Because You’ve Been Dying to Know… My Morning Routine

My Morning Routine: Pets, Progress, and a Few Laughs Along the Way

Mornings at our house are anything but quiet. They start the same way every day — with the pets running the show and me trying to keep up.

The first thing I do is let the dog out and the cats in. We have four cats, and each one has their own personality (and agenda). AJ, our old cranky cat, spends the night inside. She likes to let me know exactly how inconvenienced she feels by my mere existence first thing in the morning. Harley, our sweet black cat, and Macho, our big orange boy, stay outside at night — and they make sure I know when they’re ready to come in. They (usually Harley) jump up and hang from the windowpane on the carport door like tiny burglars tapping on the glass: “Hey, lady, we’re done with this outside business!” Smokey, on the other hand, is our quiet, skittish cat. She never scratches or jumps — she just waits patiently until someone opens the door. She’s the calm one in the cat family.

Macho, AJ, Smokey, & Harley

Once the pet shuffle is complete and everyone’s been fed, I move on to my part of the routine. I make my electrolytes — they’re homemade, nothing fancy: a mix of mineral salt, a little “No Salt” for potassium, and half a packet of stevia for taste. Most people add magnesium, but I already take 400 mg twice a day, so I skip it. It’s not exactly a treat, but it does the job!

Then it’s time for meds and my inslin shot, followed by breakfast — eggs and bacon, every day. Simple, satisfying, and perfect for my carnivore lifestyle. (Note: I've cut my insulin shot in half and discontinued on of my blood pressure meds)

After breakfast, I usually head outside for a little movement. My driveway walks have become a new habit I’m proud of. When I first started, I had to stop and catch my breath halfway back. Now I can go up and down three times in a row! On days when my back acts up, I break it into shorter walks throughout the day. Progress is progress.

Speaking of progress, I’ve lost exactly 31 pounds so far on the Carnivore Diet! And yes, I do mean exactly. I’m one of those people who reports my weight loss down to the decimal. The other day I told my sister, “I’ve lost 1.8 pounds!” and she said, “Just say two!” But that .2 matters to me! She rolls her eyes, I laugh, and we both know it’s just part of my excitement about finally seeing results.
The other day I found out just how real that progress was — my pants started sliding down while I was walking around the house. Let’s just say I was thankful I wasn’t out in public. Note to self: don’t carry your heavy phone in your back pocket when your pants are loose, LOL.

After all that, I sit down at my desk with my coffee and start my workday. That’s my creative time — designing planner pages, writing blog posts, or planning something new. By then the house has usually quieted down, my guys (husband and son) have left for work, the pets have settled into their naps, and I can finally focus.

 My Creative Space

It’s not a picture-perfect morning routine, but it’s mine. A mix of pets, progress, prayer, and plenty of real life — and I wouldn’t have it any other way.