Fall Fashion Fusion

I know I know, this event was almost 80 years ago and I'm finally getting around to posting it. That's just what happens when you're a super-busy-young-married-college-student-lifestyle-blogger {WHEW! That was a mouthful}. I was invited to Fashion Place Mall's Fall Fashion Fusion runway event, and it was a blast like last time! I met up with my blogger BFF Kyla at the show and was also lucky enough to have my mom in town to come with me.

We got to check out all the up & coming fall trends fashioned by various stores such as: Banana Republic, Nordstrom, Express, Buckle, and more in the Fashion Place Mall. I saw that leather leggings are big as ever, leopard print is still the bomb dot com, and brown booties are an absolute must-have in your Fall wardrobe!

I loved Banana Republic's classic yet feminine take on Fall style with sweaters layered over chambray button-ups {if you don't have one yet, it's a necessity!} as well as Nordstrom's edgy take with drool-worthy Rag & Bone booties and essential skin-tight jeggings & leggings. 

After the show, my mom & I dropped by Lush because she had never been there before and grabbed some fun bath bombs! Love the smells when you walk in there, yummmm!

What is your Fall fashion essential?

Modest Dresses: How + Where to Find Them

{Left-->Right. Blue pattern: Loft, $20. Purple floral: Ross, $16. Pink floral: Francesca's, $28 with employee discount. White lace: Ross, $17. Blue&Cream: Anthropologie sale, $40.}

I've had many people comment here or on Instagram with something to this effect:
"How do you find all these cute/modest/affordable dresses?!"
Well my friends, I will now divulge to you my tips & tricks for dress shopping!

{Left-->Right. Teal pencil: Banana Republic, gift from friend+$5 strap tailoring. Taupe pattern: Banana Republic via Plato's Closet, $14+$5 strap tailoring. Cream lace: GDazzle.com, won in a giveaway. Yellow gingham: eShakti, c/o for a review+$5 strap tailoring. Orange eyelet: Old Navy, $7 on sale rack.}

How?

+ Know your height and figure! This will make shopping easier and much more time efficient. If you know that you have longer legs, then you probably shouldn't go for a dress that looks short on the hanger. As for me, being 5'3 with an hourglass shape, I usually go for pencil or fit & flare dress styles. I also know that dresses that look kind of short on the hanger will hit my knee when I try them on because I'm so short! Now that I can eyeball it, I go directly for the dresses that I know will flatter my shape. After lots of trying on and shopping practice, you will soon learn how to spot a dress that will fit your figure by just looking at it on the hanger.

+ Is it worth the hassle? I'm not a huge fan on lots of layering and the most I'll do is a lightweight sweater {I get so freaking hot, no more layers!}. So if a dress needs a top/tank underneath and a sweater on top or needs extensive tailoring, I usually just pass on it. You want dresses in your closet that are fun and easy to style, not something you have to constantly adjust or use a bazillion different layers for it to be deemed appropriate.

+ Sleeves, tank tops, and sweaters, oh my! If I love a dress but it doesn't meet my sleeve requirement, I think about what in my closet I could layer with it. An orange sweater? A tough leather jacket? Then the next question is whether or not it's worth paying for a dress that I would have to layer something over the top? If it's a good price, length, and it tugs at my heart strings...I'll give in and purchase the dress. All of these dresses are completely adorable and I would layer my sweater or chambray shirt over the top to not only make it modest, but give it some personality :)

Where?

 + Ross. I almost always find a nice pencil or lace dress at Ross {and adorable shoes, but that's beside the point!}. You have to visit Ross when you are in a "thrifting" mood, because you have to search for items in your size and try everything on. Although, it is completely worth it when you score a good deal because the dresses are usually $30 and under!

+ Secondhand Stores {i.e. Plato's Closet}. I have found many Banana Republic dresses at secondhand stores for only $14-$16, and the only tailoring needed was to pull up the straps! {yet again, midget status}. It is completely worth the inexpensive fix because they are classic pencil dresses that can be mixed and matched with anything for any season.

+ Anthropologie. Stop rolling your eyes! It can be inexpensive, it just takes more effort and time to keep track of the dress you want until it hits the sale racks. I've found funky pieces for $30-$50 on sale that add personality to my wardrobe AND meet my appropriate requirements.

+ Ann Taylor Loft. This is one of my favoritest places to shop. Seriously EVERYTHING goes on sale, and they can run from $15-$30 on the sale rack! A lot of times they will even do an additional 40-60% off of sale items which is awesome. Most everything has sleeves, is classy, and a good length. Definitely one of my top places to find comfy, affordable, and casual dresses!

