the take home folder volume 80
acts of love / breakfast idea / remind your future self / + more
welcome to the take home folder
I shared a meme this week that said “my budget for the rest of August is $9” and found it relatable. Is August a high spend month for your family too? Between back to school and hockey registration for our kids and prepping for Todd’s sister’s out-of-state wedding in a few weeks - whew. As I’ve shared before, having every month be high spend would not be sustainable for us - we wouldn’t be able to reach our financial goals. In fact, the low-spend months we sprinkle into the year are the reason we’re able to cruise through these higher spend times. Adulting = simply setting your future self up for success.
my sunday questions
What is something I can do for our home?
What is something I can do for our family?
What is something I can do for myself?
Today for me it’s doing a little furniture switcharoo in the house (operation playroom to office is happening - albeit slowly), enjoying one of our last family pool days of the summer, and planning out my lunches for the week.
Here’s this week’s Take Home Folder, enjoy!
one // set a reminder for next summer
Before summer fades into fall - consider taking a few minutes to jot down notes for next summer. I did this after Christmas, too. What can you keep in mind so next summer is a little smoother?
two // back to school can mean new stuff, but it doesn’t have to
“Mom, these shoes still fit fine. I’ll just start the year with them.” - my 10 year old, last week.
Just here to normalize using the same items for school year after year. In our family, we use backpacks, lunch bags/boxes, and water bottles for a minimum of 3 years.
I don’t buy the kids a bunch of new school clothes and they don’t care. (Maybe your kid does care! I loved having a new outfit on the first day of school as a kid. It just doesn’t have to be an automatic thing.)
If you are doing heavy back to school shopping, aim to go through what you already own beforehand - it’ll save you money and prevent overconsumption.
three // one bowl peanut butter banana oatmeal bars
This week we made these PB Banana Oatmeal Bars and they were a big hit with the whole family. We were too busy noshing on them to even take a photo, apparently.
four // open tabs
Here are a few of mine:
Professional Working Women’s Most Quietly Brilliant Time Management Strategies woah there is so much more I could be doing to maximize my time
Matt D’Avella YouTube video - how the 1% stole minimalism (and then threw it away)
Wok in the Park - a restaurant that Missi from Clear Spaces Organizing and I want to try
Aloha Bars due for a restock of peanut butter cup
World Central Kitchen a favorite organization to support and I admire the work they’re doing and have hopes to do in Gaza
five // an act of love
This week, I came across this photo of myself at some sort of Girl Scout event in early elementary school. My theme was “recycling” and my mom had made me an entire getup - a trash bag dress, pop tab belt and necklace, a two liter bottle purse, and even a newspaper hat. I don’t have a very clear memory of this day but now at age 40 all I can see is such a profound act of love by my mom in making this for me to wear.
Sometimes parenting can feel a bit like Groundhog Day. It can be draining. It can deplete us both mentally and physically. We second-guess ourselves. And then sometimes we’re reminded that we’re getting it right. It’s all encompassing, really.
But I trust that you’re doing countless acts of love for your family every day. Whether or not you recognize it. Whether or not it’s done in grand gestures. It deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated.
Maybe you’re
stocking your growing teen’s favorite snacks
waking up early every Saturday morning to get your kid to swim practice
making a period kit for your daughter to keep in her backpack
leaping though endless hoops trying to get your child the medical or academic help they need
filling the sippy cup with milk at night so it’s ready for your toddler in the morning
working on your mental health so you can show up in the way you want for your kids
reading one more book even though you’re really tired
listening when your kid talks about something you wholeheartedly don’t care about (*coughpokemoncough*)
spending a lot of time in the car shuttling your kids and their friends around
the expert at the tuck-in routine
All of those little things you do - they’re a massive act of love. And I promise that your kids will look back and remember the feeling of being loved by you.
see you right back here next week,
p.s. need anything from Amazon or at Target this week? Letting my link open in your app before checking out supports me at no cost to you. Thank you for doing this - I notice and am grateful!
Last year on a whim I took my kids to a local consignment shop the last week of summer break. I let them choose a first day of school outfit and we ended up getting pieces to make their Halloween costumes at the same time. It was such a hit with the kids and in a sustainable way checked off a few boxes. They are looking forward to doing it again next week!
That photo of you is just too cute!!! My mom used to make our Halloween costumes some years and I just love that! The 90’s was such a good time wasn’t it?! 😍