I didn’t doubt she would be there (she actually once taught a class after throwing up in a trashcan 10 minutes before, so I’ll never doubt her dedication), but after the Monday teacher’s no-show, it was nice to get back in the BodyPump groove.
I took the class after spending 20 minutes on the elliptical doing cardio with Ryan. It was nice to start my day talking with Ryan about my concerns going into work.
As I alluded on the blog yesterday, things in my office are going a little crazy right now, and I can’t help feeling the heat. I’m looking toward the light at the end of the tunnel and creating a plan of action to handle the current situation. Having a plan makes me feel so much better. It gives people direction, goals and something to work toward to rectify a situation.
I realized my desire for a plan in the face of a stressful situation when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.
I was terrified, sad and so worried… until we had a plan. Once I knew that we were actively fighting her disease, I felt like we were doing something positive to work against something so negative.
Breakfast
The return of the bagelwich!
Hooray!
Today’s breakfast was a bagelwich made with a toasted cinnamon raisin bagel thin, Colby jack cheese and raspberry jelly. Plus an apple on the side!
I wanted something warm and fast because the temperatures this morning were a little chilly due to last night’s rain. A hot and toasty bagelwich did the trick!
Stella & Dot Giveaway Winner
Thanks so much to all of you who entered yesterday’s Stella & Dot necklace giveaway! I was so excited to see so much enthusiasm and had to laugh when husbands and boyfriends popped by to help with your chances. You guys are scrappy!
Using the random number generator, the winner of the giveaway was…
Chea!
Congratulations, Chea! Please email me at pbfingers@gmail.com with your mailing address and the number of the necklace you would like to receive.
Hope you all have a great day! 
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I agree with you Julie – plans are essential! Like you I’m starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel that is pulling me through the next week… I am counting down the days!! I hope you have a great, productive day!
I agree a plan makes you feel like your life is together and you have control over something, bagel looks delish try not to bite your lip!
would you believe i bit my lip (hard!) again yesterday? what gives!?
Plans definitely help and make you feel a lot better, however, I feel like sometimes they can backfire when you have a million things going on at once, because it’s easy for your plans to be derailed. I think the best strategy sometimes is to tackle your biggest and most important task early in the day, that way you can tie up loose ends the rest of the day, without having that big stressor hanging over your head! 🙂 Love the blog!
Holy cow you had so many entries yesterday! That is awesome!
I’m glad you are coming up with a plan Julie — I think that is really smart! When Jason was laid off last week we had to come up with some sort of plan and the possible solutions. There is still stress, but so much of it is relieved thanks to having a plan!
searching for a job is so stressful! best of luck to jason! when i was looking for a job, i made a plan to search for a designated amount of time each day. that made it easier to stick with it and not feel overwhelmed (too much). 🙂
I love the combo of sliced monterey jack cheese and pear… it’s soo good.
Same goes for pepperjack cheese w/ sliced bell pepper!
Way to approach a stressful situation head-on! Your bagelwich always looks so colorful and tasty. I made my own little “healthy” egg mcmuffin this morning and it did not look nearly as good 🙂
I agree….plans are essential!!
I blogged a days worth of eats, and thought of you! It’s a full time job! I think I ate lots of things you’d enjoy too 🙂
Holy crap, there were so many entries! I’ll probably be purchasing something from them shortly, such unique stuff!
I totally agree about plans. I am a list maker to the extreme, I have daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. Crossing them off makes me happy and it’s what works for me to see I’m making progress. Lessens the stress a little bit.
I’ve seen so many bloggers mention mom’s with breast cancer recently. I’m sorry you guys had to go through that, my mom is getting results on her biopsy back today, so I will be on edge until I receive that phone call.
sending positive thoughts your way! it’s definitely scary being in the “unknown” but even if it comes back in a way you’re not hoping it will, know that courage, faith and treating it can get you and your family through. please keep me posted (if you want to, that is).
Having a plan lowers my stress levels – it’s good to feel like I have some sort of control over the situation, no matter how small.
I hate missing classes – even when I’m going on holiday, I’m always a little sad to miss BodyPump!
Aw man! I really thought I was going to win! J/K!! Let us know which one she chooses! What a great idea to tackle your problems with a plan. I always make a to do this and I love checking them off one by one. However, if my to do list seems daunting then I tend to ignore it and procrastinate. So my to do list starts with 5 items and then I add from there.
I totally understand what you mean. Both of my parents are cancer survivors and through those experiences I learned that it helps relieve so much stress to have a plan. Good luck with your work stress! I’ve found that sometimes that can make work days go by so much faster because you are constantly busy.
I know what you mean about having a plan for any stressful situation whether it’s work, finances, etc.
I am 24 and have recently been diagnosed with cancer and really one of the best ways I have been able to handle it right now is to have a plan of action. It’s a way to take control of the situation! Family & friends are also great forms of comfort during stress 🙂
I hope all is well with your mom now 🙂 It’s a tough time to go through but it only makes you, your mom, and your family much stronger.
I’m off to copy your breakfast and make a bagel wich as well, yum.
i’m so sorry to hear about your struggles. you help me put things into perspective. if you have the wonderful attitude you do and are facing something much more trying than i am with a simple work issue, i can overcome my stress. you’re inspiring and i wish you all the health and happiness in the world, rachel!
