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

[Debbie Bellows]

tweeted here:

http://twitter.com/#!/bellows22/statuses/17792250742317057

[wcc]

I relax in the morning by drinking my cup of coffee and using my netbook to check email and read the news. Thanks for the chance! :)

[wcc]

I tweeted about this giveaway: http://twitter.com/whitechocolatec/statuses/17839570984902656

[Leah]

Getting up before everyone makes me feel great. I have the entire house to myself...I have four children btw.

leahforlove at aol dot com

[Leah]

http://twitter.com/#!/leahforlove/status/17914700498997248

leahforlove at aol dot com

[Cynthia C]

I have two cups of coffee at my computer while watching the morning news. It's my favorite time of the day.

[Cynthia C]

Tweet:
http://twitter.com/clc408/status/17927601884504064

[marci]

I get up at 5:30 am, so my routine is basic.. shower, wash my face, do my hair, put on make up and get to work on time :)

[Paul Duca]

The most positive parts of my morning routine are:

Making sure I have some breakfast
Brushing and flossing my teeh

[Adrienne]

I try to take at least 10 minutes every morning to meditate while looking out at the world through my window. [It's the calm before the storm!]

[Melissa O.]

Hmm....even with a real job, I get to roll out of bed at 9! Don't go to work until 10am (get out at 6pm) and I live about ten minutes walking from work. The walk to work makes my morning routine great, especially when I'm not carrying three bags!

wolverina401 at gmail dot com

[katfam]

I like to go online and check my email and catch up on the news as soon as I wake up. It helps me wake up gently.

[Jeannett]

Like you, I also start my weekdays out with a run before anyone else gets up. It makes me a totally different person inside and out

[Leona P]

Sit and have a cup of coffee and read a little in my book

[Suzanne K]

My morning routine goes well (and quietly) after I've gotten my daughter out the door to school... then I sit quietly with a cup of coffee

[hj]

I take the first 10 minutes to pet my cats and drink coffee before I turn on the radio or check email.
hmcnaron at gmail

[VickieB]

I enjoy my morning cup of coffee then check email

[VickieB]

tweet http://twitter.com/vlbsweeps/status/18095244620857344

[Alice C]

a strong cup of coffe and some bacon :0)

[katherine]

well first things first,getting myself up outta bed,go get the coffee going,get the kiddles there clothes,then its just crazyiness!wouldn't change any part of it

[Jennifer Miller]

My morning routine is made great when I take my first sip of hot tea, usually it's Double Spice Chai tea. It honest to goodness makes my day so much better.

[Rhonjerm]

A shower & a cup of coffee, gets my morning going.

clemensrhonda@hotmail.com

[Sylvie W.]

I do enjoy my mornings. I have a large cup of tea. I was using 1% milk but have switched to a vanilla liquid creamer; what a difference.

Well, its me, my tea, entering contests on the internet and watching Good Morning America.

[Marie]

I work at night so when I get up in the afternoons my routine is to have a diet coke and take my shower. It helps me to feel awake and refreshed.

wikkiecat at comcast dot net

[Laura]

Besides kissing my DH and cuddling with me sweet children, I love that first cup of tea and hot shower! I would welcome a change in skin care and have heard wonderful feedback from users of this product. Thank you for this opportunity!

[Christine]

I need my coffee to get started in the morning and then I'm ready to go! Thank you and Happy Holidays to you! :)

[Christine]

I tweeted http://twitter.com/Tina12312/status/18306347489566720

[kaholly]

I am a morning person. I rise early, put on the coffee, shower, enjoy my cuppa while I check my e-mails, then start my day. Weather permitting, a nice walk energizes me to be productive.

[Sarah]

Two cups of coffee and two newspapers make my morning.

[Happi Shopr]

I start out with hot tea and my emails.

[Stacey K]

I start my day off with a can of Coke it just makes me smile. Then I check out my favorite blogs.

[Jeff]

I read the paper in the morning which helps me relax.

