three blind mice.

 shoes: saltwater sandals. dress: somewhere in paris, france. shirt (with sash): downeast basics. bracelet: hawaii.

 I figured there were three different ways I could've gone with the sash placement: (1) low on hips.

 (2) at my waist.

 (3) empire waist-style.

What look do you like best? I wore #3 (empire waist) before I saw the pics...would you have agreed with me or recommended something different?

(p.s. I know the shoes are a little off here...but I had just run a race the day before that resulted in blisters on my toes in poorly placed spots, and these were literally the only shoes I could handle for the day. So. Survival of the fittest.)

This week I'm grateful for:

- my parents, coming to stay and play for a few days.

- beachside property.

- a body that's able to run a half marathon after 2-3 spotty hours of sleep, which incidentally at one point involved a toddler sleeping perpendicular between my husband and me.

- swim skirts.

- fresh produce.

- family! friends! being friends with family! (whut the exclamation points)

- a flood-free week. yessssssss...

- when my kids sleep in.

- gut laughs.

- tantrums in the making that miraculously get deflated and avoided.

- fresh salsa.

Happy Sunday.

the blinding whiteness of my legs is second only to the sun itself...

strappy sandals: forever21. skirt: gap. shirt: downeast basics. watch: target. faux pearls: don't recall.

Hey guys, it's Friend Friday! Today's topic is: outside influences. And, may I just preface today's post with: Before you read on, I'd like you to lower your expectations of my awesomeness, if that's even possible... lower... lowerrrrrr... There. Keep 'em right there. NOW you may continue.

1. What magazines do you subscribe to? I enjoy an occasional magazine. But, sadly, aside from church magazines, National Geographic for Kids, Lonny & TradHome e-magazines (free), Jr. LEGO Club (free), and the monthly American Girl catalog (which my 5-year-old fondly refers to as her "girl magazine"), I don't subscribe to any. Dunno why (oh, wait, yes I do: it's because I'm cheap).

2. Do you watch any fashion TV shows? I used to watch What Not To Wear and Project Runway, but we don't have those channels anymore. Because, as I mentioned already, I'm cheap. And I'm cheap because we're trying to save our pennies to do some major house reconstruction in the near future.

3. Beyond blogs, what websites do you frequent for fashion inspiration? None. Ohp, I lied--I check out the J.Crew website every so often. Heh.

4. Advertisements play a huge role in forming public opinion about a product or brand… what ads do you like and why? Hmm. None come immediately to mind, although I'll tell you which ones I despise: Old Navy's tv commercials. Most annoying specimens of cinematic advertising ever produced and/or aired.

5. Do you own any fashion books? Nope. But (*tangent alert*) 10 years ago for my wedding I was given an old book called "Any Bride Can Cook," published in about the 1950s. It.is.awesome. And hilarious.

Happy Friday!

p.s. Don't forget to enter this week's GIVEAWAY! No, seriously. It's awesome, and you'll want to enter.

p.p.s. Life is beautiful. And I'm constantly reminded of this in little ways. Like the carefully-thought-out scene I stumbled upon this morning in our basement kitchenette freezer: 

My 6-year-old son has some mad problem solving skillz... and empathy.

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

More Forever 21...

warning: this post is gross. seriously.

 shoes: steve madden. jeans: kohls. shirt: old navy. blazer: thrifted (the limited). bracelet: hawaii. necklace: forever21.

I got complimented by a stranger on this ensemble today, who included the words, "I'm sorry, but I just" "looove your outfit" "!!!" and lots of pointing and waving her arms in circles. And it made me happy because I didn't even spy a seeing-eye dog anywhere in the vicinity.

Speaking of vicinity...I have exactly three enormous (and painful) zits in the vicinity of my face. Which, fine, whatever, nothing new there [Editor's note: Although I'm a little mad at my jr. high and high school Health teachers, who never even so much as hinted at the fact that such breakouts were as common at age 31 as at 14. Buuuut...I no longer have biology homework or crushes on boys with serious personal hygiene issues, so age 31 wins. But still. Would've been nice to be prepped a little about the middle-aged zitola factor].

