A Day in the Life Too... a blog about well-rounded style

a zigzag scarf and a brush with death...or at least some squooshy mud

2012-02-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

boots: target. jeans: old navy. shirt: duo maternity. scarf: forever 21. earrings: etsy.

I know, I know...the boots-and-knee-high-socks thing has been done to death. But it's comfy and warm and covers up some of my water-retaining legs. So we'll just have to agree to agree-but-let-the-pregnant-lady-have-her-way for another month or two, mmmmkay? Thanks a mil.

I took my 3-year-old daughter for a walk this morning. She's adorable but has a stubborn streak that comes to a very vocal head when she's asked to do something outlandish. Like walk. So she rode in the stroller.

Our route led us up a small hill and then back down. Wanting to change things up on the way home, at the bottom of the hill I took a scenic route (read: death-defying brush with nature) along the canal. It was muddy, snowy, slushy, puddley (yep. real word. maybe.), slippery, bumpy and all things "-y" that would potentially cause one well-meaning but off-balanced soul wearing zero-traction boots to careen into the nearby waterway.

You'll all breathe an enormous sigh of relief, as I did, when our squeal-worthy rugged-terrain journey ended with zero fatalities and only one really muddy boot. Which, frankly, is a happy albeit fairly anticlimatic ending to this tale.

I know what you're all thinking: Why would she share such a pointless Story of Meh? What a waste of my time. Doesn't she know Nate Berkus is almost on? Fair enough, but in my defense, the alternative was a riveting story about how I chewed a hangnail on my super-dry thumb until it bled and now the bandaid keeps coming off. So.

You're welcome, and I accept your apology.

Happy Tuesday.

similar stuff (maternity & regular):

More Missoni...

I love shoes because they fit when nothing else does.

2012-02-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

This is what I wore today, blah blah blah.

shoes: converse. pants & hoodie: gap. shirt: duo maternity.

Anyone who uses the word "blah" in the first sentence of a style blog post (and then repeats it twice more) probably shouldn't be writing a post at all. And yet, here I am. And here you are. For what reason is a mystery to me, but my grandmother always told me to seize opportunities, so I will.

[Editor's note: Actually, she rarely told me that. Her words of wisdom were more like, "here's $20, why don't you go get us something yummy at KFC," and "you're my favorite grandchild." She was awesome. And KFC is, on occasion, delicious.]

Ahem.

Despite the randomness of a hoodie and button-up combo (not to mention the chucks and khakis...shhh, there there), may I still brag about my tummy-toting self for a moment? Today's lengthy to-do list is all but finished (and I didn't even cheat and include stuff like "roll out of bed" and "put on deodorant" for once), I have a dinner idea and ingreds, and I finished the sudoku in today's paper even though my pencil was really dull and I couldn't find a sharpener.

PLUS I didn't say something snarky to the guy at the grocery store who s.t.a.r.e.d. at my belly during an awkward shopping cart approach-and-pass. Let's be proud.

Happy Tuesday.

similar stuff (maternity & regular):

More Converse...

i have (a) big belly & i cannot lie. you other mothers can't deny...

2012-02-17T12:09:00.001-07:00

shoes: american eagle outfitters. maternity flare jeans: gap. cardigan: j.crew. flower clip: downeast basics.

You can't really tell in these photos, but my shirt here is a light lavendar. Ish. Which I think is super pretty paired with a mossy olive green. It's like, in nature, when you find a rare light-lavendarish butterfly perched atop a, um, mossy olive green rock. It doesn't stop there. How about spying a light-lavendarish flower growing out of a patch of mossy olive green shrubbery? Bingo. Samesies.

And if you're impressed with my command of the English language in description and titlage, well, what can I say. I kind of excel at that kind of thing. Like when I made mac & cheese for dinner one time but, in a fit of genius, proclaimed it to be "cheesy pasta" so that my son (who doesn't love mac&cheese) would actually eat it.

Stick around, kids. You can't fake this kind of ingenuity.

Happy Friday.

