an imposter

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk3MBbO5qmdob_kwhtAge6J9zBvnw5L_WQkN3c3kHg0yfRMWsC1cFFg-wuxfP09-f6EUVb_x30j9OEr-bl6TqNDb_EzeRTGwq0wYHlJSIoSJXvRH_zlsENECExs3w3K0bu278eplhLvdl/s1600/T1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shoes: cato brand. skirt: j.crew. shirt: gap.</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">I kind of wore this yesterday to church. I mean, once again, the photo's pieced together from old ones. Yesterday, I wore a super-chunk necklace instead of the turquoise one you see here, though, and my tweed jacket almost made it into the mix on top of the lavendar shirt. Until I remembered it was, like, 14,000 degrees outside...about half of what it was INside (broken a/c at church). Realizing that, Mr. Tweed was happy to stay home with his spectacles, reading the newspaper, sipping his iced raspberry lemonade. Pulp-free, natch.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">This week I'm grateful for:  </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">- air conditioning.</div><div align="center">- parents. Specifically, mine.</div><div align="center">- cheerful children who listen to me and heed what I say with a smile and a response that goes along the lines of, "Mom, you're awesome and you always know best." (All I want is for them to be perfect...is that too much to ask?)</div><div align="center">- when flooded basements can be dried out relatively quickly with minimal damage.</div><div align="center">- and also, when basements DON'T flood. That's nice, too.</div><div align="center">- my husband's cancelled business trip.</div><div align="center">- the Internet. Is that a weird thing to be grateful for? So be it.</div><div align="center">- fresh produce.</div><div align="center">- ice cream.</div><div align="center">- when I consume fresh produce and thereby, in my head, justify the heaping bowl-ful of ice cream. Ooops. But also...delish.</div><div align="center">- improving my surroundings. And dreaming about more ways I can improve my surroundings. But having them be too expensive to actually carry out...so back to ye ol' dreaming board.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Happy Monday!</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=3465241&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/Ann-Taylor#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 Ann Taylor...</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>

an imposter

Shoes: cato brand. skirt: j.crew. shirt: gap. I kind of wore this yesterday to church. I mean, once again, the photo's pieced together ...

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excuses excuses

<div align="center">Hey guys! I'm back from running Ragnar. It was such a great (and tiring. and crazy) experience, one that has been on my bucket list for several years. (LOVE when I can checkmark a "bucket list" box, you know?) </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">I'm alive and well (minus my quads, the stinking complainers...I can hardly move without them screaming at me). My team--especially my van, which included two of my SILs--was awesome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjViwjkQNvWoDvu2Xlsq93U0Q-eBUyzGjQsyVU2nt8tiA_DqjSo9N-W_fkFhn9lV8f4t0KuJydetXq4x0I13TCnZMRO8l2igJadwdPBWChHcKFOelTYi0xwTyFOXN5uXcVpXWTtu6hnkyw/s1600/M1britt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(above: left to right, me & my beautiful sis-in-laws T & M.)</span></div><br /><div align="center">This is what I wore to church today. I think I looked pregnant, with how this top poofed out over this skirt. Which isn't exactly the look I was going for, but I was too sore to change. Which is also my excuse for the tired, frizzy hair you see here. Not one for the books today, friends. Forgive me? No? Rats. And...meh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWblftPzEZnLibIkQZk4DadQup6FgqBa-6hVCh-Vva9fOsrRrfFM9jm3JePihokqVaLSUG1jFpgxoGve00lehn_gR-lB78DQHo_MGdUsACShQqWDkyVQKlfVwQPg82qkFGTUSAdxRcsvP/s1600/M1britt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">shoes, shirt, & bracelets: forever21. skirt: j.crew.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdpBndzk2GQDMcWQPk2Yb92-HsMZtp21aYci21cLasjGddoFEnPMxUABTCwz-MouiYJCuFCjhsrp8swG9WWu-Xc2MFTlUm03wvDPXkV488AmK8RU6LGrtnhBWb8szKxgiwp06XdTFCSDP/s1600/M1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div align="center">This week I'm grateful for:</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">- my husband, my dad, my brothers, and all the guys out there who love being fathers.</div><div align="center">- my body. Specifically my legs.</div><div align="center">- my Ragnar support van and funny memories (e.g., honking at horses, human fog horns, the merits of cops vs. volunteers, "um, what's that flag for?", honey bucket stories, etc.) </div><div align="center">- my family who supported me in doing Ragnar.</div><div align="center">- being blister-free.</div><div align="center">- IcyHot type substances.</div><div align="center">- magical summer evenings spent outside with my husband & kids, with water and frisbees and popsicles and time. Lots and lots of time.</div><div align="center">- sunglasses.</div><div align="center">- successful potty-training experiences. (waaaaaay better than unsuccessful ones...)</div><div align="center">- hot showers.</div><div align="center">- when zits go away.</div><div align="center">- ziploc bags.</div><div align="center">- cell phone service in the middle of nowhere. And having something to text and someone to text it to.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Happy Sunday.</div>

