Author Archives: Brittany

• Cats, Cakes, and Conundrums

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on March 22, 2024

  And finally, there is a moment to stop and breathe. Kind of. The last two months have been a whirlwind to say the least. I think perhaps this will be my new normal while I continue to live life with a geriatric cat. It sounds funny to refer to him as geriatric, as if he should be using a cane to walk. Alas just as it is with people, cats of his age are indeed geriatric by definition.

  My child recently turned 16, and while overall he is doing ok, he is not without his struggles. Some of these struggles are thanks to his mother (aka me), who recently attempted to change his food, resulting in a trip to the ER. Twice. The recent food swap gave him a multi day run with constipation, something he hasn’t struggled with since last May.

  Unfortunately I deviated twice from the food I know keeps him regular, hence two trips to the ER.

  

  “But Brittany, if he was eating a food that helped him poop, why would you change it?!”

  I’m so glad you asked. I am fairly confident the food that helps him poop makes him slightly nauseous. So I tried to find something else. I spent months before all this trying to find a food for him that also supported his kidney disease, to no avail (he is a picky little bugger.) So I switched him to a food that helped his nausea…but then he went and got his colon stuffed like a manicotti noodle.

  

  The first time we went to the ER last month he was backed up for six days, and when I took him in I was advised he would need to be anesthetized for an enema/manual extraction. He made it out alive, and he came home with pupils the size of saucers and a swollen anus. All of this transpired on my birthday. Three weeks later he was backed up again, this time for five days. The price tag was cheaper on the second visit, but the anus was just as swollen.

  Lessons have been learned, and I will never, ever, swap his food again. Or maybe I will, it’s been such a struggle finding the sweet spot for him with food.

  I ended up having to cancel an overnight trip I booked on my birthday, and while I was a bit bummed, my mom and Duncan made up for it by smothering me with sweet treats. Nothing soothes a sad soul quite like sugar and chocolate. There is a bakery near my house that has excelled at making gluten free brownies. Not only do they taste amazing, they also don’t make me feel like I’ve been caught in a stampede of elephant seals. A double win.

  

  

  

  It has been over a month since this most recent drama started with me and Little (my cat), and I finally feel like we are in a good spot. For now. The guilt I felt from causing his constipation is finally starting to wane, and he still purrs on my lap as if nothing happened. My anxiety has calmed a bit, and I feel more comfortable leaving him for the day knowing he is back on a normal poop path.

  I could barely leave him to go to work I was so worried. Anxiety ain’t easy y’all.

  To make up for my missed birthday adventure, or just because it was an excuse to get more sugar, a couple weeks ago Duncan took me to another gluten free bakery 50 minutes out of town. I made a pit stop at Trader Joe’s to buy myself a new tiny plant, meaning we arrived at the bakery too late in the day. Most everything was gone, but the two cakes we got were unbelievably delicious.

  Unfortunately within 30 minutes of finishing my cake the elephant seal stampede hit.

  

  

  

  You win some, and you lose some. My local bakery with the brownies is always a win, and The Wrens Nest was sadly a loss. The cake was delicious, but ultimately if I feel like a bag of trash after I eat something it’s an automatic no for me. The ambiance of this bakery was WONDERFUL though, and I would come back for a coffee because the vibe was too good.

  I’m thankful for each mini adventure these days, as I am finding it harder to leave my house lately. I feel the clock of life ticking as each day passes, and I am wanting to spend as much quality time with my cat as possible. I know one day he will no longer be around, and I don’t want to miss out on too many moments. Most of my days feel as if I am waiting for the next shoe to drop, but he is worth the effort.

  

  Time is something none of us can get back, and I want to be intentional with mine. For the first time in what feels like ever I am living day to day. I am unable to look into the future as I so often have in the past. I struggle with the idea of planning any vacations because the anxiety of leaving my cat for more than one night is too much. I’m in a floating limbo right now, and while I am still working on the concept of living in the moment, I think living in the day is a good place to start.

  Time is likely one of the best gifts we can give to those we care about, be it a pet, a friend, or a loved one. When I find myself getting worked up over things out of my control I try to remind myself of what’s really important in life. Spoiler: it’s not work, it’s not thoughts of anxiety, it’s not an unexpected change in plans – it’s the simplicity of time spent with others, and time spent with ourselves.

  Q: Do you consider pets another family member, or do you consider pets more of a convenience? Like a barn cat to catch mice, a dog for protection, etc. I have an arguably unhealthy attachment to pets, especially the one I have now.

  

  | 45 Comments Tagged Cats, Life, Little

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 29, 2024

  1. Well, well, well. It’s been a while. Between house projects and needing to update my MacBook I disappeared for quite some time. I don’t have anything exciting to report, but because I feel like checking in we are going to travel back in time to last month.

  2. I managed to find the most decadent, delicious, astounding gluten free pie that disappeared just as quickly as I found it. Seriously, what’s with me and finding treats I enjoy (and that don’t make me feel like a bag of bricks) suddenly disappearing? Perhaps next holiday season it will return…

  

  3. My Christmas gift to myself was $3,000 worth of car repairs. I’ve had the same car since 2008, and I hadn’t needed any major work until now. I suppose it was long overdue, I am amazed at the longevity of my beloved. $700 of that bill was for new tires, which I suppose doesn’t count, but the timing of the remaining work racked up the bill. I needed a new alternator and a new radiator.

  The only reason I knew there was an issue was because of a funny noise. She now purrs like the day she was manufactured. I hope for many more years with my granny mobile.

  4. My car has taken Little and I on many wonderful drives together, including my current favorite core memory. I wrangled my mom, my sister, Duncan, and my child into the car and we went to look at Christmas lights. Little was more enthralled by the car headlights than the actual Christmas lights, but it was a magical hour nonetheless. The gang was all there.

