Last Wednesday I celebrated another year of life. 365 more days of sunrises and sunsets, 365 more days of coffee sips and cupcake eats, 365 more days of snuggles with my cats, and 365 more days dreaming of the mountains.
I’ve never been one to take off of work for my birthday, however I don’t work Wednesdays right now. I decided to spend “the day my mom blessed the earth with my presence” by combining three of my favorite things: coffee, cupcakes, and hiking.
My hiking partner, who also happens to be my work partner, but most definitely not my life partner, took the day off of work to spend the day with me exploring. We left at 07:00 and we were stuck in traffic far longer than either of us would have hoped.
As one of the many cars aggregated together on the road I found multiple reasons to smile, the most obvious being that I was not on my way to work like the majority of those around me. Another reason was the delirium that started to take over my brain from sitting too long. A pit stop at Starbucks nearby our destination was in order to fill up my tumbler.
Waiting until we were close to our location ensured the coffee was still warm upon our arrival at the summit.
The forecast called for rain, and despite the fact I never quite know if this is going to be true in Washington or not, it did indeed rain. In fact, it was somewhat of a downpour most of our hike. Thankfully it was warm enough outside that the rain wasn’t uncomfortable.
Dare I say it was fun?
My right hand man was kind enough to stow my cupcake in his pack because I carried the coffee in mine. In all my years hiking I’ve yet to drink coffee at the summit of a mountain. It was time for this to change, and a birthday seemed like the perfect day to change this.
Hiking alone is great, and I often prefer it, but when I’m alone I don’t have anyone around to capture my true beauty as these candid outtakes showcase. The rain was a nice touch giving me a true drowned rat look.
My name is Brittany, I am 28 years old, and I have zero shame.
I chose an easy hike, only 4 miles RT taking two hours of our time. This time of year I tend to stay away from the snow packed peaks, I’m still traumatized from this adventure.
I’m humbled when I embark on a hike that was once easy as slicing pie, and find that it winds me. Instead of letting this destroy my mental peace I use it as motivation to get back to a place of strength that I know I am capable of. This hike was doable, and I surely could have kept going, but there were moments I found myself out of breath.
A few days prior I embarked on a local 9.5 mile RT hike, one that took 4 hours. This hike was tiring, but in different ways. Just as running challenges different muscles than swimming, hiking trails of differing elevations and distances challenges different areas of my body. My birthday hike challenged my heart rate more, and the longer local hike challenged my hip flexors more. I love variety.
Local hike views.
I bought myself a new pair of day hike shoes thanks to REI’s garage sale. They were worn maybe once, and returned because they were “too heavy.” Similar to my previous day hikers I snagged these hideous pink/red walkers for $100 less than what they would have been brand new. Sold. I tested them out on the 9.5 miler, because I like to test my pain threshold.
I love birthdays because they remind me that life continues to fly by, even when we feel like it’s stagnant. It’s never too late to take control of what we want to do with our time, who we want to spend it with, and how we plan to achieve happiness.
As each day passes for me I become more in tune with what I want my life to look like, but my favorite part is that I become more accepting of the inevitable changes life entails. The ups and downs are all necessary, the emotions and trials we experience are normal, and the gut feelings we have are usually right. They all work together to write the stories of our lives. Are you living yours in a way that others would want to read about?
Q: What’d you do for your last birthday? Post hike I ate my body weight in Thai food, and regret nothing. Autoimmune diseases take a back seat on birthdays. HA.
Blissfulbritt 
75 thoughts on “Coffee and Compadres”
Tony Burgess
Happy belated birthday!
Brittany
Thank you!!
kathy @ more coffee, less talky
i went snowboarding for my birthday and calories don’t count on birthdays!
Happy belated birthday!!!!
Brittany
Oh hell yea!
John Kraft
A belated Happy birthday!
Brittany
Thank you!
Lindsay Edwards
I love that you had coffee and cupcakes on the top of a mountain. What a birthday!! Hope you have a great week <333
Brittany
Yahooo! Thank you!
SincerelyLily
Those views are soooooo gorg, but not as gorg as you !! I’m glad you did this, sounds like an ideal birthday to me. Although my last birthday I was Jane Austen IN THE FLESH and well, it will be hard to ever beat that.
