Update: Photo Journal Version

The last couple of months have been so crazy I haven't been blogging and I apologize! Here are some pictures of what I've been up to. Please enjoy :)

taken from KFC center, downtown louisville

bardstown road in the morning

st james art fair

bff and i were the weasley twins for halloween

got a job at a coffee shop :)

family ice cream date!

sister pretending she isn't posing

straight a's celebration 

I'll keep you updated :)

-Bree

A Father's Day Home

Yesterday was a special day for me, because as well as celebrating my dad and grandpas, it was the one year anniversary of leaving Washington. 

One year ago yesterday, my mom, dad, two sisters and I said our final goodbyes to our close friends and family and drove to California. Of course we didn't get to Kentucky until 11 days later, but still, it was a big day XD

Anyway, yesterday felt like we went home a little bit because we went out for Japanese food. In the PNW we'd usually go to Koto's Teriyaki but they don't have that here so INSTEAD we went to this fancy-ish restaurant that I forgot the name of, but it was delicious! I had way too much fried rice and yakisoba, and I loved it. Interestingly enough, Kentucky doesn't have much teriyaki places. 

Afterwards we drove to a park with a nice river. We fell in a couple of times and pretty much basked in how much like home it was. Not too hot or humid, nice cold water, quite a bit of mud and lots of trees.

Plus, I collected shells! They are pretty small which is perfect for sneaking home in your pocket. Don't worry, no snails or oysters were harmed in the making of this post. 

You can see a much better picture of this on my Instagram, just click the button!

Speaking of the shells, I was wondering if anyone has any good craft ideas that I can use them for. I really like them but they can't just sit by the candle forever. Any spectacular ideas?

>Also after the park, we watched Back to the Future and I love Michael J Fox so that was a fantastic ending to a fantastic day<

I'm considering yesterday a success. How did you spend Father's Day?

Much love, Brenna :)

5 Tips For Beating a Cold

Guess who has a cold! It's me! But don't worry, I've become an expert at getting over it as fast as you can.

 I kind of like being sick sometimes, because beside all the ickiness, you get a chance to catch up with yourself. But anyway, that's not the point. Here are some tips (in no order)  I have found really helpful:

1. STEAM!If your head is clogged, and you need to keep moving with your life, start a really hot shower. Don't get into it, just sit in the hot room and let your nose run out. It's like your own sauna! If you don't want to waste water, then you can put some steamy water into a bowl, then lower your face over it and put a towel over both your head and the bowl so that the steam can't get out. Please make sure you can still breathe :) This is good especially if you are a singer and need to get over this fast!
2. HYDRATE! I actually Googled why fluids are good for the cold, and I found an article that said liquids don't necessarily beat infection, but it is still important to be properly hydrated. Back in January when I was travelling I got a bad cold, so my grandma took me to Starbucks and got a jasmine-mint tea that had half lemonade and half water. I drank those like they were made of gold!
3. AVOID CAFFEINE! I don't know why, but multiple people and internet resources have told me never to drink caffeine when you are sick. That includes coffee (go decaf!), some teas, sodas and too much chocolate. It sucks being hyped up on goofballs and not allowed out of the house, anyway. 
4. CLEAN! You don't want to spread it do you? Take an anti-bacterial wipe and go over doorknobs, light switches, phones, keyboards, steering wheels, anything you touch a lot. It mentally makes at least me feel better, that I'm not living in a complete germ-fest. 
5. RELAX! If I don't have a fever, normally my parents still make me go to school, but if it's really bad, you need to rest! Take some ibuprofen or Tylenol if you are in pain and lay down. Watch a movie or read a book associated with good memories, and be happy. it's a good way to distract yourself, but also, you don't want to be sick AND depressed, because that could hurt your health even more. 

Get well soon!

Please pray for the cast of Aladdin, it's 2 weeks until opening night and everyone is getting sick :( 

Stay happy and healthy everyone! 

Runners Up!

I have decided to announce the runners up first, so it will go backwards from 4th to 1st place!

3rd Runner Up goes to 2 people, 

some friends of mine Tin-Tin  and Karyssa

They made amazing pictures:

Karyssa's

Tin-Tin's

The 2nd runner up is a poem by a friend named Hailey!

Louder then fire crackers next to your ear
As bright as a flash of the sun
But you show no fear
Sit on the porch
It's more comforting outside
So come on out
Wear a jacket and boots
Look at the rain
Remember when it used to storm like this
The storms are long gone
But still right here
you just have to listen to your inner ear
Inside your memories, you'll find these storms
It comforts me more than anyone
I remember the sight,  feel, and sound
For this was what I found
The sound tells me I am not deaf
the light reminds me I am not blind
In the darkness of which I lay behind
The static feel of the lightning is the air
Raised hair on my arms, so I knew I was there
They were louder than fire crackers in my ears
They were as bright as a flash of sun
They comforted me, even when they had just begun

1st runner up is........

by PENCIL MASTER! Wow, this was close. He is an amazing artist and you can check out his page on Google+ by clicking +Pencil Master

Here is his artwork!

Thank you all so much, and congratulations, runners-up! The official winner will be up soon, so go ahead and  reread the prizes

I'm honestly so happy so many people participated!

I love you ;)

#reunitation

I'm home! The Olsons safely flew here to Washington yesterday :D

Last night my little sisters went to friend's houses, I went to Julia's and LC3 youth group!

I miss Lakewood/Parkland/Tacoma so much and I just got here! 

To be honest, it felt like I had never left, or I went back in time. Like I just got home from school or something. It's great here.  I find it kind of scary how much growing up somewhere can change your perspective on other places. This place hasn't changed at all, and it's very comforting to me.

Tell the World I'm Coming Home!

Tomorrow morning I catch a 6:50 AM flight back to Washington State with my family and I CAN'T WAIT! I have spent way too much time apart from some of the most important people in my life and I cannot stand not seeing them any longer! 

From church to school to home, so many people have influenced me and made me into the Brenna that moved to Kentucky six months ago, and I am uber excited to show them who I am now. I LOVE YOU PEOPLES

On the other hand though, leaving my friends even for just a week will be pretty hard too, but I see them almost every day ;) I love how they have supported me and been here for me and put up with all my complaining about moving and being a missionary kid, and how I just kept talking and talking about going home. You guys, I'm so sorry, and thank you. 

I'm including some T-Town SWAG so you see a little bit of my home town just in case you've never been there. 

Be on the lookout for new posts of pictures I'll be taking when I get home, and otherwise documenting my trip. :)

IF YOU ARE MY FRIEND IN WASHINGTON I WILL BE HERE ON WEDNESDAY

AND

HERE ON FRIDAY AT 2:30ish

QotD: Have you ever flown anywhere cool? How did you feel when you got back home?