Blissfulbritt | Page 53

- Small Victories
  
  Posted at 8:53 AM by Brittany, on November 4, 2013
  
  The other night I attended my first spin class in almost 6 months. It’s hard to believe I used to go to spin 3-4 times a week for over a year. While my unaccustomed backside cried out in discomfort from the saddle, and my legs screamed in pain from 6 minutes of straight sprints, I realized something..something monumental. In that moment I felt complete.
  
  This is a bike. Not my bike, and not my spin bike..but a bike..I rode this bike one time.
  
  I’ve never been one to enjoy talking about deep emotions, I struggle with being vulnerable and in all honesty I hate putting my “problems” onto other people. I know what it’s like to listen to others go on and on about things they cannot change, so despite some of my internal battles, I don’t like to share them. It’s been hard for me to admit that although it’s been nearly 6 months I am still not fully recovered from my breakup. I still have moments of complete weakness where I breakdown at the drop of a hat. That’s really hard to admit.
  
  If you’re worried about falling off the bike, you’ll never get on.
  
  It’s hard for me to admit that at times I still feel like I am lost, and that my direction continues to go up, then down, and then back, and then up again. It all feels complicated.
  
  I’ve had wonderful adventures lately, and I really am finding my happiness, but I still feel as if some days are a bit of a black clouded blur. This spin class opened my eyes to what I need in my life. I need a routine. My work schedule isn’t consistent, and I can’t say I like the inconsistency, but it’s something I have to accept with this job. This spin class reminded me of the days when I had a strict, yet wonderful routine.
  
  There is no guidebook to tell me when I am supposed to feel complete, and I’ve realized the “self work” I have to do takes TIME. Finding a consistent schedule is going to be one of the keys I need for my happiness. That spin class was a small victory for me on my road to success. I now see that I don’t need to be a medical professional to be happy, I just need a consistent schedule that makes me feel like I’ve accomplished my day. I love ending my day feeling exhausted.
  
  I have learned so much about myself in the last 6 months it’s almost crazy to look back and see where my life was a year ago. All this time I was longing for the past and struggling with my present, without realizing some of the simple things that would help me move forward. The saying, “live and learn” really means more than I thought. One day I will return to school and pursue a career, but for now I hope to find my balance in routine.
  
  Q: How do you feel about sharing/reading more “emotional” posts? I struggle with them and I don’t feel like the world needs to know everything, but sometimes sharing can be cathartic. I also enjoy reading more personal posts when I can relate to them.
  
  | 66 Comments Tagged Biking, Emotions, Life, Random, Spinning
- Early Morning Confessions
  
  Posted at 10:03 AM by Brittany, on November 1, 2013
  
  1. This book is totally giving me a science high. With a combination of nature talk and scientific facts ABOUT nature, I get lost in the text. I even read the chapter about snails.
  
  If you’ve read my blog for a while you’ll know I have an odd fear of slugs/snails..this was a big deal to read that chapter!
  
  2. I was on a runners high for a solid week after my last half marathon. Thank you for all the kind comments I received on that post. I just want to say that I officially hate hornets, and I will make it my life mission to stay away from them. My stings got so itchy I wanted to GNAW my damn leg off. I have had a huge red ring of death around the entry hole for over two weeks, and I am convinced something is breeding inside my leg.
  
  3. Sometimes I kinda, sorta, love where I live.
  
  4. I have only run a handful of times since my race, and after a much needed break the last couple weeks I am ready to get back to a schedule. I also miss spin class..like..a lot. I ran my fastest 5K a couple days ago with a time of 26:44. That’s an 8:37 pace. I was elated.
  
  5. I have been doing a lot of this lately..reading WITH my coffee.
  
  A good book and a good cup of coffee. Perfect morning.
  
  6. I finally downloaded the new iPhone update, but only after seeing it improved picture quality. I resisted for weeks, but I am a sucker for a good photo. I need a real camera…
  
  7. I want this chair at my table. This chair would give me permission to eat my food as if I were a tornado. Who says only kids get special high chairs?
  
