Happy Brittany

My Bedroom Retreat

2013-03-26T10:54:00.000-05:00

A Tuesday favor for you- my bedroom has been selected for Apartment Therapy's "My Bedroom Retreat" contest, but I need your help! The 4 bedrooms with the most "likes" will advance to the finals. It takes 1 minute to "like" my bedroom entry (complete with TWO cameo appearances by Penelope and detail pics of my sleeping quarters!) and 30 seconds to Tweet the link or share it on Facebook. Could you help me out?

Click here to simply "like" what you see and check out more pics of my bedroom!

Penelope says:

Oh! Won't you like me? And tell your friends about how cute I am? ;)

bedroom bliss & blessings-

A Pep Talk

2013-02-05T12:27:00.002-06:00

you're welcome,

Apple Cinnamon Protein Pancakes

2013-01-17T09:23:00.002-06:00

Good morning sunshine! My favorite meal of the day is breakfast and one of my go to breakfast options for a busy week is the apple cinnamon protein pancake. One serving has only 22g carbs, 135 calories plus 9g of protein and 4g of fiber. It's a SUPER easy recipe and makes 4-5 servings so you can store it in a mason jar in your fridge for 3-4 days.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Protein Pancake

ingredients:

1 cup of quick oats

4 egg whites

1/4 cup unflavored whey protein powder (I use the GNC brand)

1/4 cup low fat milk

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 Fuji apple, peeled, cored, and chopped into medium size pieces

directions:

Mix all ingredients together in blender (I use the Ninja, which gets the job done!) until the mixture is the consistency of batter. You may need to add more milk depending on your oats, add a few splashes if it is too dry.
Heat up a small frying pan on med-low, add coconut oil or cooking oil spray so that the pancake doesn't stick. Pour batter into a ~4 in round pancake and heat for roughly 2 minutes, keep an eye on the edges, once they start to brown you'll know it's time to flip. Flip pancake until the other side is cooked as well. You can also heat up a few slices of apple on the pan with cinnamon sprinkled on them as toppings for the pancake.
Top with honey, sugar-free syrup, fruit, or ground cinnamon to taste. Enjoy!

You can save the remaining batter in your fridge for 3-4 days, you may need to add more milk if the consistency becomes too thick.

Sweet Green Drink

I also love to start my morning with fresh juice, and one of my favorites is a mixture of sweet green fruits and green veggies.

If you have a juicer my favorite *blend is...

1 green apple

1 pear

1 Fuji apple

2 celery stalks

1 large handful parsley

4 large romaine lettuce leaves

2 handfuls spinach

slice of ginger root

1/2 or 1/4 peeled lemon

*makes two glasses

breakfast, blue-grass & bedroom-slippers,

TODAY IS THE DAY FOR _______ .

2013-01-11T11:06:00.000-06:00

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, stop and take 2 minutes to declare what this day is for. Is there something you need to finish? Something you want to keep in perspective? Something you want to remember? Acknowledge this day right now.

TODAY IS THE DAY FOR…

time to pass slowly. feeling healthier. me to relax and create order. finishing my to do list. listening to music while I work. texting an old friend. keeping things in perspective. cuddling with Penelope. going for a run outside in the cold. kissing my love. lighting candles. finishing my 3 day juice cleanse. me to be completely present

what are your days for?

New Year: Now What?

2013-01-04T16:05:00.000-06:00

Woah. That was fast. All-of-the-sudden it's 2013 and my mind is racing with chaos as I try to plan resolutions and budgets and readjust to my life and work after a week of living on the couch in pajamas. I'm trying to truly understand what a New Year really means. Don't we technically get a "New Year" every day? But I mean, there is something sublimely glorious about the fresh start of January... Like this magical note I read in my Witches' Spell-A-Day 2013 Almanac (which, by the way, is super cool and never too late to pick up!).

"January is the first month in the Gregorian calendar. On average, it is the coldest month in the Northern Hemisphere and the warmest month in the Southern Hemisphere. January is named after the Roman god Janus, the god of doorways. Janus is typically depicted with two faces, so he could see both what was behind him and what was in front of him. The side that faced the past was shown as mature and bearded, whereas the side that faced the future was youthful and full of hope. Janus's name came from the Latin word door, ianua, and so January is the doorway to the new year. January is a quite month after the hustle and bustle from the holiday season. For those who follow the Wheel of the Year, it falls between Yule, when we celebrate the slow return of the light, and Imbolc, when we anticipate the first stirrings of spring. For many, it is a long, dark, cold month, but one that allows us to turn our focus inward and to prepare for the journey that is the year to come. Like Janus, may we turn our faces forward with hope and youthful enthusiasm." -Deborah Blake

So even though we get a fresh start every day and should always take advantage of that privilege it is also exciting to welcome a new year with a scope of goals, ideas or desires that we can bucket into "2013" and reflect back on at the end of the year.

With all of this in mind, I did a little bit of research to figure out what's the "best way" to go about a New Year and came up with some pretty cool ideas! Ultimately I realized it's all about the individual, do you prefer to have set of challenges or projects, or a set of specific or general goals? Do you prefer to create a vision board for the year (or life) or designate a new notebook to year-long inspirations? It' all about you and YOUR YEAR! Take the time to figure out how you wish to go about it and then do what you need to do to make it happen!

Here are some pretty cool things I found to get you started if you need a little more inspiration...

Emily of Cupcakes & Cashmere has a causal and refreshing approach that I'm totally going to replicate!

Or perhaps a vision board is more your fancy... some Oprah inspiration to kick you off

I'm totally stoked about releasing some more creativity this year through The Paper Mama's "52 Weeks of Drawings"

How about just MAKE IT HAPPEN like Stephanie Sterjovski!!

And Stephanie got her inspiration to MAKE IT HAPPEN right here!

Check out this suggestion from Psychology Today: Five Things You Can Do Instead of New Year's Resolutions

I love this idea of a 365 day project from A Beautiful Mess.

