Story of my Life

I've moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 01:34:00 +0000

Hey guys!

I will no longer be posting at this blog. It's been fun, but it's time for a change. You can now find me at Adventurously.

See you there!

Brittany

Take a break.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

photo credit: one & two. lettering by me.

I've been feeling a little overwhelmed over the past couple of weeks. It's just that time of the semester, I guess. Luckily, spring break starts at 11:50am today. I'm still stuck in Cleveland (yay, work), but hey, it's a break--I'll take it. Honestly, I'm just ready to be done with school. As much as I love learning, I'm ready to move on to new things. I know, I know--I'll miss it so much when it's over, but I'm ready to start a new adventure and focus on other things.

I want to have more time to:

Write more.
Blog more.
Take more pictures.
Go hiking.
Read.
Go on adventures.
Plan my wedding!
Make things.
Be creative.

I want to have time to just be.

I have a few things that have to get done this week, but I'm hoping I can manage to work in a little me time, too (...that doesn't somehow get eaten up by internet or TV or any other mindless activities. Technology is such a time suck).

A few pictures and pins I'm liking (and that just so happen to describe exactly what I'm wanting):

one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight

Yes.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:38:00 +0000

In case the picture doesn't tell it all, I have news!

Mike and I are engaged!

He actually proposed on January 19 (in Central Park in NYC, no less!), but I haven't had time to think, much less blog. I'm still so excited though! After searching and searching for an available, semi-affordable venue, we finally found one, so the official date is October 20, 2013. Some days, it feels impossibly far, and then others (usually when I'm in planning mode)...it's scary close.

Anyway, I mostly just wanted to update you all on that little life event, but I hope to be writing more soon.

(I'm highly considering a move to WordPress and a name-change for the blog. Any suggestions?)

A year of grace.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Grace.

If years can be summed up in one word, that would be mine.

Last year was a year of breaking. This year has been one of putting it all back together again. I don't know how He did it, only that He did. And it has been a beautiful thing.

I've spent hours trying to find the right words to describe this year, to explain the grace I've been given, but tonight, I realized…I can't. Sometimes, words are not enough. There is so much to be said, and maybe I'll have the chance to share it all someday, but for now, I will leave my reflection of 2012 at this:

His grace is enough.

His mercy is everlasting.

His love never fails.

Sometimes, less is more.

Happy 2013 :)

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Adventure is out there.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 02:10:00 +0000

Currently: Sitting in a perfect little hideaway spot in the newest Starbucks, finishing up this post and getting ready to read a new book.

(Why a town the size of Cleveland needs three different Starbucks--plus 9842034 other coffee shops--I will never understand, but I can't say I'm complaining, either. Also, is it weird that I've been planning to come here alone all week long and been SO excited about that thought? I swear I'm not antisocial.)

Adventure is one of my favorite words.

This probably isn't news to most of you. It's a word with so much meaning, at least for me personally. It's exciting, it's dangerous, it's always changing, always new. It teaches you, it changes you, it makes you who you are. In a certain sense, it's my theme for life.

I recently read an article from Relevant Magazine titled "Should We Chase Security or Adventure?" I love the author's perspective.

"The predetermined path may be smooth sailing, but there’s a sense of adventure in not knowing exactly what’s ahead. When we rely on faith to guide us rather than our own concept of a life plan, we open ourselves up to being used in extraordinary ways. This faith includes trusting God not only in matters of obvious importance, but also in the small decisions of daily life."

That is exactly how I want to live my life. I honestly can't imagine my future any other way. It's weird, but I've always had a feeling that my life will never be completely…normal. I don't know how to fully explain that, but the above sums it up pretty well.

Photo credit: Julian Bialowas

Still, as exciting it is to imagine living one day at a time, completely based on faith and trusting God, it's really, really scary, too. I love adventure, but I also love stability. Change is exciting, but it isn't secure. A quick glance back at my own past experiences is proof enough that I don't usually respond too well to not being completely in control. But at the same time, isn't that a huge part of what makes an adventure, well, an adventure?

I've been thinking about the future a lot lately. I still have a year left of grad school, but I'll be done with classes in July. All that's left will be 3 months of thesis-writing, but during that time, I won't be tied to Cleveland. I'll have the freedom to go wherever I want, wherever God may lead me. It's an exhilarating thought, but a scary one, too. I have no idea what's coming next, but I am excited to see what the next phase of life will bring.

Things I Like: Christmas Edition!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 01:25:00 +0000

Listening to: Some eclectic mix of folk, pop, country, electronic, and Christmas (and who even knows what else)

Noisetrade find of the week: The Music Bed Christmas sampler. A few classics, a few originals, from artists like Ben Rector, Matthew Mayfield, & Katie Herzig. It's nice for those times when I want a mixture of Christmas & my usual.

Hello. I'm procrastinating. Did you know that I hate finals? One more take-home essay exam to finish, and I will be 100% done with my first semester of grad school. Crazy? Yes.

Anyway. Since I don't have a whole lot to say about life in general (and since I'm trying to do everything possible to avoid finishing this exam), I figured it was time for another "Things I Like" post. But then, isn't it always?

1 // 24 Merry Days Giveaway. This awesome online advent calendar (created by Audrey @ This Little Street) comprises of 24 giveaways by 24 different bloggers, one for every day between now and Christmas. Even if I don't end up winning anything (which is pretty much a guarantee. I've won like, one contest in my entire life), I've really enjoyed finding some fun new blogs to read!

2 // iPhone Wrist Straps. Guys, I for real need one of these. I drop my phone all. the. time. Literally, like 3 times a day.* Plus it would be super handy for those times when you don't have pockets or need to be ready to snap a picture on a moment's notice. And they're cute. $35 isn't that bad, right?