  

  

  5. When I moved back to the states at the end of 2020 I moved back into my childhood bedroom. My plan was to resettle into the area and then try to find a place to live. Turns out renting an apartment is something I couldn’t justify with the $1400 price tag, so I stayed with my mom and sister. Helping them and being close to family just continued to feel right. My older sister has autism and helping provide care for her is easier when living under the same roof.

  At this rate I’m not sure I’ll ever leave. Just kidding. I think.

  6. With that said, my childhood bedroom needed some help. I wasn’t planning to stay long, but suddenly three years went by and I was still occupying the space. On December 6th I was laying down looking at the walls and decided I wanted to rip the wallpaper off.

  Much to my surprise it came off with ease, and I decided to go get paint.

  Three days later my small space had a fresh coat of paint. What a difference this has made, and I am so happy I decided to impetuously give my room a facelift. There is one small area of the wall my lovely mother wanted to keep, a mural she painted fully equipped with drawings from when I was too young to know drawing on the wall was wrong. It’s an atrocious eye sore, but I’ve come to accept it.

  I have since painted another room in my moms house, so basically you can now call me Bob Vila.

  

  

  7. I started a run streak in the middle of November with the goal of running everyday until the new year. I completed my goal and ended the streak on Jan 2nd. I ran 56 days in a row, and truth be told I wish I would have kept going. There were only a few days I didn’t feel like running during the streak, but I was always able to manage one mile on those days.

  I ended the streak with the idea that I might want to train for a half marathon, but I find myself fearful of the training process. My body handles running shorter distances everyday better than running longer distances every few days. This is something I have come to accept about my Sjögren’s, but I hope to eventually push through the fear of flare ups and just go for it.

  I’m now running a few times a week, while I figure out my next goal.

  8. While cleaning out my closet recently I found a costume I made when I first started my current job. I was there for a week when I discovered they dressed up for Halloween (something I have come to detest.) I was new and wanted to attempt the tradition and I made myself a snail costume.

  It only makes sense that I dress as my biggest fear…ironically I adore Halloween, I just don’t love dressing up at work. The DIY snail found its way into the recycle bin, but not before I snapped one final photo.

  

  9. I think my dream job would be to help willing people declutter their lives/homes. I say willing because if someone isn’t ready to let go of things, the process becomes more difficult. One of the current house projects I am working on is helping my mom declutter her space. 30+ years of belongings need to be sorted through and organized, and nothing brings me more satisfaction that organizing.

  This was our plan when I moved back, but it took some time for my mom to be willing to jump on board. Patience has never been my virtue.

  10. One of the perks of going through old boxes is finding absolute gems of photographs. I think I found my favorite class photo of me as a child – from the silk blouse, and the red overalls, to the scowl on my face with my hands in my pockets. This feels like an accurate depiction of who I am as a person.

  Can we also take a moment to appreciate my Lord Farquadd haircut? My mom gave me this same snip for years.

  

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 29 Comments Tagged Early Morning Confessions, Little, Running

• Cascade Pass to Sahale Arm

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 11, 2023

  It’s the second week of December, and in Washington the rain is heavy, and the clouds are dark. I don’t mind this weather (yet), but I do find myself reminiscing on the brightness of fall. Two months ago my friend Caitlin and I went for one final big hike, and today I am going to share that story. It’s not often I see a hike that is four hours away and wrangle someone into coming with me, but per usual Caitlin is my go to gal – up for any adventure.

  Our original plan was to do this hike (driving included) in one day. We would get up before the birds, drive the long haul to the North Cascades, hike 11-12 miles, and drive home. We would be tired, but we could do it, right? This trail is one of, if not THE most popular trail in the North Cascades meaning we had to ensure getting to the trail early, or we risked having to park on the already too tiny gravel road. In order to ensure we had a parking spot we decided to find a cheap Air B&B and drive up the night before.

  We found Lolita, a 1979 Airstream for a whopping $70 a night.

  

  Lolita was cozy, but the bed was rock hard and I slept maybe a total of 3 hours that night. We woke up around 0500, and headed straight for the trail head. Thankfully I had enough caffeine and adrenaline to get me going, and I was stoked to only be driving two hours instead of four. We arrived at the trail head around 0700 with just enough time to snag one of the remaining parking spots.

  The lot was filling up fast, but thankfully for the majority of our hike we didn’t run into too many people.

  This hike is popular because there are two main options: hike the Cascade Pass Trail which is a moderate 7 mile round trip hike to a beautiful overlook, or continue on to the Sahale Arm which is an additional 5 miles round trip (plus about 2000 feet more elevation.) I would say half of the people who come to this trail stop at the Cascade Pass. The views to Cascade Pass are beautiful on their own, but I cannot imagine coming all this way and not continuing on to the Sahale Arm.

  

  

  

  

  Caitlin and I specifically saved this hike for the first week of October because it is well known for having amazing fall colors. We could not have gone on a better day, the temperature was perfect, the sun was bright, and the colors were intense. If we had waited just one more week we would have been hit with snow.

  We arrived at Cascade Pass just under two hours after we started. This is when the wind started to pick up, and it only got stronger the higher we got. I was continually taking my jacket off and putting my jacket on in an attempt to combat the heat from climbing and the chill from the wind. We took our time to stop and savor the views along the way, all the while playing leap from with one woman who was wearing the same jacket as me, but in a different color.

  

  

  

  We savored the view of the above lake both on the way up and on the way down. This lake would be our focal point for the majority of the second half of the hike. At one point I even saw myself rolling down the hill, falling into the lake. More on that later. Overall I felt great on this hike, physically I had energy, and mentally I was stoked. We were having fun and the landscape could not have been more beautiful.

  

  

  Until…

  I eventually reached a point where each step felt like I had bricks tied to the bottom of my feet. My lungs felt like someone was sitting on them, and the air around me felt tight. I often struggle accepting when things are physically challenging for me, so I was getting frustrated by the fact that Caitlin seemed unfazed while I was having a hard time.