  8. I went trick or treating last night (no, I do not have kids..) The quote of the night was when asked for our ID’s and my friend said, “we’re 13….plus 13.” I died. I’ll stop when I am 30…maybe. I gave all my loot away though, no milk chocolate for me.
  
  9. It’s November, and Starbucks is preparing for the holidays with a super awesome sale! I got this mug I have been lusting over for only $5! I had a partner discount too, but still!
  
  10. I am so in love with fall. I just can’t get enough of the colors, the smells, and the baked goods. I know one person that doesn’t want summer to end, but she is craayyy.
  
  Q: What’s your confession!?
  
  | 51 Comments Tagged Fall, Half Marathon, Halloween, Nature, Reading, Running
- ‘Tis the Season
  
  Posted at 5:26 AM by Brittany, on October 31, 2013
  Happy Halloween everyone! In spirit of today’s holiday, I have a recipe to prepare you for the NEXT holiday! Too soon? At least I don’t have any Christmas music playing…
  
  It’s no secret that I love to bake. I also happen to love almost everything I bake, but I have found that my taste buds are accustomed to flavors that some people would call bland. I enjoy the flavor of plain grains and veggies, my meals don’t get extra seasonings, and I am a coffee and tea purist to the max. I don’t add cream or sugar to either.
  
  I’ve been wanting to attempt a gingerbread cookie recipe for a while now, and finally gave it a shot. As per usual I LOVED them, but I wanted to see what the civilians thought (non vegan eaters.) Most people I know are skeptical of my treats before they try them, and I get a total baking high when I introduce my friends to the better side of vegan baking.
  
  I wanted to make all these cookies into maple leaf shapes, but had too much batter and not enough patience, so I made some circular cookies as well. These are perfect for those of you that enjoy a simple cookie that’s not overpowering in the sweet department. I LOVE extra sweet treats, but these mild cookies were delicious. Perfect along side a cup of black coffee.
  
  Super Soft Gingerbread Cookies
  - 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
  - 2 tsp ground ginger
  - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  - 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  - 1/4 tsp salt
  - 1 tsp baking soda
  - 1 1/2 tsp of a chia or flax egg (I used chia)
  - 1/4 cup coconut oil
  - 1/2 cup Earth Balance vegan butter
  - 3/4 cup xylitol
  - 1/4 cup raw sugar
  - 3 tblsp vanilla almond milk
  - 1/4 cup molasses
  - a couple more pinches of raw sugar
  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. Combine your flour, spices, salt, baking soda, and chia or flax egg in a medium sized bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix together your xylitol, sugar, coconut oil, and Earth Balance vegan butter. Then mix in the vanilla almond milk and molasses.
  4. Slowly stir in the dry ingredients until mixed
  5. Form into small balls (or shapes), sprinkle the top with sugar, and bake for 8-10 minutes.
  A few notes: I used part xylitol, and part sugar because I wanted to lessen the amount of sugar, but you can use all sugar if you want. I also ran out of coconut oil, so I used part oil and part butter, but you can use all of one or the other. I liked the combo of both.
  
  I had to…because I am 12. It is Halloween after all!
  
  This was my first time baking with molasses and I have to say I was scared of the smell. Thankfully it tasted nothing like it smelled, and I already have requests to bake a second batch! Oh how I love seasonal baked goods, bring on the eggnog cupcakes!
  
  Q: Do you like gingerbread cookies?! If you said yes, you must make these.
  | 39 Comments Tagged Cookies, Halloween, Recipe, Vegan
- Three Activities
  
  Posted at 9:20 AM by Brittany, on October 28, 2013
  
  Lately I have noticed that I go through phases of activities. By this I mean I will enjoy a certain activity more than others and focus on that certain activity with more energy than all my other activities. These activities are broken into three categories: Food, Running, and Adventuring.
  
  Right now I am in the adventuring phase. I haven’t baked anything in weeks, and I have only run four times since my half marathon a couple weeks ago. Right now I am focusing on going out with my friends and taking advantage of fall.
  
