Life Is Sweet

One of my best friends turned 20 this week. It’s so exciting that we are all getting older. I love this stage of life we are in.

To celebrate her sweet life, we dined at Panera Bread. I had a delicious chipotle chicken sandwich and a bowl of creamy tomato soup.

We branched off from the normal birthday cupcake or cake and had  fluffy glazed donuts instead. Each donut had a different design and they were so cute! I loved the little snowmen ones. (Even though the black icing turned Morgan’s mouth black!)

Life is so sweet and I am extremely blessed.

Happy Birthday my sweet friend!

Obsessed Fan

I’m incapable of simply liking something.

I tend to get obsessed. And when I say obsessed, I mean obsessed. In 7th grade when every American girl went through their Hilary Duff phase, I made a website dedicated to her. And a scrapbook of all magazine clippings she was in.

I told you, obsessed.

Lately I have been very into the TV show Pretty Little Liars along with my roommate. If you have never watched the show or read the books, it’s about a group of girls whose best friend went missing and was murdered and now the girls are getting anonymous texts from a person who identifies their self as ‘A’. ‘A’ seems to know what happened to their murdered best friend.

It’s a captivating mystery, that is for sure!

Today as Ali and I freaked out over the finale, we decided to make a chart breaking down all of the characters. Could this person be ‘A’? What would their motive be?

As the show progresses, we will add things to our chart!

Are you a Liars fan? If so, who do YOU think ‘A’ is?

Decking The Halls of Pattie Cobb

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere I go!

Ali and I have put up our tree and strung some lights. It looks tacky and cheap which makes me love it even more.

My RA strung the same lights up in our hallway and it makes me so happy- it certainly is the most wonderful time of the year.

What do you think of my tacky dorm Christmas?

      

Christmas Festival

Where I was born, (also where Steel Magnolia's was filmed) there is an amazing Christmas festival every year. The city lights up the river and has a huge firework display.

The festival is also famous for it's real Cajun food, like meat pies and jambalaya.

I spent the weekend there with family and enjoyed early festival activities.

It was great to be in a place so rich in heritage and to visit family. And it's always nice to go to the Christmas festival! But I am happy to be back at school and settling back into my normal routine.

I hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving week!

Black Friday

Black Friday is my favorite holiday because competitive shopping is the only sport I'm good at. Bring it on, soccer moms.

Thanksgiving

Every Thursday I give thanks for all of the small blessings God has showered on me. Today (and everyday) I am so thankful for everything I have, big and small.

The opportunity to have an education,
and to be getting it at an amazing school
A roof over my head, whether it be my dorm room or my house
Food, whether it's a meal plan in the caf or a meal home-cooked
A healthy, happy family
To live in a free country and have all of the rights that I do
(especially the freedom to
worship God without having to fear for my life)
All of my (unnecessary) electronics like my iphone, laptop, tv, dvd's

I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving!
Give thanks for all you have.

More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About My Sister

I decided to interview my dear sister today because, well, I talk about myself a lot. And it's refreshing (I think!)

Ladies & gentlemen,

Full name:

Brittany Rene Simmons

Born: December 4th, 1989

Profession: College student by day, Cracker Barrel waitress by night

Happiest moment in life: I'm just always happy.

Biggest fear/phobia: Never getting married or choosing the wrong profession!

Favorite food to indulge in: Cracker Barrel's apple dumpling!

What is your favorite thing about yourself? I feel like I'm very understanding and I don't judge people. And I always want to know about people. And I'm a talker. And a listener.

What are you really good at? I'm really good at sleeping.

Do you weigh yourself? Every once in awhile

What the world needs now? No judgement, just love.

One word to describe yourself:

Fabulous

Pumpkin Lovin'

The best part of the Thanksgiving holiday?

Everything becomes pumpkin flavor.

pie...

pumpkin chocolate chip muffins...

pumpkin spiced latte

and last but most certainly not least, a glazed pumpkin donut

Are your tummies rumbling yet?

Operation: Get Fit update

Ate under 1,100 calories and ran an easy 2.5 miles!

‘Body Mass Index’ – I Dread Those Words

I have lost almost 10 pounds since this time last year. It wasn’t really any effort on my part. Living on the third floor for two consecutive years probably helps. Oh, and running.

I was curious of my BMI change since last year and decided to look it up. I was a bit disappointed. For my height, I was around 10 pounds overweight.

In an effort to be my healthiest self, I took on the challenge (over holiday season, no less) to shed those 10 pounds.

I reduced my calorie intake to 1, 108 a day, cut out Cokes and will continue to run and do some cross-training, like abs.

Thankfully, I have lost two pounds already!

I need something to keep me motivated so I will be updating my progress at the end of regular posts. I need a reward for reaching my goal.

