Tag: Vegan

• Amish Country, Ohio

  Posted at 9:10 AM by Brittany, on September 28, 2015

  You know you’re in good company when you visit someone that puts ” visit Amish country” on the to do list. Before last week I had no experience with the Amish way of life, other than the extremely scripted “reality” TV show “Breaking Amish,” which I admittedly have been sucked into watching more than once.

  

  PC Meghan, a true horse and buggy.

  It seemed to me the Amish lived a very simple life, similar to the idea of living off the grid which I love. While this is true for most Amish that abstain from things like electricity and cars, I also discovered things I didn’t know.

  Meghan and I found ourselves smack in the heart of tourist Amish country, where despite the beards, dresses, and fancy hats, the Amish people were no different when it came to making money. Whatever it takes to make that dollar, even if it’s not completely ethical (in my eyes.)

  

  My excitement quickly turned to fear when I saw a 3000 lb horse with sad eyes kicking ferociously to get out of his 10×10 pen, and when I saw an obese pig (I pray it was just preggo) having stomach convulsions. I suddenly felt like I was in a horror movie and my stomach sank to my toes. We spent ZERO pennies at this spot.

  

  We quickly moved on to check out the bakeries, because the words “homemade” and “fresh baked” spoke to my sugar loving soul louder than a morning rooster. I also got excited to check out the famous cheese factory, and I don’t even eat cheese.

  Not only were they “not making cheese today,” the cheeses has added microbial fillers and colors. Um, what? Worse than this were the “homemade” baked goods.”

  Cue the Psycho music.

  

  Well shoot, apparently my homemade goods have been missing some key ingredients like partially hydrogenated oils, polysorbate 60 (wtf?!), and artificial flavors.

  It wasn’t all scary though, the autumnal displays had my heart singing like a summer canary. Pumpkins, mums, and wagon wheels OH MY!

  

  

  

  I also found my soulmate at one of the antique shops, but he refused to come home with me after I told him I would NOT be filling his belly with Amish made cookies.

  

  All this needs is the word “my” after the word “steal.”

  After spending one too many hours trying to find a ray of hope, my hanger became unmanageable. With no explanation other than the magical white squirrels waving their tails again, I found a place to eat that was FRESH and delicious.

  Like a water mirage in the middle of the desert.

  

  

  Cute decor too!

  

  I hoovered a burrito quicker than a Dyson vacuum

  

  The ONLY item in all of Amish land, with no crazy oils or unpronounceable ingredients.

  Moral of my story is this: things aren’t always what they seem. I pray this is the case with the animals I saw at stop number one. ¡Ay, qué horror!

  I’d like to add that I am in no way “judging” the uncomplicated way of life for the Amish, and if it weren’t for the stories and sights of the living conditions for the animals I would be all about that life. I’m simply sharing my experience. 🙂

  Q: Have you ever been to Amish country? Tell me I’m not the only one that has shamelessly watched “Breaking Amish.”

  

  | 43 Comments Tagged Amish, Explore, Ohio, Vacation, Vegan

• Cleveland Eats

  Posted at 7:35 AM by Brittany, on September 23, 2015

  I discovered a new hashtag last week, which led me to conclude that if you put the word “eats” after any large city you’ll find photo after photo of delicious looking food.

  I also discovered #SeattleEats is amazing and I’ve been missing out. For this post though, all attention goes towards Cleveland and all my delicious eats.

  

  Cleveland Vegan decor.

  It should come as no surprise that one of the highlights of my trip to Ohio (second of course to the wonderful company I had) was all my exploration through food.

  I was fortunate enough to try a handful of new to me eateries, which is naturally the first thing I’m posting about. Food is life after all.

  

  

  “Beet” still my heart.

  First up to bat is this quinoa, beet, and sunflower seed burger from Cleveland Vegan. It knocked my socks clear into next week. The food was fresh and full of flavor, the staff was friendly and fun, and the decorations were absolutely adorable.

  

  Young love in a sea of plants.

  Root vegetables everywhere just like the carrot shown above.

  

  This place was so legit I had to go twice. Once for “real food” and once for “the best food.” Also known as dessert. Also known and my life force.

  Also known as triple chocolate cupcakes.

  

  Sigh.

  Cleveland Vegan wasn’t the only place with too legit to quit desserts, oohhh no. I made my rounds to a cafe down the way for brunch with a side of sugar.

  I’d love to give a hug to the person that coined the term brunch. It’s fantastic, and when I participate in the event known as brunch I feel fancy.

  

  The Root Cafe was fully equipped with bearded men, fair trade coffee, and vegan food that filled my soul with rainbows and kitten whiskers.

  

  Breakfast burrito packed with sweet taters, beans, broccoli, and enchilada sauce.

  The inner vibe was equally fantastic.

