Fall Trends with LuLu's: My 2 Secrets to Wearing Brights

If you've read my blog for any length of time or dove into my outfit archives, you probably know that I love styling brights.  Lately, I've also started to love neutrals, too.  I know not everyone is comfortable with wearing full-on brights (like here), so I want to show two easy ways you can add pops of brights to your outfit!  
I'm often running from work to a lunch function, back to work, then off to an after work event and need to transition my day-time duds to something a bit jazzier.  There are two simple things I always turn to in order to elevate my day time style... and they're bright.  This season (and many before), brights are so in, so I want to divulge my little bight secrets in today's trend series in partnership with LuLu's!

There you have it! My secrets!  Two very easy ways to upgrade your neutral outfit with pops of bright color.  It is so easy to throw a fun clutch, like this LuLu's one, into my big work bag and downsize bags to it later in the evening or when running into a lunch date/meeting.  Also, swipes of a bright lipstick, like this classic (and my favorite) red fits in anyone's bag or clutch. 

{Outfit details: Denim Jumper; Stripe Top - J.Crew last season; Watch; Earrings (super similar); Brougs - Sam Edelman, last year (similar here); Lips; Clutch - c/o LuLu's (similar)}
What are your secrets to adding a little jazz to your neutral outfit?

Check out the last three trend styled posts: Sixties | Denim | Winterizing a Summer Piece

Make sure to check out Meagan's outfit to see how she styled her summer piece!

Thanks to LuLus.com for sponsoring this series, though all thoughts on trends and styling are strictly my own! LuLu's is just a fantastic, affordable place you can consider when refreshing your own Fall wardrobe!

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Alicia Janesko - Caftans & Resort Wear at KC Fashion Week

You guys, this might have been my favorite Kansas City Fashion Week yet (I feel like every year they build upon their successes and somehow crank out an even better season)!  This year, I was especially excited for Alicia Janesko's Caftans and Resort Wear collection after having got a sneak peak at her work and those headpieces the weekend before when I went to pick up my own caftan-wears for the show (you'll see that later this week!).  
This was her first season at KCFW, and she shared that she was, of course, very excited, but also had a lot to do and was nervous for her big debut.  I had no doubt it was going to rock it after seeing her work in progress and hearing what she was hoping to convey.  Plus, she had some pretty amazing headpieces in the works (all handmade by her!). And I was right. 
Her caftans and dresses were all so unique, beautiful, fun and classy. She appealed to the young and the older, the conservative and the flamboyant, the classic and the trendsetter alike. I know this to be true, as everyone in that audience was snapping pics as quickly as they could to catch all the amazing detail, clapping so hard and smiling with excitement and interest.
So, I couldn't help but share almost the entire collection with you here, if you're interested...

This side-slit swimsuit cover up was all hand-beaded!

This headpieces is incredible. and I love the floral edges and inserts to this caftan - so unique! 

Throughout her show, she had a green pallet mixed in and it had me jonesing for the beach big time.  The last one above, with the crisscrossed neck has got to be mine.

This outfit was made for the ocean!  This beautifully done two-piece set (sheer pant & open caftan) is very luxe looking to really make any one stand out on vacation!

I missed getting any shots of this dress in full, as my camera card was full. I managed to clear it out in time to capture this amazing mohawk headpiece (my fav one!) and the rest of the show.  But this dress is so beautiful - you might have actually seen it on the KCFW billboards leading up to the event? You can see that billboard on Alicia's Facebook page here.

 This caftan might have been my fav. The beading, floral back and sleeve edge, and deep v-neck would make this caftan transform from poolside to evening wear over a slip dress in a snap.

Freaking amazing.  This sequin, ombre jumpsuit closed the show, rightfully so.  Do you know how hard it is to make a full-sequin outfit?  Me either - but it's got to be hard because I've seen a ton of sad attempts at it.  But this? This was beautiful! People were whoo-hooing and clapping even louder on this one.

Congrats, Alicia! You just totally rocked it, and looked like such a veteran up there with such an entertaining and impressive show.

You can find Alicia here and follow her on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook, too!

Now, who is ready to hit the beach??

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Nora's Favorite Wears: Boden for Baby + Giveaway

You all know I love Boden for their women's clothing (worn here and this one here),  and I know many of you love mini Boden (me included), but did you know they now have the sweetest little baby gifting sets?  Boden kindly sent Nora a couple teething bibs (because... ya know, drool) and she's been wearing them ever since.  They're so cute that they look like a scarf or part of her outfit and act as an outfit accessory more than a bib.  I've been using them non stop, from when she's drooling to eating!
Boden was also extra nice to provide 15% off their baby gifting collection with code BABY at check out + one of you will win a baby gift set of your choice from this page!  Just enter this giveaway through the rafflecopter at the bottom of this post!  Good luck!