excuses excuses

Hey guys! I'm back from running Ragnar. It was such a great (and tiring. and crazy) experience, one that has been on my bucket list for ...

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a pound of Easter chocolate in the hand is as good as 4 pounds on the scale...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9FcoDyZgmW7zujGm7aJDd9vKdSC4qGJTtaZclKpBgzixhXm42D0jOI5BMqctiM5ZlBhGGU36wH3sjQ680hAVtU0bJjGvHmR04Vk0lokPnOR5ElfLViF7vpPZ6FL8RzI-Mh9PoLpVhk3E/s1600/I1britt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9FcoDyZgmW7zujGm7aJDd9vKdSC4qGJTtaZclKpBgzixhXm42D0jOI5BMqctiM5ZlBhGGU36wH3sjQ680hAVtU0bJjGvHmR04Vk0lokPnOR5ElfLViF7vpPZ6FL8RzI-Mh9PoLpVhk3E/s400/I1britt2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> shoes: cato brand. tights: forever21. skirt & cardigan: j.crew. shirt: thrifted. belt: husband's. watch: target.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFHVSV-Vxzor3jK9CZngoeTwcTGH1-1Ogw-MO57fjS_TV79pRo0a5VOlSGcQbWsu8yRRgA9PsUHg2KdbUuwkv-nQ1BOEWUMA6vL1Cr9FddVYa8Dz4B89MS9YX5KARCrZcimyQMam81hK1/s1600/I1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFHVSV-Vxzor3jK9CZngoeTwcTGH1-1Ogw-MO57fjS_TV79pRo0a5VOlSGcQbWsu8yRRgA9PsUHg2KdbUuwkv-nQ1BOEWUMA6vL1Cr9FddVYa8Dz4B89MS9YX5KARCrZcimyQMam81hK1/s400/I1britt1.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAI6aIabqI37kyDF79FEfg67OJx8nf0H-nfHJU1uUh8GKhEXrxz8SXpSEz9EXNuaGG_uYGt29971qneJdA_dK-pfmaR7Kuju1ev366z3i9gEbHcPBZSeWYevP6iGlruoc3cm3AP4jnxvnU/s1600/I1britt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAI6aIabqI37kyDF79FEfg67OJx8nf0H-nfHJU1uUh8GKhEXrxz8SXpSEz9EXNuaGG_uYGt29971qneJdA_dK-pfmaR7Kuju1ev366z3i9gEbHcPBZSeWYevP6iGlruoc3cm3AP4jnxvnU/s400/I1britt3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">This week I'm grateful for:</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">- friends who not only care but who do stuff to show it.</div><div align="center">- Easter candy.</div><div align="center">- picking out the perfect gift for someone and knowing it's the perfect gift and then having it reaffirmed that it was, indeed, perfect. :)</div><div align="center">- home design books and the millions, nay, trillions of new ideas floating around in my head.</div><div align="center">- budget constraints. Which is a nice way of saying "we have no money to do the stuff I dream about." But without such constraints, I wouldn't have nearly as much fun planning it out in my head.</div><div align="center">- (can you tell I'm stretching to be grateful for that last one?)</div><div align="center">- people who are creative. I'm in awe of them.</div><div align="center">- my husband. Who's awesome and funny and sweet and hard-working and who always lets me have the last bite.</div><div align="center">- my kids. Who're sweet and fun and creative and enthusiastic and independently-minded...like when my 2-year-old responded, in her sweetest little voice, to an observation I was making at dinner: "mom....be ty-et [quiet]." Her timing was impeccable, her delivery spot-on, and the laughter response overwhelming.</div><div align="center">- cheese and how it can be a perfect main course for kids' breakfast, lunch, OR dinner.</div><div align="center">- the Easter holiday and all that it entails.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Happy Sunday.</div>

a pound of Easter chocolate in the hand is as good as 4 pounds on the scale...

 shoes: cato brand. tights: forever21. skirt & cardigan: j.crew. shirt: thrifted. belt: husband's. watch: target. This week I'm ...

