Key Peace

RIP Matthew Ainsworth 30 April 1989 - 26 Mar 2011

2011-03-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

Cherish the things you have today. Because tomorrow they could be gone forever.

Rest in Peace biffle. I miss you and I love you. I know you're loving having all the secrets if the universe. And meeting Elizabeth Taylor. Wish you were here but I'm glad you're safe in heaven if you can't be here with me.

Love Day

2011-02-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Day!

Its warm today, despite the snow. Its time for summer Pennsylvania, hurry up!

Luscious

2010-07-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

Its no secret that I'm a little obsessed with design. In 9th grade I took an interior design class because I was convinced it was my future. Then I realized that unless I acquired a rich husband first that goal was just not practical. Here are some amazing inspirational rooms I would absolutely love to live in.

It also bears no surprises that I'm completely infatuated with Chandeliers. My freshman year of college my roommate and I were known fondly as 'the Chandelier girls' because of the Chandelier I so lovingly hung from the ceiling. A lovely touch for a drab college dorm room.

From Architectural Digest, Domino (RIP), and The Selby.

Blast From the Past

2010-07-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends. This post is happening because I stumbled upon some of my friend Salina's photography and voraciously went searching for more. These were taken Senior year of high school for a photography project. The above photo was entered into a photo contest and won! The following were for a project based on Alice in Wonderland. See more of Salina's photography here. Enjoy.

The week is new and so far, so good. Work flew by today while I indulged into a new book by Sarah Dessen, an easy read. Thunder is threatening the skies right now and through the shades I can faintly see the flashes of lightning. Time to take cover.

Brittany

Epically Overdue

2010-07-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

So, I've been epically busy over the past few weeks and finally took last night to recuperate and just sleep off all the fatigue I've been building up.
Fourth of July week/weekend was amazing with boating, jet skiing, getting the boat stuck 10 feet into the marsh and pulling it out with the jet ski, Gaga, family fun, bananagrams (a game similar to scrabble but different), neon nail polish, more boating, more jet skiing, a little bit of working, celebrating life with summer friends, more jet skiing (you get the picture), a little shopping, a lot of thunderstorms, and finally a little relaxation.
The sunset on the way to the shore was incredible.

American Apparel apparently discontinued the skirt I planned on owning for Lady Gaga but no fear, I came up with a lovely outfit nonetheless. No pictures were captured of such thing besides the headband and the peek of the sequin tube top here. I wore a black flared tube top and a black tube skirt. Plus my new Steve Madden's that I got for a mere $60.

The show was incredible. The most bizarre thing I've ever seen in my life, but also one of the most amazing.

I've been making myself amazing meals lately. This is a roasted eggplant panini with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta. My new obsession.

The sun seemed almost sad for us to be finally leaving the beach and heading home... I too am sad. But hopefully I'll be back before long. Pool day today. Perhaps I'll bring the camera out and show some actual outfit posts.

Enjoy the sun!

List: To See

2010-07-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

Since my return from Ireland, and since it is summer, land of sun, heat, and vacation, I've started making a list of my "most wanted to see" places on earth.

Stargazing

The Atacama Desert in Chile is said to have the clearest night sky in the world.

Mother Nature's Wonder

I saw the little known, and much smaller Wiamea Canyon on the island of Kauai in Hawaii and ever since I've been dying to see the Grand Canyon in all its... well, Grandness.

Relaxation

The boyfriend is always talking up the beauty of Bora Bora (not that he's ever been) and I'm starting to see where he's coming from.

Party People

Vegas. Enough said?

Culture

Reading Eat, Love, Pray really left me intrigued by the remote Indonesian destiantion of Bali. Although, the remoteness may make the transit quite taxing.

Iconic

Yes, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was filmed here, and yes, that is what inspired me to lust over this picturesque island. Santorini is probably also one of the most touristy islands in Greece, and one I did not make it to on my Eurotrip, but I'm still convinced it would be an experience worth having.

The list goes on and the list will continue to grow. (There's still a lot of America I desperately want to see, first on the list is Nashville.)

Any destinations you crave?

