I really enjoy walking among tall, unique buildings.
I was able to wander the University of Washington campus recently, and it reminded me of the time I visited the east coast and wandered the streets of Detroit.
I find it fascinating to think about the time, efforts, and thoughts that go into designing a building. I don’t have the patience for something like that, but I sure appreciate those that do. Everyone has their niche.
College campuses have a certain air about them, a calmness that comes only when you’re a visitor and not a student. I’m in another transition stage of my educational career, so I can enjoy being on a campus without the stress of actually rushing to class.
There’s also a subtle sense of inspiration that makes me want to create something new. Perhaps it’s the fresh spring air, but either way I’m running with it.
9/10 times my idea of creating something new comes in the form of food. What can I say, I love to eat. I stumbled upon these noodles while perusing the inner aisles of the grocery store, and I was immediately intrigued. I had to give them a try.
What sold me was what I saw on the back…
Fiber and protein ON POINT. The noodles were a bit chewy, but overall they were good. I threw together a random meal that turned out quite lovely.
Despite the ugly color of that sauce, I assure you it was packed with power. I blended the innards of 8 tomatoes (I used the “outards” for pico de gallo and refuse to waste) around 15 beet leaves, roasted garlic, sun dried tomatoes, spices, and olive oil.
I was extremely fascinated by the separation caused by the beet leaves phytonutrients.
Red ring from the leaves, what a powerfully unique vegetable packed full of betanin!
I imagine one thing that would have made this meal taste better would have been to enjoy it inside a unique building. Perhaps a tiny home, nestled into the woods.
Daydreams and inspiration.
Q: Where have you recently discovered a sense of inspiration?
Blissfulbritt 
42 thoughts on “Finding Inspiration”
Amy @ A Desert Girl
I love being on college campuses. They really do have a different air about them, whether you’re a student or a visitor!
I’d try those noodles – awesome protein and fiber!
freckle me silly
Those noodles are such a great catch!
Jess @hellotofit
Love your creativity and openness to try new things. I’ve never heard of using beet leaves, before! YOU are my inspiration today.
Brittany
D’aaawww. YES the leaves are just as good for you as the beet itself! Chocked full of Vitamin K!
Jessica @ VEGGIE RUNNING MOMMA
Gorgeous college campus.!!
I like the easter background, that would be super awesome if they were your pajamas. lol
I feel like I need more inspiration lately
gotta go find some.!
Shawna
edamame noodles?! looks awesome. love that you create such fabulous food combos. i’m such a kitchen fail. agree with you on college campuses — i’m currently doing my 3rd degree and feel so at home on a campus, i probably should just stay in school forever (doctorate, anyone? anyone?). i definitely get inspired being upstate at home in nature, at my parents’ house, on the lake. amazing.
Brittany
Your educational endeavors amaze me. You are super woman in the classroom, I love it.
B
I love the bricks! They make me think of Easter for some reason. It must be the colors!
Heather P. at Fancy Alter Ego
I totally get what you mean about being a visitor to college campuses! The campus I went to in Ohio was beautiful, but as a student I didn’t care much. Then I started working at them, and still didn’t appreciate them much (though the ones I worked at were far from pretty to look at).
A house on a lake sounds like the perfect thing right now…that, and a giant mug of tea!
Laur
Long drives (especially when I get lost) are inspiration to me. I love pulling over and just taking pictures. When I was in AP Photography (high school = ions ago), I took most of my pictures in places I just happen to stumble upon. It was SUCH a stress reliever.
Blue290
Sometimes it’s in a building’s design, but recently I am inspired here. 🙂
Brittany
You are too kind, thank you! 🙂
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
I just won a shit ton of noodle from Explore Asia and have been having so much fun using them! I haven’t tried the Mung Bean ones yet, but all the others also have around 25g protein. Super impressive! I love architecture, too and can’t imagine coming up with such unique creations! I like your use of the tomato inards- that’s my inspiration right now!
Brittany
Free noodles, SUPER WIN! I want to try the other stuff they have, like the bean noodles too! My stomach was a bit gurgled after eating these, but nothing I didn’t expect to happen. Worth it for the nutritional stats. Plus I sleep alone, so….no harm no foul. HAHA.
lizlicorish
Wow – you are so right about how calm college campuses can be when you are a visitor vs. a student. I went on a run through my old college campus a year ago. I couldn’t believe how much smaller and quieter it seemed.