3 // Outdoor Research Cinch Sack. I found this yesterday while browsing around Rock/Creek. I love it. It's green and gray, it's nature-y, it's waterproof, and it's Outdoor Research, meaning there's a lifetime guarantee: no matter what happens to it or how it happens, if it wears out or tears or whatever, they'll replace it, free of charge. Did I mention it's only $24?**

4 // DIY Jersey Knit Bracelets. These are so cute and super easy to make. I cut up an old t-shirt and attempted to make one. Mine didn't turn out quite as well as I had hoped, but it's not bad. I'm planning to attempt some others. I also think this might be cute as a headband.

5 // Perched Bird Accent Table. This…is wonderful. I love it. Birds, branches, and leaves. Perfect. I've been needing something to replace my current "side tables" (which happen to be big trash cans draped with ugly pink fabric with a glass piece on top. It works, but I can't say it's attractive).***

*I swear I wasn't clumsy until college, and even then only in the past couple of years. If it is going to be dropped, spilled, or tripped over, I'll get it done, guaranteed. I don't get it.

**Sounds a bit pricey for a sling bag, BUT for the brand? And that lifetime guarantee? Worth it.

***I know, I'm obsessed. And I know that all of the above are so overused, it's not even funny. However. Birds, branches, and leaves were my thing before they were a thing, so I have no shame.

Another Thanksgiving post

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Guys. It's the end of November. How is that even possible?

Remember last year, how one of my biggest lessons was thankfulness no matter what happens, even for the littlest things? Well, I haven't been doing a very good job at that this year, but November has been a good reminder, because "thankful" lists have been popping up everywhere. It's a cliche thing to do, I know, but I've forgotten just how important it is, not just for one month of the year but every. single. day.

There's a book called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I haven't had a chance to read it yet*, but I do read her blog, and she has some really wonderful things to say. She is all about thankfulness, and she has an ongoing thing where she challenges people to find 1,000 things to be thankful for in a year. It's been an on-again, off-again thing for me, but I want to start keeping track again. It sounds so small, but it's amazing the difference it can make. I'm currently at 500, so I thought I'd start sharing a few with you guys**.

***

501. A free weekend to go hiking at Star Mountain with Mike. It's only been forever.

502. Half-price coffee (or cider!) at Inman St. before classes.

503. Accountability and reminders to make God my very first priority. So vital, yet so easy to lose.

504. A text of appreciation from my boss. (It's a small gesture, but a rare one, so it meant a lot!)

505. Conversations with random people at work.

506. Learning what it means to help someone without words.

507. Little kids. They make my life better. (Josiah, a 6-year-old, after yawning: "I am NOT tired. I was just clearing my breath. I never get tired.")

508. Sharpie pens. They are THE BEST for doodling during class. And at work. And at home. And anywhere, ever.

509. Cardigans, scarves, and boots. Fall clothes are my absolute favorite.

510. Mike spending Thanksgiving with my family.

511. Survivor nights with the best friends.

512. Soup. (Colder weather requires warmer food.)

513. Giving class presentations that are actually interesting to me.

514. The stage of life I'm in right now.

***

(I know. This is kind of a November/Thanksgiving-esque cop-out, oh-crap-I-haven't-blogged-in-forever kind of post. Except I really do mean it in the sincerest way possible. Really!)

Next up: CHRISTMAS. (I'm only slightly reallyreallysupercrazy excited. Just a little.) I have lots of post ideas, but probably zero time to actually write them. Still--I'm optimistic, so until then, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

*There's a Christmas gift idea, if you needed one. Because I know you're all totally going to buy me gifts, right?

**Ideally on a more regular basis instead of just Thanksgiving...

How to help you grow.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:59:00 +0000

Growing, changing, learning, discovering--all some of my favorite things. It's the process that I love, rather than the final destination. In the middle of things, I usually find myself wishing for something more straightforward, more cut-and-dried, longing for some concrete, step-by-step instructions to just figure it out already! Yet, in the end, that isn't what satisfies me because that isn't what makes me grow. That isn't what makes the lessons part of who I am.

I've learned this about myself over the course of the past few years. And I love seeing that same process in other people. The problem: I'm not very good at letting that process happen in other people, especially those closest to me.

So often, I see someone struggling with something so similar to what I've dealt with in the past. I want so badly for them to come to the same understanding that I have--lessons in grace, thankfulness, joy, perseverance...whatever it may be. Unfortunately, I tend to lay it out for them as a step-by-step plan of action (or try to condense all of the details and connections and everything that made my experience meaningful into a little bite-sized speech that loses its significance). I forget that God doesn't work inside a box. He doesn't work the same way in every person. The lessons might ultimately be the same, but the process by which they're learned is unique to each person.

God is personal. He's relational, and that's how He teaches us. The way He communicates with my best friend or my boyfriend or my little brother might be completely unrecognizable to me at first glance...

...and that's a good thing.

It's such proof of how well God knows each of us, not just on a surface level but deeply. He knows how our minds work, He knows our hearts, and He knows exactly what makes us tick. He gets me enough to know to communicate with me through books and lyrics and falling leaves. He knows the jumps my mind makes to connect seemingly unrelated ideas into something so profound.

He knows I'll get it.

If He can do that for me on such a deeply personal level, won't He do the same for everyone else, communicating with them in ways that I might not understand?

The thing is, I understand the concept mentally. I get it. And that leaves me here: how do I live like I get it? How does it look in real life? Because that's what I want to do, both with my life and in my relationships.

I want to be able to foster that kind of growth in other people without resorting to giving unnecessary advice and telling them what they need to do.* I want to help other people discover the answers for themselves, because really, that's what it's all about anyway. That's how we grow, and I want to help people grow. I want to be able to step back and let God do His thing and not get in the way. Still, there's a place for human influence. Where's the balance between sitting back and doing nothing and going too far?

I don't know.

