Welcome to the Early to Rise Challenge! Throughout the month of March, I’m challenging myself and my readers to make the most of their mornings. So every week day morning at 9 a.m. EST, I’m posting a short Early to Rise post. I’ll share a few of my thoughts on the day’s passage from Early to Rise, tell you what time I got up that morning, and encourage you to leave a comment to tell us what time you got up and how you’re doing on the challenge.
It’s Not Always Easy
I thought it was only fitting that the Day 5 reading from the Early to Rise book was about how this Early to Rise thing is going to be a challenge some mornings. Because that definitely happened this morning.
I almost got up at 5 a.m. when my alarm clock went off. But I made some excuses about being tired (even though I went to bed early) and I crawled back into bed to “sleep for 30 more minutes” not realizing that the second alarm was set for 6 a.m. instead of 5:30 a.m. That one little decision set me back by an hour this morning.
However, I’m not going to spend time beating myself up over the decision. I’m charging ahead with my day choosing to have a good attitude. After all, 6 a.m. isn’t “late” and I still had some great quiet this morning before everyone woke up.
But I am going to remind myself of the hour I “lost” this morning the next morning I try to convince myself it’s okay to crawl back into bed for a little while. If I am truly tired, then I need more sleep. But most mornings, I just need to get up and get moving!
Curious minds want to know: Andy suggests drinking your coffee black. Really? Are you kidding me? Why deprive yourself of the goodness of milk/cream and sugar — the things that make coffee so amazingly delicious? 🙂
So, if it’s not apparent, I won’t be jumping on the black coffee bandwagon. But I have to ask: am I the only one who thinks it’s crazy to drink coffee black? I just can’t understand people who do that! {I’m totally jesting around here — in case you didn’t read that into what I wrote — but I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!}
What Time Did You Get Up This Morning?
Me? I got up at 6:00 a.m. to be exact. But my phone was dead, so I had to charge it before I could take a picture of the clock. Lame excuse, I know, but it’s true. 🙂
What time did you get up? Leave a comment and let us know!
Join in the Chatter!
Want to blog about this challenge? If you’re blogging through this challenge with me, be sure to leave your link to your direct post for today below. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the Early to Rise Group Board on my Pinterest page, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.
Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? Each week day morning on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account, I’ll be posting a picture of my alarm clock as public accountability. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #EarlytoRise to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!
I get up early every morning to get some work done and have a bit of “me” time before my 4 boys get up.
My main motivator ? Coffee. Black. Can’t stand cream or sugar.
I do, however, add a spoonful of coconut oil to my hot mug of coffee sometimes. Nice way to sneak in the health benefits of coconut oil, while making the morning coffee a little more interesting.
Apparently coffee is a hot topic! (Pun intended).
I suggest drinking GOOD coffee black. One of the main reasons I like it black is I can drink MORE of it black and it’s a completely different experience. The other reason is that it’s different and doing things different gives you different results. Give it a shot Crystal!!
I drink mine black but I didn’t understand why he was suggesting others try it. Did I miss something there? Why did he want people to try and drink their coffee black if they don’t like it that way?
I suggested it because the book is about trying to do different things. To challenge ourselves to break out of habits and see how doing things different will create different results in our lives. Hope that helps!
I don’t think it’s crazy or gross to drink black coffee, but I sure don’t like mine that way. I have a little half n half in it and that’s it. No sugar or other add-ins so I’m allright with that, and hey I only have one cup a day so it’s not an issue 🙂
It’s interesting that you started this. I just found your website but I can’t remember who to give the credit to. Sorry. Here’s why I started just this month getting up early. I’m so happy I’m not the only one.
I’ll tell you why I’m doing it. I started it because my oldest asked me why I’m always in my pajamas. Then I noticed she didn’t want to wash her face or brush her teeth. I sat her down and we talked about taking care of ourselves and I apologized for not being a very good example, sitting in my pajamas, showering every day, etc. I told her I would promise to get dressed and I would take better care of myself, if she would take better care of herself, like doing her hair and brushing her teeth. This is the second week of doing it and I feel so much better after I take a shower and do my hair, even if it’s in a ponytail. I put on shoes and clean clothes. My oldest has stopped asking me if she has to wash her hair, she just does it, and she brushes her teeth morning and night without me having to check her breath or toothbrush. She started wanting to do her hair before school and started really thinking about what she can wear that looks good together. I don’t want it to become a materialistic issue but I want her to understand the importance of taking care of herself because no one else is going to do it for her. So I say all that to say that’s why I started getting up at 6:00 even when I don’t want to. I have two girls who I must set a good example for and to show them how to be treated by other people. It was super hard to get up this morning but I knew my oldest would see that even if I’m tired, I still take care of myself.
I’m not reading the book, but I’m curious as to why Andy recommends drinking black coffee in the mornings?
It’s about trying different things. I just did it as an experiment because some people swear by drinking it black. It was a challenge for myself and I suggest it because if we want different results in our lives then we need to take different actions…sometimes the small decisions can result in large changes.
We got the auto call at 5:30 that school was cancelled today due to snow. So I slept in until 7 which was a bad idea since then we had to go out and shovel 7 inches of snow so I got no quiet time before the kids got up. I’ve been striving for 6am and that way I get an hour before my 3 kids (ages 7, 5, and 2) get up.
And on black coffee. I love it! but it has to be a good coffee. We grind our own and use 8 o’clock. The cheaper coffees are not good black.
it eats up your stomach black! I mix mine with quite a bit of skim milk, so I’m not getting a lot of extra calories, but I am getting some calcium!
At least Andy is ok with coffee. One book I read on super charging your morning suggested no coffee at all…..umm NO! Lol! It’s my morning & I will have my coffee if I want….WITH cream & sugar 🙂
Crystal, thanks for your help on twitter. I am the same person (bgarza85) I couldn’t find the posts on here because you weren’t posting on weekends. I was the lost one that had fallen away from the pack, but I’m back now with my creamed sweetened cup of joe 🙂
I read that book, too, and was like “no thanks!” 🙂
So glad you found the posts here; we’re glad to have you. 🙂
vanilla stevia and unsweetened coconut milk goes in mine
Out of bed at 6:03!!!!! Wooooooo! Tuesday is my early morning at work so it was nice to actually have a relaxing morning, safe drive to work and punching in a couple minutes before I’m supposed to instead of a couple minutes after 🙂
And I’m very much a coffee with cream gal. I’ve tried it black a couple of times, but can’t handle it!
Well, I guess I’m one of the few here that falls into “No thanks, I’ll pass on the coffee”. I’m lactose intolerant, but it really doesn’t matter whether it’s black, or full of fillers and flavors. Can’t stand the stuff, I even avoid the bean isle in the grocery store!
Funny thing is, I was raised in the Seattle area (a coffee stand on practically every corner), so you’d think it would practically be in my veins. I’m a part time barista too! I know, it’s weird. Friends have tried all kinds of tricks to woo me to their side; even adding chocolate (which I love) or caramel; but it doesn’t make it any better, I can still taste the coffee. :(~
For me, just enjoying God’s Word, some exercise and the pristine beauty of living by a lake in the Inland Northwest-and sometimes a nice cup of moraccan mint or chai tea, no or low caffeine-is all I need to come to each morning! I feel so blessed. Don’t even mind the rainy days, although I admit it does make it harder to throw the covers off and get up!
