and floral and is a great fragrance to add to your collection!

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, January Birchbox | 2015.

February Rocksbox Review | 2015

Ready for another amazing Rocksbox? I know I am! I’m about to send this month’s box back and wanted to share what I thought with all of you! Although I’m not completely in love with all three of this month’s pieces, I do LOVE two of them! I’ve been wearing at least one of them everyday and even though I don’t want to send these jewels back, I can’t wait to get my next box!

How it works- It’s a monthly subscription costing $19/month. First you create a style profile, which basically consists of a quick survey of what jewelry types, metals, etc. you prefer and a gallery of pictures where you can pick your favorite items. From that profile, three styles are picked just for you and delivered in cute little boxes wrapped up with a ribbon. Now for the fun part… you can wear the jewelry as much as you want and just as easily send them back whenever you want! There’s no timeline, you can get as many or as little boxes as you want a month. As soon as you’re ready to send them back, you drop them in the mail and three more will be sent your way, almost immediately! Fall in love with one (or all) of the items? No prob, keep it! You get 20% off the retail price of any piece in your box to add to your personal collection.

Below is this month’s collection:

Perry Street Rosalie Crystal Ring (retails at $52, member price is $41)– For the first time in awhile, I am not completely in love with one of my Rocksbox items. Although this statement ring has an incredible look, the fit was off. It has an adjustable sizer inside the ring that is supposed to make it a perfect fit for everyone, but I found it to do the opposite. Although the inside sizer fit me, the main ring was way too big and the heavy jewels wobbled around whenever I moved my hand. Even though it looked great, I found myself leaving it in my jewelry box every morning because of the sizing issue. I’ll have to send this one back, Rocksbox!

Gorjana Roya Collar Necklace (retails at $93, member price is $74)– 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. Although this necklace didn’t wow me at first glance, I found myself layering it with longer gold pendants and wearing it with almost every outfit! It’s delicate and somehow still makes a statement! I definitely recommend gorjana to any girl looking for some delicate gold jewelry and specifically this beautiful Roya Collar necklace!

Urban Gem Pave Ball Studs in Gold (retails at $60, member price is $48)– What’s not to love about these sparkly pave studs? These earrings are simple and gorgeous! Although I think they pair perfectly with a preppy sweater and jeans, they can easily be dressed up or down and worn with almost anything. I’ve found myself replacing my everyday studs with this more glamorous pair for work, date night and brunch. I’m still debating whether I’ll send this pair back or not, what do you think? (share your thoughts in the comments below!)

Loving this month’s collection as much as I am? Check out last month’s set of jewelry- January 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 tell me what you think of Rocksbox in the comments below!

Flowers & Fringe

The weather in San Francisco was unbeatable this weekend so my husband and I took advantage of the sunshine and went on a stroll through Golden Gate Park. For those of you who don’t know, Golden Gate Park is even bigger than Central Park so we spent hours there and barely made a dent on the map.

We spent a lot of our time in the The Conservatory of Flowers (pictured below) and the Botanical Gardens. As you can see, the place was covered with bright, blooming flowers… I felt right at home in my floral maxi! The park trails took us from hiking up wooden steps, strolling around the lake, to inside a museum. It’s tough to find an outfit that can fit the bill for all that so I stuck to this casual light layered look. It has a boho feel that keeps it casual and pairing it with sandals keeps it comfy. Shop the look at the bottom of the post!

Forever 21 Fringe Sweater ($23) / Forever 21 Floral Maxi ($33) / Sandals- similar Dolce Vita ($35) and Charlotte Russe ($15) / Leopard Crossbody (sold out)- similar Diane von Furstenburg ($198) and kate spade ($77) / gorjana roya collar necklace ($93)

Fresh and Affordable Activewear

Walking around the city I notice more and more people are wearing activewear as everyday wear. And why shouldn’t they? It’s not only cute, it’s comfortable and so practical for running around town.