  

  

  

  My lovely brunch date.

  

  Oreo like cookie.

  If that Oreo like cookie wasn’t enough to bring me back to Ohio, the vegan mac and cheese from Forage Public House is. I’ll be recreating this masterpiece VERY soon.

  

  

  I also got a salad. I think that counts as balance.

  

  Last, but most CERTAINLY not least was the vegan cinnamon roll I obtained from Natures Bin – “a non-profit organization whose mission is to help people with disabilities develop skills and confidence leading to sustainable employment.”

  There is so much yes about that mission statement.

  

  

  I needed a moment of silence while eating this roll.

  I ate so much more than this while on the other side of the US, but these were the highlights. All of these places had a common theme – sourcing local and organically grown produce for a true farm to table meal. It’s no wonder I loved the food so much.

  Still to come are my adventures in Amish Country, my trip to an apple orchard, wandering through sunflowers, riding trolleys downtown, and pretending to be Tarzan in a forest filled with trees. Until next time.

  Q: Do you eat the same when you’re on vacation as you do in everyday life? 80% yes, 20% treats.

  

  | 65 Comments Tagged Cleveland, Cupcake, Dessert, Ohio, Vacation, Vegan

• Random Rambles

  Posted at 10:06 AM by Brittany, on August 14, 2015

  I ate a pancake and 7 tons of sweet potatoes last week. What’d they have in common?

  

  

  The prettiest darn berries you ever did see. Note, those blueberries on the tater were baked, giving them that purple color, and a gooey decadent flavor.

  I also ate at least 4 homegrown tomatoes.

  

  I didn’t see anything more beautiful that day.

  Seattle with two of my favorites for a Starbucks Roastery adventure. 

  

  

  I decided to get a cup of tea because it was after 1pm, and if I drink coffee too late I’m like a lab rat that’s been injected with cocaine. My tea tasted like Thanksgiving and Christmas had an unwed lovechild. It was fantastic.

  I tried to learn how to play the piano a handful of times in my life, and never made it past the first few pages of the beginners book. 

  

  Should I finally learn to play, I want a piano in my house with hand painted trees like the one I stumbled across at Green Lake in Seattle.

  I had no intentions of participating in National Smore’s Day until the monster in my stomach that starts to crave sugar after dark reared its head. 

  My angelic mother not only had graham crackers tucked in the pantry, but vegan marshmallows as well. I of course had an 85% dark chocolate Theo bar in the fridge because these days I’m never without.

  The best part? This was annihilated eaten at 10:30….PM! I never used to eat that late.

  Funniest photo of the week goes to my dad. 

  

  I sent him a birthday card with a cat because he hates them adores their independent way of life. This photo was sent with the words “negatory.”

  I have the next four days off from work. 

  

  So much excitement. I see Portland, hiking, and sleep in my future. This mini break is the first of a few to come. Livin la vida loca.

  Q: What’s your random ramble for the day? Any Portland readers!?

  

  | 50 Comments Tagged Explore, Food, Gardening, Random, Seattle, Starbucks, Vegan

• 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

• Annette Lake

  Posted at 6:58 AM by Brittany, on July 2, 2015

  To beat the heat this past weekend I broke out of my comfort zone and embarked on a new solo hike. I hadn’t been to an alpine lake in nearly a year, and with temps in the 90’s I figured there would be a few other hikers there.

  No other hikers makes me nervous for animal encounters.

  

  I headed to Annette Lake, and the trail was more popular than I anticipated. Thankfully I arrived early enough to snag a parking spot and beat the latecomers.

  
  

  I only had to pass people a few times, leaving me alone with my thoughts the majority of the 7.5 mile round trip adventure. I adore solo hikes.

  

  Once I reached the lake I noticed a handful of campers. As I sat and ate my food I daydreamt about overnight hiking and waking up with the sun.

  Sipping my coffee with a view like this needs to happen soon.

  

  

  

  This trail has a great canopy cover making for a comfortable hike despite the heat. The elevation gain was a mere 1400 ft, but I definitely got sweaty. One of these times I will jump into a lake, I’ll be doing plenty more lake hikes this summer.

  

  

  My fuel of choice during the hike was a scone and some berries, and post hike I wolfed down some potatoes and veggies courtesy of Whole Foods. I haven’t been craving sweets much lately, and I think it’s because I’ve upped my protein intake (naturopath’s orders), but then I stumbled across something I couldn’t pass by.

  This old school VW travels around Seattle selling vegan ice cream sandwiches with unique flavor combinations. I’d heard about it, I’d seen photos of it, but just like a mystical unicorn I had never actually seen it myself.

  Then I drove by it and knew I had to stop.

