* This blog post is sponsored by Discover Rogers County.

At least once a year, our family likes to go on a quick weekend getaway. A weekend getaway is just that—one that isn’t too complicated and is within a short drive of Tulsa.  Since our city is right in the middle of the map, we have quite a few options and have been to some really great places.  But since we’re always up for a new adventure, when Discover Rogers County invited us for a visit, we were all in!

With a full itinerary, we left Tulsa after work on a Friday and drove straight to Claremore to kick off our adventure. We started at HQ Ranch for a private tour. HQ is Oklahoma’s largest camel ranch, but it is so much more than that. Sloths, Kangaroos, Lemurs, Otters, and even two Giraffes round out the incredible lineup at the ranch. We had an incredible experience, and it’s something we won’t soon forget. 

After the ranch, it was time for dinner. Claremore has the cutest downtown, so we headed that way. There were tons of options, but we chose Oklahoma Pizza Co, which was the perfect choice. Locally owned and operated by a Claremore Firefighter and his family, the restaurant serves a large variety of specialty pies. Everything was absolutely delicious, and the employees were the best. 

After dinner, we explored their downtown a bit, and then decided we needed dessert. We took the quick drive over to byb Boba Yogurt Bar for the ultimate frozen treat. The team was so sweet, and they had a great variety of flavors and toppings. It was the perfect ending to our day. 

We started our Saturday morning with breakfast at Hugo’s Family Restaurant, which is a Rogers County institution. It’s the quintessential hometown diner, and they have all the breakfast classics. Everything we got was delicious, but the German Fried Potatoes were the star of the show. 

After breakfast, we needed our morning coffee, so we took the short drive over to Green Eyes Coffee + Cafe for a pair of delicious signature lattes. 

With our coffees in hand, we hit the road to Coram Deo Farm, a local flower farm that sells the most beautiful bouquets. We stopped at their roadside stand for our own bouquet, and their gardens are stunning and so fragrant! 

Since we didn’t get to pop into any of the shops the night before, we went back to Downtown Claremore for some more exploring. They have a great variety of antique and vintage shops, gift shops, bookstores, boutiques, restaurants, and bakeries. The town is full of history, and their downtown is lined with murals and sculptures that commemorate their stories. We bopped around and even grabbed a sweet treat for the road. 

A trip to Claremore is not complete without a visit to Will Rogers Memorial Museum. The museum houses the world’s largest collection of Will Rogers memorabilia and his entire collection of writings. We were completely blown away by the museum’s collection and all that we learned about Oklahoma’s favorite son. This is a must see in Rogers County! 

Next up was the short drive to Oologah Lake to explore Hawthorn Bluff Campground & Fishing Area. This is a popular camping area, and it has its own beach, playgrounds, picnic areas, and hiking trails. We walked, we played, we skipped rocks on the water, we had a blast, and we all decided we’ll be back for a camping trip. 

By this point, we were pretty hungry, so we drove over to the next stop on the lake, which was Redbud Arena, home of Oar House at Redbud Marina. This restaurant has outdoor seating that is right on the water, so you can enjoy the weather and beautiful outdoor views. The food was great, and it was such a perfect lunch spot. In the evenings, they have live music, so I definitely want to check that out soon. 

We had some time before our next activity, so we took a short drive to see something very unique: the Winganon Space Capsule in Talala. What’s a road trip without a roadside attraction? And this was a great one! The “capsule” is a cement mixer that wrecked over 60 years ago and has become a local landmark. It’s a must see and great photo op! 

Now it was time for our next adventure: Kayaking at Claremore Lake. Upon arrival at the lake, we were greeted by the team from Daisy Rentals, who took care of our kayaking excursion. Daisy provided our kayaks, life jackets, paddles, and even protective phone pouches. They were so kind and helpful, and I cannot recommend them enough. Claremore Lake is absolutely beautiful, and on a kayak was the best way to explore. 

After our kayaking trip, we had worked up quite an appetite. Which was great, because our last stop on our trip was at the iconic Moore’s Fish Farm for their monthly Fish Fry. On the 3rd Friday and Saturday of the month, Moore’s opens up their onsite restaurant for an all you can eat feast of BBQ, Sides, Desserts, and of course, Fried Fish. Everything was incredible, and we were so full! After our meal, it was time to head home with full bellies and full hearts. 

