stripes + plaid = a glorious day to be alive & dressed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WuEgTxTzaO_KIokzRUhTPpRkxjXRAZDQ7Gw_Q8YjtL-I7ryYsIr0K_3KXr9YQ539mIrQCS8nKA0D7xUw4glp1VFw363xzo3PJmag48CnO0hPjDVFW31ALRopWF9bvb8C0xBWp_T-cA3z/s1600/P1britt4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WuEgTxTzaO_KIokzRUhTPpRkxjXRAZDQ7Gw_Q8YjtL-I7ryYsIr0K_3KXr9YQ539mIrQCS8nKA0D7xUw4glp1VFw363xzo3PJmag48CnO0hPjDVFW31ALRopWF9bvb8C0xBWp_T-cA3z/s640/P1britt4.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">shoes: forever21. skirt: american eagle outfitters. shirt: don't recall. cardigan: gap. necklace: gift. watch: target.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVkwTaeUqw_LP1AWDSkS0ESaCC-rrAZSiebTYRpLr7B1gDMpz-1YhTF2pjYTyjM3r3ca-iRCB5U6iNAV-VDqqDn0kwqd6JW9yRssQnoeLZd7lnbWncBCjcUUak4FNpDSK99HjBIMTc-z7/s1600/P1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVkwTaeUqw_LP1AWDSkS0ESaCC-rrAZSiebTYRpLr7B1gDMpz-1YhTF2pjYTyjM3r3ca-iRCB5U6iNAV-VDqqDn0kwqd6JW9yRssQnoeLZd7lnbWncBCjcUUak4FNpDSK99HjBIMTc-z7/s640/P1britt1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCez55scyEspDE_K3UEsZdPUL61jFzW9l1SWCfYfYCtfFOVXLFd3fTNlua4gxZLpfwIHunt18dEr6q3uWpuFtxidnyIVphVZHVieL31hHxW173jK_NlWop9MQeDnHn4TjwfCyEyJCPNXo/s1600/P1britt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCez55scyEspDE_K3UEsZdPUL61jFzW9l1SWCfYfYCtfFOVXLFd3fTNlua4gxZLpfwIHunt18dEr6q3uWpuFtxidnyIVphVZHVieL31hHxW173jK_NlWop9MQeDnHn4TjwfCyEyJCPNXo/s400/P1britt3.JPG" width="317" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This outfit was extremely comfortable and functional. I mean, look--I could even talk on the phone in it. (Because usually I wear stuff that doesn't allow for that kind of elbow-bendage or something? Please...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEeNgzZZWqCOhqllAye2NhbSy2OSTkETnWOAUE4ov-f9xxlC1PtMY14jjZUPRZlY3An8dRRuALqZ0fHhZydFxmwozL8pS50bylT3rAd99YQmM1FDJlpsFK1rEdQVo94XSDgqobDFmR4Z3/s1600/P1britt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEeNgzZZWqCOhqllAye2NhbSy2OSTkETnWOAUE4ov-f9xxlC1PtMY14jjZUPRZlY3An8dRRuALqZ0fHhZydFxmwozL8pS50bylT3rAd99YQmM1FDJlpsFK1rEdQVo94XSDgqobDFmR4Z3/s400/P1britt2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">Hey guys, it's <a href="http://www.modlychic.com/2011/08/friend-friday-a-dream-is-a-wish-your-heart-makes.html" target="blank">Friend Friday</a>! Today's topic is: <em>goals, dreams, & aspirations. </em>Aside from being able to decide what's for dinner every night (default: quesadillas. Guess how often we eat those guys?) (You may or may not have nailed it with "at least three times a week." I'll never tell), I have fairly simple aspirations.  </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><em>1. Fess up - if you could do anything professionally what would it be? </em>I've always had a dream of being a librarian. But lately I wish I had a natural knack for interior design. What a dream job that would be.<br /><br /><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>2. What draws you to this? </em>Beautiful spaces are inspiring to me, and I'd love to be able to actually create those. Combining and balancing color, texture, pattern, layout...it's all so awesome when done right.</div><div align="center"><em>3. When did you first start dreaming about this ideal? </em>Maybe a year or two ago. But...I think I've gone off the wrong track in answering these questions again. That's a dream of something I would love to do but don't necessarily have the talent/ability to do it. So. Wee clarification.</div><div align="center"><em>4. What's holding you back from going all in? </em>Oh, let's see: my shortage of taste, vision, ability, and skill, just to name a few. And, when I'm not basking in the view of beautiful spaces, really, being a mom is my #1 thing. And, bonus, I can be "successful" in momhood even if my house looks like a pigsty or is a throwback to the 90s or is a one-room-dirt-floored shack. As long as there are fresh homemade sweet rolls available on occasion. So.</div><div align="center"><br /><em>5. Sometimes the first step is the hardest... what's one step you can take now on the way to realizing your dream?</em> I enjoy home design blogs and magazines and books. I enjoy fiddling around in the building I'm lucky enough to call home. And I can bake sweet rolls while doing it. I think I'm probably living my dream.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Happy Friday!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Want this look? Click on stuff below...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background: white; border-bottom: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-left: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-right: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-top: #bfbfbf 1px solid; display: block; position: relative; width: 430px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="150" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6676-2041974-73&look=3692631&size=Small&width=6&height=1&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0" width="430"></iframe><br /><div style="bottom: 2px; height: 18px; left: 0px; line-height: 12px; position: absolute; width: 100%;"><div style="left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; position: absolute;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/Miu-Miu#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #606060; font: 11px verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;">More Miu Miu...</a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; position: absolute; right: 0px;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="ShopStyle" src="http://resources.shopstyle.com/im/widget/ShopStyleLogo_powered_small.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></img></a></div></div></div></div>

stripes + plaid = a glorious day to be alive & dressed

 shoes: forever21. skirt: american eagle outfitters. shirt: don't recall. cardigan: gap. necklace: gift. watch: target. This outfit was extremely comfortable and functional. I mean, look--I could even talk on the phone in it. (Because usually I wear stuff that doesn't allow for that kind of elbow-be…