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More Gap...

yawn

2012-02-16T14:03:00.002-07:00

The jumping-off point for today's outfit was anything that would cover up this lovely giraffe-head tattoo that my toddler positioned on and adhered to my forearm.

I have a tree frog tattoo on the back of my hand, too, which is equally awesome. But I'm fresh out of fingerless gloves, so that'll have to just be visible to the world.

And by "the world," I of course mean my toddler...who put the dang tatts there anyway.

On an unrelated note, have I told you lately how much I love my Clarks shoes? I have? Redundantly and many times over? Oh.

(*awkward pause*)

shoes: clarks. maternity skinny jeans: old navy. long-sleeved maternity tee & hoodie: gap.

For those of you style-savvy readers, this post is the yang to your yin. Meaning I prob couldn't have come up with a less-inspiring ensemble if I'd lain awake all night trying. Which is a feat deserving of some kind of award. Or respect. How 'bout a pitying half-smile...?

But some days are meant to be lived out contentedly in a hoodie and comfy jeans. My overworked washer and dryer couldn't agree more. Those guys only WISH they had a comfortable coral hoodie to fit over their square bods.

Wow. This post mirrors the outfit. Maybe I should start all over with an ensemble (and, thus, text) that highlights, rather than hides, the tattoos. Just think where our lives would be then. I'd probably be wearing a bright floral dress and boarding a cruise ship to the Virgin Islands. You, though, would probably still be ready to click away from this blog. Dang.

Happy Thursday.

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knee-length dress no matter where the belt's placed

2012-02-15T10:58:00.002-07:00

I'm on the fence about wearing a belt at this stage in the pregnancy game.

I've long since jumped a different fence and have ~~run~~ waddled a mile up the nearby hill, though, about turquoise jewelry. Love it. Amen.

boots: kohl's. slip: a slip shop. linen dress: paris, france. cardigan: j.crew. belt & necklace: forever21.

I know. My hair here is, like, 2 generational inches shy of beehivehood. All I can think about when I see these photos is that one Seinfeld episode where the lady physical therapist has "old-fashioned" hair, and everyone makes fun of it except Kramer, who totally encourages her to keep it that way. I think I might be that girl, 'cept without the medical training. Or Kramer.

I learned that heeled shoes aren't that fun to wear for 4 hours when one's body is off-balance. But what IS fun is hiding some snags in the knees of one's tights with an exposed slip. It's like a little game with the universe in which, at any given moment, you're totally winning. Which, in turn, is comparable to eating the en.ti.re. box of chocolates in one sitting so that you won't be tempted by them later. Hah! Joke's on you, Cosmos.

Happy Wednesday.

p.s. For those of you tired of and/or unable to relate to a maternity-centered style blog, I promise I will post soon about some projects I'm working on. In the meantime...belly's up.

similar linen-ish stuff (maternity and regular):

More Gap...

what's red & pink & tweed all over?

2012-02-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

RED: check.

PINK (about 12 shades): check check check.

TWEED: check.

or, for you overdo-the-pink-on-V-Day purists, TWEED: UNcheck.

shoes: converse brand. tweed jacket: talbots. scarf: gift. bracelets: forever21 & gifts.

Hey guys, it's Red-and-Pink day at Everybody, Everywear. Fitting for Valentine's Day, obv. I actually have a red maternity corduroy skirt that I contemplated wearing with this shirt, but I'm glad I didn't. Seemed a little too bleeding-pepto-bismol for me. Not that that's a bad thing, of course. Oh, wait. Yes it is.

You know what's weird? (Aside from the fact that my 3-year-old is developing an affinity for pickle juice. No lie. Ew.) I think pregnant bellies actually look better when you can see their real outline. Which is the paradox of the universe, but there it is.

If I had my way, I'd drape myself in a canvas tent and call it good for the next 2 months. But there are others to consider. Like my husband. And the circus clowns who, frankly, need those tents to make a living. Speaking of...is it odd to wear red chucks with a tweed jacket? Probably. I mean, are we college-professoring today or boarding at the skate park? One just can't tell. Which, to me, makes the combination a little Unexpected & Maybe Awesome.

