April 8, 2025

April 08, 2025

If you're finding our content as essential as that hidden stash of emergency granola bars in your center console, spread the word! 📨Forward this to another mom who could use a sanity-saving five-minute read between school drop-offs and Zoom meetings.

Because the only thing better than finding the perfect mom hack? Sharing it with someone who gets it.

🥤 The healthiest electrolyte drink? It all depends on this one key factor.

🌞 Mineral or chemical sunscreen? Dermatologists break down which offers better UV protection — and you might be surprised by their answer.

🦎 Scientists just discovered a rare plaid poison dart frog in Suriname.

🥚 Want to ditch the dye kit this Easter? Here are 25 creative egg decorating ideas you’ve never tried.

📸 A family photo shoot with DC’s cherry blossoms gets an epic photobomb… by Barack Obama himself.

😂 Teacher pulls off a killer April Fools prank — but one student totally steals the spotlight (watch the video).

GOOD NEWS

Rosie the Riveters finally get the honor they deserve. After decades of underappreciation, 18 women were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service during WWII. Among them, 97-year-old Jane Tucker, who left rural Alabama to help build Liberty ships at just 16, reflects on how these women proved that "men’s jobs" were never just for men.

COMMUNITY

Village wanted.

TikTok is confirming what your grandma always knew: it really does take a village to raise a child. But here's the plot twist that's racking up millions of views: everyone wants to HAVE a village, but nobody wants to BE the village.

Two viral TikTokers, Rachel Lovely (@rachellovely5) and Kelsey Pomeroy (@kelsewhatelse), are dropping truth bombs about building your mom community. The first rule? Show up consistently. That playdate you're thinking about canceling because your house looks like a toy store explosion? Go anyway.

The second golden rule: stop keeping score. A true village isn't a "I watched your kid Tuesday, so you owe me Thursday" situation. It's about giving when you can and (here's the hard part) accepting help when you need it.

For those starting from village ground zero, try these quick-start tips:

  • Enroll your littles in activities (hello, built-in mom friends!)

  • Schedule non-negotiable mom time each month

  • Court potential mom friends like you're dating (because you basically are)

  • Say YES when someone offers help (your ego will recover)

In a world where we're all drowning in laundry piles and school permission slips, building your village isn't just nice — it's necessary survival equipment. And unlike that fancy baby swing, this is one investment that pays dividends forever.

HOME

Declutter your space.

Let’s be honest: that pile of laundry? It’s not just clutter — it’s chaos. And it might be quietly messing with your mood while you're juggling snack requests and stepping on Legos.

Here’s the deal: your home’s energy directly affects your mental health. Clutter = stress. Visual noise = mental overload. That junk drawer? Probably sabotaging your peace more than you realize.

Enter: the energy edit.

Think Marie Kondo, but instead of “Does this spark joy?”, ask yourself, “Does this space make me want to hide in the pantry?”

A few tiny tweaks with big payoff:

  • Tame the toy tornado. Use baskets, bins, or literally anything with a door. Out of sight, out of mind (and out of stress).

  • Light like you mean it. Ditch the harsh overheads. Swap in warm, cozy lighting to instantly change the mood.

  • Create micro-zones. A no-phone reading corner. A tiny art station with your forgotten watercolors. Anything that feels like you.

  • Let color do the heavy lifting. Blues calm the brain (perfect for bedrooms), while pops of yellow boost energy (hello, morning coffee companion).

Bottom line: Your home should be a soft place to land — not another thing on your to-do list. Even the smallest changes can flip the vibe from chaotic survival to low-key sanctuary.

The latest "period pain hack" on TikTok? Raw carrots. 🥕Women are swearing by raw carrots to reduce menstrual cramps and balance estrogen levels, but does it actually work — or is it just another viral myth? Find out if this veggie lives up to the hype.

SNIPPETS

Whole milk could return to school lunches. Lawmakers are pushing to bring back whole and 2% milk, ending a decade of skim-only school meals.

A toddler just found a 4,000-year-old artifact. While vacationing in Israel, a 3-year-old uncovered an ancient Egyptian scarab amulet — by accident.

AND LET’S TRY THESE AGAIN, TOO…

Looks like we goofed in last week’s newsletter — we pulled a classic 'click here' with nowhere to go. So we're running these gems back, now with links that actually work. Thanks for bearing with us!

Unpaid toll text scams are on the rise. Scammers send fake texts about unpaid tolls. Legitimate services never request sensitive information via text.

Wearing socks to bed can improve sleep. Warming feet with socks helps lower core body temperature, leading to faster and better quality sleep.

Hack to help kids memorize your phone number. Use your phone number as your child's tablet unlock code to make it easy to remember in emergencies.

PLEASE REPLY

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SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE
@mamaot_shannon

The grind never stops #toddlermom #momof2

✨ Annalee and Karin ✨

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