Clean up in Aisle 2

I took at trip to my local Jewel this evening to fulfill my last blogging assignment. This week has really opened up my eyes to what and how my family is eating breakfast. This first picture is of what brands/items stand out and catch my eye.

These items caught my eye because they are familiar. These are the types of cereals that I normally buy for my family. When I took a look at this section of the store I found myself using a couple of criteria when deciding on what I'm going to purchase. First and foremost I look at the nutritional values of the cereals on the shelves. When I narrow my choices down then I look for flavor. I prefer cereals with whole grains, fruits, and nuts. I then compare my options by price. I look at the price, the weight, and then make my decision. I don't really care what the box looks like as long as the product is affordable, nutritional, and flavorful. I'm looking for the most economical but likable product. If I were to purchase a new item today it would be this one:

This type of cereal caught my eye because it is something that I haven't tried before and is right up my alley. This cereal made by Post has multigrain clusters, pecans, and whole grain flakes. It is $3.84 a box, right about what I expect to pay for something like this. I don't think that anyone besides my husband and I would appreciate this cereal but it would be worth a try. These types of cereals are not for me and my family.

I don't like to purchase these items because there isn't much nutritional value attached to these products, not to mention the amount of sugar that coats the kids teeth as they are eating it. The granola bars and snacks are located directly across from the cereals. What really caught my eye were these chocolate dipped granola bars.

. Chocolate dipped granola bars, really? I know as soon as my kids go down this aisle that they will gravitate towards these chocolate dipped granola bars instead of the regular, more nutritional ones. I don't understand why companies mess up a perfectly well-balanced snack. If I was going to try a new granola/snack today I would most likely try a product like this:

. This product contains everything that I look for in a snack, a little salt, a little sweet, and a lot of nutritional value. This type of snack screams "energy and satisfaction".

Breakfast by Design

Introducing........Breakfast! Here are my typical breakfast items that we have in our house. Overall, I think that these items work pretty well in our house. There is enough variety to keep me satisfied as well as a variety of hot and cold items. For the most part, the kids will eat any cold cereals that I buy because they eat cereal morning, noon, and night. What is not working in the breakfast department is the variety of variety. When I say this, I mean that I

tend to stick with the same brands and flavors of items that I purchase. I prefer to have "good" cereals in my house but my kids would love to have "sugar" cereals in the cabinet. Another problem I run in to is the price of breakfast items. "Good" cereals are so much more expensive than the sugar ones unless you buy when they are on sale. One items that isn't shown that I have recently run out of is a fruit yogurt that comes with a cup of granola on the top. I love them! My kids know that those yogurts are mine and are NOT to be touched. They are expensive (usually $2.50 for 2 cups) but they are well worth it.

Eggs, the wonderful egg- I always have eggs in the house. You never know when you may need one for a recipe, a go to breakfast-for-dinner, or an egg salad because you have run out of lunchmeat!Everyone in my house eats eggs in different ways: hard boiled, scrambled, in a salad, in a recipe. Eggs are traditionally used in our house at breakfast but at certain times they serve as a dinner item. As a breakfast item, eggs bring our family together. Very rarely do we eat breakfast as a family but when we do, there are usually eggs being served. Family breakfasts are important to me because I usually am not the one making breakfast, that is my husband's forte! One obstacle I find when preparing eggs in the morning is that I haven't come up with a number of different ways that my kids like. Eggs are a health befit because of the protein that they provide but more than that, eggs provide an emotion of a healthy and happy family. If eggs were no longer available to purchase, I would have to seriously consider raising chickens of my own.

Cold Cereal- There is a never ending supply of cold cereal in my house. Everyone in my family eats cereal. Cereal is not just a breakfast item, it is an all-day, everyday item. As a breakfast item, it serves as a quick fix and something that my kids can prepare for themselves. This is important because breakfast time is a rush rush time. A complaint that I hear in my house about cold cereals is that there typically isn't much of variety. I like a hearty cereal that has more than just grain. I like nuts, oats, fruit, etc. My kids would like a sugar based cereal like Lucky Charms or Fruit Loops but I try not to buy those types of cereals. I like that better cereals provide the grains that are needed to stay healthy along with a good taste. If these types of cereals were no longer available, I'd try and find a similar type.