Brittany

Newsworthy

2010-06-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

I spend hours a day surfing the internet for interesting and exciting things. (My boss is currently struggling with finding work for me to do, but I can't complain, he's paying me for it.)

Last night I was able to share lots of worthwhile news with my boyfriend and our standard double-date couple. Here's some newsworthy world goings-on for you to educate yourself on.

Alien Planet

Flying Car

Its apparently a slow news day...

Additionally, Last night was the premiere of Twilight's third installment, Eclipse. I will not lie and say I did not buy midnight tickets for New Moon, but it was more for the event itself than the actual movie. I mean, who wouldn't want to see teenage girls scream over Robert Pattinson's overly coiffed hair??
Anyway, I'm going to remain neutral and assert that while I am not the biggest fan, I do not hate Twilight either. So for your enjoyment, one of my favorites, The Oatmeal has presented an informative summation of "How Twilight Works"

Lastly, I've got big plans for the fourth of July... GAGA! Boyfriend's father was kind enough to get me tickets for which I am eternally grateful. I've spent the day deciding what to wear and am still a little unsure but this is what I am thinking:

Oh, also, I decided to be super cliche for my text there... sorry for the lack of creativity. :/

Love, Brittany

Channelling...

2010-06-25T17:49:00.000-07:00

I bought this belt in Ireland from (one of many) favorite stores: Accessorize. I've never been much an accessories person, but this store is just unbelievably beautiful. The patterns, colors, inspirations quenched my appetite every time I entered. The prices weren't really ideal for accessories though, especially when converting the euros to US dollars... so this is the one and only article I purchased there.

Dress: Old Navy, Belt: Accessorize, Cardigan: Lucky, Nails: OPI Cancun Fiesta, Greek Evil Eye Bracelet I wear daily (it hasn't been doing so great warding off bad things lately.)

TGIF, this week has been a mess and concurrently I've gone a bit nutzo. Spending hours on end driving a day all alone really increases aggression and stifles human contact. Especially since Oprah curses me every time I consider texting while driving.

Massive party tomorrow for the Brother's High School Graduation. Congrats Kiddo. ;)

Hope the evil avoids you, Brittany

Fresh Start

2010-06-20T15:31:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends! I'm Brittany. Formerly one half of "Brittany & Sara" from ParteaintheGarden, I've decided to start anew here at Key Peace. I may share some adventures, inspirations, or obsessions here, although what is to come is very much unknown to me at this point.

I've just recently, as in the past three hours, begun to take photographs with the fervor that I once did. Here's what has come of my reversion:

Dress: Free People, Shoes: apt 9, Key: Father's obscure finding

A lot of them came out completely overexposed by complete luck. (I say luck because the effect only seems appropriate when acquired by such unintentional means.)

Bought the dress yesterday at my local Free People store where the employees exceeded my certainly high standards of customer service. Thumbs up, FP, you're my fave.

Be sure to return. I love friends. I've imported my old posts below for both historic and viewing purposes. And check out my former partner Sara's posts on ParteaintheGarden!

Brittany

I Want To Visit Faraway Places

2010-05-19T04:37:00.000-07:00

I guess I'll never get over it.
I've been home for three days now and I absolutely love it. I couldn't be happier.
Unless of course I was in the execution stages of running my own business.
Or if I had a job at Free People.
I guess those things just aren't in the cards for me right now.
Still working on succeeding. Since I'm most likely.
Apparently.

Summer is finally here though and I won't let it pass me by.
Catching up after being away four months is proving more difficult than expected.
I feel like I have to remind people I still exist.
No worries, I finally found my Lilac nail polish.
Some things Ireland just couldn't do for me.
No regrets ever.

Brittany

Documentation

2010-05-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

Cliffs of Moher

It rather upsets me when I think about all the time I've spent in Ireland and the little documentation I have of the country itself.
I tried so hard to focus on being "in the moment" to experience things rather than capturing them on film.
This would be an admirable thing for a person to do in theory, Live the memory rather than simply capturing it on film to live at some later time. Yet, I used to be a photographer. I used to enhance my view of the world by seeing it through a lens. I've been too busy trying to live like I'm supposed to to live like I WANT to.
Here are some rare documented sights.

