Tag: Garmin

• Things I’m Loving Lately

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on March 8, 2021

  Despite the fact I do not follow a Catholic faith, I decided to partake in Lent this year. I was raised Catholic, but I have moved towards more of a relaxed Christian faith that I am happy with. Still, I have participated in Lenten fasts in the past, but this year was different. This year I genuinely wanted to give up something to challenge myself on more of a mental and spiritual level, rather than a physical one.

  This year, I have given up social media.

  My blog has never been a space where I can escape from reality, so my presence here is “allowed” and encouraged. Instead I have given up Instagram and Facebook, one of which I can easily get lost on for hours looking at photos from strangers I will never meet. Initially I thought this would be difficult. I thought my addiction to the mindless escape of scrolling on Instagram would be a painful missing piece of my mental distraction repitour, but what I have found has been the complete opposite.

  Rather than curling up in a corner scratching at my face for the next fix, I am more present on here. I am more present with myself, I am writing more, and I feel calmer. My eating habits have been more balanced, my mood has been stable, and my sleep has been better. I’ve spent more time reflecting on deep thoughts as well as superficial “fun” thoughts.

  Thoughts that have inspired this post. Thoughts of random things I am enjoying lately. Let’s dive in, shall we?

  

  • I am enjoying wearing a Garmin watch without the obsession.

  I will forever have a soul tie to my OG Garmin Forerunner 110, but he is no longer with us. I bought that watch in 2011, and we made it through many, many runs together. What I loved most about the 110 was the fact that it didn’t have any bells and whistles. No calorie counts, no step counts, no heart rate counts, it was just a watch that turned into a GPS when you asked it to.

  I have avoided a new Garmin because of the bells and whistles. As someone who struggled with an exercise addiction and disordered eating it can be hard to separate from that extra data. If the day of movement wasn’t perfect it was bad news. So I stopped wearing anything, I stopped tracking movement, and I did the unthinkable – I intentionally gained weight and spent many days inactive. I truly believe this temporary hiatus helped me to have a more balanced approach to exercise.

  I now use a Forerunner 45, one of the more basic watches with just the right amount of bells and whistles. RIP to Gary my Forerunner 110 shown below.

  

  • I am enjoying new work skillz.

  I finally know how to change my own bike tire/tube. I’ll never forget the time I got a flat tire years ago. It was my rear tire aka the “entering Mordor tire” with regard to taking it on and off. I was successful in getting the tire off, took it into REI to fix, and everything was going great. Until I couldn’t get the tire back on.

  I accepted my failures and asked one of my neighbors for his help, a neighbor I had never spoken to in my life. I knew he rode bikes so I figured it was worth it to ask. He was most helpful, and as a thank you I baked him (and his family) cookies and gave them a pound of coffee (back when free coffee was up to my neck.) I left it on their porch and never heard anything.

  I hope his wife didn’t think I was hitting on him. Awkward.

  

  • I am enjoying spending money.

  Hear me out on this one…I am one of the most frugal people you will ever virtually meet. I hoard my money like I am preparing for some kind of apocalypse, and it’s honestly a bit ridiculous at times. I rarely if ever buy myself something, and it takes me a long time to justify a purchase unless I “need” it. Although “need” is such a relative term.

  I refuse to fall prey to consumerism, but I have been spending more money on myself lately. Buying nicer hiking gear, buying an extra pair of shoes, the aforementioned Garmin, etc.

  I will never forget something a small southern man I used to work with in Germany told me. We were talking about my frugality one day, and I was telling him about all the ways I tried to cut costs while traveling (like using a hostel pillowcase for a towel, perks of short hair), and he looked at me and said: “you cannot take your money to the grave.”

  Ever since then I’ve been more mindful about letting myself live a little. I can’t take it to the grave.

  

  • I am enjoying my obsession with “Happy Healthy Hippie – Go With The Flow Hormone Balance.“

  If you have been around these parts for a while, you will know I have a bit of a “crunchy granola” approach to most things in my life. I avoid pharmaceuticals, I rarely wash my hair, I spent an entire summer without wearing deodorant, I try to eat mostly whole foods, and shaving my legs is an afterthought to…everything.

