Shop for Pensacola

Many of you know that earlier this week, my hometown Pensacola, FL, was hit by a huge storm and unexpectedly left many many families displaced, roads washed away, homes and businesses destroyed and priceless family valuables in ruins.

Thankfully our families have been spared and their homes are dry.  However, the home the hubs and I lived in (and the church we called home) prior to CA was flooded as well as most of our neighbors.  It will take years to rebuild the community.

In a small effort to help those in need, I'm dedicating ALL of my personal Chloe + Isabel proceeds during the month of May to families in need.  Shop using this link (important to use this specific link) and share with your friends. On June 5th, all proceeds collected will be turned into gift cards and sent to families who have been displaced.

If jewelry isn't your thing, visit one of the links below to give to friends who could use the financial help.

http://www.gofundme.com/8s90hs

http://www.gofundme.com/8sxjb4

Several items are 25% off this weekend and all orders placed by Sunday will arrive in time for Mother's Day.

Thank you SO much from the bottom of my heart for the love, prayers and support.

Here are a few photos flooding my social media feed and a few my dad sent me this morning.

Life In Full Bloom

Hi Friends,

It's Monday and I feel I'm still adjusting to the time change...its a silly thing, isn't it?  We had a wonderful weekend - hiking, exploring more of the California Coast and worshipping with our friends at Calvary Monterey.  I wrote this post over the weekend and wanted to share it with you this morning. Hope it encourages your heart on this sleepy Monday.  Lots of love....

"Bloom where you're planted."  I've heard the phrase many times, but it took on a different meaning a few days ago, as I sat in my dining room, gazing at a vase of fresh cut flowers I had just purchased from the market.

If you know me, you know that I adore flowers.  I worked at a flower shop in high school and I quickly learned to make all sorts of things with the delicate blooms - corsages, boutonnieres, fresh arrangements, funeral sprays, wedding bouquets, etc.  I loved it!  As an employee at the shop, I had to take a few classes on floral arranging.  I learned things such as how to properly cut and prepare the flowers before using them, how to feed and nurture them before adding them to an arrangement, how to pair one flower with another so that they both shine, how to arrange them so that each flower is seen and every bloom has the space to expand to it's fullest, and how to keep each bloom from overshadowing another.  You see, when you put together an arrangement of just cut flowers, chances are, the blooms are still tight - they haven't opened completely.  If cared for properly, each bloom will open and expand.  One by one, petals will unfold, showing the world all it has to offer - layers of color, texture, and smell.

I found beautiful pink ranunculus and orange anemones at the market for $5 a bunch.  I couldn't resist.  They seem to grow easily here on the West Coast; you rarely see them in Florida.  If you do, they are at least $5 a stem.  Eeesh!  Anyhow, I came home and arranged them in a pitcher of fresh water.  I cut each stem carefully and cleanly, giving it a specific length and a designated place in the vase.  Happy with my creation, I sat the arrangement on the coffee table and walked away.  It was almost 2:00 and I still hadn't had lunch, so I pulled out left overs and sat down to eat.  The apartment was quiet.  Sun was brightly shining through the windows and Blakely was sitting at my feet.  Enjoying the peace, my eyes fixed themselves on the flowers.  Already the blooms were beginning to open.  Somehow they were more beautiful now than just a few moments ago.  Bright pink petals were becoming more relaxed as they began to settle into their new home.  

{Day 1}

I feel much like these flowers.  Plucked out of my home and placed in a totally new environment.  Prepared, pruned and arranged in such a way that will allow me to grow into my fullest potential.  Paired with a man who will encourage me to shine.  Hydrated & sun-fed so that I may grow strong.  Strategically placed so that I will expand.  And layer by delicate layer, I'm blooming into all that I was made to be - revealing God's perfect design.  Bursting with color and layers of intricate textures, emitting a sweet, sweet fragrance and exploding with life!

{Day 2}

I'm not saying that I've arrived, but I can feel I'm getting closer.  This time last year, I was very much in that seedling process - going through painful growth spurts and pruning sessions.  God has done SO much in my heart over the past few years, and looking at that beautiful vase of God made flowers gave me hope that I am headed towards beauty in the fullest.  

{Day 3}

Friends, be encouraged.  You too have a place in this world.  Bloom where you're planted and know that beauty is the end result of a life sought after Him.

- images via danya collyer

Turquoise Bilss

Spring is so close, I can almost feel it! In Florida, spring comes and goes all too quickly {usually, only lasting a few weeks}.  It's the most glorious time of year.  The breeze drifts over the ocean and into the small beach town, the flowers are in full bloom, the trees are greener than green, the white sands are glistening and the ocean is a sparkling turquoise - more inviting than bath water.  But here in Monterey, I have a feeling spring is going to be very different.  The weather seems to vary from day to day.  One day it's cold and foggy, the next its warm and sunny and then the following it's sunny with a biting wind blowing off the Monterey Bay.  I like the variety.  Its more variety than I ever had at home, but it's a bit confusing.  The Florida girl in me just wants to pull out my beach bag and a good book and head to the beach, but that probably won't be happening till my trip home in May.

