During the summer months, Starbucks likes to reserve Friday’s for themed attire. 90% of the time I want nothing to do with this high school nonsense because I am 80 years old and have no soul, but last week I was all about “Aloha Friday.”
Mainly because this vibrant blue shirt is the most comfortable thing to wear second to my own skin. When it’s hot outside, black clothing raises the temperature at least 5 degrees, even when you’re inside. When it’s hot outside, I want to be somewhere cool.
I’ve become that person that enjoys my days off more than I enjoy my days at work. This is normal for most, but I don’t want it to become a normal for me. I want to thrive in my workplace just as much as I do when I’m off exploring the mountains.
On one of my days off last weekend I escaped to another town to spend the day with one of my closest childhood friends. I figured spending all my time with animals can’t be healthy, so once in a while I surround myself with my own kind.
I’ve now met my human interaction quota for the month.
Any restaurant that says “EAT” on the side has to be good.
It was a perfect PNW summer day. We walked around a street festival, ate some food, and walked to the Ballard Locks. I had never been to the locks, and it was fun to play tourist in my own area. Plus the weather was perfect for wandering.
Basically what this place does is keep the salt water of the Puget Sound, and the fresh water of Lake Washington separate from each other. It’s a spot for boats to cross over from the sound to the lakes in an efficient and safe way. Quite unique if you ask me.
The big boats go in this spot.
I would love to find a vocation that ties my passion for exploration together with my passion for food. I do love coffee, and don’t plan to leave my spot at Starbucks, but my mind wheels have definitely started turning.
Oh the adventures of life. 🙂
Q: Do you live for the weekend, or do you enjoy spending your time at work? I’ll blame the summer for my desires to be out exploring!
47 thoughts on “Summer in the PNW”
Jimmy
My brother lives in Port Townsend, and I’ve been scheming and saving to make my way out there to join him. The PNW is amazing and your pictures make me want to move now!
Blue290
Love that shirt. 🙂
neilirving
Great shirt and smile 🙂
Brittany
Thank you! 🙂
The Freckled Runner
Great pics!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Love the shirt! That shade of blue is so vibrant. What a clever system they have rigged up there to keep the fresh and salt water separate.
Jessica
Both. I Love love LOVE my job, but my weekends are strictly reserved for playing.
Amy
Even though my dad works at a super important lab, they still have Hawaiian shirt Fridays! Your shirt totally reminds me of that. You’d fit right in there too! 😉 I actually saw something similar to those locks in Chicago when my dad and I went agessssss ago. They actually reverse engineered the river so that the lake flows back into the river instead! Kind of nerdy but cool. 🙂 I hope you’re able to adjust or find a new job that makes you just as happy as your days off!
herbieontherun
As much as I want to be that person that loves her job… I’m just not. lol I loathe it and every second I have to spend there… but the salary and benefits are just too much to give up! I need that job in order to support all my off-day adventures. 🙂
Brittany
As long as the trade off is worth the loathing I suppose! 🙂
50statecanuck
I love the locks here in Ottawa!
And especially during the summer months, I totally live for days off!!!
gabbylou
Love love LOVE your photos – growing up in the PNW has been my favorite. 🙂 I actually really enjoy my week days at work, but on those nice days with perfect weather, you know I am wishing it was the weekend and I had more time to myself!!
Shawna
ahhh this town looks so adorable and picturesque! i want to explore the PNW. these pix are gorgeous! i totally understand your thoughts about wanting a vocation that allows you to combine your passions. i’m with ya, sister. xo
briana1010
travel writer, perhaps!
Brittany
Oh how fun that would be!
charflew23
I’m from Eastern Canada, just above Maine…the coast,the coast, the coast.
varinaj
Oh, girl. I don’t think I’ve EVER been the person who enjoys the days on more than their days off. I figure that’s ok; they pay me to be here.
Brittany
Touche! 😉
Jessica @ VEGGIE RUNNING MOMMA
Gorgeous pictures.!! Reminds me that I need to enjoy these PNW summer’s a lot more, they sure are beautiful and I spend so much time inside.
Enjoy your time 🙂
Alex
Why must the PNW be so gorgeous and so far from Texas?!? I would be right there with you exploring and soaking up the summer adventures!!! 😊 and sidenote, your Hawaiian shirt is AMAZING.
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
Is that Hawaiian shirt from Trader Joe’s? The PNW is beautiful. FL is just hot/humid and the only beauty is at the beach, haha. As of now, I’m a live for the weekend gal. But that may change. Happy (almost) Friday!
Brittany
I love that you asked the TJ’s question. It’s not from there, but I made the comment that I felt like I was working there while wearing it! Haha. The Hawaiian shirts at TJ’s are reserved for managers, errybody else rocks the tshirts.
