July 2025 // A List

1. Oh, July. You slowly arrived, but flew by quickly. I'm shocked at how fast the month went by. I'm a bit sad since this means summer break is over.  

2. July was a month of celebrations. We celebrated various family members' birthdays. It was nice to celebrate with family and see loved ones that we haven't seen in a while. 

3. John and I also celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary. We went to dinner at Maggiano's, which is where we had our wedding reception. John and I exchanged gifts. I adore the bouquet that John got me. Every year, he gets me a massive bouquet of flowers just like the one I had for my wedding. And he gets them from the floral shop, Floral Creations Florist, that we hired for our wedding flowers. It's a fantastic small business floral shop, and their bouquets and flowers are gorgeous.

4. I had mixed feelings about the Fourth of July. It didn't seem like there should be any celebrations going on when the country seems like an absolute disaster. We stayed home, but we did watch the fireworks, and we also lit some sparklers. 

5. McDonald's finally brought their snack wraps back, and I was so excited. I was hit with a blast of nostalgia. 

6. In July, we had several appointments to attend since school would be starting soon. All of the appointments went well, for which I am grateful. Michael, Raphael, and John received new eyeglasses.

7. July was a month full of self-care. I tried some new face masks and a new foot mask that felt heavenly. I also made lots of tea, cooked more homemade meals, and made sure to rest. 

8. I read so many excellent books in July. I read so many books that I received from NetGalley. I read three five-star books, which were: The People's Project by Saeed Jones and Maggie Smith, 31 Days of Spooky by Harper Celebrate, and A Rebellion of Care by David Gate. 

9. Towards the end of this month, I found myself in a "nesting" stage. It was a strange feeling, yet it wasn't unfamiliar to me. I definitely embraced this phase and welcome it. I cleaned and decluttered extensively, even tackling things I had postponed for a long time. I was also able to donate some items. I tend to go through a nesting phase, especially when the seasons are about to change. 

10. This last week of July is bittersweet and also marks the beginning of what I consider one of the oddest times of the year. School starts in just a few days. It's still summer, but I always associate the first day of school with fall (even though it's incredibly hot in our area). To me, August 1st is the start of the fall season, and I'm here for it. I'm beyond excited for Halloween and all things autumn. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. 

11. July, you were an absolute whirlwind in the best way. I'm sad to see you go, but I'm so grateful for the great summer days you gifted us. Hello August, you're going to be a hectic month, but I'm ready. August, may you please be gentle, not just for me, but for the entire world.

If You and I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet up at one of our favorite local coffee shops, located right in the heart of downtown, surrounded by a variety of cute shops. We'd debate whether to stay and enjoy our drinks (it's scorching outside) or take them to go and walk around the area. Perhaps we'll stop by a few shops and pick up some goodies. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm so sad that summer break is almost over. The month of July is rushing on by. I can't believe it's nearly August. The boys will be back in school soon, and I'll have to go back to work. I have mixed feelings about that, but I do have plans for the new school year, and I'm feeling hopeful.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I may be a little bummed that summer break is over, but I am excited that fall is almost here. Many of my favorite shops have already unveiled their fall displays or announced that they will release their Autumn collections in August. I already have my eyes on a few things. I'm so excited to find a new centerpiece for our dining room table. I think I may buy a candelabra and use these cute candles I purchased a few weeks ago. I'm so ready for cooler weather and can't wait to use my simmer pot kits.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I've read so many great books. I recently finished reading 31 Days of Spooky by Harper Celebrate, and it made me even more excited for Halloween. This was a great collection of short, spooky stories. I also read A Rebellion of Care: Poems and Essays by David Gate. 10/10 highly recommend this one. I also read and enjoyed Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green and Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon. I've read several other books, but these are the ones that really stuck with me.

I've just started reading "The People's Project" by Saeed Jones and Maggie Smith. I'm really excited to dive into this one. I'm also currently reading Girl Warrior by Joy Harjo, which has been a real treat. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm going to try to get back to meal planning. This will ultimately save us time, money, and help us reduce waste. Plus, I really love the idea of trying new recipes or switching up a few of our go-to meals. I especially want to improve my lunch choices, especially since school will be starting back soon.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm glad we were able to catch up this month. I can't believe the month is almost over, and we (I mean I) definitely cut it close to meeting up for our coffee chat. As always, it's been fun catching up. I hope you continue to enjoy the last few days of July and savor the rest of summer. See you next month!

