My Real-Life Summer Favorites as a Mom of Three
As I’m writing this, my kids are 8, 6, and 5 years old.
Having three kids rocked our world - in both the good and very hard ways. It made life fuller, louder, and more beautiful - but it also came with a lot of adjustment.
The same is true as they get older.
This stage of having kids who are no longer babies, but not yet big kids, feels incredibly full and chaotic. Some days, if I’m honest, it leaves me feeling anxious trying to keep up with all the schedules, activities, moving pieces, and emotions. But at the very same time, I feel so incredibly grateful for this little life we’ve built. And have so many good moments that I want to freeze in time.
One thing I always tell my kids is that life isn't about never having bad days. It's about having more good days than hard ones.
The goal here isn't a perfect summer with a perfectly planned bucket list…
One thing I’ve realized is that our family of five is at our very best when we aren’t overscheduled.
We thrive in the simple moments: a slow mornings with pjs and coffee, afternoon at the pool, water balloons and chalk, making cookies, going to get sno cones or ice cream, catching fireflies, or just sitting on the patio with friends.
In this post below, I want to share some of the little things that are making this summer feel special.
PS - I also share more motherhood things in my newsletter, be sure to join it!
My Morning Coffee
I look forward to my morning coffee every single day. It feels calm and something that helps me start the day feeling like myself.
My morning lineup:
Nutpods (unsweetened/whole30 one - I’m loving toasted marshmallow)
The trick is to froth the cream and a little coffee in the bottom of your mug and then fill up with more coffee.
We recently had to get a new coffee maker and went with this automatic Chemex one. It’s a few more steps than just turning on your coffee maker, but makes the best coffee ever.
My Summer Skincare Routine
Summer means more time outside, more pool days, and more sunshine.
These are the products that help my skin feel hydrated, glowy, and cared for during this season. And I am keeping it real and simple!
Red Light Mask - I started using this for 10 minutes 5 times a week about 1 month ago and I'm all in. My face feels + looks noticeably smoother and it's been amazinggg!! Worth the investment and it's a safe way to improve your skin. You just push the button and it turns on and then automatically turns off after 10 minutes. (Code ANNABECK saves you $)
Liquid Collagen I take - one capful every morning! For stronger hair, nails, joints, and better skin. I wrote about my experience here.
My Two Daily Skincare Items - I use this waterless serum every morning followed by this face cream. It's been my go-to 2 step daytime routine! If you want to try Oliveda (the skincare brand I've been using for the last 2 years, you can take my 2-minute quiz here). See a full routine in my blog post, here.
Clean Skin Face Towels - in January I felt like I was breaking out more than usual. Turns out I was drying my face with a towel my kids were using, so it probably wasn't clean. I got these compostable one-time-use face towels to dry my face and haven't looked back. I love them! It's helped keep my face clear.
Skin Tint + Blush I use daily - summer for me means a lot less makeup. The skin tint and blush are two staples that give a glow with minimal makeup products.
My Brow Gel + Mascara - when I wear makeup, I use this mascara and brow gel.
Shampoo for after the pool - I recently discovered this clean brand and use the clarifying shampoo once a week.
A Summer Cocktail I’m Loving
For the last two years, I was firmly on an Aperol Spritz kick. It was my go-to summer cocktail - light, refreshing, and the perfect thing to sip on a patio.
Then one night we were out to dinner, and I ordered a Hugo Spritz. Let’s just say… I was immediately hooked. It has that same refreshing, vacation-like feel, but with a little more floral, elderflower flavor that feels like summer in a glass.
We’ve been making them at home for cocktail nights with friends, and I’ll be sharing my simple Hugo Spritz recipe here on Urban.Apron soon! We have even made variations like a blackberry hugo spritz - stay tuned!
The Simple Things we’re Baking
I am such a creature of habit when it comes to baking. I tend to come back to the same favorite recipes over and over because they’re easy to whip up and I know my family loves them.
Have you ever made a brand-new recipe? It always takes a little longer the first time. You’re reading every step, double checking ingredients, and hoping it turns out. But once you make it once, it becomes so much easier. You know exactly what to do, you can tweak it to your liking, and somehow it gets even better every time.
There’s something I love about making the same recipes over and over again. They become part of your family’s traditions.
Lately, two staples in our kitchen have been my One Bowl Chocolate Chip Banana Bread and Chocolate Chunk Cookies. They’re simple, delicious, and recipes I can almost make without looking at the instructions.
The Simple Summer Fun My Kids Never Get Tired Of
My kids never remember the elaborate activities I stress about planning. They remember the things we do over and over again.
Water balloons or running through a sprinkler
Swimming
Popsicles outside
Sidewalk chalk
Bike and scooter rides
Library trips
Backyard dinners
Evening walks
Catching fireflies
Going to get sno cones or ice cream
A reminder that kids don’t always need elaborate plans. Sometimes the ordinary moments become the ones they remember most.
Here are some of my favorite things for kids ages 5-8 that have made summer easier (and more fun) around here:
Pickleball Set - we've recently gotten into pickleball because all my kids are able to do it! A bit easier than tennis for my 5 and 6 year old.
Reusable Water Balloons - These are a must-have in our backyard in the summer. We have a bucket the kids fill with water. You could also have in a pool or water table.
Our Favorite Sidewalk Chalk - after playing with chalk for almost a decade, i've decided this is the only brand I will ever buy.
Easy Set Up Badminton Net - I tried putting up a more complicated net and quickly gave up. I grabbed this one at Target for less than $40 and our kids use it for volleyball too. HIGHLY recommend! You set it up in like 5 minutes!!!
Camp Snap Camera - this is like the disposable camera we all remember growing up. But here, you keep using + upload the photos on your computer and get them printed, etc. We bring this on trips! That way, I'm not always getting out my phone. Code URBANAPRON saves you $.
My Favorite Mineral Sunscreen. We have the lotion, stick and spray in this brand - for the whole fam! I started using it 2 years ago and have been rebuying the most out of any other brand. PS - this $7 mesh bag is clutch to keep the sunscreen together in your pool bag!!!
As I get older and my kids get older, I’m realizing more and more that it’s not usually the big moments that make a season memorable…
It’s the really little, simple things.
The morning coffee before everyone wakes up. The recipe you know by heart. The pool days, the water balloons, the patio nights with friends, and the ice cream run after dinner.
This season of motherhood feels full in every sense of the word, and while I’m still learning to balance all of the moving pieces, I’m trying to hold onto these simple moments a little tighter.
These are the things making this summer feel special.
Thanks for being here and following along with our little corner of the internet. I’d love to hear what little things are making your summer feel special too. Leave a comment below or send me a message over on Instagram.
Cheers to summer!
Anna