I did my whole morning to-do list in reverse, ending with breakfast.
I woke up at 6 and got another small assignment done.
Then I did yoga, while freshening the room with candles
Put in a load of laundry
Speed-dusted the whole house
Put my parents’ surprises from Africa on their bed! Also freshened their room and put towels on the bench.
Tidied up the guest bath
Vacuumed the whole house
Including the stairs, which I never do!
And emptied the dish washer and cleaned the powder bath.
That all took me about 2.5 hours (assignment taking most of that) and I couldn’t wait for this:
I was hungry around 7, but I drank a glass of water and it went away. Then I got hungry again during cleaning, but I really wanted to enjoy my breakfast knowing everything was done so I kept going and hunger went away again. I wasn’t even that hungry at 8:45 when I start cooking oats. Strange that it comes in waves like that. But I am glad to be full now 
PB2 was involved today. I have to say that I couldn’t really taste it. I added 1 tbsp. Maybe I should try it with 2? Although I have always been a fan of CHEWING so I don’t think I’d want to add 50 calories of flavoring when I could have a spoonful of the real stuff to chew. Seems to me like PB2 might be best suited for smoothies – and sauces!
PB&J Oatmeal
- 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 cup milk, 1/3 cup water, half banana, pinch salt
- 1 tbsp raisins
- 1 tbsp wheatberries
- 1 tbsp flax
- 1 tbsp PB2 (stirred in at end)
- 1 tbsp blueberry preserves
- 1.5” square of Great Harvest Power Bar
- Spoonful Naturally More (for the texture!)
I had to move back inside – it was cold!
This Just In
Tempeh is safe to eat raw!! I emailed the company directly:
Dear Kath,
Thank you for your interest in our company and products. Yes. Our tempeh can be eaten right out of the packages. We just recommend heating for taste.
Dress Your Best With Zest
Zesty Zesterson has just launched a “Get Zesty” clothing line! All proceeds are going to a food bank, so you should definitely invest….er…inzest!…in a shirt or apron! He’s also giving away shirts + aprons this morning: Get Zesty.
***
- Husband arrives home at appx. 12pm. (<— I didn’t see him AT ALL yesterday!)
- Padres are arriving at appx. 3pm.
- Company arrives 5:30pm
I’m off to fold the laundry, make a call, and walk to the grocery store for some items for our cookout tonight. Them maybe to the gym. I haven’t decided if I might just do a short run instead. But first I gotta digest….dizest!? first!
{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }
I just tried PB2 this week and I’d have to say I’d rather have the real stuff. It wasn’t to bed mixed in with a plain greek yogurt but you have to use both tablespoons to really get the flavor!!
You’ve been quite the busy bee!!
Goodness you’ve been so busy this morning! I hope you have a grea weekend with your family!
Have a great visit with your parents! Thanks for the review of PB2…. I was skeptical about it myself, but I think I’ll pass on ordering any. Can’t beat the real thing!
Ooo, love your bed!! Ugh, I went on a massive cleaning rampage yesterday too…pretty brutal, but the results are well worth it!!
Have fun with the ‘rents!! I love PB2 in my oatmeal, but it DEFINITELY needs to be 2 Tbsp.
Your house is so beautiful! Isn’t cleaning such a great workout? I have to admit… we have a Roomba.. so I don’t really get any exercise vacuuming. I’m going to try tempeh for the first time, and I’ll definitely try it raw!
what a busy morning!
Have fun with your company! You’ve gotten so much done already!
You’re like the energizer bunny!
good job with the to-dos! yay for family weekends! we’re going to visit my family this weekend.
What a productive morning. You are quite the hostess! Everything looks beautimous. (yes, that’s a word.)
I’m impressed with how you can make oats look so beautiful and delicious EVERY morning! I didn’t even want oatmeal til I saw that photo
Have fun with your company today!