Amy
I love, love, love brick buildings!! Partially why I love visiting the East Coast and Europe… We don’t have very many of them out here on the West Coast! My “uncle” actually did his PhD at that university, but I’ve never been to visit. Whenever I come visit you, we’ll have to go! 🙂 Where’d you find those noodles??? I really want to try them! And surprisingly enough, my latest inspiration has come from… Baseball stadiums. Those are one of the very few places where I get goose bumps entering and feel like a little kid — young, carefree, happy, excited — the entire time I’m there.
Brittany
Yes us west coastians don’t get those colonial, olden style buildings like the east coast and especially other countries! I cannot wait to travel to see the architecture from eons ago. I would LOVE to take you to this campus, plus it’s right near a few of my favorite eateries. 😉
I found the noodles at my local market, but I am sure Whole Foods has something similar!
Amy
I am GOING to come up this year. It’s decided!! Maybe later this summer… Would that fit into your schedule? 🙂
Rach @ This Italian Family
Those buildings are beautiful! Reminds me of my alma mater. 🙂
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
I’m totally with ya on the college campus thing! When you’re not a student there you feel like so calm and cool…the only way I can think to describe it is that you’re walking among such great history, but you’re also walking among the ideas of the future. It’s a cool paradox all wrapped up in one place. Those noodles look pretty good too — any kind of pasta dish that will actually fill me up would be much appreciated.
bflyrenee
Great idea I’m wanting to do something like this soon too!
Jessica
Where the HECK did you find those? I need them in my life, stat.
Brittany
At my local market! I’m sure Whole Foods has something similar though!
Pamplemousse
I have recently been inspired by my garden. Since the sun has been out a lot lately, the kids and I have been spending so much time in the garden and I’ve been inspird to plant, design, cook, create! It’s been so fun and fulfilling!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
What I love the most is the sharp contrast between the badass edamame noodles and the sweet little Easter bunnies 😛 I have yet to try any of these fancy noodle alternatives, but I’m super curious to see what they taste like! And I wish my city had more old school buildings… We’re young’uns, so most of our architecture is more modern.
Pamplemousse
And until I read the ingredients of your sauce, I thought you had just thrown some almond butter on there! The color did not throw me off at all.
Luv What You Do
What a fun walk!
That dinner looks yummy!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
And now I’m adding a couple cool buildings to the list. We have one downtown that is simply stunning, which we can peruse after hitting up the market and before we head to lunch.
Excellent, she says in her best Mr. Burns voice.
Aja
UW has such a nice campus! All of the old buildings at CWU are shuttered and they keep building new ones that in my opinion look terrible. But I think that’s just because I like the classic look of old college buildings. Okay, I lied, not all the old buildings are shuttered, but I’m most interested in exploring the ones that are!
P
The stats of those noodles are amazing!! 24 grams of protein?! Nice! And I am a beet fan 4 life (haha) so I absolutely appreciate the addition of beets in your meal!
UW is beautiful!
Ellie
I agree that not taking classes can make a college campus really beautiful. There is a lot of thought put into the architecture (the dorm rooms, not so much). I have recently been inspired by Instagram. I love following people who post fun spring recipes and outfits!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
Love the correlation of a college campus- Some legit look like castles.
Now those noodles..protein and fiber bomb!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
What a beautiful campus. It really puts the majority of our university buildings over here to shame.
katalysthealth
holy crap girl that is one creative sauce! I would never in a million years make a dish like that, but I would for sure eat it if someone served it to me! It looks and sounds delicious
Hannah
I am OBSESSED with that pasta. It’s so good, and you can’t beat the nutritionals!
amysrecipefordisaster
I work on a college campus & we are hitting the end of the semester. As they are all moving out I get super inspired to get rid of stuff too!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
I find inspiration in you on the daily……. And I found inspiration to NOT eat those noodles after chowing down because my stomach was NOTTTTTT HAVING IT! LOL! But they are delish! LOL!
kadeecramer
When I’m lacking inspiration I can usually find it on Tumblr. Beautiful scenery/photography and amazingly stupid but awesome GIFS.. there is no in between. =p
jennifer prod
i’ve been wanted to buy a spiralizer to try all new sorts of veggie pasta dishes, but maybe i’ll start with this? dip my toes before i dive in? let someone else do the work? thanks for the ideeear 🙂
raleign9
The noodles look perfect, just the kind of high protein veggie dish I’m looking for! Thanks for posting!
semisweettooth
That food looks awesome – but I’m totally with you on creativity in architecture. I love what Detroit has been up to with their rebirth; thanks for including your past post. It’s become such a “cool” place to live in recent years!
ｒｉｋａ
I really want to try the pasta! It’s such a shame that students are trying to destroy the shining light of University here, not sure if you’ve heard about the South Africa issue/racism here yet.