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stripes, glorious stripes

<div style="text-align: center;">Not to be all throw-myself-in-front-of-the-bandwagon-so-that-it-slows-down-enough-for-me-to-jump-on or anything, but...I love stripes in fashion. Loooooove them. They're neutral(ish), bold, interesting, mixable, flattering, whimsical, and sophisticated all rolled into one. And the last time THAT has been achieved was when my older sister made herself a long cardigan out of brightly-colored newspaper-print jersey knit in 1988. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She was the cat's meow, people. I'm telling you. My 7-year-old memory wouldn't lie.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So. Stripes. In case you missed it or I didn't make myself clear: I love them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBdTtCY29_he5NNdG0OeZBHoMQkDIu2kQXlhla7AWkAay_eLu_TobpDl-QLUtGYs9WYtW5wi9xh4bBaG117c3gMEGpcYD9lGWyWSenzh_ZQPvoBHWZdhrtwjR-xULELTzErGc2rVFNDW5/s320/Jbritt6.JPG" width="137" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Lr76Yx22tMnvbQUUKuYBoIFmU7oWgH4anOsc6Kuh8tZzeFJN6-DuiHB-BsjLhRDG7iUXT08zz3AePgdc4_G1OI5TeL2ZjbrM8AP2tFG6ZKC5dwaJgUs30dimTh7XbEE20qgSkeU5sFDg/s1600/C1britt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Lr76Yx22tMnvbQUUKuYBoIFmU7oWgH4anOsc6Kuh8tZzeFJN6-DuiHB-BsjLhRDG7iUXT08zz3AePgdc4_G1OI5TeL2ZjbrM8AP2tFG6ZKC5dwaJgUs30dimTh7XbEE20qgSkeU5sFDg/s320/C1britt3.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUs79BFahuEzXBpDBpyXrn1FJ5gpH-2mmlkoP-UEJ33cD68suVWgXSA5aOytjFhBdx6tdTa6v5L5E6dKrAhPc3rhHDTUh-ZgiKW3TPx9YaM9EKrO0FwH-vbyZHG1rxVQxMe_JhIe7T815h/s400/Bbritt91.JPG" width="155" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigJG8IzYSSVuFAmb66yb4kvyPjVyIfGd7yENIvmQm9vLFzocHMYo59FmE6des5wCDuvBk_iXYHVnOKxxf6P6TCiOf8ivz5iHCanc1pbJsZCTfISTvcxfPOqYLlrUKtGjJK6t_B8HPD1Q_/s1600/Ibritt8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigJG8IzYSSVuFAmb66yb4kvyPjVyIfGd7yENIvmQm9vLFzocHMYo59FmE6des5wCDuvBk_iXYHVnOKxxf6P6TCiOf8ivz5iHCanc1pbJsZCTfISTvcxfPOqYLlrUKtGjJK6t_B8HPD1Q_/s400/Ibritt8.JPG" width="172" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXY8KICtdFVPhO84BVKy_JpbN3Uh2odU6BWOwMhaYhOFixfKGjiodFP1hp9NaqmuSYPr3B3tG55TttlUQ9HJkYvAJe1A7kSmPWcTvlmgU3lgXbrt3muXADxi7CnlSP5qqRKYUx5ojJmMk/s1600/Z1britt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXY8KICtdFVPhO84BVKy_JpbN3Uh2odU6BWOwMhaYhOFixfKGjiodFP1hp9NaqmuSYPr3B3tG55TttlUQ9HJkYvAJe1A7kSmPWcTvlmgU3lgXbrt3muXADxi7CnlSP5qqRKYUx5ojJmMk/s400/Z1britt2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">What about you all? Is there a particular pattern you love? Or, better yet, one you particularly loathe?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Check out the striped stuff below to inspire you--all beautiful and comfortable and awesome.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background: white; border-bottom: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-left: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-right: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-top: #bfbfbf 1px solid; display: block; position: relative; width: 430px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="150" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6676-2041974-73&look=3687207&size=Small&width=6&height=1&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0" width="430"></iframe><br /><div style="bottom: 2px; height: 18px; left: 0px; line-height: 12px; position: absolute; width: 100%;"><div style="left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; position: absolute;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/BCBG-MAX-AZRIA#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #606060; font: 11px verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;">More BCBG MAX AZRIA...</a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; position: absolute; right: 0px;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="ShopStyle" src="http://resources.shopstyle.com/im/widget/ShopStyleLogo_powered_small.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></img></a></div></div></div></div>

stripes, glorious stripes

Not to be all throw-myself-in-front-of-the-bandwagon-so-that-it-slows-down-enough-for-me-to-jump-on or anything, but...I love stripes in fashion. Loooooove them. They're neutral(ish), bold, interesting, mixable, flattering, whimsical, and sophisticated all rolled into one. And the last time THAT has…

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How to hem denim & keep the factory edge

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hey guys. So, some of you have asked how I hemmed my <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/2011/08/does-this-skirt-make-me-look-domestic.html" target="blank">denim skirt</a> by myself while keeping the factory-edge look. I've got bad news and good news for you. The good news: I'm not a great seamstress but it still wasn't hard! The bad news: I have nothing to hem right now, so for me to show you how I did it, you'll have to make do with the pics of the finished product.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Basically, you can do this to any garment in which the original hemline is as wide as or wider than the new hemline. As in, it won't work with skinnies or tapered anything. Here's how:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First, figure out how long/short you want the denim garment. Measure it. Measure it again. Make sure, then once you're sure, cut it. Then head on down to the original hem (where the factory-edging resides) and cut it about a 1/2" up from the original edge seam. This will give you something to sew on that's not 18 layers thick. See the photo below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23v3kt2jK5OVtGRwRGY3ygSzAQAzUyVO1GWf3A66bJEZb41dZ5LT1CToKGRkmGpMwGRi-U-dOPNR2nkFPGsQg9dqoTiuv2v26MQBF0XnQwl3bFpNqvBhcBxpXPIOq34J1UFWZt3uyiRzt/s1600/hem_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23v3kt2jK5OVtGRwRGY3ygSzAQAzUyVO1GWf3A66bJEZb41dZ5LT1CToKGRkmGpMwGRi-U-dOPNR2nkFPGsQg9dqoTiuv2v26MQBF0XnQwl3bFpNqvBhcBxpXPIOq34J1UFWZt3uyiRzt/s640/hem_1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Then pin the cut-off factory hem to the cut-off garment, right sides together and cut edges together. Here's a tip, though: depending on the garment you're doing, you'll want to match up any perpendicular seams first. For example, my skirt has a seam going all the way down the front-middle, so I lined up that seam as best as I could first, then pinned outward toward the back of the skirt. See photo below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtcaT5K5hcx8H5qvnC8KEQBywDfo6IRf0YX_thiz_WX3LUlF_FkWCfTE6c7xEI8iNLbKz8OGL20MrqjGOEhBLv80jMiugn1XxAnBZNnG89hTeRydEgAkcW1CQJJlYapUSea2OFhCJFLjN/s1600/hem_5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtcaT5K5hcx8H5qvnC8KEQBywDfo6IRf0YX_thiz_WX3LUlF_FkWCfTE6c7xEI8iNLbKz8OGL20MrqjGOEhBLv80jMiugn1XxAnBZNnG89hTeRydEgAkcW1CQJJlYapUSea2OFhCJFLjN/s640/hem_5.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the case of my skirt, because it originally was a slight A-line, the factory-hem piece was longer (horizontally) than the new hemline. After lining up the front seam and the back edges (where the skirt slit is), I then determined where the side seams needed to be and took in/shortened the cut factory-hem piece there. Does that make sense? As in, because there's a side seam anyway, that's where I adjusted all the pieces so they were exactly the same length and all the factory seams could then line up when I sewed them together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">[Editor's note: You guys, I just realized, I'm terrible at explaining things. Sorry if this is muddled. But now you know how my husband feels, and he's stuck with me forevah, so you guys really don't have it so bad. In fact, I redact my apology to you all.] [Assistant Editor's note: Not sure if "redact" is actually a word...]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So. Now we've cut everything, lined up the seams, taken things in if necessary, and pinned them (right sides together). Next, you just sew a straight line as close to the factory hem as possible. (See below, although I labeled this spot better in the first photo.) Here, I also took the opportunity to zigzag the raw edges together to minimize fraying.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdkryXLArI3RamCC2KN9db4AymuKwpkAF8zvVfp-badtt2xMehrAWD7GZSOTRiF4ArHPB8TEPFmxw1FmzZXTkBYhxqMeOTOU4ixcpeW2hXHo3rjo0XRiHEl8yL67QZYX_jk06rM2bYeNv/s1600/hem_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdkryXLArI3RamCC2KN9db4AymuKwpkAF8zvVfp-badtt2xMehrAWD7GZSOTRiF4ArHPB8TEPFmxw1FmzZXTkBYhxqMeOTOU4ixcpeW2hXHo3rjo0XRiHEl8yL67QZYX_jk06rM2bYeNv/s640/hem_3.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Wah-lah. (Or "viola" if you're French.) Open up what you've sewn (as in, unfold it. <em>Not</em> rip it out...hopefully...) so that you're looking at the right sides. Iron it flat if you want or need to (I didn't). Then, to keep it flat, sew a topstitch. Ideally, you'd have a matching thread color. I didn't, so mine's chocolate brown. Surprisingly, though, it's hardly noticeable, so whatevs. See how the factory edge looks almost seamless here, even though you actually transplanted it? Magic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyuv5e8Jht0fK4Bt7H7pMdWNNBNrGGtlngZQuI5NTBYcV-pjR9PlBWpuxxsJXTKSifcH5ZIztN-J0x-dRRbt_dScoMhkpOSuXao-UlldEgLa31-uf18HIrR8zGXnAvV7-9lg26aJ4Ra9o/s1600/hem_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyuv5e8Jht0fK4Bt7H7pMdWNNBNrGGtlngZQuI5NTBYcV-pjR9PlBWpuxxsJXTKSifcH5ZIztN-J0x-dRRbt_dScoMhkpOSuXao-UlldEgLa31-uf18HIrR8zGXnAvV7-9lg26aJ4Ra9o/s400/hem_2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Maybe it looks obvious in these ultra-close-ups, but I promise...this is a great way to keep that professional-looking factory edge after you've done a home-grown hem job.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNcirT7TMLB45gNnbLUIfHxa7Ttr68C2ypsUYB8srvVmxWKRSRvPIqOaz-8hf3WcfFQECBfSm0L8UDMhql_rGmeX8juvz7G-XhC_BODd3PETCkM581Of93blvuvalJ-0T1ZNTq2FHRy2m/s1600/hem_4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNcirT7TMLB45gNnbLUIfHxa7Ttr68C2ypsUYB8srvVmxWKRSRvPIqOaz-8hf3WcfFQECBfSm0L8UDMhql_rGmeX8juvz7G-XhC_BODd3PETCkM581Of93blvuvalJ-0T1ZNTq2FHRy2m/s640/hem_4.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div align="center">If you're not convinced, check out how <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/search/label/knee-length%20denim%20skirt">this skirt</a> looks in "real life." It took about 20 minutes to do and saved me at least $50 for a new skirt. Worth it.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Wednesday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Want this look but are confused by my tutorial? Shop below...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background: white; border-bottom: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-left: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-right: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-top: #bfbfbf 1px solid; display: block; position: relative; width: 430px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="150" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6676-2041974-73&look=3685782&size=Small&width=6&height=1&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0" width="430"></iframe><br /><div style="bottom: 2px; height: 18px; left: 0px; line-height: 12px; position: absolute; width: 100%;"><div style="left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; position: absolute;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/Levis#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #606060; font: 11px verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;">More Levi's...</a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; position: absolute; right: 0px;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="ShopStyle" src="http://resources.shopstyle.com/im/widget/ShopStyleLogo_powered_small.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></img></a></div></div></div></div>

