General Highlights:
In July, two of my best friends threw me a wonderful housewarming party. We had a great turnout, great food, and great sangria. I felt happy and loved!
The Fourth is my favorite holiday. This year I was excited to go to the “parade” in my new neighborhood, since I’ve never lived in a neighborhood that had one. In the evening, I watched fireworks from a downtown rooftop with a great group of friends.
On the 3rd, I ran the Stars & Stripes 5K for the first time. It started and ended at Tiger Lane, so I couldn’t say no. It’s been almost a year now since I ran my first entire 5K, and although I still wish I was faster, I’ve shaved four minutes off my time without working very hard at it. Very encouraging!!
My sister and nieces visited for a week. Fifoo, Debra, and I had a sleepover at my place, and we and our mom took both girls to the Children’s Museum and to a friend’s pool. Baby E also met my friend Caroline’s son, who was born in the same month. (We had previously introduced them over Skype.) Aunthood is the best.
Reading:
Unsurprisingly, my book count goes way up when I stick to fun fiction and memoirs instead of trying to enrich myself with heavy stuff. I figured summer is a good enough excuse to imbibe all the YA I want. My favorite book of July was Erin Bow’s The Scorpion Rules.
Music:
From the first listen, I’ve been obsessed with San Fermin’s “Jackrabbit”:
Also, Paper Towns is the best soundtrack since Garden State. Yeah, that’s a bold statement and I stand behind it.
Travel:
I went to Miami and the Keys for my family’s annual lobster pilgrimage. More on that later.
Around Town:
One Sunday afternoon, I locked myself out of my house while hanging up some outdoor lights. My mom came over with the spare key, and we ended up walking to Cooper-Young and watching the US women win the World Cup at Young Avenue Deli with a huge crowd of people. It was exactly the kind of evening I used to imagine when I thought about moving to Midtown. I still feel so lucky every day to live where I do.
Another Sunday, I biked all through and around Overton Park. Sadly, it was my last neighborhood ride for a while – as you know if you follow me on any social media, my bike was stolen off my patio last weekend while I was in Florida. I loved that bike, have made many happy memories with it over the last five years, and was looking forward to many more. Hopefully I’ll be able to get a new one before the Midnight Bike Classic at the end of the month, but I’m still grieving my old bike.
My partners in crime and I attended a Paint Nite at Fox & Hound. I’ve been to several painting places over the years, but I think this was more relaxing and fun than an actual painting studio!
At Home:
On the rare evening the temperature’s dipped below 90 degrees, I’ve enjoyed my new outdoor patio lights. Inside, I had an original print I bought in Wynwood in Miami custom framed at Art Center. It was worth the trouble and expense!
Cooking/Eating:
When it’s this hot, the seared ahi tuna salad from Local rocks my world.
Random Happiness:
At my housewarming party, Alanna had everyone write notes for me on paint chips and hide them around the house. I think I’ve found most of them. My two favorite notes: meaningful Counting Crows lyrics, and Kelsey and Claudia’s two-parter with the theme song to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Because you never need a reason for Will Smith.
Oh and: I BOOKED A TRIP TO ICELAND!!!! Much more to come in time.
Pinterest Quote of the Month:
On The Blog:
I posted about my garden and my copycat recipe for Babalu’s veggie tacos. Don’t give up on me… someday I will write something of substance again. There are several posts bouncing around in my head, but I can never focus and quiet myself long enough to sit down and write them. Is it possible to develop ADD suddenly at almost-36?
Posts I Loved:
♥ Best post I read in July: Hannah Brencher (as usual), Drop The Mic and Go Find Sarah.
♥ The Washington Post launched Solo-ish about a month ago, and I’m loving it! It’s a fresh take on all kinds of topics affecting singles.
♥ Ed Cyzewski: If There’s a Slippery Slope, Jesus May Be Leading Us Down It
♥ Angie at My So-Called Chaos: My Heart’s Too Big For My Own Body
♥ Loved this charming story from Amy Peterson: A Love Note From Juanita’s
♥ Mandy Hale aka The Single Woman: Why I’m Still Single: The Ugly Truth. Preach.
♥ Added to my Year of Enough board: Oh Heck Yeah, You ARE Worth a Lot!!!! by Kerry Smith. (PS: Kerry was one of my campus ministers in college and is a wonderful person.)
I’ve added myself to the waitlist at the library to read The Scorpion Rules, thanks to you! Looking forward to it.
Yay! Clear your schedule when you get it! :)
I would love to visit the Keys – truly. Interesting that in summer you go further south. For me, here in Ontario, I’m always seeking to go further north.
I have Southern bones and almost never seek to go further north. ;) However, it’s actually more pleasant in South Florida this time of year than it is in Memphis. It’s like an oven here.
I love these posts. And I think they are “substantial.” It’s a peak into your world at the moment…I really enjoy it…especially the blogs…you help me discover new (to me) and interesting writers. Thanks for sharing! :)
Thank you! :)
It sounds like you’ve been doing things right in your new neighborhood. I’m SO sorry about your bike! That’s terrible!
Coming to you via Leigh Kramer’s – your nieces look so cute! It’s fab that you’re an aunt. I’m in the UK, so I always forget about the Fourth of July, and loved looking at your cake. (We in Britain don’t really celebrate the fact that you left us…)
Hi – I’m Tanya and I blog on the Bible, suffering, and the messy edges of life. More cheerful than it sounds. Honest.
Lovely to see you!