Happy Valentine's Day.

other cute red and pink stuff (maternity & regular):

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argyle sweater in green. life is good.

2012-02-13T09:32:00.002-07:00

Argyle in cardigan form.

And a fake oversized gold watch that may or may not reliably keep time.

And some dark uber-flare jeans.

(Basketball-for-belly is optional.)

jeans & cardigan: gap. shoes: american eagle. watch: target. pink tee: vintage (translation: hand-me-down).

What I've just given you, my friends, is a failproof recipe for dressing like a free-spirited study-hall-frequenting prepster chick, sans nerd glasses and freshly woven daisy crown. And, really, isn't that the look we're all going for?

Answer: Yes, yes it is.

Speaking of going for stuff, I could really go for a vacation to the Virgin Islands right now. Either that or a glimpse of the sun. One or the other, really, I'm not that picky. What, no sun in sight? I guess it's just you and me then, Expedia...us and the large glow-in-the-dark orb I carry at my belly these days. Y'know, for emergencies.

Happy Monday.

related stuff (maternity & regular):

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be Linkylicious.

2012-02-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

So, in a couple of weeks, Google Friend Connect will no longer be available to non-Blogger users. If you want to show me some love (you know you do) or stay in the know of this blog (you think you do) or just pass the time in this my little planet in cyberspace (you're not so sure you do), follow me via the new Linky Followers near the top of the right-hand sidebar.

Everybody's doing it, you know.

I'll be your friend forever and call you Linkylicious as a pet name if you do. Or I'll swear that I'll never type the word "Linkylicious" again. Yeah, maybe that one's more motivating...

Thanks. Hang ten. Be Linkylicious. And peace out.
Brittney

valentines decorating with kids

2012-02-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

Valentine's Day is all about candy. And not just the sugar-coated corn-syrupy stuff. I'm talking eye candy. So many things people can do to make their surroundings beautiful and sweet and all things lovely and lovey. Such as:

photo: efrandesigns

photo: hgtv

This year I turned the reins over to my kidlets for decorating our house for Valentine's Day. Just wanted to see what would happen. What happened, and continues to happen everytime I look around me: happiness at kid-dom. And some laughter.

Exhibit A: Non-color-scheme flowers and a nearly empty candy dish. (I must admit slight disappointment that the bottles are in the correct order. Don't you think "U heart I" would've been better? Dah well. Maybe next year.)

Exhibit B: Our handmade felt "cookies" lined up against the verrrrrrry back wall between some shelves.

Exhibit C: A heart-shaped hot pad hanging (festively? one must assume) on the fireplace. Alone.

Exhibit D: An impromptu snowflake-style heart (which looks suspiciously like a buffalo skull or some creature out of Star Wars) taped prominently to the living room wall. Welcome, esteemed guests.

Exhibit E: Nearly-backwards-facing hanging heart.

Exhibit F: Simple, individually decorated brown bags for our family Valentine's mailboxes. Note the sticker remnants on my 7-year-old son's. A typical get-this-over-with-quick boy. (Just like his dad...see far right example.)

I think this kids-decorate-for-V-Day might be a new tradition around here. The results are priceless. And I guess I can always turn to pinterest and the bloggy world for eye candy, anyway.

Happy Friday.

on stripes and curls and lip gloss

2012-02-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

cowl sweater: gap maternity.

I curled my hair and am wearing a fancy cowl sweater today. And by "fancy" I of course mean: it's striped with pretty colors and has just a little bit of pilling. Like 15%. Which, for my maternity-stricken money, means it's nearly brand new.

Unfortunately, in my hair-tossing, sweater-touting strut on the kitchen-sink-to-breakfast-table-and-back-again catwalk of my life this morning, I forgot to put on lip gloss. Not even a hint of cherry-flavored chapstick. The poor dust-bunnies hanging out around here are averting their eyes from my pale lips every time I walk by. 'Til I appease them by tossing some lint balls from my nearly new cowl. Then they're happy because, hey, that lint is fancy.

Happy Friday.

