The cat who came in from the cold (#MorningWin story)

I was feeling sad, and picked up an old battered album of family photos. As I was turning the pages wistfully, I came across a photo of my younger brother and me, with our cat Kuzya. How old am I here, or should I say how young? I think I was 22-23 then, a young teacher, full of enthusiasm. I favoured bright lipsticks then. My cute little brother is 19.
Kuzya was a much loved member of our family. He was a Siberian cat, fluffy, heavy and with a great personality (I know that I should use the word "it" for a cat, but it doesn't apply to him. It would be an insult to his memory to call him it).

He was literally a cat who came in from the cold. He appeared on our doorstep on one of the coldest New Year's eves, when the temperature plunged down to -47C (for reference, an average winter temperature in my home town for this time of the year is -17C). That cold winter morning he has chosen our door (perhaps because we lived in a ground floor flat) and was mewing outside. We let him in, and he stayed. He was already a couple of years old when we met, and we never really knew his real age, but he lived a long happy life with us, adored by everyone and giving love in return generously. He was very warm, both literally and metaphorically. He loved company, and was a social being.
We were so lucky that one cold morning he decided to stop by our door. I was still a child when he entered our lives, and he was a big part of my childhood and young years. He loved to curl on top of my duvet when I was asleep, and by morning would move higher on the bed to make sure he was the first thing I saw. It was a clear sign: time to get up!

In those days, my Mum used to prepare breakfast for us. When I was a kid, I don't think I appreciated the fact that she had to get up much earlier to cook a hot breakfast (Mum insisted we had a hot breakfast before school).
Now, I am a Mum, and I'm the first one to get up, before my guys. It is my role to make sure the lunch box is packed for Sash, there is an apple and water bottle inside Eddie's school bag. And then the hectic race begins: breakfasts, teeth, school uniforms... By the time Sasha's school bus arrives to pick him up, everything is like a hurricane, do this, don't forget that. I do try to have a quick cup of tea and maybe a toast or some biscuits. Then we're off to school with Eddie, and only once I am back from school and grocery shopping, I have some time for myself.
I make a cup of latte and enjoy it with something sweet. Belvita biscuits have been a blessing, as I don't feel guilty eating them with my coffee. Each biscuit is 70 kcal, and as they are wholegrain, I feel almost virtuous.

I have already talked about belVita on my blog, and was pleased to try three new varieties in belVita range of Breakfast Crunchy biscuits: Hazelnuts, Apricot and Choc Chip. These slow release crunchy biscuits are the only breakfast biscuit proven to slowly release carbohydrates over 4 hours, as part of a balanced breakfast.
Hazelnut was my favorite of the three, though Apricot was a strong contender as well. I love hazelnuts, and these crunchy biscuits are simply delicious, either with tea or coffee. They are really good for munchies when you have a snack attack too. They are not too sweet, hazelnut-flavoured, with a nice crunchy texture.

Another school day tomorrow, another hectic morning... Every morning I force myself out of bed, saying There's "so many" days left until the weekend, when hopefully I'll be able to sleep a bit longer. But often when a weekend arrives, my guys are up early, and my lie-in remains a dream.

This post is an entry for #MorningWin Linky Challenge sponsored by belVita Breakfast. Learn more at http://bit.ly/belVitaUK

I'm not a morning person (#MorningStories)

I am not a morning person. Never have been and never will be. I remember as a kid the much loathed jolly tune of a trumpet from a morning radio programme for kids, which my Dad used to tune in. For some reason, he thought it would cheer me up. How I hated that programme. Fast forward 30+ years... There is still a grumpy little girl inside me who finds it difficult to get up early.

Here's my little man making a "morning face", though usually he wakes up with a big grin 

