Hello, Wednesday!

I’m meeting my mom for lunch today to celebrate a few things: 

This time last year, my mom was diagnosed with and already battling breast cancer. We are extremely lucky that this year we are celebrating her being cancer free with a lunch date and a new hairdo–PINK! (Her, not me). 

She’s really leaning into the eclectic Grandma persona full tilt. We’re here for it. If you see an older lady (sorry, Mom, but you are!) out and about with pink hair, say hello!

Cheers,
Meg

This week I’ve been filling my cup by chatting with neighbors during afternoon strolls with my girls. We have a strider bike or a scooter in tow and a baby on my chest and we are out and about chit-chatting with others and it’s been such a highlight and reminder of our built-in community. 

Special shoutout to my neighbor, Mr. Robert, who is 95 and definitely not reading this. I asked him the secret to his 72-year marriage and he said “don’t die.” This man really is a fountain of wisdom. 

→ Your turn: submit your “gold star” moment from the week. Yes, “I took a fifteen minute nap in the car after drop off and another parent knocked on the window to make sure I was alive” absolutely counts.

Charlotte mom Kerri Flanigan is proof that wellness doesn’t have to wait until the kids are older. Through her brand GoodRootsMVMT, she helps busy women, especially moms, find balance through movement, mindfulness, and nutrition.

This weekend, she’s hosting a women’s retreat in Topsail Island, bringing moms together to rest, recharge, and reconnect. A former fitness studio owner turned wellness coach, Kerri knows that thriving in motherhood means finding joy in the messy middle—and building community along the way.

Read Kerri’s full story →

PS – She’s leading a family retreat in the N.C. mountains next year. We’ll share the sign up when it’s live! 

A few weekends ago, we packed up for a fall day trip to Harvest Farm in Valle Crusis for some good old-fashioned pumpkin picking—but the real surprise star of the show? The flower farm.

For $15, I left with the most gorgeous bunch of blooms and a heart full of memories. Watching my daughter run between the rows of flowers will live rent-free in my soul forever.

If you’re craving a fall reset, make the drive! The NC mountains are just a few hours from Charlotte, and Harvest Farm is the perfect mix of pumpkins, petals, and mountain air.

Add-on: The Original Mast General Store is just up the road and a must-stop for the history and nostalgia of it all. 

Necessary note: Pack your own food and drink or plan to stop in Banner Elk or Boone for lunch! There’s no food offered at the farm and once you’re there, you’re there. 

For the little boos:
Halloween is creeping up, and our story time lineup is officially in costume. These kid-approved picks are sweet + silly and were the perfect additions to the boo basket I put together for my toddler. (WTF though, honestly, at all the things that are a thing for childhood these days?! But alas, we are doing it for the ✨magic✨)  

What I’m reading (during the night-time feeds, mostly):
I’ve been diving into the first of the Thursday Murder Club series—cozy, clever, and just dark enough to keep me turning pages. On the side table: The Feminine Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer.

*Affiliate links! (I’ll only share products that I personally use or are highly recommended from our community!) Rest assured, this is not just random shit.

We recently asked readers what their go-to way to recharge is and this one is so real: “Scrolling on the toilet” – M, Charlotte Mom of 1

You realize the lack of alone time in Motherhood when a few minutes alone to doom-scroll on the toilet is what can fill the cup. We are taking what we can get these days! See you on the interwebs 😉

 ✨ What’s keeping you sane lately? Let us know and we’ll share in upcoming issues. 

Sometimes you just need good coffee, a pastry, and a place to sit that isn’t your own kitchen table. Enter Copain in SouthPark — my favorite spot to grab a sweet treat and spread out for a bit. They share a gorgeous atrium with Rooster’s, so there’s plenty of space to linger, catch up with a friend, or play with the kids in peace. This week I noticed a cutie toddler with a babydoll stroller getting her steps in🫡

Bonus points: I needed to breastfeed my youngest while catching up with a friend recently and didn’t get any weird stares while I popped my head in and out of my cover like a whack-a-mole. 10/10 will go back (with or without baby).

Order: Any of the coffees, all of the pastries, and a must-get is the mesclun salad with chicken salad added on top. 

By the numbers: An estimated 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the United States in 2025 according to the American Cancer Society. 

Consider donating to trusted organizations like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation or Susan G. Komen to help fund research, support patients, and bring us closer to a cure.

Do you have a "village"?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yes! I have a supportive community of family and friends nearby ⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yes! I outsource, outsource, outsource
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No...somehow trying to do it all

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