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  • Tag: Birthday

    • Early Morning Confessions

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on February 22, 2023

      1. It’s been a while and I have a lot to share, so we are doing an EMC explosion of words. Each number will likely be more words than a usual EMC post, consider yourself warned this will be a long read. Winter has been kicking my butt. We’re talking lifting me up, spinning me around, and dropping my on my head style. My motivation, my drive, and my cares have all flown out the window.

      I don’t want to go to work, I don’t want to exercise, and I don’t want to eat well. Thankfully my discipline is still in tact so I am showing up to work, I am still exercising, and I am eating well…somedays, but man am I ready for spring. There is a reason animals hibernate in the winter months, and the older I get the better that sounds.

      Humans need rest too.

      2. My dear friend Sam got married last February, and she and her husband had a small ceremony with just a few close friends. The ceremony was lovely, but she wanted to have a reception the following year when Covid chaos calmed a bit more. Fast forward to this February and she had the reception.

      I cannot remember the last time I put on a dress and went into public.

      My favorite part of the entire evening was seeing Duncan in slacks and a tie (albeit the tie was a bit short, but we had a good laugh about it.) That was a sight I never knew I needed to see until seeing it. Insert drooling emoji. My mom and my sister are friends with the bride, and they came with us as well. My sister said Sam looked like a princess in her dress, and I would have to agree.

      3. Back in January Duncan and I went to see The Whale in theaters. I have not paid to see a movie since I went to see Jojo Rabbit back in Garmisch in 2019. I don’t think spending money for a movie is typically worth the cost, however the moment I saw the trailer for The Whale I knew I would be spending my money to see this film. I nearly wrote an entire blog post about this movie because I had so many words. I cannot remember the last time I cried in a movie as hard as I cried watching The Whale.

      I absolutely sobbed. I had to sit in my seat for a minute after the movie ended trying to compose myself before I could leave the room. I was also days before my period, but that’s beside the point.

      The movie was hard to watch at times, and some reviews have given it flak calling it fat phobic, or grotesque. To these comments I would assume those reviewers have never personally struggled with the type of trauma that accompanies addictions. Or rather have not experienced addictions caused by trauma. The movie was raw, and painful, and while it might not be for everyone it was hands down the best movie I have seen all year.

      A movie that can hit me on so many emotional cords will automatically climb to the top.

      This is a movie about a broken family both collectively and individually, traumas of multiple varieties, and redemptions. It’s heavy, and it’s unbelievably sad, but I am crossing my fingers and my toes that Brendan Fraser wins the Oscar for his performance. That’s saying a lot because I normally couldn’t give two cares about those award shows. Hollywood sucks, but Brendan is amazing.

      4. Moving onto something less heavy…while stuffing our faces at Sams wedding, Duncan fell in love with the bacon wrapped goat cheese stuffed dates (say that five times fast) they made. I knew we would have to recreate these someday, and then that societal pressure filled holiday known as Valentines Day rolled around. You don’t have to give me a reason to do something nice for Duncan, but I will happily take a “holiday” as an excuse to make food.

      I picked up a handful of his favorite foods for a picnic style smörgåsbord. I got brie and crackers, smoked salmon, olives with garlic and jalapeño, and then I made the infamous dates. Ohhh man were they good. I also made chocolate peanut butter hearts, both of which took me far longer to make than expected. And of course, it took us all of 10 minutes to eat like pigs.

      Don’t ask me how I felt the next day. Ooooph.

      5. I am absolutely, positively, burned out at work. What was meant to be a transition job from Germany to America has turned into a two year and four month job with more ups and downs than my mood swings during my luteal phase. The job has been flexible, and I am working in an area I worked hard to get to, but I don’t enjoy the environment. I don’t align with the corporate values or goals, and I have reached a point where most days I struggle going to work. Maybe it’s the winter mood?

      I have never shied away from talking about working jobs that fill your cup regardless of the pay, and this is no different. I have worked odd jobs all over the world in order to fulfill my need of adventure and learning new things, and I know it’s ok to close this chapter soon. I like my paychecks, and I have stayed longer than I thought because I get a decent pay, but I know I cannot stay somewhere just for the money. If only every job has similar flexibility…

      Best thing I got out of my current job was meeting Duncan. He was an unexpected detour in my journey, but one I am thankful I took.

      6. I turned 34 last week. A concept that boggles my mind, and has me turning inward as I do most years around this time. One because it’s winter and those are the times for us to rest more and be more present with our thoughts, and two because I am slapped in the face with the reality that I am not getting any younger. For my birthday most years I choose to do something outside. Usually that includes a hike, or traveling somewhere new, and this year was no exception.

      Duncan took the day off (what a gem), and accompanied me on a Pacific Northwest adventure.