Hearty Oatmeal- This is one of my favorite breakfast items. I don't know why I bought this item the first time but I am so glad that I did! I love this item because it contains everything that I look for in a meal. It is delicious, hearty, and easy to prepare. Thankfully, only I and my oldest daughter seem to eat these oatmeal bowls. What's funny is that I tend to eat this as a lunch or a snack, not a breakfast. I love that it comes in a ready to heat container so it fits wonderfully in my lunch bag. The only thing that it is not good at is the availability of a microwave oven. I can't bring this along with me on a long road trip or to a softball game because there are no microwaves in my car or at the softball field. The benefits of this oatmeal is that it is healthy and tasty. When I eat this item, it makes me feel warm and cozy on the inside. Honestly, I like to eat it while I am snuggled up reading a book.

Cinnamon Rolls-Cinnamon rolls I can do without but my family can't. These are only a breakfast. Just this morning I made 6 rolls of these warm pastries. Yes, I said 6 rolls (I had 6 extra girls camped out in my basement)!I make these because they fill the girls up and are warm and smell great. I don't know how, but the girls know when they are being pulled out of the oven because they all come running and just the right time. I don't believe that these have any nutritional value and that's why I only make them on special occasions (or when I have 6 extra mouths to feed). If these were no longer available to purchase I'd be alright with that but I'd have 9 unhappy campers.

Bevita Breakfast Biscuits- Again, I don't know what ever made me purchase these but I am so glad that I did! These breakfast bars or not only for breakfast but are for a quick pick-me-up or a late night snack. I love this item because it comes in a variety of flavors (apple cinnamon, honey oat, blueberry) and is very tasty. I like the price (about $3.00 for 5 packs) and that they are very easy to transport. I like that they don't have to be refrigerated and are individually packaged. This is important to me because I am always on-the-go. I have a couple stashed in my desk at work, in my work bag, and in my glove compartment. I never know how long appointments will run at the orthodontist, if practice will run long, or if I will have to stay late at work. My kids like these because they are tasty and easy to pack in their lunches. this item has a great nutritional value and is also packaged as an energy enhancer. if these breakfast bars were no longer available to purchase I would be so upset. I love these and have mini heart attacks when the boxes are empty! As I look back at these items all spread out on my table I see that I am missing fresh fruits. That is scary to me. I want my girl's to reach for fresh fruits instead of pre-packaged items. As I look at this picture, I really need to back an effort to make some changes. I know that there are many companies that offer pre-packaged fresh fruit but the money that is charged for this type of product is outrageously expensive. So, if I could have a new product that would help out in the breakfast department, it would be affordable, fresh, easy to pack fresh fruit.

Pure Energy

What is energy? I believe that there a few different types of energy. There is the type of energy that you get when something really exciting is going to happen, the type of energy that you have to have in order to get through your day, and the type of energy that you pull out from the bottom of your soul to accomplish something. The most important type of energy to me is the type that I have to have in order to get through my day. There are just some things that have to get dine in the day: work, homework, extracurricular activities, and getting ready for the following day. I often think about my energy level. I find that at 6:15 I pop up and get my day started. I know that I have to do this so it's just something that I push through. My energy level completely falls off around 2:00. I am ready to go home right around this time. Unfortunetly I can't leave work until 3:45. By the time 6:00 rolls around, I'm ready to sit down on the couch and veg out. At my lowest times of the day, I usually grab a snack. I usually grab a granola, breakfast or energy bar as my snack. Once in a while I'll grab a piece of candy or eat some mints. I don't really think too much about my children's energy level throughout the day, they can run circles around me at any time of the day. I do think about their bedtime though. I'd like them to be in bed sleeping by 9:00 so they are well rested for school the next day. I try and eat balanced meals everyday. I do feel better after eating fruits and vegetables over hamburgers, fries, and friend foods. It seems that after I eat the "good foods" that I feel lighter, have more energy, and just overall feel better about myself. I try and have plenty of "good" snacks on hand for my children as well. I want them to grab healthy snacks instead of chips and candy when they are wanting to eat something. The benefits of having a high-energy day are getting done what needs to be done in a productive manner and feeling better as a result. When I am having a high-energy day I get my house in order, my family in order and my job is in order.

I chose this image because I feel like when I am having a high energy day I can get everything done that needs to get finished. I also feel like as soon as I am finally finished cleaning the house, I can go to another part of the house that has already been cleaned and re-clean it! I feel really crappy when I have a low energy day. I feel crappy that my surroundings are not in order and I feel crappy that all I want to do is sit not he couch and watch t.v. I look back at my childhood and I have great memories of sitting around a table playing games with my brother and mom. I don't do that with my own children near as often as I should. When they look back I want them to feel like they were an active participant in each others lives, something that I really need to push aside the tiredness and get working on. I chose this image from the internet because it really speaks to me as a mom. As a mom, I am always doing things for my family before myself. There are many hours in my week that I really just feel like shouting this out!

