Wooed by quality, not quantity
Plus this week's five dinner recipes, money confessional, and products I love.
Happy Monday! Today is going to be a great day and I’m so glad you’re here. 🥰
I hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend filled with fun, food, and family! Ours had all of that plus plenty of costumes, lots of sweat, and a few watermelon margaritas. 🍉🇺🇸
Long weekends always give me a little glimpse into what life might look like if I weren’t a working mom. Lately, I’ve been feeling that familiar wave of mom guilt. Maybe it’s because my kids are at such a fun age (almost 2 and 4.5), or maybe it’s because they seem to be growing up overnight. Every day they learn something new, say something hilarious, or become a little more independent, and I just want to soak up every single moment.
But as I was thinking about it, I realized something…it’s not about being there for every moment but more so being fully present for the moments I do have. Whether it’s reading one more bedtime story, dancing in the kitchen, or soaking in those sleepy morning snuggles, those little moments are what they’ll remember.
I’m reminding myself that quality matters just as much as quantity. My kids don’t need a perfect mom who never misses a moment but a mom who loves them, shows up for them, and makes the time they have together count. I hope you’re reminding yourself this too. ❤️
Now I want to hear from all 1,537 of you: What's your go-to source for dinner ideas? I’m trying to figure out the best way to bring you new recipes :) Let me know in the poll at the end!
According to last week’s poll, 48% of you said the one thing you always tackle when you have a weekend at home is quality time with family and 38% said organizing or decluttering. I need a weekend day for each activity!
Let’s get into it:
🍽️ What’s for Dinner
Easy Chicken Fajitas - This is my weekly go-to when I don’t know what to make but I need something fast. Throw together peppers and chicken cut into strips on a baking sheet with lots of olive oil and taco seasoning and you have dinner in 20 minutes. I like to add black beans, pickled jalapeños, cheese and guacamole with some greens as my base for a perfect bowl.
Turkey Marinara Stuffed Zucchini - A stuffed zucchini is one of my fave summer meals when zucchinis are in season. So easy to make, healthy, and delicious. My kids are a hit or miss with zucchini so I like to serve the filling with rice or pasta on side.
Honey Mustard Salmon with Summer Vegetable Salad - Getting a fresh hot meal on the table as fast as possible is always the goal in our house and this recipe does just that. My kids already love salmon but that honey mustard flavor takes it to a whole new level and could convert even the biggest salmon skeptic at your table.
Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles - Minimal ingredients and super kid-friendly. I like to add broccoli or whatever greens I have to this recipe.
BBQ Chicken Skewer Salad - Put your husbands to work with this grilling recipe perfect for a weekend get together. My kids love eating the bbq chicken off the skewers.
❤️ What I’m Recommending
This newsletter contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them—at no extra cost to you (thanks for supporting the newsletter!).
One of my fave pottery companies came out with new bowl sizes and I’m in love with them. The side coupe is perfect for grain salads, yogurt and fruit, leftovers at lunch, or something snacky passed around the table with wine. Comes in multiple colors!
My fave products to layer under my makeup at the moment is this glowy primer that gives you the best shimmer then this tinted mineral sunscreen that gives you an amazing summer bronze. Everything goes on so dewy and ready for all of your makeup products.
Speaking of makeup, this lip staining oil was worn all weekend and I love it so much. Gives you a nice pigmented stain that stays on for so long.
My go-to shoe for every errand, every pool or lake run, every kid pick up. So comfy I need more.
This cute cotton pajama set is currently 40% off!
🤑 My Promo Codes To Save You Money
CUTS: ANNWOO
Ruggable: ANNWOO
Camp Snap: ANNWOO
Laundry Sauce: ANNWOO15
Material: ANNWOO20
CurrentBody: ANNWOO
The Good Patch: ANNWOO
Cumulus: ANN100
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Reduce: ANN15
Clevr Blends: SHOPANN
Squigs: ANNWOO
LOAM: ANNWOO
The Mayfair Group: ANNWOO10
Culture Pop: ANNWOO10
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💸 In This Economy? (Mom’s Version)
Despite a $250K Net Worth, One Mom Says She Feels Like She's Just Getting By
In This Economy? is a weekly series showcasing the costs of motherhood from real moms. Want to share your story anonymously? Submit here — no names, no judgment.
Age: Mid 30s
Kids: 1; 4 years old
Job: Server- FB Hospitality
Yearly salary and bonus: 85k (9.95 hr+tips)
First salary and how compensation has changed over your career: 2.95+tips, (raise from union)
Spouse’s salary: 106K
Household income: 190K
Current net worth: 250K
Own or rent: Own (mortgage $1900)
Childcare or daycare expense: $1200
Recent purchase you regret: 4K cruise
Splurge and don’t regret: 3k new kitchen appliances
Best “mom sanity” splurge: Nails/Starbucks
Weekly spend on kid stuff: 200
Weekly spend on groceries: 300
Most spent on a kid’s birthday party: 1000-1500
Purchases that your spouse doesn’t know about: Special edition books (50-200)
Saving for your kids college tuitions: $50/week
Something financial you wish your parents had taught you: Investments/Retirement
Managing family budget: We don’t and hope for the best 🫠
Ways to save money on kid-related expenses: Hide old toys and reintroduce them later or toy exchange with friends
Money advice for other moms: It’s not worth it to buy the branded versions of everything. Your friends won’t care if you bought the store version to save $$$. Money isn’t the same for everyone. We could make the same dollar amount but have completely different responsibilities and financial needs. Make do with what you have but always strive for more
Work/life balance: Someone is always working, we’re not 9-5 M-F, we’re constantly picking up extra hours and not spending as much time together as we’d like
Most stressful thing as it relates to kids and money: Trying to give them the life we didn’t get growing up gets really expensive. It makes me understand why we didn’t get these things/experiences as a child
Finish the sentence: “In this economy, I still somehow ___.” Manage to get by
Thanks again for being here. If you love it, forward this to a mom friend—more voices make this better. And if you ever want to share, vent, or suggest something, just hit reply. I’m reading every email!
Woo you next week,
Ann