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    • Milestone

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on October 19, 2016

      When I was 19 I purchased my first car (shout out to my dad for helping my buy this.) I didn’t receive my drivers license until I was 18 (oldest kid in drivers ed right here), and by the time I was ready to own a car I was ready to pay cash. Payments don’t exist in my vocabulary, with school, with cars, or with bills – it’s all or nothing for me.

      Another reason I want a tiny home – pay for it all at once. 

      In 2008 I purchased an ’07 Toyota Camry with only 6k miles on her. She has taken me on many wonderful adventures, and this past Sunday we celebrated a Camry milestone. After 8.5 years of exploring we hit 100k miles.

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      I drive a lot when I want to explore, and often drive 150 miles in one day when I want to go for a hike. Regular readers know I enjoy hiking as often as I can. I love my car, and she treats me well, but I’m ready to entertain the idea of something more Brittany friendly. Something a little less “I’m on my way to Bingo,” and a little more “I’m on my way to tear up some trails.”

      I’m very happy with my grandma persona FYI.

      Washington gets a lot of rain, and sometimes a good deal of snow. In the winter months I’m known to white knuckle my steering wheel when driving down a hill that may or may not have ice. Heaven forbid I slide into a ditch, or unintentionally slam into another vehicle. 

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      The Camry is safe, like eleven airbags safe, but it’s not all wheel drive and I’ve slipped a few times while driving in the winter. I also find myself pretending I’m at Disneyland on Mr.Toads Wild Ride while driving up the mountains filled with potholes and narrow roads. Four wheel drive would help my resting heart rate stay below 200BPM.

      I’m not going to be purchasing a new ride yet, I can’t abandon my first love just because she has a few grays (actually, shes all gray but that’s beside the point) but I am starting my research journey now. I would love to just bike everywhere, because not only does it save money, but I often make money by finding coins.

      Alas, biking up a mountain to get to a trail head doesn’t appeal to me at this stage of my life. 

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      This past weekend Washington was prepping for a storm I knew we weren’t going to get (our weather is never predictable, so when I hear storm I don’t believe it until I see it), and I decided to give the Camry a rest from mountain bumps and scrapes just in case there were power lines putting on a fire show in the streets.

      Instead, I used my Chevro-legs and went for a local run while everyone else was bundled inside. 

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      Fall running is my favorite. 

      I plan to enjoy the rest of my time with my Camry and let her take me on a few more adventures. I have my eyes on a Subaru Outback or Crosstrek, but I can already feel the separation anxiety creeping in for my Camry. #attachementissues #firstlove

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      Camry snacks.

      Q: What was your first car?

      atterned-n

      This post was sponsored by Khan Law Firm in Seattle, because new cars aren’t cheap, and neither are law suits when glissading down a hill with a car instead of an ice ax. 
      | 69 Comments Tagged Camry, Hike, Running, Toyota, Washington
    • Early Morning Confessions

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on October 10, 2016

      1. I write this post from a place of pure joy and content. I have no school related tasks for five whole days, and I assure you those five days will be like finding the golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

      (RIP Gene Wilder.)

      2. I’ve had a handful of runs lately that have left me feeling like a gazelle gallivanting through green grass. I was house sitting in one of my favorite towns, and a fun town means fun runs.

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      3. Foggy tree lines, rainy evenings, mugs of cinnamon tea, colors of orange and brown, leaves of red and yellow. Fall is here, fall is here, FALL IS HERE!

      4. My mouth has fully boarded the squash train, and I’ve been having daily sweet potatoes slathered with some kind of fat (coconut oil, or nut butter), but I’m still showing mad love to the not so common fall themed foods.

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      5. I’ve recently become a pleasure reader. I struggle to stay focused at times, and am currently reading two books at once (something I swore I could never do), but there is beauty in finding free time to read because you want to and not because you have to.

      6. I haven’t created anything new for my “What I’d Sell In My Food Truck” page in a while, but I busted out an old favorite and got my face dirty with my chocolate avocado pudding.

