Found the power
I think I missed the boat on this one, but I still would like one of the obscenely large pumpkins that I keep seeing…
[Shoe is in the photo for size reference]
Did anyone out there pick up a giant pumpkin?? Maybe I’ll wait for next year, or maybe I’ll just go for it…
After work, I stopped at the grocery store to gawk at said pumpkins and get supplies for life:
[If you put your iPhone on vibrate, no one will know you’re taking a picture of your groceries and think you’re weird, haha]
Yep- more chocolate almond milk. I can’t get enough, and it’s SO good in smoothies! And minty tea…
Today was a great day at work. I got to team-teach Zumba (yeahhhh!), and stayed after my classes to watch an audition for one of the teaching positions we have available. I remember the day I auditioned so vividly, and was so nervous (even nervous for a long time after I was hired), so it was interesting/fun to be on the other side of things. The girl who auditioned today didn’t seem the least bit nervous- I think she did a fantastic job. {For tips on fitness auditions, check out *this post*}
On my lunch break, I stopped at Renee’s Organic Oven for lunch (this was pre-grocery shop).
[Veggie marinara melt with goat cheese instead of mozzarella + bread and salad from home]
and after eating, I decided to take a quick power nap before heading back to work.
Taking a nap in the middle of a workday freaks me out because I’m usually afraid that I’ll miss my alarm and oversleep, or wake up groggy and miserable for the rest of the day. I’ve always been a huge fan of daily naps –a part of our culture I’ve embraced since I was little- but am not that great at it- I always sleep too long and am still tired afterwards. Today, it worked out juuuuuust right.
I set my alarm for 30 minutes, put the TV on something I didn’t care about (Jerseylicious) and the volume down low, curled up with my second favorite cuddle buddy, and snoozed away for about 20 minutes. When I woke up, no desire to hit the snooze or anything- I felt like a new person. I finally understand the meaning of power nap… instead of “let’s wish and pretend it’s nighttime and wake up disappointed” nap.
After-work meal:
2 egg-rito with salad and Annie’s Goddess dressing
I’m going to take Bell for her nightly adventure and then take the computer to the madre’s to catch up on emails, blog stuff and write tonight’s family post.
Hope you have a great night!
xoxo
Gina
Something to talk about: Are you a nap fan, or notsomuch? If your schedule doesn’t allow it during the week, it’s a great way to refresh over the weekend <3
Something to read:
–Healthy make-ahead breakfast ideas
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I can’t nap unless I’m sick. Sometimes, I’d love a nap but just can’t bring myself to fall asleep during the day! I am pro-nap, but I’m nap-inept :/
Phone on vibrate is essential! I’ve gotten so many weird looks for taking pictures of my food during class and stuff by accident! lol 😛 I’m not a huge napper unless my man is there to take one with me. It is a nice way to relax together!
I tend to only nap if I have a headache. The only time I took naps daily was during the later stages of pregnancy, but now with a seven month old its really hard to nap for longer then 30 minutes even while pregnant again!
I’d be worried someone would break their back lugging a huge pumpkin like that around! Even the “large” ones by my standard (which are half that size) are heavy. Whoa. Wonder if farmers just like seeing how big they can make them???
I love naps on Friday afternoons when I work short days. Perfect way to catch up without interfering with usual day activities of the week. 🙂
I never napped before I was pregnant and now with a newborn I am finding it even more difficult to nap. I am like you … I have a hard time getting the timing ‘just right’ and tend to wake up feeling worse than when I laid down. Plus it feels weird to sleep with the sun up … here’s to hoping we never get stationed in Alaska! LOL
Power naps just never work for me! I always end up sleeping for like two hours and then I am tired for the rest of the night! They zap my energy for some reason! I wish I could be a pro power naper like you LOL!
the real life notebook story gave me chills!
i thought it was so sweet <3
I have a 15 minute power nap everyday when my 3 year old naps. They. Are. Awesome. And. Necessary. I’m with you, naps that are too long are no bueno.
A nap totally saved my life this afternoon. I don’t take them often, but sometimes a half-hour of shut-eye really helps.
