Back to the grind…
It looks peaceful, serene, and friendly, doesn’t it? It’s NOT. Don’t be fooled by the Rapunzel towers!
I didn’t post last night because I was makin’ the drive back to school. In an effort to avoid rush hour traffic, I didn’t leave until 7:30 PM, meaning I didn’t get in until almost midnight (!!!).
Here’s a short recap of some eats from yesterday (not all!):
Fruit plate: Honey Dew and Guava
Salad: Avocado, Tomatoes, Pecans, Dried Cranberries, Hard-Boiled Eggs w/ a side of seaweed salad
Butternut Squash CARROT Pecan Muffins
Yep, I did it. I added carrots. 3rd times a charm–these were fantastic! See the stringy carrot pieces? YUM!
I had 2 of these fresh outta the oven on the drive down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I woke up this morning, rushed around, and sprint-walked the 1.5 miles to class. ONLY to have the professor come in to tell us class was cancelled. Really? She couldn’t have emailed us? One would think this would be a gift. I mean, who wouldn’t want more time? Instead, a whole rush of anxiety came over me….
What!? I just walked all the way over here for nothing? I could have totally used this time so much more productively. What do I do now? I have to re-plan the whole morning, the whole day, the whole week. I can workout now since I’m at the gym already but I was planning on running later today. I guess I can run tomorrow? Wait a second….AHHHHH!
What the hell is wrong with me!? Take a dang chill pill. Since when did I become such a worry wart? Okay, I know exactly when but I thought I was getting better. I thought I could handle at least minor shake-ups now. I can’t help but associate this school with anxiety, stress, unhappiness, and rigidness. A lot of my crazy antics started here and I’m afraid they will never go away so long as I am here. Thank goodness it’s my last year, huh?
Thinking back on it, I really don’t know why it drove me so nuts-o. I suppose, because I plan out everything, a surprise change up can really wreak havoc on my sanity. I’m trying to stop planning everything out but it gives me a sense of control when I’m in what feels like such a crazy, high-paced environment.
One day, I’ll be able to just go with the flow, something I used to be pretty darn good at. I’ll get there, I know I will. I just gotta get outta here first!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back to the foodables:
Breakfast was an almond butter, pumpkin butter, banana, pecan quesadilla:
I’m back, Leaf Plate, did ya miss me!? T’was a gloomy morning but it brightened up later!
After sorting out a bunch of jdlk;afjkldjfakhgeaf in my head, I decided to workout then and save my run for tomorrow. Perhaps it was a sign that my shins needed another day of rest. See? Wasn’t that easy, Allie?!
I did an interval workout on the elliptical for 60 min. followed by some stretching. I then grabbed a quick post-workout snack/lunch before class.
I’m not sure if the yogurt is organic too. Probably not. Meh. It tasted amazing especially after working up a sweat!
I have about 300 more food points (aka $300) than I should have to be ‘on track’ for using them up by the end of the semester. It’s always a challenge for me to finish these off!! Note to self: more on-campus food and less TJ’s 
I came back and did 50 min. of a Dave Farmar Yoga Podcast to calm my anxious mind. It helped quite a bit. I was drippin’ sweat afterwards too. He told me to focus on my breath rather than worry about things I could not change at that moment. Thanks, Dave!
I made a salad at the dining hall for dinner with:
- lettuce galore (spinach, spring mix, romaine)
- red pepper hummus
- eggplant <3 <3 <3
- tomatoes
- garbanzo beans
- green peppers
And I added some grilled tempeh and wrapped some of the salad up in a whole wheat wrap.
Don’t forget about the BSI contest!! A huge thank you to those who have already submitted! I’m so so SO excited to see what you all come up with!
The worry wart is off to do some worky work! Hope your week is going well!!
Quirky Qs
1) Do you worry/get anxious at the drop of a hat? You can probably assume the answer to this question!
2) Do you plan out your days down to the hour? 1/2 hour? 1/4 hour? Ughhh yes. I do it to ensure that I don’t forget to do anything and that I know exactly where I should be going at all times. I don’t think it’s a bad thing but it starts to get a little crazy when THE PLAN gets jumbled or gosh forbid, I forget to plan out the day!
3) Are you planning on cooking or baking with almond butter this week? Say yes! 
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Allie, I’m so sorry to hear about your anxieties and all with your school. I’ve struggled with anxiety off and on for a long time. As I’m sure you can tell from my blog, my faith is the most important thing and prayer has been crucial when it comes to my worrying. It also helps to remember all the good things going on and think about what I’m thankful for-it really helps to push out the bad thoughts.