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Breakslow on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Friday! Today, I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly happy and grateful list link-up.

1. I can't believe that summer break is almost over, but I'm continuing to savor the last bits of our summer break. I have to admit, it'll be kind of nice to go back to a routine. Don't get me wrong, I love that we didn't have a set schedule during the summer, and I definitely made some impromptu plans and activities. However, I tend to be more productive when I have a schedule or plan.

2. I decided to treat myself to a Press Reset face mask and a Rosé Toes foot mask from Patchology. They felt so amazing, and my skin felt so soft after using these masks. 

3. This collage by Meg Fatharly

4. A song on repeat: don't need you #jerseyclub by prodbygarrison

5. I made some chocolate chip banana bread using GoNanas' bread mix, and it was delicious. Pair it with cream cheese frosting, and it is perfection. I also ordered their S'mores banana bread mix and can't wait to try it.

6. Just finished reading: 31 Days of Spooky by Harper Celebrate

7. The Colors of Assisi: Full Essay by Candace Rose Rardon. I shared a link to the first part of her essay (which was initially a series of mini-essays), and I was happy to see that she compiled the mini-essays into a full one.

8. This made me tear up.

9. This made me laugh. 

10. A gentle and much-needed reminder. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Friday! Today, I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly happy and grateful list link-up.

1. Self-care bucket list item crossed off: I got a Brazilian wax for the first time, and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. Of course, there was pain, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and I did feel a bit awkward at first, but quickly overcame that. In fact, my experience was actually great. My esthetician was amazing and made the experience a positive one. I can definitely understand why many people think it's worth getting a Brazilian wax. Overall, 10/10 highly recommend.

2. Dresses, especially these mini swing dresses. I've been wearing one every day, and I love it. They are incredibly comfortable. I buy a new one in a different color every time I see them.

3. A song on repeat: Mind is a Prison by Alec Benjamin

4. I picked up some books from the library, and I'm so excited to read them. I'm looking forward to reading Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt and The Use of Photography by Annie Ernaux

5. Five Star Read: A Rebellion of Care by David Gate

6. If you ever get overwhelmed with the news, check out videos posted on Good News Movement. This video made me so happy.

7. BLTs. This has been my sandwich for the summer. It's so easy to make and so filling.

8. I'm looking forward to celebrating my wedding anniversary this weekend. 

9. I finally found Philadelphia Cream Cheese frosting, and now I want to bake all the things. I may try to make some banana bread this weekend and top it with the cream cheese.

10. A gentle reminder and good advice from Morgan Harper Nichols

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Sunday! Today, I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly happy and grateful list link-up.

1. I finished reading Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green. This was such an interesting read. It took me longer to read than it should have, but that's because I kept looking up interesting things I found in the book. 

2. We all went to our eye doctor this week, and I'm so grateful for our vision insurance. Our optometrist and optician were shocked that our vision insurance covers so much. The coverage and benefits for glasses alone are outstanding. I was also pleasantly surprised that we barely had to pay anything for our visit (and it was five of us!).

3. I desperately needed a new phone case and bought one from Sarah, the owner of Crescent Cat Co. I bought this one and it's so cute.

4. A song on repeat: This Bitter Earth/On The Nature of Daylight by Dinah Washington and Max Richter

5. I've been enjoying reading illustrated essays and have found a new-to-me writer and illustrator, Candace Rose Rardon, on Substack. She has a lovely illustrated newsletter, Dandelion Seeds. I enjoyed reading The Colors of Assisi: Part One and am working my way through her other posts.

6. I'm still bummed that summer break is almost over, but we did start school shopping for the boys. There were so many good sales this week that we decided to start school shopping a little earlier and bought the boys new school clothes and shoes. Now we're halfway done with school shopping, so I'm happy about that. 

7. I decided to go to Sprouts and was so excited to find that they finally got the watermelon Caliwater in stock. I ended up buying a bunch of them, and I'm hoping that they will continue to keep these in stock. I also bought a few new-to-me things, like Love & Cookies snickerdoodle cookie dough. These are a little pricey, but I'm excited to try them. 

8. I took a fun vegetable personality quiz I found on Haley Weaver's Substack, and it was so much fun. Apparently, I'm a broccoli, and it was actually pretty accurate. If you take the test, let me know what veggie you are.

