I’ve been away, and now I’m back. 

In my absence, I lived a little, cried a lot, had multiple identity crisis, lost some things, found some things, and overall just held on tightly as I rode the twists and rapid turns of the roller coaster of life. 

I learned a lot along the way, and am still learning, but one thing is for sure – I missed it here. This space to just write, to connect, to inspire, and to be wholly purely me. 

But now I’m back, and I think this time I’m here to stay, and share, and laugh and encourage.

So let’s do a little July re-cap.

LIFE LATELY

We are now just a couple weeks away from a new school year, summer is rapidly coming to an end and fall feels right around the corner – although the weather would say otherwise.

Temps have been excruciatingly hot, putting a damper on a lot of summer plans but I’m thankful for cool water and a/c more than ever before. It’s taught me a lot about what we usually take for granted and just how blessed we are. 

The kids have been filling up their days with pool time, obliterating their summer reading lists, and the older two have started their own businesses. 

It’s been busy, it’s been a daze, it’s been all the things.

I went to San Diego this month, to visit my bestie and while it flew by – having the girl time was exactly what my soul needed. There is nothing more uplifting to the soul than days with your girlfriend, laughing, pondering, and discussing the deep and the frivolous.

Our days were packed with food, and fun and always ended with laughter over our favorite shows. I miss her desperately but am so thankful for the time we get together – it rejuvenated me in all the ways I needed rejuvenating. 

Really, July – you were good to us. Thank you. 

LATEST LOVES

MY FAVORITE SWIMSUIT – One piece swimsuits can be difficult to find, especially if you have a long torso like me. Search no further, because I found the best one. This suit is flattering for all body types and won’t make you feel like you’re going to slingshot out of it. (long torso problems) It’s got the right amount of sexiness without having to worry about it coming undone and having a very public nip slip. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes – so your pool/beach vibe is sure to be matched.

CARRY ON FOR EVERY BUDGET – Luggage can be expensive and you know its going to get beat up so it’s hard to know if you should spend a ton of money or go the cheaper route. I tend to go somewhere in the middle with budget finding that it lasts a while and if it gets to beat up from the airport, it doesn’t pain my soul too bad. I have had this carry on for about 7 years now and haven’t had a single issue with it. I’ve had to check it multiple times, due to small airplanes and so it’s been tested in all the ways and come out on the other side unscathed. It’s roomy and perfect for all the over-packers among us. 🙋‍♀️

LIGHT SUMMER SHORTS – I think a lightweight, yet flattering summer short is a must have for every wardrobe. These shorts keep me cool, while looking flattering, but also have the most comfortable waistband that allows for those summer bbq’s and hot summer puffiness. They come in a variety of colors to match any skin tone and they hold up really well. My only caveat is that if you’re traveling with them you might bring along a travel steamer since after a while they will wrinkle.

DESIGNER SUNNIES WITHOUT THE DESIGNER PRICE – If you’ve been sleeping on Jamie Foxx’s Prive Reveaux sunglasses brand then you are really missing out. They’re comparable to big time designer sunglasses without the huge price tag. I’ve had both designer and non-designer sunglasses and these really do feel and hold up the same as my trust ray bans. They have so many fun designs and shapes and are constantly adding new ones. If you’re needing a good quality pair of sunnies but don’t have a big budget, I highly recommend these.

A KITCHEN TOOL ACTUALLY WORTH IT – When I was on my trip to San Diego this summer, I was introduced to the best little kitchen gadget. Most kitchen gadgets can be useless and just take up room in the drawer but this one, is 100% worth it – if you eat a lot of pineapple. It’s easy to use, easy to clean and makes chopping up that pineapple a breeze. Plus, you’re left with the perfect hollow pineapple shell that could easily be used for a party, or for your favorite cocktail. The possibilities are endless.

SUMMER NAPS – Anyone else suffer from nap guilt? Like you really know you need a nap but you feel bad because you have a never ending to-do list and you think you should be more productive? If this is you, I’m giving you permission to just crawl in bed and take a 20 minute cat nap. Trust me, your body, your mind and your soul needs it.

SUMMER READS – I’ve been reading some old favorites this summer like Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts and The Woman Left Behind by Linda Howard. Currently I’m re-visiting Lucy Score and diving back into her collection of awesomeness. I love her style, her characters and the way she writes.

I hope you’re having a fabulous summer and that August is the best month of 2023 yet.

Sending you lots of love,