I'm also planning to do this, so cool!

That ought to give us all plenty to play around with as we figure out what all of this "New Year" stuff is about.

cheers to YOUR YEAR-

Ring In the New Year Manicure

2012-12-28T17:35:00.000-06:00

Ring in 2013 with this confetti-riffic inspired manicure. Layers of bling on top of a simple nude polish make the perfect companion for noise makers & midnight smooches!

As easy as....

1. Start with a nude base (after your traditional base coat of course), a neutral background will help the colors of the glitter stand out and look like confetti. I used 2 coats of Essie's "Sand Tropez" (which by the way is my favorite nude polish).

2. Next I applied a coat of Sephora's "Spark-tacular!" top coat to give it the colorful "confetti" effect.

3. To finish it off with another layer of dimension I applied Nails Inc "Electric Lane" holographic top coat. This added the slight glitter sheen to make the confetti glitter POP!

Voilà!

Now pop that cork....

aud lang synge my dears,

Lush Haul

2012-12-27T23:10:00.002-06:00

I remember the very first time I discovered Lush. It was 6 years ago and I was shopping with my BFF Erica in Los Angeles (if you have ever encountered a Lush store they are pretty hard to resist). Out of curiosity, we decided to check it out. Well, one thing Lush does REALLY well is design their stores and train their employees to provide consumers with the most hands-on and interactive experience one can have with soap and scented goodies. We spent about an hour playing in there and eventually left with a sack full of goodies that I have been addicted to ever since- I swear by this stuff. Not only is it fun to use and play with but it has also done wonders for my sensitive skin.

When Santa left me a Lush gift card in my stocking I could hardly contain my excitement. I rushed out the day after Christmas to load up on all my favorite organic, vegan, non-animal testing skin care products from the ever so fabulous Lush. Here is a write up of all of the goodies I got (and even some I didn't). Some I have used for years and some I am just now trying out for the first time.

Ocean Salt

A sea salt based scrub that will make your skin smooth enough to woo Poseidon. I formerly used St. Ives Apricot Scrub on my face until I learned that the product cuts its almond shells into points that actually widen pores (eek, no bueno!). Since then this has been my #1 favorite face scrub and product from Lush. Not only is the scrub made form natural sea salt, it also has vodka and lime which brighten your complexion. I use it one or twice a week on my face at it makes it smooth as glass (seriously).

Vanishing Cream

I'd like to introduce you to my secret weapon.... Vanishing Cream! I bloody love this stuff. It's the priciest product I purchase from Lush but totally worth it. Plus- you only need a little bit to cover your whole face so I can make a tiny pot of the stuff last me at least 5 months, if not more (using morning & night). I know I wont be able to do it justice so I'll allow the website to articulate it's greatness: "Vanishing Cream contains balancing lavender absolute, pore-tightening witch hazel (which helps brilliantly with eliminating blemishes) and grape seed oil to soften."

Enchanted Eye Cream

A new product for me but I am already on the bandwagon. This little gem has cooling and soothing effects perfect for the end of a long day or to wake up sleep-riddled eyes after a long night's (or not....) sleep. Another great thing- a teeny-tiny dab of this stuff is enough for both eyes!

Mange Too

I love Lush's body butter & massage bars. Not only do they moisturize like crazy and smell divine (this one is scented of chocolate & honey) but they are simple to use and easy to travel with (just stick in a tin and TSA has no reason to bother you). Run the bar between your hands to warm it up and apply to body immediately after a shower to lock in moisture.

Also try: King of Skin Body Butter Bar

Lustre Body Powder & Silky Underwear Dusting Powder

If you love the moisture of the body bars but hate the greasy feeling then dusting powders are the perfect companion for your skin. Simply dust these on your skin after you use the moisture bar for instant sheen and smoothness. The Lustre option also has a subtle golden sheen to it if you like that. I also love that both of these are jasmine scented.

Handy Gurugu

Alright peeps- if your hands are victims of the bitter cold weather like mine are then this is the product for you! Lush has a plethora of hand creams that are sure to meet all of your needs, but my little ole heart settled for this option and I couldn't be more pleased. It's insanely moisturizing on my obnoxiously dry hands and does not leave a greasy residue. And surprise! surprise! it too smells absolutely fresh, clean, and nothing short of amazing.

Bubblegum Lip Scrub

Along with my poor hands, my lips are also falling victim to the cold winter climate. I actually love this scrub all through the year. It not only leaves my lips smooth and soft but I also believe that it gives them a little "plumpness" since they are much more prepped to absorb the moisture of my lip balm after a scrub down. They come in so many fabulous flavors too, including POPCORN!

Buffy

Another new product to my beauty toolkit but I am so excited to try it out! You use this bar in the shower after you are clean to exfoliate and moisturize (yes two birds with one bar, can you believe it?!). Just rinse off the almond shell exfoliants and the moisturizers will stay on your skin. Pat dry when you exit the shower and you don't even need to lotion up... amazing, I can't wait!

Color Supplement (or Jackie Oats)

Another new product and my first cosmetic purchase from Lush (other than their lip balms). I love this product because you mix it with a facial moisturizer for a light, tinted cover-up or use it straight out of the jar as a concealer. Jackie Oats is the original shade and then there are different shades of pinks and yellows. My skin is olive/yellow so the dark yellow pigment matches perfectly. I've only used it for a couple of days but so far I love it, especially since I don't like to wear heavy make-up most days.

I'm currently using a Burt's Bees face wash that I love so I didn't pick up any face cleansers but usually I'm addicted to the Angels on Bare Skin product. It's my favorite face cleanser along with it's charcoal scrub counterpart Dark Angles.

Here are some other items that I have also tried & loved:

Full of Grace, Lemony Flutter, Mud Flats, Whoosh Shower Jelly, Rock Star Soap, Eau Roma Water, Breath of Fresh Air Toner, and their decadent lip balms!

