Boy – it’s hot outside!  It’s a nearly unbearable 92 degrees (or “feels like” 100).  I have a run scheduled with Megan tonight, and I’m honestly a little nervous about running outside (we’re waiting until the sunset to leave).

 

Such hot weather calls for a cold, refreshing lunch. 

IMG_6578

My perfect summer salad included:

 

  • Arugula, spinach, and other mixed greens
  • Cucumbers
  • Tomatoes
  • Pecans
  • Gorgonzola
  • Blueberries
  • Balsamic vinegar

IMG_6575

With a hunk of bread smeared with strawberry jam.

IMG_6580

IMG_6579

Perfection.

 

Earlier, I had an apple as a snack:

IMG_6573

And now I’m eating a mid-afternoon snack of crackers + chocolate peanut butter:

IMG_6589

You need chocolate peanut butter in your life right now.  Don’t care what brand, just go buy it (that is Naturally Nutty).

 

Household organization is going well!  Shower caddies make excellent + cute electrical cord holders, by the way!

IMG_6588

And my running, swimming, and cycling gear is finally labeled, organized, and put into clear boxes.  Wahoo!

IMG_6584

I feel better about life already.  🙂

 

Are you: LEFT- OR RIGHT-BRAIN when it comes to organization (adapted from Real Simple, June 2010)?

 

Right-brained folks:

 

  • Think in terms of images rather than words.
  • Focus on the big picture rather than the details.
  • More random, intuitive, holistic, and subjective.
  • Go through life in a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of way.

 

Left-brained folks:

 

  • Think in terms of words, not images (and make To Do lists).
  • Do a lot of advance planning.
  • More logical, sequential, analytical, and objective.
  • Approach challenges in a rational, linear manner.

 

Obviously, as you can tell from my organizational spree over the last few days, I am totally left-brained.   🙂

{ 71 comments }

 

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing June 13, 2010, 4:26 pm

    I am completely left brained, a Type A personality for sure. It’s kinda annoying sometimes! I wish I could just throw caution to the wind and go with the flow.

  • Lauren (Clean Eats in the Dirty South) June 13, 2010, 4:34 pm

    no doubt about it, i’m left brained. i hate being pressed for time and not knowing what’s going on, and not having a list to go by. i like labels and organization for sure…. im pretty sure i have the cleanest dorm room EVA, and it freaks people out

  • Emily @ The Front Burner Blog June 13, 2010, 4:36 pm

    two weeks, two weeks! if you can handle the packing, i will be happy to help you with the UN-packing. 🙂 i am a type A freak – everything labeled and color coded beyond any sort of necessity. but there are still always those last few boxes of “random crap” that we all end up with, haha.

  • Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] June 13, 2010, 4:38 pm

    I would be a leftie fo sho.

  • Chandra H June 13, 2010, 4:41 pm

    hmm, i think i’m something of a right/left brain hybrid? leaning towards right brain. i think and figure with words and numbers, i focus on details vs. a big picture… but i’m completely unorganized and messy and spontaneous and illogical! lol! and i am probably the most subjective person in the universe.

    great job organizing for moving! and that salad looks perfectly refreshing 🙂 hope the rest of your sunday goes well!

  • Harriet June 13, 2010, 4:45 pm

    left brained with absolutely no doubt. however i do have some right brained tendencies, i am creative and intuitive but my left side rules supreme!

  • Lizz @ Leading the Good Life June 13, 2010, 4:48 pm

    Left brained, all the way!

  • Danielle (Runs on Green) June 13, 2010, 4:50 pm

    I actually did a post recently on left vs. right brain! In everyday life, I’m completely left-brained. But when I’m running, I start using my right brain 🙂

  • Lee June 13, 2010, 4:54 pm

    I’m definitely right-brained. Organization is not my strong suit.

  • Natalie @ Keep It Sassy June 13, 2010, 4:54 pm

    That salad looks great! And I’m absolutely left brained. 100%!

  • Helen June 13, 2010, 4:55 pm

    I am completely a left-brained person and love making to do lists for everything that I do, even for making decisions – pros and cons list are so useful! I hate being spontaneous but have got a bit better over time!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is June 13, 2010, 4:59 pm

    I think I’m left brained, but have a few right brained qualities? Wonder if thats possible!

