Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Back To School

This is sponsored content by BlogHer and Kelloggs.


It’s not uncommon during this time of year to hear kids say how much they are not excited to be going back to school, while their moms quietly whisper how excited they are for their kids to be back to their school routine.  No matter which side of the matter you’re on, the fact is that it has happened: our children are back in school and we’ve got a new routine to manage.  While I’m certain there are moms out there who are cool, calm and collected about their new routine, I, for one, am not one of them!  In fact, during the beginning of the school year, as I’m adapting to my new routine, I’m feeling a LOT like this:


It seems, in my house, that no matter how prepared we feel for the start of the school year, there’s still a lot of last minute, “Oh No!” sort of moments when we realize that we’ve forgotten to do something rather important!  Unfortunately, sometimes that important thing is allowing ourselves enough time to eat breakfast.  You see, my children start the day off at different times, as the middle school starts an hour earlier than the elementary, so Claire and Iain are off on the bus an hour and fifteen minutes before Ellis gets on; on top of that, Colin doesn’t go to preschool until the afternoon, so my focus is to keep everybody quiet so he can get a little bit of extra sleep during those early morning hours.  Due to this mayhem in our schedule, there are some mornings where breakfast is an extremely easy thing, and some mornings where we’re grabbing something on the go and shoveling it in our mouths as quickly as possible! 

In the midst of making sure everybody has their homework, band instruments, books, hats/gloves/scarves, lunches and the kitchen sink whatever else they may have forgotten, breakfast is typically one of the things that the kids take care of themselves.  It’s no secret that we all love our sleep, which means that we may have hit our snooze buttons a few too many times in the morning, causing a rush in our schedule.  This rush makes breakfast sometimes feel a little busy and overwhelming, but thankfully we are able to manage through it!  Like most days, cereal is one of our best friends in the morning and, due to the size of our family, we always have a LOT of it on hand!  We all enjoy a large variety in our breakfast choices, so it’s not uncommon that there are five or six different cereals in our pantry to choose from, whether it be Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Flakes, Crispix or one of the other great cereals we love!  It’s no secret that cereal is one of those great things that can be enjoyed while you’re still “zombified” in the morning and you’re still trying to wake up! 

The catch, as I previously mentioned, is that we don’t always allow ourselves the time that we need to sit down and enjoy our breakfast.  Some mornings truly are more chaotic than others; these are the mornings that I throw an apple in the kids’ backpacks and toast a couple of Pop Tarts or Eggo Waffles with chocolate chips for them to munch on while they’re waiting at the bus stop.  While I would never make rushing through breakfast a regular part of our routine, I think my kids secretly love this day because they get to have something new and they don’t have to be sitting at our dining room table to enjoy it! 

Indeed, the start of the school year has our family in a bit of chaos, but I know that the chaos will slow down and we will find a regular routine to follow.  Do you have a routine that you follow, or a trick that works well for you to make your morning a bit easier?  Let me know!

--
Here's the fun part!  With this review, I get to give away a $100 Visa Gift Card to one of you fabulous readers!  It's incredibly simple to enter, and you can have up to two entries.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post to enter.  To get a second entry, you may either tweet or blog about this post (including a link to the giveaway) and leave a second comment here, including the URL of your tweet or blog.  This giveaway will run from 9:00am PST (11:00am CST) today, Tuesday September 14, 2010 through 5:00pm PST (7:00pm CST) on Monday September 20, 2010.  The winner will be chosen using www.random.org.  To view the official sweepstakes rules, visit www.blogher.com/kelloggs-rules-6.

Make sure to visit the BlogHer Reviewer Round Up page to check out what other bloggers had to say and to take advantage of 23 more chances to win a $100 Visa Gift Card! BlogHer.com Kellogg exclusive offers page.

Mom's Breakfast Club was started to help educate moms and families about kids' cereal and share the scoop on their nutritional benefits and ingredients.  To learn more about the program, visit www.loveyourcereal.com.


117 comments:

  1. I try to pack my lunch/breakfast the night before but usually I just end up grabbing stuff rather quickly from the frig and cupboard in the morning and eating my breakfast, which is usually a bar of some type, in the car on my commute to work. Not the best system in the world but luckily I'm only one person to worry about.

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  2. I definitely pack lunch the night before and rely on quick breakfasts like mini bagels and cereal.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  3. Thanks for a chance to win! We're pretty quiet in the morning, and we eat something quick-like cereal!
    kmassman gmail

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  4. Depends on the child in our home. Gabriel loves oatmeal or eggo waffles, Isaac loves poptarts or cereal and Elijah will eat just about anything! :) But none of them eat at the same time so I too experience the "rush" at times. But I am up an hour before everyone else so that I can be ready to go myself and have lunches and things packed before they come...then I am a little less stressed and can focus on them instead of myself! With a new little one on the way though it could get interesting!! :)

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  5. Well, I'm really going to sound bad when I say that some mornings, I barely get breakfast without INHALING it because I'm running so behind. Yes, I know, it's ONLY me I have to get ready every morning...but some days...that tends to be a challenge!!! Ha

    I must say, however, that breakfast is a MUST for me no matter how much time I have. I ALWAYS make time for the most important meal so that I'm not a crab until lunch!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

    What a fun giveaway!

