Do you believe that how your day starts has an impact on how things go the rest of your day? I don’t think it necessarily defines my day…but I do appreciate a good kick off to set things on a more positive path! I find it a LOT harder to turn my day around when I start off frazzled and missing the key components to a good morning.

My Recipe For A Good Morning

Get enough sleep. For me, a good morning actually starts the night before. I have GOT to get a solid 7+ hours of sleep in order to manage a smile on my face.

picture only because a sleeping baby is so cute

For awhile there, I was getting up around 5:15 am and then going to bed at 11 pm. Not. Enough. Sleeeeepppp!!! All because I tried to cram too much into my days and would find myself working on things before bed. Not anymore. Night time is for relaxing, so I can be in la-la-dream-land by no later than 10.

Morning Prayer. The first thing I do upon waking is take a few moments to reflect on my life and the blessings in it. It also works to set me up with the proper perspective to go into the day. Nothing beats that quiet time!

This time was a BIG saving grace for me when overcoming binge eating as well. I would pray every morning to love myself how God loves me and treat myself with enough respect to nourish my body and my self esteem. It worked!

Happy Kids. I think the morning when both kids are well-rested and joyful is one of my favorite times of day. They make me laugh and never fail to put a smile on my face. Plus, each new day with them starts with hugs and kisses!

Working It Out!

I love love love love love a morning workout. All the endorphins and sense of accomplishment on banging out my workout early puts me in a GREAT mood. I’m coming around to the afternoon time more than I used to…but still wish every day could start with a nice sweat.

Breakfast + Coffee.

Ummm…does morning without coffee even exist?! I always choose a snack for pre-workout, just so I can save my full breakfast and coffee combo for after the gym. I love getting to savor it and truly look forward to it every day. It’s pretty much the only meal I can sit and savor most days, so it certainly helps me have a good morning. I breakfast!!!

Blog Reading. It likely helps that a little blog reading usually happens on the side of breakfast. This community screams upbeat and positive, which never fails to rub off on me and help carry me through the day.

There you have it. My recipe for a good morning! What would yours be?

You can participate too! Share what makes an upbeat, positive start to your morning by commenting on BlogHer’s Life Well Lived post or entering the $250 sweepstakes!

I think I know an underlying cause for my emotional madness earlier this week. HORMONES! I had forgotten about those suckers and just how much they can affect a gal. Yikes! It’s madness, I tell you. Madness!

However, that realization doesn’t change me wanting a more mindful approach to how I spend my time. I’m still definitely cutting back on the extra posting and working out a schedule so I’m blogging-free on weekends, thanks to pre-writing and guest posters (let me know if you want to contribute!). So, thank you hormones for helping me sort things out for more balance…but you can pass by quickly too.

Birthday For Her, Presents For Me

I let you all know that today is Makenzie’s 3rd birthday in my earlier post. That meant we had lots of special treatment in the FFF household for the little princess today. I didn’t mind too much. I actually scored quite a bit in the process of her birthday love.

First stop, school! Although not just any school day. I had to return shortly after dropping her off for a special birthday snack and celebration.

None other than “teddy bear” sugar cookies with PINK sprinkles. You have to try really hard to picture the teddy bear. I seemed to forget that the cookies spread when baking. Oh, well. The kids didn’t complain…and neither did I.

After snack, I went ahead and brought Makenzie home for the day. Then, asked her what she wanted to do for fun for her birthday.

Of course she wants to play in the fabulous ball pit Auntie “Haha” gave her. Chaos ensues with reminders every 5 seconds to “play nicely with your brother”.

One of these days my sister will have kids and I will have the joy of sharing such gifts with her children. Until then, she leaves me with no other choice than to do this…

Mwahahahaha! Payback, sister! That right there was like birthday and Christmas rolled into one. Love you, Heather!

When the ball situation (hehe) continued to spiral out of control, I suggested the library to Makenzie. That got her attention…but only if she could go in her princess pajamas. Sooooo…

We went. Let the kid enjoy the freedom to parade around in princess cozies before she reaches the age of eye rolls and scoffs. Not that that ever stops me. Ask the dude in the baking aisle during my emergency store run for cookie needs last night.

And just so you know, cookie needs go hand in hand with other needs. Which is why I got very excited to find THIS at the library…

Yessiree. I get to try the Shred for FREE. They have a bunch of other DVDs too!

And the goods don’t stop there. Look at what I found at the consignment store while picking up presents for Makenzie -

Another hiking pack for kids! We have one already and needed a second for Braedon to sit in to be able to do hikes as a family. I have looked for MONTHS! I happened to look down while getting puzzles for Makenzie…and there it was. For $32!!!! Score!

Told ya. It’s like happy birthday to me here today too. Although Makenzie certainly doesn’t mind.

Let the birthday fun continue!!! <--- aka let me finally haul my booty to the store to get stuff for the party tomorrow. Have a great rest of your Friday!

• Did you do anything special for your birthday as a kid?
• What’s the last great discovery you came across unexpectedly?