  When my menstrual cycle returned after being gone for five years, I knew something was still off. My hormones were ALL OVER the place. Being the professional obsessor that I am, I spent far too much time on the Google trying to find out what was going on, until one day I decided I had to do something because my PMS symptoms were taking over my life. I know that sounds dramatic, but I am completely serious.

  No this post is not sponsored, however it SHOULD be. This blend is literally just a mix of herbs so I knew I had nothing to loose. And let me tell you…I have lost nothing and GAINED some of my sanity back.

  

  • I am enjoying winter hiking.

  I never imagined I would be someone who enjoyed hiking in the winter months. As someone who struggles with Raynaud’s I tend to avoid being outside in cold temps for long periods of time. Not only have I enjoyed winter hiking, my extremities have not fallen off like I anticipated they would.

  

  

  My hiking pals and I took a trip to the Hoh Rainforest last week, a place I hadn’t visited since I was 17. The last time I took a trip to the Hoh was for a team building weekend with my dad and a group of others who were all planning a trip to Mexico for a mission trip. All I remember from 17 year old Brittany’s experience was hating the five mile hike to our camp site, hundreds of thousands of black slugs, and being stuck with people I didn’t mesh with.

  Ultimately the mission trip was amazing, and it was all worth while.

  

  Now that I am an adult, and I enjoy hiking, five miles in (and five miles out) is no big thing. We hiked (or rather walked, this area is very flat) to “Five Mile Island” where we enjoyed some snacks and views before heading back. Lush green trees, mossy rocks, waterfalls, ferns large enough to engulf an elk, and rivers rushing loud enough to lull any white noise lover to sleep.

  Worth the three hour drive, five hour walk, and three hour drive back.

  

  Life without social media feels good. I am reading more, I am listening to amazing music, I am daydreaming about people and places and adventures to come. When Lent comes to an end I plan to be more intentional with my time spent online. Life feels good right now, and I am enjoying this whole “one day at a time thing.”

  After all, today is all we have.

  Q: Have you ever taken a significant break from social media?

  

  | 43 Comments Tagged Biking, Garmin, Hiking, Hormones, Lent, Life, PNW

• Since You’ve Been Gone

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on August 24, 2016

  *Two weeks later*

  I didn’t plan to disappear from this space for so long, but whenever I had a free moment the last thing I wanted to do was bust out my computer. I now know what it’s like to want nothing to do with technology at the end of the day.

  

  I go from work, where I stare at a computer all day (I do have a standing desk though, so that’s a big fat sugary win) to my house where I then stare at the computer for school work. Needless to say when I have some free time I am outside starting at trees.

  

  Work, work, work, work, work.

  So what have I been up to the last two weeks?

  —I got to meet Annie, her sweet partner Kel, and her adorable pup Ike. We had lunch, and walked around a lovely Seattle lake. We chatted like old friends and she gifted me the most adorable painted photo of Ike. What really sold the deal was when she suggested the photo below. She’s good people…and those curls are too legit.

  

  —I made an executive decision to do 90% of my shopping at thrift stores in an attempt to further expand my minimalistic mind. I was able to find some solid wins. The other 10% is usually at REI, they always suck me in.

  —My camping compadre Jessica and I escaped to Mount Zion yesterday. She’s the kind of girl that keeps you grounded, the kind that you just need in your life. Always a fun adventure with that one. This trip didn’t involve stripping and spooning, so it was much more casual than our last adventure.

  

  

  —I bought and returned two new Garmin watches. I just couldn’t let go of my original true love. I now have the mindset of “earning back” $440 so I will probably spend that on camping gear.

  —I had two awesome solo hikes where I found myself mesmerized by a lake at the end of each of them. I looked like Mowgli when he first met Kaa, only the lake wasn’t singing to me. I went to Annette Lake and Snow Lake. Snow lake always steals the show though.

  

  

  

  This is the kind of view that has you questioning why there are people in the world that dislike being outdoors. I found a dime on this hike which makes for the second time I’ve found money while hiking.

  

  Annette lake it great too, but not nearly as photogenic. I did however encounter an extinct inter-species love affair. Only in the woods…

  

  — I didn’t run a single time, and loved every moment of it.

