do the j.crew

 metallic flats: american eagle outfitters. jeans & shirt: gap. necklace: forever21. watch: target.

You know how a picture is supposed to be worth 1000 words? Well, I want to pontificate on that a bit. And here's why: Sometimes my outfit photos look waaaaay better than I do in real life. Something about catching the angle just right, the lighting, whatever. Conversely, sometimes the photos look waaaaaay worse than I thought I looked in real life.

And sometimes, like today, the photos are pretty "meh," which is just exactly what the outfit itself is. Hooray for exactness in which nothing is lost in translation. 'Cept, to be honest, I cropped out from these pics a red bookbag, some doll furniture, and three library books scattered on the floor.

I'm really into asymmetrical style lately. I have no idea why. Oh, wait, yes I do--it's because I'm obsessed with the J.Crew vibe (not that I nailed it here...at all...but I'm still obsessed). I'm less careful with tucking, matching sleeve roll-up lengths, and cuffing my jeans. Know what else I'm not careful about, as evident in this ensemble? Making sure my jeans fit. These are a bit unflatteringly loosey-goosey.

Which is a lame phrase, I'll grant you, but it rhymes and, therefore, automatically qualifies for use on this blog. A rare example of of lameness, though. And by "rare," I of course mean "lame-is-the-name-of-the-game-on-a-plane-in-Spain-around-here." I think you need no further evidence or explanation.

Happy Monday!

Want this look? Shop below, then arrange the right differently from the left...

More J.Crew...

i'm a simple girl with simple needs...wearing simple stripes

 shoes & brooch: don't recall. jeans: old navy. tank: motherhood maternity (yes, you read that right...but don't go jumping to conclusions...you'll be sorely disappointed 9 months from now with no baby in sight). sweater & belt: forever21. watch: target.

You know your priorities are intact and that you are successfully passing those ideals onto the next generation when your 2-year-old spies a mini muffin tin and exclaims, "A cupcake machine!" 'Cept it actually comes out sounding more like: "a tuptate maseen!"

Good girl. Never mind practicing proper pronunciation...apparently what we're hardcore about is our bakery/pastry bakeware identification around here, complete with flash cards, pop quizzes, and "the strap" if they get one wrong. A little harsh, you say? I prefer to think of it as "tough love."

My 4-year-old is turning 5 tomorrow and is having a birthday party today. A girlified feminine flowery dainty pastel-laden thing. The excitement in the air is tangible as we await our first presents guests. Which is absolutely true as long as we replace the word "excitement" with "one billimeter away from going off the birthday-freak-out edge." And, no, I've never heard of a billimeter either, but I'm pretty sure it's veryveryvery small, and that's the analogy I'm looking for.

Know what else I'm looking for? The perfect banana split. Which is irrelevant but true nonetheless.

Happy Saturday.

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

More Asos...

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.

Want this look? I don't think you'll regret it. Check out the stuff below...

More Forever 21...

breakfast of champions

shoes: head over heels. jeans & shirt: gap. jacket: banana republic. sash: old navy (came with matching shirt). flower hairthings: gifted. earrings: hawaii.

This morning everyone at our house ate whatever they wanted for breakfast. Pocket ate something healthy and was gone with a kiss on my sleepy forehead. My 2-year-old requested oatmeal. With raisins. My 4- and 6-year-olds feasted on chocolate chip pancakes (the recipe of which I have committed to memory. Sadly.).

Me? I ate yesterday's cookies. Snickerdoodles. With milk. Guiltily hunkered down in the furthest darkest cobwebbiest corner of the kitchen with my back to my darling children so they couldn't see me and follow my bad parental example.

[Editor's note: Actually, bad example, schmad exschample. Mostly I didn't want them to see me because then they'd want cookies too and there wouldn't be enough for my lunch.] Mother of the Year, baby. I'm pretty sure the plaque is in the mail.

