a whole lotta nothing

skirt: american eagle. shirt: j.crew. necklace: gift. bracelets: forever21 & burntsiena designs.

You know that song that goes, "Today I feel like not doing anything, I just want to stay here in bed" or whatever? He goes on to sing about how he's too lazy to get dressed or answer his phone...and then some inappropriate stuff that I had to change the channel on. 

Still, the idea of doing nothing remains. And, not to brag, but my day today makes THAT guy's day look like an 18-hour shift of intense ER-esque overtime. Me? All I have to show for today is the fact that I'm barefoot. Because our car is in the shop and is costing virtually $millions$ to get it repaired. So I'm shoeless and under house arrest. Both of which kind of make me a non-consumer and, thereby, a financial contributor to our household today.

My husband will be so proud.

Know how else I'm super helpful and frugal? I'm off to whip up some flour and water into dinner. Which may not sound delicious until I tell you this: it'll also have expired baking cocoa sprinkled on top. So. I just hope you're taking notes, people.

Happy Thursday.

Want this look? Shop below. You can disregard the shoes, but I'll be wearing similar footwear on my death march to the auto repair place...

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July sponsorships now open

Hey friends,

I'm trying something fairly new to this blog here...a little something I like to call sponsor-slots, which are now available for the month of July 15-August 14. Want to advertise your blog, etsy/other shop, or website? Email me for rates and options; they're totally affordable, if I do say so myself. It's like free publicity. 'Cept for the "free" part. But pretty stinking close. brittneynsmart [at] yahoo [dot] com

Annnnnnd...break.

something old, new, borrowed, blue...and painted

 shoes & necklace: forever21. shorts: who knows, who cares. shirt: old navy. earrings: hawaii. bracelets: a zillion places.

I wrote a post to accompany these pics last night, full of snappy wit and self-deprecation. The brunt of my jokes were centered on these paint-splattered shorts, which I happen to love but which are, shall we say, white trash. Which makes for some good jokes, I have to say.

But Blogger ate the post, and I'm too lazy to write it again. So do me a favor: smile real big, spontaneously, as you read the next few words. Maybe even chuckle a little and shake your head, if you're a head-shaker-while-laughing kinda girl. (Or guy. But let's be honest. If you're reading this blog...girl.) Ready? Go.

Either way...I think this outfit is Unexpected and Maybe Awesome here. So it was a great day.

Happy Wednesday-turned-Thursday.

Want this look? Buy stuff below, then bust out your paintbrush...

More Forever 21...

the 1st part is lame...and it goes downhill from there...

I apologize in advance for this post. Any shred of creativity and humor I once may have had has been zapped by UV rays and chlorine. They need to make a sunscreen for THAT kind of protection, if you ask me. C'mon, scientists. BE somebody.

 shoes: converse brand. shorts: american eagle. shirt: forever21. necklace & flower clips: gift. watch: target.

 This crown braid? Yeah. Awkward. I took it out because it's too weird, and I can't concentrate knowing that I look like a lopsided pinhead. Not to offend the lopsided pinhead population out there...I'm sure you're all very capable crown-braiders.

So, here's the deal, guys. I love this top, but I'm finding it hard to style differently. This is the case with several of my 30x30 shirts, actually. In cooler weather, it's easier for me to change things up by layering differently. But when it's hot, like it is now (not complaining, here. just, y'know, stating facts), the last thing I want to do is layer stuff just so it looks different on the ol' blog.

[Editor's note: So we've come to that, have we? "Ol' blog"? Ouch. Like Ol' Yeller...didn't he die at the end?]

So. This top is like an outfit unto itself. I don't really know what that means, actually, despite the piece of embossed cardstock somewhere in my house that says some PhDs think I know 4 years' worth of something about the English language. (Suckers.) Basically, if I wear this top, it doesn't really matter what else goes with it, because it's bold and detailed and can't really be paired with a non-neutral bottom like plaid because...ouch on the brain and on the eyes.

