This is a sponsored post from BlogHer and Tropicana.
You’ve heard about “waking up on the wrong side of the bed,” right? Some days, that happens. But often, you can get out of that morning funk if you make a conscious effort to start the day off with GOOD. Here are some little things I do to make sure my day gets off to the right start:
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Stay in bed.
No, not all day. But I love waking up and snuggling with my little girl for a while before we start the day. Tickling her, singing songs and reciting nursery rhymes, snuggling and nursing… it’s hard to be in a bad mood with a giggling baby in your bed. Even if you have no baby in your bed, spend 10 or 20 minutes in bed before rising. Stretch really well. Read a chapter in your book. Turn on your iPod and listen to your new favorite song. Relish the softness of your bed.
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Shower and get dressed ASAP.
Many days lately, Anneliese is in a GREAT mood in the early morning, which means she’s able to entertain herself for a little while without needing me. If I can hop in the shower, wash my hair, shave my legs, and get dressed in REAL clothes (You know what I’m talking about, mamas. Pants that zip. No elastic.), I tend to feel better about myself for the rest of the day and accomplish more, too.
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Start with a great breakfast.
I’m not typically a breakfast person. Don’t get me wrong – I love breakfast foods. It’s just that I don’t wake up ravenous, and often get sidetracked doing other things until I get hungry, look at the clock, and realize it’s already 11:30. HOWEVER, I’ve found that if I eat a really good breakfast within an hour or so of waking, I’m more likely to stay on track nutritionally the rest of the day. I’m less tempted to have (grain free) cookies and coffee for lunch, and more likely to have a big salad with veggies and meat in it. What’s a great breakfast, to me? A few strips of bacon and an egg or two cooked in the bacon grease is a classic. Tons of protein and good, energy-dense fats, which serves to provide lots of fuel for my day and keeps me full for a long time.
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Have a plan for the day.
I don’t mean a super-ambitious plan with 15 must-dos. I just mean having a couple of overreaching goals for the day. That might mean seeing a friend in person (any friend, any activity, just to get adult face-time), working on a craft (crocheting half a hat, or cutting out pieces for a baby dress), improving the house (hanging up 4 pictures on the wall, doing a load of laundry, or dusting the shelves), or even just making sure to recharge (going for a walk, or watching a favorite movie). Having a realistic goal for the day early on makes it much more likely that I’ll accomplish that goal. Then, at the end of the day, I’m not left to wonder “Where did the day go?”
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Get some sun.
Early in the morning, stepping outside for 10 minutes or even throwing open the curtains to brighten the room is a great way to start the day. Not only does real sunlight welcome a cheerful feeling, but it also re-sets your circadian rhythm, making it easier to FEEL awake, and easier to go to sleep later.
Tropicana can help put the good in your mornings, if you’re a fan of juice. Each 8 ounce glass has lots of vitamin C, and a good amount of Potassium and Folic Acid. Also, it tastes good if you don’t drink it right after brushing your teeth (toothpaste and orange juice are a deadly combination).
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Win:
You could win a $100 Visa gift card! Tell me how YOU put the “Good” in your mornings! Is there something special you do each morning, to ensure an awesome day?
Rules:
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methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
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on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on
this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about
an alternate form of entry. - This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older and runs from 3/14-4/11
- Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
- You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be
selected. - Click to read The Official Rules
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Be sure to come back in 2 weeks for a chance to win a SECOND Visa gift card!
I wrote this post while participating in the Tropicana Pure Premium/BlogHer program on behalf of Tropicana Pure Premium. I received product information to facilitate my post and monetary compensation for the time to write my post.
Hi! I'm Emily. I'm a Navy wife and stay at home mom of two beautiful children. I cook simple, delicious, grain-free recipes, do crafts, decorate my home on a budget, and keep a happy household. I tandem breastfeed, babywear, cloth diaper, practice elimination communication, homebirth, and co-sleep, but I'm not a hippie.
I try to snatch a few moments to read while my husband is in the shower. It helps me relax a bit before starting the day.
Auriette recently posted..TV- Beauty and the Beast
I get up an hour earlier than anyone else…take my shower and start breakfast before the first alarm clock even sounds. It makes everyone’s day start off good because we’re not hectic and rushed trying to share the same space.
Oops, the first post said ‘error’ so I resubmitted, but now it’s a duplicate post. I’ll put my tweet here in the reply so it doesn’t take up too many slots.
Tweet
http://twitter.com/mail4rosey/status/57314526646910976
I get up an hour earlier than anyone else to keep the good in the day. If everyone’s up and running at the same time we just end up grouchy and out of time to do the things we need to. I get up, shower, and start breakfast before the first alarm clock even goes off.
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/pauline15/status/57311905731198976
On Sunday’s, I will make a bunch of different flavored waffles for my kids like banana waffles, cinnamon waffles, or some awesome recipe I find online and freeze them for my kids to enjoy on school mornings. It’s quick and works great! This way, we don’t feel rushed in the morning!
blogged: http://slehan.blogspot.com/2011/03/win-100-from-blogher-and-tropicana.html
The good in my morning comes from doing as much as possible the night before so I don’t have to stress out.
