Whitney Thiessen

Mid-July can feel like a weird in-between.

You’re not at the fresh-start beginning of summer anymore... but the end still feels far off.
Routines are loose, screen time creeps up, and mom guilt sneaks in when things don’t look picture-perfect.

This post is for the mom who’s trying—through the mess, the meltdowns, and the million snack requests.
You’re not doing it all wrong. You’re doing your best. And that’s more than enough. 💛

Swipe through for a little mid-summer reminder you might need today. And tag a mama who could use it too. 🌞👇

It’s not always easy to find one-on-one time with each kid…
Life is full, and most days feel like a blur of meals, messes, and multitasking.

So once a month, we hit pause—and let each kid choose their own “stay up late night.” Just the three of us, doing something simple they love.

It’s not fancy. Sometimes it’s puzzles, board games, popcorn, or painting nails. But it’s theirs. And it matters. 💛

Because even a few intentional minutes can speak volumes.

Do you do something like this? I’d love to hear it. 👇

Summer break reality check: the 5-Minute Hide Rule 🫣

First of all, I want you to know that I VERY MUCH have looked forward to summer holidays for a LONG time. I enjoy having extra time making memories with my kids and am so grateful that I get to spend most of the summer with them. And yet, the reality is, that living with and around each other means that it's not all sunshine and rainbows. ☀️🌈

When everything feels like a lot—you get 5 minutes to step away.
Bathroom, bedroom, closet, parked car… doesn’t matter.
Set a timer. No guilt. No explaining. Just a quick reset.

Deep breaths. Scroll. Pray. Snack in peace.
Then re-emerge like the summer break warrior you are. 💪✨

It’s not fancy, but it works. (At least for the next 12 minutes until someone spills something again.) 🙃 Have you tried this? If so, how does it work for you? If not, what is something that works for your family?

As June wraps up, it’s the perfect time to pause, connect, and reset — together. ❤️

Here are 3 simple questions to ask your spouse this week:

1️⃣ What was your favorite moment from this month?

2️⃣ Is there anything we could do differently next month to make life a little easier or more fun?

3️⃣ What’s something you’re looking forward to in July?

Sometimes all it takes is a few intentional minutes to feel more like a team again. 💬✨

Summer/after-school snack time = saved by the real food! 🙌
No boxes, no wrappers — just quick, colorful snacks that actually fill them up (and don’t spike their sugar). 🍎🥒🧀

✅ Apple nachos
✅ Veggie dippers with hummus
✅ Fruit & cheese skewers

Fast to prep, fun to eat, and totally mom-win approved. 💯
Which one would your kids grab first?

The Sunday Reset That Saves Our Week ⏰📒

It takes just 10 minutes — but it makes all the difference.

Every Sunday (or most 🤪), I sit down and look at the week ahead. Appointments, school events, sports practices, work commitments… they all go on the calendar.

It’s not about planning every second — it’s about getting clear on what’s coming, so I can go into Monday feeling prepared instead of already behind.

Sometimes I even jot down a few quick reminders for the busiest days. Just enough structure to reduce the chaos (and the stress).

Honestly? This tiny habit is one of the biggest reasons our weeks feel manageable instead of completely messy.

What’s one thing you always include in your Sunday reset?

What if your next Starbucks drink was on me???

Let's chat about what's on repeat in your life right now! Either drop a picture in the comments, or share in the comments what describes your week and you'll be entered to win!

Bonus: extra entry for sharing what's working to make your life easier...because we can all use some extra tips!

Here's what's working in our life:
💦 Extra electrolytes in my water to help me stay hydrated with our schedule and the heat...my favourite flavour is raspberry lemonade!
☕️Coffee in a to-go mug. Not gonna lie...an extra cup of hot coffee in the afternoon is really helping me this season.
☀️Restore's prime | protect is protecting my skin from the sun's harmful rays, and providing a beautiful blurring primer. This is a non-negotiable for summer!
🌭Dinner in to-go containers. We picked these glass ones from Walmart and goodness have they been used a LOT this year! PS -- this egg roll bowl took 15 minutes to make and EVERYONE loved it: https://www.spendwithpennies.com/egg-roll-in-a-bowl/...
🥎Softball. Every night. Practices. Games. Tournaments. Our Google calendar saves us rn.
🥨Snacklebox...for diamond donkey siblings hanging out in the cheering section. Not gonna lie, I held out on getting one of these for a while and I'm SO GLAD I got one!

Now let's hear from you!! I'll do the draw Saturday morning! 👇🏼

Signs You Might Need a Reset:
😣 Constantly feeling overwhelmed or snappy
🥱 Decision fatigue over everything—meals, clothes, even what show to watch
🥴 Forgetting basic self-care (like drinking water or eating lunch)
🙈 Feeling “touched out” or craving alone time, even just in silence
👋🏼 Struggling to enjoy things you normally love
😳 Saying “I’m fine”... but clearly not fine

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. 💛 Sometimes all it takes is a mini reset to shift the energy.

✨You don’t need a full day off to feel better. Sometimes a 10-minute reset can help you show up as the version of you that feels more grounded, more calm, more you.

Which one are you trying today? 👇

Why we love this meal: minimal ingredients, easy to prep, and on the table in 15 minutes. 🙌

It’s the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together—even on a busy weeknight. 💁‍♀️✨

I shared this Egg Roll in a Bowl recipe in this week’s meal plan email (plus a printable shopping list to make things even easier!).

📩 Want simple, family-friendly meals like this sent straight to your inbox each week?

Comment "MEAL PLAN" below or DM me to get on the list! 📝💛

These last few weeks of school are...special
🥎 Busy Spring schedules
🌿 Yard work
🚌 Field trips
🗄 Working

And all most of us want to do is take a breath and be on summer vacation.

I had a rough point last week and decided to do some decluttering. In my mind these 3 things were "too much", but in fact, taking a few minutes to complete them gave me the opportunity to take a breath and worry less.

What's something you did (or are planning to do) this week to declutter?

As we head into the last month of school, you might be soooo DONE with packing lunches (I know I am!) But lunch packing doesn’t have to feel like a full-time job… even if some days it does. 🙃

Here’s a week of kid-approved lunches that are easy, tasty, and might just save your sanity. Bonus: there’s a fridge-friendly checklist you can stick up to keep you on track (because who has time to think and remember everything at 7am?).

Monday: DIY Lunchable — kids get to build their own, which means less whining and more fun.
Tuesday: Breakfast for Lunch — pancakes at noon? Yes, please.
Wednesday: Pasta Day — double dinner, double win.
Thursday: Roll-Up Wraps — pinwheel power = more bites.
Friday: Pizza Friday — because every week deserves a treat.

Grab the checklist, slap it on the fridge, and kiss those “What’s for lunch?” moments goodbye. 📝✨

Comment "checklist" and I'll send you a printable one!

Influencers: “Enjoy every moment 🧘‍♀️✨”

Me: Arguing with a 7-year-old about why they have to wear sunscreen for the field trip. 🧴🎒🌞

Some moments are magical. Others involve lost permission slips, last-minute theme days, and a meltdown over which water bottle is "the good one." 😩

Whats a real life moment from your week?