I cannot say enough good things about our visit to Rogers County. My biggest takeaway is how much there is to do, see, explore, and eat. And we didn’t even scratch the surface! We are so grateful for this time away and cannot wait to do it again soon!

I hope you’ll plan a trip there soon and tell me everything you do, because you know I’ll be back!

XOXO,

Molly B. 

* This blog post is sponsored by The Northwest Arkansas Tourism Association.

At least once a year, our family likes to go on a quick weekend getaway. A weekend getaway is just that—one that isn’t too complicated and is within a 3-hour drive of Tulsa.  Since our city is right in the middle of the map, we have quite a few options and have been to some really great places.  But since we’re always up for a new adventure, when The Northwest Arkansas Tourism Association invited us for a visit, we were all in!

With a full weekend itinerary, we left Tulsa on a Friday morning and drove straight to Siloam Springs, Arkansas to kick off our adventure. We started at AM Eats & Tea Treats for breakfast. It’s right in their cute little downtown, and they had a great menu for any craving. After breakfast, we explored their downtown, popping into the different shops and boutiques. We even found an incredible bakery and grabbed some treats for the road. There was a beautiful park and creek in their downtown, so we walked and ran around to burn off some energy before getting back into the car to head to our next stop.

From Siloam Springs, we took the short drive to Rogers, Arkansas. We started our visit at the iconic Onyx Coffee Labs, who is headquartered in Downtown Rogers. The coffee shop was absolutely stunning, our coffees (and hot chocolate for the mini) were delicious, and we even got to watch the roasting process. We took our coffees to go so that we could explore more of Downtown Rogers. There were so many adorable shops, boutiques, bakeries, and cafes. We could have spent the entire day exploring everything! While downtown, we ducked into the Daisy Airgun Museum, home of the world’s largest BB gun, and other fun treasures. This was such a fun find, and we all loved the quick tour. After the museum, we stumbled upon a really great park at the edge of downtown, so we spent some time running, playing, and climbing. Somehow, we decided we were still up for one more adventure in Rogers, so we made the quick drive over to K1 Speed Go Karts. My husband and son both love Go Karts, so this was right up their alley. (And I’m a good sport, so I suited up too.). This wound up being one of our favorite parts of the trip, because the place was really fun, and the staff is great with all ages and experience levels.

After parking our karts, we made the drive to Bentonville, Arkansas for our last stop of the day. When we got to Bentonville, it was early afternoon, and we drove straight to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to explore. This museum is world famous, and for good reason. It is such a gorgeous space, both inside and out, and their collection is an eclectic curation that any art lover will enjoy. While at the museum, we grabbed a snack and drink from their onsite restaurant, which is such a great option. You could truly spend an entire day at this museum! After a couple of hours at the museum, we were ready to check into our hotel and rest up before dinner. There are so many great hotel options in Bentonville, but we were thrilled to be staying at 21C Bentonville. There are a handful of 21C properties in the country, all known for their fun and funky interiors and art collections, their exceptional customer experience, and those big ol penguins. (Pro Tip: Ask the front desk to surprise your kiddos with a penguin, and you won’t be disappointed. You may find it outside your room, in your hallway, or even in your bed!). After a quick check in and refresh, we walked over to the downtown square for dinner at Bar Cleeta. Not only was this our favorite meal of our entire trip, it was actually my favorite thing we did the entire weekend. The menu is full of small plates, meant to be shared. We were pretty hungry, so we had quite the spread to share, which was so fun. The entire restaurant team was welcoming and helpful and gave the best recommendations. And they even made our son his own little mocktail, which made him feel so special. After dinner, we walked around downtown, popping into the shops and boutiques. We stumbled on an ice cream shop and decided we needed one more treat before calling it a night.

We got up early on Saturday morning to get a head start on our next trip. After a quick stop at Airship Coffee before leaving Bentonville, we made the quick drive to Springdale, Arkansas. Our first stop was Susan’s for breakfast. This place was popular! And for good reason, because the food was great, and the restaurant staff was so fun. The Springdale Dia de Los Muertos Festival was happening in their downtown, so we drove over to check it out. There were so many vendors, food trucks, and activities, and we loved walking through and taking in the culture and significance of the event. While downtown, we stopped in several shops and boutiques and met lots of very friendly locals.