  Fall foliage between the fence.
  
  These activities are the core of this blog, and as you may notice I talk about these three things in bulk when I am going through each phase. While training for my last half, I had more posts about running, when feeling crazy in my kitchen I have more posts about creations, and while feeling adventurous I blog about my random adventures. I still partake in ALL these activities year round, but only one gets top spot at a time.
  
  Random giant pumpkin, of course I want a photo with you.
  
  Last week I was very spontaneous. This doesn’t happen often, as I usually prefer things planned far in advance. My coworker and I decided to take a last minute day trip to a town over three hours away. By last minute I mean we said, “hey wanna go tomorrow.” OK!
  
  With views like this a long car ride is tolerable.
  
  Our destination was a small Bavarian town called Leavenworth. I had been before, but not for many years. Our initial plan was to make it for Oktoberfest, but that never happened. Instead of bagging the trip, we decided to make our own Oktoberfest.
  
  Fall decorations and FIRE tables at an outdoor beer and brat place.
  
  The town itself is adorable and very touristy. There is a lot of character all throughout it.
  
  I wonder what they sell here…
  
  The shops were great, but the real show stopper was the scenery. The mountains overlooking the town took my breath away, and the fall trees gave me chills of happiness.
  
  After wandering the town for an hour or so, I completed the task I came to complete. I was so jazzed that the spot with the fire tables served Field Roast, and I got myself a “brat.”
  
  This is the face of a very tired, but content soul.
  
  The day was long (I had been awake since 3am for work, and didn’t get home until around midnight) and the drive was far (approx 190 mi from my house EACH way) but it was an adventure to remember and it sparked a whole new level of spontaneity in my world.
  
  I shared my a dventures in a local town, my footsteps through the corn, last week I went to Leavenworth, yesterday I went to Seattle for the last professional soccer game of the season, and I even made it to a haunted house with some of my coworkers. The phase of adventuring is coming to an end (not for good, just as the main phase and topic of my posts lately) and I see some more running posts in my future. I have my eye on another half marathon very, very soon! I also need to get my butt in the kitchen and BAKE!!
  
  Q: Do you go through phases where you do/talk about certain activities more than others? GET OUT AND EXPLORE!
  
  | 61 Comments Tagged Adventure, Day Trip, Leavenworth, Random, Running, Spontaneous, Vegan
- Footsteps Through the Corn
  
  Posted at 10:47 AM by Brittany, on October 25, 2013
  
  Thank you everyone for your input on my last post! If you’re at all interested in self hosting your blog, check out some of the comments! I know self hosting is my next step so stay tuned because I’m not sure exactly when it will happen! Now, onto today….
  
  I went to a corn maze. It’s not officially fall until you visit the corn maze/pumpkin patch. Sadly, no ninja moves were allowed so I kept my nunchuks in my pocket.
  
  Throughout the maze there were pumpkins with random paintings on them. My favorite was a self portrait of my child, equipped with a device for eating cereal, or ice cream.
  
  The objective of the maze was to solve a riddle. Random letters were sprinkled all over the maze and we were to write the letters down onto a sheet of paper, and then unscramble.
  
  S is for chicken.
  
  Any guesses? I couldn’t figure it out and had to resort to Facebook for help. I don’t know how I passed third grade. After finding all the letters, I enjoyed the sun through the corn.
  
  Obligatory corn maze photo.
  
  The farm also had chickens, goats, sheep, and one lone llama.
  
  To wrap up my trip, I searched the pumpkin patch for the perfect pumpkin to bake.
  
  This one..I want this one.
  
  When I went to pay for my pumpkin, the man did not know how to use the mobile device required for payment with a card. After asking him to find someone to help me, he asked me if I could wait a while. So I put the pumpkin back and I left. UGH I was so upset. Looks like I’ll just have to visit another pumpkin patch to get my pumpkin to bake!
  
  Q: Have you been to a pumpkin patch or corn maze this year? Now I want to go apple picking!! I just don’t want to find any larva in my apples….eww…
  
  | 49 Comments Tagged Adventure, Corn Maze, Fall, Pumpkin, Random
- I Need Your Help!
  
