I can’t help but think back to this time last year when I was engulfed in Chemistry. Fall is my favorite season, yet 3/4 of my free time was dedicated to that class. Last fall flew by without so much as a hello, so this year I made it a point to enjoy each and every changing leaf.
Not LA.
This fall is flying by just as fast, but in a much more enjoyable way. I had a great trip to Ohio in September, just came back from California on Sunday (visiting this girl,) and am off to Arizona in just a month and a half.
This is how I prefer spending my fall months.
November means Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I must admit I do enjoy the extra joy that comes from this month of celebration. I’m thankful for my adventures with Gigi last week, starting with exploring the streets of LA.
I was able to explore the land by foot each day, which as most of you know is my favorite way to explore. This allows me to see things I’d typically miss.
Like a gaggle of black cats painted on a wall.
I had a handful of great runs, two of which ended at my “new favorite” California coffee shop – Alfred {Coffee + Kitchen}. When their slogan is “But first, coffee” you’re in good hands.
As a drip coffee lover I was happy to discover Alfred Coffee uses their own blend, with the help of Stumptown. I also appreciated the price on this cup of coffee, although I did find over $2 in monies during my few days of running.
Their brew is called Alfred, sometimes simple is better.
This is real life, from ONE run.
The $$ I found payed for at least one cup of coffee. That’s a win in my book.
LA is a fast paced city, which I could never see myself living in, but it allowed me to slow down and appreciate my time away from “real life.”
Sorry mom and dad, this was too good not to share.
They also have a solid grasp on living in the moment, at least according to the streets.
Q: Have you been to LA?
Blissfulbritt 
62 thoughts on “Streets of LA”
whostardis
that looks like a cute coffee shop! i dont drink coffee but i dig the vibe 🙂 I agree the best way to see a city is by foot…you would have missed that awesome keep you head up business if you were in a car 🙂
Angie
I lived in LA for a year. I love many things about it, but I don’t love the traffic. And it’s too big of a city for me.
Brittany
Agreed, the traffic was ridiculous!
thehipandthrifty
That is the coolest coffee shop in the history on caffeine. Plus, it’s always awesome when you pay for something with money you find…I once was walking my dog along a highway (we were driving to a relative’s house over Christmas vacation) and I found a good fistful of singles; my theory is that whoever lost them must have gotten them out to use at the toll–only to watch them fly out the window!
Angela
Ok so I love everything about this post!!! I wish I found money to pay for coffee on my run….especially when the coffee shop is as cool as that one. X
Musings
I’ve been to LA twice, but each time I was with relatives who had their own agenda (and a bunch of kids less than 5 years old…) so I really couldn’t explore as much as I’d hoped. It’s a bit more glitz and glam than I like, and I’m not a big fan of how big it is – I’m from Buffalo where you can walk basically everywhere. Anyway, this post was so inspiring and now I want to go back on my own! Your pictures showed me a lot of the culture which i’d missed out on before. I really want to try Alfred coffee as well, so i’m thrilled to know it’s reasonably priced!
Brittany
It was equally tasty coffee too!
charissarunning
The black cats wall is pretty awesome! I’ve never been to L.A. yet but I think I’ll make it there next year 🙂 Ohh, I had my first cup of Thanksgiving blend coffee today at Starbucks (black of course!) and thought about you. Haha, that’s not creepy at all right?! I just associate you as being the biggest Starbucks and coffee expert I know and I knew you’d appreciate that 😉
Brittany
YES! I love that, and NO it’s not creepy! Thanksgiving blend is great this year!
Nicola
Is the collective noun for cats really gaggle? Sounds very un-cat like. Love the street art/graffiti
Brittany
Hahaha it’s actually used for a flock of geese, but I just love the word.
Nicola
That sounds more familiar!
fionajarrett
Finding money is the best! Any time I find as little as a 10 cent coin on the ground, it just makes my day…it feels like the universe is telling you “It’s your day, go enjoy it”! Hope you enjoyed L.A 🙂
Brittany
I love that mindset. 🙂
Melanie
Fall is one of my favorite times of year too! I’m glad you’re able to enjoy it this year! I imagine Washington is one of the most beautiful places in the world in the fall I haven’t been to LA for a long time, but am hoping to take the fam there next year! I love Cali! I also need to start looking for money on my runs too!!!
Brittany
You’d be surprised how much you can find!
thisandthatdad
I’ve been, but it was in college and it was for a school related conference. There wasn’t much time for exploring. 😦 However, the trip from Wisconsin out to LA was fun as it was 2 large vans filled with college kids. We took 3 days to get out there and 3 days to get back. Each night we stayed at a college campus along the way. All but one night where we got to stay in Vegas. It was a great trip filled with amazing sights!
Brittany
How fun! Your trip sounds much more adventurous than mine. 🙂
wanderwolf
I love the gaggle of cats!! (really, it’s called a gaggle?)
Also money and coffee… this fall for you sounds so much better than the last one.
Brittany
Welllllll technically a gaggle is for a flock of geese, but I just love the word hahaha.
wanderwolf
I agree.
Want to know something great? A group of cats is called a “clowder” or a “glaring” 🙂
Brittany
That just made my day. I laughed so hard.
wanderwolf
Also, “an unaltered female is called a queen.”
So cool!
Diane @ Life of Di.
Fall is the best and Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday! How wonderful that you’re able to travel during this season 🙂 I just visited LA in August – I had a better time than I imagined. Loved all of the delicious restaurants and the healthy approach to life.
