Tag: Arizona

• Thunderbird Park

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 22, 2018

  A trip to Arizona for me is not complete without a visit to Thunderbird Park. Mostly this is because my family lives near one of the trail entrances, so I walk half a mile and my hike begins. Not quite like the 1-2 hour drives I take to get to a trail in Washington.

  Not that I’m complaining, nothing compares to the hikes in Washington…yet.

  In my previous visits to Thunderbird Park, I stuck to a basic walk following the Coach Whip trail, taking me along three different mountains, but never to the summits. The park is split into three mountains, each with their own summit. One at Arrowhead Point, one on the Cholla Loop, and one on Sunrise Mountain.

  I decided to jump on board with the #52hikechallenge this year, where I hike at least 52 times throughout 2018. To make it easy, I started on Jan 2. Ideally I will hike once a week, but there will certainly be weeks I hike more than this (like when I’m hiking 8 days straight in Scotland, or when I’m hiking this summer at an exciting location – for another blog post), as well as weeks I don’t hike at all.

  I plan to listen to my body this year more than every before, like yesterday when I chose to go to a spin class instead of hike. 

  Overall I have no strict rules for this goal, just to make an effort to hike as often as possible. I completed four hikes while in Arizona, three of them at Thunderbird Park in order to hit all three summits. I find it easy to start a commitment like this when I’m in Arizona because the sunshine is motivational.

  Plus I have a shitton of extra time, and Thunderbird is so close. 

  

  Far left is Sunrise Mountain, middle is Cholla Loop, and far right is Arrowhead Point. All connected by the Coach Whip trail.

  

  Another angle view of the same three in the same order.

  You would never know from the above panoramic photos, but each summit is market by an American flag. This made it more fun for me, because I can’t say the view from the tops are anything to loose your pants over. Instead I used the flag as my victory reward. I did all of these hikes solo, and this park is well populated so I always felt safe.

  Each hike gave me a bit over 5 miles by starting where I did on the Coach Whip, but you could easily do more than one mountain at a time. 

  First up for me was Cholla Loop – a 3.6 mile loop with an elevation of 1350′. The overall gain is a mere 561′ making this trail suitable for most everyone. I started at the same location each time, giving me a few extra miles. This was when I realized there were multiple summits, and this was when I decided to hit all three before I left.

  

  Next hike was somewhat unplanned. I set out with the intention of just walking the Coach Whip (which I did a few other times that I’m not counting) but ended up turning the wrong way. I was heading towards the summit of Sunrise Mountain, and ironically as I hit the summit the sun was starting to set.

  Sunset on Sunrise.

  I wasn’t planning a full hike, but one thing led to another. I still got 5 miles in on this hike, but had to call for backup because it was getting dark. Instead of walking back another mile and a half or so on the Coach Whip, I got picked up at the Sunrise Mountain trail head. Shout out to my dad and stepmom for coming to save me from coyotes and creeps. This trail is a 4.3 mile loop (I loved the loops!) with a gain of 626′.

  

  Lastly I ventured to Arrowhead Point Trail, which was the shortest of them all with a smaller elevation gain, but the shorter the mileage/gain ratio the more it burns. It’s short, but it gets the lungs burning. This loop is 2.4 miles with a gain of 439′. I was fortunate enough to have the summits mostly to myself.

  I sat at this summit for a good 10 minutes appreciating my life.

  

  I’ve officially conquered all of Thunderbird Park, and feel I’m a partial subject matter expert now. I’m excited to continue hiking in various places around the US, and in Scotland. And of course anywhere else I decide to travel to, because the world is my playground.

  Q: Did you set any goals for the new year? I think goals should be sent all year long, not just at the beginning.

  

  | 41 Comments Tagged Arizona, Hike, Mountain, Solo Hike, Thunderbird Park

• Desert Botanical Garden

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 19, 2018

  When I think of the desert, I think of dry, brown, arid environments with little to no life. I also think of hot fudge sundaes, but that’s because my brain has a hard time letting go of that extra “s” in the word dessert. While my original thoughts have some validity to them, I recently discovered the desert has a unique beauty that goes beyond the dry brown climate.

