Tag: Adventure

• When Nature Calls

  Posted at 10:33 AM by Brittany, on May 20, 2013

  Lately I have been spending a lot of time alone. Sometimes it’s peaceful, sometimes it’s not. This weekend I tried to get out and spend time around other people and bless them with my charm and wit. Friday I successfully got lost in nature, kind of. Can you get lost if you’re not alone?

  

  Oops she was mid sentence when I snapped the picture haha.

  I brought my sister with me to go for a walk in the woods because let’s be honest, I am afraid of going into the woods alone. What can I say, I’m a wuss. What I am not afraid of though, is honoring nature when it calls. I was no where near a bathroom and my bladder felt like it was carrying the entire San Diego Zoo. The problem was finding somewhere appropriate to hide. I don’t prefer this way, but I just had to.

  

  Too out in the open.

  

  Too rude to go on a bridge.

  

  Can I climb inside this tree stump?

  Finally when I thought I couldn’t hold my bladder any longer I found a giant rock to hide behind. I told my sister to block my way and she then say, “Can Tiff try?” For those of you that don’t know, my sister has autism and is very impressionable. I probably should have held it, but I REALLY had to go. I said “NO! Don’t ever do this..and pretend it didn’t happen.” She said, “Keep it a secret.” Yes..keep my secret. Sorry mom.

  
  

  I really enjoyed being out with the ferns, birds, and tree monkeys.

  Sunday I spent time with a friend that I’ve known since I was a wee won.

  

  For the record, yes I wear this jacket basically everywhere I go. I don’t know what I’ll do when the weather heats up for good. I’ll probably just cut off the sleeves.

  While driving around Seattle I spotted the most beautiful graffiti I have ever seen.

  

  I have been craving pizza, for WEEKS! For some reason I’ve had no motivation to make my own, and as a vegan it’s not easy to just walk into Domino’s and ask for a pizza without cheese. Plus who knows whats in their crust..ANYWAY. This pizza..was legit.

  

  I chose the Field Roast pizza and it had: white garlic sauce, Field Roast, fresh tomatoes, spinach, and I ditched mushrooms for potatoes. Potatoes on pizza is the best. I think they also sprinkled dill on top, which I don’t really care for..but the pizza was so good I was able to ignore the dill. Plus I dumped enough red pepper and nooch on top to plug a flood hole.

  

  

  So good I left some on the side of my mouth for later. Thanks for the candid shot my friend.

  The pizza is made to order, so you know it’s fresh. They don’t sell by the slice so I had to purchase a small, but that just means more for later. I love supporting small businesses.

  

  I need to move to Seattle. Happy Monday everyone, I’m off to yoga!

  Q: Have you ever used nature as a bathroom? Be honest…

  

  | 67 Comments Tagged Adventure, Nature, Pizza, Seattle, Vegan

• Getting Lost In Nature

  Posted at 11:55 AM by Brittany, on May 17, 2013

  “The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.”  Unknown

  

  “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein 

  

  “He is richest who is content with the least,  for content is the wealth of nature.”  Socrates

  

  “All water has a perfect memory, and is forever trying to get back to where it was.” Toni Morrison

  

  “Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.” Ralph Waldo Emerson 

  

  “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” John Burroughs 

  

  “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” John Muir 

  

  Today I plan to get lost in nature. I’ve fallen into the habit of staring at the ground too much when I am outside. Part of this is due to the fact that I have an extreme fear of slugs (weird I know) and I am always on the look out for them. Warmer weather means no slugs and I have been challenging myself to look at the world around me whenever I am walking around outside. Sometimes something as simple as enjoying a walk around your area can be uplifting and rewarding. Maybe you’ll learn something about youself you never knew.

  “I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” George Washington Carver

  Q: Where do you go to get lost?

  

  | 54 Comments Tagged Adventure, Nature

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 8:48 AM by Brittany, on April 2, 2013

  1. The sunshine outside my window has allowed for nearly naked runs. Aka shorts and tank tops!!!!!! I have my first tan lines of the year. Shorts shorts SHORTS!

  

  2. I did not and will not clean that mirror, even after taking a photo and seeing the filth. That photo was also taken before the tank tops were brought out. It was the first shorts run of the season. These things must be documented.

  3. Did I mention the weather has been nice in my area?! That also means busting out the Vibram’s and running WITHOUT socks! Left: socks, right: NO SOCKS!

  4. I have made it to $2.00 on my coin counter. You all laughed when I started, laugh no more! $2.00 can ALMOST buy a cupcake!

  5. I went to Africa.

  

  Elephant

  6. I’ve been tearing through books lately. I just can’t stop reading.

  7. I think coffee is one of the most amazing smells in the world. Just the smell makes my bowels quiver. 99% of the time I drink coffee I only drink half the glass. I mean business.