      I had wanted to visit a coffee shop a handful of miles from where I live for over a year now, and what better time to do so than on a birthday. The Espresso Chalet has gained attraction for its quirky Sasquatch themed exterior, and its breathtaking views of the Cascade Mountains. I’m indifferent to the Sasquatch stuff, but I had to see the views. We had a chilly, but clear day and while the coffee was not good, the views made the trip worth it.

      Duncan and I each got an Americano, but they tasted more like coffee flavored tea. Very weak – which is saying a lot coming from me because I am someone who waters down my coffee as it is. We both would come back, but would order something else. All was not lost with the crummy coffee though, our second plan for the day was to go for a hike in the area. I had wanted to see Wallace Falls for some time as well, so we threw on our wool socks and waterproof shoes and hit the trail.

      The hike was about 5.5 miles, with just under 1500′ of elevation, and after the feast I’d had the day before (my birthday is the day after Valentines Day if you remember the food I made a few confessions up) I was struggling to put one foot in front of the other. I felt like the Michelin man trying to climb up a hill. The trail was beautiful and the waterfall views were gorgeous. 10/10.

      I ended the evening with my first froyo in likely a decade, and a homemade gluten free chocolate cake courtesy of my mom. Needless to say I needed a few days of nothing but air to recover. My poor little autoimmune body.

      7. In the summer of 2020 my dad and his family planned a Mediterranean cruise for everyone as a celebration of my younger sister graduating college. Obviously that trip did not happen because life as we knew it changed forever, but little did we know there were six cruise vouchers sitting nicely in the cruise voucher ether. For two years these vouchers sat, unbeknownst to anyone, until my step mom received a phone call at the end of last year.

      We are all at different places in life, meaning a group cruise for all six of us was no longer an option. In December I was presented with: “you have a voucher and you can also use your sisters, but it has to be booked by the end of the month.” My anxiety and overwhelm went into overdrive as I realized I had to book a cruise within two weeks. My credit was significantly higher than my sisters, and while technically the credit was hers, I was given the option to transfer it to Duncan should he want to go.

      After figuring out all the logistics, and getting Duncan on board with my plan, I settled on a 9 day cruise going through Greece, Turkey, Israel, and Cyprus. These are all locations I have been wanting to visit, but a few of them I would not feel comfortable traveling alone. Having Duncan with me will make me feel safer, and while I don’t love the fast paced travel a cruise offers, I think this is a perfect way to get introduced to some of these places. We are taking full day excursions on all but one port day, and I am equal parts excited and anxious. We leave in April.

      While the credit did not end up covering the entirety of this trip, it certainly covered a LARGE part of it. There is no way in hell I would have booked this kind of vacation without it. My frugal blood would have been screaming and I would not be unable to fully enjoy myself. It took a lot for me to accept booking the excursions through the cruise opposed to saving money and finding a local tour, but at the end of the day I would rather pay for the peace of mind that comes with doing everything through the ship.

      The last thing I need is to be left behind.

      8. Duncan moved into a new apartment last week, and I am stoked because he is now significantly closer to me. We will have been dating for two years in April, and while we did entertain the idea of living together it didn’t feel like the right time yet for me. The biggest obstacle for me, which is going to sound silly, is my cat (I am also struggling to accept leaving my mom alone to take care of my autistic sister, but that is another story.) I cannot live without my cat and I wasn’t sure how it would be moving him (he is fifteen) into an apartment complex.

      He has lived in a home for his entire life and all I could see was him getting out and getting lost.

      Duncan has been nothing but supportive of me in all the decisions I make and all the things I do, and he understand and accepts my crazy when I sometimes take a long time to come over because I am struggling to leave my cat. I have an arguably unhealthy bond to my cat, but ever since I almost lost him in 2018 I am now obsessed with spending time with him. Especially since I left him for two years. My point in all of this is to share what Duncan got me for my birthday.

      Once again, it’s not just the gift, but it’s the thought behind the gift.

      I cannot deny that this mug looks moderately like a memorial to my fur child, but I absolutely adore it. Duncan said to me, “now when you have coffee at my place it’s like you are with Little.” INSERT CRYING EMOJI. While I adore that idea, I am not taking this mug to his place, it will live with me at mine so I can use it every single day until I perish. He did everything he could to find a cat clip art with a white patch, but he could not find one. Either way, this is my favorite mug for life.

      I have thought about putting a blob of whiteout on his neck, not sure how that would go. Thoughts and ideas are welcomed.

      9. For the first time in all of my existence I messed up on my taxes. I filed them far too early, and after they were filed I received a W2 I had completely forgotten about. My caregiving job (helping provide care for my autistic sister) switched companies at the beginning of last year, and it had slipped my mind. I filed with the W2 from the company we switched to, and then later received the W2 from the original company. I have since amended my return, and my anxiety has balanced back out.

