hello, world

Well hello lovely people, and welcome to my new and improved corner of the interwebs! After a long, long break from the good ol' blog, I've decided to bring it back, dust it off, revamp it a little, and get back to it. Welcome to Nixon Oaks- my fresh start.

If we've never met, Hi. I'm Brianna. I'm a recent college grad who used to be a blogger. Then wasn't a blogger. And is not trying to be a blogger again. Nice to meet you! If you stick around these parts, you can expect a little bit of everything- recipes, crafts, life, love, too many pictures of my dogs, some local Phoenix stuff, and wedding planning because HELLO IM GETTING MARRIED! 

I was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ where we wear flip flops all year round. I graduated from the University of Arizona (go wildcats!) a little over a year ago, and then I packed up my shit and moved to Montana. I know what you're thinking. People actually live in Montana? Yes. Unfortunately they do. 

So what brings a girl in flip flops to the state that has more cows than people and only has a winter season? Well, let me introduce you to the fiance. 

Blog, meet David. Air Force veteran turned real estate agent. He's also my best friend and I cant wait to spend my whole life with him, but let's save the mush for another post, shall we?

So anyway, I moved to Montana for a year where it was really cold but also really fun and beautiful. David separated from the Air Force and we moved home to AZ in January. We're finally all settled in to our apartment with our two little fur babes who I happen to treat like my children. #basic

Blog, meet Oakley and Nixon. They're the most spoiled dogs on earth and they use that to their advantage. They also like to eat carpet and anything else that is valuable. We love them.

I'm so excited to be back and start this new journey through Blogland. I'd love if you'd join me and follow along. You can follow all of the social medias for pictures of my dogs and funny snap filters. I'd also love love love if you'd leave a comment and tell me a little about who YOU are because I love making friends!

confessions

Happy Monday loves! I'm taking today to catch up on homework and get some blog stuff figured out. I've been a little disconnected the past week because I've been so busy, but this week I can finally relax and focus a little more on the blog! I hope you had a good weekend! Let's start off the week with some confessions...

I put soda in water cups at restaurants. It started when I worked at In-N-Out, and I realized that you're really paying for the cup, not the actual drink, and getting soda for free is much better than paying $3 for it.

I don't really enjoy reading blogs every day. There, I said it. This is something I think about a lot because I know it makes me the worst blogger in the world. Once and a while when I'm bored, I'll read through my Bloglovin' feed, but I honestly don't have the patience/attention span to sit and read everyone's blog post every day. I've been afraid to say it because I don't want to get a bad reaction, and I'm sorry, but there you go.

I get my feelings hurt so easily. The dumbest things hurt my feelings and I hate it.

I get jealous...a lot. In Blogland, I'm jealous of blogs with cuter designs, better content, more readers. In real life, I get jealous of my friends that get to see their boyfriends every day, girls that are prettier, skinner, or have things I want. I get jealous when handsome does fun things and I can't be there to di them with him. I know everyone gets jealous, but I just get really jealous all the time.

I'm extremely self conscious. I definitely care what others think. I'm self conscious about my body. I'm afraid of others judging me. Most of the time I'm not happy with my appearance, but I'm also too lazy to do anything about it.

What about you? What're your confessions?

a little about me + an artsy picture of some hot cheetos

Well, the last time I did a post sharing random facts about myself I had about 700 less followers. So I thought maybe it was time for another one. So, here's fifteen more things you probably don't care to know about me.

I realized that I have no pictures of me alone. This is literally the only one.

I get extremely uncomfortable in elevators with strangers.

I can chew through a whole pack of gum in an hour. I don't like gum after I've been chewing it for more than like ten minutes, so I have to get a new piece.

I get my feelings hurt really easily

Cheese is slowly becoming less appetizing to me (thank goodness...being lactose intolerant sucks.)

I hate writing but I love blogging

I never would've imagined that I would find a passion in blogging/designing/photography. I never took interest in anything art-related and if you would've told me two years ago that I would be so passionate about all of it today, I wouldn't have believed you.

