Each week our team will drop some knowledge on how they style. Subscribe and get your fashion tip of the week.
.jpeg)
I’ve been a fan of Bethenny Frankel since her RHONY days! In fact, some of my favorite memories from living in the Carolinas were my Bethenny Frankel -inspired Friday night lawn parties with my neighbor. Yes, it sounds trashy.. but trashy can be fun! Every Friday we’d dress up cute, bust out our lawn chairs, and drink a bottle of Skinnygirl margaritas while talking the night away. Looking back on it now, it’s a time I hold close to my heart; just like the summer when I splurged on a pool raft and her book, A Place of Yes. By fall(-ish), I landed my first TV job. So when I started to see her commercials for “Bethenny”, I had to watch. I mean, her margaritas and self-help book got me through some “happy, free, confused, and lonely… miserable and magical” times (22 might be long and gone for me, but I can still relate to Taylor Swift on that one!). So, when I saw @Bethenny’s trivia question pop up on my twitter feed, I had to answer!
The next thing I know, I have a DM from @bethenny and team wanting to know my address and body shaper size! How cool is that?! I wasn’t sure what was coming in the mystery Bethenny Frankel box, but I was “Friday night lawn chair party” excited! You can imagine my surprise when I opened my box full of goodies. If you want to #SnagBSwag make sure to watch her show, follow her on twitter and answer one of her trivia questions using the #SnagBSwag. It’s that easy!
1. Skinnygirl Solutions- Lace Shaping Boyshort
.jpeg)
I’ll never forget watching myself on TV for the first time and all I could notice were my panty-lines. I was horrified… no, make that mortified. I went out that DAY and bought every kind of body shaper that I could get/afford. Broke, but panty-line free, I quickly became the “Body Shaper Queen”. Somewhere along the way, I convinced myself that the uglier and more uncomfortable they were, the better I looked. Boy was I wrong. My mother is right… I am a masochist! Thank goodness for #SnagBSwag because Skinnygirl Solutions has the sexy lingerie look I WANT and the support I NEED. Even my husband was shocked! And for $22.00, my 29(ish) butt status is now back to 22 in these shapers. That’s one heck of a bargain!
2.. Skinnygirl Lip Care-Plumping Tinted Lip Gloss
.jpeg)
3. Skinnygirl- Tinted Daily Moisturizer
.jpeg)
I’ve been on the hunt for a lighter foundation because of all the blackheads I’ve been rock’n on my chin and nose. Seriously?! Where are they all coming from? I thought that was the perk of not being 22… being “blackhead-free”! Going “foundation-free” isn’t an option for me because of the VERY dark circles under my eyes. I’m a hot mess, I know. I’ll admit that I have a pre-conceived notion of tinted daily moisturizer, but thankfully my tweet to @bethenny #SnagBSwag changed my mind (and my face!) I love the “refreshing” look it gives my face!
So what are you waiting for?! Start tweeting… your butt will thank you for #SnagBSwag. Visit TheRealHousewifeOfCouponCounty.com!
Cheers to the Journey,
ßrittany ßegley
Before & After Picture:
Tell us why you want to try Hollywood 48-Hour Miracle Diet in the comment section and we will pick one lucky winner to try a bottle!
The truth is, I’ve been on a diet since I was 13; you would think by now I’d be an expert in weight loss. During my pregnancy, I celebrated everyday as if it were a national holiday to eat…which is how I happily gained 90 pounds while pregnant. When I landed my first TV job, I used my “green and growing” status as an excuse to eat anything and everything. I guess I was trying to eat away all the stress that comes with reporting on live TV. What can I say?- I have an intense passion to eat, and am ready to use any excuse available to do so!
Now that I’m older, I celebrate progress over perfection. In my younger days, when I would fall off track, I would REALLY let myself fall off the rails! I had an all-or-nothing mentality. I would binge on a whole pizza, fast food burgers or any kind of donut that would fit in my mouth. ( I told you I have food problems…) But now when I head astray, I recognize it, put the pizza box down and walk away. That’s when I call in my “Skinny” reinforcements: Hollywood 48-Hour Miracle Diet! Because let’s face it – sometimes we all need a little ‘miracle’ to get back on track! And although getting on the Hollywood “2-Day” plan can be a shock to my pizza and donut-loving system, I must say, I LOVE the results!
