something's wrong with my phone. it says it's not saturday today...

 shoes: american eagle outfitters. jeans: kohl's. shirt & bracelets: forever21. cami: motherhood maternity. flower clips: gift.

pose below: the karate kid, circa 1985.

Some days just don't feel like the day they actually are. Yesterday totally felt like Saturday, both to me and my husband. Today, too, 'cept a super-lame Saturday where has to go to work. I tried to convince him that his boss wanted him to take a "thunderstorm day" (very similar to a "snow day" with one minor difference. I'll leave it up to you intelligent peoples to figure out what that might be). For some reason he didn't believe me.

Fine. Ruin my pseudo-weekend. I was left to drown my sorrows in some pseudo-comfort-food, a.k.a. spinach, at lunchtime. [Editor's note: Not comforting.]

So. Fast-forward to me and the kiddos at home this afternoon. We've been working on trying harder to (translation: I'm a nazi and all but yell at them when they don't) include the 2-year-old in playtime activities. [Editor's note: That and the spinach comment above might jeopardize my mother-of-the-year award for 2011. Better learn to bake. Stat.]

A few minutes ago, a fight was about to break out amongst the kidlets, when my 5-year-old showed her alarmingly strategic brainpower.
"Addie! D'you want to play with us and be our puppy?"

The toddler nodded vigorously, definitely down with that idea. Being a housepet is one of her all-time favorite pasttimes.

"Great. C'mere, cute puppy. It's crate time!"

Sheer genius. And I can't even get mad, because they "included" her.

Happy Saturday Thursday.

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a mom in the 'burbs... and also, a vow to never use the word "burbs" again

 

 sandals & belt: forever21. shorts: american eagle. denim shirt: thrifted (gap). hairclips: gift.

We're baaaaack! Didja miss me? Huh? Huh? Didja?

Couldn't've started out this post in a more annoying vein, could I? But let's not dwell on that. Let's instead talk about what is a perfect ensemble for a day that consists of mowing the lawn, doing the "travel laundry" (translation: washing every item that touched a suitcase over the past week because, let's face it, even if it went unworn, it's still not "clean"), trimming the one surviving rose bush, flaunting some uber-white legs (I prefer to call them "ivory"), visiting the library, checking your toddler into InstaCare, and making dinner. Specifically, tacos.

You're looking at it. The outfit that does all that, I mean. This one totally fits the bill. And I officially love sandals that zip up the back. So easy! Know what I officially don't love? Mosquitos and cold sores. I've been trying for years to think of a benefit to either one of those guys, and I got nothin'.

Either way, I heart Disneyland and family vacations.

Happy Tuesday, everyone.

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you say capris, I say mom-jeans...

 sandals, necklace, & bracelet: forever21. capris: thrifted (gap). shirt: kohl's. chambray shirt: gift from Germany. belt: downeast basics (american eagle). watch: target. flower hair clips: gift.

I have mixed feelings about capris. They're warmer than skirts but cooler than jeans for the in-between days (such as today) that are neither cold nor hot. They also scream "mom-in-the-'burbs" like nothing else. Well, 'cept for sweater arms tied together over a polo shirt. Natch.

In my defense (hah! defensive already, and no one's even said anything. heh.), a guy was coming to change all the locks on our doors this morning, and I had literally 3 minutes from out-of-shower to fully-dressed. Considering that, does it endear this ensemble in your hearts at all? AND I added a cute braid in the hair. No? Still bad? Nuts. Worth a shot, at least.  

Can I just tangent here for one second (when is this blog ever NOT on a tangent?) (don't answer that) and ask: Is anyone else a little uncomfortable when workerdudes come over to work on stuff in your house during the day? Like for cable or phone or doors or plumbing or or or... Anything, really. I'm sure they're all fully qualified and kind people. I've never had a bad experience. But still. I always get a little nervous.

And today's dude reaked of alcohol and other unpleasantries. At 10:30 a.m., I'll admit, I wasn't particularly thrilled. Dah well. The new knobs and deadbolts work and look awesome. So. 

End of tangent. End of post.

Happy Wednesday!

