A psych major's dream come true.

Hi.

Meet my friends Cal Lightman, Gillian Foster, Ria Torres, and Eli Loker.

No one's really sure why I, a girl who spends a healthy amount of time observing people for school and as a hobby (not creepy), just now discovered this show.

I can't even get over it.

All my love, B.


P.S.  I love it when I'm having a socially-awkward day, (those kind when every word that comes out of your mouth makes you think, how am I capable of having friends? How did I land this job?  How can I even be considered a functioning contribution to society?)...
...and then someone says just a tiny tic-tac sized comment that cheers you right up!


This is NOT a to-toot-my-own-horn kind of story.  But it really just made me smile!


So today we rehearsed our fabulous rendition of Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (COMING SOON to a Sacrament Meeting near you!), 
and I somehow got assigned the soprano part.  So keep in mind I am a 6-year strong Alto 2 through and through, but I can just barely (in my own opinion) manage to squeak out those high notes, which for a REAL soprano would be cake.  So, when it came time for me to sing my solo, I did my thing and it sounded, eh, decent.
Turn to my right and male sitting there turns to me and says something along the lines of, 
"I could seriously listen to that all day."
OH HAPPY JOY SMILES FOR DAYS!
Okay, that's all.
Back to Physical Science homework and some more
LIE TO MEEEEEEE
Pathetic friday night in?
I THINK NOT.

A night of...

Just in case you had any desire to know how tonight was....

This happened.

It was so fun to go and have a good time with my roommates and french class friend Sydney

And of my course, my near and dear roommates Amanda, Laura, and Hannah

And what seemed like a thousand other talented bloggers, all crammed in a tiny room at the Chocolate

And lots of amazing prizes to win.

And actually winning one of them!! I never win anything!

And modeling said prize after the meet-up.  A beautiful headband via

Sprightly So

And a subsequent full-on roommate photoshoot, with a makeshift black backdrop and everything

wearing: cardi, earrings, belt & striped top-F21, salmon pants-Old Navy, necklace-lia sophia, 

headband-sprightly so, bracelet-Charming Charlie, watch-Swatch shoes-Urban Outfitters

It's nights like these that make me realize I really do have it all.

All my love, B

We used to play outside when we were young and full of life and full of love.

I have stumbled across the most random of things lately.

But I'm not complaining.

1. Minimalist Pixar Posters (link)

I sincerely hope you can guess what each of these refers to.

2. Valentino inspired bow-back tee (link)

So Parisian!  

If I ever get a chance to actually make this, 

guaranteed you readers will be the first to know.

3. Fixed up TOMS

I started with this

And my plan was this

But after that didn't work out, it turned into this

Apologies for the disgusting pastiness of my ankles.

Summer, please come soon, to fix this problem and so I can wear these babies!

4. Exciting T-shirt quilt birthday gift

Thanks to my delightfully generous and lovely parents, I will be studying abroad in France.  However, this means that any birthday gifts of significant monetary value are a no-go.  But that's fine.  I have everything I need.  But, as you may have seen before in my "Goals for summer" post of last year,  I have been halfway done with a t-shirt quilt for about two years now, with no prospect of it being finished from my own efforts. But! After talking to my mother, she has agreed to finish it just in time for me to ring in the start of my third decade on earth! (Wow, if THAT doesn't make me feel old, I don't know what does!)

After I bring back the rest of the shirts I want added, I do believe this will be approaching about 65 shirts.  Will this be the most epic picnic blanket you've ever seen?  I sure hope so.

5.  BYU Blogger meet-up

I am excited as it gets to go with me and my three dear roommates and my new good friend Sydney to go 

stuff our faces with sweets and meet others just like us and win prizes and get followers and look CUTE.

That's a lot to accomplish, isn't it?  But I think we might just be able to pull it off.

Chocolate chocolate here we come!!

I even bought some new salmon pants that I'm planning to wear, with navy and white stripes, as per usual.

5. Lastly, be sure to check out my new "I do believe" tab.  I have such a strong testimony of this gospel and if you ever have any questions, I would be honored to answer them!

All my love, B.

you can too.

