Back to the Office

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Today was the first day of book writing!  At this point, I’m doing preliminary work (like an outline and a list of interview subjects).  I’m still pulling together the submissions form – stay tuned!

 

Book writing means I have to move my “office” from my usual locale in the kitchen/living room.

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No more typing at the bar.  🙁

 

Now, I’m back in the office.  Having a good “work space” is essential for me for large project.  The office – with fewer distractions – is great for buckling down!

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I sucked on this candy cane while writing.

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And I worked as long as I could, and then I decided to pop over to the local Chinese restaurant for dinner.

 

Since we’re trying to stay on budget so we can buy a house soon, we minimize eating out.  But whenever I’m pressed for time, I cannot help but get the steamed veggies with light brown sauce and brown rice.  It’s only $8 for the entree, which serves the Husband and me, and I can easily add my own protein when I get home.

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Today, I topped my Chinese with dark red kidney beans!  Yum.

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I am currently doing some online Christmas shopping from the comfort of my couch.  Ahhh, technology.  🙂

{ 56 comments }

 

  • Natalia@TheHealthScript December 1, 2010, 8:27 pm

    I love those clear chairs!
    I also have my usual work area and my “serious” work area when I want to be super productive!

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss December 1, 2010, 8:27 pm

    That’s so exciting you’re starting on the 2nd book! And it’s all the better you’re back in your office. I can imagine bar-typing would come with a lot of distractions. 😛

  • Camille December 1, 2010, 8:30 pm

    Gotta love online shopping 🙂
    I’m glad you are getting started on the new book!

  • Ashley December 1, 2010, 8:35 pm

    Your office looks SOOOO neat/tidy compared to mine, lol. Mine can get kind of out of hand sometimes ; )

  • Amanda (Eating Up) December 1, 2010, 8:35 pm

    I ordered 3 of 5 gifts on Amazon. It really couldn’t have been any easier!

  • Marisa @Loser for Life December 1, 2010, 8:37 pm

    After wandering around stores for 2 days, I’ve finally resorted to online shopping! Why did I not do this from the start?! So much more relaxing and fun!

    Congrats on your upcoming book deals, Caitlin! So fantastic!!!

  • Stacy @ Every Little Thing December 1, 2010, 8:42 pm

    I’m so proud of you for the writing you’re doing! Proud, and jealous 😉 But mostly proud! I can’t wait to see the book and use it with future GOTR groups!

  • gabriella @ embracement December 1, 2010, 8:54 pm

    The book writing process is so intriguing to me! I’m sure you’ll accomplish a lot more in your office too.

  • Amber K December 1, 2010, 8:56 pm

    Online shopping will always be my method of choice. So much easier! And often cheaper.

  • ProjectLifeBy Sue December 1, 2010, 8:59 pm

    Hey love your lucite (clear) chairs!

  • Paige @Running Around Normal December 1, 2010, 9:04 pm

    That is a pretty good deal – $4/meal. Could you even make that meal at home for $4?
    Good luck with the preliminary work 😀

  • Natalia - a side of simple December 1, 2010, 9:06 pm

    I’m so excited for you with your writing! Plus, I’m convinced that online Christmas shopping is the perfect way to get the inspirational juices flowing 😉

  • Heidi - apples under my bed December 1, 2010, 9:11 pm

    Great job sticking to your budget! yes, sometimes the ease & low-cost of getting something like chinese veg/rice is worth it. That is so exciting about your writing. Your office looks perfect to get the creative juices flowing 🙂
    Heidi xo

  • Ellen@FirednFabulous December 1, 2010, 9:14 pm

    Love the brown rice/veggie idea. It’s always so good from Chinese restaurants…the broccoli is so crispy, it doesn’t even need Parmesan cheese 🙂

  • Dee December 1, 2010, 9:14 pm

    Yay! Congrats on this new project of yours!

    ps. ITA (I totally agree) with you re: technology! 🙂

  • Jamie @ Food in Real Life December 1, 2010, 9:24 pm

    I love online shopping! I fully plan to complete the rest of my holiday shopping from the comfort of my own couch. I agree with needing to be in an office or a specific place to do work. I like to do stuff in the library. Otherwise I get so distracted and end up doing things like cleaning my entire house.

  • Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine December 1, 2010, 9:28 pm

    I agree, an office makes you so much more efficient. I live in a tiny studio, so ALL of my work and eating is done at my kitchen card table. It gets messy!

  • Madeleine @ Stepping to the Bright Side December 1, 2010, 9:29 pm

    Yep, I’m on the budget thing too… Every time I drive by my favorite restaurants, I immediately look away so as not to be tempted. Le sigh… I should find a cheap meal staple like you’ve got!

  • Kiran December 1, 2010, 9:32 pm

    Online shopping is so much more fun than traditional shopping any day 🙂 Btw, just out of curiosity, are those clear chairs comfortable for hours of sitting? And dear, Me and the hubs are planning a road trip up north and would cross Charlotte. Would love to meet you both 🙂

    • Caitlin December 2, 2010, 9:25 am

      Not really. But that keeps me awake!!

      Let me know when you are passing through!

  • Ashley December 1, 2010, 9:34 pm

    I don’t think I have a “Serious” space. My desk certainly is not it since I eat and do about anything else at my desk. Maybe my bed? but its lofted and 7 ft above my head so its too much of a hassle to climb up there.

  • Jen December 1, 2010, 9:37 pm

    How do you even get your head wrapped around what you have to do for the book?!! Seriously. I get overwhelmed just thinking about an idea. Bah.

    • Caitlin December 2, 2010, 9:24 am

      I’m still working on getting my mind wrapped around it, to be honest!

  • Anon December 1, 2010, 9:37 pm

    I am not writing a book…but I live in a one-room box. No furniture and no christmas stuff. You are very fortunate to have what you have! When situations are different, it can throw you for a huge loop!
    You should buy the big packages of vegetables and 2-minute flavored rices. Fast and cheaper – though they are costly, ha.

  • Shari December 1, 2010, 9:38 pm

    Yay for starting work on the new book! Isn’t that one of the most fun and exhilarating times of the whole process? 🙂

  • Michele @ Healthy Cultivations December 1, 2010, 9:41 pm

    Having a “serious” work zone really does tend to help. It’s good you can force yourself to buckle down when necessary. I know so many people who have trouble in that area.

  • Anon December 1, 2010, 9:41 pm

    I also want to say that I read blurbs in the newspaper or whatever occasionally…and being published is not not not easy. At all. There are damn good writers who meet rejection upon rejection. Or they get part way through the process and then it gets rejected.
    I’m thinking nonfiction is entirely different than fiction. Not saying it is easier…though nowadays it seems that non-fiction is just flooding everywhere, and half of it is pretty ridiculous.
    Congrats to you for being able to focus and accomplish so much. I can’t even focus to tie my shoes….or decide what to eat. Seriously…it will take years for me just to shake my head together.

  • Faith @ lovelyascharged December 1, 2010, 9:50 pm

    You’re so lucky to be working on such an incredible project!

  • Laurie December 1, 2010, 9:54 pm

    I’m reading and writing posts and listening to Brendan James who you got me stuck on. Can you suggest other cool musicians. I am a total music geek; I love it, just don’t know it.

    • Caitlin December 2, 2010, 9:23 am

      Death Cab for Cutie
      Switchfoot
      Snow Patrol (my favorite)
      Postal Service

      Try listening to the Snow Patrol station on Pandora!

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) December 1, 2010, 9:59 pm

    Good luck on the book!

  • maria @ Chasing the Now December 1, 2010, 10:01 pm

    $4 a person really is a cheap meal, though, when you think about it. If you’re only looking at the money aspect, you’d probably pay close to that for most of the meals you can make at home.

    Best of luck getting started with the book!

