A Quick Workout for Busy Days

Travel days are always busy- even when the “traveling” is only 2 hours worth from Starkville to Memphis.

Wednesday was a busy day that involved finishing all my classes for the semester (woohooo!), completing a project, babysitting, and driving home!  Knowing all that the day held, I pulled myself out of bed and headed downstairs even though it was the perfect stormy morning for sleeping in!

I planned on having eggs like I have the last couple days (trying to get more protein), but I just wasn’t feeling it. My belly wanted carbs… in the form of cinnamon cereal. So I went with it. Alongside my cereal, my new mug I got for my birthday filled with coffee from the keurig, 2% milk, and stevia. Thanks Mom!

The almonds and strawberries were a pre workout snack

Even in this busy day, I wanted to get a good workout in (without taking too much of the day) and make use of my new running hat 🙂 Thanks M!

I hit the Sanderson Center after class for this:

And let me tell you, my heart was pumping! It felt a lot better to ride in the car knowing I had 3 miles done.

Can you find 40 minutes to get your heart pumping? It’s not so bad if you take the Lifetime app with Army Wives on demand 😉

PS: Have you heard of She Reads Truth?! It is daily devotional for women.. I highly suggest you grab a cup of coffee and head on over there today. A new portion is beginning, with the focus on Hosea. It’s too good to miss. I posted a link on my Facebook this morning- I promise it’s so good.

WIAW

This wednesday started like any other, (I’m ignoring the fact that there are only a few of these precious mornings with these girls left) at 929 with Rachel, Lesley, Lauren, and Magan.

Zambia coffee for me with half & half and Splenda. (Did I mention my speech today was on artificial sweeteners? Oh, the irony.)

After our meeting, I had to finish up my speech. I spent every last available minute typing so breakfast was of the grab and go- drive and eat variety. A handful of dark chocolate almonds & a banana!

I was so nervous for my speech I waited until it was over to have lunch! McAlisters & Local Culture~ decided a treat was in store!

Choose 2: Turkey Melt on Pita & a cup of Broccoli Cheddar Soup!

This half white chocolate mousse/half orange sorbet concoction really hit the spot!

Dr. Pepper ten between lunch & dinner for… well, just because I enjoy them. It is unusual for me not to have a snack between lunch and dinner, but I think today my late lunch and dessert with lunch helped!

Dinner was Salmon Mitchell made 🙂 with edamame and Annie’s shells & cheese. Easy, yet satisfying and delicious!

 

Everything was successfully done oven-less.

The oven has been off limits around here lately due to this situation. A few to many drippy sweet potatoes lead to some major smoke, caked on gunk, and need for cleaning!

Somehow avoided the after dinner snacking, too! That is rare.

I am usually the one running around asking if anyone has anything sweet 😉

How was your day?

Early Mornings

Ever wake up before the sun?

I know… it stinks, you’re tired, your eyes won’t open, it is cold, you can’t even see… just. one. more. minute. I almost always beg.

When I fight the urge to stay under the abundance of fluffy white linens, I end up thanking myself God for it.

My ideal morning has me arising in the darkness, quietly tip toe ing around the house to get just ready enough, grabbing every belonging in my house it seems and heading across town to a coffeehouse. My living room will work too, but that never requires more than PJs which means my eyes are more likely to assume they can slack off on the job.

Preferably, Starbucks would not be my destination, although it absolutely suffices.

For early, quiet mornings, it has got to be the town’s best kept secret… A “hipster” atmosphere makes it that much better.

I have fallen in love with the ease of parking with only 3 other cars in the lot… the way the barista’s whisper before 9 am.. the clicking of the keyboard or turning of old wrinkled pages.. the way my pen runs across a blank page… the promise of new mercies, not yet tainted… It’s warms my soul. It is when I start my day early, in communication with my great God (in all truth, coffee is of no importance) that my storm of a day is less tragic. I am aware of my fresh start, that my sins of yesterday are forgiven, thrown to the side. For this, I keep coming back for more.

via Pinterest

Starkville’s newest addition called 929… hits my idea of morning perfection on the head. It is located on Main Street, adding to the unmatchable atmosphere. You use unmatching mugs and check out at a counter made of old wood, beautifully battered. I just love their details.

via 929 Coffee Bar on Facebook

via 929 Coffee Bar on Facebook

I’d relate the hours of say 6-9 am to the calm before the storm. You can check your email, but there will hardly ever be more than the 3 am LOFT, Banana Republic, and Coach sale notifications. No teachers asking for homework assignments, yet. But when I close my Bible, leave that place, get in my car, and venture out into the world, onto campus, wherever my day takes me, I will never be in the same state I was in, until tomorrow morning.