Monthly Archives: July 2016

• Just Do It – Giveaway

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 27, 2016

  **This giveaway is now closed, and the winner has been notified**

  Before I started my new job I really wanted to prioritize a few more adventures, and I went on a marvelous 9 mile journey to the summit of Tunnel Creek Trail. I wrangled a buddy so I wasn’t alone (you’re welcome mom and dad), and despite having my bag full of essentials I was missing one thing.

  

  

  I forget this item often, despite the fact that I have three pair in my car – sunglasses. You see dear readers it’s mostly cloudy in my beautiful state, and the thought of sunglasses doesn’t pass my mind until it’s sometimes too late.

  

  I find that clouds, much like with snow, almost require sunglasses more than the actual sun. Almost. With that said I’m often prepared with 9/10 of the 10 essentials for hiking.

  Last year I snagged myself a fun pair of Ray-Ban’s which I adore, but I find that I need to wear a hat with them as they don’t provide proper coverage on the sides. If I wear them out and about too long my eyes will hurt, and I don’t always want to wear a hat when I run.

  

  Naturally this meant I needed another pair, so my friends over at Sunglasses Shop hooked me up! Say hello to the Nike Excellerate Sunglasses.

  

  

  

  I’m living for that case.

  These sunnies wrap around the side of my eyes so much better. I’ve worn them on multiple runs and they are SO lightweight I barely notice they are on. I also find that I don’t squint at all with these. They’re perfect for running! Or any other sport you partake in. A bit of info on this frame:

  Excellerate is made to fit women’s faces. Its frame is smaller. Nike MAX Optics allow eyes to see clearly without distortion. A polycarbonate lens gives crisp views and the greatest impact protection. Durable wrapped arms provide the best side protection. Plus it gives a comfortable fit. UV400 lenses. Nike sunglasses come with a two year warranty.

  But how do they actually look on a human face?

  

  

  My one and only critic of these shades is that I wish the lenses were darker. You can see my eyes, which means I can’t stare at good looking male runners without getting caught.

  They’re super comfortable though and do exactly what I needed. If you are in the market for a new pair of sunnies, check out Sunglasses Shop. However if you’re in the market for a new pair of Nike sunnies then it may be your lucky day because one reader will win a free pair.

  I can now venture back to the forest prepared for the overcast, or the sun.

  

  This was the summit, though you’d never know with those clouds covering the view.

  To enter the giveaway: go to Sunglasses Shop website and answer the question below. For additional entries follow Sunglasses Shop on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram (or all three, leave a separate comment for each follow for an extra chance to win.) Giveaway open for one week!

  Seriously, Just Do It.

  Q: Which style of Nike sunglasses would you choose??

  

  | 62 Comments Tagged Giveaway, Hike, Nike, Running, Sunglasses

• When the “Other Plan” Comes to Fruition

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 18, 2016

  You know when things don’t go the way you might have initially hoped and you tell yourself (and others): “it’s OK, life must have another plan for me!” I’m big on this mindset, and truly believe that life works itself out the way it’s supposed to. The hard part is listening to the inner pulls that try to guide us.

  

  I also find that when you really, and I mean “deep in your soul really” let go of whatever kind of control you’re trying to take on life that isn’t working, things start to unfold like a blooming flower.

  

  For example: my meals lately have been very whole foods based. It should come as no surprise that “real food” works best, but once I stopped trying so hard to figure out what foods were bothering my system and really listened to my body, things slowly got better.

  Once I stopped listening to outside opinions and advice from doctors that didn’t align with my beliefs I started to feel better.

  

  Fun Fact: Did you know that if you leave the pit in the avocado, it stays green?

  

  

  I have an insatiable sweet tooth, so I like to make my own desserts.

  I was dealing with food intolerances for the last year, and it wasn’t until I simply let go of the control and the obsession (and stress) of “figuring it all out” that my mind, body, and spirit all started to work together.

  I’m over the moon about all that food stuff, but this post is more about something else. Some of you may remember this post, which was then followed up by this post.

  

  The CliffsNotes version of those two posts are this: I knew in my heart it was time for me to pursue something more with Starbucks. I felt that my current position had expired its purpose, and because this company is paying for my bachelors degree I couldn’t yet pursue outside options. With that said, I started looking into jobs at the corporate office.

  I had one fish bite my line back in April, but it wasn’t the right fit. Instead of sulking about it I stayed positive and knew life had another plan, and it did. Fish number two bit my line about a month ago and today I start my new role in Seattle. Oh, and this role is 10x better than the first bite and I am so thankful that didn’t work.

  

  Every aspect of our life has a purpose. Some things are only meant to last a short while before catalyzing us to our next adventure. I’m notorious for staying in my comfort zone, and while I’m thankful for everything that has come in my time working retail for Starbucks, I’m long overdue for my next chapter.

  I started with this company 3.2 years ago at a time in my life when I needed a place to heal after a tumultuous break up and an unclear life path. The store saved me in so many ways, and leaving there yesterday had me in tears.

  Like, ugly cry tears. 

  

  Yesterdays post work 3.2 miles to commemorate my time at the store. Oh and I got a new Garmin. Mad love – more on that later.

  I think staying in my comfort zone too long, and not accepting that this time of my life was meant to end sparked some of my health problems. I’m a believer of that “woo woo hippie dippie” mind/body/soul connection stuff and when one thing is out of whack the whole bus slows down.

  So what’s the moral to my story? If you quit on life, life will quit on you. When you feel like nothing is going your way, and that life is kicking you while your down, you MUST trust that your other plan will come. Sometimes it takes a month, sometimes it takes two years, sometimes it takes a decade. -OR- perhaps it’s time to take that leap without knowing quite where you will fall. 

