Blissfulbritt | Page 27

- Glamping on Herron Island, WA
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 22, 2016
  Those who know me know I will happily sleep outside in the middle of the woods with nothing but a hole I dig with my bare hands as a bathroom. I find this style of camping to be an adventure, and it allows me to fully submerge myself in nature. The problem with this is not everyone enjoys the rugged style of camping, and if I want to get away with those that don’t enjoy hiking 5 miles into the wilderness for isolation I need a plan B.
  
  When Glamping Hub, “the worlds leading online booking platform dedicated to unique accommodations in nature,” reached out to me to see if I’d be interested in staying at one of their featured Washington locations I was ALLLLL OVER IT. From tree houses, to yurts, to tents fancy enough for royalty I struggled to narrow down my first choice of locations.
  
  Then, just as I thought there was no way I could choose I read the words: “private island.” Sold. This was as close to being isolated as I was going to get with the perks of running water and heat. I chose a spot located on Herron Island in Washington, a tiny island with no more than 150 residents. So isolated you need a special pass to board a ferry to get there.
  
  #VIP
  
  The roads on the island are all gravel, the speed limit is 15 MPH, and there are no street lights or traffic stops. I saw more deer than I did people during our stay (which is perfect because I prefer animals to humans anyway.) I had no idea how they all made it to the island, but later discovered they SWIM. They SWIM TO THE ISLAND. I didn’t even know deer could swim. As if the deer weren’t enough, holiday ornaments were randomly placed on branches around the island adding to the charm.
  
  Note: Island has no shops/restaurants, and no wifi. Bring food and entertainment. Basically you have to exist how they did before we were brainwashed by corporations and technology. 🙂
  
  The host of the beach house we stayed at was kind beyond words, and very helpful with any of my questions. “So, is anyone going to get into the house with us being so secluded?” As visions of one too many horror films flashed before my eyes. “Oh no, there is a zero percent crime rate on the island.” Phew.
  
  With two rentals on the island, our host Donn allowed us access to both.
  
  My heart sang louder than a canary in heat for his tiny cabin over looking the water. You know those scenes in movies when someone has a moment where time stops, their face freezes up as they go into deep thought, and the camera zooms into their mind to show a memory or a vision? Similar to what I think an out of body experience might feel like?
  
  Well I had one of those moments in this tiny cabin. I saw my future life, living in a similar abode with an amazing view and minimal items.
  
  The cabin is the perfect size for a couple that wants to get away, or a solo adventurer that needs some peace and quiet. Heat for the cabin is man made in a wood burning stove, so you’re guaranteed to go home smelling like a large dose of “I’m awesome.” The back deck overlooks the water and leads down to the private beach.
  
  Poor lighting, but you get the idea. Main bed, bathroom, and stairs leading up to two loft beds!
  
  Kitchen to the left, dining to the right, entertaining space straight ahead.
  
  I will have to go back to sleep in this tiny cabin, it’s so amazingly perfect and I swooned so hard. My family and I stayed in the other rental on the island because it was bigger fit for the three of us, but secretly I pretended I was alone in the cabin. Actually it wasn’t a secret. I verbally expressed, “how about I leave you guys tonight and sleep alone at the cabin?” Crickets sounded as a response.
  
  The beach house we slept at was equally charming, and well fit for larger groups and for those that enjoy entertaining. I was a fan of the minor details of the house and the old appliances. My photos don’t do justice to the professional photos on the site, so I suggest you click the green links for a better view. I don’t get anything if you click them, I legit just suggest you look at a professionals eye view.
  
  Coat rack with fishing reel hangers.
  
  I chose the bedroom overlooking the water because I have a life goal to beat the birds when rising from the dead each day, and I wanted to see the world come to life out the window. This house sleeps up to 8, with four small loft beds up high. Perfect for kids.
  
  The heat was produced by a pellet stove, which was fascinating to me. Summer months won’t need the heat, but we definitely needed it in the winter. Both rentals offer kayaks and other boating systems to explore the beach with, but I was a wimp and stayed bundled on land.
  
  Kayak cabin.
  
  I was able to go for a 30 minute run on Saturday morning to get a lay of the land, and it was indeed small. It was fun to see all the deer, and other houses. Also, the beach house has a Whomping Willow out front, so that was cool. Our on site host was also very kind, and she sent us home with homemade bread, perfect ferry snack.
  