How to hem denim & keep the factory edge

Hey guys. So, some of you have asked how I hemmed my denim skirt by myself while keeping the factory-edge look. I've got bad news and good news for you. The good news: I'm not a great seamstress but it still wasn't hard! The bad news: I have nothing to hem right now, so for me to show you how I did …

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love letter

<div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I think I would make an awesome Hallmark employee, specifically the cards focusing on L-O-V-E. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For example, here's a personalized one for you all. Picture this: The front of a card is left blank, then you open it up and read the following: </div><div style="text-align: center;">"I spent the day in my swimsuit and am <em>not </em>including a photo of my outfit."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's a lotta love I have for you, my friends.</div>

love letter

Sometimes I think I would make an awesome Hallmark employee, specifically the cards focusing on L-O-V-E. For example, here's a personalized one for you all. Picture this: The front of a card is left blank, then you open it up and read the following: "I spent the day in my swimsuit and am not includi…

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larger than life

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSGBYhdExn_RzzoTyWh7Qfb0TG8he28IpiOMX7lEHoQ_LaTqo2RpRkXhcemMK9wrIYomqeTEbLNdJyR5OQmi3jUnL-CL-U607AKKNFI-Ly4VQ9-e1IG_fymND4vZRkoTx4nkEVEka51qR/s1600/R1britt4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSGBYhdExn_RzzoTyWh7Qfb0TG8he28IpiOMX7lEHoQ_LaTqo2RpRkXhcemMK9wrIYomqeTEbLNdJyR5OQmi3jUnL-CL-U607AKKNFI-Ly4VQ9-e1IG_fymND4vZRkoTx4nkEVEka51qR/s400/R1britt4.JPG" width="321" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">shoes: converse brand. leggings: old navy. skirt: thrifted & modified. shirt: gap. watch: target. bracelets: forever21.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfW18cHWSxTOCfqmXNMk_My3Ic7FVnTnsq5PTkpenJkGaU2DrETyjF00oWp760lCJH0twtIYjUZt8vTdqWFB9BIRH4pIcZfb2T-3_J7upyE-n7ISWf8IkRNNasrRn8fqNziPtFaAzeOMc2/s1600/R1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfW18cHWSxTOCfqmXNMk_My3Ic7FVnTnsq5PTkpenJkGaU2DrETyjF00oWp760lCJH0twtIYjUZt8vTdqWFB9BIRH4pIcZfb2T-3_J7upyE-n7ISWf8IkRNNasrRn8fqNziPtFaAzeOMc2/s400/R1britt1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1IYn5qNuXdtsPLPi_p0sQaxWakwGsITP4LWmHDbFLWRBBe8ftH-gFwSvuUJ3jkXvAIxTTvx1DQxDK_mphW_44rH6fhVebH-PAVebfDKO5QoT_hUvOd0z2ecPm5VRQDj-ah7GFnVTdKhF/s1600/R1britt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1IYn5qNuXdtsPLPi_p0sQaxWakwGsITP4LWmHDbFLWRBBe8ftH-gFwSvuUJ3jkXvAIxTTvx1DQxDK_mphW_44rH6fhVebH-PAVebfDKO5QoT_hUvOd0z2ecPm5VRQDj-ah7GFnVTdKhF/s400/R1britt3.JPG" width="290" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">So our across-the-street neighbors had a yard sale on Saturday because they're moving. I got a set of jumper cables for $2, which I'm appreciative of, but beyond that I'm pretty mad at them.* </div><div style="text-align: center;">[*Neighbs, if you're reading this, know I'm not really mad at you. Just, y'know, at the <em>situation</em>.]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My kids really really wanted to go to their yard sale after my jumper cable purchase, so they all got themselves dressed and their chores done (a prerequisite for such an excursion), and my daughter found her wallet in which all three kids' collective earnings were stored. I stayed in the kitchen doing the dishes, leaving the front door open and my ears hearing this:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">[nothing for a while, then my son's adorable voice explaining] "Yeah, but we only have a five-dollar and two one-dollars, so I guess we can't buy it." </div><div style="text-align: center;">[muffled voices heard over my sigh of relief that more stuff was <em>not</em> going to be accumulated as a result of this venture]<br />[relative silence for about 3 minutes]</div><div style="text-align: center;">[kids enter the house; girls are squealing, son is grunting as he plops THIS in the entryway]:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzv_-X-gFNm6x4L_28M6gx_1pfmwOM-HXBB1R6PkHKpxtOe1__47mpO3qaU9xPjnPY7OrCE7-RHGbzpT0BY-RVHv2uq-gM-Z88ywZ_LD2YvAWVDDIYnsUaDzQIhyphenhyphenX8ZJqYEla5jD2hr2P_/s1600/R1britt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzv_-X-gFNm6x4L_28M6gx_1pfmwOM-HXBB1R6PkHKpxtOe1__47mpO3qaU9xPjnPY7OrCE7-RHGbzpT0BY-RVHv2uq-gM-Z88ywZ_LD2YvAWVDDIYnsUaDzQIhyphenhyphenX8ZJqYEla5jD2hr2P_/s400/R1britt2.JPG" width="327" /></a></div><div align="center">I'm less than thrilled about it. The thing's enormous. The kids couldn't be more proud of themselves. (Their grampa's proud of their "wheelin-and-dealin," but their grampa doesn't have a life-size stuffed animal in his house, either. So.)<br /><br />If you need me, I'll be smashing down walls for an extension to fit the new guy. Or dropping one of the kiddos off in a basket on the neighbor's porch. One of the two; I haven't decided.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Happy Monday.<br /><br />Want this look? Shop below...</div><div align="center"><div style="background: white; border-bottom: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-left: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-right: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-top: #bfbfbf 1px solid; display: block; position: relative; width: 430px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="150" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6676-2041974-73&look=3674461&size=Small&width=6&height=1&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0" width="430"></iframe><br /><div style="bottom: 2px; height: 18px; left: 0px; line-height: 12px; position: absolute; width: 100%;"><div style="left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; position: absolute;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/Forever-21#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #606060; font: 11px verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;">More Forever 21...</a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; position: absolute; right: 0px;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="ShopStyle" src="http://resources.shopstyle.com/im/widget/ShopStyleLogo_powered_small.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></img></a></div></div></div></div><div align="center"><br /></div>

