Brittney Guest Designer & Illustrator - britt wit blog

Ready for Fall, Y'all!

9/16/2018

It’s almost fall, and guess who’s back? That’s right! The Britt Wit Blog is back from a very extended Spring Break that grew into Summer Break!

Nothing makes you feel ready to take on a new season like a new wardrobe that fits your body and style perfectly! Whether you’re looking for a versatile basic or a fun and funky statement piece, have I got the place to find what your wardrobe is missing!

Have you ever found a dress you loved but something just wasn’t quite your style? You’d like the pattern, but it’d be perfect if the hemline were a little shorter? The sleeves a little longer? Oh and don’t forget pockets; you gotta have pockets!

Well, on eShakti you can pick everything from the fabric, color, sleeves, length and neckline. You can even fine tune the details like pockets, bows and embellishments. And in addition to all the fun stuff, you can even enter your measurements and have your item built to your body’s specs! Every body can feel fabulous!

When eShakti contacted me about customizing my own signature clothing item, I jumped at the chance. I quickly fell in love with this patterned georgette dress, but I knew I could make it more "me!"

I turned the elbow sleeves into 3/4 sleeves to balance out the deep v neckline and above knee length. I of course kept the pockets! I also customized the fit of the dress to work with my measurements. You want an extremely secure fit on a deep-v neck, lemme tell y’all!

According to their size chart, I'm a size 4 on top and 0 in the hips. My waist measurement; however, isn't even found on the smallest size of their scale. Even with the drawstring waist, I definitely needed a custom size! And it fits like a dream!

outfit details: customized floral print georgette dress c/o eShakti
jewelry by Noonday Collection, shoes from Target, sunglasses from Hello Holiday
photos by Courtney Guest

Thanks so much, eShakti, for my amazing new dress! It fits perfectly, and I can't wait to take it on all sorts of autumnal adventures! I'm so glad that I had the opportunity customize this already gorgeous dress into an even more amazing one to fit my figure and my style!

Important note: I was provided this dress free of charge from eShakti for trying their custom clothing service and posting about my experience with them on the Britt Wit Blog. All thoughts are my own, and I always work with brands that I'd purchase for myself and recommend to my closest friends. If a company provides me an item to feature on my site, I'll always let you know with a little "c/o" in the outfit details! All other items are from my personal closet!

Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking!

3/18/2018

Hello, spring! We've been waiting for you for so long!

Even though Northeast Arkansas had a very mild winter, I've been ready for spring's arrival ever since the last snowflake melted after our first (and only) snowfall. March arrived, the robins appeared, and the daffodils returned. I, in turn, packed away my heavy knits and woolen plaids, trading them for floaty florals and open toed flats. I may have been a little too enthusiastic to welcome spring, seeing as I've had to dig into my storage boxes to retrieve a few cool weather items in the past couple of weeks...but come this Wednesday, spring is here to stay! Hopefully the sunshine and temperatures will decide to stick around as well!

And there's no better way to usher in the new season than with a new spring dress! And do I have the dress for you! I'm currently crushing on this scarlet and turquoise maxi dress from ModCloth.

photos by Courtney Guest

The Fully Fab Long Sleeve Maxi Dress is pretty much everything I love in a spring dress right now. Bright colors, retro-styled florals, flowy fabrics, blousy sleeves...it's practically perfect in every way! It's also in one of my favorite color combinations! And who would've thought? Maxi dresses can even make gals like myself with little short corgi legs feel tall for once...even if we can't reach the sweaters we prematurely stashed away on the top shelf of our closet!

Hurry up, spring! We've been expecting you!

photo and illustration by Brittney Guest

outfit details:
Fully Fab Long Sleeve Maxi Dress from Modcloth
Mediterranean Sea Earrings from Noonday Collection (similar earrings linked)

Vintage Valentines for Children of the 80s

2/11/2018

Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
The '80s were awesome,
and so are you!

