<![CDATA[Scary Mommy]]>https://www.scarymommy.comScary MommyFri, 26 Jun 2026 12:16:40 GMT<![CDATA[My Partner & I Role-Play All The Time. Does That Mean We're Bored With Each Other?]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/role-play-all-the-time-does-that-mean-relationship-boredomhttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/role-play-all-the-time-does-that-mean-relationship-boredomThu, 25 Jun 2026 22:32:11 GMT

I had sex with a multitude of men this week: a poet’s soul who’s never found true love, my son’s school dean, a masseuse, a college frat boy, and... Francisco. But before you think I really get around, I should confess — they were all my husband. And no, I’m not secretly living a quadruple life.

Around two years ago, my husband of 15 years and I stopped having sex very often as ourselves and started role-playing instead. Now, almost every time we get frisky, one of us starts a scenario and the other just runs with it.

Sometimes it’s ridiculous enough that we both end up laughing halfway through. Other times, it’s surprisingly hot, like when we explored what would’ve happened if we’d gotten together the first night we met instead of 18 months later.

At first, neither of us fully realized we’d fallen into this pattern until I pointed it out a few months ago.

“Do you think it’s bad we never really have sex as ourselves anymore?” I asked one night while we were getting ready for bed.

My husband, toothbrush hanging out of his mouth, shrugged before spitting into the sink.

“No,” he said. “I think we just like it this way.”

Even with his reassurance, I couldn’t help wondering if constant role-playing means we’re bored with each other. So, I turned to sex and relationship experts to find out.

How common is role play in long-term relationships?

There are barely any studies showing how common role-play is in relationships, but Noelle Benach, a professional counselor and sex therapist, says that in her practice it’s “definitely not uncommon.”

And while we might assume it’s about being “someone else,” Benach says it’s really about creating “novelty, emotional intensity, permission, playfulness, or exploration within a familiar relationship.”

Does role-playing ever mean there are underlying relational issues, like boredom or avoidance?

Wanting to role-play doesn’t necessarily mean we want to escape our lives, reassures Benach. She equates it to the same desire we have to watch a show, read a book, or play a game — these are just outlets that give us a temporary escape from “expectations, responsibilities, or identities.”

Melanie Eichhorn, a sexologist for Satisfyer North America, added that role play often actually shows that partners feel safe enough with each other to explore fantasies. Some couples also just enjoy variety, she points out, and imagination is part of their “erotic dynamic.” When it’s consensual, she says, role playing may even strengthen intimacy, creating a sense of “we’re in this together.”

But if it’s the only way to feel aroused or avoid relational issues, then Eichorn warns there might be a problem. The big question couples should ask themselves, she says: Does it feel exciting and connecting, or like a requirement?

How can someone tell if they’re role-playing to spice things up versus to mask boredom?

In early relationships, couples experience that “intense, all-consuming phase of attraction,” says Benach, which can make everything feel electric. But relationships mature. Sex becomes safe and familiar, and couples have to get more creative to keep the spark alive.

“Our brains are wired to seek novelty, which can feel like a tall order in a long-term relationship. Role play offers couples the opportunity to try new things, while still honoring the boundaries of their relationship,” says Benach.

Pay attention to how you feel before, during, and after role-playing, Eichhorn says. Do you feel energized? More connected and attracted to each other? Then you’re probably all good. But she says if you’re drained or feeling emotionally distant, that might be a true sign of boredom.

Any advice for couples who want to explore role-play but feel awkward starting the conversation?

If you want to explore role-play, fantastic! But don’t worry if it’s awkward at first — totally normal, both experts say.

Before starting anything, Benach advises talking about boundaries, desires, limits, and comfort levels. “Everyone involved should feel free to opt in, pause, renegotiate, or stop entirely,” she says, “without fear of punishment or coercion.”

After talking to both experts, I realized my partner and I are just trying to keep the novelty alive. And the best way we do that is to pretend we aren’t two exhausted parents in survival mode but poets, masseuses, and young lovers.

]]><![CDATA[33 Whimsical Baby Boy Names With Soft, Literary Vibes]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/pregnancy/whimsical-baby-boy-names-soft-literary-vibeshttps://www.scarymommy.com/pregnancy/whimsical-baby-boy-names-soft-literary-vibesThu, 25 Jun 2026 16:05:59 GMT
Ana Stankovic/E+/Getty Images

Whimsy isn’t just reserved for the girls — there are plenty of whimsical baby boy names if you’re looking for a moniker that gives you all those soft, darling vibes for your son. I always think “whimsical” really refers to any name that could come out of a children’s book, and luckily, there are tons of lovely boy characters in literature.

When you mix in vintage or “old-fashioned” vibes to find your whimsy, you can really get a bunch of baby boy names added to your list. Whimsy also feels a little classic and traditional in some senses, and combined with everything else, these baby boy names sound so sweet. Girls don’t get to have all the whimsy, and even the softest boy names still feel strong and brave and just right for your little guy who’s going to change the world.

Alfie

A nickname for the more traditional Alfred, Alfie is just the sweetest little dollop of a name for your guy. And don’t let the “old-fashioned” part of this name fool you — back in the day, Alfie was the title character name of an epic playboy portrayed by Michael Caine (and then Jude Law). Alfie feels romantic and vintage, and the name means “sage, wise, elf.” I mean, come on.

Walt

The ultimate magic-maker, Walt Disney changed the entire world with his love of whimsy. Walt sounds like the perfect mixture of playful baby name and old man moniker, and I just love it so much. The name Walt also means “leader of the army.”

Jasper

OK, so my first thought when I hear Jasper is to imagine the rude guy in The Holiday, but I’ll ignore that because this name is so whimsical. While the name Jasper means “treasurer,” it conjures up woodland fairy vibes for me.

Callum

Meaning “dove” in Scottish, the name Callum is just so sweet. You can shorten it to Cal for a cute nickname that still feels just as whimsical, too.

Indigo

Color names always evoke creativity and a sense of wonder, and Indigo is no exception. Meaning “deep blue-purple,” it lends itself to so many wonderfully whimsical nicknames: Indy, Digo, GoGo, Blue... literally so cute.

Archie

How sweet is the name Archie? This one has royal connections thanks to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and it just sounds like a children’s book character. You can go for Archer if you want, but Archie means “genuine” and “bold” all on its own.

Jude

Hey, Jude. You’ll absolutely be singing this all the time, and that’s fine. The name Jude means “praised” or “thanks be given,” and has such a darling vibe about it.

Hugo

Gosh, Hugo is the cutest name. It feels poignant in some way, and the name Hugo actually means “thinker” or “clever,” so I feel like it tracks. Hugo also sounds great with tons of different last names.

Zephyr

What is it about having a -z in a name that gives it an extra dose of whimsy? This airy name of Greek origin means “west wind” and is perfect if you want something more distinctive.

Finn

Finn is soft, lovely, and such a sweet choice for your little guy. With an Irish origin, the name means “white,” “fair,” or “blessed.” I just love it.

Arthur

Arthur was a popular name in the middle ages, and while those times were filled with a whole lot of grief (you know, there was a plague) there was also a lot of beautiful art and exploration and growth. The name Arthur just feels whimsical, and its meaning is even “bear.”

Ewan

A cute Scottish choice, Ewan means “born from the yew tree,” so it’s another whimsical baby boy name with a nature link.

Percy

Unlike its longform, Percival, this diminutive gets its whimsy from being playful and charming without being too serious. Plus, while literary connotations sometimes lean more traditional, this name has lots of whimsical inspiration — think Percy Jackson, Percy Weasley from Harry Potter, and poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. The name itself means “one who pierces the valley.”

Caspian

Thanks to Prince Caspian in C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series, this name has a real fairy-tale feel. Adding to its whimsy? The way it evokes the majesty of nature, a la the Caspian Sea. It means “white,” and comes with the cute nickname Cappy.

Ferris

You can’t get much more carefree and capricious than the hero of the 1987 cult classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off! Honestly, you don’t hear this Irish name — which means “strong man” or “rock” — nearly enough.

Theodore

Whether you call him Theo, Teddy, or his full moniker, Theodore is so whimsical and sweet. It even means “gift of God,” and I just love how romantic and vintage it sounds.

Orion

What’s more whimsical than staring into the night, searching for shooting stars and mapping out constellations? One of those constellations, of course, is Orion — named for “the Hunter” in Greek mythology. This one means “heaven’s light” or “rising in the sky.”

Arlo

Folk singer Arlo Guthrie, the titular character in The Good Dinosaur and Arlo the Alligator Boy — Arlo has some seriously quirky-cool appeal. Of Old English origin, it means “fortified hill,” and while that sounds very proper, the name itself feels fanciful.

River

A big part of whimsy is being free-spirited, and the name River captures that essence beautifully. It also has a real bohemian or artsy feel to it (if you’re a ‘90s kid, you’re for sure thinking of River Phoenix right now).

Ansel

If you’re looking for a moniker that feels more gentle than playful, Ansel is your guy. Nature names often fall under the “whimsical names” banner, and this one will always be associated with famed American landscape photographer Ansel Adams. Of Old German origin, it means “under divine protection.”

Soren

We’re gonna have to ignore the meaning here, because it’s the total opposite of how the name actually sounds: “severe.” If you can put that aside, Soren is a stunning soft boy name. Connections like Soren the Owl from Guardians of Ga’Hoole and Soren Lorenson from Charlie and Lola give it a magical, imaginative quality.

Peter

I love the name Peter so much, and it has a ton of literary connections, from Chronicles of Narnia to Peter Pan, Peter Rabbit, and even The Snowy Day. The name also means “rock” or “stone,” which feels very fitting.

Satchel

Looking for something with loads of unconventional charm? Try Satchel, which is sure to make anyone who hears it think of dreamy adventures. If you want to give it a bit of grounding, just think of baseball legend Satchel Paige, who earned the nickname after a childhood spent carrying bags at a train depot.

Winslow

While a lot of “old man” names feel stuffy, not Winslow! It’s lyrical and vintage and just instantly endearing. It means “friend’s hill,” and how adorable is the nickname Winn? Besides, music makes everything more whimsical, and this name will have you singing “Take It Easy” by The Eagles (“standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, with such a fine sight to see”).

Llewyn

Whether it’s the double -l at the start, the soft w, or just the overall vibe, Llewyn lands near the top of the list for its lyricism alone. Often tied to the 2013 movie Inside Llewyn Davis, which was inspired by folk singer Dave Van Ronk, this rare boy’s name has the enviable meaning of “lion-hearted.”

Robin

File this under cheerful, avian-inspired names! Meaning “bright fame,” this moniker also has some truly magical associations, from Robin Hood to Batman’s righthand man.

Oscar

Another literary choice, Oscar is so cute — and fits the old-fashioned vibe. Oscar means “deer-lover,” so if you’re looking for a nature vibe, too, you definitely have it with this one.

Felix

Equal parts quirky and retro, Felix just sounds like someone who’s going to grow up to become a whimsy-maxxer. The cultural associations here are choice, including Felix the Cat and the Felix Felicis potion from Harry Potter, and it means “happy” or “fortunate.”

Linus

Can we call this a hidden gem? That’s what it feels like — it’s another “old man” name that skews more sweet than serious. It seems like a little boy who’ll grow up to have a lot of emotional intelligence, maybe because it’s linked forever to the precious Peanuts character who lugs his security blanket everywhere.

Albie

While historically used as a shortened version of more staid names like Albert, sweet Albie is gaining popularity as a standalone name. And, in fact, it derives from the Germanic name Adalbert, which translates to “noble and bright.” Whimsical, right?

Indiana

Travel names feel inherently free-spirited, and this is a state name that has managed to retain some of its uniqueness. Of course, it has some pop-culture cred as well — it’s the name of the titular character in the adventure-driven Indiana Jones series.

Oberon

I mean, Oberon in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the King of Fairies... how much more whimsical can you really get? A little more, apparently, because this Germanic name also means “royal bear.” Bonus: You get the super-cute nickname O.B.

Leander

The meaning of this Greek name — “lion man” — sounds at once whimsical and fierce. You may recognize it from your Greek mythology lessons back in the day, as Leander swam across what is now modern-day Turkey to get to his beloved. While less popular in the U.S., this name is a hit in Norway!

]]><![CDATA[The Best Prime Day Deals 2026]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/best-prime-day-deals-2026https://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/best-prime-day-deals-2026Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:16:37 GMT

Amazon’s Prime Day sale is officially here, and this year it runs from June 23 through June 26, which means four days to grab deals on the stuff that makes life run smoother — kitchen upgrades, cleaning helpers, tech, and a few treats for you, too. Scary Mommy’s shopping editors and deal experts are rounding up the best discounts across the site. Move fast, because the good ones are going to sell out.

41% Off A Cushy Chenille Bath Mat

Plush and absorbent, this chenille mat is the perfect upgrade to any bathroom. The cushy design doesn't skimp on practical features, thanks to addition of a nonslip backing and quick-drying microfiber fringe. Shop it in dozens of bold and neutral color options.

48% Off A 3-Pack Of Scented Hand Soap

MRS. MEYER'S soaps have reached a level of fame that few cleaning products could aspire to. Their hand soap is particularly popular thanks to its gentle but effective cleaning capabilities, and the range of fun scents it comes in. This three-pack of honeysuckle-scented hand soap will have you covered. Put one by the bathroom sink, one by the kitchen sink, and keep one stashed away for whenever you need it. They're on sale if you move fast.

33% Off A Set Of Microfiber Sheets

Made from brushed microfiber, these sheets are designed to provide hotel-quality softness and comfortable cooling for hot sleepers. They're also wrinkle- and fade-resistant, with deep pockets to fit most mattresses, and each set includes two pillowcases, a flat sheet, and a fitted sheet.

63% Off A Supportive Bra That Gets Rave Reviews For Its Excellent Fit

This smooth T-shirt bra is a popular everyday pick for anyone who wants support without bulky padding. Ultra-light spacer cups and underwire help shape while keeping the feel breathable, and the seamless design lies flat under tees, knits, and work tops. Convertible straps add outfit flexibility, while the smoothing back and deep U shape create a cleaner, more comfortable fit.

49% Off Storage Bags That Are Great For Soft Goods

These fabric bags are a go-to for making closets, wardrobes, and other storage zones feel less chaotic. Each 60-liter organizer has a clear window, so you can find blankets, sweaters, or off-season clothes without digging. Reinforced handles and sturdy two-way zippers make them easy to move, while the foldable design saves space when they’re not in use.

62% Off An Expandable Hardshell Suitcase

Prepare for your next trip, whether it's planned or not. This expandable hardside suitcase has a durable shell on the outside and plenty of organized storage inside, but it's compact enough to carry on most flights. It also has a TSA-approved lock, four smooth-rolling wheels, and an adjustable handle.

48% Off A Box Of Electrolyte Tablets

Electrolytes make it easier to effectively hydrate — and these Nuun tablets come in a convenient compact tube (four come in a pack) so you can take them on the go. Formulated with magnesium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and sodium, they help replace depleted electrolytes, and they only contain one gram of sugar, so they're great for anyone limiting their sugar intake.

43% Off A Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit That Improves Dryer Efficiency

This dryer vent cleaner kit has a flexible hose and an extra-long lint brush that help reach lint buildup behind appliances and inside vents, supporting better dryer efficiency and safer upkeep. It works with most vacuums, making regular maintenance easier without having to call in backup.

52% Off Pore-Minimizing Toner Pads From The Cult-Fave Brand Medicube

These exfoliating toner pads are a popular pick for anyone chasing smoother-looking skin and less shine. The formula uses white willow bark, a natural BHA, plus AHA and botanical extracts to help refine pores, clear away buildup, and balance excess oil. A calming lavender touch makes the swipe-and-go routine feel a little more spa-coded.

40% Off A Plush Bathroom Rug That Comes In Tons Of Colors

Available in over 45 different colors, this plush microfiber bath mat has a nearly one-inch pile that feels insanely soft underfoot. The shaggy fabric helps absorb water quickly after showers or sink-side splashes, while the rubber backing adds durability through regular use. Its gradient stripe design also makes it a popular pick for refreshing bathroom decor without a full makeover.

66% Off This Outdoor Wireless Security Camera

The updated Blink Outdoor 4 security camera has a battery life of two years — and right now, you can get it for a steal of a price. Key features include two-way audio, HD view both during the day and at night, motion detection, and a waterproof design.

46% Off A Pack Of Ballpoint Pens

These colorful ballpoint pens have a bold 1.4mm tip that lays down smooth, vivid ink, while the soft grip keeps things comfortable through long writing sessions. The retractable design is bag-friendly, and the assorted shades are great for visually organizing information or just adding a little personality.

69% Off A Collagen-Enriched Volumizing Shampoo

If you want more voluminous hair, try this OGX shampoo. Formulated with biotin and collagen, it gently cleanses hair, helping it look more full, smooth, and thick — all with just one wash.

35% Off A 12-Pack Of Elmer’s Glue Sticks

These Elmer's glue sticks come in a pack of 12 for a great price, so you can stock up on summer crafting materials or prep for next semester. The non-toxic formula goes on purple for visibility but dries clear for a clean finish, and they're great for paper, cardstock, photos, foam board, and more.

33% Off Comfy Orthopedic Sandals

When it comes to shopping for footwear on Amazon, the reviews say it all. These best-selling orthopedic sandals have racked up nearly 15,000 Amazon reviews, thanks to their arch support, nonslip soles, and comfy straps. They're even waterproof for maximum wearability. These would be a smart buy any day, but even smarter now that they're on sale.

40% Off Volumizing Tubing Mascara

This tubing mascara creates falsie-like volume and length, all while nourishing your lashes with shea butter and castor oil. When dry, it's smudge-proof and flake-free for up to 24 hours of wear — but wet your face, and the mascara comes off in tubes for one-swipe removal.

52% Off A Robot Vacuum That Also Mops

It's rare to find a really functional robot vacuum that also mops, so this model from roborock is a true standout option. It can map to multiple levels of your home, and features powerful suction and an anti-tangle feature for hair and pet hair. The built-in water tank allows you to mop and vacuum at the same time. Whether you're investing for the first time or replacing your old model, this robot vac is a fantastic buy while it's on sale.

51% Off Popular Chisel-Tip Highlighters

Bright, vivid hues and precision tips make these classic highlighters a go-to for a reason. Featuring a chisel tip that's ideal for both underlining and highlighting, these multicolor highlighters can be left uncapped for an impressive eight hours without drying out. Plus, the pen cap clip means you can take them on the go with ease.

48% Off These Colorful Fine-Tip Pens

With every color in the rainbow and then some included, these journal pens have all of your artistic projects covered. They have a fine point for precise lines and are designed to bleed minimally, so they even work for double-sided papers like planners or diaries. It's not hard to understand why these have earned their 4.6-star average rating after 110,000 reviews.

50% Off A Cult-Favorite Tumbler

There's a reason that the Stanley Quencher hit cult-favorite water bottle status. Its 40-ounce design holds a lot of water, and is made with an insulated stainless steel cup that keeps your drinks super cold. The ergonomic handle and included straw are an added bonus. Join the phenomenon for a fantastic price while this discount lasts.

50% Off A Cozy Rib-Knit Top That Comes In So Many Colors

Made from a stretchy blend of soft fabrics, this long-sleeve shirt is about to become your new wardrobe staple. It features a casual rib-knit texture with a crew neck and works perfectly for solo wear or layered looks. Shop it in dozens of bold and neutral color options.

56% Off A Clump-Free, Volumizing Mascara

Offering up extreme volume, this mascara plumps up each individual lash for a dramatic look that resists water, smudges, and clumping. It's safe to use on sensitive skin and has been certified as cruelty free by the Leaping Bunny Program. No wonder it's earned more than 14,000 five-star ratings.

63% Off This Classic, Cult-Favorite Hoodie

What's not to love about a classic Hanes hoodie? As over 100,000 Amazon shoppers will tell you (that's how many gave it a perfect five-star rating), not much. Lined with soft and cozy fleece, the gender-neutral design is worth stocking up on, as it's being offered at an amazing price. It'll literally never go out of style, and you can never have too many comfy hoodies, so why not grab a few colors while they're on sale?

50% Off This Time-Saving Veggie Chopper

Speed up meal prep with this best-selling food chopper that does the work of multiple knife cuts with just a press of the lid. Along with the catch tray, the set includes eight interchangeable blades for chopping, grating, shredding, and more.

47% Off Bedsheets With Thousands Of 5-Star Reviews

With hundreds of thousands of ratings, this queen sheet set is a clear crowd-pleaser for anyone who wants soft, low-maintenance bedding. The double-brushed microfiber feels lightweight and breathable, with moisture-wicking fabric that works year-round. Deep pockets help keep the fitted sheet in place, while the wrinkle-, fade-, and stain-resistant design makes laundry day much less annoying.

36% Off A 6-Foot, Nylon-Braided, Fast-Charging Cable

This braided USB-C cable is built for the person whose devices are always at 12% at the worst possible time. It supports fast charging up to 240W with compatible chargers, making it useful for laptops, tablets, phones, handheld consoles, and more. The nylon design helps prevent tangles and wear, while the smart chip supports safe, steady power delivery across everyday tech.

66% Off A Chic Knife Set

Now's the time to score a generous discount on these popular carbon steel knives with an anti-rust coating. The set comes in a range of chic, neutral pastels and features 13 pieces, including a bread knife, a paring knife, a chef's knife, kitchen shears, and more. Over 5,000 shoppers have weighed in to give these versatile blades a near-perfect 4.8-star rating overall.

37% Off This 2-Pack Of Kitchen Shears

Level up your culinary capabilities with two pairs of these wildly popular kitchen shears. They boast a 4.8-star rating overall after a whopping 56,000 shoppers weighed in, making them a reliable cooking companion. They feature stainless steel blades, an ergonomic grip, and a built-in bottle opener so you can tackle just about any task. Pop on the included safety shield when you're done to keep them sharp.

24% Off A Surge Protector That Doubles As A Night-Light

More than 15,000 shoppers have weighed in to give this outlet surge protector an impressive 4.7-star rating overall. Its unobtrusive design plugs right into your existing outlet, providing you with six AC outlets as well as two USB ports and one USB-C port. It even doubles as a night-light with an adjustable glow that automatically powers on at dusk and off at dawn.

54% Off Amazon’s Newest Fire TV Stick

Amazon's best-selling Fire stick is an easy way to start watching your favorite streaming shows and movies on your TV. Plug the receiver into your TV and connect your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV. This newest model is their fastest yet, features Alexa voice control on the remote, and couldn't be easier to set up. It's at its best price if you act fast.

49% Off A Vitamin C Serum

Packed with vitamin C, this face serum aims to brighten and hydrate your complexion while neutralizing dark spots and minimizing wrinkles. It's suitable for all types of skin, and it comes in an amber bottle with a dropper for easy application. No wonder it has over 104,000 five-star ratings.

63% Off This Minimizer Bra

Snag a deal on this underwire bra from Bali that minimizes up to 1.5 inches. Featuring adjustable, nonslip straps, it offers full coverage for a smooth look under even clingy garments. Shoppers rave about the blend of support and comfort, noting that the wide straps offer dig-free wear.

54% Off Ultra-Lightweight Noise-Canceling Headphones

Shut out the rest of the world with these powerful noise-canceling headphones. They charge up in just three minutes, weigh less than half a pound, and feature comfortable ear cups for all-day wear. Equipped with Bluetooth, you can pair them with your phone for incredibly clear calls, too.

50% Off Felt Tip Pens With A Near-Perfect Rating

Add a splash of color to your journaling, to-do list, or anything else with these felt tip pens. With a near-perfect 4.8-star overall rating from more than 77,000 shoppers, these pens are a go-to for a reason. The smudge-proof ink won't bleed through your pages, while the reinforced tips help reduce fraying over time.

40% Off A Plush Bathroom Rug That Comes In Tons Of Colors

Available in over 45 different colors, this plush microfiber bath mat has a nearly one-inch pile that feels insanely soft underfoot. The shaggy fabric helps absorb water quickly after showers or sink-side splashes, while the rubber backing adds durability through regular use. Its gradient stripe design also makes it a popular pick for refreshing bathroom decor without a full makeover.

20% Off These Extra Long iPhone Charging Cords

For a limited time only, get three extra-long lightning cables for an incredible price. Each cable is 10 feet long, so you'll never have to feel tethered to a specific side of the couch or bed, and the chargers are even designed with an overcharge protection technology to keep your devices running smoothly.

30% Off A Glossy Tinted Lip Oil

Thanks to a blend of nine different oils, this Summer Fridays lip oil leaves your lips feeling smooth and hydrated the minute you put it on. The glossy formula is lightly tinted, so you can use it on its own for a light flush of color, or layer it over other lip products to create a more customized look.

53% Off These Microfiber Hair Towels

Help cut down on both damage and frizz with these microfiber hair wraps. Featuring an absorbent waffle weave, these wraps secure in place with both an elastic tab and two buttons, so you can go about the rest of your routine while your hair dries fast. Just launder them in the washer and dryer whenever they need to be freshened up.

25% Off This Luxurious Perfume Oil With Notes Of Vanilla Bean & Orchid

NEST New York is offering a deep discount on many of its fragrances right now, including certain scents of its perfume oil, like the Madagascar vanilla. Designed with a gorgeous, amber-tinted glass bottle with a dropper top, it features a warm, floral scent profile that includes notes of vanilla bean, vanilla orchid, and just a touch of coconut for a fragrance that will become your instant go-to.

40% Off Whitening Toothpaste From Colgate

Stocking up on basics like toothpaste is a surefire way to win any big sale day. This optic white toothpaste from Colgate is a perfect buy in that regard, and comes with three tubes of whitening toothpaste designed to remove plaque and tooth stains, without damaging your enamel. The hydrogen peroxide-rich formula promises to remove up to five years of tooth stains with continued use. Stock up and stuff them under your bathroom sink. You'll be so glad you did.

30% Off A Hydrating Tinted Lip Balm

Sheer, lightweight, and hydrating, this viral Clinique lip tint is part lipstick and part balm. It's available in three iconic shades, all of which give you blurred, buildable color for a natural-looking flush and a glossy finish.

50% Off A Set Of Plump, Memory Foam Pillows

These hotel-style pillows feature a soft down-alternative fill with a plush, bounce-back feel that works for back, side, and stomach sleepers who prefer gentle support. A breathable cotton cover helps hot sleepers stay comfortable, and the machine-washable design makes them easy to keep fresh.

48% Off A Cult-Favorite Snail Serum

This viral snail mucin essence has earned its cult-favorite status for a reason: it delivers lightweight hydration without leaving skin feeling sticky or weighed down. Made with 96.3% snail secretion filtrate, it helps soothe dryness, dullness, and stressed-out skin while supporting a healthy-looking glow. It’s also hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested.

15% Off A Popular Lip Butter Balm

So popular it has over 8,000 five-star ratings from shoppers, this is the lip balm you'll reach for when you want instantly nourished lips. Made with shea butter and murumuru seed butter, it hydrates your lips, leaving behind a sheer red tint. It's subtle but noticeable, with a non-greasy texture and a light citrus flavor.

57% Off This Ring Indoor & Outdoor Camera Bundle

This serious bargain from Ring gets you both an indoor and outdoor security camera for a fraction of the usual price. The outdoor camera gets you 2K video and full-color viewing, even at night, and is easy to mount in minutes; the indoor camera has similar features and can be placed just about anywhere. It's a must-have bundle for anyone who takes their home security seriously, and there's never been a better time to buy it.

50% Off An Electric Toothbrush Safe For Sensitive Teeth

Top-of-the-line electric toothbrushes can set you back a lot, which is why they're always a good thing to consider during big sales. This Phillips Sonicare electric toothbrush comes with 12 brush settings and a built-in smart sensor that prompts you to relocate after 20 seconds of brushing, and automatically turns it off after two minutes of use. You can switch from clean, sensitive, gums, and whitening options, as well, depending on your preferences and needs. The charger, travel case, and replacement brush heads are also included.

23% Off Apple AirPods With Crisp Voice Isolation

Scoop up these fan-favorite earbuds and enjoy tons of useful features, like up to 30 hours of listening time and motion-activated Siri control. Improved voice isolation means your calls will sound crisp and clear, while the water-resistant case ensures you can take them to the gym, through the rain, and beyond. Better yet? They've earned more than 20,000 five-star ratings.

29% Off Adhesive Shower Caddies That’ll Seriously Upgrade Your Bathroom

This five-piece shower organizer set is an easy way to declutter your bathroom. It includes caddies, soap holders, and a toothbrush holder, all made from rustproof stainless steel with an open design for drainage and airflow. The strong adhesive setup skips drilling and tools, while the roomy shelves keep shampoo, skincare, razors, and other daily essentials within easy reach.

31% Off Wildly Popular Storage Bags

These soft storage bags have garnered thousands of 5-star reviews thanks to their roomy 17-gallon capacity and clear windows, making it easy to spot sweaters, bedding, towels, or seasonal clothes without the classic “open every bin” routine. Reinforced handles make them easy to move, while the zippered closure helps protect contents from dust and humidity. Plus, they fold flat when empty.

53% Off Popular Over-Ear Headphones

With a 4.5-star overall rating from more than 32,000 shoppers, these wireless headphones have impressed reviewers with both their lightweight design and impressive 50-hour battery life. Their padded, swiveling ear cups ensure a comfortable fit whether you're on a call or listening to music.

43% Off A Luxe Satin Pillowcase Set

For a luxurious night's sleep, upgrade the place you rest your head with these satin pillowcases. Their silky texture feels like a dream, and is designed to be less harsh on your skin and hair compared to rougher materials. They're on sale for an unbeatable price right now.

43% Off A Compact Bluetooth Speaker

Rich sound and durability meet in this robust, compact Bluetooth speaker. It can play for up to 24 hours on a single charge, and since it's IPX5 waterproof rated, it can stand up to splashes by the pool or unexpected bouts of rain. Power on the dynamic lighting mode whenever you're ready to level up the party.

41% Off Long-Lasting Toilet Bowl Cleaners

For a quick way to take care of an unpleasant task, drop these cleaner tablets into your toilet's tank. Each tablet dissolves into the water and keeps your toilet bowl clean for 15 days. Stocking up on basic cleaning supplies is the smartest way to make the most of any sale day, and these tablets are one deal you'll want to snag.

42% Off Best-Selling Makeup Remover Wipes

Do your future self a favor and stock up on these best-selling makeup remover wipes while they're on sale. This is a pack of two, each with 25 alcohol-free face towelettes that easily wipe away makeup with a few quick swipes. Keep them stocked away under the bathroom sink for when your stash runs out, or bring them on vacation with you for a liquid-free makeup-removing solution.

20% Off A Best-Selling Compact Carpet Cleaner

Beloved by pet parents and anyone who spills a lot, this portable carpet cleaner couldn't be easier to use. Its all-in-one design sprays the included cleaner, scrubs it into your upholstery, and sucks the stains away. It'll work magic. Join the 50,000 Amazon shoppers and counting who have invested in this powerful cleaner in the last month.

50% Off A Stick Vacuum That Converts To A Handheld

There's a good reason that Shark vacuums are so popular — they're really smartly made. This one features a lightweight, detachable design that can be used as a stick vacuum or as a portable handheld vac. The low-profile head and swivel steering make it easy to get into every corner of your home. It's great for hardwood floors, smooth surfaces like tile or laminate, and even carpets. Snag it while the sale lasts.

43% Off A Popular Duvet Insert

There's a good reason that Shark vacuums are so popular — they're really smartly made. This one features a lightweight, detachable design that can be used as a stick vacuum or as a portable handheld vac. The low-profile head and swivel steering make it easy to get into every corner of your home. It's great for hardwood floors, smooth surfaces like tile or laminate, and even carpets. Snag it while the sale lasts.

23% Off Volumizing Mascara Thousands Of Reviewers Swear By

Reviewers swear by this mascara for its lash-extension look without the appointment. The flexible brush bends to reach lashes from root to tip, helping create length, volume, and definition that still feels lightweight. Infused with bamboo extract and fibers, the washable formula is designed to resist flakes and smudges while remaining gentle on sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

40% Off This Cordless Bissell Vacuum That Can Tackle Pet Fur

This cordless upright vacuum was specifically designed to pick up stubborn pet hair, even fur that's become embedded in couches or on carpeted stairs. It has a self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair wrap, can be configured into a handheld or high-reach vacuum, and (best of all) has a cord-free, rechargeable design, so you can move it from room to room with ease.

40% Off The Iconic LANEIGE Glowy Lip Balm

This viral lip balm has wowed reviewers for good reason. Featuring a subtle, sheer tint, it's packed with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter to provide you with hydration and a glossy finish to boot. Just swipe it on for nourished, shiny lips that won't feel sticky or tacky.

27% Off A Portable Neck Fan That Works Hands Free

This portable neck fan is a must for summer and warm-weather vacations. Equipped with three speeds and sold in four colors, it goes around your neck to keep you cool, runs quietly, and gives you up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge. Amazon shoppers are obsessed with it — over 10,000 people bought it in the last month alone.

43% Off This Popular Multitasking Hair Tool From Shark

Now is the chance to snag the Shark hair styler everyone's been talking about — you may not find a better deal on the tool all year long. Both a styler and dryer at once, the tool comes with multiple attachments to give you a sleek blow-dry, diffuse curls, create voluminous waves, and more. It makes every hair styling task easier (and quicker), and you can choose between options for both straight and wavy or curly and coily hair.

55% Off The Shark Robot Vacuum

If you've been thinking about getting a robot vacuum, now is the time. This Shark is a bestseller on Amazon with thousands of rave reviews; it has a bagless, self-emptying base, features HEPA filtration, and is designed to avoid objects in its path. It works on tough messes, including dust bunnies and pet hair; and you can even set it on a schedule or control it via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

48% Off This Classic Triangle Bralette From Calvin Klein

This best-selling Calvin Klein bralette combines the comfort of a lounge bra with the look of a traditional bra. Made of cotton blended with modal and elastane for serious softness and stretch, it's very lightly lined and made without wires or padding. You can match it to Calvin Klein's iconic briefs or boy shorts for the full cool-girl effect.

25% Off This Comfy Calvin Klein Bralette

While it's on sale, now is the time to buy the Calvin Klein bralette every cool girl owns (or restock your collection if you already own a few). A classic for a reason, the bralette is comfy enough for lounging in, stylish enough to show off, and makes for a great alternative to traditional bras and sports bras when you want a bit of support, but don't want to deal with wires, padding, or digging straps. A bestseller on Amazon with a near-perfect 4.5-star rating, it's sold in over 25 stylish colors and prints.

31% Off The Wildly Popular Reading Night You Wear On Your Neck

This ultra-popular reading light boasts over 100,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, as well as a near-perfect overall rating of 4.7 stars. Designed only to emit light where it's pointed so as not to disrupt anyone around you, it has three brightness levels, three color modes, and a rechargeable battery that'll get you 80 hours of reading time at the dimmest level. And it's not just for reading; its popular with DIY enthusiasts, handymen, and late-night knitters, too.

30% Off A Popular Exfoliating Facial Peel

The number one top seller in facial peels, this gentle-yet-powerful exfoliant has 2% beta-hydroxy acid (aka salicylic acid) that works to smooth and brighten skin. It's nonabrasive and mellow enough to use every day. While it's exfoliating dead skin cells, it also helps diminish pores and combat blackheads and facial redness.

43% Off A Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Don't let its size or lightweight frame fool you. This cordless stick vacuum runs for 40 minutes on one charge, using powerful suction and a self-cleaning agitation roll to remove dirt and pet hair from various surfaces. It even transforms into a handheld and comes with three attachments.

50% Off An Amazon Fire Stick

Stream hundreds of thousands of your favorite movies and shows in 4K with this brand-new Amazon Fire Stick, which plugs into the back of your TV and includes a remote control. It supports Wi-Fi 6 for smooth streaming, and it helps you find shows faster with Alexa+ and AI-powered search.

50% Off A Pair Of Beats Wireless Headphones

Compatible with Apple and Android devices, these Beats Solo 4 headphones are wireless with cushioned on-ear cups that sound like being surrounded by 64 speakers at once. They also have upgraded microphones for clear hands-free calls, the rechargeable battery lasts for up to 50 hours, and they fold up for compact travel.

53% Off A Pair Of Wireless Earbuds

Combined with the included charging case, these water-resistant wireless earbuds last for up to 30 hours. Despite their small size and comfortable fit, they deliver powerful sound so you can immerse yourself in music. They also have two microphones for clear calls and 22 preset EQs so you can customize your sound through the app.

53% Off A Water Flosser With Multiple Settings

Don't floss as much as you should? This water flosser makes the process much easier while removing up to 99.9% of plaque bacteria. It has 10 pressure settings, comes with seven attachment tips for various jobs, and holds enough water for up to 90 seconds of flossing on a single refill.

61% Off A Mid-Weight Zip-Up Hoodie

Made from 50% cotton with cozy mid-weight fleece inside, this best-selling hoodie is a wardrobe staple you'll reach for year-round. It has a full zipper, a generous drawstring hood, roomy front pockets, and ribbed cuffs for a stretchy yet secure fit.

30% Off A Waterproof Eyeshadow Stick

Streamline your makeup routine with this waterproof eyeshadow stick. It transforms from a buildable cream into a crease-resistant powder, so you get rich, shimmery color in one swipe. It even has a built-in smudger tool on the other end.

45% Off A Popular Set Of Whitening Strips

These teeth whitening strips have over 38,000 five-star ratings. Using plant-based ingredients and mineral-rich sea salt, they're designed to lift stains and brighten your smile without damaging enamel or causing sensitivity. This box includes 35 treatments to last you six months.

43% Off A Cordless Water Flosser

Remove up to 99.9% of bacteria, tackle plaque, clean braces, and care for your gums with this handheld water flosser. It's rechargeable, waterproof, and wireless for portable use, and it comes with a travel bag and four interchangeable tips for various jobs.

45% Off A Combo Robot Vaccum & Mop

This combination robot vacuum and mop is ready to do all the hard work for you, with thoughtful design features to handle even trickier things, like wall edges, pet hair, carpets, and complex home layouts. It has a convenient self-washing roller and a powerful battery that promises to last a full cleaning cycle so there aren't any long interruptions. And you can control everything from the companion app using your smartphone.

30% Off An Apple Watch

This Apple Watch gives you tons of insights about your health, tracking your heart rate, sleep quality, and workouts. It also has built-in safety features and helps you stay connected on the go with texts and calls, plus it has a durable display and a long battery life.

43% Off A Popular Sunscreen Spray

Enjoy the beach safely with this sunscreen spray from Neutrogena. The SPF 70 spray is both lightweight and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Application is both fast and even, and it absorbs quickly. Reviewers love it so much that they've given it an overall rating of 4.7 stars.

50% Off A Ring Battery Doorbell

With two-way audio, motion detection, and a 2K camera, the Ring doorbell is a smart upgrade for any home. It features full head-to-toe video so you can see exactly who is out front (and you can even zoom in), and has a long-lasting, built-in battery that you can charge easily via USB. Snag it for a fantastic price while the sale lasts

37% Off A Set Of Dual-Tip Acrylic Paint Markers

These markers feature a 1-millimeter fine tip on one end, and a larger 5-millimeter dot tip on the other, so if you can create sharp lines and color in larger areas with the same marker. 36 come in a set, so you'll have lots of colors to choose from, and you won't have to shake them before use; the acrylic paint dispenses smoothly and evenly as soon as you pop off the cap.

34% Off An Outlet Extender

This outlet extender provides five new AC outlets, three USB-A ports, and one USB-C port, all in a fireproof shell that protects your devices against surges while charging. It also has a screw hole that secures into most duplex outlets, so it won't wobble or fall out.

28% Off A Pair Of Wireless AirPods

In addition to high-quality sound and microphones for hands-free calls, these Apple AirPods Pro 3 have active noise cancellation to block out distractions and built-in sensors to track your heart rate during workouts. They also translate different languages in real time and are capable of functioning as clinical-grade hearing aids.

25% Off A Surge Protector Power Strip

This power strip makes the most of its small size. It features outlets on three sides, which means you can plug in up to eight devices, and it has four USB charging ports. The outlets are widely spaced, so if you've got a plug with a large power adapter, your other plugs won't be crowded.

17% Off An Apple AirTag

Keep track of your most important items with this Apple AirTag. Equipped with a Bluetooth chip, it pairs with your phone, so you can see where it is at all times. You can place it in your purse, on a keychain, or in a suitcase; when activated, the device will emit a loud ping from its speaker so you can find your item quickly and easily.

40% Off A Set Of Heavy Duty Moving Bags

This six-pack of bags is made from sturdy coated fabric, and each bag features a zipper closer. Designed to hold more than 65 pounds, they're sure to come in handy for activities like moving and big grocery hauls, since the reinforced stitching means you can load them up without worrying about them breaking, and the wide straps won't slip off your shoulder.

31% Off A Dyson Cordless Vacuum

Designed for all floor types, this cordless vacuum has two cleaning modes depending on the level of suction power you need. The motorbar cleaner head is designed to detangle long hair and pet fur as you clean, and the rechargeable battery can last up to 40 minutes per session. Plus, the vacuum comes with a convenient docking station and a crevice attachment for added cleaning power.

50% Off A Color-Correcting Foundation Powder

Handmade in Italy, this color-correcting powder foundation offers buildable coverage without looking and feeling cakey. Its multi-toned pigments can help balance tone and minimize redness. Safe for sensitive skin, its formula includes ingredients like vitamin E and green tea extract.

47% Off Lash-Enhancing Serum

This peptide-infused lash serum is designed to help you get longer-looking eyelashes. It's also formulated with nourishing honey and aloe vera. The product is ophthalmologist-tested and designed to give the appearance of longer, thicker lashes in as little as four weeks. This bottle has enough product for up to three months of use.

45% Off An Electric Toothbrush With 6 Brush Settings

The electric toothbrush has a laundry list of smart features: a built-in pressure sensor that pulses when you're brushing too hard, a BrushPacer that nudges you to move to a new zone every 20 seconds, and a SmartTimer that keeps your cleaning session to two minutes. Choose from six brush settings and enjoy up to 21 days of battery life per charge.

41% Off This Deeply Hydrating Jelly Cream

This moisturizing jelly cream is formulated with 10 types of hyaluronic acid to deliver up to 120 hours of deep hydration. And the jelly finish is designed to absorb quickly without leaving a sticky or greasy feeling behind. The product is even made to help cool your skin, so it's perfect for addressing redness caused by heat.

52% Off Cream-To-Powder Eyeshadow

Streamline your makeup routine with this waterproof cream-to-powder eyeshadow stick. It transforms from a buildable cream into a crease-resistant powder, so you get rich color in one swipe. It even has a built-in smudger tool on the other end.

69% Off A Smoothing Bra

Comfortable yet chic, this smoothing bra minimizes the bust by 1.5 inches. The non-padded cups feature two-ply material for coverage and support; it offers four-way stretch in the back, and the wider straps stay firmly in place. The triple-row hook-and-eye closure is as secure as it is comfortable.

32% Off A Buildable Mascara From Maybelline

The lengthening, curling, buildable formula of this mascara has garnered a wild 87,000-plus five star reviews on Amazon. It features a special brush that makes optimal application easy, and it has a lightweight feel on your lashes. It's infused with bamboo extract and fibers to give you plenty of length without worrying about smudges or flaking.

34% Off A Lip Sleeping Mask

Lock in moisture while you sleep with this viral lip sleeping mask. Using ingredients like shea butter, Murumuru, antioxidant-rich berries, and vitamin C, it gently exfoliates, hydrates, and nourishes for soft, supple lips by morning — no matter how chapped they were the night before.

43% Off A Vibrating Silicone Butt Plug

Ideal for both newbies and experts, this vibrating butt plug is made with soft, flexible silicone that's ultra-comfy. It features multiple patterns and intensity levels to play with, and is waterproof for bathtime adventures. It's easy to control, easy to clean, and charges via USB. Be sure to grab some water-based lube, then let the party begin.

38% Off A Pulsating Vibrator

If you prefer vibrators that offer clitoral stimulation, try out the Womanizer Womanizer Pro40 Red Stimulator. Especially designed for the clitoris, it features a soft silicone head, and uses pulsating waves and six suction speeds to deliver as much or as little action as you want. It can hold a charge for up to four hours, and you can take it in the tub or shower, too.

15% Off This Age-Defying Hand Cream

When it comes to skincare, don't neglect your hands; add this Lux Unfiltered cream to your regimen. Formulated with nourishing ingredients like squalane, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and argan oil, it absorbs quickly, leaving your hands smooth and hydrated. It's scented with notes of vanilla and cypress, and comes in a compact tube that can fit in your purse, so you can take it with you wherever you go.

15% Off A Body Oil With SPF 30

A true beauty multitasker, this body oil delivers a subtle golden shimmer when applied; it also offers SPF 30 sun protection. Not only does it bronze and protect from harmful UV rays, but it's formulated with grapeseed and jojoba oils, so your skin will look hydrated and feel nourished.

20% Off A Hydrating Daily Facial Sunscreen

Created with daily wear in mind, this hydrating face sunscreen provides broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection. Aside from shielding you from harmful rays, it's also packed with hyaluronic acid to help your skin retain moisture. It's backed by over 35,000 enthusiastic five-star reviews.

29% Off A Joint & Muscle Cream

Boasting over 63,000 five-star ratings, this joint and muscle cream is a fan-favorite for a reason. Infused with tried and true botanical ingredients like vitamin B6 and MSM, the lightweight, non-greasy, and medication-free formula helps to soothe everyday aches and pains. And don't worry - it can be used all over the body.

20% Off A Tattoo-Enhancing Stick With Coconut Oil

You can make old tattoos look like new by using this tattoo-enhancing stick. It's made with coconut oil and mango butter; you swipe the stick over your tattoo and rub it in, to revitalize the tattooed area, helping the lines to look clearer and more bold. The non-greasy formula won't transfer to your clothes, so you can use it pretty much anywhere you have a tattoo.

22% Off These Gel Under-Eye Patches

Formulated with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and peptides, these under-eye patches can help calm the area underneath your eyes, leaving the skin smooth and hydrated, and improving skin tone and texture. The gel formula feels cool and comforting — and helps keep the patches in place until you're ready to remove them.

30% Off A Best-Selling SnotSucker For Babies

For caregivers of babies, it's hard to see your little one congested and full of snot -- and that's where the NoseFrida SnotSucker comes in. Made with hygienic filters and dishwasher-safe materials, this tool works quickly and safely to relieve snotty noses. It's a bestseller on Amazon and boasts over 30,000 five-star ratings as well as a 4.7-star rating.

29% Off A Red Light Therapy Mask

Designed with an impressive 324 LEDs, this red light therapy face mask has a contoured design to reach every part of your face. Crafted from skin-friendly silicone and great for all skin types, it helps brighten your complexion within just a few weeks of use.

30% Off A 30-Pack Of Probiotics

Just one capsule in this 30-pack of probiotics contains 50 billion CFU, otherwise known as colony-forming units, to support healthy digestion. With a prebiotic fiber blend, these capsules also help support the growth of good bacteria. The capsules can be taken with or without food and can also be sprinkled in water.

24% Off A Box Of Crest Whitestrips

Stock up on these Crest 3D whitening strips while they're on sale for a great price. They're designed to brighten your smile by 19 levels while remaining enamel-safe, and they have a grippy texture on the inside, keeping them in place while you speak and drink water. This order includes 22 treatments.

35% Off Glossy Dream Coat Spray For Your Hair

Humidity is no match for this COLOR WOW Dream Coat spray, which coats each strand in a moisture-blocking barrier that prevents frizz and keeps hair looking super glossy. It's heat-activated for use while styling, and it doubles as a heat protectant. The smoothing results last through sleeping, working out, and multiple washes.

25% Off A Set Of Deep Collagen Masks

With more than 36,000 five-star reviews, these collagen face masks are a major cult fave. The hydrating masks turn clear during use as your skin absorbs the formula that'll leave you with a glass-skin glow. In addition to the collagen, the masks feature oligo-hyaluronic acid, galactomyces, and niacinamide to promote smoothness and an even complexion. Your order comes with four masks.

32% Off A Serum With Salmon DNA

This pink serum delivers a visible glow boost by combining salmon DNA PDRN with five peptide complexes, niacinamide, and adenosine. The lightweight formula helps strengthen the skin barrier, stimulates renewal, and evens tone — all while remaining gentle enough for daily use on all skin types.

41% Off A Collagen Facial Spray

This hydrating facial spray helps support your skin's oil and sebum balance. Packed with collagen, it's water-based and sprays on with an ultra-fine mist. The formula absorbs quickly and is great to use either before or after your makeup routine.

34% Off A Hydration-Boosting Jelly Cream

This collagen-packed jelly cream is great at helping balance uneven skin tone while promoting firmness. It boosts hydration and is slowly becoming a fan favorite, with over 21,000 five-star reviews to back it up. It takes about five to 10 minutes to absorb, and then you can layer makeup over it if you desire. It also works great at night.

24% Off A Set Of Dermaplaning Razors

These dermaplaning razors offer up a gentle exfoliation while removing dead skin cells and peach fuzz. They can help your skin absorb serums better, and can also double as an eyebrow razor. Crafted from recycled plastic and created to be travel-friendly, they're a popular choice with Amazon reviewers. Each pack comes with 12.

29% Off A Spray-On Sunscreen From Sun Bum

Stay protected in the sun with this spray-on SPF-50 sunscreen that has earned a 4.7-star overall rating on Amazon after more than 10,000 reviews. It's formulated with moisturizing vitamin E, is water-resistant, and is made without oxybenzone and octinoxate to protect the ocean, too. The noncomedogenic formula is also free of gluten and parabens.

33% Off A Creamy Lip Liner

Thanks to its creamy, highly pigmented finish, this e.l.f. lip liner has earned over 13,000 five-star ratings from shoppers. The semi-matte finish is gorgeous worn alone all over the lip, or used as a traditional liner with lipstick, and the pointed tip makes it easy to create a defined look.

24% Off A 30-Pack Of Under-Eye Patches

If you're looking for one product that'll care for the delicate skin underneath your eyes, these patches are it. They're formulated with vitamin C to brighten, hyaluronic acid to help lock in moisture, and deluxe 24-karat gold, which helps to improve your skin's tone and texture.

21% Off Under-Eye Masks Infused With Hyaluronic Acid

With bestseller status and over 32,000 five-star ratings, it's safe to say Amazon shoppers love these under-eye masks, and at such a great discount, now's the time to jump on the bandwagon. Each mask in this 24-pack is infused with hyaluronic acid to hydrate, glycerin to smooth, vegetable protein to promote elasticity, and so much more. Plus, the gold color just looks so luxurious.

35% Off A Gentle Facial Cleanser

Backed by a 4.7-star rating, this foaming cleanser from medicube feels gentle on the skin while removing dirt, oil, and impurities from your pores. It also provides gentle exfoliation without irritation, making it an ideal choice for sensitive skin. Plenty of shoppers have raved about how clean, fresh, and glowy their skin feels afterward.

27% Off Vitamin C Capsules For Your Skin

These vitamin C capsules are deeply concentrated with sea buckthorn extract to soften skin, vitamin B6 to tighten skin, ascorbic acid to even skin tone, and so much more. Just pop one — it's surprisingly satisfying — and work it into your face to see the benefits. With over 10,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, it's hard to go wrong.

22% Off A Nighttime Facial Mask

Apply this Korean facial mask at night and let it dry for 15 minutes before you go to bed. In the morning, the collagen wrapping film will peel off in one sheet, revealing a glass skin complexion underneath. It also contains ceramide to reinforce your skin barrier, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and adenosine to reduce wrinkles.

49% Off A 12-Pack Of Sharpie Markers

Sharpie markers are one of those household items you always find yourself losing track of, but with this 12-pack you'll be stocked for quite a while (and at a great price, too). The markers feature that classic fine tip with permanent ink that resists fading. In fact, they're so good, they've earned a near-perfect 4.8-star rating after nearly 60,000 reviewers weighed in.

37% Off A Pair Of Water-Resistant Nipple Covers

Perfect for strappy or strapless tops and dresses, these silicone nipple covers offer coverage without being detectable through clothing. The water-resistant covers are made with medical-grade adhesive that'll stay put all day or night, even if you sweat. And they're easily cleaned for reuse. A storage case comes included, too.

30% Off A 10-Foot Extension Cord

With 10 feet of length, this extension cord features a flat plug and cord that won't obstruct your furniture. It features eight AC outlets as well as four USB and two USB-C ports so you'll be able to charge up just about anything. And because it doubles as a surge protector, your tech will be safe from electrical spikes as well.

30% Off A Nighttime Moisturizing Cream

Formulated with rich, nourishing antioxidants like shea butter and vitamin E, this moisturizer can be a game-changer for your skincare routine. Use it at night to help improve skin tone and texture over time — and to leave it looking plump and hydrated right away.