So it's no mystery, I have a LUSH CRUSH! My favorite thing is that they are simply an honest, humble, and human & animal loving company that makes outstanding personal care products.

cheers to starting the new year healthy & fresh-

Fast & Easy Christmas Decor for the Elf on a Budget

2012-12-21T15:51:00.000-06:00

Still needing some Christmas cheer around the house? It's not too late! Here are some quick and easy ways to create a winter-wonderland that wont break the bank.

Given that I don't have any space to store a fake tree plus I love the smell of fresh pine I opted for a living Christmas tree this year. Even on its own it adds the perfect touch of winter charm to my tiny studio apartment. I would imagine many Christmas tree lots are hoping to sell all of their trees before Christmas so see if you can snag a great deal or find out if your local grocery store or Home Depot has some lone trees looking for a home to embrace.

Once you have your tree adorn it with homemade crafts as simple as a strand of popcorn and dried oranges with glitter. Yarn pom-poms are also as easy as grade school and add the perfect colorful touch when you use rainbow yarn! I also found some random wood shapes at Hobby Lobby and decorated them with glitter and used twine to hang them up.

Frame a segment of your home with a tiny strand of lights. This ads instant cheer without the clutter to any part of your home. Simply follow the natural architecture of the wall or arch. Find a spot that's close to an outlet to avoid the "hide the bright orange extension cord" battle.

Fill a glass jar or ceramic bowl with an army of cinnamon scented rainbow pine cones. Wrap the yarn around the pine cones (no need for glue or knots just tuck the ends of the yarn into the pine cone), the pine cons hold the yarn quite well. Not only are they the perfect burst of color but thy also make your home smell amazing. Add glitter to the tips of the pine cone for extra dazzle.

Infuse vodka in a mason jar with cranberries and use for a purposeful and festive center piece for your table. When you are ready for a festive drink mix cranberry juice with Sprite and an ounce of your infused vodka, garnish with a lime. Thanks to my friend Loy who shared this lovely treat with me!

Display your Christmas greetings in style with yarn & clothes pins. Tie one end of the yarn to your freezer door handle and tape the other end around the corner before the hinge of your freezer door. Then hang your cards up using clothes pins (I also tied pom poms to the string for fun). Simple. Easy. No mess, good cheer. BONUS- add glitter to the front of your clothes pins for an extra touch.

Easy enough with minimal effort- drape a strand of "old fashion" colored bulbs in front of your window for some instant warm & fuzzy that wont require a complete overhaul on your shabby-chic-bachelorette-pad.

laughing all the way-

Gearing Up for the New Year

2012-12-20T14:26:00.003-06:00

It’s hard to believe that amidst the holiday madness comes a brand new year full of fresh opportunities! Soon many of us will be off on our way to our holiday destinations and may not even return home until after the fall of the 2013 ball. How will you ensure that 2013 starts with a BANG! when you’re simply trying to survive the holiday chaos? Read on for some helpful suggestions to keep you sane, prepared, and excited for the year ahead….

(source)

Get Organized

If you are anything like me you pounce at any opportunity to reset & recharge (ie: spring cleaning, my birthday, new years, seasons, and school years). In order to maximize this opportunity I want to ensure there is organization in all compartments of my life. From cleaning out my pantry, to organizing my desk, to making space in my closet, I have created a prioritized list of what must be accomplished before 2013 arrives. This will (hopefully!) ensure continued organization and bliss through the new year.

Compose Your Resolutions

Don’t forget to make time to craft your resolutions for the new year. Last year I decided to roll out “Stackable Resolutions” and categorize the different areas of my life I was resolving to improve. If you’re interested then check out my Stackable Resolutions here! If you are also looking for some “resolutionspiration” check out “101 Creative Resolutions” for some fun ideas and suggestions. You could also consider a new spin- instead of resolutions try a set of “Commandments” for the year like this idea from The Happiness Project. This year (in addition to traditional resolutions) I’m going to try setting an experiment for each month to be determined at the start of the month. For example: “If I drink fresh juice every day for breakfast for one month how will I feel/look/think at the end of the month?”. Then I plan to document the changes either in a journal or through daily photographs to see which changes are actually rendering improvements in the places I want to improve. I’m looking forward to a fun new spin on resolutions as well as my traditional approach.

(source)

De-clutter Your Tech

Often times I underestimate the significant presence of technology in my life and the impact of the “clutter”. When I think about it, my technology (iPhone, work computer, personal computer, email, ect) really is full of gunk and junk and I deal with it almost every day. It’s usually the last thing I think of when I think of “de-cluttering” my life but in anticipation of 2013 I’m going to reorganize my email & computer files, delete photo duplicates on my iPhone, clean up my web browser bookmarks and unsubscribe to all the email mailing lists I’m on. This will allow 2013 to have a fresh slate not only in the physical world but also the digital world. Here are some tips from *geeksugar to get you started!

Don’t Leave Your Home In Chaos

As we prepare for our departures & travels for holiday time with family our homes and work spaces can quickly resemble the pathway of Tasmanian Devil. From gift wrapping frenzies to packing madness it can be easy to put our messes behind us and head off to our holiday adventures in a hurry. There are two reasons why we should NOT allow ourselves to do this: 1. Whether we know it or not, the chaos left behind can weigh gloomily on our subconscious and thus diminish some of the joy of the holiday season and time with our loved ones. 2. When we do finally come home to our lives after the glitter of the holiday season has settled the LAST thing we will want to do is clean up wrapping paper scraps and sweep up pine needles. Do yourself a favor now, make time before you leave to tidy up; wash your sheets, put away your gift wrapping supplies, unload the dishwasher, and leave your home ready to welcome you with open arms in 2013.

Prepare for Your Best New Year’s Eve Celebration Yet!