I love Valentine's Day! It's easily one of my favorite holidays. Red dresses and tulle skirts, glitter and hearts everywhere, funfetti cupcakes and chocolate covered strawberries...what's not to love?! When I was a little girl, my favorite thing about Valentine's Day, besides my themed outfits and treats my parents would give me, was selecting cards to give to all my friends at my school Valentine's Day party. The Barbie valentines were my favorites. I tried saving one back each year for myself; they were so adorable!

How. Cute. Are. They?! The colors! The vintage outfits! That one with the puppy!!!

30-ish years later, I was able to find a complete set of the amazingly adorable Valentine's cards of my childhood! All thanks to Vintage Hollow's shop on Etsy! She was a joy to work with, so I definitely recommend checking out all the cool stuff in her shop full of flashbacks!

And speaking of amazingly adorable Valentine's cards of my childhood, I'm sharing my favorites that I have received from family, friends and classmates over the years! All you fellow '80s babies may notice some familiar faces...Alf, Garfield, Nermal, Odie, Cabbage Patch Kids, Shirt Tales, Strawberry Shortcake, Big Bird and of course Barbie!

With all this talk of how much I love my Barbie Valentines, the Joan Walsh Anglund card has to be my favorite. It's from my late grandmother. She was a special lady.

All the love to y'all this Valentine's Day! And remember...

all photos and photo styling by Brittney Guest

prop details: pom pom earrings from ban.do, heart earrings and necklace by Vinca USA from Modcloth, All Heart enamel pin from Little Arrow, heart print top from Modcloth, valentine cards from my personal collection

Gotta Put On Your Party Dress

11/19/2017

Have you ever dreamed that you could build your perfect dress? Pick everything from the fabric, color, sleeves, length and details like pockets, bows and embellishments? And in addition to all the fun stuff, it also fits you perfectly? Well, you can! Meet eShakti, your new fashion friend!

When eShakti contacted me about finding my perfect party dress as part of their "Look As Good As You Feel, Feel As Good As You Look" promotion, I was eager to try it out. I quickly fell in love with the Quincy dress in this lovely Seafoam color, but I knew I could make it more "me!" I got rid of the sleeves, turned the neckline into a scoop, and shortened it to above the knee. I of course kept the pockets! I also customized the fit of the dress to work with my measurements. According to their size chart, I'm a size 6 on top and 2 in the hips. My waist measurement; however, isn't even found on the smallest size of their scale. Yep, I definitely needed a custom size! And it fits like a glove. The dress even comes with a bow-adorned belt made to my specifications.

outfit details: customized Quincy dress in Seafoam c/o eShakti
necklace by Eclectic Eccentricity from Modcloth, shoes by Gianni Bini from Dillard's
photos by Courtney Guest

Thanks so much, eShakti, for my amazing new dress! It fits perfectly, and I can't wait to show it off at all my holiday events! I'm so glad that I had the opportunity customize this already gorgeous dress into an even more amazing one to fit my figure and my style!

Now if you would excuse me, my fabulous new dress and I have a party to find!

Important note: I was provided this dress free of charge from eShakti for trying their custom clothing service and posting about my experience with them on the Britt Wit Blog. All thoughts are my own, and I always work with brands that I'd purchase for myself and recommend to my closest friends. If a company provides me an item to feature on my site, I'll always let you know with a little "c/o" in the outfit details! All other items are from my personal closet!

Isn't It Too Hallow-dreamy?

10/31/2017

"I'm Audrey Horne, and I get what I want."

This year, I decided to dress as everyone's favorite troublemaker, teen spy and activist...Twin Peaks' Audrey Horne!

The character of Audrey started out as your typical spoiled little rich girl. Daddy's money buys her all the cool clothes and status she could want in her high school...though she seems to not actually have any friends. She spends her time smoking in the girls' room and trying to derail multi-million dollar business deals with the Norwegians...you know, the usual spoiled rich teen fare.