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sometimes there's no method...it's just madness...

 shoes: steve madden. maxi dress: forever21. sash: off a shirt from kohl's. denim jacket: gap. flower clip: gift. watch: target. bracelet: don't recall.

Today I'm wearing a belt sash from off a shirt as a neck-thingy. No reason, really. I just felt like doing something crazy today. My Plan A of Craziness actually involved a baby grand piano, an old VW beetle, and 3 bottles of ketchup. Unfortunately, I only could track down 2 ketchup bottles. So. Plan B: sash as neck-thingy it is.

Is anyone getting tired of stripes? Yeah, me either. I can't really get enough of them, to be honest. Never mind the fact that, worn horizontally from neck to ankle like in this dress, they're not the most elongating and slimming pattern I could dream up for my already boxy body shape. But I just love them so that I can't help myself. Which is partly why I added the denim jacket and long neck-thingy. Well, that and the ketchup dilemma, as described above. 

I was hoping those two additions would help cut down the striped-stumpiness that my body becomes in this dress. I don't think it really worked. But I'm dressed and super comfortable and ready to roll today. Stump it up, buttercup.

Happy Tuesday.

Want this look? Super comfy. Shop below:

More Madden-Girl...

full skirt, bare legs, & boots

 boots: target. skirt: no idea, it's old as the hills. shirt: j.crew. belt: off a pencil skirt from kohl's. bracelets: forever21 and BurntSiena Designs. necklace: forever21.

I think my necklace needs to be chunkier. I think that, when "chunkiness" rang its dinnertime triangle and all the jewelry in my closet came a-runnin', these bracelets elbowed everyone else out and hogged it all. By "it," I'm referring still to the chunkiness, for those of you who aren't anthropomorphistic. Which, if you're not, you probably lead a saner life than me, but I defy you to say it's as exciting or entertaining.

Speaking of exciting, I gave my 2- and 5-year-olds squirt bottles to entertain themselves for the half-hour before dinnertime. They're currently squirting each other and bawling and screaming about being squirted. I guess it's a good "Plan B" for excitement, if the jewelry re-enactment didn't quite do it for you. Especially when the cops show up because the neighbor's phone got worried about all the screaming and dialed 9-1-1 on itself.

What can I say, I'm an adrenaline junkie and a neglectful "let-them-work-it-out" parent all rolled into one exciting ball o' fun.

Happy Thursday!

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wide leg pants and yoga. c'mon, Opportunity. knock already.

 shoes & overshirt: american eagle outfitters. pants: gap. long-sleeved shirt, belt, long necklace, & flower clip: vintage. short necklace: forever21.

You know how, sometimes, something obscure and blurry and vague will nevertheless weigh on your mind? That was me, until today, and I realized what it was: should an immediate opening for a yoga poster child ever arise, I'd have no photographic evidence of my being the perfect woman for the job.

Until now (last photo in top sequence), natch. What a load off.

So. About this ensemble: is it just me, or does anyone else, on occasion, feel like busting out monochromaticity? Every month or two, I allsofasudden get the urge to wear one color, and one color only. And usually that color's blue. (Is there a Freudian interpretation in this? Please no.)

At first glance, everything in this outfit appears to be heavy solid-on-solid. But the pants have a subtle pinstripe, the long-sleeve layering tee has a sheer/opaque stripe going on, the belt divides the top half of me from bottom half, the crown braid and flower clip add a touch of whimsy and youth (do I sound, like, 80 saying that, or what?), and everything else just is.

Know what else just is? The eterna-crumbness of my dining room floor. I've come to accept it, to assign the floor-sweep chore to my dog, and to then ignore it. A trifecta of solution that screams win-win.

Happy Monday, friends.

Want this look? Sweet. Check out all the blue stuff you can get to have it...

More Gap...

to crop or not to crop... not even a question, really. CROP.

 shoes: unionbay brand. jeans: old navy. shirt: american eagle. sweater & bracelet: downeast basics. watch: target. necklace & flower hair clip (which you can't see): gift. 

[Editor's note: These pants are a smidge too big, but perfect for a lazy rainy day like today. In the pic above, you'll notice my left hip looks like it has some cuh-razy double-jointage. Although that would be cool, I have no such claim to fame. The belt hits below my hip bone, and the top of my pants poke out below. Make sense? Ease your mind? Good.]

