Anytime I venture to Portland I leave early in the morning and skip breakfast. I like to save myself for a “welcome to Portland” feast, and this time I went hard.
I’ve been craving cinnamon rolls for weeks, and the $6 giant vegan cinnamon roll from Blossoming Lotus did NOT disappoint. I’d like to say I ate this entire thing on my own, but I split it with my mom and my sister.
That cashew cream cheese…
I saved room for half of a breakfast burrito stuffed full of kale, potatoes, coconut “bacon”, tomatoes, and a tofu scramble. Plus a few bites of my moms vegan “eggs benedict.” Both were fantastic, but put me into quite the coma.
I decided this trip was going to be stress free, and that included food related stress. I’ve had all these sensitivities that I’ve been ignoring for quite some time, tossing the word moderation to the wind, and this was my final hurrah for a while.
Post feast it was time for a relaxing adventure.
The weather in the PNW this week has been gorgeous.
Hot, but gorgeous.
The garden was lovely, and had me daydreaming of picnics, yoga, and things I need to adjust in my life.
I have an all or nothing personality, and if I’m not careful it can get the best of me. When I first started seeing doctors for a hormonal imbalance, it led me down a negative path.
I felt very restricted in my diet which eventually triggered the “eat all the gluten/sugar/things you don’t need” button in my mind. It’s been a slow process trying to break this cycle, but I take it day by day.
The garden was packed full of people, and there were flower bushes and trees everywhere. I’m not typically a flower kinda gal, I’d much rather walk through evergreen trees and snow capped mountains, but it was nice to slow down and appreciate another type of beauty.
With a belly full of cinnamon and a mind full of zen I was ready to start manifesting a new path to walk on, a path back towards a balanced lifestyle.
If you’re in the Portland area and want a place to look at flowers and make friends with the local geese population this rhododendron garden is your spot. I promise you’ll find some inner zen, and if you’re lucky a goose will hiss at you.
I got too close and this goose tongue out hissed at me like a cat. I screamed and laughed at the same time.
Perfect afternoon adventure.
Q: Have you ever been hissed at by a goose?
Blissfulbritt 
82 thoughts on “Cinnamon Zen”
Rootchopper
The Canada geese along the Mount Vernon Trail hiss at me all the time! Worse though are snapping turtles. They make a weird barking noise if you are brave (or dumb) enough to pick one up.
Brittany
AHHHAHA. I had never been hissed at before, and didn’t even know the geese could hiss! I died. I’d never be brave enough to pick up the turtles.
Ashley
OMG I’ve been wanting to go to Portland for some time now, and this post just makes me wanna go like TODAY! Thank you for sharing!
Brittany
I adore that city! This is the perfect time of year to explore.
danaelizabethx
THAT FOOD LOOKS SO YUMMY!!! 🙂
Brittany
I am still lusting over that cinnamon roll.
danaelizabethx
If u could mail some to me here in PA that would be amazing!!
Angie
Love the pics!
Nope, never had a goose hiss at me. Lol.
Brittany
It was a first for me. HA.
Shawna
i so need to get myself to Portland! love your photos, as always. i wish i could adventure with you!
Brittany
One day…you and me babe!
pehge
oooh that cinnamon roll looks amazing! I’m thinking of planning another trip to Portland soon…must take note of the Crystal Springs Garden xx
Brittany
I wish I could eat one everyday. 🙈
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I seriously can’t believe how beautiful Portland is. Definitely need to put it on my list of places I must visit. Can you play tour guide for a day? 🙂 And I know what you mean about going down the “eat ALL the sugary things” rabbit hole. That’s exactly what happens to me if I ever feel restricted. Thank you, ED-past.
Brittany
I would TOTALLY play tour guide, also WA is just as gorgeous. Just sayin 😘.
fionajarrett
I love, love, love all the colours in your wonderful pictures 🙂 I think I need to introduce days like that into my life!
Brittany
The colors just POP! 😍
The Fit Foodnista
I have not been hissed at my a goose. However my younger brother, got hissed at by a pelican while we were in Florida
Brittany
These birds and their hissing, I would have never imagined! HAHA.
Rachael @ Catch Me If You Can
what a beautiful place…i mean cinnamon roll…i mean garden…ugh you have me all confused with the beauty that is food and gardens 😉 i love walking around gardens, flowers are my thing but i think its because i am terrible at gardening. i have dreams of a “secret garden” type getaway in my backyard…one day!
