life lately

i am so grateful to be living in the great state of utah. life has been, well… i’d like to say crazy, but i  am starting to learn it really isn’t crazy, that’s just life. i have a really fun opportunity tonight to go see  a bunch of my old hall-mates and my ra at byu. to say i am excited would be an understatement! this is definitely going to be a good friday. i’m sitting here at work on my lunch break, and i’ve really been thinking about goals lately. i started to remember some of my long-forgotten new year’s resolutions, and i decided i should probably get back on this blog (; after reviewing some of my goals, i realized that i don’t have to wait until new year’s day to start them. i don’t even need to wait until monday. i can start today. this (albeit silly) epiphany feels so refreshing! i feel really motivated to get a lot of things on track this weekend that i’ve been procrastinating.

as for my life lately, there have been a few big changes. i moved! i live about 6 blocks away from temple square in downtown salt lake. how blessed i feel to be so close to the house of the lord. i can walk a mile and be at the temple gates. it amazes me every time i see that building to think that 40 years of hard handy work by the hands of the latter-day saints and by the hand of the lord resulted in that beautiful building. i love living downtown! the city isn’t too big, but it’s just big enough that there is plenty to entertain yourself with. (side note: it really bothers me to finish my sentence with “with”  - it’s just horrible grammar. i also feel ridiculous using proper grammar on a casual american-english blog. oy vey. but at least i didn’t say “there is plenty with which one can entertain themselves”, right? no? does that sound just so nose-in-the-air/overly-formal-on-a-casual-blog?) it is so exciting to live so close to the heart of a city – i mean, i’m in it! it adds a spark to my days and makes me feel like a little kid (in terms of excitement). it really makes me dream of new york. click here to read more about that. i also love my roommates. kimbo slice and i have finally accomplished the feat – we are official roommates! the three other girls i’ve moved in with are wonderful, and i feel like i really lucked out having only known kim when i moved in originally. they’re already proving to be such a blessing, and this is only the beginning of it all.

i have now been working at snugz for almost 8 months, and about a month ago i received a promotion! i now work as sales support for national accounts. our head of  sales called me into her office right before the application deadline and asked me to apply, so of course i did. i had already thought about it, but i was intimidated by the position because i had so little experience at snugz, and the thought of working with national accounts just sounded so.. well, you know. big. national. the works. i was excited she pulled me into her office and it was just the nudge i needed. i, being brittaney, kept talking the whole thing down so i wasn’t disappointed when i didn’t get the position, and when they offered me the position i was thrilled. i’ve been training in that position for the past month, so it’s definitely been something fun to keep me on my feet, and i really love everyone i work with. i feel so lucky! i am also leaving on a trip for work on monday to arizona. i am so excited and i feel like next week is going to be a blast. i’ll keep you posted. (;

school is going well. i’m behind on reading, but what college student isn’t mid-way through the semester? i’m planning on playing catch up this entire weekend. i am really enjoying learning about personal finance. that class is so interesting! my professor is one of the best professors i have ever had the pleasure to study under. he is so energetic and excited about the material he teaches, and he is very realistic when it comes to life and how things just happen sometimes.

i am so excited that it’s october. we just had general conference and i was so blessed to be able to attend yet AGAIN this session. fall is my favorite season and october is the most perfect month of fall all year. utah october is spectacular. the tree colors don’t compare totally to indy, but the mountains make up for it. i’ll save this one for later, though. in the meantime, i hope you are having a great autumn. sip some cider for me. (;

Special Diabetes Program (SDP)

Last week, more than 160 delegates from JDRF’s 2013 Children’s Congress stormed Capitol Hill, asking their Members of Congress to sign onto a letter being circulated by House and Senate Diabetes Caucus leaders in support of the Special Diabetes Program (SDP). Please join us now in asking your Members of Congress to sign the letter, by July 31st. Your action today will send a very clear message to Congress about the importance of the SDP and what it means to the future of those living with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
The SDP must be renewed this year to continue to build upon the groundbreaking research advances made to date, and to explore innovative new opportunities that lie ahead. While accelerating progress towards a cure, the SDP is developing better treatments and technologies to help manage the disease and reduce costly complications. Without these critical advancements, the costs related to diabetes will continue to go up, and the ultimate goal to end T1D altogether will be delayed.
We need YOUR help! Please take a quick moment to Email your Members of Congress to ask them to sign the SDP letter. We need as many Members of Congress on this letter as possible, and last year, we had strong support in Congress and the SDP was renewed. Today, we need your help in both the House and Senate to extend the SDP again this year! Finally, please don’t forget to forward this Email along to family and friends, and share this action alert on your favorite social media sites.
Thanks for all you do!
JDRF Advocacy