Any ideas?

Letter to a best friend

Dear best friend,

You're spending your Thanksgiving break in Utah without me. How could you? Your live stream of mountainess photos and Bajio salads are making my jealousy flare up.

BUT since I can't be there in person, thank you for skyping me last night!

I loved talking to Sam and Jessica. (And you, of course.)

They are so funny.

Plus, they gave me a house tour and made me feel like I was really there!

And then I made ya'll listen to Whip My Hair and we danced "together."



I miss you. Home isn't home, work isn't work, girl's nights aren't girl's nights, without you here.

Have a blast in the coolest state with the coolest family.

See you in LESS THAN A MONTH!

p.s. keep sending me pictures.

A Special Saturday

This Saturday is special because:

1. I'm in my childhood home

2. There is a fire in the fireplace.

3. My mom bought me new bed sheets. Flannel ones.

4. Coldplay is serenading me.

5. I finally got over my two-week running burn out.

Ahh, it's nice to be home.

It's Great To Be Home

Alas, I am home from school for a much needed break.

The break started off wonderfully with some quality girls time with my best friend.

We went to a Miche purse party and then hit up the bowling alley for 'All You Can Bowl' night. I never go to the bowling alley because I am terrible at the 'sport' but it was very refreshing to do something I never do.

And it's always fun to make a fool of yourself, right?

This week I am going to think about school as little as possible and think about something infinitely better: Black Friday and pumpkin pie.

The holiday season is here, friends!

Thankful For 'Elf Yourself'

Today I am thankful for Elf Yourself because it is simply hilarious.

A Taste of Life (twice)

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection”.

-Anais Nin

I feel like having this corner of the internet has enriched my life.

Enriched my soul, even.

When I decided to get a blog, I had no idea what I was going to write about. I knew I loved to write but I didn't know how often I would actually push the 'Publish Post' button.

224 posts later, I can honestly say that my life has changed because of it.

Before, I had zero hobbies.

Then I created this scrapbook of my life and what's a scrapbook without pictures? So I took up photography and fell in love with the art. Time passed, I read other blogs, and I started having more goals.

Run a half-marathon, bake more, find the joy in the small things in life.

It started happening. I was living my life so joyously, twice. Once in the moment and in retrospection.

Can I also say that my love for sharing our Savior has tripled? Most days I find myself typing a list of complaints that turns to guilt (because I am more blessed than I know how to articulate) that turns to thanking God for his incredible blessings.

And it seems we have come full circle because I am so thankful to God for the incredible blessing this blog and my precious followers have been in my life.

To all of us who write, who truly taste life twice, isn't life in retrospection sweet?

A Damper on Things

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain pitter pattering against my third floor window.

Then I realized it was Tuesday.

And that's as far as I got.

Come back tomorrow?

Blood & Engagements Sum Up This Post

1.Today I did my part for society and gave away some delicious O blood. Isn't it a weird sensation when that tube is against your skin and it's warm because of your blood? It actually kind of weirds me out. Oh well. I saved 3 lives and got a free tshirt and snack. Not too shabby for a Monday.

My arm looks really big in this picture. I blame the weird angle.

2. Thanksgiving break is 4 short days away and I cannot wait! I am so ready to be around family and eat real food (as opposed to caf food). I am going to gain five pounds I'm sure. But I will lose it once we're back at school- don't you worry.

3. It seems like every semester I get stuck with suitemates I don't like. This semester, they are on the un-hygenic side. As in, kind of disgusting. I'm aware that we all have our "monthly issues." I'm a girl, I can deal. However, I do not want to see it on the toilet seat. Ever. Again. Do I make myself clear? EVER AGAIN! (Sorry if this was TMI for you. It's life for me.)

4. A girl in my social club/sorority got engaged and I can't help but share this picture. They are studying abroad in New Zealand this semester which is where he popped the question. It's okay to be jealous. I know I am.

Big Families Are The Best

My family is large, and confusing, and dramatic.

See, when I was the tiny 9 pound version of myself, my grandma got custody of me from my teenage mom.

And then my grandma married my grandpa (whom I call dad) who already had two children, Brittany who is only 11 months older than me, and Brandon, 4 years older than me.

So there was bouncy baby Autumn, living in a blended family with my five teenage uncles and one baby aunt.

Raised together like siblings, we became just that. Brothers and sisters, three of us sharing rooms at one time, sticking up for each other on the playground, and getting into mischief at home.

Then when I was 16, my mom gave birth to my precious baby brother Noah. He added sparkle to my life.

Today I am so grateful for my brothers and sister. I am grateful for my noisy, insane, chaotic childhood. I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Me, Brittany & Brandon, 1994

Annual Barn Bash

Rainbow!