  

  

  A trip to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ is all it took for me to open a small piece of my heart to the desert. For as long as I can remember, succulents have been one of my favorite types of plant. Little did I know a cactus is technically a succulent. You can tell I didn’t study horticulture in college.

  I also had no idea there were so many species of cacti. I was familiar with saguaro (I think we all are), barrel, prickly pear (thanks Jungle Book), and a few others I recognized visually (though I don’t know the names), but I discovered so many more.

  Octopus cactus (legit), teddy bear cactus (you touch it and it sticks on you and won’t let go), ones that had hair, and ones that looked like a fence. 

  

  

  The cacti were educational, but the original purpose for this adventure was to see the Jun Kaneko sculptures littered around the gardens. Jun is a Japanese American artist who specializes in large, hand built ceramic sculptures. The majority of the sculptures we saw were of giant heads. They were weird, but a good kind of weird.

  Kind of like me. 

  

  

  

  The gardens are spread over five trails, winding and looping together in one way or another. It took us two hours to cover it all, walking at a comfortable pace. It was a tranquil place and I found myself leaving much calmer than I walked in. The garden had sections for different plants, including an edible garden.

  My favorite thing about the gardens were the reminders that nature is healing. They have sensory gardens to relax the mind scattered around the property, fountains trickled water, birds chirped in the trees, and the air was fresh. My favorite sculpture and location had a fountain, and a view of the surrounding mountains.

  I could have sat there for hours. 

  

  This experience was a good reminder that beauty is found anywhere, and sometimes it just takes a shift in perspective. I didn’t think the desert was ugly necessarily, but I didn’t jump out of my seat to call it beautiful either. What shocked me the most while visiting this garden was all the green. Green trees, green cacti, green succulents.

  Who knew the desert could have so much green in one place. 

  

  

  

  The paths were surrounded by desert dwelling organisms, and every so often we’d stumble upon some sculptures. Art is funny, and really anything can be viewed as art depending on..you guessed it..perspective. Anything from a red line drawn on a black sheet of paper, to tall bear/pig hybrid statues.

  The one with stripes was my spirit animal. #twins.

  

  

  

  Art can come in all shapes and sizes, and everybody has their own preference. I enjoy art in many forms from written words, to paintings, to sculptures like these. Art offers a unique view into the mind of its creator, and has its own therapeutic and meditative benefits. Finding art within a garden makes a lot of sense when I think of it like that.

  

  

  

  One day, when I grow up, I will have a large garden next to a tiny home. I will spend my free time outdoors soaking up the meditative benefits of fountains, and nature, and it will be my place of zen. These botanical gardens have a powerful way of giving you the same benefits you’d get from meditation, and for that I’m a fan.

  Maybe I’ll even have a Jun Kaneko giant head, don’t they look like they’re meditating?

  

  My family bought a membership to these gardens, and I can’t wait to visit again at a different time of year. I don’t anticipate much will change with the plants, desert terrain doesn’t have seasons, but the different activities and exhibits will be fun. If I lived in Arizona I would come here once a week to recenter my focus and sit near my favorite labyrinth.

  

  The goal of meditation is not to control your thoughts, it’s to stop your thoughts from controlling you. 

  Q: What’s your preferred biome? I have three: grassland, temperate deciduous forests, and taiga.

  

  | 33 Comments Tagged Arizona, Botanical Garden, Garden, Meditation, Mountain, Zen

• Walnut Canyon National Monument

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 15, 2018

  Raise your hand if you know the difference between a national park and a national monument. In simple terms, a national park is an area that is set apart for use by the public, typically because of the scenic, inspirational, or recreational value. A national monument on the other hand has pieces of history that need to be preserved such as fossil sites, ruins, or military forts.

