Week 3: Becoming The Mother I'd Like to Be.

Next week I leave for 2 weeks in The Forks, Maine. Three days after that I’ll be flying to Colombia for a wedding. The mother i’d like to be survives this travel schedule, puts her career first for a quick burst, and regroups in the Fall. Early next week I’m going to put out a pre-requisite checklist for those who want to join in September for our shared glow up, and then i’ll catch up with you in August.

But for now, let’s discuss where we are at.

This isn’t Finding Yourself 101— we’re working on the next level. We’re aiming to be a smarter, hotter & a more interesting Mom.

A couple of questions to get us started. Let’s take inventory of where we are at this week.

SMARTER: What can you do to get smarter? What books can you read or magazines should you have subscriptions for? What podcasts do you listen to?

I’m reading Tia William’s The Missed Connection as part of my personal beach reads summer challenge where I commit to reading 70% BIPOC books.

A couple interesting articles I’ve read:

• DRAMA is happening within the Catholic church. Have you ever heard of the Society of St. Pius X? I hadn’t until this week! Basically Pope Leo has a problem— and it’s a very large conservative fringe group within the Catholic Church that holds mass in Latin and rejects religious harmony. Excommunication has been threatened! I’m on the edge of my seat.

• Also interesting— a law student sharing her story of being stateless in the US. Born in Greece to Albanian parents, the DACA recipient has experienced extreme hurdles to simply survive in the US.

HOTTER: What beauty treatments have you wanted to try? How can you switch up your fitness routine to give you the definition you’re looking for? Are you drinking enough water?

• I purchased a new razor for the first time in….. way too long. I’m also trying the Billie shave cream for the first time (I just got it at Walgreens.)

• I upgraded my makeup routine to bring back in the Anastasia Brow Wiz…. welcome back diva it’s been about a decade.

• Been using Trinny London “Elevator” neck cream.

• Yoga Tuesday at Aura (becoming a new favorite), cardio pilates at the place 5 minutes down the road from me with the BEST instructor Wednesday.

• I got my first french manicure in over a decade for my sister’s wedding last week + it’s still going strong! I’m realizing I actually can keep long nails? This is breaking news for me. But I will be filing them down for camp next week.

• I texted my friend who owns Two of a Kind brow studio in LA to ask where in NYC I can get my best brow look— made an appointment with Browtiste.

INTERESTING: Do you have hobbies other than scrolling on your phone? Have you looked up what fun things are happening where you live this weekend? Are you trying new foods or activities? Maybe you can start creating content?

I’m just working my ass off planning for our book club summer camp. My job is the most interesting thing about me— it’s just the truth!

But also, I am on a boat, by the pool, and catching a tan. My parents live on the Connecticut Shoreline, so I am enjoying a New England style summer.

MOM: Are you the kind of mom you want to be?

I’m teaching my son to swim. I can’t think of anything more important right now. Also, I did a little shopping at Hanna Andersson for SCHOOL!!!

• Hair check in— are we happy?

  • Though I am committed to ponytail summer, I made a hair appointment for the end of August with my beloved hairstylist, Anna at Earth Tones Salon in Duxbury, when I’m there visiting for the week. I am giddy with excitement.

• Get a Brick + commit.

  • I’ve been pretty committed to my Brick since buying it in December, but I’m definitely increasing my usage lately. I recommend my 8pm-8am schedule, by the way.

  • When you go on vacation, keep your brick schedule on, and don’t bring the device with you. Trust me.

• No solitary sweet treats

  • Summer is for ice cream, and ice cream is better with someone you love. I’ve been great about this lately. But in all seriousness, I never want my son to see me deprive myself of anything that brings joy— so I’m just being a little more regimented behind the scenes.

• Replace your toothbrush and upgrade your dental routine in some way.

  • Got a new Quip + I’m even trying their toothpaste. Not married to the toothpaste, but it came with it when I bought the bundle at my dentist apt (ok I didn’t buy it, I wrote a review on Google and they gave it to me.) Also, I started using prescription mouth wash. Shame on the bitch (me) who waited 5 years to go back to the dentist.

• Pick out a really cute outfit for the holiday weekend and take a really good photo.

  • TBD!

• Print year to date photos

  • I just placed an order for 67 photos that were in my favorites album. The last time I ordered photos was January. I try to do this every 6 months. I just don’t trust a cloud!

• Start your 1000 books before kindergarten list

  • I started a spreadsheet :) feel free to duplicate it!

• Bookshelf curation + organization

  • I developed a summer TBR for both myself & Sebby! His is big on Feelings, Sea Creatures + Travel. Mine is a fat stack of beach reads.

I’d LOVE to hear what you’re doing + if you plan to join me!

xo

Mackenzie

P.S I’m announcing to-do lists on Mondays on TikTok and then doing these roundups (most) Fridays. I’ll be taking a couple weeks off mid July because I will be working book club summer camp and thus an absentee mother in order to be a great CEO for a bit.