Wooed by tiny resets

Because sometimes a 10-minute tidy is enough to change the whole mood of the day.

Happy Monday! Today is going to be a great day and I’m so glad you’re here. 🥰 

I had the most wholesome weekend and I can’t wait to tell you all the details in next week’s newsletter!! For now, you’ll just have to watch part 1. Hehe :)

According to last week’s poll, 56% of you said clutter is the hardest thing to stay on top of right now, while 38% of you said meals. Honestly I totally get it and it makes so much sense in this season of constantly juggling schedules, responsibilities, and the never-ending needs of family life.

If this is also you, here’s your reminder that you do not need a perfectly organized home or beautifully planned meals to be doing a great job. Small systems and tiny resets can make a huge difference over time.

For clutter, try focusing on just one “hot spot” a day. For me, it’s always the kitchen counter or that one chair that somehow collects everything. Set a 10-minute timer, involve the kids if you can, and aim for “better,” not perfect. It’s kind of shocking how much you can get done in 10 minutes!

And when meals feel exhausting, give yourself permission to simplify. Rotating a few easy go-to dinners, prepping snacks ahead of time, or even declaring one night a week “leftover night” can take so much pressure off. For me, Thursdays are usually for leftovers and Fridays are take out nights or whatever my husband decides. I make no decisions for meals on Fridays and I love it.

You’re not alone in feeling stretched thin, and sometimes the smallest shifts create the most breathing room. You got this!

I want to hear from all 1,358 of you: Which part of meals would help you most right now? I want to always be of service and value and would love to know how I can help. Let me know in the poll at the end!

Let’s get into it:

🍽️ What’s for Dinner

• Honey Garlic Salmon - Anytime I want Asian-y salmon, I use this marinade recipe and add a teaspoon of sesame oil. Instead of pan frying, I bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes and it comes out perfect every time. Served with multigrain rice, seaweed, broccoli and carrot omelette, and strawberries and it was a big hit with the kids last night.

  

• One-Pan Street-Corn-Inspired Chicken and Rice - I’m excited to try this new-to-me recipe this week! I love that it’s done in 30-minutes in one pan. What’s not to love about that?

• No-Stir Zucchini Risotto - We had friends over on Friday night and I made this risotto that will be my new go-to this summer!! Uses three whole zucchinis in the recipe that you wouldn’t believe even if I told you. I added peas to the recipe and served with grilled shrimp and was a hit!

• Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade (Grill or Stovetop!) - I love this chicken marinade recipe to keep in my back pocket for grilling season. It’s so yummy and my kids love it too.

• Slow Cooker Carnitas - Whenever there is pork butt for sale, I gravitate making something in the slow cooker and that’s exactly what happened during my weekly grocery haul yesterday! I grabbed some mango guacamole from the farmer’s market on Saturday and I think it’ll go sooo well with this pairing in tacos.

❤️ 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!).

• If you’re a winter color palette like me, this mini dress is for you! I love the light pastels and bandana print that would work well for more than one occasion.

• I think finding the right sunscreen for your kids is one of the hardest tasks because there are so many different brands and variations in the market. Well, I love using this EWG verified SPF 50 mineral sunscreen for my kids. I’ve used it since they were both babies and it goes on sheer and I feel good about using this product. I also like using this stick version to apply on their face and neck.

• I’ve learned that sunscreen appreciation comes with age, and this gel-cream sunscreen has a glowy finish and keeps my moisturized under my makeup. Really loving this product these days.

• If you’re looking for something delicious to take off the edge before bed, this raspberry-flavored drink has an 8-in-1 formula that unwinds the mind and relaxes the body. It seriously tastes so good.

• My 1.5 year old daughter is obsessed with washing her hands right now and I think it might be because of this hand wash. The fragrance of the essential oils are incredible and soothing and my guests have also complimented the scents! They also carry hand & body lotions and I’m loving the grapefruit, mandarin, and lemon scent.

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• Clevr Blends: SHOPANN

💸 In This Economy? (Mom’s Version)

Connecticut Mom Says Work Life Balance is Number One Goal

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: 35

• Kids: 2 kids, 3 and 1

• Job: Financial planning team, I’m the service associate.

• Yearly salary and bonus: 80k, quarterly bonuses between 2-3K each

• First salary and how compensation has changed over your career: 34k start. Worked at a company prior to the one I’m at currently for 11 years. Ended at about 80k when I left give or take which included bonuses. I wish I knew my worth and value more when I got my first job out of college. I was underpaid and treated like an intern because I was fresh out of college and no experience. Don’t settle and don’t stay just because they say there is room for growth. Actions speak louder than words!

• Spouse’s salary: 180k

• Household income: 260k combined

• Own or rent: Own, $2,200

• Childcare or daycare expense: 1,800 for three days a week for both kids

• Splurge and don’t regret: Vacation to see my best friends since elementary, worth every penny.

• Best “mom sanity” splurge: Spin class membership and monthly pedicure

• Weekly “kid stuff” spend: 50-100

• Weekly spend on groceries: 200-250

• Most spent on a kid’s birthday party: 300 ish

• Guilty pleasure purchase your spouse doesn’t know about: We share our bank accounts so he sees everything, no secrets. I’m really not a huge splurger

• Saving for your kids college tuitions: Yes, $150/month each child plus both my kids birthdays are right after Christmas so we encourage college funds instead of toys and clothes.

• Something financial you wish your parents had taught you: How student loans work and what income at a minimum you’ll need to have out of college to make those anticipated payments and live comfortably. My parents really encouraged college for us which I really appreciate and do not regret. But I ended up with 100k in debt with private loans which couldn’t be consolidated and basically my whole paycheck would go to loans. It set me back years, and it really took a mental toll on me. I’m hoping to have my debt paid off in the next 4 years and will teach my kids about interest and minimum payments look like. My husband had this advice and didn’t take it so we had 200k total maybe even more when we were out of college.

• Managing family budget: No budget, i shop sales as much as possible and Walmart for most of our food with some exceptions. They have the best prices where we live with the exception of their meats.

• Great ways to save money on kid-related expenses: Memberships! Especially when your family gives money towards them! We have a lot near us and our kids are young enough they truly don’t get sick of the same couple places. With winter here, it’s really nice to have indoor places the can play to get their energy out at since outdoor activities are limited.

• Money advice for other moms: Pay yourself first! Put money into your retirement, investments, savings then whatever you have left use the best you can. We had to tweak some things when our kids were born because of high expenses but we still did what we could/can!

• Work/life balance: This year, that has been my number one goal. One year postpartum and I feel finally mentally stable so I can really work efficiently and let go of work when I clock out. Last year was really hard working and being a mom with my second. He was a tough baby so it took a lot out of me. But I finally feel I have a great balance now. I see my kids in the morning and after daycare/child care and I try to be intentional with them as much as possible. It feels great.

• Most stressful thing as it relates to kids and money: I want to give them as much as possible but also have them learn how to earn, save and be hard workers. I don’t want to spoil them and give them too much and then to be ungrateful. I want them to be able to learn what it takes to make a living and that things don’t come easily. It’s a tough mental battle but they’re still very young so it’s something I’m trying to work through for when they’re old enough to learn! It’s just something I worry about.

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

✅ This Week’s Mom Poll