  

  Knowing the difference between the two can help give us an idea of what to expect when visiting America’s parks. I recently took a trip to Walnut Canyon National Monument in Flagstaff, Arizona and took a step back through time. What made this location a National Monument were the preserved cliff dwellings that are over 800 years old.

  

  View from afar.

  The Island Trail is the trail you’ll want to walk first, a quick one mile out and back loop taking you along a flat path to view 25 cliff dwelling rooms. The elevation of this park is near 7000′ providing expansive views of the surroundings cliffs.

  There is also a short trail that walks the rim of the below cliff, providing a view from the other side. It’s a small park, one you can easily see all of within two hours, but one that showcases an amazing part of human history.

  

  

  While you don’t need to be in great shape for this adventure, you’ll want to be mobile. In order to access the Island Trail you must descend a set of steps 185 ft down from the visitors center. It’s well worth the stair master burn though, there’s no better way to experience the dwellings.

  

  I absolutely love taking a step back in time to see how people lived before America was so privileged. I couldn’t help but wonder what these people did to pass time, you know without technology and the unnecessary distractions we have today. I try hard to spend some of my time without distractions, but I admit it’s difficult.

  One of the reasons I enjoy living a minimalistic life is because I crave the simplicity that accompanies it. I’m not saying these people had a simple life, they worked damn hard to survive, but the contrast of lifestyles couldn’t be more different. I think our survival goal is the same today as it was back then, but the approach is so vastly different.

  

  Some of the dwellings were open like the above photo, and some were more enclosed with small doors and a small hole to allow smoke to exit the rocks. Each “apartment” like dwelling was connected to the neighbor next door. I imagine these people living like families, raising their children together and hunting for food together.

  The smoke stains on the walls brought my imagination to life. Did they have parties together? Did they keep isolated? Did they live a happy life?

  

  Tiny door.

  

  Tiny window.

  

  It’s no secret that often times those with less appreciate life more than those with excess. Those with less have a knack for making themselves happy without inanimate objects. When living in cliff walls I assume the focus of each day was where the next meal was going to come from, where the fresh water source was, and what to do in the event of an attack.

  I’m incredibly thankful for the life I have, but it’s good to have reminders like this, that the roof over my head evolved from something like a cliff dwelling. Eventually the people that lived in these cliffs moved onto new dwellings, naturally following the path of change.

  

  

  Time is valuable. Figuring out how to be content with idle time is a blessing I think a lot of us could benefit from. Myself included. Sitting in silence, not needing a distraction, and of course spending time with others. Surviving is a necessity, but how we do so is sometimes a choice. This choice is personalized, and no one way is wrong or right, but perhaps we can all learn something from those that live with less.

  Q: What’s your favorite national monument, and why?

  

  | 30 Comments Tagged Arizona, National Monument, Vacation, Walnut Canyon

• Arizona Ascents

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 11, 2018

  I’m currently on an extended vacation visiting my family in Arizona, and although I miss the greenery of my home state, I’ve taken advantage of the sunshine and dry hiking weather. Every time I visit Arizona I make it a point to hike a popular trail near Phoenix called Piestewa Peak, formerly known as Squaw Peak.

  

  Compared to the trails in Washington where I live, this trail would be considered small. The elevation is small, and the distance is short, but the gain happens quickly. The climb kicked my butt this time around, but I did make it to the summit quicker than I had in the past. I normally hike this with family, but this time I went solo.

  It took me 45 minutes to get to the top, rested for a few, and back down for a RT total of an hour and 40 minutes. Ish…

  

  One thing that sets this hike aside from what I’m used to is the uneven terrain. My preference for a trail is one that has a steady and smooth incline. The rocks, and stones make Piestewa Peak more difficult because it requires more energy to step up onto. This hike also requires more mental attention, I find myself thinking of my next step before I even take it.

  Sometimes, when the path has a rock-less option I take that path.

  

  To the right.

  I find it difficult to make the brown and dusty landscape look pretty, but that’s because my preference is always green. I was able to capture a few good shots before the dust completely engulfed the valley below, it was incredibly windy this day.

