Birdie
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July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Summer’s in full swing — your patience is melting faster than a popsicle on pavement, and “Mommmm!” is now your full-time job title.

We’ve got your summer sanity toolkit: low-effort self-care that actually works, a genius way to turn “I’m bored” into “I’m building life skills,” frugal habits that feel more like flexes, and a dinner recipe so good it might earn you five minutes of silence.

TL;DR: Strategic self-care, boredom-busting parenting, smart money moves, and jalapeño cheddar meatballs. Let’s dive in. ⬇️

AROUND THE WEB

✂️ Bob Girl Summer is the TikTok trend that's making everyone reach for the scissors, and honestly, we're here for it.

🌈 This Italian island just got crowned the world's most colorful destination, and the photos will make you book a flight immediately.

🥶 Parents are giving kids frozen vegetables straight from the freezer — and before you judge, there's actually science behind it.

👶 Double-barrel names are having a moment (think Mary-Kate vibes) — and it's not just a Southern thing anymore.

☀️ Your sunscreen expires and using old SPF is basically like wearing a mesh shirt to the beach.

🧦 This genius sock-on-a-hanger trick will clean under your appliances without you having to move furniture or throw out your back.

WELLNESS

Mom’s out of office.

School's out, the kids are home 24/7, and you're already fantasizing about September. Sound familiar?

The reality check: You can't pour from an empty cup — even when that cup is a Disney-themed sippy cup you've washed 47 times this week.

Your summer self-care starter pack:

Set your kids up for independence. Create designated spots for wet towels, pare down closets to summer-only clothes, and set up self-serve snack stations. Less "Mom, where's my..." means more sanity for you.
Master the "First this, then that" rule. Revolutionary concept alert: You're allowed to have needs too. Try: "First Mom drinks her coffee in peace, then we hit the pool." Your kids will learn patience, and you'll learn you're not a short-order cook.
Think small but mighty. A 10-minute walk beats no walk. Two pages of that book you've been meaning to read beats scrolling TikTok (again). Self-care doesn't require a spa day — sometimes it's just sunshine on your face at 7 AM.
Get your glow up on. Summer hair, don't care? Try that new cut. Experiment with that bright lipstick. Confidence is contagious, and your kids need to see you taking care of yourself.
Build in reset moments. Before transitions (lunch, pool time, bike rides), spend 5 minutes tidying up together. It's not about perfection — it's about creating breathing room in your day.

The bottom line: Summer self-care isn't selfish — it's strategic. When you're functioning better, everyone wins. Plus, you're modeling healthy habits for the tiny humans watching your every move.

Your move: Pick one thing from this list and try it this week. Start small, stay consistent, and remember — you're not just surviving summer, you're showing up as the mom (and woman) you want to be.

PARENTING

“I’m bored” emergency kit.

It's 10 AM on a Wednesday, and your child has already declared boredom 47 times. You're ready to hand over your credit card to the nearest summer camp.

Plot twist: Boredom is actually your secret parenting weapon.

Why boredom is basically boot camp for kids: Clinical psychologist Stephanie Lee says boredom teaches kids to tolerate less-than-ideal experiences (hello, life skills 101). It also builds planning strategies, problem-solving abilities, and flexibility — basically everything highly structured kids are missing.

The magic happens when they work through it. Kids who tackle their own boredom learn to create plans, organize materials, and solve problems. Translation: better academic performance and social skills down the road.

Your anti-boredom game plan:

Be proactive, not reactive. When they whine "I'm bored," don't immediately become their personal entertainment director. Instead, create a boredom jar together — fill it with activity ideas they can pull from independently.
Watch for attention-seeking. If they reject every suggestion, they might just want your attention. Give them two choices, set a 5-minute deadline, then you pick for them. Keep it short and sweet.
Teach creative planning. That cardboard box won't magically become a spaceship. Help them break down steps: "What are you making? What materials do you need? What's step one?"
Set realistic expectations. Preschoolers can handle 15 minutes of independent play, middle schoolers can go for 50 minutes. Very active kids might need movement breaks every 20 minutes.

The bottom line: Every "I'm bored" is actually "I'm learning to be resourceful." Your job isn't to fix their boredom — it's to help them develop the skills to fix it themselves.

Your move:Make that boredom jar this weekend. Future you will thank present you.

A Reddit post asking "What 'poor people' habit will you never stop doing?" exploded with 17K upvotes and 12K comments. Plot twist: Most contributors don't consider themselves poor — they just recognize smart money moves. From turning off lights to squeezing every drop of toothpaste, these "frugal flexes" are apparently universal.

SNIPPETS

Gmail just rolled out a game-changing feature that'll finally free you from subscription email hell — and it's so simple you'll wonder why it took this long.

Mattel's new Barbie comes with a glucose monitor and insulin pump, proving representation matters even in the toy aisle.

17 states are slashing back-to-school costs with tax-free weekends in July and August — check if yours made the money-saving list.

DID YOU KNOW? July 9th was Earth's second shortest day ever at 1.42 milliseconds under 24 hours — and scientists say it's part of a wild pattern that could mess with our clocks.

These golden-brown beauties are packed with melty cheddar and fresh jalapeños (don't worry, they're not spicy) and come with an herby summer sauce that'll make you forget all about boring weeknight dinners. One bite and you'll wonder why you ever bothered with regular meatballs.