]]><![CDATA[How Hot Is Too Hot For Kids To Play Outside? An ER Doc Settles It]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/how-hot-is-too-hot-kids-play-outsidehttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/how-hot-is-too-hot-kids-play-outsideThu, 25 Jun 2026 14:10:05 GMT
d3sign/Moment/Getty Images

Summer is here, the kids are home from school, and it’s time for all of us to air out our shorts. We all want to enjoy all that summer has to offer as long as we can, especially if we braved a particularly cold, long winter. And with devices being the pastime of choice for most of our kids, we love getting them out in nature and away from their screens.

But how hot is too hot to play outside? It is important to remember that our kiddos can get very hot in a short amount of time since they love running around and aren’t always aware they need to stop and hydrate.

Scary Mommy talked with Dr. James Lyons, MD, ER specialty, Clinical Advisor at Epiphany Wellness, who explained, “In practical terms, if the heat index is above 90°F (32°C), caution is needed, and above 100°F (38°C), outdoor play should be very limited or avoided, especially for younger children.”

The reason? Kids are actually more susceptible to heat. “They produce more metabolic heat during activity and sweat less efficiently than adults,” Dr. Lyons says. On super-hot days, avoid playing outside between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun is strongest.

If you’re still not sure if the heat is getting to your child, there are warning signs to look for: excessive thirst, confusion, loss of coordination, or not urinating for several hours. You might notice your little one has become sluggish and has less energy than usual. They may develop a headache, or their skin will feel hot to the touch. If you notice any of these signs in your children on a warm day, get them in the shade, or inside out of the heat, and make sure they get plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks.

Dr. Lyons adds, “More serious signs include confusion, lack of sweating despite heat, or in extreme cases, fainting.”

Other things to consider before heading outside for a day, or even a few hours, include environmental factors like direct sun exposure, humidity levels, lack of airflow, and physical activity level.

As always, kids should wear sunscreen and loose-fitting clothing to keep them cool.

Playing outside can boost a child’s mental and physical health, but heat-related illness can set in fast. Make sure to talk with your child’s pediatrician for more guidance.

Katie lives in Maine with her three kids, two ducks, and a goldendoodle. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, at the gym, redecorating her home, or spending too much money online.

]]><![CDATA[What Are Sea Monkeys? Say Hello To The World’s Second Easiest Pet]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/what-are-sea-monkeyshttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/what-are-sea-monkeysThu, 25 Jun 2026 13:56:04 GMT
by MedioTuerto/Getty Images

When was the last time you thought about Sea-Monkeys? It’s been a while, right? We’d like to change that and offer up this thought: Sea-Monkeys might just be the easiest first pet a kid could have. And while it may surprise you to learn this, Sea-Monkeys have enjoyed steady popularity over the years. In fact, like many things that were popular in the ‘90s, today’s kids seem to be gravitating toward these aquatic creatures.

Of course, kids always seem to want a pet. They can’t keep their rooms clean or remember to brush their teeth, but they think they can care for a rodent, a cat, or a dog. Why? So, the next time your kid begs you for a pet, you may be tempted to tell them they’ve lost their little mind. Then again, it might be easier just to say yes — at least it’ll give you a reprieve, albeit possibly short-lived, from the whining. The stipulation: You get to pick the pet. (Insert evil witch’s cackle here.)

The best pets for busy parents are the ones that require the least amount of work and, you know, that might even survive if you forget about them for a day. Fish are a lot of people’s go-to first pet, but let’s not be hasty. There are other options. Like a pet rock. Or the aforementioned Sea-Monkeys. Seriously. Both require basically no work and hardly any setup.

Have we started turning those brain wheels? Here’s what to know before you drop your 10 bucks.

What are Sea-Monkeys?

The follow-up question is always, “Aren’t Sea-Monkeys just brine shrimp?” The answer is, well, kinda? They’re actually an “artificial hybrid” of brine shrimp created to be able to go through a process called “cryptobiosis.” Sea-Monkeys is their brand name, so to speak.

In essence, that powder you find in your Sea-Monkey packets is brine shrimp eggs in suspended animation. Once you dump the powder into your (purified) water, they begin to “hatch” and grow. Why? Because they’re in a more habitable environment. Before long, those little monkey-tailed creatures are eating, growing, staring at you with all three eyes, and even reproducing. All from just a single shake of a packet that’s roughly the same size as a packet of yeast.

This brings us to our next question.

Wait, so why are they called Sea-Monkeys anyway?

They aren’t monkeys, and they don’t live in the sea. What’s with the name, then? To reveal the reason for this curious moniker, we have to start with their origin story.

In 1957, a man named Harold von Braunhut walked into a pet store and noticed a tank of overlooked brine shrimp being used to feed the store’s fish. What he saw at that moment was an opportunity to teach kids about the wonders of nature. He began experimenting with the species (Artemia salina), ultimately figuring out how to preserve and reanimate them. When he first introduced them to the world in 1960, he called them “Instant Life.”

However, he soon stumbled upon a much more adorable and catchier name for the little critters. “I looked at these animals, and they’re the cutest things in the world, and I noticed they have little monkey-like tails,” von Braunhut explained in an interview. “‘Those are cute little Sea-Monkeys,’ [he said]. So, we checked the trademark register with my patent attorney, and he says, ‘Hey, there are no Sea-Monkeys.’ That was in 1964.”

The rest, as they say, is history.

What do Sea-Monkeys eat?

Sea-Monkeys don’t need much to survive. They feed on two very simple ingredients that should come in your Sea-Monkey kit but are also probably found in many kitchens — yeast and spirulina. In other words, you won’t need to make any special trips to a fancy pet store to keep them alive.

Are Sea-Monkeys dangerous?

There’s no need to worry about your Sea-Monkeys attacking you. They are harmless to people and the environment. Even if you accidentally drop a Sea-Monkey down the drain (or even in your drink), they won’t pose a threat to anyone or anything. So you can put all your horrible delusions of Sea-Monkeys burrowing into your skin to rest. They can’t survive outside of water or bite humans. Remember, they’re just tiny shrimp.

But what’s the Sea-Monkey life cycle like?

If you consider that your Sea-Monkeys started as dust, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that they only grow to be about a half-inch long. During their lifetime, Sea-Monkeys go from having only one eye to having three. And, yes, they can reproduce, both sexually and asexually. You honestly need to do very little to ensure your Sea-Monkey family keeps expanding.

Even if a mama Sea-Monkey dies, her babes will continue to develop and, eventually, hatch. She can also drop her egg sack if she feels attacked, and they’ll survive on their own. Pretty badass, right? But what else could we possibly expect from creatures that start their life in a paper packet? They’re incredibly resilient little buggers.

How long do Sea-Monkeys live?

The official Sea-Monkeys website says your Sea-Monkeys can live for up to a year. However, because of their unique life-sustaining abilities, it’s not uncommon for a tank population to continue to thrive for up to five years. Will you have any of the same Sea-Monkeys on Day 1,825 that you had on Day One? Uh, no. But they’re all so nondescript that it’s nearly impossible to keep track of them and know who’s who. That means your kid will be far less likely to get attached or be heartbroken as a generation dies off.

Of course, they will still find dead Sea-Monkeys from time to time, and that’s always a bit sad. It’s worth noting that because of this, many people suggest heading to a pet store and picking up some regular, cheaper brine shrimp so you can sneakily replace them if/when it’s necessary.

Speaking of shrimp, are Sea-Monkeys edible?

Uhhh… yes. You weirdos. Brine shrimp are edible. However, there’s absolutely no nutritional value and, because they’re so small, you’re better off just drinking them. *Gag.* Please don’t do this.

What if my kid thinks they’re boring?

Name a pet that isn’t boring sometimes. Your cat probably ignores you half the day. The family dog is old and doesn’t like going for walks or playing fetch anymore. Your fish are, well, literally just swimming around in their tank.

Sure, Sea-Monkeys also pretty much just swim in their tank. A distinction worth making, though? Sea-Monkeys are light-reactive. You can use a small flashlight to get them to move, jump, or swim in circles. They may not react with quite the same ferocity as your cat with a laser pointer. But, still, it’s pretty fun. Oh, and you can tell your kid that these creatures breathe through their feet, which they’ll probably also think is cool.

So, where can I buy Sea-Monkeys?

Practically any place where you can buy toys and/or pets for kids. They also often turn up at places like Target or Walmart. And many online retailers, including the OG Sea-Monkeys site, sell them.

What’s the difference between a male and a female Sea-Monkey?

Now that you’ve activated your Sea-Monkeys, your little one may be wondering which ones are girls or boys. Thankfully, there are several ways to tell these brine shrimps apart. Male Sea-Monkeys are usually smaller than female ones. Also, female Sea-Monkeys have an egg sack and have a rounder shape around their bellies (relatable queens).

Can Sea-Monkeys live in space?

If your little one is thinking about taking a trip into outer space, no worries, their Sea-Monkeys will be just fine. On Oct. 29, 1996, astronaut John Glenn brought 400 million sea monkey eggs on his space expedition. The eggs and Glenn were in space for about nine days, and when they hatched eight weeks later on earth, they were OK. (One small step for man, one giant leap for Sea-Monkeys, right?)

]]><![CDATA[What To Know Before Your First Trip To Epic Universe (So You Don't Make Our Mistakes)]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/first-trip-to-epic-universe-planning-what-to-knowhttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/first-trip-to-epic-universe-planning-what-to-knowThu, 25 Jun 2026 13:49:49 GMT
Katie McPherson

If you love classic monsters, Mario and Luigi, Toothless and Hiccup, or Harry Potter, then yes, you have to visit Epic Universe, Universal Orlando’s latest and greatest theme park. Each area of the park lies behind a towering portal, and once you pass through, you are fully immersed in the world of that movie or game. If you’ve never been but are planning your visit, here’s what you need to know before your first trip to Epic Universe, from someone who just went.

If you are there for rope drop, start in the Isle of Berk or Dark Universe.

Many a veteran theme park-goer recommends steering clear of Super Nintendo World and the Ministry of Magic ride at rope drop, because the wait times are rarely much shorter than they would be any other time of day since everyone sprints for them. Which rides are open at rope drop can change by the day, too. You can check the Universal app while you’re waiting out front to see which rides are up and running early and choose from there.

Instead, they recommend heading to Dark Universe or Isle of Berk and getting in one or more turns on Monsters Unchained, Curse of the Werewolf, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, and Dragon Racer’s Rally. It might be worth it to make a break for Stardust Racers too, if you’re into big coasters.

Download the Universal app & buy interactive items ahead of time if possible.

OK, part of the fun of visiting the Wizarding World is going to the wand shop to pick out your wand, and you could definitely still go that route. But wouldn’t it also be nice to walk in with it and get to use it immediately? Especially in the case of the Super Nintendo World power-up bands — these need to be paired with your Universal app and there’s a little bit of account setup involved, so I recommend ordering them online before your trip or checking for them at your hotel’s gift shop, if you’re staying at a Universal resort. That said, it’s worth the hassle to get them however you can — both the interactive wand experiences and power-up blocks and games add so much fun and value to your experience.

The Universal app is great for so much, from mobile ordering food to checking wait times on attractions. It becomes not fun when you have excited kids ready to punch some power-up blocks and you’re screaming wait! Hold on! Show me the QR code again! Do it in advance, in the air conditioning. Speaking of...

There is very little shade at Epic Universe.

The Isle of Berk looking amazing, but very hot and bright at midday. | Katie McPherson

Because the park is so new, there aren’t many mature trees around to shade the walkways. Much of the park is just out in the sun. You’d want to wear SPF and sunglasses at any theme park in Florida, but specifically at Epic. Definitely wear a hat to keep the sun off your scalp and face — my part got sunburnt for the first time in years here — and maybe invest in a wide-brimmed hat to guard your shoulders and make your own personal shade wherever you go.

You should definitely invest in some quality cooling tools too, like handheld or neck fans, cooling towels, and maybe even a UV-blocking umbrella. They’re small enough to pack under a stroller or in a backpack, and they can at least take the edge off when it’s blazing hot and you have nowhere to hide. I saw many park-goers pressed up against buildings just trying to get a sliver of shade anywhere they could.

To escape the worst heat around midday, make a reservation to dine indoors or plan to see a show (The Untrainable Dragon is very cool!). In an emergency, you can always duck into the Ministry of Magic and ogle the details for a few minutes while you cool off.

Make sure your bag will fit into the attraction lockers.

If you have a stroller you can park with a backpack in it, more power to you. Otherwise, you’ll want to make sure whatever bag you carry into the park will fit into the attraction lockers on rides like Stardust Racers, where no personal effects can ride with you.

Those lockers are 11.8 inches high x 11 inches wide x 13 inches deep. Unlike other parks, which have some small and some large lockers, Epic’s are all the same size (and all free), according to Periodic Adventures. There are also family and oversized item lockers available to rent near the park’s entrance, if you want to bring some items but not lug them around all day.

We had a stroller with us and left most of our items underneath it parked outside the attractions, but I kept valuables in a small crossbody bag to tuck into the lockers or take on rides with me. It worked great!

Stay until close.

Epic Universe’s celestial-inspired design includes literally millions of lights that all flick on when the sun sets. You’ll hear lots of people say it feels like a completely different park at night, and they would be correct. The fountain show is a fun way to cap off your day anyway — grab a fun drink from your favorite world and bring it with you to see the lights and water features do their thing before calling it a night.

]]><![CDATA[Universal's New Kids Resort Solved My Biggest Theme Park Frustration As A Mom]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/universal-kids-resort-texas-theme-park-reviewhttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/universal-kids-resort-texas-theme-park-reviewWed, 24 Jun 2026 22:42:16 GMT
Morgan Flaherty for Scary Mommy

My daughter spent the first few years of her life in Florida, so she's no stranger to theme parks. In fact, our proximity to the theme parks molded her into quite the little fan of rides (something her theme park-loving mom is very proud of).

Moving back up north brought us away from the epicenter of amusement parks, so when we had the chance to visit the new Universal Kids Resort, we jumped at the opportunity. Located in Frisco, Texas, the all-new theme park is something different for Universal. The regional theme park is home to a 300-room hotel, along with a park that includes six immersive lands, rides, interactive shows, and more. The resort is geared towards ages 3 to 8, with lands themed to beloved franchises including Shrek, Trolls, Jurassic World, Minions, Puss in Boots, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

With a 4-year-old in tow, I was able to experience all that the resort has to offer, and my key takeaway? They know their audience.

More specifically, they solved one of my biggest frustrations as a parent who loves theme parks: spending half the day telling my child she isn't tall enough.

If you've ever taken a preschooler to a major theme park, you know the drill. They see a ride, get excited, wait in line, and then discover they can't ride it. Or they spend the day watching older siblings do things they're too young for. Universal Kids Resort felt refreshingly different because nearly everything was built with kids like mine in mind.

What’s available at Universal Kids Resort?

Let’s get this out of the way first — this is not Universal Orlando Resort. The theme park in Orlando features three incredibly immersive parks, multiple hotels, and many thrilling rides. Universal Kids Resort bills itself as a regional theme park. Located just about 30 minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, Universal Kids Resort has one hotel that is connected to the park, where you’ll find a variety of rides, splash pads, playgrounds, shows, and dining options intended for families with younger kids.

There are six lands in Universal Kids Resort, each offering attractions, as well as shopping and/or dining.

DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp

  • Happily Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After: Outdoor track ride taking guests through the story of how Shrek met Fiona.
  • Swamp Snacks: Snack stand
  • Triplets Treasures: Store with Shrek-inspired merchandise
  • Shrek's Swamp Rompin' Stomp: Playground
  • Shrek's Swamp Splash & Smash: Splash pad
  • Meet Shrek and Fiona

Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club

  • Bello Bay Cruise: Family raft ride Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby
  • Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby: Spinning ride
  • Bello Bay Boutique: Store with Minions-themed merchandise
  • Bellow Bay Bites: Snack stand

DreamWorks’ TrollFest

  • Hair in the Clouds: Spinning aerial ride
  • Rhonda's TrollFest Express: Kiddie coaster
  • Trolls Eatz!: Quick-service location
  • BroZone Cones: Snack stand
  • Sparkle Shine Glitter Glow: Offers Troll-ify Me! experience
  • Mr. Dinkles' Market: Souvenir stand
  • Trolls Critter Crawl: Playground
  • Poppy's Playground: Playground
  • King Trollex Techno Dance Party: Indoor interactive experience
  • Trolls-themed amphitheater stage show

DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar

  • Swings Over Del Mar: Swing ride
  • Mama Luna’s Adopt a Kitty Day!: Outdoor puppet stage show
  • Comidas y Leche: Quick-service dining location
  • Mercado de Perrito: Merchandise store
  • Tienda de Dulces: Candies and treats

Isle of Curiosity

  • Gabby’s Cat-Tastic Dance Party!
  • Cakey's Cupcakes: Snack stand
  • Universal Kids Resort Store: Merchandise location
  • Universal Kids Resort Café: Quick-service dining location

Jurassic World Adventure Camp

  • Meet Bumpy experience
  • Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster: Roller coaster
  • Mr. DNA’s Double Helix Spin: Spinning aerial ride
  • Pteranodrop: Mini drop ride
  • Jurassic World Canteen: Quick-service dining location
  • Jurassic World Outfitters: Merchandise location
  • Jurassic World Lookout Towers: Play area
  • Paddock Play: Playground

Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom

  • Jellyfish Fields Jamboree: Spinning Dumbo-type ride
  • Barnacle Bus: Spinning boat ride
  • Bobbing Barrels: Water cannon spinning ride
  • Mrs. Puff's Boating School: Conveyor belt spinning ride
  • Goofy Goober's: Quick-service dining location
  • Barg'N-Mart: Merchandise store
  • Pineapple Paradise Splash Pad
  • Meet SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy

What sets Universal Kids Resort apart?

Universal has shared that the resort is geared towards ages 3 to 8, but what struck me most wasn't the age range — it was how thoroughly the park embraces it.

At many theme parks, young kids spend part of the day discovering what they can't do. Here, the opposite is true. Playgrounds and splash pads are scattered throughout the park, rides are designed with younger riders in mind, and character experiences feel accessible rather than overwhelming.

Every detail made with kids in mind

The rides are also geared towards that age range. If you have a teenager looking for thrills, they’ll likely find they’ve aged out of what’s available here. But, for toddlers and school-aged younger kids looking to ride their first big coaster, they’ll likely be thrilled by options such as the Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster, which is definitely the most adrenaline-pumping ride in the park. For smaller riders, Rhonda's TrollFest Express is a tamer experience, but a great first coaster to try for younger kids.

Additionally, every little detail is thoughtfully cultivated with younger kids in mind. For example, the bathrooms have smaller potty seats that come down on the toilets, so they’re more accessible for toddlers and young kids (something I’ve always wished Disney World would do).

Sensory ratings

The park is also an official Certified Autism Center (CAC), featuring sensory gardens throughout that provide nature sounds and touch-friendly plants to help kids recharge. Along with that, each ride comes with a detailed sensory rating so parents know what to expect, plus over 80% of team members have completed training to better assist.

The park is also geared as a regional one, opening up a new option for Texas families or those in the surrounding states looking for a theme park within driving distance. While Florida may have been a further (and thus costlier) option, especially for younger kids, this new park opens up an opportunity for those in the more local area.

The biggest difference I noticed as a mom

At the end of our (very full) day at Universal Kids Resort, I asked my 4-year-old daughter her favorite part. Her reply? “Everything.”

Here’s the thing: I am a theme park junkie. I would happily visit Disney World or Universal Orlando multiple times a year if my budget allowed it. I love the feeling of an immersive park, with thrill rides to boot. But, for my young kid, the needs are a bit different. What she’s looking for are accessible rides that she’s tall enough to go on, the chance to meet characters, and a place to get energy out on splash pads or playgrounds. For her needs, Universal Kids Resort delivered, and then some.

Despite our previous distance from the park, we never took my daughter to Universal Orlando when we lived in the state. At the time, the rides were too big for her, and she wasn’t familiar with the characters. Universal Kids Resort is essentially an entry into the biggest parks, packaging up the characters and everything else to love in a smaller package.

Instead of going from ride to ride, having to tell her she was too small for it, she was happily able to go on just about everything the park had to offer (she was a bit too small for Swings Over Del Mar, which has the tallest height requirement at 42").

The biggest difference, though, wasn't any particular ride or character meet-and-greet. It was that for once, my daughter wasn't spending the day watching bigger kids do things she couldn't. She wasn't measuring herself against height requirement signs or asking why she couldn't ride something. Instead, she got to be the one the park was designed for.

As a mom, that was surprisingly refreshing. Universal Kids Resort understands that little kids don't necessarily need the biggest thrills — they need places to play, characters they recognize, and attractions they can actually experience themselves. By the end of the day, my daughter was exhausted, happy, and already asking when we could come back.

And honestly? That's about the best review a theme park can get.

]]><![CDATA[75 Movies For Tweens That They Might Even Watch *With* You]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/movies-for-tweenshttps://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/movies-for-tweensWed, 24 Jun 2026 21:39:47 GMT
Frazao Studio Latino/Getty Images

Screw the terrible twos; the tween years are way more stressful for parents! Twelve is when everything changes, as puberty eagerly waits to take over your kid's body. They might start to wonder about sex, randomly blurt out swear words, and more than likely want absolutely nothing to do with you. Welcome to age 12! Better buckle the f*ck up. It's going to be a bumpy ride. Between the mood swings (oh, what joy!) and incipient independence, finding ways to bond with your tween may feel near damn impossible. Thankfully for parents, movies for tweens that you can watch together do exist.

According to child psychologist Emily W. King, Ph.D., watching movies provides a safe, shared activity without requiring a tween to interact with their parents directly. "Tweens are entering into the identity-formation phase in their development, which begins to make spending time with family tricky," King explains to Scary Mommy. "Tweens are emotionally pulled towards friends and outside interests while continuing to need the love and support of their family — although they might not admit it!" So, watching tween movies might be one of only a few ways your budding teen agrees to a little bonding sesh.

But remember, watching movies with your tween is just as much about you as it is about them. "It provides parents with a platform to relate and understand what their child is thinking and experiencing as they try to navigate their world," licensed therapist Heidi Headding, LMFT, tells Scary Mommy. "Tweens are more likely to trust and open up with parents if they feel movie night is a safe space to ask questions and share opinions, versus feeling judged or lectured."

Onto the hard part... how on Earth do you convince your tween to watch a movie with you? It all comes down to delivery and timing. Headding suggests letting your tween pick out the movie or making it fun and spontaneous: "Let's watch a movie tonight! We can grab pizza and popcorn." For tweens with younger siblings, consider giving them a later bedtime or allowing them to watch more mature movies than their siblings, King recommends.

While spending time with your tween may feel like an uphill battle at times, you're not alone (in the immortal words of Kris Jenner, "You're doing amazing, sweetie."). Now, who's ready to ace tween movie night?

Best Tween Movies

1. KPop Demon Hunters (2025)

If you have a tween, chances are you already know every single word to “Golden” (and you’re not complaining, because it’s honestly fire). This Netflix superhit follows a chart-topping girl group who moonlight as (you guessed it) demon hunters, squaring off against a rival demon boy band. Your kid will be obsessed, and your Spotify Wrapped will tell the tale at the end of the year.

2. Troop Zero (2020)

Set in 1977 Georgia, this quirky comedy tells the story of an eccentric space-loving girl named Christmas Flint. While trying to cope with the death of her mom, she dreams of becoming part of a project to launch two Voyager spacecraft carrying records of sounds of life to Earth. The film follows along as Christmas — and the merry band of lovable misfits she recruits to help — try to earn the right to have their voices included on Voyager Golden Record. There’s some occasional swearing and potty humor, but the film’s merits far outweigh those minor concerns.

3. Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)

If your tween starts to scoff and tell you they aren’t a baby anymore, inform them that this live-action adaptation of the beloved kids’ cartoon has been aged up. This Dora is a teen, played by Isabela Moner. It still has adventure and rescue missions, just like Dora the Explorer. But it’s all wrapped up in a more grown-up fish-out-of-water comedy.

4. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

If your kids have previously rolled their eyes when you’ve suggested watching the OG Ghostbusters films, here’s your chance to introduce a version they’ll actually think is cool — thanks in large part to flashy graphics and popular young stars like Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) and McKenna Grace (Young Sheldon). And your inner adolescent will get a kick out of seeing the OG franchise stars, plus Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon as the primary adult protagonists.

5. Little Women (2019)

Those with tween daughters will appreciate the feministic storyline in Little Women, which centers around the lives of the March sisters. Meg is the eldest and has a passion for education. Jo is a strong-minded writer in New York, and Amy is an aspiring artist who spends part of the film living in Paris. Beth is the youngest and the glue that holds the family together.

6. Inside Out 2 (2024)

Pixar delivered another incredible peek into Riley’s mind with this 2024 follow-up. Here, Riley hits puberty, and suddenly Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment crash into headquarters. This one centers on the messier, more complicated emotional landscape of adolescence, making it pretty darn perfect to watch with the little human sitting next to you on the couch.

7. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

The classic story is the same: A boy runs across a radioactive spider, gets bitten, and develops bizarre powers. But the protagonist in this fast-moving animated version is 14-year-old Miles Morales from Brooklyn. Even more fun? Peter Parkers from parallel universes make cameos, along with Spider-Pig. Also, the soundtrack is fire.

8. Yes Day (2021)

If you’re looking for something the entire family will love, pop in this fun comedy. Based on the book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, it stars Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez as parents who agree to, well, agree — to everything. For one day, they cave to all of their kids’ whims. Improbable? Yes. Cute and guaranteed to elicit some laughs? Absolutely.

9. The Greatest Showman (2017)

Shhh, don’t tell your tween this one’s for you as much as it is for them. Granted, this one won’t be for every 12-year-old out there. But if you have a kid who belts out all the songs in movies and clearly has a flair for theater, you can’t go wrong with this musical biopic of circus creator P.T. Barnum’s life. Fair warning, you’ll all be singing the tracks for weeks.

10. Shazam! (2019)

If the classic 1988 movie Big and any Superman movie had a baby, it would be Shazam! Basically, a 14-year-old is given the magical gift of being able to turn into an adult superhero when he says the magic word (the title of the movie, as you may have guessed). There are a few dark moments and a tiny bit of dicey language. But if you can get past that, your tween will probably think this DC Comics-based superhero comedy is hilarious.

11. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Right off the rip, yes, you can expect to hear some swearing. And true, there are lots of action scenes and several nods to violence (the main characters die within the game before quickly being reanimated). So, you’ll have to decide if you think your tween is mature enough for this kind of movie. However, there are lots of positive themes — teamwork, selflessness, communication — and an obvious nostalgia that make this movie a win.

12. The Wild Robot (2024)

Not gonna lie, you’re probably going to ugly-cry when you watch this one — which might lose you a couple cool points with your tween, but it’s worth it. Roz, a robot accidentally stranded in the wilderness, ends up raising an orphaned gosling named Brightbill... and, well, what starts as a survival story turns into a surprisingly poignant meditation on motherhood.

13. A Minecraft Movie (2025)

Calling all parents of kids who’ve logged, like, 4000 hours building cobblestone monstronsities! This game-come-to-life movie sees a ragtag group get yanked from the blocky Overworld, then try to stay alive long enough to get home. Jack Black and Jason Momoa are fully committed to the bit, which makes this goofy, meme-soaked movie even funnier.

14. Sandlot (1993)

Perfect for baseball fans, this coming-of-age sports flick follows a group of neighborhood boys who play baseball at the Sandlot. Chaos strikes when one of them hits Smalls' stepdad's Babe Ruth-signed baseball over the creepy neighbor's tall fence. You'll relish in this '90s throwback while your child will have fun laughing along — and maybe even relating to — these goofy characters.

15. The Parent Trap (1998)

What happens when look-alike tweens (Lindsay Lohan) meet at sleep-away camp only to discover they're actually twins? When Nick (Dennis Quaid) and Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson) divorced, they moved to California and London, respectively, and agreed they would each raise one of the twins. Upon meeting one another for the first time at camp, Hallie and Annie hatch a plan to swap places and reunite their family. Between the sarcastic one-liners, camp drama, and catchy soundtrack, The Parent Trap is a must-see for tweens and twins.

16. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)

Your family’s favorite fictional plumbers are back! This time, they wind up in space on a galactic rescue mission to stop Bowser Jr. and save Rosalina. Donald Glover joins the chaos as Yoshi (which your kid may not care about, but it’s a fun little treat for the rest of us). There are Easter eggs galore, and your gamer kid will probably request multiple rewatches.

17. School of Rock (2003)

School of Rock is arguably Jack Black's most fantastic film to date. Desperate for money, he poses as a newly hired substitute teacher at a private preparatory school. As a former rock guitarist, Dewey (Black) is the opposite of prep school material. He also finds the current teacher's gold sticker reward system nauseating. So he stages a rock-and-roll revolution, in which all class subjects are replaced with rock-and-roll history and music lessons.

18. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Once again, Marvel nails it. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an action-packed adventure filled with kick-ass fight scenes and kung fu. Shang-Chi seems like an average millennial leading an ordinary life, but when his mysterious past catches up with him, it opens up a world of magic and deadly family drama. With the help of his BFF, Katy, played by Awkwafina, Shang confronts his past and defeats his demons along the way.

19. Tall Girl (2019)

Jodi is 6'2, which makes her high school experience a bit harder than other girls. She endures constant teasing and rejection from boys who think she's too tall, but one day she meets a guy who is just as tall as she is. She ultimately learns that the only person who needs to accept her is herself.

20. James and the Giant Peach (1996)

A sweet orphan boy who lives with his mean aunts flees their evil clutches to journey to New York City. With the help of large talking bugs and their giant peach, they embark on an adventure where James learns the true meaning of friendship and family.

21. The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)

Described as Goonies meets Lord of the Rings, this modern take on the Arthurian legend of the sword and the stone is full of adventure. When a regular, relatable boy stumbles upon the mythical Excalibur, he recruits his friends for help — and they join forces with none other than Merlin, the iconic wizard. Old-school magic, sword fighting, modern problems... what more could a tween ask for?

22. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Trilogy (2010-2012)

Adapted from cartoonist Jeff Kinney's book series of the same name, Diary of a Wimpy Kid follows tween Greg Heffley as he takes on the dreadful world of middle school. He's got a bully for an older brother, the most popular girl in school kicks his ass in wrestling, his best friend is, well, he's Rowley, and his baby brother steals their parents' full attention. Nevertheless, Greg still thinks and acts like he's hot sh*t. Get ready for a bucket of laughs.

23. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)

Another Jennifer Garner-led pick? #SorryNotSorry; she plays the perfect family comedy mom. This movie will likely go over especially well if your tween has read the classic children’s book of the same name. But even if they haven’t, they’ll get a kick out of 11-year-old Alexander’s shenanigans on one truly unfortunate day.

24. Cinderella (2021)

While there have been other retellings of the Cinderella fairytale, go for this one if you’ve got a tween. Singer Camila Cabello stars as the main character, it’s packed to the brim with pop-driven musical numbers (not surprisingly, given its star), and the Fabulous Godmother is played by a delightfully sassy Billy Porter.

25. Harry Potter Series (2001-2011)

If your tween has read the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling or visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, now is a perfect time to introduce the cinematic series. Plus, in the first installment (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), the characters are around the same age as your kid. If you're lucky, you have the next seven movie nights planned!

Even More Tween-Friendly Movie Options

  1. Hamilton (2020)
  2. Are We There Yet? (2005)
  3. Turning Red (2022)
  4. Whale Rider (2002)
  5. Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)
  6. Queen of Katwe (2016)
  7. Flow (2024)
  8. Tall Girl 2 (2022)
  9. Holes (2003)
  10. Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
  11. Finding Ohana (2021)
  12. Wonka (2023)
  13. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
  14. Matilda (1996)
  15. Wonder (2017)
  16. The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)
  17. Enola Holmes (2020)
  18. The Goonies (1985)
  19. The BFG (2016)
  20. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
  21. A Cinderella Story (2004)
  22. Big Fish (2003)
  23. Cheaper By the Dozen (2003)
  24. Enchanted (2007)
  25. Hugo (2011)
  26. Togo (2019)
  27. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
  28. Lilo & Stitch (2025)
  29. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
  30. The Chronicles of Narnia series (2005-2010)
  31. Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
  32. The Princess Diaries (2001)
  33. Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
  34. Cool Runnings (1993)
  35. Wicked (2024)
  36. Aladdin (2019)
  37. E.T. (1982)
  38. Tooth Fairy (2010)
  39. Super 8 (2011)
  40. National Treasure (2004)
  41. Twilight (2008)
  42. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
  43. The Hunger Games (2012)
  44. Coraline (2009)
  45. Mean Girls (2004)
  46. Freaky Friday (2003)
  47. Spy Kids (2001)
  48. How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
  49. Herbie Fully Loaded (2005)
  50. Zootopia 2 (2025)
]]><![CDATA[The Best New Beauty Products Of 2026 So Far, According To A Beauty Editor]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/best-new-beauty-products-2026-so-far-editor-pickshttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/best-new-beauty-products-2026-so-far-editor-picksWed, 24 Jun 2026 17:07:01 GMT
AleksandarNakic/E+/Getty Images

I’ve been obsessed with makeup since I was a little girl, carrying around a tiny pink satin purse loaded down with my Lip Smackers collection. I can still remember the scent of my grandma’s face powder when she’d open the compact, and the feel of my mom’s singular blush brush she used for way too many years. So now that I’m an editor who gets to try many new products right when they launch, well, it’s kind of a dream come true. But with great privilege comes great responsibility, meaning that while I may get sent many a new makeup and skincare product for free, I’m only ever going to recommend the ones I’m rushing to repurchase with my own money (or already have).

There have been so many new product launches this year — and we’re only halfway through! — but in my opinion as a busy mom who still wants to feel hot sometimes, these are the best new beauty products of 2026 so far.

A Perfume Body Oil That’s Seriously Perfect For Summer

As a gourmand, sexy fragrance lover, I always struggle with summer fragrances. My usual go-tos (NEST’s Black Tulip and Angel’s Share by Kilian) just don’t feel right for summer barbecues and patio drinks with friends. Enter: Tocca’s Olio Sublime Profumato in Colette, a fragranced dry body oil that has quickly become my daily driver scent for this time of year.

You spritz the body oil all over for a light veil of scent, and it really does last and dry down quickly. It’s lightly hydrating but not greasy at all. You can leave it at that, or top it off with the matching perfume for a stronger, longer-lasting scent. If you’re also a heavier scent lover, I highly recommend giving Colette a whiff. It’s still got a woody amber and vanilla base, but with lots of light notes on top that make it perfect for steamy summer nights.

These Exfoliating Pads That Transform My Skin After One Use

Skincare pads have come a long way since we all singed our skin barrier off with Noxema rounds. These PCA Skin exfoliating pads are what I reach for anytime my skin is looking a little dull or feeling rough and dry. They are designed to prolong the results of in-office chemical peels at home, but even I — who has never had a real chemical peel — can see an instant glass skin effect after using one of these.

The pad itself is textured to lift away dry bits and congestion while exfoliating enzymes go to work on the skin underneath. The peptides and licorice root extract help hydrate and support the skin barrier, so you don’t have irritation or dryness when you’re done. When I’m done, my skin looks smoother, glowier, and just... healthier. 10/10 from me.

The New Liquid Blush That Made My Old Faves Obsolete

Wonderskin is best known for their viral lip stains (another favorite product of mine), but that might be about to change — I haven’t worn another cheek product since they launched their new Wonder Blading All-Day Blush Stains in May. So many cream and liquid blushes blend into the skin beautifully but fade quickly, usually within hours for me. Wonderskin’s formula actually lasts all. Day. Long. I also don’t know how you would ever use up an entire tube because the tiniest dot is all you need for a gorgeous flush.

All six shades are stunning, but Barely and Toasty are my favorites.

A New Kind Of Nail Cutter That Transformed My Tips

I have always had paper-thin fingernails that bend easily and peel apart constantly. I thought this was just my lot in life. But apparently, old-school nail clippers were making it a lot worse. I have been using an EDJY for a few months now; I haven’t changed anything else about my nail care, but I have noticed my nails are so much stronger and don’t have any little pieces wanting to peel up on the edges. This is a first for me, and this little cutter gets all the credit.

A Serum That Actually Reduced The Appearance Of My Fine Lines

I used my bottle of Bioelements Firmwear down to the last drop, every single day without fail. I can see a difference in the plumpness and youthfulness of my skin when I do compared to days I opted for something else. It’s pricey, but one bottle lasted me three months, so consider how far it stretches before deciding whether it’s in your budget or not. I also love that it absorbs quickly so I’m not waiting around at my bathroom counter before moving on to the next step in my routine.

A Lip Treatment That Dethroned My Old Faithful

I have been a devoted user of the Laniege Lip Sleeping Mask for so many years — maybe six or seven at this point. But if we’re being honest, from the moment Isla’s new Lipid Layer Lip Balm landed on my doorstep, I’ve reached for it instead. It feels so incredibly nourishing and hydrating, and it genuinely makes my lips look plumper and less lined by the next morning. I also love wearing it over a lip stain for a gloss/treatment combo. It’s just so good.

This Concealer Launch That Covers Darkness But Doesn’t Crease

I have long been stuck in a difficult place with my concealer. I want a radiant, glowy finish, but I have to set my undereyes with powder or my concealer migrates and cakes in my fine lines. No more! Essence’s Silky Blur Hydrating Longwear Concealer looks satiny and natural, sets itself, and somehow doesn’t crease at all throughout the day. I do not know how they make this stuff for $5.99, but I pray they never stop.

A Gorgeous Glowy Primer In Recyclable Packaging

AORA’s mission is to make truly 100% recyclable packaging that can be turned back into other products within our lifetime, when so much of the cosmetics industry doesn’t even try. So yes, I love trying anything new they put out.

That said, if I’m going to spend $35 on a tube of goo, that goo better be gorgeous and versatile — and Inicia absolutely is. It’s an illuminating primer that lengthens your makeup's wear time, smoothes, and protects skin against pollution. It doubles as a spot highlighter, body illuminator, and glowy mix-in for your daily moisturizer or SPF, and it’s gorgeous and long-lasting every single way.

The Two Nail Colors I’ve Been Wearing For Months

I’m a huge fan of Dazzle Dry — the ratio of time and effort it takes to do a manicure (10 minutes) compared to how long it lasts (one to two weeks) is the best I’ve found, and it removes with acetone instead of grinding and soaking off gel. Their Begin Again collection in April gave me my two favorite colors for the summer: Memory Lane and Take A Chance. Memory Lane is gorgeous for a fun pop of summer-y color (but one that doesn’t wash me out), and Take A Chance is a gorgeous mauve that goes with literally everything. Every time I want to change it up, I end up just swapping back and forth between these two hues.

In this economy, most of us don’t have the funds to experiment with every new product that gets advertised to us, but these nine new launches are actually worth your money.

]]><![CDATA[The Secret To Surviving Summer With A "Bored" Kid? Lazy Mom Adventures]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/lazy-mom-adventures-summer-boredomhttps://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/lazy-mom-adventures-summer-boredomWed, 24 Jun 2026 14:05:45 GMT
Anastasiia Sienotova/Moment/Getty Images

Every year, around the second week of summer break, my son starts acting like I've personally failed him. Not in a dramatic way. OK, actually, in a very dramatic way. He'll wander into whatever room I'm in, sigh heavily enough to suggest he's survived several wars, and announce, "I'm bored."

Now, let's be clear. This child owns:

  • multiple gaming systems
  • approximately 700 LEGOs
  • sports equipment
  • art supplies
  • board games
  • books
  • a bike
  • a scooter
  • enough abandoned hobbies to qualify for their own storage unit

And yet somehow, according to him, there is absolutely nothing to do.

As an ADHD parent raising an ADHD child, I used to think boredom meant I wasn't doing enough. Maybe we needed more activities. More camps. More outings. More educational opportunities. More summer bucket lists. More Pinterest. Then I remembered I also have ADHD tendencies and have never successfully completed a Pinterest project in my life. So that wasn't going to happen.

The truth is, summer is weird for ADHD kids. For months, their days are structured down to the minute: Wake up; school; transitions; lunch; recess; teachers; schedules.

Then one random Tuesday in June we basically say, "Good luck out there, buddy." And suddenly they're expected to manage endless free time with executive functioning skills they don't actually possess yet. What could possibly go wrong?

In our house, the answer is: everything. Within days, the screen negotiations begin. The boredom complaints start. The sibling arguments increase.

And my son somehow develops the ability to appear beside me every seven minutes asking for snacks, despite having eaten recently enough to still have crumbs on his face.

A few summers ago, after one particularly exhausting morning of hearing "I'm bored," I took the boys to a creek near our house. Not because I was trying to create magical childhood memories. Because it was free. Those are very different motivations. I packed water bottles, snacks, and the last remaining fragments of my patience and headed out. And then something weird happened. My son disappeared. Not literally. This isn't that kind of article. But mentally. He became completely absorbed in creek kid activities. Searching for frogs. Collecting rocks. Throwing sticks. Building dams. Looking for fish. Arguing passionately about whether a crawdad was technically a lobster. Hours passed. Hours.

Do you understand what kind of miracle that is for a child who normally can't decide between three activities without needing a snack break and an existential crisis? That's when I realized something. My son wasn't asking me for entertainment. His brain was asking for stimulation. Movement. Novelty. Sensory input. Something real. Something that wasn't another YouTube video trying to compete for his attention.

Since then, I've become a huge fan of what I call "lazy mom adventures." Not lazy in the neglectful sense. Lazy in the "I'm not spending $400 a week on summer camps" sense. Our favorites? Creek days. Scavenger hunts. Library trips. Bike rides. Nature walks that I intentionally never call "nature walks" because my son immediately loses interest if it sounds educational.

We call them missions. Everything is a mission. Find the weirdest bug. Locate the smoothest rock. Search for evidence of raccoons. Discover something shaped like a heart. Suddenly he's Indiana Jones.

The other thing I've learned is that boredom itself isn't always the problem. Sometimes I think ADHD parents panic because we've seen what boredom can turn into. Chaos. Screens. Arguments. Questionable decisions.

But occasionally, if I wait long enough, something interesting happens. My son gets creative. A fort appears. A game gets invented. A cardboard box becomes an engineering project. A stick collection mysteriously takes over my porch. The boredom eventually passes. Not because I solved it. Because he did.

Now, don't get me wrong. My son still tells me he's bored approximately 47 times a day during summer. That hasn't changed. But I've stopped treating it like an emergency. Sometimes what he actually means is: "My brain needs something interesting." And honestly? Some days mine does too.

Danielle Kelly is the host of the ADHD parenting podcast Chaos & Caffeine, which reaches thousands of families each month and was recently named one of the Best Kids With ADHD Podcasts of 2026 by PodRanker.

]]><![CDATA[12 No-Cook Meals For Those Hot Summer Nights You Can't Be Bothered]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/no-cook-mealshttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/no-cook-mealsTue, 23 Jun 2026 17:24:47 GMT
All The Healthy Things

There’s something to be said for a hearty comfort meal or cheesy pasta dinner, but who wants to stand over a hot stove when it’s already 90 degrees outside? No, muggy summer nights are not the time to hover around a boiling pot of water or preheat the entire room to 400 degrees (sorry oven). Summer is for leaning into easy no-cook meals and no-cook dinner recipes, ones that will fill up your whole family without overheating the whole house in the process. Besides, who doesn’t want ceviche and chips this time of year?

Italian Chopped Salad

All The Healthy Things

Who doesn’t love Italian subs, pasta salads, and chopped salads, like this one from All The Healthy Things? This recipe adds in some extra volume and flavor with artichoke hearts, chickpeas, and roasted red peppers, in addition to a quick and delicious vinaigrette.

Chicken Caesar Wraps

All The Healthy Things

Here’s another excellent no-cook meal when you have leftover chicken in the fridge: All The Healthy Things’ chicken Caesar wraps. It happens to use a lot of the same ingredients as the Italian chopped salad recipe, so this would be the perfect work lunch recipe to make the same week you serve that for dinner.

Goat Cheese Crostini With Blueberry & Peach Thyme Salsa

Damn Delicious

If pizza can be a meal, crostini can be a meal! Damn Delicious’ peach, blueberry, and goat cheese version sounds like a delicious option for a summer meal on the patio (get a spreadable kind so you don’t have to melt it in the oven), but you could just as easily make bruschetta for a savory option.

Cold Peanut Noodle Salad

Budget Bytes

Budget Bytes’ cold peanut noodle salad is so filling yet refreshing — it’s meant to be served cold and topped with a scrumptious peanut lime dressing. This recipe calls for dry whole-wheat spaghetti, but you can absolutely sub in ready-to-eat noodles to avoid the boiling.

Fresh Tuna Dip Recipe With Elote & Guac

The Stush Kitchen

The Stush Kitchen’s recipe answers a question I didn’t know I had: what if you combined fresh tuna ceviche with elote? You get an absolute flavor bomb of sweet corn, creamy cheese and dressing, savory tuna, and spicy jalapeño in every bite. This recipe’s all chopping and mixing, no cooking.

Cowboy Caviar

Jessica in the Kitchen

Eat it with chips, a spoon, in a wrap — Jessica in the Kitchen’s cowboy caviar is a hearty dip loaded with beans and crisp, flavorful veggies. The slightly sweet dressing marries it all together. It may not be a meat and two sides, but we say this counts as a nutritionally complete meal.

Meat & Cheese Board

Damn Delicious

When we truly cannot be bothered to cook, my husband and I love making a charcuterie board for dinner. Damn Delicious can walk you through all the flavor elements to make a well-balanced one — you want sweet, salty, savory, and spicy — but whatever you have in the fridge will work beautifully.

Whipped Feta Dip

Averie Cooks

This whipped feta dip recipe from Averie Cooks takes literally five minutes, and you can serve it up with lots of bread and veggies for dipping, spread it on a flatbread or wrap, and just eat it in so many ways. It makes a no-cook meal feel more special and dinner-like, and honestly, this’ll probably get you to eat more raw veggies than you have in weeks.

Apple Salad With Hot Honey Dressing

All The Healthy Things

One of my favorite no-cook meals is to make a quick salad using leftover chicken breast or a rotisserie chicken from our Sunday grocery run. You could also leave out the chicken and enjoy this recipe all the same. All The Healthy Things’ apple salad with hot honey has goat cheese, diced celery, candied pecans, and a spicy-sweet dressing — you’ll crave it once you’ve tried it, I promise.

Sriracha Chickpea Salad Wraps

Budget Bytes

These sriracha chickpea salad wraps from Budget Bytes kind of have it all — they’re affordable to make, super flavorful, and they’re ready in 15 minutes. They’re a really simple but satisfying lunch or dinner option you’ll return to again and again.

Mini Sandwiches

Family Fresh Meals

Somewhere along the way I think we all forgot that a sandwich, chips, and fruit is a perfectly good meal — especially if you want to eat outside on a random weeknight. Family Fresh Meals’ recipe is about how to make a big batch of mini sandwiches using slider buns, which you could replicate for a family dinner without having to pack them in individual boxes.

Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels

Princess Pinky Girl

Princess Pinky Girl’s buffalo chicken pinwheels are filling and just plain good; your teens will gobble them up happily, too. You could shred leftover chicken for this recipe, or if you’re lucky and your local grocery sells buffalo chicken dip in the deli section, you could just use that. If buffalo isn’t your thing, make classic deli meat pinwheels or cucumber pinwheels instead — the world is your oyster this no-cook night.

Hopefully these no-cook meals inspire you to slow down and cool down during these summer nights.

]]><![CDATA[15 Amazon Prime Day Deals That Scary Mommy Editors Are Most Excited About]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/amazon-prime-day-deals-editors-pickshttps://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/amazon-prime-day-deals-editors-picksTue, 23 Jun 2026 15:54:02 GMT
Amazon

Prime Day is here, and Scary Mommy editors have been doing the digging so you don't have to. These are the deals we're actually excited about.

A Smart TV for under $150

If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade a bedroom, guest room, or basement TV, Prime Day is genuinely it. This 65-inch Roku smart TV gives you a crisp 1080p picture, built-in Roku OS with access to all your streaming apps in one place, and zero need for a separate streaming stick or box. The interface is clean and intuitive, the remote is simple enough that literally anyone in your household can use it without a tutorial, and at the Prime Day price, this is one of those deals that is almost too easy to justify. A straightforward, reliable upgrade that does exactly what you need it to do.

A perfect toy for a rainy summer day

This is going straight into my cart for my daughter because the Toniebox 2 is the screen-free audio player that actually gets kids off devices while keeping them completely entertained — you just place a Tonie character on top of the box, and it plays stories, songs, and adventures without a single screen in sight. The Disney Princess bundle comes with princess Tonies so she can dive into her favorite stories the second she opens the box, and the Toniebox 2 has upgraded sound quality and a longer battery life than the original. Prime Day is genuinely the best time to grab this one because it is a splurge at full price and an absolute no-brainer on sale!

A travel essential for toddler parents

For any family with a toddler and travel on the summer calendar, this is the Prime Day deal worth grabbing. The SlumberTot is a compact inflatable toddler bed with built-in bumpers on all four sides so little ones can't roll off, it sets up in minutes, and it folds down small enough to fit in a carry-on or checked bag without taking over your entire luggage situation. It's made from non-toxic, phthalate-free materials, holds up to 75 lbs, and gives toddlers a consistent, familiar sleep surface, whether you're at a hotel, grandma's house, or a vacation rental with zero toddler-appropriate sleeping options. Good sleep on vacation is the difference between a trip you remember fondly and one you are still recovering from — this makes it happen.

A new kind of lunchbox for older kids

This lunchbox is genuinely one of the best kids' lunch investments I've made — the built-in thermos compartment keeps hot foods hot and cold foods cold in the same box at the same time, which means my daughter can have warm pasta and cold fruit in one container without any compromise. The bento-style layout makes packing a balanced lunch incredibly easy, the leakproof compartments actually stay leakproof, and it's durable enough to survive being tossed around in a backpack every single day. Prime Day is the perfect time to grab this one because, on sale, it's an absolute steal for how much use you'll get out of it!

The crème de la crème of video baby monitors

If you have been eyeing the Nanit and waiting for a reason to pull the trigger, Prime Day is it! This is one of the most advanced baby monitors on the market, with a 1080p HD overhead camera, real-time sleep tracking, breathing motion monitoring, and two-way audio all in one system. The dedicated display screen means you don't have to have your phone out constantly to check on the baby, and the Nanit app gives you detailed sleep insights and patterns that actually help you understand your baby's sleep over time. It's a legitimately great deal on Prime Day — the kind of baby gear investment that pays off every single night!

A lifesaver for anxious parents

If you're looking for a gift that will actually make a new parent cry happy tears, this is it. The Owlet Dream Sock tracks your baby's heart rate and oxygen levels in real time and sends an alert if anything dips outside the safe zone. It's FDA-cleared, which means it's not just a fancy gadget — it's been clinically validated. The base station glows green when everything is fine, so instead of hovering over the crib at 2am, you can actually sleep. I got this as a gift and it genuinely changed my first few months of motherhood. Worth every penny, and it's HSA/FSA eligible if that helps seal the deal.

A classic toy that is *usually* a splurge

Magnetic tiles are EXPENSIVE. That said, they're the one toy my child has played with pretty much daily over the course of the last 4 years, so they're worth the investment. Snag some to add to your kid's collection or nab a box to keep on hand for the next birthday party on your docket.

The pair of headphones you need for your next trip

These wireless Bluetooth headphones are half off right now, and if my son were older, I'd probably snag a pair to save until Christmas time. The fact that 10 minutes of charging equates to five hours of playtime is perfect for forgetful kids who are still learning to think ahead, and we're leaving for the road trip... like, now.

Arguably the best pen ever

About 10 years ago, I decided to find the best pen on the market. I bought one of each of the major brands and tested them out. The best pen of all was the Pilot G2, and I've been obsessed with them ever since. This is their newest product, a thoughtful set of their gel pens proven to "boost" things like creativity and productivity based on the shades of color. I love the purple set for creativity. During Amazon Prime Days, they are 33% off! I stockpile them.

A family-friendly board game that’s totally different than anything you’ve played lately

This is one of my family's very favorite board games — it's beautiful, magical, easy to learn, and doesn't take all night to play a round. I love that while there's a competitive aspect, it's also just fun to build your tiles and play your own board. The only downside is that it's a little more spendy than some games, which is why you should grab it on sale this week!

A nifty gadget for people who have a vegetable garden

If you want to can a few things from the garden or farm share but are also a Modern Woman, this canner might be perfect for you. It takes all the annoyance and guesswork out of canning, making it really approachable and easy. And this is a great price for it!

A hair straightener with frizz-free results

I love that the red light therapy trend is not really a trend because it's actually proven to be effective — and I love these hair tools that incorporate it. This is a banging deal for a high-quality tool that protects your hair.

A wireless bra that smooths you out

This is something I stock up on when Prime Days hit — this is the go-to comfy bra that makes me look good and feel good. You can sleep in it, you can go 12 hours in it, you can do anything you want in this bra. I want one in every color.