This morning my alarm was set for 5:55, so I could get up in time to take a friend to the airport. Hubby is out of town, so I haven’t slept well for three days (I tend to stay up too late too! So rebellious and undisciplined of me), and apparently neither has the dog. She burst into my room at 4:25 and insisted on some attention. She wanted to snuggle in with me and refused to leave! I didn’t get back to sleep, but did have some quiet prayer time. It’s all good. Early to bed tonight. 6:30 am alarm tomorrow.
um, that should be “aisle”. Guess I’m too sleep deprived tonight to proofread well before I hit submit! geesh.
Today was a day the challenge won. I snoozed until 6:50 am! I was productive in the little time I had, but I felt rushed all day long. I look forward to winning tomorrow, and the quiet me time that will follow. And black coffee? Yuck! LOL
I drink my coffee with half-and-half, no sugar. My goal is to wake up by 6:30 AM each weekday morning, but I had the phone alarm set for 6:00 AM today, due to a need to leave the house early. However, I awoke at 5:30 AM, so I got up then. I have definitely benefited from going to bed earlier to make Rising Earlier feasible.
Got up at 8:50 today. Yesterday was about 9:05am Felt so good, I’m trying for 8:30am tomorrow!
I got up at 6 ish, a little earlier than my planned 6:30am, because I heard my hubby get up at that time. I am LOVING this challenge! Instead of waking up to “I pooped my pull-up, can you change me?” or “I wet the bed” or screaming, fighting, and wrestling over the biggest spoon I have been waking up and having time to read my Bible, pray, reflect a little bit, do some pilates which is very relaxing, and go to the bathroom, get dressed, and prepare for my day. I love that I can start the day in such a positive way instead of feeling so behind and stressed and rushed and hearing the noise of kids. We put an alarm clock in our boys’ room and they know they can’t come upstairs until the Christian radio comes on at 7:30am. Because I’ve had such good early mornings, I’ve been happy to see them at 7:30 and ready with their breakfast and a smile and worship music playing in the dining room. Very different from the harried and annoyed mom I used to be before this challenge! I like decaf coffee. Regular coffee makes me too jittery. I like froo-froo coffee like mochas but I also like it black too. I don’t drink it all of the time, but once or twice a week it’s nice because I like the taste and the warmth.
Lindsey, I think you have really hit the nail on the head: “Because I’ve had such good early mornings, I’ve been happy to see them at 7:30 and ready with their breakfast and a smile and worship music playing in the dining room. Very different from the harried and annoyed mom I used to be before this challenge!” I think THAT’S what this challenge is all about! What a great, uplifting, joy filled tone you’ve now set, not only for your day, but for your whole house. (Btw: I’m just starting Pilates again. LOVE it! So good to develop a strong core and also to prevent lower back pain.) Pleased for you…and Varsha too. 🙂
LOVE these comments!
You crack me up Crystal. I have to say, I used to be with you on the black coffee.. yeck!!
My mom used to drink it & I thought it was horrid.. why drink it if you drank it like that.. haha.. Fast foward many years later.. About 3 years ago I had to give up the cream & sugar in my coffee.. it was a booger to do it.. but it was causing me real problems.. I drink it black now. Every once in a while when I dont feel good, I’ll add sugar & cream cuz it gives me that “comfort” feeling.. but after I drink a few sips, the thick sugar covering that coats my mouth grosses me out & I have to go dump it.. Its a terrible thing. 😉
Enjoy your coffee any way you can! Blessings!
My alarm went off at 6:30, but I’ll admit I pushed snooze 3 times. I finally rolled out of bed at 6:57. This challenge is proving challenging for me:)
And definitely a no to black coffee. I can’t see the point of that at all!
I used to hate the taste of black coffee… my dad always drank it black growing up and I loved the way it smelled but couldn’t stand the taste. Now, I don’t mind it black although it definitely tastes 100 times better with creamer! I agree, it gives it a completely different taste.
I will confess. I slept in. A lot. My husband didn’t wake me up till 9:30!!!
Wow! I don’t think I have seen a post with so many comments. Drink mine black. Hubby uses those flavored creamers and they often have them in such yummy sounding flavors, but then I try them and hate the aftertaste. I prefer the slight flavor of flavored beans if I go flavored, or a spoon of cocoa.
Today I planned to sleep in past the new “regular” weekday time, as I have a commitment tonight that will keep my up late. But, I’m really commenting about the coffee. I absolutely LOVE black coffee, and would not drink it any other way. There is something so delightful about the aroma and taste of quality black coffee from freshly ground beans. With that said, if the coffee is cheap (such as the stuff at work) then I simply can’t drink it, black or any other way.
Definitely a personal preference, I think!
Which time? After going to bed at 830pm due to a horrible headache, I was up at 10p, 11p, 2a, 4a, and finally up for good at 5a (my normal time to get up). I’m pregnant and waking frequently for trips to the potty! HA
I really like my coffee with heavy whipping cream in it and capaccino mix, it’s one of my favorite joys, but only for extra special moments. I find that I also really like my coffee black and here’s why: I don’t get the sugar swings from it if I drink it black and for me that’s a huge deal. When my sugar levels go up I’m happy, when they start going down I become a bear. Someone once told me that the world is like a forest, and when Karla’s happy the whole world is happy, but when Karla’s not happy the world is full of crabapple trees. It makes sense when I think about it – sugar isn’t something that necessarily mixes well with me, but I do like it a lot. 🙂
I got up at 6am but I always get up 6am on weekdays with school age kids to get on the bus. I’m not sure I would even attempt to get up earlier then that because getting to bed before midnight most nights seems quite impossible no matter how hard I try because from 8 to 11 my husband wants to spend time with me and we can vent out the days frustrations from work. Sadly he doesn’t quite comprehend that I get to bed by 12 and then lay there for an hour to get past his snoring and then am back up at 6am while he doesn’t get up til 7 LOL
Good for you for getting up early and yes drinking coffee is black is insanity LOL
I got up at 6:15. I am not much of a coffee drinker, but when I do drink it it must have a lot of cream and sugar!!
I’m with you! No back coffee for me. I drink mine with whole lactose free milk( lactose intolerant) and maple syrup. It is one of the highlights of my morning. Also, it has to be super hot ( no Luke warm for me). I got up at 6:12am. Progress!
Kate
5:40 today even though Fred was scheduled for 5:00 still early for me. Can’t do black coffee. Aldi’s hazelnut creamer and splenda for me.
I obviously am one of the crazy people out there. I drink& LOVE my coffee BLACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will have to say to me alot of creamers ruin my coffee plus its calories that I don’t need. Yes I know you can get nonfat or whatever but we like real here(partly because of being dairy farmers:)
Does it make you a little happier that I use whole milk from a local dairy farm in mine? 😉
Good for you, isn’t it the best:)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was off of work today…so no 5:30 am alarm. But I did get up when my husband got up. And I read some more of the book and blogged about yesterday since I didn’t blog about it yesterday. Black coffee= desperate for caffeine! I need cream and sugar and some chocolate! I’d rather have tea (with sugar & lemon!)