I don't have the answers this time.

This is one of those posts I can't wrap up nice and neat, because I'm still trying to figure it out myself. So I'm asking--have you ever wrestled with this before? I know that the answer varies from situation to situation, but what have some of your experiences been?**

And, I don't know. Maybe this is one of those things that can't ever really be answered, because it can't be put into a box. Maybe there isn't an answer. Maybe it just has to be lived and figured out along the way, different for every single situation. And maybe I need to be okay with that.

*I definitely think advice has its place, but right now, I need to learn not to give it. I have a tendency to think I have the answers, when in reality, I don't at all.

**Think about this in terms of personal relationships, like friendships or marriage or even children, on a spiritual level. That's where I struggle most. How do you help someone grow spiritually without trying to give them all the answers?

Tennessee to Maine (and places in between)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 19:42:00 +0000

Last week, Mike and I went on our biggest adventure together yet*: a 5-day road trip from Tennessee to Maine! It was full of new experiences for me, as I'd never been to the northeast at all, or on a major road trip (much less with him).

So.much.fun.

We left bright and early at 7am from Cleveland, Maryland-bound for the night. One of our best friends, Jon, is from there, so we stayed with his parents for the night. We didn't originally intend to do much extra exploring, but by the time we got close, we realized that we had made incredible time, so we decided on a spontaneous side-trip to Washington, D.C. for a few hours!

Washington, D.C.!

Georgia & Kentucky, and now Tennessee!

Lincoln Memorial

Love D.C. at night!

I hadn't been there since I was like, seven, so it was really fun to explore the National Mall for awhile! I wish we'd had time to check out a few museums and such, too, but oh well--it's just an excuse for another adventure in the future. ;)

The next morning, we decided that, heck, we made such good time on the first leg of the trip, why not hit another city on the way to Maine? Our choice: New York City!

New York City!

I'll be honest: I was super excited about going. As a general rule, I'm not much of a city girl, but I do enjoy visiting, and NYC is one of those places that I have always wanted to visit at some point. Our friend, Chris, has been, and he basically saved our lives by suggesting we park in New Jersey and take this thing called PATH (basically a subway train from NJ to NY) into the city. Best. idea. ever. For real, if you're ever stopping by, that's the way to go. It's only $2.25 a ticket, and saves you from the nightmare of driving in Manhattan. Believe me--it's worth it.

Anyway. After taking the train to 33rd St. (as far as it goes), we decided to walk to Times Square (super limited time to see the city, so we decided walking was the best way to take in as much as possible). SO CRAZY. Anything you've ever heard about how crowded and lively and huge NYC is? All true. Trust me. It is one city I can honestly say lives up to its reputation.

After that, we decided we wanted to see Central Park. When I say it feels like a breath of fresh air, I'm not kidding or trying to be cliche. It literally feels like you can breathe all of a sudden. (Like I said. Definitely not a big-city kind of girl. Give me mountains and rivers and big open skies any day.) We only walked around the first tiny bit, but I'm pretty sure we'll be visiting again--there is way too much to see!

The little birds made me so happy :)

Since we had already been there for 2 hours and needed to get back on the road, we took the subway back to the PATH station. (Am I lame for having always wanted to ride on the subway in New York? Oh well--another thing to check off my list!) After that, it was a nonstop trip** to Harmony, Maine!

Maine is beautiful. Lots and lots of small towns and rural areas, and trees and mountains and just plain gorgeousness. (It's an interesting experience visiting Maine and NYC in one day. Talk about your polar opposites.) We got there pretty late, but the next day, we got to do some exploring around Moosehead Lake! (We really wanted to see a moose. No such luck, as far as live ones go, but we did see a dead one in the back of some hunter's truck, which was still kinda cool…)

(Random side story: Apparently cops are not the norm. We were looking around in a little shop, when all of a sudden:

"Holy s***!!! What in the world is that doing here?!"

We look outside to see them staring a police car driving through town. ? I found it pretty funny.)

Anyway. The wedding we went to was lovely, and it was good to see a few people I hadn't seen since graduation, albeit a little awkward because I knew very, very few people overall. Oh well.

On our trip back from Maine to Virginia, we really wanted to stop in Boston, but it ended up raining THE ENTIRE TIME from Maine until Hartford, Connecticut. Ugh. Our biggest adventure of that part of the trip was definitely New Jersey.

Oh my goodness. Never again.

Illegal to pump your own gas. (A little bit of shock when a random dude comes up to my car and asks for my credit card. Um, no?) Crazy drivers. To turn left or make a U-turn, you have to turn right (?). There's a town named Buttzville (yes, with a Z). There are signs all over the interstate that say "No Turns Allowed"…when there is nowhere to turn anyway, even if you wanted to. (Like, to turn, you would literally have to jump a guardrail and a ditch. Are these people insane?) Their nickname, "The Garden State," has no particular reason behind it. (Again, ?)

Lesson learned: avoid NJ at all costs on future road trips.***

We finally arrived in Virginia (staying with Jon's brother and sister-in-law this time around), and after waking up to a gorgeous sunrise the next morning...

Not. even. close.

...we headed for Shenandoah National Park to take Skyline Drive (105 miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Fall perfection). So, so, so beautiful, especially this time of year! It was peak season for fall foliage, and absolutely worth the $15--even though it rained half the time we were there. Still worth it.

So! There's the abbreviated version of my trip. We're already planning our next one--it was so much fun! (And surprisingly affordable, too, if you do it right.) My only complaint is that I wish we'd had more time. 5 days was nowhere near enough!

*Well. As far as the traditional, concrete, "exploring a place we've never been" sort of adventure goes. Our whole relationship has been something of an adventure, from day one, but that's beside the point here.

**That is, nonstop minus the insane New Jersey traffic. Seriously, I hate driving through NJ.

***Sorry to all you New Jersey natives. I'm sure the state has some wonderful qualities, but forgive me, because I did not see them.

