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In the past few months my mornings have been completely disastrous. Between taking care of all the holiday shopping, working two jobs, and trying to raise my three kids, I feel very overwhelmed lately. I knew something needed to change though to make my days, and specifically my mornings, go much more efficiently. I was so tried of running around in the mornings with my head not attached. You should see me in the morning prior to making my morning changes- I was trying to change three kids while simultaneously trying to shower. The visual is enough to make you laugh. However, these days I am happy to report my morning are now less stressful thanks to a few small changes. And guess what I even have time to enjoy- my morning McCafé coffee! Interested in how I made these changes?! Keep reading…
Tips for Making My Mornings Less Stressful:
1. Make a schedule the night before on what needs to be done the next day!
Believe me when I tell you that with three kids, if there is no schedule, I have no idea where I need to go. If I leave myself to write my schedule in the morning, I inevitably forget something. By writing my schedule the night before with a clear head, I know I will not forget anything. This will make your whole day, from morning to night, much less stressful. I prefer to handwrite my schedule, but you can readily use an app or phone to do your scheduling.
2. Take a bath the night before!
I try to bathe myself and the three kids the night before. By doing this, I am ready to go in the morning with trying to get all of us ready and out the door by 8:30 AM. For some reason, taking baths at night, is much less stressful than trying to rush it the first thing in the morning. It also allows for a lot less time in the bathroom and more time, having a great breakfast and getting ready for school/work.
3. Lay out clothes the night before!
While most days you can find me in scrubs, the kids are quite picky with what they wear. I have no time in the morning to fight with them, over what they want to wear. So most of that argument happens the night before and by the next day, outfits can be quickly put on. It eliminates the need to rush in the morning.
4. Workout!
Once you are done getting the kids off to school, if you can find some time to work out, that will alleviate a lot of your morning stresses. Working out is good for you physically and mentally. I know once I go for my morning run, I feel so much better!
5. Start your morning off right with McCafé coffee pods!
I am a coffee drinker and will always be one! In the mornings, I just don’t have time to brew coffee like I do on the weekends. I need a quick, easy, and delicious option to have my morning coffee. For this reason, I love to turn to my McCafé coffee pods, which allows me to have my piping hot coffee in no time at all. I simply place a pod in my coffee machine, and in less than a minute, my coffee is ready for me to be enjoyed.
If you are not familiar with the McCafé coffee pods, they can readily be found in the coffee aisle at Walmart. The coffee is made with 100% Arabica Beans so you know you are getting premium quality coffee. I had the chance to taste test out the coffee pods at a Walmart demo and it was love at first sight! I only sampled two of the coffee flavors but there are 8 different flavors total so you know you will definitely be able to find a taste you love. Also, if you do not like using coffee pods, you can also buy the McCafé coffee in premium bags.
I ended up buying a box but I quickly realized that I need to run back to Walmart and purchase a few more boxes. This coffee went in my household between myself and my husband. It is harvested from the rich soils and mountainous regions of the foremost coffee-growing areas of the world so you know you are getting the good stuff! The McCafé coffee allows me to have hot coffee without any prep work involved. It makes enjoying my mornings easy and there is no more stress on waiting for my coffee to be ready.
Since I am now much less stressed in the mornings, I can reward myself by doing a little extra baking these days. I decided to make a McCafé Coffee Mud Pie. This pie came out simply delicious and included the McCafé coffee as a key ingredient.
McCafé Coffee Mud Pie:
Ingredients:
-1 brewed cup of the McCafé coffee pod
– caramel sauce
-1 bag of chocolate decorative candies
-hot fudge sauce
-1 bag of sandwich cookies
-1/2 cup butter
-1/2 gallon Vanilla Ice Cream
-1 tub of Whipped Topping
Directions:
1. Crush Sandwich cookies (use the entire bag) and mix with 1/2 cup butter. This will make the bottom of your pie.
2. Line the mixture of #1 on the bottom of your cake platter. It should be around 1/4 inch thick.
3. Mix 1/2 gallon Vanilla Ice Cream with 1 brewed cup of coffee.
4. Put the mixture of #3 over the cookie crushed bottom of your cake.
5. Add 1 tub of whipped cream to the top.
6. Freeze for 20 minutes and then add caramel/hot fudge sauce and a handful of chocolate candies.
Enjoy! This was a great way to treat myself with actually succeeding with making my morning much less stressful!
