Hey guys! Throwing this up here real quick because I got a lot of DMs on Instagram about my lip combo and under eye!

Linking items below!

I have used MAC PRO LONGWEAR CONCEALER NC15 under my eyes for YEARS now! It is the base of my under eye and then I typically apply something brighter OVER it .. AFTER I have finished my blush! Just a few dots to make it EXTRA bright, this is typically ASHLEY SIEVERTS SPOTLIGHT CONCEALER or I recently switch up with MAGIC STAR CONCEALER in PURE WHITE!

MAC | $25

MAGIC STAR | $22

It looks like a little bit of a darker lip liner is coming back in the picture for this summer! My lip combo yesterday was MILANIS NUDE LIPLINER (color 03) lined my lips with this, then put on NARS LIPSTICK IN BRIGITTE. THEN went OVER my lip line AGAIN with the lip liner to make it more defined!

Milani Lipliner | $4

NARS | $34

Okay guys, I have literally not been on here since December! That’s insanity!! By now those of you that follow me know I’m pregnant & am due the first few weeks in May with a sweet baby boy!

Honestly life’s been so crazy since finding out and getting used to all that comes along with it, that I’ve been a little distracted! I figured before I’m officially enter the 3rd trimester this week, I should post about the 1st and 2nd!

First and foremost before we get to that – to every single person out there who has sent congratulations our way, has kept us + baby in their prayers, and has sent their warm wishes and advice, I want to say THANK YOU!! Your love is felt and is so appreciated! Also, to any mommas out there that are trying to conceive and are struggling, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Keep the faith that it will happen, even when times are so unbelievably tough, god has a plan!! XoXo

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1st Trimester

In September of 2019 as me and Ryan left for our honeymoon I mentioned while at the airport that I was a few days late, Ryan mentioned that it probably didn’t happen that quickly and I figured he was right and told myself not to get my hopes up. (The month before our honeymoon we realized after using ovulation sticks, linking here, for two months before to get my cycle planned out that I wouldn’t be ovulating on the honeymoon which is when we wanted to start trying so we said screw it, it won’t happen before we leave! SIKE) We landed in Italy spent a few days there and went on to Greece. After about 3 days in Greece I realized I was over a week late and I took a pregnancy test. Not having anything cute planned I literally handed it to him while he was mid-bite at breakfast. He was like noooo wayyyy! I can’t believe that happened that fast! And I can’t lie although I was so excited I started to get some major anxiety. All the sudden by just looking at that little line my whole life had changed. It was crazy.

We went on to take 3 more GREEK pregnancy tests before coming home and I saw my OBYN Amy grace at Tulane lakeside at about 6 weeks pregnant! This is kind of early on to see most OBGYNS but I know her and she knows I’m crazy so, I went early!

Up until about 13 weeks I did pregnancy test strips every few days that I got from amazon because I was paranoid. I don’t recommend driving yourself crazy like that but if your already a lost cause like me, I’m linking them HERE! It’s a box of 30 strips!

I also used a heart Doppler up until I could start feeling the baby move weeks into the second trimester. I would listen to his heartbeat every few days just to check, because again, I’m crazy! Linking HERE.

Heart Dopper | $54

These first few months I also purchased the 3 types of stretch mark lotions and oils I would use as well as my prenatals! (I did take prenatals two months prior to trying to conceive).

For the first trimester …..

[ PHYSICALLY ] I was a absolutely exhausted. Like alllll the time. I would get home from work and take naps, which if you know me, that’s absolutely crazy! I was nauseous constantly, don’t know why they call it morning sickness, it’s more like all day sickness! But, I only threw up a handful of times, which I am grateful for because that like my least favorite thing ever! At this point me going to the gym every morning was out the window. I went every now and then when I felt like I had the energy to! I also wasn’t seeing too many changes in my body other then my boobs becoming gigantic, but at least here the rest of me wasn’t yet haha!!

[ FOOD ] I’m normally a good girl all week and treat myself on the weekends. Mostly trying to stay away from carbs but indulging in them once or twice on Saturday/Sunday’s. Well that ALL went out the window with how nauseous I was! All I wanted was food with substance! Sandwiches! And a good hearty meal! I had some major aversions, I LOVE fish and the thought or looking at it completely grossed me out, I couldn’t touch it at all! Salads were a no go as well and some veggies that I normally love were grossing me out! I wanted lots of chicken soup with crackers or Ryans delicious grilled cheeses!! Basically I ate whatever tasted good and made me feel better that I could stomach at this point! And eating was the only thing that helped me not feel nauseous, so I gained about 10 pounds in the first trimester! I like to attribute a lot of that to the pasta in Italy before I even knew I was pregnant though!

