If there were a biography about you, what would the title be?

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY LOVES!

I hope your day is as fantastic as you are whether I know you or not.

I think there would definitely be two titles one, the BIOGRAPHY would be called Ringmaster of the Shitshow: The Colorful Life of Brittany M. Schmidt. For an AUTOBIOGRAPHY I would call the book: I Can’t Make This Shit Up: Tales from the Jersey Shore to Charlotte and Everywhere In Between.

Until next time…

If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?

The whole system in which we operate is inherently flawed. There are many laws I wish that I could change. I could probably write a book on every law I would change, but that would take too long and way too much energy (which I do not have today). The one that comes to mind is regarding things which we own.

We buy a home, we spend about roughly 30 years, paying it off with a mortgage. We continue to pay property taxes long after the home is paid off. I think the idea that you never actually own the land that your home is on is ridiculous. I would create a law which states that once you pay off your mortgage you are exempt from your property tax on the property which you own.

Think about it, you pay off credit cards, student loans, and various things all of which you then own once you do. You never own your property which your home is built on. Wild. I think after you’ve passed a certain threshold of living in one home, paid off the house, and lived within the community for several years (thereby contributing to the community as a whole) you should be exempt from property taxes. Instead, a portion of the tax revenue spent supporting local businesses can be funneled back into the city/state to help keep things going. Having incentives for business owners to set up shop there will also help revitalize the neighborhood economy.

As a Libertarian, I believe taxation is theft, but I understand its function in society. That said, I also think people should have the right to own their property after diligently paying off their home and taxes for years. In the words of Ron Swanson from Parks & Rec “There is only one bad word: taxes.” and “The government is a greedy piglet that suckles on the taxpayer’s teat until they have sore, chapped nipples.”

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Until next time!

Write about your dream home.

I live in my dream home. It’s not flashy, or huge but it’s ours and we love it. Our dream house is under 2000 sq ft and of the two-story variety. Our master bedroom, my office, with an en-suite bathroom is upstairs. Our living room, kitchen, dining room as well as a master guest bedroom and bathroom are downstairs.

Tom and I aren’t super flashy people. We value practicality over showmanship. Our house is just a short walk to a lake which we love to swim in during the summer months. Our neighborhood is on a golf course but it’s not ritzy by any means. Sure, there are people who are well off, but there are also middle class people and ordinary homes.

If you’re looking to spruce up your home consider adding some Art to your space!

Until next time…

Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time?

I think bicycle riding is definitely something I’ve outgrown. When I was a teenager before I got my license I biked everywhere. I was also 110 pounds dripping wet so it kept me in shape. About 3 years ago I tried it again and yeah, having a neighborhood with a butt load of uphills and not being as young as I used to be it was rough.

I was so out of breath it wasn’t even fun anymore and it actually made me feel worse about myself (yay fluctuating levels of self esteem!). I haven’t tried it again, though I am tempted to one day, because it used to bring me so much joy going down hills with no hands like I was flying.

For now, I’m taking a step back from it and that’s okay.

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What’s your favorite candy?

I have a sweet tooth. My favorite dessert is ice cream. Hands down. Give me a cup of classic soft served vanilla ice cream from Khors or Sundaes with rainbow sprinkles and I’m happy.

When I was young, my cousin ( and Godfather) would bring me M&Ms and I loved them especially because of the warm memories attached to them. As I got older I appreciated the taste of Skittles (especially red and purple ones together) and pink and red Starbursts.

That said my current go-to is Dove’s milk chocolate. It’s decadent, satisfying, and the wrappers have really sweet, encouraging messages which make me feel good. I have a candy dish in my house always filled with them which I share with guests when they’re here.

My dentist probably thanks the random impulses in my brain that craves sugar, despite this I’m pretty OCD about my teeth. Always have been. I suppose that’s because no matter what I was going through in life, people always told me I had a beautiful smile. I love my smile and my eyes, those are my favorite things about myself. I also love my hair, I’ve had it just about every color and I don’t regret a single one. I’m happy to be closer to my natural color again—blonde (I’m naturally a dirty blonde, so I’ve enhance it to be what it was before it darkened, but haven’t seen it in so long).

