Blissfulbritt | Page 40

- What’s a Party without Cookies?
  
  Posted at 4:01 AM by Brittany, on December 18, 2014
  
  After a month and a half, I finally got my fanny in my kitchen and baked. Nothing new, and nothing too wild, but boy did it feel good. Work party = cookies.
  
  I made my favorite chocolate chip coffee cookies, because what’s a Starbucks party without coffee in your cookies. I subbed some Trader Joe’s chocolate bars for chocolate chips, which resulted in chocolate CHUNK cookies. So.Good.
  
  I was amazed by how different each of the chocolate bars I used were. Of course I had to sample them as I chopped them up. My next goal <—chocolate connoisseur.
  
  I used decaf Christmas blend in these cookies because I wanted to highlight the beauty of this blend, but I also wanted to sleep that night. Thus decaf. While I waited for my second batch of cookies to bake I had a quick and easy coffee tasting.
  
  Tasting Notes: Christmas blend has been a yearly tradition for the last 30 years. It was first introduced with the hopes of building a small following, and has become one of the most popular blends Starbucks sells. Rare aged Sumatra beans give this blend a spicy, cedar, and syrupy flavor that pairs well with the flavors of the season.
  
  The coffee itself has an intense, but lovely bite to it, and the cookies have a smooth and subtle sweetness. The spice from the coffee balanced well with the sweet from the cookie. Cookies and coffee were made for each other, wouldn’t you agree?
  
  Good friends, good food, good life.
  
  Q: Do you have holiday work parties? I have the most amazing coworkers, we enjoy spending time together outside of work. It’s quite a blessing.
  
  | 61 Comments Tagged Christmas, Coffee Master, Coffee Tasting, Cookies, Starbucks, Vegan
- Empty Mind, Filled Soul
  
  Posted at 4:40 AM by Brittany, on December 15, 2014
  I have a tendency to wander. Wander in life, wander in my mind, and wander with decisions. I often end up with three cupcakes instead of one because life is too short to settle on one thing. I adore this mindset, but sometimes it backfires. I don’t necessarily feel lost, just a bit ADD at times. Tolkien said it best after all.
  
  As I mentioned in my last post, I’m <finally> on a break from school for the remainder of the month. Despite the fact that my final was last Wednesday, I skipped out on studying last Monday and headed to the mountains instead. I needed to wander.
  
  It had been two months since I last hiked, and three months since I had been to the area where I spent most of my summer exploring.
  
  What was once a simple 4 mile hike that I could do with my eyes shut, quickly became a moderately difficult hike that caused me to loose my breath a handful of times.
  
  It was never “I need to stop I’m going to die” difficult, but it wasn’t a cake walk like it used to be. This made the view from the top very rewarding.
  
  I can’t put into words the feeling I got when I stepped foot on those rocks. I almost wanted to cry. After struggling to find my footing with a school/life balance the last few months this solo hike was beyond necessary. I was the only person at the top and I took full advantage of it because this hike is typically PACKED with people.
  
  No people means you have to take your own photo at the top. I hate selfies, but I tried.
  
  No adventure to the mountains would be complete without a solid refuel. I needed a foodie adventure because as I previously mentioned, my eats have been rather boring.
  
  I drove all around Seattle for some good eats <—true story.
  
  I didn’t plan on a slice of pizza, but once I saw it I had to have it.
  
  I found my way to a local vegan bakery that I had been wanting to try for a while.
  
  Lemon blueberry cupcake.
  
  Chocolate mousse filled cupcake.
  
  I also snagged a mini pumpkin bread, which didn’t stand a chance for a photo. I tornado inhaled that the second I got back to my car. I got concerned stares.
  
  ..but when treats taste this good, all cares go out the window.
  
  They say to do what you love and the money will follow, but what if you’re not concerned about money? Sure I want to be able to survive, but I’m a minimalist and I’m OK with a minimal lifestyle. I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I do know that today my soul is filled, and my life is balanced once again.
  
  Q(s):
  - Thoughts?
  - Cookies or cupcakes?
  - Did you settle on one thing you wanted to do for a living? I suspect I’m going to be a personal chef/mountain tour guide/novice blogger/treat baker/coffee guru/cat wrangler for many years to come – – – for now I’m OK with that.
  | 80 Comments Tagged Explore, Hiking, Rattlesnake Ridge, Vegan
- What Chemistry Taught Me about Life
  
  Posted at 5:30 AM by Brittany, on December 11, 2014
  
  If you’re ready for a roller coaster post sit tight because this one is for you. If you’re not, skip it and come back later this week – I’ll have something witty I’m sure.
  