It's not until the arrival of a certain special agent, that we discover that Audrey's bad girl image has been just that...an image... the entire time. Deep down she's got a heart of gold, she's passionate about the environment, concerned about her community, and she's lonely...very lonely. Without getting too spoilery, I'll just say that I love the growth of her character from a self-absorbed girl to a young woman willing to put it all on the line for the causes and people she's passionate about.

Now that we know Audrey is more than her red lipstick, trendy sweaters, plaid skirts and saddle shoes (or red heels if she's feeling fancy)...let's talk about my Audrey-inspired outfit!

photos by Courtney Guest

I bought this sweater from ModCloth last fall, and I absolutely love wearing it with everything from skirts to jeans.

When Modcloth released their 2017 namesake label pieces, I quickly bought this plaid skirt. It's the perfect skirt for swishing around dreamily to your theme song playing forlornly from a jukebox.

Then I saw these saddle shoes... I had the full intention of just wearing them for this costume, so I bought them at 40% off. They're so cute, I plan on working them into my non-Halloween wardrobe.

Add a little red lipstick and a dramatic eye makeup look...

Et Voila! You're Audrey Horne,

and you'll get what you want! ;)

photo and illustration by Brittney Guest

Happy Halloween, y'all!

One Short Day in Batesville, Arkansas

10/15/2017

photos by Brittney Guest

This past Saturday, my sister Courtney and I traveled to Batesville, Arkansas for a day of perusing local flea markets, tasting delicious dishes, and scoping out the best photo ops. Here's what we saw!

photo by Brittney Guest

First up, was Hidden Treasures Upscale Resale Shop, an awesome shop with great vintage finds where all the proceeds go to benefit the local pregnancy resource center, Alpha Center. And since it's for charity, all purchases are tax free. We had to check it out! Just see what I found!

photo by Courtney Guest

I saw it, and I immediately thought of a dress my Barbie wore back in the "Dynasty" TV show era. It's a NUIT brand, made in the USA, pleated '80s cocktail dress with fully sequined belt. And it was only $20! Of course, I bought it!

photo by Brittney Guest

My sister found an equally amazing and sparkly treasure. This two-piece sequin and silk set is sooooo heavy and is hand beaded. Wow! They just don't make clothes like this anymore!

photo by Courtney Guest

When you see a mural, you gotta take an outfit photo. My Top, Earrings, Sunglasses and Shoes from Modcloth. Jeans from Express.

photo by Brittney Guest

Work it, Courtney! Courtney's Top, Earrings, and Necklace from Modcloth. Jeans from Express. Sunglasses from Target. Sparkle Toms from Style Encore Jonesboro.

After all that shopping and photo posing, we were ready for lunch! Being the Southern ladies we are, Courtney and I stopped in at our favorite spot on Main Street to grab a bite after thrifting...Elizabeth's!

photos by Courtney Guest

After we filled up on rolls and sweet tea, I ordered a turkey wrap and potato salad. It wasn't all that photogenic, so let's just look at these photos of my sister's fruit plate and shrimp scampi.

After lunch we went exploring a bit more, and walked around a courtyard filled with beautiful sun and moon themed mosaics. I really liked this one!

photos by Brittney Guest

All in all, Courtney and I had a simply splendid day...even if I didn't find the vintage aluminum drinkware set I was hunting for! I love having my sister as my best friend!

illustration and photo by Brittney Guest

13.1 Miles for the 13th Annual Heart and Sole

10/1/2017

logo and tee shirt design by Brittney Guest

I love to run. I love to design. I also love to help people and promote causes I care about. One of my clients is Community Health Education Foundation (CHEF). CHEF serves the residents of Northeast Arkansas through health education, screenings and partnerships. Heart and Sole is one of CHEF's biggest fundraisers of the year and also helps educate its participants on the importance of physical activity such as running or walking as a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. There's even a corporate walk to get entire offices involved and training together to get healthy and walk in the event. I turned my health around by walking and then running, so it's no wonder that I love to participate in one of the most fun races held in my town each year! This year, Heart and Sole, for the first time in 13 years, included a Full Marathon in addition to the 5K and Half Marathon. I stuck with the Half Marathon! I MAY work up to the full one day, but I don't see that happening ANY time soon. I'll just be happy with the fact that I'm able to run 13.1 miles non-stop. I'm more proud of the fact that I ran a total of 104.1 miles this month!

