May R.E.P.O.R.T!
What I've been loving this month.
May was a pretty dang great month for me. Taurus season is just… my favorite. The sun, the warmth, the FLOWERS. Life-giving.
This May was particularly special because I celebrated my 30th birthday! For a long time, I was convinced I wouldn’t make it to 30, so it was really exciting to make it this far in life and feel the fresh energy of a completely new decade.
First, I hosted a picnic with 10 friends in a peony field, and then on my actual birthday, I enjoyed a 5-course meal with Luke in the south of France. Seriously, this is the stuff I LIVE for (besides seeing survivors heal and thrive, ofc). So I’m here to share a round-up of my favorite things this month!
Update before we get into it: I’m hosting my marketing training series, Compassionate Marketing, again this month! Check it out and sign up here.
May 2025 R.E.P.O.R.T.
R(reading)- Quit Like A Woman
My favorite book I read this month was actually a nonfiction book *rare*, which I listened to as an audiobook! I love listening to nonfiction because it feels like a podcast, which seems to make me feel more entertained and connected to the author.
I’d heard about this book for YEARS now, and I wonder why I procrastinated reading it? 🙃 In this book, the author Holly Whitaker lays it out, without shame or judgment, just how harmful drinking alcohol is for us, and how to take a feminist approach to quitting. While the book wasn’t perfect, I loved how she steps away from the shame-based AA program, which has never resonated with me, and offers something new.
Up until my trip to France, I only had 7 drinks total in 2025. 🤯I drank most days on vacation, but I’m still at 25 drinks for the year compared to 191 in the same length of time last year. So I’m super proud of that :)
E(eating)- FRENCH FOOD OMFG!
Yeah… it was a good eating month.
Being in the South of France (specifically Antibes, Nice, Menton, and Eze) meant daily fresh baguettes, frequent chocolate croissants (HOW do they make them so good?!?), a lot of incredible fish and steak, fresh, vibrant veggies, and the best strawberries I have EVER had. I can’t rave enough about the food there. A TAURUS DREAM.
If you ever happen to be going to Antibes and want recommendations, just reach out and I got you!
P(playing)- Alive by Pearl Jam
One thing about me is I didn’t think I’d live to see 30 for a really long time. It’s called a sense of foreshortened future and I talked about it more here if you wanna check it out. But this month, I did it! I turned 30! So yeah, I listened to this song on repeat a few times. I’m still aliiiiiiiiive!
O(obsessing)- Walkable Cities
So many of the places I’ve been in Europe (Barcelona, Florence, Antibes, Dublin…) are incredibly walkable, and the impact on my quality of life is QUITE evident.
Yes, it’s also because I’m on vacation. But something feels so RIGHT about being able to walk (or take public transport) everywhere. I wonder if there’s something in it that connects us to our hunter-gatherer roots, compared to driving? Or perhaps it’s the lack of sitting in traffic, or just how dang charming these cities are and how lovely it is to behold everything you see.
But yeah, I’m obsessed. And SO excited we are moving to a more walkable area of our city soon, too! Yay.
R(recommending)- Craft Your Offer Workbook ;)
Well well well, YES I am recommending my own resource! Sorry not sorry.
Last year, after being in biz for 4 years as a trauma-informed coach, I decided to create a workbook sharing the 20 questions I ask myself every time I go to create a new offer in my business. Then I went on to host Compassionate Marketing, a 4-week training series about ethically launching and selling your offer.
This June, I’m bringing both of them back, with a fresh perspective after another year of business under my belt.
If this is relevant or interesting to you, grab the free workbook here + you’ll also be invited to my free workshop on the 11th!
T(treating)- French Pharmacy Skincare + Perfume
One of my friends is hugely into skincare, and she told me I had to stock up at the French pharmacy, which is, apparently, notoriously iconic. As a fellow eczema-sufferer, I trusted her judgment and grabbed 7 different products she recommended. So far, I’ve tried the Caudalie detox mask (which absolutely pulled the gunk out of my pores) and the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, which feels fabulous on my skin. I spent about $100 on all the products and have no doubt they’ll last me a while, so it seems like a good deal.
In addition to the skincare, I did get two bottles of perfume in France. Nothing too fancy (about $40 per 100ml bottle), but they smell BEAUTIFUL and will hopefully remind me of the trip for years to come.
Here’s to another year of life! My goal for 2025 was to love life again, and honestly, I might be there. Sometimes. But it’s enough for me. I’m glad to be alive.
With hope and gratitude always,
Emmy