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      7. My work building is located about 1.75 miles from the ferry I take that drops me into Seattle. On Thursday’s I walk from work to the ferry, and have recently decided to run. Last Thursday I was reminded what it’s like to be winded. Seattle is not a flat city. My ferry was late forcing me to run another 1.25 miles rounding my distance to 3 miles. #OCD miles.

      8. This. You need this in your life. Go to the store yesterday and buy this. My goodness I cannot stop.

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      9. I recently saw a pair of underwear with a Star Wars theme. The backside of the garment had the iconic phrase, “may the force be with you.” On the rear. The buttock. The fanny. I’m not sure how I feel about that.

      10. While out for a casual stroll I stumbled upon a hat. A green hat. A free hat. My new hat. The hat looks good on the cat.

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      Q: What’s your confession?

      atterned-n

      | 60 Comments Tagged Cat, Early Morning Confessions, Plant Based, Run, Vegan
    • Between a Rock and a Hard Place

      Posted at 5:55 PM by Brittany, on October 1, 2016

      I rounded out my Seattle house sitting adventures with one more adventure to the mountains, and two more adventures to local eateries. I’m settled back into my small town dwelling and it feels good to be home.

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      It’s been a while since I got sappy on here, and because I typically blog what I know I’m feeling like an emotion purge right about now. When I started working in Seattle a couple months ago it was a nice shift in my life to distract me from the funk I was in.

      Fast forward to today and I’m feeling myself sliding back into that slump, and realizing it wasn’t just my job that was causing these feelings. It was a myriad of things, and they are all becoming more clear as time goes on.

      They say hindsight is 20/20, but I think hindsight is more like “perspective on steroids.” Your don’t need a perfect picture of it all, just a strong view into how you’ve evolved. 

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      Food issues were at the top of that list, and I’ve been working closely with specialists to diagnose my health concerns, some of which are finally being solved. I think. I’m staying both positive and optimistic because I know everything works out eventually, and everything happens for a reason.

      School/stress was another issue and I’ve realized that I am an emotional eater. Like WHOA. Give me stress for one hand and you’d better have a dozen cookies for the other.

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      School has been wicked stressful for me this semester, and I’ve wanted to quit 49385 times, but quitting is not an option. I’m only two semesters shy of finally graduating and you’d better believe when that moment comes I’ll be ugly crying tears of relief.

      Realizing stress is a huge trigger for me to emotionally eat has been a huge eye opener, and helpful for me to avoid binge episodes. For the most part. Constant work in progress. 🙂 Caffeine and coffee are another trigger for me, and I mentioned a while back that I was giving it up, and it was an odd time for me given that coffee was a large part of my platform and my passion.

      I’ve only recently come to a place where I no longer desire a cup. 

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      It’s only slightly odd working in a building with over 30 kitchens filled with French presses, espresso machines, drip brewers etc and not partaking, but it’s becoming my new normal. That’s the thing with change – it takes time to get used to and in the beginning it can be hard. Really hard.

      It’s also been hard to find things to blog about lately. I get the desire to blog, to connect, and to write, but then when I think about what to talk about it all seems jumbled and chaotic. This used to be so cathartic for me and was such a large part of my life, but the last year has been full of posts like this rather than posts with baked goods and running.

       I am still sharing random cat shenanigans though. Some things never change.

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      Was time for a new blog photo too. Featuring my main man.

      Long story short I think it’s completely normal when you know something is missing in your life, and things are confusing whether it be health related, job related, or personal, for everything else to feel slightly out of whack. Life is full of up’s and down’s, but we were born with ligaments for a reason. We can flex with these changes and adapt to each new situation to make them into something better.

      We do what we know, and change what we know we need to. Accepting the change, accepting the struggle, knowing it’s not forever, and doing it all with a smile. If you find yourself between a rock and a hard place use your inner Gumby to bend your way out of the middle.

      On that note it is officially October, and October is my happy place. I’m already swooning over the leaves changing and the rain.

      Q: Do you live in an area that showcases seasons? Washington is gorgeous in the fall! 

      atterned-n

      | 66 Comments Tagged Cats, Coffee, Life, Starbucks
    • Seattle Life

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on September 23, 2016

      Of all the house sitting gig’s I’ve had, the one I’m doing right now is hands down the best of the best. The bee’s knees. Crème de la crème. Typically my pet-ventures are in my neck of the woods, but this one is in Seattle.