Hey guys, It's Friend Friday! Today's topic is: Inspiration... (If you're interested, you should check out tons of other people's responses here.)

1. Which celebrity (celebrities) do you look to for fashion inspiration? You guys are all not going to believe me, but I speak (type) the truth: I don't know squat about celebs in general. It's embarrassing, actually...but apparently not embarrassing enough that I change the fact. Heh. BUT that's not to say I get dressed in a bubble--I'm sure that certain celebs have sported (and, consequently, made "fashionable") some of the types of clothing I wear. I just don't know who they are or what the items were. Otherwise I'd for sure give them lip service. Which they probably wouldn't want from a celeb-noramous (celebrity + ignoramous) like me anyway. So I guess we all win...?

2. When it comes to your own personal style, what inspires you? Comfort inspires me. Classic looks inspire me. Color combinations that I see in nature and home design inspire me. Ironic balance inspires me (i.e., fanciness + rusticity, chic + cozy, delicate + chunky, etc.). J.Crew inspires me. (Is that so base of me to admit? You guys. You know me by now that I'm here to keep it real. Take me or leave me, but don't doubt my frankness...unless I'm being sarcastic. Then you should all just ignore me.)

3. How do you hope to inspire your readers? I hope my readers see me as I am -- a normal girl who's got some kids and some clothes and who tries to have fun with getting dressed. I'm no fashion guru or model or anything of the like. Several of you are floored by that last statement, I'm sure, so I'll pause and let it sink in. [Editor's note: Kay, that's an example of sarcasm. Ignore and move on.]

4. Outside the realm of fashion who/what inspires you? The simplistic part of me wants to say my husband (who is my rock and all things perfectly fitted for me) and home design (Celerie Kemble!). But if I were stranded on a desert island and had only one thing to be inspired by, it would be, without hesitation and all kidding aside, my Savior Jesus Christ. Which is a little heavy for this blog. So. With all due respect... I'll move on.

5. And since Idol is ending… Which songs inspire you? Holy incriminating. Okay, fine. John Denver's Annie's Song, Jon Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer, REO Speedwagon's In My Dreams, James Taylor's Shower the People you Love with Love (or whatever the title is), Moulin Rouge's Your Song (originally Elton John's, I think?), the Anne of Green Gables soundtrack, pretty much everything Karen Carpenter sang, and many others that I either can't think of or am too embarrassed because I feel totally granny-licious by the information I've already given you. 

Happy Friday!

Want this look? Shop below...but get the jeans a bit big to do that covetable hip trick...

More Old Navy...

classic casual: a stay-at-home mom's best friend (well, that and oxiclean...)

 shoes: famous footwear outlet (i think? don't recall exactly). jeans: kohl's. shirt: gap. cardigan: rue21. bracelet: forever21. flower clip: downeast. belt: thrifted (american eagle).

First of all...300 followers via GFC? Wow...thank you all, for coming and returning to my blog as often as you do! I have the most interesting, funny, and inspiring readers ever. I think another giveaway is in order next week to celebrate the big 3-0-0. Hmm... Stay tuned.

Secondly...it's Friend Friday! (See other bloggers' answers to these questions here; see my answers from last Friday here.) This week's questions deal with feminism and fashion. I'd love to hear your honest thoughts on my honest thoughts.

1. Do you think there is an incompatibility between feminism and a love for fashion? First off, for the sake of this discussion, my idea of "feminism" is the act of acknowledging and embracing the power of femininity in a woman. In that vein, no, I don't think there's an incompatibility between the two--a love for fashion, in moderation, can expand a woman's femininity and thereby increase her influence over and ability to enhance and improve her sphere. Taken to an extreme, however, I think a love for fashion (or anything else, in extremes) can be detrimental to femininity, by hindering her ability to pursue and participate in other interesting and useful subjects & activities.