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as my two younger brothers and many of my friends live life with this disease, i felt an immediate responsibility to take part in this. if you would, please take a moment to do the same. below is an example of my personal touch to the email. it can be simple, but every effort counts. thank you!
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Please Sign Onto Letter in Support of Special Diabetes Program (SDP)

Dear [Decision Maker],
As your constituent, I write today to ask that you sign-on to the bipartisan Special Diabetes Program (SDP) support letter being circulated by the Congressional Diabetes Caucus co-chairs, recognizing the importance of the SDP, which represents 35 percent of the federal investment in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.

This issue is very important to me personally! I have two younger brothers and 4 very close friends who all live with type 1 diabetes. While this trial in life has proven itself to be a blessing in some ways, it is also a disease that has stripped away time that can never be regained or extended. My family and my friends amaze me with their strength, discipline, and patience. Both Christopher and Brenden, my  two brothers, have been admitted to the hospital multiple times as a result of this disease. Christopher, the older of the two, has been close to death twice in his life already. To have you sign on to the SDP support letter would mean more than the world to me - it would mean life.

The SDP must continue to build upon the groundbreaking research advances made to date, and to explore innovative new opportunities that lie ahead. While accelerating progress towards a cure, the SDP is developing better treatments and technologies to help manage type 1 diabetes (T1D) and reduce costly complications. Without these critical advancements, the costs related to diabetes will continue to go up, and the ultimate goal to end T1D altogether will be delayed.

Your support of the SDP is greatly appreciated. Thank you for standing up for me, for my loved ones, and for all people affected by T1D.
Sincerely,
Brittaney Mickelsen

life lately, according to my iphone pictures.

we ran the 10k dirty dash on june 8th, and we had a very muddy, dirty blast.

this earned spot #1 in my tummy-rankings - the best hot dogs i have ever tasted. ever.

this is my spiff. i love her.

i am so grateful for the church!

soon (: any ideas?

yellowstone on the way back from canada! (to be continued...)