  

  8. I’ve been playing tourist again around Seattle. While there I rode a carousel for the first time in years.

  

  

  9. Biggest confession of the post: Over the last couple days I have secretly stolen some of my sisters Easter candy to eat. I ate it..I ate her candy. That’s not the confession. The candy is not vegan! It was DELICIOUS! I may have had a cookie or a bite of non vegan cake too. OK no more Easter candy for me.

  10. I also ate my body weight in Field Roast on Easter, and make a bunny cookie that could probably win some kind of art show.

  
  

  Just a little fun fact about me: I do not pluck my eyebrows to be like this, I was just cursed blessed with STUBS that vanish at the end for eyebrows. I’m too lazy for makeup everyday, so if anyone has any magical hair growth HOOK ME UP!

  Q: What’s your morning confession? 

  

  | 68 Comments Tagged Adventure, Cash Money, Coins, Confessions, Cupcake, Running, Tourist, Vegan, Vibram

• Exploration

  Posted at 10:49 AM by Brittany, on March 28, 2013

  One of my goals this year is to spend some quality time exploring my state. Having lived in Washington my entire life, I feel it’s time to really start appreciating all the beauty around me. Seattle is always an easy go to being that it’s only an hour ferry ride away, but there are still plenty of hikes, lakes, mountains, and restaurants that I want to explore!

  

  The trees in this city are different than in mine. Only an hour of separation, but completely different landscape. There are also new to me wildlife parks that make for great afternoon adventures.

  

  The sun was in hiding for the first part of this wildlife trek, but eventually made an appearance.

  

  There were birds, ducks, snakes, turtles, and lots of foliage to see. I’ve become a pro at identifying skunk cabbage, and could continue living contently if I never had to see or smell that stuff again..blech. Another smelly substance left me in fear every time packs of geese flew over my head.

  

  No body likes poop hair.

  I have walked so much this week that my legs feel as if I have run a half marathon everyday. It’s been a welcomed change from the constant running, and giving my knees a break every couple days has been nice. While I LOVE running in new areas, I find that walking helps me appreciate the scenery around me more.

  

  Spring time is a perfect time to start exploring, but I need serious fuel when it comes to hours of exploring. Spring time also means BRING OUT THE BBQ!

  

  Pre BBQ

  

  There aren’t many sights more beautiful than grilled veggies. Match made in adventure heaven.

  Q: Do you ever explore areas close to home, or do you prefer adventures further away? I like both, but close to home is easier to do on a whim! 

  

  | 56 Comments Tagged Adventure, BBQ, Exploring, Food, Grill, Running, Spring, Vegan, Walking, Washington

• Food for Days

  Posted at 9:06 AM by Brittany, on March 24, 2013

  Yesterday I made my way to Seattle for tons of free stuff VegFest, a vegetarian food festival with lots of samples. This was my first time attending VegFest as a vegan, but I was pleased to find out that 95% of the food was vegan friendly!

  

  The day started off gray, but that didn’t stop hundreds of people from piling onto the ferries going across the water.

  

  I saw that Scott Jurek was in town and was really hoping to see him at VegFest, but no such luck. I did however score big in the food department. Hundreds of samples to eat, and plenty more to take home. All for an $8 entrance fee. Score.

  

  Beet, fennel, quinoa salad.

  

  Two bags FULL of loot.

  

  The final haul, all sprawled out.

  The best new-to-me find at VegFest was vegan whipped cream that tasted JUST like the dairy version..pumpkin/apple/berry pie here I come! After stuffing my face with tons of delicious vegan food, it was time to play tourist in the city I adore.

  

  What’s a trip to Seattle without Starbucks?

  

  

  

  Pike Place market has amazing spring flowers this time of year, and of course delicious produce! The daffodils were everywhere.

  

  

  Spring has SPRUNG! The sun also decided to come out for the rest of the day. HOO-rah.

  

  I tell ya, the day would have been rough without this guy..

  

  Snacks, water, and extra clothes. The day was great, and to top it off I found $0.63 cents over the course of six hours. I’m not even kidding (super rad, right!?.) I’m up to $1.13 on my coin counter. I’m well on my way to that free donut. By the end of the day I was ravenous all over again. Food for days will last for..maybe five days.

  Q: What big city do you live near or in, and how often do you visit?? Seattle, and I visit as often as I can! 

  

  | 55 Comments Tagged Adventure, Food, Seattle, Spring, Vegan

• Choo-Choo!

  Posted at 5:00 PM by Brittany, on January 4, 2013

  It shouldn’t take a neurologist to figure out this post is going to be about a train.

