old lady in braids: to trust or not to trust? that is the question

I read somewhere once that women over 30 shouldn't wear braids unless they were stylishly loose and messy.

 

 shoes: Converse
jeans: Kohl's
cobalt v-neck tee: J. Crew
pastel striped cardigan: Gap
green skinny belt: J. Crew
 

Which is like a chicken-and-egg scenario, at least for me, because, hi. My hair is at the disposal of my 18-month-old all day, and believe me...

 

 

...she pulls my hair Loose often and with ease, and Messy is her middle name. Practically.

 

 

So the lesson I think we can all take away is: if you're older than 30, just hang out with an almost-toddler to keep yourself totally young and hip. Which is absolutely true if by "young and hip," you understand that I actually mean "slightly unkempt and exhausted."

 

 

But the tradeoff? Worth it. Absolutely.

 

Happy Thursday.

 

 

Shop similar stuff below:

ModCloth Plus Sweaters · Diesel Skinny Denim · Athleta Sport Tops

{shared: Everyday Fashion & Finance, Get Your Pretty On, Her & Nicole, Kiwi Women's Style, My Fashion Forward Blog, Style Elixir, The Life of the Party Blog, The Mrs and the Momma, The Pleated Poppy, }

snakeskin may be a neutral, but my loathing of snakes isn't

I'm not a short person. I'm 5'8". That's pretty average, right? Maybe on the taller side of average?

 

 

I didn't realize how short I could appear, though, until I sat down to post these pics. Holy shortlegs, Batman.

 

houndstooth shoes: Kohl's (I think)

jeans: Big Star

snakeskin belt: J. Crew

paisley-ish shirt: don't remember

olive green jacket: Kohl's

 

I've had this jacket for a while now. I love its color and cropped length and the front pleating details. I don't love the short short sleeves (especially on my loooong monkey arms) and how it's not quite a military jacket but not quite a school-boy (-girl?) (-lady? yes, that must be right. school-lady. yep.) blazer, either.

 

 

All that aside, let's hear it for a (faux, of course) skinny snakeskin belt and some leather-and-houndstooth loafers.

 

 

The perfect accessories for any stumpy-legged non-military school-lady.

 

Happy Wednesday.

 

 

Shop similar items below:

Prana Casual Jackets · J Brand Flare Denim · Skechers Shoes & Boots

{shared: Everyday Fashion & Finance, Get Your Pretty On, Her & Nicole, Kiwi Women's Style, My Fashion Forward Blog, Style Elixir, The Life of the Party Blog, The Mrs and the Momma, The Pleated Poppy, }

An Abstract Print Dress and an Award

It should be a crime, wearing a knit drawstring-waist of a pajamas-esque maxi dress out in public. But it isn't. So I'm still an upstanding citizen...the dang comfiest citizen ever. Yessss.

 

mary jane heels: Mudd brand

abstract print dress: Gap

 cardigan: J. Crew

 

I was nominated by cute Kimberly for a Liebster Award, and I'm totally honored. To receive said award, I'm supposed to spill a little about myself. Here are ten random facts about me:

 

1. I have six brothers and three sisters. One sister died as an infant; I've never met her.

 

2. I was deathly afraid of being kidnapped as a kid.

 

3. My eyes squint and look like they're closed when I smile big and/or laugh.

 

4. I discovered I'm not a pet person...shortly after having a pet.

 

5. I'm addicted to sugar. Other than that, I actually eat pretty healthily.

 

6. There are no fewer than three (and probably many more) times in my life when I almost literally died of mortification. The memories make me blush now, decades later.

 

7. I secretly want to author a book but feel like I have nothing to say.

 

8. I have five pierced holes in my ears from my younger years but now only wear earrings in two because the LDS prophet said to. And, deep down, I miss those three other earrings.