morning yoga

my favorite smallspot in downtown slc

brigham young university

i miss it. i have really missed byu today. i've missed it so much that it actually brought me to tears. (actually, it is currently bringing me to tears, but that's embarrassing and i can't have you guys knowing that.) as you may or may not know, i am currently living in salt lake city and i work. i like salt lake, and i like my job. i also like school, but i'm not a student at the moment. see, byu was one of the most incredible places i have ever been blessed to simply exist within. just being there makes you happy. i remember how much i stressed over my application to the university my senior year. i always wanted it. it was the only school i applied to other than the free ones i was offered full-ride scholarships to. byu was the dream from the time i was a little girl. i remember how overcome with excitement i was when i opened my acceptance letter. i had worked my entire life to read that long-awaited "congratulations" - countless hours of studying, homework-ing and stressing, not to mention all the clubs i was involved with, had been devoted to this goal, and it was a goal that i accomplished with enthusiasm. the college years are such an important time of any young adult's life. i had prepared myself for an incredible experience. i had a strong will, a strong testimony, and a strong work ethic that was going to carry me places. i was passionate and had true joy in my life. when i finally arrived, i was excited and i was nervous and i was ready to take it all on head-first. and at first it was wonderful. at first. every single girl in my dorm was divinely remarkable, and i don't think they will ever realize how grateful i am to have had them placed in my life. both my ra and my roommate were especially phenomenal. i wish i would have embraced them more, but i was distracted... and then the downward spiral began. i missed home a lot. but i was alright. i stayed up late studying because i would hang out with friends all day. but i was okay. then i broke someone's heart to appease another's. things weren't alright. i became swallowed up in a relationship that was doomed from the start. things weren't okay. but i wanted them to be. i channeled all of my efforts to the wrong place. i tried to please an unpleasable person with every breath i took. i couldn't handle the burden i refused to acknowledge i was carrying. i stopped making music. i stopped writing. i stopped hanging out with friends. i even stopped going to classes after a while. my entire life became devoted to an abusive relationship that i was in denial about. i just couldn't believe that i couldn't make someone even remotely happy. i was putting in so much effort that was smacked aside constantly. it was my fault we started without any trust. i had left someone else for him, after all. who does that, anyway? but he excited me and challenged me in ways no one else ever had. everything was so foreign. i just didn't know that these challenges of his were actually no good for me. now don't get me wrong, i am a much stronger person today in aspects of my life i was unknowingly weak in previously, but at the time my self-worth plummeted. i had no confidence in anything that i did. i became a puppet to a puppeteer who knew exactly what buttons to push and when to pull back to keep me lost in this cycle for quite a long time. it was after too long i had quite enough and just let go. it was too late at this point, though. the damage had been done. i had failed most of my classes - a letter i had never seen in an academic setting in my life. i was crushed. i destroyed myself from the inside out. i gave up. i just couldn't believe it. by the time school rolled back around, i decided that more loans was not an option, and i didn't go back. i drifted for a long time. i'm finally re-establishing myself, but as i am doing that i am realizing more and more how truly painful it is to be away from such a lovely place that i threw away by choice. if i could change just one thing in my life, it would be that mistake - i want it back, and i want it bad. i feel hopeless, but i also feel fire. i want to fight for it. i want the experience i denied myself my entire freshman year. i want to prove myself and i want to get back to where i know i need to be. and really...

i just want to be happy.

touch + taste the impossible.

this is beautiful.

there are no more excuses where i'm taking you. i know you are scared. flight is your only option. but don't worry... there's a place for safe landing.



...we must first give them their wings.

it's gonna be may.

shout out to jt. you are the man.

{festival of colors}

okay, so maybe i'm a little bit late on this one, but i just have to talk about it. to celebrate the arrival of spring and the passing of winter, an exciting festival takes place in india called holi or the festival of colors. each year, always the day after the full moon in march, holi is celebrated by hindus throughout india, especially in villages across the north. while people celebrate by singing and dancing, which is symbolic of the victory of good over evil, you're probably already familiar with holi because of its most signature ritual - the throwing of colored powder. the largest festival of colors in the united states takes place in spanish fork, utah at the sri sri radha krishna temple... and we were there. it is symbolic of love, joy, and new beginnings. you cannot help but to feel so much love for the earth and for each and every person around you when you are there. it is most definitely one of the most incredible experiences i have ever had, and i cannot wait to do it again next year. everyone starts out wearing white, and the second you enter the grounds someone is throwing color on you. the music and the throwing of colors and the people and the love is enough to drive any person crazy (in the best way possible, of course). take a look here:

Photo credit: Benjamin Morris

we ended up ruining our clothes. we were tired. we were dirty. we were inspired. i was in love with the world and had tears in my eyes, and i can tell you that life really is a beautiful thing.

2013 183rd annual lds general conference LIVE

one big sparkly oomph.

