1. I have been home from Sweden for about a month now, and readjusting to regular life was hard at first, but I finally feel settled. Work has been slow, so hours have been cut, but I am not complaining. It gives me time to do more important things, like help my mom clean her house and look for other jobs. LOL.
2. I took my cat to the vet recently and it was the most horrific experience. He never does well at the vet, and I have to drug him before I go (which is very stressful for us both), but this most recent time was the worst. He could not calm down even with the drugs, and while they were trying to get his blood pressure I could hear him SCREAMING in the other room. I had a hard time keeping it together. The good news is that he seems to be “anti-aging” and all prior concerns are under control.
3. I have been enjoying too many late night fika’s since I returned from Sweden. Before I left I bought the gluten free pumpkin loaf from Trader Joe’s, and I am onto my fourth loaf of the season. It is SO GOOD. Even better with coffee…my anxiety doesn’t thank me for the excess caffeine at times though. Reel it in Brittany…
4. It felt like summer lasted forever here, and it was still smoky into mid October. I was ready and longing for fall, yet it seems we have skipped straight to winter overnight. It has been SO cold. I was lusting for fall, but now I would give anything to go back to my last hike to Mount Rainier with Duncan in the September sun.
5. Few things make me more uncomfortable than an overly stuffed fridge. I would not survive long in a food shortage because I hate having excess food. Food waste is one of my biggest pet peeves, and when I see a fridge stuffed to the brim I need to organize it. I like to eat what I have, and then buy more as I need. Pantry items I give a bit more leeway to, but I do not like having excess there either.
6. Back in 2015 I bought my second pair of Vibram Five Finger Bikila’s. I had a few other Five Finger models prior to the Bikila, but once I slipped my foot into the Bikila it was like Cinderella’s slipper. Naturally this shoe was discontinued relatively quick, and when I found that second pair I was elated. Fast forward to 2022 and that pair has been run into the ground. I have worn them despite the holes in the left shoe, but I recently found a pair on eBay for $35. Unheard of.
They fit like a glove. Literally.
7. My blog storage is nearing full capacity. I can either pay more money to have more space, or I can stop blogging. Orrrr I can start a new blog. New blog new me kind of thing. I have always sort of disliked my blog URL, it’s so corny. Someone once told me that it even sounded like a porn website. Yikes. However, blissfulbritt has been with me through aaalllll the up’s and down’s of growing up. Ohhh life dilemma’s.
8. The weekend before Halloween Duncan and I went to a murder mystery game night with some friends. I happened to choose the character that died first, but I soon discovered that there was little to no organization with the game. I ended up spending most of the evening alone. I was a bit salty, but I’m over it now. Mostly. I still had fun, and the next morning I went to a lovely coffee shop where I met my new family.
9. Last Tuesday our water heater shit the bed. Not only did the behemoth have to be removed ASAP, the entirety of the flooring surrounding it needs to be replaced (it was dripping for who knows how long.) We cannot get a new water heater until the flooring and dry wall is replaced, which is proving to take some time. I have been taking cold showers ever since, and I am officially a member of the Navy Shower gang. While this new method of cleaning myself has been an adventure, and I exit the bathroom feeling refreshed, I cannot wait for warm water again.
You have not felt discomfort until you have felt frigid water on your skin in the middle of late fall/early winter. I like to call this character building.
10. Duncan and I went to a new to us pumpkin patch this year before Halloween hit, and it was ridiculously expensive. Each day that passes I feel more and more like a crotchety old woman. We spent $50 for two people to walk through the corn maze and find a pumpkin (which was a separate fee.) Call me crazy, but that’s just too much. Thankfully, we found two small and fun pumpkins that did not break the bank.
We even wore matching forehead pimples, how sweet.
Can you guess who carved which pumpkin?
Q: What’s your confession?
Blissfulbritt 
40 thoughts on “Early Morning Confessions”
Rootchopper
I ran out of storage space thanks to all my bike tour pictures. I paid for more. Then ran out again after this year’s tour. Now I post my pix to Flickr and embed them here. Takes up next to no space apparently. A bit of a pain tho.
If you find an alternative blogging site, I’m all ears. I used to be on blogger but ran out of storage space there. Derp.
