Last Letters of Summer

Dear Pretty Little Liars -

You win. I started watching you on Netflix last week and I can't stop. My lunch breaks aren't long enough. I want to marry Mr. Fitz. [no spoilers, please!!!!]

[via]

Dear Weekend -

You cannot get here soon enough. You just cannot. And as soon as you get here, I plan on soaking up every second of you that I can. Starting with a little retail therapy :)

Dear Dreams - 

I'll figure you out soon. You've stayed with me for years now and I keep talking myself out of you but that doesn't make you go away. Nor should it. I promise I won't let others talk me out of you either. The time is almost here to work hard and make you come true!

[via]

Dear Bloggers - 
So many of you inspire me every day. You have been the biggest support for me through my toughest moments. Because of how loving and inspiring this blogging community is, Hollie [Hollie Takes Notes] and I have created Project Inspire - a snail mail swap of motivational cards/notes!

Check our blogs on Tuesday for all the fun details and to sign up! :)

[via]

Dear Jewelry Lovers -
Have you checked out the latest additions to my shop, After Sunset? That Cove Necklace below in Ballet Pink is now for sale :) Stop by the shop here and see what else we have! Today, I'm wearing the Ombre Necklace in Sunburst Orange [Again. I am always wearing orange these days it seems!]

Linking up with Ashley for Friday's Letters and you should too :)

Happy Friday to all!

Enjoy your last weekend of Summer!! Can you believe it?

Letters in August

It's been a while since I've written some letters. 

Dear Chelsea,

I know your heart was a little heavy yesterday, looking back at how far you've come this past year but how far you still want to go. It's been almost one year since you left Utah. There have been so many changes this year. So many uncertainties. Your personal beliefs have changed, your priorities have re-aligned, and that's okay. Take the time to keep finding yourself and to keep finding the right people surround yourself with. It's okay to have doubts. Just stay true to you. 

Dear New Instagram [or shall I start calling you Facegram?],

[via]

Not okay. Not. Okay. So, I can zoom in and see the exact spot on a street where I was located while uploading pictures? Sure, I can "undo" the places you tagged my pictures FOR me on the map, but, really? Why did you think this was a good idea? That's what I want to know.

Here is their reasoning:  “We don’t want Instagram only to be about ‘now,’” Instagram founder Kevin Systrom told Wired via email. “Instead we want Instagram to be a visual collection of your memories — something beautiful and nostalgic.”  You're right. Because I'm going to forget what street I was on when I posted that picture in my house... Mmm, memories.

Dear Online Deal Websites,

[via]

I think I have signed up to receive all of your emails. Yep, every single one of you. I mostly just peruse but I confess, when I do find something that's a really good deal that I just can't pass up - it sure makes me happy!

Dear Summer,

I'm over you. I mean, what's the point when I have to wear a sweater and sit next to my space heater all day at work because it's so friggin' cold inside? Not to mention, I can't curl my hair because when I do and when I do go outside, the curls say, "buh-bye." I'm ready to start singing, "O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum" and "The First Noel." No?

Dear TJ Maxx,

Your "impulse buy" section at check-out got to me and I don't even regret it because this is what I scored:

For $3.99 each!! Guess I'm back on board the Essie train!

Dear Aubrey,

You turn 2-years-old today!! I'm so sad that I couldn't be here the day you were born or for your 1st birthday but tomorrow we are going to celebrate in Minnie style! You light up my life and I am so happy and blessed to be your Auntie. You are so pretty and loving! I can't wait to see how far you go in life :)

Go link up your letters with Ashley!

It's Magic Mike Day/Letters

Dear Magic Mike – I am renaming you to Magic Matt because, let’s be honest, I am going to see this movie for my man Matt Bomer. I will probably miss half of the movie because of either a) I will be freaking out or b) I won’t be watching/listening to Channing Tatum because I will be too busy watching Matt in the background. It’s too bad I won’t be able to pause/rewind/slow-mo the movie… yet. Check for a follow-up post/review soon!

[via]

Dear Bloggy Friends – Have I told you lately that I love you? Because I do. A lot. I had another first blate last night with Shannon and I just love her already! So, whether I’ve met you in real life or chat with you every day via email/social media, you brighten my life. And I mean that in the least corny way possible. I feel like I can trust and rely on so many of you… more than many people I’ve known for years. I think that says a lot about the caliber of people in this blogging community. And knowing that there are still so many of you out there to meet, sure makes me happy :)

Dear New Car – I’m so happy to welcome you into my life. After seven years with my last car, you’re new and exciting [and smell really nice too] I promise to take care of you and park as far away as I have to in order to stay away from all the crazy door-hitting parkers of the DC area. I just know we’ll be making lots of great memories together.

Dear Real Housewives of Orange County – I know that I’ve written a letter to you recently but I have to write another. I guess that goes to show you how much I like you. And I know I’m about to really go out on a limb and sound slightly crazy, but this past season I saw a lot of parallels with my own life. I’m sad that the season has come to an end. My weeks will be missing something now. What am I supposed to think – will Vicki & Tamra ever be friends again? Will Gretchen & Slade get married? Will they replace Alexis? Will Heather continue to make me want to be her? Sigh.

Dear Acting Class – I can’t wait for you! Week #2 is going to rock. I just know it. I’ll be running through my lines every chance I get until tomorrow morning. I plan to soak up every bit of knowledge that I can from you. As I’ve already mentioned, you make me come alive and that’s one of the greatest feelings I know!

Love Always,

Chelsea

P.S. Raise your hand if you're going to see Magic Mike Matt this weekend, too!