      And I’ve been here for thirteen days, with three more to go.

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      My excited face.

      First and foremost being in Seattle puts me literally 15 minutes from work. Opposed to two hours. Granted I still don’t mind my commute, but hot damn is it nice not having one right now. I’m in for a rude awakening when I go home.

      No commute means more time for running.

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      My current running spot.

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      Will run for V/GF cupcakes

      Secondly, being in Seattle puts me only an hour away from some of my favorite hikes. Typically I travel two hours to get here, which I also don’t mind, (clearly my perception of time is much different than most) but again SO NICE to chop off an hour.

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      Thirdly, I am so close to ALL THE VEGAN FOOD. Again, I happily travel to Seattle in my spare time JUST TO EAT sometimes, but here I am SMACK in the middle of it all. So many options, so little time. My mind is like a tornado, and my mouth is like a suck hole.

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      Cafe Flora – Italian burger GF/V

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      How cute is this restaurant setup?

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      Portage Bay Cafe – V/GF pancakes with UNLIMITED BERRY BAR

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      Sugar Plum – V S’mores Brownie

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      Chaco Canyon Cafe – Quinoa, kelp noodles, tempeh bacon with ginger sesame sauce.

      Disclaimer: I make sure to also eat a vegetable based meal of greens to balance out the above goodness. 

      My housemate is a cat, so my job is not only easy, but enjoyable. I love cats. We just get each other. She is black just like my little, and she roams the land in the daytime like a gypsy warrior. She eats well and runs around to burn it off.

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      Basically we’re twins. Although she has better self control than I do, I offered her some bread I made and she denied.

      Good, more for me. 

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      Grain free chocolate zucchini bread. Yusss.

      I’m never bored over here, there is always something to do. So many cafes, so many restaurants, so many people. If anyone wants to move to Seattle and split the $48496438967 rent with me that’d be great.

      Or I’ll just house sit forever. Or I’ll sleep in abandoned churches and lighthouses.

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      That’s all for now. I run. I work. I hike. I eat. I study. I explore. & Repeat.

      Q: City or suburb dwelling?

      atterned-n

      | 57 Comments Tagged Hike, Mason Lake, North Bend, Running, Seattle, Solo Hike, Vegan
    • Altitude Awareness

      Posted at 2:30 PM by Brittany, on September 8, 2016

      I climb a lot of mountains. In fact I find great joy in conquering mountains with high elevations, but what I realize now is that spending more than a few hours at these high altitudes makes for a constant head ache, and runs that leave me looking like road kill.

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      I spent the last week in Colorado Springs, Colorado and hot damn did my lungs feel like they were being squeezed. I ran three times, and the first time I literally thought my heart was going to beat through my skin. I live at sea level, and gaining 6000 ft was an adventure in altitude awareness.

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      Post run adventure on forbidden train tracks.

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      I was spending time with my family at the Air Force Academy, because my younger sister is a freshman there. It was parents weekend, so I gathered some of my hippie belongings and headed south.

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      The campus is beautiful, surrounded by trees at the foot of the rocky mountains. I’d have a hard time studying with all the adventure that surrounded me. Military life is fascinating to me, and it was fun to see my sister in her new element.

      The architecture was great too. 

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      I shamelessly admit I found the above statue extremely attractive. Not to mention the story behind the hero. 

      Post military activities there was one free day to explore. I recently saw an article that shared the “Most Beautiful Place in Every U.S. State” and it just so happened Colorado’s most beautiful spot was Garden of the Gods.

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      These red rocks formed millions of years ago through a shift in the earth. With over 15 miles of trails I was able to finagle three other members of my family to wander around four of those miles.

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      I discovered I’m not the only billy goat in the family. 

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      This walk was by no means steep, nor difficult, but the elevation and heat helped bring my heart rate above resting. I enjoyed the views, but I’d argue there are probably other places in Colorado that are more beautiful. I’m partial to blue and green mountains.

