EP 5: The MOM Monthly R.E.P.O.R.T. — What I’m Reading, Eating, Obsessing Over + More

In this solo episode, I’m walking you through April's MOM Monthly R.E.P.O.R.T.—a fun format where I share what I’ve been reading, eating, playing (or watching), obsessing over, recommending, and treating myself to. 

From my go-to summer iced mocha to how a weighted vest became my unexpected confidence boost, consider this your peek behind the curtain of what’s working, what’s fun, and what’s fueling me lately. 

Don’t forget to grab my favorite resources (and all the links) in the show notes!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Balanced & Barefoot by Angela Hanscom

• Factor Meals Referral Link

• Just Ingredients Coconut Chocolate Protein Powder: Use code "JULIANNENIENBERG" for 10% off

• Active Skin Repair: save 10% with code MYOUTDOORSYMOM

• Get Outside Spring + Summer Bundle ($5 off for a limited time)

• This is the weighted vest I love

All links mentioned are available in the blog post and show notes.

Transcript

Today we’re diving into what I’m calling - the MOM Monthly R.E.P.O.R.T.

If you’re new around here, this is my version of a monthly favorites list— I’ve seen a few other creators share their lists and I love to see what other people are reading or eating lately so I thought I’d share with you all some of mine. 

R.E.P.O.R.T. stands for: Reading, Eating, Playing, Obsessing, Recommending, and Treating. Also, little sidenote – when I send these emails out to my email list, they have the highest open rates, averaging between a 55-60% open rate. Now in the world of emails, I read somewhere on the world wide web from some email guru that a 20-30% open rate is considered good. So I’m taking it that you guys like my monthly reports because you also email me or message me and tell me how much you love reading them on Saturday morning with a cup of coffee. 

But before I get into it, I wanted to remind you Mamas that as we spend more time outside, we are in peak scrapes and skinned knees seasons. In fact, we went for a bike ride yesterday – well, my 3 kids were all biking which is crazy to think i have 3 kids on two-wheelers these days - and I was hauling it behind my youngest trying to keep up with him and wouldn’t you know it, my middle fell over and scraped his knee. So if your kids are anything like mine - you NEED active skin repair in your first aid kit. It’s the only thing I use on our scrapes, scratches, boo-boo’s and everything in between. You can save 10% with my code “MYOUTDOORSYMOM” and you can use the link in the show notes to shop. 

So, Let’s get into it.

R is for Reading (Re-reading, actually):

This month I’ve been back in the pages of Balanced and Barefoot by Angela Hanscom.

This book is such a grounding read for me as a mom, especially when I’m feeling like maybe I should be doing “more” when my kids are just… outside playing in the dirt.

Angela Hanscom is an occupational therapist and the founder of TimberNook (an award-winning nature-based program that has gained international popularity) and she breaks down why movement, messy play, and outdoor time are essential to development—not just “nice extras.” It’s the kind of book that gives me ammo when I’m advocating for more recess or unstructured time in the school setting. 

Next up, Eating:

Okay, I’m gonna be real with you. I have been so focused on this podcast launch that I’ve been slacking in the meal prep department, which is why I’ve been leaning HARD on Factor meals to keep me fed and nourished. 

They’re high-protein, no-prep, they get delivered straight to my door every week and their way better than the so-called ‘girl dinners’ I was having. 

I know I won’t be in this season forever and I know that I will eventually get back to cooking, meal prep, and planning. If you’re also in a season of juggling a full plate, I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to outsource a few things. So if you wanna check out Factor meals —I’ve got a referral link in the show notes.

P is for playing, well more like watching actually. 

Let’s talk TV. I go in and out of seasons of watching things. Most weeks, I’ve got my head down doing content creation or writing for my blog when the kids go to bed and I don’t have much time to watch TV but I feel like I’m coming into a new season where there have been some really good shows I’m finally catching up on. I’ve been watching Your Friends & Neighbors on Apple TV starring Jon Hamm, and I have one thing to say: Jon Hamm. That’s it. That’s the sentence.

Ok but seriously, it’s time for me to confess: I never watched Mad Men.

But I have become a huge Jon Hamm fan thanks to his recent roles in The Morning Show on Apple TV and Landman on Paramount Plus, and in “Your Friends & Neighbors”, he is chef’s kiss excellent. He is equal parts sharp, broody, weirdly comforting and highly addictive. This one’s a top recommendation from me. 

O is for Obsessing: 

Now earlier this year, I got on the “New Year New You” bandwagon and bought a weighted vest without researching anything (as one does), and I’ll be honest, it used to feel like I was being crushed by the weight of it. I wore it around the house in the winter time and when I first started out, I could probably only wear it 10-15 minutes at a time. 

Google tells me that wearing a weighted vest while walking can enhance your workout by increasing muscle strength, improving cardiovascular endurance, and promoting weight loss. It also helps build bone density and can improve balance and posture, but I’m not giving medical advice so make sure to talk to your doctor first wink wink if you know what i mean. 

But, speaking anecdotally, I wear it on walks, at baseball practices, during chores, and sometimes just to remind myself that I can in fact, do physically hard things and that God has given me a body to be a good steward of.

R is for recommending: 

And I’m taking this opportunity to plug my Get Outside Spring + Summer Bundle for a limited time you can save $5 at the link in the show notes. 

It’s your outdoor activity starter pack—it’s low-effort, no complicated supplies, just screen-free ideas and support to help your family get outside, help your kids play more and rely on you less.

The bundle includes my Simple Nature Playbook which gives you over 60 activities and ideas to get outside with your family alongside Clingy to Confident: my 14-day guide to independent outdoor play—and they really are better together. The link to grab it is in the show notes. 

Lastly, T is for treating: I’m having My iced mocha moment.

It’s cold brew + oat milk + Just Ingredients protein powder (I’m really loving the coconut chocolate flavor right now. With 24 grams of protein in each scoop, I feel like I’m treating myself and feeding myself actual nutrients, which is a mom win. This is definitely going to be my iced coffee treat of the summer. 

I’ll link the protein I use in the notes too if you want to try it.

And that’s a wrap on this month’s MOM Monthly R.E.P.O.R.T.

If you loved this format, share it with a friend or DM me what you’ve been reading, eating, or obsessing over lately—I always love hearing from you.

And if you haven’t listened to the other episodes I dropped last week, go ahead and take a listen