This genius smokeless fire pit for summer nights

Even the summer night here in Montana gets pretty chilly, and this little fire pit makes gathering so much more fun and comfortable. It's really easy to set up, and I absolutely love that it's smokeless.

A “smart” toy that actually encourages kids to be creative

I got this for my nephew, who is obsessed with anything robotic, and it was a complete and total hit! This is such a fun toy that has aspects of both STEM and creativity — and yes, I had fun playing with it, too.

]]><![CDATA[What It's Really Like Being A Mom With Chronic Illness]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/what-its-really-like-being-a-mom-with-chronic-illnesshttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/what-its-really-like-being-a-mom-with-chronic-illnessTue, 23 Jun 2026 15:52:20 GMT
Kateryna Zasukhina/Moment/Getty Images

When my son was 2, the joint pain I’d had all my life suddenly got worse. I noticed new things happening to my body, too. I was tired in my bones in a way that no amount of sleep seemed to fix. I was short of breath all the time and getting dizzy walking from room to room at home. As a boxer, I knew my cardio was up to snuff; this shouldn’t have been happening. The headache or two I had each week turned into a daily skull pounder, starting every afternoon and building in power until bedtime. It was getting harder and harder to work, care for my son, and then feel like doing literally anything other than crashing into bed.

Roughly 70 million U.S. citizens, or 1 in 4 people, live with at least one disability, according to the CDC. Only about 6% of disabled people use mobility aids like canes or wheelchairs; the vast majority of those 70 million folks have invisible illnesses: conditions that affect their ability to function, but that you’d never know about unless they told you. I had no way of knowing I was one of them until my symptoms got so bad, it was difficult to function.

By the time my son was 4, I’d been diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) — a genetic connective tissue disorder — along with fibromyalgia and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Fibromyalgia is a disorder of the central nervous system in which the brain amplifies existing pain or creates pain in places where there’s no physical reason for it to be. POTS affects the autonomic nervous system, making it difficult for your brain to properly regulate all the “automatic” functions your body performs without you thinking about it, like breathing, heart rate, temperature regulation, digestion, and more.

While I knew my joints were a problem, I had no idea how f*cked up my brain was. But as diagnoses do, finally having names for my conditions allowed me to understand just how wide-ranging their symptoms can be and how much they affect my daily life. I had long suffered with a lot of seemingly unrelated health issues, from painful periods to daily tension headaches, but now I knew that hEDS caused them all.

The Daily Challenges

Not sure how else to say it: If I’m awake, I’m in pain. Whether it’s joint pain, muscle pain, headaches, or TMJ, something hurts every minute of every day. Ibuprofen helps a little, but it only takes the edge off.

Then there’s the fatigue. If you’ve never had fatigue, it is not the same as being tired from a lack of sleep. Fatigue is the sort of bone-deep exhaustion that no amount of sleep can fix. When I’m fatigued, my brain doesn’t even have the energy to regulate my thoughts and emotions. I cry at random, and my thoughts can get pretty dark; I feel like I can’t access my personality or feel joy. Nothing sounds good to eat, watch, or do. I can’t even pay attention to anything, like a show or book, long enough to pass the time.

POTS is what makes my daily life the hardest; simple tasks like picking up toys, carrying laundry down the stairs, or vacuuming make me dizzy and short of breath. Sometimes I get blurry vision or black out a little. It’s not possible to chase after my kid or play soccer in the yard. These are things I might be capable of in pain, but simply can’t do when my autonomic nervous system won’t allow it.

(Side note: Having these issues doesn’t preclude me from the other normal aches and pains of living. Your girl still has period cramps like everybody else.)

The Unpredictability

While those symptoms never really go away, all three of my conditions come with flare-ups — periods where symptoms intensify following a specific trigger, or sometimes at random. Some of my triggers, like alcohol, are avoidable. Others, like getting overstimulated, are not (you can only do so much when you live with a 5-year-old).

It’s difficult not knowing how you’ll feel week to week, day to day, or even hour to hour sometimes. It means a lot of flaking on plans, telling my son “sorry, Mama can’t right now,” and letting even commitments to myself fall through. Banking on the future is just... not a thing. Once your health bottoms out, you stop expecting your body to be reliable and start making plans through the lens of, “Can I do that at my worst, or will it be OK if I cancel?”

The Admin

Everyone on Earth is busy, I know, and parents in particular have so little time for themselves. Personally, I would just be happy to gain back the time I spend on f*cking health care admin work. Managing my health is basically my part-time job.

Making appointments, new patient intake paperwork, researching symptoms and treatments, picking up prescriptions, messaging doctors, gathering documentation for insurance appeals, actually going to the appointments, doing physical therapy exercises — it all eats into so much of my time during the week. It feels like I’m constantly spending so much time and money (even with insurance), basically doing the jobs of all these people who are supposed to help me for them, and all of it to only feel a little bit better.

The Guilt

There is a big impact on your family dynamics when you have chronic illness. My husband is incredibly supportive and has never once complained about picking up my slack on days I don’t feel well. But I often feel the urge to “make it up to him” in my mind by going above and beyond cleaning, meal prepping, and doing other housework when I’m able. Pushing myself this way has sometimes resulted in a flare, and I’ve had to work on just accepting his support and understanding that it’s not conditional. He does it because he loves me and wants me to rest, not because he expects me to pay him back later.

You would think the hardest person to explain my chronic illnesses to would be my 5-year-old, simply because they are invisible and so complex in nature. But honestly? He has taken it all in stride. The first few times I had to set a boundary — “I’m sorry, buddy, Mama can’t chase you outside” — I definitely got some pushback. But over time, he has learned how to make accommodations without me even asking.

If my body hurts too much to sit on the floor and play, he says, “That’s OK!” and brings the toys to the couch. When I am too fatigued to dream up dialogue for the Pokémon figurines he wants to battle me with, he grabs the remote so we can watch a movie and cuddle. I feel guilty and like I’m always telling him no, but in reality, I’m usually saying yes, just in a way that won’t cost me. That’s fair and an important thing for a kid to learn. I hate toxic positivity and the whole “I’m grateful for my condition because it made me a better person” shtick, but it does make me proud to see him adjust so fluidly to others’ needs.

Logically, I know all these things, but the feeling of guilt is still there. It probably always will be because I will always love my family and want to give them everything. I just try to handle it as it comes, another symptom among all the others and not a reflection of anything I’ve done wrong.

]]><![CDATA[The Bondi Boost Infrared Thermal Brush Cut My Blowout Time in Half (No, Really)]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/bondi-boost-infrared-thermal-bounce-brush-review-how-tohttps://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/bondi-boost-infrared-thermal-bounce-brush-review-how-toTue, 23 Jun 2026 13:59:11 GMT
Emma Chao/Scary Mommy

I have very thick, very long hair. Because of this, I will never be a “10-minute beauty routine” girl. If I want hair that looks “styled,” I’m spending an hour blow-drying, curling, and brushing, and that’s just my lot in life.

In the past if I wanted a blowout look, I was usually sweating by the end of the process: blow dryer in one hand, round brush in the other, both arms working overtime, hair still somehow frizzy by the end. It always felt like a two-person job I was doing alone. It took so long, but I always loved the look of it. I often wished for a quicker way to achieve that blowout hair I loved (without damaging the sh*t out of my hair).

Then I tried the Bondi Boost Infrared Thermal Brush and accidentally cut my styling time in half.

Stats

  • Price: $125
  • Sizes: Available in a standard and long barrel, if you have longer hair
  • Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a smooth, shiny blowout in less time

The Brush

The Bondi Boost Infrared Thermal Brush is a heated round brush that uses infrared technology to heat hair from the inside out instead of blasting it with dry, direct heat. The brand says that means less damage to your strands compared to a flat iron or curling wand, while still giving you that smooth, bouncy blowout look. The whole point is that it replaces the dryer-and-brush combo with one tool.

It uses both negative ion technology and aloe-infused bristles to leave your hair soft, smooth, and frizz-free. It also has a 60-minute auto shut-off feature so you never have that “oh no, did I unplug my hot brush?” panic again.

How I Use The Bondi Boost Infrared Thermal Bounce Brush

The way to get the best results (I’ve learned) is to blow-dry your hair or let it air-dry completely — Bondi

Boost says this tool is designed for use on dry hair. You don’t need to use a brush or anything when you’re blow-drying — just kind of blast heat on your hair (with heat protectant of course!) and get it as dry as you can. (Pro tip: blow-drying your hair with your head upside down will give you even more volume!)

Then I section my hair off into three parts, starting with the bottom. From there, I use the brush to smooth out the sections and then roll the brush away from my face. For the other sections, I use the brush to smooth my hair and then curl the ends towards my face to create a bouncy, blowout effect.

My normal blowout used to take me over 60 minutes between drying and brushing separately. With this, I’m done in 15 minutes, and my arms thank me every time.

The Results

After I use the Bondi Boost brush, my hair is shinier with way more bounce at the roots and a cute little flippy effect at the ends. I usually touch it up with some hairspray, and that subtle blowout effect will last all day long.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Cuts styling time significantly since you’re not switching between a dryer and a brush
  • Way less arm fatigue — it’s basically a one-handed blowout
  • Adds so much shine and frizz control compared to other tools
  • Way less damaging to my hair

Cons:

  • It’s a real investment at $125.
  • The brush does get super hot, so be careful.
  • There is a slight learning curve! Check out some YouTube tutorials before you get started.

Final Verdict

I am obsessed with this brush and now use it on an almost daily basis. Even if I don’t take a shower and blow-dry my hair, it’s still a great way to add a little oomph to unwashed, day three hair.

The TL;DR

This brush turned my two-tool, two-arm blowout into a one-tool job, and somehow my hair looks better for it.

Had To Share highlights the products and finds that Scary Mommy editors and contributors love so much, we just had to share in the group chat.

]]><![CDATA[100 '90s Family Movies That Defined Your Childhood To Rewatch Now]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/90s-family-movieshttps://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/90s-family-moviesMon, 22 Jun 2026 22:01:25 GMT
Everett Collection

If you grew up in the '90s, you know that they just don't make movies like they used to. Have great films been released over the past two decades? Sure (see also: ouch, we're old). But when it comes to movies that everyone in the household can enjoy, '90s family movies are truly it. Back in the day, going to a video store on a Friday night with your fam and picking something out for movie night felt like a thrilling (and sometimes harrowing) experience. And you had to choose wisely, as you'd likely end up rewatching it all weekend and memorizing the funniest parts since you didn't have the plethora of things to watch on Netflix, Disney+, or some other streaming service. Ah, what a time it was to be alive!

The following list of suggestions includes all sorts of genres. Some will make you cry, others will make you laugh, and usually, they'll do both. That's sort of the trademark of a great '90s movie — they contain multitudes when it comes to genre.

So, without further ado, read on for some of the best ‘90s family movies to watch with your kids. After all, how else will you show them what the good old days had to offer?

Favorite Quintessential ‘90s Family Movies

1. Babe (1995)

Universal Pictures/Moviepix/Getty Images

Did every movie in the '90s involve some sort of talking animal? It feels like it. There are a ton of great films about the bond between a human and their pet, but Babe is the OG. It's about a little piglet from a county fair who wants to do the work of a sheepdog, making friends and foes on the farm along the way — most notably his farmer, Arthur Hoggett. While Babe goes through a lot in the movie, he doesn't perish, so it's all a happy ending at the end of the day. So happy, in fact, that there were sequels made (in case your kids get attached to the little guy). In 1998, Babe: A Pig In The City followed the eponymous pig and Hoggett on a trip off the farm.

2. Homeward Bound (1993)

Reed Smoot/Buena Vista Pictures

If your kid is super sensitive, this movie might not be for them. Homeward Bound gets very sappy at times, but is ultimately a cute family flick that all ages can enjoy. It centers on three pets: Chance, an enthusiastic bulldog (voiced by Michael J. Fox); Shadow, a wise old golden retriever (voiced by Don Ameche); and a cat named Sassy that's, well, sassy (voiced by Sally Field). They all get dropped off at a family friend's house when their owner's family goes on vacation. But the three start to freak out and worry that they've been left for good, so they talk it out and hit the road, trekking through the wilderness to find their way home.

3. Beethoven (1992)

Victor J. Kemper/Universal Pictures

See? It seems like all '90s movies center on animals. This one is about a slobbering St. Bernard who breaks into a family's house, and while the dad initially doesn't want him, the rest of the family adores the guy and takes him in. Over the years, Beethoven (who doesn't talk) takes care of the household and becomes a beloved family member. But when an evil veterinarian and some nefarious dog-nappers (one of whom is played by Stanley Tucci, bonus!) try to euthanize him, Beethoven must fend for his life. Generations of kids love this movie so much that sequels just keep on coming — four in all and then three other standalone films based on the big pup.

4. The Sandlot (1993)

John Bramley/20th Century Fox

One of the most iconic '90s movies of all time, The Sandlot tells the story of a group of young boys who hang out over a summer. They play baseball, of course, face off with a terrifying neighbor dog that threatens them at every turn, and shamelessly flirt with the older lifeguards at the community pool. This coming-of-age story is a must-watch for any family in *any* decade. If only so your kids know what you mean when you say, "You're killing me, Smalls."

5. Flubber (1997)

Dean Cundey/Buena Vista Pictures

Comedic genius that he was, the late great Robin Williams made quite a few beloved movies in the '90s. There are a ton to pick from, but Flubber is a great entry point, especially if you have younger kids. In it, he plays a wild scientist who creates a rubber substance that he calls Flubber. He gets so excited about it that he misses his own wedding to his girlfriend (played by Marcia Gay Harden) and ultimately has to use the flubber to win her back, to varying results.

6. Harriet the Spy (1996)

Paramount Pictures

Harriet isn't like your average sixth-grader. She already knows that she wants to become a spy. With her trusty private journal, she records just about everything, including the actions of her classmates and two best friends. But when her journal falls into the wrong hands, the whole sixth-grade class turns against her. So Harriet devises a plan of revenge to take down her peers.

7. Space Jam (1996)

Bruce W. Talamon/Warner Bros.

Evil theme park owner Swackhammer (Danny DeVito) tries to kidnap the Looney Tunes for his next attraction, but Bugs Bunny strikes up a deal with the antagonist to allow the Tunes a chance to defend themselves over a basketball game. To secure the win, the characters abduct NBA all-star Michael Jordan to join their team, the Tune Squad.

The best part about this movie is that your kids don’t need to be fans of the basketball stars of the ‘90s to appreciate the whimsical nature of this film. Seeing your favorite cartoon characters in the real world is exciting enough.

8. The Parent Trap (1998)

Lorey Sebastian/Walt Disney Pictures

After coincidentally attending the same summer camp, Hallie Parker and Annie James (both played by Lindsay Lohan) discover they are twins who were separated after their parents’ divorce. The girls switch places in an attempt to meet the parent they never knew, and devise a plan to reunite their fractured family along the way.

9. The Little Rascals (1994)

Melissa Moseley/Universal Pictures

Despite being a founding member of the He-Man Woman Haters Club, Alfalfa (Bug Hall) falls in love with neighborhood sweetheart Darla, creating tension within the group and the relationship.

10. Stuart Little (1999)

Peter Iovino/Columbia Pictures

After a visit to a local orphanage to find a brother for their son, George, Eleanor and Frederick Little return with a teenage mouse named Stuart (voiced by Michael J. Fox). George is slow to embrace his “brother,” and the family cat, Snowbell, doesn’t take kindly to the rodent, either. Eventually, though, Stuart builds bonds with his new family, tests his courage, and finds acceptance. By the end of the film, their love for Stuart is anything but little.

Even More Live-Action '90s Family Movies

Matilda (1996): Matilda, a young girl with telekinetic powers, navigates a difficult home life and an even harsher school environment. With the help of her kind teacher, Miss Honey, she stands up to the tyrannical headmistress, Miss Trunchbull.

Hook (1991): Peter Banning, now an adult and forgetting his past, must return to Neverland to rescue his children from Captain Hook. With the help of Tinker Bell and the Lost Boys, Peter reconnects with his childhood and regains his courage.

Mighty Joe Young (1998): A giant gorilla named Joe, raised in Africa and now living in the United States, faces danger when a corrupt businessman seeks to exploit him. Joe and his caretaker, Jill, fight to protect him from being captured and exploited.

George of the Jungle (1997): George, a man raised by apes in the jungle, must navigate the modern world when he meets a beautiful woman named Ursula. His wild, carefree nature leads to a series of funny and heartfelt adventures.

The Mighty Ducks (1992): A lawyer, Gordon Bombay, is forced to coach a misfit youth hockey team after being convicted of a DUI. Over time, he bonds with the team and helps them achieve success on the ice.

Emilio Estevez as Coach Bombay (R) in ‘The Mighty Ducks’ | Buena Vista Pictures

Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves (1997): The Szalinski family accidentally shrinks themselves to the size of insects while trying to test a new invention. They now have to navigate their giant household to find a way to return to their normal size.

The Secret Garden (1993): Mary Lennox, a spoiled and lonely orphan, is sent to live with her uncle in a remote estate where she discovers a hidden, neglected garden. She, along with new friends, brings the garden back to life and finds healing for herself and others.

Dennis the Menace (1993): Dennis, an adventurous and mischievous young boy, constantly gets into trouble with his next-door neighbor, George Wilson. His antics lead to a series of comical misunderstandings, but ultimately he teaches the importance of friendship.

Muppet Treasure Island (1996): The Muppets take on the roles of characters from Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure novel Treasure Island. Jim Hawkins embarks on a journey to find treasure, with a colorful crew and the sinister Long John Silver leading the way.

Now and Then (1995): Four childhood friends reunite as adults and reflect on a summer when they were young girls, going through key moments of their lives together. They revisit their childhood memories of friendship, secrets, and challenges.

(L to R) Thora Birch as Teeny, Gaby Hoffmann as Samantha, Ashleigh Aston Moore as Chrissy, and Christina Ricci as Roberta in ‘Now and Then’ | New Line Cinema

A Simple Wish (1997): A young girl named Anabel wishes for her father to be granted a fairy godmother, only for the wish to be granted by a bumbling, inexperienced fairy. Together, they work to make her wish come true while navigating various mishaps.

Encino Man (1992): Two high school students discover a frozen caveman in their backyard and revive him. They must teach him how to navigate modern life while dealing with their own teen issues.

Dunston Checks In (1996): A mischievous orangutan named Dunston causes chaos at a luxury hotel. A young hotel employee befriends Dunston and tries to help him escape from a greedy jewel thief.

Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999): Zenon, a teenager who lives on a space station, faces her biggest challenge yet when she uncovers a conspiracy that threatens her home. With the help of her friends, she works to save the space station and prove her worth.

Free Willy (1993): A young boy named Jesse befriends a captive orca whale named Willy and forms a bond that leads him to attempt to free the whale. With the help of his new friends, Jesse fights to save Willy from captivity and return him to the wild.

Jason James Richter as Jesse in ‘Free Willy’ | Warner Bros.

Tom & Huck (1995): Based on Mark Twain's classic novel, the film follows Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn as they embark on a series of adventurous and daring escapades. The boys navigate their town's mysteries, from treasure hunts to the complexities of friendship.

The Thirteenth Year (1999): A boy named Cody discovers that, on his 13th birthday, he is transforming into a mermaid. As he grapples with his newfound identity, he must learn to accept and control his powers.

White Fang (1991): A young man named Jack teams up with a half-wolf, half-dog named White Fang during the Klondike Gold Rush. Together, they form a deep bond while facing the harsh realities of survival and loyalty in the wild.

Curly Sue (1991): A young girl named Curly Sue and her con-artist guardian, Bill, manage to scam wealthy people out of their money. Their lives change when they scam a successful lawyer and eventually find a real family.

Hocus Pocus (1993): Three witches, the Sanderson Sisters, are resurrected on Halloween night in Salem, and they plan to steal the youth from the town's children. A group of teenagers must stop the witches from wreaking havoc.

(L to R) Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson sisters in ‘Hocus Pocus’ | Buena Vista Pictures

Flipper (1996): A young boy named Sandy bonds with a playful dolphin named Flipper while vacationing with his uncle in Florida. Together, they form a team to protect the ocean and its creatures from a dangerous villain.

Paulie (1998): Paulie, an intelligent parrot with the ability to speak, embarks on a journey to reunite with his owner, a little girl he once loved. Along the way, Paulie befriends several quirky characters and faces many challenges.

Madeline (1998): Madeline, an adventurous and mischievous young girl at a boarding school in Paris, embarks on a series of heartwarming adventures. She befriends a lonely widower and helps save the school from being sold.

Black Beauty (1994): The story of a horse named Black Beauty and his various owners, showing the bond between the horse and his caretakers, as well as his struggles with mistreatment. The film emphasizes compassion and empathy for animals.

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993): A divorced father, played by Robin Williams, disguises himself as an elderly British nanny to spend more time with his children.

Robin Williams as the title character in ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ | 20 Century Fox

Muppets From Space (1999): Gonzo learns that he is actually an alien from outer space. The Muppets work together to help Gonzo reconnect with his family, facing off against a government agency along the way.

Jungle 2 Jungle (1997): A businessman discovers that his estranged son, raised by a tribe in the Amazon jungle, is now living in New York City. As they adjust to their new life together, they both learn valuable lessons about family and life.

Angels in the Outfield (1994): A young boy prays for a miracle to help his struggling baseball team, and soon angels appear to guide them to victory.

3 Ninjas (1992): Three brothers are trained in martial arts by their grandfather and must use their skills to defeat a criminal trying to take over their family business.

Cool Runnings (1993): Based on the true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team, this film follows four unlikely athletes as they pursue their dream of competing in the Winter Olympics.

(L to R) Doug E. Doug as Sanka, Malik Yoba as Yul, John Candy as “Irv,” Rawle D. Lewis as Junior, and Leon Robinson as Derice in ‘Cool Runnings’ | Buena Vista Pictures

Newsies (1992): Based on the true story of the Newsboys Strike of 1899, this musical follows a group of young newspaper sellers who go on strike to protest unfair wages.

Blank Check (1994): A young boy is accidentally given a blank check, which he uses to buy whatever he wants, including a mansion and a luxury car.

The Borrowers (1997): The Clock family, tiny people who live under the floorboards of a house, must protect themselves from humans who want to capture them.

Doctor Dolittle (1998): A doctor named Dolittle who can speak to animals embarks on a journey to save an exotic animal from a ruthless circus owner.

Andre (1994): A young girl befriends a sea lion named Andre, and together, they form a deep bond as she helps him adjust to life in captivity.

Tina Majorino as Toni in ‘Andre’ | Paramount Pictures

The Indian in the Cupboard (1995): A boy named Omri discovers his cupboard can bring toys to life. When he places a tiny Native American figure inside, it becomes a real Iroquois warrior, Little Bear, leading to lessons about friendship and responsibility.

101 Dalmatians (1996): In this live-action adaptation of the classic animated movie, two dalmatian dogs must save their puppies from the villainous Cruella de Vil. The dogs work together with their fellow animals to stop her from making a coat out of their fur.

Mousehunt (1997): Two brothers inherit an old mansion and must deal with a mischievous mouse who refuses to leave. The battle between the brothers and the mouse escalates in a slapstick comedy of errors.

Rookie of the Year (1993): A young boy named Henry becomes a baseball sensation after an accident gives him an incredible pitching arm.

The Addams Family (1991): The eccentric and creepy Addams family is thrown into turmoil when a man claiming to be a long-lost relative tries to scam them.

(L to R) Christina Ricci as Wednesday, Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester, and Jimmy Workman as Pugsley in ‘The Addams Family’ | Paramount Pictures

The Big Green (1995): A group of misfit kids forms a soccer team with the help of a new teacher from England. Together, they overcome their differences and learn about teamwork, persistence, and confidence.

Richie Rich (1994): Richie Rich, the wealthiest kid in the world, finds his life lonely despite all his riches. He befriends a group of kids who teach him the value of friendship and life beyond material wealth.

A Little Princess (1995): Sara Crewe, a young girl living in a boarding school, faces hardship after her father is presumed dead. Through her imagination and kindness, Sara finds strength and helps others around her.

Drop Dead Fred (1991): Elizabeth, struggling with a tough life and an overbearing mother, reconnects with her childhood imaginary friend, Drop Dead Fred. His chaotic antics lead to both humorous and healing moments for Elizabeth as she rediscovers herself.

Rik Mayall (L) as Drop Dead Fred and Phoebe Cates (R) as Elizabeth in ‘Drop Dead Fred’ | New Line Cinema

Father of the Bride (1991): George Banks is thrown into a whirlwind of emotions when his daughter announces her engagement. As he struggles with letting go, he discovers the importance of family and the changes that come with it.

Baby’s Day Out (1994): A wealthy baby is kidnapped, but his kidnappers are unable to control him as he embarks on an adventure around Chicago. The baby inadvertently outsmarts them at every turn, leading to a comedic rescue.

Don’t Look Under the Bed (1999): A teenager named Frances discovers that the monsters from her childhood are real and that one has come to terrorize her town. She must team up with a mysterious boy to stop the creatures and uncover the truth.

Halloweentown (1998): Marnie discovers that she is a witch and that her grandmother lives in a magical town called Halloweentown. Along with her siblings, Marnie must help save the magical community from dark forces.

My Girl (1991): Vada, a young girl coping with the death of her mother, forms a strong friendship with her best friend, Thomas. Together, they navigate childhood's awkward moments, loss (definite warning about death here), and the process of growing up.

Macaulay Culkin (L) as Thomas J. and Anna Chlumsky (R) as Vada in ‘My Girl’ | Columbia Pictures

Camp Nowhere (1994): A group of kids, tired of their parents' planned summer camps, create their own fake camp. Their fun-filled adventure becomes more complicated as they must keep the charade going.

Jumanji (1995): Two children discover an enchanted board game that unleashes wild jungle animals and danger into their home. With the help of a grown-up who has been trapped in the game for years, they must finish the game to return everything to normal.

Lassie (1994): A family adopts Lassie, a rough collie, who helps them navigate difficult situations while improving their relationships. The loyal dog becomes an important part of their family, teaching them lessons about love and unity.

Fly Away Home (1996): After her mother's death, a young girl helps her father raise a group of orphaned geese and teach them to fly south for the winter. Together, they form a bond while navigating their own healing journey.

Anna Paquin as Amy in ‘Fly Away Home’ | Sony Pictures Releasing

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995): The Power Rangers must stop a villain named Ivan Ooze from releasing an ancient evil and destroying the world. With their new powers, the Rangers battle to save the Earth from impending doom.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990): Four mutated turtles, trained in ninjitsu by their rat sensei, battle the evil Shredder and his Foot Clan in New York City.

The Flintstones (1994): Fred Flintstone, the beloved caveman, is promoted at work and quickly becomes embroiled in a corporate conspiracy.

Three Men and a Little Lady (1990): The three bachelors from the original film are now faced with raising the child of their friend, and they must learn to adjust their carefree lifestyles.

The Baby-Sitters Club (1995): The movie follows a group of teenage girls who form a babysitting business while navigating the challenges of adolescence.

Tricia Joe (L) as Claudia and Schuyler Fisk (R) as Kristy in ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ | Sony Pictures Releasing

Ernest Scared Stupid (1991): Ernest P. Worrell accidentally unleashes an evil troll who kidnaps children, and it’s up to him to stop it. With the help of the kids in town, Ernest must face his fears and save the day.

Passport to Paris (1999): Twins Hallie and Annie travel to Paris to visit their grandfather, where they experience the culture and get involved in an adventure with two French boys.

Little Giants (1994): A group of misfit kids forms a football team to compete against the town’s star team, coached by their former professional athlete uncle. Despite the odds, they show that heart and teamwork matter more than skill.

Little Women (1994): A gorgeous adaptation of the literary classic, Little Women stays true to the novel, featuring the four March sisters as they go through a war, missing their father, death, love, and a whole lot of identity crises.

Good Burger (1997): If you were a Nickelodeon kid, you absolutely remember the “Good Burger” sketch from All That featuring Kel Mitchell as lovable Ed, cashier and fry cook extraordinaire. In the movie adaptation, Kel has to fight against a new burger joint opening up across the street, and it’s peak kid humor.

Inspector Gadget (1999): Starring Matthew Broderick as the one and only Inspector Gadget, this silly movie is total action for kids and total nostalgia for adults.

Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992): In a follow-up to the blockbuster ‘80s classic Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, the Szalinski family is back — but this time, Wayne has created a machine that enlarges items... and his 2-year-old son happens to get in the way.

It Takes Two (1995): Starring the Olsen twins, this fun movie is about two girls — one whose father is about to marry a nasty woman, and another who doesn’t have a family and is about to be adopted by a cruel one, losing her beloved social worker. The girls scheme to get one’s dad and the other’s social worker to fall in love.

Smart House (1999): When a family wins a contest to live in a “smart house,” they realize quickly that having artificial intelligence take care of everything leaves you quite vulnerable. This Disney Channel Original Movie was always a favorite.

Wild America (1997): Three boys do not want to inherit their father’s auto-parts business, so they set out on a cross-country adventure to find some purpose, some excitement, and a whole lot of brotherly love.

Wish Upon a Star (1996): In a classic sisters-who-don’t-understand-each-other movie, one “nerdy” girl wishes on a star to switch places with her cool, popular sister — and it works. As they try to undo the spell, they learn a lot more about each other than they ever bargained for.

Animated '90s Family Movies That Raised Us

Antz (1998): Z, a worker ant, struggles with his identity in a highly structured society, eventually meeting a princess who leads him to question the ant colony's oppressive ways. Together, they fight for freedom and individuality.

The Pagemaster (1994): A shy, book-loving boy named Richard is transported into a magical world of books, where he must use his knowledge to escape dangers. Along the way, he learns to face his fears and embrace his imagination.

The Iron Giant (1999): A young boy named Hogarth befriends a giant robot from outer space, and together, they protect it from government forces that want to destroy it.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas and tries to bring the holiday to his world. However, his well-meaning attempts to spread Christmas cheer lead to chaos and a lesson about identity and appreciation for traditions.

Anastasia (1997): When a young orphaned woman named Anya journeys to Paris, she starts to piece together fragments of her past... and the closer she gets to discovering her true identity, the closer she gets to the vengeful plans of sorcerer Rasputin, who’s determined to end her family line for good.

Universal Pictures

Balto (1995): Half-wolf, half-husky, Balto dreams of being accepted in the town of Nome, Alaska, as a proper sled dog. And when a diphtheria outbreak threatens the local children, he finally gets the chance to prove his worth and save his community by leading a dangerous sled run through a brutal winter storm.

A Goofy Movie (1995): Perhaps the true unsung hero of ‘90s animated movies, The Goofy Movie sees the beloved anthropomorphic canine as a dad who’s worried he’s losing his teenage son, Max. Goofy decides a cross-country fishing trip would be a great way to reconnect, but Max has his own plans to impress his crush, Roxanne. Shenanigans ensue, along with some really sweet moments.

James and the Giant Peach (1996): A lonely boy named James is sent to live with his two cruel aunts in the wake of his parents’ passing... until, that is, a magical peach grows to an enormous size and carries him away on an adventure. Inside, he finds the family he always hoped for in a crew of oversized talking insects.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996): Quasimodo, the gentle-hearted bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, dreams of a life outside of his tower. It isn’t until the beautiful and kind Esmeralda that he finds the courage to stand up to the cruel overlord, Frollo, discovering along the way that true worth lies within.

Mulan (1998): When her aging father is called to war, a young woman named Mulan disguises herself as a man to take his place in the Chinese army. In an unlikely (and often harrowing) turn of events, she rises to become a hero for her country.

Toho

Only Yesterday (1991): In this acclaimed Studio Ghibli film, a 27-year-old office worker named Taeko takes a vacation to the countryside, where childhood memories resurface and lead her to explore who she’s become.

The Prince of Egypt (1998): Raised as an Egyptian prince, Moses discovers his true heritage as a Hebrew and must confront his brother Rameses, now Pharaoh, to free his enslaved people. Bonus? Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey team up on the soundtrack for one of the most memorable movie collabs of the decade.

Toy Story (1995): Woody the cowboy has long been Andy’s best toy friend, but everything changes when a flashy new space-ranger toy named Buzz Lightyear joins the household. When the rivals end up lost away from home, they have to figure out how to work together to make it back to Andy.

Toy Story 2 (1999): Uh oh! Woody gets stolen by a greedy toy collector, setting Buzz and the gang on a daring rescue mission. Along the way, Woody toys (heh) with the idea of being immortalized in a museum and whether it’s worth the tradeoff of truly being loved.

Aladdin (1992): This is a hill we’ll die on — Aladdin deserves way more love than it gets! Here, a street-smart thief uncovers a magic lamp containing a wisecracking and big-hearted Genie who grants him three wishes. In his quest to win over Princess Jasmine, though, Aladdin realizes that some things truly are priceless.

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Beauty and the Beast (1991): A true Disney classic, this movie gave bookish girls everywhere our patron saint. Belle, who always has her nose stuck in some pages, takes her father’s place as a prisoner in the castle of a fearsome Beast. Only, she comes to find that what’s beneath his monstrous exterior is actually something quite surprising.

The Lion King (1994): Young lion cub Simba is destined to rule the Pride Lands... until a heartbreaking tragedy orchestrated by his evil Uncle Scar drives him into exile. It’s only with the help of two unlikely new friends that Simba finds the courage to return to Pride Rock and reclaim his rightful place as leader.

Princess Mononoke (1997): If you’ve never watched this gem before, consider this your sign! Cursed after defending his village, young warrior Ashitaka journeys to a distant forest where humans and the gods of nature are caught in a war. It’s there he meets San, a girl raised by wolves, who may be able to help Ashitaka broker peace.

FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992): When a fairy named Crysta shrinks a human logger named Zak to her size, he gets an eye-opening new perspective — the chance to see the rainforest that he was about to destroy for its beauty and wonder. Together, along with a few friends (all hail Batty Koda!), they fight to save their magical home.

20th Century Fox

The Rescuers Down Under (1990): Remember mouse agents Bernard and Bianca? We all wanted to help the duo as they traveled to the Australian Outback to save a boy named Cody, who’d been kidnapped by a nefarious, scheming poacher.

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991): The ‘80s introduced us to adorable Fievel, and the ‘90s gave us the continuation of his story with this Western spin. Here, things get interesting when our favorite precocious mouse uncovers a villainous cat’s scheme.

]]><![CDATA[65 Weird Hacks That Declutter Your Home — & They're So Easy & Cheap]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/weird-hacks-that-declutter-your-home-theyre-so-easy-cheaphttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/weird-hacks-that-declutter-your-home-theyre-so-easy-cheapMon, 22 Jun 2026 21:00:24 GMT

There’s a good chance your closet is crammed, your kitchen countertop is crowded, and that one junk drawer is overflowing with charging cables. Well, there’s no better time than the present to deal with all that — and you might be surprised that dealing with it is easier than you might think. We rounded up some of the best hacks that make decluttering feel almost fun. Armed with a few cheap organizing tools, you can take your space from littered to livable in just a few minutes. Scroll on for our favorite tricks and tools.

Turn Your Stove Into Storage For Seasonings

If your spice collection has slowly migrated across the countertop, this magnetic stove shelf is a surprisingly simple fix. Designed to sit neatly behind your stove, it creates an extra storage zone for seasonings, oils, and other kitchen essentials that never seem to have a permanent home. Three divided sections help keep everything organized, while built-in magnets hold the shelf securely in place without damaging your appliance.

Stash Your Cables In This Divided Organizer

Every home seems to have that one drawer packed with tangled charging cables, random adapters, and cords nobody wants to sort through. This adjustable organizer turns that chaotic mess into something that actually makes sense. The clear design lets you see exactly what's inside at a glance, while removable dividers allow you to customize each compartment to fit everything from phone chargers to earbuds and power cords.

Give Hats A Permanent Home On These Hanger Hooks

Baseball caps have a sneaky way of ending up everywhere — on shelves, doorknobs, dressers, and somehow even the floor. This hanging organizer gives them a dedicated home without eating up valuable closet space. Each rack can hold up to 10 hats, and has a nonslip coating and raised ends that help prevent them from sliding off.

Organize Medicine & First-Aid Supplies In This 3-Tier Bin

Medicine cabinets have a tendency to become black holes of expired prescriptions and loose bandages, but this three-tier organizer helps bring some much-needed order to the chaos. With multiple compartments and a layered design, it makes it easier to sort everything from medications to first-aid supplies and vitamins. The secure lid helps protect contents, while the sturdy handle makes it easy to move wherever you need it.

Streamline The Look Of Outlets & Bulky Plugs With This Concealer Plate

Few things make a room look cluttered faster than a bulky plug and a tangle of cords snaking across the wall. This clever outlet concealer practically makes those eyesores disappear with its ultra-slim design that creates a more streamlined look. Installation couldn't be easier — just plug it in and use the included adhesive clips to keep cords neatly tucked away. The attached extension cord even adds extra outlets, so you're gaining functionality while reducing visual clutter.

Use An End Table With Storage Drawers That Hide Clutter

When books, chargers, remotes, and random essentials have nowhere to go, clutter accumulates fast. That's why this compact end table is such a smart solution. Two roomy drawers provide hidden storage for all the little things that tend to pile up on top of dressers and bedside tables, while the surface keeps everyday necessities within easy reach.

Organize All The Little Things With This 21-Pack Of Mesh Bags

You know those random items that never seem to have a designated spot? This set of zippered storage pouches can help bring order to it. With seven different sizes and 21 total bags, it's easy to create a system that actually works for your home. The semi-transparent design lets you quickly see what's inside without turning every pouch into a visual mess, while the durable, water-resistant material helps protect contents from spills and everyday wear.

Make Use Of Wasted Space With Under-Bed Storage Containers

If you're running out of closet space, there's a good chance you're overlooking one of the biggest storage opportunities in your home: the area under your bed. These rolling storage bins transforms that forgotten space into a convenient home for off-season clothing, extra shoes, toys, books, linens, and more. They glide smoothly on wheels, making it easy to access whatever you've stored away, and the clear tops eliminate the frustrating game of guessing what's inside, too.

Utilize Vertical Space With An Expandable Shelf

One of the easiest decluttering tricks is making better use of the space you already have, and this adjustable tension shelf does exactly that. The tension design installs without tools or drilling, instantly creating an extra storage level inside cabinets, closets, laundry areas, and other overlooked spots. Because it adjusts to fit a variety of areas, it's especially useful for awkward gaps that normally go unused.

Tidy Up Your Medicine Cabinet With Customizable Organizers

It's often the smallest items that create the biggest mess in your medicine cabinet: makeup, cotton swabs, and other items that seem to multiply on countertops overnight. These stackable organizers help contain the chaos with adjustable dividers that let you customize each compartment to fit exactly what you're storing. The combination of an open-top section and pull-out drawer give these organizers lots of versatility.

Create Space In Tight Gaps With This Skinny Storage Cart

Every home has those awkward little gaps that seem too small to be useful — between the washer and dryer, beside the refrigerator, next to the toilet, or tucked between cabinets. This slim rolling organizer turns those overlooked spaces into valuable storage real estate with four tiers of shelving. The rolling design makes it easy to move wherever it's needed, but it can also be converted into a stationary shelf if you prefer.

Double Your Space With This Over-The-Door Storage Organizer

When floor space and shelf space are already maxed out, the back of a door can become prime real estate. This over-the-door organizer transforms that often-forgotten area into a surprisingly roomy storage station with multiple compartments for keeping everyday essentials neatly sorted. The variety of pockets makes it easy to separate items by category, helping prevent the dreaded “everything gets tossed into one bin” problem.

Store Strappy Items On This 8-Hook Hanger

If your bras and tank tops are currently stuffed into drawers, this organizer offers a much smarter system. Designed to hold multiple pieces on a single hanger, it helps free up valuable closet space while keeping everything visible and easy to access. Instead of digging through piles or unfolding neatly stacked clothing, you can quickly scan your options and grab exactly what you need.

Stash Items In These Stylish Baskets That Hang On The Back Of A Door

These woven hanging baskets bring extra organization to your home while doubling as decor. Designed to hang over a door or on a wall, they create easy-access storage for all the little items that tend to pile up on countertops, dressers, and shelves. Use them in a bathroom for toiletries, a nursery for baby essentials, a bedroom for accessories, or an entryway for everyday grab-and-go items.

Mulitply Closet Space With These Vertical Baskets

If your shelves are already packed, use this hanging organizer to take advantage of unused vertical space by creating multiple levels of storage on a single closet rod. It's perfect for folded sweaters, jeans, T-shirts, hats, scarves, and accessories that would otherwise end up stacked in unstable piles. The open design keeps everything visible, making it easier to find what you need without pulling apart an entire shelf.

Make Use Of Cabinet Doors With These Stick-On Storage Pockets

Some of the best storage opportunities in your home are hiding in plain sight — like the insides of cabinet doors. These adhesive storage bins help turn those unused areas into practical organization zones without requiring tools or drilling. They're ideal for corralling the small items that tend to create the most clutter, from cotton swabs and toothpaste tubes to kitchen wrap and snack packets.

Turn Dead Space Into Storage With This Corner Shelf

Corners are often some of the most underutilized spots in a home, especially on crowded countertops. This tiered organizer helps reclaim that wasted space by creating multiple levels of storage where there was previously none. Whether you use it to corral spices in the kitchen, skin care in the bathroom, or office supplies on a desk, it helps keep essentials organized without taking over valuable surface area.

Have Greeting Cards At The Ready With This Stress-Free System

If you're constantly buying greeting cards ahead of time but can never remember where you put them, this organizer can be a total game changer. Instead of stuffing birthday cards, thank-you notes, holiday greetings, and stickers into random drawers, you can keep everything neatly sorted in one easy-to-access place. The removable dividers make it simple to organize by occasion, while the secure closures help keep contents protected and contained.

Free Up Valuable Cabinet Space With These Magnetic Racks

When kitchen storage is limited, every inch counts. These magnetic spice racks take advantage of an often-overlooked spot — the side of your refrigerator — to create instant storage without sacrificing cabinet or counter space. It's a smart solution for keeping frequently used seasonings within easy reach while reducing clutter inside crowded cupboards. Choose from a whopping 19 colors to suit your style.

End Linen Closet Chaos With These Bed Sheet Organizers

If opening your linen closet feels like playing a game of sheet-set Jenga, these organizers can help restore order. Instead of balancing uneven stacks of fitted sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers that topple over every time you grab one, you can store each complete set in its own labeled container. A viewing window lets you quickly identify colors without pulling everything out.

Put Wall Space To Work With A Customizable Pegboard Organizer

This customizable pegboard system transforms blank wall space into an organized command center for all the items that usually create clutter. Whether you're storing tools in a garage, craft supplies in a hobby room, kitchen essentials, office accessories, or everyday household items, the modular design lets you create a setup that works for your specific needs. The included hooks, bins, and containers can be arranged and rearranged into the layout that works best for you.

Hide The Shoe Mess With This Bin That Stores Pairs Vertically

Shoes seem to have a way of multiplying, but this storage organizer helps contain the chaos by storing pairs vertically to save space. Adjustable compartments allow you to customize the layout for everything from sandals and flats to bulkier sneakers, making it easy to maximize every inch of storage space. The clear top lets you quickly spot the pair you're looking for without digging through the bin.

Hide Clutter In Plain Sight With A Storage Bench

The most effective decluttering products are often the ones that pull double duty, and this storage ottoman does exactly that. On the outside, it's a stylish bench that can serve as extra seating, and on the inside, it's hiding a surprisingly generous amount of storage space for blankets,seasonal decor, board games, dog toys, and more. Its works beautifully at the foot of a bed, in an entryway, or in a living room, and you can choose from eight sizes and three colors, too.

Organize All The Little Things That Go Missing With These Tiny Cases

These compact storage containers give those loose odds and ends a dedicated home, like floss picks, cotton swabs, and hair elastics. The translucent design makes it easy to see what's inside at a glance, and the secure seal helps keep contents protected from dust and moisture. They're especially handy for organizing bathroom and vanity essentials at home and small enough to stash in any drawer.

Hide Messy Cords & Power Strips With This Adorable Cover

Power strips, charging cables, and tangled wires can instantly make a room feel cluttered, no matter how clean everything else is. This wooden cable management box helps hide that visual chaos while looking more like a cute decorative accent than an organizing product. Instead of staring at a jumble of cords behind the TV, under a desk, or next to a nightstand, you can tuck everything neatly inside and enjoy a cleaner, more charming space.

End The Sock Scavenger Hunt With These Drawer Dividers

Few household frustrations are as oddly annoying as digging through a messy drawer searching for a matching pair of socks. This three-pack of compartment organizers brings order to the chaos by giving every item its own designated spot. Use them to separate socks, underwear, bras, tights, belts, ties, accessories, or any other small items that tend to get tangled together in drawers.

Keep Food From Disappearing With This Easy-Glide Fridge Bin

The back of the refrigerator is where good food often gets forgotten. This rolling storage bin helps solve that problem by bringing hidden items front and center with a simple pull. Instead of digging through crowded shelves searching for yogurt cups, snack packs, and condiments, you can glide the bin forward and instantly see what's inside.

Keep Shelves Tidy With These Stackable Organizers

Closet shelves often start out neat and organized, but it doesn't take long before clothes, accessories, and miscellaneous items turn into a jumbled mess. These stackable storage drawers help create structure by transforming open shelving into easy-access compartments. The pull-out design makes it simple to reach items tucked in the back without disturbing everything in front, while the modular format allows you to build a storage system that fits your space.

Tame Lid Chaos With This Cabinet Organizer

Somehow food container lids always end up scattered throughout drawers and cabinets, creating a frustrating mess every time you're trying to pack leftovers. This adjustable organizer helps bring order to the madness by giving lids clearly defined storage zones. The customizable dividers let you create compartments that fit your collection, so items stay upright, visible, and easy to grab without digging through chaotic piles.

Save Future You A Headache With A Gift-Wrapping Organizer

If every gift-wrapping task starts the same way — you pull out crumpled rolls of wrapping paper and tangled bows — this gift wrap organizer can help. Designed with pockets and compartments to keep paper, ribbons, gift tags, bows, scissors, and other essentials together in one place, it makes holiday and birthday prep far less chaotic. Just slide it under the bed or place it on a closet shelf between wrapping sessions.

Organize The Under-Sink Area With 2-Tier Caddies

If the area under your sink feels more like a black hole than a tidy organization zone, you need these two-tier organizers. Each one is slim to make way for the pipe, and has a pull-out drawer on the bottom, making it easy to reach whatever’s in back. They’re perfect for spare toiletries, cleaning supplies, trash bags, and anything else you’ve got lurking in that cabinet.

Keep Remotes Where You Can Find Them With These Magnetic Mounts

Instead of tossing your remotes anywhere and hoping for the best (you know they’ll end up between the cushions), put these magnetic holders to use. Just use the adhesive backing to secure the connector to the back of your remote, then stick the corresponding piece to an end table, wall, or the TV itself. At the end of the night, just click the two magnets together to store.

Store Comforters In These Compression Bags That Take Up Less Space

Extra bedding is notoriously tricky to store, with comforters taking up a ridiculous amount of space. Enter these compression bags with zippable layers that help shrink down the size of contents, giving you back so much more space. The windows and labels help you identify what’s inside, while the handles make them easy to grab from a shelf.

Free Up Closet Space With Tiered Pants Hangers

For closets that are crammed, it doesn’t get much more transformative than these cascading hangers with a 4.6-star overall rating. Each layered hanger holds up to five pairs of pants, while taking up minimal space on your closet rod. The rubber-tipped ends help ensure you’re only grabbing the pair you want.

Create Sneaky Storage With Faux Coffee Table Books

These decorative faux books blend seamlessly into any setup and are available in seven colors to suit your space. Use them to stash remotes, receipts, chargers, spare keys, jewelry, or other small items that tend to accumulate on surfaces and make a room feel messy. From the outside, they look like stylish decorative accents, but inside, they're working overtime to keep clutter out of sight.

Turn Leftovers Into Uniform Freezer Blocks That Are Easier To Store

If your freezer is packed with oddly shaped bags of soup, sauce, leftovers, and meal-prep ingredients, this clever tool can help bring some order to the chaos. Instead of freezing foods in bulky, uneven clumps that waste valuable space, it helps create slim, uniform blocks that stack neatly like files in a drawer. The upright design also makes filling storage bags much less messy, so you're not trying to balance a floppy bag while pouring in hot soup or sauce.

Put Wasted Space To Work With An Over-The-Toilet Shelf

The area above a toilet is often one of the most overlooked storage spots in a bathroom. This compact shelf transforms that unused space into a convenient home for toiletries, skin-care products, air freshener, and extra rolls. The tiered design doubles the amount of storage available, while the secure mounting system helps everything stay put.

Bring Hidden Items Into View With This Fridge Turntable

We've all discovered a forgotten container lurking in the back of the refrigerator weeks after it should have been eaten. This rectangular lazy Susan helps prevent that by making every item easier to see and access. Unlike traditional round turntables, it's designed specifically for refrigerator shelves. A quick turn brings drinks, yogurt cups, sauces, and snacks within reach, eliminating the need to shuffle everything around just to find what you're looking for.

Turn Your Dryer Into Storage With Magnetic Organizers

Laundry rooms aren't exactly known for having an abundance of storage space, which is why this magnetic organizer set feels so clever. Each piece magnetizes directly to the side of your washer or dryer, turning it into valuable storage. Use the baskets to corral dryer balls, stain removers, laundry bags, clothespins, and other essentials, and use the hanger holder to keep empty hangers neatly contained instead of scattered.

Stash Soft Goods In This Zippered Pillow Cover

Some organizing products hide your clutter; this one turns it into a cozy lounging accessory. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary pillow cover, but unzip it and you'll find a surprisingly roomy storage compartment inside. It's perfect for stashing extra blankets, seasonal clothing, guest bedding, stuffed animals, decorative pillows, or any other soft items that seem to take over closets and drawers. Once filled, it becomes a functional pillow you can place pretty much anywhere.

Make Overflow Look Intentional With Stackable Organizers

Kitchen counters have a way of becoming landing zones for everything that doesn't quite fit in the pantry. These stackable wire baskets help contain it while keeping frequently used items within easy reach. The tiered design takes advantage of vertical space, allowing you to store more without sacrificing precious countertop real estate. Open wire sides promote airflow, making them especially useful for produce, while the wide front openings make grabbing what you need quick and easy.

Free Up Cabinet Space With This Tumbler Holder

Reusable water bottles can quickly take over cabinets and countertops if they don't have a designated home. This organizer helps keep everything neatly arranged by creating individual storage spots for tumblers and travel mugs. Instead of bottles rolling around shelves or tumbling out every time you open a cabinet, each one stays visible, accessible, and securely in place. The stackable design helps maximize vertical storage space, making it especially useful in smaller spaces.

Make Sense Of Your Battery Collection With These Tiny Organizers

Batteries seem to have a magical ability to scatter themselves throughout the house. These storage cases help bring order to that chaos by giving them a dedicated home. Designed for specific sizes like AA and D, each compartment keeps batteries neatly separated, protected, and easy to find, so you're no longer digging through drawers wondering which ones still work.

Give Stuffed Animals A Place To Live With This Hammock

A handful of stuffed animals can quickly turn into an entire plush population taking over beds and floors. This corner hammock offers a clever way to reclaim that space while turning beloved toys into part of the room's decor. It puts them on display in an unused corner, freeing up valuable floor space in the process. The soft cotton macramé design adds a cozy, boho-inspired touch that feels much more stylish than traditional toy storage.

Store Your Manicure Essentials In This Slim Carrying Case

What starts as a few bottles of nail polish can quickly turn into a colorful avalanche taking over bathroom cabinets. This organizer keeps everything neatly contained in one place, with individual compartments that make it easy to sort shades. The clear design allows you to see your entire collection at a glance, and adjustable dividers also create space for other manicure essentials, too, helping keep your entire nail-care routine organized.

Neatly Stack Pans On This Tiered Organizer

Few kitchen frustrations compare to reaching for one pan and triggering an entire pile of cookware to come crashing down. Instead of stacking everything on top of one another, this organizer helps put an end to that chaos by giving pots, pans, and lids their own designated shelves. The compact design makes the most of cabinet space while helping prevent scratches and damage caused by cookware rubbing together.

Give Your Desk Room To Breathe With An Adjustable Shelf

A cluttered desk has a way of making even simple tasks feel overwhelming. Instead of letting books, notebooks, and office supplies spread across every available surface, this adjustable desktop shelf helps create instant organization by adding extra storage without taking up additional floor space. The flexible design can be configured in different ways to fit your workspace, making it especially useful for small spaces.

Fold Perfect Stacks Of Clothes With This Laundry Board

If your dresser drawers start out organized but somehow end up looking like a tornado hit them a week later, this folding board can help. It takes the guesswork out of folding by creating consistently sized stacks of shirts, sweaters, and jeans in just a few seconds. Uniform folds don't just look satisfying — they also help maximize drawer and shelf space, making it easier to see everything you own without creating messy piles.