  There are three takeaways from this post that I will sum up for you now.
  1. If you live in Washington and want to get away I strongly suggest the tiny cabin, it was so adorable, and I want it for Christmas.
  2. If you don’t live in Washington, but want something similar check out Glamping Hub for areas near you.
  3. Deer can swim. I clearly didn’t watch enough Discovery Channel growing up.
  As I bid you adeiu, please enjoy this short video of a morning time lapse from the beach house.
  
  Q: Do you prefer camping in a tent, an RV, or in a cabin?
  | 55 Comments Tagged Camping, Explore, Glamping, Running, Washington
- Sayonara Sugar
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 19, 2016
  
  I often joke about my sweet tooth and talk about how it runs my life. I could easily out eat a full grown gorilla when it comes to anything with sugar, and in the past I’ve not worried about it too much because I had a decent balance on my intake.
  
  Fast forward to over a year ago, when my mental strength turned to mush.
  
  Some things occurred the last year and a half that helped catalyze my diet to become something you’d likely see on an episode of Jerry Springer, the foodie edition. It’s come to a point where it’s no longer a joke, and I’ve been completely hijacked by sugar. Don’t get me wrong, my Costco cart is still filled with greens, and the bulk of my diet are whole foods, but that doesn’t excuse the excess amounts of treats I’ve consumed.
  
  I will never completely abandon processed sugar, I’ve tried and it just causes me to binge. A healthy balance of greens and treats is what I long for, and because I’m not currently in a mental state to have “just one,” sugar has got to go. For now.
  
  I’m not proud of the spiral I’ve fallen into, and my carefree intake of processed foods has affected me both mentally and physically. I’ve gained 25 pounds, my fitness activities are challenging, and my motivation is dismal, but the good news (because I’m a sucker for silver linings and must end on a positive note) is that this is reversible.
  
  Whole Foods – the king of vegan chocolate mousse
  
  Life happens, and sometimes that means we fall off the wagon. Or in my case, get body slammed off the wagon, run over, and then the wagon backs up just for good measure. We’re human and sometimes it takes time to realize our actions aren’t serving us very well, and in my case it’s taken over a year. I can only take what happens in life and learn from it.
  
  I’ve been dwelling long enough on my choices and it’s time to make some changes. I no longer want to just “look a certain way,” but rather I want to feel a certain way. I want to sleep better, I want my skin to feel hydrated, I want my energy levels to be elevated, I no longer want my eyes to look lifeless, I want my joint and muscle inflammation to dissipate, and most importantly I want my mind to be at peace.
  
  Sugar messes with so many parts of our bodies, and our brains are hit the hardest.
  
  SO I went out with a bang last week and stocked up on treats from Whole Foods, because they are my JAM when it comes to vegan baked goods. Starting today I will be training for my seventh half marathon, which will help get me back on track. Within the next three months I plan to avoid any and all processed sugar with one exception – my birthday.
  
  Life’s too short not to have cake on your birthday.
  
  Whole Foods – mile high vegan cupcakes
  
  I guarantee I will have x-rated fantasy’s of sugar dancing in my lap, and post race I plan to indulge in the most decadent of treats, but overall I hope to regain my mental strength, reestablish some self control, and rediscover what balance means for me.
  
  Posting this on the blog is my attempt to stay accountable because it’s easy to put this into words after eating a locally made donut when my sugar levels have been filled, but come next week when my reserves are empty I’ll need this accountability to stay strong. I know when I’m out running my double digit miles next month I’ll thank myself, because without all the processed garbage blocking my innards running will feel so much better.
  
  Three months sans sugar, and three months of focused running to bring me back to a balanced state of living. I’ll do random updates every so often. One of my favorite half marathon training plans has every Monday as a rest day, including the first one.
  
  Starting off training with a rest day, I can work with that.
  
  Instead of running today you can find me at work, and unwinding with one of my favorite gifts of the year. A friend of mine took one of my Instagram photos and had it made into a puzzle. It was a total surprise, and totally awesome. Also, I’m still rocking three pumpkins outside my house because I have separation anxiety for the fall season.
  
