These Are a Few of My Favorite Things {morning edition}

Let me preface this with a little known fact about me:  I am not a morning person.  If it were socially acceptable to be a mom of 2 and sleep until noon, I would do it every day.  I'm a firm believer that no function should begin prior to 9 am.  However, I chose a profession that, while I love it more than anything else I could do in the world, I have to be at work between 6:45-7:45 every day.  I am linking up with Across the Hall in 2nd to play along with her fun linky party!

Without further ado, here are my top 5 favorite things that help this grump get through until 9 am.  

1.  McDonald's Sweet(ish) Tea

Ahhh....  Just typing it makes me salivate. (Yes, I know I have a problem.)  I am very particular about how I order my drink of choice.  It has to be just a smidgen of ice, a splash of sweet tea, and top it off with unsweet tea.  To get my drug the way I like it, I have to go inside to order, but if I go through the drive through, ordering a half cut, light ice tea will get me through the day.  And no, I have never had anyone say, "I'll have what she's having." :)  And please don't judge me for being so high maintenance.  ;)

2.  Breakfast Choices

                     

I love breakfast.  My family is known to have breakfast for dinner at least once a week.  We just can't get enough of omelets, French toast, and pancakes.  But here in the real world, we rush out of here in the actual mornings faster than you can say "junk food."

I always have fresh strawberries in my refrigerator, and unless I am in a break-my-neck kind of rush, I almost always eat a bowl of the sweet thangs while making the five minute drive to my school.  About 4 months ago, I was introduced to Fiber One 90 calorie brownie bars.  It was love at first bite.  Chocolate and strawberries.  Can't go wrong with that.

A few months ago, I purchased one of these handy things from Pampered Chef that makes eggs in the microwave in just a couple of minutes.  If I have leftover veggies from my salads in a jar (another post in and of itself), I add them to some egg whites, pop the mixture in the microwave, and nuke it for 2 minutes.  The result is a fluffy, perfect goop of eggs.  Realistically, I eat these maybe once every other week.  As I previously stated, sleep is just way too important to me.

3.  Aveda Air Control Hairspray

I might live in Indiana, but I am a true Southern girl.  I love my tea sweet, my heels high, and my hair big.  Well, not too big.  But I do believe you cannot finish off a hair do without spraying yourself down with some good ole' aerosol hairspray.  (Yes, I did use Aqua Net as a younger version of myself.)  This hairspray is light, not sticky, and smells like Heaven.  Or what I think Heaven will smell like to me.  It is just perfect for after I tease up my roots just enough to give my hair that extra oomph.  My lovely Secret Pal at work gave me my last bottle of it.  She knows me pretty well.  

4.  Bath and Body Works Dark Kiss anything

So last Black Friday (or Black Friday Eve, since we were out shopping at 6 pm Thanksgiving night), some great friends and I went on a marathon shopping spree.  It was the time of my life, I tell ya.  We had lots of fun and made many fun memories (such as walking through the drive thru at the DQ to eat a late night snack after hitting up the Target), but the highlight of my life evening/morning was stumbling upon this heavenly scent at Bath and Body Works.  One of my friends and I picked up a bottle of body splash and lotion and went on our ways.  Fast forward two weeks later to the Semi-Annual Sale, and the entire line is in the bargain bin because it is being discontinued!  Needless to say, I think the sweet ladies at BBW think I am a hoarder, because I bought every bottle of perfume, lotion, body splash, and quite a few bubble baths and body creams.  I slather on the lotion and drown myself in the perfume every morning.

5.  Pandora

I. Love. Music.  My husband, kids, and I are into so many kinds of music.  We love Johnny Cash.  We love The Lumineers.  We love Lyndard Skynard.  We love Carrie Underwood.  We love Rich Mullins.  We are very eclectic when it comes to music.  I have the Pandora app on my iPhone, which I listen to on my short drive to school.  My station of choice varies from day to day.  Most days I'm good with Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood, but sometimes I go with the Glee station, the Adele station, or the Third Day station.  I sing along like I am auditioning for The Voice (which I swear I will someday--don't laugh when you see me on the blooper real), and it instantly puts me in a better mood.  Once I get to school, the first thing I do is set up my laptopand turn Pandora on again, but this time for my sweet kindergarten babies.  Their station of choice is the Disney station.  It's really a win-win:  They get to listen to clean, fun music, and I get to belt out The Little Mermaid songs.  If your district allows you to use Pandora to stream music, I would highly recommend it!  

Check back next week for more of my favorite things--Beach/Pool Edition!