  Turns out we were nearing 7000 feet of elevation, explaining why I was struggling with air.

  Ultimately it shouldn’t matter, but I was comforted by this justification for my breathing. As we continued on we weren’t sure of where the end was. We just kept putting one foot in front of the other, fighting the wind, and admiring the brave souls who camped overnight. I cannot imagine sleeping with that kind of wind all night. We finally came to the end of the obvious trail, and met the portion of trail that was predominately boulders. This was a “choose your own path” type of trail, and when a pair of men passed us to the right, we chose to follow them.

  Mistakes were made.

  

  

  While Caitlin billy goated her way after them, I began crawling as the “trail” became tighter and the rocks became smaller and more slippery. We were on an edge that made every single hair on my body stand up as I shook with each crawl. I am a dramatic child when it comes to trail edges, and I was starting to struggle. Caitlin sensed my struggle, and was also convinced we took the wrong side. She didn’t have to tell me twice about finding an alternative route, but before we turned around she snapped the above photo of me while I was trying to find my footing.

  I almost look like I know what I am doing. Thankfully I did not in fact roll down the hill into the lake.

  We found a far better path, but my adrenaline was still high. We were both exhausted and unsure if we wanted to continue the final 0.3 miles to the “summit.” We had made it to the main view point, we were moving slow with the altitude and fatigue, and I was a bit shook by the trail edge. We sat at our chosen end spot for 20 minutes, eating snacks, before deciding we were too damn close to stop there. We were going to stop at the proper summit even if it took us an hour.

  Turns out it only took us an additional 10 minutes or so. This is a reminder that our brains often tell us something is harder than it really is.

  

  The final push brought us over a ridge that allowed us to see what most people come here for – the Sahale Glacier. We couldn’t see the glacier from our original stopping point, and while I had no desire to walk onto the glacier, seeing it was worth the extra trudge. We clocked in around 12 miles with 4000 feet of elevation when we made it back down, and the entire hike took us around 8 hours. This was by far the best hike I have done in a while, and I am so jazzed Caitlin and I made it happen.

  

  

  

  The drive out was just as much of an adventure as the drive in because people had parked on both sides of a tiny road. We knew this was happening ahead of time thanks to multiple trail reports, all the more reason we wanted to arrive early. I cannot justify parking like an asshole, and it was sketchy trying to squeeze between two cars. It felt like driving on a back road somewhere in the UK.

  Our four hour drive home turned into five or six thanks to Seattle traffic, but Caitlin and I were riding the high of our hike the entire drive back. It doesn’t take much to make me a happy camper. A quick overnight trip for a beautiful hike is almost all it takes to reset my factory settings when I am feeling off. This was my first hike in the North Cascades, and I can assure you it will not be my last.

  Q: Anyone else reminiscing on fall? It’s my favorite season, but I do try to savor each season for what it brings.

  

  | 41 Comments Tagged Hiking, North Cascades, PNW

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 15, 2023

  1. I have one last hike I want to share from the beginning of October, but it’s been so long since I’ve popped on here that I think an Early Morning Confessions post is in order. Somehow it’s already mid November, and almost time to scarf down pounds of turkey. It’s also almost time to be thankful Duncan is nearly one year older. Confession: I’m older than my sweet, young, boyfriend.

  Any guesses on how much of a gap we have?

  2. Speaking of the almost birthday boy, we managed our annual trip to a pumpkin patch just before Halloween. The pumpkin pickings were slim at this patch, and it looked as if a tornado had ripped through the farm leaving rotted gourds in its wake. We managed to find two small rejects that we turned into starry eyed puke faces.

  

  

  3. One of my coworkers is constantly recommending off the cuff movies to me. I have watched most of the ones he has suggested, some I have ruminated on after watching, but none more than the one I watched most recently. I wanted to watch Midsommar since first hearing about it, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into with that movie.

  It was one of the most disturbing movies I have seen in years, and yet I obsessed over it for a week.

  I don’t watch scary movies. They are absolutely not for me. I will envision scenes for far too long causing extensive fear of the dark as a full grown adult. This was a horror movie of sorts and although I cannot handle true horror, the psychological thriller aspect of this movie captivated me. However, I was thankful my coworker warned me of a specifically gory scene, I don’t like gore either.

  Has anyone else seen this movie?

  4. My cat is doing much better these days. I think I have dialed in what he needs in his geriatric stage of life. He is playful and eats well, seems to feel ok, and loves to snuggle. Now that the colder months have arrived he is a sucker for the space heater. He sticks his paws right under the vent that blows hot air, and the image kills me every time. I also bought him a heating pad because he is spoiled and he is my child.

  

  

  5. My dad came to visit at the end of September and spent a few days falling in love with my cat. He loves my cat so much he almost stuffed him in his duffle bag to take back home with him. He also went into full dad mode analyzing my car to ensure it was in top shape (I have driven the same car since 2008, and I absolutely love it.) One of these statements is true, and the other is not.

  Any guesses?

  6. My friend Sam and I took a day trip to Oregon the weekend before Halloween. Our goal was to visit Halloweentown, aka the town of St. Helens. For my fellow millennials who grew up in the 90’s you might remember this Disney channel movie. We rewatched the movie before going to Oregon and it was just as terribly great as I remembered.

  It was fun to see the filming location right in the center of town, and movie aside this was an adorable place.

  

  

  

  7. On this trip to Oregon we also stopped in Portland for Sam to visit Powell’s Books. I knew Portland would have some gluten free goodies, and I found a bakery around the corner from the bookstore. I was flabbergasted by the prices of the goods, and although I do better with gluten free than gluten full, I was not about to pay copious amounts of cash to feel like crap. I settled on a $6 scone that thankfully blew my socks off.

  It was worth every single repercussion.