  Posted at 6:43 AM by Brittany, on October 23, 2013
  The last month I’ve been trying to live my life with less fear. Less fear of the unknown, less fear about the future, less fear about not knowing ABOUT the future, less fear about dancing in public with strangers, less fear about letting go of control, and so much more.
  
  I went here last weekend and screamed like a 12 yr old girl.
  
  Fear does nothing but hold me back, and I’m ready to move forward. I’ve realized life is too short to always stand in the shadows, and taking leaps of faith are a must. I could ramble on for days about this, but you get the idea, and I promise I am going somewhere with this.
  
  Something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, but have been afraid to jump into, is changing my blog to a self hosted site. I started this blog two years ago with hopes of connecting with people, and if I’m being honest..to get FREE STUFF! I’ve received my fair share of things, but now I want more. I want to look at my blog like a proud mother cat looks at her kitten and thinks, “I just birthed you..you’re beautiful.”
  
  The part that scares me is messing it up. I want to make the switch on my own, and I fear losing everything. I want to do the work myself, because that will make me the most proud. Designs and fancy bells can come later, but I want to do as much myself as I can. So here’s where you guys come it! A lot of my readers have self hosted sites and I need to pick your brains! I want your brain inside of mine..in a less morbid sounding way.
  - What website did you go through? I’m looking at Bluehost.
  - What was the best reason for making the switch for you?
  - Did you notice any major changes? Of any kind.
  - Did you loose your readers?
  - Were you able to keep your blog looking the way it way? I kinda like my simple look.
  - Was it easy to figure out how to add advertising to your page?
  - How did you collect $$ from advertising, PayPal?
  - Was it worth the work?
  - Will it be easy to figure out how to export/save all my content?
  - I use WordPress, will my home page be the same and will writing my posts be the same?
  I’ve done some research, but also want opinions straight from the sources: you guys. I’ve been a slave to YouTube tutorials, and have a good idea of what to do, but I still want some input from my readers that have made the switch on their own as well!
  
  Pleaseeee share with me any tips and tricks you have about making the switch, and I will love you forever. The time has come, and I feel ready..hurry and help me before I change my mind and settle back into my comfort spot!! 🙂
  
  Q: Are you self hosted? HELP ME!
  | 67 Comments Tagged Blog, Random
- Enjoy Life: Decadent Bars
  
  Posted at 7:16 AM by Brittany, on October 21, 2013
  
  I love to bake. I love shopping for the ingredients, I love the process of mixing things together, and most of all I love to eat what I have created. I don’t buy a lot of baked goods at the store because most of them contain dairy, and are full of things that remind me of pets and anti freeze fluid- tastes good, but eventually kills you. Oreo’s are an exception…
  
  One company that has continued to impress me with their baked goods is Enjoy Life Foods. In fact, I have a box of their snicker-doodle cookies hiding in my cupboard for my morning coffee pairing. I have reviewed some of their products before, but the last two reviews weren’t for baked goods, which just proves how versatile Enjoy Life products are. SO YUM!
  
  One of the best sights in the world.
  
  I was asked to try the four new decadent chewy bars and review them. All opinions listed below are my own, and while I did get these bars for free, I was not compensated for this review. Let’s start with my least favorite two of the group.
  
  Cinnamon Bun
  
  I opened this one first, because my mood decided this would be the best one. I was sadly disappointed and didn’t think this tasted much like a cinnamon bun at all. In fact I didn’t think it tasted much like cinnamon even. It wasn’t terrible, but I wouldn’t buy it.
  
  Cherry Cobbler
  
  I didn’t like this one at all. I don’t know what else to say about it..I just didn’t like it.
  
  Now for the two I LOVED.
  
  Chocolate Sunbutter
  
  I gave up on sunflower seed butter after overdoing it a few years ago. This was a nice welcome back snack to the world of sunbutter. This was DELICIOUS and tasted JUST as the name implied..chocolate shell with a creamy sunbutter filling. Two thumps up.
  