  In my case I had to leap, I wouldn’t have made it the last year without some hard core faith. 

  

  This transition is going to be very bittersweet because the first part of my journey with Starbucks came at a time in my life when I felt very lost, and it gave me a purpose for a chunk of time. The store, my coworkers, and a handful of my customers became my family, and I have nothing but positive experiences there which is rare to find.

  It also sprouted a passion for coffee in my soul that I will never outgrown. I’ll no longer be making lattes the way I did, but I plan to bring my passion with me into my next adventure and see where it takes me. Look for me as the annoying corporate worker that forces coffee tastings on her coworkers.

  

  Corporate on the outside, 12yr old on the inside

  My new job requires me to be at a desk, which I don’t love, but my desk will be standing. I will be helping other Starbucks employees from the US and Canada with any inquiries they may have in regards to human resource policies and practices, benefits and pay information, manager questions, etc…another stepping stone onto something more.

  I have no idea what’s ahead with this new journey, but what I do know is that I am more in tune with myself now than I ever have been before. I’m sad to leave this chapter, but ready for a new one. We are wired with sensors that communicate effortlessly, and it’s only when we actively choose to ignore them that we max out our effort meter. Try listening to the signals next time, it’s a whole lot easier

  I promise. 

   No questions today 

  

  | 90 Comments Tagged Coffee, Life, Plant Based, Starbucks, Vegan, Whole Foods

• Unexpected Friendships 

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 11, 2016

  The universe has a funny way of bringing people together. I’ve been friends with two wonderful humans for over three years now, and I met them both through blogging. I often wonder if one day I’ll decide to stop sharing my adventures with the world, but one thing that keeps me coming back is the connections I continue to make with like minded people.

  

  Two years ago I flew to Virginia to explore the land with a girl named Megan. Megan and I then drove north to Michigan to attend a girl named Lillian’s wedding. It was a trip I’ll never forget. Fast forward two years, and Megan invited Lily and I to her wedding. So I hopped on a a plane, flew to Michigan, and Lily and I drove north to New York.

  All thanks to blogging. 

  

  Megan’s wedding was a combination of summer yellows and rustic wood browns. A casual yet classy wedding on a golf course that appeared to be straight out of the jungles of Jurassic Park. It was beautiful.

  

  We ate, we celebrated, we laughed, we mingled, and we continued the wedding tradition of our triangular friendship. This must mean I’m next, so Mr. Mountain Man anytime you’d like to show your face I’ll happily smile back.

  

  That other pretty lady in the middle is Alex, met her through blogging too!

  I’ve had the opportunity to travel to California, Ohio, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania meeting a handful of people along the way, simply because I decided to share my mind with strangers five years ago. What a trip.

  

  Without this adventure I may never have seen the lovely street art in Rochester, New York after a 5 mile run through the city. I may never have experience the cheapest produce at the Rochester Public market (where I proceeded to flabbergast an elderly man at my abilities to consume pounds of lettuce in one sitting) spending $1 on a bucket full of apples.

  

  

  What a lovely adventure it’s been, and I can’t wait to see where I travel to next.

  I hope it’s somewhere with Indian food as good as I found in Michigan, because my mind was blown by the flavor explosions.

  

  Q: What’s the most unexpected way you’ve made new friends?

  

  | 64 Comments Tagged Bloggers, Explore, New York, Vegan

• Niagara Falls 

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 5, 2016

  Initially I had planned to venture into Canada land with maple syrup suckers in hand while wearing a red poncho to explore behind the raging falls of Niagara, but life happened and plans changed. Instead of bailing on the falls altogether, Lily and I decided to visit the American side in Buffalo, New York.

  There are few words to describe the magnitude of these falls, but I’ll do my best through photos. 

  

  A sign for the falls, next to a sign for death. Should we be concerned?

  

  Playing tourist is something I’ve become quite good at. Perhaps it’s something I should add to my resume. In an attempt to fit the tourist persona, Lily and I went straight for the Maid of the Mist boat ride. The boat took us right up to the falls, so close that we had a momentary white out due to all the mist.

  It was like standing inside a cloud.

  

  

  

  Despite the fact that I was given the most fashionable blue poncho to protect my $9 tank top from the moisture of natures beauty, I still managed to walk off the boat with the look of a freshly showered alpaca. It was in that moment that I knew I wouldn’t be meeting my future husband on this day.

  

  The boat ride was awesome, Canada on one side, America on the other, us in the middle of international waters ready for anything. It was great, but we wanted more.

  More water, more views, more ponchos. 

  

  The Canadian Maid of the Mist – red ponchos!

  

  

  Canada!

  Next up: The Cave of the Winds Boardwalk. This took us within feet of the falls, so close we were gifted brand new sandals to allow the rushing waters to flow over our exposed toes. The sensation was similar to what I imagine it feels like to walk on a pool of thinned out mint pudding – cool and refreshing.

  

  

  

  This attraction was called Cave of the Winds, but alternatively it should have been called seagull cesspool island. Never have I seen so many birds in one spot, squawking, shrieking, and another messy activity that starts with s…

  

  Just when I thought I filled my quota for ridiculously good looking outfit attire, I got another poncho. Yellow this time.

  

  

  I thought I was wet after the boat ride, well this took me from bathed alpaca to drenched musk ox.

  

  After three hours of visual stimulation it was time to continue our journey, and to fill our bellies. Destination wedding was in full pursuit. Someday I’ll go to the Canadian side of the falls and wander into the caves, but for now I have great New York memories, new sandals, and an unexpected annoyance of seagulls.

  Q: Did you know that you can get legally married on the Maid of the Mist boat because it takes you over international waters? It’s a shame I didn’t find any bachelors.

  

  | 59 Comments Tagged Explore, New York, Niagara Falls

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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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