The older I get the faster it feels like time flies by. This past month was no exception. I will say it was jam-packed with memories though, and that I appreciate. So here is the roundup for the month, or as it is on tiktok, my July R.E.P.O.R.T.
Reading
After finishing Kingdom of Ash within the last few days of June, subsequently concluding my journey with the Throne of Glass series, I have been in a bit of a book slump (IYKYK).
Help I’m still at the restaurant.
As someone who normally finishes a few books a month, the month of July felt like I didn’t read at all. The only book I finished was The Goal by Elle Kennedy with hopes it would be a good palate cleanse and jumpstart me back into reading my growing TBR. I finished that book within the first week of July. It is a quick read and honestly her Off-Campus/Briar series are my guilty pleasures when I am looking for something light and fast.
After that, I did not read a single page of another book until a few days ago when I finally started Fall of Ruin and Wrath. I will admit I bought this book months ago because I thought it was pretty (at the same time I bought Throne of Glass so we can see which book won). It took me a bit to get into it, but now I am about halfway through and hooked.
Eating
Something to note about me is that I am a foodie through and through. I love the experience of tasting new and unusual things. I love experimenting and cooking for people. There is constantly fresh loaves & dinner leftovers at my place. This month was no exception when it came to that.
Here were my favorite experiments from scratch this month:
Cinnamon Rolls w/ cream cheese frosting
Homemade Granola
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Baguettes
Playing
As a writer, I think 90% of what I listen to is my book playlist, which is slightly embarrassing to admit. The other 10% of the time, my taste in music is all over the place. My favorite songs of the month depict this accurately.
Smooth Operator // Sade
Heartbeat // Childish Gambino
As It Was // Hozier
Obsessing
If I am being completely honest: this. Substack. I can’t remember when I first made my account, but I launched my newsletter this month and have been devouring what others have written. It’s been so much fun so far learning how it works and what to write and has been a great way to get the creativity rolling. I also have been able to find so many pieces I deeply resonated with.
Here are a few recent favorites:
Recommending
Two words: Dinner. Parties.
Having a night spent with limited phone use, food, and chats was so incredibly healing for the soul. Unfortunately no pictures were taken, which I suppose is a good thing in a sense, but here’s the inspo for it.
It doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive. Gather a couple friends, family, your significant other, anyone.
Decor: Walmart has cheap tea and taper candles which make for great lighting ambience & cute decor. If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, that is where I find the cheapest flower. They usually have a pretty good variety of flowers that are a great bang for the buck, such as spray roses, carnations, filler flower. For knick-knack pieces, I raid my own home (fellow jar hoarders raise your hand) but you can usually snag some cute items from second hand stores.
Food: I typically go for Apéro Dînatoire, or “girl dinner” basically. Again, Trader Joe’s usually has low cost crackers, meats, seasonal fruits, & nuts that I like to arrange. My local grocer has odds & ends cheese cuts that allows me to get a variety without ending up with way too much. Pasta is also another cost effective and usually simple option as well. My go-tos for any “dinner party” are usually a burrata or caprese salad, a grazing board (that I serve on a cutting board), fresh baguette, and jam & butter then I’ll add more if needed.
It’s also fun when everyone brings something as well since you’ll end up with a mix and match assortment. We’ve even done this following themes like colors or countries.
Treating
This month I took a holiday so sweet treats were a full go. I had my fair share and probably ate one too many s’mores. There is something about being away from home and taking a break from work that just screams “You need dessert!” to me.
Looking to August
As summer in the northern hemisphere wraps up, I can already feel my autumn-loving self thawing out. In an effort to soak up the last bits of summer while they are still here and make sure I am feeling my best for my favorite season, here’s what I am doing:
Taking more unplugged walks
Meeting for coffee outside at cafes
Making sure I am getting enough water
Stretching daily (working on improving my posture right now)
Going to ALL the farmer’s markets
Enjoying the Olympics!
End of summer closet cleanout & donate
I am also really looking forward to writing more for substack. I want to focus on more casual writing since I feel so hardwired as a graduate student & professional to write curated, perfect pieces.
Thank you July & Welcome August!
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ahh i loved reading this ! and also i'm obsessing over heartbeat by childish gambino too 🫶🏾 😩