Drench

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 04:25:00 +0000

This sums up my feelings
pretty accurately.

Listening to: "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers
This song is so happy and so catchy and I love it. That's all.

You guys. How can something so simple be so addictive?

DRENCH.*

It's giving me brief moments of sanity while working on a take home exam that consists of 9 essay questions, all of which must be answered with a single-spaced page. Each. That's the equivalent of 18 double-spaced pages. Aaaaand it's due Monday, with 3 other major projects due on Tuesday.

Updates soon (assuming I survive the weekend).

*I cannot be held responsible for any loss of productivity you might experience.

Life update

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 20:56:00 +0000

Listening to: "Babel" by Mumford & Sons

Yeah, I know--me and every other person in the world. It's a good album though, and their music is just perfect for fall.

I am the worst blogger ever. I miss writing, I really do. I've hardly even journaled this semester. Life has been so, so busy (which is not my favorite way to be, as I'm sure you know*), but lately, I've been trying my best to take advantage of the free moments that I have--even if they only occur in 15-minute bursts while I'm sitting at work or something. Like now.

So! I started grad school back in August, and I absolutely love it so far. It's work, to be sure, but I actually feel like it matters. Whereas college felt more like an obligation (enjoyable classes or not), grad school is something that I chose. I get to focus all my attention on 4 classes instead of like, 8, and they are all relevant to what I want to do. Even when they're boring (like spending 2 weeks discussing how to write bylaws), I'm still have some motivation to do the work because I know that it's actually important. So that's definitely been good.

I'm still working at the taekwondo academy, which gets to me at times (vacuuming workout floors and washing windows has never been a lifelong aspiration of mine), but hey--it's a job, it's flexible (which has been super nice), and I really do enjoy the people there. And even as monotonous as it can be, I have been stretched, albeit in small ways (and I've learned that it is possible to clean a bathroom in 2 minutes or less, so I should have no excuses when it comes to my own house**).

I've also started babysitting an 18-month-old girl every week, so that helps out with the money thing. Plus I get to be around a kid (a professor the other day referred to it as my "internship," since I'm getting a child development degree. Ha). It can be a very sleepy job at times, but she's a great kid, so that's a pretty minor flaw.

Coming up? In less than 2 weeks, Mike and I are road-tripping to Maine! Some friends of ours are geting married, so we're taking a few days off to have an adventure. I am super excited--I've never been farther north than southern Pennsylvania. Bonus? It'll be peak season for fall foliage when we're there. SO EXCITED.

Anyway, I'll leave it at that for now. Hopefully, I'll find some extra time to write a little more--I need it!

*Productivity and having a moderate amount of things to do = awesome. Busy to the extent that social life, boyfriend, and homework all have to be combined all the time and having zero time to do things I love (like writing) = not cool.

**That is not to say that I don't still find them. :) Cleaning the bathroom will never be my favorite chore. (And if never say never applies here, be my guest--the worst that can happen is that I will suddenly love scrubbing toilets and have a clean bathroom all the time!)

Just beachy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 19:05:00 +0000

Listening to: "Little Balloon" by Jenny & Tyler
Their newest album, Open Your Doors, is available on iTunes for only $3.99! No idea how long that'll last, but I do recommend checking it out!

Once again, sorry for the lack of updates--I was spending the week at the beach with my family! I'll be back soon with the rest of my list, but for now, here's some pics from the beach!

Mexico Beach, FL

Pretty pink sunset.

Gorgeous rainbow over the ocean!

Shells and seaweed.

Seashell. This picture was a total accident,
but I love the bubbles.

Watching the waves is the best.

Another pretty sunset.

Sunlight, sea, and shadows.

Lines in the sand.

I caught a fish!

Now it's back to Cleveland--and back to work. Oh well. It was a nice break while it lasted!

Happy birthday to me (and America!)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 03:46:00 +0000

Photo Credit: Unknown

Listening to: "God Bless the USA" by Jump5. (Naturally.)

Don't judge me. Please. (At least my mom thinks I'm cool.)

Actually, my birthday was yesterday. Yay, 22! (Actually, I think I've officially hit the point where getting older isn't a big deal. I mean, what's so special about 22?* That is not to say, however, that birthdays aren't a big deal. They will always deserve to be special!)

Anyway, it ended up being a good day. Even though my (wonderful) boyfriend wasn't able to come spend it with me, he made up for it by calling and texting me throughout the day. Then, after I got off work, I went to see fireworks in downtown Chattanooga with several of my friends. (They do them on the 3rd instead of the 4th. Obviously, the whole city just wants to celebrate my birthday.)

Pretty, pretty. I love fireworks!

Then I went over to Christy & Luke's to find that they had a cake waiting for me!

They didn't have candles, so they made a "B" out of sprinkles instead.

Today, I cooked out with some friends and basically just chilled and watched Seventeen Again. We were all too sleepy to do much else. Oh well. Still a fun time. :) After that, I ended up coming home, reading a book, and watching Friends. Ahh, I love holidays off work!

P.S. I'll be back tomorrow with Day #6!

*Besides the fact that I find it really weird that I'm 22. Shouldn't I still be like, 15? I'm not old enough to be a college grad!!! I'm not even old enough to be in college yet!

Tidewater Inn

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 05:51:00 +0000

Currently reading: "Tidewater Inn" by Colleen Coble

BookSneeze.com: They send me free books, asking only that I review them on my blog and share my opinions on them. Easy enough trade, even if writing reviews isn't quite my strong point! First up: Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble.

***

Tidewater Inn begins with historic home renovator Libby Holladay learning that she has just inherited a gorgeous historic inn—and a family she never knew she had. Unfortunately, her newfound siblings are less than welcoming, convinced that she is there for the money and nothing more. Adding to her distress is the fact that she has just witnessed her best friend being kidnapped, and is now under suspicion for committing the crime herself.