Candy is something I don’t indulge in all the time, ice cream is probably something I could stand to indulge in less, but my sweet tooth has always been a constant.

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Do you need a break? From what?

We all need breaks. Those who delude themselves into thinking that isn’t so experience something called burn out. Sometimes I need breaks from writing and creating different pieces so that’s why I usually churn out as many images and channel as many stream of conscious thoughts onto this page as I can when I’m feeling it. I’m a reward based person, so rewarding myself with a break is something I do to push through whatever is on my agenda for the day.

Coming up with a new topic each week is daunting but ever since Jetpack included prompts I find I’ve managed to “un-fuck myself” for lack of a better word. I’ve also adopted more of a stream of conscious way of writing.

“Stream of consciousness journaling” refers to a writing practice where you simply jot down your thoughts and feelings in regards to a prompt as they occur in your mind, without any deliberate structure or editing, essentially capturing the natural flow of your inner thoughts on paper, similar to how you think in the moment; it’s about letting your mind wander and express itself freely without concern for grammar or coherence. I’ve come to think of this blog as a public forum for my stream of consciousness.

For example, when I was young and told to clean my room it was a daunting task. Not because I was incapable of it but I often got distracted by things I found: old journals, notebooks, and folders. I’d go through them and totally forget what I was supposed to be doing. I used to call my old room my ‘lair of creative chaos’ because though it was messy, I knew where everything was. I used rewards in the form of breaks for progress I made towards completing the goal and once it was done I rarely felt accomplishment but rather relief that it was done. Also, once my room was clean I could never find a damn thing which lead to me ripping it apart again like a vicious cycle.

Today, I’m a fairly tidy person. I say fairly because I do have a fur child who is hairy and messy so I do my best to keep up while running my own business. I often feel like there’s never enough hours in a day to do everything I need to. I can get sucked into a mixed media piece or painting for hours and not eat, drink, and only break for the bathroom when absolutely necessary. I started to set alarms on my phone to remind myself to take breaks throughout the day and they’ve been lifesavers. I also write on Post-Its to remind myself where I put things. This helps me stay neat and know where I put things.

Music is a huge motivator for me when I take breaks. I’ll throw on Pandora and allow my mind and ideas to wander. This is necessary to push me through the less savory bits of owning a small business, which for me is marketing.

If you need a break from whatever you’re working on, consider checking out my art shop. We offer a wide variety of products ranging from home decor to lifestyle.

Until tomorrow….

Describe your most ideal day from beginning to end.

I’d wake up to the aroma of French vanilla coffee and enjoy it in bed with no rush to be anywhere.

Next, I’d get dressed in comfy clothes, a graphic band t-shirt and a nice pair of yoga pants. I’d do my hair, makeup, and listen to music while I got ready.

What’s my playlist? Glad you asked, or didn’t I’m just telling you…

Everybody Wants To Rule The World—Tears for Fears

Everlong—Foo Fighters

Running on Empty—Jackson Brown

I Get It In—50 Cent

September—Earth, Wind & Fire

The Wonder of You—Elvis Presley

Jackie Blue— Ozark Mountain Devils

Baby I Love You—The Ramones

A Boy Named Sue—Johnny Cash

Silly Love Songs—Paul McCartney and Wings

Tragedy—Bee Gees

Slow Motion—Trey Songz

All I Need—Lloyd

Space Oddity—David Bowie

That’s just a small sample. After I jammed out I would take a quiet walk, bring a small blanket, and read pretty much anything by J. Randy Taraborrelli. Right now I’m re-reading The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe and it’s amazing. I’d sit peacefully and read.

Once I’ve had enough sunshine for the day, I’d go back home and sketch to my hearts content. Tom and I would go to a nice romantic dinner, come home and snuggle on the couch watching football, hockey, or baseball. We’d end the day by having ice cream cause life is better with ice cream.

That would basically be the perfect day…

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The most important invention in your lifetime is…

When your brain decides it wants to do gymnastics at 12:27 AM, fuck it, keep writing.

I believe the most important invention in my lifetime is the emergence of FaceTime (real time video chat) and having a camera on our phones to capture moments in real time.

Living out of the state you were born and raised in make these nifty tools even more invaluable because, let’s face it, I miss A LOT of shit especially with my Jersey family and friends. However, when they FaceTime me, I feel included in the event—there without being there, if you will.

