Whole lotta random coming atcha in 3…2…1…
– Christmas was great this year, calm and casual just the way I like it. I gifted my mom tickets to see one of my favorite artists, because he happens to be playing with the Seattle Symphony. I knew she would like the symphony, and I would like him. Win.
Fun Fact: I’ve never been to a concert. Unless you count a local radio stations throw together of artists that I went to when I was 12 with my friend and her dad. All I remember is a light up pin and ear plugs. I’m not going to count that.
– I escaped to the mountains on another solo hike last week. I decided waiting on other people wasn’t worth it, so off I went with my Mace and kitchen knife.
Fun Fact: I LOVE the look of rustic, old, and tattered things. Buildings, cars, boats, you name it. I drove past that boat pictured above many times and finally stopped to take a picture. Look close and you’ll spy a chicken and a cow.– I have officially entered the world of plant based caramel sauce. I hesitate to say “vegan” because I do use honey, but it’s close enough folks. Here is is pictured with a recipe I plan to share later this week. I’m absolutely obsessed.
Fun Fact: This recipe inspired me to start making more raw like treats.– I’m in Arizona until the 4th of January. Mountains no longer look the same as the above photo from my solo hike. Not a green tree in sight, just red red rocks.
Entering desert land, last of the white mountains.
Fun Fact: Sunshine is a drug, and I’m prepared to overdose.-I’ve started training for my next half marathon in March. Running in Arizona has been an ego boost of sorts. FLAT lands mean quicker paces. Busting out an average 9:20 pace after taking months off doesn’t happen in my area, much too hilly.
Fun Fact: Arizona is having one of its coldest winters. Almost feels like home.
Q: What’s your fun fact of the day?
Blissfulbritt 
72 thoughts on “Brain Splurge with a Side of Fun Facts”
Natalie @ The Ravenous Mommy
I just can’t get over that you’ve never been to a concert?! You have some catching up to do 🙂
My fun fact: I was 24 years old the first time I saw snow, it took a while! Now that I live in Canada, I am officially sick of it.
Brittany
I’m right there with you, NOT a snow fan!!
Katie T
I will anxiously await your plant-based caramel sauce recipe! Where are you in Arizona? I grew up in Phoenix and still have most of my family in the area. Yes, it is a great ego-boost to run there, especially compared to where you live. After training in North Carolina, the flat grid of Phoenix felt great during the Rock and Roll marathon back in 2011! Enjoy the rest of your stay.
Brittany
I’m in the Glendale area! My dad lives here so my sister and I visit at least once a year. It’s VERY COLD this year my goodness.
Shawna
love your hiking pix, as always. nothing new there. also love those arrows and wish i could steal them. maybe you should help me with my blog layout, as i’m sort of failing there. anyway, good luck with the training/running and hope you enjoy it!
Brittany
STEAL AWAY my friend!!
gilhooley52
Enjoy AZ! A home I have seen in too long.
Britta
I don’t know what kind of dessert that is but it looks amazing and I can’t wait till you share the recipe!! YUM. I feel like a walking gingerbread man (woman). SO much sugar over the holidays.. I need to detox post holidays for sure.
Um, you badass for signing up for yet another half marathon! I need to. I really need to. I hope you have the best time in Arizona – please come home with a tan for the both of us! XO
Brittany
Ugh, I’m a freaking Michelin man right now. SO MUCH food in general. My clothes are sooo tight and I am so glad it’s training time again. I NEED IT. HAHA.
The Chaos Realm
When cats look “grumpy”–eyes half-closed, etc.–they are actually really relaxed and are feeling safe and comfortable in your presence. Or so I’ve read.
Brittany
HAHA I love this fun fact, and YES it’s true!!
bobbyjessica2319
Beautiful North West 🙂 isn’t it nice to be surrounded by such beauty. I live in Oregon.
