Author Archives: Brittany

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 7:32 AM by Brittany, on April 14, 2014

  1. I bought a new French press, and I don’t know how I ever lived without this gorgeous piece of pastel. The colors are legit and it screams, “I’m 12 at heart, but LOOVEE coffee.”

  

  2. Speaking of coffee, today I start my training to become a coffee master..aka a coffee ninja. I credit my soul mate Gigi for coming up with that term. Click here to learn more. When I complete the training I will be gifted a fancy black apron (ninja.) Stoked.

  3. Continuing with the topic of Starbucks, three of my coworkers and I “gave back” last week and volunteered to stuff Easter eggs with candy for kids. They are lucky I don’t like mints…I would have struggled not smuggling all the candy out in my pants.

  

  4. Yesterday I went to Darby’s Cafe in Olympia. I’ve been wanting to go there for about a year now, mainly because I saw it on DDD. I’m a sucker for Food Network. It was delish.

  5. I’m training for my 5th half marathon, it’s in three weeks. I’ve been running on roads like this…

  

  ….and refueling with treats like this….

  

  I totally had a giant bowl of vegetables before I face plated a cupcake..I promise.

  

  6. I spent $150 at REI the other day on a rain jacket…it’s been 70 and sunny all week.

  7. I’ve made headway onto foodgawker..and I couldn’t be more elated. I still haven’t read my dSLR manual, and I know nothing about food photography. I shoot what I think looks good, so this is extra exciting for me. I’ve had three photos accepted..starting somewhere!

  

  8. I have complete plans of going back to school, but I’m taking my sweet, sweet time.

  9. I’ve managed to fit some exploring into my schedule. Total necessity. 

  10. Life is good, and I want to own a bakery.

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 47 Comments Tagged Adventure, Coffee, Confessions, Half Marathon, Random, Running, Vegan

• Vegan Coffee Fudge

  Posted at 5:35 AM by Brittany, on April 11, 2014

  Remember this post I posted a few weeks ago, when I attempted to make some fudge? I ended that post with a simple request: please share with me a delicious vegan fudge recipe. Well, my request was granted by the fabulous Brandi over at The Vegan 8.

  

  

  I’ve been in love with Brandi’s blog for a while now, but never attempted any of her recipes despite how amazing they all look! Simple, but delicious recipes with 8 ingredients or less? Count me in. Brandi shared with me her 3 ingredient fudge recipe, and while this recipe looked perfect as it was, I decided it needed one more ingredient.

  

  Vegan Coffee Fudge

  

  Ingredients:

  • 1 heaping cup semisweet vegan chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup solidified coconut butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1.5 tblsp fresh ground UN-brewed coffee beans*
  • Sea salt to sprinkle on top

  *Make sure your coffee is not only freshly ground, but also freshly purchased. Old coffee has minimal flavor.

  

  Directions:

  1. Line a baking pan with wax paper and set aside. The dimensions will depend on how thick/wide you want your fudge. I used an 8×6 pan, because that’s what I had.
  2. Using a double boiler melt your chocolate chips and stir until smooth. Then stir in the coconut butter, vanilla, and 1 tblsp ground coffee. Stir until melted and well combined.
  3. Pour mixture into your pan, and smooth out with a spatula. Mix your remaining ground coffee with some sea salt (about 1 tsp, depending on how salty you like things) and sprinkle generously on top of the fudge mixture.
  4. Place into your fridge to set for a couple hours. Or if you’re impatient like I am, place into the freezer for less wait time.
  5. When ready to consume, set out on your counter to soften for about 30 minutes.

  

  These…are…unreal. SO epic and delicious. I am amazed. I ate enough coffee fudge to power me through a non stop spin class, and that class justified every bite I took. If you are looking for an easy vegan fudge, make these. You won’t be able to stop with just one.

  

  Q: Coffee flavored treats yay or nay? Ohhh HELL yay!

  

  | 53 Comments Tagged Chocolate, Dessert, Fudge, Recipe, Treat, Vegan

• Exploring Detroit

  Posted at 7:04 AM by Brittany, on April 9, 2014

  The morning of “the most epic wedding of all time” I explored Detroit. After exploring DC, and spending a few days in Pennsylvania once upon a time, I have come to a conclusion. East coast architecture is waayyy different than west coast architecture. I’ve also realized I have a slight fascination with buildings, and I like to take photos of them.

  

  

  Detroit has a bizarre vibe to it. Among some of the most rundown buildings, are the most beautiful cathedrals/churches I have ever seen (until I make my way to Ireland!)

  

  
  

  One building in particular that I couldn’t get enough of was this one…

  

  

  

  Absolutely stunning.