So if you feel like you’re “heading off the rails”, or just want to look good for the holidays, you’re in luck! #RHOCC and Hollywood 48-Hour Miracle Diet is giving a bottle away to one lucky reader! Just tell us why you want to try Hollywood 48-Hour Miracle Diet in the comment section and we will pick one lucky winner to try a bottle! What’s not to love about that?!
So how does it work?
- Lose up to 10 pounds in 48 hours!™ Success is only 48 hours away. Lose weight naturally, while you detox, cleanse and rejuvenate your body. The little-known secret to burning fat!
The official directions: Follow this diet plan for the next two days: Mix one 4 oz. serving of concentrate with 4 oz. of bottled water. Sip over the next 4 hours. Repeat this 3 more times during the rest of the day. In addition, drink at least 8 glasses of water. IMPORTANT: For best results, do not consume food, alcohol, caffeine or tobacco while on the Hollywood 48-Hour Miracle Diet.
If that seems scary and unrealistic for you, have no fear – a dietician from LA Weight Loss gave me the following weight loss plan when I was trying to lose all the baby weight. Below is the plan I used for my results!
Two Day Take-Off: Follow this diet plan for the next two days
- 6oz protein for the day – You’ll want to have lean chicken, beef or egg whites
- Unlimited raw green vegetables
- Use oil and vinegar, or light salad dressings on your salads
- Drink 16 oz Hollywood 48-Hour Miracle Diet mixed with 16 oz water throughout the day
- 8 glasses of water
As my diet coach used to tell me, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” but we all know getting to your “skinny” can be hard. Thankfully, you’re not alone. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions – let’s talk about it! Lord knows I have years of experience when it comes to weight loss and I love learning new tricks! So if you’re up for the weight loss challenge, tell us why you want to try Hollywood 48 Miracle Diet in the comment section and we will pick one lucky winner to try a bottle! If you want to post your Hollywood 48-Hour Miracle Diet before and after pictures, tweet them to me @BrittanyBegley! I would love to post your success to #RHOCC! TheRealHousewifeOfCouponCounty.com
Growing up as a daughter of an artist, homemade Halloween costumes were the norm! And twenty-something years later, I have to admit my mom never failed in the creative costume department. However, one year was an exception; the year I went as an exotic dancer. In all actuality, it was a butterfly costume, but I thought butterflies were lame. A “diva-esque” temper tantrum occurred, so in frustration she jokingly told me that it was an exotic dancer costume. You can imagine her surprise when I came home with a stack of ones in my trick or treat bag! OK, that part DIDN’T really happen, but we still laugh about the exotic dancer/butterfly incident to this day!
In my mother’s DIY spirit, I now offer up two last-minute homemade costumes; none of which will be mistaken for exotic dancers. They do however look like they came straight out of Amy Sedaris’, “Crafts for Poor People”!
1. Jelly Fish
I was having a fat day, so Mr.Housewife filled in for me!
On a budget? No problem. Only have 30 minutes to make a costume? We’ll have you looking like a Real Housewife in under 30 minutes……..ok, I can’t promise that either. But I can promise that I made this from stuff around the house!
What you’ll need:
- Umbrella
- Package of Reynolds Wrap
- Bubble wrap
- Ribbon
- 6 glow sticks
- Clear Tape
- Floss
- Bigger than life personality!
Wrap the Reynolds Wrap around the outside of the umbrella. Cut your bubble wrap and ribbons in long strips. Tape in place around the edge of the umbrella. Use your floss to thread glow sticks on each string. Tape in place in between the bubble wrap and ribbons. Wrap the inside of the umbrella with Reynolds Wrap.
2. Mr. Lego-
By now you’ve probably figured out that I’m not the “craft-iest” chick on the block but it’s the thought that counts, right? This costume is super cute but attaching the bowls is harder than it looks!
Mr. Housewife sure does look happy to be a Lego!
What you’ll need:
- Large box
- Blue Painters tape
- Blue Solo bowls
- Stapler
- Clear tape
Tape your box with the Blue Painters tape. Congratulations, you’re almost finished! Staple the six bowls onto the box. (Super glue, tape and crying won’t do the trick, believe me I tried!) Tape the inside of the box, so that you don’t poke the person wearing the costume.
In my younger days, I would have labeled my costume attempts as an epic failure just like the butterfly costume. But now I appreciate all the years my mom crafted my costumes; it’s totally the foundation of my personality!