illustration and medal design by Brittney Guest

I finished my race in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 33 seconds. Not my fastest half marathon time, but I felt accomplished all the same! Two years ago, I would've laughed if you said that I would love running half marathons. Now I've run 4 of those bad boys, and I'm eagerly waiting to sign up for my 5th.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm entering an important stage of my race training...rest week!

P.S. I'm going to be writing a post in the future all about how I got started running, got healthier, stay motivated, train for a race, etc. If you have any questions or subjects you'd like for me to touch on, leave me a comment! Stay tuned!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

9/24/2017

Hi, everyone! Long time, no see! I took a bit of a summer break from the blog to recharge and do a few things that I enjoy. Wanna know what I did on my summer break? Well, I'll tell ya! It'll be like those vacation slide shows, but way cooler!

I ran. A LOT! I'm running another half marathon this Saturday, so I got a lot of miles in this summer. I'm going to miss those late night summer sunsets. Time to adjust to an autumnal running schedule!

Each year, I try to outdo my own creative abilities to create the most awesome Readers' Choice cover. This year, I spray painted a pineapple gold, dabbed on some colorful paint, and photographed it in my driveway. 400 plus photos later, I had more than enough perfect shots. It was so hard to choose, but everyone loved the final pick!

I ate a lot of waffles, reaching my goal of eating at The Parsonage every weekend this summer.

I picked blueberries from the berry bushes my Papaw planted more than 30 years ago at the Mississippi home where my mom and her siblings grew up. They're more like trees than bushes now!

I had a wonderful birthday! Here's to another great year!

We found a field of sunflowers!

That solar eclipse was pretty awesome! In 7 years, Jonesboro is going to be in the path of totality and we're gonna be so ready!

I'm going to miss you, summer. You were great, but I'm so looking forward to fall!

Shop Like A Local: Hive

5/10/2017

It's no secret that I love fashion. I love any excuse to dress up and pride myself on having the perfect outfit for every occasion. Picnic in the park? Check. Thanksgiving photo shoot at a duck lodge? Got it!

I love shopping online as much as the next girl, okay maybe a bit more, but sometimes you just want to go right into a brick and mortar store, run your fingers through the racks, and try on a few things.

I'm a big believer in supporting the businesses that make your local community great. When you buy from a local retailer, you're not lining the pockets of some distant CEO, you're helping a family in your neighborhood buy their weekly groceries, pay for their child's dance lessons, purchase school supplies. The sales tax collected also goes to help better your local community. I don't know about you, but I'm a fan of traffic control!

My town of Jonesboro is home to many great local boutiques that carry everything from classic styles to super trendy gifts. The latest boutique in town (and my current fave) is Hive.

photo by Brittney Guest for Jonesboro Occasions magazine

This adorable boutique, located at 2810 Highland Drive, puts a vintage twist on modern looks. Women of all ages and sizes can find adorable and affordable looks in this cute shop. The inventory is constantly changing, (They've recently added graphic tees!) and you're sure to always find something you just have to have. I know that's been my case!

photo by Brittney Guest for Jonesboro Occasions magazine

I recently combed the racks of Hive with my best friend and designated shopping partner, Kerri, and we found so many new treasures to add to our wardrobes. Wanna see what I got? Okay, let's check it out!

photo and illustration by Brittney Guest

I just love this soft floral tee! It's casual and just dressy enough that I feel comfy yet put together!

illustration and photo by Brittney Guest • outfit photo by Courtney Guest

Isn't this maxi dress just absolutely dreamy? I wore it for Easter Sunday, and it was so comfy, but still dressy enough for our festivities.

illustration and photo by Brittney Guest • outfit photos by Courtney Guest

And y'all. I bought a romper. And I don't look like a toddler! It's a little low cut, so I bought a raspberry colored bralette from the boutique as well while I was there. Hive seriously has everything, y'all. I think I need a night out in Memphis or something to properly showcase this!