Let's see, where was I? Oh, yes. In the middle of an extremely tasteful monologue about blemishes.
*ahem*
So, what I was going to tell you was that an underground zit sprouted inside my nose last night. Ow! But I realize that's probably information you could have a perfectly lovely day NOT knowing. So. Forget I said anything, and repeat these words in your mind: I love this blog I love this blog I love this blog.

Good. See you tomorrow, right guys?...guys?...

Happy Wednesday.

Want to be complimented by total strangers? Who wouldn't. Shop below...

More Anne Klein...

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...

cookies bring Inception to life...

Baby steps for three more days of doing those numbers... Will someone remind me next time that I'm just too old and creaky? Pretty please?

booties: steve madden. jeans: american eagle. polka dot top & blazer: thrifted (but...old navy & the limited). belt: forever21. flower pin: downeast outfitters. watch: target.

Sometimes my world moves verrrrry slooooowly. Like right now. I'm sitting here in the kitchen, listening to my puppy snore, my 2-year-old talk about how pretty she'll look at her wedding (??? and again I say ???), and my 4-year-old and her BFF giggling adorably over their newly created play-doh Ice Cream Flower Garden. It's like time has stopped for a few minutes, because I'm fully invested in the moment called Now.

Of course, one can always take that time-stand-still mindset to an uncomfortable extreme. Like I did, when I (again) thought I could pull off double braids. C'mon, though. A blazer totally cancels out the juvenility (yep, made that one up...I think...), and then I've still got on heels, so I figure I'm 1 point in the positive for dressing my age. Two points if you count the watch, which means I could've actually tied ribbons around the braids, too. Next time.

Speaking of Now, there are some leftover snickerdoodles sitting on the counter that won't be here Later. And if that kind of time-manipulation speak confuses you, I don't recommend watching Inception. Or riding in elevators. Just in case.

Happy Monday.

Want this look? Totally don't blame you. Check out (similar) goods:

More Steve Madden...

what I'm grateful for...

 Raise your hand if I should abandon ship on these numbers. Did your hand rise? No? Blugh.

 shoes: steve madden. tights & bracelets: don't recall. skirt & belt: kohl's. shirt: old navy. watch: citizen brand.

This week I'm grateful for:

- realizations. Vague? Sure. But true nonetheless.

- MP3 players and arm-band attachments. And headphones that go over my head and into my ears because my ears are weirdly shaped and don't keep the "real" kind in while I jog.

- our dog Charlie. cutest, craziest boxer on the planet.

- sour gummy watermelon candies and a husband who will fetch them for me every month. Even without my asking. He just knows.

- walking into our bedroom and seeing Pocket and the 3 kiddos hanging out in our bed, talking and giggling. *warm fuzzies all around*

- warm fuzzies.

- electricity.

- toothpaste.

- polka dots.

- kids in general. They make me smile and sometimes laugh out loud. Even when it might be inappropriate to laugh out loud.

- sunshine and 60-degree weather. Today!! It's glorious beyond belief!

- reusable bags. and disposable bags. and bags in general. 'cept bags under my eyes...not so grateful for those. But grateful to have eyes to have bags under, so... circle of life cycle right there, my friends.

- the circle of life.

Happy Sunday.

curly with a chance of afro...

Amazing how easy the number "1" is to act out. Also amazing how, despite it's straightforwardness, I still look nothing like the digit... 

 boots & watch: target. jeans & jacket: kohl's. shirt & belt: vintage.

Hey friends, sorry for the drama of me over the past day or two. I kinda freaked out. But, after a good couple solid hours of HGTV last night (Pocket's out of town this week, and I tend to snuggle up to the warm glow of the television when he's gone) and even some sleep, I promise: no more freakout weirdness from me! (Relatively speaking about the weirdness, of course.)

This is seriously going to be fun. [Editor's note: Nevermind the fact that I also think working sudoku puzzles, doing mental math while jogging, and mowing the lawn are all FUN!... doesn't everybody?]