Then I got dressed and added a satin sash for a belt. With a tuxedo shirt. And a bolero. And heels. 'Cept I cheated and wore my ugg-knockoff boots to take my puppy for a walk in the snow. Because my puppy is crazy and I happen to like having non-sprained ankles. I know. I'm weird like that.

Anyway. I like this ensemble. I felt comfy and useful and sassy all at the same time. Annnnnd, bonus, since I cleaned all the bathrooms yesterday, I'm done housekeeping for a month or two. My legs are already on vacation.

Happy Saturday.

p.s. Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Want this look?  jeans   tuxedo shirt   bolero   shoes

More Gap...

taming the wild beast within. or at least embracing him... her... whatever.

 shoes: converse brand. jeans, long-sleeve tee, & vest: gap (what the trifecta? that. is. embarrassing.). belt: pocket's. watch: citizen brand. hairthing: gifted.

I don't know about you, but I think puffy vests are awesome. And warm. Which is a huge win-win when you check the outside thermometer every hour *fingers crossed* that you get to the 15-degrees mark that day, and heaven forbid mother nature sends you into the blazing-hot 20s because you'd probably have to break out the shorts and have a luau in such balmy temps.

I'm not bitter. I'm just sayin. It ain't hot.

(ahem) So. Puffy vest. Love mine. Throw it on over a long-sleeved tee, and we're in business. After donning some dark wash jeans, of course, because otherwise (a) chilly! and (b) gross. I was warm at this point, but felt rather, well, puffy. I happened to glance at my belt hanger...a crazy idea forming in my hot little head...

...with an internal monologue that went a little something like this: A belt? Over a PUFFY vest? Dare I? No way. I'll look like the Michelin man! Wait, is it MISHuhlin or muSHELLin? Hmmm...note to self: pay attention next tire commercial. But hopefully it won't be that one where the old lady chucks a tire in the store window...seen THAT about a bajillion times. Oh. Belts. Let's go brown.

I belted it up, donned the thickest most comfiest warmest socks I could find (Pocket's, natch), threw on my fave red converse shoes [Editor's note: They're actually my only red converse shoes, in case you're wondering. Which makes them my favorite and, technically, also my least favorite. I think I just blew someone's mind.], and braided my hair into two messy free-spirited braids. And added one loosey-goosey braid for my front bangs and pinned it back with a flower. Which I think is Unexpected and Maybe Awesome. Goes with the whole outdoorsy-backwoods(wo)man-devil-may-care vibe of today.

Happy Thursday.

Want this look? converse vest jeans long-sleeved tee
  

womens down vest

1-1-11: the tag-along little bro of 11-11-11...

 Shoes: Union Bay. Jeans & henley tee: gap. Cardigan: Don't recall. Scarf & belt: F21.

I don't make a ton of new years resolutions. Never have, probably never will. (But good for you if you do! I'm just sayin'...for me...I don't...hoo boy. Keep digging yourself a hole, Brittney...) What I mean is, I'm a pretty determined soul by nature, so if I really want to do something, I'll do it. Even if it's on, say, August 28th. Or May 12th. Or any of the other 363 days of the year (or 364 on leap year. Naturally.).

In the past month of starting/doing this blog, one of the things I've learned from wearing what I own is: quality is waaaaaay better than quantity. Actually, I haven't really learned it. I've lived the opposite of it. I have a million clothes--there's still about 1/3 of my closet untouched, even after a month of wearing something different every day (except for some jeans repeats). That's bordering on ridiculous. But many of them neither fit nor are really my style.  

[Editor's note: Enter today's outfit, of one of my favorite shirts (a striped henley tee), my absolute favorite zigzag scarf, some messy accent braids in my hair. Comfy, casual, and cuter in my head than on the bod, but whatchagonnado...]

So, I'm eating my words about resolutions. [Editor's note: They go nicely with this chewy caramel corn at my side...] My fashion resolution for 2011: as I consider, accept, or buy clothes, it's Quality over Quantity.

Happy Saturday.

womens knit pattern scarf