casual -- but not sloppy -- denim

boots & watch: target. knee-high socks: smith's marketplace. skirt: american eagle. shirt: gift (old navy?). shirt: gap. necklace: downeast basics. belt: don't recall. earrings: hawaii.

I like the mix of denim with the over-the-top bubble necklace here, but I think I'm done with boots for awhile...

...fortunately, my loss is her gain.

Hey everyone, it's Friend Friday! Today's topic is shoes.

1. What is your go-to pair of shoes? In the spring, it's my metallic flats. Easy on, easy off, and they go with everything. Second-up are my Converse All-Stars, any time of the year.

2. What goes into your shoe buying decisions? Their similarity (or not) to other shoes I already own (a.k.a., Do I really need them?). And price. And cuteness.

3. The majority of the shoes in your closet are what color? Black or brown. If I were a betting girl, I'd say this is the case for 90% of humankind. 'Cept my daughters. Then it'd be pink.

4. When it comes to design shoes what are your favorite brands and why? I don't know a lot about shoe brands. I like most of the shoes Steve Madden designs. *awkward e-pause, as I search and come up with nothing to follow that statement up with*

5. If price wasn’t an issue, you’d own which shoe? Honestly, I just don't know. See my answer to #4, to fill you in on my shoe ignorance. :)

Happy Friday!

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More Anthropologie...

around the world in 80 days...or a blog post...

 boots & watch: target. tights: gift. dress: paris, france. shirt: downeast. scarf: sweden. belt: forever21.

An international outfit if I've ever had one--I found this simple linen dress in a boutique in Paris about 10 years ago, and I fell in love with it. Which is odd, because it's actually a shapeless sack that happens to wrinkle if I so much as breathe while wearing it. Other than that? The most comfortable item of clothing I own. (Note to self: Purchase, and wear, more sacks.)

So. I try not to breathe unnecessarily whilst in this dress, but it makes me lightheaded. But it DOES cut down on the intensity of hiccups I experience, so that's exciting.

Hey, don't roll your eyes at me. Sometimes we have to create our own fun, especially when we live in a cold, small town in the winter. Next up: tying your shoes with one hand. What can I say, I'm a party girl. Whoomp there it is.

(ahem) So. Parisian linen, Swedish scarf, boots that were probably made in China but I'm not sure. Now all I need to be really, truly happy is some Italian ice cream. Anyone?

Happy Monday.

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More Lauren Ralph Lauren...

mix & match...then realize it doesn't look cool...THEN realize "who cares? I'm too old to be cool anyway"

shoes: cato brand. pants & cardigan: gap. shirt: forever21. belt: pocket's. watch: citizen brand. flower brooch: don't recall. 

(Yes, I'm aware that these shoes today are all wrong for these pants...they put the cuff at an uncomfortably lame height. Buuuuut...meh. Whatchagonnado.)

Something reminded me today of my 5th grade school "talent" show. Some friends and I thought we were super good singers and not-too-shabby choreographers, so we performed not one but two numbers at our school's (soon-to-be non)talent show: "Barbara Ann" (beach boys) to give the audience some pep and "Greatest Love of All" (whitney houston) to deeply move them. (...and, yes, in case you're wondering, I do want to cry of embarrassment. Thanks for asking.)

Of course Surprisingly, we sucked. And even that's putting it mildly.

Post-performance, even my mother could hardly come up with words that were equally positive and true. I think she finally choked out something like "brave" and "you tried." We were the laughingstock.

You know how any publicity is supposed to be good publicity? Yeah, well, I found out that's a total lie when the news (a) centers around the fact that you and your four buddies are untalented, uncoordinated fools and (b) ushers in your junior high years.

Hmmm...Not sure how this glorious memory ties into my ensemble today. Other than I kind of feel like it's Mom-wear, and as a mom, I want my kids to skip their junior high/middle school years. I don't think I'm man enough to live through their emotional coming-of-ages, because look how adorable and confident they are at 4 years old:

 

(Her finale pose? Kills me.)

Happy Friday.

Want this look so you, too, can worry about your pre-pubescent kids' futures? Check it out:

More Forever 21...

