These Are a Few of My Favorite Things......

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...... This song has been stuck in my head lately. Inspiration for a blog post? I think yes. So I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things with all of you. Well.... Probably more than a few. Buckle up, it's a long list.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: 

1. Balloons. Always loved them. Always will.
2. Sunshine. I feel like I talk about this a lot. But I really do love sunshine.
3. Freshly baked bread.
4. Tulips.
5. Mail. More specifically, letters or packages addressed to me.
6. New clothes.
7. Babies with chubby cheeks.
8. Tall trees with lots of branches that are perfect for climbing.
9. Giant soft pillows.
10. Warm blankets.
11. Fiery sunsets with lots of colors.
12. Soft freshly cut grass.
13. Fresh raspberries.
14. The smell of rain.
15. Lace. I love lace!
16. Lockets.
17. Old photos.
18. Stars.
19. Jeans that fit perfectly.
20. Yellow rainboots.
21. Boating.
22. Playing softball.
23. Double rainbows.
24. First kisses. And the kisses that follow.
25. Spontaneous dance parties.
26. Good grades.
27. Swings. Yes, I am a child at heart.
28. Acting.
29. The mountains.
30. Blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream.
31. Les Miserables. The musical.
32. Walking on the beach.
33. Puppies.
34. Traveling.
35. Good books.
36. Best friends.
37. Hot chocolate with marshmallows.
38. Bonfires.
39. Music that matches my mood perfectly.
40. Charm bracelets.
41. Happy surprises.
42. Missionaries!
43. Going to the movies.
44. Driving with the windows down and the music up.
45. Boy's jackets. For some reason they're so much warmer than ours.
46. Ice-cream.
47. Going barefoot.
48. Raspberry lemonade.
49. Holidays.
50. Bubble baths.
51. Picnics.
52. Road trips.
53. Getting mail.
54. Roller coasters.
55. The beach.
56. MINI Coopers! Definitely my dream car.
57. Going on a run by the river.
58. Sleeping in.
59. The library.
60. Chocolate!

Yep, these are just a FEW of my favorite things!

Love, Brontë

 

What I Learned From Fairytales

"A long, long time ago in a land far, far away...." 

I grew up with fairytales. Reading them, watching them, listening to my dad tell them to me, making up my own, you name it. I had a pretty wild imagination as a child (I still do actually), and I'm positive that fairytales were a huge contributor that. As I've grown up my love of fairytales has stayed with me and can say that I still 100%  believe in fairytales. Some of the biggest life lessons I've gotten came from fairytales in one form or the other. I'll share a few:

Always Be Ready. Almost every fairytale had a hero/heroine going on an unexpected journey. Most of the time they're not fully prepared and have to improvise. These stories always taught me to expect the unexpected, but also to be flexible and ready to rise to whatever occasion might present itself.

Sometimes You Just Have to Save Yourself. Being a girl, I always loved stories that had strong and/or smart female characters. Not all princesses waited around for Prince Charming to sweep in and save the day. You have to be able to rely on yourself to get out of a sticky situation because Prince Charming (or whoever else) is late or lost or doesn't even realize that he's your Prince. Sometimes you just have to take care of business and meet him halfway. And that's just fine.

Magic is Real. Fairytales are all about magic, but there's magic in the real world too. It's in those small moments, when you least expect it. It's in that gorgeous sunset, or that baby's first laugh or that first kiss. It's the moment when you slip into a dream, it's in music, it's everywhere. It's unexplainable, but it's there. All you have to do is look.

The Greatest Challenges Come Just Before the Greatest Rewards. In every fairytale there's a climax, that moment when you have to face the dragon, or defeat the witch, or stand up to the wicked stepmother. Whatever your challenge is, or whatever situation life throws you, the greatest rewards and blessings are just beyond it. And sometimes your hardest and most unthinkable challenge or trial becomes your greatest reward.

Good Always Overcomes Evil. Always. I'll let you in on a secret: The Villain doesn't win in the end. Good always conquers evil, and it will continue to conquer evil until the end of time. If it seems like The Villain in your life is currently winning, just remember that the story isn't over yet. Don't give up.

True Love is Worth Fighting For. Because when you find it, it never goes away. It's perfect and beautiful and it lasts forever, beyond what you could ever imagine. That doesn't mean the road there is easy, and it doesn't mean that you will recognize it right away. Here's another secret: The Villain's favorite disguise is Prince Charming. Learn to recognize which is which. It takes a few tries, believe me. But someday when you find real True Love, wherever and with whomever, you will know that everything you went through to get there was worth it. It was all worth it in the end.

Everyone Can Have a Happy Ending. No matter who they are, whether a scullery maid or a king of nations. Happy Endings aren't free though. It's a rough and sometimes lonely road. You just have to have the courage to take the first step. Whatever your journey has in store for you, it will all someday come to a close. And then you will have many, many more journeys to take. You have the power to write your own ending.  

"...And they lived Happily Ever After."