Brittany
Oh it will for sure, you win that birthday so epic.
helbergfarmstories
I am a lazy hiker (now because of my joints), I prefer long walks in a thick woods and cross country skiing type of hiking. Your pics are fabulous! Never been to Washington State – now you make me want to plan a trip! Thank you for a great read!
Brittany
It’s s gorgeous area, I love it here!
Jasmine S.
Happy birthday! What a great way to spend your day.
Brittany
Thank you!
Anthony
Happy Birthday my fellow Aquarian. You celebrated yours hiking up a mountain and I celebrated mine skiing down one.
I think drinking your coffee on the summit is an amazing idea. Glad you could achieve this goal.
I have been taking a day off on my birthday for years and have never regretted it. You should think about doing the same.
I wish the best for this next year in your life.
Fantastic photos.
Brittany
Thank you! I love your celebration of choice.
Angie
Happy Belated Birthday, my dear! Love the shoes. And I think you should take every birthday off for your birthday! I LOVE birthdays. I look forward to them every single year — and Nick’s too. I love celebrating life and make an excuse to go on a trip or do something awesome always. Hehe.
Last year, I went to Mont Tremblant in Quebec for my birthday and also spent time with the animals at the wildlife reserve.
Brittany
I think you’re right, I shall start doing this!
Rachael @ Catch Me If You Can
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I saw that cupcake and coffee pic on instagram and loved it, so you! Although the one of you trying to eat that giant frosting dome while holding a cup of coffee is pretty priceless too. Another year older another year wiser right?!
Brittany
Hahaha precisely!
Pradita Kapahi
Belated happy birthday and thank you for this post. Why? Because watching you dig into that cupcake was strangely satisfying and at the same time inspiring to me. I hope i can be resolute like this on my birthday too. Greta post and pics! 👍
Brittany
Hahaaa! Thank you! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Pradita Kapahi
You’re welcome 😊
midnightmagician
Happy Belated Birthday! Wishing for an amazing year ahead for you 😃
Brittany
Thank you! 🙏🏻
Kelsey Ann Yoki
Happiest Birthday again, birthday twin! I totally took the day off…mostly due to the fact I drove down to the Twin Cities in MN for a grad school interview. I was able to drive down with my dad and we connected about spirituality and our lives right now. After an amazing interview, we drove to a Whole Foods and then met my aunt for lunch. The drive home was filled with Jess Lively’s podcast. The day ended by going out to dinner with my man. It was a day I feel so overjoyed with the life I get to live. Since starting my job, I have taken my birthday off, and it has been the sweetest treat to myself. I don’t plan on stopping, especially if it is in the middle of the week – we all need a mental health break!
Brittany
Wow what a day!! I’m so happy you did all that, thank you for sharing!
Heather Patton at Afternoon Glow
Rattlesnake Ledge can be deceptive! If you’re not in the mood for a straight-up stair climb, it can be challenging! Glad to hear you got to spend your birthday doing something fun!
Brittany
It was a nice burn! It’s quick so it’s always doable hahah. Thank you!
Amy
What a perfect way for you to celebrate your birthday!! Coffee, cupcakes, hiking… It’s like you captured yourself in a nutshell. 😉 So happy for you that you were able to do such a special-to-you thing on your birthday without needing to take off work! For my last birthday, my mom, my brother, his best friend, and I all drove out to the beach in the evening to escape the 100°+ heat, and we just watched the waves and ate dinner. It was so quiet and laid back and exactly what I wanted. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect birthday!
Brittany
OH MY, that sounds like SUCH an amazing evening. I’m not a big beach person, but I would get down with that!
Ellie
Happy birthday Britt! I would love to eat cupcakes on the top of a mountain with you!
Brittany
That would be LEGIT!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
You’re my favorite human being.
Just saying.
But you knew this.
And you know what I did on my last birthday.
I cried like a little bitch cause my mom was being a big bitch. LOL
Brittany
OMG hahahahaaaa. But I love you, so she can suckkkitt.
Kayse
Happy belated birthday! It looks like it was a fabulous day, and I’m so glad! I can’t recall what I did on my actual birthday this last year, but I did throw myself a birthday party a few days later because I’m a grown ass woman and I can do that haha
Brittany
YOU CAN INDEED! You go GlenCoCo.
