Page 3 – itsbrittanyporter

May 5, 2017

Fashion Crush | May Edition

It is getting warmer out and all I can think about is what do I want to sweat in today? These outfits and accessories are perfect for throwing on last minute and still feeling somewhat put together. I bought that denim overall dress and it is definitely going to be worn so often! Through on a crop top for a cute outfit or a tank to work in the yard. This bomber is perfect for chilly restaurants and stores when everyone kicks on the AC extra high…layers are key. What are your summer essentials!?

Cupshe Bathing Suit – $26.50
Easy Tank Dress- Madewell– $65
Festival Sunnies – Madewell– $55
Fringe Earrings- Vici Dolls Collection $22
Sidestreet Bomber Jacket- Roolee $54
Bralet- Free People $20
Denim Overall Dress – Forever 21 $22.90

April 18, 2017

5 Tips to Healthier Eating

Instagram– Follow people that inspire healthy eating… I follow a bunch but here are a few faves: @minimalistbaker , @thebigmansworld , @LindsayKingdon , @edgarraw and @inspiralized
Pinterest- I am constantly referring to my FOOD pinterest board for meal ideas, planning, and grocery lists.
Restaurants– I love scouting out new places and re-creating things i’ve ordered off their menu at home. Most places have their menus posted online. They don’t have ratios or recipes, but ingredients are so helpful to try new pairings and omit things I don’t really like. Some places I’m searching right now are: The Hive, Flower Child, and Sweet Greens that I visit in Santa Monica. And Lunas, here in charlotte.
The Right Cookbooks- I don’t always go by cookbooks– i mean, who has time? But when I do, I love 100 Days Real Food and Clean Eating with a Dirty Mind for sweets (and making that maple sugar I posted on Instagram). Barnes and Noble has a plethora to thumb through (right next to the legos- score!). I love simple ingredients and eating clean.
Weekly Grocery List – I recently started a weekly grocery list (still a work in progress) that allows me to make multiple meals, while also restocking my most used items. I know that every week, I need these things.. and then ~~i’ll make another trip~~ I’ll send my husband to get items to make a more defined meal or things that last longer and have just run out (like balsamic vinegar, olive oil, etc). I cannot shop for the whole week in 1 trip. My produce either goes bad or uneaten depending on what our tastebuds are craving. With this list, you can print it off or put it in your Reminders Section on your phone and share it with your husband 😉 to keep on hand and mark things as purchased.

April 8, 2017August 15, 2020

RECIPES | QUINOA SOUP

When Gray is out of town, and all the kids want to be in the kitchen, I try to give them things that they can help with. I just finished a juice cleanse and wanted something healthy and quick. I went to pinterest to find some detox soups and found some ideas.

The girls chopped the veggies with these kid-friendly knives from amazon and Lennox gnawed on some raw carrots. Even if I don’t end up using their creations, I like that they can stay busy and also learn about ingredients.

This recipe is super simple and quick.

Time: about 20-25mins | Serves 2-3… just double the portions to serve more

Boil 3 cups of water and add 1 cup tri-color quinoa (you can probably substitute rice or another grain if you want). I added some rosemary, thyme, and basil, plus cracked black pepper.

While that is boiling for 15 mins, chop carrots, yellow onion, and garlic. Sautee them over olive oil for about 6 mins. I like to be an olive oil snob and use Herbs de province that I got from Olive This by Trader Joes. It makes SUCH a difference in taste and i use it for everything from veggie roasting to salad dressings.

When the veggies are done, add them to the quinoa. When the 15 mins is up, add a parmesan rind and the zest and juice of 1 lemon. I also had some shredded chicken left over that I through in as well. Simmer for 5-10 mins or until ready to eat.

April 6, 2017

smoothie bowls & wheat grass

I found this on pinterest (see below) and it helped me get the right consistency for my smoothie bowls. I make mine in a Ninja Pro and it takes more pulses than a vitamix probably would but still blends everything really well for the price!

My 2 favorite smoothie bowls are: (Frozen Strawberries + Frozen blueberries or wild berries + justins pb + 1/2 c spinach + 1/2 c apple juice and added 1/4 tsp dried wheat grass powder + toppings)

2) frozen strawberries + frozen banana + almond butter + vanilla almond milk topped with Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Granola, apples, strawberries, bananas, chia seeds.

Wheat grass shots are nothing new, but I just found this wheat grass powder at (Harris Teeter) that makes adding it in a smoothie much less complicated. It didn’t affect the taste at all either!