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  6. My daughter isn’t in school yet sooooooo—-a food always found on our breakfast table is scrambled eggs!

    pittsy82@hotmail.com

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  7. Tweeted http://twitter.com/pittsy82/status/24526473269

    pittsy82@hotmail.com

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  8. The key to our morning is certainly getting everything ready the night before!

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  9. We love eggs for breakfast and I try to always have hard boiled eggs on hand for a quick egg breakfast!!

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  10. My daughter is just learning to eat on her own, and we turn on some music and try to make breakfast time fun. She seems to like the fact that we do the same thing every morning, even if the food is different :)

    stephanierosenhahn at yahoo dot com

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  11. We do everything we can the night before so we don't have to rush in the morning...pack lunch, pack backpack with finished homework and whatever else is needed, lay out clothes for the next day! Every little bit helps!

    someluckydog at gmail dot com

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  12. I blogged about the contest!
    http://someluckydog.blogspot.com/2010/09/giveaways-this-week-at-moms-breakfast.html

    someluckydog at gmail dot com

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  13. To make my mornings easier, I do all the prep work the night before. The lunch is prepped and in the fridge. Backpacks are ready by the door and clothes are laid out. That is the only way I keep my sanity in the morning!
    thanks
    bleatham*at*gmail.com

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  14. tweet
    http://twitter.com/sleatham1/status/24551455126
    bleatham*at*gmail.com

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  15. We eat cereal quite often around here- what an awesome giveaway!

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  16. Every morning, I eat cereal for breakfast!

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  17. We do the normal.
    1. bed earlier
    2. pack the night before
    3. select all clothing needs the night before
    4. get up early enough
    5. eat on the ride to school (something quick from home)

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  18. We lay out our clothes the night before and we also pack our lunches the day before.
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

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  19. tweeted: http://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/24585834415
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

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  20. Our kids liked school so that made it easier to transition. We made sure bedtimes were in place. We always did everything we could the night before; lunches made, homework done and checked, clothes for next day laid out, etc so there is no rushing in the morning

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  21. Fast is our motto!
    We take quick items along in the car to eat!
    Poptarts, cereal, toast!

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  22. Chaos for everyone. And with more traffic on the road, leaving a little bit early helps. Better to be safe than rushing.
    shutterboo at gmail dot com

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  23. I eat at work - no one's there yet and I read work email over my oatmeal. It works for me.
    shutterboo at gmail dot com

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  24. tweet
    http://twitter.com/Grandma3710/status/24607793624

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  25. I try to prepare food in the evening or just fix something quick.

    natatheangel AT yahoo DOT com

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  26. During Summer we let our little girl stay up late, so the first step for us is transitioning back into an earlier bedtime! It works for us!

    Tara
    giveawayblogs at gmail dot com

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  27. I get myself up and get ready before I wake my son up. Then I can devote my time to only him...and getting him out the door!
    cjcmommy at gmail dot com

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  28. I tweeted at http://twitter.com/cjcmommy/status/24679493455
    cjcmommy at gmail dot com

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  29. I'd love to win! thanks! scg00387 at yahoo dot com

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  30. http://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/24712667519 scg00387 at yahoo dot com

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  31. What a fun giveaway! For schooldays we eat cereal and yogurt.... it makes mornings easier!

    kclements2001 (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  32. We have instant oatmeal in the mornings to have an easy hot breakfast

    ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

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  33. I tweeted
    http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/24718608624

    ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

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  34. My kids like instant oatmeal in the morning
    ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

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  35. I tweeted
    http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/24719941783

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  36. I try to get as much done the night before - bags packed, clothes picked out, etc. It makes the mornings much easier!

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  37. Key with a family of 9 is organization and planning. Menus planned ahead. Everyone has their responsibilties.

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  38. I definitely put lunches together the night before, not enough time in the mornings. On the off chance I forget, I'll hand over some lunch money.

    shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com

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  39. Tweet:
    http://twitter.com/lipstickncandy/status/24768223162

    shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com

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  40. To make my morning a bit easier I wake up 30 minutes before my daughter does. It really helps for me.
    MCantu1019@aol.com

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  41. There are seven boxes of cereal in my pantry now! The one my son likes the most and always goes back to is his Froot Loops. This, from the boy who doesn't like fruit. Go figure!

