Kelly’s Monthly Edit: June 2025

Welcome to Kelly’s Monthly Edit!
Join me every month as I round up the little joys that sparked inspiration, from must-make recipes and Mom-approved grocery finds to favorite products in kitchenware, skincare, fashion and beyond. Consider this your behind-the-scenes bite of life at Just a Taste—no gatekeeping, just good taste.

It’s the final Friday of the month, which means it’s time for another installment of Kelly’s Edit, featuring events, activities, clothing and, of course, cuisine that inspired me all June long. The biggest inspiration of the month? A recent trip to Cabo San Lucas with my parents, my husband and our four tiny humans.

It’s important to note that it was a “trip” and not a “vacation.” I say this lightheartedly, but as all parents understand, there’s really a difference between the two once people under 10 years of age are added to the equation.

We spent a spectacular six days in Mexico, where the daily menu of poolside guacamole, frosty beverages and ceviche du jour was enough to have me already looking at potential vacation trip dates for next year. Cabo really is our happy place, and it was so fun to see it through the kids’ eyes this time around.

Hair Products (for the Postpartum Hair Journey)

And speaking of needing a vacation, let’s talk about my postpartum hair journey. It has been … special. I’ll be honest with you: I despised my excessively thick, wavy locks as a young adult. Well, four kids later… and what I would give to not look like I tried shaving my head and chickened out halfway through. Pregnancy will do that to you.

And for everyone saying, “Don’t worry! It’ll grow back!” I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I am now nearly three years past the birth of my fourth and final child, and I’m still over here looking like a Temu version of Demi Moore in G.I. Jane. The bald spots, the receding hairline, the thinning. I needed a miracle, and thankfully, I found one in the insanely talented Aleck Zajac, a master hairstylist at Belle Sirene Salon in San Diego, CA. Aleck heard my cries and worked her magic with the natural color and blunt cut of my dreams.

And while even Aleck couldn’t extend the wispy crown around my temples (apparently you can’t attach extensions to hair that is 0.047 millimeters in length), there’s always my hair filler of choice, Madison Reed Root Touch Up Powder. It’s an absolute game-changer and the best $34 you’ll spend when it comes to thinning haircare. It’s also one of my on-camera beauty secrets, a subject I’ll be tackling in The July Edit. Stay tuned!

Workouts I’m Loving

As part of my health-focused march toward 40, I started doing pilates three times a week. It has become much more for my mental state than my physical body and is truly the only workout I’ve ever not dreaded. I do the Lagree method, so think megaformer with springs and pulleys and bungees. It’s as torturous as it sounds, but in a very zen-like way.

If you’re over on the Just a Taste ‘gram, you’ll know I’ve also become quite fond of rucking, the military-inspired practice of doing low-impact cardio (ie. walking or hiking) while wearing a weighted vest. The goal is to get your heart rate up while improving endurance and strength. My number one tip: Start with a vest that’s 10-15% of your bodyweight and work your way up from there.

I’ve gotten several of my friends in on the action, and I’m determined to start a Mother Ruckers Club for all of us moms who carry the weight (literally and figuratively) of the world on our shoulders. All you need is a weighted vest and proof of a receding hairline and you’re in!

If the Shoe Fits…

My dad has always taught me that it’s just as important to know your weaknesses as it is your strengths. So let me caveat any and all clothing recommendations going forward with this: I am not a fashion influencer. I am a tired mom of four who thinks wearing pants with a button constitutes a national holiday. I live in leggings. And crew socks. And the comfiest Alo Recovery Shoes to ever hug my pedicure-starved feet, even (and especially) during 8-hour stretches in the kitchen. (And as shown in the photo of me mid-rucking!).

I get inspiration from the most fashionable folks in my circle: pilates instructors. Have you ever noticed how chic these Gen Z teachers are? I spotted one fashionista at a 6 a.m. class rocking the cutest high-top sneakers from On. This combination of Alo and On comprises 94% of my weekly footwear. They’re both extra-comfortable, stylish and Mom-approved.

Kids Clothing

When it comes to clothing budgets, I spend roughly 99.6% on my kids’ wardrobe. And that is why I am a doppelganger for Shrek while my children look like they could star in Emily in Paris. Nothing wrong with that.

For as little as I know about adult fashion, I have a PhD in Kids Clothing. From super-affordable school garments and summer camp duds to high-end special occasion splurges and I-don’t-care-if-this-gets-stained activewear. Here’s a roundup of the best of the best when it comes to kids clothing brands:

• The Best Overall Kids Clothing: Hanna Andersson
• The Best Kids’ Essentials Clothing: Amazon Basics
• The Best Clothing for Boys: Vineyard Vines
• The Best Clothing for Girls: Zara Kids
• The Best Bamboo Pajamas: Little Sleepies
• The Best Clothing for Arts, Crafts and General Mayhem: Old Navy Kids, Target
• The Best Clothing to Splurge On: Janie and Jack
• The Best Clothing for Special Occasions: The Best Dressed Child, Masionette

And the list could honestly go on and on. When you dress four other people on a daily basis, you learn very quickly to have a go-to spot for every occasion!

Recipes for You to Try

The Test Kitchen has been bustling this month, as we’ve been cranking out new recipes and technique tutorials designed to make cooking and feeding your family a stress-free scenario.

Summer staples like Classic Macaroni Salad and Strawberry Crisp have quickly become reader favorites, while a new spin on Chocolate Mousse featuring a very surprising ingredient has proven to be a big win among taste-testers old and young.

Did I mention it’s actually a two-in-one dessert doesn’t require an oven? It’s also loaded with calcium and protein, as in 19 grams of protein per serving. Summer heat wave, meet your match!

With the 4th of July just days away, don’t forget to check out everything red, white and blue, including more than a dozen desserts guaranteed to set off flavor fireworks. We’ve got slice-and-bake pinwheel cookies, patriotic fruit Popsicles, star-studded cheesecake parfaits and an iconic American Flag Cookie Cake perfect for any size crowd.

And as always, I welcome your feedback, questions and suggestions for recipes or how-to guides you’d like to see on Just a Taste. I’m only an email away!

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