[Jeff]

I have retweeted.

http://twitter.com/mrcheapo/status/18413286840074240

[Aleksandra]

I have breakfast with my 3 year old in my lap, cuddling. It's our mommy-and-me time before I zip off to work!

[alice]

I get up have a ice cold Mountain Dew and meet my boyfriend for breakfast. He makes my morning's routine great. He's fantastic to me.

[Claire]

Sleeping in longer! ;P

[Jessica]

My morning routine is great because I "wake up" and then take an extra long shower to really wake up. I love using citrus or minty shower wash in the morning. It's so invigorating!

[ANGEL JACKLYN]

I'M INTO A NICE CUP OF "COLA" IN THE MORNING, SERIOUSLY kytah00@yahoo.com

[ANGEL JACKLYN]

TWITTERED ALSO twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/18528769358696448 kytah00@yahoo.com

[Paula Caudill]

I love seeing my daughter's face every morning, it makes my day happy! Paula C.

[Paula Caudill]

Tweet - http://twitter.com/Sexyknickers68/status/18543901161820160

[Tesa S.]

My coffee with flavored creamer gets my morning going.
tesashel225 (@) aol (.com)

[Debbie C]

I sit at the computer with a glass of water and take my time for a while before getting started on my day.

[Debbie C]

Tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/DchrisG3/status/18589205626093568

dchrisg3[at]gmail[dot]com

[Norma]

I'm retired now, so my morning routine is whatever I want (at least most days)

[LAMusing]

I loathe mornings - I'm a night owl. So my "routine" involves staggering around and looking for a diet coke.

[LAMusing]

tweet! http://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/18597380756606976

[Steve W.]

Getting a good nights sleep always makes my mornings better.

[Ambergi]

i relax in the morning with tea and devotions..then the day starts and boom..running till night time!
tattgiff at centurytel dot net

[Ambergi]

alternate rules entry
tattgiff at centurytel dot net

[Debra F]

I usually have 10 whole minutes in the morning to drink a cup of coffee and check my email before the two boys get up and all mayhem breaks out as well all struggle to get out the door by 7am.

[Debra F]

tweeted
http://twitter.com/fairydancer35/status/18621149143375872

[Georgia]

I have to wake up, drink coffee and check my email before I do anything else. Need that quiet time every morning.

gmissycat at yahoo dot com

[Georgia]

Tweeted too

http://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/18668176485122048

gmissycat at yahoo dot com

[Gina @ The Crave to Save]

I love getting up before my family in the morning...I make a cup of coffee and relax with the computer!

gina.m.maddox AT gmail.com

[Gina @ The Crave to Save]

http://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/18683525817442304

tweet!

[Melissa W.]

I relax in the morning with a cup of coffee and check my emails.
alissme72 at gmail dot com

[June Stevens]

My morning routine is getting my son up, he and my husband fed, and taking a 20 minute bath while doing a sudoku puzzle. It is my time and no one can disturb me!!

[Holly]

My morning routine is GREAT! My husband leaves for work early, I get to laze in bed for a few extra minutes after he leaves before getting the kids up, Since he is already gone, there is no fighting over the bathroom and mornings go smooth.

[Erin]

Every morning, I make a pot of coffee and relax for a few minutes while it's brewing. It's one thing I look forward to every morning.

glycinemax at gmail dot com

[Mary M]

I get up 2 hours early so that I can enjoy my coffee, check my e-mail and wake up.
marybug2@yahoo.com

[Mary M]

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/marybug2/status/18742826443481088
marybug2 at yahoo.com

[Rebecca Hackett]

I take the dog for a long walk.

grace45241@yahoo.com

[susitravl]

Waking up with my puppies licking my face and jumping all over me gets my morning off to a good start!
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com

[julieh]

I love a hot shower and a hot cup of coffee to make my morning routine great.

[Jennifer G]

I take a nice hot bath in the morning before work using my favorite bath products.