      10. A couple weeks ago I went for an amazing 5 mile run. The weather was lovely, but a bit crisp. I wore a vest because I was going to run by the water, and the wind is always brutal in that area. I tucked my keys and license in one pocket, and my phone in the other and off I went. Or so I thought.

      I made the rookie mistake of putting my phone in the SAME POCKET AS MY ID.

      I didn’t notice it was missing until I got home, so I drove my running route again to try and find it, but no luck. I had a gut feeling someone was going to mail it to me, but just in case I went to get a new one. I got my new ID on a Friday, and that following Monday my old ID showed up in the mail. A painful $20 lesson, but a wonderful run nonetheless.

      Q: What’s your confession?

      | 32 Comments Tagged Birthday, Coffee, Duncan, Early Morning Confessions, Running, Vacation, Valentines day, Wedding
    • Birthentines Day

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on March 3, 2022

      I was born on the 15th of February, one day after the consumeristic holiday known as Valentines Day. As a wee lass, I loved the back to back celebrations. In elementary school this meant a day of Halloween like trick or treating around the classroom giving valentines to my classmates, followed by a day of cupcakes for the class courtesy of my mom.

      Any excuse to cut math short was a good excuse…

      As I got older the traditions continued – a box of chocolate from my mom or from adolescent relationships, followed by a day of celebrating all things Brittany’s life. Now as I inch myself closer and closer to middle age, I find the concept of keeping these two days exclusive a bit…much. Who needs that much sugar after they hit 30?

      Don’t get me wrong, I love a good excuse to make a nice meal with a special someone, and this was the first time in eight years I had that special someone. Duncan asked what I wanted to do for Valentines Day, and we both decided on a salmon and Brussels sprout feast. I’m not into expensive flowers, jewelry, or whatever else has been marketed to women, but I did buy Duncan the above succulent from Trader Joe’s.

      I’m one of minimalistic taste, and that white pot with the tiny heart sold me immediately.

      For my birthday we ventured towards North Bend for a hike I had done many, many times. In fact I hiked here on my 28th birthday as well. My how time flies. I was hopeful the weather would cooperate, but the higher we got the colder we felt. The rain started to fall as we reached the viewless summit, and my plans of eating a muffin at the top quickly blew away with the chilly wind.

      I had hoped to show Duncan the amazing view from the top, but it was just too cloudy and cold. We decided to make haste and get out of the clouds. I’m thankful he was such a trooper and willing to hike with me in the cold rain. I like doing something adventurous on my birthday, typically a nice hike, and this was a lovely adventure.

      Perhaps because I didn’t sleep well, perhaps because of lingering Covid fatigue, or perhaps because I am now one year closer to death, I found myself more tired than anticipated after this hike. Duncan and I were lights out at 1800. How far I have come from the days I enjoyed staying out until all hours of the morning on my birthday…

      With the two days of extra chocolate concluded, Duncan coined the 14th and 15th as Birthentines Day. I quite enjoy the sound of that.

      I may or may not have had this balloon sticking out of my hiking pack… (I did.) I did have this balloon sticking out of my pack, and a girl passed us excitedly wishing me a HBD. It’s the little things.

      Q: Do you have a birthday close to another holiday? I will hardly consider Valentines Day as a holiday, but it’s as close as I will ever get.

      | 17 Comments Tagged Birthday, Hiking, PNW, Valentines day
    • Venice, Italy – Pt. 2

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on February 25, 2019

      After a grand nights rest I was ready to take on day two in Venice. I started the day early per usual, and the first plan for day two was to island hop. There are water taxis that take people all over the inner canals of Venice, but there are also water taxis that take people to the surrounding islands. For 20 euro you can buy an all day pass for these taxis and ride them as many times as you’d like.

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      The first island on the route is Murano island, which is a well known island for glass blowing. After a stop into the glass blowing room, a wander around the shops selling glass, and a quick walk around the island, it was time to head to island number two – Burano Island, which was my favorite of all the islands. Burano island is well known for all the colorful houses, and for its seafood.

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      Burano Island is a fishing town, and according to the Google, the houses were painted bright colors to help the fisherman out at sea find their way home on foggy days. Whatever the reason, I loved the pops of color. I spent the longest time on Burano Island of all the islands I visited, and ended up eating lunch at a small outdoor place right by the water. I got a bowl of fried goodness consisting of potatoes, crawfish, squid, calamari, sardines, and anchovies.

      The freshness was unparalleled. 

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      If you can only make it to one island on your visit to Venice, make it Burano. The colors, the quiet, the food, and the feeling of getting off the beaten path from the busy city center are well worth the taxi ride.

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      From Burano I headed to Torcello, then to Mazzorbo, and lastly made a stop in Treporti. These were small and didn’t have much to see. Torcello had a beautiful cathedral, otherwise I’d skip these islands (unless you have a day pass, then it’s a “why not” situation.) I found two island cats on this day, but only one of them let me love on him. The grand total for the day was six islands if I included Venice, and 13 miles walked.

