The Life Lately

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A picture homage to the life of Brittani lately:

 Me and N! Love that little man. 

Me and E. This kid cracks me up!

 Seriously looks like a death trap, but I couldn't be happier. Who am I?

My car's there somewhere, right?

 Lots of good memories in Fugal Hall :( Sad it's gone!

 This is what a date for Brittani and Jason looks like. 

 #ckfamily

 Waiting to get x-rays because.....

 My ankle looked like that. 

Now it looks like this. Which is actually better. It just looks so beautiful. :')
(Props to the nurse/doctor/radiologist for containing their laughs as I told the story of how it happened)

 It snowed! (Find the Y)

 And I was ecstatic!! 

Classic Christmas Fun.

Okay I think that's all.

Happiness is...

As an RA, I'm required to take a 2-credit class that is basically job training through the semester. We learn practical skills such as what to do in emergencies, but every Tuesday we meet with a psychologist as a class and she teaches us different things to look for with mental health aspects of our job. (This isn't to say we assess and diagnose, but rather that we have resources for when our residents have questions).

This week we talked about happiness.

According to a study, our happiness can be broken down into 3 aspects: biological, circumstantial, and personal choices.
10% of our happiness is circumstantial.
50% is biological.
40% is our personal choices.

This literally means our happiness is dependent on our choosing. WE decide whether or not we want to be happy!

This got me to thinking about the past year. Things have definitely changed. And I've definitely noticed it throughout the semester, but it smacked me in the face yesterday.

Because yesterday it snowed.

And I was happy about it. 

Yeah. You read it right. 

I. Was. Happy.

And I told A and N and they realized what a big deal this was and gave me a hug like I'd won some sort of competition.

And I guess in a way I had. I'd conquered my fears and my hesitation and my setbacks and my worries and I had final embraced my situation and realized how AMAZING my life is and how incredibly blessed I am. It's really remarkable.

And it may not mean a lot to you, but it means everything to me.

The end.

There's really no other way to describe it. It's just the end. The end of the beginning I suppose. Haley and I are busy deep cleaning and packing and whatnot. Cleaning out the shoebox we call home. And that's what it's become - the 3103, Provo, BYU - home. I know I'm going "home" to California. But I'm going there with suitcases and a set date to come back. And I'm okay with it. I waited for this day with anticipation since day one. And I can't believe it's here and if I'm being honest, I wish it wasn't. I could sit here and make a list of all the things I wish I would've/could've done before I left, things that I could add to the Freshman Year Bucket List. Instead, I'm just so grateful for the things that I was able to do and accomplish while I was here. And now I sit in anxiously awaiting when I can get back to P-town. It'll be a fantastic end to my summer with Camp Kesem and then swinging right in to RA training. Oh yeah guys, I'm going to be an RA! Next Fall and Winter semesters I'll be living in Freshman On-Campus housing so that they'll pay for my things (housing and meal plan) and so I can help some girls navigate their Freshman year. That'll be interesting!

As for this summer, I'm going to try and figure out what I want to do with my life. I have a few ideas, and I know I have time, but really feel like I can do it. It's a "me summer". I have a few goals in mind, a job lined up, and some quality reading time to catch up on. And I can't tell you how great it all sounds.

This year

It's almost over 

WHAT.

Wasn't it just yesterday that I sat in my room balling my eyes out with Lady K because we had no friends and hated it here and wanted to be home and missed our family and the sky was falling and the world was coming to an end?

First night at school, say what?

 That was eight months ago.

And now the thought of going home is killing me. I mean I have the BEST people in my life - hands down. H, A, K, L, and the plethora of boys lining up at my door (don't even get me started on how many marriage proposals I've had this year, I mean really*). And now I've gotta go home and put all that on hold and work and make money and do some leadership stuff on the side because that's kinda my thing. I just got settled in and started enjoying, well, everything and now I'm out. And 99.9% of the people I met won't be here next year - THOSE FREAKING MISSIONS. Good thing I love this Church as much as I do and I'm okay with it. I also don't want to be struck down by lightning...

I feel like I've learned a lot. No so much in my classes but those were cool, too. More about me. And I realized how much I love this time in my life and how I don't want it to end and I don't want to grow up and I want to be able to stay up all night and jump around until we see the sun, you feel me?

It's just been some great time. Some awesome, fantastic, truly wonderful memories. And this 3-month break is going to SUUUUUUCK.

I now present to you: A Year in Pictures (The Condensed Version)

First Friends! Love them always and forever. 

Cutest Roommates you ever did see. #Jackpot

First (and LAST) time hiking the Y.

First Homecoming! True Blue. Thanks for making me go, BM.