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for a best friend, I'd take a diamond over a dog any day

2012-02-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

(Beware: This post exhibits some seriously beautiful jewelry. It might even result in your ignoring your toddler's pleas for a sippy refill, or drooling on your keyboard and causing a shortage. I take no responsibility for either scenario. Consider yourself warned.)

Maybe it's because love is in the air this month, maybe it's because I live with two accessory-obsessed little ladies, or maybe it's because I myself am a double-X-chromosome-toting human being...but I'm especially loving jewelry lately. 'Specially diamonds and diamond studs.

Swoon over these elegant diamond hoop earrings from Anjolee jewelry:

Annnnd Anjolee's simple yet stunning solitaire teardrops:

And these classic diamond stud earrings (I'm partial to the square cut...):

(...although this diamond stud set is GORGEOUS):

I know, right? So crisp and classy and beautiful. But Anjolee doesn't stop at breath-taking earrings...they've got bracelets, rings, and necklaces and pendants as well. All gorgeous.

I'm particularly fond of this vintage-inspired diamond bracelet:

You guys, there's so much stuff to love over there. It's crazy. But here's the crazy genius part -- they let you customize your own jewelry.

[Editor's note: This isn't exactly on the same level of customization as, say, choosing whether the blue or silver boondoggle would look best with the neon orange plastic beads at the summer camp Arts & Crafts table. Just sayin'.] Even with an awesome selection already, Anjolee lets YOU choose metal type, carat weight, quality of diamond, and gemstone (where applicable).

Which might seem a little intimidating, but the website is super easy to use. Plus, hello, accessory eye candy at every turn.

You can literally create the perfect bejeweled specimen on your computer, tailored to your own tastes and budget. I played around with this feature on Anjolee's website for an embarrassing amount of time. (Translation: Dinner around here ended up being apple slices served with chili from a can. No lie.)

And you'll be happy to know that I've strategized a major win-win scenario that goes a little something like this: I create a perfect piece of jewelry on Anjolee's site and then show it to my husband, who buys it secretly. He is gleeful because I've just taken the guesswork out of his gift-giving, and I get to flaunt the beautiful stuff. Plus, he gets credit for giving the perfect gift. BAM.

Happy Valentine's Month indeed.

(Note: This is an Anjolee sponsored post; the opinions expressed are my own.)

what you see just might be what you get

2012-02-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

boots: target. jeans: old navy. shirt: gap. sweater: motherhood maternity. earrings: gift.

I've decided something, and I'm clinging to it like a survivor to a liferaft. A college lit major to Shakespeare. An athlete to electrolyte-replenishing fluids. A macaroni noodle to cheese.

What I'm clinging to is: joy comes in the details. This applies to life, to my relationships, to my goals, to what I'm wearing these days. For example: in the photo above, you might see a tired lady (check) in a worn grey cardigan (check) and some old boots (check).

But you couldn't have noticed this sweet print of the shirt (my current fave):

or these go-with-everything turquoise earrings (also my current fave):

It's these details that make me happy today. Supplemented, perhaps, by the three snickerdoodles I've consumed this morning. (And to think I'm surprised when my doctor mentions I've put on a bit of weight over the past four weeks.) No worries, though, because...have you seen my earrings, doc?

Happy Tuesday.

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beauty-full

2012-02-07T09:59:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

I'm not here today. I'm over here. Come on by if you'd like...and even if you wouldn't like. Reachel has an awesome and thought-provoking "love your body" series going on. At least she did, 'til she asked me to contribute...

Love, Britt

stylish nursery on the cheap: sweet fabric bunting

2012-02-06T08:26:00.003-07:00

(See this post about my quest to create a sweet, airy nursery for this coming baby.)

Have you guys seen fabric bunting, garland, flags, whatever you want to call them all over the cyberwaves lately? Me too. All different colors and sizes. I'm loving the insta-festivity they add to a space without going over-the-top, particularly in kids' bedrooms and/or playrooms.

As a girl who likes to dabble in sewing, I have a few fabric scraps and remnants on-hand, so I thought this project would be right up my alley (translation: cute. and also: cheap). Because I still haven't exactly figured out the color scheme for the nursery, I decided to keep the flags feminine and fairly light but also diverse.

