Tag: Thanksgiving

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 28, 2016

  1. I ran my first 5K race since 2012. I run the 5K distance all the time, but I once told myself it was a waste of money to pay for one as a race. Fast forward to Thanksgiving 2016 – I ate those words because just the thought of a 10K winded me.

  

  I still managed a 9:42 pace though. I’ll take it.

  2. My pre race meal consisted of an entire package of tofu. I don’t recommend that, the GI struggle was so real.

  3. Thanksgiving was all kinds of marvelous. My angelic mother and I made a raw pumpkin pie that is so decadent I’m still nursing it five days later. Who lets pie last five days!?

  

  4. Christmas music has been playing in my car since before Thanksgiving. I have no shame.

  5. I’m on a solid whole foods kick and loving it. I’ve been trying to ditch terrible eating habits for months now.

  

  

  

  6. I’ve been tearing though cruciferous vegetables and jars of peanut butter. That combo is enough to do some damage to the ozone layer due to all the methane I’ve produced.

  7. I worked on black Friday, which is fine by me. I don’t partake in the shopping madness and already had three days in a row off. It was bizarre being in such a large building with so few people. The 8th floor cafe was closed and I had the entire lobby to myself.

  

  8. I’ve dipped my toes back in to the rivers of coffee. I limit my intake to no more than 10 oz, and water it down significantly, but I’m thrilled to be slowly drinking it again after months away.

  9. I continue to be charmed by the holiday vibes of the workplace. Thanks for being awesome Starbucks.

  

  10. I’ve been indulging in “self care” lately. By that I mean I’ve been getting massages twice a month because it makes me happy. I even went as far as getting a pedicure with a girlfriend last weekend. I don’t get pedicures…but I wear sandals year round and my feet were looking pretty rough.

  The last time I got a pedicure was April of 2012. You can read my experience here. I don’t dare get a mani/pedi combo EVER again.

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 64 Comments Tagged Confessions, Plant Based, Race, Running, Starbucks, Thanksgiving, Vegan

• Runners Trots

  Posted at 6:25 AM by Brittany, on November 30, 2015

  Working retail has given me a perspective on people that I am immensely thankful for. While you might think (and hope) people are kinder around the holidays, sometimes it’s the complete opposite.

  

  Serving impatient and sometimes unkind people has made me more compassionate, more understanding, and more willing to help others. I am thankful for this perspective because heaven forbid I loose my shit when a coffee shop runs out of cookies. OK so I kind of understand…

  

  I’ve worked the morning coffee crowd the last two Thanksgivings, so this year I was excited to have the entire day off. This meant I could participate in my first Turkey Trot. What kind of runners trots were you thinking?

  

  I dragged my family with me at 6:45 am to come stand in 30 degree weather while I ran 6.2 miles. The course was gorgeous, the sun was shining, and the hills kept me warm despite the cold temps.

  

  I didn’t see any other runners wearing Vibram’s, but I saw enough spit on the ground to worry about my feet catching hepatitis. I didn’t verbalize any goals, but secretly I wanted to beat my previous “official” 10K PR, and finish in under an hour.

  Turned out despite my lack of running lately I not only accomplished this, but I had plenty of wiggle room. 6.2 miles in 58 minutes and 11 seconds, plus an extra .07 miles due to spastic running tendencies.

  

  Post trot shenanigans I found my way into the kitchen to prep for the feast.

  

  

  What does a dairy, and meat free Thanksgiving look like? It looks like real food. I find great joy in making feasts from scratch. Everything was homemade, from the love of my fingertips. Like a wizard.

  

  Then of course, the real reason I ran…my version of pumpkin pie.

  

  I took this photo three years ago!

  With a full belly, and a happy heart it’s safe to say my Thanksgiving was fantastic.

  

  Q: How was your Thanksgiving?

  

  | 50 Comments Tagged 10K, Plant Based, Race, Running, Thanksgiving, Vegan

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 8:35 AM by Brittany, on November 24, 2015

  1. As I write this my back is exposed to the public. My favorite standing table at my favorite Starbucks (other than my own of course) is occupied, thus I must be vulnerable until my table is available.

  2. It’s gotten cold in my woods. This means my favorite vest is worn…everyday.

  

  Creature of habit.

  3. OK, it’s not that bad. We’ve been hanging out between 35-45F.

  4. My nutrition has been on point lately.

  

  Carbs, on carbs, on carbs.

  5. What’s changed? I stopped eating so much fruit. I know, the horror.

  6. After two months of minimal running, I signed up for a Thanksgiving day 10K. I decided I should make sure I wouldn’t die and went for a 6 mile run. It was amazing.