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life is like a pair of houndstooth tights...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48WaHe9t2TyaVQsiVtyV1cVYwnhnek075upbVvXaoj2uXb0Whj78Y2WFcKDM41MbIV6JnsNF5rz4Iy_LOUlsGPeExRdtAeYaiq92efU4xEdCtg90ykTI1BPV519IlGkPuPL9fuy5MGvKE/s1600/W1britt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48WaHe9t2TyaVQsiVtyV1cVYwnhnek075upbVvXaoj2uXb0Whj78Y2WFcKDM41MbIV6JnsNF5rz4Iy_LOUlsGPeExRdtAeYaiq92efU4xEdCtg90ykTI1BPV519IlGkPuPL9fuy5MGvKE/s400/W1britt3.jpg" width="400" /></a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">shoes: don't recall. tights & belt: forever21. skirt & cardigan: j.crew. shirt: eddie bauer. necklace: downeast basics.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7mK8l6ca41ZVhpNqTx7iDKFScUSp_n5XjzaIyGZnQ-NuvydzvoOg_MAx7LSw2-uEiYAsPLneZdPthrU5Mn7auk8u2Inb7gu7EwAHKBsucRGGkBcbNIwSnz7AzA3OzOrXqnEFo3hCN36G/s1600/W1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7mK8l6ca41ZVhpNqTx7iDKFScUSp_n5XjzaIyGZnQ-NuvydzvoOg_MAx7LSw2-uEiYAsPLneZdPthrU5Mn7auk8u2Inb7gu7EwAHKBsucRGGkBcbNIwSnz7AzA3OzOrXqnEFo3hCN36G/s400/W1britt1.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi814JBINqTyxEa7caQ2T9a7VcJ6CL8LopTy6uwLHDW1xO2EIpXr2fUeHorpSf3GeV6ywdNRiEj0nioeuoUCIzzpUSo0mpth5mE3v3hbzB74U3Dzf8XphIwPI_0qyXGU-nHAAQNfCRMgDIX/s1600/W1britt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi814JBINqTyxEa7caQ2T9a7VcJ6CL8LopTy6uwLHDW1xO2EIpXr2fUeHorpSf3GeV6ywdNRiEj0nioeuoUCIzzpUSo0mpth5mE3v3hbzB74U3Dzf8XphIwPI_0qyXGU-nHAAQNfCRMgDIX/s400/W1britt2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I went to my children's great-grampa's funeral yesterday. It was a bittersweet day. He was a good man who leaves behind millions of good memories. Forgive me that I'm not feeling particularly funny today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I'll say this: I've thought a lot about life and how I use my time and what's really --no seriously, <em>really</em> -- important. A much-needed introspection. Timely, because guess what's pretty much at the bottom of the Important barrel? The fact that my tights got some snags in them and I forgot to reapply lipstick for these photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So. I'm happy and grateful to be clothed and alive. Now I'm off to use today's precious life-hours well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Tuesday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Want this look? I like it. Shop below...</span></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=2914003&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>

life is like a pair of houndstooth tights...

.   shoes: don't recall. tights & belt: forever21. skirt & cardigan: j.crew. shirt: eddie bauer. necklace: downeast basics. I we...