Hope I don’t back off from this challenge.. Just recovering from my thyroid cancer.. I am more productive and happy when I get up early and do everything before my 5yr old son wakes up… Thanks for this challenge which is helping me to bring me back on track… I usually wake up at 6:00am to prepare lunch for my hubby… I woke up 30 mins late today.. Just the unusual tiredness and the body pain I have everyday prevents me from getting up early 🙁 But I did finish all my work before my son woke up 🙂
I don’t think I can ever drink black coffee.. I love my coffee/tea with milk… around 10:00am after I drop my son in preschool and the house is calm …
You are so encouraging and thanks for all that you do..
I am so excited about the success you are having — especially right after recovering from cancer. I’m thoroughly inspired!
Thank you so much 🙂
Made it up at 6am this morning. It helped that I HAD to be up to make it to class on time. LOL!
I don’t do coffee anymore (at all) but back when I did, I only drank my coffee black. No matter how little milk or sugar I put in, they made the coffee too sweet for my taste. Nowadays I only drink decaf tea or herbal teas. 🙂
I used to hate coffee; then Starbucks came out with this free coffee every day for two weeks… new love. But I couldn’t drink it without milk and Splenda… then one day someone gave me a Starbucks coffee, black, only powdered creamer to go with it. No partially hydrogenated oils for me thank you very much! And I drank it black! Definitely an acquired taste thing and “how badly do I need this” thing…
But my daily luxury is still one (large) cup of good quality dark roast coffee, 2 splenda, a little dairy milk, and a ¼ tsp. dark cocoa. Bliss!
If I drank coffee that sounds like it’d be really good!
Oh, yes,ma’am, it is!
6:09 am…my goal is in the 6-6:30 range for now. I love this challenge, I have wanted to do this for so long. I jut always thought I couldn’t and my excuse was that when I set my alarm it wakes the children…but in the last three months I have made big changes to my eating (pretty close to clean eating) and it has improved how I feel so much that I think it is time to tackle early rising! I just downloaded the recommended sleep app yesterday and it is so nifty!
Love this series – I’m working on getting up with a smile in the morning! (Am a night owl !) I downloaded the sleep alarm app mentioned yesterday and it got me up on time – seemed to work!
My husband and I over here in England always have black coffee. (Mine with two sugars though!) When we are on the continent, for instance France, you have to ask specially for milk/cream in coffee. It generally is black! It’s definitely an acquired taste though – it took me a while to give up cream.
🙂
Totally forgot to send in my time this morning – busy work day! However, I woke up at 6:33!
NO to drinking black coffee either. I love my cream and sugar and won’t be giving that up soon. Working at Starbucks, I have learned to love coffee and the blonde roast is the only thing that I can even come close to almost drinking black…but I definitely think black coffee is crazy too Crystal! 🙂
I have been doing great – up at 5:00 AM everyday for 3 weeks now. I walk on my treadmill, read, get ready for work, and spend time in prayer, refelctions and following along with Ann Voscamp and readers in counting 1000 graces.
Yes, I drink black coffe and enjoy it. We have a grind and brew machine that make excellent coffee that I enjoy the taste. Plus, I drink several + cups a day and with creamer and sugar the calories would add up. I do enjoy creamer once in awhile as a treat. However, i gave that up for Lent this year.
I started the challenge on Sunday and am rising an hour earlier than normal-6-6:30 ish. I will not attempt to drink black coffee until I can function in the morning. It’s getting easier already.
Black coffee is not gross, bleck, disgusting, horrible, or any other word that commenters here have used to describe it. People who drink black coffee are not crazy. Neither are people who drink coffee with cream and/or sugar. It’s simply a matter of personal preference. The same can be said of every food or beverage out there.
Personally, I’m in the camp of people whose opinion is that milk/cream and sugar ruin a good cup of coffee. But that’s just me. Other’s like cream and sugar, and I respect that. I don’t turn up my nose at others’ drink of choice and call it gross and disgusting.
Crystal, you’re usually always so cognizant about how people are unique. Why is it hard for you to understand that some people like it black? I’m asking sincerely, not trying to be obnoxious or critical. Just because you prefer milk and sugar doesn’t meant that everyone who likes it black is crazy. By the same token, just because I like it black doesn’t mean that everyone who likes it with cream and sugar is crazy.
Oh, oh, oh, please let me clarify: This is totally all in fun! {Whenever you see a smiley face next to what I write, know that I’m jesting around in what I’m saying, not calling names.}
We’re all just having a jovial back and forth here and I’m loving the dialogue and differences of opinions. And I’m cracking up at the people who thing the only way to drink coffee is black!
Please do forgive me if I offended you. I know it’s hard to read tone of voice through a computer screen and that is the thing I loathe about blogging.
I just realized that the original smiley face I had on that section had gotten deleted when I edited the post. Yikes! I see where someone could read that I was scolding people who drink black coffee. I added it back in and added a disclaimer so people would know that this discussion is all in fun. Thanks for commenting so I could clear that up for anyone else who misunderstood, too.
I appreciate you!
I’ve always drank my coffee black! My mom used to load hers with cream and sugar, and I never liked it. I never started drinking coffee until I tried a sip black one day! It’s delicious!
So funny how we all have such different tastes:)
This morning was rough for me as well. I got up at 6am and had some quiet time but I was exhausted and my mind wasn’t focusing, another try tomorrow! 🙂
I got up at 5:55 so I could have a little quiet before the morning circus started. I like to get myself ready, start the laundry and pull together the lunchboxes before waking up my 3 kids for school… but sometimes I hit snooze. A few times. Or just climb into bed with my kids and wait until their 6:30 alarm goes off. 🙂
I only like my coffee with ice, soy milk and sugar. And I like a lot of it!
I got up at 6 am. I don’t drink coffee at all, but I like my tea with milk sometimes. 🙂
I woke up at 9 the past two days. LOL! It’s been a rough couple of days. I can only drink coffee black if I have a muffin, scone, or something sweet. If I’m only drinking coffee though, it needs splenda (sugar isn’t sweet enough for me!) and creamer.
I have not been taking part as I did not purchase the book, but I did get up earlier this morning because I had to get my kitchen clean before the builder came and I was too tired last night. I set my alarm for 45 minutes earlier than normal. I woke up 5 or 6 times to check the clock through out the night. I guess I was worried that I would over sleep even though I had the alarm set.
I did feel less rushed this morning and enjoyed the time to myself but now I feel more tired than normal.
I like to be up at night. I like to do projects and relax after my kids have gone to bed. I do not like to get out of bed. I am a morning person because I have to be for my job but otherwise I would love to work from 10-6 instead of 8-4.
I guess I should have spent some of my fun money to buy the book to help me understand why mornings are better.
I’m just starting my new motivation-for-getting up program today. I was supposed to get up at 6:00 a.m. but I stayed up so late last night (couldn’t be helped/not my fault) I was super exhausted. Ended up having my husband physically CARRY me out of my bed at approximately 6:25. I want to beat this thing!!!
I was up at 5. My thoughts on black coffee are that it is good, but only after I have food in my stomach. Thus, I prefer my morning coffee to be augmented with half&half and sugar or sometimes just half&half depending on my mood. There is no way I will be drinking my morning coffee black despite the challenge in the book.