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  42. http://twitter.com/#!/won2x/status/24781048491

    Thank you!

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  43. I shower and iron my clothes the night before and breakfast is quick like cereal or yogurt with walnuts

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  44. My daughter lays out her clothes and packs her backpack and snack the night before, plus she eats a fairly quick breakfast...cereal or a bagel. We try to get her out the door in 35 minutes. Should be less but she's like molasses in the morning.

    kt1969 at comcast dot net

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  45. Tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/Skaketgirl/status/24794786618

    kt1969 at comcast dot net

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  46. I pack lunch the night before, get everything ready to avoid morning chaos.

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  47. http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/24794758421

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  48. I need lots of sleep the night before or else I'll feel all moody in the morning.

    evil_eva12 at hotmail dot com

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  49. I’m a teacher and I love going back to school every September, but things definitely become a lot more hectic. We all have extra curricular activites, and we have to keep a dry erase calendar in the kitchen to make sure we keep track of everything and that we don’t double book our days!

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  50. My husband and I divide and conquer. He gets the boys breakfast. I get their teeth brushed and dressed. He packs the lunches. I pack the backpacks. I leave for work. He takes them to the bus. He leaves for work. Clockwork.

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  51. Just love your giveaways, thank you so much for the chance to win!
    gmissycat@yahoo.com

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  52. Tweeted your giveaway!
    http://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/24811931325
    gmissycat@yahoo.com

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  53. We just try to get to bed on time and to have as much prepped the night before, showers, clothes chosen, backpacks packed. . .

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  54. http://twitter.com/kdolphins7/status/24823360189

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  55. We look forward to school and fall. It is good to get back in the swing.

    leahforlove(at)aol(dot)com

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  56. my only trick is try and get as much ready the night before so the chaos isn't so bad in the morning
    nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

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  57. Packing lunches the night before and keeping breakfast simple is our strategy!

    ~eunice b
    tigergal01 @gmail .com

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  58. http://twitter.com/tigergal01/status/24860828060

    tweet!

    ~eunice b
    tigergal01 @gmail .com

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  59. We eat fruit and or toaster strudels for breakfast.
    floatingonabiscuit@gmail.com

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  60. get everything ready the night before
    flyergal82 at yahoo dot com

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  61. Just wake up earlier than the kids.

    MCantu1019@aol.com

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  62. I get up 1/2 before the children and get myself ready and then while they are getting ready I'm making breakfast so it's ready when they are done getting dressed.

    s2s2 at comcast dot net

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  63. http://twitter.com/susan1215/status/24898000498

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  64. Back to school, peace after the bus!
    gmissycat@yahoo.com

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  65. we have lots of cereal stocked up so breakfast can be fast. sometimes we pack leftovers to take to go too.
    songyueyu at gmail

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  66. i tweeted http://twitter.com/syytta/status/24899403557

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  67. Tweeted this giveaway!
    http://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/24899406379
    gmissycat@yahoo.com

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  68. I like to keep convenience breakfast foods in the house for those busy mornings. Cereal, toast, fruit. I also will set out bowls, silverware, and cups the night before.
    nbalogh522 at gmail dot com

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  69. tweet
    http://twitter.com/maybaby522/status/24901498696
    nbalogh522 at gmail dot com

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  70. We hae a set routine, cereal for breakfast and all make it out the door in time.
    marybug2@yahoo.com

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  71. I tweeted your giveaway
    http://twitter.com/marybug2/status/24905887714
    marybug2@yahoo.com

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  72. We pack lunches and backpacks the night before so we don't have to rush as much in the morning.

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  73. Tweeted

    http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/24914235993

    Thanks!

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  74. Thanks for the chance! Who doesn't love kelloggs?
    whitbrit AT gmail DOT com

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  75. I don't have kids, but my morning is easier if I lay out my clothes the night before and make myself a "to do" list :)
    adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

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  76. tweet! http://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/24920853653
    adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

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  77. We make school / work days easier by getting up 30 - 45 minutes earlier than we need to, giving us plenty of time to get ready and prepare for the day :)

    jeweledfantasy(at)gmail.com

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  78. My nieces are going back to school and are excited but I know the more strict schedule might get to them after a while lol. Getting a good night's sleep (by 8:30 the latest) and a high fiber cereal breakfast help the mornings go by easily. Also, really sticking to a schedule helps rather than summer vacation attitude :)

    dreamzz12{at}aol{dot}com

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  79. http://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/24956083950

    tweeted

    dreamzz12{at]aol{dot}com

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  80. My kids are in a modified calendar school, so they are used to having classes for a while, having a few weeks off, and then going back again. We really don’t have any trouble transitioning.

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  81. I tweeted http://twitter.com/bsw529/status/24958575655

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  82. Being firm about bedtimes helps my bunch get back on schedule.