Speaking of pained brains: "apparently" you're "not" supposed to eat "crappy" foods "late" at night every "night" if you're "trying" to lose tummy "flub." [Editor's note: Admit it...you're a huge fan of an overuse of the arbitrarily placed quotation mark, aren't you?] Guess who's going to actively embrace her tummy flub? That's right. Me. Because some things are totally worth a romantic m&m snack by TV-light.

Happy Tuesday.

Click below for similar style...

More Converse...

here.

Once upon a time there lived a beautiful princess who was beloved by all and was always on top of things. She had a weird and mildly lame twin sister who was mainly only good at sugar consumption. 

Unfortunately for you, lovely reader, guess which one writes this blog.

Disregard the similarity between days 1 and 8. Disregard the redundancy of those strappy metallic sandals. Disregard the mess on the couch and rug on day 10. Disregard all that, but don't fail to regard this: I have an enormous zit just slightly off center on my forehead. No, seriously. E.nor.mous. Which means no pics today, because not even the wildest, brightest adherence to trendy neon color blocking could distract from it.

And also, I don't have wild, bright, trendy neon color blockable clothes. So.

Happy Monday.

does this mess make me look lazy?

 shoes: cato brand. skirt: don't recall. shirt: j.crew. necklace: gift (downeast basics). belt: thrifted (american eagle). bracelets: forever21.

This week I'm grateful for:

- getting some fabulous loot from The Body Shop from this adorable blogger's giveaway.
- laundry days that are filled with my workout clothes (because that means I worked out! every day! *faint*)

- campfires + nathan's hot dogs + marshmallows + some long roasting sticks + my little family x bug spray.

- a new math-games website that is so fun, I stayed up until 5:30 a.m. playing it because I couldn't quit. Yes, you read that right. 5 hecking 30. My husband was dying at me when he woke up...about 20 minutes after I called it a night.

- nature.

- automatic sprinklers.

- potty-trained kidlets...even (especially?) when they wander around our laid-back summertime house in nothing but panties. Cutest.Thing.Ever.

- a laid-back summertime house. Which is noticeably messier than our school-time house. But way funner. Because the freezer pops are plentiful and the bedtimes vague.

- kids who sing.

- dead mosquitos. Especially those swatted by my own hand. Makes me feel like I'm giving back to the universe, in my own small way.

- cortizone cream.

- playing and laughing with my husband and my children.

- when my son (who is hard to please at the dinner table these days) gives dinner a coveted "two thumbs up." Yesssssss.

Happy Sunday.

a monkey in zebra's clothing...

 I almost didn't get dressed today, because it's going to get hot. Then I thought that all you peeps should be able to see an outfit that, although ineligible for any ground-breaking style awards, is perfect for a hot day at the zoo. So. Here.

 shoes & jewelry: forever21. shorts: american eagle. shirt: j.crew. watch: target. ribbon belt: my daughter's hair accessories box.

 I've been doing Jillian Michaels' ripped-in-30 or whatever workouts. And I'm out of shape and sore. Which is why I had to stretch to do a flexing photo. Worth it? Nope. But here you go anyway:

It's Friend Friday! Today's topic is: (maybe) odd style-related things I like.

1. Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping? Yes. Previously, I mostly shopped clearance racks for whatever was cheap--like basic solid tees. Now I gravitate toward more prints, color, and stuff with unique detail. I'll pay more for something that fits well and that I love, because I'll actually wear it. (Unlike that floral muu-muu gathering mothballs in my dresser that was, like, $3. Worst $3 ever spent...)

2. Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that? Not necessarily. I notice that lots of times, moms (including myself) get into a style rut of, like, capris and tees and flip-flops during the summer. I try not to do that. But I have family and friends who are super stylish and also others who could care less, so I say to each his own and love 'em for it...as long as they share me a slice of their fruit pizza.

