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 thought you had a gluten intolerance? Did all the bread and bagels make you sick?
My morning routine includes getting up and getting ready, packing lunches and then waking hubby and having a few minutes to snuggle/plan our day before we take care of our pets and leave for work
My morning work routine is pretty crazy M-F, but on weekends my 2 year old son and I like to cuddle on the couch for a little bit before making breakfast. He usually tells me what he wants to do with the day and then we take the dogs for a walk after we eat. Those pics of Oliva are so precious!
my morning routine is going for a run then getting to work a little early and drinking my largeeeee coffee while reading blogs!
i always eat breakfast and take my time a little, even if it requires waking up a few minutes early
I LOVE Panera! My morning routine is exercise right after I wake up, breakfast, then work on any essays that need to be finished or any chores that need to be done.
My morning routine is similar. Coffee before my 16 month old is up. Then some cuddle time with milk, cheerios, and books on the couch before work/daycare. Best way to start my day!
And I wish Panera had the black bean soup every day!
I like to start my day first off by being thankful for another wonderful day! and then i start thinking about what I am going to have for breakfast. Breakfast is my fave! and i love panera’s cinnamon crunch bagels!!
I always read The Skimm in bed, eat a spoonful of peanut butter, get ready, and they enjoy breakfast while catching up on my favorite tv shows!
I usually wake up, go to the gym, meditate, get ready, take care of the dog, and head to work. I don’t eat until I get to work, which is sometimes almost 4 hours after I woke up. I should probably start eating something sooner.
I’m definitely a morning person…love getting my workout in early, having a smoothie, and watching some of the Today Show before work!
I’m like how you used to be about mornings – I like to sleep in. However, being that I have a 9-5 job, I really can’t do that unless it’s the weekend. My morning ritual involves dragging myself out of bed, showering/getting ready and then taking 10 – 15 minutes to slow down, make a nice breakfast (scrambled eggs with hot crushed peppers on top is a fave) and watch a few mins of reality tv.
Panera is my favorite for breakfast! My morning routine normally consists of taking my dog on a walk through the neighborhoods around my house and then I head home to make a smoothie.
I usually wake up a little before 8 after hitting snooze on my phone a couple of times and rush to get out the door. I’m on the metro for about 40 min to get to work.
On Monday mornings though, I like to go to panera and pick up some everything bagels and a tub of chive and onion cream cheese (love!!) to keep for breakfast for the week!
Most days I’m a wake up, workout, breakfast and read before I start my day. It helps me feel charged and awake for what is to come!
I tweeted the giveaway!
https://twitter.com/holderv37/status/401352833523408896
I get up and get my daughter ready for school. We have homemade blueberry pancakes every morning:)
I love Panera! My morning ritual consists of waking up before the sun to take out the pup and feed him then make myself a “bowl” of coffee and check and respond to any pending emails for work until I am hungry 🙂
Awesome giveaway! I looove Panera!! My morning ritual is hot coffee with almond milk and breakfast (ususally something with eggs) while I check my email, Facebook, and check in on my favorite blogs before I start work for the day.
My morning ritual is helping my 3 beauties get ready for school, while we dance around to music.
I always make a cup of flavored coffee as soon as I crawl out of bed. It’s my body’s signal that is time to wake up!
My morning routine includes hitting the snooze button way to many times! The thought of getting out of my nice warm and cozy bed is just terrible and then as soon as I’m up I’m happy I got up…….its a struggle 🙂 Off to the bathroom to shower and quietly get ready so I don’t wake my peacefully sleeping children. 7:00am rolls around and its time to get the kids up and ready for preschool/daycare. I’m out the door by 7:30. Dropping kids off by 7:45 and to work by 8:00am with my morning cup of coffee in my hands….best time of the day!
Great giveaway………LOVE Panera bagels!
I work from home, so I get up and start working right away. Mid morning, after I’ve crawled out from under my pile of emails, I take a break to work out, shower, and fix breakfast. It’s so great to get something done before doing this I feel like I can really relax knowing I’ve already conquered some tasks for the day.
My morning routine is down to the minute: wake up, brush teeth, shower, do make up, do hair, go! I try to spend as much time sleeping as possible!
Each morning I get up, make coffee, make my bed, and take the dog out before I go running or head to the gym.
My morning ritual is a cup, or two, of a dark roast coffee and usually some eggs while I prep for what my day has in store. On rare occasions my hubby and I go out for breakfast, always a fun time!
During the week I’m as efficient as possible to sleep in as much as I can, but still get some q-time with my little guy before work. On the weekends, we always bring our 14-month old into bed with us to enjoy some snuggles. And we make donuts every Sunday morning.
I love to get up before everyone in the house and drink my coffee and read part of the newspaper. There is nothing better than that first sip of coffee in a quiet house before my boys get up for the day!