Yes to good coffee with cream & sugar!
I got up at 4:50am. I couldn’t dinner my coffee black. The only reason I like coffee is my creamer! Lol
Alarm went off at 7am and I was out of bed at 7:07am!
I used to be a die hard flavored creamer in my coffee kind of girl until one morning in college I discovered that I had run out! The horrors! But skip my coffee? That certainly wasn’t an option either. LOL. So from that day on (due to the absence of the creamer, and being a college student trying to save a penny) I started drinking the coffee black. There was definitely an adjustment period, but now I drink it black all the time. And I do either with cream, or with cream and sugar every so often as a treat. Can’t do the flavored creamers anymore though… I think they changed the ingredients because now they upset my stomach.
I love black cofffee but I also love coffee with cream. I think it is an aquired taste. Everyone likes different things!
I don’t drink coffee at all, but I know my husband drinks his black. I didn’t realize that was crazy!
I used to put milk in my coffee until I realized how much sugar is in it! Now I drink it black or sometimes, for a treat, some unsweetened vanilla-flavored almond milk. Yum:)
For years, I LOVED the smell of coffee but thought it tasted HORRIBLE.
Then- there was Starbucks ****love.
Then- I got to where all the sugar and sweets was making me yucky(and SBs was to expensive), so I learned to love my coffee black. Now, it’s my best friend in the morning!
Speaking of coffee- all of our local Burger Kings have coffee for .25!!!
You can do the mocha, have them add cream and sugar (or splenda), or have it black.
I got up at 5 AM to meet my running club for 3.5 miles at 6 AM (I usually do this on Tuesday, though). Bought groceries on the way home from the run and was home with the groceries in and put away by 8 :). Got to work here in my home office shortly after… here’s to hoping getting up early goes well this weekend with the time change and I don’t get too tired in the evenings from waking up early. I noticed yesterday I was ready for bed at 10…
Woohoo! I’m proud of your success!
Thank you! Added bonus= Grocery store is almost empty at 7 AM, and meats are also marked down.
As for coffee, I have a keurig. I use a little creamer (I like the So Delicious coconut milk creamer) and two packs of splenda and I’m good. 1 cup each morning, mostly to warm and wake up before I go run.
I got up at 6:38. I ignored my 6:25 alarm and waited until my husband said breakfast was ready (yes, he makes the two of us breakfast every morning!). I got my Bible reading and prayer time in, but ran out of time to write in my journal. I put on my exercise clothes, but I have yet to exercise. Hopefully that will happen 😉
I occasionally check your blog, but I may become a regular this month – I’m trying to get up earlier (5:45 I think so that I can get a workout in the morning) but I am NOT a morning person). Thanks for the encouragement!
I know the feeling of putting on exercise clothes and then waiting hours for it to happen. Ahem. 🙂
We’d love to have you join us this month, if you’re able!
I don’t like coffee at all. I can stand it with more milk than coffee and sweetener. My getting up was a TOTAL fail this morning. I have no excuse and can’t even think of a justification. I got caught up in a project I was working on last night and stayed up a whole lot later than usual. Therefore, it’s no surprise at all that I slept straight through my alarm. I really think the key to the whole thing is going to bed on time (especially for people like me who easily sleep through alarms).
This is exactly what happened to me. I got caught up in a project and whamo!
I got up later than I wanted to this morning. It was a late evening. I don’t drink coffee so no drinking it black for me. I ended up taking a nap yesterday so I think I’m a little bit more tired than usual. Oh well there’s always tomorrow.
I woke/got up at 6:31 today – well, the alarm went off at 6, but I was pretty tired. I also woke up with a sore throat, so I think I’m getting sick after nursing kiddos with colds for two weeks. Still, 6:30 is a vast improvement from 7:30 am which is what I used to do when I would get up when my husband left for work.
Black coffee? No way. Not even worth it.
got outta bed at 5:30. going to bed at 10pm made it easier as well as checking off all the days to dos.
hope to get to point where i can just be during a.m. hour, do something for myself. right now i’m using that time to get back to being super organized by making meals ahead, staying on strict chore schedule which will leave my weekends free.
due to addictive nature of caffeine, personally think using it should not be part of the early to rise equation.
I like my sugar with coffee and cream!!!! Black coffee?!?? Blech!
I love my coffee black…it is pure pleasure. The secret is in the beans. If you don’t buy good coffee it won’t taste good. I get mine from a local coffee and tea shop which roasts the beans fresh in-house. Each cup is an experience that tells the tale of the bean. Definitely worth getting out of bed. Milk and sugar is a waste of good coffee.
I think we’re going to have to cordially agree to disagree. 😉
Up at 4:54am. And yes, drinking coffee black IS crazy! :~) I wouldn’t drink coffee if that was the only available way to drink it! :~D Cream and sugar for me please! (And maybe some whipped topping!)
When I was young and shy, a relative asked me if I wanted my coffee. I was not sure what to say, so I said “Yes” and have enjoyed it ever since! Last summer I tried a flavored creamer with it. The first cup was heavenly, but each morning afterwards seemed too sweet and I actually stopped looking forward to coffee as much. I also did not use the creamer fast enough to justify buying it! I discovered, though, that my coffee-despising husband will drink it alongside me with the creamer for the sake of early morning togetherness. 🙂 Every once in awhile we will buy it for that reason, and the amount he uses takes away any concern about the expiration date!
*if I wanted my coffee black*
5:40 am, just like always. I have to get up that early to make sure my high schooler is up, as she has to shower, eat, and get out the door by 6:25 am in order to walk to the bus stop to catch her bus to school. Yes, that early. She is pretty good about waking herself up most days but once in a while I have to get her up, so no sleeping in for me. It’s also nice to sit with her while she has breakfast, some time just for the two of us.
After not falling asleep until after 11:30 and being up several times to use the bathroom (I am 36 weeks pregnant), I woke up at 4:15 to my husband’s alarm. I could hear everything he was doing getting ready for work and was unable to fall back asleep. Found out my daughter had a snow day and tried to go back to sleep. Then the sound of the neighbor’s dogs and shoveling kept me awake. I think I may have fallen back around 6. So thankful my daughter slept in until 8:40 this morning!!! I needed that extra little bit! I have just now gotten around to my cup of coffee. Which I drink with flavored creamer, btw 🙂
I’m not actively following this challenge, but I know that I’ll enjoy reading your progress and tips. I’m just curious if you or Andy address the spouse sleeping in the same bed with you and supporting your “Early to Rise” goal? My husband hates when I hit snooze and bother his sleep.
Made it up at 4:40 this morning – and it makes my whole day so much better! I love having the extra time to get exercise in the morning before the kids wake up, and usually when I get to the gym there are five or six other girls there ahead of me. (I’d love to be the first one there one day, but I’m thinking I’d have to be up by 4:15… those girls are nuts!)
Black coffee-I can, but I don’t. I am Breast Feeding, so I like to add a “Healthy Dose” of milk to my coffee b/c I have a hard time getting enough dairy otherwise. The other morning my SAH husband was actually up when I was prepping for work and my “Healthy Dose” became an especially healthy dose (at half a giant mug worth) because I was chattering away with him. 🙂
there is no way i would drink coffee black!
