WEEKLY EDITION: June 13th

Heyyyy ya!

How’s everybody feeling after this long ass week?!

Summer is in full swing over here now that the kids are out of school, and our routine has been a bit all over the place (as expected). We're planning to settle into a more structured rhythm starting next week. With a 12-week summer ahead of us (!!), we’re incorporating a few simple workbooks to help keep up with reading, writing, and math skills.

This year, we’re having the kids set their own personal goals for the summer—and then create a plan to work toward those goals. For example, our oldest wants to improve her speed, so she’s putting together an agility plan to follow three times a week. She's also setting a personal reading challenge!

To help keep things fun and flexible, I pulled together a spreadsheet filled with drills and activities divided into five categories. Each day, the kids can pick from the list to mix things up while still staying consistent. I will share this as soon as it’s finished and you can use it if you’d like!

I have found it nearly impossible to balance every day life along with the news this week. I can’t be at the protests on Saturday but I will definitely be driving by and honking with some signs! Some of my thoughts on the current situation in L.A. 👇🏼

Los Angeles is still struggling to recover from the devastating wildfires that tore through communities, destroyed homes, and left thousands displaced. Federal support has been slow, insufficient, and frankly, neglectful—families are still waiting for resources, for rebuilding assistance, for any meaningful sign that their pain is being prioritized.

And yet, there’s suddenly a surplus of federal resources available for ICE raids, National Guard presence, and even Marine deployment. But not for disaster recovery. Not for infrastructure. Not for human needs. It’s all being mobilized in response to peaceful protests.

So let’s ask the obvious: Why is the federal response so swift and robust when it comes to suppressing public demonstration, but paralyzed when people are literally trying to survive? The hypocrisy is glaring. The priorities are warped.

Make it make sense.

(Photo below via The Guardian)

If you want to get involved in neighborhood defense teams against ICE text DEFEND or DEFENSE to 58910

Here is a step by step guide to start an ICE watch neighborhood program in your community - thanks Teen Vogue!

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Paid Content Coming Up in the Next Few Weeks:

• Agility Exercises for kids - arranged in a spreadsheet

• 10 Healthy, Protein-Packed Costco Meals

• Raising Girls Who Stand in Their Power

• 10 Parenting Scripts We Use Frequently in Our Home

• A Week of Honest Parenting Recaps

• 10 Ways I Create Connection in 5 Minutes or Less (Even When I’m Touched Out)

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  Next week’s dinner lineup:

  1.) Chile Crisp Fried Rice With Chicken and Edamame

  2.) Roasted Salmon Glazed With Brown Sugar and Mustard with Sesame Cucumber and Avocado Salad

  3.) Taco Bowls

  4.) Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaves and Veggies

  5.) Leftovers

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Outfit #1

I lived in sweats this week and I am n scrubs today for work - not much to photograph but I did catch this one! ;)

All outfit details here (I know some of you have been having trouble with this so I am looking into it!)

TOP: SPANX Half Zip

BOTTOMS: Varley Shorts

SHOES: Converse Sneakers

ACCESSORIES: Bracelet given to me from my 4 year old, Woman Power Necklace, Fav perfume, Mini huggie earrings, Natalie Borton Sunglasses

Current Sales:

• I really love the cut of this linen shirt + this drop waist tiered skirt (30% off)

• Extra 25% off these Madewell numbers —> red flutter dress, the caro-ankle wrap sandals, + this beautiful maxi dress

• Classic every day linen dress to wear with simple slides

DRESS: Drop-Waist Mini Dress

SHOES: Strappy Sandals

ACCESSORIES: Double Cobra Hoops, Double Cobra Bracelet, Straw Tote Bag

TOP: Asymmetrical Top

BOTTOMS: Super soft mid-ride pants

SHOES: A Emery Slides

ACCESSORIES: Natalie Borton Belt, Double Cobra Hoops, STAUD Ollie Purse

• LISTEN || Why Should I Trust You? | Podcast → Katelyn Jetelina mentioned that she has been meeting with MAHA to understand where they are coming from and that she has learned a lot (I love that they are doing this) and some of these are in episodes on this podcast. The podcast is general is pretty great - have a listen!

• READ || She Stood for Freedom: The Untold Story of a Civil Rights Hero, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland | Book → I love introducing my kids to new heros and this is one that I picked out recently!

• WATCH || Interview with Gavin Newsom about protests in California | MSNBC → “Tom, go ahead and arrest me.” This interview is going to make history. Gavin is the only Democrat I see right now who’s actually showing up for this crisis. He’s got the energy, and people are paying attention. This is just the beginning. And for the record—I’m not even a Newsom fan. But he’s rising to the moment in a way that matters.

• READ || Why School is Hard for Neurodivergent Students | Learn with Dr. Emily →I really enjoyed this read and maybe someone here will as well!

• Have you ever used the app Yuka while shopping for groceries? I know a lot of people turn to it thinking they’re making more informed, healthier choices, but let’s pause for a second. Yuka assigns “risk scores” to additives found in food products, but it doesn’t actually take the dose into account. That’s a huge red flag. Toxicity is all about dose—even water can be harmful if you consume too much of it! Here’s another important point: just because something is labeled “organic” doesn’t automatically mean it’s healthier, more nutritious, or even safer. The label is often misunderstood or overvalued. Food choices are complex, and boiling them down to a simplified app score can give a false sense of confidence—or worse, create unnecessary fear. Always dig a little deeper and question the narrative!

• This interview with Gavin Newsom (via Brian Tyler Cohen) is some of the real energy we all need right now

• THIS is a great product for breakouts on the face or body - works really well

Video below by The Neighborhood Kids 👊🏼

• RFK Jr. fired every single vaccine expert, all 17 members of ACIP which is the committee that has guided safe vaccination for +50 years.

• This 80 year old is badass

• There is a shazam app for bird calls and I am here for it

• It’s time for John Fetterman to take a seat. We are sick of you my friend.

• If you want to view the Northern lights tonight - read this!

• Bravo Jimmy Kimmel 👇🏼

• The Rage Against the Machine content will always have my heart - this song remains my number 1 👇🏼 (via the garbage mom)

• An adorable number for the summer

• I have tried a lot of protein bars but this is my most recent and it is INSANELY GOOD.

• These are the books we have for summer to keep up with everything they learned this year

• This is a great Youtube account for no equipment workouts - if you are traveling at all this summer

• Nebraska Group Seeks Total Abortion Ban
  A conservative group in Nebraska is advocating to expand the current 12-week ban into a total statewide abortion prohibition. This signals a possible new wave of restrictive efforts in states that previously followed a more moderate approach

• Montana Supreme Court Blocks 2021 Abortion Restrictions
  The Montana Supreme Court struck down several 2021 restrictions, including telehealth abortion limits, a 20-week ban, and mandatory ultrasound requirements, reaffirming that the state constitution protects abortion access pre-viability

• Outrage in India Over Mass Hysterectomies Among Sugar-Cane Workers
  In Maharashtra’s Beed district, labor rights activists report that 36% of female sugar-cane workers—many mothers—are undergoing hysterectomies. Economic pressure, fines, and grueling labor conditions are pushing women toward the surgery as a way to avoid menstruation-related downtime. Although framed as medical recommendations, these removals appear to be coerced due to systemic inequities in labor and health rights

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