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Just another manic Sunday...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8yP80R-5kHmQO-HwdcrnIOKADY6JG3eOjBk3bVYCAGF_W80yn5fgnGoFfa0XS29zk4EgPey8a-AWFa1crKLfnySEnjdbYL14qFzal2tYc6VJynnRXTONZuUvpoZEoGy1KCHgHDUdo00x/s1600/T1britt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8yP80R-5kHmQO-HwdcrnIOKADY6JG3eOjBk3bVYCAGF_W80yn5fgnGoFfa0XS29zk4EgPey8a-AWFa1crKLfnySEnjdbYL14qFzal2tYc6VJynnRXTONZuUvpoZEoGy1KCHgHDUdo00x/s400/T1britt4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Roman numerals?! Brilliant! Why didn't I think of these before...like on Superbowl Sunday? Sheesh...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra3klLWqdMmJc6Vlm93vNrtZjWwN0qRfGFy6ZN30mEJD6FbEpjUXM0THo_Tm2xp0RrcmEt-6neUMpoXhD7IHiw0fQv1q641OAdlH7ZXZxHx49n1GtRfrVkA5qZph9lhG1KdJ8kR-njTcf/s1600/T1britt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra3klLWqdMmJc6Vlm93vNrtZjWwN0qRfGFy6ZN30mEJD6FbEpjUXM0THo_Tm2xp0RrcmEt-6neUMpoXhD7IHiw0fQv1q641OAdlH7ZXZxHx49n1GtRfrVkA5qZph9lhG1KdJ8kR-njTcf/s400/T1britt2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">boots: target. tights: forever21, skirt: j. crew. shirt: gap. cardigan: rue21. necklace: downeast outfitters.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjQg-VM2c-j2mU8_1QzkwJPWefD2iwi8plOoPYcQ4BvnHbcCatGLRGr-MwxMV2KYRXMxKPz_G7p7NIeBA7xlsC83WAH_pdOi324lKMx4HOaRnkfioK9gi7i3iaONTwrZxqJoWFU7EKpj-/s1600/T1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjQg-VM2c-j2mU8_1QzkwJPWefD2iwi8plOoPYcQ4BvnHbcCatGLRGr-MwxMV2KYRXMxKPz_G7p7NIeBA7xlsC83WAH_pdOi324lKMx4HOaRnkfioK9gi7i3iaONTwrZxqJoWFU7EKpj-/s400/T1britt1.jpg" width="347" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This week, I'm particularly grateful for...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- Date night. Especially when it involves my two favorite men: Pocket and Brian Regan. In that order, but it's gotta be close...</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Snow. Beautiful, deep, lovely, sparkly, fluffy stuff.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Having a pair of boots in my 30x30. Which have totally overstayed their welcome this week (along with colored tights). But. Snow, guys. Snow.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Having smart readers who correct me on my TOTally inaccurate spellings of foreign words. Like segway (segue) and capeche (capisce). Learn something new every day. (Like the fact that I shouldn't speak, read, or write anything remotely foreign...)</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Family time that involves jumping around the basement and laughter. Which happens a lot around here.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Grocery carts and the fact that the handle side flips up so my kids can crawl like tigers into the cart themselves and I don't have to lift them up-and-over because, let's face it, they are growing and I am aging.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Sharing accessories with my daughters, who are old enough to be responsible and put things away.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Finding the accessories that my daughters have lost because, come to find out, they're actually NOT old enough to be responsible and put things away.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- My daughters. And my son. And everyone else whom I love.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Quesadilla makers.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Internet.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- A big-picture perspective.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Being able to laugh at myself. And encouraging you all to do the same. For example:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4uprEZwsOOHrUvW3GiYdgwaRCFuyZSjuKEe15_JZW3MWe_V3IPQZmBuo0Z2WU2qCkpWRUmn5aIqd_3K0Zb7Mkb1iF4JUJXvF1yDG4KFY3_2c4w8u8bGVbNTIsgFIPh8T6JontyJPgv7o/s1600/T1britt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4uprEZwsOOHrUvW3GiYdgwaRCFuyZSjuKEe15_JZW3MWe_V3IPQZmBuo0Z2WU2qCkpWRUmn5aIqd_3K0Zb7Mkb1iF4JUJXvF1yDG4KFY3_2c4w8u8bGVbNTIsgFIPh8T6JontyJPgv7o/s400/T1britt3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><em>(Reeeeeally</em> not sure what I was going for in attempting the poses above...but I'm glad they're all equally lame. And by "lame" I of course mean "awesome.")</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Happy Sunday.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Want this look? You got it...</span></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=2740941&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/Steve-Madden#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 Steve Madden...</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>

Just another manic Sunday...

Roman numerals?! Brilliant! Why didn't I think of these before...like on Superbowl Sunday? Sheesh... boots: target. tights: forever21, s...

