The BritList: The Flask Bangle, a 3D-Printed Fashion Line and More

You guys may already know that I’ve been doing the #GiveItAWeek challenge on Instagram. If not, it’s essentially my IRL attempt at completing 52 weekly resolutions throughout the year. So much easier than one big, meaty resolution, right? ;)

While I still have many to go (fingers crossed for me!), below is a quick recap of everything I’ve done to date. With that said, don’t forget to continue following along with me here or over @brit, as I tackle everything from cake decorating to a new ‘do that may just surprise you ;)

week 1: no makeup

I kicked off the week a bit unsure — I don’t remember the last time I went this long without some form of makeup on! Despite tackling some scary, bare-faced meetings during the week, I gained confidence as the days went on. Turns out, it’s WAY easier to get ready in the morning and it made me appreciate all the little imperfections I had (like the freckles on my face). You guys, I can safely say I will probably rarely put on the same amount of makeup on that I used to, and I now have a deeper respect for my skin and all the forms it can take on.

WEEK 2: same shirt

Okay, I may have saved time getting ready (and also cut back on packing space when I traveled), however, I was SO bored wearing the same thing every. single. day. Even after accessorizing, it was hard to deal with the lack of creativity in my wardrobe. While I have a profound respect for Steve Jobs, the same (mint) turtleneck every day just ain’t for me!

WEEK 3: no social media

Guys, I’m not going to lie, this one was TOUGH (at first) since I’m so used to filling my down time with my phone. Yet, by Day 3, things got easier. I replaced my free minutes with reading the news, being 100 percent present with my kids, getting creative, and even developing a human relationship with my Lyft driver (imagine that!). While I missed the connectedness that came with being on social media, my opinion is not that I should permanently delete my accounts, but that I should try to keep my time spent on social media under 30 minutes a day.

WEEK 4: learn to sing!

To be honest, I used to think my only singing talent was a Britney Spears impersonation (it’s been a go-to party trick since age 16). However, after this week, I conquered some insecurities and found a bit more confidence in my voice after singing to you all. Most importantly, I realized that singing is FUN, which means that there may be some real lessons in my future. PS: Use the Vanido app if you want to take a quick singing lesson yourself. Good luck!

WEEK 5: Keto Diet

Despite experiencing a rough “keto flu” to start, there were a couple things I learned. First, the diet didn’t leave me feeling hungry, and eating so much fat/protein (I took tips from these keto recipes) made me feel satiated every hour of the day. Which leads me to my next finding — I lost weight! It wasn’t my primary goal, but I lost 4.5 lbs in seven days (not too shabby, eh?). Lastly, a lot of people say keto gave them mental clarity and I def didn’t witness this in my weeklong trial. Therefore, I’m going to take advice from you guys and keep going with this for a week longer!

WEEK 6: Paint Every day

Overall, I loved the relaxation that came with painting every day and I found myself getting more comfortable with my skills as the week went on. To keep things short and sweet, I rank this #GiveItAWeek challenge with four out of five paintbrushes. (Psst: Check out our awesome watercolor classes to give it a try!)

WEEK 7: 5am Wake-ups

If we’re being honest, I loved the uninterrupted time I got in the morning. Yet, I learned that my lifestyle just doesn’t accommodate an early bedtime (I was going to bed at 9 or 10pm). I TOTALLY think I could become a 6am person since that extra time would be hugely valuable. But I guess we will decide on that later (after I go take a nap!).

WEEK 8: Pattern Clash

I’m definitely NOT as trendy as I’d like to be and always feel a little insecure taking fashion risks. So pattern clashing was very uncomfortable for me to start. But by Day 5, I finally started to get the hang of it. And yes, I wore bright yellow + bright purple animal print that day! I loved all the compliments for being so brave, and I stopped caring what people thought (especially men, they just don’t get it!). I found freedom in my own self-expression and I learned a lot from my girl Anjelika Temple, who I can’t stop admiring for doing this on a daily basis. Talk about some serious fashion #goals!

WEEK 9: be Funny

Stanford just so happened to be hosting a week-long online class all about “using humor in business” so obviously I signed up immediately! A lot of this week was learning about why humor is important, but I also learned how to reframe my stories and tone to be funnier, especially in a business context. How can I sign off on my emails with more personality? Can my LinkedIn profile be funnier? Humor is a much better way to connect with people, and business is all about connections and networking. Not to mention, laughing creates oxytocin, which makes people feel more connected. Couldn’t we all use a little more of that right now?