  — I ate a non vegan cinnamon roll and loved every moment of that too.

  

  — I finished and started two semesters for school in a matter of a few days. Can’t stop, won’t stop.

  — I spend 10 days with Gizmo the cow dog and was like a 12 yr old child when reunited with my cat. #catladyforlife.

  

  —Went against everything I said in my opening paragraph and watched at least six hours of Netflix. Mindless computer time doesn’t count.

  Q: What’s your current Netflix binge?

  

  | 82 Comments Tagged Adventure, Annette Lake, Explore, Garmin, Gizmo, Hiking, Mount Zion, Snow Lake, Starbucks

• Minimalistic Easter

  Posted at 7:35 AM by Brittany, on March 24, 2016

  Long time readers know that I tend to lean on the simpler side of life. I have an aversion for clutter, waste, things in excess, and slugs. Mostly slugs. Thanks to my willingness to always reduce, reuse, and (mostly, but I could do better) recycle I was more than happy to help the folks over at gifts.com inspire others to find an Easter basket that could be reused.

  

  With a wide variety of gift baskets, I settled on a rustic picnic style basket filled with fruit. If you’re boring like me you could leave the fruit and call it a day, or you could eat the fruit while you stuff the basket with other Easter treats.

  

  

  I am one of those lucky souls that still gets an Easter basket from her mother. Born with wings of an angel that woman, she never skimps with the goodies. These days I try (key word) not to overdo it with the candy (I save that for Halloween and every other day of the year) and instead opt for non food related items.

  

  So what would I put into my basket this year? As with most gifts I receive (regardless of insisting I need nothing else added to my current lifestyle) I try to choose things I have a current use for. I hesitate to say things I need, because let’s be real we don’t really need half the stuff we ask for/receive.

  This year I don’t really need anything, so instead I’ll speak hypothetically.

  Easter Items I “Could Use Right Now”

  • A trip to Ireland, itinerary nestled inside a pale pink envelope in the center of my basket with an egg sticker sealing it shut.
  • A new cat wrapped in a blush blue bow to emphasize his snowy white fur. A friend to play with one of my current children, to match my black and white life.

  

  “It’s my CAT IN A BOX!”

  • The ability to rewind time. Not because I want to go back to my past, but because I want to tell people what I really think, and then rewind so I don’t get slapped. 🙂
  • Food, but not candy. Self explanatory, think staple items like veggies, nut butter, and oats.

  

  • A massage everyday for the next year, from the hands of Tom Hiddleston. <– Top priority please.
  • An iron gut to digest all the vegetables, and iron legs to get me through my half marathon next month. My training has been God awful less than stellar.

  

  “How about instead of running you just lay on this step and be a blob like me. Also, can you hand me that mouse?”

  • A TINY HOME!
  • A new Garmin because my current Garmin only tracks running. I want to explore the world of Garmin fueled biking, hiking, breathing, and scuba diving. My REI dividend is calling me to buy one.

  

  I dream about this beauty, and reaching rhino speed.

  Per usual there’s nothing I need, so a cup of coffee, bottle of Kombucha, and using my new basket for a picnic with my family suits me well. If my gift ideas don’t spark your fire check out Gifts.com for all the fanchy schmancy stuff.

  DISCLAIMME: I was not paid for this post, but I did get this basket o’ goods fo free to hippity hop my way to grandma’s house like I’m red riding hood. Can someone please knit me a cape for Easter?

  Q: What would you fill your basket with? Both realistically and hypothetically as I’ve done.

  

  | 85 Comments Tagged Basket, Cats, Easter, Fruit, Garmin, Gifts

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 8:00 AM by Brittany, on October 4, 2015

  1. I have two more posts about my trip to Ohio, (sheesh Brittany, talk about draaagggging it out) but in an attempt to break up the monotony and ensure other recent happenings don’t get forgotten I’m throwing one of these in the mix.

  2. Things like National Coffee Day. You didn’t think I could go without posting something about this did you? My favorite blonde haired coffee master and I got to do a two hour coffee tasting at work where we drank, ate, and laughed with customers.