  8. My friend Caitlin and I have been staying active despite the rainy weather. I am thankful to have a pal like her who is always up for an outdoor adventure. She has the sweetest adventure pup, and that means a lot coming from a cat lady.

  

  9. Staying active in the fall and winter months is imperative for my mental well being. I have started running more regularly again in an attempt to mitigate any seasonal sadness that is inevitably coming my way (I run year round, but only 1-2 times a week when it’s hiking season). Last year I did a run streak starting on Thanksgiving where I ran everyday for 39 days.

  A handful of those days I only ran one mile, but it was enough to keep my spirits high. I have decided to start the streak early this year, and this year my goal is to run at least two miles most days. I won’t be upset if there are days I only manage one mile (hello PMS week, I’m looking at you), but I’ll shoot for two.

  I’m on day 8, wish me luck.

  10. This year I got back into reading and it has been an enjoyable way to avoid too much time on social media. Social media does little to no good for bettering my life, and while it can be fun to scroll mindlessly once in a while, I do my best to not be on it too much.

  I tend to obsess over stories that haunt me, and the book that destroyed me most this year was: A Little Life. There are so many trigger warnings for this book, and I found it to be a sad story along the way, but it wasn’t until the end that it broke me. I sobbed for probably 10 minutes straight, and I was sad for a week. I don’t recommend this book because it’s filled with trauma, but I have never read a book where the main character stuck with me long after reading.

  I am glad I read this one. Books and movies that make me feel things are usually worth it for me. Real life is messy, I need messy stories. Sometimes.

  

  Q’s:

  • What’s your confession?
  • Have you read any books lately that you recommend?

  

  | 36 Comments Tagged Cats, Early Morning Confessions, Halloween, Little, Running

• Autumn Has Arrived

  Posted at 11:15 AM by Brittany, on October 11, 2023

  I have been making a habit of visiting Trader Joe’s about once a week in the last year, and on each visit I was counting down the days until I saw the sign. The sign that indicates the changes of seasons, the Holy Grail of the modern day basic American woman, and the source of a multi month giddiness I know I am not alone in…

  

  Hello. My name is Brittany, and I loose my marbles over the beginning of pumpkin season.

  The thing is, I don’t actually consume most pumpkin items. I’ve never even had my own pumpkin spice latte (I have had sips, but it’s not for me for a handful of reasons.) For me seeing this sign is an indication that calmer days are coming my way. The busyness of summer adventures are coming to an end, the rainy days are on the horizon, and the much needed rest my body seeks is more acceptable to my go, go, go mindset.

  I love fall. This time of year always feels cleansing to me. A time to appreciate the changes of colors in nature, heartier seasonal foods, and there is a sense of joy that fills my soul when I see pumpkins sitting outside every grocery store. What can I say, I am a sucker for large orange spheres. Walking into Trader Joe’s with the smells of cinnamon brooms and the sights of every gourd imaginable makes me feel like a kid again.

  I don’t care what this says about me, I will take any source of excitement I can get.

  

  Pumpkin season also starts my adventurous attitude with food. I typically keep things strict with what I eat, but I let my hair down this time of year through Christmas to taste some forbidden fruits. There are a handful of seasonal treats I avoid, but there are a handful I don’t avoid. I had been waiting 365 days for Trader Joe’s to bring back an item I discovered last year, one I consumed many times.

  And in typical Trader Joe’s fashion they did not bring back my beloved this year.

  As my luck would have it anytime I find a decent gluten free item, it’s limited. I fell in love with a local muffin company a handful of years ago and they no longer exist. I fell in love with Trader Joe’s gluten free pumpkin bread and it no longer exists (at least not at my local store.) This bread was hands down one of the best store bought loafs I have ever eaten. It’s hard for me to find a treat that not only tastes good, but doesn’t leave me feeling like I consumed an entire fifth of vodka the night before.

  

  Alas, I must move on and continue to seek a new seasonal treat. There are some items that are seasonal, but they’re items I would eat on a normal basis. Add a seasonal flavor to something and I am all over it. Sometimes they are a win, and sometimes they are such a huge loss that I wish teleportation existed so I could speak face to face with whomever created such an abomination.

  

  

  Tasty treats aside I also look forward to an annual visit to a pumpkin patch/corn maze. The weather has been a bit finicky in Washington, but I hope to get lost in a maze soon. I last all of 15 minutes before I stop trying and begin allowing Duncan to guide me out. I just like to wander. The pumpkins, the flannels, the boots, the corn, the leaves changing – all of this is the beginning of a magical few months of holiday seasons.

  I never used to be big on holidays, but as I get older I look forward to them. I don’t care for the consumeristic aspect of them, in fact I abhor that correlation with holidays, but I love the sense of togetherness it brings. I love the fun activities available, the foods, and sometimes even the weather. I savor October and November and I look forward to many pots of homemade applesauce, nights of wool socks and movies, stormy afternoons while I snuggle with my cat, and all the decorated porches.

  

  If anyone out there knows of a good gluten free item I must try (yeah yeah I know I can just make my own and I DO, but sometimes a girl just wants to buy an unhealthy treat), please let me know. Or just share with me your favorite fall treat you like to consume.

  Q’s:

  • Do you like fall?
  • Do you get seasons where you live?
  • What’s your favorite fall treat!?

  

  | 43 Comments Tagged Fall, Pumpkin, Trader Joes

• Mount Rainier – Take Two

  Posted at 10:00 AM by Brittany, on October 6, 2023

  At the end of July Duncan and I took a trip to Mount Rainier, with the expectation of hiking one of the many lovely trails on the Sunrise side of the park. The park has two main “areas” and most of the popular trails start on either the Sunrise side, or the Paradise side. Last September we went for a hike on the Paradise side which is significantly larger as far as parking and accommodations, and when deciding what time we should leave to arrive for our hike this year we based everything off of those aforementioned facts: September, Paradise.