WEEK 10: Lettering

This week, I learned a few key creative things. First, mastering brush lettering and calligraphy is 98 percent based on application of pressure. FOR REAL, THAT’S THE BULK OF THE LEARNING! Also, turns out it IS possible to pick up your pen between cursive letters (I’m looking at you, letter “e”). In general, random doodles make scripts look way more polished. And lastly, when in doubt, an iPad is your artistic BFF. (Call it cheating, but the Procreate app made learning the skill SO much easier for me.) I can’t wait to tackle my next project with this new arsenal of artistic tips! PS: If you want to get started with Lettering, you can take some of our intro classes here.

WEEK 11: Yoga Every day

For real, this is the BEST workout I’ve ever done. I have been an athlete (mostly a runner and soccer player) all of my life, but never before have I seen my body transform as much with a single activity as it has with yoga. (And for mamas out there, yoga is great for flattening abs and toning arms!) Also, holy cow, is this practice restorative! After doing it, I felt open, calm, and alive, which translated into ALL areas of my life (including my crazy travel schedule). Will I be doing more of this? I say yes! (BTW, I recommend YogaGlo as a great online resource to make your practice easier — and fun!)

Have you been following along with the #GiveItAWeek challenge? Share your thoughts or feedback with me @brit!

Another week is drawing to a close, which means there are so many new quirky and amazing things to share from our daily perusing of the Interwebs. If you weren’t blown away by GettingPretty’s tutorial on becoming a Snapchat filter for Halloween or Brie dressed up as a latte, then let us regale you with other interesting finds, like keyboard waffles and @brosbeingbasic. Read on for the list.

1. The Keyboard Waffle Iron: If you’ve been waffling over what to eat for breakfast, waffle no longer… or just a little bit longer as you savor the taste of a keyboard-shaped waffle. It’s a real thing — you butter believe it.

Instagram Photos IRL

We all know that social media lends itself to capturing a false version of real life. Photographer Chompoo Baritone pulls the wool from our eyes and reveals the truth behind all the cropping and filters with her series of demystifying photos. (h/t Bored Panda)

3. Fish Mask ($30): Consider your Halloween costume complete with this baby. All you need is a sequin dress from your local thrift store. Or normal clothes, because why not?

4. @brosbeingbasic: Seriously nailing being basic, this Insta account captures the essence of being a basic b*tch AS A DUDE. Ugg boots and bathroom mirror selfies aren’t just for girls, you know.

5. Donald Trump Disney Princesses: Whether you are for or against D. Trump for prez, you should definitely be for him as a Disney princess. He really looks dazzling in that Snow White dress, dontcha think?

6. Florabunda Luggage Tag ($10): Hit the road in style with this floral luggage tag and never lose your suitcase again… or pick up the wrong black suitcase at baggage claim.

7. These Are Things Webshop: Sometimes you need a patch, or a pin, or a sticker to communicate your feels. On those days, head to These Are Things and get yourself a pin that outs you as a cat daddy or an introvert.

8. Lisa Frank Costumes: If you were a child of the ’80s or ’90s, you probably had a Lisa Frank lunch box or Trapper Keeper that you were OBSESSED with. Maybe you’re still dreaming of that colorful school supply, wishing you never let yours go… well, snap out of it and get yourself to the nearest Michaels, because Studio DIY is doing Lisa Frank, Halloween style. You can literally BE your favorite sticker this year.

Ashish’s New Collection

London’s Fashion Week was glittered with sequins from Ashish’s line. Our thoughts: YES. And then a little bit more YES. These outfits are legit eye candy. (Photo via Daisy Walker)

10. But First, Coffee Mug ($14): For those of you who zombie your way around until you get a taste of sweet, sweet caffeine, this mug is your jam.

11. EmojiGirl Charm Bracelets: Well, these are a thing. The language of Emoji meets the charm bracelet, and with that we get these story-telling bracelets. Please say we can choose the shrimp!

12. RipNDip iPhone Case: This cat isn’t chasing a bird. It’s giving the bird. iPhone case dreams do come true!

Mariska Hargitay is the woman of the hour anywhere she goes, with her iconic Law & Order: SVUrole as Olivia Benson under her belt for the last 25 years. The character is an absolute advocate to women — and assault victims of any gender — through her words, actions, and powerful convictions of each perpetrator on the show. She takes great care with her victims and pursues perpetrators with fervor, and slowly as you watch the show..the line blurs between Olivia and Mariska.

