What I Loved In June

Okay I have to start here because honestly... June was the month I felt like myself again. yay!!

I’m pregnant!! and if you’ve been following along you already know this but saying it here still feels surreal and wonderful and like I can finally just... exhale. Keeping a secret that big for that long felt heavy in a way I didn’t fully anticipate. Even when it’s the right call for your family, there’s something about showing up every day and not being able to share the thing that’s taking up the most space in your life that just feels off. Inauthentic isn’t even the right word. It was more like I was only showing up as part of myself.

So hi. Here I am. Fully.

The first trimester icks are finally behind me (!!!!) which if you’ve been pregnant you know is its own celebration. and to close out June in the best way possible I went to the MGK concert I’ve been looking forward to since August. It was everything. The Salt Lake City show was also live streamed and now lives on YouTube forever so I’ve already rewatched it more than once and I have zero shame about that.

Also... we made some big family decisions this month about our house situation because baby is coming in December and I’m not moving for the second time the week I have a baby. Been there, done that and I don’t recommend. So more on that soon.

Anyways, I genuinely cannot wrap my head around the fact that July is here. I just bought school uniforms and backpacks and for anyone who knows me...I did this early. Not last minute. I don’t know who I’m becoming but I think I like her.

Also can we talk about how summer always felt endless as a kid. like it stretched on forever in the best way. As an adult it feels like it’s slipping through my fingers no matter how hard I try to hold on. and don’t even get me started on that quote about how your child only gets 18 summers with you. I cannot. The waterworks are immediate and I refuse to think about it too hard.

Now let’s get to it. Here’s what I loved this month...

Homemade Ice Cream

Monday Funday

Charlie is in camp Tuesday through Friday all summer and he loves it. He wakes up excited every single morning which is the best thing to witness. But Mondays are ours jus the three of us. We go to a coffee shop, out to lunch, hit different parks, make something together... popsicles, ice cream, banana bread, whatever sounds good that day. It’s the one day of the week where I can be fully present without the pull of work or camp pickup or whatever else and I try to make it count. Something I hope they both remember when they’re grown. Something I’m already storing away in my own heart.

Food Finds

Okay I have a few new favorites this month that started as pregnancy cravings and have now fully become party staples.

Lillie’s BBQ sauce. low sugar AND slightly vinegary which is my ideal BBQ situation. I have been putting this on everything.

Real wasabi. Not the green paste that comes with takeout sushi…actual wasabi. the kind that burns your nose in a way that somehow feels amazing and you immediately go back for more. There is no comparison.

Speaking of sushi... veggie rolls have become my new obsession. I’m not doing raw fish right now (but also ever) but a veggie roll? Absolutely. Fully on board.

Popchips made with avocado oil. I LOVED these in high school, the salt and vinegar and BBQ were my go-tos, and then I stopped buying them because of the seed oil situation. I just discovered they’re now made with avocado oil and I may have bought the salt and vinegar in a four pack on Amazon. The sweet heat is also incredible.

Moves by Madeline

I wanted a strength program with a heavy focus on pelvic floor and core work during pregnancy and I stumbled onto the Madeline Moves app and honestly love it so so much. The way the app is set up makes it so easy to follow along, check off sets as you go, and add in the weights you’re using to track progress over time. Plus, I can listen to my own music while in the app!

I’m going through the prenatal plan by trimester but she also has postpartum, general strength, and cardio programs if you’re not pregnant. It’s really well done and cannot recommend it enough. Also, follow her on Instagram if you want to get a feel for it!

Fascia Roller

This looks a little unhinged but feels so good. I’m fully trusting the process on this one.

Here’s the quick science behind why it works: fascia is the connective tissue that wraps around your muscles, organs, and everything in between. When it gets tight or restricted from things like sitting, dehydration, stress, or just daily life, it can create that dimpled appearance we call cellulite and it also restricts lymphatic flow, which is how your body removes waste and supports immune function. Rolling out the fascia helps break up those adhesions, improve circulation, and get the lymph moving again. The results aren’t instant but I’m committed.

Steam Cleaner

My life is changed. I’m not being dramatic. This was the one thing I bought during Amazon Prime Day and I have used it more times than I can count. I deep cleaned corners of my kitchen I had genuinely been ignoring for too long. My toaster looks brand new!!! My doorways and baseboards look like we just moved in. most handheld steam cleaners only last 8-12 minutes which is never enough time to actually get into a good cleaning rhythm. I went with this one specifically because of the longer run time and heats to 230F (p.s. it’s still 40% off!!) I have zero regrets. If you’ve been thinking about it just get it.

This J.Crew Swimsuit

I am in a light yellow era and this swimsuit immediately caught my eye. terry material, fits true to size, and it matches my phone case which was not planned but felt like a sign. Fully obsessed. It’s also 40% off right now (top + bottoms)

Making a “What I Loved as a Kid” List

I’ve been doing this for myself in my notes app and I think everyone should try it as a way to reconnect with your inner child. Simply reflect on what genuinely brought you joy before life got complicated and maybe bring some of that back in small ways. I have foods, hobbies, places, activities..I’m going to make this a full post because I think it deserves more than a bullet point. Stay tuned.

The MGK Concert!!!!

Another moment for this because everything I hoped it would be and more. And the fact that the Salt Lake City show was live streamed and now lives on YouTube forever means I can relive it anytime I want. My heart is so full. For the few of you in the niche, I know you get it!

Alright loves, see you in August with my July favs.
xx, Jess