July Favorites
Good gracious can you believe July is over?
This has been such a strange summer. We are all dealing with the uncertainty of waiting to hear about what the back to school season will look like, and (hopefully) trying to enjoy what is left of the ever-so-brief Maine summer.
Personally, this has been a really tough time for me. I haven’t taught kids’ yoga since March – something that brought me so much joy (plus, you know, an income). And I’ve been suffering a major flare of my Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis since April. Basically it’s just been a lousy time. If you are experiencing some struggles yourself, know you are not alone!
Today I’m choosing to focus on the good stuff – and the truth is, July was full of some lovely days. We walked around Hamilton House (where we got married), took a lovely road trip in the White Mountains, and spent some time at Kezar Lake. In this post I’ll be sharing the things and experiences that have brought me joy over the past month. I LOVE reading monthly favorites posts myself – so I figured it would be fun to share mine!
Here we go!
Clothing:
Although I haven’t had much reason to leave the house the past few months, we did make it to the lake a couple of times in July! This swimsuit from Summersalt is my new favorite! It holds you in without feeling restrictive, the functional ties are perfect for my narrow shoulders, and that cute floral print – LOVE!
Best of all, Summersalt uses recycled materials to make their swimwear! I love supporting brands that use earth-friendly practices. Use this link to get $10 off your first Summersalt swimsuit!
BEAUTY Products:
All Bright C Serum:
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you probably know how much I love this serum! This ultra-stable form of 10% vitamin C helps reduce dark spots and visibly brighten the skin. Vitamin C also helps protect your skin from environmental stresses like pollution and free radicals and boosts your skin’s natural collagen production. So many benefits packed into one cheerful bottle!
I’ve been putting it on my skin every morning and have absolutely noticed a lightening of my acne scars (yes I have a terrible habit of picking at pimples!) and brightening of my entire face! Want to try a sample? Let me know in the comments below!
Countersun Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Mist:
Okay, I honestly figured this spray sunscreen would be a total mess. Turns out, it’s super easy to apply and NOT messy! I love that this gives my skin an even, airbrushed finish. Plus, it gives me sun protection that won’t poison my body or destroy the coral reefs. Talk about a win-win! Worried about it getting on your swimsuit? If it does, it wipes off easily with a wet cloth. I recommend spraying it on at home sans clothing to get an even application! Once you’re in the sun, spray carefully, or spray into your hands and then rub on!
PS: this can uses compressed air – not aerosol!
By the way, new Beautycounter customers get 20% off until August 10!
Books:
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd:
Oh goodness this one was good! Sue Monk Kidd is so talented (she wrote the Secret Life of Bees). This story about the fictional wife of Jesus swept me off my feet. Kidd is known for writing about the Divine Feminine and women coming into their power – and this novel is a perfect example. She clearly put in tons of research – I learned so much about the daily life and culture of first century Jews. Do yourself a favor and read this book ASAP!
Women’s Bodies Women’s Wisdom by Dr. Christiane Northrup:
I read this book back in 2015 for part of my first Yoga Teacher Training. I decided to buy the most updated version as Dr. Northrup updates it periodically (the version I read before was from the 90s). It’s a very long read but so worth it. Even if you don’t read it straight through, it’s a wonderful resource to have on your bookshelf. Dr. Northrup writes poignantly about the ways in which patriarchy has hurt women, and offers guidance for women who want to take charge of their health and live according to their intuition. She covers all body systems and weaves spirituality throughout. I know I’ll be coming back to this book for years to come. I hope you read it!
Home:
Vitamix: I have to give some praise to my Vitamix! It’s been HOT here in Maine the past few weeks. (I try never to complain about the heat though – since I know what’s coming soon!). My Vitamix has helped me whip up some delicious smoothies! We even made this delicious raspberry sorbet with it!
Bathtub: Unfortunately the days of my porch bath are over, but the good news is our upstairs bathroom renovation is nearly complete! Now that I don’t have to lug 10 buckets of water to fill the tub, I’ve been taking more baths – and it’s a wonderful stress relation tool. I always add Epsom salts for relaxation.
Mindfulness Practice:
Grounding: Getting my feet or body on the bare earth has helped me feel calm and centered this month! Basically, I try to walk barefoot on the earth, or, if I don’t have the energy for that (thanks, Hashimoto’s) sometimes I’ll just sit or lie down on the earth. I even have a special tree I like to sit under. I’m planning on writing a full post about this practice and it’s benefits soon! For now, try walking barefoot for a few minutes each day and notice how it makes you feel!
Deep Breathing: I just posted about how to use Alternate Nostril Breathing for stress reduction. This month, I’ve been focusing on taking deep belly breaths before bed. Sometimes I use alternate nostril breathing, other times I just focus on filling up my abdomen in all directions like a balloon. It’s amazing how just spending a few minutes practicing this helps calm my nervous system and drift off to a peaceful sleep!
Podcast:
Own Your Intuition by Kelly Rich: I recently completed an intuitive mentorship with Kelly Rich. She is full of wisdom and light! My favorite episode is #5, A Meditation to Meet Your Spirit Guide.
One Random Thing Bringing Me Joy:
Sandra the Swan! Funny story, Arthur and I recently took a mini road trip through the White Mountains of NH (highly recommend!) and we drove past a little shop near a river. Arthur noticed a giant swan float on display and said, “hey, haven’t you wanted one of those?!” Of course we stopped and bought it! It was one of those frivolous expenses that just brought me joy. The next day, we took Sandra to Kezar Lake and had a blast! I found a similar one here!
Happy July, friends! I hope this post brought you a little joy! Tell me, what’s one thing that brought you joy this month?