Happy Wednesday from the Outer Banks!
Since arriving down here in OBX, I’m actually pretty pleased with the amount of exercise I’ve squeezed in. Before leaving, I told myself I wasn’t going to go out of my way for exercise; if I was in the mood for it, great. If not, no big deal.
Well this morning, I woke up earlier than most of the other housemates, so I strapped on the sneaks and headed out for another run.
I have no idea how far I went, what my pace was, or really even how long I was out for, since I didn’t really pay attention to what time it was when I left. All I do know is that I, once again, made sure to map my run around a certain pit stop.
You know what they say: “America Courtney runs on for Dunkin’!”
Before diving head first into my breakfast, I actually came back to the house and busted out a mini strength workout. I had no rhyme or reason as to why or what I did, but here’s what it looked like:
Outdoor Patio / Do Anywhere Workout (I did the whole circuit through, 3x)
- Backward lunges, 12 reps each leg
- Mountain climbers, 40 reps
- Forward lunges, 12 reps each leg, focus on lower half
- Push ups (off of the seat of a bench), 10-12 reps
- Jumping jacks, 50 reps
- Tricep dips, 13 reps
- Squats with oblique twist, 24 reps
- Standing knee crunches, 30 reps
Whew! By the time I was finished with that mish-mash of moves, I was more than ready to dig into my morning meal. So you guys want in on the mystery bag from up above?
That, my friends, is a French Toast bagel from Lighthouse Bagels.
(I just had to get one, Darcy & Annemarie!)
And that, my friends, is a bagel that was about the size of my head.
I’m really not kidding you all when I say that this has got to be the best bagel on the face of the planet. Soft, chewy, with the crunch of a sugary coating and all the flavor of a big ‘ol serving of french toast.
And as if it wasn’t already good enough, this bad boy got topped with a smear of apple cinnamon raisin cream cheese.
This breakfast, albeit slightly more indulgent than usual, was out.of.this.world. I have been looking forward to it, and planning it, ever since we got down here, and believe it or not, it actually kept me full for almost five hours. Talk about staying power!
Which is a good thing, since right after eating, we suited up and headed down for another afternoon at the beach.
Gosh, I am so so so happy to be down here this week; especially seeing as though we originally were not going to make it.
When Josh & Erika (who plan the trip every year) first approached us in February and asked us to go, we had to decline due to the fact that this particular week is actually the second to last week for schools in New York.
Seeing as though I was teaching at the time, there would have been no way that I could have taken the time off. However, once the whole job loss thing happened, Josh & Erika once again offered to allow us to tag along on the trip.
It’s been so nice not only for me, but for Jay as well, to just get away for a bit and escape from the everyday worries and trying to figure out what my next step is going to be. It’s been stressful for both of us, and being able to spend some quality time with good friends while relaxing on the beach I think was just what the doctor ordered.
Granted, since we were a last minute addition to the vacay, we actually don’t have our own bedroom in the house. We knew this going in, but totally didn’t care, so our bedroom is what you see here (yes, Jay is really napping).
Hey, for a week at the beach, I can totally deal with sleeping on a couch and living out of duffle bags for a week.
I have a feeling we’re both going to come back home feeling much more refreshed and renewed…and start our hunt for a slushy cart.
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Can You Pick The Fake?
A few weeks ago, I saw a fun little game over on Chelsea’s blog, and I thought it would be fun to do the same, OBX-style!
This is, I mentioned before, our third year coming down to the Outer Banks, but the first year we came down, we had some rather interesting events take place. So for the game, I’m going to give you four scenarios: three of them are real, and one of them is fake…
1. Halfway through our first trip to OBX, I had to get a flight back home to NY for a job interview. Jay drove me up to Virginia to catch my flight, I stayed home overnight, flew back down the next day, Jay came back to pick me up in Virginia…and I never got the job.
2. While driving back from dinner one night, there was some crazy lightning off in the distance, so we decided to stop to take some pictures. A couple minutes later, we realized we were about 45 seconds away from getting stuck in the outskirts of a massive tornado that was approaching Corolla. The tornado actually did some serious damage in the areas surrounding us, and our car continued to get pummeled with hail the whole ride back.
3. The first day of our vacation, I accidentally mistook my SPF 15 lotion for someone else’s tanning bed, zero SPF lotion, and proceeded to spend the entire day at the beach. I got so badly sunburned that I had to stay in the house and out of the sun for four out of the six days we were here.
4. One night, our group decided to take a walk on the beach. As soon as we turned our flashlights on and shined them down the sand, we immediately found ourselves face-to-face with hundreds upon thousands of crabs.
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It’s so fun to think that three of these are actually true!
Now it’s your turn to guess:
Which one is a fake? 1, 2, 3, or 4?
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Don’t forget to make sure to enter my Almondina Cookie Giveaway! I’m so glad to see you guys are excited about the little goodies as I am!
Nicole @sugarcoatedsisters says
French toast bagel!!! YUM! That looks delicious, especially coated with cream cheese… mmm
Lauren @ Sugar Coated Sisters says
Nicole, will you “make me a bagel” specifically that one….
Our dad would always respond with “yooooou’re a bagel” and wave an imaginary wand. Too funny.