 

9. Geez, I have no idea. Ummm...I love steak. Medium-rare.

 

10. I fall asleep to late-night movies but can read all night.

 

 

Okay, so now that we're BFFs (and/or you're weirded out by me and are never visiting this slice of the cybersphere again), here are my answers to Kimberly's questions:

 

1. What was the best birthday celebration you've ever had?

My birthday is on Christmas Eve, which is every bit as big a bummer as it sounds, with so many other things going on at that time of year and on that day. I'm okay with it now, but growing up with this birthday was the worst! 

 

2. What is one thing you can't leave the house without doing (excluding using the bathroom)?

Putting on shoes. And, yes, slippers count as shoes when I drive the kids to school.

 

3. If you were a kid, what would you dress up as for Halloween?

As a kid, I usually went with the easiest possible costumes - cowgirl, farmgirl, hobo(girl). Flannel shirt and jeans/overalls, BAM. Done. I'd probably do the same. Because I'm exciting like that.

 

4. All time favorite song, ever?

How Wonderful Life Is (That You're in the World), by Elton John

In My Dreams, by REO Speedwagon

and many songs by Pink Floyd

 

5. When you get home, do you stay in your outfit from being out/running errands/working or do you change into something cozy?

I'm like that law of physics - Once dressed, I stay dressed until something forces me to change. That's usually either exercise or bedtime. But, let's be honest, bedtime.

 

6. Name one makeup product (including the brand!) that you can't live without and tell us why.

I can live without makeup pretty easily. (Hello, family camping trips.) But for the sake of argument, I love waterproof mascara. Cover Girl.

 

7. What's your biggest pet peeve?

When people are on their phones in public for lengthy periods of time and completely ignoring their kids. Makes me sad for the kids.

 

8. Favorite junk food?

Yes.

 

9. What is your most worn piece of clothing?

Pajamas. And jeans.

 

10. Favorite blog?

Little Green Notebook.

 

11. Tell us a guilty habit!

Reading a good book until it's finished, even if my house is a disaster and a meal needs to happen.

 

 

 Thanks again, Kimberly. That was fun!

{shared: Style Elixir, Transatlantic Blonde}

it may be real boring, but at least it's real

In my former life on this blog (as in, prior to my recent 2-year hiatus), I found myself altering my true style for the blog.

 

 boots: Target
jeans: American Eagle
shirtdress: hand-me-down
floral coat: Old Navy
 

I used to (subconsciously, I think, but still) add in all sorts of accessories and stuff just to make an outfit more photographically interesting than what I really wanted to wear.

 

 I think it's a combination of old age, self-discovery, integrity, and sheer laziness that helped me learn what my true style is now. In a word, it's simple.

 

 

Like it or not, what you see here now is completely what you get. Even if it's an outfit full of solid neutral chunks and wet shower-hair.

 

 

But this Mary Poppins carpet-bag of a canvas trench coat? This baby is real. I adore it.

 

 

Happy Monday.

 

 

Shop for similar styles below:

 

Halston Day Dresses · American Eagle Teen Girls' Denim · Dorothy Perkins Boots

Oh, this old thing? Just a little lumberjack-chic...

Yesterday our whole family got flu shots. And/or flu mist. Myself, I toughed it out and got the shot... and then flaunted said toughness for the rest of the day with a blue cupcake bandaid on my arm.

 

 shoes: Clarks Desert Boot

jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

striped boatneck shirt: American Eagle Outfitters

vest: Gap

 



Speaking of proactive health: I don't have an exercise routine, per se. I squeeze it in each day when I can. Which means that, some days, I don't shower until noon. Or night.

 

 

Today's looking like a 9-p.m.-shower kind of day. Which, apparently, means dressing like a lumberjack and letting loose the lion's mane of hair in the interim. I often wonder what other women/moms do when they sincerely don't a) have time or b) want to do their hair.

 

 

Me? I throw it in a side pony and embrace the Lady Lumberjack within. Or without.

 

Happy Friday.