Only stipulation is that you must have a US Shipping address to receive the prize!  Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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You're Invited! Athleta KC Fall Shopping Event with Bar Method & Parlor

Athleta KC is Hot for Hoddy! Join Athleta KC, Bar Method, Parlor and myself for a fun fueled girls night out and shop for a cause!  I'll have some fall styled outfits to give you an idea on how you can transform your workout clothes into your lifestyle clothes (hello versatility). Plus, each person that RSVPs by Friday, October 3rd will get a special coupon for 25% off their entire purchase!  
Make sure to get this on your calendar, forward to your Kansas City friends and make a girls evening out of it all.  I'd love to see/meet you!  Here are all the details of what this event has in store for you:
When: Sunday, October 5th Time: 5pm to 7pm {come for a little of it or the whole time!} Where: Athleta is located on the Country Club Plaza on the main drag, 47th street
The Cause:  10% of that night's purchases will be donated to benefit Leukemia Lymphoma Society & Hoddy of the Bar Method KC.  Hoddy is the owner of both Kansas City Bar Method locations, and despite having non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is also teaching and taking classes regularly!
The Bar Method:  Some of the awesome teachers will be at the event, so if you've every wondered about what the classes are like or if you have a question on your form, this would be a great time to come and talk to them! They are so super nice, you guys!  They will also have some giveaways - so stay tuned for more info on that!
Hair Bar:  Parlor is bringing some amazing stylists to help style your hair in the perfect do that will last from workout and beyond.  Now would be a great time to bring a photo of a style you've been needing some help with or just let the stylists do their magic!  They'll also have some coupons for everyone who comes!
During Event Discount: And of course, a great time to stock up on everything you've been eyeing from Athleta with an event discount of 25% off your entire purchase! BUT, you must RSVP, as each person will have their own discount coupon.  
So, please shoot Katy an email to let her know you're coming by Friday, October 3rd and she'll have your coupon waiting for you!
Let me know if you have any questions - it should be a fun time, great reason to shop & save, and hope to see you all there!

Not able to make the event?  Here are a few of my favorite pieces to wear during a workout and onward with my day:

And stay tuned for some Athleta outfits here, too!

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Baby Nora Update: 10 Months!

Oh my sweet baby girl brings just so much joy to our lives.  I can't even describe how much I love her, my heart just swells when I come to get her in the morning and she starts flapping her arms like she's going to fly from delight, or when I come home after work, and she crawls so fast right to me and climbs up my legs.  My heart skips a beat when she grabs my face to bring it closer to hers, and soars when she breaks out into a full on belly laugh at something silly I'm doing.  When this girl isn't teething, sick or ready 10 minutes past bedtime, she's just the happiest little thing ever.
She started her 10th month out already pulling herself up to standing position and learning to clap... and she's been doing it ever since, getting braver. She'll walk if pushing something or holding someone's hands, and she has even come to a standing position on her own, without anything to pull on.  She's is taking after her brother in this sense... he took his first free steps at the end of his 10th month and was running around the house before he turned one.

 She also cut her second bottom tooth, and is working on her top two teeth! She's not very happy about either of these - she's a sensitive teether, also like her brother.  It usually bothers her for a few days and then she's over it... until the next one.

She has had a rough time with her ears.  She ended her 9th month with an ear infection, starting this last month out on antibiotics and then a week after was right back on them for another round of ear infections.  We're headed back to the doc today to check her ears, hopefully this last round of meds took care of the issues.

 We took our first trip to Lawrence as a family of 4 a few weeks ago on a nice day (first stopping to see the sunflowers).  It was fun to walk around our old stomping ground and get a similar picture of Nora and the old-school Jayhawk as we have of Liam.

Nora is still preferring bottles, and promptly spits out any little chunk of food.  She is ok with pureed fruit and level two veggies - but level 3 type food, or soft whole foods (like banana, avocado, etc), she spits out.  She won't even try to put tiny bites of food I place on her tray in her mouth, no way.   For now we just keep trying...

{Baby long legs}

Oh and she's such a jokester.  I told her to show me her teeth and she did this...

And it's so fun to make her smile - one sure-fire way to do that is to give her kisses. Girl loves to have her cheeks kissed.  And we want to give a special should out to THIS guy! Today is his birthday!  He'd never let me put up a whole post about him (he'd find a way to hack in and mess something up trying to delete it), but we couldn't resist sneaking a bit in Nora's update to share how much we love our birthday boy! Happy birthday to my hubs, Nora & Liam's daddio!

And Nora, you slow your growing now.  I can't handle age one, can't handle that at all.

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Fall Trends with LuLu's: Winterizing Summer Pieces

It's hot, it's cold, it's hot again, then cool, but warms up again - this is the midwest at every turn of the season.  By September, I'm so ready to pack away every last summery piece and pull out sweaters, long-sleeve dresses, cardigans, hats, booties, scarves, but I have to make myself hold off, ease those pieces out slowly. And while you might be sick of your summer duds, it can be kind of fun to mix them with your new or freshly unpacked fall pieces.  Today, as part of our partnership with LuLu*s, Meagan and I are showing you how to mix the two seasons and winterize a summery piece.
For me, my favorite summer item is nothing but the sundress. Light, breezy, cool and available in a billion different colors and prints. I love this LuLu's summer dress, and never would have worn it without leggings (because it's pretty short), so fall's cooler temps gave me the opportunity to layer faux-leather leggings underneath and a light sweater atop. Overall, this outfit works because of the mixed textures help winterize the breeziness of the dress.
How are you carrying on your favorite summer pieces into cooler weather?
{Outfit details - Long Cardigan Sweater - last year, H&M (similar and love this one in camel); Dress - LuLu's (similar option, too); Faux-Leather Leggings; Leopard Scarf; Booties - last year, H&M (similar); Watch}

Check out the last two trend style posts: Sixties | Denim

Make sure to check out Meagan's outfit to see how she styled her summer piece!

Thanks to LuLus.com for sponsoring this series, though all thoughts on trends and styling are strictly my own! LuLu's is just a fantastic, affordable place you can consider when refreshing your own Fall wardrobe!

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