Group Chat 💬 Teaching gratitude early, most-used baby products, new pod logo, last-minute gifting ideas.

Welcome to this week’s ✨ Group Chat 💬 , where we spill what’s happening behind the scenes. From everyday chaos to the things we can’t stop talking about, consider this your front-row seat to the sister thread. Here’s what was on our minds (and in our texts) last week…

What’s new in our biz…

Creative season update. BTS we’re deep in creative mode with our design team (shoutout to Brighten Made - truly the best). Our new podcast logo is officially locked (yeeeeeee!!!!). What do you think!!?!?

• AND we’ve gotten our first peek at the early stages of the new website (it’s already stunning), and our very first Phase Guides™ is starting to take shape. More on that soon….

• We also popped back onto Instagram with a Q&A last week, and honestly, it reminded us how much we love those conversations. Your questions, your curiosity, your perspectives…. It was such a good exchange. We’re planning to bring those back regularly, so stay tuned and get your questions ready!!!!

What’s been on our minds (and hearts) lately…

• Redefining the holidays. This year, something that has really been weighing on Carly is the pressure parents feel to overdeliver when it comes to gifts (all three of us feel it, too!). It often feels as though if you do not go above and beyond, you are somehow falling short. We live in such a consumer-driven world, with constant advertising and rising costs, and honestly, it can all feel overwhelming and unnecessary!

  • We are sure so many women reading this can relate. It makes you pause and ask: “What is something meaningful me and my child can do together that is not centered around a product or a gift?” We do not want our kids growing up expecting an abundance of things every holiday season. So instead, we are choosing to focus on a few intentional gifts, and just as importantly, on balance. There are people in our communities who have very little, and I want her to understand that the holidays are not only about receiving, but also about giving back.

  • This week, we are talking out loud about gratitude as we collect jackets, sweaters, and pants from our home to donate. This weekend, we will bring them together to drop everything off. Teaching our kids that giving time, clothing, or food can be just as meaningful as receiving gifts feels like an important lesson to begin sharing early!

What our kids are loving…

• Better dinner-table convos. Alaina has been playing around with some creative, kid-friendly dinner table questions (with a little help from AI), and the result has been so fun. Instead of the usual “what did you do today?”, these questions spark laughter, imagination, and surprisingly thoughtful answers. They open the door to how our kids are thinking, feeling, and experiencing their world…. Not just the highlights, but the inner stuff too! It’s become one of their favorite ways to connect and get a little peek into her kid’s magic. You can find the full list here.

What we’re shopping…

• Weekly faves. Coming at you with all the goodies and brands we are loving and shopping this week! A few call-outs below:

  • This baby formula dispenser has been an absolute lifesaver for Alaina and her combo feeding. It makes bottles INSTANTLY.

  • This mold-free, myotixin-free, antioxidant-rich coffee that fuels ALL of our mornings after breakkyyyy.

  • This protein-powder-meets-prenatal-supplement, especially convenient for that first tri when it tends to be hard to keep anything down (IYKYK).

  • These 100% cotton diapers Julie is loving for her new baby girl, Lively. These are Alaina’s fave, too.

  • Open-style earbuds perfect for outdoor workouts… Enjoy your music while staying aware of your surroundings. Ideal for jogging, biking, or any activity where safety matters!

  • AND these big quiet headphones to work or workout in! (Carly’s been loving them when she’s doing computer work. She listens to this classical trap music playlist *LOL and gets things DONE!)

• Gifting with intention. With Christmas just around the corner, if you’re still looking for thoughtful, intentional gifts you actually feel good about giving, our Holiday Gift Guide is filled with ideas we genuinely love and use ourselves… From simple stocking stuffers to meaningful gifts for kids, partners, parents, in-laws, and everyone in between.

  • Nothing overwhelming, nothing just for the sake of “more.” Just well-made, practical, cozy, and nourishing finds that make life feel a little better and a little more aligned. If you need last-minute inspiration or want to shop with more intention this season, we’re confident you’ll find something in there you’ll love. And however this final week looks for you, we’re sending calm energy, ease, and a reminder that presence will always matter more than presents. ❤️

Sometimes it’s the smallest thing - a phrase, a laugh, a reminder - that shifts the whole week. Here’s to noticing those little sparks when they show up and letting them carry you into the rest of your week.

Wishing you rest, joy, or whatever you need most right now.

Talk soon 💌

Alaina, Carly and Julie

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