Tag: School

• Goal Getter

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on May 7, 2016

  Things around here have been optimistically negative lately, and I’m here to say it’s time to move on. I’ve had a positive spin on all the “more serious” topics that I’ve shared, and it’s quite obvious to all my loyal readers that I’ve found myself in a wobbly life spot. I know that this has been a time of growth for me, and for that I’m thankful.

  Maybe if I just close my eyes everything will turn around on its own.

  

  No such luck. If life worked that way no one would ever appreciate anything. In order to manifest the life I want it’s about time I set some goals. No goals = no direction, no direction = chaos, chaos = sugar binges at 10pm, sugar binges = needing bigger pants, needing bigger pants = spending my traveling fund…and well, you get the idea.

  Or I could just vagabond my way around the world…

  

  If we keep talking about things that we don’t like, the energy from our words will keep us stuck. We must actively choose to speak positively and direct our mind in the direction that we want. This is something I must remind myself of often.

  Here are my current goals for the next few months.

  .

  1. Get my sh*& together with my diet. How I plan to accomplish this: avoiding processed foods/sugar and finding my way back into the kitchen. I feel alive when I’m experimenting with meals.
  

  

  It’s an ugly process trying to break a sugar addiction, and I’ve found myself deeper in the white powder than I’ve ever been before. The only way out is to go cold turkey, and green – lots of green.

  

  2. Get into a solid groove with running, and watch my time improve naturally. How I plan to accomplish this: accept that I’m starting at square one again, fueling well, and being proud of each run. Even the 2 milers.

  

  

  Slow and steady

  3. Finishing strong with school. How I plan to accomplish this: continue doing what I’m doing. I finished my first semester strong and couldn’t be more thrilled. Only one more year.

  

  4. Practice self love. How I plan to accomplish this: STOP TALKING NEGATIVELY. Accept where I am. Move forward. Highlight the positives. Chop off my hair. Run.

  

  5. Grow my own food. How I plan to accomplish this: Self explanatory, but by starting small. I have been growing lettuce in my kitchen window and it’s flourishing!

  

  5. Put my energy into helping others instead of dwelling on stupid things. How I plan to accomplish this: volunteering, staying positive at work, family time, and by finding my inner zen. When we take the focus off ourselves, life becomes much easier.

  

  6. Blog more consistently. How I plan to accomplish this: CONTINUE TO go on EPIC ADVENTURES that are blog worthy. This space is a huge part of my life, and I’ve been somewhat absent lately, but I want to get back into a blog flow.

  

  

  Latest mountain adventure.

  

  These goals are realistic and attainable, which is a great place to start.

  Q: What’s one of your current goals? Eyes on the prize!

  

  | 63 Comments Tagged Blog, Life, Running, School

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 7:00 AM by Brittany, on February 2, 2016

  1. Anytime I write a post, I ensure it’s posted on the hour, on the half hour, or if all else fails a time ending in a 5. Minor OCD moments. I also like my radio/TV volume to be on an even number. OK I’m going to stop now.

  2. After randomly discovering that my most popular recipe was made by a “famous Youtuber” I felt inspired to bake some muffins.

   

  

  Buckwheat banana chocolate muffins.

  

  3. I was happy with the results of my muffins on the first attempt at this recipe which almost never happens. The flavor is mild making it more versatile.

  1.5 cups buckwheat flour

  1/2 cup rolled oats   

  1/2 tsp baking soda

  1 tsp cinnamon

  3 ripe mashed bananas

  half a pinch of stevia 

  1/4 vanilla almond milk

  1/2 cup chocolate chips

  Combine all dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. In a separate large bowl mix together the bananas and milk. Slowly pour dry ingredients into wet until well combined. Bake at 350F in a greased muffin pan for 16 minutes, after 16 minutes I turned off my oven but left the muffins in the oven for 3 more minutes. Makes 9 muffins.

  Note: the mildness of these muffins means they aren’t overly sweet, which makes them the perfect transport vehicle to top with nut butters/jams/coconut oil/pudding/you name it. To make these sweeter simply add some sugar.

  4. I’m jazzed to start riding my bike more with nicer weather, but finally realize why when I bought it they suggested I get fenders. I was all like “ppppppffftt fenders schmenders.” Until riding in the rain and getting soggy bottoms and mud everywhere.

  

  5. I tried BBQ jackfruit for the first time – stopppppp. So much yes.

  6. Sometimes I unintentionally match my friends.

  

  7. Along with making sure my posts go up on “happy times” I also like my paragraphs to end by filling up the entire line. I don’t like when a new line is created for a couple words. Like this paragraph would have looked without this last sentence.

  8. I love Starbucks because they treat me so damn good. As if paying for my college education wasn’t enough, they sent me a pin and a bag of coffee as a congratulations gift. Oh and I have a dank 401K, benefits, stock options…yeah.