  

  

  3. Fall is my favorite time of year, and pumpkin is one of my favorite vegetables. After consuming an entire can I quickly realized I am not one of pumpkins favorite humans. I could have floated to the moon with all the air trapped in my belly.

  4. I lost all my morals last week and ate the most amazing scone. It was the size of two, topped with frosting fit for a donut, and I ate the entire thing.
  

  

  

  Chocolate espresso scone from the heavens.

  5. I also ate an entire jar of Costco sized PB, because clearly that was a smart thing to do. My skin disagrees, and thanks to the new planets discovered by NASA on my face I won’t be eating nuts for a bit. The body doesn’t lie folks, skin rebellion is REAL!

  6. Solo hiking to soak up the change in season.

  

  

  7. I’m using the coin counter app again to keep track of the change I find. I want to see how long it takes me to pay off my new running shoes. Most of the $$ I find is while running, so it feels like the right thing to do. 

  8. I.AM.SO.OBSESSED.WITH.MULBERRIES.

  

  9. I’m going to climb Mount St. Helens on October 17th and I am so excited. 

  10. 100 mile September didn’t happen. Right before my trip to Ohio I lost all desire to run so I skipped a day. While in Ohio I ran 12 happy and free miles, but when I returned home the motivation escaped me again. I honored my lack of motivation and 100 miles turned into something like 75 miles. Not at all upset about it.

  With that said, I stayed true to my goal of trying to break into the 8 min mile range. I’ve never run for speed, and tend to coast in my comfort zone, but I decided it was time to push my boundaries a bit and I successfully ran 3.5 miles at an 8:41 pace.

  Boom.

  

  My first 3.5 miler at a sub 9 min average pace!

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 58 Comments Tagged Coffee, Confessions, Garmin, Random, Running, Starbucks, Vibram

• Exceptionally Great Day

  Posted at 11:41 AM by Brittany, on July 30, 2015

  Last Thursday I had an exceptionally great day, and the moments just kept coming.
  

  Exceptional moment #1: I woke up with the sun. It’s ALWAYS a good morning when there are no alarms. I rose from the dead around 6am – my happy wake up time.

  

  

  Goodmorning sun.

  Exceptional moment #2: I made a French press, opened my computer, and sliced myself a piece of raw blueberry pie. I was sipping on some Organic Yukon, which has a smoothness that paired beautifully with this creamy pie.

  Recipe for the pie here. Exceptional moment #3: I took a drive a few towns over for a run along the water and across the bridge. Everything about this run was on point.

  

  Exceptional moment #4: Post run grocery haul, aka the two stores that are the Disneyland away from Disneyland. Plus Whole Foods had my favorite Theo bar.

  

  My bags indicate my two favorite states.

  Exceptional moment #5: Satisfying my week long burger craving, and remembering the beauty that is iceberg lettuce. I always opt for dark leafy greens because they have a higher nutritional punch, but all I wanted was a lettuce ball.

  

  Lettuce “bun” topped with roma tomatoes, oven roasted red onions and green bell peppers, artichoke hearts, mustard, turmeric, ginger, and an adzuki bean patty. With a side of salt and vinegar baked chips.

  It was like the 4th of July firework finale in my mouth.

  Exceptional Moment #6: Discovering a box of all things wonderful with my name on it. I had no idea this was coming, one of the many perks of blogging.

  

  More on that later…I think that’s enough feel good for now.

  Q: What kind of adventures constitute an exceptional day for you? Leisure mornings, hikes, good coffee and food pairings, running, food, more food, all the food.

  

  | 43 Comments Tagged Enjoy Life, Garmin, Run, Trader Joes, Whole Foods

• The Simple Joys of Everyday Life

  Posted at 8:00 AM by Brittany, on July 27, 2015

  There’s something to be said about a day with no set plans. A day where you wake up with the sun instead of an alarm. A day where your morning run has no limits and you run based on feel and not time. A day where your morning walk goes a little bit longer than planned because you’re too busy soaking up the scenery.

  

  These mornings are my favorite. They allow me to slow down and savor not only my coffee, but my excitement for adventure. Nothing is off the table.