First time having all four seasons! (Sometimes all in one day... Oh Utah.)

First real winter. Guys, I'm still alive. Shocking to even me!

Christmas at Temple Square with my lovers. Oh, that night. Memories. 

Ice skating! Still my dream date. Take note, boys, I'm easy to please.

It felt like a perfect night to dress up like hipsters. But it was really cold...

Did you know if you sit in the right place at lunch time in the CougarEat approximately 2012839201438247 people will come to talk to you about country dancing and hungry face competitions and BYU/SA?

Just a mid-week drive to Salt Lake. Gotta look hot, you know what I'm saying?

*Yeah, no that's a joke. So sorry for the disappointment. But I made it through my first year without a ring on it! Yes, it can be done! Actually, none of my friends got engaged this year. #foreveraloneattheCannonCenter

Monday Night Letters

I've seen this on a couple blogs, and it looks like fun. Maybe it'll become a regular thing? Maybe not. #toomainstream #likehashtags

Dear Ladies of Chipman Hall,
Please stop trying to cook in the basement. There's a reason why you live here and you are stinking up the whole building.

Dear Poetry,
You're really just creepy and cryptic. Just come out and say it! Isn't that what all the magazines say to do anyway?

Dear Professor Kearl,
Stop being so crazy. You overcomplicated your class so much!

Dear Anatomy TAs,
Thanks for screwing me over. But thank you more for showing me that I need to step up my game. Thanks for supporting me and truly caring about my learning. It reminds me of home and that makes me comfortable and confident that I really can conquer this class.

Dear 3103,
We nap too much. Luckily we have so much beauty up in this room I feel like sleeping gives some of the other girls a chance. (And so much humility, too.)

Dear Mickey,
Can I come live with you and Minnie in Disneyland? I'm sorry I left so quickly last time. I really do miss you.

Dear Helen Keller*,
Thanks for trying to solve my BYU dating problems. And putting a smile on my face today.

Dear J,
Thanks for listening. It means more than you'll ever know.

Dear K, A, and L,
You're the best things that have ever happened to me. SO BLESSED. I'd kill/castrate with a fork anyone who tried to hurt you. Don't ever leave because I love you so much!

Dear Treehouse,
You have made me me and I love you, the memories, and the people who have been placed in my life because of you the last 8 years. Thanks for letting me have a few of them here with me.

Dear Bulldogs,
You taught me to value myself better than almost anyone. I love you all and I miss you and think of you every single day. Thank you for your love and most of all, the jokes. You changed my life for the BEST and I pray for your successes. I can't wait to see you all this summer.

Dear Family,
You're the best. Do I need to say more? I mean I'm sure I could write something cheesy and cliché all in movie quotes, but I think I'll save those reading this from trying to decipher it.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this life. For the beautiful views around me. For all the people, experiences, and challenges placed before me. Thank you for every moment I have to prove myself to you. Thank you for change. Thank you for perspective. And thank you for being there, every step of the way.


All my love,

Brittani

*(DISCLAIMER: This is an alias)

Maybe Utah Isn't That Bad After All

The View From Window

In fact, I think I might've gotten pretty lucky.

I Just Don't Know...

So this blog is the closest thing I have to a journal. I know that that is so pathetic. I mean everything you see is not everything I write, simply because somethings are more personal for obvious reasons. But I really do feel like I need to blog/journal more. Things are more exciting here and the Y than I let on, promises! And I know that I will regret not writing things down later on. But how do I know what's going to be important years down the road if I don't even know what's important five seconds from now?
This has been hands down the most challenging time in my life. The Church puts so much emphasis on the youth and then all of sudden, it's like "Here you are. Out you go into the real world. So... good luck with that." And the young adults are all trying to figure out what just happened and at the same time stay spiritual and stay focused on our studies and make friends and re-establish life as we know it.
But I truly believe that the Lord is there to guide us. (I promise I wasn't planning on being cliché when I started typing this) He know what's going on and has a better view of the future than I ever could. So here's to sticking to it, and plugging along when the tough times come.

Reflection

For every paper I've written in my Writing 150 class, we had to complete a reflection on the process of writing our paper and the challenges and successes that came because of it.
Well, seeing as it's the end of my first semester of college (!), I thought it might be appropriate to reflect on my challenges and successes in this latest chapter of my life.

First, I have now lived on my own for four months. HATE IT. There is nothing better than going home, eating something homemade, having someone do your laundry, and not having to plan everything on your own. But, there are positives. I don't have to have someone plan my every minute (Mom, if you only knew how I spent my time here...), and I'm learning to be independent. Baby steps, for sure, but I'm doing it.