  Duncan likes to sleep in, while I am content leaving the house at 0500 to ensure we beat the crowds. In order to find a middle ground we left around 0700 with the intent of arriving around 0930. This is what we did last time, so it should have worked well, right? Turns out July is not September (duh, July is far busier), and the Sunrise side is not Paradise. The Sunrise side has significantly limited parking meaning we arrived to find ourselves in a line of other cars, waiting to get past the gate.

  NO, no, no, noooo.

  

  

  After waiting for 30 minutes or so, I asked a passing park ranger how long we could expect to wait, and the words that came out of his mouth put me into a tunnel of darkness – “three hours.” Absolutely the heck not. Thankfully I was next to a pull out, and with no plan B we turned around and started driving. We had no cell service, no idea of where else to hike, and I was starting to have a melt down.

  I don’t handle changes of plans very well, especially when I have no way of finding an alternative.

  I ended up driving the ENTIRE PARK over to the Paradise side which was MADNESS, before settling on a random trail off the side of the road. We walked through the woods passing a few small waterfalls, with the goal of finding Narada Falls. Ironically Narada Falls in accessible just off the road, but something about hiking to it make it all the more awe-worthy once we arrived. We hiked from Carter Falls to Narada Falls clocking about 6 miles with 1300 ft of elevation gain.

  

  The trail overall was so-so, would not do again, but the day was beautiful and I had a good sport of a passenger. If only he could say the same about me. I was admittedly a pill the majority of the afternoon, but once we were able to get out and start walking I think I turned it around. I don’t know, you’ll have to ask Duncan.

  

  Fast forward to a couple weeks ago. It is now September (good time of year), I have two willing humans wanting to leave at 0500, and there is rain on the forecast. A recipe for success. My friend Caitlin and her sister Christina met me at my house for an early departure to hike once again on the Sunrise side of the park. This days adventure was a walk to the Berkeley Park Campground, with an offshoot to the Fremont lookout on the way back.

  All three of us were a bit trepidatious due to the weather forecast, but we decided to go anyway. We arrived at the parking lot by 0730, and the entire lot was swallowed by a thick cloud. There was plenty of parking, but the air was chilled and I quickly discovered I did not dress warmly enough. I was certain we wouldn’t have any views that day, but karma was on our side. As soon as we started hiking the sky opened up.

  

  

  

  The Berkeley Park trail took us through open meadows and away from the mountain for a unique view of this park. We hiked 4 miles to the campground area, had a snack, and headed back towards the Fremont Lookout. I originally wanted to do the Fremont Lookout Trail as a sunrise hike, but we would have to wake up around 0100 for this, and honestly I don’t think I care enough to watch a sunrise. The views from the lookout were just as lovely during the normal hours of the day.

  

  

  

  

  We savored the view for all of five minutes before the wind took most of our warmth and I could no longer feel my fingers. We made our way back towards the parking lot, making this hike a total of 10.75 miles and around 2300 ft of elevation. This take two of recent visits to Mount Rainier went much better than the first, and a large part of why was because I lowered my expectations.

  

  These two hikes might have been different in all ways – different weather, different company, different attitude, but there was one commonality between the two. There is a local shop 30 min outside of the park that sells ice cream, and it is well worth the splurge. This recent hike my hands were too cold to eat one of my snacks, so I got vanilla ice cream to top with my snack. Absolute win.

  The perk of being an adult is that you can reward yourself whether your attitude is positive or negative, and I rewarded myself after both hikes.

  

  Q: Do you like arriving early places before the crowds, or would you rather sleep in and arrive when you arrive?

  

  | 26 Comments

• August Alpine Lakes

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on September 23, 2023

  Within the last few years I have become fascinated and intrigued by the benefits of cold water therapy. As someone who does whatever they can to manage autoimmune flare ups, the idea of dipping ones body into frigid waters makes sense to me as a way to mitigate inflammation. When my water heater broke last November I took a cold showers (in the middle of winter) for over a month, and while the initial process was not fun, I felt amazing.

  Alas, when the water heater was fixed I was happy to go right back to warm showers.

  I didn’t always embrace cold water. When I was in my 20’s I used to avoid going into the ocean when at the beach, or alpine lakes while hiking, but in 2020 I submerged my body into an Austrian alpine lake after a very, VERY hot day of hiking and I was sold. The last few summers I have done my best to get into the water at the beach at least once during beach visits, and this past August I managed to swim in two alpine lakes.

  First up: Lake 22

  

  

  A modest, beautiful hike in the Snoqualmie National Forest area, clocking in at 6 miles RT with an elevation gain of 1500′. I embarked on this adventure with my friend Caitlin and her sister Christina. In an attempt to beat the crowds and the heat we left at 0500, arriving at the trail head by 0700. We were the first car in the lot, quickly followed by one other guy. He beat us to the lake, but as we were arriving he was leaving, giving us the lake to ourselves for at least 45 minutes,

  I had never done this hike before, but I can see why it is so popular. There is a well maintained boardwalk system that circumnavigates the entirety of the lake, and the reflection of the surrounding mountains are stunning. We found a spot in the sun and started swimming around 0900. I kept my body submerged in this cold, yet refreshing water for at least 25 minutes before we headed back down. This was a perfect introduction.

  Next up: Snow Lake & Gem Lake

  

  

  Heading East of Seattle towards Snoqualmie Pass is one of the most popular summer hikes in the Seattle area. Snow Lake is a 6.7 mile RT, 1700′ elevation gain hike that hundreds of people flock to. The waters of Snow Lake are some of the most blue and green I have seen in this area, and this is one of my favorite hikes. It had been years since I hiked this trail, and I wrangled Caitlin into hiking this, with the intention of continuing on to Gem Lake for a swim.