Hope you local honeys decide to fly in to Hive soon to see what the buzz is all about! If you're not in Jonesboro you can shop their Facebook page. And you're in luck...during the month of May, Hive is offering free shipping for anything you order! How cool is that?

Third Time’s The Charm: Half Marathon Edition

4/24/2017

I did it.

I ran my third half marathon this past Saturday.

I ran 13.1 miles in the freaking wind and rain. I didn’t just finish the race, I ran at my fastest pace yet, finishing the course in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 42 seconds. I seriously feel like I can do anything now.

I ran the same course last year on an overcast and dry day, and it took me 2 hours, 26 minutes and 50 seconds to finish.

I’ve only been running for almost 2 years now, so I’ll say that’s a pretty good improvement. (More on my running journey in a later blog post. Promise!)

Want to know what it’s like to run a half marathon? I’ll break it down for you from start to finish…and maybe a little beyond!

Before the Race: I wake up at the ungodly hour of 5:30 in the morning and down a cup of coffee. It’s been storming all night long, and I’ve hardly slept. What am I going to do if a thunderstorm pops up on the course…or worse, the race is cancelled? I eat my pre-long run usual breakfast of waffles and smashed bananas. Runners are a lot like toddlers. We have our routines and have our particular foods we like. I get dressed, switching out my black capris for my bright watercolor printed, half mesh leggings from Modcloth. I’ve gotta have some cuteness for today. I can’t wear all black and expect to been seen in traffic. My neon shoelaces are really standing out.

Riding to the Race: It’s not going to be so bad. It might just stay cloudy. Maybe all the rain moved out overnight.

Before the Start: I observe everyone else, seeing the extent to which people have prepared for the weather. There’s an old man in running shorts and nothing else and a tall college-aged girl in a bright neon rain jacket and even brighter leggings. Maybe if I pin my bib on my shirt and leave my jacket open over it. Yeah, that looks good.

Walking to the Starting Line: It begins to rain. Oh no! Why did I sign up for this? I haven’t EVER run in the rain! Now I’m going to run THIRTEEN POINT FREAKING ONE MILES in it?! This is a march to my imminent doom.

At the Starting Line: I see lots of other runners from all sorts of places. I meet a girl from Canada. She seems nervous too. She says that she’s running races in all 50 states and that this is her 38th. She’s worried about hills. We take selfies and talk about how much we hate wind and love running. We vow to meet up at the finish. The countdown starts, and WE’RE OFF!

Mile 1: This is soooooo easy! Hey, the rain has stopped! I guess I can take off my jacket now. Why did I even bring this? I’m burning UP! I’ll just carry it! A fellow runner says it may be easier to just tie it around my waist. I am stubborn. I keep carrying my jacket.

Mile 2: The jacket is now around my waist. It’s too heavy! I grab a cup of Gatorade at the next water stop and pour half of it down the side of my face as I try to gulp and run. (Do not recommend!) I try to avoid a car (The streets were not fully closed off to traffic.) and another runner slams into me. She yells, “SORRY!” I keep moving.

Mile 3: 5K mark! I check my watch and see that I’ve been running for 28 minutes. I’ve run a sub 30 minute 5K. I begin to cry. Or is it rain? It IS rain. I put my jacket back on.