From Springdale, it was time to take the drive to the land of the Hogs…Fayetteville, Arkansas. There really is something special about a college town…the energy, the excitement, and the variety of things to do, see, and eat. We started our day at Pink Alchemy for some delicious lattes and a cozy spot to relax for a bit. Right next door to the coffee shop is the shopping hotspot, Presley Paige, full of all the best gifts, holiday decor, and home goods, so I spent quite a bit of time inside. Now that we were fueled up, we made the short drive over to Downtown Fayetteville to walk around. It’s very close to the University of Arkansas, so this area has all the best shops, restaurants, bars, and green spaces for walking or sitting. We loved this area and could have spent an entire weekend in this town. We had one more drive to make this day, but we stopped at Creme Ice Cream Co. on our way out of town for one of their famous ice cream flights.

With full bellies and full hearts, we made the beautiful drive to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Eureka Springs is full of culture and history, and you can feel it as soon as you pull into their downtown. Hilly, windy roads lined with shops, restaurants, art galleries, and maybe a tarot reader or two. Our first stop was to check into our hotel, Basin Park Hotel, a very well-known historic downtown hotel. It still has all of its original charm, with a few upgrades for modern convenience. After dropping our bags, we went up to their rooftop restaurant for a snack and a drink. From the rooftop terrace, you can see the entire street, and it was such a beautiful view! It was only a quick stop at the rooftop, because our next adventure was taking our hotel’s shuttle over to the Crescent Hotel for a ghost tour. Eureka Springs is known for its history and its connection to ghosts, and the Cresent Hotel is known for ghost sitings and is full of stories. The hotel offers a few different tours, but we took the kid-friendly tour, which was perfect. It wasn’t scary, it was the right amount of a history lesson, and it was a lot of fun. After our tour, we went upstairs to SkyBar Pizza. There was quite a bit of a wait, so we put our name on the list and went to explore the hotel a bit more. They have a really fun area in the back with yard games, a food truck, a bar, and live music, so we spent some time out there while we waited for our table. The pizza was worth the wait, and we shuttled back to our hotel after we finished.

On Sunday mornings, things open a little later in downtown, so we made the short (yet hilly) walk over to Harold’s for breakfast. This cute little spot was some of the best food we had on the trip, and the staff was so great. Everything is made from scratch with its own little twist, and we all loved it. By the time we finished breakfast, downtown was waking up, so we were able to visit some of the shops and galleries, and even grabbed a coffee. Sadly, it was time to pack up and head to our last stop in Northwest Arkansas.

We loaded up and made our final drive to Bella Vista, Arkansas, which is absolutely beautiful. This is an outdoors paradise! Hiking, biking, golf, boating, kayaking, walking, running…anything you could want to do outside, this is the spot. We were scheduled to take a bike tour at Tweety Bird Trailhead, but our weather wasn’t cooperating. However, it’s high on our list for our next visit, because I know we would have loved it. We did find a couple of outdoor spaces to visit while in town so that we could get our fix of this stunning part of the state. Before making our drive home, we had a late lunch at Bella’s Table, which was the perfect ending to our trip.

I cannot say enough good things about our weekend in Northwest Arkansas. My biggest takeaway is how much there is to do, see, explore, and eat, and how any of these towns we visited could be their own weekend trip. We are so grateful for this weekend away and cannot wait to do it again soon!

I hope you’ll plan a trip there soon and tell me everything you do, because you know I’ll be back!

XOXO,

Molly B.

* This blog post is sponsored by Visit OKC.

At least once a year, my husband and I go on one big vacation, which we look forward to for the months leading up to it.  But for us, one trip is not enough, so we try to sneak in a few of small getaways throughout the year.  A small getaway is just that—one that isn’t too complicated and is within a 6-hour drive of Kansas City.  Since our city is right in the middle of the map, we have quite a few options and have been to some really great places.  But since we’re always up for a new adventure, when Visit OKC invited us for a visit, we were all in!

From our house, Oklahoma City is only a 4.5-hour drive, on one highway, with many options for stopping along the way, so already this was a win for us.  We left on a Friday afternoon and were in OKC by dinner time.  We checked into Bradford House, and I was in love from the second we pulled into the parking lot.  From the outside, this bright white boutique hotel has major southern vibes, with a wrap around porch and bright green front door.  As soon as you walk through the door, you’re invited into a cozy lobby with a host of beautiful prints, patterns, and textures.  From the entrance, you can see a variety of sitting areas, a bar, and the entrance to the hotel’s restaurant (more on that later).  The check in process was smooth, and we were off to our room to drop our bags.  On our way to our room, we passed through the hotel’s courtyard, with more seating and a variety of yard games for guests, all situated within beautiful greenery and floral displays.  Our room was, no surprise, an absolute dream.  More patterns and textures, and walls full of vibrant local artwork.  Honestly, I could have spent an entire weekend cozied up at the hotel, but we had things to do and places to see.

