JOAN COLLINS BROWN

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a pop up shop between Dreamer and Sephora. Dreamer is a popular local cafe in Miami's art district and they teamed up with Sephora which opened a new stand alone store on Lincoln Road. I didn't know what to expect, but they absolutely out did themselves. As soon as you walked in you felt all the tropical vibes. Not only was EVERYTHING Instagram worthy but they had different sections for you to get your hair styled with Ouai products or get your makeup done. Best of all, you could order any drink provided by Dreamer. I of course ordered the very adorable and refreshing coconut water. The pop up wouldn't be complete without a photo booth which they had set up professionally and you could email or text the photos right away. The event was amazing and although it was only going on for the weekend opening of Sephora Lincoln Road you can always go to Dreamer juice bar because it looks exactly the same as the pictures show. Make sure you check out the new Sephora store, it is in a great location and the staff was so helpful while I was shopping around.

In Late March, my family and I flew to Utah to celebrate my older brothers wedding. I'm not sure how long you have been following along on my blog but Chase and I met in Utah while we were going to college and then lived in Utah our first few years of marriage. Although I don't see myself living in Utah anytime in the future, it does hold a special place in my heart. Plus, you can't deny how gorgeous it is. It is hands down one of the prettiest States in America.   I write all of this to say, we were with my family and although they had visited Utah before, they never explored the mountain ranges and barely left the city. Chase and I decided Park City was the perfect place for a quick day trip so they could enjoy the snow and a classic all American town. If you aren't familiar with Park City, just know they are famous for their ski slopes. Each year the city also host the famous Sundance film festival, the largest independent film festival in the United States. Main street floods with celebrities and ongoing events for the week. Tickets to the movie screenings are hard to get but not impossible so check it out if you ever get the chance.

We found great parking very quickly, which is usually a nightmare along side Main Street. Main Street to me is the real attraction since I'm not a fan of Winter sports. This part of Park City is called Historic Park City. The buildings have been around since the 1800s which is why you feel like you just walked into a movie set. The first time I saw this street from a distance I couldn't believe that little towns like this exist.  We walked down main street, window shopping and then found a little coffee shop across from the ski lifts. I wish I remembered the name. It was packed full of people getting hot drinks because it was freezing outside. Keep in mind it was late March so it was unseasonably cold. We ordered some hot chocolates- everyone had a drink choice. Chase ordered a spicy hot chocolate, he told me those are common to drink in Mexico. Then we just sat and chatted for a little while before going back out. I had such a fun day showing my parents and brother around Utah. It is trips like these that make for the best memories.

Like I mentioned, it was freezing! I was so cold I had to layer up. This is the outfit I had on to keep me warm. You can shop the pieces by clicking the links below. CASHMERE SWEATER: H&M DENIM JACKET: J.CREW (ALSO HERE) PONCHO: (OLD) Love this one HERE  JEANS: TOPSHOP- They are the MOM jeans HAT: Lack of Color BOOTS: FOREVER 21 LESS THAN $30!!(Honestly the best, I was looking for white heeled boots for the longest time and these are awesome)

Have you ever found a gorgeous dress, or top and stopped yourself from buying it because it was sleeveless? I've been there so many times, until I started looking at clothing differently than how it was displayed on a mannequin. As many of you know, I'm LDS and we practice a level of modesty in our religion. After I went through the Temple a week prior to getting married I never considered how much I would be reminded of my choices simply by picking out an outfit everyday. Sure, I think I was always pretty modest in my day to day life before being endowed in the Temple. I'll even make a bold statement and say that I was probably one of the most modest among my group of friends at school, but there is a huge difference between: "I shouldn't wear that", and "I can't wear that".  Modesty isn't something I really struggle with, but I think its mainly due to how I see clothing. I don't have a desire to wear tight clothes, or anything short or low cut. However, there comes a time when I have to think outside the box.

Take this dress I'm wearing as an example. It is absolutely beautiful, and if it wasn't for it being sleeveless it would be a modest dress in my opinion. I learned to love layering pieces together and not see it as a burden, but simply as a fashion choice. For this dress I wanted to keep its feminine design by giving it a preppy twist and added a collared blouse. This is just one example of what can be done. Another trick of mine is to add a skin tone t-shirt (preferably) tight fitting underneath anything sheer. You will be modest but still keeping the integrity of the design.

I know it can be frustrating when we are looking for a dress for a wedding or an event. You can't seem to find anything that works and you might give up and let our values slip. I want to tell you there is always a way to keep your modesty without having to conform. We should start getting in the habit (myself included) to remember clothing can be altered to fit you. You can always cut fabric and add it on. Perhaps the dress is too long and a seamstress and make sleeves from that material. I can remember being a teenager and seeing my friends wearing more revealing tops and shorts; which wasn't wrong, but I personally never felt comfortable in those clothes. I had to realize I had my own style and to stick to it to make myself happy instead of making it more about everyone else. Sure, I was teased about my "grandma" style, but I had to wear them and my feelings are all I care about when I get dressed. At the end of the day, as long as you are comfortable in what you are wearing that is what truly matters. Thanks so much for stopping by. Please share with me your experiences with modesty.  Is it something you struggle with? Do you care about it? Do you have your own tricks and tips? With love, Joan