3. What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like, even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it? Stripes or bold color chunks in hair (including feathers), when tastefully done. I think it's funky and fun...but I'm way too old for it.

4. Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do? Large-scale neon color blocking. Yipes.

5. Toot someone’s horn – what fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices? Love how Elaine wears totally "normal" stuff but in a unique, chic way. And Suze for her fearless color choices.

Happy Friday!

Want to go to the zoo on a hot day, too? Shop below...

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on math and other things to cry about

 shoes: cato brand. cropped pants: gap. shirt: j.crew. bracelet: downeast basics. earrings: hawaii.

I made my 6-year-old do some math this morning. He hates the pressure of being timed, though, so instead of doing it on a math website, I wrote out some problems for him to do on paper. (Bonus: He has to write out the answers, thereby making him practice penmanship as well. Boom goes the dynamite.)

He spent probably an hour complaining about how they're all too hard to do [Editor's note: They weren't.], how he didn't know any of the answers [Editor's note: He did.], how carnivores eat other herbivores and other smaller carnivores [Editor's note: Oh. Okay.], and how he would never ever get it finished in time to go to his friend's house [Editor's note: Seemed to be true.].

Then his sister got home from summer school and he did them all real quick.

Fast-foward to me, right now: I have exactly 13 minutes to be off the computer and start deep-cleaning my son's room while he's gone. Unfortunately, I, too, loathe "timed" assignments, especially when I've nothing of (a) value, (b) humor, or (c) interest to say. 

The best I can come up with? This: my skull is apparently the weirdest shape in humankind, because whenever I wear sashes as headbands, they slowly creep their way toward the back of my sideways-cone-shaped head and then fall off. Don't get me wrong--this headshape would be indisputably awesome for aerodynamicy, if I were an airplane. Less awesome, though, to be the object of "look-at-that-chick-with-a-ropey-thing-hanging-awkwardly-down-her-back-while-her-hair-frizzes-out-all-over."

Either way... Happy Thursday.

Want this look? Super simple, super great for summer. Click below...

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stripes & plaid & a bit o' turquoise

  Once upon a time, I was pretty good at rhyming. I wrote insightful, lengthy, and often cleverly humorous poems. Today is not that day, as I finished my breakfast bagel mid-photo shoot and came up with this:

shoes & necklace: forever21. skirt: american eagle. shirt: gap. bracelet & earrings: hawaii.

I'm tired today, you guys. We've had lots and lots of face-time with Mr. Golden Sun lately. Which is 75% glorious, 10% "I really should be cleaning my house", and whatever-percentage-is-left-over split among the following:

(1) a peeling nose and hairline.

(2) makes me sweat and thereby smell like...what's the word...oh, right, sweat.

(addendum to 2) don't some people maintain that girls don't sweat, they "glow"? Liars.  

(3) tired. Srsly, I think my body needs 4 hours of nap per 1 hour of direct sunshine. Which means...welp, g'night.

I wish I could say the sun makes me hungry, too, and that would explain my recent tripling of appetite. But, unforch, I think the golden orb has nothing to do with that. Maybe I'll try blaming it on the moon and lunar tides and stuff instead. The ocean's only about 1000 miles away from where I live, y'know. Which is, like, an inch in the grand scheme of things.

Then it's settled. Just like the large bowl of ice cream in my belly.

Happy Wednesday.

Want this look? Check out some similar awesomeness below...

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on sunburn and psyche

 shoes: converse brand. leggings: don't recall (maybe old navy?). skirt & vest: thrifted. shirt j.crew. hairclip: downeast basics. necklace: handmade gift. watch: gift (citizen brand).

My daughter couldn't decide which bracelet of mine to wear this morning...so she wore them all. There's a lesson in there somewhere, don't you think? (p.s. Enlarge the photo below to check her face(s) out. Priceless.)