Love, Brontë

I Believe in.....

I believe in sunshine.
I believe in laughing until you cry.
I believe in dancing in the rain.
I believe in trying new things.
I believe that time can heal almost everything.
I believe in magic.
I believe that happiness is a choice.
I believe in karma.
I believe that one person can change the world.
I believe in first kisses.
I believe in reading under the covers with a flashlight until 3am.
I believe that kindness turns enemies into friends.
I believe in dancing on tables.
I believe that friendship can last forever.
I believe that sometimes it's okay to buy expensive clothes.
I believe in road trips with best friends.
I believe in driving with the windows down and music blaring.
I believe in forgiveness.
I believe in Love, True Love and I believe that it lasts forever. 
I believe in stargazing.
I believe in fairytales.
I believe in driving fast.
I believe that everyone is a child of God and deserves to be treated as such.
I believe in chivalry.
I believe that music can completely change your mood.
I believe in taking risks.
I believe in saying yes.
I believe in saying no.
I believe in perseverance and in never giving up.
I believe in Love Letters.
I believe that exercise works wonders.
I believe in daydreaming.
I believe that chocolate really can make everything better. 
I believe in doing the right thing no matter how hard it may be.
I believe in being me, no matter what anyone else might think.

Love, Brontë

More Lessons Learned

I have officially completed my freshman year of college. Crazy isn't it? I feel like it was just yesterday that I was getting ready to move out and start a whole new phase of my life. It's incredible how much can change in the course of eight short months. I am a completely different person now than I was at the beginning of the school year. I've learned so much about myself as well as about the world that I live in. I've had the chance to meet some incredible people, and I've had more fun this year than I ever had before. I thought I'd share a few lessons I learned during my freshman year of college:

1. Going to the gym is always easier when you go with someone else.
2. Scripture study is a vital part of my day. Without it things never go as well.
3. Practice makes perfect.
4. Most people are friendly and worth making friends with.
5. Sometimes starbursts make a perfectly acceptable breakfast.
6. The two best ways to deal with heartbreak are going to the temple and going to the gym.
7. My friends always have my back. I could not have been more blessed. They have no idea how much they all mean to me, and I'll be forever grateful to them for all they have done for me.
8. You never remember the nights you got lots of sleep.
9. Take risks. Sometimes they pay off.
10. When life is just too hard to stand, kneel. Prayer is an amazing tool.
11. Don't judge too quickly. If you do, you may miss out on an amazing friendship.
12. Be grateful for the small, happy moments.
13. Being proactive works wonders.
14. Guys give great advice.
15. Sometimes crying actually makes you feel better.
16. I can accomplish a lot more when my room is clean.
17. Laugh! It's good for you.
18. Make friends with the smart people and study in groups.
19. One person can change your whole life in an incredibly short amount of time.
20. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day.
21. Sometimes saying goodbye is the hardest thing in the world.
22. It's a really bad idea to do laundry on Saturday. Especially when you live in a dorm with 200 other girls who are also trying to do their laundry on Saturday.
23. Sunshine always makes a crappy day better.
24. Late night dance parties to 90's music are the best.
25. Think before you say.
26. It's okay to fall, and fall hard as long as you can get back up again.
27. Spontaneous decisions sometimes turn out the best. 
28. Keep calm and call Mom. She knows what she's doing.
29. If you're on facebook, you're not studying.
30. When you look good, you feel good. Most of the time.

Love, Brontë

I Hate Goodbyes

I've always had a hard time saying goodbye. It started when I was about two, when our little blue car broke down and had to be taken to the junkyard. According to my mom, I cried for about three hours and then for the next few weeks I  kept asking where it went. And honestly, saying goodbye hasn't gotten any easier as I've grown up.

Over the past few years I've had to say goodbye to various things, such as old clothes, toys, books, and a few pet fish. Obviously those weren't too traumatizing, lets be honest, they're just things. But sometimes it's still hard to say goodbye to that favorite childhood outfit or toy, and flushing dead fish down the toilet can be quite depressing at times. But it's always the hardest to have to say goodbye to people, especially people that you've grown to love and care a lot about.

I've had to say my fair share of goodbyes in the past few years, some temporary and others permanent. Each one was it's own special type of difficult, and I always dreaded it. Now I'm at a part of my life where there are lots of goodbyes being said. My first year of college is over and everyone is going home for the summer, and all of my amazing guy friends are going on missions. I knew that saying goodbye would be hard but I never thought it would be this hard. The biggest comfort is knowing that they're going where they need to be and doing what they're supposed to be doing. I'm so grateful for all of them and the amazing influence that they've had on my life. I love all of you amazing Elders! And to my girls, I love you and I'll see you in August!!

Love, Brontë

Finals

This is what I feel like right now. And it's only the first day of Finals.............. 

Happy Easter!

Let us not forget the real reason we celebrate Easter. He is risen and He lives!

Happy Easter! 

Love, Brontë