Hi friends! You guys, I made a list of the things I’ve been loving this month, and it is so long! I love that and hope that that will continue for the rest of the year. I’ve found so many small things to love and be thankful for this month, and I’m just happy to share so you can be reminded to stop and appreciate the small things, too.
Anniversary
Guys! I’ve been married for 9 years! You can read more about our wedding here. Babe, I’m so happy to be your wife. Happy Anniversary and here’s to many, many more!
Paul Can Play Golf (Kind of)
In June, Paul broke his leg which put him out of golf. And y’all, it has been hard. He has been going to the club just to ride around and watch his friends play. He has missed the game so much, and last week the doctor told him to go ahead and start working on his short game. Then he said next week he should be coming out of the book. I’m so happy for him! He is more than ready to get back to the game that he loves.
Mom Turned 60
We’ve been celebrating for a good part of the month for my mom’s 60th birthday. My aunt wanted to organize a surprise birthday lunch, so we got it all set up and then it rained. And with the rain came my mom’s reservations about going to eat lunch with my aunt. (That was the way we were getting her out of the house.) I was texting and calling my dad to see if things were actually going to happen, and then people started showing up to the lunch, and finally my dad calls saying they are on the way. Well, he went a different way to get to the lunch destination, but they pulled up at the same time. (insert that face palm emoji) The surprise was ruined, but we had a great time anyway.
Then the next weekend we went out as a family to have hibachi and sushi and cheesecake. It was a fun night full of good food and good laughs. Happy Birthday, Mama!
Walmart Tank
I found the ultimate tank for under $5 at Walmart, and I was so excited that I wrote a blog post about it and styled it several ways. You can read that here. It comes in 8 different colors and is so comfortable that I’ll be wearing it until it literally falls apart.
Alabama Grill Ice Cream
One night Paul and I really wanted ice cream, and he remembered that the Alabama Grill now served it. I ran down to grab a couple of scoops, and I am hooked. I got the Camellia (cheesecake) flavor one, and Paul got the vanilla. Both were delicious! Of course I forgot to take a photo of the ice cream, but if you’re from out of town reading this and want a delicious meal, head on in to downtown Greenville and eat at The Alabama Grill. *After writing this particular section of this post, I went back and got the peach flavor. Holy moly!
Truly Hard Seltzer
Truth be told, I’d probably not have been on board with this last year. The first time I tried La Croix I had bought a whole pack of it and promptly gave it away. But now, I’ve gotten to where I drink black coffee, only diet drinks when I opt for a soft drink, and no sweet tea. So when I tried Truly and liked it, I was so happy! It’s quite delicious and a great way to enjoy an adult beverage without sacrificing carbs and too many calories. My favorite is the lime. I’ve also since bought the berry pack and will not be repurchasing those. The tropical variety pack is the only other one I haven’t tried. I’m a little hesitant, but the citrus pack is all good.
Daisy Jones and the Six
You can read how I really felt about it here, but as a summary, I loved it. I highly recommend listening to the audio version of the book because of the cast of characters they pulled together to read the parts. It’s genius. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a very gifted writer and storyteller.
When We Left Cuba
Another author I’ve really taken a liking to is Chanel Cleeton. She is an extraordinary historical fiction author. From reading her books, Next Year in Havana and When We Left Cuba, I’ve learned a lot about the revolution in Cuba with Fidel Castro. Both books are beautifully descriptive and unbelievable stories. You’ll feel as if you’re there, and Beatriz will be sticking with me for a long time.
Big Little Lies Finale
I have been a huge fan of this story since I read the book by Liane Moriarty. Season 1, though a little different from the book, was a fantastic show. And then we heard season 2 was coming. And then we found out Meryl Streep was getting involved. It definitely upped the ante of the show, and we were not disappointed. I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say I actually liked it and was okay with the ending. I do still have a few unanswered questions, but I’m not confident there’ll be a season 3 for us to get those answers. Here’s hoping!
The Handmaid’s Tale
I didn’t expect to like this show as much as I did. It’s a wild ride, and when we were binge watching it, I was kept awake at night by the thoughts it sparked. However, now that we’re all caught up, it’s less gripping, kind of, as it was before. It’s just so well done, and Elisabeth Moss is incredible.
Mom’s Rug Switcheroo
Jack’s Funny Picture
A July Sunset
Christmas in July on Hallmark
Artfully Walls
Artfully Walls is a website with incredibly priced art prints. You can even have them framed at this website. The selection is innumerate, and I’ve loaded up my cart with so many pieces trying to narrow it down. I feel like I should only buy art for a specific place. I need to have a place to put it. However, I’m absolutely in love with this one, and I don’t have a place to put it. But it’s under $20, so I’m pretty sure I could find a place.
Hair Tutorial
After I cut my hair and started curling it, lots of you over on Instagram started requesting a hair tutorial. Though I felt a little silly, I did it, and it lives in a highlight on my page. You can check it out here.
True South Top
Jergens Tanning Lotion
I used this product way back when it first came out and didn’t love it. I ventured out into the self tanning world to discover other means of achieving a golden glow, but recently I decided to try this. Maybe they reformulated, or maybe I was just tired of the mitts and mousses and the fact that Walmart never has my favorite one in stock! Y’all, I really like it, and it gives me a relatively natural looking glow that makes me not so self conscious about exposing my white legs to the world. I don’t feel like I’m going to full on blind you anymore! It’s been a winner for me lately.
Kitchen Refresh
Did you catch this last week on the blog? I am still amazed at what a little spray paint can do. Read about how I gave my kitchen a $6 refresh here.
Alright, it’s your turn. Tell me how your July was. Are you ready for summer to be over or are you wishing it would last forever? Let me know in the comments.