Make him a household name, and then help America and the rest of the world

destroy him


And yes, I've done my research.  And no, I'm not just jumping on the bandwagon.  This is a movement 
for good. 


I can't afford to go to Africa right now where the actual problem is, but I can afford $35.65 and a single night of sleep to make a difference.


This is my cause, this is where I want my voice to be heard. 


What about you?

Someday you will get the best of me, Oh someday

Is today not the most gloriously beautiful of all time? A high of 57 after all of this too-cold garbage is such a miracle.  

I've got my Chacos on and I'm ready to roll.

Let's just hope this lasts!

All my love, B.

A prayerful heart and a clarity of mind

Apologies for the double post in the last 24 hours, but I just feel like something quick needs to be said about this.  For those who have caught wind of or actually read this Washington Post article, containing racist statements made by BYU religion professor Randy Bott, I advise you to please take a prayerful step back before making rash judgments and condemning this great man.


When Bott himself told us of this experience Wednesday morning in mission prep class, he claimed that his words in the article were a misquote and a gross misrepresentation of his actual views on African Americans and their delay in receiving the Priesthood. my immediate reaction was to side with him 100%.  Perhaps I was partial to him because he is truly the most incredible educator I have ever met, for in my mind at that moment his words convinced me that certainly every accusation against him must have been false. 


I have since researched further into the situation, heard countless of harsh, accusing (though admittedly well-argued) opinions, read it from the flipside of the coin, and i have to be honest here:

my opinion has not changed

I certainly agree that he made a grave mistake in not consulting with church leaders before releasing statements of such a heavy matter, but I still feel that the reporter took much of what he said out of context and used it as an opportunity, as have so many others, to paint Latter-Day Saints in a negative light.

Again, maybe I'm biased, and I know that I would not be alone in saying this, but this man has literally changed my life.  Without his help, I would never have had the courage to become a proactive force for good in the life of my close friend who chose to get baptized.  I attribute everything I learned to help in that situation to him and the Spirit of Heavenly Father.  Because of this, I have an extreme moral dilemma in believing that somebody so in tune with the Spirit and blessed with the ability to change lives because of it would even have opinions quite as extreme and controversial as what appeared in the Washington Post.  Even if he does actually hold a basic opinion of what was written, Brother Bott is no stranger to the Spotlight, and I also have a hard time believing that he would be so careless as to say something that he knew would bring these ramifications upon himself and the image of the church.   

I do not personally believe that Bott meant for his statements or opinions, whatever they may actually be, to be passed off as an official church stance.  But as it is so easy for the world to view any statement made by a member of the church as doctrine, he definitely should have thought before saying anything.  I will agree with some of you there. But I think this comes down to is that his mistake was not in what he said, but that he said anything at all. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, as I am now sharing mine with you on this blog. But if opinions fall into the wrong hands, they can destroy lives and reputations and have an effect above and beyond what was ever intended. We've all speculated on the issue of why African Americans went so long on the Priesthood, and some of us arrive on personal explanations as to why this might be, as Bott has. I believe that Bott has an opinion on the subject, but he knows just as well as the rest of us that nobody knows for sure and never will in this life, and this is where the reporter must take the responsibility for misrepresenting what he said.

What we have now is a great man who I'm certain is deeply humiliated by a situation that got out of control.  I feel that if the article was actually accurate, he would have no shame in saying so and would fully accept the consequences, which he's having to suffer anyway.  But instead, he is asking us to think hard and prayerfully about whether or not we truly believe that he would say something like that, and I for one do not. 

However, I'm willing to for a moment play devil's advocate and consider the fact that everything I think and have said above may be false.  But in that case, it is our responsibility as Christlike members of the Church to understand that...

everybody. makes. mistakes.

...Maybe it's just my pathological need to see the good in everybody (which I won't apologize for) that makes me view this whole issue as a momentary lapse in judgment made by a wonderful man that he would like to just put in the past.  It could have been anybody.  It could have been you. 

Let us have compassion for this man, respect at how he has managed to keep a positive attitude, recognition of his undeniable ability to prepare young men and women for the mission field and drastically change lives, and hope for the future that this will all blow over, 

My two cents.

