I Have These Really Awesome People in My Life Like... {Three}

Amber

Reasons why I love Amber:

1. She LOVES Disney as much as I do. If not more. She has a Tangled poster in her room, ftw.
2. We have the kind of humor that only we understand. Sometimes I wish we were one person and could be together all the time because we just laugh about everything.
3. She has an extra bed that she lets me use :)
4. She dresses me up super cute when I feel like death.
5. She's so protective of me and we've only been here a month.
6. WE CAN SHARE SHOES!
7. She sings like a boss.
8. We share Earnest.
9. We can pick up on each other's movie references!
10. Let's be honest. We're hot.

Reasons why Amber sucks:

1. She's from Texas....

I'll forgive her though because I can't imagine my life without her now!

Cuppy is My Man

You've all seen this movie, right?

If you haven't you should just leave now.

Growing up, okay to this day, I've had an obsession with anything that had to do with a red head. Madeline, Little Mermaid, Enchanted, the Peanuts, and yes, obviously, The Parent Trap. In fact, it was one of my favorite movies.

So it shouldn't come to you as a surprise that I brought Charlie Brown with me to school.

Or that I have this bad boy on my bed:

(Although I must say, mine is WAY cuter.)

Now, if you're looking at this and wondering, "Why does Brittani have a scary stuffed rabbit?" again, you can leave. I've had Cuppy longer than I can remember. And I love that I have to explain it to everyone who comes in my room and sees it.

Wanna see him in action? He's a star.

Anyway, I figured I'd blog about my love because, well he's the best. And yes, I talk to my stuffed animal like it's real. Quit judging.

Reason number two for this blog post: Amber thinks he's the worst. Little does she a know that a mint condition Cuppy is selling on ebay at a high of $129.95. 

Not only is he a star, he's rare. And he's all mine.

Gingers, ftw. 

Genetic Blog {Two}

Passion: a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept; intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction.

Recently, I discovered how important passion is in the world. It is the driving force behind many things in this world.

As I began brainstorming on our Personal Essay topic, I was at a loss. For the past 8 years, I lived in a small town in Northern California that I had grown to love. I appreciated every aspect of the area, simply because I knew one day I would have to leave and all I would have to go on was memories. 

While I devoted myself to the betterment of Lake County, I didn't really have a global perspective on certain situations. Sure, I was passionate about the area and the people there and the activities I was involved in, but it didn't extend past the county lines.

I realized that passion causes us to do wild, unthinkable things. Those moments when we look back and think, "How did I make it through THAT?"

Passion is what pushes scientists to spend sleepless nights doing research in labs.

Passion is what makes a young man leave all he's comfortable for two years to serve the Lord.

Passion is what causes music to touch you.

Passion is what is felt in good writing, home-cooked food, and art.

It is what brings the world such wonderful things. If Edison wasn't passionate about the lightbulb, we wouldn't have it. If the Founding Fathers weren't passionate about freedom, we wouldn't be where we are today. If Joseph Smith wasn't passionate about the Gospel, I would bet that he wouldn't have endured all his trials.

So maybe my passion has been Lake County for the last eight years. Maybe I dabbled in other areas as well. But now, my passion can benefit the people of the world. I just have to decide what that passion is.

"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." - We Bought a Zoo

My Mama is a Smart Cookie

There's a silver lining somewhere. And your boys are there for you even if not physically.

Dude. Adam Levine is HOT

Holy crap, I forgot how beautiful he was.

Yeah, I love her.

Let Us Not Forget

Guys are the worst.

I've only been here two weeks. And it feels like months. And I wish that I had those bonds that 8 years of friendship bring. But I can't. And I realize I don't always know everyone's character like I'd like to and I give them the benefit of the doubt.

BIG MISTAKE.

All I want is the no drama Bulldogs back in my life. Please.

Genetic Blog {One}

Okay, this is my first blog post for my Writing class. And I decided to post it here first before I have it get torn apart by the teacher. PLEASE tell me what to fix to make it better or if its confusing or anything. It's a grade! Thanks :)

One of the major components of our Heavenly Father’s plan for us on this earth is knowledge.

In Proverbs 8:10-12, it says “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”

We are taught in Doctrine and Covenants 130 that knowledge is that which rises with us in the resurrection, and in Doctrine and Covenants 88, the Lord encourages to gain knowledge “That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you,” (v. 80).

Just as it is vital to our eternal salvation to gain knowledge of the spiritual ideas of life, it is equally important to gain a secular knowledge of the workings of this Earth so that we, as a human population, may better our surroundings.

In Human Development 210 (SFL 210), we learned about the state of Romania orphanages through the 1990s. Because of the turmoil of the state and increased poverty, large numbers of children were abandoned. This led to overcrowded, understaffed facilities in a very short amount of time. Those that were deemed ‘normal’ around age three were sent away to specialize in a trade. The other children were labeled as irrecoverable and were separated from the outside world. These children were malnourished and neglected, simply from lack of knowledge.

Many of the children had developmental disabilities.  Many of the children who were severely neglected suffered from Reactive Detachment Disorder (inability to bond securely or otherwise, even with caregivers who have secure working models of attachment relationships), Nonorganic Failure to Thrive (A growth disorder usually present by 18 months of age that is caused by lack of affection and simulation), and Deprivation Dwarfism (A growth disorder observed between 2 and 15 years of age caused by severe emotional deprivation).

This institutional care is a concept almost incomprehensible; but, the serious state of these orphanages grew from a lack of knowledge. It was not until the last 20 years when research proved that developmental damages from lack of interaction in the early years of a child’s life are critical to their foundation of growth for life.

The same idea of knowledge being essential can be applied to nutritional problems in America. There are two types of scientific approaches: the traditional way which requires the use of the scientific method to come up with hypotheses and eventually and theories, and the modern idea that does away with the trial period and hopes to produce effective results as soon as possible. The problems with this second method are a lack of surety and an increase in skewed information. In Nutrition 100, the professor asked us what knowledge we wanted to gain from this class – the answers had a wide range, the reason being a lack of knowledge. Every student had gained their own perspective on what was healthy based on what they had been taught growing up. Often these ‘facts’ are drawn from bad information on the news or tradition, or even religious beliefs. If one does not take the time to seek out the real answer from research done by those educated in nutrition, the opportunities to be misinformed are endless.

Both of these instances showed me the importance of education. In a world that is constantly pulling you in a million directions, the only way to know the truth is if you seek after it yourself, whether that be in the Gospel, Nutrition, Human Development, or any other part of life, learning is imperative to success.

I love my Korean Roommate

Kenzi: Hey Sally, wanna see my cute Asian friend?
Sally: Yeah!
(Shows picture)
Sally: OH MY GOSH. I want to do laundry on his abs!