  Gem Lake is an additional 3 miles, with an extra 1000′ of elevation or so, and I was hopeful we could find a pocket of solace as most people stop at Snow Lake. We arrived at the Snow Lake trail head around 0700, and there were a LOT of cars in the lot already. People likely staying in the nearby cabins, and we saw a few parties starting their ascent up to Snow Lake. We were able to pass some people, giving us the trail mostly to ourselves on the way up. We stopped for our first snack once we reached Snow Lake, appreciating the quiet of the early morning ambiance.

  

  

  The final trek to Gem Lake was easier than I anticipated. It was getting warm, the high of this day was in the 90’s, but with a cold lake to look forward to it was easy to push on. Thankfully with the early start we beat most of the heat, until we were going down. More on that in a minute. We passed a few people who had camped along the way, we weaved and bobbed through the trees, we scrambled over a rocky field (my ankles were sore for days after this), until finally we reached the lake.

  There were more people than I expected at this lake, but we still found our own spot to swim. We were in the shade, which was chilly, but it only took a minute before my body acclimated to the water. One of my favorite things to do after sitting in cold water for a bit is to crack my knuckles. My joints swell when it’s hot and when I am hiking, and twisting my back to pop as well was such a relief. We stayed in our section of water for probably 30 minutes.

  

  

  

  Across from us on a rock higher up were two guys listening to music. This smaller cove like lake area carries sound incredibly well, and although they were too far away to normally hear them, with the water carrying their sounds we heard not only their obnoxious music, but their voices. At one point one of them said: “those girls are staying in the water.” Clearly they were being outshone by us women, and they jumped one by one from their ledge into the water.

  This made my sphincters tighten, I don’t like watching people jump into possibly shallow waters.

  Caitlin and I both stayed in the water cooling off, but once I felt my fingers turning white I knew it was time to get out. We moved ourselves into the sun to eat our second snack before heading back down to the car. Caitlin and I sneakily took similar photos of each other while we were snacking, great minds think alike.

  

  

  I couldn’t tell you what exactly went wrong for me as we made our way back down. Maybe it was the RX bar I ate (those never sit the best, but man I love them), maybe it was the heat getting into the 90’s, maybe it was fatigue, but I started to feel incredibly nauseous as we descended the switch backs after passing Snow Lake. The traffic was stop and go at times because there were so many people coming up (whoever decides to start a hike at 1300 in 90 degree weather is a certified psychopath in my opinion) making the hike down slower than I’d have liked.

  This was a one step at a time descent for me, and I was so thankful when we reached the car. Unfortunately I was sick the entire 2 hour ride home, but thankfully Caitlin drove to this hike. I had my eyes shut most of the the way home focusing on my breathing and doing my best not to hurl on my newfound hiking pal. I made it home unscathed, took a shower, ate, and finally started to feel better.

  

  Sickness aside, this was my favorite hike of the year so far. It was a beautiful day, and I loved swimming in Gem Lake. Swimming here was a full circle moment for me, because the last time I hiked to Gem Lake in 2014 my hiking pal swam, but I did not. I was overheated then too, but wasn’t comfortable with my body (the irony, I was at my thinnest then – typical female brain) so I did not swim.

  These days I could care less what people think of my body, I’m getting in the damn lake.

  As I say goodbye to summer the weather is turning colder, and the pumpkin products have hit the shelves. I don’t see many alpine lake swims for me the rest of the year, but who knows maybe a true polar plunge is in my future. Fall hiking is my favorite, and I cannot wait to watch the leaves change. Crunchy walks here I come.

  Q: Do you like swimming in cold water?

  

  | 62 Comments Tagged Alpine Lake, Gem Lake, Hiking, PNW, Snow Lake

• Summer

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on September 14, 2023

  I have been all over the place lately. My mind has been scattered, stale, and stagnant. When my cat got sick back in May it threw me for a bit of a loop. Three months of daily morning medications, non stop monitoring of symptoms and bathroom habits, and trying new foods. This meant I wasn’t finding much time for myself and what I enjoy doing. It took another month before I felt comfortable leaving him alone for a night. I can blame my anxiety for that one.

  I would go to the ends of the world for this cat, and I am thankful he is stable and doing well, but admittedly I have felt a bit lost as to where my focus should be directed.

  I couldn’t see much past the basics, going to work, and spending time with Little. I knew I needed to spend some time out of my house, and while Duncan is a huge support to me, we have differing desires for how to spend our free time. We compromise most weekends, but in an attempt to let Duncan off the hook (because let’s face it, if someone isn’t overly interested in hiking giant mountains, it’s not fun for anyone) I befriended my coworker Caitlin.

  

  It’s no secret I enjoy spending most of my free time outside. It’s not only physically beneficial for me, but mentally as well. I thrive knowing I have weekend plans to hike a mountain or travel somewhere new, and I’m kicking myself for taking so long to ask Caitlin to hangout outside of work. We have been working closely together for around two years now, but I knew she kept to herself on her weekends.

  We slowly learned over time that we had similar humor, similar interests, and there was something about her I knew I would click with. She invited me to go kayaking with her back in June and from there I knew it was game on. We talked about hiking a local trail in passing one day, and I decided to make it happen. Since our first hike together in July we have been making a habit of hiking as often as we can. She is up for any hike I throw her way, and it has been so helpful for my mental health to have someone I can go on bigger adventures with.

  

  Making friends as an adult is hard. There is no way around that. Making friends as an emotionally charged introvert is ever harder. I am very sensitive to peoples energies and I can almost immediately tell if I am not going to vibe with someone. As children we are told to be friends with anyone and everyone, but as an adult I have become the polar opposite. If I don’t like your energy, I will not spend time with you.

  This is nothing to apologize for, not everyone is for everyone and that’s ok.

  Whenever I am feeling stuck or stale there is usually a correlation. I am either not doing the things that bring me joy, or I don’t have a community of people around me who shares similar interests. My job will never be my source of joy, or purpose, therefor it’s imperative for me to continue finding ways to connect with the world and the people around me outside of where I make money.