Cheers to the Journey,
Brittany Begley
@BrittanyBegley
TheRealHousewifeOfCouponCounty.com
I don't know about you, but with the holidays so close, I'm in my FULL "Real Housewife of Coupon County" -mode! What better way to kick off the holiday season than by entering a really cool contest! And get this; you can win pasta for a year from Brio Tuscan Grille just by posting a picture on their facebook page of how much you love pasta. Finally, a contest I can actually win using my loves for Carbo-loading and selfies.
(Instagram models rejoice)
Think you have what it takes to win? Browse for ideas below and of course vote for your favorite pasta picture below.
1. Carbo-loading and selfies run in my family! Vote for Chance --> http://bit.ly/19NSh9t
.jpeg)
2. I literally LOL when I saw my facebook friend's picture! Vote for Marty- http://bit.ly/1d0toym
.jpeg)
3. My neighbor's sons are so cute. Vote for Alicia's sons--> http://bit.ly/1gO1kOR
.jpeg)
Do you have a cute pasta picture? Let us see them! And when you win, let's have lunch....on you of course! To view official contest rules---> http://www.brioitalian.com
Cheers to the journey,
Brittany Begley
Tweet me @BrittanyBegley
.jpeg)
For the past two years as morning traffic reporter, I've been committed to getting people to work on time. Getting up the middle of the night - no problem. Over turned tractor trailer - I'm on it. Interstate shut down - I'll find you a faster option before you're even out of bed. In it to win it attitude, total commitment. I loved it and lived it. Life was good... until my husband told me he had accepted his dream job in Ohio. Of course, I had mixed emotions. Soon after that, I traded in my traffic badge for the morning mom badge.
The truth is I was scared as hell to get Chance off to school every morning. After all, my husband had horror stories to tell from his first year of getting Chance to the bus stop on time. Thank goodness, his new school started 2 hours later, so at least something was working in my favor. Before I knew it, I was rocking a perfect morning routine and even managed to carve in coffee-in-bed time! Life was good... until I heard a loud shrill from the other room. 'Mommmmmmm, my homework is due today, not Friday! I can't go to school without my reading picture!" Apparently my initial reaction to this sudden outburst wasn't good enough because the shrill evolved into a full-fledged fit in under 60 seconds. This was worse than a 10-car pile-up in the middle of I-77 at the height of rush hour... and I had no alternate routes! Seriously?! I was lost. I was never going to get him out the door in twenty minutes. I knew this child was not leaving the house without his homework finished. (Maybe if I would have had his work ethic, I wouldn't have been held back in 2nd grade). So now I needed a picture of him reading (laminated, no less!), with an accompanying Chance-authored story to boot. Really?
The next thing I know, I'm driving to Kinkos, in the rain, in my pajamas, with my tank on E. Talk about a perfect storm of HOT MESS! Thankfully, no one in Columbus knows me or I would really be embarrassed. As I took a couple of deep breaths and fought the traffic, I could hear sniffles in the background and see big blue watery eyes staring at me. Ah, I couldn't even fight this one. It was partly my fault anyway. So as Chance reminded me to text his teacher every 30 seconds, i agreed and like Nemo, I kept swimming.
.jpg)
Amongst this chaos, the project still got written and laminated, and we coasted to school on fumes. However, the big Mom-payoff was when Chance told me how much he loved me and his paper. And as I watched him walk down the hall (albeit late, but thanks to Chance, his teacher had been informed via text), so very proud of his homework, what more could I ask for?! After all, we raise our children to go after whatever it is in life they want regardless of what stands in their way. And that afternoon, when Chance came home and told me that they couldn't hang his picture up because it was laminated, I had to laugh. What made it even sweeter was that his teacher sent me an email telling me what a great child he was, caring and sweet, and that he always gives his best!
So maybe I didn't get Chance to school on time, and maybe my "perfect" morning routine was shattered less than a month into the school year; I wouldn't have it any other way. Because in life, plan A rarely works, and in our house, we celebrate the moments when we surprise ourselves with a kickass plan B or plan C (or maybe even a plan K!)
.jpeg)
Cheers to the journey,
Brittany
Brittany
It’s September.
It’s football season.
Kick off is in a few hours.
In fact, did you know that there are literally thousands of football games every week?
And I'm only talking about college and NFL games too!
