Adventure with Me

Well hello there.

It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted here. I used to think that I was going to be a writer, but sometimes writing honestly bores me. Not the idea of writing, but the writing itself. I’ll get through a paragraph of a new post, all enchanted with a lovely new idea, and then BAM. Boredom. Complete and utter boredom takes over, and then exasperation. I cannot possibly write an entire post, my mind says. I have far too much to do today. You get the idea.
Anyway, since I’ve been away and traveling for months on end I suppose I should update you more on my life. I missed out on a wonderful opportunity to write fascinating blog posts while on my six month long camping trip around the U.S.

The thing is, although everyone else was fascinated with the idea of traveling the U.S. with their family, I for one was completely against it. It’s a fanciful idea, but played out in reality problems inevitably arose. We’re not rich. Let’s clear that notion up right here. We didn’t decide to go traveling because of an abundance of money. There were times when we were stopped at a park and sat in our trailer or played mini golf or went to the pool and ate simple meals because we didn’t have money for gas or fancy food. It wasn’t a vacation, it was life. What was your favorite thing you did? people would ask. I went to the beach. I read book after book because I had the time. Did you go to Disney World while you were in Florida? No, but we went to Down Town Disney and it was-hey! Where are you going? Is that not exciting enough for you?

So I wasn’t as enchanted with the idea, but looking back I realized, who says you have to do the big things otherwise you won’t enjoy yourself? My little brothers and sisters spent hours chasing after lizards that roam around Florida like mosquitoes in Alaska, but much more entertaining. Thunderstorms fascinate me, and if I weren’t so afraid of getting struck by lightning I would have spent much more time out in the rain instead of watching, captivated, behind closed windows. It was the little things that made that trip worthwhile to me. The time driving over the Appalachian Mountains as a serendipitous moment left me breathless when a patch of trees opened up so we could just catch a glimpse of the sunlight glancing down the mountains, across the valley, onto the peak of the next mountain over.

We passed through the intersection of Route 66, ate McDonald’s in a small town called Paris, passed a ramp off the highway that read “Warp Drive”, and went into tiny little boutique shops. We stopped and smelled the flowers, basked in the sunshine, and relaxed.
That’s not to say there weren’t fights. When I said I was against this trip, that’s an understatement. I hated it. Loathed being there. It’s only looking back that I remember some of the things I enjoyed with fond thoughts instead of remembering the pain and anguish. Maybe that’s what my grandparents meant when they said I’d look back on this trip in 20 years and say it was one of the best times of my life. My memories balk at that thought, but maybe I’ll let the good overtake all the bad instead of holding on to pride and grudges.

Now I’m in Ketchikan, Alaska. The lower region of Alaska, by Canada and open ocean. Boy, is it gorgeous here. I am working at a fishing resort as a “kitchen hand”. Glamorous, I know. My responsibilities include baking a ton of cookies (often 400 a day), washing dishes (don’t get me started), stocking the salad bar, sandwich bar, breakfast area, and coffee area (the food doesn’t magically appear there), as well as cleaning tables, sweeping, mopping, washing walls, occasionally helping out the cooks, and waitressing.

It’s a big job.

But I’m slowly starting to love it. Sure, we have long days and I end up exhausted half the time, but the view is worth it and so are the people. I have met some incredible guests. Call me crazy, but chatting with the guests is one of my favorite parts of the job. I’ve had guests that lifted my energy level when I thought I was going to crash and burn.

“I could live for two months off of a good compliment.”- Mark Twain.

So far, I'm taking it one day at a time. Check out some funny and probably incomprehensible snippets of conversation from my stay so far...

Who's the ginger?
Me: What’s Riley’s last name?
JayCee: Riley…Ginger…bottom…

Walking home
JayCee: Don’t worry, I gots street smarts. “Do you wanna ride?” “NO!” “Do you want candy?” “YES!”

Hot chocolate
Me: Ooh that took it to the next level. I put half and half in it.
JayCee: I take mine black

Fries
Me to Renaye: I was eating a fry and Anthony was all, “All ya’ll got fries!” and knocked It out of my hand. Then he brought me a new fry.
Continued: YES I was all “*gapes* That was rude” and he was like “That was rude, ima get you a new fry” and he made some and gave me one. Offered chicken strips, too.