Gap of Dunloe--Killarney

Eastern Shores--Ring of Kerry

Waterville--Ring of Kerry

Moll Gap--Ring of Kerry

The end is feeling eternal. And yet the end will come.

xoxoBrittany

Every Day is Sunday.

2010-05-04T04:09:00.000-07:00

Lately this has been me. I went a bit psycho yesterday and needed some comfort food to bring me back to Earth.

Most unfortunately the bedroom I've been stuck in doesn't quite resemble these... Perhaps if it did I'd never want to leave. But for now I'm taking my studying elsewhere... Starbucks anyone?

xoxo Brit

I'll Eat You Up, I Love You So

2010-05-02T08:48:00.000-07:00

Two weeks left in the land of the Leprechauns. Two agonizing weeks of studying and LEARNING before I'm free for the Summer! Burning with anticipation!

Long car rides, bare feet, lots and lots of ice cream.

No Pants... ;)

Of course I'll miss the life of picking up to transverse national borders every other weekend and indulging on everything I can get my eyes on. I'm not done seeing the world yet.

Cliffs of Moher

2010-04-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

Roadtripped across Ireland this weekend. The rain really does seem to put a damper on things. Pun intended.

Most Prized Possessions.

2010-03-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

Current Pet Peeves:

When people neglect to cut the thread from the slit on the back of a jacket. They just look silly.
Dirty Dishes.
Disrespect.

This photo made me break my ban on coffee. At least I didn't pull out a big spoonful of Nutella instead... god knows I would have loved it.

Things I would save in a fire:
-Bubba, my teddy bear.
-I guess my laptop, so I could stay in contact with the world. Contact is important.

I'm all over the place today. Classes keep getting cancelled. It leaves me feeling... disheveled.

xoxo Brittany

Everything I Want.

2010-03-26T05:53:00.000-07:00

Clockwise from top left: Free people, House of Harlow, FP, FP, Rachel Pally, Madison Marcus, Jeffrey Campbell, Nightcap Clothing, Cleobella

I'm going through shopping withdrawal. Travelling the world really wrings my wallet dry. Not that there was much to begin with.

I've learned you can know a lot about someone without really knowing who they are.

Things you should know about me, but that won't really tell you who I am:
1. I hate raisins.
2. I'm deathly afraid of fish
3. I love thunderstorms
4. I wish everyone would just get along
5. I'm a morning person
6. I surround myself with pretty things
7. Grande, Nonfat Peppermint Latte, Extra-hot, no foam. Please.
8. I can rarely sit through a whole movie.
9. I cross off the days on my calendar.
10. I love myself. More most people are willing to admit.

Share Secrets

xoxoBrittany

Oyster Shells

2010-03-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

For some reason this reminds me of Pokemon.

Family Dinner tonight. With my surrogate family. Love making family out of friends.

Be friends, and Family.

xoxo Brittany

Fantasies

2010-03-23T14:19:00.000-07:00

Such amazing things can be captured on film.

Craving the beach like one craves a chocolate cake. I feel it inside me. Summer can't come too soon...

Love

xoxo Brittany

World Travellers

2010-03-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

I'm Home. In Dublin at least. Above is the "John Lennon Wall" in Prague.

Gelato in Venice. Godly. I must've had 5 servings of gelato in the 3 days that we were in Italy. Tirimisu, Nutella, Coffee, Bailey's, you name it. Incredible.

We were attacked by snow. In Italy. Please tell me someone saw this coming?

The Vatican.

Athens. This was the most beautiful view I caught. The streets are littered with nagging peddlers and the buildings all seem to be defaced by graffiti. But the sunset was incredible.

The Greek island of Aegina. My mother and I have so long dreamed about going to a Greek Island. Maybe one day she'll come with me. Its the closest to the beach I've been in a long time.

Dreaming of the sand and the water and the sun...

I've got a lot of current obsessions. Health, fitness, nutrition, studying, beautiful photos, and Avoca.