  I found $1 on one of my runs recently, which left me feeling all kinds of philosophical. I posted the photo below on my Instagram with these words:

  “I find something valuable on every single run I go on. Whether it be a penny, peace of mind, a half eaten candy bar that a kind stranger left behind to share, or a mental snapshot of a new location. What I hadn’t found before was dollar bills, until now. This is either a pat on the back for a successful run, or a sign it’s really time to purchase new shoes. The universe is giving me money for some reason or another.”

  

  I take great pride in knowing that something as simple as finding a dollar on my run brought such great joy to my day. I’ve had some waves of emotions here and there the last few months where I’ve had to really focus on quieting my mind.

  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if anything it’s comforting knowing I’m craving new adventures. Life is great, but I want more, and sometimes my impatience rears its ugly head. The ebb and flow of my life has a mind of its own at times.

  

  Running calms my entire soul.

  I’ve also concluded that a lot of my thoughts/feelings/and emotions are tied to the foods I consume. I don’t talk about it much on the blog, but I’ve really been focusing on what I eat the last few months. I started to talk about my tic toc foods here, and have delved even deeper. Thankfully now I know a lot of my trigger foods.

  I’ve been mostly successful in finding alternatives to the foods I adore, and the key to my success is making my meals at home. Certain breads are one of my triggers so I pick my battles when I consume them. The same company that makes the legit cupcakes I can’t get enough of also makes bread, and it has been a godsend.

  

  No gluten, no soy, no rice, no corn, no egg.

  Plus they’re local…my favorite.

  I briefly mentioned a few posts ago that I started seeing a naturopath, and while my initial intentions with him were related to something different, we’ve also discussed my reactions with certain foods. After playing scientist with my own body for months I’ve decided to get a food allergy test to have some confirmations.

  

  Initially I thought cacao was a trigger, but I eat these bars with the ease of a coffee induced BM.

  Despite some of the discouragement I feel when I find certain foods give me trouble, the overall mindset that comes with eating foods my body thrives on outweighs any discouraging thoughts. Eat good, feel good. Spirit, mind, AND body.

  

  So thankful for these.

  Plus, trigger foods make me all kinds of moody and it’s not pretty. Nor is the inflammation or eczema. It also totally affects my running.

  I’ll post more about my naturopath experiences as they come, and also go into more detail about my food testing for those that are interested.

  

  Me if I succumb to the triggers.

  What I know for sure is that I’ve been finding simple joys in my everyday life thanks to a positive mind, a properly fueled body…. and Theo chocolate.

  Q: Is anyone interested in hearing more about my experience with a naturopath/a food allergy test?

  

  | 63 Comments Tagged Chocolate, Cupcake, Garmin, Life, Naturopath, Running, Vegan

• Coffee Knowledge

  Posted at 7:12 AM by Brittany, on July 14, 2015

  Let’s talk coffee, shall we?

  I was given a blend of beans the other day with no information other than the person it was from, and the name he had given it. I was excited to try his homemade blend and see if my coffee knowledge was up to speed. Upon grinding the beans I immediately detected scents of berries, a characteristic of a sun-dried coffee.

  Once the fresh ground coffee steeped in my French press for four(ish) minutes, I plunged, poured, smelled, slurped, and savored. My palate was overwhelmed with flavors of blueberries and nuts, and I immediately knew this blend had African and Latin American grown beans. What I didn’t pick up on was the Indonesian beans, which I was told about after I had guessed the blend. Apparently the full body and herbal flavor typical of Indonesian beans comes out as the coffee cools.

  I didn’t wait long enough to let it cool. 😉

  

  My life quote.

  I haven’t been focusing on the tasting aspect of my job lately, simply because I’ve been focusing on grasping everything there is to grasp about being a supervisor. Now that I’ve got a handle on things I want to get back to my coffee tasting adventures.

  

  I remember a time many moons ago when I tried to combine two very different coffee blends into one because I wanted to save space in my pantry. Coffee is coffee right?

  Oh how wrong I was, I ended up throwing it all out. RIP handpicked beans.

  

  I’m now comfortable with combining blends, knowing which will pair well, and which will not. When I noticed I was a handful of Maui beans shy of a full French press I knew exactly which blend to complete my morning brew. The Pike Place special reserve has similar notes to the Maui coffee and they went together perfectly.