Be sure to pick up your McCafé coffee today! f you need more inspiration, check out the Cooking Up Good website. It has recipes, sweepstakes, loyalty programs, coupons and more! What’s not to love? If you’re looking for a new dinner idea or a chance to win some awesome prizes, be sure to check it out!
How do you make your mornings less stressful?
My blog is pretty much my life, and I have to make sure I have a schedule. Otherwise, I’ll forget something!
We do as much the night before as possible. It is a real time saver.
With a teenage son, a husband with a full time job, and a blog on my plate, I HAVE to have a good schedule. I’d be lost without it. I also need my caffeine boost in the morning!
Mmmm, great recipe – LOVE it!!! I agree with your tips, the more you can prep the night before, the smoother the morning goes.
I always shower the evening before and lay out clothes, for me and the kids. Definitely helps save time. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Showering in the evening and preparing the breakfast table before going to bed is a couple of the things I do to make my mornings go easier. I love the laying out clothes and I may just start doing that.
I too do as much as I can the night before to avoid a morning rush. Coffee is a staple on the agenda.
These are some great tips especially since i feel like i am always rushing the morning! I should start picking out my clothes the night before
Starting the night before is a good idea. I spent long enough in the Army that I’m still in the habit of not thinking about what to wear since it was the same day in and day out. My wife would certainly like a little more variety in my wardrobe I’m sure. As for coffee, yes and lots. We drink too much to mess around with the single serves though, McCafe is great but should be sold by the 5 pound bag as well.
These are some great tips. For me a great cup of morning coffee makes my morning less stressful, and gives me a good start.
I do not do mornings without coffee in hand. We lay out the kids clothes, everyone showers the night before and we pack lunches the night before. That way all we have to do is have breakfast and enjoy coffee in the morning.
I seriously love taking a nice bath the night before, and definitely make a list of “to do” the night before. It seriously cuts down on my stress.
I do a lot of things the night before to save time in the morning. I love that the McCafe are now in Kcups. Yay!
Being organized for sure helps in the morning crazies! It never fails when I sleep in late that is the day the car wont start, cant find a shoe, can’t find the homework, someone has to use the bathroom seconds before we are planning to leave, ect ect. Pays to be organized! That pie also looks amazing! If I had that as an incentive to be better prepared I would be super mom!
I should work in some more morning exercise. I always hear it gives you a great boost of energy!
I had no idea that McCafe made a K-Cup now!! I am going to have to look for this at Walmart. I love the exercise in the morning it helps to get your head on straight for the day!
Great tips! We like to lay the kids clothes out the night before too. The mud pie looks yummy!
McCafe K-Cups, these sound heavenly! I usually stop by Mc Donalds to grab my coffee in the morning, so it’s great that I can brew my cup BEFORE heading out the door now!
I didn’t know you could get McCafe K-Cups. That’s great! I got a Keurig from my sweet husband for our anniversary this year, so I’ll have to watch for them.
I do as much as i can the night before. This pie looks so delicious i will have to make one this weekend with the kids.
I love the tips! I have always picked out my clothes the night before and now my daughter does it too!
The pie looks incredible! Gotta try making one over the holidays!
I always prefer to shower at night and lay out my clothes. This way, I have more time for tasty coffee in the morning!
These are great ideas. I always have my coffee set on the timer, that way I just poor my cup and I’m on my way to a more blissful day.
Making a list definitely helps me. I always lay out clothes for the kids, too.
Great tips! And what a great demo to find at Walmart to perk you up during holiday shopping – Yum McCafe! I always check the shared google calendar the night before, lay out clothes and make lunches as well. Anything that doesn’t need to be done in the morning I try to do at night! #client
I would love to try these McCafe kCups! I love the coffee from McDonalds so I am sure these are super delish!
Ok Sounds tasty to me. I will give it a try.