  

  Fueled by oatmeal and coffee.

  7. I’ve never run a race on Thanksgiving, and I haven’t run a single race in 2015.

  8. I am obsessed with romaine hearts. Like, eat an entire bunch every day obsessed.

  

  9. I’m OK with this obsession, it’s like eating the sun for a natural and legal high.

  10. Speaking of high, I once ate a spoonful of catnip just to see what would happen. Turns out catnip is actually brewed like tea to help things like anxiety, indigestion, and stress. No wonder my cat loves it.

  

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 60 Comments Tagged Coffee, Cold, Confessions, Food, Race, Running, Starbucks, Thanksgiving

• Christmas at Starbucks

  Posted at 6:18 AM by Brittany, on November 19, 2014

  I’m not one to spend my money on random items. I have been known to hoard my pennies which has allowed me to have a comfortable pillow to sit on should any emergencies arise. I’ve never felt a strong pull towards impulse purchases, and will usually only buy something if I really, REALLY love it. Or if it’s food…

  I spend all the pennies on food.

  

  $3.00 for one cupcake, sure take my money.

  With that said, I try to balance things out every so often by buying something for myself…just because. I usually end up buying a Starbucks mug, but only when they go on sale. I cannot justify spending more than $5 on a mug, so I wait.

  This Christmas season Starbucks has over 100 different mug designs, and while I see many that I adore, none spoke to me enough to purchase. Except this one.

  

  This 3 oz demi cup is the perfect addition to my collection. Once I saw the trees I knew I had to have it. I also decided to buy this years advent calendar. I wanted it regardless, but really jumped on the opportunity when one wound up having a broken package.

  

  The merchandise itself is 100% in tact, but with a broken outer shell it was “un-sell-able.” I got it for 80% off, meaning I spent a whopping $6 on it. OH and it comes with a $5 gift card, so I spent $1. I didn’t want this for the chocolate treats that I won’t be eating, but FOR THE MAGNETIC REUSABLE CHALKBOARD!!!

  Ready or not it’s Christmas at Starbucks. This is my favorite time of year and all the Grinch’s that come in complaining about the decor make me want to pull them a decaf shot faster than Mary Poppins can pull a tree out of her purse.

  While I love the holidays, I don’t love the temperatures that come with it.

  

  Who needs feelings in their fingertips anyway?

  

  Time for 3987238957 layers.

  Try not to be envious of my selfie photo quality. This is why I don’t take selfies.

  Despite all my Christmas talk, I’m so excited for Thanksgiving and I’ve got my stretchy pants ironed, pressed, and ready to be worn for approx. 15 days post feast. I’m going to need all the help I can get with that elastic waistband. Real talk in 3..2..1..

  

  Q: Who’s ready for the holidays!?!?!

  

  | 46 Comments Tagged Christmas, Mug, Starbucks, Thanksgiving, Vegan

• The Beauty of Words

  Posted at 10:26 AM by Brittany, on November 30, 2013

  I have this condition..a tendency really..to work as much as physically (and legally) possible. I’ve been spending long days and long weeks at work lately, which has caused a bit of an absence from me in blog land. I haven’t had much down time to read blogs lately, because my free time goes to the gym, or to crafting, or to spending time with friends.

  I’m not complaining, or even apologizing for my lack of appearances lately, but I do feel the need to make a note of it. I love to work, it keeps me busy and makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something in my days. Last week I managed to work over 40 hours, along with three openings shifts in a row (and to think I used to open every day at TJ’s wow) which has led me to appreciate the two days I have off today and tomorrow. My first day off in 9 days, I’ll take it. Tomorrow I run my 4th half marathon, and I am so excited.

  

  This is a leaf..made to look like a turkey…with running shoes. What I really do with my free time.

  I worked thanksgiving morning, which I really didn’t mind. I was off by 10:20 and had my run complete by 12. I was able to get wild in the kitchen for hours leading up to the feast. I’ll spare the photos of the traditional foods, but I did make some new delicious sides that included butternut squash with carrots and walnuts glazed with a coconut oil/brown sugar mix, and rosemary sprinkled Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes.. Of course I also made this pie, and it was just as good as I remembered. It was gone in two days.

  While at work, plenty of people passed through to get their morning fix of caffeine. Locals partaking in turkey day races inflicted a twinge of jealousy in me, which I quickly shoved aside after reminding myself of my upcoming half. One customer that really stood out, was a regular customer. He comes in during the dark hours of the morning, orders a double short americano with an 8 grain roll (my favorite thing ever) and sits at a table to write.

