This past month was all about the adventure of summer, new places, people, and things we fell in love with—and big surprise… I want to share it with you!

Are you more of the staycation type or big-time-summer adventurer? Perhaps you're lugging along a troupe of kids or vacationing with your sweetheart. 

Whether you're the bootstrap tent-camping type or big resort type, here's the official Womanhood Unwrapped roundup for the remainder of summer – complete with highlights tailored especially for the superhero working women and moms out there:

ROADTRIP HACKS

In our house, we're pretty much always game for a big adventure or road trip. This summer, we road-tripped from Oregon to Idaho and Montana and back again. Here are some of the hacks I've discovered that make all the difference when it comes to getting on the road and enjoying every part of the adventure.

Pack a Cooler—It's totally cool to stop every hour or two for snacks, potty breaks, and the list goes on. It's also super helpful to plan ahead with cold drinks and fresh snacks. Because, let's face it, nothing is worse than gas station trail mix. I love this cooler from RTIC. It's just the right size to sit in the back seat between the kiddos!

Bring a Good Book—As a working mom, I get very few opportunities to sit down and read a physical book. Road trips are one of the few places I can read without interruption or conflicting tasks! When I'm not driving, I get to dig into something that allows me to get absorbed in another world and makes the time go by quickly. See my suggestions for current captivating reads below.

Make a Road Trip Playlist—I love, love, love making Spotify playlists for any occasion. The nice thing about creating a road trip playlist is that you can add to it while you're on the road. Win, Win.

EVERYDAY MUST-HAVES

Since we're fully dipped into the summer adventure theme this month, let's talk a little bit about the day-to-day things I cannot live without as a woman, a business owner, and a mom.

Pendleton Outdoor Packable Blanket - I literally keep this in my car at all times for random picnics, meetups, and sporting events.

Hydroflask 24oz. Classic Water Bottle—Don't get me wrong—I love my Yeti cup and Stanley, but nothing beats my classic Hydroflask for hikes, the beach, the kids at the playground, or whatever.

Luck Brand Vintage Trucker Hat - I basically wear a trucker hat every day during the summer for one reason or another. Whether it's that my hair hasn't been washed in three days and I need to cart kids around to a million camps and sports practices or that I'm hiking or walking or at the pool. A solid trucker hat (or five) is a must-have.

Carhartt Adjustable Waste Bag (Fanny Pack 😍) - It’s all the rage, I know, but this adjustable fanny pack from Carhartt is my absolute favorite everyday bag. It’s great for walking, shopping, playing, basically anything and everything.

SUMMER BOOK CLUB

Summer is about the only time I have open moments to read a complete printed book. That's why I'm so excited to share my favorite reads from July and August.

It Ends with Us and/or It Starts with Us, by Colleen Hoover - Two of my favorite books this year, It Ends with Us is not a normal RomCom. The twists turns, and deep exploration of romance, young love, and cycles of abuse in families and relationships are worth every minute. Then, It Starts with Us continues the story of two lovers finding their way in a new relationship after surviving an abusive and heartbreaking past. PS The movie It Ends with Us is about to land! So don't wait to read the book before you see it on the big screen!

The Cliffs, by J. Courtney Sullivan - I still need to finish this one, but so far, it's intruiging. It's a novel about family, secrets, ghosts, and homecoming set on the seaside cliffs of Maine, by the New York Times best-selling author J. Courtney Sullivan.

Worthy, by Jamie Kern Lima - Next on my list is the breakout sensation by Jamie Kern Lima, a successful female entrepreneur with a breakout billion-dollar success story. If you're ready to get unstuck from what's holding you back and learn ultimate self-love, this book is for you!

FROM THE DESK OF WOMANHOOD UNWRAPPED

Thoughts on the Summer Slide

No matter who you are, what you do, and who you do it with, summer can be equally fun and challenging if you're a working woman. It's simultaneously a time of "let's get out and do all the things" and "wait a minute, you better not drop the ball and lose momentum in your business or job." Do you feel this?

Whether you're a career gal, working mom, female entrepreneur, mom-boss, or in any other "boss babe" category, you know how hard the contradictory pull of being a go-girl or go-mom can be. In addition to being a thoughtful and successful professional, attentive in your relationships, and present for your family, it's enough to almost drive a girl insane.

Now that I've stated the obvious let's chat about some maintenance and survival tactics for this last little bit of summer so you can not only bask in the sunlight of fun and adventure but also keep step with your goals and step into fall empowered for anything. 💪

Do the Bare Minimum - It seems contradictory, amiright? But really, it's not. Lots of research shows that rest and fun are just as beneficial to overall achievement as grinding it out day after day. So, for the next month, I give you permission to do the bare minimum in terms of "must-do" responsibilities and instead convert that energy into maximizing your rest, restore, and replenish activities—whatever those happen to be.

Embrace the Present - Yes, things will be waiting for you on the other side of summer. Sure, you will need to catch up, knuckle down, and do all the things you know you are the queen of getting done, but instead of stressing about it, allow yourself to be present in each moment of freedom you encounter this month. Your September self will thank you for it.

Practice Patience and Gratitude - Have you ever heard the saying, "You can have everything you want, just not all at once?" For us type-A overachievers, this is a great mantra to repeat, especially when confronted with conflicting desires – to get out and have fun or focus on responsibilities. Be patient with yourself, and remember that it's all going to work out. But you only get one life, so make sure you live it!

Empower Your Personal Brand - Use this time to set intentions and jumpstart your professional power. No matter what business or profession you are in, your personal branding is an opportunity for you to carve out a unique space in your industry. Learn how to showcase your strengths and passions in a way that resonates with your audience, turning your personal story into your professional advantage. Ready to take the next step? Sign up for my unique personal brand development course, designed to help ambitious women create a strong personal brand online. Sign up Now!

xo

Lis Thomas

Editor and Founder of Womanhood Unwrapped