On a lighter note-I of course love the leaf plate
I only walked yesterday and didn’t work out today b/c I donated blood, but I think the shins could use the rest. It sounds like you got in a really good workout today! xoxo Lauren
P.S. I’m not a huge planner, and I want to bake some granola with almond butter!
LOL thanks! i am a machine. LOL.
i actually do sprints at 7.2? on the 12 incline.
and die.
=D
OMG almond butter! how do you have the money to buy that! i was like,,,,,uhhh peanut butter for this cheapy.
dry and chewy is awesome. that’s what the pb at the end is like for me. it’s like all chunky. hHAHAHA. =D
i need to try that quesadilla. george foreman it?
It’s weird – day to day things I tend to not get worked up about, but bigger picture things tend to set me off. I learned that much of the anxiety comes from the control things too – I worry about the future because I can’t control it, and thus, the anxiety!
My mom is a nurse practitioner and she’s worked in the ER/OR and now works in the ICU. I think she’s probably one of the biggest influences on my personality because she deals with literal life and death situations every day. She always used to say to us “Is someone dying? No? Then don’t worry about it.” It helps me to keep that in mind sometimes!
I’m definitely a planner but as I get older, I’m letting some of that go. Sometimes the best things happen when you just go with your gut vs. logic and planning. And I’ll be reminding myself about this post later this week when I’m freaking out…;)
I totally need to bake with almond butter this week – for sure!
Salad with a side of salad. I like it! LOL. And that breakfast quesadilla looks DIVINE! I will definitely have to try that sometime.
I used to be a huge worry wort (and I still can be sometimes) but I’ve learned to just let it go because usually the things I’m upset or worried about I can’t control. It may sound cheesy, but I try to “let go and let God.”
1. I do worry more than is normal – I’m working on that though, learning not to worry about things I can’t control.
So sad.
2. I am a huge planner, almost to a fault. Sometimes I need to just learn to go with the flow.
3. No almond butter plans this weekend.
I once bought a guava, but when I cut it ope, it didn’t look like I expected it to, and I wasn’t sure how to eat it. How do you eat it? Are the seeds and skin edible?
I actually spent 2 hours getting organized using Google Reader, I have no more stress on my back with everything. And, I actually used AB in my pumpkin pasta sauce tonight!
haha I meant Google Calendar.
Oh my goodness that breakfast quesadilla looks CRAZY good.
You’re right that the university atmosphere is a big factor in anxiety–if you’re not at least slightly anxious with everything that goes on here, you’re probably doing something wrong! But in my anxious moments, I try to deal with it by forcing myself to get out of my own head. Venting to my friends is the best. I don’t want them to see me as a superficial person, who gets worked up over petty things. When I talk to them, I have to slow down, let it out, and then laugh about it. I get over it much quicker than when I’m all wrapped up in my own thoughts going 100 miles an hour. And then I ask about their day, and suddenly I’m no longer thinking about myself, and my own worries are forgotten (at least for the time being…)
your breakfast quesadilla looks and sound sooo good! i must try this creation soon!
I get worried and anxious so easily. My dad says I probably have ulcers from all the stress i put on myself. I plan everything – I wish i was more spontaneous… I blame on my zodiac sign, virgo. There is no such thing as peanut butter in Italy let along almond butter so sadly that will be a no =( tears.
First of all, your eats look so good again!
I do recognize your worries when things don’t go the way you planned them. I especially had this during the ‘worst days’, but it’s still sometimes a thing I’m working on. Maybe you could just accept those thoughts and the anxiety and then realise: but I choose to do someting else instead of panicking. I don’t like that this class is cancelled, but what can I do now?
Don’t know if that makes any sense (hope so!), but it works for me!
Have a great day, xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
I’m a worrier and a planner. I react the same way you did when things go off plan. I think you handled it well
Love the leaf plate!
I actually lol’ed out loud at your first sentence! lol!! Sorry about your class! Honestly, I’d have been a little peeved too, a quick email would have made life a lttle easier, and I think we can all use that sometimes!
With 4 kids you’d think I’d be a planner, but most of the time I just fly by the seat of my pants! I wish I was a planner but things NEVER go as planned when I do plan, so I’ve given up and just do what works! lol!
Your eats all look so good!! Yum!! Your salads always look amazing, mine are always the “same old”! lol!
I want/need pumpkin butter. mmmmm. I would have totally freaked out about my professor canceling class after I walked all the way there too! But I also need a large dose of chill pill. hehe. I am still hoping to make something nut butter themed this week (I am hoping to have time!)
oh, shoot… I would totally do the BSI if I had a kitchen here. I love baking with almond butter (can I submit a recipe I made a while ago?)