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i don't think they're calling me mellow yellow (that's right)...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNTzMfDSnjfO5nVZ4UbEUe5pBPSpy3U3Rauh4a6dR56OrG59iOVL6p_negyI-a5P7Km24VLnxRhN_ntxI8DqaYnT1_5KgXsKtmFdGp56hupe2yFczUXlOQPU6Z5M5-dBDsaWw0iqzcUwv/s1600/O1britt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNTzMfDSnjfO5nVZ4UbEUe5pBPSpy3U3Rauh4a6dR56OrG59iOVL6p_negyI-a5P7Km24VLnxRhN_ntxI8DqaYnT1_5KgXsKtmFdGp56hupe2yFczUXlOQPU6Z5M5-dBDsaWw0iqzcUwv/s400/O1britt4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kAqlHTDKKSnohfq7jivoxnZT3zCh5edvIdd6EHhyphenhyphen91iztYcL9fes0lOO9HN-YRNisiosG5PUd9Uc5eyvU6q3OmvthUCWWRRZAhwWH_Kdbw92_0WR6qPlvHkHNlmBJqKWO1eg8vxznGqw/s1600/O1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kAqlHTDKKSnohfq7jivoxnZT3zCh5edvIdd6EHhyphenhyphen91iztYcL9fes0lOO9HN-YRNisiosG5PUd9Uc5eyvU6q3OmvthUCWWRRZAhwWH_Kdbw92_0WR6qPlvHkHNlmBJqKWO1eg8vxznGqw/s400/O1britt1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">shoes: steve madden. socks: smiths marketplace. skirt & cardigan: j.crew. shirt: gap. scarf: forever21. flower hairclip: downeast outfitters.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXriPdqyuhWIS1xrmyvr-CwYs5V5T2KlL5vPMVaCbi390RUyUe9IpE5nHD0XLkujTzJk47qrA5CudsUsDVgvYwfxqSYRF6vX06AEWZWnA5fPEoILSu4HElI5mIwqFsMmin87x2WFuCScS/s1600/O1britt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXriPdqyuhWIS1xrmyvr-CwYs5V5T2KlL5vPMVaCbi390RUyUe9IpE5nHD0XLkujTzJk47qrA5CudsUsDVgvYwfxqSYRF6vX06AEWZWnA5fPEoILSu4HElI5mIwqFsMmin87x2WFuCScS/s400/O1britt3.jpg" width="347" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BE-J45AC8OpOsN2y58qTF947h5GLMZ-1MGLfynqwSYqDOhUc3We3KP5yay7wOtLB1xdDv5El6OIwVfsqoMN2sLJGojteJo_f1AfBR4X7-Y5aNAwHlueNqslk5h0YCVHGECUtOFPmQ1uB/s1600/O1britt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BE-J45AC8OpOsN2y58qTF947h5GLMZ-1MGLfynqwSYqDOhUc3We3KP5yay7wOtLB1xdDv5El6OIwVfsqoMN2sLJGojteJo_f1AfBR4X7-Y5aNAwHlueNqslk5h0YCVHGECUtOFPmQ1uB/s400/O1britt2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">I dunno, guys. I was totally uninspired today by my 30x30 items this morning, lounging lazily in my closet and doing their best to ignore me. I feel like I've made all the obvious matches, you know? So bear with me over the next two weeks, as the UNobvious becomes the everyday. But the good news (for all of us) is that, as day 15, the glass is half done.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">So. Non-inspiration typically equates to either totally mundane or...how do I put it...totally odd. Heh. Guess what I went for today. I'm commiting all sorts of fashion faux paus here--t-shirt with pencil skirt, socks with sandals, two bright & bold patterns competing with each other, not to mention the socially-unacceptable exposure of pasty-white knees. Meh. I'm not even fazed, though. That's what happens when I eat too much sugar the day before. I turn into a rebel without a clue.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Speaking of Tom Petty lyrics...does anyone else just LOVE the song "free falling"? A timeless classic, if you ask me. (Which you didn't, but I'm the one typing here, so I can pretend anything I want.) When I'm jogging and Free Falling comes around on my playlist, I get a huge (probably psycho) smile on my face, bee-bop of my head, and rhythm to my stride. Basically, for about 3 minutes, I become an oblivious one-woman circus bopping along the side of the road. But a themed Free Fallin' circus. Which HAS to be better than any Barnum & Bailey number. 'Cept the elephants. That's a definite feather in their cap.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">[Editor's note: I almost made a joke that compared my thighs to an elephant's. But, although potentially mildly humorous, it's rude, even (especially?) coming from oneself. So I didn't. I'm just learning to fly, guys.] [Assistant Editor's note: If you're unfamiliar with Tom Petty, you should probably just ignore this entire post. We apologize for the decade-specific references. It's the last dance with Mary Jane, I promise.]</div><div align="center"><br />Breaking rules or no, I feel a bit Unexpected and Maybe Awesome today. Hope you do, too. <br />Happy Tuesday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Want a similarly unexpected look? Check out how you can get one...</span></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=2720053&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/Topshop#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 Topshop...</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>

i don't think they're calling me mellow yellow (that's right)...

  shoes: steve madden. socks: smiths marketplace. skirt & cardigan: j.crew. shirt: gap. scarf: forever21. flower hairclip: downeast outf...