After the quick stop at our hotel, we took a short Uber ride over to the Oklahoma River and Regatta Park for a sunset Cocktail Cruise.  This 1.5-hour cruise down the Oklahoma River showed us all the best city views, including the OKC skyline, the Wheeler Ferris Wheel, and the many bridges with their ornate detail.  And yes, there is a bar where you can grab beer, wine, and other cocktails to enjoy while you cruise.  This was the absolutely perfect way to see the city and kick off our weekend of fun.

On Saturday morning, we started with brunch and the Bradford House restaurant.  The space is absolutely adorable, with bright colors and fun artwork.  Every last detail was perfection, even down to the table reservation cards.  And when I say everything was perfect, that includes the food.  When we saw the Sourdough Donut Holes that included a Fruity Pebble glaze, we knew we needed an order to share.  We rounded out the spread with their one-of-a-kind Avocado Toast and ultra-unique Poblano and Corn Benedict.  We savored almost every single bite and had to roll ourselves out of the restaurant to move on with our day.

After brunch, it was time to explore in the sunshine.  We made the short drive over to Scissortail Park for their Saturday farmer’s market.  The Park is absolutely beautiful and is home to some of the best walking trails, outdoor activities, and events in the city.  Every Saturday, they host a farmer’s market with local produce, flowers, vendors, food trucks, and more.  As lovers of all things local in our own city, we appreciated meeting so many of their local makers and shakers in such a fun environment. 

Being that it was a Saturday in June, we were ready for some AC, so we made the quick drive over to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art to check out their collection and new exhibits.  Growing up as a curator’s daughter, I am always up for a museum visit, and the OKC MOA was a great addition to my list.  The museum is three stories of amazing modern art and fun exhibits, including their current curation of sports photography, called “The Perfect Shot,” which featured not just the art, but activities and a themed Spotify playlist that you could add to your phone for the ultimate immersive experience.  We both loved the entire museum and saw a few upcoming exhibits that have us planning our return visit.

Post-museum, we were ready for more exploring and a little late afternoon snack.  We explored several of the local OKC areas, including Midtown and the Plaza District.  We spent a lot of time in the Plaza District, shopping and touring the Plaza Walls, and we stopped at Mexican Radio for a snack and a cocktail.  The frozen Dole Whip cocktail with its Fruity Pebble salt rim was out of this world!

After our day of exploring, we decided to take a break at the hotel before our evening of fun.  We rested up, cleaned up, dressed up, and headed down to the Paseo Arts District for the night.  The Paseo is the stunning home to over 20 galleries and more than 80 vibrant artists all within walking distance of each other.  There are shops and restaurants, all within 2 walkable blocks.  We started with dinner at Picasso’s Café, which hosts an eclectic menu with tons of variety and flavor.  From drinks to desserts, we took every recommendation from our server and were not disappointed once.  After dinner, we made the quick walk to Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park to finish the night with their production of Jane Austen’s Emma.  Neither of us had ever done anything like this, and it was such a fun and immersive way to experience this classic love story. 

On Sunday morning, I started my day with a walk around Scissortail Park.  I truly fell in love with it the day before and couldn’t wait to go back to explore.  Our next visit, we will definitely take our son, because the park is home to playgrounds, a splash pad, and a boathouse where you can rent kayaks and paddleboats.  But for this trip, I enjoyed the peace, quiet, and solitude.  After my walk, I drove over to Wheeze the Juice for a smoothie and wound up buying half the menu.  This super fun and 80s/90s nostalgic spot has smoothies, juices, bowls, and snacks, all made fresh in house.  I was completely blown away by everything I ordered. 

Before checking out of the Bradford House, we made a stop at their bakery counter for lattes and treats for the road.  But before we made our way back to KC, we stopped for brunch at the legendary Big Truck Tacos.  As Food Network super fans, we cannot ever pass an opportunity to try a highly featured restaurant.  Starting as a single food truck, Big Truck has grown into the empire it is today, which includes a brick and mortar that serves 3 meals a day.  We sampled a few of their breakfast tacos, and they definitely live up to all the hype. 