When Anthony found out I'm only 17
Anthony: You’re only 17? Shoot I can’t even talk to you.

Anthony: Don’t even come near me, no *holding out hand* Go away! *mutters* 17…

Anthony: *looking out the window* This is honestly a beautiful view
Me: You’re looking in the wrong direction *mimes frame around face*
Anthony: I can’t, you’re 17.

Anthony: No Sabrina. I can’t even sit next to you. That’s trouble. Trouble with a capital T.

First day without Kirsten
Me to Renaye: The moment you realize you don’t know how to use a plunger and the guys’ bathroom toilet is overflowing…

Men
Renaye: Anywho. Decided I’m the most romantic person ever because when he said something nice I called him creepy.

Intelligence rubbing off on younger siblings
Renaye: I love how Sadie doesn’t know how to read yet, but she says things like, “If I remembered correctly.” And “My personal favorite.”

Will never stop using this line
Renaye: Why is it so hot today
Me: Cuz you forgot to turn yourself off
Renaye: …yes. Thank you for reminding me.

Obscure hymns
JayCee: *black woman voice* Hey, old lady. I know…you have the desire…to sing all the songs that have been neglected in life…but I DON’T CARE.

Youth speaker
Kid giving a talk: I plan on marrying a, like, really righteous woman in the temple.
Kid: If you like candy, so that’s everybody…

Kit Kat gospel principles
KAT: Keep the commandments, Always remember Him, Take upon you His name.

All I asked was what to call the appetizer...
Ron: *describing food in fancy ways*
Ricky: Man I dunno what you’re saying but it sounds good.

Ron
Me to Renaye: Ron dumped water on my shoes, “Now you have to clean that up!”

We're out 
Me: We have a huge problem.
Ron: What?
Me: We’re out of hot chocolate.
Ron: Drink coffee like a grown up!

Ticklish
Me to Renaye: “Uhmyeeeeeeah. Anthony like...half molested me with his hands on my stomach and back…” I don’t think Mason liked that description of being tickled.

Crazy stuff happens in the kitchen at night…
Ricky: *chucking torn bits of bread from a ruined loaf at us* This is communion, some mother effing sacrament crap! We should pray! *takes hat off and bows head* Come on!
Ricky: Hit me with the bread! Hit my head! *gets hit in the head with the loaf* that wasn’t as funny as I thought it would be.

Ricky thinks he's hot
Me to Renaye: There’s a blind corner in the kitchen, and we don't want to run into each other, so we yell “corner” whenever we’re about to go around it, right? If you are carrying knives, you say “knife!” if you’re carrying something hot, you yell “corner hot!”. Well Ricky is always overly enthusiastic about it, and yells it a couple times (just in case we didn’t hear him the first five times), so we know to get out of the way. One time I heard him yelling urgently, “hot hot hot hot HOT” and turned to look at what blistering dish he was carrying around the corner this time, and was surprised to see him walk around the corner empty handed…it was just him.

Ron
Ron: *sprays me with sanitizing spray* you’ve just been sanitized.

Me to Renaye: That awkward moment when Ron stole my phone while in the middle of typing that text, saying, “I’ll give it back when your shifts over” and then looked at the text which currently only said “Ron: *sprays” and is all, “you saying stuff about me?” Then later comes back and catches me typing this up and says, “If you wanna be a scandalous little thing that’s fine” OMG…

Me to Renaye: I was putting the pickle spears into a new container and he came over and was glancing back and forth between the pickle spears and me…I don’t like this…

Over weight baggage 
Tanessa: She layered on clothes. She was like a little mushroom. I mean…marshmallow…

 

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~La vie est belle, Bri~

How to See a Woman

So I love it when I find articles that just kind of make sense to me, and are something I think are worth sharing with the rest of the world. I stole this particular article from my friend Mason (check him out here). This was written by a pastor for Christ's Community Church.

