This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Balance. All opinions are my own.

How to Deal with Hunger?

This morning I got out of bed. I stepped on something. I was too tired to identify what it was I stepped on until I heard, “MOM!, you broke my toy.” Yes, I broke a toy with my Godzilla foot. The better question was why was the toy where I could step on it? I was only awake for a matter of minutes when the collateral collapse of all things toys occurred. I jumped in the shower only to be met with lukewarm water since the water heater fought a good fight but couldn’t handle three rounds of children before my shower. I will assume my daughter used the majority because my body wash is still lingering in the air like a dense fog on a warm morning. I get out of the shower and low and behold there is no towel anywhere to be seen. I consider my options. Toilet paper? Tissues? Washcloth? Oh, how about the PJs I just took off. I use those. I do believe I am at a seven on the annoying scale by now.

Will my number rise and will there be defeat in my house?

I then make my way to the linen closet to react just in time to towels that were crammed in there falling at a record pace. I select the last towel to fall and complete my attempt to wipe off warm careful to not balance on the foot that was injured by the rogue toy.

Then something else happened that raised my level to an eight. Eight is not okay. It isn’t good at 7:00 am, but yet I am at the eight.

I get dressed in something to work out. I put on my socks. Yes, they are both pink, one happens to be my daughters and one is mine. I try again only to find my socks are not in my sock drawer. They are in my son’s drawer. I am successfully dressed, but the question remains are the children?

Yes, they are dressed if it was summer and not late winter. There is one in shorts. Yes, shorts. It is 34 degrees out. The fight over the shorts ensues. I go into battle like a warrior knowing their last day is near. I win. He cries. He is in pants, and I am grateful to not be the mom this time with the kid in shorts in 34-degree weather.

I heard someone around here makes breakfast. I realize that someone is me.

We have cereal. I consider that making breakfast all seems to be good in the world until this happens.

He called her a name. It wasn’t a beautiful name. He implied she wasn’t smart and something about a donkey butt. The dialogue escalates to a rapid pace with some screeches that resemble an old hollowed door on its crooked hinge. It opens since it is slightly ajar and then it is closed so quickly the noise pierces your ear. She is soon quieted by marshmallows and grain.

I do what every parent should. I reach for a Balance Bar. I close my eyes. I may have closed my eyes while hiding in the laundry room with the door shut and all the machines on. They may or may not have had anything to them. I didn’t check. I just wanted the opportunity to achieve Balance. I wanted to enjoy the creamy caramel over the roasted peanuts. I wanted to indulge in quiet and in my favorite bar.

Balance bars are delicious and are nutritionally balanced. These bars are 210 calories or less and their Original bars contain 13-15 grams of protein, depending on flavor. The original flavors include: Caramel Nut Blast, Chocolate Craze, Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cookie Dough, Dark Chocolate Coconut, Dark Chocolate Crunch, Peanut Butter and Yogurt Honey Peanut. Balance is also available in single mini bars which are 95 calories or less each. They are available at Walmart, Kroger, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and via Amazon Dash.

We do not realize how much of our lives as moms are ultimately directed by the children we care for. It seems like each minute of every day is about doing what is right for them. I am happy to report that I love my kids and my husband but I know to be the best version of myself. I need to make sure I eat. You do not want to be around me when I am hungry. It is a dangerous place, and no amount of red lipstick can hide that.

I also treat myself right by sending myself a gift each month. I need that extra pick me up. It is like getting a trophy each month, and it reminds me to take time for myself and to appreciate everything I do to keep our family thriving. I love my Birchbox subscription, and I am grateful they have partnered with Balance to offer a total care package for us moms.

Just look at what I got this month! I love how they tell what each item does and the cost to purchase the full-size version. I am so thankful to be able to try the products that are hot right now without paying for the full-size version. I consider beauty products to be my addiction and I do believe that I deserve the pleasure of treating myself.

And here’s a great promo for all of you. Balance is treating their fans with a limited-time on-pack promotion for a chance to win a yearlong subscription to Birchbox!

Balance packaging now features a “golden ticket” with a unique code to enter online here for a chance to win. Twenty lucky fans will win the year-long subscription to Birchbox.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The Nature’s Bounty Company. The opinions and text are all mine.