Brittany
Ohhh I would totally get down with a secret garden like backyard. TOTALLY.
Andrea Weidel
I’ve never been hissed at by a goose, but they swarm my campus in the spring. It’s bad – the bolder ones chase students and they poop EVERYWHERE!
Brittany
I used to play soccer, and there was one specific field that was ALWAYS covered in goose poop. My cleats would be green by the end.
Deena
What a beautiful place! And I want that cinnamon roll! haha I actually JUST got hissed at by a goose yesterday, for the first time ever! I was out running, and had taken my puppy with me, and she started running in the direction of some geese and one started coming at us hissing! I thought for sure we were getting attacked!
Brittany
AHHHA!!! I’m so glad you know what I’m talking about. Such a bizarre sound.
Ellie
The geese have been on the paths I run on around the lake and I’m afraid one day they will all start to follow me :-X I’m not sure what I would do if a doctor told me to stop eating all the things because it could balance my hormones. Part of me thinks I might try it, but another part would probably stick my nose up at it because I don’t think anything is bad every once in a while…do you know how your hormones got out of whack?
Brittany
I have no idea, that’s the problem. I don’t trust modern doctor opinions, but after two years with no answers I gave it a go. Didn’t work, so now I know. I’m sticking to my guns and trusting my own gut!
peanutbutterandellie
The pictures in this post >>>
First. That cinnamon roll. I NEED it. $6 is so worth it for that baby.
Your other food also looks wonderful. I’m glad you took this time to relax from everything, including food! It looks like you had a great time with your mom and sister. I want to do something just like this day- so fun! xx
Brittany
Girrrrrll that cinnamon roll was LIFE!! I was amazed.
P
THAT CINNAMON ROLL!!! Gahh….it looks so fluffy!!!
Brittany
I want another!!
mylittletablespoon
As someone who bikes all around Toronto in search for the city’s best / biggest cinnamon bun… YOURS WINS. Oh my god. I need. This.
I would also love your afternoon of zen and meandering through flowers and rock. Hope your mind is feeling soft and a little more open now.
Geese are terrifying. Absolutely no joke there.
Brittany
You would have died at that cinnamon roll. So much flavor!
Heather
So when you send the coffee, include one of those cinnamon buns mmkay?! I know just because it’s vegan doesn’t make it healthy, but it DOES make it healthier- right? Right 😉 I love your sweatshirt- it’s hard to feel bad when you wear bright colors 🙂
Brittany
Oh man, this cinnamon roll was made with quality vegan ingredients so there’s that…but so much sugar! Hahaa.
Nicole
I have been hissed at by a goose, and I am still slightly terrified of them to this day!
I’m an all-or-nothing type person as well, so I understand that!
And that cinnamon roll looks AMAZING! I think cinnamon rolls are one of my all-time favorite comfort foods… 🙂 (Although the eggs and homefries look amazing too). Hmmm, I think I’m hungry and need to go get a snack now! Ha, ha.
Brittany
I’ve only recently realized how much I really appreciate cinnamon rolls….they are just so good!
An Unrefined Vegan
We “raised” geese when I was a kid. Most of them were sweet, but there was an alpha goose we named Sam (which turned out to be Samantha…) who was a biter and hisser. Just fierce! We all at one time or another ended up w/ bruises/bite marks on our fannies.
Brittany
Ahh! Terrifying. I was once chased by a goose, but the hiss was new.
Kristy @ Southern In Law
That cinnamon roll looks AMAAAAAAAAAZING! The Rhododendron Garden looks like the perfect place to relax and refocus!
Brittany
I loved the “slow down” vibe of the garden!
Heather Patton at Afternoon Glow
When I lived in Dayton, OH, they had a goose infestation problem – so I got hissed at quite often! In grad school, they would regularly chase people out to their cars. You learn to not make eye contact and walk fast!
Thanks for another idea of somewhere to visit! I’ll add it to the (now very long) list! I can’t wait for this heat wave to calm down, so I can spend more time outside (85 degrees the other day was too much for me…I’m not ready yet!).
Brittany
Ahhhahaha I mentally pictured that entire scenario of being chased to your car! That’s insane. UGH I am so a northwest girl and this heat is killing me. HA.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
Why the heck did you not post a pic of you FACE PLANTING into that cinnamon roll! HA! COMMON, I KNOWWWWW you have one! 😉 It’s about the size of a pillow from bed bath and beyond LOL!
Brittany
If by face plant you mean rip ferociously into it with my bare hands, then yes. I did.
