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)! šÆ 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? š
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! š
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!” š
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! š
84 Comments
In college I was a procrastinator but as I got older I not get things done quickly!
HoodSHops luck wig all the writing, it will be done before you know it!
I’m definitely not a procrasinator, I like to get things done as soon as possible!
Yes i’m a total procrastinater! I work better with a bit of pressure.
I try to get everything done right away. I’m always trying to figure out what I can get done next. Let’s just say I rarely sit down and do nothing.
I work best under pressure and tight deadlines, and therefore am a total procrastinator! In college, ‘d wait until the night before a ten pager was due to begin writing and would pull all nighters studying! I created more stress in my life that way but, it also worked out! Good luck with your writing. Keeping chip away at it and before you know it, you’ll meet your deadline.
Couldn’t find where to leave the comment on Trading Up Downtown but have you tried putting diced up dried fruits in your oatmeal…I love apricots the best. I still have all the rest of the ingredients but love the bits of chewiness. Love your blog. If this is the wrong place to enter the giveaway- no problem.
TINA — I can relate. I’m writing a book for work right now, and LET ME TELL YOU, I get it! This is not easy stuff! And trying to balance it with the rest of life — fun, family/friends, staying healthy and active! eek. Some days are tough.
Best of luck… looks like your crankin out some good stuff š
Jillian
Wow, you are a go-getter! Congratulations on your write up in Woman’s World. That is awesome!
With some things I do procrastinate, but if I’m on deadline or crunched for time I get things done ahead of time.
I’m not a big procrastinator – I like to be on top of things š
Out of curiosity, how big are your scoops of PB?
Love Starbucks VIA ready brew. I am happy to learn you feel the same. My boss gave me them for christmas! so cool you are quotes in the mag. Oh, Im anything but a procrastinator. Love to get things done ahead of time. Why sit on them? get er done!
awesome about the article! congrats.
GL with all your work!
I always find something I’d rather be doing than the task at hand. Oops. But if you think about it that’s 500 words a day and at that rate you would finish a little bit early. 500 words seems less menacing right? No? Well, I tried. Good luck and I checked out RTR. New <3
hey tina. way to go on the writing. i am writing right now too, and it’s been so inspirational to have kind of an online writer’s community with you, jenna, caitlin, etc. i have definitely found that i am less of a procrastinator first thing in the morning, so, like you, i wake up early and WRITE! that way when i either start to burn up or a million other work or life-related things pop up, i feel like i got something accomoplished.
I’m such a procrastinator, especially when it comes to writing papers. I’ve been trying to work on it lately, starting a paper a few days before its due as opposed to the night before. it’s been working well, no all nighters yet!!
I’m definitely a procrastinator. In college, I’d wait for the night or morning before a paper was due to start it.
Don’t worry, all your hard work will pay off. You’ll have published a book. That’s so awesome!
You can do it, Tina! If anyone can, it’s you! I loved all of the dresses you picked out. I can’t wait to see which one you wear. Congrats on the mention in Women’s World Magazine. That’s so cool! What a great way to start off your day. Oh, and the big bowl of banana oats is a big help, too! I tend to be a procrastinator š I would love to change that about myself. But, I do tend to work well under pressure. Good luck on the book writing!
Yikes Tina – so many jobs!! You deserve a major spa weekend when this is all over :). I can hardly keep up with one!
awww yay! you ARE a healthy living expert š thanks for all your advice/information!
I’m a procrastinator even when it comes to work (I’m a full-time writer). However, I’ve never met a deadline I didn’t like, and I always get stuff done in time.
I definitely get things done ahead of time if I can. While I can work under pressure in some situations with events and whatnot, writing is something that just has to flow so to force it has never worked for me unfortunately.
Hi Tina!
I recently found your blog and just wanted to say I love it! Can’t wait to read more!
I go back and forth, sometimes I’m really good and get everything done early and other times I’ll take a project right down to the wire…guess it really just has to do with what else I have going on. Lucky that you get both dresses, can’t wait to see which one you choose!
Hi Tina. Great website (I’m a new reader). Quick question — I love your morning oatmeal recipes, but for those of us who are kind of, um, challenged in the kitchen, can you tell us how you cook them? Do you just throw all the ingredients in a pot til they mush together or is there more to it? Thanks!
@Anne: Check my FAQs! There’s a video!
We’ve all know for quite some time that you’re a healthy living expert… it’s about time the rest of the world found out! Congrats!
go you, you expert!
i definitely procrastinate. but when it comes time to do, i do it!
I used to be great about NOT procrastinating when in college, I was diligent and started things ahead of time, knowing it would cause so much less stress. Since being in the working world for 5 years now, I find myself putting projects off till the last minute. Very cool you are in Women’s World! Did they contact you about reviewing the Starbucks Via?
I’m a definite procrastinator! Actually, I was just thinking that tonight might be the night to do the filing I’ve neglected for all of 2009!
K
Congrats! That is so exciting!
It must be so cool to see yourself quoted in a magazine!
I am definately NOT a procrastinator. I do things the instant that they land on my desk… my husband is a procrastinator and it drives me crazy!! We are supposed to go away for March Break but he is in charge of planning it… I am not sure if we are going or not… grrr…
I tend to procrastinate but not until the last minute. I like a bit of a challenge but I don’t like saying up super late or getting up too early. So I wait just enough time to give me an edge.
I always try to get things done right away. The stress of things looming over my head never sits well with me!
I totally read that article in Woman’s World but didn’t see you in there! (I tend to skim on my first read through). It’s so awesome you are in there! š
Congrats on the quote in Woman’s World, that’s awesome!