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      Torcello

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      Murano

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      Torcello

      After island hopping for most of the day, it was time to head back to the main city center of Venice to prepare for the highlight of my trip. My first day in Venice while wandering I came across an old cathedral turned music hall called San Vidal, and it just so happened that a classical concerto would be playing both of the nights I was in Venice. I knew I had to go to one of the shows, so I planned to go my second night in the city.

      The performance was only 30 euro, for about an hour and a half of beautiful serenading. Every performer had their own chance leading the group, which was a beautiful way to recognize each musician. No one was the star, and everyone was a team. The music was beautiful, and I got goosebumps time and time again. I also had some nice eye candy with an Adrien Brody look alike, and as I said on my Instagram – I don’t want kids, but I’d have babies with that beautiful Italian man.

      Click the above link to my IG for a clip of their music. 

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      Fourth from the left. Swoon.

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      How I felt when they played.

      This was the perfect ending of my first trip to Venice, and the perfect birthday present to myself. I turned 30 the day after I returned to Germany, so I called this trip to Venice a birthday celebration. I knew I wanted to be in Europe for my dirty thirty, but I didn’t know where and I didn’t know how. It’s funny how the universe works when we manifest our desires. Nothing is impossible.

      I’ll never forget entering a new decade after my trip to Italy. My mom sent me some candles, and after all the splurging I did in EATaly, I shoved them into an apple and called it a day. I was a bit freaked out at the idea of leaving my 20’s behind, but I’m more ready to kick that decade to the curb. The second half of my 20’s were rough, so I’m ready to grab 30 by the horns.

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      If my first month living in Germany is any kind of indicator of how my 30’s will begin, I’d say I have a great decade ahead.

      Q: Do you like classical music?

      brittany

      | 23 Comments Tagged Birthday, Europe, Italy, Living Abroad, Travel Abroad, Venice
    • Accepting Alfred

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

      Today is my 29th birthday. I’ll wait, you can go grab me some chocolate.

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      Actually, keep the chocolate for yourself, I won’t be partaking in any of that this year. For the last 29 years I’ve associated my birthday with treats, just like 98% of the American population. We turn another year older and we must celebrate with cake, and cookies, and coffee, OH MY. Truth be told, I’d love to celebrate with those goodies, but I won’t.

      Life with an autoimmune disease means everything you ever knew about food must change. Unless of course you want to take the easy way out and stuff yourself with drugs to suppress your immune system, but I’d rather not do that. I’d be lying if I said it was easy avoiding these treats, but I’m getting to the point where the flare ups they cause are no longer worth it.

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      It’s been two years since I was officially diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and I admit it’s taken me that entire time to finally accept that this is my life now. I’ve spent this entire time trying to “fix” the problem, to do whatever I could to heal my body in order to go back to how things used to be before my cup runneth over, but that’s not how this works.

      The way things used to be is part of how I got myself into this mess.

      If I’ve learned anything from this need for control over my body it’s that trying to fix something you have very little control over is exhausting. Day in and day out the denial and desire to escape this disease that follows me everywhere I go has had me running a race that I will never win. Rather than try to escape this card I’ve been dealt, I’ve decided to take a different approach.

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      The other night I was lying in bed meditating, when a thought entered my mind I decided to focus on rather than trying to quiet. I thought about my autoimmune disease, and the idea of giving it a name. Like a friend. I wouldn’t try to run away from a friend, and I wouldn’t try to hurt my friend, and this shift in my mindset brought life to Alfred, my autoimmune disease.

      Alfred will be with me for life, though when the stars are aligned he will go on vacations. Hopefully those vacation are long ones (remission) and I won’t see him for long chunks of my life, but when he does show up (like the last couple years) I will be kind to him, honoring his existence as a part of me instead of trying to pretend he’s not there.

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      Honoring Alfred means shifting my life completely, because growth comes from change, and change is almost always uncomfortable. Honoring Alfred means saying no to running, and going for a light walk instead. Honoring Alfred means minimizing my stress as much as possible, saying no when I want to say no, and removing people from my life that bring me down.

      Honoring Alfred means saying no to the cake, and opting for the avocado instead. 

      I’m an emotional eater, and this was something that became very clear to me the last couple years. I never noticed it as a problem until my stress levels blew through the roof, and until I was told “you can’t” eat things if you want to feel better. It’s a painful pill to swallow when your life takes a turn out of your control, but it’s even more painful to have the flareups that accompany an autoimmune disease.

      Living with an immune system that thinks its own tissues are foreign causes a whole heap of symptoms that can make or break your quality of life.

