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  • Tag: Spring

    • Seasons

      Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on March 24, 2021

      Have you ever noticed how beautiful the world becomes when a new season begins? It’s as if somehow the earth knew us humans were beginning to get complacent, or unmotivated by a certain time of the year. With the flip of a switch a new scent in the air, or the rise and fall in temperatures brings forth a new perspective.

      I’ve spent all of my years living in places with four seasons, and I cannot imagine living somewhere without them.

      My favorite season is fall, I love everything about a crisp October morning with frost on the grass and sun in the sky. A cool spring breeze follows close second, and summer makes me want to fall in love. Winter on the other hand is the season I find most difficult. Winter is cold, dark, gloomy, and often brings in waves of the SAD’s.

      This winter however, I found myself in surprisingly high spirits. 

      Winter hikes.

      Perhaps it was due to the fact I spent more time outdoors than I typically do in the winter months, perhaps it was because I spent more time with other humans, or perhaps it was because just as the seasons of weather change, so too do the seasons of life. I am at the tail end of one season, paving my way into a new one, and this season of life feels slightly more optimistic than the last.

      I became quite good at isolating myself over the last handful of years, a natural response to emotional upheavals. It took me years to notice my behavior, and while I still find great value in spending time alone, I began to feel the pull towards human connections earlier last year. My goal upon returning to America was to put this pull into play by pushing myself to be more social.

      Trail rides with fellow bike enthusiasts.

      As an introvert spending time alone is essential, especially with a job like mine where I am constantly engaging (superficially) with others. In contrast, as a human it is also essential to spend time with others – time of connection through shared interests, deep conversations, belly laughter, and daydreams. I’m not good at expressing my “need” for other people, but as I get older I get better at expressing these needs.

      Without the season of winter (or whatever season you enjoy the least), it would be hard to fully value the seasons I love so dearly. Change brings forth growth – growth of life on earth, and growth of life within ourselves. Walking through the more uncomfortable seasons allows for a deeper appreciation of the more uplifting ones. Literally and figuratively.

      The painfully cold hikes covered in snow, albeit beautiful, help me cherish the warmth of spring hiking.

      As I move into a new earthly season as well as a new life season I have one quote hanging around the forefront of my brain helping me to progress forward: “one day at a time.” It can be so easy for me to fall into the comparison trap of where I “should be” in my life, but really there is no right or wrong place to be. Each job, each relationship, and each experience helps mold us for the next season of life.

      In order to take full advantage of these lessons we must embrace each season we are in. 

      I have high hopes for the spring and summer months to come. I see grand adventures, deeper friendships, newfound knowledge, and further personal edification. I hope to be a source of encouragement for those who are stuck in a stormy season of life. There will always be an end to the storm, as long as we continue walking through it.

      Q: What’s your favorite season? 

      | 25 Comments Tagged Hiking, Life, Spring
    • Springtime Sunshine

      Posted at 9:30 AM by Brittany, on April 4, 2016

      When the sun shines bright in the pacific northwest us Washingtonians come out from our dungeons like a zombie chasing human flesh. It doesn’t rain as much as people think, but it IS grey a lot. I’ve come to love the grey skies, they add to the lush green scenery, but this winter was much too long for me.

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      I like to think I’m always butterflies and glitter, but this winter knocked me straight on my ass. I am more than ready for the sun to come back for the feel good vibes, but what I love most about this time of year is the way the sun hits the snowy mountain tops.

      Instant happiness.

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      I’ve been soaking up my vitamin D with a couple hikes, and a handful of runs.

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      I’ve been moderately lazy lately, and by moderately I mean immensely. My running has taken place inside on my treadmill because it’s more convenient, but I spent the last week house sitting which forced me outside.

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      My house mate.

      My outdoor runs have been invigorating, but they’ve also reminded me of a few things. First and foremost I don’t love running the way I used to. I enjoy running 3-6 miles on my own terms, but the last two times I’ve tried to sign up for a half marathon in an attempt to kick my fanny into shape have backfired.

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      I just don’t enjoy running longer distances on my own, and it’s time I accept that. Once every so often I’ll want to bust out an 8 miler, but that’s rare these days. Plus sometimes I would rather be doing things like hiking, biking or even just walking.

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      Lucky for me I get paid to walk 3x a week with that good lookin cow dog.

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      With all that said I look forward to more hikes and bike rides as the sun continues to fuel my cells with its power. I had planned to run a half marathon in Portland in two weeks, but my training has been inconsistent so I decided to run the 10k instead.