  • Ellen December 1, 2010, 10:35 pm

    hate to say it but you can do exactly what the chinese restaurant does with very little effort: frozen mixed veg + sauce in a bottle. cook up a massive batch of brown rice and freeze it already cooked. easy 🙂

    my rule for eating out (and thus saving money) is to save it for thinks i can’t make without way more effort than i would ever put in. things like tamales are just thing to save for eating out!

    • Caitlin December 2, 2010, 9:22 am

      Yea but then I actually have to cook and mess up my kitchen! LOL 🙂

  • Maddie (Healthy Maddie) December 1, 2010, 10:51 pm

    Good luck with your book! That’s so exciting that you get to write a second one 🙂

  • Laura Ann December 1, 2010, 10:56 pm

    Random off-topic note – today I finally tried a sweet potato covered in baked beans.. Wow! You weren’t kidding – it’s an awesome flavor combination. I just wanted to thank you for sharing!

    • Caitlin December 2, 2010, 9:22 am

      Yay! I am so glad you liked it.

  • Balanced Healthy Life December 1, 2010, 10:59 pm

    I like the work station! I hope you have so much fun with the book!

  • Lacey @ Lake Life December 1, 2010, 11:01 pm

    I think it’s time for my first candy cane of the year- it IS December after all 😉

  • Karen December 1, 2010, 11:08 pm

    Congrats on the Tween book!

    I love online shopping. I’ve done most of my shopping — especially for Christmas — online for a few years now.
    If you guys are planning to have children, you might want to consider getting a Upromise account set-up. It’s slow earning, but it’s free money for college! Maybe it’ll cover book costs someday! hahaha

    • Caitlin December 2, 2010, 9:18 am

      I’ve heard a lot about UPromise – I’m going to look into it!

  • Sana December 1, 2010, 11:16 pm

    I def need a serious work space to get anything done. My bed does not cut it.

  • Jess@atasteofconfidence December 1, 2010, 11:27 pm

    At least 8 dollars isn’t bad! Excited you are starting the book:)

  • Rachel December 1, 2010, 11:43 pm

    Mmmm, I love kidney beans!
    Looks like a great dinner for $8 🙂

  • Michelle (The Runner's Plate) December 2, 2010, 1:49 am

    I love eating candy canes! Cute decorations in your home!

  • Laura (Starloz) December 2, 2010, 4:07 am

    i am in love with the fact that you snack on candy canes.

    christmas shopping done online is very easy, i’ve got a little to do online but most was done a few days ago

  • Che December 2, 2010, 4:12 am

    This is so exciting that you’ve started on your second book.
    Good luck with the preliminary work.

  • grocery goddess jen December 2, 2010, 5:58 am

    That Chinese food does look good 🙂 I can see why it’s hard to resist.

  • Lauren December 2, 2010, 6:56 am

    Chinese food is always a good cheap alternative. And you make it look so good!

  • Julia @ Brides Up North December 2, 2010, 8:16 am

    Get writing Cailtlin!! Again, well done on your second book deal xxxx

  • Julia @ Brides Up North December 2, 2010, 8:17 am

    Caitlin, not Cailtlin….!!!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin December 2, 2010, 8:51 am

    I try not too eat out too often too, but sometimes takeout is necessary! Besides, when you can get an entire meal for the price of a Starbucks latte, I’d say it’s worth it!

  • Jen December 2, 2010, 1:49 pm

    Of course Megan was picked for the cover, she’s gorgeous and fun loving!

  • Shayla December 2, 2010, 6:38 pm

    Where did you get that fruit holder? I love it! I just use an ugly bowl and I would love one like yours – I love how it’s tiered so that all the fruit doesn’t get mashed! 🙂

    • Caitlin December 2, 2010, 8:36 pm

      Marshalls! They always have bunches of cute fruit holders.

      • Shayla December 6, 2010, 7:17 pm

        Awesome, thanks Caitlin! I love Marshall’s too 🙂

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