  

  9. I alluded to my ASU adventure last March, and it took me nearly another year to finally bite the bullet. What gave me the final push? I abandoned everything medical/nutrition/science based and went for something else. Feels great.

  10. Two words: homemade waffles.

  

  I’m just gonna leave that last photo right there for ya.

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 98 Comments Tagged ASU, Confessions, School, Starbucks, Vegan

• Quitters Sometimes Win

  Posted at 7:30 AM by Brittany, on March 26, 2015

  Growing up I was told that quitters never win. Don’t be a quitter, and finish what you’ve started. I find this to be solid advice, and most of the time it holds true. However, as with most things in life there are some exceptions.

  I believe there is a difference between quitting something because it’s hard, and quitting something because it doesn’t feel right. Sometimes that line is very hazy, and you may have to tough it out for a while before making a decision.

  

  I’ve gotten quite comfortable with the rolling hills that life throws my way, and at times wonder if I’ve gotten too comfortable. It’s taken me a month to come to terms with what I’m about to say, but I’m ready to talk about it.

  I quit school. Again. Sort of.

  

  Once upon a midnight summer I was going to school for dental hygiene. Decided it wasn’t right, so I stopped. Then, last summer I started to take classes in preparation for a nutrition program through a holistic health college that was on par with my hippie dippie beliefs about food and living a natural life.

  It seemed perfect, until it wasn’t. 

  Some of you may remember this post I wrote about chemistry, and how it destroyed my life brought me lots of anxiety. When preparing to take the second round of it, I had no motivation. Instead of studying equilibrium’s and heat of vaporization I had something else on my mind, coming out for air once every…5 minutes.

  

  I work for an awesome company. I don’t know if you’ve heard of them, a coffee company that originated in my home state called Starbucks. Anyone? Well, they recently started offering (nearly) 100% tuition reimbursement for degrees through Arizona State University. Initially I wasn’t interested, but then I explored the options.

  

  “The world is my oyster with free education.”

  I’ve spent the last month ironing out all the details and have decided to pursue a BS in nutrition communications through ASU. Does this mean my road to hippie town holistic college in Seattle is closed? No, it just means now is not the right time.

  

  The best part about this is that all the science credits I’ve taken over the past (many, many) years have transferred and I’m over halfway done with the degree. Unless I decide to study business, then I’m really in for a wild ride.

  So what will this do for my future? I have no idea. I love to write, I love nutrition, and I love talking about both. Perhaps this will be a catalyst into a future of preaching to the world about nutrition, perhaps it will simply satisfy my ongoing desire for a bachelors degree, or perhaps it’s a stepping stone to something else.

  Only time will tell.

  

  What I do know is that my previous path didn’t feel right, and I’ve learned to listen to the voices in my head and the gremlins in my gut. Or at least I think I’ve learned. I believe that sometimes quitting is OK, and sometimes it’s the right thing to do.

  The photos in this post are from a hike I embarked on last week, a hike I did not complete. The skies turned grey, the fog rolled in, and the snow started to fall. All of these were recipes for disaster and I DID NOT WANT this to happen again. Live and learn. Zero visibility meant it was time to turn around.

  It’s OK to “quit” a hike and not summit every time…I suppose. 😉

  Q: Do you ever struggle with the fine line of quitting?

  

  | 95 Comments Tagged Hike, Life, Mount Ellinor, School

• A Day Off

  Posted at 6:14 AM by Brittany, on January 29, 2015

  Last week I showed up to school to find a big fat note on the classroom window.

  **Chem 142 & 152 CANCELLED.**

  Immediately my body went into a state of shock, not only was lecture cancelled, but so was my lab. I don’t work on Thursdays because I am usually at school all day. This meant one thing: I had a complete, total, and 100% day off…from everything.

  

  Insert excitedly awkward selfie.

  I had already driven the 10 minutes to get to school, so I stayed around for an hour to do some homework, but then the rest of the day was mine. I had even finished my scheduled 5 mile run for the day. Ideally I would have loved to go for a hike, or even venture to Seattle, but the days get dark so fast and that wouldn’t have worked well.

  

  Where I’d REALLY rather be…

  So I did the next best thing, I wandered World Market.

  

  There are many reasons why I love to wander World Market, starting with their coffee samples. Something about that tiny cup in my hand while walking the aisles makes me feel like a freshly groomed sheep. So light and free.

  It’s also one of the few places I will willingly try flavored coffee.

  

  I like to stare at things while I drink my coffee. Computer screens, my cat taking a bath, rain falling, strangers spilling ketchup on themselves, or paintings.

  

  

  That coffee print is brilliant, and true! Except the part about the lighter roasts, I’m a full bodied-low acidity coffee kinda gal. Lighter roasts are too bright and floral for my liking. I want my coffee smooth enough to pair with…

  

  …chocolate. All the chocolate. Chocolate is made in the kitchen, unless you’re being innovatively unsanitary. The kitchen calls for baking tools (and snacks.)

