Dear Students: Let's Chill

Hey y'all! Sorry I haven't posted for a bit, I just got back from an amazing but short trip to Savannah, Georgia to a regional conference for Youth For Christ. It was a great experience and before I start this post I really want to show you this picture I took from my hotel room window 

Anyway, today I'm thinking about going to school. Even though I've only been in high school for two days, I've already witnessed the effects that stress has on people. I'm writing to tell you beautiful people to take care of yourself.

via tumblr.com

Here are some tips to making school a little less stressful, your body a little more happy and our school year a lot more chill!

1. Make sure you are getting enough food, water and sleep. It's pretty much the basic way to start feeling better. Being tired and hungry at school is the worst.

*Eat a good breakfast that fills you up

*Bring a water bottle to school and USE IT

*Put your phone out of reach at night and sleep

2. Organize your work in a way that doesn't put too heavy a load on your shoulders all at once. 

*Take study breaks 

*Do your homework early and get it out of the way if you can

*Write your assignments and due dates down and check them off to make sure you finished

3. Have a creative outlet and a friend!

*Make sure you are doing things that you love, like reading, drawing, listening to/making music, playing a sport, making new friends. Have time in your week just for hobbies

*When you have problems, knowing someone is there for you all the time is such a stress reliever. Talk to someone and get a new angle on your situation. 

*Also do fun things with your friends! School doesn't last forever and it's a great time to make some memories. Just make sure you're in a good place school-wise

4. Find positive role models

*Don't hang out with the kind of people that continuously make your life suck, even if you think it makes you cool. It isn't worth it

* Having a mentor is super cool. They aren't perfect but they might be a little more experienced and kind of know what they are talking about

There is a lot of things that need to be balanced, and hard work and confidence are essential. If you need someone to talk to, feel send me an email and I'd love to listen and be there for you. 

Please make sure to get enough relaxation and make good choices. 

I want everyone to be healthy this school year, so share this post with a friend!

Love ♥Brenna, the girl without shame 

Brenna's Road Trip Essentials

This past week, if you were paying attention, you saw that I took a family road trip up to see some friends in New Jersey and visited a lot of really cool places. 

It was about a 10-15 hour drive, and in a mini-van, I can get a teensy bit stir crazy.

 I need to keep myself entertained somehow! 

So here are 5 things that I MUST HAVE on a road trip. 

First things first, you need a bag! I really like taking a backpack because of how much space is available. Since it's summer, I emptied my school backpack and used that! 

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I always listen to music when I'm bored so I make one or two playlists before-hand. I use Spotify, and you are welcome to check out what I'm listening to by clicking here. Make sure you bring headphones and a car charger so you don't use up all of your phone's battery.

Depending on the other passengers, the car can get uncomfortably hot or freezing cold, and the simple answer is to bring layers! I wore a tank top and shorts, with converse and a change of flip-flops in my back pack. I also brought a plaid long sleeve shirt and a fuzzy blanket, which was super easy and convenient to throw over myself when I got cold.

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If you don't get carsick, I suggest bringing 1-2 books! Right now I am reading Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire, and it was just getting good during the longest stretch of road, which was perfect for keeping me occupied. Another idea is if your car is small enough, have someone in your family read aloud or get an audio book. It works wonders, keeping my younger sisters quiet.

This one is a little obvious, but you have to eat! Snacks and water are really important on roadtrips, because it lets you keep driving without having to stop for meals as often. I like to have an assortment of protien-packed granola bars and trail mix, and a small amount of candy. Not too much though, because sugar head aches are miserable when you are sitting in the same spot for 15 hours. I may do another post soon, about my favorite things to put into a trail mix. What do you think of that?
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Thank you so much for reading! I hope next time you have a road trip, it's a great one.

Have you ever driven anywhere? Tell me in the comments!

Love, Brenna

#brennaonbroadway

Yesterday I went to New York City! And it was wonderful! Since I grew up in mostly small towns and only visit Seattle or downtown Louisville every once in a while, so going to a huge city like this was a completely new experience.

Manhattan is so old, beautiful (a little smelly) and completely filled with history and music. 

I'm a big Broadway person, and the TONY AWARDS were happening. I walked by Radio City Music Hall during the big rehearsal, I didn't see anyone, but I was REALLY REALLY CLOSE to Kristen Chenoweth. There was one lady in a very fancy nude, rhinestone and black dress that looked very serious about being in New York. I wonder who she was. :)

Across from Radio City Music Hall

 I also walked past the Belasco Theatre, where I mentally met Darren Criss, who is currently starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He was in Glee and pretty much wrote (and starred in) Harry Potter the Musical. 

DARREN CRISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I also sang at Carnegie Hall and saw The Lion King on Broadway ;)

Singing at Carnegie Hall

Look closely

We also visited St. Patrick's Cathedral, and it was beautiful. They were actually having Puerto Rican mass, which was completely in Spanish. I'd never been to mass before, but it was pretty cool. The building, though, was something else. Huge stained glass windows, sculptures and detailed stone walls. I bet the whole experience for a Catholic visiting the city is amazing. 

Front of St. Patricks

Stained glass in St. Patricks

Ceiling Detail in St. Patrick. 

At the end of the day, I saw the One World Trade Center, which is quite a pretty building, and seeing how smooshed together the places are, I was able to picture the 9/11 attack, and that day must have been one of the most terrifying thing anyone has ever had to experience, and America will never forget that. 

One World Trade Center

I also saw Lady Liberty from across the river, but it was too far away to get a good picture, so you'll just have to imagine it. ;) This was an amazing experience and I am really hoping to visit again in the not too distant future, but no promises. 

I hope everyone is starting off summer with fun memories and lots of sleep! 

Have you ever been anywhere really special to you?

Love, 

Brenna

Nashville Roadtrip

Yesterday I got back from an overnight trip to Tennessee. The drive was about 3 hours long, and since we took that really long road trip in the summer, so it was nothing. The way my family vacations is by visiting and thoroughly judging the local coffee shops. And then sometimes we  like to look at statues. 

The museums there were really expensive!!!! So instead we look at the pretty buildings. 

Crema Coffee Shop-extremely hipster

Spencer's Coffee-Great vibe, cute town :)

Barista Parlor made me want to become a hipster. 

Nashville Opryland Hotel

Off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

State capitol...I think. 

The sky on the way back was gorgeous