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dress for success...which, fortunately, is all relative...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1PyguUpfgNjJNnkCN3paujpi4atu8PkeUkr9ParrTaWYubVGMa4IV7yQUQQYsShkeBj4wDFVhPwhKJsw6IAKvXQhIYPfqkUYnu7mvkgu_oG31qsxAOQkbPnCSYNpXO0ROuywCXDKQAVO/s1600/C1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1PyguUpfgNjJNnkCN3paujpi4atu8PkeUkr9ParrTaWYubVGMa4IV7yQUQQYsShkeBj4wDFVhPwhKJsw6IAKvXQhIYPfqkUYnu7mvkgu_oG31qsxAOQkbPnCSYNpXO0ROuywCXDKQAVO/s400/C1britt1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I belted the jacket in the picture above so my number three could be streamlined. It seems as though some of you are worried for me as the numbers increase in complexity. But in the words of Donald Sutherland, "Have a little faith, baby. Have a little faith." (Kelly's Heroes. One of my fave movies.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43ri1tapgILjCPsqdxeeNTEhy-N-7mIDCtN4-hKyo14CmJIY_Rrx2z8ww8EuDIBOBxZwccvcH4RVHTnEmPmU8EkCA6Bs1oYYfyD7p5gfrY7QOfnkvGiz1gosfX7DX3kLLSMMGQkFOTeeA/s1600/C1britt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43ri1tapgILjCPsqdxeeNTEhy-N-7mIDCtN4-hKyo14CmJIY_Rrx2z8ww8EuDIBOBxZwccvcH4RVHTnEmPmU8EkCA6Bs1oYYfyD7p5gfrY7QOfnkvGiz1gosfX7DX3kLLSMMGQkFOTeeA/s400/C1britt3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">boots & watch: target. socks: smiths marketplace. tights: gift. skirt: j.crew. belt: Pocket's. shirt: gap. blazer: thrifted (the limited). necklace: downeast outfitters.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLbZE9JbgkqmCBCVtCkc2QuWbm4DxF5ygP-ASb-t9E3r3UC-Q_KYNoLTYJaEDUzcGiFsrp0aG5-3_eB_aL1PcE_4sRmaa9Z0KhYcZxqj0qtkKI6vuzaUvMVxmHGMskAh3L2f90GBRAL_J/s1600/C1britt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLbZE9JbgkqmCBCVtCkc2QuWbm4DxF5ygP-ASb-t9E3r3UC-Q_KYNoLTYJaEDUzcGiFsrp0aG5-3_eB_aL1PcE_4sRmaa9Z0KhYcZxqj0qtkKI6vuzaUvMVxmHGMskAh3L2f90GBRAL_J/s400/C1britt4.jpg" width="347" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgqonpYn9CHezS3xuY5JdRozShbNkiH2JtfczBbjFGZoRmmbyWw57UaO8Ny-i4fSIq0zjenVAvAtDZHxP6kW0MxQIwtqSRfdJuDbFJBywJnSOLoohjyDguSpi9grjs8-f9MfG17iibfS0/s1600/C1britt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgqonpYn9CHezS3xuY5JdRozShbNkiH2JtfczBbjFGZoRmmbyWw57UaO8Ny-i4fSIq0zjenVAvAtDZHxP6kW0MxQIwtqSRfdJuDbFJBywJnSOLoohjyDguSpi9grjs8-f9MfG17iibfS0/s400/C1britt2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">Sometimes my hair is longer than I think. So I try a new hairdo that I didn't think would work and viola! It totally works. Then I move my head and the 'do comes tumbling out, and I realize, nope. Totally doesn't work. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">I don't think I could successfully go through an airport security scanner with all the metal fasteners, barrettes, bobbies, and other junk in my hair to try to keep this side braid in. And then it would probably take me too long to pull them all out so I wouldn't be able to go on my trip. Which would be fine if I were flying somewhere lame like Iceland in the dead of winter. Or my backyard in the dead of winter, for that matter. Frigid-temps samesies. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Speaking of coldness: my 2- and 4-year-olds are officially sick. I had wanted to get some stuff done (i.e., grocery shopping, car & house cleaned, m&m supply restocked, etc.) before Pocket gets home tomorrow (!!!!!), but it looks like the more important things we'll be doing today involve hanging out in the rocking chair. And reading Brown Bear Brown Bear on endless repeat. And watching Angelina Ballerina. And wiping noses. And guzzling medicine. And snuggling.<br /><br />[Editor's note: I suppose some could say I'm a tad overdressed for just such an itinerary. But I didn't realize just how sick the kiddos were until after I was dressed. My girls think I look pretty, though, so I didn't want to change.]<br /><br />I guess when it comes down to it, who really needs groceries? We're living on love around here. Love and cough syrup. Probably in equal proportions.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Happy Thursday.<br /><br />How I last wore these pieces: <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/2011/01/confession-todays-other-posts-were-pre.html">purple tights</a>, <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/2011/01/denim-pencil-skirt-stripes-booties.html">denim pencil skirt</a>, <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/2011/01/breakfast-of-champions.html">tuxedo shirt</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Want this look? Click on the stuff below...</span></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=2645953&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/Charlotte-Russe#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 Charlotte Russe...</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>