  

  A trip north to Cottonwood/Sedona area started with a train ride through the Verde Canyons in Clarkdale Arizona. This railway was built in 1912 as a support for the copper mines in Jerome, AZ, and it just so happened to be my first wilderness style train ride.

  

  I started this adventure on the inside of the train, but quickly made my way outside with the big kids to get the full experience. Despite being a bit chilly, being outside was much better.

  

  Who ever said there’s no water in the desert?

  The most fascinating thing about this train ride was seeing all the caves in the canyon walls that were used by Indians many years ago. The idea of living in a cave is wild to me. To display just how close the train drove by the canyons, here is a picture of a random old man.

  

  This two hour ride took us into a “town” called Perkinsville, where you have to be a Perkins to reside. There were maybe three people that lived here, and at least 10 farm animals. This is where I took my favorite photo of the day.

  

  One day I will frame this and hang it in my house. After a 15 minute break check, we headed back on the two hour ride into the train port. If you’re ever in this area of Arizona, I highly suggest taking this train ride.

  Q: Have you ever been on a train?

  

  | 28 Comments Tagged Adventure, Arizona, Desert, Photography, Train

• No Shame

  Posted at 8:56 AM by Brittany, on December 10, 2012

  Saturday I went to Seattle with my mom.

  

  We rode on this.

  

  We sat up top, there was no heating, and middle aged women were talking louder than a howler monkey. The bus took us to Seattle to shop, so shop we did. Naturally the highlight of my shopping experience was the food. The Veggie Grill just opened up their second Washington location, which happened to be right where we were shopping. YES!

  If you live in Southern California, Northern California, Oregon, or Washington I suggest you eat here. It’s an all vegan restaurant, but don’t let that scare you. It’s delicious. Don’t believe me? Well I have some pictures that speak for themselves.

  

  

  “This is dripping ALL OVER MY HAND!” I also look like a small forest rodent.

  

  “I hope the table next to me isn’t watching.”

  

  “This burger is a mess.”

  

  “ANNND back for more.”

  

  

  “Is it too soon to want seconds?”

  I would like to thank my mom for capturing my true beauty in these photos. I clearly have no shame, and will do whatever it takes to convince my readers of a good foodie find. This place was good. Oh and in case anyone wants to know what I was eating, it was this.

  

  The VG Cheeseburger, El Dorado Style

  The bus ride home was filled with those same middle aged women, drunk, and dancing on the lower level of the bus. They are lucky I was sober or I would have pulled out my dance moves and their jaws would have hit the floor. I look identical to this guy when I bust a move. My hero is JT too.

  To Cliff Note this post I’ll say: I hung out with my mom for an entire day, I rode a double decker English bus, I froze, I ate a delicious vegan burger, and I experienced drunk older women. I slept well that night.

  Q: Have you ever ridden on/in a funky vehicle?

  

  | 42 Comments Tagged Adventure, Vegan, Veggie Grill

• Adventures in Canadaland

  Posted at 11:25 AM by Brittany, on December 1, 2012

  This week I went to Victoria, BC. This is partially why I have been MIA for almost a week.

  

  I saw a lot of gorgeous architecture.

  

  Parliament

  

  The Empress Hotel

  

  Random building in tourist town

  I ate a LOT of good food. I wanted to ensure that I experienced Victoria for their food, and didn’t want to eat anything I could eat in my hometown. I found a flyer for a vegan restaurant and asked two locals how to get there. 20 minutes later I was eating some amazing vegan food.

  

  

  That cake was so good

  I stumbled upon the most amazing Mexican cafe after deviating from the tourist area.

  

  

  This burrito was almost $10, but it was so incredibly heavy and stuffed with so much amazingness, I had to save 1/4 for later. SO.GOOD.

  I needed something sweet to wash it down, so I found another cafe that sold vegan brownies.

  

  

  Unfortunately, this brownie lacked in flavor and “kapow!”

  I also stumbled upon the tea store I see all over the Candian bloggers pages. There are only like 4 of these in the states, but the closest to me is California. It was more fun to see it in Canada anyway.

  

  I sampled that sleigh ride tea, SO GOOD!

  Canadian friends I need your help..what is this?

  

  It was some kind of squishy looking fruit. It almost looked like lychee.

  The main part of this getaway was to “relax.” I spent WAYY too much money on a hot stone massage, but I tried it once and now I know.

  

  I came home with a small bottle of  Canadian maple syrup, and I can’t wait to give it a test drive on some pancakes or waffles. Or maybe I can just drink it straight from the bottle.

  I loved this town. It was calm, quiet, simple, and the location was gorgeous. The cafe’s and food were perfect and I never struggled to find good food. What better way to experience a new area than by tasting it? See ya soon Canada!