I'm only 19 (which apparently no one in blog land knew until I tweeted about it the other day)

I'm graduating college a year early (maybe a year and a half now…yay!) and I'll graduate before I turn 21

I'm obsessed Hot Cheetos. Like so much that I may or may not have tried to take artsy pictures of them with my new camera... yolo

I hate the dentist so much

I get a major lady boner for Connie Britton

I hate wearing anything but yoga pants and a sweatshirt. Real pants are just so uncomfortable!

Sometimes I buy things just because they're pink

I'm terrible at saving money

I love winter and snow and cold weather. Anything beats 150 degree summers in Arizona.

What's something we don't know about you?

embracing the weird

So, if you haven't figured it out yet...I'm weird. But I embrace it and I love it. We all have something that makes us special. We all do "weird" things. I'm insecure about a lot of things that I do differently, but I need to remember that these are the things that make me me. I'm starting to realize that my weird is also my unique. So here I am...telling you all of my quirks and embracing my weird unique.

I carry Sweet N Low in my wallet. Does that make me a 90 year old woman? Maybe. I like it better than sugar or any of the other sweeteners because it's pink. Not all coffee shops have it though. So, I always have a pack or two in my wallet in case I need it.

When I walk to the kitchen or bathroom or wherever in the middle of the night, I have to turn every light on along the way. I'm really afraid of the dark, and walking through the house in the pitch black is not an option. In Germany, Handsome's house had like 10 lights on the way from the living room to the bathroom. He worked nights so I was up alone all night, and every time I went to pee I had to turn all 10 lights on. We always joke around saying I need one of those flashlights you strap to your forehead!

I makes jokes when I'm uncomfortable. I always try to make heavy situations lighter, so I throw in jokes, which probably isn't always good. I also take them way too far. And when they're not funny, I keep talking to try to make them funnier. But I just sound dumb.  Along those lines, I'm inappropriate 90% of the time. Especially when I shouldn't be. I like to be sarcastic around people I don't really know (probably because I'm uncomfortable) and I don't have a filter most of the time. I think its funny, but people probably get the wrong idea sometimes.

I say YOLO and LOL sometimes a lot. They started off as jokes, but now I just say them. I know they're stupid and annoying, but that's why I say them. Handsome even bought us matching YOLO shirts as a joke when we first started talking! I also say things like "legit" and "literally" and "I'm dead" and "like" in like every sentence

I get major anxiety when I'm alone and I don't want to look dumb. For instance, if I'm meeting someone at a restaurant, I have to get there first, because I'm afraid I'll look stupid looking around the room for the person I'm meeting. When Handsome picks me up from the airport, I always get super anxious and nervous that he's going to see me before I see him, and I'll look dumb. If I'm at the store and I can't find what I'm looking for, I get freaked out. Solution: I pretend I'm on the phone. I KNOW, I'M AN IDIOT. But it makes me feel better so yolo. 

What're some of your quirks? Embrace them!

i got second place in a race by myself.

I think I need to preface this post with a picture. Here's what I looked like back in the day. It might help you understand.

 

Okay so, growing up, I played a lot of sports. I think at some point or another I played almost every single sport. That being said, I am the farthest thing from athletic. Here's why.

t-ball. I played t-ball when I was super young. Let me start by saying I have terrible eye sight. Also, I'm not coordinated. At all. I think you can see where this is going. I probably hit the stand more than I hit the ball.

(source)

basketball. I played basketball and I was the only girl on my team... so that's cool. I also look like I want to kill someone. Oh, and I'm wearing a choker.

I even had this cool trading card that Handsome keeps in his wallet, so basically I was legit. (Excuse the terrible quality)

Funny story- once during a basketball game I was passed the ball. It was my chance to show off and be a star, you know? I heard everyone cheering on my name and I was so excited as I made the ball into the hoop. Turns out they weren't cheering; they were yelling my name because I was going the wrong way, and I shot the ball into the wrong basket. So there's that.

gymnastics. Every little girl wants to do gymnastics, right? All of my friends did it and I wanted to do it too. Except I hated the beam. Like I cried every time I had to get on it. I also couldn't do anything on the floor but a bridge. Oh and once I got stuck in the foam pit. But I did rock the leotard.