  Wandering Detroit didn’t last long once Megan and I realized we were the only two people walking the streets in search of adventure. Everyone else was either waiting for a bus (or God knows what else..) or hustling to work. We stuck out like a buck tooth.

  

  I couldn’t leave Detroit empty handed though. Along with exploring on foot I had to experience the city in one of two ways – food, or coffee. I chose the latter.

  

  Let me just say, I have never been so intellectually stimulated when it comes to coffee. The sleeve says it all – the art and science of coffee. The Roasting Plant is a hidden gem right in the heart of downtown Detroit. I enjoyed a freshly brewed cup of coffee, just for me.

  

  Found on IG

  Walking in to see the above contraption was a bit overwhelming, but after identifying myself as a newbie to the barista behind the counter, I was given full step by step instructions. I’m a devout drip coffee drinker so my instructions were easy – choose which beans you want from the selections in the tubes, and watch the magic happen.

  I tend to enjoy smooth, full bodied, medium roast coffees so I chose, “Sulawesi Tana Toraja.” I placed my order, and the beans flew above my head (Willy Wonka Style) to be ground, brewed, and poured into my own personal cup. I was geeking out so hard.

  

  Found on IG

  

  My brew – the closest looking thing to a beer you’ll see me drinking.

  This was the coolest coffee experience I’ve had probably…ever. I was so enthralled by my coffee. It was smooth and full bodied, just like this guy below…envision this is me with coffee in one hand and a cookie in the other. OR two cookies…definitely two.

  

  Like a boss.

  This post wraps up the recap of my week long vacation. Coming back to work was a bit rough, but how can you be bummed being surrounded by the smells of coffee all day?

  Q(s):

  • Have you ever been to Detroit? 
  • Who else would geek out over this coffee experience? Anyone..anyone…Bueller…

  

  | 46 Comments Tagged Adventure, Buildings, Coffee, Detroit, Explore

• Roaring Good Times

  Posted at 6:10 AM by Brittany, on April 7, 2014

  If you’ve been following my posts lately, you’ll know I was on the east coast for some fun adventures. Although I love the idea of a completely spontaneous trip, this one was planned for months and had a purpose. I flew to DC to stay with Megan, and she and I drove north to Michigan to attend Lily’s wedding. Us bloggers are crazy folk I tell ya.

  

  Somewhere in Pennsylvania…

  Megan and I had met before, so I knew being with her for a week straight would be fine. Neither of us had physically met Lily, but somehow I knew that would be fine too. There is an unspoken bond between bloggers that makes it totally normal to do what we did.

  

  I don’t usually do well on long car rides…I drink a lot of water, which means I pee a lot. I get antsy easily, which means I need to punch dance a lot. I don’t like sitting too long because my butt goes numb, and frankly being in a confined space for 8 hours is rough.

  Much to my surprise, the long ride with Megan was not only tolerable, but dare I say fun?

  

  View from the hotel room.

  

  Canadaland!

  

  That view…

  Lily did an amazing job with this wedding, she handmade her invites, seating cards, gifts, and more. Not to mention the cathedral was gorgeous. Detroit was just littered with cathedrals. I think one of my favorite parts, was how vegan friendly she made this.

  

  Personalized/hand stamped gift. Swoon.

  

  Lily, this meal was amazing. I think marriage was on your mind while making the seating cards, because MRS.Brittany sure looks good on me!

  Oh – and she was absolutely stunning. SO unbelievably gorgeous I can’t even describe it.

  

  

  This is as Gatsby as I get…haa.

  

  My hot date.

  The theme was 1920’s and everything was perfect. I drank, I ate, I danced, and I had a roaring good time. I’ve been dying to use the photo booths at weddings, and I finally did.

  

  Congratulations to Lily and her new hubby Cory, they are wonderful together and I just adore them both to pieces. Thank you for everything Lily, your wedding was perfect.

  

  The lost face of one too many wedding induced beverages. (Britta-wemissedyou)

  

  I’m partial to this photo, I think it captures our true personalities. I also see a pirate.

  These are the friends that will last a lifetime.

  Q: What’s something crazy you’ve done recently?

  

  | 45 Comments Tagged Adventure, Bloggers, Detroit, Vegan, Wedding

• Unleashing My Inner Billy Goat

  Posted at 6:56 AM by Brittany, on April 5, 2014

  I love hiking. Most of the hikes I go on in WA (state) are dirt trails that go up. Up, up, and up. Green trees towering all around me, and rivers and creeks streaming below me. While on the east coast I was able to conquer a different kind of hike, one where the trails are not paved. Instead, there are blue markers that you must “find” while crawling over rocks.

  

  Click to make larger.