2. There is more to each of us than a love for fashion, how do you incorporate every aspect of yourself into your blog? I don't know that I do. I mean, my conversational text (including both the form and content) reflects aspects of myself to some degree, I suppose (case-in-point: I heart pnut m&ms), but the point of my style/fashion blog is just that--style/fashion. Not the depths of my innermost soul (but, in case you're wondering: her name is Mildred, and she loves purple). 

3. With the fashion industry still being a male-dominated profession, how do you think it would differ if women played a larger role? Ummm... gargantuan bags/purses would always be in style? (Okay, that's a cheeky "mom" comment...I guess, honestly, I don't know a ton about the formalities of the fashion industry... I wouldn't have even known it's a male-dominated profession. Am I going to get blacklisted for admitting that?)

4. How is your self-image and the way you carry yourself informed by your beliefs? Different phases of life (e.g., high school, college, married, professional, pregnant, mom of 1, mom of 2, mom of 3) have resulted in my developing a different, more personal (and, I believe, increasingly accurate) self-image. I believe that as a human being I have a divine heritage and that as a woman I have innate abilities and roles and responsibilities to fulfill my purpose in this life. Because of that, I try to do what I believe I'm supposed to do...including taking care of, being fair to, and carrying myself in the best way possible as I see it from my current developmental vantagepoint. (Does that even make sense?)

5. Do you think clothing/makeup/hair helps communicate the truth about yourself or are those things superfluous add-ons? Both. For better or worse, I'm initially drawn to people who look approachable, clean, and nice; I can only assume (although it is an assumption) that others are initially drawn to me for similar reasons. Sometimes I probably project a more confident, happy image than I actually feel; sometimes the opposite is true. But in my reality, in the process of truly getting to know someone, somewhere along the way their insides start to speak louder than the outsides. I guess, in summary: it's important to look one's best, but it's infinitely more important to be one's best.

Happy Friday, friends!

Want this look? The easiest, most comfy ensemble EV.ER. Shop below:

More Reebok...

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...

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oh what do i wear on a saturday when all the world is grey?

Forgot to put my boots back on after braving the backyard. But you probably didn't notice that because you're laughing too hard at my contorted, concentrating facial expression. That's fine. Laugh away.

 boots: target. jeans: kohl's. cardigan: j. crew. sweater shirt: vintage. scarf: sweden. flower hairclip: downeast outfitters.

I tried an experiment today and had Pocket take my photos outside. It was fun. But...what do you think? Do you miss the trademark-crazy indoors shots of my blog? I dunno...I might mix it up on occasion. And by "on occasion" I mean, of course, "on Saturdays of decent light when there are no important games on TV, chores to do, places to go, or people to see." Soooo...tune in for our next husb-and-wife photo shoot in 2014...

Today's jumping-off point was this cardigan. There's something about her that speaks to me when I need nothing more than to be comfortable. [Editor's note: Coincidentally, her name is Grey, and when she speaks she sounds like an asthmatic 4'5" gramma who dyes her hair purple and who's smoked a pack-a-day for the last 63 years and isn't ready to stop now. Sassy. And gravel-throated.] Anyways. Freezing in ye ol' homestead, I decided to go with a long-sleeved number underneath.

Enter skinnies & boots for extra warmth, and this pretty scarf that my mom sent me from Sweden. And my favorite cow socks. 'Cept you all weren't supposed to know about those...but you do now because I took my boots off after coming inside after taking pics (you following this backwards logic? it's like reading the Matrix script...practically...) because I own a dog who is housetrained which means our backyard in winter is, shall we say, dangerous terrain. One false step could be deadly. Exhibit A: the sole of my left boot. I don't care what anyone says, though...I'll take that over a bird's bomb on the forehead any. day. of. the. week.

Wow. This post has taken an unexpected turn for the worse. My brain insists on taking weekends off. And every thirdTuesday. 

 Happy Saturday.

How I last wore these items: scarf, green sweater, cardigan

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More J.Crew...

a barbie by any other name (not even 2nd cousin "barb") wouldn't smell as sweet.

Contrary to popular belief, the number two isn't as easy to replicate as it might seem. Don't tell me you haven't discussed this with at least three of your closest friends, either.

shoes: steve madden. jeans & striped sweater: american eagle outfitters. shirt: j.crew. watch: target. earrings: hawaii. flower barrette: forever 21.