[ MENTALLY ] I went through all the fears I feel like most newly pregnant woman have. I was petrified of loosing the baby and worried about it frequently. I constantly prayed. I also had a little bit of anxiety about everything and thinking about how much our lives will change (all in good ways, but still anxiety lol!) the first trimester really was the toughest mentally for me and I thank god for Ryan, he was my rock and was constantly positive even if I was scared and worried about a number of things! These first few months I also read the book EXPECTING BETTER, which was a great fit for me as it cut to the chase with explaining the ins & outs / dos & don’ts of pregnancy in a more up to date type of way! It also EXPLAINED why these things are the way they are and I really liked that! And how serious some of the do’s and dont’s were, which again, I liked!

Expecting Better | $13

– MUST HAVES OF THE FIRST TRI –

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SECOND TRIMESTER

I end the second trimester this Saturday, so far this has been the easiest and me feeling most like myself (mentally), more relaxed, feeling good about baby’s health and I’ve had enough energy to get back to me doing the things I love + eating my (somewhat) normal foods! Other then the body changes which in the last 3 weeks have weighed on me heavily, no pun intended pahahah!

In the second trimester having you anatomy scan is a big deal to make sure the baby is developing right, it’s nerve racking and of course can’t catch everything but when you get back news of good results, you can take a breath and rest somewhat easier.

Sleeping has also became a issue, but I find THIS pregnancy pillow has helped me with being able to put it in different positions and getting comfy. I am a back and stomach sleeper so getting used to sleeping on my side (and only the left if were playing by the rules) has been tough! After touching on some research on this subject – you’d know if sleeping on your back was cutting off major circulation to yourself and the baby and this can be fixed by propping a pillow under some of your back, which is what I resort to sometimes.

Snoogle maternity pillow | $59

[ PHYSICALLY ] this has been the trimester that my body has changed the most. I started to develop somewhat of a belly in December and while that was a bay for a little while, the last few weeks I feel like it’s been growing uncontrollably haha! I was definitely able to get back into the gym at the begging of the trimester, almost everyday like I typically would, just to do some light cardio!! Then within the past 3 weeks I started experiencing round ligament pain after a trip to Disney with my mom so I find that the walking can irritate it if I don’t keep it under 45 mins and do a slower pace. I also have had to get THIS belly band because I am carrying low. Ultimately this trimester I’ve had my normally energy back, which was a nice break from the first!

[ FOOD ] I was finally able to start stomaching some of my normals again! Fish, lots of veggies and a good salad aren’t grossing me out!! Of course when I say normals that doesn’t mean favorites, which I’ve definitely been indulging in, but more like my normal self, trying to keep that to the weekends. Except king cake – it’s Mardi Gras and I’m taking advantage of eating that absolutely wheneverrrrr this year. This trimester though I also have started experiencing major heartburn, so, I eat tums like candy some day’s! It doesn’t even matter if it’s something that would normally cause heartburn at this point! Which is so weird!

[ MENTALLY ] I feel less stressed about all the changes coming and more like well, I’ll figure it out along the way like everyone else does. I also feel more at ease about the baby because I can feel him moving around in there constantly! Now, how I’m feeling mentally with my body is a totally different story, I struggle with obsessing over these changes to the point where I was crying almost every time I had to get dressed in something other then for work or yoga leggings. I commend women who are comfortable with this and who say they absolutely love being pregnant and it’s the most comfortable they have ever been in their body. I on the other hand have no words for how disturbing it is to me to have what it feels like is no control over your own body or the number on the scale. Before I was pregnant a day full of protein drinks would get the scale down a good two pounds the next day (probably just from having nothing major in your system) now if I try to have a day full of shakes I get on the scale and it’s the same or goes up a ounce! I was told that my body will get to whatever weight it wants to be regardless of if it’s shakes all day or food. But, it’s still all so frustrating! Obviously what matters most here is a healthy baby and I’m clearly putting on the pounds, so it’s all good, I just need a therapist pahahah!! I remind myself that if so many awesome women can get back to looking and feeling like themselves after baby, that I can too! And again I’m thankful here for Ryan too because he hugs me when I cry on the floor in piles of clothes in the closet, tells me I’m beautiful and that I’m not fat I’m pregnant lol!!! #goodtimes

The books I’ve read so far during this trimester have been mostly baby sleeping books! We are trying to find the best plan for us linking the two below I’ve read and we will also be purchasing a taking cara babies course, which is online.

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So, that’s allllll folks! I definitely can say I do not love being pregnant, I love that I’m growing my sweet boy and honestly could lay around for hours just feeling him kick (the BEST part) but other then that I give it a thumbs down haha! I can say, I can’t complain though because thus far, I have been blessed enough to have had a very easy pregnancy with no sort of complications – hopefully I won’t be eating those words by the end haha!! Stay away gestational diabetes and all the other fun stuff!! I just want my little man to get here healthy happy and on time – or maybe a week before! lol!!!