  Wish me luck, and if I snap at you while having a conversation just know it’s nothing personal. It’s just the sugar beast searching for glucose. 🙂
  
  Q: What’s the longest you’ve gone without sugar? For those of you that live sugar free, what was it like when you first made the lifestyle change?
  
  | 64 Comments Tagged Half Marathon, Running, Sugar Free, Vegan, Whole Foods
- The First Snow
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 12, 2016
  
  The crunch under my feet could only be described as that of fresh fallen snow. I saw the white blanket of death outside my window in the early morning hours, but felt confident enough to get into my car and start my commute to work. The sky was still dark, providing just enough light to reflect off the smooth, unscathed snow.
  
  I slowly backed my two wheel drive vehicle out of my driveway with vigilance, quietly praying that I didn’t glissade into a ditch. The first slip of the wheels should have been enough for me to turn around and crawl back into bed, surely it was still warm with two lazy felines laying atop the blankets.
  
  The first hill out of my driveway caused my wheels to spin, but my car couldn’t be bothered to project forward. Shit. I don’t dare quit yet, I haven’t made it to the main roads and surely they have more traction. Wrong. Out of the hood I come and the moment of truth is staring me in the face like a creature without eyelids. This blink-less stare off between me and the while icy roads lasts much longer than it should have.
  
  I grip my steering wheel with a potent force strong enough to crush steel with my bare hands. The fear building inside my soul can only be expressed properly though interpretive dance, where my arms flail in the air like one of those blow up tube men shown at car sales.
  
  My breaks don’t work the way they were designed to as I make my way down the hill, but I slowly pump them anyway in an attempt to defy the odds. As a child I would often defy the rules of life and this is something I’ve carried into my adulthood. I make it to the bottom of the hill, but not without my life flashing before my eyes in a horrifyingly detailed way.
  
  “I haven’t hit the summit of Machu Picchu yet, I haven’t had any cookies today, OH THE HORROR I haven’t met Tom Hiddleston!” Snow capped trees surround me as I try to find the beauty in the adventure of driving my “not made for snow” vehicle further and further from the safe confines of my house.
  
  Photo from a hike last week, not from my drive. My drive was 5x this much snow.
  
  Suddenly a thought pops into my head. “WHAT IF, I actually listen to my gut today. WHAT IF I go back home?” Will the world stop turning? Will I sink to the fiery depths of hell? Will I loose all my hair? Oh wait, that already happened.
  
  I fought against my “you can’t NOT go to work” mindset and made the second best decision of the morning. I turned around and went back home. The first best decision was to make a giant bowl of oatmeal with a side of delicious coffee. Enjoyed while gazing at the white world around me.
  
  The final test was getting up the large hill I managed to get down. A woman stands to my left shoveling her driveway and I yell at her to “STAND BACK” as if she can hear me through the walls of my car. Heaven forbid I loose control of my car and run into her going 5MPH. I make it. Back in my neighborhood my journey is almost over.
  
  I can almost hear the angels singing as they welcome me back home, but not before I try and fail three times to get into my driveway. My driveway with a mere 5 degree angle. The fourth time was the charm. I walk through the door, drop my jacket to the floor, declare my presence to my fur children and breath a sigh of relief. I made it.
  
  No work means lunch at home!
  
  In all reality I can be quite dramatic, but driving in the snow terrifies me almost more than the thought of what might lurk under my bed. I’ve now officially begun my search for an AWD vehicle, if only I can overcome the separation anxiety for my current car.
  
  Q: Do you like driving in the snow?
  
  | 71 Comments Tagged Camry, Cats, Coffee, Snow, Vegan
- Early Morning Confessions
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 28, 2016
  
  1. I ran my first 5K race since 2012. I run the 5K distance all the time, but I once told myself it was a waste of money to pay for one as a race. Fast forward to Thanksgiving 2016 – I ate those words because just the thought of a 10K winded me.
  
  I still managed a 9:42 pace though. I’ll take it.
  
  2. My pre race meal consisted of an entire package of tofu. I don’t recommend that, the GI struggle was so real.
  
  3. Thanksgiving was all kinds of marvelous. My angelic mother and I made a raw pumpkin pie that is so decadent I’m still nursing it five days later. Who lets pie last five days!?
  
  4. Christmas music has been playing in my car since before Thanksgiving. I have no shame.
  
  5. I’m on a solid whole foods kick and loving it. I’ve been trying to ditch terrible eating habits for months now.
  
  6. I’ve been tearing though cruciferous vegetables and jars of peanut butter. That combo is enough to do some damage to the ozone layer due to all the methane I’ve produced.
  