After a weekend full of fun, we hit the road with full hearts and full bellies.  We loved everything about our visit, and we agree that it’s the perfect getaway for all types of trips.  Girl’s trip, family style, or in this case a lil romance, anything goes in OKC. 

I hope you’ll plan a trip there soon and tell me everything you do, because you know I’ll be back!

XOXO,

Molly B.

* This blog post is sponsored by Jazzercise.

If we’ve been friends for a while, you know my fitness story well.  Growing up, I would not have described myself as athletic.  Sure, I played sports—even at the collegiate level—but for me, it was always more of a social event.  In my senior year of college, I started running, which grew into a deep love affair that has lasted almost twenty years.  When I got sick in 2007, I wasn’t able to workout, and I missed it more than I could have anticipated.  So when I got the green light to start exercising, I never looked back. 

Over the last 14 years, I have tried a lot of different types of workouts, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that fitness can be FUN!  Too often people think of it as something negative or a punishment to your body.  But it doesn’t have to be that way, and no matter how you like to move your body there is a place for you.  You just have to try!  So when Jazzercise reached out and invited me to take a class, I said, “YES,” just to give it a try. 

With over 50 years of in-studio and virtual workouts, Jazzercise has become a household name.  I remember my mom taking classes when I was little, and the brand name evokes visions of sweatbands, leotards, and legwarmers.  (And honestly, even 30 years later, had that been the case in today’s Jazzercise workout, this 80s baby would have been really happy about it.)  But with a quick glance at their website, I knew they had evolved over the years.

Jazzercise is still the original dance party workout, with many of their classes rooted in a dance-centric foundation.  However, they now offer over 10 different class formats, which include things like Pilates, yoga, kickboxing, and strength training.  For my first class, I chose to try Strength60, a 60-minute strength training class that works every muscle group.  Squats, bicep curls, pushups, planks, the works, using a combination of body weight and dumbbells.  The class is set to high energy music, with a motivating instructor to match.

Once I had my class booked, it was time to go!  Admittedly, even after visiting dozens of fitness studios and being the “newbie” at each, I still get intimidated to visit a new place, especially when I’ve never done the workout.  But as soon as I walked in the door at the Jazzercise Lenexa Fitness Center, I was greeted by the owner, the instructor, and several members, so I knew I was in a good place.  With a few quick computer entries, a tour of the studio, and a rundown of what to expect, I was ready to sweat. 

The music started, the instructor got us pumped up and warmed up, and that 60 minutes flew by so quickly. The format of the class is designed for every fitness level, and even as a regular gym goer, I felt challenged throughout. As I looked around, I took note of the diversity of the members, but they all had one thing in common—a big smile.

After the workout, the owner and instructor were quick to approach me for feedback, and a stream of members quickly followed to do the same. It struck me how many of them said they had been coming for 5, 10, even 15 years! They all invited me back and gave me the scoop on their favorite class formats, which was very helpful and so very sweet.

I would love for you to give Jazzercise a try too and let me know what you think. With this link, my friends can get 2 weeks for $50, which includes both in-studio and On Demand workouts. Fitness is very personal, and not every workout is one size fits all. But one thing I do know is that in this class, you WILL have fun!

If you’ve been to Jazzercise, post a comment below to share your experience.  And if you have a favorite class, tell us that too, because I’m ready to book my next workout.

XOXO,

Molly B.

When Chad and I were first married, I cooked all the time. Dinner every night, breakfast on the weekends, the works. But when we relocated to Kansas City, we started our eating adventure through our new city, and I stopped cooking as much. Dinners, yes, and every once in a while, a special breakfast. Recently, in planning our Christmas breakfast, I asked my husband if he had any requests, and he reminded me of one of our throwback favorites: Breakfast Pizza. This is the easiest breakfast, and it’s always a hit, so I was in. I picked up the ingredients, had so much fun making it, and even our toddler loved it. Today I’m sharing the recipe with you, just in time for New Year’s Eve, because (and I tell you from experience) it makes a fabulous morning after breakfast.