Tidy Your Freezer Drawer With Stackable Baskets

If your freezer drawer has become a frosty abyss where food disappears for months at a time, these storage baskets can bring some much-needed order to the chaos. Instead of digging through layers of frozen vegetables, mystery meats, and forgotten ice cream containers, you can sort everything into designated sections that are easy to see and access. The open-wire design allows cold air to circulate freely, while the stackable construction helps maximize every inch of freezer space.

Gain Extra Storage With Baskets That Slide Onto Any Shelf

One of the easiest ways to declutter a home is by making better use of the space you already have. This under-shelf basket set does exactly that by transforming the empty area beneath existing shelves into valuable storage. Just slide them onto a cabinet, pantry, closet, or office shelf, and suddenly you have a whole new spot to stash items that would otherwise create clutter.

Control Countertop Cord Clutter With Stick-On Holders

The dangling cords kitchen appliances leave behind can make countertops look messy fast. These adhesive cord organizers offer a simple solution by giving appliance cords a designated place to live when they're not in use. Instead of wrapping cords around handles or stuffing them awkwardly behind machines, you can neatly secure them right on the appliance itself.

Organize Food Storage Bags With This Drawer Bin

If your kitchen drawer is overflowing with half-empty boxes of sandwich bags, freezer bags, and snack bags, you're definitely not alone. This bamboo organizer streamlines all that packaging into one tidy storage system, making it easier to find exactly what you need without digging through a jumble of cardboard boxes. Each compartment has a designated purpose, with included labels that make things even easier.

Eliminate Cord Chaos With These Reusable Ties

These reusable cable ties help wrangle the tangled mess of cords that seem to multiply around the house. Instead of dealing with knots, piles, or mystery cables stuffed into drawers, you can bundle everything neatly and keep it organized. They're also reusable, adjustable, and color coded, too.

Crush Shower Clutter With These Wall Shelves

If your shower ledge is overflowing with shampoo bottles, razors, face wash, and body scrub, these wall-mounted organizers can help reclaim some much-needed space. Holding up to 40 pounds, the set of two creates dedicated storage for all your daily essentials, keeping everything neatly organized instead of balancing precariously along the edge of the tub. They mount directly to the wall and have an open design to help drain water.

Organize Trash Bags & More With These Sleek Bins

This organizer set gives those bulky trash bag rolls a designated storage spot while making them much easier to grab. The clear design lets you instantly see when supplies are running low, and the wide front opening means no more wrestling with half-open boxes. Even better, the stackable design takes advantage of vertical space, helping keep crowded cabinets and pantry shelves under control.

Free Up Pantry Shelves With A Double-Decker Organizer

If your pantry shelves are becoming a game of hide-and-seek, this adjustable shelf organizer can help solve your problems. It creates an extra storage level inside your cabinets, and the U-shaped design makes it easy to spot everything. Instead of stacking items on top of one another, you can take advantage of unused vertical space and keep everything visible at a glance.

Store Bulky Laundry Pods In This Sleek-Looking Container

The plastic laundry pod containers from the store don’t exactly help your laundry room look organized. This glass storage jar offers a simple upgrade that instantly makes the space feel more intentional. The large opening makes it easy to grab pods, dryer balls, clothespins, or other laundry essentials, while the included labels help create a clean, uniform look. Made from glass with a bamboo lid, it adds a touch of style while reducing the visual clutter that comes from mismatched packaging.

Store Cotton Swabs In This Lotus-Shaped Holder

Cotton swabs, toothpicks, and other small essentials tend to create surprising amounts of visual clutter when they're left in bulky containers or scattered across a countertop. This lotus-inspired holder offers a more elegant solution. The decorative flower design makes it feel more like decor than storage, while the adjustable petals allow you to customize the amount of space you need.

Tame Tumbler Lid Chaos With This Vertical Holder

If you've invested in a collection of reusable tumblers, chances are you've also accumulated a chaotic pile of mismatched lids taking over a cabinet somewhere. This organizer solves that oddly specific but very real problem by giving every lid its own designated spot. Just slip the lids onto the tower through the sipping holes — the compact design takes advantage of unused vertical space.

Store Strappy Items On This Layered Hanger

Tank tops, camisoles, sports bras, and other strappy pieces can quickly become one of the most frustrating categories to organize. This clever hanger creates a dedicated storage spot for those tricky items while taking up very little closet space. Multiple tiers allow you to keep several pieces neatly organized on a single hanger, while the curved ends help ensure nothing slides off.

Keep Backup Toilet Paper Rolls On An Over-Tank Holder

Few things make a small bathroom feel more cluttered than extra toilet paper rolls stacked on the floor. This over-the-tank holder, though, creates convenient storage right where you need it. It can hold multiple rolls at once, keeping backups within easy reach while freeing up valuable space.

Store Jewelry Overflow On A Tangle-Free Organizer

If your jewelry collection currently lives in a knotted pile at the bottom of a drawer, you're not alone. This hanging organizer makes it easy to see everything you own without digging, untangling chains, or hunting for a missing earring five minutes before you need to leave the house. Featuring 80 clear pockets spread across both sides, it creates a designated space for each piece of jewelry. The slim design hangs neatly inside a closet, taking up virtually no space.

Give Every Bottle In Your Routine A Dedicated Home

If your bathroom counter is constantly crowded, this organizer can help bring some much-needed order to the chaos. The tiered design keeps frequently used items visible and easy to reach, while drawers provide hidden storage for smaller essentials that tend to create clutter. Instead of digging through cabinets or knocking over bottles while searching for your favorite product, everything has a designated place. Choose from seven colors to suit your space.

Create A Parking Spot For Every Wandering Cleaning Tool

Brooms, mops, dusters, rakes, and pretty much all cleaning supplies have a way of taking over your garage. This heavy-duty organizer creates one designated spot, with five secure gripping slots and six additional hooks for dustpans and rags. The rubber-padded holders grip handles tightly, so you won't have to worry about tools slipping down or creating a pileup every time you open the closet door.

Maintain Neat Stacks With Closet Shelf Dividers

You know that perfectly folded stack of sweaters or towels that somehow collapses the second you remove one item? These shelf dividers help put an end to that cycle. They clip directly onto existing shelves to create clear sections, making it easier to keep clothing, linens, handbags, and other essentials neatly separated. Because they're made from clear acrylic, they add organization without making shelves look crowded or bulky. Installation takes seconds — no tools, screws, or complicated instructions required.

]]><![CDATA[“I’m Dreading Taking My Kids To Disney World” & 57 Other Mom Confessions]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/dreading-taking-my-kids-to-disney-world-mom-confessionshttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/dreading-taking-my-kids-to-disney-world-mom-confessionsMon, 22 Jun 2026 19:01:36 GMT
Getty Images; Scary Mommy

If every mom on earth were in one gigantic group chat, this week’s confessions would be blowing up your notifications.

Some moms are deep in the “summer scaries,” wondering how the hell they’re supposed to keep their kids entertained and counting down the days to camp dropoff. Others admit they’re one bad swipe away from swearing off dating apps for good.

Whether it’s questioning major life decisions or simply white-knuckling it to Friday, moms always have something rattling around in their minds. And while that running ticker tape of thoughts doesn’t always make it out loud, it’s a part of motherhood most of us can relate to all too well.

So, consider this your reminder that whatever’s bouncing around in your brain, you’re not alone in thinking it. From doubt and burnout to the occasional spiral, here are 58 totally anonymous, unfiltered, and brutally honest mom confessions.

Scary Mommy Confessions are a tried-and-true part of what makes our site so fun. If you want to anonymously confess, look for our weekly callouts on Instagram. And to browse past Confessions, take a look here

]]><![CDATA[Moms On Reddit Say They Miss The “Real Vacations” They Took Before Kids]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/moms-reddit-miss-vacations-before-kidshttps://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/moms-reddit-miss-vacations-before-kidsMon, 22 Jun 2026 18:00:25 GMT
Fly View Productions/E+/Getty Images

It’s summertime, and the living’s anything but easy for us moms. School is out but work is definitely not, so you’re shuttling your kids between overpriced half-days at camp while trying to get home in time for a conference call. And because it’s the season of beach trips and theme park visits, you’re probably also in the thick of planning a vacation or freshly back from one. But any parent will tell you that a vacation with kids is hardly a vacay at all — it’s just regular parenting with more sand and palm trees. Right now, moms are flocking to Reddit to share the same sentiment... and how much they miss a chance to truly relax and recharge.

On r/Mommit, multiple users have posted in the last 24 hours alone about the challenges of vacationing with kids.

“I miss real vacations,” writes one poster. “I think every mom who vacationed before kids and after kids knows what I’m talking about lol. I miss real, relaxing, rejuvenating vacations. Where I got to lounge around on the beach and have someone bring me drinks and food while I did absolutely nothing. Sleep in. Get out of bed when I wanted. Stay in bed all day if I wanted.”

The user makes a distinction that a lot of parents do, saying they no longer take vacations but “trips” — “where we go to beautiful destinations and do the same shit we do at home.” For context, she says she and her husband have one child who is 2.5 years old.

Another Redditor is in the same boat, with a child the same age, calling their recent beach trip the “vacation from hell.”

“Nothing about it has been relaxing or went as planned. He has been fighting and protesting against EVERYTHING,” they wrote. “So we thought OK, we're gonna chill at the beach and sometimes let him decide what we do. He would choose something and then scream that he doesn't want to do it, as soon as we start to lol. Now I realize we put way too much pressure on a 2-year-old by having him make decisions. I feel like a useless parent.”

Often, you’ll hear the suggestion to bring the grandparents along on the trip in order to get a little time away from the kids. But one mom shared an “aha” moment from her summer vacation with family this year: traveling with family actually made the trips even more stressful because her mother kept reminding her that other people have had it worse. Their most recent vacay was a group of nine adults, two teens, and one rambunctious toddler.

“We’ve had a few family vacations this summer already, and I feel like each of them has been insanely stressful. Yet my mom would remind me ‘we used to do this with (her sister and brother-in-law and their 2 kids) with 4 kids’ in an attempt to basically shut down that they had it harder,” she wrote. “The difference is that their ‘difficult’ vacations were all hands on deck; no one was able to enjoy their vacation because everyone was in the same boat. It was man-on-man defense. This time around, it’s very much the majority enjoying their vacation and occasionally helping with our toddler while my husband and I fight for our lives.”

The comments make it clear that pretty much every parent feels this way when their kids are young, while sharing their best tips for navigating it:

  • Vacations with young kids are a scam. You’re just doing the same shit somewhere else, and it’s even worse because the kid is overstimulated and off their routine. Their sleep schedule is out of whack, their eating is out of whack. Not much about it is fun except the small windows of time they are happy and distracted. Day trips were way more fun than full-on going somewhere for a few days.”
  • “When our kids were younger, cruises with included kids’ club was a lifesaver! Our kids love going to the club, and we got time to actually relax.”
  • “Do you have any friends you could go on a girls’ trip with? Or maybe even a little solo getaway. Doesn't need to be long or even far, just a night or two off in a hotel alone!”
  • “I highly recommend a nice tropical resort with childcare (e.g., Beaches, Club Med, etc). Being able to leave the kids for a few hours while you work out, nap, waterski, snorkel, etc., is wonderful. I was never a resort person until having kids, and when they are older we probably won't do resorts anymore, but as babies and toddlers they have been a vacation-saver.”
  • “I totally relate. I changed my mindset of vacations right now are for them (memories) and, while definitely exhausting for me, are still worth it. We'll get back vacations for us someday!”
  • “My husband and I vacation separately for exactly this reason, and it works great for us. One of us stays home with the kids while the other travels, and we take turns doing this. Way cheaper and easier than vacationing with kids. And we actually come home rested.”

(Here at Scary Mommy, we love the 30 on/30 off method, where each parent takes over kid duty in half-hour intervals so the other can read, sunbathe, or do something for themselves.)

Parents of older kids also promised these posters that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Wrote one, “Hang in there! Vacations become a lot more fun when they’re older. You’re doing a great job.”

So yes, even with older kids, you’ll still have to pack all the things and probably organize their entertainment for the plane or car. But when you arrive, maybe — just maybe — they’ll entertain themselves for some chunks of time, and you can get a few chapters into that beach read you’ve been eager to start.

]]><![CDATA[Jill Smokler, Founder Of Scary Mommy, Has Died]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/jill-smokler-tributehttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/jill-smokler-tributeMon, 22 Jun 2026 16:57:37 GMT
Photo shared with permission from Jill's family

“Here goes. Day One.”

Those were the first four words Jill Smokler ever published on Scary Mommy. It was March 21, 2008, and she had no way of knowing that this little corner of the internet would become a home for millions of mothers. Those four words changed her life, and so many of ours.

It is with great sadness that we report Jill — the original scary mommy — passed away on June 22, 2026, at 48 years old, after a more than two-year fight with glioblastoma.

When Jill started Scary Mommy, she was a stay-at-home mom with three kids, using the space to write about motherhood in a way no one else was at the time: honestly. Back when “mommy blogs” were just a novelty, she shared both the joys and the pitfalls of parenting. She said the things we weren’t supposed to say out loud, and because she said them first, millions of women finally felt allowed to say them too.

Before Jill, too many of us mothered in a vacuum: alone, unsure, and more than a little pissed off. She built a place where that no longer had to be true. Here, laughter, self-deprecation, and unwavering truth-telling are the norm. And that’s because of Jill’s vision for a place where moms could feel validated and seen.

“Jill spent her life telling the truth about motherhood — that it could be wonderful and impossible in the very same breath — and in doing so, she gave millions of women permission to stop pretending and feel a little less alone,” her family shared in a statement following her passing. “She was funny, fearless, generous, and entirely herself. More than anything she built, Jill was proudest of her three children, Lily, Ben, and Evan. We are heartbroken to lose her, and endlessly proud of the mark she left on the world.”

Photo shared with permission from Jill's family

In addition to founding Scary Mommy, Jill was a New York Times bestselling author and a familiar face on programs like Good Morning America and Today.

Nearly two decades later, the community she built is still thriving, and that’s a huge testament to the woman who started it all. If Scary Mommy ever made you feel it was OK to admit motherhood was hard or simply feel like you were part of a community... that was Jill. She was the blueprint.

In lieu of flowers, Jill’s family has asked that donations in her memory be made to The Brain Tumor Network.

Thank you, Jill, for everything. May you rest in peace.

]]><![CDATA[I Think My Husband Is Cheating. Now What?]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/i-think-my-husband-is-cheating-now-whathttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/i-think-my-husband-is-cheating-now-whatMon, 22 Jun 2026 13:34:41 GMT
Emma Chao/Scary Mommy; Kive AI

Welcome to Ask A MWLTF (Yes, that’s Mother Who Likes to F*ck.), a monthly anonymous advice column from Scary Mommy. Here we’ll dissect all your burning questions about motherhood, sex, romance, intimacy, and friendship with the help of our columnist, Penelope, a writer and mental health practitioner in training. She’ll dish out her most sound advice for parents on the delicate dance of raising kids without sacrificing other important relationships. Email her at askpenelope@scarymommy.com.

My 6-year-old was digging through my husband’s suitcase after he got home from a work trip, looking for souvenirs, and he pulled out a bottle of pills I didn’t recognize. Later, after Googling them, I realized they were “sexy time” pills. Now I can’t stop spiraling.

My husband and I haven’t had much of a sex life lately, and he definitely wasn’t using them with me before he left. Part of me thinks I’m being paranoid, but another part of me feels like people don’t pack erectile dysfunction medication for innocent reasons. Do I confront him? Wait and see? Am I naïve?

There’s something especially brutal about discovering a possible threat to your marriage in the middle of ordinary family life. Not through some glamorous affair reveal, but while your 6-year-old is happily tossing dirty laundry onto the bedroom floor looking for a keychain from the airport gift shop.

That’s the part that really lands for me here. The collision of domestic innocence and adult secrecy. One minute you’re unpacking snacks and chargers and tiny hotel shampoos, and the next your entire marriage feels briefly rearranged around a bottle of pills.

And yes, let’s be honest, most people would spiral. The internet loves to pretend there are only two possible responses to moments like this — either “trust your gut!” or “you’re crazy and insecure!” — but the reality is that long-term relationships are built inside ambiguity. A strange discovery like this drops directly into whatever vulnerabilities already exist between you. And you’ve already named one: The two of you haven’t had much of a sex life lately.

That matters. Because when sex has gone quiet in a marriage, anything connected to desire starts carrying extra emotional voltage. The pills don’t just raise questions about fidelity. They raise questions about longing, rejection, aging, secrecy, and the terrifying possibility that your partner might still have an erotic self — you’re just no longer included in it.

Of course your mind went where it did.

But I’d caution you against turning this into an investigation before it becomes a conversation. One of the most corrosive things that can happen in long relationships is that anxiety quietly transforms us from partners into detectives. You find one thing, and suddenly your nervous system starts building an emotional crime scene around it. You start looking backward, reinterpreting old moments, noticing gaps, collecting evidence. The marriage itself becomes secondary to the search for certainty.

And certainty is seductive because it promises relief. If you can just figure out what the pills mean, then maybe you can stop feeling crazy. But relationships are rarely that clean. The pills may mean exactly what you fear. People absolutely cheat on work trips. But they may also mean something less dramatic and more private — anxiety about aging, performance, masculinity, or sexuality that your husband hasn’t known how to talk about openly.

That doesn’t make the secrecy insignificant. It just means secrecy and betrayal are not always identical things.

I also think there’s something poignant here about the timing of the discovery happening through your child. Parenthood has a way of flattening adult erotic life into the background. Kids become the center of the household, the organizing principle around which everything else revolves. Then suddenly, through this almost absurd domestic moment, you’re reminded that your husband exists separately from fatherhood. As a sexual person. A private person. And whether or not he’s done anything wrong, that realization can feel strangely destabilizing.

So no, I wouldn’t wait to see whether the pills “get used.” I wouldn’t monitor him or search for more evidence or enlist your 6-year-old in an accidental espionage operation. Once a relationship slips fully into surveillance mode, something intimate starts to erode, regardless of what’s ultimately true.

I would talk to him. Calmly if possible, imperfectly if necessary. Not as a prosecutor presenting evidence, but as someone saying: “Finding these brought up a lot for me, especially because we haven’t felt very connected lately. I need to understand what’s going on.”

The hardest part of long relationships is that the people we love remain partially unknowable to us. Sometimes that mystery feels erotic. Sometimes it feels terrifying.

Usually it feels like both.

]]><![CDATA[60 Weird Things You Didn't Know About That Make Life Way Less Stressful]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/weird-things-you-didnt-know-about-that-make-life-way-less-stressfulhttps://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/weird-things-you-didnt-know-about-that-make-life-way-less-stressfulSat, 20 Jun 2026 18:31:39 GMT

Life is stressful enough without fighting your junk drawer, untangling charging cables, or losing things underneath the furniture. But don’t worry, the solutions to those problems and many more don’t have to be an entire life overhaul. Sometimes it’s the smallest things — ways to freshen up your makeup or skin care on the go, or hacks to make yourself more comfortable literally anywhere — that pack the biggest punch. Here are our favorite weird things you didn’t know about that make everyday stressors a thing of the past.

A Toilet Brush That Hides Behind The Tank For A Neater Bathroom Look

While toilet brushes are totally necessary, they’re also a bit of an eyesore in the bathroom. That’s what makes this brush brilliant. It hides behind the toilet tank, taking up barely any room so it’s ready to use when you need it, but practically invisible to you and guests when you don’t.

Portable Blackout Curtains For An Ideal Sleep Environment Anywhere

These blackout curtains use hook-and-loop tape to secure to any window anywhere so you can bring your ideal sleep environment with you, whether you’re at a friend’s or at a hotel. They darken any room in seconds and the tape comes off easily without leaving any sticky residue behind.

A Spacious Medicine Organizer That Makes It Easy To Find Everything

The only thing worse than not feeling well is not feeling well and not being able to find the medicine you need. That’s where this roomy yet portable organizer comes in. It has a three-tier design that fits everything from pills to Band-Aids to creams of all types. Plus, the top two tiers are clear so you can see what’s inside and grab it quickly.

Stackable Organizers That Transform Your Closets

These stackable organizers are such an easy and budget-friendly way to transform any closet, making it neater, tidier, and way more manageable in seconds. Use them in your closet for sweatshirts, in the linen closet for sheets and towels, and in the pantry for extra snacks. Plus when they’re stacked, they can pull out like drawers for easy access.

Protective Washing Machine Bags To Keep Your Shoes Looking New

Did you know you can clean most sneakers in the washing machine? Well, if you didn’t, these specially designed bags are here to show you the light. They’re made with fluffy microfiber that helps clean your shoes 360 degrees around, so when they’re done, they’re as shiny as the day you got them.

Microfiber Cleaning Cloths That You Can Toss In The Washing Machine

Save money and the planet when you swap out paper towels for these reusable microfiber cloths. They come on a roll just like paper towels, and they detach as you need them. Use them to clean, dust, dry, scrub, or wipe up and then toss them in the washing machine to use them again.

On-The-Go Toothbrushes Preloaded With Toothpaste

Keep your teeth clean and your mouth fresh whether you’re at home, at work, or even boarding a flight with these three-in-one flossers. Not only does each one have a standard flosser, it also features a tiny brush with toothpaste-coated bristles. When you’re done brushing, remove the the brush head to reveal a pick for prying out any tricky buildup.

An Electric Spin Scrubber With An Extra-Long Handle

This electric spin scrubber makes cleaning so much easier and way less stressful. It has an extra-long, adjustable handle so you don’t have to get down and dirty to get your floors clean. It even comes with eight different head attachments designed to clean everything from floors to your toilet to your stainless steel appliances.

An Egg Peeler That Removes The Shell In Seconds

If you love a hard- or soft-boiled egg but hate the tedious process of removing the shell, check out this egg peeler. Designed with ease in mind, the peeler creates a crack in the shell and slips underneath it to separate it from the egg so you’re ready to eat in seconds. On the opposite end, there’s a ridged paddle perfect for creating even slices once it’s all peeled.

A Mug Warmer So Your Morning Brew Is Always The Perfect Temperature

If you want to keep your morning caffeine kick perfectly warm no matter how long it takes you to drink it (who doesn’t?), this mug warmer is for you. It has four temperature settings, keeping your mug and everything in it anywhere from 131 to 176 degrees Fahnrenheit — warm but still drinkable. It even had timer options. It even comes with a programmable auto-shutoff feature, too.

A Fabric Defuzzer To Make Clothes Look Good As New

Stop stressing about having to replace fuzzy, pilling sweaters every season and grab one of these fabric shavers instead. The honeycomb mesh surface has three settings depending on the type of fabric, allowing you to tackle anything from cotton to wool to synthetics. It even works on your furniture, too.

A Sturdy Greeting Card Organizer With Tabs For Effortless Sorting

Eliminate the stress of running to the store the morning of an event to grab a card with this organizer box, which lets you store tons of spare stationery. It has pre-labeled sections for everything from holidays to birthdays to welcoming a new baby, so you can grab exactly what you need with plenty of time to write a nice message inside.

Compressed Cotton Sheets That Expand To The Size Of A Hand Towel

Even though these compressed towels are the size of a quarter, all you have to do is add water and they expand to an 8.7-inch-by-8.7-inch square. These cotton sheets are perfect for washing your face or body while you’re camping, picnicking, at the office, at the airport — you name it.

A Stick-On Laptop Pouch To Easily Hold Accessories

This adhesive silicone sleeve attachment secures to the top of your laptop, giving you three pockets to hold your phone, chargers, and other accessories. This way, your hands aren’t totally full while you’re walking around. It’s ultra slim and lightweight, and made with a tear-resistant fabric that’s durable and chic.

Reusable Lint Rollers That Refresh Fabrics At Home & On The Go

These reusable lint rollers are the easiest way to refresh your clothing and furniture, so you can strut on the scene rather than hide behind a pet fur-covered shirt. The best part is that these rollers are reusable; simply rinse them off with water and wait for them to dry. Once they’re sticky again, they’re ready to go.

Silicone Cable Protectors That Prevent The Ends From Breaking

These silicone cable protectors wrap around the ends of your chargers and wires, preventing cords from breaking and fraying to help extend the life of your devices. They come in a bunch of colors so they can also be used to easily identify different wires. And thanks to the flexible design, they won’t prevent your cords from bending and flexing as needed.

A Retractable Clothesline To Easily Hang Clothes To Dry

This retractable clothesline is a perfect addition to your space if you’re always hang drying clothes on your shower curtain rod or over the back of a chair. You can install it anywhere convenient since it extends to 15.1 feet in length. Just pull it out when you need it and then watch it retract back into the base when you don’t.

A Foldable Sink Cover That Adds Counter Space While You’re Getting Ready

You’ll never believe how useful this folding sink topper is. Not only does it cover your sink to expand your workspace while you’re getting ready, but the holes in the design mean it can double as a scrub-top cleaner for all your makeup brushes. (We love a two-in-one tool.) The best part? It won’t obstruct the faucet.

Bed Sheet Organizers That Completely Transform Your Linen Collection

If making the bed is a chore you totally dread because your linen closet is a mess of balled-up sheets, these organizers are going to totally change your life. Each one can hold a full sheet set, but the best part is the label area. This way, you can denote the size of the sheets inside so you always know which one to reach for.

A Book-Shaped Cable Management Box To Hide Tangled Wires

Clutter can be such a stress inducer around the house, so hide your mess in style with this cable management box that looks like a gorgeous stack of coffee table books. You can place it on a bookshelf, on your entertainment center, or on a side table, hiding your power strips and extension cords so they’re still useful but out of sight and out of mind.

An Electric Jar Opener That Makes Quick Work Of Tough Lids

If opening the jar is the hardest part about making yourself a snack, this electric jar opener makes it a total breeze. Simply secure it on top of the jar, press the button, and let the high-torque action open pressure-sealed jar lids in seconds. It fits a range of lid sizes up to 3.5 inches wide.

Meat Claws That Easily Shred Chicken & Pull Pork

Do not sleep on these meat claws — they make shredding chicken, pulling pork, and lifting hot items right off the grill so much easier than doing it with forks. They’re heat resistant and boast nonslip grips, so they do the hard work for you while elevating your fingers away from high temperatures.

A Steam-Cleaner Gadget That Makes Your Microwave Shine Again

Scrubbing your microwave is such a drag, but this steam cleaner does the job for you so all you have to do is wipe it down and your microwave is sparkling. Simply fill the body of this little figurine with vinegar and water, then run the microwave for five minutes. When it’s done, all the gook can be easily wiped away.

A Portable Lock Box To Protect Your Valuables Anywhere

This portable lock box securely stores your valuables so you don’t have to stress about leaving them out of sight for a few minutes. Whether you’re running around a track and don’t want to hold your phone, attending a baseball game and have to run to the bathroom, or camping and want to go on a digital-free hike, this lock box is so easy to use. Simply set a code of your choosing and secure the steel cable in place around something stable.

Banana-Shaped Shoe Deodorizers To Keep Kicks Fresh

These banana-shaped deodorizers fit so perfectly inside your shoes, keeping them smelling amazing after working, hiking, or hitting the gym. They’re filled with baking soda and charcoal to absorb and neutralize odors for up to 12 months with proper care. And shoppers are obsessed — they’ve earned an impressive 4.6-star overall rating from more than 5,000 reviewers.

Shockingly Powerful Glue You Can Mold With Your Hands

Don’t be fooled by how compact and unassuming this moldable glue is, because it really packs a punch when it comes to fixing all those annoying little irritants around the house. Use it for everything from hanging up a frame to fixing that cracked planter. The flexible silicone rubber fixes, seals, reinforces, and mounts with no additional tools — just smooth and press it into place where you want it.

Rubber Band Cutters To Remove Elastic Hair Ties Without Breakage

If you’re tired of snagging and breaking your hair every time you remove an elastic hair tie, start using these picks instead. The smooth pick glides seamlessly into your hair underneath the elastic, then lifts and cuts the band so you can remove it without tangling, breaking, or pain. Each order even comes with 50 clear elastics.

A Ceiling Fan Duster That Cleans Both Sides Of The Blade At Once

This microfiber ceiling fan duster has a donut shape that allows it to clean both sides of the fan blade at once, slicing the time it takes to clean in half. Plus, the handle is expandable so you don’t have to get on a ladder or balance on your bed to get your space clean. Deep cleaning is officially easier than ever.

Portable Soap Sheets That Lather Up With Just Water

If dirty hands in public places makes you stressed, these portable soap sheets are here to help. All you have to do is add water and the paper-like sheet lathers up nicely to get your hands clean fast. They’re a must-bring whether you’re at the airport, camping, hiking, or simply in a public place without reliable access to soap.

A Car Seat Organizer With Spots For Your Phone, Keys, & Other Essentials

This car seat organizer secures to the passenger’s seat, giving you three different pockets to store all your essentials so you know where they are and you can easily access them. It secures in place with two elastic bands and features both mesh and zipped compartments to store a range of items. No more worrying about your belongings falling under the seat while you’re driving.

A Wall Cleaner With An Extendable Handle For Maximum Comfort

I feel like I’m constantly learning about new things I need to start cleaning — like walls. But luckily, this cleaning brush has an extendable handle and a microfiber cleaning pad that makes the process so much easier. It even has a pointed tip and a rotating head so it can fit neatly into corners.

Multi-Blade Steel Scissors That Chop Herbs With Ease

If you get stressed by the time that it takes to chop up herbs, these scissors are going to change your life. They have five long stainless steel blades that help you expertly slice all kinds of herbs into even portions without the need for tedious chopping. They even come with a helpful tool for cleaning out the blades when you’re done, too.

An Aluminum Tray That Helps Meat & Fish Defrost Way Faster

If you’ve ever kicked yourself for forgetting to remove meat from the freezer in time, don’t fret, because this aluminum tray helps meat and fish defrost way faster so you can get on with cooking. It works because aluminum is a highly conductive metal. It even has wide draining channels throughout to allow for more air circulation and even faster thawing.

A Handheld Sealer That Closes Bags To Keep Food Fresher Longer

Turn any bag into a resealable one with this handheld bag sealer shaped like a hair straightener. Simply run it along the edge of the bag to close it up and keep the food inside fresher for longer. It even comes with a helpful storage case to keep it protected in between uses.

A Hair Catcher For Your Shower That Keeps Your Drains Clear

If you hate snaking your drain and live with inches of pooled water every time you shower, this hair catcher was designed to make your life so much easier. Mount it to the wall of your shower and use it to collect any stray hair that accumulates in your hands while you’re showering. When you’re done, you can throw the hair out instead of letting your pipes get clogged with it.

A Travel Cable Organizer To Keep Your Chargers In 1 Place

Pulling tangles of cords out of your bag while you’re looking for your headphones is both stressful and annoying, but this pouch eliminates that confusion completely. It has four sides with multiple small and large mesh pouches to store chargers, headphones, power banks, and so much more. It’s the perfect bag within a bag for travel.

A Travel Pillow With A Built-In Hood For A Snooze On The Go

Finally, a travel pillow that will have you actually getting a good night’s sleep on your next long-haul flight. Not only does the pillow itself wrap like a snake around your neck to support the most comfortable angles, but it has a built-in hood that helps block light so you can truly snooze in peace.

An Avocado Peeler, Slicer, & Pitter All In 1

If you love a classic avocado toast but hate the task of peeling, slicing, and pitting the avocado, this all-in-one tool was designed just for you. The knife on one side cuts the avocado in half, the claw-like mouth in the center removes the seed, and the multi-prong slicer helps you get six even slices for the perfect snack. And yep, it’s dishwasher safe, too.

Mesh Guardrails To Prevent Things From Getting Stuck Under Furniture

Whether it’s your dog’s toys, kids’ toys, or your own stuff, it’s such a bummer when something gets lost under the couch and is so hard to get out. That’s where these blockers come in. They stand upright against the bottom of your couch, preventing things from rolling or getting kicked underneath in the first place.

A Face Roller That Absorbs Oil To Refresh Your Skin Anywhere

Whether you’re at work or hanging out with friends, keep your skin looking as good the moment you stepped out of the house with this facial roller. Made with volcanic stone, the roller expertly absorbs oil without messing up your makeup. The result? A mattified, shine-free look in an instant.

Sheet Labels That Identify The Corners So The Bed Is Easier To Make

These labels snap directly onto the edge of your sheets to not only tell you what size the sheet set is (they’re color coded), but to also point out the bottom right corner of the sheet. This way, you can easily identify what part goes where, so that making the bed is a simple process with no more guesswork.

Hook & Loop Cable Straps To Keep Wires Neat & Tidy

Nothing brings more stress to an otherwise tidy environment than rogue cables hanging all over the place. That’s where these hook-and-loop straps come in. They adhere to any surface — the underside of your desk, the back of your entertainment center, the side of your nightstand — to hold cables flush against the furniture so they’re not cluttering up your space. Just stick them in place with the included adhesive.

A Shirt-Folding Board That Makes Doing Laundry Faster & Drawers Neater

This board takes so much stress out of folding laundry because it helps you create a perfectly folded shirt in seconds. Not only that, but because you’re following the guide and moving the panels accordingly, all your clothes are folded the same exact way. This way, your drawers and closets look extra neat and tidy.

A Handheld Pet Hair Removal Tool That Works On Tons Of Surfaces

Get embedded fur out of your home and car so it looks and feels cleaner than ever with this pet hair remover tool. The triangular shape has claw-like edges that remove hair effortlessly, so you can say goodbye to the trapped fur that’s been living rent-free on your to-do list forever. Plus, the hollowed-out center makes it so comfortable to grip.

A Backpack Laundry Bag With An Outer Pocket For Detergent

Whether you’re trekking to the laundromat, the basement of your building, or the washing machine down the hall, being able to carry all your dirty clothes in a backpack makes the haul so much less stressful. This one has really sturdy straps, a drawstring closure, and an outer pocket to hold your detergents and other cleaning essentials.

Foldable Purse Hooks That Keep Your Bags Off The Floor

It’s so frustrating when you sit a restaurant or bar and there’s no place to put your purse or jacket. And if you don’t want to hold your things on your lap or risk them on the floor, these portable hooks can help. Each one sits on the edge of any surface and feature a J-shaped hook that hangs down below, giving you the perfect spot to hold your bag or jacket so it’s safe and clean.

A Handheld Stitch Gun To Temporarily Tailor Clothes At Home

This handheld stitch gun does so much. It can hem denim, secure buttons, adjust necklines, and so much more — all from the comfort of your own home. It works almost like a staple gun on most soft fabrics like wool, linen, denim, and polyester. And it can be used to make your clothes look tailored without paying big bucks for it.

Clear Pimple Patches That Help Fade Acne Fast

Take the stress out of skin care with these invisible pimple patches. Made from absorbent hydrocolloid, they help to wick away moisture inside blemishes to start flattening them literally overnight. No joke, they’re designed to help reduce the look of zits in just six hours.

A Car Handbag Holder That Keeps Your Purse From Falling & Spilling

Keep your handbag from rolling just out of reach when you’re driving with this brilliant pouch. It secures between the driver’s and passenger’s seats, giving you a go-to spot to store your bag so it’s always easily accessible. An added bonus? You won’t have to worry about things falling out while you’re zooming around town, either.

A Rake That Removes Pet Hair From Carpets Quickly & Easily

What makes this carpet rake purely brilliant is that it has a 60-inch adjustable handle so you can deep clean hair and gunk out of your carpet without straining your back in the process. The fur-removing tines are specifically designed to get any evidence of your furry friend out of your rugs and furniture. Plus, reviewers noted it works well on both thick and thin carpeting.

A Portable Steamer To Remove Wrinkles No Matter Where You Are

Pulling your favorite shirt out of the closet and realizing it’s covered in wrinkles can be such a stress inducer — but not when you have this handheld steamer. It’s ready to go in seconds and can be used for up to 15 minutes continually before it needs to be refilled. And it’s so lightweight, you can easily travel with it, too.

A Slatted Cleaning Tool Designed To Dust Each Side Of Your Blinds

If dusting the blinds is one of those to-do tasks that you’ve been dreading, make it so much easier with this cleaning tool set. Designed specifically to clean both sides of your blinds in one fell swoop, the tools are covered in soft microfiber to quickly attract dust in grime. Choose between three-slat and seven-slat options depending on what you’re cleaning that day.

An Over-The-Sink Cutting Board With A Built-In Strainer

This is the kind of kitchen invention that makes meal prep so much easier. This cutting board is designed to sit over your kitchen sink, making it basically effortless to toss garbage into the disposal. At the top, it has a built-in strainer so you can rinse everything you’ve cut without breaking out another utensil.

A Portable Door Lock For Added Security & Peace Of Mind

Give yourself some extra peace of mind when you’re traveling and bring this portable door lock with you. It works on virtually any door to add another layer of protection if you’re staying at a hotel or an Airbnb — just hook the metal edge over the door strike and add the red barrier into place once the door is closed. You can even add it to your nightly routine at home if you want to stress less about your safety.

Rechargeable Hand Warmers To Stay Comfortable No Matter The Temp

Rechargeable hand warmers are the kind of small thing you’ll wonder how you went so many long and cold days without. They get up to 123 degrees Fahrenheit with three different temperature settings to keep your hands and fingers warm for up to five hours at a time. And in warmer weather, they’re still great for cool places like AC-blasted offices and more.

A Corn Stripper & Peeler For A Side Dish Without The Hassle

If you love corn but hate the process of getting it ready, this stripper and peeler tool was made with you in mind. It removes corn from the cob in one rotating, pushing motion that takes just 10 seconds, giving you corn that’s ready to cook or eat. It even has a safety handle to keep your hands and fingers away from the sharp stainless steel blade.

Car Emergency Escape Tools With Belt Cutters & Window Breakers

Keeping an emergency escape tool easily accessible in the car is an absolute necessity when it comes to giving you peace of mind while you’re driving. These have a stainless steel hammer that can break a window as well as a protected blade that can cut through a seat belt so you can escape in an emergency. And since they’ve earned an impressive 4.7-star overall rating from more than 33,000 shoppers, they’re trustworthy, too.

A Wrinkle-Removing Spray For Clothes That Look Pressed & Polished

This spray removes wrinkles and odors from clothes instantly without requiring an iron or ironing board. Simply hang or lay the garment, spray it from 8 inches away, stretch it to pull out the wrinkles, and hang it to dry. Your clothes will be ready to wear in no time and they’ll look better than ever.

Toilet Seat Covers So You Can Feel Sanitary When You Go On The Go

If you have to go on the go, these disposable toilet seat covers are such an easy way to keep yourself feeling clean and sanitary. They’re individually packaged and easy to carry, plus they can be flushed down the toilet for ultra-easy disposal. They’re a must-have for traveling without the stress.

An Easy-To-Store Water Bottle That Collapses Flat When It’s Empty

If you always carry around a water bottle but hate the amount of space it takes up in your purse, check out this collapsible bottle. It folds down to just a few inches tall so when it’s empty, you’ll barely remember it’s in your bag. But when you’re ready to drink, you can open it up, fill it up, and it’s ready for you. Plus the lid is totally leakproof to keep your purse dry.

]]><![CDATA[95 Bougie Things Under $25 You'll Get A Sh*t Ton Of Use Out Of]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/bougie-things-under-25-youll-get-a-sht-ton-of-use-out-ofhttps://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/bougie-things-under-25-youll-get-a-sht-ton-of-use-out-ofThu, 18 Jun 2026 23:13:22 GMT

If you love all things bougie but don’t want to splurge, you’re in for a treat. This list is packed with surprisingly luxe products that you’ll use every day — and they start at just $7. From pro-level kitchen tools and genius tech accessories to beauty upgrades and home essentials, these elevated finds look way more expensive than they are and still pack a practical punch.

A Collapsible Laundry Basket You Can Hang On The Wall

This collapsible hamper is engineered for efficiency in small spaces. It mounts to your wall or door with an adhesive hook, then folds down to about 4 inches when you want your space back. Made from sturdy BPA-free plastic with a reinforced rim, it’s made to hold its shape and the built-in ventilation holes help keep things fresh. Plus, the handles make it easy to grab and go when it’s laundry day.

A Stone Faucet Mat That Sucks Up Water & Dries Fast

Not only does this faucet mat look positively bougie but it’s also functional. It’s made from diatomite stone that will suck up water drips and drops, preventing liquid from pooling on the surface (and causing damage). It dries fast, and there are raised silicone pads on the bottom to stop it from sliding.

A Compact Wallet That Is Surprisingly Spacious

This faux leather wallet is incredibly slim, and yet, it has eight RFID-blocking card slots, a clear ID window, a cash compartment, and even a zippered coin section. This floral pattern is totally adorable, though other prints and solids are up for grabs in the listing.

Pretty Waffle-Weave Kitchen Towels That Are So Absorbent

Not only are these kitchen towels super pretty to look at, but they’re also highly absorbent, holding up to five times their weight in liquids — they’re great for drying dishes, cleaning up spills, and more. Each one has a waffle-weave design and is made from recycled plastic bottles.

A Mattress Lifter Tool For Easier Bed Making

Make your bed without hardly lifting a finger when you get this genius mattress lifter tool. The brilliant paddle shape and heavy-duty wood construction make it so easy to glide along fabric, providing space for effortlessly tucking in sheets. Store it in your linen closet to keep it handy.

An Extra Plush Bath Mat That’s Secretly Inexpensive

This plush bath mat is made from high-pile microfiber that feels extra-soft to the touch. It’s also ultra-absorbent and quick-drying, making it a bathroom linen that will elevate your daily routine. Plus, you can count on stepping onto a secure surface since it has a nonslip rubber backing.

A Mixed Botanical Bouquet For Aromatic Showers

This is how you turn your shower into a full-on spa moment for cheap. This preserved botanical bundle includes multiple types of eucalyptus, dried lavender, and even lemon slices for a fresh, layered scent that activates with steam. No watering, no upkeep — just hang it up and let the aroma do its thing.

A Premium Stovetop Cover That’s So Versatile

This premium stovetop cover is so versatile that you’ll find yourself using it every day. It’s made from thick, heat-resistant silicone with a textured surface, making it ideal for protecting glass stovetop surfaces and for using as a trivet or a dish-drying rack. Choose from a selection of colors and sizes to match your space.

A Stainless Steel Strainer Bowl For Rice, Produce, & More

When you’re prepping grains or produce, this strainer bowl handles the messy part for you. The evenly spaced side holes drain water efficiently, and the sloped bottom helps guide liquid out without your food going with it. It’s made from durable, food-grade stainless steel, and it’s dishwasher safe and versatile enough to use for everything from beans to berries.

A Caffeine Eye Stick To Brighten & Smooth

Formulated with vegan ingredients like caffeine and retinol, this eye stick can brighten, smooth, and eliminate dark circles and puffiness. It swipes right on and promises results in as few as four weeks.

A Clear-View Pill Dispenser With Compartments For Easy Organization

This pill dispenser makes keeping up with your medications feel effortless. The seven-compartment layout keeps everything separated and visible, while the airtight snap lid prevents mixing during travel. At just under 4 inches wide, it fits easily into your bag, and the wide-opening design makes refilling simple.

Zippered Bedsheet Organizers To Get Your Linen Closet In Check

Get your linen closet in check with these bedsheet organizers. Each one (four come with) holds an entire sheet set — including the flat and fitted sheet, coordinating pillowcases, and a duvet cover — to keep it corralled. Zip it closed and label it for organization’s sake.

A Microwave Splatter Cover With Built-In Steamer

Reheating leftovers doesn’t have to mean dried-out food and a messy microwave. This 10-inch cover doubles as a splatter guard and steamer: Just add a little water to the reservoir to create moisture while heating. The clear design lets you keep an eye on things, while the reinforced handle makes it easy to lift safely. Plus, it saves you from constant microwave cleanups.

Sand Remover Mitt For Silky-Smooth Skin After The Beach

This reusable sand remover mitt is a must for beach lovers. The soft pouch is filled with a talc-free powder that’s safe for humans and marine life and gently wipes away sand so you can leave the beach with only a tan in tow. It even comes with a waterproof pouch that keeps it clean and dry in between uses.

Hair Clips That Give Your Strands Serious Volume

These hair clips clip in right at the root, giving your strands some serious volume and lift that’ll last all day. It’s the simplest (and heat-free) way to achieve this. The set includes 10 clips, making each one just a buck.

A Heated Eyelash Curler For Long-Lasting Results

This heated eyelash curler is designed to deliver a gentle but long-lasting curl in just a few seconds. The silicone pad helps protect your lashes while curling, and the ergonomic curve design is made to fit your eye comfortably. To charge the device, just plug in the USB-C cable.

A Bougie Car Trash Can With A Genius Lid

The animal print on this upscale car trash can screams bougie. But looks aren’t all there is to love about this practical car accessory. It has a genius lid design with a soft opening for easy access while driving. And it’s entirely waterproof and has so many pockets for storing things like drinks and tissues.

A Daily Probiotic Designed To Help With Tummy Issues

When anything on Amazon racks up 100,000 sales in the last month, it's worth considering. This daily probiotic is an Amazon bestseller for a reason — it packs 60 billion CFUs of bacteria to bolster your digestive system and minimize bloating, gas, indigestion, and constipation. Take a probiotic daily and this 30-count package will last you the entire month. Skeptical still? The 140,000 reviews and counting speak for themselves.

A Fabric Shaver To Restore Clothes, Furniture, & More

Give fabric surfaces around your home — like drapes, furniture, and even clothes — a like-new appearance with this fabric shaver. It easily removes pills, fuzz, and lint with its six stainless steel blades — and yet, it won’t cause any damage.

A Powerful Handheld Vacuum For Cleaning Almost Anywhere

With its lightweight and cordless design, this handheld vacuum can suck up dirt, debris, hair, and crumbs almost anywhere — like in your vehicle, under couch cushions, in your computer keyboard, and more. Three nozzles are included to tackle all of these jobs.

A High-Speed Label Maker That’s Totally Inkless

This mini label maker features a high-quality thermal printer that produces immaculate results without ink. Just charge it with the included USB charger to quickly print labels, choosing from a huge selection of fonts, borders, icons, and even an entire AI graphics gallery. Use it at home, or pop the palm-sized tech find in your bag for on-demand printing wherever you go.

A Well-Designed Travel Makeup Bag That Holds A Ton

It’s no wonder that this makeup bag is a best-seller on the site. It has tons of pockets and compartments (including a zippered one) for all of your essentials. And it opens up flat for easy access but zips shut for traveling.

The Coolest Metallic Markers In Vibrant Hues

Jazz up a boring to-do list (or any other written notes, for that matter) with these metallic markers. The dozen markers cover a range of vibrant hues that are dispensed through the medium-sized tip. They work on surfaces other than paper, like wood, glass, and more.

A Toothbrush Sanitizer Case That Eliminates 99.9% Of Germs

This toothbrush case is perfect for travel, but with an effective sanitizing mode, you’ll find yourself wanting to use it all of the time. Simply place the toothbrush head into the case, then close it to activate the strong UV light that eliminates nearly 100% of germs and bacteria in just five minutes. And it charges fully in just two hours, providing up to 30 uses.

Pretty Tissue Box Tubes For The Car

It doesn’t get much bougier than these tissue box tubes when it comes to car essentials. Not only do they fit perfectly in cup holders, but they also have pretty floral patterns that give them an extra chic look. The affordable set includes four tubes with a 50 tissue count each.

A Magnetic Storage Bin That’s So Practical

This magnetic storage bin is made from ultra-durable metal and has a sleek black finish that’s easy to clean. The large bin is perfect for holding everything from pantry and laundry room essentials, craft room supplies, tools, and so much more. Just stick it to a magnetic surface for effortless installation.

A Glass Olive Oil Dispenser That Pours & Sprays

This olive oil dispenser can pour and spray out your favorite oil, allowing you full control as you cook. The built-in nozzle can spritz out a fine mist or steady stream, and the body of the holder is made from glass with a 16-ounce capacity.

A Tiered Leggings Hanger With Room For 20 Pairs

Give your closet a sleek makeover without overspending when you hit Add to Cart on this tiered hanger with room for 20 pairs of leggings. It has a smooth metal finish and rubber tips that protect clothing from damage, plus a swivel hook for effortless access. Plus, you can use it to organize other accessories, from scarves to bras.

Decorative Travel Storage Cases

Offered as a four-pack, these travel storage cases are ideal for stashing small items, including everything from cotton swabs to hair ties. They’re made from durable plastic and feature translucent lids with a decorative fan design that looks so chic. The silicone border helps keep moisture and dust out, so you can store items with confidence.

A Dry Shampoo For Better Looking & Feeling Hair

This luxe yet affordable dry shampoo absorbs oil, lifts roots, and nourishes, all with one plant-based formula. The corn-starch base is infused with Korean ginseng, lavender extract, and biotin for instantly noticeable and long-lasting results. The soft puff dispenser provides precision application with zero aerosols.

A Chic Rotating Tray For Organizing Makeup & More

Organize everything from makeup to toiletries to coffee bar essentials with this bougie tiered tray. It features green-tinted acrylic construction with chic fluted sides and gold-tone supports that double as handles. And you’ll love the smooth rotating base that provides easy access. Wipe clean to keep this upscale find looking like new.

A Gentle Glass Foot File That Leaves Behind An Ultra-Smooth Finish

If it’s time for a new foot file, this innovative version will feel like a luxurious upgrade. The extra-fine etched glass surface effortlessly and safely buffs away dead skin, leaving your feet feeling baby-soft — and unlike other options, it won’t leave jagged edges, so you’ll get a smoother finish. And it works well both wet and dry, making it the perfect addition to your bathtime routine or just for quick touch-ups.

Deluxe Storage Bins For A Tidier Home

Organize everything from seasonal wardrobes and decor to keepsakes in these deluxe storage bins. They feature a foldable fabric design and transparent zippered covers, helping keep dust out while providing an easy view of items. And since they’re slim, they fit in small spaces, like under beds and on closet shelves. You get four bins in a set.

Tumbler Lid Hooks With A Sleek Look

These tumbler lid organizers will have your kitchen feeling so much tidier — plus, they’ll save you time searching for matching pieces in messy piles. The two sturdy hooks are made from polished stainless steel for an upscale look and superior durability. And installation is easy — just peel and stick for a secure hold.

Colorful Highlighter Pens With Fun Roller-Stamp Patterns

Your journal, study notes, or weekly shopping lists are about to look so much more fun thanks to these curve highlighter pens. Each one has a roller tip that makes a different colorful stamp pattern as well as a fine-tip side for regular writing. You get eight pens in the set.

Motion-Sensing Strip Lights For A Custom Look

Adding custom lighting to your home is a lot less expensive than you might think. Take these affordable light strips as an example; they stick onto nearly any surface (think closet walls and under cabinets) and feature bright LED lights with motion sensors for ultimate convenience. And they’re rechargeable, so there’s no expensive electrical wiring involved.

A Kitchen Mat For Ultimate Comfort

This anti-fatigue mat makes kitchen chores and food prep so much less tiring. It’s made from a high-density material that offers maximum cushion and support for an overall more comfortable feel. And the nonslip backing keeps it securely in place, helping you avoid accidents. The textured surface is wipeable for easy maintenance.

Magnetic Measuring Spoons For Wet & Dry Ingredients

Every measuring spoon you could ever need is included in this high-quality set. Each stainless steel spoon features dual ends for accurately measuring both wet and dry ingredients. And since they’re magnetic, pieces won’t get lost in drawers while stored. The set also includes a leveler for added precision.

A 3-In-1 Apple Charger For Lightning Quick Results

Keeping your tech powered while on the go is easy when you use this mini Apple charger. It has a strong magnetic surface and can charge up to three devices at the same time, lightning quick. And it even has a built-in stand for convenient hands-free use of phones and tablets.

A Car Document Holder With A Shimmery Cover

If your car glove compartment is a mess of papers, this starry sky-inspired document holder is a must-buy. It has a slim design that takes up practically no space at all, but it holds so much. Tuck car registration and proof of insurance documents into the clearview pockets for easy access and viewing.

A Detangling & Defining Hair Brush

Experience detangling in a gentle way when you use this brush that’s effective for all hair types — wet or dry. The innovative design features soft bristles and a hollow paddle for fasting drying without pulling or scratching your scalp. It’s especially useful for those with thick or curly hair to help with definition.

A Portable Filing Box For Important Paperwork

Finally, a home for your paper clutter. This collapsible file organizer bag is made from durable nylon with reinforced stitching, so it holds its shape while still folding flat when not in use. Built-in metal rails let letter-size folders slide easily, and the roomy interior can hold everything from bills to notebooks. Add in the sturdy handles and extra pockets, and suddenly organizing paperwork feels … kind of satisfying.

A Ceramic Diffuser That Releases Essential Oils Without Electricity

If you love essential oils, but hate the hassle of filling up and plugging in an electric diffuser, this ceramic diffuser will be an instant add-to-cart. The ceramic material absorbs and releases scents, and all you have to do is add a few drops to the base. The bird’s nest design gives it a whimsical, charming feel.

A Clear Polish That Instantly Eliminates Smudges

A messed-up mani-pedi is easy to fix with this Instant Smudge Fix polish. Brush on a thin layer of the clear formula to erase dents and nicks in just minutes. The flawless results make it feel like an expensive pro salon find, but it’s actually affordable, especially considering how long each bottle lasts.

