The Mommy Island

10 Morning Habits That Could Be Ruining Your Day (And How To Fix Them)

2026-07-02T13:10:27.475-04:00

The first hour after you wake up can impact your energy, focus, mood, and productivity. Here's what to stop doing and what to do instead. This post may contain opportunities for me to earn compensation. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Ever have one of those days where you feel behind before you’ve even left the house? Your morning routine has a bigger impact on your day than you might think. The habits you practice during the first hour or so after waking up can affect your energy levels, focus, productivity, mood, and even your physical comfort throughout the day. Many of us unknowingly start our mornings with habits that work against us. Here are 10 common morning mistakes—and what to do instead.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Good Roots

2026-05-20T09:39:06.667-04:00

I grew up playing on the roots of this White Oak tree, estimated to be over 400 years old. The way the roots hang above the hill next to the road reminds me of Frodo hiding under the roots of a tree in LOTR.

Teen Book Ideas: Books My 14 Year Old Didn't Hate

2025-02-01T01:00:00.003-05:00

All views and opinions expressed here are those of my own. This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking and making a purchase, I may receive a commission. Thanks for your support!

I'm a huge advocate for letting kids read books they enjoy. As a homeschooling parent, I have more control over what books my children are instructed to read for their education. With that, we have books that are required reading for our teen, and then he can choose books he reads for his enjoyment. When I'm handing him a book to read for "school," there's a typical groan followed by tons of sighing. It's a pleasant surprise that he finishes an assigned book and discovers he enjoyed reading it! Below, I've listed some books my son has enjoyed reading.

Keep The First Things First Add The Jesus Daily Bible To Your Routine

2025-01-31T12:21:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a product sample for this review. All opinions here reflect those of my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

I enjoy doing Bible lessons with our kids as part of our homeschool, but sometimes, my personal Bible time slips to the back burner to be missed. As a mom with ADHD, I tend to put self-care somewhere at the bottom of my mental checklist, and my personal devotions and quiet time will get lost in the business of doing ALL THE THINGS. Last year, I threw myself into volunteering on a board of directors for a children's sports league, and things all around me started falling apart. My family was frustrated with me, and I was ashamed for turning my eyes away from what was truly important to me! There's nothing wrong with volunteering or helping others, but I forgot to keep the first things first. When I prioritize my time with the MOST HIGH, all the other things fall into their rightful places. This year, I want to encourage you as I encourage myself to keep the first things first by adding the Jesus Daily Bible to your daily routine!

For The LOVE Of READING Author & Book Blogger Giveaway Hop Sign Ups

2025-01-16T11:57:00.005-05:00

For The LOVE Of READING, Giveaway Hop runs February 1, 12:00 am ET, through February 28, 11:59 pm ET! All bloggers are invited to join us for this event with a bookish theme and no prize minimum! Authors and bloggers, sign up below by adding your link.

Cold Outside? Stay In For A Family Game Night With Winning Moves!

2024-12-07T01:00:00.005-05:00

I received products in exchange for this post. All views and opinions here reflect those of my own. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Welcome to our annual December Giveaway Hop! Winter is coming, but we have games from Winning Moves Games, so let it snow! We are a gaming family. We love playing card games, board games, and video games together! There's something about the colder weather that makes us want to stay home and spend quality time together, and Winning Moves brings us to the table for fun. Check out the new family games and visit their site to help check off your holiday shopping list! Read more »

Winter Is Coming So Let It Snow $100 Giveaway!

2024-12-01T10:36:00.002-05:00

Waking up on this cold December morning, I looked out our window to see over three inches of snow on the ground, and it seemed like the perfect way to start the month. However, you're starting the month, I hope that you take a moment to visit our partnering blogs and enter this fun giveaway for a chance to win $100. Stay warm, friends! Read more »

Super Stocking Stuffer Ideas From Winning Moves Games!