(source)

swim. I swam on a swim team in like 7th grade. I always got last place- or close to it. I swam with the age group above mine since all of my friends were older. That's not why I always got last- I just sucked. Anyway. One time the heats weren't even and I ended up having to swim alone. ALONE. It was so embarrassing. Everyone was cheering for me and shit but I was mortified. Oh and the best part? When I was done they didn't have first place ribbons. I GOT SECOND PLACE IN A RACE BY MYSELF. Like seriously who gets second place in a solo race? I do. That's who. I feel like that takes major skill, you know?

I also played tennis, softball, and volleyball. But I don't have any super stories about those. But anyway, I think I was destined to be a blogger because there is no physical activity required. 

I now give you full permission to make fun of me :)

liebster award!

Hey everyone! So I got an email from Savannah at Arizona Sunshine saying she nominated me for the liebster award! How cool! :)

I really love this idea. It's a great way for smaller blogs to get some exposure!

So here's how it works

When you are nominated, you answer 11 questions from the blogger that nominated you!

Also, you list 11 random facts about yourself.

Then you choose some other small blogs that you love and write 11 questions for them to answer!

Sounds fun right?

Here are my questions from Savannah:

What's been your most favorite vacation? My favorite vacations was definitely my trip to Europe this summer with my handsome man. :)
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? In-N-Out Burger. No doubt. 
What's been the most inspirational book or movie you've read or seen? A Thousand Splendid Suns
If you couldn't live where you're living now, where would you live and why? North Carolina. It's so beautiful there. I hope my handsome man and I can live there one day. :)
What's one thing you would tell your 16 year old self? I would remind myself that my happiness is important, too.
If you could live in any other time period what would it be? Hmm. The 50's maybe?
If you were an animal, what would you be and why? I would be a Tiger because they're my favorite.
If you had to pick a movie to be your life, which one would you pick? BRIDESMAIDS.....I'm obsessed.
What stereotypical "man" job would you want to try out? I think it would be cool to be a firefighter. I don't know if that's considered a "man" job, but I think it would be exciting.
What's your favorite pizza topping? Pepperoni. (PS today is ONE MONTH dairy-free...no pizza for me!)
What's your favorite form of social media? I use Facebook the most. But I really like Instagram too.

11 facts about myself

I'm a psychology major

I'm in a long distance relationship

My favorite color is pink

I love being crafty

I love to bake

I'm pretty messy

I could wear a v-neck and shorts every single day

I hate living in Arizona

I hate reading

I want to be a kindergarden teacher

I watch way too much Netflix

I'm going to nominate my two Cara Box partners!

Adri from Adri's Thoughts

&

Jenny from Sprinkles & Sundresses

and also Emily from Inhabit Your Moments!

Here are my 11 questions for these lovely ladies:

If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

What's one thing you can't live without?

What's your favorite holiday and why?

Tell us about your most embarrassing moment.

If you could change your name what would you change it to?

If you could have one super power what would it be?

What's something you're excited about in the future?

If you could go back in time what would you do differently?

What's your current favorite artist/song?

If you had to choose an actress to play you in a movie who would it be?

Who is your celebrity crush?

Have fun and thanks Savannah!

20 random things you don't know about me

All I've pretty much told you so far is that I'm in love with my boyfriend, I love to craft, and I eat a lot. So I thought it would be fun to tell you a bunch of random facts about myself that aren't important...at all one I'm really really really afraid of the dark two I'm also really really afraid of crickets...don't ask three I'm not only in a long distance relationship with my handsome man, but also with my two best friends who go to school in California and Ohio.