  

  I NEED this ceramic style kitchen utensil holder! So rustic.

  

  If you insist.

  

  I’d serve so many cookies off that deer face. Cookies…which bake for allotted amounts of time. Time in which you’ll need a clock. Or six.

  

  The worn looks to all these clocks speak to my recycling soul. I’d possibly find something similar digging in the trash, then it would be vintage right? Then I would smell…and I’d need a candle to walk around with to mask my scent.

  

  When I close my eyes and sniff these candles I feel like I’m in a tropical land with rare succulents, and komodo dragons the length of Asia.

  

  When it’s all said and done, really I just like to mentally decorate the house I don’t own, and buy chocolate. I walked out with the wasabi ginger bar and a classic sea salt bar. Both pair perfectly with coffee and a book…a book about coffee.

  

  This is the first book I’ve purchased in years. I’m all about the library, but I had a Barnes and Noble gift card collecting dust. This was the perfect purchase. I love it.

  Speaking of coffee, I am currently drinking a cup all the way from New Zealand. My dear friend Gigi sent me TWO bags. A good friend sends you a gift from her recent vacation, but a great friend sends you a gift of your true passions. ❤

  

  Ground for a plunger, (or French press) how perfect. 

  “Extra smooth, extra caffeine, extra grunt.”

  Q: What stores do you love to wander? Whole Foods, TJ’s, World Market, and REI top my list.

  

  | 82 Comments Tagged Adventure, Coffee, Random, School, World Market

• A Side of Tips

  Posted at 7:11 AM by Brittany, on January 12, 2015

  Here’s how this post is going to work: I’m going to randomly share a few updates in my life, because despite this article telling me I shouldn’t (number 2) this is my life and I do what I waaaannnt. Plus I disagree with that article.

  Then I’m going to share a life tip related to the update. Got it? Good.

  -Coffee. In the world of black crack things are smooth, pun intended. Starbucks has released Casi Cielo and I’ve had a few at work coffee tastings with the brew. My favorite tasting was one that my manager conducted. (Side note: I’m totally still sipping on Christmas blend while I write this post.)

  

  Coffee and cookies.

  She always goes above and beyond to ensure I can partake in things. These are vegan cookies, and the gingersnap flavors paired great. I love my people.

  COFFEE TIP: When brewing your morning coffee, pour hot water into your mug while you’re waiting. This will warm up your mug (duh) and minimize heat loss.

  -Running. My running has been fantastic. Like…I can’t believe it’s not butter fantastic. I’m going to blame the fact that I have an excellent balance in my life right now. It’s also hard to beat fantastic views and post run showers/feasting.

  

  (Winter) RUNNING TIP: If you have the option, start your run inside. I despise running on my treadmill for long distances as much as I despise cold lungs. Combining indoor/outdoor helps my mental stability and gives me big fat warm lungs.

  -School. Ohhh boyyyy, here we go. I’m a solid week into the next level of my chemistry class…and…it’s going OK. I’m knocking on every patch of wood I see after typing that out. I refuse to let this class go down in flames like the last class. I finished the last class with a B, so I’m hoping for AT LEAST a B+ this time.

  For this I also blame life balance. Funny how switching things around to provide a routine can benefit the overall flow of life. If you can, I suggest you try it.

  

  Usually the case for me.

  SCHOOL TIP: This actually goes for school/work/anything really..PACK YOUR LUNCH. Seriously, you’ve all heard it before, so DO IT! Prepping your meals ENSURES a healthy intake which ensures my favorite word: B A L A N C E. It also helps your pants to fit despite sitting for longer periods of time. I like when my pants fit.

  -Food. I’ve had the chance to get some baking in (there’s that balance again.) along with some solid meals. My current obsessions are: raw desserts, and anything with coconut flour. I’ve also been really into making things without refined sugars.

  I made this…

  

  Click photo for recipe.

  …and these…

  

  Cliccckkk.

  I subbed flax eggs for both of those, and swapped sugars for raw honey. The muffins came out perfect, but my bread looked like a sunken ship. The icing was too watery and made my bread too moist. Waste not though, I turned it into more of a bread pudding because the flavor was still good!

  FOOD TIP: Try using food to add sweetness to your baked goods. Dates, bananas, apples, raw honey, maple syrup, and more. All of these have helped satisfy my sweet tooth while allowing me to feel good about what I’m putting into my face hole.

  Cliffs Notes Version: When life is balanced, things work together like a beautifully harmonized song. All that’s missing is a mountain adventure. and cake.

  Q: What’s your life tip for the day? 