  I’m going to keep this as simple and straight forward as possible because thick/chunky paragraphs are only meant for essay papers. I have officially finished the chemistry class I’ve been taking for the last 3 months, and my soul is completely stripped.
  
  I realize I sound dramatic, but really, I can’t remember a time when I’ve been as miserable as I have been the last few months. I have a tendency to be a perfectionist in certain areas, and when I struggle at this I’m affected all over.
  
  I basically lost control over my life because I was putting too much energy into ONE class. I gained weight, I used food as comfort, I cried (a LOT), I stressed every day, and I missed my job. I was working smaller shifts and really missed my full days.
  
  A simple coffee tasting to bring me back to life. A Starbucks reserve coffee with apricot and maple notes upfront, and ending with a chocolaty mouthful.
  
  I am completely aware that many people can handle one class like this (and then some,) but I clearly could not. Sure, I’ve taken full class loads in the past (including 2 chem classes!), but I never took things as seriously as I do now. Despite the fact my grades have all been decent, it wasn’t until this year I decided to really give school 100%. This class showed me I wasn’t able to handle stress as well as I thought I was.
  
  I’m happy to report that as I got closer to the end of it all, my ability to stay calm and collected grew immensely. Chemistry taught me to stay calm when my life felt wild.
  
  Quiet. Calm. Content
  
  To be honest the thought of taking the next level of this class, plus an additional year of the heavier duty chemistry classes (on top of multiple other classes) makes me want to barf. I’m fully aware that nothing worth having comes easy, but here’s the problem: I’m still not 100% sure what I want to do with my life. I am completely happy where I am right now, and yet I continue to try and squeeze a square into a shape fit for a circle. So what does this mean? I have no idea.
  
  I’m not saying I’m done with this path, I just don’t know where the next bend in the road is. Maybe I’m a quitter, maybe I’m lost, maybe I don’t have what it takes, or maybe I’m at a point in my life where I realize each second I get on this earth is precious and should never be spent doing things my heart isn’t fully invested in. I want to finish my degree, and I know I will, but I don’t know when or where.
  
  What I do know is that I am comfortable being uncomfortable about my future. I’m comfortable working two jobs (most of you don’t know this, but along with Starbucks I’m also a certified caregiver through Washington state. I only provide “care” for my sister, but it’s a nice additional paycheck for something I’d be doing anyway.)
  
  My sister Tiffany and I, aka T-money.
  
  Helping my family is a priority.
  
  I’m writing this post because I know I’m not alone. I know there are a handful of people out there that are in the same boat as I am, and this is to let you know that YOU are not alone. It’s more common than we think to be lost all the way through our mid 20’s. Trust me, I have my days of feeling like a “loser,” but really where does that get me, and who gets to determine the validity of that? I’m happy, I’m healthy, and I have a job I love that allows me to live a lifestyle I am happy with. It’s not my ending point, but it’s my segue into a bigger picture that hasn’t been painted yet.
  
  Update: I wrote this post a week before finishing my class and left it in my draft bin. I have signed up for the next section of chemistry and plan to continue forward with my current goal, but wanted to share my thoughts about where I’ve been mentally the last few months. Also, don’t be shocked if I change my path again in the near future. I’m notorious for that.
  
  No questions, just thoughts and input!
  
  | 93 Comments
- Three Updates
  
  Posted at 7:28 AM by Brittany, on December 8, 2014
  
  Running – Anyone notice minimal run talk around these parts lately? That’s because this is what my Garmin looks like right meow…
  
  Dead battery. It’s been dead for….a while. I haven’t charged it because I haven’t wanted to use it. Instead, I’ve been running 2-3 milers on my treadmill every few days.
  
  I’m happy to report that my semi running break inspired me to look for my next race, and I’m all signed up for this St.Paddy’s Day Run in March. Every year I tell myself I won’t run a race between Jan-March because it’s SO COLD before hand, but every year I do. LOCAL runners: SIGN UP NOW before a price increase!
  
  Work – Work is fantastic, as per usual. Starbucks just opened the most gorgeous roasting plant I have ever seen. I haven’t seen it live yet, but am planning a trip in January with a few fellow coworkers. Click the photo below for a quick article.
  