      I’d like to make it back to CO someday to explore more of the mountains, and to summit Pikes Peak. I’ll be sure to acclimate myself to the altitude first, it’d be a shame to pass out mid hike.

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      Pikes Peak off in the distance.

      Q: Do you prefer red rocks, or green trees? I don’t think I need answer this one…

      atterned-n

      | 52 Comments Tagged Colorado, Garden of the Gods, Hike, Pikes Peak, Running, Vacation
    • Since You’ve Been Gone

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on August 24, 2016

      *Two weeks later*

      I didn’t plan to disappear from this space for so long, but whenever I had a free moment the last thing I wanted to do was bust out my computer. I now know what it’s like to want nothing to do with technology at the end of the day.

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      I go from work, where I stare at a computer all day (I do have a standing desk though, so that’s a big fat sugary win) to my house where I then stare at the computer for school work. Needless to say when I have some free time I am outside starting at trees.

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      Work, work, work, work, work.

      So what have I been up to the last two weeks?

      —I got to meet Annie, her sweet partner Kel, and her adorable pup Ike. We had lunch, and walked around a lovely Seattle lake. We chatted like old friends and she gifted me the most adorable painted photo of Ike. What really sold the deal was when she suggested the photo below. She’s good people…and those curls are too legit.

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      —I made an executive decision to do 90% of my shopping at thrift stores in an attempt to further expand my minimalistic mind. I was able to find some solid wins. The other 10% is usually at REI, they always suck me in.

      —My camping compadre Jessica and I escaped to Mount Zion yesterday. She’s the kind of girl that keeps you grounded, the kind that you just need in your life. Always a fun adventure with that one. This trip didn’t involve stripping and spooning, so it was much more casual than our last adventure.

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      —I bought and returned two new Garmin watches. I just couldn’t let go of my original true love. I now have the mindset of “earning back” $440 so I will probably spend that on camping gear.

      —I had two awesome solo hikes where I found myself mesmerized by a lake at the end of each of them. I looked like Mowgli when he first met Kaa, only the lake wasn’t singing to me. I went to Annette Lake and Snow Lake. Snow lake always steals the show though.

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      This is the kind of view that has you questioning why there are people in the world that dislike being outdoors. I found a dime on this hike which makes for the second time I’ve found money while hiking.

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      Annette lake it great too, but not nearly as photogenic. I did however encounter an extinct inter-species love affair. Only in the woods…

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      — I didn’t run a single time, and loved every moment of it.

      — I ate a non vegan cinnamon roll and loved every moment of that too.

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      — I finished and started two semesters for school in a matter of a few days. Can’t stop, won’t stop.

      — I spend 10 days with Gizmo the cow dog and was like a 12 yr old child when reunited with my cat. #catladyforlife.

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      —Went against everything I said in my opening paragraph and watched at least six hours of Netflix. Mindless computer time doesn’t count.

      Q: What’s your current Netflix binge?

      atterned-n

      | 82 Comments Tagged Adventure, Annette Lake, Explore, Garmin, Gizmo, Hiking, Mount Zion, Snow Lake, Starbucks
    • Living for the Weekend

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on August 8, 2016

      I cannot remember the last time I had a schedule that gave me real weekends. You know, the ones where you have those two days in the week that start with “S” free to do whatever you choose. I used to have sassy mental thoughts towards those that would ask me, “what are your plans this weekend?” To which I would often reply: “I’m working.”

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      Savoring this morning commute before winter comes.

      Now I can finally say I look forward to my weekends, and I already have a mini routine set up for the time away from work. I do use some time for homework, but I also make time for play. Monday through Thursday I try to get home and be in bed by 8:30, but once Friday comes I’m more apt to do crazy things.

      Like drinking nitro cold brew coffee at 5pm

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      I loose my morals with this stuff, it’s that good.

      Saturdays I try to sleep in, which for me is waking up around 6am. This allows me to have a calm morning before jumping into errands. Summer months are the perfect time to utilize shopping local, so Saturday mornings I go to the farmers market for my week of produce.

      And for these VGF muffins that are divine. 