The beach looks so beautiful! I’m going to guess #1. It sounds like the worst scenario so I hope it’s not true!
samantha @ fresh n fit says
OHHHH my gosh that bagel sounds delicious! hah a little indulgence is totally necessary at breakfast every now and then, but you know that haha
hmmm i’m gonna guess number four is fake!
Kelly says
That bagel looks awesome!! As for the fake…I am going to say number 3 is the fake!
Carey @ Positively Blonde says
That bagel looks like a giant slice of french toast!!
My guess is that #4 is the fake.
Jordan P @ food, sweat, and beers says
That bagel sort of reminds me of that cinnamon crunch one from Panera, an old indulgence of mine from back when I was still in High School!! The sweetness combined with the richness of butter always made me feel like I was in heaven! total edible bliss.
I vote 3 as the fake!! Hope you tell us soon!
Katherine says
i think number 2 is fake
Blog is the New Black says
I think THREE is a LIE!
Erica says
i’m gonna go with 4 being the lie…
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles says
It sounds like this vacation is just perfect for you and Jay. You definitely needed this time to relax and prepare yourself for whatever may be the next step in your life. Glad you’re enjoying it, friend! :)
Oh, and I think 3 is a lie!
Anita says
Number 3! I think?? That bagel looks INCREDIBLE! Yum!
Lisa says
Oh my goodness, that breakfast–puts all of mine to absolute shame! I am jealous (happy for you too, of course, but still jealous). Thanks for giving us something to aspire to! :)
Shayla says
Wow that bagel looks delish!! And I wish we had a Dunkin Donuts in our neck of the woods :(
I’m gonna guess that #2 is the fake!
Gina @ running to the kitchen says
I say #3 is fake. The crab one’s gotta be true bc that has happened to me before on nc beaches too!
Corey @ Family Fresh Meals says
They all cracked me up :) I can’t wait to hear which one is fake. I am going to guess that # 3 is fake :)
Looks like you have been having a great time on your vaca! Hope the rest of your time is just as amazing :)
XO
Jodi says
Hi, Courtney! I have been stalking your blog forever, but this is my first comment! You guys look like you’re having a blast! SO jealous :-)
I think your “fake” is #1; I’m hoping it is, anyway. That would totally suck!
Niki (Life's a Payne) says
Those scenarios are all hilarious but I will go with three I think!
And the bagel… oh the bagel!
I admire your willpower to work out on vacay! I always say I will nad then don’t, but I feel like a slob when I get home!
Cait says
I’m going to guess #3 also. It looks so gorgeous there, I’m jealous!! It’s been raining all day here in Chicago.
pat says
Hmmmm…. I think I’ll have to go with #3!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
That bagel sounds out of this world!!!!
And I would guess 4 is a fake!
Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out says
That bagel looks like heaven!
And I’m saying #3 is fake .
Jen says
I’ve been to OBX so I know that #4 isn’t fake! Those crabs are awesome! I am gonna say #3.
And that bagel… are you coming up 81 to go home? If so, you should soooo bring me one and I will meet you in Harrisburg, PA to pick it up!! LOL
Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy says
I’m thinking that #4 is fake? And that bagel looks sooo good! Kind of reminds me of Panera’s Cinnamon Crunch bagel- yum!
Danica says
This is a hard question, but I’m going to guess that #3 is fake because even with a horrible sunburn would you really spend 3/4 of your vacation at a beach indoors?! That’s just my thinking anyway! :)
Khushboo says
Ohh toughie, I would say number 4 is a lie…? or maybe not because u made it alive?
Jamie aka "Sometimes Healthy Living Girl" says
haha I always say I run on Dunkin as well! And I would run 15 miles out of my way for that iced coffee :-) Nice move! I echo the comment that the bagel above reminds me of the cinnamon crunch one from Panera. I used to always look forward to bagel Fridays in high school for that one reason.
I really hope 4 is fake! I don’t know why but the scenario just freaks me out! I can’t wait until you say which one is fake.
Amber @ Stop and Smell the Wildflowers says
Wow, that bagel looks AMAZING! I’m going to guess that #3 is the fake.
elllalinea says
I think number 4 is the fake! :)
tina @ vanillandspice says
That’s the best looking bagel i’ve ever seen in my life.
I’m gonna guess number 3 is fake, but all of those stories are crazy ahah.
Sarah says
That bagel looks unreal! Hmmm I’m going to say that #3 is fake? I’m headed down to the OBX on Tuesday!! Woohooo.. love it there
Lisa@Healthy Diaries says
That bagel looks to die for! I want one now!! :)
Thats awesome that you’re getting some exercise in while on vaca. I’ll be on vaca for 4 weeks and I’m worried about how much I’ll get in. 4 weeks is a long time so i’m going to have to make some sort of plan!
Oh, and I think #2 is fake?!
Andrea @ Onion in My Hair says
I want to LIVE in that bagel!
Leslie says
#3 is not true!!
That bagel shall be my new home. Killer workout girl for basically just going on a “whim.” Good for you!
Samantha says
I would guess 3 is the fake
Sam says
I need to stop reading your posts this week. They’re making me more and more anxious to be in OBX. And God, how I want a tench toast bagel!
I’m going to say that #4 is the fake.
Courtney says
No no, keep reading!! It will get you more ready, hehehe ;)
kristen says
im going to guess two
Kristi says
I’m going to say #1 is fake!