2024-11-09T01:00:00.003-05:00

I received products in exchange for this post. All views and opinions here reflect those of my own. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Welcome to our annual Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop! We're excited for the holidays and a chance to share our favorite stocking stuffer ideas along with the chance to win fabulous prizes! Check out the latest games from Winning Moves below and enter for your chance to win a $150 Winner's Choice Game Package!

Giving Season Super Stocking Stuffer $100 Cash Giveaway!

2024-11-01T01:00:00.009-04:00

Wishing you a happy November! With the holidays just around the corner, giving is in the air! Whether you're giving thanks or giving gifts we wish you the best this November. We're giving away $100 in our monthly event sponsored by an amazing group of bloggers. Visit their sites and enter for a chance to win the cash below.
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Have a Howling Good Time With Winning Moves Games!

2024-10-05T01:00:00.002-04:00

I received products in exchange for this post. All views and opinions here reflect those of my own. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Have a howling good time with us as you enter for fabulous prizes on the Howl-o-ween Giveaway Hop! Winning Moves Games has the games to make your family howl with laughter and you don't have to wait for a full moon! Check out the latest games from Winning Moves below and enter for a chance to win a $150 Winner's Choice Game Package! Be sure to come back daily for bonus entries.

Fun for younger learners, it's BOGGLE® JR.

With Boggle Jr. your preschooler will transform letters into words! Two different matching games encourage various skills and levels with fun, colorful pictures. Two-sided cards have 3-letter words on one side and 4-letter words on the other. In Match It/Spell It, children look at the picture and word and find the matching letters, using the Boggle Jr. letter cubes, to spell out the word. In Cover It children use the word shield to cover the word and then spell (from memory) without seeing the letters.

For the puzzle lover, it's Instant Insanity®

The classic colored-cubes puzzle from the 1960's is back to tease your brain! Don't let the appearance of these simple colored cubes fool you. The solution to the Instant Insanity puzzle is much trickier than it seems at first glance.

Fun for animal lovers, it's Fuzzy Butts™

What do zebras, pigs, chickens, skunks, cats, and dogs all have in common? FUZZY BUTTS! Fuzzy Butts is a fun, fast, animal-lover game that'll crack you up! For players ages 8 and up.

Giveaway Time!

One lucky entrant selected by the entry form will receive a $150 Winning Moves Games prize package! Open to entrants in the US (Sorry no Hawaii, Alaska), 18 years and older. Sorry No P.O. boxes. The winner will choose approximately $150 in games from Winning Moves USA. Games may be substituted at the sponsor's discretion without notification. Open for entry from 10/05/2024- 10/26/2024 at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to the notification email and follow the directions to claim the prize or a new winner will be selected. The Mommy Island is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

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Reach Out And Help Someone This October! $100 Giveaway!

2024-10-01T01:01:00.007-04:00

Wishing you all the best in October! For the last few days, our family has been glued to the TV watching all the news from each state and city trying to recover from Hurricane Helene. We called our friends who live in Florida to check on them, and we're so thankful they're safe and sound. Our family has traveled through several places walloped by flooding, and seeing what's left of Chimney Rock, NC breaks my heart. While I write this post, my hope today is that each person reading this will take a moment to pray for the hurricane and flood victims or send a donation to help. Read more »

Kickoff The Holidays With Winning Moves Games!

2024-09-07T01:00:00.008-04:00

I received products in exchange for this post. All views and opinions here reflect those of my own. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Welcome to the September Holiday Kickoff Giveaway Hop! After a nice long summer break, we're excited to get back to hopping with our favorite bloggers from Blogger Talk. Whether you're ready to celebrate fall, the start of football season, or cooler temperatures Winning Moves Games has the games to bring your family back to the table. Check out the latest games from Winning Moves below and enter for a chance to win a $150 Winner's Choice Game Package! Don't forget to come back daily for bonus entries.

September's Falling For Cash $100 Giveaway!