A Shower Footrest For Effortless Self-Care

Treat yourself to a spa-like experience with a little help from this upscale shower footrest. It’s got an angled design, nonslip feet, and a textured surface that lifts and keeps feet in place while you shave, exfoliate, or give yourself a pedicure. It also has a built-in storage basket for keeping essentials within reach. It also boasts a near-perfect 4.7-star rating — a clear fan favorite.

An Ice Cube Tray Set That Makes The Best Ice

This bougie ice cube tray set makes “good ice” that you can typically only get at restaurants (aka it’s the only set you’ll ever want to use). Simply fill the BPA-free silicone trays with water, then once frozen, use the lid to push down and easily release the ice directly into the practical storage bin.

A Designer-Look-Alike Tote Available In A Ton Of Colors

This bougie tote looks like a pricy designer, but it has a price tag that will shock you (in the best way possible). The faux leather has a smooth pebbled grain that looks so authentic, while the large main compartment is lined with soft material for protecting your items. The matching tassel charm on the strap adds a chic touch.

A Stain-Resistant Drying Mat For Spotless Surfaces

Keep your countertops spotless by using this versatile drying mat. It’s made from soft and absorbent diatomite and features a waterproof backing for added protection. The dark color helps hide messes, but it's also machine washable for easy deep cleaning. Use it for coffee bars, pet water stations, or as a trivet for warm dishes.

A Moisture-Proof Pill Case That Fits In Your Palm

This pill case is a must for prescription and supplement routines. Just organize them into the secure compartments (there are six small and two large ones) to effortlessly keep track of each. The portable size and moisture-proof silicone ring make it especially perfect for taking on the go. Plus, it comes with handy labels.

A Plush Seat Cushion For Superior Support

Working from home is about to get so much comfier when you snag this plush seat cushion. It’s filled with extra supportive memory foam and features a contoured design that helps improve posture and circulation. The mesh cover provides a soft, breathable surface and can be machine washed for easy maintenance.

An Elite Shower Caddy Set That Won’t Rust

This elite five-piece shower caddy set looks so much more expensive than it really is. Still, it’s made from premium materials, like rustproof stainless steel, and is so effortless to install. Simply stick the clear adhesive strips onto tile for a secure hold. And you’ll also appreciate how much the set can hold (up to 40 pounds per shelf). With convenient hooks for hanging loofas and razors, this thoughtful set does it all.

Luxe Car Headrest Hooks That Can Hold So Much

Offered as a two-pack, these luxe car headrest hooks are essential for keeping items off dirty floors and from spilling over every time you hit the brakes. You’ll love the look and feel of the faux leather, plus the heavy-duty metal hardware, including hooks that can hold up to an impressive 50 pounds each.

A Vegan Body Milk Mist For Glowing Skin

Spray on this bougie body milk for an instantly refreshed feel and skin-plumping benefits. The vegan formula includes plant-based collagen, powerful antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and flower extracts that hydrate and soften skin in an easy-to-apply mist. And it absorbs quickly, so you can get dressed almost immediately after use.

14-Karat Gold Magnetic Clasps For Jewelry

These magnetic jewelry clasps have a polished 14-karat gold plating that will blend in seamlessly with your gold accessories. The ring and clasp ends attach to most chain types, making them effortless to put on and remove. The surprisingly budget-friendly pack includes six clasps and is also available in silver and rose gold.

Pen Holder Clips In Shimmery Colors

These pen holder clips offer a convenient way to keep your writing instruments within reach. They look just like regular paper clips, but have an arched center that provides a secure grip when attached to books. The inexpensive pack includes 12 durable metal clips in upscale colors, like a posh rose gold.

Car Sunglasses Holders Made From Genuine Leather

These car sunglasses clips are made from genuine leather with a luxurious look and feel. The hidden magnets keep eyewear secured, even during bumpy rides — but still provide easy single-handed access. The inexpensive set includes two clips in a creamy gray color for an added upscale touch.

An Insulated Sleeve That Keeps Drinks Cold & Condensation Free

The next time you get an iced coffee, slip it into this neoprene sleeve. The insulated sleeve helps keep drinks nice and cold while also protecting your hands (and car cupholders) from drippy condensation. It comes in sizes for cups from 16 ounces to 48 ounces and in a wide variety of designs, from florals to abstract prints and mountain scenes.

A DIY Ice Roller You Can Fill With Your Favorite Ingredients

Creating a personalized skin-care routine is so much fun with this DIY ice roller. The silicone holder can be filled with water and your favorite ingredients — cucumber, rose water, lemon, green tea — and then frozen to provide a cooling, skin-soothing treatment. Use it to help calm irritation, minimize pores, or even ease headaches.

A Roller & Gua Sha Set That Helps Soothe & Sculpt Skin

This facial roller and gua sha set is made from stainless steel to provide a cooling sensation to skin, which can help energize you in the morning or relax you in the evening. The gentle massaging action can help reduce puffiness and promote circulation, giving your face a naturally sculpted look. “The tools glide easily without pulling and are very relaxing to use, especially around the jawline and cheeks,” one reviewer noted. “They help reduce morning puffiness and make my skin feel more refreshed and I’ve noticed my serums absorb better afterward.”

A Glass Tumbler With Straws For Regular Drinks & Smoothies

Drinks somehow taste better in this glass tumbler with a bamboo lid. Besides the aesthetic aspect (you can choose from pretty colors like amber, lilac, and coral), it’s super practical; the silicone sleeve gives you a tight grip while the two straw options — one for regular drinks and one for smoothies and boba — help every sip go down smoothly.

An Ice Cube Tray Made Just For Tumblers

No matter what size water bottle you use, this ice cube tray has the perfect match. It features three-sized molds that make hollow cylinder cubes, leaving room for water while chilling beverages in no time. And the silicone construction allows for easy release and maintenance.

A Well-Designed Purse Holder For Your Car

Get your purse off your vehicle floor and into this well-designed holder that hangs between the two front seats. This keeps it clean and easily accessible. It secures in place with metal fasteners and carabiners for maximum strength.

Plant Watering Globes With A Mesmerizing Look

Keeping your houseplants perfectly hydrated is about to get so much easier — and classier — when you use these stunning self-watering globes. The affordable set includes two globes, each crafted from high-quality glass with a mesmerizing iridescent finish. Just fill them with water, then stake them into the soil for effortless plant care.

A Magnetic Dishwasher Sign For Way Less Confusion

Not a single day will pass when you won’t appreciate this useful kitchen find. The strong, non-scratch magnetic base on this clean/dirty dishwasher sign securely adheres to dishwashers, while the front panel provides an easy slide design that will never leave you guessing, avoiding accidentally piling soiled dishes in clean cycles.

Color-Coded Cutting Boards That Won’t Warp

This color-coded cutting board set is a must for avoiding cross-contamination in the kitchen. Each board is conveniently marked by food group for easy identification, so you’ll always grab the correct one. Made from heavy-duty plastic, they’re designed to withstand everyday use, and they even resist warping in dishwasher cycles.

Keyhole Lights With Motion-Sensing Tech

These mini LED lights are designed to light up keyholes, but they’re so versatile that you can use them practically anywhere... like to illuminate dark cabinets and hallways. The strong peel-and-stick backing ensures quick and secure installation, while the motion-sensing tech makes them a hassle-free option.

A Thick Mattress Pad For Protection & Comfort

With its plush filling, this mattress pad makes your bed way more comfortable for a better night’s rest. It also offers a layer of protection for the surface. The protector fits snugly on mattresses up to 21 inches thick with all-around elastic to stay put.

A Jute Tote That Upgrades Your Farmers Market Trips

Your next trip to the store or farmers market deserves an aesthetic upgrade in the form of this jute tote. Made from natural, earthy materials, it comes in a variety of styles including leopard print, French motifs, and this adorable bird print. The handles fit easily over your shoulders while the water-resistant coating stands up to any leaks.

A Magnetic Phone Holder That’s So Practical

This magnetic phone holder is so effective that you might want to grab a backup (it's budget-friendly enough that you can). It is made from durable aluminum alloy, providing a strong yet lightweight design, along with an electroplated matte finish for enhanced hold. Simply peel and stick the metal plates to any flat surface, then attach the magnetic holder to securely hold a variety of phone models.

A Rolling Cart With An Adjustable Design

This slim storage cart allows you to turn even the narrowest spaces into a place to stash items. It’s got four durable tiers that can hold a surprising amount, plus smooth rolling wheels that make it easy to move around. And you can even adjust the supports and remove the wheels to turn it into under-cabinet storage.

A Garlic Press That Makes Mincing A Snap

Prep meals like a pro when you use this all-in-one garlic press. The stainless steel blades crush, chop, and mince, all with one easy pressing motion that dispenses garlic into a clear catch bin. And when you’re done, the device is dishwasher safe for simple cleanup.

Heat-Resistant Bowl Grabbers For The Microwave

Safely pull hot leftovers from the microwave with these bowl holders. They’re microwave safe (staying totally cool to the touch), and they’re nonslip by design for easier grabbing. Four come in the set, each of which is machine washable to reuse over and over again.

A Low-Cost Projector Night Light That’s The Coolest

This night-light projects the coolest galaxy-inspired scene onto nearby walls and even the ceiling. It can be set to three brightness levels, and the dusk-to-dawn sensor allows it to turn on and off automatically. For under $20, it’s a steal.

Tumbler Straws Shaped Like Charming Hearts

You’ve heard about dopamine dressing, but have you heard of dopamine sipping? These reusable heart-shaped straws work with 30- to 40-ounce tumblers and are made from BPA-free Tritan material. With these adorable straws, you just might be more likely to reach your hydration goals.

Floating Lotus Lights That Add Magic To Your Pool Or Tub

These floating lotus lights just might be the most magical way to add mood lighting to your space, whether you place them in your pool, bathtub, or another water feature. Made from lightweight foam, they glide effortlessly on the surface of water and emit a soft, warm glow.

An Acrylic Message Board That Doubles As A Night-Light

A mix between a night-light and a tiny billboard for your thoughts, this acrylic message board makes everyday notes feel a little more fun. The 6-inch board slots into a wooden LED base with seven color options and adjustable brightness levels, casting a soft glow behind whatever you write or draw. It’s easy to clean and reuse, so it’s ideal for reminders, doodles, and more.

Moisturizing Heel Sleeves That Soften Skin While You Sleep

Wake up feeling like you got a pedicure while you slept when you wear these moisturizing sleep socks to bed. Infused with jojoba oil, olive oil, and vitamin E, these fuzzy heel sleeves soften rough skin without you having to lift a finger. They’re stretchy for a snug fit and the open design helps keep things breathable.

An LED Grow Light That Mimics Natural Sunlight Indoors

If your plants are doing their best but your house lighting isn’t, this compact grow light is here for you. With 72 full-spectrum LEDs, it mimics natural sunlight to support healthy growth, even in low-light spaces. The adjustable height lets it grow alongside your plants, while the built-in timer options keeps things on track without constant babysitting.

A Portable First Aid Kit For Your Bag Or Car

Small enough to tuck anywhere, but stocked enough to be genuinely useful, this portable first aid kit earns its spot in your bag or car. The hard, water-resistant case keeps everything protected, while interior pockets make it easy to find what you need fast. It includes 135 pieces, including breathable fabric bandages, gauze sponges, and burn gel.

A Dry-Erase To-Do Board That Makes Organization Feel Aesthetic

Instead of scribbling on a scrap of paper, keep your to-do list front and center with this dry-erase board. It has space for tasks, a section to list priorities, and a blank area for notes where you can jot down additional reminders or grocery needs. It stands upright on any flat surface and the pretty color options make tackling your day feel a little more pleasureable.

A Foldable Desk Lamp That’s Lightweight Enough To Stick In Your Bag

This is the kind of desk lamp you can stick in your bag and take with you anywhere — perfect if you’re traveling or planning to work away from home. (And also helpful if your existing desk space is tight.) Just plug it into your computer, an adapter, or a power bank, then adjust the brightness to one of three levels.

A Lymphatic Face Brush That Aims To Reduce Puffiness

This lymphatic face brush just might be the most relaxing part of your skin-care routine. The soft, dense bristles aim to help reduce puffiness and stimulate circulation for a less puffy, more refined appearance. The curved shape is designed to glide seamlessly across your jawline, cheekbones, and around your eyes.

A Glazed Ceramic Travel Mug That Makes Every Morning Feel Special

Turn your morning coffee into a ritual instead of just a quick caffeine fix with this ceramic travel mug. The perfect way to start your day with intention, the 12-ounce glazed mug comes in more than 15 designs that all look like they came straight from an artist’s studio. Best of all, you won’t be sacrificing convenience since the mug is both dishwasher and microwave safe.

A Hot Air Popcorn Maker That Replicates Nights At The Movie Theater

Home movie nights are about to get a lot more legit once you have this popcorn maker. It uses hot air to pop kernels — not oil — and operation is as simple as pressing a button. The built-in tray on top lets you melt butter on top, so you can perfectly replicate that classic Saturday-night-at-the-cinema flavor.

Faux Coffee Table Books With Empty Space Inside For Storage

Coffee table books are a foolproof way to add a finishing touch to your living room. This pair of faux books goes a step beyond by offering hidden storage inside, giving you a place to stash remote controls, office supplies, and that pile of papers you don’t quite know what to do with. The earthy colors blend in beautifully with any aesthetic, from traditional farmhouse to modern and minimallist.

Gemstone String Lights That Create A Soft, Moody Blue Glow

The quickest way to make any space feel more magical is with these gemstone string lights. Made from natural fluorite in all shades of blue, the stones have an earthy, natural texture that creates a stunning effect wherever you put them. Since the lights operate on batteries (which come included), it’s easy to create a vibey look anywhere — no outlet needed.

Lightweight Arch-Support Sandals That Get Rave Reviews For Comfort

These platform sandals are just about guaranteed to be the pair you reach for most. Made from soft, supportive foam, they’re ultra lightweight and built with arch support and toe bars. They’re easy to slide on, so you can be out the door in record time, and the adjustable straps help you get a snug fit. One reviewer gushed, “From the moment I put them on it felt like I never want to take these off! They are seriously like walking on clouds! The straps do not dig into your feet in any way, and the arch support is absolutely perfect! I plan on buying more colors of these.”

  • Available sizes: 6 — 11
  • Available colors: 8

A Tablet Stand That Feels As Soft As A Pillow In Your Lap

Give reading or scrolling on your couch a comfy upgrade with this tablet pillow stand. Cushioned but sturdy, it holds your device up at a comfortable angle while still feeling plush on your lap. Brilliantly, it even has space for storage — inside, you’ll find compartments for chargers, AirPods, or anything else you want to store.

A 2-Piece Shorts Set That Feels Breezy But Put Together

This two-piece shorts set has a coordinated look that’ll make you look instantly more polished. Better than that, it’s so comfy (hello, elastic waistband), you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re still in pajamas. The crew-neck top is simple and versatile, while the shorts offer plenty of coverage without feeling too long. Choose from stripes, solids, and fun prints.

  • Available sizes: X-Small — XX-Large
  • Available styles: 30+

A Lidded Toilet Paper Storage Basket That’s Roomy Yet Chic

Everyone keeps spare rolls of toilet paper in the bathroom but it’s not exactly a bougie look. This clever lidded container conceals them under a lid; even better, it has two open pockets for wet wipes and other essentials. It can hold nine mega or 12 regular rolls and is available in several goes-with-anything neutrals in the listing.

A Sleek Trash Bag Dispenser With Built-In Storage

The box your trash bags came in is ugly and not even very well designed — instead, place them in this sleek trash bag dispenser that even offers a shelf for extra storage under your sink. It can hold regular 13-gallon rolls or even larger club-size rolls and has a wide opening that makes it fast and easy to dispense a bag as needed. Nonslip feet on the bottom prevent scratches and keep it in place.

Electric Salt & Pepper Grinders With Tons Of Great Features

Sleek enough to leave out and designed to ensure your meal is perfectly salted and spiced, this salt and pepper grinder set is battery powered, too. They function quietly, can be used with one hand (just depress the button), and they have built-in LED lights on the bottom so you can see what you’re doing. You can choose from five levels of coarseness and they’re available in neutrals and pastels in the listing.

A Bougie Night-Light To Dress Up Your Walls

The bougiest little night-light you’ve ever come across, this dusk-to-dawn model features a dangling acrylic rod filled with air bubbles. The acrylic glows during the night and the golden accents and black base add to the cool factor. The brightness is adjustable and measures nearly 11 inches tall in total.

Dishwasher-Safe Glass Tumblers That Make Any Drink Feel Fancier

Any smoothie, iced coffee, or other drink will feel much bougier in this four-pack of glass tumblers. Each one comes with a matching glass straw and bamboo lid. The glasses hold 16 ounces each, and the set also comes with a pair of brushes for getting the straws squeaky-clean. The glasses are dishwasher safe and suitable for hot and cold drinks.

A Wooden Bell To Get Alerted When A Door Opens

Hang this wooden bell on any door that you want to be alerted when it's opened, like your front door, fridge door, etc. The bell itself is made from high-quality polished brass that delivers a soothing ringing sound. And you can use either magnets on the back or the included adhesive for hanging.

A Rustproof Sink Caddy With Smart Water Drainage

Organize all of your dishwashing essentials in the three separate compartments of this sink caddy. Everything will be much more organized as a result. It’s made from stainless steel that’s rustproof, and the built-in drainage spout stops water from pooling in the base.

]]><![CDATA[Apple Announces New Child Safety Features In iOS]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/apple-announces-new-child-safety-features-in-ios-june-2026https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/apple-announces-new-child-safety-features-in-ios-june-2026Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:00:12 GMT
Apple

Parents today spend a huge chunk of time worrying about their kids’ online safety. How much social media access is enough to connect with friends, but not so much it becomes addicting? Is their phone making it easier to get help when they are feeling stressed, or driving them away from human connection? So when tech companies make it easier for moms and dads to put boundaries around screen time and what content their children can access, it’s just another tool in the toolbox for keeping our kids safe online. And last week, Apple announced some new features for kids and families that parents will want to know about.

At their annual Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple debuted a host of new safety and security features built into iOS, meaning they’re available on iPads and iPhones alike. The new features are in beta testing now and will begin rolling out to users this fall. Here’s the DL on all the new settings and what the iPhone manufacturer says they can help with:

Setting up a Child Account | Apple
The new Allowed Apps feature | Apple
  • Child Accounts: When setting up your child’s device, you’ll want to create a Child Account, now required for kids under 13 and available until age 18. This enables all the other safeguards now built into iOS, and will prompt parents to create a unique PIN code to confirm updates to the settings in the future.
  • More control over apps and content: Parents can add apps to their child’s Allowed Apps, and enable Ask to Buy, which sends a text to the parent’s device to approve or deny any apps when the child attempts to download them. Then there’s Ask to Browse, which requires that kids ask permission to access a new website in Safari.
  • Added security around who kids can talk to: Parents can now manage who their children can connect with over the phone, via FaceTime, and in Messages, and require them to ask for approval before accepting communications from a new contact. Also, the Communication Safety feature — which already blurs nudity when detected in FaceTime or Messages — will now censor violence and gore as well. This is turned on by default for users under 18.
  • When kids can access what is now in your hands. The new Time Allowances feature gives parents more flexibility when setting up screen time limits for their kids. The menu provides expert guidance around how much time is recommended for children across entertainment, games, and social media apps so you don’t feel like you’re guessing at what’s right. You can also set schedules to manage which apps kids can access at what times of day, all week long. If you need to turn off all the things during school hours, now you can.
  • Screen Time makes managing access easier: You can view which apps your child used most that day and how many minutes they spent on each, easily blocking access or adding more time from that menu.

If you have kids with tablets and phones, you’ve probably used the parental controls in iOS already and may have experienced some bugs, like the settings toggling off at random. This can happen when even a single device in your Family Sharing network is not running the latest software update, as they all talk to each other to reinforce those safety settings, according to Apple.

During a press briefing, an Apple spokesperson says they restructured the backend of their parental controls quite a bit before making these updates in order to shut down old pathways allowing kids to disable the controls themselves. Now, even if your child learns your passcode and uses it to bypass the Ask to Browse feature, for example, a notification is sent to the parent’s device to inform them that it’s time to change their passcode and talk to their child.

Apple also created a new hub for parents to find answers to their questions about all the security features at their disposal and how to implement them at apple.com/child-safety.

]]><![CDATA[Nobody Warned Us That Midlife Would Feel Like This]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/why-midlife-feels-different-than-expectedhttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/why-midlife-feels-different-than-expectedThu, 18 Jun 2026 20:46:46 GMT
Maskot/Getty Images

I recently wrote a piece about how so many women my age are secretly (or not so secretly, in some cases) fantasizing about blowing up our lives and starting over. Finally going all in on that bookstore we’re always joking with our friends about opening. But the longer I sat with that itch, the more I realized the bookstore is just a symptom. The actual thing underneath it is something even more mysterious: I’m standing here, in the literal middle of my own life, wondering why it doesn’t feel anything like I thought it would.

I know I’m not alone in this.

So, I asked some experts whether it’s normal to feel this blindsided by a time in your life you can see coming from a mile away, and the resounding answer was yeah, actually — and there are some pretty specific reasons why. Here’s what they had to share.

This Wasn’t In The Brochure

When I started really picking apart my expectations for midlife, I realized something: I didn’t actually know what to expect. People talk about midlife, but only in the vaguest sense. It’s this big amorphous thing looming on the horizon that seems to get further away the closer we get… until, one day, it’s right there.

"One of the factors in midlife feeling different than expected is that we didn't have enough lived experience to accurately anticipate it," says Meredith Sjoberg, a psychologist with a PhD in counseling psychology and a perimenopause certification, who works full-time with women in midlife. "And another main factor is that those older than us didn't really talk to us about it."

Think of it this way, she says: "Adolescents can often pretty accurately imagine what college is going to feel like because so many people talk about it, relive it, etc. But very few people talk to their younger counterparts about what midlife feels like."

And she’s right. We get such a detailed rundown on pretty much every other season. People narrate the hell out of adolescence, weddings, having a baby, the first trimester, the fourth trimester, the toddler and threenage and teenage years. By the time you reach each of those destinations, you kind of have a rough map to guide you.

But midlife? We’re walking in cold. Which is why, I think, we get to this stage and speak of it in terms of surprise.

Licensed mental health counselor Dr. Evelyn Pavlova, who's navigating her own midlife (she'll be 45 this year), told me she can't even call it "different than expected" because she had no expectations to measure it against. "I'd never been here before. Over the years, I'd heard all kinds of stories about midlife, some of them pretty scary, and now that I'm here, some have turned out to be true and others haven't. I'm still figuring out my own version."

In other words, we're all just out here winging it.

Our Parents Made Midlife Look Like a Pottery Barn Catalog

On the other side of the vagueness surrounding midlife is something even more frustrating: the fact that midlife for our parents looked very different than midlife does for us. And that’s not on us; that’s on the way society has shifted.

The actual lives of the adults I grew up watching appeared, for the most part, handled. They lived the white-picket-fence midlife fantasy we were sold our whole lives. The house (affordable, owned, sometimes on one income). The cars in the driveway with payments that didn’t look like a mortgage bill. Not having to worry about paying for their kids’ college because tuition wouldn’t put you in debt for decades (and when it did, we were the ones taking out the loans).

It was the whole casserole-in-the-oven stability of it all. That was the impression we absorbed: That by 40-something, you’ve arrived. You’re settled. And then a lot of us got to our 40s and realized that just isn’t necessarily the case anymore.

As Sjoberg points out, "The societal changes, particularly the economic ones, have made it harder for those currently in midlife to enjoy the same aspects of life their parents may have."

Meaning, this disorientation we’re feeling is not a personal failing. We’re not worse at adulting than the adults before us were (no matter what Fox News or your boomer parents would have you believe). Rather, the same milestones — the house, the breathing room, the sense of making it — cost a different number now, against wages that did not rise to reflect the change.

So, we hit the age where we’re supposed to reach the promised land, only to discover those promises actually never landed.

Comparison Used to Stay in the Neighborhood

As if constantly measuring ourselves (and being measured by others) against our parents’ version of midlife weren’t enough, there’s an added layer of measuring ourselves against… well, everyone else. In real time.

Sjoberg alluded to this. "Back in the day, people would basically be surrounded by people who were in a similar socioeconomic category, and had less exposure to the 'Joneses,’” she says. “So they would be less prone to feel the same discontent that many may feel today."

Keeping up with the Joneses used to mean one family, one cul-de-sac, one slightly nicer car in the driveway perhaps. Now the Joneses are influencers doing shopping hauls and house tours of their 7,000-square-foot McMansion or “bringing you along” on their branded family beach vacation.

The comparison is no longer simply down the street. It’s in your hand, staring you in the face at 11 p.m. while you doomscroll with a bowl of cereal.

What does that mean? Oh, you know, we’re getting a double dose of “you’re behind” — once from the generation ahead of us, who had it easier in measurable ways, and once from a scrolling highlight reel of everyone else’s lives.

No wonder we feel so f*cking lost.

You're Not Imagining the Mental Load, Either

We’re truly also carrying more than ever. Pew Research found that 54% of Americans in their 40s have both a living parent age 65 or older and at least one child they’re raising or financially supporting. We’re holding up two generations at the precise moment when we were told we’d finally get to exhale.

And the strain of that is showing. APA's 2023 Stress in America survey found that women reported higher average stress than men (5.3 vs. 4.8 out of 10) and were more likely to rate their stress between 8 and 10 (27% vs. 21%). That same survey showed that adults ages 35 to 44 had the steepest rise in mental health diagnoses of any group, jumping from 31% in 2019 to 45% in 2023.

The Haven Detox’s Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Sal Raichbach, a licensed clinical social worker and certified forensic social worker with more than 30 years in behavioral health, says the trick is to stop interpreting this as a dead end of some sort.

"Midlife can feel surprising because many women arrive there with a life that looks functional on the outside but no longer feels aligned on the inside," he told me. "Clinically, I don't view that as failure. I often see it as a period of psychological reassessment — where a person starts asking, 'Is this still the life I want, or just the life I built while meeting everyone else's expectations?'"

The Grief We Didn’t See Coming

The part of midlife that snuck up on me the most was how midlife requires you to say goodbye. To the me who could run on three hours of sleep. To the me who could go a million miles an hour without having to check the tank.

Pavlova described coming to terms with this, sharing, “It has felt like coming face-to-face with the fact that I can no longer hold on to old versions of myself. I tried for a while. I kept holding on physically, emotionally, mentally, socially. But eventually it became exhausting. What used to work wasn't working anymore."

However, Pavlova is also quick to point out that this doesn’t mean midlife is bad. It’s just… not the same. The truth is, even the good changes in life ask something of you, although that doesn’t make rolling with them any easier. “There’s a grieving process when you realize a chapter of your life is ending," she says, "even if the next chapter may ultimately be better suited for who you're becoming."

Where Does That Leave Us?

I’m not sure where that leaves us, but it’s not behind, no matter how inclined we are to believe that.

The bottom line is the brochure for midlife was always going to be wrong, because it was drawn from a different perspective. A different economy, a different time, a different generation. And that generation didn’t think to narrate the hard parts to us. We’re out here living a completely different midlife than they did. It’s more expensive, more sandwiched, more pressurized, and a lot less secure.

My biggest takeaway? We should be talking about all of this more. Out loud, to each other, to whoever’s coming up behind us.

A recent Reel I came across scrolling one night really stuck with me. It said, “The goal at 40 isn’t to look 25 but to make 25-year-olds excited to be 40.” So, I think the move here is to try to show the next batch of women the messy, beautiful reality of midlife as much as possible.

It’s different, and it’s definitely hard, but all the best things usually are.

]]><![CDATA[Will 'The Boroughs' Season 2 Happen? Brace Yourselves]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/the-boroughs-season-2-release-date-renewal-netflixhttps://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/the-boroughs-season-2-release-date-renewal-netflixThu, 18 Jun 2026 17:09:20 GMT
Netflix

As an entertainment editor, I watch a lot of TV. I’m up to my ears in TV news. And over the last few months, one show just kept coming up as a series I needed to keep on my radar: The Boroughs on Netflix. Could all the buzz have been because it’s the first major TV follow-up attached to the Duffer Brothers since Stranger Things ended? Naturally. But now that I’ve binge-watched Season 1, I get the hype. I’m officially hooked, and like the rest of you who flew through the first installment, I have to know: Are we getting a Season 2?

Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews and produced by Matt and Ross Duffer, Netflix’s new mystery-horror series follows a group of older residents living in a quirky New Mexico retirement community. As it turns out, the community is hiding some pretty unsettling secrets.

Season 1 ends with enough lingering questions (hello, can we talk about that glitch?!) to warrant more, and it sounds like that’s precisely what the creators want to give the show’s budding fandom. Sadly, we finally have official news on the fate of the series — and it’s not good, friends.

Has The Boroughs been renewed for Season 2?

No. On June 17, Deadline broke the exclusive that The Boroughs will be a “one-and-done” for Netflix, as the streamer has canceled the series after one season. This is obviously not the news fans had hoped for, and they were quick to express their disappointment in the comments of Deadline’s Instagram post sharing the news.

“Why?!? This was excellent! Bring it back,” one fan wrote. “It was great fun and not another sappy love story. Not to mention the amazing cast. C’mon Netflix, listen to your PAYING fans.”

Another lamented, “You can’t give me Geena Davis and then take Geena Davis away, that’s illegal.”

It also sucks to know that the show creators were planning for a much larger story, telling several outlets they envisioned a multi-season arc. “We have a very specific three-season plan, and we think we know the last shot of the last scene of the last episode,” Addiss told IGN.

The creators also explained to IGN that Season 1 was intentionally designed to feel emotionally satisfying while still leaving bigger mysteries to unravel in the (hopeful) event that Netflix would say yes to additional seasons.

What would The Boroughs Season 2 have been about?

Warning: spoilers ahead!

I mean, take your pick, right? The finale left us with some major questions, like what exactly is Mother… and is she really gone? Why TF did Sam glitch in the final scene? Are we looking at some sort of time-travel scenario coming into play here? It definitely seems as though Mother doesn’t experience time linearly.

Addiss told Entertainment Weekly that the mystery surrounding Mother is “the arc of multiple seasons,” hinting, “We know what Mother is exactly… and we hope the audience gets to find out.”

Oh, and Sam glitching? Yep, that was a very deliberate tease as well, pointing toward “the next chapter of the adventure.” In fact, according to the showrunners, all of the recurring imagery involving television static, radio waves, transmissions, and (you guessed it) glitching is deeply important to the series’ mythology.

If the scene with Sam glitching felt familiar, that was by design too. Matthews confirmed to EW that it was “an affectionate nod to the end of the first season of Stranger Things,” where Will glitches in the bathroom mirror.

We can assume we would have seen more Easter eggs as the series progressed: to Stranger Things, and to inspiration like Cocoon and Salem’s Lot. And we almost certainly would have seen more exploration of bigger themes like grief and time.

“Grief is so unmooring, so discombobulating that you as an individual can be sort of a time traveler who can be stuck in two or more places at once — emotionally, physically,” says Matthews.

Alas, we won’t get to follow along as our older gang of Goonie-esque characters dives further into that duality.

Why didn’t The Boroughs Season 2 get picked up?

Your guess is as good as mine. Reports indicate it received strong reviews, but viewership was softer than the streamer hoped for from a Duffer Brothers series.

Potentially also a factor, this is a genre-heavy show with extensive visual effects and one with a true ensemble cast (Geena Davis! Alfred Molina! Alfre Woodard!)… both of which take longer to produce and can be harder to even coordinate due to cast schedules.

But one thing is very clear: The creators absolutely hoped to continue the story. And after that finale, fans sure as hell wish they got to.

]]><![CDATA[130+ Photo Dump Captions So You Can Share All Your Latest Mems]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/photo-dump-captionshttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/photo-dump-captionsThu, 18 Jun 2026 16:41:37 GMT
Tom Werner/Getty Images

Remember when Instagram first came out, and your feed was full of heavily filtered photos of your friends’ unphotogenic dinners? Photo dumps are basically the go-to post format on Instagram these days — no single static images here. Maybe it started because we were finally ready to leave our homes post-lockdown and were so excited to experience life again. Or perhaps we got tired of posting one artfully filtered image at a time and just wanted to share everything that was happening, stream-of-consciousness style. Whatever the reason, photo dumps — which means posting multiple photos in one post that are typically unrelated to each other — are popular ways of updating your friends, family, and other followers on what you’ve been up to. Of course, a large part of their appeal is how easy they are. The only part that isn’t always easy is figuring out the best photo dump caption to add when you post all your pics.

Photo dumps can be a great way to capture memories of a particular event or vacation, or they can even act like a personal diary or vision board. It’s pretty much whatever you want it to be! And while that’s what makes them so great, it’s also what makes coming up with the perfect photo dump caption tricky. You don’t want to appear that you’re trying too hard, but you definitely want to have something clever and cool (isn’t that like life?).

If you need some inspiration for your latest carousel of memories, here are some fun photo dump captions to help describe your vibe.

  1. Photo dump ❤️
  2. Find me where the wild things are.
  3. Weekend photo dump.
  4. Deleted scenes.
  5. Life lately.
  6. Remember that happiness is a way of travel — not a destination.
  7. Don’t be jealous.
  8. Moments (I miss).
  9. No mediocre.
  10. There she goes, enjoying her life again.
  11. Me, being me.
  12. Stuff.
  13. Reminder: Keep having fun.
  14. Weekend mood board.
  15. FYI
  16. Selfies on selfies.
  17. Wish you were there.
  18. These are the memories I never want to forget.
  19. Bits & pieces of people and places.
  20. These are the good days.
  21. No words.
  22. This is my life.
  23. Dear Insta diary...
  24. Roundup of the week.
  25. Where I’d rather be.
  26. Enjoying the little things in life.
  27. The lost files.
  28. Summer dump.
  29. Less perfection, more authenticity.
  30. This and that.
  31. My life in pictures.
  32. Incoming!
  33. Album: recent.
  34. Catching up.
  35. Sliiiide to the left!
  36. Pics or it didn’t happen.
  37. Emptying my camera roll.
  38. Grateful that moments like these can exist.
  39. The aesthetic side of my life.
  40. Mentally, I am here.
  41. Previously on…
  42. If you haven’t heard from me, here’s why.
  43. Swipe for a surprise.
  44. Be jealous.
  45. A little reminder that life can be so lovely.
  46. One subtle flex after the next.
  47. Hi.
  48. Main character mood.
  49. Sunday funday.
  50. Grateful for these moments ❤️
  51. Let me introduce you to my life.
  52. Chill but a big deal.
  53. Look for the magic in every moment.
  54. Why I’ve left you on read.
  55. Good weekend reveal.
  56. My vision board IRL.
  57. Digital junk drawer.
  58. Escape the ordinary.
  59. A sweet glimpse into my life.
  60. Home sweet home.
  61. Keep swiping for the surprise!
  62. Feeling in love with my life rn.
  63. Everything I need is in this photo dump.
  64. Moments captured circa yesterday.
  65. Swipe for the weekend reveal.
  66. Get out there and live a little.
  67. Weekend mood board.
  68. Which picture gives you the most feels?
  69. You guys take too many pictures. Said no one ever.
  70. Photo dump, but it’s one pic.
  71. A dose of serotonin for your feed.
  72. Romanticizing my life as usual.
  73. Hump day, dump day.
  74. Core memories loading.
  75. What you missed.
  76. The highlight reel.
  77. Everything you need to know about me.
  78. Good people, good vibes, good life.
  79. Swiper, keep swiping.
  80. Mems ❤️
  81. POV: You're looking into my camera roll.
  82. Don't look at the caption… look at me.
  83. Quick update.
  84. My cat took these pics.
  85. Random.
  86. Morning dump.
  87. And nobody checked their phone once.
  88. Beep, beep: Here's the dump truck.
  89. Dedicating this post to the best batch of people.
  90. Before I forget...
  91. Can we skip to the good part?
  92. Stick around for the sweet surprise at the end.
  93. It’s not you; it’s me.
  94. The [month] edit.
  95. Life right now.
  96. Camera crumbs.
  97. Recently.
  98. A series of (very) fortunate events.
  99. A vlog in [number] pictures.
  100. Archives.
  101. This Instagram post was brought to you by memories.
  102. IYKYK.
  103. Life’s too short to post one photo at a time.
  104. When in doubt, just photo dump it out.
  105. Me, my friends, and I.
  106. Felt cute, might photo dump later.
  107. If you don't share it, did it even happen?
  108. I'm just a girl who loves taking photos of her food.
  109. Proof of life.
  110. Still on a high from this historic night!
  111. What was everyone’s rose and thorn?
  112. A collection of moments and memories made this month.
  113. Thankful for great friends, good food, & good vibes! A weekend for the books.
  114. Paparazzi has been insane lately.
  115. [Your Name] would like to airdrop 10 images.
  116. Living in a Pinterest board
  117. I’m just a girl standing in front of my camera, asking it to love me.
  118. When you love looking at your own camera roll so much that you decide to post it on Instagram.
  119. Never will I ever post just one pic.
  120. The more random, the better.
  121. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” — Ferris Bueller
  122. Snippets.
  123. Swipe left.
  124. Turn on your AirDrop — I have pics to send you.
  125. Thank you for the lovely memories.
  126. “We should just pick the hottest, most confident, bad bitch versions of ourselves and be that for the rest of the school year.” — Euphoria
  127. Footage from behind the scenes.
  128. This is for my scrapbook.
  129. I’m having the time of my life.
  130. The category is: my life.
  131. My world.
  132. Photos are like puzzle pieces.
  133. Everybody’s gotta live.
  134. Literally.

Do any of these Instagram photo dump captions speak to you?

]]><![CDATA[10 Canned Tuna Recipes For Those Nights You Forget To Thaw Something]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/canned-tuna-recipes-for-dinnerhttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/canned-tuna-recipes-for-dinnerThu, 18 Jun 2026 16:33:55 GMT
Damn Delicious

We all know the sense of dread that washed over us as kids when we could hear our moms pull into the driveway and we realized we didn’t take the pork chops out of the freezer like they asked. The same sinking feeling probably comes over you now when you open the refrigerator on a busy weeknight and realize you didn’t take anything out to thaw last night. *Sigh.* Well, good thing you stocked some canned tuna in your pantry just for nights like this, and that you have some delicious canned tuna recipes for dinner up your sleeve. (But maybe go ahead and take out some chicken thighs for tomorrow night while you’re thinking about it...)

The Best Healthy Tuna Salad

All The Healthy Things

Of course tuna salad comes to mind first when you’re staring down a can of the stuff and wondering what to make. All The Healthy Things’ recipe will give you all the fresh, creamy flavor you want, along with plenty of crunch from celery and red onion. Eat it with chips or crackers, or in a sandwich or wrap.

Easy Tuna Patties

Family Fresh Meals

These tuna patties from Family Fresh Meals are genuinely so easy to make, and they only take about 20 minutes all in. Throw some frozen French fries in the air fryer or oven while you make these in the skillet and serve — your family will never realize it was a backup plan.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Damn Delicious

Made with canned tuna and egg noodles, tuna noodle casserole is one of the most affordable dinner recipes you’ll find. Damn Delicious’ version is cheesy and satisfying, but also a little better than the traditional kind thanks to some lemon zest and chives.

Mini Tuna Po Boys

Dude That Cookz

If you’re not in the mood for tuna salad sandwiches, what about po-boys? Dude That Cookz can teach you how to turn a 20 oz. can of tuna into these pan-fried fish balls (and he’ll even walk you through making your own homemade remoulade).

Tuna Melt Bites

Family Fresh Meals

Family Fresh Meals’ tuna melt bites are a little twist on the classic sandwich. They take just 30 minutes from start to finish, and the ingredient list is short and affordable. It might just become a regular recipe in your weekly rotation.

Tuna Melt Stuffed Bell Peppers

Feel Good Foodie

If you’re not in the mood for sandwiches at all (or cooking for that matter), try Feel Good Foodie’s tuna melt stuffed peppers. They take literally five minutes of prep — just clean out your peppers and load them up with tuna, seasonings, and cheese — and a 20-minute stay in the oven.

Spicy Tuna Guacamole Bowls

Budget Bytes

If you want something a little more poke-bowl-adjacent, try this recipe from Budget Bytes. It’s ready in 15 minutes max, and you’re left with a batch of spicy tuna to enjoy with lots of fresh veggies and whatever sauces your heart desires. You could put all of this over rice if you wanted a little more volume in your bowl.

Tuna Nicoise Salad

Feel Good Foodie

Nicoise salad is a classic French dish with Mediterranean influence, so you’ll get lots of veggies and flavor from it. Feel Good Foodie’s version incorporates tuna instead of the traditional anchovies, and a delicious shallot vinaigrette you’ll want to drink through a straw.

Tuna White Bean Salad

Budget Bytes

White beans are everywhere right now, and yes, they go with tuna too apparently. Budget Bytes’ tuna white bean salad is super high in protein since it includes both of those ingredients, plus plenty of fiber, and it’s mayo-free for those of you who can’t stand the stuff.

“Sushi” Cups

Family Fresh Meals

Family Fresh Meals’ sushi cup recipe calls for imitation crab meat, but you could totally sub in canned tuna and mix in some sriracha and soy sauce to DIY a little spicy tuna moment. The cup format is easy to make with a muffin tin, and they’ll be ready faster than DoorDash could deliver you a roll anyway.

Tuna salad’s great and all, but it’s far from the only canned tuna recipe you can make in a pinch.

]]><![CDATA[So You’ve Diagnosed Yourself As A Helicopter Parent. Now What?!]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/so-youve-diagnosed-yourself-as-a-helicopter-parent-now-whathttps://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/so-youve-diagnosed-yourself-as-a-helicopter-parent-now-whatThu, 18 Jun 2026 13:00:44 GMT

If you have diagnosed yourself as a helicopter parent, welcome. If you have diagnosed yourself as “not quite a helicopter parent,” but still hover enough to create a stiff breeze over your kids, welcome. After all, most of us are not living in the extremes, but rather somewhere in the messy middle. We are trying to raise independent kids while reading headlines that make independence sound like a terrible idea.

I don’t think of myself as a full-time hoverer. My kids have freedom, chores, and neighborhood roaming rights. But I also know the stats; I know the things statistically most likely to hurt my kids. I know that my anxiety is often overblown or misplaced, but it persists nonetheless. I’m not sure there is any pharmaceutical combination or amount of therapy that will solve this issue, but I know you feel me on this.

I’m aware of my hovering(ish) nature, and I’ve seen how “being careful” can turn into managing every bump before they have a chance to build confidence.

There is an alternative for those of us who feel the understandable need to hover, even ever-so-slightly, and a parenting philosophy of letting your kids be in a free-for-all. It’s the sweet spot between the two, what we’ll call here autonomy-supported parenting, that provides enough freedom to grow, with enough structure, limits, and connection to keep them grounded.

Helicoptering versus a free-for all

In an effort to unclench my jaw a bit so that my husband and I can raise functioning adults, I reached out to one of my favorite parenting experts, Dr. Emily Edlynn. As a clinical psychologist and mom of three herself, her brand of parenting advice seeks to support autonomy (read: independence) while giving our kids the guardrails they need. It hits that sweet spot between helicoptering and ignoring our kids.

Helicopter parenting, she tells me, is about excessive monitoring and hovering — swooping in to rescue our little cherubs from stressful situations in a way that doesn’t let them build resilience. I try my best to not do this, but am sometimes guilty as charged.

“It’s a form of trying to control their lives,” says Edlynn. “With good intentions of parents wanting the best for their children, but it robs children of developing independent skills and self-confidence.” We may be nervous to let our kid walk to the corner store alone to buy a fake Labubu, but that’s the type of scaffolding they need to become adults who know how to navigate the world.

To complicate the issue, social media has begun to define the opposite of helicopter parenting as permissive parenting, otherwise known as a free-for-all. That’s not really how it works, though. Edlynn says that there’s a huge difference between permissive parenting and autonomy-supportive parenting. Supporting our kids' independence builds their confidence baby step by baby step.

Think of it like Goldilocks and those three bears: Helicoptering is too much oversight, permissive parenting is not enough, and autonomy-supportive parenting is just right. “For example, letting your 8-year-old walk a few blocks to school without an adult helps them feel more capable so that by age 9, they have the skills and confidence to ride their bike a longer distance,” shares Edlynn. “Permissive parenting, which involves very little structure combined with excessive freedom, would look like a parent allowing a young child to roam the neighborhood with no limits on distance or time and no skill-building, such as talking about safety.” On the flip side, believing that an 8-year-old is not capable of walking a few safe blocks may be an anxiety you need to poke at a little. Factors like disability, temperament, and community setting definitely matter, but many of us need to trust our kids (and the world, hard as that might be) a little bit more, she tells me.

While I’ve seen parents living at both extremes of this spectrum, I actually believe most of us moms are trying to find that sweet spot Edlynn advocates for. We want to raise kids who are prepared for adulthood, but so many complex current issues muck that up.

Parenting in the trenches of today’s world

I know I am worried about irreparably screwing up my kids daily, so I turned to my friend group and social media to get a sense of what others were feeling about raising kids in 21st century America. Do all moms only feel a sense of peace when all of their kids are safely ensconced in the home for the evening? Do any of us know what we are doing?

As parents in the U.S. report a declining ability to rely on their neighbors, I know that having a community to support my kids’ independence is a gift. A recent survey found that nearly 40% of us feel we have no support on our parenting journey. No village, no extra eyeballs, no “in case of emergency” neighbor — It makes trusting our kids out in the world that much harder.

We should seek it where we can, though. Katie Lewis, a full-time working mom of three in central Pennsylvania, told me she can’t helicopter, for better or for worse. “I don’t have the energy to,” she says, “But we live in a place where I trust our neighborhood and neighbors.” If the teen boys get into shenanigans or her youngest daughter scooters through a flowerbed, folks let her know.

“If they are seen without a helmet, it will get back to me,” Katie told me. I have to laugh, because my own kids gripe about the neighbors who call out their forgetfulness when it comes to helmets. Katie says her children also know that nearly everyone has a doorbell camera and that their every action is uploaded to the cloud, whether they want it to be or not. While she has mixed feelings about this surveillance state, it exists and is a tool in her toolbox. This isn’t permissive parenting; it's relying on a village. “I do freely give consequences for actions, but never feel the need to hover because I think the world we live in already does.”

Other parents, despite their wish to support independence, are shaped by circumstances. Dawn Keller Goodman told me how medical needs caused her to hover more than she ever hoped to. “I am, by nature, not a helicopter parent,” the California-based mom of two told me. “However, my oldest was diagnosed with anaphylactic allergies to dairy and peanuts at eight months old, and I turned into one to keep him safe.” Tracking everything her son ate and offering to host holidays and play dates so she could be in charge of supplying safe foods, the nature of keeping her son alive fueled anxiety. Medical conditions and disability can certainly alter our ability to trust the world with our kids, with good reason. Thankfully, he outgrew his allergies and Goodman was able to lean into her less-anxious nature. “My helicopterness went away after that.”

Parent after parent shared with me, via DM and comment and real-life conversations, that they aren’t quite sure how to raise independent kids right now. From an immigrant mom’s valid fear about letting her child walk to the park alone to another friend’s admittedly irrational fear that her child will be trafficked at the local mall (this is a common fear, I’ve learned), we all are trying to find a way to loosen our grips just enough — but not too much.

While many of us shy away from letting our kids walk to school for fear of the big white van trawling for children, there are risks we can and should account for as parents: unsafe sleep, drowning, and unsecured guns, among them.

While, of course, there will be parents among us whose lived experience tells them that independence equals danger, it matters that we fight the urge to keep our kids under lock and key, experts say.

Baby steps towards autonomous parenting

If you’re feeling buoyed by the shared mothering experience and some excellent expert advice, take some time this summer to encourage a new sense of independence in your kids. Edlynn says there are some things parents can do to find that sweet spot. Arm yourself with knowledge about what the risks are — and what they aren’t. Prep your kids for new freedom, and celebrate when it goes well. The world is not going to get less chaotic, but we can find some space to let our babies thrive:

Start by noticing where you are doing things your child can do for themselves. Independence doesn’t always begin with a big step like walking to school alone or biking around town. If your kids are little, it can start with packing a backpack, filling a water bottle, choosing clothes, making a simple breakfast or remembering sports gear. These little daily responsibilities build confidence because kids see themselves as capable.

It’s key to pair freedom with clear, flexible structure. Autonomy-supportive parenting is not the same as being checked out or overly permissive. Kids still need rules, limits and expectations, but those boundaries should grow and adjust as they get older and more skilled. A child may start by walking a short distance with a check-in plan, then gradually earn more freedom as they show readiness. Helicoptering squashes that needed skill-building.

Instead of simply announcing new responsibilities, invite your child into the conversation. Let kids help shape the plan. Whether you’ve been hovering a bit too close or more checked out than you’d like, it's important to get the whole family on board with any changes. Giving kids some say builds buy-in and helps them feel like independence is something they are growing into, not something being forced on them or withheld from them.

Treat your fear as information, not always as a stop sign. It’s normal to feel anxious when our babies try new freedoms, especially in a culture full of nonstop horrific headlines. Before stepping in, ask yourself if there is a real safety issue — or whether the discomfort is mostly your own anxiety. When the risk is reasonable and your kid has been prepared for the task, sitting with that fear can help both children and parents grow.

If it sounds hard, just know it’s hard for the experts, too. “Even while writing a book about autonomy-supportive parenting, I remember the first time I watched my daughters, at ages 8 and 10, take off on their bikes to ride around the neighborhood,” recalls Edlynn. It was a few months into the pandemic, so her worry was already running high. “I’ll never forget how anxious I felt as they rode away from my eyesight. I knew it was irrational, but even ‘parenting experts’ are vulnerable to our current parenting culture that is dominated by fear-based headlines and exaggerated threats in the media,” she says. This media environment is then amplified by the overwhelming stress of daily parenting to create a collective anxiety about our kids. Simply put, we are primed to fear mostly imagined threats. Recognizing that the fear we feel is irrational is the first step toward behavior change. If I can do it, so can you.

]]><![CDATA[33 Brunch-Coded Baby Names That Belong On A Reservation List]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/pregnancy/brunch-coded-baby-nameshttps://www.scarymommy.com/pregnancy/brunch-coded-baby-namesWed, 17 Jun 2026 21:20:37 GMT
Oscar Wong/Getty Images

Some baby names feel like they belong in a beach town, or maybe traipsing through a national park. Some sound destined for an artsy life, burying their noses in books. The point is, some baby names just have a vibe — and brunch-coded is definitely one that we can get behind.

But what even is a brunch-coded baby name? They're names that have that certain pre-noon, eat-life je ne sais quoi. They feel old-fashioned, but not like they're trying too hard. They're sophisticated, yet still approachable. They're precious, but also precocious. They sound like they should come with a tiny linen napkin, neatly folded and placed in the lap of a well-mannered child asking for a bite of your eggs benedict, please.

These brunch-coded names belong to children who will grow up to appreciate the simplicity in a centerpiece of fresh flowers, bask in the comfort of sun-drenched patios, and live for a meal that starts in the morning and stretches lazily into midday.

Clementine

This citrusy name makes me think of bright orange slices floating in a pitcher of something sweet and refreshing. It’s a little old-timey and irrefutably charming — I mean, nobody will ever be mad at a Clementine. It’s just not possible.

Olive

Another food name, this one has a bit more bite. Sure, it’s as sweet as it can be, but Olive is also slightly salty. She’ll steal food off your plate, and you’ll let her. She is unbothered and cool.

Arlo

An old English name meaning “fortified hill,” Arlo is just that guy. He wears flannel and has a record player and is cool in a way that doesn’t feel contrived.

Twyla

If you loved Schitt’s Creek, that’s probably the first thing you’ll think of when you hear this name. That Twyla held down the Café Tropical diner and loved to experiment with smoothie flavors. Meaning “twilight,” this distinctive name is for the girl who shows up in oversized vintage sunglasses and orders an iced lavender latte.

Poppy

Poppy is pure early-morning-light energy in name-form. She’s bright and cheerful (the name literally means “red flower”), the finder of the best patio seats, the one with the laugh that makes strangers at the next table over smile.

Theo

With a name that means “bold people,” it’s no wonder Theos are the life of the party. He could be two and he’d still be the most charming person at the table — he’ll say “thank you” to the server unprompted and ruin you for all other children.

Eloise

We all know the story of little Eloise who lived at the Plaza, right? That’s the persona your Eloise will inhabit: poised, an aptitude for the dramatic, lives for pastries, and romanticizes the seat closest to the window. This name might mean “famous warrior,” but make no mistake: her charm is her sword.

Hazel

A color name and a food name, Hazel is inherently cozy and familiar. She grows up to be the friend who’s a little bit nutty, too, in the best possible way. She’s the one planning the brunch dates, and then forever texting “running five min behind, my bad!”