Brittany
I paid for my first storage upgrade a handful of years ago, no regrets. I now pay annually for my url and for the upgrade in space or whatever, but it’s so cheap it doesn’t matter. Now if I upgrade again it’s double the price. Which it’s not the money, it’s the principle for me haha. But interesting about the Flickr loophole. Honestly I know I will end up probably just upgrading because my entire life is here in this space. I’m definitely a WordPress gal, so now switching platforms that’s for sure.
niall
I do similar to Rootchopper above but using Dropbox instead of Flickr
Brittany
Wow, I need to look into these processes!
Rootchopper
I thought about backtracking and removing pictures and then using Flickr to embed them but it’s a huge hassle. Eventually, I’ll probably just pay the man.
Brittany
I went through some of my older posts back in 2014 maybe and cleared out A LOT. Mostly of old relationship stuff (I never wanted a future partner to read about my adventures with someone else, just no need for that), but yes…eventually we all just pay up.
Rootchopper
Check to see if your media include old pix that correspond to your deleted posts. Then delete the pix. That should clear up some room in your memory allotment
Brittany
I did hah, that was part of the entire process back in 2014. But good call just in case! It cleared up the room back then when I needed it. I guess I just keep having adventures to share.
Sheree
Don’t you just hate it when you find something that’s perfect for you and then it’s discontinued
Brittany
YES! It seems to happen to me ALL the time with shoes, and I am so picky with my footwear. I am just going to start buying five pairs of a shoe if I find one I love.
Sheree
Way to go
Tammy Bowman
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading about your adventures in Sweden! I am a friend to your mom. She & I met while playing a silly game on Facebook, & from there we built a friendship. She was really there for me last year when I was in a very dark place with my health. You once said only two people read your blog, & those two are your parents. I told your mom that isn’t true, because I always read it! I understand the conundrum about your blog name. I hate my email address. I made this silly email account when I was an avid scrapbooker. I’m lazy, & I hate to try to update my email address with so many different companies. So here I am, just hanging onto it.
I began following you when you were running, and preparing for marathons. I also enjoyed your food journey. I lost over 100 pounds. I never ran marathons, but did enjoy running for exercise & the health benefits.
Thank you for sharing your trip. I’m glad your sweet kitty is doing well! Please tell your mom that Tammy from Tennessee says hello.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Tammy Bowman
Brittany
Hi Tammy, thank you for the lovely comment! I remember you, and I know I’ve seen comments from you before (I think?) I love this little community I have here, and the comments I get make my day!
Thank you for continuing to follow along, I’m with you on being too lazy to change things. I wish I could just wave a wand and pick a new URL, but it’s so much more than that. It’s been easier to keep it the same all these years.
I will pass on your hello! I know my mom thinks very highly of you. I hope you’re doing well.
kagould17
Great summary Brittany. The sad thing about WordPress is that new FREE blogs now only come with 1 Gig Media storage (down from 3) . I use one blog spot as my media drop and then link to those post with an excerpt post on my original. It is a hassle, but if you ever stop paying for the paid blog spots, you lose them. Cheers Allan
Brittany
ONE!? I just wrote a reply to a comment here that we started with 3 GB. That is wild it’s down to 1 now. Sorta whack, but nothing to do I suppose. Omg, I just realized that I will have to forever pay for the space or I will loose the photos. I never even thought about that. NOOOO.
kagould17
That is why I am milking my 3 gig spot for all it is worth and just adding and linking the new spots as needed. WordPress likes their marketing plans. 😊
Brittany
Good thing I have all my photos saved on my laptop, buuuttt if I loose my posts one day if I stop paying I am going to be maaadd.
Atheria
Uh oh…Wordpress limits how big blogs can be? Now I need to check mine! I can totally relate to veterinary stress with cats and have stories myself. I’m glad your fur kid is doing okay though! And I agree with you…I HATE food waste!
Brittany
Yes!! I think because I post so many photos with my posts it sucked up space FAST! I think we get 3 GB of storage to start (for free), and then I had to bump up to 6 GB, and I am almost full there. LOL
Atheria
I just checked mine and I do have the 3 GB limit. It seems to only apply to media though, and, thankfully, I don’t post that many pictures. I just link to YouTube videos I make. But I’ll post even LESS pictures now!
Brittany
Yeah, media. I didn’t specify haha. I post A LOT of photos. AAH.
marietoday
Hello to your beautiful black cat. I also took my black cat to the vet this past week. Unfortunately we were told he is dying and we don’t have much time left with him. Jack is such a sweet old man cat – he is so gentle and good with my 10 month old daughter. In fact, her first word was Jack. I hope you give your cat some good snuggles and all the love he wants.
