Back to School: Making Breakfast Happen

Well, it is back to school for me - officially! This is my first week back at work at the public school where I am a kindergarten interventionist. I am helping kindergartners that need that extra boost in small groups part time this year. That way I can be home with my new little one the other days of the week! I am so excited to be doing something new and to be able to spend quality time with Judah.

I'm not sure about you, but back to school means things get hectic around here! It means getting up earlier, seeing Judah off to my dad's house (he is watching him while I'm at work), coming home later, trying to get a good meal on the table for dinner, bath and bed time for Judah, a little bloggin' time, and a few minutes to wind down with my husband. I hit the ground running in the morning and flop into bed at night.

To help keep things sane, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I thought I would write a few posts highlighting some of those tips and maybe you'll share yours with me too! Nestle wants to help make the transition back to school a little easier for you and your family too! They've supplied me with two gift cards - one to keep and one to give away to a lucky reader to help with the back to school costs.

Each week, I will post a new article about back to school - and each week you'll have another chance to enter to win a $500 Walmart gift card thanks to Nestle! I hope to give you some new ideas for making the back to school transition a little easier AND a little cheaper!

Today's post is all about breakfast.

I am NOT a morning person, so I am always squeezing in an extra minute or two of sleep before prying myself out of bed. My husband has to be up around the same time to be off to work before me. We are coffee drinkers so my husband sets the coffee maker the night before so it will brew in the morning. A coffee maker with a timer setting is a must for those of use who have to get up early and don't like to get up! I love Foldgers gourmet coffee. The hazelnut flavor is my favorite with Coffee-mate's coconut creamer. This is my yummy treat in the morning!! To me this is even BETTER than Starbuck's.

I have so much to do in the morning so cooking breakfast is not high on my list. We always have a nice big breakfast on weekends but for weekdays it is grab and go. Things that you can take with you in the car are even better - especially since I have about a 45 minute drive. That is why I stock my pantry and fridge with things like:

• granola bars
  
• bread for toast with peanut butter
• whole grain waffles (spread with peanut butter)
• Bagelfuls
• bagels and cream cheese
• yogurt
• Capri-sun pouches
• Juicy Juice (my fav is orange tangerine)
• Ocean Spray (or store brand) Cran Apple
  

Skipping breakfast is a big no no - but if it weren't for fast breakfast I can enjoy while on the run, I just wouldn't have time. My favorite on the go breakfast is a cup of Foldger's gourmet hazelnut coffee with coconut cream Coffee-Mate, a glass of orange tangerine Juicy Juice, and a piece of peanut butter toast. YUM!

You Want to WIN a $500 Walmart Gift Card to Help Defray Some of Your Back to School Costs?

You'll have three weeks to enter - each week you'll get another chance. You can enter each week!

Here's what you need to do:

Fill out the form with your name, email, and your favorite breakfast on weekdays (or your kid's favorite).

For extra entries you can:

• Tweet about this give away (up to once per day!). Grab this and post it on Twitter: @CentsibleSawyer is giving away a $500 Walmart Gift Card thanks to Nestle! Go enter HERE: http://tinyurl.com/navsb6

• Grab my button and post it on your side bar or add a text link to this blog on your side bar - then come back and leave a separate comment.

• Blog about this give away and leave a link in the comments section here.

• Post it on Facebook with a link back here then leave a comment here with your Facebook link.

Come back next week for more ways to enter! This Contest ends August 21 at 11:59 EST. The winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced August 22.