"Someday I am going to have to have the conversation with my son. No, not the conversation all parents dread giving and all kids are mortified having. I enjoy making people uncomfortable, so that conversation should be fun.
No, I’m talking about another conversation. The one that happens after I catch his eye doing what male eyes do well — following an object of lust. We will probably be out at the mall, because that’s what dads do with their sons, and I’ll catch the look. Maybe we’ll go to the beach and see it. Doesn’t matter where it is. There will come a time when I will see it. And then it will be time for this conversation.
Hey, come here. Let me talk to you. I saw you look at her. I’m not judging you or shaming you. I know why you did. I get it. But we have to talk about it because how you look at a woman matters.
A lot of people will try and tell you that a woman should watch how she dresses so she doesn’t tempt you to look at her wrongly. Here is what I will tell you. It is a woman’s responsibility to dress herself in the morning. It is your responsibility to look at her like a human being regardless of what she is wearing. You will feel the temptation to blame her for your wandering eyes because of what she is wearing — or not wearing. But don’t. Don’t play the victim. You are not a helpless victim when it comes to your eyes. You have full control over them. Exercise that control. Train them to look her in the eyes. Discipline yourself to see her, not her clothes or her body. The moment you play the victim, you fall into the lie that you are simply embodied reaction to external stimuli unable to determine right from wrong, human from flesh.
Look right at me. That is a ridiculous lie.
You are more than that. And the woman you are looking at is more than her clothes. She is more than her body. There is a lot of talk about how men objectify women, and largely, it is true. Humans objectify the things they love in effort to control them. If you truly love a person, do not reduce them to an object. The moment you objectify another human — woman or man — you give up your humanity.
There are two views regarding a woman’s dress code that you will be pressured to buy into. One view will say that women need to dress to get the attention of men. The other view will say women need to dress to protect men from themselves. Son, you are better than both of these. A woman, or any human being, should not have to dress to get your attention. You should give them the full attention they deserve simply because they are a fellow human being. On the other side, a woman should not have to feel like she needs to protect you from you. You need to be in control of you.
Unfortunately, much of how the sexes interact with each is rooted in fear. Fear of rejection, fear of abuse, fear of being out of control. In some ways, the church has added to this. We fear each other because we have been taught the other is dangerous. We’ve been a taught a woman’s body will cause men to sin. We’re told that if a woman shows too much of her body men will do stupid things. Let’s be clear: A woman’s body is not dangerous to you. Her body will not cause you harm. It will not make you do stupid things. If you do stupid things, it is because you chose to do stupid things. So don’t contribute to the fear that exists between men and women.
A woman’s body is beautiful and wonderful and mysterious. Respect it by respecting her as an individual with hopes and dreams and experiences and emotions and longings. Let her be confident. Encourage her confidence. But don’t do all this because she is weaker. That’s the biggest bunch of crap out there. Women are not weaker than men. They are not the weaker sex. They are the other sex.
I’m not telling you to not look at women. Just the opposite. I’m telling you to see women. Really see them. Not just with your eyes but with your heart. Don’t look to see something that tickles your senses, but see a human being.
My hope is that changing how you see women will change how you are around them. Don’t just be around women. Be with women.
Because in the end, they want to be with you. Without fear of being judged, or shamed, or condemned, or objectified or being treated as other. And that’s not just what women want. That’s what people want. Ultimately, it’s what you want."

I love how he's "talking" to his son about his responsibility to look at women right. We're always going around trying to place blame on a man or a woman individually for this sort of thing, when we should both be taking equal responsibility because we respect each other.
Now girls, don't take this as an excuse to dress inappropriately, because you also have your own responsibilities. "Don’t play the victim. You are not a helpless victim." The same goes for you. Don't blame him for his wandering eyes when you're presenting him with something to wander over. You need to demand respect by respecting yourself.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

27 Ways to Get More Stuff Done

So I am back in a Alaska. Yay.

I hurt my ankle the day of my flight and suffered through a six and a half hour flight which ended with my ankle swollen three times it's size and pulsing in pain. Ouch. I know. So I am kind of confined to the couch for the next week. Well, confined to the couch when my mom is paying attention.

I hate sitting around. I have to be DOING something, and Facebook isn't quite cutting it. So I hopped over to Pinterest for a little bit to ease my boredom and found this little gem, an article about productivity. (P.S. The title has a swear word in it, sorry!)

~ Click Here ~

This got me thinking about everything I have to do this year. It's my senior year of high school, and I'm a little behind on what I'm supposed to have accomplished. That's what I get for graduating early. 

Anyway, my most important priorities are studying for the ACT, becoming a dancing beast, and making sure I have all the credits I need to graduate and get into the college of my choice. Oh yeah, and did I mention I'm supposed to apply to colleges? 