My bestest friend (yes, I’m 36 in less than three months and say words like ‘bestest’) had her first baby almost a year ago and when I tell you it was rough not being closer to help her, it was rough. I can’t even begin to express how sad I felt about that. I found myself crying often and wishing I could be there for her.

*Enter FaceTime*

FaceTime has been a real lifesaver! I’ve gotten to watch my littlest niece grow and listen to her babble and grin at me (Oh my! Her smiles are fantastic!). So much so, that when I visited with my bestie and saw her daughter for the first time the little munchkin reached for me and smiled. She knew my voice and face through FaceTime!

With FaceTime I’ve also been able to join in on ‘happy birthday’ serenading of family members and friends (although I’d love to see food teleportation devices invented so I can enjoy the cake!) and feel as close as I can to those I love without actually being there.

Moving to a new city can be daunting but moving to a new state almost 10 hours away after spending over 30 years somewhere else can be challenging for your social life. I’ve done my best to build a support system here while maintaining my connections in the place I was born and raised. FaceTime has allowed me to stay involved in important events even when I can’t actually be there.

As a late 80s baby I can’t say we’ve had any ‘blow your hair back’ inventions, if I was born in 1986 or 1987 I could say DNA testing in crime cases but much like Taylor Swift I was born in 1989 which means advancements in technology: texting, FaceTime, and real time photography are probably the most important inventions for my lifestyle.

If you’re looking to spice up your lifestyle consider purchasing from my small business! In addition to wall art; I now offer cellphone cases, throw pillows and fleece blankets with my artwork on them.

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How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life?

When my grandmother passed away, one of my biggest fears was forgetting how she smelled (Pond’s cold cream) , the sound of her voice, and how good her hugs felt. This fear that the significant events I had with her in life was irrelevant because I find I remember these things most vividly even without hearing, seeing, and smelling things all the time.

My grandmother lived in Brooklyn NY for the beginning of my childhood while I was a Jersey girl. I don’t remember much of her Brooklyn home but many, many, years and one out of state move later—I caught a scent in the air that I knew to be her house and I knew it was her house in Brooklyn.

Did I mention I’m Clairalience? That is being able to smell odors that don’t have any kind of physical source. Instances of this could include smelling the perfume or the cigarette smoke of a deceased relative, used as a sign of their presence around us. Regardless, I think this has a lot to do with the question poised because while ‘with the passage of time’ the events (including the memories of this home she lived in) faded—somewhere in my mind— the memory of that scent lived on to where I could identify it.

In a more cognitive sense though it all comes down to relativity. The closer you are to something, the less you see. For instance, if you’re standing in the middle of a woods, you would see trees all around you, hear the birds, the crunch of leaves and twigs underneath your feet. However, you wouldn’t be able to see that far, as your view is blocked by the denseness of said wood. Later that day, let’s assume you’re in the air with a skilled pilot, and find yourself flying above that same body of woods. Your perspective has totally changed getting a different vantage point of the view, hasn’t it?

Another example is the fence illustration. Get real close to the wire fence, you see the metal and the gaps between the structure. Now stepping back, perhaps one hundred yards, you see a complete structure. Perspective is all important when it comes to understanding.

I think that events, especially the significant ones in our lives, with the passage of time are much like the fence illustration. When we are in the moment, whether it is positive or negative, we see the experience too closely to really grasp the meaning of it, the ‘bird’s eye view’ of it so to speak and ultimately its significance. As time passes, we can look at these events with wiser eyes. In moments we took for granted of our loved ones spending holidays with us, we are able to look back and appreciate the fact that we had those moments. In moments we were too critical of ourselves, we are able to look back and give ourselves grace, knowing we did the best we could with the tools we had.

I’d like to close with the short poem I wrote and hope whoever is reading this knows that they matter:

“Time is a NASCAR race it moves fast in person and on television slow,

You never know when the checkered flag flies and it’s your time to go.

It sneaks up on you and try as you might,

Time is the driver,

And you get no rewrite.”

What snack would you eat right now?

Probably a warm pretzel and beer cheese dip. It’s delicious, honestly, and perfect for a playoff NFL game on a chilly day.