  

  | 69 Comments Tagged Coffee, Random, Running, School, Starbucks

• Does it Make Me…

  Posted at 8:01 AM by Brittany, on November 10, 2014

  Does it make me out of shape if after doing one day of week one “Ripped in 30” with Jillian Michaels, I was sore for two days? Don’t ask me to pick up dropped items.

  

  My cat has the idea.

  Does it make me a grown up if the thought of having a dog no longer disinterests me? I’m house sitting again, this time with a VERY WELL BEHAVED DOG.

  Does it make me unmotivated if I am counting down the days until I am done with the chemistry class I am taking? I’m going to say yes. Arizona/freedom is calling me.

  

  Can’t.Wait.For.This

  Does it make me soulless if I compare babies and puppies interchangeably? Both I cannot stand, unless well behaved like the aforementioned dog. I don’t do drool.

  Does it make me addicted if all I can think about is sugar? I may be eating my feelings towards school. Just a little. Also, Thanksgiving cannot come soon enough.

  

  

  Face plant

  Does it make me ambitious for walking to the store when I’m fully capable of driving? I didn’t think anything of it until I was asked TWICE by people driving by if I needed a ride. No, I just like to walk? Cars are overrated.

  Does it make me lazy if I’d rather walk than do any other kind of exercise right now? I’m soaking up all the fall colors while I can before the white blanket of death arrives.

  

  Does it make me a bad blogger if this is the best I could come up with for a post?

  Q: Fill in the blank: “Does it make me ________?”

  

  | 60 Comments Tagged Does it Make Me, Fall, Random, Run, School

• Starbucks Christmas Espresso Coffee Tasting

  Posted at 3:42 AM by Brittany, on October 28, 2014

  Over the summer I took a general biology class to kick start my back to school adventures. It was the first of four classes I needed to take in order to apply to a holistic nutrition program, and it was a fantastic class. It wasn’t easy, but it also wasn’t hard. I learned a lot and had plenty of free time to spend my summer in the mountains.

  

  

  

  Fast forward to now and my life consists of chemistry and Starbucks. One of these is not like the other. By that I mean I love my job, and I hate my class. I’m in a constant mood of “blah” and I miss my mountain adventures. Things feel chaotic and I am no longer in a constant place of zen.

   

  

  I’ve realized spending each and every day stressing over one class is doing nothing but damage. My grade isn’t benefiting from my stress, and my happiness is nonexistent. In an attempt to balance my life again I’ve decided to focus on myself, and not feel guilty about it. When I’m done with my school work for the day – I’ll be done. I will do something for myself and not think twice.

  OK I may think twice at first, but in time I hope to balance out my work and play. I started with an at home coffee tasting pairing Starbucks 2014 espresso blend with a pumpkin fudgy cookie.

  

  Life is too short to be miserable, and this class is not worth my stress. If I do the work, I know I will be fine. So I put away my books and turned on my oven to create this mouthwatering pairing.

  These cookies are VERY rich, but mildly sweet. Think of them as a breakfast cookie, making them an acceptable pairing for your morning cup of coffee – specifically this espresso roast.

  Pumpkin Fudgy Truffle Cookies

  

   

  Inspired by MyWholeFoodLife Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies

  Ingredients

  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup almond butter
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup raw/organic cacao nibs

  Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. Combine all items except the nibs in a food processor or large bowl and mix until well combined. Add in the nibs and scoop each cookie onto a lined baking sheet, or use a pizza stone like I do. This made 12 cookies.
  3. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until tops are firm and center isn’t mushy.

   

   

  

  These cookies are soft like a truffle, fudgy like a brownie, and round like a cookie. It’s the best of all three worlds. The raw nibs balance out the sweetness of the maple syrup, but for a sweeter cookie use regular chocolate chips instead. I’m trying to behave with my sugar intake. Trying.

  Tasting Notes: The espresso blend has a caramel sweetness to it that pairs beautifully with flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, and spices. The acidity is low and the body is full helping to enhance the pumpkin flavors of these cookies. Each bite and each sip came together holding hands like two preschool kids on the playground. Two thumbs way, WAY up for this blend.

  

  This coffee will be available to the public sometime next month. I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but I just couldn’t resist this deliciously smooth coffee. A warm cup of the holidays is the perfect way to slow down & appreciate life one day at a time, wouldn’t you agree?

  

  Q: What are your go to activities when you’re in need of some balance? For me I need to explore, bake, run, blog, or simply enjoy a good book or tea with a friend. 

  

  | 62 Comments Tagged Coffee, Coffee Master, Coffee Tasting, Gluten Free, Recipe, School, Starbucks, Vegan

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• BRITTANY- Self proclaimed minimalist "granola" striving to maintain a balanced, healthy life with good food, long hikes, strong relationships, exploration, lots of broccoli, and laughing like it's my J.O.B. Currently living and working in Germany, join me on my adventures abroad!
• Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com

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