Hugo

Hugo means “mind,” “intellect,” “soul,” and “heart.” And, honestly, what more could you want for your son than for him to have that constellation of traits? Hugo is the friend who says, “C’mon, just one more” at 1 p.m., and everyone agrees, just to be in his orbit a little longer. A genuine delight.

Juniper

The primary ingredient in many a brunch cocktail, Juniper as a name comes across as botanical and a little woodsy. Think of it as outdoorsy-bougie… like a hike through an evergreen forest that ends at a cute cafe for a spritz by noon.

Margot

A classic name of French origin, Margot means “pearl” and is a diminutive form of Marguerite. So, all around, elegant in an effortless way. She’s the kind of girl who refuses to pursue trends, is impossible to fluster, and will always order something that isn’t on the menu… but they make it for her anyway.

August

If you’re looking for a name that feels like brunch but also brings perpetual golden-hour energy, let us put you onto August. This gender-neutral name, which means “great” or “exalted,” feels welcoming and unhurried. He's never going to be the person at the table in a rush to ask for the check.

Beatrix

This Latin name means “voyager,” but its connotations feel decidedly homey — think Beatrix Potter and bunnies and a sweet little vegetable garden. It’s a bookish name that seems destined for a life filled with finger foods and tea service.

Willa

Another name with bookish roots (thanks to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather), this one means “resolute protection.” And that feels right for our Willa girls, doesn’t it? They’re the friend who saves you a seat at the table and orders a carafe of something for the table to share.

Miles

You’ve probably never met a Miles you didn’t like! This name, which means “merciful,” is low-key and a little jazzy. He’s the guy everyone goes to when they want to find the best new brunch spot. At backyard brunches, he picks the playlist… and it’s always perfect.

Maeve

This gorgeous Irish name means “she who intoxicates,” and you can’t get much more brunch-coded than that. Maeve is going to order the table a round of something, and whatever it is, you’re going ot enjoy it.

Phoebe

The name Phoebe means “bright” and “radiant,” and that’s precisely what she is: sunshine in human form. She’s got that bottomless-mimosa energy, the friend who you could listen to tell stories morning, noon, and night.

Benedict

Where other names on this list are a wink and a nod to brunch, Benedict is brunch. There’s no metaphor here — it’s a tribute to our literal favorite item on the menu. So, yeah, the name Benedict is a little extra but in the best way. It means “blessed,” and aren’t we all when we’re staring down at a plate of English muffins and perfectly poached eggs floating in hollandaise?

Wren

Small and soft-spoken, Wren is the friend you didn’t know you needed until she was there, perched in your life like a graceful bird on a tree branch. She doesn’t need to be loud or showy; she’s perfectly content nesting in a back booth with a good book.

Blanche

We would never pass up the opportunity to pay homage to the best and baudiest Golden Girl of the bunch! While this name means “white” and “pure,” we all know our gal wasn’t… and we loved her for it. Blanche is vintage glamour, morning cocktails, endless theatrics, and a wicked sense of humor. And you know she’s all up in everyone’s business, but nobody seems to mind.

Julius

This name means “dedicated to Jove,” and that doesn’t really say much. But for those in the know, it immediately transports us to a time and place where we were sipping a frothy orange drink in all its citrusy sweet goodness. Julius is equal parts Roman emperor and freshly squeezed OJ, and somehow that feels like the ideal brunch energy.

More Brunch-Coded Baby Names

  • Soleil — “sun”
  • Jude — “praised”
  • Rosemary — “dew of the sea”
  • Linus — “flaxen-haired”
  • Remy — “oarsman”
  • Oliver — “olive tree”
  • Madeleine — “one that evokes a memory”
  • Graham — “gravel area”
  • Mabel — “lovable”
  • Oscar — “champion warrior”
  • Gemma — “jewel”
  • Silas — “forest”

Which brunchy name of the bunch appeals to you?

]]><![CDATA[Parents On Reddit Share The Small Daily Rituals That Help Them Connect With Their Kids]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/parents-share-small-daily-rituals-to-connect-with-kids-reddithttps://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/parents-share-small-daily-rituals-to-connect-with-kids-redditWed, 17 Jun 2026 16:37:06 GMT

Family life is busy. Parents work, kids have school, and even in the summertime it can feel like you’re constantly shuttling everyone between camps, sports, and family get-togethers. Though you do so much together, often it feels like you haven’t really connected with your kids at the end of those hectic days. On r/Mommit, one parent asked a meaningful question about how to connect amid the chaos: What small daily ritual has made the biggest difference in your relationship with your kids?

The answers are so sweet, and the perfect reminder that it really is the little things that matter most to our kids.

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how the big grand gestures, the trips, the expensive gifts, the perfectly planned birthday parties, are rarely what my kids bring up when they talk about feeling close to me,” said the original poster (OP). “It’s usually the small stuff. My oldest still talks about how we used to sit on the porch together after school and just decompress without me asking a million questions. My youngest lights up whenever I let her pick the music during our drive to daycare. I started wondering if other moms have noticed the same thing. Like, is there one tiny routine or habit that you kind of stumbled into that ended up meaning way more than you expected? Something so simple you almost feel silly mentioning it?”

So many parents responded that having a sit-down dinner as a family, as many nights as possible, is the ritual that helps them connect with their kids the most. Many of them make a point to ask about highs and lows of the day, in their own ways: Everyone around the table shares the rose and thorn of their day. Other commenters call them roasts and toasts, happies and crappies, or “good, good, buffalo” — two good things that happened and one that surprised you.

Other families do a recap of their day at bedtime. “We do what made us feel happy, mad, sad, scared, surprised, proud, and loved. It’s given us a great opportunity to surface feelings we pushed down during the day, especially when it comes to interpersonal kid interactions. My kid is still in pre-K, so it helps us also get a good read on how her day went and learn about how days can have a multitude of feelings in them.”

It seems like many families also use audiobooks as a way to wind down and enjoy stories together: “We listen to an audiobook before bed every night. She is 12 and isn’t tired of it. 30-45 minutes where we can just hang and listen together,” one commenter replied.

Here are some sweet daily rituals other parents use to foster closeness with their kids:

  • “We have a handshake… kiss, hug, high five, fist bump, thumb press, and sign language ‘I love you.’ She made it up at 3!”
  • “My 11-year-old and I do a few of the games on the New York Times app together every day. He’s actually gotten better than me at Wordle! It’s often my favorite part of the day, where we’re just quietly working together and cuddled up close.”
  • “My husband is reading Magic Tree House to my toddler. 1-2 chapters a night and she loves it.”
  • “Nighttime walk before bed. This was particularly special when my son was under 2 and had a late bedtime from still being on a multi-nap schedule, and he often went to bed after the sun was down. We’d walk around the neighborhood because there’s so much to see that you don’t in the day. Now he goes to bed around 7 or 8 so it’s still light outside, but it wears him out and we get quality time as a family.”
  • “I started watching thunderstorms with my kids. We live in the Midwest, where we get a lot of summer storms with lightning. The kids will come down even after they’re in bed and know I’ll let them sit at the big bay window with me to watch the storm come through. We have a lot of big old trees that will sweep back and forth in the winds, and I’ll crack the window so we can hear all the effects. It’s a good time!”
  • “Weekend movie nights. I set up pillows and blankets and stuffies on the floor and pop popcorn. They each get their own popcorn bowl and little ramekin of mixed-up candy (mixture from whatever is leftover from a recent holiday). We pick a movie to watch together, and we let them stay up later than usual. I love the snuggle time and it’s so sweet when the whole fam is laughing together.”

In a social media world where it feels like all you see are the big Disney trips and spendy surprises, this thread is a great reminder that some of the best things in life really are free (or at least fairly low cost). An appreciation for the sound of the rain, and having it be a warm reminder of home, is a gift that will truly last a lifetime.

]]><![CDATA[Best Father’s Day Gifts 2026: 55 Ideas For Every Type Of Dad]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/fathers-day-gift-ideashttps://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/fathers-day-gift-ideasWed, 17 Jun 2026 13:30:08 GMT

Dads are some of the hardest people on earth to shop for. We all know this. If you ask them what they want, you’re likely to get one of three answers: “Nothing,” “I don’t know,” or the ever-helpful shoulder shrug. And it’s not because they don’t like stuff, because dads are the kings of stuff. But they rarely actually ask for much, which makes shopping for them weirdly tricky. A tie feels like a cop-out, a “World’s Best Dad” mug has been done to death, and he doesn’t need another pair of socks.

That’s why this year, the editors of Scary Mommy decided to focus on genuinely cool finds for the kind of dad you’re actually shopping for, whether he’s happiest on the golf course, blissfully off-grid, or fiddling with his latest DIY project.

So, here are the gifts we would happily give (and, in some cases, already have given) the dads in our own lives. No matter what type of dad he is, you’re sure to find something here he’ll actually use and be excited to unwrap.

For the Sporty Dad

Deluxe Beach Cruiser, 26-Inch, Cream

For the dad who keeps saying he wants to get outside more, this is the Father's Day gift that actually makes it happen! The Huffy Deluxe is a classic beach cruiser with an upright ergonomic riding position that's easy on your back and shoulders, and a single-speed coaster-brake setup that makes it genuinely effortless to ride. It comes with a front basket, rear rack, and a built-in cup holder so he can take his coffee on the road, and the padded spring saddle means he can actually ride it for more than ten minutes without complaining. It's a feel-good, no-fuss bike for the dad who deserves a little more joy in his daily routine. — Katie Garrity, News & Social Editor

BucketGolf

If your favorite dad is a golfer, he’ll quickly become obsessed with this super-fun on-the-go game. It comes with six pop-up buckets, flagsticks, balls, and a carry bag, can be used with whatever clubs he has lying around (and if you know golfers, you know there are always clubs lying around), and it sets up in mere minutes. We’ll be playing this at the beach all summer long. — Julie Sprankles, Deputy Editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment

Aion Weighted Workout Vest

This is such a high-quality piece and something that my partner would never buy for himself. I have the walking vest version from the same company, and it is really well-made and fits like a glove. I love that this one can be worn walking or working out, and that it benefits you whether you are trying to just be a little healthier or whether you are trying to level up your regular gym workout. — Sarah Aswell, Deputy Editor, News & Social

Nilight 20Inch 126W Spot Flood Combo LED Light Bar

Got a Jeep dad in your life? How about a boat dad? Even a golf cart dad will feel sporty as hell with this Nilight kit attached to his recreational vehicle of choice. It comes with a 20-inch combo light bar plus four little 4-inch pods, and that combo of spot and flood beams means he can light up the whole campsite, trailhead, or... wherever. — Julie Sprankles

Cann Social Tonic

For the dad who loves a cold drink but is trying to be more mindful about alcohol, Cann is the move. These cannabis-infused social tonics are light, sparkling, and come in genuinely delicious flavors like Blood Orange Cardamom, Lemon Lavender, and Grapefruit Rosemary that taste like something a fancy bar would charge $16 for. Each can has just 2mg THC and 4mg CBD, so the effect is a relaxed, social buzz without any of the next-morning regret that comes with a few beers. — Katie Garrity

Enbrighten UltraBrite Hex Lights

My husband loves working out, but was tired of paying for a pricey gym membership. He really wanted to turn our garage into the kind of home gym that made him want to go in and work out every night, and these hex lights were a great step in that direction. You can get multiple sets and snap them together to create different geometric layouts, and a remote lets him dial in the precise brightness level he likes. It’s also a nice bonus that Enbrighten donates 50% of net profits to humanitarian causes! — Julie Sprankles

Origin RTX® brrr° Cooling Performance Crew

My husband has fair skin and loves a good lightweight sun shirt for boat and beach days. These cooling crews come in long and short sleeves, and the material is so lightweight and quick drying. I love that the temperature-regulation is part of the fibers of the shirt, so it won't wash or fade away with time. I love using Father's Day to upgrade his basics or replace old items he uses often, so these are a great way of doing that. — Katie McPherson, Associate Editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment 

Zulu Powerfill Pro 24oz Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Quick Fill Lid

If he loathes fumbling with the top of his water bottle at the gym, golf course, or anywhere else he might need to stay hydrated, this Zulu Powerfill Pro water bottle is the answer. It’s the perfect size for portability (it slides right into the side of my husband’s favorite carry-on), and the lid flips open while staying attached for easy refills. — Julie Sprankles

RDX F6 5ft 2-in-1 KARA Training Punching Bag Set

For the dad who needs somewhere to work out his energy and wants to feel like a badass boxer doing it, this RDX punching bag arrives pre-filled and ready to hang and hit. The tough Maya Hide cover and reinforced stitching mean it’s not going to split open and have you wrestling with stuffing (even if Dad’s form is... questionable). Plus, it’s a pretty cathartic way to get a workout in. — Julie Sprankles

OluKai x New Heights Leather Sandals

OluKai flip flops are just the best — there's something about the footbed that is so perfectly comfortable. And this special collab with the New Heights podcast and the Kelce brothers makes these even more fun. They are super casual and perfect for the beach, but they look nice enough that you can wear them places most other sandals would look out of place. The quality and fit are just top-notch. — Sarah Aswell

The Fit Boxx

I love the idea of a gift that keeps on giving, and that’s exactly what the Fit Boxx is. This monthly subscription box comes with five to eight handpicked items, from workout apparel and gear to full-size supplements and recovery tools. I was super impressed by the quality of the items in our first box! — Julie Sprankles

Aecooly Misting Portable Fan

I’m a firm believer that not every gift needs to be a grand gesture... sometimes, something as simple as a hand fan can be the biggest hit. At under $40, this one’s a steal, especially considering how frickin’ good it works. It has five speeds, a refillable mist function, a battery that runs for hours, is pocket-sized, and is just all-around great for any dad who spends a lot of time being active. — Julie Sprankles

Arccos Smart Sensors

This would make such a cool gift for the golf dad! You just twist the little sensors into the end of each club, pair them with the app, and every shot automatically gets tracked. Then it turns that data into personal insights to help him improve his game. This system covers a full set of 15 sensors and a dedicated putter sensor, all of which are lightweight, weatherproof, and backed by a two-year warranty. — Julie Sprankles

Echelon Row

This one’s more of an investment, but if you’re looking to splurge on/spoil your favorite dad, this row machine makes for an excellent home gym upgrade. It folds up and tucks away when nobody’s using it, which is convenient, but it still packs a big punch — rowing works something like 85% of your muscles. I like that this model lets you connect over Bluetooth to a tablet you already own, and that the resistance controller is built right into the handlebars. — Julie Sprankles

For the DIY Dad

Leatherman ARC

This is the Porsche of Leatherman tools and exactly what I got my dad for Father's Day this year. Each one comes with 20 different tools, and it is just lovely to behold. This operates so smoothly, opens so effortlessly, and feels so great in your hand. I added a leather carrying pouch and engraved it with a sweet message to make it extra special. — Sarah Aswell

Nilight 40" Z Creeper - 2-in-1 Folding Rolling Mechanic Seat

My husband is a constant garage tinkerer, and it never occurred to me that a rolling mechanic seat like you see in the movies would actually be affordable. But this one is! You can convert it two ways (lying flat or sitting upright), plus the padding is thick enough that it won’t hurt his back. Even if he doesn’t really have any idea what he’s doing under the car, at least he’ll feel like a pro. — Julie Sprankles

Turtle Wax’s Inside & Out Complete Essentials Car Care Kit

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned in my marriage, it’s that if you give a man a bucket, he’ll be happy. So, imagine my delight that this comprehensive car cleaning kit comes tucked inside of a handy 5-gallon pail that he’ll probably love just as much as what’s inside: Turtle Wax’s All Wheel & Tire Cleaner, Max Power Car Wash, Wax & Dry, Wet’n Black Tire Shine, Dash & Glass multi-surface cleaner, a microfiber wash mitt, and four microfiber towels. — Julie Sprankles

Gorilla Made™ Gorilla Carts 7 cu. Poly Yard Cart

I kid you not, this thing is like the Tonka Dump Truck for adults. It hauls a beefy 7 cubic feet of whatever Dad needs to haul — be it mulch or soil or firewood or the random toys your kids leave scattered all over the yard — and has a patented rollover dump design to tilt the load out easily. The 2-in-1 handle lets him pull it by the hand or tow it, and the no-flat foam-filled tires will keep this puppy rollin.’ — Julie Sprankles

Little Woodchucks: Offerman Woodshop's Guide to Tools and Tomfoolery by Nick Offerman

My husband has been quoting Nick Offerman at me for years and he loves roping our kids into craft projects, so I figured this was just a no-brainer. A family woodworking guide, this super-cute book is packed with 12 kid-friendly projects that are genuinely designed to get everyone in on the fun. — Julie Sprankles

Bartesian Professional Cocktail Maker

DIY dads come in many different shapes and forms, and one of them is the dad who likes to DIY his own drinks. He’s probably even used you as his guinea pig in the past while he plays amateur mixologist. Save both of you future games of drunken roulette by splurging on this brilliant at-home cocktail maker. You pop in a capsule, it pulls from the spirit bottles, and — voila! — a perfectly made libation every time. This one’s for dads who take their role as resident mix-master seriously. — Julie Sprankles

For the Outdoorsy Dad

Big River Dry Bag

My partner wanted to try kayak camping, so getting him a large, high-quality dry bag was on the present list this year. These bags by Sea To Summit are great because they come in a large variety of sizes, are easy to carry, and very durable. And once we got one, we realized how much different stuff it can be used for, like going to the kids' sports games on rainy days. — Sarah Aswell

Nomad Cooking Kit

This was such a good little addition to our car camping gear: a set of really nice kitchen utensils, including two knives (serrated and not), a corkscrew, and a veggie peeler. We will never be caught out in the woods with a bottle of wine and no way to open it again! — Sarah Aswell

Infinity X1 2000L Camp Site Light

Just when you thought you did not need one more camping gadget... this thing is so cool! A rechargable camp site light that easily lets you see what's going on all around you and sets up so quickly. I love the different brightness levels and the height you can get on it. I am so glad I will never put up a tent in the dark ever again. — Sarah Aswell

Praia Palm Beach Chair

My husband’s idea of a perfect day off involves planting himself somewhere, preferably with a view, and just relaxing for as long as he can get away with it. This Praia Chair is a win for him because it’s comfortable and features cool retro styling, as well as a win for me because we get to spend the day at the beach. I appreciate that it’s lightweight (only five pounds), folds flat, and has a strap to make it easy to tote. — Julie Sprankles

Forloh Solair Sun Hoodie

My partner is terrible about putting on sunscreen, so he loves this sun hoodie by Forloh that has an SPF of 50 and gives him great coverage of his arms, neck, chest, and head. It's also super breathable, unlike a lot of rash guards, making it easy to wear even in super-hot conditions. He has used it hiking, fishing, camping, and running — although it's also great for yardwork and mowing the lawn, too. It's worth every penny. — Sarah Aswell

Terracea Sorrel 3L Shell Jacket

You just cannot go wrong with getting your partner items to make it easier for him to be outdoors, no matter what. This shell jacket checked every box for what he needs, and it comes in bright, cool colors, too. Specifically, I love that this jacket is ready for every type of cold-weather activity, with a helmet-compatible hood and wrist gaiters to keep the snow out while skiing or snowmobiling. This is a high-quality company that doesn't get enough credit. — Sarah Aswell

Tivvy Pre-Packed Activity Bag

This is such a perfect Father's Day gift. It's a big duffle bag that is ALREADY PACKED for any type of fun outdoor day with the kids (or with friends). We just keep this in our trunk in case we spontaneously want to stop for outdoor fun at a park or at a friend's house. It comes with a soccer ball, a football, a basketball, a frisbee, and a pickleball set... but it also has a first-aid kit, a blanket, an air pump, and ponchos. — Sarah Aswell

Solbari Sun Hat

How to find a sun hat for a man that doesn't look silly or make him look like an explorer from the early 1900s? I thought it was impossible, but then I found these really handsome SPF 50+ hats from Solbari that were perfect. I love how the brim is wide enough for coverage but not so wide that he won't pack it. And I love that it really offers protection for both the head/scalp and his whole face. It's also super lightweight and packable. — Sarah Aswell

Titan Backpack Cooler

We live in Montana, and many of our summer days are spent hiking short distances to lakes and river beaches. That's all well and good, but it's such a headache to get cold drinks and snacks to these locations. That's where this backpack cooler comes into play. Dad can be the hero of the day by carrying this cooler and all of the family's snacks to any location — plus a couple of cold beers for him? — Sarah Aswell

Limitless Innovations TikiTunes Portable Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

For the dad who basically lives on the patio all summer, this is the most fun and functional Father's Day gift. The TikiTunes is a working tiki torch with a built-in Bluetooth speaker that streams music up to 30 feet. It adjusts to standard torch height, runs on regular tiki torch fuel, and the speaker delivers surprisingly solid sound quality for something that also literally has fire on top of it. It's the kind of gift that makes every backyard hangout feel like a party and will absolutely become the most talked-about thing at every summer cookout. — Katie Garrity

Carhartt Iconic Detroit Jacket

We’re huge fans of the Carhartt brand in our house — everything they make is rugged and durable and just looks good. I knew my husband would love this Iconic Detroit Jacket for those very reasons. He especially likes the lining, not to mention that he knows this jacket will keep him comfy and warm on whatever outdoor adventure he chooses. — Julie Sprankles

Fi Smart Dog Tracker Collar

This is for the dog lover in your life. We found out that AirTags just don't work very well when it comes to tracking pets. This GPS tracker has so many awesome features, from escape alerts to behavior tracking. It tracks the real-time location of your dog at any time, anywhere in the country, plus a lot more. Your nerdy pet-loving dad or partner will love this. — Sarah Aswell

For the Travel Dad

Bosca Dolce Mini Shave Kit

Yes, this is a little spendy... but I promise when you get a whiff of the hand-stained, full-grain Italian leather, you won’t regret a single penny. Seriously, inject this scent straight into my veins! I also love the idea of my husband having something beautiful and classic like this to take on his travels. — Julie Sprankles

Faro 29L Travel Backpack Set

For the dad who is always on the move, this is one of the most thoughtful and practical Father's Day gifts you can give. The Faro 29L is a fully featured carry-on travel backpack that meets most airline size requirements, so he can skip checked baggage fees entirely and head straight to the gate. It has a dedicated laptop compartment, a luggage pass-through sleeve, multiple organized pockets, and comes as a set with a matching toiletry bag so everything has a place. Sleek, spacious, and genuinely well-designed — the kind of travel upgrade that makes every trip smoother from the moment he packs it! — Katie Garrity

Catan On The Road Card Game

My partner loves playing board games, but we needed more games that we could take with us on the road this summer. This is a card version of Catan that is perfect for 3-4 players. I love that it really does capture the vibe of the tabletop game — this is just much faster and needs very little space. — Sarah Aswell

Heyday Active Noise Canceling Bluetooth Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

My husband is not an earbud guy — he wants the OG over-ears headphones, and he wants ones that have active noise cancellation. These Heyday headphones are great for long travel days because the padded cushions make them comfortable, and the battery lasts all day. Bonus: They’re affordable! — Julie Sprankles

Airback Carry-On

Some dads have to spend a lot of time on planes, and this Airback Carry-On is the perfect gift for them. You can fit a week’s worth of clothes in it, thanks to the built-in compression system — it’s genuinely so satisfying to use the air pump to suck all the extra air out and smoosh everything down. It also comes loaded with travel-smart touches, from a padded laptop pocket to integrated charging ports and even an optional built-in weight handle to see how hefty it is before lugging it around. — Julie Sprankles

Ohsnap! Snap Pack Dual-MagSafe® Qi2 Power Bank

There are few things worse than being on the go and having your phone battery die. If the dad in your life’s phone battery stays in the red, save him the stress by getting him this Snap Pack. It magnetically snaps right onto the back of his phone and charges super-fast, and unlike other power banks, you can stack other MagSafe accessories on top of it. — Julie Sprankles

“Matcha on the Go” Organic Ceremonial Stick Packs

For the dad who is trying to cut back on coffee or just wants a cleaner, smoother source of energy, this is such a genuinely great Father's Day gift — each stick pack is single-serve ceremonial grade Japanese matcha that dissolves instantly in hot or cold water, so he gets all the calm, focused energy of matcha without any of the clumping or prep work. It's USDA organic, pure single-ingredient matcha with no fillers, sweeteners, or additives, which means he is getting the real thing in the most convenient format possible. Toss a few sticks in his gym bag, his work bag, or his carry-on, and he is set wherever the day takes him! — Katie Garrity

Illo Wearable Sleep Pillow Mask

I’ll be the first to admit that I thought this thing looked bonkers the first time I saw it. However, after having tried it myself, I’m a convert — part sleep mask, part wearable pillow, it muffles sound, blocks out light, and feels soft and cooling against your face. My husband loves taking his on long flights since you can use it over your eyes or around your neck for support when sitting up. — Julie Sprankles

MiWiPE Travel Wet Wipes

If you’re putting together a gift basket for an on-the-go dad, these make an excellent addition. MiWiPEs are personal cleaning wipes that come in convenient packages so he can grab them for flights, road trips, or wherever the day takes him. They’re hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin, plus I love that the company is AAPI- and veteran-owned. — Julie Sprankles

Thompson Tees

This is such a great idea — T-shirts and undershirts that absolutely stop sweat stains from showing up. A great solution for work events, important outings, and basically any time you don't want to be embarrassed by pit stains. These are light enough to layer, but you can also wear them on their own. — Sarah Aswell

Nomatic 20L Travel Pack

Another great carry-on option, the Nomatic Travel Pack passes the dad test: It does at least two jobs at once. Inside, there are 22 pockets, including RFID-safe storage and a hidden compartment for cash or an AirTag. Other smart features include a dedicated padded laptop compartment, water bottle pockets with magnetic closure, a sunglass case, and an expansion zipper to increase storage from 20L to 30L. Oh, and the strap system converts it into a briefcase carry, so he can go straight from the plane to the office if he needs to. — Julie Sprankles

SimpliSafe Lighthouse System

This might seem like it’s out of left field, but when I asked my husband — who travels out of town several days of the week for work — what he wanted for Father’s Day, he said what he wanted most was for our kids and I to stay safe while he’s away. This SimpliSafe Lighthouse system pairs an outdoor camera with live monitoring agents who can actually see and speak to visitors or sound a siren if needed. Inside, it covers break-ins, fires, and floods with 24/7 monitoring and dispatch, plus a cellular backup that keeps it going even in a power outage. Bonus: No long-term contract to sign! — Julie Sprankles

For the Analog Dad

The Brick

I've been seeing ads for this, but they still didn't capture how cool and useful that this device is! I love that you can create tiers of different types of blocking for different types of focus — many focus devices didn't allow my phone to alert me to important texts or phone calls from my kids, for example. This is especially a great gift for Dad, who I know wants to be more present but is as addicted to his phone as anyone else. — Sarah Aswell

A Timeless Watchpiece From Palmstreet

I found a great vintage watch on Palmstreet, which is honestly one of the best places to shop for watches and collectibles if you haven't been on there yet. You can find incredible deals on authenticated pieces that you simply won't find anywhere else. A genuinely impressive watch at a price that makes it an easy yes! — Katie Garrity

Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2

This little speaker is the bomb.com. It has everything we want in a Bluetooth speaker: It's portable, has excellent sound quality, and is durable. It gets bonus points for just looking really cool, and it holds a charge forever. We take this bad boy with us on the boat, to the beach, anywhere outdoors, and people always ask where we got it, which makes it feel extra giftable. — Katie McPherson

Star Wars Death Star Puzzle + Trivia

For the dad who constantly quotes Star Wars (“Do or do not, there is no try!”), buy yourself a temporary reprieve this Father’s Day by distracting him with this 1000-piece double-sided jigsaw puzzle. It shows the second Death Star under construction on one side and a detailed schematic on the other, and it comes with 25 trivia cards to test his knowledge of the Empire’s Death Star saga and more. — Julie Sprankles

Canon Selphy QX20 Compact Photo Printer

This is such a cute idea for a Father's Day gift: a mini printer that easily allows him to print photos off of his phone of friends, family, or whatever he loves. This is so easy to set up, and the picture quality is great. It's also easy to keep in a drawer or cabinet when it's not in use. — Sarah Aswell

Gradebook by Berteau & Co.

Does anyone else have a teacher husband? My husband is a guitar teacher, and this beautifully designed gradebook makes tracking student progress genuinely enjoyable rather than a chore. It holds up to 40 students per page across 82 pages of clean, consistent grade-tracking layouts, with space for assignments, dates, subjects, and scores, all bound in a sturdy hardcover with a gold spiral binding that lies completely flat. At $19.99, it is an incredibly thoughtful and practical Father's Day gift for any teacher dad who deserves tools as dedicated as he is. — Katie Garrity

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

My husband swears he “doesn’t have time to read” ... but then he disappears into his phone for big ol’ blocks of time. So, I took a gamble on this, and it’s the first book in ages to actually pull him in. Dungeon Crawler Carl drops an ordinary Coast Guard vet and his ex’s prize-winning show cat, Princess Donut, into a post-apocalyptic, alien-run dungeon that doubles as a sadistic intergalactic TV show. With a premise as original and compelling as that, it’s no wonder this book gets such rave reviews! If your dad’s more of a listener, I heard the audiobook narration is supposed to be fantastic, too. — Julie Sprankles

Papier Monogram Pine Leather Notebook

For the dad who loves to write, journal, or just keep a good notebook on his desk, this is the most personalized and polished version of that gift. Papier's Monogram Notebook is fully customizable with his initials on the cover in a range of beautiful colorways and typography styles, so it feels genuinely made for him rather than just grabbed off a shelf. The paper quality is exceptional, the pages lie flat, and the whole thing is thoughtfully designed from cover to cover. It's one of those gifts that is simple on the surface but says a lot about how well you know him. — Katie Garrity

Lamy Safari Umbra Fountain Pen

For the dad who loves beautiful writing instruments or has always wanted to try calligraphy, this is such a thoughtful and genuinely cool Father's Day gift. The Lamy Safari is one of the most beloved entry-level fountain pens in the world, and this calligraphy set comes with three different nib widths so he can experiment with lettering styles right out of the box. It's the kind of gift that turns a casual interest into a full-blown hobby. — Katie Garrity

Walker's Scottie Dog Shortbread Cookies

For the dad who gets a little snacky when he’s putting together a puzzle or reading his book, you truly cannot go wrong with Walker’s shortbread cookies. But, specifically, get this Walker’s Shortbread Scottie Dogs tin. It’s filled with 18 little Scottie-shaped shortbreads that are melt-in-your-mouth good, and the tin itself is perfect for holding little odds and ends after it’s empty. Dog dads will really appreciate that every purchase supports the ASPCA. — Julie Sprankles

Umbra Tipsy Bottle Opener

For the analog dad who’d rather have something beautiful for his man cave than another gadget, the Tipsy bottle opener is refreshingly low-tech... and really cool, too. No batteries or screen, just polished cast metal that balances upright on its stand or any narrow edge. It’s a great conversation-starter for when he’s making drinks. — Julie Sprankles



]]><![CDATA[50+ Viking Boy Names That Guarantee They’ll One Day Have An Impressive Beard]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/viking-boy-nameshttps://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/viking-boy-namesTue, 16 Jun 2026 19:48:16 GMT
Ekaterina Vasileva-Bagler/Moment/Getty Images

When selecting a name for your soon-to-arrive baby boy, you’re probably taking all kinds of things into consideration, like family names, names you just like the sound of, names with a specific meaning or originating in a certain part of the world, names with a quality you’d like your child to eventually possess — like musical talent, warrior spirit, fiery personality, elegance, and charm. That kind of thing.

Which brings us to Viking boy names.

Like Viking names for girls, Viking boy names convey strength, courage, and the spirit of exploration. Most of them sound pretty cool, and many are still pretty unique. According to Viking tradition, babies are given names based on their association with certain qualities and personality traits, or the Norse god or animal that represents that quality. Of course, there’s no reason you have to take Viking naming tradition into consideration for your own child. Maybe you just really love the name “Leif,” or want your little guy to play hockey, or one day be able to grow a lush beard. Another Viking tradition involves naming babies after a highly respected relative or a local hero, so you can always go that route too.

In case you missed that day of history class, Vikings were seafaring Norse people who had the run of much of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Arctic between 793–1066 A.C.E. They also made it to the Middle East and North American (specifically, parts of Canada). They lived in the southern parts of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Today, the term “Scandinavian” is typically used in place of “Norse,” unless specifically referring to something that happened a long time ago.

Anyway, here are some popular Viking boy names and what they mean.

Aren

This name has been used across a number of cultures, but the version with Scandinavian origins means “powerful eagle.” It feels like a refresh of Aaron, which now sounds distinctly millennial.

Frey

The name itself means lord, but in Norse mythology, Frey or Freyr is also the god of sunshine, rain, fertility, and peace. It sounds like the word “fray,” which also hints that your little guy will be the type to jump right into the chaos and make his own way.

Magnus

Meaning “great” or “mighty,” Magnus is an ultra-strong name choice for a baby boy. It’s perfect for parents who like the sound of Max but wish it just had a little bit more oomph.

Rune

The Vikings used a runic library for all of their communication, but also for spells, rituals, and divination. If you are looking for a mystical name, perhaps this one-syllable wonder will speak to you.

More Viking Boy Names

  • Aesir: In Norse mythology, the governing family of gods, including Odin, Frigg, Thor, and Loki
  • Åge: “ancestor”
  • Alf: “elf”
  • Alvis: In Norse mythology, a dwarf who was to marry Thor’s daughter Thrud
  • Arne: “eagle”
  • Aric: “ever powerful”
  • Asbjorne: “divine bear” or “God gave me the strength of a bear”
  • Arkyn: “eternal ruler”
  • Birger: “save,” “rescue”
  • Bjarke: “bear”
  • Bjarne: “bear”
  • Bjoern: “bear”
  • Björn: “bear”
  • Bo: “to live” or “dwell”
  • Bragi: “the best” or “poetry”
  • Ebbe: “wild boar”
  • Erik: “eternal ruler”
  • Erling: “descendant of the Jarl”
  • Espen: “god bear”
  • Fenrir: In Norse mythology, a giant, monstrous wolf
  • Frode: “learned” or “wise”
  • Gandalf: “wand elf”
  • Gisli: “pledge”
  • Gorm: “honor” or “respect”
  • Gunnar: “warrior”
  • Harald: “war chief”
  • Helge: “holy” or “blessed”
  • Herleif: “warrior descendant”
  • Hrafen: “raven”
  • Ivar: “bow warrior,” “archer”
  • Kåre: “curly”
  • Leif: “descendant,” “heir”
  • Loki: the god of mischief and trickery, with the ability to shapeshift
  • Njal: “champion” or “cloud”
  • Njord: “strong,” “vigorous”
  • Ødger: “lucky spear”
  • Odin: Allfather of the Aesir, ruler of Asgard, and god of war, magic, and poetry
  • Olaf: “ancestor’s descendant”
  • Ragnar: A famous 9th-century Viking king
  • Sindri: “sparkle”
  • Skarde: “notch”
  • Sten: “stone”
  • Sune: “son”
  • Svend: “boy”
  • Thor: In Norse mythology, the god of strength, thunder, war, and storms
  • Toke: “Thor’s spear”
  • Torsten: “Thor’s stone”
  • Troels: “Thor’s arrow”
  • Trygve: “true” or “trustworthy”
  • Tyr: “war” and “justice”
  • Ulf: “wolf”
  • Ulrik: “heritage”
  • Vidar: the son of a supreme god and a giantess named Frid
  • Volund: “skilled”

So, which of these names is right for your little warrior?

]]><![CDATA[Is Anyone Else Secretly Tired Of Self-Improvement?]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/is-anyone-else-secretly-tired-of-self-improvementhttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/is-anyone-else-secretly-tired-of-self-improvementTue, 16 Jun 2026 19:33:33 GMT
Olga Rolenko/Moment/Getty Images

Anyone who knows me would probably describe me as Type A. My house is as clean as I can keep it with a 5-year-old, my car is spotless, and I turn everything in on time. For me, organization has always been life, even as a teen. So you can imagine, as social media became a thing and influencers rose to power, how voraciously I gobbled up the message that I could optimize nearly every facet of my life.

It started out innocently enough: inspirational graphics preaching that I had the same 24 hours in my day as Beyoncé, or a short video proclaiming I’d been peeling garlic wrong my entire life and there was a much easier way. Soon came the influencers and the gurus, with their tutorials about how you should do your makeup and what products you should buy.

It seemed harmless enough, and I liked how my foundation looked for the first time in my life. I followed workouts from fitness coaches online, ones they said would maximize my gains and minimize how much time I had to spend in the gym. Who wouldn’t want that?

Those were the days when our Instagram and Facebook feeds were still ruled by our actual friends, when we followed more people we knew than people we aspired to live like, and the ads were much fewer and farther between. It was a time before fitness trackers and wearables beaming you meaningless data about your body — what the hell am I supposed to do with an HRV reading? — and feeling the need to tell you when you didn’t sleep well or move enough.

When I gave birth to my son, the optimization content changed genres, and it wasn’t long before it turned toxic. I’d been scrolling TikTok for about a year by then and my algorithm had long ago pegged me as a pregnant lady, feeding me video after video of baby sleep advice, feeding tips, and more. Get the black-and-white fabric books for your baby’s tummy time; it’s better for their development! Make sure you contact nap because you’ll never get this time back, but also put them down to sleep or they’ll never learn how to doze off without you ever in this lifetime at all!

My child was a happy baby but a terrible sleeper, and the content in my feed convinced me that was my fault. I followed wake windows, I hired a sleep consultant, I did all the things all the people online told me I should be doing. What was I missing? Looking back it sounds insane, but his sleeplessness felt like it was in my control — probably because all the sleep consultants being pushed into my feed said it was.

Finally, one night when he was 14 months old, he just... slept all night. It had nothing to do with anything I did; he just slept. The frustrating simplicity of it was a wake-up call: Sometimes having a baby is just hard, and there is not always a way of solving for it.

I learned that lesson all over again in 2025, when, after a lifetime of chronic joint pain, fatigue, and headaches, I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, fibromyalgia, and POTS. My symptoms had always been there, but had intensified enough to interfere with my daily life. Some days I felt OK and others I felt like I’d been steamrolled, unable to walk through my house without getting winded or stand at the stove without my legs screaming in pain. I had crossed over into what author Meghan O’Rourke calls the invisible kingdom:

“Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place.”

When I scrolled through my Instagram feed, it felt like I was doing so from a kingdom away. Clinging to the top of the palace wall, I peeked over into a feed of fitness influencers doing workouts I used to be capable of, explaining the weekly split and diet plan that helped them pile on muscle mass efficiently in just six months. Or there were the busy mom accounts explaining the two-hour meal prep marathons they did every Sunday to prepare for the week, and the daily list of chores to do so your house never feels dirty.

Without the physical ability to clean every day, to work out with such intensity (or at all), to spend two hours straight upright and cooking, I saw the content in a new light — it felt completely f*cking pointless. We do not all have the same 24 hours in a day, because we don’t all have the same resources: health, finances, support systems, any of it.

I am still divorcing myself from feeling like when I work out, it has to be heavy lifting like I used to do, the kind that gets you the most muscle the fastest. Gentle pilates on the floor is what I’m capable of, so it’s what I do. I am trying to let go of the idea that I could be folding laundry every time I watch TV, or that I should be reading a book instead of screening Love Island at 9 p.m. every night. How I can optimize my life and my time is a way of thinking that’s deeply ingrained in my brain now; it’ll take some time to undo. But what’s the point of constantly striving to be better in all these ways if I never get to sit back and enjoy it?

Now, when an influencer tries to tell me there’s some better, faster, higher way of being or doing anything, I just get the ick. I don’t wear my fitness wristband much anymore because I simply don’t need all that information; I monitor my heart rate during exercise, but that’s about it. It feels like a start.

Treating my nervous system well is what’s actually going to optimize my life, and I’ll be damned if watching Love Island under a fuzzy blanket with a snack doesn’t soothe me every time. The influencers can take their busy mom pre-dawn runs and high-protein meal preps and shove it.

]]><![CDATA[41 Best Summerween Movies To Get Your Mid-Year Horror Fix]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/summerween-movies-summer-horror-watchlisthttps://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/summerween-movies-summer-horror-watchlistTue, 16 Jun 2026 18:00:42 GMT
Warner Bros. Pictures

As someone who lives for fall and spooky season, my biggest complaint about Halloween is that it's only one night... and that night is unfortunately still months away. But for those of us who need a horror fix in between, there's Summerween: a tradition that crams Halloween vibes right into the middle of June. And what better way to celebrate this pseudo-holiday than with a summer-horror movie marathon?

Maybe it's because we like to think of summer as a carefree time, but there's something extra disquieting about a horror that happens under the blazing sun. The terror seems to hit a little harder when it crashes summer camps and lazy, hazy days by the lake.

So, if you need the perfect way to microdose the spooky vibes you've been missing since October, go ahead and cue up some of these Summerween movie picks.

The Classics

Universal Pictures

Jaws (1975)

More than 50 years after the fact, Spielberg's shark masterpiece remains the gold standard of summer horror. See also: 100% the reason we all scan the surface of the water in paranoia before venturing past ankle-depth at the beach.

Friday the 13th (1980)

Let's hear it for the OG summer camp slasher! Friday the 13th walked so everything that has come after could run (frantically, through the woods, in the dark). If Summerween were a place, Camp Crystal Lake might just be it.

Sleepaway Camp (1983)

The other killer summer camp movie, this one’s a bit of a deep cut… in, like, the most literal sense. It’s unhinged in that special ‘80s horror way, and I’m honestly a little jealous you get to experience it fresh. Pro tip: The less you know going in, the better.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Nothing says summer road trip like a van full of young people making a series of catastrophically poor decisions under the blistering summer sun. You can almost feel the humidity seeping out of the screen, which somehow makes the tension even more unbearable.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

The lore of the fisherman with the hook is forever embedded in the millennial psyche, right along with peak Jennifer Love Hewitt screaming, “WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!” A seaside town, a deadly secret, a maritime killer — it’s a seasonal staple.

The Lost Boys (1987)

I would file this more under atmospheric horror than scary horror, but absolutely a must-see this time of year. A coastal California summer filled with vampires, motorcycles, saxophone solos, and glorious ‘80s energy? Please and thank you.

It (2017)

Based on Stephen King’s novel, It truly nails the feeling of how much possibility a summer holds… for better or worse. Here, it’s 1989, and a group of outcast kids must fight a shape-shifting entity inside the eerie Maine town of Derry. It goes without saying that none of us ever felt the same about clowns after Pennywise entered the zeitgeist.

Cabin Fever (2002)

Nothing ruins a sexy summer getaway quite like a flesh-eating virus! Eli Roth’s directorial debut sees a group of recent grads just trying to enjoy one last blowout at an isolated cabin… until things get really, really gross.

House of Wax (2005)

When a bunch of friends road-trip to a football game and get stranded in a weird-ass town, they stumble upon a wax museum that’s a little too life-like. This is dumb-fun, and (bonus!) it features the cultural milestone that was Paris Hilton’s onscreen demise.

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)

If you like your summer horror with a heavy side of levity, start right here. Two sweet, well-meaning hillbillies head to their rundown vacation cabin, where they get mistaken for backwoods killers by a group of vacationing college kids. Gory hilarity ensues.

The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

This modern classic parodies pretty much every horror trope you’ve ever seen while also managing to be a genuinely great horror movie in and of itself, and that makes it unmissable in my opinion. It starts with five friends heading to a solitary cabin for a weekend getaway, but it unfolds in a wickedly smart way.

The New Class

Universal Pictures

Us (2019)

What if the scariest thing lurking at your summer house... is you? That's the unnerving question Jordan Peele asks with this spin on the classic beach vacation movie, and Lupita Nyong'o answers with a truly chilling dual performance.

Sinners (2025)

Sweaty, sexy, scary... Ryan Coogler's genre-bending Southern Gothic vampire epic is the trifecta. Set during a swampy 1930s Mississippi summer, it follows as twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both Michael B. Jordan) encounter something sinister when they move back to their hometown to open a juke joint.

Send Help (2025)

What happens when a meek and seemingly dull woman gets stranded on a deserted island with her nightmare misogynistic boss after their plane crashes? Some bat-shit crazy stuff, that's what. You've never seen Rachel McAdams like this before.

Becky (2020)

If teenagers didn't scare the living hell out of you before, they will now. When violent criminals invade a family's lake house, young Becky must fight for survival, basically turning into a feral force of nature. It's like the homicidal version of Home Alone.

Fear Street Part Two: 1978 (2021)

If you haven't watched Netflix's Fear Street trilogy, what have you been doing? The entire franchise is fantastic. However, Part Two is a real love letter to summer-camp slashers, dropping us into Camp Nightwing for some nostalgic late-'70s carnage.

X (2022)

A wayfaring van of aspiring filmmakers, a remote Texas farm, the dead heat of 1979... I mean, c’mon, what could go wrong? Ti West's slasher is sticky, sun-drenched summer horror at its most raunchy and unapologetic.

Crawl (2019)

For those of us who live in the South, the fact that this movie's premise feels like it could actually happen just makes it all the more scary. Sure, it's highly unlikely you'll get stranded in your flooded home during a Category 5 hurricane with a horde of hungry alligators, but it's not impossible.

Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

I love a slasher that's self-aware, and this one is thanks to its razor-sharp Gen Z satire. The plot: A group of rich, self-obsessed 20-somethings throw a hurricane party in a mansion, decide to play a murder-in-the-dark party game, and start dying off. The big twist at the end will have you cackling.

Dangerous Animals (2025)

If you’re a sucker for shark horror, well, this should catapult to the top of your list. Here, Jai Courtney plays an unhinged serial killer who abducts his victims and feeds them to — you guessed it — sharks. Courtney is in top form as a villain, and Yellowstone’s Hassie Harrison shines as badass Zephyr.

The Final Girls (2015)

In this surprisingly emotional horror-comedy, a group of friends gets sucked into the cheesy ‘80s summer-camp slasher that made one of the teens’ late mom a scream queen, and they have to use everything they know about horror movies to survive. A perfect gateway point if you've got an older kid easing into the genre.

Talk to Me (2023)

One of the strongest recent horror releases, this A24 sleeper follows a group of Australian teens who discover a way to communicate with spirits... and things go about as well as you’d expect. It taps right into that being-young-and-making-terrible-choices energy that feels so fitting for Summerween.

The Blackening (2023)

In this gem that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough, a group of friends gather at a remote cabin (clearly a recurring summer-horror theme) for a Juneteenth weekend getaway and end up trapped in a deadly game with a masked killer. It’s a hilariously skewering riff on the whole “who dies first” horror trope (you know the one) that also delivers genuine suspense.

Even More Summerween Movie Options

Still not scared enough? Add these to the queue, too.

  • Disturbing Behavior (1998)
  • The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
  • The Ruins (2008)
  • I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
  • Ma (2019)
  • Piranha 3D (2010)
  • It Follows (2014)
  • Midsommar (2019)
  • The Burning (1981)
  • Lake Placid (1999)
  • The Wicker Man (1973)
  • Blood Hook (1987)
  • Summer of '84 (2018)
  • What Lies Beneath (2000)
  • Tourist Trap (1979)
  • Eden Lake (2008)
  • The Hitcher (2007)
  • Jeepers Creepers (2001)

So set your A/C to an October-ish temp and let the mid-year horror binge commence.

]]><![CDATA[When The Nicest Mom Isn’t Actually So Nice]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/when-the-nicest-mom-isnt-so-nicehttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/when-the-nicest-mom-isnt-so-niceTue, 16 Jun 2026 13:11:22 GMT
Fly View Productions/E+/Getty Images

Picture this: you’re at the playground, surrounded by fellow moms. One smiles down at her little boy, who grabs her hand and asks for a snack; another calls a warning to their daughter to be careful on the playground. The sun shines through the trees, a warm breeze floats through the air, and you’re about to have a conversation with other actual adults—thank goodness.

These women share the same hopes and dreams and struggles you do. You’re alike in many ways, despite your differences. This is your group, your team, your clan. You are moms.

But, inevitably, there is one mom who sticks out. You know the one. You often think she could be a character in a book, she’s so (insert not-so-nice adjective here). She’s a member of your group—sort of. She’s tolerated, because you are nice people, and you don’t believe in excluding others (you’re constantly reminding your own kids of this!). You know what it is to be a mother: wonderful and also so difficult. It means you’re surrounded by someone else at all times and yet sometimes so alone. You get it. And so, you welcome her to the group, even though sometimes, she makes you wonder what is up with her.

As a novelist and recovering academic who spent decades working in healthcare and psychology, I spend a lot of time thinking about what is up with people—and putting fictionalized versions of them in my books. The reality is that we are all dealing with something; the individuals I write about exist on the spectrum of antisocial personality disorder. In real life, that’s probably not the case, but regardless, spotting unhealthy relationships, manipulation, and sabotage in friendships before you get too deep can make your life (and your kids’) much easier and safer.

I’ve met these moms on the playground, on my daughter’s sports teams, and even in the PTA. When you first meet them, they are friendly enough; they look and act like any other mom! You think maybe we will be friends! But then you get to know them, and reality sets in–that feeling of discomfort, that hesitation to reply to the text message, the need to say something, because what are they thinking?

Here are red flags in mom friends (or anyone!) that I’ve taken note of over the years.

  1. The mom who puts down her child (and probably everyone else in her life). She tells you Liam isn’t that smart, or Mia isn’t that pretty. She may lack self-confidence, but that’s no excuse to bolster it by putting her own child down. If she’ll say this about her daughter or son, she’ll say it about anyone—including you or your child.
  2. The mom who wants to be BFFs from the moment you meet, despite barely knowing you. Perhaps she is lonely… but it’s not your job to be her entire world, which it feels like you’re quickly becoming. These are the people who coined the phrase love-bombing, and while they might seem great to begin with (always available, text back ASAP, down for anything), they often end up controlling and isolating you.
  3. The mom who knows better than everyone else, including the teachers, the principal, so and so’s mom, etc. We all have frustrations about our child’s school and the adjacent people, but sometimes we need to look for the common denominator, and when it’s one person, the issue is more likely them. If everyone is out to get you, maybe the problem is, ahem, you.
  4. The mom who is miserable and who wants you to be miserable right along with her. I once met a mom who was going through trouble in her marriage, and I felt for her—rough times, right? But she was simultaneously trying to dig at my marriage, to find a crack she could stick her fingers into, so we could be miserable together. I turned the other way and ran; life is complicated enough without someone actively trying to tear down your relationship.
  5. The mom who doesn’t hold her children accountable for their behavior… at the cost of your child’s safety. This mom is usually laid back, super cool, and wants to be everyone’s friend… while not minding her child. I get it, life is busy, and sometimes we need a break. But if your kid is endangering mine, that’s a problem.
  6. The mom who undermines you as a parent. On a hot day when my daughter was six, another mom offered her a popsicle. My daughter had already had a cold treat, within the hour, so I said no—we teach about balance in my family, and this was not it. The mother informed me a popsicle wasn’t going to hurt her, and of course she could have it. We took our ball and went home. Unless I think your child is in danger, I won’t override your parenting. It’s disrespectful, and I don’t know your kid as well as you do. I expect the same respect in return.

Look, being a mom is hard. I’m all for giving grace to people going through it – because we’ve all been there at one point or another. I also know the importance of trusting your gut – —if something feels off about someone, there’s a reason. Call it motherly intuition! We’re all trying to survive in this world, but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with another mom’s bad behavior.

Jessica Payne lives in Washington State with her daughter and husband and an internet search history that would raise eyebrows. A firm believer in strong coffee and stronger women, she writes about mothers who know how to handle a sniper rifle and a carpool schedule with equal precision. When she's not writing, you'll find her trail running through the forests of the Pacific Northwest as she plots her next fictional murder. She is the creator of the Substack community One Tired Mother.

]]><![CDATA[This Mom Has Some Advice For Anyone With A Daughter Going Into High School]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/daughter-going-into-high-school-advicehttps://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/daughter-going-into-high-school-adviceMon, 15 Jun 2026 23:53:06 GMT
JohnnyGreig/E+/Getty Images

Starting high school is not easy. And if you're the parent watching it happen, it's not exactly easy on your end, either. You want to say the right things, but you're not always sure what those things are. So much has changed since we were all fifteen: the phones, the apps, the social dynamics, and it's easy to feel like our daughters might tune us out before we even finish a sentence.

But here's the thing: some nuggets of truth have not changed. No matter what year it is or what social media platform she's on (the kids are still “snapping,” apparently), there are things that have always been true for girls navigating the world, and they always will be.

A viral video making the rounds right now, posted by @meshmom45, puts five of these truths into words. Here's what every girl should know before she starts high school.

Attention from older boys isn't a compliment. It's a red flag.

"If a guy has his choice of girls his own age and keeps pursuing younger ones, ask yourself why," the OP says. “The right person won't rush you, won't pressure you, and won't ask you to grow up faster than you're ready to. Trust the adults who love you," she adds. "They've seen things you haven't yet."