  

  Q: How do you like to experience a new area? Walking the streets, and tasting the eats! 

  

  | 53 Comments Tagged Adventure, Travel, Vegan

• Summer Salad On A Wild Night

  Posted at 7:41 AM by Brittany, on August 19, 2012

  I know all of you people suffering the 100+ degree weather wan’t to shove my face with a cookie to shut me up, but the heat in Washington has been zapping me! My energy is lower, my appetite is lower, and my motivation to “cook” is lowweerr than low. Fortunately for me, I know someone else that is suffering from the 90+ degrees. He has provided me with a wonderful summer recipe! Stolen Adapted from here, this fruity protein goodness is refreshing and filing.

  Quinoa Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

  

  • 1 cup dry quinoa (after this is cooked it expands to more than a cup)
  • 1.5 cups blueberries
  • 1.5 cups sliced strawberries
  • 1.5 cups chopped mango

  For the dressing:

  • Juice one large lime
  • 3 tablespoons of honey
  • 2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh mint

  Cook the quinoa and let it cool. Once cool, combine quinoa, blueberries, strawberries and mango in a large bowl.

  To make the dressing: whisk the lime juice, honey, and mint together until combined. Once dressing is combined, pour over the salad and enjoy!

  

  This was very light, and perfect for a hot day.

  Friday night I decided to be wild. I can’t remember the last time I got wild on a Friday night. I went to the store, and I left with this.

  

  I went in for socks and hair ties, and left with so much more. This giant book of dino’s was a whopping $1.00. The crayons were $0.50. If you do the math that’s $1.50 for one wild night. I colored a self portrait of my pillow pet.

  

  

  This gorgeous portrait can be yours for the generous price of $0.25.

  Correction: My friend has purchased this picture in exchange for cookies. Sorry.

  Q: When’s the last time you colored?

  

  | 30 Comments Tagged Adventure, Coloring Book, Recipe, Vegetarian

• The Mani/Pedi

  Posted at 1:50 PM by Brittany, on April 18, 2012

  Friday I got a mani/pedi. My first ever mani/pedi combo, and probably my last. Lets back up to the beginning of the day. I went to visit a friend that lives across the water in Seattle. Upon arrival she suggested we get a manicure and/or a pedicure for a fun “girls” day. If you have read my blog for a while, you’ll know I am not very “girly.” I agreed to go despite my non girl like tendencies and lived by the phrase, “there’s a first time for everything.”

  Nail lady: “Hi welcome to #%@KG nails, wha can you like?” (she was very hard to understand)

  My friend: “I’ll have a mani/pedi please.”

  Me: ***Quick, what do I want..panic panic panic***..”ME TOO.” (ah shit no turning back now)

  I pick my color, a disgustingly old woman like color of a deep red/brown. I don’t know why..I must have still been in a state of panic and just grabbed the first round bottle.

  

  Something like this, only this is not my bottle..or my hand. My color is a tad brighter too. Moving on.

  I sit down and immediately I am surrounded by tiny women. The chair is uncomfortable, probably because every muscle in my body is tense. Including my glutes. I stick my feet into boiling water upon request. I pulled them RIGHT back out, “OWW TOO HOTTTT!” After a small laugh, the woman cools the water (a little, it was still hot the second time, but I sucked it up to appear tough.) It looked something like this.

  In simpler terms, I felt like Katniss when she was getting prepped for the fancy interviews. I was the mangled, disheveled girl that was in dire need of a nail cleanup. They picked, prodded, laughed, and talked in a different language. I hated it. I knew they were talking about me saying things like, “this crazy girl has never done this, quick take away her woman card!”

  Lady number one: “No wo$% today?”

  Me: “I’m sorry?”

  Lady number one: “Work, no work today?”

  Me: “Ohh no, I have a day off! =)”

  Lady number TWO: “Ohhi wiheqtis$^##@^744”

  Then both one and two are staring at me, as if they are expecting a response to the gibberish that lady number two said..

  Me:…………“Yeahh I don’t know when I go back *mumble mumble, awkward laugh*”

  Did I mention they were hard to understand?

  Just when I thought things were coming to an end, lady number one leans me forward and starts SLAMMING on my back with her fists. IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE A MASSAGE!?

  

  My feet are soft, thanks to whatever chemical gels this place put on my skin. My nails are already chipped, thanks to 7 hours of work and an 8.5 mile hike the very next day. My bubble was popped, thanks to tiny women speaking different languages getting too close to my no-no space. I’d say that was $40 well spent. Next time, we’re shooting guns.

  Q: Do you get mani/pedis? Next time, I’m going to a spa..and getting ONE at a time!

  

  | 57 Comments Tagged Adventure, Mani/Pedi

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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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• Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com

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