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  83. http://twitter.com/tnshadylady/status/24960689391

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  84. We start going to bed earlier about 2 weeks before school starts and waking up to the alarm clock in the morning to get us back into the swing of getting up early. It also helps to lay out clothes and find missing shoes the night before so there's no panic search-and-destroy mission in the morning.

    And I lie...I set all the clocks in the house ahead 15 minutes so my daughter has to put a move on it in the morning but still has a secret 15 minutes before she has to leave..it worked for almost 2 weeks before she figured it out.

    shel704 at aol dot com

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  85. Tweeted;
    http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/24964401938

    shel704 at aol dot com

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  86. I always shower and iron my clothes the night before. I also set out my cereal bowl and cereal or oatmeal and have the coffee set to be made when I get up.

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  87. http://twitter.com/fostertam/status/24965694906

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  88. We start going to bed earlier about 2 weeks before school starts and waking up to the alarm clock in the morning to get us back into the swing of getting up early. It also helps to lay out clothes and find missing shoes the night before so there's no panic search-and-destroy mission in the morning.

    shel704 at aol dot com

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  89. Tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/24966312380

    shel704 at aol dot com

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  90. The best thing we have found so far to make our mornings run well has been doing as much as possible the night before. My daughter takes her shower and lays out her clothes. I pack her lunch and get her backpack together. We even plan out little things like how she wants to wear her hair and what she wants for breakfast. The least that we have to do in the morning, the better.
    Thanks!
    Samantha Daleo
    jamesmadison1974@gmail.com
    or
    jamesmadison1974 at gmail dot com

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  91. We prepare ahead of time. We set out their uniforms the night before, and have most of their lunch packed ahead of time.

    pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  92. http://twitter.com/lpauld68/status/24975402701

    pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  93. Back to school, how exciting is that!
    kytah00@yahoo.com

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  94. Tweeted for you!
    http://twitter.com/kytah00/status/24982228706
    kytah00@yahoo.com

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  95. Picking out the day's clothes the night before makes a huge difference.

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  96. We make sure the backpacks are filled and the breakfast basics are on the table the night before.

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  97. Picking out the day's clothes the night before makes a huge difference.

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  98. We make sure the backpacks are filled and the breakfast basics are on the table the night before.

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  99. I get my kids clothes ready the night before and as much of the lunch as I can ready too.

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  100. tweeted http://twitter.com/annedoggett/status/24987014107

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  101. Sticking with familiar routines keeps things running smoothly

    scoopster(nospam)at yahoo dot com

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  102. Tweeted http://twitter.com/LuigiFranco/status/24995592677

    scoopster(nospam)at yahoo dot com

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  103. Smoothies are a big hit around here. Thanks for the contest.

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  104. blogged: http://slehan.blogspot.com/2010/09/win-100-moms-breakfast-club.html

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  105. The only thing we do is pretty much what most seem to do: Do everything possible while actually awake the night before. The less we have to deal with in the morning the smoother everything goes. Sometimes I even have the eggs beaten and sitting in the fridge and the pan on the stove ready to make scrambled eggs in about 35 seconds.

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  106. I tweeted too:
    http://twitter.com/swisspotluck/status/25013434097

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  107. Hello, breakfast in our house is usually cereal, frozen waffles or an occasional egg with toast. Nothing fancy or time consuming. Thanks for a great giveaway!
    trishden948(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  108. I tweeted on Twitter here:
    http://twitter.com/trishden/status/25014539969

    Thanks!
    trishden
    trishden948(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  109. I prepare as much as I can the night before and have something simple for breakfast like cereal or oatmeal with fruit

    alterna7 at hotmail dot com

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  110. Thank you for the chance--Kelloggs makes our mornings uber-easy
    lkziegler[at]gmail[dot]com

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  111. We are a big milk and cereal family. I figure they are getting good vitamins, protein and multi-grains. As the weather gets cooler, I hope to make my kids love oatmeal and other hot cereals too.

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  112. Preparing as much as possible the night before is the only thing that works for me
    adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

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  113. tweet!
    http://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/25059848322
    adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

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  114. Thanks for the chance, I would love to win this! I like my Kelloggs in the morning after my coffee.

    ReplyDelete
  115. I tweeted this giveaway
    http://twitter.com/tracylr233/status/25069467659

    ReplyDelete
  116. My daughter started her junior year at high school. One thing that helped her was she started going to bed at an earlier time-about a week before school started.This helped the "transistion" a little easier..she also has her clothes picked out the night before.. she has scrambled eggs or cereal for breakfast.
    aunteegem@yahoo.com
    thanks for the giveaway

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  117. I think that the thing that makes my mornings better is when I get up about an hour before The Kids. That way, I am awake and full of coffee, better able to handle breakfast conversation!

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