Monday, November 16, 2015

5 Steps to an Easier Morning with a Large Family {& Pioneer Woman Collection Giveaway!}






Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.
 Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul."

-Psalm 143:8





I know that how well a morning goes can make or break a day for some of you.

I wanted to share a bit of my morning routine to help you if you are struggling in this area. These are a few tips that have helped me over the years, especially with our large family. Now it was always a bit different depending on season and what age children there were, but this is what we do now and it works beautifully for us.

We used to do a schedule in the early years but I have learned that a routine works better for me now. I prefer not to be locked into one and a routine is so much more flexible where you can create time blocks for the things you really want to do.

Here are some life savers for me in having an easier morning:

1. Have food ready - I always try to make sure that when I go shopping during the week I always buy a lot of food, especially to cover breakfast. It helps to wake up and know that you don't have to run out in the morning and allows you to get more done at home. I have different children help make the breakfast in the morning too. This helps them too learn to cook and serve which are two important life skills that they will use the rest of their lives.

2, Make sure the children know the routine - To ensure a smooth morning, the children all know what what they need to do. They have a list of what to do in the morning to get ready (wash up, change into day clothes, fix beds, etc. ) and they know to begin their Bible time and school  as soon as that is done. This way time is not wasted with them wandering around, asking you questions, playing, etc.

3. Plan your day and week - I like to use a Calendar and Note app on my smartphone to make sure I know what lies ahead during the week and include everything from shopping lists, working online, kid events, work schedules, and homemaking on it.

4. Prayer and Bible - Always make sure you start the day out right with God. I use my Bible app for this. If you are extra busy you can even use the app to read it out loud to you while you get ready.

5. A basic routine in place - Know what is important to you in the morning and plan it into your routine. Things like Bible time, exercising,  computer time planning might be a priority. Try not to schedule things that are not important during this time like checking email if you don't have to.

6. **BONUS TIP** - be sure to always have coffee and creamer ready to go. There have been days when I am out of coffee or creamer and that is not the way I want to start off.  I want to make sure that I always have what I need get the morning off to the best start and that means, for me, that there needs to be coffee!

Here is my cup of joe this morning that I am brewing that is pouring into my new Pioneer Woman mug that I got last week.



She has so many cute patterns!


(Affiliate links are included in this post)

Have you seen the rest her NEW line of kitchen and bakeware? It is so beautiful! Take a look:

pwcup


pwiron
pwpot

pwdish




pwbowls




So we are happy to announce that we are giving away a surprise gift card to Walmart for someone to win some Pioneer Woman goodness!




You can enter below:





I hope you win!






Please share this giveaway so your friends can enter too!


















93 comments:

Marisa said...

This is an exciting giveaway and oh the cups and colors and creativity!!! Swoon!!

CaroBN said...

Hello!
I would love to have all Pionneer Woman collection, but my favorite one is the dishes one :)

busyknittymom said...

To make mornings do-able, I have my clothing laid out, my most important things to get done in the am written on a list, and the coffee pot ready to start :)

aby914 said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I try to start the morning off right with devotional and Bible reading with my coffee. Getting up before the children is crucial for me! I would love to drink my coffee in any of these Pioneer Woman mugs! :-)

Kaile R said...

I try to start my mornings off right with my Bible and some coffee.

Anonymous said...

I start the day by praying(usually before my feet even hit the floor); having a cup of coffee; and reading blogs like this one on the computer. I would love any of the Pioneer Woman collection. It all looks so nice. thank you

LuAnn @ BackPorchervations said...

What beautiful things! And they would look SO good in my house! :O) Thanks for having this giveaway.

HS said...

I start the morning off right with coffee and jogging.

Mrs. Laura Lane said...

I like the red dishes.

MamaO said...

Love my morning coffee or tea. I want the set of pots and pans! Thank you!

Elizabeth said...

We love the Pioneer Woman

Melissa said...

I would just really like new dishes period. Mine are 20 years old and are showing much distress.

Anonymous said...

Oh wow, love this set. The pitcher and the cream and sugar set, well, all of it is beautiful.

Anonymous said...

All the pieces are just adorable! Morning routine is a deep breathe, warm shower, and prayers with daughter before dropping her off at school!

Anonymous said...

I start my morning with a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee. The mugs are beautiful.
Marion

Amber said...

I have to have coffee to get going in the morning! I think it would taste better in one of those super cute mugs :)

Grace S. said...

I start with a cup of green tea with honey and cinnamon. Love all the new dishes --what a fun way to start the day!

Kori K said...

I want a Charlie the Ranch Dog cookie jar for my youngest son for Christmas. He has several Charlie books and would LOVE the cookie jar!

Unknown said...