Wheat grass has lots of health benefits and only 2 oz is equivalent to eating 4lbs of veggies! I’m not sure if you get the exact same benefits from the freeze fried powder as fresh, but i’m willing to try it!

http://produceforkids.com/blog/build-your-own-smoothie-bowl

**Purely Elizabeth Granola can be found at most grocery stores, target, and amazon. Dried Wheat Grass was at Harris Teeter.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AUnc7rkmUG6A78sNt3zTqCez8CdwtUWWECRZSMx1BakdPEgBEuNaTUw/

March 30, 2017

5 Tips for Better Instagram Photos

LIGHT- Lighting is everything. No matter what filter you add, you can’t change where the light is positioned. First, Find natural light (windows, outside, etc). If you are inside, turn off the overhead lights and try to move your subject (food, kids, dog, clothes, etc) to the window light. If you are outside in broad daylight (meaning mid-day-ish), find shade. Try not to take a photo with a light right overhead- it casts crazy shadows and is totally unflattering. Aim for light behind, light beside, or shade. Tap the subject to get the right exposure/ light on your subject.
BACKGROUND– Decluttered/ Clean backgrounds. I like to find solid walls, a similar pattern like a bush or flowering tree, or even the garage/ side of my house.
CROP-If you can’t find a plain background or if the back ground has too much going on.. zoom in. Don’t be afraid to crop and not get the whole picture. Sometimes the details are more meaningful and you can only see them if you crop out the rest.
COLOR- if your subject’s outfit does not compliment the photo, but you still LOVE what you’ve captured, convert it to black and white / add a BW filter. This does not correct for lighting, BUT it can correct color.
EDITING/ FILTERS– Download VSCO in the app store if you haven’t already. This is my favorite app for editing photos. This takes it to a whole other level than using instagram filters. You can apply a preset/ filter and then there are so many tools within vsco to adjust that affect on your image. My favorites are brightening, temperature, and exposure. If you want to cool off your image (decrease the yellows/oranges/reds in the photo) slide that thermometer to the left. If your image is too dark, you can kick up the exposure to the right to help. If your image is too bright, you can slide it left. This can help when your whites are too bright. Play around and create your own! You can copy and paste your edits to make all your images uniform.
My VSCO library.. not everything I edit is posted on IG

Editing Options / Light Behind

Filter Choices/ Light in Front

March 19, 2017

Lennox’s First Birthday | Bear Bash

Lennox is the sweetest little boy. My favorite things are how he always crosses his ankles when he sits, he puts out his bottom lip to offer me a kiss, and when he says “hello.” He seems to be a good mix of my other two so far. He loves to put things into other things to see if they will fit. He is completely content with a box and a couple of items to drop in and pick back out. He loves baths and kicks his legs back and forth with excitement.

I’m so thankful for my little bear cub and it was such a fun time celebrating his first year!

I’m learning that I don’t need to “MAKE” everything — ain’t nobody got time for that! My mom made the fruit skewers, we bought the food, and I diy-ed some printable and made the cake toppers. I think with each kid you learn to plan a little better and manage your time a little bit more. I don’t stay up the night before trying to do everything! I come up with a theme, make a do-able guest list, and create somewhat of a budget. Then, I come up with my “must- haves” which is typically a cake from our favorite bakery in town, gold balloons, themed or color coordinating plates/napkins, favors, and good food. Everything else is 2nd in terms of budget- depending on the theme of the party. Hope that helps you stress-less if you have a party to plan!

Here are some pics from his party, links of items are listed below 🙂

Cakes- Southern Gourmet in Matthews, NC | Biscuits Catered – The Flying Biscuit | Chicken Minis – Chick-fil-a | Toppers: DIY- black bears from Hobby Lobby, Brown Bear– Amazon | Gold Balloons, Stick Pencils, White Gummy Bears, Meri Meri Plates & Napkins, Wooden Cutlery, Plaid Runner– Amazon | Bow Tie- Little Mister

March 19, 2017

Lennox’s First Birthday | Bear Bash

I’m so thankful for my little bear cub and it was such a fun time celebrating his first year!

Here are some pics from his party, links of items are listed below 🙂

March 19, 2017

Lennox Gray : 6 months

Lennox’s half birthday fell around christmas time, so we signed up for mini sessions with sassyfras studios. It was freezing cold and windy and it was 1.5 hours away– which gave me plenty of time to do my makeup in the car haha. They always make something out of nothing and I was so happy to get some photos of our family of 5. Outfit details below.

Lennox: Hat- Swallows Return, Moccs- Bedtime Rebel on Etsy | Kinsley: Green Jumper- lovey lake, bows-cloudless Sky Design | Me: dress- Free People, Earrings- Reclaimed

March 19, 2017

Lennox Gray : 6 months

Lennox: Hat- Swallows Return, Moccs- Bedtime Rebel on Etsy | Kinsley: Green Jumper- lovey lake, bows-cloudless Sky Design | Me: dress- Free People, Earrings- Reclaimed

March 17, 2017

Lennox’s Newborn Photos

I can’t believe I’m just now sharing my favorites, but in honor of his first birthday, I’m looking back at some firsts. We absolutely adore Lauren and Christen from Sassyfras studios and cherish these photos SO much! It is a reminder to me to love life in all its craziness because that is where the beauty lies. (and it doesn’t help to have Sabrina from Be Pretty come do your hair and makeup 😉 ha!