I got up at 6:02 am. Goal was 5:30 am. As for coffee, I don’t drink it. 🙂
I am very veganish..I avoid Dairy and have found that pulling it out out of my diet..was difficult at first. Especially cheese! Seriously..the stuff is more addictive than people realize. I feel totally bloated now when I slip and have milk or cheese. I feel the effects immediately. Anyway..I would recommend almond milk or soy. I prefer light vanilla soy in my coffee. If you find time, watch the documentary Forks over Knives…might change your mind about how much dairy you should consume! 🙂
P.S. I look forward to seeing you at the convention!
I quit cream and sugar about 5 years ago on this advice: drink it black for two weeks, and you’ll never go back. It’s been true for me.
The other good advice I’ve heard from the coffee geeks is to always take one sip of black coffee so you know what the coffee itself tastes like. After that sip, add all the cream and sugar you want. 🙂
I like just a little coffee along with my Bailys Hazelnut coffee creamer and 4 spoons of sugar 🙂 Cant drink it black, thats gross! My favorite coffee is at QT – I dispense half a cup of amaretto cappacino and mix with half a cup of cocoa. Yum!
Woke this morning at 7:13 and then back to sleep until 7:59. On work days I set my alarm for 5:17 but am usually awake by 4:30 🙁
I was excited to see this series on your blog. My family is an unusual one in that we are late to bed, late to rise. My husband’s schedule is such that if we didn’t go to bed later than most we wouldn’t see him. I have a 3 year old and 18 month old, both boys, who need their “Daddy time”. However, it has been known to be excessively late and we have been trying to curb that. We would like to get it in the range where they can still see Daddy but we can also be out and about with other kids so thank you for the encouragement! I will be keeping up with your blog and drinking my coffee with creamer while I do it!
Glad I am not the only one who did this this morning. When the alarm went off this morning I convinced myself to stay in bed snuggled in beside my two small children who had joined us during the night. I have been beating myself up about it all morning. I still got up at 6:15. For me this is huge. Both my husband and I have been trying to get up each morning at 5:30. We actually had a nice mini date on Monday morning before the kids got up. Thanks for your encouragement. But most of all for being REAL!
Got up at 5:06am. It was a challenge this morning. I take my coffee with cream.
Up at 5:30. My husband gets up at 5:00, so if I sleep to 5:30 I feel that I’m getting a luxurious extra half-hour of sleep! Green tea for me, occasionally black or oolong. I don’t like to be addicted to caffein too much. I can hardly stay awake past 9:30 or 10:00 pm though!
My son woke me up at 3am this morning (my baby? NO)– my teenage son. He is away at college and called to let me know he was throwing up. (He does still need his mom–yay!). I could not go back to sleep–twisted and turned for 2 hours! So, I got up and had several cups of BLACK coffee (yes, Love it!). This is going to be a long day.
Poor guy! Hope he feels better and your day isn’t too hard! Sounds like you guys have a good relationship.
I love black coffee but haven’t always. Do you use both cream and sugar now? Try cutting back on just the sugar first. I started here and still occasionally enjoy cafe au lait (coffee with milk). From there I started drinking black no problem. Nothing wrong with a little milk in your coffee though, added protein and calcium.
I use whole milk from a local dairy and raw sugar… and I have no desire to cut back. 😉
I do limit my coffee-drinking to two cups per day so it’s my daily splurge/luxury.
6:15 this morning and two cups of very black coffee – it is the only way that I can drink it!! And it has to be HOT!
I’m not doing this challenge because I have a five-month old that still gets up once or twice a night, and a three-year-old who has been getting up several times a night this past week, but I applaud everyone who is. Perhaps this is something I can do when the baby is a little older.
Hi! I do like cream and maple syrup. My husband loves it black. He is crazy, though. 🙂 (Love him!) He and I have been rising together. But, I need to try to get up a bit earlier. My little guy seems to be getting up earlier and earlier, too. Today, was 6:05. Maybe, I should try 5:45. I am really enjoying this journey.
I had a little bit of trouble sleeping last night, so I got up at 6:45. Most mornings it is by 6:00 without an alarm clock!
Ditto what Erin said.
A good quality, dark roast coffee is so good! I drink several cups every day, always black. I love it. I do enjoy the occasional mocha or other fancy drink, but that’s just an occasional splurge and more of a “dessert” for me than a substitute for my black morning coffee.
Like many things, it’s an acquired taste. Some folks like it, some folks don’t. To each his own.
I was up at 5:15 this morning, my regular time. Getting up early isn’t a challenge for me at all. I love my mornings, when I can enjoy my coffee and have some quiet time all to myself while my household is still sleeping.
No way on black coffee!! Milk and sugar for me, please! 🙂
While I’m not officially doing the challenge, I have been getting up early during the week. Not this morning, though…two kiddos throwing up during the night saw to that. I’m so thankful for a husband who can take care of one sick kid while I see to the other!
Perhaps I’m one of the few challenge lurkers, not fully committed to the early rise? My excuse was ‘been there done that’ for a couple of decades when I would rise between 4:15 to 5:30 to hit the road, gym, or lap pool. But now I’m beginning to realize I simply don’t have a good enough reason to rise early. Hmmm. Time for some goal setting.
And coffee? yes both please. Although I am trying to cut out the sugar.
I love this change in your mindset! We’re going to be talking more soon on the whole “Why get up early?” thing. Because you’re not the only one feeling like that!
Thank you for the reply! I copy/pasted this to a word document, printed, and placed it in my prayer journal. Perhaps it is time to start asking Him what to do with my early mornings? 😀
I definitely think that sounds like a good plan!
The only reason I learned to like coffee in the first place was because of sugar and lots of cream.
i was up at 5:45.
as for black coffee, only if I’m desperate or wheezing. a real hot cup of black regular coffee does wonders for bronchial tubes in a pinch.
also and this is weird but it works well, if I am having a major pain somewhere or very bad headache taking ibuprophen with hot black coffee makes it work faster and stronger.
Thanks for that interesting tip!
Andie, no, not weird at all. You stumbled upon accepted, (though not completely understood) science, that pain relievers, like ibuprophen, taken with any caffeinated beverage, potentially boosts the effectiveness of the pain reliever. Many runners and other athletes use this knowledge to their advantage, sometimes taking an OTC painkiller 20-30 minutes before an event to help reduce or prevent potential inflammation and pain. (and dialate blood vessels) Some people say that caffeinated colas, or even chocolate, works too.
The theory is that it may stimulate the activity of the central nervous system, and/or may help the body to absorb the pain meds much faster, thereby bringing quicker relief for the sufferer. 🙂 The extra caffeine seems to be most beneficial when treating headache pain.
Read your medication labels carefully though! Many of the common OTC headache/migraine treatment formulas already contain caffeine in addition to the aspirin or acetaminophen.
Of course, we all know that coffee can be addictive and everyone has different tolerance levels to caffeine. (mine is pretty low) Regular coffee drinkers may build up such a tolerance, that this combination painkiller/caffeine treatment isn’t as effective for them over time. I’ve read that it seems to be most beneficial for those who don’t ingest coffee/caffeine regularly. Also, too much caffeine, especially in combination with some painkillers, can actually cause rebound headaches! And this is just one reason why I don’t drink coffee. 😉
I can’t drink my coffee black either. But we were visiting our pastors house and she made me some good coffee and put frothed milk on top and that was delicious!