  

  I wasn’t sure if I would have many summer adventures this year. Keeping close to Little has been my main priority the last handful of months, but I have been able to sprinkle a hike in most weekends since Caitlin and I started hiking together. We have a few more planned, some of which Duncan will tag along on, and I am directing my focus on enjoying the little things in life.

  This first hike Caitlin and I did was one I had hiked back in 2014, and then again in 2015. It had been so long I didn’t remember anything about it. This was my first “bigger” hike in a while, and it felt good to get my lungs working again. The sun was out for the first half of this hike, but as we reached the top the clouds moved in, allowing sporadic pockets of views. I made sure to give Caitlin the best view of my face, a look reserved for true friends.

  

  

  As it turns out I had summer adventures after all. I hiked, I picked blueberries and blackberries, I ran, I rode my bike, I read three books, I took countless evening and morning drives with Little to see horses and sheep and chickens, I went on walks with friends, I spent time with people I love, and I never had to stray too far from my child. I am excited for fall and the hiking to come, and I am excited to continue finding pockets of joy in the simplicity of my happily mundane life.

  Q: Did you travel far this summer? Let me live through you.

  

  | 31 Comments Tagged Hiking, Little, Summer

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 31, 2023

  1. I have a lot of random things to write, and what better way than an Early Morning Confessions post. For starters, just before Duncan and I took our vacation we celebrated my childs 15th birthday. We bought party hats, I gave him a pâté of prescription food (which he no longer eats) sprinkled with fish flakes, we bought gifts, and we sang to him.

  I was certain the gift I bought him would be a hit (pink ball with green fuzzy worm), while the gift Duncan bought would be a dud (a catnip stuffed cigar because he is an old man now, as Duncan said.) Come to find out he was terrified of my gift (the bouncy ball sent him running) and obsessed with Duncans. Go figure.

  

  

  

  

  2. That tiny black ball of fur is my best pal. He brings me so much joy and I am certain he is my soul cat. I’m not sure we get more than one soul pet in our lives, and I have never felt a bond with an animal the way I do with him. Shortly after returning from vacation he had a week long spell of vomiting, and was eating less than normal. He was due for a senior check up so I took him in.

  After three days in a row of testing and specialists he was diagnosed with IBD, pancreatitis and he was incredibly constipated. He was put on steroids to help with inflammation and I completely overhauled his diet. Changing his food was nerve wracking because although I was certain his food was contributing to the problem (prescription urinary food filled with gargbage), I was worried he would get another urinary blockage (he had one in 2018 that almost killed him.)

  It’s been two months of daily steroids (we are currently on the taper), trying multiple types of food, and absolute exhaustion and stress for me. The vomiting has stopped, and I found a probiotic that has helped his poops, but I still have daily anxiety. I’m struggling to let go of the obsessive control to heal him. I am doing everything I can to ensure he is ok for the rest of his life.

  He may have turned 15 recently, but I expect at least 2-3 more years with him.

  3. Back in May, the weekend before the journey with Little (my cat) began, I went for a hike with three gal pals I met in Germany. Galiya, a friend who I became close with at a time when I needed friendship was coming to visit her pal Sarah in Bend, OR. I knew Sarah, but we didn’t spend any time together. Galiya, Sarah, and I met up with Paige, a friend who I worked with and greatly enjoyed who now lives in Portland.

  We hiked Dog Mountain, a trail I had been wanting to hike for a while. This was such a beautiful day of reunion and I would give anything for close friends to live nearby.

  

  

  

  4. My car is from 2007 and had the most ugly, disgustingly clouded headlights for years. I didn’t care much, but at a recent oil change (I go to the Toyota dealership), I was asked if I wanted my headlights restored FOR OVER $150!!! Absolutely not. I decided to try it myself and used this Rain-X product for $20.

  I was chuffed with the results, and 10/10 would use again.

  5. The summer is here in full force, but I haven’t done many fun activities. Between selling my soul to corporate America and spending time with Little, I haven’t had much space for anything else. I have had a few walk/hikes I have enjoyed, gone for plenty of runs, and a few noteworthy bike rides, but I am longing for a weekend getaway.

  I don’t see many getaways in my future for quite some time, but I would give up all the vacations in my life to spend more time with my fur babe.

  

  

  

  6. This song has made it onto my liked songs on Spotify, and I listen to it often. I first heard it on Instagram, then I found it on YouTube, and I try to show everyone I can. I showed my mom last week and we both cried we were laughing so hard.

  7. Have I talked about Little too much in this post? I think that’s impossible, so here is another fun fact. Due to his recent IBD diagnosis I have stopped letting him in the backyard. He eats too much grass which results in vomiting and irritation. Backyard adventures were his favorite, and in an attempt to keep him stimulated/avoid boredom and depression I have found a new adventure.

  We now go on car rides.

  I experimented a bit ago by putting him in my car sans carrier, and driving slowly around the block. I wanted to ensure he would be chill, and once I saw how he behaved we moved to longer and further rides. I do not take him on the freeway/highway like this, but slower back roads have become a joy for us both. He LOVES these rides.

  We even went to Duncans for a few hours one day, which he enjoyed until he didn’t anymore.

  

  

  

  8. Consumerism is driving me mad. I have always struggled with the idea of having too many “things”, but it wasn’t until I worked in a retail setting that I saw the effects of: “more, more, more.” Sure, I like buying things that I will use, and I have been known to buy things I likely don’t need, but on such an elevated scale where people around me treat buying and selling “stuff” like it’s life or death – I just can’t.

  9. I don’t normally like water activities. I’m more of a land gal, but in an attempt to push outside of my comfort zone I went kayaking with one of my coworker/friends recently. I rented an ORU Kayak (these fold up/down for easier transportation and storage), and accompanied her to a nearby lake for an evening paddle.