  I was finally able to experience some of his writing, as he brought the workers of Starbucks a letter of thanks for all that we do. He and his wife have been coming in for years now, and they have further inspired me to remember the importance of a local coffee shop. Below are his words, which were written so beautifully I just had to share!

  “Dear local Starbucks,

  It has been a while since we wrote to tell you how much we appreciate what you do. During that time we hope our gratitude has not been completely hidden, but now we have a granddaughter, and seeing our coffee shop habit imprinted on a third generation brings new clarity to what we are so thankful for.

  What is a local coffee shop to someone whose age is still counted in months? It is a place to not be shushed while mum is sleeping in. It is a warm bite for breakfast, warm smells on a cold day, Van Morrison and a big picture window on the rising dawn. It is a place of endless greetings, pausing here while others begin their workday routines. There is a sense of resilience and optimism as each smiling hello is fit between one bite and the next. And for us regulars, perhaps more than for those just passing through. There is a crew, ever busy and bright, balancing efficiency with just a touch of luxury: a simple meal prepared by someone else to afford a moment of welcome and wonder.

  Good things happen here, and it’s all your fault. Thanks for proving each day when you come to work that for us to claim we have a local Starbucks is not an oxymoron, and for making our coffee shop habit something we are happy to be handing down.”

  

  I hope to be back next week with posts about crafting, running, half marathon-ing, blogger meetups, and of course more posts about coffee shop shenanigans.

  Q: What are your thoughts about your local coffee shop?

  

  | 42 Comments Tagged Bloggers, Coffee, Half Marathon, Running, Starbucks, Thanksgiving

• Sweat and Satisfaction

  Posted at 1:51 PM by Brittany, on November 23, 2012

  Thanksgiving has come and gone in what feels like the blink of an eye. I was woken yesterday by a text message at 6 am (sad to realize I used to think 6 am was sleeping in!) In that message was a photo of my younger siblings dressed in workout gear, equipped with a running bib. I immediately felt bummed I was not partaking in a Turkey Trot of some sort. I let it go, and fell back asleep for a while.

  When I woke later on, I discovered my wonderful mother in the kitchen about to prepare some vegan rolls for her crazy vegan daughter. We were low on flour thanks to my adventure the night before making pumpkin pie, and this meant it was my turn to go get flour.  That’s when I was given the genius idea to run to the store to get the flour. It’s a little over 4miles round trip, so it was nothing I couldn’t handle.

  While running to the store I had another genius idea: Use the store bag to make my own running bib. I told this idea to the lady who rang me up for my flour and she looked at me like I was insane. Perhaps I was, I ended up having to run the two miles home with a 5lb bag of flour under my arm. I channeled my inner quarter back and alternated between arms. SO long story short I got a run in, and I played some traditional turkey day football.

  Uh yeah, so that looks more like a mug shot than a proud running photo. I’ll just stash that on in the “do not open” folder. 4 miles done with a 9:44 pace, yay. Moral of the story: If you miss out on a race, make your own! Moving on..

  Dinner couldn’t come fast enough. In case you’re curious what a vegan eats on T-day here’s my plate. It’s very similar to last years vegetarian T-day. The only difference this year was dessert. Pumpkin pie isn’t vegan friendly, so I ended up making my own.

  

  

  THE best part of the meal. Potatoes and cranberries ON the bread.

  My plate looks a little lacking in the protein department, but fear not my pie was full of protein. I’d be lying if I said I waited until after dinner to eat my pie. In fact I had a slice the night before, and that morning to fuel my run.

  The secret ingredient in this delicious masterpiece? Tofu. 

  
  There is nothing more satisfying than a skeptical outsider eating a vegan dessert and swooning more than you did.

  This pie definitely stole the show, and my heart. An entire 15 oz of tofu in this beast and you’d have no idea unless I told you. Spices are an amazing thing.

  

  Best part of the pie, the last few bites with extra crust.

  This was my first time making a pie completely from scratch (including the crust!) and it turned out amazingly. I may just have to find another excuse for pumpkin pie when this one is gone!

  So that was my day. I had satisfaction from running, and creating new foods, and I got sweaty while eating. Or maybe it was the other way around. Or maybe a combination of everything! To end this post right, I must share what I am thankful for. I am thankful for my family, my friends, my health, my body, my mind, and my motivation to create new foods and try new adventures! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some Candy Cane Joe Joe’s calling my name..time to prepare for Christmas! 😉

  Q: What was the highlight of your Thanksgiving? If you didn’t celebrate, or you celebrated earlier in the year, what was the highlights of your week!?

  

  | 52 Comments Tagged Pie, Pumpkin, Race, Running, Thanksgiving, 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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