I'd never have made a good hippie...

shoes: cato brand. jeans & shirt: old navy. (Amendment: Crap. It's actually Downeast Outfitters. Sorry.) belt: forever21. bracelet: hawaii. flower clips: gift.

I don't usually style my tops to be poofier in the stomach area, mainly because I'm blessed with enough natural, ah, "poof" that I don't need/want to build upon it. It'd be like pouring extra sugar into those fun-dip packets, or putting marshmallows into already sugary cereal. Like, who would DO that, right? (*blush* ehhh...me, I guess. Poof-ified the stomach and fed my kids lucky charms for breakfast. Two for two. Awesome.)

Dah well. Inspired by E., I decided to flounce it up a bit today. But I wanted to keep myself from floating off (into the great white yonder), so I maintained a very structured leg-line. Add my favorite crochet-peeptoe-wedges (a trifecta of yumminess, if you ask me), a side braid with a hint of hippie in the flower pins, and a turquoise bracelet for contrast.

I wasn't sure about the bracelet, to be honest. The shirt is bold enough, I don't know if a contrast was actually necessary. But red + turquoise just happens to be one of my favorite color combos, so I ran with it today. Which would be awesome if I did, in fact, run. With anything, anywhere. Unfortunately, the closest thing I've done to that these past few months has been to plod to the cupboard for a cadbury mini egg or eight. (Whereupon, I stop and gasp for about an hour to restock ye ol' oxygen supply... C'mon, spring. This girl needs to exercise!)

Happy Monday.

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More Forever 21...

To tuck or not to tuck? Or to tuck halfway? These are the questions...

Mirror images. Smashing. And also? Apparently my body rounds itself out where it wants and when it wants, but it blatantly disregards my needs for forming daily numerals (i.e., the bottom part of a "5"). Stinking stubborn knees that only bend. What good are ya?

 boots: target. jeans: kohl's. shirt: gap. cardigan: j.crew. scarf: gift (old navy). belt: Poket's. earrings: hawaii.

In junior high (yes, I'm old enough that I went to junior high and not middle school. Maybe we did arithmetic on slate boards and fetched water from the town well and carried hot potatoes to school in our pails, too. What of it?) (Just kidding. My junior high was just like middle school now--scary cafeteria food and a geography teacher whose white spittle that formed between his top and bottom lip while he talked was absolutely mesmerizing.)

Wow. Better start over. (ahem) In junior high, I remember tucking the front of my shirts in but letting the back hang out. Did anyone else do this? And is it weird that I'm doing it here and now? I don't see it often, but I wanted my belt to be seen here, because to me it tied in the boots to the whole ensemble.

What's your vote--yay or nay to a front-only tuck? And also, sorry about the cuhrazy lighting in these photos. I figure we're all just lucky I got any photos at all. And when I say "we're" I of course mean "I'm"...because probably you all could have a perfectly happy Friday without photos of a girl slapping her knee like a hoedown-beat-keeper and one with hair like a lioness.

But now that you've seen these photos...it's hard to go back to the person you were before. There there, little one. Don't cry.

Happy Friday!

Want this look? First, stick your finger in the nearest electrical outlet. Then buy these clothes:

More Forever 21...

dark brown with black: too close for comfort?

 So I'm getting lazy in my old age. Meh.

 booties: steve madden. socks: don't recall. skirt & jacket: kohl's. belt: f21. watch: target.

A few things I'd love to bring up here, and I'd love your feedback if you have a thought or opinion. Which is code for: This is a test, kids. Get out your #2 pencils. (ahem) 

(1) Socks with this skirt. The skirt is verrry business-esque (try saying that 10 times fast. not a chance), and I wanted to make it more casual and fun. AKA, the knee-high socks bandit rides again. Mistake or Awesome?

(2) Brown socks and black skirt. Here's the thing: I didn't want all black-blackness in the ensemble. Sometimes I think that's a little harsh. But these (the socks and skirt) are close enough in color, kind of, that it almost looks like I made a mistake and unintentionally grabbed brown socks thinking "no one'll notice..." Which, yes, it might be a mistake (that's what I'm trying to determine with you all), but it wasn't unintentional. So. Socks/skirt coloration conundrum: Mistake or Awesome? Or somewhere in-between?