I have been drinking my coffee black for as long as I can remember. I like the way COFFEE tastes and don’t like to dilute it with cream or sugar. Besides, I need the bold kick in the face to wake me up. I can’t drink the stuff you buy at the store. Ever since taking a mission trip to Ethiopia, I only drink TO.MO.CA coffee from there. Yum!
No black coffee for me! I put half and half in mine, no sugar though! Why does he suggest black??????? I didn’t get the book, but am still doing this challange! Up at 7:20 this morning!! 20 min past my goal, but still, wooohooo:)
Ironically, I started reading this book very late last night because I was having trouble getting to sleep with the crazy wind. 😛 It seems very good but I got to sleep so late that there was no way I was getting up extra early today. But I will definitely be trying to tomorrow.
I got up at 6:30 but it wasn’t voluntarily. 🙂
I do like black coffee though, only if it’s a good quality dark roast. If the coffee isn’t good quality, I put cream in it. Never sugar. That’s just gross. Though I do love mochas and other fun coffee house drinks. I guess you could say I love coffee in all forms, even black.
5:40! this was my day 1, just saw the challenge on Friday and yesterday… it just wasn’t happening. but today I only hit snooze once 🙂 , then got up, exercised, and had a great quiet time before the kids got up! glorious.
this is so timely – The Lord has been working on me to be more disciplined in my daily life, and I knew the next step was to get up earlier. this challenge is exactly what I need right now!
oops, didn’t mean to reply on this post, just a general reply. silly iPad. 🙂
You’re not crazy, but black coffee’s not that bad! You get the full flavor of the coffee (and then you’re not bummed if you’re out and about and find coffee but no cream or sugar. 🙂 )
Also, I’m glad I was already used to drinking black coffee when I found out I had to cut dairy for my nursing little one–it was one thing I didn’t have to switch up! Losing cheese and yogurt was bad enough 🙂
Up at 5:45. I don’t drink any coffee ever but my husband will only drink it black.
I woke up at 6:24 but didn’t get out of bed until 7:50. Its still better than I have been doing though. I don’t like black coffee, its peppermint mocha for me.
Up at 6:00am. There is no way I could drink black coffee. My coffee must have flavored creamer AND sweetener. 🙂
I was up at 6:25 this morning. Yesterday was a challenging day but today was so much better. As far as the coffee goes I love the smell can’t stand the taste. So no coffee at all here at our house.
This morning I got up at 2:45. Not by choice. Actually I was only dozing on the couch since my 4 year old woke up at 11:45. But the baby woke up at 2:45, hungry and not feeling too good. So the three of us were up until about 4:30, when hubby had to get up. I had to make a decision between getting 1 hour of sleep or having time to get myself and everyone else ready.
For me, the challenge is not getting up early, it’s giving myself grace to try to get sleep when I can and making the most of my time when I’m awake. And also not feeling sorry for myself. The babies will grow up. They will sleep thru the night…….someday.
and black coffee is yuck! I’d rather not have coffee at all. Has to have at least cream and sugar. Best with flavored syrup, milk and hot cocoa powder!
This morning I got up at 7 a.m. 30 minutes before my pre-planned Early to Rise time. Whoa! And no, you aren’t alone about the black coffee. I read that passage and promptly decided to skip that particular suggestion. One challenge at a time 🙂
I always drink my coffee black and I only enjoy dark roasts and flavored coffees 🙂
Up the first time at 3:10 a.m. to suction baby’s nose out (bad cold) so he could breathe. Up second time at 4:45 a.m. to do the same and to feed him. Up third and final time at 6:10 a.m. to 2 year-old happily screaming, “Cartoons! Cartoons!” 🙂
Coffee is just the medium for the creamer 🙂 There’s something about the first sip of coffee in the morning! My boys often hear me say “Thank you sweet Jesus for mama’s coffee!”
Getting up is getting easier! I am on day 5 and I think the earlier time is kicking in. I have to admit I am not going to bed early enough yet. I need to adjust that .
Thanks for the post!!!
Yum – black coffee!! Love it! 🙂 I’ve never been a cream and sugar gal though – this is how I’ve always been drinking it. Personally, I think that the cream and sugar detracts and yes, I splurge on really good coffee beans and gind my own.
And up at 615am today – 15 min later than I wanted but earlier than I’d planned. I haven’t been sleeping well lately.
Snow day here today – whoot! Hope to get caught up on some things and spend some time with the kiddos.
Have a great day everyone!
Lea
I awoke at 6:45 a.m.,a tad on the late side. I’m fanatical about having flavored coffee creamer for my coffee every morning. It puts pep in my step all the way! By the way, Walmart has an excellent house brand for coffee creamer, if anyone wants to be economical and keep up their coffee creamer addiction like me.
OK, so I’m not doing the challenge, but I do have to say that I enjoy my coffee black. If I do put cream in, it is real cream, and I’d rather not buy cream each week. And for sweetener, I realized I was putting too much in, so I started cutting back little by little and before I knew it, I was enjoying the taste of coffee, and didn’t miss the sugar and cream. 🙂
No black coffee for me either. I like a little creamer in my coffee. Challenge is right. I’m not having trouble getting up early, just keeping every one else asleep until it is time to get up. Today my 18 month old, yesterday my 2 year old.
Up at 5:59 this morning! I’m so glad you did this challenge because I haven’t been getting up early for a long time. And EW to the black coffee – LOL! I use cream & a flavored syrup.
Way to go on getting up early!
Up at 4:35am today. I’ve been drinking my coffee black ever since I graduated from college (about a dozen or so years ago). I know it’s not for everyone, but I really like it that way! 🙂
I had a very productive morning. Aside from accomplishing the five things I always do (or atleast always try to do) in the morning, I also kept plugging away and the chores I had intended to do over the weekend but didn’t. Dried and folded a load of clothes, wiped down the glass slider door, and got a bag of dried beans soaking so I can cook them up after work in the crock pot. I even arrived at work 15 minutes early.
My goal time is 6am and I was up and out of bed at 5:30. I figured the kids wouldn’t have school today due to the snow so I really wanted to get my quiet time in. My son is my only cuddler so right before 7am I went upstairs and snuggled with him and then ended with all three in my bed. It’s a sweats and comfy shirt kind of day here.
Getting some things done early allowed me time to make pancakes as a special treat this morning!
Which I could read along but maybe will be able to buy the ebook another time. It just wasn’t feasible this time as we just had to buy tires for both cars.
I will drink coffee in any way. Those creamers have a lot of unnecessary calories too. But they taste good!
I use whole milk from a local farm for my cream… so, so good!
Does Any suggest drinking coffee black to help eliminate the “oh this tastes so good I can’t do a thing until I sit by myself and finish my cup… and then maybe have another” feeling that cream & sugar tend to offer? I drank coffee black a few years ago and while enjoyed the cup, it led me to have a take it or leave it attitude. Often times I’d skip it, because I just wasn’t in the mood for it. The crutch wasn’t there like it used to be. 🙂
I’m wondering the same thing. I’m not participating in the challenge so I haven’t read the book. Why does he suggest this?
