Monthly Archives: March 2016

• Minimalistic Easter

  Posted at 7:35 AM by Brittany, on March 24, 2016

  Long time readers know that I tend to lean on the simpler side of life. I have an aversion for clutter, waste, things in excess, and slugs. Mostly slugs. Thanks to my willingness to always reduce, reuse, and (mostly, but I could do better) recycle I was more than happy to help the folks over at gifts.com inspire others to find an Easter basket that could be reused.

  

  With a wide variety of gift baskets, I settled on a rustic picnic style basket filled with fruit. If you’re boring like me you could leave the fruit and call it a day, or you could eat the fruit while you stuff the basket with other Easter treats.

  

  

  I am one of those lucky souls that still gets an Easter basket from her mother. Born with wings of an angel that woman, she never skimps with the goodies. These days I try (key word) not to overdo it with the candy (I save that for Halloween and every other day of the year) and instead opt for non food related items.

  

  So what would I put into my basket this year? As with most gifts I receive (regardless of insisting I need nothing else added to my current lifestyle) I try to choose things I have a current use for. I hesitate to say things I need, because let’s be real we don’t really need half the stuff we ask for/receive.

  This year I don’t really need anything, so instead I’ll speak hypothetically.

  Easter Items I “Could Use Right Now”

  • A trip to Ireland, itinerary nestled inside a pale pink envelope in the center of my basket with an egg sticker sealing it shut.
  • A new cat wrapped in a blush blue bow to emphasize his snowy white fur. A friend to play with one of my current children, to match my black and white life.

  

  “It’s my CAT IN A BOX!”

  • The ability to rewind time. Not because I want to go back to my past, but because I want to tell people what I really think, and then rewind so I don’t get slapped. 🙂
  • Food, but not candy. Self explanatory, think staple items like veggies, nut butter, and oats.

  

  • A massage everyday for the next year, from the hands of Tom Hiddleston. <– Top priority please.
  • An iron gut to digest all the vegetables, and iron legs to get me through my half marathon next month. My training has been God awful less than stellar.

  

  “How about instead of running you just lay on this step and be a blob like me. Also, can you hand me that mouse?”

  • A TINY HOME!
  • A new Garmin because my current Garmin only tracks running. I want to explore the world of Garmin fueled biking, hiking, breathing, and scuba diving. My REI dividend is calling me to buy one.

  

  I dream about this beauty, and reaching rhino speed.

  Per usual there’s nothing I need, so a cup of coffee, bottle of Kombucha, and using my new basket for a picnic with my family suits me well. If my gift ideas don’t spark your fire check out Gifts.com for all the fanchy schmancy stuff.

  DISCLAIMME: I was not paid for this post, but I did get this basket o’ goods fo free to hippity hop my way to grandma’s house like I’m red riding hood. Can someone please knit me a cape for Easter?

  Q: What would you fill your basket with? Both realistically and hypothetically as I’ve done.

  

  | 85 Comments Tagged Basket, Cats, Easter, Fruit, Garmin, Gifts

• Balanced Isolation Leads to Peaceful Understanding

  Posted at 11:00 AM by Brittany, on March 15, 2016

  I want to hug each and every one of you that commented on my last post. It’s sometimes scary opening your heart and soul to a sea of people, but I am thankful that I have never once received a negative comment on my blog. The community we have built here is one I am happy to be apart of, even when I don’t blog as often.

  I adore having this space to share bits of my life.

  

  I want to say thank you for all the kind words shared the last handful of years, and while my blog is just a small speck in a sea of whales I appreciate anyone that stops by. I read and reply to EACH comment, so if you ever ask a question please be sure to check back in for my reply!

  I don’t have the fancy capabilities to have my reply sent to your email, so we just have to put in a little work to engage in conversation in my neck of the woods.

  

  SPEAKING OF woods, I took myself on a solo hike last Tuesday and it was one for the books. A complete spirit, mind, and body renewal.

  I finished my set of classes about a week and a half ago and I tried to get a small bit of exploring in before starting back up again today. My first round went smashingly well, and it was nice to take a non school related book with me into the mountains.

  

  I’m currently reading Amy Poehler’s book “Yes Please” and it’s both entertaining and inspirational all wrapped into one. I was fortunate enough to have this spot of the trail to myself for a while, until a fellow reader came and sat down. It was like our own unannounced book club. Reading different books. Not speaking.

  Just go with it. 

  To balance out this solo adventure I made plans to hangout with a friend a few days later. Like a real life human friend, but first I had to give some love to my main man.

  

  Since I’m trying to push myself out of the isolated bubble human interaction is necessary, but the allure of the silence while walking with animals is one I will never outgrow. There is something special about not being alone, but also not speaking.

  Does that make sense? I’m sounding crazier by the minute.

  

  

  I had quite the adventure once reunited with my friend. At lunch I was served beef after ordering a vegan burger, and then I was blindfolded by a towel while laying on a stingy recliner at a $25 foot massage/full body abuse chamber. The beauty of being balanced is that moments like this are easy to laugh at. I thank my solo hike.

  I also thank my running, even when inconsistent.

  

  Mistakes happen, and why people get worked up when they do is beyond me. I will never be the person to demand a free meal from a mistake, or not leave a tip because my “masseuse” was training for his next cage fight on my arm.

  So what’s today’s takeaway?

  Before letting your own mental distress hurt someone else, put yourself in their shoes. Have you never messed something up before? Have you never upset another person? Have you done something to be given the right to treat people rudely because you feel you’re entitled to? We are all in this world together and should all be treated the same.

