Good morning! 
How’d you sleep last night? I woke up totally exhausted this morning, but I have no idea why. I don’t remember having a rough night of sleep and I went to bed at my normal bedtime. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it. It’s strange how that happens, huh? I’m just glad to have my morning iced coffee in hand! 
Breakfast
Once again, I rocked the overnight oats for breakfast this morning. I know, I’m obsessed. I wonder if I will continue to eat them once the weather turns cold? Remember what happened with me and hot coffee? I wonder if the same thing will happen with oatmeal? We shall see.
In the mix:
- 1/4 cup oat bran
- 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
- 3/4 cup Almond Breeze
- Chia seeds
- Dried cranberries
- 2 scoops of Barney Butter
Breakfast also included a yummy batch of iced coffee. Starbucks sent me some of their new Natural Fusions coffee to test out. I love flavored coffee, especially as iced coffee.
The Starbucks Natural Infusions are made from arabica beans and blended with real ingredients– spices, botanicals, and other good stuff. I tried the vanilla flavor first. The smell of the coffee grinds was incredible!
Last night, Mal brewed the iced coffee while I got ready for bed and brushed my teeth. Before he poured the coffee grinds into the filter, he insisted that I smell them because the aroma was sooooo amazing. Mal even brought the bag of coffee into the bathroom for me to smell! What a nut. Apparently, he was really excited about this coffee!
The taste of the coffee was great– nice and strong, not at all bitter, with a subtle vanilla flavor. With a splash of vanilla soy milk it was perfectly sweet. I’m a fan. (Mal, too!)
Which Side Do You Think With?
The other day, I read a really interesting article in Real Simple magazine about Organizing for Your Personality. Basically, the article covered strategies to help you get (and stay) organized whether you’re innately tidy or not.
Right off the bat, I assumed I was a left-brainer. I mean, I like everything neat and organized, and I find it satisfying when things are orderly and put away. But, then, I took the Real Simple quiz, which really surprised me. Here are just some of the questions with my responses:
- When I’m finished using an item, I put it away immediately. Hardly ever. Just ask my husband!
- I like to move around my furniture a few times a year rather than stick with the same arrangement. Yep.
- Keeping current projects where I can see them is a must. Yes, so I stay on track!
- On my computer, I often have multiple windows open at once. Totally.
- My desk is filled with piles of papers, sticky notes, and business cards. I’m surprised I get anything done.
- I’m fine with other people making last-minute changes to plans. I go with the flow.
Woah. This quiz sort of blew my mind. I had no idea that I would have so many right-brain responses! Who knew? I also said ‘yes’ to a lot of the left-brain questions:
- I love being surrounded by vibrant colors. Yes! Love them!
- I often wear the same jewelry every day. Yep.
- I always bring a shopping list to the grocery store. Always.
- I love having a designated spot for each item in my closet or drawers. Yes, it just doesn’t always look pretty.
So, I guess I’m a mix of right and left, but with a lean toward the right? I’m totally facinated by this, especially since I was so sure that I was a left-brainer. Even still, it’s neat to know that I can benefit from organizing strategies for either type. Maybe that’s why I let my messes linger for so long before I obsessively clean them?
Question of the Day
Are you a right-brainer or left-brainer? Or a mix of the two?
P.S. Check out my contribution on WomenDay.com: 10 Better-for-You Comfort Food Recipes!
{ 81 comments… read them below or add one }
Next Comments →
That coffee looks great!!!
I’m definitely a combo of left and right brain. I’m super type A, but find myself frazzled and unorganized at times.
what a fun quiz! i’m definitely a mix of both…but more on the left-brain side i would say! crazy!
I’m a mix of the two, but I agree with you– some of the answers are surprising! I remember having a discussion with a psych friend one time about how people are generally pretty confused about what constitutes “left-brained” thinking and “right-brained” thinking…I guess he was right!
I think everyone is a bit of a mix of both.
That quiz is interesting. I’ll have to take it. I bet I’m a mix too. Certain things I am more open and free willed about but others I am very detail oriented and anal.
I woke up exhausted this morning too. Have been every day this week. And it stinks bec decaf is a no no for me right now. sigh…
I always thought I was a left brainer too, as I’m very orderly and stuff like that, but I answered yes and no to both sets of questions there…I guess I’m a mix! I reckon most people are actually
I’m definitely a combo of both, but maybe more left?
I am a right brained thinker all the way. In fact, after I read that same article, I totally reorganized how I work and the way I organize some things in my house. It really does work so much better for me
I think we’re all a bit of each! That coffee looks perfect for me , I really want to try it!
Judging from those questions, I’m a left-brainer. I always thought I used my right more seeing as I’m a writer and need to be creative for that. Plus, doing math or anything with numbers is like reading Martian to me.
I have been wondering how that coffee would be! Glad you liked it!
Before reading that I would say left brainer, but I do have some answers that belong to right brain! Interesting!
I took that quiz and I lean toward to the right. That Vanilla Coffee looks awesome.
Just when you thought Starbucks coffee couldn’t get any better…:)
i’m a combo of both, for sure!
I’m probably in the middle…I’m really organized about WEIRD things, like the fridge and the tupperware, but when it comes to my closet, I could care less!
I’m definitely a mix of both but lean more right. I’m also a self-proclaimed slob. But my husband (tries to) keep me in check.
I am COMPLETELY right-brained! But I’m not surprised!
I am totally both! I just wish I was a little neater about it. I seem to be a stacker and that is so frustrating.
I am defielty a right brain for sure. You will love the Starbucks caramel flavored also.