(3) Pencil skirt as a stay-at-home mom. I think I made a mistake in selecting my 30x30 items, because 3 of the 7 bottoms are pencil skirts. I adore them. But they're just not that practical to wear so often when I crawl around the house playing "here kitties" with my 2-year-old, or when I have to do laundry and am having to lean waaaay over to scoop out that stubborn sock in the back of the dryer, or other odds and ends of activities that fill my life. What do you guys say: pencil skirt as regular at-home attire: Mistake or Awesome? Or just plain stupid?

(4) Lack of necklace. I had one on originally and then took it off because I love this belt buckle so much, and I felt like the two were competing. But I do feel a little bare/plain. So. Mistake or Awesome?

Anything else that catches your eye that you either like about this ensemble, or that you think would've made it better? Seriously. This one needs help.

Happy Tuesday!

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More Fossil...

Saturday brevity

shoes: union bay brand. jeans: american eagle outfitters. shirt & belt: forever21. jacket: kohl's. necklace & flower clip: gifted. bracelet: don't recall. earrings: hawaii.

I love it when Pocket goes shopping. He gets stuff like oranges and pnut m&ms and a kinect for the xbox 360. Which is why today's post is so short. I'm off to make my body into the controller and exhibit the reflexes of a cat. A nearly-dead bedraggled on-its-8th-life alleycat feline. But a cat nonetheless.

Happy Saturday!

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More Jessica Simpson...

stuffy solids turn playful

 boots & watch: target. tights: giftedn. magic skirt: gap. shirt: j.crew. belt: don't recall.

Today's jumping-off point was this shirt. I adore everything about it--the color, the cowl neck, the sleeves, everything. But for some reason, I'm having a hard time styling it. So I decided that I'd put it on and see what else flew out of my closet and landed on my body, Mary Poppins cleanup-style.

[Editor's note: Maybe it's just me...it's probably just me...but has anyone else DREAMed of being able to snap your fingers and have results like that? Clean house, straightened appearance, birds singing outside the window? Hello. If I ever run into a genie-filled-lamp, the Magic Snap is TOTally in running. Along with an endless supply of calorie-free-yet-still-delicious pnut m&ms. I'd tell you my idea for the 3rd wish, but I haven't narrowed it down yet, and you just can't be too hasty in making these important life decisions. So.]

Ahem. Since I've worn pants the past couple of days, a skirt was in order. But no pencil skirt. (I definitely overestimated my desire to wear pencil skirts during this 30x30) Which leaves magic skirt. I almost wore the print side, but it's snowy and chilly and I wanted to be warmer with boots (for the four-thousandth time this week) and some colored tights.

Solid shirt, solid skirt, solid tights, and solid footwear. Normally I don't do this.much.solid.color. But today I left it alone. Simple belt, hairstyle, and a watch as my only other accessory. I think the color of the tights just ties in the whole look here. A bit Unexpected and Maybe Awesome.

Speaking of unexpected... *snap*

Nuts. Dishes are still dirty. Never hurts to try, though, right? *snap* Okay. I'll sto*snap*p. No really. Don*snap*e. I wanted to wash the dishes by hand anyways. So. Joke's on you, Poppins.

[Editor's note: Outtakes below. Legitimate pose attempts in all their magnificent embarrassingness. I have nothing to say for myself, 'cept that a Magic Snap would reeeeeally come in handy right about now. Clean these right off all our computers.]



Happy Friday.

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More J.Crew...

"A" my name is Anonymous...

 boots: target. jeans: kohl's. shirt: gap. sweater: american eagle outfitters. watch: citizen brand. necklace: don't recall. belt: Pocket's.

Dear Anonymous from Yesterday's Comments,

Thank you! I've been hoping that my blog has a happy-energetic vibe, because that's the way I try to live my life. Mmmm...for the most part, anyway. I'll admit to some slothful tendencies at night, when all I want to do is veg in front of some sort of screen within arm's reach of unhealthy snacks and pnut m&ms. (Those have protein, so I consider them a health food...I'm sure you'd agree.) 