Thanks for the contest.
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/marison459/status/57280923036680192
Thanks!
Theresa
I put the good in my morning by waking up 30 minutes before everyone else, so I can have a little quiet me time. Then I have the energy to focus on making sure everyone else has some good in their morning as well.
Thanks!
Theresa
A cup of coffee in the mornings goes a long way in helping through the day. Thanks for the contest!
Twitter: js22222222
says:
We get up each morning – that’s good!
We all love oatmeal, so that is a pretty quick breakfast to make & eat! Plus using milk on it makes it even better nutrition-wise. So we’re all off to a good start to the day!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Tweeted too
http://twitter.com/#!/latishajean/status/57244399763066880
tishajean@ charter.net
Honestly not a morning person have to have my coffee first then will eat love oatmeal anytime!
tishajean@ charter.net
I take a few minutes in the morning to do a crossword puzzle…wakes me up and gets me thinking.
My youngest gives me 7 kisses before I drop her off at school. I don’t know why seven but I’m not going to complain. My oldest gets a big hand squeeze and I love you before she gets out. She’s too old to let her friends see her loving on her mommy. lol Thank you!
I will sometimes get up a bit earlier and enjoy the peace and quiet with a cup of coffee before the rush of the rest of the day starts. Good, balanced breakfast is a must for all around here … or moods suffer!
I put the good in my morning, by getting up earlier than everyone else and drinking a cup of coffee while it is peaceful and quiet.
Making the cats get out of bed too. If I can’t sleep, neither can they!
Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<
I start the day with my favorite music and yoga
Twitter: http://ymmat83.blogspot.com/
says:
I make breakfast and serve milk to drink!
Tammy Darling recently posted..Upromise Guest Shopping for Tammy
(http://twitter.com/lpauld68/status/57169699917672448)
Thanks!
I put the good in my morning by eating a healthy balanced breakfast and giving my wife and kids a hug and kiss before we start our day.
pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com
RT’d!
https://twitter.com/#!/natalienweeks/status/57168276169560064
natalienweeks@gmail.com
Natalie Weeks recently posted..How do YOU put the Good your morning
Somedays a good glass of Tropican OJ in the morning is just what you to get in a good mood!
natalienweeks@gmail.com
Somedays a good glass of Tropican OJ in the morning is just what you need to get in a good mood!
natalienweeks@gmail.com
Twitter: susitravl
says:
I try every day to get the teenagers out of bed to give them time to shake off the grouchies before going to school/work. Once we are showered and fed, then everything is good!!
susitravl recently posted..Pork Carnitas
I have coffee and yogurt in the am.
annmuth at yahoo dot com
I sit in front of a wide spectrum mood light for a half hour every morning which improves my mood immensely.
oinkmoobaa@yahoo.com
I love Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice, I drink a glass before going to work each morning.
Twitter: repurrpussed
says:
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/RePurrPussed/status/57125497921998848
Twitter: repurrpussed
says:
I love smoothies. They are great if you are in a rush or if you have all the time in the world. They pack a huge nutritional punch and in the summer when blended with ice they are like a frozen drink! Using fresh fruit and OJ with ice in a blender = win!
i go for a strenuous walk or class at the gym, then eat fiber one and almond milk or egg whites
kolpin4680 at gmail dot com
On the weekends I lay in bed and read, until I have to get up to make breakfast. That is a good morning.
Twitter: mstofufairy
says:
I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/FotoMacro/status/57114356093157377
angie recently posted..flying redbud blossom
Twitter: mstofufairy
says:
When things get hectic, its easy to grab something unhealthy and go. That is why I try to keep the freezer/fridge stocked with healthy on-the-go options like single serve Naked smoothies and fresh fruit!
I have a protein-packed breakfast and it always includes juice. Tropicana is our favorite!
rogsdock[at]gmail[dot]com
http://twitter.com/kittycardero/status/57104493782904832
I put the “Good” in my mornings with music.
I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/Fatally_Flayed/status/57084611049697280
I make sure I have a whole grain heavy first meal of the day.
fatally_flayed at yahoo dot com
I love that my children are adults and I don’t need an alarm clock in the mornings. My mornings are so much more relaxed now that I can wake up when my body says I’ve had enough sleep. Breakfast is usually leisurely and that sets the tone for the day.
hi
I dance around to some salsa while I make a good breakfast. Cheers me up every time.
This is silly, but I always put a fun song on full volume and dance around to it… it gets me excited and energized for the day to come!
I blogged
http://jennaiscorner.blogspot.com/p/win-cool-stuff.html
HobartsMama {at} aol {dot} com
Having bacon and eggs and OJ always ensures a great day! The kids love this! Wish we could have this everyday!
HobartsMama {at} aol {dot} com
My husband is out of work right now. Not good. I get time alone with him in the morning after our daughter goes to school. Good.
I start the day with my Trop50 and plan the day with my husband. Then I meet up with friends on FB..my friends are all over the country and they halp me start the day with a smile.
I put the “good” in my morning by starting with a healthy breakfast and a morning walk. A great way to start the day!
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/pattie43/status/56733752839254016
must have a cup of coffe to start the day