Ingredients:

1 8oz can crescent rolls

12oz sausage

1c frozen shredded hash browns, thawed

1c shredded cheddar cheese

1/4c milk

1/2tsp salt

1/8tsp pepper

8oz egg substitute

2tbsp grated parmesan

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375.

Spray 12-inch pizza pan with cooking spray.

Separate dough into triangles and press together on pan to form a single round crust.

Crimp edges of dough to form a rim.

Cook sausage until brown, stirring to crumble. Drain any grease.

Top dough with sausage, potatoes, and cheese.

Whisk together milk, salt, pepper, and egg substitute.

Pour mixture over sausage mixture.

Sprinkle with parmesan.

Bake at 375 for 25 minutes, or until crust is browned.

Cool, cut into slices, and Enjoy!

XOXO,

Molly B.

* This blog post is sponsored by Sinclair Oil Corporation.

When people heard that we were going to make the twelve-hour drive to San Antonio from Kansas City, and back again (yes, your math is correct, 24 hours in a car) with a 4-year-old, they thought we were crazy. And honestly, I kind of thought we were too. But when we booked this trip, we knew that we wanted to drive so that we could make stops along the way to see friends and family that we had not been able to see over the past few years. And with a lot of planning and coordination, I’m happy to say that not only did we survive, but we actually had a lot of fun along the way. In partnership with Sinclair Oil Corporation, I want to share my top five tips for surviving a road trip with a toddler.

1. Plan Your Stops. Of course, if there are people and places you are wanting to see along your route, make sure you schedule those well in advance. But more than that, this is an opportunity to add in a bit of fun for your family. Littles need to exert energy, so stopping to stretch is a necessity. (For this mama too.) In your planning, research rest stops, parks, restaurants, historic sights, or anything else that may be of interest for your family. For this trip through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, we chose to stop at Sinclair stations along our route. For background, Sinclair Oil was founded in 1916, and every station looks a little different and unique offerings. However, you are always able to find gas, snacks, drinks, and service options if you need them. But most importantly for this trip, a lot of stations have their signature Dino the Brontosaurus statue, and we chose to try to find as many as we could along the way. Our adventure brought us to the oldest Sinclair station in Oklahoma (located in Perry), a frequent motorcycle hang in Kansas, and a tiny station off the main drag in my college town of Norman, Oklahoma. This was such a fun (and relatively cost-free) addition to our trip, and our toddler is now even more dino obsessed.

2. Pack Early. Approximately two weeks before our trip, I made a list of everything we needed to bring on our trip. And then a week before, I started collecting everything in one spot. Let me be clear, there was nothing organized about this initial collection, but it was all in one spot. This allowed for every time I thought of something, I could just throw it on the pile to be packed. When it comes time to formally pack, you can edit the pile, but at least you’re not running all over your house (or all over town) to collect things.

3. Stock Up On Snacks. Road trip or not, on any given day, I get asked for a snack no less than 900 times, so I was already multiplying that times bored toddler, and my mind cannot do that complicated math. Over the couple of weeks leading up to our trip, I started adding additional snacks to my shopping cart and storing them in a specials place. It’s a similar concept as above, but this way, I could ensure that we had plenty of easy, healthy snacks, and prevent unnecessary stops or spending on our route.

4. Activity Bags. This was overwhelmingly the VIP of our entire trip. Leading up to our trip, in addition to the snack collection, I also started acquiring small activities. These were things that we already had, or they were cheap purchases from Amazon or Dollar Tree: magnets, window clings, sticker books, cars, and more. From there, I also purchased a few packs of gift bags. From there, I made 12 activity bags. Each bag had and activity, a snack, and a piece of candy. Every two hours, I introduced a new bag to prevent boredom and to create excitement. This also ensured that we had activities at our destination without having to pack a bunch of toys. Our son still talks about these, and his new favorite word is “activity.”

5. Take a Tray. I cannot stress how helpful it was to have a tray! For the activities, for the snacks, for meals on the go, for everything. We have had this tray for years, and once again, it saved the day (week).

I hope you found these tips helpful, and I would love any of your additions in the comments.  I promise that a road trip with a toddler is doable, and it can actually be fun!

XOXO,

Molly B.

For the third year in a row, I was given the honor of covering Kansas City Fashion Week as part of their media team.

Kansas City Fashion Week features local, national, and international designers, in two full weeks of premier runway shows. Additionally, they give opportunities to stylists, make-up artists, models, and photographers to showcase their work in a creative format.