  S’mores
  
  BOOM. This was my favorite one. Are you shocked? I wasn’t either..chocolate and more chocolate..yes please. I wouldn’t say this tasted just like a campfire gathering with marshmallows and crunchy graham crackers, but it was SO good. Two thumbs and one big toe UP UP UP! I would buy this one again, TOMORROW!
  
  I would recommend this company to anyone, but specifically to those with allergies or dietary restrictions. All of these products are free of: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, and shellfish. These are also a great healthier option for kids (or kids with allergies) as a quick snack! If you’re interested in trying these decadent bars, enter the code: DECBLOG10 at checkout for 10% off your first order!! WHOO DISCOUNTS!
  
  Q: Which of these four bars sounds the best to you?
  
  | 47 Comments Tagged Chocolate, Enjoy Life, Review
- Dancing with Hippies
  
  Posted at 8:57 AM by Brittany, on October 18, 2013
  
  Yesterday my friend and I hit the streets of a local town and enjoyed the lovely fall day.
  
  Something about wandering outside with leaves littered along the streets makes me feel so warm and full of life. I had the most wonderful day, and fall continues to make me swoon. There were plenty of photo ops, and naturally I had to take part.
  
  I’m not sure what’s going on the last photo, my face is clearly facing the wrong way. This is definitely my kind of girl though, having two of the same outfit. I also ran into Gigi, and by ran into I mean I superimposed her face into the hole next to mine so I wouldn’t be alone.
  
  How neat is this building? I want to live here.
  
  I also made some new friends.
  
  Bullfrog rides: $0.25
  
  Yoga with the locals.
  
  The only downside was not being able to find any vegan treats. Only one bakery had a slab of cake (only one option) but I didn’t have cash and that’s all they accepted. I went into every cafe/bakery in attempts to find something. While rounding a corner to another cafe, we saw some local hippies dancing at an intersection. My friend called them crazy, I called them intriguing. So…I went and danced for 19 seconds with no shame.
  
  I don’t know what compelled me to do this, but it was liberaring!! What I do know is that my dancing skills are zero (I was trying to mimic that lady) and this lady had the hairiest armpits I have ever seen. Once I saw that I ran the other way. Dance on my friends!
  
  We ended our afternoon at a coffee shop that was connected to a wine bar with live music. I swooned so hard over the guy singing. His voice was like a combination of Fergie and Jesus. Inside the adorable coffee shop I saw the most adorable sign. I want.
  
  “Luv can be so blind. & strangely blissful. Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
  
  Amen.
  
  Q: Do you like wandering cute local towns?
  
  | 55 Comments Tagged Adventure, Fall, Hippies, Love, Random, Vegan, Yoga
- Poulsbo Half Marathon
  
  Posted at 8:02 AM by Brittany, on October 14, 2013
  
  BOOM shaka laka-I am now a third time half marathoner. I have to admit I was slightly worried going into this race for multiple different reasons. One reason being that my training wasn’t quite on par and I actually ended up skipping my last long run due to the fact that I was a week off when I started…oops. Mentally this sort of tripped me up.
  
  Ever seen a fish with legs?? This is my shirt.
  
  Secondly, and as much as I hate to admit to this, I was worried to be alone during this race. Emotionally this was a huge accomplishment for me and almost as if I was fully closing a door to my previous chapter in life (almost.) Running this race alone meant that if I hit the wall, I had to pull myself through. Thankfully my mind was right this entire run.
  
  The course was amazing, with winding back roads and views of the foggy mountains and colorful leaved trees around every corner. Views of the water and farm land for 80% of the course. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful location. October is officially my favorite time of year to race. Perfect fall running month.
  
  This is what happens when you ask a stranger that doesn’t know how to use an iPhone to take your picture. Blurry photo. Owell it’s all I’ve got!
  
  I prepared the day before by consuming carbs slowly throughout the entire day, and capped off my night with a giant bowl of veggies and pasta. I also made sure to guzzle water and ended off with 100oz by the end of the night. I’m OK with that!
  