Brittany
Oh my heart aches for you. I am so sorry about Jack. How old is he? I know the day will come for my baby to cross the rainbow bridge, but I will never be prepared for that. I will never forget when my previous cat died, I miss him everyday. He made it to 20 it was amazing. Sending love and hugs to you and Jack!
marietoday
Thank you, he is almost 16. I’m sad he’s not going to make it to Christmas- he always loved sitting next to the tree and just staring at the lights. We never do “get over” the grief of losing someone special – it just gets a little bit smaller and less pressing… but it can still hit us just as hard on any day even years later.
Brittany
I pray he defies the odds and makes it through Christmas, but if he doesn’t I know you’ll give him so many snuggles until he is no longer with you. I agree we never get over a loss. Somedays the grief comes back in an intense wave. It’s been five years since I lost my last cat and once every so often I just feel so much pain and I begin to cry.
Pree
It did change to winter overnight!! So bizzarre…
And I feel ya on the fridge capacity! I’d rather buy what I need for the day. Obviously this is easier to do when living on your own and don’t have to cook for a family, etc., but for me it works! Don’t have to cook, and can eat out and still save money 😂
Brittany
Sooo much easier when living alone. I love the company of living with family, but my mom is the worst at food waste omgg. You better believe anytime I live alone though my fridge is clean and simple haha.
Roy McCarthy
I run in flats all the time but I always considered the Five Fingers a step to far. What $25 to walk through a maze with only a pumpkin to find 😦
Brittany
I love the five fingers! They are definitely not for everyone, but they are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned. SPECIFICALLY this style though, I tried a more recent style before finding these and hated them. So it’s definitely trial and error. But man, I’ve been running in five fingers since 2013 I think. I wear other minimalist shoes for hiking that are “normal.”
Yea I won’t be going back to that pumpkin patch again. 🤣
Peg
Know what you mean about the blog storage. I hate to do it but I reduce the size of all my picture files before I post them because they are huge files. Trying to save storage space and have to sacrifice resolution. You could delete some of your older pictures, but then they would disappear off your blog posts.
Brittany
I did do that once a handful of years ago, certainly helped. But not sure I want to do that again. I think I like all of them here now. I’ve got some time so we shall see. Just a pain! 🤪
Amy
We skipped right from late summer to winter here too!! Halloween was still 80°F… And then everything went downhill. The master bedroom in basically EVERY house of our neighborhood is the coldest room of the entire home. (We regularly commiserate in the street. 😂) It makes showering an adventure — but not nearly as bad as taking one without a functioning hot water heater! I can only imagine… I’d probably be so desperate that I’d heat up water on the stove or in the microwave to use instead of freezing cold water straight from the tap. 🙊
Brittany
I will admit, my first few showers were straight cold from the tap, but lately after coming in from a cold run I will heat water on the stove. It’s so much easier to just jump in for a Navy shower, but it’s PAINFUL. So I go back and forth. Heating water is more of a pain and it feels like a half shower, but it works. I got to take a shower at Duncan’s this weekend and it was a LUXURY.
Amy
I totally hear you on that… In high school, I drove ALL the way across town to a close friend’s house just to take a shower, even though she wasn’t home, when our hot water heater broke. (I had forgotten about that until you mentioned showering at Duncan’s!) The things we do when we’re desperate… 😂
Brittany
🤣 yesterday my sister needed to bathe, and I spent 45 minutes filling the bath tub with lukewarm water. She has autism and we aren’t going to subject her to the cold. Haha.
gpavants
Hi Brittney
Well, in Georgia visiting my dad who is very sick. Still trying to write. Let one blog go Trying to still be creative. Teaching is plugging along. Stinky part is battling with depression. Blah. Hope all is well. Thanks,
Gary
Brittany
Hi Gary,
I commend you for visiting your dad. That’s likely very tough to endure, but I guarantee your dad is so happy you’re around. You are a blessing to him in this time.
I’m sorry to hear you are struggling with depression, just know you are not alone. I have felt the wave wash over me almost overnight this year. Something I always have looming, but this time of year the dark cloud is the darkest. I pray you find joy in each and every day! Sending you hugs.
gpavants
Thanks, Brittney. I hope the Lord gives your strength and relief.
Allie Zottola
Your cat is a boss. So glad all is well!
#5: I am with ya. We have a small house and even having too much in our cabinets makes me feel… claustrophobic?!
Nice find with the five finger shoes on Ebay. The best!!
Brittany
Bahaha my cat is THE boss clearly. He sets his own rules. 🤦🏻♀️