Both years that I’ve attended, KCFW shows were hosted in the Grand Hall at Union Station, which is the perfect setting! But like with everything else, 2020 and 2021 had to look a little bit different, due to the spikes of COVID cases. KCFW worked with local venue, White Iron Ridge, on a modified plan for Kansas City Fashion Week and took things virtual. Initially, you might think, “How?” But I assure you, the experience was still very immersive, and you felt like you were right in the front row, while staying healthy and safe.

This year, I had the opportunity to attend two of the live filming sessions, getting a sneak preview before they aired virtually.  It was such an incredible experience to see everything that goes on behind the scenes of a runway show.  After everything was ready for prime time, I watched two of the shows from the comfort of my home and pajamas, which was really an ideal situation, if I’m honest.

We all know by now that I love fashion—the clothing, the accessories, the hair and makeup, everything. So when I was given this opportunity, I was pumped! But more than anything, I love to look at runway styles and use them as inspiration for everyday looks. In this post, I’m breaking down the Top Ten Trends that were on repeat on the KCFW runway, as well as how you can incorporate them into your closet.

1. Pastel Tones. Um okay, twist my arm. This girl loves her mint, lavender, rose, and all sorbet tints in between. This year’s runway showed the versatility of these colors and how you can wear them in each season. I love to wear these as everyday basics, as well as standout pieces.

2. Folk-Inspired. When I was in middle school, I had a major moment obsessing over 70s style. And while I still rock my turquoise on the daily, I did trade in the bell bottoms for boyfriend jeans along the way. However, folk style is back in a big way. My favorite way to wear this trend is with bold prints like paisley, and always with my gladiator sandals.

3. Fringe. From tops, to skirts, to the accessories, fringe was everywhere! I don’t have a ton in my wardrobe. Yet. But I love fringe details on a handbag or on a statement skirt.

4. Bridgerton Vibes. So apparently, it’s not just the love scenes that leave a lasting impression after this Netflix binge. The fashion inspiration was everywhere! Initially this one seems like a challenge to wear to your next happy hour. But it’s easy to incorporate with hints of lace, or collars, or even fun hair clips and headbands.

5. Rocker Chic. The hardcore rocker looks were back on the runway for another season. The leather, the dark colors, and the smokey makeup to match. My preferred way to wear is a cool leather jacket, but I also love my Doc Martens, and adding both of these to an otherwise feminine look.

6. Patchwork. With everyone embracing new hobbies during quarantine, those newly found quilting skills found themselves on the runway. Patchwork prints were in dresses, coats, pants, everything. I love this take on a patchwork dress, and anything with this many colors provides endless versatility.

7. Dramatic Details. The drama is in the details. More specifically the sleeves. The bigger, the bolder, the more detailed, the better. Puff sleeves aren’t going anywhere, and they are only getting more interesting.

8. Sequins. YES! I love the joy and whimsy that come with sequins, so I was delighted to see them on the runway. You can wear them from head to toe for a bold take, or just a pop of a handbag will do. But sequins are here in a big way!

9. Blue. This was the color of the season! Pops of blue, Blue jeans, Blue makeup, Blue everywhere. The easiest way to embrace the blues is with a killer jean jacket. The most versatile piece in my closet, and always in style.

10. The Roaring 20s. Last but certainly not least, the people are ready to ditch their casual wear. As we emerge from the last year at home, embrace the sentiment of “anything goes.” Dress up, try something new, be bold, be different. If we’re learned anything over the last year, it’s that time should not be taken for granted, and don’t wait for tomorrow, because nothing is promised.

For more information on this season, you can visit the Kansas City Fashion Week website, or you can check out any of the designers (list below for reference).

Saturday – May 1st, 2021

Annette Sunshine Designs

Jaxson Wyatt

Jeanne Nuage

Joshua Christensen

Kyndra Jade

Naava Swim

Topping Designs

Friday – April 30, 2021

De’LaTail Custom Creations

Gracie Key

House of Colby

Jennifer Robbins

Jo Hartley

Nokota

NYX Boutique

Romee The Brand

Thursday – April 29th, 2021

Anai V.

De’Calage

Elizabeth Diamant

Fashion By Ayala

Jaqui Co.

Kara Rainey

Kindred

Mozze

I can’t wait to see how you incorporate these trends!

XOXO,

Molly B.