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  • Tag: Valentines day

    • Birthentines Day

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

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

      Any excuse to cut math short was a good excuse…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      | 17 Comments Tagged Birthday, Hiking, PNW, Valentines day
    • From Me to Her

      Posted at 5:03 AM by Brittany, on February 10, 2014

      I love Valentines day..always have, always will. Maybe it’s because it’s the day before my birthday, maybe it’s because I love any excuse to get mushy, or maybe elementary school really set me up for success with positive emotions attached to the holiday. How can any child NOT love making their own mailboxes and getting a shitton of candy!?

      004

      I may be single this year, meaning I don’t have a strapping young man to shower me with broccoli trees, and vegan chocolates, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still celebrate. If anything, that just means I don’t have to worry about buying gifts or being disappointed by someone that’s not as excited as I am. I kinda sorta like any and all holidays.

      vday

      This February 14th I’ll be spending my evening with one of my fellow single ladies for a vegan feast and a sappy movie, perfect. I wanted to give her a small gift, because any excuse to craft is a good excuse. I took some extra twine from this craft, some burlap bags I hoarded from Starbucks over the holidays, and bought myself a Mason jar.

      032

      033

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      What you’ll need for this craft: 

      • burlap material
      • twine
      • medium Mason jar
      • heart cutout (or whatever else you want)
      • scissors
      • fabric glue
      • something to fill the jar

      018

      My date just recently made the switch to a plant based diet, so buying her sugar laden chocolates from the grocery store wasn’t an option. Besides, store bought treats are simply unoriginal, and turn your rump into a semi truck. I’m making her some energy bites, because I am obsessed and lied in my last post when I said I was done talking about them.

      Of course I’ll be making her fresh bites, these ones were just for the photos..and for me.

      028

      This craft was SO easy, and so much fun. I cut a small circle out of the burlap bag to fit the lid of the jar and glued it to the top of the lid. Then I wrapped some twine around the neck of the jar, and used the glue to connect the end strand to the middle of the wrap. This ensures the end is blended in and unable to be seen. The heart cutout was an up-cycle from a card my younger sister made, and it was the perfect addition! You can find similar items at Michael’s and punch a hole in the corner to stick the twine through it.

      021

      I found this adorable heart box at Target for a whopping total of $1.00. Steal.

      023

      A gift from me to her. I hope she likes it. 🙂

      Q: How are you celebrating Valentines day this year? Single or attached?

      b

      | 51 Comments Tagged Craft, Energy Bites, Valentines day, Vegan
    • Meerrroww

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

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

      20130215-095630

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

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

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

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

      20130215-095736

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

      20130215-095648

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

      20130215-095712

      I also spent some time with this guy.

      Iphone 575

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

      There we go.

      There we go.

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

      b

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

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

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

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

      20130213-09205320130213-091202

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

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

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

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

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

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

      20130213-091214

      My favorite accessory.

      My favorite accessory.

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

      b

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