      Best decision I made all week. I get to go to Portland, I get to run a distance I love, and I get to breath easy knowing I can run 6 miles no sweat. OK, a little bit of sweat. It’s true that when you try to force something you end up avoiding it. When running is forced and I don’t listen to my desires for other movement I end up skipping all together.

      No bueno.

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      It feels good to honor thoughts and feelings. Our bodies have a unique way of letting us know what we need. The signals start quiet, but if you ignore them (like I tend to do) eventually they scream at you. I must work on listening for the quiet signals before they come at me like a howler monkey in heat.

      On a less serious note school is great, work is the same, my need for a metal detector to find coins in the grass has increased, and I’ve finally bonded on a deeper level with my best friend. By swapping faces.

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      I’m just gonna leave that there…

      Q: Did winter come in and steal your soul like it did mine? 

      b

      | 91 Comments Tagged Cats, Explore, Hiking, Mount Walker, Mountain, Running, Spring
    • Blueberry/Banana Oatcakes

      Posted at 3:41 AM by Brittany, on April 18, 2014

      Whenever I increase my running distances, my appetite goes up too. Go figure right? I find that I get by fine on shorter runs with a big bowl of fruit, but sometimes I like to add just a little bit more into my tank before jetting out the door.

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      Pancakes are a classic breakfast for “lazy mornings,” but I had a 5 miler planned which turned these pancakes into power oatcakes. Plus, they are thick and packed with goodness.

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      Running takes effort, but making these oatcakes was easy. I used one bowl and cleanup was easy. Once my pan was ready to go it took less than 10 minutes to make these. Don’t be fooled, these are not your grandmas light and fluffy pancakes. They are meant for a morning full of adventure and movement. I was full for hours!

      Blueberry/Banana Oatcakes

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      Ingredients

      • 1 cup whole wheat flour
      • 1/2 cup quick cook oats
      • 1/2 tsp salt
      • 2 tsp baking powder
      • 2 tblsp brown sugar
      • 1 tblsp cinnamon
      • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
      • 1 flax egg (1 tblsp flax + 3 tblsp warm water)
      • 1 1/4 cup almond milk
      • 1 tsp vanilla
      • 1/3 cup frozen blueberries

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      Directions

      1. Prepare your flax egg and set aside.
      2. Combine your flour, oats, salt, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a medium sized bowl and combine well.
      3. Add in your flax egg, almond milk, and vanilla and stir until combined. Fold in your blueberries.
      4. Use a well sprayed pan or skillet and depending on how large you want your pancakes pour about 1/4 cup of batter onto the pan and cook until brown on each side.
      5. Top with bananas and maple syrup. I also added some almond butter to mine!

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      These powered me through my run, and a shopping trip to Costco. Booya! It’s officially that time of year where running is once again enjoyable. I love spring running!20140416-083049.jpg

      Q: Do you like fluffy pancakes, or dense pancakes? I like both, but for different occasions!

      atterned-n

      | 30 Comments Tagged Pancakes, Recipe, Run, Running, Spring, Vegan
    • Who Needs a Car?

      Posted at 9:57 AM by Brittany, on May 3, 2013

      May 1st came and so did the spring weather. Spring season is the perfect time to be outside and move! I am not sorry to be breaking up with my treadmill for a while, and I have been enjoying many outdoor runs, and walks. Yesterday I ran to the farmers market to see about getting some fixings for dinner.

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      The market just opened for the season a couple of weeks ago and the pickings are pretty slim right now. Plenty of apples though!

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      Some of the Fuji apples were so big I mistook them for honeycrisps.

      Apples on steroids.

      Apples on steroids.

      With empty bags I proceeded to walk to the store to find what I needed for dinner. If you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen a sneak peak at what was for dinner. This meal was so delicious and I cannot wait to make it again. Post/recipe to come!

      The rest of the weekend will be spent outdoors, baking, blogger meet ups, running, walking, BIKING (hopefully), and eating A LOT of food. Watermelons are back, time to get real with my spoon. No bowl necessary for watermelons. Happy weekend!

      Q: Is it farmers market season where you live?

      b

      | 60 Comments Tagged Farmers Market, New food, Running, Spring, Vegan
    • Fish Out of Water

      Posted at 9:34 AM by Brittany, on April 5, 2013

      Forgive me if my sentences jumble together like a fish out of water today. I broke my nail trying to obtain a piece of chocolate (I wish I were kidding) and I decided to pick the nail off. Now it throbs. I am also standing up to blog because since leaving my job at Trader Joe’s, my entire lower body has decided to store up on some excess material as if it were preparing for a famine. I noticed I was sitting a lot more than normal, so these days I blog standing up. I hope the little things count, because if not I’ll be wearing a parka to the swimming pools this summer.