And that means you can expect to lose your man every weekend through the beginning of the year. And guess what, it extends through Monday nights and Thursday nights too!
It seems like the whole world is into it...except you.
And that’s fine.
I’ve written this guide to help wives and girlfriends get through football season.
(For those ladies who finally concede and to wish to start learning, check out my Football 101 Guide.)
But first, let's see what real men had to say. I had an impromptu men’s roundtable, and asked “what they wished their lady understood about game day.”
Beau: 42 & married, broadcaster, Atlanta, GA“I actually prefer sports to be my own domain - an item of my life largely unshared so I suppose the burden for my wife is even greater. Sports is a big part of who I am. Learning to accept that is a part of learning to deal with me. I encourage her to create a separate area of her life even away from me that she can enjoy. That can and often does include spending a whole lot of money while I am watching sports.”
Scotty: 29 & single, promotions producer, Charlotte, NC“I wish whoever I am dating at the time would understand that it is more than just the games on the weekend. I actually have a lot of money riding on it, because I am in three fantasy football league.”
Freddie: 34 & single, former NFL player, Tampa, FL“Respect my pass time or hobbies like watching football, just like I respect yours (shopping, soap operas and the reality tv mess you watch). Don't set double standards when it's convenient for you. There must be a compromise, because God knows that reality TV mess is not making our relationship stronger.”
Jonathan: 30 & single, entrepreneur, Greensboro, NC“It's give and take. You don't have to like it to still love me enough to accept it on game day.”
There it is. This is what men really want and how they think about “game day”, despite what we want them to think.
It’s like finding out men don’t like Uggs Boots and animal print, despite how much you wish they did because you love them so. (Click here to see my story where I hit the streets to find out men’s thoughts on fashion!)
So let’s address what these men said and leads into my first tip.
#1 Accept it.
Take a deep breath, and now exhale. Girlfriend, it’s not going away; and I know you think it sucks. But the sooner you realize that “this is your life” and you love your man enough to let him have these days of couch potatoing, the less “nagging” you’ll do, the happier he’ll be and the more peaceful your household will run in return.
Once you accept it, the good news is that you don’t really have to be involved. Remember, Beau said “I actually prefer sports to be my own domain.” So there is no expectation for you to be is “rah-rah” chick.
The other good news: you will always know where homeboy is on gameday!
The other good news: you will always know where homeboy is on gameday!
But the bad news is, that still leaves you lonely on the weekends; a great sacrifice of time without your boo.
Here's a Solution: Make Friday (or another day that works for your schedule) a permanent date night through the duration of the season. Never let him off the hook with it. Tell him he needs to wine and dine you for that one day weekly, in exchange for all the weekends he wants watching games in the fall. (I mean, he even gets Thanksgiving and Christmas!) YOu deserve a special day each week and you promise to him not to harass when “it’s such a pretty day, so lets go to the park.”
#2 Find something else to do.
And if you’re lucky to have a man like Freddie who understands that shopping is your hobby, he may even finance it on game days! (Yippie! *kicks heels up*)’
You could also book a standing date with the girlfriends!
The bulk of your weekends are going to be without your man. If you have kids, you’re going to have to work out who stays with dad watching the game and who is with you. But try your darnedest to carve out huge hours of time for yourself. Don’t compromise it! This needs to be a “fair exchange” of time with your man and his games earns you your share too. Even if you are a mommy, you have to do it to make sure you survive the season...HAPPY.
Don’t have a hobby?Take this advice I tell young adults as they seek answers about their careers: What did you like to do when you were a kid? Think about how you passed time, when you had idle time. It is the best way to remember the essence of who you are. When you were a kid, unaffected about results or consequences of how you spent your free time, you did what you were most drawn to; the things that most interested you. That was the truth of who you are. Do that again!
*Fun fact about me: When on family vacations across the country as a kid, I used to do “Eyewitness News” with my siblings. Now look at me today!
#3 You could help get ready for game day.
He may or may not ask you to whip up some snacks for the game. Hey, that’s all on you and your relationship with your dude. But, if you are in a relationship then you already know that food is one of the three things that keep your man into you.
- food
- sex
- acceptance
Try remixing this tradition of barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. Tell him to join you on shopping days and in the kitchen on the mornings before the games. Convince him you need his help in making something! See where I’m going with this...damsel in distress. Just make sure it’s before the games, and your hero should be happy to oblige.