I usually wake up around 5:30, drink a cup of coffee… and then workout at 6am. It’s either a pilates class, a strength workout in my kitchen (aka, my gym!), or a run. And then home to shower, eat breakfast, and get to work by 9! I LOVE mornings — they are my favorite time of the day 🙂
I love to enjoy a cup coffee and relax before the craziness of the day starts!
I LOVE Panera 🙂 I usually take the munchkin there for their vegetable soup. Weekday morning routine: I get up, take a probiotic drink some tea while I get myself ready for work and the little lady out the door for daycare. On my days off, I feed her a breakfast of oatmeal, yogurt/fruit and get myself ready for the gym and her the gym daycare. When we get home I make a traditional weekend brunch: eggs, waffles/pancakes fruit etc. I am a morning person since having a baby. I try to get up before she does, but often she wakes up at 6:30 on the weekends.
Hi!! I used to love Panera before I realized I have a (like you, I think?) gluten sensitivity. I’d love to here more about their gluten free breads, etc that you enjoy! Thanks so much!!
Hi!! I used to love Panera before I realized I have a (like you, I think?) gluten sensitivity. I’d love to here more about their gluten free breads, etc that you enjoy! Thanks so much!!
Every morning I wake up, turn on the Keurig while I brush my teeth then make eggs and get ready. I am trying to become a morning exerciser though and will sometimes work out and shower before work…on those days I being breakfast and eat yogurt at my desk, not too exciting!
I wake up and go straight to the gym, otherwise it won’t happen. When I get ready, music helps me get pumped up. Then at work it’s COFFEE!
wow, panera must have paid you a pretty penny. i have never once seen a blog post of yours that even mentions eating at panera, never mind a picture of their food. was that sandwich gluten free?
and, before you even mention it, i am having a perfectly fine day. this post is just the most forced and fake #spon post i have even seen done by a blogger and i needed to voice my opinion.
I really love Panera, especially for their bagels 🙂 My morning ritual is drinking a cup (bowl!) of coffee while watching the news. I wake up early just to accomplish this before I get into the craziness of the day. Plus, I’m informed about what’s going on in the world!
My morning ritual is wake up, make a green smoothie with kale and pineapple and do a few exercises with my kettlebell to wake me up 🙂
I love Panera!!!! My ritual is very rushed……but it definitely involves coffee and chasing my 2 year old around!
I get up early, usually drink a cup of coffee and then go workout. If I have a little time, I catch up on my blogs while snuggling with my dogs before showering and eating breakfast. Then, I’m ready for the day!
My morning ritual is a big bowl of cereal or oatmeal eaten while I get get ready for a full day of colege classes. On the weekends, I like to grocery shop early while sipping on a coffee from Starbucks.
My morning ritual these days is bringing my infant son into my bed with me to snuggle under the covers!
What an awesome giveaway! Our morning ritual includes coffee for mama as soon as possible once I get myself out of bed. Our little man wakes up at 7am so I have to be ready for the day by then. He likes to have a snack, maybe read a story and get ready for childcare. I try not to rush the little guy since he seems to take a little while to wake up. Like mama like son! Out the door by 7:30 and I’m on my way to work by 8. Enjoy the day Miss Gina! 🙂
My morning consists of hitting snooze several times, then I take my dogs out for a walk and make myself a protein shake for breakfast and start getting ready for the day.
I like to get up, get in a run / workout, eat a big breakfast, and shower for the day. Any other routine, and I feel thrown off!
I L O-V-E Panera!! I usually eat there once a week for lunch. I have never tried there breakfast, as I do not have time in the morning. I work 30 miles from home, so I have to leave my house by 7am to make it to work by 8am. So most mornings I am rushing to get the kids up and out of the house. My Go to breakfast is Chobani & Orange and a big 24oz Cup of Wawa Coffee. Pretty lame huh?
My morning always starts slowly with my alarm going off about 20 minutes before I actually HAVE to get up. I love this time because I lay in bed and listen to a meditation CD to start my day off right. I then spend a few extra minutes snuggling my 120lb fur baby in bed (the husband has already left for work by the time my alarm goes off). I then get up to feed the cat, feed the dog (although he doesn’t get out of bed until he hears me put his food bowl on the ground) and then I feed myself! I usually listen to some fun music to wake me up as I get ready for work. I am out the door an hour after I get out of bed to start my work day!
I loooove Panera!! My morning ritual is to get up, take my dog Gibson for a walk, grab some coffee and shower, get ready and head off to work.
I used to work right across the street from Panera … it was my favorite lunch spot! Right now, our mornings consist of getting two boys off to two different schools that go in two different directions. On Saturday mornings, my daughter interns with a choral group in Boston for 3.5 hours and their favorite thing to do after practice is walk to Panera for lunch.
I usually make my breakfast sandwich at home, then go to work and get coffee from one of the Starbucks that is on every corner here in Manhattan, hahaha