Morning rituals + a giveaway
I absolutely love my mornings with Livi. She’ll wake up happy as can be singing in her crib, and I’ll go upstairs to get her. Usually she’ll hand me whatever doll she slept with last night and we’ll sing the “Good morning” song before going downstairs to begin the AM rituals. Breakfast is probably our favorite meal, and we’ll have a mix of fruit, eggs, and oatmeal or pancakes most mornings. While I make our meal, I’ll usually pack up our snacks and water if I haven’t done so the night before. This way, as soon as we’re done, we can get dressed and set off on the day’s adventures. This is usually our routine, unless groceries are getting low… then we’ll have a little breakfast date together. 
Panera is one of our standard options. We frequent there for lunch – especially on the days they have black bean soup – but we also love the breakfast menu. Bagel and smoothie for the little miss: 
and egg sandwich for me.
We share everything. 😉 
I especially love the fact that the ingredients are fresh. The breads are baked that morning by a baker and they crack the eggs as the breakfast sandwiches are ordered. (No microwaved eggs!) Even though I love the food, the company is even better. 
Looking around the restaurant most mornings, you’ll see many types of people. Families, students, professionals, grandmothers, athletes, and in our booth: a mom and her baby laughing with some friends.
Panera was kind to offer a $100 gift card to a lucky reader. Here are the details for this fun giveaway:
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
Leave a comment with your usual morning rituals. What is your favorite way to start the day?
Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winner will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 11/13/13 – 12/8/13.
Be sure to visit the Panera Bread’s page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
<3 xoxo Gina
Thank you to our friend Matt (Sasha‘s husband) for taking these photos!
This post was sponsored by Panera through a campaign with BlogHer. To learn more about the fresh meals at Panera, check out Panera’s head baker backstory. You can also enter The Panera Breakfast Backstory Challenge, which allows you to learn about Panera’s passion for baking while you gain chances to win great prizes, including a chance to win an all-inclusive, culinary experience trip to New York City for two. Thank you so much for supporting my blog and the sponsors who help make it possible. xo
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I start my day by getting my three girls ready for school and healthy lunches packed.
I’m right there with you on the bowl of coffee lol! As far as I’m concerned, coffee is the only way for me to start my day.
I start my day with a bowl of oatmeal every morning! Stick to your ribs goodness!
I’m definitely all about the morning workout, but then on weekends I love leisurely sitting around and making breakfast and enjoying it with family!
A great workout is the best start to my day!
I start almost every (weekday) with my 6:00am bootcamp class, really energizes me for the day ahead!
My day starts when my two month old little girl decides she is ready to eat.
My favorite way to start to day is with peppermint hot tea
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/401840932665835520
I like my early morning routine of eating breakfast at my coffee table while watching the morning news and giving bites to my canine companion-Chauncey.
I love the start the day with an amazing run or yoga class. Then a green juice and soy latte 🙂
I am old-school. I like to start my morning by eating breakfast and drinking tea while reading the paper. If I have time, I love to do the crossword puzzle as well, but that’s generally just on weekends.
I love to start my day with Body Pump and a large cup of coffee!
My fav way to start my day is with a nice hot cup of coffee with a splash of almond milk… Mmmmmm 🙂
My morning routine always includes lots of kisses from my dog Bella and drinking at least 16 ounces of water while I get ready – it’s such an easy way to get a good amount of water in first thing!
Morning ritual for me is pretty simple. I make a cup or tea or coffee and check my email. I do this before I get dressed. It’s my time to relax and get ready for the day.
I start my day by walking my dog, then making my egg white omelet.
I start every day with a cup of coffee, reading the news, & then walking my pup.
a toast and coffee. play with my son and shower
amramazon280 at yahoo dot com
https://twitter.com/pinoysugarplum/status/402008940847702016
i wish i had a morning routine. i’ve never been a morning person so i usually wake up on the last possible snooze and take a rushed shower before i run out the door with a protein bar. i’d love to slow down and start my day off right!
i tweeted too! https://twitter.com/djemmyd/status/402014625194987520
My favorite way to start the day is with a run. Thanks for the giveaway!
i love to start with a long run!
I start my morning with a caffeinated beverage, Bible reading, and then catching up on blogs!
I start my day with a mix of protein and fruit, reading through emails and then my cup of coffee.
On the weekends I love going out for breakfast with my family. No better way to reconnect than on a day we can just relax and enjoy each other’s company.
My favorite way to start the day is with a big cup of coffee!
I always have to start my day with breakfast!
I love waking up and making a homemade latte, getting back in bed with the paper and watch the today show. Heaven on earth! I do love panera, however,–especially their cinnamon crunch bagel with hazelnut cream cheese. Heavenly!
I’m also an early riser and love that hour to myself before waking the kiddos. It makes the entire day go smooth.
I love starting my days with a little water and some blog reading. Once I’m more awake, its time for a true breakfast + a chai tea latte (most days!) Some days I start with a protein bar and CrossFit, and my “real” ritual follows after that!
I wake up, and have a glass of water and then immediately eat breakfast before doing anything else. I can’t function until I have food in my stomach – usually banana + oatmeal + almond butter.
My morning routine involves a hot shower to wake me up, a coffee, and setting intentions for the day. My morning tomorrow actually involves going to Panera to bring bagels to work for our first Healthy School committee meeting! WOO-HOO! Great post!
A protein-filled breakfast!
I start my work day with a morning walk on the treadmill and then a shower before getting ready for work!
Coffee!!!
I always start my mornings with breakfast, listening to my local radio show and reading the news on my Ipad. No one at home is awake but me so it’s my time! 🙂
mornings for me have turned into- already having my clothes laid in the bathroom for me, (sometimes a shower and sometimes not) and then going straight to the keurig for a HOT cup-of-joe!
My favorite way to start the day is with a cup of black tea with milk. I have to have it every morning!
I like to start my day with a cup of hot coffee, blueberry bagels and Greek yogurt.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/402282577416830976
Good Mornings start with 10mins for myself. Hot water w/lemon & milk thistle.
Separate vitamins for each family member by breakfast plates. Make a hot breakfast for all. Boys off to school. Clean up, then momma gets to eat 🙂
definitely coffee and a dog walk! usually at the same time.
I LOVE breakfast with my family. The ritual of brewing coffee, reaching around each other to get to the bacon on the stove, eating in our pjs/robes/sweats, all of it is what defines “home” for me.
https://twitter.com/pinoysugarplum/status/402343605374681088
I love starting my morning slowly with coffee in bed before my morning work out!
My mornings are usually hectic because I can’t pull myself out of bed. But it is usually shower, get dressed, eat breakfast and throw my lunch together before running out the door.
I start my morning with a cup of coffee (black please), do little stuff around the house (make the bed, put in a load of laundry, etc) and then have breakfast before showering and getting ready for work.
I start my day with a hot shower, a walk around the neighborhood with my crazy puppy and a big cup of coffee!