  The wind was so bad I had to stop a few times to blink the dust out of my eyes. 

  

  This windy afternoon was the precursor to a “storm” that was coming. Hours later rain was falling from the sky like a flock of seagulls towards a loaf of bread. When I come to Arizona the weather is mostly consistent, and rarely deviates from sunshine. This day was completely unpredictable starting with sun, moving to wind, and ending with rain and thunder.

  The perfect metaphor for life, nothing is predictable. 

  

  Learning to expect the unexpected has helped me cope when things don’t go as planned. How boring would life be if everything followed a schedule, or if we never let go of control to simply trust the process? This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t plan for things, but rather evaluate how we react when things don’t go as planned.

  I wasn’t expecting overcast on this hike, but I welcomed it with open arms. I wasn’t expecting to feel like I was going to die on this hike, but I accepted the challenge to whip myself back into shape. I wasn’t expecting rain in Arizona, but I sucked in the smell of it like a brand new vacuum.

  There is something magical about the smell of warm rain. 

  

  Rain is invigorating. Cleaning the air and washing away dirt, it feels like a fresh start.

  It would be remiss of me not to update those of you that haven’t heard the latest on my cat. He is recovering amazingly well after his surgery, and will get his final evaluation on Saturday. He will also get to take off his cone of shame, and get his stitches removed.

  He has been given a fresh start.

  The little Houdini escaped the cone multiple times, is eating like a full grown grizzly, and is successfully urinating. I’d say he’s well on his way. Thank you again to those that helped this process. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as he undergoes one more procedure when I get back home.

  

  Q: How do you react when things don’t go as planned? Meditation has helped me to react less aggressively. 

  

  | 23 Comments Tagged Arizona, Cat, Desert, Hiking, Solo Hike, Squaw Peak, Vacation

• As We Go on

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on May 31, 2016

  I’ve been out of high school for nearly ten years. Looking back I would say I was neutral about my high school experience, but back then leaving those walls gave me similar feelings to having my chest stomped on by a 2 ton black bear.

  Hearing the song “graduation” by Vitamin C made me cry like a big ol’ baby when I was 18. Ohh to be young. I’m not even sure why I was sad, perhaps because the idea of “being a grown up” was frightening, but as I’ve learned in my 27 years on this earth we never really grow up. We just evolve and hopefully become better people.

  

  My beautiful younger sister Renae just graduated from high school, and I was fortunate enough to fly down to Arizona and attend the party. As with any trip to Arizona there are a handful of highlights I’d like to share.
  

  I left the lush green trees of Washington and attempted to trail run at 12pm during Arizona spring time. Not nearly as bad as Arizona summer time, but I made it a whopping 3.5 miles in the 90 degree weather before calling for back up.

  

  

  DAAADD save me, I’m covered in tiny spiky balls.

  The remainder of my runs were done before 8 am. I didn’t dare repeat this rookie mistake and melt to the side of a cactus. In fact every type of physical activity was done before 8 am. This included a handful of 7 am runs, a 5:45 am kayak adventure, and a 6:30 am hike.

  

  I made a friend in the mountains, I called him Frank.

  

  No. not him. He looked more like a Bill. 

  

  FRANK THE TANK!

  

  For our kayak adventure we used inflatable kayaks and practiced in the pool first. Heaven forbid we sink like the Titanic if one had a hole in it.

  

  

  

  I searched high and lo (aka Googled) for places that served nitrogen infused cold brew iced coffee, and I found one place close to where we hiked. Got some goodness at Songbird Coffee and Tea house in Phoenix.

  

  

  I fulfilled my dream of wearing a hair net once again by volunteering at Feed My Starving Children, an Arizona tradition.
  

  

  

  Visited a vegan restaurant per my dads suggestion. Those words he uttered were like glitter covered unicorns, I think I’ll keep him. We ate at Green Vegetarian Restaurant in Phoenix and gave a universal verdict of: OHMYGAHYESYESYES.