  

  My heart was set on the snicker doodle cookie with coffee ice cream sandwich, but I was too late and there was only one option left. This would never have been my first choice, but trying something new was fun and it was delicious.

  It was a successful Saturday indeed.

  

  Q: What’s your favorite solo adventure?

  

  | 62 Comments Tagged Annette Lake, Hike, Ice Cream, PNW, Solo Hike, Vegan

• Rock My World

  Posted at 6:07 AM by Brittany, on June 30, 2015

  I am 100% absolutely positively addicted to zoodles. How I ever survived without this simple yet delectable way of eating vegetables I do not know.

  Zoodles with pea shoots and cilantro…

  

  Zoodles with arugula and watermelon…

  

  Zoodles at the lake.

  

  Zoodles with carr…oodles?

  

  Multicolored carrots, zucchini, arugula, pea shoots, cilantro.

  My world is being rocked so hard.

  

  I’m obsessed with spiralizing all the things. Why dirty a bowl when you plan to eat the entire Costco sized tub in one sitting? If I could spiralize a cupcake I would, but I’m not sure how that would work. If you’ve never swirled and twirled a zucchini into noodles, do it. Do it now. I use this cheap spirazlier from Beyond.

  Also rocking my world? Berries, and hemp seeds. I’ve been upping my protein.

  

  30 G of protein right here. No protein powder included.

  I had this bowl of feel good before a solo hike last week. On this hike I stumbled upon a unique discovery that I thought was too cool not to share.

  

  At the top of the mountain was this Prayer Box. Just as the name implies, this box had a slot to stick prayers. Even if you’re not religious this is a great way to drop a thought for something that is weighing on your heart.

  Sometimes writing things on paper and letting them go is all we need.

  Some hikes I go on are purely sport and I’m fully in the moment of the burn. Other hikes are deeper than that and I encounter multiple emotions by the time I reach the top. It’s as if I’ve had my own therapy session in nature. From a long day at work, to a difficult phone call with a loved one, we all have our ways of working through emotions. This box is another, and I totally dig it. Definite world rocker.

  

  Other things that rocked my world last week:

  -Three legged cats.

  

  -Gregory Alan Isakov is coming to Portland in January to play with the Oregon Symphony. He was fantastic with the Seattle Symphony, so I purchased tickets quicker than a pigeons mating session. I can’t wait!

  

  – Free massages. Except my masseuse fell asleep on the job.

  

  -Coffee and chocolate…from Maui. My friends know me well.

  

  Dog is rolling around with his ball, I assure you he is fine.

  Q: What rocked your world last week?

  

  | 49 Comments Tagged Chocolate, Coffee, Gregory Alan Isakov, Hike, Vegan, Zoodles

• When I’m Not

  Posted at 5:47 AM by Brittany, on June 22, 2015

  One of my favorite things about blogging is having a space to purge all the random thoughts that swarm inside my brain. Doing this also allows me to connect with other like minded bloggers, forming lifelong connections and genuine friendships.

  

  My number one friend.

  Sharing my love for plant based food and cats allowed me to connect with Kayse, a creative girl with a green thumb and a hand for art. After lusting over her art work for months, she kindly sent me a customized dapper cat portrait of my dude.

  

  Words cannot express my gratitude. Please do yourself a favor and check out her online shop, the art she creates is so unique and fabulous.

  Ok, time to purge some thoughts.

  When I’m not blogging, or having a stare off with my cat, I’m usually eating. I haven’t posted a recipe on the blog in MONTHS, simply because I’ve been enjoying exploring OTHER peoples food. I’ve found a few companies that cater to walking science projects like myself, and I happily support them. Local eats are my favorite.

  

  Local pizza, I’m all about that pie life right now.

  When I’m not eating I’m running. 100 mile May gave me my recent running mindset. I’m in a fantastic routine where I am excited about my daily runs, and on the off chance I’m not I skip it for something else. It’s a beautiful thing.

  

  There’s also more room for cupcakes when I have a consistent running routine, that’s also a beautiful thing. Balance in bliss.

  

  You’d never guess these cupcakes were dairy free, gluten free, soy free, rice free, nut free, egg free, dinosaur free, spinach free, & broken glass free.

  They fall into the “if one doesn’t take up your entire hand you need two” category.

  

  Just like these donuts.

  I think I need to make these two hand treat photos a thing.

  When I’m not eating or running I’m playing with coffee at work. I haven’t created any of my own coffee tastings lately, but I have been putting together mini ones at work for my coworkers with featured coffee’s and Starbucks food. 
  

  

  This blend has a beautifully complex flavor of red currant, with a bright and sparkling acidity typical of African grown coffee. I don’t prefer these tasting notes, but I try to explore other options once in a while.

  When I’m not working I’m still spending time with my coworkers. We’re family.

  

  My fellow coffee master ❤

  We all love to drink coffee.