Ellie
I’m so jealous that you are such a traveler! I want to go to CA really bad, the vibe just speaks to me (or so I think it does…). Do you get a lot of vacation time from work?
Brittany
I have vacation time, but I never use it haha. My boss is great.
dave379
I’ve been to LA once, when two friends got married five years ago. It’s a good reminder I need to take a trip out there and visit my friends again, as they moved back a few years ago and have a baby now. Thanks for stirring the LA thoughts! Impressed with the found money haul too, and like the running route sketches nested within the pics (my first best guess at what they are).
Brittany
That’s exactly what those sketches are! 🙂
literaturemistress
This coffee shop looks awesome!
And no…sadly, I’ve never been to the States.
But who knows – maybe I’ll win the lottery one day (without playing). In that case I’d definitely swing by and get me some of that coffee. =)
gstanescu84
Reblogged this on gstanescu84.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
I have been to LA a few times and I have really enjoyed it, but I have always enjoyed leaving and moving on to somewhere a bit more relaxed.
danaelizabethx
Great pics!! 🙂 I too enjoy slowing down and just enjoying the scenery!! I was only ever in LA one time when I was like 14 so I don’t remember it much – hoping to get to the west cost to do some exploring sometime soon!
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
Can’t believe you found that much money. Makes me so happy to still see you post about finding money on runs 🙂 And it’s even more of a shock that that bought you a cup of joe! I REALLY want to go to a coffee shop with you. Like, it’s on my list of things to do before I die.
kathy at more coffee, less talky
i’ve been to LA several times and it’s ok. great pics though and i totally agree – the best way to explore is on foot! i love getting lost in cities!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
You always find the best places to have coffee. How about you come get me and we do a nationwide coffee tour? Yes? Good. Sounds like a plan. And I know what you mean about LA. I’ve been a handful of times, and while it’s an exciting city, it’s not a lifestyle I could ever see myself adopting.
Rach @ This Italian Family
I haven’t been to LA since I was a teenager, but I want to go back! I love the motto of that coffee shop. Spot on. 😉 Oh! And I love that you found so much $$ on your run!
Jess @hellotofit
I’ve never been to LA, but WANT TO! The only place on the West Coast I’ve been is Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon….
Jessica
I’ve never been to LA, but it is on the MUST VISIT LIST.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
Move to LA.
Oh wait.
You would never.
Womp. FU**in’ Womp.
Brittany
I may overstay my welcome sometime for a pretty little blonde thing. You..I’m talking about you.
jejansonius
Stump town is my hubs absolute favorite, he even read an article where they were being bought out by Peets coffee and such he wa bummed at first about the controversy but MAYBE it’s a good thing then Sumtptown will be in more places…aka maybe NE?!?!?
Brittany
Oh wow! I don’t know how I feel about Peets buying them out…I loved that Stumptown was separate from the bigger names (despite being its own “big name”) I guess we shall see!
Belleza
I took a picture of that same saying painted on the sidewalk in the East Village in NYC. Must be a thing.
Amy @ A Desert Girl
I love the black cats on the wall. Sounds like you have been living it up this fall and have more fun planned.
Dr. J
LA was the first city I ever visited in California during college for the Rose Bowl. Since then my brother lived in Westwood for several years so I was there often. Walked Hollywood / Sunset Blvd on one visit. That was interesting 🙂
Jane
LA doesn’t really sound like the sort of place I’d want to live either. Loved the pics, especially the last one! I hope the holiday season is a great one for you. Happy running! 😀
Kayse
It looks like it was a great trip! And seriously, finding enough cash to buy a cup of coffee?! That’s amazing 🙂
stateeats
Coffee first, always! Haha, love that F your phone spraypainted on the sidewalk. As much as I agree with the sentiment, now my Q is: who has time to go around painting that and why?? – Kat
Brittany
Right? There were some other bizarre street paintings too. Haha
Belleza
That comment was supposed to go here. Grrrr. Just ignore me.
Lucie (@theglowwithin)
What a beautiful little coffee shop!
Brittany
You would have loved it, and I would have loved having you there with me!
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness
You captured some pretty pics as usual! Next time you’re visiting Gigi in LA, shoot me an email! I’m just a hop, skip & a jump away in northern San Diego and would love to meet you 🙂
Brittany
OHHH deal! I’d love to meet you too.
P
You should see the stuff they spray paint in downtown, haha! But I love my DTLA runs…especially in the mornings before the morning rush hour and work traffic.
Jade
You always seem to be traveling! I was in the LA area in September for Disneyland, but I got to visit a friend before heading back to Washington. I think I’m going to end up living there cause the Actor has to be there eventually and my dream job is to work for PIXAR, but for now I’ll enjoy my lush PNW. That coffee shop sounds amazing. Their slogan is the best.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I love those shoes. They must be good luck because they bring you money, amazing coffee, black cats and funny little street signs. Head up. )
Brittany
I’m so happy I found them. ❤
LWynalek
Ooh, I adore that painted cat wall you found. My little black cat, Bowie, would totally approve.
Shawna
i want to go run-and-coffee exploring with you! i’ve only been to LA once for a few nights — i’ve mostly spent time in Orange County or north in SB. love all things California, though, and will take any chance i can get to go back.
Kat
Glad to hear you enjoed my old home town! That coffee shop sounds amazing! I was born and raised in Torrance, so I never really left that city to explore much. Ive never even been to Venice beach!
Allie Zottola
I’m soo happy to hear you’ve been able to enjoy fall to the full this year! You deserve it after enduring chemistry last year!
All the $ from one run is quite impressive! I love the black cat wall, too. I want that painted in my house, haha.