  

  

  Chili fries, fried brussels sprouts, and “buffalo wings”

  Best part of this meal: the owners also own a dessert shop called Nami just a hop, skip, OR, a jump away. Literally 10 ft from each other.

  

  I ordered a vanilla soft serve “tsoynami” with pretzels, chocolate, marshmallow fluff, and coco cereal. I then proceeded to understand the meaning of life. So.Good.

  

  Just in case anyone was curious where I get my dashing good looks from… 

  

  

  Time with family is always a great recharge for me. I came home full of love, and with eighteen mosquito bites – a good prep for summers in the mountains.

  Q: What were your final days of high school like?

  

  | 67 Comments Tagged Arizona, Coffee, Hike, Ice Cream, Run, Vacation, Vegan

• Muscle Massage

  Posted at 7:05 AM by Brittany, on January 18, 2016

  Although I find myself running much less in the winter months, my desire for a good massage never dies. Maybe it’s the grey skies, or maybe it’s the cold weather, but I find myself hibernating more in the winter. I think my spirit animal is a bear because I’m all about facilitating tissue insulation through cookie consumption.

  

  

  I digress…

  When I’m running a lot my muscles become accustomed to the wear and tear I put them through, & when I run less I feel each mile much quicker. No surprises there.

  

  Is it just me, or does the map route of this run look similar to the shape of the state?

  While I was in Arizona I ran more in those two weeks than I had in the entire month of December. This meant my muscles felt the fatigue of my neglect. I use a foam roller, but these days I only use it for my back. Plus bringing a giant foam tube on an airplane just isn’t feasible when you need every ounce of space for snacks.

  

  Along with many sunny Arizona runs I also watched a lot of movies, spent new years eve volunteering the same way I did last year, went on a few bike rides, hiked a couple mountains, and had many lovely conversations with family.

  

  

  With all this adventuring my step mom was kind enough to buy me a massage that satisfied every fiber of my being, but massages aren’t cheap and my shoulders and neck resemble a field of clustered grape vines. Insert tiger tail, a small and easy way to bring my massage with me everywhere I go! 

  This hand held massage tool is SO convenient for spots like quads and necks. Or at least that’s what I’ve been using mine for. The euphoria I feel when I use this on my neck is like that of a monkey finding bugs in their fur. I have the classic, but there is an even smaller one for easier portability.

  While I base my muscle rolling on feel (hurtssss so goooood), it’s nice to have a reference of trigger spots to search for. The happy muscles book intrigued my inner science lover and was like a mini anatomy class.

  Nothing beats an actual massage, but at $80 a pop I find paying $35 one time for a muscle roller to be a much better option. Plus, I’m all about shopping local. Since being back home in Washington I’ve only run four miles (whoa there, slow down Brittany), but the knots in my neck are still large and in charge.

  

  Muscle fuel.

  Stretch more, eat green, drink water, roll muscles – the way to a happy body and happy mind. Oh and in my case, EAT. LESS. SUGAR. One day I’ll master that. 😉

  Q: Do you take care of your muscles like you should? I’m a work in progress.

  

  | 69 Comments Tagged Arizona, Muscles, Review, Run, Vegan

• May the Life Force Be with You

  Posted at 7:00 AM by Brittany, on January 11, 2016

  “Prana (प्राण, prāṇa) is the Sanskrit word for “life force” and the term refers collectively to all cosmic energy, permeating the universe on all levels.”

  Have you ever stopped to sit with your thoughts? No distractions, no deadlines, no where to be, just you and your brain noise. I’ve been more in touch with my thoughts lately than I ever have been, both good and bad.

  This energy pull within the universe can be controlled simply by the manifestations you project within your own head. My goal for 2016 was to honor my thoughts and focus more on paying attention to them, and so far I’m off to a good start.

  

  As I watched the Star Wars movies with my family in Arizona the last couple weeks (I’m back home now) I realized this principle of “controlling” your mind made its way to the big screen back in 1977 when the movies were first released.