larger than life

 shoes: converse brand. leggings: old navy. skirt: thrifted & modified. shirt: gap. watch: target. bracelets: forever21.So our across-the-street neighbors had a yard sale on Saturday because they're moving. I got a set of jumper cables for $2, which I'm appreciative of, but beyond that I'm pretty ma…

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does this skirt make me look domestic?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6mzJFU1m-kaJu05FQeIC4pJCvALukaAt3u1gnXbf2OdGYAseyxu7tREsKy76NeEEUdzbAzYrhm0TglZnMSJ8Ziw0zBE-GgyQvwl-a11A3xdB_bfal49s5D2fPvlCk9P-eupe1V7YpFc/s1600/S1britt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6mzJFU1m-kaJu05FQeIC4pJCvALukaAt3u1gnXbf2OdGYAseyxu7tREsKy76NeEEUdzbAzYrhm0TglZnMSJ8Ziw0zBE-GgyQvwl-a11A3xdB_bfal49s5D2fPvlCk9P-eupe1V7YpFc/s400/S1britt3.JPG" width="317" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">shoes: steve madden. skirt: secondhand (old navy, but then altered by moi). shirt: gift/vintage. belt: forever21.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA6IeEPf-4m8Jm6ge3JLyFgW6_CznYNHlvMBfFzuS5tDhU_FANimmqI-jmrWZA8jvRqccM7BgK2B-0W2s-6zD1ncdMiVcXAQhwFOjkTbspKhOHXrKwQrXlU1iDKdudClExfFirHqIMoc/s1600/S1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA6IeEPf-4m8Jm6ge3JLyFgW6_CznYNHlvMBfFzuS5tDhU_FANimmqI-jmrWZA8jvRqccM7BgK2B-0W2s-6zD1ncdMiVcXAQhwFOjkTbspKhOHXrKwQrXlU1iDKdudClExfFirHqIMoc/s400/S1britt1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFV0wnvWQMAR7VPIKgUU-2B8Uw25-zCqBHyTymGj34PXSNxnSP_NGEAWSiUCpWyEBCaVowlDJFkTt2FnQAE77qKFQvB987_TN4OyG5tHga7s7VDw1sWKq0ObhMf1KCh1gynYsQ8Z6I1E/s1600/S1britt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFV0wnvWQMAR7VPIKgUU-2B8Uw25-zCqBHyTymGj34PXSNxnSP_NGEAWSiUCpWyEBCaVowlDJFkTt2FnQAE77qKFQvB987_TN4OyG5tHga7s7VDw1sWKq0ObhMf1KCh1gynYsQ8Z6I1E/s400/S1britt2.JPG" width="302" /></a></div><div align="center"><em>p.s. [Editor's note: Technically that stands for "post script," but I'm taking artistic license here and saying it stands for "pre script." Don't try this at home, though, kids. I'm a professional.] This skirt used to be <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/2011/05/midi-length-denim-skirtnon-frump-stylei.html" target="blank">this skirt</a>, but because of its previous awkward/unflattering/frumpy length, and because I've worn it only once (ONCE!) since doing this blog, I re-hemmed it today to make it knee-length. I've been wanting a knee-length denim skirt (aside from my more formal denim <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/search/label/denim%20pencil%20skirt" target="blank">pencil skirt</a>) for a long time, and I think I'll get more mileage out of it this way. So. Pat me on the back and give me a popsicle, I guess.</em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">This week I'm grateful for: <br /><br />- classic (albeit cheesy) movies like "The Music Man" that I can and do start introducing to my children.<br />- a husband who comes home from a 2.5-day fishing trip unshaven, fulfilled, and happy to be home. And who also <em>didn't</em> get mauled by a mama bear when he & the guys spied a lone grizzly cub on the trail. Yipes...<br />- Campbell's chicken noodle soup for lunch. My kids love it. And I love Ms. Campbell for creating it. It's mmm-mmm-easy.<br />- Internet.<br />- Internet shopping.<br />- craigslist scores and the reupholstering/refinishing projects that ensue.<br />- having cute kids and taking the time to notice and appreciate their cuteness.<br />- chips-and-salsa as a snack.<br />- dishwashers. Specifically, mine.<br />- freshly shaved legs.<br />- my husband's employment. <br />- living in peace and (globally relative) prosperity. Believing in God. Enjoying good health. Being free. I'm so humbled to be so blessed.<br /><br />Happy Sunday.</div>

does this skirt make me look domestic?

 shoes: steve madden. skirt: secondhand (old navy, but then altered by moi). shirt: gift/vintage. belt: forever21.p.s. [Editor's note: Technically that stands for "post script," but I'm taking artistic license here and saying it stands for "pre script." Don't try this at home, though, kids. I'm a pr…

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bed head + tie dye = you're welcome