Thank you so much and I wish you all the health and happiness as well! All of our struggles are equal in the end and I hope work goes well for ya today 🙂 Work stress sucks, I feel ya!
i like having plans, but i can honestly say i’ve got to be really loose with them, otherwise if stuff doesn’t happen according to plan it’s even more stressful! you and your mom are so beautiful 🙂
I too am one to ALWAYS have a plan. A plan for going to the grocery store, a plan for my weekly workouts, a plan for how I will tackle the day ahead of me! It not only keeps you on track and keeps your head above water but it makes you realize how productive and accomplished you actually are!
Julie,
you are so right about plans helping with stress. I hope that your mom is doing well as I know how tough having an ailing parent can be.
as you are a fitness queen check out my newest post – it’s a fun workout 🙂
My mom had breast cancer too! She was diagnosed when I was in 5th grade; it was a really sad time, but we got through it … you just gotta have faith that everything will turn out okay. She always tells me, “Don’t let the rain and the clouds keep you from seeing the sunshine in your life.” I love that simple little quote! I hope your workday goes easy-breezy for ya 🙂 We’re almost to the weekend, so hang in there!
I definitely agree on having a plan. It definitely works in stressful situations and makes you take a step back and to be forced to think rationally. It definitely works in dire times eg. your mother’s illness. You will persevere, Julie! 🙂
Wooh! Congrats Chea!
Your handling the stress so well! Same happened with my cousin and she says that if she didn’t have an action plan she would feel so stuck without something to do and look forward to. Good luck with work. It’s good to hear that you workout even when stressed. =) Keeps me motivated to keep working out even when things aren’t going so great.
Plans are great anti-stress tools!!!! 😀
Hope you have a great day!
You are so right about having a plan! I feel like creating a plan is basically 95% of getting something done… so it makes me feel so much better once I know what I need to do!
Congrats Chea!
I’m such a planner too, about everything. Have a good day! I’ll be thinking about you while i’m sitting here working away too! Your tweet last night about not wanting to go to work tomorrow but one day closer to friday… it’s like you were reading my mind at that exact moment!!!
Lets just get through humpday!!!
I’m the same way, having a plan of attack makes me feel so much better in a rough situation. I hope things get better soon!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your positive outlook. Inspires me.
Julie, you are such a strong lady and your positive attitude is truly amazing!
Also, we were both posted on Holly’s Blog today! How exciting 🙂
It would be great to meet you sometime. I do live in the Northeast but venture to Florida on occasion to visit my grandparents, perhaps one day!
I am such a planner. It truly comforts me knowing that I have done something or will do something pro0active. I admire your strength and determination
I hope you have a great day today, Julie!! Your positive attitude and the fact that you actively plan how to deal with the recent increase of stress at the office will help you get through it! 🙂
I love reading your blog, it puts me in the best mood. Positivity is quite the force to be reckoned with!
Your positive attitude cheers me up every day! 🙂 I also have to have a plan for everything to feel comfort in situations!
My family makes fun of me and calls me the Cruise Director because I have a plan for everything! I’m getting better and “going with the flow” but plans just have a way of quelling my anxiety 🙂
I love colby jack cheese!! I love the marbling. 🙂
Congrats to Chea!! The necklaces are gorgeous.
Coming up with a plan always makes me feel better, too. Even if it’s just writing out what I want to accomplish one day, or listing my priorities, feeling like I have some organization in a stressful situation takes a huge load off my shoulders. I hope today goes well for you!
Plans always make me feel better too! Sometimes I plan too much, but that’s a different story for a different day. 😉 I hope everything works out at work…I know how stressful that can be!
Yes, plans always make me feel better too. I find them essential in feeling like I have control over a situation, but they also have to remain flexible and open for change.
omg that bagelwich looks to die for!!! your food always makes me so hungry (um, even though I just had breakfast…) You and your mama are SO PRETTY!!! Hope you have a great day!!
These cinnamon raisin bagel thins look amazing! Where do you get them?
publix!
I’m definitely a planner too, I feel a lot better when I feel organized.
Oh MAAAAN I should’ve had Max come on over hahaha. Why didn’t I think of that?!
I am totally with ya — I feel a million times better in the face of any challenge when I have a plan.
Having a plan makes everything SO much better.. like a weight lifted off of your shoulders!
I wish there were BodyPump classes near me. I’ve read so much about them and know I would love them!
So true- plans are amazing! Very motivating and also satisfying when they are completed. I just made a plan for my afternoon work load! 🙂
i so wish that we had body pump around me! hearing so many good things about it!
What a beautiful pic of you and your mom!!
I hear you – my spin instructor came today after Monday’s no show – YESSS! 🙂
Plans are so important! Especially in long distance relationships… I’m so glad you’re mom is OK!
My bootcamp teacher was a no show last night…Must be something in the air!
Good luck with your work situation!
Having a plan makes life much easier!!
I should have enlisted the help of my husband 😉 Lucky girl won some great jewelry!! P.s. I agree, having a plan is AWESOMEsauce 🙂
i keep seeing your bagelwich breakfasts, i’ve never thought to put jam, and cheese and fruit on a bagel, but i’m curious!
I agree with you, having a plan makes things feel so much more at ease, and a stressful situation a little easier. Good luck with your work situation!
PS – Love reading your blog. This is the first time I’ve commented I think 🙂
i REALLY need to try that bagelwich, it looks so yummy!