I think because Day 5 is listed as “Challenge” this drink black coffee instead of the usual how you like it way is “a challenge” because most everyone who drinks coffee is accustomed to the way they like it now. They’ve become acclimated to it – the flavor and don’t often like stepping outside of the box they’ve created for it. At least that’s what I get out of it.
Andy?! You out there.. wanna chime in?
I totally need cream and sugar in my coffee! That’s what makes it worthwhile 🙂
5:30 as usual! Bleh on the black coffee. I will skip coffee all together if I have to drink it black!
Alarm at 5:00 and I hit snooze, but then talked myself out of it and was up at 5:03. Yay me! 🙂 I don’t even drink coffee! The only caffeine I drink is a Diet Coke Lime at lunch if I’m dragging, maybe 1-2x per week.
I stayed up late and didn’t get out of bed until 6:17 today.
I like my coffee with real cream! (But I’m doing the Whole 30 right now and have had it black, which I didn’t care for, so I’m using coconut milk for the rest of the month). Cream in coffee is one of the true pleasure of life!
Coconut milk sounds like a good option if there’s no other option! 🙂
Yes! I would only use it if there is no other option. Cream is the best! One of life’s joy 🙂 (Maybe I like it a little too much.)
I’m already making one radical change to my life by waking up early. Now is not the time to make another one by skipping my cream. If I’m going to be awake at 5:30, I want to enjoy my coffee! 🙂
I’m so with you!
The only way I can drink coffee black is if it is really good quality coffee…which is usually very expensive. Since I only buy what is available at our damaged goods store, it needs cream and/or a little sugar! 🙂
I was up at 6:09. I hit the snooze bar just once, which is a huge improvement. Still trying for the 6:00 wake time.
I can’t stand coffee. I wish I did to get that caffeine going first thing in the morning. I also take medications which require me to not eat or drink for an hour after taking them.
I’m not real productive in the morning, but I enjoyed watching a little bit of the mini-series on the Bible this morning. Gave me something to think about on my drive to work.
I am failing miserably at this challenge. Sigh.
I don’t know why … I know how much more productive I am when I just Get.Out.Of.Bed but I’m having so much trouble. I know I’m under a great deal of stress and suffering from some anxiety due to my husband’s employment. I’m trying so hard to be supportive and praying for his success. But the anxiety is starting to affect my stomach. Ugh!
So, today was not a very productive morning. BUT I did get to have a lovely chat with hubby in bed before the children overtook us. 🙂
And I’m bound and determined to use tonight to set up tomorrow morning to be successful!
And black coffee is not my idea of a treat … At.All! Milk and sugar all the way!
{Hugs!} I’m so sorry that you’re dealing with a lot of stress right now. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself, okay?
Thank you Crystal. Your kind encouragement is very appreciated.
7:20 – 10 minutes earlier than yesterday. Woohoo! I was sorely tempted to hit snooze after a not-so-great night’s sleep, but yesterday was so productive and just…happy that it motivated me to get up and get going. Have already read today’s chapter and devotional, journalled, had a protein-packed breakfast, answered emails, and am about to head to the gym.
Yesterday I got a wild hair to set up a morning playlist for myself. I ended up with about 30 minutes of music, starting with some classical, moving into praise and worship, then some up-tempo cheerful stuff, and finishing off with The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun”. It sure was easier to stick with my morning routine with that in the background.
I don’t like coffee, so yes, I do think it’s crazy to drink it black. 😀
5:15, which has been pretty steady for the past few days, so I think that might be my new wake up time. I don’t like to wake up with an alarm.
I’m a tea drinker, but yes, black coffee takes out all of the good things about drinking coffee.
BLACK COFFEE?!?!?! The horror! LOL Cream & Sugar for me, thanks 🙂
I was up at 3:45….and 4:50…and 5:40…The baby (who isn’t really a baby but a 14 month old bundle of cuteness!) woke up first and thankfully went back to sleep after a quick diaper change and bottle. Then my princess woke up after I had just fallen back to sleep. I tried to get her to go back to sleep with me and she sort of did. We just laid on the couch as I tried to hold on to a precious few more mintues of shut eye, whcih was futile. Most of that time was spent saying, “Shhh. It isn’t time to get up yet. Get some rest and we will (fill in the blank with whatever it was she requested — at least a hundred different things) in the morning.”
My goal wake up time is 5:30 and I plan on using the half hour before I need to be in the shower to drink coffee and wake up. Since I don’t use that time to do anything productive I’m ok with myself for getting up at 5:40…when I heard my 4yo shuffling around. With both the 2 and 4 year olds awake it was time to kick it into gear. The baby was awake again around 6:30. Since we were all up and jolly happy (ok, maybe not everyone…I still had not had coffee at this point!) we were able to get a head start on our day. Eventually, coffee magically appeared (thank you, hubby!) and we were out the door way ahead of schedule.
In the end I was awake at 4:45, out of bed (off the couch) at 5:40 — 10 minutes later than goal — but still early for work and off to a productive start!
I’m not really following along with this challenge since I’m up at 2:30 every morning to deliver papers, but I can definitely relate to the “just 30 more minutes!” And I don’t understand drinking coffee black either – yuck! International Delight makes a chocolate caramel creamer and there is just no reason to have coffee without some of that deliciousness 🙂
Um, can I just say that you win some sort of award for getting up at 2:30 a.m. every morning?!? Please tell me that you take a nap or go to bed very, very early!
Ha, I do try and go back to sleep after I get hubby out the door for work, but it’s not usually for more than an hour or so before my 3 year old is up. And I don’t go to bed nearly early enough, so I’m working on an early to bed routine. I will say that I’m REALLY looking forward to the day I don’t have to deliver papers anymore! Not that it’s coming anytime in the near future, but one day 🙂
I must say, when I had to get up at 3ish to work the dawn milking shift in college, it was quite relaxing. 3am is a good point in my sleep rhythms to wake up (not that I’d choose to do so nowadays with a family following a more traditional schedule) and there’s something so peaceful about driving through the city to work when no-one else is stirring besides the cows.
I learned to like coffee – just coffee and not the lattes and fancy beverages – in Spain. And it was so much stronger that when I came back home I preferred it black and not diluted with cream. But I was still a sporadic coffee drinker, and getting attached to mochas and things I eventually started adding cream and then sugar too. I really think cream (or milk) is nice to sort of smooth it out. Sugar is just an indulgence, and I try to only take one cup a day sweetened.
I LOVE my cream and sugar! It wouldn’t be coffee without them.
My alarm was set for 4:30, but I use Sleep Cycle…. so “Fred” went off at 4:03 — so I crawled out of bed. I’m a longtime early riser, though. Just not quite THIS early! I went to bed at 8:00 last night because I was so tired!! That’s probably why I was ready to wake up so early… I am one of the crazy ones who usually drinks my coffee black. Sometimes I add some protein powder to it, though, so I understand why folks like cream and sugar in it. 🙂
Protein powder in coffee? Now that’s a new one to me!
When I told my husband that Andy suggested we get rid of the sugar and cream in our coffee, he said if he wants me to get up early to be productive then he is going to have to live with me having cream and sugar. We are not black coffee people at all. I am pretty sure that we would rather give up coffee in our creamer then creamer in our coffee.
