At least twice an hour…
That’s how many times I woke up during the night last night. UGHH! Between a runny nose, an overactive bladder, and inability to just get comfortable, it was one of the worst nights of sleep I’ve experienced in months. I tossed and turned all night long, and actually debated on just staying up at my 4am wake up.
I did get back to sleep for another hour before the alarm went off, and I, surprisingly, didn’t feel completely tired and out of it; in fact, I was actually awake and thankful to finally just have an excuse to get UP. Luckily, my day so far has gotten off to a MUCH better start than last night did!
Workout
Our BodyPump instructor informed us last week that she was going to be “test driving” some of the newest release this week in class, Release 79, even though it’s not set to launch until next weekend. We only did the first five tracks (Warm up, squats, chest, back, triceps) to the new release- which included music from Lady Gaga and Sean Kingston- and finished up with an old release. From looking at the full tracklist, I’m really excited to give the full release a try!
I followed up class with 20 minutes of intervals on the elliptical while jamming out to my new playlist, and then hightailed it home for some breakfast.
Breakfast
Oh, hello there, oats buckwheat in a jar. So awesome of you to join me this morning.
Today’s batch was awesome:
- 1/4 Bob’s Red Mill Creamy Buckwheat
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tsp chia seeds
- cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 mashed banana, stirred in at the end
- blueberries & raspberries
- 1 tbsp Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness granola
The simple switch from vanilla extract to almond extract made this batch incredibly delicious. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to go back to the vanilla!
Well, unless I’m able to actually get my hands on some pumpkin…then I’ll go back to using the vanilla. But first, I have to find some cans of the stuff since it appears to be hiding from me. Anyone local out there know where I can get my hands on some pumpkin?!? I guess I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled while I’m out running a few errands this afternoon.
Hopefully, all of you are easing back into the week after a nice, long holiday weekend! Here’s what you may have missed around these parts:
- Labor Day Happenings
- Coffee Delay
- Sarah & Jeff Get Married (+ a dancing video!)
- Wedding Sneak Peek
- This Looks Familiar
- Sarah & Jeff’s Rehearsal Dinner
Stay tuned this afternoon for a yummy recipe…it has fall written allll over it!
Questions for the Morning:
WOULD YOU RATHER…
- Work 4 10-hour days each week with a day off –OR- 5 8-hour days each week?
- Eat pumpkin –OR- pass on pumpkin?
- Lose all of your old memories –OR- never be able to make new ones?
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
4 10 hr days, seems like I already work 10 hr days, just 5 of them now!
Pumpkin!!
I think keep my old ones. That is a tough, tough choice though!
Colleen @ The Lunchbox Diaries says
I just noticed your Love Grown badge! I’m glad we’re LOVE bloggers together! :)
Courtney says
YAY! :)
allison @ thesundayflog says
i hear you on the bad night’s sleep! i kept getting up too. ugh! my AC vent is leaking so i was sweating, then cold, then my nose was running everywhere. pretty bad! also, about pumpkin – it’s been in my grocery stores all year…so i wonder if you would just be able to find it there??
Courtney says
It hasn’t been in my grocery stores for MONTHS now… :(
Hope says
I would definitely rather work 4-10 hour days. I almost work 10 hours, 5 days a week now! I love pumpkin! I have seen a lot of it in my area. Hopefully it will come to yours soon! :)
Mac says
4-10 hours days for sure! EAT PUMPKIN! Last one is too tough for me to make at this point in the morning :) Hope the rest of your day goes better than your night did!
Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries says
4 ten hour days… then I get my 3 day weekend! My motto is 1 day for work; 1 day for rest; 1 day for PLAY!
Oh, DEFINITELY eat pumpkin! Love it!
Tough last question… I’d say not be able to make new ones. I wouldn’t want to lose all of my past memories!
Jordan @ food, sweat, and beers says
Ah, jinx! I had an AWFUL sleep last night. Bad dreams, murder plots, and a few issues with temperature. Rough. Hopefully tonight’ll even it out.
Having tried both the work weeks, I think that if my job really kept me busy, 4 10 hrs. But if it was like “busy work” I’d stick with the 5 day week.