      Food has a direct correlation to the quality of life for me. I am aware of what I should and should not eat in order to feel my best, and in order to keep my mind on board I’ve switched my verbiage from “I can’t eat that” to “I don’t eat that.” Sometimes even my “safe foods” cause a flare up, and in those times I do my best not to spiral. Everyday is a new day, and I’m getting better at handling the harder days.

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      There will be days I eat foods that do not support my body, but I’m hoping with this acceptance the need for those days become less and less. I also hope that when these days do happen, I give myself more grace and find my way back on the bus rather than continue to spiral because I “failed.” There is no failure, there is no black and white, there is only balance, and life, and forgiveness.

      Giving in is not the same as giving up, I will never give up, but I’ve decided to give in. I give in to the lifestyle change that is necessary for me to thrive, I give in to turning down the cake today on my birthday in order to avoid the uncomfortable flareups, I give in to living a life with Alfred by my side, because in all reality his presence is helping me to live my best life. As long as I accept what he is trying to offer.

      Diseases often occur in our lives to wake us up to a life we’re meant to live. All too often our society tries to quiet the messages our bodies are trying to tell us by taking drugs, but most ailments can be moderated with lifestyle changes. There are surely some ailments where drugs are the only option, I’m not discrediting that in the least, but most of them give us a choice on how we want to continue to live.

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      Acceptance didn’t come easy, I went through the stages of grief for over two years. There are few things that hold a flame to a steaming cup of coffee and a slice of chocolate cake, or even a long run, both of which my body no longer tolerates, but I find peace in honoring what my body is asking for. By honoring Alfred I’m given a sense of control again, because while I cannot control the fact that he lives with me, I can control whether or not I embrace his presence.

      Viewing Alfred from a place of warmth and love brings a positive energy to my life. There are days when I’m not perfect, there are days I cave and eat the cake, there are days I want to crawl into a hole and never come out, but those days are getting fewer and I’m learning how to cope and how to bring joy to my life through things other than food. This warmth also helps me to be kind when I make choices that don’t honor Alfred, and remind me that growth is all about the journey.

      Joy is a slow hike in the mountains (like the ones I took these photos on), joy is giving time to others, joy is the smile on a family members face, joy is the wind on my face, or the rain on my arm, joy is the vibration on my chest from the purr of my cat.

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      Life throws us curve balls when we least expect it. It’s normal to stomp our feet in defiance at first, but eventually we all have to get over ourselves if we want to live our lives to their full potential. I’ve decided the temper tantrum I’ve been throwing has gone on long enough, and I’ve accepted this new life of mine. I’ve made life much more difficult than it needed to be the last couple years, but it’s all apart of the process.

      All this is to say it could always be worse, life is about what we make of it. I’m one year shy of being 30, and you can bet your britches I’m ready to kiss my 20’s goodbye. It’s true that our 20’s are years of discovery, and I’m ready to get the hell out of them. My final year of my 20’s will be spent polishing up the final touches before I head into a new decade.

      I no longer want to people please, and I no longer want to be shy about my dietary restrictions when around other people, I no longer want to feel the need to be strong when my fatigue is overwhelming. I’m proud of who I am, I’m proud of my body and all it can handle, and I’m proud of my life with Alfred. Giving in is freeing, and I feel a weight lifted from my shoulders and a cloud lifted from my mind. Acceptance is choosing to thrive instead of just exist.

      Q: Have you experienced any difficult lifestyle changes?

      brittany

       

      | 54 Comments Tagged Alfred, Autoimmune Disease, Birthday, Hiking
    • Coffee and Compadres

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on February 21, 2017

      Last Wednesday I celebrated another year of life. 365 more days of sunrises and sunsets, 365 more days of coffee sips and cupcake eats, 365 more days of snuggles with my cats, and 365 more days dreaming of the mountains.

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      I’ve never been one to take off of work for my birthday, however I don’t work Wednesdays right now. I decided to spend “the day my mom blessed the earth with my presence” by combining three of my favorite things: coffee, cupcakes, and hiking.

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      My hiking partner, who also happens to be my work partner, but most definitely not my life partner, took the day off of work to spend the day with me exploring. We left at 07:00 and we were stuck in traffic far longer than either of us would have hoped.

      As one of the many cars aggregated together on the road I found multiple reasons to smile, the most obvious being that I was not on my way to work like the majority of those around me. Another reason was the delirium that started to take over my brain from sitting too long. A pit stop at Starbucks nearby our destination was in order to fill up my tumbler.

      Waiting until we were close to our location ensured the coffee was still warm upon our arrival at the summit.

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      The forecast called for rain, and despite the fact I never quite know if this is going to be true in Washington or not, it did indeed rain. In fact, it was somewhat of a downpour most of our hike. Thankfully it was warm enough outside that the rain wasn’t uncomfortable.

      Dare I say it was fun?

