July Favorites List

I can’t believe it’s already nearing the end of July! We had a BIG birthday this week as our middle son turned ten! He was very specific on how he wanted to spend the day (hiking and fishing in the morning, picnic for lunch, Top Golf around 4pm…). I can’t believe he turned double digits. It definitely feels like a new parenting era with a twelve year old, a fresh ten year old, an almost eight year old and a three year old. You guys, we watched Jurassic Park last night with the big kids. I mean, that’s a whole rite of passage thing right there. I had to face the scary trauma that movie caused me in sixth grade and be brave for my children’s sake. And actually? They totally loved it and it wasn’t as scary as it seemed to me in 1997. Amazing what almost thirty years can do to a person.

I thought since the end of the month was coming upon us, I would share some of my very favorite things that I’m loving right now.

This skort! In so many colors! I have the tan color and the blue one and I seriously alternate them all week long. I’m working on a Europe capsule wardrobe for the five weeks we will be abroad and I’ll share that at some point but this skort definitely makes the cut.

This herbal tea with these little chocolates (found at Costco - they are SO GOOD). I started another nine month program with my Catholic integrative health coach to help manage some perimenopause symptoms and general life “stuff” (exercise, healthy eating, spiritual health, etc). Anyway, she highly recommended this tea as part of a night routine with a scoop of collagen peptides and I’m hooked. It is full bodied with a hint of vanilla and really keeps my sweet tooth in check!

Great summer tank top with built in bra. I have this in black and white. It’s really not as low cut as it seems on the website and I love that it has a built in bra. I also wear mine underneath too low dresses for a little more coverage.

Refresh toner from Rooted for Good. I can’t live without this stuff - especially when it’s super hot outside! I also use the Revive foaming face wash daily, the coffee scrub a few times a week and the Rejuvenate moisturizer in the summer (I use the richer Renew cream in the winter when the weather is drier). In short, I LOVE this company! I love their products and everything they stand for (they are Catholic missionaries!).

You guys, I am actually re-reading the Emma M Lion books! I never do this. If you haven’t read the series, do yourself a favor and get on it. I’m also re-reading Christy (for book club) and, still, The Hobbit.

I finally drank the Kool-Aid and ordered some Earth Runners. I love them! I have been wearing them pretty much nonstop since I got them a few weeks ago, including on a pretty long hike.

I reopened my Saintmaker journal again after about five months and it’s really helping me stay on track. I have a really large planner from Blessed is She, which I love, but it is REALLY big and I like how the Saintmaker is very precise in goal setting. I was combining using my large planner with a separate nightly examen journal but the Saintmaker combines the two and it’s small enough to fit in my purse. There’s an area to write what you’re grateful for every day as well as a brief nightly examen. I know most people just use apps on their phone these days but I really like writing things down.

That’s all for now! I hope you all have a great week.