I have a peeling sunburn on my nose and the top of my forehead at my hairline. That's right. Super classy dandruff-lady, comin' through. Is it weird that I kinda planned this hodge-podge ensemble around that? Dandruff? I wanted to wear something that says, "hey, I'm actually a fairly hygienic person [minus flossing], but I'm sporting some scalp flakeage right now, so instead of stressing about something that will go away on its own in a day or two, I'll just dress all random like I'm super laid-back and you'll think I'm the outdoorsy type, in which case said peeling sunburn totally makes sense and actually makes me look kinda cool and approachable."

I think I nailed it. The "dress all random" part, anyway. Polka dot skirt with vest and baseball henley? Yeah baby. Definitely random.

Speaking of...My husband said, "yeah baby" to me the other day, which nearly caused our 2-year-old to have a pint-sized heart attack. "Dad! Mom is not yoi BABY! She's mom!" I think I'm getting old.

Happy Tuesday.

Want this look, even without the awesome sunburn addition? Shop below...

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just a little notey-note...

Dear stylish and/or literate readers,

It's almost the end of June. Can you even handle that? I can't. Which is why, if I were to show you my "outfit" today, you would be gagging over an unshowered, makeup-less mess of a mom wearing paint-splattered cutoffs and an oversized tee.

But, though you most assuredly would be unimpressed by the haggard ensemble, you *might* be happy to discover that that very same woman, who'd fit right in at the aisles of Walmart at 11 p.m., was extremely productive today. Today I:

- played with my kids.
- washed the front windows, inside & out.
- played with my kids.
- scoured the oven (first time. Ever. In my life. That's right...I'm 31 and have lived in this house for 5 years. You're pretty jealous of the people I've baked for up until now, aren't you?).
- set up a painting station for my kids.
- weeded and pruned stuff.
- played with my kids.
- baked zucchini bread.
- played with my kids.
- begrudgingly shared some zucchini bread with my kids. Crumbs.
- deep-cleaned my living room.
- set up a water slide/slip-n-slide arrangement for the kids.
- tried a new recipe for dinner. 4 out of 5 consumers loved it. I'll take those stats.
- did six loads of laundry.
- played with my kids.
- continued on the potty-training success wagon with my 2-year-old.
- had family night at the park.

So. Although I didn't get "dressed," it's because life got in the way, and I was too busy with summertime chores. Which includes playtime. I'm not apologizing. Just, y'know, letting you know how it's going to be on some summer days around here.

Thanks for hanging with me. See you all tomorrow.

Sincerely, Brittney

excuses excuses

Hey guys! I'm back from running Ragnar. It was such a great (and tiring. and crazy) experience, one that has been on my bucket list for several years. (LOVE when I can checkmark a "bucket list" box, you know?)

I'm alive and well (minus my quads, the stinking complainers...I can hardly move without them screaming at me). My team--especially my van, which included two of my SILs--was awesome.

(above: left to right, me & my beautiful sis-in-laws T & M.)

This is what I wore to church today. I think I looked pregnant, with how this top poofed out over this skirt. Which isn't exactly the look I was going for, but I was too sore to change. Which is also my excuse for the tired, frizzy hair you see here. Not one for the books today, friends. Forgive me? No? Rats. And...meh.

 shoes, shirt, & bracelets: forever21. skirt: j.crew.

This week I'm grateful for:

- my husband, my dad, my brothers, and all the guys out there who love being fathers.

- my body. Specifically my legs.

- my Ragnar support van and funny memories (e.g., honking at horses, human fog horns, the merits of cops vs. volunteers, "um, what's that flag for?", honey bucket stories, etc.) 

- my family who supported me in doing Ragnar.

- being blister-free.

- IcyHot type substances.

- magical summer evenings spent outside with my husband & kids, with water and frisbees and popsicles and time. Lots and lots of time.

- sunglasses.

- successful potty-training experiences. (waaaaaay better than unsuccessful ones...)