1) Do you worry/get anxious at the drop of a hat? hehe. Yes. Constantly.
2) Do you plan out your days down to the hour? 1/2 hour? 1/4 hour? YES. And I get so annoyed and stressed out when it doesn’t go to plan.
3) Are you planning on cooking or baking with almond butter this week?
I wish
your professor is very irresponsible! really!
I used to freak out when things don’t come out as I planned or thought, but now I think I can deal with it better. what’s done is done, for better or worse I can’t change it, so i just deal with it.
I am not a worrier at all. I think sometimes I need to worry more in order to give myself extra motivation. I am a huge planner. My day is pretty well planned down to the hour but I like setting goals for the week, month, 3 months, 6 months, year, 2 years and so on. I could on on forever making goals and figuring stuff out — maybe that is why I don’t worry.
Glad to made it back to campus safely!
Oh by the way, I have a KILLER baked oatmeal recipe coming up for you! Just picture it…baked carrot cake oatmeal! Yep, this one has been in the works for a few weeks and I am planning on making it this weekend. I’ll have to let you know how it goes.
Have a great day!
Wow, those muffins look amazing!
I’m definitely with you on getting anxious easily…I especially hate when plans change! It’s pretty bad. I wish I was more of a “go with the flow” kind of person, and although I’m definitely better than I used to be, I can still get worked up quite easily. Not a fan.
I am a HUGE planner. I can get real cranky if things fall “off schedule”. I feel lost in the summer when things settle down and there’s not much to do. I really need a full calender to feel any peace. So I understand your anxiousness 100%.
Hey Allie! Loved your post. As a recent college grad (May ‘09), I would looooove to be back in school. I, like you, was always anxious at my university about work and scheduling everything, but now, being out in the real world, and working a full-time job, does NOT compare. College is so great- flexibility (you chose when you want your classes to be and which ones to take), living with your peers, access to amazing (and free!) resources, like the gym and library! These really are some of the best years of your life (trust me, I thought people were just saying that to say it, but it’s sooo true!) Try to not let your anxiety get the best of you and really savor this last year at Duke! Good luck!!
1) I’m sorry to hear about your unhappiness with school! Allie, are we secretly twins or something? That is exactly the way I would have reacted to a change in my set schedule (which I plan in my head, sometimes without myself knowing =P). A little change would completely stress me out and put me over the edge. I’ve been getting A LOT better at it though because of my faith. It helps me realize that little things in life don’t matter. Hang in there, girl!
2) I guess I sort of answered this already, in parentheses above.
3) I wish I could, but I just have too much hw and studying to do. Blah, why didn’t you host this during the summer? Hehe, no I’m not blaming you
sorry that you got so anxious chica! i’m usually a supa laid back person, but then at the strangest things i’ll get frazzled and stressed out… it just depends on the situation.
BUT at least you got some bomb ass grub in, seriously that quesadilla is making my eyes melt!
Yeah, I was surprised that she didn’t email us, but oh well. It gave me a chance to go to WF:)
I definitely have anxiety! I’m not good with change–I like things to go exactly how they should and I worry A LOT! I’ve been trying to work on it and am getting better but I know it’s hard!
I’m trying to come up with something fun to make for BSI!
hahaha i will NOT let the rapunzel towers fool me
wow guava looks good, i dont think ive actually ever eaten the guava in whole fruit form.. just juice! those muffins are gorrrrgeous! i get pretty bad anxiety over weird things, but i am a pretty non-planner type of girl. i don’t know if i will have time for almond butter cooking but i hope so!
I am in LOVE with that breakfast quesadilla. Seems like it’s just my style.
1) Do I worry? Absolutely. Sometimes I feel like my heart might pound right out of my chest.
2) I’m a big time planner. In fact, I posted part of my Excel Schedule in my last blog post. I have such a weird schedule I’d forget where I’m supposed to be if I couldn’t check it. After Friday’s work shift, though, the weekend is much more relaxed. Just a two day to do list.
3) I am considering doing a little bit of baking, but I have to make my sister a chocolate chip cake for her birthday party, so I’ll have to see!!
PS. I get angry when my classes are canceled without an email too. I have a 30 minute commute and there is always something I could have been doing instead. Since when is a professor’s time more valuable than a student’s? Not cool.
I am a complete and utter worrywart. I spend a lot of time staring at the ceiling at night. I am also a big time planner, but my husband has definitely helped me to get better at relaxing and going with the flow. I tend to be a control freak!
Blue Diamond sent me 4 jars of almond butter to try so you can bet it will be included somehow in my weekend! I hope you have a relaxing night!
{ 2 trackbacks }