This Tuesday morning in August begins at 6:30am. I’m up and out of bed before my husband and ease into my day with a hot shower. While I dry my hair and apply my make-up, Nick shaves and showers.
We rendezvous in the kitchen to make our morning smoothies — which have recently replaced unnecessarily large mugs of coffee. (Is anyone else trying to cut back on caffeine?) Our current favorite smoothie includes berries, bananas, Greek yogurt, soy milk, wheat germ, honey, and ice.
Nick typically has lunch meetings, and I typically pack mine. Today it’s roasted red pepper hummus and carrots, slices of the bread we baked last night, and a handful of blackberries.
By 7:30 we’re out the door and off in opposite directions. Nick drives at least an hour west to start his workday, and I jump on the highway heading north.
My commute is close to 50 minutes and takes me along beautiful Bald Eagle Ridge (beautiful during all seasons but winter) and into a valley (which some say is the “happiest”). Renee and Steve keep me company, and that smoothie tastes so good.
I arrive at my office by 8:30. The sun is reflecting off the building, and the Pennsylvania morning air feels slightly cool on my bare arms.
I work in public media, and every day is different. It’s why I love my job. Some days I put powder on my face and step into the studio lights.
{June 2010}
Other days I put on a face that’s more recognizable to toddlers and preschoolers. (I’ve only worn the WordGirl costume once, but it’s too funny not to mention.)
{July 2008}
Most days involve writing and editing copy and monitoring our social media presence. There are meetings and conference calls, and there is always Clifford and Cookie Monster.
I often work while eating lunch and check in with Nick to discuss the night’s plans. What’s for dinner? Do we need to stop at the market? Will we have time to run? We need to be efficient with our evenings since they’re so short.
I wrap up my workday around 5:00 and head to the local farmers market for fresh pasta and blueberries. I also stop by our favorite dairy for two bottles of milk and — I can’t resist — a half gallon of coconut chip ice cream.
This summer we’ve made it our mission to purchase food as close to home as possible. Fortunately in Pennsylvania, produce, meats, and dairy products are plentiful. If you’ve never eaten a fresh-picked strawberry or heirloom tomato or ear of sweet corn, I highly recommend it.
I’m anxious to get home, but I appreciate the time in my car to decompress from my workday – especially when it involves clouds that part just perfectly to reveal the setting sun.
Nick and I are home by 6:30 and opt out of an evening run. We try to hit the rail trail at least three times per week, but tonight feels more like homebrews on the patio.
We relax until about 7:00 without distraction from computers and phones. Then Nick waters our plants (tomatoes and peppers and basil — Maggie, we’re putting our herb marker to good use!), and I start dinner.
We try to keep our meals simple during the week and save more time consuming recipes for Saturdays and Sundays. Tonight we roast heirloom tomatoes, add mushrooms, spinach, and garlic, and toss with fresh whole wheat linguine. We slice the rest of our homemade bread and sit down to dinner.
After dinner, we clean the kitchen and take our nightly stroll around the neighborhood. We live in a townhouse community adjacent to a park with little league ball fields and a quaint stream. And I’ve never seen so many bunnies. Seriously, one night Nick counted 28.
We return home, and I change from khakis to sweatpants and trade in my contacts for my glasses. We both often have work to do in the evenings — spreadsheets for Nick and blog posts for me — but we try to turn off our computers by 10pm.
Then it’s roughly 30 minutes of reading before we turn out the lights and prepare to do it all over again the next day.
Is it Friday yet?
We started having morning smoothies a couple months ago, it really has cut back on my coffee intake! I’ve started adding some Amazing Grass and a handful of spinach to get some more greens in my life. You’re right, that with some NPR in the mornings make things that much better.
.-= Kelly’s most recent blog post: Have a Nice Weekend =-.
Twitter: @pjfeinstein
Your photos are beautiful! I am so inspired by people who fit so much into their day — and by people who wake up so early! I don’t roll out of bed until 8:30(ish), one of the benefits (I suppose) of not working a typical 9-5 job.
.-= PJ’s most recent blog post: hostesses with the mostesses =-.
Twitter: @inthisinstance
What pretty scenery for your commute! I can just imagine how fresh the air must be!
I have been cutting back on caffeine but am not willing to completely give up coffee – I am accepting it as my vice :)
.-= Tara’s most recent blog post: Sunday Edition- Along the Lake =-.
[...] wonder how we spend a typical Tuesday? Well, wonder no longer. Check out my post for a Day in the Life series over at EAD [...]
Twitter: @duolynoted
I love your photos! (Here, and on your personal blog). Sounds like your days are busy but you are so lucky to love you job so much, it looks like so much fun!
.-= Melissa’s most recent blog post: Sunday Post =-.
Twitter: @emilyj82
Glad to hear I’m not the only one with a caffeine addiction (@Kelly, @Tara).
@PJ Trust me, if I didn’t have a 50-minute commute, I wouldn’t roll out of bed until after 8, either!
@Melissa, thanks! I really am fortunate to love my job.
.-= Emily’s most recent blog post: To the Farm and to the Lake =-.
Twitter: @magmaeA
I loved seeing your herb marker! So glad it has a nice home :-).
You guys are SO healthy. If I tried to suggest morning smoothies with wheat germ to my husband, he would A) ask me where my coffee is and what happened to his wife, and B) laugh.
When I read about your job, it makes me want to quit everything I’m doing now and start walking to NPR headquarters. Sigh…
Thanks for sharing!
.-= Maggie’s most recent blog post: Nice little weekend =-.
Twitter: @emilyj82
@Maggie I have to come clean: the healthy smoothies only lasted about ten days. We’re back to regular morning coffee and have no regrets!
.-= Emily’s most recent blog post: Peach Cobbler for Game Night =-.
[...] room. I start the first load as I sit down in my home office with my laptop and mug of coffee. (I work from home on Fridays, and it’s amazing what I can accomplish between web updates and content [...]
I love this! I ADORE smoothies but maybe that should be a goal when it isn’t so cold! As for right now, I’m stickin’ to my coffee! ;-) Have a happy thanksgiving weekend!
.-= Elizabeth Ann’s most recent blog post: Surrounded by Blessings! =-.