four It's only my third semester of college and I've already changed my major like six times. I started as a physiology major, then switched to nursing, nutrition, neuroscience, and now I'm sticking with psychology- even though I really wish I could switch to early childhood education. five I have a constant supply of homemade guacamole in my fridge six I'm obsessed with In-N-Out burger. I could easily eat it every day. seven I also worked there in high school eight I'm also obsessed with Starbucks. Last year I had a $100 gift card that lasted me about two months. Iced soy white mocha anyone?! Yes please.  nine I hate cats. Definitely a dog person. ten My favorite movie ever is Bridesmaids. My best friends and I have seen it literally 500 times and we know every word. Literally every. single. word. eleven I don't like college. I just want to be done already. twelve I used to have a bowl cut and harry potter glasses. My friend posted this picture of me on Instagram a while ago. Awesome, thanks.

thirteen I'm afraid of the ocean. I'll go in it, but when I do I'm sure I'm going to get attacked by a shark. I went through a Jaws phase and haven't been the same since!

fourteen I'm addicted to my phone. I don't go anywhere without it. I know, that's bad. But I need it to talk to my handsome man!

fifteen I love the holidays. I wish it was Christmas time all year long. 

sixteen I hate living in Arizona. I've been here my whole life. It's way too hot and Phoenix is too big. I can't wait to move to Montana and be with my handsome man so I can wear cute winter clothes!

seventeen I want to live and raise our family in a small town.

eighteen I think everything tastes better when it's in a mason jar :)

nineteen I've almost completed my minor in Spanish and I can't hold a conversation to save my life. I really want to go to Spain someday and get some practice :) Hopefully Dj and I can make it back to Europe someday. I'd love that.

Europe is so pretty:)

twenty I never thought about blogging until I had the spontaneous idea to make this one last month. It's been amazing so far and I can't wait to share all of my experiences on here. From my life now, to when I get engaged and married, and when I have sweet little babies- I'm so excited to have this creative way of documenting it.

all about me!

My name is Brianna and I am nineteen years young.  I am an undergrad student at The University of Arizona in the oh-not quite-so beautiful Tucson.  After changing my major about a million times, I'm sticking with Psychology! I love it. I'm truly fascinated in the way that our minds work.  I go back to school in five days, and I'm so not ready for the summer to be over (probably because I spent the last two months traveling around Europe with my boyfriend-more on that later!)

I'm living in an apartment this year, and I've spent all of my free time this summer crafting for it.

Right now I'm obsessed with painting and distressing these mason jars! It's so fun and I think they're the cutest! I've made way too many for my own good, haha! Check out my shop, EndlesslyBeLoved, on Etsy if you're interested in buying some! I also have a few other crafty things on there! I've been going craft crazy these past two weeks! It helps keep me busy and keeps my mind off of missing my love.

My boyfriend's name is Dj and he is in the Air Force.  We met when we were little kids! Our moms have been friends since...well forever! We played together when we were little- he always gives me a hard time because I never used to let him play with my little red cash register! I guess I was a little brat :) If I had known that I'd fall in love with him someday, I probably would've let him play with it! Maybe :) 
We reconnected almost a year ago, and the rest is history! He is stationed in Germany right now. Which is good and bad. It's hard being away from him, but I did get to go visit him this summer! I spent two months with him (the most amazing months of my life) seeing all kinds of amazing places in Europe! We went to Belgium, Amsterdam, Europa Park, Neuschwanstein, and a bunch of other cool places! He comes home in about a month (yay) and I'm counting down the days! 

That's us in Belgium! Isn't he handsome?! :)

I love anything pink and anything sparkly.  I'm addicted to Pinterest- I think I have my whole wedding planned haha! I love baking...chocolate chip cookies are my specialty! I have a secret recipe that I'll share with you later! I'm obsessed with country music. And Luke Bryan! Dj got my best friend Kaitlyn and I tickets to go see him two weeks ago. Not to mention they were pit tickets! We were right up against the stage. Not only did I get to touch Luke's hand, but I threw my phone on the stage, he grabbed it, and TOOK A PICTURE WITH ME! I almost died.

I still don't believe it! I tried to smile for the picture, but I couldn't stop screaming! That's Kaitlyn in the back with the hat (she tried to get as much of her face in there as possible!)

I'm so excited to finish school, move in with my handsome man, and start the rest of my forever! And I'm so excited to share my adventures with you!