I have always been a last minute person even before I became a parent.  If I had to be somewhere, the chances I would be on time were slim to none.  Occasionally, I would use my son as an excuse for being late, if you are parent then you know each day is unpredictable with a toddler.

My days start as early as 5:30 AM and I still hit the snooze button at least 3 times before I actually get out of bed. Technically I don't actually make it out of the bed until 5:45 AM. Most mornings as I'm getting ready for work and preparing my son for his adventurous day with grandma. I still find myself rushing to get to work by 9AM. I'm so focused on breakfast, hair, makeup, preparing lunch, ironing clothes and chasing my son around. I had to make things easier and start pre-planning, which is something I have never done. Here are some great tips and tricks I found to make my morning routine easier.

1. Plan your outfits ahead of time

Living in GA the weather can be tricky, check the forecast, you can pick your outfit the night before or plan for the week. I bought a clothing rack to help organize my clothes which saved time when searching for pieces in the morning. Keep your outfits simple and try not to go overboard.  Aim for neutral colors or pair a sweater with jeans, boots/booties and your favorite necklace.

2. Shower the night before.

Some people may not agree with me on this, but saves it time. I love taking my morning showers that helps me wake up. The benefit of showering the night before gave me more time to get ready in the morning. This was a huge time SAVER!

3. Prepare your meals ahead of time

For breakfast try eating cereal, fruit or oatmeal. This will take less time to prepare and have you on your way out the door quickly.

Deciding what to eat for lunch can be challenging. Try preparing your meals the day before or plan for the week. If you are OK with eating the same foods for the week, prepare a big meal to portion for each day and store in your fridge. It is so convenient to grab a container and through it in my bag and GO!

4. Style your hair the night before

Hair can be your worst enemy on those days you are in a hurry. If you are naturalista like myself there so many styles you can do from twist/braid outs, high puff, Mohawk or pull our your favorite wig. You can never go wrong with a simple ponytail.

5. Keep your makeup simple

If you have oily, acne prone skin using a multipurpose foundation or beauty/blemish (BB) cream is key with a good setting powder. Using a BB cream cuts out the steps of priming and concealing. I love using BB creams which helps to conceal  blemishes and provides the right coverage I need for the office.   I am currently using Kiss BB Cream Medium and I set it with a  translucent powder.

Let's talk!

What tips do yo have for getting ready in the morning?