dress for success...which, fortunately, is all relative...

I belted the jacket in the picture above so my number three could be streamlined. It seems as though some of you are worried for me as the n...

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they might be giants...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYfNjYOKKpIpYirhlP6exSjyxTngFOQB3g3XgL4RxX328kcH9aN7wu_xO87PcJU2qfSB6tlgru13GP5pK3BjwO3NC7eJJfIPslm6t5xIChnMZlUrGEXhl7KNvhq0r468OqAJf5uX6kJ0R/s1600/V1britt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYfNjYOKKpIpYirhlP6exSjyxTngFOQB3g3XgL4RxX328kcH9aN7wu_xO87PcJU2qfSB6tlgru13GP5pK3BjwO3NC7eJJfIPslm6t5xIChnMZlUrGEXhl7KNvhq0r468OqAJf5uX6kJ0R/s400/V1britt2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">shoes: steve madden. tights, necklace, & earrings: gifted. skirt: j.crew. belt & stripes: forever21. button-up: eddie bauer. bracelet & flower hairthing: downeast outfitters.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIDtIR5EQZqk4wSEwq7vcqLqOccAKGhLDO0PfqnUTHj9PctH82LSel-tK9OxViLg9N62sPIOWKsKZX01Evh3sveoWGnBtn66xs0EVxfytgisHSTifGUEN-h-_REDLuRA6Lh0Yv377bMZa/s1600/V1britt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIDtIR5EQZqk4wSEwq7vcqLqOccAKGhLDO0PfqnUTHj9PctH82LSel-tK9OxViLg9N62sPIOWKsKZX01Evh3sveoWGnBtn66xs0EVxfytgisHSTifGUEN-h-_REDLuRA6Lh0Yv377bMZa/s400/V1britt3.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjHvyvb1L4HjDa0MRCt903YrGgl4jYeGdBn5Tq_c4mi4likFsidEFQA1_sEW30zLwJFvVOXu35LVgF9Pse2DqON3YuPxZkU-Ri3uM4Dcv5sw-S2QTfY9e4nAst4-IAq1r4ECa6BKWZMhe/s1600/V1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjHvyvb1L4HjDa0MRCt903YrGgl4jYeGdBn5Tq_c4mi4likFsidEFQA1_sEW30zLwJFvVOXu35LVgF9Pse2DqON3YuPxZkU-Ri3uM4Dcv5sw-S2QTfY9e4nAst4-IAq1r4ECa6BKWZMhe/s400/V1britt1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">"Woahhhhhh. You're taaaaaaalllllll." First thing I heard, all prepubescent-chorus-like, when I walked into my son's 1st grade class this morning for my volunteer hour. Which is a comment I'm not really sure what to do with. Thank you? You're welcome? I'm sorry? I know? Get off me? Endless possibilities for responses, really. [Editor's note: You'll be relieved to know: I just smiled at the kids and sat down. There. Crisis averted.]</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Bottom line: I attribute my newfound height to these SHOES. I heart them.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Today's jumping-off point was this denim pencil skirt. It needs some slight tailoring, but I haven't had time, so I decided to wear it with a chunky belt to hide the waistband until it's fixed. I'm afraid <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/2011/01/striped-sweater-pencil-skirt-booties.html">Sunday's ensemble</a> got me into a total stripedy-stripe-stripe mood (PLUS it's breton stripes day), so I went with this little number. If you'll <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/2010/12/its-beginning-to-look-lot-likewednesday.html">recall</a>, it's a tunic length (some might go so far as to say it's a "dress" length, but not I, my friends. Not I.), so I tucked it here, over a pale yellow button-up.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">The button-up was slightly problematic. It looked off when I wore the collar down, but so did it also look a little strange when I purposefully flipped it up. So I just opened up the back of the collar and let the front fall where it may. That's right. Living life on the edge. I'm famous for this kind of thing, you know. Like one time I went to bed without brushing my teeth.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">[Editor's note: That's true, but what she's failing to admit is the END of the story, which is that she got up a sleepless hour later to brush in the dark because she couldn't handle her fuzzy teeth. So. Probably "living life on the edge...of a secure 10-foot-buffer zone" would be more accurate. But, you know, tomayto tomahto.]