  In order to be a successful Jedi, one must be aware their thoughts to prevent them from slipping over to the dark side. When we let our negative thoughts take over, life becomes somewhat of a spiral. If only we all had someone like Yoda to fall back on.

  

  I’m Brittany, and I’m 12 yrs old.

  Jedi’s remind me of Yogis in a way. Both have a peaceful way about them and enjoy helping others. I’ve been going through a bit of an odd spot in my life lately where I’ve had to work hard to ensure my thoughts stay on track. To facilitate this process I’ve been trying to become a Jedi incorporate more yoga into my days.

  

  To be a Jedi, one must have the proper gear. I took it upon myself to ensure I’m bundled and ready to get my zen on with none other than prAna clothing company. With a mission to inspire healthy, active, and free-spirited living, I knew I had to get myself some of their clothes. The holidays may be over, but sale items stop for no one.

  I’m usually all about comfort without caring about style, but with prAna the two worlds collide. Just like a Jedi and a Yogi. I’ve clearly been bitten by the Star Wars bug.

  

  

  

  

  I fell in love with these two items and haven’t taken them off. So soft, so cozy, fit like a glove, and perfect for work and play. A company that seeks out sustainable ways of life for products and people just screams positive vibes.

  Prana means life force, Jedi mind mastering uses the force, and when combined to ensure a happy and healthy life I leave you with this: may the life force be with you. 

  Q: How do you practice manifesting a life you want? I’m all about the hippie dippie vibes. Manifest your destiny, and life follows somewhere behind.

  

  | 72 Comments Tagged Arizona, Manifesting, Prana, Review, Star Wars, Yoga

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 6:00 AM by Brittany, on January 5, 2016

  1. I’ve caught myself a dose of writers block. I want to share photos of my recent adventures, but I don’t have a segue that I’m happy with so that means I just have to jump into it, Early Morning Confession style.

  2. While I enjoy rest and relaxation, I struggle sitting still. This has resulted in a handful of hikes during my current trip to Arizona.

  

  

  3. I’ve enjoyed each adventure into the mountains with members of my family, and nothing beats discussing life, the future, and the color brown.

  4. With these discussions comes a lot of reflecting on life.

  

  

  5. Each winter when I visit Arizona my family and I watch a series of movies. Last year was a Marvel movie marathon, the year before was Harry Potter, and this year…Star Wars. Just when I thought I wasn’t a fan, I’ve succumb to the force.

  6. While on a run I tried to grab a dime that was stuck in the road and I cracked the cement. I then saw a three armed gingerbread man.

  

  7. Despite my failed attempt to grab the dime, I have found $0.32 on my trip thus far. I wonder how much of my plane ticket that covers.

  8. I miss my bike, but have been taking advantage of some temporary wheels.

  

  9. I start school next Monday. I have been in a cycle of start, stop, start, stop for years and I’m finally ready to finish. For real this time. 😉 More on this when I’m done.

  10. My friend makes the most EPIC Katniss inspired cowl scarves, and I am so in love with them. I’ll be buying one, and I think you should too.

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 95 Comments Tagged Arizona, Confessions, Hike, Run, Squaw Peak

• Reflections over Resolutions

  Posted at 9:25 AM by Brittany, on December 31, 2015

  I fully understand the importance of having a full time job, saving for the future, using my resources to my advantage, and “adulting” in a responsible way. I take great pride in watching my IRA and 401K grow each and everyday.

  

  With that said, I also understand the importance of living life to the fullest, whatever that may mean for you. I write these posts once every so many months, and find they are predominently written when I am away from the high paced, somewhat high stress environment that comes with a job like mine.

  

  Don’t get me wrong, I am 100% aware that what I think I become, and what I feel I project. My stress is 100% self made and it’s my choice whether or not I have a smooth day or a tough day. I can manifest my own destiny day in and day out.

  How powerful is that?

  

  These posts flare up when I have time to reflect, to think, to just be. Vacation is a fantastic opportunity to not only reset your body, but reset your mind.