I was thinking, though, that this challenge might actually turn out to be a little too easy. Maybe an awesome twist would be to have everyone bring their 30 items to an island, and we hang out there. With lots of cameras around. We'd eat rice and live off the land. Some of us will be periodically abrasive and rude ("you totally copied my ensemble from yesterday! you WENCH!" *commence cat-fight*) to boost ratings. Then we get voted off the island. Winner gets 1 million accessories. We could call it Survivor. Seriously. I think a show like that might last 5 or 13 or 86 seasons. Who's in?

Today's jumping-off point was this red polka dot shirt. Which, there's something about polka dots that makes me want to wear my hair curly. Just like there's something about pnut m&ms that makes me want to live in a world where their consumption (in huge quantities) is encouraged and, ultimately, vital for survival. Like a super-delicious version of carbon.

Add my favorite dark skinnies, which I didn't wear all last week, because I knew they'd prob be the MVP for this coming month. I originally had a cardigan with this, but everything felt too drapey-drapey. So. Structured jacket to the rescue, big fatty random blue belt (Unexpected and Maybe Awesome for me here), and boots that originally weren't going to come out and play today but it's just too stinking cold to wear anything else.

Anyway, this ensemble is perfect for my imminent tasks for today: (1) Fold and put away laundry. (2) Help my 4-year-old find her zhu zhu pet. And if you think neither of those sounds all that important, well, think again. Actually, I just thought again, and...maybe you're right. Tomorrow, then. Maybe I'll go call Mark Burnett about my show idea instead...

Happy Monday!

Check out how I wore this stuff last: jacket, polka dot top, dark skinnies, & boots.

Want this look? Click on the stuff below...

More Scrapbook...

Leave a message after the beep...

You know those people who chronically leave looonnnnnnnng voicemail messages? Usually about nothing, or, on a good day, about one small thing that could've been summarized in about 6-1/2 words?

Yeah, well, I'm one of Those People. Why?!?! I can't control myself! At the sound of the BEEP, my tongue bolts into small-talk conversation mode ("Hi! How ARE you?! Wait, why am I asking the machine that? I'm so sure, like you're going to answer back? Please. I know this is voicemail. Anyway. I have GOT to tell you something -- this is Brittney, by the way -- asap. Oh, and I forgot to mention something the other day about that one thingggg...") and on and on I go. And that's just breath #1.

You want to hang up, just reading this. Don't you. You must, because I want to hang up on myself. EV.RY. time I get Ms. Voicemail on the other line, I get a little nervous because I'm under her magic never-stop-talking spell. And every time my husband sees me listening to Ms. Voicemail, he rolls his eyes and smirks. Then takes a nap. And when he wakes up, I'm barely hanging up.

Which really isn't fair, though, because HE is a man. HE can call up Ms. Voicemail and, without batting an eye, say after the beep: "Hey, it's Paul. Got a question for you. Call me back." *click*

Whut the whut. No faiiiiirrrrrrr! I TRY to do that. But. I. Can't.

I won't let that happen on blog today, though. Watch this:

You can see what I wore today. I wanted to wear these items because they are (a) comfortable, (b) compatible, and (c) not crusty. And maybe (d) cute. [Editor's note: Alliteration was never my strong point.] Wait, I guess I could've said (c) clean. That sounds a little better.

Remember the red satin polka dot sash I wore here? This is the companion shirt. And since I have two kids' Christmas programs to attend today, I thought it would be appropriately festive. Everything else just kind of hopped out at me, then onto me, from my closet. I LOVE when that happens.

And also. May I please just say, my Unexpected & Maybe Awesome moment of this outfit is the pairing of bright navy flats & necklace with a randomly turquoise headband. TOTally don't really "go." Which is unexpected. And I'm not sure if they even "go" in a these-don't-go-but-it's-still-chic way. They might just "go" in a wow-she's-really-color-blind kind of way. Regardless, it leaves you guessing, doesn't it. Which, to me, makes them maybe awesome.

Aaaaaand...that's a wrap. Tell Ms. Voicemail hello for me. I'm sure she misses me.

Happy Thursday.