I will ALWAYS eat pumpkin ANYTHING. Know that scene in Forrest Gump where Bubba’s talking about all you can do with shrimp? I’m of the mindset that his beliefs can be applied to pumpkin. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey’s uh, pumpkin-kabobs, pumpkin gumbo (this actually sounds great). Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pumpkin oats, pumpkin pie, coconut pumpkin, pepper pumpkin, pumpkin soup, pumpkin stew, pumpkin salad, pumpkin cookies and….. That- that’s about it.
If my life was like forgetful Lucy’s from 50 first dates, no new ones. If my life was (more likely) like a standard psychiatric ward patients…. well, no oldies. I could always cover my body in tattoos a la Memento.
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance says
Oof :) I’m always ready for a new fall recipe.
And I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of almond extract! Where have I been?
Clare @ Fitting It All In says
Bad nights sleep are the worst:(
I would go: 4 ten hour days ( i think?)
PUMPKIN!
and that last one is SOOO hard. I think not make new ones? I can’t lose my old memories!
briana says
right now I teach and work 8hrs for 5 days but I’d take the switch :) love pumpkin and make new memories!
Jennifer @ Somewhere In Between says
The Fresh Market in Latham has lots of pumpkin!!
On that note, I would eat pumpkin all day I’d I could. I was so excited at BJ’s yesterday to see they have their Pumpkin Cheesecake for sale again!!
Arimey says
I made some OOIAJ last night too! Thanks for the recipe, btw. Yum :)
Defintiely four 10-hour days and eat pumpkin (LOVE it!), but that last ones a toughie! I like Jordan’s response about forgetful Lucy, but I’m thinking no oldies. You can always be reminded of who you are by the people who love you, but I can’t imagine not being able to remember things about my life as they happen now.
Emmarie @ Bananas and Beer says
OOh, I just hate a bad night’s sleep. Glad it hasn’t ruined your morning. I love pumpkin anything. I’ve been lucky, it’s available all year round for me.
Ruthie Hart says
dang girl you went to body pump when you were sick! cray cray!
Courtney says
I’m pretty sure it’s just allergies…but annoying just the same! ;)
Allison says
I luurrrrve me some pumpkin…in any way, shape, or form.
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
I totally just spent $15 the other day on tons of differnt extracts! Wilton’s peanut butter one rocks my socks off…. so does the carmel! Mmmmm! :)
Jillian D. says
I definitely would want to work 4 – 10 hr days. My friend has that option and I am BEYOND jealous of her on Fridays.
Definitely PUMPKIN – I can’t wait to find it in stores either!
This last one is tough – but I guess that’s the point! I think I would want to lose all my old so I can make new ones :) I still have a lot of good things coming – weddings, babies, etc. (hopefully!)
Melissa says
What good questions! I work 10 hour shifts already but only 3 days, so I’ll keep that!
Would definately eat pumpkin!
That is such a hard question to answer…but I’m gonna look at it this way, the memories that mean the most, I keep in my head and my heart. Since life is short, I’d rather make new ones and enjoy what I have left!
Steph @ StephSnacks says
We were in the same situation last night! I couldn’t sleep for anything!
Khushboo says
4 10-hour days any day for me pls! You just reminded me about my unopened bottle of almond extract- i think i might just open it tomorrow during breakfast!
Angela @ MyPinkyToes says
I would rather work 4 ten hour days…I’m going to school to be a nurse, so I’ll probably end up working 3 twelve hour days. I’ll take it!
I hate nights like that. I am pretty sure my bladder is the size of a peanut because there have been nights I’ve gotten up seven times to use the bathroom. TMI? Maybe.
Lindsay@ In Sweetness and In Health says
Aw, I’m so sorry you had a bad night of sleep! Hopefully tonight will be better :). Can’t wait for your fall recipe!! Hopefully it has something pumpkin in it ;).
I’d rather work 4 10 hour days…3-day weekends would be awesome
Totally eat pumpkin…it’s amazeballs
Oh man…I guess I’d rather be able to make new memories, so lose all of my old ones
Cat @Breakfast to Bed says
Did you try Trader Joe’s? Do you have one of those? They also have maple cookies which sort of make my life.