Anyone who makes you feel bad for having boundaries is not your friend.

The OP breaks it down clearly: "The girl who says you're being dramatic. The boyfriend who gets angry when you say ‘no.’ The friend who keeps pushing after you've already answered. People who care about you respect your limits. People who don't will keep challenging them. Know the difference.”

The internet is forever.

"Anything you send can be saved, shared, forwarded, screen recorded," the OP warns.

“Before you post or send something, ask yourself: would I be okay if everyone at school saw this? Because one day they might."

Always have an exit plan.

“Go places with people you trust. Keep your phone charged. Watch your drink. Listen to your gut. "If something feels weird, leave," the OP says. "You do not owe anyone an explanation. 'I'm heading out' is a complete sentence."

Set up a code word with your family ASAP.

The OP recommends that families have one simple “code word” that means a whole lot more.

“A word that means ‘Come get me’ — no questions, no lecture, no punishment. Just help. Most teenagers don't get stuck in bad situations because they don't know better," the OP explains. "They get stuck because they're scared to ask for help. Take that fear away before you ever need it."

As parents, we don't have to have all the answers, but we can do our part to give nuggets of advice to help our kids head off on the right path. Whether it's setting up a code word at dinner tonight or sending this video to your daughter with a simple “hey, watched this and thought of you,” that's enough.

]]><![CDATA[Aldi Is Giving Away Blind Boxes Of Groceries For All Of Us Kidults]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/aldi-blind-boxes-2026https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/aldi-blind-boxes-2026Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:58:19 GMT

Blind boxes with surprise collectibles have been dominating the toy aisles for years now, but what would a blind box for grown-ups look like? Well, Aldi is about to answer the question I didn’t even know we should be asking. From June 22 through June 25, the grocery chain is giving away themed blind boxes of groceries, for free, each filled with a curated mix of Aldi staples and selections that will be delivered straight to customers’ doors. Here’s how it works:

You can claim one of Aldi’s Blind Boxes every day at 12 p.m. ET on ALDIBlindBox.com from June 22 through June 25 — and yes, they are completely free while supplies last. You’ll enter your shipping information and the box will arrive at your doorstep, no pickup required. Each day, the blind boxes will have a new theme in keeping with current food trends, to help shoppers find new favorites in Aldi’s grocery aisles. Those themes will be:

  • The Snack Blind Box: Inspired by the magic of girl dinner, this box is curated for the devoted snack lovers, featuring premium cheeses, dips, crunchy bites, and sweets. You’ll be able to make an Instagram-worthy grazing board with this bundle.
  • The Fiber Blind Box: Everyone’s fibermaxxing these days. This blind box is loaded with “produce favorites and better-for-you picks,” according to a press release. It’ll simplify getting more fiber in your day while keeping things delicious.
  • The Protein Blind Box: “Filled with satisfying staples and surprising finds, it's an easy way to discover new protein-forward favorites to keep your goals and gains on track,” Aldi’s press release states.
  • The Mystery Blind Box: What’s inside this grocery bundle? It’s a complete and total surprise! The only hint Aldi has given is to say that “fans can expect a surprising mix of products from across the store that are about to become their new foodie obsessions.”

“The Aldi Blind Box taps into the excitement our fans already feel walking our aisles,” said Bridget Kozlowski, Aldi’s director of communications. “Our shoppers come to Aldi for value, but they also come for discovery. From viral Aldi Finds to tried-and-true products shoppers love to tell their friends about, people love the thrill of discovering something new here. With surprise unboxings more popular than ever, this is our way of helping customers discover even more favorites."

If you want to know which boxes are coming out on which day, follow @aldiusa on Instagram for the announcements. If you miss out on a blind box, don’t worry — shoppers can still find the featured products in stores.

]]><![CDATA[It’s Really F*cking Hard Not To Be A Helicopter Parent These Days]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/its-really-fcking-hard-not-to-be-a-helicopter-parent-these-dayshttps://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/its-really-fcking-hard-not-to-be-a-helicopter-parent-these-daysMon, 15 Jun 2026 13:39:19 GMT

Before I Had Kids™, I thought I knew the things I would worry about and the things I wouldn’t. We were all better parents before we became one, and it’s safe to say I’ve learned a lot in nearly 15 years of raising our four amazing humans.

My childhood was largely happy and uncomplicated, and it involved a great deal of free license to explore the world around me — be it on horseback, by foot, or on the back of an ATV. I grew up in rural southwestern Pennsylvania just outside of Pittsburgh, where rolling cornfields begin to rise into the Appalachian foothills. My parents encouraged independence at home and as we moved through the world, making sure we knew how to navigate life with an equal dose of caution and curiosity.

It’s hard to strike the balance between helicoptering and free-range parenting, but I’d say they did a pretty good job. They gave us the space to make mistakes as well as the support to weather them. That’s how my husband and I want to raise our kids, too.

We are finding it increasingly hard to imitate their approach these days. The things the algorithm pushes for parents to fear, like being kidnapped in a Walmart parking lot or using the bathroom at school, are not even statistically close to being the things that are most likely to hurt today’s kids, and as a result helicopter parenting has taken many different forms — but not for all the right reasons.

According to Pew Research, today’s parents are most worried about mental health, bullying, kidnapping, physical violence, drugs and alcohol, and gun violence, in that order. I myself worry about many of these things — how could you not?

The things many of us fear most are often vivid and terrifying, but the risks most likely to harm children are usually more ordinary and close to home. Traffic accidents, unsecured guns, drowning, mental health crises, unsafe sleep, and access to medications top that list. Parenting anxiety is often pulled toward the dramatic. That’s why we worry about mass shootings that understandably draw national attention — but it’s unsecured guns at home that are the biggest risk to our kids. Headlines scream about fentanyl, which is a legitimate concern, but they rarely mention the dangers in our medicine cabinets. It would be understandable if you wanted to wrap your child in bubble wrap, stick them in a room, and lock the door.

My own kids are living a very different childhood than I did. We live in a vibrant, diverse, walkable community. While there were only woods and cornfields outside of my front door, my children walk to school, the boba shop, and their friends’ houses. My older kids bike around town, and we battle about helmets constantly. We talk about how to interact in a community, how to use manners. How to navigate traffic, how to tip at a restaurant. My kids mess up; we keep trying. Our household has family members who navigate the world with disabilities and neurodivergence, which often requires creative parenting and extra thought as we consider independence, too. I know many of you are right there with me.

I have a circle of friends and neighbors who keep an eye out for our crew — and we do the same for theirs. They have full permission to “mom voice” any of my kids if they see them making missteps while working on their independence. I’ve used my mom voice on a few of theirs, too. In a world that feels increasingly disconnected, this village feels more vital than ever.

I’m working hard to drown out the noise that tells me to be anxious about the wrong things. I know there’s an almost zero percent chance of a stranger taking my kid in public, but I know the fear my immigrant neighbor has around letting her child walk to school in today’s America is valid. I empathize as I tamp down mild anxiety about my own kids walking to the library. I am ever-aware, as an adoptive mom, that my white children and my Black children live a different reality every time they step outside our front door.

To manage it all, I lean into my village even harder. I remind myself of the librarians that have watched my kids grow up, the friends and trusted shopkeepers who have eyes on my kids, and the many ways our community has worked hard this year in particular to keep our immigrant neighbors safe.

Due to my work covering the intersection of technology and parenting, I also spend too much time online. This is why I have to tell you, friends: We are largely worrying about the wrong things here, too.

I see so many parents who are afraid to let their kids traipse down the block or go up to a counter to order their own food, tasks my 7-year-old handles with ease. I don’t fault them for this; we are being spoon-fed this anxiety by tech companies that want to keep us scrolling. As a result, though, I see many of us tightening the reins in the physical world while letting kids loose in the digital one.

We are a tech-forward family who is focused on raising our kids with guardrails and good digital literacy skills, but it takes constant monitoring and conversation to do it well. We’ve had sneaking; we’ve had accidental spending. We’ve seen it all and I know it’s exhausting. I urge my fellow parents to resist the urge to snap too far back in the opposite direction, though. Barring kids from using the internet altogether can be just as harmful as unfettered access. Just like we teach our kids to do a myriad of daily tasks with increasing independence, we need to sit thigh-to-thigh with them and teach them to use the internet well, too. This is where teaching meets helicoptering: if you lay the groundwork by hovering a bit, you’ll have less hard work to do on the backend. You’re working yourself out of a job.

As we head into yet another summer, I’ve seen a lot of chatter (again, too much time online), about a “‘90s summer.” In the ‘80s and ‘90s, I spent my summers alternating between a babysitter and community day camps laden with puffy-paint related crafts before graduating to days alone spent on the phone with my best friend, in the barn, or watching hours of daily soaps. Similarly, this summer, we’ll utilize a patchwork of childcare and burgeoning independence to balance my remote work tasks with lots of dinners at the public pool. Some days will have more screens than I’d like, and other days will feel like quintessential snapshots of perfect summer memories.

I’d like to encourage my fellow parents to do the same too. Consider this my poolside State of the Union, as I raise a crisp LaCroix high: Raising independent kids is a gauntlet these days, but we can do it. This summer, let’s encourage independence where we can and offer support where we can’t yet. In the same way we clapped when our toddlers graduated from cruising along the coffee table to walking across the room alone, our big kids need to see us encouraging other first steps.

Just like toddlers, they will fall sometimes. There will be goose eggs (metaphorical or physical). That walk to the corner to mail a card, that first ice cream cone purchased without your help, the bike ride to their friend’s house — the pride on their face when they return home safely will tell you everything you need to know. It takes trust in our children, and in our parenting skills, to find that sweet spot between helicoptering and guidance, but it's what our kids need to thrive as adults in this world we are handing off to them.

Meg St-Esprit, M. Ed. is a journalist and essayist based in Pittsburgh, PA. She’s a mom to four kids via adoption as well as a twin mom. She loves to write about parenting, education, trends, and the general hilarity of raising little people.

]]><![CDATA[65 Cheap, Highly Rated Things On Amazon That Make You Look Better With Almost No Effort]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/cheap-highly-rated-things-on-amazon-that-make-you-look-better-with-almost-no-efforthttps://www.scarymommy.com/shopping/cheap-highly-rated-things-on-amazon-that-make-you-look-better-with-almost-no-effortSun, 14 Jun 2026 21:30:25 GMT

Looking put together doesn’t have to mean spending hours getting ready — or spending a fortune. Sometimes the smartest beauty, fashion, and self-care products are the ones that do the heavy lifting for you. From clever styling hacks and glow-boosting skin care to wardrobe upgrades that instantly elevate an outfit, these affordable Amazon finds make it easier to look polished with minimal effort. Whether you want smoother skin, shinier hair, brighter eyes, or clothes that fit just a little better, these highly rated picks can help you fake a little extra time, sleep, and glam without breaking the bank.

A Smoothing Stick That’s Like A Shortcut To Sleek Hair

A quick swipe of this hair wax stick can make an entire hairstyle look more polished in seconds. The nourishing formula helps smooth flyaways, tame baby hairs, and keep sleek buns, ponytails, and updos looking neat without feeling stiff or crunchy. Packed with plant-based ingredients, it glides on easily and washes out without leaving residue behind. Whether you're heading to work, school, dance practice, or a special event, it’s an effortless way to give your hair a more put-together finish.

A Caffeine-Boosted Serum For Brighter, Less Puffy Eyes

If late nights or early mornings are leaving your eyes looking less than refreshed, reach for this lightweight eye serum. It helps reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles with a potent blend of caffeine and antioxidant-rich ingredients. The hydrating formula also helps smooth and soften the delicate under-eye area without feeling heavy or greasy. Use it morning and night for a more awake, well-rested look — even when life says otherwise.

An Exfoliating Foot Cream That Gives You Pedicure-Worthy Results Overnight

Get your feet sandal-ready with this rich overnight foot cream that helps tackle dry, cracked heels while you sleep, so you can wake up to noticeably softer skin. Its exfoliating formula works to smooth stubborn calluses and improve texture without requiring endless scrubbing. Simply apply before bed and let it do the heavy lifting overnight. By morning, your feet will look and feel far softer with almost no effort on your part.

A Frizz-Fighting Blowout Essential For A Sleek, Glossy Hairstyle

It’s so much easier to maintain a blowout when humidity isn’t working against you. This lightweight styling spray helps create a smooth, glossy finish while shielding strands from frizz-inducing moisture for days. Activated by heat, it forms an invisible barrier that helps keep hair sleek, and also pulls double duty as a heat protectant, helping reduce damage from hot tools while cutting down on drying time.

A PDRN Serum Formulated To Give You That Glass Skin Look

A radiant complexion starts with this lightweight PDRN serum infused with salmon DNA. The silky formula absorbs quickly while helping skin appear smoother, brighter, and more luminous over time. Peptides, niacinamide, and holy basil extract help enhance elasticity, hydration, and an even skin tone. One reviewer who called it a “holy grail” raved, “Everything in the medicube product line lives up to the hype! I 100% recommend this serum in addition to their other products. Even my esthetician was impressed with the improvement in my skin!”

Root-Boosting Clips That Help You Get Voluminous-Looking Hair

Talk about an easy styling hack: These clever volumizing clips are designed to create height where hair tends to fall flat, helping you achieve that freshly styled look with minimal effort. Simply clip them in while your hair dries, then remove them to reveal added body and bounce. They’re lightweight, easy to use, and gentle on strands, making them a simple way to fake a salon-worthy blowout without spending extra time in front of the mirror.

Tinted Balms That Give Lips A Natural-Looking Pick-Me-Up

Made with nourishing organic ingredients, these tinted lip balms add a subtle wash of color that looks polished without feeling fussy. Wear one alone for an easy everyday look or layer it under your favorite gloss or lipstick for extra dimension. The hydrating formula helps keep lips smooth, moisturized, and ready for anything.

A Primer For Vivid, Crease-Free Eye Makeup That Lasts All Day

Bid farewell to smudged, melting makeup: This eye primer creates a smooth canvas that helps eye shadow apply more evenly while boosting color payoff and reducing creasing throughout the day. Whether you prefer a soft everyday look or a dramatic smoky eye, this simple prep step can make your eye makeup appear more flawless.

A Highly Rated Pencil That Perfects Your Brow Game

A few quick strokes of the right brow pencil can completely change the way your face looks. This dual-ended favorite helps shape, define, and fill sparse areas for naturally fuller-looking brows without requiring expert-level skills. The fine-tip pencil creates realistic hair-like strokes, while the spoolie brush blends everything together for a soft finish.

A Nail Strengthener That Leaves Behind A Glossy Tint

Damaged nails often need a little extra help. This strengthening treatment doubles as a subtle nail tint, helping conceal discoloration, ridges, and rough texture while giving nails a naturally healthy-looking sheen. The nourishing formula is designed to support brittle, weakened nails, making them appear smoother and stronger over time. Wear a single coat for a sheer, barely-there manicure or build it up for more coverage.

An Overnight Exfoliant That Boosts Glow By Morning

A great skin-care routine doesn’t have to involve a dozen complicated steps. This overnight treatment works while you sleep to help reveal brighter, smoother-looking skin by morning. The blend of exfoliating acids helps clear away dull surface cells, improve texture, and keep pores looking cleaner and less congested. It’s an easy addition to your nighttime routine that can leave skin looking more refreshed, radiant, and even-toned over time.

A Cult-Favorite Eyelash Curler For Wide-Awake Eyes

The secret to a wide-awake look lies in this fan-favorite curler that lifts lashes from the roots, instantly creating a brighter appearance without a single swipe of mascara (although you can add some if you like). The comfortable design makes it easy to use, while the cushioned pads help create a smooth, natural-looking curl instead of a harsh crimp. No wonder it’s earned such high ratings from reviewers.

Drying Drops That Help Save Your Manicure From Smudges

A fresh manicure always looks great... until you smudge it five minutes later. These fast-drying drops help speed up the waiting game by setting polish in about a minute, making at-home manicures far less frustrating. A few drops are all it takes, and the nourishing ingredients will condition cuticles at the same time. Whether you're squeezing in a quick polish change before bed or right before heading out the door, this little bottle can help you get glossy, polished nails without the usual downtime.

Satin Pillowcases That Help Keep Hair & Skin Smooth

This satin pillowcase is one of the rare beauty products that works while you do absolutely nothing. Its smooth surface creates less friction than traditional cotton, helping reduce bedhead, tangles, and overnight frizz while being gentler on skin. It can also help minimize sleep creases that show up after a night of tossing and turning. Beyond the beauty benefits, it feels cool, soft, and luxurious against your face, and comes in a ton of colors to suit your style, too.

Retinol-Infused Masks To Pamper Your Jawline & Neck

A little pampering can go a long way: These hydrogel lifting masks are designed to hug the chin, jawline, and neck area, aiming to help skin feel firmer and more hydrated after use. Infused with skin-care favorites like retinol and hyaluronic acid, they deliver a spa-like experience from the comfort of your couch. Whether you're getting ready for a special event or simply indulging in some self care, they’re an easy way to give your routine a more luxe feel.

A Popular Jewelry Cleaner That Restores Sparkle In Seconds

Even the most gorgeous outfit can lose some of its impact when your favorite jewelry looks dull or cloudy. This easy-to-use jewelry cleaner helps restore shine to rings, earrings, bracelets, and other treasured pieces in just minutes. The powerful formula lifts away buildup while helping jewelry look brighter and more polished, making even older pieces feel new again.

Moisturizing Gel Socks With A Vented, Breathable Design

These moisturizing gel socks are designed to soften rough skin while you go about your day or relax at home. The cushioned heel area is infused with nourishing ingredients that help lock in moisture and support smoother-looking feet over time. Slip them on regularly, and they can help transform dry, neglected heels with basically zero effort.

A Peel-Off Barrier For Manicures That Look Pristine

A flawless at-home manicure is a lot easier when you don’t spend half your time cleaning polish off your skin. This peel-off nail barrier creates a protective layer around your nails, helping keep polish, glitter, chrome powders, and other nail art exactly where they belong. It dries quickly, peels away easily, and can dramatically cut down on cleanup time.

Ceramic Thermal Rollers For Salon-Level Body

Want a bouncy blowout, but don’t know how to get there? These ceramic hair rollers make it easy to create lift, body, and soft curls with far less effort. Designed to work on a variety of hair lengths and textures, they help add fullness at the roots while creating movement throughout your hair. The result is that coveted, salon-inspired volume without the time commitment.

A Cuticle Oil That’s Earned Thousands Of Loyal Fans

Boasting a 4.7-star overall rating after more than a 100,000 reviews, this nourishing oil helps soften dry, rough skin while delivering hydration directly where brittle nails need it most. The lightweight formula absorbs quickly without leaving behind a greasy feel, making it easy to use throughout the day or before bed. With regular use, nails can look shinier, healthier, and less prone to breakage.

A Fabric Shaver That Refreshes Clothes In Minutes

A surprising amount of clothing can look brand new again with the right fabric shaver. This powerful tool quickly removes lint, fuzz, and pilling from sweaters, coats, blankets, and even upholstered furniture, helping worn fabrics look cleaner and more polished. The oversized shaving head covers a lot of surface area at once, making quick work of larger items, while the protective design helps keep delicate fabrics safe.

Gold-Accented Hair Ties That Double As Jewelry

A basic hair tie gets the job done, but these clever bracelet-style elastics feel far more elevated. Designed to look like chic jewelry when worn on your wrist, they seamlessly transition into functional ponytail holders whenever you need them. The stylish chain-inspired details add a polished touch to everyday outfits, while the stretchy bands hold hair securely without feeling harsh on strands.

A Versatile Castor Oil That Nourishes Skin, Brows, Lashes, & Hair

This castor oil earns its place in your beauty routine surprisingly fast. This multitasking oil helps condition hair, brows, and lashes while also delivering a boost of moisture to dry skin. The included applicators make it easy to target sparse brows and lashes without the usual mess, making daily use simple and convenient. No matter how you use it, this beauty essential offers plenty of benefits for very little cost or effort.

A Hyaluronic Serum For Plump, Bouncy Skin

Plump, smooth skin is just a few drops away. This lightweight serum delivers a surge of moisture courtesy of niacinamide and three different forms of hyaluronic acid, helping skin appear more supple. Whether your skin is naturally dry or simply needs an extra boost, adding this serum to your routine is an easy way to create that coveted dewy, well-rested glow with minimal effort.

Tailoring Rings For No-Sew, Temporary Clothing Alterations

A poorly fitting outfit doesn't always need alterations — it sometimes just needs a little creativity. These tailoring rings let you reshape loose tops, dresses, skirts, and scarves in seconds, creating a more customized silhouette without sewing, cutting, or permanent changes. Use it to create a cropped look, define your waist, adjust a neckline, or experiment with entirely new styling options.

Seamless Slip Shorts That Put Chafing In The Rearview Mirror

Designed to disappear under dresses, skirts, and fitted clothing, these slip shorts help create a smoother silhouette while reducing chafing and keeping you more comfortable throughout the day. The seamless design helps minimize visible lines, making them especially useful under lighter fabrics and body-skimming outfits.

3-Loop Earrings That Help You Fake Multiple Piercings

A perfectly layered ear stack usually requires multiple piercings and several pairs of earrings — but these create the same effect with a single piece. Designed to mimic the look of three coordinated hoops, they instantly make your jewelry collection appear more styled and intentional. Sparkling accents add just the right amount of shine, while the lightweight construction keeps them comfortable enough for all-day wear.

A Popular Seamless Bra Designed With Supportive Side Panels

Comfy and supportive, this seamless bra is designed with smoothing panels and flexible stretch fabric that comfortably adapts to your shape without digging in or creating unwanted lines. Wide straps help distribute weight more evenly, making it a comfortable option for all-day wear. “This is the most comfortable bra I've ever owned,” raved one reviewer, and another wrote, “The moment I put it on I knew this bra was going to be a keeper. It is so comfortable. I don't want to take it off the second I get home.”

No-Sew Buttons For Looser- Or Tighter-Fitting Jeans

A pair of jeans that almost fits can quickly become a wardrobe favorite with the help of these adjustable replacement buttons. They attach in seconds without sewing or special tools, making it easy to tighten or loosen the waistband for a more comfortable fit. They're also handy for replacing missing buttons on jeans, shorts, jackets, and other clothing. Small enough to keep on hand for fashion emergencies, they offer a surprisingly simple way to make your clothes look more tailored.

A Ribbed Tank With A Bra For Grab & Go Mornings

A great tank top can make getting dressed for a workout — or a busy day — feel effortless. This sleek, ribbed style combines the support of a built-in bra with soft, stretchy fabric that moves comfortably with you. The streamlined fit creates a smooth silhouette, while the moisture-wicking material helps keep you feeling fresh during workouts and beyond. Pair it with wide-leg sweatpants for the gym or shorts for everyday wear.

A Color-Correcting Concealer That Brightens Your Under-Eyes

A full night’s sleep isn’t always realistic, but looking like you got one can be. This brightening under-eye corrector helps neutralize the appearance of dark circles while adding a subtle boost of radiance to tired-looking skin. The creamy formula glides on smoothly, delivering hydration while creating the perfect base for concealer. Whether you're dealing with early mornings, late nights, or both, it helps make the under-eye area look fresher, brighter, and more awake in just a few seconds.

A Sun-Kissed Glow Without The Sun

Make your skin look more radiant and warm, even on makeup-free days, with these liquid bronzing drops. They add a customizable golden glow that blends seamlessly into skin, moisturizer, or foundation for a naturally luminous finish. It creates a fresh-from-vacation look, and even better, the vitamin C and glycolic acid-infused formula helps support a brighter, smoother complexion over time.

A Redness-Canceling Primer Infused With Soothing Cica

A great makeup look starts with an even-looking canvas, and this color-correcting primer helps create exactly that. The green-tinted formula is designed to visually tone down redness, helping skin appear calmer and more balanced before foundation ever touches your face. At the same time, it helps blur the appearance of pores and smooth texture for a more polished finish.

A Color-Depositing Conditioner That Keeps Your Dye Job Vibrant

If keeping your hair color looking fresh feels like a full-time job, this color-depositing conditioner can help simplify your life. Available in a variety of shades from platinum to rose gold and black, it deposits pigment while helping hair feel soft and nourished. It’s an easy way to revive fading color, boost vibrancy, or experiment with a new tone without committing to a permanent change.

A Layered Necklace With A Personalized Initial Pendant

This personalized necklace has a way of making even the simplest outfit feel more thoughtful and put together. The layered design combines the trendy look of paperclip chains with a custom initial pendant for a piece that feels both meaningful and stylish. The ready-made layered effect eliminates the guesswork of stacking necklaces, creating an effortlessly styled look in seconds.

A 3-In-1 BB Cream That Perfects Your Complexion

A beauty routine feels a lot easier when one product can handle multiple jobs at once. This BB cream combines lightweight coverage, hydration, and sun protection in a single step, helping skin look smoother and more even without time-consuming steps or the feel of a heavy foundation. The buildable formula creates a natural, skin-like finish that works well for everyday wear, whether you're running errands or heading to the office.

A Purple Hair Mask That Helps Correct Brassy Blonde Tones

Blonde hair looking a little more yellow? This purple conditioning mask is designed to give blonde strands some extra attention. Packed with moisturizing and smoothing ingredients, it helps leave hair feeling softer, shinier, and easier to manage, while the purple color helps eliminate brassy, yellow tones. It's especially helpful for hair that's been exposed to frequent heat styling, coloring, or everyday dryness.

A Shapewear Bodysuit That Still Lets You Wear Your Favorite Bra

This shaping bodysuit offers all-over support through the midsection and thighs, helping clothes drape smoothly without sacrificing comfort. The open-bust design lets you pair it with your favorite bra, while adjustable straps allow for a more personalized fit. Wear it with dresses or any body-skimming look.

A Volumizing Spray That Gives Life To Flat Hair

Especially useful for fine or flat hair that needs a little extra oomph at the roots, this lightweight volumizing spray helps create lift and body without leaving strands crunchy, sticky, or weighed down. Simply mist it onto damp hair before blow-drying to add bounce, movement, and shine that lasts throughout the day. “Works great! My hair is very straight and goes flat by the next day after washing it. This spray worked wonders,” wrote one reviewer, adding, “I found my new favorite volumizer!”

A Mess-Free Clay Mask Stick That Clears Pores Without The Hassle

Traditional clay masks have a tendency to be messy and inconvenient. This stick version makes the process much simpler, gliding directly onto skin without the need for scooping or spreading with your fingers. The clay-based formula helps absorb excess oil and leave pores looking cleaner while gently smoothing away dull surface buildup.

A K-Beauty Lip Gloss That Creates A Juicy, Plump Look

This glossy lip formula combines the shine of a gloss with the comfort of a balm, creating a juicy, hydrated finish that makes lips appear fuller and smoother. The lightweight texture melts onto lips without feeling sticky, while the vibrant tint adds just enough color to brighten your complexion.

A Setting Powder That Blurs & Brightens Your Look

Your makeup look can be smoother, softer, and more blurred with this lightweight loose powder. It helps lock everything in place while minimizing the appearance of pores and fine lines for an airbrushed effect. The finely milled formula blends seamlessly into skin, helping reduce unwanted shine without looking heavy or cakey.

Support Patches That Help Lift Heavy Earrings

If you have a gorgeous pair of statement earrings, you know how they can start pulling on your earlobes. These discreet support patches help provide extra reinforcement behind the ear, making earrings sit more comfortably and look better throughout the day. They can also help minimize the appearance of stretched piercing holes while giving heavier styles a subtle lift.

A Bronzer & Highlighter Duo For A Sculpted, Glowy Look

Feel like a makeup pro with this bronzer and highlighter duo that helps add warmth, dimension, and radiance to your look. The bronzer creates soft definition without looking harsh, while the highlighter adds a fresh, lit-from-within glow to the high points of your face. Both formulas are creamy and blend effortlessly into skin.

Spirals That Secure Updos Without The Frustration Of Bobby Pins

A polished updo doesn't have to require a handful of bobby pins and endless frustration. These spiral hairpins twist directly into your hairstyle, helping secure buns and twists with surprisingly little effort. The clever design provides a strong hold while remaining comfortable enough for all-day wear, making them a favorite for everything from messy buns to more elegant styles.

A Ceramic Round Brush That Helps You Create The Perfect Blowout

The difference between flat, lifeless hair and salon-worthy blowouts is a good round brush. This ceramic brush is designed to help create volume, smoothness, and shine while cutting down on drying time. The vented barrel promotes airflow for faster styling, while the specialized bristles help grip hair for better control and less tugging. Choose from multiple barrel sizes to achieve just the look you want for your length of hair.

A Ponytail Extension That Adds Wow Factor To Your Hair

If you’re looking to create a statement ponytail, this clip-in extension makes the transformation surprisingly easy. Designed to attach securely in just moments, it adds noticeable volume and length without requiring a salon appointment. The soft curls create a glamorous, bouncy finish that's perfect for everything from everyday wear to special occasions.

Frizz-Reducing Microfiber Towels That Are Gentle On Hair

These microfiber hair towels absorb excess water quickly, helping reduce drying time while being gentler on strands than traditional cotton. The lightweight design stays securely wrapped without feeling bulky, making it easy to get ready, apply skin care, or relax while your hair dries.

Root Touch-Up Powder That Fills In Regrowth Or Bare Spots

A few visible roots can make freshly colored hair look overdue for a salon appointment, but this compact powder offers a quick fix. The formula helps disguise regrowth, fill in sparse-looking areas, and create the appearance of fuller hair in seconds. Unlike sprays, the puff applicator gives you more control with less mess, making touch-ups simple whether you're at home or on the go.

A Multitasking Primer That Preps Your Hair For Styling

This leave-in treatment doesn’t just condition, it also helps detangle, smooth, hydrate, and protect strands from heat styling in one easy step. The lightweight formula won't weigh hair down, making it suitable for a variety of hair types and textures. In the words of one reviewer, “This product feels like a professional treatment without the salon price.”

Bow Clips That Are A Cute Step Up From Your Standard Claw

Make even the simplest outfit look more intentional with these bow claw clips. They combine the practicality of a secure claw clip with the charm of one of fashion's biggest accessory trends. Whether you're throwing your hair into a quick updo, a half-up style, or a low twist, they instantly add a polished touch with almost no effort.

Dermaplaning Razors That Brighten Skin & Prep It For Makeup

If your skin looks dull and your makeup never sits quite right, you might be missing a step: dermaplaning. These precision facial razors help remove fine facial hair and gently exfoliate the skin's surface, creating a smoother canvas for foundation and other products. They're also handy for shaping brows and cleaning up small areas between appointments.

Liquid Blush That Blends Into Skin For A Natural Finish

This creamy liquid blush just might be the fastest shortcut to a vibrant, healthy look. It blends effortlessly into skin, creating a soft wash of color that looks natural rather than overdone. The lightweight texture melts in seamlessly for a fresh, skin-like finish while adding just the right amount of warmth to your cheeks.

A Makeup-Setting Mist That Locks In Your Look

If your makeup fades by lunchtime, this ultra-fine setting mist is the secret to help lock everything in place. The lightweight formula leaves skin looking naturally polished rather than overly matte or overly dewy, while the micro-fine mist helps ensure an even application. The best part? It works with both powder and liquid makeup products.

A Structured Purse That Adds An Elevated Touch To Any Look

Even the most basic outfit will look intentional and elevated with this sleek buckle shoulder bag. The structured silhouette and minimalist design give it a bougie look, while the compact size still leaves room for your daily essentials. Thanks to the adjustable strap, it offers the versatility of both a shoulder bag and a crossbody, making it easy to adapt to whatever your day has in store.

Oval Sunglasses That Make You Look Cool No Matter What You’re Wearing

Channel your effortlessly cool side with these retro-inspired oval sunglasses. Lightweight and comfortable enough for everyday wear, they add a chic edge to everything from casual errands to vacation outfits. Choose from a variety of frame and lens colors for a look that’s perfectly you.

Everyday Socks With Subtly Ruffled Edges

When it comes to looking good, the details count — and that includes socks. These lettuce-trim socks add a sweet, vintage-inspired touch to sneakers, loafers, ballet flats, and even heels, making everyday looks feel more styled and intentional. Soft, comfortable, and easy to wear, they can be pulled up or folded down depending on the look you're going for.

Exfoliating Gloves That Help Soften Your Skin In The Shower

Slip on these shower gloves to make the exfoliation process incredibly easy. They help sweep away dull, dry skin while boosting the effectiveness of your favorite body wash or scrub. The textured material creates a satisfying lather and leaves skin feeling noticeably softer, smoother, and more radiant after each use.

A Rose Quartz Gua Sha That Aims To Sculpt & Reduce Puffiness

Designed to glide smoothly across the face, this gua sha tool can help reduce the appearance of puffiness while encouraging a more sculpted, well-rested look. Plus, the rose quartz construction makes the ritual feel extra luxurious. Pair it with your favorite serum or facial oil for a relaxing massage with an end result that looks as good as it feels.

A Swipe & Go Eye Shadow Stick With A Built-In Smudger

A beautiful eye look doesn't have to involve multiple brushes and endless blending: This creamy shadow stick in 41 shades glides on effortlessly, delivering luminous color that sets into a long-wearing finish in seconds. The built-in smudger makes it easy to soften edges or create a more dramatic look without reaching for additional tools. Choose from both matte and shimmery options.

Salon-Grade Nails You Can Just Press On

Instead of expensive salon visits (expensive and time-consuming), reach for these press-on nails. Available in 48 styles, they offer a quick alternative, delivering a professional-looking manicure in minutes from the comfort of home. Designed to look professionally done and feel comfortable, they blend seamlessly with your nail beds while providing impressive durability for everyday life.

A 3-Pack Of Classic Belts That Give Any Look The PerfectFinishing Touch

These simple belts can completely transform the way an outfit comes together. The slim leather style adds structure and definition without feeling bulky, making them equally useful with jeans, trousers, dresses, and oversized sweaters. The sleek gold hardware gives them a refined, elevated look that instantly makes everyday outfits appear more intentional.

Bra Clips That Hold The Straps So They Aren’t Visible

Frustrated with visible bra straps? These bra strap clips help convert everyday bras into a racerback style, making it easier to wear tank tops, dresses, and other tricky necklines without visible straps. They can also create a subtle lifting effect that enhances the fit of certain outfits while helping straps stay securely in place.

Teeth-Whitening Pens To Make Your Smile Sparkle

These convenient whitening pens make touch-ups simple, allowing you to brighten your teeth without bulky trays or lengthy treatments. Just paint onto teeth and smile until the formula dries. The compact design slips easily into a purse, desk drawer, or travel bag, making it easy to use whenever your routine allows.

A Chic Leather Band That Gives Your Apple Watch A Makeover

This slim leather strap gives your smartwatch a refined look that feels elegant rather than sporty. The narrow profile is subtle and unobtrusive, creating a more delicate silhouette while remaining comfortable enough for everyday wear. Plus, it comes in two sizes and 35 colors to suit your style.

]]><![CDATA[55 Bougie Things For Your Backyard That Are Actually Bargains]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/bougie-things-for-your-backyard-that-are-actually-bargainshttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/bougie-things-for-your-backyard-that-are-actually-bargainsSat, 13 Jun 2026 19:15:39 GMT

Give your backyard a bougie upgrade with these Amazon finds that are actually bargains. This curated list features some ultimate outdoor favorites, from storage to decor and lighting. Scroll through and find something that’ll make your backyard shine without breaking the bank.

A Decorative Garden Stake Set With A Gorgeous Beaded Design

Nestle this set of four garden stakes into flower beds and landscaping for an unexpected touch of bougie sparkle. The kit includes four stainless steel stakes and also comes with 100 yellow-colored decorative beads, four beautiful crystal finials, and all the nuts and bolts needed for assembly. The vibrant garden stakes are suitable for year-round use and are made to resist rust and fading.

A Natural Stepping Stone Crafted To Withstand Heavy Foot Traffic

Made of natural stone, each of these garden stepping stones has an irregular shape for an organic feel. Sold separately, each stone is approximately 12 inches by 16 inches in size and weighs around 17 pounds to resist shifting. It is intended for year-round use and withstands heavy foot traffic and varying weather conditions.

A Glass Mosaic Bird Feeder With Fly-Through Openings

This gorgeous glass mosaic bird feeder is as much of a feeding vessel as it is a backyard decoration. The 6-inch feeder holds approximately a cup of birdseed and has a mesh bottom that drains water and keeps seeds dry. It has two openings for a fly-through design and hangs on a sturdy 12-inch steel wire.

A 7-Piece Set Of Crystal Suncatcher Prisms That Create A Rainbow Effect

Hang this seven-piece set of crystal suncatcher prisms in a spot that receives sunlight, and they’ll create a mesmerizing rainbow effect every time the light hits them. The bougie-looking crystals are crafted from high-quality glass and range from 1.6 inches to 4.7 inches long. Along with the crystals, you will receive silk cords and hanging hooks for quick installation.

A Glass Peacock Birdbath For A Backyard That’s A Little Bit Extra

Help the bird population stay hydrated and add a vibrant decoration to your backyard with this glass birdbath. The blue glass dish has an 11.4-inch diameter and features a stunning peacock feather design. To ensure stability, the glass dish is supported by a sturdy stainless steel stake, so it’s durable as well as pretty.

A 6-Foot Cedarwood Pathway You Can Just Roll Out

For an instant backyard upgrade, unroll this curved garden pathway that seamlessly blends in with natural surroundings and provides plenty of walking room. It’s made from 100% natural cedarwood, which is weather-resistant, and the thick wood slats have a dense structure to prevent chipping and cracking. The pathway measures 6 feet long by 17 inches wide, and it includes six ground stakes to secure it in place.

Solar Garden Lights With Adjustable Copper Wires & Starburst LEDs

Add this pair of solar garden lights to your backyard to create a magical effect once the sun goes down. The thick copper wires that make up the starburst design are adjustable and adorned with 120 bright LEDs for an ambient glow. The garden lights are 35 inches tall, and they offer two light modes to choose from: constant and flashing. The solar panels automatically charge during daylight hours to produce up to 10 hours of bright light on a full charge once dusk hits.

A Solar Rabbit Garden Statue With An Antique-Like Bronze Finish

Add a touch of whimsy to your backyard with this adorable rabbit garden statue. It’s made from weather-resistant resin and has a beautiful bronze finish that makes it look like a priceless antique. The rabbit stands 11.4 inches tall and holds a solar lantern that automatically charges during daylight to produce up to 10 hours of bright light.

A Pair Of Dimmable Solar Sconces With Up & Down Lighting

Modernize your outdoor space with this pair of solar sconces that have a bougie design that makes them look much pricier than they actually are. They’re dimmable, offer four brightness levels, and produce an upward and downward stream of light for a cool effect. Their weather-resistant construction ensures they last through harsh conditions, whether it’s heavy snow or intense heat. Best of all, since the lights are solar, they don’t require electrical wiring.

Wind chimes with a deep, soothing tone

Let windy days become more meditative with these deep, soothing wind chimes. The weather-resistant aluminum chimes promote a tranquil vibe while also serving as gorgeous decor. Arriving in protective packaging, the chimes also come with a hanging hook that makes it easy to display right away.

A 6-Pack Of Faux Edging Bricks With An Interlocking Design

To give your backyard a polished look, snag this set of six faux edging bricks. They may look like stone, but the bricks are actually crafted from lightweight resin that holds up throughout the seasons. They have a genius interlocking design and are easy to install around mulched areas using the provided securing spikes.

A Set Of Outdoor Curtains That A Reviewer Called “Expensive-Looking”

Hang this pair of outdoor curtain panels to make your backyard feel like a bougie resort. The heavy-duty polyester panels provide privacy while allowing light to filter through. They have an elegant textured feel and feature eight stainless steel grommets along the top hem. Shoppers have claimed the curtain panels are worth every penny; one reviewer described them as “very good quality and expensive-looking.”

A Simple Hanging Birdbath To Attract Feathered Friends

Invite winged creatures to your backyard with this hanging birdbath that comes with a 12-inch plastic tray and everything you need to hang it from a hook or tree branch. It can be filled with water or birdseed, and is accessible to birds from every side. The tray is 2.2 inches deep to provide the ideal drinking and feeding conditions and is easy to refill as needed.

A Spa-Like Bamboo Water Fountain Spout With An Adjustable Height

Rest this 12-inch bamboo water fountain spout on a water container that’s between 10 inches and 18 inches wide to create a relaxed vibe in your yard. It has an adjustable height so you can fine-tune the water flow and create a steady stream. The spout is made from sustainably harvested bamboo and has a beautiful matte finish. It is shaped, sealed, and finished by artisans, making it double as a stunning outdoor decor accent.

Outdoor LED Net Lights That Offer 8 Light Modes For Tons Of Variety

Bougie up your patio with these outdoor LED net lights. The net measures 10 feet by 10 feet, and you can choose from eight light modes and connect up to three of these net lights together. The lights have a timer that keeps them on for six hours, then turns them off for 18 hours. Drape it over shrubbery or create an outstanding display by mounting it to your pergola ceiling.

A Pair Of Hanging Macrame Planters With A Self-Watering System

Practical and pretty, these two hanging macramé planters look beautiful and relieve the chore of watering for you. The 10-inch plastic pots feature a genius self-watering design in the form of removable trays that serve as reservoirs. The bottoms are equipped with drainage holes to prevent root rot and promote healthy growth. To hang the planters, use the provided 30-inch macramé hangers that add an eye-catching detail.

Slip-Resistant Stair Treads That Look Like Wrought Iron

Create traction on concrete, brick, stone, and textured steps with the help of this set of five rubber stair treads. They have a thick, durable, and slip-resistant rubber construction and feature a lovely cutout design reminiscent of wrought iron. The treads are made to handle harsh weather, resist cracking, and withstand everyday wear and tear.

A Chic Metal Table Lamp That’s Dimmable For Outdoor Dinners

Whether you’re hosting a bougie outdoor dinner party or just relaxing after a long day, let this metal table lamp set a relaxed tone. Its polished aluminum alloy design is incredibly chic and looks more like a high-end design store find than a budget-friendly Amazon bargain. The cordless lamp offers three brightness levels to pick from, and it’s rechargeable using a USB cord.

Interlocking Deck Tiles That Look Like Real Wood

This set of nine interlocking deck tiles may look like it’s made of wood, but it’s actually constructed from heavy-duty plastic (bougie look, budget price). The tiles measure 12 inches by 12 inches and are made up of four slats with enough space in between them to allow for water drainage. The backs have a diamond pattern for increased stability, and the tiles are easy to wash with a hose and basic cleaning tools.

A Farmhouse-Chic Raised Garden Bed With An Open Base

Grow herbs and veggies like a pro inside this raised garden bed with a round galvanized design. It’s 12 inches tall and has a 2-foot diameter. Made of galvanized steel, it’s durable, rust-resistant, and withstands extreme weather conditions. It has an open base for optimal drainage and airflow, and a soft rubber top that protects hands from the sharp metal edge.

An Expandable Trellis That’s Made Of Real Willow Wood

If you want to turn your backyard into a charming English garden, start with this expandable trellis that makes for an ideal backdrop for trailing flowers or ivy. It’s handmade using real willow wood and serves as both support and a lovely garden accent. The trellis is expandable, and it stretches from 47 inches to 120 inches long.

A 3-Claw Weeding Tool You Can Use While Standing Up

Pull weeds with less risk of straining your back, thanks to this popular weeding tool that has over 7,000 perfect ratings on Amazon. It’s 39 inches long and has three stainless steel claws, a pedal for leverage, and a comfortable 9-inch handle. All you need to do is step on the pedal, twist the handle, and pull on the tool to effectively remove the entire thing — no bending down required.

Small Iron Fence Panels To Section Off Garden Areas

Not only is this 20-piece garden fence an amazing bargain, but it also doesn’t require any tools for installation. The simple arched design is classic, and the rust-resistant iron construction is built with durability in mind — it won’t rot, warp, or fade over time. Use it to section off areas of your garden and create dedicated planting space.

A Trio Of Solar Brick Lights That Deliver 10 Hours Of Illumination

This trio of solar brick lights is so versatile that it can highlight pathways, add ambience to patios, and boost nighttime curb appeal. All they need is four hours of direct sunlight, and they’ll deliver up to 10 hours of bright illumination as soon as it gets dark. The lights are waterproof for durability, and the embossed pattern that covers the top and sides gives them an elevated look.

A Decorative Garden Hose Holder Large Enough To Hold A 125-Foot Hose

This decorative garden hose holder isn’t just visually appealing; it’s strong and spacious enough to accommodate a 125-foot hose. The heavy-duty cast aluminum construction is rust-resistant, while the powder coating provides additional weather-resistant protection. The wheel has a 12-inch diameter and boasts a traditional look that feels high-end and classic.

A UV-Resistant Outdoor Rug That Makes Your Patio Feel Intentional

To turn your backyard into a bougie outdoor oasis, start with this geometric outdoor rug. It comes in various sizes and is an excellent way to anchor a seating arrangement and add a pop of pattern. The outdoor rug is woven from waterproof plastic, and it’s UV-resistant, soft underfoot, and easy to clean. It’s also reversible, and the reinforced edges prevent fraying to ensure you can use the rug for many seasons to come.

A Retractable Clothesline That Supports Up To 40 Pounds

Pull out this retractable clothesline to air-dry laundry in the backyard without a permanent drying rack ruining the outdoor aesthetic. Made with heavy-duty stainless steel, it supports up to 40 pounds and expands to a maximum length of 14.1 feet. It includes all mounting hardware and uses a one-touch mechanism for effortless pulling out and retracting.

A Pair Of Magnetic LED Grill Lights With Flexible Goosenecks

Keep an eye on the grill, whether it’s day or night, thanks to this pair of LED grill lights. They have magnetic bases that create a strong hold and flexible goosenecks that rotate 360 degrees so you can adjust the lights’ angle. They are portable, weather-resistant, and include six batteries (three for each light) for immediate use.

A Weather-Resistant Deck Storage Box To Wrangle Patio Clutter

Store everything from outdoor cushions to garden tools in this 30-gallon deck storage box. It’s constructed from durable and weather-resistant faux rattan for durability. The storage vessel has built-in side handles and a lockable flip-top lid. It’s suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and there are no tools required for assembly.

Solar Step Lights That Illuminate Outdoor Stairways

Illuminate an outdoor staircase with this set of six solar step lights. They have large triangular solar panels and create eight to 10 hours of bright light at night after charging in the sun. You can install the solar lights on the steps in one of two ways. For a fast and convenient method, use the provided 3M adhesive tape. For a more secure and long-lasting method, use mounting screws to attach the lights in place.

A Steel Garden Tool Organizer That Makes Sense Of The Chaos

Contain rakes, shovels, brooms, and more in this compact garden tool organizer. It’s made of sturdy alloy steel, features 35 individual tool slots, and has a square-shaped design to prevent it from tipping over. The organizer is lightweight enough to move when needed, and it’s suitable for indoor spaces such as sheds and garages, as well as outdoor areas like a patio.

Solar Patio Lights With 10 Flickering Lanterns For A Cozy Look

Hang this 21-foot strand of solar patio lights to enjoy magical evenings in the backyard. Unlike regular string light bulbs, these create a flickering flame effect that looks realistic and has a mesmerizing quality. The solar lights are waterproof and have shatterproof plastic shells to withstand outdoor conditions. They charge during the daytime to deliver up to 15 hours of ambient flickering light as soon as dusk arrives.

A Pair Of Tiki Torches That Recreate Vacation Vibes At Home

Ideal for summer nights, this pair of tiki torches offers versatility through three height options: Use them at one of two ground-staked heights or use them as tabletop torches in their smallest 7-inch height. The tiki torches are crafted from durable metal and have a sleek black finish. Set them up for a festive night spent under the stars.

Plug-In String Lights Featuring Romantic Flower Bulbs

Drape these floral string lights over a pergola or weave them into shrubbery for a soft evening glow reminiscent of moonlit blossoms. The plug-in lights are adorned with 10 warm white bulbs that cast a romantic glow and are encased with delicate white flowers, which are weatherproof, of course.

Easy-To-Install Solar Fence Post Lights For A High-End Look

Elevate your backyard by topping fence posts with this four-pack of solar post cap lights. They feature a decorative design and are made from durable plastic that withstands wind, rain, sun, and snow. They are solar-powered and charge during the day, producing 10 or more hours of continuous light on a full charge.

A 14-Inch Metal Side Table That Conveniently Folds Down Flat

Not only is this metal side table super versatile, but it also conveniently folds down flat for out-of-season storage. The top has a cool cutout design featuring monstera plant leaf silhouettes. Sized just right for a small handful of essentials, it’s constructed from weather-resistant powder-coated steel.

A Freestanding Hose Holder That Won’t Tip Over

Safely and neatly store a hose up to 151 feet long in this freestanding garden hose holder. The metal structure can be staked into the ground to provide stability and prevent the holder from tipping over. The storage vessel is made from strong alloy steel, and it has a double-layer of rust-resistant coating to make it through any weather conditions.

Floating Faux Lily Pads That Decorate Any Pool Or Pond

Turn your backyard into a bougie Monet-inspired garden by adding these floating lily pads to ponds and other bodies of water. The nine-piece set is made from foam that floats around to make the artificial lily pads look just like the real thing. They appear delicate, but are sturdy enough to hold frogs and stay afloat when fish swim around them.

A Pair Of Strawberry Watering Globes That Provide 7 Days Of Hydration

Suitable for both indoor and outdoor plants, this set of two strawberry watering globes keeps plants hydrated for up to seven days. The whimsical globes adjust water flow based on the soil’s moisture level to provide consistent hydration. They hold 6 ounces of water and have a top-fill design for easy refills.

A Decorative Resin Stepping Stone That Doubles As Wall Decor

Nestle this decorative stepping stone into landscaping for a pop of bright color. The round decoration is made of durable resin and is hand-painted and features vibrant colored butterflies and lilies for a playful effect. Bonus: It doubles as wall decor and includes hanging hardware on the back for effortless mounting.

Hanging Planters With Solar Lights & A Self-Watering Mechanism

Given all the cool features, this set of two hanging planters is a serious bargain. The 10-inch planters are made of plastic and have a self-watering mechanism and drainage holes on the bottom to promote healthy growth. They include solar LED lights that give off a warm white glow and attach to the metal chains that hold the white planters. They’re a perfect way to add a moody touch to the outdoors with minimal upkeep required.

A 10-Pack of Colorful Lanterns Made Of Waterproof Fabric

If you want to throw a bougie backyard party, make a statement with this set of 10 colorful lanterns. The 10-inch lanterns are made of poly-blend fabric that looks luxuriously silky and is waterproof for practicality. The lanterns have an inner metal frame for support, and they are reusable, making them a great investment that’ll come in handy for tons of parties to come.

A Gothic Gargoyle To Adorn Your Downspout

This gargoyle gutter statue is actually a downspout extension in disguise. It has a weathered gray finish that makes it look like stone that’s been around for centuries. Besides bringing the gothic vibe, the gargoyle’s open mouth directs water away from the house to protect the foundation and prevent water-related damage.

A Breathable Privacy Fence Screen To Create A Backyard Hideaway

This privacy fence screen creates instant visual separation without having to splurge on a brand-new fence. The breathable mesh fabric is tear-resistant and has reinforced edging for enhanced durability. There are metal grommets along the edges of the screen to attach it to a fence using zip-ties, Velcro, or rope.

A Foldable 12.5-Foot Projector Screen For Epic Outdoor Movie Nights

Host a bougie outdoor movie night with the help of this 150-inch projector screen that’s actually a great bargain. The thickened white screen is opaque, crease-free, and delivers bright colors. It’s foldable for space-saving storage and easily washable for hassle-free maintenance. The screen is lightweight and can be fastened in place using hooks, brackets, nails, or double-sided tape.

Solar Rock Lights That Seamlessly Blend With The Surroundings

This pair of solar rock lights seamlessly blends in with the surroundings, making it a great way to illuminate pathways, pools, and landscaping. Engineered from resin, they have a textured exterior that resembles the surface of natural stone. The large solar panels charge during daylight and provide up to 12 hours of illumination on a full charge.

A Cordless Patio Umbrella Light With 12 Moody Color Options

An adjustable clamp makes this patio umbrella light suitable for most standard umbrella poles. The light is powered by six AA batteries and includes a remote control for easy operation from up to 20 feet away. You can customize the light depending on the occasion, choosing from one of 12 vibrant light colors. Mount it before your next al fresco dinner to ensure moody vibes.

A Metal Yard Sculpture That Looks Like Agave

For a sculptural backyard feature, get this agave plant metal art. The eye-catching piece is made up of various leaves for depth, dimension, and a realistic appearance. The sturdy sculptural plant is supported by a ground stake that secures it in the ground and isn’t visible to make it look like the plant is truly growing out of the ground. The metal art is weatherproof and suitable for outdoor use and indoor use, like inside a planter.

A Trio Of Citronella Torches Featuring Blue & White Tie-Dye Patterns

Use this trio of citronella torches to repel mosquitoes and adorn an outdoor tablescape. The table torches are just under 6 inches tall and feature striking blue and white tie-dye patterns. They hold 15 ounces of torch fuel, and when full, they burn for five hours. Light them to set a vacation-worthy vibe while also helping fend off pests.

