Was the 4th of July this month or a lifetime ago…? Read on for a glance at our July…

What we did

Does nothing sound like a good answer? Because that was mostly our reality for July and I’m OK with that. This past month was a somewhat strange and busy one. The incessant and record-breaking heat kept us mostly at home since it’s no secret that I despise summers in Florida. I love being outside and that’s impossible here during this time of the year, hence my sentiments.

When we got stir-crazy, we got in our car and took spontaneous, yet, aimless road trips for a change of scenery. That’s what stuck with me this July, a very low-key month overall. Oh, wait… I gave another interview — I hope you like it and find it useful…

July BLOG POSTS ROUNDUP

I have been MIA so much this summer and I’m not too proud of it but sometimes, you just have to prioritize yourself. In all honesty, I’ve been tired and this insane heat made me not want to do much at all. I’m not sure I took any photos of my outfits this month, but that’s mostly because our outings have been few and far between, and whenever we did go out, I wore my older dresses. Which also explains my [again] unplanned absence on the blog.

Here’s what I did manage to write about in July:

5 things that bring me joy this week. The weekly series showcases a collection of seemingly insignificant things that serve as a reminder to appreciate the little things — those small joys that make a difference in our day-to-day.

Amazon Prime Day deals and things. A roundup of some of the things I purchased over time and was happy with, as well as items I have been eyeing that were on sale this past Prime Day.

Beauty products I must have at all times. An unpretentious list of [affordable] beauty items I can’t live without, especially in the summer.

More elegance, please. It may be hot, but my desire to see more elegance in us is going strong; this post explains what I consider elegance these days, and gives a few modern elegant outfit ideas.

What we watched

Book Club: The Next Chapter. Ah, how much I missed watching something like this… It was just the perfect funny, yet heart-warming, silly movie we needed during one cozy evening at home.

True Blood. I mentioned recently that we got sucked big time into this show that I started watching years ago and never finished. It was good, then it got better, then worse, and back and forth it went. Overall, we enjoyed it, and I’m glad we got to see the cast and attend their last panel at San Diego’s Comic-Con.

The Blacklist. After 10 years of religiously watching one of my all-time favorite shows, it was time to wrap it up. I still think that The Blacklist has been a fairly underrated show, and it deserved a lot more buzz than it ever got, but its ending is almost comical. The episode before the last had us at the edge of our seats and screaming at the screen, while the last just left us dumbstruck. I can’t say that we didn’t see it coming, nor are we surprised that the mystery surrounding our Red remains a mystery, but in a weird way, I’m at peace…

What I bought:

These sunglasses I’ve been eyeing for a while. After going back and forth, I decided to go for the “milky blue” color though I am loving the “cream brown”, the “milky orange”, and, of course, the “milky navy/milky red”.

Intimissimi is having a great sale so I took advantage of that just a few days ago... I will just say that I am a returning customer and leave it at that.

This niacinamide gel moisturizer. I love using gel creams in the summer because of how easily they absorb into the skin, and because they’re cooling and feel more soothing and lightweight. I really like this one so far and have been applying it almost every night with The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum. For me, these two work great together, especially as there is no pilling, no matter the amount I apply (the serum can “flake” if too much is used, especially in combination with other products). *If you consider using two niacinamide products at once, I’d recommend a patch test first to avoid irritation or other issues.

Whatever else I purchased this month is escaping my mind, so I’ll stop here, though I might update this if I remember anything worth mentioning…

What I read

This is getting comical and more embarrassing with each passing month, but once again, not much reading happened around here this past month. Blame it on True Blood.

I am however almost done with Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins, a book I once again picked up without much of an idea what it was about, yet, found captivating. It kept popping up on the “most popular” list for months, and one day when I had no idea what I was in the mood for, I randomly chose it.

It’s a gut-wrenching book at times, and inspiring nonetheless, leaving you marveling at human capacity, and at how little we know it and tap into.

What caught my eye on the internet

Sheryl Lee Ralph: A 3-step guide to believing in yourself.

6 things people do around the world to slow down.

World's Best Awards 2023 Survey: Our Readers' Favorite Travel Experiences.

A smart way to handle anxiety — courtesy of soccer great Lionel Messi.

These 9 Antique and Vintage Jewelry Trends Will Be Everywhere in 2024.

Greek garden ideas: 14 layouts, planting, and styling tips to create a holiday vibe. Always dreaming of the Mediterranean.

Hello, August. Now, can you chill on the heat, pretty please?