Scary.  

Check ya later, gotta go to do grown-uppy stuff. 

~La vie est belle, Bri~

 

22 Things Happy People Do Differently

I believe our self image is linked directly with how happy we are, so here are some great tips on how to live your life to be happier, and to love yourself more.

 This article is from Chiara Fucarino over at Successify!

There are two types of people in the world: those who choose to be happy, and those who choose to be unhappy. Contrary to popular belief, happiness doesn’t come from fame, fortune, other people, or material possessions. Rather, it comes from within. The richest person in the world could be miserable while a homeless person could be right outside, smiling and content with their life.

Happy people are happy because they make themselves happy. They maintain a positive outlook on life and remain at peace with themselves. The question is: how do they do that? It’s quite simple. Happy people have good habits that enhance their lives. They do things differently. Ask any happy person, and they will tell you that the they;

1. Don’t hold grudges. Happy people understand that it’s better to forgive and forget than to let their negative feelings crowd out their positive feelings. Holding a grudge has a lot of detrimental effects on your wellbeing, including increased depression, anxiety, and stress. Why let anyone who has wronged you have power over you? If you let go of all your grudges, you’ll gain a clear conscience and enough energy to enjoy the good things in life.

 2. Treat everyone with kindness. Did you know that it has been scientifically proven that being kind makes you happier? Every time you perform a selfless act, your brain produces serotonin, a hormone that eases tension and lifts your spirits. Not only that, but treating people with love, dignity, and respect also allows you to build stronger relationships.

3. See problems as challenges. The word “problem” is never part of a happy person’s vocabulary. A problem is viewed as a drawback, a struggle, or an unstable situation while a challenge is viewed as something positive like an opportunity, a task, or a dare. Whenever you face an obstacle, try looking at it as a challenge.

4. Express gratitude for what they already have. There’s a popular saying that goes something like this: “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.” You will have a deeper sense of contentment if you count your blessings instead of yearning for what you don’t have.

 5. Dream big. People who get into the habit of dreaming big are more likely to accomplish their goals than those who don’t. If you dare to dream big, your mind will put itself in a focused and positive state.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Happy people ask themselves, “Will this problem matter a year from now?” They understand that life’s too short to get worked up over trivial situations. Letting things roll off your back will definitely put you at ease to enjoy the more important things in life.

7. Speak well of others. Being nice feels better than being mean. As fun as gossiping is, it usually leaves you feeling guilty and resentful. Saying nice things about other people encourages you to think positive, non-judgmental thoughts.

8. Never make excuses. Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Happy people don’t make excuses or blame others for their own failures in life. Instead, they own up to their mistakes and, by doing so, they proactively try to change for the better.

 9. Get absorbed into the present. Happy people don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future. They savor the present. They let themselves get immersed in whatever they’re doing at the moment. Stop and smell the roses.

 10. Wake up at the same time every morning. Have you noticed that a lot of successful people tend to be early risers? Waking up at the same time every morning stabilizes your circadian rhythm, increases productivity, and puts you in a calm and centered state.

 11. Avoid social comparison. Everyone works at his own pace, so why compare yourself to others? If you think you’re better than someone else, you gain an unhealthy sense of superiority. If you think someone else is better than you, you end up feeling bad about yourself. You’ll be happier if you focus on your own progress and praise others on theirs.

12. Choose friends wisely. Misery loves company. That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with optimistic people who will encourage you to achieve your goals. The more positive energy you have around you, the better you will feel about yourself.

 13. Never seek approval from others. Happy people don’t care what others think of them. They follow their own hearts without letting naysayers discourage them. They understand that it’s impossible to please everyone. Listen to what people have to say, but never seek anyone’s approval but your own.

14. Take the time to listen. Talk less; listen more. Listening keeps your mind open to others’ wisdoms and outlooks on the world. The more intensely you listen, the quieter your mind gets, and the more content you feel.

15. Nurture social relationships. A lonely person is a miserable person. Happy people understand how important it is to have strong, healthy relationships. Always take the time to see and talk to your family, friends, or significant other.

16. Meditate. Meditating silences your mind and helps you find inner peace. You don’t have to be a zen master to pull it off. Happy people know how to silence their minds anywhere and anytime they need to calm their nerves.