Wow, you are a busy little bee this morning! Oats look divine, as always. I’m with you on the fact that I’d rather chew 50 more calories than just taste it. Haha good to know that tempeh is save to eat raw- because that’s what I’ve been doing for a couple months now. Have a lovely afternoon with your company!
you are always so productive! i’m a little jealous about that! you are officially my motivation to clean up my apartment!!!
Wow, you have had a productive morning. I totally jealous, my house needs to be cleaned big time!
thanks for the tempah info. I am so impressed by your crazy productivity. I am sure the parents will appreciate the treats and the tidy bath!
ok, this is probably shameless, but a broke grad student’s gotta do what a broke grad student’s gotta do…
i know there’s been a lot of talk of heart rate monitors for tracking your lovely exercise habits. i was lucky enough to be gifted one for my birthday, so i have another one just sitting around not being used in perfectly good condition. i’m selling it on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=190299146028
ugh, sorry for the shameless plug, but i figure soem reader could probably really use one for cheap!
I love the from-the-floor photos – and your striped couch (I’m sure you’ve heard that a million bazillion times)
You were quite busy this morning! I hope some of your motivation rubs off on me!
Fabulous way to end the to-do list!! Holy yum
Kath,
How far is the grocery store? I need motivation… I have 2 mile hike each way!!!
Thanks!
Have a wonderful time with your parents!
As usual, your oats look fabulous, but that BOWL is so beautiful!!!
~Erika
I am inspired by your productive morning! Waiting to eat breakfast sounds like a great tool for motivation. The house looks great!
I agree on the PB2, it is useful for peanut butter flavoring, but is no substitute for the mouthfeel that makes the real thing so enjoyable!
One other thing, the most useful aspect of PB2 is that it is lightweight. I do a lot of camping and hiking, and it’s much more convenient to take lightweight baggies of powder than heavy jars of PB.
Watch out with the Carrot Cake CLIF bar. It is VERY sweet to me. I would only buy 1 when you do decide to invest in new bars!
I’ve seen the PB2 on other websites and a local grocery store carries it. I’m very skeptical so I haven’t bought it. I look forward to seeing what other ways you come up with to use it.
Have a great time with your family!
Your perspiration provided me with inspiration. I will clean my office. Love that fresh polished look!
Busy day Kat, good luck.
I LOVE your striped couch and black coffee table.
The tempeh company should have also told you that completely covering it with bbq sauce or PB&J or some other condiment is recommended for the best flavor as well!
Look at you, you busy bee! My house really needs a good cleaning. It’s almost embarrasing (not yet though, so I figure I still have time
)
Remember Kath you got a mini workout from cleaning!
your house looks gorgeous! enjoy your parents visit. I ate a pb & cranberry butter tempeh sandwich today – raw! Thanks for emailing the company and spreading the good news on its safety to us all!
Another oat-ey inspiration from Kath! I love all your themed oat bowls, and I tried the “carrot cake” today (see my blog!). I will definatley try this (maybe tomorrow) but I’ll use real PB instead of PB2 since I don’t have any. I’m sure it would work out.
Good to know about the tempeh. I almost never actually cook it. I like it better “raw”, and sometimes I even eat it plain!
Wow, even vacuuming the stairs – I am impressed!
Glad you got it all done this morning so you could enjoy breakfast!
Oh my were you ever busy this morning!!! I can’t believe how much you got done, but it must feel so nice knowing you got it out of the way so early!!
Hope you fave a fabulous Easter with your family!! You totally deserve a break!
that was me this morning too! except… at 6 am eewwwwww. I have the finish the rest when I get home, but there’s nothing like a nice fresh and clean home!
Holy hopscotch, productivity!
My hunger comes in waves like that, too. I wake up starving, go to the gym, and when I come back I’m not hungry any more. Then my oats make me feel like a blimp! I’ll have to think about what to do.
How productive! Your home is beautiful – I love the way you’ve decorated it.
Your house seems so beautiful. What I wouldn’t give for three bathrooms *it seems* and a set of stairs! Have fun with the ‘rents!
I had PB&J oats this morning also – well, actually almond butter and fruit preserves
Good to know about tempeh!
