A Little Love // 12

ONE. 3 Life Lessons I Learned From the Movie Hook.

Even if you’re a paunchy 35-year-old workaholic with a giant cellphone and no time for your family or friends, you can change. You can pick yourself up by your bootstraps, launch yourself out of a cannon, fight a pirate, and throw your cell phone out the window.

If you think hard enough, you can remember your eight year old self and what is most important.

If you work hard enough, you can make positive change. You can win a food fight with Rufio. You can wear fitted, green tights and look great. You can fly.

Now all I want to do is watch Hook.

TWO. This incredible photography project.

I LOVE Disney Princesses, from their beautiful dresses, perfect hair, gorgeous voices and  most with ideal love stories in the mix you can’t help but become entranced with the characters. But it got me thinking, they’re just characters, a writers tale of a princess (most before 1998)…an unrealistic fantasy for most girls (Yay Kate Middleton!).

It started me thinking about all the REAL women for my daughter to know about and look up too, REAL women who without ever meeting Emma have changed her life for the better. My daughter wasn’t born into royalty, but she was born into a country where she can now vote, become a doctor, a pilot, an astronaut, or even President if she wants and that’s what REALLY matters...

We chose 5 women (five amazing and strong women), as it was her 5th birthday but there are thousands of unbelievable women (and girls) who have beat the odds and fought (and still fight) for their equal rights all over the world……..so let’s set aside the Barbie Dolls and the Disney Princesses for just a moment, and let’s show our girls the REAL women they can be.

THREE. Who said toys can't be art?

I want to try this so badly for Harrison.

FOUR. A letter to my friend, about to be a mom.

My biggest wish, though, the one before I blow out all the candles while holding a lucky penny and a four-leaf clover at 11:11, is that you find satisfaction and worthiness in this work of mothering. I don’t mean that you find it enjoyable all the time, or that it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you. I mean that in the middle of the really ugly parts when doubt rages and fear snarls and the tears spill out over the edges of everywhere, that you feel like what you’re doing matters, and that you are the right one to do it, here, now, for this baby.

FIVE. How To Love An Extrovert.

And also, How To Love An Introvert.

SIX. Obsessed with Renegade Mothering.

Favorite posts include:

+ Top 10 Most Irritating Parenting Expressions - Including "sleep training" and "tummy time"

+ I Used To Not Cry About Things Like This - Reactions to the Boston tragedy

+ Meg Ryan Ruins Marriages - An absolute gem

5 Things

+ This picture kinda-sorta captures my life right now. Toddler doing everything except what I want him to. Me laughing and drinking my way through it. It's really something.

+ I graduated from college 3 years ago this weekend. I remember willingly only getting 2 hours of sleep so I could stay out until the bars closed then get up at the crack ass of dawn to go to another bar. I remember my dad meeting us there and buying Tyler, me and our friends rounds of Vodka Red Bulls. Then I remember drunkingly riding a pedicab with my cousin in our caps and gowns and arriving at the field to become college graduates. That's also the weekend I played matchmaker to two dear friends who are now engaged. And now it feels like 3 years has flown by and dragged by all at the same time. Ah, memories.

+ Moving day is getting closer and we've (Tyler has) packed exactly 1 box.

+ I added two new little buttons to the ol' sidebar: the BGD Wedding Design Guide and the BGD Custom Design Process. These cover the basics of two of my most frequently asked questions so I hope they are helpful. But if you have any questions don't hesitate to email me: hello {at) brittanygarnerdesign {dot} com.

+ The Slider starring Harrison:


Slider from Brittany Garner on Vimeo.

Branding: Love & Kismet

I had the extreme pleasure of working with Corinne on her exciting new business venture! While this lovely lady was planning her wedding she discovered a beautiful way of creating a bouquet that will not only look gorgeous in pictures but be a lasting keepsake for the years to come. When Corinne first told me about her plans to start selling her silk taffeta bouquets and boutineers my first thoughts were of what a great "something old" they could some day be. Could you imagine using the same bouquet your mom or grandmother used? Or pinning the same boutineer your husband wore on to your son's tuxedo for his wedding or prom some day? It's a really cool idea and I hope you all check out her shop!

Love & Kismet Etsy Shop

Discovering My Kismet Blog

Color Palette: Sunset

Some nights, this is the view from our apartment. I like those kinds of nights.

Custom Design: Save the Date

I don't think there is a more fun couple than Chelsey and Scott. I mean, look at these pictures! I've been good friends with these fools for 5 years now and I am SO excited for their upcoming wedding.