With the active trend growing, more and more retailers (like Forever 21, H&M and Old Navy) are jumping on the active bandwagon and offering some really cute and affordable options!

The activewear selection is bigger (and cuter!) than ever before. Lately I’ve been loving the abstract printed pieces, like the leggings and sports bra below. Active is one area where the print can never be too loud and the color can never be too bright! Even your yoga mat can have an inspirational message! Check out my favorites below and get shopping!! 🙂

H&M Yoga Top ($18) / H&M Waist Pack ($13) / H&M Patterned Sports Bra ($10) / H&M Combo Lock ($6) / H&M Two-Tone Yoga Jacket ($40) / Old Navy Zip Pullover ($25) / New Balance Leopard High Rollers ($70) / Forever 21 Yoga Mat ($10) / S’well Water Bottle ($35) / Forever 21 Woven Back Tank ($10) / Forever 21 Printed Leggings ($20) / Old Navy Printed Compression Leggings ($30) / Under Armour ColdGear Leggings ($36)

Spring Shoe Trends | 2015

I’m back! Sorry for my unexpected hiatus! I’ve been under the weather and traveling for the past few weeks and I’m finally back home and healthy (almost)!

Anyways, today is all about spring shoe trends. We are well into February and it’s about this time of year that I start to get antsy for spring! I am dying to go get a fresh pedicure and prance around town in some new, fun, spring forward shoes!

This year I’m gravitating toward metallics, bright prints and detailed neutrals. What are my absolute must haves for spring?

Espadrilles- go for an easy neutral pair or a wild printed pair! (or both!!)
Embellished Sandals- these glitter and rhinestone sandals from Target are completely necessary!
Fun Heels- either iridescent or fringed, there’s no going wrong here!

Take a look at what I’m shopping for below and leave a comment with your must have shoe choices!

Audrey Brooke Sire Pump ($50) / Target Cap Toe Espadrille ($20) / Topshop Ankle Strap Flat ($24) / BCBG Reptile Pump ($60) / LC Lauren Conrad Peep Toe Pump ($60) / Target Embellished Sandals ($20) / Kenneth Cole Leopard Espadrille ($80) / Target Gold Criss-Cross Sandals ($20) / Jennifer Lopez Studded Heels ($68) / Lauren Conrad Scallop Flats ($40) / Ted Baker Pointy Toe Flats ($75) / Target Heeled Mules ($30) / Privileged Verge Iridescent Pump ($55) / Steve Madden Colorblock Strappy Sandals ($60) / Target Gold Glitter Sandals ($20) / Steve Madden Fringe Pump ($80)

Valentine’s Day Wardrobe | 2015

Hey gals! With only two weeks left until Valentine’s Day, do you have your outfit picked out? My guess is you don’t! But I’m here to help you with that!

Valentine’s Day is a day of mixed emotions. Girls dating love it while single girls hate it, but there’s no reason everyone can’t go out and have a fun Valentine’s Day! Whether you’re on a date or just with friends, an adorable outfit is a must have. You can go red hot in this sleek dress or more casual in this heart cardi. Either way, it’s important to feel fabulous in whatever you choose to wear and have fun! My favorite below is the floral print dress and that amazing pink moto jacket! How can you have bad night in an outfit like that? Check out my favorite Valentine’s Day looks below and share your favorites in the comments! <3

Forever 21 Lace Dress ($21) / Nasty Gal Cut-Out Dress ($48) / Forever 21 Heart Cardigan ($23) / Forever 21 Cut-Out Dress ($23) / Pink Moto Jacket ($128) / kate spade heart watch ($175) / LC Lauren Conrad Earrings ($12) / Forever 21 Heart Sunglasses ($6) / Forever 21 Be Mine Card ($8) / Forever 21 Lips Clutch ($5) / kate spade heart earrings ($48) / LC Lauren Conrad Scallop Flats ($40) / H&M Cut-Out Jumpsuit ($60) / Revolve Floral Print Dress ($70) / Express Red Halter Dress ($60) / Charlotte Russe Heart Cut-Out Dress ($30)

January Birchbox | 2015

My first Birchbox of 2015 did not disappoint! I got some fabulous makeup and pampering products to get me ready to take on the new year!

