ufw spring 2016, part 2: the up & coming designers show

Okay, so editing those photos took a bit longer than I thought. But finally - full photos from Thursday night's Up & Coming Designers show! Check back over the next few days for photos from the other three shows.

The Up & Coming Show of UFW Spring 2016 kicked off the public portion of the week’s festivities with a bang, showing 12 designers in a single evening – almost twice as many designers as any of the other events. Although this extended line up made for a longer run time, and while this venue was smaller but just as packed as the other shows, the diversity in the designers’ presentations made this show well worth the hunt for parking. More about the show + photos of each collection after the jump ---->

13

utah fashion week spring 2016

this post contains affiliate links.

(left to right) back: Blakely, @eloiseandme; Keara, @modest_style; Jill, @hotpinkstyle55; Sandy, @sandyalamode; Lauryn, @lauryncakes; me, @momandkumquat

front: Emily, @modestgoddess_; Kristin, @kristinrosedavis
my dress :: temperley london (get it here + check back later this week for more outfit details & inspiration)

"Fashion forward" may not be the term most people would use to describe our state, but they've clearly never been to Utah Fashion Week.

27

the unofficial park city visitor's guide + sundance survival guide, part 1: 7 dos & don'ts for driving in a blizzard

Circle J Club Resort, Park City, Utah / photo by © Jennifer Booth

We’re already creeping up on the end of January, and here in Park City that means the Sundance Film Festival is fast approaching. Each year, film enthusiasts from all over the world flood our tiny town to watch, relax, eat, shop and party – and over the next week, I’ll give you the inside scoop on all the best places in town to do those things in the Unofficial Visitor's Guide to Park City + Surviving the Sundance Film Festival.

Although I’ve never been to any official Sundance events, the area-wide circus it creates does play a huge role in my life every year – and the traffic in particular is a nightmare. Combine the crazed winter weather with the vast amounts of people that are crammed into a relatively small mountain space (people who may or may not have experience driving in winter weather), and things can get pretty hairy. Even with minimal traffic, driving on our snow-packed streets can be downright terrifying - even the best drivers can freeze up, which spells doom on an icy road at 70 miles an hour. With that in mind, I've collected some tips for surviving roads that can turn scary when the snow starts to fly.

19

toddler tuesday: winter fun challenge + 10 kid-friendly Utah winter activities

Okay, so our epic relaunch wasn't quite as epic as we had hoped - partway through, the hard drive that housed my entire digital life failed, and I lost every file I've created for the last three years.... including all of my photos of Kumquat. Some are backed up and saved in different places, but a huge chunk of them are gone, and I sort of lost all will to live there for a while (lesson learned: store shit in the cloud).

I'm starting to piece things back together though, and in my quest to recover my files, I did find these beautiful photos of Kumquat that I took on her first birthday (the only ones I was smart enough to store in the cloud). She's grown so much - her second birthday is just a few months away - and my thirtieth will be here even before that.

With our birthdays on the horizon, and following the loss of our memories from last year, I'm starting to itch for adventures again - I love building memories with my baby girl and our family. Last summer was pretty exciting for us, but winter has been pretty quiet and I think even Kumquat is starting to feel restless; so, in lieu of New Years resolutions, I've decided to spend the rest of winter creating fun new memories with my little Kumquat before she's all growed up.

As part of that quest, I've put together a list of ten kid-friendly winter adventures that Kumquat and I will be tackling before the snow melts. Find it + more adorable photos of Kumquat on her first birthday after the jump >>>>

8

i think i might be in love...

my outfit = dress :: banana republic  // slip :: bella forte // belt :: h&m // bar necklace :: bella ella boutique // sandals :: maurice's // satchel :: street level, via olive & tweed // aztec bangle :: house of harlow 1960 // gold bangle :: rue21 // pyramid stud earrings :: slate // sunglasses :: juicy couture (rx) // pave circle ring :: moon & lola // crown ring :: c/o LilahV (get it here) // triangle ring :: live your angle

kumquat's dress :: carter's // binky :: doctor brown

..... with Park City. As much as I enjoy the liveliness of downtown Salt Lake, there is just something about the clean mountain air and small town feel of Park City that draws me in and keeps me obsessing (as evidenced by this and my previous posts on the city).

17

a night out in slc with j. bella

with Lauryn of LaurynCakes.com

pierpont avenue building

bloggers shopping the j. bella showroom

bloggers shopping the j. bella showroom

downtown salt lake city street art (300 west)

the view down 300 West from the middle of the street

I went to Lagoon before the party. #itswherefunis #theresonlyoneoneone

my outfit :: blouse :: bella ella boutique // skirt :: olive & oak // sandals :: maurice's // clutch :: chanel // horizontal bar necklace (worn as bracelet) :: c/o LilahV (here) // double triangle bangle :: jill michael // ring :: moon & lola // crown ring :: c/o LilahV (here) // earrings :: perry street // watch :: gift from my mom // glasses :: coach

As much as I love Park City, there is just something about the way downtown Salt Lake feels after sunset at the start of a weekend. An almost tangible joie de vivre that often makes me miss living there (until I breathe the air or try to find parking, anyway).