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I craigslisted some sweet (but in need of some major TLC) furniture this morning. Two chairs, a coffee table, and a stainless steel work table. Add that to the chair I got a few months back that needs reupholstering, and I've got myself a workload. Which is why I spent all morning in my paint clothes. Which is why I thought I wouldn't get dressed today. Which is why, when I woke up (no, seriously, about 2 minutes after I woke up. Welcome to my face au natural, folks), I took pics of my morning hair to make good on my promise from yesterday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Which is why 82% of you might never visit this blog again. Which is why I stink at math, because the percentage I should actually be quoting here is much closer to 100%.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE6yW3dmszGE5YB0EOTw9KVeSFyrbCq613JhkbejYXjMbjr4tdAhanWvrEUkKlYJb7Ya1twq4XKbF4cbbI9Ctie4uQp_Z3vzocj_NFmgcwky6WJo8PXb7YrEh2EW9ODKdVkoWICdN5Kvi/s1600/U1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE6yW3dmszGE5YB0EOTw9KVeSFyrbCq613JhkbejYXjMbjr4tdAhanWvrEUkKlYJb7Ya1twq4XKbF4cbbI9Ctie4uQp_Z3vzocj_NFmgcwky6WJo8PXb7YrEh2EW9ODKdVkoWICdN5Kvi/s400/U1britt1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> But then I decided that's not fair to you guys or my talented hair-girl or myself. So, around 4:00 this afternoon, I showered and got dressed. In ultra-comfortable clothes and nothing to write or even text home about, but clothes nonetheless. Because it feels like Saturday today, and that means comfort.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wHzlAziDDUFOHlVq4SvHzGs_tSOYLy7ch3gEuC8VrunSe5QsV_15coTBqKS77L_nJLE1NegBN2YRMPN660Kaxgrr8fcpl4-hHnr3j8dGgH2gssVSQtVBDluab39CfeQuODVFFhjA-T2O/s1600/U1britt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wHzlAziDDUFOHlVq4SvHzGs_tSOYLy7ch3gEuC8VrunSe5QsV_15coTBqKS77L_nJLE1NegBN2YRMPN660Kaxgrr8fcpl4-hHnr3j8dGgH2gssVSQtVBDluab39CfeQuODVFFhjA-T2O/s400/U1britt2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">sandals: forever21. skirt: kohl's. shirt: gap (tie-dyed myself). earrings: hawaii.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhhNfubnFvLS5S5mI2gvo0Auy1ZnKAhU_1dF7iOOUIZ0RY9Nr2SMwB_bcC6dF7_D7NSxx_6UXiIbyDCHdye4qNgpnH5hHFZ4FbMU8YCzCqTKLCjtG_Sh1oflkOe1SBgOxXS_sEem5kA8O/s1600/U1britt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhhNfubnFvLS5S5mI2gvo0Auy1ZnKAhU_1dF7iOOUIZ0RY9Nr2SMwB_bcC6dF7_D7NSxx_6UXiIbyDCHdye4qNgpnH5hHFZ4FbMU8YCzCqTKLCjtG_Sh1oflkOe1SBgOxXS_sEem5kA8O/s640/U1britt3.JPG" width="430" /></a></div><div align="center">Not to be all, "let's talk about my hair, my whole hair, and nothing but my hair" today (buuuut...kind of, yes, to be exactly like that, actually), but I can't tell you how much I love this cut. It's easy and it embraces the crazy-waves that is my natural hair. Win-win-win. (In case you're keeping track, that third "win" is for the tie-dye shirt.)</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Happy Friday.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Want this look? Shop below...</div><div align="center"><div style="background: white; border-bottom: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-left: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-right: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-top: #bfbfbf 1px solid; display: block; position: relative; width: 430px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="150" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6676-2041974-73&look=3657268&size=Small&width=6&height=1&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0" width="430"></iframe><br /><div style="bottom: 2px; height: 18px; left: 0px; line-height: 12px; position: absolute; width: 100%;"><div style="left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; position: absolute;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/Quiksilver#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #606060; font: 11px verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;">More Quiksilver...</a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; position: absolute; right: 0px;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="ShopStyle" src="http://resources.shopstyle.com/im/widget/ShopStyleLogo_powered_small.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></img></a></div></div></div></div>

bed head + tie dye = you're welcome

I craigslisted some sweet (but in need of some major TLC) furniture this morning. Two chairs, a coffee table, and a stainless steel work table. Add that to the chair I got a few months back that needs reupholstering, and I've got myself a workload. Which is why I spent all morning in my paint clothe…

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meta-haircut

Hey peeps,<br /><br />So I got my hairs cut today. I love it. It's short. I have no makeup on right now, though, and even though our e-lationship has progressed to the point that you know about my lost toenail and my lack of flossing habits and love me anyway (right guys?...guys?...mom?...), I don't think I'm ready to cross the bridge of sharing my total makeup-less photos.<br /><br />Mostly because I have a coupla big zits in prominent places. Otherwise, I'd be all over it. Maybe.<br /><br />Regardless, I'll get dressed tomorrow and photo it up. See what you all think. To give you a hint of the cut style, it's kiiiiind of comparable to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5DmTLeHrWy85Gi898dGudnTp8S69XZHqZ2eL-Iqn3JDQa9DpykvMsVqy20CQ7KrYeedB9FKaQ-WUgtexRH8EBqcIJdZFk42nLgAWZlHFimpcxqHVdbzAT41OsbmNsn-BTRUItHUafncI/s1600/jessica-stroup-puma-african-bazaar-11.jpg" target="blank">this</a> (minus the color...and Ms. Stroup's ridiculous facial beauty), from clashingtime.blogspot.com.<br /><br />So. Happy Thursday! I'm off to feel the wind beneath my...head. On my neck. Wow, THAT little lyric change never would've made it off the ground.<br /><br />

meta-haircut

Hey peeps,So I got my hairs cut today. I love it. It's short. I have no makeup on right now, though, and even though our e-lationship has progressed to the point that you know about my lost toenail and my lack of flossing habits and love me anyway (right guys?...guys?...mom?...), I don't think I'm r…

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simple style...and a jazzy ride down memory lane

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3Tk9fxPkufAuCI2AlBNhYtaukyeLp577ABTblS_eZiUCqcH7aFd9aXwotjcASDTqmvPokGw5D7iRA6gjPpnYT5fdr7ooFWjluH_9Nupjr_GhectdM77eiO9DwwjIBlTB_lmx_YKl_q1w/s1600/V1britt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3Tk9fxPkufAuCI2AlBNhYtaukyeLp577ABTblS_eZiUCqcH7aFd9aXwotjcASDTqmvPokGw5D7iRA6gjPpnYT5fdr7ooFWjluH_9Nupjr_GhectdM77eiO9DwwjIBlTB_lmx_YKl_q1w/s640/V1britt2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">shoes: cato brand. shorts: banana republic. shirt: j.crew. necklace: forever21. watch: citizen brand. pin: don't recall.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvgYKIzIxJUx3VmpWqvtCHPCAzjvuc2SB75nEp0aTjvd9216qkMQz_I6wlaEKfCynb4hK5t9SmhKpuHsc_AXRTI7Tori9clRqCPR90EU443LS6zeNhJujXCvwgyCizERZYoqhpgyJ3n0T/s1600/V1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvgYKIzIxJUx3VmpWqvtCHPCAzjvuc2SB75nEp0aTjvd9216qkMQz_I6wlaEKfCynb4hK5t9SmhKpuHsc_AXRTI7Tori9clRqCPR90EU443LS6zeNhJujXCvwgyCizERZYoqhpgyJ3n0T/s640/V1britt1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9HdhDZv9LtwagLuExILFbGnztXdJPOBmuge0E8ST2FY0RYH_cx8FD2yAOXG-UyPZTLkpg9dRvRfozqgl5x9Raia2_UGKjN-Jz7IWpWVRmtIX4RkKNz2o6QCGdZA1cYhyphenhyphen9tRTBkOt1o4s/s1600/V1britt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9HdhDZv9LtwagLuExILFbGnztXdJPOBmuge0E8ST2FY0RYH_cx8FD2yAOXG-UyPZTLkpg9dRvRfozqgl5x9Raia2_UGKjN-Jz7IWpWVRmtIX4RkKNz2o6QCGdZA1cYhyphenhyphen9tRTBkOt1o4s/s640/V1britt3.JPG" width="448" /></a></div><div align="center">I play the piano. Did any of you know that? I used to be quite good. Not to brag [Editor's note: A preface which is unfailingly, 100%, and always followed by a statement of boast.], but I really was talented back in my teens. Won a few medals, one of which was of a golden hue.<br /><br />Convinced? No? Dah well. Regardless, I had a few minutes to myself this afternoon and spent them running through some of my old music books on the piano.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">(Sure, I had laundry and dishes and grocery shopping and cleaning and a zillion other things I should've been doing. But sometimes a girl feels like being rebellious. My internal rebel just happens to pound out classical music. A sohpisticated rule-breaker. Like how I envision Ms. Zeta-Jones to be.) (Because there are soooo many things she and I have in common...)</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">*ahem* ANYway. My piano teacher would always write the date I started learning songs at the top of the music page. I died today when I noticed one of them, on a very technical and challenging piece, was <em>1994</em>. That, my dears, is SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">I still think I'm like 18 years old, so you can understand my jaw-dropping flabbergastic...ness. So. Be kind to this old woman. I'll probably be that lady going 18 MPH on the freeway, like, tomorrow. Oooh, but want to know what else happens tomorrow? A major hair change. Something fitting for my newly discovered old age. Like a tight perm and a bluish tint. Maybe. You'll just have to wait and see.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Happy Wednesday, you young whippersnappers.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Want this look? Shop below...</div><div align="center"><div style="background: white; border-bottom: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-left: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-right: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-top: #bfbfbf 1px solid; display: block; position: relative; width: 430px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="150" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6676-2041974-73&look=3642246&size=Small&width=6&height=1&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0" width="430"></iframe><br /><div style="bottom: 2px; height: 18px; left: 0px; line-height: 12px; position: absolute; width: 100%;"><div style="left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; position: absolute;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/J.Crew#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #606060; font: 11px verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;">More J.Crew...</a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; position: absolute; right: 0px;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="ShopStyle" src="http://resources.shopstyle.com/im/widget/ShopStyleLogo_powered_small.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></img></a></div></div></div></div>