Generally speaking, I enjoy Colleen Coble’s books (mystery and suspense, laced with a little bit of romance), so I had hoped that this one would be no exception. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit home with me. While I liked the premise of the story, I found that most of the plot felt forced and unrealistic. The first chapter was awkward—so much happened right off the bat with little to no character development, so it made it a little difficult to connect. Much of the story continued in the same manner. The constant suspicion and accusations against Libby became a bit redundant after awhile, and important information that, realistically, would have been presented upfront was withheld until the very end (which I understand in wanting to keep the reader in suspense, but like I said, the way it was done simply felt forced).

If you’re looking to read anything by Coble (which I do recommend!), you might try starting with some of her other books instead. This one isn’t terrible, but it’s certainly not her best!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I know, I know...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:35:00 +0000

Listening to: "Good Time" by Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen

(I can't wait for his new album to come out in couple of months! His music never fails to make me happy. This song is no exception. Perfect summer song.)

I know. I've already managed to mess up my "20 Day Challenge," after only 2 days. In my defense, I've actually been too busy to blog over the past few days. Since living life is more fun than writing about it (well, usually)...real life won. There's also the minor detail of figuring out how the heck to answer the next question so 1) it actually makes sense and 2) I'm not writing a book. Ha! Anyway, I'm planning to get back on board with all that within the next day or so, because I am determined to answer all 20 questions!

In other news, I got to see Jenny & Tyler and The Vespers at a cool coffeehouse called The Camp House in downtown Chattanooga last Friday. So good. I like their recorded music a lot, but if you ever get the chance to see either of them live, do it. They are both so talented!

via my Instagram. Follow me if you like (@britmo)!

Anyway, that's all I have for right now. Check back soon for my answer to question #3!

20 Day Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:29:00 +0000

Listening to: "All That You Are" by the Goo Goo Dolls
I absolutely LOVE this song. By far, one of my favorites right now. So, so, so good. (I guess something good came out of Transformers 3...)
Currently thankful for: Coffee, chocolate syrup, & vanilla ice cream
My brother's roommate went to Ukraine and came back talking about this. I made my own version of it tonight and it was SO GOOD. You should go try it. Right now. I'll wait.

So. I've really been wanting to blog lately, but unfortunately, haven't been able to come up with anything to blog about. Cleveland's not the most exciting place in the summer. But! Lucky for me, I found a list of 20 things to blog about over the next 20 days! Naturally, I decided to go for it, so starting tomorrow, I'll be answering this list of questions:

~~List 20 random things about yourself.~~
~~Describe your favorite childhood memory.~~
~~Talk about how you met your spouse/significant other.~~
~~If you could have your dream job, what would it be?~~
~~What is your greatest challenge right now?~~
Five random things that make you happy.
What do people misunderstand most about you?
Describe your personality.
Top 10 favorite photo memories and why.
3 favorite recipes (or recipes you'd like to try).
What has been your biggest life lesson so far?
Top 10 favorite songs.
If your life had a theme, what would it be?
A cause you're most passionate about.
Where is your favorite place?
Five things you love.
Describe some ways you have changed over the past 5 years.
One word that best describes you and why.
List 10 of your favorite blogs.
List 20 things you're thankful for.

Now, whether or not I'll actually keep up with this for 20 consecutive days is another story. I'm going to try my best, but knowing me...expect a few gaps. Ha. Either way, feel free to join me if you'd like!

So, I like a lot of things...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:01:00 +0000

Apparently, I like a lot of things. I should just start a series of posts chronicling them all. Maybe this will become a once-a-week thing (except I need to come up with new stuff to say in between...). We'll see. For now:

Evernote. I love Evernote. I use it for absolutely everything. Seriously.

Class notes
Blog posts that I like (via ifttt--another handy online tool)
Recipes
Blog post ideas (everything you see here begins there)
Random ideas that come to mind
DIY stuff
Clips of interior design inspiration
Graphic design inspiration
Important information to remember
Random stupid stuff I have nowhere else to store
PDFs--that way, they take up zero space on my computer

It's awesome. I have a couple of folders that I share with people (very useful when you've already taken a class and a friend is missing some notes), and of course, being me, I have everything organized as much as humanly possibly, making it all super easy to find. Best part: it syncs everything between your computer, phone, and online. If you make a change on one, it changes it on all of them. Basically, you can access all of your information from literally anywhere. Love. It.*

Fireflies. One of my new favorite things to do: sit on my back patio in the evening and watch HUNDREDS of fireflies light up the yard. So, so amazing. One of the many reasons to love summertime.

Ridiculous real-life quotes. Guys. My life is so ridiculous sometimes. Oh, the things I hear and see… I finally started keeping a list (in Evernote, of course). I can't share all of them**, but here's a few anonymous mentionables (I promise all of these are real and said in all seriousness. The people weren't trying to be funny):

"If you come in my house and shoot me, I'm gonna be real mad. If you shoot me and kill me, though, I'm gonna be real, REAL mad."

* * *

In my Environmental Science class...
Professor: "So what about the California ecosystem, around LA? What do think of?"
Student: "The Hollywood sign?"

* * *

While watching a video in class of a guy free diving:
Student: "How do we see him if he's underwater? Does he have a camera?"

* * *

Overhearing a waitress at IHOP...
"I was out in New Mexico, working with that Mayan calendar. It was jumping around and I was trying to get it under control and before, I knew it, I'd eaten a whole bag of Doritos."

* * *

Hence why I both love and hate people simultaneously.

Iced coffee. Cannot get enough. I like hot coffee, too, but if ever given the choice (midwinter or not), I will almost always go for iced. So wonderful. I found some iced latte mix packets from International Delight that are pretty good--just mix it into your milk, add ice (if you want) and go. They're fairly cheap, too. I'm a fan.