2024-09-01T01:00:00.001-04:00

Happy September! Whether you're planning a vacation, a back-to-school shopping trip, or just need to pay some bills $100 could help. We're offering our readers a chance to win BIG with our falling-for-cash giveaway!

Deep Dive Into Shark Facts with National Geographic Kids SHARKFEST Giveaway!

2024-07-13T12:03:00.001-04:00

I received the titles mentioned below in exchange for this post. This post contains affiliate links. All views and opinions here reflect those of my own. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.
Every July we turn our attention to the fascinating creatures of the sea for a week of shark fun. This past week we've done a deep dive into all things sharks but the learning doesn't have to stop! National Geographic Kids has the books to keep you and your kids engaged in shark exploration all summer long. Check out five fin-tastic titles full of shark knowledge nuggets, plus enter the giveaway for a chance to win the SHARKFEST prize package.

Finding the Perfect Backpack for College

2024-06-30T21:50:00.001-04:00

This post is in partnership with Responsival. All views and opinions here reflect those of my own.

When you're a senior in high school all of your time seems to lead to graduation but when graduation day arrives you're surprised at how fast it all went. At least that's how I felt on my graduation day. Even with prepping for college, the reality of moving on beyond high school hit at my graduation party. I received a lot of heartfelt gifts, cards, cash, and a few needed items. One gift I received at my graduation party was a book bag that would become my favorite gift as it made me smile amid the stressful days of rushing from class to class. Having the right backpack for college can help set you up for success from day one. Here are a few ideas to think about when shopping for your own backpack for college or when shopping for a new graduate.

Dig Into The Joy of Gardening With New Book THE SOIL IN JACKIE'S GARDEN

2024-06-20T16:59:00.002-04:00

This post is in partnership with Publicity Prose. All views and opinions here reflect those of my own. This post contains affiliate links, by clicking and making a purchase I may receive a commission. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

National Garden Week may have already passed but my kids are always ready to test out their green thumb and learn more about plants and what makes them grow. As a homeschooling family, we believe that learning doesn't stop just because the seasons change. A few years ago, our son asked for a composter for his birthday. We were amused by his wish, but it was practical and would help cut down on our waste going to a landfill so my parents bought one for him. He quickly started observing how things would break down and would give us daily reports on what his compost looked like. I loved his passion for observational learning! I'm pleased to introduce you to a newly published children's book about gardening from seasoned author Peggy Thomas. Feed your child's curiosity with this new engaging book The Soil In Jackie's Garden, it's packed with STEM facts about gardening! Take a peek inside the pages and watch the trailer below, then be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win.
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Based On A Remarkable True Story ORDINARY ANGELS In Theaters February 23rd!

2024-02-22T20:55:00.002-05:00

This post is sponsored by Elementa Associates, all views and opinions here reflect those of my own.

Watching the news these days and hearing the negative things happening in the world I can feel myself tense up with anxiety and begin to feel overwhelmed. So when I heard about a positive movie coming to theaters with an inspiring story it caught my attention. Then I learned that Ordinary Angels was based on a true story it made me smile. Maybe I'm becoming softer in my older age of 42, or because I've experienced the hardship of medical bills, but I cried when I caught my first glimpse of the Ordinary Angels trailer. What would the world look like if we all used our energy to help others? Learn more about this film coming to theaters on Friday, February 23, watch the trailer and enter the giveaway below!Read more »

Blogger Opportunity: 2024 Blogger Talk Cash Event Sign Up

2024-01-01T11:47:00.007-05:00

Join us for our 2024 Cash Giveaway Events! New this year, we will be capping our events at only 10 participating cohosts, so grab your spot now, because when we reach 10, sign-ups will close! Plus, pay for all 4 events and get a discount and VIP on our hops!

