Well, hello all! It's that time to share with what I've been into for the month! It's been 5 months offline (social media specifically) and I've been feeling surprisingly good. We'll see if I continue... Anyways, let's get into the favorites!
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| All of the good things I enjoyed about July. |
Favorite Music (had a great slew of pop-punk & rock music this month):
Rejects by Good Charlotte: https://youtu.be/cPwmrVLo4b8?si=pPOgG3gYKw17GIlO
Young & Dumb by Avril Lavigne ft. Simple Plan: https://youtu.be/gRX3Gm-YPRY?si=ua3WKxNdhQpQciy_
The Weather by All Time Low: https://youtu.be/KG9e_snLxy4?si=D37jUnKmo0gKn2TN
Favorite Coffee and / or Tea:
Fogbuster Brand Black Bear Dark Roast Ground Coffee- flavor notes: dark chocolate, brown sugar, nutmeg and black pepper; A nice, not too strong dark roast- it's robust enough for me! link: https://fogbustercoffee.com/collections/frontpage/products/black-bear?variant=41004809584790
Favorite Body Care and / or Skincare product(s):
Being Frenshe Salty Body Wash & Body Lotion: This was the epitome (scent-wise) being by the beach! It's not too strong for me (hate being that person with sensitive skin) either. Notes: sea salt, sandalwood, and airy musks. Body wash link: https://www.target.com/p/being-frenshe-renewing-body-wash-salty-14-fl-oz/-/A-91980500#lnk=sametab; Body lotion link: https://www.target.com/p/being-frenshe-milky-body-lotion-salty-8-fl-oz/-/A-91980395#lnk=sametab
Favorite Workout Videos:
Did both of these together: Part 1 by The Yogi Witch: Yoga for Burnout- https://youtu.be/fW0NEsWEl60?si=rc0sfkEQBJ2Leg61; Part 2 by Yoga with Adriene- Mental Health Break- https://youtu.be/56qmbIzE3qo?si=EVvHHgyXhkdsBzRs
Walk & Tone Indoor Walking Workout via Olivia Lawson: https://youtu.be/ZezdpBUhDEQ?si=kP-FMrJEYcBC95xV
35 Min. Full Body Pilates via Keel Pilates: https://youtu.be/XyZKUFGPpIo?si=F6Vpr5hq3vo-lZGJ
35 Min. Yin Yoga & Vinyasa Fusion via the Bare Female: https://youtu.be/w8YhspfS_x0?si=ngE69mQ3Seg2ORiZ
Did these two videos together: Part 1- Full Body Pilates via Toned with Alexandra: https://youtu.be/jjhOnqzvwsg?si=M3n_x0JtBTWIdKk2; Part 2- Quick Waist & Lower Body Toning Pilates Workout via Bailey Brown: https://youtu.be/vatVhTG_W2g?si=5hyqA8I71m5joc2G
30 Min. Upper Body Dumbbell Combos via Sydney Cummings-Houdyshell: https://youtu.be/6xmzocdgOkg?si=iqSVZC9jhXktJF3S
Did these two videos together- Part 1: Evening Pilates to Help Relax via IsaWelly Pilates- https://youtu.be/uhhm3JZTooU?si=CY5NTP_BRB6gLBXB; Part 2: Afternoon/Evening Pilates via LivAligned Pilates: https://youtu.be/QMzfwWHC1ww?si=n7iQSowpOkeFiz8m
Seated Yoga Stretch Class via Jess Yoga: https://youtu.be/edqkjdbJcZw?si=5NcfMxgEvJ45NUpg
Favorite Book(s) I've Read and / or listened to as an audiobook via Spotify:
The Survivors by Jane Harper: This was such a moody, atmospheric vibe of a book- pacing was good and kept me interested while I read it. I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-survivors-jane-harper/1136963067?ean=9781250232434
You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pilego: This was such a fun, twisty ride of a murder mystery book- a reimagining of the classic locked room mystery if you will- and was a wonderful novel from a debut author! Writing in some spots of the book were good, too (wanted to make a note of that for you guys). I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/you-are-fatally-invited-ande-pliego/1145583722?ean=9780593871577
The Women by Kristin Hannah: This was such a wonderful, sad, tragic, and heartbreaking read- enjoyed every minute of reading it! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-women-kristin-hannah/1143461662?ean=9781250178633
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: This classic read was surprisingly good! Enjoyed very much! I'll link it: https://www.target.com/p/the-great-gatsby-penguin-classics-deluxe-edition-by-f-scott-fitzgerald-paperback/-/A-80176810#lnk=sametab
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young: This book was so good! Wonderfully atmospheric small town vibes, mysteries were thrown in and we get a second-chance romance, too. Enjoyed this one! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-sea-of-unspoken-things-adrienne-young/1144827553?ean=9780593598702
