Quick and Easy

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Olay.

For three years, I lived the leisurely life of a law student. Wait, let me clarify that. The life of a law student is not exactly what you would describe as leisurely, at least in the way sunning on a beach is leisurely or drinking cocoa is a mountain cabin is leisurely. What I mean is that, as a law student, I could set my own routine, working my classes around my personal sleep schedule. Classes starting before 10 AM were mostly out of the question. I would avoid classes that met on Friday altogether. Basically, I would roll out of bed sometime after 9, Monday through Thursday, rush around in an effort to look decent, and slide into my seat two seconds before the lecture started.

How things have changed! Now that I have a real job, I can't show up at 10 AM. Although I have some daily flexibility, I can't set my schedule so that I don't work on Fridays. These days, I'm up at quarter to 7, bright and early, five days a week. After a morning jog, I have just enough time for a shower, a blow dry, a quick skin care routine, and a bowl of oatmeal (with berries, pecans, brown sugar and soy milk, thanks to my fabulous spouse!). And then, swoosh, I'm on my bike for the ride to work. About 12 seconds into the whole process, I am already behind. Seriously. Adjusting to a new morning routine is complicated. It sounds silly, but I have to figure out my groove--namely, how many times I can hit snooze before I absolutely have to get out of the bed, or else.

One of the ways I've sped up my morning routine, is to have a quick and easy skin care and make-up plan. I wash my face in the shower and, once dry, use the Olay Total Effects Cooling Hydration (prior to the arrival of this great new product I used Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion, also wonderful), and then it's a tiny bit of foundation, powder, bronzer, mascara, and eyeliner. A dab of lip shine and I'm done! I can pull off the whole makeup routine in seven minutes, three if I'm in a real hurry. The Olay Total Effects is fast-absorbing, which helps speed the process along. Since my make-up bag has just the essentials, I toss it in my purse before I head out the door so that I can do a quick touch-up before an important meeting or lunch date.

Need a fast-absorbing moisturizer to speed along your morning routine? New Olay Total Effects Cooling Hydration instantly cools and leaves skin with a moisturized fresh feeling that lasts from morning to night. This oil-free daily moisturizer provides 7 anti aging benefits in 1 lightweight formula--complete with vitamins, minerals and cooling mint extract for an invigorating burst of freshness. For more information visit Olay.

For a chance to win $100 from the wonderful (and beautiful) folks at BlogHer, leave a comment telling me what makes your morning routine great. Do you relax with a cup of coffee? Go for a morning jog? Then, visit the BlogHer.com Exclusive Offers page where you will find 14 other bloggers’ beauty stories and 14 more chances to win!

Rules:

• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: (a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post, (b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post, (c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post, (d) Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.
• Sweepstakes ends 5 PM PST on December 27, 2010.
• This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected

Check out the official rules, too, if you like that kind of legal stuff.

Comments

[pat jasmin]

i relaxe in the morning with my tea and email/

[Deci]

tweet http://twitter.com/#!/paints12/status/19429226188902400

[Jessica]

My alone time and cup of coffee makes my morning! i sit on the couch and watch the snow!

[angie]

I love my morning routine because its relaxing. After helping to get hubby out the door and to work, I make me a chai tea latte and sit down with a purring kitty on my lap and check my email.

[angie]

I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/FotoMacro/status/19433286187098112

[Kat Emerick]

I have a cup of tea, sitting on the couch and read the morning paper before I start my day.

[Yvonne Butler]

I get up at five each morning and read and study my Bible. My day goes better. ybutler@oppcatv.com

[Marjorie Whitney]

I'm luhave a job lucky enough to have a job where I don't need to show up until afternoon, so my morning routine is nice and leisurely, for the most part. Coffee, showers, checking email are part of the am must dos.

[barbara wright]

You're kidding, right? "morning" and "great" in the same sentence???? The only way I can even survive the morning is by loading up on coffee and hiding until I'm human.

[scott]

My morning routine during the week consists of my laying in bed as long as possible before panic sets in and I rush around like a mad man getting ready for work. I hate it. LOL Now on the weekends, its bliss. I sleep in and wallow in my blankets until I don't want to anymore...and sometimes I stay there all day.

[scott]

my tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/RePurrPussed/status/19448331038097408

[Lbilady]

The smell of coffee in the morning is what I live for! I have to drink it in a colorful mug, in my robe, and in a recliner with my laptop.

[gina]

Snuggling with my newborn baby boy is my new morning routine & I love it!

