Excited to launch a new series here at LYM. Morning Musings will feature chats with different motivational morning birds doing things that will inspire you to kick off those covers, kill your alarm and GSD!

Kicking off this series is the brilliant and beautiful blogger, Randle Browning.

Randle is a writer and cook in Waco, TX. By night, she runs vegan food blog, Week of Plenty, and by day, she works to get more women working in tech at Skillcrush.

Who are you?

I’m a writer and cook living in Waco, TX, where my husband and I own a pizza restaurant.

On my vegan food blog Week of Plenty, I post healthy, easy, vegan recipes and create vegan meal plans. After adopting a plant-based diet last year to help with allergies and stomach problems, I want to show others how to make the change. I also post a lot of smoothies and smoothie bowls on my Instagram.

My day job is in content marketing at the tech education company Skillcrush. I maintain our company blog and host our video lessons for teaching students (especially women!) to code.

I’m obsessed with my 3 rescue dogs, Sugar, Zeek, and Archer.

3 things you’re inspired by right now?

1) Asheville, NC. I just got back from an RV trip around the U.S. south with my husband, and Asheville was my dream town! Beautiful mountains, fresh air, a clear mountain river for kayaking, mountains to hike up, artists everywhere, no makeup in sight, and DELICIOUS vegan food at every turn.

2) The farmer’s market.

3) The books I’ve been reading lately have really inspired me. Two highlights are The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (a novel structured around the zodiac and based on the New Zealand gold rush of the 1860s), and this little book of interviews between women writers, No Regrets.

What is your current purpose?

To introduce more people to a vegan or plant-based diet so they can improve their health and make the planet better.

What’s your current morning routine?

Wake up, take the doggies outside, drink a bunch of water, get ready for work (i.e., put on yoga pants!), pour some cereal, and get to work in my home office. On weekends I go to yoga in the morning or read in an armchair.

First thing you think about before you wake up?

What day is today, and do I have an early morning meeting? (Since I work in a remote job, my schedule is flexible but also changes a lot.) Usually meetings aren’t before 8, but once when I traveled to a different time zone, my meeting was at 5am! I missed it. -_-

Your morning “Happy” song?

As my college roommate would tell you, I favor calm, peaceful music in the morning. She used to make fun of me because I only played Corinne Bailey Rae’s 2007 album in the morning and ONLY lamps were allowed—no overhead lighting! (I sound charming, eh?)

These days, I stick to calm music in the mornings so I don’t wake my husband, who sleeps later than me. Lately I’ve been listening to some good old Cat Stevens, and I love Kacey Musgraves’s new album, Pageant Material.

Your fave breakfast setting?

I’m outside, the weather is perfect, the sun is shining, there’s a slight breeze, and I have more fruit than you can shake a stick at, a big glass of apple juice, and an enormous stack of vegan chocolate chip pancakes. I feel satisfied and energized but not like passing out into a food coma.

If you could have breakfast with one person, who would it be and why?

Beyoncé. Then I could see what she eats for breakfast and never eat anything else. o.O

JUST kidding. It’s J.K. Rowling. I just want to ask her everything about the Harry Potter characters that didn’t make it into the series. Did I mention I’m a nerd?

Do you believe in dessert for breakfast?

Absolutely. Chocolate “smoothies” ::cough:: shakes. And in the fall I love apple crisp for breakfast.

Your top morning life hack?

I’m sad to say it, but getting off coffee made my mornings (and afternoons) so much better! Now I have decaf or the occasional caffeinated coffee for a treat.

In terms of productivity, I’ve found that I do better if I get some work done BEFORE checking my email. Also, I make sure to close all my computer tabs the night before, so I start with a clean slate.

What mantra do you live by right now?

“Just start.”

I’m one of those people who can get mired down in research and preparation for way too long. I’m trying to just go with my ideas and my instincts when it comes to my blog (that I want to turn into a profitable business!) and other goals.

What are you hustling on right now?

1) My food blog Week of Plenty. Get a free week of vegan recipes (complete with shopping lists, directions for prepping food in advance, and tips for storing and reheating food) right here.

2) Instagram (it feels like a mini blog!)

3) Waco is Still Here (an email newsletter about how weird it is to live in this town)

I’m looking for a video editor to work with to create a vegan video series for YouTube, so hit me up if you’re interested in collaborating!

Your go-to breakfast?

I couldn’t decide so I included my rotation: a smoothie bowl, a banana ice cream bowl, some granola, and fresh fruit. Did I mention I’m obsessed with breakfast?

The last photo on your phone?

This is my Falafel Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing, and I took it to share it on my blog and Insta! The salad was super filling and flavorful with the perfect combination of crispy veggies, fragrant baked falafel, and creamy (vegan!) dressing. :)

Follow Randle on Instagram, Twitter and Bloglovin’! Know any morning hustlers or breakfast lovers for Morning Musings? Get in touch!

Morning Routines: Randle Browning from Week Of Plenty