Love yourself.

xoxo Brittany

Hiatus

2010-03-06T15:37:00.000-08:00

ffffound

Off to travel Europe. Prague, Venice, Rome, Athens.

Look out world.

xo Brittany

This is for You.

2010-03-03T08:32:00.000-08:00

flickr

For Better or For Worse.

Forever...is a very long time.

2010-03-02T14:57:00.000-08:00

I loved us.

via. fuckyeahskinnybitch and ffffound

Two days in a row. Pat on the back to me.

I've taken to putting important equations on my walls. Hopefully it helps me remember them. Maybe that's why people keep pictures of their friends around. So we don't forget.

I'm only me, but I'm better with you.

xo Brittany

Don't Let Them See Your Face.

2010-03-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

I'm playing invisible.

via. ffffound, and fuckyeahskinnybitch

Paris was last weekend. What they don't tell you is that the Eiffel Tower is actually painted brown. If its just a matter of paint something shiny would be preferred.
I feel like Carmen Sandiego. Where in the world am I?

Be you.

xoxo Brittany

You'll See the World, The World Will See You

2010-02-06T14:32:00.000-08:00

Hello! Its been eternity.
I've been a bit busy. Although I've been going on inspiration overdrive. Lighting has been really catching my eye lately. Maybe because the sun doesn't often shine in Ireland... Here are some of my current favorites.

All from FuckYeahSkinnyBitch.

Here's a little glimpse of what I've been upto.

Essentially I've been living in this outfit. Travel attire.
The stars are out tonight. Its probably the first time I've seen them. The clouds just don't seem to go away. While home glistens with snow, I manage to bear the cats and dogs. The temperature is pretty moderate though. And the constant rain really does create the greenness that this country is famous for. Change of hair color was necessary too. My locks were turning brassy and I was fitting in with the natives. Being American is so interesting to the Irish.

Missing home, but loving the land of the leprechauns...

Love from abroad

xoxo Brittany

I Remember You Now...

2009-10-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

I haven't been around for a while. Some recent inspirations...

All photos from flickr...

Halloween celebrations all weekend! Makeshift librarian costume last night. Some boy gave me his Zorro hat and I confused everyone with my diverse costume. I've got some sequin shorts to throw on for tonight... We'll see how this turns out.

Happy Halloween! Brittany

Treasures of the World Wide Web

2009-07-23T05:57:00.000-07:00

Work has been monotonous lately so I've been scouring the internet (mostly digg and related links) to find the most interesting things happening in the world today.

For the interior designer in you, these fridges are not only functional but also pretty cool looking. I can't say I'm particularly a huge fan of the non-traditional design, I'd prefer a sleek nondescript refrigerator myself, but I can definitely appreciate the genius behind the idea.

I can't say I'm particularly surprised by the lengths people go to make a statement in fashion. This one however, crosses a line I'd dare not touch. My personal verdict is clearly, No, I would not wear clothing made out of condoms.

Stumbled upon this recipe that both excites, and scares me. I guess when you need your fix, 5 minute Chocolate Cake could really hit the spot. Maybe I'll make my boyfriend try it first though... ;)

I'll try to come up with an outfit post soon. I haven't been wearing much more than a construction vest and a hard hat lately...

Love, Brittany

Sail the Ocean Blue

2009-07-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

I've been on vacation for the past week. Which you might have picked up on had you been paying attention.

Documentation in the form of photographs:

Brandy and Louie, what charmers they were. I need a pit bull now. A baby one. Before it feels the urge to bite off people's hands.

Bathing suit: Old Navy//Cardigan: Banana Republic\\Shoes: Havaianas Flash (they're actually really cool and different, but its difficult to see)//Hat: borrowed from the Beau.

Ferry ride from Lewes, DE to Cape May, NJ.

Note the scrunchie. Love the 90s. In a completely sincere way. And they don't leave a kink in your hair when you remove them. Plus, I forgot to bring any other type of hair fastener with me. Forty pounds of luggage and no hair ties. Figures.

What I would give to go right back to this moment....

Listening to Coldplay's Life in Technicolor.

And Israel Kamakawiwo's Somewhere over the Rainbow.