  

  When I’m not with other people I’m exploring alone.

  

  My happy place.

  I love blogging, but lately I’ve been enjoying life away from it all more. Eating, running, working, and exploring have taken top spot which is typical of the summer months. I just can’t soak up enough adventure fast enough!

  On that note, I’m off to explore. I mean…off to work.

  Q: What things take up most of your time?

  

  | 59 Comments Tagged Bloggers, Cats, Coffee, Coffee Master, Cupcake, Donuts, Plant Based, Running, Starbucks, Vegan

• Mount Walker – Summer Sun

  Posted at 6:44 AM by Brittany, on June 12, 2015

  The weather in Washington is starting to look like summer. The days are hot, and the lack of AC in most places means for sticky, sweaty conditions.

  

  Check that sweat curl of hair by my face. Earned it.

  My fellow coffee slangin’ brotha from anotha and I escaped to the mountains on Wednesday after work, and by the time we got there it was 80 and humid.

  Thank God for the canopy cover of trees because it was H O T. The once snow capped mountains off yonder were as blue as a Southern crowned pigeon.

  

  As always, the view at the top made the steep grade worth ever step. Summer hikes are some of my favorite, simply because they are the most rewarding. Great things in life don’t usually come easy, and hiking is a perfect example of this.

  The hike here at Mount Walker is another one of my favorite solo climbs. If you squint real hard, you may be able to see Mt.Rainier in all her glory in the upper/middle left corner of the photo below. Any hike that highlights her beauty is a favorite of mine.

  

  

  Once upon a midnight dreary I thought I wanted to move away from Washington. How sad that would have been, I cannot imagine myself without these mountains.

  

  

  The journey down the mountain is almost always filled with thoughts of the day, thoughts of the views, and thoughts of food. Actually, the entire hike is usually mixed with thoughts of food let’s be real.

  

  I must have been extra hungry coming down this mountain, because my first thought upon seeing the above photo was food related. They look like some kind of red asparagus species, don’t you think? I tried to look it up, but couldn’t quite find it.

  The wild asparagus like plant sparked a fire in my stomach that could not be put out until fed. This inspired the most random food haul.

  

  Which turned into this.

  

  
  

  

  And the world spins madly on.

  Note to self: Buying a pea shoot plant was the best idea you’ve had all week.

  

  Q: What’s the weather like in your neck of the woods?

  

  | 67 Comments Tagged Explore, Hike, Mount Walker, Olympic Mountains, Vegan, Washington

• Donuts and Coffee

  Posted at 7:33 AM by Brittany, on June 8, 2015

  National Running Day (NRD) and National Donut Day (NDD) were conveniently set within a day of each other. Coincidence? I think not.

  I logged 4 miles on NRD, 3 miles the next day, and 9 more miles between Sat/Sun . I wasn’t kidding when I said “I run to fit into my pants.” Thankfully I have a decent handle on the whole balance thing, and have been eating greens from my garden to counteract sugary donuts. Collards, and spinach, and rosemary – OH MY!

  

  I must be honest though and admit I did NOT actually consume a donut ON NDD. I ended up working later than planned, and good vegan donuts require a bit of travel. I instead daydreamt about the ghosts of donuts past.

  

  Specifically about this epic creation from VooDoo Doughnuts in Portland. Chocolate, Oreo’s, and peanut butter. So much yes.

  I don’t follow the rules, and despite the hype and excitement behind “national” anything day, I had no problems waiting until Sunday to embark on my donut quest.

  When I think donuts, I also think coffee. A piping hot cup of Joe as black as my cat.

  

  Meow.

  SO I ventured near Seattle, climbed a mountain, and got some donuts. Good things come to those who wait. I even risked tummy woes with the chocolate flavor.

  

  If a donut does not take up the entire space of your hand when being held, you need another one. Safe to assume you’ll always need two. If we’re being honest again I actually played too long in the forest yesterday and didn’t make it to the donut shop before it closed. I had to settle for the only two choices offered at Whole Foods.

  

  

  

  Worth it.

  What I really wanted was a maple bar and an apple fritter. Looks like I’ll be going back.

  I also didn’t have these donuts with coffee like I had planned…so this post has turned into a whirlwind of coulda, woulda, shoulda. I did have pizza and a jam filled scone though, and I have a new appreciation for geometry. Triangles = good things.

  

  I ❤ scones.

  Q: Did you celebrate NRD or NDD? Yes, yes I do fall prey to the made up holidays, but only when they support my addictions. In reality everyday is a good day for donuts and running. June 6 was national trails day…so I just clumped them all together.

  

  | 54 Comments Tagged Donuts, Hike, Pizza, Rattlesnake Ridge, Run, Scone, Vegan

• 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

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• Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com

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