Fun Fact : I don’t know how to swim :p
Jessica
Uhhhhh, that dessert though….
hellotofit
Love these fun facts! That caramel sauce, though…yum!! Can’t wait to read the recipe. My first concert was when I was 16; my best friend and I went to see Gavin DeGraw 😛
Emma @em-poweredwellness
I love Gregory Alan Isakov! And live symphonies are always beautiful. Sounds like a great concert 🙂
charissarunning
Your pictures are so beautiful – I especially love the one of the old boat too! It’s a bit magical, don’t you think?
And yay to running! Have fun training 🙂
Fun fact: I used to be able to hold a handstand for 15-20 seconds (thank you, gymnastics!) and now I can’t do one anymore. My goal is to be able to do that again one day!
Brittany
So magical, I totally agree. Oh man..I used to be able to hold a headstand for a solid 10 seconds! I couldn’t even get into one right now. That’s a good goal.
willrunforpizza
Oooohhhh I can’t WAIT for the caramel recipe! I’ve been needing this recipe for some new recipes,I’ve been wanting to try.
YAAAY for half marathon training!
Fun fact: my mom has always HATED coffee. But she needed caffeine at my full marathon in October, and my Hus bought her a peppermint mocha from Tim Hortons that day and she loved it. Now she stops at the gas station for one every morning. Lol But over the weekend, i got her one from sbux, and she’s hooked. And! We scored some Christmas cups for 50% off! We’d been wanting them for a while so we were excited. 😀
Brittany
Booooyaaa for Starbucks mugs!
willrunforpizza
I knoooowwww! Now im scouring the stores for the red swirl one! Lol
Amy
Have fun in AZ!! So happy for you that you get the sunshine. I could really use a healthy dose of that these days! And oh my gosh, I’m so spoiled with running… For the past 6+ years, I’ve lived in two of the flattest cities ever. The only hills are freeway overpasses. I’m such a wimp when it comes to elevation now! 😉
Anthony
Your posts are very inspiring and fun. Thanks so much and I hope that half marathon is amazing.
Brittany
Thank you!! 🙂
Food, Booze, & Baggage
Lovely pictures!!! I thought Arizona was so different but pretty when we drove through. I’m talking P into a trip to Flagstaff (but when it is a bit warmer). It’s chilly here today in SD, where is my 70 degree weather 🙂
Laura @ the gluten-free treadmill
I am loving your random thoughts today! Your pictures are awesome and I totally understand the need for a nature break to hike. If the weather would cooperate, I would totally do that here! Enjoy AZ!
Nicola
Reading this is giving me ‘Into the wild’ flashbacks, and making me feel rather lazy for lazing about so much over Christmas long weekends.
Fun Fact: I cooked and tried artichokes for the first time yesterday! Didn’t know what I was missing.
Brittany
Artichokes on pizza…TRY IT!
Nicola
Will do! 🙂
Ellie
I’ve never been to a “real” concert either! I like music, but when I get money, I buy more running shoes or race entries…not concert tickets. I feel lucky that the music scene in my town is so big so I’ve seen many local bands for free during the summer concert series.
Fun fact: Brittney Spears first appeared on the Mickey Mouse club 16 years ago. I feel old.
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
The obsession is real! I have a thing for beat up, rustic tattered things as well. Actually, I’ve shabbied up most of the wood furniture in my place to give it that shabby-chic vibe. And whenever I’m out driving in the country and see a beat up shack or farmhouse, I instantly want to pull over and take a picture of it. No one ever seems to agree, though 😦
Aja
That concert sounds really fun! I hope you’re enjoying the sunshine in Arizona. I’m in the Seattle area now and I forgot how bipolar the weather is. Sunny for a few minutes then cloudy then sunny again. It’s madness!
harveylisam
Ooo, the symphony! What pieces did they play?
Brittany
I don’t know yet! I’ll let you know after we go Feb 17th! 🙂
harveylisam
Haha clearly I didn’t pay good enough attention to your post. My bad! 😛
foodielovesfitness
Hehe, I love giving gifts that I somehow can enjoy as well! I can’t believe that you haven’t been to a concert. They’re so much fun!