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      My right hand man was kind enough to stow my cupcake in his pack because I carried the coffee in mine. In all my years hiking I’ve yet to drink coffee at the summit of a mountain. It was time for this to change, and a birthday seemed like the perfect day to change this.

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      Hiking alone is great, and I often prefer it, but when I’m alone I don’t have anyone around to capture my true beauty as these candid outtakes showcase. The rain was a nice touch giving me a true drowned rat look.

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      My name is Brittany, I am 28 years old, and I have zero shame. 

      I chose an easy hike, only 4 miles RT taking two hours of our time. This time of year I tend to stay away from the snow packed peaks, I’m still traumatized from this adventure.

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      I’m humbled when I embark on a hike that was once easy as slicing pie, and find that it winds me. Instead of letting this destroy my mental peace I use it as motivation to get back to a place of strength that I know I am capable of. This hike was doable, and I surely could have kept going, but there were moments I found myself out of breath.

      A few days prior I embarked on a local 9.5 mile RT hike, one that took 4 hours. This hike was tiring, but in different ways. Just as running challenges different muscles than swimming, hiking trails of differing elevations and distances challenges different areas of my body. My birthday hike challenged my heart rate more, and the longer local hike challenged my hip flexors more. I love variety.

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      Local hike views.

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      I bought myself a new pair of day hike shoes thanks to REI’s garage sale. They were worn maybe once, and returned because they were “too heavy.” Similar to my previous day hikers I snagged these hideous pink/red walkers for $100 less than what they would have been brand new. Sold. I tested them out on the 9.5 miler, because I like to test my pain threshold.

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      I love birthdays because they remind me that life continues to fly by, even when we feel like it’s stagnant. It’s never too late to take control of what we want to do with our time, who we want to spend it with, and how we plan to achieve happiness.

      As each day passes for me I become more in tune with what I want my life to look like, but my favorite part is that I become more accepting of the inevitable changes life entails. The ups and downs are all necessary, the emotions and trials we experience are normal, and the gut feelings we have are usually right. They all work together to write the stories of our lives. Are you living yours in a way that others would want to read about?

      Q: What’d you do for your last birthday? Post hike I ate my body weight in Thai food, and regret nothing. Autoimmune diseases take a back seat on birthdays. HA.

      brittany

      | 75 Comments Tagged Birthday, Coffee, Cupcake, Explore, Hiking, PNW, Rattlesnake Ridge, Vegan
    • My Kind of Party

      Posted at 6:46 AM by Brittany, on February 16, 2015

      Just like that another year has been added to my timeline. Yesterday I celebrated my 26th year of life with a lovely morning shift at work full of coffee and good company, followed by a run, and ended with a mom cooked vegan meal.

      I like to keep it casual these days when it comes to my birthday, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t do fun things the few days leading up to yesterday. Birthday weekend.

      Thursday – Took a trip to Seattle to visit the Starbucks roastery again, and it was just as fun this time as the last. I made sure to stop by Pike Place Market for a muffin to pair with my coffee, because coffee tastings happen anytime, anywhere.

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      I got a cup of west java preanger. When a coffee has tasting notes of milk chocolate you drink it. It’s the only milk chocolate flavor that will pass through my facial orifice.

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      Friday – Ran 6 carefree miles and reflected on my years of life. Said goodbye to the dog, and settled back into life with my cats. Oh how I missed them.

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      723

      Saturday – Worked 5:30a-2p and was immediately whisked away for a valentines day adventure. We ate good food and saw a movie. I’ll let you guess which movie. 😉

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      My hot date.

      Sunday – Birthday! Was greeted at 5:30 am by a cup of delicious Sulawesi Pango Pango (my Starbucks doesn’t sell this coffee, so it was a real treat.) Two chocolates in the shape of coffee beans, and a blueberry protein oatmeal courtesy of Starbucks.

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      Came home from work, got my workout done, and prepared for my feast.

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      My mom > Your mom. A side of steamed broccoli and raw bell pepper to keep room for all the chocolate.

      Homemade buns, burgers, and cake – all gluten free and vegan. My mom is the best.

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      As you can see I’ve been hibernating in an attempt to become the next Snow White.

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      That cake…ohhh that cake. We ate over half between three people. Chocolate w/a hint of lavender. I had my cake with strawberries, because that made it healthy.

      Tomorrow you can find me at the Seattle Symphony being serenaded by my future husband, rounding out the perfect week of events. Life is good.

