Just like they say in German: donkey-shins.

  shoes: steve madden. skirt & shirt: gap. skirt extender: a slip shop. cardigan: don't recall (more than a decade old). turquoise necklace: forever21. silver necklace: earned.

I felt brighter/springier/fresher in this ensemble than these photos reflect. That's kind of becoming a pattern for me. Maybe I'm in denial about how my outfits actually come together? Hmm...

This week I'm grateful for:

- primary kids (3-12 years old) singing their hearts out.

- spending quality time with my husband. Like, one night we sat talking and looking out our living room windows at dusk after tucking the kids in...and before we both knew it, it was well into night-time. He makes me laugh and understands me and doesn't judge me and is my best friend. So cheesy, I know, and you can all roll your eyes, but in this weekly gratitude list, it must be said. 

- electric beaters.

- food from a box that, actually, turns out delicious. Okay, fine, edible.

- an 80-cents-off-a-gallon surprise coupon at the gas pump.

- jogging.

- sometimes not jogging.

- my kids when they don't talk rudely. These moments are becoming sparser these days, so I'm particularly grateful when they do happen.

- the temple.

- big dreams.

- going to bed by 10:30 p.m. instead of 3:30 a.m.

- homemade oreos.

- house slippers.

- when my daughter compliments me, several times, on how "nice" or "cute" I look that day.

- creative outlets, like this blog and home design projects and grantwriting.

Happy Sunday!

"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...

they call it puppy love...

In my head, my body loooked smaller and my arms were much, much larger. I guess, in the grand scheme of things, I'd rather have a lame-looking number four than those proportions, though. So.

shoes: american eagle outfitters. legwarmers: amazon (i think). tights: don't recall. skirt & shirt: gap. cardigan: j.crew. flower pin: downeast outfitters.

Charlie really wanted to be part of today's photo shoot. I tried to get him to look at the camera so you could see how cute he is, but he could only feast his brown puppy-dog eyes [Editor's note: No, seriously. They really are brown, and he really is a puppy.] on me. Because he loves me with that one-of-a-kind love that exists only between a dog and his beloved owner...and, in Charlie's case, between him and any human being who pets him and gives him treats. (Remind me why I'm a dog owner again? Oh, right. Because shoveling the backyard is so fun. I forgot.)

Actually, we were reading all about canines before we picked what kind of dog we wanted last Fall. In one of our books on boxers, we read that this breed tends to be fiercely loyal and protective; that they can sense if their loved ones are afraid or wary of someone and will compensate with protective bravery. After picking out our puppy, our 6-year-old son informed us, "Don't worry guys. I'll be so so nice to you so Charlie won't attack you."

Thank you, son. Because your dad and I were both quivering at the idea of an 8-week-old puppy attack. And also? Go clean your room.

Happy Pocket-Gets-Home-Today Friday! What, you're not celebrating too? Strange.

How I wore these items last: skirt, cardigan, leg warmers, ruffle shirt

Want this look? Check out the stuff below...

More Coldwater Creek...

It's beginning to look a lot like...Wednesday.

A stripey Wednesday at that. Not even on purpose, all three of us girls wore stripes today. (p.s. Seriously, where did Layla learn to pose like that? I tried to copy her, but she's much cuter at it.)

My only wish is that I could've had mustard-yellow tights to go with this. Which brings me to my brief point of introspection...

...which came to me whilst cleaning the bathrooms this morning. Sometimes I get caught up in wanting wanting wanting new stuff. Especially this time of year. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for what I have, but...the appeal of newness gleams brightly. Then I thought about how we got new bathrooms after our flood a couple of years ago, and I was stoked about that. Then time went on, and they became less and less new. Especially with a 5- and then 6-year-old boy in the house. Like, disturbingly NOT new.

Epitome: If I take care of, clean, and enjoy what I have, new things aren't nearly as necessary. It's when I let things get old and dumpy and messy and junky that I'm dissatisfied.

And if THAT deep thinking doesn't just throw you right into a tailspin, well, I just don't know what to say. Go eat a stripey candy cane, I guess.

Happy Wednesday.