Getting off work at 12 noon is one of the best perks of working [the opening shift] at the bakery…besides all the munchin’ we do, of course!
During my 40+ hour/week (8:30 AM-5:30 PM) internships, I found it exhausting trying to fit in workouts…and find time to eat…AND blog. I had to either get up at the break of dawn to workout or do so after work and not finish eating dinner until late…and then do it all over again the next day.
I know many of you probably have that exact schedule (and you might even love it!). I, however, prefer a schedule that varies and gives me some random afternoons or mornings off. It keeps things interesting.
[Although, if I count blogging as part of my workday, and I really should...sometimes I don't finish until 10 PM! Blogging doesn't really feel like work at all though.]
***
I opened this morning, meaning I got to knead bread and taste test the dog treats I baked yesterday! Ruff ruff. They’re made without salt or sugar, so they’re safe for furry friends. They tasted like hearty, unsalted Triscuits. Not bad!
While the coffee was brewing, I scarfed down an expired yogurt (still good!) with blueberries I brought from home and granola.
Plenty of bread found it’s way into my mouth throughout my shift. It’s bound to happen when this is staring me in the face!
Just keep munchin’!
***
After work, I raced back to my apartment to see if Andy Roddick was playing his second round Wimbledon match.
I found out that I can watch all the matches from the comforts of my computer via ESPN3.com!! Um, Wimble-YES!
You have no idea how happy this made me. Coverage was crystal clear and there were no streaming problems whatsoever.
Although this meant I could watch Andy’s match from the comforts of my bed, I managed to get my tush to the gym. I ellipticalled for 35 minutes and incline walked (4.0 mph 4.0 incline) for 20 minutes. I also did some upper body strength training during the commercial breaks.
Andy won!
For dinner, I pulled out a can of Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon I bought from TJ’s right before I moved. I bought it knowing it’d come in handy one day.
I originally wanted to make salmon cakes, but I was too hungry to ‘cook’ anything. Instead, I made a salmon salad by mixing the salmon with 1 T spicy brown mustard, 1 T Nayonnaise, salt and pepper (similar to the tofu salad I made a couple weeks back).
It took less than 2 minutes!
I scooped it up with some halved mini peppers. I thought I’d eat half of the bowl and save the rest for another day since there was 6 oz. of meat (39g protein!!) in the can, but I wolfed the entire thing down. I guess my body wanted some protein to balance out the carbs!
Though, I did have 2 slices of Popeye (make that 3) on the side, which I used to make a mini salmon salad sandwich.
I loved the salmon salad, especially paired with the cool, crunchy peppers. It’s amazing what a little bit of mustard and nayo/mayo can do for a can of fish. I definitely need to stock up next time I’m at TJ’s.
It’s going to be another early night for me. I’ve got the 6 AM-12 noon shift again tomorrow morning, which is surprisingly my favorite! I’m becoming an early bird, slowly but surely.
I’m off. Have a great night!
Tell me: What’s your work/school schedule like? Regular or irregular? Like it or dislike it?
{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
I LOVE my ever-changing schedule! When I’ve worked office jobs (9-6, 10-7 etc), it never felt right to me. Two days off in a row is nice sometimes, but I also enjoy only working 3 (maybe 4) days and then getting a day off. Plus my days off generally don’t overlap with the rest of the worlds so I can actually accomplish more in the same amount of time AND my favorite yoga class is Wednesday mornings and if I worked a M-F all day job, I would never be able to go. It’s the little things.
I love waking up early to accomplish things. Even in the summer, I’m usually up by 5 or 5:30 to get going with my day so I can relax later!
My work schedule used to be irregular with varied shifts and a few days off every week and the option to pick up random shifts. Now I work 9-5:30 and I like the regularity, knowing for sure when I’ll be done with work makes planning much easier and stable. I do miss having days off in the middle of the week though, I’m thinking part-time might be a good fit for me. We’ll see!
Hi Allie! i love your blog and i read it every day (this is just my first time commenting !
i LOVE trader joes canned salmon..just so you know, there’s a low sodium option ! i didnt realize it existed for a while…should be right next to the regular ones.
Hey Carolyn! Thanks for commenting. I didn’t know there was a low sodium option. I didn’t even check the sodium content and I probably would’ve nixed the salt had I known it was relatively high. Well when consuming the entire can at least
Oooh, I didn’t know the matches were on ESPN3 – score! Definitely going to watch some!
I want that bread!!!! =)
Have seen that canned salmon and must pick it up for the emergency dinner/snack options for the family.
My schedule..in order to get it all in, 40 hrs a week, my CHILD, my hubs, my house, workouts, blogging 2x a day, I sleep 4-5 hrs a nite. I’ll get more rest when I’m dead
but for now, Im too busy and just keep rockin and rollin 
Haha I love how “CHILD” is in caps.