  • Lindsay @ Summit Sandwiches June 13, 2010, 5:05 pm

    I’m so right-brained when it comes to organization, it’s not even funny. I wish I could keep stuff organized, but it never happens the way I envision it. It’s strange because I can be so type-A about so many things…but just not organization. I am messssssy! Funny how our brains work!

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers June 13, 2010, 5:06 pm

    I’m most definitely left-brained 😉

  • Rachel @ Suburban Yogini June 13, 2010, 5:07 pm

    Left brain fo sho!

  • Kellie June 13, 2010, 5:08 pm

    I am left brained, my husband is right. We balance each other well!

  • Katie @ Health for the Whole Self June 13, 2010, 5:09 pm

    I am definitely more left-brained!

    Caitlin or anyone else interested in this topic: you’ve got to check out “My Stroke of Insight.” It’s a book about a doctor who experienced a stroke and had to relearn all of her basic skills. Doing so led her to the theory that when we purposefully work toward having a more balanced brain (meaning we’re emphasizing both hemispheres), we experience a greater sense of inner peace. It’s interesting stuff!

    http://www.mystrokeofinsight.com/

  • Janna June 13, 2010, 5:12 pm

    That does look like the perfect summer salad!

    I think I’m a little left and a little right brained. I’m am definitely disorganized and think in images BUT I love making lists and planning things in advance!

  • diana@mymarblerye June 13, 2010, 5:17 pm

    duddeee chocolate nut butters are MY thanggggggggg. Have you tried the dark chocolate maranatha almond butter? Do it. BTW is naturally nutty THAT good? i wanna try it!

  • Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine June 13, 2010, 5:17 pm

    Great idea to use the shower caddy! I’m definitely a left brain thinker- when I need to get organized, the first thing I do is make a list! Good luck on your run tonight!

  • Kaz June 13, 2010, 5:28 pm

    I’m a funny blend of both, I think. I love the *comfort* that lists bring, and some of my favorite chores involve organizing and tidying up small messes while the rest of the house is a chaotic wreck.

    However, I also consider myself an artist and I love to paint and draw, and I’m also *extremely* random sometimes. I can’t be the only weird, quirky one out there?

    Mmm, chocolate nut butters. I might have to throw some peanuts and cocoa into my food processor. I <3 DCD. I've never tried Naturally Nutty. Is it comparable?

  • Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter June 13, 2010, 5:42 pm

    I am a left-brained person when it comes to organization, but I’m both when I’m doing my work.

  • lisa June 13, 2010, 5:47 pm

    I think I’m left brained for organization. I love making to-do lists. I once even had a whole notebook dedicated to them.

  • Evan Thomas June 13, 2010, 5:49 pm

    TOTALLY left brained here. If I can’t think of things analytically, I can’t think

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs June 13, 2010, 5:53 pm

    Oohh I’m a left-brainer, definetly! We’re BLATES the coolest 😛

  • Beth @ DiningAndDishing June 13, 2010, 5:53 pm

    I’m totally a right brainer. I think anyone with a love of English and art has a hard time thinking in concrete terms 🙂

  • Kristin June 13, 2010, 5:54 pm

    That is the best homemade salad I have ever seen!

  • Alex @ IEatAsphalt June 13, 2010, 5:56 pm

    I am definitely a left brain as well. That is a great tip for electrical cords. I’m moving to DC next month and am dreading the move between states. I’m certain that my packing will probably be put off until the very end.

  • Nicci June 13, 2010, 6:09 pm

    Jam bread with a salad sounds delicious.

  • Katie @ peacbeme June 13, 2010, 6:20 pm

    Totally left-brained! It is good but also sometimes my downfall. Great job packing, enjoy your evening run too, that sounds so nice!

  • Jo @ Steamed Broccoli June 13, 2010, 6:21 pm

    I’m definitely left brained! Everything has to be super organized. Use the move to get rid of any “extra” stuff you have lying around- things you can replace or never use. That’s my favorite part of moving- getting rid of things. (Other than that, moving is the worst!)

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) June 13, 2010, 6:26 pm

    I think I am left brained!

    I love your labeled containers – so cute!

  • caronae June 13, 2010, 6:42 pm

    Haha, chocolate pb is totally a need! I think I’m probably more left-brained than right…Hope you’re having a relaxing sunday!