XoXo, Chelsey Rae

– OTHER BABY GOODIES IVE USED –

okay, is it just me or did December FLY by?!? Like way to fast for me to even get a hold on it! If your anything like me your definitely NOT done christmas shopping yet, so heres a easy list full of stuff everyone would like that will ship within two day pahahha!

hover over the image and click what you want to be brought to the site to purchase!

XOXO,CHELSEY RAE

hey y’all! Sharing some new makeup purchases in the slider below + also highlighting my two new favorites!

– NEW FAVORITE PURCHASES –

Blush wand | $38

Loving this wand by Charlotte Tilbury! It’s basically a creme blush but has a shine to it so it leaves me looking more dewy then flat!! It’s the first blush I’ve found to do this and I honestly love it because I normally find it so hard to get a shine or “highlight” on my cheeks! This makes it fool-proof!

NYX Spirit Lip Gloss | $8

I grabbed this in the airport in NYC and fell in love with it! It’s always hard for me to find a nude type color that has a pinch of pink. Most nudes make me look washed out so a subtle pink to it helps! I haven’t stopped wearing it since I got it and feel like the color stays so well too!!!

XoXo, Chelsey Rae

Faux Gucci Case | $20

Faux Louis Case | $19

Goyard Case | $17

XoXo, Chelsey Rae

Hellllooo my friendsss!! I have been meaning to get on this post for the past month now but haven’t gotten a chance to!

I am so excited to tell you all about our wedding that was in Pass Christian, Mississippi! On May 2nd I headed up to our venue with my momma which was actually a Air B&B that we rented on beach blvd. We got some things together, grabbed dinner and got things ready for the next day! May 3rd Ryan headed up with his work guys and they got busy right away moving furniture, hanging chandeliers in trees, and putting up tents (because rain was at about a 60% chance!).

We also had all the rentals delivered and got ready for our welcome dinner, which was at a gorgeous beachfront restaurant The Chimneys. The food is absolutely delicious and it’s full of southern charm! The weather that evening was gorgeous and we ate dinner out on the porch with our closet family and friends and had a blast!! So many people made so many sweet speech’s that brought on lots of happy tears! We are so lucky to be so loved and have so many great people in our lives! We headed to grab a few drinks after dinner at a bar across the bay and then headed back to the wedding venue to get some sleep! Me and Ryan didn’t do the normal wedding thing, we stayed together the night of the wedding!

I can’t lie I went to sleep that night stressed about the rain and praying the radar would clear, it actually wasn’t looking to bad! Well … needless to say when I woke up to the sound of rain I reached for my phone before my eyes had even opened and I immediately opened the weather app to see nothing but red on the radar. Absolute hysterics started then. I’d love to say I played it cool but I completely lost and and balled my eyes out! Poor Ryan was probably like ummm…is it too late to run? What the hell? This is the morning of my wedding? pahaha! He calmed me down like he always does though!

After that I just kinda got over it and figured whatever will be will be. Though out the day the rain continued to pour, but my aunts kept telling me it would clear as they watched the radar and set up candles. I just decided to drink orange sorbet mimosas, do people’s hair, stuff my face with canes, and get my makeup done (by the fabulous Rita who owns Luxury Beauty Clinic ) to keep my mind off of the weather!

I know what your thinking, duh dummy rain is ALWAYS a possibility with a outdoor wedding! And I know this, I’m the girl that said I would NEVER have an outdoor wedding because I couldn’t handle the rain. But when me and Ryan got engaged, it’s just what I envisioned for some reason. And with us keeping it smaller and more intimate it just felt right! I said if it rains it rains, whatever! Cool girl totally went out the window when it actually rained though! I honestly didn’t care if it rained all night, I just didn’t want it to rain while we said our vows under the big oak tree because where the heck else would we have done it? On the dance floor?! #devastated

Either way finally around 3:30 The sky’s cleared. I was so thrilled! But, then it was time to figure out some other things! Before we get into that let me start by mentioning that I did have Elizabeth Burkhardt as a month of wedding planner. She was absolutely amazing and went above and beyond when it came to making my vision come to life, not only on the wedding day, but the welcome dinner as well because she stayed up all night and made me some amazing ballon garland. She completely took control on my wedding day and I didn’t have to worry about a single thing!

We ended up having a little cake problem, so I am not going to link them here hahaha! Even though the cake tasted delicious, it wasn’t the cake we had designed because our cake had collapsed not once, but twice! Liz so kindly didn’t even tell me thank Jesus lol and she had them just get a white cake there to let the florist work some magic! The cake turned out beautiful thanks to Pine Hills Floral.