  

  In all honesty though I won’t be adventuring to a cheap sketchy massage place again anytime soon, but the memory is one I will laugh at for years.

  Q: Allergy concerns aside, take a moment to think about how you would react if your food order was messed up. Is it really worth it to cause a big scene? My waiter was extremely embarrassed and apologetic, had he been rude perhaps it would have been a different story, but we each treated each other with respect and called it a day. 

  

  | 79 Comments Tagged Adventure, Hiking, Life, Running, Solo Hike, Vegan

• The Time Has Come the Walrus Said

  Posted at 10:30 AM by Brittany, on March 4, 2016

  …to talk of many things.

  The last time I started a post with these words I shared with the world my thoughts, feelings, and emotions after going through a breakup. No, let me rephrase – after going through the breakup. You know, the one that shakes you so hard to the core that your life will never be the same.

  Grab a cup of coffee, this is going to be one of those posts.

  

  Coffee tastings inspire me to be creative.

  I’m thankful for this time in my life, and despite going through the typical hardships that come with a split it was in this time that I discovered how to be on my own. I had a sense of peace about the situation that I will never forget.

  I will also never forget how this relationship robbed me of my ability to be vulnerable. I made it my mission to be stronger alone and never again let someone make me loose all desire to have a mind of my own. It took me three years to realize I had accomplished this mission, but had then continued running with it further than I needed to.

  

  For the last few months I’ve been in an odd place. I have alluded to a void that I have been trying to fill in other posts, but they all come back to the fact that I feel out of balance mentally, physically, and spiritually.

  I’ve been trying to figure out the root cause of a myriad of health issues the last nine months which has put me into a bit of a funk. I don’t believe in a quick fix, and am not interested in drugs, pills, or other cover-ups which has made this process a bit long. I am a big believer that most anything can be fixed through food.

  

  I’ve developed a handful of food intolerance’s the last year that suddenly gave me the desire to try adding animal products back into my diet. Long story short this hasn’t been working and always leaves me mentally distraught. I regret nothing, and don’t feel the need to expand on this anymore. I’m only sharing because I believe in being as transparent as possible.

  I still haven’t figured everything out, but what I have figured out is that after being fearful of what I ate for months, stuffing any emotions that I felt because: “I can do this on my own, no one wants to hear my problems” and eventually spiraling into a: “I don’t care anymore I’m going to eat anything and everything” what I need is quite simple. What I need is other people.

  

  In all honesty it’s been difficult finding other people that enjoy the things I enjoy. I’m an odd bird that enjoys eating plants, running streets, climbing mountains, and exploring new places. You’d think living in the PNW this would be simple, but I’m surrounded by sedentary people. In order for me to find a circle of people I genuinely enjoy being around I will have to step outside of my comfort zone.

  What started as a necessary journey of figuring out how to be on my own, has transitioned me into a deep hole of isolation from other people. I don’t know how to talk to people about my feelings because I’ve never felt validated. I don’t regret taking the time to be alone, but I’m starting to realize that perhaps the void I’m seeking to fill is learning how to be vulnerable again, and knowing that it’s OK to fall down.

  Human beings thrive on companionship and while it’s essential to know how to stand on your own, I now realize it’s just as essential to lean on each other when you’re in need of an ear to listen, an arm to hug, or a partner to run with.

  

  Early morning solo runs require mace.

  I don’t typically enjoy posting things like this, but to bring this topic of leaning on others full circle I want anyone else out there to know that if you’re feeling similar things that you’re not alone. We all go though moments in life that cause us to reflect, and it’s what we do with the thoughts and emotions that matters. You can either sink with the waves or swim to the shore.

  Last week I set out for a bike ride only to discover I had a flat tire. Drat. I knew how to take the wheel off my bike thanks to watching my dad do it many times. The problem didn’t arise until I returned home from REI to discover I couldn’t figure out how to get the wheel back onto the gears. I let the bike sit in my garage for a few days before deciding to take the bike back (stuffing it awkwardly in my car because I didn’t want to have to ask for help) and let them reattach my wheel.

  

  I knew in the back of my mind that I had a neighbor familiar with bikes, but I had never spoken to him. I didn’t want to ask him for help because it made me uncomfortable. Just as I was going to attempt getting my car filthy I got a burst of confidence and decided to ask him for help.

  He put the tire back on my bike in less than a minute.

  It’s in these moments of discomfort that we grow. I’m uncomfortable asking other people for help, but it’s time for me to get over that. It’s OK to need other people. It’s OK to need help, and more importantly it’s OK to be vulnerable. No one is created with bionic emotions, so it’s essential for us to embrace them all. Besides, helping others gives me a great excuse to bake cookies and share coffee as a thank you.

  

  The best part of not knowing my neighbors is that they’d have no idea my cookies were vegan. Classic chocolate chip cookies to highlights the beautiful cocoa notes of the sweet and full bodied Caffe Verona.

  Writing this post feels good, like a small weight has been lifted. Overall things in my world are great – I’m an optimist, and stubborn as hell so I see every experience as an opportunity to grow into a bigger and better you. I’m ready to put this experience into my learning jar and move forward.

  So who wants to come venture into the mountains with me? I suppose not every hike needs to be solo. 😉

  No questions today, just feel free to share thoughts, experiences, and emotions.

  

  | 94 Comments Tagged Biking, Emotions, Friendship, Life, Running

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• BRITTANY- Self proclaimed minimalistic nomad striving to maintain a balanced, healthy life with good food, long hikes, deep connections, exploration, and lots of potatoes.

• If this blog does not meet your standards, please lower your standards.

• Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com

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