I made up my triangle pattern and cut out a bunch of scraps in that shape. Then I used the pattern to also cut out triangle iron-on interfacing and ironed them together. This will make each flag hang much more nicely than an un-lined piece of fabric. (This also made it possible to NOT have to sew the edges of each triangle; however, if I were making a two-sided bunting I would've bypassed the interfacing step.)

After interfacing was attached to each triangle, I trimmed all edges with pinking shears and sewed 'em right onto a stream of grosgrain ribbon (I imagine you could even use fabric glue for that step to create yo'self a completely-no-sew project). I couldn't love how this turned out any more than I do. It adds visual interest to almost a whole wall and brings in some great color. (Recognize that circle paint chip mobile?)

Plus, hello, free. Yeehaw. Does anyone else find their creativity juices enhanced by budget constraints? This is becoming highly addictive and fun for me.

Once again: my older girls want one of these in their room. I'm sensing a trend here...

Happy Monday.

p.s. Check out great weekend blog reading at Serenity Now.

super easy valentine decor activity

2012-02-04T09:16:00.002-07:00

Raise your hand if you love surfing the cyberwaves for inspiration and good ideas.

(Forgive me if the going is slow from here on out...hard to type with just one hand...)

Raise your other hand if doing so, on occasion, gets you a little discouraged with the overload of possibilities and, consequently, you end up doing nothing. Nothing at all 'cept heading to the fridge for something cold and delicious. Like pudding. Mmmmm...pudding...

Actually, put your hands down; that's just getting awkward for everybody.

Enter: the Super Awesome Hanging Valentine Window Craft (patent pending), guaranteed to underwhelm. Takes 20 minutes, is completely free, and rocks the neighborhood.*

Step 1: Draw hearts and/or other Valentine-y stuff on flattened coffee filters (we also use the filters for disposable popcorn bowls for family movie nights).

Step 2: Let your kids color said hearts until you have enough. We did 20.

Step 3: Tape colored coffee filters onto fishing line or floss or some smallish thread that's been pre-cut to run the height of your window.

Step 4: Tape the top of your line onto the top of your window moulding. (Tip: Using painter's tape makes husbands happy.)

Step 5: Tape the bottom of the line under the windowsill.

Step 6: Repeat for as many strands as you have.

Annnnnd...you're done. Easiest project ever.

Happy Valentine's Day season. Are you feeling underwhelmed yet? Good. Then my job here is done.

*Disclaimer: I use the terms "rocks" and "neighborhood" verrrrry loosely. And by "loosely" I of course mean "not necessarily true." Which also translates to "total lie."

Happy Saturday.

yawn i'm sorry, did i wear something?

2012-02-03T16:27:00.000-07:00

jeans: gap. shirt: husband's closet. bracelets: gifts. annnnd...welp, that's about it.

You guys. It's totally a double-pigtail kind of day. And, looking at these photos, I'm going to have to warn, slash, promise you: my outfit posts at this stage of the game are going to become more and more infrequent. I don't think I need to explain, just take a small gander at the photo above because it's worth at least 5 words. Uninspiring at best, pitiable at honest.

The bare feet are legit because I literally did.not.leave. my house all day. Do you ever have days like that? Yes? Do you blog about them? No? Well, then, that's the difference between you and me. You're socially aware. I'm a walking tent.

But enough about me, let's talk about you. Are you impressed that we can still see my toes? Savor the memory. It'll surely be shortlived.

Happy Friday.

similar stuff (maternity & regular & even mens. things just got crazy around here.):

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HomeStyle: coffe table-turned padded bench

2012-02-02T10:22:00.001-07:00

I found this little gem for cheap on craigslist late last summer. Wasn't she a beaut?

The best (worst) part was, I didn't know exactly what it was. A little too tall for a coffee table, too low for a sofa table, too big for an end table, too fill-in-the-blank for any kind of table that my house currently needed.

Still, I loved the two large drawers, the sturdy construction, and the details.