As for your begging about my not doing the numbers: I know, right? They do seem a little juvenile and...well, odd. And, at this point, we've seen pretty much all the variation of numeral-contortion that my rickety old body can produce, so it's nothing new. I'd love to stop doing them. More than anybody. But I'm cursed with a stubborn streak that, once I start something, I tend to finish it. Dang it.

But, my dear Anonymous friend, I promise you this: if and when I participate in a 30x30 again, I won't do the numbers. Then you can keep visiting this energetic blog and not be annoyed. Have we got ourselves a deal? It seems like a win-win to me.

Love, Brittney

p.s. Is it hard to go through life with a name like "Anonymous"? Poor thing. That's okay, though...my older brothers called me "Tank" for the first few years of my life. So, y'know, it could be worse for you.

Everyone else: Happy Thursday!

Want these clothes but not the poses? You got it...check out the cute stuff below:

More Old Navy...

very casual casualwear

 You should see the outtakes of me trying to make a #12 in one shot. Actually, you shouldn't. They're mildly depressing, because nowhere was a "12" to be found. And also, ouch on the contortions. You'd cry for me. After laughing very very hard. Thanks a lot.

It's Saturday, and my kids have been begging Pocket and me to please pretty please come build some block/lego constructions, the likes of which the world has never seen. You'll forgive me, then, for this very brief, uninspiring, and non-humorous post.

Because, you see, it's not just building with blocks. It's building the stuff of life. Like ultra bragging rights when the girls' structure ROCKS the boys'. So.

Happy happy Saturday.

p.s. If you missed it, don't forget to read my product review on a fabulous skirt from Kosher Casual. It. is. AWESOME. (ehhh...to clarify, "awesome" refers to the skirt. not necessarily the post. capeche?)

pardon me, ma'am...is that thar all you's food?

All right. It's official. I'm getting too old and delusional to think that my contortion below even sliiiiightly resembles the number eight. Check it:

Color me embarrassed. And inflexible. And anything that doesn't resemble 8.

boots & watch: target. socks: smith's marketplace. jeans: kohl's. sweater: j. crew. blazer: thrifted (the limited). belt: pocket's. flower: gifted/homemade.

Yesterday I went grocery shopping. First time in a long time. As in, our fridge was down to about a tablespoon of ketchup and some moldy cheese, which was actually going to be last night's dessert, but after having feasted on the last of the mustard and some bendable celery, we simply couldn't eat another bite. My lucky lucky family.

So. Me. In checkout line. Buying groceries. [Editor's note: Not that much, all things considered. Some produce, some meat, some breaded items. Some milk. Some chex mix. Not even pnut m&ms!]

  

When allsofasudden the man behind me says, all flirty-like [Editor's note: I think it goes without saying, but just in case: EW. and ???] “Heyyy, do you live out in the woods or something?” Inferring that I had a lot of groceries…enough, maybe, to survive the rest of the winter deep in a wooded area. I kind of smiled awkwardly and shook my head and started to "look" for something deep in my purse, a.k.a. "get off me." He registered a bit high on the oily-creep scale. Like a 9.8. Falling below a perfect-10 only because he didn't sport a large gold chain around a bare, hairy white chest. But he was just that close.

Then he started bragging to the nice grocery clerk about a song he wrote recently. He’s a songwriter. He writes songs. SONG. WRITER. My my my, aren’t we just the epitome of urban cool. And oh-so-studly that you buy your lunch of Red Bull and gum on the daily. 

Heaven forbid you buy carrots, let alone 5 pounds of them at once. Sure, those ribs in my cart are “country style,” but that doesn’t mean I milk a cow every morning. Or maybe I do (I don’t), right next to the moon-carved outhouse door and buckets o' pig slop and mucking boots. I’ll never ever tell. (But I don’t.) I just happen to not love grocery shopping, so I try to get it over with. Geesh.

Anyway. I escaped the uncomfortable situation unscathed, pulling my now seemingly 8-cart train of groceries toward my waiting backhoe in the parking lot. For all he knows, next time I make it into Town might be 6 months from now, after the Spring Thaw and Calving Time. 

[Editor's note: I'd go on, but I can't think of any more rustic analogies or phrases. Nuts. My cover is blown.]

Happy Tuesday.

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