Anyhow, today was on the warmer side {I was actually able to run with a mere tank top and forgo the sweatshirt}, my skin was overjoyed to feel the sun kissing it, to say the least.  It brought back sweet memories of days relaxing on the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico.  Just thinking of all that turquoise water made me anxious to see blue of any shade!  So what do I do in a moment like that?  Shop!  {Well, I haven't committed to any purchases just yet cause hubby has us on a budget, but hey! My birthday is in two weeks??}

I found the most lovely turquoise heels and a fabulous clutch to go with.  All you need is a white tank, a great pair of denim, and wavy locks - you're golden!

{Sorry it's blurry...it came from Pinterest and it served as my inspiration for my turquoise hunt}

{Shoes from Michael Antonio}

{Clutch from Marketa New York Shop on Etsy}

{Oh!  And this beautiful Gold Leaf Cuff would polish the look nicely}

{Catherine Weitzman Plumeria Leaf Golf Cuff}

From Coast to Coast....

We made it!  Today marks one week of being California residents and it's also hubby's first day at his new job.  It's a bit surreal we're here. I don't know that the magnitude of what we've done will hit me for a few more weeks.  Oh. My. Goodness.

I did manage to pick up some sort of flu bug while in transit and was feeling pretty cruddy for the first few days.  (Flu + living out of a suitcase + emotions at an all time high = one hot mess of a girl)  Hubby took great care of me though, and Blakely was one sweet snuggly pup; I'm happy to say I've recovered.

The past few days have been filled with house hunting.  I knew shopping for a place to rent would be stressful and even a little depressing, considering housing is sooooo much more expensive on this coast, but nothing could have prepared me for just HOW expensive and tiny housing is here.  Our first few days of this were just sad - we found that most landlords don't allow pets, and if they do, you pay a pretty penny to keep that furry friend under your roof.  (Which is a little confusing, cause this is one dog friendly area.  Most shops have dog bowls and treats outside their front door, and some allow pets inside their businesses.)  Saturday our spirits were lifted - we found a great little apartment complex just 5 minutes away from downtown Monterey and just off the interstate for easy access to hubby's work.  And guess what??  They take pets!  We applied for the apartment yesterday and are hoping to hear back from them today or tomorrow.

While I'm thrilled we finally found something clean, close to budget and pet friendly, I have to say I'm still a bit shocked.  We came from a beautiful 1,666 sq ft home in FL and (if all goes well) we're headed to a 600 sq ft apartment.  Talk about an adjustment!  My wheels are turning - I've been scouring the internet for tips on decorating and making the most of small living spaces.  Any tips, hints or suggestions from seasoned small space dwellers, or interior designers are welcomed & appreciated.

Blakely's dying to be walked, but here are a few pics from our last few days home in Florida.  Monterey pics coming soon, I promise.

Christmas, moving, and other things...

Wow, the days are slipping away.  Christmas is on our heels and our big move is just around the corner!  I'm done working and taking the time off to prepare for the cross-country move.  All is falling into place except for one (in my opinion) MAJOR thing - housing.  :-\  So many people ask if we're excited and what not, yes, of course we are - it's an adventure....but there's that homemaker thing inside me that's just itching to find a cute little (affordable) place to call our own.  Having a pup in tow isn't exactly making the matter any less difficult.  He's a great little guy, but convincing a home owner that I may just have the best doggie in the world is an entirely different story.  Humph!  What to do?  What to do?  Trust God.  It's all I can do.  He's provided everything else thus far, I'm sure that's on it's way.  The planner in me just wants to know exactly where I'm headed and what I'm doing.

Since my last post some of my precious students participated in my Christmas recital.  Oh my goodness, it was the sweetest thing!  Each student played (piano, guitar, or sang) two Christmas songs; I truly couldn't have been more proud.  I was a little nervous there for a few kiddos, but they all got through their songs and they did such a fabulous job!  Here's a photo one of the mom's snapped:  (Don't they look precious in all of their pretty dresses?  Some of them even doused themselves in glitter for the event!  Oh girls! ;)

In other news, lots of baking has been going down in the Collyer kitchen.  Last night was a pinterest inspired bake-a-thon with gfree Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies & a Tiramisu Roulade.  Ummm, sugar overload?  I think yes!  My kitchen is still doused in powdered sugar - Blakely's enjoying the new sweet flavor the tile has acquired.

You can find the recipe to the cookies here and the roulade here.  (A little tip if you plan to try the roulade - I actually added chocolate chips to the layer of marscapone cheese for a little added sweetness since there wasn't any sweetener in the cream...it turned out perfect!)  The cookies are for our neighbors and the roulade was for hubby's work Christmas party.

And lastly before I turn in for the evening....we had a friend take a few Christmas pics & thought I'd share.  Hope you're enjoying the holidays!  If I don't make it back to PPS before Christmas (cause this whole moving thing is just consuming me), MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Lots of love....