A few days ago I was playing barbies with my 4-year-old, and the pillow was Mermaid Rock, and the barbies were going to have a party there. My barbie tried to get the party started by getting her groove on (she has some sweet dance moves. like me. I could rock a dance floor. and have. and will again.) [Editor's note: Which would all be absolutely true if I wasn't lying...]

Anyway. Layla's barbie politely informed mine that, "Sorry, we don't dance at this party."
Mine: "Oh. Okay." [Long, awkward barbie pause.] "Soooo...what do we do?"
Layla: "Um, I dunno. Talk about gowns?"

So that's exactly how our barbies partied. In fake high-pitched southern drawls that, coincidentally, my daughter and I both naturally use for barbie's default voice-over.

Fast-forward to my hot date with late-night TV last night (sure missing Pocket around here. Especially when I remembered, too late, that today's garbage day and I didn't take the trash out.) and an old episode of What Not To Wear, when someone quoted Coco Chanel as saying something to the effect of, "When you get dressed, put everything on, then take one thing off."

I have no idea if this is true or not. But I will say this: I almost busted out a necklace with today's ensemble, but then I didn't. I think Coco would be proud. In fact, her people totally called my people today to express just such a sentiment. FINE, they didn't. But they wanted to, I just know it. Regardless, you all can start calling me Brittbritt. In high-pitched accents. Obviously.

Happy Wednesday!

How I last wore these pieces: boyfriend jeans, striped sweater, mustard shirt.

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More LOFT...

they might be giants...

shoes: steve madden. tights, necklace, & earrings: gifted. skirt: j.crew. belt & stripes: forever21. button-up: eddie bauer. bracelet & flower hairthing: downeast outfitters.

"Woahhhhhh. You're taaaaaaalllllll." First thing I heard, all prepubescent-chorus-like, when I walked into my son's 1st grade class this morning for my volunteer hour. Which is a comment I'm not really sure what to do with. Thank you? You're welcome? I'm sorry? I know? Get off me? Endless possibilities for responses, really. [Editor's note: You'll be relieved to know: I just smiled at the kids and sat down. There. Crisis averted.]

Bottom line: I attribute my newfound height to these SHOES. I heart them.

Today's jumping-off point was this denim pencil skirt. It needs some slight tailoring, but I haven't had time, so I decided to wear it with a chunky belt to hide the waistband until it's fixed. I'm afraid Sunday's ensemble got me into a total stripedy-stripe-stripe mood (PLUS it's breton stripes day), so I went with this little number. If you'll recall, it's a tunic length (some might go so far as to say it's a "dress" length, but not I, my friends. Not I.), so I tucked it here, over a pale yellow button-up.

The button-up was slightly problematic. It looked off when I wore the collar down, but so did it also look a little strange when I purposefully flipped it up. So I just opened up the back of the collar and let the front fall where it may. That's right. Living life on the edge. I'm famous for this kind of thing, you know. Like one time I went to bed without brushing my teeth.

[Editor's note: That's true, but what she's failing to admit is the END of the story, which is that she got up a sleepless hour later to brush in the dark because she couldn't handle her fuzzy teeth. So. Probably "living life on the edge...of a secure 10-foot-buffer zone" would be more accurate. But, you know, tomayto tomahto.]

I love these bright blue tights from my friend Val, and I thought this would be a great day to wear them. In this ensemble, they come across as kind of a neutral, really--just an extension of the blue denim skirt. A bright, glow-in-the-dark extension, of course, but still. They're pretty Unexpected & Maybe Awesome for me here. And I like how they're downplayed, just slightly, by the taupe booties.

Question for you all: How do you wear earrings? They are currently the bane of my style existence. I normally default to my beloved diamond studs, but my friend RaeLynn wanted me to try some danglies, which I did here (you know, that life-on-the-edge thing again). I feel like these are all wrong with this ensemble, but I'm not sure what I should do differently. Please! Earring advice! I'm begging you!

(ahem) Regardless...happy Tuesday.

Want this look? pencil skirt  striped top  booties  yellow button-up  blue tights

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