Everyone knows Brad Paisley’s song Letter to Me. It was definitely a tear jerker for me around this time last year. I still can not believe it has almost been a year since the class of 2013 graduated. We are two months out from being through with our freshmen year of COLLEGE. That means in less than four years we are going to be thrown out into this “real world” thing everyone keeps talking about. Scary. After all of these things hitting home recently, I decided to write a letter to myself. Not just for me but for other people a few years younger than me. I’m hoping someone will read it and realize the things that matter so much to them right now may not matter at all in four or five years. So, here it goes:

Brittany Elizabeth Barker, 

Going into high school you are going to be scared to death. You have this idea that the next four years are going to be exactly like Taylor Swift’s song Fifteen. In some ways they are but really they are going to be one big roller coaster ride. I know you hate roller coasters so brace yourself. Some of the “friends” you make freshmen year you won’t even be speaking to by senior year. But it’s okay. You will have multiple people who constantly try to bring you down and tell you you’re not good enough. No worries, senior year you prove them all wrong. Don’t let people walk all over you. It will take you a while to accomplish this skill but once you do, you are going to be so much stronger. As scared as you are that you might fail Algebra 2, you are going to pass that EOC with a 94. Even though your teachers tell you you will use these skills in real life, you won’t. At least the future you has yet to find a moment where she did. Take every chance you can to dance. That “Platinum” award you want so bad? You earn it on your solo your senior year and it is one of the best moments of your life. You become a role model to so many young children that you are going to teach. Every time you walk into the studio to teach them all your worries will go away. Enjoy your senior competition season and recital. Those moments go by so quickly and you will miss it more than anything. Now, could I really write a letter to you without mentioning boys? Of course not. You are going to meet one sophomore year and be overtaken by the fact that he was older than you and noticed you and seemed so perfect. You are going to think you are in love and he’s the one. He’s not. The breakup two and a half years later is going to be hard but it’s okay because both of you are better off without the other. As hard as it is to believe, your parents will always figure everything out and know what is best for you. Follow your heart but never look over those gut feelings telling you something isn’t quite right. You are going to worry yourself to death on if you get into Meredith and you do! Deciding to go there will be one of the best decisions you make. Go to every football game, enjoy every prom, and never take time with your true friends for granted. On graduation day it will rain and you will be upset. As you walk across the stage (at an extremely fast speed) you will have the biggest smile on your face and feel as though the sun is shining directly on you. I know high school is hard and you cringe every time you hear someone say “these are the best four years of your life.” Don’t worry, for you, those “best four years” will be at Meredith. You will cry like a baby telling your friends and family “see you soon” and every time you come home you’ll tear up driving back down the drive way. You will meet so many amazing girls and find the best friend you could ask for. You will find the courage to double major in Business and Dance, getting yourself that much closer to accomplishing your dreams. You were meant to be an Angel. The main thing you need to realize here is that “it’s okay.” Every obstacle that comes your way you will overcome it. whether it takes a day or three years. You will be fine. You will make your parents proud. You will make yourself proud. You will become confident, determined and ready to take on your future. Just believe in yourself. You are your own worst enemy. You can do this. 

Love,

Brittany Elizabeth Barker (2014)

After writing (crying through) this, I realized that I would not be the young woman I am today if I did not go through hard times as a young teen. In July my baby sister turns 13. I hope I can be a positive influence and set a good example for her. I hope I can help her in every way possible through these next few years whether it be on boys, homework or the hardest decision of high school – prom dress shopping. We all think life would have been 100 times easier “if we had only known what we know now.” In reality it would not have. Everything happens for a reason. We just have to wait for the Lord to show us those reasons and cherish every moment. 

“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.” Jeremiah 29:11

Since I’m still trying to get my blog up and running I’ve looked at tons of other blogs for inspiration for posts. One post I have found that seems to be pretty popular is a monthly favorites post. Since afternoon classes were cancelled due to wintery weather (don’t get me started on complaining about the cold) I decided to do a February Favorites post! So here are a few of my favorite things, separated into popular categories, for this past month! Happy March everyone! 

Beauty – 

Because my skin pretty much despises the winter time, I feel like I’m constantly trying to make my skin feel like it does in the sweet summertime. Bath & Bath Works had a “Buy 3, Get 3” sale a few weeks ago so I couldn’t resist the urge to restock my favorite B&B items. I decided to try something new and purchased the Golden Sugar Scrub in the scent Warm Vanilla Sugar. (one of my absolute favorite scents) I was hesitant on whether or not I would like it at first but after the first time using it I LOVED it. Even though my roommate said “What the heck is on your face?!” as she walked in while I was letting it settle, it really worked. It left my skin feeling soft, moisturized and clean. 

My second favorite beauty product for this month is the Urban Decay Naked3 palette. This is my first “high-end” makeup item and I’m thankful Santa found room in his sleigh for this one 🙂 I am not one to experiment with makeup so I normally just stick to the neutral tones for eyeshadow. This palette was perfect for that. It ranges from light rosy tones to a deep brown/black. Right up my alley! I am so glad I decided to put it on my Christmas list. I have used it so much this month and I am sure it could probably go on my monthly favorites until I use it all out! Definitely worth the price! 

Fashion – 

I know I covered popular things for the winter that I constantly find myself wearing in my last post, so all of those still apply to this post. Another fashion item I found myself wearing more this month are the 1/4 zip pullovers. I love Target’s activewear section. Champion brand clothing is so cute and is normally a little cheaper than Nike or Under Armour (my all time favorites) A few weeks ago I purchased a grey pullover with bright green detailing. I wore it so much! Whether it was while warming up for dance or a walk around Raleigh on a pretty afternoon, it provided the perfect amount of warmth. When I went to Target this weekend and the same pullovers were on sale I just had to buy another. Of course the purple one seemed to be calling my name! 

Secondly, I have fallen in love with baseball hats. I would always complain when my mom would tell me to wear a hat so I wouldn’t get sunburnt at the beach but now I probably wear one at least once a week. Whether I miss my alarm and have no time to wash my hair before class or I’m just have a terrible hair day, a cute hat is a must. I currently wear my Meredith hat (Go Angels!) but I can see another cute baseball hat being purchased in the very near future for the spring/summer!

Music – 

Being the music lover I am, I always seem to have a favorite song that I will either play constantly or get extremely excited when it comes on Pandora. This month I have two:

1. 19 You + Me by Dan and Shay – This song is a super cute, summer kind of song. This song makes me think of spending my summer at the beach with friends (not necessarily a boy friend like the song) just relaxing and having a blast. Of course the fact that it’s the “summer of 19” – my age – makes it that much more exciting! It gives my high expectations for this upcoming summer!

2. What Country Is by Luke Bryan – If you know me at all you know Luke is my favorite. Pretty much any of his songs are my favorites… All the time! This one always reminds me of true, summer, southern living. I feel as though a lot of the time “country” people get mistaken for “middle-of-nowhere hicks who fly a confederate flag on their front porch, drive a loud truck and shoot everything that flies or has antlers.” In my opinion this is completely false. Yes some of us do take part in those things (nothing wrong with them, at all) but that not what makes up who we are. Well, enough rambling about my annoyance with stereotypical opinions, this song describes what country truly is. On top of that, I cannot wait until I can have some “Homemade peach ice cream on sunburnt lips.” 🙂 Thanks Luke for another great song and I can’t wait to see you June 7th AND 8th this summer!! (I say that as if there’s any chance in the world he would actually see this…)

So, there are some of my favorite things I remember from this month! 4 more days until spring break for Meredith girls! Stay warm and keep hoping for a warmer March! March 20th is the official first day of spring!!