Whatever your New Year’s Eve plans may be ensure that they are nothing short of the most magnificent way to celebrate the end of 2012 and the efforts of your work. Here are a few lessons I learned last New Year’s Eve: Happy Brittany: Lessons Learned on New Year's Eve

good tidings to you & you-

Halloween for the Ghoul on a Budget

2012-10-31T12:45:00.002-05:00

Happy All Hallows' Eve boys & ghouls! I read in the current issue of TIME magazine that adults are estimated to spend 1.4 billion dollars on Halloween costumes this year (compared to 1.1 billion for children). Surely we have better things to spend 1.4 billion dollars on right? Halloween can be celebrated at a much lower cost thus giving you more cash to enjoy a new fall wardrobe, vacation, or the opportunity to donate to a local shelter as the temperature begins to drop. See how Halloween can be ever-so-enjoyable, even for the ghoul on a budget....

$12 Homemade Costume:

Yes my costume this year cost me only $12! You can save so much money by simply taking advantage of the things that you already have. After my trip back to my hometown of Las Cruces, NM last month I made my mind up that for Halloween I would represent the culture I grew up around and dress as a sugar skull, a symbol of Dia de Los Muertons (Nov 1st). Once I knew what I wanted to be I did some exploring on Pinterest and found some really cool ways to do makeup and hair that would fit my vision & budget. With that I grabbed some black & blue face paint from Target (just $1 a pop for a huge tube!) a pack of gems, eyelashes and a few big silk flowers that I clipped form their stems and twirled up in my hair. I used paint brushes I had at home to replicate a few of the face painting looks I found on Pinterest which simply required painting blue around my eye (just follow your brow bone all the way around) and a black design of a stitched smile (similar to Jack or Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas). Then I applied some dark red lip color to the middle of my lips and added the gem stones where I saw fit. I wore a long-sleeve black top and a pleated maxi skirt to finish the look (since the best part of the costume was all from the neck up anyway). While I have to admit it was difficult at first to paint on my own face I do appreciate the simplicity of the design of this look, it doesn't have to be perfect nor does it have to be expensive.

$25 Ghostly Hosting:

On Saturday we had a get-together in our building and each apartment decorated their home and served drinks and snacks. For a girl on a budget I wanted to entertain my guest without breaking the bank. It actually turned out to be pretty simple, inexpensive and took hardly any time. To set the tone I grabbed a few bags of spider web decor from Hobby Lobby (they were 40% off too!) and draped spider webs all around the living area and kitchen using tape to hold it up. I love the spider webs because they are classic and spooky at the same time. Then I closed my curtains which made my home even spookier, lit all of my candles to set the tone (which also cast shadows on the spider webs) and found a "Haunted House" playlist on Spotify to set on repeat. For snacks and drinks we made a simple concoction of kiwi-watermelon Koolaid and vodka with a dash of green food coloring. I topped the drinks off with witch fingers that I found in packages for $1 at Target (*wash them first though). We roasted the pumpkin seeds from our Jack-O-Lanterns and served them in mason jars like the drinks. It was so simple and cost me less than $30 to host ~15 people.

$10 Spooky Movie Marathon:

One of the items in my fall bucket list was to watch all of the classic Halloween films. My $10 subscription to Netflix has made this incredibly easy and has even made checking my mailbox a more enjoyable experience. I'm also willing to bet that a lot of these classic thrillers would be $1 rentals at your friendly neighborhood Blockbuster, and for those of you who have cable you will surely be able to find a spooky movie marathon on tonight with hardly any effort at all. Pop some popcorn, make homemade caramel apples, brew some apple cider and stay in cozy and warm.

Free Happenings Around Town:

There are always great things to do at little to no cost around town or in your community, holidays are prime time for businesses to market their products or work. Follow a Twitter account of a local venue that hosts events, peruse local posters to see what peaks your interests and find out what your friends are up to. These are great opportunities where you can meet new friends or old friends, observe wild costumes, and celebrate Halloween for free. I know for me going somewhere new or attending an event where I don't know someone isn't always the easiest for my comfort level.... but take advantage of the fact that it's Halloween and everyone deserves to have a good time.

$20-Free Ghost Stories Under the Covers

Spend the night in devouring a spine-chilling read under the covers with your cat (or your luvah!). I love the traditional ritual of telling ghost stories under the covers at night. There is always something so delightful about eliminating the chaos of the modern world and doing things like they used to be done. I found this book about Tulsa hauntings at a local shop but what I love most about it is learning the history of Tulsa and Oklahoma You don't need a book to tell ghost stories though, just a creative imagination and a set of ears to listen to you (Penelope is great at this).

tricks, treat & manicured feet-

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OMG Ombré!

2012-10-25T14:23:00.002-05:00

Even though I've traded in my ombré locks for a deep auburn tress it doesn't mean I'm not still loving this effortless hair color trend. One of the reasons it has been my favorite hair color yet is because I'm pretty-freakin-proud of the fact that I managed to achieve this look on my own, at home! I actually haven't had my hair professionally colored since December of 2011 (which is a huge deal for me considering the fact that I've spent countless Thanksgiving dinners at my hair colorists house). Since moving to Tulsa however, I've somehow found a vein of bravery within me and have ventured out into the world of boxed dye and home hair coloring. Truth be told, I haven't been disappointed yet! Here's how I managed to accomplish the ever-so-effortless ombré effect on my hair:

start with a base

I've been coloring my hair a medium-golden brown since last March, so my hair was already dark all over. My favorite color is the Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Foam in 5G. I love the foam because it's pretty much hassle free, which make it easy for lazy hair goers like me. I just follow the instructions provided and slather the foam all over my head for the expected amount of time. Pretty stinkin' simple.

figure out your blonde

This is where it's time to get smart, you have to pick a reasonable blonde color. I opted for something not too platinum, yellow, or dramatic knowing that my hair was a pretty deep shade of brown. After perusing the hair product aisle at the drug store I settled on Revlon's Frost & Glow (Honey Highlights for Medium to Dark Brown Hair). Try to find a shade that's only 3ish shades lighter than your base color. While there I also picked up a back up of my trusty brown color foam, juuusst in case.

watch this video

I'm such a visual person, so this video helped me see how the process was going to look. I knew it wouldn't bee too crazy, but I wanted to visualize how I would actually transfer the color to my hair. You don't need to watch the entire thing, just fast forward to see how she applies the color in two rounds starting with the tips so they color longer and then advancing up higher so that the color is gradual. The timing will change depending on the bleach that you use so mind the instructions of your kit.

do it!