  I often leave my vacations with a better mindset on how I want to live my life, in and out of a 9-5 job scene.

  

  Granted I don’t work a 9-5 job, I have chump change for a daily routine, and some days are a cake walk, but you get the idea.

  

  The feelings I get after a great run are the feelings I want in life. A sense of accomplishment from something only I have control over. I am the one to determine the effort put into each and everything I do, and at the end of the day I am the only one with control over how I view what I’ve done to succeed in life.

  Success comes in many shapes and sizes.

  

  I take comfort knowing that I am setting myself up for a future I want, but I have also made an attempt to fully accept living each day for what it is. The stress of society is not something I want to be too caught up in, and as I reflect on my year, my life, and my being, I am discovering more of what I want in my life and what I view as success.

  I finally believe that when you quiet your mind of negative thoughts, allow your creativity to flow, and accept the present moment, life works the way it’s meant to.

  

  As my last post of 2015, I leave with a compilation of reflections. My only goal for 2016 is to further explore the power of my own thoughts, and how to start listening to them better. I want to take more risks, climb more mountains, eat more food, drink more coffee, and help more people. In sum I want to be fully and 100% alive.

  What good is a life spent in an environment where you don’t actually feel alive? It’s a waste of precious chromosomes if you ask me, and I’m not one to waste.

  

  Arizona, what is this bright thing?

  No questions, just spewing brain sludge today. Cheers to a happy, healthy, and successful 2016 – whatever that means to you!

  

  | 80 Comments Tagged Arizona, New Year, Reflection, Running, Vacation

• Unplugged

  Posted at 6:57 AM by Brittany, on January 5, 2015

  I’m back from my week long Arizonian adventure, and I was almost 100% absent from anything and everything blog related. I did read some posts each morning to accompany my coffee in order to make room for my breakfast, and I even posted one measly post, but the rest of my time was spent…away from my computer.

  

  In typical recap format, here’s a count up of a few things I did last week.

  One – trip to the theater. This show was FANTASTIC.

  

  Two – mountains climbed.

  

  

  

  Three – lovely bike rides. I rode a tandem bike for the first time. Scariest moment of the entire trip and I nearly lost my lunch out of fear, which could go two ways.

  I’ll let you use your imagination for that last sentence.

  

  

  Four – pots of coffee. I use a French press at home, but without this I brewed my morning coffee in a pot. I drank about four pots this trip which is 2x more than my normal coffee consumption. No regrets.

  

  This is not a pot of coffee, rather it is a coffee roaster I saw at the Phoenix airport. Random, and photo worthy.

  Five – days of running. Loved kicking off my half marathon training in the flat lands.

  

  Six – Marvel movies. Last year my family and I had a Harry Potter marathon and finished them all. This year we started watching Marvel movies. Not in order, so I still have more to watch, but I greatly enjoyed oogling Tom Hiddleston in Thor.

  

  Other honorable mentions

  • I ate the best $2 tacos I’ve ever had .

  

  • I was gifted 20 pounds of food for Christmas that took up two giant shopping bags. Including multiple grains and pastas. I got it all home.

  

  Kinda like this.

  • I got a new iPhone. Somuchfaster. I used it to snap multiple photos of the mountains on my flight home.

  

  

  Unplugging was great, and I’d like to give a shout out to my Arizona family for handling my “hanger” when it reared it’s ugly head. Similar to the Hulk in all those Marvel movies, I’m a different person when I get hungry.

  They handled me like a champ. Thanks guys.

  …and just like that, it’s back to school and work today. Happy Monday.

  Q: Favorite Marvel movie?

  

  | 67 Comments Tagged Arizona, Coffee, Explore, Running, Vacation, Vegan

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• BRITTANY- Self proclaimed minimalistic nomad striving to maintain a balanced, healthy life with good food, long bike rides, deep connections, exploration, and lots of cucumbers.

• If this blog does not meet your standards, please lower your standards.

• Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com

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