I giggled at you taste testing dog treats :p
Well, my brother DID nickname me Alpo
I totally want to get a job with a rotating schedule. My next prospect has one like that
I really need to find those little peppers! They are so cute! I had a tuna stuffed pepper for lunch the other week and and was really good, though I’m sure salmon would be better!
I work 9-4:30 Monday through Friday every week… It definitely gets boring and it is hard to motivate myself to go to the gym sometimes, but I think about my bikini and I get into high gear!
I think I’d be really unhappy with irregular shifts! That was a big problem for me at duke — how no two days were ever the same! I love getting up at the same time everyday, leaving the house at the same time, getting home at the same time, dinner at the same time, workout after dinner, etc. It really settles me
Awww, I really want to come eat at GH and visit you Allie! I amn glad you are loving your job
Oh gosh my daily schedule is different every day. I like it that way though. Like you said, “It keeps things interesting!”
I do like routine but I also love that my days are always different. I would hate to have a job that does the exact same things at the exact same times every single day.
I used to get up super early, but now I like to blog in the morn and work out later ( now that the weather is alot nicer!) I like it because its something different
I eat expired yoghurt all the time. And sour cream… the expiration date is just a suggestion.
Eek, your site kills my computer every time I open it out of Reader for some reason! I keep forgetting because your photos always look so good that I want to comment!
I’m a thesis student, so my hours are pretty much what I make them at the moment – making the most of that while it lasts!
What?! What do you mean ‘kills’? Like slows it down or freezes? I haven’t heard that from anyone else yet. Sorry! I wonder what the problem is…
That happens to me with a lot of the sites that have ads on them. I’m guessing it’s because of the large amount of content and it takes forever to download. I guess it’s just my computer sucks…but it was only bought last summer…:(
Yeah it’s probably all these large photo files too.
I think I would easily eat WAY too much bread and other good stuff working at a bakery. Even free frozen kefir every day is a little overwhelming!
I generally like my work situation, as nothing is really set in stone, so it’s always different every week. I do prefer working afternoon shifts since I much prefer to get my workouts done in the morning. As long as I don’t work 6 days in a row (did that last week – oh man) I’m all good.
My work day schedule is totally regular but I find myself jealous of those with an irregular one! The 9-5 grind seems so boring compared to what others get to do in a day
I totally hear ya on the temptation of that bread staring you in the face. If that were in front of me I would NEVER be able to turn it down.
So funny you equated blogging to work because I was LITERALLY just thinking today how having a blog is almost like having a second job – except that it doesn’t feel like work at all!
Have a fabulous night and keep on bringin’ us those delicious bread pictures
Since being able to work from home more instead of being stuck in an office 8-5 I’ve started lunchtime workouts which are perfect for me! I can never get up early enough for morning workouts and after work was always a rush to fit in a workout with dinner, etc. so lunchtime is now my favorite.
During the school year, I have a pretty steady schedule–I’m on campus or in class from 10 til 6 or 7. This summer, though, I’m taking an online class, which makes it so much easier to juggle my other responsibilities!
All my classes from school are online so it varies when I do it. Somedays I’ll spend hours on it somedays I’ll spend 0 time on it. And then there are those days where I spend multiple days cramming. But thats my own doing from too much procrastination. But I love it regardless, because like you said, it keeps things interesting
So interesting! Do you always have the morning shift? What time do you go to sleep now?
Did you know many people/friends before moving to moving in Charlottesville? Impressive you still get your working out in! And more time to make a nice dinner meal i guess too?
Oh my gosh – I would just be eating bread and those bars all day! …not that that’s a bad thing
So far I’ve had it about 2x a week. I try to get to bed by 11pm-midnight on the days I have to get up a 5 AM. Sometimes it’s later though (yikes!).
I didn’t really know anyone besides Kath and a few bloggers/readers. A lot of my friends were here a couple years ago when they were UVA students but they’re gone now.
Oh – good your “normal”!! I feel like so many people go to bed so early to get up – like 9 or 10 and I know I should be doing that…but it’s so dang hard
Haha no, I’m WAY abnormal. If I didn’t have to get up for work, I’d to go bed between 1-3 AM! I am a total night owl.
I’m an early bird now, too! I actually ENJOY waking up early now and taking my time in the mornings to eat breakfast, have coffee, and catch up with my favorite blogs!
I’m a nurse and work nights 7pm-7am 3 days a week…I have 4 days off to do whatever I want, but after work I crash, workout when I wake up (around 2 or 3 pm) and then get ready for work again
have fun getting up early!
My schedule can get pretty sporadic, but I really don’t mind. I work Tuesday to Saturday, and have a realllly early shift on Saturday mornings (similar to your early ones). It changes a lot, but I adapt. That keeps life interesting, right?
I’ve also just started blogging – so I’m trying to find a way to fit everything in ….
Have fun at the crack of dawn tomorrow!
Maybe a stupid question, but what is Nayonaise? I am allergic to gluten and a lot of mayo and “salad dressings” have gluten in them. Does Nayonaise? Thanks!