simple style...and a jazzy ride down memory lane

 shoes: cato brand. shorts: banana republic. shirt: j.crew. necklace: forever21. watch: citizen brand. pin: don't recall.I play the piano. Did any of you know that? I used to be quite good. Not to brag [Editor's note: A preface which is unfailingly, 100%, and always followed by a statement of boast.…

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bacon by any other name...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S3Y9VcFp9M9rXv3BSH0aNOufKE2cAAZ7HMXjHAg7W4tUY9bS0BQOLK5eniup8CuHqrhtqs_h3b1BaPLHI7jNabEcqDCvpgDPwRKYiizeVo0D817nSsUsnR84dfE1KYzqePeGAMnCBKrH/s1600/W1britt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S3Y9VcFp9M9rXv3BSH0aNOufKE2cAAZ7HMXjHAg7W4tUY9bS0BQOLK5eniup8CuHqrhtqs_h3b1BaPLHI7jNabEcqDCvpgDPwRKYiizeVo0D817nSsUsnR84dfE1KYzqePeGAMnCBKrH/s400/W1britt2.JPG" width="350" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">shoes: converse brand. skirt: american eagle. shirt & bracelets: forever21. sash: off a shirt from kohl's. watch: target. earrings: hawaii.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkDEF_BJBS-2yrTaRUvsKm3e6LAOUReTJ0MzXkYWDPcYJXarWk2FaTDdqkoXM3TJHFo430fbHB6iKWxojVS-i4ge60m6ns_ven6jgBFpbjgOYIqgJ5Igu1ChC4oSX5yyxLR-5K9F9YlNk/s1600/W1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkDEF_BJBS-2yrTaRUvsKm3e6LAOUReTJ0MzXkYWDPcYJXarWk2FaTDdqkoXM3TJHFo430fbHB6iKWxojVS-i4ge60m6ns_ven6jgBFpbjgOYIqgJ5Igu1ChC4oSX5yyxLR-5K9F9YlNk/s640/W1britt1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ_wQq2y3ke_I90rq0J7rIGL4Ytjl6TZMm-Zc7lhHAbukVsGsb2ZRjuMUX1Q13TyMVKXM0rbgyAjKj6Qu-Y3ATxHZJYsy3QpY0b6t1Q5jd-v8Wgscv0wQQhrZMZmcLon_AvZOIjOQ4RSZ/s1600/W1britt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ_wQq2y3ke_I90rq0J7rIGL4Ytjl6TZMm-Zc7lhHAbukVsGsb2ZRjuMUX1Q13TyMVKXM0rbgyAjKj6Qu-Y3ATxHZJYsy3QpY0b6t1Q5jd-v8Wgscv0wQQhrZMZmcLon_AvZOIjOQ4RSZ/s400/W1britt3.JPG" width="335" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today's jumping-off point was <a href="http://www.everybodyeverywear.com/" target="blank">EBEW</a>'s "pattern mixing" theme. You all probably know by now that I love me a mixed print or eight. In one ensemble. Which, really, if you took that exaggerative statemet literally, would be equivalent to a hole in one, a 3/4 court buzzer shot, and three Heath blizzards from DQ, all in the same day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So far, I've only mastered the DQ blizzard, but that's okay because those puppies are delish. Do I feel a little white-trashy proclaiming that? Sure. But it's not that different from how I feel after settling in with a gigantic bowl o' popcorned butter to watch Swamp People and finding that, after awhile, I really don't even need the subtitles. If you've seen the show, you'll know what I mean.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So. Enough about you, let's talk about me. I like the irony of the girly pink satin bow/belt and the Chucks in this outfit. Unexpected & Maybe Awesome for me here. Like bacon in our salad for dinner last night. Something is definitely right in the world when everyone at the table is happily gobbling up salad as the main course, as long as that "something" is spelled B-A-C-O-N.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Tuesday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">p.s. Ad slots are available for the coming month; contact me if you're interested! brittneynesmart [at] yahoo [dot] com</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.everybodyeverywear.com/challenges/view/pattern-mixing"><img alt="Everybody, Everywear | Pattern Mixing" height="50" src="http://www.everybodyeverywear.com/photos/iSwoAAA.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Want this look? Shop below.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background: white; border-bottom: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-left: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-right: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-top: #bfbfbf 1px solid; display: block; position: relative; width: 430px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="150" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6676-2041974-73&look=3633585&size=Small&width=6&height=1&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0" width="430"></iframe><br /><div style="bottom: 2px; height: 18px; left: 0px; line-height: 12px; position: absolute; width: 100%;"><div style="left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; position: absolute;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/Converse#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #606060; font: 11px verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;">More Converse...</a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; position: absolute; right: 0px;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="ShopStyle" src="http://resources.shopstyle.com/im/widget/ShopStyleLogo_powered_small.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></img></a></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

bacon by any other name...

 shoes: converse brand. skirt: american eagle. shirt & bracelets: forever21. sash: off a shirt from kohl's. watch: target. earrings: hawaii.Today's jumping-off point was EBEW's "pattern mixing" theme. You all probably know by now that I love me a mixed print or eight. In one ensemble. Which, really…

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a simple outfit for a simple day

