Mason turned 16 last week, and if that’s not enough to make you feel your age, Claire officially passed her driving road test and got her license. Yep. She’s already driving herself to babysitting gigs. (By the way, we used Aceable for the online driver’s ed course, and I highly recommend it for your own soon-to-be road warriors.)

In other big news: it’s cherry season. I’m eating them by the pound. It’s my favorite fruit moment of the year, and Sam’s is keeping me stocked!

Claire and I are going to see The Lion King at Dallas Summer Musicals tonight. It’s an oldie but a goodie! Bonus: our tickets were 20% off through Travelzoo!

Life Hack

What’s In My Glove Box

I keep a small accordion file folder in the glove compartment to corral all the little things that otherwise float around like debris in a wind tunnel. Proof of insurance, restaurant gift cards and, perhaps most importantly, my Aldi quarter. IYKYK.

I was reminded of this as I was getting Claire all set up in the Volvo we bought for the kids to drive. One of the first things I added was a fresh glove box file folder. This little $5 folder saves me from digging through the abyss of my console every time I need something. Grab one here.​

Playlist Pick

Celine Dion’s Pride Playlist is Everything

It’s Celine. It’s camp. It’s five hours of pure joy. Each year, the queen of power ballads drops her own Pride playlist – and 2025’s version is 73 songs long. Think dance anthems, feel-good bops, LGBTQ+ classics and a few Celine scream-singing moments sprinkled throughout.

​Apple Music, Spotify​

App I’m Loving

Moongate: Like a Deep-Tissue Massage for My Brain

Okay, yes, this one’s a little woo-woo.

​Moongate uses binaural beats (read: sound frequencies that do something magical to your brain) to relax your brain, and I swear, the first time I tried it, I felt like mine had just left the spa.

I even used it during a bumpy flight on a tiny plane to Todd’s parents’ house, and it calmed my queasy stomach down. I don’t know how it works, but it works.

Sh!t Cooper Says

“You don’t get rich by spending money poorly.”

– Cooper

Said by me every time one of my kids orders a $6 milkshake, and it costs $18 by the time it hits our porch.

Also said every time someone mocks me for using digital coupons like I’m collecting stamps in the Great Depression. Just yesterday, I went to CVS for shampoo, a razor and face wash. My total was $59. I walked out paying only $37…plus I got $15 in CVS rewards for next time! That’s not extreme couponing. That’s just gay math.

Want to keep up with what I’m loving, using, and sharing? My new online storefront is finally live! Browse everything from my favorite skincare to the Aldi quarter file folder. It’s a work in progress that I’m updating regularly, so check back often.

See you next week!

YOU ARE LOVED!