  7. I worked on black Friday, which is fine by me. I don’t partake in the shopping madness and already had three days in a row off. It was bizarre being in such a large building with so few people. The 8th floor cafe was closed and I had the entire lobby to myself.
  
  8. I’ve dipped my toes back in to the rivers of coffee. I limit my intake to no more than 10 oz, and water it down significantly, but I’m thrilled to be slowly drinking it again after months away.
  
  9. I continue to be charmed by the holiday vibes of the workplace. Thanks for being awesome Starbucks.
  
  10. I’ve been indulging in “self care” lately. By that I mean I’ve been getting massages twice a month because it makes me happy. I even went as far as getting a pedicure with a girlfriend last weekend. I don’t get pedicures…but I wear sandals year round and my feet were looking pretty rough.
  
  The last time I got a pedicure was April of 2012. You can read my experience here. I don’t dare get a mani/pedi combo EVER again.
  
  Q: What’s your confession?
  
  | 64 Comments Tagged Confessions, Plant Based, Race, Running, Starbucks, Thanksgiving, Vegan
- S-NOOOOO
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 24, 2016
  
  My hiking adventures are coming to a stand still. Not permanently, but I can’t say I’m a fan of the snow and the white blanket of death is upon us.
  
  He loved it. I did not. Snow was not expected when we ventured to the mountains last week, but neither was getting stuck in the mud. The weather was dreary, but that’s not enough to stop me from an adventure. The plan was to explore a new trail, but plans quickly changed.
  
  The gravel road to the planned trail head was in terrible condition. We’re talking multiple mini lake like potholes, and soft mushy earth. This spells disaster when driving a car not equipped for the mountains. Fear swept through my body the entire time we attempted to find the trail head, fear we wouldn’t get past the mini lakes, fear we would glissade in the soft earth losing control of the vehicle and plummeting down the narrow side of the mountain, and fear the car would get stuck.
  
  Then, the latter happened.
  
  After ten-ish minutes of heightened driving, the car got stuck in the mud. Momentary panic passed through our bodies, and after a few pedal to the metal attempts we were able to slip and slide out of the mud. We decided it was best to go to a trail we knew would be less sketch. With Jesus music blasting, and only a few external screams (with many, many internal screams) we made it back to the main road.
  
  Praise.
  
  A tried and true trail, Mount Zion is not a difficult climb. 4.6 miles RT and a mere 1300′ gain, with the max elevation at 4274′. Typically I find that snow hits around 4500′ and above, but I stand corrected. Among all the snow was an abundance of Usnea, aka Old Man’s Beard. Known for its effects against certain bacterium, it can be used to fight sore throats, skin infections, inflammation, and more.
  
  So we ate some, because why not?
  
  and yet, he’s wearing shorts.
  
  Quick and to the point, this trail provided just the right amount of burn. The snow covered the top completely (more so than in these photos), but there was only about an inch. Nothing we couldn’t trudge through. Any higher in elevation and a change of shoes would have been necessary. I begrudgingly accepted that winter is here.
  
  One perk of winter – my Friday evening commute, which gives me the below view.
  
  We shall see how many more hikes I attempt above 4k’ this winter. Never say never.
  
  Q: Do you like snow?
  
  | 70 Comments Tagged Hike, Mount Zion, PNW, Winter
- What I Learned in California
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 15, 2016
  
  As I recap my recent travels to California this past week, I’d like to share my latest learning’s. Knowledge is power after all. Here we go.
  
  1. Shoving all your stuff into one medium sized back pack while traveling makes the transition from one state to another SO.MUCH.SMOOTHER. I’ve been using this bag for week longs trips for a few years now. Minimalism = less stress.
  
  2. Driving on the freeways of California are not nearly as terrifying as I anticipated. I even managed to keep up with the locals. 80 is the new 60.
  
  3. California continues to KILL IT with the vegan eats. If I were a rodent I would never leave the dumpsters behind the below restaurants.
  
  Peace Pies – San Diego
  
  Peace Pies – San Diego
  
  Native Foods – Carlsbad
  
  Native Foods – Carlsbad
  
  Choice Superfood Bar & Juicery – San Diego
  
  5. I love Washington. This isn’t new, but I’m always reminded when I travel away from my home state why I love it so much. The fresh air is unbeatable. Thank you trees, keep trapping toxins in your trunks.
  
