July was spent outdoors in the summer sun and spending time with friends and family. My older sister flew in from Atlanta to see my younger brother and his family who drove from New Mexico. It’s not often that we can get us all in the same state.
July Blog Posts
Summer Photo Bucket Update
Photographer Heather Marshall created the Summer Bucket Photo List inspiring other photographers, parents, families to capture this summer’s memories. Check out my first post on the Summer Photo Bucket List for all the details. I have been getting my camera…
June Monthly Recap
June went by in a flash! It included a Jamaican vacation for a week with the best neighbor friends. I had 2 family sessions at the end of the month. And the beginning of the month was gardening and prepping/packing…
Creative Business Activities
Photography Sessions
- Ayden Newborn
Month Total: 1 sessions
YTD Total: 11 sessions
August Booked: 6
Fall Session Inquiries: 7
Handmade Custom Orders
YTD Quilt Total: 12 completed
*Please reach out to me as soon as possible if you would like to be on my Fall schedule. I’m opening up my dates soon and will go down my inquiry list in the order received.*
Read. Watch. Listen. Learn.
Read
I am using Goodreads to track my reading, rate books and write some reviews. 95% to GOAL! That means I’ll hit my reading goal in August.
Books Completed in July: 6 books
- The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek – Kim Michele Richardson
- Huxley Public Library Book Club: July
- Love & Olives – Jenna Evans Welch
- I really loved this book. The dynamic of the father-daughter relationship was endearing, and the description of Greece is beautiful. I’d like to travel to Greece – it’s on my bucket list.
- Tokyo Ever After – Emiko Jean
- This book was such a fun read and also touched on some “taboo” topics. I finished this physical book in less than 24 hours. I don’t remember the last time I was able finish a book that quickly without it being an audiobook.
- Conspiracy: A True Story of Power, Sex, and a Billionaire’s Secret Plot to Destroy a Media Empire
- Fascinating nonfiction, journalistic account of this story. I learned a lot about conspiracies in general, but it felt dry at times. I would have preferred this in a podcast format rather than an audiobook.
- Dear Edward
- Huxley Public Library Book Club: August
- You Had Me at Hola
- Fun, easy-to-read, romance novel. This book has me interested in reading more Spanglish books. Is that even a genre? I hope so!
YTD Total: 39 of 41 books
Watch
- Dateline on Friday nights (if we aren’t outside sitting around a fire pit)
Listen
I listen to a lot of podcasts, audiobooks, and music. Here are the highlights from the past month.
- Crime Junkies | True Crime Podcast
- Talking to the Moon by Sam Tompkins | Heard this song on YouTube Shortz and I am obsessed with this rendition
Learn
I love learning new things and am making space for more future learnings.
- Des Moines Science Center + Blank Park Zoo Membership is worth it. I purchased the membership this month and have already been to both places to meet up with people. Adam, Lexi and I went to the Science Center with my brother & his family when they were visiting Iowa. Lexi and I also met up my high school friends Jenny & Colin and their boys at the zoo.
- My community is the best. This isn’t a new learning, but one I am grateful for. I love the small-town community feel and how people genuinely care about other. I saw that firsthand at the Slater Fourth of July Parade. I see that in the neighborhood fires every weekend. I love that Lexi is growing up in a neighborhood where connections are deep and people care about one another.
What is your favorite summer memory so far?
Let me know in the comments.