  I’m almost embarrassed (but not really) to admit how obsessed I am with this place. I cannot wait to see it. Once I arrive I will force them to hire me. I’m so thankful to work near the birthplace of this coffee company.
  
  It’s not easy to describe, but Starbucks is different in Washington, more specific Starbucks is different the closer you get to Seattle. There’s a sense of pride in the product that I sadly don’t see when I travel to Starbucks locations in other states. Basically what I’m saying is if you have a sour impression about Starbucks, you must get to Seattle and experience the passion and love that goes into each and every cup.
  
  Let me know when you’re here, and I’ll meet you for a tasting. 🙂
  
  Food – Not much food talk around here lately either. That’s not because I haven’t been eating, but simply because I’ve been eating the same quick and easy things all day erryday. School sucks the joy out of everything.
  
  Lots of pumpkin, lots of vegetables, lots of bananas, lots of almond butter, and too many handfuls of these chocolate covered crack cluster nuts. Say that 5x fast.
  
  Chocolate salted almonds. Costco did me dirty.
  
  Q: Give me an update, I’ve been semi MIA in blogland lately.
  
  | 58 Comments Tagged Coffee, Costco, Running, Starbucks, Work
- Fridays Fantastic Five
  
  Posted at 6:39 AM by Brittany, on December 5, 2014
  
  1. This box spoke to me. It said,”fill me with naughty treats because you need more insulation.” <–That’s not true, so the box was lying. Either way I love it.
  
  2. I found a dollar coin in the parking lot after finishing chem class this week. It was like a glimmer of magical hope after one too many molarity equations.
  
  3. Starbucks ornaments. Enough said.
  
  4. The mountains surrounding my living space have been large and in change lately. Sunny yet freezing days mean clean, snowy, BLUE mountain tops. If I can’t be on the mountain, I’m thankful I can at least see them all around me.
  
  Not the best photo, but you get the idea.
  
  5. Cookies twice in one day. Despite the fact that neither of these instances offered any “Brittany friendly” cookies, the gestures behind them sparked my fire higher than The General Sherman Tree. Instance #1- Partner appreciation cookies at work.
  
  Sorry friends, these chocolate coated shortbread cookies are not available for the public. I gave mine to my mama!
  
  Instance # 2- The kid I sit by in chem class gave a plate of cookies he made to me and the girl on my other side (I sit in the middle.) There is a special bond chemistry students develop with each other, and I’m not talking about ionic or covalent. We all laugh, cry, and bleed the same while stuffing our brains with painful knowledge.
  
  He’s my new favorite person, and such a precious high school child.
  
  Naturally I started and finished this post by talking about cookies. Happy Friday.
  
  Q: What’s one of your Friday favorites?
  
  | 42 Comments Tagged Christmas, Cookies, Random, Starbucks
- Going with the Flow
  
  Posted at 6:13 AM by Brittany, on December 2, 2014
  
  Sometimes unexpected things happen. As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned how to (mostly) accept unplanned situations that arise. Case in point: last Saturday I had plans to see Mockingjay at 3:45, any later & I turn into a walking zombie. Come to find out the universe had alternate plans for me, and I noticed I had a flat tire.
  
  I knew my chances of making the 3:45 movie were impossible once the man at the tire shop told me it would take 3-4 hours to fix. This also happened to be the day of our first snow fall, and freezing temperatures causing every hermit and their moms to crawl out and prep for the winter season. To make matters worse my house lost power.
  
  My room was as dark as this brownie…darker even.
  
  No power means no heat.
  
  So there I was at home (thanks to my wonderful mother swooping me up from the tire shop) wearing enough layers to give a blubbered elephant seal a run for their money, with no car, and no movie. I was calm, collected, and OK with this unexpected change in plans. Why? Because I am the only person with the power to prevent negativity.
  
  Layers like this, but inside, and with no bike.
  
  I chose optimism and spewed positive thoughts. I now have a fixed tire, and made it to the 6:30 movie (no zombie), which was fantastic by the way. It’s natural to be upset when things don’t go as planned, but choosing how to react is entirely up to you.
  
  Go with the flow, it requires less energy.
  