I wish I had more photos, but I was busy enjoying the moment and forgot to capture it on film. I can't say I'm too particularly upset about it. Also, blogger is being dumb right now and not letting me upload anything else.

On the agenda is painting some art for my father. He requests it not be "too effeminate." I told him that didn't make sense.

Made some cupcakes yesterday, I'll share if you want some, I can't eat them all by myself

-Brittany

White on White

2009-06-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

I am too ghostly for summer and Jergens smells like maple syrup. Yum, I'm a waffle.

Raybans: Vintage (Stolen from Daddy), Blazer: Urban, V: AA, Jeans: Bullhead Denim, Shoes: Enzo Angiolini

I've had my eye on white jeans lately and when accosted by a saleslady urging me to pick out another pair of jeans I decided to finally take the plunge.

I'm super nervous about spilling something on them/sitting in something/being greeted by muddy dogs/falling into a tar pit but I'll just have to do my best to keep my whites their whitest. After all, white pants make white legs slightly less transparent.

Three more work days until VACATION! I'm jumping out of my pasty skin here with anticipation. The Jersey Shore, endearingly referred to as "America's armpit" (among other things), is waiting for my arrival as eagerly I'm sure as I yearn for it. Gray oceans and gray seagulls, sticky air and sticky fingers, pizza, sunscreen, drunken fools, Ahh... Summer. :)

Most delicious fruit salad I've ever concocted. Strawberries, Blueberries, Pineapple, Kiwi, Grapes, and a little bit of Mango. Godly. And of course my Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte, Extra Hot, No Foam.

Be Sweet

-Brittany

Lusting....

2009-06-19T04:48:00.000-07:00

Peeking shyly through my window, the sun finally arrived this morning. Granted, the weather has yet to become ideal, but when coupled with the fact that yesterday was PAYDAY I'm doing some summer shopping. Inspiration shopping really, as internships don't generally lend themselves to expendable bank accounts.

No less enamored am I with these pieces.

Clockwise from top left: LNA, LaROK, LaROK, Mike & Chris, RayBan, Pencey, Rebecca Minkoff, LNA.

Photos: Shopbop and Free People

Its Friday, Get the Partea Started,

xoxo Brittany

Never Call Me Ma'am

2009-06-18T05:09:00.000-07:00

The sky is a perpetually ominous and gray. It's heartbreaking.
I want the sun and a boat.

These Diesel ads intrigue me. Making light of a real issue. (This is where I announce: "Save the Earth" while flashing peace signs and a garish grin.) I mock myself.

Just started a Hostessing job in addition to my forty hours a week filing papers for bureaucracy. The whole Hooters thing would never have worked out so well for my dignity.

I'm going to shake things up. I'm going to discover Mayan Temples. I don't know what I'm talking about anymore.

Please, If you ever work in customer service, unless a woman is gray-haired and wrinkled, refer to her as "Miss" as opposed to "Ma'am." The latter is slightly insulting to a girl of nineteen. And presumably any woman under the age of seventy.

If I had one superpower it would be Teleportation. That way I could save myself the $500 in airfare to go West.

Love You, Brittany

Farm Girl

2009-06-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hanes T, Shorts; H&M, Cardi; Old Navy, Vans (I don't think I've worn these in a year)

My summer internship is excruciatingly boring. Tedious at times, but most often just boring.

Hence I must find super exciting things to do to make up for the time I spend being an anti-productive engineer.

Cory and I went on an adventure. Constituted as such because I refused to tell him where we were going... (considering I didn't know myself where I was leading him.)

Notice the John Deere...

And then we got ice cream... and as a tribute to Sara and her obsession with food photos we captured this lovely shot of me engorging myself.

Enjoy

-Brittany

Chipmunk Cheeks

2009-05-13T15:36:00.000-07:00

Home lends little to productivity. Send me back to school.

Boots: TJ Max, Leggings: AA, Jacket: Free People

Nothing new, these were taken a little bit ago for a school project.

I love this jacket despite being called "Peter Pan" every time I wear it.

Wisdom teeth came out Monday. Hence, no current photos. I'm a chipmunk.

More or Less.

-Brittany