Now go for it! I wrapped a towel around myself, mixed my color and prepped my materials, put on my gloves, separated my hair into two pieces and applied the dye/bleach to the tips for ~15 minutes and then applied it higher up my tips and let it sit for a remaining ~20 minutes.

...and voilà!

Also! Here are some handy tips I got from my lovely Instagram followers: 1. If you use the specific Revlon color I referenced, keep it on for longer than the box recommends. 2. After the bleach apply a permanent hair color (blonde one) to the tips to lock moisture into your hair (I didn't do this but wish I had!). 3.Use a toothbrush, which I actually did to add highlights around my face, and it was rather easy actually- I just brushed a light coat of the color on to a few small pieces of hair around my face for the remaining 15-20 minutes of the color process.

ombré olé!

The Charm of Fall

2012-10-23T21:50:00.001-05:00

Caramel Apples. State Fairs. Hollowed Pumpkins. Scarves. Crock-Pot-Creations. Falling Leaves. Red Lips. Spiced Tea. Horror Films. Boots. Warm Candles. Orange Sunsets.......

Spring is traditionally known as a time of rebirth & rejuvenation, but I see no reason why fall can't have the same spirit! It's the start of something new and the transition to the end of the year. It's the perfect time to re-organize your closet, learn a new skill, and do something spontaneous. Here are some ways to embrace the fall spirit with open arms....

1. Change it up: Start simple with a new lip color (magenta!), go a bit bolder and perhaps try a new hair color (auburn!) or adopt a new friend (Penelope!). Embrace the opportunity to take on something new, you'll never know unless you do and you will most likely end up pleasantly surprised.

2. Do something you have been putting off: Is there a book you haven't made time for yet that you have really wanted to read? Itching to clean out that junk drawer in your kitchen? Start now. Right now. Mark the time off on your calendar to complete your task. Pull that book down from the shelf and put it on your nightstand and plan to go to bed 30 minutes sooner so you can start the first chapter. Do it now.

3. Learn something new: Ready to finally master a Crock-Pot meal? Interested in learning more about your neighborhood or exploring a new culture? Curious to know what political opinions and parties you want to vote for? Take on the scholarly spirit of the back-to-school season and learn something that peaks your interest. Make a habit of learning all the time through authentic experiences and relationships. You may even discover a talent or passion that you never knew you had!

4. Feed your soul: Plan a dinner with friends you haven't seen in a while, or retreat to a new destination for a quick weekend getaway. Send a thoughtful card to a relative or an old friend. Execute a scary-movie-marathon with your crush. Embrace the season with the people who mean the most to you and reconnect with the ones you have lost touch with, it'll be good for your soul.

5. Make a plan: Get ahead of yourself and plan out the things you want to do, try, and learn before the season sneaks away from you. Make a fall bucket list, plan something new for each weekend, or track down the art class schedule at your local community college. Take the brilliant ideas cooking in your head and go make them happen by making room for them in your life.

We live a good life, don't forget it and don't let it forget you.

pumpkin spice & everything nice-

Blog Spotlight: Arantha's Gourmet Beauty

2012-08-27T10:36:00.000-05:00

I am always humbled by the invitation from other bloggers to share my voice with their readers. In this case, the lovely beauty guru Arantha from http://aranthasgourmetbeauty.com/ invited me to share all things BRITTANY, from my apartment, to my healthy eating tips to my favorite beauty products. She does a wonderful job understanding her guests and asking meaningful questions that her readers would be interested in. Check out my interview here.

In addition to this, Arantha has a whole stock of delicious beauty reads, happy thoughts, and healthy tips. I love her Happy Thoughts posts and I wouldn't be the girl I am if I wasn't completely obsessed with all things "beauty" like her lip balm reviews. Check her out folks, you surely will not be disappointed. :)

I have lots on my mind, lots to share, and lots to learn. See you soon....

6 Word Story

2012-08-05T22:48:00.002-05:00

What's your story, in 6 words?

"She wakes up to make change." -B

See others here.

get down wit cho bad self,

sweet summer

2012-07-16T22:22:00.000-05:00

My blog has collected a bit of dust since my summer adventures picked up full-speed! I feel like I've been here & there & everywhere this summer. It was a perfect way to celebrate the spirit of the season and the company of amazing individuals.

My friend Maile and I kicked off a 5-day Midwest road trip in Chicago where we both were able to connect with some great friends. We spent time bumming around the city and soaking up the sun along the shore of Lake Michigan with my dear friend and former roommate Julia. From there we headed east to Ohio for a beautiful summer wedding as one of our fellow co-workers and her darling husband tied the knot. On our way back to Tulsa we stopped in St. Louis to enjoy dinner with Maile's former roommate from Hawaii. You can guarantee that our road trip involved a lot of Goldfish, Dunkin' Donuts, Beyonce, and talks ranging from all ends of the spectrum.

After my extended road trip I headed west for a solo endeavor to work on a fun project and see some great people. I spent time in Hollywood and Manhattan Beach devouring seafood and drinks and the company of long-time friends and a handsome writer. I came back to Tulsa to engage in my work and celebrate the 4th of July along the river with Mike, Maile, Weston, Ryan and my amazing new friend Loy. As the summer came to an end I spent my last weekend on a Utah getaway to explore the beautiful landscape of Moab with the formerly mentioned "handsome writer." I had just the right amount of hiking and relaxing before I was finally able to round out the summer and head back to Tulsa to prepare for the new school year with my 35 teachers.