I'm holding auditions

"I no longer believed in the idea of soul mates, or love at first sight. But I was beginning to believe that a very few times in your life, if you were lucky, you might meet someone who was exactly right for you. Not because she was perfect, or because you were, but because your combined flaws were arranged in a way that allowed two separate beings to hinge together."

—Lisa Kleypas 

So I think one of these days I'll get around to this massive pile of homework (ahem, Humanities essay) that's just staring me in the face over there. But blogging first. Of course.


So as I've reached the ripe old age of nineteen (which I'm not kidding is like, pushing 28 in Mormon years) and have not entered into a steady and stable relationship since my days as a high school youth, and therefore have not had anybody "put a ring on it," I believe it is time to examine a few things about myself. 


Just to be abundantly clear, I have no interest in marriage at all right now. Sure, thanks to pinterest, my wedding is as extensively planned out as it will ever be, but that's for many, many, many (well actually, let's hope not TOO many) years off in the future. 


I'm actually the tiniest bit embarrassed to be writing about this.  So there's no shot whatsoever (whoops) that I'll be posting a link of this one onto facebook tonight asking you to read it.  If you happen to stumble upon this particular literary "treat" sometime in the distant future, just know that this post is happening because I stumbled upon THE LIST  (keep reading) in my journal, and I'm now turning it into a nice and lengthy blog post so as to put off writing my Art Psychology paper just a tad longer.  If you know anything about me, know that I like journals A LOT.  So having just filled my most recent one,  I skimmed through it, and lo and behold, as I said, there it was: 

the list

So what I am referring to is a list that I began when I met the boy that seemed so perfect that the only possible explanation for his existence was that he didn't grow up in this world.  He had to have gracefully descended down out of the sexy tree at the precise moment that I needed him to, having just had my heart and soul ripped out by aforementioned high school boyfriend. And since meeting this particular boy, the list has just grown and grown and GROWN.....and it goes a little something like this:

My boy must be:

• An excellent conversationalist
• Smart as can be
• Skilled in learning foreign languages, so as to whisper sweet nothings into my ear that I can't understand, but give me butterflies nonetheless.
• Play guitar/violin/piano/drums/ukulele/siiiiiiinnnnnnngggggggg, or a healthy combination of a few...or all. All would be nice.
• Full of common sense, able to fix those stupid problems that I just can't quite figure out.
• Has a plan and is motivated to be successful.
• Able to beatbox.  I'm not entirely sure why this is so impressive.
• A chef. Since I'm not.
• Ready and willing to go hiking/camping/climbing/backpacking at a moment's notice.
• Wanting to live on the east coast in an enormous vintage Victorian home, complete with a backyard dock with the most beautiful of sailboats waiting to sail me off into the horizon.
• Interested in theatre. Because I demand to go see Les Misérables each and every time it comes into town.
• A decent photographer, or at least willing to put up with the fact that I will photograph everything, literally, EVERYTHING that occurs over the course of our relationship.
• Able to carry me across the Sahara desert.  I'm not asking that you be enormous.  In fact, I'm into skinny guys, as long as they are toned. That is a must.
• An artist. Drawing, painting, sculpting, whatever.
• Passionate about traveling and seeing the world
• Wants to get out there and do humanitarian work just as much as I do. And if you already are in the habit of doing so, that's a plus.
• Learned in movie trivia and willing to complete the entire IMDB top 250 with me.
• Have as impeccable taste in music as I sometimes think I do. But really. If all you listen to is hip hop and/or country....dealbreaker. 
• Very well-read and able to discuss books with me.
• A low key super-nerd.  If I'm confident enough to admit that I love Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter far more than you would ever, ever possibly be able to understand, there is no conceivable reason why you shouldn't be able to do the same.
• A spiritual giant, but on my same level. Able to give the most powerful and genuine testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel that one has ever heard, but able to understand that my favorite movies include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Sweeney Todd, and other less-than-probably-acceptable movies, and that when I'm really upset about something, I can't promise that a few colorful words won't accidentally slip out, and that I used to have a cartilage piercing, and that I secretly really want some ink...and there's really nothing that will change that. Take it or leave it. I do love this Gospel!! Know that!!
• Understanding that if he were to ever propose, my pathological need to document significant moments of life requires that the event be well-thought out, and that there is a hidden photographer.
• A CLASSY DRESSER. 'Nuff said.
• And the newest addition: Laura P and I have recently discovered and discussed the fact that we would appreciate it if our significant others had careers in which it is necessary to attend "functions" or "galas" or "benefits".  Whether he's a lawyer, politician, doctor, musician, the President, whatever, nothing would fill me with more feel-goods as when he looks me in the eye and says, "Dear, remember that so-and-so benefit that so-and-so company is throwing next Friday? Go out and buy yourself a nice new Chanel and a spa day to get ready." 

