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5 Easy Recipes + Holiday Prep

5 Easy Recipes + Holiday Prep

For moms who manage money, meals, and the messy middle.

Ann Woo
October 27, 2025

Happy Monday! Today is going to be a great day and I’m so glad you’re here. 🥰

Can we talk about the fact that it’s the last week of October?! How?! I swear time moves faster every single year or maybe it’s the combination of school drop-offs, meal planning, and trying to remember which day is hair wash day, but wow. I blinked and somehow we’re talking about Christmas lists. Do you feel that too?

I’ll admit, Halloween isn’t my number one holiday but once November hits- I am in my element. Thanksgiving and Christmas? Yes, please! Give me all the twinkly lights, friends and family dinners, and reasons to make the house smell like cinnamon. I’m already dreaming about pulling out my bins of holiday decor and refreshing my tablescapes!

Last week’s poll made me so happy. 45% of you said that hosting or attending a big family meal is your favorite holiday tradition. I loved reading through all your responses (seriously, you all have the best ideas). Here were some of your ideas:

Baking/decorating cookies on Christmas Eve
Matching family pajamas
Decorating a new ornament each year
Special breakfast (like cinnamon rolls) that is just for Christmas morning
Christmas movie marathon

Speaking of the holidays, I’m putting together my gift guides and would love your input! Who are you shopping for this year and or who’s the hardest person on your list to buy for? What kind of gift guide would help you the most? I’d love to hear from all 1,121 of you so I can make your holiday shopping as easy (and fun!) as possible! Let me know in the poll at the end!

Let’s get into it:

🍽️ What’s for Dinner

Creamy Coconut Lime Chicken - Simple and yummy recipe that both kids and adults will love. Serve with rice to soak up the sauce and add broccoli for veggies.
Italian Stuffed Peppers - I went over to a friend’s house over the weekend and she was making jack-o-lantern stuffed peppers for her kids which I thought was so cute and festive. You could easily carve out some cute faces to this recipe to celebrate the week of Halloween.
Thai Basil Chicken - This recipe only takes 10 minutes and has so much flavor. My kids love ground chicken and you could reheat the rice you made for the Creamy Coconut Lime Chicken recipe to serve over.
Skillet Apple Cider Chicken - Fall in one pan! Sounds so good and easy and the combination of all the ingredients sounds amazing. I’d serve with some roasted root vegetables.
Sausage Pesto Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Peas - Frozen peas are a constant in my freezer and I love this pasta recipe that’s a little more spiffed up than your average kid-pasta dish.

❤️ What I’m Recommending

This section contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them—at no extra cost to you (thanks for supporting the newsletter!).

I’m addicted to cold brew and so excited to make my own at home now with this chic cold coffee machine. When it comes to espresso martinis, I fear the limit does not exist with this addition to our home bar.
This face sculpt has been such a nice addition to my skincare game that I didn’t know I needed. The metal roller ball applicator snatches you up instantly and I’ve been putting it on right after my moisturizer and before my skin tint.
I have the same brand of sound machines for both my kids, and I’d been eyeing this grown-up version for myself for a while. My only regret is not getting it sooner! This sound machine/alarm not only helps me fall asleep easily at night, but I especially love how gently it wakes me up in the morning—the gradual sunlight begins before the calm sound, making mornings so much more peaceful.
A cold glass of water with one scoop of this cellular hydration every morning has been such a good addition to my morning routine. Love how hydrated I feel from the inside out.
Yall know I’ve been obsessed with these barrel jeans ever since I got them. They’re so easy to thrown on with a basic black tee, a classic black belt, and pointy suede booties that are so comfortable you could walk miles in them (I actually did yesterday). Ultimate effortless cool young hip mom look!

💸 In This Economy? (Mom’s Version)

NY Mom Finds Sanity in Takeout and Therapy

In This Economy? is a weekly series showcasing the costs of motherhood from real moms. Want to share your story anonymously? Submit here — no names, no judgment.

Age: Late 30s
Kids: 3.5 year old and 1 year old
Job: Psychotherapy Private Practice (part time) and husband is a Police Officer
Household Income: $190K
Own or rent: Own- $1,400
Childcare or daycare expense: $400 for part time pre-k & free grandma “nannying”
Recent purchase you regret: Paying to have our above ground pool closed professionally when we very easily could have done it ourselves for FREE
Splurge and don’t regret: Getting my hair highlighted, colored and cut $500 and I feel like a human
Best “mom sanity” splurge: TAKEOUT for the win.. maybe a little too often
Weekly “kid stuff” spend: $100 - $200
Weekly spend on groceries: $400 + if adding a Costco haul
Most spent on a kid party: Ouf, recent 1st Birthday for my last baby $6000
Purchase that you don’t tell your partner about: Coffee out every day I’m in my office
Saving for your kids college tuitions: Yes! $200 weekly auto transfer
Something financial you wish your parents had taught you: To not only make sure you are saving money, but to save on the right types of accounts / investments and allow your money to grow . Wasted a lot of time letting money sit with no interest or growth
Managing family budget: No system. Mindful of what we have and am grateful to never have to say no
Great ways to save money on kid-related expenses: Hand me downs are a lifesaver. Littles grow so quickly and you watch your money fly out the door. Also consignments shops!
Money advice for other moms: Enjoy life with your kids. Say yes to the little things as they have such a tremendous impact on their experience. You only get one childhood with them
Finish the sentence: “In this economy, I still somehow _______.” Pay extra for oat milk in my latte haha
Anything else you’d like to say? GO TO THERAPY MAMAS

Thanks again for being here. If you love it, forward this to a mom friend—more voices make this better. And if you ever want to share, vent, or suggest something, just hit reply. I’m reading every email!

Woo you next week,
Ann