Although the summer felt fast it was one of the best summers of my life. I was able to reflect on the many elements of my life that I am incredibly grateful for (my friends, my family, my job, my home, my experiences) and balance out work & play in just the right way. I spent a lot of time on the go but still felt I had plenty of time to plan for the school-year ahead and embrace the days of tan lines & sandals.

happy to be here-

why I could never be anything other than grateful:

2012-06-19T11:17:00.002-05:00

fresh pink daises. phone call with Tom on father's day. understanding the ability to create my own story and knowing that what someone else creates does not have to be my fate. new sheets on my humble full size bed. surprise candy piles on my desk just when I needed them. witnessing a manly man order the "dirty bunny" margarita at El Guapos. following James Harden's Beard on Twitter. flowy skirts, everyday summer. landing an opportunity to be on the pilot episode of a CBS family variety show. listening to Nick’s amazing life tales. laughing, and laughing, and even more laughing. meeting Ian the Tulsa button man. teen pop music playlists. drunk bulldogs. sweet texts from my mommy. monday night's happy hour sushi binge. owning Weston, Mike, Nate & Nick in countless games of arcade basketball. Fassler Hall's summer shandy. looking back one year later at my experiences from Miss USA 2011. exploring new places in downtown Tulsa. reflecting even more on who I strive to be, and what I've learned in life. filling holes in my heart with things I love; my job, my friends, my family. mimosas for breakfast two mornings in a row. meeting summer school students at McClure elementary and listening to them talk about how smart they are. learning about feng shui from Gala. being complimented for intelligence instead of beauty. planning my road trip to Chicago to see Julia with Maile. recognizing that life is too good to me.

this little grand life-

Storytelling & Beauty Queens

2012-06-18T15:44:00.003-05:00

(source: Pinterest)

I have been asked by many about to my thoughts regarding the Miss USA controversies brought up by recently-resigned-Miss Pennsylvania USA (learn more) but I’ve been struggling to find the right use of my words and the best way to make this conversation productive. Along with thinking about this recent event I additionally encountered an experience that has helped me connect the Miss USA controversy to the concept of storytelling and the stories that define us as individuals.

What I’ve learned by a series of personal experiences is that I find it incredibly heartbreaking when other people narrate a story that is not their own. In this case a story of dishonesty is influencing the opinion of the Miss USA pageant and our new Miss USA. My story regarding this event stands in a neutral place and I share this solely as my side of the story and thus it should not reflect any other characters involved. On one side I can completely understand why Miss Pennsylvania USA would be frustrated and hurt. As women we give so much of ourselves (including subjecting ourselves to vulnerability and judgment) to have a voice and to feel important in a big world. We can feel so quickly demolished when we don’t get what we think we want and when we feel powerless in these situations. I would want Miss Pennsylvania USA and all former Miss USA contestants to understand the power of their voice and role in the realm of female leadership regardless of their success at Miss USA. I would also want women to recognize that while Miss USA is a platform for serving others it is also a production, and to exist it must generate revenue like every production and source of entertainment. Anything that generates revenue cannot be expected to be flawless given the high number of variables and the complexity of human expression and desire. When going into such a high profile experience we have to recognize that the Miss Universe system is neither perfect nor transparent. Stepping back, if I had the opinion that the Miss USA pageant was “rigged” would that have changed my decision to compete? Absolutely not, I would have still competed and I bet Miss Pennsylvania USA would have too.

(source: Pinterest)

Regardless of its flaws the Miss Universe Organization enables and empowers so many women all over the country to do great things and become strong leaders. I would hate for the organization to ever lose that credibility. The new Miss USA should be celebrated and honored and positioned to be the strong female role model that we all admire. She certainly didn’t have anything to do with “fixing” the ultimate outcomes of the event yet her time as a leader is being held back due to this controversy. With all of that said I hope we can move past this mild blemish and focus on all of the good that the Miss Universe Organization & Miss USA titleholders and state titleholders bring. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- I would never be the woman I am now had it not been for the experiences I had as a titleholder within the Miss Universe Organization.

It’s up to us to tell our own stories. There will be many characters and voices that carry and influence it but at the end of the day your story is most powerful in your hands. Those same hands are the only ones that mold and create it. By letting someone else’s story of you define and dictate who you are then you neglect what your story should be and forfeit your own power and voice. What’s your story? It’s being created this very instance. Own it, live it and tell it for yourself.

write & revise-

2012-05-31T09:24:00.004-05:00

I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

-Unknown

Happy Thursday-

how i figured out my life goals in 15 minutes

2012-05-30T14:46:00.001-05:00

figure 'em out. make it happen.

For the past year of my life I feel like I've been running around without any sense of direction or longing of purpose or life goals. I could speak generally to what I wanted but I was not making strategic choices & actions that were aligned to tangible wants and desires for my life. I've mostly been afraid of simply committing to any set of ambitions and feeling as if my goals would be carved in stone. I finally accepted that I needed to determine a set of goals or I would continue without direction as I have, which hasn't felt right. Additionally I've accepted that these goals could in fact change and will evolve into who I grow to be and what experiences further mold me, so they are not carved in stone.

Sure enough this was no tough feat, it only took me 4 steps and about 15 minutes. I now feel hella-good about where I'm headed.... I dare you to give it a stab....

If you're an office supply nerd like me then step 1 is very important. To get into the zone I'm always motivated by a colorful new collection of papers and pens. Three things I absolutely needed for this activity were: bright neon construction paper, an assortment of Sharpie pens and a hot pink chisel-tip Sharpie (oh baby!). If this doesn't tickle your fancy then cheerfully move along to step 2.

Next, with a big blank sheet of paper and a marker I went-to-town listing out all of the things I want to do in life, things that make me happy, and things I simply just love doing & feel like a rockstar about. I named this paper my Super Mad List of All the Things That I Want to Do in My Life. I tried not to worry about feeling silly or shallow. The idea was to write as many things as I possibly could and think of all of the things I have ever even considered wanting or doing (it helped to have some happy beats playing in the background too).

