Making Small Changes to my Morning Routine for Little Victories All Day

 This Morning Routine shop with Belvita Bites and V8 Veggie Blends has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NewBreakfastRoutine #CollectiveBias

Do you have a morning routine that works in your house? I always feel like I can never wake up early enough to get it all done. From the moment my alarm goes off, it is a race to get kids out the door and on the bus, then to start my day AND to meet my fitness goals. With a Kindergarten student on a half day schedule, an elementary school student on a full day schedule and a toddler on... well, bucking any sort of schedule, seems like lunchtime can just sneak up on me before I am fully awake. 

Somewhere along the way, I often forget to eat breakfast myself... and often times I grab a poor substitute for fueling my day. Ever experience that mid-morning energy crash? It isn't pretty.

Mornings seem to set the mood for the entire day, don't they?

When I rush out late for my son's bus, or my daughter forgets her thermos and I have to make an extra trip home, it leaves me exhausted and it feels like I play catch up for the rest of the day. Starting the day right, with a good breakfast, goes a long way to keep me on my game and help me accomplish everything this busy Mom has to tackle before noon. 

Breakfast for me is rarely a "sit down" affair. In fact, I recently started grabbing a bag of BelVita Bites Mini Breakfast Biscuits and pouring myself a glass of V8 Veggie Blends. It is an easy way to make sure that I can eat quickly and while on the go.

Since this year I am already working hard to accomplish my fitness goals of losing weight and building strength and endurance, making sure my morning is off to a good start means I have more time to exercise AND fit everything else into my busy schedule.

When everything runs smoothly, I push myself farther. I know my 2015 goals are within my reach as long as I make smart choices.

I recently splurged on a yoga mat upgrade, a few smaller weights, a new balance ball and a new exercise routine, PiYo. It doesn't require any special equipment and will help me on my goal to becoming stronger and more comfortable in my own skin.

At the age of 36, it isn't just about losing weight anymore. I want to feel strong and healthy. This Mom of 3 is ready to roar! 

All that hard work and sweat requires energy so I can get through a strength routine.

I have to say the Chocolate BelVita Bites Mini Breakfast Biscuits are both filling and yummy! It is fun to have a sweet way to start my day. Each serving provides me four hours of nutritious steady energy, and is a good source of fiber. 

And the V8 Veggie Blends are delicious! They contain contain 75% juice, 1 full serving of vegetables per 8oz serving, and are also a great source of antioxidant vitamins A, C, & E. It is a great way to make my morning beverage count towards my overall eating goals. 

I grabbed my supplies while shopping at Target. Right now there is an "In With The New" section packed with great deals and ideas for getting your morning routine and 2015 goals off on the right foot, too. 

Check out the Cartwheel savings now for 20% off BelVita Bites Breakfast Biscuits and 25% off NEW V8 Veggie Blends. Also grab the deal for V8 Veggie Blends that starts 1/25 and another that starts 2/23.

Well fueled, I am ready to achieve all those small morning victories, getting down to the bus with time to spare, getting my daily chores started (and even finished!), and fitting in time to exercise. All of these things not only benefit my busy family, but let me enjoy the rest of my day.

My life may be crazy, but I want to make every minute count! 

Do you have a morning routine? 

Could BelVita Bites – Mini Breakfast Biscuits and V8 Veggie Blends help you achieve more of your goals? 

2015 is all About Perseverance

Every year I set goals for my year. I like the idea of a blank slate, an empty calendar, a whole world full of possibilities.

I don't think setting goals for myself is discouraging. In fact, while in high school and college I kept clear goal setting for my year and beyond. It was partly due to that, I was able to travel and work abroad after graduation. I knew what experience I needed to get the internship I wanted and that in turn led to my teaching job abroad.

Somehow after having children I set aside real goal making and stopped looking beyond a day, sometimes an hour or two at a time.  Life just got too busy to plan, and so often I felt like my plans were always being changed without my consent.

I was listening to a friend's radio program in the car and he got around to talking positively about goal setting. He mentioned how specific, achievable goals can help us to grow and do the things we want to. It made me reexamine my own goals for 2015.

Okay, who doesn't want to loose weight this year? Get in shape? Eat healthy?

I know, me too... but this year I am not going to go with those old stand-by resolutions. Instead I want to try something else. I want to have a theme for 2015. I am accepting the one word goal challenge. This year is going to be a productive and positive year, so I am adopting one word to sum it all up - Perseverance!

I actually put a lot of thought into my word. It comes from a frustration of not sticking with things as long as I should. Yes, I love to knit, but I have yet to stick with a pair of socks long enough to finish them. My son's poor baby blanket is still sitting next to me half-finished. I was hit with an obstacle of time and I just gave up!

That may as well be the story behind most of the half-finished projects around here. I am a creative person at heart but sometimes I get ahead of myself and my skills.

I have picked up a crochet hook half a dozen times, but still can't crochet beyond a simple chain.

I am still fearful to get behind the wheel and get my driver's licence. This will be the year to overcome that.

I also want to overcome my fear of video, and really master both natural presence in front of the camera and get more proficient editing my own work. I have some new software that I am stoked to get started with!

And of course I couldn't leave out something about my health, right? Yeah, I want to push myself to persevere and stick with exercise. One foot in front of the other, every step counts and that hard work will pay off. I just need to overcome the real, as well as perceived obstacles to create the body that I really want, instead of just putting it off.,,,

Yes, 2015 is going to be a great year. Just watch me as I work on Perseverance.

What about you? Do you have a word for 2015 yet? Share what word you hope will embody your year.