Second, I have a new family. I did the impossible and made new friends. Seeing my brothers/bulldogs over break was one of the highlights of my life, no joke. But there was a part of me that couldn't wait to get back to P-town to see Kenzi and Amber - my sisters - and all the other wonderful/not-so-wonderful people here. What a relief to know that, yes, it can be done! I can live outside of Lake County!

Third, I'm not engaged, dating someone, or planning on dating someone. Take that all you people who said I'd come to BYU and be engaged after a semester because
    a. That's what Mormons do
    b. That's what BYU is for.
    c. It didn't matter where I went to school because I really was only going to meet my future husband (MRS degree, obviously)
And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Fourth, I have cried more in the last four months than anytime I can remember. There were the times when I missed my boys. There were the times when I was so stressed about classes I couldn't see straight. There were the times when all I wanted was to be home where I didn't have to worry about money anymore! There were the times when I couldn't make up my mind about the future (a scary place by the way). And there were the times when I just wanted familiarity. BUT I LIVED. I succeeded. I made it through. And all those worries seem a lot sillier from this point of view.

Fifth, I'm okay with the fact that I haven't gotten all As this semester and that that is pretty much out of the realm of possibility. Did it suck of course? Well yeah! This girl's had straight As since the 4th grade! But then I remembered I'm at BYU. And every student here came from a highly successful academic background. And not everyone can be on top. AND I AM OKAY WITH IT.

Sixth, getting out of the Lake County bubble has opened my eyes in so many ways. I sure appreciate home a lot more. I wouldn't change growing up in hicktown Lakeport for anything in my life. I love having to explain where I live in California to people who think that they know the area so well. And then the looks on people's faces when I tell them I graduated with 100 kids. The stories that I have, the memories, make it all worth it in the end.

I guess what I'm trying to get across is that I'm happy for where I've been, and excited for where I'm going. I kinda surprised myself with sitting down and writing this with how many things I'm thankful for in my life. It may mean nothing to you. But it means everything to me!

EDIT: Oren wanted me to let you all know how miserable I was that I didn't get to see him over break. That is all.

Fall Semester

It's almost over. And you know it's going well when you have a whole apartment of guys that will:
a.) make you chocolate chip pancakes on a whim
b.) listen to the same music as you
c.) get addicted to How I Met Your Mother almost as fast as you did and now are in a race to finish before the end of the semester.

To top it all off - they walk you home at the end of the night. #win

CHECK HER OUT

If you want to know about life, click here.


And then maybe stalk for a while.

Countdown Update

1. Hike the Y?

    -We've both hiked it. But not together. Haha
19. Watch The Little Mermaid

I Hiked the Y

And now I'm dying. Seriously. It's not far at all. I mean I walk all over campus everyday. But that hill is terrible! Just goes to show how out of shape I am. I'm working on it. Starting... NOW.

PS: Pictures to come!

Countdown to Minnesota

This is Jaron

He thinks he's pretty cool. I guess he's alright.
A few weeks ago, Jaron got his mission call to the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission - Spanish Speaking! I'm so excited for him but the only bummer is that he's only at school for one semester. To celebrate/make the most of our time, we made a list of things to do before he leaves. So far, so good :)
1. Hike the Y
2. Watch Footloose
3. GO TO AWFUL WAFFLE

4. Hot date with Earnest

5. Watch Hercules
6. Watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
7. Raspberry sorbet/sherbet for the Texan
8. Give Jaron his phone back...never.
9. Jaron-wear a jacket
10. Letter Writing (Not the sucky kind)
11. Museum of Art, Healer's Art
12. Kick Someone Out of the Band
13. Write Jaron's Apology Acceptance Letter
14. Take Some Sweet Pics

15. Learn Not to Hate Brittani and Her Ginger-ness
16. Get Jaron Some Gloves
17. Stargazing  (We found Chancho!)
18. Geocaching
19. Watch The Little Mermaid
20. Old Time Movie in the Library
21. Watch A Knight's Tale
22. Planetarium
23. Make Sure Amber Doesn't Ruin THIS List (You should see the other one)

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.

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!

I Haven't Had Time To Blog Because I've Been Too Busy Living

However, a wise friend told me that some of the best blog posts come during periods of procrastination. So we'll see.

PS: I get to blog for a class. Keyword being GET! Only problem is it's on a specific topic... like globalization and transnationalism and interdisciplinary and what not.  I'm okay with it for now.

Things I've Heard On Campus

Oh my heck.

You couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a temple.

This is a good place for a date.

This is a good place for FHE.

This is a good place to socialize.

(Notice studying is missing)

Are you available?


If only I could show you things I've seen.

Welcome to Happy Valley.