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozRYBgZavdSn_aqjDk1ltaDhP5ISmv6pS8pM9nQ4K0YWScrMTyUMfHO9-d2DJoVxY0TjPgWJB0ytWN2xk5YoWtFkdXQ0jUDf692XvLBDRJUma23_II6FCtjB-VTfiB-FSi_zJifAeuLGz/s1600/X1britt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozRYBgZavdSn_aqjDk1ltaDhP5ISmv6pS8pM9nQ4K0YWScrMTyUMfHO9-d2DJoVxY0TjPgWJB0ytWN2xk5YoWtFkdXQ0jUDf692XvLBDRJUma23_II6FCtjB-VTfiB-FSi_zJifAeuLGz/s400/X1britt3.JPG" width="335" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">sandals: don't recall. shorts: gap cutoffs. shirt: thrifted. bracelet: </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sienahansen" target="blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">burntsiena designs</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMRoIywpqK9N1v6FeJ3du-_Y0VUPWfLaZlQnR-9ckr-U9d5IxMkcFd2dbiZu6vRtHgF_6XnepN_Jn5b5E6LMhxIF692XbGiqzZbl4G0BTFK8LlMd5aMAdiJkrk2Hjg3Ii8tX06heIZq4f/s1600/X1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMRoIywpqK9N1v6FeJ3du-_Y0VUPWfLaZlQnR-9ckr-U9d5IxMkcFd2dbiZu6vRtHgF_6XnepN_Jn5b5E6LMhxIF692XbGiqzZbl4G0BTFK8LlMd5aMAdiJkrk2Hjg3Ii8tX06heIZq4f/s640/X1britt1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRstVf0-eaeX4BTym6zZMqfZew6VupsU3EbU-FYPggcCGZCUAxzLMiRGhslCZkHnK0mpy2D3fq5vWLtuS0kiUyT0XcGWc2Fv7OrkYBWvynjOFhKWj6aWZNSgBS_VjCyeJNaWezOhpfhfGr/s1600/X1britt4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRstVf0-eaeX4BTym6zZMqfZew6VupsU3EbU-FYPggcCGZCUAxzLMiRGhslCZkHnK0mpy2D3fq5vWLtuS0kiUyT0XcGWc2Fv7OrkYBWvynjOFhKWj6aWZNSgBS_VjCyeJNaWezOhpfhfGr/s400/X1britt4.JPG" width="391" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today I pulled mom-duty and instigated a morning chores regimen for my children. I was anticipating much resistance, but it backfired in a glorious way. Exhibit A: my 7-year-old son, who randomly selected "vacuum the stairs" from the chores jar, started shrieking with delight. "THIS IS THE BEST CHORE <strong>EVER!</strong> THE BEST <strong>DAY</strong> EVER! <strong>HOW </strong>DID I GET SO LUCKY?!?!?!!!!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sweet. The kid likes to vacuum. Note to self...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today I really didn't want to get dressed. In fact, it wasn't until about 4 p.m. that I actually did get dressed. PJs for most of the day, because I needed to shower but didn't want to shower until I had worked out but didn't want to work out. I finally busted out some sort of sweat-provoking moves around 3 p.m. Which is sad and embarrassing but, I'm going to be brutally honest here folks, kind of awesome to do every once in a while.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Speaking of PJs...once in college I babysat a bunch of my nephews for about a week. They were young, and I became pretty engrossed in the world of diapers and spaghetti-o's. [Editor's note: Ew on those things.] Fast-forward to a conversation I was having with my roommate on the night I got back to my apartment, wherein I said something to the effect of, "I'm in for watching a movie, just let me get my jammies on first."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll never forget the one-raised-eyebrow she gave me. "'Jammies,' huh." Yep. Jammies. Or jammers, if you're so inclined. I was just that cool in college. Makes you wish you roomed with me, doesn't it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Monday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">p.s. Don't forget to contact me if you're interested in advertising on this site in the coming month! brittneynsmart [at] yahoo [dot] com  C'mon, it's fun. And everybody's doing it. Kind of. Minus the "everybody" part...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Want this look? Shop below...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background: white; border-bottom: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-left: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-right: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-top: #bfbfbf 1px solid; display: block; position: relative; width: 430px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="150" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6676-2041974-73&look=3628957&size=Small&width=6&height=1&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0" width="430"></iframe><br /><div style="bottom: 2px; height: 18px; left: 0px; line-height: 12px; position: absolute; width: 100%;"><div style="left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; position: absolute;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/Paige#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #606060; font: 11px verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;">More Paige...</a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; position: absolute; right: 0px;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="ShopStyle" src="http://resources.shopstyle.com/im/widget/ShopStyleLogo_powered_small.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></img></a></div></div></div></div>

a simple outfit for a simple day

 sandals: don't recall. shorts: gap cutoffs. shirt: thrifted. bracelet: burntsiena designs.Today I pulled mom-duty and instigated a morning chores regimen for my children. I was anticipating much resistance, but it backfired in a glorious way. Exhibit A: my 7-year-old son, who randomly selected "vac…

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a one-track mind...and a reorganized living room

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71GuOZUjwVY_i3pkAgnt-AFqyPTV0Mrtwe3WfG-tDM2W-6D1aN91uroJlhVAccWeEMwAuQa-s9qmyn663i0lwFf1Fgv_9PDDnmAy7aikugREdDl7nGgZtbaaQq8prFtuzUpJCSCVUncCe/s1600/Y1britt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71GuOZUjwVY_i3pkAgnt-AFqyPTV0Mrtwe3WfG-tDM2W-6D1aN91uroJlhVAccWeEMwAuQa-s9qmyn663i0lwFf1Fgv_9PDDnmAy7aikugREdDl7nGgZtbaaQq8prFtuzUpJCSCVUncCe/s400/Y1britt2.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> shoes: steve madden. skirt & belt: kohl's. shirt: j.crew. necklace: downeast basics. bracelet: forever21. watch: target.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3RAq3p25M89Zk7hH-jw8obFb6h-9cCrmD2xvYv0Ag8nfIwkyUKnNkmtoribaRPmmvnJxZ6YOpRnlbmws-PPcsEwlo9K4RbaOuJpwcJse-0u9BZfoBelo08InzcDpoAOKyroddee9pIGD/s1600/Y1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3RAq3p25M89Zk7hH-jw8obFb6h-9cCrmD2xvYv0Ag8nfIwkyUKnNkmtoribaRPmmvnJxZ6YOpRnlbmws-PPcsEwlo9K4RbaOuJpwcJse-0u9BZfoBelo08InzcDpoAOKyroddee9pIGD/s400/Y1britt1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWPd70d2u9e3L1eJ8doB5ObJIXX7kgCBH7vN1NM6P7oXlVvGb1nG8474KSYMg5RudgSr4gYZIPZZOug6DQn1v6GiVW1lm2HSzQA9Zx_LzeebMwkvli4Wl31PYzRubKHLklbxMwT4hj-7y/s1600/Y1britt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWPd70d2u9e3L1eJ8doB5ObJIXX7kgCBH7vN1NM6P7oXlVvGb1nG8474KSYMg5RudgSr4gYZIPZZOug6DQn1v6GiVW1lm2HSzQA9Zx_LzeebMwkvli4Wl31PYzRubKHLklbxMwT4hj-7y/s400/Y1britt3.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">This week, I'm grateful for:</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">- the fact that I can eat what I want, when I want at home and not worry that bears are going to come sniff me out.</div><div align="center">- family vacations and camping (read more about it <a href="http://thesmartfam.blogspot.com/2011/08/family-trip-teton-national-park-take1.html">here</a> if you'd like).</div><div align="center">- beef jerky.</div><div align="center">- hot showers and soap and shampoo and razors.</div><div align="center">- waterproof tents.</div><div align="center">- truckbeds.</div><div align="center">- campfires...and getting to the point where you stink so bad that campfire smoke actually <em>improves</em> your self-aroma.</div><div align="center">- watching kids get creative with playing outside all day every day, no electronics, no toys, no nothing but their own brains, some sticks, and siblings & cousins.</div><div align="center">- national parks.</div><div align="center">- mosquito deaths. Seriously. Each one is a victory for mankind.</div><div align="center">- barbeques and game nights with friends who have kids who are friends with my kids.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Happy Sunday.</div>

a one-track mind...and a reorganized living room

 shoes: steve madden. skirt & belt: kohl's. shirt: j.crew. necklace: downeast basics. bracelet: forever21. watch: target.This week, I'm grateful for:- the fact that I can eat what I want, when I want at home and not worry that bears are going to come sniff me out.- family vacations and camping (read…