  • Mary @ What's Cookin' with Mary June 13, 2010, 6:53 pm

    I recently found Maranatha’s chocolate pb… SO freakin’ good and not 10 bucks a jar. Score!

    I’m def left brained… can’t help it, I just like organization, lists and planning things out. My husband is pretty left brained (•More logical, sequential, analytical, and objective.•Approach challenges in a rational, linear manner.), but w/o the lists and planning… we balance each other out 😉

  • *Andrea* June 13, 2010, 7:09 pm

    totally left too! refreshing summer salad!

  • *Andrea* June 13, 2010, 7:09 pm

    i love maranatha’s dark chocolate peanut butter and almond butter spreads!! so amazing

  • Ashley June 13, 2010, 7:11 pm

    I’m totally left brained…it’s a little scary!

  • Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble) June 13, 2010, 7:16 pm

    What a great looking salad! I am so left brained. Sometimes it is ridiculous- I made to do lists FOR to do lists! ahaha

    xo
    K

  • Nicole of Raspberry Stethoscope June 13, 2010, 7:18 pm

    During my Critical Care conference this May in DC, we had a guest speaker by Daniel Pink http://www.danpink.com/ on right/left brain and how important it is for companies/workers to have the right brain ability, emotions, etc…especially for nurses. it was pretty neat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wOgYm3YBZk Wish i could find it on youtube, but here is a snippet from another talk he did.

  • Katherine June 13, 2010, 7:18 pm

    what creative ways of solving storage problems. brilliant!
    Katherine

  • Nicole of Raspberry Stethoscope June 13, 2010, 7:21 pm

    But actually, i think the whole left and right brain thing is kind of stupid and over made up, haha. i mean, the brain is way more complex than that. it definitely is not something we really learn in nursing school because the science isn’t truly behind it.

    • Caitlin June 13, 2010, 10:31 pm

      i was thinking about that in the shower after i wrote the post. 🙂 you’re definitely right but its fun to think of personalities like that – like type a or type b.

  • Gavi @ GaviGetsGoing! June 13, 2010, 7:36 pm

    Just like you–totally left-brained when it comes to organizing, cleaning, completely tasks, etc. I love making to-do lists (and crossing things off!) and organizing things. I’m also really into summer salads at the moment! Today I made a quinoa, black bean, and avocado one that is really hitting the spot. Stay cool in that heat! 🙂

  • Mindy June 13, 2010, 7:42 pm

    I just took that RS quiz this afternoon! It told me I’m left brained, which I already knew. I love, love, love organization…I’m a little OCD about it.

    Must find some chocolate PB. YUM!

  • KelseyJ June 13, 2010, 7:57 pm

    I’m definitely left-brained. I saw the way you organized your run/swim/cycling gear and thought “Ooo, I need to do something like that in my closet” haha!
    And also seeing that blob of chocolate peanut butter makes me think I need to go dig into my jar…yummy! 🙂

  • Sarah for Real June 13, 2010, 8:15 pm

    I’m left brained for sure. Did Real Simple have suggestions for how to organized based on our left/right brain-edness?

  • CS June 13, 2010, 8:22 pm

    I’m left-brained when it comes to organizing my house, office, etc. – that may also be the reason why spelling/grammar is also important to me! I read a lot of blogs & do like yours especially, so I don’t mean to single you out here, but do you spell check before you post? It seems to be a common problem with “bloggers” & it really gets on my nerves! Sorry for the vent, I just happened to notice such a huge error on your 1st line of this post.

    • caitlin June 13, 2010, 10:28 pm

      where’s the mistake? i’m not being rude, i really don’t see it!

      • jessica June 13, 2010, 11:28 pm

        “Boy – it’s out outside!” Obviously, you meant hot not “out.” Not a big deal – I think we can all infer what your meant to type!

        • caitlin June 14, 2010, 9:10 am

          hahah i reread it like TEN TIMES and i didn’t catch that. truthfully, it’s so hard to proofread yourself when you’re writing three posts a day. you just miss stuff. i don’t have an editor and it’s really difficult to proof yourself. i used to do it all the time at my technical writing job as well – i would read a 100 page document 15 times and my boss would double check and the document would still have a glaring error or two when it went out! its such a weird thing.