i really want to visit temple square today. i mean, after all, i do live five minutes away in salt lake city. i just got back from a pre-employment drug test. woo hoo?... peeing in a cup is cool, i guess. hmmm... what's happening right now? social media is happening! i just got a new iphone app called pheed. social media evolution! lots of people are angry at obama, but if we impeach him we get biden, so... yeah. i don't have bangs, but just about everyone else does. i love cartoon mustaches, the bride of frankenstein, nyc, strangers, alice in wonderland, thick/juicy burgers, yoga, beautiful people, and quirky animals. also, outer space. i have a spectacular vernacular (though you probably wouldn't know that), and although i was previously aggressively unfancy, sometimes, i like being fancy. i also feel like that comma after the word 'sometimes' was incorrect but i needed you to make a mental pause while reading that sentence. i enjoy spontaneity but i feel like there's not enough of it in my life. i want giant clocks in my future home. i am an optimistic person and am trying to really become an opportunist. i love singing, playing piano, violin, guitar, and ukulele, but i don't do any of those enough. last april i smashed my guitar. intentionally. i crossed it off of my bucket list, but now i am without. (insert very sad face.) i am in love with the band imagine dragons and have been for about two years now. they got signed last summer and are super huge now. the lead singer, dan reynolds, has a little brother named coulter who was in my ward at byu so i've met/hung out with the band. neat-o! i want to become an avid runner. i love the french children's book le petit prince by antoine de saint-exupèry. i wish i wasn't losing my french. i've started my own personal library, which i hope is forever-expanding. i tried horchata for the first time today. it was delicious. my preferred genre of movies/tv shows is usually comedy. who doesn't enjoy laughter, anyway? my baby tarantula is growing! i'm obsessed with to-do lists. my mother may or may not have instilled that in me. there are a couple of funny stories about lists that i'll share some other time. a couple of weeks ago, i had a bowl of cereal and a dinosaur appeared! speaking of breakfast - breakfast for dinner, and lunch, and breakfast is phenomenal. i love post-it notes but sometimes feel like they are a waste of time. i use them anyway. i am also making a list of things i want to do before i fully grow up - you know, get hitched, have kids, bills, and messes - because i'm realizing right now more than i ever have before that growing up is so completely different than you think it is. embrace your youth! there is actually a song called everybody's free (to wear sunscreen) by baz luhrmann that i absolutely love. listen to it. it gives me chills every time it comes up on shuffle. i'm just really feeling a zest for life today, and for that, i am grateful. today is just one big sparkly oomph! i hope you are having a good day, too. xo

^^^ dan reynolds and i, spidiferous growing, and a t-rex in my cereal!^^^

resolutions.

did you know that most people fail in adhering to their new year's resolutions? specifically, 22% fail after one week, 40% after one month, 50% after three months, 60% after six months, and 81% after twenty-four months. i have found myself these past couple of weeks stumbling dangerously close to this statistic. i set some pretty intense resolutions for myself, but i really want to stick to them and accomplish them! i have goals in various categories which include health/fitness/wellness/physical, financial, educational, spiritual, social, personal/mental, relationships, family, home improvement, hobby/skill development, and trying new things/activities. i want to become a healthy, happy, and well-rounded person. maybe if i feel brave i'll post the specific goals up soon. what can i do to make sure i stick to these goals? seriously, if you have any tips, i would love to hear them. to resolutions!

{nyc}

i dream of new york city. i don't think i could put into words how badly i want to go there. i would actually love to live there for a time. the younger i am, the better. the lights are enchanting and for a person who never sleeps (because seriously, i never sleep), the city is practically shouting my name. there is a never-closing supply of donuts, pizza, chinese food, and whatever other junk it is that i tend to crave. it also seems to be that there is a new burger joint on each and every block, and for those of you who know me well, you know that burgers make me sing. literally. any and all burgers. but maybe that's for a different post. being musically inclined, the thought of being that close to broadway and off-broadway and off-off-broadway is enough to bring tears to my eyes on its own. it is my personal opinion that their hometown newspaper is one of the best in the entire world. there is always someone crazier than you - guaranteed. riding the subway would always be an adventure. smart and chic can mean almost the same thing, and smart is the norm there, not the exception. it would be okay for me to walk everywhere, and also do it in great shoes. there would always be someone new for me to meet. i've found out that sending your laundry out for someone else to wash and dry is not only convenient, it's just good business, especially since you will probably never own a washer and dryer if you live there. this in turn means i never have to feel guilty about not doing my own laundry (score. laundry is the bane of my existence). i've turned jaywalking into an artform, so i would fit right in. spontaneous and fascinating conversations with many cab drivers are awaiting my arrival. and my goodness... times square. that is all i have to say there. not only the view from the brooklyn bridge, but the view of it in person must be breathtaking. apparently they also have goat eyeball tacos. that's now on my bucket list. the city is full of magic. yes i know, it is also full of dirty people, trash, rats, etc. those call out to me, too. i want to take walks through central park and be a tourist for a bit. i'll wear my i♥ny tshirt proudly. the shopping. the art galleries. the parades. the museums. the street performers. the food... oh, the food. my mental list goes on and on. i want to be there in that coney island state of mind. they say if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere... but why would you bother to make it anywhere else? so here's my sloppy kiss to the city. i love you, new york.