  Q: Who saw Mockingjay? Thoughts?
  
  | 67 Comments Tagged Life, Random, Winter
- Traveling the World One Bite at a Time
  
  Posted at 7:20 AM by Brittany, on November 28, 2014
  
  I hope everyone woke up safely from their Thanksgiving day comas. I volunteered to sling coffee all morning to ensure maximum movement, which enabled me to eat all the food. I’ll spare you any photos and just tell you I’m still obsessed with squash.
  
  I made GF biscuits for the first time, and I ate so many I had my own turkey wattle.
  
  I did manage to get a run in after I worked the morning shift!
  
  After my encounter with these bark thins last week I decided to take a break from sweets for a whopping five days. It’s amazing how such a short time can help balance things back out. I was getting wayyy too comfortable eating all the chocolate.
  
  This leads me to the topic of this post. How freaking cute is this chocolate passport?! I’m seriously so obsessed I don’t even want to eat them!…but I will.
  
  I found these at Trader Joe’s last weekend while I was shopping to escape chemistry homework, I call it grocery store therapy. Each chocolate is from a different location, ranging from 60-73 percent dark chocolate. Bring on the antioxidants!
  
  I think my favorite part is the addition of an ideal pairing. I’m all about pairings and tastings as most of you know, so this tickled my fancy big time. Tickle tickle.
  
  This makes the perfect holiday gift for…yourself.
  
  One of these bars has an ideal pairing of a cappuccino, but I suspect all of them will be good with a coffee like Caffe Verona or Ethiopia. Both have strong cocoa notes.
  
  Speaking of coffee, I just realized it’s almost December and I never brought out my fall coffee mug. I rotate between 3-4 mugs throughout the year, and the beginning of fall means it’s time for my favorite pumpkin orange mug. Coffee is better in a good mug.
  
  27 days until Christmas…just thought you should know.
  
  Q: Are you a sucker for great marketing? Guilty as charged.
  
  | 46 Comments Tagged Chocolate, Coffee, Starbucks, Trader Joes, Vegan
- Rok Espresso Maker
  
  Posted at 6:41 AM by Brittany, on November 25, 2014
  About a week ago I hopped onto Instagram and saw this photo
  1. Scott Jurek and I are basically best friends, we’ve eaten at the same restaurant and probably sat at the same table. He is also a fantastic runner, so I follow him.
  2. This espresso contraption intrigued me more than salt on chocolate.
  3. I now have an overwhelming desire to visit Yosemite.
  After seeing this espresso maker, I knew I had to have my own.
  
  Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my job at Starbucks, but the automatic aspect of the espresso machines makes it feel a bit…mainstream. I’ve longed to make espresso the “real” way by tamping coffee grounds into a finely packed puck fit for a portafilter.
  
  This unique device allows me to practice pulling the perfect espresso shots at home, and experiment to find the perfect water to coffee ratio. It’s modern, yet traditional in a hands on way. No plugs or batteries needed, just your favorite coffee, hot water, and a good squeeze of the handles.
  
  So how does it work? The hardest part is making sure you get your grounds packed properly. In order to ensure a tight packed puck your beans should be ground specifically for an espresso maker. If the grounds are too coarse they won’t pack as tight, which will affect your flavor and more importantly your overall pull.
  
  Once you’ve packed your puck simply attach your portafilter into its designated spot, pour hot water into the top of the machine, handles DOWN. Slowly lift the handles, and then slowly press down, pausing at first to infuse and swell the coffee. Ideally your extraction should take around 20 seconds. Here, he explains it better.
  
  I’m officially obsessed with making at home espresso. I’m not usually a latte drinker, but I now have the ability to drink them anytime I choose. There’s just something about this hands on technique that makes you feel connected to your coffee.
  
  It’s magical.
  
  I do love dense, fluffy, and stiff foam, but nothing beats the purity that is a solo espresso. Who wants to come over for an americano and cookies?
  
  P.S. Now you see why I was so excited to buy this demitasse!
  
  Q: Do you own an espresso maker? If so which one and how do you like it? The simplicity of this one has me hooked.
  | 57 Comments Tagged Coffee, Coffee Master, Espresso, Rok Espresso, Starbucks
- Elastic Pants, Here I Come
  
  Posted at 4:01 AM by Brittany, on November 21, 2014
  
  I’m always craving sweets, always. I eat 75% plants and 25% sweets which usually keeps me satisfied and in balance. On the off chance I don’t get my full 25% portion of sweets, I may splurge to a solid 30-40% instead. This is not a pretty sight.
  