      Q: What do you typically do for your birthday? I usually enjoy running a race for mine, but figured my half marathon next month was close enough. 

      atterned-n

      | 93 Comments Tagged Birthday, Cake, Cats, Coffee, Run, Starbucks, Vegan
    • 25 Things

      Posted at 6:15 AM by Brittany, on February 15, 2014

      Today is my 25th birthday, and I could go on and on about how I thought I would be somewhere completely different when I hit a quarter of a century. In reality, where I am right now is exactly where I am supposed to be. My path has gone many ways and at times I wish I had this, or I wish I had done that, but wishing doesn’t get me very far. What I do know is that in my 25 years of life I have learned so very much, more than any education or six figure job could teach or give to me. The journey of life tends to do that.

      My 22nd birthday...when late nights and loud music were fun. My how things have changed.

      My 22nd birthday…when late nights and loud music were “fun.” Oh, how things have changed. Except for my faces, those will never change.

      In the last couple years I blogged about the gifts that I had so graciously been given, and the activities I had planned for my birthday. This year I want to share something with everyone else. A list of things I wish I had known when I was younger. A list of things I have learned in the last 25 years. For those of you under 25, and even those of you over 25 this is for you. We are never too old to learn from our peers, and it doesn’t stop here.

      25 things I’d tell myself at age 15 

      1. Always tell the truth. You will hurt people, it’s inevitable, but if you’re always honest they will have no choice but to respect you.

      2. Make mistakes..LOTS of them, and then learn from them.

      3. Don’t be afraid to fall in love. Deep, true love. If it fails just know that everything happens for a reason. Learn from the fail, and pick yourself back up.

      4. If something is important to you then work for it. Nothing worth having comes easily.

      5. Worry, stress, and over think things less. Sometimes when you let it be, things work themselves out. Never underestimate the power of a positive mind.

      6. Don’t let other people change your mind, and don’t let someone else’s influence make you feel bad about your feelings. Be confident in your thoughts and decisions!

      7. Be vulnerable, with friends, with family, and with lovers.

      8. Do not live your life on a timeline. Things have a way of working out when they are meant to.

      9. Travel more. Money is meant to be spent, you don’t have to hoard it all. Memories are priceless and photos are wordless.

      10. Spend more time with your family, you never know when you won’t see them as often.

      11. Don’t always listen to what other people say about you. People will judge you, it’s human nature. The ones that stick by your side regardless of who you are will be the ones worthy of your friendship.

      12. Be respectful to your body. Treat it well, and listen to its cues. Eat.Real.Food.

      13. Do more things that scare you, and spend more time alone.

      14. Find joy in each and every day, and do more things for other people.

      15. Listen to your parents. They know more than you, and only want to keep you safe. Most of the time. 🙂

      16. Don’t be afraid to walk away from people that don’t treat you well. Friendships sometimes end, and if someone doesn’t bring light into your life ditch them.

      17. Eat more cake.

      18. STOP comparing yourself to other people. Success comes in all shapes and sizes.

      19. Put your focus on yourself. What do you want, where do you want to go, what does YOUR future look like? Be selfish at times…it’s OK!

      20. Forgive often, and do not dwell. You are only hurting yourself if you continue to let other peoples actions affect you. Always move forward.

      21. Listen to Jiminy Cricket – Let your conscience be your guide. If you don’t have internal peace about doing something, DON’T do it.

      22. Don’t be afraid to say no. Don’t be afraid to say YES!

      23. 15 jalapeno poppers in one sitting probably isn’t a good idea, regardless of how high your metabolism is. Oh to be 12…

      24. When you discover your passions, grab them and run. Be true to you.

      25. Stop comparing your life to what “society” has deemed as success. Forget the molds, you’re free to do whatever you want with your life.

      I could keep going, but long lists get boring to read after a while so I’ll leave it at this. Despite feeling “lost in life” at times over the last 5 years, I am finally feeling content with “floating” so to speak. Life is too short to be unhappy, and sometimes you just have to live in the now!* The future will ALWAYS be there waiting for you, and it’s never too late.

      *I don’t mean sitting back and doing nothing with life, still gotta work! I’m accepting not knowing the final picture yet and living more for each and every day! Life wasn’t meant to be rushed through.

      I've always wanted to be a couch model..not really. Photo circa 2010. I was 21.

      I’ve always wanted to be a couch model…not really.

      As I publish this post I am on my way to Portland to run this 10K, and enjoy a two day spontaneous getaway in one of the most vegan friendly cities. Bring on the food and fun! Running a race for my birthday is the best gift I could give to myself. This will be the third year I have run a race around my birthday, and the tradition will continue!

      Now if you’ll excuse me, #17 is calling my name.

      This is how I double fist.

      This is how I double fist.

      My Valentines/Birthday cupcake!

      My Valentines Day cupcake! I found it ironic that this had the word birthday in it.

      Q: What would you tell your younger self?

      b

      | 110 Comments Tagged Birthday, Cupcake, Life
    • Meerrroww

      Posted at 10:38 AM by Brittany, on February 15, 2013

      I consider myself very lucky. My Valentine showed up on time, and stayed with me all day long. He dressed to impress and put on his tuxedo for me.