Tonight was our annual IX Barn Bash.

Picture it: a field on an old dirt road in the country with orange and green lights lining the fences, and a fire for roasting hot dogs and s'mores.

When we had our fill of marshmellow and Hershey smashed between graham crackers, we loaded onto a hay-stacked trailer and were pulled through the black night.

It was so nice.

We laughed and relaxed and tried to find out which star cluster was the Big Dipper. (Which I'm still unsure about, if we're being honest)

Then we had a costume contest. Personally, as a participant of ROY G BIV, we should have won. Or at least placed.

But what can you do?

I'm not bitter Couple Who Dressed Up As BP Oil Workers. I guess you deserved first place.

It was a wonderful autumn night spent with friends!

(Plus, we got long-sleeve tshirts, and who doesn't love a long-sleeve tshirt?)

Friday, I'm in Love

I don't care if Monday's blue.
Tuesday's gray and Wednesday too.
Thursday I don't care about you,
It's Friday, I'm in love

Thankful: For Our Veteran's

In honor of Veteran's Day, this Project: Cultivate Thankfulness, which I have been taking part in, I want to express my gratitude to the men and women who have fought, are fighting, and who will fight for our beloved country.

This morning we had a very patriotic chapel. Military men giving talks, leading prayer and singing. The presentation of the colors, the pledge of allegiance. It was a big American love-fest.

Honestly, the whole time I wanted to break out into This Land is Your Land. Memoir from 4th grade music class, I think.

Thank you to all of our American soldiers! You have given me freedom and for that I am eternally grateful!

Viva la Vida

I am so restless.

I know that getting a degree is important. It's very important. However, I can't help but feel that I'm not living my life right now. Not really living.

I haven't driven across the United States yet.

(And when I do, I will stop at every 'Elvis Shaped Burger' and 'Largest Pickle!' diner there is!)

I haven't been to Zambia yet like these sweet friends of mine.

I haven't been skydiving yet.

I haven't been backpacking across Europe. Well, I have been to Europe, but we drove everywhere. I want to get a huge backpack and ride night trains to places.

God truly gave me a heart of adventure and I view the world with the eyes of a child. I want to explore all of the things He gave us! I want to climb the tallest mountains and then repel back down. I want to surf in Hawaii and I want to live here and there.

It's all in God's timing though, which is something I am struggling to grasp. One day I will go to Zambia and help the sweet people. One day I will go back to Europe. One day I will drive across the United States. And hopefully, one day I will look back on my life and know that I truly lived it to the fullest.

"But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

-Isaiah 40:31

yellow.

Dear

Yellow,

You are my love. You add color to my days and lavish my heart with joy.

I love to wear you...

I love to look at you...

I even love to listen to you...

And don't tell the others, but yellow Starbursts are my favorite.

You are my favorite color. Ever. Over every other color (including pink).

I take this relationship seriously.

Your biggest fan,

Miscellany Monday

One day when I am not wearing sweats to class,

I will take inspiration from Kendi and mix up my closet

and look super cute every day. Or one day when I have

enough money to shop at J Crew.

Whichever happens first.

According to my half-marathontraining schedule,

I should be ready to run a 10k in a week. Gulp. I am

beginning to realize how much of a mind game running is.

If you know you can do it, if you are absolutely confident in the fact

that you can run 6 miles, you will. If you are hesitant

and scared, it will be impossible.

I know I can, I know I can...

I am so restless. I want to drop

everything and do something spontaneous.

Travel, sky-dive, something...anything!

Alas, school comes first. Gag.

Say hello to the worlds newest telemarketer.

Well maybe not the worlds, but I did get a job that pays me to

call Harding alumni and beg for money. $7.25 an hour.

Like I said, I really can't afford J Crew.

Sweet Baby

He's the cutest baby in the world,
my nephew.

Just thought I would start your week off with a smile!

Bison Stampede (my first 5k!)

I ran in my first 5k race this morning!

I went into it with a lot of excitement.

I had new running clothes, it was my first race, and I have been running 5 miles so running 3 sounded like a piece of chocolate cake.

This is my friend Brette and I before it started:

The race started and like a true race rookie, I bolted. I was going really fast (for me) and half-way through the first mile, I knew I had made a mistake in the beginning.

Plus, I had on that stupid fleece jacket. Mistake.

I swung it off, tied it around my waist and slowed my pace.

The first mile, as usual, went by very quickly.

I never saw the second mile mark and was convinced I was still on the first mile even when I was almost done!

I finished in 29 minutes, about 9.35 minutes a mile- my personal best!

Me and Brette at the finish line. Don't we look hot?

Recovery- juice and muffins.

I see how this race thing can become addicting!