Having energy is most important to me in the evenings. The evenings are the time of day when I get to really connect with my children. When I get home from work I don't want to have to start dinner, homework, laundry, etc. but I know that I have to. I want to have enough energy to get through the rest of the night without killing someone in my family! I want my kids to have the most energy throughout their day. Being a teacher, I know how important a well rested child is. If a child is coming to school unfed and without sleep makes it hard for both the student and the teacher.

Now Playing......Elaine!

Main Character Hi, I'm Elaine and I'm the main character in this here crazy adventure also known as motherhood. I am thirty-seven and a mother of three gorgeous girls. Lauren is 13 and the twins, Alli and Brooke are eight.

I am married to my husband of 12 years, Dan and we live in Oak Forest, IL. I teach English as a Second Language in Chicago Heights. This is my first year at this school. I taught 7th grade English in Oak Forest at the same school where Lauren goes. It got to be too much drama to handle so I moved on to bigger and better things. Co-Stars This is my husband Dan. I met him at a bar (where else to you meet your future husband on the South Side of Chicago) when he was fresh out of the military.

I knew from the second that I met him that we would get married,it also didn't hurt that he had nice hair and he was wearing Doc Martin high-tops! We have been together since 1995 and have been married (twice without getting divorced) for almost 13 years. This is Lauren, the oldest of the cast. She is almost 13 and loves every minute of being a teenager. She is super smart, funny, athletic and full of drama.

Her ultimate dream is to play softball at the University of Arizona and to drive a blue Mustang. I fully intend on bribing her into a full scholarship to college. Our deal- if she gets a full ride to college, we buy her that blue Mustang. Hey, I'm not ashamed to admit it. When I am not driving her and her friends to and from anywhere they want to go, we hang out and talk everything girly. Here are the twins, Alli and Brooke. They round out the cast and what a wild ride it has been! I think they are so super cool. They love to bug the crap out of Lauren and make tons of noise but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Ever since I saw the original "Parent Trap" I wished for twins. I couldn't believe that it really happened to us! The "Twin Terrors" as we call them love to be outside riding their bikes, throwing a ball around or playing with the neighbor kids. Even though there are four ladies in the house, I'm the cool chick of the family. I am pretty much one of the most laid back mom's in the neighborhood. My parenting style is to be firm, fair, and consistent. I am starting to wonder if my parental skills are lacking int he consistent category though. I want my girls to come to me when they are having both good and bad days and I want to be as open and honest as possible. My house is always bustling with kids. I know that I better plan dinners for more than a family of five every night because I always have extra kids at my house. I think that I always have extra kids at my house because it is a comfortable place to be. My husband is hilarious and there is always laughter pouring out of our windows. He has adapted to all of the "girl issues" that come with the teenager territory and he really funny about it. The moments that I feel most proud of myself are usually at night. I feel accomplished that even though I work full time that my house is clean (for the most part), the homework is finished and put away, dinner was made and consumed all in one night, and I am ready to start the next day. My mom was a stay at home mom and I feel like even though I work outside of the home that I am doing as good a job as she did with my brother and I. When the house is quiet, I find myself sipping on a nice hot cup of coffee or an ice cold glass of champagne while watching some reality t.v.

My kids really make me proud everyday (wow do I sound like a Mom)! Alli and Brooke have a hard time in school. They are both in Title I math which is a special pull-out group that focuses on bringing up math their math skills.

Brooke has a hard time with organization which absolutely kills me because I ultra-organized. We have to sit with both of them every night and do homework because if we don't it is a mess. I am thrilled to report that both Alli and Brooke made the high honor roll last quarter.

I have to say that I NEVER thought that day would come! Last year they would both tell me that so-and-so got a bumper sticker because he is so smart. It would break my heart because they wanted one of those stupid bumper stickers so bad! Lauren never had any issues with school. She is in all honors classes and scored really high on her high school entrance exams. I am proud of her each and every day when there is no drama being brought home. It may sound crazy but middle school drama sucks! She has a great group of girlfriends and when they like each other, they really like each other!

This internet image captures what it's like to be a mom of all girls. Even though the girls and I argue a lot, most of the time we are having conversations instead of arguments. I tend to speak my mind more than is necessary and it seems to be rubbing of on my girls, especially the 13 year old! That's ok, I want her to speak her mind (when it is appropriate)