9. I just discovered Mother, a women's lifestyle site that celebrates motherhood, and have been reading up on past posts. Check out their Instagram page here. 

10. This was such an odd week (not in a bad way). It was a productive yet restful week. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Just Five Things

1. So I'm starting to see a bunch of stores have their Back-to-School displays, and I'm a bit sad about it. Our summer break is almost over, but we still have a few weeks to go, so I'm going to continue to enjoy these next few weeks of no work or school. Although the displays are now out, I did browse a few aisles because I love school supplies and stationery.

2. I received an ARC (Thanks, NetGalley!) of Joy Harjo's upcoming memoir Girl Warrior, and I am absolutely loving it. This may be one of my favorite reads so far this July. In Girl Warrior, Joy shares stories about her childhood and culture. I also love the mix of prose and poetry that is sprinkled throughout the stories. I'll definitely share a full review of the book once I finish it.

3. This may be TMI, but I'm just starting to learn about what to eat during my menstrual cycle phases, and it's been really interesting. I've been particularly interested in the types of food to eat during my luteal phase. 

4. I tried a copycat Starbucks Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino recipe, and it turned out delicious. It was simple to make, and surprisingly, I had all the ingredients at home except for xanthan gum. I also used instant coffee (I just followed the instructions on the instant coffee box) instead of brewing coffee using my Keurig. The mocha cookie crumble is one of John's favorite drinks, and even he said he couldn't tell the difference between the Starbucks mocha cookie crumble frappuccino and the one I made. 

5. These words...a wonderful reminder.

You do not have to sort through

everything tonight.

You are allowed to continue seek clarity

for what matters most,

while also knowing

restorative rest

is an integral part of your journey there.

-Morgan Harper Nichols

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

July Goals

Happy Monday! How is it already July? The year is truly flying by fast. I was hoping June would be a month of rest and relaxation...and it did not disappoint. June was a dream. We went to the pool a few times, visited the farmer's market, and went to the library several times. At the end of the month, we went to the Smyrna Pride Festival. I read so many good books and even completed our local library's summer book challenge. June was the month for all the sweet treats. We tried an Oreo cake for dessert, we've devoured popsicles and ice cream sandwiches, and I tried a chocolate cheesecake from Crumbl. We've also been devouring all the berries. We especially love strawberries, and I've been eating Rainier cherries. I bought a couple of small mixed-media, watercolor, and drawing spiral notepads to just play. I'm hoping that these notepads will help me break out of this creative block and overcome my fear of starting a new sketchbook. I'm not sure if I should call it a creative block, because I usually know what I want to try, but the first page always scares me off. 

This month, I'd like to create more. I really want to work in one of my sketchbooks or mixed-media notepads. I'm looking forward to spending time with my family. I'm looking forward to continuing to read good books and take more photos. I'd like to work on a photography exercise I learned about last week. I'm looking forward to celebrating my wedding anniversary later this month. I hope this month is just as restful and relaxing as June was. 

As it's a new month, let's take a quick recap of my goals from June and review my new goals for July. I'm actually looking forward to working on a few of the goals this month, especially my creative goals. 

Recap of June Goals

• Read 1 book I borrowed from the library: I read Felicity by Mary Oliver. I'm still reading Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green. 

• Read 2 books I received from NetGalley: I read five books I received from NetGalley. I read Dear Writer by Maggie Smith, I Hope You Remember by Josie Balka, Lucky Tomorrow: Stories by Deborah Jiang-Stein, The Never Was by Tyler Knott Gregson, and Letters From Gaza.

• Participate in Exhale's blog hop: I did not participate in the Exhale blog hop. I felt stuck on the prompt, but now I have a couple of ideas. I may work on June's prompt sometime this month, as well as the July prompt.

• Try 1 new recipe: Hooray! I tried two recipes. I made a simple blackberry syrup. Now I want to make so many other homemade syrups. I also used Soul Food Holistic Healing's recipe to make Black Butterfly Lemonade. You can check out the recipe here. 

• Make time to play with my memory-keeping supplies: I finally took some time to work on some layouts in my 6x12 Project Life album (our family album) and used so many of my Stories By The Month kits. I also made some layouts in my 6x8 personal album. I still need to journal on most of the layouts, but I got the pictures, cards, and ephemera all down.

• Work in my sketchbook/journal at least once a week: Yikes. I didn't do this at all. Here's to hoping that I work in my sketchbook this month. I'm planning to participate in Rukristin's Find Your Voice Summer Camp, and I'm looking forward to checking out the prompts.