 

 

Shop similar styles below: 

Miss Me Bootcut Denim · Blowfish Boots · J.Crew Factory Longsleeve Tops

{shared: Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins, Get Your Pretty On, Lamb Around, Life of the Party, My Girlish Whims, Style Elixir, Suburbs Mama, The Mrs and the Momma, The Pleated Poppy}

Book Club Attire (and why you can't necessarily trust someone just because they're in a book club)

I'm going to my first book club meeting tonight. The book club is an established entity, but I'm a shiny new member this year.

 

red patent flats: Kohl's (maybe?)

b&w striped maxi skirt: eBay

coral v-neck tee: American Eagle Outfitters

denim jacket: Gap

cluster necklace: Downeast Outfitters

 

I must admit, I'm a little nervous. I don't know how many of the ladies I'll know.

 

 

For security blanket purposes, I'm wearing my comfiest knitwear. But as a nod to the societal nature of the event, I tried to accessorize appropriately.

 

 

Because nothing says "literary pundit" like a girl in pjs and a bobble necklace.

 

 

Wish me luck. And happy Thursday!

 

 

Shop similar styles below:

INC International Concepts Long Skirts · Tory Burch Flats · Splendid Tees

{shared: Coffee Beans & Bobby Pins, Her & Nicole, Katherine's Corner, Kiwi Women's Style, My Fashion Forward Blog, My Girlish Whims, Penniless Socialite, Style Elixir, The Mrs. and the Momma, The Pleated Poppy, Two Thirty-Five Designs, Vodka Infused Lemonade, }

when the going gets tough, the tough do laundry

I'm having trouble thinking about anything to write about today.

 

wedges: 6pm.com (Eagle Mountain brand, maybe? I can't remember)

skinny jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

v-neck tee: American Eagle Outfitters

trench: Forever 21

sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

 

I suppose I could gleefully describe how I successfully completed the household's laundry. Everyone's stuff, washed and folded and put away. All of it. Except, now that I think about it, maybe there's still one more load in the dryer.

 

 

But if I leave it there until next week, I can still count this week's laundry done. Right?

 

 

Yes, this is my life. These are the realities I think about, people. You can't make this stuff up.

 

Happy laundry-day Wednesday.

 

 

 Shop similar items here:

Overstock Raincoats & Trenchcoats · Lumiani Wedges · American Eagle Teen Girls' Denim

{Shared: Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins, Get Your Pretty On, Her & Nicole, Lamb Around, Life of the Party, My Fashion Forward Blog, My Girlish Whims, Perfectly Coutured, Prowess & Pearls, Style Elixir, The Mrs and the Momma, The Pleated Poppy, Transatlantic Blonde, } 

American History 101 & some mixed patterns

I felt like an American flag today after getting dressed. Until I remembered that it's stars, not polka dots, on Old Glory. Phew. Crisis averted.

shoes: American Eagle Outfitters

plaid trousers: GAP

striped shirt: Lands End Canvas

polka dot cardigan: Coldwater Creek (I think)

 

I sometimes wonder if I'm too old for such bold pattern mixing. But then I remember that I bought this cardigan at a store that specializes in total Christmas-vest-wearing-teacher, mom, and even gramma gear. I think I'm a good decade or two below the targeted consumer there.

 

 

Which makes me feel young and wild enough to throw on a random plaid pants to complete the ensemble. I'm cuh-razy like that.

 

 

Honestly, I'm just hoping that the pattern trio is distracting enough that you'll fail to notice my fresh-out-of-shower, major-roots-showing hair. It's a complicated life I lead, people, chock full of deception and shampoo.

 

Happy beautiful Tuesday.

 

 

Shop similar items below:

Dorothy Perkins Tees · Sam Edelman Flats · Maison Martin Margiela Pants

{Shared: Coffee Beans & Bobby Pins, Kiwi Women's Style, Mom Trends, My Girlish Whims, Not Dead Yet,  The Life of the Party, The Mrs and the Momma, Transatlantic Blonde}

maybe I'm practicing being a pumpkin

I had a very witty and pithy blog post written to accompany these pics.

