Pics or it didn't happen 📸

POV: you're looking through my camera roll

Summer inspiration challenge: attempt to become your own Pinterest board

Lately, the summer inspiration challenge above has been popping up on Notes¹. Instead of posting photos, I decided to dive a bit deeper into the idea. Writing about it felt like a fun way to push my creativity and find a deeper meaning in the snapshots of my life.

Even though the challenge is intended for summer, I wanted to see if I was on the right track to embodying my own Pinterest board.

What would the past few months show?

So I decided to scroll my camera roll (something I need to do more often), and to my surprise, I found some unexpected gems. They weren't like the aesthetically pleasing pictures you see from influencers or on Pinterest—at least not in my eyes.

Instead, they were simple photos that reflected the story of the current season of life I’m in, each with its own meaning.

Take a look for yourself.

Toys scattered all over the house mean a home to live in and the joy and privilege of watching my kids grow each day, a beautiful reminder of the life I once dreamed of having.

Weekly coffee shop visits mean a little mom break and the time I dedicate to my passion project (this newsletter). It’s my favorite form of self-care that helps me recharge and be a better parent.

Date nights, beautiful flowers, and baking with my daughter mean spending time with people I love and spending money on things that make me happy.

Preparing home-cooked meals, crafting refreshing summer mocktails, and baking sweet treats means more than simply buying groceries each week. They reflect not only a growing love for cooking and an adventurous spirit in trying new recipes, but also the ability to access and enjoy food—a privilege I deeply appreciate.

Family outings to the zoo, beach, and our favorite breakfast spot mean creating cherished memories with my favorite people filled with love, laughter, and a heavy amount of patience.

Reading, baby teeth, and half-eaten bananas mean healthy and growing kids, and indulging in the simple pleasures of a borrowed library book.

While I enjoy documenting parts of our family life to look back on, my husband often tells me that the best pictures are in our minds. It's an important reminder to appreciate every moment for what it is, not just how it might look online.

Life isn’t meant to be lived perfectly…but merely to be LIVED. Boldly, wildly, beautifully, uncertainly, imperfectly, magically LIVED.
Mandy Hale

Each photo showed more than just a moment frozen in time; they told stories of gratitude for life’s simple pleasures—a home filled with toys, meals made with love, and experiences we’ve shared as a family.

These real-life moments (even when they aren't picture perfect) are far more valuable than any Pinterest board. There’s beauty in experiencing things firsthand, rather than simply pinning them.

Remember to embrace life beyond what you see online. Pursue what brings you joy, because it's those simple pleasures that make life really special.

What story is your camera roll telling?

1. For those who are unfamiliar, Notes is a feature of Substack, the platform used to create and send this newsletter. Think of it as a similar version of Twitter/X that focuses on short-form posts.