  

  They also paired perfectly with my new obsession: two ingredient almond butter maple cookies. The simpler the ingredients the better for me. 1 cup of almond butter mixed with 1/4 cup maple syrup and a dash of salt gave 10 chewy, nutty cookies that I couldn’t get enough of. Two cookies per serving thanks to the “fit in my hand” rule.

  

  I sprinkled some cinnamon and salt on top. Bake at 350F for 10-12minutes.

  Those cookies and coffee were the perfect fuel for a few extremely enjoyable runs.

  

  I debated on up-cycling some discarded snake skin I saw while on this 5 mile run (which turned into 5.10 because I insisted on a 10min or below pace) but then I found this paracord bracelet in perfect condition! I love finding treasure!

  Q: Do you pick up treasures you find while out exploring the land, or leave them behind? I usually leave behind the used Kleenex pieces and needles, but $$ and hiking tools are a must grab! Also I was totally joking about the snake skin.

  

  | 46 Comments Tagged Almond Butter, Coffee, Coffee Master, Cookie, Garmin, Run

• 100 Mile May

  Posted at 6:52 AM by Brittany, on June 3, 2015

  Last month I committed to running 100 miles. I think this is the most I’ve run in a single month, but my memory isn’t always the best. I ran everyday except for two, and took those two days off because my quads needed a rest day.

  To celebrate, I ran my final three miles and took myself on a date to the mountains.

  

  Running everyday wasn’t hard, and I think it’s because my usual runs were 3-4 miles, with a few longer ones in the mix. This made daily runs totally manageable.

  

  Per usual I learned some things the last month, and also reminded myself of things I already knew yet somehow forgot. It’s time for another round of running rambles.

  

  Recent Running Realizations

  1. Having a goal gives you motivation, like seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

  2. Running makes you leaner, as long as you don’t eat cupcakes after every run.

  

  Though I’d sure love to have one of these every morning…and night.

  3. Running uphill is necessary, because life is all about steady progress towards a positive slope. No time for stagnant straight lines. Improvements spark success.

  4. Carbs….

  

  …on carbs…

  

  …on carbs…

  

  5. A run, is a run, is a run. I had complete peace about a couple “only two milers,” and never stressed about my pace. In fact my pace improved! Hard work gets results.

  6. Running makes you rich. Physically, mentally, spiritually, and sometimes literally.

  

  Always finding money on my runs.

  7. Running is the perfect way to de-stress. I’d be lying if I said this supervisor stuff wasn’t stressful at times during the learning process.

  8. Doing things with other people keeps you accountable. One of my coworkers was running allllll the miles too, and we would send each other completed run photos.

  

  Then we would go to Starbucks and Whole Foods, because runners need fuel.

  9. Running with short hair wins everything.

  10. Good shoes are like good friends. It’s always sad to say goodbye.

  I’ve been running in the same pair of shoes for…SIX years (with other shoes rotated in for a few of those years)!!! YEARS people. Runners know shoes need to be rotated every 5-6 months (or 500-600miles) so this is HUGE. Barefoot running has completed me in every possible way. The holes indicate it is now time for another pair.

  

  I think 100 mile months are a new thing.

  

  My last words of wisdom for the day are…

  You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to, so go out there and DO IT!

  Q: What have you set your mind to and accomplished lately?

  

  | 50 Comments Tagged Coffee, Cupcake, Garmin, Hike, National Running Day, Run, Vegan

• Facts

  Posted at 6:00 AM by Brittany, on May 12, 2015

  Fact: A good human being gives you food. Lord help them if I get hangry…

  

  These CORE bars are complete meals on the go, and they are SO good! My favorite part? They perish. 1 week on the go, 1 month in the fridge, and 9 months in the freezer: Real food goes bad. Perfect for hiking, biking, or running late to work.

  These were gifted to me, but you can find them online or at a select handful of Whole Foods locations. Eat good, feel good.

  

  Fact: Potatoes are the essence of life. I cannot stop eating them. All of them.

  

  Sweet potato the size of a walrus with veggies. I then ate half with almond butter and honey.