Definitely a left brainer. I like to have a to-do list, but I’m not organized enough to make one that often heeh! I’m messy, but I “get” my mess, go with the flow and forget things easily ..
I’d love to be more organized, and once in a while I have a big splurge of putting things together neat, but it never stays the same
I love vanilla coffee! So good! I drink iced coffee all year too. Hot coffee is too filling for me. I’m off to take that quiz right now. Thanks for the distraction!
I need to open up my Real Simple and take that quiz. I am curious to see what it says!!
I’m definitely a mixture of the two sides as well! I always have like a kajillion windows open on my computer (i.e ecto, facebook, multiple blogs, and whatever question it is that’s been haunting my brain that I HAD to search on google). I totally know whatcha mean.
Good morning, Tina! I sometimes wake up like that too :/ not sure why. Hopefully that yummy coffee keeps you perked up throughout the day, it sounds fantastic. As for classifying my personality, I can’t say quite yet (I’m taking the quiz right after this comment!) but I do love things like that. It’s amazing how a simply Q & A can reveal so much about the way we think and do things. I would assume I’m more left-brained because I literally cannot function in certain messes (I’m totally one of those annoying OCD people) but I think we’re all a combo at some level. Thanks for the morning fun!
Okay…this is creepy. My mom and I literally had a conversation about right vs. left brain like, 10 minutes ago! We were discussing how I should portray myself during job interviews, haha.
Like most other commenters have said, I’m definitely a little bit of both. I can be very type-A, but I also like to think I have a creative/spontaneous side
100% left-brained. I don’t think my right-side is even turned on
I’m a left brainer – what an interesting quiz!
I’m going to do a lot of cleaning/organizing this weekend – I will have to reference this article!
I’m definitely a mix of the two — just reading about your answers made me realize I am not as organized as I thought! What a great article, thanks for sharing!
I’m a right brained although I did answer quite a lot of left brained questions in that quiz. I think I’m naturally right brained but I’m so busy right now that I don’t always have time to be as super organised as I’d like to be! That said, one of the artists I work with said to me the other day “you are the most organised person I’ve ever met”. And I felt proud
I’m such a dork.
I am definitely right-brained. I am the most unorganized person. I’m organized in my mind, but all my stuff looks like a huge mess.
I lean more right, which kind of surprised me. I think of myself as kind of scatter brained but anal. Organized mess describes my life.
I’d guess that I’m a mix of the two! I need to take this quiz!!
I think it depends on the part of my life. I like my day’s events to be super organized and the communal living areas neat, but my bedroom’s a bit cluttered!
I’m definitely a mix of the two, but lean toward right brained. I’m very very organized with some things, and a complete disaster with others.
Well, I took the quiz and it turns out I’m “right brain” when it comes to organizing! And in reading the advice they give on how to organize, it’s very accurate … and I’ll definitely be trying some of those tips. Thanks for sharing!
When I have nights where I can’t sleep, I say I spent all night napping. I hate that, sorry bb!
I am a mix, hmm, leaning more towards right brain. My artistic older brother sucked up all the left brain juices.
It’s hard to say whether I am more left- or right-brained… probably a mix between the two while leaning to the right, like you! Sorry you woke up not really feeling rested (Thank goodness for coffee… especially new and yummy flavors!). I always heard that the body is on a 36-hour cycle, so if you didn’t rest well the night before yesterday then that might explain it!
Very neat! I always thought i was a Left Brainer…according to the quiz, i’m almost a tie (6 right and 5 left). I definitely fall into the more “random” and looking at a whole of the right brain, but my rational and analytical behaviors for sure fall under the left brain!
interesting! =0)
Wow I would have answered every single question the same as you. I LOVE things being neat & tidy- I just have a really hard time keeping them that way!
I’m definitely a right-brained person! I have my left-brained moments, though. I like how the quiz didn’t really imply that being right-brained meant “disorganized” or “sloppy.” I think that’s all subjective. My desk is always a mess and I always have a million windows open on my desktop at all times and it drives the husband crazy because he can’t understand it. Yes, I like when things are clean and out of sight, but if they are out of sight, I forget about them.
That coffee sounds wonderful!!!!!! Might have to try it!!
I am ABSOLUTELY left brained. Without a doubt
I can’t wait to try the new Starbucks coffee!
Mix of both, coffee looks good.
It was so cool reading the Women’s Day article considering I knew who 4 of the bloggers were!
I’m a right brainer, haha
That coffee really is not at ALL bitter?
the reason I don’t like coffee that much is because of the bitterness, but I do like cappuccinos and the smell of coffee.
According to that quiz I’m much more left brained. But according to the “clasp you hands together and see which thumb is on top” I’m right brained cause my left thumb is over my right. I’ll go with a mix
I didn’t resonate with a lot of the questions…I was sort of in the middle on most, but the ones I was strongly aligned with were all Left Brainers
Not a surprise as an Aerospace Engineer..haha.
Thanks for showcasing the new Sbux coffee! I must try it!
Right-Brainer. I am so unorganized and have papers and projects piled everywhere. My husband is a left-brainer and it totally bugs him… but he just accepts that. I REALLY try to stay organized and tidy but it is SO HARD! I try cloths on and I have to lay them out on the bed…. then I just lay them on a chair in the corner…. not the best habit…. but, oh well. I wish I were more Left-Brain oriented… its just not me.
I’m surprised, it said I was more left brained!
I love that bowl, btw. I like the double handles.
I think I’m more right brained with a couple left brained tendencies, but who knows! I’ll have to take the quiz.
Next Comments →