You Don't Have to Do It All This Weekend

Hi mamas-

Repeat this phrase to yourself over and over: Let’s not overdo it, OK?

We know the pressure to make holidays (including a long 4th of July weekend) magical is real. But guess what? You don’t need to play event planner, chef, cruise director, and camp counselor all at once all while juggling your work.

This week we’re giving you permission to simplify. From low-lift 4th of July recipes (yes, s’mores count as a meal 🍫) to fun ways to beat the heat, and even a gentle nudge to carve out some alone time 😱 — we’ve got you. Let this weekend be easy.

Also, don’t miss our July Must Reads at the bottom of this newsletter for those rare quiet moments when you can sneak in some you time. And we’re announcing the winners of last week’s book giveaway!

Enjoy!

-Paula (Founder, CARRY™ Media)

 This week in The CARRY™ ALL, we’re talking about:

• 🌭 What to Make 

• 🎆 What to Do 

• 💆🏼‍♀️ How to Relax

• 📖 BOOK GIVEAWAY WINNERS ANNOUNCED! 📖

THE BIG 1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣

1️⃣ 🌭 What to Make

As a working mom, you’re likely used to doing all the things, showing up for everybody, and making sure that everything is done (and done well.) But we’ll let you in on a little secret: you don’t need to do every single thing to 100% every single time. A great place to cut corners and just CHILL is the 4th of July weekend. Don’t create a full menu and host your whole neighborhood. Instead? Try these very low-lift ideas for your family. (Or even better? Get THEM to prepare them instead of you…):

• Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad - This is simple, and delicious every single time.

• Raspberry Lemonade - A summery drink that looks as good as it tastes

• Open-Faced Tomato Grilled Cheese - This fun take on a grilled cheese is perfection and a fun addition to the grill!

• Ina’s Potato Salad - Because a cookout isn’t complete without it, and this recipe is simple yet scrumptious.

• Patriotic Chocolate-Covered Frozen Bananas - We love it when a simple ingredient like fruit gets to shine.

And if all else fails…

• S’mores - The kids can make them, they’re a crowd pleaser, and you only need 3 ingredients. Done.

2️⃣  🎆 What to Do

With a heat wave blanketing most of the country, the idea of doing anything that doesn’t involve the air conditioner is a bit cringey. But if you have kids, you know full well that it’s not easy to just keep them indoors all day. Here are some fun and simple ways to spend your weekend with family and friends:

• Water Play - You don’t need to be a toddler to appreciate cool water on a hot day. Set up a sprinkler, water balloons, or a kiddie pool for easy fun for everyone. 

• DIY Photo Booth: When you head back inside for a break, use simple backdrops (the kids can decorate poster boards!) and fun props (sunglasses, paper mustaches, and crowns) for patriotic photos. 

• Family Games: Play outdoor games like cornhole, flag tag, or (if you’re really feeling ambitious) organize a backyard Olympics. 

• Outdoor Movie Night: Set up a projector and a sheet for a movie under the stars.

• Patriotic Playlist: Create a playlist of upbeat, patriotic songs and have a family dance party or sing-along. If you have slightly older kids, task them with finding songs that mention America — it’ll keep them busy for a while 😉

3️⃣ 💆🏼‍♀️ How to Relax

We know, we know — telling a busy mom to relax is like telling a fish not to swim. But let us try to do the tough stuff for you this week. First, we know that there’s a lot of unrest in the Middle East and that the topic of war is incredibly stressful. What makes it worse is not knowing how to talk to your kids about what’s going on. We love this resource from Today that makes it a little easier to talk to kids about war at every age. 

Next? We challenge you to block some time for yourself. If you have the opportunity to tap another adult in for a couple of hours, do it. Let them know ahead of time that they’ll be on kid duty so that you can fully unplug. Then, we want you to prioritize self care — however that looks for you. Here are some ideas to get you going:

• Go for a walk

• Get back to your pre-kids hobby (remember those?)

• Get in some yoga

• Do some journaling

• Listen to your favorite music from college and rock out (yes, it’s ok to do this by yourself)

• Head to a coffee shop to read or people watch

📖 BOOK GIVEAWAY WINNERS! 📖

🎉 Congrats to these lucky subscribers who each won a FREE copy of Kristy Woodson Harvey’s latest book Beach House Rules.

RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL by EOW WITH YOUR MAILING ADDRESS SO WE CAN SEND IT YOUR WAY!! 

📕Heather Bowman

📕Tiffany Adams

📕Anne Schlamb

📕Emily Wood

📕 Nicole Foster