Hosts: The Kids Did It and The Mommy Island Prize: $100 PayPal Cash. (If participation is low we will lower the prize amount) Giveaways are open WW. Dates: September-December from the 1st through 30th-31st. Gain exposure to your Etsy shop, blog, or book(s) and grow your social media!

Blogger Opportunity: December Giveaway Hop Sign Up

2024-01-01T11:36:00.001-05:00

Let It Snow! Giveaway Hop runs December 7th at 12:00 am ET through December 28th at 11:59 pm ET! All bloggers are invited to join us for this event with no theme and no prize minimum! All of our hops have no theme or minimum, but most center around a holiday. You can easily choose a giveaway from your gift guides (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Back To School, Holiday) to feature in the hops for extra attention to your guides. Read more »

Blogger Opportunity: November Giveaway Hop Sign Up

2024-01-01T11:32:00.001-05:00

Super Stocking Stuffer Hop runs November 9 at 12:00 am ET through November 30 at 11:59 pm ET! All bloggers are invited to join us for this event with no theme and no prize minimum! All of our hops have no theme or minimum, but most center around a holiday. You can easily choose a giveaway from your gift guides (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Back To School, Holiday) to feature in the hops for extra attention to your guides.

Blogger Opportunity: October Giveaway Hop Sign Up

2024-01-01T11:29:00.001-05:00

Howl - O - Ween Hop runs October 5 at 12:00 am ET through October 26 at 11:59 pm ET! All bloggers are invited to join us for this event with no theme and no prize minimum! Our hops have no theme or minimum, but most center around a holiday. You can easily choose a giveaway from your gift guides (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Back To School, Holiday) to feature in the hops for extra attention to your guides. Read more »

Blogger Opportunity: September Giveaway Hop Sign Up

2024-01-01T11:22:00.001-05:00

Holiday Kickoff Hop runs September 7 at 12:00 am ET through September 21 at 11:59 pm ET! All bloggers are invited to join us for this event with no theme and no prize minimum! Our hops have no theme or minimum, but most center around a holiday. You can easily choose a giveaway from your gift guides (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Back To School, Holiday) to feature in the hops for extra attention to your guides. Read more »

Snow Day Fun With Winning Moves Games!

2023-12-07T01:00:00.001-05:00

This post is sponsored by Winning Moves Games. I received products in exchange for this post, all views and opinions here reflect those of my own. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Welcome to our Let It Snow Giveaway Hop! There's something so peaceful about snow when you're able to just stay home and stay warm. I have to kick on the oven and bake something! When you can stay inside drinking hot chocolate and playing board games you can say, "LET IT SNOW!" Check out these fun games from Winning Moves and enter for a chance to win them for your family game night.

Let It Snow December's $100 Cash Giveaway!

2023-12-01T16:32:00.014-05:00

Happy December! I would like to wish you a warm time of cheer this holiday season and offer you the chance to win some cash! This December I've joined my favorite group of Blogger Talk members to bring you the chance to win $100! Everyone is looking to stretch their dollars further this holiday so this giveaway will close on December 21, so that the winner can use the money during December. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Mommy Island! Read more »

This Holiday Stuff Their Stockings With Games From Winning Moves USA!

2023-11-09T01:00:00.001-05:00

It's November! I can't believe how fast we flew through October. October was a month of ups and downs. Hubby and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary, Miss Boopdi turned 8 years old, I lost a childhood friend, another friend broke her pelvis, and a close friend had her baby! All those things happening caused me to pause and notice that I've been very blessed with lots of amazing friends and family. I don't want to take any of my time with them for granted. I plan to spend less money this year and spend more time with those I love during the holidays. My kids can't wait for the family game night this weekend. Gathering around the table for fun games we don't play enough is exactly what this season is calling for! Let's make this a November to Remember!

This post is sponsored by Winning Moves Games. I received products in exchange for this post. All views and opinions expressed here are those of my own. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. This post may contain affiliate links, by clicking and making a purchase I may receive a commission. Thanks for your support! Happy Holidays!