It’s vegan mayonnaise made with soymilk. http://www.nasoya.com/products/original-nayonaise/original.html
Hey Allie!
I love your blog! And it was so great to meet and talk with you at the bakery this past Monday morning. I can tell that your sincerity and commitment to wellness and living life fully is very real.
I so appreciated reading your story of overcoming. I know your life has great purpose and meaning that will continue to unfold. I’d love to talk more.
I noticed you are a tennis lover! My son, David, played tennis in high school, college, and now in a league. He’s also crazy about golf and just applied to go into the Golf Academy. He’s all about living a flexible lifestyle. During and right after college, though, he got real sick; couldn’t even work for awhile; on the verge of Crohn’s disease. Pretty scary time. I nursed him back to health with good nutrition and now he is the “picture of health”! I am most thankful, as I’m sure your mom is, too, now that you are healthy and vibrant.
I also appreciated hearing your story about your mom and her interest in network marketing.
I understand the need for doing what you love and loving what you do. After the stress of teaching school for 15 years took it’s toll on my physical and mental well-being, my whole career path changed because of my need for healing. Now, my career is my passion! And I want to help others live theirs.
My story is on youtube, in case you’d like to see it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC3XmPU2YCY
It’s also on my blog. http://optimal–wellness.blogspot.com (My blog is a work in progress.)
It would be fun to talk further. My invitation for our big event in August is for you and anyone you know. I will send you an email invitation. Nite!
I would kill for different schedule daily! I feel that having the same work hours is inevitably making me fall in a rut! Your dinner looks fab, and I am not surprised you didn’t stop after half the bowl. My love for salmon wouldn’t have let me either!
I worked at a hotel by Disneyland during college and loved my early morning shifts 5:00am-1:30pm. When I was off work and felt already accomplished for the day, my friends were just getting up and starting their day.
It must be so fun working at the bakery
Thats so cool that you work at a bakery! =)
Thanks for not forgetting about the dogs! Too cute!
At my summer job I work from 9 am – 6 pm but thankfully I get 3 days off spread throughout the week. I’m dreading the day when I have a REAL job and I have to work 9-5 every day. I have no idea how I’m going to find the time to workout when I have that kind of schedule!
My schedule is a mix…12 hours on…day off, 12 hours on, day off…4 days in a row on, day off….so it is hard establishing a routine, especially with my family to take care of.
All of your meals look fantastic!!!
I love making salmon/tuna salads with dijon! It makes them taste so amazing! All the flavors really POP!
I actually like a set schedule (though in the tourism industry of New England, it’s not a normal “set schedule” – it’s like Wed-Sun 11-7, or something) just because it makes it easy to make plans on days off
Right now I work an office job that’s 9 to 5:30. It is hard to maintain that schedule and workout and blog! I’d love to switch things up each day like you do. I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying the freedom of your schedule!
Getting off of work at 12 is fantastic!! I can’t imagine different my life would be if I didn’t work 9-5.
Dog treats! That is so awesome. I love reading about your baking adventures!! GH needs you to be whipping up some Allie Bars STAT.
My schedule is all over the place, and I can’t stand it!
I definitely agree on the schedule. It’s SO much better to get work/school done in the morning and having the rest of the day off. I’d much rather get up early for a 7:30 class than be stuck on campus until dinner time.
The one time I bought salmon, I found bones in it. Even since then, its kind of skeeved me out…
I’m a schedule girl! Wait, let me rephrase that… I like having different schedules… but they must still be scheduled, you know? I like knowing what to expect each day, and when I’ll be doing what on that particular day… but I like having different “days”. Wow, I just confused myself, lol! Okay, for an example, a “normal” summer day has become: morning walk with dog, breakfast & blogs, workout, shower, lunch, afternoon errands/schoolwork, dinner, blog post, evening walk, dessert & TV time. (yeah, did I mention I LOVE summer?!) But my Friday schedule is more like this: morning walk, b&b, workout, shower, lunch with grandparents, visiting with grandparents, cook dinner with grandma, family dinner, movie night. And my Sunday schedule is: morning walk, breakfast, church, coffee with grandparents, grocery shopping, lunch, workout (maybe), errands… etc, etc. See? Different types of schedules… but they’re still all scheduled!
I guess, in short, I don’t like flying by the seat of pants and not knowing what I’m going to be doing with my day!
Is GH a full time job for you? Just wondering if bakery jobs have 8 hr shifts? I love my office gig, in that no one cares when I come in, leave, what I do while I’m here. But, I really hate feeling obligated to come in on these beautiful sunny days – why is it never sunny on the weekend?!
Yeah they do. Our shifts are anywhere from 5-8 hours.
Yep changing schedules keeps me on my TOES! love.
You are so lucky to work at Great Harvest! I love that place–especially the scones!–and have spent many an hour talking and eating there.