  

  Megan and I met up with Sophie for a 2 hr hike at Great Falls in Maryland, and we hiked the Billy Goat Trails! Despite the snow and chilly wind, the hike was absolutely gorgeous! The snowy backdrop made for amazing photos.

  

  

  

  

  

  This was such a unique hike for me. I’m used to having visible paths to follow, so having to hunt for where to go while unleashing my inner billy goat was a ton of fun. I felt like a legit mountaineer. I now feel the need to buy tons of mountain gear and get lost in the woods.

  

  

  Can you spot the deer?

  Yea, this was definitely one of my favorite hikes.

  

  

  There were times I could barely see these markers…

  The season for outdoor exploration has arrived.

  Q: Do you prefer easily visible paths, or would you enjoy hunting for your next step?

  

  | 33 Comments Tagged Adventure, DC, Exploring, Hiking

• Exploring DC

  Posted at 4:07 AM by Brittany, on April 3, 2014

  I had never been to DC before, so being a typical tourist I was more than happy to tromp around in the snow to be able to see the sights of a new town. I was swooning so hard over the buildings and have more than enough photos to show for it, but first – pancakes. Megan and I found a recipe that I happily slaved for hours ten minutes to create.

  

  

  These were too legit to quit. SO bomb. Gluten/dairy/& egg free. Perfect exploration fuel.

  

  

  I don’t know many other people that would gladly walk in the snow just to explore, and for that I adore Megan to pieces. She also happens to be a fantastic action photographer…

  

  

  

  I really had my heart set on riding one of these bikes, I wish my town had the bike share option. Instead, I need to just BUY A BIKE already! We of course found the White House, and the Washington Monument. Obama invited us to brunch, but I was set on Woodlands.

  

  

  Found a few free museums to wander into.

  

  

  

  

  Meet Paul, my new boyfriend.

  

  I hate snow more than anyone, but this gray snowy day sure made for some fun photos. I didn’t dare carry my dSLR though, so the iPhone had to suffice. Such a charming city.

  Q: Have you ever been to DC?

  

  | 39 Comments Tagged Adventure, Bloggers, DC, Exploring, Pancakes, Random, Snow, Vegan

• Jumbled Mind

  Posted at 9:52 AM by Brittany, on April 1, 2014

  Oh hey there, remember me? I contemplated blogging while away on my east coast adventures, and as you can see I decided not to blog…at all. The mini break was amazing, but the only downside is that I have ALL THIS STUFF I want to share. I don’t even know where to begin, and my mind is a jumbled mess. I’ll just start at the beginning and the end.

  Upon arrival in DC I was in need of a feast. Let’s be real though…when am I NOT in need of a feast? Megan and I met up with Sarah at this immensely eclectic diner called Paper Moon. I was so overstimulated with things to look at I felt like I had ADD..in a good way.

  

  Menu

  

  

  I wanted to take a green leg home with me for my wall, but figured airport security would take me into questioning. The inside was just as bizarre, and the food was fantastic.

  Traveling sure is tough.

  

  

  Oh hey there hummus, thanks for coming to the party in my mouth.

  We chatted running, life, and had a wonderful time. I love bloggers!

  

  Such flattering lighting.

  Later in the week Megan and I visited a coffee shop that had a similar vibe. I had my coffee with a cat, no big deal. I adore local coffee shops! The coffee was delicious too…I love coffee.

  

  The final hurrah before my trek back home was another feast, but this time I earned it. I set out to run 4-5 miles, and ended up running 8 miles. I blame/thank Megan for that.

  

  

  This path was gorgeous, and I can see why it’s so popular. The torrential down pour that caused snot to drip from my face, and gave me the look of a lost rat made me feel at home. DC blessed me with some gorgeous weather. The best part was that long miles = food.

  

  This place was PACKED. I’m talking a 40 minute wait. I was getting so hangry I just about ate the books right off the wall. It was worth the wait though, and my burger/brownie was to.die.for. I also had the pleasure of meeting Nikki, and she was simply wonderful!

  

  Scratch made vegan burger and oh look, more sweet taters.

  

  

  Topped with soy ice cream.

  

  A perfect vegan meal, with two lovely ladies. I couldn’t have asked for a better last day in the DC area. I have two other blogger meet ups, including a wedding that will be hard to top, a mountain adventure, and exploring new cities still to share. I’m already planning my next trip! I’m also ready to sign up for another half marathon after that 8 miler!

  Q: WHAT HAVE I MISSED IN YOUR LIVES!?!

  

  | 44 Comments Tagged Bloggers, Chocolate, DC, Food, Run, Running, Vegan

• Nourishing my Soul

  Posted at 10:51 AM by Brittany, on March 24, 2014

  Nature nourishes my soul. Fresh air, big trees, empty trails, all of it. Green is my favorite color, and the Washington mountains just so happen to flourishing with mossy green trees.

