The “We’re Almost to Summer” Survival Guide
There’s a very specific kind of tired that hits during the last few weeks of school. The calendars are overflowing, permission slips are multiplying like rabbits, someone always needs a themed snack by tomorrow morning, and somehow dinner still has to happen every night. These are the weeks where busy end of school year tips and life savers truly earn their place.
Lately I’ve been leaning hard into anything that helps me feel a little more put together without requiring actual effort. Not full glam. Not a 45-minute bathroom escape. Just enough to look awake at preschool pickup and not scare myself in the Target self-checkout camera.
My current 5-minute makeup routine has been saving me:
It’s basically “hydrated mom pretending she slept” energy. The Glowscreen gives that healthy skin look even if you’ve only had iced coffee and toddler leftovers all day, and the Merit blush somehow makes it look like you went outside voluntarily. As a professional makeup artist of over 20 years, stick with me – I got you girl.
Busy Week Dinner Lifesaver
If you need busy end of school year tips and life savers that don’t involve cooking three separate meals for tiny critics, I need everyone to know about the family meals at Whole Foods Market.
For around $35, they’ll hand you a massive aluminum tray filled with a protein and two sides that honestly feeds forever. I spotted options ranging from Paleo-friendly chicken breasts to Italian meatballs, ketchup meatloaf, and a salmon situation that looked suspiciously restaurant quality.
This is the kind of thing that saves the evening when everyone gets home late, nobody wants takeout again, and you simply cannot emotionally handle dishes. Pair it with paper plates and protect your peace.
This Week’s Go-To Smoothie
The current obsession around here is a chocolate strawberry smoothie that tastes like dessert but secretly has enough protein to keep me functioning.
Using The Beast blender:
- 1 cup frozen strawberry/banana mix
- 1 heaping tablespoon Oikos Triple Zero yogurt
- Handful of spinach
- 1/2 cup Fairlife Lite milk
- 2 dates
- 1 scoop chocolate whey protein
- 1 tsp cocoa powder
- Crushed ice
Blend until smooth and cold enough to heal emotional damage.
Approximate Macros
- Calories: ~390–430
- Protein: ~35–40g
- Carbs: ~35–40g
- Fat: ~8–10g
It’s become my favorite “I forgot to eat lunch until 3pm” solution.
Atlanta Things Worth Leaving the House For
Because the weather has been unusually agreeable lately, this is the sweet spot before Atlanta turns into a humid science experiment.
A few family-friendly ideas this week:
- Splash pads opening around metro Atlanta
- Evening walks at Piedmont Park
- Storytime events at local libraries
- Free outdoor concerts popping up in neighborhood parks
- Farmers markets with kid activities and live music
This season always reminds me how much little kids genuinely love simple things. Water fountains. Sidewalk chalk. Popsicles on the porch. You really do not have to spend a fortune to make summer feel magical.
And speaking of this beautiful stretch of weather — Atlanta is still sitting in that perfect pocket where everything is blooming but the full heat swing of summer hasn’t arrived yet. Outdoor sessions are especially dreamy right now with softer evenings, green landscapes, and flowers everywhere. If you’ve been thinking about maternity, family, or motherhood portraits, this is honestly one of my favorite windows before summer schedules get wild.
Consider this another entry in busy end of school year tips and life savers: document the season you’re in before it rushes by.