Mile 4: I spy a dead squirrel in the road and look at the runner next to me. We both frown and say “Awwwwww! Squirrrrrrel!!!” A little ways ahead, there’s a small child in pajamas dancing barefoot in the rain in front of her house.

“Do you realize it’s raining, child?!” a runner asks her.

“YESSSSSSS!” she exclaims and spins in glee.

Mile 5: I’m really grateful for rain jackets. I’m also really impressed that my shoes haven’t gotten soaked yet. So far, I’ve been good at dodging the deep puddles (and roadkill!) The real MVP is my blue ball cap. Seriously, get you a cap to run in. It’s not just great to keep the sun off your face, but to also keep the rain from running into your eyes. The rain slows up. I tie my jacket back around me as I watch two children chase a black standard poodle down the street. “Come back, dog!” they yell. He gone.

Mile 6: I decide to walk through the water stop this time. I walk and drink my Gatorade. I look at my watch. One hour. Dude! I’m doing 10 minute miles! I’m going to PR. Holy Moses on a pogo…yep, that’s a cemetery. Run on by. Run on by. “Daisy Lane…” That’s gotta be a cemetery joke there. The rain picks up. I run on without the jacket, but with the need to add “Pushing Daisies” to my Netflix queue for some reason.

Halfway Point: Oh we’re halfway therrrrrrre! Ohhhhhhh-oh! Lizard on a chaaiiir!

Mile 7: The rain lets up, but the whole street is covered in water. I notice that runners up ahead are jumping onto the sidewalk to make it through. I do that too. I tell the volunteers at the intersection that I didn’t feel like swimming. They laugh. I try to make the volunteers happy. They’re out in this rainy mess too. It’s hard for them, even if they aren’t the ones doing the running.

Mile 8: I slow to a walk as I grab a Gatorade from a soaked volunteer. I smile and tell her she’s doing a good job. I launch the cup into the trash can. She shoots! She scores! Uh, nope! Runners suck at basketball. The heavens open up and Mother Nature just decides to give it all she’s got. The jacket goes on, but I’m already soaked to the core.

Mile 9: Someone on the side of the road yells, “You’re almost there!” NO, I’M NOT!!!

Mile 10: The sides of my knees start to ache, but I keep running. I’ve gotta get out of this rain. The sooner I finish, the sooner I get to my fluffy pink towel and some waffles at The Parsonage.

Mile 11: I’m back near campus. A car runs through a puddle and sprays me with water. My shoes are now soaked. I’m almost to the finish line. Man, traffic is really backed up…what if no one is there to meet me, because I ran so fast that they’re still stuck in traffic? Why did I run so fast? I don’t want to cross the finish line and beat my people there who wanted to see me finish! I run faster.

Mile 12: I need to take a walk break. The strong wind and rain is keeping me from running up the hill like I wanted to. A volunteer holding a large red umbrella and wearing a mostly dry rain jacket complains about the wind and rain. I wipe the snot and rain from my face and tell her that I’m actually enjoying the weather. I hate this. I really hate this.

Mile 13: Oh bless it! I’m here! I tear off my jacket so everyone can see my bib number as I near the finish line. Yes! I’m gonna beat my time! I’m gonna… I see my boyfriend and sister.

The Finish Line: I tear across the finish line holding my sopping wet jacket. I hear the announcers. “Brittney Guest! 2 hours, 18 minutes, 42 seconds!” I’m handed my medal. I immediately go for hugs and saturate my beloved peeps with with rain, sweat and tears. I did it. I want to do it again.

After the Finish Line: I look for my Canadian friend, but she’s nowhere to be seen at the expo. I go to change clothes and it takes me pretty much the same amount of time it took me to run the dang race. Changing out of cold wet spandex is what I actually got a medal for.

I go home, shower and begin a wonderful lazy and celebratory day with my boyfriend. Waffles are on the menu.

This was the day I ran 13.1 miles in the rain. I didn’t wait for the storm to pass. I ran through it. There’s a lesson to be learned there, I guess.