I love having a good morning…things are smooth as butter, no kids fighting, coffee pot full of warm liquid life, pets getting along, Husband listening to Eminem in the shower. But with 4 people and 5 pets, things can get real crazy, real fast.

Waking up is hard to do…Ya girl is always tired…so to save my sanity and the lives of many, I pre-set my coffee maker the night before. Thank you Ninja! The smell of fresh brewed coffee is usually enough to get me up. If not, my cat Biggie, who lovingly sleeps on my pillow (at 21 lbs), typically gets his post poop zoomies (if ya know, ya know) and I can hear him racing though the house. Up and at ’em!

Duke and Henry (our dogs) get to go outside to do their morning business. Bucky and Cali (cats) get the side eyes out and race to their “spots”, If you’re an animal don’t you dare touch their spots! Duke and Henry come back in, Old man Hen’s (13 years old) gets his morning breakfast and his medicine. He’s got bad arthritis in his front right shoulder and doesn’t use his arm anymore. Duke (7 years old) gets his morning breath/teeth treat.

Ahhhh…COFFEE! After the pets and emptying the dishwasher, it’s coffee time! No time for small cups here. Starbucks has some amazing cups, big, solid and dishwasher safe. That’s what I like. Fill that bad boy up and sip sip away! I try not to use coffee creamer so instead I use my LadyBoss protein powder and almond milk. Tasty & healthy…WINNING!

Between 7 and 7:30 is when I wake the boys up if they haven’t already beat me to it. Boys being boys, they like to get up and play for a bit before any kind of hygiene care takes place. FIIIIINE. I then start to get their breakfast ready…They are sweet & simple kids. Cereal or toaster strudel or pancakes and bacon are aways a solid choice. 7:45 I make sure they have clean masks (stupid covid), full water bottles, charged chrome books and snacks in their back packs along with homework folders.

Boysssss. Time to eat! When they make it downstairs and start with breakfast, I go upstairs and get their clothes together. This is usually only during the Fall/Winter months. Why? Oh, Because boys are crazy and want to wear shorts and a t-shirt when it’s 30 degrees outside…Uhhh NO. I come down and they go back up. Getting dressed, brushing teeth and washing faces…Check. 8:10ish they come down and I do their hair…Yep, sorry not sorry.

Somewhere in there I manage to get dressed and look presentable. Messy bun, sunblock, hoodie and leggings CHECK! We get our shoes on, grab backpacks, Duke and his leash and trot to the bus stop or walk it out to school. Now I love my morning walks with my boys…but I LOVE my morning walks back home. The walks where I put in my airpods, find some Megan thee stallion or Cardi B and let my inner rapper come out. Those are me times. We all need me times!

Getting home, Duke is usually so over the walk. We come in, do a well being check on the other animals and I have another cup of coffee. Matt usually gets home from the gym about 9:30ish and we chitchat for a bit. Then… Time to ride. I drink a straight up espresso (I’d take it straight to the vein if I could) JOKING! maybe. Fill my water bottle and get ready to jump on the Peloton. Whatever bitter/uneasy/anxious feelings I have, I try to leave them on the Peloton. Race past that crap and leave it in the dust. I love this quote from Robin Arzon, A Peloton instructor: “You’ve made it through 100% of your bad days”. That’s right Queen, I sure have! And you know what…So have YOU!

Mornings are tough…but they sure are sweet.

I have no affiliation to any selected companies besides the products I’ve purchase.