Following that I took a big fat marker and drew arrows to the things that connected or linked to one another. After that I circled my top 5 goals. I went with my gut instinct on this, I didn't spend a lot of time thinking but rather just enjoying the gratification of that big fat marker and the fast swoop of a circle.

Voila! All-of-a-sudden they appeared, my life goals. I transferred my 5 goals onto a new, bright, blank sheet of paper and dazzled it up a touch. I am now eager to head forth in the direction of my purpose.

obtain a master's degree
open and operate an early childhood education center
write & illustrate children's books
commit to a lifetime of love: partnership & children
make crazy mad change* (*not as measurable but it's a lump-sum of all my other goals)

Of course of course we shouldn't limit ourselves to just 5 things and each person may need a differentiated version of this activity but hey, it's a start. I sure feel a lot better than I did 15 minutes ago.

glimmer, goals & glows-

respond with love

2012-05-28T14:59:00.000-05:00

source:: Pinterest

Sometimes things don't go the way we wanted them too. We lose something, we hurt a little bit, we experience confusion, frustration and so many other feelings. While it can always be tough to find the silver lining in all situations it is still true that something positive is always produced. This may be hard to find or identify right away but sure enough days, months and years down the road you look back to find that all things truly do happen for a reason and you are better for the tough times (one way or another).

When I experience less-than-desired situations I find that I actually do become better for them. I try to seek opportunities for learning and growth as coping mechanisms to overcome less-than-favored feelings. The greatest revelation I've had recently is the act of responding with love. Of course I have always known this but I'm truly challenging myself to follow through and commit. I'll be the first to say it's not easy in any way but when I do respond with love it is incredibly gratifying and rewarding.

From this I've realized that we are all humans, we all make mistakes, and no one is immune to pain. By responding with love I accept that everyone is dealing with their own battles, both internally and externally, despite their actions. I also accept that just because I disagree with someone else’s actions doesn’t mean I should call the shots on what is right or wrong. I've learned that to be successful at responding with love one cannot only respond with love to others but should also respond with love to them self.

I am admittingly the hardest person on myself. When something doesn't go my way I come down incredibly hard on myself. I seek answers and replay my actions over and over again. I immediately gravitate to regret rather than growth. This is how I've always been. Through this new experience of responding with love I find that I must love myself just as much as I love to love to others. So....I've started writing lists about all of the wonderful things about myself, my life, and my actions. I've stopped criticizing myself and loving my imperfections. I've started eating healthier and running more. I'm embracing who I am, not who I think I should be. I'm blogging more, reconnecting with my favorite people and making time to create art. I'm taking more opportunities and doing more of what I love. I'm pouring my heart into my work and reinvesting myself in it. I'm loving myself in any way that I can, the same way I would love any other person. I'm absolutely loving this. My hope is that the act of responding with love will become a natural habit and the more I learn to love myself the more love I'll have to give others.

When we respond with love, in all situations, we can't ever do wrong, there is everything to gain and nothing to lose.

life is so complex, but beautiful for that reason-

gratitude, it's in our bones...

2012-05-27T17:55:00.002-05:00

warmth in my heart, a smile on my face, and these are the things I am thankful for...

coconut iced mochas. Friday night movie night watching The Time Traveler's Wife. getting into a warm car. flirting (even just the word makes me blush). committing to a "work free" Saturday. driving through the Oklahoma country. finding a Strabucks gift card in my email. Maile's PB&Js. flipping my bookshelf on it's side, instant apartment makeover. newly acquired tan lines. spicy nacho Doritos. dancing along to 90s music on benches at my favorite Tulsa bar. recoloring my hair brown again. conversations with amazing teachers. cupcakes from Cuppies & Joe in OKC. drinking delicious vegetables & playing with my juicer. following friends on Instagram. Ryan's white bean ragu & jamming out to Motown in his apartment. funny dreams. my new blue lamp. leftover chocolate Easter bunnies. floating down a beautiful Oklahoma river with great people. pink lips & grey nails. revelations about how much I truly love my job. snacking on raspberries. working on projects with Maile. listening to country music. creating my summer bucket list. 2-hour group message conversations about R. Kelly & who-would-be-who in the movie Mean Girls. emails from the universe. being a Libra. 6am runs along the river & admiring the ducks.

could it truly get any better?

What I learned from being the People's Choice for Miss USA 2011...one year later.

2012-05-23T18:53:00.000-05:00

"...love, the greatest of all things" -Zeta Tau Alpha Creed

I learned many things in pursuit of my endeavor to become Miss USA both before, during and after the competition. Many of the things I have learned have made me a better person on so many levels. Looking back at who I was even before becoming Miss New Mexico USA I would not say that humility and gratitude were my greatest strengths. I've done a lot of "growing-up" thanks to these experiences and the many people who have pushed me to become my best. I've also learned how to transfer pageant skills into real-life opportunities for success and leadership. Even just one short year ago I struggled to identify this correlation but now I'm grateful to find opportunity for growth and learning in all situations and understand that all situations teach us incredible lessons that can be used in a multitude of ways.

I came about this reflection from a couple of new blogging projects that I've recently gotten involved in. I now guest blog for both a pageant related site as well as a Teach For America/education focused site. Many of the things I blog about on both blogs are actually similar to one another. These connections have pushed me to think about who and am and my experiences in a whole new light. Recently I wrote a blog about earning a spot as the People's Choice for ThePageantGuy.com and found that many of the things I was doing to promote my voice as a titleholder are very similar to what I do now as an ed reformer. Not to mention these approaches are also relevant to just being my best self and cultivating relationships and humility in all interactions.