First stop: paint. It's a big enough piece that any kind of bright, awesome color (say, magenta or chartreuse) would've been a little overkill. I went with a classic military blue -- dark and grounded and colorful but not overpowering. (I find navy hues to be great that way.) Some round brass knobs and BAM. Done.

(Pretend you're looking at a photo of the above table in blue here.)

Not to be all anticlimatic at this point, but we had a hard time figuring out what to DO with it. We tried it as a coffee table, but, although the drawers were nice to hide TV remotes and old popcorn bowls on the fly (what, you don't do that?), the table sits a few inches uncomfortably higher than the cushions on our couch. We tried pushing it against a wall to serve as a kind of console, but it was pointlessly long and too low for that...thus too tempting for little bodies to top with miscellaneous junk that no one wants to put away (what, you don't have that?).

Enter: idea for bench. A padded one, no less. Perfect. We were in the process of replacing our master bed's old pillowtop mattress anyway, so I simply separated the pillowtop part from the rest of the mattress before hauling it off to the landfull. The foam was dense and a perfect thickness. Who loves repurposing stuff slated for Trashville? Two thumbs says: this guy.

I cut the foam to size, wrapped it with thin padding, stuck it on top of the table, and covered with upholstery fabric. For a final (although hardly noticeable) touch, I covered the rough stapled edges of the fabric with grosgrain ribbon.

The bench now sits in our living room.

What furniture have you guys found hard to incorporate into your house? Are you a blues-and-greys or browns-and-greens kind of home decorator? Or has there ever been a time in your life when a navyish color has swooped in and saved the day? Do tell.

Happy Thursday.

my mind's eye needs glasses.

2012-02-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

Today I channeled my inner this:

...but somehow ended up looking like this:

It just doesn't make sense. Oh, wait. Yes it does. Different, ah, body types currently.

Dah well. Win some, lose some. So I lost the look-like-a-Land's-End-Canvas-model contest, sure, but guess how I won today? Six loads of laundry folded & put away, cleaned kitchen, homemade soup & breadsticks, and nursery somewhat organized. Plus hugs and loves to my two little ladies, who spent the en.TI.re. day snuggled into my bed watching PBS, sick as camels.

"Sick as camels?" you want to ask. But don't. Just run with it. And drink at the nearest oasis.

(p.s. Do you think the model above looked as flexiblicious putting HER shoes on before the photo shoot? Me too. I'm sure of it.)

shoes: clarks. jeans: old navy (on loan). shirt: gap. scarf: vintage.

Happy Wednesday.

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stylish nursery on the cheap

2012-01-31T10:46:00.001-07:00

So, you all know I love color. Lately, though, I've been drawn to the subtle airiness of muted tones. (Translation: monochromatic...ness.) This applies to both what I wear and how I'm changing up my home decor.

Specifically, I'm trying to create a unique, sweet nursery for this baby. Inspiration is everywhere in my head and in the blogosphere. Know what isn't everywhere, though? The dollars to do it. So I've been on a quest to find awesome stuff to make for free. Or pennies. But mostly free.

Enter: the paint chip mobile, inspired by this post. I loved the simplicity, the ombre coloring (hers is pink), the overall airiness, and the price.

I went with purple hues (from Martha Stewart's line at The Home Depot), simply because I'm reusing purple polka-dot curtains I used for another daughter's nursery. Plus I think this particular scheme is pretty--not too girly, not too in-your-face, but not too invisible either. Here's my quickly-put-together finished product. Loving how it turned out, particularly with the room's existing grey walls. Very soothing.

Best part? Total cost: $1.29 (for the embroidery hoop).

Oooh, second best part? My older girls each want one in their room. Which is super flattering, right? Hey, I take what I can get.

Happy Tuesday.

because maybe a pregnant woman WOULD make a great lumberjack.

2012-01-30T10:01:00.001-07:00

I made a purchase earlier this winter that I want to share with you all, as it has made me prolly the happiest I've been since, well, it's a tie between the birth of my youngest kid and being given a fresh loaf of pumpkin chocolate chip bread. Either way: super happy.

