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Hello, Reader.

Did June sneak up on you as fast as it did on me? I feel like I blinked and May was over. Now the sun is shining, the pools are open, school is out for nearly everyone. I'm ready to relax and enjoy summer break. Aren't you?

If so, take a gander at the following resources which will help you make the most of a handful of quirky holidays this month. I'll send a dedicated post next week for Father's Day.

Free resources for you this week:

• June 4 - Global Running Day – stage fun family races & remind all to run with endurance​
• June 8 - Best Friends Day – check out our collection of friendship printables​
• June 12 - National Peanut Butter Cookie Day – These yummy PB cookies are fast & easy
• June 15 - Nature Photography Day – celebrate by staging a photo safari​
• June 17 - National Eat Your Veggies Day – enjoy them in soups, salads, or healthful snacks​
• June 20 - World Productivity Day – Need help? Try these 19 Ways to Boost Productivity​
• June 26 - Forgiveness Day – let go of any bitterness or resentment and forgive freely today
• June 27 - National Bingo Day – a perfect day to play one of our free printable bingo games​

What I'm reading this week:

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I finished The Time-Saving Mom by Crystal Paine over the weekend. She packed the book with practical tips for organizing your days to flow smoothly, with proper attention given to your all top priorities. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you have a good plan, and this book provides a great framework for avoiding overwhelm. I thoroughly enjoyed it and give a hearty amen to the suggestions therein, most of which are already personal habits (with the exception of using Google Calendar as a digital second brain -- I've always used Evernote instead, but give it a try after reading all Crystal's compelling arguments for doing so).

What we're eating this week:

We've been feasting on burrito bowls this week. It's one of the meals I ordered in my last box from Every Plate.

They're simple to prepare: Layer cooked white rice, black beans (prepared with peppers, onions, and southwest spice), guacamole, homemade pico, and sour cream thinned with fresh lime juice. Yum!

If you've never tried this meal service but would like to, use my referral link to get your first box free.

On the podcast this week:

Loving Life at Home: Episode 86 ​2 Key Ways to Help Your Kids Flourish​ ​ Our oldest son just celebrated his 37th birthday and told us over dinner what he considers the two most important and impactful things his dad and I did for him growing up, so I’m unpacking both in this week’s episode. I hope you’ll listen in. Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

I knocked out almost everything I set out to do last week: I ✅ organized the blue storage bins in my garage, ✅ made 3 leather cord clips for keeping my charging cables tidy, ✅ added videos to my state capitol passports, national parks passports, and devotional journals so Amazon shoppers can peek inside, and ✅ mailed a bunch of previously neglected birthday/anniversary/graduation cards.

I also ✅ started (but ❌ didn't finish) embroidering the neck of my black velvet dress (to cover up where the fabric had worn thin) and ✅ started (but ❌ didn't finish) painting a canvas grocery bag (decided to ✅ try a new batik technique instead of ❌ stenciling).

Personal goals for this week:

• repair broken cabinet door
• strain & bottle Winkie's tonic
• see my OB/GYN for annual check-up
• mow lawn (that awful Dallas grass has grown knee-high almost overnight!)
• attend Texas Homeschool Coalition Convention in the Woodlands
• pick up by daughter Rachel at the airport (home from Germany for two weeks!)
• visit son Samuel & family in San Antonio
• sew feather comforter into duvet cover (so it won't keep wadding up at the foot of our bed)

If you enjoy this newsletter and would like to support my work, there are five ways for you to do that (pick one):

1. Forward a copy to a friend with an invitation to subscribe, OR
2. Follow me on Instagram and comment on a post, OR
3. ​Buy one of my books and leave a positive review, OR
4. ​Listen to my podcast, then leave a review on your favorite platform OR
5. Hit reply and say hello 👋

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Thanks so much for all your help! I'll be back next week with more links, reviews, and resources. If you have any special requests, just reply to this email and let me know. 😊