I share this reflection because I myself am so often guilty of not making the most of what I can gain from various experiences. I've traditionally approached experiences as "one-dimensional" and divorced from all other components of my complex life. I'm also guilty of being ashamed of my "pageant days" when in all reality my experiences as Miss New Mexico USA and Miss USA were probably the most formative of who I am now and what I stand for as a woman devoted to justice and love. I have learned so much and have so much still to learn but I know I will be better off by truly living my life as a learner and seeking opportunities to evolve (even when it's hard to understand how).

If you know me at all it's no mystery that one of my proudest accomplishments in life was winning the People's Choice Award at the 2011 Miss USA competition. I'm not proud of this moment because of the fact that I got to prance around on stage in front of an audience or showcase a sparkly trophy on a shelf. I'm proud of this because it's an accomplishment that I cannot rightfully claim as "mine" but rather am privileged to share with the many people who worked to helped me obtain it. As I stood on stage that night, under the warmth of a million bright lights facing a live audience, a camera man, and judges like Lil' John and Tyson Chandler I could not help but radiate pure gratitude and love to anyone who claimed their confidence in my ability to be a leader on such a large scale. I learned many things along that journey and continue to understand myself and my impact more and more because of it. When I wrote about about what I did to make my voice heard and represent something larger than myself (right here!! --> ThePageantGuy.com) I was so surprised to see that many of these things were actually continuing to help me everyday. Per usual this post is quirky, pink, and sentimental but it's also an honest depiction of my experience and efforts.

(Oooo and by the way, ThePageantGuy.com is awesome for pageant junkies like me. It's full of fun interviews with titleholders like this one I did back in November of 2010 ...why yes, I just documented myself dancing like a cat on the internet)

How lucky are we to learn and grow in multifaceted ways in pursuit of being the people we are destined to become?

love & learning-

An Attitude of Gratitude

2012-05-17T17:33:00.001-05:00

...little things that are making life sweeter right now.

When I woke up this morning I looked out my window to find a beautiful butterfly on my screen. I laid in my bed and watched it for a while. I really love butterflies, for so many reasons. The represent change, delicacy, strength, beauty, growth, nature & luck. What a beautiful way to start a day.

Other things that brightened my week:

Calling my mom on Mother's Day. Reconnecting with my creativity (this week we had to "craft" our "Story of Self" at work and I was excited by the opportunity to paint my life). Watching the Thunder destroy the Lakers on Monday. Obtaining a hand-me-down juicer (oh the possibilities!!). Playing field games with my corps members and watching them prance around in tie-dye unicorn shirts. Drawing in my Scribble Diary. Lounging poolside. Replenishing my stock of pink Uni-Ball Signo pens. The fact that my new dark hair is naturally fading to create highlights. Long talks with old friends. Evening reflections that help provoke revelations and sweet dreams. A brand new Moleskine to fill up. My new velvety-blue sitting chair, perfect for enjoying a bowl of cereal in the morning. Afternoon Almond Joy breaks. Conversations with great teachers & administrators. Sunday movie night enjoying- Because I Said So and Marley & Me with Mike, Ryan, and Maile. Pushing myself to learn from all situations. Charging my Kindle so that I can download a new book. Evening runs along the river with Maile and acting like 6-year-olds when we spot glowing fireflies. Drinking Crush orange soda from a bottle. Documenting all the things that make me happy at the end of each day.

gratitute is the way,

cinderella's bun

2012-05-07T19:11:00.001-05:00

I'd like to introduce you to the sock bun, and all of it's wonder! I found out about this gem on Pinterest (surprise surprise!) and immediately needed to know more. So I Googled a simple YouTube video, and put my efforts into practice. I love to not only sport the bun, but also what happens when you sleep with the bun:

Voila!

Yes, no joke, when I slept with it in my hair this was the morning result. I had to add my own tweaks to the routine though: I don't do it on wet or towel dried hair, I do it on dirty, dry hair. My hair is too thin and kinks too easily when wet. It also works on clean dry hair, but the results were a little better with dirty hair. None-the-less this is one of my new favorite lazy girl hair routines.

Give it a try yourself:

Lazy Girl Hair

2012-03-25T15:27:00.000-05:00

(source/pinterest)

The sun has made it's debut, so why sacrifice the opportunity to soak it up indoors styling your hair? As the temperature rises my beauty routine slims significantly. Thus I am reuinted with my go-to daily hair-do:

After my experience with many different "bottled" versions of this effortless tress I've narrowed down my top two, and additionally concocted my very own version for a much more "wallet-approved" price.

1. Charlotte Ronson: A Perfect Mess Beach Hair. For this particular product it's mostly the smell that does it for me, it's absolutely divine. I use this one on both wet and dry hair though I've found the effects of this product to be more dramatic on dry hair. Oh, and did I mention how good it smells? Heavenly.

2. Bumble and Bumble: Surf Spray. Same size bottle as #1 but a few bucks more. This product is more dramatic for me on wet hair (oddly enough). It smells like a day at the beach in a bottle (you wont find me complaining about that). The only reason I actually tried this one is because when I attempted to replenish my stock of #1 Sephora was temporarily out of it- but I was pleasantly surprised in the end.

3. Quick, Cheap, & Easy: Homemade. I sadly have no perfect recipe to offer you (but Google & Pinterest offer a plethora!). I just take an empty spray bottle, fill it 3/4 of the way with warm water, pour in some salt (my research informed me that sea salt is better but, eh, Morton is always in my company), and squeeze in some conditioner in my favorite scent (Amazing Grace, duh) and a squeeze of hair gel. Then I tighten the lid & shake it like a Polaroid picture. You can also add some lemon if you intend on gaining some highlights from the sun.... but I don't know what sort of expiration timeline that creates for the whole product (yuck, moldy lemon hair).

Whichever you choose, 1, 2, or 3; simply spray it on your damp or dry hair, tousle it with your best hair tool (fingers!!!) & embrace the lazy girl hair style as you embrace even more time in the warm sun.

beach waves & sunny days,