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  • Refresh your Back to School Routine

    Refresh your Back to School Routine

    This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them. 

    Are your kids back in school yet? We just started back last week, but I am personally going back as well, and start this coming week. With everything going on, I’ve decided I need to have more of a set routine to get my days started out right. Here are some tips for any Mom to help you get your day started out right.

    1. Wake up 1 hour before your kids. This will truly make a difference. Even if you’re “not a morning person” you can become one! Having that extra hour in the morning you will be amazed at what you can get accomplished!  For me, it means having time to actually shower daily. If I don’t get up before the kids, I’m more than likely not going to shower. I admit, though, this is hard. Something I’ve found helps me wake up on those hard days to get going so early, is using Clean & Clear Morning Burst. I love this face wash, and it really does give me that morning burst. Though sometimes I like to switch it up with the Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub.

    2. Positive Affirmations! Start your day with some kind of positive affirmation, and you will have a better day. Things still might not go smoothly, but you’ll have a better attitude and can deal with the homework left at home, or missing shoes a whole lot better.

    3. Eat Breakfast. And lunch, and dinner, and drink a lot of water. It doesn’t have to be a big affair, but start the day with something nutritious. Whether it be cinnamon rolls, cereal, or a healthy shake. As my friend over at Our ADHD Story recently said as she’s taking more control of her health “Food is to fuel my body and mind…”. You wouldn’t drive on a long trip without first giving your car gas. So don’t start your day without the fuel needed, and remember to fill up as needed before you run dry. Maybe even indulge halfway through your day with these Raspberry Marbled Mini Cheesecakes.

    Raspberry Marbled Mini Cheesecakes with Splenda No Calorie Sweetener #Moms4JNJConsumer #ad

    4. Go to bed early. This just makes sense if you start getting up earlier as well. This is especially going to help my mind stay alert for the kids as well as my own studies as I go back. I tend to stay up way too late, and then try and get up early, and it just doesn’t work well.

    Ready to refresh your routine? 
    You can save on products like Clean & Clear, Aveeno, and Splenda at the Healthy Essentials website. There’s always a coupon, and right now you can find more than $40 in savings!
  • Rise Early with Optimism

    Rise Early with Optimism

    After writing about How Social Media Effects the Home, I’ve been taking some steps back to evaluate my own life and social media use. I wrote about it with an idea already formed, but through discussion with you guys, I continue to think about it, and re-evaluate my own use of time. I’ve been feeling very overwhelmed lately, and even had the drastic thought of forgoing this blog. I knew that was a bit drastic though, and didn’t really want to. This is my outlet. I needed something to change though.

    I then spent 2 days alone with the 4 kids, 1 dog, and fish. The first night was difficult, and I knew I needed to change something. I continued to think about it over the weekend, and came to a solution, or change Sunday night. I needed to start waking up earlier.

    I realize most people have an alarm they set, they get up at the same time each day, and get into a great routine. I haven’t done this for years. Motherhood, and the fact I stay home with no real place to be each day, had me enjoying whatever sleep I could sneak in. The problem with no routine, is it breeds chaos. Not immediate chaos, but slowly overtime, I found myself lacking.  Things I use to have time for, I no longer did. My patience was wearing thin, and my kids, quite frankly ruled the house.

    I told Mark I needed to get up early. In the past I’ve asked him to wake me with his alarm, but he’s always been a gent and let me continue to sleep. So this time, when I presented him with the option of waking me with his alarm I told him why. Having reasons to get up that would benefit our family, was good enough for him (though the threat of buying my own alarm may have helped too..). 

    Monday morning 6am came and I found myself being swatted with a pillow “Get up. You told me to get you up”.
    “uh. yeah I did.” snore.
    “Get up. Why don’t you hop in the shower, it helps”

    He was right, a shower did help first thing in the morning, and after it I was so ready for my day! I got in some quiet scripture reading, and a bowl of cereal with my husband before he left. I was ready for the kids to get up and eat, and jump into homework before afternoon kindergarten. The kitchen got cleaned, 4 loads of laundry were washed, and I was prepared for our family night activity.

    It was amazing! So I resolved to again wake up early to be ready for the day, and create a little more order around this house. So far this morning, it is working. I’m up, I’ve pondered over my scripture reading, had and fed breakfast to the wee ones, wrote our menu for the week, and still feel energized.

    So I might be a little late in this New Years Resolution thing, but I’m making the change now. Rising early, and keeping optimistic will aid you through your days. Order will be kept, and you’ll feel a little less overwhelmed.

    Now if I could just start going to bed early…..

    Weekly Menu Plan Feb 4th.
    Monday – Potato Egg Bake
    Tuesday – Split Pea Soup with Homemade Bread
    Wednesday – Pacific Rim Wraps with Creamy Citrus Ginger Dressing
    Thursday – Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork Chops
    Friday – Chili Cornbread Pie
    Saturday – Leftovers
    Sunday – Salmon Rolls with Strawberry Mango Salad