2

fitness friday: the trek to stewart falls

my outfit: tank, sports bra, shorts :: nike // shoes :: reebok // watch :: samsung gear fit

I hate working out; to me, it's akin to having bamboo stuck under my fingernails - one of the most painful, miserable experiences ever endured, and intensely boring to boot. The idea of running in place for an hour does not seem stimulating in the least.

Hiking, on the other hand - it's physical exertion with a tangible goal; a journey, the whole of which is to be not just enjoyed, but marveled at. Trails lead us through ancient forests, up the sides of immovable mountains and around the labyrinth of our souls... the fact that it also burns calories is, to me, a fringe benefit.

8

salt lake city's third annual vintage whites market

my outfit :: blazer, gray tee :: maurice's // jeans :: 7 for all mankind via downeast basics // ankle boots :: old navy // purse :: downeast basics

kumquat's outfit :: burgundy tee :: h&m // leggings :: garanimals // socks :: carter's

Having attended both the first and second annual Vintage Whites Market in Salt Lake City, I feel that I am fully qualified to say that the 2015 edition thoroughly blew the original and the sequel out of the water. Admittedly, this year's entrance (two walls of pallets decorated with vintage paintings and some furniture for a vintage parlor feel) wasn't quite as impressive as 2013's bicycles or 2014's umbrellas, but it did provide some fun inspiration as I walked into the Grand Building for the 2015 market.

This year's market expanded into the neighboring Promontory Building, which meant a lot more vendors and more room for shoppers to spread out. That being said, the early shopping pass was definitely worth the $35 - it was nice to "beat the rush" and enjoy a leisurely Friday evening hunting for vintage treasures with my almost ten month old daughter to decorate our new place. A number of vendors remembered me from last year, when I was about six months pregnant and in search of vintage treasures to decorate her nursery.

I did return Saturday with my 5 year old nephew in tow as well; I told him we were going "treasure hunting" and somehow that turned into a search for a "treasure dragon". While we were unable to find it, we did snag a number of vintage beauties - including a gorgeous camel-colored wool cape from Maeberry Vintage, a mirror for my sister and a tea set for my nephew from Pick It Vintage, a Raggedy Ann doll, a cradle for Raggedy Ann, a neat little wire rack with spinny baskets and an assortment of knick knacks and smaller treasures to adorn our new room.

While I am generally pleased with our haul, I am somewhat disappointed in myself for not picking up one of the many end tables, nightstands and vanities that we happened across. In fact, after reviewing my photos from the event, I particularly regret not purchasing the ones pictured below... if anyone happens to remember the vendor who was selling any of these items, or if you are such a vendor with similar items, I would love to talk to you - leave the name of the store and/or your contact info in the comments or drop me an email at jennifer@mommyandkumquat.com. I'm also in the market for a doll highchair and similar furniture.

Did you attend the Vintage Whites Market? What are some of your favorite treasures from this year's fair? 

3

psst: exclusive preview of the uptown cheapskate semi-annual sale (and a giveaway!)

photos taken at the Sugarhouse Uptown Cheapskate location January 15, 2015.

I've been a huge fan of Uptown Cheapskate for years now (see here, here and here), and since they opened their Sugarhouse location, it's become a regular shopping day stop for me - so when they announced their semi-annual sale coming up this weekend (January 16-19), I was pretty durn excited. When they invited me in for a preview, I was stoked at the chance to scope out the potential sale pieces and map out my spending strategy prior to the big weekend, and to share that opportunity with you, my awesome readers. Then, when they offered up a $25 gift card for one of my stylish readers, I have to admit to being a little bummed that I couldn't enter to win it myself - but I'm excited for the opportunity to share the awesomeness of Uptown with you!

On any given day, Uptown Cheapskate has great deals on designer clothing - and this weekend, those prices will be discounted even further, up to 70% off, which means killer stylish deals and major fashion finds. The sale starts this today at 10am (January 16), and runs until Monday night at 9pm (January 19).  Enter to win the $25 gift card using the widget at the bottom of the post by midnight Saturday night; the winner will be announced this Sunday morning so you have a chance to use your gift card to score an awesome new treasure from the sale this weekend.

Get more details on the upcoming semi-annual sale here, and while you're waiting for it to start, be sure to visit Uptown Cheapskate on Facebook and subscribe to their newsletter to stay up to date on all the latest and greatest news from our favorite new thrift store!

Now for the obligatory happy, squishy baby photos.....

Kumquat was such a little trooper yesterday - despite arriving at the mechanic's shop shortly after they opened, we were stuck waiting on some repairs to my car for nearly seven hours. She was also incredibly patient with me while I wandered around Uptown, looking at all the pretty things. Pretty sure she is the sweetest baby ever, and I am definitely the luckiest momma ever.



a Rafflecopter giveaway




Full disclaimer: This is a sponsored post; I was compensated in some manner (typically in product or monetarily) for this post, but the opinions and sentiments expressed are entirely my own. Items shown in photographs may or may not be included in Uptown Cheapskate's semi-annual sale.

18