Enjoy your time in Arizona! Happy New Year!!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
You are so sneaky. Buying those tickets ‘for your mum’. That’s it, I’m buying a DSLR for my mum. She doesn’t even know what a camera is.
I AM OBSESSED with trying raw desserts lately- I’ve been experimenting and amidst a tonne of failures, I’ve had a couple of success!
Have a blast in Arizona!
BabetaRuns
Aha!
I buy a little trip for me and my mom for Xmas every year, for about seven years in a row now.
I choose a destination where I want to go… Obviously 🙂
This year we are going to the Opera in Dresden and then spending the next day looking through all the art galleries. Can’t wait!
Fun fact: I still haven’t left my pyjamas today (it’s almost 5pm here in Berlin) but now I need to get dressed for the dinner party we are going to… 🙂
Happy New Year!
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
Wait wait wait wait wait….
You’ve never been to a concert.
I’m in shock.
I’m going to let it slide because you’ve probably been out overdosing on sunshine instead, but still. Girl. Get yourself to a concert!!!
katalysthealth
Ive never been to a big concert, most of them are just small Christian artists that I adore. Although I am going to see Wicked in January. I know, not a concert, but they do sing 😉
Happy new year love!
The Vegan 8
I died laughing (as usual) at your comment taking your “mace and kitchen knife” LOL! That caramel looks so good! Once I can stop making my sweet potato caramel (best I’ve ever had 🙂 I will add yours to try…can’t wait to see it!
Brittany
I can promise your sweet tater caramel will outshine mine 100%, but for a first attempt I was pretty jazzed! Very similar to a lot of recipes floating around the web. STILL NEED to make yours!
Melanie
Oh, that picture of that abandoned boat thing is so cool!! Random, but beautiful in a strange way. 😉
I also LOVE that pic of the clouds down in the valley by the mountain. Absolutely gorgeous!!! I’m running a half marathon in May (only my second one ever!) so I need to start training soon. I’m such a “running wuss” right now that I’m kind of nervous!! I hope you have a wonderful New Year!
Brittany
That is so exciting about your half! Please blog all about it! 🙂
Matt
Happy New Year, Brittany!
Fun fact: I’ve been to a lot of concerts (easily more than 100…maybe closer to 200 or 300), with anywhere from 6 people to about 20,000 in attendance.
An Unrefined Vegan
I’m sure once I leave this post I will think of the coolest fact ever!
allieksmith
I hope you have a great time in AZ! I bet the sunshine is just amazing. I had no idea they’re having a cold winter… that’s surprising!! I lol’d at you bringing a kitchen knife and mace. I’ve had people tell me I should have a gun in my house and I always say I am waaay more comfortable using my kitchen knives 😉
Ashley @MilesonOats
Fun fact: Betcha money if I still lived in AZ (rewind 6 months), you and I would have hiked camelback, ate somewhere delcious, drank coffee, and possibly taken about 945830583904 selfies proving that blends (blogging friends) do exist and is a totally acceptable way of meeting people. Please agree or I am going to look damn creepy. haha 🙂
Brittany
Oh, FOR SURE! I so wish we could do that! I haven’t been to Camelback in years and was going to go this trip, but my dads knee didn’t like our back to back hikes earlier this week! Womp womp.
brickhousechick
How exciting to be going to your first concert! BTW, I saw the movie, WILD and thought of you! You could SO survive that trail and more! Great movie.
I wish you a peaceful, healthy and adventurous 2015!!! 🙂
Brittany
Best comment and total compliment, thanks girrrrl!! 🙂
Jane
I love all your fun facts and also share your love of hiking and old and tattered things. Enjoy your time in Arizona. The photos look amazing! 🙂
Lucie
I need this caramel sauce recipe! And every time you post a picture of those mountains (of any kind) I’m in heaven! Happy new year girl!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious
I live in Glendale. It’s definitely very cold right now. Usually it’s 10 degrees warmer this time of year. It’s supposed to warm up next week just in time for you to leave though. 😦 Enjoy the running here. Isn’t it glorious? It’s my favorite time of year to be outdoors.
