Mama, this article is a little different. It’s not a research study. It’s not a big life lesson. It’s not a deep-dive on parenting.
It’s just me sharing a few little things that have been making my everyday mom life feel a whole lot more like ME lately.
Because sometimes we don’t need a whole new wardrobe. We don’t need a retreat. We don’t need a “transformation.” We just need a few small, personal, affordable things that make us smile when we see them, wear them, carry them, or catch a glimpse of them in the mirror.
These are those things for me right now. Passing them along in case they spark a little joy for you too. 💛
1. The “Proud to Be a Badass Mama” Period Panty
You already know I don’t gatekeep. And I’m not going to start now.
The Boyshorts Period Panty from Postpartum Panty Party — the ones that literally say “Proud to be a Badass Mama” — are the little wink I didn’t know I needed on the days when I need to remember I’m a badass.
They’re cute. They’re comfortable. They do the job. And every time I put them on, I get a small internal fist-pump moment. Because motherhood is HARD, and sometimes you need your underwear to remind you that you’re crushing it anyway.
They’re the kind of small thing that changes how you carry yourself for the day — for reasons no one else on the planet needs to know about. That’s the whole point.
P.S. they are great on day 2 of my cycle at the gym too! IYKYK.
2. My BaubleBar Custom iPhone Case
I look at my phone approximately 4,000 times a day. (Don’t judge — you do too.)
So a few weeks ago I got a BaubleBar custom iPhone case — personalized, colorful, and 100% me — and I genuinely SMILE every time I pick up my phone now.
Small thing? Yes. Life-changing? Maybe not. But it turned a device I use constantly from a boring tech accessory into something that feels personal, cute, and MINE. My phone doesn’t look like everyone else’s anymore. It looks like something I picked out specifically for myself.
If you use your phone as much as I do (again, no judgment, we’re all in this together), it’s worth the small splurge to make it something that makes you happy every time you pick it up.
3. My BaubleBar Tote (My Everyday Everything Bag)
You know how much I love a good bag. I’ve already talked about the Wanderfull Hydrobag in our summer must-haves post — but for the moms who want a bigger, cuter, does-it-all everyday tote?
BaubleBar makes some of the best. Personalized (or not), roomy enough for real mom life, and cute enough that I don’t feel like I’m carrying a diaper bag disguised as a purse. It’s my go-to for:
- School drop-off + pickup
- Errands
- Doctor’s appointments
- Beach days
- Long baseball tournament days when I need to haul snacks, drinks, sunscreen, and my whole life
- Casual travel
A great tote doesn’t sound revolutionary — but when you’re a mom hauling things across parking lots multiple times a day, having a bag you actually LOVE picking up changes your whole vibe.
4. BaubleBar Baseball Jewelry (For This Baseball Mom’s Heart)
Y’all know I’m a baseball mom. Bleacher seat, tournament cooler, sunscreen slathered on, snacks packed, whole nine yards.
Which is why the BaubleBar baseball-themed jewelry has completely stolen my heart. Cute little baseball-inspired pieces that let me wear my identity on my sleeve (or wrist, or earlobe) without it looking cheesy or like team merch.
There’s something so joyful about wearing something that represents the season of life you’re in. Wearing a sweet little baseball piece to a tournament weekend makes me feel like a whole thing. Like I’m not just “the mom” hauling gear — I’m a mama who’s HERE for it, proud of her kiddo, and having a moment in her own right.
Whatever your kid is into — baseball, dance, soccer, cheer, art, music — leaning into the identity of THAT season with a cute little piece of jewelry is such a fun tiny way to celebrate yourself as a mom.
5. My AirDoctor Air Purifier
Okay, this one might sound less “cute” than the others — but stay with me because it genuinely makes me happy every single day.
Our AirDoctor lives in our main living space and it is one of those quiet little things that changes the vibe of your home without you even realizing it. The air feels cleaner. It’s quieter than I expected. It runs in the background. I forget it’s even there — until I walk in from outside and immediately notice how good it smells and feels inside our home.
For a mom who’s in her house a LOT — working, hanging with kids, hosting family, coexisting with pet fur and Florida humidity — a really good air purifier just makes daily life feel better. Less sneezing. Better sleep. That “ahh, I love being home” feeling.
Not glamorous. Just genuinely lovely.
6. My AquaTru Water Purifier
If you’ve read my tap water article then you already know I’m obsessed with AquaTru. But this belongs on my joy list too, because it’s not just about the science of clean water — it’s about the little daily moment of filling up my glass and knowing what I’m drinking.
Coffee tastes better. Iced tea tastes better. My water bottles taste better. My kids’ water bottles get filled from something I actually feel good about. Cooking with it tastes better. It sits on my counter, does its thing, and makes every drink in our house a little more of a treat.
Little things, mama. Real little things.
7. My Glass Air Fryer
I resisted the air fryer trend for YEARS. And then I got a glass air fryer and immediately understood what I’d been missing.
The glass part is what got me — I can see what’s happening while it cooks (life-changing when you have kids yelling at you from the living room about who touched whose iPad). It cleans easily. It doesn’t have that weird nonstick coating I’d been avoiding. And weeknight dinners suddenly went from “I don’t want to think about this” to “throw it in, walk away, come back to something great.”
It’s the small, boring, kitchen-appliance-level joy of dinner just got easier and better. And when you’ve been cooking family meals for as many years as I have, that’s a genuinely happy little upgrade.
A Final Word From Me to You
Here’s the thing, mama: nobody is going to hand you the little joys. You have to CLAIM them.
You have to buy the cute yet functional underwear even when nobody sees it. You have to personalize the phone case that makes you smile at 4:47 a.m. gym runs. You have to carry the tote that makes you feel like a person, not a pack mule. You have to wear the jewelry that reminds you that you show up for your kids and yourself.
These aren’t extravagant things. They aren’t expensive. They aren’t life-altering.
They’re just LITTLE. Little joys. Little treats. Little ways of saying to yourself: I see you. I love you. You deserve nice things.
Pass this article along to a friend who needs to hear it too. And go treat yourself, mama. You’ve earned it. 💛
More Little Joys on Orlando Mom
- 👗 Our Summer Must-Haves for Moms roundup — my summer favorites
- 🛍️ Our Back to School Wardrobe Refresh at Style Encore — because a fresh outfit is a small joy
- 🏖️ Our Ultimate Guide to Summer in Central Florida — real family fun close to home
- 🎒 Our Back-to-School Must-Haves — for the whole family (including you)
- 🌴 Our Travel + Vacation content