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      I just can’t get enough. While his white “almost” soul patch works for now, I want to get him one of these..

      This is not my cat, but I need that neck tie.

      This is not my cat, but I need that neck tie.

      My date and I had fun adventures. We started with a walk (he escaped and then I left him outside.) On my walk I found the love that is my neighborhood.

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      I can’t tell if that smaller pile is poo or a pine cone. After our walks we baked. Well, tried to bake. I wanted to make a giant heart cookie. Everyone was making cakes, so I wanted to rebel. It backfired.

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      Giant chubby heart. It was still raw in the center and while I love raw dough, I tore it apart and recooked it in pieces.

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      I also spent some time with this guy.

      Iphone 575

      We share somed vodka and cried over being old. I am 24 today. It’s almost all down hill from here. Before I get calls about deforming my cats, he doesn’t really look like this, but that app was hilarious.

      There we go.

      There we go.

      Q: How was your Valentines day? Who was your date? The couch…your pets…a wine bottle?

      b

      | 65 Comments Tagged Birthday, Cats, Half Marathon, Valentines day
    • Taking A Week Off

      Posted at 10:07 AM by Brittany, on February 13, 2013

      A couple weeks ago I tweaked my knee. From running 11 miles in crap shoes, to attending too many spin classes and getting the B.A.C. (badass chills..this is when you know you are going HARD!) I of course didn’t listen to this nagging irritation in my knee, and I continued to workout on it. I took it easy in spin, but I didn’t take it easy with running.

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      I actually had the best run of the year this past Sunday. A 12 miler around my favorite lake.

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      Aaannndd then shit hit the fan. The second I hit stop on my watch I felt my knee yelling at me. Ugh..WHY! It was swollen to the point I couldn’t make out my patella anymore. I’m 99.9999% sure I have a slight case of runners knee. I’ve had it once before, and without the $20 copay and some cold hands rubbing all over my knee, I’ll do my own self diagnosis.

      Here’s the dilemma: I have a half marathon this Sunday. *&#*#&$@@!!! I am not a natural runner, half marathons take training for me. I have been training for two months for this race, and I am so excited. I am staying optimistic that I will still be able to run this race (even if my pace is 15:00min/mile!) I’ve been R.I.C.E-ing like it’s my job, and I am not doing ANY physical activity this week. No running, no spinning, no WALKING! Nothing. I’m skipping three days of scheduled running in HOPES that I can still participate this weekend.

      It was clearly my turn to get spanked with the injury stick, but boy is this rough. I never understood how hard it was to sit back and do..nothing. It’s only been THREE days, and I am going stir crazy without movement. For all my friends out there that have serious injuries and are sidelined for months..you have my sympathy and support! I’ve naturally been drowning my sorrows with cupcakes, and I made these on Sunday night. I of course veganized the recipe and they turned out pretty good, not enough mocha flavor though.

      My pictures were not pretty, so I am using theirs.

      My pictures were not pretty, so I am using theirs.

      Tomorrow is Valentines day, and then the day after that is my birthday. I would loveee to run a half marathon for my birthday…just sayin. Happy day of love to you all.

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      My favorite accessory.

      My favorite accessory.

      Q: Any tips/suggestions/comment/ideas/stories about knees, or about cats that anyone can help me withhh!!?

      b

      | 57 Comments Tagged Birthday, Cupcake, Half Marathon, Knee, Running, Valentines day
    • Dance Party

      Posted at 4:16 PM by Brittany, on February 11, 2013

      When I was in elementary school, birthday celebrations were almost more exciting than meeting Santa. Kids would bring treats to class, and the last 15minutes were reserved for an in class party. These days birthdays seem to come and go without the blink of an eye. I usually like to keep my birthday on the low down, unless I get free stuff..then it’s time to party.

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      I think I may have talked about The Veggie Grill once or twice before..it’s safe to say I am obsessed. It just so happened that I received a, “welcome to grill club” and a, “happy birthday” coupon all in the same week! This meant a free meal (for birthday) AND a free dessert (for joining grill club.) All I had to do was give my e-mail address..SOLD!

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      One of those plates was free, along with the carrot cake. Vegan comfort food never tasted SO good. Happy Birthday to me. Along with eating my weight in food, I bought myself some birthday party pants earlier that day.

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      My life is so black and white..time to add a little color.

      $10 dollar pants on sale at H&M, dance party indeed.

      Q: Do you have a big celebration for your birthday? Mine is on Friday, but I have a half marathon on Sunday and want to take it easy the few days before! AKA I am a grandma and will probably bake some cupcakes and fall asleep by 10pm. 

      b

      | 70 Comments Tagged Birthday, Food, Free Stuff, Half Marathon, Hot Pants, Vegan, Veggie Grill
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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.
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