I would love to have her Dutch oven!

Anonymous said...

Wow! I didn't know they had this. The timeless cast iron preseasoned reversible grill/griddle or the timeless square cast iron 10.25 in. enamel grill pan in turquoise would be an awesome addition to our large family.

dani said...

Mornings are rough for us. :/ Even when I think I've prepared the night before. But we'll keep trying!
Oh, I just love the whole Pioneer Woman line. What a great giveaway!

okaasan4 said...

I start my morning off by making sure I have my day planned the day before. Having breakfast in order the day before helps, too. I don't always get it perfect, but having a plan certainly does help!

Livia Rachelle said...

I love the floral dinnerware. I do not yet have my own family, but I certainly know breakfast is a must. I want to meal plan. I am trying to build my recipe collection now.

Darcy Carmichael said...

I start my mornings with time with my Lord in study and prayer.

Holly Willis said...

I would love some of the tea cups for my children for Christmas. We do tea time together and read aloud together most days.

Unknown said...

I would have to say that a bit of quiet time for sure - shaunie

Lauren said...

How am I possibly supposed to pick a favorite piece! I thought "hmm I love that" every picture, until I saw the next one and loved it even more! I really like that rolling pin, and the teal dishes, but I think the red floral place setting (especially the bowl) is my favorite! As for starting my mornings? Well.... I am not very good at that! But developing a routine is on my goals list :)

Micah said...

I think my morning coffee would taste better in a Pioneer Woman mug! Exercising in the morning helps my day run more smoothly.

Amy said...

I love watching her cooking show. as beautiful as they are with my kids one can dream in having this nice colorful assortment.

Kari said...

We have a routine, coffee and breakfast all before music practice. If this part of the day is off...then it is all off. Thanks for the encouragement.

Sarah H. said...

I would love to get Pioneer Woman jadite cake stand

Dawn H. said...

I start the morning with a nice hot cup of coffee and good morning hugs when my kids wake up... and coffee cake is good too.

Rebecca P. said...

Love the automatic coffee- I don't know how I did mornings before I learned I could set up the coffee pot the night before and have coffee ready before I even got out of bed!

Verna said...

I would love any of the dishes...they're beautiful!

Unknown said...

Structure and routine help my family function all day (especially in the mornings)! Thanks for your post!

Emily said...

Such colorful and beautiful dishes. I would love to have the PW cast iron grill/ griddle though. Coffee is vital to my morning.

Unknown said...

I love the pioneer woman line! I've been getting a piece or two every time I go to Walmart.

Anonymous said...

Currently have our breakfast set up continental style-like a hotel-the night before. Nothing complicated as there are five kiddos we've got in our homeschool plus two toddlers to boot! Love all of the pioneer woman collection. So pretty.
Amanda

catholicmom said...

Great tips! I too like to stick to our routine instead of a rigid schedule. I use to get discouraged because I wouldn't be able to stick to an hourly schedule but finally realized a routine is much more our pace. I love the Pioneer women collection. I'd love to have a dutch oven or some pretty coffee/tea cups.

Ashley M. said...

Those GORGEOUS plates! They have an ivory type color and a brown set and they are soooo beautiful.
For breakfast to run smoothly, I have to have coffee and me time. If I don't get my 30 minutes of peace (tough for a mom of five kids five and under) then my day doesn't seem to go as well.

Unknown said...

I love my cup of coffee and God. I get up before the kids and have my little time with God to get me threw the day. I love all the things the Ree has. I am so happy that she has made her own line. You Go Girl.

Unknown said...

I love having my coffee with God. I try to get up before my children and be with the lord for a little while. I love all of Ree's stuff. I am so happy that she has a line of her own. You Go Girl.

The Vargas Bunch said...

We have a large family of 8 and homeschool 5 of them right now. With all the schedule we have tried we finally and have one! Granted it might not always go as planned. But the one thing that always seems to get pushed to the side is coffee and creamer in the morning. Im up at 5 in the morning to hit the gym before our day starts and you think i would remember but im, "Ok gotta get them up and start the day". Now i ask myself who can forget with those cute of cups, i guess that what might be missing in my day and might make it go a little more smooth. Coffee in a cute cup!

Hannah grace said...

I would love to win this so that I can get my mom somethin for christmas!!!

Melanie said...

I love the Pioneer woman plates with the fluted edges! I think I would probably purchase the dutch oven though. :) Thanks for hosting this giveaway.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the opportunity to win!

pat

douglassandpat@yahoo.com

Cheryl said...

The thing I find most important to start my day off on the right foundation is to pray and spend that personal one-on-one time with God. I love anything in the Pioneer Woman line!! Would feel so blessed to win any of it!!! :) Thanks for the chance to win.

hjurgelis said...