I can never take naps because, like you, I sleep too long for it to be a power nap! However, when in Italy, I had wonderful power naps midday. It’s their culture there – siesta time – and I loved being able to go back to our apartment we were renting and take a quick nap and have some delicious food before going back out to explore! I wish America would adopt a siesta time like that! <3
i wish we would too! then more people would stop thinking it’s weird when it’s my siesta time 😉
I love a good power nap but also tend to sleep too long and become groggy then I can’t sleep that night. But rolling over and being able to go back to sleep is such an awesome feeling!
steamed chocolate milk and candy cane lane tea, that is all 😛
i like naps, but usually sleep WAAAY longer than planned and take forever to wake up and feel normal again. i need more sleep at night i think
Awwwww, yeah. Annie’s dressing (Goddess? Goddess Lite?) is the best.
LOL at the iPhone pics. The things we do as bloggers.
I saw Lori and Michelles cupcakes and they look absolutely insane. In a good way.
Have a great night! I just emailed you back again! Be prepared 😉
That does sound like a fun day! I wish the audition-er luck! I am not really a huge nap fan, I usually am the type who is pretending it is night time and wake up disappointed. I do try to get enough sleep so that I can power through a whole day. Hopefully I will keep my able to stay awake abilities! Have an awesome night girl.
I haven’t mastered the art of midday napping yet, but I have high hopes! Some forward-thinking companies actually encourage power naps at work and have rooms/pod chairs in which to do so. =)
If I’m so tired I can’t keep my eyes open I’ll go take a nap in the car for the last 20-30 min of my lunch break. I’m always kind of nervous about it – like my boss will think it’s a no no if he/she sees me, but as a whole if I am that tired it’s better than me reading celeb gossip and passing out on my keyboard.
BTW – I love marinara and veggies over greens! Sometimes I use it as a way to get in a small serving of pasta without going too overboard with it.
Your Veggie marinara melt looks great and my naps are almost always of the “let’s wish and pretend it’s nighttime and wake up disappointed” nap variety. I am a groggy mess for hours afterward.
Auditioning for yoga teacher positions (or any fitness teaching role) has got to be one of the most dreaded things. I have at times been SO NERVOUS for them. Or worse, what if your prospective boss is in the class and is taking the class rather than just sitting on the sidelines and you can see she’s doing things that are such improper form that she could injure herself…it’s like is this a test to see how I react or is she really just unaware? Shudder at the memory of this one audition I had. But I digress 🙂 Glad the girl you watched rocked it!
Haha you are a sneaky one! I’ve been caught taking a pic of my grocery cart once, I was so proud of all the produce I got haha. Anyway, talk about awkward moments at the commissary. And I am a nap fanatic, pregnant or not pregnant!
Your lunch looks sooo good! I personally love taking naps, but I can only take them before 3pm. Otherwise, I can’t fall asleep at night. The exception to this rule is when I go out for a night on the town, then I find it perfectly acceptable to take a nap from 8-9 haha
Hi Gina! I haven’t hopped on the almond milk train yet– I tried it once and it’s a lil too sweet for me. Lately however, Ive been doin the whole plain oatmeal and an add-in to give some taste. Some faves add ins are banana slices and even more so, dark chocolate chips mixed into the oatmeal. A filling and sweet meal =) Oh yea and I am a fan of power naps ( and naps in general, ,haha =) )
I’m the same way with naps. I usually can’t sleep well since I”m so nervous about not waking up! I do LOVE lazy naps on the weekend though! 🙂
I’m so happy the “Notebook” story found its’ way around the country. I saw it on my local news in Iowa the other day and definitely teared up because it was so sweet. You can’t make up a love story like that.
I love midday naps! We learned in one of my classes that 20 minutes is the perfect nap time because your body doesn’t go into REM sleep. If it does and you wake up before the recommended 7-9 hours you will feel super groggy and sluggish. Likewise if you sleep less than 20 minutes your body hasn’t really started recharging yet and you’ll wake up feeling disoriented. It was really interesting stuff!
I took naps in college and then sort of got away from it until I had my son. Then I took everyone’s advice and ‘slept when he slept’. I’ve always been pretty good at power naps. 10-20 minutes and I wake up refreshed and ready for the rest of the day. 🙂
I have never been able to nap! Lay down and rest and read, maybe, but nap no way. No matter how tired I am, it is kinda frustrating sometimes.