If you aren’t familiar with Birchbox, it’s a company offering a subscription to receive monthly samples of beauty products (They offer boxes for both men and women!). I love it because it’s a mini treat to myself once a month and it’s a great, inexpensive way to get introduced to new brands and products. As an added bonus- it makes a great gift for the girl (or boy) who has everything!

Below is my “Let’s Do This” Birchbox. This month’s box is all about empowering me to take on 2015 while feeling (and looking) great!

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner

Vasanti All Star 2-in-1 Face & Eye Primer – 15ml

It’s a 10® Miracle Leave-In Product Plus Keratin

Essentiel Elements Wake Up Rosemary Body Lotion

When™ Travelmate Sheet Mask Set

Let’s begin with the Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner. I’m usually loyal to my liquid liner, but I like to mix it up every now and then. This green eyeliner helped me do just that! I received the olive green tint and it looked great with my brown eyes. I wore it all day and not one smudge! It slides on easy in application, but is dense enough to keep a sharp point, making clean lines much easier! The sample was so generous (and it’s not an eyeliner I’ll be using daily) so I don’t think I will be buying the full size, but I would love to check out one of the other colors!

Next up is the Vasanti All Star 2-in-1 Face & Eye Primer. To be honest, I don’t usually use face and eye primer. I was intrigued by the idea because 2-in-1 products are great for traveling- as long as they’re effective! I’ve been using this primer since I received it, it’s a great lightweight formula that has antiaging benefits. That’s almost a 3-in-1 now, but who’s counting? Overall, I didn’t really notice a difference in the staying power of my makeup, but I also don’t have an issue with my makeup lasting in the first place.

Time for It’s a 10® Miracle Leave-In Product Plus Keratin! I was excited to this this little gem in this month’s box. I’ve used this leave-in conditioner a few times before. It is filled with proteins that rebuild your strands and leave your hair silky smooth and this stuff really works! It almost reverses all the blowdrying, curling and straightening I do to my hair on a daily basis. I definitely recommend this miracle treatment for anyone who is looking to give their tresses a little TLC.

Now onto Essentiel Elements Wake Up Rosemary Body Lotion. This lotion really won me over! The smell took me by surprise at first, but it’s actually delicious. The scent is a fabulous blend of rosemary and mint, which is surprisingly invigorating. I found the lotion to absorb pretty quickly and it didn’t leave a greasy residue at all. I will probably only use this lotion for dry areas like my hands and feet, but I definitely think it’s worth investing in.

Lastly, I’m wrapping up this month’s review with the When™ Travelmate Sheet Mask Set. This mask is supposed to be great for traveling, but I ended up trying it in the comfort of my own home. I could see this being convenient to throw in your bag for a weekend trip, but I’m not sure how necessary it is for vacations. As soon as I applied this sheet mask, a cooling sensation took over my face. This mask was refreshing for the 30 minutes I wore it, but I didn’t see any lasting effects. It was fun to try this once, but I don’t see a need to add it to my beauty routine.

And that’s it for this month’s Birchbox 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, December Birchbox | 2014.

Sparkle in Plaid

Today is all about dolling up the rugged plaid trend. Just because a lumberjack wears plaid to chop down a tree doesn’t mean we can’t sparkle in it! I see a lot of girls sporting the plaid trend, but it’s almost always paired back to sneakers and a ponytail. Don’t get me wrong, that’s an adorable casual look, but there’s no reason you can’t dress up that same plaid shirt!

I got this great plaid flannel from Old Navy and absolutely love the versatility! To go for a more glam look, I opted for metallic accessories, my current Rocksbox jewelry and a bright pink lip! Take a closer look at my accessories below and share how you dress up your plaid in the comments!