        • jessica June 14, 2010, 3:16 pm

          Totally know what you mean. It’s hard to proof read your own work because your brain knows what it’s suppose to say so you look over it. I’m surprise CS decided to comment on this post because Caitlin usually does an excellent job proofreading – some other blogs, not so much!

  • Lisa @ bakebikeblog June 13, 2010, 8:24 pm

    What a great looking salad! Mr BBB and I also both have our ‘bike’ boxes!

  • runnerforever June 13, 2010, 8:30 pm

    I am all left brain, not even sure my right side is functioning haha.

  • Kelly June 13, 2010, 8:37 pm

    I’m left brained, but somehow I am a “big picture” person at the same time…on my way to balance maybe?

  • Carly @ The Road To Health June 13, 2010, 8:45 pm

    DEFINITE lefty. I gotta get some of that chocolate PB!

  • Mary June 13, 2010, 8:49 pm

    I think I’m definitely left brained. I am the queen of to do lists 🙂

  • Ellen Collis June 13, 2010, 9:44 pm

    CHOCOLATE PB?! You don’t have to tell me twice 🙂 Hmm, I’d say I’m left brained, but in an organized way—sometimes I write my To-Do lists on my HAND!

    http://www.firednfabulous.com

  • Miranda @ MirandasJeans June 13, 2010, 9:50 pm

    I am 100% Left Brained. Lists flying around all over the place!

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople June 13, 2010, 10:54 pm

    I’m extremely left-brained too!

    I hope packing is going well!

  • Emily @ Inside/Outside June 13, 2010, 10:59 pm

    i just read an interesting book about right/left sides of the brain called “A Whole New Mind” by Daniel Pink. The subtitle is “Why Right Brainers will rule the future.” haha!

  • Sana June 14, 2010, 12:19 am

    I like cleaning- but I am superrrrr busy (read:lazy). Bad combo.

  • Wei-Wei June 14, 2010, 3:38 am

    I am totally left-brained. I usually can’t get much done without a To Do List… but I personally think that in real life it’s the right brainers who will be more successful at adapting and thinking on the fly. Organisation skills are important! 🙂

    Wei-Wei

  • Marlon @MeInTheBalance June 14, 2010, 3:47 am

    I’ll be working on getting my home organized/reorganized soon now that school is almost over. Like a lot of the folks who commented before me, I’m somewhat of a hybird left/right-brainer. When it comes to planning, I’m definitely leaning towards the left-brain. However, when it comes to the execution of the those plans, the right-brain takes over–probably because the left-brain’s expectations were too high or rigid. I’m married to a right-brainer and together we’ve spawned two right-brainers so I’m constantly having to remind myself to be flexible and not allow my (self-diagnosed) mild-OCD to ruin my day.

  • Courtney (Pancakes & Postcards) June 14, 2010, 4:29 am

    right brained!!! but i am TOTALLY a planner. that is where i differ. and i like organizing… but not really. i just like it when there are a million other more important things i SHOULD be doing but then i can clean and be totally procrastinating but still feel “productive.”

  • Juani June 14, 2010, 5:22 am

    I am definitely a middle brained person,lol,because I have a bit of both sides going on.Even though I like making lists and planning out everything,I tend to also be quite scatterbrained,and very forgetful – yeah,I make to do-lists or shopping lists,but then forget to actually look at the list,or take the list with me.

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit June 14, 2010, 7:45 am

    Wow, I’m definitely left-brained too 🙂 To-do lists help me SO much. Lists for anything help me so much, actually!

  • Jes (Self Motivation) June 14, 2010, 7:45 am

    I am totally a left-brain person! Your salad looks delicious! Hey, was that you who honked at me while running yesterday? lol

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin June 14, 2010, 8:23 am

    I am definitely left brained. I plan absolutely everything!

    I love how you organized your gear! I might have to borrow that idea from you. 😉

  • Cassie @ A Very Busy Mind June 14, 2010, 8:50 am

    OMG…I think I’m center-brained. Ha! I just mean that for some things, I’m so ridiculously left-brained; others, way right. So weird!

  • Brandy June 14, 2010, 11:17 am

    Utterly left-brained, sadly. I envy the right-brained folks sometimes.

  • stacey June 14, 2010, 3:22 pm

    I am left-brained. My husband is right-brained, so I really do try to see the world from his view as much as I can. It’s helped me to relax a bit, which is good:)

Previous post:

Next post:

Healthy Tipping Point