  

  One final hurrah before my vacation to the east coast included an 8.6 mile hike through the Washington trees. Best idea ever. I’ve hiked this trail over 10 times now, but each time I go I find something new that captures my soul and takes my breath away.

  

  

  This was just the adventure I needed to counteract all the baking I’ve been doing. For multiple reasons, one being justification. I completely justified eating cupcakes and cookies this past weekend! It’s all about balance, I like to earn my treats.

  

  Conquering a mountain gives me a sense of accomplishment, like I’ve earned the body I have so graciously been given to live in. Also, nothing beats the view from the top.

  

  

  Awkward hand placement…haha.

  To go along with the the nature theme, when I came home I ate the most epic meal out of the bowl I painted a couple weeks ago. It’s the perfect size, and I love it!

  

  

  Did I mention I have a thing for trees..? 😉

  Q: What nourishes your soul? Food and the great outdoors! 

  

  | 44 Comments Tagged Balance, Cupcake, Green Mountain, Hiking, Mountain, Nature, Vegan

• Coffee For Me, Coffee For You

  Posted at 8:24 AM by Brittany, on March 21, 2014

  I don’t know what has gotten into me the past few weeks, but this blog has turned into a baking/treat/dessert/stuff my face with chocolate blog. My only complaint is that I don’t have many people to share with, so my coworkers have been getting force fed on the regular lately. In all honesty though, no one has complained. Modern day sugar mama.

  

  One of the many things I love about blogging is that it inspires me to switch things up. If you remember this post, I talked about how I go through phases of activities. The baking phase has been alive and well, but it’s time to get out and explore more. Just in time for my upcoming trip to DC/Virginia/Michigan to visit Megan (and a handful of other bloggers!!!)

  

  May 2013 – she will forever hold the spot in my heart as my “first blogger meetup.”

  I do have a post coming about coffee. Go figure. This post is a bit different though, I have been doing a lot of thinking/reading lately about organic vs. non organic coffee, Starbucks vs. local shops, which decaf beans you should buy…things like that. I have been complacent with my coffee intake lately, and it’s time to tighten the belt!

  I’m not sure what my posting will be like next week, as I mentioned earlier I have more recipe posts saved, and will be writing my coffee post today so I should have things to share. Unless I get swept away by the vacation spirit and get my blogging fix in the form of people. Megan, Lily, Alex, Sarah, Brennan, Nikki…the club can’t even handle me right now.

  Q: What has been your main blogging topic lately?

  

  | 32 Comments Tagged Adventure, Baking, Blog, Coffee, Vegan

• Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins

  Posted at 5:44 AM by Brittany, on March 20, 2014

  There is nothing quite like having a sweet, sugary, crumbly treat along side my morning cup of coffee. It takes my entire coffee savoring experience from an 8 to a 10. Mornings are my favorite, but mornings with coffee and cake are mornings started right.

  

  This recipe was a bit of an experiment. After combining all of my ingredients and making a dough that looked more like a cookie, I was hesitant and expected the worst. Thankfully, as things usually do when I expect the worst, these coffee cake muffins turned out great.

  Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins

  

  • 1 cup vanilla almond milk
  • 1 tblsp apple cider vinegar
  • 4 tblsp melted coconut oil
  • 2 cups GF flour (I used this one)
    
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup xylitol
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tblsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup frozen (or fresh) blueberries

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix almond milk and vinegar together and set aside to sour/curdle. Do this first!
  3. Combine your flour, sugar, xylitol, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together. Combine well.
  4. Pour melted coconut oil into your vinegar/almond milk mixture, and then pour into your dry ingredients.
  5. Fold in blueberries.
  6. Pour into muffin tin and top with sugar crumble (recipe below)
  7. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean.

  Sugar Crumble

  

  • 3 tblsp GF flour
    
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 tblsp melted Earth Balance vegan butter

  1. Mix dry ingredients together, and then add vegan butter.

  Notes: I used a 1 to 1 wheat flour replacement, which means I didn’t need to add anything alongside my GF flour. If you are using a different GF flour for the muffins, add 1/2 tsp xanthan gum. If you don’t have, or don’t want to use xylitol swap it out for regular sugar.

  

  A word of advice: These are best eaten in some kind of bowl, or plate with walls. This ensures maximum crumble consumption, and provides an excuse to be paired with ice cream. As with most of my treats, these tasted better as time went on!

  

  Q: What’s your favorite morning splurge? I used to be all about that cookie and coffee life, but these mini cakes rocked my face…hard.

  

  | 35 Comments Tagged Cake, Coffee, Recipe, Vegan

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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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