Purchase Of Joy: Clarks desert boots.

Boots by Clarks

(Note: Sadly, Clarks is neither paying me to advertise for them nor aware that I even exist. I'm known to them only as something along the lines of "Order #682023679." But I'm sure they chose those numbers with love...)

I wear these puppies everywhere, and they tolerantly "go" with whatever I've chosen to throw on that day. Which is especially nice, because when one's belly nearly doubles every week, it's hard to be picky about one's wardrobe. Jeans? Sure. Skirt? Fun. Bathrobe? You betcha.

But these shoes. I heart them.

My goal for the week is to commandeer a plaid shirt from my husband and go for the "in-my-prime-I-could've-passed-for-a-lumberjack" look. Join me, won't you?

Button Front Tops at Kohl's
Boots by Hunter

Next footwear purchase: a delightful pair of Hunter rainboots...with a side of pumpkin choc-chip bread, please.

Happy Monday.

a blazer and a baby bump

2012-01-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

dress: motherhood maternity. blazer: thrifted. bracelets: forever21. flower pin: downeast basics. shoes: candie's brand, I think .

Hey friends. I know, I know. What the random outfit post 100 years later? What can I say, I like to keep things interesting. And also, I'm lazy and 6 months pregnant. "Unpredictability" is my new middle name. Hyphenated with "hormonal." And "hungry." Good thing I don't write checks anymore...the people behind me in line would HATE me and the 10-minute wait while I just signed the dang thing.

Anyways. Yeah, I'm going to start posting again. Sometimes it'll be on what I wear (heaven help us all, with this belly of mine). Sometimes it'll be on what I'm doing with my kids. Sometimes it'll be on house projects. Sometimes it'll be on absolutely nothing you can or want to relate to.

I guess what I'm saying is, I'm going to make my own blogging rules. Which could get a little scary, considering I have a "rule" about not eating ice cream after 11 p.m., and you can all imagine how well that's adhered to. (In my defense: it's almost always mint ice cream, which is basically the same as brushing my teeth. So it's not altogether a terrible deed, right guys?... Guys?...)

Anyways. Thanks for hanging with me. Happy Sunday.

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Cutest aprons for little girls!

2012-01-17T19:47:00.003-07:00

Hey friends!

It's been a while since I posted. Obv. Let me just say this: I have gained a new appreciation for people who can simultaneously blog whilst growing a baby. We're expecting a little girl to transition from my body to the crib in just a few short months, which is terribly exciting. My suspicion is high that she'll be an Olympics-style gymnast. Just a maternal hunch based on nothing, really, 'cept a few bruised internal organs and some late-night acrobatics happening beneath the skin of my belly-turned-playground.

You'll understand, then, when I say that I've got little girl clothing and accessories on the brain. Including some that won't be needed for a few years yet. Like the (warning: shameless self-promotion ahoy) darling retro/modern children's aprons at my new etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/DarlingSparrow Can I please live vicariously through your purchases of these sweet things? They're absolutely adorable, especially in person. I want them all. I mean, c'mon, pom-pom trim? Rickrack? Grosgrain ribbon? Floral-with-stripes? Stop it. For cute.

So. Happy Tuesday, my friends. I've missed you guys. To show you how much, I'll share this embarrassing story: I went to put on a belt the other day under my already-enormous belly. I specifically chose a belt that has historically been way too big, for a little ego boost and proof that I'm not "that big" "yet." Imagine the laughter of the Powers That Be when I discovered that I couldn't even clasp it. At all. Ah the joys, slash, reality checks of pregnancy.

So, what do we learn from this story? Nothing, really. Only that you (or your moms, grandmoms, and/or friends) should order these cutest aprons for your daughters. My girls wear theirs during dinnertime, craft time, baking experiments, art attempts, and dishwashing hour where the sink is filled to overflowing with bubbly suds. Pretty awesome. http://www.etsy.com/shop/DarlingSparrow

Okay, I'm done now. You're welcome.

guest posting

2011-09-28T09:00:00.001-06:00

Hey friends,

I don't have long, but I just wanted to let you all know I'm guest posting here today. Come on by if you'd like!

