Edition #238 | Read time: 5 Minutes
Hi Mamas,
It’s time for another edition of The CARRY™ List, and this month everything is back to school coded.
Have you ever heard the phrase “girl’s girl?” If a newsletter could be a girl’s girl, this is basically our monthly edition of it. We’re not here to shame you, blame you, or leave you feeling like you’re not measuring up. This is for the women who need a laugh, a recommendation, and a sigh of relief that we’re all in this together.
We’ve got you, and we’ve scrolled the back to school finds so you don’t have to.
And if you’re ever hunting for an affiliate code or a book recommendation, we’ve got a running list waiting for you HERE.
Enjoy!
-The CARRY™ Team
Back to school means back to germs, dry hands from extra washing, and skin that needs a little TLC. That’s why we’re loving Toups and Co this month.
Their clean, organic skincare is made for busy families who want products they can trust, without the long ingredient lists you can’t pronounce. From gentle soaps to balms that actually work, it’s the kind of stuff you’ll want in every bathroom and backpack.
✨ Plus, our link gets you 25% off, so there’s no better time to stock up before the school year gets moving.
Big Little Truths — The sequel everyone’s been waiting for since Big Little Lies.
Dolly All the Time — The one we keep hearing recommended over and over, a cute rom com
The Revelation of Dionne Daphne — The one giving us all the buzzy, can’t-put-it-down energy right now.
A little something for everyone…
The most optimistic soccer coach in television is back, this time coaching AFC Richmond’s women’s team. It’s a back-to-school comfort watch.
For the nights you need something to zone out to after drop off chaos.
A new romcom for the girls who want their evenings to feel like a European vacation, even if you’re just watching from the carpool line.
Zoe Saldana is back as a CIA operative caught in a conspiracy that’ll keep you hooked well past bedtime, yours or theirs.
Paula is back after a break in July, with lots of relatable and bittersweet conversations as she launches into a new back-to-school season, dropping her oldest off at college. Her daughter Caroline joined last week's episode. It's a great listen for any mom navigating her own firsts, lasts, or everything in between this season.
One recipe, multiple dinners: This crispy oven baked chicken cutlet is basically a mother recipe. Bake it once on a sheet pan, then turn it into chicken parm, a Caesar wrap, a sandwich, or a salad topper all week long. One big golden cutlet doing all the work…yes, please!
One pan wonder: This sheet pan kielbasa and tortellini dinner is on the table in 30 minutes with basically no cleanup, perfect for those first-week-of-school nights when you have zero bandwidth to think about dinner.
This post really helped us remember what our kids need from us (and don’t need) after school. Swipe for some great thoughts on after school conversations. The comments have some helpful tips too!
These gave us the back-to-school giggles. 😂
Where are our WFH moms? We know a lot of people hear “work from home” and picture the dream scenario, shorts on the bottom, blazer on top, dinner in the crockpot by 10am. But for those who have actually lived it, you know it’s an entirely different kind of juggle.
This thread reminded us why flexible work options are worth advocating for. And also why, even with flexibility, so much still falls on moms by default. Flexible doesn’t always mean easier. Sometimes it just means the load moves, it doesn’t lighten.
This post stopped us mid-scroll. And it doesn’t just apply if you’ve got a kid starting kindergarten this year. Every school year is a transition year, because none of us have done this exact year before. Not this grade, not this schedule, not this version of our kid.
It’s a great reminder to stay insightful and attentive, both to them and to ourselves. So much of making life work is learning to adapt and pivot.
Sorry, we had to.
Maybe the plan you had in your head for this school year isn’t actually working now that you’re in it. And that applies to our kids just as much as it applies to us. Sometimes we’re the ones who need to pivot too.
Give yourself the same grace you’re giving them this year.
Every mom knows a good water bottle can make or break the school year, for you and the kids. Here are our picks.
☀️ SAVE: This budget-friendly pick that gets the job done (with great reviews) without the splurge price tag.
✨ SPLURGE: Owala FreeSip — currently around $29. THE water bottle of the moment.
Most schools are closed, so if you need childcare for the long weekend or an extra day, now’s the time to lock it down.
📋 As the school year kicks off, this is a good week to check your district’s calendar for early dismissals, teacher workdays, and holidays already on the books. Getting ahead of childcare planning now saves you the Sunday night scramble later.
Turns out almost half of you are still deep in the younger-kid trenches (48%), with another quarter watching college creep closer on the horizon (25%). Wherever you land, we see you.
One reader shared this note for anyone in the drop-off season: “Keep in touch and visit. You’ll find your new routine soon, don’t worry. Send care packages if you can’t visit. 4 years fly!!!” - Lisa H.
As always, this is a space for our Carry™ moms community to connect with each other. Leave a comment and keep the conversation going. And, we bet there’s another mama that would love The Carry™ All in their inbox, too. Pass on the love!
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