Shoot.
I totally overestimated how many words I had written for the first draft of my book. I thought that I had a little over 40,000 words, but it turns out that I have more like 35,000. Crap. It’s not the end of the world, but I need to get my booty in gear! Basically, I need to write 3,000 words per week to meet my deadline, which is a lot (especially when you have 5 jobs)! 
Let’s just say, I definitely have my work cut out for me!
This morning, I woke up bright and early at 5:01 AM to write. (I decided against my usual 4:29 AM wake-up call after getting to bed late last night.) Once I realized that I had more writing to do than expected, I put my nose to the grind and hammered out nearly 1,500 words! The words just started to flow! Thank goodness! I’m going to be a walking zombie for the next month, but it’ll be over before I know, right? 
Breakfast
Around 6:15 this morning, my stomach started to seriously grumble. I didn’t have to think twice about what I wanted to eat for breakfast this morning– it was time for a big bowl of banana oatmeal.
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup soy milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 banana, sliced
- Ground flaxseed meal
- Chia seeds
- 2 scoops of peanut butter
I poured myself a glass of iced coffee with soy milk right when I started writing, so it was half gone by the time breakfast rolled around.
Rent the Runway
How fun was my Rent the Runway post?! I loved seeing everyone’s choices and reading the comments.
So, without further ado, here are the results*:
- Portrait Collar Dress: 75
- Pleated One Shoulder: 67
- Thread Social Fairytale: 78
- Moschino Cheap and Chic Romantic Rosette: 78
- Tibi Abstract Flower: 28
As you can see, the Thread Social Fairytale dress and the Moschino Cheap and Chic Romantic Rosette dress tied for first place. I love both of these dresses, so thank you for picking them for me! 
The nice people at RTR agreed to send me both dresses so that I can have a back-up choice just in case one doesn’t fit right. The wedding is March 20th, so be sure to check back to see which dress I wore to the event.
*The numbers might seem a bit lower than expected because I only counted votes with the full name of the dress in them. So, “the purple dress” or “#4″ didn’t count. Sorry!
Women’s World Magazine Debut
I was quoted in Women’s World Magazine this month! So cool! 
Check out what I had to say about Starbucks VIA Coffee:
I loved that they called me a “healthy living expert!”
Feel Great Weight
Here’s my newest post on Health.com: No Pain, Don’t Gain: 3 Ways to Lose Weight Without Trying. I talk about what worked for me in the first month of my Lose the Dough challenge.
Question of the Day
Do you are procrastinator? Or do you try to get things done ahead of time?
P.S. There’s going to be a giveaway on Trading Up Downtown later this morning! 
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Aww, my wedding was March 21st. It’s such a fun time for a wedding – really feels like the first of the season, so have fun!
I am a total procrastinator – but I work best under pressure so it works
Congratulations on the quote! That is so exciting! Good luck on the writing. I am sure you will get it done and it will be great!
Most of the time I get things done ahead of time unless I do not like what I have to do then I work best under pressure!
have a good day!
Wahey, the dress I voted for got joint 1st!! I must have super taste
you must be so busy, I really admire how you juggle a fantastic blog with all the work! 
I like to get things done early, without a doubt – I HATE leaving stuff til last minute; no time to do anything about it if it goes wrong!!
Good luck with all the writing
congrats on the Woman’s Day mention! I am a BIT of a procrastinator! I actually recently wrote a post about the science behind procrastination – you should check it out — it links to a pretty interesting study!
http://www.thedailybalance.com/2009/11/06/how-to-overcome-procrastination/
Being a walking zombie will totally be worth it when the book finally comes out, girl!
I am the world’s BEST procrastinator
Tine you ARE a healthy living expert haha you are truly an inspiration!!
Good luck with the book! I’m a terrible, terrible procrastinator.. it’s awful :/
It’ll all be worth it when you’re done!!! You are such an inspiration– you balance so much!!
Can I ask– what is the total word count goal of your book for the final product? Is it 40,000?
Wow 1,500 words in one day! You’re a rockstar!
I’m trying to incorporate the changes you mentioned in your “No Pain, Don’t Gain: 3 Ways to Lose Weight Without Trying” article!
Good luck fitting it all in! It’ll all get done somehow
That’s what I’ve learned over my years of practicing the art of procrastination. I think I work best under pressure though!
Great job on the Woman’s Day mention!
I am not a procrastinator at all. I am the opposite end of the spectrum…I need to have everything done ASAP before I can relax. I wish I could procrastinate a bit more!
you’re an expert in my book! congrats on the magazine mention. i fortunately don’t procrastinate too much – i don’t think things looming over my head!
Congratulations on the quote and best wishes for a smooth ride to getting another few thousand words out!
I try not to be a procrastinator. If I’m procrastinating it usually means I haven’t broken the goal down into stages, and so by then doing so, I crack out of the rut.
As an aside, I am impressed that you’re holding down 5 jobs! Wow! You could clearly lend us all some tips on time management
It depends…if it is something I enjoy doing, I get it done right away. Something I hate or have been dreading…I procrastinate.
Great job on the article!
I used to be good at getting things done in time, but procrastinated really badly writing my thesis last year! Good luck with the manuscript – you’ll get there, and fantastically well too, I’m sure!
Great job on writing so much this morning! The crazy busy month of writing will be soooo worth it so keep going! I like to think that I don’t procrastinate but I do. In fact, I feel like I’m more productive and motivated when there’s a little bit of a time crunch on things.