  6. I learned what the Santa Ana winds are. Aka abnormal heat waves. Running at 7:30pm, in the dark, and it was 80 degrees!
  
  7. I’m not as anti social as I thought. I made a gaggle of new friend this weekend. It was swell. This helped me appreciate my alone time when I got home. #recharge.
  
  8. Trails in California are not like trails in Washington. They have their own kind of uniqueness, but nothing compares to the peaks in my area. Tried to hike multiple (baby/under 2k’ elevation) mountains, but due to above mentioned Santa Ana, fire warnings were high.
  
  Managed one adventure in the mountains to watch the sunrise.
  
  9. Toilets are not always porcelain. I went to a restaurant with all black toilets and they made my bum feel extra fancy. Pinky up.
  
  10. Running on the beach is no joke. No joke at all. I’m no road runner, but my pace slowed from a 10min/mile to a TWELVE minute mile (and some change) once I found my feet in the sand. Was great.
  
  11. Two more people told me I look like Ashley Judd. Puts my tally over ten people now. I’m thinking about quitting my job and moving to Vegas to be a stand in wax statue for Ashley.
  
  12. I really, really, really don’t like makeup, but I do like fancy hair. Being a bridesmaid means you get fancy hair and ten pounds of make up. I had more make up on my face in one night then I typically have in one year. I’m still washing it off three days later.
  
  More wedding photos and shenanigans to come.
  
  Q: Fancy hair, or fancy face? Definitely hair. I really want to chop mine off so it’s short like these photos.
  
  | 61 Comments Tagged Ashley Judd, California, Hiking, Running, Vegan, Wedding
- Navigating November
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 7, 2016
  
  With the blink of an eye here we are on November 7th. I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween, I stayed home and handed out handfuls of candy to needy children. I did wear black and orange striped tights to work on Halloween — tights that belonged to my sister, my significantly shorter than me sister, they ripped. In an uncomfortable location.
  
  I hated my commute that day.
  
  Just because jack o lantern season is over doesn’t meant it’s time to put the pumpkins away. I found a place that honors October, November, and December all in one spot. We’re talking pumpkins in the front, Christmas tree’s in the back.
  
  When your seasons start to blur together.
  
  OK, I got my pumpkin patch fix for the year. Moving on.
  
  Work
  
  Work has been good, I’m finally at the point where I don’t feel new in my role. This is my first Christmas in the corporate building and they don’t mess around when it comes to celebrations.
  
  Play
  
  I managed three hikes last week. I’m trying to get them squeezed in before the white sheets of death plague us. I don’t like snow, I’m a Grinch.
  
  Don’t get excited, he’s my coworker.
  
  I’m severely out of shape, but can still manage to trudge along on some of the steeper hikes. The more out of breath I am the more of a reminder that I’m not moving enough lately. I’m the most out of shape (and heaviest) I’ve been in years, but the best part about starting at the bottom is there is no where to go but up.
  
  Eat
  
  Chipotle slapped me with the good karma stick yesterday and gave me so much guac, I surely had the equivalent of at least an entire avocado. Part of it was still in tact. Yes.
  
  I tried a new to me vegan place on the island. I’ve walked past it many times, but never bought a meal until now. It made my face all kinds of hot, but it was worth it.
  
  Life
  
  I recently watched Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary Before the Flood. I was enamored by the way he brought this piece to life with information from a myriad of sources. I believe climate change is real, and the devastation that we are causing to this planet is mind blowing. Even if you don’t believe in the science, I encourage you to watch.
  
  Even if you don’t believe this is happening, if you have a soul you must realize the damage being done to the earth in order to gather fossil fuels, the devastation to our forests (which house the trees to filter the air we breathe!) to make way for new buildings, and the extinction of rainforests that house many species.
  
  No change is too small to help reverse atmospheric CO2 emission from fossil fuel use and forest/land destruction. I originally adapted a plant based diet for ethical reasons, however I cannot help but believe this lifestyle to be immensely beneficial for the planet. Factory farms (specifically cattle) produce ungodly amounts of methane (CH4) gas. According to Leo’s film, every molecule of CH4 is the equivalent of 23 molecules of CO2. Insane.
  
  I encourage you to think about what small change you can make today to help restore decades of damage.
  
