Fuel to Your Fire 🔥

American turned 247 years old yesterday! 🇺🇲

That means in 2026 this wonderful country will turn 250! Its 200th birthday was called the Bicentennial, but what do you call the 250th? Turns out it’s the “Semiquincentennial”. That’s a mouthful — but now in three years you’ll be ready to impress everyone at the barbecue or parade.

In today’s email:

• Grief comes for everyone, but we’ve got some promises for you.

• Makeup Brushes — wait, they don’t last forever?

• SCOTUS: They don’t call it Supreme for nothing.

• The Great Outdoors: We have some ideas for you.

OUTDOORS: I hike to burn off the crazy. 😏 It’s July now—there has been lots of bickering in my house—so for the rest of the summer, we have to make it a priority to get outside. Think fresh air, warm sun, and feel-good vibes. Go for a walk — either in your local town or a low-impact nature walk. Here’s our rec — don’t take headphones. Instead, take in the nature sounds. When’s the last time you threw a blanket in the car and found a field to lay in? Fireflies, shooting stars, stargazing: romantic and childlike.✨What about a campfire, s’mores, or pitching a tent in the backyard? 🔥Take it from us — it’ll boost your mental health and no counseling needed.

Nature — it’s not just for Mom. 🪲

GRIEF: If you’re struggling with grief, whether from the loss of a loved one, kids leaving home, their changing personalities, your dreams feeling like they’re unattainable, anything — I’ve collected some promises for you:

• God is with you.

• You will not always be distracted from your loved ones.

• You will not always wake up in the night crying.

• You will not always wake up and think of your loss first thing.

• That hard lump in your throat will eventually go away.

• One day, you will be able to say their name without crying.

• The waves of grief that knock you off your feet will lessen over time, they’ll be less violent. “You will be able to stand and let them wash over around you, not over you.”

• Waking won’t always feel like a chore. You won’t always have to remember to breathe.

• You won’t always be envious of someone else’s happiness.

😥 (credit: Clare Mackintosh - author)

Enjoying Mrs6am? Share with a friend (or 10) using your unique referral link below. If you share, we’ll send you prizes. Yep, just like that.

BEAUTY: We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but makeup brushes don’t last forever — are yours ancient? A good rule of thumb is 2-4 years. 4 years only if you’re cleaning them regularly. Most of us should err on the side of 2 years. So, first things first — adopt a brush cleaning schedule. It’s easier than you think: just use warm water and gentle soap (alcohol and harsh soap will dry out the bristles. Your daily face cleanser will actually work really well, and do it at least twice a month. Is it time for a refresh or upgrade? e.l.f. has the best budget foundation brush. For contouring, the internet loves this Mac option. And, the best powder brush hands down is from Makeup by Mario.

And these are all you need, ladies. 🧨

NEWS: Oyez Oyez! (pronounced “oi - yay” “oi - yay” and it means “listen listen”). This is shouted by the bailiff when the Supreme Court sits in session — and it was fitting last week when the Supreme Court handed down three major decisions dealing with affirmative action, free speech, and President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program. ⚖ Call us old fashioned, but we try to hear both sides — minorities suffer disproportionately, yes, but race as a basis for college admissions, no. LGBT folks should have access to goods and services, yes, but forcing a business owner to say, create, or write something against their beliefs, no. Bring down the cost of college, provide alternative education opportunities, educate students on student debt, yes, forgive loans when millions have paid theirs back, no (not to mention the statute in question doesn’t give the President that power).

America turned 247 years old yesterday — here’s a good birthday present to celebrate. 🇺🇲

• 🎵 “Ba-by Shark ba dum badum badum, Baby YOOWCH!” Announcement: Toymaker Zuru just pulled 7.5m baby shark bath toys from shelves, citing “risk of impalement”.

• Feeling lucky? You should be — Ireland is paying people $92,000 to move to its remote islands.

• Summer’s just getting started.

• And put a smile on your face and your sweatshirt (and celebrate life!)

• 4 powerful one-sentence lessons to make you mentally unbreakable.

“Joy is elusive, isn’t it? As soon as we think we’ve got it, it slips away — pushed aside by cares of the world. Some things are prerequisites to lasting joy — God, gratitude, peace inside and with others. But, to achieve a lasting rhythm of joy, you have to revel in the mundane moments of life.” - Mr6am

We’re looking forward to Saturday, girls,