Speaking of the florist – Rachel, who I worked with, from day one was so easy and helpful. She knew exactly what I wanted and My florals were amazing! All we wanted was simple eucalyptus garlands, but we wanted them to be full & have a few pink or white roses in them here or there. Our venue was so full of foliage that we really didn’t have to over do it! My bouquet was also exactly what I hoped for! If anyone ever needs anything done with florals I highly recommend them!

From the cake drama came another. Liz and Ryan wanted to know how I felt about not wearing my shoes down the “isle” which was now obviously sopping wet from rain. We all knew I’d sink if I wore my heels but I wasn’t having that because my dress was fitted for shoes! Ryan and Liz (aka the dream team) got to thinking about what we could use as an isle runner.

I can’t lie, this is one of my favorite parts of the day. Ryan went to see what was around the property that we could use to put over visqueen for a isle runner. He said leaves and I looked at him like he was crayyyyy. Now this property we were staying at had a chicken coop (obviously with no chickens anymore). Ryan proceeds to find bags of wood chip shavings in the chicken coop. Walks them up to the door where I’m standing in as he is standing outside in the rain. He’s drenched from head to toe holding this bag of wood chip shavings telling me that we’ll spread those over the visqueen and put rose petals mixed in. I’ll never forget this moment – I looked at him in my head thinking this dude has got to really love me. He’s not even miserable right now and he’s been running around all day on his wedding day in the rain just trying to make it perfect for us. I looked at him and said “why do I feel like your enjoying this so much right now” he said “I love this, I love figuring stuff out”. I swear, he’s got the best attitude and I love him for it!!! At that point I laughed at the fact that I’d literally be walking down a isle of hamster shavings but it didn’t matter, all that mattered was I was getting to marry him!

Things looked up after the hamster shavings. We were getting down to crunch time! … for those of you that don’t already know, I have one of my very best friends Krista that is a photographer (Krista Cheramie Co.) ! She is the one that usually shoots all my pics! Also, sometimes there’s a little Nina thrown in there for the blog too! She’s amazing and is always so creative! She was my main shooter and I was so excited to have her do the wedding because she always listens to what I like and feel comfortable with! One of the things I love about her! She owns By Nina Celie ! Anyway, I love them both a ton and am so glad that they BOTH shot parts of my wedding!!! Me and Ryan the week of the wedding decided we would do a first look, but didn’t discus where. Someone threw out the beach across the street and we all loved the idea! Ryan headed to the beach first with Nina and I threw on my Linen Jolie Bridal dress and followed with Krista a few minutes after! I was so glad we did the first look! I was worried about it feeling awkward but it was perfect for us! We laughed with each other, got a few AMAZING pictures and headed back to tie the knot!!!

I did ask a few of my girls to be “bridesmaids” but I literally just wanted them in pretty colors for a picture haha! And for them to know how much they do mean to me! Literally no one walked up the isle other then my two soo cute flower girls and me with my dad and stepdad! We had a beautiful ceremony under a big oak tree and a lit up chandelier. We had a harpist that sounded so pretty and we read each other our own vows! When Ryan told me he wanted to write our own vows I was pretty petrified, I was like no way! His response was “well you don’t have to but I am” …. ummmm wellll of course that means I’ll have to or I’ll look like a jerk! In the end I’m so glad we did – it was such a special moment with him that I’ll never forget!!

After the ceremony we grabbed a few bites of food in the house, grabbed a drink and headed out to our first dance! We danced to “speechless” by Dan + Shay which was so funny, because Ryan doesn’t even like country and that was one of his picks! From our first dance on we literally just had an absolute blast with our family and friends! I was determined to have so much fun at our wedding, to get to spend time with Ryan, & to just dance the night away!

I did & It was easy to do just that and have fun because literally everyone invited was so close to us that we didn’t feel pressure to have to entertain! I literally was on the dance floor all night with my family, friends & Ryan!!

Despite a few hiccups, I am so happy and blessed that I got to enjoy our special day so much & that I got to do it with every single person that was there! I look back and always tell Ryan “our wedding was so fun” and that’s all that matters, that we got married + we had a good time! (And we better have because that shit was expensive 😜).

Me and Ryan both appreciate everyone’s help so much, from my mom, Ryan’s parents, to my aunts, Ryan & his guys, Liz, my cousin em, and my very best friends! If your reading this we love you guys TONS!

And that’s it! That’s our wedding story!

Posting lots of pictures below + adding a slider with tons of things I purchased and used for the wedding. A lot of you guys also ask about my wedding gift to Ryan, my gift to him was a illustrated book that was “our story” it took me about 6 months to write the book with the illustrator drawing as we went along. The book was over $1,500 for those asking and I will link all of Laurels information HERE.

Drop Earrings | $95

Lucite Heels | $260

– WEDDING PURCHASES –

XoXo, Chelsey Rae