  Wednesday I fly off to California for this girls wedding. I’m not sure what shenanigans I’ll get myself into with my free time, but you already know it’ll be posted here sometime the following week. Happy Monday – do something nice for someone else today, and let’s reduce those carbon footprints one step at a time!
  
  Seen on my commute.
  Q: What are your thoughts on global warming? All views welcomed here.
  
  | 47 Comments Tagged Explore, Hike, Life, Vegan
- Hunter Farms, Union Washington
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on October 31, 2016
  
  HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I love October. October is my favorite month of the year, and Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I can’t say why I love Halloween so much, I don’t even dress up (boring alert, boring alert!) but there is something about this time of year that gets my waterwheels turning!
  
  October is not complete without a trip to a pumpkin patch/apple orchard/corn maze or if you’re lucky a farm with everything wrapped into one. Better yet, the farm NEEDS to have multiple activities wrapped into one. Before the month came to an end I made sure to venture to Hunter Farms in Union Washington to partake in their festivities.
  
  I should have known when I drove into the mud laden parking lot that my choice of footwear was not going to be appropriate for the days adventure, but I’d have gone barefoot through those corn fields if I had to. The mud was thick and slogged, and my only words of wisdom would be: don’t wear sandals to a farm.
  
  Let the adventure begin
  
  Hay Maze
  
  The adventure starts inside an old barn filled with holiday decor. Giant hay bails stacked upon each other make up a maze that has you winding corners and ducking under tunnels. The decorations were perfect, and the creativity was delightful.
  
  Enter if you dare is right, those tunnels were dark, and quiet. Like close your eyes and stand in the woods quiet. I bow to those small children that venture into those dark corners without a care in the world. It’s tough being an adult and having complete access to the news, or watching too many horror films.
  
  I’ve officially discovered a new area to add to my list of “places I don’t want to be alone at night.”
  
  Tractor Rides
  
  A large farm machine known as a tractor waits outside the hay barn to take us princesses to the field in style. Heaven forbid we walk in the mud with unprepared feet.
  
  Going to a farm on a weekday ensures automatic VIP status, and it was just my family and I in the tractor. The bumpy road took us past old rusted trucks into miles upon miles of pumpkin littered rows. It was a fall lovers paradise.
  
  I seem to have done something right this month, because my karma stick has been slapping me with amazing weather. The sun was shining and only a handful of passing grey clouds washed over the sky.
  
  Pumpkin Patch
  
  I liked this pumpkin patch. Like a lot. It was nestled in the heart of quiet country and the surrounding mountains made for a serene environment. Not like hay bail tunnel quiet, but very quiet. The pumpkin patch even came equipped with a furry tour guide.
  
  Outtake – I call this pumpkin bongos.
  
  I could have stood in that field for hours. The wind was the only sound I could distinguish passing by my ears, and the quiet air gave opportunity to pause for a moment with my thoughts. No pumpkins were purchased, but walking the rows of round plump squash gave me my field fix.
  
  Corn Maze
  
  The only “negative” words I have for this farm would be regarding their corn maze. The paths were just too muddy, and many of the stalks had been trampled on. My sister referred to the brown sludge as chocolate ice cream, but I had a different brown mush in mind.
  
  I had to laugh when my sister trudged through the center of the path and completely lost her shoe. We decided to skip the rest of the maze for fear of being sucked into the brown abyss.
  
  Her shoes, but how cool are those pants?
  
  Other Honorable Mentions
  
  Multiple Radio Flyer wagons on steroids. Or for a giant.
  
  A giant hitchhiking Santa, because Christmas is just around the corner.
  
  10+ types of animals. These two were my favorite. Be still my heart.
  
  So there you have it. This farm gets a gold star. Just don’t go in the corn maze without your shucking boots.
  
  Q: Did you make it to a pumpkin patch before the month was up? What are your plans for Halloween?
  
  | 48 Comments Tagged Corn Maze, Fall, Halloween, Hay Maze, Pumpkin, Washington
- Talapus and Olallie Lakes
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on October 27, 2016
  
  Washington has had rain on the radar for the last week or so, but on the not so rare occasion the forecast is wrong (aka it’s always wrong) I take advantage of the incorrect report. Last weekend, October decided to play nice and remind me why it’s my favorite month.
  
  Crisp and cold air, with bright shining sun.
  