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry: This was my 3rd read of Miss Henry's and I loved how everything interconnected within the story we are being told. The romance subplot in this wasn't too bad and the setting of the story and that ending?! Didn't disappoint for sure! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/great-big-beautiful-life-emily-henry/1146269280?ean=9780593955628
These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (my July 2025 BOTM pick): This book about a wealthy, dysfunctional family learns that the head matriach dies and all are brought back to the childhood some of them never thought they would go back to. However, the late dad had some letters to give his kids' and his wife and they have to do them (he was known for games a majority of the time no one liked- it didn't help he was competitive by nature). The setting was great, the romance bits weren't too bad, and a well-rounded solid story. Enjoyed it! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/these-summer-storms-sarah-maclean/1146395729?ean=9780593972250
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman: This was such a wholesome romance read- a bit spicy (certain scene wise but didn't overtake from the story), appreciated the online articles / blog posts, and the male main character's, Gabe's dog, Teddy was a wonderful sidekick. Enjoyed this very much! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/funny-you-should-ask-elissa-sussman/1139840696?ean=9780593357323
Mistakes We Never Made by Hannah Brown (library pick): How do I keep finding these hidden gem romance books? I will admit this I picked out on a whim and ended up enjoying the story- the heavy subjects (ie: divorce, loss, and mental health) were well touched on, and all of the romance-y bits were nice, too. Surprisingly funny- the ending left me a bit confused but it didn't stop me from really liking this read. Can't wait to look forward to book 2- yes I did said that! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mistakes-we-never-made-hannah-brown/1144056572?ean=9781538756775
Parents' Weekend by Alex Finlay (library pick): This was such a great fast-paced thriller read- the story of it kept me engaged and interested enough to learn who the culprit was in the case of the book. Endings for each of the characters I felt wrapped up well! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/parents-weekend-alex-finlay/1146167585?ean=9781250360724
Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (library pick): This was such a good book! Loved the documentary-style writing format for it. The music and all of the behind-the-scenes' aspects were enjoyable, too. I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daisy-jones-the-six-taylor-jenkins-reid/1128904222?ean=9781524798628
The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda (library pick): This was my 3rd read of Megan's and this was the most tense, edge of your seat, mystery-thriller book I've ever read. So good- enough said! I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-only-survivors-megan-miranda/1141652172?ean=9781668010426
The Nanny by Gilly Macmillian (library pick): This was the most interesting & unique mystery-thriller I've read (I mean that in the best way possible)- wonderfully layered mystery, hidden secrets within the story from the nanny & other characters referenced, and a bit twisty towards the third part of the book. I'll link it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-nanny-gilly-macmillan/1129095643?ean=9780062875563
Honorable Mention Short-Form Read: Make Believe by Victoria Hutchins- link: https://www.target.com/p/make-believe-by-victoria-hutchins-paperback/-/A-92571327#lnk=sametab; I wanted to mention the specific poems (page wise if you were to get this book) that I resonated with (maybe they'll resonate with you): page 14, page 21, page 36, pages 46-47, page 48, page 56, page 78, page 84, page 91, page 115 & page 120
Favorite TV Show, Documentary and / or Movie(s) I've Either Watched or Streamed:
The Survivors (based off the Jane Harper novel I read this month) on Netflix: trailer link- https://youtu.be/c69c1P-EURg?si=k-9lGMKCQ0CAq3RU
Simple Plan- Kids in the Crowd Music Concert Documentary via Prime Video: trailer link- https://youtu.be/zg1Scuq2hI4?si=vcBtNuO9eAGeC8Yo