I don't like the sound of the alarm clock, and each time it goes off in the morning, for a couple of minutes I struggle with myself and ponder, "Shall I perhaps pretend that I didn't hear it and just go back to sleep? What will happen if I ignore it?" But life is life, breakfast for children and lunch boxes won't get ready by themselves. I get out of bed and go donwstairs quietly, so as not to wake up my kids, let them sleep for ten-fifteen minutes more, while I am making the toast and a cup of tea, cutting the tuna pate sandwiches for my older son's lunch box.
That is of course if my older son is still sleeping. Autism often comes with sleep disorders, and going to bed is always a bit like walking in the minefield, you never know if it's going to blow. Some nights are relatively normal, whatever normal means to "normal" people. Some nights are a pure nightmare, when Sash is bouncing on the bed for hours, and the house is a veritable Zoo. He might wake up around 4 or 5am, then sit with his ipad outside our bedroom, so that it is not too lonely, and trust me, The Wheels on the Bus doesn't sound so cheerful at this time. Sometimes he wakes up in the middle of the night, stays awake for a few hours and then falls into a deep sleep almost by the time he needs to get up for school.
So, on the mornings, when all my men are still sleeping, I am the one who goes around, dispensing tough love and Good morning kisses, Wakey-wakey...
Once my guys are up, the real rush hour begins, as everyone needs to be encouraged to have their breakfast.
I have the biggest cup of tea (the size of a mini-bucket) for my breakfast and maybe a toast. Once my guys are out of the door: Sash gets picked by a school bus, Eddie walks to the nursery with his Daddy, I decide whether to do the grocery shopping for the day or a million of other tasks. Sometimes I am back just a few minutes before I need to run out again to pick up Eddie from the nursery. If I'm lucky I have 15-20 minutes in between, that's when I make a cup of coffee and have a couple of biscuits.

BritMums and Belvita Breakfast biscuits have challenged Mums-bloggers to share their #MorningStories and tips. I have already talked about Belvita in the past (you might remember my review of Belvita Cocoa Breakfast Biscuits). Belvita are the only breakfast biccies which are proven to slowly release carbohydrates over four hours as part of a balanced breakfast.
For me, they are a fuel to keep me going until lunch but also a treat, especially the chocolate variety.
As a BritMums blogger, I received three boxes of Belvita to test, but only managed to take photos of two boxes (as Yogurt Crunch Cocoa biscuits were discovered by my older son before I took a photo, and there was only an empty box left).
Fruit & Fibre with pieces of dried figs is a lovely biscuit, rich in cereals and fibre.

Back to BritMums & Belvita challenge: Not sure I'm the best person to give advice on the morning routines, but here you are:

1. Get up earlier than anybody else to prepare breakfast for your family.
2. Prepare the school uniforms in the evening, so that the clothes are all ready. The same goes for school kits like swimming kits and/or other sports activities. And while we are talking sports kits, don't leave them in bags until the next week, believe me, it's much better to deal with the sweaty mucky wet things on the same day.
3. Always find time for breakfast. Just don't skip it. You might not feel hungry, but have at least something to drink and a snack.
4. Make a list of what needs to be done (and don't forget to take the list with you when you go out).

This post is an entry for #MorningStories Linky Challenge sponsored by belVita Breakfast. Learn more at www.facebook.com/belVitaUK

Belvita Cocoa breakfast biscuits

What do you have for breakfast? Is it a rushed affair, when you only have a chance to grab a cup of coffee and gulp it in one go before dashing out for work or school run? Or do you have a chance to sit down for a few minutes and have a bowl of cereal or toast with jam or Marmite? Or are you a biccies-for-breakfast-type of person?
Belvita is a well known range of breakfast biscuits, which are made with wholegrain and are rich in cereals. They are a good source of fibre and contain a selection of vitmains and minerals.

Though Belvita is designed for breakfast, I actually eat biscuits as snacks during the day. I love biccies, I do, though first thing in the morning I crave is an enormous cup of tea and probably a toast. I leave biscuits for elevenses or a four o'clock cuppa. Then I am happy to munch a biccie or two. I have been buying Belvita honey biscuits, and was curious to try a new flavour -Cocoa with Choc Chips.

They taste chocolatey, like Bourbons without the cream. I love the idea that they contain wholegrain and fibre, but I do question the amount of fat in each biscuit (2.1g) as well as sugar (3.8g). I have read some indignant reports, saying that they are not as healthy as they claim to be, and have more fat and calories than Hobnobs or Rich tea. Personally I don't typically count the calories and believe in moderation in everything. If you have a balanced varied diet, eat plenty of fruit and veg, then there is nothing wrong with having a few biscuits now and then.

Taste-wise, they are lovely, crispy and crunchy. I wouldn't have them for breakfast every day as they are quite high in calories, but they are definitely convenient for a grab-and-go breakfast. Each box comes with 6 packs of 4 biscuits.

And if you have a minute to spare, why don't you spread some low fat cream cheese on one of the biscuits and top it up with the other to make a sandwich. Low fat cottage cheese would be tasty too.

In fact, Belvita suggests to take a little time to enjoy a balanced Belvita breakfast: a low fat yogurt, a portion of fruit, a cup of tea or coffee = approx. 20% of your guideline daily energy intake.

For more information and product range, please visit Belvita Breakfast Biscuits.

Disclosure: I received a box of Belvita cocoa biscuits for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are mine.