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      Sometimes I run, sometimes I don’t. It all depends on my mood and plans for the following day. Sundays I enjoy going to church, but sometimes I take off for a trip to the mountains. Last weekend I headed north for a lovely 8.5 mile solo hike to Melakwa Lake.

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      This hike gave me all the feels as I sat and savored the scenes around me. I was a bit chilly one I got to the lake, but I still sat in silence for about 30 minutes, which is longer than I typically stay at the destination of my hikes.

      This weekend was the same, Saturday I hit up the market and finished all my school work. Sunday I set out for a hike, but the universe had another plan for me. I typically drive 2 hours to get to a good hike, and an hour into my drive my tire pressure light came on.

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      I filled my tires with air, but the light didn’t go off. It then started to pour down rain. I somehow got the feeling I wasn’t meant to go on a hike, and instead went to Costco to have a professional check out my tires. I got the green light that they were fine, headed out for a 4 mile run, and refueled at Whole Foods with vegan lasagna, roasted veggies, and a brownie.

      It’s a great feeling when your mind is at peace. You start to care less about eating two muffins in one day (I had to make up for lost time, I missed the muffin man two weekends ago at the farmers market), you start to appreciate little things around you, you start to do things you didn’t used to do, you start to make friends with people you typically wouldn’t talk to, and you let things like missed hiking adventures roll off your back.

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      On that note, happy Monday.

      Q: Do you have a weekend routine?

      atterned-n

      | 78 Comments Tagged Hike, Lake, Melakwa Lake, PNW, Starbucks, Vegan, Weekend
    • The Birth of a New B

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on August 4, 2016

      I apologize in advance if this post is over the top, but per usual I need a place to puke my thoughts. To quickly summarize the point of this post all I can say is life.feels.good. That may sound pretty simple, but when you’ve been in a limbo state of life for over a year it’s a bit more complex.

      Hippie dippie vibes need a triangle of Bikenstocks. 

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      I’m starting to feel like my old self again. The self that was excited to go on adventures, the self that was excited to go for a run, the self that had no desire to fill her body with processed sugar (lol), the self that enjoyed going to work in the morning, the self that felt creative in the kitchen, the self that felt a desire to connect, the true self.

      OK, and a little bit of processed sugar.

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      I have learned so much about myself the last year, and despite my own personal “struggles” (I hesitate to say struggles because perspective is everything – I had a roof, I had food, I had opportunities, etc..) I know this time of my life was essential for my own personal growth. Settling for less than what we are meant to do in this world can be a slow killer, side effects similar to smoking cigarettes.

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      Morning commute

      Bottom line – I wasn’t happy, I wasn’t growing, I wasn’t challenged, and I wasn’t living to my potential in any area of my life. I couldn’t decide what to study in school, I felt it was time for a change at work, and I was in need of more social interactions. So I waited, and then eventually I had to say goodbye to my comfort zone.

      I often advocate the idea of “up and quitting” a job that no longer serves you, challenges you, or allows you to grow to search for what really makes you tick, even when society deems this as irresponsible. Perhaps for you the change needed is following your true passion regardless of the fear you’ve built around the ideas.

      Ever notice how the people that are most happy with what they do in this life are those that don’t build walls around the ideas they create in their minds? They think it, believe it, and DO IT.

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      Be like this bird, break free from the cage. Also – wallpaper goals.

      For me, I knew the time had come where I needed to embrace a huge change and take the leap. I’m not saying what I do now at work is my “passion,” but it’s surly bringing me closer to new and exciting opportunities. It’s challenging my mind in ways I’ve not experienced before.

      In the short three weeks I’ve worked in Seattle I feel like a completely new person. I isolated myself a lot the last year for reasons I really don’t know, but I’ve completely blossomed into a chatty Kathy again. I’m talking to any and everyone that I come in contact with, and it feels natural. I finally WANT to be around people again. I fully attribute this to taking a risk, and jumping into a completely new world.

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      Evening commute

      I tend to think I’m not “good enough” for some of the things I want in life. This mindset is toxic, it’s sludge that needs to be purged from the walls of my brain. If you think you’re not good enough, then you will manifest a life less than what you’re truly meant to live.