Skinny Fitalicious
I live in Glendale and it is at least 10 degrees colder here that usual this time of year. It’s supposed to warm up next week just in time for you to go home. 😦 Enjoy your time here. This is my favorite time of the year to be outside running.
Brittany
That’s where my dad lives/where I’m at! How funny. I do enjoy running here in the winter. Definitely bummed I’ll be missing the 70 degree days next week!
Luv What You Do
I don’t know if I have a fun fact. I guess going with the Rose Bowl New Years Day theme…I didn’t go to a college football game until after I graduated college.
Good luck with all of your training!!!
jennifer prod
oh goodness, i’d of wanted to climb that old boat and explore and take pictures and maybe invite people inside. i guess i share a similar love for old and worn buildings/boats/cars?
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
Flatness is pretty awesome for running… but hills make you so much stronger! Nice little run you had there 🙂 I love old things, too. They make me reminisce, even if they don’t relate to me at all, I still think of the past. SO EXCITED for the caramel recipe. I only eat homemade (or REALLY good store bought ones, which are usually also really expensive) caramels… unless it’s in a twix, just saying.
Brittany
Trust me, I get PLENTY of hills in Washington HA! I am welcoming the mini reprieve. I agree though, YES YES the hills make you strong. Mmmmm Twix…
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Fun Fact: I thought of you when penning my New Year’s Resolutions post today since I know how much you love reading those (insert eye roll here). I fully intend to still make you smile and be the only NY resolution post you enjoy.
Enjoy the Arizona mountains and soak up some sunshine for me too.
As an fyi, we just need to come back in our next lives as cats. We can sit in sun patches all day long and lick one another. 🙂
Brittany
You were right! I loved your post, you have a magical way to seduce me you know.
Cats we must be!
Connie the chocoholic
havent been here in a while and youre still as rad as ever 🙂 seeing your blog grow and your person grow from 5ks–>half marathons and group hikes to adventurous solo hikes is so motivating. you’re absolutely amazing britt!
happy new year, have fun in those arizona mountains!
Brittany
Hello old friend!! Thank you for the comment, it’s always great to hear from you!! 🙂
kathy@real talk
you are so much braver than me — i’m too scared to go on the local trails by myself, let alone the mountains…although if i had a view like that, it’s totally worth the risk…
fun fact: my muay thai studio isn’t in the best area and kind of hidden in this dark, small, industrial street but i drive there and walk to it by myself because i love it so much. also, i’m taking lessons on how to kick and punch bitches so obvs, i’m a profesh fighter.
Brittany
I’d be way more scared on those streets than in the mountains!! You go girl!
Reidy
Some gorgeous pictures! Best of luck with the half Marathon training, something I’d love to do one day! 🙂
Fun fact: I’ve been to far too many concerts, you’re missing out!
Matt @ Runner Savvy
Never been to a concert!?
Lucie Elizabeth (@CollectingLight)
thanks girlie!
Lora @ Crazy Running Girl
Fun post! I can’t believe you’ve never been to a concert… you’ll have a great time! AZ sounds like a fun place to run!
Khushboo Thadani (@KhushbooThadani)
Sunshine is a drug…but running IN sunshine is like being on MDA hah! Hope you’re having an amazing time in Arizona- great place to start the year!
ekpreston
Your pictures are awesome. Don’t worry, I’ve only been to one concert in my life, and it was with my parents. Sometimes, it’s better to hear the music on the iPod than in person. Also, I wanted to let you know I’ve nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. You’re blog is just so fun!
https://ekpreston.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/well-would-you-look-at-that-one-lovely-blog-nomination/
Rach @ This Italian Family
Gorgeous photos! Also I find it hard to believe that you’ve never been to a concert. Wow! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