  Miles 1-8 were great. I felt strong, and I knew at this point the run was going to go well. Once I hit mile 8 I needed to stop for the bathroom..NEEDED. This added 3 minutes to my chip time, but I made sure to stop my Garmin while I…was…going to the bathroom. HA.
  
  The hills started to get intense around mile 8. Giant hills, which would then balance out into mild, gradual hills, which would turn back into giant hills. I had to walk a few of the intense hills and I have no regrets about that. I was already sitting good for a PR.
  
  Mile 10.5 was the game changer. I suddenly felt something sharp on both of my calves in almost the same spot on each side. I thought maybe I brushed against a thorn, but then realized that would only make sense on one side. When I looked down I got my answer. Still clinging for dear life onto my pant leg, butt inside my skin, was a hornet. Ugh. One of them fell off or escaped who knows, but I had to flick the other one off while running.
  
  At first things felt fine, but when I got to mile 12 my calves were KILLING. All I could feel were the throbs from the stings. Of course the last 3miles were some of the hilliest and I was dyyyinnngg. Finally at mile 12.5 it was smooth sailing and the roads balanced out.
  
  I stopped my Garmin when it reached 13.1, with a time of 2:09:28. A twelve minute PR from my last half marathon. I kept running about .1 of a mile more to cross the finish line and accept my medal. Second proudest running moment of my life. First was Disney. Along with my bee stings, I got my first subungual hematoma on my right foot. Real runner alert.
  
  To be honest the last two weeks leading up to this race I was ready to take a break from running. I even said to myself a couple times during the race, “just finish this up and then you can take a break from running.” After getting a PR and once again experiencing that high of crossing the finish line..I already want to find another half marathon. This race empowered me in ways I thought impossible, and re-sparked my fire for running.
  
  Thank you to all my blog friends and family for the texts, and messages wishing me luck.
  
  Q: Do you stop your Garmin when you take a bathroom break? Maybe it’s cheating, but I always stop my watch. My time is for when I RUN, not for when I go to the bathroom!!
  
  | 86 Comments Tagged Accomplishment, Disneyland, Half Marathon, PR, Running
- Seeing Double
  
  Posted at 6:09 AM by Brittany, on October 11, 2013
  
  I don’t shop for “regular” clothes often. I get easily frazzled, and I rarely find things that I like. Running clothes are a different story, I could max out my savings on running gear. When I do find something “regular” I like, I will buy multiple of that one item if possible.
  
  Same shirt, one pink and one black.
  
  Same dress, flip flopped colors.
  
  Same jacket, one pink and one black. I also had one in yellow that I gave away.
  
  Same flannel..one red and one blue.
  
  Do you see the pattern? Well, the other day I mentioned I bought a new dress. I immediately fell in love, but then I saw the same dress in a different pattern. I tried to figure out which one I loved more, and ended up going with my second choice. When I got home I showed my mom and told her my dilemma, and she said the most magical words, “Go get the other one, why not have both!?” GENIUS! So I did..dilemma solved.
  
  My mom told me I look like a Mennonite with my hair like this. Isn’t she sweet? I actually wear my hair like this a lot, it’s just easy. The very next day a visibly drunk guy came into my work and told me he liked my hair. Thanks man..thanks.
  
  I LOVE the black one the most, but the colorful one is fun too. I am so obsessed with these! I would like to note that tights are probably one of the worst articles of clothing to put on. I would compare myself to two cats in a brawl while trying to maneuver into these tights, but they sure sucked me in! As you can see I have been spending a good amount of time in my windowless dungeon working on my pasty white glow.
  
  If anyone is curious, yes I took the cover from your grandmas couch to make these dresses. I am clearly channeling my inner old soul. So there you have it, if you find something you like..buy DOUBLE. HAH! Also, please don’t judge my photo quality. I felt lazy taking these photos, and my iPhone is starting to struggle. Happy Friday!
  
  Q: What phone do you have, and does it take good photos?
  
  | 59 Comments Tagged New Digs, Random, Running, Shopping
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