  Where’s the best place to go on a chilly yet sunny day? The mountains, for a lake hike. One lake is like a pancake, two lakes is like a waffle. I like waffles more than pancakes so when I find a hike that gives me not only one lake, but TWO within the adventure I’m sold!
  
  Social media never ceases to amaze me in its ability to bring people together. After many months of following each other on Instagram, Cailey and I met in real life a few weeks ago. She was just the spunky, upbeat hiking companion I was looking for, and she and I embarked on this quest together.
  
  Did I mention how amazing Washington is during the fall? This trail was very mild, which was a welcomed change from some of my typical hikes. 6.2 total miles and a modest 1,200ft elevation gain allowed my mental focus to soak in the trees around me and digest the conversations about food, dogs, and life.
  
  It didn’t take long to arrive at the first lake, and it showed up sooner than expected. I almost didn’t see it tucked down to the left of the trail, but after walking towards the opening trees I was enamored.
  
  A horseshoe like view with a dip in the middle of the mountain gave an awe worthy sight. A man and woman were to the left of us, enjoying a snack with their dog. If it weren’t for them, I’d not have realized this was the first lake. Often times on these hikes there are mini “lake like” bodies of water scattered among the trail, and I almost mistook this for one of those.
  
  In order to get the above photo I had to billy goat my way across a handful of wet logs. I saw my life flash before my eyes multiple times, and by my life I mean my body soaked from lake water. #worthit. I’ve perfected the billy goat, reminds me of this adventure…
  
  Another mile and some change up the path led to the other lake of the day. One thing I love about this area of trails is that there are many paths that intertwine together, making for endless possibilities. I had to laugh when I saw the sign that pointed towards Pratt Lake, also known as “the lake I thought I may die at.” #dramatic
  
  I plan to go back to Pratt Lake someday, but this trip was dedicated to finding Olallie Lake. At no point on this hike did I loose my breath to the point of not being able to speak, but my heart rate elevated a few times and my clothes needed a good wash when I came home.
  
  I sweat at the drop of a hat.
  
  Sunshine says summer, jacket says fall.
  
  A beautiful day in the mountains with exceptional company. Filling my lungs with the open air and surrounding my sights with green sets me up for a week of success.
  
  Q: Would you balance on rickety logs to get a better photo?
  
  | 46 Comments Tagged Explore, Hike, Lake, Olallie Lake, Olympic Mountains, PNW, Talapus Lake
- Port Madison, Bainbridge Island
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on October 24, 2016
  
  Last week I found myself in the middle of a beach house community nestled on an island in Washington State. I visit this island often, but I tend to stay on the main roads. I travel here to commute to work each day, but I haven’t explored the heart of this city until recently.
  
  I have a friend that’s house sitting in one of the beach houses, giving me the excuse to explore. The houses wrap around in a curve shape hugging the Puget Sound on one side, and a lake of some kind on the other. These houses are quaint, but cost enough to fund my tiny house dreams for years.
  
  The time was 5:00pm, and the sky was putting on a show full of cotton candy clouds. The reflections had me enamored with the views. While walking to the nearby beach, I noticed an otter running up the road. I’m not sure where he was heading, perhaps the local supermarket, but he was clearly taking a break from the cold waters.
  
  The otter was just the start of the National Geographic episode I found myself in. Minutes later while balancing on shore washed logs, and sipping on my very first La Croix I witnessed a pod of killer whales in the distance.
  
  I almost didn’t notice the whales, but the steam like projections coming from the middle of the water gave them away. Washington is known for killer whale sightings, but I’d never seen them until then. They were too far for a photo, but the old faithful like streams shooting to the sky will forever be burned into my memory.
  
  As if the otter and the whales weren’t enough to elicit a sense of navigating the wild, a bald eagle perched high in a tree caught my eye. He was also too far away to photograph, and nearly too far to see, but his white head among the dark branches gave away his location.
  
  Split down the middle.
  
  I’m not usually a beach person, but when they are close by I find myself getting lost in the sounds of the waves. The crashes against the shore in the darkening light bring a sense of peace to my soul like falling asleep in front of a warm fire on a cool autumn evening.
  
  Next time you find yourself in need of being one with the wild, venture to an island and see what adventures you get yourself into.
  
  Q: Ever seen a whale outside of the TV box? The zoo doesn’t count.
  
  | 54 Comments Tagged Bainbridge Island, Beach, Explore, PNW
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