A Spring Fashion Show

I attended the Fashion Place Mall Fashion Show this last weekend and had a complete BLAST.

I picked up Rachel & Kyla and we carpooled our way up to Murray in lovely Utah traffic.

When we finally made it, I felt like we were at a family reunion,

I was so excited to see all my favorite Utah bloggers :D

We got a tote bag with some fun goodies inside {make-up samples and a Sephora gift card!}, a cool VIP pass {I felt legit & official}, and we sat at the edge of the runway to watch all the shows.

I loved the ballroom dancers who did a mini-performance on the runway in between shows, how cool!!

{Sarah, Ana, Rachel, and me!}

I was cracking up at how us funny bloggers are, as a massive group we seriously sat and took a BAZILLION pictures for each of our blogs & Instagram accounts. Soooo typical ;)

It is always so funny to meet bloggers you follow in person, I met Sasha for the first time the other night, gave her a huge hug and said hi...then when I started talking to her I accidentally went to introduce myself {my natural instinct when meeting someone in person for the first time} when I realized...oh ya, we already know each other! Totally felt like a dweeb! 

Ohhh the blog world!

{Ana, Kyla, Katie, Me, Rachel}

My favorite parts of the night were: hanging out with my blogger girls {look at the pic above for the most choice Utah bloggers}, hitting up Sephora debating on what to spend our gift cards on, scarfing Chick-fil-a, way fun girl talk, getting a Fossil charm for my bracelet {the blue vespa!}, and getting my first ever Lush bath bomb! 

My face still hurt when I got home from all the smiling & laughing throughout the night!

It took alllll my might to take pictures of the night's outfit before ripping off my shoes and hopping into my sweats. So glad I wore some comfy jeans & a flowy top to account for my chick-fil-a feast.

Thanks to all the girls who made it such a fun night!

amateur decorater

Now that school is about to start, I have this ridiculous urge to re-do my entire house.

You know when you just get sick of the way something looks and your'e like:

"You know what...I'm gonna paint that dang wall today."

I already painted a wall in the front room blue, and I'm going to paint our bedroom walls cream.

Kinda stinks that school is starting soon.

Like Monday soon.

In the near future, you will all see the new & improved 'Lil Yellow Brick House.

I'm so so SO stoked to get pictures on the walls and walls painted.

Just with the paint, it already feels like a whole new space!

I feel like if I was a professional decorator or a gallery owner, I would wear stilettos and flowy tops all the time. Maybe I need a change in my career path??

Yesterday on Instagram, Diana from Livy Love offered up some free prints to whoever would come over to her house and get them off her hands.

I was more than delighted to take some of her talented prints to display in my house, and I was even more excited to sit and talk with Diana for almost an hour! 

I love it when you can click with people just like that!

I also had the pleasure of meeting Jenna from The Life of the Wife.

Ummm, she is even cuter & more gorgeous in person.

I need to get around and meet more of my favorite bloggers in person, it was so much fun!

Any of you starting school soon?
Excited??

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has it's charms"
Mmmmm one of my favorite movies, time to put it on and get crackin' on some decorating!

<3 Bri

The Mrs. & The Momma

I made it through finals!
Woohoo!!
Thanks for all your kind words & encouragement!

Now I'm in sunny So-Cal on my mini-vacay with the husby soakin' up some sunshine.
HOLY CRAP. It's 90 degrees and SUNNY here.
Totes breaking out the shorts, flow-y tops, swimsuits and sandals.
Mmmmm, my natural habitat :)

I post swapped with Kristen cause she is cute/fun/awesome momma & has rockin' style!
Check her out!
Not in the creepy way...but you know what I mean ;)
...............................................................
Hey there, Breezy Days readers!  I'm Kristen from The Mrs. and The Momma.  So nice to meet you!

So, my husband and I have know each other since we were kids, and we have four little munchkies (and when I say 'little', I mean it....my oldest is in Kindergarden).

I like to consider my blog three parts fashion, one part life, and one part family...although that precise math is subject to change.  I'm a lover of cold-weather clothes {I loathe Texas summers}, chunky jewelry, Star Wars, sushi, girls' nights, fireworks, the smell of babies, getting dressed up, history, and mostly importantly-Sour Patch Watermelons.

Come on over to visit The Mrs. and The Momma and give me a holler! I promise I'll holla back!