</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">I love these bright blue tights from my friend Val, and I thought this would be a great day to wear them. In this ensemble, they come across as kind of a neutral, really--just an extension of the blue denim skirt. A bright, glow-in-the-dark extension, of course, but still. They're pretty Unexpected & Maybe Awesome for me here. And I like how they're downplayed, just slightly, by the taupe booties.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Question for you all: How do you wear earrings? They are currently the bane of my style existence. I normally default to my beloved diamond studs, but my friend RaeLynn wanted me to try some danglies, which I did here (you know, that life-on-the-edge thing again). I feel like these are all wrong with this ensemble, but I'm not sure what I should do differently. Please! Earring advice! I'm begging you!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(ahem) Regardless...happy Tuesday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.everybodyeverywear.com/home/view/breton-stripes"><img src="http://www.everybodyeverywear.com/photos/iCQAAAA.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Want this look? </span><a href="http://www.beso.com/j-crew/womens-skirts/jcrew-denim-pencil-skirt/2069064073/detail?af_assettype_id=4&af_creative_id=5&af_id=44772&af_placement_id=1&rf=af1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">pencil skirt</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="1" src="https://adserve.shopzilla.com/img/publisherID-44772/assetID-5/placementID-1/url-http:%2F%2Fwww.beso.com%2Fj-crew%2Fwomens-skirts%2Fjcrew-denim-pencil-skirt%2F2069064073%2Fdetail" width="1" />  </img></span><a href="http://www.beso.com/forever-21/womens-shirts-blouses/forever21-cozy-striped-top/2012274716/detail?af_assettype_id=4&af_creative_id=5&af_id=44772&af_placement_id=1&rf=af1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">striped top</span></a>  <span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="1" src="https://adserve.shopzilla.com/img/publisherID-44772/assetID-5/placementID-1/url-http:%2F%2Fwww.beso.com%2Fforever-21%2Fwomens-shirts-blouses%2Fforever21-cozy-striped-top%2F2012274716%2Fdetail" width="1" /></img></span><a href="http://www.beso.com/steve-madden/womens-boots/madden-girl-womens-razcal-shoes-taupe/2131056597/detail?af_assettype_id=4&af_creative_id=5&af_id=44772&af_placement_id=1&rf=af1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">booties</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="1" src="https://adserve.shopzilla.com/img/publisherID-44772/assetID-5/placementID-1/url-http:%2F%2Fwww.beso.com%2Fsteve-madden%2Fwomens-boots%2Fmadden-girl-womens-razcal-shoes-taupe%2F2131056597%2Fdetail" width="1" />  </img></span><a href="http://www.beso.com/mountain-hardwear/womens-shirts-blouses/mountain-hardwear-scenic-route-shirt-womens-gold-dust-14/2310302352/detail?af_assettype_id=4&af_creative_id=5&af_id=44772&af_placement_id=1&rf=af1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">yellow button-up</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="1" src="https://adserve.shopzilla.com/img/publisherID-44772/assetID-5/placementID-1/url-http:%2F%2Fwww.beso.com%2Fmountain-hardwear%2Fwomens-shirts-blouses%2Fmountain-hardwear-scenic-route-shirt-womens-gold-dust-14%2F2310302352%2Fdetail" width="1" />  </img></span><a href="http://www.beso.com/womens-socks-hosiery/forever21-solid-tights/1927450856/detail?af_assettype_id=4&af_creative_id=5&af_id=44772&af_placement_id=1&rf=af1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">blue tights</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="1" src="https://adserve.shopzilla.com/img/publisherID-44772/assetID-5/placementID-1/url-http:%2F%2Fwww.beso.com%2Fwomens-socks-hosiery%2Fforever21-solid-tights%2F1927450856%2Fdetail" width="1" /></span></div></img><br /><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=2580384&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>

they might be giants...

shoes: steve madden. tights, necklace, & earrings: gifted. skirt: j.crew. belt & stripes: forever21. button-up: eddie bauer. bracele...

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