Jade
I need that cinnamon roll in my life. I need to take a trip to Portland again soon
Brittany
Get your fanny to Blossoming Lotus.
Josie @ Literature Mistress
Not sure I’ve ever been hissed at by a goose. But I’ve definitely been hissed at by a swan! I was feeding ducks when all of a sudden this massive white swan decided it was his time to feast. Scary! (Did you know they can break your arm with their beaks?? O.o)
Brittany
Ahhhaha I know it wasn’t funny when it happened, but the mental image of that has me dying. No I didn’t know that, so scary!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
That is one huge cinnamon roll! You didn’t have to share, you could have just taken the leftovers home with you for later 😉
Brittany
Leftovers? What are those? 🙈😝
Josh dV
That is a Cinnamon Roll. I’m a little intimidated. Beautiful pics and despite saying the garden was packed you make it appear empty and peaceful.
I’ve been hissed at by geese. Don’t worry they are all bluster. Turkeys however….they are MEAN. I’ve had my ass kicked by a turkey.
Brittany
I have heard turkeys are mean! Which is sad…I love them.
Josh dV
For dinner? You know Ben Franklin wanted turkeys to be the national bird.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
That garden is gorgeous. I could happily find my zen there. Also, the park by our house has got a gaggle of geese. They’re not shy either. I ignore them and they ignore me. It’s our deal.
P.S. I highly recommend seeing a doctor. Love you.
Brittany
I love your proper use of the word gaggle, amazing. Yes, I’ve been seeing many doctors. Heading to number 7 next month. 😘
Lindsay Edwards
SO SO beautiful. Also. That cinnamon roll. AH GAHD. Want.
Brittany
I want five more.
Jessica
I have totally been hissed at by a goose. My university campus used to be swarmed by them!
Brittany
They’re everywhere apparently!
Rach @ This Italian Family
What a beautiful place! And that cinnamon roll is MASSIVE! Looks so yummy!
Oh, and yes, totally have been hissed at by a goose. Those things can be aggressive!
Brittany
They are scary!!
uponalovelylittlelife
We will have to check those places out next time we are up in Portland!
Brittany
Yes, I have a few other spots I love in PDX if you’re interested!
uponalovelylittlelife
I would love that! We live about 40 minutes so we make it up there every so often but we always end up doing the same things
specialkkluthe
Beautiful pics! When we lived in Denver there was a pond near our house that we ran/walked around quite a bit and there were always a bunch of geese hanging out there. I got hissed at a few times, usually by mommas guarding their goslings.
Brittany
Ahh I had no idea the hissing was a thing!
dave379
So many great pictures! My favorite is the two posts talking by the lake. It’s just about goose hissing season here too! The best/worst spot is the D&R Canal towpath 🙂
Brittany
I was in awe of how many geese weren’t phased by the people, until I got too close.
Lucie (@theglowwithin)
OH MY GOODNESS the size of that cinnamon roll – it looks amazing!
theglowwithin.com
Brittany
I was swooning all day.
stateeats
Your photos are beautiful, I esp. like the one through the diamond shaped stone (??) cut out. Man, that cinnamon bun was ginormous!! When my son was about 6 or 7 he got bit by a duck on the back of the leg as he was running away from it. One minute the duck was fine and placid, the next second it came after him. He’s a teenager now and still scared of ducks.-Kat
Brittany
Thank you!! I’ve had a thing for the “through the looking hole” type photos lately. That duck sounds horrific.
liz
It’s my dream to travel to Portland and, when I do, I am definitely getting one of those cinnamon rolls! Wow!
Brittany
You will NOT regret it! Let me know when you go, I’ll happily meet you there. HA.
Kayse
So many gorgeous photos! And that cinnamon roll! Ahhhhhh yum.
Brittany
I diedddd.
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Shirley M.
What lovely photos in this post! I signed up for your emails, but hoarded them till I could read them at my leisure. Whoa! They’ve really accumulated. But they are so sweet and easy going with so much eye candy, it will be a pleasure. Enjoy your day!
Brittany
Oh my, what a sweet comment! Thank you so much. ❤️
Allie Zottola
What a beautiful cinnamon roll! That thing is huge and so awesome! If I ever find myself in Portland, I need to visit the Crystal Springs Garden. It’s so lush!
I know what you mean about finding balance in life. It’s something I’m always working on, too! I’m so glad you had a nice afternoon with your mom and sister 🙂
Brittany
I can’t wait to create more memories like this one!