 

flats: J. Crew

jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

chambray shirt: J. Crew

orange cableknit sweater: J. Crew

 

The post was warm and endearingly clever and funny and would've made you all want to be my friend, even though I self-deprecatingly referenced Jay Leno's love for denim-on-denim and coined the phrase "pumpk rock" in reference to my sweater.

 

 

 Somehow the whole post got deleted. *poof*

 

 

So you're left with these photos, an incomplete pop culture reference of questionable style, and a view of my feet.

 

 

At least the flats are cute.

 

Happy Monday. (or is it?)

 

 

Shop similar styles & products below:

MICHAEL Michael Kors Crewnecks & Scoopnecks · J.Crew Factory Button Front Tops · CeCe Flats

{shared: Style Elixir, SuburbsMama, The Pleated Poppy}

Jeans and a Neon Belt

 Hey guys! I've missed you. It's been, what, a couple decades since I did an outfit post? Like, your children are college graduates and you now own a Buick since I last posted. Awesome. Congrats.

shoes: SO brand

jeans: American Eagle

belt: J.Crew

henley: J.Crew

sweater: Motherhood Maternity (I know, I know)

Today I lounged around the house and dodged snowflakes (!!!) while taking my 18-month-old's dirty diapers to the garbage can.

A freezing itinerary like this, in early October, calls for my busting out ultimate comfort-wear. And fancying things up with a neon belt. I dunno. Something about wearing a shiny neon accessory makes me feel like I could pass for a contributing member of society...



...until observant passersby spy my thick socks within my Toms knockoffs. Tacky, sure, but oh so warm.

I'm afraid I may be getting too old to care about style tackiness when it comes to the warmth of my toes. Which, I fully recognize, is a slippery slope that will inevitably lead to mu-mus and order-by-mail orthopedic shoes for everyday wear.

Which, speaking of...mmmmm...COMFY.

Happy Friday.

A.L.C. Cardigans · MICHAEL Michael Kors Belts · American Eagle Teen Girls' Denim

{shared: Fashion's Greatest Hits, I Have a Degree in This, Style Elixir, The Molly Buckley, The Foley Fam, Watch out for Woestmans, }

Modest Wedding Gowns

I don't know who of you is in the market, but just in case you are or know of someone who is...

I've recently learned of Stasia Modest Couture, an online-based boutique that designs and creates 100% of its gowns in the USA (Chicago, IL to be exact). Stasia Modest ships bridal gowns worldwide, catering specifically to modest brides.

You can basically design your own dress (customized tailoring for wedding gowns can be very expensive...on top of the price of the original wedding gown) by choosing from a variety of sleeves, bodice tops, and skirt options. There's an e-dressing room for you to use, and your dress is built to match your specific measurements.

Best of all, the talented Stasia people will create a muslin form to your measurements and send it to you within 7 days so that alterations can be made from that point on.

You get (this is awesome) photo updates of your gown every 2 weeks thereafter. (This feature seems super duper exciting to me...like video monitoring your baby or pet or something. I love this!) Oh, and you can choose a color-coordinated sash for your wedding party, if you want. Tres cool.

Typically, from the time your approved muslin form is returned to Stasia, your final beautiful wedding gown will be in your hot little hands within 4-6 weeks. What an incredible process and service that simplifies an inevitably chaotic time.

Good news: Stasia is offering A Day in the Life Too... readers 10% off all wedding gowns through December 31 of this year. Use the code ADITLT10 at checkout.

Seriously, you guys, if you need a wedding gown or know of someone who does, you should check Stasia Modest Couture out. Beautiful, custom, AND modest wedding gowns? I die.

FreeCountry Tankini & Swim Skirt (Product Review)

Welp, swimsuit season is upon us. (I know, right? *gulp*) Which somehow gives me more reason to justify feasting on the deliciousness that are Swedish fish. But it also gives me more reason to check out cute swimwear.

 

I've stumbled upon a fantastic swimwear source, actually, with versatile style and high quality pieces. FreeCountry.com. And they were nice enough to offer me a suit for a product review this year. Bingo.