      I’ve been obsessed with random nature finds lately. Instagram has played a big part in that. I tend think I can make anything look unique. Take this random deserted train for instance. I imagine it was used to transport cake to Disneyland.

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      I didn’t Instagram these pictures, but I tried. They didn’t look as cool as I thought. Keep an eye out for me, you’ll see my name in Nat Geo soon enough with pictures of dancing camels spitting expensive wine.

      The sun decided to leave yesterday. It poured so ferociously I thought I was going to have to get my canoe out to go to the gym. I don’t have a canoe, but I do have wood I could float on. Thankfully I enjoyed a suntastic day on Wednesday and busted out the grill again.

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      Roasted veggies never loose their sparkle. With these I ate a new creation.

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      A beet, wrapped inside pizza dough, and baked. That’s it. And topped with horse radish  SO random and weird, but oddly delicious! With the veggies it’s just like a pizza ball!

      Lastly I need your help with something. It’s been brought to my attention that I have an ugly cat. Apparently he has funny lips.

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      Is this what it’s like to be a mother and think you have the most beautiful baby, when in reality your child looks like it just crawled out of a swap from a horror movie?

      Hahaha

      Hahaha

      I guess I’m blinded by love because I think he is the cutest thing everrrr.

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      Q: Are you blinded by love with your funky looking pet? If you don’t have a pet your spouse counts too. 

      b

      | 55 Comments Tagged Cats, Nature, Spring, Sun, Vegan
    • Exploration

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

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

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

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

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

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      No body likes poop hair.

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

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

      Pre BBQ

      Pre BBQ

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

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

      b

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

      Posted at 9:28 AM by Brittany, on March 26, 2013

      Spring has sprung!! Sorry to all you east coasters that are still getting inches of snow, that’s rough. Over here in the north west it’s been sunny sunny sunny.

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      It was so sunny on my run yesterday I felt wildly overdressed. It’s almost time to bust out the running tanks, my favorite! I feel like a cartoon in this picture.

      Spring means flowers, sun, birds, birds mating, and Easter for those of you that celebrate. I’d be lying if I said Easter didn’t make me think of candy, eggs, and searching for money in a giant yard. As I get older I am trying to appreciate the real meaning behind Easter, with maybe a chocolate egg or two. Before I went vegan my go to chocolate egg was none other than the Reese’s egg.  The thick PB center was far more delicious than their regular PB cup. Any holiday Reese’s was divine.

      Last year I tried to give my love to another, which was a terrible mistake. Nothing compares. Sorry TJ’s, I love you, and I love your candy, but your choc eggs suck. Since Easter isn’t complete without chocolate covered eggs. I made my own! I was inspired by this recipe, and if you want a non vegan version give it a try! They also have more pictures, and better egg shaping skills.

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      Before you judge my egg shaping skills, I’ll have you know that no matter what the shape..everything goes in and out of the same place. So deal with it.

      Chocolate PB Eggs

      • 2 cups powdered sugar
      • 3/4 cup PB (I used chunkaayy!)
      • 2 tblsp Earth Balance butter
      • 1-3 tablespoons almond milk (depending on texture)
      • 1.5 cups of semisweet or dark (dairy free) chocolate chips
      • 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil

      Mix together the powdered sugar, peanut butter, and butter. Add the milk one tablespoon at a time until it becomes a nice workable dough. Form the dough into egg shapes, or dinosaur turds, and place in the freezer for about an hour.

      I used the stove to melt my chocolate chips and coconut oil, but a microwave would work too. Dip each egg into the melted chocolate and place on wax paper.

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      I put mine back into the freezer to set up. The coconut oil will make these melt quick at room temperature, and I like my treats cold anyway. This made about 16 sm/med eggs. Which were gone in two days..between three people.

      These were delicious, and I think it’s time for another sugar detox!! Would you believe I pulled a muscle in my neck reaching for a cupcake?? I did pull a muscle, I’m not sure how, but I’m going to pretend it’s a sign to cut back on sugar…again. HA!

      Q: Favorite Easter time treat???

      b

      | 50 Comments Tagged Easter, Reeses, Running, Spring, Sun, Vegan
    • Food for Days

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

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

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

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

      Beet, fennel, quinoa salad.

      Beet, fennel, quinoa salad.

      Two bags FULL of loot.

      Two bags FULL of loot.

      The final haul, all sprawled out.

      The final haul, all sprawled out.

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

      What's a trip to Seattle without Starbucks?

      What’s a trip to Seattle without Starbucks?

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

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

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

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

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

      b

      | 55 Comments Tagged Adventure, Food, Seattle, Spring, Vegan
    • 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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    • Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com
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