I am not really a creature of habit or routine, I tend to crave variety in my day-to-day activities. But there is one morning ritual I simply can’t live without and that’s my coffee time. My preferred morning ritual is to get up at least a half hour before the kids, get a large cup of coffee, and sit down to my computer to write. In fact, I am doing that very thing at this moment. It’s my way of coming back to life and getting ready to face the day before the chaos of three young children descends upon me. Peace and quiet is a rarity in my house, so I savour it when I can get it. And it goes best with a cup of coffee.

Once the kids are up and about, it can get pretty hectic. Getting them all fed, dressed and ready for school seems to require me to be in 3 different places at once. One child needs more peanut butter, another can’t find her shoes, the third probably forgot to do his homework and now needs my help. It’s never a smooth process and it is definitely not a routine we have down pat. I am not sure we ever will! Once we’re out the door and into the car, I breathe a huge sigh of relief. And then I turn on the radio to our local pop station and we groove along on our way to school. It helps calm us all down and get us back to our happy places. And I get such a kick out of it when my three year old knows all the words to the latest pop song. She’s a walking juke box, that kid.

So when Folgers asked me to help promote their annual Jingle Contest, which supports aspiring musicians, I happily agreed. Because whether you’re a coffee drinker or not, music plays a large part in all our lives. It is the most basic human art form, and it’s an integral part of all societies. It brings us together, it moves us, it teaches us. It can take the most arduous chore and make it enjoyable. When we want the kids to clean up, we crank up the music to turn it into a fun task. Music should be a part of every young person’s life and the Folger’s annual Jingle Contest helps support that. Plus it’s fun and you could win fantastic prizes just for voting for your favourite jingle!

Check it out: Folgers Jingle Contest

Vote for the best Top 10 Finalist in Folgers’ Jingle Contest! Meet the Top 10! Take a look at Folgers® Jingle Contest Finalists, and listen to the tracks that earned them a spot in The Top 10. Cast your vote once every day through June 19th. You could win exciting prizes, like free Folgers Coffee, iTunes® gift cards, signed CDs from Gavin DeGraw, and even a $10,000 Grand Prize just for voting! Before you vote, follow the Road to the Jingle on Facebook to see how they traveled the U.S. to track down the Top 10 contestants! Remember, you can vote once a day through June 19th! Click here for official rules.