10 Things I Loved in May
a peak into my life + what brought me joy last month.
Hi friends!
I love Substack because it allows me to have a platform with a bit more creative freedom that I can share with you. While Everyday Best Buy is very much a business and I don’t see myself as a lifestyle influencer, I do still think it is important that you all continue to get a peak into my life and brain so I can build trust with you. I am an open book in my personal life, but for this job I have decided to protect things like my kids and our day to day life. But, I am going to try out a new blog concept where I share a brief round up of things that brought me joy each month. This is a peak behind the curtains and will be random - anything from new purchases I am loving to favorite recipes or shows or just moments that were really important to me. I hope you enjoy it, if you do please leave comments or likes on this post so I know - I love feedback!
Your Friends & Neighbors on Apple TV - if you haven’t watched this show yet, you must! My obsession with Jon Hamm is now on another level. He was always a favorite of mine since Mad Men, but oooof he is a fox. My husband and I both really enjoyed this season and now that all episodes are released, you can binge it. I hate having to wait for shows that release one episode/week.
I am so happy it’s finally sandal season! I really can’t stand the time between boot and sandal season. Idk what it is about flats, but I feel like a complete poser when I wear them. And while they are having a moment right now, I also feel like they are the quickest to go out of style. My go to sandals so far this year are my tried and true wrap sandals and this slip on rattan sandal. Last month, I also bought a pair of Margaux wrap sandals in black which I am loving, a bit pricier but very high quality leather.
I am not a regular podcast listener, but always appreciate when friends or my siblings send me ones they loved. My sister sent me this podcast episode: Everything Happens: Where the Light (Still) Gets In with Kimberly Williams-Paisley (who was Annie in Father of the Bride). It’s less than 30 minutes and discusses Kimberly’s journey with her aging parents, both who struggled with dementia. I have shared before, but my Mom suffered a very devastating stroke in August of 2023. Her life looks very different now and my siblings and I are navigating untangling grief while raising our young families. The lesson I took away from the podcast was, if you are going through hell, don’t come out empty handed. While this experience continues to be very difficult, I have found some silver linings which I live by every day. I find myself feeling so much gratitude for feeling and being loved, I find myself more compassionate for others and highly sentimental. I cry at the smallest moments for my kids, because I have been taught how fleeting life is and how grateful I am to have been showered with so much love by my own parents. If you are navigating aging parents, it could be worth a listen!
May was the month our family fully embraced kids sports. We went from activities after school 1 day/week to juggling schedules between our older two kids 5 days/week. While we are finding our groove in this new era (and I’m gonna set some boundaries on how many activities we sign up for), WOW there is truly nothing better than watching your kids participate in something that brings them so much joy. It makes me so excited for what is to come as they grow up and find their own passions. If your child is the age where they are starting activities, this list is a great place to start for what essentials you may need to buy.
Salt & Stone sent me a PR package and I am obsessed with the body wash and body mist in their most popular scent Santal Vetiver. I am going to try the deodorant next! If you aren’t familiar this is a clean brand that focuses on natural scents and sustainable practices.
The perfect denim shorts do exist! Finding good shorts can be such a challenge, but these AYR shorts are incredible. The fit is perfect to Mom in, a length that isn’t too short with some stretch for the ultimate comfort. Warning: the price is higher, but they will be a staple in my wardrobe for years to come and will get well worth their wear. I got the black wash, but am considering also getting one of the blue washes.
Two small changes I made to my wellness routine: While I have known waking up and slamming coffee right away isn’t healthy, this was the first month I was very intentional about not doing that. Instead, I woke up and had a glass of warm water with half a lemon every day and love how I feel. I also started taking a Magnesium supplement before bed every night and have noticed an improvement in my sleep. There are many benefits to magnesium, the other one that was important to me was improvement in brain and cognitive health. My best friend is a pharmacist and she says it’s important to take the glycinate form of magnesium, which is easier for you to digest.
These Vuori Villa Shorts are going to be the MVP of summer. They are the most comfortable short option for taking kids to daycare, playing outside in the yard or running errands. They are the perfect length (not shorties like most athletic shorts are) and have a super comfortable and flattering waistband with pockets.
I was in a such a cooking RUT this month as kid activities and meetings for our house build took over our life. The decision fatigue was real in the kitchen, so my kids ate a lot of snack plates, sandwiches and easy meals for dinner, which I didn’t feel any guilt about. But, thank god for this easy lemon garlic kale salad, I prepped it a few times throughout the month and just added different protein options. It stays good in the fridge even after its dressed for about 4 days. It only has 4 ingredients, which are easy to always have on hand and don’t spoil quick. It saved me from just turning to junk all month.
Don’t underestimate how amazing voice texting is. If you text regularly with me, you already know how much I love it. I was finding myself overwhelmed and really scattered with keeping up with texting. I am always on the go, so I now find it so much more efficient to voice text someone. I can accomplish conversations so much faster and if the receiver can’t listen, they still have the option to read the translation of what I sent.
I hope you enjoyed this brain dump, it was actually a really fun exercise for me to reflect on the month! Leave a comment below if you want me to continue to do this each month going forward!
xo, Meggie
Love this! Would love to hear more mom tips too- like how to balance mom life and friendships/social life, working out, travel, etc!