Apartment Therapy. Best design blog ever. (Okay, I'd probably say that about a lot of blogs…but for real, this one is awesome.) Lots of advice and lots and lots of inspiration. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

via Apartment Therapy

Yes? Yes.

So, what things have you been liking lately? Please share--I need entertainment this summer!

*I am aware that I sound like an Evernote commercial. Unintentional. I really do just love it that much.
**This includes some of the best, unfortunately. If you're really interested, talk to me--I might be willing to share outside the public blogosphere ;)

Be still.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 May 2012 06:41:00 +0000

Listening to: "Crazy Girl" by Eli Young Band
I have been in a HUGE country mood lately. It's such perfect music for summer. This band is one of my favorites for sure!

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find peace in You.”

- Augustine's Confessions

A year ago, I wrote about my need to simply be still, to know that God was and is in control, to just trust.

A year later, not much has changed.

Scratch that--pretty much everything has changed (thank. God. SERIOUSLY). But that is one thing that does remain the same. I'm at a very, very different place in life now than I was then, but my need to be still and rest only in Him is still huge. It's still difficult.

I am not the kind of person who thrives on busyness. Quite frankly, I think this need that everyone seems to have to be crazy busy all the time is ridiculous.* However, as much as I don't generally want to be busy 24/7, lately, I've wanted to avoid being alone, sitting, having time to hear myself think. Because when I'm alone, that's when the thoughts and the fears start to come, and I just want to get away, to have someone, so I don't have to think about it.

Fear can be so pervasive. Scars can run deeper than you think. When it's just me and God, when I don't have the option of turning to someone else, it means I have to look certain things square in the eye and deal with them…like the fact that I sometimes struggle to trust Him, because I know that trusting Him sometimes leads to very painful places. Beautiful places, yes, but painful ones as well (usually, it's both simultaneously). I get scared of what comes next. I get scared of where loving Him most might lead me. I get scared that I won't be able to love Him most!

And that's when grace comes in. Again. And accepting grace means I have to be still and trust Him and let Him love me and prove over and over again that He is good.

He isn't safe--never safe--but He is very, very good.

Because of that, I can choose to rest in Him and let Him help me face all my fears. I can trust that, however He chooses to go about it, He will always keep His promises. He will always give me His very best.

"You don't have to feel safe to feel unafraid."
- "Lions!" by LIGHTS

Also: this song. So good.

"When darkness comes upon you
And covers you with fear and shame
Be still and know that I'm with you
And I will say your name

Be still and know that I'm with you
Be still and know I am."
- "Be Still" by The Fray

*Obviously, I understand that every person is different, but when it gets to the point where all you talk about is how busy you are and have these weird conversations that imply whoever has the busiest schedule is somehow superior… I think it's safe to say there's a problem. It's one thing to be unavoidably busy. Everyone has those times. My entire last semester was one of those times! However, it's quite another to choose to be ridiculously busy all. the. time. and then complain about it every waking moment. One of my biggest pet peeves ever. (I could vent about this for awhile, because it's something that frustrates me a lot, but…I'll spare you. I just hate the pressure to be busy for the sake of being busy! The fact that I choose to say no to filling up every minute of my schedule does not mean that I am lazy or inferior. End mini rant.) (P.S. I know approximately a billion people who do this. It's kind of a general American cultural thing, it seems. In other words, don't think I'm attacking anyone. This isn't being directed at any individual. Promise!)

(More) Things I Like

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I am long overdue for a "Things I Like" post. Here's some things that I've been liking a lot lately!

"In Christ, urgent means slow…" Some good things to remember here. I've made a bad habit of getting caught up in the busyness of life that I forget what's most important. It's cliche to say, I know, but to really live it is difficult--and more necessary than we know.

Pure Home. OH MY GOSH, this site is amazing! One of the coolest home decor sites ever. You pick your style, your mood, and your room, and it helps you choose your colors and accessories. Seriously, go check it out.

Kohl's frames. Kohl's has been having some crazy good sales on their home decor and such. I got a $40 set of 6 (really nice) frames for $13, a $50 6-frame photo ledge set for $10 (and used Kohl's cash so essentially got it for free), and this wonderful (and oh-so-me!) bird-and-branches frame for $7:

I might have a slight obsession with frames.
And pictures. The more, the merrier (until you
can't see your walls--then it might be a problem)!

This print. So cute.

via Handz Etsy shop

This fun workspace.

(via Lovely Undergrad)

Cubicle shelving. Currently wanting one of these in black.

(via Lovely Undergrad)

Log planter! How cool would it be to DIY one of these with a real log?

(via Pure Home)

A photo book of Instagrams. Love this idea.

(via That's Happy)

"Vergangenheit (Loss)" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I love this poem. I can relate to it so very well, and can attest that this is true:

"That which is past will return to you again
as your life's most living strain,
through thanks and repentance.
Lay hold on God's forgiveness in the past,
pray that He will care for you this day and to the last."

Hello, adulthood! (...I think?)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:32:00 +0000

Photo Credit: Unknown

Listening to: "Rainy Zurich" by The Fray
Finally got around to getting their Scars & Stories album (which is currently $5 on Amazon, by the way). I like it a lot. Favorite tracks so far: "Heartbeat", "48 to Go", "Rainy Zurich", and "Be Still".

List of crazy things that have happened/are happening in my life lately.

1. I got an A in golf. Actually, the fact that I passed golf is crazy. The fact that I got an A is just hilarious. I stopped going to class completely after February 22 (and skipped a few classes before then. I might have had a slight case of senioritis...). For that reason, it deserves to be first on my list.