[Erica C.]

I take a few minutes to do a crossword puzzle in the morning...it's mt alone time.

[Stacy]

I relax in the morning by sitting and enjoying my breakfast and coffee before I start to get ready

[Gena]

I have to take a shower. Even if I had one the night before I just have to get a shower so I can feel clean and refreshed!

[Gena]

I tweeted at http://twitter.com/GMERRELL/status/18793514879946752

[Wanda]

First thing in the morning, I check my email/facebook. Then I shower and get rolling!

[anna t.]

http://twitter.com/hiann88/status/18850405567963136

[Mir]

These days it's the fact that I don't need to rush anywhere - my daughter is finally sleeping normal hours so we enjoy our nice slow mornings, me with a cup of tea and her with some nice oatmeal I make her.

[Richard T.]

I get up before 4 am, shower, shave, dress and walk 1.5 miles to catch the bus to work.

[Richard T.]

http://twitter.com/hity88/status/18850120762130432

[latisha depoortere]

One thing makes my morning and that would be Coffee and laptop checking Email! Great giveaway thank you and Merry Christmas :)
tishajean@ charter.net

[latisha depoortere]

Tweeted too
http://twitter.com/#!/latishajean/status/18864473804636160
tishajean@ charter.net

[Lorri Jeanne]

I usually eat my bowl of cereal while going through e-mail in the morning.

[Jill H]

Sleeping in and then having my morning coffee makes my morning great! That is if I can sleep in (never seems to happen for some reason) :D

[Jill H]

Tweeted

http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/18886490348064768

Thanks

[Daniel M]

just read the news on some sites over a cup o joe, 10 minutes of me time

[Pauline M]

Though I'm not a morning girl by any means, I will usually get up about 30 minutes earlier than my kids to mentally prepare myself for the day.

[Paula Hafner]

I like to play a game of Solitaire on my iTouch before getting out of bed.

[Craig Johnson]

I go to the gym - not only do I feel wide awake, I'm also wide awake!!

[Katie R.]

My morning routines are made great by a wonderful husband who makes me breakfast.

[brittany]

i always check my email and facebook before i start my morning

[Auriette Lindsey]

The best part of my morning routine, when I have time, is to read for a few minutes. I usually have a novel or non-fiction book that I'm working on, and it's very relaxing to just lie back on the bed and not think about the day ahead, just focus on what I'm reading.

[Chrysa]

I like to relax with a good book!

[Chrysa]

tweet http://twitter.com/#!/LuckyJinxy/status/18916343092871168

[Danielle B.]

can my answer be "going back to sleep?". JK. I always enjoy my morning shower. Nice and hot with tons of pretty smelling bath products.

I also enjoy my cinnamon toast crunch. Oh the simple pleasures, right?

[Aisling]

My morning routine requires a cup or two of hot tea, reading my email and checking the news. Then I'm ready to get going. mcgillrmcgill(at)charter(dot)net

[JRG]

Cup of coffee starts every day......

[Krystal]

I get up 30 mins early to get me a big glass of orange juice, watch the news and eat a sausage and egg biscuit.

[Jean F]

I make a pot of black tea every morning

[AEKZ2]

I try to wake up early so that I can have some time to myself before the kids wake up. I'll make myself some hot green tea and check my emails.

[kai]

I wake up have a cup of orange juice and read at least a chapter of my book. I find its a good way to wake up and start positive.

[heather]

In the winter time it is really cold here in the morning so I look forward to jumping in my hot shower!

[Kristin]

First thing is coffee and a biscotti. It's almost a requirement!

[Kari]

My morning routine starts out with a cup (or two or three) of coffee while I check my email and read updates from my favortie blogs.

[Gina Alfani]

My morning routine is awesome . . . I start off with Pepsi while my coffee is brewing and start breakfast for me and my man. We both wake up early before he has to go to work so we can spend quality time to start off the day. Life is wonderful :)

gina_alfani at yahoo dot com