  The kayak was a pain in the ass to set up, not all of them are as intricate as the one I used, but once it was ready to glide I loved it.

  

  10. I am feeling quite lonely these days. No matter where I am in my life I struggle to find people who “get me.” Most of the people I am surrounded by are surface level friendships, or acquaintances. It’s rare for me to find someone I connect with deeply, and this leads to me feeling like the odd man out around most people.

  Some seasons of life I have more connections than others, but people move/life changes, and when I start feeling like this I allow myself to feel the heaviness that comes with a lack of community. A reminder to continue fostering my deeper friendships from afar. As with all things in life it’s an ebb and flow, and the times of loneliness make the deeper connections all the more special.

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 30 Comments Tagged Early Morning Confessions, Life, Little

• Delos and Mykonos, Greece

  Posted at 10:00 AM by Brittany, on July 10, 2023

  After a long and wonderful day in Istanbul, I was excited to sleep in and have a morning on the ship before our last full day of vacation. If you read my first post of this series you will know I wanted more time on the ship to soak in the sights from the water, the activities on board, etc. Somewhat of an ironic statement for someone who has thalassophobia.

  From Turkey we were heading back to Greece for one more adventure, but we would not arrive until 1200. I’m naturally an early riser and this gave me time to do all the things I wanted to do that morning. I greatly enjoyed having a leisure breakfast, time to savor my coffee, and one more run around the outdoor jogging track.

  The wind was wild that morning, and one side of the ship had me running through what felt like full bodied molasses thanks to the wind.

  

  Lucky for me, the wind meant there were no other humans on the deck and I could run without having to stop. After my run I showered and got ready with Duncan to grab some lunch before we took a ferry boat to the shores of Mykonos. We were unable to port the cruise ship, but a constant shuttle was running throughout the day for people to come and go.

  We took the small boat to the shore where we met our guide who was taking us to Delos, a small island that can only be reached by boat (third boat ride for us of the day.) There are boats that depart from Mykonos and some of the surrounding island, and I highly recommend a trip to Delos if you’re ever in the area.

  

  

  The boat ride took about 45 minutes and the waters of the sea were beautiful. When booking this tour I had never heard of Delos, but it was one of the few options that sounded interesting. The archaeological site on the island of Delos is the remains of a sanctuary to the gods Apollo and Artemis, and the city that developed around it.

  What was once a bustling port city is now a fascinating piece of history.

  We chose a tour that offered iPads, showing us what the land might have looked like back in the day. I was indifferent to the 3D aspect when booking, but Duncan was intrigued. Once we got to the tour the iPads were not of interest to either of us, and more of a hindrance.

  Our guide was knowledgable, kind, and easy to understand, but the iPads slowed us down and I wanted to explore more of the ruins.

  

  

  

  Immediately upon arrival to the island we were greeted by cat, after cat, after cat. If you have been following along with this vacation series (or if you just know me), you will know the cats stopped me in my tracks and were a huge distraction from listening to the guide. I eventually took my headpiece out and focused on the surroundings and focused on the cats.

  Duncan and I wandered off a few times, never out of ear shot, and we always found our way back to the group.

  

  

  

  This place was amazing, and I will absolutely return. I want to see more of the ruins as well as climb to the top of Mount Kynthos. I could not stop looking at this peak during our tour and wishing I had time to run up it. We were given about 15 minutes of free time at the end of the tour before wandering back to the boat heading to Mykonos. We found a cool structure, and then we were followed by two locals.

  

  

  

  

  After our adventure on Delos we had two hours to wander Mykonos as the evening wore on. It was 1800 when we arrived back to Mykonos and we were planning to take the 2000 shuttle back to the cruise ship. Originally I was worried this wouldn’t be enough time, but two hours was more than enough to wander and get a feel for this small city. It was beautiful weaving in and out of the streets in the evening.

  I had no goals here, other than to see white and blue streets, find the famous windmills, and pet as many cats as possible. We would be leaving the land of wild kitties the next day and I had to soak in as much as I could.

  

  

  

  

  After chatting with Duncan when we arrived back home, he decided this last day in Greece was his favorite. We were able to watch the sunset on the beach looking out towards the water, and Delos fueled his passion for history. My favorite day was still our first day in Israel, but the freedom of no plan in both Mykonos and previously in Rhodes made Greece a top contender for a return visit.

  

  

  

  Mykonos is a bit kitschy for my taste, but I was happy to have seen it. I don’t feel the need to return to Mykonos, but there are plenty of other islands I would love to see. Thankfully, while the shopping in Mykonos wasn’t for me there were plenty of friends to see before we left. We didn’t eat in any of the restaurants, but I can only assume the food was delicious.

  Before we left the island Duncan had the idea of taking another cringe hand guiding photo, but this time he would be leading me towards a cat. We took one of these photos as a joke on the ship one of our days, and now this feels like an appropriate tradition for us whenever we see a cat.

  

  

  

  We made it back onto the ship by 2000 and ate one final dinner in the buffet. The following morning we were up early to get our stuff together before disembarking the ship for the last time. The process for getting off the ship was chaos, my only negative feedback for the entire trip, but I made it off $30 richer thanks to a free credit we didn’t use. A win is a win.

  It has been two and a half months since our return, and I am still daydreaming about this adventure.

  I’m in awe of all that we saw – from Greece, to Israel, to Cyprus, to Greece, to Turkey, and back to Greece. Cruise ships vacations aren’t for everyone, but man was this an easy way to travel. This was my first international trip with Duncan and it went amazingly well. Now we will just have to see how he likes a Brittany planned international vacation. Muahaha.

  Q: Do you have any upcoming summer/fall/winter plans? Let me live through you!

  

  | 16 Comments Tagged Cats, Delos, Greece, Norwegian Cruise Line, Vacation

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