      Truth is anyone is “good enough” for anything they want. Some things take extra work to obtain (I couldn’t just walk into a hospital tomorrow and perform heart surgery no matter how detailed the dream I had about it was), but if it’s truly what you want you’ll make it happen.

      Wash away the toxic thoughts like a river washing away bird poop.

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      If you feel stuck in life, it’s because it’s time for a change. This is black and white to me now, point blank, very simple if you allow it to be. When a street is blocked off during construction it’s for the safety of other people, this “safety zone” is a temporary thing until the new and improved street is completed. Safety zones are not meant for long term living.

      My safety zone is gone, I’m on a new adventure, and I’m exploring avenues I once thought were out of my spectrum. I’m excited to see what opportunities come my way now that I’ve finally opened the door to shake things up in my world. Take it from me, the longer you stay in a place of unhappiness the longer you’ll be unhappy. You are not a tree, you are meant to move. 

      Q: What are your weekend plans?! I enjoy this question because I finally have “real weekends.”

      atterned-n

       

      | 60 Comments Tagged Hike, Life, Random, Seattle, Starbucks
    • Just Do It – Giveaway

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 27, 2016

      **This giveaway is now closed, and the winner has been notified**

      Before I started my new job I really wanted to prioritize a few more adventures, and I went on a marvelous 9 mile journey to the summit of Tunnel Creek Trail. I wrangled a buddy so I wasn’t alone (you’re welcome mom and dad), and despite having my bag full of essentials I was missing one thing.

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      I forget this item often, despite the fact that I have three pair in my car – sunglasses. You see dear readers it’s mostly cloudy in my beautiful state, and the thought of sunglasses doesn’t pass my mind until it’s sometimes too late.

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      I find that clouds, much like with snow, almost require sunglasses more than the actual sun. Almost. With that said I’m often prepared with 9/10 of the 10 essentials for hiking.

      Last year I snagged myself a fun pair of Ray-Ban’s which I adore, but I find that I need to wear a hat with them as they don’t provide proper coverage on the sides. If I wear them out and about too long my eyes will hurt, and I don’t always want to wear a hat when I run.

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      Naturally this meant I needed another pair, so my friends over at Sunglasses Shop hooked me up! Say hello to the Nike Excellerate Sunglasses.

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      I’m living for that case.

      These sunnies wrap around the side of my eyes so much better. I’ve worn them on multiple runs and they are SO lightweight I barely notice they are on. I also find that I don’t squint at all with these. They’re perfect for running! Or any other sport you partake in. A bit of info on this frame:

      Excellerate is made to fit women’s faces. Its frame is smaller. Nike MAX Optics allow eyes to see clearly without distortion. A polycarbonate lens gives crisp views and the greatest impact protection. Durable wrapped arms provide the best side protection. Plus it gives a comfortable fit. UV400 lenses. Nike sunglasses come with a two year warranty.

      But how do they actually look on a human face?

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      My one and only critic of these shades is that I wish the lenses were darker. You can see my eyes, which means I can’t stare at good looking male runners without getting caught.

      They’re super comfortable though and do exactly what I needed. If you are in the market for a new pair of sunnies, check out Sunglasses Shop. However if you’re in the market for a new pair of Nike sunnies then it may be your lucky day because one reader will win a free pair.

      I can now venture back to the forest prepared for the overcast, or the sun.

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      This was the summit, though you’d never know with those clouds covering the view.

      To enter the giveaway: go to Sunglasses Shop website and answer the question below. For additional entries follow Sunglasses Shop on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram (or all three, leave a separate comment for each follow for an extra chance to win.) Giveaway open for one week!

      Seriously, Just Do It.

      Q: Which style of Nike sunglasses would you choose??

      atterned-n

      | 62 Comments Tagged Giveaway, Hike, Nike, Running, Sunglasses
    • When the “Other Plan” Comes to Fruition

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 18, 2016

      You know when things don’t go the way you might have initially hoped and you tell yourself (and others): “it’s OK, life must have another plan for me!” I’m big on this mindset, and truly believe that life works itself out the way it’s supposed to. The hard part is listening to the inner pulls that try to guide us.