Bonus: Tailgate
If he’s going to the game, find out if he is tailgating. Tailgating is the party before the game, during and after the game. You don’t have to paint your face, you’re just showing up for the social part! Plus, your man will be there. See how that works.
Final tip: I was told to warn you that if you really don’t like football, it is better for you to leave the room. Taking your kindle or a book and sitting on the couch just to be next to him, is going to result in you being bored and then asking what he would call “dumb” questions. To be clear, men are willing to answer your questions about their favorite game if you sincerely want to learn about it. But, since YOU don’t, your questions and comments are going to come off cynical, and that’s going to start a fight or lead to your feelings being hurt.
What do you think?
What has worked for you?
Let us know in the comments below and on our Facebook page!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
►
2012
(28)
- ► 12/30 - 01/06 (1)
- ► 06/24 - 07/01 (1)
- ► 06/17 - 06/24 (1)
- ► 06/03 - 06/10 (1)
- ► 05/27 - 06/03 (1)
- ► 05/20 - 05/27 (2)
- ► 05/13 - 05/20 (2)
- ► 05/06 - 05/13 (1)
- ► 04/29 - 05/06 (2)
- ► 04/08 - 04/15 (1)
- ► 04/01 - 04/08 (2)
- ► 03/18 - 03/25 (1)
- ► 03/04 - 03/11 (2)
- ► 02/26 - 03/04 (2)
- ► 02/12 - 02/19 (1)
- ► 02/05 - 02/12 (2)
- ► 01/29 - 02/05 (2)
- ► 01/15 - 01/22 (1)
- ► 01/08 - 01/15 (2)
-
►
2011
(13)
- ► 12/25 - 01/01 (1)
- ► 12/18 - 12/25 (1)
- ► 12/11 - 12/18 (2)
- ► 12/04 - 12/11 (1)
- ► 10/23 - 10/30 (1)
- ► 09/18 - 09/25 (1)
- ► 09/11 - 09/18 (1)
- ► 08/28 - 09/04 (1)
- ► 06/26 - 07/03 (1)
- ► 06/19 - 06/26 (2)
- ► 06/05 - 06/12 (1)
-
►
2010
(4)
- ► 08/01 - 08/08 (1)
- ► 07/25 - 08/01 (1)
- ► 07/18 - 07/25 (1)
- ► 07/11 - 07/18 (1)
-
►
2006
(140)
- ► 12/24 - 12/31 (1)
- ► 12/17 - 12/24 (1)
- ► 12/10 - 12/17 (1)
- ► 11/26 - 12/03 (1)
- ► 11/19 - 11/26 (1)
- ► 11/12 - 11/19 (1)
- ► 11/05 - 11/12 (1)
- ► 10/29 - 11/05 (1)
- ► 10/15 - 10/22 (1)
- ► 10/08 - 10/15 (1)
- ► 10/01 - 10/08 (1)
- ► 09/24 - 10/01 (1)
- ► 09/03 - 09/10 (1)
- ► 08/27 - 09/03 (1)
- ► 08/20 - 08/27 (1)
- ► 08/06 - 08/13 (1)
- ► 07/30 - 08/06 (2)
- ► 07/16 - 07/23 (3)
- ► 07/09 - 07/16 (3)
- ► 07/02 - 07/09 (7)
- ► 06/25 - 07/02 (7)
- ► 06/18 - 06/25 (6)
- ► 05/21 - 05/28 (1)
- ► 05/14 - 05/21 (3)
- ► 05/07 - 05/14 (1)
- ► 04/30 - 05/07 (5)
- ► 04/23 - 04/30 (6)
- ► 04/16 - 04/23 (1)
- ► 04/09 - 04/16 (5)
- ► 04/02 - 04/09 (5)
- ► 03/26 - 04/02 (5)
- ► 03/19 - 03/26 (6)
- ► 03/12 - 03/19 (5)
- ► 03/05 - 03/12 (6)
- ► 02/26 - 03/05 (6)
- ► 02/19 - 02/26 (5)
- ► 02/12 - 02/19 (5)
- ► 01/29 - 02/05 (6)
- ► 01/22 - 01/29 (6)
- ► 01/15 - 01/22 (6)
- ► 01/08 - 01/15 (6)
- ► 01/01 - 01/08 (7)