Amanda Afield
Happy birthday! Can’t think of a better way to celebrate than cupcakes and hiking. I spent my birthday day drinking at the horse races, also fun.
Brittany
Thank you!
wanderwolf
Happy 359 more days of your 28th year! May it be filled with revelations, memories, less drowned rat photos and good vibrations. Happy belated birthday, Brittany. What a cool way to spend it!
Brittany
Thank you friend! ❤🙏🏻
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
What a perfect way to celebrate YOUR birthday. Coffee, cupcakes and hiking. How did we not go hiking when you were here? We need to rectify that.
Brittany
I would love that! Although I think our adventures were perfect. ❤
Jessica
YOU!
I’m so glad you had such a wonderful birthday. My last birthday, I spent 72 hours racing in the wilderness of Iowa to celebrate 27. I’m not thinking I will top that this year.
Brittany
That is EPIC. I remember that. I don’t know if you’ll be able to top that haha.
Rach @ This Italian Family
Happy happy birthday friend!! Eating a cupcake and drinking coffee at the top of a mountain are definitely a great way to celebrate! Here’s to the next 365 days! 🙂
Brittany
Thank you!
omobtomtom
happy birthday to you!!!!
I had to think really hard on what i did for my last birthday. lol. I went to work– had training that day. and afterwards went to dinner with friends. just what i wanted 🙂
Brittany
Sounds perfect!
Angela
Happy Belated Birthday! What a fab way to spend your birthday. My last birthday was spent in the hairdressers having highlights put in my hair…not fun at all! ha
Brittany
Hah! But you surely felt fabulous after!
Josh dV
Britt, those candid shots are easily my favorite pictures of you. True beauty is exactly what it is.
Happy Birthday.
Brittany
You are too kind my friend, thank you!
P
Sounds like the most perfect PNW birthday! I love all the cupcake shots!
Brittany
Me too. HA! The cupcake was sSOSOSOSsososo good.
stateeats
Unlike you I always take my bday off. I mean, no one is going to celebrate you better than you, right? Looks like you had a great day –Kat
Brittany
I think this is the consensus with this topic, perhaps I’m doing it wrong!
Allie Zottola
“It’s never too late to take control of what we want to do with our time, who we want to spend it with, and how we plan to achieve happiness.” —> So awesome. I’m glad you treated yourself to a day off to celebrate and have coffee and a cupcake on a hike. That is like the trinity for you :).
Brittany
Yahoo!! I loved it. 🙂
Heather
Glad you fully enjoyed your birthday! That cupcake looks bomb! And what a nice compadre to join you and keep your cupcake safe(and not eat it!). That’s a true friend.
Brittany
I brought him a slice of cake. So, I planned ahead. HAHA.
floorpicnic
What an amazing birthday! Coffee and cupcakes on a hike is pretty much living the dream, as far as I’m concerned.
Brittany
I think so too, even if just momentarily! Thank you. 🙂
dinosaursdonkeysandms
Happy late Birthday! Amazing photos! 🙂 xxx
Brittany
Thank you friend!
Melanie
Happy birthday to you Britt!!! Your hike looked beautiful and I want to eat that cupcake. I cannot believe your cupcake fared that well in a backpack!!
Brittany
Right!? I was amazed it held up. ❤
danaelizabethx
That looks like a completely awesome b-day!! 🙂 Glad you had a good one!!
Brittany
Thank you, it was great!
thelostmango
Belated happy birthday! What a nice spot to have a snack! OMG! HAHA! Just followed you and would not miss a post! Love them! Im Chy from https://thelostmango.com Nice to meet you! XOXO
Brittany
Thank you! 🙂 I’m jazzed to get to know ya!
thelostmango
Aw! Thank you! Happy you enjoyed it! I just posted another Europe Travel post! Enjoy! XOXO https://thelostmango.com
dave379
Happy birthday Brittany! Slightly late! But all the best for the next year and further nonetheless. Love the story and your grounding attitude as always. I can’t remember what I did last year but for this year (now less than a week away) a hike or some physical activity is sounding and feeling pretty good right now.
Brittany
Happy early birthday to you! Hope you have a lovely adventure.
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