Good thing to know about the tempeh? Was there a reason you inquired? Did it taste funny/give you a stomachache?
You have such nice furniture. Any favorite stores?
I think regular peanut butter is worth every healthy calorie and gram of fat.
You’ve been BUSY! Looks like you’re well prepared for your guests though
Good to know about the tempeh.
You are cleaning machine!
you are so inspiring with your cleaning! i wish my apt. looked as nice as your house!!
oh and I just reviewed PB2 on my blog so check it out! you may get some ideas! Includingggggggg… PB2 as a thai peanut sauce! It is pretty good!!
Wheee that was a fun post!
wow, you were a busy bee! l love a clean house- yours looks beautiful!
Your home is beautiful! Very tastefully done. I love the dark wood furn. downstairs.
You sure were productive this morning! Enjoy your time with your parents!
Seeing your post this morning reminded me that I read once that you should always eat breakfast within 1 hour after you get up in order to jump start your metabolism. Do you think there’s truth to that?
Quick dusting? I didn’t realize there was such a thing. Or quick vacuuming. Any cleaning takes me WAAAAY longer than I would like it to.
glad you treated yourself to such a beautiful breakfast after a busy morning
Way to go with being productive!
Your house looks beautiful and so clean! Have a fun visit with your parents ; )
Sarah
Hi Kath, I am a dietetics students in college presently and for one of our classes we are to ask a few question to a registered dietitian (or one to be), and I am wondering if you would be willing to jot down some quick answers to the following questions:
-What is a typical day like for you?
-What was your career journey to your current position?
-What area of practice do you hope to go into?
-Any advice for students who are preparing to go into the nutrition field?
If you don’t have time, I understand.If you do it would be greatly appreciated. I read your blog everyday and it was part of my inspiration to major in Nutrition.
-Thank You
Sounds like a very productive morning! Have a great visit with your family!
shameless plug,
No shame!! That’s what these boards are for
Cara-Lea Hornback,
About half a mile – but about 1 in the other side of the loop!
Michelle Hisae,
Readers were asking me yesterday b/c they heard it wasn’t safe to eat raw.
Jess ,
World Market, Pier 1 and Crate + Barrel. Love them all and they have great sales.
gliding calm,
Oh cool! I’ll be over to check ‘em out.
Heather ,
I have heard that too, but it sounds like an urban legend. You shouldn’t use “rules” to eat – you should listen to hunger cues! That said, lots of people overeat at night and then aren’t hungry for breakfast so they skip it, so that’s probably who the rule is targeted to. Obvi. I am a firm believer of breakfast, so if you are delayed it, no problem – just don’t skip it.
Marina ,
I wish I had time to answer your questions, but I don’t. Can you take notes of a typical day based on a blog post? And you can read about my previous job and story on the Kath page.
Kath
What a productive morning you’ve had!!
i love getting the house ready for guests and playing hostess! it’s so satisfying and it looks like you’ve done a beautiful job.
good to know about the tempeh. I have already eaten it raw on a sandwich w/ pumpkin butter based on your wonderful eats. Wow, you got a lot done before I even made it to work today!
wow the house looks nice!!
Thanks, I love World Market too, especially their ethnic food aisles.
where did you get that lovely bowl?
Jessy,
Homegoods!
K
Hi Kath,
I saw that you tried the PB2 in oatmeal and weren’t blown away. I’ve found an oatmeal-use for it that I LOVE, and thought I’d share. The key is to actually reconstitute it with water BEFORE adding it to the oatmeal, rather than just adding the powder. I make whatever version of oatmeal I’m having (banana with PB2 is best), and then I mix up some PB2 with water and make it a little runny. Using warm water is best, so that its about the consistency of syrup. Once the oats are ready and in the bowl, I pour the runny PB2 syrup over top of the oatmeal – pure heaven. You get some in every bite and it is DELICIOUS! Let me know if you try it and you like it – I’d hate for you to give up on the PB2 so quickly!
- Emily
Emily ,
Great idea! I’ll add this to my list of to-do’s with PB2
K