2. I GRADUATED COLLEGE! How the past four years of my life went by so fast, I will never know. I will also never know how I managed to pack so many wonderful (and, let's be real, horrible) things into such a short amount of time. On that note, I'm moving on to my next thing on the list. (I know--I'm normally so nostalgic, right? This time around, I'm avoiding all my memories like the plague. College was wonderful and thinking about it being over makes me incredibly sad.)

Wonderful friends since day one. Love them so much.

So, so, so, so thankful for him. I love him a lot.

Family!

3. I got accepted into grad school. This fall, I'll be starting on my master's degree in Holistic Child Development. It's a program that's actually sponsored by Compassion International (which I LOVE). Basically, I'm getting a counseling degree (but not licensure, which is lame) that prepares me to work with children through non-profit service and advocacy organizations, both domestically and internationally. I'll be taking classes like…

Community Interventions
Social & Cultural Diversity
Non-Profit Design & Evaluation
Counseling Children & Adolescents
Play Therapy
Family Studies

…among others. It's a program that targets exactly what I want to do, and I am so excited about it!

4. I got an apartment. Finally not living on campus (as much as I have loved it. Really). Kristi and I found a place that's in a perfect location (so close to everything!), a good size, plus we finally get our own rooms. I'm excited. Now, just to get things organized...

Related: if anyone has any furniture that they don't want, particularly a couch or a dresser, let me know. We need it. Big time.

5. I got a job. This happened a little over a month ago, but I haven't exactly had a chance to update you all on my life, so…yeah. But get a job I did. I'm working as a secretary-type-thing for my Taekwondo instructor. Kind of random, but hey, it's a job, and I really do like it. It gets a little boring at times, but I love being around all the kids. They're hilarious. One of my favorite quotable moments:

5-year-old boy excitedly to his mom (and being 100% serious): "I finally know what I want to do!! When I get big, I want to be bald and fight bad guys! Then I won't have to go to school anymore!"

Sounds like a plan, buddy. School (and hair) is overrated anyway. Which is why I signed up for (at least) another year of it.

6. Weddings, weddings, weddings! (Not mine, of course.) Sooo many of my friends are getting married, it seems! Two good friends are getting married this weekend, then my wonderful roommate of all 4 years of college is getting married in two weeks. So exciting, and SO WEIRD.

So, that's my life lately. I am so, so, so relieved to be done with the semester and have a laid-back summer kind of life for a couple of months. So. Incredibly. Needed. I'm doing my best to line up a few posts so things aren't so dead around here anymore, but until then…!

Springtime and thunderstorms

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:17:00 +0000

Credit: Unknown

Listening to: "He Said" by Group 1 Crew
(Not usually a huge fan of theirs, but I seriously love this song. It's been stuck in my head for days. It's so catchy!)

(Quick sidenote: I wrote this post awhile back and am just now getting around to publishing it. I'll try to update you guys on what's been going on with me lately ASAP!)

I read something the other day that really stood out to me.

"Spring is for tornadoes and rainstorms as much as it’s for brilliant afternoons and bulbs poking fresh petals through damp dirt."*

Remember back in October when I wrote about autumn and the interesting balance of beauty and pain and how you can't have one without the other? At the time, the point I was trying to make was that pain always brings about a special kind of beauty that can be found nowhere else. Now, I'm beginning to see the other side of it as well.

When I think of spring, I tend to think of the happy, sunny side of things. It's when everything is coming back to life, when I can go outside and throw Frisbee and lay in hammocks, when it's warm and green and just beautiful. Everyone always talks about "waiting for spring" in a metaphorical sense, referring to life, waiting to come out of a painful situation and experience the good, happy side of life again.

We forget that even spring isn't all about the sunshine.

Spring is all about new growth and change and coming to life. And that happens to require a few thundershowers along the way. Yes, the most most difficult part--the dying that comes with autumn and winter--has passed. Still, spring has its own kind of pain, the kind that can only come with coming back to life after a long winter.

I'm finding that every season of life has its own kind of pain--or at least it should. Some runs deeper than the rest, but still: it is all pain. Pain, to me, is a sign of growth. If I am changing, growing, becoming, then pain is going to be an inevitable part of that.

Learning to truly love someone is hard.
Learning to accept grace and His blessings after realizing how much I don't deserve them is hard.
Learning to not stop seeking Him first, amidst the busyness of all He's given is hard. It shouldn't be, but it is.

They're good things, all of them. But they are not easy.

Spring isn't always easy. But the beauty of it is always worth it.

So here's to accepting spring for what it is: rain showers, sunshine, flowers, and a little bit of dirt. It's all necessary for the incredible growth that it continues to bring.

*From Sarah Markley's "The Brilliant Beckoning" at (in)courage

Redesign!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:57:00 +0000

Quick update: As I'm sure you can see, I did a little redesigning of the blog. Considering I'm graduating college in about 2.5 weeks, the last header I had wasn't exactly going to be relevant for much longer...

Random thoughts? Still just as relevant as ever. Probably more so.
College student, though? Not for much longer. CRAZY.

Besides, it needed a facelift anyway. I've been taking a class in Graphic Design this semester and have learned a little about how to use Adobe Illustrator, so I put my new-found skills to good use and made a new header. I really like how it turned out, especially since I ended up free tracing the letters myself! Simple + nature-y. Just my style. I hope you guys like it, too!

My Life in Instagrams

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:07:00 +0000

Listening to: "Safe & Sound" by Taylor Swift (from The Hunger Games soundtrack!)
(Yes, I have jumped on The Hunger Games bandwagon. The books are great, minus the ending, and the movie was pretty good too. I went to the midnight premiere with Mike, Chris, & Elyssa, which was a first for me, but it was fun.)