This isn't anything new — just recently Mariska literally stopped production on the show to help a child (who mistook her for an actual police officer) find her mom. It's just who Mariska is. She walks the walk and talks the talk — including during her speech at Variety's Power of Women's Power of Women event.

Image via NBC Universal

As a Power of Women honoree, Mariska was recognized in regards to her work as an advocate for sexual assault survivors. She took the stage and used her platform to discuss rape and assault conviction reversals, shining a light on the recent overturned ruling in Harvey Weinstein's landmark NYC case. Here's what she said:

Today I want to talk about reversing convictions, and more specifically I want to talk to you about how impossible it is to reverse mine. It’s impossible to reverse my conviction that survivors matter. It is impossible to reverse my conviction that what happens to us matters, and that our society must respond to survivors with a more a compassionate, holistically, deeper, and more nuanced understanding of what healing means.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that after a trauma, survivors can reclaim lives of hope, of possibility, of audacious risk, beautiful intimacy, and glorious, glorious abundant joy. And I stand before you as evidence of that statement.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that we must listen to survivors as experts on what justice means. It is extraordinary how little their voices are consulted, let alone incorporated, in the process of deciding how to repair harm. Justice is not a one-size-fits-all journey.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that patriarchal impunity has to end. Patriarchal impunity is when a male-dominated system exempts perpetrators from punishment. Studies show that only 20% of all rape cases in the U.S. are reported to the police, and that between 5 and 0% of all rapes result in a guilty plea or a conviction. So why do 80% of victims not report? Because they're met with a system that grants impunity to perpetrators; a system that blames victims; a system that accepts only those victims who are experienced as "real" rape; a system that completely misunderstands the neurobiology of trauma, which causes behavior in women that doesn't fit the picture of how a "real victim" would act.

Is that change needed that victims should just pull themselves together? Just buck up and report anyway? No. No, it's the system that receives them that needs to change

It is impossible to reverse my conviction — and the conviction of my extraordinary team, The Joyful Heart — that the backlog of untested rape kits can be brought to zero; that the testing of all new kits must be mandated; that we need a statewide kit tracking system; and that survivors have the right to access the status of their kits.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that grammar — yes, grammar — that we use when we speak about rape must change. In the sentence, "A woman is raped," there's a crime and there's a victim, but there's no perpetrator. Where's the perpetrator? Where is he? Statistically, as we know, most likely he's walking free. He's so free that he doesn't even appear in the language about the crime that he committed. Is that not extraordinary? It's extraordinary that in the very grammar, the perpetrator goes free. Reintroducing perpetrators in the language of rape will make some very unwieldy grammar, but that's the nature of change. It's unwieldy, it's messy, it's uncomfortable, but it's necessary.

Image via NBC Universal

Hargitay continued on in her prolific speech to describe that rape shouldn't be considered a "crime of passion" because it's "not simply the next step in the trajectory of his passion" when a man takes a consensual hookup too far and assaults a woman against her will. She stated that it's "an exercise of power," doubling down that the language we use is important.

The speech went on to address that rape is both about power and control, as a "construct" that was "built, and assembled, and reinforced over time." She noted that there are people with these positions of power — and she specifically called out those in the entertainment industry — that could make a difference and aligned themselves to victims and survivors.

After this and some other remarks, Hargitay specifically called out the Weinstein conviction reversal. She said:

I do want to say something about the Harvey Weinstein conviction, specifically about the reason that it was overturned: too many women's voices. Too many women's voices were allowed to speak. Hallelujah! Amen! I can't imagine anything more beautiful than that. The Daily podcast episode talked about how it was so risky for the prosecution to have that many women testify. Risky to let women speak? You're damn right it is!

Too many women speaking brings change. Too many women speaking shakes the establishment. Too many women means we get listened to more, and people might actually hear what we have to say. Look what happened when women started saying just two words, right? Me too — just as an example — a tidal wave of change. Me too.

And then of course, there was the response: the Me Too Movement. The backlash. The examination of whether the changes that have come are lasting, or are even positive. Of course there's a backlash! What did they expect? For women to speak repeatedly, loudly, together, with a purpose — for there to be no backlash? The backlash is evidence of how powerful those voices were, how powerful those voices ARE.

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Header image via NBC Universal