Wake Up & Be Awesome

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I know. Wake up & Be Awesome. It’s harder than it sounds when you are busy juggling life. I have a difficult time sticking to a routine as a wife and mom. It seems like either my health, family responsibilities or just plain laziness gets in my way. The one thing I have learned in my 39 years is that how your morning starts affects the entire day. This post is sponsored by Thomas’®, but all experiences and thoughts shared here are my own.

Here are a few things I have found help to start your family’s and your day out right.

Wake Up & Be Awesome

Water. I know that people get tired of hearing that you need to drink water, but it really does help. I had kidney stones 2 years ago and, since then, I drink water, about 8 ounces, as soon as I get up. I have noticed a huge difference in the way I feel in the morning. I try to encourage my kids to do the same. It gets your system moving right off the bat.

Plan Your Day. Grab a cup of tea or coffee, and get your day planned out. It’s not all going to go exactly as you plan, but feels good to know ahead of time what you need to get done. This is something I have learned working from home. I don’t always do everything on my list, but then that task moves to the next day’s list.

Eat. That is not always as easy as it sounds. I have gone almost an entire day totally forgetting to eat. I was so wrapped up in work and the kids’ activities I didn’t eat. I have found there were days my teenagers were doing the same thing. This is where Thomas’® English Muffins and Bagels help us in the morning (and even the afternoon sometimes!). Thomas’ has full size bagels that we LOVE to spread cinnamon butter on, mini bagels that are the perfect size for kids’ breakfast sandwiches and snacks, plus Bagel Thins® bagels are 110-calories with fiber and whole grains. Their Oatmeal Cinnamon Bagel Thins® are my favorite. I can eat them with a banana, and it keeps me full for awhile.

My oldest daughter is partial to the Everything Bagels. I like that we found ones she likes. Now, I feel like she’s at least getting something healthy into her instead of junk food. I don’t like how much access they have to it at the high school. On the weekends and on days off, breakfast sandwiches are our favorite. They can be modified to everyone’s taste.

I love Thomas’ Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/thomasbreakfast/ It has awesome tips and ideas on how to make breakfast fun and delicious.

Move. If I have learned anything from having fibromyalgia, it’s that moving is essential. I had severe problems with bursitis in my hip until I figured out that driving my daughter to the bus in the morning was causing it. Now, I walk her to the bus stop every morning. My hip still has issues, but far less than before. I feel it now if I don’t walk her down and stretch when I come back to the house. Find some way to move. It doesn’t matter what you do really. Walk, stretch, jog…..anything. It helps with fatigue, and it helps your mind.

Chill. After planning out your day, sit and finish your coffee. Read, listen to music or just sit. Don’t rush into chores, work or answer emails. Even tv can be stressful. It has taken me until I was well into my thirties to realize this, but giving your brain a break in the morning and right before you go to bed – essential. If you meditate…meditate. Take a bath. Clear the noise before the day invades.

None of these things are hard to incorporate, but take work at first to push yourself to do them in the beginning. You might have to wake up a little earlier or change up your routine a bit.

On April 3rd, my family and I went into Chicago to see the Shamrock Shuffle. While we were there, we visited the awesome 28 foot interactive trailer that Thomas’ had for the runners. The atmosphere was so much fun. The runners were happy they completed the run and super appreciative of Thomas’ for providing water, bagels and English Muffins.

In the trailer, they had a wheel you could spin for prizes and a GIANT English Muffin to make fun GIFS that they sent to your email to publish to social media later.

In addition, Thomas’ had fun bagel and muffin tables to rest at and two bags stations to pass the time at. (Bags is a game that is also called cornhole in other places.)

Check out the pictures and the video below to see more fun and details of our Thomas’ Breakfast Tour experience.

It was such a fun day, and if Thomas’ is coming to your town I suggest you go visit!