 

They specialize in mix-and-match pieces, so you can imagine how hard it was for me to figure out what pieces I really really liked. I narrowed it down to about four tops and three bottoms, then just rolled the dice on which ones I'd go for. (Because I'm professional like that. Heh.)

 

The company has been great to work with. There was a mailing problem with my order, but the nice Free Country people sorted it all out, and my adorable swimsuit arrived yesterday. (Mailing problems = a headache for them, I'm sure, but they made it easy for me. Quality customer service from the get-go. Me likey.)

(Note to self: Never put the words "me" and "likey" back-to-back in the same statement again. Ever.)

 

And yesterday, to my delight, I opened up the package and found these beauties waiting for me:

 

starburst tie-dye tankini top

adjustable swim skirt

The first thing I noticed was the quality of the pieces. The swim fabric (lycra, I think? don't quote me on that) is thick and seems durable, and the stitching is impeccable. The colors and pattern of the swim top are just as vibrant in real life as on my computer screen, and I adore them. My favorite piece is the swim skirt -- it's a flattering length, not too long, not too short, and the attached swim bottoms underneath the skirt is modest and a fun bright blue. Love.

 

I'm not kidding, you guys. This suit is a chicken dinner winner. With Swedish fish for dessert, even.

 

Here are some things that might be helpful as you go to order your own from FreeCountry:

I'm 5'8", ~135 pounds, and ordered a size Small. I'm shaped kind of like a rectangle (translation: flat-chested, hips like a boy), so the bottoms fit me perfectly, although I probably will go up a size in top next time.

 

The top I got fits great when I'm standing up or lying down, but if I were to sit in the sand and lean over to build sand castles with my kids, I'd be a little (lot) exposed. Because I'm a bit smaller chested than the suit plans for.

 

That being said, I sincerely love these swimsuit pieces. I see myself wearing them lots and lots this summer. I mean, starburst tie-dye? Hello. I love you.

 

I hope you all go and check them out and find a swimsuit piece (or three...four?) of your dreams.

 

Thanks, FreeCountry, for hooking me up!

How to Make a Headboard out of Pallet Wood

Sorry if you're sick of these home projects updates of mine, friends, but I've just got to tell you: I'm always (yes, ALways) up for something free and thought maybe one or two of you are, too. 

 

And pallet boards are free. Headboards, typically, are not.

 

Therefore, I present to you:

 



 

A step-by-step tutorial for how to make one yourself.

 

And truthfully? If I can do it, anyone can. Plus, hello, did I mention it's $free$?

 

I did? Twice now? Oh. Okay.

 

xox,

Brittney

 

 

DIY Animal Bookends

Sorry, but I just can't help sharing these. I think they're fantastic...even if no one alive knows what the heck kind of animal that is.



And you can make some, too! So so easily!

 

 

 

Check out how, here.

xox
Brittney

Ombre + Ruching + DIY = Colorful Bliss

If you love ombre, and you love ruching, you just might love this little DIY project I did this month...either for yourself or the favorite little girls in your life.

 

 

That's right. An ombred ruched duvet cover...out of a plain ol' cheap ol' Walmart flat sheet. I don't think it gets cuter than this. Really.
 

Come on over and check it out!

House Tour is Live!

A long time ago, some of you were interested in a house tour. Probably because you got sick of looking at that same white couch and blue-and-white rug every day.

 

Well, the good news is: my house tour's available.

 

 

The bad news is: I haven't figured out how to serve cookies through the Internet for those of you who stop by.

 

I can't guarantee it's worth it, then. Because I make a pretty mean snickerdoodle.

 

But, if you want, here it is: My House Tour.

 

xox

Gift idea: DIY Tray (out of an old Photo Frame)

Got kids?

 

Got parents to get gifts for?

 

Got limited funds?

 

Get this: Take an old photo frame and make a snack tray out of it!

 

 

Wrap it up, give it to your parents, and let your kids feel so proud when your parents open it up and LOVE it.

 

Or just make one for yourself. Because it's pretty.

 

Check out more about this tray here.

 

And have a lovely Thanksgiving!