  I successfully avoided the seasonal Bark Thins at Costco, until yesterday.
  
  Don’t ask how many servings I ate upon opening this package. I will lie to you and say less than one. OK I had more than one…more like..three. I then proceeded to run, do a Jillian Michaels workout, and cool down with an incline walk. If you’re looking for a way to ensure you want NOTHING TO DO WITH all the chocolate this is it.
  
  I felt sick for hours, resulting in plants on plants on plants for dinner.
  
  I ate 213874 lbs of spinach.
  
  You win this round Bark Thins.
  
  Speaking of food, I’m still super jazzed for Thanksgiving. Can we just take a moment to talk about how cute, perfect, and TRUE these cards are!?!
  
  The inside says: “And you. Happy Thanksgiving.”
  
  Seriously, get these in your life ASAP. Buy them here. Elastic pants, here I come.
  
  In completely unrelated news I made a smoothie a few days ago that I thought had the taste and texture of butterscotch pudding. I had my mom try some so I could gather information for scientific research(aka an outside opinion), and she said it tasted like a candle. This was moments after my sister said her cereal tasted like dog poop.
  
  Either my taste buds are skewed, or I should be concerned about what my family does when I’m not around. Or both. Happy Friday!
  
  Q: Have you had any of the Bark Thin flavors? They are all CRACK, crack I tell you!
  
  | 64 Comments Tagged Plants, Random, Run, Smoothie, Vegan
- Christmas at Starbucks
  
  Posted at 6:18 AM by Brittany, on November 19, 2014
  
  I’m not one to spend my money on random items. I have been known to hoard my pennies which has allowed me to have a comfortable pillow to sit on should any emergencies arise. I’ve never felt a strong pull towards impulse purchases, and will usually only buy something if I really, REALLY love it. Or if it’s food…
  
  I spend all the pennies on food.
  
  $3.00 for one cupcake, sure take my money.
  
  With that said, I try to balance things out every so often by buying something for myself…just because. I usually end up buying a Starbucks mug, but only when they go on sale. I cannot justify spending more than $5 on a mug, so I wait.
  
  This Christmas season Starbucks has over 100 different mug designs, and while I see many that I adore, none spoke to me enough to purchase. Except this one.
  
  This 3 oz demi cup is the perfect addition to my collection. Once I saw the trees I knew I had to have it. I also decided to buy this years advent calendar. I wanted it regardless, but really jumped on the opportunity when one wound up having a broken package.
  
  The merchandise itself is 100% in tact, but with a broken outer shell it was “un-sell-able.” I got it for 80% off, meaning I spent a whopping $6 on it. OH and it comes with a $5 gift card, so I spent $1. I didn’t want this for the chocolate treats that I won’t be eating, but FOR THE MAGNETIC REUSABLE CHALKBOARD!!!
  
  Ready or not it’s Christmas at Starbucks. This is my favorite time of year and all the Grinch’s that come in complaining about the decor make me want to pull them a decaf shot faster than Mary Poppins can pull a tree out of her purse.
  
  While I love the holidays, I don’t love the temperatures that come with it.
  
  Who needs feelings in their fingertips anyway?
  
  Time for 3987238957 layers.
  
  Try not to be envious of my selfie photo quality. This is why I don’t take selfies.
  
  Despite all my Christmas talk, I’m so excited for Thanksgiving and I’ve got my stretchy pants ironed, pressed, and ready to be worn for approx. 15 days post feast. I’m going to need all the help I can get with that elastic waistband. Real talk in 3..2..1..
  
  Q: Who’s ready for the holidays!?!?!
  
  | 46 Comments Tagged Christmas, Mug, Starbucks, Thanksgiving, Vegan
← Older posts

Newer posts →
- Search for:
- BRITTANY- Self proclaimed minimalistic nomad striving to maintain a balanced, healthy life with good food, long hikes, deep connections, exploration, and lots of potatoes.
- If this blog does not meet your standards, please lower your standards.
- Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com
- ¿Quieres Más?
  
  Like my witty attitude and delightful charm? Enter your
  e-mail below for the party to come straight to your inbox!
  
  Email Address:
  
  Join 4,725 other subscribers

Looking for Something Specific?

Search for:
Stalk My Past
Stalk My Past

Blog at WordPress.com.