Ellie
I go through phases between enjoying work or time off more. In the summer where there is more to do, I like having days off. During the winter when all I want is a warm place, work sounds pretty good!
What are some other Friday themes at work?
Brittany
We’ve done bright color day a few times, Seahawks day (our football team, barf), Hawaiian, and I’m sure there are others…other stores have gotten wilder with things like 80’s day, dapper day, full on costume day (haha) and so on. Shit gets cray.
allisonfiorini
I’m a teacher, so not only do I live for the weekend – but I live for June, July, and August! And snow days. Haha. But really, I do love my job and the kids. Sometimes, I don’t love some of my coworkers, which is usually the main issue! I like how you reached your human interaction quota. I know that feeling!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
I am all about Aloha Friday.
Whilst I do LOVE what I do, I also love my days off equally. My work is my life with being a full-time blogger, so it’s kind of a good balance of it all.
An Unrefined Vegan
Had to put on my sunglasses to look at that shirt ;-)!
Ahhh…and so we have a hint that things will once again be changing for you – can’t wait to see what’s next!
darwinontherocks
I love that shirt, I need this !! Badly !!! haha ! Even if I doubt I’ll be able to wear it here, it’s bloody to cold most of the time 😀
In my previous work, at the beginning, I was very motivated, but at the end, I was only living for the weekends 😀
Rebecca@RunningFoodBaby
Sometimes I live for the weekend – sometimes work is just as fun. Depends on the week. Right now I live for the weekend because it is a couple of days off from my “marking 100+ papers” days that is my life right now 😦
Your smile in your Hawaiian shirt pic is cracking me up 😛
Noemí
Aw! I love this post! Actually my work has been making me miserable for the past six months and now my boss just sacked me – for which I’m eternally grateful! But I’m with you, I think we should be 100% able to enjoy work. After all it’s what we do most of the time, so why do something you hate? 🙂 xxx
Brittany
Congratulation on being “sacked!” I was sacked from my very first job, and it was the best thing ever. That job was absolute hell.
The Vegan 8
Adorable shirt! I love to both work and play…I find pleasure in both!
di @ life of di.
I’ve never been big on weekends. I don’t like how there isn’t a specific routine. I definitely thrive on structure and I don’t like how Saturday’s are so ‘fly by the seat of your pants’
That said, Sundays are better because I have church in the morning and family dinner in the evening. I like having at least some what of a plan for the day 🙂
Jess @hellotofit
Your shirt is so sweet 🙂 Love the tropical-ness. I do live for the weekends, and have noticed that I’m much happier when I don’t work on the weekends.
Leslie @ TriathleteTreats
I used to work 3x/week and made an awesome hourly wage. I was always miserable at work!! I got a new job 5x/week for much less than I made before but at least I don’t come home in a bad mood everyday! The weekends are much faster these days!! It is all relative!!
Brittany
Amen!
Karla @ Finding My Fit
i get mega jealous when you post all these pics of the beautiful pacific northwest. sooo beautiful!
i love my current job and co-workers, i don’t dread going there. that doesn’t mean i don’t appreciate a good weekend either 😉
Lucie Elizabeth (@CollectingLight)
Damned you rock that shirt girl! I tend to have a week/weekend balance and try to enjoy every single day!
Kayse
This all looks like so much fun!! You’re adorable, Britt!
Aja
So beautiful! I am still kicking myself that I grew up in western washington and never went anywhere cool. I went to school and I went home and ran around my neighborhood. 😦 I can’t wait to move back!
jejansonius
This looks like a blast and you live in a BEAUTIFUL area!
jennifer prod
i’m pretty jealous of your teeth. that’s all ❤
stateeats
Oh, I so want a vacation in the PNW! Looks so gorge! But come on, does anyone realllllllly like spending time at work???? 🙂 – Kat
Rach @ This Italian Family
I nanny part time and run my photography business the rest of the time. So I love love love what I do. I love the weekends because they mean travels and adventuring and house projects with Christopher. But I love my weekdays too. When the kids were little, it was definitely harder work. But now they are both potty trained and pretty independent and are happy to play together. So hanging out with them is a delight. 🙂
Also, I love your shirt! I have a Hawaiian shirt and you’re right – it’s SO comfy!
Nicole Marie Story
“because I am 80 years old and have no soul”
i’m 81 and have no soul! totally sisters from anotha’ mister!!
hahaha!
you crack me up:)
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Aloha Friday for the win!!
When you manage to find a job where you love it and it no longer feels like work, well that’s a huge and an amazing accomplishment. If you can make it happen, go for it. You should love what you do.
Sophie33
That shirt is so cool! A lovely post!