I’m a total procrastinator which is why I could never do something like write a book. I’d get nothing done and spend the whole time stressing out.
Yay good pick! Can I also bug you about where you got the super modern and cool white deco vase on your desk? Want!
i love both of those dresses, too – how fun! and great job getting up and busting out those words
It’ll be done before you know it!
@Leah: Marshalls!
I’m kind of bipolar when it comes to procrastination — I procrastinate on some things (like paying bills, cleaning my room and doing laundry) but usually not on my writing. In college, I used to finish my big papers EARLY.
I am complete procrastinator, hence why I am stressing about my response paper for my literature class due tomorrow!! Congrats on getting 1500 words done. You are already half way to your weekly goal!
If anybody can get it done, it’s probably you. You seem to do everything else! I’d ask how do you have time but the answer would seem to be “what time?”
I love both of those dresses! I am normally not a procrastinator as it really stresses me out. I tend to have the “work before play” attitude most of the time. I feel like my “play” is more fun and relaxed when I don’t have work looming over me.
I am also going to be a waking zombie for a month. My month at work is SO INTENSE that they actually moved our yearly performance appraisals to April just so we could get through March alive. Add that to being pretty darn behind at school and being in the second half of my semester annnnnnnnnnnnnnd I’ll probably be sleeping 3 hours a night.
i have to get things done early and ahead of time or else i start to stress out about them. lame.
Nice job on the article comment, and I work for Starbucks so thank you for saying such great things about VIA. I love it myself and think it’s super easy and convenient.
Congrats on the Women’s Work shout out! So cool
Good luck with your writing!
I am a horrible procrastinator! I am working on it though!
Congrats on the quote! That’s great news!!
Way to go with the magazine quote! Did they approach you for a quote? Or how did that come about?
I hate procrastinating. It makes me so nervous. I like to have everything done way ahead so that I have plenty of time to revise.
I am a procastinator by nature, but I’m slowly learning to be one of those people to just get things done!
Love the magazine quote! And I totally agree. The instant starbucks coffee is one of the best instants out there!
That’s quite a compliment, but it’s so true
I love using your blog as a guide for new healthy-living recipes and tips!
I always have good intentions of getting things done and I am pretty organized, so usually I am ahead of the game. I do, however, tend to devote myself to too much and end up getting side-tracked on some tasks. It’s inevitable, I suppose! We all fall behind at some point.
Congrats on the quote! So cool!
Procrastination and I are no longer friends. What has worked for me has been a very simple but effective way to get my todo’s done.
Every morning before I start anything, I make my todo list for the day and I include at least 3 things that are taking me towards my big goal or goals. The really important ones. And then…here’s the catch.
I refer back to my list at least 20-30 times a day! I used to make a list, look at it maybe once during the day and then rarely get to it all. Looking at my list consistently throughout the day keeps me focused and keeps the important goals in the forefront of my mind.
That’s A LOT of words!!! Keep chuggin’ Tina!! You can do it!
With you as my inspiration, I finally made oatmeal from scratch this morning. Usually I just have the premixed packets, but I have been wanting a more “homemade” feel. I ended up having a banana bread type, and I think tomorrow I will try the one you made this morning. The peanut butter and banana looks super yummy!
Congrats about being quoted in the magazine. That’s so cool!!
I’m becoming more of a procrastinator but I find that making lists really helps. I give myself a window of hours in the day to get stuff done!
Congrats on the quote! And good luck with the writing, I can’t wait to read your book
I totally agree with you on the Starbucks instant coffee – I was really afraid to try it (sanka scares me!) but it is soo good! I love having Via as an option – I take it with me on my camping / hiking trips
Great job on waking up early and getting so much writing done! You’re right – it will be done before you know it!
Definitely not a procrastinator… I like to check things off my list. My sister and I are total opposites in this regard. For example, in college, I liked to study slow n steady… whereas she loved pulling all nighters before an exam! I think it boils down to me not liking to feel out of control of anything I’m working on.
Nice job on the quote! Also, I love your desk set up. Totally a procrastinator. I was always starting my homework at 9 pm on Sunday nights
I’m such a procrastinator! Even just to get up in the morning…is that even possible? I’ve started reading your blog every day and it makes me anxious to find the time to get going on my own again, I started it back in December, and I only have 2 posts, but about 10 in my head! I am also dying to try some of your oatmeal recipes. You’re a great motivator for eating healthy and blogging!
I am a proscrastinator unless it’s something that I really want to do. If it’s work or a chore, I will put it off as long as possible. If it’s something fun, I’m right on top of it. Probably not the best trait I have.
Congrats Tina…that’s awesome! I am NOT a procsartinator….I like to get it done!!
Sadly, I’m definitely a procrastinator. Especially when something is stressful for me, I tend to wait and wait. Usually once I finally do it, it isn’t nearly as bad as I was expecting.
Eek! I’m pretty sure 5:01 is actually dark and early, not bright and early! Good luck with all of your writing. In grad school at Simmons, I once had 2 25-page papers due on the same day. The girl who lived nextdoor to me and I would “race” to see who could write a page the fastest. The winner got to play around on facebook while the loser finished her page. We got a lot of work done that way!
i try to get things done early, but most of the time i end up procrastinating…it’s just snuggling with the husband is so much more fun!
i’m glad one of the dresses i picked won…you’re gonna look AH-mazing
Oh I’m a terrible procrastinator. I can’t help it. It’s also why I am often late. But I am working on changing that.
Good for you for pumping out 1500 words this morning. You’re going to get it done! And you are a ‘healthy living expert!’
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