Flame Packets That Turn Your Backyard Fire Pit Into A Rainbow

Toss up to three of these 10 colorful flame packets into a wood-burning fire and watch them turn the flames into an array of vibrant colors. They burn for an hour, after which you can add more to continue the rainbow-colored fire display. The packets burn completely, leaving no trace, and they are safe to use in both indoor and outdoor wood-burning fires.

A Small Smokeless Fire Pit You Can Set Up Tabletop

Enjoy the warmth and ambience of this smokeless fire pit that delivers a cleaner, smoke-free burn. It has a sturdy stainless steel construction and a clean-lined modern design. The base is slightly elevated, and the interior has a built-in ash pan that makes ash disposal quick and easy. The compact fire pit is portable and suitable for burning both wood and pellets.

A Heart-Shaped Wind Spinner Made Of Durable Stainless Steel

This heart-shaped wind spinner rotates as the wind blows for a stunning 3D effect. It’s made from stainless steel and has a reflective surface that adds to the mesmerizing effect. The metal is also highly durable and both rust and corrosion-resistant. The spinner is 12 inches tall, which makes it substantial enough to make it noticeable in the backyard.

A Waterproof Doormat With A Gorgeous Raised Pattern

Get this waterproof doormat to prevent tracking dirt inside. The heavy-duty mat has a nonslip rubber backing that stops it from shifting. The surface is decorated with a raised leaf pattern that is both pretty and practical, as it helps capture mud, dirt, grass, and other outdoor debris.

A Cushioned Hammock Chair That Supports Up To 500 Pounds

Settle into this hammock chair for a well-deserved moment or two of relaxation. The chair is sewn from soft cotton and features lovely tasseled details along the edges. It comes with two comfy cushions and has a built-in pocket on the side to stash a phone or book. The hammock chair supports up to 500 pounds, and it includes a spreader bar and hanging hardware.

A Magnetic Screen Door That Allows For Hands-Free Opening

This magnetic screen door lets fresh air in while keeping bugs and other pests out. It has a heavy-duty polyester mesh construction and is designed for standard door openings. The screen door allows for hands-free opening and features 30 invisible but powerful magnets down the seams that create a secure closure. The screen is easy to attach to doorframes with the included hook-and-loop tape and pushpins.

]]><![CDATA[60+ Viking Girl Names That Convey Strength And Power]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/pregnancy/viking-girl-nameshttps://www.scarymommy.com/pregnancy/viking-girl-namesFri, 12 Jun 2026 20:09:55 GMT
Stefania Pelfini la Waziya/Moment/Getty Images

If we were to ask a group of people to draw a Viking from memory, we’d be willing to bet that most of them would sketch a stocky, middle-aged man with blonde hair and a long beard to match. He’d likely be wearing some type of metal helmet — likely with horns — and be surrounded by dudes on a longboat, where they’re all singing fish songs while one keeps the beat with his fishing spear. OK, maybe not exactly that, but probably close.

But contrary to what we see in a lot of pop culture, women were Vikings, too. Not only that, but they had some pretty great names. (If you’ve ever seen an episode of The Golden Girls, you’ve probably heard at least a few of these in Rose’s St. Olaf stories.) Before we get into those, let’s talk about Vikings.

The first thing to keep in mind is that the term “Vikings” refers to the seafaring Norse people who lived in the southern parts of modern-day Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Eventually, the term “Scandinavian” replaced “Norse,” which should give you a better idea of the part of the world we’re talking about. Although given their propensity for sea travel and exploration, Vikings ended up on all kinds of expeditions in and around Europe, Northern Africa, the Middle East, the Arctic, and even all the way to North America (specifically, parts of Canada that they named “Vinland”).

So what do we know about Viking girl names? First of all, Vikings took baby-naming very seriously but did not have the benefit of online listicles for ideas and inspiration. Instead, they often gave children names associated with the qualities they wanted them to have (like strength, resilience, or grace), or animals or Norse gods who possessed these qualities. As in other cultures, it was not uncommon for certain Viking girl names to become popular in a royal family and be passed down through the generations.

The Viking Age lasted from approximately 793–1066 A.C.E., and by the end of that era, Christianity was on the rise; Biblical names began replacing those of Norse deities and animals. But those aren’t our focus today. Here are dozens of popular Viking girl names, along with their meanings and origins.

Áma

This is a beautiful ancient Scandinavian and Greenlandic name that means “eagle.” It’s perfect if you want a name with a strong meaning and soft sound, and one that won’t be difficult to pronounce for new people throughout your daughter’s lifetime.

Astrid

The most famous Astrid in recent history is probably the character from How to Train Your Dragon, but hey, she is kind of the best. Her name has Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish roots. It means “beautiful goddess” or “divine strength.”

Sigrid

Here’s a name that all but screams “Viking” while also being completely pronounceable. Sigrid is a Norwegian name that means “beautiful victory.”

Saga

If something about word names speaks to you, you have to consider Saga. In Norse mythology, Saga is the goddess of history, poetry, and storytelling, and the word itself means a long, detailed story, often following one family or group.

Yrsa

This name means “wild,” “mad,” or “furious,” which maybe isn’t how you want your baby or toddler to feel, sure. But honestly, this world could use more strong women harnessing their feminine rage for change, don’t you think?

More Viking Girl Names

  • Anneli: “my God is an oath”
  • Åse: “God”
  • Astra: “as beautiful as a god”
  • Bodil: “commanding”
  • Borghild: “battle fortification”
  • Brynhild: In Norse mythology, a maiden who was rescued by a man pretending to be her husband
  • Dahlia: “valley”
  • Darby: “deer park”
  • Eir: “mercy”
  • Elli: “Old age personified”
  • Embla: “Uncertain”
  • Erica: “Mighty ruler”
  • Estrid: “fair and beautiful goddess”
  • Frea: “love,” “beauty,” “war,” or “death”
  • Freya: In Norse mythology, the goddess of sensuality, passion, fertility and beauty
  • Frida: “peaceful”
  • Frigg: queen of Asgard, Odin’s wife, and goddess of beauty, fertility, and fate
  • Gale: “jovial,” “rowdy,” “light,” “pleasant,” or “merry”
  • Gertrud: “spear” or “strength”
  • Grid: “Frost giantess”
  • Gro: “gardener”
  • Gudrun: “rune” or “secret lore”
  • Gunhild: “war” or “battle”
  • Halldora: “half-spirited”
  • Heidrun: In Norse mythology, a goat that would eat the leaves from the tree of life and produce mead in her udder.
  • Hel: goddess of the Norse underworld
  • Helga: “sacred”
  • Hilda: “battle”
  • Idunn: “spring” or “immortality”
  • Inga: “guarded by Ing” (the Norse god of fertility and peace)
  • Jord: “daughter of night”
  • Kára: one of the famous Valkyries of Norse mythology whose name means “the wild,” “stormy one” or “the curly one”
  • Kelby: “farm near the spring”
  • Kelda: “spring” or “fountain”
  • Kirsten: “follower of Christ”
  • Liv: Origin: Swedish, Norwegian, Danish Meaning: Protection
  • Mist: one of the famous Valkyries of Norse mythology
  • Nanna: “daring” or “brave”
  • Noma: “fate”
  • Rana: “queenly”
  • Randi: “shield wolf”
  • Revna: “raven”
  • Rinda: a giantess from Norse mythology
  • Roar: “warrior”
  • Rúna: “secret lore”
  • Sif: “bride”
  • Signe: new victory
  • Siv: “bride” or “kinship” (also the name of Thor’s wife)
  • Svanhild: In Norse mythology, the daughter of Sigurd and Gudrun
  • Thurid: “beautiful thunder”
  • Thyra: a derivative of Tyr, the Norse god of war
  • Tora: “thunder”
  • Tove: “beloved of Thor”
  • Ulfhild: “wolf battle maiden”
  • Urd: “past destiny”
  • Verdandi: “present destiny”
  • Valen: “strong,” “healthy,” “valiant”

Does one of these Viking girl names sound just right for your little warrior?

]]><![CDATA['Widow's Bay' Season 2 Is Officially Happening — Here's Everything We Know So Far]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/widows-bay-season-2-release-date-plot-updateshttps://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/widows-bay-season-2-release-date-plot-updatesFri, 12 Jun 2026 16:02:59 GMT
Apple TV

Since debuting in April, Widow’s Bay on Apple TV has become one of the most talked-about new shows of 2026. Set on a remote New England island plagued by increasingly bizarre supernatural happenings, it follows Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) as he tries to turn the eerie coastal community into the next Martha’s Vineyard — despite the fact that, oh you know, the island might just be cursed. Fans and critics alike have been riveted, tuning in each week from their presumably not-cursed couches with the lights on. And we’ve all been wondering: Will this breakout hit get a second season?

Well, if you’ve fallen behind in episodes, consider this your sign to catch up immediately: Apple TV just announced that Widow’s Bay will, in fact, be returning for Season 2.

The bad news? We only have one episode of the current season left, and then we’ll have to wait for production to ramp back up to find out what fate really befalls the mayor and all of his quirky constituents. Happily, though, creator, executive producer, and showrunner Katie Dippold has already given us some hints about what’s to come.

Has Widow’s Bay been renewed?

Yep, it’s official!

On June 11, Apple TV shared a short clip of the series on social media with the caption, “Mayor Tom Loftis declares Widow’s Bay remains totally safe and open to visitors. Widow’s Bay — Renewed for Season 2.”

Fans immediately flooded the comments in celebration over the renewal news, with some pointing out “we need more Patricia in our lives” and others calling Widow’s Bay the “best series of the year.”

When would Season 2 come out?

It’s still way too early to know for sure, but it’s never too early to start speculating. We know that the 10-episode Season 1 premiered on April 29, 2026, and the finale airs on June 17. Since Apple TV renewed the series before we even made it to the finale, we can deduce that they are eager to keep the momentum going.

Looking at other comparable Apple TV shows, the streamer’s prestige half-hours tend to run around 18 to 24 months between seasons (Shrinking took ~21 months, Bad Sisters over two years). Slow Horses seems to be the exception to this rule, cranking seasons out faster because they shoot back-to-back (which Widow’s Bay clearly did not).

If production gets underway later this year, a return sometime in the first half of 2027 seems plausible, although spring 2028 might be the more realistic bet.

What will Season 2 be about?

Here’s where things get even more fun. “Season 2 is about how everything is great on the island and there’s nothing to worry about,” Dippold joked in a statement about the renewal.

Of course, for anyone who’s watched even one episode of Widow’s Bay, you know better! And we can go ahead and assume that whatever happens in Season 2 will happen around Rhys’ Tom.

“It was important to me that he’d be smart, but he just happens to be wrong about this,” Dippold told Scary Mommy during a Season 1 junket, referring to Tom’s initial skepticism over the island’s curse. “And in a way that I think is understandable, because he has not seen anything supernatural with his own eyes in his lifetime. I like him being a bit of a control freak and having to wrangle these people around him... and there's a little bit of pettiness to him. There are a lot of different flaws that I just find humorous and fun to watch."

Apple TV

The other thing we can absolutely count on is more atmospheric dread courtesy of the island itself.

"I grew up in New Jersey, and I always romanticized New England — that kind of Stephen King atmosphere that I was always obsessed with," Dippold shared with us.

She revealed that the writers’ room actually built out a full history for the island, founded in 1681, completed with timelines and charts of past mayors. “I just wanted it to feel real, so you feel like you could take a three-hour ferry ride to this place. I really want there to be a feeling that there’s still a lot to discover,” Dippold shared, teasing, “There’s a lot of stuff that we brainstormed that we didn’t put in this season.”

In other words: Season 2 has plenty of cursed material to draw from.

So… could the show extend beyond two seasons?

It definitely looks that way.

Along with the Season 2 renewal news, Apple TV confirmed that Dippold has signed a multi-year overall deal, signaling a strong vote of confidence in both the series and its future. I mean, why wouldn’t they be confident? The show has been a critical darling since its premiere, currently sitting at an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

And here’s the part that has me most excited: When we mentioned that horror could use a lot more women behind the camera, Dippold enthusiastically agreed. “I love the horror space, and I think there needs to be more women in it. I totally agree,” she says. “I would love to do this kind of thing as much as possible.”

So, not only are we getting Season 2, but if Dippold gets her wish, we could get even more horror from her in the future. With a multi-year deal in hand, it sounds like she’ll get that chance.

In the meantime, you can stream Season 1 of Widow’s Bay on Apple TV. Just maybe leave the hallway light on.

]]><![CDATA[“I’m Not Even Remotely Attracted To My Husband Anymore” & 43 Other Mom Confessions]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/im-not-attracted-to-my-husband-anymore-mom-confessionshttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/im-not-attracted-to-my-husband-anymore-mom-confessionsFri, 12 Jun 2026 13:56:52 GMT
OR Images/Getty

Moms have around a million things going through their minds at any given moment. We’re wondering where the other baby sock is, how to placate our bosses, how we’re going to achieve her life goals, and whether we remembered to take the damn chicken out of the oven.

And beneath those everyday tasks and worries and logistics are the thoughts we don’t always say out loud: those moments of doubt, frustration, guilt, exhaustion, or confusion that can make us wonder if we’re the only ones struggling.

So, every week we ask Scary Mommy readers to anonymously “let it out” and share some of these thoughts they’ve been keeping tucked away — and everyone always has A LOT to say. Rest assured: You’re probably not the only mom who’s ever felt this way. Motherhood is messy and complicated and exhausting... and far more universal than it sometimes feels.

Scary Mommy Confessions are a tried-and-true part of what makes our site so fun. If you want to anonymously confess, look for our weekly callouts on Instagram. And to browse past Confessions, take a look here

]]><![CDATA[Ask Scary Mommy: How Can I Stop My Parents From Helicopter Grandparenting My Kid?]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/ask-scary-mommy-helicopter-grandparentinghttps://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/ask-scary-mommy-helicopter-grandparentingFri, 12 Jun 2026 12:59:06 GMT

Ask Scary Mommy is our weekly advice column wherein Scary Mommy editors and guest editors — fellow moms like you — will answer your burning questions. You can send all of your questions and conundrums about parenting, family, and relationships to askscarymommy@bdg.com (don’t worry — we’ll keep you anonymous!).

This week, all across Scary Mommy, we are discussing helicopter parenting: what it is, how its affected our culture, and how we should approaching it in our own parenting. And here’s a bit of a different angle: what happens if it’s not you who are doing the helicoptering?

Let’s get to the question.

Dear Scary Mommy,

My daughter's grandparents adore her but won't take her outside. Like, at all. No walks, no park, nothing. They're so scared of something happening on their watch that they've gone full fortress mode. I've told them I trust them and I wouldn't blame them if something went sideways, but they're still frozen. Any advice for getting them to relax before we lose an entire summer?

— Help For Helicopter Grandparents

Dear Help For Helicopter Grandparents,

One tough aspect of parenting is that you can’t parent your kid 24/7. You need help from others from time to time, and that means that other people, with other ideas about parenting, are going to be in charge of your kid.

While some caregivers, like babysitters and nannies, can be paid to take care of your kid in a certain way, friends and family cannot. That means its a lot harder to criticize or even suggest changes to their care, which I’m assuming they are offering for free.

I think the most important thing to understand about this situation is why they are giving off helicopter parenting vibes and keeping your child inside.

It could be that they think she is so very precious that they are terrified of something happening to her.

It could be that they are fearful of the consequences from you if anything were to go wrong — say, they lost her for a few minutes or she got a minor injury on the playground.

It could also be that they don’t trust themselves to do the job. Maybe due to age, they are slowing down, suffering from poor hearing, or can’t see as well as they used to.

Finally, it could simply be that it’s been a long time since they were parents, and they’ve lost their confidence that they can do the job.

Depending on what the problem is, there could be a number of different solutions.

We turned to our readers for some advice, too. As always, there were a few different camps. One camp thought that you should leave well enough alone, and just be grateful that your grandparents are ready and willing to watch your kid at all:

Why push them to be tense or uncomfortable when they are watching your baby?

Let them do what they’re comfortable with.

They may be more concerted with their physical strength/ability to safely monitor her.

Honestly, if they’re not comfortable outside alone with her, then don’t force them.

Give them grace. Mine can’t get around easily and fear being able to keep up.

But another camp offered the idea that you could slowly get them comfortable with the idea of taking your kid out, perhaps if you helped them along the (literal) path:

Take her outside with you and your grandparents. Let them see how you handle the situation.

Choose easy activities first, like chalk or a picnic so they can build up their tolerance.

Do some outdoor things when you’re all together.

Help them make their backyard safe and fun.

Do low-stakes activities outside first to build their confidence.

My parents are really anxious, too. Talk about it and do it together at the beginning.

Start small — porch first. Work up to the park or library.

And of course, as always, one person was a bit of a smart*ss.

Go on a group outing and... accidentally disappear.

Whichever route you take, I think both camps have some good points. First, it’s important to see things from your parents’ POV: they are older, slower, and their child-rearing days are far behind them. This is likely a little scary for them! But also, people can learn. Your parents raised you and your siblings, surely with a little practice they can take your kid outside at least a little.

— Scary Mommy

Have a situation that you’re not sure how to resolve? Write Ask Scary Mommy to get answers from real parents who’ve been there.

If it’s not obvious by the end of this article, we are not doctors or lawyers. Please don’t interpret any of the above information as legal or medical advice — go see the professionals for that!

]]><![CDATA[This Is A Story About Your Mother]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/this-is-a-story-about-your-motherhttps://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/this-is-a-story-about-your-motherFri, 12 Jun 2026 12:42:39 GMT
Dusan Stankovic/E+/Getty Images

Think of something you know about me. Something you know for sure.

My mother wanted to be a librarian and in the version of the story that I thought I’d always known, she gave up that dream to become a parent. She was in fact still in school when she put that ambition out of mind – her own widowed mother did not have the resources to support it. Did my mother ever feel remorse about not having had the opportunity to do both? No, she said;pursuing a personal career goal while mothering was something she simply wouldn’t have thought to do in Aotearoa New Zealand at that time. Still, she told me, it was a life she enjoyed and to my mind she excelled in her role as our mother, providing my sister and I with a wealth of love and attention.

In my thirty-ninth week of pregnancy, I was neither nesting nor getting ready for baby, but trying to finish an article on literary journals. Writing had, for the longest time, been my why – a compulsive, urgent habit, and one of the things that made me feel the most like ‘me’. I hadn’t thought out how parenthood would intersect, only that I supposed it would integrate seamlessly with my writing life as though in a merging lane. Ha! I want to say to that past self. Ha-ha-ha!

They say this is easy: the most natural thing in the world.

My experience of early motherhood feels like a complicated mess of emotions – not one definable thing or another, but a myriad all at once. Isolation, physical and mental pain, sleep deprivation to the point of mania, and a kind of betrayal in finding that ‘the village’ was not necessarily there. I remember walking my baby in his pram around the neighborhood on loop, looking down at my legs and thinking whose feet are those? I felt almost outside of my own body, as if I was inhabiting a strange and alien vessel. I remember telling myself that I should not be so ungrateful, that some women would do anything to be in my shoes. And I remember drying my baby off after a bath, laying him on the lounge carpet, the sun pouring in through the large window, his joyful smile and his dancing hands as he looked up at my face. The feeling of holding his small form in the crook of my arm. Not one definable thing or another.

I doubt I will be a good mother. I might be a terrible one.

When my son was 10 months old, I started him in daycare for a couple of days a week to begin a PhD in Creative Writing. Technically, I did not need to do this;I was in the very fortunate position where I could have stayed home fulltime. I wanted to do it. Writing was a desire all of my own and something I was still hungry for. Some mornings I near skipped out of the daycare center with a whole six hours ahead of me to drink hot coffee and write. I know that it made me a better mother in the time I did spend with my son, where we would roll and cut shapes from Playdoh or drive toy cars around a city mat. Other mornings, as my son became older, he would sometimes cry, raise his small hand and reach out, howling mamaaaaaa as I left. And yes, I still left. Those days were much harder to enjoy, though the daycare staff would assure me he had stopped crying minutes later and begun to play. I would tell myself I needed to work extra hard that day, to make those hours count. I hoped I was not causing irreparable damage to our attachment. That one day, he would be able to see all this as a positive. I loved him and I loved being his mother, but I also wanted to show him that I had dreams and was pursuing them.

But, I know how to move now. I know how to breathe.

What is the answer to the question I kept asking:was I a good mother? Or, in other words, did I get the balance right? I don’t have one, just that I’ve been the only version of ‘mother’ I could possibly be, and the one that’s been best for me. In those early years, there were short contracts or speaking opportunities I turned down due to the extra strain it would have placed on my family. I worried that people would stop asking and that they would stop sending those sorts of opportunities my way. But they didn’t, and the good thing about dreams is that you’re often able to pick them back up later, reshuffle them or adjust. Of course, I write from a position of privilege – the world is getting harder, seemingly crueller by the day. You’re doing a great job, my mother always used to tell me in the newborn days, which isthe best thing you can say to a new mum. And we all are, all in our own way. I did eventually finish the PhD, and over that time the various facets of my life seem to have somehow wound themselves together:writing, community, love, work and parenthood. Seven years on from becoming a mother, I marvel at this abundance. I’m thankful for what it offers. The idea that one day, I might get to look back with my son and my husband, and say, wow, look at what we did.

I am ready to sail with you.

*The title and sub-headings in italics are from Wallace’s 2023 poetry collection This Is a Story About Your Mother, published by Te Herenga Waka University Press, New Zealand.

Louise Wallace is the author of four collections of poems, including This Is a Story About Your Mother. She is the founder of Starling, an online journal showcasing the work of young writers from Aotearoa | New Zealand, and the editor of Orongohau | Best New Zealand Poems 2022. She is a recipient of the Biggs Prize for Poetry and a Robert Burns fellow. Ash is her first novel.

]]><![CDATA["I Like Rough Sex, & I Don't Know What That Says About Me"]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/i-like-rough-sex-i-dont-know-what-that-sayshttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/i-like-rough-sex-i-dont-know-what-that-saysThu, 11 Jun 2026 21:30:04 GMT
Jonathan Knowles/Stone/Getty Images

This story is an “as told to” and anonymous. The mom in this story is a mother of one, in her early 40s, living in the South.

I consider myself a strong woman. I’m independent, I’m outspoken, I like to be in charge. I would definitely classify myself as a feminist.

I also really, really like it when my husband chokes me during sex.

As in, hand on my throat, my back against the mattress, and me — a woman who has literally marched for women’s bodily autonomy more than once — absolutely losing my f*cking mind over it. Sometimes there’s biting. Or spanking. Hard. And even though I hate it when he tells me what to do in any other situation, I get incredibly turned on when he uses his “you’ll do as you're told” voice in the bedroom.

There are times I can’t even climax until he does something to dominate me. I come right as he wraps his hand around my throat or pulls my hair.

In the moment, I don’t think twice about any of this because this might actually be the best sex of my life. Definitely better than my 20s. But after some time has passed, a little voice always creeps into my head, wondering what this says about me.

I’ve fought really hard in my life to be taken seriously. I have fought to be heard, and I have absolutely fought not to be pushed around by men. So why does the thing that completely undoes me in bed have to be handing over every bit of that control to a man?

I like to remind myself that having bodily autonomy means deciding what I want to do and to have done to my body, so even being dominated is a form of empowerment. Because I’m choosing it.

But the question keeps nagging at me. Maybe I feel weird about it because it seems so at odds with my self-image? I guess what I really worry about is that my liking and wanting rough sex is some sort of internalized misogyny.

It’s not, though… right? Like, if I really think about it, the sex I’m having now is more catered to my desires and needs and arousal than ever before. We have rules and a safe word. My husband always slows down or stops to check on me if he’s worried things got a little too rough. Everything about me being dominated lives and dies by my consent.

And, also worth pointing out, my pleasure.

When I was younger, I never spoke up about what I wanted. I can count on one hand the number of times I had an orgasm during sex, because I basically just let my partners do whatever they wanted to do.

I’ve also noticed that I typically want this kind of sex the most when I’m tired of being in control. When I’ve had a shitty week at work and my kid has been a lot at home and I just don’t want to make one more decision, it just does something for me for him to take charge.

The other thing I remind myself is that my body is unaware of anything other than what it wants. It just responds to what feels good.

I’ll probably always have some mental hangups about this, and I’m not sure I’m ready to sign myself up for the type of therapy that involves talking to a stranger about it.

I do know that none of this would work if I didn’t trust my husband. I have a marriage where I can ask for exactly what I want, and not only does he try his best to give it to me, but he doesn’t shame me for it (I guess I have myself for that). And I know that I have a body that might look different from it did 20 years ago, but it knows what it likes way more now than it did back then.

If that makes me a bad feminist, I guess it is what it is. They say women contain multitudes… and some of mine just like to be spanked.

]]><![CDATA[What Age Can Kids Play Outside Alone? An Expert Weighs In]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/when-age-can-kids-play-outside-alonehttps://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/when-age-can-kids-play-outside-aloneThu, 11 Jun 2026 20:07:34 GMT
Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images

The struggle between protecting our kids and giving them independence has always existed. You want them to be safe... but you also want them to be able to survive without you hovering over them and steering them through every decision. Knowing they can make smart decisions even when you’re not around might just be the litmus test for whether you’ve done a decent job at parenting. Still, it’s not always easy to know when, exactly, you can put your guidance to the test. This feels especially true when deciding when it’s time to let your child play outside without you.

For many families with a privacy fence in the ‘burbs or clearly defined boundaries, giving your kids alone time outside isn’t something you ever question. You know they’ll be safe. However, there are other situations that require more thought, more worry. Our house is on the corner in an urban neighborhood. One of our streets is a major thoroughfare. Our yard is mostly fenced, but not private, and there’s a big gap. More importantly, our daughter has never met a stranger.

But here's the thing I often come back to: As a former apartment kid, I remember running ragged from one end of our complex to the other. We played roller hockey in the tennis courts until long after dark. We had Barbie beach vacations by the same lake our dads fished out of — not a parent in sight. And I’m still here. These memories start at age 5 and go on up until middle school.

So, when is a kid actually ready to play outside alone?

“Independent play for children is developmentally important, but it’s a parenting decision where everyone hopes for a clear rule. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way,” says David Smith, educator and CEO of Silicon Valley High School. “There is no specific age to set your child free outside or in an indoor play area. You have to consider how a child handles independence and what your environment looks like.”

So, shouldn’t I trust my 7-year-old in her own backyard? Was I too young to run loose? Or is she too old to still be this sheltered? It turns out that there’s way more to consider than simply the number of candles on her last birthday cake.

“At 7, a lot of kids are ready for short periods outside on their own, but a partially open, urban yard is a different situation than a fully fenced, private one,” says Smith. “You need to ease into it if there’s street access. The best thing you can do is to assess the risks and explain to your child what is and isn’t acceptable. Try a short stretch where you’re nearby and build up as you both get comfortable.”

For us, a security camera helps. It’s focused on our backyard to monitor the door where we have packages and groceries delivered. It turns out it also has a great shot of our cars parked on the street and of the playset in our backyard. We can hear and see almost everything. But not everyone has that view. And we recognize, too, that a good view doesn’t mean we can act quickly when we need to.

“A window or camera can be useful for a quick check, but they remain a backup,” suggests Smith. “You need to ensure your child knows their boundaries: where they can go, what they can do, what to do if someone talks to them, and when to check back in.”

Is there really “safety in numbers”?

I wondered if my worry was more about being an only child than about modern urban living. In apartment complexes, I was always with a million friends. Other times, I was traveling in a pack with all six of my rowdy cousins. If my kid had siblings to hold her accountable or friends to have her back, would that feel safer? I remember all the times my friends convinced me to do something stupid, and I’m not so sure.

Is there actually safety in numbers?

“Playing with other children can help, but it’s not a safety guarantee,” Smith warns. “Sometimes, kids take more risks when they’re together, because peer pressure is real. The key is whether your child understands the rules and sticks to them, even when they’re excited.”

Does maturity level matter just as much as actual age?

Smith says maturity should factor in just as much as what your neighborhood looks like, whether you have cameras, or if your kid has friends.

“In terms of maturity, look for consistency more than perfection,” advises Smith. “Do they follow instructions? Do they check in as agreed? Do they come inside when asked? Are they generally aware of what’s going on around them? If they do these things most of the time, then they can handle increasing stretches of outside independent play.”

He also says that questioning this milestone is a good thing for parents to do.

“Honestly, it’s a good sign when parents ask these questions and are thinking this through carefully,” Smith offers. “First-time parents, especially, experience everything more intensely. It’s okay to take it step by step and adjust as you go. That’s usually how you build confidence. So if your child asks and they show signs of maturity, then set the boundaries, and get them outside.”

A Checklist To Help You Decide If Your Kid Is Ready

Still looking for a cut-and-dry checklist? Here are some questions to ask before letting your kid play alone outside:

  • Do they talk to strangers?
  • Do they understand the difference between a stranger and a trusted friend?
  • Will they remember to check in at the agreed-upon times?
  • If you set boundaries, will they stay within them?
  • When they’re playing, do they stay relatively aware of what’s happening around them?
  • Can they follow multi-step directions?
  • Are they cautious around streets and driveways?

If your kid is handling these things fairly well, it might be time to cut them a little slack. That doesn’t mean that you immediately let your 5-year-old run the whole neighborhood. It might, however, mean letting them play in the yard on their own while you make a bathroom trip or do dishes near a window.

And if they mess up? If the next thing you know, they’re on the sidewalk chatting with that neighbor with the husky that you’ve never spoken to before? Or they run into the street after a loose ball? Then you might need to reevaluate. But you won’t know if they’re ready until you give them the chance to prove it.

Take a deep breath. Trust that you raised a smart, mature kid. And loosen your grip on the reins.

]]><![CDATA[10 Easy Sheet Pan Dinners So Simple They Basically Cook Themselves]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/easy-sheet-pan-dinnershttps://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/easy-sheet-pan-dinnersThu, 11 Jun 2026 19:40:57 GMT
Budget Bytes

Raise your hand if you’re tired: of work, of parenting, of scary headlines, of grocery prices, and more than anything, of cooking f*cking dinner. If you’re one of those people who loves spending time in the kitchen perfecting a recipe, more power to you. Some of us would rather eat a pair of jeans for dinner than have to plan and execute another meal. For nights like that, I fall back on sheet pan dinners so simple they basically cook themselves. Because slow cooker meals take forethought, and meal prep should’ve happened over the weekend — now we’re here, the fam is hungry, and I will scream if I have to stand over a stove.

Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma

All The Healthy Things

Marinate chicken. Bake chicken. Mix together yogurt sauce. Chop veggies. That’s the gist of All The Healthy Things’ chicken shawarma bowl recipe, which even the most reluctant cooks can agree is simple enough to pull off and tasty enough to repeat.

Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil

Damn Delicious

Damn Delicious has some incredible sheet pan recipes, including this sheet pan shrimp boil that would be so fun for a summertime family meal. Who needs to wait for a massive pot to boil and cook everything in batches when you could just throw it all in the oven?

Sheet Pan BBQ Meatballs

Budget Bytes

Budget Bytes’ sheet pan BBQ meatballs with charred pineapple rings, peppers, and onions would be so good served over sticky white rice or on some slider buns. It’s also not the kind of combo I think of when I’m putting together my weeknight meal rotation, so it’d be a welcome change of pace on a random Wednesday.

Sheet Pan Quesadillas

Family Fresh Meals

Family Fresh Meals’ sheet pan quesadillas are the perfect way to make a quesadilla dinner for a family without standing over a skillet and making them one at a time. This recipe calls for refried beans, but you could easily swap in ground beef or chicken, black beans, or fajita veggies to fit your family’s preferences.

Sheet Pan Honey Glazed Salmon Dinner

Ev's Eats

Tender salmon, sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts in an easy garlic and honey glaze? Ev’s Eats’ recipe keeps the ingredient list short and sweet and the execution simple, while still yielding a delicious and nutritious meal you’ll be happy to sit down with.

Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas

Feel Good Foodie

If you want a crowd-pleasing meal that gets in all your veggies and protein, try Feel Good Foodie’s sheet pan steak fajitas. They’ll only take you about 10 minutes to prep and 12 to cook before you’re stuffing your tortillas with steak, bell peppers, and your toppings of choice (pass the cilantro, please).

Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken & Ranch Bowls

All The Healthy Things

If you’re craving something tangy but sweet, savory and satisfying, go for it with All The Healthy Things’ BBQ chicken and ranch bowls. You get barbecue chicken, sweet potatoes, avocado, and pickled onion in every perfect bite, and you can top it with as much ranch as your heart desires — no judgment here.

Sheet Pan Fried Rice

Damn Delicious

Shrimp fried rice is the kind of takeout I crave on a random weeknight but wouldn’t think I could pull off well at home. Damn Delicious’ recipe makes it seem easy, though, and it’ll help you use up any leftover rice and veggies taking up space in the fridge.

Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage Dinner

Entirely Emmy

If you have 30 minutes and zero f*cks to give, try making Entirely Emmy’s sheet pan chicken sausage dinner. We are chopping ingredients, tossing in seasonings in olive oil, sliding that sheet pan into the oven, and walking away. This is a nutritious meal that’ll make you feel like you ate the rainbow.

Sheet Pan Pizza

Budget Bytes

Budget Bytes’ recipe explains how to make your own pizza dough if you’re up for that, but I would personally buy the pre-made one from the bakery section and call it a day. From there, it’s all about adding your favorite toppings and baking! Well, actually, baking a little bit first to get your crust perfect and not-soggy beneath the sauce. But then... toppings!

We are not going for any awards or Instagram-worthy plating here. But if you want a fed, happy family, these easy sheet pan dinners will get the job done.

]]><![CDATA[Jax Says Motherhood Is “The Most Heartbreaking Love Story Of All Time”]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/jax-motherhood-interviewhttps://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/jax-motherhood-interviewThu, 11 Jun 2026 16:40:59 GMT

Jax has always been vulnerable. The singer-songwriter’s most iconic songs put those emotions on display: songs like “Victoria’s Secret” that relay the deeply relatable feelings about the beauty standards pushed on young girls, and songs like “Like My Father” that are really an ode to her parents’ marriage.

Obviously, Jax loves the details, and motherhood has magnified them more than ever for her. She just became a mom a year ago, but the relationship she’s building with her daughter — the extreme cosmic shift that happens when you become a mother to a little person — is already changing everything. Her career has obviously shifted (now she wants to write songs detailing the postpartum experience, along with a children’s book), and her latest adventure has been a new podcast, Bad Ass Mother Friends. It’s exactly what it sounds like: Jax chatting with other moms about *everything* related to motherhood.

Because once you’re a mom, your world doesn’t shrink down; it expands. “There’s a lot I actually understand less now that I have a daughter,” she tells me from her home podcast studio. And the minute she says it, the minute my own brain chemistry shifts. She’s so right. Instead, we’re all filled with love, desperately wanting to save the world for our kids... all the world’s kids. And in turn, we can save ourselves. (It’s why she’s teamed up with StarKist® and Feed the Children for their “Put Child Hunger to Bed” campaign, using her platform to support families facing food insecurity.)

When we chat, Jax is just a few days away from her daughter Charlie’s first birthday, and we discuss how that milestone feels and how spiritual motherhood — especially when you have a daughter — can be.

Scary Mommy: Happy belated birthday! How does it feel to be 30?

Jax: Dirty 30! 30 was great. There was no tequila at all.

SM: Yeah, hard to have the birthdays you used to have when you’ve got a baby.

Jax: It’s been so crazy. I turned 30 in the same month she turns 1.

SM: How does that feel?

Jax: So painful. So incredible and so painful all at the same time. I feel like every day in this past month, my husband and I rock her, and we just keep looking at each other like, “This is the last time she's not going to be a little baby pre-toddler situation.” It’s painful, but it’s amazing. She’s incredible.

SM: 1 always feels like a really big deal because it's also a year of motherhood.

Jax: Yeah. We're just here. We're still alive. It's every single thing at the peak all at once, and then you blink and it's gone. It’s the craziest feeling. Just yesterday, my husband developed some film of our birth that he took photos of, and I was like, “Oh my gosh, who was I? Who is that baby? When was this?” No wonder people want to have kids so quick again because you just totally block it out of your memory, but it's awesome.

SM: I wish I could tell you it gets easier, but every year goes faster than the last.

Jax: I keep hearing that from moms, too. And you never really sleep again normally, even when your kids are out of the house and stuff like that. Motherhood, the relationship between a mother and her baby, is just the most heartbreaking love story of all time. It's just the most epic love story, but also every day is just like they're getting older and older, and every day is something you can't go back to yesterday from.

SM: You’ve written songs about the bond you have with your parents. Are you trying to build that same closeness with Charlie?

Jax: I feel like everything from this point forward, from having a baby on, has been so absolutely unique, it’s taken me off guard. The way my marriage operates is so much different than it was before having a kid. Our threshold for grace with each other is a lot bigger and also smaller. We’re really also snapping at each other, and then realizing, oh my gosh, in the way I was watching my parents and he was watching his, our daughter’s watching us and she's constantly scanning us. So, now all of a sudden it's bigger than looking out for our partnership, and it's bigger than looking out for our relationship.

Now, there's somebody in the room that's going to look at us and try to emulate that, and look at us like we're her heroes, the two rocks in her life. So now there's this whole new level of pressure and whole new romantic dynamic. It’s just so much in this last year that we’re relearning in our relationship and as we become parents.

SM: It’s such a crazy power to have — our babies watching us.

Jax: It’s healing in a sense. It’s like its own little therapy because you almost feel like you have this clean slate of a human being, and you’re panicking all the time that you’re going to ruin this clean slate of a perfect little angel. And then the other day I remember I snapped on him for something dumb, and then I noticed her see us. I noticed she got quieter. I’m like, “Oh my gosh, something we’re doing is affecting her nervous system, and that’s like 100% on me, and now it’s 100% on me to keep her regulated.”

SM: Did becoming a mother to a little girl bring up anything unexpected for you emotionally?

Jax: Since I was pregnant, I heard a lot like, “You'll understand when you have a girl,” and “Just wait until you have a girl.” And I think we all have heard that kind of thing growing up. I think especially everyone's like, “Look, those teenage years,” and this and that. But I think having a daughter has been... I cry when I talk about it, genuinely, because it's like all these wounds that weren't healed in me, I feel like I’m repairing them by having my own daughter.

There’s a lot I actually understand less now that I have a daughter. I think having a daughter is probably the most spiritual, the closest to God I’ve ever felt in my life. It’s the most spiritual experience I've ever had, and I’ve never felt more empowered than looking at this tiny little girl that looks like me and my husband combined. And I cannot wait to experience this mother-daughter journey with her and to learn from her. Every day she's teaching me something new, and she can't even talk yet.

SM: You mentioned regulating emotions. What do you do if you’re the overwhelmed one?

Jax: Oh my gosh, that’s the big question, isn’t it?

SM: We all have to ask each other because nobody knows.

Jax: Becoming a mother made me look in the mirror a lot harder than I ever have in my life. I think I also realized how unkind I am to myself. When you have a baby, it’s like all you can think about is protecting that life, and you totally forget that you have to protect yourself, too. Sleep and hydration and going outside for a walk — that was a huge part of postpartum. I was like, “I’m sinking,” and then all of a sudden I walk outside, I’m like, “Oh, air, right, oxygen.” I think I’d be a pretty awesome regulated person if I treated myself half as well as I do my daughter, so I'm working on it.

SM: I always say I need to parent myself like I parent my girls.

Jax: It’s not that crazy. Why are we doomscrolling when we don’t let them see screens? My husband and I have a rule in our house where we don’t do a lot of screens with her. Every now and then, she really loves dogs, so we throw on a dog montage on YouTube, but we try to avoid the screens — but I’m not going to freak out if it’s there. Something we really focus on is that only one of us at a time is on their phone.

SM: Oh, that’s smart.

Jax: We have to use them for work, but if he’s on the phone, then I’m locked in with her. But there’s never a moment where she’s looking at us, trying to communicate with her face, and she's getting that dead face response. There’s always one parent, but, by the way, it is not easy to do.

SM: Speaking of work, are you loving your podcast adventure? Has it been so fulfilling to talk to other moms and stuff?

Jax: The best. I had an emergency C, so that was a hard recovery coming out of postpartum. I'm finally approaching that year mark, and I think over the last three or four months, things have started to slowly ease back into feeling like myself again. And all of these moms coming in and out of here have been really helpful. They’re all like people I look up to and I’ve fangirled over forever, but I’m getting it in all stages, so I’m getting some moms that are new moms, some that their children are grown up and out of the house. I also wrote a children’s book, which is coming out in the next year.

Then we just recorded a postpartum album, me and my friend, who is currently in the thick of it as well. We actually used a breast pump as the beat for one of the songs.

SM: Stop. Everyone knows that sound, too. You lose your mind to it.

Jax: We looked at each other, because we were writing and she was pumping while we were writing, and we were like, “Wait a second. Should we just use this as a beat?” And postpartum, you kind of just like block it out of your memory and it's just like a blur. So, if I don’t write it down now and I don’t sing about it now, who knows if I'll even remember what it was like to have my first baby, and same with my friend who co-wrote it with me. So, it’s going to be called “Confessions of a Newborn Mother.” It’s goofy and it’s sad and it’s just me and a piano basically.

SM: I love this so much. And I love your StarKist partnership with Feed the Children. I always cared about others, but becoming a mom really makes you just want to take care of everyone.

Jax: In the same way, I used to love true crime documentaries — I can’t even watch them anymore. It’s like visceral anxiety. My chest tightens up just because the idea that that is somebody’s child. So everything is kind of hitting different in that sense. And I had no idea that one in five children in the U.S. has no idea if they're going to eat their next meal. That’s a real statistic. So, I think just being a new mom and getting involved, it's really fun. In September, for every StarKist tuna pouch purchased, one will be donated to the organization, up to 100,000 pouches.

This has been edited and condensed for clarity.

]]><![CDATA[23+ Best ‘90s Butter Mom Movies To Watch This Summer]]>https://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/90s-butter-mom-movieshttps://www.scarymommy.com/entertainment/90s-butter-mom-moviesThu, 11 Jun 2026 16:15:06 GMT

In case you hadn’t heard, the internet has decided it’s a “‘90 butter mom” summer. And, in case you aren’t chronically online, here’s what that means: We want comfort. We want coziness. We want the full-fat, unpretentious approach to motherhood that the movies of our youth made look so dreamy — which makes those very movies the perfect place to turn for inspiration.

Nobody in ‘90s butter mom movies is color-coding summer camp spreadsheets or trying to turn every minute into a core memory. They’re watering hydrangeas in their overflowing gardens, they’re pulling bundt cakes out of the oven in Nancy Meyers kitchens, they’re dancing in the living room. It’s a vibe. In fact, it doesn’t even necessarily have to be a movie about moms as long as it embodies that warm, over-saturated, appetite-for-life aesthetic of the ‘90s: linen-button-downs and kids riding bikes and picnic blankets and f*ck your modern beige minimalism, thank you very much.

So, go heat up some leftover spaghetti, grab a slice of bread (buttered, obvs), and cue up one of these movies that made ‘90s butter moms a thing.

Classic ‘90s Butter Mom Movies

Father of the Bride (1991)

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Diane Keaton’s Nina Banks is the blueprint. The ‘90s butter mom final boss. She’s the reason Father of the Bride is currently the most-searched butter mom movie. She set the standard with the way she floats through the impossibly inviting Banks family home (which we all 100% dreamed of living in), with its white picket fence and basketball hoop in the driveway. It goes without saying that Father of the Bride Part II (1995) should be watched immediately after.

The Parent Trap (1998)

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

It might not seem as though a posh wedding gown designer who lives in a London townhouse with her own butler and chic mother-of-pearl haircut would qualify as a butter mom, but it totally makes sense when you think of Elizabeth James as the mom who drops everything to make her long-lost daughter feel right at home. I’m also morally bound to mention that Chessy, the Napa housekeeper, is the Parker family’s true butter engine. The lemonade? The “I made cornbread and chili”? I rest my case.

Soul Food (1997)

20th Century Fox

In this dramedy about a close-knit family in Chicago, Big Mama (Irma P. Hall) *is* the aesthetic. A wise and deeply loving matriarch, she anchors her entire family through all sorts of ups and downs, and she does it all through her love language: food. When she passes, her family relies on Mama Joe’s favorite tradition, Sunday dinners, to bring everyone back together. Bonus butter mom: Middle daughter Maxine, played by Vivica A. Fox, is a chip off the old block.

Little Women (1994)

Columbia Pictures

She may technically be an 1860s butter mom, but Susan Sarandon’s Marmee was made for ‘90s butter momdom. How could she not, in her candlelit kitchen, singing and hand-knitting and dispensing wisdom to her four daughters? Marmee, the ultimate nurturer, represents the aesthetic in its purest, most lived-in historical form. The entire movie feels like a patchwork quilt that you can wrap around your shoulders.

Practical Magic (1998)

Warner Bros.

“In this house, we have chocolate cake for breakfast and never bother with silly things like bedtimes!” I mean, c’mon… that’s the most butter mom sentence ever committed to film. Aunt Frances and Aunt Jet live in a dreamy old Victorian house with a rose garden, conservatory kitchen, and the occasional batch of midnight margaritas (show me a butter mom without a little good-natured chaos, and I’ll show you a liar). This movie was cottagecore before cottagecore became a trend, and cottagecore is the gateway drug to the butter mom aesthetic.

Beethoven (1992)

Universal Pictures

Bonnie Hunt’s Alice runs a household that contains three wildly different (but equally headstrong) kids and a 200-pound slobbering mass of a Saint Bernard rescue dog, and she pulls it off in that classic ‘90s butter mom way — a little harried, sure, but always loving. Her home is the non-Pinterest version of the butter mom, and we adore her for it.

Home Alone (1990)

20th Century Fox

We had a “Halloween” movie with Practical Magic, why not a Christmas movie too? Butter moms know no seasonal limitations. Although Kate McCallister could easily be considered a controversial pick (she did, after all, forget her kid… twice!), she’s a butter mom when it counts. She crossed a damn ocean, rode in a van with John Candy’s polka band, and generally begged and bartered her way back home to get to her baby.

Hope Floats (1998)

20th Century Fox

Taxidermy-loving Texas grandma that she was, Gena Rowlands’ Ramona Calvert had real butter mom charisma. She took in her daughter and granddaughter in the wake of a devastating life change (she’d already taken in her grandson), and she does it all with a trademark blend of humor and no-nonsense advice. She managed to keep everyone in the house happy and well-fed, making the strong case that butter grandmas should also be recognized.

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

20th Century Fox

Make no mistake, there are two moms we need to talk about here: Sally Field’s Miranda Hillard and Robin Williams’ Euphegenia Doubtfire. Was the latter a real mom? No. Was she a real woman? Also no. But she gentle-parented Miranda and those kids in the most comically endearing way that she more than earned her spot on this list.

Now and Then (1995)

New Line Cinema

The moms are mostly in the background of this cult-favorite coming-of-age dramedy, but it’s got all the other necessary ingredients. Plus, the entire film is a love letter to the ‘90s butter mom kind of childhood so many of us are trying to recreate with our own kids: freedom, friendship, and unadulterated summer magic.

One Fine Day (1996)

20th Century Fox

If you’re looking for an excellent example of the filming aesthetic that makes ‘90s butter-mom movies so cozy, warm, and lived-in, look to One Fine Day. The colors, the lighting — why aren’t movies filmed like this anymore?! In this dramedy, Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney are two stressed single parents in New York City just trying to do their best… which in and of itself is so very butter-mom coded. See also: Pfeiffer in that little dino tee is high art.

Mermaids (1990)

Orion Pictures

This one will probably make you cry, but it’s still 100% worth your watch. Mermaids centers on an unconventional single mom (played by Cher) who moves her two daughters (played by Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci) to a quiet seaside town in Massachusetts. The setting itself feels very on-trend with the aesthetic, and there are some truly “buttery” scenes between this complicated trio.

Corrina, Corrina (1994)

New Line Cinema

Set in the ‘50s/early ‘60s, this movie sees Whoopi Goldberg’s title character coax a grieving little girl out of her shell through music, food, and just plain joy. The little girl, Molly, needs exactly the patient presence Corrina brings to their household, and isn’t that what all the best butter moms do? They heal us.

Parenthood (1989)

Universal Pictures

Yes, this is set in 1989 — close enough! This beaut of a film follows the interconnected lives of the messy and chaotic but unconditionally loving Buckman family. It’s got parents, it’s got siblings, it’s got grandparents and grandkids… so much life happens in their home, and even when it’s not perfect, it somehow is. This movie marks Dianne Weist's second time on the list (the first being Practical Magic), and her character in ‘87’s The Lost Boys can be considered an honorable mention.

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

Universal Pictures

Anytime food is at the center of a movie, it’s a good sign, and Fried Green Tomatoes is truly one of the best. Idgie, Ruth, Sipsey… the women here feed an entire Depression-era Alabama town out of one tiny cafe: fried green tomatoes, biscuits, pie, barbecue (“the secret’s in the sauce!”). And no one gets turned away, ever. Ruth is the heart, Idgie is the spice, and Sipsey is the institutional knowledge, and altogether, they prove that community is a huge part of the Butter Mom Collective.

Babe (1995)

Universal Pictures

Butter moms and farm movies sort of go hand in hand, and Esme Hoggett is the platonic ideal of the farm-wife butter mom: perpetually knitting and cooking and running a kitchen. She’s probably the butter mom at its most literal, churned right on site. All of the cute farm animals just sort of pile onto the aesthetic here.

A League of Their Own (1992)

Columbia Pictures

Granted, Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis) wasn’t a mom-mom in this movie, but she was something vitally important: a team mom. She kept the Rockford Peaches (and, namely her hot-headed little sis Kit) calm and functional while Tom Hanks’ Jimmy Dugan got his sh*t together. We could also make a strong case here for Dottie’s teammate Evelyn, who brought her bratty son Stilwell along on the tour bus and bribed him almost exclusively with chocolate bars.

It Takes Two (1995)

Warner Bros.

In this Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen caper, Kirstie Alley plays Diane Barrows, a social worker who takes a busload of orphans to summer camp. And at that summer camp, we happen to get one of the greatest food-fight scenes in cinema history — think sloppy joes, creamed corn, and messy spaghetti. She believes every kid deserves a second chance, and that ultimately lands her a mansion, a millionaire, and a daughter. The butter mom economy at work.

Toothless (1997)

ABC/Walt Disney Television

Here’s a Disney Channel deep-cut for ya: Alley once again as a dentist who dies (don’t worry, it’s not all sad!) and becomes the tooth fairy. A butter mom even in death, she learns to nurture beyond the veil.

Stuart Little (1999)

Sony Pictures Releasing

Another butter mom win for Geena Davis! Here, in pearl-buttoned cardigans, she presides over her family’s brownstone. And, well, she ends up adopting a literal mouse as a son. No questions asked! No panic! The Littles’ whole brand is warmth without explanation, which is the very throughline of the butter mom thesis.

Stepmom (1998)

Sony Pictures Releasing

Sorry, had to sneak in one more tearjerker… and one more Susan Sarandon pick. In Stepmom, she’s the maximalist butter mom: She takes her daughter horseback riding and ice skating, she makes homemade Halloween costumes and hires a magician for her son’s birthday party. She’s the butter mom you’d want to be in the bunker with if something goes down.

Matilda (1996)

Sony Pictures Releasing

Miss Honey may not be a mom for most of the movie’s runtime, but she’s arguably the most butter-mom-coded of the bunch. The quaint little cottage. The garden full of wildflowers. The tea served in mismatched cups. The swing in the yard. Miss Honey gave us a literal bread-and-butter moment in a cottage the size of a shoebox and managed to make it look like the most magical and abundant meal. She’s the perfect illustration of what this trend is all about: warmth.

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Warner Bros.

Kathleen Kelly may not have been a mother, but one could argue she was a mom figure to many — she ran a twinkle-light children’s bookshop where she knew the name of every kid who came for reading time and made each and every one of them feel special. She believed daisies were the friendliest flower. She romanticizes a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils. And even though we don’t actually get to meet Kathleen’s mom, Cecilia, you just know she was the butter mom prototype.

‘90s Butter Mom Movies Newer Than the ‘90s

Universal Pictures

These may not have come out in the ‘90s, but they’ve got all the makings of a good butter mom movie.

  • Julie & Julia (2009)
  • It's Complicated (2009)
  • Almost Christmas (2016)
  • Cheaper By the Dozen (2003)
  • Because I Said So (2007)
  • Catch & Release (2006)
  • Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
  • Life As We Know It (2010)
  • Raising Helen (2004)
  • The Family Stone (2005)
  • The Secret Life of Bees (2008)
  • Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
  • The Holiday (2006)
  • My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
  • Spanglish (2004)
  • Mamma Mia! (2008)
  • The Christmas (2007)

Which fictional butter mom raised you?

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