- hot showers.

- when zits go away.

- ziploc bags.

- cell phone service in the middle of nowhere. And having something to text and someone to text it to.

Happy Sunday.

best springtime recipe

Hey guys, it's Friend Friday! Today's topic is: food & your favorite seasonal dish.

I love food and all things edible, but esPESHially in the spring/summer when fresh produce and grilled yumminess abounds.

My favorite seasonal recipe is Honey Lime Fruit Salad from here. (p.s. That website? Trouble. You'll want to try everything and will spend hours drooling into your keyboard which may or may not short-circuit your entire system.) Make it. Elbow others away. Devour it all yourself. Then forgo any drug tests for a day or two. (Poppyseeds, people. C'mon. Stay with me.)

It's delish and refreshing and all things springy.

Happy Friday!

p.s. I'm off to run a 190-mile relay race with 11 team members today and tomorrow. Let's meet back here on Sunday, kay? Kay.

I think Cinderella was onto something...

 sandals & bracelets: forever21. pants: gap. belt & necklace: vintage. shirt: j.crew.

You guys, I can't even begin to explain to you how odd today was. You know that movie Groundhog Day? Nothing like that, other than it was strange. And I hope hope HOPE I don't have to relive it, because strange things happened. Like the fact that I got sucked into a 1-1/2 hour vacuum demonstration in my home in the middle of the afternoon when I was supposed to be working on a Fathers Day gift with my kids.

And the girl doing the demo (a.k.a. trying to sell me a $3,000 vacuum) reminded me that dirt stays in the bottom of carpet and eventually starts eating it. And, when I didn't gasp or shriek or do cartwheels or sign my name in blood to buy 14 of her products, she asked me, "And that doesn't gross you out?"

Sure it grosses me out if I think about it. Kinda like eating meat. (Don't think about it...it really is disturbing.) But there are a million other things to think about sometimes. Like the deliciousness of pnut m&ms. And the perfection of a mildly breezy spring day. And the fact that I'd rather hang out with my growing-up-too-fast kids than follow them around with a vacuum to keep the dust mites at bay.

Besides, maybe dust mites are cute and friendly and helpful. Maybe I'll channel my inner Cinderella and stitch little shirts and hats for them. And teach them to steal cute accessories. Woah. THIS idea just got brilliant...

Happy Thursday.

Want this look? Shop below...

More Forever 21...

red: a neutralizer or distraction? discuss...

Wow, it's only Day 3 and I'm already getting lame with the rhymes. Dah well.

 shoes: converse brand. skirt: american eagle. shirt: j.crew. sash: off a shirt from downeast basics. necklace: handmade by daughter with keychain pendant from an eiffel tower souvenier shop in paris.

I love this shirt. Love the snaps on the sleeves. Love the neckline. Love the weight and fit of the fabric. Love it all.

Wanna know a secret? C'mere. Closer...closerrrrrrr... This shirt is cream-based, and the skirt is white-based. I have always--ALWAYS--had a thing for keeping those two separate. Combining them is like drinking orange juice or eating sour patch kids right after brushing your teeth. (Guess which activity loses out almost every time around here?) (Wait, don't guess. It's alarming how well you guys are already acquainted with my limited dental hygiene habits...) (Okay, so that's not exactly true. I sure don't floss like a champ, but I brush my teeth! Faithfully! Often! I swear!)

[Editor's note: Um, the Punctuation Police called and said they're running out of parentheses and exclamation marks. Easy does it.]

(psssst...Editor...the Jerk Store called and said they're running out of YOU!)

And if you've never watched Seinfeld and/or are unacquainted with the fabulous fictional character that is George Costanza, you won't understand that last parenthetical aside. And also? My heart bleeds for you.

So. Cream, meet white. White, cream. Let's throw in a pop o' red and call it a day, shall we?

Happy Wednesday.

Want this look? It's super fun to wear! Click below...

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