I like the colorful mixing bowls!

Amber said...

I have to start my mornings with bulletproof coffee! It is the first thing I make to help prepare for the day.
These are beautiful, thank you for doing this giveaway!

Unknown said...

I love all the mixing bowls and they all look so pretty.

Unknown said...

I love reading your e-mails. Thanks for the inspiration. I also try to have a few things prepared before getting out of bed, to keep things running smoother.

plainjane said...

I love the dinner plates & glasses!
Thank you for the chance to win!

Swappin' Spoons said...

Oooh, these look so pretty! Tanks for the giveaway!

megan said...

i'd love to get that dutch oven!

Anonymous said...

Coffee and quiet time!!! I love PW glasses!!! So beautiful and vintage. Love those scalloped plates too :-). tammy

Being Refined said...

I start my morning with a strong cup of tea. :)

I like the Country garden dinnerware set from Pioneer woman. Lovely!
Clara

Unknown said...

I don't have a large family but I always try to be a little prepared for the day ahead by laying out some supper for the next day in the frig. In the morning I can put in the crock pot or just have it ready ti prepare later.

carrie jackson said...

I have just finished painting my kitchen and dining room and the Pioneer Woman red dishes would look so perfect in them!! thanks for the giveaway!!!! :)

Unknown said...

The best way I start my day off is with daily Talking to God, Listening to what God has to say to me,Reading the Bible,Prayer, and Praise to Him. Everyday having a Truly Thankful,Greatful,Attitude of Gratitude Heart.

Unknown said...

I always start my morning with a veggie omelette, fresh fruit, and a great cup of coffee.

Unknown said...

I start the morning off right by taking out my dog for a little walk. :)

OFG said...

I'm trying to meditate each morning.
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

Great giveaway I love reading your blog

Anastasia (@ANAWINSblog) said...

I'm with ya, I gotta have that coffee and creamer in stock!!

Diana Salazar said...

I would love some bowls or bake ware! I adore the patterns Ree has created!

Anonymous said...

I would like to have the Pioneer Woman rolling pin.

Anonymous said...

I would like to have her rolling pin.


Momofsbandeg@yahoo.com

A Long Haired Girl said...

I have already been eyeing this collection! :-) Best of luck to all!

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the blog. Thank you for encouraging women.

Lori said...

Love the red dishes!

Unknown said...

I make sure my kitchen is clean and ready to use the evening before and what everyone needs to take out the door on time is already together including keys , books etc.

Christine Savinelli said...

I would love to have one of her cookbooks!

Unknown said...

Ree is one of my favorites, EVER. <3

Unknown said...

I start off the day making sure my girls know what is expected of them, and a few of the plans we have for the day. I LOVE the coffee cups. They are adorable!

Unknown said...

I love the colors! And all your encouragement. ♡ your blog!

Anonymous said...

I would love to win the cast iron crock.
Lisa O.

Anonymous said...

Awesome but love the cast iron!!!

Theresa said...

I start my morning with a morning run and a coffee!

cc_girly(at)yahoo(dot)com

Hannah Avery said...

I do coffee and devotions to start the day too! Love her jars with lids and straws!

-Hannah Avery

Anonymous said...

Start my day off with coffee & prayer.....the only way to start the day as a homeschool mom. Luv the dishes......the lighter blue set!!! But actually like any of it!!!

Shelly Holverson said...

devotions!

Trina W. said...

Would love to win this! The dishes are beautiful!!

Melinda said...

I would love to have some new place settings. Mine are so mismatched. Thanks for hosting this fantastic giveaway!

14xMommy said...

Good post! I like to make sure I'm up before my children too....it just works better.. :-)

Kristy Jensen said...

I start my morning with coffee and hugs from my children. I have been slowly trying to collect the PW stuff from Walmart. They are all awesome.

Schaefer Clan said...

Wow! I try to start off the morning right by getting stuff done the night before (dishes, dishwasher, clothes, etc)

Misty said...

I fix my hubby breakfast and his lunch for work and then have some quiet time with my Bible & coffee before getting the kids around. The PW stuff looks awesome!

Rebekah Sather said...

Beautiful post, and great giveaway!

Unknown said...

I LOVE her collection! My favorite "animal" is butterflies, so these are perfect for me!

Cheryl said...

I want the The Pioneer Woman Cowgirl Lace 12-Piece Dinnerware Set.

Anonymous said...

I try to start my morning with coffee with the hubby

Penney Douglas said...

I love The Pioneer Woman Collection. I admire it every time I walk by it at Walmart. I love your blog, too!

Trophy and Barb said...

I would LOVE the cast iron dutch oven.

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