Hi everyone! Yesterday was my birthday and I had such a wonderful weekend celebrating it with Pat, Ruby and some friends! Pat took me out to a fancier restaurant in Winston and we enjoyed a delicious and romantic meal. Yesterday we went to a friend’s house to watch the big play off game, Steelers x Jaguars and although we didn’t win, it was a wonderful day spent with friends! I love pot luck lunches/dinners with friends, you always get to try new recipes. I made this cookie dough dip and it was amazing! You should really try it, it was a huge hit and is super easy to make!
With it being my birthday yesterday, I thought I would share 10 things you may not know about me!
1.) I have a twin sister! My twin, Marissa is exactly two minutes older. We don’t think we look alike at all ( My brother and I are mistaken for twins as we are almost identical!!!) and have very different features. Marissa has this perfect olive tan skin (she literally tans to a dark shade only laying by the pool for one day) and pretty green almond shaped eyes. While she is shorter than me and has super straight hair, our personalities differ even more! I am typically more outgoing and she is a bit more relaxed and laid back. My mom kept us separate in all of elementary school and middle school classes because she wanted us to develop our own personalities and friends. This was probably the best thing she did because I am wildly protective of her. Marissa used to be super shy growing up, not so much anymore, but I think having us separated helped us learn on our own! Marissa is truly one of the most inspiring people I have ever met in my life. Some of you may not know, but Marissa has an undiagnosed disorder that affects her cerebellum (what coordinates our fine motor skills and balance). It has progressively become worst over the years and while Marissa is mostly confined to her wheelchair, she is fiercely independent. Riss lives in a home (I call it her sorority house!) about ten minutes up the road from my parents, with about 8-10 other young adults who have different disabilities. It’s an incredible place and has really enabled Marissa to come as her own. Marissa keeps a crazy busy schedule between work, working out, playing sled ice hockey and all of her dates with her boyfriend! It has really been amazing to witness firsthand what she has accomplished despite her disability. Riss, if you are reading this, I want you to know you shine brighter than the brightest star in the sky. You are a huge source of inspiration to live this life fully and completely. You make this world brighter with you smile. Love you! Happy Birthday!
2.) Pat and I started dating the summer going into our junior year of high school. We liked each other our entire sophomore year and texted each other nonstop. Gosh, do you girls remember the days when you would wait for your crush to text you back and you would quickly flip your phone open to respond then decided to wait twenty minutes? Guilty! Hahah! Anyway, it took Pat an entire year to ask me out… You can read more about Patty and I here, if you are interested!
3.) I studied abroad in Florence, Italy my junior year of college. I will never forget this time of my life. I was twenty and one of my best friends from college, Moey joined me abroad in Italy. It was the best semester of my life. It was freeing, challenging, frustrating and all at the same time absolutely, purely wonderful. I remember a very specific moment. I was walking across the Ponte Vecchio bridge, wandering around not keeping track of time or anything and I remember just thinking, I totally get it. I get life. I completely understand who I am, I understand what I want in life, I understand life. Life is meant to be lived. To love. To embrace. It was an incredible surreal moment and one that I treasure to this day. I think the confidence that came from that moment and understanding the big picture of life has really shaped me to the adult I am.
4.) I interned at Oscar de la Renta in the PR department under social media icon OscarPRGirl. It’s probably the most insane story but when I was studying abroad in Italy, we went to Paris for a week studying. I was on top of the Eiffel Tower with some friends and I was creepily trying to sneak a photo of this attractive couple. I thought this couple would make for a cute inspiration photo for this line that I was designing. Anyway, one thing led to another and I ended up talking to the man while the woman started talking to these ladies behind me. The guy asked what I was doing in Paris and I explained I am studying fashion abroad. He said his fiancé is in fashion and sure enough introduced me to his fiancé Noelle, who at the time, was assistant designer of textiles to Oscar de la Renta. We exchanged contact information and six months later I moved to NYC to intern at Oscar! Insane!
5.) I wanted a golden doodle since I was eleven years old. I have literally love this breed since it came into existence and when my friend Nate got a full size goldendoodle- it was instant love. Ruby has been the biggest joy to our lives. I am so grateful to have her!
6.) My favorite food in the entire world is chocolate chip cookie dough. I literally believe I could eat this every single day and not get tired of it. Raw egg in it and all! Haha, don’t worry, I seldom indulge in this!
7.) I love mission work and one day I dream of doing work in Africa. I really hope one day I am able to devote a month of my life to working in Africa and giving back in these communities that desperately need help and support. I did mission trips all through high school around Pittsburgh and one in New Orleans when Katrina hit. I think they are amazing experiences and I always feel so refreshed and centered afterwards!
8.) I was a major tomboy growing up. I wore Adidas tees (like two sizes too big and before Adidas was uber trendy) and snap-up pants with Adidas tennis shoes every single day. I was super athletic and did multiple sports growing up and dresses just weren’t my thing! In fourth grade, I wanted to play ice hockey soooo badly and my mom wouldn’t let me and I stayed angry at her for over a month! Sorry Mom, glad you didn’t let me! 🙂
9.) This goes back to Pat, but Pat was my first kiss! I was his too!
10.) I am a Christian and believe in God’s plan. My favorite bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I hope you enjoyed this post today! Talking about some fitness goals I have for this year on Wednesday!
Thanks for reading,
xx, Brittany Ann
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