My Monthly Catch-Up: July Edition

Welcome to my July round-up! These monthly catch-ups used to live on Weelicious, but they’ve found their new home here on SEASONED, where I get to be a little more open about everyday life :) Let’s dive in!

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This month my focus was to be on vacation in the city I live in: Los Angeles. I spend so much time thinking about travel and where I’m going next that I wanted to lean into being here, present and enjoying the sweet micro moments of summer.

That’s meant endless hours in the pool swimming (Gemma will only swim with these goggles that don’t pull her hair), jumping on the trampoline, and at least 3 batches of frozen grapes and strawberry fruit leather each week.

We cooked a ton at home, so we could spend time playing games outside like Rummikub, swim, and enjoy late sunsets. A few go-to’s on heavy rotation have been Maple Soy Salmon, Cucumber Salad, and Chocolate Brownie in a Skillet (all recipes over on Weelicious).

For the Fourth of July, I cooked a big picnic with the 9 foods I found in my fridge (thank goodness there were a few ripe avocados to make a big batch of guacamole) for my hubby, Gemma, Cosmo and I. That night, we headed to Barnsdall Art Foundation Park to watch the fireworks all over the city sky. If you haven’t been there for their Friday night Silverlake wine and DJ nights, you’re missing out. A group of friends joined and we all brought appetizers (can’t live without my Snackle Box filled with olives, crackers and treats) and gabbed until dark. Community is one of the things I crave most these days and watching people come out, dance and feel free felt like a gift in itself.

I spent a lot of time cooking with and for friends this month and eating on this waterproof picnic blanket (which I’ve dragged around all summer). My girlfriend, Damaris, came to LA so we could make a batch of these mocktails plus a stonefruit and burrata salad that I’m posting on Weelicious’s Instagram later this week. I made it wearing the most comfortable strapless black bathing suit that I feel I’ll be living in through at least September.

I’m all about building memories, so I took one of my girlfriends out to dinner for her birthday, and we pretended we were at a cafe in Paris (when in fact we were at Betsy in Altadena). Get a reservation stat because their summer produce (OMG the melon salad with chiles) and the way the chef, Paul, and owner, Tyler, prepare dishes is on another planet of deliciousness.

When I got invited to celebrate Jennifer Garner’s new Peacock show, The Five Star Weekend, with incredible ladies, you know the answer was yes! We sat on the roof at Funke in our summer dresses chatting, eating pasta and enjoying the perfect night.

When I go to a friend’s house, I love bringing a little something. While a bottle of wine is always a win, Brightland olive oil, Masala Chai Concentrate, yummy oHHo CBD beverages (the blood orange and pomegranate is out of this world) or this incredible multi pack of tinned fish from Fish Wives are fun and unexpected.

One of my favorite humans, Melissa, and her husband, Greg, brought their new baby, Graham, to stay with us, and if I could have kept them forever I would. Gemma’s dreams of having another baby were fulfilled (momentarily).

First of all, before I bought new clothes, Chloe sat me down at the beginning of summer and had an intervention with me. She was clear that I needed to shed 50% of my closet. Deep breaths. I ordered more matching no-slip hangers, kept and organized 50%, donated 25% and am selling 25% on my Poshmark (it’s addictive if you haven’t tried it before!).

I basically live in button up shirts and jeans. I got 2 new ones at different price points and love them equally. Before you click on the links, can you figure out which is which? This oversized white one is super chic and this striped button up comes in endless colors.

I’ve been making 2 Iced Matcha Lattes every day this summer. I usually make mine with oat milk, but any milk works, as you can see here with the recipe. Refreshing, an easy bump of caffeine, and it only takes seconds with pure ceremonial matcha and this electric foamer, which turns any milk into creamy foam in seconds.

I often get aches and pains from running around, working out and cooking. If I don’t have time to take an Epsom salt bath I rub this Soothing Nerve Lotion into my legs and shoulders for immediate relief.

Yes, I said this month was about being a tourist in my own city. And then we went on a vacation. Balance! You know how much I love a one on one vacation, and you also know how much our grandparents mean to me, so Gemma and I grabbed my dad and headed to Alaska!

Since Kenya and Chloe headed to the east coast for the past month (more about that soon) and took all of our suitcases, I bought myself the most updated version of my go-to carry on suitcase. We packed everything we needed for 8 days in it too! I live for this carry on and these life-changing compression packing cubes. Since it was going to be cold and dry I brought my new Remedy Serum stick I swear by to hydrate my face and neck.

I’m sharing everything about our Alaska vacation (and how skeptical I was about going on a Disney Cruise) next week, so stay tuned for that.

Since I wasn’t sure how the food would be and didn’t want to stress about not having enough greens and nutrients in my body, I grabbed a bunch of my husband’s AG1 travel packets and stuffed it in my backpack.

Every free second I’ve had over the past month, I’ve been grabbing my book The Lion Women of Tehran which is absolutely mesmerizing. If you’re looking for a book club read, it’s a must. I just cracked open The Correspondent too which I’ve heard over and over again is a must read. Let me know if you’ve read it! Or if you have more recommendations!

Now back in LA and ready for two more trips before the beginning of Kenya’s first year of college and the girls back to school! Buckle up because it’s going to be a ride!