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it's like a birthday present from me to you...minus the birthday...and the present

<div style="text-align: center;">Hey friends,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's Saturday! And if you're looking for something to do that doesn't involve a shovel or a bottle of windex, check out my lovely sponsors' sites. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://catsandcardigans.blogspot.com/">Cats & Cardigans</a> -- down-to-earth, funny Brandilyn with fabulous style. I want to be friends with her in real life, buuuuut for now, cyber-ship is gonna have to do. Sighhhh...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/faithsandahlphoto">Faith Sandahl Photography</a> -- beautiful nature-inspired photography on a variety of media, including keychains, iPod cases, and more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Seriously, you guys, check 'em both out. I think you'll be glad you did.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Otherwise, happy Saturday!!</div>

it's like a birthday present from me to you...minus the birthday...and the present

Hey friends,It's Saturday! And if you're looking for something to do that doesn't involve a shovel or a bottle of windex, check out my lovely sponsors' sites. Cats & Cardigans -- down-to-earth, funny Brandilyn with fabulous style. I want to be friends with her in real life, buuuuut for now, cyber-sh…

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post-camping, a mascara wand looks pretty fancy...

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJl9OqnnnKlf4yerhoaR6Lh2EAfQe5M4awoy_JloTqF2wutsJNUhdoDaMRo-NaD6n-pGFOn0Z4DLKjAfgFBYWxkmA5eAsgwNcZXMrMQXyFShY1J0MlgXgUvOmVQb7bndjFZKwmo1l2WBU/s1600/Z1britt4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJl9OqnnnKlf4yerhoaR6Lh2EAfQe5M4awoy_JloTqF2wutsJNUhdoDaMRo-NaD6n-pGFOn0Z4DLKjAfgFBYWxkmA5eAsgwNcZXMrMQXyFShY1J0MlgXgUvOmVQb7bndjFZKwmo1l2WBU/s640/Z1britt4.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> shoes: thrifted. reversible skirt: gap. shirt: j.crew. belt: husband's. hair barrettes: don't recall. watch: target.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobL2bGkukzdYAQxHJpT_AN0fxTRBnvTCOygBQZ1iM0mVnYQGfQu79fY1_3QPPV0TlYBd92ZMqV_VHqqAkwMAkc_c098oDqWqSUKkyKLSHoc0sf3AVTdnzsD2nYu6IhSc-i2mqOm0E-Jfo/s1600/Z1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobL2bGkukzdYAQxHJpT_AN0fxTRBnvTCOygBQZ1iM0mVnYQGfQu79fY1_3QPPV0TlYBd92ZMqV_VHqqAkwMAkc_c098oDqWqSUKkyKLSHoc0sf3AVTdnzsD2nYu6IhSc-i2mqOm0E-Jfo/s640/Z1britt1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYPj3qzbkWEYbEMCX-TKd6wiSRJ3XxDvB5UUljN9pCnKUoJ533D7TPY7uAmF41rBh8tQIQ7qjWPN3Tlt39r2fkziaxMBdcHavdyD01lDW2cbZgv4ZSjiD4ZA3tOSuAVemFSNtI-O_6H9C/s1600/Z1britt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYPj3qzbkWEYbEMCX-TKd6wiSRJ3XxDvB5UUljN9pCnKUoJ533D7TPY7uAmF41rBh8tQIQ7qjWPN3Tlt39r2fkziaxMBdcHavdyD01lDW2cbZgv4ZSjiD4ZA3tOSuAVemFSNtI-O_6H9C/s640/Z1britt3.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Please notice which shoes are on which feet on my 2-year-old below. She dresses herself, p.s. In a word: colorful. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADssqp6FOEgIele5cHCLQcmB37BWDbFaZxAOyoTj88lSXvOV9OTytcWv1JFFjfvNpvl1SewaIBd0zE6n_tqikh7-wes2ZHRzmgLPUAmU_ZrH7gHKSfK0lFpeX25nLkOFzsr9TIcCI53Fm/s1600/Z1britt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADssqp6FOEgIele5cHCLQcmB37BWDbFaZxAOyoTj88lSXvOV9OTytcWv1JFFjfvNpvl1SewaIBd0zE6n_tqikh7-wes2ZHRzmgLPUAmU_ZrH7gHKSfK0lFpeX25nLkOFzsr9TIcCI53Fm/s640/Z1britt2.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hey guys, I'm back from the camping trip. It was awesome on many levels and un-hygienic on many others. Amazing to me how, at the first footfall into campground territory, I'm all about the 18-second-rule for eating off the ground, letting (who am I kidding...<em>encouraging)</em> my kids to pee on trees, and feeling incredibly refreshed after using a single baby wipe as a daily shower. But I'm back, my washer & dryer have been running full-tilt since Wednesday night, and I'm making up for some serious unbrushed teeth time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anywho, more on my disgusting camp habits later. (You're welcome.) It's <a href="http://modlychic.blogspot.com/">Friend Friday</a>! Today's topic is: Locational Influences.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em>1. What part of the world do you blog from?</em> Utah, in the United States.<br /><br /><em>2. If you had to describe the overall mode of dress for where you live what would you say?</em> I'd say that, overall, people dress conservatively. And, for most, a few years "behind." <br /><br /><em>3. Do you fit in with the status quo around you or do you break the mold?</em> I feel like I dress conservatively but with flair and/or unique style. So I fit in but don't blend in, if that makes sense.<br /><br /><em>4. If you have lived or traveled to another part of the country/world did your clothing choices evolve?</em> Not really. I've traveled a couple of times in Europe and different states in the U.S. and pack more for weather or travel itinerary than for "fitting in." I don't buy clothes that are otherwise abnormal for me just for a trip, in other words.<br /><br /><em>5. If you had to describe your style by naming a specific city, what would you be? </em>Okay, this is probably totally lame, but I'd say Twisp, Oregon. It's this dinky little town we drove through once on a family trip when I was little, but the town was totally unique and proud of every last square inch of itself, if my memory serves correctly. There. Hard question. But fun to think about.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Friday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Want this look? Check out stuff below...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background: white; border-bottom: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-left: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-right: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-top: #bfbfbf 1px solid; display: block; position: relative; width: 430px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="150" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6676-2041974-73&look=3607387&size=Small&width=6&height=1&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0" width="430"></iframe><br /><div style="bottom: 2px; height: 18px; left: 0px; line-height: 12px; position: absolute; width: 100%;"><div style="left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; position: absolute;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/Volcom#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #606060; font: 11px verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;">More Volcom...</a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; position: absolute; right: 0px;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="ShopStyle" src="http://resources.shopstyle.com/im/widget/ShopStyleLogo_powered_small.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></img></a></div></div></div></div>

post-camping, a mascara wand looks pretty fancy...

 shoes: thrifted. reversible skirt: gap. shirt: j.crew. belt: husband's. hair barrettes: don't recall. watch: target. Please notice which shoes are on which feet on my 2-year-old below. She dresses herself, p.s. In a word: colorful. :)Hey guys, I'm back from the camping trip. It was awesome on many …

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