*photo taken from mudpig on flickr

sixty-second-spiel.

let me just pour my heart out for about 60 seconds here. it's february and i am just so ready for a change. i've been doing pretty well with just about every single one of my new year's resolutions! all but two or three, really. i've had some fun experiences! would you believe me if i told you that i camped out overnight in single-digit weather for free buffalo wild wings for a year? well, i did that. it was sooo cold, but definitely worth it. i got a bed! that's awesome. i saw old friends. also awesome. i've started reading the book of mormon from the very beginning. that has been incredible. i'm just ready for everything to be settled down, especially me. no i don't mean marriage-and-children-and-white-picket-fence settled down (although that is something i want for my future), i simply mean i want to be established. completely. i'm well on my way in ways that nobody knows quite yet, but soon i will blow your minds. i promise.

bee happy.

fifteen things i did that made me happy this weekend:

- waking up at 6:45

- saying a prayer, and in the quiet being able to feel that still small voice

- reading a book. on happiness, actually.

- complimenting a girl on her hair. it was almost like the color of a dark cherry wood finish, with the smokey red-purple glossiness and all. and her messy braid was perfectly imperfect.

- deeply considering chopping all of my hair off, and enjoying the prospect of it

- watching the heavy snowfall and thinking of it as beautiful rather than terrifyingly and numbingly cold

- remembering the collection of porcelain dolls i've gathered over time. they were always one of my favorite gifts as a kid.

- making an official pact with myself to make better choices daily

- drinking a delicious oolong tea while watching a great movie with mudbone

- splurging and eating almost half a row of oreos together. yum.

- setting goals for this week

- reading my scriptures

- experiencing donuts in the church parking lot. twice.

- attending a masquerade ball and having a marvelous time

- spending time with and talking to tvae

what did you do to be happy this week?

*photo taken from houstonryan on flickr.

2012, According To My iPhone Pictures...

Now that the year is coming to a close, I've realized something. I absolutely love life. Next year will be exquisite, and now it's time to look back at what this year has brought me. Here's to you.

{January}

New Years with the fam! (L-R: Squirtle, Topher, Cutie, Momma, TayTay, Dad, Bubby, & Me!)

^ Imagine Dragons concert with the greatest people ever.

{February}

^^^ Photoshoots with my best friend Stina

Studying in the HBLL, of course

{March}

^ So beautiful. I love visiting Idaho.

{April}

This is (was) my bonsai tree, George. He suffocated in a terrible accident. RIP George.

My best friend Dan and I made plenty of music at BYU

{April}

^^^ I'm finally back home in Indy!

{May}

^ The dreaded hair cut...

{July}

I turned 19 on the 3rd...

...while hanging out with some of the most incredible people on planet earth. Two honks for Oakley, Idaho!

She's permanent.

{August}

^ We did creepy doll makeup on Cutie

TayTay "sweating" with me, as she calls it. So cute!

The skies on my final evening in Indy. Just look at those clouds and that sun!

My daily runs with Squirtle took us to lakes and DUCKS who loved us very much.

Aaaaand... We drive! Tyra, Tvae, and I head back to the great state of Utah.

The view from Ensign Peak at night

This is one of my favorite pictures I took this entire year. Perfection.

After only 5 days of Utah, I was able to enjoy THIS. Two more honks for giant slip n slides.

Living close to Temple Grounds is lovely

{September}

Double rainbow! What does it mean!?

This is the day we adopted Duran, our pet black widow. She's lovely.

^^^ First trip to Hoagle Zoo. That bird was just too cute and fearless.

{October}

Attending General Conference with my BEST FRIEND Al. Amazing.

Happy Meowlloween! Kimbo Slice is pure joy.

{November}

My first view of snow-capped mountains for the winter here in Utah

Spidiferus! Baby tarantula is an adorable new addition.

{December}

 

 

^^^ Adventures with my Kimbo Slice take us to snowcats and the Top Of The World!

{And Now...}

2012 is coming to a close, and 2013 is quickly approaching. I cannot wait to see what it has in store.

♡ / Britt. ∞