I can’t nap to save my life. I always feel more tired when I wake up and I feel like I lost precious time. My hubby on the other hand can nap three times per day:)
I saw some giant pumpkins the other day and decided that this weekend I am going to get one. I think it would look cute on my front porch with my other decorations. Plus, I imagine myself making tons of pumpkin-y things with it!
I wish I was more a fan of naps. Well not necessarily NOT a fan, but I just don’t typically take one. When I actually do, I will agree that a quick power nap really helps refresh you for the rest of the day. 🙂
I’m bad at naps, too. I usually wake up so, so miserable. But I did learn this fun trick a few years ago: drink a small cup of coffee right before you lay down, and the caffeine will take about 20 minutes to get through your system. By the time you’re ready to wake up, you’re doubly energized (from the snooze and the coffee) and good to go! I’ve tried it, and it definitely works!
I’ve never really been much of a napper….whenever I do nap I tend to mess up my schedule for the entire rest of the day!
I wish I could nap, but every time I’ve tried I just end up lying there awake for an hour. 😛
Haha great tip for taking sneaky phone pics! My new camera is driving me crazy because it is super noisy every time I turn it on and take a picture. It makes it really hard to be sneaky!
These days, I’m not much of a napper, mainly because I don’t have time. I work until 4pm, and by the time I get home, go to the gym, and make dinner, it’s time for bed anyway,
In college, I was a napping fiend. One time I took a nap after my 10am class ended, and slept until 8pm. I woke up so unbelievably disoriented. Needless to say, I found out I had mono shortly after that…
get the pumpkin!!! We buy huuuge pumpkins each year as traddition. This year we have 3 huge hunkers around our yard!
I’m jealous of your mad napping abilities, Gina!! I’m horrible at naps – of any variety.
Shane and I picked up a couple of pumpkins – but not giant – and have yet to carve them! Hopefully soon 🙂
I haven’t found the dark chocolate almond milk yet – but I keep looking. I am a pumpkin carving fanatic – I get out my dremel and go to town. I love the big ones, but they are tough to clean out – I get worn out before I even start carving! And love to roast the pumpkin seeds (cleaning them is a pain, but it is worth it!). Take care my friend.
Mo
For the most part I dislike naps because it totally throws off my sleep schedule!
Since I’ve been pregnant, I can’t survive without my naps! In the first trimester it was 2 hours a day, and now at 31 weeks it’s down to 1. I can skip it, but I’d rather not! Naps make me happy. I hope the baby agrees.
I can soo relate to the nap thing!! While I don´t like naps during the day, sometimes I just have to, but I have alway pretended it was night 😉 So thanks for the tip!
I love a good nap! I used to take one when I got home from work almost every day, but now I use that time for workouts and other productive things…I still like to take them on Saturday afternoons though every once in a while. It’s especially nice after a long run to curl up on the couch with my buddy and catch a little snooze before the night’s festivities 🙂
I used to be a huge fan of naps. Now that I work, I don’t have enough time to nap, unless it’s the weekend. I asked my bosses to bring back nap time, but my idea did not fly well 🙂
i think productivity would be higher if they allowed naps 😉
I’m a big nap lover. I work a normal 9-5 job (well, those hours more or less), so my schedule doesn’t really allow for midday naps, but I’ve been known to shut my office doors for 20 minutes or so here and there. You do what you gotta do. 😉
I’ve never really been a nap person, but I think it’s just because I haven’t mastered the art of the power nap. I always end up waking up feeling more exhausted and out of it. But maybe practice makes perfect? 🙂
P.S. I say buy the giant pumpkin! You only live once, right?
Love your blog!! 🙂 This made me think of you since you sometimes make different dinners for you and The Pilot: http://store.bettycrocker.com/ProductDetail.aspx?R=242002&a%3dbcnwstne03630a%26s%3ds2107723553s%26_mid%3d1082004%26_rid%3d1082004.22400.200623. Dont know how well it would work since different types of lasagnas would cook longer/shorter than others but cute nonetheless. P.S. I am former AF, graduated usafa in ’03 🙂 Love those AF guys, marrying one myself in 2012!
i have a giant pumpkin this year (for the kids). 🙂
If only some of the workplaces would allow naps, I’ll bet productivity would increase!
Hey!
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