What Brought Me Joy in June – Love & Renovations

I was talking to a friend the other day about this summer and how it’s going so far. I’ve always struggled with being able to slow down in the summer. I’m a bit of a workaholic and I love having structure and routine, so summer can be a little overwhelming for me. Last year, I made a really concerted effort to slow down and take one full day off each week, and it made a huge difference in my mental state over the summer. I’ve been trying to do the same this year, and I can truly say I’m really enjoying our summer more than I ever have before! We’re snuggling up for midday movies, hopping in the car for quick road trips, spending every spare second at the pool, and just generally soaking it all in.

Of course, that comes with a little bit of stress about how I’m not actually getting much work done. Because that’s just who I am in my soul. But, I’m doing my very best to set the stress aside, chase some joy, and remind myself that the beauty of a flexible work schedule is actually being flexible with it!

Long story short? June was packed full of joy. And sweat, because it’s HOT in Texas right now. Let’s jump right into spreading some joy.

Moments + Memories

We booked a trip to Disney World! Corey and I have been talking about this trip for as long as I can remember and I’ve been mentally planning it since I was 7 years old. I’ve never been, he’s been once when he was 5, and obviously the kids are first-timers too. I’ve been doing a ton of research and planning and I honestly don’t even have the words to tell you how excited I am. I’ve never been this pumped about a vacation in my life.
So many play dates with our besties and pool trips with neighborhood friends. We picked this neighborhood specifically because we loved the amenities and the community, and summer is when it really shines. Every time we go to the pool we bump into a friend, and the boys always have someone to play with there. It really feels like summer magic, you know?
Grant had his annual “YES Day” (read more about that tradition here), and he lived it up. We had donuts, had an Easter egg hunt, painted his nails, went to the mall, ate burgers & milkshakes, saw a movie, went to the arcade, jumped at the trampoline park, and had lunchables for dinner. It was exhausting and wonderful.
We spent an entire week celebrating Corey for Father’s Day, and a new tradition was born! His schedule is nutty as a Realtor, so it can be tough to get a solid weekend day. Instead, we did seven days worth of little celebrations, and it was so so special.
I went on a girls’ trip with my two best friends to a local resort & spa, and I came back so incredibly refreshed.
We slept in late, ate too much ice cream, went on leisurely morning walks, tie-dyed shirts, snuggled all afternoon, and played tons of games. Basically, all the perfect summer activities.

Books + Media

Here’s a list of everything I read in June:

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki – I loved this unique, smart, heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking story. It kept me captivated from beginning to end and is a really good summer read if you need something that isn’t romance-y or a thriller.
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer – This fantasy romance book was fun and exciting and maaaybe a little cheesy. It’s part of a trilogy and originally I didn’t think I’d read all three but I keep thinking about what might happen to them, so I have a feeling I’ll be grabbing the next book.
Pageboy by Elliot Page – Corey grabbed this memoir for me before my girls’ trip, and I consumed the entire thing in less than 24 hours. It’s sad and hard at times, but so fascinating and raw and engaging. I struggled a little with the lack of a timeline in the book (there’s a lot of jumping back and forth), but overall I’d definitely recommend it.
A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas – This is my fifth read through of this book series and it’s still just as captivating and wonderful as it was the first time. A couple of friends (and my mom!) are reading it for the first time, so I decided to join them.
A Court of Mist & Fury by Sarah J. Maas – Once I get started with these books I can’t stop. I’m trying to savor them and take my time, forcing myself to read other books at the same time. But, they just keep drawing me back in.
The Measure by Nikki Erlick – This book. WOW. I went into it knowing absolutely nothing (which I recommend, it was a great approach!), and I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s haunting and beautiful and so thought-provoking. I adored this book and think everyone should read it.

We didn’t watch much television this month, because we’re still playing Zelda. Because we’re obsessed. But, when I had a little time to myself to turn on the TV, I watched the second season of Bridgerton and started Queen Charlotte! Season two wasn’t my favorite (season one was so much better!), but Charlotte’s story is so good and I am so excited to finish that one.

Games

Like I mentioned, Corey and I are still snuggling up in bed to play Tears of the Kingdom literally every single night so we haven’t been interested in any other games. But, we had a few family game nights!
The Upside Down Challenge – My parents brought this over one night and we had THE MOST fun with it. It’s silly and shockingly hard and I was actually very good at it. It’s definitely a new favorite for us.
During Corey’s Father’s Day week, we got him Horrified and had a ton of fun playing it. Even Grant was able to join in on the fun, and it was a really great time for all of us.
My mother in law spent some time here with the kids, and they had marathon sessions of Uno. It’s a classic and Grant is getting very good at it.
And finally, on a game night with my parents we tried out Dos and liked it more than any of us expected! It feels totally fresh (not at all the same game as Uno), and really really fun.

Products

We’ve been using these reusable checklists for the kids’ summer screen time checklist (read more about it here), and they’re a game-changer! I love them so much, and I think they’ll be so nice to have and use year-round.
I hung this adorable disco ball planter up in the dining room and it brings me so much joy. I didn’t pick a place where it gets enough direct sunlight to sparkle as much as I had hoped, but it’s still SO fun!
I hung this magnetic screen door to keep out the flies and it works so dang well. It’s been such a huge help at keeping the flies out when the kids inevitably leave the door open. It’s a 10/10.
After every big race, I always treat myself with a new pair of running shoes. These are the ones I got after my May marathon, and I’m in love with them.
Speaking of shoes, I also snagged these for our Disney trip. I added these insoles to make them extra comfy and I think they’re going to be a perfect solution for all the walking. And they’re SUCH a great deal!
And finally, this month I discovered packing cubes and I’ll never travel without them again. Already stocking up one more for our big trip in a couple of months!

June was delightful, and I’m excited to see what July has in store for us! The boys have theater camp, we’re going on a beach trip, and we have some fun family gatherings planned already, so I have a feeling it’s going to be a good one!