6 Ways to Start your Day out Right

I have always loved to sleep. I love my bed and when I was a young kid, I used to pray and thank my Heavenly Father for my bed. As I got older and moved out on my own, I realized how important it was to have a regular bedtime and get plenty of sleep. I realized how much better my day was when I had a good nights sleep. And in the last few years, and four kids later, I am realizing how important it is to wake up early too and Start your day right. 

1. Wake up the same time each day

For me this means waking up each day at 5 am. Yep, each day! 7 days a week I get up at 5 am. I have 4 little kids and I need to get up before they do to be able to have a productive day.

2. Personal Development - ME TIME

I get up at 5 so I can have some alone time. I write in my journal, about a positive experience I had the day before. I read from my scriptures 10-15 minutes and Pray.  I read an additional personal development book. For me this sets my mood for the rest of the day.

3. Work-out (Get Sweaty)

I work-out each morning for 30 minutes. Being fit and working out is so important to me, because I need to be able to keep up with my kids and set a healthy example for my kids. By the time I get to working out there are many mornings when I have an audience of little people watching and some mornings they get down with me and workout. Some mornings it is hard to want to do this, so I have accountability groups, that I participate in to help me keep going and stay motivated.

4. Shower and get ready for the day

If I get this out of the way after my workout, I feel so much better. Getting ready for the day, before I have to start the daily routine with my kids, makes everything less rushed and I can focus my time on them.

5. Healthy Breakfast

Breakfast is a very important part of our day. I make sure my kids have a healthy meal, before heading off to school and we can talk about our day. I love my mornings with my kids!

6. Regular bed time

Like I said in the beginning, I love to sleep. Having a regular bed time is setting yourself up for a successful day the following day. Having little kids has made me realize how important it is in my life to have a regular schedule and that having a routine makes my life go more smoothly. 

Have a Happy day!

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Winding up the end of the year and here are some of my favorite things that I have found in 2014. Some are fitness related, some are not.  Everything here are things I definitely can't live without!

#1- 21 Day Fix!!

It has literally been a life changer for me. This program, coupled with Shakeology, which is also one of my very favorite things, has helped me reset how I think about food. It has taught me the right things to eat and the right portions. Shakeology has helped me overcome my cravings and is a delicious drink that is SO healthy and full of dense nutrition that helps your body get what it needs.

www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/mmakelle

# 2- The Nutri-Bullet

I love using this for everything!! We got it at Costco this summer and use it ALL the time. To blend our morning Shakeology drinks, to blend eggs, making salsa, making spaghetti sauce, anything. And it comes with this awesome recipe book to try all kinds of different things from smoothies to soups.

# 3- Jawbone

This is a more recent love because I got it for Christmas. I wear bracelets all the time and this fits right in with them and you can't tell it is a fitness tracker.  It tracks my sleep, it tracks my steps and helps me set fitness goals. The app connects to your phone so you can also keep track of your meals and calories and water intake. I love it!!

#4- Journals and Notebooks

I am constantly making lists and keeping journals. This is a picture of how many I am currently using. One is a journal I am making for my husband. Around October, I decided I wanted to be more appreciative of him and be more aware of all the good he does for our family. So, every morning I write in this little notebook the things I noticed the previous day that he did to show our family or me he loved us. It has really made a huge difference in our relationship and he doesn't even know I am keeping it. The plan is to fill it up and give it to him for his birthday in a few weeks. Writing down the memories that I have with my kids and keeping track of what I am grateful for. I know there are all kinds of apps for these things, but there is something so great about writing things down.

#5- The Kale Salad from Costco

Costco really should be on this list, because I am there a couple times a week sometimes. This salad is my FAVORITE!! It has Kale and brussel sprouts and all kinds of greens making it super healthy and then it comes with a poppyseed dressing and pumpkin seeds and cranberries. YUM! If you have not tried it pick it up next time you are at Costco!

#6- Mascara

My 2 favorites are Too Faced Lash Injection and Loreal Voluminous Butterfly Intenza. I love 

make-up and getting all fixed up, but with 4 little kids this does not happen every day. So most days it is just a coat or two of mascara and some tinted moisturizer. These are my favorite ones right now because they do not clump and make your lashes look super thick and long.

#7 Mentos Gum

This might possibly be the best gum I have ever had. You know how you chew gum for a long time and after a while it gets kind of grainy and loses it's flavor. Not Mentos gum. It stays smooth and full of flavor FOREVER. Nothing compares to it. And it comes in a giant pack so it lasts forever. The other day I was digging through my church bag and found 3 containers of it! I guess I wanted to make sure I didn't run out of gum at church. 

Hope you all have a happy New Year!