Courtney says
The closest Trader Joe’s to me is about 2-1/2 hours…it’s a travesty. :(
Hannah says
i need to find pumpkin too.
i went to one place this weekend and they did not have it.
probably need to explore around.. !
longer days, but less days..
pumpkin..
and regarding memories it is kind of hard since i have not married yet, had children but have had some good childhood memories. i am again a little stuck on this…
colleen @ thegiftofmondays says
so it’s not just me with the pumpkin??? i can’t find it anywhere and i MISS it!!!
thx for the tip on almond extract…i’m a vanilla girl myself but willing to make new friends…think i’ll give them a call :)
Cait @ Cait hates Cake says
4- 10 hour days. I used to work that schedule and it was awesome. I always used my week day off to clean, do laundry, and run errands so my weekends were much more enjoyable!
Aine @ Something to Chew Over says
I love almond extract! Sometimes it’s a bit over-powering though so I switch in vanilla now and again.
Definitely four 10-hour days – 3 day weekend! :)
Samantha @ Because I Can says
Oh my gosh, what is it with pumpkin? I can’t find it either, I’m already going through withdrawals!
I would definitely work 4-10hour days! I love long weekends! Well, I love any day that doesn’t involve this job!
I obviously would not pass on pumpkin – show me the pumpkin!!!!
This last one is tough, I have some great memories in my life, but the thought of never making anymore again kinda stinks! I guess I’d rather let go of the old in favor of new!
Kait says
-Definitely work 4-10 hour days
-Eat pumpkin (Can’t wait for a nice fall pumpkin spice latte)
-Never be ablet to make new memories…that’s tough though.
Could you tell me a little about bodypump? My hubs and I just joined a gym and they have bodypump class. I really want to try it but I’m not sure what it’s all about.
Courtney says
BodyPump is GREAT! It’s a full body strength training class that hits all the major muscle groups using barbells and weights. Their website will explain it a lot better than I can, but I honestly LOVE it as my main form of strength training. The music definitely helps the class fly by!
Here’s the website: http://www.lesmills.com/global/bodypump/about-bodypump.aspx
Lindsay @ biking before bed says
I keep praying that my company would switch to 4 10s! Labor day reminded me how much I love three day weekends! Good luck with the pumpkin quest! I’m glad to hear a good review of the new body pump. My instructor was complaining last week that there were a lot of remixes and she missed songs by the original artists.
nicole @ simply Nicole says
I love pumpkin. I just hope I don’t overdo it before fall actually begins!
Rosa - Fitness, Food, Fulfilled says
OMG, what is going on with the missing pumpkin? I went to three different grocery stores over the weekend and the third one finally had some in stock. I had to stock up!
I would rather lose all of my old memories than not be able to make new ones. I just see the best memories of my life coming in my future (wedding anniversaries, babies, grandbabies, job opportunities) and I would hate to not be able to remember them.
Kathryn @ Flopoodle says
I would rather work 4 10-hour days, by far, especially since I work 10-hour days anyway :(
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake says
I’d definitely rather work 4 longer days instead of 5! So weird, I was just talking about that today with the people I eat lunch with!
Elizabeth @TheBareMidriff says
Oh, you do BodyPump! Do you like it? I’ve done BodyVive before, and plan on going back, and maybe trying BodyPump. P.S. I hope you get a better night’s sleep tonight!
Courtney says
Yes! I LOVE it :-D
Amy says
I keep a stock of pumpkin in my pantry since the shortage last year. I love it!!
I’d much rather work 4 days!
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] says
I had oats in a jar today, too =] So delish! I bought some buckwheat cereal, but have yet to open it…
Katie @ Plates and Paste says
I’m all about 3 day weekends! And pumpkin all the way! Who doesn’t love pumpkin?? That last one is the first to stump me! I really don’t know which I’d choose…
Lizzie says
work 4-10 hours with days off, eat pumpkin (and love it!), and lose my old memories. i’ll make some better ones along the way!
Ari @ Ari's Menu says
I always forget how much almond extract makes almost everything better! I bet there are fun extracts out there that would be delicious with pumpkin. Maybe butterscotch? That exists right?
Laura@mypurposefullife says
I would definitely rather work 4- 10 your days than 5-8 hour days, and I LOVE pumpkin, so that’s easy. But the third one is way too hard! Great questions!