Meet Trailblazer Chelsea Padgett

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Padgett.

Chelsea, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was inspired to start a blog when I became pregnant with my first baby and decided I’d be staying home with her. I was not the girl that thought she’d have kids, and I definitely never saw myself as a stay-at-home mom. I was living in the beach cities of Los Angeles at the time. I had been a Makeup Artist for 10+ years. One of my biggest fears was losing myself and my love for beauty and fashion in the trenches of motherhood. I started a blog and later an Instagram to share affordable, everyday clothing and makeup with other moms. My motto is, and always has been, when you look better, you feel better, and you do better. As my baby grew and my love for being a mom evolved, I also started sharing lessons and life hacks for moms. At first, the whole thing was just a hobby. When I got pregnant with my second baby two years later, I realized people were making money from sharing their love of products with their audience. I thought I’d give it a go as a business.

Then, two years later, we moved to the small and beautiful mountain town of Fort Collins, Colorado. I have since gone back to treating the blog more as a hobby, some days a side hustle. I got lost for a minute in my own high expectations of growth and success that the fun of sharing and connecting with my mom tribe had faded. I love inspiring people to feel their best and encourage them to have a more positive mindset. Blogging and Social Media is such a great way to connect with others. Whether your “look better” is upgrading chapstick to lipstick, or changing out of sweatpants into yoga pants, that little change makes all the difference in how you feel about yourself. As a stay-at-home mom, there’s no one else around to tell you, you look great, or are doing a great job. It’s so important that we take time for ourselves so we can make ourselves feel good and worthy. Being a stay-at-home mom is one of the most isolating and mentally exhausting jobs. Feeling good about ourselves needs to be a priority.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The thing about the world of Social Media is, you only see what we want you to see… I’ve tried to stay very real and honest about my life as a mommy. I feel being relatable is one of the reasons my community engages with me. I’ve shared about everything from fashion and beauty to miscarriage and depression. When you open your life up, you never what life will bring you. Not everyone is going to like you! It’s hard to put yourself out there so openly and have people unfollow or say negative things. It’s in our nature to compare ourselves with other Instagram Influencers, and it can sometimes take you to a dark place. If you have something to say and an audience who needs to hear it, I encourage you to share. If you share from an honest place with zero expectations, the people who need to hear your message will find you. Create content people want to see, but also that people NEED! Don’t look at what others are doing, because that’s already been done. Do what you feel is natural for you.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Binkies & Baubles – what should we know?
I was a makeup artist for an international cosmetics line for over ten years in LA. During that time, I tested their new products, trained new artists, and freelanced all over LA for commercials, music videos, headshots, etc… For my audience, I create makeup looks and tutorials that are for the everyday makeup lover. I keep looks simple and quick, using a minimum amount of products, while still encouraging ladies to use color or try trends they love in a way that isn’t too shocking. “That won’t look good on me”, and “I love makeup but don’t know how to wear it”, are the two most common reasons my clients needed help and those are the two answers I try to give my viewers with every look I share.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
As a stay-at-home mom, I love finding local mom groups. I joined the MOMs Club after my first was born and I’m still a member. I recently joined the Junior League too! Both are non-profit organizations that give back to their local communities with a focus on women’s networking. I’m also a member of dozens of Facebook groups for moms, makeup, and bloggers. There a ton of Podcasts for bloggers and mommies that offer great advice.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.binkiesandbaubles.com
• Phone: 2133932602
• Email: bbandbirkin@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/binkiesandbaubles
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/binkiesandbaubles
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/binkiesbaubles

Image Credit:
Chelsea Padgett

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