I understand how thinking you could get a few extra minutes make you an hour late. That happened to me yesterday. I felt so tired all day after waking up late.
I think we’re related: “We would rather give up coffee in our creamer than creamer in our coffee.” Though I usually use whole milk in mine, not creamer. But I so agree with the sentiment!
Up @ 5:10 this morning
Was up at 5:00 am with the sound of rain hitting the roof. It was really peaceful!
As for coffee.. I don’t even drink it, black or otherwise. LOL!
You’re really good – the sound of rain on the roof makes me want to cuddle up all morning.
I won’t lie it usually does me too. But, the bathroom urge trumped staying under the covers.
LOL Amber. I hear you there. Especially after 4 kids, believe me, the bladder just is never the same. Doesn’t coffee stimulate that response too? Thought I’ve read something somewhere.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, the sound of rain on my roof is God’s lullaby to me, I love falling asleep to it! Admittedly, it can make getting up harder too. However, one of my favorite smells is the air after it’s been cleansed by a rainshower, so that’s enough to make me grab my walking shoes and head outside in the morning!
The smell of coffee to get me up and at ’em, eh, not so much. I know, I’m strange, especially for a former Seattle (Starbucks capital) girl. Think we agree, don’t care what you do or don’t put in it, it’s yuck-o! 😉
Angie! Good to hear from you again. 🙂 While I don’t have the children or the husband (sometimes I feel like I’m missing out on that aspect) I’ve heard quite a few say bladders aren’t the same after children. I think that it does. I try not to have a lot of caffeine because it actually causes headaches for me, go figure that one?
I agree! The sound of rain is beautiful. I know sometimes especially with warm rain I feel refreshed and renewed just standing out in it a moment or two.
Eh.. Bleh on coffee.. I’m trying different teas. I know peppermint for sure and I like chai. I picked up an Irish breakfast tea yesterday so see how that tastes.
Sounds like you and I have much in common. 🙂 Peppermint tea (good for an upset tummy too) and Chai (mmm) are my two favs! I’m a tea nut, have many varieties in my cupboard. Try white tea, it’s a very healthy choice. Other tea favorites I’d recommend are earl grey, ruby red, orange spice, (and other fruit flavors like raspberry) and for nighttime, chamomille or sweet dreams to soothe and relax after a long day.
Irish breakfast is perfect for March! 😉 There are many great green teas to sample too. There’s evidence that it’s quite beneficial, especially for weight loss/to stimulate the metabolism, if that’s important to you. Also, I’ve gone from adding real sugar or substitutions like splenda to using only stevia (Truvia) or honey, (more natural options that the body processes better) sometimes with lemon (a diuretic). Works with ice tea too. I have friends in the South who love sweet tea, but that’s too much sugar for me!
Btw: some OTC pain relievers for headaches and migraines contain extra caffeine to boost the effectiveness of the painkiller, so read your labels! It’s good to know your triggers. I’ve been a sufferer in the past too. did you know that chocolate can be a trigger for some? So thankful that’s not one of mine, I’d be so bummed! lol
Wahoo! Guess I know who to ask when trying out new teas. I haven’t branched out much, LOL! Do you have any favorite brands? Hadn’t tried the fruit flavors. Now, Early Grey I tried a long time ago and didn’t like it. :-/ Tasted funny, LOL. Granted, I was in my teens back then. Maybe, I’ll give it another go!
Sitting here drinking the Irish breakfast as I type! 🙂 I love green tea. Yeah, I’m working on the weight loss so definitely important. How is truvia? I’ve seen it around in the stores and I want to give it a try. I don’t use much sugar anymore and have used Splenda in the past. Honey is great – love a little bit goes a long way! I love sweet tea but don’t drink it often because of the sugar and I live in TN. LOL! Some people in South can make it great, others don’t know a thing about it.
Yeah I’ve seen that on a lot of them. Kind of stinks all the extra added what nots. I know! I’m glad chocolate doesn’t affect me that way. I actually found a nice dark chocolate with cherry and almond in it. That was a good treat and it was made in Colorado! Surprised me to see a chocolate bar made in the United States. 😀
Guess it is a little early to be typing and not proofreading.. *Earl Grey not Early.. LOL
I love coffee black! I had drank it with cream and sugar, but at the office I worked at years ago they only had yucky non-dairy creamer and splenda. So I stopped using either and now prefer it that way.
Up at 0625. Spent my morning as usual thus far. Sitting back, reading your blog while drinking my black cup of coffee. Seriously delicious! I do like all of the assorted creamers but I find pleasure in a rich cup of black coffee too.
Me too! I prefer flavored if I have a choice, but a good plain roast is great too!
Are you by change a tea drinker? I’m thinking about switching over for summer, but don’t know if I can actually give up my coffee.
I do drink tea too….in the evenings many times I’ll drink herbal. I’ve cut back to one cup of coffee recently, and sometimes if I just feel like I “need” another cup I will let myself have black tea instead. 🙂 I think psychologically it would be hard for me to say no more coffee!
I woke up at 7 a.m. so two hours late 🙁 I know it is because I woke up at 5 a.m. through the weekend so this will be my only day of grace of the entire week so no more excuses for the rest of the week. I am so glad I don’t have to drink my coffee black and not feel guilty now. I know it is healthier without the cream and sugar but it tastes so different.
No, you are not the only one who thinks it’s crazy to drink coffee black! My husband drinks his black and I think it’s sooooooo nasty! Of course, it just figures that I’m lactose intolerant and way to sensitive to sugar to even make coffee taste any good. Thank God for tea!!!
One thing I do to get myself out of bed early every morning is take a vitamin called Rhodiola 110 from Nutralite. I don’t sell this stuff, but I do love it, so as I’m typing this I’m thinking to myself, perhaps I should do a review for my own readers, lol! Anyways, I take it at around 4:30am and don’t even need to get out of bed to do so since I have my vitamins and water right at my bedside. 30 minutes later I’m ready to jump out of bed and start my exercises! It’s the best way to start the day!
I used to drink Rhodiola tea. It really did give me more energy. I may see if I can find it in the pill form.
Hi Jessica. I buy mine on Amazon. Just type in Rhodiola 110 in their search bar and it’ll pop up 🙂
black coffee-ugh! i tried it, & for a time, i was ok w/ it, but then i saw the light, & if i can’t have my cream, i’ll just skip the coffee, thank you! i have been skipping the sugar (most of the time) just ’cause i’m cutting back on sugar, & i’ve found that i can do w/o as long as the cream still is in there! =)
I think any kind of coffee is gross, so I guess you could say that I agree with you about black coffee. =) I’ve been so sick and exhausted that I didn’t even set my alarm for this morning. The need for extra sleep outweighed the need to get a jump start on my day.
I’m so sorry you’ve been sick and exhausted… it sounds like you needed the extra sleep! I hope you get your spring in your step back again soon!
Krysten, your situation reminds me of line I heard about martyrs.
“Don’t be a martyr because if you do you’ll be dead. Dead is less useful than alive.”
So get your rest my friend.
I got up a little before 6:30. And no, I can’t drink my coffee black. Of course, I’m pregnant so my coffee drinking is limited anyway.