Once again, my life in a word: BUSY. Other possibilities include stressed, overwhelmed, and DONE. (Basically, I have senioritis big time.) I'm actually supposed to be researching for a presentation, along with applying for grad school, so I'm going to make my procrastination break quick and update you on my life via Instagr.am pics. It's kind of a sporadic list, but hey, better than nothing, right? (You can click on the pics to make them bigger if you like.)

I've been getting plenty of use out of my Eno that I got for
Christmas! We've had such perfect hammocking weather lately.
I was even interviewed by the Chattanooga Times Free Press
about it when I was laying out in Schimmels Park the other day.

Mike, Darren, & I decided to go canoeing over spring break.
We rented them for 4 hours, and then discovered that the giant
lake was more like a medium-sized pond...

The Kentucky half of spring break consisted of 5 inches of
snow. Random. But really beautiful!


Environmental Science has definitely proved to be my most entertaining class, for various reasons. I'll have to share a few quotes sometime. The labs are fun though. Last week, we went wading in a creek to catch fish. The outfit choices were quite fashionable, as you can see here.

Another reason to enjoy Environmental: for another lab, we
got to go hiking to see this. FOR CLASS.

I have become addicted to smoothies lately. I've been creating
all sorts of combinations. I've also discovered that you can add
fresh spinach to anything and you cannot taste it. Case in point:
I made some iced coffee the other day and blended it in. Yum.


I FINALLY got around to reading The Hunger Games trilogy. I know everyone on the planet is talking about them right now, but they really are good. The movie was pretty good, too. It could've been better, but I thought they did a pretty good job at sticking to the storyline (the changes were minor details, people. Minor details. Calm down).

I've been spending some late nights at IHOP lately. Like right
now. Ugh. Fortunately, my waitress likes to give me what she
refers to as "crack." Basically: doubly strong iced coffee with
a shot of espresso, plus extra flavored syrup and enough sugar
that it's too sweet for me. That's saying something. Trust me.

Spring has sprung! It's so beautiful outside these days. So
many flowers and leaves and just GREEN! I love it.

Pretty, pretty rainbow I saw yesterday. It was so big & bright!
You could see every single color so clearly. I love it.

Spending a lot of time with this guy lately. He's pretty cool,
I guess (see picture). I kinda like him. ;)

Well, that's my life lately. It really is good, just ridiculously busy. I've never been so ready to graduate! Anyway, I better get back to researching for a presentation I have tomorrow, so until next time, enjoy the pictures, at least!

Your grace is enough.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:15:00 +0000

via Megan Gilger

Listening to: "Closer to Love" by Mat Kearney
(I got to see him in concert a couple of weeks ago! So, so good--he's just as great live as he is on his albums. I am so glad I got to go!)

I've officially decided: I hate busyness. Productivity is good. Busy is definitely not. Even now, the only way I'm managing any free time to blog is because I'm sitting in a nursing home lobby by myself, waiting for students in the class I TA for to finish their service project.* Seriously, the number one thing that I've wanted for weeks is a few hours of absolute quiet, all to myself. Maybe someday...

Anyway, this semester. Whoa. It has been really, really good, but really difficult at the same time (just in a completely different way than last semester!). College is always a bit of a balancing act, but this semester is taking it to a whole new level. 17 credit hours (including 2 senior level psych classes and a science), auditing 1 hour, and TAing for a 63-person class, on top of getting back into a relationship, not to mention keeping myself on track with my relationship with God…yeah, it's slightly nuts. (I realize that this seems pretty run-of-the-mill for a lot of people, but for someone who definitely does not thrive on being crazy-busy all the time, it's a stretch!)

via Pinterest

In short, this year so far has been one big lesson to teach me that I'm not perfect, that I really do need God more than anything, and what the meaning of grace really is. For some reason, it can be very hard for me to remember that this is all a process. I'm not going to get it down right away. I'm going to mess up. At the same time, I have to keep trying. That can be a hard balance to find: understanding that His grace makes up for my mistakes because He understands and loves me anyway…

"The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust."

- Psalm 103:13-14

…but not letting that cause me to think that what I do doesn't matter, that I don't have to keep striving to be better.

"Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?"

- Romans 6:1-2

I am so thankful for what I've been given, but sometimes--most of the time--I feel so unbelievably inadequate. As wonderful as it all is--and it is wonderful--it is so much responsibility and I know all too well how incapable I am. I've proven that over and over and over again. After praying and praying for what I wanted so much, now that I actually have it, I'm constantly asking God, "Are You sure about this? I don't know if I can handle it after all!" Yet He's continually reminding me:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

- 2 Corinthians 12:9

If this is where He wants me, He's going to give me the strength to do it correctly. His grace really is enough. Keeping Him first is the key. If only I could remember that…

Hopefully this balance I'm trying to find will include some free time to blog, but I make no promises! Until next time...

* Thank God for smart phones--my parents got me an iPhone for Christmas. LOVE IT. It is saving my life this semester!

Let Me Feel You Shine

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:00:00 +0000

This song is my life right now.

"Let Me Feel You Shine"
David Crowder Band

This place is trying to break my belief
But my faith is bigger than all I can see
What I need is redemption
What I need is for You for to put me back on my feet

I swear I'm trying to give everything
But I feel I'm falling, oh make me believe
What I need is resurrection
What I need is for You to put me back on my feet

If I could feel You shine Your perpetual light
Then maybe I could crawl out of this tonight
If I could feel You feel You shine
Oh, let me feel You shine
So beautiful and warm
So beautiful and bright
Like a sun comin' out of a rainy sky
Oh let me feel You shine, oh
Let me feel You shine

I lift the knife to the thing I love most
Praying You'll come so I can have both
What I need is for You to touch me
What I need is for You to be the thing that I need

God, I need a Savior
O come, Generous King
O God, I need a Savior
To come rescue me

Life freaks me out sometimes. God freaks me out sometimes. Most of the time, lately. He's worth it, but that doesn't mean it's not the scariest thing ever.