• Declutter one closet a week: I didn't do this. It's still on my to-do list and I'm determined to work on this in July. 

• Work on Week in the Life: I did work on this. I decided to document my week using the Week in the Life notebook. So far, I have only written things down, but I still need to put down ephemera.

July Goals

• Read 2 books I borrowed from the library
• Read 2 books I received from NetGalley
• Participate in Exhale's blog hop
• Try 1 new recipe
• Work on a photography exercise
• Declutter at least two closets
• Work in my sketchbook/journal
• Make at least 1 scrapbook/Project Life layout

What are your goals for July? How did you do in June?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Friday! Today, I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly happy and grateful list link-up.

1. These words by Morgan Harper Nichols. Perfect for July.

2. I went to Barnes & Noble and bought one of Flow's Book for Paper Lovers (Issue 12). I actually went to buy a different magazine, but unfortunately, it was out of stock. However, I'm glad I picked this issue because it's filled with so much good stuff. I'm excited to start using all the paper goods.

3. I received two books from NetGalley that were on my TBR list. I'm excited to start reading Loveable by Amber Rae and How to Art by Kate Bryan. I'll definitely have to remember to share a review on the blog. 

4. A song on repeat: Gifts To Your Future Self by Adam Dodson

5. We celebrated Mami's birthday, and it was nice to see my older brother, older sister, and my nieces. We all had a blast. Good food, drinks, and music. The kids had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, my youngest sister wasn't able to attend, but we're hoping to get together soon.

6. A could-do list for July. I love the idea of making a 'could-do' list instead of a 'to-do' list.

7. We put up some new blackout curtains for the boys, and they absolutely love them. We noticed that it has been working very well for Raphael. 

8. The A/C. Given how hot it has been, I'm grateful for our air conditioning. 

9. A new-to-me monthly creative exercise: Taking photos of textures. Thanks to Alicia from tl;dr (who also got this idea from a Substacker) for the idea. I'm looking forward to working on this creative exercise. This is just one of the many reasons why I love Substack. You get to find new-to-you creatives, learn new things, and get ideas and inspiration.

10. Tulips! My beautiful tulips opened up a couple of days ago, and they look absolutely gorgeous. They are reddish-pink and one of my favorite color combos out of all the tulips we've had this season.

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

June 2025 // A List

1. Oh, June. What a delightful month you were. A month full of joy, good times, sweet treats, and trying new things.

2. The weather was absolutely insane in June. There were nonstop days of rain. Those random afternoon thunderstorms would come quickly, almost violently. And the heat...the heat has been intense. If I had any errands or needed to do anything outdoors, I would try to complete them earlier in the day before the heat becomes unbearable. Summer is most definitely here. 

3. June was a good month for reading. I read so many books and even completed my local library's reading challenge. The boys have been reading for at least an hour a day, and we've been visiting the library a lot.

4. I tried a new buffalo chicken pizza recipe that was delicious. It was simple to make, and I may have to make this more often. I also switched up a baked chicken recipe, which also turned out well. 

5. As for treats and desserts, we tried so many different things in June. I tried Nothing Bundt Cake's latest flavor, S'mores. It was so good. I also tried Breyer's version of strawberry shortcake ice cream, and it was perfection. I also tried Crumbl's chocolate cheesecake. We also had Oreo cakes from Smyrna Coffee for dessert, which were delicious. The kids loved it. 

6. During the heatwave, I was dreaming of Fall and Halloween. I was thrilled to see all the fall and Halloween displays at the stores. I even started to get ideas on what I want to dress up as for Halloween. 

7. John and I found a cute little gift shop called Little Red Bird Gifts. It's a bit further away from us, so I probably won't go there often, but it'll definitely be a place that I'll return to for sure.

8. We went to the pool a few times and enjoyed it. It was the perfect way to cool off. 

9. Towards the end of June, we decided to get some dinner to go from The Corner Taqueria. While we waited for our dinner, we walked around the Smyrna Pride Festival. It was fun, and I loved checking out some of my favorite vendors and discovering a few new ones. 

10. June was a month of slowing down. Sleeping in, staying up late. Enjoying the simple things. Rest and relaxation. June was a dream. July, may you be just as relaxing as June. Here's to embracing balance and creativity in the days ahead. July, I have high hopes for you.