17. Eat well. Junk food makes you sluggish, and it’s difficult to be happy when you’re in that kind of state. Everything you eat directly affects your body’s ability to produce hormones, which will dictate your moods, energy, and mental focus. Be sure to eat foods that will keep your mind and body in good shape.

 18. Exercise. Studies have shown that exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft does. Exercising also boosts your self-esteem and gives you a higher sense of self-accomplishment.

 19. Live minimally. Happy people rarely keep clutter around the house because they know that extra belongings weigh them down and make them feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Some studies have concluded that Europeans are a lot happier than Americans are, which is interesting because they live in smaller homes, drive simpler cars, and own fewer items.

 20. Tell the truth. Lying stresses you out, corrodes your self-esteem, and makes you unlikeable. The truth will set you free. Being honest improves your mental health and builds others’ trust in you. Always be truthful, and never apologize for it.

 21. Establish personal control. Happy people have the ability to choose their own destinies. They don’t let others tell them how they should live their lives. Being in complete control of one’s own life brings positive feelings and a great sense of self-worth.

22. Accept what cannot be changed. Once you accept the fact that life is not fair, you’ll be more at peace with yourself. Instead of obsessing over how unfair life is, just focus on what you can control and change it for the better.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

Subtle Captivation, Week Seven; Change

2/5/13 Change

Change. That’s the topic of this month. The thought behind this is that I would be going through some change, adjusting to life in Utah, and that the seasons would be changing as well. There’s still snow outside, but that’s part of the change. It’s melting, and the sun is shining through the branches of the trees, slowly warming up the world.

2/6/13 Change

I’ve been trying to get integrated into the ward and the stake, meet people. But I’m so scared that I’m going to scare them off. I don’t feel like I can be myself and as open and fun loving as I am. It’s weird.

2/7/13 Change

Today was warm, and I could smell summer in the air. I feel as if it has been winter for a hundred years, like in Narnia, and the world is finally waking up.

2/8/13 Change

Speaking of change, the world is bipolar. Yesterday the sun was shining and grass was poking through, and today the sky si full of dark grey clouds dumping snow on us by the gallon full. Yay.

2/9/13 Change

I really want to write something. Not this kind of something, a book or story kind of something. But my idea was shot down as impractical and fairy tale like. That’s what I want though! I want a fairy tale ish book, a happily ever after. What I would really like to do is write it in a more “romantic” era. But I don’t have the knowledge to do that, which means a bit of work and research. And then again, I wouldn’t WANT to portray the past eras as dirty and unhygienic (which in reality, they were). I’d want to portray the rolling hills and green scenery, the towering trees and fresh air and clear blue skies and sunshine. I want to write about writing letters instead of texting or emailing, wearing long pretty dresses, reading from a large library. I want to write about something completely impractical while still staying practical. Is that too much to ask? I made a list of what I want to write about, or rather, what I associate with the time I would like to write about (it’s not a complete list).

A castle

A farm

A beautiful girl

Long flowing dresses

And horses galloping through fields

Trees blossoming with flowers

And fancy dirt roads

Books bound with leather

And barefoot toes snuggling green grass

The smell of fresh flowers

And sunshine

And clean air

Strong old men

Women and children

Dogs frolicking and barking

A handsome prince

Birds singing in the tress

A forest tall, wide, and dense

Baths in a trough

And little cottages with gardens out front

Carriages and wagons

Smocks covered in dirt and soot

Small hand sewn dolls

And rough wooden fences

Candles light the night

And fires provide warmth

Thick homemade bread

And cheese

And milk

The Land of Shortened Names, Sprinkles, and Coffee

In the words of my wifey, Beka;

Once upon a time there were four friends; Bri, Beka, Elle and Rora. They all had their own blog and on these blogs they each had their own daily challenge. Each of these challenges were different but the same, much like jellybeans. All of them will be differently flavored and yet they are all candy.
One of these bloggers, Elle, had the brilliant idea of putting all of the daily challenges into one blog. The others agreed and thought it'd be an amazing idea. In one day they created the blog "Bri, Beka, Elle and Rora" and it was amazing. This new blog is where they now posted their daily challenges and it made them happy.


The End!

So, I won't be posting my "I Will Survive" stuff on here anymore, but I will keep up with my random posts like before :)

~La vie est belle, Bri~