**Note: I'm really not as materialistic as this makes me sound.  All of these that involve lavish amounts are money are strictly fantasy.  As I said before, I love camping, biking, hiking, the outdoors.  I'm not afraid to get gross.

**But basically, what it comes down to is.........if you wrap up and send me either of the following, I think we're probably in business.

Now...the point of all this, you ask? The point is that this list is so long, and many are so, so not focused on what's really important.  Not to throw him under the bus, but I had an enormous realization recently that the first person I ever loved had maybe... two of these qualities.  Just two. And to this day I can say I've never connected so well with anybody in my entire life, and aside from that whole "rip out my heart and soul" few bad months of senior year, we still care about each other (almost) as much as we ever did, and we probably always will. In a much, much much much  different way now, of course. 

But nonetheless, why did it work out?  I was, by senior year, whatever "hipster" seemed to be back then.  (I hate that word by the way), but I was interested in Mumford when my friends liked Katy Perry, I legitimately did own one of the first pairs of TOMS to walk the halls of Keller High School, I thought copious amounts of makeup was for squares, and I carried "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" and anything by C.S. Lewis down the halls instead of Twilight.

So how on EARTH did I fall in love with this skinny, washed-up Hollister boy who had the most impressive hair flip and the ugliest orange shoes I had ever seen, and who could care less about grades and had never even touched a Harry Potter book? 

That is because he was -all surface level qualities aside- the single most decent person I had ever met up to that point.  Such an endearing, caring, incredible person, even with his obvious lack of everything I thought I wanted. 

(**If you were wondering, I'm only telling this story to prove a point, not because of any lingering interest in said boy. Cross my fingers.  I promise.  But if any of you want to be set up with the coolest guy I know, he's a recent convert, just sayin' ;) )

So basically, hardly any of what I included on THE LIST even matters. If I didn't look so much like a truck right now, I'd show you that I'm ripping it up into 9,000 tiny little pieces.

i'm starting over

And all that I require is:

1) You still have to be attractive.  I'm sorry, that's just....it's always important.

2) A Mormon boy.  I mean, is that any surprise? And still on my same level, spiritually. Which is pretty high, but not self-righteous high.

3) A boy with a plan.  I mean, if you're an RM, you're 21 already.  Time to get it together. "Undeclared major?" still kind of a turn-off.

4) A clear understanding of the differences between -to, two, and too-, -their, they're, and there-, -you're and your- and -its and it's-

5) A snappy dresser would still be nice.

6) A clear understanding that I will never, under any possible circumstances, have any vested interested in sports.  If you can't extend your conversation beyond your high school football glory days or your fantasy team, no hope.

Personal scolding moment: Brittany, get your head out of the clouds and don't just make snap judgments about how people are before meeting them.  I know you're a psychology major and you're going to college to learn how to do just that, but this is vastly different.  You know that.  Grow up.

Anyway, there's my annoying and neverending stream of thoughts for this lovely first night of March. 

In other news, I had my first prep class for study abroad today! And a roommate!  Her name is Kelli, and I think she'll be awesome.

Time to stop talking and tackle that paper now.

In parting:

-I'm sorry, but is that not just the most darling thing you've ever laid eyes on?-

-all images courtesy of pinterest-

All my love, B