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      I also find that when you really, and I mean “deep in your soul really” let go of whatever kind of control you’re trying to take on life that isn’t working, things start to unfold like a blooming flower.

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      For example: my meals lately have been very whole foods based. It should come as no surprise that “real food” works best, but once I stopped trying so hard to figure out what foods were bothering my system and really listened to my body, things slowly got better.

      Once I stopped listening to outside opinions and advice from doctors that didn’t align with my beliefs I started to feel better.

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      Fun Fact: Did you know that if you leave the pit in the avocado, it stays green?

      img_9321-6

      img_9234-1

      I have an insatiable sweet tooth, so I like to make my own desserts.

      I was dealing with food intolerances for the last year, and it wasn’t until I simply let go of the control and the obsession (and stress) of “figuring it all out” that my mind, body, and spirit all started to work together.

      I’m over the moon about all that food stuff, but this post is more about something else. Some of you may remember this post, which was then followed up by this post.

      img_9310-1

      The CliffsNotes version of those two posts are this: I knew in my heart it was time for me to pursue something more with Starbucks. I felt that my current position had expired its purpose, and because this company is paying for my bachelors degree I couldn’t yet pursue outside options. With that said, I started looking into jobs at the corporate office.

      I had one fish bite my line back in April, but it wasn’t the right fit. Instead of sulking about it I stayed positive and knew life had another plan, and it did. Fish number two bit my line about a month ago and today I start my new role in Seattle. Oh, and this role is 10x better than the first bite and I am so thankful that didn’t work.

      img_8492

      Every aspect of our life has a purpose. Some things are only meant to last a short while before catalyzing us to our next adventure. I’m notorious for staying in my comfort zone, and while I’m thankful for everything that has come in my time working retail for Starbucks, I’m long overdue for my next chapter.

      I started with this company 3.2 years ago at a time in my life when I needed a place to heal after a tumultuous break up and an unclear life path. The store saved me in so many ways, and leaving there yesterday had me in tears.

      Like, ugly cry tears. 

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      Yesterdays post work 3.2 miles to commemorate my time at the store. Oh and I got a new Garmin. Mad love – more on that later.

      I think staying in my comfort zone too long, and not accepting that this time of my life was meant to end sparked some of my health problems. I’m a believer of that “woo woo hippie dippie” mind/body/soul connection stuff and when one thing is out of whack the whole bus slows down.

      So what’s the moral to my story? If you quit on life, life will quit on you. When you feel like nothing is going your way, and that life is kicking you while your down, you MUST trust that your other plan will come. Sometimes it takes a month, sometimes it takes two years, sometimes it takes a decade. -OR- perhaps it’s time to take that leap without knowing quite where you will fall. 

      In my case I had to leap, I wouldn’t have made it the last year without some hard core faith. 

      img_2139

      This transition is going to be very bittersweet because the first part of my journey with Starbucks came at a time in my life when I felt very lost, and it gave me a purpose for a chunk of time. The store, my coworkers, and a handful of my customers became my family, and I have nothing but positive experiences there which is rare to find.

      It also sprouted a passion for coffee in my soul that I will never outgrown. I’ll no longer be making lattes the way I did, but I plan to bring my passion with me into my next adventure and see where it takes me. Look for me as the annoying corporate worker that forces coffee tastings on her coworkers.

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      Corporate on the outside, 12yr old on the inside

      My new job requires me to be at a desk, which I don’t love, but my desk will be standing. I will be helping other Starbucks employees from the US and Canada with any inquiries they may have in regards to human resource policies and practices, benefits and pay information, manager questions, etc…another stepping stone onto something more.

      I have no idea what’s ahead with this new journey, but what I do know is that I am more in tune with myself now than I ever have been before. I’m sad to leave this chapter, but ready for a new one. We are wired with sensors that communicate effortlessly, and it’s only when we actively choose to ignore them that we max out our effort meter. Try listening to the signals next time, it’s a whole lot easier

      I promise. 

       No questions today 

      atterned-n

      | 90 Comments Tagged Coffee, Life, Plant Based, Starbucks, Vegan, Whole Foods
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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.
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