[Bonnie P]

I sit down at the computer after I take my daughter to school
bepoia(at)hotmail(dot)com

[sheila k.]

My morning routine includes checking my blood sugar and my email accounts.

[Nicole]

My morning routine is great when I have enough time to check my email and enjoy a cup of coffee or a can of Coke.
nbalogh522 at gmail dot com

[Nicole]

tweeted 12/27
http://twitter.com/maybaby522/status/19490914418294784

[Heather W]

my morning wouldnt be complete w/o coffee
Lovefool827 (at) yahoo (dotcom)

[Amy Delong]

relax with a iced vanilla starbucks drink!
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

[Priscilla]

My morning routine includes: a twenty minute workout and a cup of green tea.

[Priscilla]

I Tweeted! @vegan79

http://twitter.com/#!/Vegan79/status/19495752912871424

priscilla(dot)a(dot)escobar(at)gmail(dot)com

[carol y l]

I start with coffee and almond butter and then hubby and I walk for almost 3 miles.

[carol y l]

I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/dresdenrain/status/19498980417216512

[Marie]

My morning routine is to relax with a cup of hot chocolate (in the winter) or iced tea (in the summer) and read the papers a bit and have a few minutes for reflection before the kids get up!

[Erica Best]

i love the 10 mins of me time it helps me get my day started.

[Erica Best]

i tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/purplelover04/status/19504394219290625

[Margie]

My husband and I always start out the day with a cup of coffee together. We usually try to exercise too.

[Anne]

What makes my morning routine great is getting up at least 1/2 hour before the kids, so I can check email before they get up.

[Anne]

I blogged
http://lunaj14568.blogspot.com/2010/12/blogher-and-olay-giveaways.html

[Gaines Simmons]

The best thing about my morning routine is the "silence, peace and quiet." I am following, liking, joining and subscribing. Thank you for the opportunity.

[Pamela S]

I make coffee and after everyone is out I sit down with my coffee and read my email! Love the quiet time. Thanks.

[Kristina Lemons]

My morning routine is great because my man and I make time to snuggle. hahaha. He started it.

[Sand]

I exercise which gets me pumped for the day!

[Michelle H.]

I love to have my morning cup of coffee and to relax by catching up on the news of the day.

[mistysunrise]

checking my email and doing my sweeps make my morning complete

itsjustme62613 at gm ail.com

[mistysunrise]

tweet

http://twitter.com/MistySunrise/status/19522766428446720

itsjustme62613 at gmail.com

[Patty Hancock]

Every morning I feed my cat, get my husband ready for duty then get my son ready for school. After taking care of my priorities I then make time for myself and shower and moisturize. Then I'm ready for the rest of my day :)

[Patty Hancock]

http://twitter.com/#!/pizzalogger/status/19526641021624320 tweeted

chichibeans at aol

[Daphne]

My husband and I go for a 45 minute cardio rush every morning at the gym across the street. Wakes us up. Gets us moving!

[lisa]

I love coffee, this helps me get my morning off right.

[lisa]

Tweet: http://twitter.com/samasam/status/19529480510906368

[lisa]

Blogged: http://insanityisforthelame.blogspot.com/2010/12/reviews-quick-and-easy.html

[Kim]

a can of diet pepsi is necessary first thing in the morning

[Shari Wright]

I like to get a nice load of laundry started there's just something soothing about the swish of the washer while I kick back with a cup of nice black coffee!!

[Jimmy]

I take a nice, warm shower to wake up

[Shannon]

I have to relax and take some time to wake up, I'll usually check my email

[Jay F]

My morning routine is great when I have a flavorful cup of coffee and something interesting to read while I sip the first cup.

[Jean D.]

My morning routine is made wonderful by my pretty parakeets. I give them food and water and clean their cage, and they sing to me.

Thanks for a great giveaway!

[DanV]

Coffee, yogurt and a 3/4 mile walk to work make my morning great

[Notorious Spinks]

I have started doing yoga in bed and then enjoy a large cup of coffee

[Jamie]

I like to have things ready to go the night before to HELP the morning run smoothly

[rebecca]

One to three cups of coffee before I have to speak or think or any one speaks to me.

[Jacob LaFountaine]

Slam some Diet Cokes

[Leah]

What makes my morning routine amazing is that I don't wear makeup. I do wear moisturizer, but anything else takes too much time. I also don't wash my hair every day, so I save a lot of time (also blessed and cursed with stick straight hair, so it doesn't take much combing).