-Britt

tweed, glorious tweed

2011-09-27T12:53:00.002-06:00

Once upon a time there was a ~~beautiful princess~~ stay-at-home mom who started a blog about the normal (and weird, if I'm being honest) stuff she wore every day. She enjoyed it. Then she got busy with other important stuff in life and she abandoned it for a month. Then she realized that there was a happy medium that could be reached.

Just like how she now buys the medium size bag of pnut m&ms instead of the XL and instead of abstaining from them altogether.

The end.

Confession: Because you probably couldn't tell, that story was autobiographical. But the m&m part just shows you how much I've matured in the past month, right guys? I know. It does your hearts proud.

So. It's officially Fall. And that's the time I break out any and everything pumpkin-spice-scented and make soup and dream about Fallish stuff to wear. Like cardigans. And tweed. And, sure, tweed cardigans. Which is so super nerdy, you guys, but I just can't help it. Love.

More J.Crew...

Happy Tuesday.

product review: Layerwear Basics

2011-08-25T21:04:00.000-06:00

shoes: cato brand. tube skirt: layerwear basics. shirt: gap. sash: from this shirt. bracelet: hawaii.

A few days ago, I got this tube skirt in the mail from the nice people at Layerwear Basics. It.Is.Awesome. The fabric is of super high quality and thick, and the seaming and finishes are flawless; I feel like it'll last forever.

And I hope it does, because it's a perfect layering skirt. Being a tube skirt, it's obviously tighter around my hips and waist, so I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it with a shorter top. (You're welcome, Society-At-Large.) But I'm finding it to be a perfect balancing piece with longer tunic-style tops, especially flowy or more voluminous tops that work best paired with a smaller-scale bottom. Or a schoolboy blazer...wouldn't that be chic?

One thing about wearing this skirt is that, despite being fairly form-fitting (fine, let's be honest: "tight"), it's easy to move around in because it's stretchy. But, after walking my dog around the block in it (relatively brisk walking), I had to pull it down every block and a half or so. But I didn't have to do that just wearing it around the house; I'd reserve wearing this skirt for times that don't require a longer stride. Like jogging. Summary: Tube skirts aren't ideal for doubling as running skirts...

The waist of this skirt is fold-over...able (new word. use it in conversation this week to make yourself sound super smart.), which is nice for adjusting the skirt's length, which is in and of itself flattering and modest at the same time. Score. I can't wait until the weather cools off a bit to wear this with colored tights. Layerwear Basics offers this skirt (and other stuff) in a variety of colors, which is useful to coordinate it with whatever's already in your closet.

Below are some shirts I'd love to have and wear with this skirt. Some of these may or may not already be in my shopping carts across cyberworld. I'm ~~click-happy~~ awesome that way.

More J.Crew...

So, in a nutshell: as long as you're not heading out for a hike or marathon, I'd absolutely recommend this skirt based on its top quality, fit, and style. Check out the other products at Layerwear Basics!

Happy Thursday.

A Day in the Life Too... a blog about well-rounded style

a zigzag scarf and a brush with death...or at least some squooshy mud

I love shoes because they fit when nothing else does.

i have (a) big belly & i cannot lie. you other mothers can't deny...

*yawn*

knee-length dress no matter where the belt's placed

what's red & pink & tweed all over?

argyle sweater in green. life is good.

be Linkylicious.

valentines decorating with kids

on stripes and curls and lip gloss

for a best friend, I'd take a diamond over a dog any day

what you see just might be what you get

beauty-full

stylish nursery on the cheap: sweet fabric bunting

super easy valentine decor activity

*yawn* i'm sorry, did i wear something?

HomeStyle: coffe table-turned padded bench

my mind's eye needs glasses.

stylish nursery on the cheap

because maybe a pregnant woman WOULD make a great lumberjack.

a blazer and a baby bump

Cutest aprons for little girls!

guest posting

tweed, glorious tweed

product review: Layerwear Basics

yawn

yawn i'm sorry, did i wear something?