Oh, and don't forget to enter the giveaway for one of my After Sunset bracelets over on Julie’s blog, The Girl in the Red Shoes :) Only a couple days left!


Now, go link up with Ashley!

Letters at the Start of June

Dear life:

slow down a little, will ya? I can’t believe how quickly this past year of blogging has gone by. I look back at all that’s happened – some good memories, and some bad and sometimes it just makes me sad to see how fast time passes us all by – how much my niece has grown up, how much I have grown up. So, please slow down and let me breathe a little.

Dear Best Friend:

Our dinner date last night was long-overdue. I can’t believe that was our first real quality alone time together since the morning before my wedding! I’m so grateful for our friendship after all these years. We’ve seen each other through some of our best and worst times. Despite the distance these past five years, every time we see each other it’s as if nothing has changed and I know that’s what makes us so special. Thank you for being such a wonderful example to me, Soulmate.

[via]

Dear Green Smoothies:

So far, I like you. A lot. You’re filling, healthy, and taste super yummy. It’s okay if you’re not the prettiest of colors [um, what’s the trick to making them turn out lime green?] because I really do feel so refreshed every morning after breakfast [and even sometimes after dinner too!]

Dear Stella:

I love you so much and feel like I’ve been such a bad fur mom for not playing with you as often as I used to. I’ll make up for it this weekend. But only if you promise to stop waking me up at 5:45am on the dot by nipping at my wrist. I know you want to play with my hair tie. I get it. But let’s snuggle instead.

Dear RHOC:

You are my favorite housewives and you always have been. I look forward to your crazy antics every week, but also enjoy the occasional life lesson you teach. In fact, I think you deserve an entire future blog post.

[via]

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! I’ll definitely be spending some time poolside again, soaking up the sun and the Virginia heat. What are your plans?

Be sure to link up your letters wish sweet Ashley!

And, don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a chance to win any bracelet from my shop, After Sunset! Enter here :)

April Letters

Dear Las Vegas,

Thank you for having me. Thanks for your heat warmth. The sun's rays felt so good on my skin and the crisp blue sky sure looked good as my backdrop for pictures. You always leave me feeling refreshed and inspired. 

Dear Instagram,

I love how you challenge me to find art in my surroundings while capturing memories at the same time. [Follow me on Instagram: @chelseasunset]

Dear Heart,

I know you're a little confused and unsettled right now but just stay patient. Everything will be okay in the end. Just you wait and see.

Dear Dad,

You're awesome. You always have been and I just don't tell you enough. You are so strong and smart about everything. I hope that one day I'll know even half of the things you do. Thanks for all that you do everyday and for hanging out with Stella while I was out of town.

Dear Sunburn,

It looks like you only found your way to my shoulders which I'm grateful for. I'll gladly accept the tan on the rest of my skin. Is it weird that the slight pain you're causing makes me smile because it reminds me where I got you in the first place? #desertsun


Dear Blog Readers,
Wow, thank you! I can't believe there are 500 of you now! It sure puts a big smile on my face to see and feel how far blogging has brought me :) You are all wonderful and I've found some of my closest friends through this amazing community!

Dear Brother,

I know you read this from time to time and I don't tell you enough how proud I am of you. You've always been the best big brother I could have asked for. You're smart and funny. Thanks for always being there for me.

Dear Dreams,

Please stay with me. I've put you off for years but I promise this is the year I start making you come true as I get you figured out little by little. I've learned that life is too short to do things that make you unhappy and I know that you would end up bringing me the greatest joy. I won't give up or sell myself short.

Dear Mom,

Not a day goes by that I don't think of you. Yesterday thinking of the library made me think of you. My soul misses you. I still don't know how to live this life without you and I think I might not ever know. I just have to make it work somehow and I know you'll find a way to help. Keep watching over me...

For more Friday's Letters, head on over to Ashley's sweet blog :)

Letters on Friday

Dear Self,
Keep going. Don't let anyone talk you down or out of your dreams. You know what you want. You might not know every step of the way just yet, but you know how to start. Take the leap. You'll learn to fly.

Dear DC Weather,
I don't even mind the clouds the past few days. These warmer temperatures have allowed me to feel comfortable in short sleeves and sandals. The breeze on my face when I walk out of work is warm and refreshing. Please stay.

Dear Stella,
I don't know why you're barely eating your food. I don't know why you do a lot of things, like how you find the newspapers and suddenly they are your new favorite bed. But, I hope you're okay. I hope this is just you acting like a stubborn teenager because I put you on a diet...

Dear Readers,
I don’t know what I’d do without you. This community is beyond what I ever expected it to be. It’s one of the biggest, most loving and compassionate support networks I could have asked for. You guys make me smile, laugh, tear up, think, and I can’t thank you enough!

Dear Traffic,
I don’t know where you came from but please go back. Even though my office is far away, I was enjoying not having to sit in stop-and-go traffic until this week happened. Now I have to sit behind 20 cars just to get off the road my office is on! Not cool, traffic. Not cool.

Dear Mom,
You've been gone a month and nothing is the same. I hope you're doing well [I know you are] and I just want you to know how much I miss you. I miss your voice, I miss your hugs, I miss all your words of wisdom. I still need you so feel free to make yourself known some time. I'll keep myself open to it.

Dear UDA Nationals,
You make me really happy. You truly do. Being able to watch the recap every year on ESPN takes me back to my dancin' days. I hope I can re-ignite a passion for something now like the passion I had back then!

Dear Positive Vibes,
Keep coming my way! I've opened up plenty of room in my life for you and welcome you with open arms :)

Pretty excited to be linking up with Ashley for this series! I remember reading her Friday’s Letters when I first found her blog way back when and they always warmed my heart :)