Q2 in review 🎬

5 Good Things, Vol. 3

Summer is here, and I’m amazed at how quickly time flies. While it may not be my favorite season, I’m looking forward to making fun-in-the-sun (🤪❤️‍🔥☀️🥵⛱️) memories with my family.

But before we dive into summer, it’s the perfect time to stop and reflect on the last three months.

I’ll recap what went well, what didn’t go so well, what’s saving my life, & five good things from this quarter. 💌 Consider this is an open invitation for you to take some time to reflect as well.

Let’s get into my Q2 review!

⏳ Read time: ~5 minutes

MY Q2 REVIEW

What was your biggest win in Q2?

Consistent dedication. One of my biggest wins this quarter was consistently showing up every day to write and curate content for this newsletter. I successfully completed the 90-day trial period and am wildly excited to continue growing. As a bonus, I reached my goal of reading 20 books for the year.

What did you struggle with in Q2?

Body insecurities. For some, seasonal depression hits in winter. For me, it's when summer arrives. Maybe depression might be too strong of a word, but I do find myself feeling a bit down. Summer tends to bring out insecurities, especially as I'm still adjusting to post-baby changes and learning to feel confident in my mom bod. It's a time when everyone seems more exposed, but I struggle with what to wear and how I feel in certain outfits.

What brought you joy in Q2, and how can you make more time for it in Q3?

Less screen time, more present time. Last week, I completely removed screen time (except for the weekends) for my daughter. I noticed a concerning habit forming, so I decided a complete break was needed. This change has pushed me to find creative ways to spend time with her. We've been baking together, teaching her household chores, having more dance parties, and been on my phone way less since she's always watching me. I'm excited to carry this forward into Q3 and see how it continues to positively impact our relationship.

What would you be excited to accomplish in Q3?

• Start gardening with my daughter

• Hit 100 subscribers (currently at ~74!)

• Learn how to do gel nails at home

• Make a new mom friend

• Do a social media audit

• Organize the 17,000+ photos I have on my phone 🫣

What impactful changes can you make to your daily routine in Q3?

1. No social media first thing in the morning

2. Continue writing in my daily commonplace book

WHAT’S SAVING MY LIFE RIGHT NOW

Too often we know what’s killing us and what’s stressing us out. But how often are do we reflect on what’s giving us life? It’s a good question to come back to every once in a while to pay attention to the things that make life really good.

• Staying logged off of Instagram on my phone during the week (Monday-Friday) and only checking it on my computer if I really feel the urge

• Kaya toast from my local coffee shop

• Mocktails > cocktails

• Date nights, even if it’s just at home without the kids

• Sticking to one meal planner (Google Calendar) for the entire quarter

• Maintaining an organized email inbox

• Our family beach + zoo trip a couple weeks ago <3

• Utilizing grocery pick up

• Lake day(s) ahead

5 GOOD THINGS

✨ Something that inspired me…

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s this:

Who you surround yourself with shapes your entire existence.

Whether it’s your friends, your family, your partner, or your co-workers — having quality people in your life is important. Goals are great, but what’s the point if you don’t have the right people to share them with?

I mean, just look at Harvard’s 85-year-long study on human happiness. It sums up the secret to health and happiness in five words: the quality of our relationships.

Life is short—spend it wisely with the people who matter most.

✨ Something that might be helpful…

Alex Steele

, mother of 4 and the author of Handpicked, offers a collection of advice for first-time moms that I found absolutely wonderful. Whether you're expecting or already have kids, this post is a must-read. My favorite piece of advice comes from her:

Buy some Depends. Chase your meds with prune juice. Don’t go for a walk. Do sit on the porch. Nourish yourself. Formula is a gift that will help keep your baby alive, not an F on your motherhood report card (which doesn’t exist). Scroll your camera roll, not an app. When you don’t know what to do, ask yourself, “What would the best mom I know do here?” Care for the needs of this hour, not the needs you think will come up in eight hours or three years. Lean on your husband. Take so many photos and videos. You cannot spoil a newborn.

✨ Something personal…

I love a sweet treat after each meal, but especially after dinner when the kids are in bed and it's time for my husband and I to relax together. Lately, we’ve been “snacking” on this, and it slaps.

✨ Something that surprised me…

From a birds nest to Starburst wrappers, readers from the Cup of Jo blog share unique and sentimental items they’ve framed, showcasing an interesting twist to the concept of framed photos.

✨ Something just for fun…

These vintage prints are kind of a vibe! Just keep scrolling. (Hat tip to

Platonic Love

)

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DID YOU KNOW… you can reply to this email to send me a message? As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Did you find this quarterly review helpful? Should I continue writing more or less of these? Other suggestions? A simple 👍 or 👎 goes a long way. Thank you for being here!

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P.S. I’m not the fun parent.