  

  Sweet potatoes with rosemary.

  

  Russet potato along side this plate of color explosions

  

  Sweet potato with veggies. And then another one for dessert. Can’t stop, won’t stop.

  

  Gold potatoes with spinach and asparagus.

  Fact: I’ve become the Mary Poppins of pet sitting. Four pets in the last 2 months.

  

  Said goodbye to this guy…

  

  …and said hello to this guy (again)

  Maybe I’ll quit my day job….

  

  Maybe not. I did just get promoted after all. #ifinallysaidyes

  Fact: Summer is coming. I’ve started prepping for minimal clothing season by partaking in a running “challenge.” 100 mile May. Amateur stuff for those ultra runners, but it keeps me running daily even if just 3-4 miles.

  

  

  It helps balance out the potatoes…

  

  Fact: Bananas are under-appreciated. I’ve been dipping mine into a mix of seeds: hemp, sunflower, and pumpkin. Or with a Core bar…or both. 😉

  

  Scratch that…fruit in general. I’m literally eating at least 6-7 servings a day right now.

  Fact: I sometimes change out of running clothes, but it’s rare.

  

  Fact: This post was nothing more than a giant excuse to purge random photos I’ve taken the last two weeks in a format other than my usual Early Morning Confessions.

  I’ll leave you with a photo of some of the worst coffee I’ve consumed in months. Tasted like foot soaked bath water. I still drank it.

  

  Waiting for an oil change is a luxurious event. Fully equipped with PJ’s and terrible coffee.

  Q: What’s your fact for the day?

  

  | 59 Comments Tagged Cats, Coffee, Facts, Garmin, House Sitting, Random, Run, Running, Vegan

• Super Food Energy Bites

  Posted at 6:03 AM by Brittany, on March 4, 2015

  About two months ago I was gifted a bag of raw hazelnuts, and by raw I mean they were still in their cocoon of a shell. I knew I wanted to do something fun with them, but they sat on my counter for days, then weeks, then months. I was then gifted a second bag, and to avoid becoming the Filbert hoarder (did you know Filbert is another name for hazelnuts!?) I knew it was time to put these bags to use.

  There was only one problem, how would I de-shell them?

  

  I grabbed a wooden kitchen mallet, stepped outside, squatted like I was using the bathroom in the woods, and smashed over 100 hazelnuts. Talk about being connected to your food. I then took my fresh nuts and made the inevitable. Hazelnut butter!

  

  This has been on my foodie bucket list FOREVER, and I finally did it. OH.MY.GOODNESS. The flavor, unreal. AND IT WAS WARM. I added cacao (my latest obsession, not to be confused with cocoa) and stevia for a chocolate version.

  AND THEN I made these…

  

  Superfood Energy Bites

  Ingredients

  • 1 cup dry whole grain oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
  • 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut butter*
  • 1/4 cup of honey + 1 tblsp
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cup golden berries
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries

  Directions

  Simply combine your dry ingredients first, and then pour in your wet. Mix until WELL combined. Once combined, set in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to set. Once set, roll into bite sized balls, makes anywhere from 8-12 depending on your size preference.

  

  *Note: I used my homemade cacao hazelnut butter, but you can use any kind you’d like. Add 1-2 tblsp of raw cacao to your nut butter (make sure it’s still creamy) if yours is without it.

  The golden berries have a slight citrus bite to them, which balanced out the rich and creamy hazelnut butter. Golden berries and cacao are both super-foods, which basically means you’re eating a ball made of super powers. Not to mention the energy boosting powers of raw nuts, and flaxseeds too. Have I sold you on these yet?

  

  Oh hey there golden berry.

  These bites helped power me through my eight mile run on Sunday, which then resulted in a new to me taste courtesy of the Whole Foods hot bar.

  

  

  See those crunchy clusters in the middle? Fried tofu. I can now die happy.

  I’d happily run 10 more miles just to eat those clusters again.

  

  Good thing I have some energy bites left.

  Q: Ever made your own nut butters? It’s time consuming, but so worth it.

  

  | 71 Comments Tagged Energy Bites, Garmin, Recipe, Run

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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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